Chapter 626: When is the Person You Called Coming?

TL: FoodieMonster007

"I can't believe it."

Gwak Yeong was incredibly surprised to learn that the White Dragon Commander was involved in this matter. She had thought it plausible that the merchant supplying materials to the smithy was involved. But for the White Dragon Commander to be colluding with the mastermind?

Could this man be deceiving me?

The fact that such a thought even crossed her mind showed how unbelievable the situation was.

However, Gwak Yeong trusted this man. That was the very reason she was having this thought.

If he wanted to deceive me, I would be helplessly fooled.

They had only met a few times. Yet she was now trusting this man over the White Dragon Commander.

"If you hadn't been the one to tell me, I wouldn't have believed it."

Geom Muyang, who usually would have said nothing, offered a word for some reason.

"If you trust just anyone like that, it'll be hard to survive in this murim."

After a brief pause, Gwak Yeong spoke.

"You're not just anyone. You're the benefactor who will save my younger brother, right? I have to trust you. Even if I can't trust anyone else, I have to trust you. Even if the whole world curses you, I won't."

As Geom Muyang stared at her, Gwak Yeong told him.

"That's right, I'm putting pressure on you. It's the only thing I can do right now."

Geom Muyang, who had been looking at her, turned his head to gaze out the window.

Just then, Ho Myeong entered the room.

"This is the data sent from the All-Knowing Hall about the White Dragon Commander."

Geom Muyang took the few sheets of paper Ho Myeong handed him and began to read. The documents contained personal information about the White Dragon Commander, including his personality and the process he went through to rise to the position of Commander.

"His wife died early, and he has a daughter."

At that, Gwak Yeong shouted.

"His daughter must have been kidnapped."

She thought everyone would naturally assume that.

"Why do you think so?"

"What?"

"Couldn't this be something he chose to do himself?"

Gwak Yeong was at a loss for words at Geom Muyang's question. She had always considered the White Dragon Commander a good person. He always treated her comfortably with a smiling face whenever he saw her.

But thinking about it now, she knew almost nothing about the White Dragon Commander.

Objectively speaking, the man who had just read the documents probably knew more about him than she did, despite her having known him for over a decade.

Was it really his choice and not because of a threat?

"What are you going to do now?"

"I'm going to meet the White Dragon Commander."

"Will he meet with you?"

There was no way the White Dragon Commander would meet him. Even if a meeting did happen, he would surely have numerous experts lying in ambush.

Then, Geom Muyang said something unexpected.

"The one meeting the White Dragon Commander isn't me, it's you."

Gwak Yeong was startled. She could tell he was serious. The man had never once made a joke since she met him.

"Didn't you tell me to use you to catch them?"

"That's true, but…"

She knew it too. This was not a problem that could be solved by hiding like a fugitive. To find her brother's whereabouts, she had to follow this lead. Right now, the White Dragon Commander was their only connection to the culprits.

However, that was not the important thing.

"Didn't you say my brother would die if I went out?"

Geom Muyang nodded.

"And you're still telling me to go?"

He nodded again. Bewilderment outweighed her resentment. She knew well that he was not someone who would break a promise so easily.

"You promised you'd save my brother, didn't you?"

"This is to keep that promise."

Gwak Yeong stared intently at Geom Muyang. His gaze seemed to say something to her. No, she hoped it would.

If you've trusted me once, trust me to the end.

Last time, she had begged and shouted for him not to send her out, even if it meant death. She had said she would stay, even if it meant breathing through a reed while buried in the dirt.

But this time, those words did not come out. He was asking her to do this despite what she had said. This was something that had to be done.

"Alright, but make me one more promise."

She said frankly.

"Since you're saving him anyway, please make sure you save me too."

"Bring me some porridge."

At the customer's demand, the restaurant owner was about to say they did not sell porridge but flinched in surprise. The customer was a martial artist with white hair and an angular face filled with anger.

The owner knew from long experience not to provoke a customer like this.

"Yes, I'll prepare it and bring it right out."

The martial artist was none other than the Cold Moon Warrior.

After spending the entire day running to the outhouse, he had finally settled down. It was truly the first time he had ever experienced such a severe stomachache.

To think I can't control it with qi. Have I gotten old?

He did not think someone had intentionally given him a stomachache. Since the trouble began after eating and drinking at the Red Flower Pavilion, he should have turned the place upside down. The reason he was enduring it was singular.

"The Cold Moon Warrior got a stomachache," or "He spent the whole day running to the outhouse."

The thought of such rumors spreading in the murim was truly unbearable.

A moment later, the owner brought the porridge. After eating a bowl, he finally felt like he could live. To think he could be this hungry after starving for just one day.

