Chapter 273: The Great Orthodox-Unorthodox War at this Drinking Party

TL: FoodieMonster007

Geom Mugeuk's arrival pushed the situation into a new phase.

Bi Sayin wasn't surprised, as he had expected Geom Mugeuk to come. Jin Hagun, however, was startled.

So that's Geom Mugeuk!

The martial artists who entered earlier wore chests adorned with shields and demons. They were the Heavenly Demon Hall bodyguards. The two men with extraordinary presences who followed them must be Demon Supremes.

The old man carrying a giant dao larger than his torso had to be the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. The man who looked forged from steel must be the Fist Demon. The moment Jin Hagun saw the Fist Demon's face, his heart dropped. He had never seen such a terrifying face.

So the Demonic Cult has made its appearance, is that it?

Jin Hagun felt flustered, but he also understood. The Demonic Cult had tried to swallow the Heavenly Peace Sect first, so it was natural they wouldn't simply back down.

Seo Baekjong was the most horrified by Geom Mugeuk's appearance. The Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult must be furious, since Seo Baekjong had used the Murim Alliance's power to get his son out. What did it mean for Geom Mugeuk to appear here leading Demon Supremes?

Seo Baekjong had endured all sorts of trials, but his heart shriveled in this moment.

One wrong move and I'm dead.

If the Evil Alliance Young Alliance Chairman or that Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult tried to kill him, would Jin Hagun risk his life to stop them? The matter would surely become a public issue, but that would be after he was already dead.

He had walked the tightrope between the orthodox, unorthodox, and demonic factions well until now. Now, he had to walk it perfectly. That rope was his lifeline.

Meanwhile, Seo Cheong felt confused. Bi Sayin's entrance had filled him with fear, but now that Geom Mugeuk had also appeared, he was simply bewildered. What in the world is this situation?

Then, his eyes met Geom Mugeuk's. Geom Mugeuk's expression seemed to say it all.

I told you we'd see each other again soon, didn't I? You just stay right there.

A surge of indignation rose in Seo Cheong.

Don't be ridiculous!

Seo Cheong, who had retreated to a corner, now walked forward.

You can't do anything to me anyway!

He didn't understand what was happening. Whenever a crisis arose, he had lived his life with the complacent thought, It'll work out somehow.

He actually felt relieved that the orthodox, unorthodox, and demonic factions were all gathered. His instincts told him that with so many people here, someone was bound to protect him.

He didn't know that all these people had come to devour the Heavenly Peace Sect. He didn't know that this time, it would not just 'work out'.

Geom Mugeuk walked toward Jin Hagun. The Demon Slaying Brigade nervously aimed their swords. The Heavenly Demon Hall bodyguards aimed their swords right back. The subordinates were more tense than Geom Mugeuk and Jin Hagun.

Geom Mugeuk parted the bodyguards as he walked forward.

"I am Geom Mugeuk, the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult."

Jin Hagun parted the martial artists of the Demon Slaying Brigade as he walked forward.

"I am Jin Hagun, Captain of the Murim Alliance's Demon Slaying Brigade."

With a few steps between them, the two men's gazes locked in midair.

This was the historic meeting between the certain future Heavenly Demon and the likely future Murim Alliance Chairman.

Jin Hagun was inwardly surprised. Geom Mugeuk was different from what he had imagined. Besides being young and handsome like his second brother, Geom Mugeuk's eyes were clear and deep. He gave off no evil feeling at all. Jin Hagun suddenly recalled what his younger brother had said.

"What will you do if he's a righteous demon?"

Jin Hagun immediately rejected his brother's words. It was a prejudice born from appearance. He absolutely could not be fooled by looks.

Geom Mugeuk felt that Jin Hagun looked exactly like Jin Haryong. Despite his youth, Jin Hagun's eyes held a sense of justice and righteousness. If one wished for the murim's well-being, they should hope for Jin Hagun to become the next Chairman. If one dreamed of unifying the murim, they should hope Jin Hagun did not.

