Chapter 192
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 192
Chapter Title: Inhuman Heresy (6)
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*Whoosh! Sizzle!*
Aeng-hwa’s handling of the large, wide pan was both powerful and delicate.
Wi Hongryeon's nostrils flared involuntarily.
“Wow, that smells amazing.”
The savory aroma of meat sizzling in oil was intoxicating.
The sight of her skillfully tossing the pan back and forth, adding ingredients and spices with a ladle, was nothing short of astonishing. It was like watching a master chef who had dedicated their life to cooking.
“I can't take it anymore. Let me just have one bite...”
“No.”
Wi Hongryeon's eyebrow twitched.
Aeng-hwa's face was dead serious as she stared at the pan.
“This is for our guest.”
“You little squirrel! Hey, am I not a guest?”
“That’s right.”
“What did you say?”
“You're the Young Master's subordinate, Commander. You're not a guest.”
“...Damn it.”
She couldn't argue, since the girl wasn't wrong.
Wi Hongryeon grumbled.
“How much could one little bite possibly take away? Let me just have a taste.”
“No.”
“Don't be so cheap with food.”
“I'll make you a separate plate. But you can't touch this.”
“Are you serious?”
“She's from the North Sea. I even seasoned it lightly for her.”
“What does light seasoning have to do with the portion size? With this much food, four or five women like me could eat until we burst...”
Just then, Ma Dongpil appeared, grabbing Wi Hongryeon by the scruff of her neck and dragging her away.
“Stop causing a scene and come along.”
“Agh?! Let go! Let go of me! You wanna die?”
“You have some nerve saying that with your crude martial arts.”
“Oh-ho? That's some confidence. Come to think of it, we've never had a proper fight, have we?”
“I'm ready whenever you are.”
“Good. I'll show you that there's always someone better.”
“Fine.”
“...First, let go of me!”
With the noisy woman gone, the cooking picked up pace.
Aeng-hwa finished cooking in an instant, arranged the food on a large plate, and headed to the training grounds. Beside the grounds, under a large tree, a sizable table had been set up.
And there was a pale-skinned woman, looking around with a curious expression.
*Clank.*
“You must be hungry. Please, eat.”
“Ah, yes.”
Yeo Sangrin blinked, looking at the table. There was a single plate piled high with a stir-fry of various vegetables and meat, a smaller plate for serving, and a pair of chopsticks. That was all.
Yeo Sangrin asked Aeng-hwa.
“This is quite a large portion.”
“So you can eat your fill.”
Her tone was inexplicably sullen.
Yeo Sangrin smiled. It was a smile so beautiful it was almost blinding.
“I'll enjoy the meal.”
Yeo Sangrin picked up her chopsticks.
Standing to the side with a pout, Aeng-hwa's eyes gradually widened.
*Munch, munch, munch.*
She ate faster than expected.
She must have been very hungry. Feeling sorry for serving the meal late, Aeng-hwa poured a cup of water.
“Don't eat too fast...”
*Munch, munch, munch.*
“...?”
*Chomp, chomp.*
“...Excuse me?”
“Mmm, the meat is so juicy. You're very skilled.”
Aeng-hwa's eyes nearly popped out of her head.
She had brought enough food to feed five or six grown men. Her troubled mind had made her misjudge the portion, but she'd also brought it as a sort of challenge.
But half of it was already gone.
“It's a little greasy. Do you happen to have any fresh vegetables?”
“...”
“Excuse me?”
“What? Ah, yes!”
“Do you have any vegetables?”
“J-Just a moment!”
As if possessed, Aeng-hwa returned with an armful of washed vegetables, only to witness the magic of them disappearing in an instant.
“You're truly a great cook. I've been to many famous restaurants in the north, but none were this good.”
“Ah, thank you.”
“So, about that.”
*Scrape.*
An apologetic look appeared on Yeo Sangrin's face as she pushed the now-empty plate forward.
“Could I possibly have some more?”
“...Yes.”
