Chapter 636: You Don't Even Like Women

TL: FoodieMonster007

The Demon Slaying Brigade rushed forward, with the martial artists of Wuhan, led by the head of the One Sword Sect, following close behind.

The head of the One Sword Sect pursued them with desperation. He believed the demons he was chasing were the same ones who had assaulted the Heaven's Edge Hermit.

"We absolutely cannot lose them!"

At the shout from behind, Jin Hagun's expression hardened. If their group consisted only of Geom Muyang and the Demonic Buddha, the pursuers would never keep up. However, they also had the Branch martial artists and Gwak Yeong with them.

Because of this, shaking off the pursuit would not be easy.

Just then, a fork appeared in the road ahead. A martial artist from the Demon Slaying Brigade, running at the front, carefully examined the ground, the nearby grass, and the trees before looking toward the left path. As the most skilled tracker in the Brigade, he had determined which way Geom Muyang's party had gone.

Soon after, the head of the One Sword Sect and the martial artists of Wuhan arrived at the fork.

Jin Hagun spoke urgently to the head of the One Sword Sect.

"Let's split up and pursue them from here! We'll take the left path. Please take the right."

"Commander Jin, be careful!"

Fortunately, the head of the One Sword Sect immediately led his martial artists down the right path. He showed no sign of suspecting that the head of the Demon Slaying Brigade was deliberately trying to lose him.

Jin Hagun and the Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists then ran even faster than before, revealing that they had not been chasing at their full speed until now.

As they ran, they caught sight of Geom Muyang's party up ahead. The clear difference in skill between the Branch martial artists and the Demon Slaying Brigade was obvious just from observing their movement arts.

The Demonic Buddha, who was running, glanced back over his shoulder.

After confirming that only the Demon Slaying Brigade was following them, he slowed his pace, and the entire party came to a stop. The Branch martial artists, who had been running without any rest, panted heavily to catch their breath.

Geom Muyang gently set down Gwak Yeong, whom he had been carrying on his back.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine. Are you okay?"

How uncomfortable could she have been while just being carried? Gwak Yeong was more concerned for Geom Muyang, who had run all that way with her on his back.

Geom Muyang nodded with a stoic expression, his breathing perfectly calm.

She had been carried on the back of the Demonic Cult's First Young Lord. It was something that no one would ever believe.

Gwak Yeong expressed her sincere gratitude.

"Thank you so much."

If the Demon Slaying Brigade had not arrived at that exact moment, she might have added a joke.

Thank you for running with me instead of abandoning me to the orthodox sects.

Then again, it might not have been a joke but her genuine feelings. Surprisingly, she felt more at ease with these demons.

The arriving Demon Slaying Brigade warily surveyed the area as Jin Hagun approached Geom Muyang.

Geom Muyang expressed his thanks to him.

"Thank you."

Geom Muyang was well aware that Jin Hagun had controlled the pursuit's speed and had deliberately shaken off the other martial artists to meet with him.

Jin Hagun also expressed his gratitude.

"Thank you for coming without killing anyone."

They had managed to escape without taking the life of anyone from the orthodox sects during the chase.

In truth, Geom Muyang was naturally the more grateful one in this situation. He knew that Jin Hagun was taking an enormous risk right now.

If it became known in the murim that he was conversing with him like this, it would cause a huge scandal. It was the head of the Demon Slaying Brigade having a secret talk with the Demonic Cult's First Young Lord. He had intentionally let the demons he was chasing go. He was betting his position as successor.

"But how did you know to come to our location?" Geom Muyang asked.

Jin Hagun shook his head.

"I don't know either. A subordinate of the head of the One Sword Sect informed us of the location."

Before he could ask what had happened, the head of the One Sword Sect had already led his martial artists and rushed off.

"Do you think the One Sword Sect is in league with those bastards?"

He could not be certain of this either. The One Sword Sect was a Wuhan sect with a long and storied history.

The head of the One Sword Sect was also acting so aggressively because his arm had been severed by a demon. Therefore, Jin Hagun could not conclude that they were the organization behind everything based on this situation alone.

"The martial artists of Wuhan are agitated right now. You'll have to be careful."

Jin Hagun hurriedly said his farewell. They could not afford a leisurely chat when he did not know when the head of the One Sword Sect might return.

"If you go around that ridge and head down, you can get back to Wuhan."

Jin Hagun told them a route back to Wuhan that would keep them from being seen.

Geom Muyang and Jin Hagun exchanged a clasped hands greeting.

"Thank you."

"Let's meet again later."

Jin Hagun also gave a polite greeting to the Demonic Buddha before his gaze finally fell on Gwak Yeong. He said nothing more to her, simply offering a single nod before leading the Demon Slaying Brigade away.

Gwak Yeong understood his meaning. He had not forgotten about rescuing her younger brother, so she should not worry.

After Jin Hagun left, Geom Muyang looked at the Demonic Buddha.

In response to a look that asked what they should do now, the Demonic Buddha spoke calmly.

"First, let's send that woman and your subordinates to the safehouse."

