Seo Daeryong was watering the flower in the pot placed in the Hwangcheon Pavilion Master's office.
“Second, just when in the world is the Pavilion Master going to return?”
He was the one who called the potted flower left behind by Ilhwa Geumjon “Second.” The nickname had come from a joke that he was the third most important thing in the office.
“He should have taken me with him. Just how much fun is he having without me that there’s no word from him at all?”
Without Geom Mugik and Ian around, it truly felt as though the pleasures of life had been cut in half.
He had stopped the regular drinking get-togethers with Jang Ho since last month as well. They had postponed them until Ian returned. Honestly, it was only fun when there were three of them. It only felt complete when there were three.
“Hmph! From now on, you be the First. From today, I’m the Second. Let’s handle everything together, we abandoned ones!”
In fact, he was already handling it all. Seo Daeryong had taken charge of and was managing most of Hwangcheon Gak’s major affairs. Although there were seniors, since everyone knew that Geom Mugik favored Seo Daeryong the most, he had naturally become the acting Pavilion Master. And Seo Daeryong handled that work better than anyone.
The period of Geom Mugik’s absence was the period he had grown, and the period he had been genuinely recognized.
Furthermore, he hadn’t missed a single day of learning blade techniques from Hyeolcheon Domma either.
Hyeolcheon Domma never spoke about Geom Mugik. It was as if he thought that if he mentioned Geom Mugik, he would be caught missing him.
Even when Seo Daeryong talked about Geom Mugik, he would pretend not to hear and say nothing.
‘Master, that in itself is what’s stranger.’
While he was standing by the window suppressing his longing for Geom Mugik and Ian, an Enforcer came in through the door.
“We’re ready.”
“Let’s go.”
Lazy Pavilion Master who knows where and what you’re doing, I’m off to work again.
Outside the building, as many as ten Enforcers were waiting. Usually, two Enforcers moved for every investigator, so just seeing the number ten made it clear that today’s operation was both extremely important and dangerous.
“Have you all equipped your White Tiger Armor?”
“Yes, we have.”
The White Tiger Armor was standard-issue protective gear distributed to the Enforcers. It could not be compared to genuine protective garments, but it still had the effect of blocking ordinary blades.
“Let’s go. There may be a clash, so you must stay on alert.”
The place they arrived at with the Enforcers was Daechwirim, where Daechwima resided.
Daechwima.
He was one of the Eight Demon Lords, and because he was always intoxicated, he was called the Drunken Demon. There were many rumors regarding him.
Some said the reason he was always drunk was because he had suffered a great wound to his heart, and there was also a rumor that his unique martial art utilized drunkenness. In any case, one certain fact was that the drunker he became, the stronger he grew.
The martial artists who followed him were called Drunken Guests, and they too were heavy drinkers who loved liquor.
The gate of Daechwirim was firmly shut.
When an Enforcer knocked on the gate, a Drunken Guest guarding the entrance opened it and revealed himself.
“Who is it?”
“We’re from Hwangcheon Gak. Open the gate.”
“What brings you here?”
Seo Daeryong raised the document he had brought and showed it.
“We’ve come to arrest the Drunken Guest, Do Ho.”
This fellow named Do Ho had driven a carriage while drunk and charged into a downtown street, killing two people and injuring more than ten. Afterwards, he abandoned the carriage and fled by himself.
The Drunken Guest answered without hesitation.
“Do Ho isn’t here. Go back.”
“How do you know? Whether Do Ho is in that vast Daechwirim or not.”
“If he’s not here, assume he’s not and go back.”
The Drunken Guest immediately shut the gate and went inside.
He had been somewhat prepared for this to happen anyway. It seemed that the subordinates of the Demon Lords felt they would seem weaker than other Demon Lords if they obeyed obediently. Since one didn’t listen, none of them listened.
Especially as Geom Mugik’s absence had grown longer lately, the authority of the Hwangcheon Gak martial artists had begun to lose its bite.
“Warn them, then break down the gate.”
“Yes.”
An Enforcer stepped forward and infused his voice with internal energy as a warning.
“If you do not open before I finish counting to ten, we will break down the gate and enter. One, two, three, four…… nine, ten.”
At the very moment they were about to smash the gate.
Creeeak.
The gate opened and someone revealed himself. It was a different Drunken Guest from the one who had come out earlier. He was Ho Yang, the person in charge of the Drunken Guests guarding the entrance.
Ho Yang glared at Seo Daeryong and said.
“Do you think you’ll be safe after invading this forest?”
“The Drunken Guest named Do Ho has committed a crime. This isn’t something to be rashly covered up. If you hand over Do Ho, we will leave.”
“Do Ho isn’t here.”
