Chapter 160: Son-in-law, Come Here and Receive a Drink From Me

TL: FoodieMonster007

The noisy hall quieted as the Chairman's gaze turned toward us. His eyes passed over his granddaughter and landed on me. I stood beside her with my head slightly bowed, avoiding his gaze.

Even without looking, I felt his eyes scrutinizing me. The moment was tense, and I didn't try to hide my nervousness. It would be strange for an ordinary servant not to be nervous here.

I tried my best not to reveal myself, even if I were discovered.

The Murim Alliance Chairman Jin Paecheon asked me, "Who might you be, Master?"

Jin Haryong then declared loudly, "He's the man I'm seeing."

This was her plan to save me. My approach was a direct confrontation, and so was hers. I had anticipated this, but seeing it firsthand made me grateful for her courage. It couldn't be easy for the granddaughter of the Murim Alliance Chairman to say such a thing in front of so many people.

Her words sent a buzz of murmurs through the crowd. Among them were Cho Sin and his father, the True Dragon Manor Master.

The True Dragon Manor Master scowled deeply. He was arranging his son's marriage, and the prospective bride had just brought another man.

In contrast, Cho Sin smiled as he looked at us. He must have felt a great sense of humiliation.

Jin Paecheon raised his hand, and the hall fell silent.

"I wasn't asking you," he told Jin Haryong. He then asked me again, "Who are you, Master?"

"My name is Geom Yeon."

"Which sect are you from?"

"I'm a servant who accompanied Young Master Seo Ryong of the Gansu the Western Blade Sect."

The word 'servant' made the crowd murmur again, louder than before.

Jin Paecheon rarely showed his emotions in front of the martial world's heroes, but he couldn't hide his bewilderment. He looked at Jin Haryong.

His expression said, Are you really going to do this?

Her expression was resolute. Yes.

Jin Paecheon's gaze returned to me.

I wonder how much the Chairman has figured out about me, separate from her bombshell declaration.

"Young Master Geom." He called me Master even though I had said I was a servant.

"Haryong has been very mischievous since she was young. Her specialty was surprising people. She once nearly fell into qi deviation by circulating her sword arts formula backward. Today, she surprises us by bringing you here."

Jin Paecheon spoke as if this was just another prank.

"Everyone has been surprised enough, so I believe your role is complete. You must have had a hard time being dragged here by that rascal. I'll treat you separately next time, so for today, you may leave."

The Chairman resolved the situation. Some would think Jin Haryong was playing a prank. Others would think the Chairman was dismissing her rebellion. One thing was clear. No one believed I was actually the man she was seeing.

Of course, Jin Haryong didn't back down.

"You were very surprised back then, weren't you? If you hadn't been there, Grandfather, I wouldn't be alive today. That's why I'm trying not to play pranks anymore. This man is really the person I like."

Everyone's gaze focused on me again. Some clicked their tongues and sighed at my shabby appearance. Their expressions all said the same thing, from 'Well, you can't win against your own child' to 'Even the Chairman is no exception'. They just couldn't say it out loud.

"Did you say you like that man?"

"……"

She answered her grandfather without hesitation. Tension flowed between them, tauter than on a dueling stage. Everyone watched with great interest, except for Cho Sin and the True Dragon Manor Master.

"Then I suppose you could marry that man."

Jin Haryong flinched at the mention of marriage.

"Still, marriage is a major life event. We should see each other a little longer."

"You've already declared it in front of so many people, so what are you hesitating for? Fine. Since he's the one you want, I'll let you marry him."

"Grandfather!"

"I'll have you married right here, right now. Do it. Isn't this what you wanted? 'I don't want an arranged marriage. I want to marry the person I love.' Fine, I'll grant your wish!"

Jin Paecheon pushed further. "Prepare for the wedding at once."

At the Chairman's order, subordinates began preparing for a wedding. Jin Haryong's flustered expression was evident as the situation unfolded. She knew her grandfather's personality wasn't ordinary, but she hadn't expected him to push for a marriage on the spot.

