Geom Mugeuk and the escort warriors of the Yellow Dragon Escort Agency were waiting in the Clear Water Forest.
Dressed as an escort warrior, Geom Mugeuk looked like a young new recruit.
—The time has come, but they have not.
Geom Mugeuk replied to the telepathic message from Hwang Won, the acting Escort Master.
—Give the order to return immediately.
—Shouldn’t we wait longer?
—No, give the order right now.
Hwang Won followed Geom Mugeuk’s advice.
“We’re heading back.”
At his command, the escort warriors turned the carts around.
Just as they were about to leave the Clear Water Forest, a man blocked the path of the escort mission.
With his face hidden by a low-worn bamboo hat, he was Heuk-sam of the Black Snake Gang.
“Where is Escort Leader Gong?”
He had been watching from hiding and only appeared when he saw them leaving.
Hwang Won answered Heuk-sam’s question.
“Escort Leader Gong is dead.”
Geom Mugeuk had told him in advance.
If the contact asked, he was to tell them the truth: that he was dead.
“Dead? Why is he dead?”
“He was killed by those Demon Sect bastards.”
Thinking that the man might have heard some news, he was relaying the facts as they were.
“I don’t know the details either. Only that he got tangled up with the Demon Sect bastards and was beaten to death.”
Heuk-sam was not particularly surprised.
The Gong Chan he had met didn’t seem like the type to live long.
He was arrogant, didn't know his place, and had a look in his eyes that got on people’s nerves.
“The Escort Master sent me in his place as the one in charge.”
Heuk-sam glanced at the escort warriors behind Hwang Won.
Except for the young escort warrior who looked like a new recruit, they were all the same ones he had seen last time.
“Just give me the escorted goods. You can confirm with the Escort Master later.”
Hwang Won’s business-like and stiff attitude was also something Geom Mugeuk had instructed.
When Heuk-sam did not reply, Geom Mugeuk quickly sent a telepathic message to Hwang Won.
—Be more forceful.
Hwang Won’s expression hardened as he spoke the words Geom Mugeuk had told him.
“Frankly, I don’t like these kinds of secret escort missions. I’m only doing it because it’s the Escort Master’s order."
"I will go back and report it just as it happened. That the other party refused to entrust us with the escorted goods.”
Hwang Won turned and said to the escort warriors.
“We’re heading back.”
We have nothing to lose here.
This was the core of their plan.
After glaring at Hwang Won’s back for a moment, Heuk-sam let go of his suspicions.
“Wait. Follow me.”
Following him, they found a cart loaded with goods and a dozen Black Snake Gang martial artists in a secluded part of the forest.
They did not cover their faces, and the black snake head tattoos on their foreheads looked truly menacing.
As soon as he saw the boxes, Geom Mugeuk emitted his energy to check if there was any life inside.
It could be a trap.
Fortunately, he felt breathing.
Faintly felt breaths, they were children!
When Geom Mugeuk nodded, Hwang Won gave the order.
“Hurry and move them.”
The escort warriors began to transfer the boxes to their own carts.
Hwang Won asked Heuk-sam.
“Where should we take them?”
“I’ve already told you the destination.”
For a moment like this, Geom Mugeuk had told him to say this.
“Do you think that secretive Escort Leader Gong would have told me that before he croaked?”
When Hwang Won asked if it was okay to be this forceful, Geom Mugeuk had explained that this method was a trick to make them look at the finger, not the moon.
Just as he said, the Black Snake Gang members focused on Hwang Won’s attitude.
One of the Black Snake Gang swordsmen stepped forward and warned.
“You! Watch your mouth.”
Heuk-sam restrained his subordinate, then said to Hwang Won.
“The escorted goods are to be taken to the Flowing Sword Sect by midnight, the day after tomorrow. If you’re even a moment late, you’ll die by my hand.”
It was at that very moment, when the destination was revealed.
Swoosh.
A flying dagger lodged itself in the neck of the swordsman who had just issued the warning.
As he collapsed, martial artists ambushed them from all sides.
“It’s an ambush! Defend!”
