An Hupyeong arrived at the main hall with a pounding heart.
The unfamiliar martial artists surrounding the building from the entrance were the guards of the Demon Alliance Lord. Their oppressive presence made the Shinhwabang martial artists look like children—he couldn’t dare meet their eyes.
‘Should I have changed into new clothes?’
Even though he went around looking down on everyone in the world, he had to make a good impression on the Demon Alliance Lord and the Young Alliance Lord. If he made a bad impression on them while belonging to the Demonic faction, the extermination of his clan would happen in an instant.
An Hupyeong took a deep breath and entered.
The Demon Alliance Lord was sitting in the honorary seat where his father always sat.
His father was standing a short distance away, and it was the first time he had seen his father standing respectfully before someone with both hands clasped together.
‘So that’s the Demon Alliance Lord.’
Unable to dare meet his gaze, An Hupyeong slightly lowered his head and walked forward. He practiced smiling while keeping his head lowered. Having always gone around scowling, trying to smile felt extremely awkward.
‘I have to make a good impression.’
An Hupyeong walked over with a trembling heart and greeted respectfully.
“It is an honor to meet the Alliance Lord whom I have always respected.”
“Nice to meet you.”
Baek Jagang roughly knew what kind of person An Hupyeong was.
Since he was visiting Shinhwabang, he had naturally received basic information about the Hall Lord’s family.
A wild successor who liked alcohol and women. Just looking at this An Hupyeong, the future of Shinhwabang was dark.
Of course, the moment An Cheonggwang joined hands with the forces behind him, it had become darkness as black as pitch, rather than merely dark.
An Cheonggwang sent a voice transmission to his son.
—Don’t make a mistake and do well!
—Don’t worry, Father!
Just then, the door opened and someone entered.
An Hupyeong turned his head to look at the entrance and was startled.
‘Why is that guy here?’
The person who entered was none other than Bisain.
An Hupyeong quickly spoke to Baek Jagang and his father.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
An Hupyeong ran toward Bisain, who was walking this way.
An Hupyeong stopped Bisain in his tracks, then whispered with a scowl.
“Do you even know where this is, following me here?”
He had probably entered by saying at the entrance that the Young Hall Lord had called for him.
That An Hupyeong would think the Alliance Lord’s guards would just let anyone into a place where the Alliance Lord was present simply by saying he was here to see him—this alone showed how self-centered and thoughtless he was.
“Hurry up and leave. Get out.”
It was an extremely nervous whisper. An Hupyeong’s nerves were on edge. If he ruined this occasion, it would truly be the end.
“Do you want to die?”
With his sole determination to make a good impression on the Demon Alliance Lord, even Bisain’s frightening face wasn’t scary right now.
Just as Sachu had done earlier, the possibility that Bisain might be the Young Alliance Lord didn’t exist at all in An Hupyeong’s head.
Could the Demon Alliance’s Young Alliance Lord have asked Ian’s guard if many beauties had arrived? How could that be?
An Hupyeong understood this frightening-looking fellow. Right, how could he refuse when the Shinhwabang’s Young Hall Lord told him to come down? And he was being offered double the money.
Then Bisain brought up what An Hupyeong had said to him earlier.
“Didn’t I say I would tell the person I serve directly?”
It was the first time he had heard Bisain’s voice. It was a voice as unpleasant to hear as his face was to look at, but now was not the time to point that out.
“The person I serve is right over there, so speak to him directly.”
An Hupyeong’s gaze followed Bisain’s. Baek Jagang was there.
This guy is insulting the Demon Alliance Lord? This is an opportunity. The perfect opportunity to make a good impression on the Demon Alliance Lord.
‘I couldn’t stand by and endure it as this guy who doesn’t know heaven and earth was trying to send him away nicely, because he insulted the Alliance Lord.’
In that brief moment, he racked his brains.
“You madman!”
An Hupyeong shouted toward the door.
“Sachu! Drag this bastard out right now!”
An Cheonggwang, who had been watching, came running in alarm.
Naturally, An Cheonggwang had met Bisain before. Seeing Bisain enter and his son run toward him, he thought they had already exchanged greetings at the martial arts tournament. Anyway, his son was a fellow who looked out for his own interests faster than anyone.
Right, he had been thinking that it was fortunate his son had at least that much sense.
Did he just tell him to drag this bastard out in front of the Young Alliance Lord?
An Hupyeong thought his father had turned deathly pale and rushed out because of that merciless face. The Alliance Lord is watching; why aren’t you kicking him out quickly?
He had to take care of this himself before Father came and resolved it.
The moment An Hupyeong raised his hand high to strike Bisain’s cheek—
Thwack!
An Cheonggwang, who had arrived just in the nick of time, grabbed his wrist. Of course, even if he hadn’t caught it, An Hupyeong probably wouldn’t have been able to land the hit.
Too shocked, An Cheonggwang looked at his son, his face drained of color.
