Chapter 643: Right or Wrong, It’s All the Same
Chapter 643: Right or Wrong, It’s All the Same
Who was the one person he couldn't bear to lose?
Jin Pae-cheon could not answer easily. It wasn't because he had never considered the question.
Losing someone precious.
He was a man who had felt a sorrow deeper than anyone else in the world because of it. People eventually try to forget their grief, but how could a father ever forget the child he had buried in his heart?
That was why a certain worry had tormented him countless times throughout his life.
What if I lose my grandchildren, too?
How could Geom Mu-geuk not know what was in his heart?
Having spoken openly with Jin Pae-cheon before about the death of his son and daughter-in-law, Mu-geuk understood that pain better than anyone. He knew his question was poking at an old wound, but it was necessary.
They were currently facing a despicable enemy who sought out only wounds—and only wounds—to pierce. He knew it was an incredibly inconsiderate question to ask the Alliance Leader, but he pressed on regardless.
“Just tell me the first person who comes to mind.”
Jin Pae-cheon had no intention of answering. He had already said enough to this young Cult Leader today—both things he should have said and things he shouldn't have.
“Do you truly believe they are coming here to kill my people?”
Geom Mu-geuk nodded firmly. “Yes, I believe so.”
“What makes you so certain?”
“Because I can find no other reason.”
Could it be for some other reason? Jin Pae-cheon wished he could say so, but he, too, could find no other explanation.
“I would prefer it if they were coming to kill me or my brother.”
But they weren't. If their goal had been to kill him, So Jeong-rak’s movements would have been different from the start.
The name that Jin Pae-cheon had refused to utter finally fell from Geom Mu-geuk’s lips.
“Where is Miss Jin right now?”
In the next instant!
A violent surge of energy erupted from Jin Pae-cheon’s body.
Whooooosh!
The bamboo grove groaned, the stalks tilting all at once under the pressure of the aura radiating in every direction. Geom Mu-geuk’s hair and robes whipped violently, as if he were caught in the eye of a storm.
It was a terrifying pressure, one that felt as if the Alliance Leader might draw his sword and strike at any moment.
Snap, snap, snap, snap!
The escort warriors, sensing the shift in Jin Pae-cheon’s aura, blurred into motion and landed nearby. The pressure had reached even those guarding the perimeter of the bamboo forest.
Jin Pae-cheon barked an order to the warriors.
“Find Ha-ryeong and bring her to the Alliance Leader’s Palace immediately.”
Swish, swish, swish!
Half of the escort warriors vanished instantly. Jin Pae-cheon did not stop to argue whether Geom Mu-geuk’s words were true or not.
“Captain Jin will be next.”
Again, the veracity of the statement was a secondary concern to the potential threat.
“Inform Captain Jin and the Demon Extermination Squad that Ma Yeom-gun and the White Bone Soul Demon may be targeting them.”
Another warrior vanished. Only then did Jin Pae-cheon dismiss the remaining escort warriors to a distance.
Withdrawing his razor-sharp aura, Jin Pae-cheon asked, “Does that answer your question?”
“Yes, quite sufficiently.”
Though he appeared calm on the outside, a storm was raging in Jin Pae-cheon’s heart. The moment he considered that his grandchildren’s safety was at stake, his mind felt as if it were clouded by fog.
When the question of who he couldn't bear to lose was asked, that was the command he should have given immediately. He had only snapped back to his senses when Geom Mu-geuk asked where Ha-ryeong was.
“I have one more thing to tell you.”
This, too, would be a great shock to the Alliance Leader. However, it was information that had to be shared.
“Do you know of So Jeong-rak from the Myeong-sim Clinic?”
At the mention of So Jeong-rak, Jin Pae-cheon’s eyes grew cold. It was not a name that should have appeared in the middle of this chaotic conspiracy.
“I know him well.”
“What kind of man is he?”
Jin Pae-cheon grew uneasy. What on earth was the boy going to say now?
“Stop beating around the bush and get straight to the point.”
First Heaven’s End Recluse, and now So Jeong-rak. Geom Mu-geuk knew this might further erode the Alliance Leader’s trust in him, but he had no choice.
“He is also one of the masterminds behind this. He is a master of poison arts as well.”
Mu-geuk expected an explosive, violent reaction. Instead, Jin Pae-cheon stared silently into Geom Mu-geuk’s eyes for a moment before turning his gaze toward the bamboo forest. His eyes were unnervingly calm.
“You don’t seem surprised.”
“What could be more surprising than the possibility that my only friend is an enemy?”
He said the words, but Jin Pae-cheon’s heart was in turmoil. So Jeong-rak was a physician who did as much good as Heaven’s End Recluse. Jin Pae-cheon had praised him to others countless times and had met him on many occasions.
And yet, he was a mastermind? It was so absurd that he couldn't even feel anger.
