Chapter 198: A Mouthwatering Offer
Kim Muhyuk’s original plan was to make a deal with the Black Night Gang boss and obtain information on the orthodox-faction villains Choi Geon had executed in the past.
—I once killed the Black Night Gang boss’s lover, who was acting as a spy inside the Martial Alliance a long time ago. He was from a mid-sized sect under Supreme Pole Sword Gate. That fool of a Supreme Pole Sword Gate sect leader flew into a rage, saying there was no evidence, but...... I took his head directly to the Black Night Gang boss and confirmed it. Keulkeul.
Orthodox-faction villains who had done things worth killing them over usually had ties to the unorthodox martial world.
In the end, like gathered with like.
And the Five Great Unorthodox Sects would have the most connections and information of that kind.
If she was the Black Night Gang boss, who had reigned over the unorthodox martial world for decades, she must have been acquainted with plenty of hypocrites in the orthodox martial world as well.
In other words, if he used the information the Black Night Gang boss possessed, he could block most of the Eight Great Sects’ attacks that would pour out during the special audit, and even counterattack.
Of course, she would never agree to a deal obediently, so I was planning to trade with the major future information I have as payment, but.......
Thanks to the Black Night Gang boss investigating Blue Wolves and forming an extremely large misunderstanding, it seemed he could get what he wanted without giving away future information.
“......Did you say Heavenly Demon Cult?”
The moment the words Heavenly Demon Cult came out, wariness grew much sharper in the Black Night Gang boss’s eyes.
As expected, she knows.
Kim Muhyuk nodded silently with an indifferent attitude.
The Black Night Gang boss opened her mouth warily.
“I remember hearing what Ju Cheolgwan, that old man, said. He said he was pursuing an alliance with an organization called the Cult. To be precise, not the Cult, but.......”
The dead Black Heaven Society’s society leader’s name was Ju Cheolgwan.
Since the Black Heaven Society and the Black Night Gang had been allies for a long time, it would not have been strange if he had spoken about the Cult’s existence.
When the Black Night Gang boss dragged her words out, Kim Muhyuk gave a faint laugh and said,
[Red Worm. The Black Heaven Society’s society leader pursued an alliance with Red Worm, a subordinate organization of the Cult. How long are you going to keep probing me?]
“......Hm.”
When Kim Muhyuk mentioned the name of the mercenary organization known only to an extremely small number of people, the corners of the Black Night Gang boss’s mouth rose slightly.
“It seems you people are not unrelated to those Heavenly Demon Cult fellows. But why would someone so impressive come to me?”
Like the old ginger she was, the Black Night Gang boss remained a formidable opponent until the end.
Even though she was surprised by the unexpected identity of the other party, she had no intention whatsoever of making a deal that was disadvantageous to herself.
“I am a suspicious woman. I do not know what about you people I should trust enough to make a deal. How am I supposed to believe the words of a man whose face I do not even know?”
That was the conclusion the Black Night Gang boss reached.
Whatever the true identity of the organization called Blue Wolves was, she had no intention of opening a deal with people she could not trust.
One wrong move, and she too could be swept up and suffer heavy damage.
“Now get out of here. Tell that old Sword Demon I never want to see him again.”
The Black Night Gang boss turned away and gave the order to leave in a cold voice.
It carried the meaning that she would no longer concern herself with whatever Blue Wolves did, so they should not become involved with each other.
[Trust, is it.......]
Kim Muhyuk looked at her and briefly sank into thought.
He considered how he could persuade that cunning and suspicious old monster.
I can’t keep deceiving her for long anyway. There’s no need to.
The Black Night Gang boss was a villain who had laid a trap and tried to kill his teacher.
Kim Muhyuk intended to cut off that old monster’s head someday, and to do that, keeping her close would be more advantageous.
One year at the latest. I’ll clean up the Black Night Gang within that time.
So he calculated that it would be fine to show his cards now.
[What if I show you something you can trust right now?]
“You insolent brat. Since when did speaking informally to me become so natural for you?”
The final hurdle.
If he got through this, he could persuade the Black Night Gang boss.
Kim Muhyuk slowly removed the wolf mask he had been wearing and showed his face.
“......Huh.”
The Black Night Gang boss was first surprised by the face, which was much younger than she had imagined, then narrowed her brows at the feeling that she had seen him somewhere before.
“I remember seeing you recently. In the photograph the Sword Demon took back.......”
“I am Kim Muhyuk, an insignificant junior of the martial world.”
Kim Muhyuk offered a respectful martial salute and changed his speech to a polite tone.
