“Let’s just eat together before parting,” Geom Mugeuk suggested.

Pyeonjung hesitated, stepping back. “No, that’s not necessary.”

“It’s strange not to eat on the last day after eating together every day on the way here, isn’t it?”

Strange or not, Geom Mugeuk was already tugging on his sleeve.

“Which inn here has the best food? Let’s go there.”

Led by Geom Mugeuk, the two walked through the market streets. Meeting such a good guest meant indulgence in fine food until the last day.

As they walked, a fierce-looking man blocked Pyeonjung and extended his hand.

From the money Pyeonjung had earned this time, he handed him a third.

The man took the money and left without a word—no greeting, no curses or threats. Geom Mugeuk felt this was even more ruthless. Before anger or sadness could arise, the hard-earned money simply vanished.

After a few steps, Pyeonjung sighed.

“At first, I protested that it was unfair, resisted even.”

He continued sharing his harsh past.

“I was beaten in front of my family. I endured that. But when that bastard put a knife to my son’s neck, I gave up everything.”

Now, he was surviving each day by scrimping and working harder out of despair.

Pyeonjung glanced at Geom Mugeuk. Geom Mugeuk said nothing.

“That place,” Pyeonjung said, “has the best cooking.”

Geom Mugeuk entered the inn, reserved a room for a while, then ate with Pyeonjung on the first floor. They ordered the inn’s best dishes and ate together.

‘With all this money, why borrow ten nyang? It only invites trouble,’ Pyeonjung thought cautiously.

“If you’re thinking of dealing with Tongjeonso, don’t. They aren’t ordinary ruffians. Their organization is large and widespread throughout Central Plains.”

Geom Mugeuk refilled his glass.

“You don’t have to worry about me.”

As usual, Geom Mugeuk quietly ate and drank, and Pyeonjung did the same.

When the meal ended, Geom Mugeuk said goodbye.

“You must be tired. Rest well after driving the carriage here.”

Geom Mugeuk called the innkeeper. He had a special reason for bringing Pyeonjung here. The innkeeper brought out some packaged dishes.

“I requested food the children would like. Take it and feed them.”

Noticing Pyeonjung’s thoughtful expression while eating, Geom Mugeuk realized he was thinking of his children.

Taking care even of his children moved Pyeonjung deeply.

“Why are you so kind to me?”

“It’s a reward for bringing me safely here.”

Choked up, Pyeonjung reflected on how, while he’d met good people and had lucky days, he’d never encountered such generosity.

After thanking Geom Mugeuk several times, Pyeonjung left carrying the food with both hands. His steps quickened, thinking how much his children would love it.

Pyeonjung might have thought the relationship between coachman and passenger ended upon arrival, but their connection was not over.

Watching him leave, Geom Mugeuk silently took out ten nyang from his pocket and looked down at it.

Deokchul was nervous.

After three months as a trainee investigator at Tongjeonso, he was finally going on his first official investigation.

‘Do well and be recognized.’

An investigator’s job was to visit the debtor’s address and confirm whether the parents or family actually lived there. This task was more important than collecting money—it ensured the family was held hostage to prevent escape.

As he neared the address, Deokchul’s tension rose.

‘I heard the cult’s main branch is here. This really is a demon’s lair.’

He had met countless demon-tainted people along the way.

Fearful, but unable to turn back. Doing well now meant he could become a full investigator.

After checking the address on paper, Deokchul moved on, acting as naturally as possible. Missteps in demon territory would be fatal, so he walked calmly as if familiar with the area.

Deokchul entered Maga Village. Passing street vendors selling various goods,

“Good things here! Take a look!”

The vendor with a goat beard called out. Deokchul couldn’t refuse and was pulled over. Saying no might have provoked the sinister goat-bearded man to call out a retired demon.

The stalls sold all kinds of items, from dolls carved from Cheonma souls to goods related to Majon. The white mask of Geugak Soma hung there.

‘These cult guys are insane. They sell everything.’

