Chapter 388: Didn't We Form a United Front?

TL: FoodieMonster007

It was an unexpected joint operation between the orthodox sects and the Demonic Cult.

Baek Jagang looked at the proud Jin Paecheon, then turned his gaze back to Geom Woojin.

Geom Woojin drew his sword first. After all, he was the one who had called Geom Muyang up. The Heavenly Demon, boasting about his child?

It seems his appearance isn't the only thing that's changed.

He wondered if this change was what had nurtured Geom Mugeuk.

The person more flustered than Baek Jagang at this moment was Bi Sayin.

Everyone else had two people, but he was alone. This made him feel as if he had done something wrong, and he felt sorry for his master.

He wanted to shout on his master's behalf.

You two! You're being so childish!

You think so too, right? He shot Geom Mugeuk a look that said as much.

A telepathic message from Geom Mugeuk arrived as if waiting for it.

[You should have many children later! Have about seven and line them up! Get your revenge then.]

[How can you say that!]

He regretted looking over. Geom Mugeuk must have been waiting for a chance to tease him.

In fact, only Geom Mugeuk guessed his father's hidden intention in calling for his brother.

His father wanted to show them his two sons, who had ended the succession battle without bloodshed. He wanted to boast about his sons standing proudly on his left and right. This was both a boast and a compliment.

Right? The joy of letting someone live is greater than the joy of killing them, isn't it? Others might not know, but you do, Father, don't you? You know this is a much harder thing to do. Because you're someone who can kill anyone if you just set your mind to it.

Geom Mugeuk could feel it. This moment, standing side-by-side with his brother, was his father's first and last time boasting about his children in his entire life.

Father, I'll make sure this isn't your last boast. I'll give you reasons to keep boasting.

While that happened, Baek Jagang's counterattack began.

"A tree with many branches has no peaceful days."

Were his years of living alone filled only with loneliness? Not at all. His was a life lived freely, without any regrets. How dare they boast of such a wearying path in front of his good life?

A shadow briefly crossed Jin Paecheon's proud face. Having sent a child off before him, Jin Paecheon was someone who had been hit squarely by that wind. A branch had broken, after all.

That was why he tried so hard to raise Jin Hagun and Jin Haryong with great care. For him, who had lived his life dedicated solely to the Murim Alliance and the murim, the two of them were the only private greed he allowed himself.

Just as the atmosphere was about to turn heavy, Geom Woojin spoke.

"But from those branches, flowers also bloom and birds also chirp."

Geom Mugeuk seized the opportunity and stepped forward.

"My brother is the flower, and I'm playing the role of the chirping bird."

At that, Geom Woojin looked at Geom Muyang and said, "Flowers do bloom."

Then, looking at Geom Mugeuk, he added, "And the wind also blows."

He corrected him just like that.

Geom Mugeuk's expression seemed to say, That's too harsh.

Jin Haryong smiled at the sight.

In another sense, she thought, Geom Mugeuk was indeed like the wind. A person who would suddenly blow in, cause a whirlwind, and then vanish. That was why she had come here in person, to find that wind.

Sure enough, the wind was blowing without fail at today's meeting as well.

Things I could never have imagined are happening.

She never dreamed she would be called up to a place where these three men were gathered. She certainly never imagined the conversation would be kicked off by them boasting about their children.

It was her first time seeing the Heavenly Demon this up close. Surprisingly, before the thought, That person is the Heavenly Demon, another thought came to her first.

He's that person's father.

They resembled each other, yet they didn't.

Geom Woojin exuded an intimidating pressure that made it difficult to even speak a word to him. It would have been the same even if she hadn't known he was the Heavenly Demon. It wasn't the dignity that came from his position. It was not the fear one felt from someone with a frightening appearance like the Fist Demon or Bi Sayin, but an intense presence that came from the man named Geom Woojin himself.

Normally, she should have felt fear and aversion.

But she didn't dislike it that much. In fact, she wanted to try talking to him.

I've wanted to meet you at least once.

Was it because he was Geom Mugeuk's father? Though it was her first time seeing him, it felt as if she had seen him many times, and she felt a strange sense of intimacy.

Her gaze then turned to Geom Muyang. This time, it was the same. He wasn't the First Young Lord of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

So that's his older brother.

He had a completely different feel from Geom Mugeuk. He seemed calm and composed, and looked like someone who wouldn't easily reveal his emotions. If he resembled anyone, it was her Orabeoni, not Geom Mugeuk.

Her eyes met Geom Muyang's, and she bowed her head slightly in greeting. Geom Muyang also gave a slight nod.

He and I do have something in common.

They were blood relatives who had been pushed out of the line of succession. Of course, she never had any ambition to become the successor in the first place.

I don't know who will marry you two, but the scariest father-in-law in the world will be waiting for them.

