Chapter 128: If You Could Only Ask One Question

TL: FoodieMonster007

Seo Daeryong led Jang Ho to the Alluring Inn.

"Didn't we agree to drink after Martial Artist Lee returned?" Jang Ho asked.

"We did."

"Then why are we drinking now?"

Seo Daeryong insisted they go before the day's work was even over, practically dragging Jang Ho along. This was unusual, so Jang Ho followed without protest.

Their drinking sessions had stopped during Lee Ahn's absence, but the two men had shared many conversations before then. Their initially awkward meetings had grown into a fairly close relationship.

"I want to introduce you to someone today, General Jang," Seo Daeryong said.

"Who is it?"

"You'll know when we get there. This person is important to me, so I really wanted to introduce you."

"I understand."

Jang Ho noticed a hint of childish mischief in Seo Daeryong's expression.

Still, Seo Daeryong had never pranked him before, so Jang Ho couldn't guess what this meeting was about.

The two men entered the Alluring Inn.

The owner, Jo Cheonbae, greeted them warmly. "Ah, it's been a while. If I'd known you two were coming, I would've kept your spot open."

A woman wearing a veil sat with her back to them at their usual second-floor table.

"It's alright."

Seo Daeryong led Jang Ho to the second-floor table. The woman had already ordered alcohol and simple side dishes, but her veiled face was unclear.

Seo Daeryong sat down opposite her. Jang Ho finally realized this woman was the person he was meant to meet.

Is this the woman the Second Young Lord mentioned?

He recalled Seo Daeryong teasing him about a junior he was fond of, but would an investigator from the Sanzu River Hall wear a veil to a formal introduction?

Just as Jang Ho wondered, the veiled woman spoke. "I've heard a lot about you, General Jang."

Of course, it was Lee Ahn. She used a disguised voice again.

Then, it happened.

Jang Ho recognized Lee Ahn.

"Martial Artist Lee?"

His question startled not only Lee Ahn but also Seo Daeryong.

"How did you know it was me?" Lee Ahn asked.

Jang Ho hesitated for a moment, then spoke softly. "I'm very sensitive to sound. I'm good at remembering the characteristics of a person's voice and intonation. I can identify a voice I've heard often, no matter how it's disguised."

"Ah!" Lee Ahn and Seo Daeryong exclaimed at the same time.

"My sensitivity to sound helped my martial arts training and my combat skills. It's why I became the Demonic Army General. This is the first time I'm telling anyone this."

He had also revealed his childhood dream of being a painter to Seo Daeryong for the first time.

When Jang Ho started these drinking sessions, he never imagined he would share his personal history. He had only wanted to get closer to Geom Mugeuk's people, but now he told these two all sorts of stories.

Lee Ahn removed her veil.

"It's been a while, General Jang."

"Welcome back, Martial Artist Lee."

Jang Ho greeted Lee Ahn warmly. Seo Daeryong watched, inwardly impressed. Jang Ho showed no sign of being flustered by Lee Ahn's beauty. In contrast, Seo Daeryong remembered making a huge fuss himself.

How can he be like that?

He even worried Lee Ahn might feel awkward.

Of course, Lee Ahn didn't mind at all. She seemed more comfortable with Jang Ho treating her as he always had.

"Alright, it's all on me today. Please, order whatever you want!"

The three of them talked about many things.

Lee Ahn was undoubtedly the star of the day. She told them how hard it was to receive the Poison Self-Purification Art, what happened on her journey, and how interesting the first wedding she ever saw was. She talked about everything.

Seo Daeryong and Jang Ho listened to her stories and chimed in.

When she briefly left the table, Seo Daeryong asked Jang Ho a question. "General Jang, isn't Martial Artist Lee's transformation surprising?"

"It is. She's become very beautiful."

"Is that all?"

"Pardon? Is something else needed?"

"That's not it, but you don't seem very surprised. I even suspected you two had already met and were teasing me."

"Of course not. That's not true."

Seo Daeryong lowered his voice and spoke suggestively. "Then there's no need to hold back. It's just us."

She's pretty, isn't she? Please say she's pretty, please! That sentiment was written all over Seo Daeryong's face, and Jang Ho finally laughed. Their relationship had grown to where the word 'us' felt natural.

"This might be rude to Martial Artist Lee, but I don't place any meaning on a person's appearance. It might be because of the scar on my face. I suppose with this face, who am I to judge anyone else?"

After Jang Ho's sincere words, Seo Daeryong shared something he had always thought. "General Jang, that scar… it's cool."

"Cool? It's hideous."

"No, it's cool. Really. Sell it to me!"

At that, Jang Ho's hand moved instantly to his throwing knife. "I can make you an identical one."

A startled Seo Daeryong stopped him. "Hey, what are you doing!"

"So be honest. Say it's hideous."

"It's cool because there's a story behind it. I'm saying I'll buy the story too."

"There's no great story. I just got it while fighting enemies."

"To a martial artist, that is a great story. I don't want to get scarred by a friend's throwing knife while drinking."

Seo Daeryong didn't realize he had used the word 'friend'.

"Let's have a drink." Jang Ho raised his cup.

He didn't know what Seo Daeryong thought, but he felt comfortable here. After maintaining a flawless composure in the Demonic Army, coming here finally let him relax and feel like he was resting.

Just then, Lee Ahn returned.

"Where was I?"

Jang Ho told her, "Martial Artist Lee, the night is long. You can start over from the beginning."

At that time, I was meeting with the Flower Sword Supreme.

I heard something unexpected from her.

"I know the Drunken Demon well."

