Geom Mugeuk could see that the Unorthodox Alliance Leader was serious.
He wanted to fly onto that stage right now and kill Cha Iran.
She was striding across the stage, capturing the gazes of the heroes.
A person who should be living the most secretive of lives was smiling brightly at the world.
All to kill this Unorthodox Alliance Leader, to become the Greatest Beauty Under Heaven.
A surprising word flowed from Geom Mugeuk's lips.
"Kill her."
When Geom Mugeuk said to kill her, Baek Ja-gang’s eyes widened slightly.
It was an unexpected answer.
“You're telling me to kill her?”
“Yes! Kill her.”
Baek Ja-gang could also tell.
That these words were not a lie.
He didn’t get goosebumps.
Baek Ja-gang’s gaze turned to Cha Iran on the stage.
She was in the center of the stage, smiling brightly toward the judges' seats.
She would be getting off the stage soon.
The intense killing intent felt from Baek Ja-gang beside him was so taut it seemed ready to shoot toward the stage at any moment.
How many moves could an assassin exposed to the world last against the Unorthodox Alliance Leader?
Stepping over her corpse, Baek Ja-gang would probably say something like this.
I am the Unorthodox Alliance Leader.
I congratulate you on the opening of the Greatest Beauty Under Heaven Contest.
At the Unorthodox Alliance Leader's surprise appearance, all members of the Unorthodox Faction would go wild.
They would cheer without asking for the reason why he killed her.
For he was a man who held the absolute faith and support of the Unorthodox Faction.
The intense killing intent that had been focused in his eyes dissipated.
Baek Ja-gang stated his reason for giving up in a calm voice.
"If she were a woman who had to be killed, you would have already killed her before I arrived.”
At this deep trust in him, Geom Mugeuk gave a bright smile.
Now it was Geom Mugeuk's turn to answer that trust.
“Yes, there was a reason I didn't kill her.”
Geom Mugeuk's gaze turned to the stage.
Cha Iran was stepping down from the stage amidst cheers.
"Would they have truly entrusted such a monumental task to her alone? There is likely someone else behind this.”
Baek Ja-gang nodded.
He understood the intention was to draw out the mastermind and deal with them together.
Somewhere among this crowd of heroes, there could be someone else.
“There is a bigger reason than that. Why would she target you, Alliance Leader? Even if she succeeded in the assassination, Bi Sa-in would just inherit your position.”
In fact, this was also the reason Baek Ja-gang hadn't killed her.
Even if he were to kill her, he wanted to find out the reason why.
“Dying at the hands of the Greatest Beauty Under Heaven wouldn't be so bad.”
It was a joke that contained the meaning that he would wait without killing her first.
As he was about to leave, Baek Ja-gang asked one last question.
"What would you have done if I had really killed that woman?"
Geom Mugeuk thought for a moment, then said calmly.
“If you had killed her, there would have been another way.”
Looking at Baek Ja-gang, he added.
“With you here, Alliance Leader, what is there to worry about?"
This statement also did not give him goosebumps.
He could see that Geom Mugeuk truly believed in him.
For someone who talked so much, the times Geom Mugeuk said things that gave him goosebumps were truly few and far between.
Pressing down his bamboo hat, Baek Ja-gang disappeared into the crowd.
Until the end of the main round, no incident occurred.
The eight beauties who would be on the final stage, to be held three days after the competition, were announced.
Along with seven other beauties including Cha Iran.
Lee Ahn advances to the finals.
There were no surprises.
With a swollen face, An Hu-pyeong sat near the front of the stage.
Even in this state, he had come out to watch the contest.
He had to show Lee Ahn that he was watching, and he was also curious about what other pretty beauties there were.
He paid no mind to the gazes of those around him.
I am the Young Lord of the Divine Flower Sect.
No matter what state I'm in, I'm better than you, right? Can you look down on me? You can't, right? He had lived his whole life with this mindset.
Of course, right now, his mood was the worst.
Earlier, he had been so shocked and flustered that he was out of his mind, but as time passed, he felt immense pain and resentment.
