Chairan's expression hardened.
Naturally, she assumed Geom Mugeuk was lying. To make Akgunhak leave, she would have to fight them.
"You're saying you'll fight them just to make him leave?"
At her disbelief, Geom Mugeuk asked in return, as if turning the question back on her.
"It seems reason enough to fight."
"It's not enough."
She, who had been sitting, rose from her seat.
"What fool in this world would stake their life just to make someone leave?"
Their gazes tangled in the air.
"Calling someone a fool to their face?"
He spoke as if jesting, but the Young Cult Leader before him was clearly speaking in earnest.
Because she could feel that, Chairan was confused. She could believe it of someone else.
But the other party was the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. A person who possessed power, martial arts, wealth, and honor—a person who could have the entire murim if they wished.
Such a person would stake their life for someone who is leaving? Asking me to believe those words?
Just then, Ilgyo urgently entered.
She flinched in surprise at the sight of Chairan with Geom Mugeuk. To her, who hesitated to report, Chairan spoke.
"It's fine. If it's something you'd contact me about so urgently, this man must have orchestrated it."
But she hadn't imagined the matter would be this serious. And because it was this kind of content, Ilgyo reported right in front of Geom Mugeuk.
"Except for me and Igyo, everyone has fallen to Geukak Soma and the Faceless Guests."
A silence flowed for a moment.
Chairan quietly closed her eyes.
Though it was a situation where anger should have exploded, she neither displayed rage nor emitted killing intent.
She was demonstrating that silence is sometimes the most powerful expression of emotion.
One could feel her anger being forged in the silence.
She slowly opened her closed eyes.
An incomparably transparent and clear gaze.
"So you're telling me you came here to say these things to me after killing all my subordinates?"
Geom Mugeuk felt immense anger from her words, which remained calm and unchanged.
It was also the first time seeing that side of Chairan as an assassin.
Geom Mugeuk immediately cleared up the misunderstanding.
"They are alive."
It wasn't something he had checked directly, but Geom Mugeuk trusted Geukak Soma and the Faceless Guests.
But Chairan did not believe those words. When she looked at Ilgyo, the remaining report continued.
"Judging by the emergency signals that came from several places, it appears they were attacked simultaneously and taken captive. Currently, their life or death cannot be confirmed."
Since he was not one to invite unnecessary misunderstanding, Geom Mugeuk spoke again emphatically.
"They have not died."
"Where are they now?"
"Lord Soma has them."
Judging by how he had acted until now, Chairan felt that Geom Mugeuk was speaking the truth. At the very least, he was not a person who would lie about such matters.
For now, Chairan sent Ilgyo out.
"Wait outside."
"Yes."
With only the two of them remaining, Chairan asked.
"You could have killed them all. Why did you spare them?"
Geom Mugeuk answered, gazing at her.
"Because of you."
It was an unexpected answer, but Chairan, without wavering, gazed at Geom Mugeuk.
"What does that mean?"
Geom Mugeuk spoke honestly.
"Because I feared that he liked you."
"!"
Only now did she understand why Geom Mugeuk had come faster than she had expected. He had a clear purpose.
"So you came to find out if Akgunhak likes me. Because if we liked each other, you couldn't kill my subordinates."
When Geom Mugeuk nodded, Chairan felt relief that her subordinates might be safe, along with another thought.
If that was really true, then his words about fighting to make Akgunhak leave might also have been sincere.
'You would really stake your life, Young Cult Leader, for that person?'
Is this really possible? To go this far for someone you met as an enemy and parted with?
And the biggest problem at this moment was this.
"Since you've confirmed that he doesn't like me, you'll kill them all now."
"Wouldn't I have to, to stop you?"
The air around the two grew cold, and a taut tension coiled around them.
"Didn't you come here to kill the Martial Lord? Even if the final stage doesn't open, you'll try to kill him somehow."
Chairan admitted readily.
"Because that is my mission."
She was astonishingly frank.
"I cannot sit by and watch that."
Geom Mugeuk slowly gripped the hilt of his demonic sword. Even in a situation where the sword seemed ready to be drawn at any moment, she did not retreat a single step.
"Aren't you afraid of dying?"
At Geom Mugeuk's question, her transparent eyes shone even brighter.
"If you kill people for money and fear dying yourself, isn't that life too boring?"
Geom Mugeuk could feel it.
That to her, life and death were already one.
She did not fear death. Perhaps that was why she could get so drunk and act so rowdy before him.
