The silence that descended over the hall was caused by Hwang Pae’s sudden change in attitude.
When the man who had been raging like a madman abruptly calmed down, everyone’s eyes turned toward him.
Only then did Hwang Pae realize that he had made a mistake. He had been hurling curses at them, only to ask what they wanted in the end. Still, he had truly been so startled moments ago that it felt as though his liver had leaped out of his mouth.
As if an unguarded remark had slipped out, Hwang Pae suddenly shouted and returned to his former demeanor.
“What do you want, you ask?”
Geom Muyang, on the other hand, remained as calm and indifferent as ever.
“The person who made the deal with them.”
Hwang Pae blinked for a moment before hurriedly calling for someone.
“Gu Yong! Where is Gu Yong?”
He was the man who had led this deal.
Gu Yong served a role akin to a chief steward in the Heuksupa. He had a keen nose for money and often brought in profitable ventures. This time, he had brought them an opportunity no one had expected: the chance to purchase the Demon Cult’s hidden weapon, which had been designated a Murim Forbidden Weapon.
The fact that it was a weapon of the Demon Cult concerned Hwang Pae, but that was precisely why he coveted it.
Hwang Pae’s hesitation did not last long. It would require a huge sum of money, money dear as blood, but since payment was deferred, there was no concern about being cheated.
Above all, with that hidden weapon, dealing with the masters of the Daegwang Sect would not be difficult. Once they began assassinating them one by one, it would only be a matter of time before they became the greatest black-robed sect in Honam.
He had undertaken this scheme while dreaming of such grand ambitions, and now everything had turned into a complete mess. All because of this bastard.
“Gu Yong, aren’t you coming out?”
Though Hwang Pae searched frantically, Gu Yong was nowhere among the kneeling martial artists.
Hwang Pae rushed over, hauled one of his subordinates to his feet by the collar, and shook him.
“Where is Gu Yong?”
“I don’t know.”
Hwang Pae grabbed and shook another man, but he did not know either.
Then another subordinate standing toward the back spoke up.
“He went to Hwayeong Pavilion to drink.”
Hwang Pae’s eyes rolled back.
“That lunatic!”
All this had happened because of that bastard, and he had gone off to drink at a pleasure house? The sun had not even set yet.
Hwang Pae slapped the cheek of the man whose collar he was still holding and shouted.
“Go find him right now! Hurry!”
As he continued yelling, Ho Myeong, the leader of the Ji Dan, raised a finger to his lips and gestured for silence.
Hwang Pae’s face twisted.
‘This bastard is shushing me with a finger instead of saying it?’
But the words never left his mouth.
Ho Myeong and the Demon Cult warriors standing around him were staring at him with the coldest, most indifferent eyes. It seemed they might suddenly rush forward and hack him to pieces.
‘Damn Demon Cult bastards!’
Hwang Pae was known for charging into battle like a madman, heedless of his own life. But at this moment, his madness was selective.
He had not been afraid when fighting black-robed thugs who hurled curses while bleeding profusely. But when he looked at these men who could calmly stab someone to death with those indifferent eyes, he felt fear.
“Get up.”
Ho Myeong helped up the man who had said Gu Yong had gone to Hwayeong Pavilion.
Then he personally took four subordinates and set out. The fact that he was moving himself showed how important this matter was.
Hwang Pae looked at Geom Muyang again. Compared to these slaughterer-like men, he felt that he might be able to communicate more easily with this man, who at least appeared to be their leader.
Hwang Pae’s momentum faltered.
“When Gu Yong arrives, take him with you. Then I will consider what happened today to have never happened and will not report it to the Sado Alliance.”
Hwang Pae was the kind of man who would sever another person’s ankle if they stepped on his foot while passing by. Yet even after having several teeth broken, he was saying he would let the matter pass as if nothing had happened.
“Very well.”
When Geom Muyang answered readily, Hwang Pae inwardly sighed with relief.
‘He made that promise in front of his subordinates, so he won’t go back on his word.’
He glanced at Myeonggwi. Myeonggwi had been standing there, seemingly lost in thought, but when he sensed Hwang Pae’s gaze, he looked over.
Hwang Pae nodded at him with an expression that said to endure it. He tried his best not to appear awkward.
A short while later, the men who had gone to fetch Gu Yong returned.
But Gu Yong was not with them.
Ho Myeong reported to Geom Muyang with a solemn expression.
“Gu Yong was found stabbed to death in a pleasure house.”
Geom Muyang’s eyes grew cold. They had left the escort agency and rushed here without pause, but the enemy had acted first.
“They’re really starting to irritate me.”
With those words, demonic energy flowed from Geom Muyang’s body, turning the surrounding air cold and heavy.
Ho Myeong could tell that Geom Muyang was truly angry. He and the Ji Dan warriors held their breath, uncertain whether this was a moment when they should intervene, but Hwang Pae, growing impatient, stepped forward.
