The three people inside the carriage were each lost in their own thoughts.
First, Geom Mugeuk had his eyes closed, cultivating the Heavenly Demon Body-Protecting Art.
He trained and trained, not wasting a single spare moment.
When you practice martial arts, there are times when you get a certain feeling.
A ticklish sensation that stimulates you, a moment when it feels like a flower bud is about to burst open—the feeling right before reaching the next level.
The Heavenly Demon Body-Protecting Art was exactly like that.
'We've gotten pretty close, haven't we? Just take one more step.'
Whether it knew Geom Mugeuk's feelings or not, the Heavenly Demon Body-Protecting Art, on the verge of Great Mastery, was just teasing him from a step away.
The person who had actually taken a step closer to him was staring out the carriage window, lost in a peculiar thought.
He was imagining himself dancing in front of people.
He was someone who hated people who didn't keep their promises more than anything.
If he treated it as a joke, he would probably be pestered by Geom Mugeuk often, but he wouldn't have to force himself to dance.
However, he wanted to show Geom Mugeuk that he keeps his promises.
That he would always keep a promise, no matter how much he disliked the task.
'Of all the things I could have said, why did I have to say I'd dance.'
Bi Sa-in, who looked like he was deep in some great contemplation, was dancing in his imagination.
Sitting next to him, Gwae-ak was thinking of Gwang-seom and making a resolution.
'I will never be careless again.'
From the start, humans were a species that shouldn't be trusted.
He had lived well that way, but perhaps due to his age, his guard had momentarily loosened.
That's why he was also worried about Bi Sa-in.
He could feel that he trusted Geom Mugeuk.
'Young Alliance Leader, if you trust people carelessly, you will regret it greatly.'
He himself had been done in by a man of too few words, and now Bi Sa-in was being done in by a man of too many words.
But he didn't voice these thoughts to Bi Sa-in.
He wasn't the type of person to say such things to someone.
This was his true nature.
However, he was inwardly paying close attention to the relationship between Geom Mugeuk and Bi Sa-in.
It was true that he owed Geom Mugeuk his life.
Still, he had ties with the Unorthodox Alliance, and there were martial arts he needed to receive.
Just then, Geom Mugeuk spoke with his eyes still closed.
"What do you plan to do now?"
Bi Sa-in's gaze turned to Geom Mugeuk.
Geom Mugeuk was asking for his opinion first again.
In the past, he had accepted it without much thought, but now he could clearly see that asking him first like this was a consideration for him.
There was surely a better plan in his head, yet he asked.
He knew well what a truly smart person he was, so he also knew that this kind of consideration must be more difficult.
"He tried to kill me, so I will kill him too."
Now, all that was left was a fight to the death.
The only problem was Hwang Seok-gyeong's skill.
He was skilled enough that Gwang-seom, one of the Seven Great Masters of the Unorthodox Alliance, had lost to him in a fight and came to respect him.
But he couldn't just ask Geom Mugeuk, 'Please kill him for me.' It wasn't a matter of pride.
There was no guarantee of victory, so he could be putting Geom Mugeuk in danger.
That was not what he wanted.
And another reason was that, in any case, this was a matter for the Unorthodox Alliance.
'How should I resolve this?'
He had met with Gwang-seom and Gwae-ak to ask for help, but now only Gwae-ak was left.
He alone was not enough.
He thought of the masters within the Unorthodox Alliance who could help.
But the problem was that some of them might have joined hands with Hwang Seok-gyeong.
Since Gwang-seom had been won over, it wouldn't be strange if anyone else had been as well.
"However, I want to take care of all those who have joined hands with him. I was just wondering how to find them."
He didn't want to ask Geom Mugeuk for a solution, so he politely asked Gwae-ak.
"Senior, I would like to ask for your esteemed opinion. Is there a way to root them out?"
It would have been great to present a brilliant plan at a time like this and show that old ginger is indeed spicier, but Gwae-ak couldn't think of any particular method.
"Leave the thinking to the young folks. When it's time to beat that bastard, I'll take the lead."
Gwae-ak clenched his fist.
The energy-dispersing poison had already disappeared, but the unpleasant feeling remained.
He would not let the one who won over Gwang-seom go.
He had lived his life by repaying those who harmed him with a hundred times the pain.
"I will give it some more thought."
Bi Sa-in turned his head to the window.
His heart was anxious and heavy.
If they had tried to kill him, they might also try to assassinate the Alliance Leader.
Of course, the Unorthodox Alliance Leader he knew was not someone who would be easily taken down by any ambush, but their opponents were no ordinary foes either.
Just then, Geom Mugeuk asked Bi Sa-in, as if demanding an answer.
"Why don't you ask me for a way?"
