Chapter 365 : Just thinking about it makes me angry

Translator: FenrirTL

Editor/Quality Checker: Saphartlantis

Murim Term Consultant: Kopke

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Chapter 365: Just thinking about it makes me angry

Baek Jagang couldn’t believe it.

‘Does the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult truly harbor such thoughts?’

He genuinely considered Bih Sa-in a friend, genuinely didn’t want to fight, and genuinely wanted to treat him to a drink?

That Geom Mugeuk, rumored to be the greatest heir of all the Heavenly Demons in history? That Young Cult Leader who had even swayed the Young Alliance Leader and Il-rang?

Hyeok Sagun read the distrust in Baek Jagang’s eyes first.

‘It worked!’

He misinterpreted this distrust in precisely that way.

How could anyone believe what the Demon Doctor or the Poison King said?

‘Refuse! Quickly, say it’s unacceptable!’

Hyeok Sagun was inwardly anxious. If not just one, but both the Poison King and the Demon Doctor came to check, the poisoning would definitely be exposed.

‘If that happens, there’s nothing I can do. Refuse them—for your own sake.’

Meanwhile, Geom Mugeuk also read the distrust in Baek Jagang’s gaze. Of course, Geom Mugeuk didn’t know about Baek Jagang’s surnatural ability to detect lies. That’s why he tried even harder to persuade him.

―It was a lie meant to drive them into a corner. Just this once, please trust me. Please pretend to accept the Demon Doctor and the Poison King.

Even without sending this telepathic confession, Baek Jagang now trusted Geom Mugeuk. He now clearly knew who was speaking the truth.

At last, Baek Jagang opened his mouth. Of course, since Hyeok Sagun was also present, he didn’t agree readily.

“If those two come and it turns out my Chief Strategist wasn’t poisoned, what then?”

Geom Mugeuk realized that Baek Jagang was willing to go along with his request. After all, those people wouldn’t be coming anyway, and what was needed now was to propose terms Hyeok Sagun could accept.

“I’ll reduce our cult’s forces in the Jiangxi region by half.”

Jiangxi was a crucial region where the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult confronted regularily the Unorthodox Alliance.

“Can you put that in an official document?”

“I can.”

Once again, Baek Jagang felt chills run down his spine. His senses were working all too well.

As if to prove it, a telepathic message from Geom Mugeuk followed immediately.

―That, I can’t do. If I did that without Father’s permission, I’d be kicked out that very day! Maybe you can help by making me your new adopted son?

Baek Jagang struggled to suppress the grin tugging at the corner of his lips. Honestly, what an incorrigible guy. Cracking jokes at a moment like this.

“Very well. Then when the two arrive, we’ll have them confirm it.”

At the unexpected decision, Hyeok Sagun expressed his dissatisfaction.

“You’re not seriously going to believe what the Young Cult Leader just said, are you?”

Baek Jagang fixed his small eyes on Hyeok Sagun. In that instant, Hyeok Sagun realized how rash he had been. If his claims were true, there would’ve been no reason to get upset.

If Geom Mugeuk had proposed such a condition, then as a strategist, Hyeok Sagun should have welcomed the decision. The reduction of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s forces by half in the Jiangxi region would bring significant benefit to the Unorthodox Alliance.

“I will follow the Lord’s will.”

Baek Jagang asked Geom Mugeuk,

“When will they arrive?”

“It will take a little over ten days.”

He deliberately gave the longest estimate possible. He hoped Bih Sa-in would have enough time to recover from his injuries and join the fight. This wasn’t his battle—it was Bih Sa-in’s, and also Baek Jagang’s and the Unorthodox Alliance’s.

“Good. Then you will remain near the Alliance until then.”

Geom Mugeuk turned to Hyeok Sagun with a suspicious look in his eyes.

“In the meantime, the Deputy Strategist might kill the Chief Strategist and erase all evidence.”

Geom Mugeuk had hit the mark perfectly. Hyeok Sagun had indeed precisely been thinking about how to eliminate the Chief Strategist without arousing suspicion.

“What nonsense is that? The Chief Strategist is like a teacher to me.”

“Exactly. So why did you do that to someone like a teacher?”