"I haven't even greeted his family yet."

"Martial artists aren't bound by formalities. They'll understand. Go and greet them politely later."

Jin Haryong looked at me, flustered. Even I hadn't anticipated this.

"My future son-in-law, come here and receive a drink from me."

Future son-in-law? I've never heard those words in my entire life, including my past one, and I'm hearing them from the Murim Alliance Chairman? Father, I'm receiving a drink from the Murim Alliance Chairman while being called his son-in-law!

I accepted the drink the Chairman poured, the first I had ever received from him.

"Thank you."

"Please take good care of my granddaughter from now on."

I could tell from the deep, cold look in his eyes that he had already grasped my true nature. He intended to deal with me after resolving his granddaughter's issue.

He gave me a faint smile. It wasn't a smile of pleasure but a warning. We'll talk later.

The wedding preparations were swiftly completed. Martial artists often held weddings at the Murim Alliance, so it wasn't a difficult task.

In the end, Jin Haryong raised the white flag.

"Please stop! I've lost. We're not getting married."

Only then did Jin Paecheon smile.

Their expressions seemed to say, How dare you mess with this old grandfather? and I admit defeat, Grandfather, but I have to explain this.

Jin Haryong then explained the day's events to everyone. "Elders, Seniors, I apologize for ruining this precious occasion. I caused this commotion for a reason. Someone is trying to kill that man out of jealousy, simply because he was with me. I orchestrated this to protect him."

Someone in the crowd started clapping and shouted, "How wonderful."

It was Cho Sin.

"To go this far for that shabby and ugly servant! Truly magnificent!"

As he clapped, others joined in. I could feel that Cho Sin was thoroughly incensed.

This was good. People make mistakes when their emotions run high. Go on, run wild a little more.

Jin Haryong announced loudly, "From now on, if anyone touches this man, I'll stake my name on getting revenge. My grandfather taught me my entire life to refrain from bullying the weak, so I hope you'll all keep that in mind."

Mentioning the Chairman was a very smart choice.

After she finished, Jin Haryong tugged my sleeve. "Come on, let's go back now. Grandfather, I'm sorry for what happened today. I'll come back to apologize properly."

We both bowed politely to the Chairman, then followed Jin Haryong out. After leaving the Yeon President, we walked silently through the Murim Alliance grounds.

Then, she stopped.

"I'm sorry for not telling you beforehand."

"It's alright."

"You told me back then, didn't you? That my selfishness hurts others."

"I didn't say it in those exact words."

"But that's what it meant. You're right. My way of handling this was just as selfish. However, no matter how much I thought about it, this was the only way I could protect you."

She had genuinely tried to protect me, regardless of her method.

"Since I said it in front of my grandfather, they won't dare try to harm you. If they still try something, then that's great for me. I'll have an excuse to never go through with an arranged marriage. I can say, 'See? Grandfather said he was a good person, but he wasn't, was he?'"

"Then I'll gladly die for the Young Lady."

Jin Haryong looked at me with a slightly angry expression.

"I know you're joking, but please don't make jokes like that. It's what my grandfather has told me countless times. Protecting good people from evil is the sole reason we of the orthodox sects exist. I may not be anyone great, but I'll never stand by and watch someone become unhappy because of me."

"That's admirable."

"I wasn't saying it to get a compliment."

"But will you be alright? Rumors will have spread by tomorrow."

"Bad rumors won't spread. If anything, it'll be framed positively. 'The Murim Alliance Chairman's granddaughter caused a commotion to save a servant!' The Alliance manages things like this. You didn't know, did you?"

She stared at me intently.

"They won't be able to do anything to you, at least not until the Young Dragon Tournament is over. When you see an opportunity, leave and go far away. Don't go to your hometown. Go somewhere else, far away."

She took money from her robes and gave it to me. "I'm sorry I can't keep my promise to buy you noodles and drinks three times."

