Chapter 539: Have You Ever Served Drinks in a Courtesan House?
Chapter 539: Have You Ever Served Drinks in a Courtesan House?
Geom Mu-geuk and the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon emerged from the Space-Time Displacement Technique.
It was the moment of returning to reality from an illusion, marking the end of two days that neither would ever forget.
When Geom Mu-geuk opened the door, Yeo-jeong was already waiting.
"Has someone come looking for me?"
With a slightly flushed face, Yeo-jeong replied, "The Demon Extermination Squad Leader and Miss Jin Ha-ryeong have arrived."
Yeo-jeong knew exactly who they were. The Demon Extermination Squad Leader was the grandson of the Murim Alliance Leader and his most powerful successor.
She hadn't expected Jin Ha-gun to visit the Heavenly Flower Pavilion. Soon, the Young Alliance Leader of the Unorthodox Path would arrive as well. When that happened, the successors of the three great powers—Orthodox, Unorthodox, and Demonic—would all be gathered under one roof.
Yeo-jeong felt that while this situation was the greatest crisis of her life, it was also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness history in the making.
"I called them because a friend is in trouble," Geom Mu-geuk said.
Yeo-jeong expressed a hint of envy at his words. "I’m jealous. I’ve never managed to gain a friend like that in my entire life."
Geom Mu-geuk replied with a playful note of disappointment. "You say you have no friends? Then what am I?"
Yeo-jeong quickly bowed her head, as if the remark was more than she deserved. "I will bring the two of them here at once."
As she turned away, she realized the Young Cult Leader had every right to feel slighted. When she had been in danger, hadn't he rushed to her side with Cho-hui without a moment's rest? That was no different from the Demon Extermination Squad Leader rushing here now.
Come to think of it, I do have friends.
She had the exalted Smiling Demon, and another friend as high as the heavens who came running in her time of need. It was a life that left nothing more to be desired.
Once Yeo-jeong withdrew, Geom Mu-geuk immediately sat down to meditate. Since he was currently devoid of internal energy, he intended to use this brief window to complete at least one circulation.
While Geom Mu-geuk focused on his breathing, the Smiling Demon stood beside him, acting as his protector. He recalled the snowy landscape he had seen within the Space-Time Displacement Technique.
With his eyes closed and his energy circulating, Geom Mu-geuk spoke. He had reached a realm where he could speak freely even while meditating.
"Lord Smiling Demon, your martial arts can reach even greater heights than they have now."
The Smiling Demon had long ago achieved Great Achievement in the Blood Calamity Finger and the Demon Extreme Wild Rage Palm. Recently, due to the changes in his life and an increase in internal energy, his martial prowess had grown further, and those two days of training had solidified that realm.
And now, Geom Mu-geuk was saying he could go even higher. Since he was currently at the Eleven-Star stage, it meant he could reach the Twelve-Star Great Achievement.
"Once the Blood Calamity Finger and the Demon Extreme Wild Rage Palm are further perfected, they will be reborn as entirely different martial arts."
If anyone else had said it, he might have doubted them, but he believed Geom Mu-geuk. No one had crossed the line between life and death with him more often. No one had experienced his martial arts more closely or more frequently.
"Become stronger, Lord Smiling Demon."
The Smiling Demon had always felt it. There was a clear reason and a specific target behind Geom Mu-geuk’s endless pursuit of strength.
"Is the enemy we must face truly that powerful?"
Geom Mu-geuk paused for a moment before answering. "They are."
The Smiling Demon nodded silently. If that was the case, no further words were needed.
"I will become stronger."
If only to protect the Young Cult Leader.
And it wasn't just him getting stronger. Lately, not only himself but the other Demon Lords were also growing more powerful in their own ways.
Because of this, he had a premonition. The current Eight Demon Lords would become the strongest iteration of the group in history.
Just then, Jin Ha-gun and Jin Ha-ryeong arrived with Yeo-jeong.
Entering the room, they were first surprised to see Geom Mu-geuk meditating, and then surprised again to see the Smiling Demon standing beside him. They hadn't expected to see a Demon Lord here.
"Greetings to the Demon Lord," Jin Ha-gun said.
"Captain Jin, welcome."
Compared to Jin Ha-gun’s somewhat awkward greeting, Jin Ha-ryeong offered hers with a bright expression.
"It’s been a long time!"
"Miss Jin, it is good to see you."
Through this greeting, Jin Ha-gun could see just how much he and his sister had changed.
The fact that he had greeted the Demon Lord first was one thing, but for Jin Ha-ryeong to offer such a cheerful greeting was truly unthinkable in the past.
Jin Ha-gun’s gaze turned toward the meditating Geom Mu-geuk. Yes, this was the right way to put it.
Everything was divided into before meeting Geom Mu-geuk and after meeting Geom Mu-geuk.
Everything had changed since they got to know him. His own life, and even his sister, who was currently using hand gestures to ask the Smiling Demon if Geom Mu-geuk was injured.
Jin Ha-ryeong was genuinely happy to see Geom Mu-geuk after so long. Seeing him meditating the moment they reunited felt very much like him. A joke slipped out naturally.
