Chapter 366: Because He Looked Lonely for Some Reason

TL: FoodieMonster007

When Geom Mugeuk returned to the safehouse, Bi Sayin was cultivating his qi in the courtyard.

"You're back?" Bi Sayin greeted Geom Mugeuk with a relaxed expression.

Geom Mugeuk observed Bi Sayin carefully, his eyes filled with suspicion.

"Who are you?" he asked.

Bi Sayin didn't answer, thinking Geom Mugeuk was trying to pull another prank.

"I asked who you are. My friend, the Young Alliance Chairman, isn't someone who makes such a comfortable face. My friend only looks that happy when he's challenging an enemy to a duel. Get out of my friend's body right now!"

Bi Sayin shook his head incredulously. "Can't you go a single day without playing a prank?"

"I have to get them all in while I'm still young. Look at your Master or Father. Aren't they so stoic and boring? We'll become like that too when we get older."

"You'll still be playing pranks even at that age, won't you?"

Geom Mugeuk grinned, unable to deny it. "How did things go where you went?"

"The talk went well. Nothing much, except that those bastards are going to ambush the Chairman."

"What!" Bi Sayin asked quickly, knowing Geom Mugeuk didn't joke about such matters. "What happened?"

Geom Mugeuk relayed everything that had happened to Bi Sayin.

"I've cornered him like that. Now, the only option they have left is to kill the Chairman and take over the Evil Alliance. I'm sorry. It was the only way to draw them out."

Bi Sayin could have gotten angry that the Chairman was in danger, but he simply nodded silently.

"Why aren't you angry?" Geom Mugeuk asked.

"Didn't you say it was the only way?"

Geom Mugeuk could definitely feel that his relationship with Bi Sayin was different. The once-distant man now stood right in front of him.

"They won't dare to attack while he's in the Chairman's Hall."

The Chairman's Hall itself was a fortress, and countless unseen masters guarded its surroundings. One or two might be able to enter with Hyeok Sagun, but a large number of enemies could not invade in the first place.

"They'll aim for when he leaves the alliance headquarters. The vice strategist is the first to know the Chairman's schedule."

Geom Mugeuk nodded as if he had the same thought. "The reason I said the Physician of Evil and the Poison King would arrive in ten days was because I hoped you would participate in this fight."

A tremor crossed Bi Sayin's face. The tremor left an even stronger impression because his face was so hideous and frightening.

"I understand your sentiment, but there's no need for that." Bi Sayin said something unexpected. "Make your plans without factoring me in."

"Will that be alright?"

Bi Sayin nodded.

Do not get used to it.

After hearing those words from his master, Bi Sayin could control his heart. He realized that now was not the time to fight, but a time to change his bandages. A time to cool down, not to boil over.

Geom Mugeuk could feel it. Bi Sayin had grown a lot.

"You've changed a lot."

"It's thanks to someone."

Their gazes gently intertwined in the air.

"Then get some rest."

As Geom Mugeuk turned to leave, Bi Sayin spoke from behind him.

"Thank you."

It was just one phrase, but it was filled with Bi Sayin's sincerity.

"In that case, don't just pay me back with words. Grant me one favor." He was making the same request to Bi Sayin that he had made to Baek Jagang.

"Tell me what it is."

"I'll tell you after this is all over."

Then came a surprising promise from Bi Sayin. "Whatever it is, I will surely grant it."

To say he would grant anything without even hearing it, and for those words to come from a man who always kept his promises, was greater and more valuable than any other expression of gratitude. It was also the moment the debt of gratitude he was owed was fully repaid.

"What will you do if I say I want your position?"

Bi Sayin turned and walked into the building as he replied, "Then I will challenge for the position of Young Cult Leader."

Geom Mugeuk shouted after him, "That thought will vanish once you meet Father."

The next day, Geom Mugeuk went to the Chairman's Hall again.

Walking down the corridor, Geom Mugeuk stopped in front of the steel wolf that stood there again today.

"Do you like that wolf?"

At the unexpected question, Geom Mugeuk looked with a surprised expression at Ingung, the bodyguard Captain who was guiding him.

He had peppered Ingung with all sorts of questions on the way here today. When do you sleep while being a bodyguard, how much do you have to learn stealth to reach such a level, who controls the poison needle holes under the Chairman's Hall. Of course, Ingung had not answered a single word.

