“I will call you once I figure out the movements of the Black Demon Hall Leader, so let us take a break first.”
The Earth Demon guided Seol-Hwi and others to a place where they could rest comfortably.
They moved to an outside building a little far from the official residence, which served a purpose of taking care of precious guests.
“The water is heated in the tub.”
The server who came earlier was there.
“I will see you later.”
“Please rest.”
Ack Bi and Cho Ah-ran went in without looking back. No matter how much of a recluse they lived, they would not refuse a warm bath.
When the two entered their own places, Seol-Hwi and Cheon Miryo were left behind. Later, Seol-Hwi was also walking to a building and bowed to Cheon Miryo.
“You’re going by yourself?”
“Uh?”
She suddenly grabbed Seol-Hwi by the collar. And when he turned, she continued with a puzzled expression.
“We are lovers. Do lovers take separate rooms?”
“Ah, miss…”
Seol-Hwi was a bit shocked. He had not expected them to share a room together.
He was hesitating, unable to say anything.
“If…”
In no time, her eyes turned fierce.
“Are you playing with me?”
“…!”
At those words, Seol-Hwi’s mind went blank. He remembered the situation of kissing not long back.
“As if I would. It is the first time that something like this…”
“Is that so?”
She had a smile as she moved closer. Seol-Hwi was unsure, but he could not say anything now.
With an awkward walk, the two entered the same building.
As soon as they entered the place, Cheon Miryo said,
“You must be tired, so go take a bath.”
“Ah, thank you.”
Seol-Hwi did not refuse the invitation.
How many baths were there?
He really liked this kind of break after living a life on the edge. And after entering the bathroom, Seol-Hwi warmed up in the bathtub and thought for a moment on what to do next.
The Black Demon Warlord—
According to what was known from the trainer, his personality in the past was known to be eccentric. He hated things which did not fit the situation and said there was no forgiveness for those who crossed the line.
Because of the person’s temperamental nature, it was said that even the Heavenly Demon’s disciples had a hard time dealing with him.
However, instead, it seemed that the sect leader considered that to be a positive, so he was very respected by the Heavenly Demon.
Looking at the fact that he held the position for more than 20 years, one could see that he was skilled, and loyal too. It was known that they would not stand on one side of the power struggle.
So when Cheon Miryo said he should persuade that person, Seol-Hwi was not confident. It was to the extent that he knew the first mission would be a failure.
Cheon Miryo must know something else about it.
Judging from the fact that she herself mentioned the place, she should know something. So before going for it, he wanted to get as much information as possible.
Uh?
After changing clothes, Seol-Hwi was startled when he entered the room.
On a large window sill—
Cheon Miryo was sitting with her legs stretched out.
It was still midday.
The dazzling sunlight coming through the window shone on her form. In addition, the hair blowing in the wind seemed to display what beauty was.
“The Black Demon Hall Leader isn’t someone who can be persuaded so easily.”
Cheon Miryo spoke to Seol-Hwi who was mesmerized by her visage. And he asked,
“Have you met them?”
“A couple times. I just saw them passing by, didn’t talk to him.”
Seol-Hwi roughly understood that. Despite being a free spirit in the sect, she held no solid position.
Still, there was no way she would not know the figures of the sect.
“Do you know anything about them?”
Seol-Hwi asked.
She came down the window sill, still smiling.
“He likes to take risks.”
“Take risks?”
“Yes. His strong sense of righteousness lets him make dangerous decisions. And we need to take advantage of that.”
“But it wouldn’t be possible to ignore the opponent thinking might see through it? Or might the Earth Demon be asked to enter personally…”
“We provoke him. In a way he will respond to.”
Cheon Miryo replied in a confident tone. Let Seol-Hwi get lucky.
“If a dangerous situation arises…”
“Do not worry, I am by your side.”
It was Cheon Miryo who answered right then, making Seol-Hwi stare into her eyes.
Her eyes—
Looking at how confident they looked, the impossible felt possible. But the thought that everything would work out if she was by his side instead gave him an ominous feeling.
Of course, it was because of the system.
Now this situation might have been created by it too.
Help from past simulations—
At first he felt grateful for the ability, but as time passed, he got to know it better.
In the end, that help also flowed how the System intended.
Then, what was this woman in front of him?
A person of system?
Or a person who was not within the system’s sphere of influence?
“There are conditions though.”
“…?”
“With Seol-Hwi’s abilities, you will be in a dangerous situation. You need to get to Supreme Demon quickly.”
“Miss.”
Cheon Miryo listened to Seol-Hwi.
“If you can excuse me, may I ask why you are helping me?”
“That is…”
“Can I understand this as you are thinking to help me?”
She was not readily answering it.
“Right.”
A slow nod at the question.
“Then would you like to watch over me from afar?”
“…What?”
Was this unexpected?
Her expression was stained with wonder.
But Seol-Hwi honestly spoke,
“When you get used to getting help, it always ends badly. If one takes an easy path, the price to pay would be tough in the future.”
