I ponder for a moment where I can take the Sword Demon and Pervert Demon.
There are spots such as Black Rabbit Union or Deuksoo hyung’s store.
Wherever it may be I intend to host them properly.
Thanks to them exterminating the Four Flow Valley was a breeze. Of course I destroyed the hideout using my incomplete secret weapon but the leader of the Four Flow Valley was killed by the Sword Demon.
To be honest they had no good reason to help me.
And yet I received help so I should treat them to pork ribs…
Following my stream of thoughts I head to the Chunyang Restaurant.
“There’s this shabby restaurant and food I eat often. Is that okay?”
The Sword Demon nods.
“Sounds good.”
“Let’s go.”
I don’t ask the Sword Demon anything while we head to the restaurant. I’m not going to ask him either. The conversation between Moyong Baek and the Sword Demon is only theirs to know.
But I forget for a moment that a piece of dogshit is beside me.
“How was it Master? The young practitioner looked very calm.”
The Sword Demon replies.
“He’s young.”
“Yes.”
“He is calm and has a deep-rooted mindset so if he masters martial arts properly he will become a capable man. If you bump into him next time treat him with respect.”
“I understand.”
The Sword Demon who is walking on the street then says in a calm tone.
“It was a brief chat but I learned much from the young doctor.”
The Sword Demon doesn’t bother to thank me. Perhaps that sentence itself is an expression of gratitude.
I just nod a few times while we walk down the street.
‘It wasn’t a bad first impression.’
In my opinion a Great Doctor is a person who has a good grasp of the patient’s feelings. How can they heal patients’ bodies when they can’t even understand the patient’s minds?
Anyhow Moyong Baek was a Great Doctor before fate made him into the Poison Demon.
The meeting between Sword Demon and Moyong Baek didn’t go as badly as my baseless assumptions thought they might. Of course I think it is appropriate to not introduce the Pervert Demon.
Neither I nor the Sword Demon can deal with this lunatic. Moyong Baek wouldn’t have a better time with it either.
We can’t easily solve some things even if the three of us work together.
That’s the case for the Pervert Demon.
By my standards he’s a total nutjob.
When we enter the restaurant Jang Deuk-soo who is slurping noodles alone halts his chopsticks.
“Oh?”
I grinned while looking at Deuk-soo hyung.
“I’m back.”
Jang Deuk-soo smiles and replies as the Sword Demon and Pervert Demon enter behind me.
“Oh you’re still alive. I haven’t seen you around these days.”
Jang Deuk-soo whose laughter disappears as soon as he makes eye contact with the Sword Demon greets my companions.
“W-Welcome.”
I take a seat at the table and say.
“Deuk-soo hyung can you make pork ribs today?”
Jang Deuk-soo immediately glances at the Sword Demon and Pervert Demon before replying.
“Today’s one of the days that I have to. Even if I can’t it’ll be out in a bit. Wait.”
“Nice.”
Jang Deuk-soo smiles at the Sword Demon and says.
“Please hold on a moment.”
When the Sword Demon nods Jang Deuk-soo retreats to the kitchen with wide eyes.
In fact even guys like Pervert Demon and I will often think that the Sword Demon’s aura is intimidating. In the eyes of Deuk-soo who has not learned martial arts it is natural to be nervous because a dangerous man is coming into his store.
The Pervert Demon whispers.
“Master.”
“What is it?”
“I’ve never come to such a shabby store.”
The Sword Demon replies as he looks at his disciple.
“Shut up.”
“Yes sir.”
The Pervert Demon glances at me unconsciously and quickly averts his eyes. Regardless of the eye contact I add.
“Dumbass.”
Looking at the empty table I stand up bring a kettle and a glass of water by myself and set it down on the table. I have no choice but to do it because Deuk-soo hyung is busy.
The Sword Demon and Pervert Demon watch me silently.
Maybe the silence is awkward so the Pervert Demon picks a fight with me.
“This job suits you.”
I nod.
“I used to be an errand boy.”
“….”
After I sit back down I cross my arms and glare at the Pervert Demon.
“That’s me.”
The Sword Demon asks me.
