Chapter 126: I’ll Fight While Making Sure You Know Exactly What I’m Doing
Chapter 126: I’ll Fight While Making Sure You Know Exactly What I’m Doing
As the woman approached, Seo Dae-ryong grew flustered.
“Uh, uh? She’s actually coming toward us?”
“See? I told you.”
“She’s only coming because you beckoned her! She’ll probably ask why you called her over. Just watch. When she does, you’d better answer like this: ‘I called you over to tease my friend here.’”
The closer the woman got, the more Seo Dae-ryong’s eyes lost focus and his mouth hung open. She wore a veil, which only added to her mysterious aura. To Dae-ryong, she looked like a celestial maiden descended from the heavens.
Of course, the woman was Lee An. She came to a stop right in front of the two men.
Geom Mu-geuk spoke to her. “I told him we came back together, but he doesn’t believe me.”
Lee An’s eyes crinkled into a smile as she addressed Seo Dae-ryong.
“You’re Investigator Seo, aren’t you? I’ve heard a lot about you.”
She spoke in a disguised, modulated voice.
Startled that such a woman recognized him, Seo Dae-ryong immediately sent a telepathic message to Geom Mu-geuk.
— How does she know me?
— Because I told her.
— How? Why? You never mentioned knowing a beauty like this! Knowing your personality, Pavilion Master, there’s no way you wouldn’t have bragged about it! You always say you have a good heart and a reliable right hand, but you should’ve mentioned you have the most beautiful face by your side!
While Dae-ryong was busy firing off telepathic messages, Lee An said with a smile, “I heard you’re the Pavilion Master’s right-hand man?”
In an instant, a look of irrepressible joy surged onto Seo Dae-ryong’s face. Was the position of 'right-hand man' not a prestigious and coveted title that many lusted after?
“Oh, stop. Did he really have to tell you all that?”
Though acting bashful, Dae-ryong’s shoulders were practically touching the sky with pride.
“He told me this, too.”
“What would that be?”
“That despite your cold-hearted, power-oriented personality, you’re a real man who loves only one woman. That you’re a rebel who raises his hand alone when everyone else stays silent, yet also a pacifist. And that you’re someone who made a life-changing decision over a single cup of booze at an inn?”
Seo Dae-ryong was stunned. This beautiful woman was reciting the very words he used to say as a joke in the past. He turned to Geom Mu-geuk with a look of utter disbelief.
“You certainly gave her a detailed introduction.”
“Not only that, I heard you hold regular drinking parties.”
“He even told you that?”
Dae-ryong was bewildered. This beauty knew far too much about him.
Why did the Pavilion Master tell her so much about me?
Still, he didn’t feel bad. How could he feel bad when a woman he might only see once in a lifetime knew so much about him?
Usually, he prided himself on his resolve. He was certain that if anyone tried to use a honey trap on him, he would never fall for it. He lived by the creed that the heart mattered more than appearances. This was especially true in the Murim, where people used Crimson Face Art to hide their age or roamed about sucking the life energy out of others.
But looking at the woman before him, he realized that if a woman like this truly intended to seduce someone, it would be hard to resist. Even though she was a complete stranger, he found himself wanting to make a good impression.
“Are you not holding your drinking parties lately?”
“We’ve postponed them for a bit because one person is missing.”
Belatedly realizing his lapse, Dae-ryong asked Mu-geuk, “Ah! What about that warrior?”
“Took you long enough to ask.”
Mu-geuk’s expression suddenly turned somber. “You won’t be seeing her anymore.”
Dae-ryong flinched. “Why?”
“……”
“No way. Nothing happened to her, right?”
“What if it did?”
“Why are you being like this? It’s not funny. You can play any other prank, but don’t joke about this. It won’t work on me.”
“It’s not a joke. You won’t be seeing that Lee An anymore.”
Seo Dae-ryong stared blankly at Mu-geuk for a moment before laughing.
“Shall I tell you the decisive reason why this prank won’t work?”
“What is it?”
“It’s because of you, Pavilion Master.”
“Me? Why me?”
“You went out with her, and something happened to that warrior? That’s impossible.”
Then, a thought suddenly occurred to Dae-ryong.
“Wait, Pavilion Master. This is too much.”
“What now?”
The next words came via telepathy.
