Translator: FenrirTL
Editor/Quality Checker/Notes : Saphartlantis
========================
Chapter 393: Alliance Leader, please say a few words too
Jin Hagun envied his younger sibling’s courage.
Since childhood, his sibling had always been that way. If they wanted something, they would jump right into it without hesitation. They were the kind of child who would confidently declare to their grandfather their intent to marry an attendant.
Then, he looked at Geom Muyang, who was standing next to him. He was watching the three people dancing.
What could this person, who was said to resemble me, be thinking? Was he also envious of his sibling, just like I was?
This time, Jin Hagun looked up at the second floor. His grandfather’s expression as he watched Jin Haryeong was gentle. To see his grandfather making such a relaxed expression, and between the Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult and the Unorthodox Alliance Leader, no less.
His dancing sibling, his grandfather with the Cult Leader and the Unorthodox Alliance Leader, and even himself with the Demonic Cult’s Eldest Young Master—none of it felt real.
Jin Hagun’s gaze finally landed on the one who had brought about all of this, as if it were a fantasy.
Right. How could that person not be embarrassed?
It must have been something he endured for his friend’s sake. Even if it wasn’t a dance floor, but a deathtrap surrounded by thousands of enemies, the Geom Mugeuk he knew would’ve still leapt in.
He would have to manage the martial world together with this person. To keep pace with him, all he needed to do was never forget this very moment.
Even Bih Sa-in, dancing along to the cute choreography with that fierce face, must be doing so as part of his efforts. At the very least, he was one step ahead of Jin Hagun.
Geom Mugeuk shouted to the musicians.
“All right, give us the final piece now!”
Perhaps because it was the last, the movements of the three became even more dazzling.
It had started as a dance full of embarrassment, but now it was different. Immersed in the rhythm, they were releasing all the stress that had built up inside. When would they ever have another chance to dance like this to music?
And so, as the final piece ended, silence descended on the once-noisy place.
Bih Sa-in finally came to his senses.
Dancing to the music, Geom Mugeuk jumping in—everything after that was a blur. He couldn’t quite remember how or what kind of dance he had performed. 1
It felt like a storm had passed. Like a tidal wave had swept through the marketplace, and lava had incinerated his heart.
Awkwardness washed over him. Should he dash back into the tavern? As he hesitated, Geom Mugeuk spoke loudly while putting an arm around his shoulders.
“That concludes Young Leader Bi’s dance performance!”
Applause rang out from all sides, and the three performers clasped their fists and bowed in greeting. The Division Leaders guarding the street gave enthusiastic applause. Jangho, in particular, shouted boldly,
“That was amazing!”
Though he didn’t single anyone out out of respect for Bih Sa-in and Jin Haryeong, the intended recipient of his words was clear. Originally, what he really wanted to say was, “Young Cult Leader, you were the most amazing!”
Geom Mugeuk smiled brightly and waved to Jangho and the Division Leaders.
Watching that scene, Jin Hagun had a thought.
Had he ever seen a leader wave at his subordinates with such a bright expression?
Did that person not know the bitter truth—that in the end, humans betray not the frightening, but the kind? No, that couldn’t be. He must know it better than anyone. And even so, he smiled and waved like that. 2
The trio of dancers walked toward the entrance.
“How was it?”
In response to Geom Mugeuk’s question, Geom Muyang answered with another question.
“Be honest. You wanted to dance all along, didn’t you?”
At his older brother’s tease, Geom Mugeuk laughed and said,
“I think I have a knack for dancing.”
Geom Muyang turned away, pretending not to hear, and the rest followed him into the tavern.
Jo Chunbae, who had been standing at the entrance, spoke with an overwhelmed expression.
“There have been countless performances in the marketplace of Maga Village, but today’s was the best!”
The scene of them dancing in front of his tavern etched itself into Jo Chunbae’s heart like a painting. Just like the image of the Demon Supremes standing still, this one too would never be forgotten.
