Chapter 279: You Never Know How Life Will Turn Out
Chapter 279: You Never Know How Life Will Turn Out
Lee An wore a bamboo hat, its brim draped with a sheer veil.
As she drew closer, Jin Ha-ryeong’s eyes widened. The woman possessed a rare, striking figure—slender yet elegantly curved, the kind seldom seen. Still, Ha-ryeong maintained her composure.
Upon reaching the two, Lee An slowly removed her hat. The moment Ha-ryeong saw her face, she was struck with genuine shock.
Ha-ryeong was a woman confident in her own looks. No matter how beautiful another woman might be, they usually seemed ordinary when standing beside her. But this woman was different. With sharp, refreshing features, clear eyes, and supple skin that seemed to glow, she was breathtaking.
It felt almost unfair for someone to be this captivating.
The reason Ha-ryeong was more impressed than the average person was that she understood beauty better than anyone. She had been compared to many and had met countless renowned beauties. Thus, she knew exactly how difficult it was to be that perfect.
And there was one more thing—something that made Lee An truly formidable: her aura. It was gentle yet intense. Looking at her felt like gazing upon a single plum blossom blooming on a snowy day.
She’s a master!
None of the Rising Stars Ha-ryeong had met until now possessed such an aura. It was a presence that overwhelmed not only them but Ha-ryeong herself.
She is stronger than I am.
To be this beautiful and powerful at the same time? Surely, she couldn't have a good personality too, right? Or maybe her voice was strange? Ha-ryeong found herself spiraling into these absurd, defensive thoughts.
While she was lost in reflection, Lee An offered a graceful smile and a greeting.
“It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Lee An.”
Her voice was as clear and melodic as jade beads rolling on a silver tray. Since her personality was still an unknown, Lee An was perfect based on external factors alone.
“I am Jin Ha-ryeong.”
Ha-ryeong’s voice trembled slightly. She hadn't faltered while giving a speech before a crowd of Rising Stars earlier, yet she felt a tremor now. In contrast, Lee An, despite facing the granddaughter of the Murim Alliance Leader, spoke every word with overflowing confidence.
“I have heard much about you. It is an honor to meet such a distinguished person. You are truly beautiful; I have never seen anyone so lovely.”
A single thought flashed through Ha-ryeong’s mind.
Look who’s talking!
She never imagined the day would come when she would be outmatched in beauty. Ha-ryeong turned a startled gaze toward Geom Mu-geuk. He stood there with an irritatingly smug expression, gloating.
“See? That’s just the kind of man I am.”
Ha-ryeong asked again, as if unable to believe it. “Is she really your girlfriend?”
At the word "girlfriend," it was Lee An’s turn to look at Geom Mu-geuk in surprise.
“She was looking down on me for not having a girlfriend, so I told her I had one,” he explained casually.
Ha-ryeong’s heart raced for one reason, and Lee An’s for another.
“So, are you his girlfriend or not?”
Just as Geom Mu-geuk was about to answer, Lee An spoke up. “No, I am not.”
Just as Ha-ryeong felt a strange sense of relief, Lee An continued. “We are much closer than that.”
Ha-ryeong flinched. It was a brief reaction, but Lee An caught it.
Miss Jin likes the Young Master.
It was an intuition she had as a fellow woman. The Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult and the granddaughter of the Murim Alliance Leader—the very status every man in the world would envy had become the worst possible obstacle for her relationship with the Young Master.
Lee An smiled and said, “I have served as his bodyguard since we were children. I only said that because we have known each other for a very long time.”
Ha-ryeong glanced at Geom Mu-geuk and remarked, “It must have been difficult, serving a man like him.”
“It hasn't been easy.”
As both women looked at him simultaneously, Geom Mu-geuk chuckled. “They say people bond faster when they share a common enemy.”
Ha-ryeong asked provocatively, “Are you really a common enemy?”
“What do you mean by that?”
Ha-ryeong turned back to Lee An. “If he truly considered you a mere subordinate, I don't think the word 'girlfriend' would have ever left his mouth.”
At the probing remark, Lee An replied firmly. “You misunderstand. To me, he is the noble Young Cult Leader. I have never dared to harbor such feelings.”
Lee An’s affection for Geom Mu-geuk was deeper than anyone’s. However, she was a mere bodyguard, and he was of the Heavenly Demon’s bloodline. Furthermore, she was a solitary soul who didn't even know who her parents were.
“You never know how life will turn out.”
Ha-ryeong’s words were directed at Lee An, but perhaps also at herself. Just as Lee An had sensed Ha-ryeong’s interest in Geom Mu-geuk, Ha-ryeong also felt that Lee An cared for him. For a brief moment, a strange tension flowed between the two women.
Ha-ryeong spoke to Geom Mu-geuk. “Anyway, I take back what I said about you being a blowhard.”
