“Why not kill such an extraordinary devil?”
An Cheonggwang was curious. He knew full well that if this woman set her mind on killing someone, there was no one she could not kill. Just as he himself had nearly died moments ago.
“There are many kinds of devils. There are terrifying devils, cruel devils, devils who toy with people until they break. What kind of devil do you think that one is?”
He had thought it would be a devil even more frightening than the ones she had mentioned.
“A kind devil.”
An Cheonggwang thought she was joking. But it was no joke.
“When devils and evil spirits get mixed together and fight, they start feeling kinship, go easy on each other, even share what they devour. You know what I mean. You must have lived that way too. But that kind devil has none of that. He just chops them off clean. If he were merely kind, we could make use of him and be done with it, but the problem is that he’s a devil. His kindness is a problem, and the fact that he’s a devil is a problem.”
An Cheonggwang sensed that this woman feared that young man.
A young master of the Demon Cult who made this woman afraid.
Had such a person truly existed?
At that very moment, one person came to An Cheonggwang’s mind. Someone he had ruled out from the start because he thought there was no way he could be here.
“The Demon Cult’s Young Cult Leader?”
To his disbelieving question came an answer that should not have come.
“I take back what I said about you resembling your son. You are a very clever man.”
Only now did he understand. Why the Sado Alliance had not given them the information. A kind devil? Yes, he had once heard a rumor that the man was called the Martial Hero.
“You crazy bitch!”
For the first time since meeting her, he cursed.
But she did not get angry. Instead, she laughed brightly, like a madwoman.
“That is why you must go mad too.”
Cha Iran slowly reached her hand toward An Cheonggwang’s neck. Her fingers moved along the red line drawn across his throat, then stopped at the end.
“That Young Cult Leader will not go easy on you the way I did.”
* * *
“There is someone I would like to introduce to you, miss.”
In the end, An Hupyeong took Ian to the reception hall.
All he wanted was to make himself look good in her eyes somehow.
—If you let a contestant meet someone judging the participants, it will cause trouble later.
Sachu tried to dissuade him through sound transmission, but it did not work.
—What trouble? I’ll say we happened to meet while passing by.
Sachu absolutely did not want to go to the reception hall. He did not want to see those frightening, bizarre people again, nor did he want to become further entangled with them.
—If the Gang Leader finds out, he will be furious.
But even that attempt to dissuade him did not work against, If it’s for this woman, I can bear anything.
—Fine. He’ll know if you go and tattle.
In the end, unable to break his stubbornness, they arrived at the reception hall where the Mistress of Cheonhwaru was staying.
When they entered the reception hall, the Cheonhwaru Mistress and her party were not relaxing comfortably as they had been last time.
Had they seen them coming through the window?
The Cheonhwaru Mistress was standing, and all the other guards were standing in a line as well. They looked as if they were observing proper etiquette to welcome an honored guest.
“Welcome.”
At the Cheonhwaru Mistress’s greeting, Geugak Soma and the Faceless Guests standing behind her all bowed at once.
At that extremely courteous reception, An Hupyeong felt as if he might fly. These people had not originally been this polite.
‘Yes, this is how it should have been from the start. These bastards have finally come to their senses.’
With his dignity restored in front of Ian, An Hupyeong puffed out his chest and spoke heartily.
“Have you all been well?”
How could he have known? That their courteous greeting was directed at Geom Mugeuk, who stood behind him.
At that moment, Sachu was watching to see how these two guards, who somehow gave off a similar feeling, would treat each other when they met.
‘They’re smiling?’
Geom Mugeuk and Geugak Soma were looking at each other and smiling.
‘Do madmen recognize each other?’
It did not occur to him that they might actually know each other.
Just then, Sachu’s eyes met those of one of the Faceless Guests.
Was it the fellow who had stared at him from beside him before? Since they were wearing veils, they all looked so similar that he could not tell.
Sachu naturally turned his gaze to the opposite side, pretending not to have seen him, then looked elsewhere. But on the side he turned to, another Faceless Guest was staring straight at him.
‘No, why do they keep looking at me!’
In the end, Sachu lowered his head.
‘Don’t look at me! Please don’t look at me!’
Then he stealthily lifted his head, only to find them still staring.
‘I didn’t tell anyone that Master Yong died. I won’t say anything in the future either!’
While Sachu was waging a desperate battle to find somewhere to put his eyes, An Hupyeong was in high spirits.
“This is Miss Ian, my honored guest. I was showing her around our gang and stopped by briefly as we were passing. This is the Mistress of Cheonhwaru, who will be serving as a judge in this competition.”
I’m the sort of person who can even introduce you to a judge of the competition!
An Hupyeong’s shoulders soared to the heavens.
Even though she had been told this person was judging the competition, Ian did not seem particularly uncomfortable.
“I’m Ian.”
An Hupyeong liked even that about her.
‘As expected of a member of the Demon Cult, she has such a straightforward personality.’
