All eyes were focused on the bride.
Ian entered wearing a splendid wedding gown, her face covered by a veil.
Behind her, women of the Cheonmajeon Guard Unit, also dressed in ceremonial attire, followed as if escorting her. Now that she was marrying the Young Leader, Cheonmajeon guards had been assigned to her as well.
Ian, walking out slowly, was nervous. So much so that she wondered if she had ever trembled like this since birth. There, ahead of her, Geom Mugeuk stood waiting for her.
No longer the Young Leader, no longer a Young Master, but as one man.
'Mugeuk.'
Ian, who had walked up slowly, stood before Geom Mugeuk. One of the women who had come out with her removed Ian's veil.
The moment her face was revealed.
"Waaaah!"
Exclamations burst from the guests. Ian, her bridal makeup applied beautifully, was truly gorgeous.
Then, a woman among the guests shouted.
"You're so beautiful!"
The one who shouted was Jin Haryeong. The Alliance Leaders, Palace Lords, and Sect Leaders sitting together in the front row all looked at her.
For her younger sister who was embarrassed by the focused attention, Jin Hagun shouted.
"The groom is handsome too!"
Geom Mugeuk and Ian both heard Jin Haryeong and Jin Hagun shouting.
Geom Mugeuk turned to Jin Hagun and Jin Haryeong and smiled brightly. Since it was a place where everyone was watching, he couldn't bring himself to say, "Thank you, my friends!"
Ian was truly grateful that Jin Haryeong, of all people, had said such words for her.
Because she knew how difficult it was for her to say those words.
'Thank you, Haryeong.'
Among the guests watching that scene were Ak Gunhak and Cha Iran as well.
Geom Mugeuk had invited them to sit with the Demon Lords in the second row, but they firmly declined and sat in the back.
It was because they thought they couldn't receive the same treatment as the Demon Lords after leaving the sect.
When Geom Mugeuk and Ian had met at the Hero's Inn and started seeing each other, they hadn't known they would marry so quickly.
"Aren't you envious?"
At Cha Iran's question, Ak Gunhak looked at her with a gaze asking what she meant.
"Of them getting married."
"Isn't this question usually something a man asks a woman?"
"Since the man isn't asking, I have to do it."
Ak Gunhak, who had been looking at Cha Iran, looked back at Geom Mugeuk and Ian. Seeing Geom Mugeuk grinning from ear to ear, Ak Gunhak spoke.
"Seeing him so happy, I think I feel a bit envious."
"Shall we do it too?"
Ak Gunhak was startled by her words, which came out as if she had been waiting for this.
"I'm joking. Anyone would think you'd been ambushed. Why are you so surprised?"
Cha Iran smiled bitterly and turned her gaze toward the wedding ceremony. Then, Ak Gunhak's answer suddenly came.
"You won't regret it?"
"!"
Cha Iran looked at Ak Gunhak with a surprised face.
"They say you regret marriage whether you do it or not? My personality is the type to try first."
At her refreshing answer, a smile formed at the corners of Ak Gunhak's lips.
Cha Iran thought the conversation would just end like this, but surprising words flowed from Ak Gunhak's mouth.
"We won't be able to have it this grandly."
It was also the words she had been waiting for more than anything.
"Let's call just those two. They'll become guests worth a hundred."
The two looked at the wedding ceremony again. Cha Iran's heart began pounding as much as Ian's had when the bride entered, and from that moment on, the wedding ceremony didn't even register in her eyes.
"The bride and groom will now pay their respects to both sets of parents."
Geom Mugeuk and Ian bowed to both sets of parents.
The two paid their respects first to Geom Ujin.
"Father, I will live well."
"Father, I will live well."
Some emotion flashed across Geom Ujin's face as he looked at the two.
Geom Mugeuk could tell what that emotion was.
An emotion he had never once seen from his father.
It was none other than happiness.
'Father, were you also someone who possessed the emotion called happiness?'
