“Katanya kau tidak akan menyadari ruang yang terisi, tapi kau pasti akan menyadari ruang yang kosong. Rasanya begitu hampa tanpa Lee Ahn di sini.”
Keluhan Seo Daeryong diiyakan oleh Jangho.
“Ruang kosong itu sangat berarti.”
Jangho adalah pria berbadan besar, sementara Seo Daeryong bertubuh kecil, membuat keduanya tampak kontras dan menarik perhatian orang-orang yang lewat.
“Siapa yang sangka aku akan lebih merindukan Lee Ahn daripada sang pemimpin?”
Biasanya, mereka minum bersama Lee Ahn, membentuk sebuah trio. Terakhir kali, hanya mereka berdua yang minum bersama. Rasanya jelas tidak semenyenangkan saat mereka bertiga minum bersama.
Lee Ahn dan Seo Daeryong biasanya mendominasi suasana dengan obrolan mereka, tetapi dengan kepergiannya dan hanya menyisakan Jangho yang pendiam, suasana mau tak mau menjadi suram.
“Menurutmu apakah Lee Ahn baik-baik saja?”
Pertanyaan Seo Daeryong dijawab dengan keyakinan penuh oleh Jangho.
“Tentu saja, dia baik-baik saja. Kau tahu dengan siapa dia pergi? Jangan khawatir.”
“Bukan khawatir; ini iri. Lee Ahn pasti sedang mengalami berbagai situasi yang tak terbayangkan. Aku iri padanya. Aku ingin berada di sana, terkejut bersama Lee Ahn!”
“Kalau dipikir-pikir… mungkin lebih baik aku memiliki Lord Jangho di sisiku.”
Jangho terkekeh. Seo Daeryong merasa tawa jantan Jangho saja sudah membuat sesi minum itu sepadan. Dia berharap bisa meniru cara tertawa Jangho.
Di tengah obrolan santai tersebut, kedua pria itu tiba di Kedai Flowing Wind.
Saat mereka hendak masuk, sang pemilik, Jo Chunbae, keluar dan memberi isyarat agar mereka tenang.
“Kenapa memangnya?”
“Para Demon Supremes ada di dalam.”
“Siapa?”
Seo Daeryong mengintip ke dalam dan melihat ke lantai dua kedai tersebut.
Dengan terkejut, Seo Daeryong segera menarik diri.
“Ya, silakan.”
Setelah menyuruh keduanya pergi, Jo Chunbae kembali masuk ke dalam kedai.
“Kenapa kau ingin menemuiku?”
Mendengar pertanyaan Blood Heaven Blade Demon, Demonic Buddha tidak menjawab.
Tidak seperti Demonic Buddha biasanya. Alih-alih lidahnya yang tajam seperti biasa, entah mengapa dia tampak kelelahan. Ma Bul minum sendirian.
“Kita tidak berjarak sedemikian rupa hingga tidak bisa berbagi minuman, bukan?”
“Seorang pengkhianat tetaplah pengkhianat.”
“Bukankah justru kaulah pengkhianatnya sekarang? Mengingat kau datang untuk menemuiku, meninggalkan Tuan Muda Sulung.”
“Kau selalu bertindak seolah tahu segalanya. Itulah sebabnya kau selalu merendahkanku.”
Sudut bibir Blood Heaven Blade Demon melengkung ke atas. Namun, alih-alih membalas, dia menghabiskan minumannya. Belum lama berselang, dia mungkin akan menganggap Demonic Buddha itu menyedihkan. Pria kecil yang penuh keserakahan.
Mendengar perkataan Gu Cheonpa, Demonic Buddha mendongak. Dia mencoba memahami maksud di balik komentar tersebut, tetapi Blood Heaven Blade Demon hanya menuangkan minumannya.
Berpikir bahwa itu bukan ucapan yang dimaksudkan untuk mengejeknya, Ma Bul tanpa sadar menjawab.
“Kau pikir kau adalah tangan kanan Tuan Muda Sulung, bukan? Tapi tidak, kau hanyalah ikan peliharaan. Mungkin paling banter seekor ikan mas emas.”
