Chapter 864 ·Wipe Your Mouth First

“That’s disappointing.”

Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn set their chopsticks down at the same time.

“It doesn’t suit my taste either. We’re not the kind of people who pay for food and leave it unfinished.”

They hadn’t even eaten half.

“Are you sure this is the right place? There isn’t another inn with the same name in the next village?”

“No, this is the place.”

Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn sat side by side, looking down at a booklet.

Central Plains Gourmet Exploration.

It was a booklet he had bought long ago when he visited a bookstore guided by the Blood Heaven Blade Demon together with his father. He had bought it intending to bring his father later, but since they were passing by, he had come first with Lee Ahn to check.

“Maybe our expectations were too high.”

“Not every place listed in a book is good, but I thought at least it would meet the basics.”

“But that place we went to last time was good.”

Geom Mugeuk drew a long line across the name of this inn in the booklet.

“Good thing we came in advance. If we had brought Father, he might have used the cooks as sacrifices and started the Grand Demon War right here.”

At Geom Mugeuk’s joke, Lee Ahn laughed.

After leaving the cult, the two were, quite literally, enjoying themselves. They sought out famous inns and restaurants known for good food, and they made sure to stop and admire any place known for its scenic beauty.

When they camped, they fell asleep under the stars, and they even swam together in clear waters.

Geom Mugeuk showed off his skills by cooking for her, and in kind villages, they stayed the night and helped with farm work.

Geom Mugeuk did not rush. He traveled leisurely with her. He did not worry in advance about what awaited them at the end.

Lee Ahn could feel it. Geom Mugeuk was turning this journey into one meant for her. That made her happy, yet at the same time, a sense of unease crept in. She had never enjoyed such a relaxed time with him before. She had never been this happy in her life.

At that moment, a waiter came and placed dishes and alcohol on the table.

“This isn’t what we ordered?”

Hey, you bastard! It already tastes bad, so why bring more! She couldn’t bring herself to say it, and just then, the waiter looked toward a corner table and spoke.

“The guest over there has specially sent this dish for the young lady.”

Looking over, a middle-aged man was staring at them.

Lee Ahn slightly lowered her head to express her thanks, then said to Geom Mugeuk as if boasting,

“Did you see that? How many times has this been now? The eighth?”

“It’s the sixth.”

Wherever Lee Ahn went, attention gathered. This wasn’t the first or second time someone had sent dishes like this.

Though Lee Ahn had said it was bothersome and suggested wearing a bamboo hat, Geom Mugeuk made her go without it.

“Enjoy it, enjoy it to your heart’s content.”

“Aren’t you the one enjoying it more, Young Master?”

“Was it that obvious?”

In truth, Geom Mugeuk was enjoying it more. Eyes were drawn to the beautiful Lee Ahn, and then inevitably to himself. Whenever that happened, Geom Mugeuk wore a proud expression, as if saying, I’m the man traveling with such a beauty.

“Oh, that person is coming this way?”

The man who had sent the food walked toward them.

He was a fairly handsome middle-aged man. At a glance, he wore expensive clothes and was adorned with gold and jade accessories.

Geom Mugeuk quietly stared at him, then glanced at Lee Ahn, as if asking, Do you recognize it? Lee Ahn smiled and nodded.

“You’ve improved a lot, recognizing it even from afar.”

“You can tell at a glance.”

By then, the man had arrived in front of them.

“Is this your first time in this town?”

Geom Mugeuk smiled brightly, lifting the booklet he was holding.

“As you can see, I’m traveling with my junior sister.”

The man introduced himself.

“I am a man named Dam Ho.”

“I am Geom Yeon. Not the ‘connection’ Yeon, but the ‘acting’ Yeon.”

Lee Ahn also introduced herself.

“I’m Lee Ahn.”

Though his name was known, Geom Mugeuk used Geom Yeon, but Lee Ahn used her real name. She used both her face and her name as they were.

“Seeing you two reminds me of old times, so I sent over some drinks and dishes. Since meeting like this is also fate, let’s share a table. After all, in the martial world, there is nothing more meaningful than forming new connections, isn’t there?”

Without waiting for permission, Dam Ho sat down across from them. His words and actions were full of confidence.

“I’ll pay for the drinks and food today.”

“I had a good dream last night. Perhaps it was an omen of such a joyful occasion.”

Though one might expect him to dislike having their time interrupted, Geom Mugeuk accepted him without resistance, for reasons unknown.

Dam Ho looked at Lee Ahn in admiration.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a beautiful young lady.”

He did not hide his feelings.

“What is the relationship between you two?”

“She is my junior sister and my friend.”

At that, Dam Ho asked,

“Doesn’t it make you uneasy, traveling with such a beautiful junior sister?”

“What would make me uneasy?”

“I mean whether someone might come and pick a fight. All sorts of riffraff are bound to gather around a beauty.”

Though it wasn’t something he should be saying himself, he spoke with confidence.

Geom Mugeuk smiled.

