Chapter 118: Resurrection of the Demonic Cult (1)
A hermitage in a basin on Mount Yangju, near the western outskirts of Chang’an Fortress.
This was a property Yeon Seo-hwa had recently purchased. It was a pre-planned location, as training So-so in the Lion’s Roar inside the fortress was out of the question.
In the grassy field surrounding the hermitage, So-mu was boiling meat broth in a large cauldron.
A moment later, he heard footsteps behind him.
“Are those ingredients different from the ones you used last time?”
Turning around, he saw Yeon Seo-hwa standing with her arms crossed. She looked like a supervisor checking if he was doing his job correctly.
“I didn’t have the ingredients back then. But this time, I managed to get some from Uiseondang.”
“What did you put in?”
“Angelica root, rehmannia root, and a bit of astragalus root. It’s Soho Tavern’s special recipe.”
Using medicinal herbs to make noodle broth? She couldn’t help but feel skeptical about the taste.
“Will it be delicious?”
“Seo-hwa, come taste this and see. It’s been a while, so I’m not sure if I got it right.”
Yeon Seo-hwa sat down opposite him.
As he went to hand her a small ladle, she narrowed her eyes and said,
“Feed me.”
To say such a thing without even a change in expression. So-mu chuckled and scooped up a small amount of broth.
“It might be hot.”
It was a useless worry. Given her Supreme Demonic physique, she could easily withstand boiling water by using her internal energy.
The tip of the small ladle gently entered her petal-like lips.
“Mm…”
“How is it?”
A faint smile touched her lips for a brief moment before vanishing. Fortunately, it seemed she hadn’t failed it.
“One more bite.”
“Phew. You’re certainly putting me to work.”
Scooping more broth, So-mu slowly brought it to her mouth. But just as he was about to feed her, a familiar shout echoed through the air.
“Father!”
Startled, So-mu turned his head.
His eyes met those of his daughter, who was sprinting toward them from about a hundred feet away.
“Agh!”
So-so had developed a habit of concealing her qi because of her friends at Snow Flower Academy. As a result, it was difficult to detect her presence from a distance.
To think they would get caught in a moment like this. So-mu stood there flustered.
Her face flushing with embarrassment, Yeon Seo-hwa hastily sent a telepathic transmission.
— It’s too late to pull back.
If he retracted the ladle now, it would look even stranger. The two finished what they were doing as naturally as possible and tried to maintain composure.
“The seasoning is good, right?”
“It’s fine.”
So-so quickly arrived and squatted down between them.
“My daughter, you must be hungry.”
Before he knew it, So-so had opened her tiny mouth like a little chick.
“Ahhh—”
It was absurd to see her copying her Master. But since his daughter wanted to be fed, what choice did he have?
As he poured a bit of broth into her mouth, a bright smile spread across her face.
“Hehe. It’s delicious. One more bite, please!”
As he reflexively scooped more broth, So-mu suddenly felt goosebumps. How could their behaviors be so identical?
‘Truly, like Master, like disciple…’
Only after he fed her five more times did the girl finally close her mouth.
Closing the cauldron lid, So-mu changed the subject.
“Uncle Il-gwang said he couldn’t come because he’s hurt, right?”
So-so’s large eyes widened, her expression saying that was absolutely not the case.
“No? He told us to prepare first because he’ll walk slowly.”
His injuries were severe. Yet, the fact that he was dragging himself here made So-mu let out a weak laugh.
“How many servings should we prepare?”
So-so opened both hands wide.
“He told us to prepare ten servings.”
“Ten servings for himself?”
No matter how large Il-gwang’s appetite was, how could he eat ten servings alone? It was mind-boggling.
Just then, Cho-hee approached from near the hermitage and said,
“He must be very hungry. He hasn’t eaten proper food in days…”
Yeon Seo-hwa looked at her sister in surprise.
“How do you know that?”
“I visited him at Uiseondang. I haven’t even had a chance to thank him properly…”
She had visited him several times, but he had been unconscious each time.
“Now that you mention it, he is the lovely fellow who saved my sister.”
Hearing Il-gwang described as “lovely,” So-so burst into a fit of giggles.
Having reached the peak of the Demonic Way early on, Seo-hwa possessed a flawless, youthful appearance. Seeing her treat the older-looking uncle like a child was bound to make anyone laugh.
Just then, So-mu grabbed the bowl containing the kneaded dough.
“Shall we boil the noodles then?”
There was plenty of dough. Leaving only a single portion behind, he put it all in. Watching this quietly, Seo-hwa asked from behind,
“I heard you invited another guest today, but it seems they’re late?”
“He’s usually very punctual. Something must have come up.”
“Who is it?”
“Just an old acquaintance. He’s only here to eat noodles quietly and leave, so don’t kill him and pretend you don’t notice.”
Seo-hwa scoffed, finding it absurd.
“Do you take me for some butcher?”
“Haha. Of course not.”
