The Return of the Crazy Demon-Chapter 250: I Entrust It to You
I stood with the Four Great Evildoers, gazing at the newly transformed Ja-Ha Guest House.
“The third one really pulled it off. Shaking down the underworld and using that money to become a landlord? The real villain is right here, and Alliance Leader Im is completely mistaken.”
That was the Lecher’s comment as he looked at the guest house.
I didn’t bother denying it. It was the truth. Even to my eyes, the Ja-Ha Guest House looked far better than it used to.
It wasn’t overly flashy, nor was it devoid of taste.
Touches of violet had been painted in various places, subtly coloring the overall atmosphere. As we admired the nearly finished guest house, Monk Dong-su asked innocently,
“Is this really yours, Lord Zaha? Now that I see it, the sign says Ja-Ha Guest House.”
“It used to be a shabby, tiny inn, but some bastards burned it down.”
“And then?”
“I rebuilt it even more extravagantly with their money. If anyone smashes it again, I’ll wring them dry and build it even bigger. Might turn into a castle someday. Let’s go in.”
Who would’ve thought having a place to receive guests would make me this happy?
I led the Four Great Evildoers and Monk Dong-su into the guest house, then looked up at the sky beyond the familiar hill I often stared at.
The sky seen from the old, rundown inn and the sky seen from the newly built Ja-Ha Guest House—there wasn’t much difference between the two.
I had deliberately returned to Ilyang County without going back to the Martial Alliance. Now that Mulungja was dead, there was no need to be in Juksan anymore. Truthfully, I didn’t kill Mulungja for the bounty.
After all, I’ve got more money than the Alliance Leader who lives off monthly pay.
I simply removed one of Im Sobek’s many worries.
When I went up to the second floor, fortunately, junior sister Hong-shin appeared, looking surprised as she greeted me.
“Senior Brother, you’re here.”
“Yeah. I brought some guests. Where’s Brother Deuk-soo?”
“In the kitchen.”
“Tell him we’ve got company. What about Seong-tae?”
“I’ll call him now.”
“Tell him to bring the books with him.”
“Yes.”
I seated everyone at the largest table, and just as I was about to head toward the kitchen, a young man came to take orders.
“And who might you be?”
The guy’s eyes went wide as he bowed deeply.
“Lord Zaha, my name is Gongdeok. You spared me before.”
“Gongdeok? Doesn’t ring a bell.”
“I was under Jo I-gyeol’s command.”
“Still doesn’t help.”
“I dug a grave.” 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦
“Oh!”
“I was the one you said was good at chicken-head noodles... that guy.”
“Ah, so it was you. The aspiring cook.”
Gongdeok smiled brightly.
“Yes, that’s me.”
I nodded.
“Alright, then go fetch some water.”
“Right away, sir.”
The Four Great Evildoers were watching me. I looked around the guest house and muttered,
“I’ve spared so many people I can’t even keep track. Dong-su, what does that mean?”
Dong-su answered,
“Means you’ve killed just as many?”
“Exactly. I should repent in front of the monk.”
“Do you truly repent?”
I glared at Dong-su.
“Not yet. I’ll do it later.”
“Understood.”
Just then, a booming voice came from below.
“Zaha, you’re here?”
Brother Deuk-soo came up the stairs, looking far more cheerful than before. Surprisingly, he’d even lost some weight.
I asked with a puzzled look,
“Brother Deuk-soo, has Sister Hong been beating you or something? Why’s your face so thin?”
Deuk-soo laughed.
“No beatings—we’re just practicing light footwork together. The weight’s been dropping naturally.”
“Wow, life really is unpredictable. Jang Deuk-soo from Chunyang Restaurant practicing light footwork, huh.”
Dating Hong-shin sure turned him into a sunnier guy.
Ugh, pathetic men...
Jang Deuk-soo bowed toward my group.
“I’m Jang Deuk-soo of the Ja-Ha Guest House. Since we have a monk among us, please let me know if there’s anything you can’t eat. I’ll take care of it. Zaha, what should I prepare?”
I looked at Dong-su.
“For the monk, just plain noodles—no toppings.”
“Got it.”
I nodded, then looked back at Deuk-soo.
“For the rest, pork bone stew with rice, some liquor, and a few side dishes.”
Jang Deuk-soo nodded with a smile.
“Alright. I’ll get it ready. Also...”
“Also what?”
He looked at me and rubbed his fingers together.
“Payment in advance.”
“...Wait a second. Am I not the owner of this place?”
I tilted my head.
“Isn’t that odd? I’m the boss, right?”
“You are. But you still gotta pay.”
“Why?”
“You can’t run a guest house without income. You’ve been in this business before.”
“...Fair point.”
I pulled out my money pouch to check my travel funds. But Jang Deuk-soo snatched the entire pouch and said,
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome... Did you study pickpocketing? That wrist motion wasn’t ordinary.”
He nodded.
“I’ve been learning whenever I get free time. In exchange, I teach cooking. Just wait a bit.”
A cook and a thief, exchanging skills...
Only then did we drink the water Gongdeok poured for us. When our eyes met, he smiled slightly, and I asked,
“Are you learning to cook like you wanted?”
“Yes, I am.”
Just then, Cha Seong-tae came up the stairs.
“Lord...”
He greeted the guests with a martial salute and introduced himself.
“I’m Cha Seong-tae, General Administrator of Haomun.”
As he approached, he handed me the books.
“Here they are.”
I gestured toward an empty seat.
“Sit down too, Seong-tae.”
“Yes, sir.”
I stared at Baekjeon Shiptangong and Dokgo Junggeom, then slid Dokgo Junggeom toward the Sword Demon.
“A gift.”
He took the book and silently flipped it open. After reading a few lines, he quickly immersed himself, unable to take his eyes off the text.
