Chapter 272: Why Us, of All People?

TL: FoodieMonster007

Jin Haryong blocked her brother, Jin Hagun, as he walked to the carriage.

"You're attending the banquet?" she asked.

"What are you doing here?"

"What do you mean? I came to see my brother off."

"Why are you doing something you never do?"

They had lost their parents early and grown up relying on each other, so they cared for one another deeply, but Jin Haryong had never come to see him off before.

"Is it because of that man, Geom Mugeuk?" Jin Hagun asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Did you come out because you're worried about him?"

Jin Hagun knew his sister had connected with Geom Mugeuk during the last Young Dragon Tournament. He also knew she had survived then because of Geom Mugeuk's help.

Jin Haryong could not confirm or deny it. If she admitted worrying about her brother, his pride would be wounded, but if she said she worried about Geom Mugeuk, it would cause a misunderstanding.

"He's not an easy opponent," she said instead. "Don't let your guard down for a second. I came to tell you that."

"I'm also aware of his extraordinary nature. I'll be careful."

As he moved to get into the carriage, Jin Haryong grabbed her brother's arm.

"When you face him, you have to cast aside your preconceptions. Don't think, 'He's a demonic being, so he must be like this.' He's not the kind of person you think he is, brother."

Jin Hagun did not understand what his sister worried about. He had never met Geom Mugeuk.

"That man, Geom Mugeuk, has grown too powerful," Jin Hagun said. "If we don't break his momentum now, we won't be able to do anything about him later."

Jin Haryong had also heard news of Geom Mugeuk. The reports were astonishing. She remembered when he first introduced himself to her with a pseudonym.

"My name is Geom Yeon. Not the 'Yeon' (緣) for connection, but the 'Yeon' (煙) for smoke. I will be here for a moment, and then I will disappear like smoke."

Perhaps to her, he was not Geom Mugeuk, but Geom Yeon. He had truly vanished like smoke when everything ended. That must be why she thought of him from time to time. She had heard he became the Young Cult Leader and wanted to congratulate him.

Unaware of her feelings, Jin Hagun considered Geom Mugeuk an enemy.

"I believe," he said. "I believe that righteousness can overcome any evil. So don't worry."

Jin Haryong spoke cautiously. "What if he's a demonic hero?"

A righteous demonic martial artist. The thought had not occurred to her when she saw Geom Mugeuk, but after they parted, the word 'demonic hero' would suddenly come to mind. He was a demonic hero unbound by convention, who always protected what needed protecting. He did not hesitate with frustrating righteousness but smashed through obstacles.

"Could such a person possibly exist?" Jin Hagun scoffed. "That's just a term made up by storytellers. Upholding righteousness isn't so easy. It's something demonic beings, obsessed with survival of the fittest, could never accomplish."

With that, the carriage carrying Jin Hagun departed. The martial artists accompanying him followed on horseback.

Watching them go, Jin Haryong sighed lightly.

"I was telling you to cast aside those preconceptions."

She believed in her brother, but a part of her also believed in Geom Mugeuk.

However, Jin Hagun's actions today were a struggle for supremacy in the murim. When ambitions clashed and desires ran wild, there was no telling what might happen.

Her eyes, watching the carriage speed away, filled with worry. Seeing herself worry in a way she never had before, she realized she had become an adult, and the murim was changing radically toward a new era.

"Why us, of all people?" the Blood Heaven Blade Demon demanded as soon as we met.

But I could sense his excitement. The Demon Supremes were needed, and he was the first to be called.

"It's because we need to create an atmosphere of fear," I explained. "As if the Hunan Branch is on high alert, even though you haven't done anything."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon glanced at the Fist Demon, then nodded as if to say, 'Then you've chosen well.' He was one of the few people in the world who could react that way in front of the Fist Demon.

"Then why me?" the Blood Heaven Blade Demon asked. He had naturally assumed creating fear was the Fist Demon's role.