Because he felt sorry.
He had just incurred a life debt, so he was too embarrassed to ask again.
"It seems you don't want to see the stars, nor the clouds."
It was a joke, meaning he didn't want to be led by him.
"If you don't want to, then don't. I just had a good idea."
Geom Mugeuk closed his eyes again.
After waiting for a long time without Bi Sa-in asking anything, Geom Mugeuk opened his eyes again.
Bi Sa-in was still silently staring out the window.
"Hey, I said I had a good idea!"
"I heard you before."
"You're not going to ask?"
"I'm not going to ask."
"I want to act smart. Please give me a chance!"
A faint smile formed on the lips of Bi Sa-in, who was looking outside.
This was the kind of person Geom Mugeuk was.
It was something to take credit for, yet he was the one lowering himself.
Bi Sa-in felt it anew.
True self-esteem doesn't need to show off.
"No! I don't want to see you acting smart."
"Just listen this one time."
"Fine. Let's hear it."
"Until now, Hwang Seok-gyeong probably hasn't been meeting with those who have joined him. He would assume that you are watching him."
"That's likely."
Then Geom Mugeuk made an unexpected assumption.
"What if you were dead?"
"!"
It wasn't just Bi Sa-in who was surprised.
Gwae-ak, who was listening as well, was also shocked.
Bi Sa-in could understand what Geom Mugeuk meant by that.
"You mean we should trick Hwang Seok-gyeong into thinking I'm dead?"
Geom Mugeuk nodded.
"If he believes you're dead, he will definitely contact his collaborators. He'll need to discuss what to do next."
It was certainly a plausible plan.
The idea was to exploit the carelessness that comes the moment an obstacle is removed.
"To do that, won't I have to inform the Alliance Leader?"
"That's for you to decide."
Bi Sa-in fell into thought for a moment.
Informing the Alliance Leader meant that he would be involved from now on.
He had wanted to resolve it himself until the very end.
But the enemy was so powerful that he also felt it was time to receive the Alliance Leader's help.
One concern was that if they coordinated their actions, their reactions might not seem natural.
On the other hand, what would happen if they proceeded with this without informing him?
It was impossible to know what kind of reaction there would be.
Especially from the Unorthodox Alliance Leader.
What if he wasn't sad at all, even if he died? The human heart is so pathetic.
Even though the fate of the Unorthodox Alliance was at stake, he was worried about getting his own feelings hurt first.
"He might just appoint a new Young Alliance Leader."
It was unlikely, but the Unorthodox Alliance Leader was the kind of person who might do just that.
"Take this opportunity to see who's next in line after you."
At Geom Mugeuk's half-joking, half-serious words, Bi Sa-in smiled faintly.
After a moment of contemplation, Bi Sa-in came to a decision.
"I will inform the Alliance Leader now and proceed."
There was another reason why Bi Sa-in made that decision.
"If I go missing, the First Wolf will be summoned to the Alliance Leader's Hall."
"He'll talk about me?"
But Bi Sa-in shook his head.
"It's the opposite, so I can't. The First Wolf will never speak about you."
He had faith in his loyalty.
Faith that he would keep the secret even if the Unorthodox Alliance Leader asked.
"I cannot make him lie to the Alliance Leader."
Lying to the Alliance Leader was a grave crime, regardless of the reason.
Geom Mugeuk smiled.
"Your care for your subordinate is admirable."
"Stop with the nonsense, and let me ask you one favor. Please keep an eye on Hwang Seok-gyeong. It's my job, but as you can see, I'm a dead man."
Knowing the level of the opponent's martial arts, he knew it was a task no one could easily perform, which was why he asked Geom Mugeuk.
He didn't want to ask, but he had no choice.
The person he could trust the most right now was Geom Mugeuk.
"Fine, let's do that."
Seeing Geom Mugeuk agree so readily, what did he think?
The thought occurred to him that someday, he might have to seat him in the very front and perform a dance.
He didn't want to be someone who broke a promise to a person like this.
*
—A rumor is spreading that the Young Alliance Leader is dead.
Despite Sa Hon's startling report, the Martial King showed no sign of agitation.
—The atmosphere in the Alliance Leader's Hall is unusual right now.
The ant swarm has been released, and the Evil Branch Master has been summoned.
The Blood Ant Army, also known as the ant swarm, were elites of the Unorthodox Alliance specializing in search and investigation.
The Evil Branch was an organization directly under the Alliance Leader's Hall, composed of elites who only followed the Unorthodox Alliance Leader's orders.
—Is he really dead?
The Martial King slowly nodded.
They said he would die if left alone, and indeed, the Young Alliance Leader was dead.
—How on earth did you handle it?