“Begitu sulitkah bagimu untuk berbagi minuman dengan seorang junior secara menyenangkan? Hatimu yang picik dan busuk bahkan tidak mengizinkan hal itu?”
“Seharusnya kau bersikap lebih baik sebelumnya. Dan jika kau seorang senior, tetaplah menjadi senior sampai akhir. Jika kau adalah orang lain, bertindaklah seperti itu sejak awal.”
“Selalu begitu menyebalkan dan tidak masuk akal!”
Ma Bul membanting meja. Meja itu hancur berkeping-keping, dan semua yang ada di atasnya jatuh ke lantai.
“Lain kali, jangan merusaknya. Pihak kita tidak merusak meja.”
“Omong kosong apa yang kau bicarakan? Apa kau sudah pikun?”
Demonic Buddha meninggalkan tempat itu dengan marah.
Saat dia memecahkan meja itu, dia kalah. Untuk apa pula dia repot-repot datang menemui Blood Heaven Blade Demon?
Dia benci karena Gu Cheonpa telah melihat kekacauannya. Pemikiran bahwa Blood Heaven Blade Demon akan semakin merendahkannya membuatnya sangat murka.
‘Baiklah, orang tua keriput, cemooh aku sepuasmu.’
Melihat sosoknya yang berjalan menjauh, Blood Heaven Blade Demon juga bangkit dari duduknya.
Gu Cheonpa memberikan uang kepada Jo Chunbae saat dia meninggalkan kedai, menanggung biaya minuman maupun meja yang rusak.
“Tidak apa-apa,” kata Jo Chunbae.
Namun, saat Blood Heaven Blade Demon memelototinya, dia dengan cepat menerima uang tersebut.
“Apa? Oh, ya! Tentu saja, jangan khawatir.”
Dengan itu, Blood Heaven Blade Demon juga meninggalkan tempat tersebut.
Jo Chunbae memperhatikan punggungnya sejenak sebelum naik ke atas untuk membereskan meja yang rusak.
Bahkan tanpa sang tuan muda, orang-orang terus berdatangan. Baru-baru ini, One-Slash Sword Supreme juga datang sendirian, tinggal sebentar, dan pergi. Dia memesan minuman tetapi tidak meminumnya seteguk pun.
Alasan mereka datang ke Kedai Flowing Wind miliknya bukan hanya karena minumannya enak, makanannya lezat, atau suasananya yang menyenangkan. Mereka semua merindukan seseorang.
* * *
Aku sedang duduk di atas gerobak yang diparkir di lapangan terbuka, mendongak menatap langit, ketika aku melihat Bih Sa-in dan ketujuh Thirteen Wolves mendekat dari kejauhan.
Mereka memilih tempat pertemuan ini lagi kali ini.
Pahamlah aku. Ketika hidupmu terus-menerus berada di bawah ancaman, kau menjadi sangat waspada. Ya, dia memang harus berhati-hati. Namun meskipun dia begitu berhati-hati, pada akhirnya dia tetap mati.
Melihat aku sendirian, Bih Sa-in tampak kebingungan.
“Kau datang sendiri?”
“Ya.”
Ekspresi Bih Sa-in sedikit mengeras.
Tampaknya harga dirinya terluka. Meskipun aku belum menjadi penerus resmi, aku tetaplah darah daging Heavenly Demon, berjalan-jalan sendirian. Di sisi lain, dia ditemani oleh tujuh anggota Thirteen Wolves, yang pasti membuatnya merasa seperti pengecut.
Aku ingin memberitahunya bahwa harga diri semacam itu sama sekali tidak berguna. Bahwa ego yang terluka tidak ada nilainya sama sekali. Semua ini terjadi karena dia masih muda.
“Apakah kau sudah menemukan petunjuknya?” tanya.
Meskipun sudah menduganya, dia tidak bisa menyembunyikan keterkejutannya atas konfirmasiku.
“Bagaimana kau menemukannya secepat ini?” tanya dengan mata dipenuhi kecurigaan.
“Aku tidak menemukannya; mereka yang datang kepadaku.”
