Chapter 84: This Is My Usual Spot

TL: FoodieMonster007

I entered the Demon Village with my father.

Walking through the market with him felt strange and new. First times always held a certain thrill.

"How long has it been since you've been out in the Demon Village?"

"It's been a while."

His tone suggested a long time had passed since he last came here.

"It feels good to get some fresh air, doesn't it?"

I wondered what this street meant to my father.

We walked slowly. We took in the shops lining the street, the vendors in front of them, and the people coming and going.

It seemed people were born with a certain presence. Father did not circulate his inner arts or emit any qi, yet the path before him cleared naturally.

Everyone unconsciously stepped aside, avoiding his path. He possessed something more than simple presence.

I stopped in front of a drapery shop that sold silk and clothes.

"Father, since we're out to commemorate this, why don't we get matching martial arts uniforms?"

"I have dozens of martial arts uniforms made by master tailors."

"But you don't have a martial arts uniform you got with your son, do you? Just one. Please?"

I entered the shop first. Father followed me inside, pretending he could not refuse.

All sorts of silks, fabrics, and clothes were piled high inside the shop.

I hurried to pick a martial arts uniform before my father could change his mind.

"How about that martial arts uniform hanging over there?"

It was a uniform embroidered with the Heavenly Demon Soul, our Cult's symbol. The pattern was not supposed to be used without permission. However, attempts to stop its sale failed, so it had been tacitly allowed as a souvenir for some time.

Father, however, pointed somewhere else.

"What about that one?"

He indicated a brilliant white martial arts uniform. Plum blossoms embroidered on the arms and legs made it look like something from the orthodox sects.

"You want to get that one?"

"Didn't you say we should visit the Central Plains next time? We can't exactly wear something like that then, can we?"

"!"

I was truly stunned. He actually remembered me saying we should visit the Central Plains together.

"I like it too. We'll take two of that martial arts uniform."

Surprisingly, my father paid for them.

"You said you were buying the meal, right? I'll buy the clothes."

"Thank you, Father."

I carefully took the two paper-wrapped martial arts uniforms.

I wanted to say many things but kept them to myself. I felt that any unnecessary fuss would make my father respond with a sharp remark to dispel the awkwardness. For now, it was best to just enjoy this feeling and the moment.

"So where are you buying this meal?"

"Over there."

I led my father to the Alluring Inn.

I should have taken him to the best inn, tavern, or brothel to treat him properly, but I did not want to. The Demon Supremes likely frequented the best places, and I thought a place meaningful to me would be better.

"This is my usual spot."

Jo Cheonbae greeted us with a wide smile.

"You've brought a guest I haven't seen before today."

"He's not a guest, he's family."

"This is the first time with family. Right? Huh? Family? If you say family…"

A startled Jo Cheonbae studied my father.

He could not see my father's face because of the bamboo hat, but after confirming the man's aura was not young, Jo Cheonbae unconsciously took a step back.

Then, he asked me with his eyes.

It's not him, right? It really can't be, right?

I answered with a nod.

That's right, innkeeper. It's the man you're thinking of.

Realizing the person with me was the Heavenly Demon, Jo Cheonbae turned pale. He began to tremble like an aspen leaf. How could I miss out on such great fun?

I ordered the dishes my father had chosen.

"Now, please make it delicious."

"……"

Jo Cheonbae's legs shook as he walked to the kitchen. Because of that, he heard my telepathy for the first time.

Cook comfortably. Surely my father won't kill you just because the food isn't good, right?

Jo Cheonbae staggered even more violently and barely made it into the kitchen.

"When was the last time you had a drink at a tavern like this?"

"I used to come when I was younger."

"But you haven't come even once since becoming the Cult Leader, have you?"

Father nodded.

"Don't you feel suffocated?"

"It's fine."

"Then again, you might feel even more suffocated if you came out. There are scoundrels everywhere you'd want to kill, but you can't kill them all."

I poured a drink for my father, who let out a small laugh. He filled my cup in return. Exchanging drinks felt natural now. We were, after all, the kind of pair who wore matching clothes.

"Your inner arts have improved a lot. Where did you get it from?"

"I received the Blood God Pill from the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader."

Father was startled by my honest answer.

"He gave you that? That greedy man?"

"Everyone must feel sorry for me. The moment they see me, they seem to want to give me miracle herbs."

"Just in case."

Father drank, and I emptied my cup as well. He looked like he had a lot to say, but in the end, he only said one thing.

"As long as you didn't get swindled out of your own things, it's fine."

"Don't worry. I take after you, Father. When it comes to martial arts, I'm very greedy."

In the meantime, the food arrived.

Jo Cheonbae usually strode confidently through the tavern. He could run with his hands full of dishes without spilling a single drop.

He would not slip even on a liquor-spilled floor. He would dash around as gracefully as a master using Stepping On Water. If another table ordered an expensive dish, he would rush over to take the order as if using Teleportation.

But today's Jo Cheonbae was different. He walked stealthily, almost crawling, as if afraid the dishes might be disturbed. It was the first time I had ever seen him bring food so cautiously.

"I thought an assassin was coming."

In response to my teasing, Jo Cheonbae walked over with a desperate expression that pleaded for me not to talk to him. He politely set down the dishes.

"If you need anything else, please call me anytime!"

Then, with a face that looked like he was about to suffocate, Jo Cheonbae went down to the first floor.

He could not even stand on the stairs to eavesdrop on my father's critique. If he dared to spy on the Heavenly Demon, even ten necks would not be enough.

