Chapter 485: How Others See Us
Chapter 485: How Others See Us
It was only after I returned to our quarters that Hwi finally revealed himself.
He appeared like a shadow manifesting from the air, as if he had been standing there all along. Geom Mu-geuk offered a respectful fist salute.
“You went to great lengths to watch over me, Uncle.”
Hwi responded to Mu-geuk’s greeting with a thin, modest smile.
“It was nothing. In fact, I feel more at ease when I am hidden.”
As if that were true, Mu-geuk thought. It was physically taxing and mentally draining to maintain such a state while simultaneously keeping watch over both his charge and the surroundings. Hwi was only saying that to put Mu-geuk at ease.
“How did he seem to you?” Mu-geuk asked, referring to Myeong Sin.
“He was an assassin of the highest caliber.”
As expected, Hwi had gauged the man’s level without even crossing blades. He had accurately assessed the opponent’s skill just by observing his gait and the subtle movements of his hands.
Hwi asked cautiously, “What do you intend to do now?”
Normally, he wouldn’t have asked. But he had seen the two parting on such seemingly amicable terms earlier, which prompted the question. Mu-geuk revealed his plan.
“I’m thinking of bringing him over to my side.”
Hwi knew Mu-geuk’s capabilities better than anyone, but the problem remained: the man was an assassin.
“Assassins are not to be trusted.”
It was the first time Hwi had spoken with such firm conviction.
Mu-geuk understood Hwi’s perspective. Hwi and Myeong Sin were polar opposites, existing on contrary ends of the martial spectrum. Hwi didn’t just distrust him; he likely loathed and despised the man’s very nature, even if he didn’t let it show.
Knowing this, Mu-geuk still intended to win Myeong Sin over because he knew the story of the man’s life. However, since he couldn’t explain his knowledge of the future, he offered a different reason.
“Yes, I won’t trust him blindly. However, this effort will be meaningful. Even if he doesn’t join us, a single moment of hesitation on his part at a critical juncture could save our lives.”
Hwi felt it then. As had always been the case, the Young Cult Leader was seeing something he could not.
Still, regarding the matter of assassins, he had to be clear.
“Assassins are not to be trusted. Please, do not forget that one thing.”
It was the first time in Hwi’s life that he had repeated the same warning twice.
“Yes, I will keep it in mind.”
Only after this second confirmation did Hwi’s expression soften.
“I also have a favor to ask of you, Uncle.”
“Please, speak.”
Mu-geuk unwound the Supreme Heavenly Silkworm Thread from the hilt of the Black Demonic Sword and handed it to him.
“Wrap this around your heart and dantian.”
“I am fine. You should wear it, Young Cult Leader.”
In response, Mu-geuk pulled back his robes to show the Supreme Heavenly Silkworm Thread already wrapped around his chest and stomach.
“I’m already wearing it.”
“Then wear two layers.”
“I’m already wearing three. So, you take this layer, Uncle.”
Hwi stared at Mu-geuk, momentarily speechless.
“Despite how it looks, this Supreme Heavenly Silkworm Thread has quite a history. The Demon Lords are already wearing it too. Oh, and I washed it thoroughly, of course. Also, I’m not giving it to you for keeps—you have to return it later.”
In the final battle, Mu-geuk would need to wrap his entire body in it. He would be the one standing at the very front of that fight.
Hwi realized that no matter how much he refused, Mu-geuk would not back down.
“I understand. Thank you, Young Cult Leader.”
Hwi wrapped the Supreme Heavenly Silkworm Thread around himself right there in front of Mu-geuk. Only then did Mu-geuk break into a satisfied smile.
“It suits you. Here, look.”
Mu-geuk drew his sword and held it up so Hwi could see his reflection in the polished steel.
The man reflected in the blade looked unfamiliar to himself. He had spent his entire life protecting others; this was the first time he felt protected in return.
“Thank you, Young Cult Leader.”
Mu-geuk asked him pointedly, “You want me to go to my father quickly, don’t you?”
Since Hwi had followed Mu-geuk out instead of staying to guard the Cult Leader, he was likely anxious to ensure all was well.
“No, it’s not that.”
“Then is it alright if I head back out to take care of some other business?”
When Mu-geuk acted as if he were about to leave again immediately, Hwi gave him a look of defeat.
“Since you’ve just returned, shouldn’t you at least greet him before leaving?”
Mu-geuk turned around with a laugh.
“Where would I even go?”
As he entered the building, Mu-geuk called out, “Your son is here, Father!”
Hwi followed behind him, a pleasant expression finally gracing his face.
*
Father was in his room, reading a missive sent from Tongcheon Pavilion.
He was keeping a firm grasp on the situation while leaving the actual work entirely to me. Indeed, a cliff only has meaning if one has the patience to wait for the child who must crawl up it alone.