An Hupyeong said in a loud voice.
“It seems this guy who doesn’t know his place chased after me saying he wanted to join under me. Yet he insulted the Alliance Lord.”
Then Baek Jagang, who was far away, asked.
“What insult?”
“He said that if I wanted to hire him, I needed to get the Alliance Lord’s permission.”
Baek Jagang said with a smile.
“That’s not incorrect.”
Just as An Hupyeong blinked his eyes, not knowing what it meant—
Smack!
An Cheonggwang ruthlessly struck his son’s cheek. Setting aside the pain, An Hupyeong was too surprised.
“Father?”
“What kind of rudeness is this to the Young Alliance Lord? Why aren’t you kneeling and apologizing immediately?”
An Hupyeong’s eyes blinked.
‘Young Alliance Lord? What Young Alliance Lord?’
As he stood there still blankly, another slap flew.
Smack! Smack! Smack!
Emotion filled An Cheonggwang’s hand as he ruthlessly struck his son’s cheek. A son who did all sorts of pathetic things, and now was committing such insane acts.
He should have beaten him up like this from the start.
If this matter caused problems and the Demon Alliance Lord left? He might really beat his son to death.
At that time, Baek Jagang’s voice transmission flew to Bisain.
—So this is the Young Cult Leader’s handiwork.
Because his disciple wasn’t the type to hide his identity and create such a situation. If there was someone who needed a beating, he would have already half-killed them directly.
—So it’s a warning to properly educate his child?
Of course, Geom Mugeuk probably hadn’t anticipated this situation, but this was the result nonetheless.
—If I had been alone, that guy would have come here as a corpse.
At Bisain’s voice transmission, a faint smile formed on Baek Jagang’s lips. Even without seeing it, he could roughly imagine the situation.
All the emotions that had built up over the years poured out now.
Smack! Smack! Crack! Smack!
Thinking he had been hit enough, Bisain stepped forward.
“Please stop now.”
Then An Cheonggwang stopped the beating.
An Hupyeong, his face swollen red, spoke with a sob.
“……Father.”
“You dared to curse at the Young Alliance Lord and raised your hand to strike him? You deserve to die. I should cut off that hand first.”
“Please spare me! Father!”
“Won’t you apologize immediately?”
An Hupyeong knelt and begged.
“I failed to recognize a noble person and committed a crime worthy of death! I was wrong! Please spare me!”
Bisain did not rebuke him.
He could have completely destroyed An Hupyeong further here, but he didn’t.
He already knew An Hupyeong was a wild, arrogant wretch, and scolding and reprimanding him further here wouldn’t change his nature. Rather, he would only harbor more resentment inside.
Moreover, since he had come to stop a conspiracy to assassinate his master, there was no need to make a grudge against An Hupyeong.
Bisain lifted An Hupyeong up and spoke in a kind tone.
“I’m sorry. I failed to reveal my identity in time.”
“No, Young Alliance Lord! Thank you for forgiving me.”
But as Bisain had expected, people don’t change in an instant. Far from reflecting, An Hupyeong was resenting someone.
The target of resentment should have been his father or Bisain, but he resented an absurd person.
‘This is all because of that bastard!’
Ian's guard bastard! He had misunderstood because he saw the Young Alliance Lord talking with that guy.
‘I’ll somehow make it up to the Young Alliance Lord, and as for that bastard, I’ll get him!’
How would this moment be any different from his past life of always taking revenge on those weaker than himself?
An Cheonggwang went before the Alliance Lord, bowed his head, and apologized.
“I am sorry for showing such a disgraceful sight.”
Baek Jagang said in a kind tone.
“It was something that happened due to a misunderstanding, so do not mind it.”
Then a cheer was heard from outside. It seemed the main tournament was about to begin.
An Cheonggwang stepped forward to dispel the awkward atmosphere.
“It seems the main round will begin soon. I shall escort you to the VIP seats.”
Baek Jagang rose from his seat and concluded the situation.
“Keeping the ladies waiting is not polite.”
* * *
The waiting room was filled with women.
Ian was quietly surveying her surroundings from a corner of the waiting room.
She was finding the assassins of the Beauty Sect among the participants. She was not trying to find the assassins.
To find an assassin, one must not try to find an assassin. That was the core principle.
There were a few women who gave her a feeling. Literally just a feeling.
Women found by the martial artist Ian, not the bodyguard Ian.
Then Chairan entered the waiting room.
After glancing around the interior once, she walked to where Ian was.
Ian didn’t look at her; she looked at the women she had found. Who reacted to her appearance. Or rather, who didn’t react.
Chairan walked right up to Ian.
“What to do? This young lady’s guard seems to have already fallen for me.”
“What do you mean?”
“We’ve arranged a drinking party to celebrate advancing to the finals. Just the two of us, intimately.”
She had meant to include Ian in the drinking, but Chairan said “the two of us.”
