Chapter 875: Making a Friend a Public Enemy of the Martial World

The water flowing down from the edge of the roof looked as though it were shedding tears.

Jin Hagun lifted the roof with a sharp motion and checked whether anyone had been trapped underneath. Fortunately, no one was buried there.

He looked as though he had fallen headfirst into a mud pit and crawled back out. Aside from his eyes, his entire body was caked in mud.

Bih Sa-in was lifting a large tree that had been uprooted and swept away, moving it aside a short distance away.

He too was covered head to toe in mud, yet he worked without the slightest concern.

Bih Sa-in glanced over at Jin Hagun. From his expression, he could tell how upset he was. When they had first seen this place reduced to ruin, Jin Hagun had been the first to rush over.

Han Seol had filled a large jar with clean water and was washing and treating the injured. She applied Golden Wound Medicine to their wounds and wrapped them with clean bandages.

Beside her, Jin Haryeong was cooking soup in a large pot and preparing rice.

Those who had lost their homes had no appetite at all, but it was precisely at times like this that they needed to eat. Everyone was so exhausted they looked ready to collapse at any moment, and above all, the children needed to be fed.

Lee Ahn was caring for children who had lost their parents. She gathered the crying children into her arms. No one understood their feelings better than she did, the fear that came with realizing there was no longer anyone in this world to care for them.

And also that the terror they felt and experienced at this very moment would affect their entire lives.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. Everything will be alright.”

Lee Ahn embraced each child one by one.

At that moment, Geom Mugeuk shouted from over there.

“Everyone, come here for a moment.”

They all paused what they were doing and walked over.

Geum Arin stared at them in shock.

‘He really brought his friends!’

What was even more surprising was that they were helping with the restoration work here alongside them.

When Geum Arin had first seen Blood Money Sack, she had realized he was stronger than her.

But she couldn’t sense the martial prowess of the five people standing before her now. They seemed stronger than her, yet at the same time, they seemed like people who hadn’t learned martial arts at all.

If she hadn’t known about Geom Yeon, she would have thought they were people who didn’t know martial arts. It was impossible that five young people gathered together were all experts beyond her perception.

But considering that they were brought by Geom Yeon, and judging from Geom Yeon’s martial ability,

‘All of them are far stronger than me… and even Blood Money Sack.’

And they were this young. Just who were they?

“I’ll somehow try to calm down those angry friends.”

Geom Mugeuk spoke as if he were on the same side and sidled up close to Blood Money Sack, whispering.

“Especially that friend over there. He’s very angry. You can tell just by looking at him that he’s as stubborn as they come, can’t you?”

The one Geom Mugeuk was looking at was Jin Hagun.

Blood Money Sack tried to gauge Jin Hagun’s strength, but he couldn’t tell anything.

If he were truly an expert, he wouldn’t be doing this kind of work himself. Not to mention being covered in mud.

Because of this preconception, Blood Money Sack did not think these young men before him were stronger than him.

Still, just in case, he asked cautiously.

“What kind of man is he?”

“He’s a friend who finally found freedom after breaking the chains that bound him.”

“Then shouldn’t he be happy instead?”

“This is his territory. He’s just gone back to being a work addict.”

How could Blood Money Sack possibly know that this meant it was the territory of the Righteous Faction?

“Our uncle here is trying to take the money meant for rebuilding homes. On top of that, he even said he’d bribe a Martial Alliance martial artist to smooth things over, so of course he’s furious.”

Jin Hagun strode toward the two of them.

His momentum was unusual, and Blood Money Sack instinctively drew his sword.

The blade pointed at Geom Mugeuk’s neck.

“If you so much as twitch a finger, this man dies.”

Jin Hagun raised his hand without hesitation and flicked his finger. None of the others watching from behind showed even the slightest tension.

“How ridiculous. Do you think I’d fall for such a trick? This man is clearly your leader.”

At that, Geom Mugeuk burst into loud laughter and said to everyone,

“So even a villain like him thinks I look like the leader?”

At the word “villain,” Blood Money Sack twitched, and Jin Hagun added fuel to the fire.

“If you can kill him, go ahead. No, please kill him. We’d like to see how exactly that guy dies.”

What on earth were they saying? And why was everyone behind them nodding?

Blood Money Sack thought they were mocking him, believing he wouldn’t be able to kill him.

“You little brats dare!”

Swish! Slash!

Without hesitation, Blood Money Sack’s sword cut through Geom Mugeuk’s neck.

Clutching his neck, Geom Mugeuk collapsed.

“There. I granted your wish.”

According to his expectations, they should all have been shocked and horrified, yet not a single person watching showed any surprise. Not even one.

‘Was that loudmouth just a worthless existence to them?’

In any case, after easily killing one of them, Blood Money Sack became convinced that they were people without martial arts.

If there had been a true expert among them, they wouldn’t have just watched him die.

“Who should I kill next?”

From the moment he cut Geom Mugeuk’s neck, he had already decided to kill them all.

