“Why is that person here?”
When Hyeolcheon Doma looked at Ilhwa Geomjon in surprise, the reaction was mirrored right back at him.
“That sounds like a question I should be asking.”
Her words implied that she, too, had not expected to meet Hyeolcheon Doma here, so naturally, Hyeolcheon Doma’s gaze turned to Geom Mugeuk.
“I intend to depart with the Geomjon-nim, and I wish to bring the Elder along as well.”
Hyeolcheon Doma was taken aback. He had not expected to be called upon in this situation.
“Then you should have said something beforehand.”
“I was afraid you would not come. And would it not be dangerous if just the two of us went out?”
Hyeolcheon Doma asked back, as if dumbfounded.
“Who is in danger? The Gangho? This Murim?”
As he spoke, Hyeolcheon Doma stole a glance at Ilhwa Geomjon. Ilhwa Geomjon simply stood there without a word. With her reacting like that, how could anyone ask him to come along?
“No!”
Hyeolcheon Doma refused and turned away.
“Ah, then I suppose we shall have no choice but to go by ourselves.”
At Geom Mugeuk’s disappointed words, Hyeolcheon Doma’s back flinched.
How could Geom Mugeuk not know his heart? The heart that said, *I’ll pretend to give in and follow along, so hurry and stop me.*
If he truly hated this situation, Hyeolcheon Doma would have already flown off and disappeared by now. Because Geom Mugeuk knew better than anyone that Hyeolcheon Doma wanted to go together, he had stirred up this trouble without telling Ilhwa Geomjon beforehand.
Right as Geom Mugeuk was about to call out to him,
“Let’s go together.”
The one who spoke was, surprisingly, Ilhwa Geomjon.
Hyeolcheon Doma turned around with a surprised expression. Geom Mugeuk also looked at Ilhwa Geomjon in surprise. He had thought she would be angry at being called out without a word.
“Do you hate it?”
At Ilhwa Geomjon’s question, Hyeolcheon Doma flinched and answered.
“It’s not that I hate it.”
As if there was nothing more to hear, Ilhwa Geomjon turned around and walked toward the carriage.
Geom Mugeuk knew that the two of them had been getting along well recently. The fact that Hyeolcheon Doma’s flower garden was still kept in good condition was proof of that. That was precisely why he had asked them to go together.
Hyeolcheon Doma asked Geom Mugeuk,
“Where are we going?”
“Have you heard of the Geomchong?”
“It’s been noisy lately. Why there?”
As expected, it was clear Hyeolcheon Doma was not someone who merely spent his days reading. He was well aware of the affairs of the murim.
Then Ilhwa Geomjon, who had boarded the carriage first, called out to the two.
“Are you not coming?”
The two hurriedly boarded the carriage as well.
Geom Mugeuk loaded the luggage onto the carriage and took the driver’s seat. Whether it was awkward or not, he intended to drive the carriage himself so they could have as much time alone together as possible.
“Now, let us depart!”
It was the first time the three of them had set out together.
* * *
That evening, after resting the horses, Geom Mugeuk prepared the campsite.
He lit a campfire and made a place where the two Majon could rest.
There was nothing Geom Mugeuk’s massive leather pouch did not contain. What took up the most space was a fur pelt prepared so the two Majon could lie down and sleep comfortably. It was soft, plush, high-quality leather that Geom Mugeuk had specially obtained for this journey.
On the first day, they had dinner using food Geom Mugeuk had prepared in advance.
After the meal, Geom Mugeuk looked at the Myeolcheon Daedo and spoke.
“That saber of yours is too eye-catching.”
Geom Mugeuk took out a cloth from his leather pouch.
“How about wrapping it with this?”
He had prepared an incredibly worn cloth to make it look shabby.
“I cannot wrap my saber in such cloth!”
“That is why I shall wrap it.”
Hyeolcheon Doma could not insist until the very end. As Geom Mugeuk said, it was such an extraordinary blade that there might be someone who recognized the Myeolcheon Daedo. Since he could not cause trouble through such a matter, he eventually handed over the saber, pretending he had no choice.