With the martial artists of Wuhan searching for demons with fire in their eyes, it was too risky and conspicuous to move around with his subordinates and Gwak Yeong.

If they had been staying in a regular hideout in Wuhan, the new plan was to move them to a truly secure safehouse.

Geom Muyang turned to Ho Myeong.

"Go to the safehouse with Artisan Gwak."

If the Demonic Buddha had not been present, Ho Myeong would have insisted on staying behind. But with the Demon Supreme there to protect Geom Muyang, there was no need to worry.

Gwak Yeong felt grateful to Geom Muyang for taking care of her until the very end. She was even more grateful that he called her 'Artisan Gwak' instead of 'that woman'.

Yes, she believed this connection would lead to something good. It was, after all, a bond that had started on the day a piece of fine iron arrived.

She did not ask him to take good care of her brother, rather than leaving it to the head of the Demon Slaying Brigade.

Watching this man, she realized he was the type of person who did not need such words. He was a man who would not boast if he succeeded in the rescue, nor would he show any outward apology if he failed.

To a man like this, no other words were necessary. She bowed her head politely.

"Please, be careful."

And with that, Ho Myeong and the Branch martial artists departed with her for the safehouse.

As Geom Muyang and the Demonic Buddha rounded the ridge and started down the path to Wuhan, a man appeared before them. It was the All-Knowing Hall martial artist who had been relaying information to Geom Muyang.

"A message has arrived requesting a meeting with you two immediately."

"……"

"It's an order from the Acting Cult Leader."

Geom Muyang spoke to the All-Knowing Hall martial artist.

"Tell him I can't return right now."

He had expected to be summoned back. However, he had no intention of returning yet. He was determined to resolve this matter himself.

"No, he wasn't asking to meet at Headquarters."

"Then?"

A truly unimaginable location came from the All-Knowing Hall martial artist's lips.

"He said to meet at the liveliest tavern in Wuhan."

Ah! This was definitely a message from his younger brother.

"Those female martial artists over there are looking at us. Don't look. Ah, do you see the woman in the light pink martial arts uniform? She's been staring at us, or more precisely, at me, for a while now. Of course! This face works anywhere! Regardless of age! It's universally appealing."

At that, the Poison King, who had been gazing outside the tavern, answered nonchalantly.

"She was probably looking at me."

"If it were anyone else, I'd deny it, but I can't argue with you. I'll concede half the credit."

The Poison King continued to look outside. The noisy tavern, packed with customers, was chaotic. If he had not come with Geom Mugeuk, he would never have set foot in a place like this in his entire life.

"And you don't even like women."

Geom Mugeuk replied to the Poison King's words.

"What kind of misunderstanding is that! I do like women."

The Poison King snorted.

"I'm telling you, I really do like them!"

Of course, Geom Mugeuk knew his words were not convincing. As long as he continued to leave the beautiful Lee Ahn alone, his claim of liking women would never be believed.

Geom Mugeuk smoothly changed the subject.

"You've never been to Wuhan before, have you?"

The Poison King hated going outside. Geom Mugeuk had naturally assumed such a man would never have come to the front of the Murim Alliance Headquarters.

"I have."

"When?"

"A long time ago."

"With whom?"

Then, a truly unexpected name was mentioned.

"With the Cult Leader."

"Father?"

The Poison King nodded, his gaze still directed outside.

"When?"

"Right after I ascended to the position of Demon Supreme."

He came to Wuhan with Father back then? That was truly unexpected.

"He doesn't seem like it, but my father is surprisingly diligent. What was it for? Please tell me the story."

However, the Poison King did not tell him.

Geom Mugeuk imagined his father and the Poison King walking the streets of Wuhan together.

He had thought it a truly unfitting image, as he believed his father disapproved of the Poison King.

But now, picturing the two of them on that street, he thought they might have suited each other surprisingly well. They were, after all, two people who had once gathered poisonous herbs together.

Just then, a group of martial artists ran past the front of the inn.

"Out of the way!"

The people on the road quickly moved to either side.

"The bastards from the Demonic Cult have appeared!"

They looked like people joining the hunt for his brother. Other martial artists on the road blindly ran after them. Wuhan was gradually reaching a boiling point.

The rumors spread with incredible speed. Those bastards were using them as a weapon to pressure them. It was a rumor stronger than any sword.

At that moment, two people entered the tavern. The men, their bamboo hats pulled down low, were Geom Muyang and the Demonic Buddha. Since their faces were hidden, it looked at a glance like a father had arrived with his son.

As he sat down, Geom Muyang greeted the Poison King politely.

"You've arrived?"

"It's been a while."

The Poison King nodded, accepting the greeting.

"On the way here, I heard about the Cold Moon Warrior from the Demonic Buddha. Thank you for your concern."

"Don't mention it."

After they exchanged greetings, Geom Muyang poured a drink for the Demonic Buddha beside him.

He did not greet Geom Mugeuk.

"Hyung, I'm here too!"

Geom Mugeuk waved a hand in front of Geom Muyang's face with an expression that said, 'Can't you see me?'

"I'm right here. Does your bamboo hat block your view of this side?"

