Chapter 390: What the Murim Needs for Peace Right Now

TL: FoodieMonster007

Baek Jagang sent the mushroom dish to Bi Sayin purely to show off to Jin Paecheon. He was saying, 'I even know all the dishes my disciple likes'.

However, Jin Paecheon already knew his grandson's favorite dish.

Well, he is his grandson, so they must have eaten together often.

In truth, Baek Jagang enjoyed this situation. He truly had not expected today's meeting to unfold this way.

Jin Paecheon bragging about his grandson felt like releasing pent-up feelings, which was unexpected. The new side of Geom Woojin, who he expected to be only cold and ruthless, was also intriguing.

Can blood truly not be denied? Geom Woojin's unexpected actions resembled Geom Mugeuk's eccentricity.

Conversely, it meant that Geom Mugeuk's blood might also contain Geom Woojin's cold and cynical nature.

In any case, today he had clearly seen where Geom Mugeuk's demonic path was headed.

His demonic path was not an answer cobbled together for the question, 'What is your demonic path?' He had not thought, 'Wouldn't a vague answer like this be plausible?' The Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult walked a firm path, perhaps even firmer than his elders.

Baek Jagang's gaze turned to Geom Woojin.

Your son's demonic path is not your own.

The two men's paths were not just slightly different. They were in complete opposition.

What do you plan to do from now on?

He could find no answer in Geom Woojin's cold eyes.

In any case, Jin Paecheon was surely having the same worries.

What do you think? About this father and son.

However, Jin Paecheon currently focused on something else.

"Geom Cult Leader."

Jin Paecheon looked at Geom Woojin for a moment.

"Will you accept a cup of wine from me?"

Jin Paecheon had been deeply moved when he heard Jo Cheonbae's words. Geom Mugeuk had accomplished something that even the chivalrous heroes of the orthodox sects could not easily do. This should have happened in a tavern before the Murim Alliance, not the Demonic Cult.

From the Murim Alliance Chairman's perspective, how could he not be pleased that the next Cult Leader was such a person?

That was why he wanted to offer a cup of wine to the man who had raised Geom Mugeuk. There was no other meaning behind it. He still hated the Demonic Cult, and he still hated the Demonic Cult Leader.

He worked up the courage to say it, but Geom Woojin seemed to dislike the idea too.

"I refuse."

Geom Woojin did not state his reason for refusing.

"You'll accept the tavern owner's wine, but not mine?"

Geom Woojin still gave no answer and filled his own cup.

Jin Paecheon could guess the reason.

He doesn't want to get close. Because I'm someone he will kill one day.

The ambition to unify the murim in Geom Woojin's eyes remained unchanged.

Even if they faced each other and smiled, even if they drank together, even if they were swept up in a heated competition of bragging about their children, even if ten side dishes were sent flying in a dazzling display.

The fact that they would become enemies the moment they left the tavern would not change. Their camaraderie was just an illusion.

Jin Paecheon also filled his own cup and drank alone.

Then what will you do? Will you walk that path even if it means blocking your son's way?

This time, Jin Paecheon looked at Baek Jagang.

Baek Jagang was lost in thought, fiddling with his wine cup.

The enemy was not just one.

One should not underestimate those small eyes. While distracted by the Heavenly Demon, one's head could very well fall by Baek Jagang's hand. He was a man who possessed that level of skill and ambition.

One could tell just by looking at that black martial arts uniform. When the time came, he would move with speed and decisiveness.

A common joke claimed that if the three leaders of the era had been born in different times, three separate wars would have broken out. The venerable masters of the murim always mentioned this when joking about his own hegemonic nature.

And I'm supposed to go fishing and hunting with my grandchildren, leaving you all to your own devices?

Suddenly, an image flashed through Jin Paecheon's mind. He saw himself standing blankly with a fishing rod, staring in bewilderment at the burning Murim Alliance.

These are people who cannot be trusted.

Jin Paecheon turned his head to look at the person who, despite all this, had created today's gathering.

Can you walk your path without being devoured by your father?

Unlike the adults' heavy atmosphere, the mood among the younger generation was bright.

Of course, Geom Mugeuk led the mood.

"Alright, let's start by introducing the new face. This is my older brother, who lost the succession battle and is now covetously eyeing my position."

In the past, he would have offered a sharp rebuttal, but now Geom Muyang could only let out a hollow laugh.

"I am Geom Muyang."

He greeted them curtly. Geom Mugeuk knew. Given his brother's personality, just being here together was him making every possible effort.

Jin Haryong had heard a lot about Geom Muyang through her Orabeoni.

At one time, every martial artist believed this man would become the successor.

Then she heard the news that the succession struggle in the Demonic Cult had ended without shedding a single drop of blood.

At first, it was truly hard to believe. Only after getting to know Geom Mugeuk properly did she think it might be possible, but could just one person's efforts accomplish such a thing? It must have been possible because this Geom Muyang was also an extraordinary person.

