Chapter 360 : The Young Leader was deceived

Translator: FenrirTL

Editor/Quality Checker: Saphartlantis

Murim Term Consultant: Kopke

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Chapter 360: The Young Leader was deceived

“It's a trap.”

Bih Sa-in’s expression turned cold. The one who infuriated him more than the Flame Sky Twin Swords, who had tried to kill him, was none other than Hyeok Sagun.

“This trap was devised by Hyeok Sagun. It’s a plan to lure you in and kill you.”

Geom Mugeuk believed Bih Sa-in had judged the situation correctly—except for one thing.

“It’s certainly a trap, but I don’t believe it’s meant to kill me. They wouldn’t want to turn our entire Cult into an enemy in this situation. Right now, they’re entirely focused on killing you.”

The Battle King was intelligent, and under him, Hyeok Sagun was moving. In fact, because they were intelligent, their actions were predictable. At the very least, it wasn’t a scheme to take Geom Mugeuk’s life.

“They’re likely trying to send me back to the cult.”

After separating him from Bih Sa-in, their final aim was clearly to kill Bih Sa-in.

“You know that, yet you still intend to meet with the Alliance Leader?”

“I must meet him.”

“The Alliance Leader won’t be fond of you.”

Bih Sa-in’s face darkened. He had already been worried about how the Alliance Leader would react once he learned about this incident. And now, Hyeok Sagun, who served right by the Alliance Leader’s side, turned out to be a traitor.

“He must have sowed discord between me and the Alliance Leader to an irreparable degree.”

What kind of things might Hyeok Sagun have said about him? He didn’t even want to imagine it.

But Geom Mugeuk had a different guess.

“I doubt he did that.”

Geom Mugeuk was considering an angle Bih Sa-in hadn’t thought of.

“Rather, he would’ve consistently acted in your favor. As if you were trying to extract information from me, he probably kept taking your side.”

And then came the one line that made Bih Sa-in’s eyes blink with realization.

“That way, when you finally called him a traitor, the backlash would hit you instead.” 1

In that instant, Bih Sa-in felt a deep sense of clarity.

“So he won’t believe me.”

“He’ll probably think you’ve been swayed by the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult and are falsely accusing the acting Chief Strategist.”

A chill ran down Bih Sa-in’s spine. Now that he heard it, it sounded entirely plausible. The schemes of intelligent minds always surpassed one's expectations in this way.

“Sometimes, poisonous praise can be an even more powerful form of sabotage.”

At Geom Mugeuk’s words, not only Bih Sa-in but even Monster Evil, who had been listening alongside them, was struck with admiration.

‘The one who’s become the Young Cult Leader is truly terrifying.’

Even the current Heavenly Demon was said to be one of the most gifted among all past Heavenly Demons. But could even that Heavenly Demon have acted with such precision at this young age? He was sure the answer was no. 2

“What do you plan to do?”

“I’ll have to meet with the Unorthodox Alliance Leader. Right now, I’m the only one who knows that Hyeok Sagun has aligned with a hidden faction. My testimony is the only piece of evidence. If I can’t persuade the Alliance Leader, not only will your life be at risk, but even your position as the Young Leader may become unstable.”

Another crisis struck just as they had barely survived.

Geom Mugeuk asked Bih Sa-in,

“Can you deliver a letter to the Alliance Leader without Hyeok Sagun knowing?”

After a brief moment of thought, Bih Sa-in mentioned someone.

“I can send it through Il-rang.”

He was the one Bih Sa-in trusted most.

“It must not be discovered.”

“You can trust him.”

Geom Mugeuk immediately wrote two letters.

One was a reply to the letter that had just arrived from the Unorthodox Alliance. In it, he stated that he would personally visit the Main Division of the Unorthodox Alliance to meet the Alliance Leader.

He gave that letter to the demonic cultist at the safehouse and instructed them to send it to the Unorthodox Alliance.

The other letter was meant to be delivered secretly to the Alliance Leader.

“This letter must be given to the Alliance Leader without Hyeok Sagun finding out.”

“What did you write here?”

“I said not to meet inside the Unorthodox Alliance but to meet me alone outside. I wrote that if he doesn’t meet me, you’ll be killed.”