But the skill of the ambushing martial artists overwhelmed the Black Snake Gang swordsmen.
Unable to counter their attacks properly, they fell one after another.
Geom Mugeuk had the escort warriors form a circle to keep them from getting caught in the fight.
Heuk-sam leaped toward the forest behind them.
But with a thud, he tumbled to the ground.
The force of the fall knocked off his bamboo hat, revealing his face.
A black snake head tattoo was also etched on his forehead.
Looking at it now, the snake was different from the ones on his subordinates’ foreheads.
It seemed the snake’s appearance differed according to rank.
A person walked out of the forest.
Surprisingly, the person who had subdued Heuk-sam was none other than the Demon Slaying Branch Master, Jin Ha-gun.
He walked over leisurely and pressed the mute point and paralyzing point of Heuk-sam, who was clutching his stomach in pain.
In the meantime, the other Black Snake Gang swordsmen had all been killed or subdued.
It was all over in an instant.
The Demon Slaying Branch martial artists surrounded the escort warriors, aiming their swords at them.
One of the martial artists ran over and opened a box.
When he lifted the camouflaging silk, a child was sleeping inside.
“There’s a child.”
“Is he unharmed?”
“Yes, he’s asleep due to the Great Turtle Breath Technique.”
Jin Ha-gun was overjoyed and opened another box himself.
A child was sleeping inside it as well.
Just then, another Demon Slaying Branch martial artist approached and reported to Jin Ha-gun.
“Those men are escort warriors from the Yellow Dragon Escort Agency.”
At that, Jin Ha-gun roared.
“Escort warriors of the Righteous Path were dealing with the Black Snake Gang?”
The Demon Slaying Branch had only tracked the children, unaware that the people who came to meet them were from the Yellow Dragon Escort Agency.
“Drop your weapons and all of you, kneel.”
Hwang Won’s heart sank.
Being with the Young Cult Master of the Demon Sect at a place where the Black Snake Gang was moving children? Would the Demon Slaying Branch martial artists believe their words?
The truth would eventually come out.
Many eyes had witnessed what happened at the Yellow Dragon Escort Agency.
But if a fight broke out here, they could die a dog’s death without even getting a chance to reveal the truth.
In that brief moment, such worries plagued Hwang Won.
“Kill anyone who does not kneel!”
When the order was given, Hwang Won ordered the escort warriors to kneel as they were told.
Jin Ha-gun was holding a child.
Just then, he saw a Demon Slaying Branch martial artist next to him staring at someone.
The other martial artists were doing the same.
Jin Ha-gun turned around, still holding the child.
Everyone was kneeling, but one young escort warrior was still standing.
He smiled at Jin Ha-gun and offered a greeting.
“Been well?”
Confirming that it was Geom Mugeuk, Jin Ha-gun’s eyes widened.
“You!”
The man who appeared in his dreams.
The vexing man who was always one step ahead of him, even in his dreams.
He was standing there, smiling, in an escort warrior’s clothes.
“Why are you here?”
“I came to get some children to use as materials for my Great Art.”
At those words, Hwang Won, who was kneeling, was terrified.
What if he really believes him? Ugh! Could it be true? Did he trick me and bring me here?
That’s right, there’s no way the Young Cult Master of the Demon Sect would come to save children, right?
Unaccustomed to Geom Mugeuk’s jests, he momentarily had such thoughts.
Fortunately, Jin Ha-gun was used to Geom Mugeuk’s jokes.
“Joking as soon as you see me again?”
“It’s a long story. To put it simply, I came to save the children.”
“If I had known, we wouldn’t have had to come.”
Though said as a joke, it was high praise for Geom Mugeuk.
“Everyone, stand up.”
At Jin Ha-gun’s words, the kneeling escort warriors rose to their feet.
They were relieved, yet at the same time, surprised.
They knew the Young Cult Master of the Demon Sect was an extraordinary person, but they didn’t know he had this kind of relationship with the Demon Slaying Branch Master.
“We received information that the Black Snake Gang was kidnapping and selling children and launched an investigation. We finally found the evidence.”
