Chapter 620: Why Look at the Sky on the Day You Die?
Chapter 620: Why Look at the Sky on the Day You Die?
“Who asks for permission to make counterfeits?”
Geom Mu-yang hadn't expected Gwak Yeong to ask such a bold question. He was all the more flustered because she was right.
“If the materials had been the same, you wouldn't have even known they were fakes.”
What is this? Such sheer audacity?
She was far different from what he had expected. In this situation, she should have been prostrating herself and begging for her life.
Is it a trap after all?
Geom Mu-yang calmly scanned his surroundings again. He still couldn't find anything suspicious inside the tea house.
Gwak Yeong picked up the teacup in front of her and took a sip. Her palms were covered in thick calluses, and her hands were rough. Beyond just burn marks, there were so many scars that it was almost embarrassing to call them a woman's hands.
Her hands laid her life bare.
Feeling Geom Mu-yang’s gaze, Gwak Yeong lifted her hand so the back of it faced him.
“Scars of honor!”
She took pride in those wounds.
“Thanks to these hands, many people lived that day.”
Gwak Yeong turned the question back to Geom Mu-yang.
“Do you have scars like these?”
When he remained silent, she sought the reason for his quietness in an unexpected place.
“Are you angry because I called you a fool?”
Only then did Geom Mu-yang speak.
“If I’m angry, it’s because of the counterfeits you made.”
“The world is full of fakes anyway!”
Of course, that didn't work on Geom Mu-yang. Sensing his gaze grow even colder, she looked away and lifted her teacup. After a small sip, she stared out the window.
It was the same scenery as always, but today it felt more vibrant than usual.
As she watched the people passing by, she bit her lip slightly. Her lips were trembling. She was acting confident in front of him, but she was just as terrified as she was bold.
She sighed to herself, almost like a mutter.
“They said I’d never get caught. What is this?”
It felt as though she hadn't expected to meet him here today. If that were the case, something didn't add up.
They were meticulous enough to eliminate witnesses. They were capable of summoning the likes of Hanwolgaek and the Byeoksan Sword. So why would they leave her so defenseless? She should be more important than anyone else.
Still staring outside, she asked, “I’m in a lot of trouble, aren't I?”
The crime of creating counterfeits was not so light that she could afford to be this relaxed. If there weren't a need to uncover the mastermind through her, she would already be dead. Even after they extracted the information, her life would be like a candle in the wind.
Geom Mu-yang stood up.
“Follow me quietly.”
She didn't get up.
“I haven't finished my tea yet.”
Did she think she would die the moment she was taken away? The hand holding her teacup was shaking.
It was then that someone passing by the tea house stopped and called out to her.
“Master Gwak!”
It was a middle-aged martial artist dressed in the uniform of the Murim Alliance. He was followed by about ten warriors, all of whom had agile steps and sharp eyes.
The middle-aged man was Do In-su, the leader of the White Dragon Unit—an elite organization of the Murim Alliance alongside the Blue Dragon Unit.
“Unit Leader Do!”
Gwak Yeong stood up and whispered to Geom Mu-yang.
“What should I do? If I don't go out, he’ll come in here.”
Without waiting for Geom Mu-yang’s answer, she stepped outside.
“How was the sword I sent last time?”
“It was excellent. It was made by Master Gwak, so how could it be anything less?”
Everyone acknowledged Gwak Yeong’s skill, and they were all certain she would become the youngest person to lead the Iron Workshop.
There was a reason the White Dragon Unit Leader treated her with such friendliness. Every organization within the Murim Alliance tried to stay on good terms with the Iron Workshop. That was the only way to ensure they received slightly better weapons than the other units.
The White Dragon Unit Leader’s gaze shifted toward Geom Mu-yang. For some reason, the man caught his eye.
“Who is that Great Hero?”
Gwak Yeong looked at Geom Mu-yang. Her eyes seemed to say: What should I do? Should I just announce that you're from the Demonic Cult?
But for some reason, the words that came out of Gwak Yeong’s mouth were entirely unexpected.
“He’s a friend. A friend who has helped me with my work for a long time.”
Geom Mu-yang stood up and gave a polite fist salute.
“I am Jang Hyeong, from the Revered Sword Sect.”
“Oh, so you are Great Hero Jang.”
At the mention of him being Gwak Yeong’s friend, the wary look in the leader's eyes softened. It was clear how much he wanted to stay in Gwak Yeong’s good graces.
