* * *
A person he had not expected was standing before the door with his back turned.
“Young Cult Leader!”
Geom Mugeuk, who had been looking up at the sky, turned to Jang Ho and smiled brightly.
“Lord Jang, I came hoping to get a cup of tea.”
At this hour in the morning? And all the way to his residence? Wondering if something had happened, Jang Ho inwardly tensed as he welcomed Geom Mugeuk.
“Please, come in.”
“Then pardon the intrusion.”
Geom Mugeuk stepped inside. The interior of the house was neatly arranged, just like Jang Ho’s personality.
“Is it right for a house where a man lives alone to be this clean?”
“I’m hardly ever home, so there’s no time for it to get messy.”
While Geom Mugeuk looked around the house, Jang Ho brewed tea and brought it over.
“I’m not sure if the tea will suit your taste.”
“It’s just right.”
“Has something happened?”
He did not think Geom Mugeuk would have come in the early morning merely to drink tea. And indeed, there was a reason Geom Mugeuk had come.
“I came to ask a favor of you, Lord Jang.”
“Please tell me.”
How could there be only one? He could grant ten, no, a hundred favors.
If he were asked to give his life, he would give it.
“Draw my face for me.”
“Pardon?”
“I want to leave behind a painting of myself as I am now.”
Jang Ho asked with a puzzled expression.
“Are there not painters of exceptional skill within the cult?”
“I want to leave behind a painting drawn by you, Lord Jang.”
Jang Ho looked troubled.
“You drew my back before, so now you should draw me from the front.”
In the past, Jang Ho had drawn Geom Mugeuk’s back as he stood on a cliff and given it to him as a gift. He had said that when his skill improved, he would draw him from the front as well, and Geom Mugeuk had not forgotten those words and had come to him like this.
From the look in Geom Mugeuk’s eyes as he gazed at him, Jang Ho could tell that he was asking sincerely.
“My skill is lacking, but I will do my best.”
Jang Ho led Geom Mugeuk to another room. It was the workroom where Jang Ho painted. On the table were several paintings he had drawn, each one displaying a level of skill that went beyond a mere hobby.
There was also a painting of Ian that he had not yet had the chance to give, and one of Seo Daeryong as well.
“Why haven’t you given these to the two of them?”
“They’re just practice pieces.”
“They’re far too fine to be called that. It’s a shame to leave them sitting here.”
In truth, Jang Ho had also wanted to give them as mementos. But when it came time to actually do so, he felt embarrassed. He did not think they were fine enough to give as gifts.
“Please sit there.”
Geom Mugeuk sat in the chair, and Jang Ho began drawing from a short distance away.
As he painted with Geom Mugeuk before him, that day naturally came back to him. Whenever he painted, that moment would sometimes surface in his mind. The image of Geom Mugeuk holding out a brush, paints, and paper to him.
Since that day, painting had greatly affected his life.
Living the life of the Demon Army Lord, with danger and missions following one after another, the moments he spent painting were his only time of rest.
At first, he had consciously painted only things far removed from murim. The moments he painted were when he could briefly leave murim behind and rest.
But now, he painted freely. He painted the subordinates of the Demon Army, the demon statues at the main headquarters, martial artists training in the drill grounds, and even subordinates who had died in battle. Painting, which had begun as a hobby, had now become his solace.
At last, Jang Ho completed the painting.
“This is far too beautified!”
“It is because you are handsome, Young Cult Leader.”
Looking at the painting, Geom Mugeuk grinned broadly.
“Never draw my brother!”
“May I ask why you asked me to draw this?”
“Won’t this painting sell for an incredible price? After all, it’s a painting of the Young Cult Leader drawn by none other than the Demon Army Lord of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. It’ll be worth whatever price one names.”
At Geom Mugeuk’s joke, Jang Ho laughed.
Of course, that was not the reason.
“I have killed the Heavenly Slaughter Star, and now I am trying to live my own life. I wanted to leave behind what expression I wore at this time, and what kind of gaze I looked at people with.”