Hyeok Sagun glared coldly at Geom Mugeuk.

He had easily manipulated even the cleverest strategists, but Geom Mugeuk, who was much younger than them, was strangely difficult and irritating to deal with. 1

Was it because of his status as the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult?

No. This man had something that stifled people’s hearts. Even if they had met as an inn’s server and a guest, he seemed like someone from whom ordering a meal wouldn’t come easily. 2

Baek Jagang cut off the tense energy clash between the two.

“Stay near the Alliance until the Poison King and the Demon Doctor arrive.”

“Thank you, Lord.”

Hyeok Sagun felt the tide was shifting. A new phase was beginning.

“That will be all for today. Strategist Hyeok, stay behind for a moment.”

Sending Geom Mugeuk away and keeping Hyeok Sagun behind? It seemed like he trusted Hyeok Sagun, but in fact, it was the opposite. Now was the time to ease and pacify the enemy.

“Because of that brat’s recklessness, we’ve managed to secure a major benefit.”

He referred to Geom Mugeuk not as the Young Cult Leader, but as “that brat.”

In other words, he was expressing that he trusted Hyeok Sagun more than Geom Mugeuk.

‘If that were true, you shouldn’t have accepted the Poison King and the Demon Doctor in the first place.’

Hyeok Sagun revealed his frustration as if it were concern for the Unorthodox Alliance.

“I hate to say it, but we should not have accepted the Poison King and the Demon Doctor. Especially the Poison King—he is the most dangerous figure in the entire martial world. Who knows what he’ll do once inside the Alliance? Above all, I am worried for your safety, Lord.”

Using concern for the Lord as a pretext, he tried once again to make Baek Jagang reconsider.

But it was a futile attempt—he had no way of knowing what Baek Jagang was really thinking.

“When they arrive, make sure to keep them under strict surveillance.”

If they had truly been on their way, even Baek Jagang would have stopped them. Letting the Poison King into the Unorthodox Alliance? That was absolutely unthinkable. After that day, even drinking a single cup of water would leave him uneasy.

That was something even Hyeok Sagun could have realized. Which was why Baek Jagang made the first move.

“But why is the Young Cult Leader being so stubborn about this?”

A sharp gaze flew at Hyeok Sagun, probing.

You're not the one who orchestrated this, are you?

After all, Baek Jagang was naturally a suspicious person. Blindly trusting Hyeok Sagun would have felt off. It was suspicion meant to mask deeper suspicion.

“He seems to be buying time.”

“For what reason?”

“I’ll find out.”

No matter how clever Hyeok Sagun was, he couldn’t match Baek Jagang, who had endured countless storms. Baek Jagang shook him relentlessly, not allowing even a moment to think of any other schemes.

This time, Baek Jagang released a wave of cold killing intent, revealing his anger toward Geom Mugeuk.

“Bringing in the Demon Doctor and the Poison King to confirm things—such arrogance. Isn't that a blatant disregard for our Alliance’s integrity?”

“Your words are absolutely right. Besides, even if he promises the matter of Jiangxi in writing, there’s no guarantee he’ll keep that promise.”

Hyeok Sagun pointed out another potential flaw in an attempt to change Baek Jagang’s mind—but it wasn’t easy.

“The Young Cult Leader is full of pride. He’ll keep the promise just for the sake of his ego. I imagine Geom Woojin’s head must be fuming right now.”

Hyeok Sagun suppressed the sigh that was about to escape.

If the Poison King and the Demon Doctor came and revealed that the Chief Strategist’s condition was indeed caused by poisoning, it would be the end of him. He was the one who had received the poison from Hwang Seokgyeong and administered it.

Until now, many things had tried to hinder his smooth rise. People stood in his way, tried to trip him up. Each time, the Battle King had helped him overcome those obstacles.

But this time was different. The scale of obstruction was catastrophic. It was greater than all the previous misfortunes combined.

“Then, I’ll take my leave now.”

He gave a polite bow and turned to go when Baek Jagang spoke from behind.

“Look into it thoroughly. Are we going to let that brat toy with us?”

“Please don’t worry, Lord.”

