Have you ever asked the 849th leader?
When Chai Lan arrived at the residence of the Sword Dance Theater, she met an unexpected person at the entrance.
“uh?”
She was the type of person who didn’t even blink an eye when confronted by the most vicious of minions, but the only person who made her flustered was the Sword King.
The two people bowed their heads to each other.
“The young leader asked me to eat.”
“Me too.”
He could tell that Geommu-geuk had summoned them both without saying a word.
The Sword King already knew that Chai-ran had feelings for him, so meeting them like this felt incredibly awkward.
“Let’s go in.”
“Yes.”
Two people entered the place where a delicious smell was wafting out.
“Brother Ak, you’re here? Welcome, Captain Cha.”
In the courtyard, a blacksmith was cooking. A large table was already set with drinks and food, and meat was being grilled next to it.
“Please wait a moment, and you will be able to eat.”
Just then, Ian came out of the building, carrying a glass, a bowl, and chopsticks.
Chai Lan greeted her first.
“Your Majesty.”
“Tea captain, are you here?”
Chai Ran asked Ian, looking at the food laid out on the table.
“What day is it today?”
Then Ian asked the same question to Geommugeuk.
“What day is it today?”
“It’s the day I get to have a drink with my friends, thanks to the gift of some good liquor from the master. It’s also the day our evil brother announces his new life plan.”
When Chai-ran looked at him and asked what he meant, the Sword King looked flustered, as if he had never heard of it before.
Chai-ran had finally grasped the situation.
“Now that even the Thousand-Sal Castle has disappeared, we need new prey.”
The Sword King nodded at her joke.
“We’re from there, aren’t we?”
This time, Chai-ran nodded in agreement.
“Don’t misunderstand! Today’s prey is this meat I cooked.”
The swordsman cut the meat he was grilling and brought it to the table.
“Isn’t this the first time the four of us have eaten together like this?”
This was also the event planned by Geommu-geuk. The four of them wanted to drink together, and just in time, Geomwang offered a reason, and Chwima offered good wine.
Chai Lan, who tasted Chwima’s wine, was amazed by its flavor.
“It’s really delicious.”
It was a taste that I was trying for the first time, and it made me feel good.
Ian sent a message to Geommu-geuk.
“You arranged this meeting to bring the two of you together, didn’t you?
” “No.
” “Really?
” “Because I wanted to hang out with you. I invited those two over as a bonus.”
Ian smiled happily at those words, which were pleasant to hear even though he knew they were not true.
The Sword King shook his head, watching them exchange laughter. How could he not understand what the Sword Dancer was up to? He must be trying to tell Chai Lan about the inn.
At that time, Chai Ran asked the Sword King.
“Do you still feel like leaving?”
Now, the Sword King had completely abandoned his desire to leave.
“I think this is where I left and arrived.”
Chai-ran smiled at those words. She smiled too.
“Oh, you said you’d take charge of our group’s swordsmanship training, right?”
The sword dance interrupted the conversation between the two people.
“That might be difficult. My brother is planning a new business.”
“What kind of business is it?”
“He’s planning to build the largest inn in the Central Plains.”
The sword dance drama explained what kind of inn it was. It was luxurious and splendid, but it also had a rule that fighting was absolutely prohibited within the inn.
“I’m looking for a partner right now. Someone with a sharp and blunt personality would be ideal. My brother, Ak, is secretly a bit weak-willed.”
The sword dance drama has revealed its true colors.
“Chief Cha, aren’t you interested in this kind of business? You must have a lot of money to invest.”
As Chai Ran hesitated to answer, the Sword King stepped forward.
“Stop talking nonsense.”
I stopped him because I was worried that the difference would be burdensome. Of course, it wasn’t a sword dance that could be stopped just because of that.
“I’m not suggesting that you two date. I’m giving the driver a choice.”
The swordsman’s gaze turned to Chai Lan. She could feel it. He was literally giving her a chance.
Not a chance to do business as a guest, but a chance to catch this man named Akgunhak.
My relationship with the music department was ambiguous at the moment. If I hadn’t known I liked him, it wouldn’t have been this awkward.
If we don’t make some changes, our relationship will end abruptly. Moreover, if we actually proceed with that guesthouse project, we won’t be able to meet at the new church.
The gaze of the swordsman seemed to be saying this to himself.
You can live, right? The goal is right in front of you. Don’t lose sight of it!
Finally, her answer came out.
“I’m interested.”
The Sword King was slightly flustered because he didn’t know that Chai Ran would be interested.
“I want to get involved in that business too.”
The Sword King asked her.
“Are you interested in running an inn?”
