Chapter 391: Even If We Fight, Let's Keep It Between Us

TL: FoodieMonster007

Geom Muyang silently gazed at the duck dish before him.

Perhaps it was because they shared the same blood. Though they did not see each other often, Geom Muyang could sometimes see deep into his younger brother's heart. This was one of those times.

The duck had playfully swum over to Geom Muyang, but he knew its true meaning. His brother was thanking him. Geom Mugeuk excelled at cheesy remarks, but at this moment, he conveyed his feelings in silence.

Who's calling whom blunt?

Meanwhile, Jin Haryong imagined herself in Geom Muyang's position, stepping forward for Geom Mugeuk.

If it had been me, could I have stepped up for my Orabeoni like that? Probably not. Even if she had, she could not have commanded the atmosphere so powerfully. It would have been impossible without a heart that truly cared for her brother. After all, Geom Muyang had been prepared to see it through to the end.

Jin Haryong was not the only one moved. Bi Sayin also remarked softly, "Having a brother seems like a wonderful thing."

Bi Sayin had never once regretted being alone, but today, he felt a little envious. To have a brother who would step up for you like that.

Just then, Geom Mugeuk spoke with his eyes still closed. "If you're that envious, you can take me as your older brother."

"You mean younger brother!"

Geom Mugeuk kept smiling with his eyes closed.

"You're not even sleeping, so why are your eyes closed?"

"This is the first break my brother has ever given me. I have to rest."

At that, Geom Muyang said, "I told you to rest that mouth of yours. Eyes open, mouth shut."

"I'm in such a good mood that my mouth can't rest."

Bi Sayin also envied that the brothers had ended their succession battle without shedding blood. How much blood had he shed to become the successor? All succession battles were like that. The lives of martial artists were like that. It had always been that way. He had lived his life thinking that, but now, two people who were different stood before him. By joking around, they were asking if life really had to be that way.

Jin Hagun drank quietly. A strange emotion stirred within him, making the alcohol go down smoother than usual. This too was because of Geom Muyang. He already knew Geom Mugeuk was an extraordinary person, so nothing he accomplished would be strange.

However, seeing Geom Muyang's actions had complicated his feelings. Admiration, jealousy, and shame all mixed together. It was probably worse because he had been told they were similar.

How are we similar? Aren't I better?

He had secretly harbored such thoughts, but Geom Muyang's actions made him ashamed of his own arrogance.

Just then, Jin Haryong poured alcohol into Jin Hagun's cup. She said nothing, but she understood her Orabeoni's troubled heart.

"I'm looking forward to the future."

Her words meant they still had a long way to go, but she was also genuinely looking forward to it. What kind of murim would unfold when these people became the Cult Leader and the Chairmen? Seeing all three of them in one place filled her with even greater anticipation. It was different from when she had only vaguely imagined it.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere on the first floor had completely relaxed.

Small, close-knit groups gathered to drink. They had not expected much from the shabby tavern, but both the alcohol and the food were excellent.

"This tastes pretty good."

Having heard such praise twice, Jo Cheonbae entered the kitchen with a wide grin. He had heard it from both orthodox and unorthodox sects martial artists. The thought of boasting about this to his regulars already made him happy.

"Another bottle of alcohol over here!"

"Yes, coming!"

I will protect the peace of the murim! As Jo Cheonbae bustled about, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon filled the Flower Sword Supreme's cup.

"I'm sorry."

She had provoked the Taiyi Divine Sword earlier. It would have been fine if she had just looked away first, but her pride would not allow it.

"It's because you're young."

"Young? Do you know how old I am?"

"At your age, you're young. If I were your age…" The Blood Heaven Blade Demon trailed off.

"What would you do if you were my age?"

"I don't have anything specific in mind, but." In truth, he did. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon did not say what it was and quietly drank his alcohol.

"Why don't you just live as if you are my age?"

"How can I live like that when I'm not that age?"

The Flower Sword Supreme lightly struck the table three times and declared, "From now on, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon is the same age as the Flower Sword Supreme."

The Drunken Demon, drinking beside them, chimed in. "You must have a lot of pent-up feelings for the Senior. You're trying to become friends and let it all out, aren't you?"

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon smiled faintly. "I suppose so."

For some reason, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon poured a drink for the Drunken Demon. He always said how he hated the sight of the drunkard. "I know you put in a lot of effort to help things between me and this person."

He knew the Drunken Demon had played a big role in mending his relationship with the Flower Sword Supreme. Even without knowing the full details, he had heard from the Flower Sword Supreme that the Drunken Demon had tried very hard.

"Well, it's what friends do."

