Becoming the Murim Alliance lord had been Jinha-gun’s lifelong dream.

He had grown up watching his grandfather, hearing countless times from those around him:

“You must follow in your grandfather’s footsteps.”

Naturally, he assumed that when he grew up, he would become the Murim Alliance lord. But his grandfather announced he would hand the successor position to whoever had the ability and talent.

So Jinha-gun worked hard, again and again. Becoming the Murim Alliance lord was his entire life. He couldn’t even imagine living without achieving it.

But what? He was being told he was giving up the position himself?

It was the most shocking thing Jinha-gun had ever heard.

Seeing Jinha-gun’s expression harden, Hyeol Cheon Doma and Gwon Ma exchanged subtle glances. They sensed Geom Mugeuk had sent some secret message.

Having experienced such things themselves, they could predict the mental state Jinha-gun was falling into.

Bisa-in, sitting across, also saw the expression.

Of course, they didn’t interrupt the conversation between the two.

But desperate Seobaekjung had no such manners.

Seobaekjung sent a secret message to Jinha-gun:

—What are you two talking about?

He knew he shouldn’t interfere, but Jinha-gun’s expression was troubling.

—Wait a moment.

The brief reply made Seobaekjung sense something was wrong. Though Jinha-gun told him to wait, he couldn’t.

—If the Tianhe Sect’s young lord is trying some trick, you must never allow it!

Jinha-gun looked coldly at Seobaekjung. His aura as leader of the Murim Alliance’s elite Demon Exterminator unit overwhelmed Seobaekjung.

Unable to respond sharply, Seobaekjung fell silent. He felt unease and glanced toward Geom Mugeuk, who was no easy opponent from the start. Could Jinha-gun handle this man? Seobaekjung sensed a variable had appeared.

Jinha-gun sent a secret message to Geom Mugeuk.

—You say you’re giving up the lordship yourself? What do you mean?

Trying to remain calm, his voice still trembled.

—It means if you take Tianhe Sect, you cannot become Murim Alliance lord.

Jinha-gun’s heart, which he had forced to calm, raced again. The word “Murim Alliance lord” was like a weakness.

This was a trick. He must not allow it. He drank from the cup before him, composed himself, and asked calmly:

—Explain your reason.

Geom Mugeuk did not answer immediately. Everyone around focused on them, sensing an important conversation.

Sword Immortal sent a secret message to Hyeol Cheon Doma:

—As long as I’m here, it’s better not to attempt foolish schemes.

Sword Immortal seemed uneasy. Being masters, they sensed even subtle shifts in the flow of energy and emotions.

—Old men want to interfere but cannot. We can only watch.

Hyeol Cheon Doma answered, and Sword Immortal responded sternly:

—When it’s time to intervene, one must intervene.

The two clearly shared similar temperaments.

—Isn’t that why the main sect can’t defeat the righteous sects?

Since he was respected, Sword Immortal smiled faintly.

—Why do juniors thank me so much, sacrificing this much?

—Not sacrifice, but living rightly.

—Live your own life as well.

If anyone else said this, it would have been a sharp reprimand, but Hyeol Cheon Doma was an exception.

—After a lifetime like this, how can one easily change?

—It can change.

Hyeol {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} Cheon Doma’s gaze naturally shifted to Geom Mugeuk. Sword Immortal looked puzzled and turned to look at Geom Mugeuk and Jinha-gun.

At that moment, Jinha-gun pressed Geom Mugeuk:

—Explain your reason!

Geom Mugeuk stared and replied:

—You already know the reason, don’t you?

Jinha-gun’s heart sank. Geom Mugeuk was digging into what he had tried to ignore.

His gaze shifted beyond Geom Mugeuk to Seo Cheong.

The one who had killed innocent people. Jinha-gun had been wrestling with how to deal with him. Even when Seobaekjung introduced his son, he hadn’t uttered a friendly word—because of this.

—What do you mean?

After asking, Jinha-gun regretted it. He’d hoped for another reason, but pretended ignorance.

