The Tangchang branch of the Heavenly Pavilion.
At the report that the Black Pond Grim Reaper had been defeated, the leaders of the branch gathered without exception.
"We must report to the Pavilion Master."
"Have you already forgotten that he said he would replace us all if our income remained at the bottom?"
"Since the Black Pond Grim Reaper was defeated, it will be known anyway."
"So! Our income is at the bottom, and now the iron rule has been broken because of us. We might not just be replaced, but have our lives replaced!"
At the branch manager's words, everyone widened their eyes and closed their mouths.
The situation was more serious than they had thought. Just because a formidable enemy had appeared, it did not mean that they would be freed from responsibility by reporting it to the headquarters.
"Then what should we do..."
"What if we accomplish what the Black Pond Grim Reaper sent from the headquarters couldn't?"
All Black Pond Inns had grim reapers dispatched from the headquarters.
Although the branch manager was in charge of the affairs of each inn, he could not command those grim reapers as he pleased. In other words, the Black Pond Grim Reaper was directly under the headquarters, and his failure meant that the headquarters also had a share of the responsibility.
So if they accomplished what the Black Pond Grim Reaper could not, they might be able to avoid the Pavilion Master's reprimand.
That was the branch manager's thought, and everyone agreed.
"Let's solve it."
"Let's go. I need to see some blood for a change."
"I'll cut the neck. As you know, branch manager, my sword is perfect for cutting necks."
Everyone got up from their seats, laughing cheerfully.
***
Thwack! Thud!
The last of the five, a fat old man who was wielding a large broadsword, fell. The leaders of the Tangchang branch, who had come in a group, full of confidence, saying they would solve it, were all beaten up and fainted instead of solving it.
Cho Myung looked around the inn, which had become even more of a mess, and said.
"Come in."
A face peeked out from the entrance of the inn, whose door had been blown away.
It was a pretty young lady.
"Are you going to kill me too if I come in?"
"You know I didn't kill everyone here."
"Why didn't you kill them?"
"Because there was no reason to kill them."
"It seems there's a dead person there?"
"So you're not coming in?"
"No."
The young lady came inside. She was a young lady in her twenties in gorgeous clothes. She came in with light steps and then stopped in front of Cho Myung.
"Did you know who I was and tell me to come in?"
"That's right."
"Who am I?"
"Yama."
"......!"
"Why did you come? Is that your real face?"
"How did you know?"
"Because you smell the same."
"You have a dog's nose."
"It's a lucky nose."
Yama, who had frowned for a moment, approached the Tangchang branch manager who was lying on the floor and squatted down. And she slapped his cheek.
Slap!
The Tangchang branch manager opened his eyes and quickly moved back.
"Wh-who are you?"
"If the grim reaper was defeated, you should have reported to the Pavilion Master and waited for orders."
"......!"
"Wake everyone up and go back. Don't do anything and wait for the Pavilion Master's disposal."
The Tangchang branch manager blinked his eyes a few times and then woke up his subordinates and left the inn.
Yama, who watched the scene with a frown, sighed and then stood in front of Cho Myung.
"I'll introduce myself formally. I'm the real Black Pond Grim Reaper, Yama."
"Ban Myung."
"You caused a commotion on purpose, didn't you?"
"That's right."
"Why?"
"Because I have something to ask."
"It would have been better if you had just asked."
"If I just asked, everyone would be scared and avoid me without answering. It took me two months to get here. I kept asking on the way. Everyone was scared and ran away. So I caused trouble to meet a very high-ranking person."
During the journey to the Black Pond Inn, he had asked many people.
About the Immortal Divine Demon.
But everyone was terrified.
Even those with considerable martial prowess.
So he had caused trouble. To meet a person in a very high position and ask.
"You caused too much trouble."
"......"
"I have to kill you, but I'm not confident. If even the Cold-Blooded God was no match for you, what can I do, right?"
"If you can't, you can just stop."
"There are times in the world when you have to do it even if you can't. But it's too scary."
Yama, who was smiling slyly.
She had a different plan.
'This is the one! If I can make this brat my person, I can go back to the headquarters!'
Yama hid her true intentions and asked.
"Would the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Pavilion be the high-ranking person you want to meet?"
"Probably."
"Then shall I take you to the Pavilion Master?"
"I'd be grateful if you would."
"But if I just take you, I'll be the only one who gets scolded. He might even wring my neck. There has to be a good reason to take you."
"......"
"Being strong is not a reason. I can't just take you to the Pavilion Master because the enemy is strong. I'll just have to be beaten to death. Right?"
She asked, smiling shyly.
Cho Myung did not know what to say and kept his mouth shut.
"So ask me. If it's really something that everyone is afraid of, I'll take you to the Pavilion Master."
Yama, who was smiling brightly.
Cho Myung stared at her and said.
"If it's a strong enemy, you can lure them into a trap."
"......"
"If that person called the Cold-Blooded God is so famous, if you tell the Pavilion Master that you're bringing someone stronger than the Cold-Blooded God and to prepare a trap, you won't be scolded."
