The Lust Demon's Promise (8)
“…Why are you doing this, seriously? I’m the Lust Demon.”
Wi Ilcheong spoke as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“Is there a single woman who has spent even one night with me and then managed to forget me?”
“…Crazy bastard. You’re the one who ought to be called the Mad Demon.”
“…It’s the truth.”
“Anyway, explain the escape route. What’s the plan?”
When Dokgo Ryeong asked, Wi Ilcheong pointed out the window.
“The encirclement isn’t fully formed yet. While we draw every eye to me and Lady Baekri, Lady Dokgo should flee far away with Coachman Heo.”
“Where do we meet again?”
“There’s a hut near the Pajeo River where the boatmen gather. Coachman Heo will take Lady Dokgo there. Let’s reunite at that place.”
“…”
The moment she heard the words Pajeo River, Dokgo Ryeong let out a hollow laugh.
“Ha… so it’s the Pajeo River again in the end.”
“…Is something the matter?”
“No, nothing. Feels like a nasty joke, but you wouldn’t have said it on purpose.”
Dokgo Ryeong peered beyond the window. When she focused, figures who looked like martial artists of the Moyong Clan were carefully slipping out of the inn one by one.
“…Heo Gwanyeong? Where the hell is he?”
“I’m right here.”
“Fuck, you startled me!”
“…”
The instant she called for him, Heo Gwanyeong appeared hanging upside down from the ceiling of the inn.
“Sorry for startling you, Lady Dokgo.”
“…Fuck. So every last dog and cow already knows I’m a Dokgo.”
“…I’m a disciple of the Hao Sect, after all.”
“Shut it. So you’re the one getting me out of here?”
“Yes. I may not look like much, but I’m confident in my Concealment Arts and Lightness Skills.”
“Meaning you’re good at running. What about actual martial arts?”
“…I can handle ordinary martial artists, but a master on the level of the Second Young Master would be difficult.”
“…Then we run so no fights break out if we can help it. Got it.”
When Dokgo Ryeong turned around, Baekri Sohyeon—already fully dressed—had approached. The moment Baekri Sohyeon reached for her hand, Dokgo Ryeong yanked it back.
“…You just used that hand to touch the Lust Demon, didn’t you?”
“…I wiped it.”
“Wiped what?”
“…The white stuff?”
“Fuck, don’t hold my hand. No—wait a second. Hey, Lust Demon.”
When Dokgo Ryeong called him, Wi Ilcheong answered at once.
“Yes, Lady Dokgo.”
“You bastard, come to think of it—why the hell were you fucking in the first place?”
“…Next time we meet, I believe we need a serious conversation about Lady Dokgo’s language.”
“Cut the crap. In this urgent situation you still thought of embracing a woman?”
“It was precisely because I embraced Lady Baekri that I noticed.”
“What the hell is that nonsense?”
Wi Ilcheong cleared his throat.
“Ahem… well. Usually when I stay at an inn and people learn my identity, peeping toms always appear in the middle of the night.”
“…But the Moyong Clan bastards didn’t peep?”
“…Exactly. That’s how I knew.”
“Ugh, fuck….”
The longer she spent with Wi Ilcheong, the more Dokgo Ryeong began to wonder whether trusting this bastard all the way to Tianzhu was actually a good idea.
“Anyway—Pajeo River? See you there.”
“…Yes, my lady.”
“And Dun-chi.”
“…Sohyeon Unni.”
“…”
Dokgo Ryeong briefly considered giving her what she wanted, then swallowed the words that had risen to her throat.
“…That’s still a bit much for me. Anyway, Dun-chi—if it looks dangerous, you run right away.”
“…Are you worrying about me?”
“Worry my ass. If someone I know dies, it messes up my dreams.”
“Heehee… Ryeong Mae….”
“Aigoo! Don’t hug me!”
“Heehee….”
Baekri Sohyeon wrapped her arms around Dokgo Ryeong and rubbed their cheeks together. Ignoring the look of pure disgust, she kept nuzzling until she finally spoke.
“…When we meet again, I’ll teach you the Shoot the Sun Sword Art.”
“I’m not calling you Unni.”
“I’ll teach you anyway.”
Dokgo Ryeong looked at her for a moment, then smirked.
“…Fine. Teach me when we meet again.”
“…Okay.”
“Let’s go, Hao Sect.”
“…Please call me Heo Gwanyeong. Or at least Coachman Heo would be better.”
“Fine, Coachman Heo.”
