Geom Mugeuk called her name for the first time.
Cha Iran looked at him with a startled face. Geom Mugeuk, as if none of it had happened, treated her with the same decorum as before.
“From now on, you must get acquainted with those demon ghost statues.”
Cha Iran recalled what Geom Mugeuk had said a moment ago.
*Cha Iran, welcome home.*
She had never been under anyone’s protection until now.
A life lived on her own strength ever since she came of age.
But hearing those words from him, she felt a strange sensation. She couldn’t say why, but she felt as though someone was protecting her. It felt like a true adult patting her head and telling her she had done well to come home.
“Now that I have become the Young Cult Leader’s subordinate, please speak comfortably.”
“Let’s not. Let’s keep doing as we have until now.”
“Why?”
“Shouldn’t a leader sometimes have an uncomfortable subordinate so that he doesn’t let his guard down?”
Geom Mugeuk said this while looking at Ian.
“If I have a subordinate who is unconditionally on my side, I also need a subordinate like you.”
In truth, it was because of Ak Gunhak. One never knows what the future holds, and there was a chance she could end up with him later. Out of consideration for him, Geom Mugeuk could not carelessly speak down to her.
Taking her as a subordinate was also the surest way to protect her.
“Please do as you’re comfortable.”
Cha Iran looked around at her subordinates.
They looked tense and intimidated, unlike usual. Naturally so. No matter how experienced they were as assassins, how could they not shrink under the overwhelming pressure exerted by the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?
The endlessly towering buildings, the terrifying demon ghost statues erected between them, and the fierce-looking demonic figures moving about in every direction.
Not to mention the countless Faceless Guests standing before her eyes.
“You heard the Young Cult Leader, right? This is our home now.”
“Yes!”
The assassins answered energetically.
She had come trusting Geom Mugeuk, but her subordinates had come trusting her. She was the one who had to protect them.
Then Geom Mugeuk spoke to her.
“Now that we’re home, we must greet Father first. Let us go together, Miss Cha.”
Cha Iran was startled. He wanted her to meet the Demonic Cult Leader? The Heavenly Demon?
“Why me?”
“When one returns from an excursion, offering greetings is only proper. Since Miss Cha has now become my subordinate, should you not offer your greetings as well?”
It was a reasonable point, so Cha Iran could not refuse.
She left her subordinates waiting there and followed Geom Mugeuk, Geukak Soma, and Ian toward the Heavenly Demon Hall.
The closer she got, the more her heart pounded. She had never trembled this much even when going out on difficult assassinations.
As they walked, Cha Iran asked cautiously.
“What does the Cult Leader think of assassins?”
“He despises them.”
He answered so decisively that she truly thought she had misheard.
“How much?”
“He despises them very much.”
“Please be more specific.”
The answer made her think she would have been better off not asking.
“I cannot say for certain, but probably the second most in the world?”
The Heavenly Demon was the second most likely person in the world to hate her, and she was going to see him? Yet even so, she couldn’t help but ask.
“Then who is the first?”
“Those who use poison. Our poor Poison King.”
With the first place being so specific, she could tell he truly despised assassins second-most in the world.
To the flustered her, Geom Mugeuk piled on further.
“Isn’t that rather comforting?”
How could he say it was comforting when she was so worried and ill at ease?
“Since he will dislike you anyway no matter how hard you try to look good, you can just comfortably give up. Is there anything more exhausting than trying to win someone’s favor?”
Cha Iran shook her head in disbelief. Yet on the other hand, his words were strangely convincing.
“Rather, Ian will be even more ill at ease. These days, Father dotes on Ian.”
Ever since she had become the adopted daughter of Gwonma, Father had treated Ian much more gently.
Hearing this, Ian sighed.
“I wasn’t thinking anything of it until just now, but hearing that has made me feel uncomfortable.”
Having pulled in Cha Iran and Ian, now Geom Mugeuk dragged in Geukak Soma as well.
“But Soma-nim is comfortable, aren’t you? You’ve definitely been marked by Father.”
He was the one who had stood on Geom Mugeuk’s side alone before Father.
Then Geukak Soma said something unexpected.
“I am not comfortable either.”
Geukak Soma added, as if he sincerely meant it.
“Separate from being marked, I always strive to look good before the Cult Leader.”
Geom Mugeuk and Geukak Soma smiled with their eyes.
Geom Mugeuk knew. Father liked people with deep loyalty like Geukak Soma.
He was never someone who would hate another just because that loyalty was not directed at himself. That was why Geukak Soma could comfortably speak of being marked.
And because Geukak Soma knew that as well, he was surely making an effort.
As they conversed, they arrived at the Heavenly Demon Hall.
No one guarded the place. Only rows of pillars shaped like evil ghosts supporting the high ceiling stood in line, and at the end was a massive door.
But Cha Iran could instinctively feel it. This space was by no means empty. Extreme danger lurked everywhere, the kind one would only realize upon entering uninvited.