Ian did not rise to her provocation. Geom Mugeuk would not have done such a thing, and even if he had, there would be a reason.
“He won’t be able to drink without my permission.”
Chairan asked provocatively to Ian, who tilted her head.
“Is that confidence? Or arrogance?”
“I know him well. That person.”
“Bodyguards who know their master well are common, but a master who knows their bodyguard well? That’s a precious relationship.”
Chairan sat down beside Ian.
Even then, Ian observed how the women around them were reacting.
That was originally Ian’s purpose for participating in the tournament. She might be able to save someone’s life on their side by identifying someone this way.
Chairan suddenly spoke.
“You’ve finally taken up the treasured sword.”
In reality, Ian was wearing a treasured sword, but this remark now meant that her makeup was pretty.
Of course, Chairan would be able to recognize the skill of the woman who did the makeup much better than Ian herself.
“It’s because my opponent is who she is. Be careful, I become a different person when I wear makeup.”
“This young lady is scarier without makeup. Pure beauty.”
“You’re trying to take me down somehow.”
The two faced each other and smiled.
Right, you should be afraid. Of all those training hours spent sweating without even a single application of makeup.
Then the waiting room door opened and a martial artist spoke loudly.
“The main round begins now!”
Cheers of the gathered heroes were heard from outside.
* * *
Finally, it was Ian’s turn.
Wearing a snowy white palace gown with beautiful makeup, she slowly climbed the stairs.
When she stepped onto the stage, she could see the countless gathered heroes.
Cheers that seemed ready to burst.
She had thought her heart would beat as if it would burst from embarrassment when she came up here. That’s why she had gone up the mountain from dawn and swung her sword.
But once she actually stepped onto the stage, she was less nervous than she thought.
‘Maybe I’m unexpectedly the type who does well in actual combat.’
Ian slowly moved her steps along the designated path.
And she saw.
The figure of Geom Mugeuk looking at her among the countless people. He was visible precisely, as if by a miracle.
Geom Mugeuk revealed no presence at all, yet she found him.
Among these countless people, only Geom Mugeuk’s figure was visible. Everyone around turned black and white, and only Geom Mugeuk remained in color.
Geom Mugeuk was smiling at her.
Ian suddenly thought.
So this journey was a time to confirm my feelings for the Young Cult Leader! I had even felt jealousy for the first time. I had liked the Young Cult Leader since he was little, but the emotion I learned of this time was deeper than before.
Ian moved her steps confidently.
Standing in the center of the stage, she could see the specially prepared judges’ seats straight ahead.
Among the three judges, she saw the figure of the Lord of Cheonhwaru. Their gazes met.
I am here, and the Lord of Cheonhwaru is there, each carrying out our tasks.
‘From this place where I stand, I won’t let the Young Cult Leader be stabbed by Lady Soma’s dagger.’
The two women who sought to protect their man communed through their eyes.
Nothing happened from the time she went up on stage until she came down.
Before coming down from the stage, she looked at Geom Mugeuk one last time.
It seemed as if Geom Mugeuk’s mouth was moving, saying something.
Not bad for an ugly duckling?
Wasn’t that what he said? She smiled to herself and descended the stage.
Someone approached Geom Mugeuk as he watched Ian descend the stage.
“It’s been a while.”
Surprisingly, it was the Demon Alliance Lord, Baek Jagang. He was wearing a bamboo hat, so no one could tell he was the Demon Alliance Lord.
He had told An Cheonggwang that he wanted to watch quietly today, and had mixed in among the gathered heroes.
The two conversed while looking at the stage straight ahead. Geom Mugeuk released his energy to create an invisible barrier around them so his voice wouldn’t be heard by the person next to him.
“I told you not to come. Why did you come?”
“I came to see you.”
“Not to see the beauties?”
“Why not? I came to see you and the beauties.”
Geom Mugeuk turned to look at Baek Jagang and spoke.
“Honestly, I would have been disappointed if you hadn’t come.”
“Isn’t this the place where I die?”
The two faced each other and laughed. In truth, Geom Mugeuk had wanted to see Baek Jagang. He would never know how charming those small eyes looked in Geom Mugeuk’s eyes right now.
“And there she comes now. That woman over there is the assassin who intends to kill the Alliance Lord.”
The woman who stepped on stage was none other than Chairan.
At her appearance, the gathered heroes blazed with hot passion, but conversely, Baek Jagang grew cold and calm.
“Tell me. The reason I mustn’t jump onto that stage right now and kill that woman. I am not someone who waits and watches someone who tries to kill me.”
He was not someone who toyed with his enemies. He was someone who killed his enemies with all his might. Because he was an Alliance Lord who always wore martial robes.
“If there is no reason I can accept……”
Baek Jagang’s small eyes became even smaller. That point shone with intensity, as if it were the source of all killing intent in the world.
“I will kill her right here and now.”