Rumor had it that Nine Petals Pavilion was dropping a full album.
It wasn't just because the members' schedules had lightened up.
Anyone could've guessed from seeing the Heavenly Demon fiddling with a pipa—that pudgy, guitar-like instrument—while working on something during the Orthodox-Demonic Joint Training Camp fiasco, or from the members wandering around with beanies pulled low to hide their hair colors.
I blankly watched the Heavenly Demon, dressed in wuxia robes, leaning against the bed and playing the pipa.
"No sense of reality..."
As soon as we nailed down the overall album concept, the Heavenly Demon whipped out a full track.
The Heavenly Demon and I were in the middle of writing lyrics to match it.
Surprisingly, the track he'd produced held its own against even the mega-budget Kichi productions.
Of course, he'd only performed the whole thing solo on pipa, and pros were handling the mixing now.
I kept marveling as I listened to the new song on pipa.
"I had no idea even you could compose, Heavenly Demon. It's a bit dark, but it fits this concept perfectly. It's seriously good."
The Heavenly Demon smirked, flicking the strings with his long, elegant fingers.
"Of course it is."
"You're humble only when it comes to bragging—there's nothing you can't do."
The Heavenly Demon set down the pipa and looked up at me from the bed.
I thought he might punish me for my insolence, but unexpected words came from his mouth.
"Do you really think this liege composed this song?"
"Yes?"
I'd just been writing lyrics to the song he'd made—what was this?
But a sudden thought flashed through my mind.
No way.
"Is this... a song from the Central Plains?"
The Heavenly Demon grinned, curling up one corner of his mouth.
"Right. In modern terms, it's this liege's theme song."
"Theme song?!"
"The Demonic Cult composed it as an offering to me, so yes, theme song."
"You're putting something from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult on an idol album?"
The Heavenly Demon continued shamelessly.
"Idol tracks need to be stimulating and addictive by nature. The cultists excel at that. Use it with confidence."
His logic was airtight, leaving no room for argument.
Sure, the song was good, but was this okay?
This was another world, so no copyright issues...
Since it was offered to the Heavenly Demon, it was his property anyway, right?
As I sat there looking puzzled, the Heavenly Demon clicked his tongue.
"You'll end up dying a dog's death someday because of that flimsy morality of yours."
"Why the sudden curse?"
"Enough. You just write the guide lyrics."
The Heavenly Demon picked up the pipa again when a knock sounded.
Alliance Leader opened the door and came in.
It was well past bedtime, so the Heavenly Demon snapped preemptively, like his feet were itching.
"Stop following me around. I'll go to sleep on my own."
But it seemed Alliance Leader wasn't there to tell the Heavenly Demon to finally go to bed.
Alliance Leader gave the Heavenly Demon a sly smile, then Namgung Jun peeked out from behind and said awkwardly.
"That's not it... Aren't you hungry?"
"Midnight snack?"
"What do you want?"
The Heavenly Demon perked up beside me.
I'd never starved him—why was he so food-obsessed?
Alliance Leader and Namgung Jun glanced at me cautiously.
"Can we have ramen too?"
They wanted ramen but were worried about regular activities starting soon.
I pondered for a moment.
Alliance Leader and Namgung Jun were diligent about self-care anyway, so one ramen wouldn't hurt.
It was the first time in months I'd seen them crave a midnight snack.
The problem was the Heavenly Demon.
Was instant ramen—such a high-stimulation food—okay for him?
So far, I'd only fed him low-stimulation stuff made with premium ingredients, swiping the company card freely.
'We never ended up at Anyang Mala Tang.'
Partly because he broke our promise, but it felt too advanced for him yet.
I'd learned mala tang was only invented in the '90s anyway.
The Heavenly Demon had a body impervious to poison and indestructible as diamond, yet he was pathetically hooked on smartphones.
One taste of ramen, and he might demand it three meals a day.
My hesitation dragged on, and Alliance Leader's face fell, interpreting it negatively.
"Ah... No good?"
"No, no, it's fine. Go ahead."
The issue was the Heavenly Demon, not Alliance Leader.
And as the Heavenly Demon in the Central Plains, he'd feasted on every delicacy under heaven.
A mere ramen wouldn't drive him mad.
"Then let's all go eat together."
"Right!"
