Chapter 804: Laughing, Chatting, Singing, and Dancing
Jin Paecheon hesitated over whether he should draw his sword.
Even the sauce smeared across Baek Jagang’s face did nothing to ease the tension. If anything, it made the scene even more absurd.
If this was not dark sorcery, then what could possibly be called dark sorcery?
It felt so certain that it became suspicious.
At that moment, Geom Woojin stepped out of the kitchen.
“You have arrived?”
Jin Paecheon stared at him as if trying to pierce through him.
“Cult Leader Geom… is that truly you?”
Geom Woojin nodded calmly.
Baek Jagang was still sticking his head through the opening in the kitchen wall.
“I was just learning cooking from Cult Leader Geom.”
For a brief moment, a ridiculous thought crossed Jin Paecheon’s mind.
Have the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Unorthodox Alliance joined forces to kill me?
What a perfect trap this would be.
Geom Woojin.
Baek Jagang.
And the four masters sitting at the table.
Even with the Gentleman’s Sword, he could never defeat them.
Of course, Jin Paecheon knew that was impossible.
He must have been so shocked that such a thought even appeared.
The others clearly understood his reaction.
It would have been stranger if he hadn't been shocked.
The one who stepped forward to ease the situation was, as expected, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.
“If it were me, I would’ve drawn my sword already.”
Jin Paecheon looked at him.
Ignoring the usual greetings, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader continued with a sympathetic expression.
“What kind of Unorthodox Alliance Leader would come to help the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?”
“He should be praying for it to collapse.”
He glanced toward Baek Jagang in the kitchen.
“And what kind of Demonic Cult Leader would teach cooking to the Unorthodox Alliance Leader?”
“He’d probably send a secret message to the Poison King.”
He mimicked whispering.
‘Season the Unorthodox Alliance Leader’s soup with Formless Deadly Poison, not salt.’
The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader seemed quite pleased teasing these powerful figures.
His gaze returned to Jin Paecheon.
“And finally, what kind of Martial Alliance Leader would come alone to the Demonic Cult’s headquarters to help them?”
“Isn’t this all nonsense?”
“An illusion?”
“Dark sorcery?”
“If it were me, I would have already blown this place apart.”
Jin Paecheon suddenly relaxed.
Now that he thought about it,
His presence here was already absurd.
At this moment, Chief Strategist Jeogal Hyeon was probably hiding the fact that Jin Paecheon had come here alone.
No one would believe it anyway.
And if they did, they would explode in outrage.
Jin Paecheon slowly looked around the room.
First, Geom Woojin.
Yes.
No illusion could replicate that aura.
Next, Baek Jagang.
The man he knew would never behave like this.
Why are you sticking your head out like that?
And what is that on your face?
His gaze moved to the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.
Though speaking nonsense, he was still an absolute master.
Yet here he behaved as though he were simply part of the group.
Then Jin Paecheon looked at the two Demon Supremes.
The Fist Demon King.
The Poison King.
The Heavenly Demon has truly resolved himself.
Finally,
The Sword King.
Jin Paecheon knew him well.
Such a powerful figure joining the cult was worrying.
First there had been Geom Mugeuk.
Now everyone around him was changing.
It made Jin Paecheon feel strangely anxious.
Am I the only one left unchanged?
At last he cupped his fist politely.
“My greetings are late.”
Everyone stood and returned the greeting.
Afterward Jin Paecheon said,
“It seems I did not need to come.”
With the people gathered here,
They could destroy the martial world several times over.
The Fist Demon King guided him to a seat.
“Please sit here.”
“Thank you.”
Baek Jagang returned to the kitchen.
“I’ll finish cooking. You two talk.”
Geom Woojin sat across from Jin Paecheon.
Knowing Jin Paecheon’s personality, he understood how difficult it must have been for him to come here.
“You came alone?”
Jin Paecheon nodded.
“I don’t remember the last time I traveled alone like this.”
Despite his worries about the Martial Alliance,
He had also felt something unexpected.
Freedom.
On the journey here, he occasionally stopped at inns to eat.
No one recognized him.
No one imagined the Martial Alliance Leader was quietly eating noodles in the corner.
It was completely different from his usual official processions.
Listening to ordinary travelers talk was strangely enjoyable.
Stories about rising young talents.
Rumors about escort agencies.
Idle gossip.
If the situation had not been urgent,
He might have visited tea houses.
Walked through markets.
Jin Paecheon wondered if Geom Woojin had experienced such moments.
“Have you ever traveled alone?”
“I once traveled quietly with my son.”
“That must have been pleasant.”
Geom Woojin nodded.
“When you return, spend some time with your grandchildren.”
Would Jin Hagun or Jin Haryeong find it burdensome?
At that moment, Geom Woojin noticed the sword at Jin Paecheon’s waist.
“That sword… the Gentleman’s Sword?”
“You recognized it immediately.”
The others were startled.
