Chapter 743: This Is Why People Wait in Line
Chapter 743: This Is Why People Wait in Line
The carriage sped toward Zhejiang.
“I’ll take the reins. You should head to the back and get some rest,” Ji Han said, feeling uneasy as Geom Mu-geuk continued to drive.
“It’s fine,” Geom Mu-geuk declined.
Tae-su chimed in, acting as if he were the expert on the matter. “If I may speak for the man here, he’s from an escort agency and has traveled every corner of the Central Plains since he was a boy. He’s an absolute master at driving a carriage.”
Geom Mu-geuk had never actually said such a thing, but Tae-su believed it as if it were gospel.
Ji Han stole a glance at Geom Mu-geuk. No matter how many times he looked, this man did not seem like a simple escort. What kind of escort leader could possibly drive a man like the Manak Sanin to commit suicide?
He’s remarkably dense for a thief, Ji Han thought.
Unaware that Ji Han now considered him a man lacking intuition, Tae-su continued to boast. “You have no idea how well he knows the roads, either.”
As he praised Geom Mu-geuk, Tae-su felt a hollow pang in his chest. After all, Geom Mu-geuk’s true subordinate was Ji Han, not him.
“And his cooking! You’ll be shocked once you taste the food he makes.”
Ji Han was curious about Geom Mu-geuk’s background. The leaders he had known until now wouldn't dream of driving a carriage themselves, let alone knowing the roads so well. Those were tasks for subordinates.
But he was good at cooking, too? And he personally prepared food for his subordinates?
Ji Han felt a strange sense of anticipation. Where else in his life as a martial artist would he ever encounter a leader like this?
No, let’s not get our hopes up.
High expectations often led to great disappointment. He still didn't even know who this leader truly was.
Suddenly, Geom Mu-geuk spoke to Ji Han.
“You said you were the one who applied the Soul Tracking Incense to the Treasure Map originally, right?”
“That is correct.”
“Do you know how the Evil King Sect obtained that map?”
“No, I don’t. At the time, someone from the upper echelons brought the map to me. He told me it was an item that must never be lost and instructed me to use the most effective Soul Tracking Incense.”
“Do you know who he was?”
Ji Han shook his head. “No. He was wearing a bamboo hat pulled low, so I couldn't see his face clearly.”
“Someone hiding his identity on purpose, then.”
Ji Han hadn't thought much of the man at the time. The Evil King Sect was a place filled with all sorts of secretive figures.
“However, I think I would recognize him if I saw him again.”
Geom Mu-geuk turned his head to look at Ji Han. “You remember his scent.”
“Yes. He had a very distinct smell.”
This time, Ji Han asked Geom Mu-geuk a question. “But why do you ask?”
“It’s strange. It doesn't make sense that a place like the Evil King Sect would obtain a Treasure Map only to lose it again, does it?”
Ji Han asked, startled, “Are you suggesting the Evil King Sect intentionally leaked the Treasure Map into the Central Plains?”
Tae-su, who was listening from the driver's seat, also waited for Geom Mu-geuk’s answer with a tense expression. If that were the case, it meant he had been dancing right to their tune.
“I think it’s a possibility,” Geom Mu-geuk added, his gaze deepening. “The struggle for the Treasure Map drew everyone's attention—even ours.”
Hearing Geom Mu-geuk’s words, a thought suddenly occurred to Ji Han.
Who exactly is the ‘ours’ you’re talking about?
He was now part of that "ours" as well.
*
The carriage came to a halt in an open field. While the horses grazed and rested, the group took a break.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the One Flower Sword Venerable went for a walk together, while Tae-su lay down in the grass to catch some sleep.
Geom Mu-geuk stood on a hill, looking up at the sky. Ji Han approached him, having something he wanted to say in private.
“When was the last time you looked up at the sky?”
At Geom Mu-geuk’s question, Ji Han looked up at the sky with him and answered, “I don’t remember.”
“Try to look at it often from now on. For those I lead, looking at the sky once a day is a duty.”
“Yes, I will keep that in mind.”
“If you have something to ask, go ahead.”
It was a question to be asked while they were away from Tae-su. It seemed Mu-geuk hadn't revealed his identity to the thief yet.
“I wish to know my lord’s name.”
Elder Song had said that those three syllables were everything. In contrast to the extreme caution of the question, Geom Mu-geuk answered as if it were nothing.
“I’m Geom Mu-geuk. It’s a good name, isn't it?”
“It is a very fine name.”
Ji Han, who had answered reflexively, suddenly froze.
Geom Mu-geuk?
It was definitely a name he had heard somewhere before. His body reacted before his memory did. He felt an unknown, dark energy suddenly overwhelm him. A chill ran down his spine, and the hair on his arms stood on end.
Geom Mu-geuk, Geom Mu-geuk. Where have I heard that...
“!”
In an instant, a bolt of lightning struck Ji Han’s mind. The name was so famous that he hadn't been able to recall it immediately. He never dreamed he would hear that name from the mouth of the man who had become his master, standing alone with him in a field like this.