“Is that the truth?”
“Yes did you see the construction site outside on your way here?”
“I saw.”
“It’s a guest inn named after me the Zaha Inn. I’m thinking of turning that place into my quarters. Though there’s no point for me to stay there for long.”
The Sword Demon replies with a puzzled look.
“You have already entered Kangho. Why do you want to open a guest inn?”
I answer without much thought.
“I’m making it because it’s where my house used to be. I’m in Kangho but I should have a home I can return to. If I die away from home then it can’t be helped.”
I point to the kitchen.
“He’s going to be the main cook of Zaha Inn. He is also a member of the Low Down Sect.”
The Sword Demon replies.
“How many people are there in the sect?”
“I don’t know. No one will know. Not now not ever. I’ll keep staying clueless.”
The Pervert Demon replies.
“What a mess.”
“That’s what it is. But what’s important is not that I don’t know but that it will continue expanding.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I meant that there are many in the Low Down Sect because they are mostly workers like Deuk-soo who’s in the kitchen.”
“Then it’s not a faction at all?”
I glare at the Pervert Demon and say.
“Who are you to define a faction? You shithead. What do you know?”
The Pervert Demon looks at his master.
“Master do factions like this exist?”
This guy always looks for his master whenever he’s out of words these days.
The Sword Demon nods.
“Even the Beggars’ Sect consisting of beggars is a powerful force. Why is the Low Down Sect not a faction? When the leader says it’s a faction it’s a faction.”
“I see.”
After a while Pervert Demon asks curiously.
“But why does their sect leader continue to be a beggar despite being powerful enough? I wonder about this often.”
The Sword Demon answers simply.
“That’s because beggars continue to appear.”
“Hmm.”
“There are people who lost all their wealth orphans and those who cannot work for various reasons. Just as traitors are gathering under one house. The Beggars’ Sect exists because there are beggars. I’m not trying to differentiate ranks but anyway just understand that there’s a similar sect called the Low Down Sect. It looks like the leader wants to protect the working class….”
I nod.
“That’s right.”
The Sword Demon tells me.
“But you will have more enemies than the Beggars’ Sect. And you’ll be involved with the Orthodox Faction more often.”
“That’s what I’d hope for.”
The Sword Demon grins when he hears my answer.
Later the three of us look at the kitchen. Jang Deuk-soo brings out a large pot and scoops the pork ribs into bowls. Before I can even get a bite a distinctive scent wafts through my nose.
Jang Deuk-soo who is distributing the pork ribs in a bowl asks me.
“Alcohol?”
I reply with a nod.
“That would be nice. By the way did the scent change a little?”
“The ingredients are simple since it’s only for us to eat. Food presentation is important when presented at the Zaha Inn so I added seasoning. Seeing food with your eyes and scent is important before eating. It’ll taste similar.”
A pork rib is placed in front of me too.
I see the Pervert Demon and Sword Demon pick up their chopsticks and leave them be.
“Let’s dig in.”
I grab the bone of the ribs with my hand and rip the meat off. Deuk-soo also sits at a table a distance away and eats pork ribs with his hands. After tearing and nibbling at all the meat I put the bone down.
Meanwhile the Pervert Demon is using chopsticks and making a fool of himself.
Does he have to keep his hands clean so he can touch women? He looks like a madman who is always prepared to seduce a woman.
The Sword Demon has put down his chopsticks and is eating the pig ribs with his hands as he meets my eyes.
“….”
“How was it?”
The Sword Demon answers in a firm tone as he pulls the bone out of his mouth.
“…Very delicious.”
He says it is great but his expression says the opposite. It is funny because a man with no interest in eating is forcefully saying that.
Indeed he is a human who greatly lacks emotion in things other than martial arts.
I drink alone and wash down the flesh with alcohol.
For a moment sleepiness crashes into me like angry waves.
“Ah…”
The Sword Demon looks at my expression and says.
“Leader are you okay?”
“I’m all right.”
Only then am I sure about my condition.