"What are you doing? Not cutting me down."
Geom Mugeuk took his hand off the hilt.
Then, a captivating smile formed on Chairan's face, which had been nothing but cold until then. Because she changed her emotions in an instant, it was as if a different woman stood before him.
"You can't cut me down because I'm pretty, right?"
She had returned to being the Chairan who seduced.
"Blood shouldn't stain new clothes, should it?"
Geom Mugeuk had no intention of drawing his sword in the first place.
"Kill me when you can. Don't regret it later."
"Couldn't I feel relieved later, thinking I spared you?"
Geom Mugeuk turned around, showing his back.
"Let's go out and walk a bit."
Chairan stared quietly at Geom Mugeuk, who allowed his back to face her in this situation, then followed him out.
The two walked side by side down the street. The scent of dumplings wafting from ahead covered the tension that had existed between them.
"Aren't you hungry?"
"If your subordinates were being held hostage, you wouldn't say such things."
Geom Mugeuk stopped in front of the dumpling cart, but she continued walking.
Geom Mugeuk followed behind her and spoke.
"Even if you don't eat dumplings, let's make him leave."
To compare eating dumplings with such a matter.
"Fine."
"Let's do it together."
"Why do you keep trying to drag me into this?"
"Because you like him."
Chairan stopped walking. Naturally, Geom Mugeuk stopped as well.
"What about him?"
He doesn't even know that I like him.
"If you help him, he'll think something like this: 'Huh? Why is this woman helping me?'"
Since it would be a matter of staking one's life, that surprise would be even greater.
"Then smile first. Not the smile you show me, but your real smile."
'My real smile?' Wondering what he meant, Chairan looked at Geom Mugeuk with puzzled eyes.
"When I said it wasn't that I saved him and sent him away, but that he had saved me and left, you smiled. It was an awkward and stiff smile. Yet that smile suited you so well. Just as that plain martial uniform from earlier suited you better than these clothes."
It was something she had never once thought of. That she had such an awkward smile? That the ordinary martial uniform from earlier suited her better than these clothes?
"You're trying to make me fall at the final stage."
Geom Mugeuk smiled and continued what he was saying.
"You must smile that smile. Because he will realize at once that the captivating smile you give me is fake. While giving your real smile, say this."
She wondered what on earth he was going to say.
"Since this is a connection too, shall we have a cup of tea?"
Chairan let out a hollow laugh, absurd as it was.
But Geom Mugeuk said what he had to say, serious until the very end.
"If he says he dislikes it, take off your shoes and chase after him."
In the end, she spat out,
"Are you crazy?"
It was something said to the Young Cult Leader, and also something Akgunhak would likely say to her if she did such a thing.
"I hear that often."
Geom Mugeuk laughed aloud.
Chairan recalled Geom Mugeuk standing in an alley last night when they parted, smiling as he looked at her.
It seemed this person hadn't just been itching to speak all this time. He smiled so well she wondered how he had endured it.
"The most dangerous people in the murim are those who smile as well as you."
"Then you're in big trouble. This time, I've come with someone who truly smiles well."
Chairan could tell. That he was speaking of Geukak Soma.
"We'll have to see how cheap that smile is as well."
It was a statement that she would check with her own eyes whether her subordinates were safe.
* * *
Despite Ogyo's remark, Sipchilgyo looked again at the Crescent Moon Faceless Guest.
This time too, it was not of her own will.
He, who had been looking out the window, struck the wall again to draw the surroundings' attention.
This time it was different from before. The knocking sound was peculiar.
At that sound, all the Faceless Guests reacted simultaneously. The Faceless Guest who had been crouching in a corner, dozing, sprang up; the Faceless Guest leaning against the wall in the other corner also leaped and came this way. The Faceless Guest tending to weapons moved as if war had broken out.
Thus, all the Faceless Guests who had been doing their own work lined up behind Geukak Soma.
Soon after, the door opened and Geom Mugeuk entered.
"I greet the Young Cult Leader."
At Geukak Soma's greeting, the Faceless Guests also matched their movements and cupped their fists in salute.
Clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack!
To the point where one might wonder if they were the same Faceless Guests who had been blankly staring out the window or crouching and dozing, their movements were so disciplined.
Geom Mugeuk also cupped his fist respectfully to Geukak Soma.
"I greet Lord Soma."
