Blessing in Disguise (7)
*Chapter 40 has been revised. I'm truly sorry for changing it after 135 people had already read it. To make up for it, I've prepared back-to-back updates haha. Please check the new ending of Chapter 40!
Clang!! Da Ma-cheol. He was awkwardly scrambling backward, shaking his head and hands frantically.
"W-Wait a second...!!"
"Who are you."
"What do you mean!!"
"You worthless scum who dared to hurl a hidden blade at my strategist. I'll crush your pig trotters and stew them in a cauldron until they're tender."
Da Ma-cheol felt like he was going insane. They had all thrown together—how was anyone supposed to know who targeted whom! And how the hell did this happen?
Up until now, Da Ma-cheol had lived as a bandit reveling in his own brute strength. He'd failed raids before, but in one-on-one fights, no one could withstand his overwhelming power.
Yet this woman had charged in like lightning, sending his burly thugs flying. Then she turned her iron mace on him, and though he'd assumed he'd win in a fair duel, he lost. For the first time. No woman had ever humiliated him like this.
As Hwa Hyo-seon advanced with her iron mace raised, Da Ma-cheol nodded frantically as if he'd suddenly understood, then dropped to his knees.
"I-I'll talk!!"
Damn it, Da Ma-cheol cursed inwardly while glancing around. Who should he pin it on? He had to survive first.
Just then, a bandit came rushing in to save him. Da Ma-cheol pointed straight at the guy.
"Him! It's him!!"
The bandit, clutching his bruised face, stared in stunned confusion.
"Huh?"
"Was it you?"
"Me?"
Hwa Hyo-seon swung her mace. The newcomer flew back two jang.
"Urk!!"
Hwa Hyo-seon brushed aside the tent flap and slowly approached the airborne bandit.
"Why are you doing this? You already chased us off!"
"I bear no grudge against you lot for being bandits—it's a life-or-death trade, so I assume you're prepared to die. When you touch something precious to others, you pay the price."
And Hwa Hyo-seon had the power to exact that price.
The law of the jungle. A world ruled by strength. That's what Murim was.
"W-Wait!"
Hwa Hyo-seon slammed her mace down on the bandit's hand gripping the ground.
Splat!
"Guh!"
The bandit's face twisted in agony from the searing pain. He couldn't even scream properly in the face of such immense torment.
"...A-Aaaargh!!!"
Meanwhile, Da Ma-cheol was crawling away toward the back of the tent.
Leader of the Seven Villages, huh. I'll remember you. I'm running now, but someday...!!
As that thought crossed his mind, a shadow suddenly fell over the ground.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"......"
"I'll make sure you can never bandit again."
A dull thud echoed, and dark red blood splattered before Hwa Hyo-seon's eyes.
By the time Hwa Hyo-seon arrived at the Face Guests Forest, I was already turning back with a dazed expression.
"Done already?"
Hwa Hyo-seon asked. I nodded glumly.
She scanned my face with a worried look.
"Strategist, what's wrong? Does the spot where you got hit hurt?"
"The inn now receives protection from the Demonic Cult."
Ja Ryu-oh answered for me.
Hwa Hyo-seon glanced at me like, What's the problem?
"Isn't that good?"
"Good my ass. Customers are gonna dry up now."
I let out a deep sigh.
From the moment we'd entered unorthodox territory, it had been a risky inn. Even hiring bandits as clerks, I'd themed it carefully to dodge the stigma of being a shady joint. But Demonic Cult protection? That's a whole different beast.
What was the Demonic Cult? Fanatics obsessed with their cult leader. Devil worshippers who'd do anything for their faith. Naturally, public perception would tank.
And I couldn't just cut ties with them. Announce that, and a cold blade would be at my throat. Die or get taken over—pick one.
As I pondered what to do, I noticed Hwa Hyo-seon's clothes. Blood splattered everywhere.
Come to think of it, she'd stormed off with a furious look. Where'd she go?
"Where've you been?"
Was she hurt? I asked out of concern.
"Just a walk."
"A walk?"
"Worked out some kinks."
Hwa Hyo-seon flexed her arm to show off. Up close, there were blood specks on her face too.
I pulled a small handkerchief from my sleeve and wiped the bloodstain from her cheek. Fresh splatter—it came off easily.
A martial artist with bloodstains. Trouble must've gone down. Hope the other guy's okay.
"St-Strategist?"
"Blood on your face. Did you hunt a wild boar or a rabbit?"