Heo Gwanyeong dropped down and offered his back. Dokgo Ryeong naturally climbed on and wrapped her arms around him.
“Shall we depart?”
“Hey, Dun-chi.”
“…Yeah?”
“…Make sure you come back alive.”
“…Okay, Ryeong Mae.”
“Let’s go.”
“…Yes.”
Heo Gwanyeong leapt into the night with Dokgo Ryeong on his back. Watching them go, Wi Ilcheong grumbled.
“The deal was between me and Lady Dokgo, so why is Lady Baekri closer to her?”
“…Sisterly affection between women?”
“In my next life I should be born a woman too.”
“Heehee, yeah….”
That was the end of the conversation. Now that they no longer even bothered to hide it, blatant energy rolled in from outside. The Lust Demon drew his sword.
Clang.
The soft sword uncoiled across the floor like a whip. Baekri Sohyeon drew the blade at her waist as well.
“Lady Baekri.”
“…Yeah.”
“I’ll give the signal. The moment I do, you flee.”
“…Got it.”
“Senior No Sunpyeong is strong. I’m not sure how long I can hold him.”
“…”
Without a word, Baekri Sohyeon raised her sword into the ready stance.
A moment later—
Knock. Knock.
“Young Hero Wi, are you in there?”
“…I am, Senior No.”
“May I come in?”
“…Weren’t you planning to come in anyway?”
“Haha… true enough.”
Crash!
No Sunpyeong smashed straight through the wall and door of the inn.
“This old man is so excited I can’t hide my energy…. Someone of your caliber must have noticed long ago.”
“…Is this because of the Second Young Master?”
“Hm?”
“…Is the great Moyong Clan trying to oppress me just because I scolded the Second Young Master once? The name of the Orthodox Faction is wasted on you.”
“Keuk… kwahaha! Ah… I see. One could misunderstand it that way.”
“…Misunderstand?”
When Wi Ilcheong frowned, No Sunpyeong wore a meaningful smile.
“Did you think you could hide it?”
“…Hide what?”
“I know you’re harboring the daughter of that dog of a Mad Demon.”
!!
Cold sweat slid down Wi Ilcheong’s back. If they had merely picked a fight over the Second Young Master’s damaged honor, he had believed the Moyong Clan would not resort to lethal force. At worst, a little trouble. But if they had come hunting the Mad Demon’s daughter, everything changed. The head every martial artist of the Moyong Clan desired was none other than the head of Mad Demon Dokgo Jin. Even from this brief meeting with No Sunpyeong, Wi Ilcheong could feel how bitter that enmity ran.
…We’re screwed.
Wi Ilcheong glanced at Baekri Sohyeon and sent a sound transmission.
[Look for a suitable chance and escape.]
Baekri Sohyeon, eyes locked on his, gave a tiny nod.
Then No Sunpyeong spoke again.
“So… Young Hero Wi. No—Lust Demon.”
“…”
“Where is that dog’s daughter bitch? I don’t see her….”
Brutal killing intent began to rise from No Sunpyeong’s body.
Creak. Creak.
Materialized killing intent shook the entire inn as it pressed down on Wi Ilcheong.
“Hand over that bitch and I give you my word—I won’t touch a single hair on the rest of your party. No, I’ll treat you as benefactors of the Moyong Clan.”
“…An enticing proposal.”
“You’re more reasonable than I thought.”
“But I must refuse.”
In an instant the atmosphere that had begun to ease turned ice-cold once more.
“I am a man who has never once broken a promise to a woman.”
“…The Lust Demon’s Promise, was it?”
“I’m honored that Senior No knows of it.”
“You’re more of a fool than I thought.”
“I hear that a lot.”
“…”
No Sunpyeong’s energy vanished in a blink. Then cold words spilled from his mouth.
“Capture them both alive. I will personally interrogate them until they spit out that bitch’s location.”
“““Yes, sir!!!”””
As the Moyong Clan martial artists drew their weapons, Wi Ilcheong swung his sword in a wide arc and carved a line across the floor of the inn.
Slash!!
“If you cross this line, I cannot guarantee your safety.”
He looked at the martial artists who were still eyeing one another and added,
“So please make a wise choice.”
They hesitated for a heartbeat—then someone shouted.
“Attack!!!”
Watching them charge across the line, Wi Ilcheong drew up his internal energy.
“…I told you.”
He poured every drop of that energy into the blade and swung once in a great arc. Drawing on the vast internal power gained through the Classic of the Plain Girl, he unleashed a unique martial art only he could use—one he had created himself.
