Chapter 705: Isn't That Life Just Too Dull?

TL: FoodieMonster007

Cha Yiran's expression hardened.

She naturally assumed Geom Mugeuk was lying. For Ak Gunhak to leave, Geom Mugeuk would have to fight them.

"You're saying you'll fight them just to let that man leave?"

In response to her disbelief, Geom Mugeuk posed a question of his own.

"It seems like reason enough to fight."

"It's not enough."

She rose from her seat.

"What kind of fool in this world would risk their life just to let someone go?"

Their gazes locked in mid-air.

"Calling someone a fool to their face?"

He said it jokingly, but the Young Cult Leader before her was clearly speaking from the heart.

Sensing this, Cha Yiran was confused. She could have believed it if it were someone else.

Her opponent, however, was the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. He was a man who possessed power, martial arts, wealth, and honor. He was a man who could have the entire murim if he so desired.

A man like that would risk his life for someone who was leaving? And I'm supposed to believe that?

Just then, the First Bridge rushed into the room.

The First Bridge flinched, surprised to see Cha Yiran with Geom Mugeuk. Noticing her hesitation to report, Cha Yiran spoke.

"It's fine. If it's something you needed to report so urgently, it must be this man's doing."

She had not, however, imagined the matter would be so serious. Due to its content, the First Bridge delivered her report in front of Geom Mugeuk.

"Except for myself and the Second Bridge, everyone has been taken down by the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon and the Faceless Warriors."

A momentary silence flowed.

Cha Yiran quietly closed her eyes.

Even in a situation where her anger should have erupted, she showed no fury and emitted no killing intent.

She was demonstrating that sometimes, silence is the most powerful expression of emotion.

In the silence, one could feel her rage being honed.

She slowly opened her closed eyes.

Her gaze was impossibly transparent and clear.

"So you're telling me you killed all my subordinates and then came here to say this to me?"

From her unfailingly calm words, Geom Mugeuk felt an immense rage.

It was also the first time he had seen this side of Cha Yiran, the assassin.

Geom Mugeuk immediately cleared up the misunderstanding.

"They're alive."

He had not confirmed it himself, but Geom Mugeuk trusted the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon and the Faceless Warriors.

Cha Yiran did not believe him, however. She looked to the First Bridge, who continued with the remainder of her report.

"Based on distress signals from multiple locations, it seems they were attacked and captured simultaneously. We can't confirm if they are alive or dead at this time."

Geom Mugeuk, not one to create needless misunderstandings, spoke again with emphasis.

"They are not dead."

"Where are they now?"

"The Smiling Demon has them."

Based on what she had seen of him so far, Cha Yiran felt Geom Mugeuk was telling the truth. He did not seem like the type of person to lie about such a thing.

Cha Yiran first dismissed the First Bridge.

"You may leave."

"……"

Once they were alone, Cha Yiran asked.

"You could have killed them all. Why did you let them live?"

Geom Mugeuk gazed at her and answered.

"Because of you."

It was an unexpected answer, but Cha Yiran remained unshaken and stared at Geom Mugeuk.

"What do you mean by that?"

Geom Mugeuk spoke frankly.

"I was worried that he might like you."

"!"

She now understood why Geom Mugeuk had sought her out sooner than expected. He had a clear purpose.

"So you came to find out if that man, Ak Gunhak, likes me. Because if we liked each other, you couldn't kill my subordinates."

As Geom Mugeuk nodded, a thought occurred to Cha Yiran, along with a sense of relief that her subordinates might be safe.

If that was true, then his words about fighting to let Ak Gunhak go might also have been sincere.

You'd really risk your life, Young Cult Leader, for that man?

Is this really possible? To go this far for an opponent you met as an enemy and then parted ways with?

And the biggest problem at this moment was this.

"Now that you've confirmed he doesn't like me, you'll kill them all."

"To stop you, wouldn't I have to?"

The air around them grew cold, thick with tension.

"Didn't you come here to kill the Evil Alliance Chairman? Even if the final stage doesn't happen, you'll try to kill him one way or another."

Cha Yiran readily admitted it.

"Because that's my mission."

She was surprisingly honest.

"I can't just stand by and watch that happen."

Geom Mugeuk slowly gripped the hilt of the Black Demon Sword. Even as the sword seemed ready to be drawn at any moment, she did not take a single step back.

"Aren't you afraid of dying?"

At Geom Mugeuk's question, her transparent eyes shone even brighter.

"If you're in the business of killing people for money and you're afraid of your own death, isn't that life just too dull?"

Geom Mugeuk could feel it.

