It was a small piece of iron.
It wasn't round like the Black Eye from the Wind Heaven Sect that the Secret Vessel had first absorbed.
This one was a fang ornament, looking as if it had fallen off some beast made of iron.
It was too heavy to be worn around the neck and could only be used as a stationary decoration.
"I'll take this one."
Bi Sa-in looked at Geom Mugeuk with a surprised face.
"Are you serious?"
"I am."
"May I take a look?"
"Be my guest."
Bi Sa-in examined the ornament carefully.
No matter how he looked at it, it was just an iron fang.
Geom Mugeuk wouldn't have chosen it for no reason, would he?
"Why do you want this?"
"It just caught my eye."
"I really can't figure you out."
He'd had these moments with Geom Mugeuk once or twice before, but this was the most baffling one yet.
"I received the Sun Moon Sword from you and the Martial King from the Alliance Leader, didn't I? This is enough for me."
"And you were worried about losing your mystery. The question of why you chose this will last me a lifetime."
Geom Mugeuk and Bi Sa-in left the Palace treasury together.
"I never dreamed I would go through such things with you."
Was it only Bi Sa-in? Geom Mugeuk himself had never imagined he would live such a life after his regression.
When he grew weary from wandering the Central Plains alone in search of ingredients for the Great Art, he would comfort himself by thinking about his life after regression.
Who would have imagined back then that he would be walking side by side with the Young Alliance Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance out of their treasury?
"There will be many more unexpected things in the future. Let's live our lives being surprised like this."
Though younger than him, Geom Mugeuk was always someone to rely on.
There was one thing he wanted to ask such a person.
"Aren't you afraid?"
"Of what?"
"Of those who plot against us. We don't know what they'll do next, hiding in the darkness, do we?"
Since he believed the Martial King had escaped alive, perhaps this fear was only natural.
After the chaotic battle was over and he'd had a moment to breathe, Bi Sa-in realized just how perilous the whole affair had been.
If it weren't for Geom Mugeuk, he would have died many times over.
Young Cult Master, what are you thinking?
Geom Mugeuk answered calmly.
"What's there to be afraid of? I'm living my life more earnestly than they are. If I do my best and still fall, then it can't be helped, can it? I'll just have to die willingly."
"!"
Those words would become a milestone for Bi Sa-in's future life.
Even after saying such grateful words, Geom Mugeuk instead expressed his own thanks.
"Thank you for keeping your promise."
Thinking of all the gratitude that had been in the basket of settlement, this moment felt incredibly apologetic and shameful.
Bi Sa-in strode ahead and said.
"Don't be late for the evening banquet."
*
Geom Mugeuk returned to the guest hall provided by the Unorthodox Alliance.
After entering the room, he locked the door and closed the windows.
He placed the Secret Vessel and the iron fang from the Palace treasury on the table.
Having already experienced it absorbing the Black Eye, he would not be surprised by what was to come.
Anyway, you seem to absorb things of different shapes too.
"You were hungry, weren't you? Here, eat up!"
But the Secret Vessel didn't move an inch.
"Eat. Why aren't you eating?"
It had definitely vibrated, but the Secret Vessel did not absorb the iron ornament.
"Did your face change to another side in the meantime?"
He changed its direction and placed the fang ornament on another side, but it still didn't absorb it.
"What? Was it not this one? Was it the other thing next to it?"
Of course, that couldn't be.
It had definitely reacted to this one.
He tried this and that, but it was no use.
In the end, Geom Mugeuk gave up.
"You must be full."
The Secret Vessel just kept the bright smile he had drawn on it.
*
That evening, Geom Mugeuk walked down the corridor toward the Alliance Leader’s Hall, guided by In Gung.
When In Gung naturally stopped at one point and turned around, Geom Mugeuk was, as expected, standing in front of the iron wolf statue.
"You won't be able to see it after today, so please take a moment to say your farewells. I will wait in the Alliance Leader’s Hall."
He felt sorry that he hadn't given him proper time until now, seeing how much he liked that wolf statue.
Of course, it was a consideration born from the goodwill of having saved the Alliance Leader.
"Thank you. I'll be there soon."
After In Gung left, Geom Mugeuk said goodbye to the wolf.
"I guess I won't see you anymore either."
He couldn't understand why this wolf had captured his attention so much.
Was it because he felt his past life before regression resembled this lonely wolf?
Perhaps so.
"I won't see you again. Take care."
After patting the wolf's head, Geom Mugeuk flinched and stopped as he was about to turn away.
A thought had suddenly struck him like a thunderbolt.
Geom Mugeuk took out the fang ornament from his robes.
'No way.
It can't be, right?'
Geom Mugeuk placed the fang into the iron wolf's open mouth.
He tried fitting it into the slot where a fang would go, but there was no change.
The other side was the same.
