Chapter 366: Because You Look Lonely for Some Reason
Chapter 366: Because You Look Lonely for Some Reason
When Geom Mu-geuk returned to the safe house, Bi Sa-in was in the courtyard, focused on his breathing exercises to circulate his qi.
"You're back?" Bi Sa-in greeted him, his expression unusually relaxed.
Geom Mu-geuk studied him intently, eyes narrowing with suspicion. "Who are you?"
Thinking it was just another one of his friend's endless jokes, Bi Sa-in didn't bother responding.
"I asked who you are," Geom Mu-geuk pressed. "My friend, the Young Alliance Leader, doesn't have a face that peaceful. Even on a good day, he looks like he’s about to hand a death warrant to his worst enemy. Exorcise yourself from my friend’s body this instant!"
Bi Sa-in shook his head, looking exasperated. "Can you go even one day without playing around?"
"You have to play as much as you can while you're young. Look at your master or my father. See how stern and boring they are? We’ll end up just like them when we get older."
"You’ll probably still be playing pranks even at that age."
Geom Mu-geuk grinned, unable to deny it. "How did the meeting go?"
"It went well. Nothing much happened—except for the fact that those bastards are planning to assassinate the Alliance Leader."
"What!" Knowing Geom Mu-geuk wouldn't joke about something like that, Bi Sa-in asked urgently, "What happened?"
Geom Mu-geuk recounted the events of the meeting.
"I forced their hand. Now, the only option left for them is to kill the Alliance Leader and seize control of the Unorthodox Path Alliance. I’m sorry. That was the only way to draw them out."
One might have expected Bi Sa-in to be furious that his master had been put in such danger, but he simply nodded in silence.
"Why aren't you angry?"
"Didn't you say it was the only way?"
Geom Mu-geuk felt that his relationship with Bi Sa-in had truly shifted. The man who once felt so distant and cold was now standing right before him, open and grounded.
"They won't dare attack while he's inside the Alliance Leader's Palace," Bi Sa-in noted.
The palace was a fortress, guarded by countless hidden masters. While one or two people might be able to slip in alongside Hyeok Sa-gun, it was impossible for a large force to stage an invasion.
"They’ll aim for when he leaves the palace. As the Deputy Strategist, Hyeok Sa-gun is the first to know the Alliance Leader’s schedule."
Geom Mu-geuk nodded, sharing the thought. "The reason I said the Demon Doctor and the Poison King would arrive in ten days was because I wanted you to participate in this fight."
A tremor passed over Bi Sa-in’s face. Because his features were so scarred and fearsome, even that slight movement left a powerful impression.
"I appreciate the sentiment, but there's no need for that," Bi Sa-in said, surprising Geom Mu-geuk. "Formulate your plan without taking me into account."
"Are you sure you're okay with that?"
Bi Sa-in nodded.
Don't get used to it.
After hearing those words from his master, Bi Sa-in had been able to settle his mind. He realized that now was not the time to fight, but the time to change his bandages. It was not the time to boil over, but the time to cool down.
Geom Mu-geuk could feel it. Bi Sa-in had grown significantly. "You've changed a lot."
"I wonder whose fault that is."
Their gazes met softly in the air.
"Then get some rest."
As Geom Mu-geuk turned to leave, Bi Sa-in spoke from behind him. "Thank you."
It was just a single phrase, but it carried Bi Sa-in’s sincere gratitude.
"Then don't just settle it with words; do me a favor." Geom Mu-geuk was making the same request he had made to Baek Ja-gang.
"Tell me."
"I'll tell you once this is all over."
Then, Bi Sa-in made a surprising promise. "Whatever it is, I will grant it."
To promise to grant anything without even hearing the request—especially coming from a man who lived by his word—was a gesture more valuable than any other expression of gratitude. It was the moment the basket of debts, which had been overflowing with gratitude, was finally emptied.
"What if I want your position? Why would you say you'll grant anything?"
Bi Sa-in turned to enter the building as he replied, "Then I'll just challenge you for the position of Young Cult Leader."
Geom Mu-geuk shouted after him, "You'll take that back the moment you meet my father!"
*
The next day, Geom Mu-geuk headed to the Alliance Leader's Palace again. Walking down the corridor, he stopped once more in front of the Steel Wolf statue.
"Do you like that wolf?"
