Chapter 206. The Scholar Is Above My Head.
There was no way to confirm right now whether the Demon Gentleman would later become the Evil Emperor, but at that level, he seemed like a madman who would not be out of place being called the Mad Emperor instead of the Evil Emperor.
As I watched the bastards briskly erecting the tent, a thought occurred to me. There were so many madmen that the very meaning of being mad seemed diluted.
In a place where everyone was mad, going mad held no particular meaning.
Then, among a crowd of madmen, acting like I alone was sane would be the maddest thing of all.
For a moment, I imagined the White-Clad Scholar from the perspective of a sane person.
Just what was he thinking, watching the struggle over the Radiant Sword so openly?
After pondering it, I came to this conclusion.
Perhaps, like when we were children, he came simply because watching fights was entertaining.
If so, the White-Clad Scholar’s actions were pure white madness that had never been tainted. In that sense, he possessed a madness befitting his epithet, the White-Clad Scholar.
But the Four Great Villains and I looked at the men approaching with expressions even more astonished than when we had watched the bastards putting up the tent.
“And what sort of entrance is this now?”
Members of the Martial Alliance had appeared.
Dan Hyeoksan and Yun Jihak of the Seven Swords Unit, whom I had seen before, were among them, so it was not hard to recognize them.
For now, I welcomed the two of them.
“Martial Artist Dan, Martial Artist Yun. Welcome.”
The alliance members looked around at the Four Great Villains with tense faces, then cupped their fists to me.
“Sect Leader, we meet again.”
“How did you find your way here?”
Dan Hyeoksan said,
“We received word through the Alliance, and since we were worried about you, Sect Leader, we came here first.”
“What word?”
Dan Hyeoksan looked once around the Thousand-Li Inn and its surroundings before speaking.
“We received a kind of voluntary report that members of the unorthodox and demonic factions would clash near the Thousand-Li Inn. According to the contents of the anonymous letter, it would be a fight among the unorthodox and demonic factions, and they would ensure that no harm came to the people living nearby or to Baekeungji. It was both a tip-off and a report, saying that if there were any unorthodox or demonic faction members who tried to harm Baekeungji, they would block them in advance, so they hoped the righteous path would not interfere in a fight between the unorthodox and demonic factions.”
I replied with a bewildered expression.
“So they reported in advance that they were going to fight here.”
Yun Jihak answered with a look as bewildered as mine.
“Yes. For now, that is the case. The letter also said there was a man they considered an ally, and that they would observe things in person, so we should not worry.”
“An ally?”
Dan Hyeoksan stared at me.
“That ally is naturally you, Sect Leader. There was some confusion for a moment because the letter wrote I Jaha, but after asking around, we learned it was your name.”
I nodded and answered.
“I see. And the force that considers me an ally?”
Dan Hyeoksan watched my expression as he said,
“They called themselves the Samnak Seook (三樂書獄). Do you know them?”
I shook my head.
“Samnak Seook? So I had allies even I didn’t know about. How tremendously reassuring.”
When I suddenly looked at the Four Great Villains, they too had their mouths shut.
“Is it an organization the Martial Alliance knows?”
Dan Hyeoksan shook his head.
“We do not know either. They should be investigating it.”
I looked toward the tent.
“If neither I nor the Martial Alliance knows them, then there is the highest chance that the Samnak Seook is those people.”
I pointed at the people putting up the tent.
The Four Great Villains and the Martial Alliance members all turned their gazes at once. The men who had completed the tent in an instant were putting their tools back into the carriage.
Originally, one usually used the word seook (書屋), meaning a study or schoolroom, and there was no such expression as seook (書獄).
If forced to interpret it, it meant a prison for reading.
On the other hand, Samnak (三樂) was easy to interpret. That was because there was originally an expression called the Three Joys of a Gentleman (君子三樂).
Having both parents alive.
Having one’s brothers safe and unharmed.
Finding talented youths of the world and educating them.
These were the Three Joys of a Gentleman.
Naturally, since the White-Clad Scholar had the character “demon” attached before “gentleman,” he would not possess ordinary, proper Three Joys. For example, rather than finding talented youths of the world and educating them, he would have captured the worst bastards under heaven and combined torture with education.
Like a butcher whose mind had broken.
While I was briefly lost in thought, Yun Jihak asked me,
“Sect Leader, shall we go ask them?”
I shook my head.
“Don’t. It seems those people have their tongues pulled out by their master if they talk too much.”
Just then, one person walked over from the tent and spoke to me as if reporting.
“Sect Leader, we have finished setting up the tent. One person will remain, and we will now withdraw. It must have been unpleasant to watch, so thank you for taking our circumstances into consideration. Then, may fortune be with you.”
The man bowed his head deeply.
I nodded.
“You all worked hard setting up the tent under the blazing sun.”
“Thank you for your words of encouragement.”