He tried to subtly work his way in, but the Flower Sword Supreme refused. "Friends? Don't even dream of it!"

"But you said the Senior became younger too?"

"She's only the same age as me."

Next to the three, who enjoyed a pleasant atmosphere for the first time in a long while, was the Poison King. He still leaned against the window, looking outside. The blowing wind rustled his hair. If any women had been passing by, they all would have stopped, but the outside was strictly controlled.

The Demonic Buddha approached his side. "What have you been looking at all this time?"

"I was just feeling a bit stuffy, so I was looking out. The spring air is nice too."

He researched and manufactured poisons in his residence within the Thousand Poisons Forest, so he never felt confined there. However, he felt stuffy in other places like this. It was also because he was always roaming the Thousand Poisons Forest for poisonous herbs and insects.

"Are there any poisonous herbs you're looking for these days?"

"Of course there are. There are plenty of spring-blooming poisonous herbs that I need."

"I'll pay you a visit soon."

The Poison King's expression brightened. The Demonic Buddha was a true master at finding poisonous herbs.

The Demonic Buddha looked up at the second floor. "It would be nice if he could go with us, but he's so busy."

The Poison King's gaze also turned to the second floor. He knew the once-stiff atmosphere there had relaxed after the successors went up, with Geom Mugeuk at the center of it all. As the Poison King was about to look back at the window, he made eye contact with one of the masters from the unorthodox sects.

The person who offered a clasped hands greeting was the Evil Eccentric. Having fought alongside him against the Brawling King, he knew the Poison King had saved the Evil Alliance martial artists. The surrounding unorthodox sects masters stared at him, but he ignored them.

The Poison King returned the clasped hands greeting with respect before looking back out the window.

The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme approached the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, who sat alone in a corner of the tavern.

"May I sit here?"

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon nodded. He had not touched the alcohol or the food.

"I know you don't eat outside food, but I'll just fill your cup."

She was concerned about the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, who had been alone on the roof earlier and was alone now. It was not a romantic attraction, but a sense of kinship.

The two eyes behind the white mask stared silently at the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme before speaking abruptly. "I envy you."

"What do you mean?"

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon looked up at the second floor. With that single action, she understood his words. He meant, I serve the current Heavenly Demon, but you are young and serve Geom Mugeuk as a Demon Supreme.

"You truly seem to enjoy difficult tasks, Smiling Demon."

Knowing she meant that serving Geom Mugeuk was no easy task, the two eyes within the mask's eyeholes smiled.

The Fist Demon stood near the entrance with his arms crossed. He was responsible for today's security and did not let his guard down for a moment. The Commanders outside reported the security status frequently, and the Fist Demon kept all his senses on high alert. This was also why Geom Woojin trusted him the most. When given a task, he always carried it out flawlessly.

The Cult Leader and the two Chairmen were still drinking by themselves. An awkward atmosphere had lingered ever since Geom Woojin refused Jin Paecheon's earlier offer of a drink. Then again, it was better to listen to the successors joke and talk than for the three of them, who disliked each other, to have an awkward conversation.

Jin Paecheon recalled what Geom Mugeuk had said earlier.

They're people who have never had fun in their entire lives. They probably don't even know how to have fun.

He was right. Jin Paecheon truly had no memory of ever having fun. His life had been a constant race to the top since he was young.

At this point…

He did not just lack the knowledge of how to have fun, he did not even want to.

Working is my fun.

He had lived his entire life with that mindset. It was a glorious life, to have risen to the position of the Murim Alliance Chairman. However, the fact that he had not had even a small bit of leisure was regrettable. If he had consciously tried, could he have made time for that leisure? If he had, would he have failed to reach this position? Nothing in life was more futile than hypothesizing 'what if', so it was impossible to know.

Just then, Geom Woojin's gaze turned to Jin Paecheon. Their eyes met and locked. Geom Woojin's arrogant and haughty gaze softened for a brief moment.

"Will you give me a drink?"

He had refused a drink before, but now he was asking for one. For whatever reason, Jin Paecheon could feel that those words had not come easily.

Why did you change your mind?

He did not ask. He knew the man was not the type to answer anyway.

You refused before! Am I the kind of person who gives you a drink when you ask and stops when you say so?

He did not assert his pride like that either. The one who had bent his pride was Geom Woojin. Was it because he heard what Geom Mugeuk said? That he wanted them to have fun and rest during this meeting. Was that why he changed his mind?

As Jin Paecheon approached with the alcohol bottle, Geom Woojin also rose from his seat. Jin Paecheon poured the drink while standing.

"Thank you."

Baek Jagang, watching this, neither offered nor asked for a drink. He did not stand apart, nor did he get deeply involved. The unorthodox, between the orthodox and the demonic. He was always at an appropriate distance.