Aku mengangkat terpal yang menutupi gerobak. Di dalamnya terdapat mayat lima orang.
Aku tidak menyebutkan bahwa mereka telah mengincar Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress. Entah dia tahu keberadaan Sky Flower Pavilion atau tidak, aku memutuskan tidak perlu mengungkapkannya.
“Mereka adalah Five Shadow Blood Hands dari White Night Valley.”
“Bagaimana kau mengetahuinya?”
“Jangan remehkan jaringan intelijen Sekte kita. Kami tahu cukup banyak tentangmu.”
“White Night Valley menerima kontrak ini. Jika kau menemukan mereka, kau bisa mengetahui siapa dalangnya. Bagaimana cara membuat pemimpin White Night Valley mengungkap siapa yang memberi kontrak terserah padamu. Bagaimana? Apakah ini petunjuk yang cukup seperti yang dijanjikan?”
Bih Sa-in terdiam sejenak. Dia ingin mengatakan bahwa ini belum cukup, tetapi tidak mungkin aku akan mengizinkan hal itu.
“Apakah kau berharap aku mencari tahu siapa dalangnya dan membawakan kepalanya untukmu?”
“Tidak perlu memancing emosiku. Ini sudah cukup. Mulai hari ini, White Bird Trading Company akan menarik diri dari Guiju. Aku juga akan menghitung dan mengirimkan kerugian dari dua tahun terakhir.”
Tepat saat aku hendak berbalik, aku mendengar suara transmisi suara Bih Sa-in.
—Tuan Muda.
Namun hanya itu saja. Berhenti sampai di situ, bagaikan bisikan hantu yang dibawa angin, tanpa menyampaikan kata-kata berikutnya.
Bih Sa-in tadinya berniat mengatakan sesuatu kepadaku secara rahasia tetapi mengurungkan niatnya.
Meskipun bekas luka membuat penampilannya tampak jauh lebih kejam dan bertekad kuat daripada aslinya, aku bisa melihatnya. Tatapan seorang pemuda yang berjuang untuk bertahan hidup.
Bicaralah, Bih Sa-in. Apa pun itu, jika kau ingin mengubah takdirmu, katakanlah.
Namun Bih Sa-in akhirnya tidak berkata apa-apa lagi dan berbalik pergi. Ketujuh anggota Thirteen Wolves menarik gerobak itu dan mengikutinya.
Aku menatap punggung mereka yang menjauh cukup lama sebelum aku juga meninggalkan tempat ini.
Ketika aku kembali, Soma sedang berjalan-jalan di halaman Sky Flower Pavilion. Dia tampak tenang, tetapi aku bisa merasakannya. Dia masih marah dan berusaha menenangkan dirinya.
Aku berjalan berdampingan dengan Evil Smiling Demon.
“White Bird Trading Company telah memutuskan untuk menarik diri dari Guiju. Mereka juga setuju untuk mengganti kerugian selama dua tahun terakhir.”
“Tuan Muda Kedua berhasil menyelesaikan apa yang telah menyiksaku selama dua tahun terakhir dalam beberapa hari saja.”
“Tidak perlu merendah. Terima kasih, Tuan Muda.”
Evil Smiling Demon, yang telah menyatakan rasa terima kasihnya, menghentikan langkahnya.
Translator: FenrirTL
Editor/Quality Checker: Saphartlantis
Murim Term Consultant: Kopke
< Chapter 105: It’s Not Easy >
“They say you don’t notice the filled space, but you sure notice the empty one. It feels so empty without Lee Ahn here.”
Seo Daeryong's lament was met with Jangho's agreement.
“The empty space is significant.”
Jangho was a large man, while Seo Daeryong was small, making the two of them a contrasting sight that drew the gaze of passersby.
“Who would have thought I’d miss Lee Ahn more than the lord?” 1
Usually, they drank with Lee Ahn, making a trio. Last time, only the two of them drank together. It was definitely less fun than when the three of them drank together.
Lee Ahn and Seo Daeryong used to dominate the atmosphere with their chatter, but with her gone and the taciturn Jangho remaining, the mood inevitably dampened.
“Do you think Lee Ahn is doing well?”