In contrast, the experts from the unorthodox faction looked at Bih Sa-in with displeasure. Some sneered, others wore expressions of disapproval. Though they didn’t openly mock him, most showed negativity on their faces. It was inevitable. The heir of the Unorthodox Alliance had danced, throwing aside his dignity. 3
In the past, Bih Sa-in would have been completely overwhelmed by those reactions. He would have believed his pounding heart was because of them. He would have blamed himself, thinking he danced a dance he should never have danced.
But now, things were different. His heart raced not because of them. This pounding was from the joy of keeping a promise. From the friendship that shared in his embarrassment.
That’s why Bih Sa-in didn’t care a single bit about the disapproving looks being cast at him now.
They were his master's people anyway. When he became the Unorthodox Alliance Leader, new people would be standing in those places.
‘The ones I should mind are the ones who will be standing there then.’
Even that alone felt like a great deal of change and growth—but Geom Mugeuk, shaking his hips playfully, pulled him one step further.
Geom Mugeuk, facing the Demon Supremes, began imitating the dance moves from earlier as a joke.
The Demon Supremes all reacted differently. Some shook their heads while sighing, some turned their faces away while facepalming, and some discreetly smiled and chuckled. But none of them ever sneered or looked at him with disdain. There was a deep sense of intimacy and camaraderie shared among them.
Seeing that, Bih Sa-in realized his thoughts had been wrong.
‘It’s not later—I have to change it now.’
Those Demon Supremes over there weren’t even Geom Mugeuk’s—they were the Demon Supremes of the Heavenly Demon of this era. And yet they reacted like that. If even they responded this way, what would Geom Mugeuk’s own Demon Supremes be like in the future? If Geom Mugeuk had jumped in, maybe all eight of them would’ve followed and danced together. If they were truly Geom Mugeuk’s Demon Supremes. 4
‘I need to make those unorthodox experts’ expressions change, just like these Demon Supremes.’
Bih Sa-in looked back at the unorthodox faction experts. Then, wearing an helpless expression that said, “Please understand, I’m still young”, he respectfully clasped his fists.
What difference could one gesture really make? And yet, amidst those still displeased looks, he felt that a few had softened—if only slightly.
Yes, in human relationships, there is no “later”. If you can’t do it now, you won’t be able to do it later either.
Even in this short moment while walking up to the second floor after the dance performance, Bih Sa-in was being inspired by Geom Mugeuk. And instead of letting that inspiration pass him by, he was striving to realize it, to change.
They went up to the second floor.
Geom Woojin, Jin Paecheon, and Baek Jagang were standing there looking in their direction.
Bih Sa-in walked over and stood in front of Baek Jagang.
“I’ve kept my promise and returned.”
Bih Sa-in was inwardly tense. Swept up in the excitement, he had gone out to dance—but now he was back in reality.
Thinking about it now, it was madness to tell his master he was going out to dance. Especially with the Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult and the Martial Alliance Leader both sitting right there.
He braced himself, fearing a fierce scolding.
“You’ll need a bit more dance practice.”
At last, Bih Sa-in felt relief.
“Yes, Master.”
His overwhelming emotion showed plainly on his face.
‘Thank you, Master. I’ll never forget the great kindness you showed me today.’
Jin Paecheon shook his head at Jin Haryeong with a look that said, “What am I going to do with you?” She melted her grandfather’s heart with a smile laced with charm.
Geom Woojin was staring at Geom Mugeuk with his signature smirk. Today’s smirk said it all: ‘So now you’re even dancing in front of your father?’
Yes, Father. If I can see you reacting to something new and enjoying it, I’ll do anything.
And so, the heirs gathered again in one place and drank together.
Bih Sa-in took a deep swig of his drink. He felt truly unburdened. Had he ever felt this free in his life?
He had danced in front of so many people—was there anything in the world he couldn’t do now?
Bih Sa-in expressed his gratitude to Jin Haryeong. He knew she had jumped in for Geom Mugeuk’s sake, but thanks to her joining in, the performance had ended on a positive note. It had even been fun.
“Thank you for joining me.”
“I had fun too.”
It was the one thing Geom Mugeuk most wanted to hear. The biggest reason Bih Sa-in had found the courage to dance was to show him that he had kept his promise. And Geom Mugeuk, ever so meticulous, hadn’t forgotten to acknowledge it.
“Even if you say that, I’m never making a promise like that again.”
