Chapter 707: Would This Be Enough Help?
Chapter 707: Would This Be Enough Help?
“Welcome, Alliance Leader.”
After a polite greeting, Cha Yi-ran surveyed the surrounding ruins.
“I’d like to offer you a seat, but as you can see, there’s nowhere left to sit.”
Even with her life hanging by a thread, she remained composed. Having long ago abandoned the crossroads of life and death, she knew no fear. She would simply walk her chosen path until her steps ceased—and that day would be her last.
“Are you not afraid to die?”
Baek Ja-gang asked the question like a reaper. Cha Yi-ran replied with poise.
“I am afraid.”
At that moment, a chill crawled up Baek Ja-gang’s neck. He possessed a preternatural sense for detecting lies, and his intuition screamed that she was lying.
She does not fear death?
Normally, he would have assumed she was hiding a trump card or waiting for a rescue. But Baek Ja-gang saw it—the fleeting look of transcendence in her eyes.
He had seen that look before. It was the gaze of those for whom the boundary between life and death had crumbled. They were the most dangerous kind of people—those who could do anything because they had already discarded everything.
It was unexpected. How could a woman of such breathtaking, radiant beauty have no lingering attachment to life? What kind of path had she walked to reach this point?
A thought suddenly occurred to him. Perhaps the reason Geom Mu-geuk was trying to resolve this without killing her was that he, too, had seen what Baek Ja-gang was seeing now.
“I am aware the Young Cult Leader holds you in special regard. However, that is between the two of you. It has nothing to do with me.”
Making it clear he intended no mercy for the sake of his relationship with Geom Mu-geuk, Baek Ja-gang asked point-blank, “Why are you trying to kill me?”
His previous warning—that he wouldn't ask twice—meant that if she didn't answer now, she would die.
“You likely already know, but I am an assassin. Therefore, I accepted a contract.”
Though she belonged to an organization, their relationship was not strictly hierarchical. The organization provided the contract and the payment; she did the work. She had always kept them at arm's length, even though she knew they disapproved of her attitude.
“So you accepted the contract even knowing I was the target.”
It was a provocation that could have incited a lethal rage, but Cha Yi-ran met it head-on.
“How could I refuse? For an assassin, it’s the contract of a lifetime—an opportunity that might come only once in a hundred years.”
Her honesty prompted his next question without hesitation.
“What did you mean by what you said to the Shinhwa Guild Master?”
In truth, this was the reason Baek Ja-gang had sought her out today. As the Shinhwa Guild Master lay dying, he had left behind a specific message.
“I heard you said that if I do not die, the Murim will fall.”
When she had first uttered those words, she hadn't expected things to escalate like this. At the time, she hadn't anticipated Geom Mu-geuk’s interference.
In truth, the person who had told her those words was Hwa Do-myeong. That spiteful man was likely hiding somewhere far off, watching this unfold. Would he remain a mere spectator even as Baek Ja-gang moved to kill her? Or would he finally step forward?
“I believe that is a question I should be asking you,” she said.
Baek Ja-gang’s eyes sharpened, but she continued calmly.
“Do you intend to destroy the Murim?”
A brief silence followed. Baek Ja-gang truly hadn't expected to be questioned by this woman. Perhaps that was why he humored her provocation.
“And if I do?”
She hadn't asked to provoke him. Quite the opposite.
“If you were such a person, you wouldn't have come to find me and ask these questions,” Cha Yi-ran said steadily. “I suppose they told me those things just to persuade me. There is no better justification for killing someone than that.”
Finally, Baek Ja-gang asked the decisive question.
“Do you still intend to kill me?”
The answer did not come immediately. After a moment, she spoke.
“Yes. I have already accepted the contract.”
Since no chill prickled his skin, he knew she was speaking the truth. Her courage was admirable, but it was no reason for forgiveness.
“Give me one reason why I should not kill you.”
Cha Yi-ran let out a sigh. “I don’t believe there is one.”
The reaper, who had done nothing but ask questions, finally passed his judgment.
“Then die!”
His hand gripped the hilt of his sword.
Watching him, Cha Yi-ran recalled the moment Geom Mu-geuk had been about to draw his blade. The tension now was even greater. Mu-geuk hadn't drawn his, but Baek Ja-gang certainly would. And he would certainly kill her.
Cha Yi-ran circulated her internal energy. Could she defeat the Leader of the Unorthodox Path Alliance in a head-on confrontation? Impossible.
Hwa Do-myeong, are you just going to watch? If I die, this whole affair is a failure.
But Hwa Do-myeong did not appear.
