Chapter 359: The Best Young Alliance Leader I’ve Ever Seen
Chapter 359: The Best Young Alliance Leader I’ve Ever Seen
Before the clash began, the Thousand-Hand Sword posed a single question.
“I heard you mention a grudge earlier. What exactly is it?”
No matter how much he racked his brain, he couldn't recall any history with Goe Ak. This was Goe Ak, after all—not some nameless extra. How could he possibly forget an encounter with a man of his stature?
Goe Ak did not bother explaining why he wanted them dead. He knew the Thousand-Hand Sword wouldn't understand, and worse, would likely just mock him for it.
There had been a woman Goe Ak once held in his heart. She was a widow who ran a small restaurant while raising a child, and he used to stop by occasionally to eat.
There was no special relationship between them. They were merely a shopkeeper and a customer.
Strangely, however, he had been drawn to her. Had he set his mind to it, he could have taken her for himself, but he never did. Just watching the woman and her child brought him a rare peace of mind.
For a man who had lived a life of villainy, she and that small, humble space were his only sanctuary.
Then, the incident happened.
While the Scorching Heaven Twin Swords were fleeing after being branded public enemies of the Murim, they had massacred every customer in that restaurant. The woman and her child had died then as well.
Though he had no formal ties to her, Goe Ak decided then and there that he would avenge her by killing the Scorching Heaven Twin Swords.
Even now, he didn't fully understand his own heart. Was it truly for her? Or was it simply because he hated seeing those two strutting around, acting high and mighty as members of the Seven Great Masters of the Unorthodox Path?
Later, he heard news that the Scorching Heaven Twin Swords had been trapped in a Heavenly Net and killed.
But Goe Ak hadn't believed it. They weren't the type of people to die so easily.
And seeing as the heavens had finally brought them before him like this, it seemed the woman really had been a significant person in his life.
Goe Ak summarized his reason for revenge simply:
“Since when do we need a grand reason to kill someone?”
The Thousand-Hand Sword laughed. It was a cold smile that didn't reach his eyes.
“Fair point.”
The battle between Goe Ak and the Thousand-Hand Sword erupted.
Goe Ak did not fear blades, but the Thousand-Hand Sword’s weapon was terrifying. Just as Goe Ak’s fists turned boulders into tofu, the Thousand-Hand Sword’s blade sliced through iron as if it were a radish.
The Thousand-Hand Sword felt the same pressure. How dare he run wild with his bare body against my sword? I’ll mince him until there’s nothing left.
However, since his opponent was Goe Ak, relying solely on his swordsmanship could prove fatal.
They knew each other too well. They knew exactly what a member of the Seven Great Masters of the Unorthodox Path was capable of.
The two were perfectly matched.
It was a clash between supreme body arts and peerless swordsmanship, both pushed to their ultimate principles. Deception lurked within dazzling techniques, and lethal masterstrokes were hidden behind light, airy movements. Having spent their lives wandering and fighting throughout the Central Plains, their skills were as outstanding as their infamy.
Ultimately, this fight would come down to who managed their internal energy better and who made the first mistake. Even the slightest slip meant death.
All this splendor was merely the process; the final moment of life and death would be decided by a single, simple strike.
Even amidst the struggle, both men remained mindful of the fight between Bi Sa-in and the Yama Sword.
Goe Ak wanted to kill the Thousand-Hand Sword quickly and save Bi Sa-in, but his opponent wouldn't give him an inch. The only silver lining was that Bi Sa-in was fighting far better than expected.
Just hold on a little longer.
As the battle reached its climax...
When the two briefly separated to create distance, Goe Ak’s gaze flickered toward the sky behind his opponent.
In that moment, the Thousand-Hand Sword read the words formed by Goe Ak’s twitching lips.
He’s coming.
Yes, Goe Ak had definitely muttered those words to himself.
The Thousand-Hand Sword couldn't turn around to look, fearing it was a trick to divert his attention for a surprise attack. Who was coming?
What made him even more uneasy was the look of genuine joy that bloomed on Goe Ak’s face—it wasn't something that could be faked.
