The gazes of Escort Master Ji Dae-hyeong and the Escort Leaders were all fixed on one person.
He was Chung Baek, the Escort Leader responsible for delivering the escorted goods to the Black Hand Sect.
A look of bewilderment crossed Chung Baek’s face.
Until he had followed the Escort Master here, he had never imagined that he would be singled out.
“This is absurd slander.”
His shout trembled as much as his wavering eyes.
Geom Muyang, on the other hand, was calm.
He slowly walked over to Chung Baek.
Not only Chung Baek, but also Ji Dae-hyeong and the other Escort Leaders grew tense.
Geom Muyang stood a few steps away and stared at Chung Baek.
Even without a deliberate glare, Geom Muyang’s gaze was naturally cold.
“Do we look like we have nothing better to do?”
He was asking if they would really come all this way just to slander a mere Escort Leader.
His calm words were persuasive to those listening.
After all, even the Changsha Division Lord, Ho Myeong, had come in person, and the man speaking seemed to be of an even higher rank than the Division Lord.
Before Chung Baek could make an excuse, Geom Muyang continued.
His low voice carried weight, and because it wasn't rude, it held more authority.
“I will not question the matter of you deceiving your Escort Master. That is a problem for your escort agency to handle.”
Geom Muyang glanced at Ji Dae-hyeong once before turning his gaze back to Chung Baek.
“There is only one thing I want to hear. Who entrusted the goods to you?”
A moment of silence flowed.
Ji Dae-hyeong did not step forward to defend Chung Baek by telling him he didn’t need to answer.
He was not only overwhelmed by Geom Muyang, but a seed of suspicion against Chung Baek had also been planted in his mind.
“It wasn’t that kind of item! Escort Master! Please believe me! They are slandering me. I am… I am being framed.”
Chung Baek’s excuses were not specific, which made them all the more suspicious.
However, they couldn't just suspect him blindly.
Their opponent was, after all, the notoriously ruthless Demon Sect.
Ji Dae-hyeong stepped forward and asked Chung Baek in a gentle tone.
For now, he was still one of his own men.
“Escort Leader Chung, calm down and tell us what happened in an orderly manner.”
“The escorted goods were ordinary.”
“What kind of items were they?”
He had received various reports related to recent escort missions, but he couldn’t recall any items that required special attention.
This meant that either Chung Baek had filed a false report, or the Demon Sect was framing him.
“The escorted goods were just general weaponry.”
“Who entrusted them to you?”
“I cannot say in the presence of an outsider.”
“It’s fine. I will permit it, so speak.”
Then, a phrase that should not have been said in this situation came out.
“Are you suspecting me?”
He was, indeed, suspicious.
“No. As you said, if this is a conspiracy, shouldn't we uncover it?”
“Very well. Then I will tell only you, Escort Master. The person who gave me the goods was…?”
He lowered his voice and seemed to be stepping closer to the Escort Master.
Swoosh.
Chung Baek threw his body toward the entrance.
But there was someone who moved faster than him.
Thwack!
Kicked before he could exit the entrance, Chung Baek tumbled across the floor.
Just as he was scrambling to his feet.
The person who had kicked him pressed his pressure points, subduing his vital blood points.
The person who had anticipated his escape and stopped him was none other than the Changsha Division Lord, Ho Myeong.
As the leader of the largest Division in the Hunan region, his skills were formidable.
Ho Myeong grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, dragged him over, and forced him to kneel before Geom Muyang.
In the process, no Escort Leader dared to step forward and stop him.
If he hadn't committed a crime, there would have been no reason to run.
The moment he tried to flee, it was all over.
Geom Muyang spoke to Ji Dae-hyeong.
“I believe you will trust our words now.”
Although his words were polite, Geom Muyang’s eyes were cold.
The meaning in his gaze was this: If we’ve shown this much courtesy, you should too.
“We will take this man to the Changsha Division.”
Ji Dae-hyeong did not dare to say that was not possible.
Ho Myeong, having already revealed his skills, was now openly exuding a rough demonic energy.
Geom Muyang looked down at Chung Baek and tilted his head slightly.
“Are those who make mere counterfeit weapons more frightening than us?”
Chung Baek’s face was filled with terror.
He was afraid of the Demon Sect before him, and afraid of the people he had dealt with.
Ho Myeong released just enough of Chung Baek’s pressure points to allow him to walk.
Just as they were leading him out of the great hall and walking toward the main gate.
Swish!
A sound that tore at the ears, and with it, the sound of that wind tearing through flesh!
Thud thud thud thud!
Everyone’s gaze turned to one person.
Chung Baek looked down at his own chest with a blank expression.
Sizzzzzle.
His chest, which had been hit by a concentrated barrage of hidden weapons, was melting away, leaving a gaping hole.
Chung Baek’s body collapsed forward emptily.
A man stood before him, aiming a cylindrical hidden weapon.
He was an ordinary-looking young man.
Until a moment ago, he had been disguised as a worker at the escort agency, sweeping the courtyard, before suddenly launching a surprise attack.
