Chapter 339: Irrefutable, Impossible to Silence

TL: FoodieMonster007

Geom Mugeuk and the escorts from the Yellow Dragon Escort Agency waited in the Clear Water Forest. Geom Mugeuk wore an escort's uniform and looked like a young, new recruit.

[The time has come, but they haven't arrived.]

Geom Mugeuk replied to the telepathic message from Hwang Won, the temporary agency head.

[Give the order to return immediately.]

[Shouldn't we wait longer?]

[No, give the order right now.]

Hwang Won took Geom Mugeuk's advice.

"We're turning back."

At his command, the escorts turned their carts around.

Just as they were about to leave the Clear Water Forest, a man blocked their path. He wore a bamboo hat pulled low to hide his face. He was the Thirteen Black Hands of the Black Snake Society.

"Where is Head Escort Gong?"

He had been hiding and watching them, only revealing himself when they started to leave.

Hwang Won answered the Thirteen Black Hands' question.

"Head Escort Gong is dead."

Geom Mugeuk had told him to tell the truth if the contact asked.

"Dead? How did he die?"

"He was killed by those bastards from the Demonic Cult."

Hwang Won reported the facts, considering the man might have already heard the news.

"I don't know the full details myself. Only that he got tangled up with the Demonic Cult bastards and was beaten to death."

The Thirteen Black Hands was not particularly surprised. The Gong Chan he knew did not seem like the type to live long. He was arrogant, ignorant of his place, and had an irritating gaze.

"The agency head sent me in his place as the one in charge," Hwang Won said.

The Thirteen Black Hands glanced at the escorts behind Hwang Won. They were the same men he had seen last time, except for a young escort who looked like a new recruit.

"Just give me the goods. You can confirm with the agency head later."

Geom Mugeuk had also instructed Hwang Won to adopt this stiff, business-like attitude.

When the Thirteen Black Hands did not answer, Geom Mugeuk sent Hwang Won a quick telepathic message.

[Be more forceful.]

Hwang Won's expression hardened as he spoke the words Geom Mugeuk gave him.

"Frankly, I don't like these secretive escort missions. I'm only doing this because the agency head ordered it. I'll go back and report that your side refused to entrust the goods to us."

Hwang Won turned to the escorts.

"We're leaving."

Their side had nothing to lose. This was the core of the plan.

The Thirteen Black Hands glared at Hwang Won's back for a moment, then dropped his suspicion.

"Wait. Follow me."

They followed him to a secluded part of the forest. There, they found a cart loaded with goods and a dozen martial artists from the Black Snake Society. The men did not cover their faces, and the menacing black snake head tattoos on their foreheads were clearly visible.

As soon as Geom Mugeuk saw the crates, he released his qi to check for any life force inside, wary of a trap.

Fortunately, he felt breathing. It was faint and barely perceptible. It's children!

Geom Mugeuk nodded, and Hwang Won gave the order.

"Move them quickly."

The escorts began transferring the crates to their own carts.

Hwang Won asked the Thirteen Black Hands a question.

"Where should we take them?"

"I already told you the destination, didn't I?"

Geom Mugeuk had prepared a response for this exact situation.

"You think that secretive Head Escort Gong would have told us that before he croaked?"

When Hwang Won had asked if being so aggressive was wise, Geom Mugeuk explained it was a trick to misdirect their attention.

Indeed, the Black Snake Society members focused on Hwang Won's attitude. One of their swordsmen stepped forward to warn him.

"You! Watch your mouth."

The Thirteen Black Hands restrained his subordinate, then spoke to Hwang Won.

"Take the goods to the Flowing Sword Sect by Purple Orb the day after tomorrow. If you're even a moment late, you will die by my hand."

Just as the destination was revealed, something happened.

SHWIIIIK.

A throwing knife flew through the air and lodged in the neck of the swordsman who had just issued the warning.

As he collapsed, martial artists ambushed them from all directions.

"It's an ambush! Defend!"

The ambushers' skills, however, overwhelmed the Black Snake Society swordsmen. They could not counter the attacks and fell one after another.

Geom Mugeuk had the escorts form a defensive circle to avoid getting caught in the fight.

The Thirteen Black Hands launched himself toward the forest behind him.

THWACK. He tumbled to the ground. The force of the fall knocked off his bamboo hat, revealing his face. A black snake head tattoo was also engraved on his forehead. The snake's shape was different from his subordinates' tattoos, suggesting it denoted a higher rank.

A person walked out from the forest.

The one who had subdued the Thirteen Black Hands was, surprisingly, Jin Hagun, the head of the Demon Slaying Brigade. He walked over leisurely and sealed the acupoints of the Thirteen Black Hands, who was clutching his stomach in pain.

By then, the other Black Snake Society swordsmen had all been killed or subdued. The situation was resolved in an instant.

The Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists surrounded the escorts and aimed their swords at them.

One of the martial artists ran over and opened a crate. He lifted the silk covering and found a sleeping child inside.

"There's a child here."

"Is the child unharmed?" Jin Hagun asked.

"Yes, the child is asleep due to the Turtle Breath Holding Technique."