But now, Ingung had spoken to him first.

"Did you know? This is the first time you've spoken to me since we met."

"It seemed you were paying close attention to that wolf."

Geom Mugeuk's gaze turned back to the wolf. A witty remark like, 'So you spoke to me because of the wolf, not because of me,' could have come out, but Geom Mugeuk spoke calmly with a deepened gaze.

"Because he looked lonely for some reason."

That was why he liked it. It was like looking at his father, like looking at the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon sitting alone in a pure white room, like looking at the Evil Alliance Chairman walking across a windy field, and like looking at this bodyguard Captain silently guiding him, and it was also like looking at himself from his life before regression.

Ingung's gaze also turned to the wolf. It was an unexpected answer. He had passed through this place countless times but had never once had such a thought. The Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult was certainly different from the martial artists he had seen so far. Then again, that was probably why he was standing in this corridor.

Geom Mugeuk said something else unexpected. "I feel like this wolf will come to life someday."

Those words were also spoken with sincerity. Because he had a feeling. He didn't know what it was, but there was a strange pull drawing him in.

Ingung looked at Geom Mugeuk. None of his subordinates believed in that legend.

You believe something that even we don't.

Geom Mugeuk patted the wolf's head once. "Hey you, don't doze off, guard well!"

He resumed walking, guided by Ingung again.

Before the door to the Chairman's Hall opened, Geom Mugeuk spoke to Ingung. "He is strong."

Ingung was always present whenever he met the Evil Alliance Chairman. Having listened to all their conversations while hidden, he knew what Geom Mugeuk was talking about.

"I understand," Ingung replied politely.

He had reminded him of the Brawling King's skill because it was something the bodyguard Captain absolutely needed to know.

The door opened, and Geom Mugeuk went inside.

The Evil Alliance Chairman, Baek Jagang, sat in a grand chair with his eyes closed, lost in thought. Geom Mugeuk knew better than anyone how important moments of contemplation were for masters of the Evil Alliance Chairman's level, so he walked as silently as possible.

Only when Geom Mugeuk approached the foot of the grand chair did Baek Jagang finally open his mouth. "Was it your plan to kill me after coming and going so freely like this?"

It was Baek Jagang's joke about his silent approach.

"To kill the Evil Alliance Chairman, wouldn't I have to put in at least this much effort? Ah, but I need more footwork training. I think I need to be able to approach about ten steps more stealthily to put my friend in that seat."

Baek Jagang's eyes flashed open. Indeed, banter was most enjoyable when the other party didn't hold back like this.

"Have you come up with a plan?"

"As you know, the strategists in our alliance are a problem. What are your thoughts?"

"It's not like I have any particular ideas."

Contrary to his words, Geom Mugeuk had already formulated a plan.

"They won't make a move while you're in the alliance headquarters, so you need a natural reason to leave. That way, they won't be suspicious."

As Baek Jagang nodded, Geom Mugeuk continued.

"You'll go out to meet the Physician of Evil and the Poison King. The Head Strategist who has fallen ill is currently hidden outside, isn't he?"

During their last meeting, he had asked for measures to be taken, saying Hyeok Sagun might kill him to destroy evidence. So, the Chairman had taken the Head Strategist to a secret location.

"You'll go to greet the two of them, using the excuse that you don't want to let the Poison King and the Physician of Evil into the Evil Alliance. Tell Hyeok Sagun that you'll take them straight to the Head Strategist. It's a perfect opportunity for them. They won't believe that I killed the Chairman alone, but they will believe it if you say the Poison King poisoned him."

Baek Jagang was impressed. He thought that Geom Mugeuk had probably been thinking this far ahead from the very beginning, when he lied about the Poison King and the Physician of Evil coming to corner Hyeok Sagun.

"Let's do that." Baek Jagang accepted Geom Mugeuk's plan.

"What did Sayin have to say about this matter?"

"The Young Alliance Chairman said that he doesn't have to fight, so we should make our plans without worrying about him."

Baek Jagang felt that the words he had conveyed had been properly delivered to his disciple.

"Still, I'm going to bring the Young Alliance Chairman out."