Just then, a little kid entered the restaurant and handed a note to the Cold Moon Warrior.

"A certain martial artist asked me to give you this."

And then the kid scurried away.

The Cold Moon Warrior checked the note's contents and then burned it with his hot yang qi.

HWAREUREUK.

Those bastards from the Demonic Cult he could not kill yesterday, he would just kill them all today. He had mercifully granted their wretched lives one more day.

The Cold Moon Warrior rose from his seat and left the restaurant. As he walked toward the entrance, he saw a familiar young man eating.

Where have I seen him?

Then, the collection basket and herb pouch next to the young man caught his eye.

Ah! It's that kid from back then!

It was the kid he had advised to swing a sword instead of squatting on the roadside looking at grass. Of course, he was the Poison King.

He was about to pass by, but the Cold Moon Warrior turned back and walked toward the Poison King. This was the person he had met right before his stomachache started. He looked down at him, just in case. If the kid had pulled some trick, it was unlikely he would show his face again like this.

As if unaware that someone was standing in front of him and glaring, the Poison King just kept his head down and ate.

"……"

Only when the Cold Moon Warrior called out did the Poison King raise his head.

"Why are you loitering around me?"

The Poison King wore an expression of complete confusion. He even seemed not to remember the Cold Moon Warrior.

I remember, but the other person does not? It is a subtly irritating and pride-wounding thing.

How dare he not remember me?

He felt bad, but he could not get angry over this.

"Well, if your head is bad, I guess you have to diligently dig for herbs to make a living."

The Cold Moon Warrior turned away. He was in a bad mood for various reasons. Was it something to snap at him for, just because he did not remember a face? How petty, so petty.

He had that thought but did not turn back to apologize.

How far had he walked after leaving the restaurant?

The Cold Moon Warrior started scratching his arm. It itched like a mosquito bite, but scratching brought no relief. At first, his arm itched, and then his back started to itch.

Damn it, why is it suddenly so itchy?

When he rolled up his sleeve, he saw his arm was covered in tiny, millet-like hives. He was startled by the sight.

No way. Did the porridge cause another problem?

It was not just his arm. His back, stomach, legs, and even his butt were itching. His whole body was so itchy he could not stand it. Forgetting all about his dignity, he stood in the street and scratched his body furiously. Passersby gave him a wide berth. It was so itchy he could not even get angry.

He tried to do something by raising his inner arts, but none of the methods he knew could stop this itch.

Just then, an old man who was fortune-telling on the street said to him. His words were enough to make him forget the itch.

"Sir, you have come to a place you should not have."

The Cold Moon Warrior looked at the old fortune-teller while scratching his body. The man's gaze was quite deep, and he seemed to have a divine air about him.

"What are you talking about?"

The old fortune-teller said to the Cold Moon Warrior.

"You came to chase a demon, but you've become possessed by one."

The Cold Moon Warrior stood there blankly for a moment, staring at the old fortune-teller. The reason he could not yell "What nonsense is this?" was because the man had correctly guessed he came to chase a demon.

"Leave this land of Wuhan at once, before you suffer a greater calamity."

In the end, he could not hold back and shouted.

"Cut the nonsense!"

He was going crazy from the itch, and now what was this old man spouting? Really, what was wrong with everyone today? He should have talked more with the old man, but the Cold Moon Warrior could not bear it any longer.

He started running toward a physician, using his movement arts.

After the Cold Moon Warrior left, the Poison King came and sat down next to the old man. The old fortune-teller was none other than Sangseon, who assisted the Poison King.

"That man won't be able to do anything today either."

If it could be solved by going to a physician, how could he be called the Poison King? Unless a divine doctor from the Murim Alliance came, he would spend the entire day scratching himself.

"I was originally going to give him something less painful."

It was the result of the Cold Moon Warrior running his mouth.

Sangseon smiled as he looked at the Poison King. He was so reluctant to come out into the world, yet once he did, the Poison King was someone who could handle anything this well.

"Still, he won't leave over something like this."

To Sangseon's words, the Poison King replied meaningfully.

"If he sees a ghost, he'll probably believe your fortune."

"Artisan Gwak has returned."

The White Dragon Commander was startled by his subordinate's report. Indeed, Gwak Yeong was entering, following the subordinate.

"What on earth happened?"

"That's what I'd like to ask. I was away on some outside business, and when I returned, I heard news that I had been kidnapped."

At those words, not only the White Dragon Commander but also the martial artists with him were all surprised.

"So you mean you weren't kidnapped?"

"As you can see."

The White Dragon Commander examined her. There was not a single injury, so her words seemed to be true.

"Who on earth said that? That I was kidnapped?"

"There was an anonymous tip that someone witnessed you being kidnapped. After receiving the tip, we checked your residence and you were gone."