The prospective father-in-law would ask.

What does your father do?

He is the Heavenly Demon.

Just imagining such a situation was amusing. In any case, anything related to Geom Mugeuk always made her nervous, excited, and happy.

Her gaze then shifted to Bi Sayin.

Normally, his was a face not easy to look at, but strangely, it didn't feel that hideous to her.

It was probably because he was always with her Orabeoni and Geom Mugeuk, right?

This time, Jin Haryong observed Baek Jagang closely.

He had a completely different feel from the Heavenly Demon. He was also different from her grandfather.

Out of the three, he was the hardest to figure out just by his appearance.

However, that black martial arts uniform told a few stories.

Coming to a place like this dressed like that? Normally, it would give off this kind of impression.

'I'm not someone who cares about external appearances.'

However, she didn't sense any such intention at all.

Instead, she got this feeling. An intent to fight in the most comfortable attire for battle, should something break out here.

It felt as if that intent had swallowed up all other intentions, and it was so natural. A person who focused solely on himself, rather than on justification or face. Because of that, he too looked incredibly strong.

Looking around at the people on this floor, she let out a light sigh without realizing it. The fact that she was in a place like this was astonishing.

Did Jin Paecheon, who was nearby, hear her sigh?

"Are you aware that my granddaughter is known as the number one beauty of Hubei?"

Or was it because he was reminded of his dead son and daughter-in-law?

Jin Paecheon had never boasted about his grandchildren to the Murim Alliance martial artists or the people of the orthodox sects.

The Chairman is acting like a doting fool, boasting about his grandson and granddaughter.

This was something the proud and honor-bound Jin Paecheon could never allow.

Therefore, today's boast was one he had held back for a very long time. It was a boast directed at the two men before him, and also a boast directed at the masters of the orthodox sects on the first floor, who were pretending not to listen.

Jin Paecheon turned to look at Jin Haryong.

"This old grandfather thinks you're the world's number one beauty, but…"

As he said this in front of everyone, Jin Haryong's face flushed bright red.

No! Grandfather! Please!

She managed to answer calmly.

"There are so many beautiful people in the world. Others will tease me."

"Who would dare tease my granddaughter?"

At that, the gazes of Bi Sayin and Jin Hagun turned toward one person as if on cue. Even Geom Muyang, who was meeting Jin Paecheon for the first time today, looked at Geom Mugeuk standing beside him with an expression that said, Who else would tease her but this guy?

Jin Paecheon asked the subject of their gazes.

"What do you think?"

Jin Haryong was inwardly nervous about what words would come out of Geom Mugeuk's mouth. It was obvious he would tease her with some playful exaggeration.

"I think the same. If a world number one beauty pageant were held, Miss Jin would definitely win. She'd win even if the Chairman wasn't a judge!"

Jin Paecheon smiled in satisfaction.

The successors smiled faintly at Geom Mugeuk's answer. He could have just said, 'She's the most beautiful,' but he had to mention a world number one beauty pageant and even the judging.

Geom Mugeuk was probably the only person in the world who would answer the Murim Alliance Chairman's question like that.

Jin Haryong found Geom Mugeuk's answer amusing, but at the same time, it made her happy. She was grateful that he had said such a thing in front of her grandfather, even though the more beautiful Lee Ahn existed.

"Thank you for thinking so highly of me."

Of course, her inner thoughts were different.

[Even though you think the world's number one beauty is Lee Ahn.]

When she sent a telepathic message to Geom Mugeuk, a reply came back.

[Even if your grandfather were the judge, Lee Ahn would still take first place, you know?]

Grandfather, this person is teasing me! I should tell on him.

Jin Paecheon was busy today. He had made up his mind. This time, he began to boast about Jin Hagun.

"They say there's no point in raising sons, but it depends on the son, doesn't it?"

As he said this, he looked at Jin Hagun standing behind him.

"Full of chivalry and responsible. Where could one find such an excellent son? I am proud of you."

Of course, he was his grandson, but he had called him a son to compare him with the other successors.

Jin Hagun was flustered. Jin Paecheon was not usually someone who took care of him like this. On the contrary, he had treated him more strictly and frighteningly, perhaps worried he would do something foolish by using the fact that he was his grandson. It had been such a long time since he had heard the words 'I am proud of you' that he was deeply moved.

Today's subjects of comparison were Geom Mugeuk and Bi Sayin, so how could he possibly say he was better than those two? However, for this moment, he set aside his humility.

"It is all thanks to the excellent teachings and guidance you have given me, Grandfather."

After saying it, he wondered when he had ever said such words to his grandfather. Had he ever? Surprisingly, he couldn't even remember.

It had been a long time since he'd been told he was a source of pride, but he realized he had never properly expressed his gratitude either.

Jin Hagun sent a telepathic message to Geom Mugeuk.

