Chapter 379: Is That Look in Your Eyes Still the Same?

TL: FoodieMonster007

Geom Mugeuk did not answer. Instead, he asked Jin Haryong a question.

"Which do you think is harder? Getting permission or inviting the Murim Alliance Chairman."

Jin Haryong could not compare them, but one thing was certain.

"Both are impossible. There's no way Grandfather would ever drink with the Demonic Cult Leader or the Evil Alliance Chairman in the same room."

Geom Mugeuk lowered his head, his shoulders slumping.

"Right. I guess I'll go see the Chairman to carry out this impossible mission. All by my lonesome, solitary, and lonely self."

Geom Mugeuk walked to the entrance, but the two did not stop him. He returned to his original spot.

"You guys are too much. Is this how friends are supposed to act?"

Just then, Jin Hagun asked a question.

"Why did you invite the Evil Alliance Chairman? You wouldn't have called on the Demonic Cult just for a drink. Even if that was your intention, the Evil Alliance Chairman wouldn't have agreed. How did you persuade him?"

Geom Mugeuk answered honestly.

"Out of a desire for there to be no war."

Of course, the two of them could not possibly understand the deep meaning behind his words. Geom Mugeuk could not tell them that his father or the Evil Alliance Chairman dreamed of unifying murim.

"So if the Evil Alliance Chairman has a drink in front of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, the war will disappear?"

"I believe it will."

Jin Haryong believed him. This absurd answer. It was not because Geom Mugeuk's reply was firm.

The reason was simple. If Geom Mugeuk had not saved her life, she would no longer be in this world.

"Were you serious earlier? That you'd take me in if I get kicked out of the Alliance?"

"I'll even throw you a welcoming ceremony."

Jin Haryong briefly pictured the scene. She saw herself, kicked out of the Alliance, standing in the rain at the main gate of the Demonic Cult. Her bodyguard, Chuho, carried a bundle of her belongings.

Then, Geom Mugeuk would open the gate and come out, joking around.

—From now on, you're my handmaiden.

Geom Mugeuk was the type of person who would pull such a prank and more. Yes, her faith in Geom Mugeuk was not just because of the life debt she owed him.

"Alright, I'll help you."

A sense of ease washed over her. She felt this decision was the right one.

"Orabeoni, don't get involved. If you do, you'll really lose your position as successor."

Jin Hagun looked at his younger sister.

How can it be so easy for her?

Such clear limits existed in his own heart. A boundary line was drawn all around him.

It was a line he had never crossed. He had never considered a life where he was not the successor. The same went for a life of defying his grandfather.

However, his sister leaped over that line with ease. In that respect, Geom Mugeuk and Jin Haryong had something in common.

Jin Hagun quietly looked into his own heart. What did he truly want? Would crossing that line be reckless bravado? Or would it be a new challenge? Unable to know without trying, Jin Hagun was conflicted.

"Orabeoni, I told you not to worry about it. You understand Orabeoni's situation, don't you?"

Instead of saying he understood, Geom Mugeuk looked at Jin Hagun. His gaze hoped for a secretary beyond the limits.

It's not like you're going to take responsibility for my life, so why are you looking at me like that?

Jin Hagun's gaze turned to Jin Haryong.

"You can't do this alone."

"What?"

"If you go alone, you'll really be kicked out. If we go together, at least we won't be expelled."

"Orabeoni, you'll help too?"

Jin Hagun nodded.

Jin Haryong never thought her Orabeoni would make such a decision.

"Did you really give up your lust for power?"

"It's the opposite. This is to protect my power."

Jin Hagun's reason for helping was also simple.

"Because I don't want a war either."

In the end, it meant that he also believed Geom Mugeuk's words. That Geom Mugeuk was extending an invitation because there was a reason.

Geom Mugeuk knew what a huge decision Jin Hagun had made. He had bet his position as successor.

"If you get kicked out, I'll protest in front of the Murim Alliance and demand your reinstatement."