“My junior sister is good at fighting, so it’s fine. Now then, let’s drink and enjoy ourselves! Ah, since you’re treating us anyway, could you perhaps treat us at the inn next door instead?”

---

In front of the Chuga Sword Gate, a group of martial artists had formed a formation.

They were none other than martial artists of the Martial Alliance. They had surrounded the area on all sides, standing guard so that no one could enter or leave.

At that place, one man arrived, leading a group of martial artists. The martial artists all bowed their heads in unison. The one who had arrived leading the Demon-Slaying Brigade was none other than the Young Leader, Jin Hagun.

“What happened?”

At Jin Hagun’s question, a Martial Alliance martial artist answered.

“The second son of the Chuga Sword Gate has been taken hostage by unidentified individuals.”

Since it was not something ordinary branch martial artists could handle, they had urgently requested help from the Demon-Slaying Brigade. Fortunately, the brigade had been conducting operations nearby.

“They took a hostage in broad daylight? Who could it be?”

“Their identity has not yet been revealed.”

The fact that it was not a perfectly executed crime could only mean one thing.

“It's highly likely that this was an act of revenge.”

The Demon-Slaying Brigade martial artists nodded, as if sharing Jin Hagun’s thoughts. Otherwise, they would not be carrying out such a hostage situation.

However, there was one strange point.

“Did the Chuga Sword Gate contact the Alliance from the beginning?”

The Chuga Sword Gate was a renowned orthodox sect. They had many experts of their own, so they would not have sought help easily. Moreover, from what he had heard, the Sect Leader of the Chuga Sword Gate was known for his pride.

“It seems they failed in the rescue operation.”

“The Chuga Sword Gate failed?”

“The Sect Leader himself tried to go, but his retainers barely managed to stop him.”

The Chuga Sword Gate he knew had quite a number of famous experts. If even they had failed, it meant the opponent’s martial arts were formidable.

“It seems that since his son is being held hostage, things are not going smoothly.”

At his subordinate’s report, Jin Hagun nodded and asked again,

“What are their demands?”

“They requested delicious alcohol and food.”

“Alcohol and food?”

Not only Jin Hagun, but also the Demon-Slaying Brigade martial artists showed expressions of confusion. Usually, when petty rogues took hostages, they demanded alcohol and food.

But these were experts capable of thwarting a rescue attempt by the Chuga Sword Gate. Yet they were asking for food and alcohol? Something did not quite add up.

“That is the Chuga Sect Leader.”

The Chuga Sect Leader, Chu Yeom, walked toward Jin Hagun. The two cupped their fists politely toward each other.

“It has been a while, Young Leader.”

“Sect Leader.”

Given the situation, Chu Yeom’s complexion did not look good.

“It is regrettable that we meet under such circumstances.”

“Right now, your son’s life is more important than that.”

Jin Hagun cautiously asked Chu Yeom,

“Is there anyone who might hold a grudge against him?”

Chu Yeom shook his head.

“My sons, especially the second one, are truly clever and kind. They have never caused me a moment of trouble.”

From Jin Hagun’s experience, when a child caused trouble, he had rarely seen parents who truly knew what kind of person their child was. That was why parental testimony was often unhelpful.

“Where are they?”

“They have taken control of the rear garden annex.”

“From here on, we will take over.”

“I leave it to you.”

Jin Hagun led the Demon-Slaying Brigade into the rear garden. As befitting the Martial Alliance’s finest elite, they moved without a sound.

After having the Demon-Slaying Brigade secure the rear garden like an iron wall, he took only about a dozen of them and entered the building.

Even as they entered, there was no reaction from inside.

Completely erasing his presence, Jin Hagun silently approached a window.

Through the narrow gap, he looked inside.

In the distance, he saw a young man kneeling. His face was so swollen it was obvious he had been beaten severely. He was undoubtedly the second son of the Chuga Sword Gate.

‘At least he’s not dead yet.’

He also saw martial artists collapsed nearby. They were likely the experts of the Chuga Sword Gate who had attempted the rescue. Judging by the feeling, they did not seem dead either. However, the ones carrying out the hostage situation were nowhere to be seen.

‘We need to hurry.’

Jin Hagun signaled to his subordinates.

—Everyone enters at once.

The Demon-Slaying Brigade members, each positioned at different windows, all nodded. One slipped up toward the ceiling.

Jin Hagun did not hesitate with the operation. The moment his signal dropped—

Crack!

Jin Hagun and the Demon-Slaying Brigade stormed in simultaneously through doors, windows, and even the ceiling.

Shiiiiik.

The one who dropped from the ceiling wrapped around the kneeling man and retreated backward, shouting,

“The hostage is secured!”

Normally, attacks would have already been launched before those words were spoken.

Yet Jin Hagun stood there blankly, staring ahead without any reaction. The other Demon-Slaying Brigade members also froze mid-motion, their swords halted in the air.

The one who had rescued the hostage from above belatedly looked forward.

‘Gasp.’

He too froze like a statue. Before them unfolded a sight that left no choice but to freeze.

