Lust Demon's Promise (7)
When Wi Ilcheong returned to the inn, the tables were packed solid with martial artists of the Moyong Clan.
One figure among them spotted him and waved cheerfully.
"Oh! Young Hero Wi, over here."
"Ah, Senior."
The man waving was No Sunpyeong.
As Wi Ilcheong approached the table, a nearby martial artist offered his own chair.
"Thank you. And… this gentleman is…?"
"Ah, this is my nephew, and the Second Young Master of the great Moyong Clan. Moyong Jun. Second Young Master, this is the Jade-Faced Young Master whose name resounds throughout the jianghu—Young Hero Wi Ilcheong."
"Aha… I had heard a prodigy had appeared in the Moyong Clan, and now I finally meet him. I am Wi Ilcheong."
"Moyong Jun. Pleasure to meet you."
Moyong Jun casually spoke down to him without the slightest formality. Wi Ilcheong was briefly taken aback, but quickly schooled his expression.
"…It is an honor to make your acquaintance."
"Same here. Uncle, if you already knew someone like this, you should have introduced us sooner."
"Haha, I only met him myself a moment ago, so the introduction was late. Young Hero Wi, have a cup."
"Ah, yes…"
The seat Wi Ilcheong had just taken already felt uncomfortable.
…I heard he was the Moyong Clan's infamous wastrel, but he's even more of an idiot than I expected.
Even though the jianghu branded him with the pejorative "Lust Demon," watching the scion of a prestigious clan ignore all seniority and launch straight into casual speech left Wi Ilcheong mildly offended.
Still, to avoid a larger incident, he swallowed it for now.
"…The wine is excellent. More importantly, Senior, have you already met my companions?"
"Ah, the young lady with the crazy fits? Already met her."
"…She didn't cause any offense, did she?"
"She did. My son and she were already at each other's throats. If I'd arrived a little later, your companion would have drawn blood."
"…I apologize. All because of my party…"
Wi Ilcheong rose and bowed his head. No Sunpyeong shook his own.
"No need. In the jianghu, connections are everything in the end. Meeting you today already settles the account, so don't feel so sorry. It wasn't even a major discourtesy."
"…Then I'm glad."
"Uncle, if you're finished talking, may I converse with the Jade-Faced Young Master?"
"Hahaha, of course. Is the Second Young Master already burning with curiosity?"
"Well, it's none other than the Jade-Faced Young Master himself!"
"…"
Watching Moyong Jun steamroll the conversation without the slightest regard for his wishes, Wi Ilcheong decided he needed to escape the table as soon as possible.
"Ha… haha…. What exactly is the Second Young Master so curious about regarding me…?"
"Did you really spend the night with every one of the jianghu's Four Great Beauties?"
"…"
In the jianghu, four women of peerless martial skill and beauty were collectively called the Four Great Beauties.
The Sword Queen, the Ruin-of-Empire, the Fish-Sinking Beauty, and the Lonely Silence.
Wi Ilcheong just so happened to have crossed paths with every single one of them, and the gossips of the jianghu spent their days inventing lurid details of the nights the Lust Demon must have spent with each.
Naturally, the Lust Demon hated having his private affairs pried into.
Especially when the one asking was some man he barely knew.
So Wi Ilcheong simply spoke the truth.
"Haa…. The Second Young Master of the Moyong Clan has no manners."
"Wh… what…!"
Silence dropped over the previously noisy inn.
Wi Ilcheong was the one who broke it.
"I had heard you were the scion of a prestigious house and assumed you would know at least some courtesy. I am disappointed. Senior No, forgive me for the discourtesy of rising first—I am tired."
As Wi Ilcheong stood, No Sunpyeong's voice turned cold.
"Sit back down, Jade-Faced Young Master."
"…"
"If you leave now, things will become quite uncomfortable between you and our Moyong Clan."
"…I rather doubt that."
Wi Ilcheong gave a slight nod and turned his back.
The Moyong martial artists seated behind him rose and blocked his path.
"What shall we do, Elder No?"
"…Let him go. The regret will be his to bear."
"…Yes."
The path opened. Wi Ilcheong slipped through and climbed the stairs.
From the second floor he looked down and saw every pair of eyes except No Sunpyeong's fixed on him. The Lust Demon let out a sigh.
"Haa…. I told Young Lady Dokgo not to cause trouble, yet I'm the one who caused it."
The lie about being tired quickly became reality.
Thinking he would simply bury his face in Baekri Sohyeon's chest and sleep tonight, Wi Ilcheong opened the door—
"That… that son of a bitch! He doesn't even remember the people he killed…!!"
"…Hiiing."
"…"
Chaos was unfolding right in front of him.
