Who called whom?
The White Dragon Division Lord hoped he had misheard.
A person.
"What nonsense is this!"
After shouting, the White Dragon Division Lord looked at Jin Ha-gun, who had walked up beside him.
"Is what he said true?"
He asked, hoping against hope, but Jin Ha-gun's reply was like a bolt from the blue.
"That is correct."
The White Dragon Division Lord’s heart sank.
The Demon Slaying Branch should have come in place of Han Wol-gaek.
'Han Wol-gaek must come, even if he's late.'
What if he arrived and attacked them before any words could be exchanged?
Everyone knew how much Han Wol-gaek despised the Demon Sect.
If a fight broke out like that, the Demon Slaying Branch would have to help Han Wol-gaek.
They would never side with the Demon Sect, for any reason.
'Please, come!'
It was a plea he wouldn't have made if he knew the situation Han Wol-gaek was in.
The White Dragon Division Lord was not the only one surprised.
Gwak Yeong and the martial artists of the Division were just as shocked.
The First Young Master summoned the Demon Slaying Branch Master?
Only Ho Myeong, who had been ordered by Geom Muyang to contact Jin Ha-gun through the Heaven-Reaching Pavilion, knew of this beforehand.
Gwak Yeong's gaze turned to the Demon Slaying Branch Master.
As a member of the Martial Alliance, she knew better than anyone what kind of person he was.
The grandson of the Martial Alliance Leader and the most likely successor.
The Demon Slaying Branch he led was the Martial Alliance's finest elite.
That was why the highest quality weapons from the Iron Workshop were always supplied to the Demon Slaying Branch first.
'You called such a person? He's not someone who comes just because he's told.
Who in the world are you?'
Gwak Yeong stared at Geom Muyang in astonishment.
It was Jin Ha-gun who cleared up her confusion.
He asked the White Dragon Division Lord.
"Division Lord Do, do you know who that man is?"
"I do not."
Then, Jin Ha-gun spoke calmly.
"He is the First Young Master of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect."
The White Dragon Division Lord was startled.
No, he feigned surprise.
In truth, he already knew his opponent was Geom Muyang.
If he had been an ordinary demonic practitioner, he would have dealt with him himself instead of waiting for Han Wol-gaek.
The person most shocked by those words was Gwak Yeong.
'That man is the First Young Master of the Demon Sect?'
That meant he was the brother of the next Heavenly Demon.
The fact that the succession dispute in the Demon Sect had ended peacefully was once a hot topic in the martial world.
She truly couldn't have imagined it.
The man she had been with all this time was the First Young Master of the Demon Sect.
She had shouted at such a person, even begged him to save her.
She had done that to the man who was almost the Heavenly Demon.
'No, seriously! If he had such a grand status, he should have told me beforehand.
Didn't you want to boast, "I'm this kind of person"?'
If it were just the two of them, she would have said those words.
Geom Muyang greeted Jin Ha-gun first.
"It has been a while."
"Have you been well?"
Jin Ha-gun showed courtesy to Geom Muyang.
This greeting was not for the First Young Master of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect.
It was for Geom Mugeuk's brother.
"Thank you for coming."
"Of course, I had to come."
Jin Ha-gun suddenly recalled what Geom Mugeuk had said to him at the three-party meeting.
-My older brother is originally a man of few words.
He resembles you a lot.
Do I really resemble that person so much? He hadn't had a private conversation with him yet, so he couldn't know.
He had found it surprising when he received the dispatch from Geom Muyang.
He was a person who seemed unlikely to contact him no matter what happened.
The dispatch contained the following:
There was an organization that counterfeited and sold the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect's hidden weapons, and he had come this far while pursuing them.
But no matter the reason, their entry into Wuhan was something that should not have happened.
Even if the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect was in the middle of an operation, Wuhan was a restricted zone.
If not for the presence of Geom Mugeuk acting as a buffer, the atmosphere right now would have been far more hostile.
The White Dragon Division Lord did not miss this opportunity.
"Demon Slaying Branch Master Jin, what is your relationship with the First Young Master of the Demon Sect? You seem to be acquainted."
This question had a clear intent.
'He called the Demon Slaying Branch Master? I'll make that a misstep instead.'
The White Dragon Division Lord brought up Jin Ha-gun's greatest weakness.
"If it becomes known that you are acquainted with the First Young Master of the Demon Sect, the martial artists of the Righteous Path will be greatly agitated. Does the Alliance Leader know of this?"
Since he had not yet been officially named successor, if he fell out of favor with the Alliance Leader or caused a controversial incident, he could not become the successor.
He aimed for that point to prevent the Demon Slaying Branch Master from showing any familiarity with Geom Muyang.
