Chapter 241 - Stop Getting Stronger!

The mistress of Thousand Flowers Pavilion was deeply moved. Far from getting angry, the Wicked Laughing Demon had said the very words she had longed to hear.

“Yes, dear brother. I really do want to see your room.”

She struggled to hold back her tears. In all her years running Thousand Flowers Pavilion, she had endured every kind of hardship without crying. Yet that single remark from the Wicked Laughing Demon brought tears to her eyes.

She felt as though the relationship they had built, the affection between them, had found its completion in this moment.

They had never once spoken about love, but his words just now had sounded to her like a declaration of love. All he had said was that he would show her his room.

The pavilion mistress turned to Geom Mugeuk.

“Thank you, Second Young Master.”

While waiting for the Wicked Laughing Demon to awaken, she had heard from Seo Daeryong how Geom Mugeuk had carried him on his back over that long journey. And how he had even given up ten-thousand-year snow ginseng, something any martial artist would covet.

“All I did was carry him and run. You should thank the Demon Physician, not me.”

The pavilion mistress thanked the Demon Physician as well.

“Thank you, Medical Sage.”

“Not at all, madam. The Demon Supreme's robust constitution is what saw him through, so there is no need to thank me. I'll send his medicine to Villains' Valley. You two may go now.”

The Wicked Laughing Demon and the pavilion mistress left the infirmary first.

Watching them, the Demon Physician thought of his wife. They, too, had once been like that.

And, to his surprise, he realized that unlike before, thinking of her now left his heart at ease.

The Demon Physician spoke to Geom Mugeuk.

“There were times when I wondered whether I would feel empty once my revenge was complete.”

“Do you?”

The Demon Physician shook his head firmly.

“Not at all. I feel so peaceful, so happy, that I wonder whether I should be allowed to feel this way.”

“You're welcome to savor it even more.”

“Could you spare a moment? There's something I'd like to show you.”

The Demon Physician took Geom Mugeuk to his quarters, then through a secret door to the place he had shown him before.

He had once recreated his old home there, but now it had changed. Bookshelves lined the walls, and he had made it into a study where he could sit comfortably and read. He was changing, preparing to live a new life.

“Oh, this has a lovely atmosphere. Elder Saber Demon loves books too.”

“I know. He and I often discuss books.”

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon was the only person the Demon Physician could call a friend.

Then Geom Mugeuk noticed pieces of wood in a corner.

“What are those?”

Alongside the wood lay tools for shaping and carving it.

“My father was a carpenter. Whenever I think of him, I remember him carving wood in the yard. I thought I'd try it myself now, even if only as a hobby.”

The Demon Physician gave a soft sigh and added,

“What an unfilial son I am. Only now that thoughts of my son no longer torment me have I finally thought of my father.”

“Your father must have felt the same way about you.”

The two exchanged warm smiles.

Geom Mugeuk was grateful. Grateful that he was making an effort to change, and above all, that he wanted to show him those changes.

Because of you, I'm finding happiness again.

That was what the Demon Physician was telling him now. Yes, this was how it needed to be said. Only because he showed me could I finally know. Without being told, we cannot know.

Thank you, Demon Physician.

For making me feel that risking my life was worthwhile.

And please, be happy.

* * *

For the first time in her life, the mistress of Thousand Flowers Pavilion was walking through the Demonic Cult's inner grounds.

The demonic martial artists they encountered bowed respectfully to the Wicked Laughing Demon. They were all ferocious-looking people, terrifying martial artists who looked capable of turning Murim upside down if they ventured out into it. Yet before him, they greeted him as demurely as new brides.

She whispered so that only he could hear.

“I'd forgotten what sort of man you are, dear brother. What an impressive man you are.”

The Wicked Laughing Demon was a man too, and those words were not unwelcome.

“I'll have to hang your mask outside Thousand Flowers Pavilion from now on. Go on, you bastards—just try getting drunk and making trouble!”

At her joke, he merely smiled with his eyes in silence. He rarely spoke even at the best of times, so she didn't mind his lack of a reply at all.

I'm so nervous right now. That building is so unusual. Are there martial artists hiding over there? After chattering about all sorts of things, she added one last remark.

“I'm sorry. For coming without asking.”

He had only listened to everything else, but this time he answered.

