Chapter 819: You Must Live

TL: FoodieMonster007

Telling him to stop his stale complaints and bring out someone else was just another way of telling him to get lost, so the Divine Sword Martial Emperor should have been furious, but he was lost in other thoughts. The words he had just heard filled his heart.

[If you did this for the sake of murim, then prove it.]

Did I really drag the Demonic Cult into that war for the sake of murim?

It was a question he had asked himself for a long time. After much agonizing, he had decided the answer was yes, but he knew the truth. If that were truly the case, he would not have agonized over it for so long. Ultimately, bringing in the Demonic Cult was a choice he made entirely for himself.

He wanted to end the war himself. If he failed to end the war that had already taken countless lives, history would record it like this: With the death of the Divine Sword Martial Emperor, the war ended in defeat, resulting in countless sacrifices.

He did not want the reputation he had built over his entire life to end that way. He did not fear death, but he feared defeat.

He wanted to win the war by any means necessary. He wanted to stand before the orthodox sects' martial artists and say, "I'm sorry I couldn't end the war sooner, but in the end, we won."

Geom Woojin pressed him once more. "Can you prove to Chairman Jin that it was truly a choice for murim?"

The Divine Sword Martial Emperor did not answer.

Jin Paecheon stepped forward. "You don't need to prove it."

Everyone, including the Divine Sword Martial Emperor, turned their eyes toward Jin Paecheon.

Jin Paecheon looked at Geom Woojin first, his gaze asking Geom Woojin to leave the matter to him. Then, he spoke to the Divine Sword Martial Emperor again. "I know you tried in your own way, Chairman. I believe in you."

For a moment, the eyes of the Divine Sword Martial Emperor, who had borrowed Hwa Mugi's body, wavered. If his opponent had said they could not trust him, he would have rationalized his actions somehow, but because Jin Paecheon said he believed him, his heart felt heavier instead, and he had nothing to say.

How could Jin Paecheon not know? The Divine Sword Martial Emperor was not a villain who exploited the hearts of others. He knew why the Divine Sword Martial Emperor could not answer confidently, and he understood that feeling that could not be put into words.

That was why he said he believed him. If the man were truly a villain, he would not have shown such a reaction. He would have brazenly insisted it was a choice for the true murim and shouted that he would prove it.

People have their own lives and their own reasons. Some will understand, and others will criticize.

Even if others pushed him into a corner, Jin Paecheon did not want to do so himself. He did not want to see the person he respected crumble in front of everyone.

"And I will protect the murim of this era."

This was Jin Paecheon's sincere promise.

"Even knowing that you're inside that body, Chairman, I will point my sword at the Celestial Killer Star. I will swing my sword to kill him. I apologize for that in advance."

Jin Paecheon showed every courtesy he could as a junior Chairman and a descendant of the orthodox.

Watching the scene, Geom Woojin realized that Jin Paecheon's courtesy and uprightness were shaking the Divine Sword Martial Emperor even more than his own pressure had. Whether he intended it or not, Jin Paecheon was brilliantly fulfilling Geom Woojin's own intention. He was violently shaking the Divine Sword Martial Emperor's soul.

The Divine Sword Martial Emperor eventually retreated without a word, letting Hwa Mugi resurface.

Hwa Mugi sat on the table with a sour expression. "You act like a scholar, but you're quite the old fox, aren't you?"

"What do you mean?"

"You properly shook the old man's heart."

Hwa Mugi lifted the liquor bottle from the table and drank. "How can he be a Chairman with such a weak heart? If you're a Chairman, you should be this vicious and wicked."

Hwa Mugi criticized Jin Paecheon, intending to shake him just as much as the Divine Sword Martial Emperor had been shaken.

However, Jin Paecheon did not fall for the provocation. "I sincerely believe in the Chairman."

Hwa Mugi looked at Geom Woojin. "The current Murim Alliance Chairman is this naive, so how is it that you haven't crushed the orthodox yet?"

It was a remark mocking both Geom Woojin and Jin Paecheon.

Of course, Geom Woojin was not agitated at all. Instead, he discovered a fact from Hwa Mugi's reaction.

The Celestial Killer Star cares about the Divine Sword Martial Emperor.

What did that mean?

The Celestial Killer Star and the souls are connected.

It meant the souls influenced the Celestial Killer Star in some way. His choice to shake the souls had been correct.

Hwa Mugi spoke to everyone while drinking. "I can't understand you orthodox people. Why do you risk your lives on such useless things? Faith? What does it matter if you believe, and what does it matter if you don't? You people live too conscious of others."

Jin Paecheon asked Hwa Mugi, "Then what do you believe in?"

"The only thing I believe in is that today's events are solely inevitable."

"Do you consider yourself an inevitable existence?"

