Translator: FenrirTL
Editor/Quality Checker: Saphartlantis
Murim Term Consultant: Kopke
========================
< Chapter 174: It Won't Work on Us >
When Jo Ryongjang reached the peak of the highest mountain near the Murim Alliance, the Alliance Leader was standing at the cliff's edge, hands clasped behind his back.
"Alliance Leader."
"Manor Lord, you've arrived? Come over here."
Jo Ryongjang stood beside Jin Paecheon. It was a place as high as it was scenic.
"The view is stunning."
"That's why I often come here."
"It's all thanks to you that we can enjoy this beauty. With you steadfastly supporting the martial world, those from the Demonic Cult can't easily cause trouble, can they?" 1
"Thank you for saying so."
When the Murim Alliance Leader had asked to meet him here, Jo Ryongjang had secretly hoped it was to discuss the marriage arrangement. Moreover, since he was summoned to the mountain peak instead of the Murim Alliance itself, he assumed it was to have an honest conversation as parents, away from prying eyes.
"Manor Lord."
"Yes, Alliance Leader."
"How long have we known each other?"
"It seems to have been almost thirty years."
"Time truly flies, doesn’t it?"
The two stood there, reminiscing about the past years.
"Is there a specific reason you called me here today?"
"I wanted to talk to you about your son."
Just as expected. Jo Ryongjang’s expression brightened, thinking it was indeed about the marriage arrangement. He had promised to provide substantial financial support to the Murim Alliance. Despite that, the Alliance Leader had shown a lukewarm attitude, leading Jo Ryongjang to think things weren't going smoothly.
‘Isn’t the amount too much to refuse, Alliance Leader?’
Jin Paecheon slowly turned his head to look at Jo Ryongjang.
"Have you ever heard of the Heavenly Society?"
The unexpected and alarming question caught Jo Ryongjang off guard, yet he responded calmly.
"This is my first time hearing of them."
He even asked back calmly about what kind of group it was.
"They claim to be a secretive sect and are known to be involved in various unsavory affairs."
"There are all sorts of scum in the martial world."
"Manor Lord."
"Yes, Alliance Leader."
"It seems your son is involved with those scum."
Though he spoke cautiously, Jin Paecheon’s gaze was piercing, as if it could see right through Jo Ryongjang.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I heard that your son, Jo Sohyeop, was recruited by the Heavenly Society."
Jo Ryongjang was shocked. Whether it was genuine or feigned, his reaction was so natural that it was impossible to tell.
"Your son, Jo Sohyeop, has been recruited by a group called the Heavenly Society and tried to abduct my granddaughter."
As the surprise grew, Jo Ryongjang's voice also rose.
"That's nonsense. The marriage arrangements are in progress, so why would he do such a thing unless he's lost his mind? There must be some misunderstanding."
"I hope that's the case too, but there's clear evidence."
"What kind of evidence?"
"There was a confession from someone who acted under your son's orders."
"It could be a false confession meant to entrap my son."
Jin Paecheon, without a word, kept his hands behind his back and turned his head to stare back at the distant mountain that rose sharply like a blade. The tension between the two men was sharper than the jagged peaks of that mountain.
"Alliance Leader, please let me see my son. I’ll talk to him and find out what’s going on."
"I can't allow that due to the Alliance's regulations."
"Considering our history together, you can't do this to me."
"Indeed. Considering our history, I can't let this slide."
Jin Paecheon’s cold and stern gaze pierced through Jo Ryongjang again.
"I know that you are affiliated with the Heavenly Society."
"!"
"Don't even think about denying it."
Jin Paecheon opened his ki channels. An icy, imposing aura engulfed Jo Ryongjang, like a fierce storm crashing against a helpless ship in the vast ocean. The aura was charged with intent—an intent to kill, a desire to annihilate.
