Chapter 367: It's Okay to Be a Little Less Cool

TL: FoodieMonster007

Late at night, Bi Sayin paced alone in the safehouse courtyard. Tomorrow was the day the Chairman would finally depart from the alliance, and Bi Sayin had said he would stay behind.

Should I have said I'd go?

He decided not to go, worried his unhealed body would be a burden, but if something happened to the Chairman, he would regret it for the rest of his life.

Surprisingly, he wasn't worried about Geom Mugeuk. Even if Geom Mugeuk had to flee, he would manage it. He was the type to fall into water and persuade the fish to help him out.

Will the Chairman understand my heart later? What if he misunderstands and thinks I didn't come because I was scared?

Bi Sayin soon shook his head. He couldn't believe he was worrying about himself in a situation like this.

Just then, someone approached from behind.

"You can't sleep because your mind's troubled, can you?"

He turned and saw the Evil Eccentric.

"It's tomorrow, you said?"

"……"

Bi Sayin wanted to ask the Evil Eccentric to help the Chairman. He even wanted to order him. "This is an order from the Young Alliance Chairman, so you must go."

But he couldn't do that. He couldn't tell the Evil Eccentric to go to a dangerous place where he might die while Bi Sayin himself stayed behind. If the Evil Eccentric intended to help, he would have offered on his own.

"Don't worry too much. You know what kind of person the Chairman is, don't you?"

He knew. He knew better than anyone, and that was why he worried. The Chairman was not a man who would ever back down. He was normally cold and realistic, but in a fight, he was like fire. He was the manliest man Bi Sayin knew.

And as always, someone else appeared to solve his worries.

"If you're worried, let's go together!"

Surprised, Bi Sayin turned to see Geom Mugeuk entering the courtyard.

"Why're you here?"

"Why else? I came to take you with me."

Geom Mugeuk held something out. In his hand was protective armor. It was the same armor that had saved Bi Sayin's life when he wore two layers of it. The blood-soaked armor was now clean.

"I came by earlier and washed it at the stream. You're going to see your Master for the first time in a while. You can't go reeking of blood, can you?"

It was washed perfectly clean and was completely dry.

"I was worried it would smell if it wasn't fully dry, so I put it on myself and used my Yang qi to dry it."

"What?"

"I made quite a scene by myself in the middle of the night."

He pictured Geom Mugeuk by the stream, washing the armor, then wearing it to dry it with his Yang qi.

Surprise, confusion, and gratitude washed over Bi Sayin, and he stood there blankly. This Young Cult Leader was truly impossible to predict. The final emotion that crowned all others was joy.

A bright smile spread across Bi Sayin's rugged face.

"Alright, let's go."

It was right to go. The happiness he felt proved this was the right thing to do.

"That's right. It's a matter of the Evil Alliance, so you have to go."

Bi Sayin nodded vigorously.

When the fog in his heart cleared, a man remained. He was a disciple who wanted to protect his master, unafraid to lose his life.

Yes, let's do this. Let's give it a try. Even if I die, I'll die there.

"Help me, friend."

At the word 'friend', Geom Mugeuk broke into a wide grin.

"Of course. Aren't I your true friend? Don't you ever forget that I'm the only friend who risked his life to help you when you were in trouble! And the friend who will later roam the beaches with you is also me. The Young Ladies, I'll charm them all for you!"

Bi Sayin knew that Geom Mugeuk was surprisingly bad at taking credit. He felt burdened by gratitude and disliked boasting.

He thought that behind all that chatter, a man even more taciturn and blunt than himself might be hiding.

Bi Sayin put on one set of the protective armor and held the other out to Geom Mugeuk.

"You wear one."

"I'm already wearing one. So you should wear two layers this time as well."

The Top-Quality Heavenly Silk from the Black Demon Sword's hilt was already wrapped around Geom Mugeuk's vital points.

Just then, the Evil Eccentric, who had been listening, interjected.

"There might be poison inside the protective armor."

It was a barbed joke, a warning not to trust Geom Mugeuk completely.

"With you here, Senior, at least the Young Alliance Chairman won't be poisoned to death."

Geom Mugeuk sincerely hoped the relationship between these two would develop well. Bi Sayin, it's up to you.

