They had finally arrived.
Geom Mugeuk and Ian greeted their two fathers first, then bowed to the two Alliance Lords in turn.
Baek Jagang said to Geom Mugeuk with a smile,
"I was wondering why you hadn't come to taste my cooking. You had fallen in love."
"I believe you will have to prepare meals for two from now on."
"Of course I will. Come visit anytime."
Han Seogyeong looked at Ian and thought of her deceased older sister.
"Your mother would have been so happy to see you like this."
Ian looked up at the sky.
'Are you watching? Come to think of it, I've been so distracted today that I haven't even thought of Mother. Please forgive me.'
That was as far as her heart would go regarding her mother. She did not try to delve deeper. She stopped at the entrance because she knew that place was filled only with pain and longing. Because she believed her mother would have wanted it that way.
"The Ice Palace will always be open for you. Never forget."
"Yes, thank you, Aunt."
It was the first time she had heard the word "Aunt" directly from her, so Han Seogyeong's face brightened radiantly.
Watching Geom Mugeuk and Ian go to greet the Demon Lords, Geom Woojin said proudly,
"I was the first to marry off my son."
It was a boast brought up while recalling the day of the Three Faction Summit when they had bragged about their children. Today was a certain victory.
Jin Pacheon conceded defeat.
"It stings, but I have lost."
But Baek Jagang had no intention of conceding so easily.
"We may have lost in marriage, but who sees their grandchild first is yet to be seen."
Baek Jagang glanced at Bisa-in and Han Seol sitting before him.
He had heard in passing earlier that those two children had grown close lately. Jin Pacheon had naturally grown anxious, but he too had one final move.
"You may only see a daughter-in-law, but I can see both a granddaughter-in-law and a grandson-in-law."
At those words, Geom Woojin and Baek Jagang laughed.
So Baekta, who had been watching, couldn't believe it. The Demonic Cult Leader, the Martial Alliance Lord, and the Sa Do Alliance Lord were engaging in such childish competition!
Meanwhile, Geom Mugeuk and Ian went to where the Eight Demon Lords and other experts were seated. They first greeted the experts from outside respectfully, then went to the Eight Demon Lords.
"Elder!"
Geom Mugeuk went to Hyeolcheon Doma first. Even with the other Demon Lords beside him, the first person he always sought was Hyeolcheon Doma.
And yet, Hyeolcheon Doma wore a somewhat sulky expression for some reason.
"Why do you look like that?"
Then Ilhwa Sword Lord, who was beside him, quietly explained,
"He had been practicing officiating the wedding ceremony."
"When did I!"
It seemed he had expected to be asked to officiate. Geom Mugeuk consoled him.
"I thought you wouldn't want to do it again after having done it once as the Hwangcheon Pavilion Lord. And think about it. Our broad-minded elder here would quickly let it go if I spoke to him like this, but the Wind Heaven Cult Leader would hold it against me for three years."
Just then, a chilly voice came from behind.
"Three years? Not thirty?"
When he turned around, the Wind Heaven Cult Leader was approaching.
"Now the tables have turned. You are talking behind my back, and I appear."
Geom Mugeuk laughed and placated him.
"Cult Leader! How could that be? I was joking because I knew you were coming. Please accept a drink from me."
The Wind Heaven Cult Leader accepted the drink from Geom Mugeuk.
"Thank you so much for today. I will live well, as you advised."
Ian also bowed respectfully alongside Geom Mugeuk.
The Wind Heaven Cult Leader emptied the cup Geom Mugeuk had given him. And now, he conveyed the sincerity he hadn't been able to express when officiating earlier.
"Don't tire yourself. I............ still need you in the future."
The Wind Heaven Cult Leader said such words without hesitation, even in a place with the Cult Leader, the Alliance Lords, and the Eight Demon Lords.
"Yes. I won't tire."
"That's good enough."
Geom Mugeuk received a cup of liquor from each of the Eight Demon Lords.
He received the first from Hyeolcheon Doma.
"We're going to read books together now."
"I suppose I should buy some new books."
Hyeolcheon Doma couldn't bring himself to tell him not to come because Ian was right beside him. Still, he said this much, since Ian was by his side now.
"I'll make sure to bring my nightclothes."
Ian poured liquor for Ilhwa Sword Lord.
"I ask for your continued guidance in the future."
Because Ilhwa Sword Lord was the most outstanding swordsman in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult after Geom Woojin and Geom Mugeuk.
Ilhwa Sword Lord's gaze toward Ian was different from before. Because she was now the wife of the Young Cult Leader.
"What is the Little Demon Empress's goal?"
Hearing herself called the Little Demon Empress, Ian started. It was a moment when the reality of her marriage truly sank in. After a brief pause, Ian answered calmly,
"To see the pinnacle of swordsmanship."
Ilhwa Sword Lord nodded. If their path was the same,
"We might walk it together."
Chwima poured liquor into the Ice Palace chalice for Geom Mugeuk. It was a formal occasion, so he did so respectfully.
"This is the liquor I prepared for today."
Geom Mugeuk drank with Ian.