What moved Geom Mugeuk even more was the fact that he saw that emotion for the first time at his own wedding.
'Father, I saw it. I saw it clearly, so from now on, I'll try to make that expression appear often.'
Geom Ujin spoke in a calm tone.
"Live well from now on."
Added to that was a whisper meant only for Ian.
"If that fellow causes you trouble, tell me."
Ian held back her tears with effort.
How could she ever repay Geom Ujin's kindness?
"Yes, then please scold him, Father."
At Ian's quiet answer, Geom Ujin smiled brightly. Father, please smile like that at your son too!
Geom Mugeuk sensed Hwi hiding behind his father. He had intentionally revealed his presence. Geom Mugeuk understood. That Hwi had conveyed his congratulations in his own way.
Geom Mugeuk looked in that direction and slightly bowed his head.
'Thank you, Uncle Hwi.'
Geom Mugeuk and Ian turned and walked toward Gwon Ma.
"Father, I will live well."
"Father, I will live well."
Seeing the two standing side by side in wedding attire, the corners of Gwon Ma's eyes turned slightly red. This was a man who wouldn't bat an eye even if the world collapsed.
"Father, I will make Ian happy."
At Geom Mugeuk's promise, Gwon Ma nodded.
Ian couldn't even look at Gwon Ma. Because if she saw his face, tears would surely fall and ruin all her makeup.
"Live happily, both of you."
"Yes, Father."
"......."
The Iron Fists of Donggwonmun all rose from their seats and roared in unison with tremendous force.
Cheon Sohui shouted as if leading the chorus.
"Senior Brother, be happy!"
The Iron Fists all shouted together. At least for this moment, he was not the Young Leader, but a senior brother who had once trained together, sweating side by side.
And they were proud that Geom Mugeuk was their senior brother.
"Senior Brother, be happy!"
Among the guests watching that sight were Cheongmyeon and Seo Jin as well.
"Squad Leader Seo."
"Yes, First Squad Leader."
"Take on the position of Ghost Shadow Leader from now on."
At those words, Seo Jin was greatly surprised.
Ian had entrusted the position of Ghost Shadow Leader to Cheongmyeon upon her marriage. Yet now he was handing that position over to Seo Jin.
"I have already spoken to the Great Leader and received permission."
"Why so suddenly?"
"I am returning to the Valley of Evil."
Cheongmyeon had decided to return under the Geugak Soma.
"The Soma has agreed to accept me."
When they had met while fighting against the forces behind the scenes, the Geugak Soma had told him that he could return if he wished. His heart had been half-inclined, but Ian stepping down from the Ghost Shadow Leader position served as the occasion for him to make up his mind to return.
Half the reason he had taken the position of First Squad Leader of the Ghost Shadow Division was because of Geom Mugeuk, and half was because of Ian. Now that half was gone, he had resolved to return.
"Can I really take on such a heavy responsibility?"
"You can. And from the beginning, the Great Leader was thinking of making Squad Leader Seo the Leader if it wasn't me."
It was the moment Seo Jin became the Ghost Shadow Leader.
It was the Ghost Shadow Division that would continue to serve as Geom Mugeuk's shadow organization and direct subordinate unit. Although it now followed the Young Leader, it was also an organization that would grow incomparably once Geom Mugeuk became the Leader.
That position had ultimately been taken by Seo Jin, who had been Geom Mugeuk's closest friend. Fate was somehow continuing to tie their relationship together like this.
Seo Jin asked carefully.
"Will you be alright, Team Leader?"
"I am not alright. How could I be alright when I'll be in the position of a returned prodigal?"
But Cheongmyeon's eyes behind the mask were smiling.
"Still, I don't regret the days I spent here."
Seo Jin felt regret. If he had known they would part like this, he would have talked much more with him.
"Let's drink our fill at today's banquet."
"Let's do that, Leader Seo."
Meanwhile, the ceremony was now moving to the next order.
"Now, next will be the wedding officiant."
