Chapter 635: They're Messing With My Brother and My Friend at the Same Time?

TL: FoodieMonster007

Jin Hagun had expected the Heaven's Edge Hermit to show some kind of reaction. He thought the man might give him a meaningful look at the mention of an awakened evil.

That's right, I'm that evil.

However, Hwa Yulcheong showed no such sign. He only looked surprised, flustered, and worried. It was a reaction that rendered Jin Hagun's intentions meaningless.

"Commander Jin, what on earth do you mean? A great evil?"

Jin Hagun glanced at the evidence Chamberlain Ju had presented earlier. "Those hidden weapons are elaborately crafted forgeries," he said. "Recently, these counterfeits have been secretly circulating in the murim."

The surrounding sect leaders began to murmur and stir at his words. The master of the One Sword Sect, who particularly despised the Demonic Cult, frowned. He had assumed this was their doing, but if the weapons were forgeries, it couldn't be definitively attributed to the Demonic Cult.

"I cannot disclose more specific details at this time."

Jin Hagun did not say it wasn't the work of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. He also didn't mention the death of the White Dragon Commander. There was nothing to be gained from provoking them right now.

Hwa Yulcheong's eyes shone with a look full of chivalry.

"If you need any help, just say the word."

At Hwa Yulcheong's words, the sect leaders also gave him reassuring looks, as if to say they were ready to be called upon at any time.

Jin Hagun respectfully clasped his hands in a greeting.

"You great Masters are protecting the spirit of this murim. On behalf of the Alliance, I express my sincere gratitude."

After offering his respects, he bid them farewell.

"I will take my leave now. Please rest."

"Let's go out together."

Although he had been told to rest, Hwa Yulcheong rose from his bed. Just as his life had always been, he was not a man who rested for even a moment.

Jin Hagun moved to support him. Hwa Yulcheong's rough hand was so thin that it felt like he was only grasping bone.

"It's been a long time since I've held your hand."

Jin Hagun tried to recall if they had ever held hands, but he couldn't remember. It must have been something from long ago, when he was a child.

Hwa Yulcheong also spoke to the sect leaders present.

"You all should return as well."

Jin Hagun had considered them a wall protecting Hwa Yulcheong, yet Hwa Yulcheong was trying to send them all away. With every word he said, another sliver of suspicion was chipped away.

The sect leaders walked behind the two men.

"They might attempt another ambush. We will protect you."

At the words of the Blue Willow Sect's master, Hwa Yulcheong shook his head.

"I'm at an age where I have no regrets, even if I die."

"Please don't say such things."

This time, the master of the One Sword Sect stepped forward.

"You must continue to protect the murim for another thirty years."

"My friend, even you can't guarantee that."

The sect leaders following behind them laughed. Everyone was relieved and happy that Hwa Yulcheong was safe.

Feeling the hand that leaned on him for support, a thought suddenly occurred to Jin Hagun.

What if he really is the villain?

It occurred to him that perhaps the disguised life he had lived for decades had become his real life. He might have become a Master while only pretending to live righteously.

If that were the case, how could one possibly see through that life?

He might even be deceiving himself.

Then, one person naturally came to mind.

It was a person who seemed capable of digging up the truth, no matter how deeply the other person hid it.

A person who seemed like he would stick his head deep into someone's heart and ask brightly, "What's this big black hole here for?"

A person who seemed like he would say, "I'll tell you if you promise to dance with me!"

Just then, Hwa Yulcheong, who was beside him, asked a question.

"Why are you smiling like that?"

Startled, Jin Hagun glanced at him. He must have been smiling without realizing it.

"I'm just happy that you're safe, Elder."

Jin Hagun shook the person who had come to mind from his thoughts. This was a matter he had to resolve himself, one way or another.

With that, they exited the main hall.

The martial artists waiting outside cheered and rejoiced upon seeing Hwa Yulcheong. Each of them called him by a different name.

Chairman Hwa, Master Hwa, Elder Hwa, Hero Hwa.

But the respect filling their faces was all the same. There wasn't a single person gathered here who hadn't received his help at some point.

The number of martial artists gathered was even greater than before, as if word was spreading.

Hearing the cheers from inside, those outside began to shout as well. It seemed the martial artists who couldn't enter the manor had set up camp outside. At this rate, before the day was over, every martial artist in Wuhan would know that Hwa Yulcheong had been ambushed.

Jin Hagun silently watched the people in the courtyard chanting Hwa Yulcheong's name.

They were as excited as people heading off to war.

A single hidden weapon was making all of Wuhan boil over.

Just then, a martial artist entered from outside and reported something to the master of the One Sword Sect.