This time, Geom Woojin looked at Baek Jagang. From Geom Woojin's gaze, Baek Jagang sensed he had something to say to them. Baek Jagang also took his cup and approached.

And so, the three men stood close to each other, at a distance where they could reach out and touch one another. With their skills, it was a distance from which they could inflict a fatal wound with a surprise attack. For that reason, this distance was also one of trust.

The reason Geom Woojin had called them over was not to have fun together. It was the opposite.

"Now, let's talk business."

Jin Paecheon's and Baek Jagang's expressions turned serious. Geom Woojin released his qi, enveloping the area to prevent their voices from leaking outside.

"You must be aware that there is a mastermind behind this incident."

Of course. Jin Paecheon's grandson and granddaughter had nearly been killed, and Baek Jagang had even fought the Brawling King himself.

Then, a surprising statement came from Geom Woojin's lips. "Even if we fight, let's keep it between us."

It meant they should not let others interfere in their fights. In other words, they should join forces to eliminate those bastards.

"Our Cult intends to share all information related to those bastards with you and make their extermination our Cult's top priority."

Jin Paecheon and Baek Jagang were surprised. They had not expected Geom Woojin to lay his cards on the table first. Traditionally, the side that reveals its thoughts first in a negotiation is at a disadvantage. The Demonic Cult Leader could not possibly be unaware of that. Moreover, as a man of immense pride, it would have been natural for him to wait for them to suggest joining forces first.

Geom Woojin shattered all such expectations.

Has this man changed? Or is there some other scheme at play?

Various thoughts raced through Jin Paecheon's mind.

Can I trust the words of this Demonic Cult Leader?

It was impossible to know. The time had come to rely on the one thing that had always helped him, the very thing that had allowed him to survive until now. His instinct.

His instinct did not tell him whether the Demonic Cult Leader's words were true or not. Instead, it made him turn his head. In the distance, he could see Geom Mugeuk. His instinct was telling him to look at Geom Mugeuk, and he heard its whisper. If you're not sure, trust that kid. The kid who dragged you and that Evil Alliance Chairman to a tavern in front of the Demonic Cult.

Finally, Jin Paecheon revealed his honest feelings. "To be honest, I've never had a proper conversation with my grandchildren. That's right. I don't know what kind of righteous path that child dreams of."

Jin Paecheon's eyes deepened as he looked at Jin Hagun. "I want to see the righteous path that child walks. It will surely be a beautiful and magnificent path. Yes, to see that path, we must crush all those vile people who scheme from the shadows."

Jin Paecheon's gaze returned to Geom Woojin. "Very well. This Alliance will also share all information related to those bastards and make exterminating the mastermind our top priority."

It was the moment the Murim Alliance decided to join hands with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

Geom Woojin's and Jin Paecheon's gazes turned to Baek Jagang. He had already reached a conclusion. He had not spoken with Geom Woojin enough to know if his lie-detecting senses worked on the man, but at least during their conversation today, he had not felt any chills run down his spine.

"When the orthodox and demonic are moving, can the unorthodox be stubborn? Let's show those bastards just who they dared to mess with."

His small eyes smiled. He spoke humbly, as if yielding to the orthodox sects and the Demonic Cult, but his gaze was one that would not back down from anyone.

No more words were needed. The three men's cups clinked in the air.

It was the birth of the orthodox, unorthodox, and demonic alliance, an event unprecedented in the history of the murim. From now on, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, the Murim Alliance, and the Evil Alliance would share all information regarding the mastermind, track down their enemies, and even provide support if needed.

Geom Mugeuk had opened his eyes at some point and was watching the three men toast. The other four were doing the same. The moment their voices were cut off, they knew the three were having a very important conversation. That was why they could guess the toast signified the formation of a tripartite alliance.

This was what it meant to trust his father. Regardless of what his father thought of his demonic path, he was at least someone who knew what needed to be done in any given situation. That was why he had been at ease even after arranging this meeting. He had figured his father would take care of the rest. As expected, his father was his father.

"Honestly, they really don't know how to have fun."

Everyone smiled at Geom Mugeuk's words.

"We can't just let a historic moment like this pass by. Let's celebrate properly in place of those who don't know how to have fun. We'll drink till we're wasted, sing songs, and…"

Geom Mugeuk gave a meaningful grin and looked at Bi Sayin.

"Why are you looking at me?"

Startled, Bi Sayin saw it. A colossal dark cloud bringing a typhoon, a tidal wave soaring to the sky, lava spewing fireballs. No, a crisis more severe than all of that, the greatest crisis of his life, was bearing down on him.