Jo Ryongjang gritted his teeth and resisted the aura, but his precarious stance made it seem like he could be blown off the cliff at any moment. 2
The storm, which had seemed as though it would tear him apart, gradually subsided. Jo Ryongjang found himself like a lone island amidst the boundless sea.
"I don't want to end our long-standing relationship this way. Only one of my subordinates and I know about this matter."
As Geom Mugeuk had suggested, Jin Paecheon was giving Jo Ryongjang a chance to breathe.
Jin Paecheon had not pressed him, asking if he was one of the leaders of the Heavenly Society. He had only labeled him as a member, and by stating that only he and one subordinate were aware, it implied that if Jo Ryongjang cooperated well, the matter could be overlooked.
Jo Ryongjang knelt before the Alliance Leader.
"There were things I couldn't avoid."
"I understand. When you lead many people, sometimes you're forced down paths you don't want to take."
"I don't know how to express my gratitude for your immense generosity, Alliance Leader. I’m sorry, Alliance Leader."
Tears streamed down his face, flowing so freely that one might think they could only be genuine.
Jin Paecheon's expression as he looked down at him was one of bitter disappointment. Even after thirty years of knowing each other, Jo Ryongjang had chosen the path of betrayal. Was it Jo Ryongjang's fault, or was it Jin Paecheon's for driving him to this point? 3
"Hand over the Heavenly Society Leader. Then everything will be considered as past events."
Though he hadn't said it outright, it was clear that he was offering forgiveness. Jo Ryongjang breathed a sigh of relief, coming up for air through the opportunity he was given.
"He recruited even my son without my knowledge. That fact alone is something I cannot forgive. Tomorrow, I will hold a meeting with the Heavenly Society Leader. Please bring my son to that meeting."
"Did you say tomorrow?"
"The Heavenly Society Leader is not far from here."
The fact that the Heavenly Society Leader was within a day’s reach was indeed surprising, hidden in plain sight, as they say. 4
"You made a wise decision."
"I'll arrange the meeting and contact you. Once again, I thank you for your grace, Alliance Leader."
Jo Ryongjang bowed and turned away.
With each step he took, his expression slowly hardened. There was neither warmth nor coldness in his demeanor. His face was void of emotion, making it impossible to discern his thoughts, but it was evident that he was not the same person who had knelt and wept moments ago.
After Jo Ryongjang disappeared, Geom Mugeuk appeared in the same spot.
"Are you sure it's okay to let him go without any surveillance?"
"It should be fine."
Geom Mugeuk actually preferred to let Jo Ryongjang do whatever he could. That way, everything could be dealt with in one go.
"We must also consider the possibility that he might betray us. His request to bring his son tomorrow is essentially proposing an exchange for the Heavenly Society Leader. It suggests he doesn't fully trust you, Alliance Leader."
"He suspects that after we capture the Heavenly Society Leader, my stance might change?"
"It would be fortunate if that's all, but he might even conspire with the Heavenly Society Leader to set a trap in a desperate move. We should assume there's a fifty-fifty chance. Please leave the matter to me from here."
It was a dangerous situation whether Jo Ryongjang betrayed them or not. After all, they were trying to capture the Heavenly Society Leader, whose identity was unknown.
"Do you really intend to handle this alone?"
"If they harbor any ulterior motives, it could be dangerous. It's not appropriate for someone of your stature to handle this alone."
"And you’re not in any danger?"
"This has always been my job."
Jin Paecheon gazed at Geom Mugeuk for a moment. He couldn't help but think how wonderful it would be if Geom Mugeuk were a martial artist from the righteous side. 5
"Don’t be too disheartened by his betrayal. He was always a villain. He just hid his true nature while staying by your side. One side acted in good faith, the other in malice—that’s all there is to it."
He was even consoling himself. Jin Paecheon felt like having a drink with Geom Mugeuk.
"Would you like to have a drink with me?"
Geom Mugeuk, who was planning to leave after forging a good relationship with the Alliance Leader, certainly wouldn't refuse a private drinking session with him.
"Let's drink here. I’ll go buy some."
