Chapter 226: The Man Who Comes to Save a Courtesan

TL: FoodieMonster007

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman saw only the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon. The world around her vanished, leaving just him walking toward her against a stark white background.

"You've come, Orabeoni?"

The Thousand Flower Palace martial artists cried out in joy. They did not know the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's true identity, only that he was the one person their Chairwoman called Orabeoni.

Just then, Baekdo moved like lightning. He darted behind the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman, swiftly drawing his blade and pressing it against her neck.

"Stop! One more step and this bitch dies!"

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon stopped.

Baekdo peeked from behind the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman, using her as a shield while he glared at the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon. The eyes behind the mask were smiling.

The blade at the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman's neck trembled faintly. Baekdo had committed countless kidnappings and murders for Yeo Bulgae without ever feeling fear. He was a fearless killing machine, yet now he felt a foreign emotion. He felt fear.

"Who are you?" Baekdo demanded.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon ignored him and looked at the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman, his gaze asking if she was alright.

She responded with an even brighter smile. "Who else would a man who comes to save a courtesan be? He's my patron, of course."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's eyes smiled at being called a patron.

Baekdo could not understand.

A mere brothel patron killed the mafia? I have to take a hostage? I'm feeling fear for the first time in my life? This is ridiculous!

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon spoke softly. "Close your eyes."

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman obeyed.

The moment her eyes shut!

PWIING!

A finger qi bullet blew off Baekdo's exposed ear with a THWACK.

Baekdo moved to slash the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman's neck without hesitation.

THWACK!

His elbow was pierced. The finger qi bullet flew with perfect precision, passing through his body without harming her.

He gritted his teeth, trying again to slash her neck.

"……"

This time, the back of his sword hand was pierced. The finger qi bullet struck the blade's hilt after passing through his hand, leaving her unharmed.

He had not expected such an accurate and precise attack. In the brief moment Baekdo reached for the falling blade with his other hand, his body was exposed.

PWIING! PWACK!

His left eye was pierced. He staggered back, and then his right eye was pierced.

"Uwaaaaaaack!"

He screamed desperately and stumbled backward.

PWIING! PWACK!

This time, his mouth was pierced.

Everyone understood. The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon was punishing the hand that held the blade and the mouth that had threatened to kill 'this bitch'.

Even as he died, Baekdo could not believe it. How can someone attack so boldly with a hostage? How can the attacks be so accurate? How can anyone fire finger qi bullets so quickly?

PWIING! PWACK!

Baekdo's forehead was pierced, and he collapsed. He died full of doubt. Was he really just a patron?

Deep emotion crossed the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman's face. The stoic Extremely Evil Smiling Demon had shown his anger through action, not words. He was always like that, a man who acted instead of spoke.

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman glanced at the corpses of the Monochrome Blade Duo and the spreading blood. She said with a hint of regret, "I thought you might come, so I cleaned up nicely."

"It's fine. I like the smell of blood."

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman strode over and threw her arms around the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon. He did not hug her back, but she was not disappointed. Considering his personality and their first meeting, him simply standing still was the same as him hugging her tightly.

The Thousand Flower Palace martial artists behind them bowed in unison, grateful for their master's rescue.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon said to the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman, "I have guests with me."

She understood his meaning and cleared the area. She sent the injured to a physician and had the bodies of the Monochrome Blade Duo removed. Then she sent the remaining martial artists to the outer courtyard, forbidding anyone from entering.

Then, Geom Mugeuk and his companions entered.

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman greeted Geom Mugeuk first. "Second Young Lord, have you been well?"

"I have been," Geom Mugeuk replied.

"That martial artist didn't come with you?" she asked.

"I was afraid someone might snatch away our pretty heart, so I've kept her hidden safely in our Cult."

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman smiled. "She is destined for greatness. Even if you send her into the world, she'll navigate it well."

Geom Mugeuk knew she was an extraordinary woman. She had proven it just by seeing Lee Ahn's true beauty when she was overweight.

"Even if you don't believe my words, believe in that martial artist."

"No, I'll trust your words, Pavilion Master, and send her out."

She had to go out into the world anyway because of the Ghost Shadow Squad. Now that her Soaring Sky Sword Art had reached the ninth stage, and with Green Mask beside her, he was not too worried.

Next, Geom Mugeuk introduced the Poison King. "This is our Cult's Poison King."

An introduction to a mere brothel owner would normally be unthinkable, but the Poison King was not uncomfortable. A woman who called the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon 'Orabeoni' was no simple brothel owner.

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman showed the Poison King courteous respect. She started to perform a full bow, but the Poison King stopped her with a gentle stream of qi.

"There's no need for such excessive courtesy."

Instead, the Poison King performed a polite clasped-hands greeting. "It's a pleasure to meet you for the first time."

It was a gesture of consideration for the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon.

"Greetings to a noble person. I am Yeo Jong, the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman."

She was not surprised by the Poison King's youthful appearance. Just as she had seen the truth beneath Lee Ahn's appearance, she seemed to see the truth beneath the Poison King's as well.

Seeing this, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's gaze toward the Poison King softened. Their relationship was still awkward. When he first left the cult, they had not made eye contact for days. Compared to then, they were now like childhood friends.

Next, Geom Mugeuk introduced Seo Daeryong. "This is my right-hand man."

"It's an honor to meet you. I am Seo Daeryong."

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman stared intently at Seo Daeryong, then smiled. "It's been a long time since I've met someone with such a pure soul."

She had recognized Seo Daeryong's kindness at a glance. Seo Daeryong was moved. It was probably the first time in his life anyone had told him he had a pure soul.

