Chapter 637: I Want to Hear That Rash Thought
Chapter 637: I Want to Hear That Rash Thought
Throughout his walk back to the Alliance Leader’s Hall, Jin Ha-gun wrestled with his thoughts.
He agonized over how he should report to his grandfather regarding the Heaven’s End Recluse. Since the task had been entrusted to him as a test for his succession, he wished he could provide a definitive answer. However, the conclusion Jin Ha-gun ultimately reached was simple:
“To be honest, I am not sure.”
His grandfather, whom he expected to be disappointed, simply nodded in silence.
Jin Pae-cheon considered this a natural result. If the Heaven’s End Recluse was truly a villain, how could his grandson possibly uncover a scheme so deep and terrifying that it had deceived even Jin Pae-cheon himself? And if he wasn't? Then it was only natural for the boy to be confused while doubting an innocent man.
Either way, the truth was not easily discerned.
Jin Pae-cheon rose from his Grand Tutor’s Chair and walked slowly to the window. From the heights of the Alliance Leader’s Hall, he looked down at the panoramic view of the Murim Alliance. He had lived his entire life to protect this unchanging scenery. Now, he felt he was facing a battle more difficult than any he had ever experienced.
From behind him, Jin Ha-gun’s voice reached his ears.
“Are you going to meet the Recluse?”
Jin Pae-cheon nodded.
“My friend was ambushed. Of course I must see him.”
The time had come to meet him in person. But how should he treat him?
His grandson’s deep trust in Geom Mu-geuk led him to believe this wasn't a plot by the Demonic Cult, but Jin Pae-cheon could not afford to be so certain. He had to consider every possibility. A single misunderstanding could cost him his closest friend.
Just then, an unexpected report echoed through the hall.
“The Acting Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult requests an audience.”
Jin Pae-cheon, who had been staring out the window, turned around. Jin Ha-gun couldn't hide his surprise either. It seemed Geom Mu-geuk had arrived without even sending word to his friend.
Geom Mu-geuk came here himself?
It was one of two things: either he truly believed the Heaven’s End Recluse was the mastermind, or they were weaving a conspiracy of their own.
Jin Pae-cheon spoke calmly. “Bring him in.”
“Yes, sir.”
Jin Ha-gun felt his grandfather’s aura shift. The softness he showed his grandson vanished, replaced by the cold dignity and authority of the Murim Alliance Leader.
His grandfather was now standing on a battlefield. Even though Geom Mu-geuk was a friend, his presence made the Alliance Leader tense.
As if to emphasize this, Jin Pae-cheon reminded him of one fact.
“Do not forget. Remember where you placed your trust in that man.”
Jin Ha-gun had previously said he trusted Geom Mu-geuk fifth—after his belief in justice, after his grandfather, after his subordinates in the Demon Extermination Squad, and after the warriors of the Murim Alliance.
His grandfather was telling him now: Do not let emotions sway you through misplaced friendship.
“I am keeping it in mind.”
A moment later, Geom Mu-geuk entered the Alliance Leader’s Hall, his bamboo hat pressed low. He removed the hat at the entrance, walked slowly to the foot of the Grand Tutor’s Chair, and bowed politely.
“I greet the Alliance Leader. Have you been well?”
Jin Pae-cheon descended from the dais. He, too, greeted Geom Mu-geuk with formal courtesy.
“Welcome, Cult Leader Geom.”
He addressed him not as the "Young Cult Leader," but as the "Acting Cult Leader." Personal friendship was one thing, but there were strict etiquettes to be observed between the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Murim Alliance.
“Please, treat me comfortably. I did not come today as the Acting Cult Leader, but as Ha-gun’s friend.”
With that, Geom Mu-geuk looked at Jin Ha-gun. Their gazes met in midair. A sentiment that needed no words was reflected in their eyes.
Good to see you, friend.
You always surprise people like this, don't you?
Even though his grandfather was watching, Jin Ha-gun did not hide his joy. Seeing Geom Mu-geuk in person brought him an irrepressible sense of relief. Even though the man teased him every chance he got, his presence was always a comfort.
Geom Mu-geuk spoke politely to Jin Pae-cheon again.
“I arrived in Wuhan today. Since this matter involves my brother, I moved in secret. I apologize for not sending word in advance.”
Since he was paying his respects on the very day he arrived, it wasn't as if he had been operating secretly within Wuhan for long. In other words, the only issue was the lack of prior notice; there was nothing inherently suspicious about his presence in the city.
Jin Pae-cheon nodded silently and asked in a soft tone, “How does it feel to be the Cult Leader?”