As expected, when the four arrived, the door opened on its own. It meant someone’s watchful eyes were upon them.
Upon entering the Heavenly Demon Hall, the first thing Cha Iran saw was a red carpet. And at the end of that path of blood, she saw a man sitting upon the throne.
*So that is the Demonic Cult Leader.*
Even from afar, his presence could be felt. It was an intense presence she had never experienced in her life.
Usually, when martial arts reached the pinnacle, one hid their very presence. But now, the Demonic Cult Leader seemed to be saying:
*Why should I hide?*
The four walked the path of blood and arrived beneath the throne.
Geom Mugeuk greeted his father, who sat guarding his place unchangingly, in a loud voice.
“Father, have you been well? I have returned safely.”
Their gazes intertwined in the air.
Geom Ujin saw his son’s accomplishments at a glance.
“You have had gains.”
Geom Mugeuk said, looking back at Geukak Soma.
“Thanks to Soma-nim, I obtained a great fortuitous encounter.”
He had not yet given a detailed report regarding Bihyeolsa. No matter that it was his father, he thought Father might be startled by news that his son’s heart had been pierced, so he planned to tell him in person.
When the credit for the fortuitous encounter was turned to him, Geukak Soma spoke calmly.
“I merely helped briefly as I was ordered.”
After speaking so humbly, Geukak Soma politely paid his respects.
“I have returned, Cult Leader.”
“You’ve worked hard.”
Indeed, what filled Geom Ujin’s gaze toward Geukak Soma was trust. If he had not trusted him, he would not have sent him out alone with the Young Cult Leader.
Next, Ian greeted him.
“Ian has returned from my excursion.”
As Geom Mugeuk had said, the gaze with which Geom Ujin looked at Ian was gentle.
“Did you have a good trip?”
“Thanks to your concern, I have returned safely.”
Finally, Geom Mugeuk introduced Cha Iran.
“This is the person who became my subordinate on this excursion.”
Cha Iran politely paid her respects.
“I am called Cha Iran. It is truly an honor to meet such a noble person.”
Of course, Geom Ujin had already received a report on her from the Tongcheongak.
Cha Iran spoke in a trembling voice.
“Though I was born an assassin, from now on I wish to live a new life.”
But Geom Ujin’s expression held no trace of welcome. He did not even hide his displeasure toward her.
At those cold eyes, Geom Mugeuk spoke to Cha Iran.
“Perhaps you might be first rather than second on Father’s list of those he hates.”
Geom Ujin’s gaze, which had been on Cha Iran, turned toward his son. There was a definite reason for the father’s coldness.
“What would you have done if that woman’s goal was to infiltrate our cult?”
Geukak Soma looked at Geom Mugeuk, and from the other side, Ian looked at him as well.
The moment Ian heard Geom Ujin’s words, her heart sank. What Geom Ujin had just said meant the assassination could still be ongoing. It was something Ian had never considered.
“What if that woman has wormed her way into the cheap sentimentality of yours that courts death?”
Recently, Father had refrained from using the word “cheap” when talking about his son’s sentiments.
Now Father was asking again, using the expression “cheap sentimentality.” He was reprimanding him.
Cha Iran turned her head to look at Geom Mugeuk.
Rather, she agreed with Geom Ujin’s words. An assassin was someone who would use any means to kill their target.
If she had truly taken a commission to kill Geom Ujin, she might have approached by gaining Geom Mugeuk’s trust just like this.
While everyone was curious how he would explain, an irresponsible answer flowed from Geom Mugeuk.
“I hadn’t thought that far. If that were the case, Father, I’m sure Uncle Hwi would protect you.”
In fact, he had thought about it. How could he not, when bringing an assassin into the main cult?
But this time, he knew for certain that her target was the Sado Maengju.
Because there had been a prophecy.
Even though he had reported all of this process to his father, the fact that Father was speaking like this was not just about this matter, but a warning to be careful in the future as well.
He was worried that his son might ruin things by not remaining calm. And since his opponent happened to be an assassin, he was using this opportunity to emphasize it properly.
Normally, even if Cha Iran was displeasing, he would have simply nodded once and let it go. That was Father’s way of dealing with people he disliked.
It was precisely because he had a heart that worried for his son that such questions arose.
“What made you choose the Young Cult Leader?”
After a moment of thought, she gave an unexpected answer.
“The chopsticks.”
At Geom Ujin’s questioning gaze, Cha Iran explained.
“When we were making camp, the Young Cult Leader cut a log to make chopsticks for me. Looking at those chopsticks, I thought that if it was this person, I could trust him and follow him.”
She did not avoid Geom Ujin’s gaze, which seemed to pierce through to her very heart.
“And the meal the Young Cult Leader cooked, eaten with those chopsticks, was simply too delicious.”
