Jo Chunbae, the owner of the Flowing Wind Tavern, welcomed me. He was so glad to see me that he seemed almost apologetic, as if an ancestor had returned from the dead.
“Really, it’s so good to have you back. You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.”
“Owner, have you been making a lot of money?”
“I have, indeed. Thanks to you, I’ve been doing quite well.”
Thanks to the Underworld Pavilion’s branch, which I thought would only last a while before disappearing, Maga Village had been significantly purified. Especially since the martial artists who used to cause trouble or leave without paying when they got drunk had almost disappeared, making business much easier.
“You should prepare a lot of drinks today.”
“Because it’s a long-awaited reunion?”
“Not just for that. A new drinker is coming today.”
“A drinker?”
“You’ll see soon enough.”I went upstairs.
Only Seo Daeryong and Jangho were there. Jangho jumped up and greeted me.
“Long time no see.”
“Have you been well?”
I grabbed his thick hand firmly.
“Now that the Demonic Army has settled in, things are easier than before. If you have anything you need me to do, just say the word.”
Jangho’s gaze towards me hadn’t changed.
Even if I came after a year, even if I came after ten years, that gaze wouldn’t change.
Someone who repays one with ten, and even after repaying ten, feels it’s not enough—that’s Jangho.
That’s why I’ll cherish this noble loyalty. I want to nurture him into a giant tree and rest in its dense shade. I have no intention of sitting on the remaining stump reminiscing about old times.
After exchanging greetings with Jangho, Seo Daeryong spoke.
“I told Commander Jang and Lee Ahn about who would be coming later. Lee Ahn just left, saying she had urgent business.”
Even without being told, I could guess why she had left. Although there wouldn’t be any issues with me around, she must have worried about the slightest possibility. Her concern for me outweighed her desire to enjoy herself. She was probably sweating in the training hall right now.
“And I informed Commander Jang about what happened earlier today.”
I could still feel the undiminished heat from Seo Daeryong. It was even hotter than before. Unresolved emotions tend to grow inside.
“You told me to drink and get drunk, right? You should also vent all your feelings today.”
“What if I die?”
“Then this martial artist here will become the new right hand.”
Jangho poured a full glass of alcohol for Seo Daeryong with a faint smile. I knew that this silent support was giving Seo Daeryong great strength. The reason why Seo Daeryong looked up to Jangho was likely because this side of Jangho’s character was so attractive.
After we emptied our reunion drinks, I offered Seo Daeryong some much-needed advice.
“It’s natural to be scared. If you’re scared, you should feel scared. When you fear something, your instincts kick in properly. You need to know exactly what you’re afraid of, how you react, and understand your limits.”
As we were chatting about various things, two people entered the tavern. It was the Great Drunken Demon and Lyu Bin.
Recognizing the guests, Jo Chunbae was genuinely surprised and more delighted than if any Demon Supreme had visited. Welcoming Song Sa-hyuk as a guest was a thrill beyond just the significance of serving a notable figure.
“It’s an honor to have you here, Great Drunken Demon, sir!”
He bowed deeply in greeting.
Upon realizing that the guest was the Great Drunken Demon, the other patrons in the tavern held their breath.
The Great Drunken Demon glanced around and said, “You all are my favorite people in the world. Drink to your heart’s content! I’ll pay for all the drinks today.” 1
His words were met with cheers from the drinkers.
From the second floor, where I was watching, I shouted, “Good looking! The best-looking among the Demon Supremes!”
The Great Drunken Demon looked up at me and laughed.
“Give that table twice the drinks and appetizers!” 2
With that, compliments about his looks poured in from all around.
“Over there too! Serve them all!”
Applause erupted, and the drinkers cheered. The Great Drunken Demon quickly bridged the vast gap that existed between a Demon Supreme and the drinkers of the Flowing Wind Tavern.
He even went to the tables along the way to the second floor, pouring drinks. Though the drinkers received the drinks with trembling hands, it became a moment of lifelong bragging rights. Exclamations of envy and cheers rose from all directions.
Seeing how effortlessly the Great Drunken Demon blended in with the drinkers, I thought, indeed, he was the Great Drunken Demon.
After creating quite a stir on the first floor, the Great Drunken Demon came up to the second floor.
“Young Master, I’ve arrived.”
“Welcome.”
As promised, the Great Drunken Demon had brought Lyu Bin.
“This here is my subordinate and one of the three greatest drinkers of the Great Drunken Forest, Lyu Bin.”
Seo Daeryong and Jangho greeted the Great Drunken Demon and Lyu Bin.
After exchanging greetings, we all sat together.
