As the woman approached, Seo Daeryong was flustered.

“Uh? She’s coming this way?”

“See? I told you.”

“She’s coming because you beckoned her. She’s going to say something like, ‘Why did you call me?’ Right? Then you should answer, ‘I called her to tease this friend here.’”

The closer she got, the more Seo Daeryong’s eyes ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) glazed over and his mouth slowly dropped open. She wore a veil, which only added to her mysterious aura. To Seo Daeryong, she looked like a celestial maiden descended from the heavens.

Of course, it was Iian. She stopped right in front of the two men.

Geom Muguk said to Iian,

“I told you I came with her, but you didn’t believe me.”

Then Iian gave a coquettish smile and said to Seo Daeryong,

“You’re Investigator Seo, right? I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Iian disguised her original voice and spoke in a modulated tone.

Surprised that the woman recognized him, Seo Daeryong quickly sent a private message to Geom Muguk.

― How does she know me?

― Because I told her.

― How? Why? You never said you knew such a beauty! You wouldn’t hide such a thing, given your personality! She has a beautiful heart and right arm, but to me, she has the most beautiful face!

As Seo Daeryong was busily sending messages, Iian smiled and said,

“You’re his right arm?”

At that moment, uncontrollable joy surged across Seo Daeryong’s face. That right arm position was exactly the coveted and significant post many desired.

“Oh, you even told her that?”

Blushing, Seo Daeryong’s shoulders puffed up proudly.

“She also said this?”

“What did she say?”

“That despite your ruthless, power-driven nature, you’re a man who loves only one woman; a rebel who stands alone when others stay silent; a pacifist; and a man who made a life-changing decision over a drink at the inn.”

Seo Daeryong was stunned. The beautiful woman had recited words he used to joke about. He looked at Geom Muguk with an incredulous expression.

“You really gave a detailed introduction.”

“And also, I heard you regularly hold drinking gatherings.”

“Even that?”

Seo Daeryong was embarrassed. Such a beauty knew far too much about him.

‘Why would the chief tell her so much about me?’

Still, he didn’t feel bad. How could it be unpleasant that a rare beauty knew him so well?

He had always been confident. If anyone tried to use a beauty trap on him, he wouldn’t fall for it. He lived by the belief that the heart mattered more than looks. Especially in a martial world rife with techniques like the Red Face Art that concealed age and drained vitality.

But seeing this woman, he thought it wouldn’t be easy to refuse if she deliberately tried to seduce him. She was unrelated to him, yet he wanted to look good for her.

“Don’t you hold drinking gatherings these days?”

“One person is missing, so we postponed it temporarily.”

Realizing something, Seo Daeryong asked Geom Muguk,

“Ah! What about this warrior?”

“You ask quickly.”

Geom Muguk’s expression turned gloomy.

“You won’t see her anymore.”

Seo Daeryong flinched.

“Why?”

“……”

“Don’t tell me? Nothing happened, right?”

“What if something did?”

“Why say that? Don’t play such boring jokes. Other pranks can cause harm, but not these. They won’t work on me.”

“It’s no joke. You won’t see that Iian anymore.”

Seo Daeryong stared at Geom Muguk, then laughed.

“Want to know the main reason such jokes don’t work?”

“What?”

“Because of the chief.”

“Me? Why?”

“We went out together, and if something happened to this warrior, that would be impossible.”

Then Seo Daeryong’s thoughts drifted somewhere.

“Oh, come to think of it, chief, you’re really harsh.”

“What now?”

A private message arrived.

― Meeting such a beauty and then abandoning our warrior so quickly. As a fellow man, I understand, but you shouldn’t do that to her. You know how much she thinks about you. Where is she? Don’t tell me you sent her to training right away? If so, I’ll be disappointed in you.

― Hey, let me speak too.

― Enough. Hand over this warrior! No, I’ll come find her myself.

Seo Daeryong smiled and asked Iian,

“Have you seen a woman with a commanding presence?”

“Oh, yes.”

Seo Daeryong looked at Geom Muguk with a knowing expression.

― Such jokes don’t work. I’m the top recruit of the Yellow Spring Division, and from now on, I’ll call you the Colorful Chief.

― What did I do?

― You abandoned this warrior and brought that beauty! I’m really upset. Suddenly, even the innocent beauty looks bad.

Seo Daeryong greeted Iian.

“See you next time.”

As he walked toward Iian’s lodging, Seo Daeryong sighed inwardly.

‘Ah, I didn’t even ask her name. Well, I probably won’t see her again anyway.’

Then Iian spoke from behind.

“She’s not at the training grounds now.”

“What?”

How did she know he was going to the training grounds to look for her?

Seo Daeryong was surprised, and Geom Muguk said something even more surprising.

“She told me everything you sent in your messages.”

Seo Daeryong was startled.

― Why?

― Speak, not message.

Seo Daeryong looked baffled.

“Why send her messages? No matter how beautiful, chief, this isn’t like you. You’ve really changed.”

Then Iian said,

“I’ve changed too, haven’t I?”

What strange words were those? Seo Daeryong blinked, and Iian pulled out a dagger from her bosom.

It was the very dagger made by melting Gowol’s eternal iron shackles.

Seeing the dagger, Seo Daeryong was shocked and confronted Geom Muguk.

“Why does she have this dagger?”

Seo Daeryong’s suspicious eyes stared at Geom Muguk, who flinched.

“Don’t tell me you took the dagger from the warrior and gave it to this lady? No, right? That dagger belongs to the chief?”

“My dagger is here. That one belongs to Iian.”

