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There is no way to immediately confirm whether or not the man I’ve been thinking of is the Evil Emperor. But at this time, he seems like a mad man with the possibility of being a Mad Emperor rather than simply being the Evil Emperor.
I think about this for a while watching the people build the barracks. There are so many crazy people that the meaning of being crazy seems diluted.
In a place where everyone is insane, being crazy doesn’t mean much.
If that were the case, the craziest thing would have been for me to act like a normal person in the crowd of lunatics. I think of Master Baek Wei through the eyes of a normal person.
What on earth is he thinking, watching all the fights happen here? After thinking about it, I came to a conclusion.
It could be because watching the fight is fun, just like it is in our childhoods.
Then the fact that master Baek Wei’s attitude is pure madness doesn’t change. As the name suggests, he possesses a madness which fits his character.
However, the Four Great Evils, including me, look at the approaching men with even more surprise than when we watched the guys set up the barracks.
“What is this now?”
The Murim Alliance people have appeared.
Dan Hyuk-san and the members of the Seven Sword troops, whom we met before, have come.
First, we greet them.
“Warrior Dan and warrior Yun, welcome.”
After looking around at us with nervous faces they bow.
“Sect Leader, we greet you again.”
“You are here for?”
Dan Hyuk-san asks,
“We received news from the alliance, but were worried about the Sect Leader, so we came.”
“What news?”
Dan Hyuk-san looks around as he says,
“I received a kind of report that there would be a fight between the Four Great Evils around this guest house. According to the letter, they claimed they would fight others and that there would be no damage to the people living close by. It was a report which said they hoped no orthodox sect would get involved because such attempts would be stopped in advance at the thought of the village being damaged.”
I look a bit shocked.
“Which is why we reported about the fight here in advance.”
Yun Ji-hak answers with a puzzled look.
“Yes. For now you did. We consider it to be from an ally so the man will look into it himself, do not worry.”
“Ally?”
Dan Hyuk-san looks at me blankly.
“Ally, of course, Sect Leader. There was confusion for a while because it was written in a letter, but when we looked further into it, it had Sect Leader’s name in it.”
I nod and answer.
“Right. The factions think of me as an ally?”
The guy looks at me and says,
“Reading Prison. Do you know what that is?”
I shake my head.
“They are an ally we didn’t know we had. And it is reassuring too.”
I look at the Four Great Evils and they are silent.
“A group which the Murim Alliance knows?”
Dan Hyuk-san shakes his head.
“We don’t know either. We will investigate it.”
I look towards the barracks.
“I don’t know and the Murim Alliance doesn’t know, it is most likely that they are the ones.”
I point to the men setting up the barracks. The Four Great Evils and the Murim Alliance members turn their gazes at once. Those who completed the barracks in an instant were putting their tools back into the carriage.
Originally, the words said Reading Prison- “reading” referring to a reading room and “prison” meaning an enclosed space.
And so, it can be labeled as a reading prison.
And the next three are the Three Pleasures. And it would be the pleasures of a gentleman.
Both parents alive.
The brothers untouched.
And to acquire and educate children.
They are the three pleasures of the gentleman.
Of course, master Baek Wei wouldn’t have normal warriors under him because he is a demon. For example, rather than acquiring and educating the world’s children, he would rather capture the evilest people in the world and torture to educate them.
Like a butcher with a broken mind. While I am lost in these thoughts, Yun Ji-hak asks me,
“Sect Leader, should I ask them?”
I shake my head.
“Don’t bother. When these people talk too much, their tongues are cut out.”
Just then a man walks over from the barracks and speaks as if reporting to me,
“Sect Leader, we have completed setting up the barracks. There is just one person left, and the rest will be leaving. It must have been uncomfortable to see but thank you for letting us do our work. Then, good luck.”
The guy bows down deeply.
I nod.
“Everyone had a hard time setting up those barracks in the hot sun.”
“Those are very encouraging words, thank you.”
