Geom Mugeuk silently stared at Myeongshin.

Myeongshin calmly met his gaze.

Both felt it simultaneously: from this meeting, the fate of the two—and indeed, of many others—would be decided.

“Surprised?” Myeongshin asked.

Geom Mugeuk answered with an expression that said it was only natural.

“Have you already forgotten? The last image I have of you is your back fleeing after unleashing a strong spear attack on me.”

Myeongshin laughed.

“And have you forgotten? It was you who pulled that handle.”

This time, Geom Mugeuk smiled.

“How about it? Care for a drink?”

Seizing the good mood, he asked, but Geom Mugeuk did not immediately agree.

“How do your reports describe me? Would they say I’m a fool who follows a terrifying assassin to drink?”

“Exactly that. That’s why I came.”

Blinking, Geom Mugeuk let out a long, exaggerated sigh.

“Damn it, they did their research on me well.”

Had anyone ever given such an answer at such a moment? Would he see it again?

Myeongshin was certain it would be the first and last. Only the Little Pill Master would accept such a ridiculous meeting.

This time, Geom Mugeuk’s eyes grew serious as he quietly said,

“But what if I kill you here and create an unforeseen variable?”

Myeongshin reacted without a hint of surprise.

“The report on you also said you’d make such threats.”

It was a joke. Surely no such thing was written.

Of course, they had thoroughly investigated Geom Mugeuk, the Demon Sect’s Little Pill Master, and Myeongshin was fully versed in the details, though much still seemed unbelievable. Such a Demon Sect leader had never existed.

“All right then, let’s go.”

Geom Mugeuk accepted readily and stepped out the main gate.

Myeongshin was the one surprised.

“You really want to go? It might be a trap.”

“Of course it might.”

“Then why accept?”

“You can’t live your whole life inside your home, can you? You wouldn’t wait forever for me either. Especially since time is money for you.”

Geom Mugeuk took the lead, and Myeongshin followed.

Hwi, hidden in stealth, would be trailing secretly. As he said, from now on Hwi would be a person both present and absent. The moment he appeared would be the moment everyone’s life or death was decided.

The two walked several steps apart toward the marketplace—close enough that, if they wished, either could strike a fatal surprise attack.

Myeongshin imagined ambushing Geom Mugeuk.

As assassins naturally do when meeting masters, wondering if the target could block their ambush, counterattacks, and so on.

But for some reason, no such scene formed in Geom Mugeuk’s mind—even after reading so much ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) information.

Then, abruptly, Geom Mugeuk asked,

“Why are you here?”

A blunt, out-of-nowhere question, but the meaning was clear.

Myeongshin recalled his conversation with the Blood King.

—Why me?

—Because the Little Pill Master reminded me of you.

He didn’t relay that.

“Seems I was a thorn in the organization’s side.”

Geom Mugeuk corrected his self-deprecating joke.

“Or maybe you’re simply the most skilled.”

Myeongshin did not deny it. In the records, he was undoubtedly the assassin second only to the Blood King in skill.

“I thought there would be others involved from the upper ranks. Didn’t expect you to be behind this.”

Myeongshin knew the reason: the organization left money management to the Blood King because he had no greed for money.

What had he promised him?

To Myeongshin, moving the Blood King’s empty heart seemed the hardest thing in the world.

“Oh, by the way, I heard you’re a master craftsman at weapons-making?”

“Just a pastime.”

“Too skilled to waste on making things for killing.”

If said thoughtlessly, it would be offensive, but the Little Pill Master genuinely admired what he made.

“Master Gwak from the main sect’s iron workshop would have probably kidnapped you to bring you here.”

“Maybe out of jealousy, asking someone to kill me.”

Geom Mugeuk laughed at Myeongshin’s pride.

“Not quite that bad.”

Hearing that, Myeongshin realized Geom Mugeuk’s praise wasn’t just empty flattery.

“Next time, sell me some throwing knives you make. I’ve run out.”

“Planning to kill me with those?”

“You don’t seem weak enough to be killed by unfamiliar throwing knives.”

Myeongshin felt no discomfort chatting with the Little Pill Master. The Little Pill Master had a talent for steering conversations comfortably. Even awkward topics felt less uncomfortable with him.

The two exchanged various topics without order as they reached the marketplace.

The trap they had prepared was not here but at a resting place between this village and another.

“Where shall we drink?”

Myeongshin let Geom Mugeuk choose the tavern.

Geom Mugeuk looked around several and picked the dingiest one.

Myeongshin obediently followed.

Inside, the atmosphere resembled the place the Blood King was preparing.

“This Little Pill Master really likes taverns like this.”

Myeongshin asked Geom Mugeuk,

“I heard the three-way talks happened in a tavern like this.”

“Charming, isn’t it?”

Geom Mugeuk glanced at the owner.

“The drinks and food here must be good.”

“How do you know?”

“I can tell from the owner’s face. It’s a born skill.”

But moments later, Geom Mugeuk frowned and set down his chopsticks.

The food was terrible. The liquor tasted bad too.

Geom Mugeuk said with a disappointed face,

“Looks like the owner changed. Might be a former assassin who quit and opened this business.”

Myeongshin gave a faint smile at the joke.

That smile carried bitterness. The phrase “former assassin” weighed heavily.

Until now, he had lived by his principles.

No killing children. No killing untrained martial artists. No killing the innocent.

But recently, the Blood King had been challenging that last principle.

—Who can define good and evil? If you act as an assassin with such principles, are you a good man?

Myeongshin could not answer yes to that question.

—I admit not killing children. I admit not killing non-martial artists. But I cannot accept the principle of sparing those not evil.

