Chapter 685: So Many Pretty Women

TL: FoodieMonster007

The invitation was truly unexpected.

"It's my first time being invited as a judge," the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman said as if she couldn't quite believe it.

To Lee Ahn, however, it seemed only natural.

"They called for the best judge. Because you're someone who knows more about beauty than anyone else."

The Thousand Flower Palace had its headquarters here, but it also operated dozens of branches throughout the Central Plains. It was only natural for her to receive such an invitation, having met and experienced countless beautiful women in the process. Whoever made the selection had chosen well.

"Has there been a world number one beauty pageant before?" Geom Mugeuk asked.

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman shook her head. "No, as far as I know, this is the first time this competition is being held."

She couldn't be certain if this competition had existed in her life before she regressed. It was something she had no interest in, so it was possible it had been held before. It was also possible that it was a new event created by the various changes that occurred after her regression.

"Who is hosting the competition?"

An unexpected name came up.

"They say it's the Mythical Sect."

The Mythical Sect was a very famous major sect in the murim, and it belonged to the unorthodox faction. Lee Ahn also knew of the Mythical Sect. Why would an unorthodox sect, not even an orthodox one, host such a competition?

"Why would the Mythical Sect suddenly host a competition like this?" Lee Ahn wondered.

At her question, Geom Mugeuk pointed a finger at her.

"It's because of you."

"What? Because of me?"

Geom Mugeuk smiled at the tense girl. "To officially announce your name to this murim."

"Hey, that's ridiculous…"

For a moment, Lee Ahn's expression flinched.

"Surely, you're not telling me to enter this competition, are you?"

"Why not? If it were a world number one handsome man contest, I would have entered. No, I would have sent our Smiling Demon."

Behind his mask, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon sighed in relief. He knew that Geom Mugeuk would have genuinely found a way to send him.

"Why do I have to participate?"

"There could be an enemy among the contestants. Find them while you're among them."

In the past, she would have thought, 'What kind of enemy could be among the contestants?' But now she understood it was a real possibility.

Normally, Lee Ahn would have reacted like this.

I don't want to! Absolutely not!

She would have waved her hands, stepped back, and even given a look that said, 'Just you try and make me, I won't forgive you even if you're the Young Cult Leader!' She would have refused in every possible way.

Geom Mugeuk was likely waiting for that kind of reaction. That way, he wouldn't have to take her to such a dangerous place.

It was the place where the Demon Supreme would plunge a throwing knife into the Young Cult Leader's chest.

"I'll participate."

"Really?" Geom Mugeuk asked in surprise.

Lee Ahn nodded.

"But why?"

Then, Lee Ahn subtly asked the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman a question.

"How much do you think the prize money is?"

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman looked surprised by the unexpected question. She knew very well that Lee Ahn was not the type of person who would enter such a competition for money.

Soon after, she could guess what was on Lee Ahn's mind as she asked this.

"It's a competition to choose the world's number one beauty, so wouldn't they give at least fifty thousand taels?"

Lee Ahn's eyes widened as she shouted.

"They're giving fifty thousand taels?"

"And there might be additional prizes."

"Fifty thousand taels! That's an amount you could retire on and live off for the rest of your life! A life of martial prowess and idle feasting! The dream of every monthly salary worker!"

With an excited face, Lee Ahn told Geom Mugeuk.

"I'm entering too! Fate has given me a once-in-a-lifetime chance!"

How could he not know? She was acting this way because she was afraid he would send her back to their Cult, telling her it was too dangerous.

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman added another word to help her.

"And it's not just the prize money. The major Trading Companies of the Central Plains will invite you to their events, and they'll give you several hundred taels each time."

"Several hundred taels just for showing my face!"

Geom Mugeuk grabbed her and shook her.

"Snap out of it! You're possessed by money right now!"

"How many Trading Companies are there in the Central Plains?"

"What about the Ghost Shadow Squad?"

"Just tell them to keep fighting in their divided teams!"

Only after the two of them had their fun did Geom Mugeuk speak seriously.

"Lee Ahn, I'll take you with me. And you don't have to participate in the competition."

He knew very well that Lee Ahn would not be willing to show off her beauty in front of countless heroes.

He thought she would naturally say yes.

"No, I'm going to participate in the competition."

No matter how much she hated it or how embarrassing it was, she had a clear reason to take part in the competition.

"The platform you saw in the prophecy, it must be the stage for this competition, right?"

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman nodded.

"I think so."

And that was where Geom Mugeuk would be stabbed in the heart.

"I'll be standing on that stage with you."

Geom Mugeuk could feel that her decision was firm. Lee Ahn was once again showing that she was the kind of person who would willingly step up for his sake, even for something she hated to death.