“Then it’s settled. My credibility is restored.”
Soon, Geom Mu-geuk revealed the reason he had brought Lee An. “I didn't bring Lee An here to have the two of you compete over beauty.”
“Then why?”
The reason was quite unexpected. “I brought her to introduce one friend to another. I thought the two of you would get along well.”
The phrase "another friend" struck Ha-ryeong’s heart. He really does think of me as just a friend. She felt a complicated mix of happiness and a slight, lingering disappointment.
After introducing the two, Geom Mu-geuk got to the point. “Where is Captain Jin?”
“Why do you want my brother?”
“Didn't you call me here because of him?”
“How did you know?” At this point, nothing the man did surprised her anymore.
“Your brother probably asked you to arrange a 'chance' meeting.”
“And how did you know that? Wait... are you spying on us? Did you plant someone near me?”
She was being serious, which only made Geom Mu-geuk laugh. “I wish I had spies that talented. The problem is that people with that much skill don't usually work as spies.”
That meant he had deduced it. Right, he’s that kind of person. No wonder my brother asked for his help.
“Do you really think of me as a friend?”
Geom Mu-geuk nodded.
“Then make me a promise. You must not harm my brother. If you're going to do that, kill me instead. Understood?”
Geom Mu-geuk turned to Lee An. “Did you hear that? If I ever give the order to kill Captain Jin, you can just kill this person here instead.”
“Isn't that a bit of a cruel command, right after introducing us as friends?” At Lee An’s remark, Ha-ryeong gave a faint smile.
“My brother is in the guest room at the far end of the rear garden. He’s waiting for me to send word so he can come out and meet you.”
“I’ll go to him.”
“His pride might be hurt.”
“If he cared about his pride, he wouldn't have called for me in the first place. See you later.”
With those words, Geom Mu-geuk walked toward the location Ha-ryeong had indicated. Left alone, an awkward silence fell between the two women.
Ha-ryeong asked Lee An, “Would you like to go to the banquet together?”
If two such beautiful women returned to the banquet hall together, it would cause an absolute uproar. Lee An politely declined.
“Please invite me another time. I don't think today is the right place for me.”
“I see. Then I will see you next time.”
They exchanged polite fist salutes. After walking a few paces, Ha-ryeong looked back at Lee An. “Will we see each other again?”
Ha-ryeong felt a sense of curiosity toward Lee An. She wondered what kind of woman she was, and how the Geom Mu-geuk Lee An knew differed from the one she knew.
“Of course. I will always be by the Young Master’s side. If you wish to see me, please seek him out.”
“I will do that.”
Ha-ryeong returned to the banquet hall, and Lee An quietly vanished into the shadows.
*
Jin Ha-gun was waiting in the guest room. He intended to go and meet Geom Mu-geuk naturally once his sister contacted him. It wouldn't be strange for him to drop by a gathering of Rising Stars, after all.
This is madness.
What would happen if his Master found out? Their relationship would likely become irreparable. And if his grandfather knew? He would be deeply disappointed. His grandson had encountered a problem and, instead of solving it himself, had brought in a demonic practitioner. Even knowing this, Ha-gun had reached out to Geom Mu-geuk. That was how great his sense of crisis was.
It was then that someone passing by the window stopped and looked inside. The person who locked eyes with Jin Ha-gun was Geom Mu-geuk.
“Captain Jin! What are you doing here? I was just attending the meeting your sister invited me to. I was looking for the latrine when I happened upon you. What a coincidence. I suppose our fates really are intertwined.”
Jin Ha-gun stared at him for a moment before letting out a heavy sigh. “Stop the ridiculous acting and come inside.”
Geom Mu-geuk entered the room with a grin. “How did you know?”
“Because there’s no way I’d meet you here unless my sister told you. You’re not the kind of person to get lost looking for a toilet. And you’re certainly not someone I’d just happen to run into like this.”
“Impressive! You’re sharp, Captain Jin. We’ll have to use all our wits if we want to take down the Murim Alliance later.”
“I’m not in the mood for your jokes. Stop it.”
Jin Ha-gun worried about how this moment would be remembered. Would it be the start of a "truly foolish choice," or would it be "the choice without which I wouldn't be who I am today"? He stood at that crossroads.
“How did you know I was the one who called for you?”
“Because I know how much the Murim Alliance means to you.”
“What do you know about me?”
“Aren't you the man who gave up the Heavenly Flower Sect just to become the Alliance Leader? That fact alone tells me how much you want that position.”
Jin Ha-gun accepted the statement with silence.
“Does it weigh on your conscience that you called for me? You don't need to worry about that.”
Ha-gun waited for him to continue, wondering what he meant. Then, unexpected words flowed from Geom Mu-geuk.
“You aren't the successor yet, are you? If a successor had called another successor, that would certainly be a problem. But right now, the Demon Extermination Squad Leader has simply called his sister’s friend. You didn't call me for help; you called me because there was something to investigate.”
