Chapter 365: Just Thinking About It Makes Me Angry

TL: FoodieMonster007

Baek Jagang could not believe it.

Does the current Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult really think that way?

He questioned if Geom Mugeuk sincerely considered Bi Sayin a friend, did not want to fight him, and wanted to buy him a drink. This was Geom Mugeuk, the rumored greatest successor in the Heavenly Demon's history. This was the Young Cult Leader who had even bewitched the Young Alliance Chairman and the First Wolf.

Hyeok Sagun was the first to see the disbelief in Baek Jagang's eyes.

Perfect!

He completely misinterpreted this disbelief. How could Baek Jagang possibly believe the Physician of Evil or the Poison King?

Refuse him! Hurry and say no!

Hyeok Sagun grew anxious. If both the Poison King and the Physician of Evil examined the Head Strategist, they would surely expose the poisoning.

At that point, even I won't be able to do anything. For your own sake, you must refuse.

Meanwhile, Geom Mugeuk also read the disbelief in Baek Jagang's eyes. Geom Mugeuk did not know about Baek Jagang's ability to detect lies, so he tried his best to persuade him.

[It was a lie to drive them into a corner. Please, just this once, trust me. Please pretend to accept the Physician of Evil and the Poison King.]

Even without the telepathic confession, Baek Jagang now believed Geom Mugeuk. He knew for certain who was telling the truth.

Baek Jagang finally spoke. With Hyeok Sagun present, he did not agree so easily.

"What will you do if the two of them come and confirm he wasn't poisoned?"

Geom Mugeuk could tell Baek Jagang was willing to grant his request. The two were not coming anyway. Now he needed a condition Hyeok Sagun would also find acceptable.

"I'll reduce our Cult's influence in the Jiangxi region by half."

The Jiangxi region was a strategic point for the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult in its dealings with the Evil Alliance.

"Can you put that in an official document?" Baek Jagang asked.

"I can."

Baek Jagang again felt a chill run down his spine. His senses worked perfectly.

As if to prove it, Geom Mugeuk's telepathy followed.

[I can't do that for you. If I did that without Father's permission, I'd be kicked out that very day! Unless, perhaps, you'd adopt me as your son.]

Baek Jagang struggled to suppress a smile. What an incorrigible fellow, making such a joke at a critical moment.

"Very well. We'll have them confirm it when they arrive."

Hyeok Sagun showed his dissatisfaction with the unexpected decision.

"Surely, you don't believe the Young Cult Leader's words, do you?"

Baek Jagang stared at Hyeok Sagun with his small eyes. Hyeok Sagun instantly realized he had spoken rashly. If his own words were true, there was no reason to get agitated.

As a strategist, he should have welcomed this decision. The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult halving its influence in the Jiangxi region was a great benefit to the Evil Alliance.

"I will follow the Chairman's will."

Baek Jagang asked Geom Mugeuk, "When will they arrive?"

"It will take about ten days."

Geom Mugeuk had deliberately set the time as long as possible. He wanted Bi Sayin to recover from his injuries and join the fight. This was not his fight, but Bi Sayin's. It was also Baek Jagang's and the Evil Alliance's.

"Good. You will stay in the Alliance until then."

Geom Mugeuk looked at Hyeok Sagun with suspicious eyes.

"In the meantime, the vice strategist could kill the Head Strategist to destroy the evidence."

Geom Mugeuk had hit the nail on the head. Hyeok Sagun had been thinking about how to get rid of the Head Strategist without arousing suspicion.

"What nonsense are you spouting? The Head Strategist is like a teacher to me."

"Exactly. So why did you do that to someone who is like a teacher to you?"

Hyeok Sagun glared at Geom Mugeuk with cold eyes.

He had always handled clever strategists with ease, but the much younger Geom Mugeuk was abrasive and difficult to deal with.

Was he intimidated by the title of Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult? No. Something about this man was suffocating. He was the kind of person who would make it difficult to even place an order if you met him as an inn waiter.

Baek Jagang ended the tense battle of wills.

"Stay near the Alliance until the Poison King and the Physician of Evil arrive."

"Thank you, Chairman."

Hyeok Sagun felt the tide had turned. A new phase had begun.

"That will be all for today. Strategist Hyeok, stay for a moment."

Baek Jagang sent Geom Mugeuk out but kept Hyeok Sagun. It seemed like he trusted Hyeok Sagun, but it was the opposite. Now was the time to reassure and placate the enemy.

"Thanks to that young brat's bravado, we stand to gain a great profit."

His term for Geom Mugeuk had changed from 'Young Cult Leader' to 'brat'. He was showing that he trusted Hyeok Sagun, not Geom Mugeuk.