The meaning contained in the painting was heavier than Jang Ho had thought.
“You entrusted such an important painting to me?”
“That is why I entrusted it to you.”
Geom Mugeuk looked at the painting again, pleased.
“I like it very much.”
“I will wrap it for you.”
Jang Ho wrapped the painting in a thin leather cloth so it would not be damaged, folded it carefully, and handed it to Geom Mugeuk.
Geom Mugeuk kept the painting close to his chest.
“I’ll be going. Don’t see me out. Thank you for the painting!”
As he left the workroom, Geom Mugeuk added one last thing.
“When I later ascend to the seat of Cult Leader, draw me then too. Sitting properly in the grand chair.”
“Yes! When that time comes, I will draw you even more handsomely!”
After Geom Mugeuk left, Jang Ho happened to turn his head, then flinched in surprise before smiling with an expression that said there was no helping him.
Before he knew it, the paintings of Ian and Seo Daeryong had vanished.
* * *
“Do my eyes droop this much? They don’t, do they?”
At Seo Daeryong’s words, Geom Mugeuk drew his sword and reflected his face in the blade.
“I think they do.”
After seeing his own reflection in the blade, Seo Daeryong let out a self-deprecating sigh.
“When did I get this old?”
Clack. The blade returned to its sheath.
“If you don’t like the painting, I’ll take it back.”
As if afraid it might be snatched away, Seo Daeryong pulled the painting toward himself.
“I like it. I really do.”
It was a painting drawn by none other than Jang Ho. On top of that, the goodwill of a drinking companion had been properly put to use, making him look far more handsome than he was in real life.
“Lord Jang’s painting skill is amazing.”
“Keep it safe and leave it to your son as a family heirloom. Later, it’ll sell for an enormous price.”
“As expected! The only one who looks out for my purse is our Young Cult Leader!”
Geom Mugeuk looked at the mountain of documents piled on the desk in the office of the Yellow Springs Pavilion. Just by looking at those documents, he could tell that Seo Daeryong was still suffering under an excessive workload these days.
“How have you been lately?”
“I work, train in martial arts, and when I go home, I play with the baby. It is frighteningly identical every day. Yesterday is today, and today is tomorrow. It feels as though I’ve fallen into a formation.”
Seo Daeryong reached out desperately from within the formation.
“Are you not leaving the cult? It would be even better if you were going out to play.”
“Why?”
“So you can take me with you when you go!”
He had tossed it out like a joke, but Geom Mugeuk readily agreed.
“Fine, let’s go.”
“Are you serious?”
“Go say goodbye to your son. Tell him his father is going out to play, so he should keep growing well. Tell Lady Dan as well to raise the child diligently on her own. If you’re abandoning your wife and child to go out, you might as well enjoy yourself without regrets.”
Seo Daeryong let out a sigh and shouted.
“When am I supposed to get to have fun?”
“Look forward to your next life.”
Though he spoke that way, Seo Daeryong’s face was full of joy.
“In truth, I’ve been so happy these days. So much that I wonder if it’s all right for me to be this happy. And because of that… sometimes I’m afraid this happiness might vanish in an instant.”
After having a child, that fear had grown even stronger. It was not his work being hard that made things difficult.
It was the fear that some misfortune might come, that something might happen to his child or his wife.
How could his inherently gloomy nature go anywhere? His growing happiness tore flesh from his own body to feed and raise his unease.
Geom Mugeuk knew that about Seo Daeryong better than anyone.
“You’ve forgotten who you are.”
“Who am I?”
Geom Mugeuk cleared his throat as though preparing to give a speech.
“A cold-hearted, power-oriented man, yet a real man who loves only one woman; a rebellious spirit who raises his hand alone when everyone else remains silent, and at the same time a pacifist; the owner of an impulsive nature who made a life-changing decision over a drink at an inn; the champion of the martial competition with a keen eye besides; the next Demon Saber who has opened the Conception and Governor Vessels; and my right-hand man, now with even a son, who possesses a clear soul.”
The moment he heard those words, Seo Daeryong choked up.
