Blood was splattered across the alleyway where moonlight flowed.
Behind the martial artist collapsing with his hands clutching his neck stood Chairan.
She closed her eyes and felt the energy around her. She surveyed the area with the unique senses of an assassin, but no enemies could be detected around her.
Shortly after, Ilgyo came to her and reported.
“It has all been taken care of.”
Behind her, the figures of the Gaingyo assassins came into view. Because Chairan, Ilgyo, and the remaining assassins had returned to the alley without delay, they had been able to minimize the damage. But in this battle, many Gaingyo assassins had died or been injured.
And the fight was not yet over.
“We are going back.”
Chairan sent those with severe injuries to receive treatment, and taking all the remaining assassins still capable of fighting, she returned to the place where she had been fighting Hwadomyeong.
She had not known it would become such a fate with the Demon Cult.
Everyone dies together, or everyone lives together. Today’s battle was that kind of battle.
She had come here to save her subordinates, trusting in Geukak Soma.
But the opponent was Hwadomyeong. This time he revealed a new side and disappointingly laid bare his true nature, but the fact that he was a strong person remained unchanged. The bamboo-hatted martial artists accompanying him were also no ordinary beings.
Above all, Hwadomyeong had not even tried to flee upon seeing Geukak Soma. It definitely meant he had something he believed in.
“Hurry.”
She displayed her lightness skill and ran ahead.
It was for Geom Mugeuk, and in the end, it was also for herself.
Because she had already become a traitor to the organization, if something were to happen to Geom Mugeuk in this situation, the choice she had made would become utterly meaningless.
While Chairan harbored such worries, Sipchilgyo, who was following behind, was thinking of someone else.
She desperately hoped only that the Crescent Moon Masked Guest was alive.
She kept having bad premonitions. She recalled the vision of herself discovering a mask painted with a crescent moon amidst tangled corpses of unknown people.
As that place drew nearer, her heart pounded harder at the thickening scent of blood.
And so, at the very moment Chairan and the assassins left the alley and arrived at the place where they had fought earlier—
They stopped in their tracks. The situation unfolding within the area was something they had never imagined.
First, Geom Mugeuk was still sitting with his eyes closed.
At that sight, Chairan felt relieved.
*The Young Cult Leader is alive.*
And Geukak Soma was alive as well. He was sitting in front of Geom Mugeuk with his eyes closed. He appeared to be circulating his energy, recovering his internal energy.
As for the Masked Guests surrounding the two of them—
They were disposing of the corpses. A large pit was already full of bodies, and even as they arrived, the Masked Guests were carrying corpses.
They were doing this so that when the Young Cult Leader opened his eyes, he would not be shown the sight of corpses strewn about.
Sipchilgyo searched for the Crescent Moon Masked Guest first. She had always been able to find him immediately, but perhaps because her heart was anxious, she could not see him.
So she counted the number of Masked Guests first.
One, two, three… eight, nine, ten!
Fortunately, all the Masked Guests were alive.
Then, she made eye contact with the Masked Guest carrying corpses nearest to her. Only then did she realize that he was the Crescent Moon Masked Guest. Although his clothes were drenched in blood, fortunately he did not appear to be badly injured.
Sipchilgyo slightly bowed her head to the Crescent Moon Masked Guest, who was staring at her fixedly.
The Crescent Moon Masked Guest slightly bowed his head in return, accepting the greeting.
A Masked Guest carrying corpses with another nearby looked at the two of them. The two pretended not to know each other and did not exchange glances any longer.
Meanwhile, Chairan was inwardly shocked.
*So they killed them all!*
The first person she looked for was Hwadomyeong.
At first, she could not find Hwadomyeong’s corpse. Judging by the three bamboo hats fallen on the ground, it seemed the bamboo-hatted martial artists had all died.
But Hwadomyeong’s corpse was not visible.
*Did he escape?*
Then, one object caught her eyes.
It was a fan.
A familiar fan sticking out prominently from within the corpse pit.
The person who had died clutching that fan was a man with countless lines drawn on his face. Because his makeup had been erased, she did not recognize him at first, but upon looking closely, he was Hwadomyeong. The lines that had crossed his face in red had all turned a grayish color.
What was more surprising than his death was that the Masked Guests had so unceremoniously tossed him into the corpse pit together with his subordinates.
The Masked Guests.
Their leader, Geukak Soma.
Chairan thought she must not let her guard down.
Just because the man called Geom Mugeuk showed a smile and an appearance unlike a demonic cultist, she must not mistakenly think that these people too might be good people.
They were demonic cultists of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. Moreover, they were demonic cultists of the Valley of Evil.
Watching the Masked Guests begin to cover the corpse pit, Chairan looked up at the night sky.
