Baek Jagang, leader of the Sado Alliance, stood on the roof of a building that afforded a clear view over all of the Shinhwa Gang.
Behind him, Bi Sain reported the results of the investigation.
“According to our findings, not only Young Gang Leader An Hupyeong, but the other martial artists of the Shinhwa Gang as well, seem to have been unaware of this matter.”
Perhaps that was only natural. They would not have carelessly leaked such an enormous plan as the assassination of the Sado Alliance Leader. It must have been a secret known only to Yeom Sageom and Cheol Hando, who had died together with An Cheonggwang, the leader of the Shinhwa Gang.
“How shall we deal with An Hupyeong?”
As the direct bloodline of the Shinhwa Gang Leader who had plotted this affair, he could be made to answer for the crime. Even if he had no guilt, guilt could be created.
But Baek Jagang did not bother to do so.
“Leave him be. If he knew nothing, there is no need to punish him.”
Bi Sain considered it a wise decision.
An Hupyeong was not a man with enough venom in his heart, nor enough boldness, to seek revenge for this.
Rather than showing the cold-heartedness of condemning even blood kin for a great crime, it would be better in many ways to show the Sado Alliance Leader’s broad magnanimity.
In truth, An Hupyeong’s troubles would begin from now on.
If he inherited the Shinhwa Gang as things stood?
Could this immature wastrel, who had lived like a good-for-nothing, truly protect the Shinhwa Gang in this harsh martial world of the unorthodox factions? It would likely not be easy.
Just then, the voice of In Gung, captain of the guards, came from the air.
“Young Cult Leader Geom has come.”
“Have him come.”
Bi Sain bowed to Baek Jagang.
“Then I shall withdraw.”
Thinking that his master would have things to say to Geom Mugeuk alone regarding this matter, Bi Sain stepped aside.
A short while later, Geom Mugeuk ascended to the place where Baek Jagang waited alone.
“I greet the Alliance Leader.”
After greeting him politely, Geom Mugeuk conveyed his gratitude.
“Thank you for entrusting this matter to me.”
Since it had been a plan to kill him, Baek Jagang could have handled everything himself from beginning to end. Moreover, this was the territory of the Sado Alliance.
“Do you know why I left this matter in your hands?”
“For what reason?”
It was not because he found it troublesome, nor because Geom Mugeuk had informed him of the assassination plan.
Baek Jagang, who had been looking down at the Shinhwa Gang, turned to Geom Mugeuk and said,
“Because I respect you.”
Sensing that he meant it sincerely, Geom Mugeuk also bowed his head in sincerity.
“Thank you truly for thinking so highly of someone as lacking as I am. I, too, have always respected you, Alliance Leader.”
No shiver ran over his ears.
Naturally, Baek Jagang’s gaze toward Geom Mugeuk softened.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“Lord Soma did everything in this matter. I slept soundly and came back.”
Baek Jagang quietly stared at Geom Mugeuk.
“It seems you slept well.”
Amazingly, Baek Jagang had read the change in Geom Mugeuk. Geom Mugeuk was, quite literally, becoming stronger every time they met.
This young cult leader before him made a man who thought it was time to step down feel that he ought to begin anew. He was certain the Murim Alliance Leader felt much the same. Perhaps even the Demon Cult Leader was no different.
“Did you find out why they tried to kill me?”
“I am sorry, but I could not.”
Baek Jagang thought perhaps that, too, was only natural. The moment he heard those words that sounded like a prophecy, this had ceased to be a simple assassination plot.
“What do you think of that nonsense?”
If the Sado Alliance Leader does not die, the murim will be destroyed.
By calling it nonsense, Baek Jagang revealed that he had no intention of destroying the murim.
It is nonsense.
He could have said that for Baek Jagang’s sake.
“It likely isn’t nonsense.”
Baek Jagang’s small eyes flashed keenly.
“I believe there is certainly some meaning contained in those words.”
The master of Cheonhwaru had said it sounded like a prophecy. That meant that, in some way, the Sado Alliance Leader was deeply connected to what would happen in the future.
“Then does that mean you believe those words?”
“That you will destroy the murim, Alliance Leader? No, there’s no way. If that happened, the murim would truly be destroyed.”
He knew it was something said to please him, but he could not help feeling better at the young cult leader’s words.
“I do not believe those words at all.”
“Then why did you say they were meaningful?”
“They are people with twisted convictions. They are the descendants of Cheonui Palace, who believe themselves to be executors of Heaven’s will. And among the three palaces of Cheonui Palace, they are descendants of the Dark Palace, known to be the most wicked. You know, do you not, that three hundred years ago they actually started a war to conquer the murim?”
Geom Mugeuk interpreted this prophecy from their point of view.
“If you remain alive, Alliance Leader, perhaps they cannot achieve whatever it is they dream of. Perhaps they interpreted your saving the murim, in reverse, as its destruction.”
Baek Jagang smiled faintly. In the end, it was not simply nonsense, but nonsense they themselves took seriously.