“Gu Yong’s death was not our fault. So leave now. Keep your promise!”
When Hwang Pae emphasized the promise, Geom Muyang strode toward him.
Startled, Hwang Pae instinctively summoned his internal energy.
But his dantian had already been sealed. When Geom Muyang had thrown him into the courtyard earlier, he had suppressed Hwang Pae’s internal energy.
Half out of his mind, Hwang Pae had not even realized that his internal energy had been sealed.
Crack!
Geom Muyang’s fist slammed into Hwang Pae’s face again. Hwang Pae went flying and rolled across the floor. When he raised himself, three or four more broken teeth fell from his mouth. When he opened his lips, his front teeth were now plainly exposed.
“If you lay a hand on us…”
He had meant to say that the Sado Alliance would not let this pass, but Hwang Pae could not continue.
The eyes of Geom Muyang, who had walked over and was now looking down at him coldly, were terrifying beyond words.
Then words Hwang Pae could never have understood flowed from Geom Muyang’s lips.
“This is all because of my younger brother.”
Thud!
Geom Muyang kicked him in the face, and Hwang Pae collapsed again as though slammed into the floor.
This time, his nasal bone and cheekbone broke. Hwang Pae groaned in pain.
“You think you can shout at us just because you’re someone like this.”
Geom Muyang walked toward him again.
“We have never once been kind to this Murim.”
As Geom Muyang raised his foot as if to crush Hwang Pae’s skull, Hwang Pae screamed for his life.
Geom Muyang looked down at him as though he were a worm, then lowered his foot and turned his gaze toward the Heuksupa warriors kneeling on the ground.
“Is there anyone who knows about this deal?”
None of the Heuksupa warriors opened his mouth.
Geom Muyang spoke coldly.
“Kill them all.”
Ho Myeong and the Ji Dan warriors drew their swords without hesitation.
“Please spare me!”
Screams and pleas erupted, but the warriors raised their swords without mercy.
Just as they were about to wipe out the Heuksupa—
“I know!”
One man shouted. He was the very man who had earlier said that Gu Yong was at the pleasure house. His name was Seok Su. He had been Gu Yong’s friend.
“I heard about this deal.”
Geom Muyang raised a hand and stopped his subordinates.
The swords that had been about to pierce the Heuksupa warriors stopped in unison behind their necks.
Ho Myeong pulled Seok Su to the side, while the warriors surrounded him on all sides.
“What did he tell you?”
Just then, one of the kneeling warriors suddenly sprang to his feet. In his hand was a Jingeok.
“Stop him!”
Ho Myeong shouted and stepped in front of Seok Su.
He knew that the Jingeok could not be stopped at this distance, but Ho Myeong did not dodge.
At the very moment the Jingeok was about to be launched—
Ssshhhhhhk!
A streak of sword light flashed and cleaved through the air.
Slice.
The sound of flesh and bone being severed rang out.
Thud.
The arm of the man who had been about to launch the Jingeok was cut off and fell to the floor.
It was the fifth form of the Flying Heaven Sword Art, the Azure Heavens Form.
Geom Muyang had unleashed the supreme quick-draw technique of the Flying Heaven Sword Art.
Thwack, thwack!
Ho Myeong rushed over, sealed the blood points of the man whose arm had been severed and was gushing blood, then pressed the blood points around the stump to stop the bleeding.
“Heeheeheehee.”
Even with his arm severed, the man laughed like a madman. He looked exactly like the man who had committed suicide at the escort agency.
Thwack, thwack!
Ho Myeong quickly sealed the man’s speech and sleep points as well. When the man slumped to the ground, the Ji Dan warriors formed a circle around Seok Su and the fallen man, keeping watch in every direction.
Ho Myeong shouted at those on their knees.
“All of you, take off your clothes!”
Ho Myeong strode over and stabbed a hesitant man in the chest.
The remaining men stripped in an instant. Fortunately, none of the naked men carried hidden weapons.
Before leaving, Geom Muyang spoke to Myeonggwi one last time.
“What use is there in blaming the one who deceived you? You’re the fool who got deceived.”
The moment Myeonggwi heard those words, a chill ran down his spine and his entire body shuddered.
In truth, Myeonggwi had sensed something strange earlier, when Hwang Pae suddenly changed his attitude. Hwang Pae had been startled and cut himself off when he heard that the death of Myeonggwi’s wife had been investigated.
And now he understood. Hwang Pae was the one who had plotted and carried out that incident in the past. He had done it to obtain Myeonggwi.
Myeonggwi approached Hwang Pae. With several teeth broken and his nose crushed, Hwang Pae was a complete mess.
“Was it you?”
“What kind of crazy nonsense is that?”
Hwang Pae’s voice trembled with agitation. Today, this was the moment he had feared most—not the slaughterer-like Demon Cult warriors, nor the Demon Cult master who had beaten him senseless.
