AR Chapter 125

Seo Daeryong was watering the flowers in a pot placed in the Underworld Pavilion Master’s office.

“Second-in-command, when on earth will the Pavilion Master return?”

He called the flower in the pot left by the One-Flower Sword Supreme ‘second-in-command’. It was a nickname that originated from a joke about it being the third most important thing in the office.

“He should take me along too. How much fun must he be having without me that there’s no news like this?”

Without Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn, he felt like the joy in his life had been halved.

He had also stopped the regular drinking sessions with Jang Ho since last month. They decided to postpone them until Lee Ahn returned. Honestly, it was only fun when the three of them were together. It felt complete only when the three of them were there.

“Hmph! You can be the first-in-command from now on. I’ll be the second-in-command from today. Let’s take over everything, us abandoned ones!”

In fact, he was already taking care of everything. Seo Daeryong handled most of the important tasks of the Underworld Pavilion. Although there were seniors, they knew that Geom Mugeuk favored Seo Daeryong the most, so he naturally became the acting Pavilion Master. And Seo Daeryong handled those duties better than anyone else.

The period of Geom Mugeuk’s absence was a time of growth for him, and a time when he gained full recognition.

Moreover, he didn’t miss a single day of learning techniques from the Blood Heavens Saber Demon.

The Blood Heavens Saber Demon never spoke about Geom Mugeuk. It was as if he thought mentioning Geom Mugeuk would reveal that he missed him.

Even when Seo Daeryong talked about Geom Mugeuk, he pretended not to hear and said nothing.

‘Master, that’s even stranger, you know.’

As he was standing by the window, trying to quell his longing for Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn, an enforcement martial artist opened the door and entered.

“We’re ready.”

“Let’s go.”

Lazy Pavilion Master who could be anywhere doing who knows what, I’m off to work again.

Outside the building, ten enforcement martial artists were waiting. Usually, one investigator moved with two enforcement martial artists, so the number ten alone indicated that today’s operation was very important and dangerous.

“Have you all put on the White Tiger Armor^[1]?”

“Yes, we have.”

The White Tiger Armor was the standard protective gear issued to enforcement martial artists. It couldn’t be compared to real protective gear, but it was effective in blocking ordinary swords and knives.

“Let’s go. There might be conflicts, so stay alert.”

The place they arrived at with the enforcement martial artists was Great Intoxication Forest^[2], where the Great Drunken Demon resided.

The Great Drunken Demon.

He was one of the Eight Demon Supremes, always drunk, hence called the Drunken Demon. There were various rumors about him.

Some said he was always drunk because of a great wound in his heart, while others said it was because his unique martial art utilized drunkenness. In any case, one thing was certain: the more drunk he was, the stronger he became.

His followers were called drunkards, and they too were heavy drinkers who loved and could hold their liquor well.

The gates of Great Intoxication Forest were tightly closed.

When an enforcement martial artist knocked on the gate, a drunkard guarding the entrance opened it and appeared.

“Who are you?”

“We’re from Underworld Pavilion. Open the gate.”

“What brings you here?”

Seo Daeryong held up the document he had brought to show it.

“We’ve come to arrest the drunkard Do Ho^[3].”

This Do Ho fellow had driven a carriage while drunk, crashing into a marketplace, killing two people and injuring more than ten. Then he abandoned the carriage and fled.

The drunkard answered without hesitation.

“Do Ho isn’t here. Go back.”

“How do you know? Whether Do Ho is in that vast Great Intoxication Forest or not.”

“If he’s not here, just assume he’s not and go back.”

The drunkard immediately closed the gate and went back inside.

They had expected this kind of response to some extent. It seems the subordinates of demon supremes think they’ll appear weaker than other demon supremes if they comply easily. When one doesn’t listen, none of them listen.

Especially recently, as Geom Mugeuk’s absence had been prolonged, the authority of Underworld Pavilion’s martial artists had started to lose its effect.

“Give a warning and then break down the gate.”

“Yes.”

An enforcement martial artist stepped forward and warned with his internal energy.

“If you don’t open before I count to ten, we’ll break down the gate and enter. One, two, three, four… nine, ten.”

Just as they were about to break down the gate.

Creeeeak.

The gate opened and someone appeared. It was a different drunkard from the one who had come out earlier. He was Hu Yang^[4], the leader of the drunkards guarding the entrance.

Hu Yang glared at Seo Daeryong and said,

“Do you think you’ll be safe after invading our forest?”

“The drunkard named Do Ho has committed a crime. It’s not something to blindly cover up. If you just hand over Do Ho, we’ll leave.”

“Do Ho isn’t here.”

