“Let's have a meal together before we part ways.”
At Geom Mugeuk's suggestion, Pyeon Jung stepped back, saying there was no need.
“It's quite all right.”
“We’ve eaten together every day on the journey here. Wouldn’t it be strange not to on the last day?”
It wasn't that strange.
But Geom Mugeuk was already pulling at his sleeve.
“Which tavern here has the best food? Let’s go there.”
Led by Geom Mugeuk, the two men walked through the marketplace.
Meeting a good customer meant his mouth would be treated well until the very last day.
As they were walking, a fierce-looking man blocked Pyeon Jung's path and held out his hand.
Pyeon Jung handed over two-thirds of the money he had earned this time.
The man who took the money left without a word.
No greetings, no curses or threats.
To Geom Mugeuk, this felt even more heartless.
The hard-earned money vanished before he could feel any anger or sadness.
After walking a few more steps, Pyeon Jung sighed and said.
“At first, I protested and resisted, saying it was unfair.”
His difficult past continued.
“I was beaten in front of my wife and children. I endured even that. But when that bastard put a knife to my son’s throat, I gave up everything.”
Now, in a state of desperation, he survived each day by saving more and working more.
Pyeon Jung glanced at Geom Mugeuk.
Geom Mugeuk said nothing.
“That’s the place. They have the best skills there.”
Upon entering the tavern, Geom Mugeuk booked a room to stay in for a while, then ate with Pyeon Jung on the first floor.
They ordered the tavern's best dish and ate together.
‘Why would he borrow ten Nyang when he has so much money? He’ll just get into complicated trouble.’
Pyeon Jung spoke cautiously.
“If you're thinking of doing something about the Flowing Coin Pavilion, please don't. They aren’t ordinary ruffians. Their organization is large. There’s no place in the Central Plains where they don't exist.”
Geom Mugeuk filled his cup.
“You don’t need to worry about me.”
As usual, Geom Mugeuk ate his food and drank his wine in silence, and Pyeon Jung also ate his meal quietly.
When they finished eating, Geom Mugeuk bid him farewell.
“You must be tired, go and rest. Thank you for your hard work driving the carriage all this way.”
Geom Mugeuk called for the tavern owner.
There was a separate reason for bringing him here.
The tavern owner brought out a packaged meal.
“I asked for dishes the children would enjoy, so take this and feed them.”
Geom Mugeuk had noticed Pyeon Jung lost in thought every time he ate, and realized he was thinking of his children.
Pyeon Jung's heart swelled at the gesture of caring for his children.
“Why are you being so good to me?”
“It’s my way of thanking you for bringing me here safely.”
Pyeon Jung’s throat tightened.
In life, one meets good people and has lucky days, but this was the first time someone had shown him such kindness.
After thanking him several times, Pyeon Jung headed home with his hands full of food.
His steps quickened at the thought of how much his children would love it.
Pyeon Jung might think that their relationship, which began as a driver and a customer, had ended upon reaching the destination, but their connection was not yet over.
Watching him walk away, Geom Mugeuk took out ten Nyang from his pocket and looked down at it in silence.
*
Deok-chul was nervous.
After three months as a trainee investigator for the Flowing Coin Pavilion, he was finally on his first official investigation.
‘Let’s do a great job and get recognized.’
An investigator's job was to go to the debtor's address and confirm if their parents or family really lived there.
This was more important than collecting the money.
The family had to be held as collateral to prevent the debtor from running away.
The closer he got to the address, the more tense Deok-chul became.
‘They say the Demon Sect’s main division is in this area.
This place is truly a Demon’s Den.’
He didn't know how many demonic practitioners, reeking of demonic energy, he had encountered on his way here.
He was scared, but he couldn't back down.
He had to do this job well to become an official investigator.
Deok-chul checked the address on the paper and started walking again.
He acted as naturally as possible.
It was obvious that if he made a mistake in the demonic practitioners' territory, he wouldn't make it out alive.
He walked leisurely, as if he came here often.
And so, Deok-chul entered the Demon Family Village.
As he passed through the market, vendors were selling various goods.
“We have many fine goods, please take a look!”
At the goat-bearded vendor's call, Deok-chul couldn't refuse and was pulled over.
He was afraid that if he said no, the vendor would suddenly twist his cunning-looking goatee and an old, retired demonic practitioner would pop out, saying, ‘Do you know who I am?’
All sorts of items were on the display stand, from dolls carved in the likeness of the Heavenly Demon Soul to merchandise related to the Demon Sovereigns.
The white mask of the Evil Heart Laughing Demon was also hanging there.
‘The Demon Sect bastards are truly insane.
Selling all this stuff.’
The Heavenly Demon Soul doll was truly terrifying.
He thought he might have a seizure if he saw it in his sleep.
