A lifeline descended for Jodang.
To him, who was being bitten and torn by unidentifiable venomous insects, six lifelines descended from the heavens.
Seeing Geom Mugeuk, Chung-ui removed the venomous insects biting Jodang.
Thinking this was his chance, Jodang mustered his strength. Though he was half out of his mind, his desire to survive was tremendous.
Jodang sprang up from where he sat and ran toward the main gate, shouting,
"Save me!"
He had thought they were guests who had come to this place. Surely they wouldn't kill everyone to eliminate witnesses. And indeed, Chung-ui did not stop him as he walked toward them.
Naturally, he had expected them to ask what had happened.
He had even thought of an instantaneous reply. That they had come to buy land, but that money-grubging bug had demanded three times the market price, and when they refused, she had tried to kill them.
But among the line of people, one man said something completely unexpected.
"If you want to live, you must choose well."
Naturally, the one who spoke was Geom Mugeuk. His gaze fell upon Hwang Chun, who was clinging to Bisain's leg, as he spoke.
"One could hardly say that person's choice was very good."
Bisain laughed. He had come to quietly—no, thoroughly—enjoy Geom Mugeuk's teasing.
Bisain smiled with delight, but to Jodang, that smile on such a fearsome face evoked the Grim Reaper of hell.
"Now then, will you be able to choose properly?"
Jodang stood in the middle of the courtyard and looked at them.
'What in the world is this situation? Aren't these people traveling together? Or are they trying to mock me?'
All manner of strange figures lived in this murim.
There was no room for choice. At this rate, his entire body would be devoured by the venomous insects and he would die.
His gaze swept over the six people.
There wasn't a single ordinary person among them. Every last one of them possessed an appearance that would make anyone turn their head for a second look if passed on the street.
Undoubtedly, the one who stood out the most was Geom Mugeuk, standing in the center and speaking.
When their eyes met, Geom Mugeuk spread his arms wide.
"The best choice, isn't it?"
Jodang quickly turned his head. No matter what, he wasn't so out of his mind as to choose that talkative, strange fellow.
Beside him was Bisain, with his fearsome face. Hwang Chun, who had been clinging to his leg, lay motionless, perhaps having fainted again.
Why would anyone choose a person like that? No, if going by appearance alone, that man looked the strongest.
But among six people, he decidedly did not wish to choose that face.
This time his gaze turned toward Jin Ha-gun. Integrity and chivalry radiated from his eyes. It felt as though if he asked for help, he would surely receive it.
That was precisely why his instincts refused.
Not him.
He thought that someone like himself, who had committed evil deeds, might bring down another calamity upon himself by asking help from a person of such upstanding character.
This time he looked at the women. First among them was Yi An, a woman so beautiful he wondered if he was seeing things.
The other two women were the same. Jin Ha-ryeong and Han Seol each revealed their own beauty.
Jodang excluded them all. In this murim, the people one had to be most careful of were such beauties.
His gaze naturally turned back toward Geom Mugeuk.
Geom Mugeuk said with a smile,
"As expected, there's no one but me, right?"
Surprisingly, Jodang chose Geom Mugeuk.
"Please save me."
There was only one reason for this choice. He had sensed that Geom Mugeuk controlled the atmosphere at the center of the group.
"Did you see? Did you see him choose me? This dependability, this trustworthiness that you lot absolutely lack! This strength that looks like it would save anyone from any crisis!"
Jodang wanted to shout like this:
'It's not because of that! I chose you because you were the only one talking!'
After boasting to his heart's content, Geom Mugeuk spoke to his friends.
"Since he chose me, I should greet her last. Now, everyone, greet her first."
The first to move was Bisain, who wanted to detach the fainted Hwang Chun clinging to his leg.
Free from Hwang Chun, Bisain walked a few steps forward and greeted Chung-ui.
"I am Bisain, Young Leader of the Demon Path Alliance. I have long heard of your esteemed reputation."
Out of respect for his counterpart, he revealed his identity.
Even at the words "Young Leader of the Demon Path Alliance," Chung-ui was not surprised at all. She rubbed her arm and asked,
"The only reputation I have is as a money-grubbing bug, no?"
"Are there not also bugs that help the world more than humans?"
'Not bad, this one.' Chung-ui, looking at him with such a gaze, abruptly asked,
"Do you have a lot of money?"
"Yes, I do."
"Then buy a few bottles of Flower Bug Wine when you leave."
"Yes."
"Buy five bottles. You're not allowed to complain about the price."
Chung-ui's expression brightened. In this moment, she truly acted like a money-grubbing bug.
Meanwhile, Jodang, listening to the conversation, was horrified.
'He is the Young Leader of the Demon Path Alliance?'
To think he would meet the Young Leader of the Demon Path Alliance in a place like this? But the Young Leader of the Demon Path Alliance was out here without subordinates?
Could it be that the talkative fellow and the others were his subordinates? No wonder he was walking around with three beauties! If that was the case?
'I'm doomed! I should have chosen him!'