“I have no intention of destroying the murim, but I have no intention of saving it either.”
“That remains to be seen.”
Even at these words, no shiver ran over his ears. Geom Mugeuk truly believed that he might save the murim.
“Do not be offended by that prophecy. It means you stand at the center of this incident to that extent. But I believe one thing is certain. There is something they mean to gain by assassinating you, Alliance Leader. Since there is already a clear successor, it is not the power of the Sado Alliance, but something else.”
Geom Mugeuk looked at Baek Jagang and asked,
“What is it they want, Alliance Leader?”
Baek Jagang gave no answer.
“The answer is certainly with you, Alliance Leader.”
* * *
Bi Sain was looking at the finals stage of this tournament.
Just then, Geom Mugeuk flew in with lightness skill and landed on the empty stage.
“What a pity. I wanted to see Ian become the greatest beauty under heaven on this stage.”
Bi Sain had known he would come looking for him. If he had come to meet his master, then he would come to see him as well. Sure enough, even without arranging where to meet, he had found him on his own.
“If you regret it, hold it again yourself.”
At Bi Sain’s words, Geom Mugeuk sat down on the edge of the stage.
“A Greatest Beauty Under Heaven tournament held by the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, huh. Would anyone even dare participate? There’d be so few contestants that even if you put on makeup and entered, you might make it to the main round.”
Bi Sain let out a laugh. Most of his laughter was at such absurd remarks, but still, he often laughed in front of Geom Mugeuk.
“Will you return to the cult now?”
“I should. Is it because I met the Alliance Leader? I miss my father terribly.”
He had told Cha Iran they should rescue Ak Gunhak and let him leave, but he could not simply do so without thought.
He did not even know where he was, and even if he did, this was not something that could be handled so easily.
If he believed in Ak Gunhak, he had to wait. If their bond continued, then surely there would be a call of fate.
“Ah, by the way, do you know where the place with the best atmosphere and scenery around here is?”
“Why do you ask?”
Although this was the territory of the Sado Alliance, Geom Mugeuk, who had been all over the Central Plains, would know better than he did. He wondered why he was asking him, but there was a scheme behind it to tease him.
“I’m going to help you do what you’re good at.”
“What I’m good at? What is that?”
Bi Sain’s unease slowly rose. He would rather have heard an answer like, Killing people!
“You know. The thing you’re good at doing secretly from your friends.”
Just as Bi Sain’s sense of crisis rose even higher, Geom Mugeuk said as if whispering,
“That secret, hidden affection of yours. Love in secret!”
In that instant, Bi Sain was flustered. He knew Geom Mugeuk was referring to Han Seol, the young palace mistress of the Ice Palace, but Bi Sain flatly denied it.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
He had said he would tease him about it for a long time, and now it had begun.
“I’m busy, so I’ll just leave for today.”
Geom Mugeuk lightly launched himself into the air as he spoke. Even as he left, he teased him.
“Ah! You have to go if I’m to pass on the secret technique to you.”
* * *
Seventeenth Gyo was crossing a narrow wooden bridge.
The bridge stretched across the water toward a pavilion in the middle of the lake.
The scenery around her was beautiful beyond compare. But she could not enjoy the wildflowers swaying by the lakeshore, nor the blue-green lake sparkling like jewels.
It was Cha Iran who had ordered her to go to the pavilion. Without any explanation, she had singled her out and sent her here. Ah, she had said one thing: dress well before going. For some reason, it felt as if she were heading out on an assassination.
And so Seventeenth Gyo arrived at the pavilion.
When she climbed up into the pavilion and saw the person waiting there, she froze on the spot. It was none other than the Crescent Moon Faceless Guest.
He, too, seemed surprised, as if he had not known she would come.
For a while, an awkward silence and atmosphere flowed between them.
Seventeenth Gyo could tell.
Cha Iran had realized that she had given her heart to this Faceless Guest. Had Fifth Gyo told her? Or had someone seen and reported the two of them greeting each other while they were clearing away corpses?
In any case, this must be Cha Iran’s warning. Not to give her heart to a man.
After taking a deep breath, Seventeenth Gyo broke the silence. Thinking she might never see this person again, she conveyed her honest feelings.
“Thank you for saving me twice. When I saw earlier that you were alive, I was truly happy.”
She had been truly delighted when Cha Iran decided to rest in the shadow of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. But now, even if they were in the same place, she would surely never be able to acknowledge him.
She took a dagger from her bosom and gave it to him.
“This dagger has meaning to me. I’d like to give it to you as thanks.”
She was speaking boldly, but her voice was trembling. To feel this way toward someone whose face she had not even seen.
“And please understand if I pretend not to know you from now on.”
The Crescent Moon Faceless Guest only listened to her in silence.
“Then I’ll be going now.”
It was just as she lowered her head in farewell.
Someone crossed the lake like the wind and flew into the pavilion.
Holding a bottle of liquor in his hand, it was none other than Geom Mugeuk.