"The Elder is in charge of fear?"

"What?" The startled Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked back at the Fist Demon again. "Then why did you call this guy?"

"Because we need a smart person, too."

"This brat!"

Before the Blood Heaven Blade Demon could erupt, I rushed forward to embrace him. "Elder! I've missed you."

In truth, the Fist Demon was the face of the operation, while the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was the spicy ginger.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon used his movement arts to evade my hug.

"I was being completely humiliated here in Hunan! You have no idea how much I wished for you two to come!"

"I'm sure you were the one doing the humiliating. Who were you tormenting?"

"It's a misunderstanding!"

After our boisterous reunion, I greeted the Fist Demon. "Master, I've wanted to see you."

The Fist Demon said gruffly, "What help do you need?"

He was the kind of person who, if I said, 'I want to conquer the murim!', would just reply, 'Let's go!' without another word. He was that reliable. The warmth I could feel beneath his gruffness was all the more pleasant.

It's so good to see you again, Master.

With the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Fist Demon here, it felt like I had gained an army of thousands.

"Now, since you two are here, shall we take on the entire murim?" I asked, then explained the current situation.

"…Since the Evil Alliance has entered the picture, we have more than enough justification to make our move."

"You must have already decided with the Evil Alliance which sects each side will absorb," the Blood Heaven Blade Demon said. As expected, the veteran understood the core of the joint operation without me needing to explain.

"As expected of the Elder!"

The sects that supported the Evil Alliance and our Cult were clearly divided. There was no need to argue with Bi Sayin over this point.

"And the Evil Alliance?"

"They're in the process of absorbing the sects now."

At that, the Fist Demon shot up from his seat. "Let's go too. There's no time to waste."

Just showing the Fist Demon's face would be enough to end this matter.

A banquet was prepared at the Heavenly Peace Sect. It was held at night, with reliable martial artists stationed as guards.

Seo Cheong was excited to meet the man who would become the Murim Alliance Chairman.

They said the successor is young, so I should try to sweet-talk him. This could be a good chance to advance into the Murim Alliance.

He had experience mingling with and leading Hunan's young prodigies. He felt confident he could handle young guys.

On the other hand, Seo Baekjong stared anxiously at the entrance. The arrival time had passed, but none of the leaders of the sects that followed the Heavenly Peace Sect had come. It would be a disaster if Jin Hagun arrived before them.

Growing impatient, Seo Baekjong pressed his confidant, Yoo Maeng. "Why hasn't anyone come?"

How would Yoo Maeng know? When he hesitated, Seo Baekjong interrogated him.

"Are you sure you sent the message correctly?"

"Yes, I am."

"Perhaps you told them the wrong date?"

"No. How could I have been careless with a matter of this importance?"

"Then why aren't they coming? Go and check at once."

Even after sending Yoo Maeng, Seo Baekjong could not sit still. He had a bad feeling. Normally, they would have arrived early just to stay on his good side.

Just then, a subordinate ran in and reported, "The Captain of the Demon Slaying Brigade has arrived."

Seo Baekjong was startled. Jin Hagun had arrived earlier than promised.

The doors opened, and martial artists from the Demon Slaying Brigade swarmed in, securing the perimeter.

Seo Cheong watched in shock. When the first martial artist entered, he thought that man was the Captain. The aura of the Demon Slaying Brigade members was so extraordinary it could cause such a misunderstanding.

When his eyes met a nearby martial artist's, Seo Cheong quickly looked away. Their presence was incomparable to the prodigies he usually associated with.

Soon after, Jin Hagun entered the room. As the Captain, his aura was different from his subordinates. Jin Hagun possessed a dignity that made it difficult to treat him carelessly.

Seo Cheong's plan to smoothly approach him, starting with, 'Let's get along well as young martial artists,' and aiming for, 'I'll guide you to a wonderful place,' crumbled. He could not even meet Jin Hagun's eyes and lowered his head.