It was more money than the cost of noodles and drinks, meant for my escape.

Regret flowed from her eyes. She believed this was our last moment. She had no intention of approaching me again, even if I didn't leave right away. It was to prevent me from falling into danger.

"Then I wish you happiness."

I bid her farewell and watched her walk away. I glanced down at the money in my hand.

I looked up at the bright, shining moon.

Father, the unification of the murim you dream of can only be achieved by killing all of these people.

As I looked at the night sky, I turned and said, "I have something to tell you."

The Murim Alliance Chairman, Jin Paecheon, had appeared silently behind me. He must have heard my entire conversation with her.

"Of course you do. You'd better choose your words carefully. Your life hangs on every single one."

The Jin Paecheon who released his qi was not the same man from the Yeon President. His qi felt like the ocean. A deep resonance, like a whale's cry, echoed from afar. The wind carried the scent of the sea. I felt as if I were adrift alone in a boundless ocean.

The next moment.

CHAK! CHAK! CHAK! CHAK! CHAK! CHAK! CHAK! CHAK!

Dozens of martial artists descended from all directions like vertical lightning bolts. They wore white masks and white martial arts uniforms. They were the masters of the Heavenly Dragon Protection Squad, who would follow the Chairman even into hell.

CHAAENG!

They drew their swords simultaneously, but it sounded like a single blade. The sound alone told me how well-trained and skilled they were. The aura from their blades constricted me like a spider's web.

"I wish to be alone with the Chairman."

"Is there a reason I should do that?"

"Because what I'm about to tell you is something only the Chairman should know."

The Chairman didn't dismiss his men. The bodyguards were unlikely to withdraw so easily and leave him with an unknown master.

"If I had come here to assassinate the Chairman, I would have had other opportunities and methods. I wouldn't attempt it in such a tense situation."

At that, the Chairman told them, "All of you, withdraw."

They instantly leaped away and vanished. I knew they hadn't truly disappeared. It was impossible to make them withdraw completely. They were people who protected the Chairman, not just people who received his orders. They would never leave his side.

They would carry out any other command, but not the one telling them not to protect him. To kill the Chairman, one would have to kill all of them.

I sent a telepathic message to Jin Paecheon.

[From now on, I'll speak to you via telepathy.]

[Reveal your identity first.]

I revealed my identity to him.

[I come from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult…]

Before I could finish, PWAAAAANG!

A streak of a palm technique flew from Jin Paecheon's hand like lightning and struck me.

KWAAANG!

An explosion roared around my body, and dust billowed up.

When the dust settled, I still stood in the same spot. I had blocked the palm technique by crossing my hands and raising my protective enhanced qi.

From behind my crossed arms, I looked at Jin Paecheon and continued.

[…I'm the Cult Leader's second son.]

SHWAAAAAEEEEENG! KWAAAAAANG!

An even more powerful palm technique flew in and struck me. I remained standing in the same spot, not pushed back, blocking with my crossed arms. My protective enhanced qi was at its limit, and my arms ached as if they would be torn off.

[…My name is Geom Mugeuk.]

By blocking those two palm techniques, I had proven my identity with my skill.

The Chairman's tiger-like eyes gleamed. The man who had asked, 'Who is your Master?' and the man now exuding a ferocious aura were completely different people. I could feel it. This blazing intensity was his true self.

[Why did a child of the Demonic Cult Leader approach my granddaughter?]

I uncrossed my arms and straightened my body.

[To save your granddaughter.]

Jin Paecheon's qi grew fiercer. The overwhelming aura swirling around me felt as if it would tear my body apart. This was the qi of the current Murim Alliance Chairman, the power to tear a person apart with aura alone.

His next palm technique would be incomparably more powerful. If he drew his sword, every move would be a matter of life and death.

This was the beginning. The battle to persuade him, or fail.

[Only I can save your granddaughter.]

Jin Paecheon's qi shifted from fierce to terrifying. Dark clouds gathered, the world grew dim, and the sea began to churn.