Soon after, Chairan entered inside. The assassin women were startled. They wondered if she had finally come to rescue them, for Geom Mugeuk had entered so nonchalantly and exchanged greetings.
At the thought that even she had been captured, everyone was shocked and despaired. They couldn't believe it. That amazing Chairan had been captured.
Then Geom Mugeuk spoke to them.
"Do not misunderstand. It is I who have been captured by this person."
While everyone was puzzled by the incomprehensible words.
Chairan walked over to them.
Her gaze turned toward her subordinates' necks.
Blood lines drawn at the exact same spot, at the exact same length.
Those lines spoke of the skill of the one who drew them in a single stroke.
Because she knew their skill well, the lines were all the more vivid.
Chairan spoke to her subordinates.
"Look. You didn't do anything rash like killing yourselves, just gritted your teeth through it. That's why you're seeing me again, isn't it?"
At those words, the assassins' expressions slightly relaxed. It didn't seem like Chairan had been captured?
Then Geom Mugeuk quickly claimed credit.
"You really brought them without anyone getting hurt. As expected! Truly impressive!"
Of course, there had been three or four assassins injured from resisting until the end, but considering the total number, one could say they had been escorted here with utmost care.
Chairan's gaze turned toward Geukak Soma.
He must have done so on the Young Cult Leader's orders, but she was grateful that they had been subdued and brought here without injury. And by none other than Geukak Soma.
She conveyed her gratitude with her eyes.
She had come saying she wanted to see Geukak Soma's cheap smile, but she had no desire to see his smile. She knew all too well when he smiled.
A decision had to be made.
If she didn't help Geom Mugeuk, they would all die. Even if the Young Cult Leader tried to save them, that Geukak Soma wouldn't just stand by.
To save them, she would have to fight the organization.
As she was worrying, Geom Mugeuk's voice transmission flew in.
—Take your subordinates and go.
The surprised Chairan turned to look at Geom Mugeuk. Geom Mugeuk had a serious gaze, as if it were no joke.
Releasing them without any conditions?
—Are you serious?
The reason was so like Geom Mugeuk as well.
—Indeed. The leader came in person. How could she leave her subordinates behind and go, without losing face?
It meant he would protect her authority.
—I could assassinate the Martial Lord together with the freed subordinates.
—Then most of the subordinates here would die. Regardless of success or failure.
—I would use them as sacrificial pawns to succeed.
Geom Mugeuk nodded.
—Perhaps you might.
But she could feel it. That Geom Mugeuk was certain such a thing would not happen.
—Why do you think I couldn't do it?
—Because if you were such a person, you wouldn't have braved danger to come here to check on your subordinates' lives.
That was evident just from the ambush on the Martial Lord that had been planned. At the celebration the Martial Lord was attending, only she, who had become the most beautiful woman under heaven, could attend.
Because she couldn't understand, she had to ask again.
—Why do you show me such kindness?
—Because I want to look good to you.
—And after you look good to me?
—I have to make him leave.
—You're truly persistent.
—Aren't madmen originally persistent?
Chairan stared into Geom Mugeuk's two eyes. Everyone knew the two were conversing through voice transmission, so they all watched the two without even breathing loudly.
Geom Mugeuk spoke to the Faceless Guests.
"Release their blood points."
Then the Faceless Guests came forward and released their blood points and demonic points.
Chairan didn't say anything else to them.
"Let's go."
The assassins also quietly followed her out. Whatever deal had been made, Chairan had rescued them. Thinking she had probably paid a great price, none of them could show joy.
At the entrance, Chairan turned back to look at Geom Mugeuk.
—You lost out on this matter. I would never have abandoned my subordinates.
It meant she would have listened to any demand. There was no way that sharp-witted Young Cult Leader hadn't known that.
—I have much, so I can bear this much loss.
Geom Mugeuk added with a smile.
—If one takes hostage what the opponent can never abandon and fights, wouldn't that be too boring a life?
Chairan, who had gazed at Geom Mugeuk for a moment, turned wordlessly and left that place.
Once they had all left, Geom Mugeuk apologized to Geukak Soma.
"I'm sorry, even though you went through the trouble of capturing them."
Geukak Soma did not ask why he had released them. He smiled silently at Geom Mugeuk, then looked back at the Faceless Guests standing behind him.
Because they knew the Demon Lord's will, the Faceless Guests all cupped their fists.
Before them, Geukak Soma also cupped his fist respectfully and spoke.
"Just give the order. I will capture them a hundred times over."