Chapter 133 : The Overturned Drinking Feast

Chapter 133: The Overturned Drinking Feast

Yul Han had been staring blankly at Slaughter Demon Gireon in the distance when he asked the Cult Leader,

“Even looking at him again, his ghostly aura and killing intent are far too strong. If we leave him alone, it seems like trouble will arise. Shall I capture him?”

“Seeing that they’ve mobilized even a Soul Lord at the Transcendent Realm, it doesn’t look like those Hundred Paths bastards intend to take this lightly either. Leave it. Besides, this is the Hundred Paths brats’ territory.”

In other words, don’t needlessly interfere and stir up conflict—leave it to the Hundred Paths.

Since the Cult Leader had spoken so, Yul Han had no choice but to step back.

When he withdrew his gaze, Slaughter Demon Gireon—unaware of how close he had just come to danger—was soon swallowed by the crowd and disappeared.

Well, he had been more than two hundred jang (about 600 meters) away.

If it hadn’t been the Cult Leader or Yul Han, it would have been impossible not only to detect him but even to see him as clearly as if he were standing before their eyes.

As if proving that point, those at the same realm as the two—beginning with the Profound Demon—were still glancing about, unable to locate Slaughter Demon Gireon.

Though they were said to be at the same realm, there was still a considerable gap within that realm itself.

Of course, the Iron Demon—who had never cared about such matters from the start—was focused solely on what he wanted.

As a result, the Iron Demon found the signboard of the Flower Pavilion.

“There it is. The Flower Pavilion!”

At the Iron Demon’s excited outcry, everyone’s gaze turned to where a rather splendid pavilion and garden spread out before them.

Originally, the Humble Administrator’s Garden, where the Flower Pavilion now stood, had been renowned as one of Suzhou’s finest scenic spots, its breathtaking gardens being its greatest pride.

Through successive imperial dynasties, it had passed into the possession of the government office, but recent corruption had reached the point where national property was being brazenly sold off.

In fact, more than ten years had passed since the Humble Administrator’s Garden had been handed over to the Flower Pavilion, yet it still remained listed among the imperial family’s assets.

It wasn’t that it had been sold without the Emperor’s knowledge—rather, he had known and yet been unable to stop it. At the same time, he could not officially acknowledge it, and so the listing remained as it was.

Of course, neither the ministers nor the commoners paid any attention to such conduct from the imperial family.

An imperial house that failed to protect its people did not receive respect.

Thus, when Yul Han and the others were guided into one of the pavilions of the Humble Administrator’s Garden—no, the Flower Pavilion—they wore rather surprised expressions.

Every garden and pavilion they had passed while being escorted had been remarkably beautiful. It almost felt wasteful for such a place to be used as Pleasure Quarters.

Once seated in the pavilion they had been led to, a retiring courtesan entered, asked them several questions, and then left.

“This is going to cost a lot. Are you really sure about this?”

The Ghost Demon’s concern was not mere worry. The furniture, paintings, and porcelain decorating the room all appeared extremely valuable.

Even so, the Profound Demon smiled faintly.

“It’s fine.”

“If that’s the case, then let’s enjoy ourselves.”

At the Ghost Demon’s words, smiles spread across everyone’s lips. He had not been the only one who had felt uneasy.

They waited only a short while.

A table laden with delicacies from land and sea was brought in, and flower-like, beautiful courtesans followed behind.

At a single glance, the exceptional beauty of the courtesans was evident, and the Iron Demon’s mouth split into a grin so wide it seemed about to tear.

From that alone, it was clear that what the Iron Demon had wanted was neither the Flower Pavilion’s wine nor its scenery.

The smirk lingering on Yul Han’s face instantly froze at the sight.

And then—

“Aaaaah!”

A piercing scream rang out.

Bang!

A figure burst through the dividing door to the next room, brushing past the courtesans, dashed across the table filled with delicacies from land and sea, smashed through the opposite door, and shot out.

The explanation was long, but it had all happened in the blink of an eye.

The overturned and spilled dishes, now a complete mess, were a problem—but trouble had also arisen among the courtesans the man had brushed past.