Delighted, Jin Hagun opened another crate himself. A child was sleeping inside it as well.

Just then, another martial artist approached and reported to Jin Hagun.

"Those men are escorts from the Yellow Dragon Escort Agency."

At that, Jin Hagun roared.

"Escorts from the orthodox sects were dealing with the Black Snake Society?"

The Demon Slaying Brigade had only been tracking the children. They did not know that people from the Yellow Dragon Escort Agency were coming for the rendezvous.

"Drop your weapons and all of you, kneel."

Hwang Won's heart sank.

We're here with the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult, at a place where the Black Snake Society is transporting children. Will the Demon Slaying Brigade really believe our story?

The truth would eventually come out. Many people had witnessed what happened at the Yellow Dragon Escort Agency.

However, if a fight broke out here, they could all die without ever getting a chance to explain. In that brief moment, such worries plagued Hwang Won.

"Kill anyone who doesn't kneel!"

At the order, Hwang Won commanded the escorts to kneel for now.

Jin Hagun held one of the children. He then noticed a Demon Slaying Brigade martial artist beside him staring at someone. The other martial artists were doing the same.

Still holding the child, Jin Hagun turned around.

Everyone was kneeling except for a single young escort who remained standing. He grinned at Jin Hagun and offered a greeting.

"Been well?"

Jin Hagun's eyes widened when he recognized Geom Mugeuk.

"……"

This is the man who appears in my dreams. The detestable man who is always one step ahead, even in my dreams, and here he is, smiling in an escort's uniform.

"Why are you here?" Jin Hagun asked.

"I came to acquire some children to use as ingredients for a grand ritual."

Hwang Won, still kneeling, was horrified by those words.

What if he actually believes him? Gasp! Don't tell me that was the real reason? Did he trick me and bring me here? That's right, there's no way the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult would come to rescue children, right?

Unused to Geom Mugeuk's banter, such thoughts momentarily crossed his mind.

Fortunately, Jin Hagun was accustomed to Geom Mugeuk's jokes.

"Joking the moment you see me again?"

"It's a long story. To put it simply, I came to rescue the children."

"If I'd known this, we wouldn't have had to come."

Though it sounded like a joke, it was high praise for Geom Mugeuk.

"Everyone, rise."

At Jin Hagun's words, the kneeling escorts got to their feet. They were relieved but also surprised. They knew the Young Cult Leader was an extraordinary person, but they never imagined he had this kind of relationship with the head of the Demon Slaying Brigade.

"We obtained information that the Black Snake Society bastards were kidnapping and selling children, so we launched an investigation. We've finally found the evidence," Jin Hagun explained.

"You've found out they're selling the children, but what will you do about the buyers?" Geom Mugeuk asked.

"Of course, we won't let them go either."

Jin Hagun wanted to storm the Flowing Sword Sect immediately and punish them. However, the Flowing Sword Sect belonged to the unorthodox sects. He could not just charge in without clear evidence. A single misstep could escalate into an irreversible conflict with the Evil Alliance.

"From now on, we will secretly investigate the Flowing Sword Sect. If we find evidence that they purchased the kidnapped children, the main brigade will not forgive them," Jin Hagun declared.

Geom Mugeuk smiled at his firm resolve.

"Spoken like the head of the Demon Slaying Brigade."

He was not being sarcastic. He meant it sincerely and could feel a different kind of spirit from Jin Hagun than before.

"However, there's a problem with your plan, Captain. If the promised children don't arrive, they'll realize something is wrong and destroy all the evidence. They might even pin it on a disposable subordinate and cut their losses."

Jin Hagun agreed and asked for Geom Mugeuk's opinion.

"Then what should we do?"

"Let's continue our escort mission."

Not only Jin Hagun, but also the Demon Slaying Brigade members and the escorts stared at Geom Mugeuk in astonishment.

"The children are asleep because of the Turtle Breath Holding Technique anyway, so we can't force them awake. They'll only wake up when the time comes. Let's deliver the children and find evidence that the head of the Flowing Sword Sect is involved."

"What if something happens to the children in the process?" Jin Hagun asked.

"If an accident happens with you and I both there, wouldn't that be a natural disaster?"

Jin Hagun considered it. He would have refused if anyone else had made this proposal, as he had no intention of gambling with the children's lives.

However, the person he would be with was Geom Mugeuk. He knew well what kind of man Geom Mugeuk was.

His deliberation was not long. If they did not uproot this problem properly, children would continue to be kidnapped in other ways.

As Jin Hagun nodded, Geom Mugeuk shouted to the escorts.

"Let's continue the escort mission."

Hwang Won looked back.

He saw Geom Mugeuk and Jin Hagun sitting side-by-side on a cart. They were not just two escorts or two masters. They were the son of the Heavenly Demon and the grandson of the Murim Alliance Chairman, sitting next to each other.

It was a sight he would never see again. Hwang Won and the escorts were having a truly astonishing experience.

"Is the Chairman well?" Geom Mugeuk asked.

"He's still as robust as ever."

After a brief pause, Jin Hagun spoke again.

"He sometimes talks about you."

"What does he say?"

