Chapter 367: It’s Okay to Be a Little Less Cool
Chapter 367: It’s Okay to Be a Little Less Cool
Late at night, Bi Sa-in paced the courtyard of the safe house alone.
Tomorrow was finally the day the Alliance Leader would depart. Though he had initially said he would stay behind...
‘Should I have volunteered to go?’
He had declined because he feared his unhealed body would be nothing but a burden. But if anything—even the slightest thing—were to happen to the Alliance Leader, he would spend the rest of his life drowning in regret.
Surprisingly, he wasn't worried about Geom Mu-geuk. Even if that man were forced to flee, he would manage just fine. He was the type of person who, if he fell into a river, would probably persuade the fish to help him out.
‘Will the Alliance Leader understand my heart later? Or will he misunderstand and think I stayed behind out of fear?’
Bi Sa-in shook his head. To be worrying about his own reputation in a situation like this...
Just then, someone stepped out from the shadows behind him.
"Your mind is in such a state that you can't sleep, eh?"
He turned to see Goe Ak.
"Is it tomorrow?"
"Yes."
Bi Sa-in wanted to ask Goe Ak to go and help the Alliance Leader. He wanted to say, 'This is an order from the Young Alliance Leader, so go.'
But he couldn't bring himself to do it. He couldn't tell Goe Ak to head into a den of death when he himself wasn't going. If Goe Ak had any intention of helping, he would have spoken up first.
"Don't worry too much. You know what kind of person the Alliance Leader is, don't you?"
He knew. He knew better than anyone. That was exactly why he was worried. The Alliance Leader was not a man who would ever back down. Usually, he was cold and realistic, but when it came to a fight, he was like a raging fire. In Bi Sa-in's eyes, he was the ultimate "man's man."
As always, the person to resolve his dilemma was someone else entirely.
"If you're so worried, let's just go together!"
Startled, Bi Sa-in turned to see Geom Mu-geuk entering the courtyard.
"What are you doing here?"
"What do you mean? I came to take you with me."
With that, he held something out. In Geom Mu-geuk's hand was a set of protective armor. It was the very same armor that had saved Bi Sa-in's life earlier because he had worn two layers. It had been soaked in blood, but now it was spotless.
"I went down to the stream and washed it earlier. You're going to see your master for the first time in a while; you can't go smelling like a slaughterhouse, can you?"
It was perfectly clean and completely dry.
"I was worried it might smell if it didn't dry properly, so I wore it myself and used Heat Yang Energy to bake it dry."
"What?"
"I made quite a fuss by myself in the middle of the night."
Bi Sa-in imagined Geom Mu-geuk standing by the stream, scrubbing the armor, and then putting it on to dry it with his internal energy. Surprise, bewilderment, and deep emotion—a wave of feelings hit Bi Sa-in all at once, leaving him dazed.
Truly, this Young Cult Leader was a man who could not be predicted in the slightest. And the feeling that crowned all these emotions was pure joy.
A bright smile spread across Bi Sa-in's rugged face.
"Fine. Let's go."
It was right to go. Seeing how happy he felt, he knew this was the right choice.
"Exactly. This is a matter for the Unorthodox Path Alliance; you have to be there."
Bi Sa-in nodded vigorously. As the fog in his mind cleared, he stood tall. He was a disciple who wanted to protect his master, a man who was not afraid even if he lost his life.
Yes, let's do this. Let's give it a shot. If he was going to die, he would die there.
"Help me, friend."
At the word "friend," Geom Mu-geuk broke into a wide grin.
"Of course. Am I not your true friend? Never forget that I am the only friend who risked his life to help you when you were in trouble! And I'm also the friend who will roam the beaches with you later. Don't worry, I'll charm all the young ladies for us!"
Bi Sa-in knew that Geom Mu-geuk was unexpectedly bad at taking credit. He felt burdened by gratitude and disliked boasting. He suspected that beneath the fog of all that chatter, there might be a man even more silent and blunt than himself.
Bi Sa-in put on one set of the protective armor and held the other out to Geom Mu-geuk.
"You wear one."
"I'm already wearing mine. So, wear two layers again this time."
The Supreme Heavenly Silkworm Thread that had been tied to the hilt of the Black Demonic Sword was already wrapped around the vital parts of Geom Mu-geuk's body.
Goe Ak, who had been listening to their conversation, chimed in.
"There might be poison smeared inside that armor."
It was a joke, but one with a sharp edge—advice not to trust Geom Mu-geuk completely.
