Chapter 716: Can You Handle Me?

TL: FoodieMonster007

The Evil Alliance Chairman Baek Jagang stood on a building's roof, which offered a clear view of the Mythical Sect's grounds.

Behind him, Bi Sayin reported the results of his investigation.

"According to the investigation, it seems that not only Chief Ahn Hupyeong but also the other Mythical Sect martial artists were unaware of this incident."

This was perhaps to be expected. They wouldn't have carelessly leaked a plan as massive as assassinating the Evil Alliance Chairman.

It must have been a secret known only to the Boa Sword and the Cold Iron Blade, who died alongside the Mythical Sect Leader Ahn Cheongwang.

"What should we do with Ahn Hupyeong?"

As the direct blood relative of the sect leader who orchestrated this, he could be held accountable. A crime could be fabricated even if he was innocent.

However, Baek Jagang chose not to.

"Just leave him be. If he didn't know, there's no need to punish him."

Bi Sayin considered it a wise decision. Ahn Hupyeong was not malicious or bold enough to seek revenge over this. Showing the chairman's magnanimity was a better choice than appearing heartless by punishing a relative for a grave crime.

In fact, Ahn Hupyeong's real problems were just beginning. What if he inherited the Mythical Sect as things stood? Could this immature man, who lived like a wastrel, truly protect the sect in the harsh unorthodox murim? It would likely not be easy.

Just then, the voice of the bodyguard captain, Ingung, echoed from the air.

"Young Cult Leader Geom has arrived."

"Let him come."

Bi Sayin bowed to Baek Jagang. "Then I will take my leave."

He excused himself, thinking his master would have things to discuss privately with Geom Mugeuk about the incident.

A moment later, Geom Mugeuk ascended to the spot where Baek Jagang waited alone.

"Greetings, Chairman."

Geom Mugeuk bowed politely before expressing his gratitude.

"Thank you for entrusting this matter to me."

Since it was a plot to kill him, Baek Jagang could have handled it himself from start to finish. This was the territory of the Evil Alliance, after all.

"Do you know why I left this matter to you?"

"Why is that?"

It wasn't because he was bothered, nor was it because Geom Mugeuk had informed him of the plot.

Baek Jagang, who had been looking down at the Mythical Sect, turned to Geom Mugeuk.

"It's because I respect you."

Sensing he spoke with sincerity, Geom Mugeuk bowed his head in earnest.

"Thank you so much for thinking so highly of someone as lacking as myself. I, too, have always respected you, Chairman."

No shiver ran down Baek Jagang's spine. Naturally, his gaze toward Geom Mugeuk was gentle.

"You've worked hard."

"The Smiling Demon did everything this time. I just came here after a good night's sleep."

Baek Jagang stared intently at Geom Mugeuk.

"It seems you slept well."

Amazingly, Baek Jagang had read the change in Geom Mugeuk, who was truly growing stronger every time they met. This young cult leader made someone thinking of stepping down feel like they should start over. He was certain the Murim Alliance Chairman felt similarly, and perhaps even the Demonic Cult Leader was no different.

"Did you find out why those bastards tried to kill me?"

"I'm sorry, but I couldn't find out."

Baek Jagang thought that was perhaps to be expected. The moment he heard those prophecy-like words, it was no longer a simple assassination plot.

"What do you make of that nonsense?"

If the Evil Alliance Chairman does not die, the murim will be destroyed.

By calling it nonsense, Baek Jagang revealed he had no intention of destroying the murim.

It's nonsense. Geom Mugeuk could have said that just to please Baek Jagang.

"It's probably not nonsense."

Baek Jagang's small eyes glinted sharply.

"I believe those words hold some kind of meaning."

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman had said it was like a prophecy. That meant this Evil Alliance Chairman was deeply involved in future events in some way.

"So, you mean to say you believe it?"

"That you, Chairman, would destroy the murim? No, of course not. If you did that, would you really be telling the murim to just go and perish?"

He knew the young cult leader was just saying what he wanted to hear, but he couldn't help feeling pleased by his words.

"I don't believe those words at all."

"Then why did you say they have meaning?"

"They are people with twisted beliefs. They're the descendants of the Heavenly Fate Palace, who believe they are carrying out the will of the heavens. And among the three palaces of the Heavenly Fate Palace, they are the descendants of the Dark Palace, known to be the most evil. You know that three hundred years ago, they actually started a war to conquer the murim, don't you?"

Geom Mugeuk interpreted this prophecy from their perspective.

"If you remain alive, Chairman, they might not be able to achieve whatever it is they're dreaming of. Perhaps they interpreted you saving the murim as its destruction instead."

Baek Jagang smiled faintly. In the end, it wasn't just nonsense, but nonsense they were spouting with utmost seriousness.

