Chapter 138: If I Just Let Him Go, Would I Still Be "Extreme Evil"?
Chapter 138: If I Just Let Him Go, Would I Still Be "Extreme Evil"?
“Where have you been?”
In response to Seo Dae-ryong’s question, I told him exactly where I had gone.
Seo Dae-ryong blinked, his eyes wide. By now, he had reached a point where he wasn't even surprised anymore.
“You went there and back in four days?”
“Yeah.”
“I assume you’re not joking or playing a prank on me, right?”
I nodded. Seo Dae-ryong simply shook his head.
“I won’t ask any more questions. I won’t even try to understand. If I keep agonizing over your feats, I’ll be the only one who ends up looking like a crazy person. You’re the kind of person who could suddenly say, ‘I’m joining the Murim Alliance tomorrow,’ and it wouldn’t even be strange.”
“I'm glad you understand. By the way, where’s the Drunken Demon?”
“He hasn’t visited once since you left the pavilion, Pavilion Master.”
I recalled how he looked when we last parted—sitting alone on a ferry, drinking. I had told him to cut the nonsense about Murim peace and tell me his real reason for approaching me. I suspected he might have been offended by my bluntness.
‘Unless you’re honest, we can never call each other brothers.’
He might truly wish to prevent a war. However, I could feel with certainty that peace wasn't the only reason he had sought me out.
“But Investigator Seo, why have you been limping for a while now?”
“Master put me through hellish training yesterday.”
“Suddenly?”
“Yes. He seemed to be in a foul mood.”
Just then, guided by another investigator, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon entered the office. Since we were just talking about him, Seo Dae-ryong jumped in surprise.
“Master!”
To Seo Dae-ryong, he was always the respected and welcomed master. It would have been nice if the Elder were a bit more affectionate, but the Blood Heaven Blade Demon merely gave a slight nod and spoke.
“You. Step outside for a moment.”
“Yes, sir!”
Seo Dae-ryong headed out. He had been limping noticeably in front of me, but now he gritted his teeth and walked with a perfectly straight posture.
Hang in there, Investigator Seo. It’s not easy to open the heart of a master as stubborn as yours.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s small, sharp eyes looked even more fierce than usual today. If he had been in a bad mood yesterday, it seemed that mood had carried over.
“Welcome, Elder.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon got straight to the point.
“The Drunken Demon came to see me yesterday.”
I knew it. Seo Dae-ryong’s hellish training had been the result of the Drunken Demon’s visit.
“He brought a bottle of liquor. A very expensive one.”
Though he spoke calmly, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon clearly found the situation distasteful.
“Why did he come?”
“He said he bought it just because he wanted to give it to me, and then he left.”
So, he had begun his effort to reconcile with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. It had taken him five days just to work up the nerve to deliver a single bottle of liquor.
“It was similar to when the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon came and told me to pass something to you.”
“That’s different. He had business with me, but this time, the Drunken Demon had business with you, Elder.”
“I still think it’s your business, though.”
Good grief, he was sharp.
“No, this is news to me. So, did you drink it?”
“How could I drink it without knowing what was inside? I poured it out.”
“How could you throw away someone’s sincerity like that?”
“Why do you care about his sincerity?”
“Because it was expensive liquor. You should have given it to me instead.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon glared at me suspiciously.
“It was you, wasn't it? You did something. Otherwise, there’s no way that drunkard would do something he’s never done in his entire life.”
I considered being honest but decided to play dumb until the end. For this reconciliation to work, the two of them had to resolve it themselves.
“No, I know nothing about it. Perhaps he was moved by you while drinking at the Pungryu Tavern that day.”
“Moved? I did nothing but curse at him.”
“Who else in the world would dare to curse at him like that? He might have had a change of heart.”
“Don’t defend the Drunken Demon. I told you clearly, didn't I? He is a devious man. Second Young Master, do not give your heart to the wrong person. If you go too far, the road back will be arduous.”
After saying his piece, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon left the office.
Their reconciliation now depended on how the Drunken Demon acted next. In the process, the Drunken Demon would peel away another layer of prejudice, providing an opportunity to learn more about him.
*
That night.
