Chapter 378: We Live in the Same Murim

TL: FoodieMonster007

"Miss Jin, please accept my sincere feelings."

The young man confessed, his eyes pleading with sincerity.

Jin Haryong's reaction was calm, a stark contrast to the love-struck young man. This was a side effect of her time leading the prodigy meetings as the beauty of Hubei.

"Young Lord Im."

"Miss Jin."

She had tried various methods of refusal. She would ask how well they knew her, state that they had work to do, or claim that work came before love. The method she used now, however, was the fastest and most certain.

"I have someone I like."

The young man looked startled. This statement usually prompted one of two reactions. Some would give up and turn away. Others, like this man, couldn't let go until the very end.

"Who is it?"

"And if you knew? Are you going to go to that person and stop them, Young Lord Im?"

At this point, they split into two types again. There were those who realized they had gone too far and backed down. Then there were those like this man, who tried to see it through.

"If I can. I want to show you how much I like you, Miss Jin, even if it means doing that."

Someone might have told him that winning a woman required boldness. Perhaps that method had even worked for him once or twice, but it would not work on her.

"What if someone came now and tried to stop you from getting what you like, Young Lord Im?"

"I wouldn't just let it happen."

"I feel the same way."

Jin Haryong's gaze turned cold. If he did not back down here, she would have to release her qi.

Fortunately, the young man stopped. He bowed his head and apologized.

"Please forgive my rudeness. I'm not usually like this."

Only then did Jin Haryong's expression soften.

"I'll see you at the next meeting."

The young man bowed deeply before leaving.

Just then, Chu Ho, Jin Haryong's bodyguard, stepped forward from where he had been standing at a distance.

"Shall I take measures to prevent him from coming to the meetings?"

He had been so rude, yet claimed not to be that kind of person. Chu Ho wanted to deal with him sternly, but Jin Haryong was more generous.

"Let him be. If you do that, his life will become unnecessarily gloomy and dark."

Having received confessions often, she knew how to handle people.

"Can someone just stop liking a person whenever they want? You have to give him time. Whether he comes or not should be his choice."

Chu Ho felt that Jin Haryong had become much more mature at some point, and he knew exactly when that had happened.

"But do you really have someone you like?"

Jin Haryong gave Chu Ho a look that asked why he was asking such an obvious question.

"You always refuse with those words. I was wondering if it was an excuse, or perhaps…?"

"I do."

She then asked Chu Ho, who was pretending to be surprised.

"You already knew, didn't you? Why pretend you don't, between us?"

"I'm sorry. I just thought the Young Lady might want to talk about him to someone."

Chu Ho knew. He knew that Geom Mugeuk had taken a place in Jin Haryong's heart.

She never revealed those feelings to anyone. It would be a relief if she could just confess like the young man from earlier.

Chu Ho was worried she might get sick from bottling it all up. That was why he hoped she would confide in him.

"Are you worried about me?"

"No."

"It's not enough to worry about. I just miss him sometimes. On days like this, I want to see him even more. He appears in my dreams very occasionally. It's about that much."

And on a cloudless day like today.

She remembered his words.

"See that sky blue over there? That's the color of my enhanced sword qi."

His other words also came to mind.

Jin Haryong recalled what Geom Mugeuk had said before he left.

"There's a tavern near our Cult Headquarters with good liquor and a good owner. I'll invite you there sometime."

Liar.

Then again, was Geom Mugeuk really a liar? The problem was likely where he and she were born.

Jin Haryong had said it was not enough to worry about.

That's what it means to like someone as a man.

But Chu Ho did not say those words aloud. The two of them could never be together. Jin Haryong surely knew that as well.

"He'll probably show up unexpectedly one day and surprise me."

It was at that exact moment.

Someone spoke from behind them.

"I guess that day is today."

The two turned in surprise. Geom Mugeuk stood there at a distance.

"Have you been well?"

Jin Haryong asked, her face full of surprise.

"Since when were you here?"

"Just now."

Fortunately, it seemed he had not heard her conversation with Chu Ho.

She turned to Chu Ho and said.

"Find out where my Orabeoni is right now."

"I understand."

Chu Ho immediately followed the order. He knew it was also a request for him to leave them alone for a moment. Normally, he should not leave his post, but Geom Mugeuk was an exception. He knew that if Geom Mugeuk had ill intentions, his presence would be useless anyway. The fact that he had not even noticed him standing behind them was proof enough.

"Shall we have a drink?"

"Sounds good."

Jin Haryong's mood brightened. She only felt this unique flutter of excitement when she met Geom Mugeuk.

The two went to the inn where they had first met and ordered noodles and liquor.

Geom Mugeuk did not rush. Persuading the Murim Alliance Chairman was an important task, but his relationship with her was just as important.

Eating, drinking, and joking with her. This was his life. It was as important as killing his enemies.

