“So the owner has finally come out.”
Strength filled Sa Juyeong’s voice. From that demeanor, Igaek could sense it.
‘He doesn’t know that old man is Yeomhwain.’
It was only natural. Even if he had been told through voice transmission, he wouldn’t have believed it.
His face was beaten to a pulp so he couldn’t be recognized, and he had even seen him flee in terror from a woman—how could he think he was Yeomhwain?
Seeing the Spirit-Subduing Flame Blade stuck in a container, and even the old man’s arm tattoo, he himself had felt uncertain. No, he had even had this doubt.
‘Could he be an old man hired to imitate Yeomhwain?’
It was unbelievable that Yeomhwain would have such a wretched appearance. That notorious Yeomhwain?
“I didn’t know the innkeeper was such a beautiful person.”
At Sa Juyeong’s words, the woman smiled. The owner of that enchanting smile was none other than Cha Iran.
She had been running this special inn together with Ak Gunhak, going through much trial and error.
It was something she couldn’t have imagined doing alone, but running it together with Ak Gunhak was still fun.
“Thank you for the compliment.”
Then Sa Juyeong’s eyes caught a red stain on her sleeve. It seemed to be sauce spilled while working.
Thinking that she had truly come from working, he relaxed slightly.
“Great Hero Sa, what business brings you to see me?”
“Did you know that this area is the territory of our Beiyang Gate?”
“No, I am not well-versed in the affairs of the martial world.”
In Sa Juyeong’s eyes, the woman did not seem to have learned martial arts.
Igaek felt the same. That was precisely the problem. She was the owner of the inn where Yeomhwain was working after getting beaten up.
‘She is definitely no ordinary woman.’
Sa Juyeong put on airs in front of Cha Iran.
“This entire area is governed by our Beiyang Gate.”
“Ah, a great person has come, and I failed to recognize you.”
“If any trouble befalls the Hero’s Inn in the future, we will help.”
“I am grateful just to hear those words.”
Sa Juyeong took a liking to this inn.
Judging by its scale, the money this inn must earn was enormous. Furthermore, it had such a beautiful woman as its owner.
He was in a position to control this inn.
“With a single word of mine.............”
Just as Sa Juyeong was about to let them know what kind of position he was in.
The inn door burst open roughly, and they heard someone enter urgently.
Everyone inside the inn directed their gazes there.
A middle-aged man entered with an injured body. Blood was flowing from his arm and side, and despite his serious injuries, one could tell he was a considerable expert just from his footsteps.
The man looked around the interior of the inn. Everyone’s gaze was directed at him, and it was clearly different from other inns. Eyes filled more with curiosity than fear.
“If you wish to enter, come this way.”
At Ak Gunhak’s words, the man walked a few steps closer and asked.
“Is it true that there is a rule here forbidding fighting one another?”
“That is correct.”
Ak Gunhak pointed to the wall where the rules were engraved.
“Please read them.”
The man frankly revealed his situation.
“Those chasing me will arrive here shortly. Will you still protect me?”
To those words, Ak Gunhak replied calmly.
“We are not protecting you.”
At the man’s questioning gaze, Ak Gunhak said calmly.
“We are upholding our inn’s rules.”
The man was certain that Ak Gunhak had not learned martial arts. It was inconceivable that a master capable of hiding their realm of martial arts from his eyes would be guarding the inn entrance.
‘Then what is this imposing feeling?’
Ak Gunhak looked at the man’s sword and spoke.
“If you wish to stay at our inn, you must first hand over your weapons.”
The man looked down at the sword he was wearing. If a fight broke out without this sword, he would die to his pursuers without being able to resist properly even once.
“If you cannot abide by the inn’s rules, you cannot stay at our inn.”
The man’s deliberation did not last long. He had come here knowing it was such a place.
The man untied the sword from his waist and handed it to Ak Gunhak.
“What is your esteemed name?”
The man hesitated to say his name.
“If you do not wish to reveal it, you may use an alias. I ask because of the weapon you are entrusting to us.”
But the man’s identity was immediately revealed.
The inn door burst open, and a newcomer rushed in, calling his name.
“Myeongilgeom! Is this the best place you could flee to?”
The man who had burst in was dressed entirely in black martial attire.
Someone sitting in the inn recognized him.
“Heuksurang!”
Heuksurang was a famous martial artist in the demonic faction’s martial world. He was so notorious that when a crowd gathered like this, there was always at least one person who recognized him.
Myeongilgeom, who had been chased here by him, was also an expert of the demonic path, and the two had originally been friends.
However, a few years ago, they had fought fiercely over a trivial matter, and as the conflict deepened, they became sworn enemies. This time, it had come to a life-and-death battle, and the result was as could be seen.
At the gazes concentrated on him, Heuksurang shouted.
“If you know who I am, all of you lower your eyes!”
But among the people in the inn, there was no one who averted their gaze. They seemed to have faith that no incident would occur here.
Only Sa Juyeong looked at Igaek with a nervous expression. He too had heard of Heuksurang.
—Can you subdue him?
Igaek shook his head firmly and sent a voice transmission.
