At last, the day of the talks dawned.
Jo Chunbae began preparing for business earlier than usual, wrote a notice on a sheet of paper, and pasted it prominently at the entrance.
Closed Today (今日休業).
Looking at the words he had posted, Jo Chunbae took a deep breath. At last, today was the day! You can do this, Chunbae.
“Is something going on today?”
Mr. Yang from the drapery shop asked worriedly.
“There’s a gathering of the Divine Cult at the tavern today.”
He had kept it secret until today, but at last he was able to reveal it.
Naturally, Mr. Yang was startled.
“A Divine Cult gathering is being held at your tavern?”
“That’s right.”
“Congratulations. Truly, congratulations.”
Everyone knew Jo Chunbae was on close terms with the Young Cult Leader, and that not only the Demon Venerables of the Divine Cult but even the Heavenly Demon himself had visited the tavern, so the fact that a gathering was being held there was not unbelievable.
“May I come take a look later?”
“If you had the courage for that, you’d have lived your life wearing those martial uniforms you sell.”
Mr. Yang burst into hearty laughter, saying he was right.
“Do well.”
“Thank you.”
Songi, who helped him in the kitchen, also arrived earlier than usual. In fact, there wasn’t much to prepare. Jo Chunbae had already gotten everything ready in advance. The dishes could go out the moment an order came in.
“Master, aren’t you scared?”
Songi was thoroughly frightened by the gathering that would take place today.
“What’s there to be scared of?”
“Won’t this place be packed with demonic martial artists today?”
“Don’t be afraid. We have the Young Cult Leader with us. The most reassuring person in the world is on our side, so what is there to fear? And it’s only half-baked nobodies who torment people. The true masters are refined.”
After reassuring Songi, Jo Chunbae went out through the back door of the kitchen.
In truth, Jo Chunbae was just as nervous. There was a world of difference between serving someone who dropped by unexpectedly and serving people after preparing like this.
Just then, an old man entered 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 ache, so let me rest for just a moment.”
The old man sat down on the small wooden platform in the backyard.
Judging by the wrinkles on his face, he was quite old, but his build was very sturdy. His two fierce, tiger-like eyes made one think he must have had quite the temper in his youth.
Aside from that, he was ordinary. Jo Chunbae studied the old man with the intuition and eye for people he had gained through long years in business, but he did not look like a martial artist. Nor did he look like a bad person.
“I haven’t seen you around before.”
“I came from Hubei.”
“Goodness, you’ve come from far away. What brings you all the way here?”
“I came to meet someone.”
“At your age, you must have had a hard journey. Shall I bring you a cup of water?”
“I’m fine.”
“Who did you come all the way here to meet?”
“An enemy, if you call him an enemy. And someone close, if you call him close.”
At that, Jo Chunbae asked carefully.
“Did you perhaps come to see your child?”
In that instant, the old man’s face hardened, and an unmistakable shadow fell over it.
Jo Chunbae thought his guess had been right. Such cases were not uncommon. Old folks who had lived apart from their children, then traveled a long road with the thought that they might at least see the faces of their children and grandchildren before they died.
“How long has it been since you last saw them?”
“Must be more than ten years.”
Jo Chunbae felt sorry for him inwardly. Hadn’t he himself just gone through a major incident involving family?
“Where are you supposed to meet?”
“We agreed to meet at this tavern.”
“Oh dear! Of all days, you had to choose today? The tavern is closed today. What time were you supposed to meet?”
“There’s still time left, but I came early. I was also curious what scheme he had in mind, choosing this place as the meeting spot.”
Just from the word scheme, Jo Chunbae could tell. This hot-tempered old man did not have a good relationship with his child.
“Make peace, even now.”
“Should I?”
“Running a business here, I see all sorts of people. They hate each other enough to die and fight. But later, when you look, they all regret it. They say all they had to do was endure for one moment, be just a little more generous—why did they cling to their pride so much? Aren’t you and I past the age of keeping our edges sharp? No, we’re at the age when we ought to throw away blades altogether.”
The old man silently stared at Jo Chunbae.
“If you keep saying later, later, it becomes too late. If you see him, Elder, you should be the first to say you were wrong. Isn’t that what an adult does? Temper yourself a bit.”
“Why do you think I have a temper?”
“People like us can tell just by looking at a face. You had quite the temper in your younger days, didn’t you?”
The old man gave a strange smile.
“I did.”
“I’m someone with an unerring eye for people.”
For a moment, Cook Wang, whom he had completely failed to recognize, flashed through his mind, but he quickly brushed it aside.
“Anyway, we’re not open today, so wait at the inn down below. If anyone comes looking for you, I’ll make sure to tell them to go there.”
Given the atmosphere today, even conveying those words would not be easy. Should he ask one of the demonic martial artists guarding the entrance? For some reason, he worried the old man and his child might miss each other and never meet again.
Just then, the old man suddenly asked.
“I hear the main altar of the Demon Cult is near here. Have you ever seen the Heavenly Demon?”
Has this old man gone mad?
“How dare you put someone like that in your mouth? If you speak so carelessly in Maga Village, you won’t die peacefully.”
“My apologies.”
