Translator: FenrirTL
Editor/Quality Checker: Saphartlantis
Murim Term Consultant: Kopke
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Chapter 364: This Was the First Lie
Two people were walking down the corridor.
The one in the lead was Ingung, the leader of the escort guards, and following behind him was Geom Mugeuk.
When they were almost at the Alliance Leader’s Hall, Geom Mugeuk briefly stopped walking and looked up at the steel wolves.
“This is the famous Path of Wolves of the Unorthodox Alliance, I presume. I heard that when a crisis arises, these wolves come to life and block intruders. Is that really true?”
Ingung gave no reply to Geom Mugeuk’s question. He hadn’t said a single word while guiding Geom Mugeuk. He was the type who usually didn’t show himself, and today was a special case. 1
“Wolf, if you do come alive later, please don’t bite me.”
With that, Geom Mugeuk stuck his hand deep into the wolf’s mouth.
And then, suddenly—
“Aaaaargh!”
Geom Mugeuk let out a scream full of pain.
Despite the realistic performance, Ingung simply stared at Geom Mugeuk in silence. 2
Geom Mugeuk smacked his lips and sheepishly withdrew his hand from the wolf’s mouth.
“You were so silent, I figured I’d play a little prank.”
With a stoic expression, Ingung resumed walking, and Geom Mugeuk slowly followed behind. What he had felt inside the wolf’s mouth was a strange energy—one that only a master of his level could detect. 3
The large door opened, and the two entered the Alliance Leader’s Hall.
Ingung naturally stepped back behind Geom Mugeuk and vanished before anyone noticed. It was a high-level concealment technique, one only seen from Hui, his father’s escort.
Far ahead, seated on the Dark Tyrant Throne, was the Unorthodox Alliance Leader, Baek Jagang.
As Geom Mugeuk walked toward him, he spoke.
“In the Cult Leader’s Hall at our headquarters, a red carpet is laid down just like this dark green one. People call that carpet the Path of Blood. Whether it’s because the path to becoming the Heavenly Demon is so treacherous, or because so many lives are decided by the hands of those who walk across it—I don’t know the exact reason.” 4
From far away, Baek Jagang responded.
“Have you ever looked beneath that carpet?”
“No.”
“Perhaps hidden beneath it are mechanical traps that even masters can’t evade.”
At that, Geom Mugeuk stopped walking, crouched down, and examined the floor closely.
“There it is!”
The floor was riddled with tiny holes that launched poison darts. If those darts were to fire all at once, even the most skilled martial artist would likely not survive. These were poisons that guarded the Alliance Leader’s Hall—no antidote alone could resolve such venom.
“It’s more trustworthy than people.”
Indeed, if the Unorthodox Alliance Leader trusted people, that would be the stranger thing.
“I’ll be sure to lift the carpet when I return.”
Geom Mugeuk stood back up and resumed walking.
He arrived beneath the Dark Tyrant Throne and bowed respectfully.
"I never thought I'd have a reason to step into the Alliance Leader’s Hall of the Unorthodox Alliance."
"Same here. I never thought I’d be welcoming you in this place."
"As expected, Faction Leaders always look the coolest when they’re seated on their Thrones."
He acted as comfortably as if he were entering the Cult Leader’s Hall of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
"Aren’t you afraid of me?"
"I am. You’re the scariest person after my father."
"Then why do you act like you’re not scared?"
"In my experience, people who felt scary never actually harmed me. The ones who did try to hurt me always smiled with kind faces."
Baek Jagang gave an exaggerated smile. His eyes curved like crescent moons. Very short crescents.
"Like this?"
"That’s why I’m even more relieved."
"Why?"
"Because when you smile like that, you're even scarier, Alliance Leader." 5
How could anyone win a verbal exchange against Geom Mugeuk?
'How did a guy like this get born under that silent man, Geom Woojin?'
With the greetings over, Geom Mugeuk asked with a serious expression.
"Who did Hyeok Sagun point to?"
"He pointed to the one who followed me the best."