Then, a faint, alien sound of wind reached his ears.
Sssssst.
It was a sound he had never heard before. Something really was coming. It was a sound from such a distance that he never would have noticed it if Goe Ak hadn't tipped him off.
But he had no leisure to look back. Goe Ak began to pour out his remaining strength, driving him into a corner.
In a fight between masters of their caliber, overextending always demanded a price. Yet Goe Ak was unleashing a reckless barrage of attacks. It was as if he were trying to keep his opponent from looking back. As if he were a man certain that the fight was about to end.
Just what was coming? Was it the Grim Reaper himself?
In the midst of that fierce exchange, he heard it.
The sound of the rear wall collapsing.
Someone really is here.
He saw a figure fly in, leap off the wall, and charge toward the Yama Sword. He wanted to go help, but he couldn't. By the time he realized what was happening, the newcomer had already seized the Yama Sword’s arm.
Pshhhk!
The moment he saw Bi Sa-in’s sword pierce the Yama Sword’s heart, the Thousand-Hand Sword’s concentration shattered.
That split second was the very moment Goe Ak had been waiting for throughout the entire fight.
Boom!
Goe Ak’s elbow slammed into the Thousand-Hand Sword’s jaw.
Despite the soul-shaking impact, the Thousand-Hand Sword desperately tried to maintain his senses. As he swung his sword to guard against a follow-up, Goe Ak vanished from his sight.
No!
The Thousand-Hand Sword fell into despair. For masters of their level, losing sight of an opponent was equivalent to losing one's life.
Crrraaaack!
With the sickening sound of breaking bone, the Thousand-Hand Sword’s neck spun a full three hundred and sixty degrees. He saw Goe Ak’s face behind him, then the original scenery in front of him again.
It happened so fast that he didn't even realize his neck had been pulverized. He saw the fallen Yama Sword in the distance and finally identified what Goe Ak had said was coming. The moment he realized it was a young man...
The world went dark, like a lamp flickering out in a sudden gust of wind.
The life faded from the eyes of the Thousand-Hand Sword, and his body slumped to the ground like a bundle of straw.
“Haaaaa.”
A long, heavy breath escaped Goe Ak’s lips.
Looking down at the corpse, Goe Ak thought of that woman from long ago. She was the one who would smile brightly, telling him she’d given him a double portion because he looked hungry.
In this moment, he realized he had truly liked her.
Actually, it was too much for someone like me. Now, rest in peace.
He finally said the words he couldn't say to her back then. In this world, there are revenges taken for people whose hands you never even got to hold.
Goe Ak raised his head and looked toward Geom Mu-geuk.
Geom Mu-geuk was pressing on Bi Sa-in’s pressure points to stop the bleeding of the unconscious man.
“Did you hear what the Young Alliance Leader said?”
“What did he say?”
“Even while he was a total wreck, he said this: 'Please save Senior Goe.'”
Goe Ak’s pupils trembled slightly.
“What kind of nonsense is that to say about a man who was busy beating his opponent to a pulp?”
“You looked like you were on thin ice.”
“I was not!”
Exhausted, Goe Ak slumped to the ground as well. He was covered in cuts and had suffered significant internal injuries. Furthermore, the mental strain had been immense; now that the tension had snapped, exhaustion came rushing in like a tide.
“To say that to someone who was winning perfectly fine...”
His head dropped, and his bravado fell asleep along with him.
*
When Bi Sa-in opened his eyes, he was lying on a bed.
An unfamiliar ceiling and the pungent scent of medicine greeted him.
I’m alive.
A wave of relief, difficult to put into words, washed over him. He had truly thought he was going to die this time.
He remembered the sight of Geom Mu-geuk looking at him at the end. The way the youth was panting with exhaustion. The look of relief in his eyes.
Anyone would think you were the one doing the fighting.
Bi Sa-in checked his body. He was wrapped in bandages from head to toe, and the smell of Golden Wound Medicine was overwhelming. Just how many times had he been cut? He remembered at least six.
He tried to sit up reflexively but cried out in pain and lay back down. His entire body ached as if he had been beaten for days.
