Translator: FenrirTL
Editor/Quality Checker: Saphartlantis
Murim Term Consultant: Kopke
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Chapter 341: Do You Trust Me? Or the Young Cult Leader? 1
The Demon-Slaying Brigade martial artists took the children out of the box and carefully moved them to the carriage waiting outside.
Geom Mugeuk and Jin Hagun stood side by side, watching the scene.
“What on earth are you thinking?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m asking why you called the Unorthodox Alliance?”
With the momentum that had forced even the Twin Swords of Blue and White to back down earlier, they could’ve just taken Taejo. And yet, Geom Mugeuk had deliberately summoned the Unorthodox Alliance.
“They kept insisting they were innocent, so I wanted to handle things fairly.”
“You sure have a kind heart for understanding villains.” 2
Jin Hagun felt it. There was definitely another reason Geom Mugeuk had called the Unorthodox Alliance.
‘Could it be… he wanted to see Bih Sa-in?’ 3
That was the only guess he could make, but Geom Mugeuk’s true intention remained unclear.
This time, Geom Mugeuk asked,
“What do you plan to do about the Black Snake Gang?”
It was the Black Snake Gang that had kidnapped the children. With the amount of money they must’ve earned from it, they would likely continue their abductions, even if it wasn’t through the Flowing Sword Gate.
“If we secure evidence through the Flowing Sword Gate Master this time, we’ll make sure they’re dealt with.”
Jin Hagun stated his resolve firmly, but it wasn’t going to be easy.
The Black Snake Gang was a massive organization rooted all across the Central Plains. They had recruited many powerful martial artists with their immense revenue, earned by meddling in all sorts of power struggles, and it was even known that they provided substantial funding to the Unorthodox Alliance.
“It won’t be easy.”
“Even so, we can’t just let those who kidnap children run free, can we?”
At Jin Hagun’s determined spirit, Geom Mugeuk smiled. Jin Hagun could feel it—it was a smile of acknowledgment, and it made him feel quietly pleased.
There was a certain thrill in being acknowledged by an enemy. Especially if that enemy was Geom Mugeuk. 4
“Let’s change the name from Demon-Slaying Brigade. How about Evil-Slaying Brigade or Villain-Slaying Brigade? In times like these, do we demons really need to be slain?”
Jin Hagun looked baffled at Geom Mugeuk’s jest. But inwardly, he agreed. With a Demonic Cult led by someone like Geom Mugeuk, the term “demon-slaying” felt unnecessary. Of course, he didn’t voice that thought.
“You may be calm these days, but who knows when you’ll cause trouble again?”
“You don’t know? I love peace.”
“No, I don’t know that. But I do know blood follows you wherever you go.”
“That’s only because wherever I go, I’m surrounded by villains.”
Even as they exchanged words, Jin Hagun had a thought. At this rate, they really might have to change the name of the Demon-Slaying Brigade. It was true that today’s Demonic Cult was different from what it used to be.
While the Demon-Slaying Brigade martial artists were escorting the children out, only three or four remained at Jin Hagun’s side.
Meanwhile, the experts from the Flowing Sword Gate still had the upper hand in numbers. A silent tension was spreading between them and the Demon-Slaying Brigade, but despite being outnumbered, the Demon-Slaying Brigade showed no signs of fear. It proved just how well-trained they were.
Taejo walked up to the two of them.
“I’ve sent an urgent message to the Unorthodox Alliance, so someone from there will arrive as soon as possible.”
Taejo now seemed far more composed than he had been earlier when he was pleading.
Jin Hagun said to him,
“Until then, our Gate Master will need to stay with us.”
“Even if you pushed me to run, I wouldn’t go.”
His attitude had clearly changed from when he had desperately begged for the Unorthodox Alliance to be called.
“It’ll take a while for someone from the Alliance to arrive, so in the meantime, allow me to treat you comfortably. Let’s go inside and have a drink first.”
He was certain that once someone from the Unorthodox Alliance showed up, the matter would be resolved. Now that the situation on this side had been revealed, at least someone of unit leader rank or higher would come.
The Unorthodox Alliance would never let him be dragged away by these people.
“This is suffocating—let’s step outside for now.”
Geom Mugeuk walked out of the warehouse.
The Flowing Sword Gate martial artists gathered at the entrance parted to either side to make way.
