An Hu-pyeong arrived at the great hall with a pounding heart.
The unfamiliar martial artists surrounding the building from the entrance were the guards of the Unorthodox Alliance Leader.
Their intimidating presence made the Divine Flower Sect's martial artists look like amateurs; he didn't dare to meet their eyes.
'Should I have changed into new clothes?'
Even if he could ignore everyone else in the world, he had to make a good impression on the Unorthodox Alliance Leader and the Young Alliance Leader.
As part of the Unorthodox Faction, getting on their bad side could mean the annihilation of his sect in an instant.
An Hu-pyeong took a deep breath before stepping inside.
The Unorthodox Alliance Leader was seated in the seat of honor, where his father always sat.
His father stood a short distance away, his hands respectfully clasped in front of him.
It was the first time he had ever seen his father stand so politely before someone.
'So that's the Unorthodox Alliance Leader.'
He didn't dare to look him in the face, so he lowered his head slightly as he walked.
He practiced smiling with his head down.
Having scowled all his life, trying to smile felt incredibly awkward.
'I must make a good impression.'
With a trembling heart, An Hu-pyeong walked over and bowed respectfully.
“It is an honor to meet the Alliance Leader, whom I have always admired.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Baek Ja-gang had a general idea of what kind of person An Hu-pyeong was.
It was only natural that he had been briefed on the basic information about the Lord’s family before visiting the Divine Flower Sect.
A wastrel successor who loved wine and women.
Looking at An Hu-pyeong alone, the future of the Divine Flower Sect seemed bleak.
Of course, the moment An Cheong-gwang joined hands with the hidden forces, it had become not just bleak, but pitch-black darkness.
An Cheong-gwang sent a telepathic message to his son.
-Don't make any mistakes, do well!
-Don’t worry, Father!
Just then, the door opened and someone entered.
An Hu-pyeong turned his head to look at the entrance and was startled.
'What is that bastard doing here?'
The person who had entered was none other than Bi Sa-in.
An Hu-pyeong quickly spoke to Baek Ja-gang and his father.
“Please excuse me for a moment.”
An Hu-pyeong rushed towards Bi Sa-in, who was walking towards them.
An Hu-pyeong stopped Bi Sa-in in his tracks and whispered with a scowl.
“What do you think you're doing, following me here?”
He must have said at the entrance that the Young Lord had summoned him.
The very thought that the Alliance Leader's guards would let just anyone into a place where the Alliance Leader was present, simply because they claimed he was looking for them, revealed just how self-centered and thoughtless An Hu-pyeong was.
“Get out of here now. Get lost.”
It was an incredibly irritable whisper.
An Hu-pyeong's nerves were on edge.
If he ruined this moment, it would truly be the end.
“Do you want to die?”
His sole focus on making a good impression on the Unorthodox Alliance Leader made even Bi Sa-in's face seem unafraid at the moment.
Like Sa Chu before him, the possibility that Bi Sa-in could be the Young Alliance Leader never even crossed An Hu-pyeong's mind.
The Young Alliance Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance asking Lee Ahn's escort if many beauties had arrived? How could that be?
An Hu-pyeong understood this intimidating-looking fellow.
Yes, how could he refuse when the Young Lord of the Divine Flower Sect offered him a position? Especially when he was offered double the pay.
Then, Bi Sa-in repeated what An Hu-pyeong had said earlier.
“Did you say you would tell the person I serve directly?”
It was the first time he had heard Bi Sa-in's voice.
It was not as pleasant to the ear as his face was to the eye, but this was not the time to point that out.
“The person I serve is over there, so you can tell him yourself.”
An Hu-pyeong's gaze followed Bi Sa-in's.
Baek Ja-gang was there.
This bastard is insulting the Unorthodox Alliance Leader? This is an opportunity, a golden opportunity to make a good impression on the Alliance Leader.
I was trying to get rid of this fool who doesn't know his place, but I couldn't hold back when he insulted the Alliance Leader.
In that brief moment, he hatched a plan.
“You crazy bastard!”
An Hu-pyeong looked towards the door and shouted.
“Sa Chu! Drag this bastard out of here, now!”
An Cheong-gwang, who had been watching, rushed over in a panic.
Of course, An Cheong-gwang had met Bi Sa-in before.
When he saw his son rushing towards Bi Sa-in as he entered, he thought they had already met and exchanged greetings at the training grounds.
In any case, his son was faster than anyone when it came to his own interests.
Yes, he was just thinking that it was a relief he had at least that talent.
But telling someone to drag out the Young Alliance Leader?
An Hu-pyeong thought his father was rushing over with a pale face because of this man's ruthless appearance.
As if to say, what are you doing not getting rid of him quickly while the Alliance Leader is watching?
He had to act before his father came and resolved the situation.
Just as An Hu-pyeong raised his hand to slap Bi Sa-in's cheek.
Grab!
An Cheong-gwang, arriving just in the nick of time, grabbed his wrist.