— Just because you met a beauty like this, you’ve already tossed our warrior friend aside. As a fellow man, I can understand the impulse, but you can’t do that to her. Do you know how much she thinks of you? Where is she? Don’t tell me you sent her straight to the training grounds the moment you arrived? If you did, I’m going to be seriously disappointed in you.
— Hey, let me get a word in.
— Forget it. Give her back! No, I’ll go find her myself.
Seo Dae-ryong turned to Lee An with a smile and asked, “By any chance, did you see a female warrior with a rather... sturdy build?”
“Ah, I did.”
Dae-ryong turned back to Mu-geuk with an 'I knew it' expression.
— Your prank failed. I was the top student of Huangquan Pavilion, you know. From now on, I’m calling you the Lustful Pavilion Master.
— What did I even do?
— You abandoned that warrior and brought this beauty instead! Wow, that’s cold. Suddenly, I’m even starting to dislike this innocent lady.
Dae-ryong gave Lee An a polite bow. “Then, I shall see you again.”
As he started walking toward Lee An’s quarters, he lamented inwardly.
Ah, I didn’t even get her name. Well, it’s not like I’ll see her again anyway.
Just then, Lee An spoke from behind him.
“That person isn’t at the training grounds right now.”
“Pardon?”
How did this woman know he was heading to the training grounds first?
As Dae-ryong stood there surprised, Mu-geuk said something even more shocking.
“She just told you everything you’ve been sending me via telepathy.”
Dae-ryong gasped.
— Why?
“Stop using telepathy and just speak,” Mu-geuk said.
Dae-ryong spoke with a look of total confusion. “No, why? Why would you send telepathy to her? No matter how beautiful she is, you weren’t this kind of person, Pavilion Master. You’ve really turned strange.”
Then Lee An spoke up. “I’ve turned strange too, haven’t I?”
What kind of nonsense is that? While Dae-ryong blinked in confusion, Lee An pulled a dagger from her robes.
It was the very dagger made from melting Go Wol’s Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron shackles.
The moment he saw it, Dae-ryong turned on Mu-geuk indignantly.
“Why does she have that dagger?”
He glared at Mu-geuk with suspicious eyes, then flinched.
“Don’t tell me... you took that warrior’s dagger and gave it to this young lady? No, right? That’s yours, isn’t it, Pavilion Master?”
“Mine is right here. That one belongs to Lee An.”
When Mu-geuk pulled out his own dagger to show him, Dae-ryong roared.
“You really can’t do this! This is too much!”
For the first time, Seo Dae-ryong was genuinely furious with Geom Mu-geuk.
Mu-geuk simply smiled. His silence only made Dae-ryong angrier.
“Just what happened while you were out? Have you gone mad for women? That dagger was something the people who were there that day shared! Sure, you’re the one who gave it to us, but it’s a dagger that holds great meaning for all of us! And yet you took her dagger and gave it to this woman? Whose are you going to give away to the next beauty? Here, take mine now. No, wait, you can’t have it. I’m giving my dagger to that warrior!”
“I didn’t know you cared for Lee An this much.”
“She’s a friend I can share my innermost thoughts with. She’s my drinking buddy!”
Then Lee An spoke. “Let’s go. For a drink.”
Dae-ryong hesitated. A refusal didn’t come out immediately. Still, he gritted his teeth and forced it out.
“I’m afraid I can’t right now.”
Dae-ryong sighed inwardly.
To think I’m turning down an invitation to drink from a beauty the likes of which I’ll never see again! Why did we have to meet in a situation like this? Ah, is there any life more cursed than mine?
But Lee An came first.
“I have to go take care of my abandoned drinking buddy first. So, if you’ll excuse me.”
“Thank you for thinking of me so much.”
Dae-ryong looked at Lee An, confused by her words.
Lee An removed her veil. In that moment, it felt as if light were radiating from her face.
Dae-ryong’s eyes widened at the revealed beauty, but he quickly hardened his expression. Now was not the time to be admiring her looks.
“I still won’t go! I can’t!”
“Didn’t you promise to drink all night with me once I returned?”
“What?”
“It’s me. Lee An.”
Plunged into a state of total chaos, Seo Dae-ryong could only blink.
“You said the three of us, including Commander Jang, would go see the autumn leaves at Daecheon Mountain and drink, and then drink again while watching the snow in winter.”
When Lee An spoke in her original voice, Dae-ryong jumped in shock.
“The voice matches... but are you really that warrior?”
“Yes, it’s me.”