Aeng-hwa headed to the kitchen with a bewildered expression. Seeing someone whose appetite rivaled, or perhaps even surpassed, the Young Master's, she felt like she was about to lose her mind.
Yeo Sangrin rubbed her stomach. It was somewhat full, but she still felt a lingering emptiness.
Just then, Ma Dongpil walked out from the side.
“The room has been cleaned. You can stay in the guest quarters to the left of the main building.”
“Oh, yes! Thank you.”
“You're welcome.”
Ma Dongpil gave a slight bow and turned to leave when Yeo Sangrin asked.
“Should I call you Guard Ma?”
“You may call me whatever you're comfortable with.”
“Alright, Guard Ma. Have you eaten?”
“Not yet.”
“Would you like to join me? I was so hungry I wasn't thinking straight, but I think it would be nice if the handmaiden joined us too.”
Ma Dongpil blinked.
Somehow... the situation felt familiar. Their personalities were different, but didn't the Young Master always ask him to eat together?
“I plan to eat with the Young Master when he arrives.”
“Oh, is that so?”
Yeo Sangrin smacked her lips, looking a bit embarrassed.
“I feel bad for eating first. I should have waited to eat together.”
“You are a guest, so there's no need to wait for him. Please, eat at your leisure.”
His tone was quite stiff. People who met Ma Dongpil for the first time tended to find it difficult to approach him due to his blunt expression and manner of speaking.
But Yeo Sangrin didn't seem to feel burdened by it at all.
“Then how about a cup of tea after the meal?”
“...”
“Ah, if I've made you uncomfortable...”
“Not at all. In that case, I will prepare the tea.”
Yeo Sangrin smiled.
“Since I was the one who suggested it, I should be the one to prepare it. Or we could have drinks, if you'd prefer.”
“...Did you say drinks?”
“Yes.”
“I'm afraid I must decline. I am the Young Master's personal guard. I will drink when I deem the situation appropriate.”
“It seems I have burdened you after all.”
“Not at all. Now, if you'll excuse me.”
Ma Dongpil walked off toward the training grounds in the distance.
In a corner of the training grounds across the way, Wi Hongryeon was lying down, panting. The duel had ended in just five exchanges, but it seemed she had given it her all, as she looked too exhausted to even get up.
“Ugh... Huh? Hey! Where are you going?!”
“...”
“Are you ignoring me? I asked where you're going! Let's go another round!”
Wi Hongryeon scurried after Ma Dongpil. With a look of utter annoyance, Ma Dongpil quickened his pace.
Aeng-hwa, Ma Dongpil, and Wi Hongryeon.
Though she was smiling on the outside, Yeo Sangrin was inwardly surprised.
‘They're so lively.’
The Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon, as spoken of by the world, was an undeniable symbol of evil.
But contrary to the rumors, this place seemed to be full of ordinary people. Of course, it might just be that the people living in the Third Young Master's residence were uniquely normal.
Yeo Sangrin secretly clenched her fists.
‘Still, I can't let my guard down.’
The way she acted toward Aeng-hwa and Ma Dongpil was her own way of trying to blend into life here. No matter how bold she was, it was impossible not to feel uncomfortable after entering the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon.
‘In any case, they all seem like decent people. That's good enough.’
She had come to the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon immediately after being freed from her kidnapping by the Beast Palace. She was here under the pretext of being the Third Young Master's guest, but depending on his whims, she could become a hostage once again.
She couldn't help but be tense.
‘I have to try.’
A short while later, Aeng-hwa returned with another portion of food similar in size to the first.
Yeo Sangrin chewed the meat vigorously.
* * *
*Boom!*
It was like a great mountain blocking the path before him.
Simply by standing straight with his hands clasped behind his back, he exuded an intangible pressure. Without releasing his demonic arts or emitting any energy, his innate presence was extraordinary.
This was how Seo Ryang saw Jin Gwan-yong. There was still room for him to grow stronger, but he was already a complete martial artist in his own right.
That was what was so surprising. To display a presence that surpassed his level of attainment was proof that Jin Gwan-yong had experienced countless bloody battlefields.