Hyeok Sagun bowed deeply with a confident expression, then turned again with a cold heart.

‘Because of that brat, now even the Lord is going to die.’ 3

*         *         *

That night, Hyeok Sagun appeared at the same place where he had met the Battle King not long ago.

Off in the distant field, Hwang Seokgyeong’s figure was visible.

As always, he had arrived first and was waiting. The Battle King was never late. The moment he saw him, the frustration that had burdened Hyeok Sagun all day while dealing with Geom Mugeuk began to melt away.

Only now did he understand. That suffocating feeling earlier had been a signal from instinct, a cry for help. Only someone like Hwang Seokgyeong could place an order with that inn server exactly as desired.

Hyeok Sagun skipped all the preamble and went straight to the point.

“The Young Cult Leader summoned the Demon Doctor and the Poison King.”

The Battle King’s expression hardened. He immediately grasped why they were coming.

“It’s because of the Chief Strategist.”

“That’s right. That Young Cult Leader bastard is no ordinary one.”

The Battle King first asked Hyeok Sagun for his opinion. Even after making a decision, he always asked his strategist first.

“What do you think we should do?”

Hyeok Sagun had already steeled himself on his way there.

“Is there a way to stop the Demon Doctor and the Poison King from coming?”

The Battle King thought for a moment, then shook his head.

They couldn’t recklessly kill the Demon Supreme or the Demon Doctor, and even if the situation called for it, going up against the Poison King wasn’t easy. If they failed to kill him in one strike, they would be wiped out. That’s the kind of being the Poison King was.

“Then there's only one method. Though the timing has been moved up far earlier than planned, haven’t we made extensive preparations for this very moment?”

This decision would change the fate of both himself and Hwang Seokgyeong. It would change the fate of their subordinates, the Unorthodox Alliance, the Demonic Cult, and even the entire martial world.

With a solemn glint in his eyes, Hyeok Sagun asked,

“Are you ready?”

Compared to the heavy-hearted Hyeok Sagun, the Battle King seemed at ease. He had lived his whole life believing life was a battle. Living every moment as if defeat meant death, he was always ready to respond.

Beneath the bright moonlight, as if he had been waiting for this moment, the Battle King answered.

“I am always ready.” 4

*         *         *

At the same time, in a different place, another meeting was taking place.

Geom Mugeuk stood in the field where he had previously met the Unorthodox Alliance Lord.

Baek Jagang entered the field.

“I knew you’d come here. First, allow me to apologize.”

“I don’t mind that you lied to me.”

“No, it’s not about that. Because of my lie, you’re now in danger. They’ll surely believe that if the Demon Doctor and the Poison King investigate together, the poisoning will be revealed. In the end, they’ll try to resolve everything before those two arrive.”

“What do you mean ‘resolve’?”

“They won’t just run away.”

Words that should never have come from Geom Mugeuk’s mouth slipped out.

“They’re going to try to kill you.”

Even when told they intended to kill him, Baek Jagang didn’t show much of a reaction.

“And they’ll pin the blame on me. They’ll never miss that opportunity.”

Geom Mugeuk continued speaking in a calm tone.

“Originally, this would have happened years later—maybe even a decade from now. But the timing changed because I became friends with your disciple.”

He should have said, “because I appeared,” but instead, Geom Mugeuk said it was because he became friends with Bih Sa-in. At every opportunity, he tried to flaunt their friendship.

Dreaming of unifying the martial world—one person doing that was more than enough. Just trying to stop his father from doing so was already difficult and exhausting.

“You’re to stay out of this fight.”

Of course, since this was a matter of the Unorthodox Alliance, it was only right to obey the Lord’s will.

But knowing that the opponent was the Battle King, he couldn’t accept that.

He believed that in a one-on-one duel, the Alliance Lord could defeat the Battle King.

The problem was that the Battle King would use any means necessary to win. He was someone obsessed with victory, not someone who cared for fairness and honor.

“Are you worried about me?”

“If you get hurt, I won’t be able to face your father.”

“That won’t happen. I’ve learned footwork properly—if it comes to running, I’m confident.”

Baek Jagang assumed Geom Mugeuk had a reason for wanting to join the fight.