[Do you know? I can't even remember the last time I thanked my grandfather.]

Geom Mugeuk had, at some point, become someone to whom he could comfortably convey his honest feelings at moments like this.

[Aren't we those sons from before? The ones there's no point in raising.]

This was probably why. Because he was someone who could read his heart and comfort him, and on top of that, a person who could show him the path forward.

[Still, when we finally mature, we do it properly, don't we?]

Jin Hagun felt that this meeting was meaningful just for making him realize this new aspect of his relationship with his grandfather.

Baek Jagang considered Bi Sayin to be still lacking compared to Geom Mugeuk, but he had never once thought he was lacking compared to Jin Hagun. He could permit second place, but third place was absolutely unacceptable.

No matter how much you boast, he's no match for my Sayin.

He resolved to make that point clear before this meeting was over.

In any case, after the three successors came up, the atmosphere on this floor changed. At the very least, a lively conversation had begun to flow.

The Demon Supremes were having similar thoughts about Geom Mugeuk.

As expected! Things only get resolved when the Young Cult Leader steps in.

Geom Mugeuk did not let this good flow go to waste. He shouted down to the floor below.

"Innkeeper, some drinks and food, please."

"Right away."

Jo Cheonbae went up with the drinks and side dishes.

He had gone in and out of this floor countless times, but he had never been as nervous as he was at this moment.

If I spill this, I'm spilling my life!

His hands were truly trembling, but he mustered all the courage he had.

He placed the drinks and side dishes at each person's seat. It was the most tense and suffocating moment of his life.

"Please enjoy."

As he was about to turn away, Jin Paecheon asked Jo Cheonbae a question.

"Do you know? Why the Young Cult Leader chose to hold this meeting at your tavern."

Jo Cheonbae never expected to be asked such a question by the Murim Alliance Chairman.

"I'm not sure myself."

Jin Paecheon believed there had to be another reason for holding the meeting at this particular tavern. No matter how good the drinks were, how good could they be? No matter how good the innkeeper's character was, how good could it be? Even if it were the best, why here?

Just then, an unexpected person answered in his stead.

"My son's demonic path is here."

The person most surprised by those words was Geom Mugeuk. He never dreamed his father would say such a thing.

A single phrase from his father's lips.

My son's demonic path.

Geom Mugeuk was so moved. He was so happy that he felt dazed.

Jin Paecheon stared at Geom Woojin silently for a moment. He too had not expected Geom Woojin to answer. His son's demonic path is here?

If it had been about anything else, he wouldn't have continued the conversation, but since it was a matter concerning their children, he asked out of courtesy.

"Cult Leader, do you know what kind of demonic path your son walks?"

Everyone's attention focused on Geom Woojin. Those on the first floor were also listening intently to their conversation. The Demon Supremes, in particular, were curious about what his answer would be.

After a brief pause, Geom Woojin said, "I am trying to understand."

The word 'trying' sounded different to each person who heard it. Most understood it as a roundabout way of saying he didn't approve, but for Geom Mugeuk and those who knew him, it was different.

He's trying to understand me.

He could feel his father's heart just from the fact that he had answered in the first place. It wasn't an answer for the Murim Alliance Chairman. It was an answer for him.

Geom Mugeuk's gaze fell upon his father's back.

Thank you, Father.

Was it in courtesy for the previous question? Geom Woojin asked Jin Paecheon.

"Chairman, how much do you understand your grandchildren?"

Not expecting such a question, Jin Paecheon pondered how to answer. He answered honestly. He might have brushed off other topics, but he took stories about his own blood seriously.

"I am also trying."

He thought that perhaps, for the first time since they had sat down, they were forming a common ground.

Baek Jagang suddenly asked Jin Paecheon.

"In that case, Chairman, do you know what kind of righteous path your grandson dreams of?"

For a moment, Jin Paecheon was flustered. He had never had a conversation with him about that.

"You say you're trying, but I wonder if you're only trying with words."

It was Baek Jagang's polite counterattack. After being made to feel so absurd and bewildered, he was not one to just take it. Boasting about children? He hadn't even started yet.

Jin Paecheon was about to make an excuse when he glanced at Geom Woojin. Since he was the one who had brought up his son's demonic path, he hoped he would chime in with a word of support.

It would be better for Geom Woojin to say just one thing than for him to make a pathetic excuse.

The Chairman might not know because he hasn't experienced it, but having a proper conversation with a grown child is not as easy as one might think.

That would be enough. He wouldn't even ask for him to add that it's hard when they're young because they're young, and hard when they're older because they're older.

Didn't we just form a united front of the righteous and demonic? Didn't we just form a common ground regarding our bloodlines?

Looking at Jin Paecheon's expectant gaze, Geom Woojin said calmly.

"I have been conversing with him often these days."