Cha Iran said no more, as if those were all her reasons. Could it be that not explaining in exhaustive detail was what pleased Father?
From Father’s lips, which had been cold the entire time, words she had never expected flowed out.
“It is probably because you have not tried my cooking.”
At those words, Cha Iran’s eyes widened in surprise.
Geom Mugeuk laughed, speaking for his father’s feelings.
“If you had truly come as an assassin, you would not have given such a ridiculous reason.”
He added one more thing.
“You must never eat Father’s cooking. If you do, you will pledge your loyalty to Father instead of me.”
At his son’s flattery, which he had not heard in a long time, one corner of Geom Ujin’s mouth rose. He did not speak at length to Cha Iran.
“Welcome.”
* * *
When Geom Mugeuk and Geukak Soma headed to the Heavenly Demon Hall, the Faceless Guests mingled.
The Faceless Guests who had come out to greet them approached and greeted the returning Faceless Guests. These ten Faceless Guests who had returned from their excursion were experts ranked from First to Tenth, so many Faceless Guests followed them.
Sipchil Gyo stole a glance at the Crescent Moon Faceless Guest. Several Faceless Guests had also come to greet the Crescent Moon Faceless Guest. At times they were strange to the point of being bizarre, but at times like these, they also seemed like proper martial artists with proper senior-junior relationships.
Watching that scene, Sipchil Gyo’s heart was heavy.
Until coming here, she had held some hope. While washing vegetables together as the Young Cult Leader’s assistant, her feelings for him had grown even more.
But now that she had come to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and saw him among the other Faceless Guests, a foreboding feeling arose that her relationship with him might be over.
Then someone spoke quietly beside her.
“It’s just a coincidence.”
She turned to see it was O Gyo. Having recovered somewhat from her injury, she could now walk on her own.
“It’s just a passing feeling.”
She sighed at the sight of Sipchil Gyo being chosen as the Crescent Moon Faceless Guest’s partner. This was someone she needed to keep her distance from, yet they had become entangled.
She didn’t know that Geom Mugeuk had intentionally paired the two of them together. No, even if she had known, she would have said the same thing.
“If you get entangled with a man like that, you’ll become miserable.”
“Do any of us have some great fate?”
“You are different.”
O Gyo sincerely worried for Sipchil Gyo. Calling an assassin pure would make for a strange statement. Yet in her eyes, Sipchil Gyo was exactly the person that strange statement described.
How could she not worry when such a girl was losing her heart to a demonic figure, and one from the Valley of Evil at that?
At that moment, Geom Mugeuk, Geukak Soma, Cha Iran, and Ian returned. The Faceless Guests, who had been scattered about at will, instantly formed ranks.
“Then please rest, Young Cult Leader.”
“Yes, thank you, Soma-nim.”
The two exchanged farewells.
As Soma walked away, all the Faceless Guests followed behind him.
Geom Mugeuk spoke to Ian.
“Guide Miss Cha to her quarters.”
“Yes, I will.”
Since he had sent word ahead, their quarters had already been prepared. He had ordered that each of them be given separate rooms so everyone could rest comfortably.
Geom Mugeuk finished speaking and soared away in a flash.
“Who could he be in such a hurry to see?”
At Ian’s words, Cha Iran recalled what Geom Mugeuk had said. That he would be too busy to see her often. It seemed the abandonment had already begun.
Ian led Cha Iran and the assassins toward their quarters.
Sipchil Gyo could not leave that spot, staring at the Faceless Guests walking in the distance. The moment the Crescent Moon martial artist slipped from view, she had no idea where he was.
Sipchil Gyo let out a sigh without realizing it. O Gyo, standing behind her, spoke.
“Let’s go too. This place is so vast that one wrong move and you’ll get lost.”
Getting lost among demonic figures was not something she wanted to think about.
It was precisely when Sipchil Gyo was about to turn around and follow O Gyo.
Among the Faceless Guests walking in the opposite direction, one Faceless Guest pushed through his companions and emerged.
Surprisingly, it was the Crescent Moon Faceless Guest.
He took out the dagger Sipchil Gyo had given him as a gift. Sipchil Gyo despaired. Now that they had returned to the cult, he was undoubtedly trying to return the dagger to end their relationship.
But that wasn’t it.
The Crescent Moon Faceless Guest cut his own finger with the dagger and drew a long diagonal line on his mask with the blood.
Intense emotion swept across Sipchil Gyo’s face. She understood. The Crescent Moon Faceless Guest had drawn a line on his mask to make it easy for her to recognize him.
*This mask with the line drawn on it is me.*
After drawing the line, the Crescent Moon Faceless Guest turned and ran back toward the Faceless Guests.
From behind Sipchil Gyo, who watched that figure with trembling eyes, O Gyo spoke.
“Sipchil, no. He’s a real madman!”
It was the moment a new life began in earnest for someone, and a new love began in earnest for another.