Right. You were always just a spectator.
She sensed her final moment had arrived. In truth, she didn't fear death. It was a moment she had been waiting for, in a way. The Leader of the Unorthodox Path Alliance—her final target. She couldn't ask for a better person to grant her an end.
Her only regret was that her subordinates would die with her.
“My subordinates…”
Before she could ask him to spare them, Baek Ja-gang cut her off.
“I am not a man who leaves loose ends. Do you think I would leave assassins alive to seek revenge?”
A massive aura erupted from Baek Ja-gang’s body, radiating in all directions. It was a presence more powerful and fierce than anything she had ever felt—like a colossal, shackled beast finally breaking free and roaring at the heavens.
Cha Yi-ran pushed her internal energy to its limit to withstand the pressure. She did not fear death, but she wasn't one to give up on life easily, either.
She drew her daggers. The sharp glint of the blades mirrored the look in her eyes.
11th Gyo and the other assassins, who had been watching from a distance, leaped down simultaneously to surround the two. They all drew their hidden weapons. Though they all sensed their impending deaths in the face of Baek Ja-gang’s overwhelming aura, not a single woman fled.
Screeech.
It was at the very moment Baek Ja-gang’s sword began to slide from its scabbard.
Whish!
Someone blurred past like a streak of light and landed between them. Arriving via Rapid Speed Step, it was none other than Geom Mu-geuk.
Cha Yi-ran was stunned. She hadn't expected him to appear at this exact moment. The surrounding assassins were equally shocked.
Baek Ja-gang’s sword was not yet fully drawn.
“I’m glad I made it before you drew your sword completely!”
At Mu-geuk’s sigh of relief, Baek Ja-gang asked, “Did you run all this way out of breath because you were afraid I would kill this woman?”
Mu-geuk took a breath and gave a short answer. “Yes.”
It was just one word, but a flicker of emotion crossed Cha Yi-ran’s face. Even Hwa Do-myeong, who called himself her friend, hadn't stepped forward, yet her enemy, Geom Mu-geuk, had intervened for her sake.
Mu-geuk looked at Baek Ja-gang. He read a certain intent within the man’s narrow eyes.
— Don't tell me... did you know I was watching?
At Mu-geuk’s Voice Transmission, one corner of Baek Ja-gang’s mouth curled up slightly. His meaningful expression seemed to say: As expected, you understand my intent.
Mu-geuk was certain now. Baek Ja-gang had realized he was watching from afar and had drawn his sword on purpose. He likely never intended to kill her in the first place. He had planned to ask his questions and leave, but he chose to draw his blade for one reason:
To make her owe Mu-geuk her life.
He had even forced her subordinates to step in so that Mu-geuk could save their lives as well. Indeed, Baek Ja-gang was not a reckless man who would kill her when Mu-geuk had already decided to deal with her. If he were to kill her, he would have done it while Mu-geuk was present.
— Thank you very much, Alliance Leader.
Baek Ja-gang replied via Voice Transmission. As expected, Mu-geuk’s intuition was spot on.
— Would this be enough help?
— Yes, enough to change the entire board.
— Then that is enough.
Now, Mu-geuk spoke aloud for everyone to hear, pleading with Baek Ja-gang.
“Please, for my sake, forgive her just this once.”
“A woman who intends to kill me?”
“Please, just this once, as a favor to me.”
Baek Ja-gang appeared to deliberate for a moment before slowly sliding his blade back into the scabbard.
“I will consider the debt I owed you settled with this.”
In truth, saying it this way made her debt to Mu-geuk even more absolute.
“Yes, thank you for your generosity.”
Mu-geuk bowed his head in thanks and sent another Voice Transmission to Baek Ja-gang.
— You are truly magnificent!
— More so than your father?
— ...
— Save the compliments for when that is the case.
After reminding Mu-geuk who his true rival was, Baek Ja-gang strode away. He didn't spare a single glance for Cha Yi-ran or the assassins, as if to say she was now Mu-geuk’s responsibility.
Mu-geuk watched his retreating back in silence. Today, his black martial robes looked even more impressive. Cha Yi-ran was an assassin trying to kill him, yet a man who hated leaving loose ends had conceded this much.
I will surely repay this favor.
Once Baek Ja-gang had completely vanished, the suffocating tension among the assassins finally broke. They had thought they would die at the hands of the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon when they were captured, and then they had nearly been killed by the Alliance Leader.
At a signal from Cha Yi-ran, 11th Gyo led the assassins away. Before retreating, they stole glances at Geom Mu-geuk. Though it wasn't what he had intended, thanks to the Alliance Leader, he had become their savior.