“You—seriously!”

“Just a joke, a joke.”

“Even as a joke, don’t say things like that. If you treat the Alliance Leader like you treat me, you might actually get killed.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Such a thing wouldn’t happen, of course, but if he didn’t handle things properly, his words wouldn’t be believed. They would just try to send him back to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult to separate him from Bih Sa-in. And if that happened, Bih Sa-in’s situation would become increasingly difficult.

“Do you have a plan?”

To Bih Sa-in’s anxious question, Geom Mugeuk shook his head.

“I’ll start thinking about it now.”

Bih Sa-in was about to question what he meant, but then he suddenly realized something.

If it were him, he’d still be agonizing over whether or not to even go meet the Alliance Leader.

But Geom Mugeuk had already decided to meet him—and was now considering what to do next. That’s why Bih Sa-in couldn’t help but believe in him. It felt like he already had every part of the plan in place ith his decisive actions.

Geom Mugeuk stepped closer to the bedside.

“Are you all right?”

It was clear he wasn’t asking about Bih Sa-in’s physical injuries. In this turmoil, he was asking if his heart was all right.

What would have happened if it weren’t for Geom Mugeuk? Could he have endured it? As a martial artist, as the successor of the Unorthodox Alliance—he didn’t want to say such things, but...

‘Because you’re here, I’m all right.’

Bih Sa-in couldn’t bring himself to say it aloud.

‘The Alliance Leader might not believe me. He might think you’re deceiving me. He might scold me for being a fool.’

Anyone in the Unorthodox Alliance would probably think that. No one would assume the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult approached with good intentions. That’s what made this fight so difficult.

‘Still, I won’t doubt you.’

Because the moment he began to doubt, he wouldn’t be able to move forward. That doubt wouldn’t be directed at Geom Mugeuk—it would ultimately be doubt in himself. It would lead to blaming himself for failing to see a person properly.

That was why Bih Sa-in was able to answer like this:

“I’m all right.”

Of course, there was someone in the room who wasn’t.

Monster Evil, who had been listening to their conversation, cut in and spoke.

“Grateful as I am for being saved, don’t forget—I’m watching you.”

It was originally the line Mugeuk should have said to him: to take care of Bih Sa-in, because I would be watching.

“Both of you should tend to your wounds first. The time to fight again is coming fast.”

*         *         *

Hyeok Sagun’s expression was stiff as he walked toward the Alliance Leader’s Hall.

He hadn’t expected the Flame Sky Twin Swords’ ambush on the safehouse to fail in killing Bih Sa-in.

‘So it’s come to this in the end.’

If Bih Sa-in had died at the safehouse, the Alliance Leader would surely have suspected Geom Mugeuk. They had been together right up until his death—how could he not be suspected? Tensions with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult would have escalated and relations would have worsened, but Hwang Seokgyeong and he could have smoothly slipped out from behind the scenes of the incident.

But now, they needed to get the Alliance Leader to send Geom Mugeuk back to the Demonic Cult. And in doing so, his own loyalty would likely be tested as well.

Of course, he was confident he could handle it. This incident would be dealt with as Bih Sa-in having fallen into Geom Mugeuk’s scheme.

‘Young Leader, you’re finished anyway.’

Before entering the Alliance Leader’s Hall, Hyeok Sagun paused in the corridor and looked at the iron wolves.

The idea that these wolves could stop an intruder was nothing more than a legend. Even with him coming and going as he pleased, they merely watched in silence.

Hyeok Sagun thought that once the Battle King became the new Alliance Leader, the first thing to do was get rid of these useless hunks of metal.

Hyeok Sagun stepped into the Alliance Leader’s Hall.

Baek Jagang, the Alliance Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance, stood with his hands clasped behind his back in front of the window, overlooking the rear view of the Main Division behind the Dark Tyrant Throne.

“The Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult has sent a reply that he will come to see you.”

Despite Hyeok Sagun’s report, Baek Jagang gave no response.

“It appears the Young Leader is currently with the Young Cult Leader.”

A cold aura began to emanate from Baek Jagang.

“He had to go and do something foolish.”