You're trying so hard to protect me, but I'm the one who protects you.

"I will go with you as your bodyguard."

Lee Ahn was inwardly relieved. Right, what was there to be afraid of with Geom Mugeuk by her side?

Geom Mugeuk also assigned a role to the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon.

"Smiling Demon, please take on the role of the Pavilion Master's bodyguard."

"Understood."

Geom Mugeuk asked the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman.

"Where is the competition being held?"

"It's in Qingyang, Anhui Province."

Qingyang was the region where the Mythical Sect was located. They were holding the competition in their own front yard.

"When can you depart?"

"Anytime is fine."

"Then let's leave early tomorrow."

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman nodded and looked down at the invitation in her hand.

"I'm going to judge, but for some reason, I feel like I'm the one being judged."

She was right. Whether it was fate or some hidden power, it was drawing them in.

Geom Mugeuk smiled and said to her.

"Please give Lee Ahn a vote in the end!"

Lee Ahn shouted in surprise.

"That's biased judging! Don't say things like that!"

"Oh? You seem confident you'll make it to the end. I thought you were just participating for the sake of it."

"That's not what I meant. Ugh!"

A slightly flushed Lee Ahn ran into the building, and Geom Mugeuk followed her. The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman and the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon watched them with a smile.

Then, the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman suddenly said.

"Thank you."

She had listened to the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon and told the Young Cult Leader everything honestly. If she hadn't even told the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, she hated to imagine how she would be feeling right now.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon looked at her and smiled. It was a smile that needed no more words.

The white mask, reflecting the sunlight, shone brilliantly.

A young man was looking up at a stage that was in the final stages of construction. The stage was being built to be large and magnificent. This was the venue for the world number one beauty pageant.

Masters exuding a cold aura stood on all sides of the man. Passersby didn't dare approach and took a wide detour. Just by looking at his bodyguards, one could tell this man's status was not ordinary.

This young man was Ahn Hupyeong, the successor of the Mythical Sect, which was hosting the world number one beauty pageant.

"Young Lord, you've come out?" a middle-aged martial artist said, walking up beside him and greeting him politely.

The middle-aged man was Jo Man, the external manager of the Mythical Sect, who was in charge of preparing for the world number one beauty pageant.

"The marketplace is already bustling with people."

People from all over the Central Plains had begun to flock here to watch the competition. Although duel competitions were held throughout the Central Plains, this was the first official world number one beauty pageant, so the interest of the people of the Central Plains was focused on it.

Ahn Hupyeong asked, his gaze still fixed on the stage.

"Manager Jo."

"Yes, Young Lord."

"Do you know what my dream is?"

"To marry the world number one beauty."

He had heard this countless times since Ahn Hupyeong was young. Since that dream still hadn't changed, it was sincere. If it had been someone else, he would have sneered, 'Big dreams for such an ordinary face!'

"You are about to achieve your dream. Congratulations, Young Lord."

"It's too early to celebrate. The woman who becomes the world number one beauty must accept my choice."

"What woman would refuse you, Young Lord?"

A confident smile appeared on Ahn Hupyeong's lips.

Manager Jo knew it would be useless even if the woman refused the choice. Having watched him since he was young, he knew well what a persistent and terrifying person this Ahn Hupyeong was. Even after watching him for so long, he was still nervous about misspeaking in front of this Ahn Hupyeong.

Moreover, he was a lecherous scoundrel. Since he was young, he couldn't control himself around women. He didn't know which woman would become the world number one beauty, but he thought it might be the most unfortunate award of her life.

"When does it start?"

"The preliminaries begin in three days. Beauties from all over the Central Plains are arriving one after another for the competition."

Ahn Hupyeong looked at the three chairs placed in front of the stage. They were the seats for the judges. VIP seats were arranged on either side of them.

"The judges?"

"Two of the three have already arrived. We are just waiting for the last one, the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman, to arrive."

For a moment, Ahn Hupyeong's eyes shone sharply.

"The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman? Isn't the Thousand Flower Palace a brothel?"

"That is correct. We have invited the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman as a judge this time."

At that, Ahn Hupyeong's expression immediately hardened.

"You mean to say you appointed a mere brothel owner as a judge?"

"The Thousand Flower Palace is no ordinary brothel. It is the largest and most famous brothel, with dozens of branches in the Central Plains."

'Haven't you been there many times?' The words rose to his throat, but he couldn't bring himself to say them. Perhaps Ahn Hupyeong disliked it even more because it was a place he frequented.

"Even so, a brothel is a brothel."

The thought of marrying the world number one beauty judged by that brothel owner soured his mood completely.

"Who on earth appointed this woman as a judge?"