Of course, even if he hadn't, An Hu-pyeong wouldn't have been able to land the blow, but An Cheong-gwang was so shocked that he stared at his son, his face pale as a sheet.
An Hu-pyeong said loudly.
“It seems a fool who doesn't know his place has followed me, wanting to become my subordinate. But he has insulted the Alliance Leader.”
Then Baek Ja-gang, from a distance, asked.
“How did he insult me?”
“He said I needed the Alliance Leader’s permission to hire him.”
Baek Ja-gang smiled and said.
“He's not wrong.”
It was then, while An Hu-pyeong was blinking, not understanding what he meant.
Slap!
An Cheong-gwang slapped his son’s cheek without mercy.
The pain was secondary; An Hu-pyeong was too shocked.
“Father?”
“How dare you be so rude to the Young Alliance Leader? Get on your knees and apologize at once.”
An Hu-pyeong blinked.
'Young Alliance Leader? What Young Alliance Leader?'
As he stood there, still dazed, another slap flew at him.
Slap! Slap! Slap!
Emotion was packed into An Cheong-gwang's hands as he mercilessly slapped his son's cheeks.
After all the foolish things he had done, now his son had committed this act of madness.
He should have raised him by beating him like this from the start.
What if this incident became a problem and the Unorthodox Alliance Leader left? He might really beat his son to death.
Just then, Baek Ja-gang's telepathic message reached Bi Sa-in.
-This is the Young Cult Master’s doing, I see.
His disciple was not the type to hide his identity to create such a situation.
If there had been a reason to beat someone, he would have already half-killed them himself.
-He's telling me to educate my own child properly, is that it?
Of course, Geom Mugeuk had not predicted this situation, but this was how it had turned out.
-If I were alone, that bastard would have been brought here as a corpse.
A faint smile appeared on Baek Ja-gang's lips at Bi Sa-in's telepathic message.
He could roughly imagine the situation without seeing it.
All the emotions that had built up over the past years poured out.
Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap!
When he felt that he had been hit enough, Bi Sa-in stepped forward.
“That’s enough now.”
At that, An Cheong-gwang stopped the beating.
An Hu-pyeong, his face swollen and red, said tearfully.
“Father.”
“How dare you curse at the Young Alliance Leader and raise your hand to strike him? You deserve to die. I should cut off that hand first.”
“Please save me! Father!”
“Will you not apologize at once?”
An Hu-pyeong knelt and begged.
“I have committed a mortal sin by failing to recognize a noble person! I was wrong! Please spare my life!”
Bi Sa-in did not scold him.
He could have torn An Hu-pyeong down even further, but he didn't.
He had already come knowing that An Hu-pyeong was a wastrel and a brute, and scolding him further here would not change his character.
If anything, he would only harbor more resentment inside.
Besides, he was here to stop the plot to assassinate his Master, so there was no need to create a grudge with An Hu-pyeong.
Bi Sa-in helped An Hu-pyeong up and said in a pleasant tone.
“My apologies. I failed to reveal my identity sooner.”
“Not at all, Young Alliance Leader! Thank you for your forgiveness.”
However, just as Bi Sa-in had expected, a person did not change in an instant.
Far from being remorseful, he was blaming someone.
The target of his resentment should have been his father or Bi Sa-in, but he blamed the wrong person.
'This is all because of that bastard!'
Lee Ahn's escort! He had misunderstood because he saw the Young Alliance Leader talking to that bastard.
'I'll make it up to the Young Alliance Leader somehow, and as for that bastard, I'll deal with him!'
His past life of always retaliating against those weaker than him was no different at this moment.
An Cheong-gwang went before the Alliance Leader and bowed his head in apology.
“I apologize for showing you such an unsightly scene.”
Baek Ja-gang said in a kind tone.
“It was a misunderstanding, so don’t worry about it.”
Just then, cheers erupted from outside.
It seemed the main tournament was about to begin.
To ease the awkward atmosphere, An Cheong-gwang stepped forward.
“It seems the main event is about to start. I will escort you to the VIP seats.”
Baek Ja-gang rose from his seat, concluding the situation.
“It’s not polite to keep the ladies waiting.”
The waiting room was filled with women.
Lee Ahn was quietly observing her surroundings from a corner of the room.
She was trying to find the assassins of the Cult of Beauties among the participants.
She wasn't trying to find an assassin.
To find an assassin, one must not look for an assassin.
That was the key.
There were a few women who gave her a feeling.
It was literally just a feeling.
Women that Lee Ahn the martial artist, not Lee Ahn the escort, had found.
Just then, Cha Iran entered the waiting room.
After glancing around the interior, she walked over to where Lee Ahn was.
Lee Ahn did not look at her, but at the women she had identified.
Who would react to her appearance? Or, who would not?
Cha Iran walked right up to Lee Ahn.
“What should I do? It seems Miss Lee’s escort has already fallen for me.”
“What are you talking about?”
“We decided to have a celebratory drink for reaching the finals. Just the two of us, intimately.”
