Chapter 231 : Mujin, Throws a Drunken Fit
Chapter 231: Mujin, Throws a Drunken Fit
Mujin roared at the top of his lungs with a voice full of intoxication.
“You Demonic Cult bastards! All of you, come out right now!”
Just then, a shadow seemed to appear in the window of the building across the way.
Slide.
The curtain opened a bit and a person showed himself.
It was none other than White Dragon. He looked down at Mujin with indifferent eyes.
Mujin and White Dragon’s gazes met directly.
Mujin snapped at him.
“What are you looking at?”
A hint of annoyance flashed across White Dragon’s expressionless face.
“You bastard! Lower your eyes!”
White Dragon’s expression hardened instantly at the crude insults.
If it was fate, one could call it that.
Yeo Su-in had heard the same words from Lee Jaseung, and now Yeo Su-in’s subordinate, White Dragon, was hearing them from Lee Jaseung’s subordinate, Mujin.
Of course, Mujin didn't know about that incident involving Lee Jaseung.
At that moment, Ma Young-gi ran out to where they were.
“You said you were going to the latrine, so why are you doing this here? Let’s just go back inside.”
Ma Young-gi pulled on Mujin’s arm, but he resisted while slurring his speech.
“Let go of me. I’m gonna wipe out every last one of those Demonic Cult bastards with my own hands! You know? I’m a man of my word.”
“I know, I know.”
“My family was slaughtered by those Demonic Cult guys. By those dog-like Demonic Cult bastards!”
“I know that, so let’s just go inside for now. That person isn't a demon, is he?”
“How do you know he isn't? Hey, you! Come down here! Right now!”
At Mujin’s outrageous behavior, it really looked like White Dragon might smash through the window and fly down at any second, but he just closed the window irritably and disappeared. Getting into a pointless fight in this situation would only cause trouble.
“You jerk! Where are you going? Wait right there!”
The moment White Dragon closed the window, Mujin could feel it. He felt the killing intent radiating from his eyes. He felt the patience that had struggled to suppress that intent.
“Now, let’s go.”
Ma Young-gi forced Mujin along. As Mujin entered the building with a face flushed red from drink, his eyes were shining more clearly than usual.
Mujin spoke in a whisper.
“We have to get the timing exactly right.”
“Don't worry.”
“Don't forget! The key to this operation is getting the timing right!”
With that, the two began to put the next part of their plan into motion.
* * *
“I received word that the Demon Youth, the Demon Buddha, and the Ghost Blade are scheduled to arrive tomorrow afternoon.”
Yeo Su-in showed a satisfied smile at Phoenix’s report.
The Demon Youth, the Demon Buddha, and the Ghost Blade were his subordinates. Like White Dragon and Phoenix, they were subordinates he had stationed outside, and their martial arts skills were similar to those of the other two. They were essentially the main force among his followers. Once they joined up, he could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
In plain terms, it meant they’d be in a position where they wouldn't have to back down from a battle with the pursuing Great Demon.
Of course, Yeo Su-in commanded many other subordinates besides the demons joining him tomorrow.
He had already ordered them to make excuses to the internal organizations of the Demonic Cult and head outside.
However, Yeo Su-in had a feeling he would lose a significant number of them.
Yao Hong wasn't an easy person to deal with. He likely started cleaning things up by now.
He had to settle this situation as quickly as possible.
A full-scale war with the Cult Leader? That was absolutely impossible right now. The problem was the Cult Leader. There was no alternative to stop him. If he stepped forward, his subordinates would all be wiped out.
There was only one solution.
Since his intent to rebel was already clearly revealed, he had to survive by making Lee Jaseung and Yao Hong fight each other. If he survived, an opportunity would eventually come.
It was then. The sound of an argument was heard from outside the door.
“You can't do this.”
The voice belonged to a man working at the tavern. Men from the establishment were assigned to each private room for security and service, and he was heard trying to stop someone.
“Don't you know who I am?”
“I do. I know, but still……”
“Won't you get out of the way? Do you want to be dragged off instead and eat cold rice like a stone in a corner of the prison?”
Judging by the slurred voice, the person seemed to be a drunk guest.
White Dragon walked to the door with a scowl. He recognized the other person's voice.
When he opened the door, Mujin was indeed standing there. While suppressing his rising anger, White Dragon asked calmly.
“What is going on?”
“What do you mean, what’s going on? I came to see you.”
