Chapter 781: I'll Give You a Chance to Change Your Mind!

TL: FoodieMonster007

Makchung and Gongbae huddled together for a strategy meeting.

"Which carriage should I choose?" Makchung asked.

Gongbae already knew his leader wanted that golden carriage. It had captured his attention completely. "There might not be anything special inside that golden carriage," he suggested carefully.

"A decoy?"

"Isn't it possible they're just drawing attention to it? Maybe they hid the real treasure somewhere else."

The logic made sense, but Makchung couldn't shake the memory of his dream. That golden whale had felt so vivid, so real.

Geom Mugeuk strolled up beside Makchung. "Now, take your time. Look around and pick the one that gives you a good feeling."

Why is this guy so excited about getting his things stolen?

Makchung thought he understood.

Ah, he's acting this way because he's terrified.

People often pretended to be calm when they were scared out of their wits. The realization made him feel a little sorry for the man.

"Not just the carriage, but everything inside, including the people, will belong to our Great Hero Mak."

Makchung walked alongside Geom Mugeuk. The first carriage belonged to Geom Mugeuk himself.

He glanced casually at it and froze. The symbol painted on its side made his blood run cold. "Whoa! Damn! What the fuck!"

A curse exploded from his lips before he could stop it. The face of the Heavenly Demon Soul stared back at him from the carriage's side, painted in vivid, horrifying detail!

"Isn't it cool?" Geom Mugeuk asked, completely proud of himself.

Makchung's voice came out carefully. "Do you even know what this painting is?"

"It's the symbol of the Demonic Cult, isn't it? Since I started driving around with this painting, no bad guys have dared to mess with me."

Makchung couldn't believe what he was hearing. Is this guy crazy, or is he just an idiot? Ahh, since I had such a good dream, I'll give some good advice just this once!

"I'm not usually one to say this, but you'll get into big trouble if you go around carelessly with a painting like this."

Geom Mugeuk shook his head with unmistakable pride. "I heard the artist who painted this is very famous. The craftsman who built this carriage is also incredibly renowned. That makes the entire carriage a tremendous work of art. It's just hard to find a buyer, but its value is priceless."

The carriage door hung open from when Geom Mugeuk had gotten out earlier. A large leather pouch sat beside the seat.

"If you choose this carriage, you'll get that leather pouch too. It's filled with many precious things. If you pick this carriage, you can turn your life around!"

Makchung was already walking toward the next carriage. "You must be trying to get me killed by making me impersonate the Demonic Cult. A clever trick, but I'm not that foolish."

Geom Mugeuk sighed resignedly. "Ah, it's a shame you don't recognize my sincerity."

Makchung flinched at the next carriage too. Someone had painted the entire thing white. Even the curtains drawn over the windows were stark white.

Another crazy one. Who paints a carriage completely white?

"The owner of this carriage really loves the color white," Geom Mugeuk explained.

"Even if they love it, this is too much."

"This carriage belongs to someone with a stunningly beautiful smile in his eyes. You won't regret choosing it. For your reference, almost no one has ever seen his smiling eyes."

Makchung's expression turned curious. "Why has no one seen them?"

Because everyone who saw them died. Geom Mugeuk smiled mysteriously, then urged, "Why don't you open the carriage door and see for yourself?"

Makchung stared at the pure white carriage for a long moment. "Can a smiling expression feed me?"

He shook off the grim reaper's temptation and moved on.

A faint woman's laugh drifted from inside the carriage. It was the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman's laugh.

Makchung frowned at the next carriage too.

There's another crazy person! No, a crazy carriage.

Graffiti-like patterns covered every inch of it. The dizzying, complex, swirling designs painted across the carriage made him nauseous just looking at them.

"What kind of madman painted this?"

The longer he stared, the worse his dizziness became. The painted vortex truly felt like it was spinning, pulling him in deeper and deeper.

"Even in this complex painting, there is order and life. I used to hate this painting, but now I've grown to like it," Geom Mugeuk said.

At those words, the vortex stopped moving, replaced by gentle energy flowing from the carriage.

"If you ride in this carriage, our Great Hero Mak will be able to see things you could never see while alive. For instance, a place like hell. When else would you get to see a place like that?"

Makchung stared at Geom Mugeuk incredulously. What nonsense has he been spouting? He must be trying to confuse me so I don't pick the carriage with the treasure. It won't work, you bastard!

He finally reached the golden carriage. After examining it closely, he couldn't contain his excitement. "This is it!"

The carriage was truly plated in gold. Not cheap plating either, but properly gilded. His face lit up. The carriage alone had to be worth a fortune.

"I happen to like gold a lot," he admitted honestly.

"Ah, you'll get along well with the owner of this carriage. He's absolutely crazy about gold too."

FLAP!

The curtain of the golden carriage's window fluttered, and cold energy poured out from within.

SWOOOOSH! SHOOOVE!

Geom Mugeuk secretly released his own energy and shoved the cold aura back into the carriage. "So, will you choose this carriage, full of desire and greed?"

SWOOOOSH! SHOOOVE!

