Chapter 26: Is He Also a Villain?

Without giving Jin So-wol a chance to respond to my greeting, Shin Pil-ju clung to her.

“Save me, child. Please understand my predicament of having no choice but to use you as bait. But I never intended to harm you…”

Jin So-wol’s cold voice cut off Shin Pil-ju’s desperate plea.

“Have you ever shown mercy to those who begged for their lives? As far as I remember, not even once…”

“When you do many things, it is often unavoidable to make harsh decisions. But there are also countless people who owe me their lives. Without going far, isn’t there your father? I not only saved the life of that child, who had lost his parents early and was on the verge of starvation, but also provided him with generous support, including a fine education…”

This time too, Jin So-wol did not let Shin Pil-ju finish his sentence. An agitated voice that I had never heard before erupted from her full lips.

“Shut up! You worked my father like a dog. For over forty years, my father has been doing all sorts of dirty work that you forced him to…”

Jin So-wol also couldn’t finish her sentence. The one who calmed her down was the Mad Guest, who had brought the Eight Directions Fist, Cho Woo.

“Was I in the way, benefactor?”

The Mad Guest asked, looking back and forth between me and Jin So-wol. Before I could answer, Jin So-wol first showed her respect to the Mad Guest.

“Jin So-wol of the Haewon Society greets the Scholar-Protecting Elder.”

I tilted my head. Haewon Society? Wasn’t it Haewon Villa?

At Jin So-wol’s title, the Mad Guest’s lips stretched to his ears. I tilted my head once more. Did the Mad Guest also have the moniker of Scholar-Protector?

“Hahaha, not only your appearance, but your words are also beautiful, child. By the way, did you also have a grudge against this villain? Shall I smash this villain’s head for you?”

The Mad Guest raised his hand. Shin Pil-ju, who was unable to move because his paralyzed blood points had been sealed, trembled. Fortunately for him, the Mad Guest, who had glanced at me, lowered his hand.

“I’m sorry, benefactor. I got too excited. Since this is your event, I will just watch quietly from now on.”

“Thank you, sir.”

I postponed Shin Pil-ju’s punishment. My gaze was directed at Cho Woo, whom the Mad Guest had brought. The moment our eyes met, I realized. What kind of person he was.

Cho Woo was like me. He was also of the same kind as the tough nuts who were common among the Sea Demons. In other words, he was the kind of person on whom torture would not work. Even if his tendons were pulled out and his bones were broken, it would only feel like cutting his fingernails to him.

I handed the dagger that Shin Pil-ju had been holding to Jin So-wol.

“Don’t you have a debt to collect from this man?”

My eyes naturally went to Jin So-wol’s left hand. Her little finger had been cut off from the base.

Suddenly, Shin Pil-ju shouted.

“That was not my order, child. That heinous man did it on his own. Please believe me. I never gave such an order.”

Cho Woo, who had been listening, let out a sneer. However, even though his mute blood point was not sealed, he did not utter a single word of excuse.

Jin So-wol refused the dagger I offered her.

“Young Master Jeon, you take care of it.”

Nodding, I grabbed Cho Woo’s thin neck. Even though he must have known what kind of punishment I would inflict, Cho Woo didn’t even blink. I strangely liked his emotionless expression and gaze. But I mercilessly broke his neck.

Crack.

With the sound of his neck bone breaking, Cho Woo died. As if it were a farewell greeting as he left for the afterlife, his tongue protruded from his lips. At first glance, it was ridiculous, but Shin Pil-ju’s impression seemed to be different.

“Ugh, ugh, ugh. Please, me, me… I’ll give you everything I have. I’m serious. You know, don’t you? If you touch me, what my son-in-law and daughter will… no, your father, yes, your father! Let’s exchange me and your father. If you save me, I’ll let that child go. I have that child locked up somewhere. If something happens to me, that child won’t be safe either.”

Shin Pil-ju, who had been rambling, changing his target from me to Jin So-wol in the middle of his speech, grabbed onto his last straw. Jin So-wol shattered his hope.

“My father is probably being held somewhere here, Young Master Jeon.”

Shin Pil-ju’s pale complexion showed that Jin So-wol’s guess was right. I glanced at the Mad Guest and understood the meaning in Jin So-wol’s gaze as it returned to me.

“Will you help Miss Jin find her father, sir?”

The Mad Guest readily accepted my request.

