Chapter 541: They Might Be Unorthodox, Heartless, and Shameless
Chapter 541: They Might Be Unorthodox, Heartless, and Shameless
Pyeong-wi entered the estate of the Hundred Precepts Merchant Group.
On days like this, returning from a meeting with the carriage, his entire body ached as if he were at death's door. He paused for a moment, staring at the empty training ground bathed in the cold, pale moonlight.
Taking a deep breath, he moved his feet with extreme caution. He had to stay sharp. Here, a single mistake didn't just mean pain—it meant certain death.
He walked with precision, stepping only on designated spots. The training ground was rigged with lethal mechanical formations; one wrong step would result in his body being torn to shreds by hidden mechanisms.
After navigating the gauntlet, he entered the main building. In a hallway filled with an eerie, bone-chilling draft, he tapped on the wall twice.
Ssssss.
A moment later, the formation was deactivated from within, and the scenery before his eyes shifted. A sophisticated illusion array had been laid even within this narrow corridor. Installing a formation in such a confined space was far more difficult than setting one up in an open field—a testament to the high level of the architect behind it.
He passed through the hallway and entered the room at the very end.
Two people waited in the darkness. One was lying on a bed—Seo Jeong-tae, the Leader of the Merchant Group, who showed clear signs of a wasting illness. Sitting before him with her back turned was his wife.
"It is finally tomorrow," Pyeong-wi said, his voice laced with grim resolve.
In contrast, the wife’s voice sounded hollow and exhausted. "I will put my trust in you, Vice Leader."
"Yes, Madam."
Pyeong-wi bowed politely and withdrew. Standing outside the door, he took a long, shaky breath. He didn't know how his life had come to this. He had been swept along helplessly by the whims of fate, and when he finally looked up, a black carriage was floating before his eyes.
*
Geom Mu-geuk slept in for the first time in a long while.
Until late last night, he had utilized the Time Heaven Secret Technique to compress his sleep and focus entirely on his martial arts. He had replayed the life-and-death bloody battle against the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon in his mind over and over, repeating the simulation until he was sick of it.
Enlightenment always tended to find a person the very day after they screamed that they couldn't take it anymore and stormed out in frustration.
Because he had finally slept his fill, his head was clear and his mood refreshed. Getting up from his bed, Geom Mu-geuk threw the window wide open and inhaled the crisp air.
"Ah! This is great!"
He looked up at the exceptionally clear sky, only to see someone standing in the yard with their back turned. It was a silhouette he hadn't expected to see so soon.
Leaning against the window frame, Geom Mu-geuk called out.
"Just how much do you want to hang out that you're here this early? The pavilion doesn't even open in the morning."
The man turned toward him. It was a rugged face that had grown welcoming over time—a face that, in the right light, possessed a certain masculine charm. It was Bi Sa-in.
"The sun is in the middle of the sky. What do you mean 'morning'?" Bi Sa-in countered. "Can a martial artist really sleep so soundly? A hundred assassins could have come and gone by now."
Of course, if Bi Sa-in had actually tried to enter the room or shown even a flicker of killing intent, the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Art would have triggered instantly to wake Mu-geuk.
"Unlike you, aren't I a pacifist? There's no reason for assassins to come for me."
An irrepressible smile formed on Bi Sa-in’s fierce face. This was the same Geom Mu-geuk who had personally rushed to warn him of danger and was now preparing for today’s events on his behalf at the Heavenly Flower Pavilion.
"Are the preparations to keep me alive finished?" Bi Sa-in asked.
His cold, sharp gaze met Geom Mu-geuk’s clear, deep eyes in midair.
"The preparations to die with you are finished."
Bi Sa-in knew those weren't just empty words meant to sound good.
"I have no desire to die on the same day as you," Bi Sa-in grunted. "So, make sure you keep me alive."
"Don't we have a reliable hero friend for that? Let's go ask him."
Geom Mu-geuk leaped lightly out of the window. "By the way, did you bring the sophisticated clothes that go well with white?"
"Just who are we meeting that you're acting like this? Is it a woman?" Bi Sa-in asked. If Mu-geuk was asking for "sophisticated" clothes rather than his usual attire, a woman had to be involved.
"What if it is?"
"I have no interest in women."
"If it's a woman, you should start by asking if she's pretty!" Mu-geuk looked at him with disbelief. "So? You didn't fail to bring the clothes, did you?"
"...I brought them."
As Geom Mu-geuk stared at him with a mysterious smile, Bi Sa-in quickly changed the subject. "Where is Captain Jin?"
"He found a new profession."
Geom Mu-geuk led Bi Sa-in to the rear building of the Heavenly Flower Pavilion. Jin Ha-gun was standing in front of a warehouse there.
"What are you doing?" Bi Sa-in asked.
Jin Ha-gun set down a box of liquor and wiped his brow. "As you can see, I'm organizing the alcohol."
