RM-Bab 281

Chapter 281: The Lost Person

“Was the reunion too soon?” Jin Ha-ryeong greeted cheerfully as she stood at the door.

Water dripped from Ian’s hair.

Having just finished his martial arts training, Ian had just washed up and changed into simple clothes.

“It’s better to reunite with someone you miss sooner, right? Please, come in.”

Jin Ha-ryeong smiled and stepped inside.

There are people who can brighten your mood with just a few words.

Perhaps that was why he had come to see her.

As they sat down, Ian noticed a bottle of alcohol on the table.

“Are you planning to have a drink?” “Ah, I found some alcohol while looking around.”

It seemed to be the drink prepared for visitors to the house.

“Could you pour me a glass too?” “Of course. Please wait a moment. I didn’t prepare any snacks since I was just going to have a simple drink.”

“It’s fine. Just drink.”

“Are you sure?” “You don’t think I expect a grand feast just because I’m the granddaughter of the Martial Alliance Leader, do you?” Ian shook his head with a smile.

After they poured drinks for each other, they toasted.

“Did something good happen today?” “Why do you ask?” “With the alcohol and your bright expression, it seems like something good happened.”

Good things? Of course, there were.

He had received martial arts guidance from Geom Mu-geuk after a long time, and what made him even happier were the words he had said. —Then why did you bring me? —Why? I just wanted to hang out with you after a long time.

To the one who taught him martial arts that only the bloodline of the Heavenly Demon could learn, who always said that your happiness comes first, and to someone who said such things, how could he not be loyal? Ian didn’t answer, but Jin Ha-ryeong could sense it.

She could feel that his good mood was related to Geom Mu-geuk.

Ian naturally changed the subject.

“Isn’t it hard? Living as the granddaughter of the Martial Alliance Leader?” “You ask that, yet you are the one who is curious.”

“What do you mean?” “Everyone asks how nice it is to be the granddaughter of the Martial Alliance Leader.”

“I guess I seem negative.”

“I’ve never seen a negative person admit they are negative.”

After finishing her drink, Jin Ha-ryeong spoke to Ian.

“It’s hard. More than I expected.”

“I thought so.”

“It seems hard for you too, right? Serving someone who is not easy to please.”

Regardless of the question, Jin Ha-ryeong felt a twinge of envy for the time she had spent with Geom Mu-geuk.

“It’s not hard. When I’m with him, things happen that would never happen in a lifetime. Sometimes, I even drink with the granddaughter of the Martial Alliance Leader.”

Ian’s joking words resonated with Jin Ha-ryeong.

“That’s true. The world is truly unpredictable.”

Their relationship with Geom Mu-geuk, and even this moment.

The two shared various stories.

Life in the Martial Alliance and life in the Demon Cult, their glasses emptied as they exchanged experiences they had never encountered before.

Then, a subtle atmosphere flowed, and they talked about Geom Mu-geuk.

They discussed martial arts and then returned to talking about Geom Mu-geuk.

Jin Ha-ryeong sincerely hoped that Ian would show some shortcomings.

But the more they talked, the more she thought, this woman is quite alright.

When the bottle was empty, Jin Ha-ryeong stood up.

She didn’t suggest drinking more.

Instead, she made a surprising proposal to Ian.

“Shall we be friends?” “So suddenly? We’ve only met twice.”

“What does it matter? This is the Martial World, where people kill each other upon first meeting.”

The words of wanting to be friends were the first Jin Ha-ryeong had ever said to someone.

She was lining up to be friends with herself.

Yet she had never said such a thing to anyone.

But to Ian, whom she had met only twice, she proposed friendship first.

Jin Ha-ryeong thought she didn’t even know herself as much as the unpredictable world.

“Are you really okay with this? Being friends with a Demon?” “I’m fine. What about you?” After a moment of silently gazing at Jin Ha-ryeong, Ian smiled broadly.

“How could I dislike having a wonderful friend like you?” In that moment, Jin Ha-ryeong’s regret for having said it vanished.

+++

Jin Ha-gun sought his master again.

“Have you found a way?” His master kept asking about the method.

Now Jin Ha-gun understood.

His master was not interested in hearing about a method; he aimed to push him.

The quickest and surest way to bind someone was to make them feel small.

“No. I came for a different reason today.”

The firm answer, though vague, made Baek Cheon-gyeong stop his woodworking.

When he looked up, Jin Ha-gun openly revealed his thoughts.

“I know that you have been disappointed in me lately. I made excuses to you, but I am deeply reflecting in my heart.”

