Chapter 128: If You Could Ask Only One Question

Jang Ho was being led to the Flowing Wind Tavern by Seo Daeryong.

“Didn’t we agree to have our drinking gathering after this warrior returns?”

“We did.”

“Then why are we drinking now?”

And that too before the workday had even ended, being dragged along as if it was absolutely necessary to go. As this had never happened before, Jang Ho obediently followed Seo Daeryong’s will.

Although the drinking gatherings had been suspended due to Lee Ahn’s absence, the two had shared many conversations before that. By the last day, their initially awkward and uncomfortable meetings had become quite friendly.

“I have someone I want to introduce to Commander Jang today.”

“Who is it?”

“You’ll see when we get there. It’s someone important to me, so I really want to introduce you.”

“Alright.”

Jang Ho somehow saw a hint of childish mischief in Seo Daeryong’s expression.

But since Seo Daeryong had never played a prank on him in all their meetings so far, he couldn’t imagine what kind of occasion this would be.

So the two entered the Flowing Wind Tavern.

The owner, Jo Chun-bae, greeted them warmly.

“Ah, it’s been a while since you came. If I had known you two were coming, I would have kept a table empty.”

A woman wearing a face veil was sitting with her back turned at their usual spot on the second floor.

“It’s alright.”

Seo Daeryong took Jang Ho up to the second floor where the woman was sitting. The woman had ordered some wine and simple snacks, but because she was wearing a face veil, her face couldn’t be clearly seen.

As Seo Daeryong sat in front of her, Jang Ho finally realized that this woman was the person he was going to introduce.

‘Is this the woman the Second Young Master mentioned?’

He had seen Seo Daeryong teasing about a junior he liked. But if she was a Underworld Pavilion investigator, she wouldn’t meet him wearing a face veil, would she? Especially not at an introduction like this.

As Jang Ho was inwardly curious, the veiled woman greeted him first.

“I’ve heard a lot about you, Commander Jang.”

Of course, it was Lee Ahn. This time too, she spoke with a disguised voice.

It was then.

Jang Ho recognized Lee Ahn.

“Martial lady Lee Ahn?”

At that moment, not only Lee Ahn but also Seo Daeryong who was with her were surprised.

“How did you know it was me?”

At Lee Ahn’s question, Jang Ho hesitated for a moment before speaking softly.

“I’m very sensitive to sound. I remember and recognize the characteristics of people’s voices and intonations well. So I can identify the original voice even if it’s disguised, for voices I’ve heard often.”

“Ah!”

Lee Ahn and Seo Daeryong exclaimed simultaneously.

“The reason I could become a demon clan lord was because this sensitivity to sound was a great help in martial arts training and actual combat. This is the first time I’m revealing this.”

He had also revealed for the first time in front of Seo Daeryong that his childhood dream was to be a painter.

When they first started having these drinking gatherings, Jang Ho never imagined he would reveal his personal history in this setting. He started with the mindset that it wouldn’t hurt to become close to people who were close to Geom Mugeuk, but now he’s sharing all sorts of stories in front of these two.

Lee Ahn took off her face veil.

“It’s been a while, Commander Jang.”

“Welcome back, Martial lady Lee Ahn.”

Jang Ho welcomed Lee Ahn warmly. Watching this, Seo Daeryong inwardly admired him. Jang Ho showed no sign of being shaken by Lee Ahn’s beauty. Compared to him, hadn’t Seo Daeryong made all the fuss in the world?

‘How can he be like that?’

He was even worried that Lee Ahn might feel uncomfortable, to that extent.

Of course, Lee Ahn didn’t mind at all. Rather, she seemed more comfortable as Jang Ho treated her just like before.

“Well, I’ll treat you all today. So order as much as you want!”

The three shared many stories.

Lee Ahn was undoubtedly the main character today. How hard it was to receive the Body Poison Purification Technique, what happened during the journey, how fun the first wedding she saw was. She talked about all sorts of things.

Seo Daeryong and Jang Ho listened to her stories and chimed in.

Then, when she briefly left her seat, Seo Daeryong asked Jang Ho,

“Commander Jang. Isn’t Lee Ahn’s change surprising?”