The war of nerves between the Demon Slaying Brigade and the bodyguards lined up behind them was fierce. As they glared at each other, their eyes showed not an inch of retreat.

Geom Mugeuk spoke to Jin Hagun.

"Instead of standing here like this, shall we sit and properly discuss the territories?"

At that, Jin Hagun turned and walked to the drinking table. He then pointedly sat at the head of the table and gestured for them to sit to his left and right.

Geom Mugeuk smiled faintly at the sight. Not bad. Geom Mugeuk's first impression of Jin Hagun was a passing grade. If he had met the Murim Alliance Chairman's grandson and found a brat like Seo Cheong, he would have been truly displeased, but Jin Hagun's gaze was good, and his presence was strong.

Bi Sayin moved first. He strode forward.

He didn't sit where Jin Hagun had gestured, but sat directly opposite him.

Then Bi Sayin stared at Jin Hagun without a word. A silent battle of wills had begun between the two men.

Geom Mugeuk's smile deepened at the sight. Right, there was no way Bi Sayin would meekly do as Jin Hagun dictated.

Jin Hagun may have lived his entire life as the protagonist, but here, he would learn that he could also be a supporting character.

Geom Mugeuk sat in the spot Jin Hagun had indicated. This naturally placed him in the middle of the confrontation between Jin Hagun and Bi Sayin.

"The most entertaining thing in the world is watching a fight, and this is a fight between the heirs of the orthodox and unorthodox sects? I've got the best seat in the house."

Even with Geom Mugeuk's jest, the tension in the hall didn't ease.

Instead, with the three of them seated so close, a hair-trigger war of nerves erupted.

The Demon Slaying Brigade, the Thirteen Evil Wolves, and the Heavenly Demon Hall bodyguards stood in lines behind their respective masters, glaring at one another. The men who had accompanied their leaders were high-level masters, but these men were also elite martial artists who could fight extremely well. If a fight broke out, the place would become a sea of blood in an instant.

Cheokyeon sent a telepathic message to the bodyguards lined up with him.

"Don't be tense!"

"No matter what happens, we must protect the Young Cult Leader's safety."

"Don't be afraid."

He continued sending telepathic messages to soothe them. In truth, he was also speaking to himself. He had never imagined he would have to bodyguard Geom Mugeuk in a situation like this. He was realizing it all over again. His master was the most difficult leader to bodyguard in the entire murim.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon, the Fist Demon, the Sword Saint, the Evil Eccentric, and the Light Flash stood naturally a short distance away. The tension was completely different now that the Demon Supremes had joined. Although they didn't show it, they were all prepared to strike at any moment.

The gazes of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Sword Saint met.

"It has been a while."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon greeted the Sword Saint first. The Sword Saint accepted his greeting.

"Has it been about ten years?"

"It seems longer than that."

The Sword Saint was a man who loathed the unorthodox sects and the Demonic Cult, but his gaze toward the Blood Heaven Blade Demon wasn't so bad. It seemed there was some past connection between the two.

"To think we would meet in a place like this."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon replied to the Sword Saint's words.

"I am glad to see you look healthy."

"You have gotten thinner."

Just then, the Evil Eccentric stepped forward.

"Why are you two acting so friendly when you're not even close?"

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon said to him.

"Your habit of butting in where you don't belong is still the same, I see."

"And your habit of looking down on people is still the same, Senior."

The Evil Eccentric addressed the Blood Heaven Blade Demon as Senior.

"Now that you know I am still the same, it would be best for you to stay quiet."

The Evil Eccentric scoffed but didn't argue further. Regardless of their martial arts level, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was more difficult to deal with than the Sword Saint. Indeed, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, the spicy ginger of the murim, was showing exactly why he had to be called here.

Meanwhile, the Fist Demon stood with an expressionless face, his two fists hanging loosely at his sides. That alone made everyone tense. It wasn't just because of his face. His presence was immense. The Fist Demon just standing there and the Fist Demon facing his enemies gave off completely different feelings.