The Pungcheon Leader, who had stayed up all night practicing the officiant speech, took a deep breath and walked out from behind the folding screen with the eyes of someone entering a battlefield.
'I can't forget what I memorized!'
The Pungcheon Leader walked out with the most dignified expression possible.
His eyes met with Sobaekta, who was sitting in the front row.
*My disciple, have you been well?*
*Master, have you been well?*
*As you can see, I am doing well.*
*I wished to see you.*
The Pungcheon Leader wanted to show Sobaekta how well he was living here and how important a person he was.
The Pungcheon Leader stood facing Geom Mugeuk and Ian.
All the guests' eyes were focused on him. Having lived his life as the Pungcheon Leader, he was not someone to be nervous under such attention.
The Pungcheon Leader looked at Geom Mugeuk and Ian. Though he was not their parent, this moment was incredibly moving.
Then, from far away between the two, the figure of Go Wol was visible in the guest seats. He was sitting among the guests, looking at him and smiling.
The moment he saw that smile, countless past events filled and rushed through his head, carrying away the officiant speech he had memorized all night.
'*Gasp!*'
He couldn't remember anything.
The Pungcheon Leader was bewildered. He had memorized it so thoroughly; how could he not remember? He felt as if he had been afflicted by some sorcery.
'*Say something, anything!*'
He had to improvise, but perhaps because his desire to do well was too great? His mind had already turned white like the walls of the Geugak Soma's room.
The Pungcheon Leader's face flushed bright red. He truly felt like hiding using the Space-Time Shift Technique.
Then, Geom Mugeuk's voice transmission flew in.
—*More than anyone else's congratulations, I want to receive the Leader's. Just a single word of congratulations will do.*
The moment he heard those words, the Pungcheon Leader's flustered heart calmly settled.
*Whew, to think I'm receiving your help even on a day like this!*
Yes, if it were someone else, maybe, but the other party was Geom Mugeuk. Why would he need some sweetly memorized officiant speech? Just looking at his face like this, there was so much to say.
Soon, the Pungcheon Leader opened his mouth.
"Today, I will conduct the officiant speech in a comfortable manner, speaking directly to the marrying couple. Guests, please understand."
Having asked for their understanding thus, the Pungcheon Leader spoke to the two.
"I'm truly glad that my first time officiating a wedding is for you two."
The Pungcheon Leader gazed at Geom Mugeuk.
"I thought you would never marry."
There was certainly good reason to think so.
"When you see an evil bastard, you can't just pass by. When you see a wronged person, you can't pass by. When you see someone stuck, you somehow try to help them through. When someone misunderstands, you clear the misunderstanding. When someone is bound in shackles, you free them. Where in the world do you have the leisure to get married?"
Among the guests, those who knew Geom Mugeuk all smiled faintly. Those words all applied to them.
Those who didn't know Geom Mugeuk could instantly understand what kind of person he was from those words.
Especially Yong Jinhu could understand why his father had tried to introduce the Young Leader to him. He could also understand why the Martial Alliance Leader had come here personally.
Geom Mugeuk looked at Ian, who stood beside him, and shouted.
"I liked her too much to hold back!"
Laughter burst from all around at Geom Mugeuk's shout. Ian's face turned red and she lowered her head.
As Geom Mugeuk lightened the mood, the Pungcheon Leader felt even more at ease.
"Among the countless promises a person can make, I believe the hardest promise to keep is the promise to protect another person for life."
The Pungcheon Leader's gaze turned toward Go Wol in the distance. The reason he had abandoned the position of Leader and come to the Young Leader was because of his heart wanting to protect Go Wol.
Go Wol nodded with eyes that said he knew all of his feelings.
The Pungcheon Leader's gaze, which had been on Go Wol, turned back to Geom Mugeuk.
"You are the person I know who can keep that promise best. How about it? Can you protect your heart for a lifetime?"
"Yes! My heart will beat with her forever."
