Chapter 338: A Place Where You Cannot Die Even If You Want To

TL: FoodieMonster007

"Three!"

Geom Mugeuk counted to three and swung his sword down without hesitation.

Woo Sochu shouted urgently, "It's not a mole!"

SHIIIIK.

The descending sword stopped mid-air.

PAAT.

The blade cut his wrist, and blood trickled down. Fortunately, it only sliced the skin, not the bone.

This crazy bastard! He really meant to cut it off!

A chill ran down Woo Sochu's spine. He had never been so startled in his life, a testament to how comfortable his life had been.

"Not a mole?" Geom Mugeuk asked.

"That thing on his forehead, it's not a mole. It's a tattoo."

"A tattoo? What kind?"

Woo Sochu hesitated.

"One, two."

This time, the answer came when Geom Mugeuk counted to two.

"A snake's head."

"A snake?"

"He has a snake's head tattooed on his forehead. It's black, so you must have mistaken it for a mole."

There was only one group of madmen in the murim who tattooed snake heads on their foreheads.

"Don't tell me it's the Black Snake Society?"

At the mention of the Black Snake Society, not only the escorts but also the residents turned pale. Chong Hak felt goosebumps crawl over his body when he realized what he had seen was the society's symbol.

The Black Snake Society was an unorthodox sect known for committing all sorts of evil deeds. They were among the most notorious villains of the unorthodox sects.

"Did you accept a delivery from the Black Snake Society!"

Woo Sochu hung his head low, unable to answer.

The escorts' expressions hardened. One of the middle-aged men among them could not hold back his anger.

"Agency Head, is what he said true?" he shouted.

Woo Sochu lifted his head and glared at the man. His eyes sent a clear message. Even if I did something wrong, how dare a punk like you question the Agency Head?

He was truly a hopeless case.

The other escorts also glared at Woo Sochu with cold eyes. He accepted a delivery from the Black Snake Society of all places.

Unable to endure their stares, Woo Sochu finally yelled, "It was all for the escort agency! What the hell do you know?"

Geom Mugeuk tapped his sword against Woo Sochu's wrist.

Woo Sochu, who had been shouting at the escorts, startled.

"Don't cut it! Please!"

Seeing his terrified state, the escorts sighed. They felt ashamed to have served such a man as their Agency Head.

"What was the cargo?" Geom Mugeuk asked.

"I don't know."

"That can't be right. No matter how blinded by money you are, a man like you wouldn't have joined hands with the Black Snake Society without even knowing what the cargo was."

Geom Mugeuk raised his hand.

"One, two…"

"I don't know, I really don't know."

"Three."

SHIIIIK.

SEOGEOK!

The sword sliced through his wrist.

TUK.

Woo Sochu's eyes widened as he saw his own hand fall to the ground. He had thought, surely not.

PWAAAAAK!

Blood spurted from his wrist, and Woo Sochu screamed.

"Uwaaaaaaah!"

The onlookers turned their heads and closed their eyes.

Jo Cheonbae and Chong Hak watched with wide eyes. If Geom Mugeuk had not arrived, the hand on the ground would have been Chong Hak's.

The gushing blood stopped. Geom Mugeuk had fired a finger qi bullet to press his blood point.

Just as Woo Sochu was about to spit resentful curses at Geom Mugeuk.

SEUREUREUK.

His right hand lifted into the air by itself.

Woo Sochu was scared out of his wits.

"No! Stop! You crazy bastard, stop!"

Geom Mugeuk started counting again.

"One, two!"

Woo Sochu shouted, "It's children!"

A momentary silence fell. It was an answer no one had expected.

"The cargo is children?"

"That's right. I put children, who were put to sleep with the Turtle Breath Holding Technique, into boxes and transported them to the location they wanted."

The Turtle Breath Holding Technique made one fall asleep as if dead, allowing them to be transported like objects for days. The boxes containing the children were likely camouflaged with soft goods packed on top. This method allowed many children to be moved quickly without attracting attention.

"Please, take me to a physician," Woo Sochu pleaded desperately, picking up his severed hand. Only someone like a divine physician could reattach it.

Geom Mugeuk's reaction was cold.

"Why did they entrust this job to you? They could've used an escort agency from the unorthodox sects, couldn't they? Or the Black Snake Society could've transported them. The faster you answer, the faster you can go."

"I asked the same thing. They said the Murim Alliance had caught on and was monitoring them."

Geom Mugeuk remembered a story about the Black Snake Society kidnapping children with excellent martial potential. They sold them for huge sums of money to accumulate wealth. He recalled it as an event that happened much later.

"They said the head of the Murim Alliance's Demon Slaying Brigade was personally investigating. That's why they were laying low."

The head of the Demon Slaying Brigade is Jin Hagun, the grandson of the Murim Alliance Chairman. My encounter with Jin Hagun changed his path. As his fate changes, the fate of the murim will change as a result.

"Please! Please take me."

"I still have questions."

"I'll answer them after we go to the physician."

"No! Answer here."

