Hmm.

The abacus rolled click-clack in Na Rin’s head.

Gong Son Wu is a kind person who readily gives out expensive fans just for delivering a message.

He won’t be stingy with rewards when making a separate request like this.

Even if it fails, there won’t be any disadvantages for Na Rin.

Moreover, opportunities for a lay person like Na Rin to get close to the Dharma Protector, the closest aide to the sect leader, were rare.

“Alright.”

Na Rin answered confidently.

After all, she was a former member of the Murim Alliance Search Party.

In reality, Je Gal So Mi did most of the thinking, but whatever!

“Please tell me the details.”

“You mean the circumstances when I killed him?”

“No, from the beginning.”

Gong Son Wu nodded in understanding and told Na Rin the situation at the time in as much detail as possible.

“You attacked first?”

“You could say that. He messed with my sparrows.”

According to Gong Son Wu, the First Disciple of the Blue Star Sect had, for some reason, abandoned his base in Sichuan and come alone to the vicinity of Xinjiang to attack Gong Son Wu’s informants, known as ‘sparrows’.

‘Strange. The sentiment towards the Demon Sect shouldn’t be that bad right now.’

Feeling puzzled, Na Rin asked again.

“Was there anything else noticeable?”

“Hmm. To be honest, I killed him without even exchanging a single move, so I don’t remember well… But he did seem somewhat anxious.”

“Was it not demonic possession?”

Demonic possession.

A condition unique to martial artists that occurs when consuming elixirs beyond one’s capacity, being stimulated externally during meditation, or experiencing great emotional turmoil.

Upon hearing Gong Son Wu say the man seemed anxious, Na Rin immediately thought of demonic possession.

The First Disciple of the Blue Star Sect would have undergone mental training second to none.

If these eccentric cultivators aiming to become immortals showed visible signs of anxiety, there must have been a reason, right?

Gong Son Wu pondered the situation at the time in response to Na Rin’s question, but eventually shook his head.

“No. It probably wasn’t. His face wasn’t flushed, and there were no prominent veins or spots.”

“I see.”

Na Rin nodded in acknowledgment.

So he was just anxious…

‘Wait, why would he be anxious after attacking first?’

The Blue Star Sect disciple’s actions didn’t make sense no matter how she thought about it.

“Did you figure something out?”

“Not yet.”

“So you’re saying you’ll find out if I wait?”

What presumptuous expectations.

Na Rin shrugged her shoulders uncertainly, but Gong Son Wu’s attitude remained unchanged.

At that moment, a maid came and whispered something to the Sun and Moon Goddess, who then spoke.

“Lord Earth King. Na Rin’s clothes are ready, they say.”

“Already? Your seamstress has very quick hands.”

“I’ll convey that the Dharma Protector praised her.”

“You’re making me feel embarrassed when you put it like that.”

The Earth King searched various parts of his body, just as he did when giving Na Rin the fan, then detached an expensive-looking scent pouch from his waist and handed it over.

“Here. I can’t give praise empty-handed.”

“I’m deeply grateful.”

The Sun and Moon Goddess accepted the scent pouch as if she had expected it.

It seemed that Gong Son Wu frequently gave out various things to his subordinates, whatever was at hand.

“Na Rin. If you have nothing more to ask the Earth King, why don’t you take a bath before changing into your new clothes? You must be impeccable when appearing before the Blood Demon.”

“Yes.”

Na Rin obediently headed to the bathroom as the Sun and Moon Goddess suggested.

‘This feels great.’

What an unexpected luxury.

Na Rin relaxed comfortably, entrusting her body to the hands of the maids who were gently washing her.

She had bathed at the Great Western Academy too, but this was the first time she was being washed so thoroughly with fragrant oils applied all over her body.

This is why one should succeed in life.

At that moment, the maid washing Na Rin’s languidly stretched hair exclaimed in surprise.

“Oh my!”

“What is it?”

“Ah. It’s nothing.”

The maid hurriedly moved aside a basin full of black water, as if hiding it from view.