"Summoning the Demon Extermination Squad Leader here only to ignore him for meditation? You certainly have some nerve!"
Jin Ha-gun shot her a look, warning her not to act so casually toward the Young Cult Leader in front of a Demon Lord.
At that moment, Geom Mu-geuk, having completed a full circulation of his True Qi, opened his eyes.
"I simply wanted to show how much I trust our esteemed Squad Leader."
Geom Mu-geuk sprang to his feet. Beside him, the Smiling Demon was inwardly astonished.
The speed at which he circulates his True Qi is remarkably fast.
Of course, a single circulation couldn't fully replenish Geom Mu-geuk’s massive internal energy, but at this rate, he would likely recover his energy in no time.
Geom Mu-geuk and Jin Ha-gun exchanged greetings first.
"You arrived early."
"I happened to be nearby."
Geom Mu-geuk looked at Jin Ha-ryeong. Instead of a greeting, she summarized the situation.
"Who would believe it? The moment the successor to the Murim Alliance received word that the Young Alliance Leader of the Unorthodox Path was in danger, he came running at full tilt on the word of the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult."
Geom Mu-geuk smiled at her. She seemed more composed than before, a sign that she had grown.
"As it happens, I was nearby as well. I don't usually come to Guizhou."
Maybe it was fate that I had to see you. She almost said the words but held them back.
After their greetings, Geom Mu-geuk introduced Yeo-jeong to them.
"This lady is the owner of this Heavenly Flower Pavilion, and someone I like and respect deeply."
Jin Ha-gun and Jin Ha-ryeong greeted her politely. The fact that Geom Mu-geuk emphasized his liking and respect for her meant she was a person of great importance.
Yeo-jeong quietly observed the faces of the two newcomers. Geom Mu-geuk wondered: what kind of destiny was she reading in them?
"Seeing the two of you, I can see that the future of the Orthodox Murim is exceptionally bright."
"You flatter us," they replied.
Once the introductions were over, the Smiling Demon made to leave. He knew his presence would likely make the two of them uncomfortable.
"I will leave you to your conversation."
As the Smiling Demon prepared to leave with Yeo-jeong, Geom Mu-geuk made a request of her.
"Pavilion Master, I’m sorry to ask, but could you show off your skills once more? My friends have been traveling and likely haven't had a proper meal."
Before she could answer, Jin Ha-gun declined. "It’s quite alright. There’s no need to go to such trouble for us."
Yeo-jeong smiled and replied, "How many chances will I have in my life to serve a meal to the Demon Extermination Squad Leader? Please do not reject this great honor."
Put that way, Jin Ha-gun could no longer refuse.
Yeo-jeong could guess Geom Mu-geuk’s intention. He wanted to deepen her connection with Jin Ha-gun.
The Heavenly Flower Pavilion was spreading throughout the Central Plains, regardless of Orthodox or Unorthodox affiliations. A connection with the Demon Extermination Squad Leader was an undeniable benefit for her—especially an alliance forged through her own hospitality.
As Yeo-jeong left, she caught Geom Mu-geuk’s eye and offered a silent thank you.
Thank you, Young Cult Leader.
With the Smiling Demon and Yeo-jeong gone, only the three of them remained.
"Tell me exactly what is happening."
"Our dancer friend has many enemies."
Geom Mu-geuk explained everything that had transpired regarding the Heavenly Flower Pavilion.
As they listened, the expressions of the two siblings hardened. On the way here, they had discussed the possibility that Geom Mu-geuk might have exaggerated the situation just because he wanted to see them. But after hearing the full story, the situation was grave.
"This isn't something a mere merchant group would plan. There must be someone behind them."
Jin Ha-gun’s gaze shifted to Geom Mu-geuk. "It means they might be targeting you as well."
Geom Mu-geuk pulled the two of them into the fold. "Or it could be you two. What if they anticipated that I would call for you?"
"Are we in danger because we chose the wrong friend?"
"You're escaping the danger of being picked off one by one because you chose the right friend."
Jin Ha-gun now knew those words weren't empty boasting. The enemies were targeting everyone, regardless of whether they were Orthodox, Unorthodox, or Demonic.
"The Cult is currently conducting an intensive investigation into the Hundred Precepts Merchant Group. We’ll have results soon. Then we might find out what they’re ultimately after."
Jin Ha-gun was grateful that Geom Mu-geuk had called him. If Bi Sa-in and Geom Mu-geuk had handled this alone and he had heard about it later, he would have felt strangely slighted.
"Thank you for calling me."
"You might not be so thankful once you hear what I have to say next."
What kind of prank is he pulling now? Both Jin Ha-gun and Jin Ha-ryeong were curious about what Geom Mu-geuk was going to say.
And as always, the question was something they never could have expected.
"Have you ever served drinks in a courtesan house?"
* * *
"It suits you, doesn't it?"
At Geom Mu-geuk’s words, Jin Ha-gun looked at his reflection in the bronze mirror. He was currently dressed in the uniform of the workers at the Heavenly Flower Pavilion.
He had never dreamed in his life that he would be doing something like this.