The man turns around, joins the men who set up the barracks, and soon starts the carriage. Certainly, judging from their expressions they carried an air that told me that they didn’t get to live like normal people before. Everyone was very polite, so it seemed like they were captured and made to live like slaves.
I look at Dan hyuk-san.
“Warrior Dan.”
“Yes.”
“Somehow, I ended up fighting here. I will look around to make sure there is no damage around, so do not worry too much. As the letter said, the demons will continue to fight here amongst themselves, so there will not be a loss of life here. They are probably controlling the outside, so there shouldn’t be a problem anymore. Do not get involved. Because they are insane people.”
Dan Hyuk-san and the others have nothing to do here. Dan Hyuk-san who understands what I am saying, says,
“Sect Leader.”
“Yes.”
“I am not sure if I should say this, but Sect Leader often refers to us in such a friendly manner, like younger siblings. I don’t know what kind of fight is happening here, but we also wish the best of luck to the Sect Leader.”
To those words, I respond.
“Give my regards to the Alliance Leader.”
“Yes.”
While the Murim Alliance members are stepping back, Dan Hyuk-san comes closer to me and whispers.
“Sect Leader, is there anything I can help you with? This is a question without reference to my post. This is no order from the Alliance Leader, but we came with the intention to help and join.”
I think for a moment and then tap him on the shoulder.
“Umm, warrior Dan. Thank you, but I can handle this from here.”
“I understand.”
Dan Hyuk-San takes a step back and looks at the Four Evils.
“Everyone, then again.”
I wave my hands at them.
“It was nice to see you. Take care.”
“Yes, Sect Leader.”
I feel drained even before fighting. On the other hand, what were people saying for a report to be sent to the Murim Alliance and for them to reach a conclusion to not intervene here?
For a while, we sit on the chairs in front of the guest house and do not say a thing. However, there are several snorts at the absurd situation.
Feeling bored, I get up and head to the barracks. The young man there guarding the barracks looks flustered at my sight.
“Sect Leader, welcome.”
I nod and point to the table.
“Is it fine if I sit down?”
“Yes.”
“Such cold people. Not a response. Never doing anything they don’t want to.”
I look at the ink stone, brush and paper on the table and then look at the Four Evils in front of the guest house.
Do they look like this?
I don’t think I am the only one who would want to watch this fight.
First of all, one will be able to see the rare chance of Sword Demon fighting. If a really strong enemy appears then Sword Demon will pull out his true nature. Furthermore, if one didn’t know about the existence of Pervert Demon, they would also see the unfamiliar ice arts in person. There will be a chance to check my skills with master Yukhap, so even if I was Master Baek Wei, I would want to come here.
‘I confirm. That is how it feels.’
I ask the man,
“Looks like the owner is drawing something. The paper isn’t for a book but for an image, a painting.”
The man says,
“Yes.”
“Are you saying yes to answer or just to respond?”
“It isn’t like that.”
“Give me a long answer.”
“I am cautious about answering because I was asked to be polite to Sect Leader.”
Knowing your enemy and knowing yourself increases the chances of winning a battle. It is the rule and principle one should know when they have a superior who grinds over his subordinates.
I ask the guy.
“Your name?”
“Chil Geom (Seventh Sword)”
“You are the seventh then?”
“Yes.”
“Ah, show me your weapon.”
Chil Geom picks out a scythe from his waist and shows it to me. I nod looking at the familiar one.
“Six harmonies of the Three, and Seven Swords… it is the same whether people are trying to be ambiguous or not. Do you get what I mean?”
“I don’t know.”
“It is fine. A lot of times, I don’t know things either.”
“Yes.”
I ask while looking at the items on the table.
“When will this painter come?”
“I don’t know.”
“Ah, so you admit your master is a painter?”
Chil Geom’s face goes pale, and he goes silent. Looking at his reaction, I turn my head and look at the road.
A carriage is approaching.
I ask Chil Geom who is looking at it.
“… master?”
“No.”
“Then he must be a candidate who came to die.”