“Since you’re asking me not to kill him, he must be from the Orthodox sects.”
“Yeah. He’s also the person I trust most in the martial world.”
Seo-hwa nodded once and stared at the cauldron.
“I no longer care about the martial world. But aren’t the noodles fully cooked?”
“Mm… The flavor needs to seep into the noodles, so I’ll pull them out in just a moment.”
Just as the preparations were wrapping up, the guest finally arrived. It was Il-gwang, limping along, wrapped in bandages from head to toe.
Scratching his head sheepishly, he said,
“Haha… I’m not late, am I?”
So-mu, who was pulling the noodles out, laughed for a moment before replying,
“You’re right on time. Sit down and wait.”
He was the customer who ate the noodles of Soho Tavern with the most relish in the world.
So-mu served him a massive portion in a wide earthen jar, topping it with a generous amount of boiled meat.
Cho-hee took the jar and handed it to Il-gwang.
“Y-You must be hungry. Please eat a lot…”
Accepting the jar, Il-gwang’s face flushed slightly.
“Th-thank you…”
So-mu grabbed a smaller bowl and looked at So-so.
“How much is our daughter going to eat?”
As if waiting for the question, two fingers shot forward.
“Two servings!”
So-mu placed his hand on his daughter’s stomach. It was tiny, barely a span wide. He worried if her stomach could handle it.
“How are you going to fit two servings in this tiny belly?”
“I can do it!”
“Phew. Eat this first, and I’ll give you another bowl later.”
There were plenty of noodles. The five of them sat in their respective spots, clutching their bowls. For the first time in a while, bright smiles graced everyone’s faces.
Gulping down his noodles, Il-gwang felt a gaze and looked down to his left. So-so was watching him with a warm, happy smile.
“What is it…?”
“Hehe. Uncle, are the noodles delicious?”
“Yeah. They’re always the best. Your father is the only one in the world who can make noodles taste like this.”
“But why do you like noodles so much, Uncle?”
Il-gwang lifted the jar and gulped down the broth. Wiping his mouth, he said,
“I grew up as an orphan, but when I was very young, I had a mother. I don’t remember her face, but strangely, I remember the taste of her noodles. And it tasted exactly like this.”
“Why do you want to eat the noodles your mother made?”
“You have to taste it to know. So-so, you should try your mother’s cooking sometime too.”
Il-gwang cast a subtle glance at Yeon Seo-hwa. Meeting his gaze, her face flushed, and she looked away.
Just then, So-so tugged at her father’s sleeve, urging him.
“Hehe. Father, I want to taste Mother’s cooking too. Will you let me?”
“Uh… Huh? Ah… Y-Yes…”
So-mu turned away in embarrassment as well. Seeing this, Il-gwang and Cho-hee couldn’t help but snicker.
A short while later, the meal concluded in a warm, pleasant atmosphere.
Il-gwang’s giant jar was empty. He had polished off all ten servings, down to the last drop of broth.
“Phew. That was great, Commander. You’ll make them again next time, right?”
“If a regular customer asks, of course I will.”
With that, Il-gwang limped away. His wounds had not yet healed, causing him to stagger.
“Now that my belly is full, I’m getting sleepy.”
Sitting down on a nearby wooden platform, Il-gwang’s eyes drifted shut.
Seeing him fall asleep while sitting up in his bandages, Cho-hee approached with a look of pity.
Hoping to lay him down comfortably, Cho-hee suddenly gasped and called out to Seo-hwa.
“Sister, come here for a second.”
Seo-hwa walked over, looking puzzled.
“Why are you so startled?”
“He isn’t moving. Is he okay?”
Checking his pulse, Seo-hwa said casually,
“He fainted. He forced his body to walk all the way here… He’ll wake up after some deep rest.”
So-so approached, her large eyes wide with curiosity.
“What does ‘fainted’ mean?”
“Mm… It means he was so tired that he suddenly fell into a very deep sleep.”
So-so rubbed her eyes and lay down beside Il-gwang.
“I think I’m about to faint too…”
With full bellies and a cool breeze blowing, it was the perfect weather for a nap. So-so used Il-gwang’s arm as a pillow, curled up like a puppy, and closed her eyes.
Before long, the two began to snore in harmony.
Sitting on one side of the platform, Cho-hee began to sketch the scene on her canvas.
A smile touched So-mu’s face as he watched them. Seo-hwa walked over, sat beside him, and asked,
“What makes you so happy?”
“Just looking at them makes me happy. How wonderful would it be if the world could always be this peaceful?”
“Is a peaceful world even possible? As long as war continues, it’s impossible.”
Having accompanied the medical relief teams, she had witnessed the horrors of war firsthand. She had come to understand much about the ways of the world beyond the martial arts sects.
“You’re right, Seo-hwa… We must find a fundamental solution. So that such futile wars never happen again.”
“Are you planning to unite the realm under one banner?”
So-mu shook his head firmly.