Then Jin Ha-gun stepped forward and politely cupped his hands in greeting.
"I am Jin Ha-gun, who serves as the Demon Annihilation Commander of the Murim Alliance. It is an honor to meet you."
At the words "Demon Annihilation Commander," Chung-ui's expression grew pleased. As someone who walked the righteous path, she held basic goodwill toward the Young Leader of the Murim Alliance.
Despite keeping a disciple from the Demon Path Alliance by her side, and being deeply connected to the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, she was a good person to the very bone.
"I have heard of your excellent character many times. Please continue to be a pillar of the murim in the future."
"You give me too much praise."
Because he had roughly guessed why she had tried to sell wine.
"I will also buy some wine."
"You're a fine one. It's too expensive."
She was openly stating that the price was inflated.
"I also have a lot of money."
"Then you buy just one bottle. Use the remaining money for other good deeds."
She was certain that Jin Ha-gun's money would be used for good deeds anyway.
Geom Mugeuk could not let this favoritism pass.
"Aren't you discriminating too much? It's unfair enough that I have a scary face, but to be overcharged on top of that!"
"Ripping off villains is the real taste of it. You get ten bottles."
"That's too much!"
Meanwhile, Jodang was startled by the words "Demon Annihilation Commander." He knew well that the Demon Annihilation Commander was the next Murim Alliance Leader.
'That person is the Young Leader of the Murim Alliance?'
So surprised was he that the places bitten by the insects no longer hurt.
But he soon realized this situation was absurd. How could the Young Leader of the Murim Alliance and the Young Leader of the Demon Path Alliance be together? And without even bringing subordinates?
'What the hell are these people!'
But why was that Chung-ui accepting this absurd situation as fact? Why was she believing their words so readily? To deceive him? But there was no need for that, considering his plight before they arrived.
This time, Jin Ha-ryeong greeted her.
"I am Jin Ha-ryeong, his younger sister. It is a great honor to meet you."
"You get along well with your elder brother. I can see you're traveling together like this."
"We are rather close."
Geom Mugeuk slipped in and teased Jin Ha-ryeong.
"You lost the succession struggle, didn't you? Does the loser have power? If you're told to go, you have to go."
Without even knowing why she had joined this journey, to crack such a joke without knowing another's feelings!
"Please lend me the venomous insect you're holding! I'll shove it right into his mouth!"
When Chung-ui actually thrust the venomous insect at her as if telling her to do it, Jin Ha-ryeong retreated in surprise. Seen up close, it was truly repulsive and terrifying.
Next, Han Seol walked forward. Even though she had not introduced herself, Chung-ui discerned her origins.
"You came from a cold place."
"I am Han Seol, from the Ice Palace."
"Is your mother the Palace Mistress?"
"Yes, she is."
"Then you buy a bottle too. It will completely chase away the cold."
"Yes."
Finally, Yi An greeted her.
"I heard of you from the Young Cult Leader. I am Yi An."
Chung-ui remembered the Yi An that Geom Mugeuk had spoken of.
"So you are the subordinate he cherishes like his own heart."
Geom Mugeuk had once spoken to Chung-ui about Yi An in the past. Chung-ui had not forgotten the conversation they had shared then.
Chung-ui quietly gazed at Yi An's face. The unmistakable goodness she felt from her was the temperament Chung-ui liked most.
"It's a waste to give you to the Young Cult Leader."
Yi An felt overwhelming emotion. It was the first time she had heard such words since birth. She had never even thought such a thing herself. She had always considered herself far too lacking for the Young Cult Leader. Because she had never once considered herself his equal.
She knew it was said merely to be nice, but to her, it became words that overwhelmed her heart.
Yi An forcibly swallowed her surging emotions and spoke calmly,
"It is thanks to serving the Young Cult Leader for so long that I hear such undeserved words. I will also buy wine."
Then Geom Mugeuk shouted,
"Don't buy it! Then our cult gets stuck with eleven bottles of overpriced wine!"
Jodang could not hear any of the other words being spoken. The word "Young Cult Leader" was shaking his heart.
Young Cult Leader? Just which cult's Young Leader?
The Young Leader of the Demon Path Alliance had appeared, and the Young Leader of the Murim Alliance had appeared, so there was only one place left from which to come.
Jodang slowly turned his head and looked at Geom Mugeuk.
'No way. It can't be, right?'
It was right at that moment.
"Young Cult Leader!"
The one who called out to Geom Mugeuk was Pyo Gi-gwang, who had been coming out from the rear yard carrying a jar of venomous insects. He set down the jar and ran to Geom Mugeuk.
"It has been a long time, Young Cult Leader."
"You look well."
Geom Mugeuk could tell through the sword hanging at Pyo Gi-gwang's waist that he had even recovered his martial arts.
"Thanks to you, Young Cult Leader, I am living well."
Pyo Gi-gwang could not hide his emotion. At that time, it had been a situation where he could not have resented Geom Mugeuk even if he had killed him.
