An urgent order came down from the Asadal Union.
It was a command to investigate the whereabouts of the Four Fairies.
Her appearance was considered a major emergency, worth treating as a top priority even within the Union. Upon hearing this news, many of the masters in the Sarpa shook with anxiety.
How many top masters from Sarpa had already fallen to that witch?
Although the Sarpa was a den of evil rogues from the dark path, the Four Fairies were on an entirely different level.
Compared to that witch, organized murderers or thrill killers, human traffickers, professional rapists, or even mass slaughter of civilians for fun were like kind-hearted village fools who just wanted to help others.
The Four Fairies were terrifying and utterly wicked.
As reports surfaced that the Martial Arts Alliance was also preparing a response, it became clear that losing in intelligence warfare against those cowardly Alliance members could lead to significant bloodshed. Hence, gathering information on the Four Fairies became paramount.
However, the masters of Sarpa naturally had no intention of taking on such a dangerous task.
After all, those who had honed their cowardice and wickedness to the extreme and become lowly dark masters would never dare investigate the terrifying Four Fairies.
It was much more enjoyable and peaceful to brutally slaughter innocent civilians and steal their riches. If they wanted something more challenging, they could always kidnap children or women and expand their business in murder or robbery.
Thus, the orders from Asadal were passed down like a chain of subcontracts until it reached the very lowest level.
Finally, a minor dark master named Galbijong was dispatched to Anhui Province.
“So this is Anhui, where the Four Fairies were said to have appeared?”
Galbijong was a minor dark master with little experience but rather ambitious.
He figured that if he took on the job that everyone else shunned, he could rise to the central ranks of the organization.
Through this advancement, if he received a higher rank’s martial skill and trained in it, he could become a master of Sarpa himself.
“The atmosphere here is indeed sinister. Terrifying… also kind of slimy. Just breathing feels like it’s striking at my soul.”
If he practiced breathing techniques in such a place, his lower dantian might rot away, Galbijong murmured to himself while shaking in fear.
Yet, despite his trepidation, he swallowed his fear and took a step forward.
Initially, Galbijong had no intention of obsessively tracking the movements of the Four Fairies. He planned to create a new dark faction in Anhui and gather rumors from the marketplace as per orders.
Even though he was low-ranked, he belonged to a sect connected to Asadal. Given his skills, establishing a dark faction here should be a piece of cake.
Just by puffing up his chest and showing off, he could solidify his position within the organization. As he thought of this, Galbijong moved forward and began collecting information upon arrival.
During this time, he heard an intriguing piece of news.
There was a rumor that a dark faction had been mercilessly wiped out in a horrific murder incident recently.
“Is a master who enjoys killing on the loose?”
Perhaps a professional butcher trained by the Namgoong Clan, who rules Anhui, or one of the murder monks from the Soryeong Temple next door had swept through here.
Imagining the bizarre sight of murderous monks, distorting the no-kill precept and suddenly unleashing a killing spree, made his legs tremble, and breathing became difficult.
Galbijong proceeded cautiously and approached the informant to inquire about the details.
“Griefful Mayhem.”
The Gang Leader of the informant spoke with a serious expression.
“Or he is called the Screaming Demon, a madman who committed this crime.”
“What do you mean… Griefful Mayhem and Screaming Demon?”
“That’s right.”
According to the Gang Leader, Griefful Mayhem meant killing people while crying, and Screaming Demon referred to a madman who had caused a massacre in the Assassin’s Room.
Even the most vicious members of the Dark Path trembled at the brutality and vileness of his methods. After brutally killing every member of the Assassin’s Room, he tortured their lone remaining leader, desecrated the corpses, and stole all their wealth.
“Our faction lost some lives during that process, too. Be careful. He’s a psychopathic killer. I’ve never encountered such madness in all my life.”
The Gang Leader trembled as he spoke.
Of course, Galbijong was terrified and trembling too. The two men shook together, and, recalling the proverb that fear multiplies when shared, they became doubly afraid.
“Aaaaah!”
“Uwaah!”
The panic-stricken members of the informant faction also screamed intermittently, adding to the fear.
“Damn it! Did I make the wrong choice?”
The original title of the Screaming Demon was said to be Demon Killer. A vagabond who got that title by killing Madunachal—just looking at that makes it clear how mad he is.
“He must be the type who can’t endure even a moment without seeing blood.”