If she had started saying insincere things like, Why did you let me meet a judge? I want to become the greatest beauty under heaven fair and square, it would have truly annoyed him.
Naturally, Ian and the Cheonhwaru Mistress acted as if they were meeting for the first time.
“Are you perhaps participating in this competition?”
An Hupyeong answered in Ian’s stead.
“That’s right. Miss Ian passed the preliminaries. Ah, the two of you will be seeing each other in the finals, then.”
The Cheonhwaru Mistress’s expression stiffened slightly. Of course, it was an act performed in front of An Hupyeong. It would have been strange for her to accept such a situation as only natural.
As if the situation made her uncomfortable, the Cheonhwaru Mistress dismissed those around her.
“I would like to speak quietly with our guests, so all the guards, please wait outside.”
At that, Geugak Soma and the Faceless Guests immediately went outside.
Ian looked back at Geom Mugeuk and said,
“Please wait outside.”
Ian could tell that the reason the Cheonhwaru Mistress had sent Geugak Soma out was to give him a moment to be with Geom Mugeuk. Otherwise, there would have been no need to send him out.
Geom Mugeuk also went outside without a word.
Then An Hupyeong looked at Sachu.
“What are you doing not going out?”
Sachu was inwardly flustered, having never imagined that he would be made to leave too.
‘You want me to be out there with them? Please!’
But when the women had all sent out their guards, An Hupyeong was not the sort to leave only his own guard behind like a coward.
In the end, only after being scolded through sound transmission was Sachu driven outside as well.
In the yard, Geom Mugeuk, Geugak Soma, and the Faceless Guests stood looking at him.
He had the dignity of an unorthodox martial artist to uphold!
No, he did not. Sachu needlessly looked up at the sky and avoided their gazes.
At that moment, Geugak Soma strode toward him.
‘Why? Why are you coming over!’
Geugak Soma smiled and patted the terrified Sachu on the shoulder.
Just as Sachu relaxed, realizing it was meant as thanks for keeping the secret—
Swish.
Before he knew it, his acupoint had been sealed. He fell asleep and collapsed backward.
The Faceless Guests watched the surroundings on all sides, and in the center, Geom Mugeuk and Geugak Soma conversed.
Geom Mugeuk had been planning to come secretly that night to meet Geugak Soma anyway, but instead, he had been able to come openly under the guidance of the young gang leader.
They did not have much time, so Geom Mugeuk immediately said what needed to be said.
“The one behind this is a female assassin named Cha Iran.”
Geom Mugeuk also told him about the female assassins under her command. The Faceless Guests all listened as well.
“They do not possess the distinctive aura of assassins, so you must be especially careful.”
Geugak Soma, and of course the Faceless Guests as well, nodded.
After hearing about them, one question naturally occurred to Geugak Soma.
“If you know who the enemy is, why not eliminate them? The Pavilion Mistress’s prophecy took place on the stage. Then…”
“You mean we should eliminate them all before the finals are held?”
Geugak Soma nodded. He did not show it outwardly, but the prophecy had continued to weigh on his mind. It concerned the life of none other than Geom Mugeuk.
“Why are you not doing so?”
As if he had already considered the same thing, Geom Mugeuk revealed the reason.
“There are two reasons. The first is that if there is someone else behind them, I want to take care of that person as well.”
Killing the leader of the Sado Alliance was no ordinary conspiracy. Another hidden mastermind might reveal themselves. Just as in the Murim Alliance, there had been not only Cheonae Geosa but also So Jeongrak of Myeongsim Clinic.
If they could not deal with them all at once when they had the chance, it would one day return as another danger.
“In truth, the second reason troubles me more.”
Geom Mugeuk’s gaze deepened as he raised a fundamental question.
“Why are they trying to kill the leader of the Sado Alliance?”
Of course, it could have been a plan prepared long ago. Just as they had prepared for decades in the Murim Alliance, they might have planned to draw in Shinhwa Gang and kill the leader of the Sado Alliance.
But to kill the Sado Alliance leader now, when the Murim Alliance had failed? Even when they must know that he himself had intervened?
“Even if this plan succeeds, Young Alliance Leader Bi will inherit that position. What benefit could there possibly be for them to push this plan forward?”
Because of such doubts, he had not moved rashly.
“They may have another plan.”
Geugak Soma nodded as if in complete agreement. As expected, the Young Cult Leader saw through this situation far more deeply than he had imagined.
“What do you intend to do now?”
Geom Mugeuk smiled and answered.
“It is a prophecy handed down by none other than our Pavilion Mistress. It should not turn out to be wrong, should it? Will you go up onto the stage with me?”
How could Geugak Soma not know that this did not mean he intended to obediently be stabbed by a dagger?
Knowing that it meant they would stand proudly against fate, Geugak Soma’s eyes smiled brightly.
“I will be with you until the end.”
The Faceless Guests around them listened to the conversation in silence.