“You still have all of that memorized?”
“Of course.”
Several expressions had even been added. In particular, the words about possessing a clear soul were something the Mistress of Cheonhwa Pavilion had said, and he had remembered and added those as well.
“You were there at my beginning, so you will be there at the end too. You will adorn the final moment with me, so do not be anxious.”
Seo Daeryong smiled brightly.
“Hearing you say that makes me truly happy.”
“Now your anxiety has vanished completely, hasn’t it?”
“No. Now that my happiness has grown, I’ve become even more anxious.”
At Seo Daeryong’s joke, Geom Mugeuk laughed, and Seo Daeryong laughed along with him.
“I’m going.”
Geom Mugeuk was about to leave the room when Seo Daeryong suddenly asked from behind him.
“Why did you come today?”
“To give you the painting.”
“Is that truly all?”
Somehow, it did not feel as though he had come merely to deliver the painting.
The look in Geom Mugeuk’s eyes as he gazed at Seo Daeryong was gentle.
“I wanted to remember what all of you were like at this time.”
Leaving behind those words whose meaning was unclear, Geom Mugeuk walked out of the room.
“Remember what?”
When he called out, Geom Mugeuk’s answer came from far outside.
“Your drooping eyes!”
* * *
Geom Mugeuk was leaving the Yellow Springs Pavilion when someone was waiting for him.
Surprisingly, it was the Crescent Moon Faceless Guest.
“There is something I wish to ask you, Young Cult Leader, so I came to see you.”
From the trembling look in his eyes behind the mask, Geom Mugeuk could tell that he had mustered great courage.
“Speak.”
“I heard that the assassins of the Ghost Shadow Unit will all be leaving soon.”
As Cha Iran departed, the assassins under her had also decided to leave. Cha Iran had allowed her subordinates to choose as they wished. They could leave her and live new lives, or they could follow her to the end.
The problem was Sipchilgyo, with whom he was in love.
“I wish to continue living as a Faceless Guest from now on. If I tell her how I feel, I fear that it may force a choice upon her.”
“Are you afraid she will leave?”
The Crescent Moon Faceless Guest shook his head.
“No. If that is her choice, I intend to send her off with the utmost courtesy.”
What the Crescent Moon Faceless Guest was worried about now was not the possibility of rejection, but the possibility that she would accept.
“What if she lives here with me as a Faceless Guest, and later becomes unhappy?”
Seeing that he was already worrying that far ahead, it seemed he truly liked Sipchilgyo.
“Why are you asking me that?”
“Somehow, I thought that if it were you, Young Cult Leader, you would know what I should do.”
During the operation for the selection of the greatest beauty under heaven that they had carried out together, he had confirmed just how outstanding and remarkable Geom Mugeuk was.
Moreover, at that time, the Young Cult Leader had even arranged a separate opportunity for him and Sipchilgyo.
“If you had not let us meet that day, we would never have come this far.”
“So you want me to take responsibility?”
“No!”
The Crescent Moon Faceless Guest panicked, and Geom Mugeuk enjoyed the reaction.
Yes, since you have bravely come this far, I should tell you something that will help as much as possible. But Crescent Moon, when it comes to women, you and I are not so different.
“You said you were afraid you might force a choice upon her?”
“Yes.”
“This time, force the choice.”
The Crescent Moon Faceless Guest stared at Geom Mugeuk in surprise.
“Say, ‘I cannot give up either one, so only your choice remains.’ Force it on her like that. But tell her in advance. ‘Right now, I am the one forcing you, but later, you must force me to choose.’”
“What choice do you mean?”
It was a choice the Crescent Moon Faceless Guest had not expected.
“Let’s run away together!”
“!”
“Tell her not to endure and endure a difficult life until she reaches a point of no return, but to make sure she tells you before that happens. ‘Life as a Faceless Guest is too hard and too sickening for me, so I’ve decided to run away. Only your choice remains.’ Since you chose before, this time she should choose.”
Geom Mugeuk smiled as he spoke.
“I made it sound complicated, but what I mean is that you should live as Faceless Guests once without regrets, then run away together.”