As if his intention had worked, Jin Ha-gun asked Geom Muyang defensively.
"What does that matter have to do with the White Dragon Division Lord here?"
"I believe the White Dragon Division Lord has been co-opted by that organization."
At Geom Muyang's answer, the gazes of the Demon Slaying Branch warriors turned in unison toward the White Dragon Division Lord.
The White Dragon Division Lord then raised his voice confidently.
"No matter how much you are the First Young Master of the Demon Sect, watch your words. Accusing me of such a thing is to disregard the Righteous Path and disrespect our Alliance!"
His voice echoed thunderously.
The White Dragon Division Lord turned to Jin Ha-gun, asking for his agreement.
He had deliberately mentioned the Martial Alliance.
What if it became a matter of the Alliance's honor?
'As long as the position of Martial Alliance successor is at stake, the Demon Slaying Branch Master has no choice but to side with me.'
He believed so.
But instead of agreeing, Jin Ha-gun threw a question.
"Division Lord Do, do you know what kind of organization that is?"
"No, I do not."
Jin Ha-gun stared at him intently and asked.
"Then why do you not ask what kind of organization it is? That should have been the first thing you were curious about."
For a moment, the White Dragon Division Lord flinched.
In his agitation, he had overlooked that point.
Soon, the White Dragon Division Lord said, as if it were nothing.
"It must be an organization created by those Demon Sect bastards."
Nodding once, Jin Ha-gwon asked again.
"Who were you waiting for?"
"What do you mean?"
"I heard you when I arrived just now. You were asking someone to come out, were you not?"
The White Dragon Division Lord was at a loss for words.
A moment ago, he had shouted for Han Wol-gaek to come out, thinking he was there.
It seemed Jin Ha-gun had heard him.
Who should he say it was?
"I was pretending someone was there so these people wouldn't act recklessly."
Though he answered with improvisation, Jin Ha-gun simply stared at him in silence, so he raised his voice instead.
"Are you suspecting me as well? Me, who has been loyal to the Alliance my entire life!"
Did he not know that the more he shouted, the weaker and more suspicious he appeared?
Jin Ha-gun's gaze shifted back to Geom Muyang.
He didn't know much about Geom Muyang.
Yet, the reason he felt an inexplicable trust was because of Geom Mugeuk.
He was the brother Geom Mugeuk had wanted to save so desperately.
"Do you have evidence?"
"The place where the counterfeit hidden weapons were made was rented by that White Dragon Division Lord."
At Geom Muyang's answer, the White Dragon Division Lord again pleaded his innocence.
"A ridiculous false accusation! Frankly, if I were part of that organization, would I have rented it myself?"
Just then, someone spoke coldly.
"Hypocrite!"
Everyone's attention turned to Gwak Yeong, who had spoken.
She had realized he was on their side when they were alone earlier.
"And yet, I believed you."
Jin Ha-gun, of course, knew Gwak Yeong.
It was impossible not to know the rare woman in the Iron Workshop who was also the youngest artisan.
And he knew that the White Dragon Division's search of Wuhan was because of her.
"Artisan Gwak, how did you become involved?"
At Jin Ha-gun's question, she could not bring herself to speak.
Whatever the reason, she had tarnished the Alliance's honor.
After taking a deep breath, she spoke honestly.
"I made the counterfeit weapons."
Jin Ha-gun found it surprising.
He had known her as someone who would never do such a thing, but there was indeed a reason for it.
"My younger brother was kidnapped by them."
Jin Ha-gun nodded his head.
As someone with a younger brother himself, how could he not understand her? The only thing he couldn't understand was this.
"Why did you not inform us?"
The person who answered for her was Geom Muyang.
"I believe the leader of those scoundrels is among the highest echelons of the Martial Alliance."
Jin Ha-gun's expression hardened.
It was hard enough to believe the White Dragon Division Lord was involved, but that someone even higher up was connected?
At this moment, Gwak Yeong hesitated.
Should she grab Jin Ha-gun's trousers and plead? Please save my brother.
For her brother's sake, that would be the best choice.
But the promise she made with Geom Muyang held her back.
Since the First Young Master of the Demon Sect had made a promise, she couldn't ask another person for rescue.
Just then, Geom Muyang abruptly said to Gwak Yeong.
"I will only keep the second promise."
The second promise?
Gwak Yeong understood it was her request to be saved as well, since he was saving someone anyway.
Then what about the first promise? That was the more important one.
That promise was passed on to someone else.
"Demon Slaying Branch Master Jin. Please rescue this woman's brother."
"..."
Jin Ha-gun was surprised, and Gwak Yeong was even more so.