He thought watching the beauties might lift his spirits, but hearing the fervent heat and cheers only made him feel worse.
Right, when you're in a bad mood, you shouldn't look at happy things but at things more miserable than yourself.
Just then, someone held something out to him.
He turned his head to see Sa Chu holding out a cloth bundle of ice.
“Put this on your face.”
"Forget it!"
He reacted irritably, but Sa Chu continued to hold out the pouch.
“I said I'm fine! Are you mocking me?!"
An Hu-pyeong threw the pouch to the ground.
His face hurt from shouting.
“Damn it, that hurts."
Sa Chu silently looked at An Hu-pyeong.
He thought he deserved it, but seeing him in this state, he still felt bad.
"How much money do I have in the treasury?"
“About twelve hundred Nyang.”
“Is that all?”
Considering how recklessly he usually spent, it was a relief that even that much money was left.
“What kind of gift can I buy with that?"
"What gift are you talking about?"
“What do you mean! It's for the Young Alliance Leader. I have to appease him, don't I?"
He had to do something.
He had cursed at the Young Alliance Leader and tried to hit him, so he was on his bad side, and properly so.
“It will be difficult to buy something the Young Alliance Leader would like with that money.”
“Damn it!"
Just then, a cheer erupted.
He lifted his head and looked at the stage to see Cha Iran coming on.
“That woman?"
It was the woman who had been talking with Lee Ahn's escort.
Strangely, he had found it difficult to even say a single word to her.
Seeing her overwhelming beauty, a single thought flashed through An Hu-pyeong's mind.
“Right, that's it! I have to find that guy!”
An Hu-pyeong shot up and ran into the crowd of heroes.
Sa Chu sighed, wondering what kind of trouble he was going to cause this time, and followed after him.
After wandering and searching, the person An Hu-pyeong finally found was none other than Geom Mugeuk.
"How did your face get into such a state?"
Of course, Geom Mugeuk could guess the reason.
It would have been nice if he'd come to his senses after being beaten up.
“It's none of your business! You know the guy who was talking to you earlier?”
"You mean that scary-looking person?"
“Did he really ask if a lot of beauties had come?”
“Yes. He said he had a hard time rushing here so as not to be late."
An Hu-pyeong's eyes sparkled.
“You said you were going for drinks tonight, right? Where are you taking the young ladies?”
“I haven't decided yet. If we go, I was thinking of renting a room at a nearby tavern.”
"Come to the Radiant Flame Pavilion! I'll rent out the whole place.”
The Radiant Flame Pavilion was the largest and most expensive tavern in the marketplace.
An Hu-pyeong had decided to make up for his mistake by introducing Cha Iran to Bi Sa-in.
Yes, if he was fond of women, this arrangement would surely work.
When Geom Mugeuk made a troubled expression, An Hu-pyeong scowled.
“An important guest will be coming as well."
“Who are you referring to?”
Being a guard, he probably wouldn't bring Lee Ahn and Cha Iran unless he told him who it was.
An Hu-pyeong held up two fingers.
“The person who is second among the rising stars of the Martial World.”
“Who is that?”
“The Young Alliance Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance.”
It was also a chance to show Lee Ahn what a great person he associated with.
He could look good to the Young Alliance Leader and also to Lee Ahn.
He was a little worried that Bi Sa-in might take a liking to Lee Ahn, but.
Well, if that happened, it couldn't be helped.
He would just switch to Cha Iran then.
For now, making a good impression on the Young Alliance Leader was more important.
“You just have to bring them. I'll let you eat all the expensive wine and food you've never had in your life.”
An Hu-pyeong threatened him in a low voice.
“If you don't come, I'll really rip that mouth of yours!"
At the words 'rip that mouth', Sa Chu, who was behind An Hu-pyeong, flinched.
He made eye contact with Geom Mugeuk.
Sa Chu covered his mouth with his palm.
It was a sign that he had absolutely said nothing.
As An Hu-pyeong turned away, Geom Mugeuk asked.
“Then who is the first among the rising stars?"
As if asking because he didn't know, An Hu-pyeong strode away and answered.
“Wouldn't a demonic practitioner like you know better?"