“B-blood!”

Startled by the blood thickly staining their fine robes, the courtesans fainted, while others fled in panic. The room became a perfect disaster.

Into the ears of those sitting there in stunned silence came the Cult Leader’s voice, ground through clenched teeth.

“That bastard. Bring him to me.”

At the low, not particularly loud command of the Cult Leader, three men—including the Iron Demon—shot out with expressions like vicious fiends. One look told anyone that if they caught him, they would not let him off lightly.

Thus, the Cult Leader added,

“Bring him back alive. I’ll flay him myself.”

Remarkably, the three heard even that quiet voice of the Cult Leader and responded as they rushed out.

“By your command!”

As the Cult Leader leisurely turned his gaze, it fell upon Pageuk, who was still sitting there blankly.

“What are you doing?”

“I follow only my master’s orders.”

“This bastard, every single time—and you even speak so curtly.”

Seeing the Cult Leader’s eyes crumple fiercely in irritation, Yul Han gestured at Pageuk.

Fortunately, Pageuk—famous for his lack of tact—understood properly this time.

He hurriedly sprang out.

Staring at his retreating back, the Cult Leader grumbled,

“One of these days, I’ll deal with that bastard myself!”

Watching the enraged Cult Leader, Yul Han thought he ought to warn Pageuk once more.

After throwing Slaughter Demon Gireon out as bait, Zhuge Wuliang returned to the Fragrant Have with Zhuge Hoon and moved busily.

Knowing the capabilities of Room 32 better than anyone, Zhuge Wuliang judged that there was a high likelihood Slaughter Demon Gireon would be subdued.

Accordingly, Zhuge Wuliang gathered up all the Enemy Pellets and handed them to Zhuge Hoon to send away—then immediately set the place on fire.

There was no surer way to erase traces from the world than with fire.

Of course, he did not inform Jihwa or the courtesans of the Fragrant Have either. The traces that had to be erased first were those left in people.

He knew how much Jegal Giyeon cherished Jihwa, but he believed he would understand.

After all, Zhuge Wuliang was, like himself, a man of the Zhuge Clan.

Thus, beneath the underground chamber where flames surged skyward, Zhuge Wuliang hurriedly withdrew.

Only at certain time intervals did he know how to break the Illusory Maze Formation, and that window was closing.

As Zhuge Wuliang escaped, the Fragrant Have was swallowed in an instant by the demon of fire.

With the courtesans and guests still inside—consumed all at once!

The raging flames, which had been building fury as they were blocked by the Formation Pressure, engulfed the Pleasure Quarters in a single breath the moment the formation shattered. Not a single person escaped.

Even the attendants who had been greeting guests at the entrance failed to make it out; the Pleasure Quarters burned up in the blink of an eye.

After watching the sight calmly, Zhuge Wuliang left.

Now he had to manipulate the traces left behind in Suzhou by himself and Zhuge Hoon.

Only then could he turn whatever the captured Slaughter Demon Gireon might babble into nothing more than lies.

Two gak after the four Manifestation Realm masters of the Bright Cult had rushed out, Slaughter Demon Gireon was dragged back, both arms restrained at angles that should have been impossible to bend under normal circumstances.

The shock he felt at this moment was so immense that the pain flooding from his arms felt like nothing.

How could it not be?

Even if it was not a complete Transcendent Realm manifestation, it had been Sword Force Energy. And he had faced not one, but four individuals who seized it with their bare hands.

As he was hauled in, the Cult Leader approached with a chilling smile.

“How should I flay this bastard—… Huh! It’s this bastard.”

At the Cult Leader’s words, Yul Han stepped closer and said,

“I told you it would cause trouble.”

At Yul Han’s reproachful tone, the Cult Leader gave an awkward laugh.

“How was I supposed to know it would turn out like this? Damn bastard. If you’re going to cause trouble, why here of all places? Now how should I deal with him so that people say I dealt with him well?”

The Cult Leader looked at him like a mischievous child just about to pluck the wings off a dragonfly. Slaughter Demon Gireon stared back, his face drained of color.