Seo Daeryong’s question was met with Jangho’s certainty.
“Of course, she’s doing well. Do you know who she went with? Don’t worry.”
“It’s not worry; it’s envy. Lee Ahn must be experiencing all sorts of unimaginable situations. I envy her. I want to be there, surprised alongside Lee Ahn!”
“Thinking about it… maybe it’s better that I have Lord Jangho by my side.”
Jangho chuckled. Seo Daeryong felt that Jangho’s manly laughter alone made the drinking session worthwhile. He wished he could resemble Jangho’s laughter.
With such idle chatter, the two men arrived at the Flowing Wind Tavern.
Just as they were about to enter, the owner, Jo Chunbae, came out and gestured for silence.
“Why not?”
“The Demon Supremes are inside.”
“Who?”
Seo Daeryong peeked inside and looked at the second floor of the tavern.
Startled, Seo Daeryong quickly withdrew.
“Yes, please do.”
After sending the two away, Jo Chunbae returned inside the tavern.
“Why did you want to meet me?”
To the Blade Demon’s question, the Demonic Buddha did not reply.
It was unlike the usual Demonic Buddha. Instead of his typically sharp tongue, he seemed tired for some reason. Ma Bul drank alone.
“We aren’t so distant that we can’t share a drink, are we?”
“A traitor is a traitor.”
“Isn't it you who’s the traitor now? Considering you came to see me, leaving the Eldest Young Master behind.”
“You’ve always acted like you knew everything. That’s why you’ve always looked down on me.”
The corners of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s mouth curled up. However, instead of retorting, he drained his glass. Not long ago, he would have found the Demonic Buddha pitiful. A little man full of greed.
At Gu Cheonpa’s words, the Demonic Buddha looked up. He tried to discern the intent behind the comment, but the Blood Heaven Blade Demon simply filled his glass.
Thinking it wasn’t a remark meant to mock him,Ma Bul inadvertently replied.
“You thought you were the Eldest Young Master’s right hand, didn’t you? But no, you’re just a kept fish. Perhaps a golden carp at best.”
“Is it so hard for you to share a drink with a junior pleasantly? Your petty, twisted heart can’t even allow that?”
“You should have behaved better before. And if you’re a senior, stay a senior until the end. If you’re someone else, then act like it from the start.”
“Always so damned unreasonable!”
Ma Bul slammed the table. The table shattered, and everything on it fell to the ground.
“Next time, don’t break it. Our side doesn’t break tables.”
“What the hell are you talking about? Are you senile?”
The Demonic Buddha left the place angrily.
The moment he broke the table, he lost. Why did he even bother coming to see the Blood Heaven Blade Demon?
He hated that Gu Cheonpa had seen his turmoil. The thought that the Blood Heaven Blade Demon would look down on him even more made him furious.
‘Fine, you dried-up old man, scorn me all you want.’
Watching his retreating back, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon also rose from his seat.
Gu Cheonpa gave money to Jo Chunbae as he left the tavern, covering both the cost of the drinks and the broken table.
"It's alright," Jo Chunbae said.
But as the Blood Heaven Blade Demon glared at him, he quickly accepted the money.
"What? Oh, yes! Of course, don't worry."
With that, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon also left the place.
Jo Chunbae watched his back for a moment before going upstairs to clean up the broken table.
Even without the young master, people continued to visit. Recently, the One-Slash Sword Supreme had also come alone, stayed for a while, and left. She ordered drinks but didn't have a single sip.
The reason they came to his Flowing Wind Tavern wasn't just because the drinks were good, the food was delicious, or the atmosphere was pleasant. They were all missing someone. 2
* * *
I was sitting on a cart parked in an open field, looking up at the sky, when I saw Bih Sa-in and the seven Thirteen Wolves approaching from a distance.
They had chosen the meeting place again this time.
I understood him. When your life is constantly under threat, you become hyper-alert. Yes, he needed to be careful. Yet even though he was this cautious, he eventually died.
Seeing that I was alone, Bih Sa-in looked puzzled.
"Did you come alone?"
"Yes."
Bih Sa-in's expression slightly hardened.
