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After a passionate night with Paeng Yuwol, I tucked both her and Wol-a into bed and slipped outside through the window before dawn.
"Leaving already?"
Despite the early hour, the young man—Paeng Do-hwang—was already waiting for me atop the estate wall.
"Naturally. I have places to be."
I am a busy man. Even squeezing in this visit to the Hebei Paeng Clan stretched my schedule, and with things only getting busier, returning won't be easy.
"Use the ice crystals well. I've processed them, so if you sell them as legitimate goods, there'll be no trail, and it will help with your livelihood."
"I'm always grateful."
Paeng Do-hwang tossed something to me. I received a bronze plaque and a red wine bottle.
"I know Yuwol already gave you one, but I had a new one made. A special plaque just for you."
"I'm more curious about the wine than such things."
"It's a renowned wine from this region. I'm told it's aged for fifty years. Drink it well."
"Thank you, Clan Head."
I leaped onto the wall, landing face-to-face with the clan head. He seemed to have something he wanted to say to me.
"Thank you. Truly, in many ways."
"I haven't done anything particularly deserving of thanks."
"As a result, you saved my life, enabled my return to youth, laid the foundation for the Paeng family to rise again, and... stopped Sin-hye's misdeeds."
He clasped his hands in a martial salute and bent at the waist.
"I sincerely thank you. For correcting my daughter's wrongful actions."
"I'm not someone deserving of such a greeting. When you get down to it, I'm the one who violated your daughter and arbitrarily scored her, making it impossible for her to show her face in society. A Lust Demon."
"Considering what Sin-hye did, even that is insufficient. Even if you had broken her legs to prevent her from ever doing such things again or left her barely clinging to life, I would still be grateful to you."
It seemed Paeng Do-hwang had been completely unaware of Paeng Sin-hye's evil deeds, and even now, knowing the whole truth, he couldn't forgive Paeng Sin-hye. Keeping her close instead of casting her out was likely the bare minimum of affection and lingering attachment for his own daughter.
"She made countless women weep tears of blood, so she must pay the price."
"You're as sharp as a blade."
"Only then can a clan head set the family's discipline straight. Isn't a true person one who admits what's wrong and has the ability to correct it?"
Paeng Do-hwang looked toward the adjacent room where Paeng Yuwol slept and shut his eyes tight. Unlike Paeng Yuwol's wide-open window, iron bars had been newly and firmly fitted over that window like a prison.
After the branch family was merged into the main house, Paeng Do-hwang confined Paeng Sin-hye to her room. The only passage she can use to come out is through Paeng Yuwol's room, and Paeng Sin-hye is utterly helpless against Paeng Yuwol's commands.
Even if Paeng Yuwol is momentarily distracted looking after Wol-a, the other two sisters will be watching Paeng Sin-hye with glaring eyes right beside her.
"I am truly grateful that you gave my daughter a chance to atone."
"...Ahem, if we're speaking of gratitude, let me make one request as well."
I returned the same formal salute with clasped hands and bowed my waist to him.
"Please take good care of Yuwol and Wol-a. Though the Blood Cult has temporarily cut off its interest in Paeng Sin-hye, we don't know when or where they'll seduce her into becoming a demoness. And is the Blood Cult the only threat in the Martial World?"
"...There's also the Demonic Cult."
The Hebei Paeng Clan had deep-seated bad karma not only with the Blood Cult but with the Demonic Cult as well. The Chu So-gwang incident, which entangled Paeng Yuwol with the Heavenly Rejuvenation Pill, was also a scheme by Grand Duke Ju-ji.
"If it were up to me, I'd like to sever that bastard Ju Ji's head myself, but I'll leave that to you. Furthermore, I won't leave the Blood Cult bastards alone. Leave Hebei to me, Bi-cheon."
"Not just Bi-cheon, but Sky-Soaring Lust Demon."
"Heh heh, to me, you are Bi-cheon. I cannot become your father-in-law, but I can become your comrade for the peace of the Martial World."
Paeng Do-hwang joined me in building the peaceful Martial World I desire.
"Whether it's the Demonic Cult, the Blood Cult, or even Alliance spies, they'll try to approach me as the new head of the Paeng Clan. I will certainly sniff those bastards out. I'll also weed out any that might be lurking within our clan."
