“It is a trap.”
Bi Sa-in’s expression turned cold.
An opponent more infuriating than the Twin Swords of Yama, who had tried to kill him, was none other than Hyeok Sa-gun.
“This is a trap set by Hyeok Sa-gun. To lure you in and kill you.”
Geom Mugeuk believed that while Bi Sa-in's assessment was accurate, he was mistaken on one point.
“It is a trap, but it's likely not meant to kill me. In this situation, they wouldn't want to make an enemy of the Main Sect as well. Right now, they are hell-bent on killing you.”
The Martial King was a clever man, and Hyeok Sa-gun moved under him.
In fact, their cleverness made some things easier to predict.
At the very least, this was not a scheme to kill him.
“They probably intend to send me back to the Main Sect.”
The intention was to separate him from Bi Sa-in, and then, ultimately, kill Bi Sa-in.
“And you’ll meet the Alliance Leader, knowing that?”
“I must.”
“The Alliance Leader will not like you.”
Bi Sa-in’s expression darkened.
He had been worried from the start about how the Alliance Leader would react upon learning of this affair.
But now, Hyeok Sa-gun, who served the Alliance Leader right by his side, was the traitor.
“He will have driven an irreparable wedge between me and the Alliance Leader.”
What could Hyeok Sa-gun have possibly said about him? He didn't even want to imagine it.
However, Geom Mugeuk had a different speculation.
“He wouldn't have done that.”
Geom Mugeuk was anticipating something Bi Sa-in hadn't considered.
“On the contrary, he would have maintained an attitude of looking out for you all along. He would have kept taking your side, saying that you were associating with me to dig something up.”
A single sentence awakened Bi Sa-in, who was blinking, trying to understand.
“That way, when you call him a traitor, it will properly backfire.”
The moment he heard those words, it struck Bi Sa-in with great force.
“He will likely not believe me.”
“He will think you’ve been deceived by the Young Cult Master of the Demon Sect and are framing the Grand Strategist.”
A chill ran down Bi Sa-in’s spine.
Hearing it laid out, he felt it was highly likely to be true.
The thoughts of clever people always surpassed his own expectations.
“Praise can sometimes be a more potent way of sowing discord.”
At Geom Mugeuk’s words, not only Bi Sa-in but also Gwae-ak, who was listening beside them, was impressed.
‘A truly fearsome man has become the Young Cult Master.’
Even the current Heavenly Demon was known to possess talent that ranked him among the greatest in history.
But could even that Heavenly Demon have shown such insight at such a young age? He was certain he could not.
“What do you intend to do?”
“I must meet the Unorthodox Alliance Leader. Right now, I am the only one who knows that Hyeok Sa-gun has joined hands with the hidden forces."
"My testimony is the only evidence. If I fail to persuade the Alliance Leader, not only your life but even your position as Young Alliance Leader could be in jeopardy.”
Having barely survived, another crisis was upon them.
Geom Mugeuk asked Bi Sa-in.
“Can you deliver a dispatch to the Alliance Leader without Hyeok Sa-gun knowing?”
After a moment of thought, Bi Sa-in mentioned one person.
“I can send it through the First Wolf.”
He was the person he could trust the most.
“It must not be discovered.”
“You can trust him.”
Geom Mugeuk immediately wrote two dispatches.
One was a reply to the dispatch that had just arrived from the Unorthodox Alliance.
It stated that he would personally visit the Unorthodox Alliance’s main division to meet the Unorthodox Alliance Leader.
He gave that dispatch to a demonic practitioner at the safehouse and told him to send it to the Unorthodox Alliance.
The other was a secret dispatch to be delivered to the Alliance Leader.
“This dispatch must be delivered to the Alliance Leader without Hyeok Sa-gun’s knowledge.”
“What did you write here?”
“I suggested we meet privately, just the two of us, outside the Unorthodox Alliance. I wrote that if he doesn’t meet me, I will kill you.”
“You, really!”
“A joke, a joke.”
“Even as a joke, don’t say such things. If you jest with him as you do with me, you might get yourself killed by the Alliance Leader.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Such a thing was unlikely to happen, but if he didn’t handle this properly, he wouldn’t be believed.
