Chapter 230: What Was the First Decision That Came to Mind?

TL: FoodieMonster007

A gust of wind blew, heralding a new destiny. Countless thoughts raced through Bi Sayin's mind.

Suspicion came first.

What if this is all a ploy by the Demonic Cult to devour us?

However, he soon dismissed the thought. Others might resort to such tricks, but the Geom Mugeuk he knew was not that type of person.

"You don't need to get involved directly. I just need you to do one thing."

"What do you want me to do?"

"When I eliminate Yayul Han, I need you to take credit for it."

Bi Sayin was startled. He never imagined the requested help would be something like this.

"Why are you making such a request?"

"Because I don't want a war to break out between our Cult and your alliance, of course."

A war between the Demonic Cult and the Evil Alliance. Bi Sayin had imagined war with the Murim Alliance, but never with the Demonic Cult. In terms of military strength, the Evil Alliance would be annihilated. Of course, the Demonic Cult would also suffer immense damage, and the Murim Alliance would never miss such an opportunity.

Let the Demonic Cult's hands kill Yayul Han?

The discomfort of entrusting his nemesis to another was greater than the joy of killing with a borrowed knife. His pride was wounded. If Yayul Han was to be killed, shouldn't he be the one to do it?

Bi Sayin hid such feelings and expressed a different difficulty.

"The Chairman won't believe that I killed him."

"You can make him believe it. At the very least, you'll be able to smooth this over."

These were not empty words. Geom Mugeuk believed in Bi Sayin's abilities and potential.

After a brief pause, Bi Sayin asked, "Can you really eliminate Yayul Han?"

"That's my business."

Geom Mugeuk's gaze turned toward the Evil Alliance. Tightly packed torches lit the night, protecting the Evil Alliance.

"For you or me, taking that place is no easy task. The people who already occupy those positions hate change, and they don't trust us. We can't take it without effort. If we take it easily, it will be easily taken from us."

After a moment of contemplation, Bi Sayin spoke resolutely.

"I refuse. If he is to be eliminated, I will be the one to do it."

Bi Sayin turned and walked away. Geom Mugeuk called out from behind him.

"If you change your mind, come here when it's the Purple Orb. I'll be here every day."

Bi Sayin disappeared into the darkness without a word.

"What's the reaction from the Chairman's Hall?"

Cha Hwan answered Yayul Han's question. "It's quiet."

Yayul Han did not keep a strategist. He judged and decided everything himself. When someone asked why, he answered like this.

I've done well without a strategist, so I don't see the need for one. It was an arrogant statement, but as it became known, his followers within the Evil Alliance grew even larger.

"With Jisaeng and Aecha dead, our income has taken a major hit. Someone else can take over the Miracle Deity Loan that Jisaeng ran. The problem is the Berserk Pills that Aecha and the True Venom Sage made and sold. With the True Venom Sage dead, production has stopped. Why didn't you get the formula from the True Venom Sage beforehand?"

Cha Hwan could not understand. He could see Aecha not getting it, but Yayul Han should have obtained it long ago. The True Venom Sage was terrified of Yayul Han, after all.

"If I had done that, what would you have thought?"

"I would have thought you were thorough."

Yayul Han stared at Cha Hwan with cold eyes. Cha Hwan instinctively knew his answer was wrong.

"A leader who takes what his subordinates have can never be the best leader."

Emotion filled Cha Hwan's face. His expression showed how moved he was and how much he respected Yayul Han, but Yayul Han considered it a habitual display of emotion.

Easily moved. Easily respectful. It was an attitude Yayul Han did not particularly like. However, he kept Cha Hwan by his side because there was at least no deceit in this habitual emotion. A clear difference in temperature existed in the way the two men viewed each other.

"You can't kill the goose that lays the golden eggs! We have a long road ahead of us!"

"……"

Just then, a subordinate reported from outside. "Young Master Bi has come to see you."

A faint smile touched Yayul Han's lips. He had a feeling Bi Sayin would come, and his prediction was correct.

"Show him in!"

Then he gestured for Cha Hwan to leave.

"This subordinate will take his leave."

Cha Hwan left. A moment later, Bi Sayin stepped inside.

"Welcome, Young Master Bi."

"Commander, have you been well?"

Their gazes locked in the taut tension. Everyone acknowledged the two were rivals. They all thought one would die at the other's hand. They just did not know when.

"I hope I'm not taking up the time of a busy man."

"Our Young Master Bi is the busier one. Here, please sit."