Manager Jo made a troubled expression before finally speaking cautiously.

"It was the Chief."

Ahn Hupyeong flinched in surprise.

"It was originally someone else, but he changed it at the last minute."

At those words, a look of bewilderment appeared on Ahn Hupyeong's face. His father was a man who had lived his whole life wielding a sword.

"Let me know when the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman arrives."

The carriage carrying Geom Mugeuk's party entered the marketplace of Qingyang.

Geom Mugeuk nudged Lee Ahn in the side.

"Stop staring!"

Lee Ahn, who had been staring at the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon sitting in front of her, was startled. She couldn't help but look. Since this morning, upon arriving at their destination, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon had taken off his mask and was wearing a veil.

It was the first time she had seen the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon without his mask, although a veil covered the lower half of his face.

"You're so handsome!" Lee Ahn blurted out as if mesmerized.

Then, realizing she had said it to his face, she quickly lowered her head.

Geom Mugeuk looked at the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon and said, "It's frustrating, but I have to admit it."

With his eyes and forehead revealed, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon looked like a completely different person. Moreover, the special veil played a part. It was a stylish and cool veil with a single flower drawn on it, and the characters for Cheonhwa (天花) were embroidered at the bottom.

"I embroidered and made it for him myself." It was the work of the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman, who was sitting next to her.

"But why did you ask me to make ten more just like it?"

She had made ten more because the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon had asked, but he hadn't told her the reason then or now.

"The moment he takes off that veil, all hell will break loose. All the beauties of the Central Plains will follow him, so ten won't be enough!"

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman laughed pleasantly at Geom Mugeuk's joke.

"I'll have to make more veils then!"

Just then, the coachman's voice came from the driver's seat.

"We've arrived at our destination."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon opened the carriage door and got out first. The moment they looked outside, everyone understood why ten more veils were needed.

Ten martial artists were waiting in front of the carriage. Surprisingly, they were the Faceless Warriors, who had arrived earlier and were waiting. They were the ten most skilled among the Faceless Warriors.

It was unclear when he had given them the veils, but they too had taken off their masks and were wearing veils just like the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon. Dressed in the same martial arts uniform and wearing the same veils, they looked exactly like bodyguards from the Thousand Flower Palace.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon had concluded that the only reason he would have to stab a throwing knife into Geom Mugeuk's chest was because of the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman. If she were taken hostage and her life used as leverage. Now that he was aware of that possibility, he would never let it happen. He had only brought ten to avoid attracting attention. If it had been possible, he would have brought all of the Faceless Warriors.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, standing before the ten Faceless Warriors, smiled and said. He was now the head of the Thousand Flower Palace's bodyguards.

"Well then, shall we go, Pavilion Master?"

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman was moved. She was indescribably grateful to the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon for taking such care of her.

Before getting out of the carriage, the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman looked back at Lee Ahn and said, "Then, I'll see you on the final stage."

"The finals! I won't be able to make it."

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman gave her a smile and then got out of the carriage. The ten Faceless Warriors surrounded her on all sides, with the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon at the lead.

And so, they disappeared into the crowd.

Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn remained in the carriage for a moment without getting out together. They thought it would be better to get out separately to avoid drawing attention.

Lee Ahn's gaze trembled slightly as she looked out the carriage window.

"There are so many people."

It seemed she was nervous about appearing before so many people.

"A duel competition would be better, right?"

Even on the way here, Lee Ahn had trained in martial arts whenever she had a spare moment. She was already crazy about training, but this time she trained even harder. After all, her dream was to become the world number one master, not the world number one beauty.

He thought she would naturally say a duel competition was better.

"No, I can enter a duel competition even when I'm older, but I can only challenge for world number one beauty now, right?"

Lee Ahn put on the veil she had brought and got out of the carriage first. Since she was participating anyway, she was determined to do well. Like someone who had really come to become the world number one beauty. She had to focus and immerse herself in this competition to be able to spot anyone suspicious.

Geom Mugeuk didn't get out, watching the people come and go through the window for a moment.

We've finally arrived.

What kind of events awaited him here? He believed that everything that had led him here was fate. Discovering the Saintess's Dream in the Murim Alliance report, the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman receiving the prophecy, and even being invited to this place.

And just as he had done until now, he would fight back with all his might.

"What are you thinking about so hard without getting out?"

When he turned his head, Lee Ahn was standing outside the carriage, looking at him.

"With so many pretty women around, what will our Lee Ahn do? Worried about that?"

"From what I can see, I don't see any woman prettier than me."

Above the pure white veil, Lee Ahn's beautiful eyes smiled brightly.

"Besides, you should worry about that after you've signed up for the competition yourself."