Then, Bi Sa-in noticed two sets of protective armor leaning against the wall. Seeing them soaked in blood made the intensity of the previous battle feel real all over again. He couldn't even remember how he had fought toward the end.
Ah! What about Senior Goe?
Worried about Goe Ak, he couldn't stay lying down. Just as he was groaning and trying to force himself up again, he heard Geom Mu-geuk’s voice from outside.
“Where do you keep trying to go when your body is in that state?”
Then came a welcome reply.
“I told you, I’m fine.”
“You are not fine. If you don't treat it properly now, your bones will ache when you're older.”
“I’m already old enough, and they already ache enough!”
Bi Sa-in lay back on the bed. A smile formed on his lips before he knew it. Despite being injured and knowing powerful enemies remained, his heart felt at peace.
He fell asleep again, and when he woke, Geom Mu-geuk was in the room.
“Are you awake?”
“How long was I out?”
“You slept for almost a full day. Are you hungry?”
“I’m alright.”
Sometimes, when you feel this good, you don't even realize you're hungry. That was exactly how he felt now.
“By the way, where is this?”
“One of our safe houses.”
I’ve lived long enough to end up in a Demonic Cult safe house, he thought.
“Help me up.”
As Bi Sa-in tried to rise, Geom Mu-geuk pushed him back down.
“Are people from the Unorthodox Faction always this impatient? You seem to have shorter tempers than the demonic practitioners of our Cult.”
“I don't think that's something a man who flew here in such a hurry should be saying.”
He postponed saying thank you once again. He felt that the debt of gratitude he owed could no longer be settled in a single day. He would just have to take the thanks out of his "settlement basket" one by one as he lived his life.
Geom Mu-geuk threw the window wide open.
“The weather is quite nice today.”
Bi Sa-in watched Geom Mu-geuk’s back as he looked out the window. He didn't know why, but when Geom Mu-geuk was silent, he seemed lonely. Especially when looking at his back as he gazed off into the distance.
“How did you know to come?”
Geom Mu-geuk answered, still with his back turned.
“I ran here because I missed you.”
“Stop talking nonsense.”
The moment he confirmed that the person allied with the Combat King was Hyeok Sa-gun, who served as the Chief Strategist, Geom Mu-geuk had sprinted toward the safe house where Bi Sa-in was staying using the Rapid Speed Step.
Hyeok Sa-gun would know that Bi Sa-in was alive, and he would also know the location of the safe house. If not for that split-second decision, Bi Sa-in and Goe Ak would have died.
“The person who joined hands with Hwang Seok-gyeong is...”
Bi Sa-in grew tense. There weren't many people who knew the location of the safe house and could send the Scorching Heaven Twin Swords.
Geom Mu-geuk turned toward Bi Sa-in and said, “It’s Hyeok Sa-gun.”
“...!”
Bi Sa-in was shocked. He knew it had to be someone of that caliber for it to make sense, but he hadn't expected it to actually be Hyeok Sa-gun.
“Are you certain?”
“I confirmed it myself.”
Bi Sa-in’s chest felt so tight he couldn't stay lying down. He forced himself upright, enduring the pain. This time, Geom Mu-geuk didn't stop him. As he reached out his hand, a soft, cotton-like energy flowed out, helping Bi Sa-in sit up.
Bi Sa-in leaned against the wall, lost in thought.
He remembered the way Hyeok Sa-gun used to smile at him. Seeing the young man had always made him feel hopeful. He had felt that once Hyeok Sa-gun officially became the Chief Strategist, the Unorthodox Path Alliance would be transformed into something new.
And all of that was a facade? A lie?
Anxiety preceded his anger. Hyeok Sa-gun was a more difficult opponent than any other enemy of the Unorthodox Path Alliance. He was closer to the Alliance Leader than anyone else.
“Are you worried?”
Bi Sa-in nodded. He would have to face Hwang Seok-gyeong’s martial arts and Hyeok Sa-gun’s intellect.
“I’ve survived once again thanks to your help.”
