Chapter 627: I Am a Person Accustomed to Killing People

TL: FoodieMonster007

Who had called whom?

The White Dragon Commander desperately hoped he had misheard.

"What nonsense is this!" he roared, turning to look at Jin Hagun who had just walked up beside him. "Is what he said true?"

He asked with the faint hope that it was not, but Jin Hagun's reply struck him like a bolt from the blue.

"It is."

The White Dragon Commander's heart sank. The Demon Slaying Brigade had arrived when it should have been the Cold Moon Warrior.

Even if he's late, the Cold Moon Warrior has to come.

What would happen if he arrived and attacked before any words could be exchanged? Everyone knew how much the Cold Moon Warrior despised the Demonic Cult. If a fight broke out, the Demon Slaying Brigade would be forced to help the Cold Moon Warrior. They would never side with the Demonic Cult for any reason.

Please, just come!

It was a plea he would not have made if he knew the Cold Moon Warrior's current situation.

The White Dragon Commander was not the only one who was surprised. Gwak Yeong and the Branch martial artists were equally shocked.

The First Young Lord had summoned the leader of the Demon Slaying Brigade?

Only Homyeong, who had followed Geom Muyang's orders to contact Jin Hagun through the All-Knowing Hall, knew this information beforehand.

Gwak Yeong's gaze shifted to the leader of the Demon Slaying Brigade. As a member of the Murim Alliance, she knew better than anyone what kind of man the leader of the Demon Slaying Brigade was.

He was the grandson of the Murim Alliance Lord and his most likely successor.

The Demon Slaying Brigade that he led was the Murim Alliance's finest elite unit. This was why the highest quality weapons from the smithy were always given to the Demon Slaying Brigade first.

You summoned someone like that? He's not the type to come just because he's told. Just who in the world are you?

Gwak Yeong stared at Geom Muyang with a stunned heart. It was Jin Hagun who answered her unspoken question. He asked the White Dragon Commander.

"Commander Do, do you know who that man is?"

"I do not."

Jin Hagun then stated calmly, "He is the First Young Lord of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult."

The White Dragon Commander was startled. Or rather, he feigned being startled.

In truth, he already knew his opponent was Geom Muyang. If his opponent had been an ordinary member of the cult, he would have dealt with him personally instead of waiting for the Cold Moon Warrior.

The person most surprised by those words was Gwak Yeong.

That man is the First Young Lord of the Demonic Cult?

That meant he was the next in line to become the Heavenly Demon. The peaceful end to the succession struggle within the Demonic Cult had once been a hot topic in the murim.

She truly could not have imagined it. The man she had spent all this time with was the First Young Lord of the Demonic Cult. She had yelled at him and even begged him to save her. She had done all that to the man who was practically the Heavenly Demon.

Seriously, man! If you had such an incredible status, you should've told me sooner. Didn't you want to brag, 'I'm this kind of person'?

If it had just been the two of them, she really would have said those words out loud.

Geom Muyang greeted Jin Hagun first.

"It's been a while."

"Have you been well?"

Jin Hagun showed Geom Muyang proper courtesy. This was not a greeting for the First Young Lord of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. It was a greeting for Geom Mugeuk's older brother.

"Thank you for coming."

"Of course, I had to come."

Jin Hagun was suddenly reminded of something Geom Mugeuk had told him during the tripartite meeting.

[My brother is originally a stoic man. He's a lot like you.]

Am I really that similar to him? He could not know, as he had never had a private conversation with the man.

He had found it unexpected when he received the messenger pigeon from Geom Muyang. He was truly a man who seemed like he would never make contact, no matter what happened.

The messenger pigeon had contained the following information. It said an organization was forging and selling the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's hidden weapons, and he had pursued them all the way here.

However, their entry into Wuhan was something that should not have happened, regardless of the reason. No matter if the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was in the middle of an operation, Wuhan was a forbidden zone.

If Geom Mugeuk's existence had not served as a buffer, the current atmosphere would have been far more hostile.

The White Dragon Commander did not miss this opportunity.

"Commander Jin, what is your relationship with the First Young Lord of the Demonic Cult? You seem to be acquainted."

There was a clear intention behind his question.

He summoned the leader of the Demon Slaying Brigade? I'll make sure that becomes his worst move.

The White Dragon Commander brought up Jin Hagun's greatest weakness.

"If it becomes known that Commander Jin is acquainted with the First Young Lord of the Demonic Cult, the orthodox sects martial artists will be greatly agitated. Does the Chairman know about this?"