At that moment, someone spoke.

“Who else? You should start with that heartless man over there who told you to kill his friend.”

Blood Money Sack widened his eyes and looked at the speaker. The one he thought was dead was lying on his side, propped up on his elbow with his head resting on his palm.

“I definitely cut his neck?”

He had felt the sensation of cutting through it. So how was he alive? If this was a trick, how in the world had he done it?

Geom Mugeuk picked Bih Sa-in next, after Jin Hagun.

“Next, let’s go with that violent guy who just stood by and watched without stopping his friend from telling you to kill him.”

Swoosh.

Blood Money Sack swung his sword toward the lying Geom Mugeuk.

But at some point, Geom Mugeuk was already standing beside him. Naturally, he hadn’t seen how he moved. It felt as though he were dreaming.

“No, what are you doing? I’m on your side. Uncle, do you really think that one guy over there can stop him alone?”

Jin Hagun was walking forward again.

This time, Blood Money Sack thrust his sword toward him.

Swish! Swish!

He struck at the fastest speed he could muster, but Jin Hagun easily dodged and counterattacked.

Thud.

With a single move, Jin Hagun subdued his Devil’s Hole.

Only then did Blood Money Sack realize—they were all experts incomparable to him.

“Which arm did you say it was? The right arm? Just cut off one!”

At Geom Mugeuk’s words, Blood Money Sack was startled out of his wits. That was right. He had been the one who said he would cut off limbs.

Imagining himself with both arms and legs severed was truly horrifying.

The words that burst out of him reflexively were:

“If you touch me, you’ll have to deal with the Martial Alliance.”

Geom Mugeuk let out a sigh beside him.

“I told you not to bring up the Martial Alliance.”

Jin Hagun’s fist shot toward his abdomen.

Kraaaack!

Thud!

With that single strike, his Dantian shattered and broke apart. For a martial artist, the pain of having one’s Dantian destroyed was far worse than having a limb severed.

Blood Money Sack rolled on the ground, screaming.

“Aaaaaaaah!”

The physical pain was one thing, but the despair of losing all the internal qi he had accumulated over a lifetime, and knowing he could never regain it, brought an even greater agony.

“Damn it! Damn you! You bastard, I’ll kill you! Aaaaaaagh!”

As he writhed on the ground in madness, Jin Hagun looked down at him coldly and said,

“Why cut off your limbs? You should keep them intact and pay for your crimes. I won’t let you lie around comfortably and eat.”

He would be sent to one of the harshest prisons of the Martial Alliance, where he would labor until death.

Blood Money Sack’s eyes burned with hatred.

“Bastard, I will definitely take revenge.”

Even though his Dantian had been shattered, there was a reason he could still shout so boldly.

“You wouldn’t know who I’ve bribed all this time. Just how great those people are. No matter how strong you are, there’s no way you can handle an organization as large as the Martial Alliance.”

Blood Money Sack laughed like a madman as he spoke.

“I’ll make you a public enemy of the Martial World.”

Jin Hagun replied with cold eyes.

“You’ll meet them all in prison. Everyone connected to you will be tracked down without exception.”

“How would someone like you even—”

Jin Hagun turned to Lim Hyuk and asked,

“Please take him to the nearest Martial Alliance branch.”

He then revealed his identity himself.

“Tell them he was sent by Jin Hagun, Leader of the Demon-Slaying Brigade, and instruct them to transfer him to the main division.”

Not only Lim Hyuk, but Geum Arin as well, were startled. There was no martial artist who didn’t know that the Demon-Slaying Brigade Leader was the future Martial Alliance Leader.

Blood Money Sack’s eyes widened. That man was the Young Martial Alliance Leader?

“Nonsense!”

Geom Mugeuk crouched beside the fallen Blood Money Sack and said mockingly,

“That’s why I told you earlier not to bring up the Martial Alliance. Why do you keep talking about the Martial Alliance?”

Looking into his eyes filled with disbelief, Geom Mugeuk added in a whisper,

“‘I’ll definitely make that friend into a public enemy of the Martial World!’ He’s gradually returning to his true nature.”

“……What the hell are you people?”

“We’re just youths who ran away from home.”

That was the end of the conversation. Geom Mugeuk pressed both his Devil’s Hole and his water blood at the same time.

He could guess why Jin Hagun hadn’t cut off his limbs. The children were watching from afar. It was because he didn’t want them to see such a sight. That was the kind of person Jin Hagun was.

And in any case, the life awaiting Blood Money Sack would be far more miserable and painful than living with severed limbs.

“Now then, everyone, introduce yourselves.”

Bih Sa-in introduced himself to Geum Arin.

“I am Bih Sa-in of the Unorthodox Alliance.”

Geom Mugeuk added from the side,

“And the future Unorthodox Alliance Leader.”

Geum Arin and Lim Hyuk’s eyes widened even more. It sounded like a joke, yet they could tell it wasn’t. That terrifying face standing there silently was far from joking.