“I willingly became a bladesman for you.”
For five years, Myeonggwi had served him faithfully. He had not liked Hwang Pae’s actions, but he had wanted to repay the debt he owed for Hwang Pae saving his son.
Yet the more time passed and the more Myeonggwi learned about Hwang Pae, the stronger one doubt became.
This was not a man who would step forward for someone else.
He was a man who tormented, robbed, and killed others. So how could he have killed the wandering martial artists that day and saved Myeonggwi’s son?
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Myeonggwi’s fists slammed into Hwang Pae’s face in rapid succession.
“Tell me! Was it you?”
Hwang Pae grimaced as though in pain.
“It hurts. Stop.”
Blood streamed from his mouth and nose.
But Myeonggwi did not stop punching.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
The blows were filled with emotion, and Hwang Pae could not endure them any longer, even out of sheer pain. He instinctively realized that Myeonggwi would kill him no matter how much he denied it. If he was going to die anyway—
“How long have you known that bastard? How dare you make this mess just because you believe whatever he says? Then again, you believed my claim that I saved you like a fool.”
Myeonggwi’s face twisted at the words that amounted to a confession.
“What was so important about that wretched woman? After all I did for you. You ungrateful bastard.”
Myeonggwi asked in a cold voice,
“Then why did you leave my son alive?”
“You idiot. So I could keep you under my thumb!”
Hwang Pae grinned with his mangled face.
Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab!
Myeonggwi’s sword riddled his body.
The bastard’s words were true. That was why Myeonggwi had been unable to leave Hwang Pae despite the inexplicable discomfort and suspicion he had felt. He had been worried about his young son.
His fear that the boy might be endangered if he became caught up in a fight had suppressed his doubts.
Myeonggwi rose, holding his sword with blood dripping from its blade, and looked at Geom Muyang.
“You were right. I was the fool who got deceived. If you’re going to kill me, then kill me.”
He was worried about his son, but at least he was glad he had been able to take revenge before dying.
Geom Muyang looked at him, then silently turned away.
When he began to leave with his subordinates, Myeonggwi urgently called after him.
“You’re just leaving?”
“What if I don’t?”
If it had been his younger brother, he would have settled the matter somehow. He might even have punished those whose evil deeds had gone too far.
But Geom Muyang had no interest in it. Depending on the circumstances, he might kill them all, or he might leave them alive.
Interfering needlessly in the lives of these insignificant people was his meddlesome younger brother’s role.
“If you hadn’t revealed the truth, I would have been used by that filthy bastard for the rest of my life. Thank you.”
Myeonggwi bowed respectfully.
“It wasn’t me who revealed the truth. He revealed it himself.”
Myeonggwi looked puzzled, wondering what Geom Muyang meant.
Geom Muyang did not explain further and went outside.
No record of the incident from five years ago remained. He had merely brought it up to test Hwang Pae, but Hwang Pae had panicked, made a commotion, and destroyed himself. If he ever learned the truth, he would not be able to rest peacefully even in death.
In any case, since it was Myeonggwi who had killed Hwang Pae, this matter would not cause conflict between the Cheonma Divine Cult and the Sado Alliance.
Geom Muyang did not look back even once as he left. Until he had disappeared completely, Myeonggwi remained with his hands clasped respectfully, never raising his head.
* * *
Geom Muyang and the Ji Dan warriors left the Heuksupa and arrived at the nearest branch.
“Find out everything they know, even if you have to torture them. Use every means and method at your disposal.”
“Yes, understood.”
At Geom Muyang’s command, the warriors took the two men they had brought to the branch’s interrogation room.
Next, he gave Ho Myeong an order.
“Send urgent dispatches to every other Ji Dan and branch in Honam and summon their elite forces.”
Today’s events had made one thing certain. They were a far more meticulous and powerful organization than he had imagined.
Geom Muyang recalled the man who had laughed like a madman even after his arm had been severed. Hwang Pae had only pretended to be insane. That man was the true lunatic.
To deal with men like that, they needed to properly assemble their own forces as well.
“Have them equip every escort armor stored at the Ji Dan and branches before sending them out.”
“Yes, understood.”
Ho Myeong answered energetically, then cautiously added,
“But if we do that, the Murim Alliance and the Sado Alliance will become alarmed.”
This matter had nothing to do with his younger brother, regardless of how close his brother might be to the heirs of the Murim Alliance and the Sado Alliance.
Setting aside his personal anger at the fact that he had nearly killed his own younger brother with his own hands, this was an official mission to capture those who had forged the Divine Cult’s hidden weapons.
“There’s no need to explain everything to the Murim Alliance and the Sado Alliance. Don’t ask for their understanding, either. Convey only this.”
Geom Muyang added curtly,
“Cheonma Divine Cult operation in progress.”