“I bought liquor for the two of you. Since you probably can’t drink strong liquor, I bought something with a fine fragrance. When people first meet and things are awkward, having this between you helps the mood, doesn’t it? You have no idea how far I ran to buy this. But what’s with the atmosphere? Did you already fight?”
At Geom Mugeuk’s appearance, both Seventeenth Gyo and the Crescent Moon Faceless Guest were startled.
Seventeenth Gyo asked with a surprised expression,
“Young Cult Leader, why have you come here?”
“What do you mean, why? I’m the one who called you here. I asked Miss Cha to do it. I asked her to call you here.”
Seeing her bewildered expression, Geom Mugeuk said,
“Have you forgotten already? Didn’t I say I would arrange a place for you to express your thanks? So you could meet him in person and give him the dagger.”
“!”
How could Seventeenth Gyo have forgotten? But she had never imagined the young cult leader would truly arrange such a meeting, and so she had never thought this place had been prepared by Geom Mugeuk.
‘He truly prepared this place for me?’
Seventeenth Gyo’s face flushed. Unaware of that, she had told the other party all her feelings far too honestly.
She could not bring herself to look at him.
“I misunderstood. I’m sorry.”
She was so embarrassed that she wanted to jump into the lake right then and there.
At that moment, the Crescent Moon Faceless Guest opened his mouth for the first time.
“The Young Cult Leader even bought liquor.”
Seventeenth Gyo lifted her head and looked at him.
“You should at least have a cup before you go.”
A small wave of emotion spread through her eyes.
The Faceless Guest cupped his fist respectfully toward Geom Mugeuk and conveyed his gratitude.
“Thank you for arranging this place, Young Cult Leader.”
In this moment, the Faceless Guest seemed so perfectly composed that Seventeenth Gyo became terribly curious about what sort of face lay beneath that mask.
“Then have a talk, you two.”
Leaving the two of them behind, Geom Mugeuk quietly withdrew.
In an instant, Geom Mugeuk crossed the lake and landed by the shore. Cha Iran was waiting there. Before the two of them, he had been an extremely dignified young cult leader.
“Miss Cha, among assassin martial arts, is there perhaps a secret technique that lets you breathe underwater and eavesdrop on people? Ah! I’m dying of curiosity about what those two are talking about! Let’s go listen in on them!”
When he had asked her to call Seventeenth Gyo, Cha Iran had been surprised. She was surprised that he had really let the two of them meet, but what surprised her even more was that he had not forgotten this matter. The young cult leader of the Demon Cult had not forgotten the affairs of mere subordinates?
Cha Iran turned her gaze toward the pavilion.
“What will you do if those two really elope in the middle of the night?”
“That would be nice, but in reality, they’ll probably keep it in their hearts and long for each other all their lives.”
“Wouldn’t that be even more unfortunate?”
At that, Geom Mugeuk looked at her and abruptly asked,
“Are you more unfortunate because you hold that person in your heart?”
“!”
She was not. In her life, the feeling of liking him occupied a fairly large space in the small realm of happiness she possessed. Even if it was a feeling she held alone.
“If you devote yourself to our cult, those two will be able to live happily without eloping in the night.”
“Are you telling me to become a demon cultist because of them?”
Then unexpected words flowed from Geom Mugeuk’s mouth.
“No, I’m telling you to become a demon cultist for my sake.”
For an instant, Cha Iran was startled. She had never expected him to say such a thing.
“You would become an assassin corps directly under the young cult leader. Rumors would spread throughout the murim. They would say the young cult leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult commands the greatest assassin corps in the murim! And an assassin corps made up of truly beautiful women, at that!”
Cha Iran looked at Geom Mugeuk.
“Do you think you can handle me?”
A brief silence passed. She thought he would wave his hands and say he was joking, but Geom Mugeuk looked at her with a serious expression.
For a very brief moment, Cha Iran wondered what it would be like to live such a life.
This young cult leader was someone who made her seriously consider even such an absurd proposal.
“You said that once we eliminated them, you would let me leave as I pleased.”
“Wouldn’t it be far too regrettable to simply let a talent like you go?”
She should have dismissed it by telling him not to spout nonsense. Instead, Cha Iran asked again,
“That man fought in order to leave. Then what are you fighting for?”
After a brief pause, Geom Mugeuk answered.
“At least one thing is certain. It is not for the unification of the murim or the destruction of the murim.”
Geom Mugeuk revealed his honest feelings to her.
“I want to fish with my father, spend time and play with the Demon Supremes, drink, read books, and travel. I want to live like that.”
Geom Mugeuk looked toward the pavilion beyond the water sparkling in the sunlight.
“And help those two elope in the night. And also…”
Lastly, looking at Cha Iran, he added,
“Find your love for you.”
Cha Iran could not tell how much was sincere and how much was a joke, but one thing was certain. If she stayed with this person, a great change would come to her life.
Geom Mugeuk deliberately let out a sigh.
“To me, living a life like that feels more difficult than uniting the murim.”
Geom Mugeuk’s gaze toward her deepened.
“Can you handle someone like me?”