Chapter 691: He’s Not the Type to Stay Away Just Because It’s Dangerous, Is He?
Chapter 691: He’s Not the Type to Stay Away Just Because It’s Dangerous, Is He?
“If he’s such a formidable devil, why don’t you just kill him?”
An Cheong-gwang was genuinely curious. He knew all too well that if this woman set her mind to it, there was no one she couldn't kill—just as he himself had nearly died moments ago.
“There are many kinds of devils. There are scary ones, cruel ones, and those who enjoy playing with people until they break. What kind of devil do you think he is?”
He expected her to describe something even more terrifying than the ones she had just mentioned.
“A kind devil.”
An Cheong-gwang thought she was joking, but her expression remained dead serious.
“When devils and demons fight each other, they often feel a sense of kinship. They might go easy on one another or even share the spoils. You know what I mean; you’ve lived your life that way too. But that ‘kind’ devil? He has none of that. He just takes your head. If he were merely a good person, I could use him, but the problem is that he’s a devil. Being kind is a problem, and being a devil is a problem.”
An Cheong-gwang could sense it—this woman was actually afraid of that young man.
A Young Master of the Demonic Cult who could strike fear into a woman like her? Did such a person even exist?
In that instant, a name flashed through An Cheong-gwang’s mind. It was a person he had initially excluded because he thought there was no way he could be here.
“The Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult?”
To his tentative question came the answer he had hoped not to hear.
“I take back what I said about you resembling my son. You’re a very sharp man.”
Now he understood. He understood why the Unorthodox Path Alliance hadn't provided any information. A kind devil? Right—he had heard rumors of a man they called the Demonic Hero.
“You crazy bitch!”
It was the first time he had cursed at her since they met.
But she didn't get angry. Instead, she let out a bright, innocent laugh, like a madwoman.
“That’s why you have to go crazy too.”
Cha Yi-ran slowly reached her hand toward An Cheong-gwang’s neck. Her fingers traced the thin red line etched into his skin before coming to a stop.
“That Young Cult Leader won't be as lenient as I am.”
*
“There is someone I’d like to introduce to you, Miss.”
An Hu-pyeong finally succeeded in dragging Lee An to the guest hall. His only desire was to get on her good side by any means necessary.
— Bringing her to meet the person judging the contestants will cause trouble later, Sa Chu warned via Voice Transmission, but his words fell on deaf ears.
— What trouble? I’ll just say we ran into them by chance while passing by.
Sa Chu desperately wanted to avoid the guest hall. He didn't want to see those terrifying, eerie people again, nor did he want any further involvement with them.
— If the Guild Master finds out, there will be hell to pay.
However, even this warning failed against a man determined to risk everything for the woman in front of him.
— Fine, then he’ll find out when you tattle on me.
In the end, unable to break his stubbornness, they arrived at the guest hall where the Heavenly Flower Pavilion Master was staying.
Upon entering, they found the Pavilion Master’s party was not in the relaxed state they had been in during the previous visit. Had they seen them coming through the window?
The Heavenly Flower Pavilion Master was standing, and the rest of her guards were lined up in a row. It looked as though they were showing proper etiquette to welcome an esteemed guest.
“Welcome.”
At the Pavilion Master’s greeting, the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon and the Faceless Guests standing behind her bowed in unison.
An Hu-pyeong felt like he was walking on air at such a lavish reception. These people hadn't been nearly this polite before.
‘Yes, this is how it should have been from the start. They’ve finally come to their senses.’
With his prestige restored right in front of Lee An, An Hu-pyeong puffed out his chest and spoke boisterously.
“Have you all been well?”
How could he have known? That the respectful greeting was actually directed at Geom Mu-geuk, who was standing behind him.
Meanwhile, Sa Chu was watching the two guards, wondering how these two—who somehow gave off a similar vibe—would treat each other upon meeting.
‘Are they smiling?’
To his surprise, Geom Mu-geuk and the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon were looking at each other with faint smiles.
‘Do crazy bastards just recognize their own kind?’
He didn't even consider the possibility that they might actually know each other.
Just then, Sa Chu’s eyes met those of one of the Faceless Guests. Was this the same one who had been staring at him intently before? Since they all wore veils, they looked so similar he couldn't tell.
Sa Chu naturally averted his gaze as if he hadn't seen him, only to look in another direction. But there, too, a Faceless Guest was staring directly at him.
‘Seriously, why do they keep looking at me?!’
Sa Chu eventually hung his head.
‘Don’t look! Please, don’t look!’
When he peeked up slightly, they were still staring.
‘I didn’t tell anyone that Teacher Yong is dead! I won’t tell anyone in the future, either!’
While Sa Chu was fighting a desperate battle to find a place to rest his eyes, An Hu-pyeong was in high spirits.
“This is my precious guest, Miss Lee. I was showing her around the guild and decided to stop by. And this is the Heavenly Flower Pavilion Master, who is serving as a judge for this tournament.”
Look at me, I’m the kind of man who can introduce you to the tournament judges!