—Heuksurang is not someone the two of us can handle.
Sa Juyeong’s pride was slightly wounded. Just moments ago, he had boasted that if any trouble befell the Hero’s Inn, they would protect it.
Meanwhile, Myeongilgeom sat in the seat closest to where he had been standing.
“Bring me a bottle of liquor here.”
With an injured body and his sword entrusted as well, his chances of winning against Heuksurang were nonexistent.
He had spoken as if to say, ‘This is how I feel right now!’ but a waiter actually brought him liquor.
Even Myeongilgeom, who had ordered the liquor, was just as bewildered as Heuksurang. Were they really bringing liquor in this savage situation?
“How much is it? I feel like I might not be able to pay.”
Then Ak Gunhak spoke from the entrance area.
“I’ve called for a physician, so please pay slowly after you’ve finished treatment.”
And he had Heuksurang read the rules engraved on the wall.
“Read this first.”
Heuksurang laughed mockingly after reading the rules.
“I intend to break all three of those principles. I will not hand over my sword, I will fight that bastard, and I will kill him. Are you putting on airs even after hearing who I am?”
Myeongilgeom, who was listening, spoke while drinking.
“The liquor tastes good. A drink before dying by a friend’s blade—this is superb.”
“Damn it! What friend!”
“That’s my line! You narrow-minded bastard!”
Then Yeomhwain caught Igaek’s eye. He was standing in front of the kitchen, having come out at some point.
Earlier, he had practically been chased away by the woman, but now his swollen, beaten face was wearing a bright expression.
What filled his two eyes was clearly anticipation.
‘Just what is he looking forward to?’
Igaek looked at where he was looking. He was looking at Heuksurang. Was he expecting Heuksurang to save him? Heuksurang was far weaker than him.
In the next moment, a single thought flashed through Igaek’s mind.
‘Could it be?’
That anticipation was precisely this.
‘He’s hoping Heuksurang will come in as his successor!’
As if to confirm it, the more Heuksurang disregarded the bristle-haired man, the happier Yeomhwain became.
“Today, I’ll kill every last one of you here!”
It was precisely when Heuksurang was emitting tremendous killing intent that someone entered behind him and spoke.
“Excuse me, I’ll pass through.”
When Heuksurang turned around, someone was entering carrying a large flowerpot.
“Phew, heavy, heavy.”
The one who put down the large flowerpot was none other than Jian Wuji.
Jian Wuji looked at Ak Gunhak and spoke in a loud voice.
“Congratulations on the opening, friend!”
A bright smile formed on Ak Gunhak’s face. The guests watching that sight were all surprised. Since staying at this inn, today was the first time they had seen that person smile so brightly.
“You came?”
Following behind Jian Wuji, Yi An entered as well.
“I came too. Congratulations!”
Gift bundles were also held in her hands.
At the appearance of the beautiful woman, everyone opened their eyes wide and stared at her. She was a peerless beauty who gave off a different feeling from the innkeeper here.
“You didn’t forget, right? The promise to let us use this place for free for life?”
At Yi An’s memory, Cha Iran smiled brightly and answered.
“Of course.”
Both Ak Gunhak and Cha Iran had seen all sorts of crowds since opening, but upon seeing Jian Wuji and Yi An, broad smiles came naturally to their faces.
On the other hand, Heuksurang was furious to the tips of his hair.
‘These bastards really!’
To carry on like this while he was standing right there! He should have been enraged, but he had missed the moment to be angry.
They wouldn’t bring liquor when ordered, and without reading the room, they brought a flowerpot to celebrate the opening.
Heuksurang exploded with killing intent.
But soon his expression faltered. He had raised his killing intent to the extreme, yet it could not be unleashed.
‘What is this?’
His internal energy was definitely intact, but killing intent would not arise. He had lived his entire life radiating killing intent—just what in the world was going on?
His acupoints had not been sealed, nor had he been poisoned. His internal energy circulated through his meridians without any abnormality, and his physical condition was fine.
Yet he did not feel like fighting.
At least one thing was certain.
‘It’s because of that young bastard.’
What technique did he use? He suppressed his surprised heart with effort and watched what Jian Wuji was doing.
Jian Wuji boasted to Ak Gunhak.
“This tree is no ordinary tree. It’s called the Myriad-Year Fortune Tree, a legendary tree known to keep a shop swarming with customers if placed there. To get this, I wandered through the poison mists of the Southern Wilderness and searched every nook and cranny of the Kunlun Mountains.”
Ak Gunhak spoke with a laugh.
“Lies. You probably got it just a moment ago.”
Yi An beside him nodded and spoke.
“Your lightness skill has gotten faster, so you retrieved it quickly.”
Jian Wuji placed the flowerpot next to where Ak Gunhak was.
“It’s perfect right here beside you. Brother Ak, you have to be happy for a myriad years.”
Gratitude filled Ak Gunhak’s eyes as he looked at the only friend in his life.
Jian Wuji spoke to Yi An.
“Now, we too must hand over our swords.”
Yi An handed over her sword first. Ak Gunhak received it carefully.