Bi Sayin spoke to the Evil Eccentric.

"Will you help me and accompany the Patriarch tomorrow?"

The Evil Eccentric answered without hesitation.

"If the Young Alliance Chairman goes, then I have to go too."

He hadn't offered to help the Chairman, but he was willing to move for Bi Sayin.

Bi Sayin realized something. If he had forced the Evil Eccentric earlier, he wouldn't have received such a willing answer. He gained something now because he had held back then. He had to remember that. A rushed heart forgets the proper distance with others.

The person who most influenced this realization was already busy. Geom Mugeuk bid them farewell.

"Then I'll see you tomorrow morning. I'll come pick you up."

"Where are you going this late at night?"

After saying something incomprehensible, Geom Mugeuk vanished in an instant.

"Because you're not the only one who needs to wear protective armor."

Late at night, a shirtless Baek Jagang trained in his personal training ground. His opponent was an iron dummy forged from ten-thousand-year cold iron.

The iron dummy became Geom Woojin, then Hwang Seokgyeong, and then even Baek Jagang himself. He could have sliced it in a single blow, but only light, crisp sounds echoed from the dummy.

After a round of swordplay, Baek Jagang approached the iron dummy. He slowly caressed the marks he had just carved. So many lines covered the surface that it looked like a single plane.

However, Baek Jagang knew exactly which marks he had just left. This was a higher realm than simply cutting the iron. His finger savored this realm as it traced the sword lines.

The lines told a story. They told that he had not inherited the Chairman's seat easily. They told that he too had walked a path of blood to reach the grandmaster's chair.

Just then, the bodyguard Captain's voice came from outside.

"The Young Cult Leader has arrived."

Geom Mugeuk stood before the steel wolf again today.

"What brings you here so late?"

"I couldn't sleep, so I came to see you."

If it were anyone else, Baek Jagang would have assumed it was nervousness, but he thought that wasn't the case for Geom Mugeuk. There had to be a reason for his visit.

"Why aren't you coming inside?"

"Ah, I like it out here."

Baek Jagang stood side by side with Geom Mugeuk.

"I heard you said this wolf would come to life?"

It seemed the bodyguard Captain had relayed his words.

"For some reason, I feel like it would be good if it came to life."

"Are you hoping for a crisis to hit our alliance?"

"Ah, I suppose so. No wonder! I had a feeling it would come to life so intensely."

This was why conversations with Geom Mugeuk were interesting. He casually said things no one else dared to say.

"I heard you said he was a formidable enemy?"

Geom Mugeuk spoke into the empty air.

"Aren't you telling the Chairman everything I say? Are there no secrets between us?"

Only after joking did the playful look disappear from Geom Mugeuk's face.

"Yes, he's probably the strongest enemy the Chairman has ever faced."

"As much as your father?"

"Not quite to that extent."

Before a relaxed smile could form on Baek Jagang's lips, Geom Mugeuk spoke first.

"But he's not an enemy you can be complacent about."

He knew such words could wound the Evil Alliance Chairman's pride, but he gave the warning anyway.

"Are you afraid I might die?"

After a brief pause, Geom Mugeuk answered.

"Yes, I am."

The words rang true to Baek Jagang. The Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult was genuinely worried he might die. How was he supposed to take this?

"There should be protective armor for you, Chairman. I ask that you wear it when you leave the alliance."

"Why the armor?"

"The opponent will be wearing protective armor."

He knew from his past life that the Brawling King wore protective armor. The Brawling King didn't just wear armor. He used all sorts of artifacts and divine objects if it meant he could win.

This was common knowledge because the Brawling King was never ashamed of such things. He was only ashamed of defeat.

A man as strong as the Demon Supreme without any aids was now using the best artifacts. That was why he worried for the Evil Alliance Chairman.

"I felt this before, but you seem to know this person well."

What should I say?

"Yes, I have information about this person."

He said nothing more, knowing that speaking longer would only create openings. He had already mentioned similar conspiracies in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, the Murim Alliance, and the Heavenly Wind Cult. Baek Jagang would likely assume he learned it while resolving those incidents.

"Please don't misunderstand. I'm not saying this because I'm looking down on you, Chairman."

"I know that, but let me ask you this."

Baek Jagang stared intently at Geom Mugeuk.