“Is there any question? Just wait a moment. I’ll be right back.”

The Mad Guest, who had wrapped his arm around Jin So-wol’s waist, flew toward the entrance he had broken through earlier. With this, only I and Shin Pil-ju were left in the main hall.

Shin Pil-ju pleaded.

“Please save me, Demonic Hero. My life is not long anyway. If you let me go, I will spend the rest of my life atoning to your master…”

“Damn it, you’re so noisy. If you wag your tongue one more time without my permission, I’ll break all ten of your fingers, old man.”

As I grabbed his left hand and bent his little finger back, Shin Pil-ju let out a shrill scream. But as if he was scared by my threat, he only whimpered and did not pour out any words.

“Listen well, old man. Uncle Ha Seong said to tell you something if I ever saw you. Do you know what it is?”

“…”

“Aren’t you going to answer?”

“…I, I don’t know. But I really did… to him…”

“That’s enough. Don’t talk nonsense. Uncle left you two words. Thank you and I’m sorry.”

For a moment, Shin Pil-ju became a mute who had eaten honey. But I didn’t expect him to be moved by the talkative uncle’s pure heart and repent of the sin he had committed against him, not even a hair’s breadth. He might say so with his mouth, but it couldn’t be sincere.

A flush of color returned to Shin Pil-ju’s face.

“Then are you forgiving me? Ah, I really want to see your master. He was my soulmate. We always understood each other and cared for each other…”

Shin Pil-ju trailed off. Then, he trembled. I was impressed by his sense of touch. He had caught the killing intent in my eyes.

“W-why are you… to me… Your master said he was grateful and sorry to me…”

“That’s uncle’s thought. I don’t have a single chick’s piss worth of intention to do that, old man.”

I reached out and grabbed Shin Pil-ju’s neck. I was going to deal with him before Jin So-wol brought Jin Cheong-un. Jin Cheong-un would surely plead with me to save Shin Pil-ju, who was his benefactor. It was an unwelcome situation.

Just as I was about to put strength into the hand that was holding Shin Pil-ju’s thin neck, I looked back. Someone was coming over the destroyed gate. It was the Gambling Addict, So Dae-seong, who had run away half a quarter of an hour ago.

Letting go of Shin Pil-ju’s neck, I took out my iron staff and jade flute.

So Dae-seong, who had reached about ten paces in front of me, put his saber down on the floor. So Dae-seong, who had announced that he had no intention of fighting, opened his mouth.

“Where did the Mad Guest go, Demonic Hero?”

“What’s it to you?”

So Dae-seong, who had a sneer on his face at my retort, fixed his gaze on Cho Woo’s corpse.

“Is that your work?”

“Well, it’s true that I killed him.”

“Are you going to make me like that too?”

I was flustered because I didn’t know So Dae-seong’s intention, but I answered anyway.

“What if I am?”

“It’s shameless of me to say this on our first meeting, but please send me off without pain. I’ve always been waiting for this moment, but now that it’s right in front of me, I’m scared.”

I was at a loss for words.

“I ran away in a daze earlier, but on my way, I thought about it and realized there was no need to. If I don’t take a new divine pill, I won’t live for even three months anyway, so I thought it would be better to just say goodbye to this world cleanly at this point. If possible, I wanted to entrust my fate to the hands of a rising young sun rather than the Mad Guest, so I’m lucky. Now, hurry up and wring my neck.”

Shin Pil-ju, who had been listening, screamed.

“What are you doing, Gambling Addict! Pick up your saber. And save me. Hurry, you madman. Fulfill our contract.”

So Dae-seong shrugged.

“I’m sorry, but I won’t, Retainer Shin. I’ve had enough of being a loyal dog for the past thirteen years, haven’t I? I don’t want to be tempted by the bones that the retainer throws me and bite innocent people anymore. Actually, I was going to leave the retainer’s side today. But strangely, something like this happened. I didn’t believe in the will of heaven, but it seems there really is such a thing. Anyway, don’t be too sad. I’ll be your companion on the road to the afterlife.”

As if to show that he had no intention of ambushing me while I was off guard, So Dae-seong put his hands behind his back and knelt down. Then, he even bowed his head.

“Now, smash this useless head of mine, Demonic Hero. It’s fine if you break my neck like him.”

I, who had been looking down at So Dae-seong, made a decision. When I reached right in front of him and didn’t take any follow-up action, he raised his head.

