Chapter 869: Did I Happen to Make a Drunken Scene?

TL: FoodieMonster007

The four of them closed in, pressuring the two. Their target was not the hot, fearsome man, but the cold, beautiful woman.

Geom Mugeuk fired the first shot. "You didn't even contact us to say you were coming."

Lee Ahn played along. "I'm her only older cousin, and even I didn't know."

Even Jin Hagun made a joke he would never normally make. "After visiting the Divine Cult and then the Evil Alliance, I thought you'd surely come to our Murim Alliance this time…"

His words reminded Jin Haryong of when Geom Mugeuk had asked Han Seol about her ideal type. She sighed, "This is all because my brother isn't dependable and talks too much."

Jin Hagun's eyes widened in disbelief. He was famous for being dependable and taciturn. To hear that he talked too much, and in front of Geom Mugeuk of all people, was a serious slight.

"I can't stand for this!" Geom Mugeuk cried out, leading the charge.

The other three followed, pressing in on Han Seol.

Han Seol took a step back, and Bi Sayin instinctively stepped in front of her to block them. When he saw the playful look on Geom Mugeuk's face, however, he inwardly regretted it.

"It seems I've been mistaken all this time," Geom Mugeuk sighed, glancing at Jin Hagun. "Until now, I thought you were the Young Alliance Chairman of the Murim Alliance."

"?" Jin Hagun tilted his head in confusion.

Geom Mugeuk explained, "Anyone can see we're the villains, while that fellow over there is the righteous hero protecting a damsel in distress, right?"

Jin Hagun nodded. "Turns out I was with the Evil Alliance all along."

Jin Haryong laughed dryly at her brother's silly joke. Wasn't he just performing with a medicine peddler? And now he was making jokes so casually? She was seeing many new sides of her brother today.

Geom Mugeuk shouted dramatically, "I never dreamed the first war of our era would be between the Demonic-Orthodox Alliance and the Evil-Ice Alliance."

Bi Sayin hurriedly waved his hands. "Don't misunderstand, it's not what you're thinking. I just…"

"Just what!"

Watching their antics, Han Seol finally sighed, "I came to wish the Young Alliance Chairman a happy birthday. It's been a while, everyone." She greeted Lee Ahn separately. "Unnie, have you been well?"

Geom Mugeuk sighed, "From now on, I'll get updates on you through the Young Alliance Chairman."

Everyone could sense Han Seol's interest in Bi Sayin. Coming all this way just for his birthday was something she would only do if she was interested.

And Han Seol did not bother to hide it. "The Young Alliance Chairman is the kindest to me," she said.

A faint blush crept onto Bi Sayin's face. Spring had finally come to that fearsome man.

"I said you look cool when you smile, but not right now!" Geom Mugeuk became a love-obstructor and deployed his battle formations. "Since I'm a villain anyway, I'll gladly become a barrier to your affection. If you can't find a way to break through me, you'll never achieve your love. I'll chase you to the ends of the earth and interfere!"

"But is there anyone here who actually knows how to break through the barrier of affection?" Bi Sayin suddenly asked.

"……" Geom Mugeuk couldn't offer a rebuttal.

Jin Haryong acted as the fair judge. "It seems the Young Alliance Chairman has found the way to break through in one go, hasn't he?"

Geom Mugeuk admitted defeat. "Aigoo! He's not a bear or a wolf, he's a fox, a fox!"

Everyone laughed, and the tumultuous greetings finally came to an end.

Bi Sayin asked, "So? What on earth is going on?"

Geom Mugeuk looked at Jin Hagun. "Hagun took a vacation. It's our chance to strike the Murim Alliance with you."

Bi Sayin looked at Jin Hagun. Normally, he would have asked if he was alright, as they had grown closer recently. However, something else came out of his mouth. "I'm jealous," he grumbled, genuinely envious of Jin Hagun's courage.

Geom Mugeuk chimed in, "There's a spot for you, too."

Bi Sayin finally realized these guys had not come just to celebrate his birthday. They had come to ask him to join them on vacation.

Of course, I'll go!

The words rose to his throat, but he couldn't say them. He was not in a position to leave whenever he wanted. Above all, Han Seol was here.

He said to First Wolf, "Friends have come from afar. Please prepare the finest liquor."

First Wolf rented out the entire Hwayang Pavilion. He had originally rented only a single VIP room, but the situation had changed. This was a gathering of the successors of the three powers who would one day become the masters of the murim. Their safety was one concern, but the risk of information leaking out was another.

The Thirteen Evil Wolves guarded the perimeter like an iron wall, personally bringing in the liquor and appetizers.

Bi Sayin poured drinks for everyone, overjoyed that his friends had come. "Thank you for coming!"

Everyone set aside their jokes and congratulated him sincerely.

"Congratulations."

"Congratulations!"

