At the words, “Now I understand how someone like the Young Cult Leader could be born.”
“You gave me a sword, yet you are cursing me?”
At his father’s words, the Sword King was slightly flustered. *You people are all madmen!* Had his inner thoughts been exposed even though he had phrased it mildly?
“Please do not misunderstand. What I meant was that after meeting the Cult Leader, I understood how such an excellent son could have been born.”
Because it was before his father, the Sword King earnestly made excuses, but Geom Mugik knew. That his father had spoken in jest. And the fact that his father had joked with him meant one thing.
He had passed.
The Sword King had passed in his father’s eyes. Indeed, what parent could dislike someone willing to lay down their life for their child?
“Of course it is the highest praise, nothing but the highest praise. You have worked hard, Father. To raise a son so excellently.”
The father made an expression as if to say, “How dare you say such a thing with your own mouth.” Had the Sword King not been beside him, he would have undoubtedly said it aloud.
The Sword King respectfully bowed his head to convey his gratitude.
“I shall not forget the grace you have bestowed upon me.”
How much value this sword held for him was not important. One had to see how much value this White Flower Sword held for the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. It was one of the four greatest treasures that had been bestowed.
Geom Mugik also bade farewell to his father.
“Father, I shall come to see you again later. This time, I have far too much to tell you.”
As always, whenever he left the cult and returned, he would tell his father what had happened. He could not leave untold the thrilling tales of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the One Flower Sword Venerable.
“Let us have dinner together.”
His father probably had no idea how moving it was for this son that those words now came so easily.
Geom Mugik exited the Heavenly Demon Palace together with the Sword King.
As they walked down the long corridor before the Heavenly Demon Palace, the Sword King stopped.
He stood briefly, gazing at the evil ghost statues supporting the pillars lined along the corridor.
“What is it you truly want from me? Do you want me to fight for you? Or do you want me to become your subordinate?”
Their gazes entangled in the empty air.
“If you wish for me to become your subordinate and fight for you, would you heed it?”
The Sword King did not answer. It was a question not easily answered, yet also perhaps one easily answered.
“Honestly, I would like to throw a tantrum and ask just that of you. Because once a master-servant relationship is formed, Brother Ak would stay with me for life.”
After a brief pause, Geom Mugik spoke.
“But I prefer being friends with Brother Ak. Even if you were to suddenly leave, and I spent every year wondering where you are and what you are doing, I would prefer staying friends with Brother Ak. I do not like seeing Brother Ak beneath someone else.”
The Sword King’s gaze deepened. So that was why. That was why it could also be easily answered. The opportunity to serve such a person would surely not come without the fortune of heaven.
“Even so, this sword is too excessive a gift.”
Geom Mugik dispelled that burden thus:
“That is a gift not for Brother Ak, but given for my sake.”
“For yourself?”
“Yes. For myself. I wish to live among splendid and good people.”
“What does that have to do with this sword?”
“Because that sword will make Brother Ak a stronger and more splendid person.”
The Sword King had believed that one became truly dashing and free only when discarding precious swords.
And now Geom Mugik was saying the opposite.
That by wearing a precious sword, one grew stronger. That one became freer and more dashing.
“If I could not be among such splendid people, I would likely have been living while dreaming the same dream as Brother Ak.”
The Sword King let out a light sigh.
“That dream…… is not such a good dream.”
If you know that, why did you try so hard to leave, Brother Ak? Wake from that dream. And dream a new one!
But he did not speak those words. The Sword King would know his heart well enough.
Geom Mugik’s gaze turned to the sword box the Sword King was holding.
“Why don’t you draw the sword once? You ought to give me a chance to show off.”
The Sword King opened the sword box and drew out the White Flower Sword. The scabbard of the revealed White Flower Sword was elegant and luxurious.
Shwiiiik.
The moment the sword was drawn, it felt as if the surrounding air changed in an instant.
It was a sword that radiated a brilliance that did not dazzle the eyes, exuding an elegant and gentle nobility.
Just imagining the Sword King attacking with that sword was enough to stir fear.
“It is the only one among the four treasured swords of our cult that does not harbor demonic energy or ghostly energy.”
When the Sword King infused his inner power, the sword let out a low cry.
Humm.
A stream of energy flowing along the blade mingled with the Sword King’s breath.
The Sword King, feeling the sword with his eyes closed for a moment, opened them with a pleased expression.
“It is truly a fine sword.”
Indeed, how could it not be fine? Especially since the sword’s temperament suited the Sword King’s own so well, he must have felt it was even better.
The Sword King drew the iron sword he had been wearing at his waist.