An old man followed behind Jin Hagun. He wore pure white robes and held a single sword to his chest. His atmosphere was like that of a celestial being who had descended to the mortal world.

His presence overwhelmed everyone. Seo Baekjong recognized him at a glance.

It's the Sword Immortal (劍仙)!

He had seen him once from a distance, surrounded by masters and receiving a warm welcome. He was a peerless master with an unforgettable aura.

The Sword Immortal, Lee Haksin, was an absolute master of the orthodox sects and one of the murim's most renowned swordsmen. He was also a friend of the Murim Alliance Chairman, Jin Paecheon, who had asked him to assist his grandson on this trip.

Seo Baekjong rushed forward to greet Jin Hagun. "Welcome, Captain."

"It's a pleasure, Sect Leader."

"Thanks to your help this time, my son was able to remain safe. I won't forget this debt of gratitude."

Jin Hagun merely nodded and introduced Lee Haksin. "The Sword Immortal Elder has specially accompanied us on this journey."

Seo Baekjong's waist bent so low it nearly touched the floor. "It is an honor for my family to meet the Sword Immortal Elder."

"A pleasure," the Sword Immortal said. His greeting was a single word. He was not pleased about absorbing the Heavenly Peace Sect, as it meant accepting those who had not walked the path of righteousness for political reasons. It went against his beliefs, but he had come to grant his friend's request.

"Here, please have a seat."

Jin Hagun sat at the head seat, while the Sword Immortal stood a short distance away. Though senior, he focused solely on protecting Jin Hagun, as they had already discussed. Jin Hagun focused on the purpose of his visit.

The Demon Slaying Brigade members pricked the banquet food and alcohol with silver needles, checking each one for poison.

"No one else has arrived yet," Jin Hagun observed.

Seo Baekjong flinched. Everyone should have been here waiting. Something unthinkable had happened.

He tried to act nonchalant as he poured some alcohol. "In my greed to spend some time alone with you, Captain, I called them to come a little later."

He then changed the subject to show off his influence. "There are over thirty sects that follow our main sect. If we absorb all of them, the Murim Alliance could seize control of Hunan."

It might seem his side should be subservient because they had saved his son, but the essence of this matter was different. He was still the one holding power.

The rescue of his son should be interpreted this way. How badly must they have needed the Heavenly Peace Sect to risk a clash with the Demonic Cult and intervene? Besides, the thirty-some sects that followed the Heavenly Peace Sect were also part of the deal.

I have to lead the negotiations to my advantage.

Jin Hagun, on the other hand, was sparing with his words. His opponent was a sly old fox. When dealing with such a person, one should be reserved and say only what is necessary. If one talks too much, a seasoned opponent will find a weakness.

"As you might guess, most of them are followers of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Evil Alliance," Seo Baekjong continued. "To absorb them into the Murim Alliance, you, Captain, will have to show them overwhelming strength."

Jin Hagun was determined to win them over. If he could not, the matter for which he had used his unique authority would only be a half-success.

"I want to show them my strength, but they haven't come," Jin Hagun said with a smile.

Seo Baekjong took it as a joke. "It seems they are too afraid to dare meet the Captain of the Demon Slaying Brigade."

After that, Seo Baekjong tried to stall with small talk, but no matter how long they waited, the others did not appear.

Anxiety burned in Seo Baekjong, and his hands trembled. He was staking his family's future on this gamble, but the very people who needed to show up were absent. Something must have happened.

At first, Jin Hagun thought Seo Baekjong was playing a power game. Soon, however, he intuited that something was wrong. Just then, the doors to the banquet hall finally opened.

"They're here!" Seo Baekjong shouted, looking pleased. He had hoped they would all swarm in, but only one person stepped through the doorway.

In that moment, as all eyes fixed on the newcomer, the members of the Demon Slaying Brigade leaped to protect Jin Hagun.

CHAENG.

They drew their swords in unison.