“I still have things to discuss with the Unit Leader. Friend, I’ll see you next time.”
At her words, Geom Mu-yang nodded.
He had no choice but to let her go. He couldn't forcibly take her away while the White Dragon Unit Leader and his warriors were watching.
And so, Gwak Yeong left the tea house with the White Dragon Unit Leader. As she walked into the distance, she looked back once. After staring at Geom Mu-yang for a moment, she quickened her pace and disappeared.
As Geom Mu-yang stepped out of Hyanghyang and began to walk, Ho-myeong quietly moved to his side. He had also witnessed Gwak Yeong using the Murim Alliance warriors to escape.
“I will inform Tongcheon Pavilion that Gwak Yeong will likely go into hiding again. I’ll tell them to tighten the surveillance net so we don't lose her this time.”
To this, Geom Mu-yang gave an unexpected reply.
“Gwak Yeong will not run away.”
“Pardon?”
“She will likely return tomorrow.”
She had just fled like that, yet she would return tomorrow? Ho-myeong couldn't understand Geom Mu-yang’s reasoning.
“May I ask why you think so?”
It was Geom Mu-yang’s intuition. A feeling that she wouldn't just leave like this. If he had to give Ho-myeong a reason...
“If the masterminds intended to hide her, they wouldn't have let her return in the first place.”
But they had done the opposite. She, who had vanished, had returned on the very day they arrived.
*
The next day, Ho-myeong was even more careful in guarding the area around Hyanghyang.
Through the Tongcheon Pavilion's Hwa-in, they tried to track the movements of the Murim Alliance experts and elites as much as possible, and the branch warriors were on high alert. The peace of a day where nothing happened only made them more anxious.
Geom Mu-yang entered Hyanghyang alone. He sat in the same seat as yesterday and ordered tea.
“You’ve come again.”
The owner recognized Geom Mu-yang and greeted him warmly. According to Tongcheon Pavilion’s investigation, the owner was not suspicious. He was just an ordinary man who had run this tea house for a long time.
Tongcheon Pavilion had been meticulous enough to investigate even the regulars, but they found no customers to be wary of.
Geom Mu-yang sat alone and drank his tea. Even as time passed, she did not appear.
Was my intuition wrong?
Perhaps it was. He might have misjudged her, confused by her bold and bright demeanor.
Just as a full hour passed and Geom Mu-yang was about to stand up—
—She has arrived.
Ho-myeong’s voice transmission reached him, and a moment later, Gwak Yeong entered the tea house. Even though she had fled as if escaping yesterday, she approached the table where Geom Mu-yang was sitting first.
“The quality of the iron that came in today was the best I’ve seen since I joined the Iron Workshop. Truly, iron this good has never come in before.”
She acted as if yesterday’s flight had never happened, treating him like a real friend. She was even beaming with a bright smile.
“You didn't know, did you? On days when good iron comes in, good things happen. It’s an old belief in the workshop.”
“A superstition, surely.”
With a cold reply, Geom Mu-yang stared at her icily and asked, “Why did you come back instead of running away?”
He had expected it, but he was curious about the reason. Furthermore, she had come alone again today. He scanned the surroundings even more thoroughly than yesterday, but there were still no experts lying in ambush.
“I’ve been marked by your people; where could I possibly run?”
If that was her honest reason, she had made a smart choice. Even if she had left like that yesterday, there was no way they would have let her escape.
“Unless I hid deep in the mountains.”
“Then you might have saved your life.”
After ordering her usual tea from the owner, she spoke to Geom Mu-yang.
“My life isn't so grand that I’d need to hide in the mountains to protect it.”
Her words were bold, yet tinged with a certain sorrow.
“And what would I do alone in the mountains? A life where I can't work at the Iron Workshop is...”
She didn't finish the sentence, but it was clear she meant she would rather be dead.
“If you love your work so much, why did you do such a thing?”
She only toyed with her teacup and did not answer. He could clearly sense there were circumstances behind her actions. It didn't matter if she didn't speak now, as she would eventually be interrogated with truth serum anyway.
“Let’s go.”
“I’ve only had one sip!”
But Geom Mu-yang stood up first and left the tea house. After gulping down the rest of her tea, she followed him out.
A carriage was waiting in an alley near the tea house.
“Let’s walk.”
“Who are you planning to meet to escape today?”
When Geom Mu-yang boarded the carriage first, she had no choice but to climb in as well. It was a carriage with covered windows so she couldn't see where they were going.
“I want to see the outside while we go.”
