Chapter 279: You Never Know

TL: FoodieMonster007

Lee Ahn wore a bamboo hat with an attached veil.

As Lee Ahn drew nearer, Jin Haryong's eyes widened. Her figure was slender yet sensual, a physique one did not see every day.

Still, Jin Haryong maintained her composure for the moment.

Lee Ahn walked right up to the two of them and slowly removed her bamboo hat.

Jin Haryong was stunned the moment she saw Lee Ahn's face.

Jin Haryong had always been confident in her own looks. No matter how beautiful a woman was, she tended to look ordinary standing before Jin Haryong.

However, this person was different. She had distinct and refreshing features, clear eyes, and resilient skin that seemed to glow.

Jin Haryong wondered if it was even possible for someone to be so captivatingly beautiful.

The reason Jin Haryong was more surprised and impressed than most was that she herself knew more about beauty than anyone else.

She had often been the subject of comparison and had met many beautiful women. That was why she knew. It was not easy to be that beautiful.

There was one more thing.

Something made Lee Ahn perfect. It was Lee Ahn's aura. Her aura was gentle yet intense. Looking at her felt like seeing a single plum blossom blooming on a snowy day.

A master!

No prodigy Jin Haryong had seen until now had ever displayed such an aura. It was an aura that overwhelmed not only them, but even herself.

She's a greater master than I am.

She's this beautiful, and she's strong in martial arts too? Surely her personality can't be good, right? Her voice must be strange? Truly, such silly thoughts even crossed her mind.

While Jin Haryong was lost in thought, Lee Ahn smiled and greeted her.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Lee Ahn."

Her voice was like jade beads rolling on a silver tray. Her personality was still unknown, but judging by external factors alone, she was perfect.

"I'm Jin Haryong."

Jin Haryong's voice trembled slightly. It hadn't trembled when she gave a speech to all those prodigies earlier, but in this moment, it did.

In contrast, although Lee Ahn faced the granddaughter of the Murim Alliance Chairman, every word she uttered overflowed with confidence.

"I've heard a lot about you. It's an honor to meet such a distinguished person. You're truly beautiful. I've never seen anyone as beautiful as you."

A single thought surfaced in Jin Haryong's mind.

Look who's talking!

To think a day would come when she would be outmatched in looks.

Her astonished gaze turned to Geom Mugeuk. Geom Mugeuk puffed out his chest with an annoyingly proud expression.

"This is the kind of person I am."

As if she couldn't believe it, Jin Haryong checked again.

"Is she really your girlfriend?"

At the word girlfriend, Lee Ahn looked at Geom Mugeuk in surprise.

"She was looking down on me for not having a girlfriend, so I told her I did."

Jin Haryong's heart pounded for her own reasons, and Lee Ahn's heart pounded for hers.

"So, is she your girlfriend or not?"

Just as Geom Mugeuk was about to answer, Lee Ahn replied.

"I'm not."

At that moment, Jin Haryong felt an unidentifiable sense of relief.

"We're much closer than a girlfriend."

Jin Haryong flinched.

Though it was a brief reaction, Lee Ahn could feel it.

Miss Jin likes the Young Master.

It was an intuition she could feel as another woman.

The Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult and the granddaughter of the Murim Alliance Chairman.

The qualifications that all men in the world desire have become the worst possible conditions for a relationship with the Young Master, I see.

Lee Ahn smiled and said, "I've served as his bodyguard since we were young. That's what I meant by our long time together."

At that, Jin Haryong glanced at Geom Mugeuk and commented, "It must have been difficult, serving that person."

"It wasn't easy."

As the two women stared at him simultaneously, Geom Mugeuk grinned and said, "People always become friends faster when there's a common enemy."

Then, Jin Haryong asked provocatively, "Are we really common enemies?"

"What do you mean?"

Jin Haryong said to Lee Ahn, "If he considered you a subordinate, I don't think the word girlfriend would have ever come out of his mouth."

At her probing words, Lee Ahn stated firmly, "You misunderstand. To me, he is the noble Young Cult Leader, and I've never dared to harbor such feelings."

Her feelings for Geom Mugeuk were deeper than anyone's. However, she was a mere bodyguard, and Geom Mugeuk was of the Heavenly Demon's bloodline. She, on the other hand, was all alone in the world, not even knowing who her parents were.

"You never know what can happen in the world."

Jin Haryong's words were directed at Lee Ahn, and perhaps, also at herself.

Just as Lee Ahn had sensed Jin Haryong's affection for Geom Mugeuk, Jin Haryong also sensed that Lee Ahn was in love with Geom Mugeuk.

For a brief moment, a strange current flowed between the two women.

Jin Haryong said to Geom Mugeuk, "Anyway, I take back calling you a braggart."

"Then we're good. My credibility has been restored."

Finally, Geom Mugeuk revealed the reason he had brought Lee Ahn.

