Chapter 375: No Ignoring Me Just Because the Mystery is Gone

TL: FoodieMonster007

Geom Mugeuk saw it for the first time. He saw Baek Jagang's eyes widen. Of course, they were still small even when wide.

Is that the best you can do, Chairman?

Both Bi Sayin and the Evil Alliance Chairman possessed a cool, unique charm. The more one looked at Baek Jagang's small eyes, the more charming they became.

"Did you say that tavern is in front of the Divine Cult?"

"It's in the Demon Village."

"You want to take me there?"

"……"

Baek Jagang stared at Geom Mugeuk for a moment before looking at Bi Sayin.

Before the Chairman could speak, Bi Sayin sighed.

"He's serious. He's always been this crazy."

Still, Bi Sayin used the word 'person' instead of 'fellow'.

Baek Jagang asked again.

"Did you intend to ask this from the beginning?"

"That's right."

"Was this your goal? To lure me to the Divine Cult and kill me?"

Geom Mugeuk laughed. In Baek Jagang's mind, he was likely already surrounded by the Eight Demon Supremes in a tavern before the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, facing a joint attack.

"No. I have absolutely no intention of harming you, Chairman."

Baek Jagang felt no killing intent.

Right, if that was his goal, the Poison King wouldn't have detoxified the Yellow Spring poison.

"What's the reason for taking me to the Divine Cult?"

"Didn't I tell you? I want to treat you to a drink there."

"Can't we just buy drinks here?"

"The owner there is an excellent cook. The tavern's atmosphere is great, too."

"Speak honestly. What is it for?"

After a brief pause, Geom Mugeuk answered.

"It's because I hope you will meet Father."

Even if it's unofficial, the Heavenly Demon can't just stand by while the Evil Alliance Chairman comes to the front of our Cult. Father will definitely come to the tavern to meet him.

"With your father? Why?"

"There are two reasons. First, it's because of this recent conspiracy. Those bastards targeted the Evil Alliance's Young Alliance Chairman and the Murim Alliance Chairman's grandson. They also targeted our Cult's Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme. With such people active in the shadows, I believe it would be meaningful for you two to meet at least once."

Baek Jagang nodded. Geom Mugeuk was right, but that was not a compelling reason to meet. They could exchange messages by pigeon, or their strategists could share information. He felt the real reason was the second one.

"The second reason?"

Then Geom Mugeuk revealed his true intention.

"I hope the two of you meet and become friends. For some reason, I think you'd get along well."

And then, I hope Father and the Evil Alliance Chairman will distance themselves from the dream of unifying the murim. Countless lives depend on a single toast between them.

Baek Jagang stared at Geom Mugeuk with utter disbelief.

"That reason is better than a murim treasure or a legendary miracle herb?"

"Yes, it's better. Of course, I know this isn't a decision to be made lightly."

He spoke casually, but the matter was serious. It meant the Evil Alliance Chairman would travel toward the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. He would have to consider his bodyguards. Would he bring only a few experts, or a large-scale force?

"Are you saying this with your father's permission?"

"To be honest, I haven't received it yet, but this isn't something that requires permission. It's just me personally escorting you, Chairman, and treating you to a drink."

If this were handled officially, Father would never permit it. He hates the Evil Alliance and its Chairman. Then again, it's not like he's fond of the Murim Alliance Chairman either.

In any case, he could make the meeting happen even without permission.

Baek Jagang started walking again. He walked for a moment, lost in thought, then stopped.

"Fine. Let's say I go. Will the Murim Alliance just stand by? They'll think the Divine Cult and our alliance are joining forces to plot something."

"I will take responsibility and ensure there are no misunderstandings on that point."

"How will you do that?"

"I'll have to go to the Murim Alliance Chairman and tell him directly. I'll say, 'I arranged this meeting for such and such reasons. Please don't misunderstand.'"

Baek Jagang knew Geom Mugeuk was sincere.

Perhaps, if it's this kid?

He thought Geom Mugeuk might actually be able to calm the Murim Alliance. He found himself already thinking such things, he who had been so confident that a young man could never sway him.

Just then, the carriage for the Chairman arrived.

"See you at the alliance later."

Perhaps needing time to think, Baek Jagang left first with his bodyguards, leaving the two of them behind. The martial artists of the Extreme Army escorted the children and followed. The Evil Eccentric also departed, promising to meet them again.

Now, only Geom Mugeuk, Bi Sayin, and the Thirteen Evil Wolves remained.

The two men began to walk slowly. The Thirteen Evil Wolves scattered at a distance, walking with them and acting as bodyguards.

The fight with the Brawling King already felt like a dream to Bi Sayin, but Geom Mugeuk, as if to stop him from dwelling on past villains, immediately threw a new problem at him.