They would try to send him back to the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect to separate him from Bi Sa-in.
If that happened, Bi Sa-in’s situation would become difficult in many ways.
“Do you have a plan?”
At Bi Sa-in’s worried question, Geom Mugeuk shook his head.
“I'm going to start thinking about it now.”
Just as Bi Sa-in was about to ask what he meant by that, he had a sudden realization.
If it were him, he would still be agonizing over whether to meet or not.
But Geom Mugeuk had already made the decision to meet and was now contemplating what to do next.
This was why he kept finding himself trusting him.
It felt as if he already had a complete plan in place.
Geom Mugeuk approached the bed.
“Are you all right?”
He knew the question wasn't about his injured body.
It was asking if his heart was all right amidst this chaos.
What would have happened if not for Geom Mugeuk? Could he have endured it? As a martial artist, as the successor of the Unorthodox Alliance, he didn't want to say such things, but…
‘I’m all right because you are here.’
These were Bi Sa-in's inner thoughts, which he could not bring himself to say.
‘The Alliance Leader might not believe it.
He’ll probably think I’m being deceived by you.
He might even scold me for being a fool.’
Anyone in the Unorthodox Alliance would think so.
They wouldn’t believe that the Young Cult Master of the Demon Sect approached him with good intentions.
That was what made this fight difficult.
‘Still, I will not doubt you.’
Because as long as he doubted, he could not move forward.
This doubt wouldn't be about Geom Mugeuk, but ultimately, it would become a doubt in himself.
It would lead to self-reproach for not being able to judge a person correctly.
That was why Bi Sa-in could answer this way.
“I am all right.”
Of course, there was someone in the room who was not all right.
Gwae-ak, who had been listening to their conversation, interjected.
“I'm grateful you saved me, but that's that. Don't forget that I'm keeping an eye on you.”
Originally, those were words he should have said to him.
To take good care of Bi Sa-in, that he was watching.
“Both of you, tend to your wounds first. The time to fight again is coming.”
*
Hyeok Sa-gun’s expression was grim as he walked toward the Alliance Leader's Hall.
The failure of the Twin Swords of Yama’s surprise attack on the safehouse to kill Bi Sa-in was unexpected.
‘So it has come to this.’
If Bi Sa-in had died at the safehouse, the Unorthodox Alliance Leader would have certainly suspected Geom Mugeuk.
How could he not suspect the man he had been associating with until his death? The crisis with the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect would have escalated and relations would have soured, but he and Hwang Seok-gyeong would have naturally been able to slip out from behind the scenes of this incident.
But now, he had to make the Unorthodox Alliance Leader send Geom Mugeuk back to the Demon Sect.
In that process, his own loyalty would be tested.
Of course, he was confident he could handle it.
This incident would be treated as Bi Sa-in falling for Geom Mugeuk’s scheme.
‘Young Alliance Leader, you are finished either way.’
Before entering the Alliance Leader’s Hall, Hyeok Sa-gun paused for a moment in the corridor and looked at the iron wolves.
The idea that these wolves could stop an intruder was nothing but a legend.
Even as he came and went from this place, these wolves just watched.
Hyeok Sa-gun thought that when the Martial King became the new Alliance Leader, he would have to get rid of these lumps of iron first.
Hyeok Sa-gun entered the Alliance Leader's Hall.
The Unorthodox Alliance Leader, Baek Ja-gang, stood with his hands clasped behind his back at the window behind the Grand Advisor's seat, which overlooked the main division grounds.
“The Young Cult Master of the Divine Sect has sent a reply, saying he will come to see you, Alliance Leader.”
Baek Ja-gang gave no response to Hyeok Sa-gun’s report.
“It seems the Young Alliance Leader is with the Young Cult Master.”
A cold energy emanated from Baek Ja-gang.
“To think he would do something so foolish.”
He had disliked it from the moment he sent word that he would feign death while associating with the Young Cult Master of the Demon Sect.