"……"

"Because this is the Young Alliance Chairman's fight too. If he misses this chance, he'll regret this day for the rest of his life. I don't want to leave my friend with such a regret. Don't worry, I'll protect him well."

No goosebumps rose on Baek Jagang's skin.

There were people with whom this sense connected, and people with whom it did not. He thought it would have been better if Geom Mugeuk was someone with whom it did not connect. In almost every relationship where the sense had connected, what remained was disappointment. The biggest reason he didn't trust people was because of this sense.

Could you be the exception?

This thought probably arose because of the unexpectedness this young Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult had shown so far, but it was unlikely.

"Worry about yourself instead of your friend. Do you know how many poison needle holes are under your feet right now?"

"Oh my," Geom Mugeuk exclaimed with a fuss. "I guess I just shouldn't look at the floor! Thankfully, I like looking at the sky."

Several days passed, and the day before the Chairman was scheduled to leave the alliance headquarters arrived.

"Phew, another grueling battle will begin tomorrow."

At Instructor Cha's complaint, Hwang Seokgyeong, who was moving training equipment with him, smiled. Tomorrow was the day a new batch of recruits would enter the Evil Alliance Pass. Instructor Cha's complaint was an annual event that always came after a short break.

"Think of them as the cornerstones that will protect the alliance."

"They're precious cornerstones to you, who's so popular. To me, they're just dreadful. I wonder what kind of brat will piss me off this time."

Hwang Seokgyeong put down the load he was carrying and said to Instructor Cha, "By the way, I won't be able to come in tomorrow."

"You? What for? Are you sick somewhere?" Instructor Cha was startled. Hwang Seokgyeong was the most diligent person at the Evil Alliance Pass. For him, who never missed a single day, to say he couldn't come in on the first day of receiving new recruits was bound to be a surprise.

"I have somewhere to go."

"Where?"

Hwang Seokgyeong just smiled and didn't answer. "I'll lock the warehouse door and head back, so you can go on ahead."

"Would you do that?"

Instructor Cha walked a little way, then turned back and asked, "If there's anything I can help with, let me know."

Looking at him, Hwang Seokgyeong smiled brightly. "It's alright. It's something I have to do myself."

It's a job only I can do.

After parting with Instructor Cha, Hwang Seokgyeong returned to the warehouse where he had taken out the training equipment.

Entering the warehouse, he moved aside a dusty pile of unused tools stacked in the corner. When he operated an elaborate device hidden in the wall, a door leading to a basement opened. Hwang Seokgyeong went inside, and the door closed automatically.

The place was a small secret chamber, faintly lit by luminous pearls embedded in the walls.

A treasured armor hung on the front wall. It was a sacred object that would make nine out of ten martial artists scream if they knew what it was.

the Invincible.

the Invincible divine armor was his most cherished treasured armor and a protective suit he wore only for important battles.

After completely undressing, he put on the Invincible. Made from a mixture of various special fabrics and the Heavenly Silk, it clung to his body like a second skin. Thin yet powerful, it was an absolute divine artifact of murim that could not be obtained even for a thousand gold pieces.

That wasn't all. Hwang Seokgyeong put on guards that protected his wrists and shins.

the Twin Souls.

These protective gears, named the Twin Souls, couldn't compare to the Invincible divine armor, but they were still rare artifacts of the jianghu.

Next, he wrapped a leather belt for holding throwing knives around his waist. He opened a box beside him, revealing it was full of throwing knives. Like the divine artifacts before, this leather belt and the throwing knives were not things one could see commonly. Hwang Seokgyeong slowly and carefully inserted them into the leather belt.

His movements as he prepared for battle were calm and serious.

The last thing he put on was a pair of gloves.

the God of War.

Also made of a special material that made it feel as if he wasn't wearing anything, this was a qi-enhancing treasure that protected his hands from not only sword qi but also enhanced sword qi, and it pushed the power of his fists to the extreme.

It was the first time. The first time he was going into a fight wearing all of these things.

After putting his outer clothes back on, Hwang Seokgyeong came out of the secret chamber and went up. He stacked the original luggage back on top of the secret chamber entrance, and there, he also set down his swordsmanship manual. Today would be the last time he would enter this place.

When he finally put down his sword, he transformed from Instructor Hwang Seokgyeong of the Evil Alliance Pass into the Brawling King on the eve of the decisive battle.