The moment he heard the news that the child had been born, Geom Ujin flew over as swiftly as light.
When he stood before the door, his heart trembled.
It had not trembled even when he fought the Heavenly Slaughter Star.
As soon as Geom Ujin entered, he went straight to Ian.
“Are you feeling all right?”
“Yes, Father.”
When Ian tried to sit up, the gentle energy Geom Ujin released enveloped her and pressed her back down.
“You’ve been through a lot.”
It was only a few words, but Geom Ujin’s feelings could be sensed in their warmth.
Geom Ujin’s gaze turned toward the baby lying beside Ian.
Over the years, Geom Mugeuk had discovered many new expressions on his father’s face. Today, he saw yet another.
“Congratulations on becoming a grandfather.”
For once, Geom Ujin could not hide his emotions. He was moved in a way that words could not express. It was a joy distinctly different from that of having a child himself.
“Hold your granddaughter, Father.”
Geom Ujin looked at the Fist Demon.
“Have you held her yet?”
“I’ll hold her later, when she’s a little bigger.”
The baby was so tiny that he felt awkward holding her with his large body and hands. Even the Fist Demon of the world was completely flustered before his first granddaughter.
Geom Mugeuk picked up the child and handed her to his father.
Geom Ujin carefully took the baby into his arms. It had been an extremely long time since he had held a baby, and even Geom Ujin was tense.
At some point, he had forgotten. That every life in this world began this small.
Yet the baby felt heavy to Geom Ujin. Heavier than any other existence in the world.
The gaze with which Geom Ujin looked down at the baby trembled.
A son who resembled his dead wife, and a granddaughter who looked as though she had been carved from that very son.
The baby’s faint breathing shook Geom Ujin’s heart with a resonance greater than that of the incantations of the Nine Flames Demon Art.
“Have you chosen a name?”
“Please name her, Father.”
When Geom Ujin stared at him in surprise, Geom Mugeuk nodded. He and Ian had already decided on this.
“There was a name your mother wanted to give you if she ever had a daughter.”
Geom Ujin spoke as he gazed at his granddaughter.
“Hayeon (夏緣), Geom Hayeon.”
Ha, meaning summer, and yeon, meaning connection. Whether it was coincidence or fate, no one could know, but the character for connection had found its way into the child’s name as well.
Ian looked at Geom Mugeuk and nodded, then said with a radiant smile,
“It’s such a beautiful name.”
Geom Mugeuk took his daughter back into his arms and said,
“Geom Hayeon, from now on, that is your name.”
At that moment, the sound of bells rang out from far beyond the window.
It was not an urgent sound, but a soft, lingering chime.
They were the bells rung whenever a joyful event occurred within the cult.
Every demon stopped in their tracks. They all knew that the Little Demon Queen had safely given birth.
The Blood Heaven Saber Demon’s hand paused as he read his book. No moving passage in its pages could compare with the emotion of this moment.
On the training ground, the One-Flower Sword Venerable raised his sword high toward the heavens.
The Drunken Demon lifted his cup into the air in a toast, while the Poison King released the poisonous insect he had been struggling to hold—for today, at least.
The Demon Buddha quietly recited prayers, wishing for the baby’s health.
The Soul-Seizing Demon Venerable laughed loudly like a madwoman after soothing wandering souls, while the Extreme Evil Little Demon, who had been staring at a white wall, smiled without making a sound.
Seo Daeryong, watching investigators interrogate a criminal, suddenly thrust his hand into the air and shouted hurrah. Jang Ho, who had just been departing on an operation, shouted with the demon warriors inside the large carriage.
“Little Demon Queen! Congratulations on your safe delivery!”
***
“I’ll put her to sleep.”
Geom Mugeuk took Hayeon into his arms. As soon as she entered her father’s embrace, her crying grew louder.
“She drank so much milk, but she still won’t sleep.”
Hayeon woke almost every hour, so Ian had not been able to sleep properly. Seo Daeryong had said it was his first time learning that babies woke so often. She really did wake frequently.
“She isn’t sick, is she?”
Geom Mugeuk placed a hand on Hayeon’s forehead.
“She doesn’t seem to have a fever.”
Being a martial arts expert and raising a child were entirely separate matters. Just as martial arts had no end, neither did child-rearing. A single fist could bring down a cliff, but it could not stop a crying baby.
