Chapter 628: I Intend to See This Through to the End with Them
Chapter 628: I Intend to See This Through to the End with Them
Exactly fifteen minutes had passed.
Everyone stared at Geom Mu-yang with startled expressions. The blood staining his hands left no doubt: he had conducted the interrogation personally.
Geom Mu-yang walked slowly toward Jin Ha-gun.
Jin Ha-gun felt a private sense of relief at the news that the Black Dragon Unit Leader had confessed. He had suspected Geom Mu-yang might be lying to provoke a reaction, but if that suspicion proved wrong, the consequences would have been irreversible.
First, he asked about the prisoner’s condition.
“Is he still alive?”
Geom Mu-yang’s expression suggested the answer was self-evident. “His life is in no danger.”
Had the man died, it would have been a grave discourtesy to Jin Ha-gun, who had entrusted the prisoner to him. This made the result even more staggering. Geom Mu-yang had extracted a confession from a man who looked like he would never break, all while keeping him physically intact.
“What did he confess?”
At Jin Ha-gun’s question, Geom Mu-yang glanced around. It was a silent inquiry: Should I speak in front of your subordinates?
Jin Ha-gun gave a small nod, indicating it was fine.
“The mastermind was not one of your high-ranking officials,” Geom Mu-yang stated. “It was someone who holds no official position within the Murim Alliance.”
Jin Ha-gun felt a wave of relief, yet he was simultaneously puzzled. If the person wasn't part of the Alliance leadership, why had the Black Dragon Unit Leader been recruited by them?
Then, a name he never could have imagined escaped Geom Mu-yang’s lips.
“Heaven’s End Recluse, Hwa Yul-cheong.”
“...!”
Jin Ha-gun’s eyes flew wide. He never expected that name to come up. It was a name that should never have been mentioned in such a context.
Is it true? Truly? Jin Ha-gun stared at Geom Mu-yang, his gaze bordering on a glare.
“That is impossible.”
Instead of exploding in anger, Jin Ha-gun grew eerily calm. This was simply too absurd to process.
Hwa Yul-cheong was an Absolute Master of the Orthodox Faction. Not only was his martial arts prowess legendary, but his character was so noble that countless martial artists revered him as a paragon of virtue. He did not covet wealth or power; whenever he came into money, he gave it to the poor, and he never showed mercy to those who committed evil.
And most decisively...
“That man is my grandfather’s oldest friend.”
He was the closest confidant of the Murim Alliance Leader, Jin Pae-cheon. The two had spent decades together. His grandfather likely trusted Hwa Yul-cheong more than his own grandson.
Since Geom Mu-yang had named such a person as the mastermind, how could Jin Ha-gun possibly believe it?
Not only the Demon Extermination Squad warriors but even Gwak Yeong found the claim unbelievable. Was there any martial artist in the Orthodox Faction who didn't know the reputation of the Heaven’s End Recluse?
Jin Ha-gun spoke firmly. “That man must have lied to you.”
Jin Ha-gun even began to suspect Geom Mu-yang himself. He wondered if the man was deceiving him for some nefarious purpose. No—this was a name he couldn't be fooled by, even if he wanted to be.
“I must hear it from the Black Dragon Unit Leader myself.”
“As you wish.”
Jin Ha-gun strode into the building, followed by Geom Mu-yang. The Demon Extermination Squad and the branch warriors followed suit.
In the center of a large room, the Black Dragon Unit Leader sat in a chair.
Though Geom Mu-yang had said he was fine, Jin Ha-gun had expected him to be half-dead. Surprisingly, the man looked unscathed. There wasn't a single wound on his face, and his eyes were full of life. However, his clothes were drenched in blood.
The Unit Leader, who had looked relieved to see Jin Ha-gun, recoiled in terror and averted his gaze the moment he saw Geom Mu-yang following behind. He was utterly petrified—a stark contrast to the arrogant man he had been before.
Jin Ha-gun walked up to him. “Unit Leader Do, are you alright?”
The Black Dragon Unit Leader was overcome with emotion but couldn't bring himself to speak. His fear of Geom Mu-yang, standing like a shadow behind Jin Ha-gun, was overwhelming.
“I am here, so you are safe,” Jin Ha-gun said. “Now, tell me again. Who is the mastermind?”
With eyes full of fear and resentment, the Black Dragon Unit Leader finally spoke. “I was in so much pain that I just blurted out a random name! I have no excuse... I was weak!”
After speaking, he began to sob. To any observer, he looked like a man suffering a terrible injustice.
Jin Ha-gun turned to look at Geom Mu-yang. Despite the Unit Leader’s recantation, Geom Mu-yang did not press him. He looked like a man who had fully expected the testimony to change.
Indeed, Geom Mu-yang spoke indifferently. “This is why I do not trust people.”
He said nothing more. It was as if he were saying: The choice of who to believe is yours.
Until he had handed over the prisoner, Jin Ha-gun had trusted Geom Mu-yang. That was why he had entrusted the interrogation to him in the first place. But now, he was conflicted. Should he truly believe Geom Mu-yang’s words?
The name ‘Heaven’s End Recluse’ carried far too much weight.
