Chapter 387: We're Not on Smiling Terms

TL: FoodieMonster007

When he ascended the stairs, he saw the Heavenly Demon Geom Woojin ahead of him.

For the first time in a long while, Jin Paecheon's heart pounded.

How long has it been since I've felt this excited?

Geom Woojin had risen from his seat and was waiting for him.

The Demonic and the Orthodox, the Orthodox and the Demonic. They were the leaders of two factions that had fought endlessly for ages.

The two men stared at each other in silence. It was their first reunion in over a decade. They should have exchanged courteous greetings, but both men remained silent. No words left their lips.

Jin Paecheon's first words broke the silence.

"Those eyes haven't changed."

Seeing Geom Woojin again, Jin Paecheon finally understood. He realized how much he hated this man and how much he detested the Demonic Cult. The Geom Woojin in his imagination had been a romanticized fantasy.

An immense wave of hostility washed over him. He wondered where so much hidden hatred could have come from.

His self-control, cultivated over years of meeting countless people, crumbled the instant he saw Geom Woojin's cold, arrogant gaze.

This man's gaze is the same. His ambition to swallow the murim is also the same.

Jin Paecheon's heart grew cold.

This time, Geom Woojin said calmly, "You haven't changed either."

The word 'you' grated on him. The statement that he hadn't changed grated on him as well. He could have taken it as a compliment, that he hadn't aged, but he did not.

Jin Paecheon had a fresh realization. He, a tyrant by nature, had been holding himself back a great deal lately.

As he harbored these thoughts, the air around them naturally grew cold.

The taut tension was not just flowing between the two of them.

It was the same on the first floor.

A tense battle of qi raged between the masters of the orthodox sects and the Demon Supremes.

Geom Mugeuk stood before the lined-up Demon Supremes.

Jin Hagun stood before the lined-up masters of the orthodox sects.

Nearby, Jo Cheonbae had not yet made it to the kitchen. He watched the Murim Alliance Chairman go upstairs, but the battle of qi erupted before he could move. He couldn't muster the courage to be the only one moving through the stillness.

Thankfully, no one released qi potent enough to cause physical harm. It was, quite literally, a staring contest.

They exchanged glares sharp enough to pierce a heart or sever a neck.

A single word could have started a fight, but fortunately, no one spoke.

Jin Haryong saw it. Even in this touch-and-go situation, Geom Mugeuk was utterly at ease.

[Aren't you going to stop them?]

[How am I supposed to stop these people?]

Then again, it was absurd to think even Geom Mugeuk could stop people of this caliber.

Every one of them was skilled enough to become a regional hegemon.

[It'll be fine. I don't think your grandfather would bring someone reckless and foolish enough to start a fight in a place like this.]

Jin Haryong glanced at the masters beside her. She knew them all, but not well. She figured her grandfather must have kept them in check.

If anything, I'm more worried about what's happening up there.

Her gaze turned to the second floor again. Still, no conversation could be heard.

Are they talking via telepathy? Still, shouldn't there be the usual pleasantries? 'Welcome.' 'Have you been well?' 'Thank you for coming.' 'How's the Alliance these days?' 'Is the Cult running smoothly?' No matter how much you dislike someone, you should at least say that much.

The second floor was quiet. The first floor was quiet.

A tension thick enough to explode at any moment hung in the air.

It was at that very moment.

Jo Cheonbae, who had been looking up at the second floor, felt a chill run down his spine.

He turned and saw everyone inside looking toward the entrance in unison.

A man stood there.

The man wore a neat, black martial arts uniform. He swept his intense gaze over the masters of the Demonic Cult and the orthodox sects. His eyes were small, but his gaze was sharp.

With a single glance, the man's presence absorbed all the tension in the room.

Behind that man stood a young man with a fearsomely hideous face. Nine more martial artists were lined up behind him.

The Murim Alliance had brought one person less than the Eight Demon Supremes, while the Evil Alliance had brought one person more.

