Gang Dal felt a shudder run through his entire body.
‘See you at the Headquarters.’
It was merely six characters, yet it was more moving than any words he had heard in his entire life.
Even if the wealthiest man under heaven came and said, "I will give you my entire fortune," or if an absolute master came and said, "Become my disciple." He would not trade any other six characters in the world for these six.
Gang Dal felt as if he were dreaming.
‘If this is a dream, never let me wake!’
But it was not a dream. The Lord, whom he had thought he would never see even once in his lifetime, was standing right before him, looking at him. Because a person with such an overwhelming presence could not be conjured even in a dream.
Geom Woojin turned and walked away.
"Thank… you."
It should have been a greeting that rang out loud and clear, yet it came out like a murmur. The moment he spoke, the thought that the word 'thank you' was insufficient made his mind become a jumbled mess.
"Lord!"
A shout burst out of him unintentionally in his fluster at failing to offer a proper greeting.
Geom Woojin slowly turned back toward him.
Gang Dal bowed politely with a flushed face. This was the only thing he could think to say.
"I will see you at the Headquarters."
Gang Dal's voice, which had been dignified even before a demon, was trembling.
Geom Woojin gave a slight nod before turning away again.
The members of the branch gathered to congratulate Gang Dal.
"Congratulations, Branch Chief!"
"Congratulations."
His subordinates were happy, yet also regretful on the other hand. Because Gang Dal had truly been a good leader.
"Now that you are going to the Headquarters, we won't be able to see you."
Parting with his subordinates was regrettable, but advancing to the Headquarters had been his long-cherished wish.
Any position would do. So what if he had to shovel horse dung? It was an order given directly by the Lord.
Dana approached Gang Dal to convey her gratitude.
"Thank you, Branch Chief. Thanks to you, we survived."
Gang Dal shook his head and spoke to her. Since she was a woman whom the Hwacheon Pavilion Lord had personally come to rescue, he now spoke with courtesy.
"I am the one who should thank you. Thank you for coming to find me."
If he had not accepted them, they would have died, and if he had not accepted them, there would have been no opportunity for promotion.
Both of them had striven to uphold their convictions, and obtained the best possible result.
After greeting him and returning, Danyeon spoke to Dana.
"Move aside, I can't see."
When Dana turned around, the figure of Geom Woojin could be seen ahead.
"He is so magnificent."
Now that Danyeon knew he was the Heavenly Demon, he seemed even more magnificent.
"If there were a man like that, I would run to him right away!"
Perhaps because she was excited? What she had whispered only to her sister reached Geom Mugeuk's ears as well.
Of course, Geom Mugeuk was not about to let it pass.
"Youngest Lady."
"Yes, Young Lord."
No matter how comfortably he approached, the other party was the Young Lord of the Demonic Cult.
"Let us correct your mistaken choice first."
While everyone wondered what he meant, Geom Mugeuk asked with a face full of lingering attachment.
"That day, who was it that thought of sending food to my father? Was it the opinion of all three of you?"
At those words, Seo Daeryong needlessly tensed up and pricked his ears.
"No. It was my idea."
At Danyeon's answer, a bright smile formed on Seo Daeryong's lips. He was happy just knowing that it had not been she who sent the food.
A woman who considered the Lord her ideal type! Ah! Just the thought of it was overwhelming.
Geom Mugeuk brought his face close to Danyeon's.
"You must have seen wrong from afar that day. Come, look at my face clearly up close. Come, our youngest lady. If you were to send food again now, to whom would you send it?"
But Danyeon hesitated to answer. The very act of hesitating was an answer of 'not you.'
Geom Mugeuk made a wounded expression.
"Youngest Lady, that is too cruel."
Geom Mugeuk called out loudly to his father, who was talking with Hyeolcheon Doma in front of the building.
"The youngest lady says she will send food to Father until the end! There is one more person here to take to the Headquarters!"
It was nonsense he had spouted to make his father feel good. He was grateful to his father. For coming all the way here personally to support Seo Daeryong. Because that was also supporting him.
'Since you are my right arm, I shall look after you, shall I not?'
At his son's nonsense, Geom Woojin spoke to Hyeolcheon Doma.
"When will he ever grow up?"
"But you like it, don't you?"
"'Like it' is a stretch. It's chaotic."
Yes, 'chaotic' was exactly the right word when dealing with Geom Mugeuk. But Hyeolcheon Doma knew. Just as he himself did, the Lord was enjoying and relishing this chaos.
If he had not come out with his son, when would he ever experience something like this?