“The Sun-Moon Sword... it is the most precious sword I have received so far.”
Those who heard those words were startled. It was truly a treasured sword they had only heard of in legends.
Sa Juyeong looked at Igaek beside him. Is the Sun-Moon Sword truly that precious? He asked with his eyes, and Igaek nodded.
To the voice transmission asking, ‘More than my sword?’ he gave an exact evaluation that it was incomparable.
Sa Juyeong felt embarrassed. They entrusted such a precious sword so casually, yet he had made such a fuss over his own sword.
But the real surprise was yet to come.
Jian Wuji untied the Black Demon Sword he wore at his waist and gave it to him.
“I had something prepared for the day you’d eventually come.”
Ak Gunhak lifted something from below. It was a wooden sword stand.
He placed the Black Demon Sword on it as if displaying it.
“There’s no need to give my sword special treatment alone. Just put it in that container with the others.”
“You might be fine, but the Black Demon Sword won’t be.”
He wouldn’t have placed another sword together with it, but the Sun-Moon Sword was placed with the Black Demon Sword. With the thought that if it was Yi An’s sword, the Black Demon Sword would understand.
Igaek spoke with a shocked face.
“The Black Demon Sword is one of the Celestial Demon Cult’s Four Great Treasured Swords.”
Everyone froze in shock at the words “Celestial Demon Cult.” Of course, a demonic person could come to the inn, but that a demonic person would carry one of the Celestial Demon Cult’s Four Great Treasured Swords?
If it was a stolen sword, it meant that experts of the Demonic Cult could come rushing here.
Naturally, everyone’s nervous gazes concentrated on Jian Wuji.
“Make sure to put a name tag on my sword. If that thing goes missing, the Central Plains will be turned upside down. Write it big: Jian Wuji, Young Cult Leader of the Celestial Demon Cult.”
Silence flowed over the place. The Young Cult Leader of the Celestial Demon Cult? It was such an astonishing identity that only silence prevailed.
Ak Gunhak and Cha Iran could tell that Geom Mugeuk had deliberately revealed his identity.
His real opening gift had not been the Ten-Thousand-Year Lucky Tree.
Hero Inn was a place where even the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult entrusted his sword and rested.
Now this rumor would spread throughout the gangho. If even the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had obediently handed over his sword, who would dare quibble over whether or not to entrust theirs?
It was the greatest gift he could have given their inn.
“The Cult Leader is doing well, I trust?”
“I suppose he is. It’s been quite a while since I’ve seen Father myself.”
Judging by the conversation alone, he was unmistakably the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
If it was true?
Sa Juyeong’s face turned pale. That ponytailed man he had looked down on seemed to be friends with the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. And close friends at that.
After entrusting their swords, Geom Mugeuk and Ian passed in front of Heuk Surang again.
“Now then, let us through. Why does this gentleman keep blocking the way?”
Heuk Surang stood there without moving so much as a finger. He felt suffocated, as if his whole body had frozen solid. To exude such pressure without releasing even the slightest aura!
‘He really is the Young Cult Leader!’
Now he understood why his killing intent had not surged earlier. What killing intent could a rabbit emit before a tiger? He had not even realized he was being suppressed; he had simply been crushed beneath the other man’s presence.
Geom Mugeuk, who had been walking away, turned back and stood before Heuk Surang.
“I have sharp ears, so I heard on my way in. It seems you had a fight with your friend. If possible, make up with him. Even if he acts pathetic and gets on your nerves, having even one friend in life is a great source of strength.”
As he said that, Geom Mugeuk looked at Ak Gunhak and waved.
“Why are you looking at me while saying that!”
After teasing Ak Gunhak like that, Geom Mugeuk left again.
Without hesitation, Heuk Surang strode toward Ak Gunhak. His momentum was so urgent that it seemed as if he might draw his sword at any moment.
“Is this where I entrust my sword? You may simply toss mine on the floor.”
At the sight of him suddenly turning so docile, Yeom Hwain, who had been watching from a corner, let out a sigh so deep it seemed the ground might collapse.
With a disappointed expression, he trudged off toward the place where the dirty dishes were piled up.
After entrusting his sword, Heuk Surang sat down across from Myeong Ilgeom. He held out golden wound medicine for his injuries and said,
“We had a bit of a misunderstanding, didn’t we?”
“I was being narrow-minded.”
Who would refuse to make up when told to do so? It was the moment the two became forced childhood friends once again.
Geom Mugeuk took a seat with Ian and called out to Cha Iran.
“Finish your business quickly and come over here! Brother Ak, you come too!”
Geom Mugeuk looked as if he was itching to boast about his relationship with Ian.
Cha Iran turned back to Sa Juyeong and asked,
“Now then, what were you about to say earlier?”
To Sa Juyeong, she now looked like an entirely different person. Until just a moment ago, she had been an endlessly charming innkeeper, but now she seemed like a terrifying witch.
And he realized it too. What stained her sleeve was not sauce.
Sa Juyeong spoke to her with the utmost politeness he could muster.
“Ah, I was going to say there’s blood on your sleeve.”