Baek Jagang was a thorough realist. He would sooner bring more people than bring fewer out of pride.

Jo Cheonbae could feel it. They possessed a presence similar to the Murim Alliance masters who had arrived earlier.

Their gazes showed no intimidation, whether directed at the Demon Supremes or the Murim Alliance masters.

Jo Cheonbae's gaze returned to the man in the black martial arts uniform.

His attire was that of a mere martial artist, but his presence overwhelmed everyone behind him. In that moment, the plain black uniform outshone all the splendid clothes in the room.

Geom Mugeuk shouted loudly, "The Evil Alliance Chairman has arrived!"

At the words 'the Evil Alliance Chairman', Jo Cheonbae groaned, 'EUH-HEUK!', and quickly covered his mouth.

He had wondered if today could hold any more surprises. It could.

"You've worked hard coming all this way."

Baek Jagang looked at Geom Mugeuk for a moment.

Geom Mugeuk was half the reason Baek Jagang had come. He was curious how Geom Woojin had raised such a son, and whether Geom Woojin had truly abandoned his ambition to unify the murim.

This matter went beyond a simple contest of raising children. It related to the Evil Alliance's future. The man before him was not yet fully formed. Baek Jagang couldn't guess what shape he would take when he was.

Baek Jagang strode toward the stairs leading to the second floor.

The Fist Demon tried to guide him, but Baek Jagang declined as expected.

As he was about to go upstairs, Baek Jagang stopped before Jo Cheonbae, who stood near the stairs with his head bowed.

Don't come over here! Please, just go upstairs!

Jo Cheonbae was having an incredible experience. He had met the Heavenly Demon and the Murim Alliance Chairman, and now he stood before the Evil Alliance Chairman.

"Are you the proprietor of this place?"

Jo Cheonbae raised his head at the deep, resonant voice. It was a pleasant sound.

"Yes, I am."

After he answered in a trembling voice, Baek Jagang's gaze shifted from him to Geom Mugeuk.

"The Young Cult Leader praised you quite a bit."

Geom Mugeuk knew Baek Jagang said this for his sake and smiled. Baek Jagang returned a slight eye-smile and went up to the second floor.

You really do have to see people often. The more he looked at those small eyes, the more he thought they were cool.

Geom Mugeuk approached the dazed Jo Cheonbae.

"That's right. Today's meeting is the first tripartite meeting of this era between the Cult Leader, the Murim Alliance Chairman, and the Evil Alliance Chairman."

Jo Cheonbae finally understood the true nature of the meeting. The occupant of the final chair was now decided.

A meeting of the Demonic, Orthodox, and Unorthodox? In my tavern? The Cult Leader, the Murim Alliance Chairman, and the Evil Alliance Chairman are going to sit in my tavern's chairs? In our chairs!

He lifted his head with a bright face, only to flinch in surprise and bow his head again.

Everyone on the first floor looked his way.

People he would never have made eye contact with in his life were staring at him, a mere tavern owner.

A sudden fear gripped him, and his whole body trembled.

"I believe this is a more wonderful place than any other venue befitting a tripartite meeting."

Geom Mugeuk's calm voice and gentle gaze stopped the trembling.

That's right, if it weren't for the Young Cult Leader, I would already be dead. What is there to be afraid of?

Geom Mugeuk had praised him to both Chairmen. Jo Cheonbae found strength in that fact.

"I will do my best to cook for you."

Jo Cheonbae walked confidently toward the kitchen.

Just then, Geom Mugeuk called out loudly from behind him.

"For today, the proprietor is the king of all taverns in this world!"

For a moment, Jo Cheonbae's legs gave out, and he staggered, nearly collapsing.

Jin Haryong laughed out loud at Geom Mugeuk's words. She was caught off guard, and the laughter just burst out.

An old Murim Alliance master beside her turned to look. Jin Haryong struggled to wipe the smile from her face.

