The Murim Alliance leader, Jin Pae-cheon, was confused.

He certainly had trust in Geom Mugeuk. But how could he believe that Baek Cheon-gyeong had kidnapped his granddaughter? Only yesterday, they had been drinking tea and chatting together.

“First, clear the area around us. Since you, the leader, are here, they can’t run away anyway. Even if they tried their luck, you’d know exactly where they went.”

That was true. Baek Cheon-gyeong had no reason to abandon his position as Little Pill Master of the demonic sect and hide deep in the mountains. Geom Mugeuk was definitely a man with a fixed destination.

Jin Pae-cheon ordered all but his closest guards to withdraw.

Geom Mugeuk slowly looked at the remaining guards. Jin Pae-cheon’s trust that Baek Cheon-gyeong had people near him was clear.

“Why? Do you also doubt these people?”

“No, I trust the leader’s judgment. Let me speak freely now. At Jin Gongja’s request, I have been investigating what kind of person Baek Cheon-gyeong is. I used Jin Sojeo as an excuse to come here. When Jin Gongja asked for help, I pretended it was because Jin Sojeo invited me.”

Geom Mugeuk briefly explained the situation, but Jin Pae-cheon still could not believe it.

“Who would you trust in this situation—someone who taught your grandson safely for ten years, or the demonic sect’s Little Pill Master? If you were me, who would you believe?”

“Then why have you left me alone?”

That was the answer to Geom Mugeuk’s last words.

― If I had planned this, I would never have ended up in this situation.

Jin Pae-cheon knew what kind of man Geom Mugeuk was from previous encounters. The rumors afterward about Geom Mugeuk’s deeds only confirmed it.

Moreover, the demonic sect kidnapping his granddaughter meant war was inevitable—but there were no signs of war from the sect now.

“Are you really saying it’s Baek Cheon-gyeong’s doing?”

“Yes.”

“Can I confront him?”

“Of course, but he won’t be at his residence.”

Jin Pae-cheon sent a transmission to his fastest subordinate ordering Baek Cheon-gyeong to be brought here.

“If what you say is true, then why didn’t Ha-gun ask me for help?”

“You probably thought you wouldn’t believe him. You still don’t.”

“If Ha-gun had spoken—”

“I’d believe even less. You must have guessed there’s conflict between them.”

Jin Pae-cheon couldn’t deny it. It was one of those cases Geom Mugeuk always talked about—being too close to see clearly.

“There’s one more reason. Jin Gongja suspected there were Baek Cheon-gyeong’s eyes and ears inside the Murim Alliance. That’s why I mentioned it in the transmission.”

Jin Pae-cheon decided to trust Geom Mugeuk for now. After all, he had saved his granddaughter once; it seemed unlikely he would now try to harm her.

“Then fine. Why did Baek Cheon-gyeong kidnap Ha-ryeong?”

“At first, I thought he targeted me. But… now I’m not sure. Even if I’m a thorn in his side, would he really make such a big fuss just to chase me out? He didn’t know the relationship between you, the leader, and me. He must have expected a big fight here.”

If so, this would escalate from a problem between Geom Mugeuk and Jin Pae-cheon to a conflict between Cheonma Sin Gyo and the Murim Alliance. He couldn’t have been unaware of that.

Geom Mugeuk thought there must be some reason he didn’t know.

“Let me go. I will save Jin Sojeo and find out the reason.”

Jin Pae-cheon closed his eyes without a word. He had no choice but to entrust his granddaughter’s safety to Geom Mugeuk last time. Now he had to do it again?

After some time, the subordinate sent to Baek Cheon-gyeong’s residence returned, reporting that, as Geom Mugeuk said, he had left.

“Why must it be you?”

“Because he targeted me. If the leader steps in, he’ll deny everything and Jin Sojeo may never be found.”

Then Jin Pae-cheon shouted fiercely,

“Where do you get off threatening me? I will find my granddaughter myself.”

Suddenly, Jin Pae-cheon unleashed a Jipung strike, suppressing the blood veins of Geom Mugeuk and Ian.

Ian was startled, but Geom Mugeuk showed no surprise.

“Your granddaughter isn’t even my kin. What more can I do? Do as you please.”

Jin Pae-cheon scoffed and shouted,

“Now your true colors show. Escort these two to the alliance.”

“Touch me and you won’t handle the consequences.”

“Shut up!”

At the leader’s shout, warriors nearby looked toward the scene.

Guards approached and took the two to a carriage. As they were dragged away, Ian anxiously asked,

“What if they take us away like this?”

“We can’t fight the Murim Alliance leader.”

Unlike her whisper, Geom Mugeuk, apparently angry like the leader, spoke loudly for all to hear,

“What about Jin Sojeo?”

“She’s his granddaughter; he’ll find her.”

“But we have to ask! We have to persuade! What if they take her away like this?”

“You saw it yourself. It’s hopeless.”

Once the guards put them in the carriage, it immediately departed.

Ian couldn’t understand this situation. No matter how frustrating the leader was, would he so easily give up on Jin Ha-ryeong? Such an irritable response was unlike Geom Mugeuk.

In the running carriage, Ian cautiously asked,

“Isn’t that so?”

With just the two inside, Geom Mugeuk’s annoyed expression softened back to normal.

“Of course not.”

Ian finally sighed in relief. Of course not.

Shortly after, the carriage stopped in a deserted place. Getting out, they found Jin Pae-cheon waiting.

He feigned caution in case Baek Cheon-gyeong had planted someone among those who brought them. If so, ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) Geom Mugeuk being escorted to the Murim Alliance would have been reported.

Jin Pae-cheon had come to fully trust Geom Mugeuk’s words.

He released the suppressed blood veins with another Jipung strike.

Geom Mugeuk’s not dodging the strike was because he trusted the leader.

Trust with trust. Jin Pae-cheon said nothing else.

“Go save Ha-ryeong.”

Their gazes met in midair.

Geom Mugeuk understood how hard it must be for the Murim Alliance leader to entrust his granddaughter’s life to the demonic sect’s Little Pill Master—not once, but twice.

Geom Mugeuk did not hesitate.

“I will bring her back.”

In the sincerity of Geom Mugeuk’s eyes, Jin Pae-cheon nodded once and got into the carriage, thinking he had made the right choice.

Of course, while entrusting this matter to Geom Mugeuk, he himself planned to move heaven and earth to save his granddaughter.

Watching the departing carriage, Geom Mugeuk said to Ian,

“Go straight to the main alliance residence and report everything that happened with the two Mazons.”

“What about other reports?”

“Leave the rest to the Mazons’ judgment.”

That was the trust he had in Hyeol Cheon Doma and Gwon Ma. Without asking, he believed they would judge and act well. The same trust extended to Ian—she would faithfully report everything without omission.

As Ian left, Geom Mugeuk headed in the opposite direction. From the leader to Ian, all moved by trust.