The reason Paeng I-wang deceived people by becoming a new entity called Paeng Do-hwang, rather than simply returning to youth, was to fool no one other than the branch family members.
He intends to test who in the clan will rebel when Paeng I-wang dies and a new clan head emerges.
After he finishes reorganizing the Paeng Clan, he'll reveal his true identity to the clan members.
"The Paeng Clan will rise again. And the Paeng Clan... I will entrust it to Yuwol. Yuwol has already proven herself as the young clan head. It's a bit of a shame that Wol-a is a girl, but..."
"What does it matter that she's a girl? If she or Yuwol leads the Paeng Clan better than anyone, can't Yuwol or Wol-a become the clan head?"
"Ho ho, you're greedy. How could Yuwol possibly become the clan head?"
I clenched my fist. It seemed the clan head was unreasonable—
"When she's a woman who will leave the family to become your wife."
—or perhaps not. It seemed Paeng Do-hwang was a man who enjoyed a joke.
"Please, strive for the future of the Martial World. And don't go around violating just anyone... More importantly, what's your plan now? Are you going to the Moyong Clan as well?"
"I will violate all the Six Phoenixes."
"The Six Phoenixes?"
"Moyong Ran, whom I publicly declared I would violate, is one of the Six Phoenixes. And I've already touched three of them."
"Sanju Peak, Crouching White Phoenix, and the remaining Most Beautiful Phoenix. If I touch all of them, the Blood Cult won't be able to help but reveal itself."
"Why is that? What relationship do they have with the Blood Cult?"
"The Green Forest, the Jegal Clan, and the unidentified woman."
"One of the three is deeply connected to the Blood Cult."
'By blood,' that is.
"Most Beautiful Phoenix. That woman is the daughter of the Blood Cult Leader."
* * *
"The long river flows on, ever rolling!"
"Yes, the Yangtze River is vast."
Two women who had boarded a fairly large ship were chatting amicably and drinking tea at the deck railing. The ship slowly drifted westward along the long, wide Yangtze River.
"Sister Ryu, what business takes you to the Murim Alliance?"
"A younger sister I know is there. I'll greet her briefly, then I'm heading to Xi'an."
"Xi'an?"
"Yes. There's a woman there who says she'll slay the Lust Demon."
The Demonic Sword Consort sought the Lust Demon, but no Lust Demon had yet managed to scheme against the Demonic Sword Consort.
"You're going to join forces to subdue the Lust Demon!"
"...Yes."
Ryu Mia couldn't bring herself to reveal her true feelings. Only one person in the entire Central Plains Martial World understood her true heart, and it had been a very long time since she'd seen him.
"There's a Lust Demon I'm looking for."
"A Lust Demon worth you searching for... He must be famous, then? Ah, could it be the Ice-Colored Demon?"
"Not that one. It's just..."
Ryu Mia pointed at the sword on her hip and grinned.
"A bastard who set fire to a woman's body and heart, then just left. If that's not a Lust Demon, what is?"
"...Then he's not a Lust Demon but an eat-and-run scoundrel... ahem, so you came out looking for the man who ran away?"
"That's right. So-ye, where are you off to now?"
"Hmm... I wonder."
Geum So-ye stretched both arms wide toward the vast Yangtze River.
"The world is wide, and there's truly an overflow of things to eat! I'm planning to travel around to famous restaurants all over the world, a little culinary exploration."
"A culinary tour?"
"Yes. You never know, they might all disappear someday."
Ryu Mia flinched at Geum So-ye's words. The ominous energy underlying that innocent voice made her unconsciously reach for her scabbard.
"Disappear? What do you mean by that?"
"I mean, they exist now, but who knows what the future holds? They might be famous restaurants today, but the chef could suddenly collapse from a heart attack one day, or the taste could change and they'd close down. I want to enjoy as many as I can before that happens."
Geum So-ye shook the coin pouch tied to her waist. Ryu Mia let out a warm laugh at her innocent demeanor.
"Judging by your martial realm, you don't look like you'll fall prey to any Lust Demon... but still, be careful. The Martial World is a place where anyone could jump out anytime, anywhere."
"Of course. But don't worry. I may not look it, but I have a rather impressive title."
"A title?"
"Yes! I coined it myself."
Geum So-ye twirled on the spot, then thrust her finger toward the sky.
"Between heaven and earth! There exists a woman of supreme beauty!"
"...Ha ha."