Woo Sochu's eyes filled with unconcealable hatred and resentment.

"How much more money did you receive?"

"I received ten times the usual payment."

After answering, Woo Sochu felt gazes directed at him.

He turned his head and saw everyone staring at him. The residents and the escorts all had families. They were fathers raising children, and they were someone's child themselves. For that reason, their gazes could not be kind.

"You think you're any different…"

Before Woo Sochu could finish his sentence.

SHIIIIK.

SEOGEOK!

This time, without even counting, Geom Mugeuk cut off his right hand as well.

Woo Sochu screamed as he watched the blood gush out. With both hands severed, he was in a state of insanity.

"This is what you were going to do to that man. You, at least, are guilty of a crime," Geom Mugeuk said.

Screaming, Woo Sochu tried to press his blood points with his chin to somehow stop the bleeding from his arms.

Just as he thrashed about like a madman.

KURURU! KWANG!

The sound of thunder, like a divine punishment, echoed.

Geom Mugeuk's fist slammed into Woo Sochu's face. His face caved in, and Woo Sochu fell backward, his breath cut short. Geom Mugeuk did not even allow him a final word.

Jo Cheonbae and his family were shocked, bewildered, and also relieved.

Geom Mugeuk sent the residents away first.

"I think you can all go back now. Since this matter is related to the Black Snake Society, it would be best if you kept quiet about today's events for the time being."

As long as the Black Snake Society was involved, no one would dare spread the story.

After they had all left, Geom Mugeuk asked the escorts, "Who should I speak with now regarding the escort agency's affairs?"

The escorts' gazes turned to one person. The man everyone acknowledged was the same one who had questioned Woo Sochu earlier.

"Head Escort Hwang Won."

"For the time being, you will act as the temporary head of the escort agency."

"I will."

Normally, Geom Mugeuk would not have interfered in the Yellow Dragon Escort Agency's affairs, but since Chong Hak was a porter there, he decided to take an interest in their future.

"Please lend me a dozen or so sets of the Yellow Dragon Escort Agency escort uniforms."

"May I ask why?"

"As you've heard, they are supposed to receive the cargo at the Clear Water Forest in three days. I plan to take some of our Cult's Branch martial artists and rescue those children first."

"Won't word of what happened here reach their ears?"

"If they don't show up because of that, then there's nothing we can do. However, if we're lucky and get to the Clear Water Forest before this news does, we can at least save the children in this shipment."

Hwang Won stared intently at Geom Mugeuk.

"Why are you trying to save them? You're…"

The Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult. Aren't you people more cruel than the bastards from the unorthodox sects?

He asked with that thought in mind, but a surprising answer came back.

"Because they're children. I may not care about others, but shouldn't we at least save the children?"

If they had not witnessed what Geom Mugeuk had done today, they would never have taken his words at face value. However, the escorts had seen everything from beginning to end.

"Can we discuss this amongst ourselves for a moment?"

"Go ahead."

Hwang Won spoke with the escorts and then came to an unexpected conclusion.

"We will go with you to the Clear Water Forest. If they don't see familiar faces, those bastards will get suspicious. They might not even show themselves at all."

A few of the escorts stepped forward. It seemed not all, but some of them had volunteered.

"It could be dangerous," Geom Mugeuk warned.

"We know."

"Then why do you want to go?"

"We are martial artists of the orthodox sects. Although we just transport other people's goods, we are still members of the orthodox sects. This is a golden opportunity to save kidnapped children. We can't just pretend we don't know."

They did not say it, but they trusted that with this Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult, they could handle this matter well.

"Please help us restore the reputation of our escort agency that the Agency Head has dragged through the mud."

"The Black Snake Society might retaliate later."

It seemed they had already thought about that.

"As soon as we rescue the children at the Clear Water Forest, we will report this to the Murim Alliance and ask for help."

"Good. Let's do that."

Geom Mugeuk accepted their request. If they went together, handling the matter would certainly be more advantageous.

He got a set of escort clothes from Hwang Won and changed, then promised to meet them at the Clear Water Forest in three days.

Geom Mugeuk borrowed a carriage from the escort agency.

"Now, please get in. We have a place to go."

He had Mrs. Yoon, Yang In, Yang Seon, Jo Cheonbae, and Chong Hak all get into the carriage.

"I'll drive the carriage," Chong Hak offered.

Geom Mugeuk declined. "Take care of your wounds. If you don't treat them well now, you'll suffer for the rest of your life."

He forced Chong Hak into the carriage.

Jo Cheonbae and his family sat facing each other. Sitting together in one space like this, they finally felt a sense of relief that their family had safely overcome the crisis.

The voice of the person who had made this miracle possible came from the driver's seat.

"Then, we'll be on our way."

The carriage ran for half a day without stopping.

It entered a forest path, forging a new trail where there was none, before finally stopping.

"You'll have to get out and walk for a bit."

Geom Mugeuk led them into the forest. After a while, a place thick with fog appeared.

"From now on, could you please follow me, stepping exactly where I step?"