“...But you don’t look the same?”
“I’ll tell you everything that happened while we drink with Commander Jang.”
Only because it was Lee An speaking did Dae-ryong finally recognize her.
“It really is you!”
For a final confirmation, Dae-ryong looked at Geom Mu-geuk. Mu-geuk nodded once.
“What was that again? Lustful Pavilion Master? Mad for women?”
“A-Ah! I’m sorry!”
Mu-geuk smiled at the still-dazed man.
“No. You did well. You earned a lot of points with Lee An today.”
Lee An then announced loudly, “Today’s drinks are on me!”
“Wooooo! Sounds good!”
Lee An looked at Mu-geuk. “Can we go drink now? We’ll bring Commander Jang along, too.”
Her face clearly showed how much she was dying to talk about how hard the Body Poison Purification had been and how wonderful and fun the journey was. Mu-geuk couldn’t help but smile.
“Drink to your heart’s content today!”
Watching the excited backs of Lee An and Seo Dae-ryong as they walked away, Mu-geuk slowly made his way toward the Heavenly Demon Hall.
*
The Heavenly Demon Hall remained unchanged.
Beyond the Path of Blood sat his father. I walked slowly across the red carpet until I reached him.
I was so happy to see him again. I never thought I’d be so glad to see that blunt expression and those cold eyes.
“Father, have you been well? I thought I might die before seeing you again.”
I performed a deep bow.
“You look as though you’ve returned from a war.”
“It was a great war indeed.”
“That’s what happens when you meddle in the affairs of the Unorthodox Path Alliance for no reason.”
“It wasn’t for no reason. I judged that Bi Sa-in would be easier for us to control than Seok Gwan-chu’s grandson.”
Normally, saying he was a 'better person' would have been more accurate, but I said he was 'easier to control.' Father despised and was wary of hasty evaluations of a person’s character.
“It would have been more advantageous for us if Seok Gwan-chu’s grandson had become the successor.”
“Why is that?”
“Because that fellow is far more greedy.”
“But wouldn’t the Murim be in greater chaos because of it?”
“What does that have to do with us?”
I knew those words were sincere. The Cult had always exerted its greatest power when the Murim was in chaos.
Father. Even so, we can’t keep growing by feeding on blood forever, can we?
“Why didn’t you return immediately? Were you not concerned about your brother taking control of the Demon Lords?”
“I was concerned.”
“Then why?”
“I had no intention of making all the Demon Lords my people.”
“Why?”
“Because then my brother would be driven into a corner.”
“!”
“If that happened, he would eventually make the worst, irreversible choice. A choice I wouldn’t be able to overlook. Didn’t I tell you that I would stop the bloodshed of the succession struggle in my generation?”
Father could not hide his surprise.
“You’re giving him breathing room for that reason? Did you really think that far ahead?”
“I have to. When I consider how great and significant the things I’ll gain through this fight are, I have to think deeper and further than that. I’m going to fight while using my head and making sure you know exactly what I’m doing, Father.”
Father stared at me in silence. I stared back at him just as calmly.
“I have one question for you as well.”
“What is it?”
“When Seok Gwan-chu or his master, Baek Mang-gi, made their moves, were you even a little worried about me?”
“I wasn’t.”
“Why not? Did you believe in me that much?”
“It wasn’t you I believed in. I believed in Extreme Evil.”
“You believed in the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon?”
“Yes. I believed that if he was by your side, he would have deemed it a fight worth having. I trusted Extreme Evil’s judgment.”
“Please try to trust your son a bit more in the future.”
“If I had used you as the standard back then, the Cult would have had to march out to rescue you.”
“Ah! I wonder when I’ll ever become a trusted son.”
At my exaggerated remark, Father maintained his 'not a chance' expression. I had a feeling that even if I became an immortal and ascended to the heavens, Father would still look at me with that same face. And as I floated up, he’d probably say, 'Don't trust those immortals!'
“Go and rest.”
“Then I shall take my leave.”
As I turned to walk away, Father spoke from behind me.
“Welcome back.”
The moment I heard those words, a lump formed in my throat. It was a short sentence, but more than anything else, those were the words I had wanted to hear from him.
I turned back toward Father and silently bowed my head.
Thank you for standing firm in your place, Father.
After leaving the Heavenly Demon Hall, I headed toward the place where the person I wanted to see most—after my father—was waiting.