He hadn’t liked it from the moment the message came saying the Young Leader would feign death while associating with the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult. If Hyeok Sagun hadn’t insisted on trusting and leaving the Young Leader to it, he never would have allowed it.

“Could it be…?”

Hyeok Sagun had a good idea what the Alliance Leader was worried about.

“If the Young Leader had died, the Young Cult Leader wouldn’t dare respond saying he wanted to meet with you.”

Baek Jagang slowly nodded, and Hyeok Sagun continued his report.

“We’re still investigating the safehouse ambush. Every single person who knew the safehouse’s location has been put under internal investigation. We’ll soon uncover who leaked the information.”

He planned to use this incident to eliminate his political rival. All the falsified evidence had already been prepared.

Though he showed no emotion outwardly, Baek Jagang was absolutely seething with rage.

A confidential location had been compromised, and someone had attempted to kill the Young Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance multiple times. Someone had dared to draw their sword against the Alliance itself.

But there was an even more troubling possibility.

“Could this be the Young Cult Leader’s doing?”

If so, it would mean that Bih Sa-in was being used by Geom Mugeuk.

“The Young Leader is a discerning person. He would never fall so easily for the Young Cult Leader’s tricks.”

As Geom Mugeuk had predicted, Hyeok Sagun was shielding himself by displaying absolute trust in Bih Sa-in.

Baek Jagang interpreted this politically. A young Chief Strategist preparing for the future. When Bih Sa-in became the Alliance Leader, Hyeok Sagun no doubt intended to maintain his position as Chief Strategist.

“The Young Leader is likely using the Young Cult Leader to gain something.”

“Not the other way around?”

Hyeok Sagun replied after a brief pause.

“Please trust the Young Leader.”

Bih Sa-in might swing an axe to kill him, but in the end, he would strike his own foot. He would be branding someone who supported him so firmly as a traitor.

“You keep a close eye on things.”

“Don’t worry, Alliance Leader. I will now take my leave.”

After Hyeok Sagun withdrew, a hidden voice delivered a report.

“Il-rang is requesting an audience.”

The one reporting was Ingung, the Commander of the Alliance Leader’s Guard.

“Il-rang? Let him in.”

“He’s requesting a private audience with no one else present.”

The situation was taking a serious turn. If it had been anyone else, Baek Jagang might have doubted such a sudden request. But he knew how deep Il-rang’s loyalty to the Alliance ran.

“Bring him to the training hall.”

*         *         *

Il-rang entered the Alliance Leader’s private training hall.

This was a place absolutely forbidden to outsiders without permission. Only Baek Jagang and Ingung, the Commander of the Alliance Leader’s Guard, were allowed entry.

Baek Jagang was wiping down an iron mannequin standing in the training hall. It wasn’t made of ordinary metal. It was forged by blending Millennium Cold Iron—uncuttable even by sword energy or sword force. A piece crafted solely for the Alliance Leader.

It bore countless sword scars. From faint and shallow marks to deep and heavy gouges.

Baek Jagang knew precisely when and how each of those scars had been made. What technique was used, what emotions he had at the time.

The fact that he remembered every single one of them showed just how deep his training ran.

Now, he could easily slice through this iron mannequin with a single strike—but he didn’t. He wanted to pass it on to Bih Sa-in just as it was. 3

“I greet the Alliance Leader.”

“It’s been a while. Have you been well?”

Baek Jagang welcomed him warmly. He was a man with clear likes and dislikes. Il-rang belonged firmly in the category of those he liked.

“You asked to see me in private?”

“Yes, the Young Leader sent a letter asking that it be delivered to you alone.”

Il-rang was tense. He could feel it. One wrong move today, and not only would he fall from the Alliance Leader’s favor, he might even lose his life.

“So that means I’m not to inform Chief Strategist Hyeok either?”

Because every letter coming into the Alliance normally passed through the Chief Strategist.

“He specifically said to deliver it without Hyeok Sagun knowing.”

Baek Jagang’s expression shifted subtly. When he heard it was a private meeting, he had his suspicions—but it really was because of Hyeok Sagun.

“Did he give a reason?”

“No. He just said to make sure the letter reached you.”

Il-rang pulled the letter from his inner robe and respectfully presented it to the Alliance Leader.

