The day of the meeting had finally dawned.
Jo Chun-bae, who had started preparing for business earlier than usual, wrote on a piece of paper and posted it prominently at the entrance.
Closed Today.
Looking at the sign he had put up, Jo Chun-bae took a deep breath.
Today is the day! You can do it, Chun-bae.
"Is something special happening today?"
Mister Yang from the fabric store asked worriedly.
"There's a meeting of the Divine Sect at the tavern today."
He had kept it a secret until today, but now he could finally reveal it.
Naturally, Mister Yang was startled.
"A meeting of the Divine Sect is being held at your tavern?"
"That's right."
"Congratulations, congratulations."
Everyone knew that Jo Chun-bae was close with the Young Cult Master, and that not only the Demon Sovereigns of the Divine Sect but even the Heavenly Demon had visited the tavern, so the fact that a meeting was being held there was not surprising.
"Can I come and watch later?"
"If you had that kind of courage, you'd be living a life where you wore the martial robes you sell."
Saying he was right, Mister Yang laughed heartily.
"Do well."
"Thank you."
Song-i, who helped him in the kitchen, also came in earlier than usual.
In fact, there wasn't much to prepare.
That was because Jo Chun-bae had already prepared everything in advance.
Everything was ready so that food could be served the moment an order came in.
"Master, aren't you scared?"
Song-i was terrified of the meeting that would take place today.
"What's there to be scared of?"
"Aren't a bunch of demonic practitioners coming here today?"
"Don't be scared. We have the Young Cult Master. The most dependable person in the world is on our side, so what is there to be afraid of? Besides, only the riffraff bother people. The true masters are gentlemen."
After calming Song-i down, Jo Chun-bae went out the back door of the kitchen.
In truth, Jo Chun-bae was just as nervous.
The pressure of serving someone who dropped by unexpectedly was worlds apart from serving guests after preparing like this.
Just then, an old man came in through the back door.
"Elder, we're not open for business today. And you can't come in this way."
"Are you the owner of this place?"
"I am, but..."
"I have something to ask. My legs are aching, so let me just rest for a moment."
The old man sat down on a small wooden bench in the backyard.
Judging by the wrinkles on his face, he was a rather old man, but his build was very sturdy.
His two fierce, tiger-like eyes suggested he must have had quite a temper in his youth.
Other than that, he was ordinary.
Jo Chun-bae observed the old man with the intuition and sharp eye he had developed from his long experience in business, but he didn't look like a martial artist.
Nor did he seem like a bad person.
"I haven't seen you around before."
"I came from Hubei."
"My, you've come from far away. What brings you all the way here?"
"I came to meet someone."
"You must have had a hard journey at your age. Shall I bring you a glass of water?"
"It's fine."
"Who are you meeting that brought you all this way?"
"An enemy, if you could call him that. And if we're close, then we're close."
At that, Jo Chun-bae asked cautiously.
"Have you perhaps come to see your child?"
For a moment, the old man's face hardened, and an undeniable shadow fell over it.
Jo Chun-bae thought his guess was correct.
Cases like this were common.
Old folks who had lived apart from their children and traveled a long way, hoping to see their child and grandchild's face before they died.
"How long has it been since you last saw them?"
"It must have been over ten years."
Jo Chun-bae felt a pang of sympathy.
Hadn't he just gone through a major family ordeal himself?
"Where did you agree to meet?"
"We agreed to meet at this tavern."
"Oh dear! Of all the days to pick, you chose today? The tavern is closed today. What time were you supposed to meet?"
"I still have time, but I came early. I was also curious about what scheme led him to choose this place for our meeting."
Just from the word 'scheme,' he could tell.
The relationship between this fiery old man and his child was not good.
"You should reconcile, even if it's late."
"Should I?"
"Running a business here, I see all sorts of people. They hate each other to death and fight. But later on, they all regret it. They wonder why they were so proud when all they had to do was endure for a moment, be a little more generous. Aren't you and I past the age for being so sharp-edged? No, it's an age where we should throw away our blades."
The old man stared intently at Jo Chun-bae without a word.
"If you keep putting it off, it'll be too late. When you see him, you should be the first to say you were wrong. Isn't that what an adult does? Try to calm your temper."
"Why do you think I have a temper?"
"People like us can tell just by looking at a face. You had quite a temper in your younger days, didn't you?"
The old man gave a strange smile.
"I did."
"I, for one, am an accurate judge of character."
The thought of Head Chef Wang, whom he had completely misjudged, flashed through his mind, but he quickly pushed it away.
"Anyway, we're closed today, so please wait at the inn down the street. If someone comes looking for you, I'll be sure to tell them to go there."
Given the atmosphere today, it wouldn't be easy to pass on that message.
Should he ask one of the demonic practitioners guarding the entrance? He was worried that they might miss each other and never see each other again.
Just then, the old man asked abruptly.
"I heard the Demon Sect's headquarters is nearby. Have you ever seen the Heavenly Demon?"
Is this old man crazy?