Geom Mugeuk began wrapping the cloth around the Myeolcheon Daedo.
“Bear with it for a moment, even if it feels suffocating.”
At Geom Mugeuk’s words, Ilhwa Geomjon cut in.
“The saber endures well. It is only because someone with a short temper cannot endure.”
Geom Mugeuk said with a smile.
“The Elder does have a fiery temperament.”
“Your foul temper is exactly the same as it was back then. How is it you do not change at all?”
When Ilhwa Geomjon spoke ill of him, Hyeolcheon Doma replied gruffly.
“Who is one to talk? When it comes to temper…”
Hyeolcheon Doma had been about to say that she had quite the temper herself, but stopped. She had already drawn her sword with her eyes.
“In the end, you’ll be the one who cannot hold your temper and draws your sword first.”
“Me? That’s absurd!”
“I would even bet on it.”
“Let’s make that bet.”
The two stared at each other, then looked back at Geom Mugeuk.
“Yes, I shall serve as witness to this bet.”
Geom Mugeuk preferred to handle matters quietly, so it would be best if the two endured as much as possible.
“A bet must have something wagered. What will you stake?”
Since the two could not suddenly think of something, Geom Mugeuk decided for them.
“Granting each other a wish! How about that?”
One might have expected someone to ask how they could wager such a thing without knowing what the other wanted.
Yet the two Majon nodded without question.
After making the bet, Hyeolcheon Doma asked Geom Mugeuk,
“You think those fellows are involved in this Geomchong affair, don’t you?”
Ilhwa Geomjon, too, waited for Geom Mugeuk’s answer.
They had guessed that this was the reason Geom Mugeuk had asked them to come along. There must be a reason he was setting out like this so soon after descending from Daecheon Mountain.
Indeed, it was as expected.
“I believe it is worth investigating.”
Hyeolcheon Doma and Ilhwa Geomjon exchanged glances. The fact that the Little Cult Leader was moving like this meant there was definitely a reason. Therefore, this matter was no longer Ilhwa Geomjon’s personal affair alone.
“It is also true that I invited you, Elder, in hopes that you would protect us.”
“What strength does an old man have?”
“You are not old. Among the Majon, you are the most vigorous. I believe you are the youngest among the Majon. Your way of thinking is also the youngest.”
He was saying on Hyeolcheon Doma’s behalf what Hyeolcheon Doma had wanted to say to Ilhwa Geomjon. He intended to continue doing so throughout this journey. That was why he was going along. His goal was for Hyeolcheon Doma to return overflowing with confidence.
“There, it’s all done.”
Geom Mugeuk returned the wrapped saber. Wrapped in cloth, the Myeolcheon Daedo had become an ordinary great saber.
“Let us hope there is no need to unwrap that cloth.”
Receiving the saber, Hyeolcheon Doma lay down in his spot and spoke.
“With someone trailing such a bloody storm, how could things go as one wishes?”
* * *
The carriage continued running the next day as well.
The destination kept changing.
As battles for control over the Jangbyeongdo were continuing even now, its owner kept changing.
Geom Mugeuk did not hurry. He believed that if he simply followed the information coming in through Eunwol and Tongcheongak, he would eventually meet the final owner. If they were behind it, it would be even more certain. It would surely be a scheme meant to lure him out.
And today, Ilhwa Geomjon spoke unexpected words.
“I shall prepare dinner today.”
Geom Mugeuk asked with a surprised face.
“The Geomjon-nim will cook for us?”
“Why? Do you not trust me?”
“Not at all. Where could there be a greater honor? I shall boast of it to everyone I meet!”
Geom Mugeuk looked at Hyeolcheon Doma. It was a situation where he seemed about to say something, yet Hyeolcheon Doma wore a subtle expression.
Ilhwa Geomjon had even gone hunting. She had caught two rabbits herself after leaping off.
“I shall make rabbit porridge for you.”
“Oh, I look forward to it! I shall be trying this for the first time.”
While Ilhwa Geomjon prepared the rabbits, Geom Mugeuk washed and trimmed the vegetables and mushrooms she had asked him to gather.