He considered throwing him out right away, but since the old man had come from far away to meet his child, he felt sorry for him and answered.
“I’ve seen him. The Cult Leader came to our tavern as well.”
“What kind of person is he? Is he as frightening as the rumors in the murim say?”
“He may be frightening to the orthodox and unorthodox factions, but to us, he is a benevolent man. And he is the person I respect most.”
“Because he protects you from the orthodox and unorthodox factions?”
“Of course, that is one reason, but…”
Jo Chunbae gave a surprising reason.
“I like him because he is the Young Cult Leader’s father.”
It was the first time Jo Chunbae had said such a thing. He had only just realized it himself. That he had been thinking this way.
‘But this old man—why is he looking at me as if he understands? What do you know about the Young Cult Leader?’
Just then, Songi’s voice came from inside.
“Master, a guest is here!”
“I’m coming.”
Jo Chunbae stood up.
“Go on, quickly. If you loiter around here today for no reason, you could be in serious trouble, so wait at the inn. Understand?”
“Thank you. I’ll see you later.”
“I’m telling you, you won’t see me today!”
Jo Chunbae hurried into the building.
The guest who had come to the tavern was an unexpected person.
“Huh? My lord.”
It was the Demon Army Lord Jang Ho. Unlike when he usually came to drink in ordinary martial attire, today he wore the Demon Army’s formal uniform.
When Jo Chunbae saw the terrifying evil-ghost pattern drawn on his chest, a fearful thought came to him naturally: Ah, this man really was the leader of that terrifying Demon Army.
“Lord Jang, what brings you here?”
“I came to arrange the seats for today’s meeting.”
“Just tell me what to do. I’ll handle it.”
“No, I’ll do it myself.”
Jang Ho went up to the second floor.
There, he arranged the tables and chairs so that three people could sit in a triangular formation, facing one another.
Jo Chunbae found it strange inwardly.
‘Are three people coming to today’s gathering?’
He had thought it would be a gathering with many people, but apparently not. But it was only a gathering of three people, and yet Cook Wang had come to inspect the food, and the Demon Army Lord himself had come to arrange the seats?
‘Gasp! Could it be? Is the Cult Leader coming?’
But he soon shook his head. If that were the case, they would not have arranged the seats like that. They would have placed the Cult Leader’s seat at the head. Right now, all three seats faced one another equally.
“But why are you doing it personally, my lord? Why not have your subordinates do it?”
“My subordinates will not be coming here today.”
Jo Chunbae did not know. Today, no martial artist below the rank of dan leader could come to Pungryu Tavern. Today, the dan leaders were the youngest ones here.
The dan leaders of each organization were stationed throughout the marketplace like ordinary martial artists.
“No one else will be allowed to enter the tavern.”
Jo Chunbae was about to mention the old man, then stopped. In any case, he had already come and gone. If he mentioned him for no reason and the old man was dragged off by the demonic martial artists for questioning, he would not be able to meet his child.
Just then, someone entered the tavern.
Astonishingly, it was the Fist Demon. When Jo Chunbae saw that terrifying face, his heart began to pound.
‘It seems Lord Fist Demon is also attending the gathering.’
The Fist Demon and Jang Ho exchanged greetings.
With the two of them standing side by side, it felt as if the entire inn had been filled. Moreover, weren’t these the two most frightening-looking men in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult? When the two imposing figures met, Jo Chunbae did not even dare look at them.
After exchanging a brief conversation with Jang Ho, the Fist Demon approached Jo Chunbae.
‘Ah, I should have gone into the kitchen earlier.’
The Fist Demon came right up to him and asked an unexpected question.
“Is the food preparation proceeding without issue?”
The Fist Demon was asking him about food preparation?
Jo Chunbae looked at the Fist Demon with a startled expression, then hastily lowered his head. His face was too frightening to look at directly.
“There is no need to be surprised. I am in charge of security for today’s talks.”
The Fist Demon was in charge of security? He was not attending as one of the main figures in today’s gathering? Why?
“There is no problem with the food preparation. Whenever an order is given, we can serve it at once.”
“Before the food is brought out, a martial artist of our Cult will come and inspect it for poison. It is not because we suspect you, but because it is part of procedure, so please understand.”
“Of course.”
Jo Chunbae went into the kitchen. He already felt as though the strength had gone out of his legs.
Why would a Demon Venerable, especially the terrifying Fist Demon, explain every little thing like this to a mere tavern owner? Normally, he would not have. He never would have. If not for the Young Cult Leader, that is.
Jo Chunbae was looking down into the broth bubbling away when it happened.
Another Demon Venerable entered the tavern.
It was the Blood-Heaven Blade Demon, carrying a great saber on his back. His attire, too, was different from usual.
He wore a red changshan symbolizing a blood-colored sky. The Blood-Heaven Blade Demon now was not the same Blood-Heaven Blade Demon who had read poetry and joked around with Geom Mugeuk.
A frost-like chill rose from his sharp, unyielding eyes.
Jo Chunbae felt as though he could not breathe and quickly turned his head to trim vegetables that did not need trimming.
Songi asked with her eyes.