"Whose name do you dare speak? If you say such things carelessly in the Demon Family Village, you won't die a peaceful death."
"My apologies."
He thought about kicking him out immediately, but then felt sorry for the old man who had come from so far to see his son, so he answered.
"I have. The Cult Master has visited our tavern."
"What kind of person is he? Is he as fearsome as the rumors in the martial world say?"
"He is fearsome only to the Righteous and Unorthodox Factions; to us, he is a benevolent man. And he is the person I respect the most."
"Because he protects you from the people of the Righteous and Unorthodox Factions?"
"Of course, that's part of the reason, but..."
Jo Chun-bae gave a surprising reason.
"I like him because he is the Young Cult Master's father."
It was the first time Jo Chun-bae had ever uttered such words.
It was the first time he himself realized he thought that way.
‘But why is this old man looking at me like he knows something? What do you know about the Young Cult Master?’
Just then, Song-i's voice came from inside.
"Master, a guest has arrived!"
"Coming."
Jo Chun-bae stood up.
"You should go now. If you loiter around here today, you could get into big trouble, so wait at the inn. Understand?"
"Thank you. See you later."
"I told you, you can't see me today!"
Jo Chun-bae hurried back into the building.
The guest who had arrived at the tavern was an unexpected person.
"Oh? Lord."
It was none other than the Demon Army Lord, Jang Ho.
Unlike when he usually came for a drink in a plain martial robe, today he wore the formal attire of the Demon Army.
Seeing the terrifying evil spirit emblem on his chest, a sense of fear arose, and he was reminded, ah, this person was the leader of that fearsome Demon Army.
"Lord Jang, what brings you here?"
"I've come to arrange the seating for today's meeting."
"Just say the word, I'll do it."
"No, I'll take care of it myself."
Jang Ho went up to the second floor.
There, he arranged the tables and chairs so that three people could face each other in a triangular formation.
Jo Chun-bae was inwardly puzzled.
‘Are three people coming to the meeting today?’
He had thought it was a meeting for many people, but it seemed not.
But for a meeting of just three people, Head Chef Wang came to check the food, and the Demon Army Lord himself came to arrange the seating?
‘Gasp! Don't tell me... is the Cult Master coming?’
But he soon shook his head.
If that were the case, the seating wouldn't be arranged like this.
The Cult Master's seat would have been placed at the seat of honor.
As it was, the three seats were positioned equally, facing one another.
"But why are you doing this yourself, Lord? Why not have your subordinates do it?"
"My subordinates will not be coming here today."
Jo Chun-bae did not know.
No martial artist below the rank of Division Lord could come to the Flowing Wine Tavern today.
Today, here, the Division Lords were the youngest.
The Division Lords of each organization were stationed throughout the streets like common martial artists.
"No one else will be allowed to enter the tavern."
Jo Chun-bae was about to mention the old man but stopped.
He had already come and gone anyway.
If he said something and the old man was dragged away by the demonic practitioners for questioning, he wouldn't be able to meet his son.
Just then, a person entered the tavern.
To his surprise, it was the Fist Demon.
Seeing that fearsome face, Jo Chun-bae's heart pounded.
‘It seems the Fist Demon is also attending the meeting.’
The Fist Demon and Jang Ho greeted each other.
The two of them standing side by side seemed to fill the entire inn.
Besides, weren't they the two most fearsome-looking men in the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect? With the two imposing figures meeting, Jo Chun-bae couldn't even dare to look at them.
After a brief conversation with Jang Ho, the Fist Demon approached Jo Chun-bae.
‘Ah, I should have gone into the kitchen earlier.’
The Fist Demon came right up to him and asked an unexpected question.
"Are the food preparations proceeding without issue?"
The Fist Demon was asking him about the food preparations?
Jo Chun-bae looked at the Fist Demon with a startled expression, then quickly bowed his head.
His was a face one could not look at directly out of fear.
"No need to be surprised. I am in charge of security for today's meeting."
The Fist Demon was in charge of security? He wasn't attending the meeting as a main participant? Why?
"There are no problems with the food preparations. It can be served whenever you order."
"Before the food is served, a martial artist from our Main Sect will come to test it for poison. It is not because we suspect you, but a matter of procedure, so please understand."
"Of course."
Jo Chun-bae went into the kitchen.
He already felt his legs going weak.
What reason would a Demon Sovereign, and such a fearsome one at that, have to explain things in such detail to a mere tavern owner? Normally, he wouldn't have.
He never would have.
If it weren't for the Young Cult Master.
Just as Jo Chun-bae was looking at the simmering broth.
Another Demon Sovereign entered the tavern.
It was the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, with a great blade strapped to his back.
His attire was also different from usual.
He wore a red robe that symbolized a blood-red sky.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon of today was not the same one who used to read poetry and joke around with Geom Mugeuk.
A biting chill, like frost, rose from his stern eyes.
Jo Chun-bae felt suffocated and quickly turned his head, pretending to chop vegetables that didn't need chopping.
Song-i asked with her eyes.
‘You still say you're not scared?’