Even if it was another reason, he shouldn’t have asked. He was dreaming to be Murim Alliance lord, yet tried to avoid the truth.

So even if it was another reason, Geom Mugeuk struck precisely at his weak point.

—It’s Seo Cheong.

Jinha-gun clenched his teeth. Focus! Don’t get dragged down by him. Unfortunately, this was no opponent for such determination.

—Didn’t you come knowing fully the crimes he committed?

—I...

Jinha-gun forced calm.

—I intended to consider his punishment after finishing Tianhe Sect’s matters.

—You’ll punish him later?

After a pause, Geom Mugeuk asked:

—Is that right?

His words stabbed like a dagger. It was what Jinha-gun had to hear.

Geom Mugeuk sensed Jinha-gun’s agitation. There was hope. He was still young, had much to learn and experience. If he could feel shame, it was okay. Being kicked out in youth was no shame.

Geom Mugeuk’s secret message continued:

—The moment you take Tianhe Sect, you will fail the test given by the Murim Alliance lord.

—A test?

Jinha-gun’s mind sharpened at that word.

—Yes. It is the lord’s test.

—How do you know?

—Because I have met the lord.

—Are you saying you’ve met the lord more than I, his grandson?

—Correct. You have met him countless times less than I have. But Lord Jin...

Geom Mugeuk stared directly.

—Have you really been looking at your grandfather properly?

Jinha-gun flinched. Looking properly at his grandfather?

Of course he had.

The words did not come easily. His grandfather was... a very difficult man.

—What do you want to say?

Jinha-gun’s voice rose slightly. His composure was broken; he was agitated.

—Because he is close, you might be the one who sees him least clearly. At least I was.

Geom Mugeuk spoke honestly what he felt. He knew no rhetorical skill could move someone’s heart better than sincerity.

—Until recently, I did not see my father properly. I was scared to look, thinking he would always be there. Only recently have I tried to see him properly. That’s why I say this. No matter how many times you see, if you don’t look properly, you might know less than someone who has seen once.

Their eyes locked in midair.

Jinha-gun could not deny Geom Mugeuk’s words, but he couldn’t blindly trust either. His grandfather might not think this way, so maybe this was a trick. He was confused.

—I doubt you. How can you be sure this isn’t a trick to take Tianhe Sect?

Geom Mugeuk struck again.

—Then why do you look at me?

—What do you mean?

—If you doubt, look at your grandfather. Isn’t that where you’ll find the answer?

—!

Suddenly, Jinha-gun recalled when he had gone to greet his grandfather before leaving here.

Come to think of it, his grandfather hadn’t said a single word about Tianhe Sect. No talk of how they must take it or how to act.

He had only told him to travel safely. The look in his eyes—

Was it truly a look of joy for taking Tianhe Sect without punishing the unjust?

No.

Maybe he knew. He had just pretended ignorance. Because his master had proposed the plan for him. Wasn’t his master speaking what he wanted to say instead?

Jinha-gun’s face flushed. No matter how much he pretended ignorance or blamed his master, he knew the truth.

—The person who connected you and the Tianhe Sect lord doesn’t want you to become lord.

Jinha-gun’s expression stiffened suddenly.

From that reaction, Geom Mugeuk knew one thing.

It wasn’t Seobaekjung, but someone closer.

Jinha-gun trusted his master—respected and followed him above all.

The master’s proposal was also for him to become lord.

Bisa-in watched Jinha-gun’s changing expression closely.

What could he have said to shake this first-time-seen Jinha-gun so passionately?

Thinking about himself, the answer was clear. Considering how his feelings changed after meeting Geom Mugeuk, the true battle at this banquet was not righteous versus heretic—it was righteous versus demon.

Bisa-in sent a secret message to Geom Mugeuk:

—You are the greatest villain in this Murim!

—Message lines are tangled; message later!

—No! It’s a mess if tangled.

Bisa-in was surprised at himself saying such things. He never imagined himself capable of joking like this. He thought his hideous scars prevented sincere conversation with anyone.

Meanwhile, Seo Cheong sent a secret message to Seobaekjung.

—Why so quiet?

—They’re talking secretly.

