Chapter 616: We Have Never Once Been Kind to the Murim
Chapter 616: We Have Never Once Been Kind to the Murim
The silence that permeated the area was born from Hwang Pae’s sudden transformation.
When the man who had been raging like a lunatic moments ago suddenly turned calm, every eye in the place fixed on him.
Only then did Hwang Pae realize his mistake. He had been hurling curses one moment, only to ask, "What is it you want?" the next. In truth, he had been so startled a moment ago that his heart had nearly leaped out of his chest.
Hwang Pae barked out a shout as if his previous words had been a mere slip of the tongue, reverting to his original persona.
"I am asking what you want!"
In contrast, Geom Mu-yang remained as indifferent and composed as ever.
"The person who brokered the deal with them."
Hwang Pae blinked for a moment before hurriedly calling out for someone.
"Gu Yong! Where is Gu Yong?!"
Gu Yong was the one who had spearheaded this transaction. He served as a sort of chief manager within the Black Hand Sect and had a keen nose for the scent of silver, often bringing in lucrative business. This time, he had brought in an unexpected windfall: an opportunity to purchase the Demonic Cult’s hidden weapons, which were classified as Forbidden Hidden Weapons of the Murim.
The fact that they were weapons of the Demonic Cult had given Hwang Pae pause, but that was precisely why he coveted them.
Hwang Pae’s hesitation hadn't lasted long. It required a blood-curdling amount of capital, but since it was a "pay on delivery" deal, he didn't have to worry about being swindled.
Above all, with those hidden weapons, eliminating the masters of the Great Light Sect would be child's play. If he assassinated them one by one, it would only be a matter of time before he became the supreme ruler of the Black Path in Hunan.
He had moved forward with such grand dreams, only for everything to turn into this mess. It was all because of this bastard.
"Gu Yong! Why aren't you coming out?!"
He searched frantically, but Gu Yong was nowhere to be found among the kneeling martial artists. Hwang Pae rushed over, hauled one of his subordinates up by the collar, and shook him.
"Where is Gu Yong?"
"I... I don't know."
Hwang Pae grabbed and shook another, but he didn't know either. Just then, a subordinate in the back spoke up.
"He went to Hwayeong Pavilion to drink."
In an instant, Hwang Pae’s eyes flared with rage.
"That crazy son of a bitch!"
This chaos had erupted because of him, and he went to a brothel to drink? Before the sun had even set? Hwang Pae pointlessly slapped the man he was holding by the collar and screamed.
"Go find him right now! Hurry!"
As he continued to scream, Branch Leader Ho-myeong raised a finger to his lips, signaling him to be quiet. Hwang Pae’s expression crumpled.
This bastard is gesturing at me instead of using words?
However, those words never left his mouth. Ho-myeong and the cultists standing around him were watching him with utterly indifferent eyes—eyes that made him feel as if they might suddenly pounce and hack him to pieces.
Damn Demonic Cult bastards!
Hwang Pae was known for charging like a madman without regard for his own life in a fight, but at this moment, his madness was selective. He wasn't afraid when fighting Black Path thugs who spat curses while dripping blood, but he was terrified of these men who could calmly stab someone to death with those vacant eyes.
"Get up."
Ho-myeong pulled up the man who had said Gu Yong went to Hwayeong Pavilion. He then personally led four subordinates to follow. The fact that he was moving personally showed how important this matter was.
Hwang Pae looked back at Geom Mu-yang. He felt that he could communicate better with this man, who appeared to be the leader, than with those butcher-like subordinates. Hwang Pae’s momentum had dampened significantly.
"When Gu Yong arrives, take him. If you do, I will act as if today never happened and I won't report this to the Unorthodox Path Alliance."
Hwang Pae was the type of man who would cut off someone's ankle if they accidentally stepped on his foot. Yet here he was, saying he would let it go even after having several teeth knocked out.
"Very well."
When Geom Mu-yang answered readily, Hwang Pae felt a secret sense of relief.
He promised in front of his subordinates, so he won't go back on his word.
He glanced toward Myeong Gwi. Myeong Gwi stood there as if lost in thought, then looked at Hwang Pae upon sensing his gaze. Hwang Pae nodded to him, his expression urging him to stay patient. He tried his best not to look awkward.
A short while later, those who had gone to fetch Gu Yong returned. However, Gu Yong was not with them.
Ho-myeong reported to Geom Mu-yang with a grim expression.
"The man named Gu Yong was found stabbed to death in the brothel."
Geom Mu-yang’s eyes sank coldly. They had rushed here immediately after leaving the escort agency, but the enemy had been one step ahead.
"They are truly starting to irritate me."
With those words, the Demonic Energy flowing from Geom Mu-yang’s body turned the surrounding air cold and heavy. Ho-myeong could feel that Geom Mu-yang was truly enraged. While Ho-myeong and the branch warriors held their breath, Hwang Pae, driven by his own urgency, stepped forward even though he should have stayed back.