Jin Hagun picked up a wine bottle and filled a cup. He acted as if he were the host, in place of Seo Baekjong. He had to face both the Demonic Cult and the Evil Alliance, and he strove not to be overwhelmed by their presence.

"I have heard many rumors about you, Young Cult Leader."

Jin Hagun was especially wary of Geom Mugeuk. His opponent was a demon, and not just any demon, but the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult. He was hailed as the greatest successor in history for making even the Demon Supremes his own people. Jin Hagun was extremely tense, not knowing what tricks his opponent might pull.

"What kind of rumors were they?"

"Most of them were hard to believe."

"Then what do you think, now that you see me in person?"

Honestly, Jin Hagun had no sense of what kind of person his opponent was.

Instead of answering, Jin Hagun raised his cup high. He knew better than anyone that when you are unsure, silence is the wisest choice.

"Let's have a drink!"

The three men toasted and drained their cups. It was truly the first drinking session among three men that would be recounted for ages in the history of the jianghu.

As he filled the second cup, Jin Hagun asked.

"It seems you two are not strangers."

He could tell from the way Geom Mugeuk and Bi Sayin didn't greet each other separately.

"That is correct. We have met before."

Geom Mugeuk looked at Bi Sayin and greeted him.

"Have you been well?"

He wouldn't reveal that they had plotted this together, but he didn't bother to pretend they were strangers either.

Bi Sayin replied bluntly.

"I was doing fine until you showed up."

He acted curtly because Jin Hagun was watching, but he was grateful to Geom Mugeuk. Thanks to Geom Mugeuk, he had absorbed fifteen small and medium-sized sects in Hunan into the Evil Alliance. Of course, that didn't mean he intended to yield the Heavenly Peace Sect. They had agreed to compete fairly.

"I'm not going to yield," Bi Sayin sent via telepathy.

Geom Mugeuk replied to Bi Sayin's telepathy.

"I was planning on yielding."

"How can you lie without a single change in your expression?"

"Was it obvious?"

Bi Sayin turned his head away with an expression that said Geom Mugeuk was impossible. The taut tension with Jin Hagun instantly dissipated as he exchanged telepathic messages with Geom Mugeuk. If he didn't know what kind of person Geom Mugeuk was, he would have considered him a frivolous man, but now he knew. The most difficult person to deal with here was Geom Mugeuk.

In the meantime, telepathic messages also passed between Jin Hagun and Seo Baekjong. Everything at this meeting would be decided not by the words spoken aloud, but by the ones that were not.

"You must not lose your nerve," Jin Hagun sent.

"I'm counting on you, Captain," Seo Baekjong replied.

Contrary to his words, however, Seo Baekjong was inwardly anxious. With the unorthodox sects and the Demonic Cult coming at them with such determination, he even considered that he might have to switch boats depending on how the situation unfolded.

And then, the inevitable arrived.

Geom Mugeuk looked at Seo Baekjong standing beside him and spoke.

"Now, Sect Leader Seo, why don't you join us for a drink as well?"

Seo Baekjong sat down next to Jin Hagun and accepted a cup of wine.

Bi Sayin continued what he had been saying before Geom Mugeuk's arrival.

"Sect Leader Seo, are you really going to walk the same path as the Murim Alliance?"

Seo Baekjong still hesitated to answer.

His choice of the Murim Alliance was because of the man in the bamboo hat, Jin Hagun's Master, Baek Cheongeong. It was a relationship he couldn't easily betray, but the same was true for this side. He couldn't just say to the heir of the Evil Alliance, 'Yes, we betrayed you.'

Seo Baekjong glanced at his savior, Jin Hagun.

Jin Hagun gave him a look that said, There is no need to be intimidated by them. Speak your mind with confidence.

Geom Mugeuk, observing their reactions, asked Jin Hagun.

"Is this your first time meeting Sect Leader Seo?"

"It is."

Jin Hagun wanted to show Seo Baekjong that he was confident in front of Geom Mugeuk and Bi Sayin. However, his answer gave Geom Mugeuk another question.