"Since you are here, Senior, at least the Young Alliance Leader won't die of poisoning."
Geom Mu-geuk sincerely hoped the relationship between these two would develop well. Bi Sa-in, it’s up to you.
Bi Sa-in spoke to Goe Ak.
"Will you help me and come with us tomorrow?"
Goe Ak answered without hesitation.
"If the Young Alliance Leader is going, then I must go as well."
He hadn't stepped forward for the Alliance Leader, but he at least had the heart to move for Bi Sa-in.
Bi Sa-in realized one thing. If he had forced him to go earlier, he wouldn't have received such a ready answer now. Because he had held back then, he gained something now. He had to remember this: when the heart is in a hurry, it is easy to forget the proper distance between oneself and others.
The person who had the greatest influence on this realization was already moving on. Geom Mu-geuk bid them farewell.
"Then, I'll see you tomorrow morning. I'll come to pick you up."
"Where are you going at this hour?"
Geom Mu-geuk vanished in an instant, leaving behind a cryptic remark.
"You aren't the only one who needs to wear protective armor."
*
Late at night, Baek Ja-gang was training in his courtyard, stripped to the waist. His opponent was a steel dummy forged from a blend of Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron.
The steel dummy became Geom Wu-jin, then Hwang Seok-gyeong, and then himself. He could have sliced it apart with a single stroke, but only rhythmic, light sounds echoed from the dummy.
After a bout of swinging his sword, Baek Ja-gang approached the steel dummy. He slowly traced the marks carved just moments ago with his hand. So many lines had been drawn that the surface now felt as if the lines had merged into a single plane.
Yet, Baek Ja-gang knew exactly which marks he had just left. It was a realm higher than merely cutting Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron, and it was his fingers, following the Sword Line, that enjoyed this magnificent state.
The lines told a story—that he was not a man who had inherited the position of Alliance Leader easily. He, too, was a man who had reached the Grand Tutor’s Chair by walking a path of blood.
Just then, the voice of the Escort Captain came from outside.
"The Young Cult Leader has arrived."
*
Geom Mu-geuk stood before the Steel Wolf again today.
"What brings you here at this late hour?"
"I couldn't sleep, so I came to see you."
With anyone else, Baek Ja-gang would have assumed it was nerves, but he didn't think that was the case with Geom Mu-geuk. There had to be a reason for the visit.
"Why not come inside?"
"Ah, I like it out here."
Baek Ja-gang stood side-by-side with Geom Mu-geuk.
"I heard you said this wolf would come to life?"
It seemed the Escort Captain had relayed those words.
"I suppose I just felt like it would be nice if it did."
"Are you hoping for a crisis to befall the Alliance?"
"Ah, I suppose I was. No wonder! I had such a strong feeling it would come to life."
This was why conversations with Geom Mu-geuk were interesting. He said things no one else would dare to say with such ease.
"I heard you called him a formidable foe?"
Geom Mu-geuk spoke to the empty air.
"Aren't you reporting too much of what I say to the Alliance Leader? Are there no secrets between us?"
Only after playing around like that did the playfulness vanish from Geom Mu-geuk's face.
"Yes. He will likely be the strongest enemy you have ever faced."
"As strong as your father?"
"Not that much."
Before a relaxed smile could form on Baek Ja-gang's lips, Geom Mu-geuk spoke first.
"But he is not an enemy you can afford to be careless with, either."
He knew such words might prick the pride of the Leader of the Unorthodox Path, but he gave the warning nonetheless.
"Are you afraid I might die?"
After a brief pause, Geom Mu-geuk answered.
"Yes."
There was no ringing in Baek Ja-gang's ears. This Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult was sincerely worried that he might die. How on earth was he supposed to take this?
"There is a set of precious armor for you. I ask that you wear it when you depart."
"Why the armor?"
"The opponent will be wearing one as well."
Geom Mu-geuk already knew from his past life that the Combat King wore protective armor. Not just armor—the Combat King never hesitated to use any tool or divine artifact if it meant winning a fight. This was well-known because the Combat King wasn't ashamed of it at all. The only thing he felt shame for was defeat.
A man who was already as strong as a Demon Lord was using the finest equipment; that was why Geom Mu-geuk was worried about the Alliance Leader.
"I felt this before, but you seem to know a lot about this person."
What should he say?
"Yes, I have information on him."
Since long explanations often lead to slips of the tongue, he said nothing more. He had already mentioned similar conspiracies in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, the Murim Alliance, and the Pungcheon Cult of the Outer Regions, so Baek Ja-gang would likely assume he learned it while resolving those incidents.
