Chapter 803: Deliciously Spicy

TL: FoodieMonster007

When the Celestial Killer Star was mentioned, Ga Ye felt fear.

Others might not know, but she knew just how terrifying that person was. She had witnessed as he broke the seal of the Seventy Two Stars Soul Sealing Formation, a feat said to be impossible for any human.

She recalled that day. In that place where starlight glittered across the ceiling, she had felt true terror.

"You must leave now."

Only one constellation on the ceiling remained unlit. Once that last constellation lit up, 'he' would break the seal and come out.

However, the Darkness Palace Lord sat cross-legged and motionless, like a man who had given up on everything. Even the dark energy hovering around his body lacked vigor.

Ga Ye knew that if the Seventy Two Stars Soul Sealing Formation was completely destroyed, the person trapped inside could never escape. The Darkness Palace Lord definitely knew about it too.

"There's a way to stop him from coming out, and you know it too."

"You want to destroy the seal? What will happen to this palace's three-hundred-year-old wish then?"

"But if he comes out before we obtain the Six Elements Origin Qi… he'll kill you first, Lord."

"That might be so." The Darkness Palace Lord nodded as if he had resolved himself to die.

"No, you can't die. We'll destroy the seal and find another way."

He paused briefly then sighed. "Do you think I have enough time left to start over?"

"……"

Ga Ye could not answer his question. No matter how powerful he was, he was ultimately human. The fine wrinkles on his face spoke of that limit.

"Go to Dongting Lake first and prepare the things I told you about."

"What are you planning to do?"

"I'm going to meet him."

As unknown characters overlapped over the Darkness Palace Lord's face, Ga Ye returned to reality. Ultimately, the old man hadn't died. Instead, he came to Dongting Lake, but he did not say whether he met the man who unsealed himself, or what conversation they had if they did meet.

If he met him, how did he survive? Did he beg? Or did he negotiate? Or did he come without meeting him?

The Darkness Palace Lord glared at Geom Mugeuk. "Now every tavern table in this world will be smashed."

He knew exactly what kind of demonic path the Young Cult Leader dreamed of.

"What a joke." Geom Mugeuk sneered at that curse-like prophecy. "A new murim where evil becomes good and good becomes evil? That isn't the murim you want, is it?"

"……" The Darkness Palace Lord's eyes twitched.

Geom Mugeuk continued, "You dreamed of a murim where everything runs normally, didn't you? A murim where subordinates rule the world and you become the mastermind reigning over them, isn't that it?"

The Darkness Palace Lord could not deny it. How did the Young Cult Leader know? That was truly the life he dreamed of.

"If the world is completely covered in darkness, would your darkness have any meaning?"

"!"

Geom Mugeuk's eyes flashed. The Darkness Palace Lord must know that in such a world, he would no longer be special. He would simply degenerate into just one of countless evils.

"One of us will definitely die today. Before that, I want to hear the whole story from you."

Geom Mugeuk knew that the Darkness Palace Lord had a deep connection with Hwa Mugi, and he wanted to find out as much as possible about Hwa Mugi before fighting him.

If they are people bound by such deep fate, wouldn't he feel like telling someone at least once before the final battle?

He demanded, "How did you come to know that person?"

When Baek Jagang rushed to the Demonic Cult, he never imagined the atmosphere would be like this.

He expected a situation of utmost solemnity and seriousness to be unfolding and even seriously thought, How should I greet the Demonic Cult Leader? Would he believe that I came to help? Should I say I came to help? Or perhaps joke a little? Like, 'I came to see what the Celestial Killer Star looks like'?

He had come while thinking how he should respond to all types of situations, but clearly he had missed the most important one.

"Have you eaten yet?" Geom Woojin asked.

Baek Jagang answered blankly, "…No, no yet."

"Then, please wait a moment."

Geom Woojin's head, which had poked out of the kitchen, went back inside. Through a small crack in the door, he could see the Heavenly Demon slicing meat in the kitchen.

Moreover, he had an assistant so young that Baek Jagang thought he was a chef or a waiter…until he spotted the pouch on the man's waist.

Something hung there that made his heart sink more than seeing a treasured sword or treasured blade when checking an opponent's weaponry, and there were twelve of them.

Finally, he realized that the person peeling onions was the Poison King.

The Poison King is peeling onions?

Moreover, the Poison King focused only on helping Geom Woojin even though the Evil Alliance Chairman had arrived.

Baek Jagang didn't mind because he already knew that the Poison King was an eccentric person unbound by common etiquette, but this wasn't what shocked him.

The Demonic Cult Leader is cooking and the Poison King is helping?

