The owner of the pleasure tavern, Jo Chun-bae, greeted me. He looked so delighted, as if an ancestor thought dead had come back to life, that I almost felt sorry for him.

“Welcome back. You have no idea how much I wanted to see you.”

“Owner, have you made a lot of money lately?”

“I have. Thanks to Lord Soma, business has been good.”

Thanks to the Yellow Spring Division branch that I had maintained for a while but thought would disappear, Maga Village had been significantly purified. Especially since drunkards who caused trouble or left without paying had almost vanished, doing business became incredibly easy.

“You’d better prepare plenty of drinks today.”

“Because it’s a long-awaited reunion.”

“Not just that. A new drinker is coming today.”

“A drinker?”

“You’ll see soon enough.”

I went upstairs.

Only Seo Daeryong and Jangho were there. Jangho jumped up and greeted me.

“Long time no see.”

“How have you been?”

I firmly shook his thick hand.

“Now that the Maga Army is settled, things are easier than before. If you need anything done, just say the word.”

Jangho’s gaze toward me hadn’t changed.

No matter if I came after a year or ten, that look would remain the same.

He’s the kind of man who repays one favor tenfold, and even after repaying tenfold, believes he hasn’t fully repaid the debt.

That is exactly the kind of person Jangho is.

Because of that noble loyalty, I will protect it well. I want to raise him into a great tree and rest under its lush shade. Sitting alone on the stump, reminiscing about old times, is not even a thought.

After exchanging greetings with Jangho, Seo Daeryong spoke.

“I told Lord Jang and this warrior who came later who would be arriving. The warrior left just now, saying there was urgent business.”

I could tell without being told why she left. Even though my presence ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ would have prevented any problem, she probably worried just in case. Her care for me still outweighed her enjoyment. She’s probably sweating it out in the training grounds by now.

“And I also informed Lord Jang about what happened earlier today.”

I could still feel Seo Daeryong’s unresolved heat. It was even stronger than before. Unexpressed feelings tend to grow inside.

“You told me to drink and get drunk, right? Then today, you should let all your feelings out.”

“What if I die doing that?”

“If you do, then you’ll become Lord Jang here.”

Jangho smiled faintly and filled Seo Daeryong’s cup with liquor. That silent support was a great strength to her. The reason Seo Daeryong looks up to Jangho is likely because of this attractive side of him.

After we all emptied our reunion drinks, I said what Seo Daeryong needed to hear most.

“It’s natural to be scared. If you’re scared, then be scared. You need to be afraid of what’s scary for your instincts to work well. You have to know exactly what scares you, when you react, and what your limits are.”

While we were talking like that, two people entered the tavern: Chwima and Yeobin.

Jo Chun-bae was genuinely surprised when he recognized the guests. He was happier than when any other powerful Ma Jon had visited. Welcoming Chwima as a tavern guest meant more than just business to him.

“It’s an honor to have you visit, Great Drunken Demon!”

He bowed respectfully.

When the guests were revealed to be Chwima, the surrounding customers fell silent.

Chwima glanced around and said,

“You’re the people I love most in the world. Drink up! I’m paying for all the drinks today.”

The drinkers cheered at his words.

Watching from the second floor, I shouted,

“Handsome! The most handsome among the Ma Jons!”

Chwima looked up at me and laughed.

“Double the drinks and snacks for that seat!”

At his words, praises of handsomeness poured from all directions.

“There! That seat too! Give it to them all!”

Applause erupted, and the drinkers cheered. The vast gap that usually exists between Ma Jons and tavern drinkers vanished in an instant thanks to Chwima.

Chwima even went to the spot near the stairs leading to this floor and poured drinks. The drinker there trembled as he received the drink, but it became a lifelong proud moment. Envious cheers and exclamations rang out from all around.

Seeing how quickly Chwima blended and mingled with the drinkers made me realize that he truly was Chwima.

After sweeping through the first floor, Chwima came upstairs.

“Lord Lee, I’m here.”

“Welcome.”

Chwima brought Yeobin with him as his subordinate.

