Chapter 264: My Reputation Depends on You
Chapter 264: My Reputation Depends on You
Geom Mu-geuk entered the Honam Branch with an imposing air, flanked by his personal guards.
Yeo So-gwang stood ready to receive the Young Cult Leader, accompanied by the full assembly of his subordinates. The martial artists of the Honam Branch, lined up in two disciplined rows, shouted in thunderous unison.
"We greet the Young Cult Leader!"
Yeo So-gwang stepped forward to meet Geom Mu-geuk. This was his first time seeing the man in person.
He really is handsome.
It wasn't just simple good looks; he possessed a vibrant, striking appearance. Moreover, his eyes were brimming with confidence. To Yeo So-gwang, this was actually a good sign. The easiest people to manipulate were those blinded by pride or, conversely, those consumed by deep-seated inferiority complexes.
Yeo So-gwang was particularly skilled at handling the prideful. He had climbed to the position of Branch Leader by being better than anyone else at catering to such egos.
"It is an honor to meet you, Young Cult Leader."
Yeo So-gwang bowed deeply. His waist was as flexible as the political prowess he had honed throughout his life.
Geom Mu-geuk stared intently at the man. "You have a very agreeable face."
"I hear that from time to time."
"I’ve been told to be careful when meeting a face like yours in the Jianghu."
Despite Geom Mu-geuk’s provocative opening remark, Yeo So-gwang maintained his oily smile.
"That is true. You should indeed be wary of such rascals. However, there are exactly two people in this Murim who are exceptions to that rule. One of them is you, Young Cult Leader. Now, please, come inside."
Yeo So-gwang led Geom Mu-geuk into the Main Hall. A lavish banquet had already been prepared. As Geom Mu-geuk entered, musicians began to play and dancers commenced their performance. Cooks hurried to serve steaming dishes.
"Now, please take the seat of honor."
Usually, when welcoming a prestigious guest, one would allow them to rest on the first day and hold a banquet the following evening. Yeo So-gwang had bypassed that tradition. The Young Cult Leader had likely traveled in comfort anyway, and he was still in the prime of his youth.
The goal was to show him right from the start: life is enjoyable when you're with the Honam Branch Leader. If he said he was tired and wanted to rest, they could simply hold another banquet tomorrow. Yeo So-gwang was more confident than anyone in the Jianghu when it came to entertaining guests.
Geom Mu-geuk sat in the seat of honor, and Yeo So-gwang took the seat beside him.
Immediately, Jeok-yeon pulled out a silver needle and checked each dish for poison. The other guards stood a short distance away, surrounding Geom Mu-geuk to protect him from all sides.
Watching them, Geom Mu-geuk smiled. When they were alone with him, they seemed like mere children, but seeing them among others, they were clearly different. Their aura was formidable.
"Your guards are quite young," Yeo So-gwang remarked.
"Since they were chosen to guard the Young Cult Leader despite their youth, their skills must be extraordinary, no? They wouldn't be out of place in any of the Main Cult's elite organizations."
Geom Mu-geuk spoke loudly enough for the guards to hear. Seeing this, Yeo So-gwang made a mistake in judgment.
As I thought! He has that typical bravado of the young.
He did not realize that Geom Mu-geuk was genuinely praising them to boost his subordinates' morale.
"Indeed, the aura of every single one of them is remarkable," Yeo So-gwang played along.
This time, Geom Mu-geuk offered a polite remark. "Is the Honam Branch not a strategic stronghold for our Cult to keep the Murim Alliance in check? That is why I visited this place before any other branch."
"My shoulders feel heavy with the weight of the immense duty you have entrusted to such an inadequate man."
"As long as they aren't heavy from carrying other things, it should be fine."
Despite the pointed remark, Yeo So-gwang didn't waver in the slightest. "I only live to serve the Cult with loyalty."
"Indeed! It's no wonder the Main Headquarters trusts you, Branch Leader Yeo. Let us have a drink."
The two toasted and drank. Setting down his cup, Yeo So-gwang spoke suggestively. "The Young Cult Leader's fame has reached even here in Honam."
"What kind of rumors have you heard?"
"Rumors that you are the greatest talent among all successive successors."
Geom Mu-geuk put on a pleased expression.
"Furthermore, you are far too handsome. I dare say with confidence that you are the best-looking among all the Rising Stars of the Murim."
"Branch Leader Yeo, you are overstating things."
"I speak with total sincerity. Ask my subordinates. I am a man who cannot tell a lie."
Yeo So-gwang called over his right-hand man, Hwang Pyo, and asked, "What do you think?"
"He isn't just the best among the Rising Stars; he is the most handsome man in the entire Murim," Hwang Pyo replied instantly.
At his words, Yeo So-gwang laughed loudly. "Ah, I made a mistake. It wasn't just the Rising Stars, but the entire Murim."
This was a routine they had performed many times before. Yeo So-gwang would offer praise, Hwang Pyo would step in with even greater hyperbole, and then Yeo So-gwang would laugh and repeat the compliment. It was their specific method for disarming people. After all, no compliment is more effective than one about appearance—especially when the target is this young.