“Do not underestimate this pavilion’s information network. We have reliable information that Do Ho returned here. If it is revealed that he is here, you too will be guilty of harboring a criminal. Is that acceptable?”
In that instant, Ho Yang emitted a cold demonic energy.
As befitting the person in charge of the Drunken Guests on duty today, his aura was sharp. He had been confident that he could make a mere Hwangcheon Gak investigator back away, but Seo Daeryong did not retreat.
Instead, Seo Daeryong’s aura overwhelmed Ho Yang. It was the result of learning blade techniques from Hyeolcheon Domma without missing a single day and training diligently.
Just as Ho Yang unconsciously stepped back, a fierce-looking middle-aged man walked out from Daechwirim.
Slap!
The man ruthlessly struck Ho Yang’s cheek.
“You useless bastard! Getting pushed around by some investigator like that.”
Ho Yang, who had fallen over, jumped up and bowed his head.
“My apologies!”
The man who had come out was none other than Gu Mayeong, one of the Three Great Drunken Guests of Daechwirim and infamous for his foul temper. His notoriety was widely known. He was said to have a hot-blooded personality, his hands moving before he thought of the consequences.
Having identified who his opponent was, Seo Daeryong’s expression hardened.
‘Of all people.’
Giving off a strong reek of alcohol, Gu Mayeong walked out to stand before Seo Daeryong.
“Why the hell are you kicking up a fuss and ruining the taste of my drink?”
“The one called Do Ho from this place caused an accident while driving a carriage drunk.”
“It’s only natural for a Drunken Guest to be drunk, and accidents can happen when driving carriages. Why have you swarmed here in a group making such a damned fuss?”
“Even if one is a Drunken Guest, the law states that you cannot drive a carriage while intoxicated.”
“Bullshit. Do you follow every law?”
“At least I don’t kill people by driving a carriage while drinking.”
Gu Mayeong shoved his face right up to Seo Daeryong. Seo Daeryong frowned at the terrible stench of alcohol wafting off him.
“Look me straight in the eye.”
Seo Daeryong did not avoid his gaze.
“Go back and pin it on some suitable nobody. Look at my eyes. Got it?”
“That is impossible.”
“What did you say? Say it again.”
“I said it’s impossible. If you don’t step aside, I’ll arrest you too.”
Gu Mayeong’s expression twisted, and he pulled out the liquor bottle hanging at his waist.
He raised it high, trying to pour it over Seo Daeryong’s head.
The Enforcers standing behind simultaneously gripped their sword hilts.
They had the momentum to rush forward and fight to the death if the order was given.
Gu Mayeong’s gaze turned toward the Enforcers.
“Making a fuss. If you want to die, try drawing those swords.”
The Drunken Guests behind Gu Mayeong also took up stances to draw their weapons.
In the tense situation on the brink of conflict, Seo Daeryong raised his hand and stopped the Enforcers. A blade fight here was something that absolutely must not happen.
Just as I thought. Smirking, Gu Mayeong was just about to pour the liquor over Seo Daeryong’s head when—
—from somewhere came a low warning.
“If you pour that alcohol, I’ll cut off that wrist and fill that bottle with your blood to pour over your head.”
Having confirmed whose voice it was, Seo Daeryong’s expression brightened radiantly.
“Pavilion Master!”
When Seo Daeryong turned around, Geom Mugik was walking toward them.
“My people, you’ve had it rough.”
At his appearance, Seo Daeryong and the Enforcers welcomed him with great joy.
“Welcome, Pavilion Master!”
“Pavilion Master!”
“Welcome back.”
They welcomed Geom Mugik so warmly that one would think no other leader in the world had ever received such a reception.
After exchanging greetings with them, Geom Mugik walked toward Gu Mayeong.
“Did your Demon Lord teach you to pour alcohol over people’s heads?”
When Daechwima was mentioned, killing intent surged in Gu Mayeong’s eyes.
But Geom Mugik’s presence overwhelmed him. Without even emitting demonic energy, he constricted Gu Mayeong with his aura alone. The fine hairs all over Gu Mayeong’s body stood on end simultaneously with fear.
‘So the Second Young Master’s ki was at this level?’
Gu Mayeong felt the alcohol sober up instantly. He had only heard various rumors about the Second Young Master, but facing him directly gave off a completely different pressure.
“And to think you would try to pour alcohol over a Hwangcheon Gak investigator’s head. Did you just come out of some closed-door training? Haven’t you heard the rumors about me? Or did you think I wasn’t coming back just because I was away for a bit?”
Gu Mayeong could only glare at Geom Mugik fiercely, not daring to offer any excuse. When he had heard the rumor that Geom Mugik had slain the Demon Lord, he had thought it was ridiculous. He had assumed the rumors were inflated just because he was the successor, but now he realized it had been true.