However, rather than feeling like he was showing courtesy, it felt as though he had put on a new mask called an orthodox-faction young rising star and was speaking through it.
“As a young rising star of the orthodox martial world, I hold the record as the youngest pinnacle expert in the license exam. You have probably seen me on a screen at least once.”
“......The leader of Blue Wolves is merely a young rising star barely past twenty? Hahahahaha!”
The Black Night Gang boss burst into a shrill laugh.
Perhaps angered that she had been verbally sparring with a junior so far beneath her until now, the corners of her trembling eyes were laced with killing intent.
However, Kim Muhyuk was not done speaking yet.
“The demonic art Jang Jinmyeong learned was bestowed by the Cult. If he had not gotten greedy beyond his station, he would have remained with the great cause until the end, but in the end, we had no choice but to leak information so the Martial Alliance could clean him up.”
“......What?”
“After that, we made Sun and Moon Gate close its doors to dispose of evidence related to the Cult.”
The Black Night Gang boss’s eyebrows twitched. A bitter smile formed at the corners of Kim Muhyuk’s mouth.
“That cursed sword you coveted was an item the Tamra Alliance leader had hidden away. I killed around a hundred people and obtained it with my own hands. Did you know this information, Black Night Gang boss?”
“.......”
“I was also the one who cut off the Black Heaven Society’s society leader’s head. He had formed an alliance with the Cult, but he did not know his place and started doing useless things, so we deployed Blue Wolves’ elites, dealt with him, and recovered the Dark Flame Demonic Art.”
“......Do you think I cannot verify whether your words are true?”
Kim Muhyuk answered in a tone that suggested she obviously should.
“I have told you this much, so of course you should verify it yourself. If you do not even have that level of capability, you are not worth making a deal with.”
“You insolent brat......!”
“Recently, I hunted a Great Anomaly together with the Transcendent Extremity Gate sect leader. You can easily confirm that by asking acting sect leader Woo Hyunje.”
Every time Kim Muhyuk listed off something he had done, the Black Night Gang boss’s expression twisted in a strange way.
“Hah. I cannot even laugh.”
What he had just said was a clever mixture of lies and truth. No matter how excellent the Black Night Gang boss’s intelligence network was, she could not properly distinguish between them.
Even if only half of what this brat has laid out is true.......
The Black Night Gang boss was as thoughtful as she was suspicious.
Each and every thing Kim Muhyuk had mentioned was not something a small organization led by a young rising star barely past twenty could accomplish.
She could not even guess how meticulous an organization the Heavenly Demon Cult behind him must be.
The fact that they extended their hands to both the Martial Alliance and the Five Great Unorthodox Sects at the same time, yet their identity has not been exposed until now, is chilling enough by itself.
It was the first time the Black Night Gang boss’s hair had stood on end while facing a martial artist who was not even half her age.
“Ah, I haven’t told you the most important information yet.”
Step. Step.
Kim Muhyuk approached one step at a time and looked straight at the Black Night Gang boss.
He had clearly taken off the wolf mask, yet the Black Night Gang boss felt as though an even fiercer beast had leaped out from within it.
Without realizing it, the Black Night Gang boss clenched her fist tightly.
“I am Choi Geon the Sword Demon’s only direct disciple. That is why I was extremely displeased by what happened a few days ago.”
“......That is a lie!”
As if rejecting it, the Black Night Gang boss opened her eyes wide and glared at Kim Muhyuk.
“Anything else may be possible, but it is impossible for the Sword Demon to compromise with corrupt-path filth. Yes. I knew something was strange from the start.......”
As though she had finally found the other party’s deception, the Black Night Gang boss raised her eyes venomously.
Whatever else might be true, Choi Geon the Sword Demon was certainly a martial artist who would protect his convictions even with a blade at his throat.
Considering his disposition, becoming a member of an ominous organization like the Heavenly Demon Cult was absolutely impossible......
Hmph.
Kim Muhyuk smiled in a way that made anyone watching uneasy and said,
“That is precisely why Teacher devoted himself to the Cult.”
“......What?”
After deeply apologizing to his teacher in his heart, Kim Muhyuk continued.
“He is a demon that devours evil. He was expelled by the evil within the Eight Great Sects, and his hatred for evil deepened even further. The distinction between orthodox and unorthodox no longer has meaning. What is necessary to realize true justice is power. Teacher realized that and swore to become a member of the Cult.”