“It is surprising. She’s become so beautiful.”

“Is that all?”

“What? Is something else needed?”

“Not really, but you don’t seem very surprised. I even suspected that you two had met first and were teasing me.”

“That’s not possible. No.”

Seo Daeryong lowered his voice and said,

“Then there’s no need to hold back on purpose. It’s just us.”

Seeing Seo Daeryong’s face clearly showing emotions like ‘She’s pretty, isn’t she? Please say she’s pretty, please!’, Jang Ho finally laughed. They had become close enough for the word ‘us’ to come out naturally.

“I’m not sure if this will be offensive to Martial lady Lee Ahn, but I don’t place any meaning on people’s appearances. Maybe it’s because I have a scar on my face. I feel like I’m in no position to judge others with this face.”

At Jang Ho’s sincere words, Seo Daeryong shared what he had always thought.

“Commander Jang, that scar is cool.”

“Cool? It’s ugly.”

“No, it’s cool. Really. Sell it to me!”

Then Jang Ho didn’t hesitate to try to draw his dagger.

“I can make it exactly the same for you.”

Seo Daeryong was startled and stopped him.

“What are you doing!”

“So be honest. Say it’s ugly.”

“It’s cool because there’s a story behind it. I’m saying I want to buy that story too.”

“There’s no great story. I just got injured fighting enemies.”

“For a martial artist, that is a great story. I don’t want to get scarred by a friend’s dagger while drinking.”

Seo Daeryong didn’t realize that he had used the word ‘friend’.

“Let’s have a drink.”

Jang Ho raised his cup.

Seo Daeryong might not know, but he felt comfortable in this place. After maintaining a perfect composure in front of the demon supremes, he finally felt relaxed and rested when he came to this place.

At that moment, Lee Ahn returned.

“Where was I?”

Jang Ho said to her,

“Martial lady Lee Ahn, the night is long, so you can start from the beginning again if you want.”

***

At that time, I was meeting with the One-Flower Sword Supreme.

And I heard unexpected words from her.

“I know the Drunken Demon well.”

Unexpectedly, the One-Flower Sword Supreme had been exchanging friendship with him.

“We drink together sometimes? We drank a few days ago too.”

“You drank a few days ago too?”

“He comes to find me sometimes to drink.”

It’s not something easily imagined at first, but thinking again, it was natural for there to be exchanges among the Eight Demon Supremes who hold power.

“What kind of person is the Drunken Demon?”

“He’s someone who’s pleasant to drink with.”

The One-Flower Sword Supreme’s evaluation was positive, the opposite of the Extremely Evil Laughing Demon.

“Since when did you become close?”

“I’m not sure either. Since when? It seems like it’s been quite a while. We just became close while drinking.”

“What’s the Drunken Demon’s personality like?”

“He’s mild-mannered.”

If he was really a mild-mannered person, the Extremely Evil Laughing Demon wouldn’t have evaluated him like that. In other words, it means the Drunken Demon shows completely different faces depending on who he’s with.

“How could a demon supreme be mild-mannered? He must be hiding his claws, right?”

“Maybe. But why did you ask about the Drunken Demon?”

“Someone from the Drunken Demon’s side caused trouble recently. Underworld Pavilion arrested him, but I thought the Drunken Demon might make a move.”

“It’s not an excuse for the Second Young Master to make a move, is it?”

“As expected, you’re sharp. The Drunken Demon is the only person who hasn’t decided his stance between my brother and me.”

The One-Flower Sword Supreme stared at me for a while, then smiled and said,

“I haven’t decided my stance either, have I? I haven’t decided to take your side yet, Second Young Master.”

Why wouldn’t I know that’s how she feels? That’s why I exaggeratedly said to her,

“Ah! I was firmly believing you were on my side!”

“Of course I like you, our Second Young Master. Honestly, comparing you with the Eldest Young Master is nonsense from the start. But being close is a personal matter, and the successor issue is a public matter, isn’t it?”

“I understand.”

“That doesn’t mean I’ll choose the Second Young Master either, so don’t feel upset.”