“Why are you trying to get involved in this fight?”

Geom Mugeuk answered honestly.

“Because of the Young Alliance Leader. He probably wants to be involved in this fight even more than I do. Since he hasn’t fully recovered, I’ll be by his side to protect him.”

There were no chills along Baek Jagang’s neck.

Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind.

A martial world where the Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult and the Lord of the Unorthodox Alliance were friends.

But not a single image came to mind. He was unable to even imagine it. Such a martial world didn’t exist for him.

Then he recalled something Geom Mugeuk had once said.

―Whether it’s my demonic path or the Young Alliance Leader’s unorthodox path, I believe our era has its own new ideal.

“Let me say it again—that friendship will never come to be.”

To that, Geom Mugeuk responded with something completely unexpected.

“I also believe in the friendship between you and my father.”

“What? Me and your father?”

Moments like this were baffling. The look in his eyes, speaking of a possible friendship between the Heavenly Demon and the Lord of the Unorthodox Alliance, wasn’t that of some innocent kid having a naïve dream. It was the look of that sly, sharp serpent of a youth—and yet, he meant it sincerely.

“You haven’t really had a proper conversation with my father, have you? From where I stand, I think you two would get along quite well.”

“Get along while watching for the right chance to kill each other?”

The more Baek Jagang met with Geom Mugeuk, the more he grew fond of him. For some reason, he felt a strange sense of kinship. He grew curious about what this kid would say next.

And more than anything—it was fun being around him. Just now, they were talking about a friendship between the Heavenly Demon and the Lord of the Unorthodox Alliance, a thought that no martial artist in the world would have ever entertained.

‘If that’s the kind of father he has…’

Maybe? he briefly considered, but then quickly shook his head. Just thinking about the look in Geom Woojin’s eyes—how he had looked down on him with disdain—was enough to make him furious. Friends? Not a chance!

“Please allow me to fight alongside the Young Alliance Leader!”

“Very well.”

Under normal circumstances, Baek Jagang would never have permitted such a thing. He wasn’t the type to let anyone interfere in the affairs of the Unorthodox Alliance.

But this time, just this once, he decided to acknowledge their friendship.

“Enjoy that fleeting friendship while it lasts.”

“Thank you.”

Baek Jagang’s path to becoming the Lord of the Unorthodox Alliance had been anything but smooth.

He had deliberately chosen not to have a family, in order to keep his heart from growing soft. At the time, he believed it was the right decision. But now, as he aged, there were rare moments when he wondered about the life he never had. 5

Especially now, as he looked at Geom Woojin’s son, those thoughts arose more strongly.

‘Sa-in, looks like you’ve got some hardship ahead of you.’

You’re not going to lose to Geom Woojin’s son, are you?

The same moon that the Battle King and Hyeok Sagun had looked up at was now being gazed upon by Geom Mugeuk and Baek Jagang.

“Once this is all over, may I ask you for one favor?”

“What kind of favor?”

“I’ll tell you after it’s done.”

Who had ever dared say to Baek Jagang, in all his life, “I’ll tell you later” when it came to a condition? That was what made this moment feel so refreshing. And that was why, instead of feeling annoyed, he nodded in curiosity.

“They’ll pour in every bit of power they’ve built up so far.” 6

“To take me on……”

Baek Jagang, his small eyes reflecting the full moonlight, said,

“They’d better have saved up a lot.”

1 : His nickname is Pesky Cockroach !!!! Well not really, but he’s as hard to deal with than them XDXDXD

2 : That’s only because you are a villain that you are so stifled. Though, indeed, even if you were a good person, you would have troubles focusing on your job with him around XDXDXD

3 : *Bait successfully bitten*

4 : *Put on sunglasses, in the middle of the night* Seriously, when it’s not the MC, such lines are so cringe XDXDXD

5 : It’s a common thing to do, especially among people in power reevaluating their lives. And that’s also something Mugeuk can’t afford to do at the moment. His knowledge of his past life won’t afford him to think seriously about the future he could have after his revenge. And that’s another factor that reinforces his melancholy.

6 : At least the rot will be removed in one swift move. That’s a silver lining.