She meant for Lee Ahn to join them as well, but she said "the two of us."
Lee Ahn did not fall for her provocation.
Geom Mugeuk wouldn't have done that, and even if he had, there would have been a reason.
“He won't be able to drink without my permission.”
As Lee Ahn tilted her head, Cha Iran asked provocatively.
“Is that confidence? Or arrogance?”
“I know him well.”
“An escort who knows their master well is common, but a master who knows their escort well? A precious relationship, indeed.”
Cha Iran sat down next to Lee Ahn.
Even then, Lee Ahn observed how the surrounding women reacted.
This was, after all, the purpose of her participation in the tournament.
By identifying someone like this, she might be able to save one of their own.
Cha Iran said abruptly.
“You’re finally wielding a treasured sword.”
Lee Ahn was indeed wearing a treasured sword, but those words meant her makeup was beautiful.
After all, Cha Iran would know the skill of the woman who did her makeup far better than she would.
“My opponent is who she is. Be careful, when I put on makeup, I become a different person.”
“Miss Lee is scarier without makeup. That pure beauty.”
“You’re trying to eliminate me one way or another, aren’t you.”
The two of them looked at each other and smiled.
Yes, you should be scared.
Of all the time I spent training, sweating, without a single moment for makeup.
Just then, the waiting room door opened and a martial artist announced loudly.
“The main tournament will now begin!”
The roars of the crowd could be heard from outside.
*
Finally, it was Lee Ahn's turn.
Dressed in a pure white palace gown with beautiful makeup, she slowly ascended the stairs.
As she stepped onto the stage, she could see countless warriors.
A deafening roar.
She thought her heart would burst from embarrassment when she came up here.
That's why she had woken up at dawn and gone to the mountains to swing her sword.
But once she was on stage, she wasn't as nervous as she had thought.
'I might actually be good under pressure.'
Lee Ahn slowly walked along the designated path.
And then she saw him.
Among the countless people, she saw Geom Mugeuk looking at her.
It was as if by a miracle that she spotted him.
Although Geom Mugeuk did not reveal any presence, she found him.
Among all these people, she could only see Geom Mugeuk.
Everyone around him turned to black and white, and only Geom Mugeuk remained in color.
Geom Mugeuk was smiling at her.
A thought suddenly occurred to Lee Ahn.
This journey was a time to confirm her feelings for the Young Cult Master! She had felt jealousy for the first time, and though she had liked the Young Cult Master since he was a little kid, the feelings she discovered this time were deeper than before.
Lee Ahn walked with confidence.
As she stood in the center of the stage, she could see the specially prepared judges' seats in front of her.
Among the three judges, she saw the Heavenly Flower Pavilion Mistress.
Their eyes met.
She was here, and the Heavenly Flower Pavilion Mistress was there, each doing their part.
'From where I stand, the Young Cult Master will not be struck by the Laughing Demon's dagger.'
Thus, the two women who sought to protect their man communicated with their eyes.
Nothing happened from the time she went on stage until she came down.
Just before leaving the stage, she glanced at Geom Mugeuk one last time.
It seemed like Geom Mugeuk's lips were mouthing something.
Not bad, for an ugly one.
Isn't that what he would have said? She smiled to herself and descended from the stage.
As Geom Mugeuk watched Lee Ahn descend from the stage, someone approached him.
“It’s been a while.”
Surprisingly, it was the Unorthodox Alliance Leader, Baek Ja-gang.
He was wearing a bamboo hat, so no one recognized him as the Alliance Leader.
He had declined An Cheong-gwang's offer to escort him to the VIP seats, saying he wanted to watch quietly today, and had blended in with the crowd.
The two of them watched the stage in front of them as they talked.
Geom Mugeuk emitted his energy to create a formless barrier around them, preventing their voices from being heard by those nearby.
“I told you not to come, so why did you?”
“I came to see you.”
“You didn't come to see the beauties?”
“Why not? I came to see you and the beauties.”
Geom Mugeuk turned to look at Baek Ja-gang and said.
“To be honest, I would have been disappointed if you hadn't come.”
“You said this is where I die?”
The two of them looked at each other and smiled.
In truth, Geom Mugeuk had wanted to see Baek Ja-gang.
He would never know how attractive those small eyes looked to him right now.
“She’s coming out now. That woman over there is the assassin sent to kill you, Alliance Leader.”
The woman who stepped onto the stage was Cha Iran.
Her appearance set the crowd ablaze with fiery passion, but in contrast, Baek Ja-gang grew cold.
“Tell me. Give me a reason why I shouldn't jump on that stage right now and kill that woman. I am not the kind of person to watch and wait for someone who is trying to kill me.”
He was not one to play games with his enemies.
If it was an enemy, he was one to kill them with all his might.
He was the Alliance Leader who always wore martial robes.
“If I don't have a reason I can accept…?”
Baek Ja-gang's small eyes narrowed even further.
They shone intensely, as if they were the source of all the killing intent in the world.
“I will kill her, right here, right now.”