There was no method to counter it.
“I’ll watch her, so get some sleep.”
“Thank you.”
At that moment, a presence could be sensed outside. From that presence alone, Geom Mugeuk knew who had come visiting at this late hour.
“Yeon, let’s go for a walk in the courtyard with Daddy.”
When Geom Mugeuk carried the baby into the courtyard, his father was already there.
“What brings you here at this hour?”
“I simply couldn’t sleep, so I went for a walk and happened to pass by.”
As if that were true. He had surely come after hearing that Ian was struggling with childcare.
“I’ll watch her for an hour. The two of you get some sleep.”
“You will, Father?”
Geom Ujin nodded.
“How can we ever thank you?”
Without hesitation, Geom Mugeuk handed Hayeon over. The crying Hayeon stopped and looked up at her grandfather.
Perhaps it was because she was in unfamiliar arms. He turned around with his granddaughter, who was staring at him with her eyes opened wide.
“Hayeon, let’s go play with Grandfather.”
Hayeon did not cry until they had left the room.
When Geom Mugeuk returned to the room, Ian had heard everything he and his father had said outside.
“Will Father be all right?”
“He’s not just anyone. He’s my father. He’ll be fine, so don’t worry and let’s sleep.”
Geom Mugeuk lay down on the bed beside Ian.
Ian, who had been sleeping poorly for some time, soon drifted off. Geom Mugeuk then rose silently from the bed and left the room.
‘Of course he won’t be all right!’
The two of them were already at their wits’ end, so how could his father possibly get Hayeon to sleep?
Geom Mugeuk immediately shot into the air.
Once he disappeared, Ian opened her eyes in bed. That worrywart would never be able to sleep peacefully after leaving their daughter with his father.
‘Fine. At least for tonight, let the Geom family take care of our Hayeon.’
By the time Ian had fallen into a quiet sleep, Geom Mugeuk had reached his father’s residence.
He expected to hear Hayeon crying, but the house was silent.
When Geom Mugeuk entered the room, he was startled by the scene before him.
His father and Hayeon were both wearing flower-patterned pajamas of the same design. It seemed he had prepared flower-patterned baby pajamas in advance, tailored to fit Hayeon.
Hayeon was sleeping soundly in her grandfather’s arms.
When Geom Mugeuk opened his eyes wide in astonishment, his father gestured for silence.
Then he carefully laid Hayeon down on the bed.
—How in the world did you do that?
Worried that he might wake her, Geom Mugeuk sent a telepathic message.
—Though I may not look it, I raised two sons.
Come to think of it, his father had once said something similar. He had spoken of carrying his feverish older brother and running to the physician, while treating his own raging fever by wiping himself down with lukewarm water. By the time his second child came along, he had gained that much composure.
—That was incredible, Father.
Geom Mugeuk went over to his daughter. If she could sleep this peacefully, why had she given her mother such a hard time?
—It seems she already realized what kind of person her grandfather is.
Indeed, whose daughter was she? How could she lack such discernment? Yes, there was absolutely no harm in making a good impression on this man.
Geom Ujin smiled as he looked down at Hayeon.
—I’ll watch her from time to time.
***
A new painting had been hung in Geom Mugeuk’s room.
The painting of him dancing with his friends on his wedding day had been pushed into a corner, and paintings of Hayeon now occupied its place.
There was one from when she had been a newborn, another of her taking her first steps, and even one of her wearing a small wooden sword—barely two handspans long—at her waist.
As the child grew, Jang Ho’s skill at painting had improved considerably as well.
“Time really does fly.”
It seemed like only yesterday that she had been born, yet she was already running about and speaking quite well.
Geom Mugeuk turned his head toward the window.
Someone poked their head over the wall, then quickly ducked back down.
As Geom Mugeuk left the room, he said,
“Why are you peeking in so furtively?”
The Blood Heaven Saber Demon then entered the courtyard.
“What do you mean, peeking? I was just passing by and happened to glance over.”
“While using your lightness skill?”
Geom Mugeuk had a good idea why the Blood Heaven Saber Demon had come.
“If you came to see Hayeon, you’re a little too late.”