“I heard that the Young Master’s escort has become quite beautiful, but I don’t see her today. What a shame. She should have seen this handsome face!”
The Great Drunken Demon knew a lot about me. I started to think that he might also know quite a bit about Seo Daeryong and Jangho.
“It seems you really are the embodiment of a preconceived notion, Great Drunken Demon.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“People usually think that those who love drinking wouldn’t be well-informed.”
“Since I spend so much time drunk, I have to be well-informed!”
“You’re right, but most drinkers don’t live that way.”
I suddenly had this thought. If I peeled away the layers of his preconceptions one by one, I might finally start to see the person that the Great Drunken Demon really was. 3
“Do you drink well, Miss Martial Artist?”
“Yes, I do.”
She responded briefly to my question. She was a bit more tense than when she had greeted me back in the Great Drunken Forest. It seemed she was being cautious in front of the Great Drunken Demon.
I glanced at Seo Daeryong. He was tense, watching Song Sa-hyuk and Lyu Bin closely.
I sent a telepathic message to Seo Daeryong.
—When are you going to speak up?
—Is there any point in ruining the atmosphere right from the start?
—If you’re going to do it, do it now. If you wait until you’re drunk, you might actually die.
—Please don’t pour alcohol on my grave. Just plant the flowers I’ve been growing.
Whether he would hold back or speak up in a drunken stupor, I couldn’t tell. I believed that whether he held back or spoke up, it would be a valuable experience for him.
At that moment, Jo Chunbae brought up a bottle of alcohol. It was a bottle I hadn’t seen before.
“I’ve been saving this special drink for the day the Great Drunken Demon visits our tavern.”
The Great Drunken Demon sniffed it and his eyes widened.
“Phoenix Tears Wine?”
“Oh! You recognize it just by the smell! That’s impressive.”
“How could I not recognize this rare wine made with over two hundred kinds of medicinal herbs? How did you get this precious drink?”
“I used to work at a brewery in Guizhou. My master gave it to me as a parting gift.”
“Are you sure you want to give this precious drink to me?”
“As someone selling alcohol right in front of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, who else would I give it to? I’ve long been waiting for this day.”
“Thank you.”
I pretended to be annoyed and shouted at Jo Chunbae.
“Owner! I’ve been coming here so often, but you never gave me any!”
Jo Chunbae laughed and replied.
“This is a drink for someone who truly appreciates it.”
It seemed that, at least for this drink, he had been saving it for a fated encounter with the Great Drunken Demon. While doing so, he expressed his heartfelt gratitude to me.
“Thanks to you, I have fulfilled my lifelong wish. Thank you.” 4
The Great Drunken Demon poured the Phoenix Tears Wine for all of us, even for Jo Chunbae, who uselessly tried to refuse.
“Distribute the remaining wine to everyone downstairs.” 5
At that moment, I was deeply moved by the Great Drunken Demon. Regardless of what kind of person he was, his willingness to share this precious wine with the drinkers was impressive.
“Thank you, everyone will love it.”
Sure enough, a cheer erupted from downstairs shortly after.
“Now, let’s have a drink ourselves!”
Song Sa-hyuk raised his glass, and everyone in the tavern joined in the toast.
Whether it was because of the rare wine or the atmosphere, the drink indeed tasted amazing.
“Thanks to you, I had a great drink.”
“Is it thanks to me? It’s thanks to this Young Master here.”
“What do you mean?”
“If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have come to this tavern, so it’s ultimately thanks to you.”
He knew how to make people feel good. The reason I didn’t often use flattery on him was because he always made me feel good first.
When the Great Drunken Demon had downed three consecutive glasses of wine, I spoke up.
“Have some food.”
As soon as I finished speaking, the chopsticks in front of him floated slightly. I had used Void Telekinesis to lift them.
Then, the chopsticks descended again. This time, the Great Drunken Demon used Void Telekinesis to lower them.
The chopsticks went up and down, marking the beginning of our internal power contest.
Seo Daeryong, Jangho, and Lyu Bin watched the situation with slightly tense expressions.
Song Sa-hyuk’s internal power was stronger than I had expected. While I could have beaten him with my internal power, I conceded and backed off after a while.
The chopsticks fell to the table.
“Young Master, your internal power is impressive.”
“Didn’t you say you become thirty percent stronger when you drink?”
I drank the wine in front of me and lifted the chopsticks again.
This time, the Great Drunken Demon didn’t block it with his internal power. Instead, he picked up the chopsticks and ate the food, as if admitting defeat.
“Is that enough now?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Why do you, a great man, fuss over appetizers?”
“It’s not about being a man or a woman. It’s not about being great or small-minded. It’s just for health reasons.”