Father tasted the food and nodded.

"It doesn't taste bad."

"Please tell the innkeeper that yourself later. He'll be thrilled."

"Nonsense."

"That 'nonsense' could become a lifelong memory and a source of pride for someone. They won't know unless you tell them."

Father just continued eating without a word.

Then he asked abruptly.

"Why did you shake up the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader so much? Tell me about that."

Normally, I would have answered, 'It was to obtain the divine object, and later, to win over the person.'

However, I gave an answer more befitting an heir.

"I did it to separate the Heavenly Wind Cult from the Eight Demon Supremes."

"And? Did you succeed?"

"For now, it seems to be a success."

"What did you promise in return?"

"I want to let them open a Heavenly Wind Cult Branch in the Central Plains. Even a very small one."

"Impossible!"

"Why not?"

Father gave an unexpected answer.

"Do you know why I oppose them entering the Central Plains?"

"Isn't it because of the history between the Blood Cult and our Cult?"

Father shook his head.

"What does the past have to do with it? That's not the reason."

"Then is it because they joined hands with the Eight Demon Supremes?"

"I deliberately let them join hands."

Words that would have shocked the Demon Supremes flowed from my father's mouth.

"Whether to strike the Heavenly Wind Cult or the Eight Demon Supremes. It's easier to create a pretext if they're intertwined."

Indeed, I could see that my father did not fear the Heavenly Wind Cult or the Eight Demon Supremes at all.

"Then why do you oppose it?"

"The time is not yet right. Just know that."

His words, 'the time is not yet right', struck me profoundly.

I could guess what was on my father's mind. The Heavenly Wind Cult's advance into the Central Plains held great significance for us, the Murim Alliance, and the Evil Alliance.

If the Murim Alliance, which had suffered greatly from the Blood Cult's past invasion, framed the Heavenly Wind Cult's advance as a revival of the Blood Cult, it could create major political repercussions.

Weren't his words, 'the time is not yet right', the same as saying, 'I will decide the time'?

Father, could it be that deep in your heart, you dream of unifying the murim?

He could not achieve that dream because of Hwa Mugi, but considering my father's abilities, it might just be possible. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon calls me a sleeping dragon, but perhaps the real sleeping dragon has yet to awaken.

I felt the urge to subtly sound out my father but held back. I feared it might shatter this wonderful occasion. There would be plenty of opportunities to find out later.

"I understand. I'll handle that matter myself."

"……"

"Since my connection with the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader is a personal one, I'll resolve it personally."

"Personally? That's the most difficult way."

"But it will also be the most effective. Don't worry, I won't be arrogant enough to think I know what's in other people's hearts. I won't be greedy enough to try and win their hearts, and I will never trust them."

That was only half true. I did not want to live such a life. What meaning would there be in becoming the Heavenly Demon if I had to suspect everyone?

I may not be able to fully understand people's hearts, but I will strive to understand them. I may not win everyone's hearts, but I will at least win enough trust so that we do not treat each other with lies and hypocrisy, and I still intend to trust those who are trustworthy.

"Please leave the matter of the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader to me. I'll handle it well."

Father nodded and then rose from his seat.

"The meal was good. Come over next month for a game of Go."

"Yes! You'd better have your stones well-polished!"

Father extended his hand. One of the two martial arts uniforms I had placed beside me flew into it.

He held it and went down to the first floor.

The sight of him taking his own uniform without me saying a word was more moving than buying the uniforms together, more than him paying for them.

And Jo Cheonbae completed the picture of my father's unexpected side.

As my father passed, Jo Cheonbae stood by the counter and bowed so deeply his back was nearly parallel to the floor.

"It was an honor to serve you."

Father, who was about to leave, stopped.

"The food was decent."

Leaving behind a stunned and moved Jo Cheonbae, who stood there gasping, my father went outside.

The dazed Jo Cheonbae belatedly shouted.

"Yes! Thank you! Please visit us again!"

Father was already walking far in the distance.

Only then did the tension leave Jo Cheonbae. He let out a long sigh of relief and collapsed to the floor.

He pulled out a bottle of liquor hidden under the counter and took a long swig. He was a man who normally did not drink while working unless it was something extraordinary, and today had gone far beyond extraordinary.

Leaning against the second-floor railing, I asked him.

"How do you feel?"

"I can die with no regrets now. Even if I'm reborn, I'll live as the owner of the Alluring Inn."

"If you're reborn, you should live as a hero of the murim."

"I don't want to. I'm satisfied with this life, watching someone like you, Young Lord, from the side. Serving delicious food is enough for me."

"You could become a master and still live this life, couldn't you?"

"Then I'd be even more miserable. I'd have to hold back even though I'm a master, wouldn't I?"

"I see."

After watching the rare sight of Jo Cheonbae drinking, I looked outside the tavern. I could see my father's back as he walked slowly among the distant crowd. Who among them would know they had just walked past the Heavenly Demon?

Before my regression, I did not look closely.

Father's back, Jo Cheonbae's flushed and happily smiling face, those people hurrying down the street. I did not see them. I did not look into their eyes and mouths to see what was in their hearts as they lived. Because I did not look closely, I did not know, and because I did not know, I could not win.

Yes, I did not lose to Hwa Mugi. I lost to my own life. To my own indifferent life.

"Young Lord, shall I get you more to drink?" Jo Cheonbae asked from below.

"No, that's alright. I have people to see today."

Leaving the Alluring Inn, I walked the same path my father had taken and returned to the Cult.