In order to persuade the Black Night Gang boss, Kim Muhyuk briefly imitated the eyes of the fanatics who had unfolded the Heavenly Demon Cult’s doctrines.
“If you cannot believe it, I will let you confirm it yourself.”
Kim Muhyuk took out his phone, called Choi Geon, and switched it to speakerphone so she could hear.
[......What is it?]
“Teacher. I am with the Black Night Gang boss right now. Could you say one word?”
After a short silence, Choi Geon spoke in a low voice.
[Keulkeul. If my disciple comes back with even a single hair harmed...... consider that day the day of your memorial rites.]
At the sticky killing intent that could be felt even through the phone, the Black Night Gang boss’s expression twisted.
“I will call you again.”
Kim Muhyuk hung up and looked at the Black Night Gang boss as though asking whether that had confirmed it.
And in that moment, the Black Night Gang boss inferred one fact from Choi Geon’s answer just now and from Choi Geon’s actions a few days ago.
No wonder the Sword Demon risked his life so strangely. He’s being brainwashed and controlled by that fanatic brat!
She could not help but misunderstand it that way.
Because there was no other reason for the Sword Demon, who had hated and punished evil his entire life, to be loyal to the Heavenly Demon Cult of all organizations.
There is no doubt that not only the Sword Demon, but Yeo Pilgeuk as well is being deceived by that bastard.......
In front of the Black Night Gang boss as she looked at him as if he were abominable, Kim Muhyuk put the wolf mask back on and said,
[Now that I have shown you this much, do I not have sufficient qualifications to open a deal with you, Boss?]
The initiative in the conversation had now passed completely to Kim Muhyuk.
As though she was making many calculations in her head, the Black Night Gang boss remained silent for quite some time before opening her mouth.
“Were you the Strange Sword Heroic Swordsman the Transcendent Extremity Gate sect leader spoke of?”
Kim Muhyuk did not bother answering.
Sometimes it was better to leave things to the other party’s imagination.
The Black Night Gang boss continued in a low voice.
“If everything you said is true...... the Heavenly Demon Cult is truly terrifying. Orthodox faction and unorthodox faction alike were all dancing in the palm of its hand.......”
Just as Kim Muhyuk intended, the Black Night Gang boss’s misunderstanding was deepening.
“......So, what is this great cause of yours?”
Kim Muhyuk answered plainly.
[Unification of all under heaven. A martial world where the strong are revered and the weak perish as a matter of course.]
He thought she might mock it as a ridiculous goal, but the Black Night Gang boss instead nodded as though she understood.
“I thought it would be that. Do you think it is possible?”
Since humanity had begun recording history, forces harboring the same ideal had appeared constantly, regardless of era.
But only the Heavenly Demon Cult had succeeded in it.
Because he had seen that future directly, Kim Muhyuk could answer in a voice full of conviction.
[Of course. At present, there are no variables that can stop our Cult.]
“You truly are deeply insane.”
[I will take that as a compliment.]
The Black Night Gang boss looked at the other party, who was filled with conviction, with an admiring expression, then asked,
“What if I refuse the deal? What if I subdue you, take you to the Martial Alliance, and force you to confess about the Heavenly Demon Cult?”
[You are a smart woman, so I do not think you will do that. There would be nothing in it for you either.]
The Black Night Gang boss did not deny those words and nodded.
She no longer saw the young man before her as a mere brat.
He was a devil who had even corrupted and brainwashed the Sword Demon, the man who despised corrupt-path filth more than anyone else, and he was the seed the Heavenly Demon Cult had scattered into the Korean martial world in order to transmit the demonic path.
“......Interesting.”
Only then did a thin smile form at the corners of the Black Night Gang boss’s mouth. Like someone who had discovered mouthwatering food, she slowly smacked her lips and asked,
“Then what sort of deal are you proposing? What can I gain from this deal?”
She would have to verify it separately, but judging only by what she had heard from Kim Muhyuk so far, the Heavenly Demon Cult was an extremely dangerous organization.
But she calculated that there would be just as much to gain.
[You must already possess most of what you want, Boss. I assume money or treasure would not interest you. So.]
The Black Night Gang boss was terribly curious about what words would come next.
[I will soon make one of the Eight Great Sects disappear. How is that as a condition for the deal?]
“What? Hahahahahahaha!”
At the answer that indeed did not disappoint her expectations, the Black Night Gang boss nodded with a satisfied smile like a person with a full stomach.
“That is quite a tempting offer. Then what should I do for you?”
That day, Blue Wolves and the Black Night Gang succeeded in forming a temporary alliance through a deal.