The betrayal of Beoncheon, the Extreme Forces Brigade Leader, was more shocking than hearing that Bih Sa-in had been swayed by Geom Mugeuk.
"There's already proof that you were behind the plot. So then, why should I still trust you?"
"Don’t trust me. Trust your disciple."
Geom Mugeuk conveyed Bih Sa-in’s words to the Alliance Leader.
"He said he would live by what you told him. It looks like he cried a lot from what you said—his eyes were all swollen. Seeing that swollen face made me really want to tease him for being ugly, but I held it in."
Baek Jagang stared deep into Geom Mugeuk’s eyes and spoke.
"I trust Sa-in. It’s you I don’t trust."
"If I were plotting to take over the Unorthodox Alliance, among all the possible schemes, I wouldn’t choose to tear apart a deep bond between master and disciple just to gain something."
"Why not?"
He could’ve given plenty of reasons, but Geom Mugeuk chose the most emotional one.
"Because there’s no style in that."
Baek Jagang had expected an odd answer, but "no style"? One corner of his mouth curled up.
Geom Mugeuk continued speaking.
"If it were me, I’d have sent him to the duel arena. On that field where you summoned me—I’d have said, ‘Let’s settle this like martial artists. The winner takes the martial world!’ That’s my way. That’s why I don’t dream of something like unifying the martial world. You could never achieve that kind of dream with a heart this naive."
After a brief pause, Baek Jagang asked,
"So is it a dream that can be achieved, then?"
Geom Mugeuk saw it—that fleeting moment when a heat flared up in Baek Jagang’s small pupils.
He was thinking the same thing. A man who believed whoever won in a proper fight should take it all—he was that kind of man too.
"I thought you viewed the martial world with an extremely cold and realistic gaze, Alliance Leader—but it turns out you also carry emotional weight within you."
Baek Jagang gave no response. In truth, it was something he had never considered. No one had ever dared to speak of the duality within him.
"If that’s the case, then you too, Alliance Leader, should give up on the dream of unifying the martial world!"
A rebuke burst forth from Baek Jagang’s mouth.
"You brat!"
His shout echoed powerfully throughout the hall.
"How dare you say such words in my Alliance Leader’s Hall!"
On the surface, he was scolding, but Baek Jagang wasn’t angry at all. Who else would ever tell him to give up on that dream? No one had yet, and likely no one else ever would. 6
"I misspoke! Please forgive me!"
More intriguing than the apology itself was the relaxed gaze in Geom Mugeuk’s eyes. Just as if he hadn’t truly made him angry, he wasn’t truly apologizing either.
He was reading Baek Jagang’s emotions with pinpoint precision. This was only their second meeting, yet he spoke like someone who had known him for years.
"This may be why it’s hard for you to believe me. Could someone really be trying to swallow the entire Unorthodox Alliance? Even to the point of pushing aside the Chief Strategist? Isn’t that right?"
Now, Geom Mugeuk played the move he had been saving.
"Did you know? Our Cult, the Martial Alliance, and even the Heavenly Wind Cult of the Wilderness—all suffered similar incidents."
Baek Jagang, who had remained calm until now, shot up from the Dark Tyrant Throne. This time, he couldn’t hide his surprise. What is this supposed to mean?—that emotion was clearly etched on his face.
"There’s a covert force in the shadows. A group orchestrating schemes against the entire martial world simultaneously."
To Baek Jagang, who found it all impossible to believe, Geom Mugeuk revealed what the real problem was.
"The issue isn’t that such a covert force exists, Alliance Leader."
"Then what is the problem?"
"The bigger issue is that you, Alliance Leader, weren’t informed of any of it. Why do you think Hyeok Sagun didn’t report it to you?"
"!"
"There must’ve been spies who submitted reports, so I’m sure you’ll be able to confirm the information. But if they were thorough enough to eliminate every informant and subordinate who reported it, then you should discreetly seek cooperation from our Cult and the Martial Alliance. They will formally confirm the truth for you."
If that turned out to be true, it would be undeniable proof that Hyeok Sagun was behind the incident. The fact that such a critical matter was not conveyed by his strategist made it alone a grave offense.