“No. Even if the realm is united, it doesn’t guarantee peace. If it did, I would have let the Hui Dynasty conquer the land.”
“True. The Emperor of the Hui Dynasty doesn’t seem like the type to grant us peace.”
“Yeah. If an emperor rules with tyranny, the suffering of the people will only continue. And even a wise ruler cannot live forever.”
“Then what do you plan to do?”
So-mu looked up at the clouds drifting in the clear blue sky. His eyes shone brightly, reflecting the natural energy of the sun.
“What if… there was a world in this land where the leader is chosen by the people?”
As if she had already guessed his thoughts, Seo-hwa narrowed her eyes and asked,
“Are you planning to make General Jang-yang the Emperor?”
So-mu did not deny it.
“I’ve been thinking about it. My mind seems to be made up, but what do you think, Seo-hwa?”
“He seems like a good man. The citizens of Chang’an Fortress, who used to look miserable, are all smiling now. The children of Snow Flower Academy are the same, aren’t they?”
“Yeah. I will create a world where children can grow up smiling like they are now. First, we must end this war, and to do that, we must get rid of the pests of the Hui Dynasty.”
So-mu grabbed the remaining portion of noodles and tossed them into the boiling cauldron. Just as Seo-hwa was about to reply, she suddenly turned her head to look down the mountain.
“It seems your Orthodox friend has arrived.”
Someone was approaching from the foot of the mountain at incredible speed. His light movement technique was so refined it made barely any sound. Furthermore, with his worn, tattered clothes and disheveled appearance, he was unmistakably a master of the Beggars’ Sect.
Arriving at the hermitage, Heo-gyu gasped in shock upon seeing Yeon Seo-hwa and hesitated, stepping back.
“I-It has been a long time.”
Seo-hwa tilted her head. Although he greeted her, she had no memory of him.
Seeing her lack of response, Heo-gyu nervously sat down close to So-mu.
He had witnessed her fighting firsthand during the Great War of Orthodox and Demons. The sight of her slaughtering over a hundred warriors of the Wulin Alliance with her bare hands was a shocking memory that would never fade.
Heo-gyu sent a telepathic transmission to So-mu in disbelief.
— You didn’t tell me your lover was the Jade Flower Saintess!
— I suppose the White Dragon Squadron Leader and Patriarch Moyong didn’t tell you.
— They claimed they killed the Jade Flower Saintess themselves.
— Well, they had to. Otherwise, rumors that I turned traitor would spread, and the prestige of the Wulin Alliance would be ruined.
Heo-gyu felt a wave of resentment. The Wulin Alliance relied on the Beggars’ Sect for almost all of their intelligence. Yet, they had kept such a massive secret to themselves, making him feel betrayed.
So-mu served a bowl of noodles from the cauldron and handed it to him.
“It’s Soho Tavern’s meat noodles. I made it myself, so try some.”
Taking the bowl, Heo-gyu’s face filled with ecstasy. His irritation vanished in an instant.
“It’s been a while since I’ve had a proper meal. Wow… the aroma is incredible.”
Gulping down the broth, Heo-gyu even began to hum. Although So-mu and Seo-hwa watched with smiles, he didn’t care. When did a Beggars’ Sect member ever care about what others thought while eating?
“Is it edible?”
“It’s the absolute best. Haha. The tavern owner’s skills aren’t just limited to swordplay.”
“Eat slowly. Why were you so late?”
Heo-gyu hesitated, casting a glance at Seo-hwa.
“Don’t worry. Seo-hwa has already left the martial world. You can trust her.”
“If you say so, then it must be fine. Actually, I went to meet the Sect Leader…”
As he ate, Heo-gyu’s face grew increasingly grave. Feeling a bit apologetic, So-mu decided to wait.
“You might get indigestion, so let’s talk after you finish eating.”
Heo-gyu did not refuse and nodded.
“Haha. I shall. We beggars must always be happy when we eat.”
“It’s good that you’re so easygoing.”
As the bowl emptied, his expression grew darker. It was as if this were his final meal, and he regretted the vanishing noodles.
Savoring the broth, his face expressed absolute bliss.
“I declare, this is the best bowl of noodles I have ever eaten in my life.”
“Eat up. I’ll invite you again next time.”
Heo-gyu finished the bowl, not leaving a single drop of broth behind.
Burp! “Ah! That was a magnificent meal!”
At his loud, uninhibited burp, Seo-hwa looked slightly taken aback. Before things could get awkward, So-mu chuckled and smoothed over the situation.
“The Beggars’ Sect culture is like that, please understand. Now, shall we hear what news you brought?”
Having finished his meal, Heo-gyu’s expression turned serious, unlike before.
“The Wulin Alliance is currently in complete chaos. Instead of helping the government forces, they might need help themselves.”
“What do you mean?”
Heo-gyu cast a quick glance at Seo-hwa and said in a low voice,
“The Demonic Cult… has been resurrected.”
The smile vanished from So-mu’s face.