‘I guess some of the dye came off.’

Fortunately or unfortunately, Na Rin’s body was so dirty that it was mistaken for grime.

When the bath was over, two maids helped Na Rin dress.

Actually, putting on clothes wasn’t so difficult that two people needed to help, but the two maids had another main role.

“You look so beautiful!”

“Like a heavenly maiden!”

“Bwahaha!”

Pleased by the maids’ flattery, Na Rin twirled around once, making the wide skirt of her blue dress billow up.

Applause erupted.

“Blue really suits you well.”

“It was worth buying.”

The Sun and Moon Goddess and the Earth King were not stingy with their praise either, so Na Rin was able to enjoy her pretty new clothes with a beaming smile.

“Bwahaha! Bwahaha!”

I’m pretty! I’m cute!

Na Rin’s pride soared.

This is the Blood King Hall (血王殿).

Na Rin, wearing her newly tailored pretty blue silk dress, stood next to Gong Son Wu and thought.

‘Isn’t this too conspicuous?’

Indeed, it really was too conspicuous.

In front of the building with its roof and pillars painted red, the symbol of the Blood Demon, she was receiving curious glances and whispers from people dressed in red, which made it even more so.

−My goodness, she’s wearing blue clothes?

−An outsider! An outsider!

−Quick, hide!

−Where are these people from?

Na Rin frowned as she watched the beautiful men and women fleeing far away, their red clothes fluttering.

This was no different from being treated like a zoo monkey.

‘Well, at least I’m not alone.’

Na Rin glanced up at Gong Son Wu, who was dressed in the same color as her, only to be filled with a sense of betrayal.

Gong Son Wu was covering his face with a silk fan.

‘How petty of this man!’

It’s certain. Gong Son Wu knew this would happen from the start.

At this rate, she alone would be embarrassed, but that couldn’t be allowed.

“Ah ah. It’s hot!”

Na Rin detached the sandalwood fan dangling from her waist instead of an ornament and pointedly unfolded it in front of her face with a ‘snap!’.

Gong Son Wu’s expression changed upon seeing the familiar fan.

“You, that fan is…!”

“Hm? This?”

As she waved it gently, the elegant scent of sandalwood wafted faintly. Mm. Fragrant.

“I’m using it well, thanks to you.”

Na Rin smiled brightly while fluttering the sandalwood fan, which was clearly more expensive than the one Gong Son Wu was holding.

“Urgh.”

Gong Son Wu looked back and forth between the silk fan in his hand and the sandalwood fan Na Rin was holding, then folded his own, seemingly unsatisfied.

Haha! Serves him right!

‘I guess this one is better.’

Since Gong Son Wu isn’t short on money, it must be difficult to obtain.

Hmm. Should I sell it back? He might pay a good price.

While Na Rin was mentally calculating, a pretty maid opened the main gate and came out to guide Na Rin and Gong Son Wu into the inner courtyard.

“You’ve waited long, Earth King. The Blood Demon is waiting for you on the pavilion.”

Among several buildings, there was a wide courtyard, and in the distance, a beautifully decorated pond could be seen, with a red pavilion designed to overlook it.

“That woman standing up there is the Blood Demon, Yang Ga Ho.”

Gong Son Wu said, gesturing with his chin towards the pavilion.

“She’s not an easy person to deal with, so be careful with your words and actions.”

“Yes.”

As Gong Son Wu approached the pavilion, the Blood Demon turned to look this way.

A woman in red court dress with elaborate golden hair ornaments, her appearance clearly proclaiming ‘I am a noble person’.

‘Wow. She’s beautiful.’

“How pretty.”

Huh?

Na Rin blinked in surprise, wondering if her inner thoughts had suddenly popped out.

But it wasn’t Na Rin who had spoken.

“Is this adorable child a gift for me? Earth King.”

When the Blood Demon smiled gently, the red makeup around her eyes crinkled like a crescent moon.

‘Eek! That’s creepy!’