Since he had known Geom Mugeuk for some time, the request he made to the Chairman was not strange. However, Bi Sayin had one concern.

"What will you do if they meet and a fight breaks out? No one could stop them. Aren't you afraid?"

Geom Mugeuk answered with a question of his own.

"Do you trust your Master?"

"Of course, I do."

"I trust Father too. So, a fight won't break out."

He was telling him to trust the adults, and they were hardly ordinary adults.

Even if a fight breaks out, it'll be fine. In fact, I hope they have a good spar. You can't ignore the camaraderie martial artists build when they trade blows.

When Bi Sayin silently nodded, Geom Mugeuk asked with a suspicious look.

"Why are you so readily accepting everything I say? It's making me nervous."

"It's a period of acceptance."

"There's such a period?"

"There is. I learned it all from you. That not knowing something isn't what hurts one's pride, but not trying to fix it is what's truly shameful."

His ready admission showed how much Bi Sayin had changed. Perhaps because he was still young, Bi Sayin had a stronger desire to learn and change than anyone Geom Mugeuk had ever met.

As if it just occurred to him, Bi Sayin asked again.

"Right, what was it you wanted to ask of me? Was it to go to the tavern with you?"

"No. If the Chairman agrees, you'll be coming along anyway. Why would I need to ask you that?"

Geom Mugeuk's request was just as unexpected as the one he had made to Baek Jagang.

"Let me take one thing I want from the Evil Alliance's treasury."

Bi Sayin's eyes widened. He stopped walking.

"Why are you so surprised? For saving your life, I can surely ask for that much, can't I?"

"Of course, you can."

"Are you disappointed? Thinking, 'Why is he so greedy? He should have asked for something to deepen our friendship!'"

"That's not it."

"I'd rather be an incarnation of greed for a moment than have lingering regrets."

Bi Sayin walked in silence for a moment. Then he stopped and revealed his inner thoughts.

"I wasn't disappointed, I was honestly flustered. I thought you'd ask for something else. If you were me, how would you react in this situation?"

Geom Mugeuk gave a strange smile, thought for a moment, and then answered.

"If it were me, I'd say this. 'Fine, I'll give you a gift from the secret vault. Is there anything else you want besides that?'"

"You'd offer to give more?"

"What if I answered that I wanted more treasure?"

"'Fine, I'll give you that too. Is there anything else you want?' I'd keep asking like that. I'd keep asking until I got the answer I wanted. If he has any conscience, he'll say it. I'd give him ten treasures until then."

"Is there a reason you have to do that?"

"We're friends, aren't we?"

Bi Sayin's eyes narrowed as he asked suspiciously.

"Are you perhaps aiming for ten of our alliance's treasures right now?"

"You noticed?"

Bi Sayin, who had looked disbelieving, felt his rough face relax a little.

"Didn't I tell you? I'm not that great of a person. I'm greedy and I try to take care of my own things first. Since that's the kind of person I am, don't have any preconceptions or illusions about me."

Bi Sayin felt as if Geom Mugeuk was telling him something directly.

Shatter the illusions between people, my friend. That's how a friendship lasts.

Bi Sayin couldn't know the truth. Geom Mugeuk had another reason to enter the treasury, the Secret Box. He hoped the Evil Alliance's treasury held an artifact the Secret Box could absorb. He knew he would never get another chance to enter it.

"You're truly a person I can't figure out."

"After a little more time passes, you'll find out. That I'm an easier person to understand than you are. When that time comes, no ignoring me just because the mystery is gone."

A warm gust of wind blew.

"The weather has warmed up a lot. At this rate, spring will be here before we know it."

Geom Mugeuk looked up at the sky. Bi Sayin followed his gaze and also looked up. People often forget to look up, even when they try to remember.

"What kind of place is your regular spot?"

"It's a place with good drinks, a good owner, and good customers. You'll like it if you go. You might even end up coming there to drink every day."

"Isn't it too far to go just for a drink?"

"Train hard in your movement arts."

The two men, and the Thirteen Evil Wolves with them, stood there for a long while, looking up at the sky.

After returning to the Evil Alliance, the two men went straight to the Chairman's Hall.

"I'll go get permission from the Chairman, so wait here."

Even as the Young Alliance Chairman, he could not just enter the Evil Alliance's treasury as he pleased.

"Even if you have to push it, make sure you get permission."

Bi Sayin replied as he walked toward the Chairman's Hall.

"This is when you're supposed to say, 'Don't push yourself too hard.'"

"I really want to go in! I really want to have it! Please! Use all of your friendship!"

As he walked away, Bi Sayin gestured as if covering his ears.