The two sat facing each other at a table. A servant brought tea, but Bi Sayin did not even touch his cup.

"I heard about the Great Night Gang."

"Their resistance was too fierce, so I had no choice."

"Weren't you the one who pushed them too hard?" A rebuke hid within the soft question.

"The Extreme Army is a bit rough, but they are not people who enjoy killing for the sake of it."

Yayul Han had put the Extreme Army at the forefront. From this point on, any wrong word would be an insult to the Extreme Army, so he used this to silence Bi Sayin.

Bi Sayin stared silently at Yayul Han. In terms of facial features, Bi Sayin looked more menacing, but Yayul Han's emotionless eyes overwhelmed that menace.

Bi Sayin had to admit it. He had been afraid of Yayul Han until now. He could not know what thoughts were inside that head that never once revealed emotion. Because he did not know, he was even more afraid.

"One can never truly know what's inside a person. To think the leader of the Great Night Gang, who dedicated his entire life to our alliance, would join hands with the Murim Alliance. Frankly, I'm afraid. When I become Chairman, what's to say another traitor like that won't appear?"

"Young Master Bi has an excellent character, so you will lead the alliance well."

"It's not as if the Chairman was betrayed because his character was lacking."

Yayul Han read a certain provocation and confidence from Bi Sayin. This demeanor, different from his usual self, deepened Yayul Han's misunderstanding.

It seems the Evil Alliance Chairman gave him a heads-up.

He must have told him that an invisible war has begun. Yayul Han did not know that this unusual attitude was because of Geom Mugeuk, not the Evil Alliance Chairman.

Can a brat like you really lead the unorthodox murim?

By the time I'm your age, I'll be a much greater person than you.

A brat is still a brat even when he grows up. You will never sit in the Chairman's seat.

These were the true feelings in their gazes. However, soft words, different from their true thoughts, flowed from their mouths.

"I have misspoken and caused a misunderstanding."

"Not at all. The matter is what it is, so I was being sensitive. I apologize."

After politely apologizing, Bi Sayin rose from his seat. "I should get up before I make any more mistakes."

Before leaving, Bi Sayin left one last remark. "I trust only you, Commander."

Yayul Han gave a reassuring nod.

Bi Sayin left the room. He had thought he needed to meet Yayul Han at least once before making his decision. He had hoped that seeing Yayul Han would make the decision easier, but it was still difficult.

To become the Evil Alliance Chairman, he had to kill him, but was now the time? And by borrowing the blade of the Demonic Cult?

When he became the successor after getting rid of Seok Gwanchu's grandson, he was confident he could handle anything that came his way. He realized he still had never made a major, life-altering decision.

Coming outside, Bi Sayin looked up at the sky. The weather had been gloomy for the past few days.

The next day, while he was eating at an inn, a telepathic message came to him again.

[Eating at the same place every day makes you a perfect target for assassination.]

It was Geom Mugeuk's telepathy.

[If you couldn't even wait a day and were going to seek me out like this, why did you say you'd wait at the cliff?]

[Waiting is one thing. I'm here now to persuade you. Our fates depend on this matter.]

Bi Sayin's chopsticks paused. He took a drink of alcohol with his meal. The First Wolf of the Thirteen Evil Wolves watched and asked worriedly.

"Is something troubling you?"

"First Wolf."

"Yes, Young Lord."

"Do you think I will become the Evil Alliance Chairman?"

"What are you saying? Of course, the next Chairman will be you, Young Lord."

"I'm asking if I'll still be in the Chairman's seat ten years after I become Chairman."

For a split second, the First Wolf hesitated to answer. Bi Sayin could tell. The one who made him hesitate was none other than Yayul Han.

The First Wolf answered, "We will protect you and keep you safe for your entire life."

Bi Sayin smiled and then resumed eating.

Geom Mugeuk's telepathy came again.

[Those people will all die too.]

[There's no need to drag others into this just to persuade me.]

[I'm telling you that this isn't just your problem. It's the same for me. The people I've cared for, the people who were close to me. My failure will become their failure. Even if I don't want it to.]

Bi Sayin did not answer. Geom Mugeuk did not push him any further. Instead, he requested to see him one more time.

[I have something to say. Let's meet at the cliff later.]

"Why did you want to see me?"

When it was the Purple Orb, Bi Sayin came out to the cliff. Geom Mugeuk had arrived first and was looking at the stars twinkling in the night sky.

"The weather has been cloudy for a few days, so I couldn't see the stars, but they're so clear today."