If Hyeok Sa-gun hadn’t told him to trust the Young Alliance Leader and leave it to him, it was something he would never have permitted.
“Could it be?”
Hyeok Sa-gun guessed what the Unorthodox Alliance Leader was worried about.
“If the Young Alliance Leader were dead, the Young Cult Master would not dare to reply that he would come to see you, Alliance Leader.”
Baek Ja-gang slowly nodded, and Hyeok Sa-gun’s report continued.
“The raid on the safehouse is still under investigation. Every person who knew the location of the safehouse has been placed under thorough internal investigation. It will soon be revealed who leaked the information.”
He planned to use this incident to eliminate his political rivals.
Fabricated evidence was already prepared.
Although he wasn't showing it outwardly, Baek Ja-gang was furious.
Security had been breached, and someone had tried to kill the Young Alliance Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance.
Someone had dared to draw a sword against the Unorthodox Alliance.
The worse possibility was this.
“What is the likelihood that it was the Young Cult Master’s doing?”
If so, it meant Bi Sa-in was being used by Geom Mugeuk.
“The Young Alliance Leader is a brilliant man. He would never be easily taken in by the Young Cult Master.”
Just as Geom Mugeuk had predicted, he was defending himself by appearing to have complete faith in Bi Sa-in.
Baek Ja-gang interpreted Hyeok Sa-gun's behavior politically.
The young Grand Strategist was planning for the future.
He likely intended to remain the Grand Strategist when Bi Sa-in became the Alliance Leader.
“The Young Alliance Leader is likely using the Young Cult Master to gain something.”
“And not the other way around?”
After a brief pause, Hyeok Sa-gun spoke.
“Please trust the Young Alliance Leader.”
Bi Sa-in would swing an axe, trying to kill him, but in the end, he would only end up striking his own foot.
For he would be trying to frame a man who supported him so staunchly as a traitor.
“You keep a close eye on things.”
“Do not worry, Alliance Leader. I will take my leave now.”
After Hyeok Sa-gun departed, the report of a hidden figure was heard.
“The First Wolf requests an audience.”
He was In Gung, the guard commander of the Unorthodox Alliance Leader.
“The First Wolf? Let him in.”
“He requests a secret, private meeting, without anyone else knowing.”
The situation was taking an unusual turn.
Anyone else would have been suspicious of this sudden request.
But Baek Ja-gang knew.
He knew how deep the First Wolf’s loyalty to the Alliance was.
“Bring him to the training grounds.”
*
The First Wolf entered the Unorthodox Alliance Leader's private training grounds.
This place, which outsiders were absolutely forbidden to enter without permission, was accessible only to Baek Ja-gang and his guard commander, In Gung.
Baek Ja-gang was wiping an iron training dummy with a cloth.
It was not ordinary iron.
Made with a mixture of ten-thousand-year cold iron, it was a special creation made only for the Unorthodox Alliance Leader, one that could not be cut even by Sword Qi or Sword Force.
On it were countless sword scars.
From faint, shallow marks to deep, pronounced gashes.
Baek Ja-gang knew well when and how each of the numerous sword scars on the iron training dummy had been made.
What form it was when it was engraved, and what state of mind he was in.
The mere fact that he remembered each and every one of them was enough to guess the depth of his training.
He could now cut down the iron dummy with a single strike, but he did not.
He wanted to pass it down to Bi Sa-in as it was.
“I greet the Alliance Leader.”
“It has been a long time. Have you been well?”
Baek Ja-gang greeted him warmly.
He had clear likes and dislikes when it came to people.
The First Wolf was in the category of people he liked.
“You asked to see me privately?”
“Yes, the Young Alliance Leader sent a dispatch, asking me to deliver it only to you, Alliance Leader.”
The First Wolf was tense.
He could feel it.
A single misstep today could not only cause him to fall out of the Unorthodox Alliance Leader’s favor, but could also cost him his life.
“Does that mean I am not to tell Grand Strategist Hyeok?”
This was because all dispatches coming into the Alliance passed through the Grand Strategist.
“He specifically said to deliver it without Grand Strategist Hyeok knowing.”