Whenever something is added to the Heavenly Pearl fatigue rushes in rapidly. I am always sleepy when I take the panacea and suck someone’s energy with the Great Absorption Technique combined with the Heavenly Pearl. The condition must have gotten worse because I was swarmed by the assassins.
The Sword Demon notices my condition.
“Do you have a sleep disorder?”
“I think so.”
“Because of martial arts?”
I nod.
“Perhaps so.”
“When was the last time you slept?”
“I don’t remember.”
Feeling my eyelids becoming heavy I eat the whole pork rib. Come to think of it I think that if I start the Qi Circulation of Shadow Moon Martial Arts it will not be that hard to break through the Waxing Moon Ice Technique.
To be honest the speed at which I become strong is unrealistically fast.
In a way it is natural that the body needs rest.
The Sword Demon asks me while eating the ribs.
“What are your plans from now on?”
Pouring Dukuang liquor for the Sword Demon I say.
“There is no such thing. Life is always colorful except for the goal of being strong. Getting drunk and eating meals and once my sleepiness goes away I plan to probe into the Orthodox Factions again. There must be many strong people there and many people that annoy me…”
The Pervert Demon holds out his glass so I pour one for myself.
“Pour it yourself.”
The Sword Demon says as he drinks his Dukuang liquor.
“Doctor Moyong said this to me.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“One day when things get too difficult he tells me to hand over the Light Ray Sword to you.”
“I don’t need the sword.”
“I know.”
Only then do I understand what he means. I look at the Sword Demon and nod.
“If you’re having a hard time please hand it over anytime.”
“What are you going to do if I pass it to you?”
“Watching you fight I can tell it’s not an ordinary Demon Sword. A ghost might attack me if I tried to break the sword. I’ll find a very desolate place where people don’t come and bury it deep under.”
Suddenly a scene from my past life that I don’t even know about comes to mind. It is a scene where the Sword Demon wanders into the wilderness and buries the Light Ray Sword himself. The imagination is always wild and free.
The Sword Demon replies.
“Please do.”
I’m not a man who comforts people easily so I tease the Sword Demon
“Sunbae don’t look so down. This is not like you. If your skills differ so much with or without a sword you aren’t that strong to begin with.”
The Pervert Demon intervenes with narrowed brows.
“How dare you say that?”
Ignoring the Pervert Demon’s words I continue.
“You’re just a man who can fight the Alliance Leader.”
The Sword Demon’s face changes.
“Isn’t that being strong?”
“Shut up.”
“….”
I stare at the Sword Demon and Pervert Demon before saying.
“If a man enters Kangho it is natural to aim to become the best in the world. I don’t think I’ll respect you much if you become the greatest in the world with the Light Ray Sword. I’d be ashamed of the Sword Demon nickname.”
The Sword Demon replies.
“Do you mean it?”
“I mean it.”
The Sword Demon nods.
“I think so too. I’m well aware of it. That’s why I’ve been suffering all this while.”
Only then does Pervert Demon shut up.
I put my thoughts in my mouth after a long time.
“It’s extremely difficult to be the greatest in the world anyway. If it is difficult regardless of having the Light Ray Sword I hope you’ll choose a more meaningful path. We are men who live with difficulties anyway….”
Curious the Sword Demon asks.
“I’ll consider it. But why didn’t you introduce my disciple to Doctor Moyong? When we talked he was so wise he didn’t seem like his age.”
I drink and stare at the Pervert Demon.
“This guy is…”
The Pervert Demon replies with a frown.
“Is what?”
“Let’s give up. Things never go the way you want. If you can’t change him then nobody can help him.”
Jang Deuk-soo who is eating pork ribs beside us asks curiously.
“Does he have any illness?
Shithead is surprised and stares at Jang Deuk-soo.
“…!”
Jang Deuk-soo looks at me with wide-open eyes wondering if he said anything wrong.
“…!”
I point my finger at the shithead to solve Jang Deuk-soo’s curiosity.
“He’s a Pervert Demon.”
Jang Deuk-soo understands right away.
“Ah…”
I retrieve my finger with a deep sigh. I can’t believe I returned to the past and have given the Left Hand of Illuminating Light’s nickname myself…
You can never predict what will happen in the future.