After Bi Sayin left, Geom Mugeuk looked at the steel wolf statue in the hallway. It looked identical to the azure wolf that appeared when Baek Jagang used his martial arts.

As he studied it, someone dropped their concealment and appeared.

"You're looking at the wolf again."

It was the Evil Alliance's bodyguard Captain, Ingung.

"Strangely, I'm drawn to this thing."

He was so drawn to it that he wanted to say the wolf statue was the one thing he desired. Of course, he could not do that.

"Thank you for your help this time."

Ingung expressed his gratitude to Geom Mugeuk. He had revealed himself just to greet him.

"Don't mention it. You worked hard, Captain."

Though it was not obvious, the bodyguards had fought the hardest battle. They remained concealed, ready to sacrifice themselves if the Chairman fell into crisis. The mental toll had been immense.

That was why Ingung and the bodyguards felt the most gratitude toward Geom Mugeuk and the Poison King. They were people who existed solely to save the Chairman.

Just then, the door to the Chairman's Hall opened at the far end of the hall, and Bi Sayin walked out. He came out sooner than expected. It meant either a ready approval or an immediate refusal.

"Well then, I'll be going."

Ingung vanished without a sound.

Bi Sayin walked up to Geom Mugeuk and said confidently.

"Let's go, I got permission."

"I knew it!"

"If you say one more word, I'll cancel it."

Geom Mugeuk covered his mouth with his hand and laughed.

The two men left the Chairman's Hall. As they walked side by side through the inner courtyard, Geom Mugeuk asked cautiously.

"You didn't get scolded?"

"I did."

"Give me a blindfold. I'll go with my eyes squeezed shut."

"What will you do if I push you into a trap?"

"Are you going to?"

"If I do, I'll push you off a cliff. A cliff that's about three thousand meters high."

The two men arrived at the treasury.

They passed through several heavily guarded gates on the way. They had to get past concealed experts, dangerous mechanisms, and mysterious formations before they finally reached the treasury.

They did not blindfold him. Bi Sayin knew that for an expert of Geom Mugeuk's level, a blindfold was meaningless.

"I'm not trying to brag, but even I have never chosen freely from here."

"I'm truly grateful. I know I got this chance because you value me. I'll probably never forget this gratitude for the rest of my life. I won't be able to sleep for a while. When I have a child later, I'll be sure to tell them. 'You know your father's friend, Chairman Bi? When he was young…'"

"Stop! I'm sorry. I was bragging a little."

Bi Sayin entered first with an expression that said, 'Sigh, I shouldn't have said anything.'

All sorts of treasures were there.

There were peerless secret manuals that would cause a bloodbath if they reached the murim, treasured swords everyone would know by name, and protective armor comparable to the Invincible. The room was filled with dazzling treasures.

The two men walked together, slowly looking at the displayed items.

"When you become the Chairman later, won't all of this be yours? I'll have to get on your good side from now on."

"Anyone who heard you would think the Divine Cult doesn't have a treasury. You probably have an even bigger one. If I asked you to trade, would you or wouldn't you?"

"…I wouldn't."

"And you're still complaining!"

As he looked around, Geom Mugeuk felt a hot, fervent energy.

This place is also preparing for war.

It was the same as the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. The weapons, protective armor, and miracle herbs to be distributed to martial artists when war broke out were well-organized. The Evil Alliance was also clearly preparing for that day.

"The Chairman must have been really grateful to you. He's not one to ever let an outsider into this place."

"It's probably because of you."

"Why because of me?"

"Because he wanted to help you keep your promise to me."

Was that really the reason? Bi Sayin was not sure. He still did not know the Chairman's heart well. Still, he hoped that was the reason. Geom Mugeuk was the only person who understood such feelings. He no longer doubted him. He knew such words were a sign of his consideration.

Geom Mugeuk passed by all the secret manuals, treasured swords, protective armor, and miracle herbs.

Geom Mugeuk ignored his own greed. He focused on the desire of the Secret Box.

Secret Box, this is your only chance. Hurry up and choose.

However, the Secret Box did not react, even as he passed all sorts of rare artifacts.

"Is there another place?"

"There's a section where they keep things less valuable than what's here."

"Let's see that place too."

"Are you looking for something specific?"

"I'm looking for something that really calls to me. It's not here."

So they looked around the other section as well. It was certainly filled with less valuable items compared to the first treasury.

"If it were me, I would have only shown you this place."

Joking like that, Geom Mugeuk calmly looked around the second section. This place had more common jewels and ornaments than weapons or treasured armor.

The further into the corner they went, the more worthless the stored items became. The two men walked almost to the very end.

Just as he was about to give up, thinking there was nothing in the Evil Alliance…

"……"

The Secret Box reacted.