Unexpectedly, the Flower Sword Supreme had a friendly relationship with him.

"We drink together sometimes. We even drank a few days ago."

"You drank a few days ago?"

"He comes to see me for a drink sometimes."

The scene was hard to imagine at first, but on second thought, it was natural for the powerful Eight Demon Supremes to have their own interactions.

"What kind of person is the Drunken Demon?"

"A pleasant person to drink with."

The Flower Sword Supreme's assessment was generous and the complete opposite of the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's.

"Since when have you been close?"

"I don't know either. Since when? It feels like it's been quite a long time. We just got close while drinking."

"What is the Drunken Demon's personality like?"

"He's easygoing."

If he were truly easygoing, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon would never have described him that way. This meant the Drunken Demon showed completely different sides to different people.

"How could a Demon Supreme be easygoing? He must be hiding his claws."

"That might be true, but why did you ask about the Drunken Demon?"

"One of the Drunken Demon's people caused trouble this time. The Sanzu River Hall has locked him up, but I thought the Drunken Demon might make a move."

"And you're not planning to use that as an excuse to make a move, Second Young Lord?"

"You're as sharp as ever. The Drunken Demon is the only one who hasn't decided his position between my brother and me."

The Flower Sword Supreme stared at me intently, then smiled. "I haven't decided my position either. I still haven't decided to side with you, Second Young Lord."

How could I not know that? That was why I spoke with exaggeration.

"Ah! But I firmly believed you were on my side."

"Of course, I like you, our Second Young Lord. Honestly, even comparing you to the First Young Lord is ridiculous, but being close is a personal matter, and the succession issue is a public one, isn't it?"

"I understand."

"But that doesn't mean I'm going to choose the First Young Lord, so don't be disappointed."

"I am never disappointed with you, Sword Supreme. No, I can't be."

"Why is that?"

"Do you remember what I said when we met before, Sword Supreme? I unreasonably insisted that you prove you would be more helpful to me than Elder Blade Demon."

The Flower Sword Supreme gave a faint smile. Her expression showed she remembered everything.

"Now it's your turn, Senior. It's your turn to say, 'Prove that you will be more helpful to me than the First Young Lord!'"

The fact that she didn't say that proved she regarded me with favor.

"I told you back then. Dreams, ideals, loyalty… I despise people who try to win over subordinates and juniors for free with such things. I have no intention of winning your heart with those things either, Senior. I must grant what you desire while also showing you that I have the qualities of the Heavenly Demon."

A look of admiration flashed across the Flower Sword Supreme's face at my words.

"As expected! I chose my duel friend well."

Bringing up a duel now meant that a duel was one of the things she wanted. She still desired to become stronger.

"I look forward to the day we duel again."

After meeting the Flower Sword Supreme, I returned to my residence.

Go Wol, who had been staying with me, was gone. He had left the cult to carry out my order to create an intelligence organization like the All-Knowing Hall.

Several messenger pigeons he sent had arrived. The reports said he was traveling the Central Plains, using my money to build an organizational network.

I wasn't worried about him. As if to prove it, he had left with the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. I couldn't help but smile, imagining the two of them bickering as they worked together.

That night, Lee Ahn stopped by for a moment.

I expected her to be tipsy, but she wasn't as drunk as I thought.

"I chattered so much that I completely sobered up."

"Was it good?"

"They say a journey isn't about leaving but about returning. After talking my heart out to those two, I feel like my journey is finally complete."

She gave off a distinctly different feeling than before she left the cult. It might have been because she opened her Conception and Governing Vessels, or because of something she realized on her trip.

"I made a resolution during my trip. It might sound like I'm showing off, but I'll tell you since I brought it up. I was pleased by the excessive attention I received, but it was also very burdensome. I concluded that the only way to escape this burden is for me to become truly strong."

Lee Ahn was steeling herself to train fiercely again. Seeing her strive like this, I believe she will achieve whatever she sets her mind to.

"But that doesn't mean I'll just lock myself in the training grounds. Like the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, I'll read many books and meet people. I'm not just going to strengthen my martial arts. I'm going to become a stronger person. That's the only way I'll be able to make Green Mask and Seo Jin my Division Leaders, right? They won't come to me just because my martial arts are strong."

I believe she will become a true master. The direction of her efforts is aimed toward that goal.

In martial arts, talent and effort are important. The kind of martial arts you practice is important, and your Master is important. Real combat experience is also important.

However, the moment her martial arts race toward the extreme and surpass a certain level, she will realize it, just as I did.

The end of martial arts is ultimately a battle of what kind of person you are.

I consider the process of meeting and persuading the Demon Supremes part of my own process of becoming stronger. I even consider the effort I put into stopping the Ghostly Sage's marriage as part of that process.

To perfectly understand someone is nearly impossible, but I have finally realized that the more one's understanding of people and the world broadens, the closer one gets to the essence of martial arts.

"Well, I'll be going then. I'm all sober, but my head is throbbing."

As she turned to leave, I asked her.

"Lee Ahn."

"……"

"Let's say you end up drinking with the Drunken Demon."

"Suddenly, with the Drunken Demon?"

"You're quite something in the world of drunkards, aren't you?"

"Well, that's true."

"You want to know what kind of person the Drunken Demon is, but you can only ask one question. What would you ask?"

Lee Ahn seemed to think deeply for a moment, then came up with an answer.

"That man must have drunk a lot of alcohol in his life. In that case, I would ask this."

As if the Drunken Demon were right in front of her, Lee Ahn asked, "When and with whom did you have the most delicious drink of your life?"