“This is Yeobin, one of my three great drinkers of Daechwirim.”

Seo Daeryong and Jangho greeted Chwima and Yeobin.

After the greetings, we sat together.

“I’ve heard that Lord Lee’s bodyguards have become more beautiful, but today none are in sight? What a pity. You should have shown off that handsome face!”

Chwima knew a lot about me. I began to think that he might also know well about Seo Daeryong and Jangho.

“It seems, Drunken Demon, that you really are a walking prejudice.”

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t you think people who like drinking usually aren’t very informed?”

“They spend a lot of time drunk, so they have to be well informed!”

“That’s true, but most drinkers don’t live that way.”

Suddenly, I thought that if I peeled away the layers of his prejudice, I might finally see the real Chwima.

“Miss Warrior, do you drink well?”

“Yes, I like it.”

She answered shortly to my question. Compared to when I met her at Daechwirim, she seemed a bit tense. She probably was cautious in front of Chwima.

I glanced at Seo Daeryong. She was nervously watching Chwima and Yeobin.

I sent Seo Daeryong a silent message.

—When will you make your move?

—Wouldn’t it spoil the mood to start now?

—If you’re going to do it, do it now. If you get drunk and mess up, you might really die.

—Please don’t pour wine on my grave. Just plant flowers I grow.

I didn’t know whether Seo Daeryong would hold back or blurt something out drunk. Either way, I believed it would be a helpful experience for her.

At that moment, Jo Chun-bae brought up a bottle of liquor I hadn’t seen before.

“This is a special bottle I saved for when Drunken Demon would someday visit our tavern.”

Chwima sniffed and widened his eyes.

“Phoenix Dongju?”

“Oh! You can recognize it just by the smell! That’s impressive.”

“How could I not know this rare famous liquor brewed from over two hundred kinds of medicinal herbs? How did you get this precious drink?”

“I once worked at a distillery in Guizhou. The master who taught me gave it as a parting gift.”

“May I have this precious liquor?”

“I sell drinks in front of the Heavenly Demon Sect’s courtyard; who else would I give it to? I’ve been waiting for this day.”

“Thank you.”

I looked at Jo Chun-bae and pretended to be sulky.

“Owner! You never gave this to me even though I came so often!”

Jo Chun-bae laughed and said,

“This is a liquor for true connoisseurs.”

At least this bottle seemed reserved for the day Chwima and I’s fates would connect. Then he expressed his gratitude to me.

“Thanks to Lord Soma, I’ve fulfilled a lifelong wish. Thank you.”

Chwima poured the Phoenix Dongju and served each of us a glass. He also poured some for Jo Chun-bae, who kept refusing.

“Give the rest of the liquor downstairs and share a little with everyone.”

Hearing that, I was quietly moved by Chwima. I didn’t know what kind of person he was, but at least the generosity of sharing such a precious liquor with all the drinkers was admirable.

“Thank you. Everyone will like it.”

Sure enough, a cheer erupted from downstairs shortly after.

“Come on, let’s drink!”

Chwima raised his glass, and everyone in the tavern toasted together.

Whether because of the fine liquor or the mood, the taste was amazing.

“Thanks for the good drink.”

“Is that thanks to me? No, it’s thanks to this young lord.”

“What do you mean?”

“If it weren’t for you, this tavern wouldn’t have had the chance to see me. So it’s thanks to you.”

He knew how to make others feel good. The reason I didn’t often flatter him was because he made me feel good first.

When Chwima drank three consecutive cups, I said,

“Please eat some snacks.”

As soon as I said that, the chopsticks in front of him lifted slightly. I lifted the chopsticks with my inner power.

Then the chopsticks lowered again—this time Chwima lowered them with his inner power.

The chopsticks rose and fell; our battle of inner energy had begun.

Seo Daeryong, Jangho, and Yeobin watched with slightly tense expressions.

Chwima’s inner power was stronger than I expected. Of course, I could have defeated him with my inner power, but I yielded and stepped back at some point.

The chopsticks landed on the table.

“Lord Lee, your inner power is impressive.”