I sat on the branch of a large tree in the distance, watching Lee An train. It was a distance from which she couldn't notice me, but I could see her facial expressions clearly.
With a look of utmost gravity and sweat dripping from her face, she was practicing the Flying Heaven Sword Technique. She performed one form, then again, and again. She wouldn't rest until those repetitions finally yielded an answer.
Then, someone entered her training ground. Surprisingly, the person who came to see her was Blue Face, the subordinate of the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon.
“Martial Artist Lee.”
“Ah, Blue Face.”
“I apologize for the late hour.”
“It’s fine. What brings you here?”
“Is your offer for me to join as a team leader still valid?”
“Until you firmly refuse, the position of the 1st Team Leader will always be vacant.”
Lee An’s voice trembled. She was flustered by Blue Face’s sudden visit. On the other hand, Blue Face continued with his prepared questions.
“What kind of work will the Ghost Shadow Squad be doing in the future?”
“The Ghost Shadow Squad will act solely as an organization for the Second Young Master.”
“What if the Cult Leader’s orders and the Second Young Master’s orders conflict?”
Lee An merely gave a faint smile, as if she had already answered.
“Do you realize what kind of answer you are giving right now?”
“But I didn't say anything, did I?”
Their gazes locked. I could sense the conflict in the eyes behind Blue Face’s mask.
When this strange woman—who had gone from being incredibly obese to incredibly beautiful—suddenly asked him to take a team leader position, he honestly thought she was insane at first. Even if she was the person who had saved his life, even going so far as to destroy a carriage, how could she ask him to give up a future position as a Demon Lord to be a mere team leader?
At that moment, he truly thought: Heaven doesn't give everything. To think she’s this beautiful but completely mad!
But as time passed, the thought of that "crazy woman" kept coming back to him. Rather than waiting twenty or thirty years to become a Demon Lord, he felt a desire to roam the Murim with her. The more he tried to shake the thought, the more he thought of Lee An.
Would he have agonized like this if she had made the proposal before her transformation? He scolded himself for being a fool captivated by beauty, but he couldn't help his thoughts. The fact that he would have been dead anyway if not for her only added to the temptation.
Lee An chose honesty over pleasant words to lure him in.
“I believe in the Young Master. If he looks at the sky and says it’s the ground, I will live my life believing the sky is the ground from that day on. If he tells me to die in his place, I will. I even practice in front of a mirror, deciding what words I should leave behind when that time comes. I’ve prepared many things to say. Some words to make him remember me forever, some to let me go without a burden, and some to hurt him. I won’t know which ones I’ll say until the moment comes. The Ghost Shadow Squad is an organization led by someone like me. If you join, you should know what you’re getting into.”
As she spoke, her trembling began to subside.
“You don’t have to decide right now. Please decide carefully, for my sake as well.”
“For your sake? What does that mean?”
“The position I offered you is very important and precious to me. It’s the 1st Team Leader position of the first organization I’ve ever led. I don’t want to see you regretting it. I don’t want to turn that precious spot into a place of someone’s regret. So, take your time and make a decision you won’t regret. I intend to keep the 1st Team Leader spot vacant until you decide. Even if all the other team leader spots are filled, I will leave the first one empty.”
Their gazes met again.
“Can I continue to wear this mask even after joining the Ghost Shadow Squad?”
“Yes. But in return, you must speak to me often. So that if someone else wears that blue mask and tries to act like you, I can recognize the difference immediately.”
After staring at Lee An in silence for a moment, Blue Face bowed politely and left. Only after he disappeared did Lee An clutch her chest and let out a long, ragged breath.
“Ugh! I thought I was going to die from nerves. What did I even say? Argh! I ruined it. I talked way too much!”
Watching from afar, I burst into laughter. Right then, someone leaped up and landed on the branch next to me. To my surprise, it was the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon. He must have followed Blue Face here.
“He’s been losing sleep and agonizing for a while, and he finally came here.”
It seemed Blue Face’s inner conflict had already been apparent to the Smiling Demon.
“Stupid brat! What is he doing, getting captivated by beauty?”
“Isn't it a beauty worth being captivated by?”
“The Second Young Master took my mask, and now you’re taking my subordinate.”