“Don’t underestimate our tower’s information network. We have reliable information that Do Ho returned here. If it turns out he’s here, you’ll also be guilty of harboring a criminal. Are you okay with that?”

At that moment, Hu Yang raised a cold demonic energy.

Befitting the leader of the drunkards on duty today, his aura was sharp. He was confident he could make a Underworld Pavilion investigator back off, but Seo Daeryong didn’t retreat.

Rather, Seo Daeryong’s aura overwhelmed Hu Yang’s. It was the result of learning techniques from the Blood Heavens Saber Demon without missing a day and consistently training.

Just as Hu Yang was unconsciously stepping back, a fierce-looking middle-aged man walked out of Great Intoxication Forest.

Slap!

The man mercilessly struck Hu Yang’s cheek.

“You idiot! Getting pushed back by such an investigator.”

Hu Yang, who had been knocked down, quickly got up and bowed his head.

“I’m sorry!”

The man who came out was Gu Ma-yeong^[5], one of the three great drunkards of Great Intoxication Forest, infamous for his foul temper. His notoriety was well-known. He was said to have a hot-tempered personality and to act without thinking of the consequences.

Recognizing who it was, Seo Daeryong’s expression hardened.

‘Of all people…’

Gu Ma-yeong, reeking of alcohol, walked up to Seo Daeryong.

“Why are you making a fuss and ruining my drinking mood?”

“A man named Do Ho from this place caused an accident while driving a carriage drunk.”

“It’s natural for a drunkard to be drunk, and accidents can happen while driving a carriage. Why are you all coming here in a group and making a fuss?”

“Even if he’s a drunkard, there’s a law that prohibits driving a carriage while drunk.”

“Bullshit. Do you follow all the laws?”

“At least I don’t drink and drive a carriage and kill people.”

Gu Ma-yeong thrust his face close to Seo Daeryong’s. Seo Daeryong frowned at the terrible smell of alcohol.

“Look me in the eye.”

Seo Daeryong didn’t avoid his gaze.

“Go back, find some suitable guy, and process it as if he drove the carriage. Look at my eyes. Do you understand?”

“I can’t do that.”

“What? Say that again.”

“I said I can’t do that. If you don’t move aside, I’ll arrest you too.”

Gu Ma-yeong’s expression contorted, and he pulled out the liquor bottle at his waist.

He raised it high, about to pour it over Seo Daeryong’s head.

The hands of the enforcement martial artists behind all reached for their sword hilts at once.

They were ready to rush in and fight if the order was given.

Gu Ma-yeong’s gaze turned to the enforcement martial artists.

“You bastards, if you want to die, try drawing those swords.”

The drunkards behind Gu Ma-yeong also took stance to draw their weapons.

In this tense situation, Seo Daeryong raised his hand to stop the enforcement martial artists. A blade fight here would be disastrous.

Just as Gu Ma-yeong was about to pour the alcohol on Seo Daeryong’s head with a sneering smile, at that very moment.

A low warning was heard from somewhere.

“If you pour that alcohol, I’ll cut off that wrist, fill that bottle with your blood, and pour it over your head.”

Seo Daeryong’s expression brightened as he recognized whose voice it was.

“Pavilion Master!”

As Seo Daeryong turned around, Geom Mugeuk was walking towards them.

“My children, you’ve worked hard.”

At his appearance, Seo Daeryong and the enforcement martial artists rejoiced greatly and welcomed him.

“Welcome back, Pavilion Master!”

“Pavilion Master!”

“Welcome back, sir!”

They all welcomed Geom Mugeuk so enthusiastically that it seemed there couldn’t be a more welcomed leader.

After greeting them, Geom Mugeuk walked towards Gu Ma-yeong.

“Did your demon supreme teach you to waste alcohol on people’s heads?”

At the mention of the Great Drunken Demon, killing intent surged in Gu Ma-yeong’s eyes.

But Geom Mugeuk’s aura overwhelmed him. Even without releasing demonic energy, his aura alone bound Gu Ma-yeong. All the hair on Gu Ma-yeong’s body stood on end with fear.

‘Was this Second Young Master’s aura this strong?’

Gu Ma-yeong felt like he was sobering up instantly. He had only heard various rumors about this Second Young Master, but facing him directly gave a completely different pressure.

“To think of pouring alcohol on an Underworld Pavilion investigator’s head. Did you just come out of closed-door training? Haven’t you heard rumors about me? Or did you think I wouldn’t come back because I was away for a while?”

Gu Ma-yeong could only glare fiercely at Geom Mugeuk, not daring to make any excuses. When he had heard rumors before about him cutting down a demon supreme, he thought it was nonsense. He had assumed the rumors were exaggerated because he was the heir, but now he felt it might be true.