The carriage slows down in front of the barracks and the coach man completely ignores me. The carriage’s curtains move and a middle-aged man glares at me. He must be having an upset stomach judging by his pale and dark eyes. He looks a bit like a ghost, but since I can’t back down in a staring fight, I glare too.
“…”
The pale ghost smiles and then passes by lowering the curtain. Of course, he isn’t someone I know, so I ask Chil Geom.
“Who is he? Seems like a bad one.”
Chil Geom answers,
“He is the head of the Ghost Spirit Demon family which is associated with the Cult.”
I nod and then ask for more information.
“Right. Is the man skilled enough to challenge the position?”
Chil Geom answers,
“He is one of the best out of those who would come, he deserves to be here.”
“Am I understanding this right? Are they an allied force that isn’t inside the Cult but active outside?”
Chil Geom shakes his head.
“They are different from the allied factions because they carry out orders. Allies are requested to cooperate and do not carry out orthodox orders.”
“Like you?”
“Yes.”
I applaud Chil Geon for the time being.
“Yaaah, you are young and smart. And also, a disciple to master Baek Wei. Nice.”
“Thank you.”
The carriage with the head of the Ghost Spirit Demon family stops in front of the guest house and the ghost-like man who I saw earlier, gets out of it.
He is a skilled one and I can feel it.
One who appears without a subordinate, stands in front of the guest house, and looks at Sword Demon. It is a sight that impresses me. For a moment, like a possessed guy in white robes, I spread the paper on the desk and picked the brush up.
“Get some food.”
“Yes.”
While Chil Geom goes to eat, I take a breath and hold the brush. For a moment, I have a thought.
‘This… I am doing the same thing as Master Baek Wei.’
I ask Chil Geom who is making the food.
“Chil Geom.”
“Yes, Sect Leader.”
“Just curious. Did your master expect me to sit here and paint?”
Chil Geom holds back his laughter.
“Yes, he did. Maybe he will be delighted.”
“Are you happy because he predicted my actions or because I tried to paint?”
Chil Geom says,
“He expected Sect Leader to have a pure side, so when I saw you sitting there at the desk, it was something about painting or writing something looking at the guest house.”
I admired it.
“Your teacher is above me. Amazing.”
I look up at the barracks and something passes over it. Soon a man in black, who is excellent in footwork, lands on the ground.
To read the uncut version, go to pawread dot com.
I can’t see his face as his back is turned to me, but his movements when he landed on the ground feel so calm it was like he mastered the arts of stealth.
This one too, walks to the guest house not caring about the barracks. So, I ask Chil Geom.
“Who is that assassin?”
Chil Geom shakes his head.
“I don’t know either.”
Putting down the brush, I get up and head for the guest house.
“Sam Bok.”
From inside, Sam Bok jumps out.
“Yes.”
I point to the Ghost Spirit Demon family head.
“Take the guest.”
Sam Bok wipes the water off his hand with his apron and then the Ghost Spirit Demon is approached.
“May I take your order?”
But the guy glares at Sam Bok.
“Not needed.”
“Yes.”
And Sam Bok asks the man in black,
“May I take your order?”
“No need.”
“Yes.”
Ghost Spirit Demon family head says to Sword Demon,
“Sir, please introduce yourself. Have you had a change of heart after living alone all your life? You seem to be hanging around some weirdos.”
Sword Demon speaks in a calm tone.
“They are a disciple and younger ones I met in Kangho.”
I watched the expression of Sword Demon with Ghost Demon and Pervert Demon.
Strangely, when he says it like that…
It feels like Sword Demon has become a little warmer than before. Out of boredom, I take over the duty of responding from Sword Demon and introduce myself.
“I am Lee Zaha, the third brother. Don’t cause a stink in someone else’s place. Place an order. Please note that only silver coins are accepted. Turn away if you don’t have any. I am waiting for you before I make you roll on the ground. Before breaking you down.”
The Ghost Spirit Demon and man in black glares at me.
“….”
I am sure that the air just turned heavy because of me.