Chai Lan answered honestly.
“No. I’ve never once thought about being a guest in my life.”
“But why?”
Chai Lan stared at the Sword King and mustered up her last bit of courage.
“I’m still holding onto your right foot.”
The Sword King knew what that meant.
On the day they first met at the Heavenly Demon Sect, Geommu-geuk had playfully said, “I’ll hold on to Akgunhak’s left leg to keep him from escaping, so she should hold on to his right leg.”
That’s why I could see how much courage it took for her to say this.
This was her confession.
The Sword King didn’t dislike her either.
It would be a lie to say he disliked her, as she was so beautiful he could rival the world’s most beautiful woman. But because of that, there were also some things that felt burdensome. Crucially, he still didn’t know what kind of person she was.
“Don’t we know much about each other?”
Chai Lan answered, looking at the Sword King quietly.
“Will I know better if I look at it for a long time?”
She looked at the sword dance.
“Now that you know who the leader is, have you decided to change your life?”
At least not myself.
And neither was the Sword King. I still didn’t fully understand what kind of person Geommugeuk was.
But I still became friends with him. I saw the good in him, and, intoxicated by his intensity, I changed my life.
When the Sword King did not respond, Chai Lan emptied the glass in front of him and spoke.
“Don’t feel pressured. I said it because I felt like if I didn’t do it today, I’d never be able to do it again. I hope your business prospers.”
She also greeted Geommu-geuk and Ian.
“Thank you for inviting me today. The drinks and food were delicious.”
“I have no regrets. If I had sent you away like this without even being able to properly say anything, I would have regretted it forever.”
As she rose from her seat, the Sword King spoke forcefully.
“Let’s do it.”
Chai Ran looked at the Sword King in surprise.
“Let’s have a drink together.”
The Sword King raised the bottle and asked for some alcohol.
“I told you not to fight in the inn, but let’s beat up those guys who won’t listen to me until the very end. Let’s try this together. If we fail, we can both curse that guy out. I told you to open this weird inn and you’ll get what you want.”
Chairan sat down again and received the sword king’s drink.
“If I don’t start, I won’t do it. If I do, I will definitely make it the best guesthouse in Jungwon.”
The Sword King inwardly flinched at the momentum. “Is this why you need her?”
Chai Lan said as she looked at Ian belatedly.
“Oh, I should have asked the Lord’s permission first.”
Ian said playfully.
“That’s right. Leaving without permission is a felony, so what?”
“How about this? The Lord and the Lord will be allowed to stay in our guesthouse for free for life.”
“I think that’ll be fine.”
Meanwhile, the sword dance and the sword king are exchanging sounds.
“This is a variable, isn’t it? Evil Brother! It seems like Captain Cha has already taken the guest house! Maybe even Evil Brother.
“Don’t think you’ll let me go down this path and just get away with it.
“I have to see if Evil Brother is doing well or not and then judge.”
The two faced each other and smiled.
They’d been thinking about having a little fun at a guesthouse, but Geommu-geuk had turned it into the best in the Central Plains and had set the stage for them to share it with the most beautiful woman in the world.
The leader of the martial arts world and the leader of the apostles had been trying so hard to take him away, but this young cult leader was trying to send him away like this. Live your life.
‘Thank you, friend.’
Geommugeuk raised his glass and said.
“Now, for our lifetime of free lodging!”
* * *
The next day, when Geommu-geuk went to Cheon Dok-rim with a bottle of alcohol, he was greeted by Sang-seon, the poison king’s right-hand man.
“It’s been a while, Young Master.”
“How have you been?”
“Thanks to you, I’ve been well. Young Master, I congratulate you on defeating the enemy.”
As we walked along, chatting about this and that, Sangseon said something unexpected.
“Oh, don’t be surprised today.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The Poison King has changed a bit since the Magachon fight.”
“Have you closed yourself off from the outside world and retreated into your own world?”
Then the merchant gave an unexpected answer.
“No, it’s the opposite.”
“Yes?”
“You’ll know when you meet him.”
The merchant smiled in an unknown way.
So, Geommu-geuk arrived at the Poison King’s workshop. The Poison King was alone in his workshop. Sitting at a large workbench, the Poison King raised his head and greeted Geommu-geuk.
“Are you here?”
The unfamiliar appearance of the Poison King, who greeted him first, startled Geommugeuk. He was always engrossed in something.
“Have you eaten?”
Even the sight of him checking if he had eaten made Geommugeuk shout.
“Who are you? Who are you to be in the body of the Poison King?”
The Poison King smiled and looked at the bottle of wine that Geommugeuk was holding.
“Is that alcohol? Bring it here.”