Neither Ho Myeong, who was walking alongside Chung Baek, nor Geom Muyang, who was following behind, could have prevented the ambush.
“This bastard!”
Just as Ho Myeong was about to charge, Geom Muyang shouted.
“Be careful. He’s holding a Piercing Spike.”
For a moment, Ho Myeong hesitated.
As a Division Lord, he knew well what kind of hidden weapon the Piercing Spike was.
It was one of the Ten Great Forbidden Hidden Weapons designated by the Martial Alliance.
The man aimed the Piercing Spike, which had been pointed forward, toward Geom Muyang.
However, Geom Muyang showed no fear, his expression saying, ‘Go ahead and shoot.’
Just then, Ho Myeong, who had drawn his sword, stood in front of Geom Muyang.
His posture showed he was ready to block it with his own body if necessary.
The man grinned at Geom Muyang.
It was a faint, creepy smile, like that of a madman.
Then, he brought the Piercing Spike that was aimed at Geom Muyang to his own chin.
Swoosh!
Thump thump thump!
Before anyone could stop him, he had killed himself with the Piercing Spike.
It seemed his purpose from the beginning was to kill Chung Baek and then commit suicide.
Ho Myeong rushed over and checked the body, but there was no way he could be alive.
Geom Muyang went over and picked up the Piercing Spike held in the man’s hand.
It was the same counterfeit Piercing Spike that had almost killed his younger brother.
Geom Muyang’s gaze turned cold.
The fact that they were monitoring his arrival here, and that the attacker committed suicide after the ambush.
Suicide is an easy word, but making someone kill themselves after achieving a goal is by no means an easy task.
It meant their opponent was no ordinary organization.
Geom Muyang sensed that this matter would not be easily resolved and immediately gave an order to Ho Myeong.
“Report this situation to the Heaven-Reaching Pavilion as is. And select only the elites from the Division’s martial artists.”
“Yes, I understand.”
After that, Geom Muyang turned back to Escort Master Ji Dae-hyeong.
Ji Dae-hyeong, shocked and bewildered, shouted.
“That man is not one of us! We have nothing to do with this!”
Since the incident happened within the escort agency, he was terrified they might be misunderstood as being involved.
If the Demon Sect fabricated a crime and pinned it on them, it would be difficult to escape.
“I know.”
At Geom Muyang’s calm words, Ji Dae-hyeong breathed a sigh of relief.
He had harbored a suspicion that the Demon Sect might be pulling some trick, but this ambush had completely erased that doubt.
“They wouldn’t have killed him just to silence him for delivering an item once.”
Ji Dae-hyeong thought so too.
If it had been a one-time mistake, Chung Baek would have chosen to beg for forgiveness rather than run away.
In other words, it meant he had delivered goods disguised as escorted goods many times.
“Could you hand over the escort mission records from the time he was an Escort Leader?”
In this situation, if he wanted to live, he would have to hand them over even if they demanded it.
But Geom Muyang handled things politely and rationally.
“Don't worry about the list being leaked. It is only for the purpose of finding those who killed that man. An Escort Leader has died, so shouldn't you also know the truth?”
Ji Dae-hyeong did not hesitate and readily agreed.
“I understand. I will give you the records.”
“Please send them to the Main Sect’s Changsha Division.”
“Understood.”
Geom Muyang turned and left the place.
Ho Myeong, who was following him, asked.
“Where are you going?”
Since they had visited the sender, it was now time to go to the receiver.
“We are going to the Black Hand Sect.”
As Geom Mugeuk was leaving the Heavenly Demon Hall, someone appeared before him.
“Young Cult Master!”
It was Seo Daeryong.
“My right-hand man! Have you been well?”
When Geom Mugeuk greeted him warmly, Seo Daeryong ran over with a bright smile.
“I must have debated a hundred times whether I should visit you at the Heavenly Demon Hall to pay my respects.”
“You should have come.”
“Now that you’ve become the Acting Cult Master, I felt like I shouldn’t.”
Seo Daeryong looked up at the Heavenly Demon Hall.
The magnificent hall and the giant stone statue of the Heavenly Demon Soul that guarded it were intimidating just to look at.
“How could I? It’s a terrifying place just to look at.”
Geom Mugeuk gave him a suspicious look.
“That’s not it, is it?”
“What do you mean, that’s not it?”
“Weren’t you too busy with Miss Dan to even remember me?”
Seo Daeryong’s face turned slightly red.
It wasn't untrue.
Whenever he had even a moment of free time, he spent it with Dan-ah.
The Dan Sisters were all busy.
The second, Dan-bi, was hard at work as an enforcer for the Underworld Pavilion, while the youngest, Dan-yeon, was the center of affection in the Ghost Shadow Branch.
The eldest, Dan-ah, after receiving a swordsmanship lesson from the Plum Blossom Sword Sovereign, was dedicating herself to her sword training.
Then, late at night, when Seo Daeryong’s work was done, they would meet and nurture their love.
Because they met for brief moments amidst their busy schedules, that time was all the more precious.
“Does it make you happy just thinking about it?”