The master of the One Sword Sect then reported to Hwa Yulcheong.

"We've found the hiding place of the Demonic Cult bastards!"

The person most surprised by those words was Jin Hagun.

The master of the One Sword Sect gathered his subordinates and went out first.

"I will go."

Others followed him.

"We'll help."

Several sect leaders moved with him. Half of the people present ran out with him.

Jin Hagun couldn't just stand by. If they had truly discovered Geom Muyang's whereabouts, he had to go and prevent a clash.

"I'll go as well."

As Jin Hagun followed them out, Hwa Yulcheong spoke to him.

"Great evil possesses conviction. A wicked and distorted conviction. That conviction is what makes the evil stronger."

Their gazes locked in mid-air.

He wanted to ask how to overcome it, but there was no time for such a conversation now.

"I'll be back."

Jin Hagun launched himself forward. He heard Hwa Yulcheong's voice from behind. He called him by his name, just as he did when they were alone.

"Be careful, Hagun."

The All-Knowing Hall's operations room was bustling as usual today.

With the highest level of alert in effect, it was practically a wartime situation.

Not only the All-Knowing Hall but also the Hidden Moon had joined forces, pouring all their intelligence resources into Wuhan.

As a result, information was flowing between Headquarters and Wuhan faster and more accurately than ever before.

And today, unexpected news arrived.

A Strategist, with a shocked expression, brought an urgent messenger pigeon and reported.

"The Demonic Seal Mandate has been broken."

The bustling operations room fell into a momentary silence. All eyes turned to the reporting Strategist.

Sama Myeong's expression hardened. This was the first time such a thing had happened since he became Head Strategist.

The Demonic Seal Mandate was broken?

It was a report that should never have been made. And of all times, it happened during this state of emergency.

The Demonic Seal Mandate was a special punishment issued by the Cult Leader's decree, a penalty typically given when a demon who had performed great deeds also committed a crime. It was imposed when their past merits were too great to be imprisoned, but their crime was too severe to be overlooked.

Their inner arts would be suppressed, and they would live in hiding throughout the Central Plains, usually taking on professions with little human contact like hunting, woodcutting, or herb gathering. In rare exceptions, they were allowed to conduct business in the marketplace. They were absolutely forbidden from leaving their designated areas.

If they violated the Demonic Seal Mandate and left their designated zone, they would face capital punishment. Because it was a violation of the Cult Leader's decree, they were killed after being subjected to excruciating torture.

That was why they would rather commit suicide than ever break the Demonic Seal Mandate.

"Who broke it?"

Then, a surprising name emerged.

"The Demonic Fire Lord has violated the Demonic Seal Mandate and left his designated area."

The Demonic Fire Lord was a demon of the previous generation who, even back then, possessed skills on par with a Demon Supreme.

The Strategist retrieved a flag marked with 'Yeom' (焰) from a box of flags. The flag placed on the strategy map was covered in dust from long disuse.

"And it's reported that he has released the restriction on his inner arts."

This report was even more shocking than the news of his escape.

Naturally, when they were confined, their acupoints were suppressed to prevent them from using their inner arts. A restriction was placed at that time, and if they released it themselves instead of having it released by Headquarters, they would die within a few days. The number of days until death varied depending on their martial arts skill, ranging from as short as one day to as long as seven. After seven days, death was certain.

They couldn't have been unaware of this fact, yet they escaped after releasing the restriction on their inner arts?

They were either prepared to die, or they believed they wouldn't.

And he wasn't the only one who broke the Demonic Seal Mandate today.

Another urgent report flew in.

"The White Bone Spirit Demon has broken the Demonic Seal Mandate and deserted."

A flag marked 'Bone' (骨) was also placed on the strategy map. The White Bone Spirit Demon was a demon from the generation before the Demonic Fire Lord, an individual whose age reached a staggering one hundred and fifty years.

He was still alive!

Even Sama Myeong had forgotten about his existence.

If one person had left, it could be considered an impulsive choice, but two leaving meant there was an external influence.

Someone broke them out.

It had to be someone who knew the location of the Cult's secrets and could also persuade them.

As expected, a report followed.

"They are heading to Wuhan."

Sama Myeong's expression hardened. The release of just one of these two masters was enough to cause a great bloodbath in the murim. For such great demons to be heading to Wuhan? It was truly the worst-case scenario unfolding.

With the Demon Supremes already there, the situation was like walking on thin ice. Now, old demons who had broken the Demonic Seal Mandate were heading there?

The ice was truly about to break, and there was no telling who they would drag down into the abyss with them.

"Should we send a pursuit team?"