“Now, let’s get the facts straight. You gave me the mask as a gift, and Lee An is the one taking Blue Face, not me.”
“Then I should take my revenge on that pretty heart of yours.”
“Let’s just say I’m the one taking him, then.”
The Smiling Demon chuckled softly. Since he seemed to be in a bad mood, it sounded like the low growl of a predator.
“What do you plan to do if Blue Face says he’s going?”
“If I just let him go, would I still be the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon? I’d have to cut off at least one of his arms before sending him off.”
I couldn't tell if he was serious or joking. When Lee An first made the offer to Blue Face, the Smiling Demon had watched without saying much. I thought he might let him go easily, but perhaps not. I didn't know how he truly felt about Blue Face.
“Couldn't you just let him go in peace?”
“Are you saying being a team leader of a non-existent organization is better than being a future Demon Lord?”
“From his perspective, yes. Being a Demon Lord is a matter of the distant future, but wanting to be a team leader is his current heart’s desire.”
Actually, there was another reason. Even as he aged, Blue Face would never sit in the seat of a Demon Lord. The current Smiling Demon wouldn't know that. He wouldn't know that he himself would hold the position of Demon Lord for so long. He wouldn't know that Blue Face would spend all those years doing nothing but looking after him.
“Lord Smiling Demon, aren't both you and I bound by our innate fates, unable to live as we please? Let Blue Face at least live according to his own heart.”
“He’ll regret it later. What then?”
“What else? He made the choice, so he’ll have to live with the regret. He might even regret it so much that he comes back to you, asking to be taken back.”
“Not a chance.”
“Please take him back if he does. There’s plenty of reason to.”
“What reason?”
“The Blue Face of now and the Blue Face who has lived his own life will surely be different. A Blue Face who has wandered and returned will be stronger. The sword of a man who has known regret will be faster.”
The Smiling Demon stared at me intently.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You were always curious about what was behind my mask, weren't you? I’m always curious too. About what’s inside the Second Young Master.”
I felt a pang of guilt, but I answered calmly.
“Sometimes I’m curious too. What’s inside me that makes me talk like I’ve lived a whole lifetime? If I talk this much and try to lecture people, I won’t be popular with women these days, will I?”
“At least you know.”
The Smiling Demon laughed, and I laughed along with him.
“Since we’re on the subject, let me ask one favor. If Blue Face chooses to be a team leader and you get so angry that you want to cut off his arm, please come see me first.”
“Why? Are you going to let me cut your arm instead?”
“I like you more than Blue Face, Lord Smiling Demon. Why would I do that?”
“Then why do you want to see me?”
“For Lee An’s sake, I’ll have to try and stop you or persuade you somehow. I’m being sincere.”
“I’ll think about it.”
The Smiling Demon leaped away and vanished into the night. My gaze returned to Lee An. She had calmed her excitement and returned to her tedious martial arts training.
You’re doing well, Lee An. In the end, Blue Face will come not because of your persuasion, but because he’s captivated by your skill. In my opinion, the Smiling Demon’s forgiveness depends on that as well.
*
The next day, Seo Dae-ryong rushed into the office with an excited face and asked immediately.
“Pavilion Master, have you heard the rumor?”
“What rumor?”
Seo Dae-ryong brought a truly shocking report.
“My Master is going to have a duel with the Drunken Demon.”
I was stunned. “Is that true?”
“I’m not sure if it’s just a false rumor or the truth. The rumor started from the Southern Blade Sect. But isn't it an unwritten rule that Demon Lords don’t fight each other?”
Seo Dae-ryong seemed genuinely worried.
“Are you worried?”
“Honestly, yes.”
“What are you worried about? Your master has been training like crazy lately.”
“Still, he’s getting on in years.”
I wondered if the Blood Heaven Blade Demon knew his disciple worried about him this much. Then again, if he had known, would he have put him through hell training just because he was in a bad mood?
As I stood up, Seo Dae-ryong asked, “Where are you going?”
“To buy some liquor. Something very strong today.”
“Ah! Are you going to stop the Drunken Demon?”
I spoke as I left the office.
“There won’t be a duel. Because they’ll both die by my hand first.”
I told them to reconcile, and they’re going to duel instead? I swear, I can’t catch a break with these people.