“Go inside and…”

Geom Mugeuk turned to Seo Daeryong and asked,

“Who was it again?”

“Do Ho, sir.”

Geom Mugeuk spoke to Gu Ma-yeong again.

“You heard him? Bring that Do Ho fellow. Now!”

Gu Ma-yeong stood still with a distorted expression.

Geom Mugeuk drew his Dark Demonic Sword without hesitation. The sword energy emanating from it made the hearts of the drunkards present shrink cold.

“You’re a drunkard, but I’m a madman.”

When Geom Mugeuk took a step forward, Gu Ma-yeong couldn’t hold out any longer.

“I’ll bring him out!”

Gu Ma-yeong went inside.

I deliberately treated Gu Ma-yeong roughly. It was for the morale of Seo Daeryong and the enforcement martial artists. Today’s incident will spread as rumors within the cult, and they won’t dare to do such things again even when I’m not around.

Seo Daeryong and the enforcement martial artists gathered around me.

“When did you arrive, sir?”

“Just now. I was about to change clothes and go see my father, but I heard you were here, so I stopped by on my way to the Heavenly Demon Pavilion.”

Seo Daeryong was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes.

“Are you that happy?”

“I didn’t know I’d be this happy to see you return, Pavilion Master.”

“Not because you avoided being insulted by a drunkard?”

“That guy’s breath smelled like expensive liquor. When would I ever get to taste such alcohol on my meager salary? I should at least taste the alcohol dripping down my face.”

Geom Mugeuk smiled at Seo Daeryong. In the time they hadn’t seen each other, Seo Daeryong had grown even more. Not just in martial arts skills and aura, but he even had composure. This is how you should stay calm when dealing with guys like Gu Ma-yeong.

“Looks like I should leave the cultmore often.”

“Please don’t do that! I was dying of boredom without you here, Pavilion Master.”

The enforcement martial artists laughed at Seo Daeryong’s words. Geom Mugeuk felt good seeing them again. He hadn’t realized it when he was here, but after parting and seeing them again, he was so glad to see them.

Meanwhile, the gate opened again and Gu Ma-yeong came out dragging Do Ho. His face was battered and bleeding. It seems Gu Ma-yeong had taken out his anger on the guy.

“Arrest him!”

The enforcement martial artists arrested Do Ho.

Gu Ma-yeong glared fiercely at Geom Mugeuk, as if trying to show his last bit of pride.

In contrast, Geom Mugeuk spoke in a gentle tone, unlike before.

“Since you’re a drunkard, I won’t stop you from drinking. Just don’t harm others while drinking. Thank you for cooperating.”

You can’t just push around a beast like this. If you do, they’ll end up causing great harm to someone and self-destruct.

If you’ve crushed their pride in front of their subordinates, giving them a little room like this is also a skill in relationships.

“Let’s have a drink sometime. I’ll treat you.”

At Geom Mugeuk’s words, Gu Ma-yeong just snorted and went back inside.

The enforcement martial artists took Do Ho and returned to the Underworld Pavilion, while Geom Mugeuk and Seo Daeryong slowly walked towards the Heavenly Demon Pavilion.

“Did you get hurt anywhere while you were away this time?”

“No.”

“That’s a relief. We were very worried when we heard the Extremely Evil Laughing Demon returned alone.”

“Worried that he killed me and came back alone?”

“I really wanted to go to the Valley of Evil and ask at that time.”

“Then there would have been a different investigator here today.”

“That’s why I didn’t go. Now that you’re back, Pavilion Master, I’d like to take a few days off.”

“I’ll tell Master Demon Supreme. That his beloved disciple is even taking time off to prepare for hell training.”

“…What vacation? I should work.”

“Right? You can’t go anywhere when I’ve just come back, can you?”

We laughed facing each other. Exchanging jokes with him really made me feel like I was back at the cult.

“Hut!”

Suddenly, Seo Daeryong stopped in his tracks and whispered.

“Northwest, sir. Look without looking obvious.”

There stood a woman who caught the eye at a glance.

“Was there such a beauty in our cult? No, how can a person have such a figure? Ah! She must have descended from heaven.”

“Do you like her?”

“Who wouldn’t?”

“Want to meet her?”

“Oh my, I don’t think I could even make eye contact. What? What did you just say? Meet her? How?”

“She came with me this time.”

“What? Whaaaaat?”

Seo Daeryong looked at Geom Mugeuk in shock. Then he shook his head.

“Come on, don’t lie.”

“It’s true. We’re close.”

“You know such a beauty, Pavilion Master? You’re close? Why are you showing off like this between us? Wow, now that I look at you, you’re a man after all.”

Geom Mugeuk beckoned to the woman.

Then the woman began to walk gracefully towards where the two were standing.