The vision of countless butterflies rising from a mountain slope—hundreds of sword auras capable of cutting every one of them unfolded from Wi Ilcheong’s hand.
Slice.
With a chilling cutting sound, the inn was sliced diagonally. Screams and a rain of blood erupted.
“Kyaaak!!”
“My arm… my arm…!!!”
“Guh…!!”
The upper half of the inn, cleanly severed, tilted and collapsed. No Sunpyeong glanced at the suddenly open night sky, then smiled at Wi Ilcheong.
“You’re better than I thought, Young Hero Wi.”
“…I haven’t killed anyone. If you simply withdraw….”
“Withdraw? The Moyong Clan?”
No Sunpyeong drew his sword with bloodshot eyes and roared.
“If I do not take revenge for thirty years ago, I am no man! How could I withdraw from this place!!”
As No Sunpyeong looked ready to leap in at any second, Wi Ilcheong tightened his grip on the hilt.
“…Lady Baekri. Now.”
“…Okay.”
“Go on ahead. This will take a while.”
“…Don’t get hurt, Brother Wi.”
“Yes.”
Just as Baekri Sohyeon prepared to leap for the window, another figure cut in.
“Where are you rushing off to in such a hurry, pretty lady?”
It was the Second Young Master of the Moyong Clan—Moyong Jun. He brought his sword down; Baekri Sohyeon hurriedly blocked the slash.
Clang!
“…Move.”
“I refuse. More than that… how dare a lowly bitch give me orders?!”
When Moyong Jun swung at her neck, Baekri Sohyeon finally counterattacked.
Whoosh!
“Hup!”
The sharp thrust grazed his cheek. Moyong Jun leapt back and pressed a hand to the cut. Seeing the blood on his fingers, he grinned at her.
“Oh… you’re quite skilled for a bitch.”
“…Move even now. Or else….”
Baekri Sohyeon drew her sword back as if pulling a bowstring, settled into the ready stance, and warned,
“…you’ll get hurt.”
“Keukeuk… I promise. I won’t kill you cleanly either—together with the Mad Demon’s daughter!!”
Watching Moyong Jun charge, Baekri Sohyeon leapt to meet him.
Heo Gwanyeong raced through the dark mountain path.
“You bastard! Shake a little less—ugh…!”
“Please don’t throw up on my back.”
“Then hold on better and move… uup…!”
“Ah, please…!”
For Heo Gwanyeong and Dokgo Ryeong, the greatest problem was not the pursuing Moyong Clan martial artists. It was Dokgo Ryeong’s hangover.
“Ugh… fuck. I’m gonna die before I even meet those Moyong bastards.”
“Why don’t you drive the alcohol out with your internal energy?”
“If I knew how, I would’ve done it already. Uup…!”
Dokgo Ryeong pounded urgently on the back of his head until Heo Gwanyeong finally set her down.
“Bleeegh!”
“…Please drink in moderation if you can’t hold your liquor.”
Heo Gwanyeong patted her back with pitying eyes. Having emptied her stomach, Dokgo Ryeong wiped her mouth with her sleeve and looked at him with a somewhat clearer face.
“…Water.”
“…Here.”
He handed over the water flask. She gulped it greedily, then passed it back.
“Khaaa…. I feel a bit more alive. Let’s go again.”
“…Yes. Ah… just a moment.”
“What is it?”
“…A messenger bird is coming.”
“Huh?”
How does a messenger bird fly in the middle of the night? Dokgo Ryeong lifted her head at his words, and an owl glided down from the sky to land on Heo Gwanyeong’s arm.
“…Creepy bastards, no wonder. Using owls instead of messenger pigeons?”
“…These guys are pretty fast in their own way. And cute, too.”
“You know about displaying severed heads, right? Hanging necks.”
“We know. When they display heads, the character for ‘hyo’ is the owl hyo ().”
“…Doesn’t that creep you out?”
“Because they’re birds of ill omen, no one touches them. That’s the Hao Sect’s survival secret.”
“…Creepy bastards. Just check the letter.”
“…Yes.”
He untied the paper from the owl’s leg, stepped into a patch of clear moonlight, and read.
— Urgent Dispatch from Headquarters —
The Wulin Alliance has officially placed a bounty upon the head of the Mad Demon’s daughter.
All branches are ordered to report any sighting immediately. Extreme caution advised.
— Hao Sect Intelligence
“Ha… Lady Dokgo. We’re fucked.”
“…What now?”
“The Wulin Alliance has put a bounty on your head.”
“…”