"'If you have to kill one person among the demonic practitioners, make sure you kill the Young Cult Leader.'"

Geom Mugeuk laughed and countered.

"It must be the opposite. 'If you have to save one person among the demonic practitioners, make sure you save the Young Cult Leader.'"

"Think whatever you like."

Through their conversation, Hwang Won and the escorts realized that what Geom Mugeuk had told Woo Sochu was true. He was undoubtedly well-acquainted with the Murim Alliance Chairman.

"And Miss Jin?"

"Still as reckless as ever."

Contrary to his words, however, Jin Haryong had also changed. She was no longer immature but was growing into a central figure for the orthodox sects' prodigies.

"By the way, why are you out here alone?" Jin Hagun asked.

"I left in such a hurry that I couldn't inform anyone."

Jin Hagun looked at Geom Mugeuk. He knew Geom Mugeuk did not lie, so he must truly be alone.

"It seems the Cult doesn't even look for you, since you're a disowned son."

"I suppose so. So at least you should treat me warmly."

Jin Hagun averted his gaze with a look of disbelief. However, he soon spoke in a calm tone.

"Since that day, I've been trying to see people for who they truly are."

Geom Mugeuk smiled without a word. Jin Hagun felt that the true essence of the man named Geom Mugeuk could be seen when he was silent like this, looking up at the sky with clear, deep eyes. One should not be fooled by his chatter.

And so, the carts continued on, finally arriving at the Flowing Sword Sect.

Late at night, the carts entered through the back gate of the Flowing Sword Sect. Man Hong of the Flowing Sword Sect received the goods.

"Move them carefully. Don't stack them, place them separately."

The escorts from the Yellow Dragon Escort Agency moved the crates into a warehouse. Once all the crates were moved, Man Hong handed them a heavy pouch filled with silver.

After the escorts left, Man Hong opened the crates to check on the children.

Just then, a man entered the warehouse. He was Dae So, the head of the Flowing Sword Sect. He was an absolute master of the unorthodox sects who had established his own school with the Flowing Sword Art.

"Did they say we absolutely have to use those orthodox sects bastards?" Dae So asked.

"They say it can't be helped. It seems the Demon Slaying Brigade is thoroughly investigating anyone connected to the Black Snake Society, even those who just had a drink with them."

"Damn them! How many children came in this time?"

"Fifteen."

"When will they wake up?"

"They should wake up in six hours."

"Call me when the kids wake up."

Just as Dae So was about to leave the warehouse, a commotion erupted outside. It sounded like the clashing of weapons.

"……"

The warehouse door burst open, and a group of martial artists stormed in, led by Jin Hagun.

Jin Hagun walked up to Dae So and calmly introduced himself.

"I am Jin Hagun, head of the Demon Slaying Brigade."

"A pleasure to meet you. It is an honor to meet the famous head of the Demon Slaying Brigade."

Dae So maintained his composure, despite guessing why his guest had come.

"No matter how famous you are, I'm not sure if it's acceptable to trespass on another's sect like this."

"My apologies for that. The matter was urgent, so it couldn't be helped."

"What matter is that?"

"Recently, the Black Snake Society bastards have been kidnapping and selling children. Our brigade has been tracking their evil deeds and confirmed that crates loaded with children entered this place, the Flowing Sword Sect."

Jin Hagun's gaze shifted to the crates.

"I believe those are the crates. May I check them?"

"And if I say no, you won't?"

"If that were the case, I wouldn't have entered in the first place."

Jin Hagun nodded, and two Demon Slaying Brigade members opened the crates. They confirmed that children were sleeping inside.

"I know nothing of this," Dae So flatly denied, despite the evidence. "I just came here to speak with a subordinate. What is all this?"

"I don't know either. I will call the person in charge of this place and find out."

He was trying to pin the crime on a subordinate and escape, just as Geom Mugeuk had predicted.

Just then, a voice came from behind.

"That's a lie, isn't it?"

A startled Dae So turned to see someone rising from behind the crates. It was Geom Mugeuk, who had been hiding there.

"It's useless to deny it. I heard everything."

Of course, Dae So did not accept this meekly. He calmly challenged Jin Hagun.

"I don't know what that young martial artist claims to have heard, but who would believe the words of a subordinate you planted?"

"He is not my subordinate."

"And you expect me to believe that?"

"I wish he were my subordinate, but he is a man whom no one in this world can make their subordinate."

Dae So looked back and forth between Jin Hagun and Geom Mugeuk with a puzzled expression, unable to understand what he meant.

"It doesn't matter whether he's your subordinate or not. Judging by his clothes, he seems to be an escort, which makes him nothing more than a petty thief who snuck into a warehouse. I cannot accept such a person as a witness."

Both men were at ease. The winner of this fight had been decided from the very beginning.

Jin Hagun spoke calmly.

"Unfortunately for you, you can't refute him, it won't be easy to insist otherwise, and silencing him by murder is impossible. In fact, everyone except you will believe his words…"

Jin Hagun turned his head to look at Geom Mugeuk.

Geom Mugeuk's mouth was itching to speak. He twitched his lips with an expression that said, When is it my turn to talk?

"You've just met the one witness you should have never encountered."