Chapter 348: Where is There Room for Loyalty?

TL: FoodieMonster007

The Evil Alliance's marketplace was no different from the Demon Village.

Merchants laughed, chattered, and shouted within the bustling crowd. Aside from the martial artists' auras, the scene could have been the Murim Alliance or the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. It was a sight that suggested people live the same way everywhere.

"What are you looking at so curiously?"

"I've been so focused on training that it's been a while since I've come out here."

"You must have worked hard to be serving the Young Alliance Chairman at such a young age."

Pyo Jigwang took Geom Mugeuk to his favorite restaurant.

"This is a place I come to often. The food is pretty good."

However, the owner and waiter did not treat Pyo Jigwang like a regular at all.

"I've gotten into a few fights here," Pyo Jigwang said, feeling comfortable enough with Geom Mugeuk to speak so naturally.

How was that possible in just one day? Pyo Jigwang had always been like a hedgehog with its quills up, but it was true. He felt at ease with Geom Mugeuk.

"Getting your body injured must have been a great blessing for the owner of this place."

"What do you mean?"

"If not, wouldn't this whole place have been blown away?"

How could Pyo Jigwang not enjoy being with someone who listened so intently and even made jokes like this?

Reflecting his mood, Pyo Jigwang ordered good liquor and several of the restaurant's most expensive dishes.

"Aren't you overdoing it?"

"It's money I can't spend if I die anyway, right?"

"You should spend it wisely. As long as I'm protecting you, you will never die."

"Your confidence is something else."

Instead of picking up his chopsticks, Pyo Jigwang poured liquor into a cup.

"That person is not someone you can handle," he said, speaking of the mastermind for the first time.

"Even if I can't handle it, don't I have my fisherman?"

Pyo Jigwang drank his liquor without a word, ignoring the question about Bi Sayin.

Geom Mugeuk sensed his thoughts. Pyo Jigwang believed Bi Sayin could not handle the mastermind behind this incident.

"The food is delicious."

The restaurant was well-known, and the food was indeed quite good. If Jo Cheonbae were here, he would have joked about evaluating the Evil Alliance's cuisine as a representative of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

"Don't just drink, you should eat too."

"You eat a lot."

Pyo Jigwang had no appetite. The thought that he might die soon had made it vanish. The only person who could bring it back was not a skilled chef, but Geom Mugeuk.

"How did you become the Black Dragon Commander?"

Pyo Jigwang began, "You have no idea how hard I worked," then glanced at Geom Mugeuk again.

Geom Mugeuk's eyes sparkled as he listened intently while eating, proving he had not asked just to be polite.

As Pyo Jigwang recounted his past, he grew more excited. How could he not be? He was boasting about the greatest achievement of his life.

"My rival at the time was from a very good family. You can't even imagine how much he played politics."

"So you overcame it with skill alone."

"You could say that."

"How could someone who only relies on their backing ever win against the experience and effort of someone who rose from the bottom?"

A smile naturally formed on Pyo Jigwang's lips.

He had overcome difficulties with skill. Now that he thought about it, no one had ever said that to him, not even when he was a Commander before his injury. Was his life that unfortunate? Despite having so many people around him, no one had ever offered those words.

Geom Mugeuk's words made him feel so good that he wondered if he had been treated so poorly for ten years just to meet this person today.

"Please tell me another story."

Geom Mugeuk understood Pyo Jigwang's heart well. As a mercenary, he had met many martial artists who became mercenaries after being injured. Some had damaged qi centers and could not use inner arts, while others had lost an arm or a leg.

Kicked out of their organizations, they lived as third-rate mercenaries, since the sword was all they knew. When they got drunk, they always boasted about their glory days. It was less boasting and more venting their frustrations.

"Is my story interesting?"

"It is."

Pyo Jigwang stared at Geom Mugeuk. The youngster kept showing a side of himself that defied his expectations.

"Do you know what my first impression of you was? I thought you'd be very talkative. When I heard you say your name meant 'performance' not 'destiny,' I thought you'd talk a lot, but it turns out you're a good listener."

"No, I'm very talkative. I'm just holding my tongue because we haven't gotten that close yet."