Baek Jagang immediately summoned Ingung, the leader of the escort guards, and issued some command via sound transmission. Having received the order, Ingung vanished in an instant. The Unorthodox Alliance Leader had not the slightest hesitation when it came to executing decisions.
Though he acted on Geom Mugeuk’s words and ordered an investigation, that didn’t mean he fully trusted him yet. This matter would determine not only his own fate—but the fate of the entire Unorthodox Alliance and of the martial world itself. 7
"If what you say is true, and Hyeok Sagun is the head, then who’s the body?"
"It’s Hwang Seokgyeong, the instructor at the Alliance Training Center."
Baek Jagang knew who Hwang Seokgyeong was. For an Alliance Leader to remember the name of a mere instructor meant the man had performed his duties with remarkable excellence.
"Then why didn’t you say that the first time we met?"
Because it was a problem that had to be unraveled one step at a time.
"He’s a very dangerous man. I believed it was right not to stir things up recklessly and to inform you when the time was right."
"And now is the right time?"
"At the very least, you’re half-believing me right now."
Their gazes tangled midair.
"Which is exactly why I have to doubt you."
"Which is exactly why you should believe me. Would someone like me make such an obvious move?"
It was only their second meeting, but Baek Jagang was already agreeing with Geom Mugeuk. If it were Geom Mugeuk, he would’ve been far more meticulous.
"Hyeok Sagun will be arriving soon."
At last, the time for a three-way confrontation had come. The very fact that Baek Jagang hadn’t waited here with the other person from the beginning hinted that he held a significant level of trust in Bih Sa-in.
"Ah! I’d like to call my own advisor, too! I may sound clever when I talk, but I’m actually closer to his kind."
He said that while tapping lightly on the Black Demon Sword strapped to his waist.
To Baek Jagang, it seemed like pointless banter, but Geom Mugeuk was seriously thinking of Gowol. He now had to defeat the Unorthodox Alliance’s Deputy Strategist in a battle of words.
Soon after, Hyeok Sagun entered.
He walked in calmly, greeted Baek Jagang with proper etiquette, and first addressed Geom Mugeuk.
"I am Hyeok Sagun, serving as the Deputy Strategist."
"I’m Geom Mugeuk, from the Divine Cult."
Hyeok Sagun scrutinized Geom Mugeuk, but it was impossible to glean anything from the appearance of someone who had reached the stage of Complete Reversal of Energy and Spirit and attained the realm of Return to Simplicity.
"I’ve heard many rumors of the Young Cult Leader’s outstanding talents."
"Rumors are always exaggerated."
"Doesn’t seem that way. After orchestrating something like this and still daring to show up here at the Alliance—that takes some guts."
"What is it exactly that I orchestrated?"
"Did you not seduce the Young Alliance Leader?"
Geom Mugeuk smiled and nodded.
"I admit it. I found him quite to my liking."
"Then are you admitting that the Divine Cult was behind this incident?"
"Whether I did or didn’t—what does it matter? But if that were the case, wouldn’t it be too unfair to the Young Alliance Leader, who just barely survived a life-threatening situation?"
"I also know that the ambush at the safehouse was staged."
"If, as you say, the Young Alliance Leader and I were in collusion, why would we do such a thing? We could’ve just quietly aimed for the man sitting right over there."
"Then tell us—why did you do it?"
Baek Jagang sat in the center like a judge, watching the verbal duel unfold between the two.
"There is clear evidence proving your involvement."
"I have evidence too."
"What kind of evidence?"
"The very ‘clear evidence’ you mentioned—that’s my evidence."
"What on earth are you talking about?"
"If we had really plotted something, then there wouldn’t be such clear evidence, would there?"
Hyeok Sagun scoffed.
"Do you really think such nonsense will work? Then let’s see your so-called evidence."
"Fine, I’ll show you my evidence."
At those words, Hyeok Sagun grew inwardly tense. Could he really have evidence?
After drawing out the tension to its peak, Geom Mugeuk suddenly said,
"I saw it."
"What?"