“Then didn't you, the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult, come just because a mere Captain of the Murim Alliance called? You, the Young Cult Leader?”
“I’m fine with it. I’m a broad-minded man.”
“You certainly have no trouble saying that about yourself.”
“If I don't tell you, you won't realize how broad-minded I am, will you? You’re too busy worrying about the world’s eyes, which don't even matter.”
“You really are...”
“A man who can brag about himself and insult his opponent at the same time.”
How could anyone win an argument against Geom Mu-geuk? Ultimately, Jin Ha-gun could only shake his head with an expression that said he was beyond help.
Geom Mu-geuk stood up, poured tea from a kettle on a corner table, and asked, “So, why did you call me?”
When it came time to answer, Ha-gun hesitated. Should he really talk about his Master? Of all people, his Master. Geom Mu-geuk brought over two cups of tea. He looked so natural doing it that it felt as if he were the one hosting Jin Ha-gun.
“Let me guess why you called me.” Geom Mu-geuk looked down at his teacup for a moment before speaking abruptly. “You are afraid that you might have to kill that person with your own hands.”
Jin Ha-gun’s eyes snapped wide.
“You called me because you couldn't bring yourself to kill him. You want to use me as your blade.”
It was a thought Ha-gun hadn't consciously acknowledged, yet it pierced straight to the heart of the matter. Ha-gun admitted to himself that he had recalled what Geom Mu-geuk once said—that he might eventually have to kill his Master. That premonition, once surfaced, had never left his mind.
“Why didn't you tell the Alliance Leader about something this important?”
Seeing the serious look in Geom Mu-geuk’s eyes, Ha-gun felt it was time to reveal everything.
“Because he wouldn't believe me. And even if he did, I thought that person would find out first during the process of handling it. There are likely many people within the Alliance who serve as his eyes and ears.”
“Who is this person?”
Jin Ha-gun finally revealed the identity. “My Master.”
This was the first Geom Mu-geuk had heard of a Master. “You had a Master?”
“It isn't known externally, so you wouldn't know. My Master hated being known to the world.”
One thing was certain. When the battle for the Alliance leadership was lost to Hwa Mu-gi in the past and the Leader and his kin were all killed, his Master had not been among the victims. At the very least, he wasn't the type of person to die protecting his disciple.
“I realized through this incident that something is wrong with my Master.”
“True. Masters are always strange. Mine is currently trying to demolish a cliff with his fists.”
Ha-gun didn't know if Geom Mu-geuk was joking or serious, but he truly felt that way. “I wish he were strange in that way instead.”
“How is he strange? Tell me in detail.”
“I have no solid evidence. It’s just a feeling. And yet I called you... perhaps I’m the strange one.”
“You’re not strange; you’re just too smart.” At Geom Mu-geuk’s words, Jin Ha-gun looked up. “What do you mean?”
“This whole affair was definitely strange, even to me. It was odd from the start that the Heavenly Flower Sect Leader sought help from your side.”
“Couldn't my Master and the Heavenly Flower Sect Leader have been close?”
“Then let me ask you this: Did your Master mention revenge?”
Jin Ha-gun’s heart sank. He had been so focused on the sense of wrongness from his Master that he had missed that point. Ha-gun shook his head. That wasn't the only thing he had missed.
“Did he mourn the death of the Heavenly Flower Sect Leader? No, did he even ask who killed him?”
There was no mourning, and he hadn't asked who the killer was. Why hadn't Ha-gun thought of this? It was such a basic consideration. Suddenly, he remembered something Geom Mu-geuk had said.
— I’m saying that because you’re close to someone, you’re often the last to see them clearly.
When something happens, one tends to think of past memories and relationships before making an objective judgment.
“So, what did your Master say?”
“He told me to reclaim the Heavenly Flower Sect. He told me to find a way.”
“Why would the Heavenly Flower Sect Leader ask your Master for help if they were only 'that' close? What kind of relationship do they have? Isn't it objectively strange? The Master of the Alliance Leader’s grandson has an incomprehensible relationship with a Sect Leader under the Demonic Cult’s influence? Your instincts served you well. And your choice to call me was excellent.”
Geom Mu-geuk’s barrage of praise continued. “That’s why I look forward to the day you become the Alliance Leader. I want to work with a wise man like you.”
Geom Mu-geuk was constantly stimulating him. Then again, because he was a man who could shake a person like this, he was the first one Ha-gun had thought of in his moment of crisis. He was the one who had appeared in his dreams to give him confidence.
Jin Ha-gun no longer wavered or hesitated. “What should I do now?”
To the end, Geom Mu-geuk acted as the spokesperson for Ha-gun’s inner thoughts.
“Since they tried to play you, shouldn't you become a toy that cuts their hands?”