"I really like it when you call me sister. But why are you speaking informally?"
"Because you're a bad person who was going to stick chopsticks in my eyes."
"I'm sorry about that. But I really had no intention of sticking the chopsticks in."
"......"
"Is it really okay to set a trap? You'll be in danger."
"What more can happen than dying?"
Was he being sincere?
Yama stared at Cho Myung.
Cho Myung, who did not avoid Yama's gaze with his clear black and white eyes.
Yama hesitated for a long time and then shouted loudly.
"Youngso!"
"Yes!"
When Yama called, the waiter ran from outside.
Yama gestured with her chin at the corpse of the Cold-Blooded God and said.
"Cut off his head and hang it outside. The one who caused a commotion by putting a young brat at the front was that old man, and the Black Pond Grim Reaper took care of it."
"Yes, sir!"
The waiter, who had answered loudly, ran to the kitchen and then came back with a square kitchen knife. And then he swung that kitchen knife and cut off the Cold-Blooded God's head.
Blood flowed.
Since he had been dead for a while, it did not gush out, but the floor of the inn was soaked with blood.
"You fool! You should have cut it outside! It's your job anyway, so clean it all up."
"Hehet!"
The waiter, who was smiling, scratching the back of his head, disappeared outside with the Cold-Blooded God's head.
"You, follow me."
"Are you going to take me to the Pavilion Master?"
"Yes. But not now. Look outside. It's too dark now."
"......!"
"Follow me. There's a guest room on the second floor, so let's sleep here cozily today and leave tomorrow."
"......!"
"You like it too, right? Since you're sleeping with me."
Yama smiled brightly.
That night.
Yama really slept in the same room.
Although it was a room with two separate beds, it was still a strange feeling.
After eating the dinner that the waiter had brought, they went to bed early.
But it was when about an hour had passed.
"Are you asleep?"
Yama asked.
Cho Myung did not react.
"I'll attack you when you fall asleep."
Still no reaction. Yama slowly raised her upper body.
"If you just take me to the Pavilion Master, you don't have to fight with me."
Cho Myung said.
"You weren't asleep."
Yama lay down again. And another hour passed.
Yama, who quietly got up from the bed. She took out a sharp dagger from her bosom and approached Cho Myung's bed.
Cho Myung was just lying still.
Yama sat lightly on the edge of Cho Myung's bed. And she held out the dagger and placed it on Cho Myung's heart.
"If I just stab, you'll die."
"You saw the Cold-Blooded God die."
"Did you know? That's right. I saw everything. So I can't stab you. What is your real identity?"
"Ban Myung."
"Ban Myung, Ban Myung. It's the first time I've heard that name."
"You'll hear it a lot from now on."
The moment Cho Myung's words ended, Yama slowly lay down.
Side by side with Cho Myung.
"Wow, I don't know how long it's been since I've lain down with a man."
Yama turned her head and said to Cho Myung's ear.
Cho Myung did not even open his eyes.
Yama turned her body to face Cho Myung and lay down. And she placed the hand holding the dagger on Cho Myung's chest and poked Cho Myung's heart with the tip of the dagger.
"I just have to stab... but it's too scary."
Yama, who had been pretending to be fainted after being hit by Cho Myung's fist, had clearly seen the scene of the Immortal Demonic Aura killing the Cold-Blooded God. It was a shocking and truly frightening scene.
"Haam! I can't even ask you to die..."
Yama, who had yawned loudly, stared at Cho Myung's face.
Cho Myung's face, illuminated by the oil lamp.
It was clean and neat.
'He's cute.'
Yama grinned and put away the dagger. And she caressed Cho Myung's chest with her hand and whispered in his ear.
"Are you asleep? I don't want to sleep."
A late hour.
A bed with only the two of them.
A sweet and sticky whisper. But Cho Myung was too ignorant of the affairs of men and women, and his body kept growing.
"Are you really asleep?"
She brought her lips to his ear and asked. But still no reaction.
'What, is he really asleep?'
The dumbfounded Yama.
Even though a woman like her was clinging to him like this, he was sleeping calmly?
"Should I really just kill him?"
Yama, who had raised her upper body and frowned venomously, lay down again after recalling the scene of the Cold-Blooded God's death.
"Okay, sleep. Sleep."
Yama hesitated for a long time and then closed her eyes.
Time continued to flow.
After about half an hour, both of them fell into a deep sleep.
***
Morning came.
Bright sunlight streamed in through the window.
Cho Myung opened his eyes, enjoying the refreshing feeling that filled his whole body.
"Did you sleep well? I couldn't sleep a wink because of someone."
Yama was looking down at him.
Cho Myung looked up blankly.
She was pretty.
Enough to make any man fall for her.
"Do you really want to meet the Pavilion Master?"
"Don't joke around from the morning. I don't like doing that with a bad person. And I really want to meet him."
"Tsk!"
Yama made a sulky face, raised her upper body, and moved away.