A table was prepared in the center of the Radiant Flame Pavilion.
All sorts of rare delicacies were laid out, and fine wine was prepared.
“If you make any mistakes, you’ll all die today!”
At An Hu-pyeong's shout, the chefs and servers working at the Radiant Flame Pavilion tensed up.
Just then, An Hu-pyeong noticed Sa Chu standing there blankly.
An Hu-pyeong grabbed Sa Chu's shoulder from behind and shook it.
“What is it now? What's wrong?"
“Ah, it's nothing.”
“Are you scared because the Young Alliance Leader is coming? You just stand there quietly.”
In truth, Sa Chu wasn't nervous about the Young Alliance Leader, but about meeting the Thirteen Wolves of the Unorthodox Path up close.
His heart was trembling.
He wondered why so many surprising things had been happening lately.
Just then, Bi Sa-in entered the place.
An Hu-pyeong ran to greet him.
“You've arrived?"
Following Bi Sa-in, the Thirteen Wolves of the Unorthodox Path entered.
The Thirteen Wolves scattered and took their positions around the room.
They were positioned to respond immediately if any problem arose for Bi Sa-in.
After politely bowing to Bi Sa-in, Sa Chu clasped his fist and bowed to the Thirteen Wolves as well.
Once in each direction.
It was not common to greet them so thoroughly, so the First Wolf watched him with interest.
“Have the others not arrived yet?"
To Bi Sa-in's question after he sat down, An Hu-pyeong quickly answered.
“They should be on their way now.”
An Hu-pyeong looked at Sa Chu, about to gesture with his eyes for him to go check.
But Sa Chu was looking at the Thirteen Wolves and didn't see him.
'Sigh, is he spacing out again?'
Sa Chu was feeling both awe and sorrow.
They were the ones he had truly admired and looked up to since he was young.
The five words, 'Thirteen Wolves of the Unorthodox Path', remained just that to him.
An unfulfilled dream.
If I had tried harder back then, could I have been standing in that spot?
Just then, Geom Mugeuk stepped inside.
An Hu-pyeong, who had been delighted, flinched in surprise.
Only Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn had arrived.
An Hu-pyeong ran up to Geom Mugeuk and asked.
“Where is Miss Cha?”
“We were supposed to meet her here.”
“You told her to be sure to come, right?”
“She'll come.”
It was something he could have said after exchanging greetings first.
But his desire to introduce Cha Iran to Bi Sa-in was foremost in his mind.
The next thought that came to his mind was this introduction.
“This person here is the Young Alliance Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance.”
An Hu-pyeong puffed out his chest. 'Miss Lee, I am a person who associates with the Young Alliance Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance.'
“This is Miss Lee Ahn, who has advanced to the finals.”
This time, he looked at Bi Sa-in and puffed himself up. 'I am a person who socializes with such beauties!'
“Come, please sit.”
As everyone took their seats, Geom Mugeuk also quickly took a seat.
“Do you know what kind of gathering this is! How dare a mere escort intrude?"
Geom Mugeuk said as if he was being wronged.
“Didn't you say you'd let me eat wine and food I've never had in my life? Didn't you say the number two rising star would be here?"
"Has this bastard gone mad!"
Bi Sa-in asked in a low voice.
“Who is number one?”
An Hu-pyeong was terrified and waved his hands dismissively.
“This man is spouting nonsense!”
Watching the commotion, Sa Chu frowned.
More than any other mistake, those words caught his ear.
The Thirteen Wolves were standing right there, yet he was so carelessly using words like 'mere escort'.
Sa Chu slightly bowed his head toward the First Wolf, who was standing a little way from him, as if apologizing on his behalf.
Just then, the First Wolf's telepathic message reached Sa Chu.
―Are your younger siblings well?
Sa Chu looked at the First Wolf in shock.
What did that mean?
In that moment, Sa Chu's eyes shot wide open in astonishment.
He sent a telepathic message with a trembling voice.
―You remember me.
That day from long ago came to mind.
The days of his youth, when he had waited at the entrance of the Unorthodox Alliance headquarters just to get a glimpse of the Thirteen Wolves' faces.
