Chapter 693: Life May Be Short, but the Eyelashes Must Be Long
Cha Iran lifted the box and looked into the bead.
The surface of the bead was smooth, and the swirling crimson light was both transparent and deep.
Looking closer, the inside of the bead had vein-like patterns stretched out like a net, and around them, some sort of energy flickered faintly as if it was alive.
Was that why it felt alive?
It seemed not as though she was looking into the bead, but rather that the bead was staring back at her.
Just as Cha Iran carefully closed the lid of the box, someone appeared from behind.
The one who appeared was a woman dressed in black martial attire. She was both Cha Iran’s subordinate and the most skilled assassin in the Court of Beauties, called First Beauty.
She, too was, beautiful, and in fact, she had already passed the preliminaries of this tournament.
First Beauty bowed respectfully before reporting.
“The Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance has departed from the Alliance. Judging from the pace, he will likely arrive on the day the main tournament begins.”
Cha Iran tilted her head slightly.
“That is faster than the expected schedule.”
From the main tournament, eight participants would be chosen for the final rounds, and three days after that, the decisive match would take place.
The banquet the Alliance Leader was to attend was scheduled for the evening after the final match.
And yet, not for the final, but arriving on the very day of the main tournament?
“It seems he wishes to witness the main tournament this time.”
Since the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult had intervened, many changes had begun to unfold. For those who intended to carry out their plans, it was far from welcome.
“And the escorts?”
“As expected, the Alliance Leader’s Guards from the Alliance Leader’s Hall and the Young Alliance Leader are traveling together with the Thirteen Wolves of the Alliance.”
Cha Iran nodded.
“And the mistress of the Sky Flower Pavilion?”
“She is still staying at the guest quarters.”
“And the Evil Smiling Demon?”
“He has not moved.”
Cha Iran reminded First Beauty in a tone of warning.
“They are strange and peculiar, which makes them easy to underestimate. But never forget—there is a reason the word ‘Evil’ precedes their name.”
First Beauty lowered her head with sharp eyes.
“Yes! I will keep that in mind.”
After bowing respectfully, First Beauty looked at her master.
Though she knew better than anyone how outstanding an assassin Cha Iran was, the enemies they faced this time were overwhelming. They were even more dazzling than the splendid dress her master now wore.
The Young Cult Leader, the Evil Smiling Demon, the Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance, and the Young Alliance Leader.
Reading the concern in First Beauty’s eyes, Cha Iran pushed forward the box she was holding.
“Do not worry. The reason we will win lies here.”
Though tightly shut, an ominous, unknown energy rippled faintly around the box.
* * *
At last, the day of the main tournament of The Greatest Beauty Under the Heavens Selection Tournament had arrived.
Lee Ahn had risen early at dawn and climbed the mountain behind to train her martial arts.
As she trained, dripping with sweat, Geom Mugeuk followed and watched over her. Though there were times he was forced to stay apart, he tried not to leave her side whenever possible.
“I’m just too nervous.”
For her, training in martial arts was when her heart felt most at ease.
After she finished a bout of training, Geom Mugeuk asked her,
“Feeling better now?”
“I feel like I can breathe a little.”
That was what she said, but she was still trembling. It was nerve-racking enough to perform martial arts before countless people, but on top of that, she had to boast her beauty.
Geom Mugeuk understood her heart better than anyone.
“I’m sorry.”
At his words, Lee Ahn smiled.
“Rather, I should be grateful. If it weren’t for you, Young Master, when would I ever get to live such an interesting life?”
“Right? Isn’t that so?”
Instead of agreeing, Lee Ahn lowered her head deeply and walked on.
“No way. Even now, I just want to run away.”
Geom Mugeuk laughed as he followed behind her.
When the two returned to the inn, a woman was waiting for her.
Surprisingly, she was someone called there by Geom Mugeuk.
“I asked for this person to be sent here.”
The woman was someone he had sought out through the intelligence network at the Anhui Province branch of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. She was a woman skilled in makeup, and she had come to put makeup on Lee Ahn.
“You can’t go out to the main tournament with a bare face, can you?”
Lee Ahn felt truly grateful that Geom Mugeuk had cared enough even for something like this. She had been worrying about how she should do her makeup.
After washing clean and sitting before a mirror, Lee Ahn heard the woman smile and say,
“Life may be short, but the eyelashes must be long.”
For this woman, makeup was life itself. It held the same meaning to her as a sword did to a martial artist.
She advised Lee Ahn to wear the white palace gown of the two outfits she had prepared for today.
While applying makeup that matched the gown, she carefully explained the methods of makeup. It was truly the passing down of makeup arts by a master of the highest skill.