Geom Mu-geuk looked up at the Grand Tutor’s Chair atop the dais. The Alliance Leader’s seat was likely just as uncomfortable as his father’s. If it were a seat one could sit in comfortably, his father would have already snatched it away.
“I have realized how difficult it is to protect that position.” He then turned to Jin Ha-gun and added, “Hey, friend. Things were much better back then.”
Jin Ha-gun only gave a faint smile.
“Why? You don't believe me?” Geom Mu-geuk turned back to Jin Pae-cheon. “Please, let him take over for even a moment so he can see how hard it is. It’s unfair that I’m the only one suffering.”
Jin Ha-gun understood. By making such a joke, Geom Mu-geuk was subtly telling his grandfather to hurry up and entrust the successor’s position to his grandson.
Grandfather, how could I not trust such a man?
He was the one who had already saved both his life and his sister’s life. That man had stood before him in many forms—sometimes as the Young Cult Leader, sometimes not, and now as the Acting Cult Leader. Though his titles changed, the man remained the same.
That was why Ha-gun was certain. Even if he officially ascended to the position of Cult Leader, Geom Mu-geuk would be exactly as he was now.
“To be honest, when I first came here, I intended to move in secret,” Geom Mu-geuk continued. “I thought this was a matter for the Murim Alliance to solve, not ours.”
“Then why did you change your mind?”
Geom Mu-geuk’s gaze shifted toward Jin Ha-gun.
“I remembered a promise I made with that friend a long time ago. That we would contact each other if anything happened. That we would help each other if there was danger.”
Jin Pae-cheon asked pointedly, “Aren't you the most dangerous one?”
Geom Mu-geuk lowered his voice into a grim tone. “I am certainly the most dangerous.” Just as it seemed he was readily admitting it, he added, “But only to the wicked. I lack the magnanimity and mercy that you, Alliance Leader, show to villains. I don't believe in reform.”
Since this was an opportunity to understand Geom Mu-geuk’s thoughts, Jin Pae-cheon asked calmly, “Why don't you believe in it?”
“Because for every one sinner out of a hundred who truly reforms, the other ninety-nine villains use 'reform' as a shield.”
He was saying he would prevent the greater tragedies created by half-hearted forgiveness.
Jin Pae-cheon did not argue that the one person should still be saved. With his own domineering personality, Jin Pae-cheon agreed with him on this point, at least.
“I, too, have no mercy for villains.”
“That is why I respect you, Alliance Leader.” Geom Mu-geuk met Jin Pae-cheon’s intense gaze without flinching. “I felt that I must obtain your permission before I began handling this matter.”
This level of courtesy was sufficient. In fact, considering the past, it was more than enough. When had the Demonic Cult ever sent word before acting? It was only because Geom Mu-geuk had become the Young Cult Leader that things were beginning to change.
Jin Pae-cheon asked cautiously—a question he had wanted to ask from the moment he heard Geom Mu-geuk had arrived.
“What are your thoughts on this matter?”
Not only Jin Pae-cheon, but Jin Ha-gun was also curious about what Geom Mu-geuk thought.
“Are you asking for the rash thoughts of someone who just arrived and hasn't even seen the Heaven’s End Recluse’s face yet?”
Jin Pae-cheon nodded. “Yes, I want to hear those rash thoughts of yours.”
Geom Mu-geuk held his tongue for a moment. After showing through this brief silence that what he was about to say was by no means a careless answer, he spoke firmly.
“I believe the Heaven’s End Recluse is the mastermind behind this. He is a villain.”
A heavy silence fell over the Alliance Leader’s Hall.
Jin Pae-cheon knew well what kind of person Geom Mu-geuk was. He was the man who had brought him and the Unorthodox Path Alliance Leader to a shabby tavern in front of the Demonic Cult’s headquarters. He was the man who had made the successor of the Unorthodox Path and his own granddaughter dance in front of so many masters. He was the man who had ended a succession struggle without shedding blood.
Such a man was now saying: Your friend is a villain.
Even before hearing the reason, Jin Pae-cheon’s chest felt tight. He knew there would surely be a plausible reason.
Instead of his grandfather, Jin Ha-gun asked, “May I ask why?”
Jin Ha-gun was caught exactly between belief and doubt. His grandfather might not want to face the truth, but he had to hear it—to protect his grandfather and the Alliance.
Though Jin Ha-gun asked the question, the answer was directed at Jin Pae-cheon.
“Because I would have chosen that method as well.”
“...!”
It was an emotional answer, yet more powerful than any other. Because it came from Geom Mu-geuk, the answer carried even more weight. It was a method a man as brilliant as him would have chosen.
“Gaining your trust, Alliance Leader, is equivalent to gaining the trust of the entire Orthodox Murim. If the Heaven’s End Recluse wasn't your friend, could he have ever achieved his current fame?”
