Trouble Always Brews at the Inn
Regardless of what happened to the Sun Moon Demonic Cult, as long as one had a foot in the Demonic Path, one could never escape the absolute ideology of the strong preying on the weak. This was no different for the competition to select the Cult Leader and the Divine Maiden. Perhaps it might have been different back when it was called the Sun Moon Star Cult, but now, it meant that only the absolute strongest could ascend to those positions.
The strongest man of the Demonic Path becomes the Cult Leader, and the strongest woman becomes the Divine Maiden. It didn't mean that administrative work or using one's head was looked down upon, but at the very least, the Cult Leader and the Divine Maiden had to be stronger than anyone else. To be precise, it was more accurate to say that those with the "potential to become strong" were the ones who took those seats. After all, if they sat old, decrepit masters nearing the twilight of their lives in those positions, they might have to replace the Cult Leader and the Divine Maiden every single year.
In any case, the long-winded explanation could be summarized in one line: "A strong, young person must ascend to the positions of Cult Leader and Divine Maiden." Thus, only men and women under the age of forty (the "early twilight" of life) were eligible to participate in the competition.
As Seo-ah and her party were on their way to the inn near where the Divine Maiden competition would take place, she suddenly looked out of the carriage. Baek-ak’s dazed voice drifted over from beside her.
"Wow... there are so many people."
Seo-ah couldn't help but nod reflexively. The area where the competition was to be held was so crowded that there was barely a place to set foot. Even if this was the capital where the Divine Maiden Palace and the Sun Moon Demonic Cult's headquarters, the Sun Palace, were located, this massive crowd was certainly irrational.
Moreover...
'Are most of them participants in the preliminary rounds?'
That was right. Rather than spectators who had come to watch the preliminaries of a competition where the new history of the Cult would be written, most were actual disciples intending to participate directly. Considering that most of those who reached the main tournament were Peak Realm masters, this situation was definitely abnormal. If the Cult had this many Peak Realm masters, it would have already conquered the entire Murim.
Seventy percent were Second-Class martial artists. Twenty percent were First-Class. The remaining ten percent were Peak Realm masters. Since one could lose their life in the preliminary duels, why were so many unqualified martial artists trying to participate? Perhaps they were all thinking the same thing:
'If I can just make it to the main tournament...'
Those who aimed only to reach the main tournament, not necessarily to become the Divine Maiden. The reason was simple. The competition consisted of five major trials, and hundreds of main tournament participants—save for one—would be weeded out at every stage. Those who fell out without becoming the Divine Maiden were given a choice: stay at the Sun Palace or the Divine Maiden Palace and serve as their warriors, or return to their original lives.
Most of the First-Class or lower martial artists who came here were calculating that if they were lucky enough to make it to the main tournament, they could become the first generation of elite warriors for the Divine Maiden Palace or the Sun Palace. They could learn superior martial arts and receive social recognition. To them, it was a chance for social advancement.
The risk of losing their lives? What did that matter when it was an opportunity to learn the supreme arts of the Divine Maiden Palace and the Sun Palace, the core pillars that supported the Sun Moon Demonic Cult?
Seo-ah and her party sighed, unable to even step out of the carriage due to the massive crowd.
"Ugh... No-ya. I think we need to find another inn."
"What are you talking about?"
"I mean, look at all these people. There's no way there's any room left in that high-end inn."
At Seo-ah's words, Baek-ak's expression turned gloomy in an instant, and Baek-ran swallowed a groan. Shin So-so seemed the most shocked; she stood frozen with her mouth agape. They had been rotting in the carriage since morning without a break, and now that they had finally arrived, there was no room...
Since none of them were participating in the preliminaries, this was a terrible curse for a group that had come with a half-hearted, travel-like mindset. No-ya looked at Seo-ah silently with an expression that said, 'What kind of nonsense are you spouting?'
Seo-ah asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Because it's funny. It's just funny..."
"...?"
"Tsk tsk. You handled that business in the Sword Forest well enough that I thought you’d finally learned how to use my authority over the last year. Hmph. Why are you worrying about a room? High-end inns like this always keep annexes empty for major sects or distinguished guests..."
"R-really?"
"Yes. So, don't worry. Go on. I'll see you later."
With those final words, No-ya left. With the competition just around the corner, he had dropped them off to attend the Ten Thousand Demon Assembly. Leading her party, whose expressions had brightened at the news that they could rest in a nice place, Seo-ah pushed through the crowd and entered the massive inn. It was the most luxurious inn she had ever seen in her life.
As they stepped inside, a waiter hurried over to them. Perhaps because it was a high-end inn, even the waiter felt a bit more refined than usual. He glanced at the swords at their waists and treated them with great respect.
"I apologize, guests... Hehe. As you can see, we are currently fully booked..."
In the past, she would have been beaten just for lingering near a place like this... The feeling was surreal. She hadn't had a chance to receive such treatment as a disciple of the Sword Holy Sovereign or a member of the Cult, because she had been holed up in the Sword Forest, swinging her sword like a madwoman. The twins were the same.
Seo-ah pondered how to ask for an annex... and fiddled with two tokens in her pocket. One was a token proving she was a Black Sword Guard of the Sword Forest... the other was a token proving she was a direct descendant of the Extreme Demonic Sword Family. Seo-ah pulled out the token proving her status as a direct descendant of the Extreme Demonic Sword Family.
Before she could even utter the words to ask for a private room...
"A private room..."
The waiter was startled and bowed his head deeply. "I am sorry! I failed to recognize such an esteemed guest...! I will bring the manager at once!"
The waiter hurried away.
"Ah... that wasn't necessary."
Seo-ah's words drifted into the air, lost... and not long after, it wasn't the manager who came to greet them, but the innkeeper himself, with a plump, friendly impression.