And on the day he finally met them, Sa Chu mustered the greatest courage of his entire life.
He had blocked the path of the Thirteen Wolves.
And he asked something that no one around him had been able to tell him.
“How can one become one of the Thirteen Wolves?"
The one who had stepped forward and listened to his words back then was that very First Wolf.
“I heard that the greatest martial artists of the Unorthodox Alliance are the Thirteen Wolves. I want to become the greatest martial artist and feed my younger siblings until they are full.”
They had left without saying a word, but surprisingly, the First Wolf remembered him from that day.
―How do you remember me?
-Because you're the only person who has blocked our path and survived.
Sa Chu was truly grateful and moved that he was remembered.
But because of that, he could no longer face the First Wolf and lowered his head.
He, who had once dreamed such a grand dream.
Now, his lot in life was to follow that rascal An Hu-pyeong around and clean up his messes.
Just then, the First Wolf, as if wary of his surroundings, slowly walked over, passed by the deeply bowed Sa Chu, and tapped his shoulder.
It was an action more encouraging than any words in the world.
Sa Chu made a resolution.
He decided he would never wash this piece of clothing where the First Wolf had tapped his shoulder, but keep it safe for the rest of his life.
It was at that very moment.
Grab.
Just then, An Hu-pyeong grabbed his shoulder from behind and said.
“Go to the kitchen and oversee things yourself. Make sure there are no mistakes.”
Of all places, he had grabbed the very spot the First Wolf had touched.
“Why did you have to grab me! You could have just said it!”
Sa Chu shouted.
An Hu-pyeong looked at him with a surprised face.
Everyone's gaze focused on him.
“What in the world is wrong with you!"
It was the first time Sa Chu had ever shouted at An Hu-pyeong.
And it was also a shout directed at himself.
After a moment of bewilderment, An Hu-pyeong asked coldly.
“What's wrong with you?”
Just then, over An Hu-pyeong's shoulder, Sa Chu's eyes caught sight of Geom Mugeuk.
Geom Mugeuk raised his palm and made a gesture of covering his mouth, exactly as Sa Chu had done to him earlier.
Sa Chu could understand.
It meant he shouldn't say anything right now.
Until now, everyone had told him to be quiet.
Shh! Shh, or they'd rip his mouth open, they said.
But this gesture of covering the mouth was different.
This was an action being done for his sake.
Just let it pass quietly.
Now is not the time.
He could feel that sentiment.
“I'm sorry. I must have been out of my mind.”
Sa Chu ran to the kitchen with his head bowed.
This wasn't the time to press him, so An Hu-pyeong turned and said to everyone.
“Managing subordinates these days is this difficult. You all understand, right?"
He laughed out loud as he said it.
But no one laughed along with him.
In fact, no one was even looking at him.
The Thirteen Wolves were each looking straight ahead, and Lee Ahn and Bi Sa-in were talking about something.
And Geom Mugeuk was watching Sa Chu walk to the kitchen.
'Where is everyone looking?'
In that brief moment, he felt as if he had been cast aside, all alone.
He hadn't even felt this way when he was beaten by his father.
Just then, someone spoke from behind him.
"Could you please move aside?”
An Hu-pyeong turned to see Cha Iran standing there.
The woman who would save him had finally appeared.
"Oh! Our Miss Cha has finally arrived."
As he greeted her warmly, Cha Iran tilted her head.
“And you are?"
“I am An Hu-pyeong, Young Lord of the Divine Flower Sect.”
Instead of introducing herself, Cha Iran just smiled sweetly.
“The face of such a noble person seems quite swollen.”
Cha Iran walked past him.
Although Bi Sa-in and Lee Ahn were there together, her gaze was fixed only on Geom Mugeuk.
"There are a lot of guests, aren't there? I told you we should meet alone, just the two of us."
It was at that very moment, as she walked up to the table where everyone was seated.
Vmm.
The Secret Vessel inside Geom Mugeuk's robes reacted minutely.
Cha Iran smiled alluringly and said.
“Who knows? Maybe something good will happen when it's just the two of us?"