The Young Martial Alliance Leader and the future Unorthodox Alliance Leader were together?

Geum Arin’s eyes trembled. And they were being introduced as friends?

It wasn’t just them.

“I’m Han Seol from the Ice Palace.”

Again, Geom Mugeuk revealed her identity.

“The Young Palace Master of the Northern Sea Ice Palace.”

Even the famed Young Palace Master of the Northern Sea Ice Palace, whom she had only heard about, was here. Though her white robes were stained, the cold aura in her eyes proved those words were no lie.

She learned that Jin Haryeong was Jin Hagun’s younger sister and the one leading the Gathering of Successors, and that Lee Ahn was the Commander of the Tenebrous Ghosts Corps of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

Naturally, Geum Arin’s gaze turned to Geom Mugeuk.

Then what about you, who counts all these people as friends? The one who could bring such extraordinary figures here?

“Just who are you?”

Geom Mugeuk looked at her and spoke calmly.

“I am Geom Mugeuk, the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.”

“!”

Geum Arin’s legs gave out from sheer shock.

She couldn’t believe this situation. The Young Martial Alliance Leader, the future Unorthodox Alliance Leader, and the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?

The future of the entire Martial World stood before her eyes.

Geom Mugeuk had brought the entire Martial World to her.

People of such incredible status were covered in mud, helping others.

With their level of skill, they could have handled everything effortlessly with Void Telekinesis. Like her, they could have simply ordered new houses to be built.

And yet, they worked directly alongside the people, and even cooked meals for them and the children.

Lim Hyuk sent a Voice Transmission to her as she stood there blankly.

—Hurry and greet them.

Geum Arin respectfully cupped her fists and greeted them in a trembling voice.

“I am Geum Arin of the Golden Dragon Family.”

She looked at Geom Mugeuk and spoke honestly.

“Why are you introducing such great people to someone like me?”

Geom Mugeuk stood before her. The playfulness had disappeared from his face, leaving only seriousness.

“You were doing well, Young Mistress. Far better than I expected.”

When he arrived here, he had already learned of her prior good deeds. He had heard that she was spending a great deal of money to help the people here.

“I’m glad I chose you back then.”

Emotion surged within her chest. It was more empowering than any other words.

“Alright, we’ve exchanged greetings, so let’s get back to work!”

Geum Arin joined in the restoration work. It was the first time in her life she had ever done such things. She carried loads as instructed and took care of the children. She worked incredibly hard.

She even ate together with them there.

When Geom Mugeuk first suggested they eat, Geum Arin had instinctively thought of the finest restaurant to host them.

But what he meant was to eat the food made there, together with everyone else.

At that moment, Geum Arin felt ashamed.

‘I still have a long way to go.’

The thought lingered in her mind as she ate, and she eventually confessed honestly that she had such shameful thoughts.

Geom Mugeuk replied,

“You should’ve said so earlier! The job was tough. We could’ve gone somewhere nice to eat.”

The Young Cult Leader comforted her embarrassment with a joke.

After the meal, Jin Hagun looked toward the collapsed embankment in the distance and said,

“I didn’t even know there was a dam here. I only learned this time that there had been floods several times.”

He was blaming himself.

This was clearly the territory of the Martial Alliance, and he wondered if strengthening the dam beforehand could have prevented the deaths of innocent people.

Geom Mugeuk comforted him.

“As if that’s the only thing we don’t know. We’ll face countless situations like this in the future.”

“Even so, I can’t help but feel angry.”

“That anger will guide you into becoming a good leader.”

Jin Hagun looked at Geom Mugeuk and said,

“Or will that anger lead me to the unorthodox path?”

It was Bih Sa-in who responded to his joke.

“For you to become unorthodox would be just as difficult as Mugeuk here becoming quiet.”

The three of them smiled at one another. As their journey continued, their friendship deepened.

After finishing their meal, they parted ways with Geum Arin.

The last thing Geom Mugeuk said to her was this:

“Now, the ‘yeon’ in my name is not the ‘performance’ yeon, but the ‘fate’ yeon.”

Geum Arin bowed respectfully.

“I will cherish the lesson you have given me for the rest of my life.”

Geom Mugeuk hadn’t told her a single word about how to live. Instead, he had shown her through his actions how one should live.

Even people as great as them were living passionately as they sought their own paths. Even someone as great as him traveled all this way just to keep a passing promise.

Leaving behind a profound lesson, Geom Mugeuk and his group departed.

Geum Arin and Lim Hyuk stood there, watching until they disappeared into the sunset.

“Uncle.”

“Yes, Young Mistress.”

“This isn’t a dream, right?”

“It isn’t.”

A bright smile spread across Geum Arin’s face, along with a newfound determination.

Today, Blood Money Sack lost his dantian. In its place, a radiant wish-granting pearl was born within the heart of the Young Mistress of the Golden Dragon Family.

“Perhaps the heavens gave me such an incredible connection so that I might live magnificently, just once?”