At those words, White Dragon’s expression turned cold.
“You’re scowling? Do you even know who I am? Do you really want to die?”
The smell of alcohol drifted strongly from Mujin’s mouth. For a second, White Dragon was seized by the desire to pierce Mujin’s neck instantly with his signature weapon.
Just then, Yeo Su-in’s voice came from inside.
“What is it?”
The moment White Dragon looked back, Mujin just stuck his head inside. Of course, he didn't do anything reckless like pushing past White Dragon with his body. That was because the guy might cut him down reflexively.
“Are you this person's master?”
Yeo Su-in looked at Mujin and spoke.
“I am.”
“Can we talk? It’s a very important matter.”
“Let’s do that.”
When Yeo Su-in readily agreed, Mujin glared at White Dragon triumphantly and spoke.
“Aren't you gonna move?”
White Dragon stepped aside while radiating a chilly aura. Mujin walked inside and scanned the room. When his eyes met Phoenix’s, he smirked, and Phoenix gave a cold, mocking laugh.
“I’m Jin-pa, a special investigator from the Murim Alliance.”
“I am Yeo-mong, the successor of the Single Strike Sect.”
Yeo Su-in told a lie with a straight face.
Mujin acted bold. Although Mujin and Ma Young-gi belonged to the Black Way Alliance, they hadn't learned dark arts. So, no trace of the unorthodox could be found in their aura.
Phoenix sent a telepathic message to Yeo Su-in.
— He’s the one who came from the Murim Alliance to investigate the corpses of the Four Great Sons.
— But why did that guy come to our room?
White Dragon’s telepathic message answered instead.
— The bastard is currently causing a scene because he’s drunk.
Just as he said, Mujin walked with a stagger.
“What have you been doing in this expensive private room without even drinking?”
Yeo Su-in remained calm despite the provocative words. Considering his own situation, he had to be cautious in everything.
“I had urgent matters to discuss with them, so I delayed the drinks for a bit. But what brings an investigator from the Murim Alliance here?”
“It’s because of that guy.”
Mujin’s finger pointed at White Dragon.
“Did he make some kind of mistake?”
“He did. And a very grave one at that!”
When Mujin acted like that, even White Dragon became curious. He wondered why Mujin was making such a fuss.
“First, that guy disobeyed an order from a special investigator of the Murim Alliance. I told him to come down, but he just closed the window.”
White Dragon wore an absurd expression at the thought that he had come all the way here for that reason. Since he couldn't get angry in front of Yeo Su-in, he said reluctantly.
“I didn't hear you.”
“Don't give me that. You looked down at me as if you were looking down on a person.”
It was the moment it was revealed that the reason Mujin was angry wasn't because an order was disobeyed, but because of that unpleasant gaze.
“Do you know what kind of vow I was making in the courtyard? I was saying I would eliminate the Demonic Cult and establish justice! But that guy mocked me while I was doing that. That wouldn't happen if he wasn't involved with the Demonic Cult. Plus, he refused the order to come down.”
There was no limit to this stubbornness. Mujin’s behavior really looked like a drunk person causing a scene, just as White Dragon’s message suggested.
“You guys, aren't you really involved with the Demonic Cult?”
Yeo Su-in spoke quickly.
“How could that be? But do you have a grudge against the Demonic Cult?”
Then, Mujin’s answer popped out as if he’d been waiting for it.
“I lost my family to those Demonic Cult bastards. If I don't eliminate them, I won't be able to close my eyes even in death.”
For a moment, Yeo Su-in’s expression hardened.
It was a past just like his own.
Did that mean he felt sympathy? Not at all.
He suspected the person was approaching him on purpose because he knew about his past.
But to conclude that, the other person's approach was far too blatant.
It was a situation where it was hard to make a judgment either way.
Ultimately, Yeo Su-in chose safety. He was someone who believed that in an uncertain situation, assuming the worst was always the wise choice.
— Get rid of him!
Right when White Dragon was about to joyfully crush his ribs with a single strike.
“Senior!”
Ma Young-gi’s voice was heard from behind Mujin.
“You said you were going to the latrine, and here you are. What are you doing here instead of drinking?”
The person who showed himself was indeed Ma Young-gi.
White Dragon, who was about to launch a surprise attack, flinched.
— Wait, hold on.
Yeo Su-in’s telepathic message was sent again.