Cha Yi-ran looked at Mu-geuk with a bewildered expression.
“Why did you save me? Everything would have been settled if I died. You wouldn't even have had to get blood on your hands.”
Only then did Mu-geuk look at her. She stood there, covered in dust.
“In the end, you’ll have to wear the clothes I picked out for you.”
It was a joke—she had chosen different clothes at the shop, but since these were ruined, she would have to go back and buy the ones he had suggested.
Cha Yi-ran’s eyes wavered slightly. How could he act like this, knowing she intended to kill him?
“Ugh, all this dust.”
Mu-geuk waved his hand through the dust kicked up by the clash of auras and killing intent.
“Let’s walk for a bit.”
The ruins weren't suitable for a conversation, so the two walked slowly toward the rear garden. There was a small flower garden there.
“You must be tense. Have a seat.”
Mu-geuk sat down first on a wide rock in front of the garden. Cha Yi-ran sat down beside him. For a moment, they both stared at the flowers. Indifferent to the world's affairs, the blossoms swayed gently in the breeze, a stark contrast to the tension from moments ago.
“By the way, there’s someone I want to ask about.”
“Who?”
“A man with makeup on his face appeared before the Heavenly Flower Pavilion Master.”
Cha Yi-ran’s expression stiffened. She hadn't known about that.
“He left after saying that if the Alliance Leader isn't killed, the Murim will fall.”
Hwa Do-myeong had said that to others, yet he hadn't mentioned it to her. He clearly had an ulterior motive. Though Mu-geuk hadn't told Baek Ja-gang, he spoke of him now. Despite the man constantly downplaying himself as a mere spectator...
“He is an important person in the organization,” she said. Then she added, “It would be best not to provoke him.”
Mu-geuk glanced at her. “And you think it’s okay to provoke me?”
Cha Yi-ran was silenced by the depth of his gaze, which seemed as profound as an abyss. But soon, Mu-geuk laughed as if it were a joke.
“I’m kidding, I’m kidding. I’ll take your advice to heart. I should avoid scary people whenever possible. I’m not the type to poke a stick into tall grass where a snake might be hiding. And I don't like people who go around stirring up trouble for no reason.”
Cha Yi-ran asked again, “You still haven't answered. Why did you save me?”
“I told you, didn't I? I like magnificent people.”
Cha Yi-ran snorted. She already suspected the real reason.
“It’s because my being alive increases the chances of him leaving.”
Sensing an opportunity, she voiced her honest feelings. “I don't feel great about it. It feels like I’m just a tool or a sacrificial lamb for his sake.”
Then, Mu-geuk said something unexpected.
“Aren't you already living as a tool or a sacrificial lamb?”
“...!”
Stung by the truth, Cha Yi-ran’s expression hardened. Unfazed by her reaction, Mu-geuk continued.
“If you have to be one anyway, isn't it better to be a tool or a sacrifice for someone you like?”
“What do you know about me?”
“I know enough. You have bad drinking habits. You don't know what clothes suit you.”
Cha Yi-ran finally burst into laughter. This Young Cult Leader was likely the only person in the world who could make someone laugh while saying something as offensive as calling them a tool and a sacrifice.
“And you cherish your subordinates immensely.”
“Why do you think that?”
He had a very clear reason. “Because I heard your subordinates don't commit suicide even when they fail a mission and get captured.”
She truly thought the Young Cult Leader was brilliant. This man missed nothing. And he went even further.
“That rule against suicide—does it apply to you as well, even if you fail?”
He struck at a point she hadn't even considered.
“And if it does?”
“Let’s make a promise.”
The promise Mu-geuk proposed was entirely unexpected.
“If I stop your assassination attempt, accept a contract from me.”
“...!”
He was telling her to leave them and join hands with him. It was a different proposal from simply helping him leave. He was offering her a chance even after she failed her mission. Mu-geuk had taken another step closer to her.
“Are you saying you’ll spare the person who just tried to kill you?”
“I am.”
“Are you a fool? Or do you take me for such a fool that I’d believe that?”
But she could feel it. Mu-geuk was speaking with total sincerity. She could almost see him smiling brightly at her after a failed assassination attempt and saying: Now, let’s join hands as promised! Without a hint of resentment.
“What if I succeed in the assassination?”
Mu-geuk looked up at the sky. The clouds were drifting slowly, following the lead of the wind.
As if to prove his sincerity, Mu-geuk answered calmly.
“I’ll go to Hell first and wait for you.”