Baek Cheon-gyeong’s expression remained unchanged.

“I have a favor to ask of you.”

A hint of surprise flickered in Baek Cheon-gyeong’s eyes.

It didn’t seem like Jin Ha-gun would ask for something in the current atmosphere.

In other words, it meant that it was an important request.

“Speak.”

“During the recent Dragon Battle, there was a connection between Geom Mu-geuk, the sub-leader of the Demon Cult, and Ha-ryeong.”

Jin Ha-gun sighed lightly and added, “It seems Ha-ryeong has taken a liking to him.”

Baek Cheon-gyeong listened silently to Jin Ha-gun’s words.

“This fool invited the sub-leader of the Demon Cult to the recent meeting. And now the sub-leader is secretly in our main alliance.”

“The sub-leader of the Demon Cult is in the main alliance?” Baek Cheon-gyeong’s gaze sharpened.

“I just found out about it a little while ago.”

“Are you saying that Geom Mu-geuk has come to see Ha-ryeong?” “Yes, it seems he has feelings for my sister as well.”

Baek Cheon-gyeong did not believe it.

“The sub-leader of the Demon Cult, as I have heard, is not someone to be trifled with. You know well since you faced him directly, right? Do you think he came to the main alliance just for a woman?” “That’s right. He is not an ordinary person. Rather, there must be no other reason.”

“What do you mean by that?” “Would such a clever person choose to come alone to the Martial Alliance? A smart man only becomes a fool for one reason.”

Some of Jin Ha-gun’s words were those that Geom Mu-geuk had taught him. —Will this resonate with the master? —It will resonate because it concerns my sister.

It is something that cannot be understood or explained, for it is a matter of blood.

Baek Cheon-gyeong still wore an expression of disbelief.

“So? What is it that you want to ask?” It was a request that Baek Cheon-gyeong had never anticipated.

“Please meet Geom Mu-geuk.”

He, who rarely showed emotions, could not hide his surprise this time.

“What do you mean?” “Please warn him. Tell him to stay away from my sister.”

Baek Cheon-gyeong looked dumbfounded.

He never expected such a request.

“You lost the Heavenly Flower Sect and now you want to ensure you don’t lose your sister?” Though he reprimanded with painful words, Jin Ha-gun did not back down.

“Even if I lose the Heavenly Flower Sect, I cannot lose my sister.”

“Then why don’t you warn him yourself?” “He won’t listen to me. While dealing with the Heavenly Flower Sect, he thoroughly ignored and toyed with me. He is more likely to approach her just to spite me. The Geom Mu-geuk I saw was that persistent.”

“If you can’t do it, then you should ask the leader.”

“Don’t you know my grandfather’s personality? He will immediately chase him away. It would be fortunate if he doesn’t attack him out of anger. If he gets chased away, he will surely hold a grudge. He is a madman who comes alone to the Martial Alliance to see my sister.”

“This is not something I should intervene in. How can I handle what the leader and you cannot?” Baek Cheon-gyeong firmly refused.

Jin Ha-gun knelt down at that moment.

“You know better than anyone what my sister means to me. I have regarded you as a father until now.”

Since it was the truth, this must be an extremely painful and frustrating moment for Jin Ha-gun.

“Please grant this earnest request of your inadequate disciple.”

Baek Cheon-gyeong, lost in thought while carving wood, paused.

Jin Ha-gun remained kneeling, not backing down.

How much time passed like that? What was he thinking? Finally, after completing the piece he was carving, Baek Cheon-gyeong spoke.

“Bring him tomorrow.”

+++

“Master has granted permission.”

Jin Ha-gun said with a joyful face.

Geom Mu-geuk spoke as if he had anticipated such a result.

“I knew you would succeed.”

Right now, praise was not important.

“What do you plan to do when you meet him?” “I will have to decide.”

“Decide what?” “Whether he is someone to spare or someone to kill.”

Geom Mu-geuk gazed into Jin Ha-gun’s eyes and asked, “Will you trust my judgment?” “How can I trust someone who enjoys playing tricks? I will only trust my own judgment.”

Jin Ha-gun stood up.

As he was about to leave the room, he paused at the door.

“Have you ever felt lost?” It was a thought he had been having lately.

Even while proceeding with matters, another part of his heart was troubled by the thought, ‘The master is a good person, but you are being used by Geom Mu-geuk.’

“No. I have a good sense of direction.”