The person who entered without concealing his malevolent energy was Bi Sayin. The Thirteen Evil Wolves also drew their swords and stepped forward. The Demon Slaying Brigade and the Thirteen Evil Wolves faced off, swords aimed at each other.

Behind Bi Sayin, the Evil Eccentric and the Light Flash entered. The expressions of the Demon Slaying Brigade members hardened. These were masters who surpassed their own skills, and their malevolent energy was suffocatingly thick.

It was at that very moment.

HWIIIIIIIIII!

A stream of clear energy blew like the wind, pushing back the encroaching malevolent energy. It was the aura of the Sword Immortal. As the malevolent energy receded, the Demon Slaying Brigade's expressions relaxed.

In response, the Evil Eccentric and the Light Flash unleashed their malevolent energy even further. The Sword Immortal did not yield to their combined assault.

An invisible battle of qi erupted between them, and a taut tension filled the air. A bloody battle could break out if someone so much as dropped a sword.

As the atmosphere grew hostile, Bi Sayin turned and spoke politely to his companions. "For now, I must have a word with the Captain over there, so how about you Seniors save your reunion for a little later?"

The malevolent energy from the Evil Eccentric and the Light Flash subsided. They followed the Young Alliance Chairman's command without fail. The Sword Immortal also withdrew his aura and stared intently at the two masters. They knew each other well, and their gazes exchanged a conversation.

[You're still alive?]

[With so much evil overflowing in the world, I have no time to die.]

However, as they were escorting important people, they did not engage in further conflict.

Bi Sayin stepped forward. "I am Bi Sayin, the Young Alliance Chairman of the Evil Alliance."

When he revealed his identity, the atmosphere in the hall froze. Seo Baekjong, in particular, trembled with fear. Someone who should never have appeared had shown up.

He finally understood why the leaders had not come.

They've all turned their backs on me!

At Bi Sayin's appearance, Seo Cheong retreated to a safe distance, preparing to flee at any moment.

Jin Hagun stepped forward and offered his greeting. "I am Jin Hagun, Captain of the Murim Alliance's Demon Slaying Brigade."

It was the first meeting between the two. They looked at each other, sizing one another up. They were opponents who would become lifelong rivals.

"How is it that you've become an uninvited guest?" Jin Hagun asked.

Bi Sayin smoothly deflected the rebuke. "That's why I came to ask. Why an invitation that should have come to us went to your side instead. I believe it must have been a mistake."

"Unfortunately for you, it was no mistake," Jin Hagun retorted. "Sect Leader Seo has already decided to join forces with the Murim Alliance."

At that, Bi Sayin looked at Seo Baekjong. "Is what he says true?"

How could Seo Baekjong dare to say yes?

Jin Hagun stepped in on behalf of the cornered man. "Hey, what do you think you're doing, coming into someone else's territory?"

A tense atmosphere flowed between the two men. Jin Hagun had no intention of backing down. The same was true for Bi Sayin. The Demon Slaying Brigade and the Thirteen Evil Wolves were all tense. A chaotic battle could erupt at any moment.

It was at that very moment.

KIIIIIIIIK.

The door slowly opened, and a new person appeared. Everyone's gaze turned toward him.

Seo Baekjong was utterly shocked. Bi Sayin's appearance was already a disaster, but now another person who should never have come had arrived.

Geom Mugeuk stepped inside, radiating demonic qi. All twelve of his bodyguards followed him.

The confronting Demon Slaying Brigade and Thirteen Evil Wolves split, also facing off against the Heavenly Demon Hall's bodyguards.

Behind Geom Mugeuk, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Fist Demon followed.

At the appearance of the two Demon Supremes, the Sword Immortal, the Evil Eccentric, and the Light Flash were all startled. They all knew each other.

Instantly blanketing the area with demonic qi, Geom Mugeuk said coldly, "Since we're talking about territory, let's get one thing straight. This is our territory."