The Heavenly Demon jumped up energetically.
...It'll be fine, right?
* * *
"Eating ramen makes my face puff up."
"Too much for me too—pass."
Jaha and Taiji skipped the ramen pot for those reasons.
But that only seemed to provoke the Heavenly Demon.
"Hoh...? First time seeing a Mount Hua punk back out."
While we pulled out cup ramen, the Heavenly Demon stood ramrod straight, muttering nonsense.
"Now that I think of it, even Alliance Leader came begging your permission... Is ramen some elixir only the inner power elite can consume?"
An elixir? Hardly.
Good-hearted Alliance Leader just smiled innocently at the Heavenly Demon.
Namgung Jun, hesitant at first, muttered seriously.
"Hwajin-hyung says funny stuff."
"You find that funny?"
"I wanna learn from him."
This kid was asking for trouble.
The Heavenly Demon eyed Namgung Jun steadily before speaking.
"They say you used to be pretty hilarious back in the day. Lately, you've turned into a no-fun human. What's a no-fun human?"
"Heavenly Demon, cut the nonsense and come pick a cup ramen."
Namgung Jun was already getting flak for being unfunny lately, and the Heavenly Demon innocently stabbed right at the sore spot.
Early debut Namgung Jun had ambitiously started as the variety member but, unsuited to it or finding showbiz tough...
By a few weeks in, the kid was totally deflated.
Like a different person.
The Heavenly Demon approached me with a dissatisfied glare.
"Your mouth's gotten too loose lately, hasn't it?"
"Wang Ramen or Shin Lid?"
"Shin Lid it is."
Obsessed with "shin"—fake god indeed.
While Alliance Leader washed the coffee pot and dumped in the spice packet, the Heavenly Demon peeked at the packet writing and startled.
"All these ingredients in a handful of powder?"
"Uh... yeah, modern marvels and all."
The Heavenly Demon looked convinced ramen was an elixir.
If he was disappointed later, not my fault...
Alliance Leader finished washing up and approached with the pot.
Alliance Leader's mouth twitched faintly.
"Heavenly Demon."
That was his pre-prank face.
Alliance Leader seemed mild-mannered but spoke his mind, usually suppressing his temper.
He secretly loved pranks and had a bold streak.
The type who lived for teasing the dongsaengs when the mood struck.
Alliance Leader continued with a sly curl to his lips.
"I'll boil the water with Fire Arts."
The Heavenly Demon scoffed.
"Even this liege can do that much."
Boiling water with Fire Arts? You believe that?
Namgung Jun sat between them, looking deflated, unable to follow.
Alliance Leader set the pot on, took a seat, patted Namgung Jun's head, and said.
"Heavenly Demon can do anything. Choreo, composing—master of all."
"I-I was shocked too. This track is amazing."
...If you knew you'd be dancing and singing Heavenly Demon hymns under the Nine Petals Pavilion name, you wouldn't say that.
The Heavenly Demon, loving the praise, crossed his arms and nodded smugly.
"Indeed. This liege was born to be an idol."
What, the guy who trained demonic arts for a century to become Heavenly Demon?
Namgung Jun, loosening up, chimed in.
"I love the concept So-hyung picked. That historical drama vibe."
"Totally. The fans will eat it up. We've never done anything like this."
Hearing praise to my face made my neck prickle awkwardly, but the Heavenly Demon really had thick skin.
Feeling sheepish, I asked Alliance Leader about my lingering worry.
"But really, you cool with it? Your role in this album is kinda..."
"Perfect for shedding the good-boy image. You're the protagonist anyway."
"Ilgeom-hyung taking it adds that twist."
By then, the pot boiled.
As I started to stand, Alliance Leader held up a hand to stop me, grabbed the pot, and gave the Heavenly Demon another meaningful look.
"Heavenly Demon."
"What now."
Alliance Leader's lip curled up.
"I'll cook this food in three minutes flat."
The Heavenly Demon scoffed again.
"Possible? Food ripening in three minutes?"
"Watch."
Exactly three minutes later.
The Heavenly Demon was aghast.
"How in three minutes!!"
Guess he read the spice packet but skipped the lid instructions.
Meanwhile, Alliance Leader microwaved rice too.
"The rice... in two minutes?!"
"Instant Divine Arts."
