Chapter 685: There Are So Many Pretty Won Over There
It was truly an invitation she hadn’t expected.
“This is my first ti being invited as a judge.”
When the Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress spoke as if she couldn’t understand why, Lee Ahn thought it was only natural.
“They called the best judge. Who else would know more about beauty than you?”
The Sky Flower Pavilion had dozens of branches across the Central Plains in addition to its main headquarters here.
Through that, she had t and experienced countless beautiful won, which was probably why she had received such an invitation. Whoever had made the choice, they had chosen well.
“Has there been a Greatest Beauty Under the Heavens Selection Tournant before?”
At Geom Mugeuk’s question, the Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress shook her head.
“No, as far as I know, this is the first ti such a tournant is being held.”
He couldn’t tell if this tournant had existed in his pre-regression life. It could have happened, or it might have been one of the many changes that had occurred after his regression.
“Who is organizing the tournant?”
Then ca a na he hadn’t expected.
“They say it’s the Divine Transformation Gang.”
The Divine Transformation Gang was a major unorthodox sect, very famous in the martial world.
Lee Ahn also knew of the Divine Transformation Gang. Not a righteous sect, and yet an unorthodox group was hosting such a competition?
“Why would the Divine Transformation Gang suddenly decide to hold sothing like this?”
At her question, Geom Mugeuk pointed at her with his finger.
“Because of you.”
“Huh? Because of ?”
When she tensed up, Geom Mugeuk smiled and said,
“To officially let the martial world know your na.”
“Oh, co on, that’s ridiculous…”
Her expression suddenly faltered.
“Wait, don’t tell you’re saying I should participate in this tournant?”
“Why not? If it were the Greatest Handso Man Under the Heavens Tournant, I would’ve gone myself. No—actually, I would’ve sent our Soma instead.”
Inside his mask, the Evil Smiling Demon let out a sigh of relief. If it were Geom Mugeuk, he knew he would have forced him to go no matter what.
“Why do I have to attend?”
“There might be enemies among the participants. Find them from within.”
In the past, she would have thought, ‘What enemies could be among the contestants?’ But now she knew that such a thing was entirely possible.
Normally, Lee Ahn would have reacted like this—
No way! Absolutely not!
Waving her hands, stepping back, and giving the kind of glare that said, ‘Just try and make , even the Young Cult Leader won’t get to order !’ She would have thrown out every form of refusal at once.
Geom Mugeuk would have been expecting exactly that reaction.
Because he didn’t want to take her to such a dangerous place.
After all, it was the kind of place where the Demon Supre could drive a dagger into the Young Cult Leader’s heart.
“I’ll participate.”
“Really?”
When Geom Mugeuk asked in surprise, Lee Ahn nodded.
“But why?”
Then Lee Ahn casually asked the Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress,
“How much is the prize money?”
At such an unexpected question, the Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress looked at her with a surprised expression. She knew Lee Ahn wasn’t the kind of person who would join such a tournant for money.
And soon, she could guess what was on Lee Ahn’s mind when she asked that question.
“It’s a tournant to choose the Greatest Beauty Under the Heavens—surely they’ll give at least fifty thousand nyang, don’t you think?”
Lee Ahn’s eyes widened as she exclaid,
“Fifty thousand nyang?!”
“There might also be additional prizes.”
“Fifty thousand nyang! That’s enough to retire and live a life of idleness forever! Wu Wei Do Sik—every salaried worker’s dream!”
With an excited expression, Lee Ahn turned to Geom Mugeuk.
“I’m joining! Fate has given the one big chance of my life!”
How could Geom Mugeuk not know? This was her way of avoiding being sent back to the main cult because of the danger.
The Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress added a word to support her.
“Do you think it’ll only be the prize money? When major trading companies in the Central Plains hold events, they’ll invite you, and each ti, you’ll get a few hundred nyang.”
“Just for showing my face—hundreds of nyang!”
Geom Mugeuk grabbed her and shook her.
“Snap out of it! You’re being seduced by money!”
“How many trading companies are there in the Central Plains?”
“What about the Tenebrous Ghosts Corps?”
“Tell them to keep splitting into sides and fighting!”
After a round of playful banter, Geom Mugeuk finally spoke seriously.
“Lee Ahn, I’ll take you along. And you don’t have to participate in the tournant.”
He knew she wouldn’t be thrilled about showing off her beauty in front of countless martial figures.
He fully expected her to agree right away.
“No, I’m going to participate.”
No matter how much she disliked it, no matter how embarrassed she might be, she had a clear reason for joining the tournant.
“That platform you saw in the prophecy—that’s the tournant stage, isn’t it?”
The Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress nodded.
“I think so.”
That was the place where Geom Mugeuk would be stabbed in the heart.
“I’ll be standing on that stage with you.”
Geom Mugeuk could feel her firm resolve. Once again, Lee Ahn showed that even if it was sothing she hated enough to die, she would willingly face it for his sake.
You’re trying this hard to protect , but the one who will protect you is .
“I’ll be going as your bodyguard.”