He knew the traits of men who bore such eyes.

They treated killing as a game. They were the kind who could tear off limbs while smiling.

It was possible because they did not empathize with another’s pain.

How did he know so well?

Because he was that kind himself.

That was why Slaughter Demon Gireon had gone pale.

Into his ears came the sound of a woman sobbing.

When the people turned, they saw the retiring courtesan who had welcomed Yul Han’s group, weeping.

“What happened?”

“A courtesan… a courtesan has died.”

There was no need to ask who had killed her. To splatter that much blood everywhere was not something that happened under normal circumstances.

Upon confirming that someone had died, Yul Han stepped forward.

The moment Slaughter Demon Gireon met Yul Han’s eyes as he advanced, his body trembled as though pierced by a harpoon.

He had met eyes that only the dead could fail to recognize.

“Gh—Ghost Eyes!”

The shock and terror of facing the ultimate nemesis of all unclean things swept over Slaughter Demon Gireon.

Yul Han asked in a cold voice,

“Did you kill someone?”

“Th-that…”

Unable to answer properly, Slaughter Demon Gireon was spared explanation by the sobbing retiring courtesan at the doorway.

“He wasn’t even received as a guest. Just because they brushed against him in passing. Khu-huk.”

Breaking down again before she could finish, she sobbed. Yul Han turned his gaze from her back to Slaughter Demon Gireon.

“Is that correct?”

“Th-that wench was at fault. She bumped into me!”

Yul Han’s eyes turned icy as he looked at the man who cited such a laughable excuse to deny his crime.

Srrrng.

Without a word, Yul Han drew his sword.

“I—I have a secret. If you hear it, your eyes will flip over. It’s that important!”

“It’s fine. This is Hundred Paths territory, and we are people of the Demonic Path. We’re not interested.”

When his trump card failed, Slaughter Demon Gireon shouted,

“W-what did I do wrong!”

“Our drinking table was overturned, but that’s fine. We can set another. The courtesans fainted in fright, but they weren’t seriously injured, so that’s fine too.”

“Th-then why are you doing this?”

“You were standing in the path my sword was passing through. That’s your fault.”

“Wh-what nonsense are you—”

His voice did not continue.

At Yul Han’s glance, the Iron Demon released the arm he had been holding.

Swish.

A sound like wind being sliced apart rang out, and before anyone realized it, Yul Han had already sheathed his sword.

Seeing that nothing had happened despite the motion that had looked like he would sever his neck, Slaughter Demon Gireon let out a sigh of relief.

“Haa… So you were curious about the information after all— huh? Wh-what?”

Drip. Drip. Ssshhh.

Suddenly, drops of blood beaded and fell, then began pouring down like a waterfall.

His neck, half-severed, gaped open. With an expression of disbelief, Slaughter Demon Gireon collapsed to the ground like a rotten old tree.

Thud.

It was the end of Slaughter Demon Gireon, who had continued speaking without even realizing his neck had been cut so swiftly.

Compared to the fame he possessed and the information he held, it was a pitifully futile death.

Turning his gaze away from the corpse sprawled on the ground, Yul Han bowed his head to the Cult Leader.

“I apologize for passing judgment on my own. The killing intent steeped in ghostly aura was too strong to leave him be.”

“No. I was going to deal with him anyway.”

Of course, he had not intended to kill him. He had merely intended to make him wish he were dead.

Truthfully, even the Cult Leader still did not fully understand his disciple’s methods.

To grow angry not at his own loss, but at the loss of others—such things were still unfamiliar even to him.

Unaware of the Cult Leader’s thoughts, Yul Han turned his gaze to the Iron Demon.

He knew how excited he had been to come here.

“I’m sorry I ruined it because of me. We’ll set another day—”

“I shall have another room prepared. If it pleases you, please move.”

At the gentle voice that came from the doorway, they turned their heads and saw a rather beautiful woman standing there.

Despite the scene within the room—enough to make most people scream in terror—not a single brow of hers was furrowed.

“Who…?”