"How have you been?"

At Jin Haryong's question, Geom Mugeuk made a fuss.

"Don't even ask. You wouldn't believe what amazing things have happened."

"Tell me. Everything."

Geom Mugeuk looked at her. He thought she would say, "What a bluff!" but she looked ready to hear it all.

"I heard from my Orabeoni. That you went to the Evil Alliance with the Evil Alliance Young Alliance Chairman. You don't know how on edge our Alliance was, do you?"

This was why he had come. The Murim Alliance was on high alert, watching every single move of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Evil Alliance.

"Didn't you know? That when you move, the murim starts to move with you?"

"They're just worried a loach will muddy the waters."

Now Jin Haryong knew.

Her grandfather and the Murim Alliance worried about the wish-granting jewel this dragon before her would grasp upon ascending. Would it be a sky-blue one, or one filled with blood?

"Is everything okay with the Evil Alliance?"

Geom Mugeuk nodded once.

A thought crossed her mind for a moment.

Then again, he was the one who went.

To her, Geom Mugeuk was this kind of person.

"I'm the granddaughter of the Murim Alliance Chairman, and yet I'm relieved to hear that the Evil Alliance is okay!"

Geom Mugeuk smiled at her banter.

"Because it's also a friend's business."

"A friend?"

"A friend of a friend is a friend."

"My grandfather would faint if he heard. Especially if you've even become friends with the Evil Alliance Young Alliance Chairman. You alone are enough."

It was nice talking about anything with Geom Mugeuk. They could talk about the fate of the murim or how the noodles were salty today. He was the kind of person who seemed to understand and accept anything she said. He was someone who would show her a new perspective.

"By the way, what about Lee Ahn?"

"She's busy these days. She's out on business."

Lee Ahn had left to recruit Seo Jin, the Ghostly Sage's younger sister, as the Ghost Shadow Squad Division Leader. For the first time in her life, she was forging her own destiny alone in the Central Plains.

"I miss Lee Ahn."

"Then go see her."

"Easier said than done."

"What's so difficult? If you want to see her, come visit anytime. Or we can come to you."

"That's your murim. It's not possible in my murim."

"We live in the same murim."

Jin Haryong looked at Geom Mugeuk without a word.

She wondered if they were really in the same murim. To her, Geom Mugeuk was still a dream-like person who appeared suddenly and vanished like smoke.

"Actually, I came because I have a favor to ask of you and Commander Jin."

"What kind of favor?"

"I need to meet the Chairman and persuade him about something. I need a second and third backup plan in case I fail to persuade him myself."

"Am I the second backup plan?"

"Commander Jin is the third."

"What on earth is the favor?"

"Let's meet your Orabeoni and talk about it all at once."

Jin Haryong met dozens of new prodigies every month, but it was always frustrating and tedious. She had been with Geom Mugeuk for less than fifteen minutes, and her heart was already starting to pound.

Just then, Chu Ho entered the inn. Geom Mugeuk was the first to rise from his seat.

"Well then, shall we go meet the third backup plan?"

Jin Hagun was training in the martial arts training ground.

The training ground was scorching hot from his energy.

These days, he was pushing himself to his limits.

He felt an impatience, a feeling that he could not go on like this if he wanted to face Geom Mugeuk, and was it just Geom Mugeuk? He could clearly feel the heat in the eyes of his more realistic rival, Bi Sayin, as well.

His training was not the only thing that had changed.

As he had told Geom Mugeuk, he tried to observe people more carefully. He would think twice about things he would have previously dismissed with a simple 'I see'. He tried to understand the other person's position instead of judging by his own standards.

Something had happened a while ago.

One of the Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists requested leave. Although the leave overlapped with a mission, he readily granted it. In the past, it would have ended there.

Jin Hagun called him aside and asked for the reason. It turned out there was a family conflict over selecting an heir. Since the Demon Slaying Brigade was mostly composed of children from prestigious families, such problems were common.

Jin Hagun went a step further than just asking.

"Do you need my help by any chance? If you do, tell me anytime."

The man refused the help, but he was deeply moved that Jin Hagun had offered.

He had never said such things before.

Of course, the sentiment was always there. They were comrades who had crossed battlefields together. How could he not have such thoughts? But he had never said it directly.

Through this opportunity, Jin Hagun realized anew how powerful words were between people.

He used to think they would naturally know how he felt.

Saying something like that after the situation is over is just an excuse.

He used to wonder what need there was for words between them.

No, you have to say it directly for the other person to know.

After trying it, he understood. With his personality of always keeping his word, it was not easy to even say such things.

What if his subordinate really asked for help? What if he mentioned a family member and asked him to pressure them to back down?

You have to be prepared to go that far to even make the offer. Only then can you answer without flinching, "Alright, leave it to me."