Baekri Sohyeon, who had been enduring Dokgo Ryeong's drunken rant, spotted Wi Ilcheong entering and threw herself into his arms.
"Wi… Wi Oppa. Young Lady Dokgo is…"
"…I told you not to give her alcohol."
"…I'm sorry."
"Haa…."
Wi Ilcheong rummaged through his sleeve and pulled out the medicinal herbs he had obtained from the herb gatherer.
"…Looks like I'll be using these right away. Just hold on a little longer."
"…Hiiing."
He tore the herbs, mixed a sleeping draught into water, and approached Dokgo Ryeong.
"…Young Lady Dokgo."
"Huh?! The Lust Demon!!"
"…Yes, it's me."
"You bastard…! Trying to fuck me again?!"
"…I have never fucked Young Lady Dokgo."
"Were you a eunuch?!"
"…Your throat must be dry. Please drink some water."
"Ah, right! Thanks~."
Dokgo Ryeong took the cup he offered, gulped it down greedily, and a moment later collapsed to the floor.
"Krrgh…, kuh."
"…Even her snoring is bold and free. If she had been born a man, she would have become a great hero of the age."
"…Yeah. I think so too…."
"Young Lady Baekri, please carry Young Lady Dokgo to the next room."
"…Okay. But is it fine? Coachman Heo is in the next room…."
"Coachman Heo will not be there. Just leave her next door."
"…Got it."
The moment Baekri Sohyeon hoisted Dokgo Ryeong onto her back, something caught Wi Ilcheong's eye.
"…And why is this like this?"
Dokgo Ryeong's right hand was torn open and bleeding.
"…Ryeong Mae came back after meeting Hero No earlier and punched the floor."
"…I see. Given the long-standing blood feud between the Mad Demon and Hero No, it is only natural Young Lady Dokgo would be furious."
Rip.
Wi Ilcheong tore a strip of cloth, applied a little wound salve to the injury, and bandaged it carefully.
"…Leave her in the next room."
"…Okay. Um… can we still do it tonight?"
"Do what?"
Baekri Sohyeon's face flushed faintly as she exhaled a warm breath.
"…The dirty stuff."
"Have I ever said no? Just leave Young Lady Dokgo and come back."
"…Okay! Heehee."
Baekri Sohyeon left with a bright expression.
Wi Ilcheong kept smiling until the door closed. The moment she was gone, his face settled into gravity.
…If the Moyong Clan learns Young Lady Dokgo's true identity, there will be an uproar.
They had brought a force of that size, and he had just publicly humiliated their Second Young Master.
A prestigious clan still had its pride; even if they picked a fight, they would not strike first.
But if—
The instant his party was known to be the Mad Demon's daughter, every last member of the Moyong Clan would come for her.
…Why did you leave enemies everywhere you went, Elder Mad Demon?
He was still sighing heavily when—
Rattle.
Baekri Sohyeon returned.
"…I'm back."
"Young Lady Dokgo is in deep sleep. She will not wake easily."
"…Okay."
Baekri Sohyeon began undoing her own clothes as she approached him.
Soon naked, she sank to her knees before Wi Ilcheong where he sat on the floor, then crawled on all fours between his legs.
"…Can you do a lot for me today, Wi Oppa?"
"Why? Is something the matter?"
"…From now on Coachman Hwang will be around, so I have to watch myself."
"Ah… I hadn't thought of that."
He stroked her hair as she untied his sash, smiling.
"Then we'll have to do a great deal."
"…Okay."
Watching Baekri Sohyeon take him into her mouth, Wi Ilcheong's smile deepened.
After the drinking party broke up, No Sunpyeong returned to his own room, yet he could not shake the sensation of fog clouding his mind.
Biyeon… Biyeon…. Biyeon….
The name was unmistakably familiar, yet it simply would not fit the girl he had just met.
Hair that loud and red—there is no way I would forget it. So why…
In that brief moment of seeing the red-haired girl, No Sunpyeong had felt a storm of emotions.
Rage. Contempt. Loathing.
Those eyes, filled with every negative feeling imaginable, had grated on his nerves.
To call her merely a mad girl would be wrong—her eyes were too alive. Then what in the world…
Those insolent eyes that somehow called the Mad Demon Dokgo Jin to mind.
Lightning struck inside No Sunpyeong's skull.
Biyeon! The Mad Demon!
The name the Mad Demon had screamed over and over on the day he came to destroy the Moyong Clan.
How had he forgotten that?
Wait… what connection does that girl have that she would know the name?
No Sunpyeong was still wrestling with the relationship between the Mad Demon, Biyeon, and the red-haired girl when someone burst in.