Besides, had the person who made this ever even seen the Heavenly Demon Soul? Come to think of it, there was no way someone who made and sold dolls would have seen it, right?
Next to it, the Eight Demon Sovereigns dolls were lined up.
The first to catch his eye was, of course, the Fist Demon doll.
It was twice the size of the others, with a face as imposing as the Heavenly Demon Soul’s.
The goat-bearded vendor quickly explained.
“That is the Fist Demon Sovereign. It's very well made, to actual scale.”
His fist is the size of a man’s head, and you say it's actual scale? Who do you take me for?
Deok-chul put down the Fist Demon doll and examined another one next to it.
It caught his eye because it looked so different from the Fist Demon.
“That is the Poison King. Isn't he handsome? Look at the twelve Poison Pouches there. Every single fold was meticulously crafted.”
The goat-bearded vendor spoke with spittle flying, but Deok-chul was internally skeptical.
‘The Poison King is this young and handsome? Even if I’ll never see the real person, is it okay to lie like this?’
And what about the Plum Blossom Sword Sovereign doll? Dressed in a pure white martial robe, it exuded the beauty of a middle-aged person.
How could Deok-chul, who didn't even know the Sword Sovereign was a woman, believe it was her?
‘They just made these things up.’
The doll that decisively fueled Deok-chul's disbelief was the Demon Buddha doll.
It was about half the size of the other dolls and glowed golden.
‘They made it half-sized to cut costs.’
Besides, how could a human body glow with such a golden light?
This time, Deok-chul picked up the Blood Heaven Blade Demon doll, which had its stern gaze well-captured, and tried to draw the Heaven-Slaying Blade from its back.
Oh, this one is cool.
Seeing the Evil Heart Laughing Demon doll, wearing a white mask and arrogantly crossing its arms, made his heart grow cold, and he found himself trying on the mask hanging there for no reason.
The Soul-Devouring Demon Sovereign doll controlling a puppet and the Drunken Demon doll leaning against a rock and drinking were also cool.
It was just that they were all made up.
“If you buy all Eight Demon Sovereigns at once, I’ll give you a thirty percent discount.”
“I’ll buy them next time.”
As he was about to leave, the goat-bearded vendor blocked him.
He had already noticed that Deok-chul was a greenhorn from out of town.
The vendor's eyes seemed to say, "You're just going to leave after looking at everything? You're not buying after drawing the Heaven-Slaying Blade? You even tried on the mask? Really?"
Feeling pressured to buy something, Deok-chul picked up the Blood Heaven Blade Demon doll.
“I’ll buy this.”
Only then did the goat-bearded vendor smile brightly.
It was just as Deok-chul turned away after being forced to buy the Blood Heaven Blade Demon doll.
From ahead, a golden light walked toward him.
Deok-chul squeezed his eyes shut and opened them again.
He wasn't seeing things.
The real Demon Buddha was walking toward him.
Deok-chul looked at the doll on the stand again.
‘It’s identical!’
As the Demon Buddha walked by, he glanced at Deok-chul.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon doll in Deok-chul's hand trembled.
‘Should I have bought the Demon Buddha doll?’
His heart pounded.
Surely, he wouldn't kill me for buying a different doll, right?
Just then, a voice came from the opposite direction.
“Welcome.”
Deok-chul turned to see a young man standing there.
He was none other than the First Young Master, Geom Muyang.
“First Young Master.”
Deok-chul held his breath.
‘First Young Master? Am I really standing in the middle of a meeting between the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect’s First Young Master and the Demon Buddha?’
Geom Muyang spoke to the Demon Buddha.
“Last time, you paid, Demon Sovereign, so today the drinks are on me.”
“Excellent.”
The Demon Buddha smiled brightly as he walked.
Their relationship had actually improved after Geom Mugeuk became the Young Cult Master.
The Demon Buddha had protected Geom Muyang to the end, even when he failed to become the Young Cult Master.
Once free from the struggle for power, a new friendship began between the two.
As the Demon Buddha passed in front of Deok-chul, he gave him a glance.
By now, the Demon Buddha doll that the goat-bearded vendor had pressed into his hand was also there.
Having bought the Demon Buddha doll as well, Deok-chul hastily left the place.
To loiter around the Demon Sect.
He must have a death wish.
Right, let's quickly confirm and go back.
“Past the Demon Family Village, walk five hundred steps west, and around the corner of the rocky mountain...”
When he arrived, Deok-chul's jaw dropped.
He checked the paper in his hand again.
‘This is definitely the place.’
Deok-chul lifted his head and looked at the sight before him.
Magnificent buildings stretched endlessly, and giant demon statues stood tall.
It was the main division of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect.
It was his first time here too.
He checked the address on the paper again, and it was indeed this place.
‘This is insane!’
What kind of madman would write this address after borrowing money?
‘Ah! No. Could it be someone who works at the Demon Sect’s main division?’