"If it were your father, would he have worn it?"

After thinking of his father for a moment, Geom Mugeuk shook his head.

"He wouldn't have worn it."

Baek Jagang emitted a cold aura.

"Then why are you telling me to wear it?"

"Because I would've told Father to wear it too."

In the same situation, he would have recommended it to his father as well, even though his father would have never worn it.

"I know. I know your pride and self-respect as a martial artist, Chairman. You're the kind of person who would face an opponent with a single sword even if they came wrapped in all the treasures of the world. I know well that both Father and you, Chairman, are that kind of person. That's why you are the Cult Leader, and that's why you are the Chairman."

"If you know, then why are you telling me to wear it?"

"Because I'd wear it. I would go out wearing the best protective armor in layers. I would do so even if I became the Cult Leader."

Baek Jagang stared intently into Geom Mugeuk's unwavering eyes. He was curious why this young Young Cult Leader, who would be responsible for the next generation, was saying such things.

"Because the honor of a Cult Leader, as I see it, doesn't lie in the coolness of winning under unfavorable conditions."

"Then where does your honor lie?"

"It lies in the result of killing those who must be killed. That's why it's okay to be a little less cool. I don't need to spin tales of heroism. I just want to return safely and see my people. I want to return safely, drink with them, and talk with them. I won't say a single word about the enemy who is already dead. I'll take off the blood-stained protective armor, and I'll laugh and chat. People will think in their hearts, 'Yes, if it's the Cult Leader, he can definitely kill them.' My honor lies there."

It was something Baek Jagang had never thought of before. When he was with Geom Mugeuk, things he himself lacked kept unfolding before him. Everything Geom Mugeuk had said before was for this conclusion.

"I hope that you, Chairman, do not get even a single scratch. I hope that becomes your honor, Chairman."

Not a single word from Geom Mugeuk sounded false to Baek Jagang.

The next day, the Evil Alliance Chairman's carriage moved down the road. The few martial artists running alongside it were the Evil Alliance Chairman's personal bodyguards. Only the most skilled had accompanied this secret procession.

Inside the carriage were Baek Jagang and Vice Strategist Hyeok Sagun.

"Are you nervous?"

At Baek Jagang's question, Hyeok Sagun turned from the carriage window.

"No, I'm not."

"You seem more nervous than usual."

Of course, Hyeok Sagun was nervous. His fate would be decided today.

He believed Hwang Seokgyeong would win, but the location would become a perilous battlefield. Unknown variables could threaten him.

"Regarding this, may I say just one thing?"

"Go ahead."

"Honestly, I was disappointed. I thought it would have been better if you had trusted me completely, if you were going to trust me at all."

"You were disappointed that I didn't tell you the Head Strategist's whereabouts."

"……"

Hyeok Sagun quickly bowed his head and apologized.

"I apologize for my disloyal words, Chairman."

"No. You're only human. It's natural to feel that way."

Hyeok Sagun did his best to hide his true self. The Chairman was a sharp man, one who could see right through people with his small eyes. That was why Hyeok Sagun was hiding his excitement today with disappointment. He had to get to the place where Hwang Seokgyeong was waiting.

How long had they been traveling?

Just as the carriage began to slow, Baek Jagang brought up something unexpected.

"Today is the day they're accepting new recruits at the Evil Alliance Pass, isn't it?"

"That's right, it's today."

At the mention of the Evil Alliance Pass, Hyeok Sagun grew tense inside.

"I heard Instructor Hwang took a leave of absence today?"

"Yes, I heard it's the first time that's ever happened, but how do you know?"

"Isn't he famous for his diligence? Do you know what's going on?"

"I heard he had an urgent personal matter."

"I think I know where that man went."

The carriage had come to a stop. Baek Jagang's gaze turned to the window.

"There he is."

Up ahead, the Brawling King stood blocking the road.

The Brawling King fully revealed his aura, exuding an immense presence. It was enough to explain Geom Mugeuk's worry. The bodyguards, already instructed by the main palace, remained calm.

Baek Jagang slowly disembarked from the carriage. The Brawling King's fighting spirit surged toward him like a storm of blades, but Baek Jagang spoke with utmost composure.

"Isn't this too extravagant a vacation for you?"