Since he had not yet been formally appointed as the successor, he could not become the heir if he fell out of the Chairman's favor or caused a controversial incident. He aimed for that weak spot, trying to prevent the leader of the Demon Slaying Brigade from showing any familiarity with Geom Muyang.

As if the intention had worked, Jin Hagun asked Geom Muyang in a defensive tone.

"What does that matter have to do with the White Dragon Commander here?"

"I believe the White Dragon Commander has been co-opted by that organization."

At Geom Muyang's answer, the gazes of the Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists turned in unison toward the White Dragon Commander.

The White Dragon Commander then raised his voice confidently.

"Even if you are the First Young Lord of the Demonic Cult, watch your words. To frame me with such an accusation is to ignore the orthodox sects murim and to scorn our Alliance!"

His voice echoed thunderously.

The White Dragon Commander turned back to Jin Hagun, seeking his agreement. He had deliberately mentioned the Murim Alliance. What if the honor of the Alliance was at stake?

As long as his position as the Murim Alliance's successor is on the line, the leader of the Demon Slaying Brigade has no choice but to take my side.

That was what he believed.

Instead of agreeing with him, Jin Hagun posed a question.

"Commander Do, do you know what kind of organization that is?"

"No, I do not."

Jin Hagun stared at him intently and asked, "Then why don't you ask what kind of organization it is? That should have been the first thing you were curious about."

For a moment, the White Dragon Commander flinched. He had been so agitated that he had overlooked that point.

Soon, the White Dragon Commander said as if it were no big deal, "It's obviously an organization created by those Demonic Cult bastards."

Nodding once, Jin Hagun asked again, "Who were you waiting for?"

"What do you mean?"

"I heard you when I arrived earlier. Weren't you asking someone to come out, Commander?"

For a moment, the White Dragon Commander was at a loss for words. He had shouted for the Cold Moon Warrior to come out, thinking he was there. It seemed Jin Hagun had heard him. Who should he say it was?

"I was pretending someone was here to keep these people from acting recklessly."

Even though he had answered with a quick-witted lie, Jin Hagun just stared at him silently, so he raised his voice instead.

"Are you suspecting me too, Commander? Me, who has been loyal to the Alliance my entire life!"

Did he not know that the more he shouted, the weaker and more suspicious he appeared?

Jin Hagun's gaze turned back to Geom Muyang.

In truth, he did not know much about Geom Muyang. Yet, the reason he felt an inexplicable trust was because of Geom Mugeuk. He was the brother Geom Mugeuk had wanted to save so desperately.

"Do you have proof?"

"The place where the forged hidden weapons were made was rented by the White Dragon Commander."

At Geom Muyang's answer, the White Dragon Commander again pleaded his innocence.

"That's a ridiculous frame-up! To put it bluntly, if I were part of that organization, would I have rented it myself?"

Just then, someone said coldly, "Hypocrite!"

The truth could be known.

Everyone's gaze turned to Gwak Yeong, who had spoken. She had realized he was on their side when they were alone with him earlier. "And to think I still trusted you."

Jin Hagun, of course, knew Gwak Yeong. It was impossible not to know her, as she was a rare woman in the smithy and the youngest artisan. And he knew that the White Dragon Brigade's search of Wuhan this time was because of her.

"Artisan Gwak, how did you get involved?"

At Jin Hagun's question, she could not bring herself to speak. Whatever the reason, she had tarnished the honor of the Alliance.

After taking a deep breath, she spoke honestly.

"I made the forged weapons."

Jin Hagun found it unexpected. He had known her as someone who would never do such a thing. As expected, there was a compelling reason.

"My younger sibling was kidnapped by them."

Jin Hagun nodded. As someone with a younger sibling himself, how could he not understand her? The only thing he could not understand was this.

"Why didn't you inform us?"

The person who answered instead was Geom Muyang.

"We believe the leader of that group is in the highest echelons of the Murim Alliance."

Jin Hagun's expression hardened. It was hard enough to believe that the White Dragon Commander was involved, but that someone higher up was connected?

In this moment, Gwak Yeong hesitated. Should she grab Jin Hagun by his pants and beg him? Please save my sibling. For her sibling's sake, that would be the best option.

However, the promise she had made with Geom Muyang held her back. Since the First Young Lord of the Demonic Cult had made a promise, she could not ask another person for rescue.

Just then, Geom Muyang abruptly said to Gwak Yeong, "I will only keep the second promise."

The second promise?

Gwak Yeong knew it was the request to be sure to save her own life, since he was saving people anyway.

Then what about the first promise? That was the more important one.

That promise was passed to someone else.