This time, the Pungcheon Leader looked at Ian.
"Your man is one who meddles in all the world's affairs. If a beggar blocks the road crying, I would kick him aside, but your man is someone who would crouch down beside him. You know this and are marrying him, right?"
At the Pungcheon Leader's question, Ian answered in a low voice.
"Yes."
"Then that's enough."
The Pungcheon Leader smiled brightly and added.
"Be happy."
With that, the officiant speech ended. Applause and cheers burst from all around.
As he came down from the platform, Sobaekta bowed his head in respect.
*Master, you were magnificent!*
*You rascal, who do you think I am? All the Central Plains bastards are beneath me!*
The Pungcheon Leader's back was drenched in sweat.
The next part of the ceremony continued.
Jo Chunbae and his wife watched the proceedings at ease. Normally, sitting this far forward would have made them uncomfortable, but Jang Ho and Seo Daeryong’s families were seated on either side of them.
Beside them was Gang Dal, who had gone from head of the Jeongan Branch to Third Executive Captain of Hwangcheon Pavilion. Clever and diligent in everything he did, he was already being evaluated as someone who, at this rate, might rise all the way to Chief Executive Captain.
Near them, Chungui and Maui were discussing medicine.
Geom Mugeuk had arranged their seats side by side so that the two could talk about the healing arts.
Having heard in advance that she would be coming, Maui greeted her first, and afterward the two continued conversing about medicine.
Chungui’s back was straight, and she no longer rubbed her limbs because they ached. Maui, too, had completely freed herself from the wounds of the past, and her face had brightened as if she had become an entirely different person.
Pyo Gigwang, Chungui’s disciple, had never seen his master so excitedly talking about medicine before.
Pyo Gigwang’s gaze turned toward Geom Mugeuk. To think that he would show such consideration for Chungui even on the day of his own wedding—he could only surrender completely.
Beside them sat the Master of Cheonhwaru. Her emotion was unlike that of anyone else. This was the moment the fate she had glimpsed in advance became reality.
And the one who had shown it to her had not been Geom Mugeuk, but Ian. The reason Ian had told her she was special was because she had foreseen this very fate.
Next to her sat Goeak, a master of the unorthodox factions. Goeak had once helped Geom Mugeuk and left, and though he might ignore other matters, he had attended with the thought that he had to come to Geom Mugeuk’s wedding, at least.
In his entire life, he had rarely attended anyone else’s wedding, and this was the first time he had ever sat so quietly through one.
In the row behind them were Craftsman Gwak of the iron workshop, and Gwak Yeong, an iron workshop master from the Murim Alliance. She had come at Geom Muyang’s invitation.
“Starting tomorrow, take part in forging the treasured sword.”
“Truly?”
Her talent was far too outstanding to have her make only iron swords simply because she had come from the Murim Alliance.
“Instead, I’ll be supervising you even more strictly.”
“Thank you.”
Gwak Yeong was overjoyed. She thought that perhaps she might be able to make a proper sword for the First Young Master. My friend, look forward to it.
In the meantime, the wedding ceremony came to an end.
“The bride and groom shall now greet the guests.”
Geom Mugeuk and Ian bowed deeply and politely.
“Thank you!”
After greeting them in a loud voice, Geom Mugeuk looked out over the guests who had come to congratulate him. All the people who had died before his regression were alive.
They were looking at him with smiles. Geom Mugeuk smiled brightly back at them. They would think he was smiling because he was happy to be married, but this smile held a different meaning.
The place Geom Mugeuk’s gaze turned to last was Ian.
The moment their eyes met,
the two naturally moved toward one another and kissed. In that instant, the countless gazes watching them vanished from their awareness. In all the world, only the two of them remained.
Along with cheers erupting from every direction,
Bang! Baang! Baang! Bangbangbang!
Fireworks burst in the sky. Amid fireworks blooming with incomparable beauty,
“Now then, we will begin the celebratory banquet.”