Absolute Return Episode 364
Episode 364: This is the first lie.
Two people were walking down the hallway.
The one who took the lead was the escort captain, In-gung, followed by Geommu-geuk.
When he almost reached the battlefield, Geommu-geuk stopped for a moment and looked up at the steel wolf.
“This is the famous wolf of the Apostolic Alliance. They say that in times of emergency, this wolf comes to life and stops intruders. Is that true?”
In-gung didn’t answer the question of the sword dance. He was the one who guided the sword dance without saying a single word. He was usually a person who didn’t show his face often, but today was a special case.
“Wolf, if you come back to life later, don’t bite me.”
Then, Geommugeuk put his hand into the wolf’s mouth.
Then suddenly.
“Eww!”
The swordmaster screamed in pain.
Despite the realistic acting, In-gung just watched the sword dance without saying a word.
Geommugeuk took his hand out of the wolf’s mouth, his mouth watering.
“Since you haven’t said anything, I decided to play a prank on you.”
With a blunt expression, In-gung took another step, and Geommu-geuk followed behind him. What he felt from the wolf’s mouth was a strange energy that only a master of his level could sense.
The large door opened and the two entered the main hall.
In-gung naturally retreated behind the sword dance and disappeared without a trace. It was a high-level stealth technique that could only be seen from Hwi, his father’s bodyguard.
Over there, in the great hall of the Great Temple, sat the leader of the Apostles, Baek Ja-gang.
The swordsman said as he walked towards him.
“In front of the main temple, there is a red carpet laid out on this road. Everyone calls that carpet the Bloody Road. I don’t know the exact reason, whether it is because the path to becoming a Heavenly Demon is so arduous, or because so many lives and deaths are decided by the hands of those who walk on that carpet.”
Then Baekjagang answered from far away.
“Have you looked under that carpet?”
“no.”
“There must be a hidden mechanism underneath that even the experts cannot avoid.”
Then Geommugeuk stopped walking, crouched down, and examined the floor carefully.
“It’s here too!”
The floor was densely packed with small holes from which poisonous needles were emitted. If poisonous needles were emitted simultaneously from these holes, it would be difficult for any expert to survive. It was a poison that protected the Mengjujeon, so how could it be resolved with a single sip of antidote?
“There is something more trustworthy than people.”
Yeah, it would be stranger if the Apostolic Leader trusted people.
“I’ll definitely lift the carpet when I get back.”
Geommugeuk got up again and started walking.
After arriving at the Grand Master’s office, he greeted him politely.
“I never thought I would ever enter the Apostolic Alliance.”
“Me too. I didn’t know I would be meeting you here.”
“I think the leaders look the coolest when they are in the Grand Council.”
He acted comfortably as if he had entered the temple of the leader of the Cheonmasingyo sect.
“Aren’t you afraid of me?”
“It’s scary. It’s the scariest thing after my father.”
“But why do you act like you’re not scared?”
“In my experience, people who seemed scary never actually did me any harm. People who tried to hurt me were all smiling with a good face.”
Baekjagang smiled brightly. Her eyes were wide like crescent moons. A short crescent moon.
“Did you laugh like this?”
“That makes me feel more at ease.”
“why?”
“When you laugh, the leader looks even scarier.”
How can words win against swordsmanship?
‘How could such a son be born under that taciturn man, Geum Woo-jin?’
After the greetings were over, Geommugeuk asked with a serious expression.
“Who did the Revolutionary Army point out?”
“You have pointed out the person who follows me the best.”
The betrayal of the Extreme Byeongdanju, Beoncheon, was a greater shock to Bisain than hearing that he had been bewitched by Geommu Geuk.
“There’s even evidence that you were behind this. Why should we trust you then?”
“Don’t trust me, trust your disciple.”
Geommugeuk relayed Bisain’s words to the leader.
“I will live as you said. I must have cried a lot because of what you said, my lord. My eyes were swollen. My face was swollen, too. I had to hold back the thought of teasing you for being ugly.”
Baek Ja-gang stared intently into Geommu-geuk’s eyes and said.
“I trust you, Sign. I don’t trust you, Janelle.”
“If I had been plotting to seize the Apostolic Alliance, I would not have plotted among my many schemes to gain something by dividing the priests.”
“Why?”
There could be many reasons, but the most emotional one was the sword dance.
“It’s so uncool.”
I expected that I might get an odd answer, but is it because I don’t have any style? One corner of Baekjagang’s mouth curled up.
The story of the sword dance continued.
