Chapter 693: Life May Be Short, but Eyelashes Must Be Long

TL: FoodieMonster007

Cha Yiran lifted the box to peer at the bead inside.

The bead's surface was smooth, its reddish glow both transparent and deep. Looking closer, she saw what resembled human blood vessels spreading out like a net. An aura-like energy shimmered and moved around them.

Was it because it felt as if it were alive?

She had the distinct feeling that she was not the one looking at the bead. Instead, the bead was looking at her.

Just as Cha Yiran was carefully closing the lid of the box, someone appeared behind her. The person was a woman dressed in a black martial arts uniform. She was Cha Yiran's subordinate and the most skilled assassin in the Beautiful Bridges organization, the First Bridge.

She too was beautiful and had successfully passed the preliminaries of the current tournament.

The First Bridge bowed respectfully and delivered her report.

"The Evil Alliance Chairman has departed from the Evil Alliance. I expect he will likely arrive on the day the main tournament opens."

Cha Yiran tilted her head slightly.

"He's earlier than scheduled."

The main tournament was meant to select eight people for the final round, with the final stage taking place three days later. The banquet that the Evil Alliance Chairman was scheduled to attend would be held on the evening after the finals.

But he was arriving on the day the main tournament opened, not for the finals?

"It seems he intends to watch the main tournament."

Since the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult had intervened, various changes were occurring. From the perspective of those trying to execute their plan, this was not a welcome development.

"His bodyguard?"

"As expected, the Chairman's Hall bodyguard unit and the Young Alliance Chairman, leading the Thirteen Evil Wolves, have followed him."

Cha Yiran nodded.

"What about the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman?"

"She is still staying in the guest quarters."

"And the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon?"

"He has not made a move."

Cha Yiran spoke to the First Bridge, her tone a warning.

"They are bizarre and strange, making it easy to let your guard down. But don't forget. The words 'extreme evil' are attached to their names."

The First Bridge lowered her head, her eyes sharp.

"Yes! I will keep that in mind."

After bowing respectfully, the First Bridge looked at her leader. She knew better than anyone what an outstanding assassin Cha Yiran was, but their enemies this time were formidable. They were more brilliant than the splendid clothes her leader currently wore.

The Young Cult Leader and the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon. The Evil Alliance Chairman and the Young Alliance Chairman.

Reading the worry in the First Bridge's eyes, Cha Yiran held out the box she was holding.

"Don't worry. The reason we will win is in here."

The box was firmly shut, but an unknown, ominous energy flickered around it.

The day of the main tournament for the world's number one beauty pageant finally dawned.

Lee Ahn, who had woken at dawn, went up the back mountain to train her martial arts. Geom Mugeuk followed, watching her as she trained until she was dripping with sweat. Although he sometimes had to be away, he tried to stay by Lee Ahn's side as much as possible.

"I'm just so nervous."

She was most at ease when she was training her martial arts.

After she finished a round of training, Geom Mugeuk asked her.

"Are you feeling a little better now?"

"I feel like I can live now."

Despite her words, she was still trembling. It was nerve-wracking enough to perform martial arts before so many people, let alone having to show off her beauty.

Geom Mugeuk understood her feelings better than anyone.

"I'm sorry."

Lee Ahn smiled at Geom Mugeuk's words.

"I should be the one thanking you. If it weren't for you, Young Master, when would I ever get to live such an interesting life?"

"Right? Isn't that right?"

Instead of agreeing, Lee Ahn ducked her head and started walking.

"Of course not. I want to run away right now."

Geom Mugeuk laughed and followed her.

When the two of them returned to the inn, a woman was waiting for her. Surprisingly, she was someone Geom Mugeuk had summoned.

"I asked for this person to be sent here."

He had found the woman after inquiring at the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's Anhui Branch. She was an expert in makeup and had come to do Lee Ahn's makeup.

"You can't go to the main tournament with a bare face, can you?"

Lee Ahn was truly grateful that Geom Mugeuk had taken care of such details. She had been worrying about how to do her makeup anyway.

The woman smiled at Lee Ahn, who had washed up and sat before a bronze mirror.

"Life may be short, but eyelashes must be long."

To this woman, makeup was life itself. It held the same meaning for her as a sword did for a martial artist. She advised Lee Ahn to wear the white palace attire from the two sets of clothes she had bought.

While applying makeup that matched the outfit, she explained her techniques in detail. It was truly the art of makeup being passed down by a woman of the highest skill.

While she was doing the makeup, Geom Mugeuk closed his eyes, circulated his energy, and calmed his inner arts and his mind. The main tournament was about to begin.