Up ahead, two people were looking at them. One of them, a young man holding a chicken drumstick in one hand and a cup of alcohol in the other, was someone he recognized.

It was Geom Mugeuk.

With oil glistening on his lips, Geom Mugeuk spoke to Jin Hagun.

“You came?”

It was the first time seeing him since he had stopped the Heavenly Killing Star. He had been wondering why there had been no contact.

But now, holding a drumstick during a hostage situation, with that greasy mouth—what? “You came?”

So shocked and dumbfounded was he that at first, he wondered if it was merely someone who looked alike. He could not have imagined that the one behind this hostage situation involving the Chuga Sword Gate’s son would be Geom Mugeuk.

But in front of Geom Mugeuk, Lee Ahn was drinking. She too was firmly gripping a drumstick and gnawing on it.

Lee Ahn quickly set down the drumstick, took out a handkerchief from her bosom, and wiped her mouth.

Then she politely bowed her head to Jin Hagun.

After returning the greeting, Jin Hagun turned his head.

The second son of the Chuga Sword Gate, Chu Jung, spoke with difficulty.

“……Please save me.”

Not only was his face swollen, several of his teeth were broken.

When Jin Hagun looked back at Geom Mugeuk,

“It wasn't me. Lee Ahn did it. She said she couldn't endure it anymore. She said there wouldn't be another chance to beat him later.”

As Geom Mugeuk tattled, Lee Ahn made an incredulous expression. Her face clearly said, You’re seriously tattling that? Even what I said? But she could not deny that she had hit him.

“The same goes for that one.”

At the back wall, a man was hanging. As if clothes were hung on a wall, he was suspended there. Astonishingly, it was Dam Ho, the man they had met at the inn. He too was completely battered, his head drooping.

From this scene alone, they looked exactly like a pair of male and female villains.

At that moment, the door opened and Sect Leader Chu Yeom entered. The Demon-Slaying Brigade members guarding the entrance followed behind. They too were shocked by the scene inside.

Chu Yeom rushed to his son.

“Jung-ah. Are you alright?”

Seeing his son’s condition, Chu Yeom’s eyes turned cold.

“What are you doing? Why are you not capturing them at once?”

Jin Hagun asked quietly,

“What did you do?”

Chu Yeom flinched in surprise.

Jin Hagun had not asked the ones staging the hostage situation, but his own son.

With cold eyes, Chu Yeom asked,

“What are you doing right now, Captain?”

Earlier he had addressed him as Young Leader, but now he called him Captain. It showed how displeased he was with the situation.

How could Jin Hagun fail to understand? He knew exactly what kind of people Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn were. If they had beaten someone to this extent, then he must have done something worthy of it. Especially if even Lee Ahn had been unable to hold back. In that case, it could only have been something truly despicable.

At that moment, Geom Mugeuk’s voice came from behind.

“There’s no point asking him. He’ll never be able to say it. What he did is something that can’t be spoken aloud.”

Hearing that, Chu Yeom shouted angrily,

“Silence! Who do you think you are to spout such nonsense?!”

Lee Ahn took out another handkerchief from her bosom and handed it to Geom Mugeuk.

“Wipe your mouth first.”

“Thanks.”

Geom Mugeuk wiped the grease from his lips.

That action only angered Chu Yeom further. Who would dare act like this in front of him?

“You dared to take my son hostage and slaughter the martial artists of the Chuga Sword Gate. With such crimes on your heads, you have made yourselves enemies of the entire righteous martial world!”

At that moment, Chu Yeom’s eyes met Geom Mugeuk’s.

His heart dropped instantly. The words that had been pouring out stopped short.

Even without releasing killing intent or energy, Geom Mugeuk overwhelmed him with a single glance.

“You’re wrong on both counts.”

“What?”

“First, those people who came in earlier are all alive.”

Nearby Demon-Slaying Brigade members checked the fallen individuals. Indeed, just as Geom Mugeuk had said, they were all alive.

“No one is injured. Only their Devil’s Hole and pressure points have been sealed.”

At the report, Chu Yeom’s expression hardened. He knew well that subduing them without injury was far more difficult than killing them.

‘Just how?’

They could be killed with a surprise attack. But sealing the Devil's Hole of experts of that caliber without causing them any injury? That was no easy feat.

“We did not take your son hostage either.”

Geom Mugeuk’s gaze turned to Jin Hagun.

“We were simply waiting for the Captain of the Demon-Slaying Brigade to arrive.”

Jin Hagun asked calmly,

“Why were you waiting for me?”

With everyone watching, Geom Mugeuk answered with a serious face,

“Because I wanted to see you?”

What nonsense! Is this the time for jokes?! Jin Hagun conveyed that emotion through his eyes and expression. Unfortunately, the Demon-Slaying Brigade members behind him could not witness that rare expression.

Soon, Geom Mugeuk revealed the real reason.

“There was an incident recently that stirred up the martial world, wasn’t there?”

In an instant, Jin Hagun’s expression hardened, and the name of an organization slipped out.

“Indulgence Sect!”