"I’ll wait."
"Is there a particular drink you like?"
"Get something strong."
In an instant, Geom Mugeuk vanished from the spot.
Moments later, Jin Paecheon was surprised. Geom Mugeuk returned with a bottle of alcohol in his hand, but no matter how exceptional his lightness skill was, it wasn’t enough time for him to go down and come back.
"Did you bury the alcohol on the mountain?"
"It’s been a while since I drank, so my craving stirred up, and my steps quickened a bit."
Previously, when returning from Dongho, he had deliberately kept pace without overtaking with his lightness skill to not hurt the Alliance Leader’s pride. However, today, he hadn’t purposely delayed his return.
"I also bought some nice cups."
He poured drinks for them.
Srrrrk.
Just then, someone appeared. It was the martial artist who had always been hiding around Geom Mugeuk. For the first time, he revealed himself. 6
"I’ll check the drink."
He used a silver needle to check if the alcohol was poisoned.
Contrary to his expectation of someone sharp and angular, the man had a round and gentle appearance.
I could tell. This was the person the Murim Alliance Leader trusted the most. If my father had Hui, then the Alliance Leader had this man.
This loyal subordinate, though he knew from his time around me that I wasn’t one to poison drinks, still did not allow even a moment’s lapse when it came to the safety of the Alliance Leader.
Only after confirming that the alcohol was not poisoned did he retreat back into hiding.
"He could at least say hello before leaving."
Half-jokingly, half-seriously, I expressed my disappointment, to which Jin Paecheon smiled faintly and said,
"He’s not the flexible type, so bear with him."
"I know well. My favorite person used to be my bodyguard."
"Why is he not guarding you now?"
"I forced him to stop following others' lives and to live his own."
Jin Paecheon felt a strange emotion at Geom Mugeuk’s words. Geom Mugeuk’s personality was not at all like that of a demonic being, so he found himself feeling both a desire for him and a peculiar sense of fear. What if this man were to become the Heavenly Demon? It was a fear that began with that thought. 7
After filling their cups, the two raised a toast and drank.
"Do you like drinking?"
"I don’t drink often. How about you?"
"I drink occasionally."
It had been a while since he drank, and it reminded him of the Great Drunken Demon. Was he still swimming around in that lake, forever drunk?
In a way, despite the precariousness of the situation on the eve of a decisive battle, the drinking session with the Alliance Leader was calm and peaceful.
Both men understood well that a life-changing event couldn’t be hastily prepared for and undertaken, but was rather the culmination of all the days they had lived.
"How is your father doing?"
The Murim Alliance Leader asked about the Heavenly Demon.
"He's doing well."
"Seeing you makes me want to see Lord Geom. It’s been quite a while since we last met."
"I’ll relay the message when I return. My father will be pleased."
"As if. Your father probably wants to kill me."
"And how do you feel about him, Alliance Leader?"
"I felt the same way until now, but..."
After a brief pause, Jin Paecheon candidly shared his true feelings.
"Seeing you has changed my mind."
It crossed his mind that if the current Heavenly Demon were to die, this Geom Mugeuk would become the next Heavenly Demon. For the sake of the righteous martial world, perhaps this was the better option right now? Surprisingly, such thoughts lingered as he considered this young man.
"How are things between you and your father?"
"We were distant, but recently we’ve gotten much closer."
"That’s good to hear."
"It improved after we started playing Go together. My father learned Go from the Strategist Advisor of our Cult and now he beats me every time. Meanwhile, the advisor I gained doesn’t even know how to play."
"Your advisor doesn’t know how to play Go?"
"There! That's the same reaction everyone has. I’ll be sure to tell him that even the Murim Alliance Leader had the same reaction!"
Jin Paecheon laughed at Geom Mugeuk's humorous remark.
"I’ve also gone hunting in the mountains with my father. We’ve tried drinking in inns too. Do you know how the innkeeper reacted when my father showed up?"