“If it were me, I would have sent you to the arena. I would have asked you to fight in the field where you called me. The winner would take over the martial arts world! That’s my way. That’s why I don’t dream of unifying the martial arts world. It’s a dream that can never be achieved with such a naive mind.”
After a moment, Baek Ja-gang asked.
“So isn’t it a dream that can come true?”
I saw the sword dance. For a split second, I saw a certain heat rising from Baek Ja-gang’s small eyes.
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He also had similar thoughts. He was the kind of man who thought that whoever won in a fight should take it all.
“I thought that the leader of the martial arts world was very cold and realistic, but he also has an emotional side.”
Baek Ja-gang didn’t answer at all. In fact, it was something he had never thought about. Because no one dared to talk about his duality.
“If that’s true, then you too, Master, wake up from your dream of unifying the martial arts world!”
A rebuke burst out of Baekjagang’s mouth.
“this guy!”
Baekjagang’s shouts rang out loud.
“How dare you say such things in my lord’s court!”
Although he was angry on the outside, Baek Ja-gang was not angry at all. When would he ever hear the words “wake up from your dream?” It was something he had never heard before and would never hear again.
“I made a mistake! Please forgive me.”
What was more interesting was the relaxed look in the eyes of the swordsman as he apologized. It was as if he wasn’t really angry, and he wasn’t really apologizing either.
He was reading my mind exactly. It was only our second meeting, but it was like we had known each other for a long time.
“This is probably why it’s hard to believe what I’m saying. Is it really true that someone tried to swallow up the Apostolic Alliance? Pushing out even the military? Right?”
Now, one of the sword dance moves that I had been saving has come out.
“Did you know that? Our sect, the Murim Alliance, and even the Saewoo Pungcheon Church suffered similar things.”
Baek Ja-gang, who had been maintaining his composure, suddenly stood up from the throne. This time, he couldn’t hide his surprise. The emotion of “What is this?” was clearly expressed on Baek Ja-gang’s face.
“There was such a dark force. An organization that was simultaneously plotting against the entire martial arts world.”
To Baek Ja-gang, who could not believe it, Geommu-geuk showed him what the bigger problem was.
“Your Majesty’s problem is not the existence of such a dark force.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“The bigger problem is that the leader hasn’t been informed of any facts related to it. Why didn’t the Hyuksa Army report it to the leader?”
“!”
“There must be some reported cults, so you will definitely be able to confirm the contents. If they have shown the meticulousness to eliminate all the reported cults and their subordinate soldiers, secretly ask for cooperation from our school and the Murim Alliance. We will definitely officially inform you of the facts.”
If that were true, it would be irrefutable evidence that the Hyuksa Army was behind this incident. It would have been a serious crime for the military to not report such an important matter.
Baek Ja-gang immediately called the escort leader, In-gung, and gave instructions to him by voice. In-gung, who received the order, disappeared in an instant. The leader of the sadomasochum did not hesitate even a little bit when handling the matter.
He ordered an investigation after hearing the words of Geommu-geuk, but he did not completely trust Geommu-geuk. This matter was something that would determine not only his own fate but also the fate of the Apostolic Alliance.
“If what you say is true, then if the head is Hyuk Sa-gun, then who is the body?”
“I am Hwang Seok-gyeong, instructor of the Samyeonggwan.”
Baek Ja-gang knows who Hwang Seok-gyeong is. Knowing the name of a single instructor means that he is carrying out his duties well.
“Then why didn’t you say that when we first met?”
Because it was a problem that had to be solved one by one.
“He is a very dangerous man. I thought it would be right not to mess with him rashly, but to let you know when the time is right.”
“Is it time now?”
“At least for now, he is half-believing and half-doubting.”
Their gazes met in the air.
“No wonder I can’t help but be suspicious of you.”
“This is why you have to trust me. Do you think I would have done something so outrageous?”
Although it was their second meeting, Baek Ja-gang agreed with Geommu-geuk’s words. He thought that if it was Geommu-geuk, it would have been more detailed.
“The Revolutionary Army will be arriving soon.”
It was finally time for the three-way meeting. From the fact that the two people hadn’t waited here in the first place, it was possible to guess that Baek Ja-gang had a lot of faith in Bi Sa-in.
“Ah! I want to call my army too! I’m good at talking and seem smart, but I’m more on this side.”
Then he tapped the black magic sword on his waist.
Baekjagang thought it was just useless babbling, but Geommu-geuk really reminded him of Gowol. Now he had to win the argument with the Sadomaeng military.
After a while, the Revolutionary Army entered the place.
Hyuk Sa-gun walked in calmly and greeted Baek Ja-gang first, then Geommu-geuk.
“I am Hyuk Sa-gun, in charge of the military.”