Among them were the Twin Swords of Blue and White. They were the ones who had scolded Taejo, after being aware that they were dealing with the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult. It seemed they might have stormed off in anger, but instead, they remained close by Taejo’s side.
Whether for money or other reasons, Geom Mugeuk guessed that they had deep ties with the Flowing Sword Gate.
The Twin Swords of Blue and White still couldn’t believe they had been overwhelmed by Geom Mugeuk’s mere aura. Had they been caught in some trick? Or had they momentarily misjudged the situation?
As Geom Mugeuk walked past, he glanced briefly at the two of them. The moment their eyes met, all their suspicions vanished. Their danger instincts scolded them—wasn’t one experience more than enough for experts like them?
Following him, Jin Hagun stepped outside as well. In the meantime, the carriage carrying the children had already departed, escorted by several Demon-Slaying Brigade martial artists.
Taejo asked Geom Mugeuk with a hint of curiosity.
“Why hasn’t the Young Cult Leader summoned the demons?”
“That’s because of our dear Gate Master Tae, of course.”
“Because of me?”
“If there are fewer of us, then our Gate Master will have more options to choose from, no?”
“Options?”
“I mean options like killing us.”
“No matter how bold I may be, do you really think I’d dare do something like that?”
Taejo was taken aback. What Geom Mugeuk said had touched on the very thought he had harbored when asking about the absence of the demonic warriors. He had to consider even the slimmest of possibilities.
“Seems like this is the perfect chance. The Demon-Slaying Brigade is mostly gone escorting the children. What do you think? You could kill all of us and then claim that the Young Cult Leader and the Brigade Leader of the Demonic Cult fought each other and perished together. You seem pretty good at shamelessly twisting things.”
If the Twin Swords of Blue and White hadn’t been overwhelmed by Geom Mugeuk’s presence, perhaps that might have ended up being the final option.
̌“How could I possibly dare to do such a thing? Come now, it’s cold—please go inside.” 5
Jin Hagun spoke up.
“We’ll stay out here.”
“It’s cold. Please, go inside.”
“We’re fine.”
The Demon-Slaying Brigade set up tents in the training yard of the Flowing Sword Gate and prepared their lodgings.
They had no desire to be treated by members of the unorthodox sects, and rather than entering enemy territory, it was safer to stay in an open area like this.
“Then Young Cult Leader, please head inside.”
“I’ll stay here as well.”
Jin Hagun gave a slight nod to one of his subordinates and ordered,
“Prepare a place for the Young Cult Leader to rest.”
The Demon-Slaying Brigade martial artists lit campfires in the training yard.
Although he was the one giving the orders, Jin Hagun couldn’t help but find the scene unfamiliar. To camp and light fires in the training grounds of an unorthodox sect? Meeting Geom Mugeuk truly led to all sorts of strange experiences.
The more one came to know Geom Mugeuk, the more surprising the experiences became. Perhaps that was why—even in this situation, where he would normally be so on edge that he couldn’t sleep a wink—he found himself feeling at ease.
And through this encampment, Jin Hagun had come to understand one thing for certain.
Geom Mugeuk didn’t waste even a moment of time. From the way he usually played around, he expected him to do the same now—lounging around, teasing the Flowing Sword Gate martial artists, or pestering Jin Hagun to drink. But instead, Geom Mugeuk had shut himself in his tent, silently focusing on his breathing and qi circulation, diving deeply into cultivation.
His calm and confidence must have come from that kind of dedication. This man… really wasn’t easy to deal with.
* * *
At last, news arrived that someone from the Unorthodox Alliance had arrived.
“Who is it?”
Taejo asked, and Manhong, one of his close aides, reported with a shocked expression.
“The Young Alliance Leader has arrived.”
“What?”
Taejo was stunned. He had asked them to send someone of high rank, but he hadn’t expected the Young Alliance Leader to come in person.
“Why would the Young Alliance Leader come?”
“Apparently, upon hearing that the successors were here, he decided to come himself.”
“But why?”
To someone unaware of the relationships between the three, it was a perfectly natural question.
Originally, Taejo had planned to overwhelm someone of unit leader rank with bribes to escape this crisis.
‘Is he… abandoning me?’
A strange sense of doubt began to rise within Taejo’s heart.
“Let’s go out for now.”
Taejo hurriedly stepped outside with Manhong.
A group of martial artists entered the Flowing Sword Gate.