Even the dagger meant for cooking was a black sword; Ilhwa Geomjon handled the ingredients with truly expert skill.
“Do you have a pot and seasonings?”
“Of course. Everything is prepared right here.”
Geom Mugeuk took out seasonings from his leather pouch and handed them to her.
Chak-chak-chak-chak!
The way she sprinkled seasonings was just like performing martial arts. It was so elegant that expectations reached their peak.
And so, the dinner prepared by Ilhwa Geomjon was completed.
“I shall eat well!”
The moment Geom Mugeuk took a single spoonful.
“!”
Geom Mugeuk’s eyes went wide.
It was not delicious. What on earth was this peculiar taste? Was it because his expectations had been too high? No. Objectively speaking, this was not delicious.
“How does it taste?”
At Ilhwa Geomjon’s expectant question, Geom Mugeuk forced a smile and said,
“It is delicious! Of all the dishes I have ever eaten, it is the most unique!”
He could not bring himself to say it was the most delicious.
Ilhwa Geomjon said with a smile,
“I made it for my demonic swordsmen subordinates once before. They all ate well, saying it was delicious.”
*That is because they are your subordinates! There are no insane subordinates who would say, “Geomjon-nim, this is not delicious!” That is something even the Little Cult Leader could not do!*
Ilhwa Geomjon also ate the porridge she had made. She ate with an expression that said it was not so bad.
*Ah! Heaven gave the Geomjon everything but stole away her sense of taste!*
Geom Mugeuk stole a glance at Hyeolcheon Doma.
Hyeolcheon Doma lifted his porridge bowl and drank it down.
“It tastes good.”
But Geom Mugeuk saw. The porridge in Hyeolcheon Doma’s bowl had not decreased at all.
*He intends to secretly eliminate that porridge using his internal energy!*
Now he understood. The truth behind that subtle expression Hyeolcheon Doma had made when she said she would cook.
*The Elder knew! He knew what kind of food would come out!*
Indeed, that was so.
Hyeolcheon Doma recalled the past.
“Your skill is truly exactly the same. It has not changed one bit.”
At those words, Ilhwa Geomjon made a surprised expression.
“You still remember that?”
She, too, still remembered the day she had cooked for Hyeolcheon Doma. That day from when they were so very young.
“How could I forget that taste?”
He had once tasted food she personally made long, long ago. Only once, but still.
“That dish was the first meal I ever cooked in my life.”
As if learning this fact for the first time, Hyeolcheon Doma’s eyes opened wide in surprise.
“That was your first time?”
Ilhwa Geomjon nodded.
“I had memorized a cookbook the night before.”
At those words, Hyeolcheon Doma’s pupils trembled slightly. The two locked eyes briefly before turning their gazes away again.
Geom Mugeuk subtly revealed his envy.
“It must be nice. Elder, you have tasted the Geomjon-nim’s first-ever cooking, have you not?”
Hyeolcheon Doma slurped down the porridge he held. Of course, only Geom Mugeuk, who was beside him, could see him furrowing his brows as though drinking the Poison King’s poison. Even so, Hyeolcheon Doma manfully finished it all.
Now Geom Mugeuk himself was the one who had to eliminate the remaining porridge with his internal energy.
Of course, he could not bring himself to do so, and Geom Mugeuk also emptied the remaining porridge.
Hyeolcheon Doma watched that sight with satisfaction.
The moment Geom Mugeuk finished eating, Ilhwa Geomjon spoke words like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
“I shall cook again tomorrow. Tomorrow I shall catch ducks and make duck soup!”
Earthquakes struck simultaneously in the pupils of Geom Mugeuk and Hyeolcheon Doma.
Geom Mugeuk quickly stepped forward.
“No, from tomorrow on I shall serve you! Precious cooking must be eaten occasionally to retain its value.”
“Is that so?”
“Now that you have eaten, you must have a cup of tea.”
While Geom Mugeuk brewed tea, Hyeolcheon Doma washed the dishes. The two who had overcome the crisis smiled at each other in relief.
Shortly after, Ilhwa Geomjon was moved by the taste of the tea Geom Mugeuk had brewed.
“How did you know this is my favorite tea?”