"I have no reason to destroy the murim, but I have no reason to save it either."

"You never know."

Again, no shiver ran down Baek Jagang's spine. Geom Mugeuk truly believed he could save the murim.

"Please don't be offended by that prophecy. It just means you're at the center of this incident. However, I think one thing is certain. They have something to gain by assassinating you, Chairman. Since you have a clear successor, it's not the power of the Evil Alliance, but something else."

Geom Mugeuk stared at Baek Jagang and asked.

"What is it they want, Chairman?"

Baek Jagang gave no answer.

"The answer definitely lies with you, Chairman."

Bi Sayin was looking at the final stage of the tournament.

Just then, Geom Mugeuk flew over using his movement arts and landed on the empty stage.

"What a shame. I wanted to see Lee Ahn become the world's number one beauty on this stage."

Bi Sayin knew he would come looking for him. If he came to see the master, he would surely come to see him too. And indeed, without arranging a place to meet, he had found him on his own.

"If you're so disappointed, you can host it again yourself."

At Bi Sayin's words, Geom Mugeuk sat on the edge of the stage.

"A world's number one beauty contest hosted by the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult? Would anyone even dare to participate? With no contestants, you could probably put on some makeup, enter, and still make it to the main rounds."

Bi Sayin let out a dry laugh. Most of his laughs were of this incredulous sort, but he found himself laughing quite often in front of Geom Mugeuk.

"Are you going back to the Cult now?"

"I have to. Maybe it's because I saw the Chairman? I really miss my father."

He had told Cha Yiran he would rescue Ak Gunhak and let her leave, but he couldn't just do it recklessly.

He didn't know where Ak Gunhak was, and even if he did, this wasn't a matter that could be handled so simply.

If he trusted Ak Gunhak, he had to wait. If their connection was meant to continue, fate would surely call.

"By the way, do you know the place with the best atmosphere and scenery around here?"

"Why do you ask?"

Bi Sayin wondered why he was being asked. Even though this was the Evil Alliance's territory, Geom Mugeuk had been all over the Central Plains and would know better than anyone. He suspected a hidden motive to tease him.

"I'm going to let you do what you're good at."

"What I'm good at? What's that?"

Bi Sayin's anxiety began to mount. He would have preferred an answer like, 'Killing people!'

"You know? The thing you do so well behind your friends' backs."

Just as Bi Sayin's sense of crisis heightened, Geom Mugeuk spoke in a whisper.

"I'm talking about that secret, hidden affection of yours. A secret love!"

For a moment, Bi Sayin was flustered. He knew Geom Mugeuk was talking about Princess Han Seol of the Ice Palace, but he flatly denied it.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Geom Mugeuk had said he would tease him for a long time, and now it had begun.

"I'm busy, so I'll just leave for today, but."

Geom Mugeuk said as he leaped away, continuing to tease him even as he left.

"Ah! I was going to pass on the secret technique to you."

The Seventeenth Bridge crossed a narrow wooden bridge. It stretched across the water toward a pavilion in the middle of a lake.

The surrounding scenery was breathtakingly beautiful. However, she couldn't enjoy the wildflowers swaying by the lakeside or the turquoise lake that sparkled like a jewel.

The one who had ordered her to this pavilion was Cha Yiran. She had pointed her out and sent her here without any explanation. Ah, she did say one thing. To go well-dressed. For some reason, it felt like she was being sent on an assassination mission.

And so, the Seventeenth Bridge arrived at the pavilion.

Stepping inside, she saw who was waiting for her and froze on the spot. It was the crescent moon, the Faceless Warrior.

He, too, seemed surprised, as if he hadn't expected her to come.

An awkward silence and atmosphere hung in the air for a moment.

The Seventeenth Bridge understood. She realized Cha Yiran had noticed her feelings for this Faceless Warrior. Had the Fifth Bridge told her? Or did someone who saw them greet each other while cleaning up the bodies report it? In any case, this had to be a warning not to give her heart to a man.

The Seventeenth Bridge took a deep breath and broke the silence. Thinking she would never be able to see this man again, she conveyed her honest feelings.

"Thank you for saving me twice. I was so happy when I saw you were alive earlier."

She had been so happy when Cha Yiran decided to rest under the shade of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. Now, even if they were in the same place, she would never be able to acknowledge him.

She took a dagger from her robes and gave it to him.

"This dagger is meaningful to me. I want to give it to you as a token of my gratitude."

She was speaking confidently, but her voice was trembling. To feel this way for someone whose face she had never even seen.

"And please understand if I pretend not to know you from now on."

The crescent moon, the Faceless Warrior, just listened to her words in silence.

"Well, I'll be going now."

It was then, as she bowed her head to say goodbye, that someone flew across the lake like the wind and landed in the pavilion.

Holding a bottle of liquor in his hand, it was none other than Geom Mugeuk.

