Just because it’s dangerous, right?
“If he is such a great Demon, why not kill him?”
An Cheong-gwang was curious.
He knew well that there was no one this woman couldn’t kill if she set her mind to it, just as he himself had almost died a moment ago.
“There are many kinds of Demons. There are fearsome Demons, cruel Demons, and Demons who play with people until they break. What kind of Demon do you think that one is?”
He had thought it would be a Demon more fearsome than any she had mentioned.
“A good Demon.”
An Cheong-gwang thought she was joking.
But she wasn't.
“When Demons and evil spirits mix and fight, they might feel a sense of kinship, go easy on each other, or even share their spoils. You know what I mean."
"You’ve lived that way too. But that good Demon has none of that. He just cuts them down."
"If he were just a good-natured fellow, one could simply use him, but the problem is, he’s a Demon. Being good is a problem, and being a Demon is a problem.”
An Cheong-gwang felt that this woman feared that young man.
A young master of the Demon Sect who could make this woman feel fear.
Did such a person truly exist?
In that very moment, An Cheong-gwang recalled one person.
Someone he had initially dismissed, thinking he couldn’t possibly be here.
“The Young Cult Master of the Demon Sect?”
To his incredulous question came an answer that should not have.
“I take back what I said about you resembling my son. You are a very smart man.”
Now he understood.
Why the Unorthodox Alliance had not given him the information.
A good Demon? Yes, he had heard a rumor that he was called a Righteous Demon.
“You crazy woman!”
It was the first time he had sworn since meeting her.
But she did not get angry.
Instead, she smiled brightly, like a madwoman.
“So you must go mad too.”
Cha Iran slowly extended her hand toward An Cheong-gwang’s neck.
Her fingers traced the red line drawn on his neck, stopping at the end.
“That Young Cult Master won’t go easy on you like I did.”
“I have someone to introduce you to, Miss.”
An Hu-pyeong eventually brought Lee Ahn to the guest hall.
He just wanted to make a good impression on her, no matter what.
-Letting a contestant meet a judge could cause problems later.
Sa Chu tried to dissuade him with a telepathic message, but it was no use.
-What problem? I’ll just say we ran into each other by chance.
Sa Chu absolutely did not want to go to the guest hall.
He had no desire to see those fearsome and bizarre people again, nor did he want to get any more entangled with them.
-The Lord will be furious if he finds out.
But even this warning was useless before a man who would risk everything for this woman.
-Yes, he’ll find out if you tattle on me.
In the end, unable to break his stubbornness, they arrived at the guest hall where the Heavenly Flower Pavilion Mistress was.
Upon entering the guest hall, the Heavenly Flower Pavilion Mistress and her party were not in the relaxed posture they had been in before.
Had they seen them coming through the window?
The Heavenly Flower Pavilion Mistress was standing, and the rest of her guards were all lined up.
It looked as if they were respectfully preparing to receive an honored guest.
“Welcome.”
At the Heavenly Flower Pavilion Mistress’s greeting, the Evil Heart Laughing Demon and the Faceless Ones standing behind her all bowed in unison.
An Hu-pyeong’s spirits soared at the lavish welcome.
These people hadn't been this polite before.
‘Yes, this is how it should have been from the start.
They’ve finally come to their senses.’
With his prestige restored in front of Lee Ahn, An Hu-pyeong puffed out his chest and spoke heartily.
“Have you all been well?”
How could he know? That the polite greeting was directed at Geom Mugeuk, who was standing behind him.
At that moment, Sa Chu, wondering for some reason how these two escort guards, who gave off a similar feeling, would treat each other, was observing them.
‘Smiling?’
Weren't Geom Mugeuk and the Evil Heart Laughing Demon looking at each other and smiling?
‘Do madmen recognize their own kind?’
He never imagined that they might know each other.
Just then, Sa Chu’s eyes met with one of the Faceless Ones.
Was it the one who had stared at him from his side before? With their faces covered by veils, they all looked similar, so he couldn’t tell.
Sa Chu pretended not to see him and naturally turned his gaze to the opposite side, then to another direction.
The Faceless One on that side was also staring intently at him.
‘Why do they keep staring at me!’
Sa Chu finally lowered his head.
‘Don’t look at me! Please don’t look at me!’
Then he cautiously raised his head, and they were still staring.
‘I didn’t tell anyone that Master Yong is dead. And I won’t in the future either!’
While Sa Chu was fighting a desperate battle to find a place to rest his eyes, An Hu-pyeong was elated.
“This is my honored guest, Miss Lee. I was showing her around our sect and decided to drop by. This is the Heavenly Flower Pavilion Mistress, who will be judging this tournament.”
I’m the kind of person who can introduce you to the judge of the tournament! An Hu-pyeong’s shoulders rose to the sky.
Even after being told she was a judge for the tournament, Lee Ahn did not seem particularly uncomfortable.
“I am Lee Ahn.”
An Hu-pyeong liked that about her too.
‘As expected of a demonic practitioner, her personality is refreshingly straightforward.’
It would have been really annoying if she had rattled on with insincere words like, "Why did you have me meet a judge? I want to become the Greatest Beauty Under Heaven fair and square."
