Chapter 123: Change of Plans

TL: FoodieMonster007

They aren't villains.

If Ghostly Sage or Lim Hyang were villains, their marriage wouldn't have been such hell. One would have left, or one would have killed the other. They're just ordinary people. They must have been a couple who grew attached while bickering, living together out of necessity. They truly hated each other but never wanted to repeat that life.

"Please, come inside. We've prepared food, so eat something first."

Lee Ahn and I entered. Seo Jin followed us inside.

"I'll guide you."

I intend to connect my past life's bond with Seo Jin to Lee Ahn in this one.

As we walked, I sent Lee Ahn a telepathic message.

[Lee Ahn, this is Seo Jin. She's a candidate for the Second Division Leader of the Ghost Shadow Squad.]

[Ah!]

Her eyes widened, as if she had never considered the possibility.

[Imagine having a Division Leader who can use ghost arts in the Ghost Shadow Squad you lead.]

[That would be amazing. Our squad's name even has 'ghost' in it!]

[Whether you take this woman as your subordinate is ultimately up to you.]

Lee Ahn had absolute faith in me and didn't ask why I chose her. Instead, she spoke to Seo Jin.

"Congratulations on your marriage, Orabeoni."

"Thank you. I thought I'd never get married, but here I am."

Seo Jin answered cheerfully, even though it was their first meeting.

"Why? You're handsome and seem to have a good personality."

"Even so, I'm just a bookworm who has only ever studied."

Seo Jin was already taking a liking to Lee Ahn. I knew why. In the past, Seo Jin always liked pretty women. She said looking at pretty things made her feel good. She liked beautiful women, flowers, and pretty clothes. Her tastes, so unbefitting a mercenary, likely came from a smooth childhood in a prestigious family.

"I've only heard about ghost arts," Lee Ahn said. "I've never experienced them before."

"It's nothing special."

Seo Jin stopped walking and raised her hand. Black smoke rose from her palm and instantly formed into a snake. The small, smoky snake looked strangely realistic, as if it could become a pitch-black serpent at any moment.

"……"

The snake suddenly lunged toward Lee Ahn. It dissipated into smoke with a PIK before it could reach her.

"That's so cool!" Lee Ahn exclaimed.

"You're not surprised?" Seo Jin asked.

"Because there was no killing intent."

A peculiar light flickered in Seo Jin's eyes as she looked at Lee Ahn. Anyone would flinch if a snake suddenly lunged at them, even without killing intent, yet Lee Ahn was completely unfazed.

"Please show me again next time," Lee Ahn said.

"Next time, I'll bring out something bigger and scarier."

"Sounds great!"

I think their personalities would match well, too. Both women were easygoing and straightforward, and they knew how to be considerate.

What if both Green Mask and Seo Jin join the Ghost Shadow Squad?

Green Mask could hold down the fort as the First Division Leader, and Seo Jin could brighten the mood as the Second Division Leader. The picture is already looking good.

But it wouldn't be easy. One was a candidate for Demon Supreme, and the other was a blood relative of the Ghost Sect's leader.

A few guests were already in the main hall, and more arrived one after another. There were guests for Ghostly Sage and guests for Lim Hyang. Once everyone had arrived, Ghostly Sage and Lim Hyang entered the hall. We all toasted together, celebrating their upcoming wedding.

Most of the guests were well-mannered heirs of prestigious families. There was one exception. Ju Myeong of the West Sword Sect, a childhood friend of Lim Hyang, had a dark expression from the moment he entered. He was very dissatisfied with this marriage.

Perhaps it was the alcohol he had been downing, or perhaps he secretly had feelings for Lim Hyang. He spoke openly to Lim Hyang right in front of Ghostly Sage.

"Honestly, as your longtime friend, I can't congratulate you on this wedding."

"What's wrong?" Lim Hyang asked.

"Martial families should form ties with other martial families to avoid future trouble."

Ghostly Sage was naturally offended. For Ju Myeong to say such a thing with Ghostly Sage standing right there was a blatant sign of disrespect. Since Ju Myeong was Lim Hyang's guest, Ghostly Sage spoke to him pleasantly.

"Our sect is also a respectable murim sect."

"No one here would consider the Ghost Sect a murim sect," Ju Myeong retorted.

"How can you say that? Think of how much our sect has contributed to the murim."