Na Rin completely covered her face with the fan she was holding, repulsed by the Blood Demon’s lewd gaze that looked her up and down.

“I’m sorry, but no. More importantly, I have something to deliver.”

“Something to deliver?”

“An order from the sect leader.”

“The Heavenly Demon rules, all demons submit.”

The Blood Demon knelt as if the actual sect leader was before her.

There’s an etiquette in the imperial court to treat the messenger as if they were the emperor when delivering an imperial order, and it seemed the Demon Sect had adopted this practice as well.

Gong Son Wu unfolded the order he had brought and spoke in a deliberately solemn voice.

“Blood Demon Yang Ga Ho, cooperate fully with Dharma Protector Gong Son Wu’s use of the Blood Mirror.”

“…I obey.”

When Gong Son Wu held out the order, the Blood Demon accepted it.

The Blood Demon stood up again as if nothing had happened earlier and glared at Gong Son Wu with haughty eyes.

“The Blood Mirror is a treasure of the sect and a mystical object. It cannot be used for private matters. Earth King, what do you intend to see through the Blood Mirror?”

“It’s confidential.”

Immediately, the Blood Demon’s eyes took on an unpleasant light.

“Are you trying to play games with me?”

“I’m telling you to dismiss those around us.”

It meant it was a secret that couldn’t be shared even with his closest confidant.

The Blood Demon reluctantly dismissed everyone around and then looked at Na Rin with displeasure.

“Dismiss this child as well.”

“Why?”

“Is it confidential for my subordinates but not for this child?”

“No, it’s not.”

At Gong Son Wu’s brazen reply, the Blood Demon’s expression twisted in an instant, and her distorted lips parted, about to spit out some harsh words.

“Because this child is my personal belonging.”

“What?! What did you say?!”

Gong Son Wu suddenly picked up Na Rin and said.

‘What are you talking about?’

Na Rin, who had unexpectedly become Gong Son Wu’s personal belonging, could only be bewildered.

“Is there a problem now?”

Gong Son Wu smiled at the Blood Demon, showing off Na Rin.

“Or does one of the Seven Great Demon Ancestors have the authority to interfere with a Dharma Protector’s personal belongings?”

A faint blue light flickered around Gong Son Wu.

He had raised his fighting spirit.

‘How dare you, in this place!’

The Blood Demon was furious to the point of her hair standing on end at Gong Son Wu’s disrespectful attitude, but at the same time, she felt chilled to the bone.

It’s well known that Dharma Protector Gong Son Wu has an especially eccentric personality.

But what’s even better known is his martial prowess.

Could she face the Second Demon Under Heaven, who is reputed to be able to challenge the sect leader with his individual strength alone?

‘Even if the entire Blood Demon Palace rushed in, I don’t see any chance of winning.’

Moreover, Gong Son Wu came with the sect leader’s order. The justification was on his side as well.

The Blood Demon bit her lip in frustration.

“Someday, you’ll pay the price for that arrogance.”

“Then you’d better hurry. A fortune-teller told me I’m destined to die young.”

“…Follow me.”

Watching the Blood Demon’s back as she walked ahead, Gong Son Wu whispered to Na Rin.

“You held up well.”

“What do you mean?”

“Didn’t you feel the killing intent the Blood Demon emitted?”

Ah, was that intentional killing intent?

Something did feel off, but it was too subtle to feel threatening.

‘There’s no way I’d be scared of a growl from someone who doesn’t even want to fight.’

To be precise, Gong Son Wu’s fighting spirit was much more threatening than the Blood Demon’s killing intent.

But there’s no need to mention that.

“I just thought she had no manners.”

When Na Rin answered nonchalantly, Gong Son Wu’s eyes widened slightly before he chuckled.

This attitude towards the Blood Demon, one of the Seven Great Demon Ancestors.

‘This kid is really something.’

She might simply be a thick-skinned bumpkin with dull senses.

But the unpredictability was intriguing.

‘Maybe I should have her background investigated, just in case.’

Since she’s from a new sect, I should call a guide and ask.