It was the first part of getting the timing right. Mujin predicted that the moment he talked about his past would be the biggest hurdle. He instructed Ma Young-gi to appear at exactly that time.
In this way, the details related to the Demonic Cult in their forged background were very dangerous. But thanks to that, they created the opportunity to enter this room.
Mujin looked at Ma Young-gi and spoke.
“You came at the right time. We’ve got a criminal who needs to be escorted to the Alliance.”
Ma Young-gi glanced inside the room. He looked at Yeo Su-in with an expression asking for understanding.
“My older brother over here is intoxicated after a long time, so please be understanding.”
Ma Young-gi supported Mujin and pulled him away.
“Let go! Won't you let go?”
“I understand how you feel, brother.”
Ma Young-gi led Mujin to the end of the hallway, a bit away from the door.
“Did you forget we’re on a mission? If you cause trouble here, it’ll be a problem that we received hospitality this time.”
The two spoke in whispers, but the three masters in the room could hear them clearly.
“Let them punish me! I’m not afraid of some punishment!”
“The movements of the audit team have been unusual lately. There are even rumors they’re monitoring you, senior. You have to be careful.”
“I’m not afraid of those rats.”
“Even though the leader of the Virtuous Heroes is your sworn brother, even he won't want to deal with the audit team.”
Only then did the three people, including Yeo Su-in, understand why this insignificant investigator was so arrogant. He had something to rely on. He had a proper background in the form of the Virtuous Heroes.
“You bastard! Are you lecturing me right now?”
“How could I? I’m just telling you the facts. I’m saying it could cause harm to your sworn brother, senior.”
Perhaps that part weighed on him, because Mujin couldn't say anything more.
Ma Young-gi soothed him again in a kind tone.
“The boys are coming, so let’s just take the corpses and go.”
“The boys? Who?”
“The fourth team happened to be returning after solving a case, so I told them to stop by. Let’s just feed them a simple breakfast in the morning and head back together.”
“Damn it! That’s gonna cost quite a bit of money.”
The conversation between the two ended with a remark that revealed his personality perfectly.
Ma Young-gi came back to the room and greeted them.
“I apologize for the intrusion so late at night. Then, I’ll see you next time.”
Mujin, who followed behind him, still shot White Dragon a dissatisfied look.
Ma Young-gi forced him away and left the place.
— I would’ve died if you were just a little later coming out to stop him!
Ma Young-gi replied innocently to Mujin’s telepathic message.
— It’ll make you look cool only if it’s close.
— Good grief! If it’s cool twice more, I’ll be bragging about it in front of the King of the Dead.
— ……To be honest, I was terrified too.
— You did great. Truly great.
As the two left the place, Yeo Su-in’s expression turned cold.
“When will the Great Demon arrive?”
“It’s expected to be tomorrow night.”
Yeo Su-in scowled at White Dragon’s answer.
“They must not take the corpses.”
The original plan was for the Great Demon to come, check the corpses here, and then leave.
But if the corpses went to the Murim Alliance, the problem would become complicated.
The Great Demon might try to stay here first and investigate what happened. No, there was a high possibility of that. Since they had plenty of money anyway, there’d be no reason not to take an inn as far away from here as possible.
Ultimately, the plan to hide under the lamp would turn into sleeping with the enemy.
Phoenix took a step forward and spoke.
“I’ll take responsibility and handle it.”
She was the one who allowed the tavern owner to report to the Murim Alliance. This was a matter she had to take responsibility for and finish.
White Dragon stopped her.
“Wait! Didn't you hear what those guys said? Didn't they say their colleagues are coming here tomorrow morning? The audit team might be monitoring those guys, and besides, he’s someone who’s a sworn brother with the leader of the Virtuous Heroes. If you kill him recklessly, the problem could grow.”
Phoenix lowered her head at White Dragon’s words. She hadn't thought the matter would become this complicated.
“I’m sorry. I wasn't thinking clearly.”
She lowered her head toward Yeo Su-in.
Yeo Su-in didn't say anything.
He wouldn't have done that. He would have buried the corpses in the backyard and then dug them up for the Great Demon if they pressed him. Well, that’s why he was himself and Phoenix was Phoenix.
Phoenix couldn't raise her head at the look in his eyes that said he expected her to handle this much on her own.
“Find out about that person as quickly as possible.”
Phoenix left the room at Yeo Su-in’s command. Her quick footsteps showed her determination to make up for her mistake.