The Black Dragon Unit Leader pleaded through his tears. “Please believe me. Believe in my loyalty!”
After a moment of thought, Jin Ha-gun spoke to the Unit Leader. “It seems I have misunderstood you.”
Jin Ha-gun’s attitude toward Geom Mu-yang shifted abruptly.
“The Heaven’s End Recluse is the mastermind? I almost let myself be deceived by these demonic cultists.” He glared at Geom Mu-yang with cold eyes. “Did you think such a trick would work?”
At his words, the Demon Extermination Squad warriors simultaneously drew their swords, leveling them at the branch warriors. The branch warriors drew their own blades in response.
A heavy, suffocating tension filled the air.
However, in terms of both numbers and skill, the branch warriors were no match for the Demon Extermination Squad. If the order to attack was given, their annihilation was only a matter of time.
Geom Mu-yang simply stared back at Jin Ha-gun with deep, unreadable eyes. Their gazes locked.
Gwak Yeong was flustered by the sudden turn of events. She wanted to step forward and shout that she believed in the First Young Master. She had seen for herself that the Black Dragon Unit Leader was not the man she once knew. She wanted to stake her life on Geom Mu-yang’s integrity.
But she couldn't step forward. This wasn't her place. Moreover, the one who had promised to save her brother was the Demon Extermination Squad Leader.
Jin Ha-gun apologized to the Black Dragon Unit Leader in a soft tone. “Unit Leader Do. I am sorry.”
“No, it is fine. It is enough that you recognize my loyalty now.”
The man looked as though he had truly returned from the brink of death. Given his personality, he should have had a scathing word or two for Geom Mu-yang in this situation, but his fear was so deeply ingrained that he couldn't even meet the man's eyes.
“Once you return, go to a physician and get treated,” Jin Ha-gun said. “I shall report this matter to the Alliance Leader.”
In that instant, the Black Dragon Unit Leader flinched. If this reached the Alliance Leader, the fact that he had confessed would also reach the Heaven’s End Recluse. The fact that he had spilled the name the moment he was tortured would be known.
“Please... do not mention that I spoke the name of such a noble person.”
“I cannot do that. I must report the full details of the incident to the Alliance Leader. But do not worry too much. Once he hears the circumstances, he will understand that you only gave the name because you were forced by torture.”
The Black Dragon Unit Leader pleaded again, almost begging. “Is there really a need to trouble such a noble person with this?”
Jin Ha-gun stared at him intently. His eyes, which had been soft until now, turned ice-cold.
“Are you afraid you might be silenced to keep you from talking?”
Jin Ha-gun did not miss the Unit Leader’s expression the moment those words were spoken—the unmistakable embarrassment of a man whose secret had been pierced.
Jin Ha-gun pressed him. “You said you blurted out a random name because you couldn't endure the pain, yet of all the people in the world, you chose the Heaven’s End Recluse? Is that your excuse? Do I look stupid enough to believe that?”
The Heaven’s End Recluse was the person furthest removed from any conspiracy. His was not a name that would just pop up randomly. Furthermore, Geom Mu-yang had previously stated that the leader of the conspirators was among the highest ranks of the Murim Alliance. If the Unit Leader were going to lie, he would have picked someone from that group.
Moreover, his desperate attempt to prevent the news of his confession from reaching the Heaven’s End Recluse’s ears proved that he had named him as the true mastermind.
A chill ran down Jin Ha-gun’s spine as he realized that the Heaven’s End Recluse might truly be the one behind everything. It was a name that had come out of nowhere, yet it fit the puzzle perfectly.
The Black Dragon Unit Leader continued to plead and make excuses until the very end. “No! Please! You misunderstand! I only—”
As if tired of the excuses, Jin Ha-gun struck his acupoints.
As the Black Dragon Unit Leader collapsed to the floor, Jin Ha-gun ordered his men, “Sheathe your swords.”
The warriors who had been surrounding the branch members withdrew their blades and stepped back. The branch warriors also sheathed their swords, feeling a deep sense of relief. They had just hovered between life and death for a brief moment.
Jin Ha-gun apologized politely to Geom Mu-yang. “I was merely acting to confirm that man’s true intentions. Please understand.”
Surprisingly, Geom Mu-yang had already known his intent. “I believed that was the case.”
“Didn't you say you don't trust people?”
After a short pause, Geom Mu-yang replied, “Because Mu-geuk is your friend.”
Just as Jin Ha-gun trusted Geom Mu-geuk’s brother, Geom Mu-yang trusted Geom Mu-geuk’s friend.
“My younger brother wouldn't have become friends with just anyone.”
If Geom Mu-geuk had heard that, he would have spent the entire day bragging about it.
Though the misunderstanding was cleared, Jin Ha-gun’s heart remained heavy. Is it really the Heaven’s End Recluse? Even after confirming the Unit Leader’s confession, the fact was hard to swallow.
“What will you do now?”
At Geom Mu-yang’s question, Jin Ha-gun shook his head with an expression that said he didn't know yet. Then, he turned the question back to Geom Mu-yang. “What about you?”