‘Somehow, it feels like I'm looking at that old man.’
Lee Cheonsang.
He reminded him of that peerless Demonic God. Even his general impression was similar to Lee Cheonsang's.
But no matter how great Seo Ryang's surprise was, could it compare to Jin Gwan-yong's?
‘...He's changed again?’
Jin Gwan-yong's eyes wavered.
The Third Young Master, who was looking at him with a cool smile, was different from the last time he'd seen him.
The old Seo Ryang had been like a mountain peak piercing through the clouds—cold, lofty, and wrapped in the arrogance of one who believed no one in the world could catch up to him.
But now, he was different.
‘Like a flame.’
It was as if the demon who once looked down upon the world from a lofty mountain peak had descended into its very center. He revealed not a hint of demonic energy, yet he seemed like a cataclysmic fire ready to incinerate the entire area at any moment.
‘If I were to fight him now, who would win?’
Jin Gwan-yong inwardly shook his head.
Predicting the outcome of a fight is never easy. Not because he didn't know their respective skill levels, but because a fight itself contains countless variables.
To put it bluntly, a fight is something where the tide can turn just by stepping on a loose stone. This would hold true even in a battle between masters who had reached the pinnacle of demonic arts, not just those at the peak.
‘A pointless thought.’
In any case, he hadn't come here to fight.
Jin Gwan-yong spoke.
“I heard you returned from Yunnan.”
“I'm sure you did.”
“If you have time, would you care for a cup of tea?”
Seo Ryang tilted his head.
“A cup of tea isn't hard to manage. But this is rather sudden, isn't it?”
“It may be sudden for you, but not for me. Ever since I saw you after I came out of seclusion, I've wanted to have a talk with you.”
“I see.”
“Yes.”
Seo Ryang nodded.
“Alright. But I have a favor to ask as well. Consider it payment for the tea.”
“A favor? What is it?”
“Let's have a round first.”
Jin Gwan-yong frowned.
`Have a round?` It was a rather crude way of putting it. But that made the meaning all the clearer.
“Are you suddenly proposing a duel?”
“Why? Is there some reason we can't fight?”
“No, there isn't.”
Seo Ryang smiled.
“I like how straightforward you are. Good, let's have a proper go at it.”
As if he'd been waiting for this, Seo Ryang rolled up his sleeves.
A look of surprise crossed Jin Gwan-yong's face.
“You want to fight here?”
“Where else? We should start right away while we're on the subject.”
“...”
“Get ready.”
“I will not fight you.”
Seo Ryang furrowed his brow.
“Didn't you just say there was no reason we couldn't fight?”
“There is also no reason to fight. Pay for the tea with something else.”
Staring blankly at Jin Gwan-yong, Seo Ryang grumbled as he unrolled his sleeves.
“I had something I wanted to test. What a shame.”
He probably hadn't intended for him to hear. Judging by his expression, it was more like he was muttering to himself.
But hearing those words, Jin Gwan-yong couldn't possibly feel good.
‘Test, he says.’
He said he had a martial art to test on him, a master who had reached the peak of demonic arts. If his opponent hadn't been the Third Young Master, who had reached the same level, he would have torn off one of his arms on the spot.
Jin Gwan-yong said calmly.
“I've asked the Lord of the Garden of Joy to clear out the Jami Pavilion. It should be ready by now.”
“You cleared out an entire tavern just for a cup of tea?”
A look of bewilderment appeared in Jin Gwan-yong's eyes.
“Is there a problem?”
Staring at him silently, Seo Ryang let out a short laugh.
“No. Since you've already cleared it out, I suppose we have no choice. Let's go.”
The Jami Pavilion was the tavern where he had first met Wi Hongryeon.
To think he had cleared out such a large tavern, capable of holding so many people, just for a cup of tea. It gave him a glimpse into the kind of life Jin Gwan-yong had lived.
“Did you prepare some good tea? I have a surprisingly picky palate, you know.”
“Don't worry.”
A hint of demonic energy flickered in Jin Gwan-yong's eyes.
“I've prepared the finest quality.”