“You found out that they were selling the children, but what are you going to do about the buyers?”
“Of course, we won’t let them be either.”
Jin Ha-gun wanted to storm the Flowing Sword Sect right away and punish them for buying the children.
But the Flowing Sword Sect was a sect belonging to the Unorthodox Faction.
Thus, he couldn’t just charge in without clear evidence.
If he made a wrong move and it escalated into a conflict with the Unorthodox Alliance, it would be irreversible.
“From now on, I will investigate the Flowing Sword Sect in secret. If we find evidence that they bought the kidnapped children, the Main Branch will not forgive them.”
At his firm resolve, Geom Mugeuk smiled.
“Spoken like the Demon Slaying Branch Master.”
It wasn’t sarcasm, but a sincere compliment.
He could feel a different kind of spirit from Jin Ha-gun than before.
“But there’s a problem with your plan, Branch Master. If the promised children don’t arrive this time, they’ll realize something is wrong and destroy all the evidence. They might frame a disposable subordinate and cut their losses.”
Jin Ha-gun agreed with those words and asked for Geom Mugeuk’s opinion.
“Then what should we do?”
“Let’s continue our escort mission.”
Not only Jin Ha-gun, but the Demon Slaying Branch martial artists and the escort warriors all looked at Geom Mugeuk with surprised expressions.
“The children are asleep under the Great Turtle Breath Technique anyway, so we can’t force them awake. They’ll only wake up when the time comes. Let’s deliver the children and find evidence of the Flowing Sword Sect Master’s involvement.”
“What if something happens to the children in the process?”
“If an accident happens even with you and me going, wouldn’t that be a natural disaster?”
Jin Ha-gun pondered.
If anyone else had made this proposal, he would have refused.
He had no intention of gambling with the lives of children.
But the person he would be with was Geom Mugeuk.
He knew well what kind of person he was.
His deliberation was not long.
If this matter wasn't uprooted properly, children would continue to be kidnapped in other ways.
When Jin Ha-gun nodded, Geom Mugeuk shouted to the escort warriors.
“Let’s continue the escort mission.”
*
Hwang Won looked back.
He saw Geom Mugeuk and Jin Ha-gun sitting side by side on a cart.
It wasn't just two escort warriors, nor two masters.
It was the son of the Heavenly Demon and the grandson of the Martial Alliance Leader sitting side by side.
It was a sight he would never see again in his lifetime.
Hwang Won and the escort warriors were having a truly amazing experience.
“Is the Alliance Leader well?”
“He is still as strong as ever.”
After a brief pause, Jin Ha-gun spoke.
“He sometimes speaks of you.”
“What does he say?”
“If you have to kill one of the demonic practitioners, make sure to kill the Young Cult Master.”
Geom Mugeuk smiled and received the words.
“It must be the opposite. If you have to save one of the demonic practitioners, make sure to save the Young Cult Master.”
“Think as you please.”
From their conversation, Hwang Won and the escort warriors realized that what Geom Mugeuk had told Wu So-chu was true.
He was undoubtedly well-acquainted with the Martial Alliance Leader.
“And Miss Jin?”
“Still as much of a tomboy as ever.”
But contrary to his words, Jin Ha-ryeong had also changed.
She was no longer the immature Jin Ha-ryeong but was growing into a central figure for the younger generation of the Righteous Path.
“But why are you out here alone?”
“I came out in a hurry and couldn't inform anyone.”
Jin Ha-gun looked at Geom Mugeuk.
He wasn't one to lie, so he must truly be out here alone.
“Looks like even the Sect doesn’t look for an outcast child.”
“I suppose so. So you, at least, should treat me warmly.”
Jin Ha-gun averted his gaze with an exasperated expression.
But he soon said in a calm tone.
“Since that day, I’ve been trying to see people for who they truly are.”
Geom Mugeuk smiled without a word.
Jin Ha-gun felt it.
The essence of the man called Geom Mugeuk could be seen when he was silent like this.
When he was looking up at the sky with those clear, deep eyes, just like now.
One shouldn't be fooled by his chattiness.