Pyo Jigwang laughed, finding the words amusing. He couldn't believe he could laugh when death was so near.

"I wonder if we'll have time to get closer."

Geom Mugeuk answered the self-deprecating question with confidence.

"I will protect you."

"Instead of that, let's hear your story now."

"My story is too long."

How could Pyo Jigwang possibly know the meaning behind that smile?

"You must have gone through a lot."

"Don't even mention it." Geom Mugeuk waved his hands as if he did not even want to think about it.

"With your personality, I'd think you'd have a lot of people around you."

"That's why I'm lonelier."

"Lonelier?"

"There are so many people, but when it comes down to it, there's no one to meet. It's so sad when no one looks after you. Everyone makes the same excuse. They thought someone else would take care of it. That's how people like us end up with a black hole in our hearts."

"A black hole?"

"It's something a person I like told me. That everyone has a black hole in their heart. A hole you shouldn't fall into or stare into for too long."

Pyo Jigwang thought the young man was saying strange things, but he also thought of his own hole. He had one too. It was so deep and large that he could not help but fall in, no matter how hard he tried.

I wish I had met this kid a little earlier.

If I had, would my fate have changed? Could I have lived a different life, not one where I'm silenced by murder?

"If you're done eating, let's go."

"Let's go."

The two left the restaurant and headed home.

"Go get some sleep."

"I can't do that. I have to protect you."

"How long can you stay awake to protect me?"

I really can't understand the Young Alliance Chairman. He should have at least sent someone to take shifts.

"Did you, by any chance, make a mistake with the Young Alliance Chairman?"

Of course. He'd faint if he knew how much I flustered and teased him.

"I told the Young Alliance Chairman that I was looking forward to a wonderful master-disciple relationship. Could that have been a mistake?"

Pyo Jigwang wore a look of disbelief.

"A new martial artist to the Young Alliance Chairman?"

"Then when can I say it? I feel like it would be even harder to say as a Senior."

This is why he fell out of favor. That sparkling gaze must have been annoying. Because he shone brighter than him.

But to throw away a good kid like this.

Then, a thought suddenly occurred to Pyo Jigwang.

A good kid? Am I already thinking of him that way just because he listened to me?

Pyo Jigwang felt anew just how lonely his life had been.

While lost in such thoughts, they turned onto a quiet path.

Four masked figures blocked their way.

This was not what Pyo Jigwang had arranged with Bi Sayin. The mastermind of this incident had sent people to silence him. Judging by their auras, they were hired assassins.

Pyo Jigwang's heart sank.

It's finally here.

The moment came much sooner than he had expected.

Fate is such a cruel bastard. To present death at the most pleasant moment. It could have come a few days later.

His gaze turned to Geom Mugeuk. I wanted to hear this kid's story too. I still have stories I want to tell.

Above all, he felt sorry.

This young man is dying because of me.

Pyo Jigwang spoke to Geom Mugeuk.

"It seems the fisherman is pulling up his net. I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry."

At the heartfelt apology, Geom Mugeuk drew his sword.

"I might get pulled up if my fisherman is pulling, but I have no intention of being reeled in by their fisherman."

Simultaneously, the assassins launched themselves forward. Two rushed at Geom Mugeuk, and the other two rushed at Pyo Jigwang.

Pyo Jigwang closed his eyes. He was already prepared for death and did not put up a clumsy resistance. He would end his life with dignity.

SHWIIIIK.

He heard the sound of a sword cutting through the air toward him. He thought it was the end.

PUUK!

He thought his own body had been stabbed, but it was not. Geom Mugeuk had somehow blocked the way and stabbed the opponent first.

Another sword flew at him from behind. The assassin who had first targeted Geom Mugeuk had changed targets and attacked Pyo Jigwang.

I'm going to die this time.

Just as he thought that, his body was pulled backward. He dodged the incoming sword as Geom Mugeuk pulled him close.

PUUK!

Geom Mugeuk's sword pierced the heart of the assassin who had attacked from behind. His movements were fast, clean, and without a single wasted motion.

The two remaining assassins flew at Pyo Jigwang at the same time. It was a desperate attack, determined to kill Pyo Jigwang even if they died.