Clang.
He flicked it with his finger, and it snapped clean in half.
“What, is this really a sword that breaks so easily?”
“It is a sword I bought for a single nyang at a street market.”
Geom Mugik shouted as if dumbfounded.
“Even so, to discard it so heartlessly. It must have been steeped in countless memories. My friend, this man has abandoned you.”
“What of it? If it breaks or is lost, one simply buys another.”
The Sword King sheathed the White Flower Sword at his waist where the iron sword had been.
“It is my sword now. Don’t ask for it back.”
Geom Mugik stood for a moment, watching the Sword King’s back as he strode away.
How could there be no memories attached to that old iron sword? Breaking the sword was the Sword King’s answer to the gift of the White Flower Sword.
That he would truly wear this sword.
It was his answer to Geom Mugik’s goodwill.
“Now that we’ve paid our respects to my ordinary and amiable father, it is time to go meet the one who has been yearning for Brother Ak with bated breath! Jihan, you wait a bit. Let us handle the urgent ones first.”
* * *
Swords simultaneously split the air at the training ground.
Those training there were the Ghost Shadow Three Squads, the assassins of the Gain Sect.
“Keep your backs straighter!”
The woman instructing them was Chairan.
Shwiiiik!
Cutting, thrusting, and blocking.
They were basic movements of swordsmanship, but their swords held power, and their movements lacked even an inch of error. They were building stamina and learning the basics of swordsmanship without using internal energy.
Having entered the Ghost Shadow Division, they were no longer assassins.
Perhaps if they only carried out operations focused on assassination, but if deployed in full-frontal warfare, their assassination arts were at an absolute disadvantage.
Thus they had to learn swordsmanship usable in full-frontal combat. The problem was the lack of suitable swordsmanship to learn. She had learned some swordsmanship briefly in her youth, but it was not martial arts of a level to pass on to her subordinates.
Therefore, for now, she was making them repeat only basic swordsmanship training.
“Oooh!”
Low exclamations of admiration could be heard from somewhere.
Dozens of demonic practitioners were watching them train.
Some were passing by, and some had come deliberately. The beautiful women’s training was truly the talk of the cult grounds.
Conversely, there was also a woman secretly watching them.
She was none other than Sipchilgyo, performing her martial arts. She continuously scanned the onlookers, wondering if the Crescent Moon Masked Guest might be among them.
Since they were in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult together, she had thought she would see the Crescent Moon Masked Guest far more often.
But instead, she had no chance to see him. They had become members of the Ghost Shadow Division, and he had entered the Valley of Evil Men, their dwelling place.
Living busy lives as they were, she simply had no opportunity to meet him. She had tried strolling around the cult grounds for no reason, and even gone near the Valley of Evil Men, but she could not meet him.
Nor could she enter the Valley of Evil Men just to meet him.
“Stop looking, he is not there.”
The one who whispered to her was Ogyo, swinging her sword nearby. She, who was closest to Sipchilgyo, knew that Sipchilgyo liked the Masked Guest.
“They say the Masked Guests hardly ever come out of the Valley of Evil Men.”
Perhaps that was why. Even passing by, they had never met any Masked Guests.
“He might have taken off his mask and be watching me right now.”
Could the Crescent Moon Masked Guest be among those people?
“Wake up from your dream!”
Ogyo had unknowingly raised her voice, and Chairan heard the sound.
Ogyo, meeting eyes with Chairan, bowed her head in apology and immersed herself in training.
Thus the arduous training ended.
Some of the onlookers clapped and even cheered.
They dared to do so only because they did not yet know these women. Moreover, since they were only practicing basic swordsmanship, they looked easy to handle.
Depending on one’s perspective, this could have been offensive, but no one paid it any mind.
Rather, they enjoyed their gazes and reactions. These were people they could all kill if they so wished, being assassins. Then the one who clapped loudest would die first.
Just as they caught their breath and were about to disperse, Chairan called out to Sipchilgyo.
“Shall we talk?”
“Yes!”
The two walked out of the training ground, conversing.
“Have you met him again?”
Before coming here to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, during the World’s Greatest Beauty Contest, Chairan had sent her to meet the Masked Guest. Of course, it was Geom Mugik who had kept his promise to arrange their meeting, and Chairan had merely sent her, but at that time, Chairan learned of her own relationship with the Crescent Moon Masked Guest.
“No, I have not met him yet.”
Sipchilgyo spoke words she did not mean.
“I do not think now is the time to be thinking of men.”
How could Chairan not know that those words were not sincere?
