“Young Cult Master of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect!”
Gwang-seom and Gwae-ak recognized Geom Mugeuk at the same time.
Their first meeting had left such a strong impression that he was impossible to forget.
“Why are you here?”
They were greatly surprised, as they never expected Geom Mugeuk to be here.
The expressions on Gwang-seom and Gwae-ak’s faces changed in opposite ways.
A sliver of hope bloomed in Gwae-ak’s heart.
Facing death, an unexpected variable had appeared.
Gwang-seom, on the other hand, looked utterly dismayed.
He had been on the verge of pinning the crime on Gwae-ak and killing the Young Alliance Leader.
But now, the situation had escalated to the point where he would have to kill the Demon Sect’s Young Cult Master as well.
What he was doing was already no small matter, but if the Young Cult Master also died, the Martial World would be thrown into chaos.
Frustrated by this unforeseen complication, Gwang-seom strode over, poured a drink, and gulped it down.
‘How should I handle this?’
He debated whether he should report this to Hwang Seok-gyeong immediately or handle it on his own.
Reporting and waiting for a reply would take time.
An even bigger problem was that his plan had been exposed to the Demon Sect's Young Cult Master.
Gwang-seom glanced at Geom Mugeuk.
His relaxed gaze seemed to suggest a conviction that he could not be killed.
‘Young Cult Master, you’ve met your match this time.’
He made a decision on how to handle this troublesome matter.
Gwang-seom looked at Gwae-ak and said, “At least you won’t have to bear the crime of killing the Young Alliance Leader.”
Guessing Gwang-seom’s intentions, Gwae-ak responded coldly, “You crazy bastard.”
Both he and Gwang-seom were the worst of the worst.
He had lived his whole life never trusting anyone, but he had held some trust for Gwang-seom, with whom he had spent time.
He had even liked his quiet nature.
He had been deceived by that silence.
He was more angry at himself for being fooled than at the one who had fooled him.
His martial art, the Iron Body Annihilation Technique, was a physical art that used the whole body.
Without inner energy, he couldn't even attempt a surprise attack.
What would happen if the three of them—the Young Cult Master, the Young Alliance Leader, and himself—attacked together? Could they do something even without inner energy?
But he knew better than anyone how fast Gwang-seom’s sword was.
Without inner energy, his physical art would feel like a massage, and the other two’s attacks would be like a children's sword fight.
The decision Gwang-seom had made was just as Gwae-ak had expected.
“Because it will be handled as if the Young Cult Master and the Young Alliance Leader fought and destroyed each other.”
Geom Mugeuk said to Bi Sa-in, “In the end, what you were worried about is happening. Us fighting and killing each other.”
“You can joke in a situation like this?”
“Isn't there some value in friends dying on the same day, at the same time?”
Bi Sa-in was in no mood to entertain Geom Mugeuk’s banter.
‘I’m going to die like this?’
He had trusted Gwang-seom and Gwae-ak.
That was why he had drunk the wine without any suspicion.
He had thought he could naturally trust them because they followed the Unorthodox Alliance Leader.
But thinking about it now, they had no real connection to him.
Suddenly, he remembered Geom Mugeuk’s words about looking at people properly and carefully.
Yes, this too was the result of not seeing people for who they truly were.
What would happen to the Unorthodox Alliance after he died? The Alliance Leader? The ones who had roped in even Gwang-seom would not be easy to deal with.
And on the verge of death, his last worry was not for himself.
“You must not kill the Demon Sect’s Young Cult Master. Even if you kill us, please let that man go.”
To ask for someone else’s life to be spared when he himself was about to die? Bi Sa-in felt a sense of unfamiliarity with himself.
“The Young Cult Master will promise. He’ll promise never to speak of what happened here. A man of his stature wouldn’t break a promise so lightly.”
When Gwang-seom showed no reaction, Bi Sa-in pleaded with him even more earnestly.