"I didn't bring Lee Ahn here to have you two fight over your looks."

"Then?"

The reason was quite unexpected.

"I brought my friend to introduce her to another friend. I thought you two would get along well."

The words 'another friend' flew into Jin Haryong's heart.

So he really did think of me as a friend.

She felt a strange mix of happiness and a slight sense of disappointment.

After introducing the two women to each other, Geom Mugeuk got to the point.

"Where is Commander Jin?"

"Why my Orabeoni?"

"Didn't you call me because of Commander Jin?"

"How did you know?"

Honestly, this man was no longer surprising.

"Your Orabeoni must have asked you to arrange a chance meeting."

"How did you know that, too? Don't tell me. Are you spying on us? Did you plant people around me?"

Her words made Geom Mugeuk laugh because she was being serious, not joking.

"I wish I really had spies that skilled. The problem is, people with that much skill don't become spies."

That meant Geom Mugeuk had figured it out through deduction. Right, this was the kind of person he was, so it made sense that her Orabeoni would ask for his help.

"Do you think of me as a friend?"

Geom Mugeuk nodded.

"Then make me a promise. You can't harm my Orabeoni. If it comes to that, kill me instead. Got it?"

Geom Mugeuk said to Lee Ahn, "Did you hear that? If I order you to kill Commander Jin, you can just kill this person here."

"Isn't that too harsh an order after introducing us as friends?"

At Lee Ahn's words, Jin Haryong smiled faintly.

"My Orabeoni is in the guest room at the far end of the rear garden. He's on standby to come out and meet you when I send word."

"I'll go and meet him."

"My Orabeoni's pride will be hurt."

"If he wanted to protect his pride, he wouldn't have called me in the first place. See you later, then."

Having said his piece, Geom Mugeuk walked toward the place Jin Haryong had indicated.

Once the two of them were alone, an awkward silence briefly fell between them.

Jin Haryong asked Lee Ahn, "Would you like to go to the banquet with me?"

If the two beautiful women returned to the banquet hall together, it would surely cause an uproar.

Lee Ahn politely declined.

"Please invite me next time. I don't think today is the right place for me."

"Yes, then I'll see you next time."

They politely greeted each other with a clasped hands greeting.

After walking a few steps, Jin Haryong looked back at Lee Ahn.

"Will we be able to see each other again?"

Jin Haryong felt a curiosity toward Lee Ahn. She was curious about what kind of woman Lee Ahn was, and how the Geom Mugeuk she knew differed from the Geom Mugeuk that Lee Ahn knew. The fact that Lee Ahn was beautiful also drew her in.

"Of course. I'll always be with the Young Master. If you wish to see me, please seek out the Young Master."

"I will."

Jin Haryong returned to the banquet hall, and Lee Ahn quietly disappeared into the shadows.

Jin Hagun waited in the guest room.

His plan was to go there naturally and meet Geom Mugeuk when his sister sent word. After all, it wasn't strange for him to participate in a gathering of prodigies.

This is insane.

What would happen if his master found out? Their relationship would probably become irreparable. If his grandfather found out? He would also be greatly disappointed. Because a problem had arisen, and instead of solving it himself, he had involved a member of the demonic sect. Knowing all this, he had still brought Geom Mugeuk into it. That was how great a sense of crisis he felt.

It was at that very moment.

Someone passing by the window stopped and looked inside.

The person who met Jin Hagun's eyes was Geom Mugeuk.

"Commander Jin! Why are you here? I was on my way to attend the meeting at your sister's invitation. I was just looking for the outhouse, what a coincidence this is. It seems we're truly bound by fate."

Jin Hagun, who had been staring at Geom Mugeuk, finally let out a sigh.

"Stop the ridiculous acting and come in."

Geom Mugeuk entered the house with a smile.

"How did you know?"

"Because if my sister hadn't told you, there's no way we'd be meeting here. You're not the type of person to get lost looking for an outhouse, are you? And you're certainly not someone I'd run into by chance like this."

"As expected! Our Commander Jin is so smart. We'll have to use our heads a lot when we take on the Murim Alliance later."

"I'm not in the mood to play along with your jokes right now. So stop it."

Jin Hagun worried about how this moment would be remembered in his life. He stood at a crossroads, wondering if it would begin with 'It was a truly foolish choice,' or 'If not for that choice back then, I wouldn't be who I am today.'

"How did you know I was the one who called you?"

"Because I know how important the Murim Alliance is to you."

"What do you know about me?"

"Aren't you the man who gave up the Heavenly Peace Sect to become the Chairman? That fact alone shows how much you want to be the Murim Alliance Chairman."

Jin Hagun acknowledged the statement with his silence.

"Are you perhaps bothered by the fact that you called me? You don't need to worry about that."

Jin Hagun waited for his next words with a questioning look.

Then, unexpected words flowed from Geom Mugeuk.