The Cheonma soul doll was truly frightening. Seeing it half-asleep might cause a seizure. Had the maker ever even seen a Cheonma soul? Probably not, since they only make and sell dolls.

Next to it stood Palmajon dolls.

The most eye-catching was undoubtedly a Kwonma doll. Twice the size of others, with a face as imposing as a Cheonma soul.

The goat-beard quickly explained,

“This is Lord Kwonma. Made very accurately to scale.”

A fist as big as a human head? Yeah, right.

Deokchul put down the Kwonma doll and looked at another nearby doll. It was strikingly different.

“That’s Duke Dok. Very handsome, right? Look at the twelve poison sacs there. Every wrinkle was made meticulously.”

The goat-beard spat as he introduced it, but Deokchul was skeptical.

‘Duke Dok this young and handsome? Even if I never saw him in person, this feels like a scam.’

What about the Ilhwa Geomjon doll? Clad in white martial robes, radiating mature beauty. Deokchul, unaware Geomjon was female, found it hard to believe.

‘They just make these up.’

What sealed Deokchul’s disbelief was the Mabul doll. Half the size of the others, shining golden.

‘They cut costs by making it half-sized.’

Besides, how could a human body glow gold?

Deokchul then picked up the doll of Hyeol Cheon Doma with his sharp gaze, and pulled out the Myeolcheon Daedo sword from his back. Nice.

Seeing the Geugak Soma doll wearing a white mask and crossing its arms arrogantly sent chills down his spine. He even tried the mask on his face for fun.

The puppeteer Seophon Majon doll and the drunken Majon doll reclining on a rock were also impressive. Though all were made whimsically.

“If you buy all the Palmajon dolls at once, I’ll give you a thirty percent discount.”

“I’ll come back next time.”

Trying to leave, the goat-beard blocked him, having realized Deokchul was a rookie from out of town.

His eyes said: You’re just looking around and going to leave? After pulling out the Myeolcheon Daedo and trying on the mask? Really?

Feeling obliged to buy something, Deokchul picked up the Hyeol Cheon Doma doll.

“Alright, I’ll buy this.”

Only then did the goat-beard smile broadly.

Just as Deokchul bought the doll under pressure and was turning to leave, a golden glow approached.

Deokchul closed his eyes tightly and reopened them. It wasn’t a hallucination. The real Mabul was walking toward him.

Deokchul looked again at the dolls on display.

“Exactly the same!”

As Mabul passed, he glanced at Deokchul. The Hyeol Cheon Doma doll in Deokchul’s hand ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ trembled.

‘Should I have bought the Mabul doll?’

His heart pounded. Surely he wouldn’t be killed just for buying the wrong doll?

At that moment, a voice came from the other side.

“Welcome.”

Deokchul turned to see a young man standing there.

It was Duke Geom Muyang.

“Duke.”

Deokchul held his breath.

‘Duke? Am I really standing here where the Cheonma Sin Gyo Duke and Mabul meet?’

Geom Muyang said to Mabul,

“Last time the Majon bought the drinks, so today it’s my turn.”

“Sounds good.”

Mabul smiled brightly and walked away. After Geom Mugeuk became the Little Pill Master, their relationship had improved.

Mabul had protected Geom Muyang, who failed to become Little Pill Master, until the end. A new friendship began once they stepped away from power.

As Mabul passed in front of Deokchul, he glanced at him. Somehow, Deokchul was now holding the Mabul doll that goat-beard had insisted he buy.

Having bought even the Mabul doll, Deokchul hurriedly left.

Loitering near the cult’s vicinity meant courting death. Time to check things out and return quickly.

“From Maga Village, walk five hundred steps west and turn the corner of the rocky mountain…”

Deokchul’s mouth dropped when he arrived there. He checked the paper in his hand again.

‘It’s definitely here.’

He looked up at the grand buildings before him.

Endless magnificent structures and towering giant demon statues—this was the Cheonma Sin Gyo main branch. He had never been here before. He checked the address again; it was indeed this place.

‘Damn it!’

Who the hell writes an address like this after borrowing money?

‘Ah! No, could this be someone working at the cult’s main branch?’