An Hu-pyeong’s shoulders squared with pride. Even though he had introduced her as a judge, Lee An didn't seem particularly uncomfortable.
“I am Lee An.”
An Hu-pyeong liked that about her too.
‘As expected of a demonic practitioner, her personality is straightforward.’
If she had spouted insincere nonsense like, “Why did you introduce me to a judge? I want to become the World’s Most Beautiful Woman fairly,” it would have been truly annoying.
Naturally, Lee An and the Heavenly Flower Pavilion Master acted as if they were meeting for the first time.
“Are you perhaps a participant in this tournament?”
An Hu-pyeong answered on Lee An’s behalf.
“That’s right. Miss Lee has already passed the preliminaries. Ah, I suppose you two will see each other again in the finals.”
The Pavilion Master’s expression stiffened slightly. Of course, it was an act for An Hu-pyeong’s benefit. It would have been strange to accept the situation too naturally.
As if the situation were uncomfortable, the Pavilion Master dismissed those around her.
“I wish to speak with my guests in private. All guards, please wait outside.”
At her command, the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon and the Faceless Guests immediately exited.
Lee An turned to Geom Mu-geuk and said, “You wait outside as well.”
Lee An knew that the Pavilion Master had sent the Smiling Demon out specifically to give her a moment with Geom Mu-geuk. Otherwise, there would have been no need to dismiss them.
Geom Mu-geuk stepped outside without a word. Then, An Hu-pyeong looked at Sa Chu.
“What are you doing? Aren't you going out?”
Sa Chu was inwardly flustered, as he hadn't expected to be kicked out as well.
‘You want me to stay out there with them? Please, no!’
But An Hu-pyeong wasn't the type to be the only one keeping a guard like a coward when the ladies had dismissed theirs. In the end, after receiving a sharp look, Sa Chu was also chased out.
In the courtyard, Geom Mu-geuk, the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon, and the Faceless Guests stood watching him.
I have the dignity of an Unorthodox Faction martial artist!
Actually, he didn't. Sa Chu avoided their gaze by staring pointlessly up at the sky. Just then, the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon began striding toward him.
‘Why? Why are you coming over here?!’
The Smiling Demon chuckled and patted the terrified Sa Chu on the shoulder. Just as Sa Chu began to relax, realizing it was a gesture of thanks for keeping their secret...
Slide.
Before he knew it, his acupoints were struck. His vision blurred, and he collapsed backward into a deep sleep.
The Faceless Guests stood guard around the perimeter, and in their center, Geom Mu-geuk and the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon began their conversation.
Geom Mu-geuk had intended to meet the Smiling Demon secretly at night anyway, but he had been able to come openly thanks to the Young Guild Master’s guidance. Since time was short, Geom Mu-geuk got straight to the point.
“The mastermind this time is a female assassin named Cha Yi-ran.”
Geom Mu-geuk explained the group of female assassins she led. The Faceless Guests listened intently as well.
“They possess no trace of the typical aura found in assassins, so you must be especially careful.”
The Smiling Demon and the Faceless Guests nodded. Upon hearing about them, a natural question arose for the Smiling Demon.
“If you know who the enemy is, why not just eliminate them? The Pavilion Master’s prophecy took place on the stage. So...”
“You’re suggesting we wipe them out before the finals begin?”
The Smiling Demon nodded. Though he didn't show it outwardly, the prophecy had been weighing on his mind. It wasn't just anyone’s life at stake; it was Geom Mu-geuk’s.
“Why don't you do that?”
As if he had already considered the option, Geom Mu-geuk revealed his reasoning.
“There are two reasons. The first is to flush out any other masterminds and deal with them all at once.”
Assassinating the Unorthodox Path Alliance Leader was no ordinary plot. Other hidden masterminds might reveal themselves. Just as the Murim Alliance had not only the Heaven’s End Recluse but also So Jeong-rak of the Myeong-sim Clinic. If he didn't deal with them all when he had the chance, they would eventually return as another threat.
“Actually, the second reason bothers me more.”
Geom Mu-geuk’s eyes deepened as he raised a fundamental question.
“Why do they want to kill the Unorthodox Path Alliance Leader?”
Of course, it could be a long-prepared plan. Just as the Murim Alliance had prepared for decades, they could have planned to kill the Alliance Leader by drawing in the Sinhwa Guild. But to kill the Alliance Leader now, in this situation where the Murim Alliance had already failed? Even when they must know he had intervened?
“Even if this plan succeeds, Vice Leader Bi will simply take over. What exactly do they stand to gain by pushing forward with this plan?”
Because of these doubts, he was refraining from moving prematurely.
“They might have another plan entirely.”
The Smiling Demon nodded in total agreement. As expected, the Young Cult Leader saw through the situation far more deeply than he did.
“What do you intend to do now?”
Geom Mu-geuk replied with a smirk.
“It’s a prophecy from our Pavilion Master, of all people. We can’t have it be wrong, can we? You’ll be joining me on that stage.”
The Smiling Demon knew this didn't mean Geom Mu-geuk intended to simply let himself be stabbed. Knowing it was a declaration to face fate head-on, the Smiling Demon’s eyes crinkled in a bright smile.