“No, this time you survived on your own.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“You met an enemy stronger than yourself and held out until the end. All I did was grab that man’s arm once. You were the one who killed him.”
Geom Mu-geuk credited everything to Bi Sa-in. Another "thank you" went into the settlement basket.
“You fought truly well. You are the best Young Alliance Leader I’ve ever seen.”
A smile broke across Bi Sa-in’s rugged face.
“You’ve only ever seen one Young Alliance Leader.”
This time, Geom Mu-geuk laughed heartily. Seeing this laugh, Bi Sa-in finally felt that he had truly survived.
Just then, Goe Ak entered the room. Bi Sa-in tried to give a fist salute while sitting, but let out a groan. Now that he thought about it, both his arms had been cut.
“It’s fine. Just stay as you are.”
“Are you alright, Senior?”
Goe Ak was also wrapped in bandages, reeking of medicine.
“I’m fine.”
Bi Sa-in was grateful he was alive. If he had been the only one to survive while Goe Ak died, he would have felt guilty for the rest of his life.
“I am alive because you saved me, Senior.”
“How could that be because of me?”
As he spoke, Goe Ak glanced at Geom Mu-geuk. Because Geom Mu-geuk had arrived on time, not only he but also Bi Sa-in had lived. He had already owed a life-debt twice. He wanted to say thank you, but he felt perversely cranky.
“When can we leave? Demonic Cult food really doesn't suit my palate.”
He felt uncomfortable staying in a safe house of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. Before meeting Geom Mu-geuk, he was a man who always put the word "damn" before "Demonic Cult."
“Since my business is done, I suppose I can leave, can't I?”
Since he had killed those he needed to kill, there was no need to be greedy for the martial manual.
“I think I’ll go live in seclusion somewhere with beautiful mountains and clear water.”
Then, Bi Sa-in spoke to him.
“Please postpone that retirement.”
“Why? Did you suddenly feel it was a waste to buy me the world’s largest golden basin?”
“How could that be? Before you dip your hands in that basin, I’d like to borrow them. You’ve already saved me once, so please take responsibility for this life from now on.”
Geom Mu-geuk knew better than anyone what it meant for martial artists to survive a life-and-death crisis together. That was why he understood how important this moment was for the two of them.
Bi Sa-in bowed his head respectfully and made his request.
“Please help me become a good Alliance Leader.”
Bi Sa-in did not raise his head. His posture contained the will to remain bowed until permission was granted.
“I am a man with many enemies and many flaws. Keeping me by your side will cause a lot of backlash.”
“I’ll tell them all to get lost.”
A faint smile touched Goe Ak’s lips.
“That’s what you think now.”
Goe Ak didn't accept easily. After staring at the bowing Bi Sa-in for a moment, Goe Ak glanced at Geom Mu-geuk.
Geom Mu-geuk said to him, “I’ll give you double what the Young Alliance Leader is offering. Come to our side.”
Bi Sa-in, still bowing, couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh. Geom Mu-geuk was someone who couldn't resist joking even in a situation like this.
“Your food doesn't suit my palate.”
After rejecting him with a single sentence, Goe Ak approached Bi Sa-in and raised him up.
“There’s no need to keep me by your side just out of consideration for me. In fact, I’ll be able to help you properly only if I take a step back.”
He meant he would help quietly without standing in the foreground. It was also a declaration that he wouldn't run wild using the Alliance Leader’s authority.
“Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“Don't forget the biggest and best golden basin.”
It was the moment Bi Sa-in, who had previously relied only on the 13 Wolves of the Unorthodox Path, gained a more reliable ally than anyone else.
Geom Mu-geuk congratulated the two with his eyes. Naturally, a few people he missed came to mind.
Just then, a demonic practitioner managing the safe house arrived and delivered a missive.
“This is an urgent missive sent to the Young Cult Leader from the Unorthodox Path Alliance through the Tongcheon Pavilion.”
Geom Mu-geuk checked the contents of the missive.
“What does it say?”
To Bi Sa-in’s tense question, Geom Mu-geuk replied with an expression that said what was bound to happen had finally arrived.
“Your Alliance Leader wants to see me.”