"Did you fall into the Young Cult Leader's trap again?"
Jin Ha-gun laughed at Bi Sa-in’s remark. This was the one thing they always found common ground on: their mutual "enemy," Geom Mu-geuk.
"Seeing as I'm wearing clothes I've never worn in my life and doing work I've never done before... perhaps I have fallen into a trap again."
Bi Sa-in sympathized with Jin Ha-gun’s self-reproach. "As far as the clothes are concerned, I think I've fallen into the same trap."
When Jin Ha-gun gave him a questioning look, Bi Sa-in added, "There's a reason. Should I help move these?"
Bi Sa-in walked over and began helping him move the heavy liquor boxes.
Geom Mu-geuk raised his voice. "Why are you two suddenly acting all friendly? You're not even close! You're the type who can't even say a word to each other because it's too awkward when I'm not around!"
Ignoring him, Bi Sa-in spoke to Jin Ha-gun. "Thank you for coming. If you ever need me, be sure to call."
"I will."
"Even if you're thankful, you should be thanking me!" Geom Mu-geuk shouted, but the two continued to ignore him.
Mu-geuk sat in an old chair and watched them work.
"Don't just sit there watching; why don't you help?" Jin Ha-gun asked.
"Wouldn't that damage the friendship our Young Alliance Leader has for you?"
"Excuses."
As Geom Mu-geuk idled, his tone suddenly shifted to something more serious.
"Dangerous mechanical formations and arrays have been deployed at the Hundred Precepts Merchant Group. They've set a trap, so do not enter that place recklessly. It's been confirmed that the arrays are very high-level. I'm telling you this now so you can handle it carefully later."
Bi Sa-in set down a box and sat on it. "I don't understand."
He couldn't fathom why the Hundred Precepts Merchant Group was trying to kill him, or why they had gone to such lengths with formations. They were closer to the Unorthodox Path Alliance than almost anyone else.
"Is it those people?" Bi Sa-in asked.
Geom Mu-geuk nodded. "It seems so."
There were too many inconsistencies for this to be the sole act of the Hundred Precepts Merchant Group. Above all, it was far too reckless.
"Just as they've done before, they must have exploited a weakness within the Merchant Group. Their dark schemes will be hidden in a place no one predicted."
Jin Ha-gun and Bi Sa-in’s expressions turned grim. They had already experienced how tenaciously those shadows could infiltrate a person's life.
"However, this case feels different from the others. I don't know what it is, but it's... rough."
They knew exactly what Mu-geuk meant. That "feeling" was usually a precursor to extreme danger. Especially since the Cult Leader and the Alliance Leader were not involved this time; the three of them had to resolve this entirely on their own.
"We have to show them that we're all grown up now," Mu-geuk said.
Bi Sa-in and Jin Ha-gun nodded in agreement.
"By the way, where are the 13 Wolves of the Unorthodox Path?" Mu-geuk asked.
"They are scouting the perimeter of the Heavenly Flower Pavilion," Bi Sa-in replied. "They're probably in a battle of nerves with your subordinates as we speak."
*
The 13 Wolves of the Unorthodox Path were surprised twice upon arriving at the Heavenly Flower Pavilion—once outside, and once again inside.
First, the exterior surprise came from the Faceless Guests.
The 13 Wolves had begun by searching the surroundings. Whenever the Young Alliance Leader had a drinking session at a pavilion, it was standard procedure to investigate the area thoroughly. When they knocked on the door of the nearest house, it opened.
Ten Faceless Guests were waiting inside. They had been told these men would be here, but the search had to be conducted regardless. An inexplicable tension rose between the searching Wolves and the silent, watching Guests.
"Thank you for your cooperation," the 1st Wolf said after finishing the search. The Faceless Guests merely nodded.
It wasn't just that house. Every building adjacent to the Heavenly Flower Pavilion was occupied by Faceless Guests. In the past, they would have simply kicked out the residents, but this time, they had paid a generous amount to rent the properties for the day. It was for surveillance, but also to ensure no civilians were caught in the crossfire if a battle broke out. Geom Mu-geuk had asked the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon to clear the area entirely.
The Faceless Guests were hidden in houses, carriages, temporary structures, and even the trees. The exterior was guarded like an iron fortress.
Then came the surprise inside.
"It's the Demon Extermination Squad," the 2nd Wolf whispered.
The 1st Wolf already knew. He recognized the man sweeping the yard. The 13 Wolves and the Demon Extermination Squad were both elite organizations directly under their respective successors, making them natural rivals. They knew each other well.
Those fierce warriors of the Demon Extermination Squad were currently disguised as pavilion workers—chopping wood, moving luggage, and carrying liquor.
The 13 Wolves felt the gravity of the situation. Until they arrived, they hadn't realized such an airtight defense had been deployed.
"This is a first," the 1st Wolf remarked.