If so, he needed to go and check if the person on the paper was there.
Should he go to the main gate and ask, ‘Does a man named Geom Woojin live here?’ What if they replied, ‘How many people do you think live here, that you ask such a thing?’ and sliced his head off in one strike?
‘Ah, what should I do? It’s my first official mission!’
As Deok-chul was racking his brain under the massive wall of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect, two people were walking toward him from a distance.
‘If they look kind, I’ll ask them.’
But it was someone he could never ask.
The two people were the Fist Demon and Lee Ahn, who had just returned to the main division.
As the massive figure approached, Deok-chul realized he had seen the man somewhere before.
Where had he seen that build? At that moment, he remembered the doll the vendor was selling.
The doll whose fist was the size of a man’s head.
‘It’s the Fist Demon!’
Startled, he stepped aside and bowed his head low.
The two continued their conversation as they walked.
“Father.”
“What is it?”
Are they father and daughter? No way! Ah! She must have been kidnapped.
Damn demonic practitioner.
“I just felt like calling you.”
“How silly.”
“Father!”
“Stop joking around!”
She can’t be calling that scary man because she genuinely likes him.
Could she be asking me for help?
I’m sorry, Miss! There are only a few people in this entire Martial World who could save you from the Fist Demon!
He inadvertently raised his head to get another look at the woman, and his eyes met the Fist Demon’s.
It was truly the scariest face he had ever seen in his life.
His knees buckled, and every hair on his body stood on end.
The terrifying doll the vendor sold failed to properly depict the real Fist Demon.
The real person was far scarier than the doll.
The dolls in his hands were of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Demon Buddha.
‘I should have bought the Fist Demon doll!’
In the meantime, the two passed in front of Deok-chul.
Just as Deok-chul was sighing in relief and turning away, an old man carrying a massive blade walked toward him.
Deok-chul looked at him, then back at the doll in his hand.
They were identical.
‘The Blood Heaven Blade Demon?’
Deok-chul truly felt like screaming.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked at Deok-chul with his stern eyes and said abruptly.
“What are you doing there?”
Deok-chul was startled by the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s question.
He never expected the Blood Heaven Blade Demon to speak to him.
Unsure how to answer, Deok-chul held up the Blood Heaven Blade Demon doll in his hand.
‘Please spare me! I bought your doll too.’
Just then, a voice came from above.
“I’m waiting for my drinking buddy to return.”
He looked back to see a man sitting on the high wall, drinking.
Deok-chul realized he hadn't been spoken to; the words were for the man on the wall.
The man on the roof was the Drunken Demon.
“I rushed out when I heard you two were back, but the person I want to see hasn’t arrived.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon started walking again.
“You know him. He’s the type to meddle in all sorts of worldly affairs.”
The Drunken Demon then looked far off in the direction the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had come from.
“I know, that’s why I miss him more, isn't it?”
“If you miss him so much, stop drinking and go find him.”
In the past, he would have told him to stop his drunken antics, but as he spent more time with the Plum Blossom Sword Sovereign and the Drunken Demon, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had become much more lenient toward him.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon walked toward the main gate of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect, and the Drunken Demon drank again.
Deok-chul didn't know how he got out of there.
He ran and ran until he burst into a random tavern in the Demon Family Village.
“Give me some wine.”
He ordered a drink as soon as he sat down.
His throat was dry, and his legs were trembling.
But he couldn't just leave.
If he returned without even confirming his first official mission, his training period might be extended.
The person who brought the wine was Jo Chun-bae.
The tavern he had run into was the Flowing Wine Tavern.
As he served the wine, he spoke in a low voice.
“I served you because you seem to be in a hurry, but we have an important guest right now, so you must drink quietly.”
Deok-chul gulped down the wine.
To hell with the guest, he had to save himself first.
He really thought his heart was going to burst from the terror.
As Jo Chun-bae was about to turn away, Deok-chul asked.
“Owner, do you know where a man named Geom Woojin lives around here?”
At that moment, silence fell over the tavern.
Everyone’s eyes turned to Deok-chul, then toward the second floor of the tavern.
A man was sitting there with his back to them, drinking.
Seeing the reaction around him, Deok-chul quickly asked.
“Is that him?”
Jo Chun-bae said in a trembling voice.
“That’s him, but… he’s probably not the person you’re looking for.”
“They all say no.”
During his training period, all he ever saw and heard was the word ‘no’.
I don’t know such a person.
He’s not my son.
We lost contact long ago.
What do you mean, no?
Before anyone could stop him, Deok-chul scurried up to the second floor.
‘It seems I’m not destined to die.’
To meet Geom Woojin here.
‘It’s the will of heaven that I become an official investigator!’
Deok-chul presented the paper to Geom Woojin, who was drinking alone on the second floor, and asked.
“Are you the one who lives at this address?”