Geom Mugeuk deliberately shared stories of the times he spent with his father. He conveyed them in the most pleasant way possible, and Jin Paecheon listened with a smile.
Geom Mugeuk understood the sorrow hidden behind the Murim Alliance Leader's smile. He was a father who had lost his son. Geom Mugeuk couldn’t even begin to imagine how that felt, but he knew that at this moment, Jin Paecheon was thinking of his own son.
And, as always, Geom Mugeuk believed that emotional wounds shouldn’t be buried.
"Do you think of your son often?"
The Murim Alliance Leader flinched at the sudden question. His expression shifted rapidly, cycling through anger, bewilderment, sorrow, and longing. A multitude of emotions flickered across his face in a short span.
"Sometimes."
Jin Paecheon said no more and took a drink. Geom Mugeuk, not pressing further, also drank.
Had he ever been asked such a question since his son’s death? Probably not. Who would dare to ask the Murim Alliance Leader something like that?
"Let’s go together tomorrow."
"No, I’ll go alone."
"I know you’re unmatched, but it’s still dangerous to go alone."
"If we deploy martial experts from the Murim Alliance, there’s a risk that some of them could be connected to the Heavenly Society. If any information leaks and the Heavenly Society Leader escapes, we might never be able to find him again."
"Then let’s go, just the two of us."
Jin Paecheon meant it sincerely. Geom Mugeuk was genuinely impressed. What other Murim Alliance Leader in the world would suggest going alone with the bloodline of the Demonic Cult Leader to a place that could be fraught with danger?
As long as Jin Paecheon was around, Geom Mugeuk felt assured that the righteous martial world would stand strong.
"There is something else that you must do, Alliance Leader."
"What do you mean?"
"You need to prepare for the possibility that Jo Ryongjang might betray us. He’s facing a crisis where everything he has built over a lifetime could be destroyed. Even though you offered him forgiveness, will he really trust those words? If not, he’ll resort to any means necessary."
"For example?"
"We used Jo Sohyeop because they tried to use Lady Jin through the pretense of a marriage alliance. We were a bit more aggressive in our approach. So, what do you think they’ll do in response?"
A particular scenario came to Jin Paecheon’s mind, and his expression hardened in disbelief.
"While you and I are preoccupied, they could target Lady Jin. Since we used his son, he might retaliate in kind. It’s a life-or-death decision, so they’ll send someone exceptionally skilled. You need to stay behind. Protect your family."
Seeing the concern in Jin Paecheon's eyes, Geom Mugeuk raised his glass.
"Just this once, place your trust in the Demonic Path. No matter how insidious their evil, it won’t work on us." 8
Jin Paecheon drank with him.
Though they shared just a single bottle in a short time, it was more enjoyable and memorable than any other drinking session he had experienced in his life.
As he set down his final glass, Geom Mugeuk bowed respectfully.
"I’ll bid my farewell today, in advance. Please take care until we meet again."
1 : *Meanwhile, Mugeuk dancing on the roof*
2 : Yeeting scums and Thots to death with a glare sounds like a fun game ^^
3 : Petty people devoured by envy always find excuses to blame others in their stead, but yes, you coild have cleaned your house better to get rid of all the pests.
4 : More like hidden under the lamp post at this point. Since it’s obviously a trap, I hope the real leader goes there to gloat, so that Mugeuk can give him a nice surprise ^^
5 : He’s doing what you can’t do, the necessary evil. His heart is in the right place, and that’s the most important.
6 : Showing his real appearance is a show of trust. The less people knows his face, the more he can keep the Leader secure. I wonder if he too brought Jin Haeryong to the market when she was a kid ^^
7 : The fear of the unknown, and of the storm he’s preparing to fight against. Everyone just feels it subconsciously when they meet him, the era of changes.
8 : The most terrifying and violent evil to devour those worse than him. The path of those who bathe in blood to protect the purity of the children, in hope they won’t grow to resent the world as they do.