Normally, they would have to dispatch elites, including the Demonic Army, to pursue them. No matter what, and no matter how great the sacrifice, they had to be pursued and captured. This was to show that the Demonic Seal Mandate was a principle that must never be broken.

However, Sama Myeong shook his head. He didn't do it this time. No, he couldn't. He couldn't dispatch the Demonic Army to Wuhan in this situation.

Sama Myeong looked at the two newly appeared flags and asked a question.

"Do you two even know who is there as you go?"

Sama Myeong's gaze turned to one spot.

"Send an urgent messenger pigeon and report this."

It was directed toward a new flag that had just arrived in Wuhan today.

Geuk (極).

"I have people I know in Wuhan."

The connections the Demonic Buddha had diligently woven with his short legs existed here in Wuhan as well.

"I'm thinking of using their help to dig into the Heaven's Edge Hermit's side of things."

Would a mere acquaintance help with something like this? The Demonic Buddha was planning to use a card he had saved up for himself. Guessing this, Geom Muyang expressed his gratitude politely.

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it. It's the natural thing to do."

Now that the First Young Lord had asked for help, the Demonic Buddha would mobilize everything he could to help Geom Muyang. If there was nothing left to help with, he was determined to sell the underwear he was wearing to help.

It was then that Ho Myeong quickly entered and reported.

"The Demon Slaying Brigade and the martial artists of Wuhan are heading this way. You must get out immediately."

Geom Muyang and the Demonic Buddha left the room at once without another word.

There was no way the Demon Slaying Brigade would have them join their ranks. They were likely accompanying the Wuhan martial artists who were storming in, trying to prevent a clash somehow. Leaving quickly was the best way to help Jin Hagun.

Geom Muyang hadn't expected to have to escape this place again. The situation in Wuhan was truly like a raging torrent.

They quickly escaped through the back door. Since it wasn't her first time, Gwak Yeong ran after them without fear.

"……"

A man who was keeping watch at the end of the alley collapsed from the Demonic Buddha's finger qi bullet. The Demonic Buddha didn't kill him, only knocked him unconscious.

Geom Muyang said to the Branch martial artists.

"Even if you encounter them, you must not kill them!"

That would be what the mastermind wanted.

As soon as they left, the Demon Slaying Brigade and the Wuhan martial artists stormed the place.

"They just left! Let's pursue them quickly," the master of the One Sword Sect shouted.

Jin Hagun said to him.

"From now on, the main unit will handle the pursuit."

However, the master of the One Sword Sect did not back down gracefully.

"This matter is related to the great master. Please let us help."

The eyes of the martial artists behind him were also filled with earnestness.

He could stop them by force, but he couldn't do that in the current situation. Moreover, this was the master of the One Sword Sect, who had lost an arm to a demon.

I trust you'll get away safely.

Jin Hagun trusted Geom Muyang. Besides, the Demonic Buddha was with him too.

"Very well, let's pursue them together."

And so, they began their pursuit.

Far away, on top of an old tree, two people were watching the scene. Standing on a slender branch, they looked handsome and youthful.

They were none other than Geom Mugeuk and the Poison King.

"He acts so high and mighty in front of me. But look at him now, being chased around frantically by the Murim Alliance martial artists."

"You'd be chased with an even bigger crowd behind you."

Geom Mugeuk pretended not to hear and continued with what he was saying.

"My goodness, the Demonic Buddha is practically glowing. How does he expect to escape like that?"

The sight of them standing side by side on the branch created a picturesque scene.

Watching the distant chase between Geom Muyang and Jin Hagun, Geom Mugeuk's eyes deepened.

"Anyway, they're messing with my brother and my friend at the same time."

Geom Mugeuk glanced at the Poison King and added. "And even our dear Poison King's faithful gatherer."

The Poison King nodded with an expression that said that was what angered him the most.

"What are you going to do now?"

The Poison King was desperate to wrap things up in Wuhan and go dig for poisonous herbs with the Demonic Buddha.

However, Geom Mugeuk knew this was not a simple matter. That was why he had come in person. Moreover, he had even promised Sama Myeong he wouldn't get directly involved. Of course, that was a promise he likely couldn't keep.

"Let's go have a drink at a tavern with lots of pretty swordswomen. I've been running nonstop. I hear the women of Wuhan are very beautiful."

The Poison King glanced toward the distant chase. They're in that mess over there, and you want to drink? his expression seemed to say.

Geom Mugeuk laughed and said, "They'll handle it just fine on their own. Let's let those two boring guys get a little closer through this opportunity. We'll have a drink with some swordswomen and come up with a plan."

He looked down at the splendidly spread-out streets of Wuhan.

"Is there a law that says only they can plot conspiracies?"