He didn't know when the scene the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman had foreseen would occur. It could happen today, or it could be during the final stage three days from now.

It was unfortunate for the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman, but that event would not happen.

The makeup didn't take as long as expected. She demonstrated in person that a true master does not drag out their work. No, she demonstrated it on Lee Ahn's face.

A light TAP-TAP, a swift PAT-PAT. Her hand movements were so light it made one wonder if it was enough. If this woman's makeup artistry were a martial art, it would be a fast sword technique.

"There, it's all done."

Her makeup finished, Lee Ahn turned toward Geom Mugeuk. The corners of her nervous eyes twitched. Even she couldn't get used to her reflection in the bronze mirror. She couldn't judge if she looked prettier than before, so she was both worried and expectant about what Geom Mugeuk would say.

Geom Mugeuk, who had been circulating his energy with his eyes closed, slowly opened them. After looking at Lee Ahn in silence, Geom Mugeuk said something incomprehensible.

"Live with this face from now on."

"You want me to wear makeup every day?"

It sounded like he was saying her made-up face was prettier than her real one! Taking it that way, Lee Ahn turned to the woman who did her makeup and joked.

"Your skills are so good, you've just become my hostage."

Of course, she had a feeling there was another meaning to Geom Mugeuk's words. He wasn't the type of person to tell her, who was obsessed with martial arts, to live with makeup on every day.

Indeed, there was a hidden meaning in Geom Mugeuk's words.

"Not that. I mean you should live with the feeling this made-up face gives off."

If her bare face was purity itself, her made-up face looked intense. It was hard to approach her, yet she was still beautiful. A woman's makeup certainly held a surprising power.

"Don't live with a weak heart. Don't live so kindly all the time. Don't be the first to speak, and if someone approaches you, live like you'd tell them to get lost!"

You can't even live like that yourself, Young Master!

Knowing well the sentiment behind Geom Mugeuk's words, Lee Ahn smiled.

"Yes! If I feel my heart weakening, I'll put on makeup first."

"Shall we go then?"

Before leaving, Lee Ahn politely expressed her gratitude to the woman.

"Thank you so much."

"I've already received a large sum of money, so I'm the one who should be grateful. I'll see you when you make it to the finals."

"Then today might be the last time."

Lee Ahn's modesty had no effect on the woman.

"In three days, I'll teach you the makeup techniques that suit the red palace attire. Look forward to it!"

The woman naturally believed Lee Ahn would advance to the finals. She had done makeup for countless women, but this was the first time she had seen one so beautiful. It was also the first time she had seen a woman who made doing makeup so rewarding. She truly wanted to be taken hostage and do her makeup every day.

And so, Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn headed for the Mythical Sect.

The streets were teeming with people. Lee Ahn moved with her clothes covered by a thin cloak, wearing a bamboo hat with a veil. Over a hundred women had advanced to the main tournament, so today's stage would take quite some time.

Behind the main stage was the largest hall in the Mythical Sect, which served as the waiting room for the contestants. Bodyguards were not allowed inside the waiting room.

"Lee Ahn."

"Yes, Young Master."

"You know who's in there, right?"

He had said their enemy this time was an assassin organization made up of beautiful women. This meant that not only Cha Yiran but also several other assassins could be inside. No, they would definitely be there.

"From now on, the only one you can trust is yourself."

Lee Ahn nodded silently.

Just then, a person walked over. It was none other than Ahn Hupyeong. Sa Chu and his martial artists stood in a line some distance away.

"Young Lady. I wish you the best of luck."

"Thank you."

"You'll definitely pass the main tournament. I guarantee it."

His guarantee sounded as if he would use his influence to make sure she passed. He didn't realize that such words were rude to the other person and would actually lose him points. He had lived his entire life thinking only of himself, so he had no training in considering others' feelings.

His father, Ahn Cheongwang, had built the Mythical Sect into a large and powerful force, but the price of that dedication had to be paid by those closest to him.

Lee Ahn exchanged no more words with him and entered the hall.

It would have been nice if she'd said a few more words. Feeling spiteful out of unnecessary disappointment, Ahn Hupyeong glared at Geom Mugeuk.

A guy he disliked every time he saw him. A guy he hated for no real reason. A guy he wanted to take away, beat up, and thoroughly intimidate.

Because of that, his words couldn't be pleasant.

"Do your job as this Young Lady's bodyguard properly! Got it?"

He had lived his entire life being protected by bodyguards, so he had always looked down on those who served as one.

"……"

His pointless spite led to a question.