Suddenly, Geom Mugeuk came to mind.

Was that man, who said all sorts of things, prepared to take responsibility for every word he uttered?

He could not picture Geom Mugeuk avoiding responsibility with some ridiculous excuse.

You must live a tiring life too.

Having tried it himself, he was realizing how difficult it was. He even began to think that his own bluntness might have been a form of escapism.

Just then, news of a visitor arrived, and two people entered the training ground. It was Geom Mugeuk and Jin Haryong.

"It's been a while."

He must have been very surprised, since he was just thinking of Geom Mugeuk.

"We haven't seen each other for a while, and you've already become distant. It's me, your friend."

He was so happy to see him that he could not properly express his delight.

"Why are you here?"

"So blunt! What do you mean, why? I came because I missed you."

Jin Haryong, who was next to him, tattled.

"That's a lie. He said he came because he needs our help."

Jin Hagun was worried about his already excited sister, but he was just as excited himself.

"What is it?"

"I've invited the Evil Alliance Chairman to the regular tavern in front of our Cult."

For a moment, Jin Hagun thought the invited person was Bi Sayin. He mistakenly thought Geom Mugeuk had come to say, "I've invited Bi Sayin, so you should come too."

"I'm not going."

Geom Mugeuk and Jin Haryong stared blankly at him, realizing he had misheard. At their gazes, Jin Hagun flinched and asked again.

"Who did you say you invited?"

"The Evil Alliance Chairman."

Only then did Jin Hagun's eyes widen.

He had clear limits. Just as he had misheard, the idea of inviting the Evil Alliance Chairman to a tavern in front of the Murim Alliance Headquarters simply did not exist in his mind.

But Geom Mugeuk always leaped far beyond that line. He would leap over and give a reason that Jin Hagun himself would never have.

"I just wanted to treat him to a drink."

If it had been anyone else, he would have thought it a ridiculous lie, but now he knew well what kind of person Geom Mugeuk was. He must have made a deep enough impression on the Chairman during his visit to the Evil Alliance to be able to invite him.

And Jin Haryong was just as surprised.

"We haven't seen each other in a while, why are you making such a joke?"

"It's not a joke."

She knew it was not a joke. The thought that this was so like him was already surfacing.

Jin Hagun asked again.

"Did the Evil Alliance Chairman accept the invitation?"

"He said he would accept if the Murim Alliance Chairman accepts this meeting with pure intentions."

"Pure intentions? How can it be accepted with pure intentions when the Demonic Cult and the Evil Alliance are holding a secret meeting?"

"A secret meeting? Is there such a thing as a secret meeting that's revealed so openly?"

"Whatever it is! The Chairman will never allow it."

He knew better than anyone how much his grandfather was wary of and disliked the Demonic Cult and the Evil Alliance. The only reason he had formed a friendship with Geom Mugeuk was because of his deep relationship with his grandchildren, and because he had later saved their lives. It was a truly exceptional case.

"That's why I came to ask for help. For the two of you to persuade him with me."

"You could have just invited him without telling us in the first place, couldn't you?"

At Jin Hagun's probing question, Jin Haryong looked at Geom Mugeuk with the same thought.

"I couldn't do that."

"……"

"You and I are friends, aren't we?"

The real reason for inviting Baek Jagang was to prevent a potential future war. However, if this invitation made the Murim Alliance believe the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Evil Alliance had joined hands behind their back, it would do more harm than good.

"Even if it wasn't a condition set by the Evil Alliance Chairman, I would have come to ask for permission."

A thought suddenly occurred to Jin Hagun. What if it were him? If it was something he had to do, regardless of the intention?

Wouldn't he have just proceeded without creating unnecessary variables, and later said, 'Sorry, it just turned out that way'?

As that thought came to mind, his face flushed slightly. It felt as though Geom Mugeuk was swimming in the ocean of friendship, while he was only dipping his ankles in.

"The two of you, persuade the Chairman with me."

Jin Hagun shook his head firmly.

"Absolutely not!"

Jin Haryong was the same. She shook her head.

"I can't do it either. You don't know our grandfather well enough. If we bring that up, we'll be kicked out of the Alliance."

"If you get kicked out, our Cult will take you in!"

"My Orabeoni won't be able to become the heir either."

"How about taking this opportunity to free yourself from the desire for power?"

"Wise words, heir of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult!"

Then, Geom Mugeuk let out a feigned sigh.

"Ah! I never thought I'd be abandoned by my friends!"

The moment he heard those words, a suspicion arose in Jin Hagun's mind.

Did he really not expect this? That clever man?

The thought suddenly struck him that perhaps Geom Mugeuk had not come simply to ask for their grandfather's permission.

No way…?

His sister, who was quicker on the uptake, voiced the thought that had crossed his mind.

"You're not thinking of inviting Grandfather too, are you?"