"It was a false tip."

The White Dragon Commander looked at her for a moment, then smiled broadly.

"It's a relief that you've returned like this."

The White Dragon Commander said to his subordinates.

"Stop the search and return to the Alliance. Prepare a carriage for Artisan Gwak."

The subordinates who received the order moved busily. They also sent men to deliver the order to those searching in other areas.

The White Dragon Commander said to Gwak Yeong.

"Now, let's return with us."

"You've all suffered for nothing because of me."

"It's fine as long as you're safe."

The two of them got into the carriage, and the subordinates went along, acting as bodyguards.

No matter how she looked, Gwak Yeong could not find anything suspicious about the White Dragon Commander. He asked her several times if she was hurt anywhere.

This man is a villain?

This time, it seemed that man had been wrong. Seeing him again, she could tell. The White Dragon Commander was a good person.

On their way back, the White Dragon Commander had the carriage stopped. He said to his subordinates.

"You all go back first."

And so, the White Dragon Commander sent the carriage and his subordinates back ahead of them.

"You and I need to talk for a moment."

The place where the carriage had stopped was the same estate where Geom Muyang had first hidden. The two of them entered the estate. Traces of construction were still left here and there.

"Where is this place?"

Then, the White Dragon Commander said coldly.

"You know, don't you?"

"What do you mean?"

"The place where those bastards first brought you."

He seemed convinced that she had been kidnapped.

"Why are you lying?"

"I'm not lying."

The White Dragon Commander's expression changed. It was a look that made her think, 'So this man could make such a cold face.'

"Where are they now?"

At the White Dragon Commander's interrogation, a question arose in her mind.

"Why are you asking this question when it's just the two of us in a place like this, instead of in front of everyone?"

"It's for your sake."

Gwak Yeong's expression also became calm.

"You think I'm in league with them."

"Aren't you?"

Then, Gwak Yeong said with a meaningful expression.

"I'm on your side, Commander."

For a moment, the White Dragon Commander's expression flinched.

"I know it too. That you're on my side, Commander."

The White Dragon Commander stared at Gwak Yeong without a word. From his gaze, Gwak Yeong could tell.

This man… he really did join hands with them.

"If you suspected me, isn't it dangerous for you to be alone like this?"

Just then, a voice was heard from behind.

"It must be because he has something to rely on."

Geom Muyang emerged from behind the building. Ho Myeong and the Branch martial artists followed behind him.

However, the White Dragon Commander showed no surprise or fear at their appearance. Instead, a hint of welcome flashed across his face.

"You may have tried to lure me out using this woman, but I already expected it."

At those words, Gwak Yeong looked at Geom Muyang with a startled heart.

They had set a trap but had fallen into one instead.

Geom Muyang's face was impassive, revealing no emotion.

The White Dragon Commander said in a loud voice.

"Come out now and eliminate all these demonic bastards!"

The person he was counting on was the Cold Moon Warrior. With him here, not a single demonic being would be able to leave alive. The Cold Moon Warrior he knew was an absolute master representing the orthodox sects.

"Please come out!"

However, the Cold Moon Warrior did not appear.

The White Dragon Commander's expression hardened. He had proceeded with this plan, believing the man would surely come. He had said he would definitely come.

"Whoever it is, it seems they're not coming."

Just then!

The estate gates slowly began to open.

He's here!

The overjoyed White Dragon Commander was shocked. The person who entered was not the Cold Moon Warrior. It was someone completely unexpected.

Why is this person here?

He was so surprised that he was at a loss for words for a moment. However, a thought soon occurred to him. There was no way this person was on the side of those demonic beings.

He sent this person instead of the Cold Moon Warrior!

The White Dragon Commander was truly astonished. To think his influence could move even this person.

Surprisingly, the person who appeared there was Jin Hagun of the Demon Slaying Brigade. Martial artists climbed onto the estate walls, surrounding the area. They were the martial artists of the Demon Slaying Brigade.

Ho Myeong and the Branch martial artists all drew their swords at once, surrounding Geom Muyang.

A smile formed on the White Dragon Commander's lips.

"Commander Jin! Please hurry and eliminate the villains of the Demonic Cult!"

The gazes of Jin Hagun and Geom Muyang met in mid-air. A taut tension, as if it could explode at any moment, flowed between the subordinate martial artists.

Geom Muyang's gaze shifted from Jin Hagun to the White Dragon Commander.

"When is the person you called coming?"

At the unexpected question, the White Dragon Commander looked back at Jin Hagun with a dumbfounded expression and shouted.

"What kind of crazy talk is that? Isn't he right here?"

Then, astonishing words flowed from Geom Muyang's lips.

"That person is someone I called."