"I saw you orchestrating the whole thing."
Because he hadn’t expected to be accused directly, Hyeok Sagun was genuinely taken aback.
"Are you trying to frame me right now?"
"I’m not framing you. I’m saying I saw you planning this incident."
With a smile, Hyeok Sagun looked at Baek Jagang and said,
"As you can see, the Young Cult Leader is grasping at straws."
That’s when Geom Mugeuk struck at his weak spot.
"Why don’t you ask me? In most cases, wouldn’t someone innocent ask when and where I supposedly saw them? Isn’t that what a person with nothing to hide would ask first? Or did you skip the question because you already know exactly what I’m referring to?"
Hyeok Sagun realized his mistake in that moment. He should have indeed said that—just like Geom Mugeuk pointed out. But he had been too flustered to think about it.
"Because it’s not even worth responding to."
Baek Jagang, who had been watching attently, spoke in a low voice.
"Your testimony cannot be considered evidence."
As Baek Jagang took his side, Hyeok Sagun gave a faint, self-satisfied smile. With the presence of clear evidence, Baek Jagang would have no choice but to believe him in the end. The more this Young Cult Leader tried to dazzle with his clever tongue, the more suspicious he would become.
"You may leave now. The only reason you’re still alive is because you're the Young Cult Leader. But if you take one more step forward, even your position within the Divine Cult won’t be able to protect you."
"Very well, I’ll go."
It seemed odd how easily he gave up—
"But even if I’m leaving, I’d like to meet someone who’s on their way before I do."
"Who’s coming?"
Then, an astonishing answer came out of Geom Mugeuk’s mouth.
"The Demon Doctor and the Poison King from our Cult are on their way."
Hyeok Sagun flinched. The Demon Doctor was said to possess medical skill that surpassed even the physicians of the Unorthodox Alliance and the Martial Alliance. And on top of that—the Poison King?
"Your Chief Strategist may have stepped down claiming old age, but I believe he fell ill due to poisoning. The Poison King and the Demon Doctor will confirm that."
"!"
At that moment, even Hyeok Sagun was shaken. He had struck at a completely unforeseen point.
"Those two are from your cult. How can we trust them?"
"Of course, they belong to the Divine Cult. But those two hold their honor more dearly than anyone else."
"If the Cult Leader gave them an order, they could lie."
"That’s for the Alliance Leader to judge."
The two men’s eyes turned to Baek Jagang.
But the most shocked person in that moment was not Hyeok Sagun—it was Baek Jagang.
When Geom Mugeuk had said the Demon Doctor and the Poison King were coming, chills had run down Baek Jagang’s spine. He had realized it was a lie.
It turned out Geom Mugeuk was someone whose intentions Baek Jagang could sense. And the reason for the lie was easy to guess: to drive Hyeok Sagun into a corner using the names of the Demon Doctor and the Poison King.
What stunned Baek Jagang most was the fact that this was Geom Mugeuk’s first lie. Which meant—
—I consider the Young Alliance Leader a true friend. I hope he safely inherits the Alliance Leader’s position.
—I’m going to wake my father too. I’ll ask him to dream a different dream.
—Our martial world will no longer fight or hate. We'll just flirt with ladies by the sea and have fun.
—There’s a tavern I frequent in front of our headquarters. If the opportunity arises, I’d love to host you there.
All the outrageous words Geom Mugeuk had said so far passed through Baek Jagang’s mind.
‘Were all those things he said... the truth?’ 8
1 : I see, he’s like Uncle Hui.
2 : Lol, the nonplussed, deadpan stare of judgement XDXDXD
3 : Ohoho, another meal for Wilson the Secret Box ?
4 : Or it represents all the blood an invader must shed to reach that deep into the Cult.
5 : Lol, “You look like my master like that ^^” XDXDXD
6 : Maybe Bih Sa-in, after he finds what shape his Unorthodox Path will take.
7 : He has a good head on his shoulders, with his responsibilities, he can’t afford to trust easily.
8 : DUNDUNDUN, prepare yourself for your worldview to be flipped upside down~~ ^^