The smiles in their eyes resembled Geugak Soma’s smile, which said he would be with him until the end.
Just then, An Hupyeong’s voice came from inside the building, telling them to come in now.
Geom Mugeuk and Geugak Soma entered first.
The Faceless Guests woke Sachu, who had fallen asleep after having his acupoint sealed.
When Sachu, lying on the ground, opened his eyes, the Faceless Guests were crouched around him, looking down with concern.
“!”
Sachu closed his eyes again.
He wished it had been a dream, but from inside the building came An Hupyeong’s shout, asking what he was doing not coming in.
* * *
Bi Sain entered the training ground.
This was the personal training ground of the Sado Alliance leader, Baek Jagang.
“You called for me?”
Baek Jagang was carefully wiping down an iron man dummy made of ten-thousand-year cold iron.
This object, made for the leader of the Sado Alliance, bore countless sword marks.
“I know when and how each of these was made.”
With that alone, one could understand Baek Jagang’s realm, and the state of mind with which he swung his sword, stroke by stroke.
“Whenever I wanted to surpass someone, several people would overlap atop this iron man dummy. The one who appeared most often was the Demon Cult Leader.”
Bi Sain could tell. His master had truly wanted to surpass Geom Ujin. And seeing his master speak of it so comfortably made him think that perhaps his master had crossed into some new realm.
“I wonder who it will be in your life.”
Unexpected words flowed from Baek Jagang’s mouth.
“I intend to pass this down to you now.”
Bi Sain was startled.
“Alliance Leader!”
“It was meant to be passed down to you from the start. Take it and train well.”
Bi Sain knew better than anyone what this iron man dummy meant to Baek Jagang. Passing down this iron man dummy meant that he truly cherished and acknowledged him.
Bi Sain did not refuse. He respectfully clasped his fist and bowed at the waist.
“I will absolutely bring the Overlord Heaven-Shaking Sword Art to completion. I will absolutely become stronger.”
His powerful resolve was imbued with his emotion.
Baek Jagang nodded with a reassuring smile.
At that moment, a subordinate’s voice came from outside.
“The Young Cult Leader of the Divine Cult has sent a letter.”
At that news, Baek Jagang and Bi Sain looked at each other.
Because no one was allowed into the training ground, Bi Sain went out and received the letter.
Bi Sain read it.
“For what reason did he send it?”
“It concerns the selection competition for the Greatest Beauty Under Heaven.”
The two of them were well aware of the Greatest Beauty Under Heaven selection competition being held in Anhui.
Previously, the leader of Shinhwa Gang had personally come to ask permission, saying that he intended to hold such a competition and wished to offer, as its prize, a banquet attended by the leader of the Sado Alliance.
Shinhwa Gang was a sect that had long worked hard for the Sado Alliance, and even after its recent growth and rise in influence, its loyalty had not changed.
So permission had been granted, and now Geom Mugeuk had sent a letter concerning that matter.
After checking the letter, Bi Sain’s expression hardened, his gaze turning grave.
“It says there is a plan to assassinate you at that banquet, Alliance Leader.”
Since the letter had been sent by Geom Mugeuk, its contents would not be wrong. It even mentioned who the enemy was.
“It says she is a female assassin of the highest skill, and that she leads an assassination organization made up of women.”
Even though it was an assassination plan aimed at killing him, Baek Jagang instead seemed pleased.
He had felt strangely left out when he had previously received reports about what had happened in the Murim Alliance.
Those bastards only target the Murim Alliance leader? Are they looking down on me?
Bi Sain lowered his head with an ashamed expression.
“I apologize for having you hear such important information through the Young Cult Leader.”
This, too, was not Bi Sain’s responsibility. If one had to assign blame, punishment should be given to those who handled intelligence.
Baek Jagang did not mind at all, nor was he angry.
“At first, I thought the Young Cult Leader was simply outstanding and had gotten ahead of us. But after experiencing it myself, I realized fate has its own way of treating the Young Cult Leader. So do not concern yourself with it.”
His words implied that the ties between the force behind these events and Geom Mugeuk ran deep.
“So what did he say?”
“He repeatedly urged that you must not attend this banquet.”
But Baek Jagang had no intention whatsoever of being absent.
“If I, the protagonist of a conspiracy to kill me, do not go, would that do?”
Bi Sain knew that his master was not someone who would ever back down. Moreover, if Geom Mugeuk was stopping that matter in his stead? His master was not the kind of man to leave his own affairs to another.
“However, the Young Cult Leader sent two letters.”
“Two?”
“One is the official letter I just mentioned, and the other was addressed to me.”
Bi Sain checked the letter on the spot. After confirming its contents, he held it out to Baek Jagang. Baek Jagang wondered why he was showing him a personal letter.
After checking the contents, Baek Jagang’s small eyes disappeared with a great laugh.
—The Alliance Leader isn’t someone who won’t come just because it’s dangerous, is he? If he’s going to come anyway, bring him early!