“…”
“Leave this work to me. Even if it is difficult, I will try it on my own.”
“But my dear, if you know the nature of the Black Demon Warlord, moving alone is…”
“Didn’t you tell me to take a risk?”
“…”
“In a life and death situation, how would there be a guaranteed way to live?”
Cheon Miryo could not answer.
She could not help it. In the worst case, she must have thought that Seol-Hwi escaping would be enough.
“I will definitely convince him to come. So…”
“…”
“I will prove that I am a man who suits Miss.”
She looked at Seol-Hwi with a subtle expression.
After staring at each other for a long time, they felt the presence of someone, so he went out the window and climbed to the roof.
“Who are you?”
When Seol-Hwi asked, the voice came.
“I received the mission from the Earth Demon.”
Seol-Hwi had a rough idea. It seemed that the movements of the hall leader had been identified.
About a dozen people had gathered in a corridor style room with a garden around.
All the people of Black Demon Hall, and all were high ranking officials.
There were well maintained tombs and landscape. In addition, the artificial pond in the vast garden made the sunny weather even more refreshing.
“Kya… As expected, the taste of silk alcohol you get while looking at this is truly excellent.”
A middle-aged man raised the glass and put on a satisfied expression. He had gorgeous eyes and a huge body. His beard fell down, making him look like a tiger.
The leader of Black Demon Hall, the one who fights on the front lines during invasions, Gu Dae-yeom.
“It is said that there is no one who doesn’t know of the Hundred Flower Alcohol in the central plains. It is also said that it is made of a hundred flowers which are known to hold medicinal properties for the body.”
Just in time, the subordinate pouring alcohol into the glass opened their mouth.
It was Si Myung, the captain of the Black Demon Hall’s first division, who brought the alcohol from central plains.
“Right. If things continue as is, we can go to the central plains from time to time and bring drinks. The power struggle of the disciples won’t end so easily though…”
Gu Dae-yeom ate a well prepared snack. As expected, the fruit brought from the central plains were fresh and tasty.
“But… is there anything interesting happening these days?”
When Gu Dae-yeom looked around and asked, Si Myung nodded.
“There doesn’t seem to be anything special. But I heard that the Second Disciple is upset about what happened the other day…”
“Tsk. It seems that he still hasn’t given up. His matter is… Lieutenant,”
“Yes, Warlord.”
The old man sitting across him and sharing the drink nodded.
“…I heard you brought an interesting guy from central plains?”
“Ah, you heard? It was just a greeting.”
The old man, referred to as lieutenant, turned his head and asked.
“What happened?”
And one of the subordinates waiting in the back answered,
“It is ready.”
“Right, let’s see.”
Chak
Just in time, all the windows opened in the corridor, revealing the vast garden.
The garden inside the hall was famous for being the largest in the main sect, and it was befitting of the main power of the Demonic Sect, so the elders were all considerate too.
“Eup.”
And someone walked in with a person tied up on their shoulder. They were completely covered in black, so one could not tell if the person was alive or dead.
“The one we caught from Central plains. They are presumed to be a disciple of a martial sect and a skilled swordsman.”
A man waiting opened his mouth, and Gu Dae-yeom asked,
“Who are we dealing with?”
“You will see.”
Just in time, another human being was being brought in a long cart.
Unlike the first one, there was no cloth concealing them. It was just a body bound with rope to a wooden board to be precise.
The man was huge too. In addition, the body was well balanced despite the wounds and torture marks on him.
“That is the one who broke the rules and became a problem for us. He has to go to prison for committing a felony, but… we called them here.”
“Hoo. Seems like the fight would be interesting.”
Gu Dae-yeom looked at the two humans with a smile. The most fun thing to do when drinking was to watch people fight.
A fight between those who committed wrong acts in their own sect and one from the Wudang Sect.
Could things get more exciting than this?
“Now, everyone, bet on who you think will win. Whoever wins the bet will get a lot of money. I will give them a woman too. Whoever loses the bet will be on patrol duty.”
At Gu Dae-yeom’s words, the people in the corridor opened their mouths.
“I will bet on the Black Demon troops’ members.”
“Of course you will, isn’t he from that famous troop in the sect?”
“Me too.”
Most of them were leaning to one side.
“Aren’t you ignoring the central plain warrior too much? I heard that the captain of Dark Horse’s second division had a hard time catching the person… I will bet on the Wudang one.”
The man shouted out.
Even so, most were still leaning towards the initial one.
“Now then.”
After everyone made a bet, Gu Dae-yeom, the warlord, stood up.
“Release them both…”
But the time words came—
Shshsak
Just in time, a person approached and whispered to him.
And the expression of Gu Dae-yeom, who was smiling, had darkened.
“It was said like that?”
He asked to be sure and the member lowered his head.
“Such a cheeky bastard. Bring them here!”
He said with a cry of anger.
And the atmosphere which was merry now had changed.