Bi Sayin felt drunk before he even had a single drink. The Young Alliance Chairman of the Evil Alliance, the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, and the Young Alliance Chairman of the Murim Alliance, all together to celebrate a birthday? It was a first in the history of the murim, and likely an event that would never happen again. They were clearly making their mark on history.

"Alright, a toast to Sayin's birthday! Cheers!"

Everyone happily drank their first cup. The Hwayang Pavilion's finest liquor went down smoothly.

Bi Sayin also congratulated Geom Mugeuk. "Congratulations on defeating the Celestial Killer Star."

"It was only possible because the two Chairmen helped."

Geom Mugeuk gave credit to the Chairmen, but Bi Sayin knew the truth. The ones who ultimately killed the Celestial Killer Star were the Demonic Cult Leader and Geom Mugeuk. Baek Jagang had told him everything after returning from the battle.

Since the topic came up, Geom Mugeuk added frankly, "The fight with the Celestial Killer Star is over, but I'm still fighting, you know?"

He did not have to say who he was fighting for them to know which 'enemy' he was referring to.

"There's no telling what kind of situation will unfold in the future," Geom Mugeuk sighed. The atmosphere grew heavy, but he wanted to finish talking before he got drunk. "That's why, I'm going to tell you my absolute baseline."

At the word 'absolute baseline,' everyone looked at Geom Mugeuk. The fact that he was mentioning this itself was astonishing.

"No matter the situation, I will not attack you… Even if it costs me my life."

""!"" Everyone could tell Geom Mugeuk was speaking from the heart.

"Ah, of course, this doesn't mean you're more important than me. My own life is far more precious. It's just… if our relationship were to break, it wouldn't be because of a lack of trust, but because of circumstances."

Geom Mugeuk gave an example of the most extreme situation.

"The lives of hundreds of my cultists are on the line. If I don't attack you, they'll all die. The same goes for you. In a situation like that, no matter how close we are, we'll start to doubt each other. We'll think, 'The situation is unavoidable, so Hagun will attack,' or 'Sayin will attack,' or 'That talkative demonic bastard will attack'."

"……" Everyone listened to Geom Mugeuk in silence.

"That's why I'm telling you this now. Even if that situation arises, I will not attack you. I'll find a different solution for sure, so don't waste time needlessly doubting me. Use that time to find your own ways out of doubt."

Finally, everyone understood exactly why Geom Mugeuk stated this baseline. He didn't want them to waste mental energy on useless doubts, but instead deal with situations as wisely as possible.

Geom Mugeuk was not the only one who felt that way.

Jin Hagun stated his own resolve calmly, "I, too, will never draw my sword against you."

Bi Sayin also conveyed his sincere feelings. "I'll also swear that I will never attack you."

No more words were needed. The three of them raised their cups and toasted.

The three women watching could sense it. They might be witnessing the true unification of the murim. If the Cult Leader and the Chairmen—and not their successors—held a meeting like this, they could unite the murim in a much more perfect way than forceful conquest. All factions would respect each other, stay out of each other's territory, and live together in harmony.

Of course, even amidst this solemn oath, Geom Mugeuk did not forget to tease the man of the hour. "Of course, if you go around having fun with a lady behind your friends' backs, I might just draw my sword then."

Bi Sayin cheerfully accepted Geom Mugeuk's joke. "As long as it's not to kidnap that lady, I will never draw my sword either."

The three of them laughed together and emptied their cups again.

Lee Ahn was outside, getting some air. She had not drunk this much in a long time.

Everyone was drinking without using their inner qi to expel the alcohol. No one forced drinks on anyone, but they all got very drunk. They drank because they were happy, because the liquor was good, and simply for the sake of drinking.

Bi Sayin, in particular, was in the best of moods. It was his first time having such an exciting birthday party.

Even now, boisterous sounds came from inside. Geom Mugeuk's voice usually dominated at parties, but today, the voices of Bi Sayin and Jin Hagun were contributing significantly as well.

"This will be the first and last birthday party," Bi Sayin muttered.

A drunk Geom Mugeuk and Jin Hagun immediately started shouting.

"What do you mean, the last! What about my birthday party? We have to at least do mine!"

"Sorry, but the next birthday is mine."

Lee Ahn smiled as she listened.

Just then, Han Seol walked up behind her. The liquor and food stains scattered on her pure white clothes revealed what the atmosphere inside was like.

"Those people are really making a day of it," Han Seol remarked, her face flushed from the alcohol.

Lee Ahn chuckled. "It's a birthday party, but it's also a celebration for defeating a great enemy."

Han Seol nodded. She was more than qualified to participate, as she and the North Sea Ice Palace had also played a part in the fight against that great enemy. She asked, "By the way, is something going on between you two?"

Lee Ahn shook her head. "Nothing's wrong. I just came out to have fun with the Young Cult Leader."

"……" Han Seol hesitated. She was not asking about Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn. "I mean… with Miss Jin."

"What about Miss Jin?"