Bi Sayin followed Geom Mugeuk's gaze and looked up. The stars were truly pouring down from the night sky.

After a long while, Geom Mugeuk spoke first. "There's something I tell people. My demonic way does not break tables."

Bi Sayin turned his head to look at Geom Mugeuk. Geom Mugeuk continued speaking, still looking at the sky.

"I can't stand to see the powerful trample on the weak. When I see that, I can't bear it, whether it's people from our Cult, the orthodox sects, or the unorthodox sects. I don't know if you're aware, but Yayul Han's subordinates created something called the Miracle Deity Loan to manipulate and ruin young people. They made a drug called Berserk Pills and led even innocent people to their deaths. My demonic way is not being able to stand by and watch that bullshit."

Geom Mugeuk's gaze slowly moved from the sky to Bi Sayin. When their eyes met, Geom Mugeuk asked, "What is your unorthodox way?"

Bi Sayin could not say anything. He had a vague determination and ambition to rule the Evil Alliance well, but he did not yet have a concrete governing philosophy he could articulate. Perhaps it was natural. Bi Sayin was still young.

"If you find that answer, this decision might become easier."

Today, Geom Mugeuk was the first to leave.

Bi Sayin remained standing for a long time, late into the night.

The next day, Bi Sayin was already at the cliff. As soon as he saw Geom Mugeuk, he spoke coldly.

"Do you even know what you're trying to do?" His voice was low but filled with the anger he could not express yesterday.

"Do you have any idea what killing him entails? If it were an easy task, do you think I would have been enduring this, knowing full well he'll kill me someday?"

"I know it's difficult."

"No, you don't. I'll tell you why you don't. I heard something from the Chairman once. He said you shouldn't take Yayul Han lightly because he commands absolute masters. I'll tell you the name of one of them."

"Who is it?"

"The Five Thunder Divine Sword, Baek Haeng."

Geom Mugeuk was shocked. "That man is still alive?"

He was a master from a previous generation of the unorthodox sects who had practically devoured the unorthodox murim of his time.

"So leave while I'm letting you go nicely. Go back while your two legs are still intact."

Then, Geom Mugeuk said something unexpected. "Our Cult has also identified one person."

"Who is the person you know of?"

"The Blood Calamity Bringer, Da Mal."

This time, it was Bi Sayin's turn to be surprised. He was the worst of the worst, a villain who had caused a bloodbath by killing hundreds of orthodox sect martial artists in one spot. His martial arts skills could not compare to the Five Thunder Divine Sword, but his wickedness was beyond description.

"These two might not be the only ones. Are you still going to do it?"

Geom Mugeuk nodded at Bi Sayin's question. "I will."

At the answer, which held not a shred of hesitation, Bi Sayin shook his head. "You really are crazy in a strange way."

"Even if I fail, you have nothing to lose. So why are you hesitating? Are you perhaps worried about me? Is that why you told me about the Five Thunder Divine Sword?"

Bi Sayin was slightly flustered. "What are you talking about? Why would I worry about you?"

"Why are you getting angry? I just asked."

"It's because you're talking nonsense."

Geom Mugeuk continued his persuasion in a gentle tone. "I know this isn't an easy decision."

"And yet you're still pushing me."

"You know from experience, don't you? With big decisions like this, the first one that pops into your head is often the right one. If you ignore that primal instinct, you end up making a bad move after long deliberation. What was the first decision that came to mind?"

After a brief pause, Bi Sayin answered. "It was to do it."

"Then let's do it."

Bi Sayin knew. The deliberation over this matter was endless. A month could pass, a year could pass, and he would still be agonizing over it. He just had to take the plunge.

And Bi Sayin took the plunge.

"Fine. Let's do it."

He decided to think of it simply. After all, if it were not for Geom Mugeuk, he would not be where he was today.

He came to collect a life debt, so let's repay that huge debt like this.

"Let's do it!"

At least, he seemed like someone who would not lead him down a bad path. That was who Geom Mugeuk was to him.

Geom Mugeuk was delighted and grateful to Bi Sayin for accepting his proposal.

"Thank you. You've made a very good decision. Without you, I wouldn't have even thought of proceeding with this plan in the first place."

"I just hope that when I look back on this moment later, I won't blame myself, thinking, 'Why did I make such a pathetic decision?'"

Their gazes locked in mid-air.

Geom Mugeuk looked at him with eyes full of gratitude and said, "Let's not look back for now. Later, after we've become the Heavenly Demon and the Evil Alliance Chairman, we can look back then."