“I’m back, Father.”
Father looked up and turned his gaze toward me. The moment our eyes met, I felt it.
He’s grown stronger!
It seemed I wasn’t the only one training.
In the past, I could vaguely sense that Father was getting stronger, but now I could feel it with absolute certainty. Perhaps it was because I had grown stronger myself that I could perceive it more clearly, but either way, it was a welcome sight.
Father, please get even stronger. Become so powerful that Hwa Mu-gi, the unification of the Murim, and everything else become trivial. I will be the one to fill that emptiness for you.
Father’s gaze shifted to Hwi.
Hwi bowed deeply and respectfully. Relief and gratitude bloomed on his face.
“This is the first time, isn’t it? Leaving Father’s side like this.”
Hwi was human, after all; he couldn’t have stayed by Father’s side every single second without rest. He had to eat, use the latrine, wash, and change clothes.
But I could imagine how frantically those moments must have passed for him. How much Hwi must have hurried in those brief intervals.
Praying that no disaster would strike while he was away!
Hwi once said that dying before the person you protect is the only blessing granted to a bodyguard. But there must be a curse as well: to never leave your post, only to have the person you protect die in the one moment you finally do.
And Father, more than anyone, understood Hwi’s heart.
“I shall be staying at the safe house for a while.”
It was Father’s way of telling Hwi not to worry in the slightest. He had even finished packing his things.
When Father shouldered a large leather pouch, Hwi cried out in surprise.
“Give that to me. I will carry it.”
Hwi was flustered. He had likely never allowed Father to carry his own luggage before.
Father said to Hwi, “Are you not currently carrying out my orders?”
“Cult Leader!”
“I am fine.”
Hwi looked at me, his eyes pleading with me to take the bag and lead the way.
“Father, let me carry it.”
“Enough. Just focus on staying alive.”
Father left the room with the leather pouch slung over his shoulder.
“You look quite dashing carrying that pouch, Father.”
I meant it. More than anything, it was a fresh sight I had never seen before.
Seeing Hwi watching him restlessly, I spoke loudly enough for Father to hear.
“Stop staring, Uncle! Those shoulders wouldn't budge even if they were carrying Mount Tai, but they’re going to wear away under your gaze!”
*
Myeong Sin returned three days later. He had wanted to rush back immediately, but he deliberately delayed his visit. He couldn't afford to look desperate.
“Shall we have a drink?”
“I’d like that.”
Before they left, Myeong Sin handed over a wooden box. Inside were several daggers.
“To be honest, I can acknowledge your skill with swords or other weapons, but I refuse to yield when it comes to daggers. Even so, do you think the Demonic Cult’s iron workshop would still refrain from trying to kill me?”
It seemed his pride had been wounded when Mu-geuk previously said the Cult’s blacksmith wouldn't be jealous enough to kill him.
Mu-geuk examined the daggers.
“Ah, I definitely shouldn't show these to our Master Gwak. It would be troublesome if he asked me to kill you.”
Myeong Sin’s expression brightened at Mu-geuk’s words.
“Well, since I’ve received daggers as a gift, I suppose I should buy the drinks today. I chose the wrong tavern last time, so you choose today.”
Myeong Sin nodded with a nonchalant expression, but his heart began to race.
Is it today?
However, if they had to leave the marketplace, it might arouse suspicion. He had to decide carefully.
The two men began walking toward the marketplace again.
“May I ask you something?”
“Go ahead.”
“These people of the Golden Dragon Clan... aren't they far below your level?”
Myeong Sin answered casually, “You’ve lived a life of giving orders, so you might not know, but we live lives where we must do as we’re told. What power do we have to do otherwise?”
“Hearing that from anyone else would be fine, but from you, it sounds like an excuse.”
Myeong Sin felt the hidden barb in Mu-geuk’s words.
“You’ve investigated me, haven't you?”
The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s information network was known to be the best in the Murim. Since they were entangled like this, there was no way they wouldn't know about him.
“I have,” Mu-geuk answered honestly.
“The 'me' in that report you investigated... what kind of person am I?”
The answer came immediately.
“Myeong Sin, the second-in-command of Myungbu. His killings follow three principles: he does not kill children, he does not kill those who do not know martial arts, and he does not kill those who are not evil.”
Myeong Sin expected this much. His opponent was the Demonic Cult, after all.
But the next piece of information startled him.
“And because of that, you have recently been experiencing conflict with the head of Myungbu.”
Myeong Sin flinched.
That matter is strictly between the two of us. How does he know?
Myeong Sin feigned ignorance and asked, “Conflict? Why do you think that?”
Mu-geuk, who had been walking, came to a halt. Myeong Sin stopped as well, waiting for an answer.