'Of course.'
He was about to leave, but since he had already started, he tried putting it in the upper jaw as well.
At that very moment, a blue light shot out from the wolf's eyes.
Shwaaaaa!
For a moment, it felt as if the wolf had come alive.
Geom Mugeuk circulated his inner energy and stepped back.
Fortunately, the wolf did not attack him.
Instead, with a clank, something rolled out from inside the wolf's mouth.
Geom Mugeuk was startled when he saw what it was.
What came out of its mouth was a blue-tinted orb.
If what he had absorbed before was the black Black Eye, this was a blue, blue essence.
It was even the same size.
This fang was the key to retrieving the orb hidden inside the iron wolf's body.
Now he understood why he had been so drawn to this wolf statue.
It wasn't him, but the Secret Vessel that had led him.
Or perhaps the energy of the Black Eye he had absorbed earlier had pulled him here.
Woooong.
The Secret Vessel inside his robes vibrated in response.
He took out the Secret Vessel and placed the blue essence on it.
Seueuk.
As if it had been waiting, the Secret Vessel began to absorb the blue essence.
The hard orb seeped into the Secret Vessel like a liquid.
After absorbing all of the blue essence, the Secret Vessel vibrated once.
Seueueu!
Something with a blue aura began to emerge from the Secret Vessel.
It was the same as with the Black Eye.
It was not smoke, liquid, inner energy, or light.
That indescribable something spread through Geom Mugeuk's hand and arm, and then throughout his entire body.
The Heavenly Demon Body-Protection Art did not activate this time either.
Instead, a refreshing sensation spread through his body.
Geom Mugeuk's instincts were certain.
Whatever this energy was, it would surely not harm him.
The moment the energy spread from his head to his toes, a radiant light burst forth from Geom Mugeuk's body.
It was a light so intense he couldn't open his eyes.
When he opened his closed eyes again, the blue energy had been completely absorbed into his body.
He had absorbed a second energy through the Secret Vessel.
Still, there was no change in his body.
The two energies did not meet or mix.
They simply slumbered quietly, each on its own, deep inside his body.
He had a feeling it was because he had not yet absorbed all the energy needed to bring about a change.
The Secret Vessel spat out the blue essence, now depleted of its energy.
It had now become an ordinary stone.
After retrieving the Secret Vessel, the stone, and the fang he had inserted into the wolf statue, he stored them in his robes and this time expressed his gratitude to the statue.
"I won't let what you held be used in vain. Thank you, Blue Wolf."
The wolf stood majestically in its usual state, as if it had never shot blue light from its eyes.
Geom Mugeuk slowly made his way toward the Alliance Leader’s Hall.
*
Sitting in the Grand Advisor's seat, Baek Ja-gang was thinking of the Heavenly Demon, Geom Woojin.
That gaze, which seemed to look down on him, was still vivid.
He had met him twice, and both times, his gaze was the same.
Would a third time be any different?
In the past, he would have refused flatly, but his hesitation now was not because of the recent conspiracy.
Nor was it because he wanted to befriend Geom Woojin.
It was because of Geom Mugeuk.
'He raised a son like that? That Geom Woojin?'
He couldn't believe it.
He wanted to meet him in person and confirm it.
That such a son was not a product of Geom Woojin's influence, but had been born and raised like a mutation.
If Geom Woojin really had raised him like that? That would be truly infuriating.
"What are your thoughts?"
Standing below the Grand Advisor's seat, Bi Sa-in answered calmly.
"I think you should go."
"Your reason?"
"Because I believe in you, Alliance Leader."
"Because you believe in me?"
"Because you are the only person in this world I truly believe in."
Baek Ja-gang looked down at his disciple with a surprised expression.
He was not one to say such things.
He had changed.
"After meeting the Young Cult Master, I have been thinking a lot about the need to change."
"Because you must change to win?"
He had expected that answer, but Bi Sa-in had other thoughts.
"No, I have no intention of winning."
"Is it not that you lack the confidence to win?"
"I have changed my dream itself. Not a dream of winning, but a dream of walking together. Perhaps that will be a harder fight for me than one of winning or losing."
Just as it is harder for a martial artist not to draw his sword than to draw it.
"It will be difficult being next to such an extraordinary person. I will be compared, my pride will be hurt, and I will feel much self-reproach. But I want to go. I don't want to be satisfied as the head of a snake; I want to dream of ascending to the heavens entangled with a dragon. Even if I fall to my death, I will have seen the sky, so I will have no regrets."
Bi Sa-in spoke his mind without any intimidation.
It was the first time he had ever spoken so much in front of the Alliance Leader.
Baek Ja-gang was inwardly pleased.
His disciple was right.
Winning or losing was not important now.
What mattered was momentum.
It was better for him to state his convictions like this than to boast about winning just to impress him.