"Master Seo, do you consider the Ghost Sect's sorcery to be legitimate martial arts?"

Ghostly Sage couldn't answer for a moment. No one had ever asked him that way before, so he didn't know what to say.

"Martial arts and cheap tricks are strictly different things," Ju Myeong declared.

As Ju Myeong crossed the line, a sharp voice cut through the hall.

"Then shall we see how well your so-called great martial arts deal with cheap tricks?"

Seo Jin stepped forward. Seeing her glare at her opponent with one eyebrow slightly raised reminded me of the old days. Her eyebrow would always rise like that when she was angry during her mercenary days.

She extended her hand, and a black haze shimmered up around Ju Myeong.

"……"

Startled, Ju Myeong looked around and drew his sword.

"What? What is this?"

He began swinging his sword at the empty air, clearly seeing an illusion. I could see what he saw. A pitch-black shadow with only eyes and a mouth rushed toward him. Its appearance was so terrifying and realistic that my heart chilled, even knowing it was fake.

I could also see how to break the illusion, a combined result of the Bloodeye Holy Water and the Divine Eye Technique. Ju Myeong swung his sword back and forth, creating a dangerous situation for those around him.

Seo Jin withdrew her sorcery. Ju Myeong, who had been attacking the air, soon realized he had fallen for a ghost art. He had swung his sword without thinking, even though he knew it was an illusion. That was the nature of the Ghost Sect's arts. You fall for them even when you know.

He glared at Seo Jin. "To humiliate me with such evil arts, I'll never forgive…"

JJAK!

His head snapped to the side. Lim Hyang had strode over and slapped his cheek.

"Do you want to die? Are you still drunk? Who do you dare say you won't forgive?"

"……"

"Are you really my friend? A friend wouldn't do this. You're the only friend I have, and you're making me this miserable?"

Ju Myeong couldn't say anything. The words 'You're the only friend I have' seemed to strike him like a throwing knife.

He let out a short sigh. "I'm sorry."

The anger that had flared up like a flame vanished.

"I'm sorry for hitting you, too," Lim Hyang said.

"It's fine. Didn't you hit me many times when we were young?"

Ju Myeong also apologized to Ghostly Sage and Seo Jin.

"I apologize. It was rude of me to disparage your family. I apologize."

But he still held a lingering grudge.

"Still, I hate this marriage! I oppose it!"

With that, Ju Myeong left.

My gaze turned to Ghostly Sage.

Ghostly Sage, you should have been the one to shout like that.

I hate this marriage! Don't congratulate me! Am I, the groom, really the only one who opposes this marriage?

Ghostly Sage was about to scold Seo Jin for stepping forward rashly, but Lim Hyang stopped him. She then apologized to Ghostly Sage.

"I'm sorry. He's been my friend since we were young, so he must have been very upset that I'm getting married."

"Isn't it because he cares for Young Lady Lim that much?"

"If he cared, he wouldn't act like that. He just got drunk and threw a fit. Forget about it."

I watched the look in Ghostly Sage's eyes deepen as he gazed at her and sighed inwardly.

He's falling for her even more.

Seeing her today, Lim Hyang was a decent woman. I thought that if Ghostly Sage could truly understand her personality, the two of them could be a good match.

During the banquet, Ghostly Sage stepped outside for some fresh air. He didn't show it in front of Lim Hyang, but his mood kept sinking. It was because of Ju Myeong. He regretted not stepping forward himself.

Did Lim Hyang see me as a coward?

If I had stepped up, I would have won. Should I have shown off my skills? No. Father always warned against the Ghost Sect getting embroiled in the murim's disputes. What dispute? It was just an emotional squabble. I should have stepped up!

Ghostly Sage's mind wavered, unable to settle. He hated himself more for regretting his inaction than for the inaction itself. Lost in thought, he walked until he reached his study. He stood by the window and looked inside, feeling most at ease here. He always came here when his father scolded him or when a problem arose. This place was his only sanctuary.

Ghostly Sage knew he wasn't the kind of person who would be happy overpowering Ju Myeong and laughing triumphantly. He was happiest when he was quietly reading and researching.

Anyway, I should show this place to Young Lady Lim.

He wanted to boast to Lim Hyang about how many books he had read. That feeling was especially strong today.

Just then, someone spoke. "You have a lot of books."