To her, life and death were already one and the same.

She did not fear death. Perhaps that was why she could get so drunk and act out in front of him.

"What are you doing? Not cutting me down."

Geom Mugeuk removed his hand from the hilt.

Then, a captivating smile spread across Cha Yiran's previously cold face. Her emotions changed in an instant, making her seem like a different woman.

"You can't bring yourself to cut me down because I'm too pretty, right?"

She had returned to the seductive Cha Yiran.

"Wouldn't want to get blood on your new clothes, would we?"

Geom Mugeuk had no intention of drawing his sword in the first place.

"Kill me when you have the chance. Don't regret it later."

"Couldn't I also feel relieved later, thinking, 'I did well to spare her then'?"

Geom Mugeuk turned, showing her his back.

"Let's go out for a walk."

Cha Yiran stared silently at Geom Mugeuk, who allowed her his back in this situation, before following him out.

The two walked side by side through the marketplace. The smell of dumplings wafting from a stall ahead masked the tension that had lingered between them.

"Aren't you hungry?"

"You wouldn't be saying that if your subordinates were being held hostage."

Geom Mugeuk stopped in front of a cart selling dumplings, but she kept walking.

Geom Mugeuk followed behind her and said.

"Even if we don't eat dumplings, let's at least let that man leave."

Comparing eating dumplings to that matter.

"Go ahead."

"Let's do it together."

"Why do you keep trying to drag me into this?"

"Because you like him."

Cha Yiran stopped walking. Naturally, Geom Mugeuk also stopped.

"And what about him?"

He doesn't even know that I like him.

"If you help him, he'll probably think, 'Huh? Why is this woman helping me?'"

Since it's a matter that could cost you your life, his surprise will be even greater.

"When that happens, first, you should smile. Not the smile you show me, but your real smile."

My real smile? Wondering what he meant, Cha Yiran looked at Geom Mugeuk with a puzzled expression.

"When I said he spared me and left, not that I spared him, you smiled. It was an awkward, stiff smile. But that smile suited you so well. Just like that martial arts uniform suited you better than these clothes."

She had never considered such a thing. She had such an awkward smile? That plain martial arts uniform from before suited her better than this outfit?

"You're trying to get me eliminated from the final stage one way or another."

Geom Mugeuk smiled and continued what he was saying.

"You have to show him that smile. He'll realize in an instant that the captivating smile you show me is fake. Smile a real smile and say this."

She wondered what on earth he was about to say.

"'Since fate brought us together, how about we have a cup of tea?'"

Cha Yiran was so dumbfounded that she let out a hollow laugh.

Geom Mugeuk, however, seriously finished what he had to say.

"If he says no, you should kick off your shoes and chase after him."

In the end, she couldn't help but spit it out.

"Are you a madman?"

It was a question directed at the Young Cult Leader, and also what she imagined Ak Gunhak would say to her if she did such a thing.

"I hear that a lot."

Geom Mugeuk laughed out loud.

Cha Yiran recalled the image of Geom Mugeuk standing in the alleyway last night as they parted, smiling at her.

It seemed this man had been itching to speak all this time. He laughed so freely it was a wonder how he had held it in.

"The most dangerous people in this murim are the ones who smile as easily as you do."

"Then you're all in big trouble. Because this time, I came with someone who smiles very well indeed."

Cha Yiran knew. He was talking about the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon.

"I'll have to see just how cheap that smile is."

It was her way of saying she would go and confirm the safety of her subordinates herself.

Despite the Fifth Bridge's admonishment, the Seventeenth Bridge glanced again at the Crescent Moon Faceless Warrior.

This time, too, it was not of her own volition.

The one who had been looking out the window tapped the wall again, drawing everyone's attention.

It was different from before. The tapping sound was peculiar.

At the sound, all the Faceless Warriors reacted in unison. The one dozing in a corner shot to his feet. The one leaning against the far wall launched himself forward. Even those maintaining their weapons moved as if war had broken out.

Just like that, all the Faceless Warriors, who had been minding their own business, lined up behind the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon.

Soon after, the door opened and Geom Mugeuk entered.

"Greetings, Young Cult Leader."

At the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's greeting, the Faceless Warriors also moved in unison to perform a clasped hands greeting.

Their movements were so disciplined it was hard to believe these were the same Faceless Warriors who had been staring blankly out the window or dozing while squatting.

Geom Mugeuk also politely returned the clasped hands greeting to the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon.

"Greetings, Smiling Demon."

Geom Mugeuk walked in and exchanged greetings with a surprising calmness.

