Chapter 36: Young Sect Leader, Kang In-ho-1
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 36: Young Sect Leader, Kang In-ho-1
The boisterous blare of instruments hammered against my eardrums.
I scrambled to keep up with the Heavenly Demon, who was striding far ahead of me. The sight of people lined up on both sides of the path, shouting "Manse!" at the top of their lungs, was honestly a bit terrifying.
Think about it—total strangers beaming at you, welcoming you with such fervor.
This uncomfortable kindness made my stomach churn.
Whether she was oblivious to my inner turmoil or simply didn't care, the Heavenly Demon marched forward and plopped down onto the high seat of the banquet hall. She patted the spot next to her with a heavy thud.
"Why are you dawdling so much? Sit, quickly."
"...Yes."
Trying my best to ignore the deluge of eyes fixed on me, I sat down beside her. She let out a boisterous laugh.
"Right. Everyone, take your seats."
The moment the words left her mouth, the members of the Black Sky Cult moved in perfect unison to sit. It looked as though everyone had a strictly designated place.
Once the commotion of the hall settled, servants approached our table and began to pour wine.
A clear liquid flowed from a gourd-shaped bottle with a rhythmic gurgle, filling my cup. I stared blankly as the wine rose to the brim.
The servant finished pouring, gave me a deep bow, and departed.
Poke.
Feeling a nudge against my ribs, I turned my head.
"Well? Give us a toast."
The Heavenly Demon, who had already raised her own cup, was prompting me.
"A toast?"
Where did this come from?
"Indeed, a toast. Today’s banquet is for you. As the guest of honor, shouldn't you be the one to lead the toast?"
"Even if you say that so suddenly..."
I looked around in distress, but everyone was perfectly still, their gazes intensely focused on me.
"Ha... Haa... Dammit."
Too many eyes were on me to back out now. I had no choice but to stand up. Raising my cup, I muttered in a voice no louder than a mosquito's buzz.
"Uh, bottoms up..."
"Bottoms up!"
A thunderous roar echoed my lead.
Simultaneously, laughter erupted from all corners, and the wind instruments began to wail noisily once more.
The cacophony of sounds blended together, shaking the very mountain as it swept through the banquet hall.
"Bottoms up? What kind of bizarre phrase is that? Hahahaha!"
"P-Please, be quiet!"
I felt my earlobes burning bright red as I slumped back into my seat. The Heavenly Demon continued to snicker at me.
And so, the banquet began.
*
As if my embarrassment was of no consequence, the atmosphere of the banquet was free-spirited and festive.
Individual tables were set for the high-ranking officials of the Cult, each laden with various dishes. Whenever a plate showed even a hint of being empty, it was immediately refilled to the brim.
"......"
The Heavenly Demon had been watching my every move at first, but after a few drinks, she began chatting with those who appeared to be her close confidants. It seemed she had completely forgotten I was even there.
I sat there like a spare tire, sipping my wine and picking up a piece of a newly served meat dish with my chopsticks.
"It's spicy."
The pungent heat spread through my mouth, and I had merely muttered the thought aloud.
"The food is... spicy?"
But why did the atmosphere suddenly turn so heavy?
The Heavenly Demon’s ominous voice drifting from the seat next to me instantly dragged me out of my slight drunken stupor.
I hurriedly turned to look at her. She was grinding her teeth.
Her clenched fists were trembling, a reaction as if she had suffered a grave insult.
Her rage was palpable, and not a single person in the banquet hall missed it.
A silence, identical to the one before my toast, descended upon the room.
"Spirit Demon, I believe I gave you clear instructions?"
The interrogation began.
"I am deeply sorry. I certainly relayed the message that the Young Sect Leader cannot handle spicy food, but..."
Spirit Demon, who had been drinking just moments ago, was now on her knees, pressing her forehead against the floor as she answered.
"Is that so? Chief Steward. Did you hear what Spirit Demon said?"
"I did. I passed the word to the Cook, but it was my failing for not confirming it properly."
"I see. Then the fault lies with the Cook, who heard everything and yet failed to act accordingly. Drag him here."
This was supposed to be a banquet; why was it turning into an execution?
The Cook was soon dragged out from the kitchen by the cultists.