Now there was no turning back. Since Hwadomyeong, their blood kin, had died, the organization behind them would surely try to kill her.
Before she knew it, the moon had tilted, and countless stars had become the new masters of the night sky.
* * *
The energy of Bihyeolsa was completely converted to internal energy and stored in the dantian.
Geom Mugeuk was confident.
Now, if one considered only internal energy, he was the best in the martial world.
Of course, one never knows what will happen in the world… No. At this level, he was indeed the best.
The five energies that had rampaged through his body had also quietly settled into his body.
Now, only one energy remained.
Where on earth was the last pearl hidden?
And what would happen when he gathered all six energies?
With that final thought, Geom Mugeuk slowly opened his eyes.
Geukak Soma was looking at him. When he had closed his eyes, Geukak Soma had been there; when he awoke, Geukak Soma was still there.
“Have you awakened?”
Geukak Soma’s eyes were smiling brightly.
Geom Mugeuk, who had been silently gazing into those eyes, spoke while stretching languidly instead of offering thanks.
“I slept well, thanks to you.”
Geom Mugeuk rose from his seat, and Geukak Soma rose as well.
His body was more refreshed than ever. Of course, it was not because he had slept until dawn. The pure internal energy filling his dantian was as vast and deep as the sea.
The stability and confidence granted by this magnificent internal energy, which seemed as though it would not run dry no matter how much he used, was beyond words.
If he unleashed the Sixth Technique of the Nine Transformations Demon Art, Heavenly Demon World Destruction, with this internal energy?
Since the Heavenly Demon World Destruction required most of one’s internal energy, if it were unleashed with this enormous internal energy? Everything visible had already been annihilated back then; now, an unimaginable result would come about.
If, like his father, he could freely control the Heavenly Demon World Destruction?
If he created a sword of light with this internal energy?
Geom Mugeuk’s heart pounded.
As soon as Geom Mugeuk awoke, the Masked Guests formed a line and respectfully cupped their fists in salute. Joy could be felt in their eyes.
Geom Mugeuk surveyed their condition. His own body felt this light, yet the Masked Guests’ martial robes were soaked in blood. Many had been injured as well.
He could guess how fierce a battle they had fought.
“It must have been hard protecting me?”
At those words, the Masked Guests smiled brightly. For them, those words from the Young Cult Leader were enough. Because if the Young Cult Leader merely acknowledged them, they could lay down their lives as many times as necessary.
Opposite the Masked Guests were the assassins. Chairan was among the lined-up assassins.
Geom Mugeuk walked toward her.
“Wasn’t I heavy?”
“I was scolded for the weight.”
She had done what she had set out to do.
“You kept that promise—that Geukak Soma had to be present when I opened my eyes.”
“I’m the type who always keeps promises.”
“Then let us make one more promise.”
“You mean to make that person leave?”
She had thought he would say that they should go rescue Akgunhak together.
Geom Mugeuk shook his head. His promise was something she had never imagined.
“Until I have eliminated them all, rest in the protection of our cult.”
Put nicely, what Geom Mugeuk was saying now was this:
I will protect all of you.
Indeed, perhaps the only one who could speak such words to them was the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
“Are you worrying about us the moment you open your eyes?”
Geom Mugeuk replied with a deepening gaze.
“Because you are the one who let me open my eyes.”
Geom Mugeuk was thanking her in this manner.
Entering a full-fledged bond with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was something that required careful judgment. If the one making the offer had not been Geom Mugeuk, she would have refused tactfully.
But she had not involved her pride or the organization’s honor in this matter.
Thinking only of her subordinates’ lives, the answer was not difficult.
“Then I shall entrust my body to you for a while.”
Chairan cupped her fists in a polite salute. The assassin women behind her also bowed in unison. Among those women, one wore an inscrutable smile.
Geom Mugeuk also courteously returned their greeting.
“Once I have eliminated them all, you may freely leave whenever you wish. I promise in the name of the Young Cult Leader.”
Thus, the Gaingyo assassins decided to temporarily place themselves under the protection of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Geom Mugeuk asked Geukak Soma.
“What became of the one with makeup on his face?”
“He died.”
“Well done.”
Geukak Soma nodded and pointed out one thing.
“Judging by his speech, he seemed to be the blood kin of an important figure.”
Geom Mugeuk recalled what Chairan had said.
That it was best not to get involved with him.
He was surely of the Hwa Clan’s bloodline.
“Even so, could he be any more the blood kin of an important figure than me?”
At Geom Mugeuk’s joke, Geukak Soma laughed, and Chairan also smiled.
She felt it. Because Geom Mugeuk was there, the atmosphere changed. Faces brightened, and vitality overflowed. She felt that Geukak Soma, the Masked Guests, and even she and the assassins were all affected.