Gwang-seom had taken care of it using the energy-dispersing poison.
It was a task that couldn't fail even if one wanted to.
—They are investigating the matter while keeping the Young Alliance Leader's death top secret, but because of the gravity of the situation, the Alliance Leader's Hall is already in disarray.
Gwang-seom had decided to cut contact and go into hiding for a while after this, so no matter how much they investigated, they wouldn't be able to uncover the truth of the matter.
—He should have reported to the Unorthodox Alliance Leader sooner, but the Young Alliance Leader made a foolish choice.
The Martial King did not agree with Sa Hon's words.
He would have handled it alone as well.
Of course, he wouldn't have died like this.
He would have never lost in any fight.
—And he has requested to see you.
—In a situation like this?
The Martial King tilted his head.
Given the circumstances, he had expected not to receive a request for a meeting for some time.
But he was a cautious person, so there must be a reason for wanting to meet.
—Tell him we'll meet tonight.
—Yes, I understand.
With the Young Alliance Leader's death, the situation was entering a new phase.
*
That night, at midnight, the Martial King stood in a field far from the Unorthodox Alliance's main headquarters.
The place was open on all sides, a terrain where no one could hide and watch.
He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, looking up at the moon in the night sky.
A man appeared there.
Wearing a bamboo hat pulled down low, the man slowly walked over and approached the Martial King.
"It's been a while, my Lord."
It was the voice of a middle-aged man.
He addressed the Martial King as 'Lord,' and from his steady voice alone, one could guess what a calm person he was.
"There's no one around, you can take it off."
"I know my Lord's martial skill better than anyone, but it is still best to be cautious."
It was a breach of etiquette, not trusting in his skill, but the Martial King was not displeased.
That's how important the man was.
"Why did you ask to see me?"
"To inform you of one important fact."
"Speak."
A startling fact came from the man in the bamboo hat.
"The Young Alliance Leader is alive."
At the unexpected words, the Martial King's expression hardened.
"Are you certain?"
"Yes. The Young Alliance Leader contacted the Alliance Leader himself, through the First Wolf."
Astonishingly, the man was well aware of the secrets of the Alliance Leader's Hall.
The Martial King finally understood why the man had asked to see him at this critical juncture.
'Does that mean Gwang-seom is dead?'
The Gwang-seom he knew would not have been defeated so easily.
Moreover, he had even planned to use the energy-dispersing poison.
"Then why did the Young Alliance Leader pretend to be dead?"
Incredibly, the man in the bamboo hat had accurately grasped even Bi Sa-in's intentions.
"It must be to uncover my existence behind you, my Lord."
All of this pointed to one fact.
"Whoever it is, a very intelligent and powerful master is helping the Young Alliance Leader."
Then, following the bad news, good news was also delivered.
"I know who he is."
The man finally took off the bamboo hat he was wearing, revealing his identity.
It was to emphasize the importance of what he was about to say.
Under the moonlight, the two men's eyes met.
He was the man the Martial King had put the most effort into winning over.
The Martial King was smarter than anyone.
But the person standing before him now was far smarter than himself.
The answer to how he knew the top secrets of the Alliance Leader's Hall lay in this man's identity.
The Unorthodox Alliance's Deputy Grand Strategist, Hyeok Sa-gun.
Surprisingly, he was the Deputy Grand Strategist of the Unorthodox Alliance.
As Grand Strategist Hwang Seo-seong had been suffering from old age for the past two years, he, the Deputy Grand Strategist, had been acting as the Grand Strategist for the Unorthodox Alliance.
With Hwang Seo-seong's condition worsening, it was only a matter of time before he officially became the Grand Strategist.
"The one helping the Young Alliance Leader is..."
The Martial King had heard many surprising things today, but what Hyeok Sa-gun said next was the most shocking of all.
"Geom Mugeuk, the Young Cult Master of the Demon Sect."
It was Hyeok Sa-gun, who knew everything.
But there was just one fact he did not know.
That someone was watching him right now.
That from a distance so far that even the Martial King with his level of martial arts mastery could not detect, someone was looking clearly at his face.
From a great distance where they appeared as small as ants, Geom Mugeuk was using his Divine Eye Technique.
When the man took off his bamboo hat, he saw his face clearly.
Geom Mugeuk didn't know the sketches of all the masters in the Unorthodox Alliance.
But he could tell who this person was.
At the very least, he had not expected this person to have joined hands with the Martial King.
He was a more difficult person to deal with than anyone else in the Unorthodox Alliance.
'The Martial King has joined hands with Hyeok Sa-gun?'
It was truly the moment when the identities of both Geom Mugeuk and Hyeok Sa-gun were revealed to each other.