Geom Mu-geuk laughed happily. Yeo So-gwang thought he was laughing because he was pleased by the flattery, but in reality, Geom Mu-geuk was laughing for a different reason.
"So this is what it feels like. Everyone must have been quite pleased."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Nothing. Let's have another drink."
"Excellent. To the birth of a new hero of the Murim!"
Yeo So-gwang responded perfectly. Whatever Geom Mu-geuk said, Yeo So-gwang agreed enthusiastically, elevating the Young Cult Leader by claiming he had never thought of things that way himself. He was truly a master at groveling.
Yeo So-gwang was an expert at flattery. But he did not know that the person smiling at his sycophancy was the true incarnation of the Flattery Divine Art.
"Our Branch Leader Yeo, have a drink!"
Hearing the word "our" attached to his title, Yeo So-gwang smiled inwardly. Now it was time for the finishing touch of the evening.
As the alcohol took effect and the atmosphere ripened, Yeo So-gwang gestured to a woman. She was one of the dancers from earlier. Strikingly beautiful even among the other performers, she slowly walked toward them.
Yeo So-gwang introduced her. "She insisted on greeting the Young Cult Leader personally. If it isn't too bold, please allow her to pour you a drink."
The woman approached and bowed politely to Geom Mu-geuk. "I am called Yak-ran."
She was stunning. Her beauty was so exceptional that it seemed no man could resist her if she truly set her mind to seduction. Yak-ran stepped closer and picked up the wine bottle.
"I shall offer a cup to such a noble person."
Suddenly, Geom Mu-geuk sprang up from his seat and scooped her up in his arms. Everyone was stunned by his abrupt action.
"Well, we can drink later. Branch Leader Yeo, wait right there."
Holding her, Geom Mu-geuk dashed out of the Main Hall. The guards, flustered, ran after him. Yeo So-gwang was also taken aback, but he soon shouted out with a grin.
"As expected, a hero loves a beauty! The guest quarters are in the building to the left!"
Yeo So-gwang couldn't help but laugh, thinking how easily things were progressing.
Wine and women—they always work.
Though, he hadn't expected it to work quite this heatedly or this quickly.
*
Meanwhile, Yak-ran was utterly shocked.
First, she was startled by the Young Cult Leader's sudden action, and next, she was stunned by the fact that she had practically floated through the air while being carried. The Young Cult Leader had pretended to hold her, but his hands hadn't actually touched her body.
Even after entering the room, the situation unfolded unexpectedly. She thought he would throw her onto the bed given how urgently he had rushed in, but Geom Mu-geuk gently placed her in a chair. Or rather, an invisible force guided her into the seat.
That was when she saw it. His handsome features no longer registered; it was his eyes. He was looking at her with eyes that were incredibly clear. Could a Demonic Cultist's eyes really be this clear?
In a tone as gentle as his gaze, Geom Mu-geuk spoke. "You know who I am, right?"
"Yes."
His words were soft, but she was overwhelmed by an indefinable aura, causing her voice to tremble.
"How many times has this happened?"
"I... I don't know what you mean."
"Yeo So-gwang must have forced you to entertain guests like this before, hasn't he?"
Yak-ran was startled. She was shocked that he had realized the truth, and equally shocked that the Young Cult Leader was digging into Yeo So-gwang's affairs. Fear washed over her. If she got caught in a power struggle, she would die.
"It seems even my status isn't enough to open your mouth."
Who would dare refuse to answer in front of him?
"It's not that. It's just... if the Branch Leader finds out what I've said... he'll kill my family back in my hometown."
"Did he threaten to kill your entire family?"
"Yes."
"How did you feel then?"
"I was scared. And... I was angry."
Was it because he was the supreme Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult? Or was it because of those deep eyes that seemed to look right into her soul? The answer she should have agonized over came out without difficulty.
"Right, you should be angry. You must be angry at a man who threatens to kill your family."
Yak-ran had been threatened by Yeo So-gwang since she was young. If he told her to appear at a banquet, she appeared. If he told her to pour wine, she poured it. She was even forced into men's beds.
But she couldn't refuse. Yeo So-gwang didn't hold her life hostage; he held the lives of her family. Her sick father, her young siblings, and her mother who worked so hard.
The man had threatened and brainwashed the young girl. He told her this was just how the world worked. That staying close to power would earn her more money. That if she sent more money for medicine, she could save her father.
She hated it. She hated serving wine to strangers more than death itself. She had thought of suicide many times, but she couldn't die because of her family. She had begged Yeo So-gwang to stop, but she was never an opponent a pure young girl could handle.
After hearing her story, Geom Mu-geuk stepped toward her. After gazing at her for a moment, he spoke quietly.
"I'm sorry. I came too late, didn't I?"
The moment she heard those words, something surged from deep within her chest. Tears burst forth. She thought she had no more tears left to cry, but once they started, they wouldn't stop.
She tried to stop crying, but her will failed her. She wanted to scream at him. Why did you only come now? Why now?