It seemed his pride was hurt. Even though I wasn't the official successor yet, I was still of the Heavenly Demon bloodline, walking around alone. On the other hand, he was accompanied by seven of the Thirteen Wolves, which must have made him feel like a coward.
I wanted to tell him that such pride was useless. That having a bruised ego wasn't worth anything. This was all because he was young.
"Have you already found a clue?" he asked.
Though he had expected it, he couldn't hide his surprise at my confirmation.
"How did you find it so quickly?" he asked, his eyes filled with suspicion.
"I didn't find it; they came to me."
I lifted the tarp covering the cart. Inside were the bodies of five people.
I didn't mention that they had targeted the Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress. Whether he knew about the existence of Sky Flower Pavilion or not, I decided there was no need to reveal it.
“These are the Five Shadow Blood Hands of the White Night Valley.”
“How did you find out?”
“Do not underestimate our Cult's intelligence network. We know enough about you.”
“The White Night Valley took on this contract. If you find them, you can learn who is behind it. How you get the leader of the White Night Valley to reveal the contractor is up to you. How about it? Is this enough of a clue as promised?”
Bih Sa-in remained silent for a moment. He wanted to say that this wasn’t enough, but there was no way I would allow that.
“Did you expect me to find out who was behind it and bring you their head?”
“No need to provoke me. This is sufficient. From today, the White Bird Trading Company will withdraw from Guiju. I will also calculate and send the losses from the past two years.”
Just as I was about to turn away, I heard Bih Sa-in’s transmitted voice.
—Young Master.
But that was all. It ended there, like a ghostly whisper carried by the wind, without conveying the next words.
Bih Sa-in had intended to say something to me in secret but changed his mind.
Despite the scars making him appear far more vicious and strong-willed than he was, I could see it. The look of a young man struggling to survive.
Speak, Bih Sa-in. Whatever it is, if you want to change your fate, say it.
But Bih Sa-in ultimately said nothing more and turned away. The seven Thirteen Wolves pulled the cart and followed him.
I watched their retreating figures for a long moment before I, too, left this place.
When I returned, Soma was strolling through the courtyard of the Sky Flower Pavilion. He seemed calm, but I sensed it. He was still angry and was trying to calm himself down.
I walked alongside the Evil Smiling Demon.
“The White Bird Trading Company has decided to withdraw from Guiju. They have also agreed to compensate for the losses of the past two years.”
“The Second Young Master managed to resolve in a few days what has been troubling me for the past two years.”
“No need for humility. Thank you, Young Master.”
The Evil Smiling Demon, who had expressed his gratitude, stopped in his tracks.
"I will personally kill the one who ordered the death of the Sky Flower Pavilion’s Mistress. Even if it means being imprisoned again for a few years."
The Evil Smiling Demon looked at me, his eyes asking what I thought. I conveyed my thoughts through my gaze.
Soma's eyes gleamed pleasantly, as if my unexpected answer had pleased him.
"Don’t you want to return to the cult? That way, you can escape responsibility for my actions."
"Watching your world in a daze, I almost forgot why I left in the first place."
"Shall we return?"
I was endlessly knocking on his door. Unlike my hopes for the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, I didn’t wish for this door to swing wide open.
I just wanted it to be half-open, so we could face each other at the point where we were neither friends nor foes.
I know who you are. You regretted your life as you were dying, that empty life filled with evil.
Is the current you the same as the you from back then?
You have changed. In your pre-regression life, you were never this honest.
When I met you before the regression, you were old, too old to change anymore.
How could I have become your friend?
Maybe I was like you back then?
"There’s only one way to keep the Evil Smiling Demon’s world from becoming boring."
"And what is that?"
"When a war breaks out. The world will become a sea of blood, and you’ll be flying in the sky. But that’s a world I don’t want to see. I still want to see this world. How you handle the gambling den managers, how you deal with the underlings."
A fervor I hadn’t seen before flickered in Soma’s eyes and then disappeared.
"Come on, let’s go. Let’s cut off the arms of those who are embezzling money."
1 : Ouch !!! XDXDXD
2 : A bit sad, but wholesome ^^
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