Just as Jin Ha-gun was about to turn and leave with a look that suggested it was another joke, Geom Mu-geuk spoke from behind.

“It’s not that you are lost, but rather that you have forgotten where you are going.”

“Isn’t that the same thing?” “They say all paths in the world connect, right? If you know where to go, you wouldn’t be lost.”

“What if you forget where to go?” “Then you should sit down and cry.”

“Stop joking.”

Geom Mu-geuk recalled the time he wandered the Central Plains searching for materials for the Great Law.

There were moments when it was so hard that he wanted to cry out loud.

“You can ask the people you meet, and if there are no people, you can look at the stars in the sky. If you still don’t know, you can throw your shoes and leave it to fate. If you still don’t know, then you just have to walk wherever your feet take you.”

“Aren’t you afraid?” “What is there to be afraid of? After all, I’m already lost.”

“!” Jin Ha-gun fell silent for a moment, lost in thought, then sighed and said, “You are truly… a strange person.”

“You are indeed very proper. Everyone in the main school called me a madman.”

“Then you must be a strangely mad person. See you tomorrow morning.”

After saying that, Jin Ha-gun left.

Geom Mu-geuk gazed out the window for a moment.

Jin Ha-gun was still young and did not understand what it truly meant to be lost.

A truly lost person does not even realize that they are lost.

+++

The next day, Geom Mu-geuk arrived at his master’s workshop with Jin Ha-gun.

“Master, I’m here. I’ve come with the sub-leader of the new sect.”

“Come in.”

When they entered, Jin Ha-gun was taken aback.

His master looked different from usual.

He was wearing a splendid red robe and had a long sword at his waist.

He remembered that he had seen him in such a splendid outfit the first time.

The gazes of Geom Mu-geuk and Baek Cheon-gyeong met in the air.

Both Geom Mu-geuk’s clear and deep eyes and Baek Cheon-gyeong’s slender and long eyes found it difficult to read each other’s emotions.

Amidst the tense atmosphere, Geom Mu-geuk opened his aura to confirm the opponent’s martial arts.

Without regard for the opponent’s will, a deep abyss pulled Baek Cheon-gyeong in.

In response, Baek Cheon-gyeong’s aura was unique.

Geom Mu-geuk looked around.

Before he knew it, he was standing in a dense forest.

Trees rose endlessly around him.

The endless sight of trees brought a sense of loneliness, as if he had fallen out of the world.

As Baek Cheon-gyeong sank into the abyss, Geom Mu-geuk walked into the forest.

Sunlight shone down, and birds chirped.

Could this person really have such a bright aura? No, if he were such a person, Jin Ha-gun would not have called him.

Geom Mu-geuk continued walking deeper into the forest.

The forest endlessly displayed the same scenery, tempting him to stop.

Geom Mu-geuk resisted that temptation and kept walking inward.

What guided him was neither his own will nor the opponent’s aura.

Surprisingly, what led him at this moment was the Gu Hwa Ma Gong.

‘There is something over there.’ It was so deeply hidden that he would never have discovered it without practicing Gu Hwa Ma Gong.

This also meant that the opponent’s martial arts were extraordinary.

Eventually, Geom Mu-geuk discovered a wooden statue in the deepest part of the forest.

The statue, standing with its arms crossed, was so vividly crafted that it felt like a living person.

However, the face was left uncarved, flat.

There was a mystical feeling that the wood could spring forth and form a human face at any moment.

As Geom Mu-geuk approached the statue, the surrounding trees began to stretch their trunks and move.

Branches blocked the way to the statue, threateningly encircling him.

In that moment, Geom Mu-geuk understood. ‘Wood Shape Thousand Souls Technique!’ The ultimate secret technique that utilizes all the trees in the world.

In an instant, Geom Mu-geuk was engulfed in surprise and excitement.

It was not just because this technique made all the trees move as desired, and small wooden dolls grew larger and charged like masters.

It was because he knew who had used this technique.

After Hwa Mu-gi went into hiding, those who followed him created the Heavenly Alliance.

The twelve absolute masters who ruled that Heavenly Alliance.

They were known as the Twelve Zodiac Kings! They had acted as the Twelve Zodiac Kings while hiding their identities in the past.

Perhaps they feared the revenge of the True Demon that might come in the future.

The eighth of the Twelve Zodiac Kings, the Baek Wang, was the one who used this Wood Shape Thousand Souls Technique.

Geom Mu-geuk’s heart began to race. ‘It’s the Wood King!’ This was the first time he encountered a follower of Hwa Mu-gi since his return.