"You two seem awkward. I have a knack for spotting people who are pretending to be cheerful with someone they find awkward."

Lee Ahn did not deliberately hide the truth. "We decided to determine whether we'll become friends or enemies on this trip," she confessed.

Of course, this wasn't everything.

After a moment of confusion, Han Seol suddenly made a recommendation without even hearing the details, "Then become enemies. I think that would be more beneficial for you, Unnie."

Perhaps it was the alcohol, but she was talking more than usual.

Staring quietly at Han Seol, Lee Ahn brought up something she had never mentioned before. "I always told the Young Cult Leader that I have ten tails, but I actually don't."

"Then how many do you have?" Han Seol asked curiously. She thought that Lee Ahn would say she had many more, but the answer was unexpected.

"…One," Lee Ahn answered after a brief pause. "I only have a single tail that pretends to be ten."

"Why did you pretend to have ten tails?"

Lee Ahn looked up at the night sky for a moment. "I guess I wanted to say that even though I'm a bodyguard who stands silently like a folding screen, I'm actually a person with hidden charms. That I'm not just a frustratingly nice person, but someone who takes care of her own business. That I'm someone who knows how to take, not a fool who just yields," she muttered, admitting she wasn't who she always pretended to be.

She felt like an ordinary sword displayed behind a weapons merchant. She was the type to save a woman's husband after receiving just a sip of water. Even Han Seol, who did not know her well, had worried she might yield something important.

However, Han Seol shook her head, disagreeing. "I think you're more charming because you were a person without tails, Unnie."

"What?"

"The parts you dislike about yourself are things I could never obtain, even if I tried my whole life. In fact, I'd have to act with ten tails. I'd have to pretend to be kind, pretend to know how to yield, pretend not to be selfish, and pretend to be someone who could willingly sacrifice for another. I need tails to become like you, Unnie, but you need tails to become the opposite."

The two women looked at each other in silence.

Suddenly, Jin Haryong poked her head out of a third-floor window and called out drunkenly, "What are you two doing? Come on! The man of the hour is going to dance!"

Lee Ahn and Han Seol looked up. Jin Haryong looked very red, and Bi Sayin, who had volunteered to dance, was probably completely wasted by now.

Lee Ahn shouted back, "I'm coming! I can miss everything else, but I can't miss that."

Before she could finish speaking, Han Seol was already heading inside. Her hurried steps clearly belonged to someone going to stop the show, not enjoy it.

As Lee Ahn followed, she glanced at the night sky and murmured softly, "Seol, it seems even the chill of the North Sea won't be enough to cool down tonight's heat."

Bi Sayin woke to a throbbing headache. It was the first time he had ever drunk so much without a care for the consequences.

All of a sudden, Geom Mugeuk's voice echoed from the depths of his mind, making every hair on his body stand on end.

> "Come on, on a fine day like this, we can't go without a dance!"

His eyes flew wide open.

I swore I would never dance again, didn't I? Why do I kind of remember standing up and shouting, "Of course!" last night? It can't be, right? Surely not? O-Of course it's not true! So… just what's this ominous feeling?

He got out of bed and shouted, "First Wolf!"

"You're awake?"

"Come see me for a moment."

First Wolf, who had been guarding the door, entered.

Bi Sayin froze for a moment. The sight of First Wolf brought back a memory of him grabbing his bodyguard's hand and forcing him to come inside and drink. Still, he got straight to the point and asked, "Did I dance?"

A smile flickered across First Wolf's face. "Which dance are you referring to?"

FUCK!

Bi Sayin shook his head, not daring to ask any further. "N-Never mind. It's fine."

No, there's something I absolutely have to ask…

"…Actually, did I happen to make a drunken scene?"

Surely I didn't make a scene in front of Han Seol, did I?

Fortunately, First Wolf shook his head. "It was the first time I've ever seen you look so happy. It was a good sight."

"But where is everyone?"

First Wolf took a letter from his robes and handed it to Bi Sayin. "The Young Cult Leader left this letter when he departed with your friends."

Bi Sayin was startled. They couldn't wait and had already left. They probably did it to give him some time alone with Han Seol, but couldn't they have at least had breakfast together or said goodbye before leaving?

He opened the letter, feeling a sense of disappointment. The letter read, 'If you want to save Young Lady Han, follow the western main road, but come alone.'

Bi Sayin stared blankly at the letter for a moment, then burst out laughing. It was a proposal worthy of Geom Mugeuk.

Bringing Han Seol along was a pleasant form of coercion, a hostage situation only Geom Mugeuk could pull off. It was his way of telling Bi Sayin to stop overthinking and just come with them.

Bi Sayin showed the letter to First Wolf. "First Wolf."

"Yes, Young Alliance Chairman?" First Wolf asked, playing dumb. He had already guessed the letter's contents since Geom Mugeuk had taken Han Seol with him.

Bi Sayin looked at First Wolf coolly. "This time, it seems I really must go rescue her alone."