If that were true, you shouldn't have accepted the Poison King and the Physician of Evil.

Hyeok Sagun disguised his frustration as concern for the Evil Alliance.

"With all due respect, you shouldn't have accepted the Poison King and the Physician of Evil. The Poison King is the most dangerous man in this murim. We don't know what he might do if he enters our headquarters. Above all, I'm concerned for your safety, Chairman."

He put his concern for the Chairman first, trying to change his mind.

It was a futile effort, as Hyeok Sagun had no way of knowing Baek Jagang's true thoughts.

"When they arrive, watch them closely."

If they were really coming, Baek Jagang would have stopped them. Letting the Poison King into the Evil Alliance was unthinkable. He would not even be able to drink water in peace. Hyeok Sagun could figure that out too, which was why Baek Jagang made a preemptive move.

"But why is the Young Cult Leader being so stubborn?"

A sharp, probing gaze flew toward Hyeok Sagun.

This isn't really your doing, is it?

Baek Jagang had always been a suspicious person. Trusting Hyeok Sagun blindly would feel out of place. It was a suspicion meant to prevent suspicion.

"It seems he's trying to buy time."

"For what?"

"I will look into it."

No matter how smart Hyeok Sagun was, he was no match for the experienced Baek Jagang. Baek Jagang relentlessly unsettled him to keep him from having other thoughts.

This time, Baek Jagang unleashed a cold, murderous aura, revealing his anger toward Geom Mugeuk.

"Calling the Physician of Evil and the Poison King to confirm is a truly arrogant ploy. It disregards the credibility of our Alliance, doesn't it?"

"You're right. Besides, even if he promises the Jiangxi matter in a document, he might not keep that promise."

Hyeok Sagun pointed out new problems, trying to change Baek Jagang's mind, but it was not easy.

"The Young Cult Leader is a man full of pride. He'll keep his promise, if only for his ego. That man, Geom Woojin, is going to be furious."

Hyeok Sagun forcefully suppressed a sigh.

If the Poison King and the Physician of Evil came and revealed the Head Strategist was poisoned, he would be finished. He was the one who had received the poison from Hwang Seokgyeong and administered it.

Until now, there had been many things that hindered his rise. People blocking his path, trying to trip him up. Each time, he had overcome them with Hwang Seokgyeong's help. However, this time was different. The scale of the obstruction was catastrophic. It was bigger than all the bad things that had happened until now combined.

"Then I will take my leave."

Hyeok Sagun bowed politely and turned to leave when Baek Jagang spoke from behind him.

"Investigate it thoroughly. We can't let that young brat make a fool of us, can we?"

"Don't worry, Chairman."

Hyeok Sagun bowed with a reassuring expression, then turned away again.

Because of that young brat, the Chairman is now going to die.

That night, Hyeok Sagun appeared at the same place where he had met the Brawling King before. Across the field, he could see Hwang Seokgyeong.

Hwang Seokgyeong had arrived first and was waiting for him again. He was never late. Seeing him, Hyeok Sagun felt the suffocating feeling from dealing with Geom Mugeuk all day begin to dissipate.

Now he understood. The suffocation had been an instinctual signal that he needed help. Only someone of Hwang Seokgyeong's caliber could place the desired order with that waiter.

Hyeok Sagun cut to the chase.

"The Young Cult Leader has summoned the Physician of Evil and the Poison King."

The Brawling King's expression hardened. He instantly realized why they were coming.

"It's because of the Head Strategist."

"That's right. That Young Cult Leader is no ordinary man."

The Brawling King first asked for Hyeok Sagun's opinion. Even when he had already decided, he always asked the strategist first.

"What should we do?"

Hyeok Sagun had already prepared himself on his way here.

"Is there a way to stop the Poison King and the Physician of Evil from coming?"

The Brawling King thought for a moment, then shook his head.

Not only could they not kill the Demon Supreme and the Physician of Evil carelessly, but even if they had to, it wouldn't be easy if their opponent was the Poison King. If they failed to kill him in a single blow, their side would be annihilated. That was the Poison King.

"In that case, there is only one way. Although the timing is much earlier than planned, haven't we made many preparations for this moment?"

This decision would change his and Hwang Seokgyeong's fate. It would change the fate of their subordinates, the Evil Alliance, the unorthodox sects murim, and the entire murim.

Hyeok Sagun asked with a grim look in his eyes, "Are you ready?"

Compared to the grim Hyeok Sagun, the Brawling King looked relaxed. He had lived his life as a battle. He lived every moment with the mindset that he would die if he lost, so he could answer at any time.

Under the bright moonlight, the Brawling King answered as if he had been waiting.

"I am always ready."

At the same time, another meeting took place elsewhere.