—One day, I will take revenge on that Tianhe Sect lord. Father, avenge me!

Seobaekjung was ashamed of his son’s cluelessness. Not just revenge but pleading for revenge. Compared to the three heirs here, he seemed even more pathetic.

But after all, raising him was his responsibility.

—Don’t act rashly; stay quiet.

He thought giving him a big position would make him worthy. It was naive. Raising Tianhe Sect was one thing; raising a son was even harder.

The consequence of avoiding responsibility was what he was seeing now.

—Should I quietly flee?

Seobaekjung sighed and answered.

—It’s too late. Just behave.

Meanwhile, the secret messages between Geom Mugeuk and Jinha-gun continued.

—Fine, say you’re right. Then why tell me this? To take Tianhe Sect?

—That’s part of it, but there’s a greater reason.

—What?

—Because you are a person who keeps principles.

A cold aura burst from Jinha-gun. He didn’t want to hear talk about principles from a demon.

As he raised his energy, everyone tensed simultaneously.

Demon Exterminator, Cheonma Jeon guards, and Satan Thirteen Rangers also raised their energy in preparation.

But Geom Mugeuk was calm.

—When later either you or I become sect lord, thousands or tens of thousands of lives will depend on our decisions. I hope we don’t make wrong choices. You, me, and that young lord Bisa-in. I hope all keep their principles.

Jinha-gun’s rising aura faded. He felt Geom Mugeuk was sincere. His eyes seemed to say: Be a good lord. Let there be no war in our era.

A phrase surfaced in Jinha-gun’s heart.

Whether Geom Mugeuk’s words were lies or truth, it was a complete defeat. He had to admit Geom Mugeuk was, whether a conman or a true demon knight, at least a superior person. Someone he could not easily handle.

Someday, if he became lord, he would not let Geom Mugeuk take the Murim Alliance away from him.

Jinha-gun said calmly:

—I will be a person who keeps principles. Not because you expect it, but because that’s who I want to be.

—I believe you will be that person.

—Are you mocking me?

—Mocking is for people like Seo Cheong. For Seobaekjung, who tries to protect such a man as his son. Isn’t that why we’re here? Without us, who can control a child from a huge sect like Tianhe Sect?

—You really are...

A complete defeat.

Jinha-gun’s eyes suddenly met Bisa-in’s sitting across.

They locked gazes. Lost in Geom Mugeuk, he hadn’t noticed Bisa-in staring at him like that.

Without a word, Bisa-in poured wine into Jinha-gun’s empty cup.

The feeling now was different from when he provocatively sat opposite him.

Jinha-gun drank the wine. The drink served by the heretic heir was unexpectedly comforting.

Not only Bisa-in’s attitude had changed.

Seobaekjung looked at him with a strange gaze, as if asking:

At that moment, Geom Mugeuk sent a secret message.

—Worried about your promise to the Tianhe Sect lord?

So perceptive. Yes, he was worried. Until recently, he had been loudly telling others to trust only him, but now he couldn’t bring himself to say the truth. And with so many watching, it was even harder.

—I will handle this so you won’t be in trouble. Is that okay?

Jinha-gun felt the word “No” rise in his throat. He didn’t want to be swayed by Geom Mugeuk anymore. But he had to let go of Tianhe Sect. Only then could he face his grandfather.

How exactly would Geom Mugeuk handle it without causing trouble? Jinha-gun was very curious.

Just as Jinha-gun slightly nodded, Geom Mugeuk ended the secret message and spoke aloud:

“Come now, let’s have a drink and ease the tension.”

They all drank together. Everyone was curious how the secret message conversation between Geom Mugeuk and Jinha-gun had ended.

Setting down his cup, Geom Mugeuk casually said:

“This wasn’t supposed to get this big. As you all know, this started because our Sect Leader Seo protected his son who had committed multiple murders. It’s family loyalty, so understandable. But the victims were innocent people...”

At that moment, someone interrupted Geom Mugeuk.

“What do you mean?”

The one who had devoted his life to goodness and chivalry, none other than Sword Immortal.