“Go in and bring……”
Geom Mugik turned to Seo Daeryong and asked.
“Who was it again?”
“Do Ho.”
Geom Mugik spoke to Gu Mayeong again.
“You heard him? Bring the guy called Do Ho. Now!”
Gu Mayeong remained motionless, his expression twisted.
Without hesitation, Geom Mugik drew his Black Demon Sword. The sword qi radiating from the blade made the hearts of the Drunken Guests there shrink coldly.
“You’re a drunkard, but I’m a madman.”
When Geom Mugik took a step forward, Gu Mayeong could endure no longer.
“I’ll bring him out!”
Gu Mayeong went inside.
I had deliberately treated Gu Mayeong harshly. It was for the morale of Seo Daeryong and the Enforcers. Word of today’s events would spread throughout the sect, and in the future they wouldn’t dare commit such acts recklessly just because I was away.
Seo Daeryong and the Enforcers gathered around me.
“When did you return, sir?”
“Just now. I was going to change clothes and visit my father, but I heard you all came here, so I stopped by on my way to the Heavenly Demon Hall.”
Seo Daeryong was so moved that tears welled up.
“Is it that good?”
“I didn’t know I would be this happy to have the Pavilion Master return.”
“Isn’t it because you avoided being humiliated by that drunkard?”
“When I smelled it earlier, that bastard’s liquor was expensive stuff. When would someone on a meager salary like mine ever get to drink such fine alcohol? I should have at least tasted it flowing down my face.”
Geom Mugik smiled at Seo Daeryong. In the time they hadn’t seen each other, Seo Daeryong had grown even more. His martial arts and aura, of course, but also his composure. When dealing with someone like Gu Mayeong, one needed to be calm like this.
“I suppose I’ll have to leave the sect often?”
“Please don’t do that! I thought I would die of boredom without the Pavilion Master around.”
The Enforcers laughed at Seo Daeryong’s words. Geom Mugik felt good seeing them again. He hadn’t realized it when they were together, but after being apart and reuniting, he was overjoyed.
In the meantime, the gate opened again and Gu Mayeong dragged Do Ho out. His face was split open and blood was trickling down. It seemed Gu Mayeong had vented his anger on him.
“Arrest him!”
The Enforcers arrested Do Ho.
As if trying to display his last shred of pride, Gu Mayeong glared fiercely at Geom Mugik.
On the other hand, Geom Mugik spoke in a gentle tone unlike before.
“Since you’re Drunken Guests, I won’t tell you not to drink. But you should drink without causing harm to others. Thank you for your cooperation.”
With beast-like fellows like this, you couldn’t just push them into a corner. Because eventually they would inflict great harm on someone and self-destruct.
Since he had crushed his pride in front of his subordinates, it was also a matter of relationship management to cut him a little slack.
“Let’s have a drink next time. It’ll be my treat.”
At Geom Mugik’s words, Gu Mayeong merely snorted and went inside.
The Enforcers took Do Ho back to Hwangcheon Gak, and Geom Mugik and Seo Daeryong slowly began walking toward the Heavenly Demon Hall.
“Were you injured anywhere during this trip, sir?”
“No.”
“That’s a relief. I was very worried when I heard that Geugak Soma had returned alone.”
“Were you afraid he had killed me and come back alone?”
“I really wanted to go to Akingok and ask at that time.”
“Then there would have been a different investigator in your place today.”
“That’s exactly why I didn’t go. Now that the Pavilion Master has returned, I’ll take a few days of leave.”
“I’ll tell Elder Domma. That his beloved disciple is ready for hellish training, having even taken leave for it.”
“……Leave? What leave? I have to work.”
“Right? I finally came back, so there’s no way I can let you go anywhere.”
He smiled at Seo Daeryong. Joking around with him really made him feel like he had returned to the main sect.
“Huh!”
Suddenly Seo Daeryong stopped walking and whispered.
“Northwest. Pretend not to look.”
There stood a woman who caught the eye at a single glance.
“Was there such a beauty in the main sect? No, how can a person have such a figure? Ahh! She must have descended from the heavens.”
“Do you like her?”
“Who wouldn’t?”
“Want to meet her?”
“Oh my, I don’t think I could even make eye contact with her. Huh? What did you just say? Meet her? How?”
“She came with me this time.”
“What? Huh?”
Seo Daeryong looked at Geom Mugik in surprise. Then he soon shook his head.
“Come on, don’t lie.”
“It’s true. We’re close.”
“The Pavilion Master knows such a beauty? You’re close? Why would you put on such airs between us? Wow, now I see the Pavilion Master is a man too.”
Geom Mugik beckoned to the woman.
Then the woman began walking gracefully toward the two of them.