"It's not our fault that Gu Yong is dead. So just leave. Keep your promise!"
As Hwang Pae emphasized the promise, Geom Mu-yang began to stride toward him. Startled, Hwang Pae instinctively tried to circulate his internal energy.
However, his dantian had already been suppressed. When Geom Mu-yang had thrown him into the courtyard earlier, he had sealed his internal energy. Hwang Pae, who had been half out of his mind, hadn't even realized his energy was suppressed.
CRACK!
Geom Mu-yang’s fist slammed into Hwang Pae’s face once more. Hwang Pae went flying and tumbled across the ground. As he pushed himself up, three or four more broken teeth spat out of his mouth. When he opened his mouth, his front teeth were now conspicuously missing.
"If you mess with us..."
Hwang Pae tried to say that the Unorthodox Path Alliance wouldn't stand idly by, but he couldn't finish the sentence. The gaze of Geom Mu-yang, who walked up and looked down at him coldly, was terrifying beyond measure.
Then, words that Hwang Pae could never understand flowed from Geom Mu-yang’s lips.
"This is all because of my younger brother."
THUD!
Geom Mu-yang kicked him in the face, sending Hwang Pae crashing back into the dirt. This time, his nose and cheekbones shattered. Hwang Pae let out a pained groan.
"You think a piece of filth like you is allowed to scream at us?"
Geom Mu-yang walked toward him again.
"We have never once been kind to the Murim."
As Geom Mu-yang raised his foot as if to crush his skull, Hwang Pae screamed for his life. Looking down at him as if he were an insect, Geom Mu-yang lowered his foot and turned his gaze to the kneeling warriors of the Black Hand Sect.
"Is there anyone else who knows about this deal?"
None of the Black Hand Sect warriors opened their mouths. Geom Mu-yang spoke coldly.
"Kill them all."
At his command, Ho-myeong and the branch warriors drew their swords without hesitation.
"Please spare us!"
Screams and pleas erupted, but the warriors raised their blades relentlessly. Just as they were about to massacre the Black Hand Sect—
"I know!" one man shouted.
It was the same man who had previously informed them that Gu Yong was at the brothel. His name was Seok Su, and he had been friends with Gu Yong.
"I heard about the deal from him!"
Geom Mu-yang raised his hand to restrain his subordinates. The swords that were about to pierce the Black Hand Sect members stopped simultaneously at the backs of their necks. Ho-myeong dragged Seok Su to the side, and the warriors surrounded him to block any escape.
"What did he tell you?"
It was at that exact moment. One of the warriors who had been kneeling with his head bowed suddenly sprang up. In his hand was a Charge.
"Block him!" Ho-myeong shouted, stepping in front of Seok Su.
He knew he couldn't block a Charge at this distance, but Ho-myeong did not flinch. Just as the Charge was about to be unleashed—
SHIIIIIIIIIIING!
A single streak of sword light flashed, cleaving through the air.
Squelch.
The sound of flesh and bone parting echoed.
Thud.
The arm of the man trying to fire the Charge was severed and fell to the ground.
Flying Heaven Sword Technique, Fifth Form: Azure Heaven Form.
The fastest sword form of the Flying Heaven Sword Technique had been unleashed by the hand of Geom Mu-yang, who had reached Great Achievement in the art.
Thwack! Thwack!
Ho-myeong rushed forward, suppressed the Demonic Acupoints of the man who was spraying blood from his severed arm, and then pressed the pressure points on the stump to stop the bleeding.
"Hehehehe."
Despite his arm being cut off, the man was laughing like a lunatic. He looked exactly like the man who had committed suicide at the escort agency.
Thwack! Thwack!
Ho-myeong quickly pressed his Mute and Sleep Acupoints. As the man collapsed, the branch warriors formed a perimeter around Seok Su and the fallen man, guarding in all directions.
Ho-myeong shouted at those still kneeling.
"Everyone, strip!"
Ho-myeong strode forward and stabbed the chest of one man who hesitated. Seeing this, the rest stripped in an instant. Fortunately, none of the naked men possessed any hidden weapons.
Before leaving, Geom Mu-yang spoke one last time to Myeong Gwi.
"What's the use of blaming the one who deceived you? You're the idiot for being deceived."
The moment he heard those words, a chill ran down Myeong Gwi’s spine, and a shudder passed through his entire body. In truth, Myeong Gwi had felt something suspicious when Hwang Pae’s attitude shifted earlier. Hwang Pae had been startled and cut him off when he mentioned investigating his wife's death.
And in this moment, he knew. The one who had planned and carried out that deed in the past was Hwang Pae. It had all been a scheme to recruit him.
Myeong Gwi approached Hwang Pae. With his teeth broken and his nose collapsed, his face was a gruesome mess.