I felt like a completely different person. I could see why Sangseon had told me not to be surprised.
Geommu-geuk approached him with a bewildered expression and handed him the wine he had brought.
The Poison King drank the entire bottle. He wiped the liquor that had dripped down his lips with his sleeve.
“I just failed to mix the blood snake poison. I thought I’d succeed this time. But what kind of alcohol is this delicious?”
“The alcohol is delicious, though, because it was given to me by the Master.”
The sword dance stared intently at the Poison King’s face.
“Is this the way you’ve always been?”
“What was I like?”
“You don’t say anything, and you’re always lost in thought.”
“That won’t do. Those who handle poison should be more cool-headed and rational than anyone else.”
Come to think of it, it was true. How could someone who just blankly stares at a poisonous insect wield a poison that could instantly kill hundreds or thousands?
Just as he possessed a solitary self, the Poison King also harbored another side.
“My lord! Look at this. You’ve been completely fooled this whole time! You were used as a herbalist by such a cold-hearted person!”
At Geommugeuk’s shout, the Poison King smiled faintly and held out a bottle of wine. Geommugeuk drank it down, then asked again.
“Why did you act like that?”
“It wasn’t acting.”
“Really?”
“Because you can’t grasp the extreme meaning of poison with just a cool, rational attitude. You have to be crazy about poison, spend all day looking at poisonous insects, and thinking about poison to perfect your poisonous technique.”
When you need to immerse yourself in your own world, you should do so. And when you need to be rational, you should do so.
Only by possessing both sides can you truly reach the ultimate state of solitude.
“If you use poison incorrectly, it’s not just you who will die. It’s your family, your colleagues, and even passersby. That’s why, unless you’re prepared to be consumed by poison, you shouldn’t learn poison techniques in the first place.”
Perhaps the Poison King was more comfortable with the one of those two contrasting selves, immersed in his own world.
But now, he’d closed the door to that world and emerged into this one. It felt like he’d be the same tomorrow, or even the day after.
“Because of your father?”
The poison king who was drinking was startled.
Until now, the Poison King’s presence has been the most powerful deterrent to war. However, should war break out, the Poison King will become the sect’s most powerful weapon.
This clever Poison King knew. With the death of Cheon Sal-seong, a real battle would begin.
Not a fight to protect the young sect leader, but the beginning of his father’s war to unify the martial arts world. Ultimately, this was the significance of the Poison King’s transformation.
The Poison King began preparing for war.
Geommugeuk said, handing over a bottle of alcohol.
“Please tell me just one way to make a cure.”
“What cure is Mandokbulchim?”
Then, unexpected words came out of Geommugeuk’s mouth.
“It’s a remedy that can prevent the unification of the martial arts world.”
The Poison King looked at the sword dance. No matter how different his words and actions were, the person inside was the Poison King who had barked like a dog.
“You must know the poison properly to make a cure.”
The Poison King once said that the poison flower is not poisonous, but detoxifying.
“Have you ever asked the leader about the unification of the martial arts world that he dreams of?”
“!”
I’ve never asked my father what kind of world he dreams of.
“If you want to make a cure, you have to know exactly what kind of poison it is.”
The Poison King’s advice, as suggested by Chwima, was the first thing he should do when sitting down at the drinking table.
Geommu-geuk smiled brightly and thanked the Poison King.
“Thank you for your words. Thanks to you, I now have a better idea of how to handle the cancellation.”
But the Poison King didn’t just offer a clue to the cure. He also left me wondering whether I should really detoxify the poison.
“That day, the leader was prepared to die.”
The Poison King’s eyes deepened as he recalled that time.
“He definitely wanted to save you. He was sincere.”
Can you even imagine the heart of a father who entrusts his safety to the Poison King? Or the heart of the Poison King who received that order.
“Considering that the last person he entrusted his son to was the King of Poisons, it seems that the person the father trusted the most was the King of Poisons.”
The Poison King shook his head.
“No way.”
Perhaps the relationship between the Poison King and my father is like the relationship between me and my father before the regression. A wall of misunderstanding, rigidity, and prejudice.
“Sometime, have a candid conversation with your father about self-study. Show him something like this today. It won’t be as bad as you think.”
Talking to the leader? That wasn’t an easy task for the Poison King.
“There are days like today when no matter how hard you try and pay attention, you fail to mix the poison.”
Then, Geommugeuk spoke subtly. For the sake of improving the relationship between father and the poisonous king.
“Shall I also teach you a recipe for a cure?”
This is a real secret, but Geommugeuk whispered with an expression that said he was telling it only to you.
“Practice fishing starting today.”