"Shall we take a walk?"
"Let us do that."
The two men walked toward the rear garden.
'My Lord, it is alright to show your feelings now.'
'I cannot stand others boasting about their children, but I shall allow you to boast about yours.'
The two of them walked slowly like that and arrived at the rear garden.
They stood side by side and gazed at the scenery beyond the wall.
The leaves of a giant tree standing beside the wall rustled in the blowing wind, and the birds sitting on the branches took flight in that breeze.
Beyond the birds, white clouds drifted by very slowly, as if they had forgotten time.
"Do you truly intend to win?"
It was a blunt question, but the Lord would have understood. He had once asked the Lord if he could endure five years with such a son. At that time, Geom Woojin had asked in return,
'Why do you not ask him? Whether he can endure me?'
"Would you like me to let him win?"
Hyeolcheon Doma was entirely on the Lord's side. He was prepared to accept whatever the Lord wished, to follow his command.
It had been so before, and after going through the matter with his martial brother together this time, his heart toward the Lord had grown even deeper.
That was why. Because he was truly on the Lord's side. That was why he was saying this. Because he sincerely wished for the Lord's happiness.
"The only person in all the martial world who can afford to let the Young Lord win is you, my Lord."
At the questioning look in his eyes, Hyeolcheon Doma replied calmly.
"Because letting him win is something only the greater person can do."
* * *
"But why did you become targets of the Seven Paths Pursuit Squad?"
Geom Mugeuk asked the women.
Since Dana had formed a connection with Seo Daeryong, he had to be concerned about their safety.
Then Chohui stepped forward and spoke.
"They tried to kill me. The three of you were trying to protect me."
Chohui politely revealed her identity.
"I am a courtesan of Cheonhwaru. I worked at Cheonhwaru in Fenghuang, Hunan Province."
She had already revealed her identity to the three women.
The moment he heard her words, Geom Mugeuk was startled.
Cheonhwaru.
The place owned by Yeojeong, who liked Geukak Soma.
"I must go to the main branch of Cheonhwaru in Guizhou. I must meet the Lord of Cheonhwaru."
"May I ask the reason?"
Chohui answered carefully to Geom Mugeuk's question.
"As one so noble has asked, I ought to give an answer, but this matter is one that I must speak of directly after meeting the Lord of the Tower. I beg for your generous understanding."
Chohui bowed her head apologetically.
Geom Mugeuk did not pressure her.
"Everyone has circumstances they cannot speak of; you have nothing to apologize for."
Geom Mugeuk understood her. Because she would not know of the relationship between the Lord of Cheonhwaru and Geukak Soma. Nor of the relationship between Geukak Soma and himself.
But that did not mean he could reveal such secrets to her here and now.
Then Danyeon stepped forward to reassure her.
"We will escort you all the way to your destination."
Because she was one who took responsibility for any task until the end.
Seo Daeryong looked at her with eyes full of worry. Though he did not know what matter Chohui was being chased for, whoever had orchestrated this was someone with enough money and power to mobilize the Seven Paths Pursuit Squad.
If sent off like this, they would undoubtedly face further danger.
Seo Daeryong looked at Geom Mugeuk, seeking permission with his eyes.
Knowing what his gaze meant, there was no need to exchange voice transmissions.
Geom Mugeuk nodded.
Seo Daeryong spoke carefully to Dana.
"Young Lady Dan, I know how important this matter is to you. However, since all three of you are injured, would it not be better to leave this matter to me?"
Seo Daeryong's face was full of worry as he looked at her. Dana could feel it. How could she not? Those pure eyes showed his concern for her so plainly.
"Still, I cannot entrust my task to someone so precious."
If this matter was dangerous, would not Seo Daeryong also fall into danger? She could not needlessly drag him into her problem and put him in peril.
"Your body cannot handle it. You must rest."
"I am quite tough, despite appearances. Do not worry."
"I will do it."
Geom Mugeuk, who had been watching the two quarrel, intervened.
"I will handle this matter."
Everyone looked at Geom Mugeuk in surprise. They could understand Seo Daeryong stepping in because of his relationship with Dana, but they had never expected the Young Lord to take on this matter.
Because Cheonhwaru was involved, Geom Mugeuk had to step forward himself.
"I am acquainted with the Lord of Cheonhwaru."
Chohui was startled by those words. But she did not dare ask how he knew the Lord.
Geom Mugeuk spoke to Dana.
"Will you trust me and leave this to me?"