Seo Daeryong shrugged at Geom Mugeuk, his expression saying, This is the kind of person I am.

"When you introduce me, please make sure to include 'pure soul'! You can leave everything else out."

"Doesn't that just mean you look like the type to easily lose out, get fooled by women, and be swindled?" Geom Mugeuk retorted.

Seo Daeryong looked at the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman with a desperate expression, pleading for her to deny it. She merely smiled.

Next, Geom Mugeuk introduced Go Wol. "If he is my right arm, then this is my head."

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman looked at Go Wol much like she looked at Lee Ahn. It was a gaze of awe and support for someone destined for greatness, but she did not say so.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's eyes sparkled, wondering how Geom Mugeuk would introduce him.

"This is my reliable sponsor."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader said, "You can only be a sponsor if there's more to take."

"There's still plenty left to take," Geom Mugeuk replied.

"There is?"

"It hasn't been three years since the rich man went broke, has it?"

Geom Mugeuk made a face that showed he knew all about the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's hidden assets. The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader needlessly snapped at Go Wol, "Don't go around talking about me!"

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was not offended. He knew Geom Mugeuk was joking. He also knew that becoming useless to someone would be a much sadder fate.

And so, Geom Mugeuk introduced everyone. The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman watched with a peculiar gaze as the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, the Poison King, Seo Daeryong, Go Wol, and the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader stood by Geom Mugeuk's sides. What could she possibly be seeing right now?

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman bowed her head respectfully. "Welcome to the Thousand Flower Palace."

Geom Mugeuk's party returned the bow.

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman guided them inside. "I'll prepare rooms for you to stay in."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon then said to her, "Give us the ones next to your room."

From those words, the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman must have understood that our visit concerned her safety. Nevertheless, she did not ask before we brought it up. She was calm and prudent.

While everyone unpacked, I met with the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman and the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon to explain the situation.

"The enemy the Smiling Demon and I are facing runs brothels," I explained. "We heard he's targeting Guizhou, which is why we've come."

"Could that person be Yeo Bulgae?"

As expected, she knew of him. The Thousand Flower Palace gathered information for the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, so she had already identified the man called the King of the Night.

"That's right."

"I know Yeo Bulgae is expanding his brothels across the Central Plains. The rumors about him are very bad."

"It seems the time has come for him to pay for those rumors."

Joy flickered in the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman's eyes. As a fellow brothel owner, she must have heard much about Yeo Bulgae's evil deeds.

"Pavilion Master, you wouldn't believe the look in the Smiling Demon's eyes the moment we heard Yeo Bulgae was advancing into Guizhou."

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman looked at the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon. "I think I can imagine it." Her gaze held a deep trust.

Meanwhile, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's mood remained somber, even after killing the Monochrome Blade Duo. What if I had arrived late? His anger toward Yeo Bulgae deepened, and he felt a rage that made him want to confront the man immediately.

In contrast, the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman was incredibly bright and calm, despite her near-death crisis.

Geom Mugeuk sensed something in her calmness. He thought she was a woman who understood her own fate. If we had not arrived, she would have made a different choice from the start.

"I'm jealous!" I said, just to make the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon feel awkward. He only continued to watch the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman silently.

A short while later, everyone gathered. Go Wol revealed the plan. "Today's incident was unexpected."

We had planned to arrive and deal with him slowly, but Yeo Bulgae struck the Thousand Flower Palace sooner than we expected.

"If he learns the Monochrome Blade Duo is dead, he might launch a full-scale attack on the Thousand Flower Palace. If we don't evacuate, there could be casualties. Even if we fend them off, the Evil Alliance will learn Yeo Bulgae was defeated here."

This place could no longer be the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's sanctuary.

"What are your thoughts?" I asked.

Go Wol glanced at the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon and the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman. "The plan I've devised requires the permission of the Smiling Demon and the Pavilion Master."

Go Wol then revealed his plan.

"Since he wants the Pavilion Master, you must go. The Young Lord and the Smiling Demon will pose as the Monochrome Blade Duo and take you to his residence. They wear distinctive clothes, so if you two wear black and white outfits with bamboo hats pulled low, you should get deep inside."

It was a surprising, unconventional plan. Its key was secrecy.

"His death must be revealed as late as possible." The plan was to strike Yayul Han before his death became known.

Go Wol added a cautious note. "If it weren't the Second Young Lord and the Smiling Demon going with her, I would never suggest sending the Pavilion Master to such a dangerous place."

Geom Mugeuk looked at the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon. Since the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman had to go, he would follow the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's decision.

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman spoke first, her voice calm. "I'll go."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon did not deliberate for long. He nodded his permission.

Go Wol bowed his head, grateful they accepted the plan.

He then spoke to the Poison King. "I also have a favor to ask of you, Poison King. After we eliminate Yeo Bulgae, please protect the Pavilion Master until this is over."

It was a significant request, but the Poison King readily agreed. "I will."

The Poison King unfolded his fan and waved it gently. Now that he had given his word, who in the world could kill the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman?

The gazes of the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon and the Poison King met. They did not exchange words like 'I'm counting on you' or 'Don't worry'. Neither man made a show of things or repaid debts with words.

Finally, Go Wol spoke to Geom Mugeuk. "I will go ahead and prepare to deal with Yayul Han." His words were filled with conviction that the two of them would succeed and return.

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman looked between the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon and Geom Mugeuk. "If such a handsome Monochrome Blade Duo had come, I would have followed them willingly from the start."

Everyone laughed at her joke.

Geom Mugeuk asked the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, "Will you be Baekdo? Or the mafia?"

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon answered curtly. "White suits me well."