Lee Ahn secretly felt relieved. Yes—what was there to fear with Geom Mugeuk by her side?
Geom Mugeuk then gave the Evil Smiling Demon a role as well.
“Soma, you’ll be in charge of guarding the Pavilion Mistress.”
“Understood.”
Geom Mugeuk asked the Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress,
“Where will the tournant be held?”
“In Qingyang, Anhui Province.”
Qingyang was the Divine Transformation Gang’s ho turf—they were holding the tournant right in their own backyard.
“When can you depart?”
“I can leave anyti.”
“Then let’s set out early tomorrow.”
The Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress nodded, glancing down at the invitation in her hand.
“I’m going there as a judge, but sohow, it feels like I’m the one going to be judged.”
It was true. Whether it was fate or so force behind the scenes, they were drawing them in.
With a smile, Geom Mugeuk said to her,
“At the end, please give your vote to Lee Ahn!”
Lee Ahn jumped in shock and shouted,
“That would be biased judging! Don’t say things like that!”
“Oh? Sounds like you’re confident you’ll make it to the finals. Weren’t you just participating for the experience?”
“That’s not what I ant. Ugh!”
With her face slightly flushed, Lee Ahn dashed into the building, and Geom Mugeuk followed her inside.
The Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress and the Evil Smiling Demon watched them with smiles.
Then the Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress suddenly spoke.
“Thank you.”
She had told the Young Cult Leader everything after hearing what the Evil Smiling Demon had said. If she hadn’t even told him, she didn’t want to imagine how she would feel right now.
The Evil Smiling Demon smiled at her—
a smile that needed no words.
The white mask reflecting the sunlight glead brilliantly.
* * *
A young man was gazing up at a platform still in the final stages of construction.
The platform was being built on a grand and lavish scale—this was to be the very site of the Greatest Beauty Under the Heavens Selection Tournant.
Around the man stood experts exuding a chilling aura in every direction. Passersby didn’t dare co close and detoured far around them.
Just from looking at his guards, one could tell this man’s status was anything but ordinary.
This young man was An Hu-pyeong, heir of the Divine Transformation Gang and the one hosting this tournant.
“Young Master, you’ve co out?”
A middle-aged martial artist approached and greeted him respectfully.
This was Jo Man, the Outer Chief of the Divine Transformation Gang and the one overseeing preparations for the Greatest Beauty Under the Heavens Selection Tournant.
“The marketplace is already packed with people.”
Crowds from all across the Central Plains had begun to gather to watch the tournant.
While martial arts tournants were held all over the Central Plains, this was the first official Greatest Beauty Under the Heavens Selection Tournant, and it had captivated the public’s attention.
An Hu-pyeong, still looking at the platform, asked,
“Chief Jo.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“Do you know what my dream is?”
“To marry the Greatest Beauty Under the Heavens, of course.”
It was sothing he had heard from the Young Master since childhood. That dream had not changed, and so it was clearly sincere.
If it had been anyone else, one might have laughed and said, “Such a grand dream for such an ordinary face!”
“You’ve achieved your dream. Congratulations, Young Master.”
“It’s too soon for a toast. The woman who becos the Greatest Beauty Under the Heavens still has to accept my choice.”
“What woman could possibly refuse you?”
A confident smile spread across An Hu-pyeong’s lips.
Chief Jo knew the truth—
even if that woman tried to refuse, it would be useless.
He had known An Hu-pyeong since childhood and knew just how persistent and frightening a man he could be.
Even after knowing him for so long, he still felt nervous about making a slip of the tongue in his presence.
Moreover, he was a lecherous womanizer.
Since childhood, he had been powerless before won. Whoever ended up as the Greatest Beauty Under the Heavens, it might turn out to be the most unfortunate title of her life.
“When does it begin?”
“The preliminaries start three days from now. Beautiful won from all across the Central Plains are arriving for the tournant.”
An Hu-pyeong looked at the three chairs placed in front of the platform—seats for the judges. On either side of them, seats for honored guests had been arranged.
“And the judges?”
“Two of the three have already arrived. We’re just waiting for the Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress.”
An Hu-pyeong’s gaze sharpened at once.
“The Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress? Isn’t the Sky Flower Pavilion a courtesan house?”
“Yes. We invited its mistress as a judge for this event.”
His expression imdiately hardened.
“You an to tell you appointed nothing more than the owner of a courtesan house as a judge?”
“The Sky Flower Pavilion is no ordinary courtesan house. It has dozens of branches across the Central Plains and is the largest and most famous of its kind.”
You’ve visited plenty yourself, haven’t you? That was on the tip of Jo Man’s tongue, but he swallowed the words. Perhaps it was precisely because he had frequented such places that he disliked the idea even more.
“At the end of the day, a courtesan house is still a courtesan house.”
Just the thought of marrying the woman chosen by such a madam left him deeply displeased.
“Who decided to make her a judge?”
Jo Man hesitated, clearly uncomfortable, before finally speaking cautiously.
“It was the Gang Leader.”
An Hu-pyeong flinched slightly.