"Please do not misunderstand. I am not saying this to belittle you, Alliance Leader."
"I know that. However, let me ask you this."
Baek Ja-gang stared intently at Geom Mu-geuk and asked, "If it were your father, would he have worn it?"
After thinking of his father for a moment, Geom Mu-geuk shook his head.
"He would not have."
Baek Ja-gang radiated a cold aura.
"Then why are you telling me to wear it?"
"Because I would have told my father to wear it as well."
In the same situation, he would have urged his father too. Though his father would never have worn it.
"I know. I know your pride and self-respect as a martial artist. Even if the opponent comes draped in every treasure in the world, you are a man who would face them with a single sword. I know well that both my father and you are such men. That is why he is the Cult Leader, and you are the Alliance Leader."
"If you know that, then why?"
"Because I would wear it. I would go out wearing layers of the best protective armor. Even if I become the Cult Leader, I will do the same."
Baek Ja-gang stared into Geom Mu-geuk's eyes, which didn't waver in the slightest. He was curious why this young man, who would carry the next generation, was saying such things.
"Because the honor of a Cult Leader, in my eyes, does not lie in the 'coolness' of winning under unfavorable conditions."
"Then where does your honor lie?"
"It lies in the result—killing the one who must be killed. Therefore, it’s okay to be a little less cool. I don't care for heroic legends. I just want to return safely and see my people. I want to return safely and drink wine and talk with them. I won't say a single word about the enemy who is already dead. I'll just take off my blood-stained armor and laugh and chatter. People will think to themselves, 'Yes, if it's the Cult Leader, he can surely kill them.' My honor lies there."
It was something Baek Ja-gang had never considered. Being with Geom Mu-geuk constantly revealed things he himself lacked. Everything Geom Mu-geuk had said up to this point was for the sake of this conclusion.
"I hope that you, Alliance Leader, do not get hurt even a hair's breadth. I hope that becomes your honor."
From the beginning of Geom Mu-geuk's speech to the end, not a single hair on Baek Ja-gang's ears stirred.
*
The next day, a carriage carrying the Alliance Leader sped along the road.
The small number of martial artists escorting the carriage were the Alliance Leader's personal guards. Only the most skilled among them had accompanied this secret journey. Inside the carriage were Baek Ja-gang and the Vice Leader, Hyeok Sa-gun.
"Are you nervous?"
At Baek Ja-gang's question, Hyeok Sa-gun, who had been staring out the window, turned his head.
"No, sir."
"You seem more tense than usual."
Of course, Hyeok Sa-gun was nervous. His fate would be decided today. He believed Hwang Seok-gyeong would win, but it would be a perilous battlefield. There was no telling what variables might threaten him.
"May I say one thing regarding this matter?"
"Go ahead."
"To be honest, I felt a bit hurt. I thought it would have been better if you had trusted me completely, if you were going to trust me at all."
"You're hurt because I didn't tell you the Chief Strategist's location."
"Yes."
Hyeok Sa-gun immediately bowed his head in apology.
"I apologize for my disloyal words, Alliance Leader."
"No. You're only human; it's natural to feel that way."
Hyeok Sa-gun was doing his best to hide his true self. The Alliance Leader was a sharp man. He was someone who could pierce through a person with those small eyes. That was why he was masking his excitement today as "hurt feelings." He just had to make it to the place where Hwang Seok-gyeong was waiting.
How long had they been traveling? When the carriage began to slow down, Baek Ja-gang spoke unexpectedly.
"Today is the day the Unorthodox Alliance Hall accepts new recruits, isn't it?"
"That's right, it's today."
Hyeok Sa-gun felt inwardly tense at the mention of the Hall.
"I heard Instructor Hwang took a leave of absence today?"
"Yes, I heard it's the first time he's ever done so. But how do you know?"
"Is he not famous for his diligence? Do you know what happened?"
"I heard he had urgent personal business."
"I think I know where he went."
The carriage had come to a stop. Baek Ja-gang's gaze turned toward the window.
"He's right there."
Up ahead, the Combat King stood blocking the road. Revealing his aura in its entirety, the Combat King exuded an overwhelming presence. The aura he was projecting now was enough to explain why Geom Mu-geuk had been so worried.
The escort warriors, who had already received instructions from In Gung, showed no agitation. Baek Ja-gang slowly stepped out of the carriage. Though the Combat King's fighting spirit swirled toward him like a blade, Baek Ja-gang spoke with utter composure.
"Isn't your vacation a bit too extravagant?"