Chapter 391: Even if We Fight, Let’s Keep It Between Us
Chapter 391: Even if We Fight, Let’s Keep It Between Us
Geom Mu-yang stared down silently at the duck dish placed before him.
Was it because they shared the same blood? Even without seeing each other often, there were moments when he could see deep into his younger brother’s heart. This was one of those moments.
The plate of duck had drifted toward him as if playfully swimming across the table, but Mu-yang knew the truth. This was his brother’s silent way of saying thank you.
Geom Mu-geuk was usually a man of many words—often cringeworthy ones—but in this instant, he was conveying his feelings through a quiet gesture.
And he has the nerve to call me blunt, Mu-yang thought.
Meanwhile, Jin Ha-ryeong found herself reflecting on Geom Mu-yang, who had stepped forward so boldly for Mu-geuk’s sake.
If it had been her, could she have done the same for her own brother? Likely not. Even if she had tried, could she have dominated the atmosphere with such overwhelming power? It wouldn't have been possible without a heart that truly cherished a sibling. From the very start, Geom Mu-yang had been prepared to go to the bitter end for his brother.
Jin Ha-ryeong wasn't the only one moved. Bi Sa-in spoke in a low, contemplative voice.
“Having a brother seems like a wonderful thing.”
Bi Sa-in had never once regretted being an only child until now. But today, he felt a sharp twinge of envy. He envied the bond of having a brother who would stand in the line of fire in one's stead.
At that moment, Geom Mu-geuk, who had been sitting with his eyes closed, spoke up.
“If you’re that envious, you can take me as your older brother.”
“You mean younger brother!” Bi Sa-in snapped back.
Mu-geuk merely continued to grin with his eyes shut.
“Why are your eyes closed when you aren't even sleeping?”
“This is the first rest my brother has ever given me. I ought to enjoy it.”
To that, Geom Mu-yang interjected, “I told you to rest that mouth of yours. Eyes open, mouth shut.”
“I’m in such a good mood that my mouth refuses to stay quiet.”
Another thing Bi Sa-in envied was how these brothers had concluded their succession struggle without shedding a drop of blood.
How much blood had he himself spilled to become the successor? That was how succession battles usually went. That was the life of a martial artist. That was how it had always been done.
He had lived his life believing that logic was absolute, yet two people who defied it were sitting right before his eyes. They were joking around, making him wonder if life really had to be so cruel.
Jin Ha-gun drank in silence. Perhaps he was stirred by strange emotions, for the alcohol went down smoother than usual.
He, too, had been affected by Geom Mu-yang. He already knew Geom Mu-geuk was an extraordinary person, so nothing Mu-geuk did surprised him anymore. However, Geom Mu-yang’s display earlier had left his mind in a tangle. Admiration, jealousy, and shame swirled together. It was likely because he had often heard that he and Mu-yang were similar.
How is he like me? Aren't I better?
He had harbored such arrogant thoughts deep down, but the sight of Geom Mu-yang earlier made him feel ashamed of his own conceit.
Just then, Jin Ha-ryeong poured more wine into Ha-gun’s cup. She said nothing, but she understood her brother’s troubled heart.
“I’m looking forward to the future.”
It was a reminder that they still had a long way to go, but also a genuine expression of anticipation.
When these people eventually became Cult Leaders and Alliance Leaders, what kind of Murim would they create? Seeing all three of them together in one place today made her expectations soar. It felt different now—no longer just a vague dream, but a looming reality.
*
Meanwhile, the atmosphere on the first floor had completely relaxed.
People gathered in small groups, drinking with those they were close to. They hadn't expected much from such a shabby tavern, but both the wine and the food were excellent.
“The taste is quite good.”
Having heard this compliment for the second time, Jo Chun-bae stood in the kitchen with a beaming smile. He had received praise from both the Orthodox and the Unorthodox martial artists alike. He was already thrilled at the thought of bragging about this to his regulars.