While the woman applied makeup, Geom Mugeuk sat with eyes closed, regulating his breathing and calming both his inner energy and his mind. The stage for the main tournament had now begun.
There was noway to tell when the scene that the mistress of the Sky Flower Pavilion had seen would come to be. It could be today, or it might be on the day of the final stage, three days later.
Though it was regretful toward the mistress of the Sky Flower Pavilion, such a thing would not come to pass.
The makeup took less time than expected.
A true artisan did not drag out the time in her work. She proved it—by using Lee Ahn’s face as the testament.
Light taps here and there, gentle strokes. Her hand movements were so light it almost seemed doubtful it could work. This woman’s makeup artistry was, for comparison, like the Swift Sword Technique to a martial artist.
“All done.”
Having finished her makeup, Lee Ahn turned toward Geom Mugeuk. The corners of her eyes trembled faintly with nervousness.
Even she herself could not get used to the face reflected in the mirror. She could not judge if she truly looked more beautiful than before, so she both worried and looked forward to what Geom Mugeuk would say.
Geom Mugeuk, who had been sitting with eyes closed regulating his breathing, slowly opened them.
He gazed at Lee Ahn in silence before saying something cryptic.
“From now on, live with this face.”
“You mean… wear makeup every day?”
The words sounded as if he meant her face looked more beautiful with makeup than without. Lee Ahn glanced at the woman who had done her makeup and jokingly said,
“Your skills are so good that I’ve become your hostage.”
Of course, she sensed there was a deeper meaning behind Geom Mugeuk’s words. He was not someone who would tell her, who lived steeped in martial arts, to wear makeup every day.
Indeed, there was meaning hidden in his words.
“That’s not it. I mean live with the feeling this made-up face gives.”
Without makeup, she was the picture of innocence itself. With makeup, however, she appeared fierce. Approaching her with words suddenly seemed difficult, and yet she was still beautiful. Truly, a woman’s makeup held astounding power.
“Don’t live too soft-hearted. Don’t live being too kind. Don’t be the one to speak first. If someone approaches you, live as if to say—Get lost!”
As if you could live that way yourself, Young Master!
But Lee Ahn knew well what heart he spoke from, so she smiled.
“Yes! If I feel my heart weakening, I’ll start with makeup first.”
“Then shall we go?”
Before leaving, Lee Ahn bowed politely to the woman.
“Thank you so much.”
“I already received a large payment, so it’s I who should be thankful. I’ll see you when you reach the finals.”
“Well, today might be the last time.”
Lee Ahn’s modesty did not work on the woman.
“Three days from now, I’ll pass down a makeup technique fitting for the red palace gown. Look forward to it!”
The woman was certain Lee Ahn would advance to the finals. She had put makeup on countless women, but never on one so beautiful, nor one that made her feel such pride in her craft. She truly wished she could drag her away as a hostage and put makeup on her every day.
Thus, Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn headed toward the Divine Transformation Gang.
The streets were packed with people. Lee Ahn moved with her face covered by a bamboo hat with a bridal veil and her body concealed beneath a thin wind cloak.
Since more than a hundred women had advanced to the main tournament, today’s stage would take quite some time.
Behind the stage of the main tournament was the largest Hall of the Divine Transformation Gang, which served as the waiting room for the participants.
Guards were not allowed inside that waiting hall.
“Lee Ahn.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“You know, don’t you? Who’s inside there.”
This opponent was said to be an assassin organization made up of beautiful women. That meant not only Cha Iran but also many other assassins could be there. No—without a doubt, they would be.
“From now on, the only one you can rely on is yourself.”
Lee Ahn nodded silently.
Just then, someone approached. It was none other than An Hu-pyeong. Sa Chu and his men stood some distance away.
“Young lady, I hope for good results for you.”
“Thank you.”
“You will surely pass the main tournament. I guarantee it.”
The word guarantee sounded as if he meant he would use his power to make her pass.
He did not know that such words were an insult to the other person and instead caused him to lose favor. Having lived his whole life thinking only of himself, he had never trained to consider another’s feelings.
His father, An Cheong-gwang, had built the Divine Transformation Gang into something vast and powerful, but the cost of that devotion was paid closest to home.
Without saying more, Lee Ahn entered the Grand Hall.
Even a few more words would have been nice. Frustrated and sour, An Hu-pyeong glared at Geom Mugeuk.
That fellow he disliked every time he saw him.
That fellow, he hated without reason.
That fellow, he wanted to drag away, beat up, and terrify.
So, of course, his words came out harsh.
“Guard that young lady properly! You understand?”