Surprised by the unexpected question, Geom Mu-geuk looked at In Gung, the Escort Captain who was guiding him.
On the way there, Geom Mu-geuk had bombarded In Gung with all sorts of questions. When do you sleep if you're always guarding? How long do you have to study stealth to reach that level? Who controls the poison needle traps under the palace? Of course, In Gung hadn't answered a single one.
But now, In Gung had spoken first.
"Do you realize? This is the first time you've spoken to me since we met."
"It's because you seemed to be looking at that wolf quite intently."
Geom Mu-geuk’s gaze returned to the wolf. He could have made a joke, but instead, he spoke calmly, his eyes deepening. "Because it looks lonely for some reason."
That was why he liked it. It reminded him of his father; it reminded him of the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon sitting alone in that pure white room; it reminded him of the Alliance Leader walking across windswept fields; and it reminded him of this Escort Captain silently guiding him. It even reminded him of himself in his life before the regression.
In Gung’s gaze also turned toward the wolf. It was an answer he hadn't expected. He had passed this spot countless times, but he had never thought of it that way. The Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult was certainly different from the martial artists he had known. Then again, that was likely why he was standing in this corridor in the first place.
Geom Mu-geuk spoke another unexpected thought. "I feel like this wolf will come to life someday."
He meant it sincerely. He felt a strange pull, something he couldn't quite identify, drawing him in.
In Gung looked at Geom Mu-geuk. None of his subordinates believed in that legend. 'You believe in something even we don't believe in.'
Geom Mu-geuk gave the wolf's head a pat. "Hey, you. Don't doze off; keep a good watch!"
He resumed his walk, following In Gung’s lead. Before the doors to the Alliance Leader's chamber opened, Geom Mu-geuk spoke to the captain.
"He is strong."
In Gung was always present whenever Geom Mu-geuk met the Alliance Leader. Since he had overheard every conversation while hidden, he knew exactly what Geom Mu-geuk was referring to.
"I understand," In Gung replied respectfully.
Geom Mu-geuk had reminded him of the Combat King’s strength because it was something the Escort Captain absolutely needed to know.
The doors opened, and Geom Mu-geuk stepped inside. Baek Ja-gang, the Alliance Leader, was sitting in his Grand Tutor's chair with his eyes closed, lost in thought. Knowing better than anyone how important the contemplations of a master of Baek Ja-gang’s caliber were, Geom Mu-geuk walked as quietly as possible.
Only when Geom Mu-geuk reached the foot of the chair did Baek Ja-gang speak. "Is your plan to kill me by coming and going so freely?"
It was a joke about Geom Mu-geuk approaching without a sound.
"If I were to kill the Alliance Leader, wouldn't I need to put in at least this much effort? Ah, but I really need to practice my movement techniques more. I feel like I need to be able to get ten steps closer in total silence if I want to put my friend in that seat."
Baek Ja-gang’s eyes snapped open. As expected, banter was only fun when the other person didn't walk on eggshells.
"Have you come up with a plan?"
"As you know, there's a problem with the strategists in this alliance. What are your thoughts?"
"It's not like I have any grand ideas, but..."
Contrary to his words, Geom Mu-geuk had already formulated a plan. "Since they won't move while you're in the alliance headquarters, there needs to be a natural reason for you to leave. That way, they won't be suspicious."
As Baek Ja-gang nodded, Geom Mu-geuk continued. "You'll go out to meet the Demon Doctor and the Poison King. The Chief Strategist, who is currently ill, is being hidden outside, isn't he?"
During their last meeting, Geom Mu-geuk had suggested that Hyeok Sa-gun might try to kill the Chief Strategist to destroy evidence, so the Alliance Leader had moved him to a secret location.
"You'll go out to meet them under the pretext that you don't want the Poison King and the Demon Doctor entering the headquarters. Tell Hyeok Sa-gun that you're taking them straight to the Chief Strategist. It’s the perfect opportunity for them. They won't believe I killed you alone, but they’ll believe it if they hear the Poison King poisoned you."
Baek Ja-gang was impressed. He realized that Geom Mu-geuk might have been thinking this far ahead from the moment he lied about the Poison King and Demon Doctor just to corner Hyeok Sa-gun.
"Let's do that," Baek Ja-gang accepted. "What did Sa-in say about this?"
"The Young Alliance Leader said he doesn't need to fight, so we should make the plan without worrying about him."