“Another bottle of wine over here!”
“Yes, coming right up!”
I’m the one protecting the peace of the Murim! As Jo Chun-bae ran busily about, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was filling the cup of the One Flower Sword Venerable.
“I’m sorry.”
She was the one who had provoked the Taiyi Divine Sword earlier. She could have just looked away, but her pride wouldn't allow it.
“It’s because you’re young,” the Blade Demon replied.
“Young? Do you know how old I am?”
“At your age, you’re still young. If I were your age…” The Blood Heaven Blade Demon trailed off.
“What would you do if you were my age?”
“I don't have anything specific in mind, but…”
Actually, he did. But the Blood Heaven Blade Demon didn't say it; he simply drank his wine in silence.
“Why don't you just live as if you were my age?”
“I’m not that age, so how can I?”
The One Flower Sword Venerable lightly tapped the table three times and declared, “From this moment on, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon is the same age as the One Flower Sword Venerable.”
The Drunken Demon, who was drinking nearby, chimed in.
“You must have a lot of grievances built up against the Senior. You’re trying to settle them all by becoming friends, aren't you?”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon gave a faint smile. “I suppose so.”
For once, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon poured a drink for the Drunken Demon—the man who usually lived with the words "I hate seeing drunks" on his lips.
“I know you’ve worked hard to mediate between us.”
He knew the Drunken Demon had played a major role in mending the relationship between him and the One Flower Sword Venerable. Even if he didn't know the full details, he had heard from her that the Drunken Demon had put in a great deal of effort.
“Well, that’s what friends are for.”
The Drunken Demon tried to sneak his way into their circle, but the One Flower Sword Venerable wasn't having it.
“Friends? Don't even dream of it!”
“Didn't you say you became younger too, Senior?”
“I’m only the same age as him.”
While the three of them enjoyed a pleasant atmosphere for the first time in a long while, the Poison King sat nearby. He remained leaning against the window, staring outside.
The breeze ruffled his hair. Had there been any women passing by, they would have stopped in their tracks at the sight, but the area outside was strictly controlled.
The Demon Buddha approached him. “What have you been looking at for so long?”
“I just felt a bit stifled, so I was looking out. The spring air is nice.”
Back at his residence in the Thousand Poison Forest, he was always researching and manufacturing poisons, so he never felt cramped. But being in a confined space like this made him feel restless. He was a man used to wandering the deep woods in search of poisonous herbs and insects.
“Are there no poisonous herbs you’re looking for lately?”
“How could there be none? There are plenty of things I need among the flora that bloom in spring.”
“I’ll pay you a visit sometime soon.”
The Poison King’s expression brightened. The Demon Buddha was truly like a ghost when it came to tracking down rare poisonous herbs.
The Demon Buddha looked up toward the second floor. “It would be nice if we could go together, but he seems quite busy.”
The Poison King’s gaze also shifted upward. The stiff atmosphere on the second floor had softened after the successors arrived. How could they not know that Geom Mu-geuk was the catalyst for it all?
As the Poison King started to turn his gaze back out the window, he locked eyes with one of the Unorthodox masters.
The person offering a fist salute in greeting was Goe Ak. Having fought alongside the Combat King, he knew that the Poison King had saved the warriors of the Unorthodox Path Alliance. Though the other Unorthodox masters around him stared in disapproval, Goe Ak didn't care at all.
The Poison King returned the salute with courtesy before looking back out at the spring sky.
In a corner of the tavern, the Soul-Seizing Demon Lord approached the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon, who was sitting alone.
“May I sit?”
The Smiling Demon nodded. He hadn't touched any of the food or wine.
“I know you don't eat outside food, but I’ll at least fill your cup.”
She had been concerned about him; he had been alone on the roof earlier and remained isolated now. It wasn't a romantic attraction, but rather a pull born from a shared sense of kinship.
The eyes behind the white mask stared at the Soul-Seizing Demon Lord for a moment before he suddenly spoke.