"Since when have you been this Young Lady's bodyguard?"

"For a long time."

"I'm asking since when!"

Since when had Lee Ahn been his bodyguard?

"Since I was a kid."

"A kid?"

For a moment, Ahn Hupyeong felt puzzled.

Receiving protection from a bodyguard since childhood? Doesn't that mean she has a noble status?

"This Young Lady… what is her position in the Divine Cult?"

Geom Mugeuk looked at Ahn Hupyeong and gave a faint smile. It felt as if he were sneering, asking why he was only asking that now, and Ahn Hupyeong's expression hardened.

This bastard is smiling?

Just as he was contemplating how to crush him, a woman walked toward them.

Ahn Hupyeong was startled when he saw her. A woman as beautiful as Lee Ahn was walking toward them. The beauty, who gave off a completely different vibe, was none other than Cha Yiran.

"It seems the Young Lady has already gone inside."

"She just went in."

"Then an opportunity has come for me."

Ahn Hupyeong's eyes narrowed as he watched Cha Yiran smile bewitchingly at Geom Mugeuk. She clearly seemed to be an acquaintance of Lee Ahn, yet he was conversing with such a beauty just because he was a bodyguard.

"How about it? Shall we sneak out for a meal?"

She was making a joke-like temptation as usual, but Cha Yiran's feelings as she looked at Geom Mugeuk were clearly different from before.

You saved him? I can't believe it.

She had liked him. Ak Gunhak must have saved him. He wasn't the type to just do whatever he was told. That's why she wanted to ask Geom Mugeuk what had happened with that man. Why he was trying to leave. And if by any chance, where he was planning to go.

After hearing about him from Hwa Domyeong yesterday, she couldn't stop thinking about it. However, the opportunity to hear about Ak Gunhak would not come unless this Young Cult Leader was on the verge of death.

"Let's have a drink together tonight to celebrate making it to the finals."

She was saying she would naturally pass, and she expected Geom Mugeuk to refuse as he always did.

"Let's do that."

Cha Yiran gave Geom Mugeuk a surprised look at his answer.

"You have to keep your promise even if this Young Lady is eliminated."

"You're the one who should come without being embarrassed even if you're eliminated, Young Lady. I'll buy you a drink."

Cha Yiran smiled and went inside. Ahn Hupyeong, who had been looking for a chance to cut in, couldn't bring himself to speak in the end.

The usual Ahn Hupyeong would have definitely interrupted their conversation. Who are you, Young Lady? I am so-and-so. It's a pleasure to meet you. But he couldn't say a word. It wasn't because of his single-minded devotion to Lee Ahn.

He didn't know what it was, but it was difficult to approach her carelessly. The feeling she gave off was clearly that. Don't bother me right now!

"Who is that woman?"

"That is Young Lady Cha Yiran."

"Who do you think you are, making dinner plans without this Young Lady's permission? Who are you to tell her to come without being embarrassed even if she's eliminated?"

Seeing him joke and converse with a woman he himself couldn't even say a word to, his jealousy exploded. If it weren't for Lee Ahn, he would have ordered Sa Chu and his subordinates to drag him to a secluded place and beat him half to death.

"From this moment on, don't you say a single word! The instant I see you open that mouth, I'll rip it apart!"

After making that threat, he walked over to where Sa Chu was.

Sa Chu, who was just receiving a report from a subordinate, said urgently.

"The Evil Alliance Chairman and the Young Alliance Chairman have arrived."

"What? The Evil Alliance Chairman is already here?"

Ahn Hupyeong was greatly surprised. He had to make a good impression on the Evil Alliance Chairman and the Young Alliance Chairman, even if he didn't care about others.

"Where are they? Where are they now!"

"They are probably meeting with the Chief."

"Hurry and send the men to find out. Especially tell them to contact me immediately if the Young Alliance Chairman moves anywhere!"

The more important person to him was not the Evil Alliance Chairman, but the Evil Alliance's Young Alliance Chairman. He had to get on his good side to make his future life easier.

"I must be the first one to meet him!"

"Understood."

As he was bustling about, he caught sight of Geom Mugeuk in the distance, talking to someone. The other person was a young-looking man, but his back was turned, so he couldn't tell who it was.

He had told him not to say a single word today, yet Geom Mugeuk was talking with the man, smiling brightly.

This bastard!

Ahn Hupyeong took Sa Chu and his subordinates and strode toward the two.

"Didn't I say I'd rip your mouth open if you opened it?"

"I really didn't want to."

Geom Mugeuk tattled on the man in front of him.

"This person forced me to talk."