“It was supposed to be soone else, but he changed it at the last mont.”
An odd look crossed An Hu-pyeong’s face. His father had lived his whole life with a sword in hand…
“When the Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress arrives, inform imdiately.”
* * *
The carriage carrying Geom Mugeuk’s group rolled into the marketplace of Qingyang.
Geom Mugeuk poked Lee Ahn in the side.
“Stop staring already!”
Lee Ahn, who had been staring at the Evil Smiling Demon seated in front of her, jumped in surprise.
She couldn’t help it. Since this morning—on the day they were arriving at their destination—the Evil Smiling Demon had removed his mask and put on a face veil.
It was her first ti seeing him without the mask, even though the veil still covered the area below his eyes.
“You’re so handso!”
The words slipped out of Lee Ahn’s mouth as if in a trance. Then, realizing she had said it right to his face, she quickly bowed her head.
Geom Mugeuk glanced at the Evil Smiling Demon and said,
“As much as I hate to admit it, I have to agree.”
With his eyes and forehead revealed, the Evil Smiling Demon looked like an entirely different person. The special veil added to the effect.
It was an elegant and stylish veil embroidered with a single flower, with the characters for “Heavenly Flower” stitched beneath it.
“I embroidered it myself.”
It was the work of the Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress, who was seated beside him.
“But why did you ask to make ten more just like it?”
The Evil Smiling Demon had requested ten additional veils, but even then—and even now—he hadn’t told her why.
“The mont I take off this veil, it’ll be chaos. All the beauties of the Central Plains will follow —ten won’t be enough!”
At Geom Mugeuk’s joke, the Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress laughed cheerfully.
“Then I’ll have to make more veils!”
Just then, the coachman’s voice ca from the driver’s seat.
“We’ve arrived at our destination.”
The Evil Smiling Demon stepped out of the carriage first.
The mont they looked outside, everyone understood why ten more veils might be necessary.
Ten martial artists were waiting in front of the carriage.
Surprisingly, they were the Faceless Swordsn who had co ahead to wait for them—
the ten most skilled among them.
At so point, they too had removed their masks and were wearing face veils just like the Evil Smiling Demon’s.
Wearing the sa uniforms and the sa veils, they looked for all the world like bodyguards from the Sky Flower Pavilion.
The Evil Smiling Demon had concluded that the only reason he might have to stab Geom Mugeuk in the heart would be because of the Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress—if she were taken hostage and her life used as leverage. Now that he recognized that possibility, he would never allow such a thing to happen.
They had limited it to ten to avoid drawing too much attention, but if possible, he would have brought the entire Faceless Swordsn corps.
Standing before the ten Faceless Swordsn, the Evil Smiling Demon smiled. He was now the one responsible for the Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress’s protection.
“Let’s go, Mistress.”
The Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress was moved. She was indescribably grateful that the Evil Smiling Demon was taking such care for her sake.
Before stepping out of the carriage, she looked back at Lee Ahn.
“Then I’ll see you on the final stage.”
“The finals? I’m not going to make it that far.”
The Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress smiled and then stepped down from the carriage.
Step, step, step, step, step.
The ten Faceless Swordsn surrounded her on all sides, with the Evil Smiling Demon at the lead.
They disappeared into the crowd.
Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn stayed in the carriage for a while longer. With so many eyes around, they decided it was better to get out separately.
Lee Ahn’s gaze trembled slightly as she looked out the carriage window.
“There are so many people.”
It seed the thought of stepping out before such a crowd was making her nervous.
“A martial arts tournant would be easier, right?”
Even on the way here, Lee Ahn had trained in martial arts whenever she had the chance. She had always been obsessed with training, but this ti she had worked even harder—because her dream was to be the Greatest Martial Expert Under the Heavens, not the Greatest Beauty.
Geom Mugeuk fully expected her to agree.
“No. I can enter martial arts tournants even when I’m older, but I can only challenge for the Greatest Beauty Under the Heavens now, right?”
Putting on the veil she had brought, Lee Ahn stepped out of the carriage first.
Since she was entering anyway, she intended to do well—
to act like soone who had truly co to win the title of the Greatest Beauty Under the Heavens.
Only by imrsing herself fully in the tournant could she hope to spot anyone suspicious.
Geom Mugeuk stayed seated, watching the flow of people outside through the carriage window.
‘So, we’ve finally arrived.’
What awaited them here?
He believed everything that had led him to this place was fate—from discovering The Dream of the Priestess in the Martial Alliance’s archives, to the Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress receiving her prophecy, to even the invitation to this very event.
And, as he always had, he would face whatever ca with all his strength.
“What’s got you sitting there, thinking so deeply instead of getting out?”
When he turned his head, Lee Ahn was standing outside the carriage, looking at him.
“With so many pretty won around, I was just wondering how our Lee Ahn would manage.”
“I don’t see any woman prettier than .”
Her beautiful eyes sparkled with a bright smile above the pure white veil.
“And let’s save those kinds of worries for after I’ve actually registered for the tournant.”
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