Ah! This time, I'm really going to die!

But both attacks missed, cutting through empty air. Just before the blades struck, an unknown force threw Pyo Jigwang to the ground, causing the attacks to miss.

The price for their one-sided attack was death.

Geom Mugeuk's sword stabbed the neck of the assassin on the left, was instantly pulled out, and then stabbed the heart of the assassin on the right. The series of movements was as natural as a choreographed duel.

Of course, Pyo Jigwang, who was on the ground, did not see this artistic move.

I'm alive again?

Pyo Jigwang got up and looked around. The four masked men were all lying on the ground as corpses.

"What happened?"

"Didn't I tell you I would protect you?"

At that very moment.

SHWIK SHWIK SHWIK SHWIK!

Hidden weapons flew from the trees above.

Geom Mugeuk swung his sword to deflect the weapons and shouted to Pyo Jigwang.

"Run behind that tree!"

Pyo Jigwang ran frantically with Geom Mugeuk and hid behind a large tree. Geom Mugeuk held out his sword, checking the blade for the enemies' reflections.

"There are three in the tree to the east, and two more are hiding behind the bushes below it."

Of course, if Geom Mugeuk used his true skills, he could have finished everyone here in an instant.

But he did not. To Pyo Jigwang and his enemies, he was a martial artist of the Thirteen Evil Wolves. As the youngest member who had been hiding his skills, he displayed just this much of his ability.

"It's not too late. Leave me and go."

Pyo Jigwang never thought he would say such a thing to save someone he had known for less than a day. This person was no greenhorn, but still.

"You've already taken care of four of them, so the Young Alliance Chairman will understand."

Just then, someone dropped from the tree.

SHWIIIIK!

It was a completely unexpected ambush. Pyo Jigwang thought he was surely going to die this time.

I'm really dying!

However, just before the opponent's sword could embed itself in his head, Geom Mugeuk gently pulled him. The descending sword grazed his ear. It should hit my shoulder, right?

PWAAAK!

The assassin who launched the surprise attack spewed hot blood and rolled on the ground, now a corpse. Pyo Jigwang once again failed to see exactly how Geom Mugeuk had dealt with him.

I'm alive again? How on earth?

Before he could ask, Geom Mugeuk pulled him again.

"Behind that rock over there!"

Pyo Jigwang ran with Geom Mugeuk. He was confused. He could not just stand there, but fleeing like this was not what he wanted.

PAK PAK PAK PAK PAK!

Throwing knives flew and stuck into the ground at their feet, but no matter how skilled the assassin was, how could they hit their mark when Geom Mugeuk was leading the run?

Narrowly dodging the attacks, the two safely hid behind the rock.

"I told you to leave me and go!"

"The enemy is trying to silence you, so why are you accepting it?"

"You don't understand my heart."

Leaning against the rock, Geom Mugeuk looked at him.

"Is it because of your loyalty to the Alliance?"

Pyo Jigwang gave Geom Mugeuk a look that said, 'of course.'

Geom Mugeuk's gaze turned toward the distant corpses.

"Those men are hired assassins. What kind of alliance sends hired assassins after a subordinate they gave a job to? Where exactly is there room for loyalty in this messy situation?"

"!"

Just then, another assassin climbed over the rock.

"……"

As Geom Mugeuk slit his throat, assassins jumped out from behind a tree and threw hidden weapons.

SHWIK SHWIK SHWIK SHWIK SHWIK SHWIK SHWIK SHWIK SHWIK!

Seeing a dozen hidden weapons flying toward him, Pyo Jigwang thought this was finally, truly the end.

Please, you at least have to live!

PUK PUK PUK PUK PUK PUK PUK!

He opened his eyes at the sound of tearing flesh. Geom Mugeuk had already killed the assassin on the rock and was now standing in front of him, using the corpse as a shield. All the hidden weapons were embedded in that body.

What, I'm alive again?

Before he could say anything, Geom Mugeuk pulled him and started running into the mountains.

"……"

Behind them, the assassins now fully revealed themselves and began to chase them in a swarm.

As he ran frantically with Geom Mugeuk, Pyo Jigwang had only one thought.

Why do I keep living?