Hwa Mugi's eyes shone arrogantly. "You guys should consider it that way. If today's death is a coincidence, isn't it too tragic for you?"

"It is a coincidence," Baek Jagang cut in. "Living today is a coincidence, and dying is also a coincidence."

He did not consider life and death to be inevitable. He thought one died if they were unlucky.

"Countless people were born, and coincidentally, you became the Celestial Killer Star. We also became leaders of the murim through a series of coincidences, so don't package yourself so grandly."

Hwa Mugi's eyes changed. He radiated a wicked aura, an energy he had never revealed until now. "You knew I was here, didn't you?" he growled in a completely different tone.

Finally, Ju Gasin, the Evil Alliance Chairman from three hundred years ago, revealed himself. Hyeok Docheon had come out because Geom Woojin provoked him, and the Divine Sword Martial Emperor had appeared because Jin Paecheon politely invited him.

Now, it was Ju Gasin's turn.

"Since the Demonic Cult Leader is here, and the Murim Alliance Chairman is here, you must have been here too," Baek Jagang said. He had predicted that the Evil Alliance Chairman from three hundred years ago would be inside Hwa Mugi's body too.

"Then why didn't you look for me?"

"I didn't want to see you."

"Why?"

"We're opponents who will kill each other anyway, so what's the point of seeing you? It would only leave a bad taste."

Ju Gasin did not get angry. Instead, he looked at Baek Jagang with an intrigued expression. "How is the current Evil Alliance?"

"It's rolling along well enough."

Ju Gasin's gaze turned toward Geom Woojin and Jin Paecheon. "The orthodox sects always considered us opportunists who would join hands with the Demonic Cult at any time, and the Demonic Cult always ignored and despised us." He turned back to Baek Jagang. "It was always us who were covered in blood between the orthodox sects and the Demonic Cult."

Ju Gasin had dreamed of unifying the murim. He considered the war between the Heavenly Fate Palace and the Murim Alliance an opportunity granted to him by the heavens.

However, his dream was shattered when he was sucked into the Secret Box. He had forgotten that dream for a long time, but seeing Baek Jagang made it feel like it was reviving.

Baek Jagang snorted. "It's not something to blame others for, is it? Since we acted that way."

Baek Jagang's attitude intrigued Ju Gasin even more. He was curious about the thoughts of this Evil Alliance Chairman from three hundred years in the future. "What is your creed?"

Baek Jagang answered nonchalantly, "Creed? I have nothing grand like that. If they join under me, I'll make sure they eat well and live well. That's all."

Ju Gasin, who was quietly staring at Baek Jagang, sent an unexpected telepathic message. [You must live. Live so that you may achieve the dream of conquering murim that I could not fulfill.]

This was not a message sent to hide the conversation from Hwa Mugi or the other souls. It was to prevent Geom Woojin, Jin Paecheon, and the others from hearing.

[I will let only you survive in this fight today.]

Baek Jagang sent a message back to him. [How do you plan on doing that?]

[By persuading the Celestial Killer Star.]

Hearing those words, Baek Jagang realized something. These souls and the Celestial Killer Star could converse.

[How can I conquer murim just by surviving here?]

Everyone noticed that Baek Jagang had started conversing with Hwa Mugi via telepathy, but they waited for their conversation to end.

[If the Demonic Cult Leader and the Murim Alliance Chairman die here today, and subsequently the Demonic Cult Headquarters and the Murim Alliance are annihilated, you will take over that power vacuum.]

Now that the Twelve Zodiac Kings were all dead, someone had to rule the murim.

[What about that Celestial Killer Star?]

After a brief pause, Ju Gasin continued.

[You will have to serve him. You will stand in a position beneath one person and above all others.]

Facing an important decision, Baek Jagang asked, [Did the Celestial Killer Star learn all of your martial arts?]

[He did.]

[Does he possess all your inner qi as well?]

[He took all of our inner qi as well as our innate qi. He is an existence where all of us are combined.]

[Is that possible?]

Many attempts had been made to plant multiple souls in all sorts of bodies over the last three hundred years. However, no matter how naturally gifted a body's mental and physical strength were, none could withstand their souls and power. Most went mad before lasting even a few years.

However, Hwa Mugi, who was born as the Celestial Killer Star, was different. He accepted the inner qi and souls of many and even absorbed all their martial arts.

Consequently, since no attempt to secure his loyalty worked, the Darkness Palace Lord eventually resorted to sealing him.

[What is his weakness?] Baek Jagang asked.

[Why do you ask that?]

[He might try to kill me later too, right?]

[If you don't betray him, that won't happen.]

[Does he have a weakness?]

The answer did not come immediately.

From that hesitation, Baek Jagang understood that the Celestial Killer Star definitely had a weakness. [If you tell me his weakness, I will accept your proposal.]