Normally, he should have said, This is our business, so all of you should leave Wuhan. But he didn't. Without Geom Mu-yang, he never would have uncovered this massive secret.
Geom Mu-yang’s gaze fell on Gwak Yeong, who was standing in the distance. Even if he left now, Jin Ha-gun would protect her and save her brother. There was no need for him to help Jin Ha-gun. This was an internal matter of the Murim Alliance, something they should handle.
However, the reason he had left the Cult in the first place still remained. Because of those forged weapons, he had almost killed his own brother with his own hands. That rage would not subside until he had wiped them all out.
That alone was reason enough for his decision.
“I intend to see this through to the end with them.”
*
The Demon Buddha sat alone, lost in thought.
He was in an empty hut in the mountains near Wuhan. After sending the Byeoksan Sword back to his hometown, he had been staying here for a while. He could control the golden radiance emanating from his body, but he couldn't hide his short stature. Since Wuhan was a place where many masters came and went, he stayed inside whenever someone passed by, fearing someone might recognize him.
Just then, he heard a presence outside.
“Are you there?”
“Come in.”
The person who entered the hut was the Poison King. This was the first time the two had met since arriving in Wuhan. Back at the Main Cult, the Demon Buddha usually visited the Poison King, but today it was the other way around.
“The atmosphere here is quite nice,” the Poison King said to break the awkwardness. But what kind of atmosphere could a drafty, empty hunter’s hut truly have?
An awkward silence followed. There was a time when they had roamed the Thousand Poison Forest together to gather herbs, but lately, they hadn't seen each other often, making them somewhat distant again. They had returned to their original, formal relationship.
Then, the Demon Buddha took something from a basket in the corner and quietly held it out to the Poison King. “I happened to see these while I was out for a walk earlier.”
It was three or four stalks of a poisonous herb.
“Demonic Life Herbs!”
It was one of the herbs on the list the Poison King had intended to gather while in Wuhan. No matter how hard he had looked, he couldn't find any, yet they were so easily spotted by the Demon Buddha during a simple stroll.
“Thank you very much.”
The moment the herbs appeared, the awkward atmosphere vanished. The Poison King’s eyes sparkled as he spoke. “Would you like to go for a walk with me?”
The Demon Buddha smiled faintly at the Poison King’s eagerness. The man’s eyes lit up whenever poison was involved. He couldn't help but think that one had to love poison that much to earn the title of Poison King.
“Have you eaten?”
“Not yet.”
“I’m a bit hungry myself, so let’s have a light snack before we go. Wait a moment. It won't be much, but it’ll fill you up.”
The Demon Buddha rolled up his sleeves and began to cook. He saw that there were several types of mushrooms in the basket; he must have gathered them along with the poisonous herbs. First, he started a fire in the pit in front of the hut, boiled some water, and cooked the mushrooms.
“Since you gave me the Demonic Life Herbs, I should be the one treating you to a meal.”
“Can you cook?”
The Poison King shook his head. Preparing meals was always Sangseon’s job. On the other hand, the Demon Buddha’s movements were practiced and skillful.
“You look like you’ve done a lot of cooking.”
“I spent a lot of time eating alone while wandering the Central Plains.”
Because of his conspicuous appearance, the Demon Buddha had mostly satisfied his hunger while camping. Even when he left this time, he had brought basic seasonings for travel.
The world would never have guessed that the small man cooking alone in a forest hut was the legendary Demon Buddha.
The Poison King watched him cook. Normally, he had absolutely no interest in the other Demon Lords, but the Demon Buddha was different. Though it was a meal made in a flash, the mushroom dish was excellent.
“It’s delicious.”
“I’m glad it’s to your taste.”
The Poison King moved his chopsticks busily. His only thought was to finish eating quickly so he could go out and gather poisonous herbs with the Demon Buddha.
Just then, Sangseon arrived and delivered the contents of an urgent missive from Tongcheon Pavilion.
“According to the information sent by the First Young Master, the Heaven’s End Recluse is behind this incident.”
Unlike the indifferent Poison King, the Demon Buddha was startled. He knew all too well what position the Heaven’s End Recluse held in the Orthodox Faction and how deep his friendship was with the Murim Alliance Leader.
“That is truly unexpected.”
At the Demon Buddha’s words, the Poison King mentioned two names. “Hanwolgaek and the Byeoksan Sword.”
The Demon Buddha nodded. Yes, it would take someone of the Heaven’s End Recluse’s stature to summon men like Hanwolgaek and the Byeoksan Sword. If he truly was involved... this matter had become far more dangerous.
“Even so, the First Young Master will likely see this through to the end.”
The First Young Master he knew was not a man to abandon a task halfway.
The Poison King silently toyed with the Demonic Life Herb in front of him. The look in his eyes now was different from the one that had wanted to go for a walk. He, too, realized that he might have to step onto the front lines.
The Demon Buddha recalled the most important reason he had come here: to prevent the Poison King from getting involved. But if the situation had escalated this much? If misunderstandings piled up and things went wrong?
The golden radiance from the Demon Buddha’s body intensified.
“Our enemy will not be the Heaven’s End Recluse, but the Murim Alliance Leader.”