The Greatest Gentleman’s Sword in All of History.
Few had seen it before.
“This sword belongs to my grandson.”
What mattered here was not the owner,
But the giver.
“Your son gave it to him.”
Everyone froze.
Then they nodded.
Of course.
Only Geom Mugeuk would casually give away such a legendary sword.
Geom Woojin smiled faintly.
Fist Demon King understood that smile.
Geom Woojin had personally given his son the Black Demon Sword.
Yet Geom Mugeuk had gifted another supreme sword away without hesitation.
How could a father not be proud?
Even Fist Demon King felt pleased.
He glanced at the Poison King.
The Poison King still stared blankly out the window.
Yet he was surely listening.
The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader suddenly exploded.
“So he gives generously to everyone else!”
“And yet to me, !”
His anger turned toward the Sword King.
“That White Flower Sword was also a gift from the Young Cult Leader!”
“And those shoes!”
“He gave those too!”
“He gives to everyone except me!”
Geom Woojin responded calmly.
“Did you not say you were happy because of my son?”
Instead of comforting him,
He reminded him of that statement.
The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader squinted.
“I can clearly see who the Young Cult Leader resembles.”
Geom Woojin laughed.
Baek Jagang returned with the dishes.
“My first dish in life.”
“Prepared under Cult Leader Geom’s guidance.”
Jin Paecheon suddenly realized again how bizarre the situation was.
The Martial Alliance Leader eating food cooked by the Unorthodox Alliance Leader inside the Demonic Cult headquarters.
His heart pounded,
But not from fear.
It felt more like the thrill of childhood mischief.
Geom Woojin tasted the food first.
Baek Jagang watched nervously.
Geom Woojin nodded.
“You may descend the mountain now.”
Baek Jagang beamed.
Then he looked toward Jin Paecheon.
Jin Paecheon cautiously took a bite.
Surely there’s no poison…
With the Poison King nearby, the thought naturally occurred.
He chewed slowly.
Prepared to spit it out.
Instead,
His eyes widened.
“Why is this…?”
Then he said in astonishment,
“It’s delicious.”
Baek Jagang’s face brightened.
Now the others began eating as well.
Fist Demon King nodded in approval.
Naturally.
Who had taught him?
The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader gave a calmer review.
“It would be better if it were spicier.”
“But it’s excellent.”
“Next time I’ll make it properly spicy,” Baek Jagang promised.
Jin Paecheon thought quietly:
Will there truly be a next time like this?
Their previous meeting had been tense.
Yet here they were again,
In the same place.
Finally the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader asked,
“So Alliance Leader Baek came because he was bored.”
“Why did Alliance Leader Jin come?”
Jin Paecheon glanced at Baek Jagang.
“Is there any liquor?”
Fist Demon King brought a bottle.
Geom Woojin poured Jin Paecheon a cup.
“Thank you for coming.”
Jin Paecheon drank.
“I didn’t drink a drop on the way here.”
“One cup should be fine.”
Then he spoke honestly.
“I came because of Hagun.”
Seeing the Gentleman’s Sword earlier had made him realize he would come eventually.
“I have always been strict with my grandson.”
He had demanded perfection.
Righteousness.
Responsibility.
“Looking back…”
“That was for my own pride.”
“I wanted people to say I had educated him well.”
Everyone listened quietly.
“I pushed him all his life.”
“So shouldn’t I grant him one request?”
Jin Paecheon looked at Geom Woojin.
“At the very least…”
“Before I die here…”
“You will not die.”
He had come to fulfill his grandson’s wish,
To protect his friend’s father.
Geom Woojin simply met his gaze.
He did not say thank you.
The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader muttered,
“If the Heavenly Killing Star has any sense…”
“He won’t come here.”
“All three of you are here.”
But someone said firmly,
“He will come.”
It was Geom Woojin.
Everyone looked at him.
“Before you two arrived, I had doubts.”
“But now…”
“He will certainly come.”
While others thought the gathering would scare the Heavenly Killing Star away,
Geom Woojin believed the opposite.
“Because fate has gathered us.”
“Just as you opened that door and entered…”
“He will open that door as well.”
Geom Woojin felt destiny turning.
He continued quietly.
“I know you do not trust me.”
Jin Paecheon and Baek Jagang remained silent.
Even after this battle,
Geom Woojin would still pursue unifying the martial world.
A greater conflict awaited.
“However,” Geom Woojin said,
“let us treat this battle separately.”
This was not about pride.
Nor martial honor.
“This battle concerns our children.”
Geom Mugeuk.
Jin Hagun.
Bih Sa-in.
They had risked their lives fighting those enemies.
“As time passes…”
“They will live difficult lives.”
Great responsibilities awaited them.
“So for now…”
“Let them laugh.”
“Chat.”
“Sing.”
“Dance.”
Geom Woojin looked around the table.
Then he said quietly,
“Let us end this fight in our generation.”