The cultists' eyes flashed with murderous intent, as if saying, 'How dare you serve spicy food to the Young Sect Leader?'
Ten paces from the Heavenly Demon’s seat.
The Cook threw himself onto the ground, blaming his own ignorance and begging for mercy.
However, the Heavenly Demon showed no sign of relenting.
"How lowly must you think of me to prepare such garbage?"
"No, Sect Leader! I simply... I had a momentary lapse in memory."
"A lapse? A la-pse?"
Her eyes widened. She slammed her hand onto the table, splitting it in half and sending food flying into the air.
"Then would it be alright if I had a 'lapse' and plucked out your eyes and arms?"
"M-Mercy..."
Watching the Cook tremble and beg made my chest feel tight.
Who was I? Was a person's life really supposed to hang in the balance just because of something I said?
It was just some spicy food.
I picked up my chopsticks and shoved the meat dish from the plate into my mouth.
The loud clattering of the dish drew the Heavenly Demon’s gaze to me.
"What are you doing?"
I didn't answer. I finished stuffing the food into my mouth and chewed vigorously.
After a few chews, I swallowed the lump of meat. The spicy kick stung my nose.
Suppressing the slight tears welling in my eyes, I spoke brightly to the Heavenly Demon.
"I thought it was spicy at first, but I guess I was mistaken."
I handed the empty plate to the prostrate Cook and said, "It was truly delicious, Cook. Could I have another bowl?"
It was a gamble played right in front of the Heavenly Demon.
I had calculated that she might indulge my behavior, treating it as the whim of a spoiled child.
Actually putting that plan into action was another matter entirely, though.
Praying that the sound of my thumping heart wouldn't leak out, I maintained my smiling face.
"Haaa... How draining. Cook."
"Yes! Sect Leader!"
"Bring the Young Sect Leader more of that dish. Make it less spicy."
"Y-Yes, understood!"
"Right. Be careful from now on. There won't be a second time."
"Thank you! Thank you so much!"
I breathed a sigh of relief as I watched the Cook scramble away.
"Now, let the banquet resume. Raise your glasses."
With another toast, the banquet hall returned to its original festive state.
*
The Murim Alliance.
Namgung So-yeon, who had been sent flying by the Heavenly Demon’s kick, arrived at the Murim Alliance with the help of her colleagues.
Her usually bright face was clouded over like a dark rainy season. It was because she had been pushed back by the Heavenly Demon—whom she had been confident she could fight on equal terms—without even being able to lift a finger.
"Clearly... clearly... we fought as equals last time."
When they had clashed before, they were evenly matched. No, there was even a moment where she felt she had overwhelmed the Heavenly Demon.
So why did this happen? She was bewildered.
Her reaction had been slow even when her colleague’s arm was being ripped off and another's head was flying.
Even though she had aimed for the Heavenly Demon’s back as she tried to fly away with In-ho, she had been countered instead.
Had the Heavenly Demon’s martial arts improved in such a short time? That was an impossible hypothesis.
From the beginning.
"From the beginning... she was taking it easy on me? And I couldn't even sense her true strength?"
The higher one's achievement in martial arts, the harder it is to hide that strength.
The smaller the gap, the easier it is to notice.
However, the Heavenly Demon had hidden her martial arts so thoroughly that Namgung So-yeon, who had reached the Supreme Peak, was completely deceived.
The fact that she hadn't noticed meant the gap between her and the Heavenly Demon was as vast as the distance between heaven and earth.
"This makes no sense...!"
The memory of her few defeats began to eat away at her heart.
She might have lost in guided sparring sessions, but this was her first defeat in a real battle.
She was the one praised as a martial genius the likes of whom appeared only once in centuries. She could not accept such a disgrace.
"Quickly! Bring me an elixir!"
"Thunder Sword, calm down. I know Golden Fist's death is tragic, but being this emotional won't help anything!"
The words of her colleagues trying to stop her failed to reach Namgung So-yeon’s heart.
She ground her teeth, her desire for revenge against the Heavenly Demon burning white-hot.
"She mocked me! She killed Golden Fist! And she stole Young Master Kang! I will cut down that loathsome Heavenly Demon no matter what! I'll cut her down!"
Even if she had to use some forbidden technique, she would do it!
She wailed in agony.