“What is that?”

“Don’t you know when you see it? Isn’t it a divine pill?”

“Why that…”

“If you really want to have an audience with the King of Hell, go on your own without borrowing someone else’s hand.”

“…”

“If you’re going to leave this world a little later, let’s talk later. You can contact me at the Sowol Pavilion in Wonjeon.”

“Why are you trying to save me?”

“Well, let’s just say it’s because I’m a man with a contrarian disposition.”

So Dae-seong, who had been looking up at me, got up. Then, after staring at me for a long time, he took the wooden box containing the divine pill and left the main hall. I went back to Shin Pil-ju. Shin Pil-ju, who had been rolling his eyes, said something unexpected.

“Kill me, Demonic Hero. I will repay the debt I owe your master with my life.”

Crack, crack.

Unclasping my clasped hands, I grinned.

“Alright, old man.”

A spasm ran across Shin Pil-ju’s wrinkled face.

---

Jin So-wol and the Mad Guest returned not long after I had granted Shin Pil-ju’s wish. In the Mad Guest’s right arm was Jin Cheong-un.

As soon as the Mad Guest, who had reached me, put him down, Jin Cheong-un clung to Shin Pil-ju’s corpse. His wails echoed through the main hall. He was crying so mournfully that I was worried he might consider me the enemy who had killed his benefactor.

The Mad Guest, looking down at the wailing Jin Cheong-un, asked me in a whisper.

“What’s going on, benefactor?”

I also answered in a whisper.

“It seems that man was his benefactor, sir.”

Although it was a low voice, Jin Cheong-un, as if he had heard our conversation, turned his head.

“I’m sorry for making a scene. I ask that you allow me to take care of this elder’s remains.”

“Please do.”

For the sake of Jin So-wol, who was clearly reluctant to help Jin Cheong-un, I spoke to her.

“This man must be the Eight Directions Fist, whom Miss Jin said was acting as that old man’s dog, and that man is the Flower-Picking Spear, right?”

Jin So-wol, who had shifted her gaze from Cho Woo to Go Sang-ju along my index finger, nodded.

“Yes.”

“Then who are the ones who ran away? I know one is the Gambling Addict who was kicked out of the So family of the Peach Garden, but I don’t know the other one at all.”

“That man is the Great Desert Blood Wheel, Uruchi. Since he is from outside the Central Plains, he was not on the list of masters I told Young Master Jeon about last time. His martial power is estimated to be at the highest level of the master realm, and as his moniker suggests, he uses a red iron wheel with a diameter of about a foot as his weapon. But his real weapon is known to be a fine needle. In other words, he is a master of hidden weapon arts. It is said that when he first set foot in the Central Plains six years ago, he won a reverse victory against the Zhuangyuan Sword, Yuk Gwan, of the Sun and Moon Sword Sect with that needle. For your reference, the Zhuangyuan Sword was a sword hero who was evaluated as being on the verge of entering the supreme realm at the time.”

I was once again impressed by Jin So-wol’s knowledge.

“Is he also a villain?”

“Uruchi was a man who reigned as a king in the desert. Although he was not a benevolent ruler, it is ambiguous to define him as a tyrant. His actions after entering the Central Plains are unclear. But he is suspected of being involved in at least four assassinations. One of them is the assassination of the first master of the Manbo Villa, which caused a stir in the Sangju area three years ago. In any case, there is no doubt that he is a person with an unorthodox faction tendency. If it weren’t for the matter with the Zhuangyuan Sword, he would surely have been active in the unorthodox martial world.”

“If I had known that, I would have dealt with him too.”

“There will be another chance next time. The world is wide, but he’ll get caught someday. Now that he has shown his face to the grim reaper, his luck is over.”

I felt uneasy at Jin So-wol’s words, which compared me to the grim reaper. Since it was awkward to refute it, I turned my gaze to the Mad Guest.

“By the way, what’s on your mind, sir?”

The Mad Guest, who had been frowning deeply since a moment ago, even wrapped his head in his hands.

“Well, there’s something I definitely need to ask you, but I can’t seem to remember it. Ah! I remember.”

As the Mad Guest suddenly shouted, the main hall echoed. Fortunately, he didn’t put his internal energy into his voice, but the father and daughter, Jin Cheong-un and Jin So-wol, whose eardrums had almost burst, contorted their jade-like faces and jade-like countenances in pain.

[End of Chapter]