Jin Haryong's gaze, which had been on Geom Muyang, shifted to Geom Mugeuk sitting beside him.

How can they be so different, even though they're brothers?

Her thoughts seemed to reach Geom Mugeuk.

"What do you think, seeing my brother?"

The question was meant to fluster her, but Jin Haryong answered calmly.

"I feel a sense of kinship."

"What kind of kinship?"

"Isn't it similar to my own situation? The miserable fate of eventually being eliminated by the successor."

She directed the end of her joke at Geom Muyang.

"My life is hanging by a thread, you see."

She wondered if it was alright to speak this way to the Demonic Cult First Young Lord, whom she was meeting for the first time, but Geom Mugeuk's influence was indeed great. With him by her side, such banter came out naturally.

Fortunately, Geom Muyang did not seem offended.

Geom Muyang recalled a past event.

The moment Geom Mugeuk became the successor, he had asked, 'When are you going to kill me?'

That was why her joke resonated with him. Only those who accompanied a successor could know the feeling.

"Will you accept a drink?"

It was unexpected that he would offer her a drink. She accepted it gladly.

"Alright. Let's have a drink, fellow sufferers."

Geom Muyang filled her cup to the brim with wine.

Jin Hagun, who was watching, said, "Didn't you hear what grandfather said earlier? Who would dare touch the world's number one beauty, his granddaughter who is the apple of his eye?"

After receiving the wine, Jin Haryong poured a drink for Geom Muyang and asked, "What about it? What if the Cult Leader orders you to kill me?"

Geom Muyang did not answer and drank his wine.

Jin Haryong gave Jin Hagun an 'I told you so' look and said, "At least it wasn't something he could say with confidence in this place."

Jin Haryong also emptied her cup.

She found this gathering so refreshing. To think she was trading jokes and drinking with two people she would never have met in her entire life if not for Geom Mugeuk.

Jin Hagun stared at Geom Muyang expressionlessly. Honestly, he was displeased. He should have at least said something like, 'How could I kill such a precious person?' The joke was about his sister's life, so his nerves were on edge for no reason.

Just then, Geom Mugeuk poured Jin Hagun a drink and said, "Please understand. My brother is naturally curt. He's a lot like you."

Like me? In what way?

Then again, thinking about it, he realized he probably would not have said anything in the same situation either.

This time, Geom Mugeuk filled Bi Sayin's cup. Geom Mugeuk's hands and mouth were busy taking care of everyone.

"It's good that you're not curt."

"This is the first time I've heard from you that I'm not curt."

Then again, was that the only thing he was hearing for the first time?

Someone who knows how to look at faces will recognize how handsome the face beneath the scar is.

He had even been called handsome.

"Young Cult Leader."

"What is it?"

Bi Sayin asked with a serious gaze.

"Why did you gather us all in one place?"

The gazes of the four people turned to Geom Mugeuk.

"What's with those looks? Are you thinking something like, 'A guy like you must have some grand, hidden intention or plan'? I don't. I just started this because everyone seemed so tense, thinking we should meet and loosen up. The whole thing just got this big."

"Then how are you going to end this meeting?"

"Can't we just have our fun and then go back? Judging by the personalities of those three over there, the moment one of them abruptly stands up and says, 'Let's go,' that'll be the end of it."

Geom Mugeuk said to the dumbfounded group, "Those three should rest for today, at least, and maybe share a few jokes. I think that's the most meaningful thing about this gathering. They're people who have never had fun in their entire lives. They probably don't even know how to."

In truth, the same was true for Geom Mugeuk himself. He knew a life of running toward a single path, but did he really know what it was to take care of himself and have fun for his own sake?

Jin Haryong glanced toward the Cult Leader and the Chairmen. They were not even conversing, each lost in their own thoughts as they drank. They could probably hear everything said here, no matter how quietly they whispered.

A thought occurred to her. Perhaps, as Geom Mugeuk had said, it was far more difficult for the three of them to rest comfortably, even for a moment, than it was to devise a plan for peace in the murim, and perhaps it might yield a better result than any grand plan.

It was at that very moment.

SREUNG.

The sound of a sword being half-drawn came from the floor below. At the sound, a sudden silence fell over the place.

Geom Woojin drank his wine quietly. Jin Paecheon had a slightly worried look in his eyes. Baek Jagang, on the contrary, smiled faintly.

Geom Mugeuk was about to get up from his seat to stop the fight before it escalated.

Just then, Geom Muyang grabbed Geom Mugeuk's shoulder to stop him and stood up first. It was a sign that he would handle it.

At the unexpected sight, Geom Mugeuk looked at his brother with a surprised expression.

Not only the others at the table, but also Geom Woojin and the two Chairmen looked at Geom Muyang.

Geom Muyang walked to the railing, looked down, and politely introduced himself.

"I am the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult First Young Lord, Geom Muyang."

There were puzzled looks that he, not Geom Mugeuk, had stepped forward.