"Before that, I want to see the last carriage." Makchung approached the final carriage. A thick smell of alcohol wafted from it. The carriage stretched longer than all the others. "This is a liquor carriage!"

An impersonator's carriage, a white carriage, a graffiti carriage, a golden carriage, and now a liquor carriage. He'd never seen such a variety all at once.

"That's right!" Geom Mugeuk nodded enthusiastically. "There's a lot of precious liquor, so you won't regret choosing it. It's full of priceless liquor you can't buy with money."

"Liquor can only be so expensive."

A hand suddenly emerged from between the curtains of the liquor carriage's window, holding a cup. It was an invitation to try some liquor.

"Have a taste and then decide," Geom Mugeuk offered.

Naturally, Makchung didn't drink it. "No thanks. How can I drink that without knowing what's in it?"

"Our Great Hero Mak keeps making regrettable choices. This is a chance to drink the finest liquor in the world."

Geom Mugeuk walked over, took the cup, and drank it himself. "Kyah! This liquor tastes amazing!"

Makchung loved liquor, and the offer tempted him slightly, but he wasn't about to fall for such an obvious trick.

He turned his attention to the Ghost Shadow Squad martial artists standing at a distance from the last carriage. The female assassins of the Third Division had intentionally moved to the very back, completely out of his line of sight.

Don't look up, no matter what!

The Ghost Shadow Squad and bodyguards obeyed Geom Mugeuk's order perfectly. They stood with deliberately downcast expressions to conceal their presence. They kept their heads bowed to avoid eye contact, exactly like terrified people would.

Still, something about them made Makchung uneasy.

What is this? This unpleasant feeling?

"The carriages you've seen so far are obviously for people to ride in, aren't they?" Gongbae came over with a new suggestion for Makchung. "Why not choose two of those large carriages over there instead? If you pick the ones filled with silk or treasure, then…!"

Makchung hesitated. He couldn't give up on the golden carriage.

Gongbae pressed his point. "Since you can pick two, let's open that large carriage first. Then you can decide whether or not to choose this golden one."

"Good idea."

Makchung and Gongbae walked toward the big carriage together.

"The most valuable items should be in the rearmost carriage," Gongbae said.

Makchung tilted his head. "Why?"

"Wouldn't he keep the most precious things closest to himself?"

"Well said!"

Following Gongbae's advice, Makchung headed straight for the big carriage positioned right in front of Geom Mugeuk's carriage.

What could be inside? Please let it be a carriage full of gold, jewels, pottery, and paintings!

He opened the carriage door with anticipation written all over his face.

"!"

About twenty members of the Demonic Army sat inside, split between the left and right sides. Jang Ho, who had hastily boarded, was with them too.

They all turned their heads at once to look directly at Makchung.

THUD!

Makchung's reflexes kicked in the instant their eyes met, and he slammed the door shut. He wouldn't have reacted so quickly even if a sword had flown at his face.

In fact, he opened and closed it so fast that Gongbae, standing right behind him, saw absolutely nothing.

"What was in there?" Gongbae asked.

Makchung gulped. He wanted to ask the same thing.

What the hell was that?

No way would a transport carriage like this be filled with martial artists, but he'd never seen people with such massive builds before.

Ah! Maybe they were statues of martial artists? Hmm?

Gongbae reached for the door handle.

"Don't open it!" Makchung shouted.

Gongbae jumped back in surprise.

Statues, my ass!

It had only been a split second, but they'd definitely looked at him. The memory terrified him. He knew he'd never forget the gazes of those huge men for the rest of his life.

Still, Makchung pretended he'd seen nothing. He had a feeling that if he admitted to seeing them, the carriage door would fly open and they'd all come pouring out.

"Since I didn't see inside, it doesn't count as a choice yet," he said to Geom Mugeuk. "I changed my mind at the last second. If you're a man, shouldn't you allow this much?"

Despite his denial, Geom Mugeuk kept smiling like something had pleased him. "You're right. I would have been conflicted too. After all, how could anyone choose in an instant? Go on, choose again."

"Thanks."

Makchung didn't dare think of choosing the big carriage again. He returned to stand in front of the golden carriage. His legs trembled so badly he thought he might collapse.

Right, let's just pick one quickly and get out of here.

Greed was the only reason he couldn't leave, even after seeing what lurked inside that big carriage. Normally, he would have fled immediately, but he just couldn't abandon that golden carriage.

Right, let's just think of them as statues. They were all statues! It was a mistake to even consider anything else over this in the first place.

Makchung stood proudly in front of the golden carriage. "I'll choose this one!"

He opened the door cautiously. Inside the carriage, the Demonic Buddha sat with his eyes closed.

"It's a golden Buddha statue!" Makchung shouted, so happy he felt like he could fly. He must have been seeing things all day. "See? Wasn't my choice the right one?"

Gongbae stared past Makchung with a shocked expression. "B-Boss… the statue opened its eyes!"

"What?" Makchung spun around in surprise. The Demonic Buddha stared back at him with glowing red eyes, looking exactly like the Bloody Buddha himself. "AAAAAAAACK!"

Terror sent him stumbling backward, and he fell flat on his ass.

The Demonic Buddha flicked his finger, and the carriage door slammed shut.