Baek Ja-gang’s expression became subtle.
When he asked for a secret meeting, he had a suspicion, and it really was because of Hyeok Sa-gun.
“Did he also give a reason?”
“No, he just asked me to be sure to deliver it to you, Alliance Leader.”
The First Wolf took the dispatch from his robes and presented it to the Alliance Leader.
Upon checking the contents of the dispatch, Baek Ja-gang was startled.
The First Wolf had never seen it before.
The Alliance Leader looking so surprised.
Baek Ja-gang raised his head and looked at the First Wolf.
“Do you know what is written here? It says that Grand Strategist Hyeok is involved in this incident, and that he was behind the attack on the safehouse. The Young Cult Master says he will meet me in person to explain.”
“!”
At the unexpected words, the First Wolf was also startled.
He never imagined that the dispatch he had delivered contained such information.
“Do you think so as well?”
Baek Ja-gang watched the First Wolf.
The First Wolf knew how well those small eyes could read a person's heart.
The Alliance Leader was a man who knew like a ghost whether someone was telling the truth or a lie.
Should he deny the words of the superior he served, or should he deny the Grand Strategist who served the Unorthodox Alliance Leader?
“I believe that once a subordinate begins to judge the one he serves, he can no longer protect him properly.”
It was the best answer the First Wolf could come up with.
Then Baek Ja-gang asked again.
“What kind of man is the Young Cult Master of the Demon Sect, from what you have seen?”
Having evaded the question once, he could not avoid it now.
The First Wolf answered honestly.
“He was a remarkable individual.”
“Do you think the Young Alliance Leader has been deceived by him?”
The First Wolf hesitated for a moment before answering.
He wanted to say no, but…
“Yes, the Young Alliance Leader has been deceived.”
He wanted to add something for Bi Sa-in’s sake, but he couldn’t think of what to say.
That the Young Cult Master didn't seem so bad? That since the Young Cult Master saved Bi Sa-in, he could be trusted?
No. To the Unorthodox Alliance Leader he knew, such an answer would only do more harm than good.
“And I understand why the Young Alliance Leader was deceived.”
He had answered the question honestly, and the judgment would be left to the Unorthodox Alliance Leader.
“You may leave now.”
After bowing respectfully, the First Wolf left the place.
He was not sure.
Had he answered correctly? Had he not brought harm to Bi Sa-in?
After the First Wolf left, the Unorthodox Alliance Leader asked into the empty air.
“What do you think?”
Then, In Gung’s reply was heard.
“There are many parts that are difficult to understand. It would be best if you did not meet him.”
“Then should I inform Grand Strategist Hyeok about this?”
In Gung could not answer easily.
It was a question of who he trusted more.
“I find it hard to believe that Grand Strategist Hyeok is a traitor.”
He even tried to kill the Young Alliance Leader? No matter how he thought about it, it was unbelievable.
On the other hand, the young Young Alliance Leader fell for the Young Cult Master of the Demon Sect? That too was hard to believe, but still, maybe?
On the other hand, Baek Ja-gang had not yet reached any conclusion.
A fierce light gleamed in his small eyes.
“That’s why I'm curious, isn't it? He asks to meet me, knowing full well we would never believe him? Just what is that rascal thinking?”
Having served the Unorthodox Alliance Leader for a long time, In Gung could tell.
Baek Ja-gang was already intrigued by Geom Mugeuk, as if to say, ‘Well, look at this one?’ The First Wolf’s remark that he understood why he was deceived was the decisive factor.
If Baek Ja-gang had decided to meet, then this was what he had to do.
“I will set a new meeting place and send word.”
It was their side, not the opponent's, that had to control the situation.
Baek Ja-gang silently nodded his head, then looked at the iron training dummy standing in the training grounds.
A person overlapped with the iron dummy.
The person who best matched this expressionless iron figure was none other than the Heavenly Demon, Geom Woojin.
He was the person he acknowledged the most, and at the same time, the person he disliked the most.
More than anything, he hated those arrogant eyes that seemed to look down on people.
‘Let’s see just how you’ve raised your child.’