"It's truly delicious."
"I brought out the finest liquor I possess."
He always said it was the best, but an even tastier liquor kept appearing.
"When I drink the liquor at Lord Chwima's wedding, I will reassess then."
The Demon Lords who heard this laughed.
Seopheon Majon watched Geom Mugeuk's life advancing step by step and looked forward to the day he would ascend to the seat of Cult Leader.
Ma Bul offered an unnecessary jab.
"The older brother hasn't even married yet; is it okay for the younger brother to marry first?"
However, a bright and clear radiance that appeared when he was in good spirits flowed from Ma Bul's body as he poured the liquor.
Poison King spoke to Ian.
"Little Demon Empress, stop by the Cheon Dokrim when you have time and help me with my work."
Though he said help, he meant to teach her about poisons.
"Yes, I will definitely visit you."
The two walked to Geugeuk Soma last.
Geugeuk Soma took out two masks from his bosom and handed them over. They were the Hwanrak Demon Masks that he and the maskless guests were currently wearing.
"They are masks worn during festivals. I prepared them as a gift with the meaning that you should live your lives like a festival forever."
They had previously received ordinary masks as gifts, but this was their first Hwanrak Demon Mask.
"Yes, we will live our lives like a festival forever."
The two put on the masks and faced each other. Inside the masks, the three of them smiled brightly.
Just then, Geom Woojin rose from his seat and walked over to where the Demon Lords were.
Geom Mugeuk and Ian took off their masks and tucked them away.
Geom Woojin said to Chwima,
"Did you bring it?"
"Yes, Cult Leader."
Chwima brought a liquor bottle from behind.
"It is the spirit of Daechurim."
He couldn't imagine how much distress Chwima had suffered worrying that it might spoil. Yet today, the Cult Leader had ordered only one bottle of the spirit to be brought.
Geom Woojin took the spirit and poured it for the leaders as he spoke.
"This is the liquor that represents our cult."
Hearing those words, Chwima was moved. The Cult Leader had originally considered it a superstition to divine the peace of the Divine Cult based on whether the Daechurim spirit spoiled or not.
But today, the Cult Leader had called the spirit the liquor that represented the cult.
"Now, everyone raise your cups."
His low voice rang clearly in the ears of every guest in the great banquet hall.
Who would dare defy his words? Everyone filled their cups and raised them.
When Geom Woojin raised his cup, everyone stood and raised their cups.
"Thank you for attending my son's wedding. Let us toast."
This time, Geom Mugeuk was deeply moved. He had never expected his father to have the spirit brought personally and to propose a toast himself like this.
It was a moment that made him realize once again just how happy his father was today.
Everyone there emptied their cups. It was a moment of drinking with the Heavenly Demon. For the demonic people, it was a moment of tremendous glory.
Even for a non-demonic person, this was a moment one could never forget for a lifetime.
After the toast, Geom Woojin returned to his seat and conversed with the Alliance Lords.
'Thank you, Father.'
Geom Mugeuk went to Geom Muyang, who was standing a short distance away.
"Hyung, let's have a drink together."
"I'm fine."
"Did you forget? You are a full-fledged member of our friend group too."
Geom Mugeuk took Geom Muyang to where his friends were.
"Did you wait long?"
Geom Mugeuk emptied his cup with his brother and friends.
Geom Mugeuk hadn't expelled the intoxication with internal energy, so his face was flushed. For today, he had decided simply to get drunk.
None of the friends there had expelled their intoxication either. Everyone was pleasantly drunk.
Jin Ha-gun spoke to the two of them.
"It was tough, wasn't it? Take it easy now."
He neither congratulated nor thanked them. Having said such things countless times to people until now, this meant they should rest, at least in this place.
They had originally planned to join forces with Bisa-in to tease Geom Mugeuk. They had intended to mock the youngest for getting married.
But seeing the two of them arrive exhausted, they didn't feel like it.
"Still, it's comfortable and nice being with friends."
Bisa-in asked Geom Mugeuk,
"Didn't you tell me before to have about seven children and line them up? How many do you plan to have?"
At the talk of children, Ian's face flushed slightly.
"Wouldn't one pretty daughter who resembles the young lady be enough?"
Then Ian said,
"We need one son who resembles you, too."
Then Jin Ha-gun shook his head and said,
"That would be a problem. If he has a son resembling that friend, our children will suffer."
Bisa-in sighed theatrically, resigning himself to the inevitable.
Han Seol offered a different possibility.
"Unexpectedly, a taciturn son quite unlike his father could be born."
Jin Ha-ryeong imagined such a son.
"The father keeps chattering away, and the little son listens maturely. Wouldn't that be a sight?"
Everyone laughed at her words.
They all drank together. Indeed, with Geom Mugeuk there, the gathering felt complete.
Then exciting music began to play from the stage. Dancers who had changed their clothes were dancing to the music.
If the piece played earlier had been elegant, this one was exciting.
Bisa-in quietly rose from his seat.
They thought he might formally offer congratulations, but what followed was an action that surprised everyone.