“You said drinking makes it thirty percent stronger?”

I drank the liquor before me and lifted the chopsticks again.

This time, Chwima did not block it with his inner power. He picked up the chopsticks and ate the snacks, as if conceding defeat.

“Is that enough now?”

“Yes.”

“Like last time. Why are real men so obsessed with snacks?”

“It’s not about men or women. It’s not about being a great man or a small-minded one. It’s just about health.”

“If you eat snacks, you drink less.”

“That’s why you should eat them. At least once, have snacks with three cups of liquor.”

At that moment, I saw Yeobin slightly bow her head toward me. It was a thank-you. From that, I could tell she genuinely cared about Chwima.

Chwima asked me,

“Why do you care about my health so much?”

After a pause, I said,

“Because I don’t know yet what kind of relationship we’ll have. What if we become close, but you die from alcohol poisoning?”

“What? Me? Die from alcohol poisoning?”

He laughed harder than he ever had since meeting me, but I didn’t laugh.

“You’re a strange man.”

“In what way?”

“You’re the only one who’s ever worried I’d die from alcohol poisoning. No one I meet in the future will worry like that.”

“There must be others besides me. They’re just too shy to say it because you’re hard to approach.”

“Fine, let’s say that’s true. But what if we become enemies? Wouldn’t it be better to die young from alcohol poisoning?”

“I don’t want to hear excuses like that. If I die, it’ll be by my sword. We’re enemies, right?”

The somewhat harsh words froze the atmosphere for a moment, but Chwima wasn’t offended at all. Rather, he smiled and drank. Then he defiantly ate the snacks. Enough? Yes!

The mood grew even better. While drinking a few more cups, Seo Daeryong sent me a silent message.

—I admit I deserve to be called a coward from now on. Add “coward” to my introduction.

She had decided to endure it. It wouldn’t be easy to spoil this cheerful mood led by Chwima by pouring cold water on it.

—I keep thinking of reasons not to be brave. The guy who deserved to die is dead anyway, so why get so involved? The female warrior was just following orders. If I complain, I might get killed.

—Hey, coward.

Seo Daeryong lifted her head from her glass and looked at me.

I offered my glass. What more needed to be said? This is how you grow by going through all this.

Seo Daeryong smiled faintly and toasted me.

Watching that, Chwima said to Seo Daeryong,

“You’re a disciple of Blood Heaven Butcher, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

She didn’t get along well with Blood Heaven Butcher. How would Chwima react? He might mock Blood Heaven Butcher or ridicule Seo Daeryong.

But instead, unexpected words came out.

“I like your vibe.”

“What?”

“As a warrior, your vibe is good. Do well from now on.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Seo Daeryong, who was very nervous about what to say, was embarrassed. She didn’t expect such praise from Chwima. Still, hearing it cheered her up.

As she grinned and drank, she caught my eye and sent an embarrassed silent message.

—Yes, this is me! Next to my master, the best Ma Jon is Chwima. This is me! What can I do if I’m like this?

—I never said that.

We drank again. Drinking with Chwima always loosened hearts. Seo Daeryong, Jangho, and Yeobin chatted happily, enjoying the mood.

Never forget: Chwima is someone who can change the atmosphere of a drinking party with a joke or a gesture. We were fortunate to be at that drinking party. He is a man who made his history through liquor.

Just as the laughter and chatter reached their peak, Chwima asked me,

“So, how is it? Shall we become sworn brothers now?”

His words drew the eyes of the three at the table toward me and Chwima. For a Ma Jon to propose sworn brotherhood with the bloodline of the Heavenly Demon was rare indeed.

Chwima, what are you thinking when you say this to me? Is it the sincere truth of a drunkard that will disappear when sober? Or is it a thoroughly calculated plan?

At that moment, the bustling tavern quieted down.

Looking down, someone was entering the tavern.

It was someone even I didn’t expect to come—a person radiating a cold aura, wearing a great sword: Blood Heaven Butcher himself.

He slowly walked upstairs and sat between Chwima and me.

“Pour me a drink too.”