The Young Cult Leader really is a madman, and I'm a madwoman for coming all this way just to see that madman.

Meanwhile, those who only knew Geom Mugeuk by rumor glared at him. What in the world is he doing? Is he mocking us?

[Be wary of that tavern owner.]

They exchanged such telepathic messages, misunderstanding the situation. They thought Jo Cheonbae might be a hidden card from the Demonic Cult.

Bi Sayin, Jin Hagun, and Jin Haryong knew the truth. They knew the tavern owner was just an ordinary person. Geom Mugeuk's demonic way was to protect this ordinary man. No matter how many people filled this small tavern, he would never let that table be broken.

[You really are pulling this off.]

Geom Mugeuk replied to Jin Hagun's telepathy.

[We pulled it off. Of course, I didn't know they would hate each other this much.]

Then again, it was like sworn enemies meeting after a decade.

[Do you think you can resolve this smoothly?]

[I'll have to try.]

The staring contest on the first floor was now a three-way battle.

Their respective successors stood at the forefront, glaring at one another in lines.

The orthodox masters disliked the unorthodox just as much as they disliked the demonic practitioners.

The Chivalrous Hero Lim Sanggon glared at an unorthodox master he particularly disliked.

The Thunder Blade Cheonwang.

He was a master who had recently gained fame in the unorthodox sects. Several orthodox masters had died fighting him.

Lim Sanggon had hoped to meet him someday, and now he was here.

When the Chivalrous Hero glared, the Thunder Blade met his gaze without looking away.

The two men cursed each other with their eyes, their gazes gradually heating up.

If left alone, they looked ready to charge at each other without a second thought.

Just then, someone placed a hand on the Thunder Blade's shoulder.

The Thunder Blade turned. The Evil Eccentric, one of the Seven Evil Masters, shook his head slightly, telling him to stop.

The Evil Eccentric knew the Thunder Blade. By stopping him openly, he gave him a reason to back down. The Thunder Blade averted his gaze.

Bi Sayin gave the Evil Eccentric a look that said, 'Well done'.

The situation on the second floor was not much different.

When Baek Jagang reached the second floor, Geom Woojin and Jin Paecheon rose to greet him.

The three men had finally gathered in one place.

The Demonic, the Orthodox, the Unorthodox.

The first meeting of the era.

Baek Jagang could tell.

He could guess the prior atmosphere just from the heavy energy flowing through the room.

Right, we're not the kind of people who can see each other with a smile.

Without the special variable named Geom Mugeuk, they might never have met until one of them died. Or perhaps, they would have met on the day they died.

Baek Jagang knew this was no atmosphere for greetings, so he sat in the remaining seat.

Geom Woojin and Jin Paecheon sat down after Baek Jagang. As expected, they omitted greetings.

Baek Jagang looked at Geom Woojin first. Geom Woojin had a different feel after so long.

You're getting old, too.

However, his condescending gaze was the same as ever.

Baek Jagang then looked at Jin Paecheon, who ignored both of them and stared out the window.

Would Jin Paecheon, who hated Geom Woojin, like Baek Jagang any better?

Baek Jagang could tell.

He's already gotten a bit heated.

It must be Geom Woojin's gaze. If it makes me feel this bad, how much worse must that prideful, stubborn old man feel?

Is this meeting even possible?

At the same time, Baek Jagang had a doubt.

This man raised a son like that?

This cold, taciturn man raised that talkative, bright son? He wanted to ask right away.

How on earth did you raise that son?

Even with all three gathered, the room was quiet. Someone needed to lead the conversation, but none of them had any intention of doing so.

The silence upstairs heightened the tension on the first floor. At this rate, someone upstairs might just say…

Wipe them all out!

If that one phrase was spoken, this place would instantly become a sea of blood.

And the one to solve this heavy atmosphere was Geom Mugeuk.

"Master."