The man turned around, joined the people who had set up the tent, and soon the carriage set off. Judging by their expressions, there was definitely an air about them that suggested they had not lived ordinary lives in the past. In the midst of that, they were all observing proper courtesy, so it seemed they too had been caught by the White-Clad Scholar and were living like slaves.
I looked at Dan Hyeoksan.
“Martial Artist Dan.”
“Yes.”
“Somehow, I ended up fighting here. I will look after things so there is no harm to the surroundings, so you do not have to worry too much. As the letter said, it is demons fighting among themselves, so the more of them die here, the better. Those bastards are probably controlling the outside as well to prevent any problems. Do not get involved unnecessarily. They seem like lunatics.”
There was nothing in particular for Dan Hyeoksan and the Martial Alliance members to do here. Having grasped the situation to some extent, Dan Hyeoksan said,
“Sect Leader.”
“Speak.”
“I do not know if I should say this, but the Alliance Leader often mentions you affectionately, like a younger brother. I do not know what sort of fight this is, but we too wish fortune to be with you, Sect Leader.”
At the words “younger brother,” I answered with an unruffled expression.
“Please give my regards to our most august elder brother, the Alliance Leader.”
“Yes.”
As the Martial Alliance members were withdrawing, Dan Hyeoksan came close to me and whispered.
“Sect Leader, is there nothing we can do to help? This is an unofficial question. We received no orders from the Alliance, but we came intending to join you.”
I thought for a moment, then patted Dan Hyeoksan on the shoulder.
“Mm, Martial Artist Dan. I appreciate it, but I will try to resolve this matter inside here.”
“Understood.”
Dan Hyeoksan stepped backward and looked at the Four Great Villains.
“Everyone, I’ll see you again.”
I waved to the alliance members.
“It was good to see you. Take care on your way.”
“Yes, Sect Leader.”
I felt as though I had been drained before we had even fought.
Just what sort of thought process did it take to report to the Murim Alliance first and secure an agreement that the orthodox faction was not to interfere?
For a while, we sat on the chairs set out in front of the Cheonli Inn without saying a word. Perhaps the situation struck them as absurd, because a few snorts of laughter escaped here and there.
Since I was bored, I deliberately got up and headed for the tent. The young man guarding it looked at me with a tense expression.
“Sect Leader, welcome.”
I nodded, then gestured at the table with my chin.
“May I sit for a moment?”
“Yes.”
I took over the table, then waved toward the Cheonli Inn.
The Sword Demon, Ghost Demon, and Lust Demon merely stared at my hand gesture without any reaction.
I grew obstinate and waved even more broadly on purpose, but the hearts of the Four Great Evils were not so easily moved.
“Honestly…”
“Yes.”
“Such cold-hearted bastards. No response whatsoever. They absolutely refuse to do anything they don’t want to.”
I looked at the inkstone, inkstick, brush, and stack of paper on the table, then glanced again at the devils of the Society of Evildoers seated in front of the Cheonli Inn.
Seeing it like this…
It seemed I was not necessarily the only one worth watching.
First of all, one would get to watch the rare sight of the Sword Demon fighting. If a truly powerful foe appeared, the Sword Demon would even draw his Demon Sword. Moreover, I did not know whether they were aware of the Lust Demon’s existence, but they would also get to see the ice arts of the Okhwa Palace, which were as good as real. On top of that, there would be a chance to confirm the skills of Master Yukhap and myself, so even if I were the White-Clad Scholar, I thought I would have come here.
‘Confirmation. So this is the feeling.’
I asked the man standing by.
“Your master must do some painting. The paper isn’t book-sized. It’s for paintings.”
The man answered briefly.
“Yes.”
“Were you perhaps told to answer only yes or no?”
“No, I was not.”
“Try giving a longer answer.”
“I was told to show proper courtesy to you, Sect Leader, so I am being careful with my replies.”
One’s chances of victory rise only when one knows the enemy and knows oneself. And only by needling a subordinate can one learn what sort of man his superior is.
I asked the man.
“What is your name?”
“Chilgyeom.”
“The seventh sickle?”
“Yes.”
“Let me see your sickle.”
Chilgyeom took a sickle from his waist and showed it to me. I nodded as I looked at the familiar sickle.
“Sambok, Yukhap, Chilgyeom… It feels like there is some connection, and yet there isn’t. Ambiguous, isn’t it? Do you know what I mean?”
“I do not really know.”
“It’s fine. I often don’t know either.”
“Yes.”
I looked at the Four Treasures of the Study and asked.
“When did this painter say he would arrive?”
“I do not know.”
“Ah, so you acknowledge your master as a painter?”
Chilgyeom’s complexion turned deathly pale, and he shut his mouth. I observed Chilgyeom’s expression for a moment, then turned my head and watched the road.
A carriage was approaching.
Watching the carriage, I asked Chilgyeom.
“…Is it the scholar?”
“No.”
“Then it must be a candidate for Left Envoy coming here to die.”