The Faceless Guest’s eyes smiled like crescent moons. Now Geom Mugeuk understood why this Faceless Guest used the crescent moon design.
He bowed his head respectfully and expressed his gratitude.
“Thank you very much, Young Cult Leader.”
Geom Mugeuk watched him as he turned and walked away.
Yes, how could parting itself be what one cannot endure? What leaves regret and lingers in the heart is having it end without even being able to say anything, without being able to choose, without being able to do a single thing properly.
* * *
Ian was lost in thought in her room.
She thought of Cha Iran, who had come to see her earlier.
She had come to bid farewell, saying that she had decided to leave with the Sword King.
—I’ll come visit the inn next time.
—It’s an expensive inn, so earn plenty of money.
Cha Iran, who had been about to leave like that, turned back and said,
—May I say something not as your subordinate, but as another woman?
These were the last words Cha Iran left behind.
—Isn’t it time for that heart to truly start beating?
Ian knew very well what she had meant by those words.
‘Easy for you to say. When you know perfectly well whose heart it is.’
The words that followed actually came out of her mouth.
“When you know how many people’s lives and deaths depend on the owner of that heart.”
Just then, a voice came from behind her.
“Who depends on it?”
Startled, she turned around to find Geom Mugeuk standing behind her before she knew it.
“Young Cult Leader!”
“I could empty the whole house and you wouldn’t notice. What are you thinking about so deeply?”
Flustered, she blurted out whatever came to mind.
“You don’t know that a troop leader has more work to do than a young cult leader, do you? There are mountains of things I have to mind. Oh, right, Martial Artist Ak and Martial Artist Cha are leaving soon.”
“I heard from Brother Ak.”
“Ah, you met him?”
Geom Mugeuk nodded.
“He said he’d contact me once he opens the inn. Normally, I’d go with him to look for a location and help him build the place, but since Miss Cha is going with him, there’s no need to worry.”
When Ian thought of the Sword King and Cha Iran, she felt that the bonds between people were truly impossible to fathom.
They had once been enemies, then met as master and disciple, entered the contest for the Greatest Beauty Under Heaven together, became friends and subordinates, and now were leaving as strangers once more.
“Let’s go.”
“Where?”
“To find the real Ian.”
“Ah, the Pungnyu Tavern just opened, right? I’ll need a drink before I can take off my mask again.”
“No, farther than that.”
For an instant, Ian’s eyes sparkled as if wondering, Could it be?
“Let’s go get some air in the Central Plains.”
“Just the two of us?”
“Yes, the two of us.”
Ian’s face lit up brightly. It was an unconcealable joy, one that made the person who had asked her to come feel twice as pleased.
“Pack your things.”
Ian ran off and opened the wardrobe.
Slide.
Inside lay a small leather bag she had already packed.
“You had it all ready?”
“You always tell me to go all of a sudden. So now I keep everything prepared in advance.”
“Let’s go. Give me your bag.”
For some reason, Ian asked for a little time.
“How much time can you give me?”
“Half a shichen?”
“Please wait outside!”
Leaving her as she moved like an arrow, Geom Mugeuk went outside.
Half a shichen later, Ian emerged from the room.
Dressed in the splendid clothes she had bought during the contest for the Greatest Beauty Under Heaven, with makeup on as well, she was truly beautiful and alluring.
“It’s been a while since I went out, so I dressed up a little.”
Under Geom Mugeuk’s fixed gaze, she asked cautiously.
“Is it too much? Should I change and wear a bamboo hat?”
“No. I told you to live with that face, didn’t I? You’ve been saving that face far too much until now. Let’s go and put it to proper use this time.”
Ian shrugged for no reason and said,
“Will you be all right? This is the face that made it to the finals of the Greatest Beauty Under Heaven. No getting jealous later.”
“Don’t you get jealous when all the righteous heroines line up saying they like me.”
The two looked at each other and smiled broadly.
Walking out with her, Geom Mugeuk said with vigor,
“Let’s go, to the jianghu.”