This time, they parted ways with Jin Hagun. 5
“When you officially become the Young Leader, let’s get together again. Throw a celebration and party all night!”
Jin Hagun hadn’t officially taken the position of Young Leader yet.
“Let’s do that.”
Lastly, they said goodbye to Jin Haryeong. Of the three, she was the most reluctant to part. But she tried her best not to show it.
“Do you think word will get out that I danced?”
“I bet it’ll be me they talk about.”
“If I’d known this would happen, I’d have danced better.”
Geom Mugeuk looked around at everyone and said,
“Miss Jin seems too regretful to end it here. Let’s have all five of us dance one more time.”
Geom Muyang and Jin Hagun simultaneously drew their swords halfway. 6
“See? I told you they’re the same.”
And so, they exchanged bittersweet farewells. Honestly, with the way they all felt right now, they probably could’ve partied until dawn.
Before heading down to the first floor, Jin Paecheon asked,
“Don’t tell me you were the one who wrote that phrase, Cult Leader Geom?”
He had noticed the names on the wall when they first came in. Back then, he thought it was just drunken scribbles—but now he wasn’t so sure.
“I did write it.”
At Geom Woojin’s reply, Jin Paecheon was visibly startled. That meant the writings left behind by the Demon Supremes were all real as well.
In his entire life, he had never seen martial artists of such caliber leave their names on the walls of taverns or inns. And they weren’t just any martial artists either.
Then someone spoke from behind.
“Alliance Leader, you should leave a word as well.”
Turning around, he saw Geom Mugeuk standing behind him.
“Me?”
Jin Paecheon was taken aback. He was someone who rarely lost his composure—but since arriving here, he had been surprised and flustered more than ever.
“Wouldn’t it look strange to others? This is where you all left your names.”
“Wouldn’t it look even more impressive? ‘The Martial Alliance Leader boldly left his name here. How incredible’.”
Ah, but still, it wouldn’t be right.
“People probably won’t think much of it. Just, ‘Oh, he wrote something, I guess.’”
At that moment, Jin Paecheon recalled the emotion that had surfaced earlier—regret over his past youth, which he had never spent smiling so brightly or enjoying himself like this.
‘Why did I overthink everything so much? What was so serious about life?’
Yes, let’s leave a few words before going.
Jin Paecheon stepped closer to the wall where the phrases were inscribed.
He was about to write there, but then turned toward another wall. It didn’t feel right to write above the Heavenly Demon’s inscription—or below it. He was the kind of person who even paid attention to such things.
Jin Paecheon drew his sword. With it, he carved into the wall. From the very first character, his strokes flowed powerfully, without hesitation.
—Martial Alliance Leader Jin Paecheon, witnessed a new Demonic Path here.
He left this message for Geom Mugeuk. If not for him, he wouldn’t have written anything. No—he wouldn’t have even come.
“Thank you.”
Geom Mugeuk clasped his fists respectfully and expressed his gratitude.
Then, he looked to Baek Jagang. Baek Jagang didn’t hesitate.
“When order and chaos go, the unorthodox must follow.”
He left his inscription just below Jin Paecheon’s. He didn’t fret over whether it was above or below. If Jin Paecheon’s handwriting was bold and grand, Baek Jagang’s was neat yet swift.
—Unorthodox Alliance Leader Baek Jagang, witnessed a disciple’s dance at the Flowing Wind Tavern. 7
It was a historic moment when the writings of the Heavenly Demon, the Martial Alliance Leader, and the Unorthodox Alliance Leader were all carved into the wall of Flowing Wind Tavern.
1 : Don’t worry, your martial arts will remember for you. Your life has changed, and so has your path.
2 : It takes a special kind of strength to do that.
3 : So what ? He kept his promise, showed guts and honor, and even had fun ^^ What did all of you grumpy fools do in the meantime ?
4 : That’s a great image ^^
5 : What, already ? So fast !!! I expected the summit to last longer, shame….
6 : Lol, who’s the real sibling here ? Such twins XDXDXD
7 : Bwahahaha, this moment will be engraved forever XDXDXD You can never escape, Bih Sa-iiiinnn !!!!!