"Elder! Special report! From the Beggar Sect!"
"…The Beggar Sect?"
"Yes!"
"Give it here."
The letter the messenger carried was no ordinary carrier-pigeon missive. It was a special report sent by the most urgent dispatch method reserved for the Wulin Alliance's most critical intelligence.
No Sunpyeong took the letter and began to read. Before long he started to laugh.
"Keuk… kuhahahat. So that's it… that's how it was…."
"Wh… what is it, sir?"
"Even that bastard who had nothing left to lose in this world still had a family…. Keuk… kuhkuhkuk, kuhahahat!!!"
As No Sunpyeong laughed like a madman, the messenger tilted his head in confusion.
"E… Elder?"
"Summon the Second Young Master. And bring the leaders of every squad as well."
"At once!"
Watching the messenger leave, No Sunpyeong stroked the hilt of the sword hanging at his waist.
"Mad Demon… even if I cannot kill you, I will never forgive that daughter of yours."
He began to savor the pleasant problem of how best to deal with the Mad Demon's daughter so that Dokgo Jin would suffer the greatest rage and torment. No Sunpyeong's smile grew deeper and deeper.
"Just come in, Young Lady. We have things to discuss."
"G… get lost, you crazy bastard! Put some clothes on and call me again!"
"…You'll see it eventually anyway, so you might as well… ah."
Baekri Sohyeon was slow and frustrating.
Her speech was slow, her reactions were slow, and she always seemed a little vacant.
But her body was extremely fast.
"Young Lady Baekri."
"…Hm?"
"Please restrain Young Lady Dokgo."
"…Okay."
The instant Wi Ilcheong spoke, Dokgo Ryeong tried to twist free—yet Baekri Sohyeon's hands were faster.
"You… crazy bitch!"
"…I don't like bad words, Ryeong Mae…."
"Let go…! I said let go…!"
Despite Dokgo Ryeong's shouts, Baekri Sohyeon's arms coiled around her like snakes and bound her fast.
"…At this rate the other guests in the inn will all wake up."
Wi Ilcheong picked up one of Baekri Sohyeon's discarded garments from the floor and stuffed it into Dokgo Ryeong's mouth.
"Mmph…! Mmmph!!"
"Young Lady Dokgo, this is serious, so please be quiet. Young Lady Baekri?"
"…Okay. Hyaaang!!"
When Baekri Sohyeon suddenly let out a lewd moan, Dokgo Ryeong fell silent.
"Haaeut…! Wi Oppa…! It's too intense…!!!"
Between Baekri Sohyeon's moans, Wi Ilcheong spoke quietly.
"Young Lady Dokgo, you possess an exceptionally keen sense for presence, do you not? Would you examine the first floor for a moment?"
"??"
"The Moyong Clan's movements are unusual."
"!!"
Hearing his words, Dokgo Ryeong closed her eyes and concentrated. Just as he said, the activity inside the inn was suspicious.
Cautious footsteps, the rapid heartbeats of many people, and the occasional clink of metal.
"…Have you confirmed it?"
"…"
Dokgo Ryeong nodded. Wi Ilcheong pulled the cloth from her mouth.
"…I apologize for handling you roughly. I wanted to leave before they noticed."
"…I forgive you. So what's going on?"
"…It seems I am the one who caused the trouble. The Second Young Master of the Moyong Clan did not take kindly to my mistake, and they appear ready to come at us."
"Haa…, can I really travel all the way to Tianzhu with a bastard like this?"
"…I heard Young Lady Dokgo already caused an incident of her own."
"You little shit, you threw the finishing blow."
"…So it seems. I made a mistake unlike myself."
"Anyway, what are you going to do?"
Baekri Sohyeon continued deliberately letting out lewd moans. Between those sounds, Wi Ilcheong whispered.
"…Fighting the Moyong Clan is impossible. Hero No Sunpyeong is with them."
"…That bastard can go die. So?"
"For now, Young Lady, escape with Coachman Heo."
"…Why the hell should I trust that bastard?"
"Coachman Heo holds a fairly high position within the Hao Sect. And the Hao Sect is an organization that supports me completely."
"…Can I trust that?"
The information did not match what she knew, so Wi Ilcheong spoke.
"…Did I not tell you this afternoon? I am the greenhorn of the jianghu who spent a night with the Ruin-of-Empire, Eun Yakbyeok, Master of the Hao Sect."
"And that alone is enough for a massive organization like the Hao Sect to help you?"
"…Why are you like this, honestly. I am the Lust Demon."
Wi Ilcheong spoke as if he could not believe the question.
"Is there a single woman who has spent even one night with me and then managed to forget me?"
"…Crazy bastard."