Chapter 383: A Drink Over Spring Greens
Chapter 383: A Drink Over Spring Greens
Leaving the building, Seo Dae-ryong finally let out the breath he had been holding.
Waking up in the room of the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon—it still felt like a fever dream. He couldn't even remember how he had managed to stumble out of that room and make it this far. Regardless of the details, one thing was certain.
‘I’m alive!’
Seo Dae-ryong looked up at the pouring sunlight. He felt as if he had barely escaped a blood-soaked battlefield with his life intact.
‘Still, how could he just leave me there?’
Just then, the Faceless Guest guarding the entrance spoke to him.
“The Young Cult Leader left word for you to stop by his quarters before you leave.”
“Thank you.”
Seo Dae-ryong quickened his pace toward Geom Mu-geuk’s residence.
‘I was going there even if you didn't tell me to. I’m challenging you to a duel right now. Master must have opened my Conception and Governing Vessels specifically because he anticipated this!’
With that thought, Seo Dae-ryong ran like the wind and shouted as he burst into Geom Mu-geuk’s courtyard.
“Let’s go a round!”
In an instant, Seo Dae-ryong froze, his words cutting off abruptly. As soon as he saw the person in the yard looking back at him, he let out an instinctive yelp.
“Ack!”
The person who had turned around was none other than the One Flower Sword Venerable. He had just screamed a challenge to a duel directly at her.
“Pavilion Master Seo?”
“Sword Venerable!”
Seo Dae-ryong gave a polite fist salute, and the One Flower Sword Venerable returned the greeting with the etiquette due to a Pavilion Master.
“A round with me? I’d be delighted.”
As someone deeply immersed in the pursuit of the blade, she was the type who would travel ten thousand li for a worthy sparring match.
“No, no. That... that wasn't directed at you, Sword Venerable.”
“Then were those words meant for the Young Cult Leader?”
It was too embarrassing to admit he had intended to vent his frustrations on the Young Cult Leader. He thought he had escaped the battlefield, only to walk right into another one.
‘Ah! I fell into a double trap!’
Caught in his own distress, he failed to notice that the One Flower Sword Venerable was looking at him with genuine admiration. The aura he exuded now was incomparable to when she had first met him.
‘Has there ever been a demonic practitioner who grew this quickly?’
Moreover, looking at his defiant yet lively eyes, a certain person naturally came to mind. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon in his youth must have felt exactly like this. The fact that he was carrying a great blade only added to the resemblance.
Just then, Geom Mu-geuk emerged from the house, carrying a large bowl of water.
“Our Pavilion Master Seo has grown quite a bit, hasn't he? I suppose it’s about time he went a round with you, Sword Venerable.”
Seo Dae-ryong jumped in fright, waving his hands so fast they became a blur.
“No! You’ve got it all wrong! Why would you say such a thing?!”
Seo Dae-ryong glared at Geom Mu-geuk, cursing him with his eyes.
‘Are you really going to be like this?!’
Geom Mu-geuk handed the water to the One Flower Sword Venerable.
“The Pavilion Master and I are on very close terms, so we joke around often.”
The One Flower Sword Venerable smiled. She was well aware of the relationship between the two. She also knew perfectly well that the person Seo Dae-ryong had intended to challenge was Geom Mu-geuk. It wasn't strange at all. After all, the Geom Mu-geuk before her was a man who treated even the tavern owner of Ma Clan Village as a close friend.
The One Flower Sword Venerable then bid Geom Mu-geuk farewell.
“Thank you for the sparring session today.”
“Don't mention it. I learned a great deal.”
If only that were true, she thought. Geom Mu-geuk had grown even faster than she had. Every time she sparred with him, she felt the same sensation the Fist Demon described—like staring up at an unreachable cliff.
The One Flower Sword Venerable then turned to Seo Dae-ryong.
“Until next time, Pavilion Master Seo.”
“Take care of yourself, Sword Venerable.”
As she was about to leave, she added as if she had just remembered something.
“Oh, I heard that Pavilion Master Seo is the one taking care of the flower pot I gave the Young Cult Leader.”
Seo Dae-ryong flinched at the sudden mention of the plant.
“Is it still alive?”
“Of course. It’s growing very well.”
It outranks me in my own office. That thing is the real boss!
The One Flower Sword Venerable hadn't brought it up to tease him. Her gaze deepened with sincerity.
“Just as a flower blooms from its bud, you too, Pavilion Master, will soon come into full bloom.”
It was a blessing—an acknowledgment that Seo Dae-ryong, who had improved by leaps and bounds, would soon make a name for himself as a true master. She had brought up the flower pot just to deliver that sentiment.
Once the One Flower Sword Venerable had departed, Seo Dae-ryong asked in a daze.
“She was praising me just now, right?”
“Sounded like a warning not to kill the flower to me.”
“Young Cult Leader!”
Only then did Geom Mu-geuk smile and nod.
“The Sword Venerable has truly acknowledged you.”