I looked at Baekjeon Shiptangong and asked Cha Seong-tae,
“Did you sneak a look?”
“...”
He nodded silently.
“How was it?”
“Too difficult.”
“Any progress?”
“I couldn’t make sense of Dokgo Junggeom, so I gave up. I did manage to start Baekjeon Shiptangong, but... I read it without permission.”
“Seong-tae.”
“Yes?”
I stroked the cover of Baekjeon Shiptangong.
“This isn’t an ordinary martial art.”
Cha Seong-tae, with a serious face, replied casually.
“I know.”
“But maybe not in the way I mean. This is a difficult martial art. It’ll only reach its full power in the hands of someone like the Beggars’ Sect leader. It requires deep inner energy.”
Cha Seong-tae nodded.
“I see.”
“Even if you train for a lifetime, you may never master it.”
“Hm.”
“And yet you peeked at it without permission and even began training in it? You should’ve just lied and said you didn’t.”
“I’m not the type to lie about that.”
“I had planned to pass this martial art to someone with true righteousness—whether rich or poor, young or old, man or woman—as I wandered the world. Are you that kind of person?”
Cha Seong-tae murmured,
“I’m probably not.”
I pushed Baekjeon Shiptangong toward him again.
“Take responsibility.”
“Hm.”
“Train to the end. If you can’t, then as I originally intended, find someone with true righteousness and pass it on. Teach them what you’ve learned. But don’t neglect your duties as General Administrator. Do both—manage Haomun and train. And look for someone worthy to inherit it. A great martial art like this isn’t great unless the heart behind it is great too. Will you go all the way?”
Cha Seong-tae looked at me.
“I will.”
“Can you swear to it?”
He nodded.
I formally introduced the Four Great Evildoers and Dong-su.
“These are comrades I met in Jianghu. The eldest is the Sword Demon, second is Master of Six Harmonies, fourth is Mongrang (Left Guardian) of the Dreaming Winds. And this is Monk Dong-su from the Western Regions.”
In return, Cha Seong-tae introduced himself to them.
“I’m Cha Seong-tae, General Administrator of Haomun. I peeked at this great manual without permission, but I see it now as fate. I will accept Baekjeon Shiptangong. But I swear before the Sword Demon, Master of Six Harmonies, Mongrang, Monk Dong-su, and my childhood friend and Lord Zaha—I will train it to the end. If I fail, I will find someone with true righteousness and pass it on with all sincerity.”
Was that an oath of true sincerity?
You can never be too sure with people’s vows.
I asked the Four Great Evildoers and Dong-su for some advice.
Dong-su looked at Cha Seong-tae and said,
“General Administrator, true realization is always wrapped in misunderstanding and delusion. Often, when you think you’ve grasped it, it turns out to be mere illusion. Dig deep into Baekjeon Shiptangong and seek enlightenment.”
Cha Seong-tae asked,
“What does enlightenment mean?”
“To fully realize.”
“I see.”
He then looked at the Lecher. I looked too, curious what nonsense he’d say.
The Lecher took a sip of water, then handed the cup to Cha Seong-tae.
“A gift, General Administrator.”
Cha Seong-tae took it with a puzzled expression. Inside, the water was frozen solid, both inside and out.
The Lecher asked,
“Can you crush it barehanded?”
Cha Seong-tae answered,
“Very difficult.”
“If you master the art, you can turn it to powder.”
“Yes.”
As he looked to the Master of Six Harmonies, the second brother smiled slightly.
“There are many who make firm resolutions, but few who remember that resolve. Mastering Baekjeon Shiptangong may be less important than remembering this moment. I’ll ask Lord Zaha from time to time how you’re doing.”
Cha Seong-tae bowed slightly.
“Yes.”
Now all eyes turned to the Sword Demon. He had been silently reading Dokgo Junggeom until he finally closed the book.
He looked at Cha Seong-tae with an unfriendly gaze and said,
“General Administrator.”
“Yes, senior.”
“As I understand it, this manual was obtained by Lord Zaha at the risk of his life. Even stronger experts failed to get it. Lord, tell him briefly what happened.”
I nodded.
“I climbed a cliff and argued with a strange expert stronger than me. Somehow I won him over. I wouldn’t want to ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) do it again. Not sure what moved him. It feels like it happened yesterday, but also like a dream. I never imagined I’d pass this on to Seong-tae. But I have no choice but to trust him...”
The Sword Demon nodded and continued.
“This is no light book, General Administrator.”
“Yes.”
“It wasn’t given to make you famous. Honestly, your skills are worse than the Lord’s junior sister. If I were Zaha, I wouldn’t have given it to you. The outcome seems obvious—futile and meaningless. Martial training needs no excuse. If you resolve to rise at 5 a.m., then get up at 5 and train. Until you master Baekjeon Shiptangong. If you can’t, return it now. Don’t waste your time.”
We all stared at Cha Seong-tae.
After a brief silence, he grabbed the manual and pulled it to his chest.
“I will take responsibility for this.”
Only then did I cross my arms and look around at the Four Great Evildoers, Cha Seong-tae, and Monk Dong-su.
It was a scene of flawed men giving advice to another flawed man, which was amusing—but since I was flawed too, I had no room to speak. Still, since they were all stronger than Cha Seong-tae, every word they said was valid.
At last, the Sword Demon returned to reading Dokgo Junggeom and added,
“Your Lord has many enemies in Jianghu. You must lend him strength.”
Cha Seong-tae finally replied,
“Yes, senior.”
I stood there, arms crossed, watching the Four Great Evildoers and the bald monk.
Bringing them along had paid off. They were educating Cha Seong-tae for me.
A wholesome sight, really.
Exactly as I’d hoped.
I chuckled quietly and waited in silence... for the pork bone stew.