The women did not know why, but Jo Cheonbae and Chong Hak, who had seen and heard many things, understood. They were about to pass through formations.

Geom Mugeuk walked very slowly, considerate of the elderly Mrs. Yoon. They followed his guidance through the formations and arrived at a manor standing amidst the magnificent scenery of a winter waterfall.

A middle-aged man greeted them politely.

"Welcome."

Jo Cheonbae could sense that he was a master of the Demonic Cult.

The snow-covered manor was incredibly beautiful.

"I've never seen such a wonderful manor before," Yang In exclaimed.

"Me too, Unnie," Yang Seon added.

Jo Cheonbae asked Geom Mugeuk, "Where is this place?"

"This is a safehouse of our Cult. It's not an ordinary safehouse, but a special one that only those at the level of Demon Supreme or higher can use. It's a place where you cannot die even if you want to."

Everyone was shocked to hear it was a safehouse of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. They never imagined Geom Mugeuk would bring them to a safehouse, and a special one at that.

"Since the Black Snake Society is involved, I thought it would be best to be cautious. Please rest comfortably here until this matter is resolved."

Geom Mugeuk took absolute care of Jo Cheonbae's family's safety. He eliminated even the slightest one-in-a-million chance of danger.

"How can we possibly stay in such a precious place?"

"Because you are a friend of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's Young Cult Leader."

"Just how moved are you trying to make me?"

"I'll be looking forward to free side dishes at the Alluring Inn."

Jo Cheonbae was so grateful he did not know what to do. It was a debt he could not repay even if he made free side dishes for the rest of his life.

The reason Geom Mugeuk brought them here was not just for safety.

"When was the last time you went on a trip?"

Jo Cheonbae was flustered by the unexpected question. When was it? He did not even need to think.

Jo Cheonbae gave his wife an apologetic look.

"Then have you ever closed the tavern just to rest?"

"Never."

He had closed for family matters, but never for himself. He opened the doors every single day without fail. He opened it when he was sick and when he was tired. There were days he really wanted to rest, but he opened it on those days too.

"Young Cult Leader? Don't tell me?"

"Yes. Please think of this as a trip, a long-overdue vacation. Get plenty of rest."

Jo Cheonbae did not know what to say. He was so moved that his mind went blank.

"For me, it's an easy task that only requires me to move my mouth. It's not such a big deal, so please don't feel burdened. I will come get you as soon as the job is done."

Before leaving, Geom Mugeuk conveyed a few matters to the middle-aged demon via telepathy and gave a final order.

"Serve these people as you would serve me."

The middle-aged demon bowed his head respectfully.

In a flash, Geom Mugeuk became a distant dot and disappeared.

Jo Cheonbae and his family stood still, watching him go.

The middle-aged demon who managed the place guided them with a kind smile.

"Now, please come inside."

"Oh my, yes."

Jo Cheonbae and his family entered the manor. The carpets on the floor, the furniture in the hallways, and every single painting on the walls were all precious and luxurious items.

"This is the first time in my life I've been in a place like this."

It was the first time for all of them, not just Yang In.

As they passed by, they saw a cook in an open kitchen preparing dishes one could only eat at high-end restaurants.

The middle-aged demon had prepared three separate rooms, one for Mrs. Yoon, one for Jo Cheonbae and his wife, and one for Chong Hak and his wife. The rooms were even more luxuriously decorated.

"Are we allowed to do this?" Yang In asked.

Jo Cheonbae shook his head. "I don't know either."

Yang Seon laid Chong Hak on a bed with a fluffy, pure-white blanket.

"Now, don't worry about anything and just rest."

Perhaps Geom Mugeuk had requested it before he left, because the safehouse's physician came, checked Chong Hak's pulse, and left some medicine.

Moved by this, Yang Seon smiled brightly and said, "Brother-in-law is right. This is a moment that won't come again."

Jo Cheonbae and Yang In entered their room. Mrs. Yoon had been given the largest room to her eldest son-in-law.

The two of them sat on the bed and stared blankly out the window. A truly stormy day had passed. Jo Cheonbae wondered if he was dreaming.

Yang In felt the same way.

"To think a day like this would come in my lifetime."

"I know, right."

In the distance, the sunset beautifully painted the sky. He could not even remember the last time they had sat side-by-side like this and watched a sunset.

"You've worked so hard all this time, dear."

Today, those words sank deeper into his heart. Yes, this one phrase was enough. Because he could not say this one simple phrase, their precious hard work had become a living hell.

"You've worked hard too."

Jo Cheonbae knew. He knew how tenaciously his wife had lived, raising their children and enduring all sorts of hardships.

Just then, a servant girl announced from outside, "Dinner is ready."

In this surreal reality, the two of them sat blankly for a moment.

Then, Jo Cheonbae stood up first and held out his hand to his wife.

"My wife, let's go have dinner."

Yang In smiled, took her husband's hand, and stood up. It was the first vacation of her life.

"Then shall we go and eat a meal prepared by someone else for once? I'm going to eat a lot."