The cart continued on, and on, until it reached the Flowing Sword Sect.
*
Late at night, the cart entered through the back gate of the Flowing Sword Sect.
Manhong of the Flowing Sword Sect received the escorted goods.
“Move them carefully. Don’t stack them, place them separately.”
The escort warriors of the Yellow Dragon Escort Agency moved the boxes they had brought into the warehouse.
Once all the boxes were moved, Manhong handed the escort warriors a heavy pouch filled with silver coins.
After the escort warriors left, Manhong opened the boxes to check on the children.
Just then, a person entered.
It was none other than the Flowing Sword Sect Master, Taejo.
He was an absolute master of the Unorthodox Faction who had established his own school in the martial world with the Flowing Sword Technique.
“Did you have to use those Righteous Path bastards?”
“It couldn’t be helped. It seems the Demon Slaying Branch is thoroughly investigating anyone related to the Black Snake Gang, even those who just had a drink with them.”
“Damn them! How many children came in this time?”
“Fifteen.”
“When will they wake up?”
“They will be up in three double-hours.”
“Have them brought to me when they wake.”
Just as Taejo was about to leave the warehouse.
A commotion was heard from outside.
The clash of weapons was heard, and then.
Crash.
The warehouse door was smashed, and a group of martial artists entered.
The person leading them was none other than Jin Ha-gun.
Jin Ha-gun walked up to Taejo and calmly introduced himself.
“I am Jin Ha-gun, the Demon Slaying Branch Master.”
“A pleasure to meet you. It is an honor to meet the famous Demon Slaying Branch Master.”
Despite guessing why the other party had come, Taejo maintained his composure.
“No matter how famous you are, I’m not sure if it’s acceptable to trespass on another’s sect like this.”
“I apologize for that. The matter was urgent, so I had no choice.”
“What is the matter?”
“Recently, the Black Snake Gang bastards have been kidnapping and selling children. The Main Branch has been monitoring and tracking their evil deeds, and we confirmed that a box containing children entered this Flowing Sword Sect.”
Jin Ha-gun’s gaze turned to the boxes.
“I believe those are the boxes. May I check?”
“And if I say no, will you refrain?”
“If that were the case, I wouldn’t have entered in the first place.”
When Jin Ha-gun nodded, two Demon Slaying Branch martial artists opened a box.
The martial artists confirmed that a child was sleeping inside.
“I know nothing about this.”
Even with the evidence presented, Taejo flatly denied it.
“I came here to speak with a subordinate. What is all this about?”
“I don’t know either. I will call the person in charge of this place and find out.”
Just as Geom Mugeuk had said, he was trying to shift the blame to a subordinate and get away.
Just then, a voice came from behind.
“That’s a lie, isn’t it?”
Taejo turned in surprise to see someone rising from behind the boxes.
It was Geom Mugeuk, who had been hiding there.
“It’s no use denying it. I heard everything.”
Of course, Taejo was not one to accept this meekly.
He calmly challenged Jin Ha-gun.
“I don’t know what that young martial artist claims to have heard, but who would believe the words of a subordinate you planted?”
“He is not my subordinate.”
“And you expect me to believe that?”
“I wish he were my subordinate, but he is someone that no one in this world could ever make their subordinate.”
Unable to understand what he meant, Taejo looked back and forth between Jin Ha-gun and Geom Mugeuk with a puzzled expression.
“Whether he’s your subordinate or not, it’s all the same. Judging by his clothes, he seems to be an escort warrior, nothing more than a petty thief who snuck into a warehouse. I cannot accept such a person as a witness.”
Both men were relaxed.
And the winner of this battle had been decided from the start.
Jin Ha-gun spoke calmly.
“Unfortunately for you, you cannot refute it, it will be difficult to insist otherwise, and silencing by murder is impossible. In fact, everyone except you will believe this man’s words…”
Jin Ha-gun turned his head to look at Geom Mugeuk.
Geom Mugeuk, whose mouth was itching to speak, was fidgeting with his lips, his expression asking, ‘When is it my turn to talk?’
“You’ve met the one witness you should never have met.”