The mist that had been scattered by his aura began to fill the surroundings again, shrouding the area in white.
“Do you have proof?”
“I have the most certain proof.”
“What is it?”
“Me.”
Jin Pae-cheon turned his head to look at Geom Mu-geuk, his expression demanding an explanation.
“He personally administered poison to me.”
“...!”
What proof could be more certain than that? Provided one truly believed Geom Mu-geuk. But if one didn't?
“Isn't that the most uncertain proof?”
Knowing exactly what the Alliance Leader meant, Geom Mu-geuk simply offered a faint smile.
“If you were poisoned, how are you so fine?”
Geom Mu-geuk let out a soft sigh. “You might be very angry at what I’m about to say next.”
After laying that groundwork, he continued. “The Poison King is currently here in Wuhan.”
It was one shock after another for the Alliance Leader. Heaven’s End Recluse, the Forbidden Demonic Order, So Jeong-rak, and now the Poison King.
“Whew.”
The low sound of Jin Pae-cheon’s breath echoed in the air. Geom Mu-geuk could feel it—how hard the Alliance Leader was struggling to control his emotions. The Poison King being here was a different matter entirely from any other Demon Lord being present.
“A powerful poison was coated on the forged hidden weapons. Since it involved my brother, I asked the Poison King to protect him.”
Geom Mu-geuk bowed his head politely. “I apologize for not informing you in advance.”
Jin Pae-cheon asked in a frigid tone, “You said you trusted me, so why didn't you tell me?”
Geom Mu-geuk raised his head to look at Jin Pae-cheon. His eyes were the coldest they had been since they met.
“Once I realized Heaven’s End Recluse was behind this, I decided I had to move cautiously. Until then, I couldn't leave the Cult's side.”
It was a truthful excuse, but Geom Mu-geuk didn't stop there.
“I thought that was the best course of action at the time, but looking back, I should have found a way to inform you first, no matter what. I am sorry. To be frank, I was worried. A man who has been your friend for decades is the mastermind; I feared that speaking out prematurely might ruin everything. In short, I didn't trust you. I have no right to lecture you on trust.”
Jin Pae-cheon looked down silently at the back of Geom Mu-geuk’s bowed head. After a long silence, he spoke.
“I will accept your apology.”
“Thank you.”
The matter of the Poison King was something he could have been furious about. No matter the circumstances, the Poison King entering Wuhan without his permission was something that should never have happened. Yet, there was a reason Jin Pae-cheon accepted the apology.
“Looking at the back of your wicked-looking head, a thought suddenly occurred to me. What if everything you said is true? What if you hadn't told me these facts? Then I would have faced this situation knowing nothing.”
He continued, entertaining an imagination he truly hated.
“What if I didn't know that my friend Hwa was the enemy, that So Jeong-rak was the enemy, and that the Old Demon who broke the Forbidden Demonic Order was coming to kill Ha-ryeong and Ha-gun?”
Jin Pae-cheon felt a chill run down his spine even as he spoke. His eyes asked the question: Is it all really true?
Then, Geom Mu-geuk, who had been serious the whole time, gave a bright smile.
“If I were you, I would be truly happy. I would have danced in the middle of Ma Clan Village, thinking that Heaven had granted me the chance to protect what is precious to me.”
Geom Mu-geuk pulled Jin Pae-cheon into that metaphorical dance.
“So, if you save Captain Jin and Miss Jin, won't you dance, Alliance Leader?”
Jin Pae-cheon was flustered by the unexpected question, but his answer was firm. “I must. If the children are safe, what is there that I wouldn't do?”
“Yes, I feel the same. If my words are all true and we save Miss Jin and Captain Jin because of it, then dance with me! It’s a promise!”
Looking at the beaming Geom Mu-geuk, Jin Pae-cheon couldn't bring himself to say, "No, I didn't promise!" It was likely because his grandchildren's lives were at stake.
“And if my words turn out to be lies, wouldn't this be the perfect opportunity to separate your grandchildren from this dangerous Demonic Cult friend? So, be happy. Whether I'm right or wrong, it’s all the same. In either case, it’s a happy outcome.”
Jin Pae-cheon’s gaze toward Geom Mu-geuk deepened. Was it because of those clear, deep eyes? Or was it because of those bold words? Listening to Geom Mu-geuk made everything he said sound like the truth. He had a way of enchanting even an old man like himself.
“I have one last thing to say.”
At that, Jin Pae-cheon looked exasperated. “You’ve talked this much and you still have more to say?”
“It’s something I must tell you.”
It was about his trust in Jin Pae-cheon.
“From now on, I will trust you. Therefore, I will tell you everything so that no misunderstandings arise, no matter what happens. Please watch over me.”
The Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult says he trusts the Murim Alliance Leader and asks to be watched over. He asks to dance together. Listening to him, he seemed like the kind of person who would actually keep every word he uttered.