“Eating appetizers makes you drink less.”
“That’s exactly why I want you to eat them. At least have some appetizers after every three glasses of wine.”
At that moment, I saw Lyu Bin bow her head slightly towards me. It was a sincere gesture of thanks. From this, I could tell that she genuinely cared about the Great Drunken Demon.
The Great Drunken Demon asked me, “Why are you so concerned about my health?”
After a brief pause, I replied, “Because I don’t know yet what kind of relationship we’ll have. What if we end up on good terms, but you die from alcohol-related issues?”
“What? Me? Die from alcohol?”
He laughed the hardest he had since we met, but I didn’t laugh.
“You’re quite a strange person.”
“In what way?”
“You’re the only person who’s ever worried about me dying from alcohol. No one else I’ll ever meet will have such concerns.”
“There must be others around you. They’re just too intimidated to say it.”
“Alright, let’s say that’s true. But what if we become enemies? Wouldn’t it be better for me to die early from alcohol?”
“I don’t want to hear you using that excuse. If you die, it should be by my sword. Aren’t we supposed to be enemies?”
The atmosphere momentarily froze due to my somewhat harsh words, but the Great Drunken Demon wasn’t offended at all. Instead, he laughed and drank, then demonstratively ate some appetizers. Satisfied? Yes!
The mood at the drinking party improved even more. After a few more drinks, Seo Daeryong sent me a telepathic message.
—I’ll admit to being a coward from now on. Add “coward” to my introduction.
He had decided to hold back. It truly wouldn’t have been easy to interrupt the joyful atmosphere led by the Great Drunken Demon.
—Reasons not to be brave keep coming to mind. That scumbag deserved to die anyway, so is this really something to make a fuss about? Besides, Lyu Bin was just following orders. If I have to argue, it should be with the Great Drunken Demon, but then I might actually die.
—Hey, coward.
Seo Daeryong, who had been looking down at his glass, lifted his head and looked at me.
I held out my glass. What words were necessary at times like this? You grow through experiences, whether good or bad.
Seo Daeryong smiled faintly and clinked his glass with mine.
Watching this, Song Sa-hyuk spoke to Seo Daeryong.
“Are you a disciple of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
He didn’t get along well with Gu Cheonpa. How would he react? He might mock the Blood Heaven Blade Demon or ridicule Seo Daeryong.
However, his words defied my expectations.
“I like your vibe.”
“Pardon?”
“You have a good sense as a martial artist. Keep it up.”
“Oh, thank you.”
Seo Daeryong, who had been bracing himself for something else, was caught off guard. He hadn’t expected such a compliment from the Great Drunken Demon. Nevertheless, he seemed pleased by the praise, as his expression brightened. 6
Drinking with a wide grin, his eyes met mine, and an embarrassed telepathic message came through.
—Yeah, this is who I am! From now on, next to my master, the best Demon Supreme is the Great Drunken Demon. This is who I am! What can I do if I like him?
—I didn’t say anything.
We continued drinking. As expected, drinking with the Great Drunken Demon loosened everyone up. Not only Seo Daeryong but also Jangho was enjoying a pleasant conversation with Lyu Bin, drinking happily.
We mustn’t forget. The Great Drunken Demon is someone who can change the mood of a drinking party with just a joke or a gesture, and we were part of that drinking party. He was someone who had built his legacy with alcohol.
As we laughed and chatted, the atmosphere at its peak, the Great Drunken Demon turned to me and asked,
“So, what do you say? Shall we become sworn brothers?”
His words drew the attention of the three people present to me and the Great Drunken Demon. It was rare for a Demon Supreme to propose becoming sworn brothers with a blood relative of the Heavenly Demon.
Song Sa-hyuk, what is your intention with this proposal? Is it the fleeting sincerity of a drunkard that will vanish when the alcohol wears off? Or is it a meticulously calculated plan?
At that moment, the lively tavern fell silent.
Looking down, I saw someone entering the tavern.
The person who walked in, exuding a cold aura and wearing his saber, was none other than the Blade Demon, someone whose arrival even I hadn’t anticipated.
Old man Blade slowly made his way upstairs, sat between me and the Great Drunken Demon, and said with a dismissive huff,
“Pour me a drink as well.”
1 : This dude knows how to farm good PR ^^
2 : Awesome !!! Make sure you milk all his money first if he decide to betray you ^^
3 : He’s not clear like in Glass Onion (good movie, though Knives Out was slightly better)
4 : Wasn’t your lifelong wish for the Heavenly Demon to appreciate your snacks and drinks ? Oh well, it’s nice to have a lot of dreams ^^
5 : *Deep respect*
6 : This guy is good at manipulation.
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