"I am a man more accustomed to killing than to saving people. Saving people is something you do much better, is it not?"
At that moment, Jin Ha-gun had a thought that the reason Geom Muyang called him might not have been just for handling the White Dragon Division Lord or the leader in the high ranks.
He seemed like the type to try and handle things on his own, no matter what.
Yet, he had called him.
Could it be because he wanted to keep his promise to that woman?
The chances of him and the Demon Slaying Branch rescuing someone were far greater than for them, whose activities were restricted.
"Were you this kind of person?"
The two men's gazes met in mid-air.
He would have made the same choice.
What was more important than pride was a life that needed to be saved.
Perhaps that was why Geom Mugeuk had said they were alike.
Finally, Jin Ha-gun spoke calmly.
"Understood. We will make sure to rescue your brother."
Since it was a matter concerning Gwak Yeong, a member of the Martial Alliance's Iron Workshop, they had a reason to step in.
Gwak Yeong was overjoyed.
"Thank you so much, Demon Slaying Branch Master."
She knew being this happy might be rude to Geom Muyang, but she couldn't hide her joy.
The most outstanding martial artists she knew were the warriors of the Demon Slaying Branch.
Furthermore, she knew better than anyone how righteous a martial artist Jin Ha-gun was.
There could be nothing better for her brother.
After thanking Jin Ha-gun, Gwak Yeong turned back to Geom Muyang.
He was still looking at her with an indifferent face.
She could feel it.
This stoic man had chosen the surest way to save her brother.
By setting aside his own pride.
This man, who seemed to have more pride than anyone.
'If my brother returns safely, I will make weapons for you for the rest of my life.'
This was the resolution she made at that moment.
And for Geom Muyang's sake, she added one more statement.
"The White Dragon Division Lord was recruited by them."
"How do you know that?"
At Jin Ha-gun's question, she looked coldly at the White Dragon Division Lord and said.
"Because I saw a different side of that man here today."
Since it was a statement that couldn't serve as evidence, the White Dragon Division Lord scoffed.
"Demon Slaying Branch Master Jin, that woman has gone over to the demonic practitioners. She might be under a Soul-Devouring Art, or she might have been threatened. Surely you don't believe the words of these demonic practitioners over mine, do you?"
Jin Ha-gun had not yet made any decision.
"We will know once we investigate."
"Let us go. I will tell you everything."
The White Dragon Division Lord was inwardly relieved.
If he could just get out of here and return to the Alliance, he would be saved.
Jin Ha-gun was about to tell Geom Muyang to leave the matter to them and return as he was.
He intended to somehow cover up his unauthorized entry into Wuhan on his own terms.
Just then, Geom Muyang said something unexpected.
"Entrust that investigation to us."
A momentary silence fell.
Everyone knew what those words meant.
It meant they would interrogate the White Dragon Division Lord themselves.
"That is not possible."
Jin Ha-gun refused firmly.
He could concede on other matters, but that was impossible.
"Once they learn that he has been captured, they will cut off all their tails."
As he said this, he looked at Gwak Yeong.
Jin Ha-gun understood the meaning behind his words.
It meant that the woman's brother would be the first to die.
"We must follow the trail before that happens."
This was a race against time.
They couldn't torture the White Dragon Division Lord, whose guilt had not yet been proven.
And if Geom Muyang's words were true and their leader was in the high command, the one who cut off the tail would never be found.
"Give us just two hours."
Jin Ha-gun glanced at the White Dragon Division Lord standing beside him.
"You're not really going to hand me over, are you?"
When Jin Ha-gun gave no reply, the White Dragon Division Lord prodded his weakness again.
"The moment you hand me over to them, your position as successor will be over, Demon Slaying Branch Master Jin."
"The Demon Slaying Branch Master who handed over the White Dragon Division Lord to demonic practitioners, can you really handle that? Never! I swear on my life! I am innocent!"
Swish.
Thud.
Jin Ha-gun struck and sealed his pressure points.
Then, he spoke firmly to Geom Muyang.
"I will give you exactly a quarter of an hour."
Geom Muyang and the Division martial artists took him and went inside the building.
There were countless reasons not to, but only one reason to do it.
Jin Ha-gun followed his instinct.
His instinct that this choice was the right one.
The Demon Slaying Branch warriors knew well how dangerous this choice was.
What if the White Dragon Division Lord was innocent?
The fallout would be enormous.
But the bond between the Demon Slaying Branch warriors and Jin Ha-gun had deepened during their recent escape from the formation, and not a single one of them doubted his decision.
And after a quarter of an hour.
Geom Muyang walked out of the building, shaking the blood from his hands as he spoke.
"He confessed."