‘You’re still saying you’re not scared?’
I’m scared. Truly scared.
But because of his pride, he could not bring himself to say it aloud.
The Blood-Heaven Blade Demon asked the Fist Demon.
“Have you seen the Young Cult Leader?”
“He stopped by the Cult Leader’s Hall.”
“I see.”
The Blood-Heaven Blade Demon slowly moved his feet and went outside. The Heaven-Destroying Great Saber on his back gleamed more coldly than ever.
After seeing the Fist Demon and then even the Blood-Heaven Blade Demon, Jo Chunbae felt immense pressure. The aura of the Demon Venerables today was different from usual. They spoke calmly and merely stood quietly, yet somehow the feeling was different.
‘Phew, get a hold of yourself. For the Young Cult Leader’s sake, you have to get a hold of yourself.’
He opened the small window in the kitchen that faced the main street and took a deep breath.
As he looked up at the sky and steadied his heart, he saw someone.
Someone was standing with arms crossed on the roof of the building across the street. There was no mistaking who it was. The white mask was shining as sunlight struck it.
Was it because the sight of him standing alone, relying on a single mask, looked lonely? Or was it because the cherry blossom petals, carried by the spring breeze as they brushed past the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon, were beautiful? Jo Chunbae stared at him as if bewitched.
Just then, the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon’s gaze slid toward Jo Chunbae.
‘Gasp!’
Startled out of his wits, Jo Chunbae hurriedly hid himself below the window. Had their eyes met?
When he cautiously raised his head and looked over there again, the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon was no longer in that spot.
He let out a sigh and said,
“Phew. Lord Smiling Demon is the scariest person after Lord Poison King.”
When Songi gave no answer, Jo Chunbae turned around without thinking.
‘Urgh!’
He was even more startled than before.
He did not know when he had come in, but the Poison King was crouched beside Songi, staring at a snail-like bug crawling among the vegetables she had been trimming. Songi was frozen in place, her hand covering her mouth.
The Poison King, too, was dressed formally. Wearing a changshan that elegantly blended green and white, he had become a handsome young nobleman who drew the eye at a single glance.
Even in her shock, Songi found herself thinking that the drawings of the twelve zodiac animals on the poison pouch at the Poison King’s waist were cute. If one knew what was inside it, one would imagine the eyes of those adorable animals turning blood-red as they transformed into monsters and sprang out.
The Poison King placed the insect on a blade of grass and carried it outside.
Once he was gone, Jo Chunbae let out the breath he had been holding.
“I’ll admit it. I’m scared too.”
At that, Songi looked toward where the Poison King had left and said,
“No, he’s not scary.”
“What?”
“He’s amazing.”
Jo Chunbae shook his head.
Just then, he sensed someone entering the tavern. From the kitchen, Jo Chunbae raised his head slightly to peer through the small window that looked outside, checking who had come in.
The one who entered was Ilhwa Sword Venerable, dressed in pure white martial robes. On a day like this, she might have put on makeup for the first time in a while, but she had come barefaced. The traces of time were naturally revealed.
Moreover, her face was tanned from grueling training, standing in contrast to her snow-white martial robes.
Even so, Jo Chunbae found her present appearance more beautiful than when she had once adorned herself with elaborate makeup. He wanted to go and tell her so. That she looked even more magnificent and elegant now. Of course, he did not dare.
There was someone who said it in his stead.
“You’re the most beautiful Sword Venerable I’ve ever seen.”
When she turned around, the Drunken Demon stepped inside.
He, too, was properly dressed today. On the clothes he wore was an image of a drunken Wine God laughing. Among the many garments painted with the Wine God, one might have expected him to wear the one with a terrifying, rampaging Wine God on a day like this.
“I hear spring winds have been blowing through Chwimongru lately?”
“For someone who will one day become the Cult Leader, he certainly has a loose tongue.”
The Drunken Demon smiled faintly, opened the stopper of his wine bottle, took a deep sniff, and closed it again.
‘Is today so important that even the Drunken Demon is holding back from drinking?’
Just as Jo Chunbae was thinking that, golden light poured in from outside the tavern. The small giant, the Demon Buddha, had arrived, revealing a presence that could not be concealed.
On the kasaya draped over him were images of humans and evil spirits suffering in hellfire, and it looked as though the golden radiance he emitted had become flames, burning them all away.
In addition, the Soul-Seizing Demon Venerable appeared as though she had seeped into view, like someone who had been there from the very beginning. In her two eyes, which had grown even more mature in the time he had not seen her, an eerie ghostly aura flowed. She was walking the narrow path between human and ghost.
It was Jo Chunbae’s first time seeing all of the Eight Demon Venerables gathered in one place. With all of them properly dressed and assembled together, it was truly a magnificent sight.
The fact that they had gathered like this in a marketplace that did not suit them made it an even more unforgettable scene.
If he had been a painter, he would surely have painted this moment.
‘So it really was a meeting of the Eight Demon Venerables!’
Then, a question naturally arose.
Jo Chunbae’s gaze turned toward the second floor. If all the Demon Venerables had gathered like this, why were there only three seats?
‘And why is no one sitting there?’
Absolute Regression