Seo-ah and her party followed the innkeeper's extremely polite guidance to the annex. Seo-ah hadn't been overly flustered by this treatment, having experienced something similar at the Sword Family, but the twins and So-so didn't know where to look; they were turning their heads this way and that, mouths agape, wearing joyful expressions.
'It almost feels like a school field trip...'
After dumping their luggage in their quarters, Seo-ah's party headed straight to the place where they had agreed to meet So-yul. A pitch-black carriage, reminiscent of a dark cloud, arrived in front of the inn. So-yul and Am-un-seo-saeng stepped out.
So-yul spotted Seo-ah waiting amidst the massive crowd and rushed over.
"Captain...! You have no idea how much I missed you! We only met for a moment last time, and my heart was breaking, and because of that pitch-black bad guy..."
"So-yul, calm down... okay?"
"Yes! So-yul is fine now. Anyway, I'm with Captain from now on!"
What? Just as Seo-ah was about to say that, Am-un-seo-saeng suddenly leaned his head toward her.
"It's been a while. We're acquaintances, aren't we?"
"Ah...! Am-un-seo-saeng, it's a pleasure to see you."
"Not at all... I've met the rumored Young Sword Saint. I'm the one who's more pleased."
"Ha... haha. Has the rumor already spread that far?"
"Hmm... wouldn't it have? Stories about the Holy Sovereign are the talk of every disciple in the Cult, after all."
Unlike when she saw him at the Gyomaguan, Am-un-seo-saeng's face looked quite gaunt. Perhaps... it seemed his internal injuries from when the Gyomaguan was attacked hadn't fully healed. Or maybe... it was because of So-yul.
In any case, Seo-ah exchanged brief greetings with Am-un-seo-saeng. In truth, they weren't that close, so it was little more than a formal conversation. Asking how the Sword Holy Sovereign was doing, how she came to be connected to the Sword Holy Sovereign... and saying things like, "I can't believe your achievements. You're amazing."
'Tsk... so that ridiculous lie wasn't just a crush, it was real.'
It was a bonus that she overheard him muttering things like that while they talked. Seo-ah had no way of knowing what he meant by that.
"Anyway... please take good care of my disciple. See you next time."
"Pardon? Yes... of course."
With that, Am-un-seo-saeng left behind a cryptic remark about taking care of his disciple and boarded the carriage to head to the Ten Thousand Demon Assembly.
Seo-ah and her party went up to the top floor of the inn, which catered to distinguished guests, and ordered food. They could have eaten in their quarters, but they headed to the high floors because they heard the view from the top was excellent. Fortunately, they were lucky enough to find one table left. After ordering what they each wanted, they began to talk. It was then that Seo-ah realized the meaning behind Am-un-seo-saeng's cryptic attitude and So-yul's "We're together from now on."
The conversation started like this:
"But... So-yul, how did you end up participating in the Divine Maiden competition?"
"Huh? Didn't the Sword Holy Sovereign tell you, Captain?"
When Seo-ah looked confused, So-yul continued. "You didn't know? When we parted ways at the Sword Family last year... the Sword Holy Sovereign said that if I participated in the Divine Maiden competition, I could be with you! He also said he would persuade my master!"
Seo-ah couldn't grasp the meaning for a moment and pondered the past. After parting with the twins and So-yul at the Sword Family, in the carriage on the way to see the Left Minister... she had definitely asked this:
— How did you get rid of So-yul?
— I put the future up as collateral.
— Pardon?
— It's a secret.
She hadn't understood what he meant then, but now the truth of those words had been revealed. Seo-ah, aiming for the position of Divine Maiden, would surely be counted as one of the ten candidates. If that happened, So-yul could be assigned to the Divine Maiden Palace at the right time and stay with her for several years.
'So that's what he meant by putting the future up as collateral...'
As the food arrived... Seo-ah nodded. Well, what did it matter?
At first, Seo-ah had been on edge, recalling the immutable law of the Murim that "trouble always brews at an inn," but perhaps it was just groundless worry; nothing happened. The food was delicious, and the atmosphere grew warm. There was a minor incident where So-so's suggestion to order alcohol was dismissed by a single word from her about being too young... though she thought she heard So-so mutter, "I'm old enough to be married... what do you mean too young."
Since she held the most power here, So-so couldn't do anything other than look gloomy. She thought the day would end without any problems, but... as expected, trouble must brew at a Murim inn.
Two young masters with sharp expressions approached Seo-ah's table and rudely tossed a money pouch onto the table.
"Move. We're hosting an esteemed guest. There's enough money in the pouch for what you've eaten."
At that rude, commanding tone, the warm atmosphere instantly turned cold. Baek-ak and Baek-ran glared at the two young masters with incredulous expressions, and Seo-ah put down her spoon and silently leaned back in her chair.
When they showed no signs of retreating willingly, the rude young master pulled a token from his pocket and continued.
"We are the rising stars of the great Blood Mansion (). It would be better for you to leave easily."
At the mention of the Blood Mansion, those who hadn't been interested in the common inn squabbles began to stare at Seo-ah's party in unison. This was because the Blood Mansion was a sect just below the Eight Great Families, worthy of being called a major sect.
However, whether they cared or not, So-so ignored the two young masters and reached for the money pouch, saying:
"These are iron coins?"
At this, So-yul, who had only been watching Seo-ah, realized that they—no, that Seo-ah—was being looked down upon, and she stood up, emitting a vicious aura.
The young master who had thrown the iron coins at them was startled and said:
"A... First-Class!"
So-yul's cultivation level had also reached the First-Class, just like her own. Looking at those two young masters, they seemed to have reached the peak of the Second-Class at best. In other words, they had picked the wrong opponent. Both in terms of martial prowess and background.