Bisa-in began to dance lightly to the music. He was someone who had vowed there would be no more dancing in his life.
No one had imagined Bisa-in would get up and dance while drinking, so everyone watched with surprised expressions.
"Did something happen during my wedding?"
Despite Geom Mugeuk's joke, Bisa-in gave himself to the music. He didn't care about the attention around him at all. He wasn't embarrassed.
"It's a good day, isn't it?"
It was neither a practiced dance nor a grand one. It was simply a dance of joy.
This dance was his congratulatory performance for Geom Mugeuk.
Once again today, he showed Geom Mugeuk by example what kind of Alliance Lord he should become. He couldn't live exactly like that, but at least he could see the direction. Because in life, direction matters more than speed.
'Congratulations, friend, and thank you.'
Han Seol, who had been watching Bisa-in dance, rose from her seat.
"Are you going to sing?"
Geom Mugeuk had asked that because she had sung while dancing in the past.
"No, I want to dance too."
Han Seol began to sway lightly and dance beside Bisa-in.
Geom Mugeuk was startled.
"Those two have definitely been bitten by a venomous insect that causes madness, spending so much time together lately."
But there was another person bitten by that venomous insect. Jin Ha-ryeong stood up.
"I can't be left out when it comes to dancing."
"What's with you, too?"
"None of our alliance's experts came today."
Meaning there was no reason to be embarrassed.
Jin Ha-ryeong began to sway gently beside the two of them.
Of course, the Cult Leader and the Alliance Lords, the Demon Lords and the experts all watched them dance. Since it wasn't the first time, no one was surprised anymore.
Geom Mugeuk looked at Jin Ha-gun.
"Your sister is starting to go mad too."
Just then, Jin Ha-gun slowly rose from his seat.
"Why so serious? Ha-gun, come to your senses. You're not like this."
Of course, Jin Ha-gun wasn't like this. He hadn't been, yet he had become someone who would say such things.
"Didn't you all put on a congratulatory performance when I became the Young Alliance Lord? Today is your wedding day; there's no reason I can't join in."
Jin Ha-gun began to dance too.
Not all of them were dancing with big movements. Everyone swayed gently, pleasantly.
Geom Mugeuk furtively glanced at his older brother.
“Want to die?”
At his brother’s single remark, Geom Mugeuk laughed.
“Right, so not everyone was bitten by a venomous bug.”
Geom Mugeuk looked at Ian.
At the look in his eyes that said, Let’s go too! Ian looked toward Geom Ujin.
Father is watching.
So what? He’s watching his son and daughter-in-law dance.
Her hesitation did not last long. Since Bisa-in had danced without even being told to, and all their friends had risen, how could they remain seated?
Let’s go.
Let’s go! If you’re truly embarrassed, don’t we have masks?
Geom Mugeuk and Ian also rose and began dancing with them.
Since Ian was in front of Geom Ujin and the Fist Demon, she truly only swayed her upper body ever so slightly.
The ones who were truly shocked were the ordinary guests.
Their eyes widened in astonishment. The successor of the Divine Cult, the successor of the Murim Alliance, the successor of the Evil Dao Alliance, and the successor of the Ice Palace were all dancing.
It was, quite literally, the entire future of the murim dancing.
There had never been a banquet like this in the history of the murim. It was not a formal banquet, but a festival where the bride and groom danced together with their friends.
Watching them dance, Yong Jamyeong said to his son,
“Son, whether you inherit the family business or do something else, whatever it is, work hard at it. It feels like a wonderful era is coming for you all.”
Geom Ujin, who was watching, wore an expression that said they were hopeless, but the corners of his mouth were smiling.
Baek Jagang’s small eyes gleamed as he watched the dancing youths.
“The Young Cult Leader makes my blood boil. He makes me want to return to my youth and mingle with him.”
Jin Paecheon, who was listening, felt much the same. Even if he returned to his younger days, with his personality he doubted he would dance with them, but at least he completely agreed with the part about his blood boiling.
The Eight Demon Venerables drank as they watched them dance. Seeing those young people dancing to the lively music stirred a passion in their hearts.
They drank while recalling their youth, now gone. The young Soul-Capturing Demon Venerable wanted to rush out.
Geom Mugeuk shouted to the guests,
“Anyone who wants to dance, let’s all dance!”
At those words, Sipchilgyo rose from her seat as if she had been waiting.
“I want to dance too.”
At Sipchilgyo’s words, the Crescent Moon Faceless Guest sprang to his feet.
“Let’s dance!”
This was what made masks so nice. The two began dancing without hesitation, and the Faceless Guests around them began circling them in a bizarre dance. Since they were people who did bizarre things on a regular basis, the sight did not seem strange at all. Only now did they truly seem like Faceless Guests.
Jo Chunbae looked at his wife and was smacked on the back.
“Don’t be ridiculous!”
Everyone enjoyed this exhilarating banquet.
Because they all instinctively knew it would happen only once in a lifetime, their hips swayed to the exciting music.
Amid the gradually rising heat, Geom Mugeuk shouted to the musicians,
“Play something even more exciting!”