Ghostly Sage turned in surprise. I stood behind him, having followed him out.

"I came out for some air because I felt stifled and ended up here."

"I see."

"I don't think I've ever seen a martial artist with this many books."

"I've enjoyed reading since I was young," he said.

"I see. I know someone who also loves books."

"Oh, is that so? Please introduce me if you get the chance."

"Of course."

I imagined Ghostly Sage's horrified expression when he learned that person was the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. The thought of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's displeased face as he looked at Ghostly Sage made me laugh.

I naturally started walking back toward the main hall with him.

"Young Lord Seo and Young Lady Lim, the more I see you two, the more you seem like a perfect match."

"If you're saying that to comfort me because of what happened earlier, it's fine. I've already forgotten about it."

"To me, it looked like jealousy, but I can understand that Master. If a friend I'd liked for a long time was getting married, I would've wanted to flip the banquet table too."

I was trying to lift Ghostly Sage's spirits. Whether I stopped his marriage or not, I first needed to get closer to him. The fastest way to do that is to tell someone what they want to hear.

"Someday, that Master will jolt awake in his sleep, drink a glass of cold water, and think, 'Why did I do something so foolish back then?'"

Ghostly Sage laughed at my words. Since the incident had soured his mood, it was best to resolve it with the same incident.

"You did well to endure it. If you hadn't, you would have been the one jolting awake in your sleep, Young Lord Seo."

Ghostly Sage stopped walking, looked at me, and suddenly asked, "Have we, by any chance, met before?"

Ghostly Sage, are you sensing some kind of fate? Someone like you might be able to feel something.

"This is the first time we've met."

"And yet, looking at you, Master, you don't feel unfamiliar."

"Aren't there people who feel comfortable, like you've known them for a long time, even if you've just met? Like a friend. Someone you just trust. Someone you just want to take care of."

"It's not quite to that extent."

"It's probably because I felt a liking for you from the start, Young Lord Seo. After seeing your books, I respect you even more."

I continued to say pleasant things to disarm his wariness. Even the seasoned Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon couldn't withstand my flattery arts. Getting close to this young Ghostly Sage was no trouble at all. The most important point of these arts is knowing when to stop and retreat. I had to give him time to ruminate on my words.

"Well then, I'll head in first."

I left him and entered the main hall.

On the way back after the banquet, I asked Lee Ahn a question.

"What did you think of Seo Jin?"

Lee Ahn had been talking with Seo Jin throughout the banquet.

"I liked her. She's excellent material for a Division Leader."

"My recommendations never fail."

"There's just one problem."

"Whether she would join our Cult, you mean?"

"……"

"The Ghost Sect stands between the orthodox and unorthodox. In the past, some of its ancestors were even part of our Cult. If we persuade her well, there shouldn't be a problem."

"You know a lot about the Ghost Sect, don't you?"

"I did some studying before coming."

In truth, I had heard it all from Seo Jin in the past. During her mercenary days, Seo Jin never wanted to be tied to any faction. She didn't want to belong anywhere, which meant she could go anywhere.

"We'll have to return to our Cult soon, so we can't take her with us. We just need to make it so she can find us later."

When she one day runs away from home out of frustration, I just need to make her seek out Lee Ahn instead of a mercenary's life.

"You know, right? To contact us, she just needs to leave her name at the West Lake Inn, which can be found all over the Central Plains."

"I'll be sure to tell her when we part ways later."

Separately from Lee Ahn, I plan to pay attention to Seo Jin's path myself. I will ensure that the great thread of fate leads to Lee Ahn.

"Oh, what about the Young Master? What happened with stopping the marriage?"

"Change of plans."

It was a decision I made after seeing Ghostly Sage and Lim Hyang at the banquet. Chief Gwak of our Cult's smithy always says that a small difference makes a masterpiece. I believe that applies to human relationships as well. A small difference can change the outcome. Even if you can't change a person, you can change a relationship.

We are moved by a single word and pledge a lifetime of loyalty. We are hurt by a single word and part ways. We hate for a lifetime over a single word. That's just who we are.

So, this was my new plan.

"I won't stop Ghostly Sage's marriage. I will help the two of them live happily."

It can't be helped, Ghostly Sage. You'll have to get married. Instead of the gates of hell, I'll open a different door for you.