Leading them was Bih Sa-in, the heir of the Unorthodox Alliance, followed by the Thirteen Wolves.
The scar on Bih Sa-in’s face—cut, crushed, and twisted—was so fearsome it was difficult to look at directly. His aura, too, was cold and oppressive. His appearance hadn’t changed, but his gaze was different from the last time he had met Geom Mugeuk. His eyes now held a far more mature depth than before.
“We greet the Young Alliance Leader!”
The martial artists of the Flowing Sword Gate all bowed deeply in unison. Even the Twin Swords of Blue and White were no exception. For those of the unorthodox sects, the heir of the Unorthodox Alliance held absolute authority.
Taejo also bowed deeply to receive him.
“It’s truly an honor to meet you, Young Alliance Leader.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you as well. You may all rise.”
Taejo and the Flowing Sword Gate martial artists all stood up.
“I don’t know if you remember me, but I had the honor of meeting you at the Unorthodox Alliance when you were appointed as the successor.”
“I remember.”
“It’s a great honor to have such a distinguished guest come here in person.”
Taejo bowed deeply once more. Though this was an unexpected visitor, his life now depended entirely on Bih Sa-in.
Bih Sa-in’s gaze turned toward Geom Mugeuk.
Geom Mugeuk was squatting in the yard, warming himself by the fire.
He had come here fully aware that Geom Mugeuk was present. If it weren’t for him, Bih Sa-in would never have come in person. And yet, even with that knowledge, the moment he laid eyes on Geom Mugeuk, he couldn’t stop the emotions from stirring within.
“It’s cold. Come over and warm yourself by the fire.”
Geom Mugeuk waved and grinned widely.
Taejo, unaware of their relationship, raised his voice.
“That’s the Young Alliance Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance! Show some respect!” 6
Geom Mugeuk looked at Bih Sa-in and shot back,
“He’s not the only esteemed one here—you’re looking at someone pretty special too.”
Seeing that glint in Geom Mugeuk’s eyes, sparkling with mischief, Bih Sa-in realized once again—he had truly reunited with Geom Mugeuk.
Geom Mugeuk suddenly jumped up and made an overly formal bow.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Young Alliance Leader!”
He bent so low his back was nearly horizontal—a playful gesture that led Taejo to a huge misunderstanding. 7
‘That’s it! He’s scared! The Young Alliance Leader’s terrifying presence worked!’
Of course, he had no idea the two were exchanging secret voice transmissions in that moment.
―Are you eating well? No picky eating, I hope.
The first transmission was about his eating habits? One day, he really was going to shove this man off a cliff.
―Seeing your endlessly nagging tone hasn’t changed… you must be the real Young Cult Leader.
―You’ve become more handsome than before.
―And now you’re laying the groundwork to ask for a favor, huh?
―You and Leader Jin both. You know me too well now!
At that moment, Jin Hagun walked out of the tent. Bih Sa-in had, of course, known Jin Hagun would be here. What he hadn’t expected was for them to be camping in tents like this.
Bih Sa-in and Jin Hagun exchanged a silent martial salute. They were not close enough to greet each other as casually as they would with Geom Mugeuk. Still, a silent exchange of glances conveyed a quiet conversation.
―You got dragged into this by him again?
―You know as well as I do—this isn’t something you can avoid just by trying to run.
―True. If that were possible, I wouldn’t be here either.
After exchanging glances, Bih Sa-in walked over to the campfire.
And he sat down in front of it.
“Gate Master, please come join us.”
“Yes…”
Taejo, still dazed, made his way over. Why the fire, of all places? He had a bad feeling about this.
And so, with the campfire between them, they all sat in a circle. Behind Bih Sa-in stood the Thirteen Wolves, and behind Jin Hagun stood the Demon-Slaying Brigade. A sharp tension hung in the air between them. Regardless of the relationship between their leaders, they were enemies—practically archrivals.
“What happened here?”
At Bih Sa-in’s question, Taejo began to explain the situation. Of course, it was a version that worked in his favor.
“My subordinate made a mistake while trying to rescue children with martial talent. We failed to confirm that the ones we received were those kidnapped by the Black Snake Gang. I had no knowledge of this. But now they’re trying to pin the blame on me and drag me away.”
Bih Sa-in looked at Geom Mugeuk.
“He’s lying. I personally overheard the Flowing Sword Gate Master speaking with his subordinate. That man knew those children had been kidnapped.”