Hwa Hyo-seon's face turned beet red, but I was too preoccupied to notice. My head was already maxed out scheming how to handle this mess.
The way back was smooth sailing. No sign of Da Ma-cheol, surprisingly. Way easier than the trip there.
***
Back at the convenience store, I ordered a thousand sheet masks. Wrinkle reduction, whitening, hydration—you name it. Since they weren't for display, I hit bulk order, and instead of popping out on the shelves, they stacked neatly in the sliding compartment below.
What a handy ability. Too bad I probably wouldn't need it anymore.
I sighed heavily.
"Haaaah."
Yoo Hwa-yeon, seeing me slump with earth-shattering sighs, asked worriedly.
"Grand Chef. What happened out there? Why the endless sighing?"
"Hwa-yeon."
"Yeah?"
"Did you know too?"
"Know what?"
"That dealing with the Demonic Cult means the inn gets their 'protection' label."
Yoo Hwa-yeon nodded confidently.
"Yep!"
Wow. She knew too? Now I felt like the idiot for not realizing.
How could I miss something so obvious!
"Why didn't you stop me? You're a righteous sect martial artist. Doesn't it bother you working at an inn under Demonic Cult protection?"
Yoo Hwa-yeon propped her mop under her chin.
"You decided it, Grand Chef. I trust you. I've wandered the Central Plains chasing food I can actually taste, so I'm fine. Even been to Demonic Cult turf before."
Trusting me was nice, but blind faith was the issue.
"Wanna know what I learned roaming the Central Plains?"
"What?"
"Not everyone's a devil in the Demonic Cult."
True enough. I agreed.
"From a righteous sect's view, sure, they're heretics to exterminate. But... whoever's swinging swords and threatening lives—righteous, demonic, unorthodox—it's all the same."
Yoo Hwa-yeon resumed mopping.
"Of course, some fanatics worship the cult leader too much and cause trouble. Every group's got its bad apples."
Comforting words, but they didn't solve the problem.
People still saw the Demonic Cult as ruthless maniacs brainwashed by their leader. Me or Yoo Hwa-yeon thinking otherwise wouldn't change other customers' minds. Expecting that was foolish.
Who could I blame? It was my inn, my choice—and I hadn't even researched properly.
Couldn't resent Cheon Hyang for introducing them. It was on me.
That's when it happened.
Noise erupted outside the convenience store. Crowds buzzing.
What the hell? I tilted my head, opened the door—and saw a throng pointing at the store, murmuring excitedly. Men and women, but way more women by eye.
What's going on? As I puzzled it out, my heart plummeted.
No way. Rumors spread already?
Sharp voices seemed to pierce my ears.
'Oh my, this is that Demonic Cult-protected inn, right?'
'Ugh, how shady. Can we even keep it here?'
'Hope they scram soon.'
'What if we run into Demonic Cultists? Let's bail.'
'Never coming back!'
'Yeah!!'
Hallucinations or real, the whispers burrowed in. Cold sweat dripped; my legs shook so bad I could barely stand.
I thought I'd gotten used to gossip from my modern days. Guess not.
Even if the content differed, memories of past whispers aimed at me resurfaced. Trauma didn't fade easy.
"Huff... huff..."
I thought it'd be fine here. That things would only go well.
That arrogance, that greed.
Yeah, typical me. Ruined.
No more running the store. Foot traffic dead. My vow to thrive here? Bubbles.
Locked in a room again? Or join the Demonic Cult?
Everything spun; I staggered. Then, amid the chatter, one customer approached slowly.
What? Slap me? Finger-point and call me a filthy cultist?
I squeezed my eyes shut.
But a soft touch defied all expectations.
I jolted my eyes open—to see a woman's hand clasping mine.
"We'll take some too!"
...Huh?
"They say this place has top-shelf skincare that totally transforms your skin. Mine's been breaking out lately, all dry and flaky like dried croaker."
......?
She whispered in my ear, lest others hear.
"Using the cosmetics here really makes your skin like Lady Cheon Hyang's? Hehe. Think I could become a kingdom-toppling beauty?"
What?!
In that instant, the gawkers surged forward.
Whoa whoa?
"Me too!"
"I want some! I want some!"
"I'm first!!"
'Th-This is a Demonic Cult convenience store... though...?'
Wah! Tears flooded out.
Through the blurry world, one woman shone brightly, standing tall and smiling radiantly. Cheon Hyang, hairpin I'd given her glinting, beaming from afar.
Peck-peck. Her lips moved.
'I had a plan.'
Reading her mouth, my legs gave out completely.