The sun rose brightly, and the world too grew bright.
Finally, the long night had passed.
* * *
Ian stood by the window, watching the sunrise.
*Geom Mugeuk will manage somehow; since Geukak Soma went with him, it should be fine.* No matter how much she thought positively, she could not help but worry.
Then, from behind, the Cheonhwaru Pavilion Lord spoke.
“Are you feeling sorry for no reason because of me?”
“Yes?”
When Ian turned around with a questioning expression, the Cheonhwaru Pavilion Lord revealed the reason.
“You wanted to go with the Young Cult Leader, didn’t you?”
Ian smiled and replied.
“Instead, Lord Soma must be fighting with a peaceful mind. Rather than having Lord Soma fight uneasily while I am there, it is better to have Lord Soma fighting comfortably in my absence.”
It was praise that held Lord Soma in high esteem, and humble words that understated herself. It was also an acknowledgment of the relationship between Lord Soma and the Cheonhwaru Pavilion Lord.
Looking at Ian with soft eyes, the Cheonhwaru Pavilion Lord asked.
“Are you worried that the prophecy will come true?”
Then Ian gave an unexpected answer.
“No, I actually hope the prophecy comes true.”
The Cheonhwaru Pavilion Lord looked at her with eyes asking for the reason, and Ian revealed her honest feelings.
“Because the Young Cult Leader already knows what kind of prophecy it is. He must have prepared well for it. I rather hope that no variables arise.”
From those words, the Cheonhwaru Pavilion Lord could tell.
“This martial artist believes more in the Young Cult Leader than in the prophecy.”
Ian did not deny it.
As Ian was looking out the window again, a delighted exclamation flowed from her mouth.
People were walking into the courtyard.
With Geom Mugeuk at the center, Geukak Soma and Chairan were at his left and right; behind Chairan were assassins, and behind Geukak Soma, Masked Guests were entering.
Geom Mugeuk saw Ian at the window and waved. At that sight, Ian was so overjoyed that tears welled up, but she forced herself to compose her emotions and waved back energetically.
Seeing them enter the guest quarters safely, the Cheonhwaru Pavilion Lord gave thanks to the heavens.
Because she had prophesied it, she had been indescribably afraid and trembling that it might truly come to pass.
Seeing her like that, Geukak Soma had smiled brightly for her. If there had truly been no one watching, she would have dashed into his embrace.
Ian saw that Geom Mugeuk had bandages wrapped around his chest.
“Were you injured?”
Surprised by Ian’s question, Geom Mugeuk clutched his chest.
“I got stabbed in the heart.”
At those words, Ian and even the Cheonhwaru Pavilion Lord started.
“It really was Lord Soma who stabbed me.”
The Cheonhwaru Pavilion Lord could tell that the prophecy had come true. She had thought this would be the one time the prophecy was wrong. But how had he survived?
“Are you alright?”
At Ian’s worry, Geom Mugeuk’s play-acting began.
“Alright? Lord Soma stabbed me so painfully. Ugh, don’t even mention it. It’s only because I have the strongest and greatest heart in the world that I survived.”
Ian whispered to Geukak Soma as if sharing a secret.
“You should have stabbed him harder. Or not his heart, but that mouth…”
Of course, it was a joke that everyone could hear.
“Not the mouth! Better to stab the heart!”
As Geom Mugeuk played along, everyone laughed.
“By the way, Ian, your championship prize money is gone.”
Since the Sinhwa Pavilion Lord had died, and even Hwadomyeong was dead, continuing the contest for the greatest beauty under heaven was impossible.
At that, Ian looked at Chairan and said.
“I suppose Lady Cha must be disappointed.”
“Is that sincere?”
To Chairan’s question, Ian smiled pleasantly and answered.
“About half.”
Chairan smiled along as well. Truly, if the final stage had unfolded, what would the result have been?
Geom Mugeuk said to Ian.
“Lady Cha will be with us for the time being. Ian, take responsibility.”
“Yes!”
Ian looked at Chairan. The emotion contained in that gaze was welcome and cheerful hospitality.
Chairan responded to that goodwill.
“Then I shall teach you in the meantime.”
Chairan looked down at her own bloodstained martial robe and said.
“That a martial robe is an outfit worn only occasionally on days like today.”
Choosing clothes, applying makeup. She meant to teach how a woman should adorn herself.
Ian smiled shyly and said.
“I do miss the clothes I wore on stage a little, too.”
As the two of them talked about everyday things, everyone finally felt that this battle had truly ended.
But for Geom Mugeuk, one matter still remained.
Since he had returned, there was someone he had to meet first. The person who had been the cause of all this.
“I shall go and see Sado Maengju for a moment.”