If Jin Haryong had just imagined the main gate of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, Jin Hagun now pictured the main gate of the Murim Alliance.

He imagined Geom Mugeuk standing in front of the Murim Alliance's main gate, holding a banner that read, 'Reinstate my friend Jin Hagun as the successor!' It was an embarrassing thought.

This man is more than capable of doing it.

Geom Mugeuk said to Jin Hagun.

"Thank you. I'll never forget what you've wagered on this decision for the rest of my life."

This was something Jin Hagun learned.

What need is there for words between us? Geom Mugeuk would say it like this. Thank you. I won't forget.

Once they decided to help, Jin Hagun's and Jin Haryong's gazes naturally turned to Geom Mugeuk.

"So? What's your plan?"

The first person to visit Jin Paecheon was Jin Haryong.

"What brings you here?"

"I came because I wanted to see you, Grandfather."

Jin Paecheon may have had a tyrannical personality, but his love for his granddaughter was certain. Besides, the granddaughter who was once so prickly seemed to have definitely matured recently.

"You had the prodigy meeting today, didn't you?"

"Yes, it went well."

"Are there still prodigies who like you these days?"

"Of course. There was one today, too."

"Is there anyone among them you like?"

"It's hard to find a man as wonderful as you, Grandfather. You must have been popular with the female martial artists when you were young, right?"

A bright smile spread across Jin Paecheon's lips. It was a smile reserved for his granddaughter, one that others rarely saw.

"Seeing how sweet your words are today, it seems you have a favor to ask of me."

"You're mistaken. I'm being sincere."

"If you like him, I'm willing to accept him without being greedy. Don't you know? I'm a man who even accepted a servant as a potential grandson-in-law."

Jin Paecheon mentioned Geom Mugeuk while observing his granddaughter's reaction. He worried that she could not make up her mind because of Geom Mugeuk.

"I should have held onto him back then."

Hearing the regret in her words, Jin Paecheon stared intently at his granddaughter.

"I'm joking, Grandfather."

"Of course it has to be a joke."

Wouldn't Jin Paecheon feel regretful too? If Geom Mugeuk had been, at the very least, an ordinary demonic practitioner, Jin Paecheon might have forced the issue and sent her to him somehow.

No, what am I thinking. How could he marry his own granddaughter to a demonic being? It was just a lingering attachment born from how exceptional the boy named Geom Mugeuk was.

Just then, Jin Hagun entered the Chairman's Hall.

After he politely greeted Jin Paecheon, Jin Haryong asked him a question.

"My dear Orabeoni, it's been hard to see your face lately."

The two of them acted as if they had met by chance.

"The rumors are flying that you're completely absorbed in your training these days."

"What brings you here?"

"I came because I wanted to see Grandfather. What about you, Orabeoni?"

Then, Jin Hagun spoke to Jin Paecheon.

"The Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult is outside. He says he has come to ask a favor of you, Chairman."

They had gathered separately like this so it would not look like they were plotting something.

Jin Haryong put on a realistic act of being surprised. The thought that Geom Mugeuk was standing just outside that door made her tremble for no reason. She did not need to act.

"Before you let him in, I have a favor to ask of you, Chairman."

"Speak."

"I don't know what favor the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult will ask, but if it's something you can grant, please lend me your support."

There was a reason Jin Hagun was making a request he normally would not.

"You must be aware that we handled the child kidnapping case during the last Demon Slaying Brigade operation. On my way here, I asked the Young Cult Leader, and he said he broke the brainwashing on the children and sent them back to their respective homes. Were you perhaps aware of this?"

Jin Paecheon nodded. He had already received a report regarding the matter. The news that the children were rescued safely had greatly pleased him. That was why he felt inwardly pleased to hear that Geom Mugeuk had come.

"Since that was a matter for the Demon Slaying Brigade, it means I now owe a debt to the Young Cult Leader. I would like to repay it on this occasion."

Jin Paecheon readily accepted his grandson's request.

"I will do so."