The organization’s orders meant kill without question.

—This is for your sake too. What if you make a mistake because of these pointless principles? Will you wash your hands in guilt? Commit suicide? Why make your already hard life harder?

The Blood King’s pressure mounted.

Myeongshin sensed the moment to confess to the Blood King was near.

He would break his principles.

Or maybe he wouldn’t.

At the end of that turmoil waited a single doubt.

‘What if I’m not really second-best in the roster?’

Would he still be alive? Could he cling to that icy cliff in the Blood King’s heart? Was he alive because he was a friend? Or because his skill was too valuable to throw away?

Now that the moment to decide on his principles was near, his mind was complicated.

His earlier words to Geom Mugeuk—that he was a thorn sent away—might be true. Perhaps the Blood King was using Geom Mugeuk’s strong hand to remove that thorn.

Geom Mugeuk silently watched Myeongshin’s gaze lowered to his cup, then looked outside.

They fell into their own thoughts.

The silence was broken by Geom Mugeuk.

“May I ask something?”

“Ask away.”

“Why didn’t you run? You must know many of your comrades died by my hand, right?”

Those comrades were no ordinary masters—absolute experts destined to become the Twelve Zodiac Kings.

As the Blood King’s right hand, he knew roughly.

Judging by his expression, he knew they belonged somewhere.

Myeongshin calmly answered,

“We are people needed for times like this. Killing people is our specialty.”

Geom Mugeuk nodded quietly.

Myeongshin added lightly,

“Aren’t you assassins experts at killing too? No, you’re even more so. We only move for money, but you kill regardless of money, right?”

This was how the martial world viewed the Demon Sect until now.

“Killing recklessly? That’s old news. The main sect has changed a lot recently. Your report must say that in detail.”

Of course, Myeongshin knew. This Little Pill Master was at the forefront of that change.

“Alright, since we’re on the topic, let me ask.”

Geom Mugeuk posed an unexpected question.

“Is being an assassin fun?”

It sounded casual but had intent.

“Do jobs become fun? We do it because it’s a job. Why do you ask?”

Myeongshin thought he knew everything about Geom Mugeuk, but Geom Mugeuk also knew about Myeongshin. Myeongshin had more detailed info, but Geom Mugeuk knew the decisive facts.

His end. Why he loyally served the Blood King and why he ultimately met death at his hands.

“You don’t quite fit with assassins, do you?”

“I don’t trust your feeling.”

Myeongshin’s gaze shifted toward the owner at the counter.

“Hasn’t it already been proven how terrible your eye for people is?”

Geom Mugeuk smiled genuinely; Myeongshin laughed with him. At this moment, he wondered who was more careless.

Geom Mugeuk asked Myeongshin,

“The drinks are bad; shall we move? Know any other taverns?”

Myeongshin slowly shook his head.

“No.”

He wanted to say he had a regular place nearby, but he didn’t. He judged Geom Mugeuk’s question as a test.

The next place had to come naturally—when he let his guard down, at a moment that made one say “Could this be him?”

Rather, Myeongshin rose first.

“Let’s call it a day. We’ll drink again later.”

“Already ending? Let’s play more!”

“I’m busy. People to kill are lined up waiting.”

Before leaving, Myeongshin asked,

“Why risk drinking with me?”

Geom Mugeuk answered unexpectedly.

“As your reports say, I like making friends. But I have not a single assassin friend.”

“!”

Myeongshin’s face registered surprise and disbelief.

Geom Mugeuk said,

“Everyone starts with that expression.”

When Myeongshin returned to the Blood King’s tavern, the streets were already completely under control.

Assassins acted as owners and clerks of various buildings. The top assassins ran fabric stores, shops, or played patrons. Even other assassins felt no discomfort.

Ordinary travelers mingled among them—indeed, their presence was crucial, acting as excellent shields to cover the assassins.

“If you come here, the Little Pill Master will surely die.”

Myeongshin entered the Blood King’s tavern. Travelers passing through ate and drank.

The Blood King, mingling and chatting with guests, greeted Myeongshin.

“Welcome!”

Myeongshin sat in a corner and ordered some food and drink.

After serving the order, the Blood King returned to chatting. A talkative host one might meet once traveling Central Plains. Who would guess this man was the master of the roster?

Once travelers left, the Blood King finally approached Myeongshin.

“Have you met the Little Pill Master?”

“Yes, I have.”

“How was he?”

“He said I resembled him?”

Of course, not a compliment. He said it because as a demonic martial artist and assassin, the Little Pill Master intended to walk a different path.

“Then you overestimated me.”

Meaning Geom Mugeuk was no ordinary man.

“In what way?”

“It’s strange. Hard to put into words.”

The Blood King poured himself a drink from Myeongshin’s spot.

As expected. He already knew Geom Mugeuk was no ordinary man.

“You said you don’t kill the innocent. Is he innocent or evil?”

Myeongshin could not answer. By normal standards, the Demon Sect’s Little Pill Master should be evil. But was this man he spoke to really evil?

The Blood King tried to persuade Myeongshin through Geom Mugeuk.

“That’s why. It’s an unsolvable matter. You’ll dismiss your principles as youthful recklessness.”

Myeongshin said nothing, but his discomfort showed he could not yet accept it.

“Can you accomplish this?”

“I will.”

They had heard he might have died many times if not a friend. The assassin operation had begun, and it could not be stopped now.

“We will go down in martial history through this assassination.”

Myeongshin said nothing.

“If you can’t bring back the Little Pill Master, I will live as this tavern’s master forever.”