The one who had half-drawn his sword was the Taiyi Divine Sword. He was in a battle of wills with the Flower Sword Supreme. Her fearless gaze had bothered him the entire time, but his pride would not let him look away.

He had already lost his composure. This was his warning that he might draw his sword if she did not look away.

Geom Muyang did not single out the Taiyi Divine Sword, instead addressing everyone.

"I know full well who all of you here are. I also know that if not for the Cult Leader and the Chairmen, you would not be standing there."

He began his speech on a positive note.

"Since you are such people, you must also know how difficult it was to make this meeting happen today. The person who accomplished that impossible task is my younger brother. That is why, for today, I want to let my brother rest. I don't want him to have to step in and stop a fight from breaking out here. Today, I will be the one to let him rest."

Geom Woojin listened to his son's words in silence and tilted his cup. Jin Paecheon and Baek Jagang were also listening quietly to Geom Muyang.

The Taiyi Divine Sword, who had half-drawn his sword, looked up at Geom Muyang with a cold gaze.

Looking at him, Geom Muyang spoke. His extremely polite tone changed, becoming provocative and intense.

"How far are you all willing to go?"

He said 'you all', not 'you'. He did not target the Taiyi Divine Sword alone. If he provoked him before everyone, the Taiyi Divine Sword would have no choice but to escalate the situation for the sake of his pride.

"I can go very far. You might wonder what I'm saying when I'm not even the successor, but because I am not the successor… I can go all the way to the end."

This was Geom Muyang's will, almost a threat. If they messed with him, he would see it through to the end.

"So, you all should rest today as well. Haven't you fought tirelessly your entire lives to reach your positions?"

He turned to leave, then added one last thing.

"You've seen my younger brother, who calls a tavern owner his demonic path. That's right. As you can see, he's a madman. I am that madman's older brother. So unless you plan on seeing things to the bitter end with madmen, do not mess with us today."

The tavern was silent.

A brighter light flowed from the Demonic Buddha's body. The Demonic Buddha was smiling with pride. He felt that his time dedicated to the First Young Lord had not been in vain.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon strode forward, sat down at a table, and said, "Owner, bring wine here."

It was a display of confidence, as if saying, 'Come at me if you dare.' It also showed his will to not drink while looking at the faces of those orthodox and unorthodox sect bastards. This was the kind of person the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had always been.

As the Blood Heaven Blade Demon sat, the Demon Supremes also sat down at his table and the one next to it.

"……"

The Taiyi Divine Sword's blade, which had been half-drawn, slid back into its sheath. He had not intended to draw it all the way in the first place, but how could he, when the Demonic Cult acted like this?

Not wanting to be pushed back by the momentum, the masters of the orthodox sects and unorthodox sects also sat down at tables near where they had been standing. Some confidently turned their backs, while others remained standing, staring at their opponents.

The only thing the murim needs for peace right now is delicious wine and food!

With this thought, Jo Cheonbae diligently carried out the wine and side dishes he had prepared. Right, a fight was bound to break out when people just stood around in a tavern without drinking.

Geom Muyang returned to his seat and preemptively spoke to Geom Mugeuk.

"Don't say anything!"

"How do you know what I was going to say?"

"Whatever it is, don't say it!"

How much must he have suffered to act like that? I know that feeling all too well, Bi Sayin thought, nodding as he raised his cup. Jin Hagun's and Jin Haryong's cups clinked forcefully against his. It was a toast of empathy.

"This is nice, resting like this thanks to you, Hyung. If I had gone to stop them, there would've been trouble. I would've gotten worked up and said, 'The Cult Leader and the Chairmen are just sitting there, so who are you to draw your sword on a day like today? Get up here.' Then the person next to him would've…"

Geom Muyang pushed a wine cup toward Geom Mugeuk, telling him to just drink.

"Let that mouth of yours rest a bit."

He spoke curtly, but how could Geom Mugeuk not know his brother's heart was looking out for him? How much courage it must have taken for him to step forward just now.

Geom Mugeuk relaxed his posture, leaned back comfortably in his chair, and stretched out his legs.

"Yeah, let's rest a bit."

It was comfortable. In this moment, he felt as relaxed as if he were lying on that beach within the Spacetime Manipulation Technique. No, perhaps it was even more comfortable than that.

Jin Haryong watched him smile foolishly with his eyes closed. For some reason, she suddenly thought he looked lonely, but the thought was fleeting.

The dish of duck that had been placed before Jin Hagun began to stealthily move across the table on its own.

While everyone watched, the duck dish moved in front of Geom Muyang.

"If you wanted some, you should have just said so."

Geom Muyang was flustered by Jin Haryong's words.

"No! I didn't do it."

"Of course you didn't!"

Everyone's gaze turned to Geom Mugeuk at the same time.

Under the flood of gazes, Geom Mugeuk slightly opened one eye and said with a smile, "My brother likes duck too."