"Was it your doing?"
"What kind of crazy talk is that?" Hwang Pae’s voice trembled with agitation. More than those butcher-like cultists, more than the master who had beaten him, this was the moment he feared most today.
"I willingly became your blade for your sake."
For five years, he had offered his loyalty. He hadn't liked Hwang Pae’s behavior, but he had wanted to repay the debt of saving his son. But as time passed and he learned more about Hwang Pae, a single doubt had grown.
This man is not the type to step up for others.
He was a man who tormented, robbed, and killed. Why would he have killed those ronin and saved his son that day?
CRACK! THUD! CRACK!
Myeong Gwi’s fists slammed into his face repeatedly.
"Speak! Was it you?"
Hwang Pae grimaced in agony and said, "It hurts. Stop it."
Blood flowed steadily from his mouth and nose, but the punching did not stop.
THUD! WHACK! THUD! THUD!
Under the weight of fists filled with raw emotion, he couldn't hold out any longer. Hwang Pae had an intuition: no matter how much he denied it, Myeong Gwi was going to kill him. If he was going to die anyway...
"We only just met that guy, and you're throwing this fit based on his words alone? Then again, you were stupid enough to believe me when I said I saved you."
At the confession that it was indeed his doing, Myeong Gwi’s face contorted.
"What was that wench worth anyway? Look how well I've treated you all this time. You ungrateful bastard."
Myeong Gwi asked with a cold gaze, "Then why did you leave my son alive?"
"You moron, that was the only way to keep a leash on you!" He let out a smirk through his mangled face.
STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB!
Myeong Gwi’s sword riddled his body.
Yes, the bastard was right. That was the reason he hadn't been able to leave Hwang Pae despite the inexplicable sense of wrongness and doubt. He had been worried about his young son. The fear that his son might be endangered if he got caught up in a fight had suppressed his own suspicions.
Myeong Gwi, standing up with a sword dripping with blood, looked at Geom Mu-yang and said, "You are right. I was an idiot for being deceived. If you are going to kill me, then do it."
He was worried about his son, but he was glad he could at least get his revenge before dying. Geom Mu-yang looked at him, then turned away without a word.
As he prepared to leave with his subordinates, Myeong Gwi hurriedly asked from behind, "Are you just going?"
"And if I don't?"
If it had been his younger brother, he would have settled things somehow before leaving. He might have punished those whose evil deeds exceeded a certain limit. But Geom Mu-yang didn't care. Depending on the situation, he could kill everyone or leave them alive.
Interfering in these insignificant lives was the job of his meddlesome younger brother.
"If you hadn't revealed the truth, I would have been used by that filthy man for the rest of my life. Thank you." He bowed politely.
"I didn't reveal the truth; that man revealed it himself."
Myeong Gwi looked puzzled, wondering what that meant. Geom Mu-yang said no more and walked out.
There were no records of that incident from five years ago. He had merely thrown out the words as a test, and Hwang Pae had panicked and destroyed himself. If he ever realized this fact, he wouldn't be able to close his eyes peacefully even in death.
Regardless, since Myeong Gwi was the one who killed Hwang Pae, this incident wouldn't cause friction between the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Unorthodox Path Alliance.
Geom Mu-yang never looked back as he left, and Myeong Gwi remained in a respectful fist salute, head bowed, until he had completely disappeared.
*
After leaving the Black Hand Sect, Geom Mu-yang and the branch warriors arrived at the nearest branch office.
"Torture them if you must, but find out everything they know. Spare no means or methods."
"Yes, understood."
At Geom Mu-yang’s command, the warriors took the two men they had brought into the branch's interrogation room. Next, he commanded Ho-myeong.
"Send urgent missives to all other branch units and offices in Hunan and gather the elites."
Today’s events had made it certain. The enemy was a much more meticulous and larger organization than he had thought. Geom Mu-yang recalled the man who had been laughing like a lunatic even after his arm was severed. Hwang Pae was a fake madman; that man was the real deal.
To deal with such people, he needed to properly assemble his forces.
"Tell them to equip all the Guard Armor stockpiled in the units and branches before they head out."
"Yes, understood."
Ho-myeong answered vigorously, then cautiously added, "However, doing so will make the Murim Alliance and the Unorthodox Path Alliance tense."
This matter had nothing to do with his younger brother, regardless of how deep a friendship his brother maintained with the successors of the Murim Alliance and the Unorthodox Path Alliance. Setting aside his personal rage at nearly killing his own brother with his own hands, this was an official mission to apprehend those who had forged the Cult’s hidden weapons.
"There is no need to give the Murim Alliance and the Unorthodox Path Alliance a long-winded explanation. Do not even ask for their understanding. Just tell them this."
Geom Mu-yang added briefly.
"Heavenly Demon Divine Cult in operation."