A moment later, Geom Mugeuk entered the room.

He bowed politely, showing his respect.

"Chairman, have you been well?"

"Welcome."

Jin Paecheon observed Geom Mugeuk with a calm gaze. His eyes were clearer and deeper than when he had seen him before.

His level of martial arts has risen even higher than before.

The more Jin Paecheon looked, the more he coveted him, and for that reason, the more regretful he felt.

Geom Mugeuk also greeted Jin Haryong as if they were meeting for the first time.

"Miss Jin, it's been a while. Have you been well?"

"It's inconvenient without a servant."

Geom Mugeuk laughed at her joke.

"For Miss Jin, I can play the part of a servant anytime."

Even though she knew he was just bantering, his words made her heart flutter.

"I heard about your great work in the Evil Alliance. You rescued all the children, didn't you? That's truly wonderful."

Jin Haryong praised Geom Mugeuk's achievement once more. Today's meeting was not about getting her grandfather's permission, but about winning his heart.

"I was just lucky, that's all. The Evil Alliance also helped me actively."

After exchanging greetings, Geom Mugeuk stated the reason for his visit in a calm tone.

"While handling matters in the Evil Alliance this time, I became indebted to the Evil Alliance Chairman. So, I have invited the Evil Alliance Chairman to my regular tavern in front of our Cult."

Jin Paecheon said nothing. His qi began to settle.

The surroundings instantly grew cold, as if a window had been thrown open in the middle of winter.

The Chairman's once-gentle gaze shot out like an ice pick, but Geom Mugeuk's words continued.

"The Evil Alliance Chairman said he didn't want to cause any unnecessary misunderstandings with you, Chairman. So I told him I would go and speak to you so that no misunderstandings would arise. That is why I came to see you. To tell you that it's nothing to worry about, so please don't misunderstand."

Jin Paecheon's expression hardened, and his gaze grew even colder. To him, it sounded like the Demonic Cult was joining hands with the Evil Alliance.

Jin Hagun and Jin Haryong considered this a relief. If the other party had not been Geom Mugeuk, a roar of anger would have already erupted.

Jin Haryong spoke coldly in her grandfather's stead.

"So you're saying you're going to have a secret talk with the Evil Alliance. Since you'd be found out anyway, are you making a preemptive confession?"

"It's true that it would be found out anyway. However, this isn't a secret meeting, but a personal matter between the Evil Alliance Chairman and myself. We'll be meeting at a tavern where everyone can see, so the entire murim will know about it."

Geom Mugeuk emphasized that it was not a secret meeting.

"If I really wanted to meet in secret, would I do it at a tavern in the Demon Village?"

"Why did you choose that place?"

It was an unplanned question, born purely from her personal curiosity. It was also because it was the place he had once said he wanted to invite her to.

"The place where I intend to host the Evil Alliance Chairman is called the Alluring Inn. The owner's name is Jo Cheonbae. He's a good person, his skills are good, and the atmosphere is good too. If you sit on the second floor there, have a drink, and look outside, you can understand the reason why I must live."

Jin Haryong was curious.

What does he see from there?

"The tables there are sturdy, so they won't break even if a martial artist comes. The customers who go there might be surprised if the Evil Alliance Chairman shows up, but they won't be scared."

"How can that be?"

Geom Mugeuk's heartfelt answer came.

"Because my demonic path is there."

A moment of silence followed.

Who could possibly know the deep meaning contained in those words?

However, because they were words she could not understand, Jin Haryong wanted to go there even more.

She returned to the original plan, revealing a coldness that was different from her true feelings.

"You're trying to delude us with plausible words, but this is something I cannot permit."

There was a reason Jin Haryong stepped forward to object. If she showed any sign of agreeing with Geom Mugeuk's opinion, her grandfather would worry and become even more furious.

On the other hand, Jin Hagun stood silently. Having already mentioned that he had a debt to repay, he only showed a slight hint of being in a difficult position.