Cha Yiran entered right after him, startling the female assassins. Had she come to rescue them? That thought was quickly replaced by shock and despair as they realized she, too, must have been captured. It was unbelievable that the great Cha Yiran had been taken.

Just then, Geom Mugeuk said to them.

"Don't misunderstand. I'm the one who was captured by her."

Everyone looked on, puzzled by his incomprehensible words.

Cha Yiran walked in front of them.

Her gaze fell upon her subordinates' necks.

Lines of blood were drawn in the same place and of the same length.

Those single lines spoke volumes about the skill of the one who had drawn them.

Knowing her subordinates' skills well, the lines appeared even more distinct.

Cha Yiran said to her subordinates.

"See? Because you gritted your teeth and didn't kill yourselves, you get to see me again, don't you?"

At her words, the assassins' expressions relaxed slightly. It seemed Cha Yiran had not been captured after all.

At that moment, Geom Mugeuk quickly took credit.

"You really brought them here without anyone getting hurt. As expected! You're amazing!"

Of course, three or four assassins were injured while resisting to the end. Considering the total number, however, it was fair to say they had been brought over with great care.

Cha Yiran's gaze turned to the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon.

He was likely following the Young Cult Leader's orders, but she was grateful he had subdued and brought them here without injury. Especially coming from the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon.

She conveyed her gratitude with her eyes.

Though she had come saying she wanted to see the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's cheap smile, she had no desire to actually see it. She knew all too well when he smiled.

She had to make a decision.

If she did not help Geom Mugeuk, they would all die. Even if the Young Cult Leader tried to spare them, that Extremely Evil Smiling Demon would not just let it be.

To save them, she would have to fight her own organization.

As she was contemplating, Geom Mugeuk's telepathy reached her.

[Take your subordinates.]

A surprised Cha Yiran turned to look at Geom Mugeuk. His gaze was serious, as if to say it was not a joke.

He's letting them go without any conditions?

[Are you serious?]

The reason was also very much like Geom Mugeuk.

[I am. Their leader came in person. It would be a loss of face to leave your subordinates behind, wouldn't it?]

It meant he was protecting her authority.

[With my freed subordinates, I could still assassinate the Evil Alliance Chairman.]

[Then most of your subordinates here will die. Regardless of your success.]

[I would use them as sacrificial lambs to ensure my success.]

Geom Mugeuk nodded.

[Perhaps you would.]

However, she could feel it. Geom Mugeuk was certain that such a thing would not happen.

[Why do you think I can't do it?]

[Because if you were that kind of person, you wouldn't have risked danger to come here and check on your subordinates' lives.]

The original plan to ambush the Evil Alliance Chairman was a case in point. Only Cha Yiran, having become the world's number one beauty, could attend the celebratory banquet where the Evil Alliance Chairman would be present.

Because she could not understand, she had to ask again.

[Why are you showing me such a favor?]

[Because I want to get on your good side.]

[And after you get on my good side?]

[We have to let that man leave.]

[You're really persistent.]

[Aren't madmen usually persistent?]

Cha Yiran stared into Geom Mugeuk's eyes. Everyone knew the two were conversing via telepathy, so they all watched them without so much as breathing loudly.

Geom Mugeuk said to the Faceless Warriors.

"Release their acupoints."

At his command, the Faceless Warriors stepped forward and released the women's sealed acupoints.

Cha Yiran did not say anything else to them.

"Let's go."

The assassins quietly followed her out. They did not know what kind of deal had been made, but Cha Yiran had saved them.

Thinking she must have paid a great price, none of them could show their joy.

At the entrance, Cha Yiran looked back at Geom Mugeuk.

[You lost out on this one. I wouldn't have given up my subordinates.]

Meaning she would have agreed to any demand. Surely that sharp-witted Young Cult Leader must have known.

[I have a lot, so I can afford a loss of this magnitude.]

Geom Mugeuk smiled and added.

[If you fight by taking as a hostage something your opponent can never give up, wouldn't that be too dull a life?]

After staring at Geom Mugeuk for a moment, Cha Yiran turned without a word and left the place.

After they had all left, Geom Mugeuk apologized to the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon.

"You went through the trouble of capturing them. I'm sorry."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon did not ask why he had let them go. He silently smiled at Geom Mugeuk, then looked back at the Faceless Warriors standing behind him.

Knowing the will of the Demon Supreme, the Faceless Warriors all performed a clasped hands greeting in unison.

Before them, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon also performed a polite clasped hands greeting and said. "Just give the order. We will capture them again, a hundred times over."