“Try to think from the Young Cult Master’s perspective. This is all something that happened within the Unorthodox Alliance. It has nothing to do with him, does it? There’s no reason for him to tarnish his own honor to reveal what happened today. If you kill the Young Cult Master, the Demon Sect will find you and kill you all.”
Bi Sa-in turned to Geom Mugeuk and said, “Isn’t that right? You should say something.”
Then, Geom Mugeuk spoke.
“I will speak.”
“What?”
“I can’t just stand by while they kill you in front of my eyes. I will not only tell everyone, but I will also get revenge.”
Bi Sa-in was frustrated.
Hey, Young Cult Master, this is not the time for jokes.
Please, just this once, play along with me.
Hiding his inner thoughts, Bi Sa-in calmly tried to persuade Gwang-seom.
“The Young Cult Master often says things he doesn't mean. Don't make things bigger than they need to be. Just let him go.”
As he spoke, Bi Sa-in looked at Geom Mugeuk, his eyes conveying a message.
—I am not joking.
So you, don't joke either.
Of course, it wouldn't be Geom Mugeuk if he meekly went along with his wish.
“Of all the times I’ve seen you, you look the coolest right now.”
Please! Bi Sa-in was about to burst out in anger but stopped himself.
Fine, it has come to this anyway.
It’s not like they would spare him if he asked, or kill him if he didn’t.
“If someone trying so hard to save me doesn’t look cool, wouldn't that be a problem too?”
After saying this, Bi Sa-in gave a bitter smile.
In the end, I’m still making jokes even at a time like this.
Yes, it’s better to die laughing and joking with this man.
The thought brought him a sense of peace.
Geom Mugeuk looked at Gwang-seom.
“Look into that man’s eyes.”
Bi Sa-in followed Geom Mugeuk’s gaze and looked into Gwang-seom’s eyes.
They were cold and emotionless.
“He has no intention of sparing my life.”
How could Bi Sa-in not have known? He just didn't want Geom Mugeuk to die like this as well.
Bi Sa-in let out a long sigh.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn't have dragged you into this.”
Then, Geom Mugeuk said, “That’s your second sigh.”
I wanted to show him a tenth, a hundredth sigh.
But our relationship ends with just two.
With Geom Mugeuk, it felt like they could overcome any crisis.
Even in this matter, Geom Mugeuk had pushed him to be the protagonist, but in a corner of his heart, he had trusted him.
But he had forgotten.
While marveling at Geom Mugeuk’s incredible abilities and laughing at his banter, he had forgotten that he too was human.
“I’m truly sorry.”
At his apology, which was like a lament, Geom Mugeuk smiled.
“There’s no need to be sorry.”
Watching them, Gwae-ak said to Gwang-seom, “Even their new, half-formed friendship is so touching. What does that make us?”
Gwang-seom pretended not to hear and said nothing.
This time, Geom Mugeuk spoke to Gwang-seom.
“You will be a protagonist who will go down in the history of the Martial World. For you will have killed the Young Cult Master of the Demon Sect, the Young Alliance Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance, and one of the Seven Great Masters of the Unorthodox Alliance, all in one place.”
Then, Gwae-ak added a comment.
“Make sure the records state that you killed them with Energy-dispersing poison!”
Gwang-seom, deciding not to drag it out any longer, prepared to draw his sword.
Geom Mugeuk quickly asked, “Let me ask one thing before I die. Where are the children who were kidnapped?”
“Why do you ask?”
“I got involved in this mess because of that incident, so I should at least know before I die, shouldn’t I?”
But that was something even Gwang-seom didn't know about.
“I don’t know.”
“Then who did that person you respect join hands with inside the Unorthodox Alliance?”
Geom Mugeuk tried to find out anything he could through him.
But this time too, he just shook his head.
It seemed he really didn't know.
“You’re just a sword used by Hwang Seok-gyeong.”
Geom Mugeuk added to Bi Sa-in, “Later on, this man would have been used as a sword to kill the Unorthodox Alliance Leader.”