"That is very strange. If you two are strangers, then who on earth did Sect Leader Seo trust to ask you for help?"

The gazes of Geom Mugeuk and Bi Sayin turned to Seo Baekjong.

Normally, he should have said something like, 'I have always admired the orthodox sects.'

But he couldn't predict how this situation would unfold. He was being careful with his words in case an opportunity arose to side with the Demonic Cult or the unorthodox sects. What if Jin Hagun got angry? It didn't matter. After all, all three of them wanted the Heavenly Peace Sect. It was a precarious situation, but he still held the handle of the knife.

Then Geom Mugeuk asked bluntly.

"Who was the person who acted as a bridge between you two?"

Geom Mugeuk had asked about the very point he was most interested in, about who had orchestrated this whole affair.

At Geom Mugeuk's piercing question, Seo Baekjong and Jin Hagun said nothing. They should have said there was no such person, but the sudden question caught them off guard.

There is definitely someone.

It was the moment Geom Mugeuk's suspicion turned into certainty.

Someone who knows both Jin Hagun and Seo Baekjong connected them.

He had to find that person. It wasn't just because he had connected Jin Hagun and Seo Baekjong. It was because he possessed the guts to stand against the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. Who on earth could it be?

Jin Hagun, sensing that Seo Baekjong was wavering, immediately sent a telepathic message.

"Sect Leader, you must trust us."

"I do trust you, but as you can see, they don't look like they'll give up easily."

"We will not give up either."

"Give me your assurance."

Seo Baekjong demanded of Jin Hagun.

Since Jin Hagun couldn't give up the Heavenly Peace Sect, he declared with firm resolution.

"Now that the Heavenly Peace Sect and our Alliance have joined hands, we will absolutely protect the Heavenly Peace Sect. Threatening the Heavenly Peace Sect will be considered an attack on our Alliance."

As if in response, the martial artists of the Demon Slaying Brigade raised their momentum.

Then Bi Sayin said coldly.

"That is what you think. I have yet to hear an answer from the Heavenly Peace Sect Leader."

As if on cue, the Thirteen Evil Wolves also raised their momentum.

Bi Sayin sent a telepathic message to Seo Baekjong.

"The sects that followed you have all turned their backs. Now, if a problem arises in Hunan, who will help the Heavenly Peace Sect? Do you think that Captain of the Demon Slaying Brigade will protect you here for the rest of his life? This isn't a threat, I'm telling you the reality."

How could Seo Baekjong not know such a reality?

"The best path is to come with us."

Seo Baekjong looked at Geom Mugeuk, thinking that realistically, that might be the wise choice.

There were three ropes. Two of them dangled right in front of him, begging to be grabbed, but the last rope was far away.

Why aren't you making me an offer?

As if reading his mind, Geom Mugeuk smiled and said.

"I am finding this great orthodox and unorthodox war at this drinking party quite amusing. So please, don't dare say you will follow our Cult."

At those words, everyone's gaze turned to Geom Mugeuk. They all knew well that Geom Mugeuk wouldn't give up the Heavenly Peace Sect so easily. Faint smirks appeared on the lips of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Fist Demon.

Bi Sayin felt a sense of unease.

Don't tell me?

He had an ominous premonition. By the time they stood up from this table, Seo Baekjong would declare his choice to join the Demonic Cult. A premonition that Seo Baekjong would insist on following the Demonic Cult even if they refused.

And Geom Mugeuk's first secret attempt to make that premonition a reality began.

Geom Mugeuk sent a telepathic message to Jin Hagun.

"Commander Jin, let me ask you one thing."

Jin Hagun stared at Geom Mugeuk with a look that said no tricks would work on him. Then, words he could never have imagined came flying at him.

"Do you want to become the Murim Alliance Chairman?"

Jin Hagun was startled. He never thought he would be asked such a question.

To the wide-eyed Jin Hagun, words even more powerful than before flew in, shaking him to his core.

"Do you know? You are currently giving up on becoming the Murim Alliance Chairman yourself."