“Ah, is it? I did not know. I had drunk this tea at the Elder’s residence long ago and remembered it because it was so delicious.”
At that, Ilhwa Geomjon looked at Hyeolcheon Doma.
“Do you remember this tea?”
At that, Hyeolcheon Doma nodded.
Geom Mugeuk asked Ilhwa Geomjon,
“Is there a story behind it?”
Ilhwa Geomjon merely wore a faint smile. He could tell from their expressions. That this was the tea Hyeolcheon Doma had given her as a gift long ago.
Though there had been a time when they had hated each other so, a few memories alone were packed tightly into both of their lives.
“The tea tastes good, and the mood is good as well. It was good to come out.”
After drinking their tea, they prepared to sleep.
Geom Mugeuk took out a thick book from his leather pouch and handed it to Hyeolcheon Doma.
“You did not prepare anything, not knowing you would come out this far, did you?”
“What is this?”
“I prepared it for you to read if you felt bored.”
It was Hyeolcheon Doma’s own favorite book. The book he read when his mind was troubled. Just like the cloth prepared in advance to wrap the saber, so too with the book. It seemed Geom Mugeuk had been determined to bring him along no matter what.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked at Geom Mugeuk.
“You were certain I would go.”
“I was planning to persuade you somehow.”
With an expression that said there was no stopping him, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon placed the book atop the Heaven-Annihilating Great Saber and slowly began to read.
Geom Mugeuk leaned back and looked up at the night sky.
“Fine.”
The Ilhwa Sword Venerable was seated, circulating her qi and regulating her breath. Perhaps she was thinking pleasant thoughts, for her expression was gentle.
Toward dawn, Geom Mugeuk awoke from his sleep.
Beyond the extinguished campfire, he saw the backs of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Ilhwa Sword Venerable sitting side by side, gazing up at the dawn sky.
The two of them said nothing, simply staring at the stars in silence. Though they did not speak, it felt as if countless conversations were passing between them.
Lying where he was, Geom Mugeuk also gazed up at the stars for a while. Then he closed his eyes again and fell into a deep sleep.
* * *
Geom Mugeuk and his party arrived near Tianzi Mountain in Hunan.
At the rumor that the person carrying the treasure map had been chased into hiding on Tianzi Mountain, heroes were gathering there.
The closer they drew to Tianzi Mountain, the more martial artists there were heading in that direction.
Some traveled alone, others in groups. The place was truly bustling with martial artists of every sort.
Geom Mugeuk left the carriage at a house below the mountain, took only their luggage, and headed up the mountain.
They did not hurry. Even if they rushed ahead now, they would only be swept up in the chaos.
In any case, Tongcheongak and Eunwol were relaying every development to them, so there was no need to rush.
As the three of them were slowly walking up the mountain path, someone shouted from behind.
“Move!”
“Don’t get in the way!”
When they turned around, two martial artists were rushing toward them with lightness skill, radiating a fierce aura. Their momentum as they sped forward was no ordinary thing. If anyone got in their way, they looked ready to simply ram through them.
They were speaking so rudely either because they were confident in their skills, because they were naturally foul-tempered, or perhaps because Geom Mugeuk, who was with the group, was carrying a great load of baggage and thus did not look like an expert.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon shifted toward the path they would pass through, placing the Ilhwa Sword Venerable on the inside.
Seeing him worry that the Ilhwa Sword Venerable, of all people, might get hurt, Geom Mugeuk laughed. No, even if a hundred fellows like that came charging in, do you really think the Sword Venerable would be injured?
The Ilhwa Sword Venerable also looked at Geom Mugeuk with an incredulous expression, as if embarrassed for no reason, but a faint smile had formed at the corners of her lips.
As the two martial artists passed, one of them shouted at the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
“Don’t block the road, old man! If I weren’t busy, you’d be dead!”
A vein bulged on the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s forehead.
Beside him, the Ilhwa Sword Venerable whispered.
“You’re letting fellows like that off?”
At her provocation, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s expression relaxed. Soon after, words flowed from his mouth, carrying a will that said he would never lose the wager.
“He said he was busy, didn’t he?”