Taejo flatly denied it.
“That’s a lie. I didn’t know anything. This is a conspiracy between the Martial Alliance and Demonic Cult to eliminate me.”
He tried everything he could to escalate the issue into a conflict with the Martial Alliance and Demonic Cult. 8
“Young Alliance Leader, do you trust me? Or do you trust the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult?”
“Of course, I trust our Gate Master.”
But Bih Sa-in’s gaze remained fixed on Geom Mugeuk. He trusted Geom Mugeuk.
―What is it you want?
There had to be a reason Geom Mugeuk had called for him.
Instead of answering, Geom Mugeuk asked Taejo a question—one he hadn’t asked before.
“Why did you rescue the children with martial potential?”
“To raise them as elite members of our sect from a young age.”
“Then let us see the children you previously purchased.”
At that moment, Taejo flinched.
“This is the first time I’ve ever bought children.”
Geom Mugeuk stared at him and said,
“It’s not the first time, is it?”
“It is. Why do you think otherwise?”
“Because I heard you speaking with your subordinate.”
That conversation wasn’t one someone would have the first time they bought children. It was clearly something that had happened more than once.
“Where are the children you purchased before?”
“I said this is the first time.”
And then Geom Mugeuk said something completely unexpected.
“We’ll find out the truth if we confront the Black Snake Gang Leader.”
At the mention of calling the Black Snake Gang Leader, Taejo was visibly shocked. Bih Sa-in and Jin Hagun were equally surprised.
“You think the Black Snake Gang Leader will come here?”
Even Jin Hagun, who asked the question, didn’t believe he would.
“He’d never come if we called him. But someone just arrived who can call him, didn’t they?”
Everyone turned to look at Bih Sa-in.
“Could the Black Snake Gang Leader really ignore the summons of the Young Alliance Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance?”
And at last, Jin Hagun understood.
Now it was clear why Geom Mugeuk had summoned Bih Sa-in to this place. It was to make him call the Black Snake Gang Leader personally.
To summon him directly, and stop the child abductions at their very source. Geom Mugeuk intended to deal with not only the Flowing Sword Gate, but with the Black Snake Gang all at once.
If he could persuade just one person, he could halt both the sellers and the buyers at the same time.
‘This man, seriously…’
He was someone who came up with ideas that Jin Hagun never would’ve conceived himself.
Meanwhile, Bih Sa-in’s expression turned grim.
―Do you even understand how difficult that would be for me?
―Isn’t it more difficult that your own people are kidnapping children, buying and selling them?
There was no longer a trace of playfulness in Geom Mugeuk’s expression or voice.
Bih Sa-in remembered—that look in his eyes was the same as when he had asked that question long ago.
What is your faith?
Now, he was waiting for the answer. Was his belief one that permitted the kidnapping and trafficking of innocent children?
As the situation approached the point of summoning the Black Snake Gang Leader, Taejo grew desperate. If the Gang Leader came and revealed that Taejo had purchased children multiple times, his guilt would be undeniable. But there was an even more serious issue.
Taejo sent a panicked voice transmission to Bih Sa-in.
―That must not happen.
At Bih Sa-in’s questioning gaze, an unexpected second message followed.
―Those children were being sent… to the Unorthodox Alliance. 9
1 : Obviously Mugeuk ^^
2 : Nah, why dirty our reputation by playing their games ? Better to let them believe they’ve won and snatch their hope at survival from under them at the last moment. Make their despair that much sweeter~~ ^^ Cough, cough, oh, and for justice !!! Obviously XDXDXD
3 : That, and probably use that situation as another training/defining moment for Bih Sa-in Unorthodox Path.
4 : Because he has honor and his actions and motivations are worthy of respect. Plus he’s not really an enemy with whom you can’t share the same sky, more like a neighbor you have a dispute with but who stays polite and friendly, and still gives you eggs when you forgot to buy some (what an oddly specific exemple…. Must mean I have good neighbors ^^)
5 : F**king snake. No way I’m accepting anything from that guy.
6 : That’s not even disrespect, it’s familiarity. Plus, it’s truly cold, he’s just showing consideration ^^
7 : Lol, don’t exaggerate so much, you’re causing misunderstandings XDXDXD
8 : Without even thinking of all the deaths that would lead to. Villains really are selfish.
9 : *DUN DUN DUN*