The carriage slowly reduced its speed and passed in front of the tent where I was seated. The coachman paid me no mind, but the carriage’s sunshade moved, and some middle-aged man glared at me. Perhaps he had an upset stomach, because he had a pale complexion and gloomy eyes. He looked like a ghost, so he was a little frightening, but since I could not lose a staring contest, I glared right back.
“……”
The pale ghost bastard smiled at the corner of his mouth, then lowered the sunshade and passed by. Naturally, he was not anyone I could recognize, so I asked Chilgyeom without much expectation.
“Who is that bastard? He has an unpleasant face.”
Chilgyeom answered.
“He is the head of the Ghost Spirit Demon Family, which belongs to the Outer Hall of the Divine Cult.”
I nodded and probed for information in a solemn tone.
“I see. Does that man possess enough skill to challenge for the position of Left Envoy?”
Chilgyeom answered.
“He is one of the greatest masters of the Outer Hall, so he is qualified to be here.”
“Is this Outer Hall what I think it is? An allied force that operates outside rather than within the cult?”
Chilgyeom shook his head.
“If one belongs to the Outer Hall, one carries out orders, so it is different from an allied force. Allied forces are asked for cooperation; they do not carry out the cult’s orders.”
“Like you people?”
“Yes.”
I applauded Chilgyeom, who was well-versed in the state of affairs.
“Wow, you’re knowledgeable despite your young age. As expected of the scholar’s disciple. Excellent.”
“Thank you.”
The carriage carrying the head of the Ghost Spirit Demon Family stopped in front of the Cheonli Inn, and the ghost-like bastard I had seen earlier got out.
At that level, one could say he had tremendous nerve.
He appeared without even a subordinate, stood in front of the Cheonli Inn, and stared silently at the Sword Demon. It was an impressive sight even to me. For a moment, as though possessed by the White-Clad Scholar, I spread a sheet of blank paper on the desk and picked up the brush.
“Grind the ink.”
“Yes.”
While Chilgyeom came to my side and ground the ink, I held the brush and steadied my breathing for a moment. Suddenly, a thought occurred to me.
‘Damn… I’m doing exactly what the White-Clad Scholar does.’
I asked Chilgyeom, who was grinding the ink.
“Chilgyeom.”
“Yes, Sect Leader.”
“Tell me. Did the White-Clad Scholar perhaps predict that I would sit here and paint?”
Chilgyeom suppressed a faint smile as he spoke to me.
“Yes, he predicted it. He will probably be pleased.”
“Will he be pleased because he predicted my actions, or because I am trying to paint?”
Chilgyeom said.
“He predicted that since you have a pure side, Sect Leader, if you saw the Four Treasures of the Study set on the desk, you would either write something or look toward the Cheonli Inn and begin painting.”
I answered in an admiring tone.
“So the scholar is above my head. Impressive.”
At that moment, I turned my gaze toward the top of the tent. Something passed over it, and before long, a black-clad man with exceptional lightness skill landed on the ground.
His back was turned, so I couldn’t see his face, but the way he landed was so quiet that he seemed like a man trained in an assassin’s martial arts.
He, too, headed toward the Cheolli Inn without so much as checking the tent.
I had no choice but to ask Chilgyeom.
“Who’s that assassin-looking bastard?”
Chilgyeom shook his head.
“I don’t know either.”
I set down my brush, rose, and headed for the Cheolli Inn.
“Sambok.”
From inside, Sambok came rushing out with a clatter and a bang.
“Yes.”
I jerked my chin toward the head of the Gwiryeong Demon House and said,
“Take the customer’s order.”
Sambok wiped the water from his hands on his apron and approached the head of the Gwiryeong Demon House.
“Would you like to order?”
The head of the Gwiryeong Demon House glared at Sambok with a murderous gaze.
“No need.”
“Yes.”
Sambok then asked the unidentified black-clad man.
“Would you like to order?”
“No need.”
“Yes.”
The head of the Gwiryeong Demon House said to the Sword Demon,
“Left Envoy, at least introduce them. You spent your whole life alone—did you have a change of heart? I see you’ve been keeping company with some strange fellows.”
The Sword Demon replied in a calm tone.
“They are a disciple and younger brothers I met in the martial world.”
As those seeking to challenge the former Left Envoy of Radiance gathered, the Ghost Demon, the Lust Demon, and I watched the Sword Demon’s expression.
Strangely, when the word younger brothers flowed from his mouth…….
It felt as though the Sword Demon had become a slightly warmer man than before. Out of boredom, I picked up where he left off and introduced myself to the challengers.
“I’m the third brother, Lee Jaha. Don’t stick your stinking asses in someone else’s inn—place an order. For your information, we only take silver here. If you don’t have money, get lost. Go wait over there on the rocky ground, before I smash your skulls in.”
The head of the Gwiryeong Demon House and the black-clad man glared at me with murderous eyes.
“…….”
The atmosphere had definitely grown a bit heavier because of me.