No, of course not. What a ridiculous thought!
The more he tried to deny it, thinking it was just someone with the same name, the faster his heart began to race. Ji Han looked at Geom Mu-geuk with a glimmer of disbelief.
Geom Mu-geuk smiled and said, “Yes, that’s right.”
With that answer, as if he knew exactly what Ji Han was thinking, and that relaxed expression as he looked at him, Ji Han knew.
This Geom Mu-geuk was that Geom Mu-geuk.
“Do you regret deciding to become my subordinate?”
That question drove the final nail in.
He really is the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult!
Ji Han’s body trembled like a leaf.
“No. I do not regret it. I was just... surprised.”
Ji Han was in a state of total shock. He had imagined all sorts of things about who his new master might be. A descendant of a prestigious Orthodox sect? A famous master of the Unorthodox Faction? A master of Rejuvenation who had come out of seclusion? He had considered every possibility.
But among all those thoughts, the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was not one of them. He never imagined the Young Cult Leader would give someone such a bright smile. Such a Young Cult Leader simply didn't exist in his mind.
Suddenly, he thought of Elder Song. How pathetic must he have looked when he asked for the Young Cult Leader’s name?
On the other hand, he couldn't help but curse, That damn old man!
What was it he said to the Young Cult Leader? To come at him?
Anyway, it was one thing when he didn't know, but now that he knew his identity, was it even okay to be standing side-by-side like this? Was he allowed to make eye contact? In the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, wasn't everyone supposed to be prostrate before the Young Cult Leader?
“Then, who are those two over there?” Ji Han asked, gathering his courage and shaking off his stray thoughts.
“They are the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the One Flower Sword Venerable of the Eight Demon Lords.”
“Ah!”
They were the legendary Eight Demon Lords he had only heard stories about. Now he understood. He understood why the Manak Sanin had committed suicide. The moment he had shown such lustful intent toward the One Flower Sword Venerable, his life was already forfeit. Knowing he could never be forgiven, he had chosen to die by his own hand. If he hadn't, he would have been torn to shreds.
It was astonishing that the Young Cult Leader and two Demon Lords were traveling the Central Plains without any other subordinates. He had expected them to be accompanied by hundreds or thousands of people. Even seeing it with his own eyes, it was hard to believe. Who would believe him?
“I did not know I would end up serving such great individuals.”
“Indeed. From now on, you must respect me deeply and serve me as if I were the heavens themselves!”
Ji Han knew Geom Mu-geuk said it as a joke, but how could he possibly take it as one?
“I will serve you with absolute loyalty, even if it costs me my life!”
At that moment, Geom Mu-geuk spoke with a more serious tone.
“There will come a day when giving your all becomes too much. When that happens, don’t look at the ground, don’t look at your subordinates, and don’t even look into your own heart. Look over there. Don’t even look at me; I’m telling you to look over there.”
Ji Han followed Geom Mu-geuk’s gaze and looked up at the sky. In the vast expanse, fragments of clouds drifted slowly. A single bird spread its wings and soared across the sky.
“If you must sigh, look there and sigh. If you must vent your frustration, look there and vent it. Do that, and you’ll feel yourself becoming smaller—and then, your worries will feel smaller, too.”
The Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, telling him to look at the sky when times were hard. This man was his master.
And Ji Han finally found his answer.
We are the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
That fearsome name was now his own.
Just then, Tae-su walked over to them. “What are you two talking about so seriously?”
“The Lord was teaching me how a person can become smaller.”
Tae-su blinked, not understanding what that meant, but Ji Han didn't explain it to him. Tae-su felt a sudden sense of exclusion. That feeling only grew as he noticed Ji Han’s attitude toward Geom Mu-geuk had become even more reverent.
Is that what loyalty looks like?
Until recently, the mere thought of being under someone else’s thumb made his chest feel tight. But now, he felt a strange jealousy toward Ji Han. He was the one who had won Geom Mu-geuk’s favor first, so why did he feel like he was losing?
“Once this job is over and we return, you’ll be traveling all over the Central Plains under the name of the Heavenly Demon Escort Agency,” Tae-su said.
Ji Han flinched at Tae-su’s envy. How could he use the name ‘Heavenly Demon’ so recklessly!
You’re going to get yourself killed!
Unaware of such concerns, Tae-su even bragged a little. “He even said he’d introduce me to the leader of the Heavenly Demon Escort Agency later.”
Then you really will die!
*
“There it is! The place with the delicious Five-Spice Pork!”
The front of the inn was swarming with people, with a long line of those waiting to get in. At the entrance, a waiter was shouting, “If you wait just a little longer, seats will open up!”
Stepping down from the carriage, Geom Mu-geuk walked toward the people already in line. Following behind, Ji Han was inwardly tense.