If so, he had to verify if the person listed here actually lived here.

Go ask at the main gate, “Does Geom Woojin live here?” And get your head cut off for asking about one of the residents?

‘What should I do? It’s my first official mission!’

Deokchul held his head, troubled beneath the huge walls of Cheonma Sin Gyo, when two people were walking toward him in the distance.

‘If they look approachable, I’ll ask them.’

But he could never ask them.

They were none other than Kwonma and Ian, just returned to the main branch.

As the large figures approached, Deokchul recognized the man. Where had he seen that huge frame before? At that moment, the image of the doll with a fist as big as a head sold by the vendor came to mind.

‘Kwonma!’

Startled, he stepped aside and bowed deeply. The two kept talking as they walked.

“Father.”

“Why do you call me that?”

Father and daughter? No way! Oh, she must have been kidnapped. Damn demon.

“I just called you that.”

“Too bland.”

“Father!”

“Cut it out!”

She probably wasn’t calling him that because she genuinely liked him. Was she signaling for help?

“Sorry, sir! There are very few people in the entire martial world who can save you from Kwonma!”

Unintentionally, Deokchul looked up once more to meet Kwonma’s gaze.

It was the first time he’d ever seen such a terrifying face. His legs trembled, and every hair on his body stood on end.

The scary doll the vendor sold couldn’t properly depict Kwonma. The real man was far scarier.

The dolls in his hands were Hyeol Cheon Doma and Mabul.

‘I should have bought the Kwonma doll!’

Meanwhile, the two passed by Deokchul.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Deokchul turned—only to see an old man wielding a giant sword walking toward him.

Deokchul looked at the man, then back at the doll in his hand. It was the same.

“Hyeol Cheon Doma?”

Deokchul felt like screaming.

Hyeol Cheon Doma looked at him sharply and suddenly said,

“What are you doing there?”

Startled, Deokchul was caught off guard. He hadn’t expected Hyeol Cheon Doma to speak to him. Unsure what to say, he raised the Hyeol Cheon Doma doll in front of him.

“Please save me! I bought this doll too.”

At that moment, a voice came from above.

“I’m waiting for my drinking companion to return.”

Deokchul looked up to see a man sitting on a high wall, drinking.

Deokchul realized the question wasn’t directed at him but at the man on the wall.

That man was Chwima.

“I rushed out when I heard you two had returned, but the one I want to see hasn’t come yet.”

Hyeol Cheon Doma started walking toward the main gate of Cheonma Sin Gyo, and Chwima resumed drinking.

Deokchul didn’t know how he got out of there. He ran and ran, finally bursting into a random tavern in Maga Village.

“Bring me some alcohol.”

He ordered a drink as soon as he sat down. His throat was dry, and his legs shook. Yet he couldn’t just leave. Returning without confirming his first official mission might extend his probation.

The one who brought the drink was Jo Chunbae. The tavern was called Pungnyu Tavern.

Lowering his voice, Jo Chunbae said,

“I accepted because your situation seems urgent, but there is a precious guest here, so please drink quietly.”

Deokchul drank greedily. Guest or not, he had to survive first. His heart pounded as if it might burst.

Jo Chunbae was about to leave when Deokchul asked,

“Owner, do you know where Geom Woojin lives around here?”

Suddenly, silence fell over the tavern.

All eyes turned to Deokchul, then back upstairs, where a man sat drinking with his back turned.

Reacting to the attention, Deokchul quickly asked,

“Is that him?”

Jo Chunbae answered in a trembling voice,

“Looks like it, but I don’t think he’s the one you’re looking for.”

“Everyone says no.”

They meant that during probation, they heard and saw nothing of the man. I don’t know him. He’s not my child. Contact’s been cut off long ago. No means no.

Without hesitation, Deokchul rushed upstairs.

‘No law says I have to die yet.’

To meet Geom Woojin here.

‘It must be heaven’s will for me to become a full investigator!’

On that floor, he approached Geom Woojin drinking alone and handed over the paper.

“Are you the person living at this address?”