The touch of emotion in Dae-ryong's eyes was brief, as he immediately began to pour out his grievances.
“What’s the point? My life is over anyway. Do you know what it feels like to open your eyes and see the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon staring at you? Have you ever even heard of such a thing?”
“What did he say?”
“He asked when on earth I was planning to leave!”
“I’ve never been such a nuisance, so I wouldn't know.”
“I heard those words from Lord Smiling Demon because of a certain someone! It’s stressful enough to hear that from a normal person, but him? Ah! My life is ruined. How could you do this to me? How could you just leave me behind?”
“I didn't intend to.”
“Yes, you did! You were looking forward to the moment I’d wake up and lock eyes with him!”
“If that were the case, I would have hidden outside the window to watch.”
“Huh? You’re right.”
Seo Dae-ryong blinked. The Young Cult Leader he knew would definitely have been there to mock him.
“I received word this morning that the One Flower Sword Venerable would be visiting.”
“Then you should have woken me up and brought me out.”
Then, a surprising revelation followed.
“The Extreme Evil Smiling Demon stopped me.”
“What?”
“He saw how soundly you were sleeping and told me to leave you be.”
Seo Dae-ryong was stunned.
“Really? You’re lying!”
Seo Dae-ryong couldn't believe it, but looking at Geom Mu-geuk’s expression, it didn't seem like a lie.
“Why would Lord Smiling Demon do that?”
“I don't know either. Maybe he took a liking to you?”
“But why, exactly?”
“I told you, I don't know.”
Though he said that, Geom Mu-geuk could guess. The life of Seo Dae-ryong—a mere investigator who became the Huangquan Pavilion Master and the top disciple of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon—likely appealed to the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon’s sense of irony. Of course, it was also because he knew Dae-ryong was someone Mu-geuk cherished.
Seo Dae-ryong looked down at the white mask he was holding.
“Then was this gift also given out of goodwill?”
“Ask him yourself next time.”
“Next time?”
He was about to wave his hand and say there would be no next time, but he stopped. Was it because they had spent a day together? Or was it because of what Geom Mu-geuk had said? The Extreme Evil Smiling Demon didn't feel quite as terrifying as he had yesterday.
“Probably not... Who am I to him?”
As Dae-ryong hung his head, Geom Mu-geuk spoke in a calm, steady tone.
“You’re a cold-hearted, power-oriented man who is also a romantic devoted to only one woman. You’re a rebel who raises his hand alone when everyone else is silent, yet you’re a pacifist. You’re the winner of the martial arts tournament who made a life-changing decision over a drink at an inn, and you’re my right-hand man with a very sharp eye.”
The last part, "with a very sharp eye," was a joke they had shared back when Seo Dae-ryong discovered the hidden Ten Thousand Poison Supreme Divine Pill.
“You still remember all of that.”
“It’s the description of who you are. Of course I remember.”
Seo Dae-ryong felt a surge of warmth in his chest.
The man before him never gave him a moment’s rest. He was always pushing him, asking if their relationship ended here, suggesting that something else might be waiting for them if they went just a little further. He nudged his back and knocked on his heart, telling him not to grow weary of their bond, and not to fall into the swamp of boredom.
Though he was a man who always joked around and flustered him, there was always a deep meaning behind his words and actions.
Just look at the events of yesterday and today. In a single night, he had forged connections between Dae-ryong and two Demon Lords. If not for Geom Mu-geuk, how could he have naturally built relationships with them? Would he have ever even had the chance to speak to two Demon Lords?
If Mu-geuk had tried to take credit, Dae-ryong might have joked back, but Geom Mu-geuk was already hurrying to wash up and change his clothes, preparing to head out again.
“Where are you going now?”
“If the Cult only had three Demon Lords, I wouldn't be this busy.”
Meeting the Demon Lords was both preparation for the Three-Party Summit and a form of martial arts training. At his current realm, he could gain new insights into the Dao even from a single joke shared with a Demon Lord.
“Did you tell the One Flower Sword Venerable everything that happened while you were away from the Cult?”
Geom Mu-geuk nodded.
“You really are diligent.”
He had to be. Had he not experienced it many times? The side that protects is always at a disadvantage. Those who plot conspiracies look for gaps and relentlessly dig into weaknesses.
“You must be the busiest Young Cult Leader in history.”
“You have plenty to do as well, don't you?”
“Me?”
“When they arrive, we need to show them that the Cult’s discipline is firmly established. You’re the one most responsible for that.”
As Seo Dae-ryong nodded with a serious expression, messenger eagles flew overhead one after another. Some were even seen flying in the opposite direction. There was certainly more activity in the sky than usual.
“It’s started, hasn't it?”
At Seo Dae-ryong’s question, Geom Mu-geuk nodded.
While the two of them were talking on the ground, the conversations of strategists for the Three-Party Summit were busily traversing the sky.
*
The Drunken Demon’s reaction was different from what I expected.
Normally, it would have been something like this:
— You’re the last one to arrive again. Right, I’m just a caught fish. No, I’m not even a fish. I’m just a decorative pebble in the tank, aren't I?