"Commander Jin. Please save this woman's sibling."

"!"

Jin Hagun was surprised, and Gwak Yeong was even more surprised.

"I'm a person more accustomed to killing than saving. Saving people is something Commander Jin is much better at, isn't it?"

In that moment, Jin Hagun thought that the reason Geom Muyang had called him might not have been to deal with the White Dragon Commander or the leader in the high ranks. He felt that Geom Muyang would have tried to handle it on his own, one way or another.

Yet he had called him?

Could it be because he wanted to keep his promise to that woman?

It was far more likely that he and the Demon Slaying Brigade could rescue someone than it was for them, whose activities were restricted.

So this is the kind of person you were?

The two men's gazes locked in mid-air. He would have made the same choice himself. The life that needed to be saved was more important than pride. Perhaps that was why Geom Mugeuk had said they were similar.

At last, Jin Hagun said calmly, "Alright. We will be sure to rescue your sibling."

Since it was a matter concerning Gwak Yeong, who belonged to the Murim Alliance smithy, they had a justification to intervene.

Gwak Yeong was ecstatic.

"Thank you so much, Commander."

She worried it might be rude to Geom Muyang to be this happy, but she could not hide her joy.

The most outstanding martial artists she knew were the Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists. Furthermore, she knew better than anyone what a righteous martial artist Jin Hagun was. For her sibling, there could be no better outcome.

After thanking Jin Hagun, Gwak Yeong turned back to Geom Muyang.

He was still looking at her with an indifferent face.

She could feel it. This stoic man had chosen the most certain method to save her sibling. He had done so while setting aside his own pride. This man, who seemed to have more pride than anyone.

If my sibling returns safely, I will make weapons for you for the rest of my life.

This was the resolution she made in that moment.

And for Geom Muyang's sake, she added one more piece of testimony.

"The White Dragon Commander has been co-opted by them."

"How do you know that?"

At Jin Hagun's question, she looked coldly at the White Dragon Commander and said, "Because I saw a different side of that man here today."

Since it was a statement that could not serve as proof, the White Dragon Commander scoffed.

"Commander Jin, that woman has gone over to the demonic practitioners. She could have been subjected to soul-capturing arts, or she could have been threatened. Surely you don't disbelieve my words and trust the words of these demonic practitioners, do you?"

Jin Hagun had not yet made any decision.

"We'll know once we investigate."

"Let's go, I will tell you everything."

The White Dragon Commander was inwardly relieved. As long as he could get out of here and return to the Alliance, he would be saved.

Jin Hagun was about to tell Geom Muyang to leave it to them and go on his way. He intended to somehow cover up his unauthorized entry into Wuhan on his own authority.

Just then, Geom Muyang said something unexpected.

"Leave that investigation to us."

A momentary silence flowed. Everyone knew what those words meant. It meant they would interrogate the White Dragon Commander themselves.

"That's not possible."

Jin Hagun refused firmly. He could concede other things, but that was impossible.

"The moment they find out he's been captured, they will cut off all their tails."

As he said this, he looked at Gwak Yeong.

Jin Hagun understood what he meant to say. That the woman's sibling would be the first to die.

"We have to follow the tail before that happens."

This meant the fight was a race against time.

They would not be able to torture the White Dragon Commander, whose crimes had not yet been proven. And if the leader of these people was really in the high command as Geom Muyang said, they would never find the one who cut the tail.

"Just give us two hours."

Jin Hagun looked at the White Dragon Commander standing beside him.

"You're not really going to hand me over, are you?"

When Jin Hagun gave no answer, the White Dragon Commander prodded his weakness again.

"The moment you hand me over to them, your position as successor, Commander Jin, will be finished. The leader of the Demon Slaying Brigade who handed over a White Dragon Commander to demonic practitioners, do you think you can handle that? Not even if I die! I will swear on my life! I am innocent!"

"……"

THUD.

Jin Hagun subdued him by striking his acupoints.

Then, he said firmly to Geom Muyang, "I'll give you exactly fifteen minutes."

Geom Muyang and the Branch martial artists took him inside the building.

There were countless reasons not to, but only one reason to do it.

Jin Hagun followed his instinct. His instinct that this choice was the right one.

The Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists knew very well how dangerous this choice was. What if the White Dragon Commander was innocent? The fallout would be enormous.

However, the Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists, whose bond with Jin Hagun had deepened during their escape from the formations last time, did not doubt this decision in the slightest.

And fifteen minutes later.

Geom Muyang walked out of the building, wiping blood from his hands as he said, "The bastard confessed."