After reading the contents, Baek Jagang was visibly surprised. Il-rang had never seen him so startled.

Baek Jagang raised his head and looked directly at Il-rang.

“Do you know what it says here? It claims Hyeok Sagun is involved in this incident. That the attack on the safehouse was his doing. The Young Cult Leader says he wants to meet me personally and explain.”

“!”

Il-rang was just as shocked. He hadn’t imagined the letter he delivered would contain something like that.

“What do you think of this?”

Baek Jagang’s gaze was fixed on him. Il-rang knew just how sharply those small eyes could read a person’s heart. The Alliance Leader was like a ghost when it came to sensing truth and lies.

Was he to deny the man he served, or deny the Chief Strategist who served the Alliance Leader?

“I believe that if a subordinate starts judging the one they serve, they’ll no longer be able to protect them properly.”

It was the best answer Il-rang could come up with.

Baek Jagang asked another question.

“What kind of person was the Young Cult Leader, in your eyes?”

Having dodged the first question, Il-rang could no longer avoid this one.

He answered honestly.

“He’s an extraordinary person.”

“Do you think the Young Leader has been swayed by him?”

Il-rang hesitated before answering. He wanted to say no, but…

“Yes, the Young Leader has been swayed.”

He wanted to add something in Bih Sa-in’s defense—but couldn’t find the words. Say that the Young Cult Leader didn’t seem like a bad person? That because he saved Bih Sa-in, he was trustworthy?

No. Saying something like that to the Alliance Leader he knew would only make things worse.

“And I understand why the Young Leader was swayed.”

He answered honestly—and left the judgment to the Alliance Leader.

“You may go now.”

Il-rang exited the room after offering another respectful bow. He had no confidence in himself. He wasn’t sure whether he had given the right answer—or whether he had just brought harm to Bih Sa-in.

After Il-rang withdrew, the Alliance Leader spoke into the empty air.

“What do you think?”

In response, Ingung’s voice was heard.

“There are too many things that don’t make sense. It would be best not to meet with them.”

“Then should I inform Chief Strategist Hyeok of this matter?”

Ingung couldn’t answer easily. It came down to a matter of trust—who did he trust more?

“I find it hard to believe Chief Strategist Hyeok is a traitor.”

That he would go as far as to attempt to kill the Young Leader? No matter how much he thought about it, it didn’t seem possible. On the other hand, the idea that the Young Leader had been swayed by the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult? That, too, was hard to believe—but perhaps not entirely impossible.

Baek Jagang, meanwhile, had reached no conclusions. A sharp gleam flickered in his small eyes.

“Isn’t it strange, though? He’s asking to meet me even though he knows full well I’d never believe him? What on earth is going through that boy’s mind?”

Having served the Alliance Leader for many years, Ingung understood what that meant. Baek Jagang had already taken an interest in Geom Mugeuk. The remark from Il-rang about understanding why Bih Sa-in had been swayed—that had been the turning point.

If Baek Jagang had decided to meet with him, then Ingung knew what his role was.

“I’ll select a new meeting location and send word myself.”

The situation had to be orchestrated from their side—not the other.

Baek Jagang silently nodded and turned his gaze toward the iron mannequin standing in the training hall.

Over the iron figure, an image of a person overlapped in his mind. Someone who matched this expressionless iron figure better than anyone else—Heavenly Demon Geom Woojin.

The one person he acknowledged most, and at the same time, the one he disliked most. More than anything, he hated that arrogant gaze that seemed to look down on everyone. 4

‘Let’s see how you raised your son.’

1 : Social traps are just the worst. At least when someone attacks you head on, you can fight back, clearly define who is in the wrong. Attacking your reputation from the shadow, turning the mass against you, no matter what you do, you’re seen as the evil one. A cowardly way, but sadly a particularly effective one.

2 : Mugeuk cheating that’s all. But he have the endorsement of old man Heavens, so it’s cool ^^

3 : Just observing these scars can tremendously help Bih Sa-in in his training. Especially if it retains some lingering intent.

4 : Lol, I can see his face too XDXDXD But now he has a small smirk and soft eyes instead of an expressionless face and arrogant gaze.