He had lived his whole life without children.
So there were times he felt regret in his old age.
There stands my son.
That's how he felt.
His son-like disciple was saying he would walk a path he himself could not.
Yes, a snake is just a snake, no matter how big it gets.
Just then, news of Geom Mugeuk's arrival came, and a moment later, the doors to the Alliance Leader’s Hall opened, and Geom Mugeuk stepped inside.
When he arrived before the Grand Advisor's seat, Baek Ja-gang asked first.
"Did you rest well?"
"Thanks to you, I rested comfortably."
He must have heard what he chose from the Palace treasury, but he didn't ask about it.
Once he permits something, that's the end of it.
That decisive nature is very similar to his father's.
That's why he hoped the two of them might get along.
Instead, he asked something else.
"What kind of person do you think I am?"
A brief silence followed the sudden question.
Bi Sa-in was also curious about what Geom Mugeuk would answer.
After a moment of thought, Geom Mugeuk broke the silence.
"I haven't known you for long, so honestly, I don't know what kind of person you are. However, just seeing you lead the Unorthodox Path with such dignity while competing with my father, you must be a great man."
It was a humble yet elevating statement for both his father and Baek Ja-gang.
"Since you are the person my friend here respects the most, you must be a respectable person to me as well."
Geom Mugeuk's gaze, which had briefly turned to Bi Sa-in, now looked at Baek Ja-gang.
"But what I said before was an answer through others. I want to give you my own answer, based on what I purely feel. I want to know more about who you are, Alliance Leader. So please, let's go to my tavern for a drink."
Baek Ja-gang looked down at Geom Mugeuk, lost in thought.
If he went, he would meet Geom Woojin.
This decision could change not only his own fate but also that of the Unorthodox Alliance.
Finally, Baek Ja-gang made up his mind.
"Tonight's banquet is canceled."
And a surprising reason was added.
"We'll have our drinks at your favorite tavern."
At Baek Ja-gang's refreshing decision, a bright smile spread across Geom Mugeuk's face.
"Thank you very much, Alliance Leader."
"However, as you said, you will have to resolve the issue with the Martial Alliance yourself. After that, we can set a specific schedule. But if the Martial Alliance does not accept, this decision is canceled."
"Understood. I will contact you as soon as it is resolved."
Geom Mugeuk knew how difficult this decision was for the Unorthodox Alliance Leader.
Who would jump into enemy territory knowing what the situation could become? He had just risked his life.
"I still don't know what kind of person you are, Alliance Leader, but I must say this."
"What is it?"
"You are magnificent."
Since he didn't get goosebumps, it seemed the Young Cult Master genuinely thought he was magnificent.
"I'll pass on the flattery."
Geom Mugeuk smiled and bowed respectfully.
"Then, please take care of yourself until we meet again."
Geom Mugeuk left the Alliance Leader’s Hall.
I didn't know the Unorthodox Alliance Leader well before my regression, but he's such a straightforward person.
I like him.
He waited for a moment in front of the hall, and Bi Sa-in followed him out.
"Are you leaving right away?"
Geom Mugeuk nodded at Bi Sa-in's question.
"Where will you go now?"
"I have to stop by the safehouse and take someone to the Main Sect. I also need to see the Poison King. After visiting the Main Sect, I'll go to the Martial Alliance. If things go well there, I'll send word immediately."
"You are truly busy."
He was a man whose specialty was appearing and disappearing suddenly, but this time, the parting with Geom Mugeuk felt regrettable.
"You'll see Branch Master Jin when you go."
Jin Ha-gun had been disappointed that he couldn't follow them to the Unorthodox Alliance, and now Bi Sa-in was in the same position.
"You should come with us too."
"The Martial Alliance Leader would just love to see the three of us together. If I go, I'll just get on his nerves. Why are you looking at me like that?"
Then came Geom Mugeuk's surprise question.
"When are you going to dance?"
Bi Sa-in's flustered face flushed red.
"Surely the Young Alliance Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance wouldn't go back on his own words, would he?"
"I'll keep my word! I said I would!"
Now even his ears turned red.
Anyway, you couldn't let your guard down for even a moment with this Geom Mugeuk.
Fortunately, the First Wolf came and rescued him.
The First Wolf handed him the sword box he had been keeping.
Bi Sa-in then passed it to Geom Mugeuk.
"Here is the Sun Moon Sword you left with us."
"Thank you for the gift."
Just as Geom Mugeuk's lips twitched, about to ask about the dance again.
"I am currently holding two swords."
"Then I'll hold back. I must."
This playful and persistent person would surely tease him about this for a long time.
Eventually, he would have to dance someday.
And so, after ending with a final jest about the dance, the two parted on good terms.
"I will definitely persuade the Martial Alliance Leader, so let's meet at my Main Sect."