“It's all right.”

Then he added something he would never ordinarily have said.

“I intended to bring you here someday.”

Because he was normally so taciturn, each little remark moved her deeply.

Meanwhile, they reached Villains' Valley.

The sight at the entrance startled the pavilion mistress. Countless Faceless Wanderers stood in ranks there.

They had all assembled upon hearing that the Wicked Laughing Demon was returning after recovering from his injuries. Every one of them wore a white mask, and every mask was smiling. It was a terrifying, majestic sight. Only today did she learn that he had so many followers.

As the two passed, the Faceless Wanderers nearest them bowed. Their greetings rolled on like waves. They were fervently welcoming their leader's safe return.

The pavilion mistress felt both fear and a certain excitement. Their gazes held respect for their leader's woman, mingled with curiosity.

After all, the Wicked Laughing Demon had never brought a woman here before. This was the first time he had entered Villains' Valley with one at his side.

She sensed that from this moment onward, both her fate and her relationship with him would change.

She whispered a question.

“But how do you recognize each other? With everyone wearing masks like that.”

“You can't tell us apart, but we all can.”

“How fascinating.”

Now that he mentioned it, the masks did seem to differ slightly in shape. Some had distinctive patterns or various colors painted on them.

After walking for quite some time, they reached his residence.

Entering the Wicked Laughing Demon's room, the pavilion mistress was startled. She had never imagined a room with white walls on every side.

She placed a hand against one wall.

“What a spotless room.”

“You won't find it comfortable to stay in.”

She would have endured anything to be with him, but the sight of a room without a single piece of furniture somehow made her heart ache.

“Do you sleep here?”

She could hardly believe it, but he nodded.

“But there's no bed.”

“The only time I lie down to sleep is when I visit Thousand Flowers Pavilion.”

“Oh!”

He loved lying with his head in her lap. Yet this was where he lived when he was at the Demonic Cult. She had imagined him sleeping in a great, luxurious bed.

Then the Wicked Laughing Demon said something unexpected.

“Why not take this opportunity to pursue your dream in earnest?”

The pavilion mistress was astonished. Her dream was to become the Empress of the Night—to establish her own pleasure houses throughout the Central Plains.

“Now that Yeo Bulgae is dead and there's a power vacuum, this should be your chance.”

He meant that he would back her. It was certainly an opportunity, and she was not a woman to let such an opportunity slip away.

“Yes. I'll give it a try.”

They looked at each other and nodded. She knew how thorough and rational he was when it came to business.

Her achieving her dream would be of great help to him as well. To rule the night also meant ruling information. Secrets tended to lose their strength in the presence of wine and beautiful women.

This time, she asked about the line drawn on the wall.

“What is that line over there?”

It was the line he had drawn with Geom Mugeuk. Since it was the only thing that stood out in the white room, she had been holding back the question from the moment she entered.

“The line of my life.”

It was an answer she could never understand, but as he gazed at the line, his eyes looked happier than ever.

She stood beside him and rested her head on his shoulder.

“That must be why it's drawn so beautifully.”

* * *

When I returned to my quarters, Yi An was waiting in the yard.

“What are you doing here?”

“What else? Waiting for my sleepyhead Young Master.”

“How did you know when I'd come?”

“I was going to wait until you did.”

The Demon Physician had told me that she had come and cried her eyes out while I slept in the infirmary. Her face told me just how worried she had been, and why she was here now.

“Have you been starving yourself? Your face looks gaunt.”

Her eyes were swollen too, as though she'd cried again since then.

“Just when I thought you'd gotten pretty, you're back to being an ugly duckling.”

“I managed perfectly well when I was a hundred times uglier.”

“Come on. I'll buy you something delicious. Today, the two of us are going to eat Merry Life Tavern out of business!”

“There's something I need to tell you.”

“Tell me on the way. I'm hungry.”

I set off, and Yi An followed. Trailing close behind me like a shadow, she suddenly spoke.

“Take me with you from now on. I'm going to be your bodyguard again.”

I answered without stopping.

“All right.”

“I'm not joking. I mean it.”

“I know.”

When I agreed so readily, she hurried around in front of me and stared into my face.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Just as she was about to leap for joy, she caught herself.

“There's a condition, isn't there?”

“Of course.”

“What condition?”