Naturally, Lee Ahn and the Heavenly Flower Pavilion Mistress acted as if they were meeting for the first time.
“Are you perhaps a contestant in this tournament?”
An Hu-pyeong answered for Lee Ahn.
“That’s right. Miss Lee has passed the preliminaries. Ah, the two of you will see each other in the main tournament.”
The Heavenly Flower Pavilion Mistress’s expression hardened slightly.
Of course, it was an act for An Hu-pyeong.
It would have been strange to accept such a situation without question.
As if uncomfortable with the situation, the Heavenly Flower Pavilion Mistress dismissed her surroundings.
“I wish to speak with my guests in private, so all guards, please step outside.”
At that, the Evil Heart Laughing Demon and the Faceless Ones immediately went out.
Lee Ahn turned to Geom Mugeuk and said.
“Please wait outside.”
Lee Ahn knew that the reason the Heavenly Flower Pavilion Mistress had sent the Evil Heart Laughing Demon out was to give him some time with Geom Mugeuk.
Otherwise, there would have been no need to send him out.
Geom Mugeuk also left without a word.
Just then, An Hu-pyeong looked at Sa Chu.
“What are you doing, not leaving?”
Never expecting that he too would be told to leave, Sa Chu was inwardly flustered.
‘You want me to stay out there with them? Please!’
But An Hu-pyeong was not the type to keep his own guard while the women had sent theirs away, looking like a coward.
In the end, after getting an earful via a telepathic message, Sa Chu was also chased outside.
In the courtyard, Geom Mugeuk, the Evil Heart Laughing Demon, and the Faceless Ones stood looking at him.
The pride of an Unorthodox Faction martial artist!
No, he had none.
Sa Chu looked up at the sky, avoiding their gazes.
Then, the Evil Heart Laughing Demon strode toward him.
‘Why? Why are you coming over here!’
The Evil Heart Laughing Demon patted the terrified Sa Chu on the shoulder and smiled.
Just as Sa Chu relaxed, knowing it was a gesture of thanks for keeping his secret.
Swoosh.
His vital points were suddenly struck, and he fell backward, asleep.
The Faceless Ones stood guard, watching the surroundings, while Geom Mugeuk and the Evil Heart Laughing Demon conversed in their midst.
He had been planning to secretly meet the Evil Heart Laughing Demon at night anyway, but now he was able to come openly, guided by the Young Lord.
Since there wasn't much time, Geom Mugeuk immediately got to the point.
“The mastermind this time is a female assassin named Cha Iran.”
Geom Mugeuk also told him about the assassins she led, who were all women.
The Faceless Ones all listened as well.
“They lack the typical aura of assassins, so you must be especially careful.”
The Evil Heart Laughing Demon, as well as the Faceless Ones, nodded.
Hearing about them, a question naturally arose in the Evil Heart Laughing Demon’s mind.
“If you know who the enemy is, why not eliminate them? The Pavilion Mistress’s prophecy happened on the stage. So…”
“You mean we should eliminate them all before the main tournament begins?”
The Evil Heart Laughing Demon nodded.
Though he wasn't showing it, the prophecy kept weighing on his mind.
After all, it was Geom Mugeuk’s life that was on the line.
“Why don’t you?”
As if he had already considered it, Geom Mugeuk explained the reason.
“There are two reasons. The first is to get rid of any other masterminds along with them.”
Killing the Unorthodox Alliance Leader was no ordinary plot.
Other hidden masterminds could reveal themselves.
Just as So Jeong-rak of the Enlightened Heart Clinic had been present in the Martial Alliance, not just the Heavenly Wandering Hermit.
If they couldn’t be dealt with all at once when the opportunity arose, they would return as another threat someday.
“Actually, the second reason weighs on me more.”
Geom Mugeuk’s gaze deepened as he posed a fundamental question.
“Why are they trying to kill the Unorthodox Alliance Leader?”
Of course, it could be a long-prepared plan.
Just as the Martial Alliance had prepared for decades, they could have planned to kill the Unorthodox Alliance Leader by bringing in the Divine Flower Sect.
But to kill the Unorthodox Alliance Leader in this situation, now that the Martial Alliance has failed? And when they likely know of his own involvement?
“Even if they succeed in this plan, Young Alliance Leader Bi will take his place. What benefit could they possibly gain from pushing this plan forward?”
It was because of these questions that he had not moved rashly.
“They might have another plan.”
The Evil Heart Laughing Demon nodded in complete agreement.
Indeed, the Young Cult Master saw through this situation more deeply than he could have imagined.
“What do you plan to do now?”
Geom Mugeuk smiled faintly and replied.
“It’s a prophecy from none other than our Pavilion Mistress, so it can’t be wrong, can it? Shall we take the stage together?”
How could he not know that this didn't mean he would meekly let himself be stabbed by a dagger?
Knowing it was a call to face destiny head-on, the Evil Heart Laughing Demon’s eyes smiled brightly.
“I will be with you until the end.”
The surrounding Faceless Ones listened silently to the two’s conversation.