Cho Myung, who suddenly looked out the window.
The bright sunlight filled his two eyes.
"It's a good morning. Let's go have breakfast."
Cho Myung, who got up from the bed and went outside.
Yama began to worry that he was a being she could not handle.
***
Lanzhou, Gansu Province.
In the middle of the twelve three-story pavilions that guarded the twelve directions, a seven-story pavilion soared high as if to pierce the sky.
The most gorgeous and huge brothel in Lanzhou, the center of the land of Gansu and a key point leading to the Western Regions.
From the moment the oil lamps were hung at sunset until the sun rose again, it was a paradise for playboys where alcohol and entertainment never ceased, forming a veritable city that never sleeps.
This was the Heavenly Pavilion, one of the nine great sects of the Demonic Path.
Playboys and drunkards sought this place without hesitation, knowing that it was the headquarters of the Heavenly Pavilion.
Because as long as you had money, anyone would be treated like a nobleman.
Because as long as you did not cause a disturbance, it was safe even if you fell asleep drunk.
Even if you drank with a pickpocket, your purse would not be stolen.
A place where you could enjoy alcohol, entertainment, and the pleasure of love and rain more safely than anywhere else, as long as you had money.
That was the Heavenly Pavilion.
A time when the sun was high in the sky.
Two people appeared in front of the main gate of the three-story pavilion that guarded the southern direction of the Heavenly Pavilion.
They were Yama and Cho Myung.
"I don't know if I'm doing the right thing by bringing you here."
"I would have come alone anyway."
"Yes, you would have. Let's go, let's go. What can we do now that we're here?"
Yama took Cho Myung and entered the three-story pavilion.
Although there were people guarding the front of the main gate, they did not stop anyone after confirming Yama.
Yama passed the three-story pavilion and headed to the seven-story pavilion, the main hall of the Heavenly Pavilion.
Cho Myung was greatly surprised at the magnificent and huge scale that was incomparable to the Hua Family Clinic.
"Are you surprised?"
"Because it's the first time I've seen such a big place."
At the sight of Cho Myung, who was looking around while answering, Yama could not help but let out a laugh.
"The surprising one is you."
"......?"
"No. We're almost there."
At Yama's words, Cho Myung stopped looking around.
Yama stared at the front and said with a worried tone.
"I reported to the Pavilion Master as you said. He's probably waiting. But I have a feeling he might test you."
"It doesn't matter."
"I hope there won't be any problems. It's unavoidable to see blood, but I hope you don't get on the Pavilion Master's bad side. He forgives arrogance, but he doesn't forgive being quiet. Do you know what I mean?"
Cho Myung looked back at Yama.
Yama was staring at the front with a really worried face.
It took them three days to get to Lanzhou. In the meantime, it seemed that they had grown quite fond of each other.
"I'm not quiet."
"You are when you fight. But your tone is the problem."
"......?"
"The Pavilion Master hates righteous people. But even though you speak informally, you feel quiet."
"Am I a righteous person?"
"Huh?"
"Am I a righteous person?"
"Aren't you?"
At first, she did not know.
Because it was unlikely that a righteous person would appear so openly in the land of Gansu and cause trouble at the Black Pond.
But as they talked on the way, no matter how she looked at him, he seemed like a righteous person.
"I don't want to be a righteous person. If I have to be under those people... I'm just me. Not a righteous person, not a demonic person, not a devilish person, just me, Ban Myung."
It seemed he had a story.
But even though she had asked several times on the way, he just smiled and did not answer.
Although she was very curious, she did not ask.
It did not seem like he would tell her even if she asked now, and it was because they had arrived at their destination.
"Xue Fuyong pays her respects to Elder Tian."
Yama bowed her waist.
An old man with a cold face was standing in front of the two.
The old man did not even give Xue Fuyong a glance and just looked Cho Myung up and down and said.
"To not even be able to protect the Black Pond and to bring him here, it seems you've given up on returning to the headquarters."
"I just judged that this person would be a great help to the Pavilion Master."
"You foolish thing! Do you even know that if things go wrong, you might not be able to see the Pavilion Master again?"
"I will await the Pavilion Master's disposal here."
Xue Fuyong, who spoke as if she had already made up her mind.
Elder Tian finally turned his gaze and made a worried face for a moment and then turned around.
"You, follow me."
Elder Tian led the way.
Xue Fuyong lifted her head and gestured with her eyes for Cho Myung to follow. But Cho Myung did not move his steps.
"Is your name Xue Fuyong?"
"Yes."
"What about Yama?"
"It's a nickname I made up to look strong."
"Your name is much prettier."
"......!"
Cho Myung, who left the surprised Xue Fuyong and walked after Elder Tian.
Cho Myung looked up at the huge seven-story pavilion.
It was like a skyscraper of hell where countless demons were swarming.
Chilling demonic qi was cowering in various places of the seven-story pavilion. It was a posture that would rush in at a single word of command from someone.
(End of Chapter)