It was obvious he couldn’t resist charging at Madunachal. A madman who could kill even Madunachal wouldn’t fear humans; they would rather revel in bathing in blood.
Only those akin to such lunatics could earn such a demonic title.
Though Galbijong was scared, he thought, “But, crises are also opportunities.”
At the same time, he became heavily intrigued by this man called the Screaming Demon.
He intended to establish a dark faction in this land. If he could recruit such a ferocious individual, things would certainly become easier moving forward.
And if he could hang out with a character like that, it wouldn’t be a dream to strut around the Sarpa gatherings.
“Screaming Demon.”
Thinking like that, he actually began to look forward to their meeting.
In fact, Galbijong had long admired such frenzied masters from the dark path. Why he admired dark masters rather than righteous ones was simple: it was because in his childhood, he had only encountered dark individuals.
Anyway.
With such a madman, there was nothing to fear.
“What should I do to win his favor?”
Galbijong resolved to investigate the Screaming Demon.
—
“So you really went to the pleasure district?”
“Did you really go to the pleasure district?”
Two women said this, having me kneeling before them.
Naturally, the pleasure district is a place of entertainment. It’s hard to find any woman on this planet who would accept that her significant other visited such a place.
“Yeah. I went with my friend Jaemi Son.”
But I stood my ground.
“However, I didn’t do anything you’d dislike! I only drank, danced, and sang with Jaemi Son! I didn’t even summon any courtesans!”
“No need for excuses!”
“This is the truth!”
The saying that sincerity resonates is all nonsense. Despite speaking the truth, my plea fell on deaf ears, and the two women grew angry.
Hence, I…
Drained my energy for another whole day while on my knees.
“Hmph!”
“That’s just ridiculous!”
As if that wasn’t enough, both sulked and slammed the doors to their rooms shut.
Once I regained my senses, I pounded on their doors, attempting to negotiate, but I could only realize how difficult romance can be.
“Please open up.”
“That Jaemi Son guy…!”
Did he plan this all along?
No, there’s no way that splendid dancer could do such a thing. Didn’t I realize when he harmonized with me in a duet? Our sincerity was connected.
Someone like Jaemi Son would never betray me.
So this is entirely my fault.
“I must earn their forgiveness somehow!”
To be frank, I know very little about women.
However, throughout time and history, there’s one immutable truth when it comes to women.
And that is—they enjoy sweet things.
At the very least, my Aunt was that way.
“Let’s go get some candy.”
If I go out and buy some candy and pick a few flowers to apologize, I’m sure they’ll accept me. It’s not that Se Rin and Ha Young don’t trust me.
Would they really want me to frolic with courtesans while facing the Martial Arts History? No way! I merely enjoyed drinking and dancing with Jaemi Son.
Besides, Jaemi Son was the one who brought me to the pleasure district to showcase his instrumental skills. It was truly a masterpiece. It seems my gift really made his day.
In any case.
Once I finished preparing, I left the upper tower.
“Ugh.”
But immediately upon exiting, I felt a sense of loneliness. Being with them all the time lately, their absence felt extremely amplified… even I, as a man, was feeling lonely.
But how would I go about my wedding? Would I first visit the absolutely powerful Namgoong Cheon, my future father-in-law? That thought terrified me… no matter how legal polygamy is in these lands, it still feels utterly daunting.
Plus, what about the Taoist, Hayoung?
I need to consult with the two of them soon.
Just as I was thinking that, suddenly—
*Thunk.*
A man appeared before me.
“…”
I instinctively assessed him.
A young man with gray hair and an arrow-shaped nose. But his eyes were a bit too clear… never mind that. I had a superior physique. But how skilled is he in martial arts? It’s difficult to evaluate. He wore black clothing and had his gaze directed at me outright.
Naturally, my hand instinctively reached for the hilt of my sword.
“Oh wow…! Just like the rumors!”
But suddenly, he lit up with wonder.
“To think you’d have the thought to kill a man upon first glance! Impressive!”
As he continued speaking with those sparkling, clear eyes, I stood there frozen in bewilderment, feeling a strange fear wash over me.
Is this guy… crazy?
No.
He’s crazy, alright.
There’s no other reason for those eyes to be so clear!
“The Screaming Demon! I want to share a drink with you!”
Screaming Demon? As I was bewildered, he proudly pulled out a pretty flower from his pocket to present to me.
“This is my gift!”
This insane guy!
What the heck is he doing!
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