“I will never feel upset with you, senior. No, I can’t.”

“Why is that?”

“Do you remember what I said when I met you before, senior? I threw a fit asking you to prove that you were more helpful to me than Elder Saber Demon.”

The One-Flower Sword Supreme gave a faint smile. Her expression showed she remembered everything.

“Now it’s your turn, senior. It’s your turn to say, ‘Prove that you are more helpful to me than the Eldest Young Master!'”

The fact that she didn’t react like that was proof that she was treating me with goodwill.

“I told you then, didn’t I? Dreams, ideals, loyalty… I despise people who try to get the hearts of their subordinates or juniors for free with such things. I have no intention of gaining your heart with such things either, senior. I should listen to what you want as much as possible, while at the same time showing you that I have the qualities of a Heavenly Demon.”

A look of admiration flashed across the One-Flower Sword Supreme’s face at my words.

“Indeed! I chose my sparring partner well.”

The fact that she brought up sparring at this moment meant that sparring was included in what she wanted. She still has a desire to become stronger.

“I’m looking forward to the day we spar again.”

***

After meeting with the One-Flower Sword Supreme, I returned to my quarters.

Go Wol, who had been staying with me, was not at home. He had left the cult to carry out my order to create an information organization like the Heavenly Communication Pavilion.

Several letters he had sent had arrived at my quarters. It was a report that he was creating a network around the Central Plains with the money I had given him.

I wasn’t worried about him. As if to prove that he’s not someone to make me worry, he left with the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. Imagining them bickering while working on this together made me smile.

Lee Ahn stopped by briefly at night.

I thought she would come pretty drunk, but she wasn’t as drunk as I expected.

“I talked so much that the alcohol wore off.”

“Was it good?”

“They say travel isn’t about leaving but returning, and after talking my heart out to those two, I feel like the journey is complete.”

Whether it’s because of breaking through the Conception and Governing Vessels, or because she realized something this time, she gives a clearly different impression from before she left the cult.

“I made a resolution while traveling this time. It might sound like I’m showing off, but since I’ve brought it up, I’ll tell you. I felt good about the excessive attention towards me, but it was also very burdensome. And I concluded that the only way to escape this burden is for me to truly become strong.”

Lee Ahn was determined to train fiercely again. With this kind of effort, I believe she will eventually achieve whatever she sets out to do.

“That doesn’t mean I’ll just shut myself in the training ground. I’ll read a lot of books and meet people, like the Blood Heavens Saber Demon. I’ll become strong not just in martial arts, but as a person. That’s how I’ll be able to make Blue Face and Seo Jin my squad leaders, right? They won’t come to me just because my martial arts are strong.”

I believe she will become a true master. Because the direction of her efforts is towards becoming a true master.

In martial arts, talent and effort are important. What kind of martial art it is and who the master is are important. Practical experience is also important.

But the moment martial arts that have been driven to the extreme cross a certain level, she will realize, like me.

That the end of martial arts is ultimately a battle of what kind of person I am.

I consider the process of meeting and persuading the demon supremes as part of becoming stronger. I even consider the efforts I made to try to stop Gwi Ryeongja’s marriage as part of becoming stronger.

It’s nearly impossible to understand someone perfectly. But I finally realized that the more you broaden your understanding of people and the world, the closer you get to the essence of martial arts.

“Well, I’ll be going now. The alcohol has worn off, but my head is throbbing.”

As she turned to leave, I asked her,

“Lee Ahn.”

“Yes?”

“Let’s say you ended up drinking with the Drunken Demon.”

“Suddenly with the Drunken Demon Supreme?”

“You’re quite good in the world of drunks, aren’t you?”

“Well, that’s true.”

“I want to know what kind of person the Drunken Demon is, but you can only ask one question. What would you ask?”

Lee Ahn seemed to think deeply for a moment, then came up with something.

“That person must have drunk a lot of alcohol until now. Then I would ask this.”

As if the Drunken Demon was right in front of her, Lee Ahn asked,

“When and with whom was the most delicious alcohol you’ve ever had?”