Instead of answering, Seo Daeryong just grinned foolishly.
He was so happy to have a woman who was on his side.
“It’s a good time for you.”
“You say that, Young Cult Master, but you’ve never experienced such good times yourself.”
Seo Daeryong shrugged.
“I’ve finally found something I can beat you at, Young Cult Master!”
“Is it really winning?”
“Don’t say things like that with such a scary, meaningful expression!”
The two looked at each other and laughed.
Seeing Seo Daeryong always put him in a good mood like this.
“Is something going on these days?”
“Why do you think so?”
“I’m the right-hand man attached to your body, Young Cult Master. I just know.”
Was that really how he knew?
In the past, he would have been drinking at the Flowing Wine Tavern several times by now.
As the years go by, everything changes.
People, situations.
But Seo Daeryong tried his best to slow down that change.
The reason he came to see Geom Mugeuk today was to block that wave of change with his whole body.
‘Even if everything in the world changes, I don’t want my relationship with the Young Cult Master to change! I want to continue living a life where there is someone I would gladly give my life for.’
How could Geom Mugeuk not know his heart? That’s why he could tease him like this.
“Now that my right-hand man has a heart of its own, should I start thinking about detaching it?”
“I’m sorry, but even if that right hand had arms and legs dangling from it, it wouldn’t fall off!”
Only after they had exchanged such jokes did Geom Mugeuk speak frankly to Seo Daeryong.
“My brother has left the sect.”
This fact was a top secret that even the Underworld Pavilion Lord did not yet know.
“Has he been assigned a dangerous mission?”
“I don’t know. That’s why I’m more worried.”
If it were a definite dangerous mission, he could respond accordingly.
It was this uncertainty that troubled a person's heart the most.
“Should I go out and assist the First Young Master?”
“You find him difficult, don’t you?”
“It’s more than difficult. He’s scary. The First Young Master.”
“And you’d still go?”
“Because you’re worried, Young Cult Master. With my quick wits by his side, I will surely be of help.”
He really could travel with the First Young Master if it was for the Young Cult Master’s sake.
What wouldn't he do?
“Now that you have someone to protect, you should be more careful with your own body.”
Feeling that the words were not a joke but sincere, Seo Daeryong flinched.
“I haven’t even properly started yet, and I already have to be careful?”
“Do you think happiness is given so easily? When you gain one thing, you must give up another. Look at me, I gained the position of Acting Cult Master, and now I have worries. Wrinkles are rapidly appearing on this handsome face. Look, a new wrinkle is running this way.”
A soldier from the Heaven-Reaching Pavilion came running toward them.
“New information has arrived. I think you’ll have to come with me.”
As he walked away with the soldier, Geom Mugeuk looked back at Seo Daeryong.
He was looking at him with a worried expression.
After his regression, he had told his father.
I will become happy.
He remembered what his father had said then.
If you are to walk this path, do not even think of such things as happiness.
You were right, Father.
Back then, I boasted that I would be happy, but the stronger I become in martial arts and the deeper my relationships with people become, the more I feel how difficult this path is.
And how I could boast more when I had nothing.
Still, just as I have until now, I will find a way.
Geom Mugeuk shouted loudly to Seo Daeryong.
“I’ll come see the Elder soon. Let’s have a drink then!”
“The Escort Leader who delivered the escorted goods to the Black Hand Sect is dead. Fortunately, the First Young Master is safe.”
Geom Mugeuk was relieved at Sama Myeong’s report.
Geom Mugeuk broke the frozen atmosphere with a joke.
“Didn’t I tell you my brother was mean? If he caught him, he should have let him live. He only saved himself.”
Even though he knew it was a joke, Sama Myeong did not laugh.
“The counterfeit Piercing Spike was used this time as well. The culprit committed suicide on the spot.”
Both were serious reports.
This counterfeit was a Piercing Spike as powerful as the real thing.
What if that Piercing Spike had been fired at his brother? Furthermore, their opponent was an organization that made its assassins commit suicide.
Sama Myeong carefully suggested.
“Will you send more support?”
Geom Mugeuk’s deepened gaze turned to the sect’s map.
Demon Sovereign flags of various colors were planted on it.
Geom Mugeuk’s eyes were on the golden flag symbolizing the Demon Buddha.
If he were to send support now, his brother would be furious.
It was a matter of his brother’s pride.
The only person who could possibly appease that anger was the Demon Buddha.
“No, there’s no need for that.”
Even if the Demon Buddha were to leave, he would go to dig up poisonous herbs, not to help.
Geom Mugeuk’s gaze shifted back to the Changsha area.
Next to his brother’s flag was a green flag.
It was the Demon Sovereign flag of the Poison King.
The image of the Poison King, standing with twelve Poison Pouches on his flag, appeared in his mind’s eye.
The Poison King had walked out of his own world, the Thousand Poison Forest, and was now in the outside world.
Geom Mugeuk knew better than anyone how strong a person he became at such times.
Yes, he had to trust him.
“If that Piercing Spike had been aimed at my brother, it would have melted before the trigger was even pulled.”