Finally though, Ju Gasin realized Baek Jagang's true intentions. [You have no intention of honoring my request.]

Baek Jagang's small eyes squinted into a smile. [Beg for my life and serve that Celestial Killer Star? I feel that would hurt my pride more than walking on eggshells between the Demonic Cult and the orthodox right now. Let me ask you something. Would the you three hundred years ago have accepted that proposal?]

[I would have accepted, and I would have waited for another opportunity. After all, is there anything more important than your life?]

Ju Gasin was saying he would have become the second-in-command and looked for a chance to kill Hwa Mugi.

[That is why I refuse. Because I think this side is going to win.]

[!]

Silence flowed between the two.

[I don't like you, but if you survive today, the Evil Alliance won't easily fall to ruin.]

Hearing the favorable evaluation, Baek Jagang offered a compliment in return. [You're a pity as well. If you had been born in the right era, I think you would have achieved your dream.]

Hwa Mugi laughed. At first glance, it seemed like his real self was laughing as Ju Gasin's presence faded, but the laugh truly belonged to Ju Gasin.

Hwa Mugi stared at Baek Jagang as if he knew the contents of their telepathic conversation. "You say you're walking on eggshells between the Demonic Cult and the orthodox, but you're the most ambitious one here."

Geom Woojin and Jin Paecheon looked at Baek Jagang, but he did not try to explain Ju Gasin's proposal. He was confident that neither Geom Woojin nor Jin Paecheon would misunderstand.

Geom Woojin felt a sense of trust with the man. Whatever Hwa Mugi said, Baek Jagang looked as if he had not a shred of shame.

Baek Jagang revealed the information he had gleamed from Ju Gasin. "The souls can converse with each other. That Hwa Mugi fellow has learned all their martial arts, and he said he possesses their inner qi and innate true qi as well. We must see him as an opponent where all of them are combined."

It was the moment the most important information for this fight, which they had only vaguely guessed, was revealed.

"He was trying hard to save you, yet you're struggling to die first." Hwa Mugi smiled, but his eyes were filled with intense killing intent.

Of course, Baek Jagang was not afraid at all. Instead, he sowed discord in return. "Us unorthodox bastards are originally good at backstabbing, so you be careful of that person inside too. You never know when he might smack the back of your soul's head."

The atmosphere turned cold and heavy.

Geom Woojin stepped forward. "Since it seems we've seen everyone we need to see, shall we see some skills?"

Starting with Ju Gasin, they had seen all four people residing in Hwa Mugi's body. Although he did not know how the meeting with them would affect the fight with Hwa Mugi, he believed this choice was correct.

Hwa Mugi pulled out the black sword and rested it on his shoulder. "Now, who will come first?"

Geom Woojin did not fall for the provocation. "We'll fight however we find comfortable. We might take turns fighting one-on-one, or we might all attack together. Each of us will fight the battle we want."

Those words were not meant for Hwa Mugi. He was speaking to everyone present.

Once the fight starts, fight without restrictions. Throw away pride and honor. Focus only on winning!

The two Chairmen, as well as the Fist Demon, the Poison King, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, and the Sword King, realized Geom Woojin's intention.

Hwa Mugi applauded. "Even if it's not me, this murim will soon fall into the hands of the Demonic Cult."

It was a compliment to Geom Woojin's excellent judgment, but his words contained a powerful attempt to sow discord.

Unfortunately, the attempt failed. Jin Paecheon and Baek Jagang were already worried about that possibility and had agreed to treat this fight as a separate matter.

Today was a fight for a son, a grandson, and a disciple. Nothing more.

Jin Paecheon volunteered first. "Give me the opportunity to attack first."

Knowing that Jin Paecheon had taken the most difficult step, Geom Woojin willingly granted his request. "Do so."

"Thank you."

Jin Paecheon stepped forward. Suggesting they go outside to fight had little meaning. This tavern was doomed. The bigger issue was whether the Demon Village itself would remain intact.

His spirit changed as he stood before Hwa Mugi. A clear, white jade-like spirit wrapped around his body, and his eyes shone coldly.

He slowly drew the Gentleman Sword. With the perfect draw, the Gentleman Sword awakened.

Could the sound of drawing a sword be this clear and beautiful? The moment the Gentleman Sword came completely out of its scabbard, a cold radiance cut through the air. Invisible waves of energy stretched out in all directions.

ZING!

The Gentleman Sword, a legendary blade, began to cry out in the hands of the strongest orthodox master. Its majestic hum seemed to say, 'This world is divided into two, the world before drawing me, and the world after drawing me.'

Jin Paecheon conveyed his heart's desire to the Gentleman Sword.

Although you are held in my hand, this fight is for your master. So let us do well, Gentleman Sword.