Because he was such a person, Jin Pae-cheon had emphasized and re-emphasized to his grandson to be careful. And in this moment, Jin Pae-cheon thought to himself:
I should be the one to be careful first.
Geom Mu-geuk bowed politely and turned around. As he was walking down from the pavilion, Jin Pae-cheon spoke calmly from behind him.
“Nevertheless...”
Geom Mu-geuk stopped and looked back.
“I hope everything you said is false.”
Toward that gaze, which was half-sincere and half-joking, Geom Mu-geuk replied seriously.
“No, I hope everything I said is true. If it’s not... it means I am the enemy.”
Geom Mu-geuk added with a light sigh. “And wouldn't that be a problem in its own right?”
*
Returning to his quarters, Geom Mu-geuk gathered his brother and the two Demon Lords.
“I told the Alliance Leader that Miss Jin and Captain Jin would be the targets, but there is one more person I have in mind.”
Reading Geom Mu-geuk’s mind, the Demon Buddha pointed to one person. “Heaven’s End Recluse?”
Geom Mu-geuk nodded with conviction. “Yes, I believe he is the number one priority.”
The reason was easy enough to guess. If he were to die at the hands of a Demonic Cultist, a massive conflict would erupt between the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Murim Alliance.
“But why is he the top priority? I would think the death of his own flesh and blood would be a greater shock to the Alliance Leader,” Geom Mu-yang noted.
Geom Mu-geuk nodded. “True, that shock would be incomparable.”
“Then why? Is it because Heaven’s End Recluse is more respected by the warriors?”
“In that regard, the aftermath of Captain Jin’s death would be just as significant. Think about it—the Demon Extermination Squad Leader, of all people, killed by a warrior of our Cult. Given the symbolism, it might not be as much as Heaven’s End Recluse, but the Orthodox warriors would rise up like a wildfire at his death, too. Besides, he’s the Alliance Leader’s grandson.”
“Then why do you say Heaven’s End Recluse is the top priority?”
The reason Geom Mu-geuk judged it so was this:
“Because of the Alliance Leader’s sense of duty.”
Geom Mu-geuk knew Jin Pae-cheon’s personality well.
“Could the Alliance Leader really start a war just because his own kin died? He is a man who has dedicated his entire life to chivalry, righteousness, and the justice of the Murim. He is a man who has lived for the Orthodox warriors. Could he drive them to their deaths just because his own flesh and blood died? With that noble character of his? It would actually be easier for him to show restraint if it were his own family.”
On the other hand, what if Heaven’s End Recluse died?
“A man respected by all Orthodox warriors was killed by a Demonic Cultist. If the Alliance Leader tolerates that, he will be the one facing criticism. He would be forced to act.”
Only then did everyone nod. If the goal was the division of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Orthodox faction, then Heaven’s End Recluse was indeed a worthy top priority.
However, there was one question.
“Even so, would they sacrifice someone they’ve groomed for decades?”
To Geom Mu-yang’s question, Geom Mu-geuk replied, “That’s why it would be even more meaningful. If the sacrifice of just one person triggers the Great Demonic-Orthodox War.”
Geom Mu-geuk added another possibility.
“What if it’s not just one death? What if Heaven’s End Recluse dies and Miss Jin dies? What if Heaven’s End Recluse dies and Captain Jin dies? Or what if all three die? Not only the Alliance Leader’s rage, but no one would be able to stop the Great Demonic-Orthodox War from breaking out.”
No matter how insane a Demonic Cultist might be, no master would commit such an act. But what if they were people with nowhere left to go?
A brief silence followed.
The Demon Buddha, who had been listening to the brothers' conversation, asked, “How will you deal with it?”
The Demon Buddha didn't know how lucky he was that the subject of this question was Geom Mu-geuk. He himself hadn't been able to think of the things Mu-geuk just had.
“We must handle them one by one.”
Geom Mu-geuk had already decided on the first target.
“Who in this city of Wuhan could possibly release the seal of the Forbidden Demonic Order?”
Then, as if it required no thought at all, the Poison King answered curtly.
“So Jeong-rak.”
Geom Mu-geuk thought the same. It must have been So Jeong-rak who performed the Great Regression Art to save the Combat King, who had been poisoned by the Poison King in the past.
At that time, the Dark King had said it—that he had been saved by performing the Great Regression Art several times. Being able to perform the Great Regression Art meant he could also release the seal of the Forbidden Demonic Order.
Whether he did it alone or there was someone else, it was certain that So Jeong-rak was at the center of it.
“Since he dared to challenge the Poison King, let’s deal with So Jeong-rak first.”
Everything seemed separate, but this entire affair was organically linked. And if one of those links were to be broken?
“I wonder how those two Old Demons will react when they find they can no longer release the seal of the Forbidden Demonic Order?”