Mu-geuk said calmly, “Because I’ve never seen an assassin like you.”
Mu-geuk’s gaze toward him was incredibly serious.
“In this day and age, there are no assassins who live by such principles. You’re the kind of assassin one only finds in stories. If your leader were the same kind of person, there would be no problem—but he isn't.”
The two continued their conversation standing on the side of the road.
“To be honest, I dislike assassins. I’d rather be alone than seek one out as a friend. However, I became curious when I heard you were an assassin who kept such principles.”
After a brief pause, Mu-geuk added, “That’s likely why he sent you. He must have researched and found that I would find someone like you interesting. If someone other than you had come a few days ago, I would have killed them on the spot. Eliminating even one more enemy when the opportunity arises—that is the kind of person I am. In that regard, the leader who sent you is quite a clever man.”
Myeong Sin hadn't realized Mu-geuk knew him in such detail.
“Why are you telling me all this? Is it because you’re confident you can handle me even if you tell me?”
Mu-geuk shook his head.
“What have you been listening to? I said I became interested in an assassin like you. I thought, wouldn't it be nice to be friends with an assassin like this? That’s what I was thinking.”
For a fleeting moment, Myeong Sin felt a desire to draw his dagger and pierce Mu-geuk’s throat. He instinctively sensed that his opponent was off-guard. And the fact that he felt such a desire meant that his opponent might actually be speaking the truth.
“Are you not trying to use me to wipe out Myungbu?”
Mu-geuk laughed brightly, feigning surprise.
“Did you catch on already?”
Myeong Sin couldn't tell what Mu-geuk was truly thinking.
Just then, a flock of birds flew overhead in formation. Both men naturally looked up at the sky.
“The Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult and an assassin as friends? Is such a thing even possible?”
“The Young Cult Leader and a tavern owner can be friends too.”
Myeong Sin knew that was true.
“How can the situation of a tavern owner and an assassin be the same? A tavern owner can close his doors tomorrow, but we are people who cannot do that.”
Then, Mu-geuk said something unexpected.
“I think it’s harder for a tavern owner to close his doors.”
Myeong Sin, who had been looking at the sky, turned his gaze back to Mu-geuk.
“You don't know how hard those people work to live. They only close their doors if their family is taken away. You think you’re more diligent than them? Is that really so?”
Sensing the sincerity of the question, Myeong Sin withheld his answer.
“If they rest for a day, they’ll lose customers. If I rest, someone who made the effort to come will have to turn back. At least you don't have to worry about that, do you? The person destined to die by your hand will be waiting. You don't worry about things like that, do you?”
One of Myeong Sin’s eyes twitched slightly. He was trying his best to get along with Mu-geuk, but Mu-geuk kept poking at something deep inside him.
“Is it that you can’t leave, or is it just that you’re lazy? Are you just afraid to make a change to the life you’re used to?”
Myeong Sin’s expression hardened slightly.
“Don't speak so carelessly about someone else’s life. What do you know about me? All you’ve done is judge me based on information gathered by spies.”
“Isn't that who you are?”
Myeong Sin flinched again.
“The 'me' in your report, and the 'you' in mine. Isn't that who we are? Is there a 'real' version of us separate from how others see us? If so, that means we’re living in a world of misunderstandings. Isn't that wrong?”
Myeong Sin couldn't find a rebuttal.
“How others see us is who we are. In fact, that’s more accurate. We wish we were grander, more valuable people in reality, but the 'you' and 'I' in those reports—that’s us, isn't it?”
Myeong Sin wanted to say no. He wanted to say he was a better person than how others saw him. And as he thought this, he realized something.
Ah! I wanted to be a better person.
Because he had never had such a conversation with anyone, he was only now discovering that such a thought existed deep within his heart. Perhaps his decision to set principles for his killings had stemmed from that very desire.
“Why are you doing this to me? If you truly want to be my friend, tell me honestly what you’re thinking.”
Because he had to take Mu-geuk to the Murder King, Myeong Sin suppressed the words that surged up.
You’re just playing a trick to use me to destroy Myungbu. How lowly do you think of me that you’d try to get under my skin like this?
The gazes of the two men standing in the street locked in mid-air. A conversation that could decide their fates was taking place right there on the road.
“To be honest, it’s not for your sake, but to protect myself.”
Mu-geuk’s eyes were clearer and deeper than ever before.
“Because I don't want to sweep away someone like you on the path I’m taking. Because I think it would be nice if, somewhere in this world, there was at least one cool assassin who kills villains after receiving a single coin from a child who unfairly lost their parents.”
“...!”
“Because I don't want to go my way while killing someone like that. You’re right; this isn't for you, it’s to protect myself.”
Mu-geuk reached into his robes, pulled out a single coin, and held it out to him.
“So, this money is the contract fee to protect myself.”