"You're not the successor yet, are you? If a successor had called a successor, that could certainly be a problem, but right now, the head of the Demon Slaying Brigade has called his sister's friend. Not to ask for help, but to investigate something."

"Then you came because you were called by a mere Captain of the Murim Alliance who isn't even a successor, didn't you? The Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult, of all people."

"I'm fine with it. I'm a big-minded person."

"You have some nerve saying that about yourself."

"If I don't say it, you wouldn't know I was this big-minded, would you? Since you're so busy worrying about public opinion that you don't need to care about."

"You really are…"

"A person who knows how to praise himself and insult others at the same time."

How could one possibly win against Geom Mugeuk in a battle of words? In the end, with an expression that said he was impossible, Jin Hagun just shook his head.

Geom Mugeuk stood up, poured tea from a kettle on a corner table, and asked, "Why did you call me?"

Now that he had to answer, Jin Hagun hesitated. Should he really talk about his master? About his master, of all people.

Geom Mugeuk brought over two cups of tea. The action was so natural it seemed as if Geom Mugeuk was hosting Jin Hagun.

"I'll try to guess why you called me."

After looking down at his teacup for a moment, Geom Mugeuk said abruptly, "You're afraid that you'll end up killing that person with your own hands."

"!"

In that instant, Jin Hagun's eyes shot wide open.

"You called me because you couldn't bring yourself to kill him. To use me as your sword."

It was an unexpected statement, but at the same time, it hit the nail on the head.

Jin Hagun admitted that he had recalled Geom Mugeuk's words from deep within his heart. That he might have to kill his master in the end. Once that premonition had surfaced, it had never left his mind.

"Why didn't you tell the Chairman about something this important?"

Under Geom Mugeuk's intense gaze, Jin Hagun felt it was time to reveal everything.

"Because he wouldn't believe me, and even if he did, I thought that person would find out first in the process of handling this matter. There are likely many people within the Alliance who serve as his eyes and ears."

"Who is that person?"

Jin Hagun finally revealed his identity.

"My Master."

This was the first time Geom Mugeuk had heard of his master's existence.

"You had a Master?"

"It's not known to the outside world, so you wouldn't know. My Master extremely disliked being known to the world."

One thing was certain. When Hwa Mugi was pushing back the Murim Alliance's Chairman's Hall and the Murim Alliance Chairman and all his relatives were killed, his master was not among the victims. At the very least, he was not the type of person to die protecting his disciple.

"I realized through this incident. That my Master is strange."

"That's right. Masters are always strange. My Master is trying to demolish a cliff with his fists."

He couldn't tell if Geom Mugeuk's words were a joke or the truth, but that was truly how he felt.

"I'd rather have a Master who was strange in that way."

"How was he strange? Tell me in detail."

"I don't have any concrete evidence. It's just a feeling, and yet I called you… maybe I'm the strange one."

"You're not strange, you're just too smart."

At Geom Mugeuk's words, Jin Hagun lifted his head.

"What do you mean?"

"Even from my perspective, this whole affair was certainly strange. It was strange from the very beginning when the Heavenly Peace Sect Leader asked your side for help."

"Couldn't it be that my Master and the Heavenly Peace Sect Leader were close?"

"Then let me ask you one thing. Did your Master mention revenge?"

Jin Hagun's heart sank for a moment. He had been so focused on the sense of unease from his master that he had missed that point.

Jin Hagun shook his head. That wasn't the only thing he had missed.

"Did he mourn the death of the Heavenly Peace Sect Leader? No, did he even ask who killed him?"

There was no mourning, nor did he ask who the killer was. Why hadn't he thought of this? It was such a basic thought. Suddenly, he recalled something Geom Mugeuk had said.

"You mean that sometimes you can't see things precisely because they are close to you."

Because when something happens, countless past memories and one's relationship with that person come to mind first, rather than such objective judgments.

"So what did your Master say?"

"He said we should reclaim the Heavenly Peace Sect. He told me to find a way."

"For a relationship that's only this deep, why would the Heavenly Peace Sect Leader ask your Master for help? What kind of relationship do they have? Objectively speaking, isn't it strange? The Master of the Murim Alliance Chairman's grandson is in an incomprehensible relationship with the Heavenly Peace Sect Leader, who is under the influence of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult? Your instincts were working well. Your choice to call me was also excellent."

Geom Mugeuk's barrage of compliments continued.

"That's why I look forward to when you become the Chairman. I want to work with a wise person like you."

Geom Mugeuk was endlessly provoking him. Then again, he was the kind of person who could shake people up like this, so it was natural that he was the first person Jin Hagun thought of in a moment of crisis. He must have been the one who came to him even in his dreams and gave him faith.

Jin Hagun no longer hesitated or wavered.

"What should I do now?"

Until the very end, Geom Mugeuk was the spokesperson for Jin Hagun's inner thoughts.

"Since they tried to play with you, shouldn't you become a dangerous toy?"