Geom Mugeuk stood in the same field where he had met the Evil Alliance Chairman.

Baek Jagang entered the field.

"I knew you would come here. First, I must apologize."

"It's fine that you lied to me."

"No, it's not because of that. My lie has put you in danger, Chairman. They'll think that if the Physician of Evil and the Poison King investigate together, the poisoning will surely be revealed. In the end, they'll try to finish this before the two arrive."

"How do you mean, finish it?"

"They won't just run away."

Words that should not have come from Geom Mugeuk's mouth slipped out.

"They will try to kill you, Chairman."

Even at the words that they would kill him, Baek Jagang showed no particular reaction.

"And they'll pin the crime on me. They will never miss that opportunity."

Geom Mugeuk continued speaking calmly.

"Originally, this would have happened a few years, or perhaps a decade, from now. The timing changed when your disciple and I became friends."

He should have said, 'when I appeared', but Geom Mugeuk said it was when he became friends with Bi Sayin. He tried to show off their friendship whenever he had the chance.

His father alone was enough to dream of unifying the murim. Just stopping his father was a difficult enough task.

"You will stay out of this fight," Baek Jagang said.

Of course, since this was an Evil Alliance matter, it was right to follow the Chairman's will. However, knowing the opponent was the Brawling King, Geom Mugeuk could not do that.

He believed that in a one-on-one fight, the Evil Alliance Chairman would defeat the Brawling King. The problem was that the Brawling King would use any means necessary to win. The Brawling King was a man obsessed with victory, not fair play.

"Are you worried about me?" Baek Jagang asked.

"If you get hurt, I won't be able to face your father."

"That won't happen. I've learned movement arts properly, so I'm confident in my ability to escape."

Baek Jagang figured Geom Mugeuk must have a reason for wanting to get involved.

"Why do you want to be a part of this fight?"

Geom Mugeuk answered honestly.

"It's because of the Young Alliance Chairman. He'll want to be in this fight more than I do. Since his injuries haven't fully healed, I will protect him by his side."

No chill ran down Baek Jagang's spine.

He suddenly tried to imagine it. A murim where the Demonic Cult Leader and the Evil Alliance Chairman were friends.

Not a single scene came to mind. For him, such a murim did not exist.

Then he remembered what Geom Mugeuk had said.

"Whether it's my demonic path or the Young Alliance Chairman's unorthodox path, I believe there will surely be a new ideal in our era."

"I'll say it again, that friendship will not come to be."

Then, Geom Mugeuk said something startling.

"I'm someone who also believes in a friendship between you, Chairman, and Father."

"What? With your father?"

It was bewildering. The look in Geom Mugeuk's eyes as he spoke of a friendship between the Heavenly Demon and the Evil Alliance Chairman was not that of a naive boy dreaming simple dreams. That clever, sly fox of a man was speaking with sincerity.

"You've never had a proper conversation with Father, have you? From what I can see, I think you two would get along well."

"While eyeing each other and wondering how to kill one another, you mean?"

Baek Jagang felt his liking for Geom Mugeuk grow with each meeting. He felt an inexplicable kinship and was curious about what this fellow would say next. Above all, it was fun to be with him. Even now, he was talking about a friendship between the Heavenly Demon and the Evil Alliance Chairman, something no martial artist had ever considered.

The father of a man like this?

He thought, Perhaps? but then quickly shook his head. Just thinking about the condescending look in Geom Woojin's eyes made him angry. Friendship? What nonsense!

"Please allow me to fight alongside the Young Alliance Chairman!"

"Do as you wish."

The usual Baek Jagang would never have given this permission. He was not the type to let someone else interfere in the Evil Alliance's affairs. This time, however, he decided to acknowledge their friendship.

"Enjoy your soon-to-be-broken friendship while you can."

"Thank you."

Baek Jagang's path to becoming the Evil Alliance Chairman had not been smooth. He had not even started a family, to prevent his heart from growing weak. Back then, he believed it was the right thing to do. Now that he was older, he sometimes imagined a different life. This feeling was especially strong now, looking at Geom Woojin's son.

Sayin, you're going to have a tough time ahead of you. You can't lose to Geom Woojin's son, can you?

Geom Mugeuk and Baek Jagang also looked up at the same moon that the Brawling King and Hyeok Sagun were watching.

"When this is over, may I ask you for a favor?"

"What favor?"

"I'll tell you after it's over."

In Baek Jagang's life, who would have dared to state their terms later? That was why this moment was so novel. He could nod with curiosity instead of annoyance.

"They will pour out all the forces they have gathered until now," Geom Mugeuk said.

"To face me…"

Baek Jagang's small eyes filled with bright moonlight as he spoke.

"They'd better have gathered a lot."