If she were still the young girl from years ago, she would have screamed exactly that. But that young girl was gone.
"...I'm sorry."
There was only a victim who felt the need to apologize.
In the next moment, her head was gently lifted as a soft energy began to envelop her. Her heart felt at peace under the influence of this gentle energy, something she had never felt before. Perhaps that was why she found the courage to ask the one thing she was curious about.
"Why did you think I was being forced?"
Yeo So-gwang had clearly introduced her as a dancer who wanted to meet the Young Cult Leader.
"It was because of your eyes when you walked toward me and looked at me."
"Because of my eyes?"
"I saw the rage held within them."
She was stunned. She thought she had looked at him softly. Had he really read the heart hidden within?
"My right-hand man looked at me with those same eyes at first. He was filled with rage and defeatism, believing the organization would never change."
Yak-ran’s face no longer showed the trembling fear from before. "What will happen to me if I don't tell you about the Branch Leader?"
"I'll just let you go."
"Really?"
"Yes. I'll just have to find another way. He's a corrupt man anyway, so I'll eventually find the evidence to make him pay for his crimes."
Yak-ran still hesitated, and Geom Mu-geuk didn't push her further, standing up from his seat.
"You can just forget this conversation and act as if nothing happened. I will make sure he pays for his sins."
As Geom Mu-geuk turned to leave, she spoke. "Wait."
When he looked back, she asked, "The person you said had the same eyes as me... what happened to him?"
"He rose to the position of Huangquan Pavilion Master. It's a position where he punishes those who have abandoned their humanity."
Yak-ran’s pupils trembled. After a moment, a surprising remark escaped her lips.
"Wait a bit longer. If you leave now, people will doubt the Young Cult Leader's stamina."
Geom Mu-geuk’s eyes widened; he hadn't expected such a joke. Given his personality, he couldn't just let a joke like that slide.
"You are the first woman to look out for the most important part of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's Young Cult Leader's reputation."
Yak-ran laughed at his joke. "My dream was to die on stage while dancing, but it looks like I'll die doing something crazy like this instead."
She walked to the table and began writing down names with the paper and brush found there. As she listed the most recent people, there was a name Geom Mu-geuk recognized.
Blood Hand Sword.
The fact that she had entertained him was proof enough that Yeo So-gwang was involved in this matter. Of course, the Branch Leader would make all sorts of excuses, but as long as his opponent was Geom Mu-geuk, it wouldn't be easy to escape.
In addition to Blood Hand Sword, the names of several other influential figures followed. She wrote down in detail what had been done to her. Writing down her own experiences meant she was staking her life on this.
Yak-ran handed the paper to Geom Mu-geuk and said, "This is... my life."
"No. This is your new life."
Because from now on, she would be able to live a different one. Geom Mu-geuk called No. 3 inside.
"Take this lady to Tongcheon Pavilion. Have the martial artists there escort her to her hometown. And find a way to treat her sick father."
Yak-ran’s eyes went wide with shock. It was so overwhelming that she almost couldn't believe it.
"That man... he won't follow me and kill my family, will he?"
At her question, half-joking and half-fearful, Geom Mu-geuk spoke coldly to No. 3. "Right, go massacre this lady's family and return!"
Then, No. 3 spoke to Yak-ran in a blunt tone. "I visited my mother recently for the first time in three years."
Yak-ran looked at No. 3 in surprise.
"She had aged quite a bit in that time. Money is important, but... visit them before it's too late."
Geom Mu-geuk smiled faintly at No. 3. It was a brief glimpse into what kind of man No. 3 really was. To Yak-ran, whose eyes were red with thoughts of her parents, Geom Mu-geuk said with a smile:
"If you were worried about that, you shouldn't have written this for me in the first place. And do you really think the Cult couldn't find your home if you didn't tell us?"
Yak-ran gave an awkward smile. "Will you punish him today?"
"Yes."
"I want to see it too. I want to see him die."
Even if he died, her scars would remain for a lifetime. If they were to remain anyway...
"Then there's something I want to see as well. Once he is dead, show me your dance."
Yak-ran nodded slowly. "Yes. I want to show it to you, Young Cult Leader. Though I don't know if I can dance well in front of a corpse."
Geom Mu-geuk and Yak-ran walked out of the room. The guards looked at Geom Mu-geuk with eyes full of awe. They had been startled when he first ran off carrying her, but after overhearing the conversation in the room, they were once again moved to admiration. The more they learned about Geom Mu-geuk, the deeper their loyalty grew.
Geom Mu-geuk joked lightly with Yak-ran. "The reputation of my prowess depends on your expression."
Yak-ran replied with a smile. "Don't worry. I am a woman of the stage."
The two returned to the banquet hall. Geom Mu-geuk walked with his chest out confidently, and Yak-ran followed behind with a satisfied smile and a slight bow of her head.
Yeo So-gwang leaned in close to Geom Mu-geuk and asked suggestively, "You look to be in a very good mood?"
Geom Mu-geuk poked him in the ribs and grinned. "Because I'm about to see the most magnificent dance of my life today."