“I will be with you until the very end.”
The surrounding Faceless Guests listened to their conversation in silence. The smiles hidden in their eyes mirrored the Smiling Demon’s resolve to stay by his side until the end.
Just then, An Hu-pyeong’s voice called out from inside the building, telling them to come back in. Geom Mu-geuk and the Smiling Demon entered first.
The Faceless Guests pressed the acupoints of the sleeping Sa Chu to wake him. When Sa Chu opened his eyes from the ground, he saw the Faceless Guests crouching around him, looking down with mock concern.
“!”
Sa Chu squeezed his eyes shut again. He wished it were a dream, but An Hu-pyeong’s shouting from inside—asking what he was doing and why he wasn't coming in—told him otherwise.
*
Bi Sa-in entered the training ground. This was the private training ground of Baek Ja-gang, the Leader of the Unorthodox Path Alliance.
“Did you call for me?”
Baek Ja-gang was meticulously wiping a Steel Dummy made of Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron. This figure, crafted specifically for the Alliance Leader, was covered in countless sword scars.
“I know exactly when and how each of these marks was made.”
Those words alone revealed Baek Ja-gang’s realm and the mindset with which he swung his sword, strike by strike.
“Every time I wanted to surpass my limits, I projected various people onto this Steel Dummy. The one who appeared most often was the Demonic Cult Leader.”
Bi Sa-in understood. His master had truly wanted to surpass Geom Wu-jin. And seeing his master speak so comfortably about it, he wondered if Baek Ja-gang had finally crossed into a new realm.
“I wonder who it will be in your life.”
Unexpected words flowed from Baek Ja-gang’s lips.
“I intend to pass this down to you now.”
Bi Sa-in was startled. “Alliance Leader!”
“I intended to give it to you from the start. Take it and train well.”
Bi Sa-in knew better than anyone what this Steel Dummy meant to Baek Ja-gang. Passing it down was a sign of true affection and recognition. Bi Sa-in did not refuse. He bowed deeply with a respectful fist salute.
“I will surely achieve Great Achievement in the Overlord Heaven-Shaking Sword Technique. I will become strong.”
His voice was thick with emotion and resolve. Baek Ja-gang nodded with a reassuring smile. Just then, a subordinate’s voice came from outside.
“A missive has arrived from the Young Cult Leader of the Divine Cult.”
At that news, Baek Ja-gang and Bi Sa-in looked at each other. Since no one was allowed inside the training ground, Bi Sa-in went out to receive the letter himself.
Bi Sa-in read the missive.
“What is it about?”
“It concerns the World’s Most Beautiful Woman Contest.”
Both men were well aware of the contest being held in Anhui. Previously, the Sinhwa Guild Master had visited in person to ask for permission to hold the event, requesting that a banquet with the Unorthodox Path Alliance Leader be offered as a prize.
The Sinhwa Guild had long been a sect that worked hard for the Alliance, and even after their recent rise in power, their loyalty remained unchanged. That was why he had granted permission, and now Geom Mu-geuk had sent a letter regarding it.
As Bi Sa-in confirmed the contents, his expression stiffened and his gaze turned grave.
“He says there is a plan to assassinate you at that banquet.”
Since the letter was from Geom Mu-geuk, the information couldn't be wrong. He had even mentioned who the enemy was.
“It’s a top-tier female assassin leading an organization composed entirely of women.”
Despite it being an assassination plot against him, Baek Ja-gang actually seemed pleased. When he had received the report about what happened at the Murim Alliance recently, he had felt a strange sense of exclusion.
These bastards only target the Murim Alliance Leader? Are they ignoring me?
Bi Sa-in bowed his head, looking ashamed.
“I apologize for letting you hear such critical information through the Young Cult Leader.”
This wasn't Bi Sa-in’s fault either. If anyone were to be held responsible, it would be the intelligence officers who deserved punishment. Baek Ja-gang didn't mind at all, nor was he angry.
“At first, I thought the Young Cult Leader was simply superior and ahead of the curve. But after experiencing it, I see that fate treats him differently. So, don't worry about it.”
His words implied that the connection between the mastermind and Geom Mu-geuk ran deep.
“So, what does he say?”
“He has sent an earnest request for you not to attend the banquet.”
However, Baek Ja-gang had no intention of staying away.
“How can I, the target of a plot to kill me, not show up?”
Bi Sa-in knew his master was not a man who would ever back down. Moreover, if Geom Mu-geuk was already working to stop it? His master was not the type to leave his own business to others.
“However, the Young Cult Leader sent two letters.”
“Two?”
“One is the official missive I just mentioned, and the other was addressed to me.”
Bi Sa-in checked the second letter on the spot. After reading the contents, he handed it to Baek Ja-gang. The Alliance Leader had wondered why he was being shown a personal letter.
As Baek Ja-gang read the note, his small eyes crinkled into a wide, booming laugh.
— He’s not the type to stay away just because it’s dangerous, is he? Since he’s coming anyway, just bring him early!