“This is a sword dance from the Shingyo.”
The Hyuksa Army carefully observed the sword dance, but it was impossible to figure out anything from the appearance of the sword dance that had reached Banbakguijin.
“I’ve heard a lot of rumors about the outstanding talent of the cult leader.”
“Rumors tend to be exaggerated.”
“I don’t think so. You have the guts to come to me like this after planning something like that.”
“What did I plan?”
“Didn’t you deceive the minor lord?”
Geommugeuk smiled and nodded.
“I admit it. You’re someone I really like.”
“So, do you fully admit that the Shinto religion was involved in this incident?”
“What about me? Or what about the other person? But wouldn’t it be too unfair for the minor leader who barely escaped death?”
“You know that the surprise attack on An Ga was also a fabrication.”
“If it were true that So Myeong-ju and I joined hands, why would we have done something like that? We would have quietly targeted the person over there.”
“You tell me. Why did you do that?”
Baek Ja-gang sat in the middle like a referee and watched the two people’s argument.
“There is clear evidence of your involvement.”
“I have evidence too.”
“What evidence?”
“The clear evidence you mentioned is my evidence.”
“What on earth do you mean?”
“If we had planned it, such clear evidence would not have emerged.”
The revolutionary army laughed.
“Do you think such a ridiculous excuse will work? You also present your evidence.”
“Okay, I’ll give you the evidence.”
At those words, Hyuk Sa-gun felt nervous inside. Could there be any evidence?
After the tension had reached its peak, Geommugeuk suddenly spoke.
“I saw it.”
“What?”
“I saw you scheming.”
Hyuk Sa-gun was secretly very surprised because he didn’t know that Geommu-geuk would point out himself.
“Are you blaming me now?”
“I’m not trying to turn things around, I’m just saying I saw you setting this up.”
Hyuk Sa-gun smiled and looked at Baek Ja-gang as he spoke.
“As you can see, the leader is being unreasonable.”
At that moment, the sword dance caught him off guard.
“Why don’t you ask? In normal cases, shouldn’t you ask when and what he saw you doing? Isn’t that usually the first thing you ask an innocent person? Or maybe you already knew what was going on and just omitted it?”
Hyuk Sa-gun suddenly realized, “Oops.” He should have done as Geommu-geuk said, but he was in a hurry.
“That’s not worth talking about.”
Baek Ja-gang, who had been watching, spoke softly.
“Your testimony cannot serve as evidence.”
When Baek Ja-gang took his side, Hyuk Sa-gun smiled faintly in triumph. Since there was clear evidence, Baek Ja-gang would eventually have no choice but to believe him. The more this evil cult leader used his eloquence, the more suspicion would grow.
“Go back now. The reason I’m keeping you alive now is because you’re a minor cult leader. If you go any further, even the position of minor cult leader of the new religion will no longer be able to protect you.”
“Okay, I’ll go.”
I was wondering why you gave up so easily.
“Even if I go, I will meet the person who is coming.”
“Who decided to come?”
Then, surprising words came out of Geommugeuk’s mouth.
“The magician and the poison king of our school are coming.”
Hyuk Sa-gun flinched. Ma-ui was known to have better medical skills than the Sado Alliance or the Murim Alliance. And the Poison King on top of that?
“You say your general has retired due to old age, but I believe he has become ill from poison. The Poison King and the Demon Doctor will confirm this.”
“!”
At this moment, even Hyuk Sa-gun was shaken. It was a stab in the side he had never expected.
“How can you believe those two, they are on your side?”
“Of course they are from our school. But they are people who value their own honor more than anyone else.”
“If I received orders from the cult leader, I might lie.”
“That is for the leader to decide.”
The two people’s gazes turned towards Baekjagang.
The most surprised person in this place was not Hyuk Sa-gun, but Baek Ja-gang.
When Geommugeuk said that the Poison King and the Demon Doctor were coming, goosebumps appeared in his ears. He realized Geommugeuk was lying.
As it turned out, Geommu-geuk was a man with a keen sense of humor. Now, I could guess why he lied. It must have been to corner Hyuksagun with the magic and poison king.
What shocked Baek Ja-gang was that this was his first lie. What does that mean?
– I consider the leader of the small group a true friend. I hope he can safely inherit the position of the leader.
– I will wake up our father too. Please have a different dream.
– Our martial arts community will not fight or hate each other. We will play and seduce young ladies at the beach.
―There is a regular restaurant in front of our school. Next time I have the chance, I would like to invite you.
The words that Geommugeuk had said flashed through his mind.
‘You mean everything you’ve said so far was true?’