...Alliance Leader was such a rascal sometimes.
I pitied the Heavenly Demon mixing rice into his ramen broth when Alliance Leader asked.
"How's the lyrics coming?"
"Eh... got some done. Wanna see?"
Alliance Leader and Namgung Jun nodded eagerly, so I fetched the scribbled sheets from my room.
They peered at the lyrics and widened their eyes.
"It's really... got Buddhist scripture in it?"
* * *
World Rank 0 Top Sword—Sejel Sword for short—had come to the Nine Petals Pavilion comeback showcase via a connection like "friend of a friend of a cousin's neighbor's sister."
Glancing at the audience, the burly crowd suggested Beggar Clan disciples had quietly snagged tickets.
Nine Petals Pavilion's fandom was famously rugged and robust, so even in the press seats, they stood out as Beggar Clan.
'But the showcase vibe feels off from usual...?'
Normal Nine Petals Pavilion showcases.
Were light and humorous.
Members MCing, doing wuxia skits, that sort.
But today's MC was Namgung Ryeo in a sharp black suit, no skits, members absent till stage time.
Sejel Sword glanced up at the stage.
'That red cloth from the teaser?'
At midnight, the full album title track "Martial Public Enemy" teaser dropped.
A short 30-second clip showed an unidentified member dragging a sword as he walked.
Background had low muttering—Beggar Clan analysis said Heart Sutra.
'And wooden fish sounds mixed in.'
Dull thuds, eerie.
Shaolin concept? But the stage setup tilted heads.
The red cloth the member approached in the teaser.
Five identical wide red silk sheets hung from the showcase ceiling nearly to the floor.
From the seats, it looked like a "品" shape with two more on each side, each big enough to hide one person.
If they emerged from behind, why five?
'But red... feels good...'
Rumor had it the full concept was monks.
Green Forest Bandits—always stealing concepts, dubbed Fake Petals Pavilion—had just done a monk showcase, so Sejel Sword couldn't fully dismiss suspicions of a cringey concept.
'Green Forest are insane. Wooden fish strip show? Why EDM Heart Sutra?'
Laman Agency ended up sued by the Jogye Order.
'Our boys' cringey is next-level.'
Hearing the historical drama BGM, Sejel Sword flexed his traps.
'Time for decadent cringey!'
Decadent, but never abandoning cringey.
The Beggar Clan buzzed with grim resolve—not just her.
Namgung Ryeo finished brief MCing and stepped off.
Back lights dimmed, and Beggar Clan held breath, sensing the show starting.
Soon, showcase lights went out completely.
That eerie wooden fish from the teaser echoed through the hall.
Not striking it, but water drops on wood.
Like something rolling, then cut off.
Purple light hit the stage.
'Gasp...!'
Lit stage, black silhouette behind red cloth.
Still five cloths, five silhouettes.
Why five? Wonder didn't last.
Silhouettes showed suits this time.
'Suits!!!'
Sejel Sword clapped a hand over her mouth.
The wuxia-obsessed rep finally craving cash-in?!
Then, silhouette heads lifted beyond red cloth.
Chanting whispers followed.
Ma-ha Prajna ya ya
Paramita da da
Tension peaked; center member drew something.
Sejel Sword muttered unconsciously.
"Sword...?"
Explosive beat hit; sword swung.
Red cloth sliced diagonally.
Revealing the member behind.
Black-suited Martial Alliance Leader, Top Sword.
Blade caught light, flashing coldly.
Sejel Sword felt pecs pounding.
'Ilgeom aaaah!!!'
Stone-faced Alliance Leader cleanly slashed red cloth, spun sword in flashy pro moves, and rapped swiftly.
Among us, the public enemy
Alliance Leader sidestepped; Zhu Jaha stepped forward from behind.
'He was back there!'
Hidden by Alliance Leader's bulk.
Realizing why five silhouettes, Sejel Sword's eyes chased her fave frantically, but Jaha sang.
Tell me
Why you're standing there
Jaha's signature clear, emotive tone.
Even unmasked on Masked Singer, guessed in one line—that timbre wrapped in historical melody.
'Jaha's tone is killer...'
So thinking, Sejel Sword sensed wrongness and gaped.
Debut-era Jaha's usual pink hair.
Dyed black.
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