“I envy you.”
“What do you mean by that?”
The Smiling Demon looked up at the second floor. That single gesture made his meaning clear. He meant that while he was bound to serve the current Heavenly Demon, she was a Demon Lord young enough to serve Geom Mu-geuk as well.
“Lord Smiling Demon, you certainly have a penchant for difficult tasks.”
Knowing she meant that serving Geom Mu-geuk was no easy feat, the eyes within the mask’s holes crinkled in a smile.
The Fist Demon stood near the entrance with his arms crossed. Responsible for the day’s security, he didn't let his guard down for a single second. The Unit Leaders outside reported the situation frequently, and the Fist Demon kept all his senses sharp.
This was why Geom Wu-jin trusted him most. Once given a task, he saw it through to perfection.
*
The Cult Leader and the two Alliance Leaders were still drinking individually.
After Geom Wu-jin had rejected Jin Pae-cheon’s offer of a drink earlier, an awkward silence had persisted. Then again, it was better to listen to the successors joking and talking than to have the three of them, who despised each other, engage in forced conversation.
Jin Pae-cheon was reflecting on what Geom Mu-geuk had said earlier.
—It’s because they’re people who haven't been able to have fun their whole lives. They don't even know how to play.
It was true. In his entire life, he had no memory of ever just having fun. His life had been a relentless race toward the peak since childhood.
And now…
He didn't know how to play, nor did he even want to.
Working is my version of playing.
That was the mindset he had lived with. He had reached the position of Murim Alliance Leader, so it had been a glorious life. However, the fact that he hadn't allowed himself even a small amount of leisure was a point of regret.
If he had made a conscious effort, perhaps he could have found that peace. If he had, would he have failed to reach this position? Like all "what ifs" in life, it was a futile question with no answer.
Just then, Geom Wu-jin’s gaze turned toward Jin Pae-cheon. Their eyes met in midair. Geom Wu-jin’s arrogant, haughty gaze softened for a fleeting moment.
“Would you give me a cup of wine?”
He had rejected the offer earlier, but now he was asking for it. Whatever the reason, Jin Pae-cheon could feel that those words hadn't come easily.
Why the change of heart?
He didn't ask. He knew the other man wasn't the type to answer anyway.
You reject me then, and now you want one? Am I someone who gives and stops at your whim?
He didn't let his pride flare up. In the moment he asked for a drink, the one who had truly swallowed his pride was Geom Wu-jin.
Was it because of what Geom Mu-geuk said? That he hoped they would play and rest during this summit? Was that why he changed his mind?
As Jin Pae-cheon stood up with the bottle, Geom Wu-jin also rose from his seat. Jin Pae-cheon poured the wine while standing.
“Thank you.”
Baek Ja-gang, watching the scene, neither offered nor asked for a drink. He didn't isolate himself, but he didn't intervene deeply either. The Unorthodox path, situated between the Orthodox and the Demonic, always maintained a proper distance.
Geom Wu-jin then looked at Baek Ja-gang. From his gaze, Baek Ja-gang sensed that the Cult Leader had something to say to both of them.
Baek Ja-gang picked up his own cup and approached.
The three of them stood in close proximity—a distance where they could reach out and touch one another. Given their skill, it was a distance where a surprise attack could inflict a fatal wound. Therefore, this proximity was a profound measure of trust.
Geom Wu-jin hadn't called them over to play. It was quite the opposite.
“Now, let’s talk business.”
The expressions of Jin Pae-cheon and Baek Ja-gang turned serious. Geom Wu-jin emitted his qi to surround the area, ensuring their voices wouldn't leak outside.
“You must be aware that there is a mastermind behind these recent events.”
Of course they were. Jin Pae-cheon’s grandson and granddaughter had nearly died, and Baek Ja-gang had even fought the Combat King himself.
Then, a surprising statement flowed from Geom Wu-jin’s lips.
“Even if we fight, let’s keep it between us.”