Having lived his entire life being guarded, he had always looked down on those who served as guards.
“Yes.”
His pettiness continued as questions.
“Since when have you guarded that young lady?”
“For a long time.”
“I asked, since when exactly!”
When had he begun guarding Lee Ahn?
“Since she was little.”
“Little?”
For a moment, An Hu-pyeong was puzzled.
Being guarded since childhood? That meant a high and precious status.
“What exactly… is this young lady’s role within the Cult?”
Geom Mugeuk gave him a faint smile.
It felt as if he were mocking him for only now asking that question, and An Hu-pyeong’s expression hardened.
‘This bastard’s smiling?’
He was wondering how to smash him right then—when a woman walked toward them.
Seeing her, An Hu-pyeong was startled. A woman as beautiful as Lee Ahn was walking in their direction. But this beauty radiated a completely different feeling. It was Cha Iran.
“So the young lady has already gone inside.”
“She just went in.”
“Then it seems my opportunity has come.”
When Cha Iran smiled enchantingly at Geom Mugeuk, An Hu-pyeong’s eyes narrowed.
Clearly, she seemed to be an acquaintance of Lee Ahn, and yet, even though he was a guard, he was standing here conversing with such a stunning beauty.
“How about it? Shall we sneak off for a meal?”
Though it was her usual teasing temptation, the way Cha Iran looked at Geom Mugeuk this time was undeniably different from before.
‘You spared him? I can’t believe it.’
It must have been Ak Gunhak who had spared him. He was not the type to obey blindly just because someone ordered it. That was the very reason she had liked him.
That was why she wanted to ask Geom Mugeuk. What had happened between him and that man? Why was he trying to leave? Perhaps even where he was trying to go.
Ever since she had heard about him from Hwa Do-myeong yesterday, she couldn’t stop thinking about it.
But a chance to talk about Ak Gunhak would never come—unless this Young Cult Leader was about to die.
“In the evening, let’s have a drink to celebrate advancing to the finals.”
Her words carried the assumption that she would pass without question. She had expected Geom Mugeuk to refuse her as he usually did.
“Alright.”
At his answer, Cha Iran gave him a look of surprise.
“Even if you’re eliminated, you have to keep the promise.”
“And you, young lady, even if you’re eliminated, don’t be ashamed. Come. I’ll buy you a drink.”
Smiling, Cha Iran went inside. An Hu-pyeong, who had been waiting for a chance to cut in, ended up failing to say a word.
Normally, he would have surely barged into the conversation. “Who is this young lady? I am so-and-so. A pleasure to meet you.”
But this time, he could not utter a word. It wasn’t because of his devotion to Lee Ahn.
He didn’t know why, but it felt hard to approach her recklessly. The feeling she gave off was clear. Don’t interrupt now!
“Who is that woman?”
“She is Lady Cha Iran.”
“And who are you to make dinner promises with her without her consent? Who are you to say she shouldn’t be ashamed even if eliminated?”
Watching him chat with and even joke around with a woman he himself hadn’t been able to say a single word to, An Hu-pyeong’s jealousy exploded.
If it weren’t for Lee Ahn, he would have ordered Sa Chu and his men to drag him to some secluded place and half-kill him.
“From this moment on, don’t utter a word! The instant you open your mouth where I can see it, I’ll tear it apart!”
After issuing the threat, he walked toward Sa Chu.
At that moment, Sa Chu, who had just received a report from a subordinate, spoke urgently.
“The Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance and the Young Leader have arrived.”
“What? The Alliance Leader already?”
An Hu-pyeong was greatly shocked. If there were anyone he truly needed to impress, it was the Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance and the Young Leader.
“Where are they? Tell me, where are they now!”
“They are probably meeting with the Gang Leader right now.”
“Quick, send men to find out. And make sure they report to me the very moment the Young Leader moves anywhere!”
For him, the more important figure was not the Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance, but the Young Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance. If he could make a good impression on him, his own future would be far more comfortable.
“I must be the very first to meet him!”
“Understood.”
As he was flustering about, An Hu-pyeong suddenly spotted Geom Mugeuk in the distance, conversing with someone. The other was a young-looking man, but since his back was turned, it was hard to know who he was.
He had told him not to say a single word today, and yet Geom Mugeuk was smiling brightly while talking with him.
‘This bastard!’
An Hu-pyeong strode over with Sa Chu and his men, heading straight toward the two.
“Didn’t I say if you opened your mouth, I’d rip it apart?”
“I truly didn’t want to.”
Then Geom Mugeuk pointed to the man in front of him.
“But this person insisted on talking to me.”