Baek Ja-gang felt that his message had been properly conveyed to his disciple. "Even so, I'm going to bring him along."
"Why?"
"Because this is his fight too. If he misses this chance, he’ll regret today for the rest of his life. I don't want to leave my friend with that kind of regret. Don't worry, I'll protect him well."
Baek Ja-gang didn't feel a chill down his spine. There are people with whom this intuition works, and those with whom it doesn't. He found himself wishing that Geom Mu-geuk was someone it didn't work with. In almost every relationship where his intuition had clicked, all that remained was disappointment. This sense was the primary reason he didn't trust people.
'Could you be the exception?'
The thought arose because of the unpredictability this young man had shown so far. But surely, that wouldn't be the case.
"Stop worrying about your friend and worry about yourself. Do you have any idea how many poison needle holes are under your feet right now?"
"Whoops!" Geom Mu-geuk made a fuss. "I guess I just won't look at the floor! Luckily, I've always liked looking at the sky."
*
A few days passed, and it was the day before the Alliance Leader was scheduled to depart.
"Ugh, another grueling battle starts tomorrow."
Hwang Seok-gyeong smiled as he helped Instructor Cha move training equipment. Tomorrow was the day a new class of recruits would enter the Unorthodox Alliance Hall. Instructor Cha’s complaints were an annual tradition that followed every short break.
"Think of them as the foundation that will protect the alliance."
"They're only precious foundations to someone popular like you. To me, they're just a headache. I wonder which brat is going to piss me off this time."
Setting down the luggage, Hwang Seok-gyeong spoke to Instructor Cha. "By the way, I won't be able to make it tomorrow."
"You? Why? Are you sick?" Instructor Cha was shocked. Hwang Seok-gyeong was the most diligent person at the Unorthodox Alliance Hall. He never missed a day, so for him to say he wouldn't be there on the first day of a new class was startling.
"I have somewhere I need to go."
"Where?"
Hwang Seok-gyeong simply smiled and didn't answer. "I'll lock up the warehouse before I leave, so you go on ahead."
"Are you sure?" Instructor Cha turned back as he walked away. "Let me know if there's anything I can do to help."
Hwang Seok-gyeong gave him a bright smile. "It's fine. It's something I have to do myself."
Something only I can do.
After parting ways with Instructor Cha, Hwang Seok-gyeong returned to the warehouse where they had stored the training equipment. Entering the warehouse, he cleared away a pile of dusty, unused equipment in the corner. He manipulated a sophisticated mechanism hidden in the wall, and a door leading to a basement opened.
Once Hwang Seok-gyeong stepped inside, the door closed automatically. It was a small secret room, dimly lit by shards of night-shining pearls embedded in the walls.
A set of protective robes hung on the far wall. It was a sacred relic that would make nine out of ten martial artists scream if they knew what it was.
Immortal.
The Immortal Divine Armor was his most cherished protective gear, a suit of armor he wore only for the most important battles. Made from a blend of various special fabrics and Heavenly Silkworm Thread, it clung to his body as if it were a second skin. Thin yet incredibly strong, it was an absolute divine artifact of the Murim that couldn't be bought for any amount of gold.
That wasn't all. Hwang Seok-gyeong put on guards to protect his wrists and shins.
Twin Souls.
While these guards couldn't compare to the Immortal Divine Armor, they were still rare treasures of the Jianghu. Next, he buckled on a leather belt for daggers. When he opened a nearby box, it was filled with blades. Like the artifacts before them, this belt and these daggers were not common items.
Hwang Seok-gyeong slowly and meticulously slotted them into the belt. His movements as he prepared for battle were calm and solemn. The final thing he put on was a pair of gloves.
Combat God.
Also made of special materials, they felt as if he wasn't wearing anything at all. They protected his hands not only from sword qi but even from sword force, and they were a treasure that could draw out the strength of his fists to the absolute limit.
This was the first time. The first time he was going into battle wearing all of these items at once.
Donning his outer robes again, Hwang Seok-gyeong emerged from the secret room. He piled the original luggage back over the entrance. He also leaned his sword against the pile. Today would be the last time he entered this place.
As he finally set down his sword, he ceased to be Hwang Seok-gyeong, the instructor of the Unorthodox Alliance Hall, and became the Combat King on the eve of the decisive battle.