He meant they shouldn't let outsiders interfere in their conflicts—in other words, they should join forces to eliminate the third party.
“The Main Cult intends to share all information related to them with you and make their eradication our top priority.”
Jin Pae-cheon and Baek Ja-gang found this unexpected. They hadn't thought Geom Wu-jin would lay his cards on the table first. In negotiations, the side that reveals their hand first is usually at a disadvantage. The Demonic Cult Leader couldn't possibly be ignorant of that. Furthermore, since he was more prideful than anyone, it would have been expected for him to wait for the others to suggest joining forces first.
Geom Wu-jin had shattered all expectations.
Has this man changed as well? Or does he have another scheme?
Many thoughts flashed through Jin Pae-cheon’s mind. Can I trust the words of the Heavenly Demon?
It was impossible to know for sure. As he had always done, it was time to rely on his instinct—the very thing that had kept him alive until now.
His instinct didn't tell him whether the Cult Leader’s words were true or not. Instead, it made him turn his head.
In the distance, he saw Geom Mu-geuk. His instinct told him to look at the boy. And then he heard the whisper of his intuition: If you aren't sure, trust that child. The child who dragged you and the Unorthodox Alliance Leader all the way to a tavern in front of the Demonic Cult.
Finally, Jin Pae-cheon revealed his honest feelings.
“To be honest, I’ve never had a serious conversation with my grandchildren. It’s true. I don't know what kind of 'Proper Way' that boy dreams of.”
Jin Pae-cheon’s eyes deepened as he looked toward Jin Ha-gun.
“I want to see the path of righteousness that boy walks. I’m sure it will be a truly beautiful and magnificent road. Yes, to see that path, I’ll have to crush all those despicable people who play their schemes from the shadows.”
Jin Pae-cheon’s gaze returned to Geom Wu-jin.
“Very well. The Alliance will also share all information regarding them and make the elimination of the mastermind our top priority.”
It was the moment the Murim Alliance decided to hold hands with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Geom Wu-jin and Jin Pae-cheon’s gazes turned toward Baek Ja-gang. He had already reached a conclusion. Since they hadn't spoken much, he couldn't tell if his sense for detecting lies would work on the Cult Leader, but at least during today’s conversation, he hadn't felt a single chill down his spine.
“If the Orthodox and Demonic are going, how can the Unorthodox be stubborn? Let’s show those bastards exactly who they dared to touch.”
His small eyes crinkled. He spoke humbly, as if yielding to the two great powers, but his gaze was as sharp as any man's.
No more words were needed.
The three men’s cups clinked in the air.
It was the birth of an Orthodox-Unorthodox-Demonic alliance, the likes of which would never be seen again in the history of the Murim.
From now on, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, the Murim Alliance, and the Unorthodox Path Alliance would share all information regarding the mastermind, track down their enemies, and provide support whenever help was needed.
Geom Mu-geuk had opened his eyes at some point and was watching the three of them toast. The other four successors were doing the same. The moment the voices were blocked by qi, they knew a monumental conversation was taking place. They could guess from that toast that a triple alliance had been formed.
This is what it means to trust my father. No matter what his father thought of his own Demonic Path, he was at least a man who knew what to do and when to do it.
That was why Mu-geuk had been at ease even after initiating this summit. He had figured his father would handle the aftermath. As expected, his father was his father.
“Honestly, they really don't know how to have fun.”
Everyone smiled at Mu-geuk’s words.
“We can't let such a historical moment pass by just like that. Since those people don't know how to play, we should at least celebrate properly in their stead. We’ll drink our fill, sing songs, and…”
Mu-geuk gave a meaningful smirk as he looked at Bi Sa-in.
“Why are you looking at me?”
Startled, Bi Sa-in saw it. A massive dark cloud bringing a typhoon, a tsunami rising to the heavens, lava erupting in fireballs—no, a crisis far more serious than any of those, the greatest crisis of his life, was about to sweep over him.