"I bought some liquor for you two. Since you probably can't drink, I bought one with a nice fragrance. It's awkward when you first meet, but having this in the middle should liven things up, right? You have no idea how far I ran to buy this. But what's with the atmosphere? Did you two fight already?"

At Geom Mugeuk's appearance, both the Seventeenth Bridge and the crescent moon, the Faceless Warrior, were startled.

The Seventeenth Bridge asked with a surprised face, "Young Cult Leader, why are you here?"

"Why? Because I called you. I asked Young Lady Cha to call you here," Geom Mugeuk said to her bewildered expression.

"Have you already forgotten? Didn't I say I'd create an opportunity for you to express your gratitude? To meet him in person and give him the dagger."

How could the Seventeenth Bridge have forgotten? She had never imagined the young cult leader would actually arrange such a meeting, so she hadn't considered he was the one who set it up.

He really arranged this meeting for me?

Her face turned red. Unaware of the truth, she had revealed all her honest feelings to him. She couldn't bring herself to look at him.

"I misunderstood. I'm sorry."

She was so embarrassed she wanted to jump into the lake right then and there.

Just then, the crescent moon, the Faceless Warrior, spoke for the first time.

"The young cult leader even brought us liquor."

The Seventeenth Bridge lifted her head and looked at him.

"You should at least have a drink before you go."

A small ripple of emotion spread through her eyes.

The Faceless Warrior politely performed a clasped hands greeting to Geom Mugeuk and expressed his thanks.

"Thank you for arranging this meeting, Young Cult Leader."

In that moment, he seemed so composed that the Seventeenth Bridge became incredibly curious about what kind of face lay beneath his mask.

"Well then, I'll let you two talk."

Leaving the two of them behind, Geom Mugeuk quietly excused himself.

Geom Mugeuk crossed the lake in an instant and landed on the shore where Cha Yiran was waiting. In front of the other two, he had been a very respectable young cult leader.

"Young Lady Cha, by any chance, is there a secret technique among assassins' martial arts that lets you breathe underwater and eavesdrop? Ah! I'm dying of curiosity about what those two are talking about! Let's go listen in!"

When he had asked her to summon the Seventeenth Bridge, Cha Yiran had been surprised. She was surprised that he had actually made them meet, but even more surprised that he hadn't forgotten. The young cult leader hadn't forgotten about the affairs of a mere subordinate?

Cha Yiran turned her gaze toward the pavilion.

"What are you going to do if those two really elope in the middle of the night?"

"That would be nice, but in reality, they'll probably just keep it in their hearts and long for each other for the rest of their lives."

"Wouldn't that be more unfortunate?"

At that, Geom Mugeuk stared at her and asked abruptly.

"Are you more unfortunate because you keep that person in your heart?"

"!"

She wasn't. In her life, the feelings she had for him occupied a large space within the small domain of her happiness, even if they were one-sided.

"If you become the God of War in our Cult, those two could live happily without having to elope."

"Are you telling me to become a demon for their sake?"

Then, unexpected words flowed from Geom Mugeuk's lips.

"No, I'm telling you to become a demon for my sake."

For a moment, Cha Yiran was stunned. She never thought he would say something like that.

"Become the young cult leader's personal assassin squad. Rumors will spread throughout the murim. They'll say the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's young cult leader commands the greatest assassin squad in the murim! And that it's an assassin squad made up of incredibly beautiful women!"

Cha Yiran looked at Geom Mugeuk.

"Can you handle me?"

A moment of silence passed. She thought he would wave his hands and say it was a joke, but Geom Mugeuk stared at her with a serious expression.

For a brief moment, Cha Yiran wondered what it would be like to live such a life. This young cult leader was the kind of person who could make you seriously consider such a ridiculous proposal.

"You said I could leave as I please once I get rid of those bastards."

"Wouldn't it be too much of a waste to just let a talent like you go?"

She should have dismissed it as nonsense. Instead, Cha Yiran asked again.

"That person fought in order to leave. So what are you fighting for?"

After a brief pause, Geom Mugeuk answered.

"At least one thing is certain. It's not for the unification or destruction of the murim."

He revealed his honest feelings to her.

"I want to go fishing with my father, hang out with the Demon Supremes, drink, read books, and travel. I want to live like that."

Geom Mugeuk looked past the sunlit surface of the water toward the pavilion.

"And help those two elope. And also…"

Finally, he looked at Cha Yiran and added, "Help you find your love too."

Cha Yiran couldn't tell how much of it was sincere and how much was a joke, but one thing was certain. Being with this man would bring a great change to her life.

Geom Mugeuk let out a deliberate sigh.

"To me, living a life like this feels more difficult than unifying the murim."

His gaze toward her deepened.

"Can you handle a man like me?"