However, Geom Muyang pretended not to see or hear him and simply drained his cup.

Geom Mugeuk lowered his voice and spoke to his brother.

"How insolent! The Acting Cult Leader has graced you with his presence!"

At that, Geom Muyang glanced around with a dumbfounded expression, worried someone might have overheard.

"Even if I shouted that I'm the Cult Leader, no one would care. It's too noisy for anyone to hear. Besides, who would imagine we'd be drinking here?"

"Is that why you're showing your face so openly?"

"There are four of us. If all four of us covered our faces, it would be even more conspicuous, wouldn't it? If we're going to show faces, it should be the two handsome ones."

"Then you should have suggested meeting in a more secluded place!"

He did not need to ask why his younger brother had come.

With the appearance of the Heaven's Edge Hermit, the Cult must be on high alert.

The question was this.

"Did you run away from home or something?"

Strategist Sama would never have let him go.

"Run away? What are you talking about? I came with Strategist Sama's permission."

There was no way he would have given permission so easily. Geom Mugeuk must have persuaded him somehow.

In any case, the fact that Sama Myeong ultimately sent Geom Mugeuk meant that he also considered this matter to be extremely serious.

"What on earth is going on?"

At his brother's question, Geom Muyang drained his cup and then shared his thoughts.

"I think they intentionally lured us to Wuhan."

It was the same thing he had told the head of the Murim Alliance. He had chased the maker of the counterfeit hidden weapons, only to end up in front of the Chairman. He was certain there was some intention behind it.

A faint smile touched Geom Mugeuk's lips at the thought that his brother was reading the situation correctly.

"So this whole of Wuhan has become a giant trap."

The gazes of the other two Demon Supremes sharpened. There was a vast difference between being caught in an escalating situation and being intentionally lured into one.

"Isn't that why you came too?"

At Geom Muyang's question, Geom Mugeuk's gaze shifted to the Poison King.

"No. I came to see the Poison King. I came to give the women of Wuhan a feast for their eyes, alongside the Poison King."

Then the Poison King hit him with an unexpected truth.

"You came to keep an eye on me, in case I cause trouble."

The Demonic Buddha, listening from the side, could not refute that. That was definitely part of the purpose.

Geom Mugeuk did not deny it either.

"You're our Cult's last bastion. Of course I have to be here to stop you."

Instead, he emphasized the point even more.

"As you know, I'm someone who would try to stop my own father's unification of the murim. Do you think I'd stand by and watch the murim's destruction?"

At the words 'murim's destruction', the Poison King's expression changed subtly. The words could have been offensive, depending on how one heard them, but the Poison King did not seem displeased.

Geom Muyang, who was listening, could tell what was happening.

He knew that even if the words were similar, what Geom Mugeuk just said made the Poison King feel much better than a phrase like, 'The Poison King knows what he's doing, why stop him?'

They were words that placated the Poison King while naturally reining him in. It might have sounded like he was speaking casually, but his words were definitely not chosen carelessly.

"What are you going to do now?"

"I'm the one who just arrived. You're the one who should be telling me what we're going to do."

The situation was currently suffocating and at a standstill.

In the past, relying on someone in a situation like this would have deeply wounded his pride.

However, Geom Muyang had changed enough to make such a joke now.

"I am awaiting the orders of the great Acting Cult Leader."

Geom Mugeuk smiled, happy to see his brother's change. It was okay for his hyung to change more, to keep changing.

"Then it seems it's time for this Acting Cult Leader to step up."

Geom Mugeuk spoke calmly to his brother.

"The Heaven's Edge Hermit is a man who has lived frugally his entire life. He didn't even keep his own subordinates. But is he really alone? For someone playing such an important role."

At that, Geom Muyang shook his head.

"There's no way."

Someone must be guarding his surroundings.

The Demonic Buddha spoke cautiously to Geom Muyang.

"In that case, it must be one of the sects of Wuhan."

Then Geom Muyang pointed to one place.

"He said the One Sword Sect knew of our hideout."

"They even pursued us."

Just as the Demonic Buddha was about to be convinced it was them, Geom Mugeuk shook his head.

"I don't think so. They're in a position where they can freely use the orthodox sects of Wuhan. There's no reason for them to expose their own sword to us. They'll save that sword for last."

Hearing that, Geom Muyang and the Demonic Buddha nodded, realizing he was right.

"Then it must be a sect that follows the Heaven's Edge Hermit but hasn't been prominent," Geom Muyang speculated.

The Demonic Buddha added to his thought.

"It would be a sect that established itself here in Wuhan around the same time as him."

There would not be many sects that fit this description.

Geom Mugeuk was impressed with the two of them.

"As expected, my hyung and the Demonic Buddha work perfectly together. Poison King, let's head back. It seems we can leave this place in their capable hands."

He gave the credit to the two of them, but Geom Muyang and the Demonic Buddha knew the truth. They had only reached this conclusion because Geom Mugeuk was with them.

"I have somewhere to be for a moment."

Geom Mugeuk added, looking at the Murim Alliance Headquarters building in the distance.

"If you've come to visit a friend's house, you should first pay your respects to the Master."