Likely not. There were countless people in the Murim who performed righteous deeds and showed chivalry. Yet, the reason Hwa Yul-cheong was known as the representative of them all was because he was the friend of the Murim Alliance Leader.
Geom Mu-geuk then asked something unexpected. “Do you remember when you first became friends with the Heaven’s End Recluse?”
Jin Pae-cheon nodded.
“How did you meet?”
Geom Mu-geuk dug into their very first encounter. Jin Pae-cheon told him of that day long ago.
There was a time in his youth when he traveled as a wandering hero. Around the time he was going about punishing evil, he heard the sounds of fighting in a village he was passing through.
“When I ran there, he was fighting against Green Forest bandits who had raided the village.”
That was their first meeting. He had helped him wipe out the bandits.
Jin Pae-cheon realized what Geom Mu-geuk was implying. “You seem to be saying that meeting was planned.”
As expected, Geom Mu-geuk nodded and asked, “Why do you think it wasn't?”
“Many villagers died that day, not just bandits. There were more dead than living.” Jin Pae-cheon sighed and added, “Even several children died. He is... not that kind of person.”
Jin Pae-cheon answered firmly. He could concede that someone might approach him intentionally. But to approach him by sacrificing innocent lives who didn't even know martial arts? He remembered the image of the man sobbing as he held a dead child that day. Were those tears not sincere? Those tears were still vividly etched in his memory.
“That is impossible.”
Geom Mu-geuk did not persist. “That is why I told you, didn't I? These are just the rash thoughts of someone who hasn't even seen his face. I overstepped.”
But in his heart, he didn't think he had overstepped at all. He had a similar experience, after all—when he had returned to the Demonic Cult to find the Secret Demon Soul, the final ingredient for the Great Regression Art. At that time, he had deceived everyone for the sole purpose of taking the Secret Demon Soul.
What if the Recluse was also a person with such a strong will?
Geom Mu-geuk did not voice those inner thoughts.
“For now, I will investigate this matter with Captain Jin. I don't know who the bastard is, but since he tried to exploit your friendship, Alliance Leader, we should use friendship to deal with him as well.”
Jin Ha-gun nodded. He felt a sense of certainty that if he was with Geom Mu-geuk, they could surely uncover the truth. Jin Ha-gun’s pride was no longer wounded by this sense of relief. Rather, he was grateful to have such a reliable friend.
On the other hand, Jin Pae-cheon remained silent. Although Geom Mu-geuk had stepped back, calling his words rash, it was clear he still considered the Heaven’s End Recluse the mastermind. If he didn't believe it, he wouldn't have brought up the idea in the first place.
Then, Geom Mu-geuk offered an unexpected piece of advice.
“When you meet your friend, tell him everything honestly.”
The scope of that honesty was beyond expectation.
“Tell him that I have arrived, and tell him that my brother and I strongly suspect him. Tell him honestly how troubled you are because the Demonic Cult bastards keep acting this way.”
It was truly surprising advice, but there was a reason for it.
“You have held the position of Alliance Leader for a long time, so you must have seen countless people playing schemes. If you put your mind to it, you could probably deceive the Heaven’s End Recluse without leaving a trace. But even so, why would you engage in a battle of deception? You possess a weapon far stronger than that.”
The weapon Geom Mu-geuk spoke of was this:
“Fight with the truth. Are you not the one who has led the Orthodox Murim with a life devoid of lies? A half-baked truth would only be exploited by a cunning evil, but your truth, Alliance Leader, will be as strong as Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron.”
Was it because he couldn't bring himself to lie in front of his grandson? With a troubled expression, Jin Pae-cheon spoke honestly.
“I am good at lying too. I have treated people with lies before.”
Geom Mu-geuk laughed pleasantly. “Yes, fight with that very truth right now.”
Of course, he didn't think the Alliance Leader’s truth would defeat the villain. If sincerity or truth worked on them, they wouldn't be called evil. Nevertheless, there was a reason he told the Alliance Leader this.
If the Alliance Leader met him with his current complicated state of mind, he was bound to lose a hundred times out of a hundred. He would be swayed according to the villain's intentions. No matter how smart or strong a person was, the moment they were swayed by their opponent, it was over. In fact, because they were smart and strong, they would be entangled even deeper.
So, he had set a standard for him. It might be stiff and somewhat frustrating, but he told him to hold fast to what he had steadily built precisely because he was so upright. To use his solemn and steadfast life as a weapon.
That way, if Murim Alliance Leader Jin Pae-cheon could at least face him without being swayed...
“Then, you might be able to see something that only you, Alliance Leader, can recognize.”