"If you start learning the ropes now, you'll be proficient by the beginning of next month."
Furthermore, it had been decided that the warriors of the Demon Extermination Squad would also disguise themselves as workers of the pavilion.
The reason Jin Ha-gun stood before the mirror in such attire was because of Geom Mu-geuk’s request.
"I want you to protect the women who work here."
Geom Mu-geuk had persuaded him with total sincerity.
"We don't know what will happen that day. It might end quietly, or something beyond our expectations might occur. I don't know if you realize this, but I am a man who always prepares for the worst."
What Geom Mu-geuk worried about was the safety of the courtesans.
"If things go south, no one will be able to look after them. And I can't leave this task to the Faceless Guests."
Geom Mu-geuk stared intently at Jin Ha-gun.
"I want you and the Demon Extermination Squad to protect them that day."
Having been called all this way only to be told to protect courtesans, Jin Ha-gun might have felt offended. He could have felt like he was being pushed away from the important action.
However, Jin Ha-gun nodded readily and replied, "I will protect them."
Jin Ha-ryeong was inwardly surprised by his answer. There wasn't a hint of resentment, no sense of I'm only doing this because it's your request.
He seemed to accept the task with genuine willingness.
Geom Mu-geuk also looked surprised by the prompt response.
"You're not going to refuse? I expected you to say, 'I'll save Sa-in, you carry the liquor.' That's what I would have said."
Jin Ha-gun looked straight at Geom Mu-geuk and asked, "Didn't you entrust this to me because it's the more important task?"
Geom Mu-geuk’s clear, deep eyes crinkled into a pleasant smile.
"Thank you for understanding my heart."
Jin Ha-ryeong jumped in, shouting, "Don't be fooled! He's just giving it to you because he doesn't want to deal with drunk, obnoxious customers!"
Geom Mu-geuk played along with her joke, feigning a shocked gasp.
Of course, she knew as well. She knew Geom Mu-geuk truly worried for the women's safety.
What surprised her was her brother's attitude, but there was a reason Jin Ha-gun had so easily accepted the request.
"In the mission right before I came here, I saved some children and women."
He kept thinking about the look of relief that had washed over a child's face.
"I had a thought then. Punishing evil is important, but saving lives is even more vital."
To some, it might have sounded like a realization that came far too late.
In reality, Jin Ha-gun had saved countless people and performed numerous acts of chivalry throughout his life.
"At some point, chivalry became a matter of course."
Naturally saving, naturally killing. I'm the Demon Extermination Squad Leader, so it's only natural, right? I'm the future Alliance Leader, so I can't afford to rest.
"Surprisingly, even chivalry can lead to fatigue."
He had felt it, but he had pushed forward, trying to deny it.
Then, in the middle of that relentless race, he had seen the relief blooming on that child's face right before his eyes. He had felt the child's hand gripping his own tightly.
It was the moment chivalry became a tangible reality in Jin Ha-gun’s heart.
Or perhaps, he was consciously carving that moment into his heart to endure this deep sense of exhaustion.
"If I were given the chance to kill a hundred villains or save one child at the same time, I would go to save the child. But then what? What about the innocent lives those hundred villains will take in the future?"
He wanted to ask Geom Mu-geuk. What would you do? Is my thinking right?
That unchanging gaze of Geom Mu-geuk’s as he looked at him... Yes, it was because he knew Mu-geuk would look at him with such eyes that he could confess these worries.
And because he knew Mu-geuk was a man who would offer a clear answer rather than a complicated one.
"Don't worry and go save the child. I'll be the one to go kill the villains. I'll take the role of the bad guy."
Jin Ha-gun gave a faint smile. Even if Mu-geuk spoke that way, how could he not know that Mu-geuk was also the type of man who would go to save the child?
"You're going to be a wonderful Alliance Leader. An Alliance Leader who holds the hands of those who truly need protection. That path will be incredibly difficult and exhausting. You'll regret and regret again because of the hundred people you let live. When it becomes too much to bear, come find me. I'll make sure you have a good time. So don't you dare turn me away then! Don't you dare say, 'That guy was alright when he was young, but now that I'm a great Alliance Leader, I see he's just a smooth-talking, chatty demonic cultist!'"
After staring at Geom Mu-geuk for a moment, Jin Ha-gun spoke abruptly.
"I will. I'll say you're a smooth-talking demonic cultist!"
"That's too much, Lord Alliance Leader!"
Jin Ha-gun believed it. Even then, Geom Mu-geuk’s words would shine just as they did now. Even if they didn't shine, they would reach his heart.
That was why, even as a white-haired Alliance Leader, he would seek him out with worries he couldn't share with anyone else.
—Ah, I'm not sure. What do you think?
Jin Ha-gun’s gaze returned to his reflection in the mirror.
"Someone might get hurt or die that day. But none of the women here will be among them."
At that firm vow, the look in Geom Mu-geuk’s eyes as he stood behind Jin Ha-gun deepened.
"No one of us will get hurt or die that day. My 'smooth-talking' Demonic Path is far more selfish than your Orthodox Path, so I absolutely won't stand for such a thing."