But today, he was different.
“You’re here?”
What was with this relaxed response? Was he sober? Even though he reeked of alcohol?
“What’s this? Do you have to smile like that to use the final secret technique of your family martial art?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Why aren't you angry that I’m late?”
“Why would I be angry when my favorite younger brother has arrived?”
I took a step back.
“Who are you? It wasn't just the Soul-Seizing Demon Lord they were targeting, was it?”
“Sit down. It’s good to see you after a while. Let’s drink all night today.”
“This is strange. Really strange.”
Just then, Yeo-bin, one of the three great drinkers, brought out some dishes.
In that moment, I saw it. The second the Drunken Demon glanced at her, I knew. I could tell where his change had originated. There was a strange atmosphere flowing between the two of them.
‘There’s something going on!’
As soon as Yeo-bin withdrew, I asked the Drunken Demon.
“What happened with that female martial artist?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re going to tell me anyway, so just say it! Get it all out.”
“If I tell you as soon as you get here, I’ll look too shallow, won't I?”
“Don't worry. The most talkative man in the world is sitting right in front of you. What happened?”
Then, the Drunken Demon told me the story.
“I was drinking alone on a boat in the lake, and she flew over and boarded. Then she suggested we have a drink.”
“And then?”
“She challenged me to a drinking contest.”
That was completely unexpected.
“Oh! How bold. A woman challenging the Drunken Demon to a drinking contest.”
The story continued.
“I asked her, ‘Do you even know who you’re challenging?’ She said she did. Then I asked what the stakes were. She suggested the winner gets a wish granted. I asked why she was making such a childish bet. She asked if I lacked confidence. I said, ‘No way!’ And that’s how it happened.”
I filled the Drunken Demon’s empty glass. As if remembering that day, his gaze deepened as he emptied the cup.
“She could drink. Well, she’s one of the top three drinkers, so it’s only natural. But when she really set her mind to it, she drank even better than I expected. The two of us finished all the liquor in this pavilion. It wasn't enough, so we opened the storehouse and drank there.”
Imagining that scene, it must have been quite a sight.
“The result?”
“Why even ask? I won.”
I shook my head with an incredulous expression.
“You won? You heartless man. I give up.”
“Maybe for any other bet, but how could the Drunken Demon lose a drinking contest?”
“So? Did you make a wish?”
“I did.”
“What was it?”
The Drunken Demon looked down at his empty glass in silence. I knew he wasn't the type to easily give his heart to a woman. Please don't let it be a wish like 'Never talk to me again!'
“I told her to bring home-cooked spring greens as a side dish for our next drink.”
“!”
A bright smile spread across my face.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Because my brother is so cool.”
I filled the Drunken Demon’s glass to the brim.
“That’s the coolest thing you’ve done since I met you. You always seemed so miserable, but now you finally seem like a man.”
“You’re finally confessing that you used to look down on me.”
The Drunken Demon smiled and clinked his glass against mine.
Yeo-bin, who had liked the Drunken Demon for a long time, must have staked everything that day. How nervous she must have been. I didn't know what would happen to their relationship in the future, but the Drunken Demon had been very considerate of her feelings.
“Lately, we just have a drink together occasionally. Like friends.”
That drinking companion must be what had given the Drunken Demon his newfound composure.
“This is all because of you.”
“Why me?”
“She said she gained the courage because of you and the One Flower Sword Venerable. You’ve influenced the Sword Venerable a lot, haven't you? So in the end, it’s because of you. You influenced me, too.”
Yes, it probably was because of me. I admitted it. So many things had been changing since my regression. Regardless, among all those changes, this was a truly pleasant one.
“When you have that drink over spring greens, invite me too.”
“I’ll think about it.”
I laughed and emptied my glass at his smug, boastful attitude.
Brother, just don't blame me later by saying 'It's because of you!' in a different sense.
*
While meeting with the Demon Lords, I also focused on my martial arts training.
At the center of my efforts was always blood-sweating practice. I trained when I met the Demon Lords, and I trained when I didn't.
The reason a joke shared with a Demon Lord could provide a clue to enlightenment was only because it was backed by the endless training I had accumulated.
The moment a single word becomes a grand realization is the moment the final spire is placed atop a painstakingly built tower. If there is no tower, there can be no spire.
I continued to hone the Time Heaven Secret Technique to gain more time, and within that time, I practiced the Nine Calamities Demonic Art with all my might.
About twenty days passed like that, and finally, the day arrived.
A messenger sent from Tongcheon Pavilion came to report to me.
“The date for the summit has been set.”
It was set for the near future. Because the will of the three leaders to meet was firm, things had progressed faster than expected.
I immediately headed for Ma Clan Village.
As it happened, Jo Chun-bae, who was stretching in front of the Pungryu Tavern in the distance, saw me and greeted me warmly.
“Young Cult Leader, welcome!”
I walked toward him as he smiled brightly, unaware of the storm that was about to arrive.