What would Geom Mu-geuk do? Would he scare the people in line and chase them away? Or would he ignore them all and just walk inside? Neither scenario seemed to fit Geom Mu-geuk.
The next moment, Ji Han’s eyes widened. Geom Mu-geuk had simply walked to the end of the line and stood there.
The Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult is waiting in line for a meal?
He couldn't believe it even as he saw it. Fine, let’s say it was because the Young Cult Leader was a special person. But an even more shocking sight unfolded: the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the One Flower Sword Venerable followed Geom Mu-geuk and stood in line as well. Neither of them looked displeased. In fact, they seemed to be enjoying themselves, finding the situation novel.
“Is this your first time waiting in line to eat?”
At Geom Mu-geuk’s question, the One Flower Sword Venerable nodded.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon put on a feigned look of disapproval. “Waiting in line just for a single meal!”
“You can go rest in the carriage. I’ll call you when it’s our turn.”
“Forget it. That’s too much trouble.”
He only said that, but the Blade Demon was actually enjoying just standing in line with the Sword Venerable. He was relishing the unfamiliar pleasure of a first-time experience during this excursion from the Cult.
Just then, the One Flower Sword Venerable raised her hand to shade her face from the sunlight. Seeing this, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon casually lifted his Great Blade as if resting it on his shoulder. The blade blocked the sun, shading her face. When she moved slightly back, the Blade Demon followed her lead, pretending not to notice.
The One Flower Sword Venerable watched the Blade Demon’s back with a faint smile. Then, looking at the knot wrapped in cloth, she said, “That knot is holding up quite well.”
At her words, the Blade Demon replied without looking back, “There’s a bet on the line. Do you think it would come undone?”
The two were still as competitive as ever. As they chatted and watched the people, the line moved faster than expected.
“Look, finally there are more people behind us than in front of us. This is why people wait in line,” Geom Mu-geuk said.
Listening to him, Ji Han thought to himself, Do these people know? That they are standing in front of and behind the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult? That their meal today is shared with him?
The line dwindled until it was finally their turn to enter. Just then, a luxurious carriage pulled up in front of the inn. Judging by the mounted warriors escorting the carriage, it clearly belonged to a wealthy family.
A man and a woman stepped out of the carriage. The man got out first and helped the woman down. The woman wore expensive, flashy clothes and was adorned with glittering jewels on her neck and wrists. The ornaments she wore were clearly of great value.
The man also looked like the son of a wealthy family, and it was obvious he was completely smitten with the woman, as he couldn't take his eyes off her for a second.
“The Five-Spice Pork here is truly worth recommending,” the man said.
The woman frowned slightly as she looked at the inn. “I’m disappointed. To think you’d bring me to such a dilapidated place right before our wedding.”
Her dismissive gaze and irritated tone revealed exactly what kind of person she was. If revealing one's character in a single sentence was a talent, she certainly had it.
“Still, the taste is excellent.”
The woman’s gaze then turned toward the people waiting in line. Her expression soured even further. “I am not going to wait in a line to eat.”
“Of course not.”
The man signaled to his guards. They stepped forward, blocking Geom Mu-geuk’s path in an overbearing manner. The couple naturally cut the line and went inside, followed by their warriors.
The waiter said to Geom Mu-geuk with an apologetic look, “I’m sorry, sir.”
Geom Mu-geuk smiled at the man. “It’s fine. A skilled waiter knows when to close his eyes and not get involved in these situations.”
The waiter endured it, Geom Mu-geuk endured it, and even the Demon Lords endured it, but as a subordinate, Ji Han could not.
“I will go inside and teach them a stern lesson.”
Looking at the level of the accompanying warriors, he could easily handle them himself. How dare they! He was prepared to give them a proper thrashing.
But then, Geom Mu-geuk said something strange. “Why? Do you want to forgive them?”
“Pardon?”
Ji Han thought he had misheard. He had said he would go in and punish them. But Geom Mu-geuk had not misheard.
“Just leave them be. We wouldn't want to break up their relationship by stepping in and punishing them, would we?”
Only then did Ji Han realize that leaving them alone was not an act of forgiveness. It was a wish for two people of the same ilk to stay together and suffer each other for the rest of their lives.
At those words, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon shook his head. “What a terrifying fellow! This kid is worse than me. Don’t you think?”
The One Flower Sword Venerable simply smiled at the Blade Demon’s seeking of her agreement.
Soon, it was their turn. As they opened the door and stepped into the inn, the heat of the crowd and the smell of food washed over them. The interior was incredibly spacious and packed with people.
Amidst the boisterous atmosphere, people were drinking and eating, while waiters bustled between tables carrying trays of food. Geom Mu-geuk looked around the battlefield-like interior and spoke with grim determination.
“We can’t come back here if we don’t eat now. So, even if someone steps on your foot, let it go. Even if someone spills food on you, let it go. Even if someone picks a fight, let it all go. We endure everything except insults to our parents! The only thing that matters is our elders getting to eat their Five-Spice Pork!”