“You can guard me once you attain twelfth-level complete mastery of the Heaven-Soaring Sword Art.”

Disappointment crossed her face, along with an expression that said she should have known.

“I haven't even achieved ordinary complete mastery yet. When am I supposed to reach the twelfth level? I might die of old age without ever managing it.”

“Otherwise, I'd have to carry you back too, wouldn't I?”

She was struck speechless.

Knowing exactly what I meant, she couldn't keep insisting. In a situation dangerous enough to bring the Wicked Laughing Demon to death's door, even twelfth-level complete mastery might not make her any help.

“Stop getting stronger!”

“‘I'll get stronger!’ is the correct answer, my commander of the Ghost Shadow Squad.”

And so we arrived at Merry Life Tavern in Demon Family Village.

“Pavilion Master! It's been a long time!”

Jo Chunbae greeted me, looking the same as ever.

“Have you been well, proprietor?”

“Same as always, sir. I hear you've been very busy lately.”

“Even in the midst of all that, I was dying for your cooking. Make me all my favorites.”

Leaving Jo Chunbae to head for the kitchen with a spring in his step, we went upstairs to our usual spot.

“Did you know? He always keeps this table empty.”

“For us?”

“Yes. So we can sit here whenever we come.”

“We only come occasionally. Why go that far? He must be losing money.”

“No. Word has spread that the Cult Leader and the Demon Supremes sat here. Business is better than ever thanks to all the customers coming to see it.”

Yi An lowered her voice.

“Do you think he planned that?”

“He's a seasoned fellow. He might have.”

We both laughed. The difference between her worried expression and her radiant smile was so striking that she could almost have been a different person.

In any case, seeing her smiling face finally made it feel real that I was back at the Cult.

“How are things going with the Ghost Shadow Squad?”

“Blue Face is meeting with a few people. Apparently, there are some trustworthy candidates. Everything is moving along so smoothly that I'm getting worried.”

“About what?”

“I'm the squad leader, but I've hardly ever met anyone. You were practically the only person I knew, Young Master. Can someone like me really lead a squad properly?”

“You've dealt with me. Who couldn't you deal with?”

“Oh, so that's how you're going to look at it?”

Just then, Jo Chunbae came upstairs with wine and food.

“Proprietor, it's been a while. Let me pour you a drink.”

“No, please, carry on with your conversation.”

As always, he declined, but I tugged on his sleeve and pulled him into a seat.

“Just one cup.”

“Oh dear, I really shouldn't. Thank you, Pavilion Master.”

He accepted the wine I poured.

“I hear this table has become a local attraction?”

“Somehow it has. It's all thanks to you, Pavilion Master.”

“Next time Father or the Demon Supremes come, I'll ask them to leave marks of their martial arts on the wall.”

“Marks of their martial arts?”

“That would give the visitors something to look at, wouldn't it? The Wicked Laughing Demon could make a hole with his Blood Calamity Finger beside the mark Father leaves. And I'll ask Elder Saber Demon to write a poem on this table.”

Jo Chunbae waved his hands, protesting that it was out of the question.

“How could I ask such distinguished people for favors like that? Besides, I'd never sleep for fear someone might tear out the wall or damage the table. Now, please enjoy your meal.”

He hurriedly rose and went downstairs. He had called it out of the question, but the mere thought seemed to please him; he wore a satisfied smile as he descended to the first floor.

I spoke quietly to Yi An.

“If you're unsure about dealing with people, asking the proprietor here should help.”

There could hardly be anyone who understood human relationships better than Jo Chunbae, who had spent his life dealing with every sort of person.

“I will.”

We drank and ate together. It had been so long since I'd tasted Jo Chunbae's cooking, and it was everything I had missed.

“Leave the Cult with Blue Face. Go meet Strategist Go and the Wind Heaven Cult Leader, and find martial artists to recruit into the Ghost Shadow Squad.”

It was time to let her out of the greenhouse.

“And Father will choose his successor soon.”

Yi An was startled. She knew better than anyone how important this was to my life, and how much thought I had given it.

“Do you have a plan?”

“I have something in mind. Whether it'll go the way I want is another matter.”

“What sort of plan?”

“If I had to give it a name...”

I emptied my cup and said,

“I suppose I'd call it Operation Golden Grand Plan.”