The carriage started moving, but Geom Mu-yang did not open the closed window. He simply delivered a blunt remark.
“You’ll have a chance to see the sky once before you die.”
After a brief pause, she replied.
“Why look at the sky on the day you die? You should look at people.”
Geom Mu-yang said nothing. After a moment of silence, Gwak Yeong asked cautiously.
“Who are you?”
From the look in her eyes as she watched him, Geom Mu-yang could tell. The woman did not know his identity. Her masterminds had told her nothing.
Geom Mu-yang did not answer.
Eventually, the carriage arrived at the manor. They had circled the outskirts several times to check for tails, but there was no one following, and no one trying to protect her. She was utterly alone.
It was just as Geom Mu-yang opened the carriage door to step out.
Shhh.
Gwak Yeong aimed something at Geom Mu-yang. Surprisingly, what she held in her hand was a Charge. However, it wasn't the counterfeit Charge Geom Mu-yang had seen before. It was much smaller—small enough to be perfectly hidden in the palm of a hand.
“It’s a Charge that only fires one shot. I made this one too.”
Since they were facing each other inside the carriage, the Charge was aimed right at his face. However, Geom Mu-yang didn't look frightened at all.
“I asked who you are.”
He had felt it from the first time he saw him—that this man wasn't just an ordinary demonic cultist. He didn't feel like a butcher who hunted down and killed counterfeiters. He was a man of few words, but he carried a certain authority.
Even now, with a Charge aimed at his face, the man didn't even blink.
“Are you going to kill me without even knowing who I am?”
A heavy silence followed.
“Why don't you fire? All it takes is a flick of your finger.”
Gwak Yeong’s eyes trembled, while Geom Mu-yang’s remained calm.
“You’ve never killed a person, have you?”
“Is that something to be proud of? Having killed people?”
She tried her best to remain bold despite her trembling.
“It’s my first time, but I can do it.”
“Then do it.”
But she did not fire the Charge.
“I didn't pull this out to kill you. I pulled it out to live.”
Gwak Yeong slowly lowered the Charge she had been aiming.
“I’m going to bet my life and my fate on you.”
The look in her eyes was incredibly solemn.
“You said you don't even know who I am. What are you trusting to bet your fate?”
Gwak Yeong stared at Geom Mu-yang and said, “I’m not trusting you. I’m trusting myself. I’m trusting my choice.”
Gwak Yeong gazed intently at Geom Mu-yang. When she first met him at the tea house, she had bowed slightly and smiled without realizing it. It wasn't a smile given just because their eyes met. The moment she saw him, there was a resonance from deep within her heart. She couldn't explain what it was, though.
“Since I’ve spared your life, please grant me one request. After that, you can kill me. If you are a man of honor, promise me right here.”
Her eyes, prepared for death, spoke of her sincerity.
It was then.
Snap.
The Charge she had lowered was suddenly aimed at Geom Mu-yang again. Gwak Yeong, who was holding the weapon, was even more shocked. Her finger moved on its own, trying to pull the trigger to release the hidden weapon.
“No!”
She tried to turn her arm away, but it wouldn't move.
“Dodge!”
She screamed, but the Charge was fired.
Swoosh!
Thwack!
In that instant, Gwak Yeong squeezed her eyes shut. She knew all too well that at this distance, it was impossible to dodge. Because she was the one who had made it.
Ah! What on earth happened?
She had absolutely no intention of killing him. Yet, her hand had moved on its own to fire the Charge.
Sizzle.
She heard the sound of something melting. She squeezed her eyes shut even tighter. Then, a single sentence reached her ears.
“Open your eyes.”
At Geom Mu-yang’s voice, her eyes snapped open.
Geom Mu-yang was sitting right there. There was a hole in the carriage wall right next to his head. It seemed her hand had moved at the last second to fire beside him. She had been so shocked and flustered that she hadn't realized her hand had moved.
She let out a huge sigh of relief and asked, “What happened?”
Geom Mu-yang had moved her finger and arm according to his will, just as one would move an object with Telekinesis. Since they were so close and she didn't know martial arts, it was an easy task. He had personally shown her that even if she had intended to kill him, she couldn't have.
Geom Mu-yang opened the carriage door and stepped out first.
“Stop talking about fate and get out.”
Geom Mu-yang gave an order to his subordinate.
“Take her to the interrogation room.”
Gwak Yeong let out an awkward sigh and stepped out of the carriage.
“Today was definitely a day when good iron came in...”