Ryu Mia couldn't suppress a laugh.
"So you're Most Beautiful Phoenix?"
"Yes! I don't like the 'bong' part, but thankfully the Murim Alliance Leader was a very reasonable person. Fortunately, I became Most Beautiful Phoenix before some strange title got attached to me. Hee hee."
Geum So-ye seemed to have great affection for her own title.
"Still, the world really is wide. I thought I was the prettiest, but you, Sister Ryu, are just as pretty as me."
"Thank you for the compliment. However, there's one reason you're prettier than me."
Ryu Mia took Geum So-ye's hand and patted it.
"For a woman, being even one year younger is best."
"Uh..."
Geum So-ye's eyes widened in surprise.
"That's exactly what my father used to say—"
"..."
Ryu Mia lightly grasped Geum So-ye's hand. Geum So-ye broke out in a cold sweat and looked away from Ryu Mia's eyes.
"Ah, ha ha. I'll take that to heart. Thanks for the advice."
"Good, good. It seems we'll be parting ways soon."
The ship had drifted along the Yangtze River and soon arrived at a wide port. Ryu Mia finished her preparations to disembark, and Geum So-ye waved her hand, seeing her off.
"Let's meet again at the next Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, Sister Ryu."
"...Yes, let's meet again at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering. But So-ye, where are you off to now?"
"Me?"
Geum So-ye shrugged her shoulders.
"Wherever my feet take me, wherever the wind blows. I'll befriend the romantic spirit, enjoy nature, and stop by any good restaurants nearby. And then..."
Geum So-ye smiled a bitter smile.
"When the time comes, I'll do what I must. I've enjoyed all the freedom I can, so it's time to fulfill my obligations."
"Obligations...?"
"Yes. My family's long-cherished wish."
Ryu Mia got goosebumps at Geum So-ye's voice. The thick scent of blood she smelled was surely just her imagination.
"Heh heh, Sister Ryu. Let's save the heavy talk for another time. Do you have any food recommendations? Something I absolutely must try?"
"...There's Han nearby. It's the capital of Hubei province, and there are many truly delicious foods there."
"Okay, thank you. But I won't go there."
Geum So-ye firmly shook her head.
"Father told me never to go there. He said a great plague swept through it once, long ago."
"So-ye, you truly follow your father's words well."
"Yes. Of course."
Geum So-ye spoke with a smile of conviction.
"Because my father's words are never wrong."
And so, the two women parted ways at the port, each setting off on her own journey.
* * *
On my way back from Hebei, I gathered information from various places.
"About ten days left, then."
The day the Demonic Sword Consort agreed to stay in Xi'an was now close at hand.
The Sword Demon of two generations past.
The Master of the Sword Pavilion.
The virgin, Wang So-hyeon.
If no one has managed to conquer her yet, there's no reason not to go.
'The problem is the Sword Pavilion.'
Strictly speaking, the Demonic Sword Consort is a retired woman. Even when counting the generations of the Sword Demon title, she's an elder-level existence, an Old Demon of the "two-generations-past" era—"three-generations-past" if we count into the future.
The day I faced her in the future was during the Bloody Era of Calamity, when we raided the Demonic Cult.
She sacrificed her body to protect Lee Si-a.
Only she and some of the Sword Pavilion's women sacrificed themselves to protect the Demonic Cult.
If so, what were the other martial artists of the Sword Pavilion doing, and where?
'They became lackeys of the Blood Cult.'
The women of the Demonic Cult became subordinates of the Blood Cult.
If Grand Duke Ju-ji's strategy was to send spies all over the Central Plains to collapse the Orthodox Faction's power, the Blood Cult tried to pull everyone, regardless of black or white, into its fold.
There were even women who had already joined the Blood Cult, like Paeng Sin-hye or Eul Soso.
There's no telling when, where, who, or how someone might become a Blood Cult minion. Therefore, to ensure they won't be tempted even if the Blood Cult extends its hand, I must make the heads of these groups our allies.
"...I'll have to win over the Sword Pavilion."
I'll place the Sword Pavilion Master under Lee Si-a, reducing the Blood Cult's forces as much as possible.
'I've waited a long time, Demonic Sword Consort.'
The main character always appears last, after all.
"The Sky-Soaring Lust Demon is coming to take your virginity."
The moment I return to Hubei, I will go to violate the Demonic Sword Consort.