The thought seemed entirely possible.
He would have continued to build trust and, at a critical moment, played the role of assassinating the Unorthodox Alliance Leader.
If he used poison, hidden weapons, and every means at his disposal, wouldn't it have been possible to assassinate the leader? And what if the Martial King was also involved?
What was more worrying was this.
With the Demon Sect’s Young Cult Master dead, the relationship between the Demon Sect and the Unorthodox Alliance would rapidly deteriorate.
If misunderstandings piled up, it could even lead to war.
In such a situation, would they be able to uncover the truth behind these deaths? Meanwhile, their enemies would only seek to profit from the chaos.
Bi Sa-in conveyed his frustration to Geom Mugeuk.
“I wish you would say this. ‘Actually, I can use my inner energy.’ I wish you would say it with a smile, like you always do when you joke. If only we could survive…”
“If we survive?”
“I’ll gather a crowd and dance.”
He had never once danced in his life.
He was the type of person who would rather die than dance in front of people.
Would he make such an absurd promise just because he wanted to live?
He wanted to live.
He didn’t want to die like this.
There were still so many things to do.
He hadn’t even sat in the Grand Advisor's seat in the Alliance Leader’s hall yet.
He hadn't established his own Unorthodox Path.
He hadn't met a woman to love.
He hadn't had a drink with his friend at the tavern in front of his house...
He hadn't even greeted his friend's father yet.
Geom Mugeuk looked at Bi Sa-in and said with a bright smile, “Actually, I can use my inner energy.”
Bi Sa-in smiled back.
His rough, intimidating face brightened.
Yes, it was fitting to die laughing like this with Geom Mugeuk.
‘I was glad to be your friend.’
Gwang-seom drew his sword and said to Gwae-ak, “Out of respect for our relationship, I will kill you last.”
“We’ve known each other for twenty years, and been together for seven or eight. What a great friendship.”
Gwang-seom pretended not to hear and walked toward Bi Sa-in.
“I have no personal grudge against the Young Alliance Leader.”
Though his heart pounded, Bi Sa-in stood tall.
He faced Gwang-seom with composure, unafraid of death.
‘Heavens, please protect the Unorthodox Alliance!’
Gwang-seom’s sword flew.
Swiiish!
Clang!
Bi Sa-in’s eyes widened.
Blocking his view was Geom Mugeuk’s back.
He had crossed the space in an instant and blocked the incoming sword with the Black Demon Sword.
“You!”
There was no time for words.
As their swords crossed, Gwang-seom immediately unleashed his signature technique, the Chasing Thunder Three Swords.
From that one block, Gwang-seom knew.
If he used any other shallow tricks, he would simply die.
He poured all his inner energy into his signature martial art.
‘Even if he has inner energy, the result will be the same!’
How could a human dodge a falling bolt of lightning? He was confident that if he unleashed the Chasing Thunder Three Swords from this distance, he could certainly kill Geom Mugeuk.
Flash!
Shhhhiiiiik!
It was an attack so fast it was invisible to the eye.
But there were also humans who could dodge lightning.
‘Even if he dodges one!’
He immediately followed up with the Chasing Thunder Second Sword.
The sword flashed, and in an instant, a dozen sword lines poured toward Geom Mugeuk.
Clang-clang-clang-clang-clang-clang-clang-clang-clang!
But Geom Mugeuk’s Black Demon Sword blocked every attack.
If one side was lightning, so was the other.
Gwang-seom was shocked and flustered.
Until now, only one person had ever blocked the Chasing Thunder Second Sword unleashed at this distance.
Right, he was the Young Cult Master of the Demon Sect, so maybe he could block it.
But he wouldn't be able to block the final Third Sword.
Just as he was about to unleash the Chasing Thunder Three Swords, which would sweep away everyone present.
Puk!
With the sound of tearing flesh, the clash of swords stopped.