I am scared.
Terrified.
He couldn't bring himself to say it out loud because of his pride.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon asked the Fist Demon.
"Have you seen the Young Cult Master?"
"I heard he is in the Cult Master’s Hall."
"I see."
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon slowly walked back outside.
The Heaven-Slaying Blade on his back shone more coldly than ever.
Seeing the Blood Heaven Blade Demon after the Fist Demon, Jo Chun-bae felt immense pressure.
The aura of the Demon Sovereigns today was different from usual.
Even though they were conversing calmly and just standing quietly, something felt different.
‘Hoo, get a grip. I have to pull myself together, if only for the Young Cult Master's sake.’
He opened a small window in the kitchen that faced the main street and took a deep breath.
As he was calming his heart while looking up at the sky, he saw a person.
Someone was standing on the roof of the opposite building with their arms crossed.
It was a person who could not be mistaken for anyone else.
Because his white mask was glinting in the sunlight.
Was it because his figure, standing alone, relying on a single mask, looked lonely? Was it because the cherry blossom petals, flying on the spring breeze and brushing past the Evil Heart Laughing Demon, were beautiful? Jo Chun-bae stared at him as if mesmerized.
Just then, the Evil Heart Laughing Demon's gaze slowly turned towards Jo Chun-bae.
‘Gasp!’
Startled, Jo Chun-bae quickly ducked below the window.
Did our eyes meet?
When he cautiously peeked out again, the Evil Heart Laughing Demon was no longer there.
He let out a sigh and said.
"Hoo. The Laughing Demon is the most frightening person after the Poison King."
When Song-i didn't answer, Jo Chun-bae casually turned around.
‘Ugh!’
He was even more startled than before.
The Poison King, who had entered without him noticing, was squatting next to Song-i, looking at a snail-like bug that was crawling among the vegetables she was preparing.
Song-i was frozen, her hands covering her mouth.
The Poison King was also in his formal attire.
Dressed in a stylishly blended green and white robe, he had become a handsome young master who caught the eye at a single glance.
Even in her shocked state, Song-i thought the drawings of the Twelve Zodiacs on the Poison Pouch at the Poison King's waist were cute.
If she knew what was inside, she would imagine these cute animals' eyes turning bloodshot as they leaped out as monsters.
The Poison King placed the bug on a leaf and carried it out.
As he left, Jo Chun-bae let out the breath he had been holding.
"I admit it. I'm scared too."
Then Song-i, gazing at the spot where the Poison King had left, said.
"No, he's not scary."
"What?"
"He's cool."
Jo Chun-bae shook his head from side to side.
Just then, he sensed someone entering the tavern.
Jo Chun-bae peeked through the small window from the kitchen to the outside to see who it was.
The person who entered was the Plum Blossom Sword Sovereign, dressed in a pure white martial robe.
On a day like today, she might have put on makeup for the first time in a while, but she came bare-faced.
The traces of time were revealed naturally.
Moreover, her face was tanned from arduous training, creating a stark contrast with her pure white robe.
Nevertheless, Jo Chun-bae felt that her current appearance was more beautiful than when she used to wear extravagant makeup.
He wanted to go and tell her so.
That she was more wonderful and elegant now.
Of course, he didn't dare.
There was someone who said it for him.
"You're the most beautiful Sword Sovereign I've ever seen."
She turned, and the Drunken Demon stepped inside.
He too was properly dressed today.
On the clothes he wore was a depiction of a drunken God of Wine laughing.
Among his many clothes featuring the God of Wine, on a day like today, he might have worn one depicting a fearsome, rampaging Wine God.
"I hear a spring breeze is blowing through the Drunken Dream Pavilion these days."
"For someone who will one day become the Cult Master, he's so tight-lipped."
The Drunken Demon smiled faintly, opened the stopper of his wine flask, took a deep sniff, and closed it again.
‘Is today so important that the Drunken Demon is refraining from drinking?’
Just as Jo Chun-bae was thinking this, a golden light poured in from outside the tavern.
The little giant, the Demon Buddha, had arrived, revealing his undeniable presence.
The robe he wore depicted humans and evil spirits suffering in the flames of hell, and it looked as if the golden radiance he emitted was the fire burning them.
Furthermore, the Soul-Devouring Demon Sovereign appeared as if she had been there all along, seeping into view.
In her two eyes, which had grown more mature since he had last seen her, an eerie, ghostly energy flowed.
She was walking the narrow path between humans and ghosts.
It was the first time for Jo Chun-bae.
To see all Eight Demon Sovereigns in one place.
When they gathered in one place, properly dressed, it was truly a magnificent sight.
Gathered like this on a common street that didn't seem to suit them, it became an even more unforgettable scene.
If he were a painter, he would have surely painted this scene.
‘So it really was a meeting of the Eight Demon Sovereigns!’
Then, a question naturally arose.
Jo Chun-bae's gaze turned to the second floor.
All the Demon Sovereigns have gathered like this, so why are there only three seats?
‘And why isn't anyone sitting there?’