"For the Orthodox, Unorthodox, and Demonic factions to carry out a joint operation?" the 2nd Wolf added. "This is the first time since I joined the Alliance."
The sight was utterly foreign.
"The Demon Extermination Squad has likely already checked, but search every nook and cranny anyway," the 1st Wolf ordered. "We do our job."
"Yes!"
The 13 Wolves thoroughly investigated the interior, checking for ambushes and ensuring the food and drink were safe. They took every precaution for the Young Alliance Leader's safety, exchanging only brief, professional nods with the Demon Extermination Squad.
The search was completed without conflict—a testament to how much the atmosphere between the three factions had shifted. To think that the 13 Wolves, the Faceless Guests, and the Demon Extermination Squad could occupy the same space so peacefully.
The 1st Wolf felt that a new era was truly dawning upon the Jianghu.
High above the head of the Demon Extermination Squad warrior sweeping the yard, a white mask smiled from within the branches of a tree outside the wall.
*
The three successors gathered in Geom Mu-geuk’s quarters. Mu-geuk laid out the intelligence he had received from Tongcheon Pavilion.
"This is the data on the Hundred Precepts Merchant Group. Read it."
"Is it alright to just show us classified information like this?" Jin Ha-gun asked, recognizing the official seal of Tongcheon Pavilion.
"It's not."
"Then why?"
"Because I know you two will keep the secret."
"I've heard that while two people can keep a secret, three cannot," Jin Ha-gun countered.
Geom Mu-geuk laughed. "I'm not worried about you. Even if the secret leaks, I'll probably be the one to leak it first. I just want to brag that I'm so close with my friends that we have no secrets!"
Bi Sa-in and Jin Ha-gun shared a look that said, He really would do that.
The playfulness vanished from Mu-geuk’s face. "It's mostly things you already know, but I'm showing it to you because I didn't want to miss a single detail."
This was Mu-geuk’s way. Whether it was his father, the Demon Lords, or these two—he made it a rule to ensure no misunderstandings arose from a lack of communication.
Bi Sa-in, scanning the documents, suddenly paused. "When was this information obtained?"
"Recently."
"Is all of this true?"
"If you're going to doubt Tongcheon Pavilion's intelligence, you should never start a war with us," Mu-geuk joked.
"There is a mistake here," Bi Sa-in said, holding out a piece of paper.
It was the section regarding the Merchant Group's grudge against Bi Sa-in. The report stated that the Unorthodox Path Alliance had pushed the Merchant Group into the territory of the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon, leading to a conflict. Later, when the misunderstanding was cleared, the Alliance supposedly forced the Merchant Group to pay massive compensation to the Demon, leading to their financial decline and the Leader's failing health.
"The report says they hold a grudge because they had to vomit up two years' worth of profits," Bi Sa-in said calmly. "You might think we’re heartless and shameless because we’re the Unorthodox Path, but..."
He looked Mu-geuk in the eye. "The money used for that compensation was provided by the Alliance itself, not the Hundred Precepts Merchant Group."
Geom Mu-geuk flinched. This was a massive detail. If the Merchant Group hadn't actually suffered a financial loss, why were they acting like victims?
"Then why did they target you?" Mu-geuk asked.
He finally understood why Bi Sa-in had been so confused earlier. A new suspicion began to surface in Mu-geuk's mind.
"What if the goal of today's event wasn't to kill you?"
The gazes of Bi Sa-in and Jin Ha-gun turned sharp. "Then what is the goal?"
"To ruin the Heavenly Flower Pavilion," Mu-geuk theorized. "What if that was the only goal from the start?"
He had been focusing on why they wanted Bi Sa-in dead. But what if Bi Sa-in was just the tool?
"Think about it. There was no need for a poison that could deceive the 13 Wolves. The mere attempt to poison the Young Alliance Leader here would be enough to have the Pavilion Master executed and the entire establishment razed to the ground."
Bi Sa-in was the target because he was the fastest way to destroy the Heavenly Flower Pavilion. With fabricated evidence and witnesses, the blame would fall entirely on the Pavilion Master. Normally, the Hundred Precepts Merchant Group would have remained in the shadows, appearing only as the unfortunate party who invited the Young Alliance Leader to a dangerous location.
However, because the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had intervened, the scale of the plot had ballooned.
"Do you have any idea who might be behind this?" Bi Sa-in asked.
Geom Mu-geuk shook his head, but one thing was certain. "It would be someone who wants to seize the void left behind if the Heavenly Flower Pavilion disappears."
Someone wanted to steal the dream of the Pavilion Master—the woman who wished to become the Empress of the Night. Someone wanted to be the new ruler of the underworld.
Just then, the 1st Wolf’s voice echoed from outside.
"The Vice Leader of the Hundred Precepts Merchant Group has arrived."
Geom Mu-geuk looked out at the darkening sky. The banquet was beginning. It was time to uncover the truth.
"Now then," Mu-geuk said, standing up. "Please change your clothes."