The smile in their eyes mirrored that of the Evil Heart Laughing Demon, promising to be with them until the end.
Just then, from inside the building, An Hu-pyeong’s voice was heard, telling them to come in.
Geom Mugeuk and the Evil Heart Laughing Demon went inside first.
The Faceless Ones pressed a vital point to wake the sleeping Sa Chu.
When Sa Chu, who had been lying on the ground, opened his eyes, the Faceless Ones were crouching around him, looking down with concern.
“…”
Sa Chu closed his eyes again.
He wished it were a dream, but from inside the building, An Hu-pyeong’s shouts of “What are you doing, not coming in?” could be heard.
Bi Sa-in entered the training grounds.
This was the personal training grounds of the Unorthodox Alliance Leader, Baek Ja-gang.
“You called for me?”
Baek Ja-gang was carefully polishing an iron training dummy made of ten-thousand-year cold iron.
There were countless sword marks on it, made for the Unorthodox Alliance Leader.
“I know when and how each of these was made.”
That statement alone revealed Baek Ja-gang’s level of mastery and the mindset with which he swung his sword, move by move.
“Whenever I wanted to surpass someone, several people would overlap on this iron training dummy. The person who came to mind most often was the Demon Cult Master.”
Bi Sa-in could tell.
His Master had truly wanted to surpass Geom Woojin.
And from the way his Master spoke of this so casually, he thought that perhaps his Master had surpassed a certain level of mastery.
“I wonder who it will be in your life.”
Unexpected words flowed from Baek Ja-gang’s mouth.
“I intend to pass this on to you now.”
Bi Sa-in was startled.
“Alliance Leader!”
“I intended to pass it on to you from the beginning. Take it and train well.”
Bi Sa-in knew better than anyone what this iron training dummy meant to Baek Ja-gang.
To pass on this dummy was a true sign of his care and recognition.
Bi Sa-in did not refuse, but respectfully clasped his fists and bowed.
“I will surely achieve Great Mastery in the Tyrant Heaven-Piercing Sword Technique. I will surely become stronger.”
His heartfelt gratitude was evident in his powerful resolve.
Baek Ja-gang nodded with a reassuring smile.
Just then, a subordinate’s voice was heard from outside.
“A dispatch has arrived from the Young Cult Master of the Divine Sect.”
At the news, Baek Ja-gang and Bi Sa-in looked at each other.
Since no one was allowed in the training grounds, Bi Sa-in went out to receive the dispatch.
Bi Sa-in read the dispatch.
“What is it about?”
“It concerns the Greatest Beauty Under Heaven Contest.”
The two were well aware of the Greatest Beauty Under Heaven Contest being held in Anhui.
Sometime ago, the Divine Flower Sect Master had personally visited to seek permission to hold such a contest, asking if it would be alright to create a banquet with the Unorthodox Alliance Leader as the prize.
The Divine Flower Sect was a sect that had long strived for the Unorthodox Alliance, and even after its recent rise in power and influence, its loyalty remained unchanged.
That was why he had granted permission, and now Geom Mugeuk had sent a dispatch regarding it.
Bi Sa-in’s expression hardened after reading the dispatch, his eyes becoming serious.
“It says there is a plan to assassinate you, Alliance Leader, at that banquet.”
Since it was a dispatch sent by Geom Mugeuk, the information would not be wrong.
It even mentioned who the enemy was.
“She is a female assassin of the highest skill, and she leads an assassination organization composed of women.”
Despite it being an assassination plot against him, Baek Ja-gang was rather pleased.
He had felt somewhat left out upon receiving reports of the events at the Martial Alliance.
Are they only targeting the Martial Alliance Leader? Are they ignoring me?
Bi Sa-in bowed his head with an apologetic look.
“I apologize for having you hear such crucial information through the Young Cult Master.”
This was not Bi Sa-in’s fault either.
If blame were to be assigned, it would be to those who handle information, who would have to be disciplined.
Baek Ja-gang didn't mind at all and was not angry.
“At first, I thought the Young Cult Master was exceptional and was getting ahead. But having experienced it, I see that destiny has its own way of dealing with him. So don’t worry about it.”
His words implied that the ties between the hidden forces and Geom Mugeuk were deep.
“So what does he say?”
“He has sent a strong request for you not to attend this banquet.”
However, Baek Ja-gang had no intention of skipping it.
“There is a plot to kill me. How can I, the main character, not go?”
Bi Sa-in knew his master was not a man who would ever back down.
Besides, with Geom Mugeuk handling the matter in his stead? His master was not someone who would entrust his own affairs to others.
“But the Young Cult Master sent two dispatches.”
“Two?”
“One was the official dispatch I just mentioned, and the other came to me.”
Bi Sa-in read the dispatch on the spot.
After confirming its contents, Bi Sa-in handed the dispatch to Baek Ja-gang.
He wondered why he was showing him a personal dispatch.
After reading the contents, Baek Ja-gang’s small eyes disappeared with a great laugh.
-It’s not like the Alliance Leader is the type to stay away just because it's dangerous, right? Since he's coming anyway, you might as well bring him early