Since Geom Mugeuk said he knew the Lord of Cheonhwaru and offered to take care of it directly, she could not refuse. In truth, she had stubbornly insisted on going herself, but she was inwardly worried about her younger sisters.
But if it was the Young Lord, she could be at ease.
'He is the Young Lord, so the experts of the Demonic Cult will protect him, right?'
Just thinking of those fearsome demonic troops put her mind at ease.
Dana looked at Chohui and asked. Because after all, she was the client.
"Will that be alright?"
Chohui nodded. In any case, if the Demonic Cult had not helped, she would already be dead. She decided to follow the flow of this fate.
Geom Mugeuk looked at the youngest and spoke.
"Youngest Lady, once you treat your internal injuries and see me again, your thoughts will change."
Danyeon smiled. As befitting the youngest, she liked jokes the most among the three sisters. Even now, she knew Geom Mugeuk was joking, but she dared not respond with banter.
She wished that someday, when she was comfortable enough, she could banter with him. She felt they would really get along. But that day would probably never come, would it?
Geom Mugeuk spoke to Seo Daeryong.
"Pavilion Lord, please take the three ladies to the main cult's nearby inner residence and have them treated."
"I will do so."
As Geom Mugeuk walked toward the rear garden to see his father, Seo Daeryong's desperate voice transmission flew to him.
—What should I do when I get there? I'm worried I'll ruin this good relationship! Should I recite another poem? Or not? Please don't leave me alone!
Geom Mugeuk went to the rear garden without answering. Of course, Seo Daeryong was worried.
'When it comes to matters of the heart, I do not trust you.'
But matters of the heart are ultimately a two-way problem. Geom Mugeuk trusted Dana, who had a bold personality.
* * *
Geom Mugeuk relayed to his father what he had heard from Chohui.
"As it is a matter concerning Cheonhwaru, I think I must go myself."
His father knew as well. That the Lord of Cheonhwaru had a deep relationship with Geukak Soma. Because she had visited the main cult in the past to see Geukak Soma.
Geom Mugeuk was regretful. Truly regretful. Because this was the moment the journey with his father, which he had wanted to make last so long, was ending.
"Please return first. I will come back after handling this matter."
No matter how much he enjoyed the time with his father, he could not have his father accompany him to escort Chohui as well. Moreover, his father had been away from the cult for too long.
"This journey was more precious than any journey I have taken since I was born."
His father would probably think of it as a journey of his young life.
It was a statement that included every journey from before his regression.
"I enjoyed the ordinary days I spent with you so much. Eating meals, drinking tea, walking together, fishing. Taking spirit medicines, killing enemies, growing in martial arts. Those ordinary moments were dearer to me than even those moments."
After a brief pause, Geom Mugeuk bowed his head respectfully.
"Thank you for being with me, Father."
Geom Woojin was looking at his son in silence.
That solemnity lasted only a moment before Geom Mugeuk, raising his head, spilled out words.
"We still haven't gone to that noodle house we said we'd visit together, have we? That place that used to be a dumpling house. So this isn't the end, Father! This is only the first journey. The second journey, the third journey, up to the hundredth journey are all prepared!"
A smirk formed on Geom Woojin's lips. The end of this journey concluded with his father's smirk. Today, that smirk seemed to say this:
'I look forward to the next journey as well.'
"Yes, please look forward to it! I will fill it with even more ordinary, more everyday days."
Geom Mugeuk did not forget to greet Hyeolcheon Doma, who was with them.
"I will see you at the cult, Elder."
Through this journey, he would leave behind his past as a disciple and now live the rest of his life as a martial uncle.
'Elder, if it is Daeryong, that life will have meaning.'
At Geom Mugeuk's heated gaze, Hyeolcheon Doma nodded.
"The moment I return, I will pack my pajamas and come to see you first, Elder, so you must put me up for the night."
And finally, he bid farewell to Hwi.
"Uncle Hwi! Next time, convince Father again so we can go on an outing! Thank you for your hard work driving the carriage!"
Then Hwi revealed himself.
"Please go and return safely."
Geom Woojin and Hyeolcheon Doma looked at Hwi with surprised expressions. He was not one to reveal himself just to say farewell.
Hwi had wanted to say these words personally.
"Thank you, Young Lord."
This journey was one he could never forget for the rest of his life. Thanks to it, his relationship with Geom Woojin had deepened further.
Because it was precious time spent with Hwi, free from concealment.
Because this was a journey that taught him that even this moment of revealing himself was a precious part of his life.
"I enjoyed walking with you, Uncle."