Everyone's attention focused on Geom Mugeuk.

The Demon Supremes who knew him all thought the same thing.

Right, now that the Young Cult Leader has stepped up, the atmosphere will change and the meeting will begin in earnest.

They were just relieved he hadn't called on them.

What kind of prank is he trying to pull?

The Fist Demon felt inwardly anxious but answered in a low, heavy voice.

"What is it?"

"It's about the Evil Alliance Young Alliance Chairman over there."

This time, Bi Sayin flinched. Why me? He had a bad feeling.

Please don't say anything unnecessary!

Geom Mugeuk's question shattered Bi Sayin's desperate wish.

"That face, isn't it the type of face you prefer, Master?"

The question bewildered both of them. The room was so silent that Geom Mugeuk's words reached the three men upstairs and even Jo Cheonbae in the kitchen.

Everyone's gaze focused on the Fist Demon.

He was being asked to evaluate the Evil Alliance Young Alliance Chairman's face at a tripartite meeting?

It was the kind of thing that could make thunder roar from the Fist Demon's fist, but the thunder only roared in his heart, with these words:

We'll see about this later.

He couldn't scold the Demonic Cult's Young Cult Leader here, and ignoring the question would be disrespectful to Bi Sayin.

"I like manly-looking faces. Yes, that's right. It's a face I like."

The usual Fist Demon would never have said such words, but the Fist Demon knew Geom Mugeuk had stepped up for this unstable, perilous meeting. So he played along for his disciple.

If someone else had said that, Bi Sayin might have been offended.

Is this bastard making fun of me?

But these were the words of the Fist Demon, a man whose intimidating presence alone could take on everyone here.

"Thank you for looking upon me favorably."

Bi Sayin expressed his gratitude with a clasped-hands greeting.

It would have been fine if it ended there.

"What about my Master's face?"

Bi Sayin was flustered. He never imagined he'd be asked about the Fist Demon's face.

[Why me? Why not tease Commander Jin over there!]

[Because teasing you is more fun.]

In the past, he would have been flustered and reflexively said something like, 'You look cool,' or 'You look even more manly.'

But now, things were different.

Bi Sayin looked at the Fist Demon first. He set aside his preconceptions and gazed at the Fist Demon calmly.

"Of all the people I have met in the murim, you have the most frightening face."

He spoke honestly, yet politely.

The Fist Demon didn't seem offended and accepted it as a lighthearted joke.

"Fortunately, this face is quite helpful for my line of work."

The present orthodox and unorthodox masters were surprised. He was very different from the Fist Demon of rumors.

In any case, the ridiculous conversation softened the explosive atmosphere on the first floor.

Geom Mugeuk added a final jest to Bi Sayin.

"Actually, I also like faces like our Young Alliance Chairman's."

Then Bi Sayin asked, "If you could trade faces with me, would you?"

"……"

This conversation alone revealed their relationship. They didn't hide their friendship from the masters gathered here.

Just then, Geom Woojin's voice came from the second floor.

"Mugeuk, come up."

Then, as if competing, Jin Paecheon said, "Hagun, come up."

Baek Jagang did not stay quiet either.

"Sayin, come up."

And so, the three of them went up to the second floor.

The three men on the second floor knew a meeting between just the three of them would be difficult. They hated each other too much. They didn't even want to look at each other, so what could they talk about?

The three successors stood next to their respective Cult Leader and Chairmen.

Then Geom Woojin said, "Muyang, you come up too."

Geom Muyang, not expecting to be called, went up to the second floor in surprise.

Geom Muyang stood opposite Geom Mugeuk, as if spreading his wings.

So you have two sons? How ridiculous. Jin Paecheon, a doting grandfather, could not stand for it.

"Haryong, come up."

Jin Haryong came up and stood opposite Jin Hagun. Jin Paecheon wore a proud expression.

Baek Jagang stared at the two of them with a look of disbelief.

Are you serious?