Right before it closed completely, he shot Geom Mugeuk a look that clearly said, 'Are you going to keep bothering me?'

Geom Mugeuk used telekinesis to wrench the door open again. "There, you've been chosen!"

"……" The Demonic Buddha stared at Geom Mugeuk in disbelief.

"Our Great Hero Mak, please ride in the carriage," Geom Mugeuk added cheerfully.

Feeling the faint golden killing intent radiating from the Demonic Buddha's body, Makchung waved his hands frantically. "I-I'll un-choose this one."

"No, you can't. Didn't we promise you'd take the carriage you chose? Since you both love gold, I'm sure you'll have a lot to talk about."

Every survival instinct Makchung possessed screamed at him. Getting into a carriage with someone radiating that golden light would be a fatal mistake.

"I-If you keep forcing me, a boulder is going to fall on your head," he warned desperately.

Geom Mugeuk's voice dropped low as he returned the threat. "Then I'll catch it with one hand and hand it to our Great Hero Mak."

Makchung flinched. The scene flashed vividly through his mind. The man caught that massive boulder with one hand, tossed it casually at him, and said, "Here, you take it." Then he would get crushed into a bloody pulp beneath the rock with a squish!

Geom Mugeuk came to his side with a bright smile. "Just kidding, just kidding. How could I catch that huge boulder with one hand? Maybe… with two hands? Anyway, you still have to choose one more carriage, right?"

He grabbed Makchung and pulled him along.

"No, I'm good. I don't need to choose." Makchung pleaded. "Please, just let me go!"

"No can do. We agreed you'd pick two, so you have to pick."

"I'll give you the protection money. Please, just let me go!"

However, Geom Mugeuk's iron grip was inescapable.

"Come on!"

Makchung could see it clearly now. The young master's eyes had lost all their naive innocence. Things had gone horribly, terribly wrong.

The liquor cup appeared again between the curtains of the Drunken Demon's carriage. A signal to choose him, but that just made the option even more terrifying.

Makchung's gaze shifted to the pure white carriage. He almost chose it but changed his mind at the last second.

He pointed at the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme's carriage instead.

"I'll choose that one."

Despite the chaotic exterior, maybe something unexpectedly calm waited inside.

Please!

Luck seemed to be on his side for once.

CLACK!

When the door opened, a woman with a mysterious aura sat inside. She looked their way and smiled faintly.

Makchung thought she'd smiled at him, but the expression was meant for Geom Mugeuk standing beside him.

"Not this one! I'll give you a chance to change your mind!" Geom Mugeuk exclaimed, sounding genuinely regretful.

Makchung's eyes lit up with sudden hope. He'll let me change? Then this is it! This carriage is my ticket to survival!

"I refuse." He ran forward and climbed into the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme's carriage on his own. "I've decided on this carriage, so don't make me ride in that golden one!"

"No, that one is scarier…"

THUD!

The door to the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme's carriage closed, then immediately opened again.

The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme still sat in her spot, but Makchung had vanished completely.

"Boss!" Gongbae shouted, but Makchung didn't appear. "Who are you people? If you mess with us, every member of the Viridian Forest in the Central Plains will rise up!"

Geom Mugeuk grinned at him. "If they knew who we were, they'd all sit right back down."

Gongbae looked up. If he gave the signal, the attack would begin. Arrows would rain down, and those massive boulders would come rolling down the mountain.

However, he didn't dare give the order. Something deep inside warned him against it.

Instead, he dropped to the ground and prostrated himself. "Please spare my life!"

The members of the Viridian Forest watching from above all prostrated themselves in perfect unison.

CLACK!

The door to the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme's carriage opened again. Makchung, who had completely disappeared, now sat in his original spot looking utterly dazed.

"AAAAAAAACK!" He suddenly screamed, jumped out of the carriage, and rolled across the ground. He was paralyzed with raw terror, as if he'd truly witnessed hell itself.

The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme hadn't killed him. She had judged that the Young Cult Leader wouldn't kill these men. He wasn't the type to play games with people he intended to execute.

Geom Mugeuk's aura shifted completely. "Great Hero Mak."

"No, I'm not a hero! Please spare me!" Makchung begged desperately for his life. He was certain Geom Mugeuk would strike him down now that the game had ended.

However, the young man's tone stayed gentle. "I'm in a hurry now, so how about you choose your carriages on our way back? Be sure to wait for us here!"

Makchung understood those words instantly. If they were still living as members of the Viridian Forest when he returned, they'd all die.

The dream of the golden whale had been a dream that would change his life. It just hadn't changed in any way he had imagined.

Geom Mugeuk called out cheerfully, "Alright, let's get moving again!"

The carriages and horses started forward once more.

The previously intimidated Ghost Shadow Squad martial artists revealed their true presence as they passed the two men. Among those following on horseback, not a single one looked like an easy opponent.

The golden carriage moved further and further away, like a golden whale swimming off into the distance.

Gongbae complained as he watched it go, "I told you we should have picked the large carriages, didn't I?"

Makchung let out a long, exhausted sigh. "You're only saying that because you didn't see what was inside, you idiot."