For a moment, a thought crossed his mind.

Are they making a poisoned dish together knowing I would come?

Would not this be a more reasonable suspicion than the Heavenly Demon and the Poison King personally cooking and serving a meal?

Of course, Baek Jagang knew that was not the case, because Geom Woojin would not poison him. He was the type to throw that kitchen knife to kill him.

Furthermore, the Poison King was peeling onions with tears streaming down his face. Surely he was not crying because he was sad that the Evil Alliance Chairman was about to be poisoned to death, right?

But if they aren't trying to poison me, then…? Could it be? Has the Celestial Killer Star already come, killed Geom Woojin, and is wearing his skin?

Baek Jagang immediately wanted to slap himself. How shocked must he have been to entertain such silly thoughts?

The Fist Demon approached him and greeted politely, "You've come a long way. Please sit here."

Baek Jagang clasped his hands and greeted back, "Thank you."

He also exchanged greetings with the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader since they already knew each other.

"Long time no see."

"Have you been well?"

Although the fatty had stepped down from the position of Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, Baek Jagang still acknowledged him as the strongest in the Outer Regions.

Meanwhile, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was just as taken aback by Baek Jagang's unexpected visit. A crisis struck the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, yet the Evil Alliance Chairman came to help? How should he accept this fact?

"Did you come alone?" he asked.

"Yes, I came alone."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader fell into stunned silence again. This was as surprising as the fact that he came at all.

He actually came alone? What if he got killed by the Demonic Cult Leader?

Since he was someone who could not hold back his curiosity, he began to probe Baek Jagang's intentions indirectly.

"When Chairman Baek entered the entrance, I had this thought for a moment. Is Chairman Baek perhaps the Celestial Killer Star?"

Baek Jagang smiled. He knew the illusion arts master liked silly banter. "I sometimes get misunderstood like that when I can't control my temper." He then returned the joke magnified five times over. "Speaking of which, aren't there already five Celestial Killer Stars inside this tavern alone?"

Am I the only Celestial Killer Star?

"Bwahaha!"

At the joke implying they looked more like Celestial Killer Stars, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader laughed out loud.

It was true. If any of them went out into the jianghu and caused trouble, the worst incident in history would occur.

"Since you aren't the Celestial Killer Star, why did you come here?"

The Fist Demon listening from the side and the Sword King in the corner also waited for Baek Jagang's answer with curiosity.

Geom Woojin cooked quietly, but he too perked up his ears.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader asked with a smile, but the somewhat direct and rude question could not be answered with a smile.

Still, Baek Jagang was rather grateful to him. It was better to ask like this than harbor doubts, since it at least gives one a chance at conversation.

Of course, he did not easily reveal his true thoughts.

"I came out to play because I was bored."

Everyone was surprised by those words. They wondered if it was a joke, but Baek Jagang's tone was too devoid of laughter for that.

"Unless it's something of this magnitude, I can't find justification to come out and play alone. So I thought, 'this is my chance', and ran here."

Baek Jagang could not reveal the real reason out loud. He couldn't say that he came because he was worried the Demonic Cult Leader might die.

Although it was a situation where he should be happy if the Demonic Cult weakened, and although he worried about the Demonic Cult Leader's ambition to unify the murim, he still hoped he would not die.

Of course, he could not say it was because the lips get cold without teeth, nor could he say that his disciple would be greatly heartbroken if his best friend's father died.

He also could not say that he wanted to grow old together with this Demonic Cult Leader while boasting about their children.

His pride simply would not let him explain his reasons for coming.

Just then, Geom Woojin called Baek Jagang from the kitchen. "Chairman Baek."

Baek Jagang turned around, only to see Geom Woojin poking his head out of the kitchen again.

A heavy tension flowed as everyone wondered what words would come out of the Heavenly Demon's mouth.

"Can you handle spicy food?"

Baek Jagang could feel it in Geom Woojin's eyes looking at him. That he knew why he had come.

Still, he smiled and played along.

"I like spicy food very much."

Geom Woojin nodded and disappeared back into the kitchen.

"Slice a few more chili peppers."

The Poison King, who had not yet wiped away the tear tracks caused by the onions, began slicing chili peppers this time.

Now the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader no longer asked why Baek Jagang had come. "I also like spicy things very much. The best thing about coming to the Central Plains was that there are many spicy foods," he said randomly.

"That's amazing. It's a decision not just anyone can make," Baek Jagang said. It was a remark regarding him abandoning his position as Cult Leader and coming to the Central Plains.

"I guess my life was boring too."

Since the topic came up, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader introduced the Sword King.