The sudden silence signified that the fight had ended in a single move.
Gwang-seom’s gaze slowly turned to his own chest.
The Black Demon Sword had pierced through it.
He couldn't believe he had missed that attack.
“…Faster than me?”
Gwang-seom slowly raised his head to look at Geom Mugeuk.
Those clear, deep eyes belonged to a different person from the one who had been bantering with Bi Sa-in earlier.
Looking into Gwang-seom’s eyes, which were losing their vitality, Geom Mugeuk said coldly, “The moment you put energy-dispersing poison in that wine bottle, everything you had accomplished as a martial artist vanished. Now, you are nothing.”
Gwang-seom’s lips quivered as if to say something.
Shhhik! Swish!
There was no exception for him.
The Black Demon Sword was pulled from his chest and, in a single motion, sliced off his head.
Thud.
In that moment, Gwang-seom, one of the Seven Great Masters of the Unorthodox Alliance and a master of the Fast Sword, died without leaving a single word.
Flicking the blood from his Black Demon Sword with a satisfying whoosh, Geom Mugeuk turned to Bi Sa-in and grinned.
“Didn't I say I could use my inner energy?”
Along with the joy of survival, a thrill ran through Bi Sa-in’s entire body.
It was a moment where the gates of hell had opened and then slammed shut again.
“How on earth?”
“The energy-dispersing poison must not agree with my constitution.”
Ah! Just how long was this man going to keep surprising people like this?
“How far do you plan on dragging me around?”
“Didn’t I tell you? Just let yourself be comfortably pulled along and look at the stars and the clouds. Someday, a day will come when you’ll think, ‘those were the good times.’ And when I get tired, you can pull me along for a bit.”
Their gazes met in midair.
Bi Sa-in didn’t say thank you.
He had decided to settle his gratitude at the very end.
To that gratitude, the debt of his life had now been added.
Could all of this even be settled?
Bi Sa-in wasn't the only one who was surprised.
Gwae-ak was staring at Gwang-seom’s corpse with a dazed expression.
He was astonished by Geom Mugeuk’s skill.
The fact that the energy-dispersing poison didn’t work was one thing, but he had blocked all of Gwang-seom’s attacks at such close range.
And then he killed him with an even faster sword technique.
The Fast Sword Technique was not Geom Mugeuk’s signature martial art; he had defeated Gwang-seom with what was essentially a basic skill.
‘He’s much stronger than us!’
He knew the Young Cult Master was special, but he never imagined he would be this strong.
He respectfully cupped his fist and expressed his gratitude to Geom Mugeuk.
“Young Cult Master, I owe you my life. If you ever need any help in the future, please let me know.”
“I will. Please take good care of my friend from now on.”
As he said this, he looked at Bi Sa-in.
It seemed like a polite request, but it was a warning to Gwae-ak.
Don’t you dare treat Bi Sa-in carelessly.
Gwae-ak looked at Bi Sa-in.
The two men had a conversation with their eyes.
—How on earth did you become friends with someone like him?
—I don’t know either.
I just came to my senses and found myself his friend.
The three of them walked out of the building.
“By the way, when are you going to keep your promise?”
“What promise are you talking about?”
“The promise to dance in front of people if you survived. I’ve reserved a front-row seat.”
“When did I ever make such a promise?”
Bi Sa-in flatly denied it.
“Sorry, but I have a witness.”
Geom Mugeuk looked at Gwae-ak.
“You heard the Young Alliance Leader’s promise, didn’t you?”
Gwae-ak glanced back and forth between Geom Mugeuk and Bi Sa-in.
It was already decided whose side he had to take.
“What promise? I didn’t hear anything.”
“You think you’ll be seeing the Young Alliance Leader more than me in your life?”
Gwae-ak laughed awkwardly and changed the subject.
“A mere Instructor dares to aim for the Unorthodox Alliance Leader's seat? Come on, let’s go. We can’t stand to see others succeed, after all.”