"Whether you join hands with the Evil Alliance or not is your business, but at least don't deceive us!"

Her clear, sharp voice echoed through the Chairman's Hall.

"Deceive you?"

"You say it's a private meeting with you, Young Cult Leader, but there's no way the Cult Leader of the Divine Cult won't come to meet the Evil Alliance Chairman, is there?"

Jin Paecheon was also worried about that point. In the end, it would become a meeting between the Heavenly Demon and the Evil Alliance Chairman.

"When you meet, you'll exchange messages via telepathy, won't you? The martial arts of those two are so profound that the only person who could detect it is Grandfather. In the end, you and the Evil Alliance could secretly plot something."

She subtly emphasized that they could not recklessly conspire if her grandfather was present.

"It is a misunderstanding."

Jin Haryong said to Jin Paecheon.

"Grandfather, you must not permit this."

As Jin Haryong got worked up and angry first, Jin Paecheon lost his chance to get angry. Her anger, coming from someone who seemed likely to side with Geom Mugeuk, was truly effective.

"Ryeong, calm yourself for a moment."

"This is an act of deceit against you, Grandfather, and our Alliance!"

"I told you to stop!"

"I'm sorry, Grandfather."

Jin Paecheon asked Jin Hagun, who had been watching the situation silently.

"What are your thoughts?"

Jin Hagun presented a completely new perspective.

"What are you plotting? Do you intend to lure the Evil Alliance Chairman and kill him?"

For a moment, Jin Paecheon was inwardly startled. He had been focused only on the idea that the Demonic Cult and the Evil Alliance were trying to join hands. He had never considered that the Demonic Cult might kill the Evil Alliance Chairman.

Since that was also a very plausible suspicion, Jin Paecheon paid close attention to Geom Mugeuk's reaction and response.

For a moment, Geom Mugeuk was too flustered to answer.

"Are you asking if we're planning to strike the Evil Alliance on this occasion?"

"Don't make such a ridiculous misunderstanding."

"If the Evil Alliance Chairman dies in some unforeseen accident during this meeting, the Evil Alliance Young Alliance Chairman will take the Chairman's seat, won't he? And aren't you close with that Evil Alliance Young Alliance Chairman?"

Jin Haryong picked up where Jin Hagun left off. This was the most crucial moment of today's plan.

"Then you'll have the Evil Alliance in the palm of your hand! I think I finally understand why you tried so hard to get close to the Evil Alliance Young Alliance Chairman."

Jin Paecheon considered it a plausible speculation. Was there any guarantee it would not happen? Moreover, Geom Mugeuk, who was always so confident, looked somewhat intimidated, as if he had been hit where it hurts.

"Am I wrong?"

"I only came to ask for permission. If you don't want to grant it, just say no. Don't resort to such wild speculation."

Geom Mugeuk looked at Jin Paecheon.

"If your will is the same as your granddaughter's, Chairman, then I will take my leave."

Seeing him try to withdraw without arguing the rights and wrongs any further, Jin Paecheon felt something was suspicious. He became certain that there was definitely some kind of scheme behind this unconventional event.

The balance between the orthodox, unorthodox, and demonic will be broken?

Suddenly, Jin Paecheon recalled the image of the Heavenly Demon, Geom Woojin.

Whenever he thought of him, the first thing that came to mind was his cold and arrogant gaze. The gaze full of ambition that said he would never be content with just being the Demonic Cult Leader.

Is that look in your eyes still the same?

Geom Mugeuk politely performed a clasped hands greeting and turned away.

"I will take my leave now."

Just as Geom Mugeuk was hastily turning away, Jin Paecheon spoke.

"Wait."

His shocking declaration followed.

"I will also attend this meeting."

A startled Geom Mugeuk said urgently.

"No, you don't have to come. You just have to not misunderstand the meeting between our Cult and the Evil Alliance. There's no need for you to come!"

Despite Geom Mugeuk's attempts to stop him, Jin Paecheon declared resolutely.

"I said I'm going too!"