As time passed like this, her heart would cool, and it would simply flow away into memories. Just as she herself thought of Akgunhak.
“Go find him.”
“What?”
“Go to the Valley of Evil Men and find him. You belong to an organization directly under the Young Cult Leader. That side is directly under the Demon Venerable. We have no reason to kneel before them.”
Sipchilgyo looked at Chairan with a surprised face. Did people change when their positions changed? She had never expected Chairan to give such advice.
“Will you go with me?”
“No. I can go alone.”
Sipchilgyo found courage she did not have. Since Chairan had personally given such advice, she could not just stay still.
“I will go right away.”
Chairan stopped her as she rushed.
“Go to my room and open the wardrobe; there is an azure palace dress. Wear that and go. It will suit you well.”
“How dare I?”
“Why? Shall I go with you and dress you?”
“No!”
“Go on.”
“Yes.”
Sipchilgyo bowed politely and ran off, then turned back from afar.
“Thank you so much.”
Bowing at the waist, Sipchilgyo ran off again.
Even with just a glance, her excited heart could be felt.
Yes, that is what it means to like someone. When you truly like someone, it shows like that.
Chairan looked up at the sky.
A blue sky without a single cloud. Should I have a drink with Ilgyo later?
Then someone spoke from behind her.
“People who push other couples together usually end up drinking alone, after all.”
Startled, she turned around to see Geom Mugik standing there with a smile.
Truly, no one could match this man when it came to startling people.
“Even though you cannot handle your own affairs.”
At Geom Mugik’s provocation, Chairan recalled past events instead of greeting him.
“Do you remember? That day by the lakeside where that child and the Masked Guest met, you said, Young Cult Leader—you said you would help that child elope, and that you would find my love too. Why have you not found it? Please find my love.”
Geom Mugik could sense it. That she was comfortable enough to make such jokes. It also meant she was adapting well to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
“If I find him for you? You will not even be able to confess that you like him.”
“Why do you think I cannot? Our Young Cult Leader still does not know me well.”
At her boasting, Geom Mugik put on a mischievous yet meaningful smile.
Then Chairan tilted her head.
“But your skin?”
As a genius of cosmetics, she immediately felt that Geom Mugik’s skin had become clearer and cleaner.
“What did you apply? You smell good too? And now that I look, your shoulders seem a bit broader as well.”
“Our Squad Leader Cha will survive well in the organization.”
Geom Mugik brushed it off as mere flattery, but Chairan felt it was not.
*This person, something has changed.*
Geom Mugik changed the subject.
“I heard you have been teaching swordsmanship to your subordinates these days.”
“I am only teaching the basics for now. But since my main martial art is not swordsmanship, I am worried about the future.”
Then Geom Mugik brought up something unexpected.
“It just so happens. I know a good swordsmanship teacher.”
At his words, Chairan sent him an expectant gaze.
“It is a teacher who taught swordsmanship at a martial academy. He has produced very excellent disciples.”
Naturally, disappointment flashed across Chairan’s face.
“No matter what, even if my main martial art is not swordsmanship, would I not be better than some martial academy teacher?”
“Are you looking down on a martial academy teacher?”
Chairan said with a laugh.
“At my level, I can look down on them a bit.”
“Too harsh. The martial academy teacher listening will feel hurt.”
Geom Mugik turned around as if there were someone behind the building.
“Please bear with it, broad-minded teacher.”
Chairan naturally thought Geom Mugik was joking. Someone who knew her and her subordinates’ skills would never bring some martial academy teacher to instruct them.
Chairan looked in the direction Geom Mugik was looking and spoke.
“Go back! We are women you cannot handle. As you can see, we are rude and hopeless.”
“Do not be like that, this is a teacher I went to great lengths to invite.”
Geom Mugik walked in that direction, looking behind the building.
“Please do not be too disappointed. These days, disciples looking down on their teachers is nothing new, is it?”
Chairan walked in that direction too. Had it not been Geom Mugik, she would never have indulged such a joke.
“Just which martial academy produced this person……”
The moment she turned the corner and looked in the direction Geom Mugik was looking!
An exclamation of shock burst from Chairan’s lips. Truly, a shriek escaped her unbidden.
There stood Akgunhak, his hair tied tightly, barefoot. It was truly Akgunhak. The very one she had longed to see so much.
“This is the one who taught at Hwangryong Martial Academy. I studied under him, and your Daeju studied under him, and this squad leader studied under him. Would these not make excellent disciples?”
Geom Mugik’s words did not even reach Chairan’s ears. Her heart pounded as if it would burst, and her cheeks and ears flushed red.
“……What, how, why?”