Geom Muguk pulled out his own dagger to show, and Seo Daeryong shouted.

“You really can’t do this! That’s too much!”

For the first time, Seo Daeryong scolded Geom Muguk fiercely.

Geom Muguk just smiled. Seo Daeryong grew angrier as he saw the smile.

“What exactly happened while you were out? Are you crazy about women? That dagger was shared among those present that day. Of course, it was given by the chief, but it’s still a dagger with great meaning to all of us. And you took the warrior’s dagger and gave it to that woman? Who will get the next beauty’s dagger? Here, take it in advance. No, you can’t take this. My dagger is for the warrior.”

“I didn’t know you cared so much about Iian.”

“She’s a close friend I can tell everything to. My drinking buddy.”

At that moment, Iian said,

“Shall we go have a drink?”

Seo Daeryong flinched. He couldn’t immediately say no. Still, he clenched his teeth to refuse.

“Now is a bit difficult.”

Seo Daeryong sighed inwardly.

‘I refused a drink from a beauty I’ll never see again! Why meet at such a time? Ah, what a miserable life.’

But Iian was first.

“I need to take care of my abandoned drinking buddy first. Well then, bye.”

“Thank you for thinking of me so much.”

Seo Daeryong looked at Iian with a puzzled expression.

Iian removed her veil. At that moment, it seemed as if light radiated from her face.

Seo Daeryong’s eyes widened at her revealed beauty, but he quickly hardened his expression. This was no time to admire such beauty.

“I still won’t go! I can’t!”

“Didn’t we promise to drink all night when I come back?”

“Huh?”

“It’s me. Iian.”

Seo Daeryong, caught in chaos, just blinked.

“In autumn, the three of us planned to go to Mount Daecheon to see the fall foliage and drink; in winter, drink while watching the snow, right?”

When Iian spoke in her original voice, Seo Daeryong was startled.

“The voice is right! You really are the warrior?”

“Yes, it’s me.”

“...No, you’re not.”

“I’ll explain everything while drinking with Lord Jang.”

Because it was Iian speaking, Seo Daeryong finally realized it was really her.

“You really are the warrior!”

Seo Daeryong glanced at Geom Muguk for final confirmation. Geom Muguk nodded.

“What’s all this about? Colorful Chief? Crazy for women?”

“Ah! Sorry!”

Still bewildered, Geom Muguk smiled.

“No, well done. You scored major points with Iian today.”

Then Iian loudly declared,

“I’m buying all the drinks today.”

“Whaaaat! Sounds great!”

Iian looked at Geom Muguk.

“Can we go drinking? Including Lord Jang?”

The joy and excitement of how difficult the Shin Dokjeonghwa Technique was and how wonderful and fun the trip had been showed clearly on her face, making Geom Muguk smile naturally.

“Drink to your heart’s content today!”

Watching Iian and Seo Daeryong happily walk away, Geom Muguk slowly headed toward the Heavenly Demon Hall.

The Heavenly Demon Hall remained unchanged.

Beyond the path of blood, my father was seated. I slowly walked across the crimson carpet to where he was.

Seeing my father again brought me great joy. I never thought his stern expression and gaze could feel so welcoming.

“Father, have you been well? I thought I would die without seeing you.”

I bowed deeply.

“You look like you’ve returned from a war.”

“I fought a great war.”

“You only got involved because of the Demonic Alliance nonsense.”

“It wasn’t nonsense. At least we judged that it was better for us to control Bisan than Sekgwanchu’s grandson.”

It would have been more accurate to say “better people,” but I said “better control.” Father hated and was wary of rash judgments about people.

“It would have been better for us if Sekgwanchu’s grandson became successor.”

“Why is that?”

“He’s much greedier.”

“But wouldn’t the martial world be more chaotic then?”

“What does that matter to us?”

I knew those words were sincere. The main sect grew stronger when the martial world grew chaotic.

Father, we can’t keep growing by feeding on blood forever, can we?

“Why didn’t you come straight back? Didn’t you worry your brother would control the demon lords?”

“I worried.”

“Then why?”

“I never planned to make all the demon lords mine.”

“Why?”

“Because then my brother would be cornered.”

“!”

“Then he would make the worst, irreversible choice. A choice I cannot let go unchallenged. I said the bloodshed in the succession struggle would stop with me.”

Father could not hide his surprise.

“You planned to open a loophole because of that? You really thought that far?”

“I have to. When I think of what I gain by fighting, I must think deeper and further. I will fight cleverly while taking credit with you.”

Father silently stared at me. I quietly stared back.

“I have one question.”

“What is it?”

“When Sekgwanchu or his master Baekmangki made moves, did you worry even a little about me?”

“No.”

“Why not? Did you trust me that much?”

“I didn’t trust you. I trusted Geukak.”

“You trusted the Fierce Evil Demon?”

“Yes. If he had been by your side, he would have judged it a fight worth having. I trusted Geukak’s judgment.”

“Please trust your son more from now on.”

“If I had used you as a standard, the sect would have sent troops to rescue you.”

“When will I become a trusted son?”

Father still looked doubtful at my exaggerated words. Maybe if I became an immortal, ascending to heaven, he would still look at me with that expression, warning not to trust immortals!

“Go rest.”

“Then I will take my leave.”

As I turned to leave, Father spoke behind me.

“Welcome back.”

Hearing that simple phrase made my chest tighten. Though brief, it was the one thing I most wanted to hear from him.

I turned silently, bowing my head toward him.

Thank you for steadfastly guarding this place, Father.

After leaving the Heavenly Demon Hall, I headed toward the next person I most wanted to see after Father.