"By the way, this person here is in a similar situation to me."

Baek Jagang tilted his head, wondering what that meant.

"He came all the way to this distant Heavenly Demon Divine Cult because of the Young Cult Leader."

Of course, he had noticed the Sword King. Even though the swordmaster wasn't releasing his aura, he could sense the man's strength.

Regardless, such a force joining the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult wasn't good for the Evil Alliance.

"Evil martial artist, if your life ever becomes boring, please look toward our alliance, not the Murim Alliance."

The Sword King bowed his head slightly without a word.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader answered on his behalf. "Unfortunately for you, Chairman, it seems that person has already found the answer to what to do when life becomes boring."

SIZZLE!

When he finished greetings with the Sword King as well, the sound of food being stir-fried came from the kitchen.

Geom Woojin was stir-frying meat and vegetables in a heated wok. The chopped onions from the Poison King's tearful sacrifice were also in there.

Feeling sorry just sitting there, Baek Jagang stood up and walked to the kitchen. "Is there anything I can help with?"

"It's fine. It's almost done now."

Baek Jagang stood in front of the kitchen for a moment and looked at Geom Woojin's back as he cooked. The Heavenly Demon was not staging this scene on purpose. He was sincere about cooking right now.

Is this your way of relieving the loneliness of life?

Finally, the dish was completed.

Everyone sat around the table and tasted the dish Geom Woojin made.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader read the room and did not pick up his chopsticks first. Eating a dish prepared by the Poison King was something one couldn't do without nerves of steel. Only after seeing Geom Woojin and the Fist Demon eat did he pick up his chopsticks.

He ate with a mindset wondering how good it could possibly be, but the dish was unexpectedly delicious.

"Oh! It's delicious!" he exclaimed.

It was not just to curry favor with the Heavenly Demon. Baek Jagang was truly surprised by Geom Woojin's cooking skills. The meat and vegetables were roasted well, and the seasoning was incredible.

"I'd believe it if you said a professional chef made it. I'd like to learn if there's an opportunity."

"You're too kind," Geom Woojin replied nonchalantly.

Still, the Fist Demon could feel it. That even though he was acting stoic, Geom Woojin was incredibly proud right now.

Geom Woojin added casually, "Thank you for coming."

Goosebumps did not rise on Baek Jagang's ears. That was the truth.

He picked up a chopstick-full of food and shoved it in his mouth.

"Mmm! It's deliciously spicy."

The next day, Murim Alliance Chairman Jin Paecheon entered the Demon Village as darkness fell.

He didn't know how many times he considered turning back while coming here. It was because of the worry that, by one in ten thousand chance, the Celestial Killer Star might go to the Murim Alliance.

However, he eventually came to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

Despite Head Strategist Jaegal Hyeon's desperate attempts to dissuade him, he repeated the same words his grandson had said to him.

"This is the first and last selfish decision I will make in my time as Murim Alliance Chairman."

Nevertheless, he was worried.

What will the Demonic Cult Leader think of my visit? He will suspect me first, right? He might think I came to find out information about the Nine Calamities Demonic Palace while watching him fight the Celestial Killer Star, or he might suspect that I would betray him at a decisive moment and try to kill him.

Jin Paecheon looked down at the Gentleman Sword at his waist. Since he even came wearing the greatest sword of the orthodox, the man might suspect him even more. He had to persuade him well so there would be no needless misunderstanding.

As he moved his steps with a heavy and cautious heart, there was exactly one place with lights on in the dark street.

That place?

It was the very tavern where they held the three-party talks before, but the energy felt from the place was unusual.

Jin Paecheon took a deep breath and carefully opened the tavern door and entered.

Four people sitting at a table stared at him in surprise. The Fist Demon and the Poison King were sitting in the front, and next to them sat the Sword King and the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

Jin Paecheon's heart sank. What a serious atmosphere! Furthermore, the Demonic Cult Leader is missing?! Did I arrive a step too late?

Suddenly, he heard two people conversing inside the kitchen.

"You mean I should rotate it like this so the seasoning permeates the meat evenly, right?"

"There's no need to use your inner qi to that extent."

"Wouldn't it taste better if I make it stylishly while I'm at it?"

"You showed off and splashed it all over the side."

Jin Paecheon's eyes went wide in shock. He recognized both voices.

Unless I heard wrongly… Don't tell me! Did I fall for some kind of illusion art without realizing it?

Baek Jagang poked his head out of the kitchen. As if he had fought a bloody battle in the kitchen, red seasoning was smeared not only on his clothes but also on his face.

"Have you eaten?" he asked Jin Paecheon, smiling brightly.