But Geom Mugeuk had given him a second chance. The life he was living now was a life given by that very Young Cult Leader before his eyes.
He was not the only happy face.
Pyo Gi-gwang discovered Bisain among those who had come together.
"Young Alliance Leader!"
"Glad to meet you."
"Have you been well?"
Because Bisain had once saved his life, Pyo Gi-gwang's eyes toward him contained deep gratitude.
By the time everyone had finished greeting each other, Jodang was plunged into shock and confusion.
With a trembling heart, he asked Geom Mugeuk,
"Why do they call you Young Cult Leader?"
The answer he would rather not have heard flowed out.
"Because I am the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult."
"!"
The moment he saw those clear, deep eyes, Jodang could intuit it. That the man before his eyes truly was the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
"Why in the world would people like you come to meet a mere physician like this?"
No matter how skilled this physician named Chung-ui was, they must have had far better physicians.
Geom Mugeuk stared at him intently and said,
"You are wrong. She is one who sacrificed her entire life bearing the stigma of a money-grubbing bug for the sake of orphans, and she is the one doing us insignificant fledglings the honor of meeting with us."
Demonic energy settled in Geom Mugeuk's eyes as he looked at him, turning them cold.
"We revere her in this way; what was it that you did?"
Listening, Chung-ui closed her eyes. Geom Mugeuk's words were ones that comforted and soothed her difficult, arduous life.
Yes, if she could receive such an evaluation from the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, how could she have any regrets in this life?
At Geom Mugeuk's rebuke, Jodang could say nothing and trembled violently.
He had lived a life diametrically opposed to his martial sect's name, Mutual Life.
Live together? No, he had lived only for himself. To fill his own selfish desires, he had committed all manner of evil deeds together with that Hwang Chun.
Until now, he had escaped undetected and safely.
But today, he had been properly caught. By the entire murim, both righteous and demonic.
"You chose me, so let us go to the cult together."
Jodang's face turned pale as he staggered backward. If he were dragged to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult in this situation, what would happen to him was as obvious as fire.
He looked at Jin Ha-gun and Bisain. They too looked at him with impassive faces. If they had been people who would help him, they would not have come together in the first place.
Jodang staggered back toward Chung-ui.
Standing before her, Jodang's gaze turned toward the venomous insect Chung-ui was holding.
Jodang slowly reached out and grabbed Chung-ui’s wrist, pulling her toward herself.
The poisonous insect she held touched her own chest.
*Crunch.*
“Uuaaaaaaargh!”
She was one who had chosen the agony of being bitten by a poison insect and dying over being dragged to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Geom Mugeuk nodded and said,
“That choice might be for the best.”
When Chung-ui gave a signal with her eyes, Pyo Gigwang came and suppressed the demonic and slumber acupoints of Jodang and Hwang Chun, then dragged them off to the backyard.
Only now did Geom Mugeuk formally reunite with Chung-ui.
“Elder! Divine Physician!”
Geom Mugeuk ran up with a delighted face and hugged Chung-ui tight.
“Our noona has grown even more beautiful!”
In the past, too, he had run up to hug her tightly and had joked by calling her noona.
Chung-ui welcomed Geom Mugeuk with a bright smile.
“I thought I’d die without ever seeing you again, yet here you are.”
Though Chung-ui was not one to easily reveal her emotions, she could not hide her joy now.
“Have you finished your task?”
“Yes.”
Geom Mugeuk nodded. Chung-ui smiled pleasantly and patted his shoulder.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“It’s all thanks to you, Elder.”
It was thanks to Chung-ui that he had gained immunity to ten thousand poisons, and thanks to the fortuitous encounter of that poison immunity that he had been able to easily escape many dangers.
“But who were those people from earlier?”
“How quick you are to ask.”
Pyo Gigwang answered, walking out from the backyard.
“They’re the bastards who tried to steal the home of the children you sponsor.”
Not only Geom Mugeuk but the other friends’ expressions darkened as well. They were guilty of a crime that would earn them the same agony even if dragged to the Murim Alliance or the Sa Do Alliance rather than the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Geom Mugeuk volunteered to handle the aftermath.
“If we leave them in the backyard, people from the main sect will come and deal with them soon.”
Since it was a matter related to Chung-ui, he would have them thoroughly investigate what those bastards had perpetrated and see to it that the matter was settled without any loose ends.
“But what brings you here?”
“I brought them to introduce my friends.”
Everyone once again cupped their fists in unison and paid their respects.
How could they not know why Geom Mugeuk had brought them here? It was to show them firsthand that such a life existed—a life that left behind sincerity rather than fame, a life where fame was naught but the shed husk of an insect.
And Geom Mugeuk had one more reason.
“Did I not promise you?”
“What promise?”
From Geom Mugeuk’s mouth came words she had never imagined.
“That I would surely cure your illness, Elder.”
“!”
An astonishment akin to shock bloomed across Chung-ui’s face. She had never imagined Geom Mugeuk would come for such a reason. It was a promise even she had forgotten.
“Now, I think I can finally give it a try.”