For an instant, disappointment flashed across the Blood Heaven Saber Demon’s face.
“What, the Cult Leader isn’t even doing any work?”
“Apparently not.”
The Blood Heaven Saber Demon gave a hollow laugh.
“Does he like having a granddaughter that much?”
It was not merely because the Cult Leader liked her. Hayeon herself adored her grandfather. Even while playing with her mother and father, she would say that she missed her grandfather and ask them to take her to him.
That was Ian’s time to rest. She could quietly enjoy a cup of tea, and sometimes even practice her martial arts.
The Blood Heaven Saber Demon suddenly said,
“So it’s finally this year.”
Geom Mugeuk nodded.
The five years he had promised his father would end this year. In fact, it would be this very month, only a few days from now.
He had asked his father to give him five years. When he asked again at the end of that period, if his father’s dream was still to unify the martial world, Geom Mugeuk had said that he would stand at the forefront of that war.
“Time really does pass quickly.”
It had seemed like that day would never come, but after having and raising a child, it had arrived before he knew it.
“You rascal, are you really going to talk about the passing of time in front of me?”
Geom Mugeuk laughed. Someone had once said that in one’s twenties, time passed at the speed of two stages of lightness skill, and in one’s thirties, at the speed of three. One day, it would race along at the speed of mastery, would it not?
“I thought you would launch some kind of campaign once this year arrived.”
“What campaign?”
“I thought you would visit the Demon Venerables one by one and ask them to oppose the unification of the martial world.”
“If I asked you, would you listen?”
The Blood Heaven Saber Demon shook his head.
“I probably couldn’t.”
Geom Mugeuk nodded as if he had expected that answer.
“If even you won’t do it, which of the other Demon Venerables would? I don’t want to burden you unnecessarily.”
In the past, he had pushed ahead while placing all sorts of burdens on the man.
“Have you become more mature now that you’re a father?”
Geom Mugeuk wore a meaningful expression.
“No. This is also part of my campaign.”
“Your campaign?”
“I plan to settle the matter there, on that very day.”
As if he truly had been thinking along those lines, Geom Mugeuk explained why he had not gone to visit them beforehand.
“If I visit them in advance and ask for their help, they’ll ultimately conclude that they have no choice but to refuse. But that day, I’ll carry out a campaign to win the Demon Venerables’ sympathy.
‘Ah, the Little Cult Leader is going this far. I should step forward and help him.’ I’ll make them feel that way.”
Had it been anyone else, he might have doubted it. But with Geom Mugeuk, it seemed entirely possible.
“Why are you telling me this?”
“This is also part of the campaign. ‘The Little Cult Leader is treating me so honestly. How could I refuse to help him? I should help him, at least!’”
The Blood Heaven Saber Demon wore an incredulous expression.
At least he had understood one thing correctly: visiting them in advance would only mean that their conclusions had already been decided.
“Will Father’s dream remain unchanged?”
“No one can know what’s truly in the Cult Leader’s heart. However…”
After a brief pause, the Blood Heaven Saber Demon calmly added,
“The Cult Leader is probably making efforts as well.”
Geom Mugeuk understood what those efforts meant.
At that moment, another visitor arrived. It was the Demon Buddha.
“What brings you here?”
“I bought some clothes for Hayeon while returning from the Central Plains.”
The Demon Buddha handed him the wrapped clothes. He seemed like the sort of man who would never buy a child’s clothing in his entire life, yet here he was.
“Thank you.”
“Where’s Hayeon?”
He had intended to see her face while he was here.
“You’re a little too late.”
The Demon Buddha also realized that Hayeon had gone to the Cult Leader once again.
The Blood Heaven Saber Demon joked with the Demon Buddha.
“Take a number and get in line. I’m next.”
Another voice came from behind them.
“What does order matter? Whoever arrives first that day gets to play with Hayeon.”
It was the Drunken Demon.
The Blood Heaven Saber Demon gave him a look that seemed to say, Where did this drunkard come from? But the Drunken Demon did not back down.
“Senior, it’s been ten days since I quit drinking. I’m sensitive, so don’t provoke me.”
“What made you quit drinking?”
When the Drunken Demon could not answer, Geom Mugeuk answered for him.
“Hayeon said she didn’t like him because he smelled of alcohol.”
The Blood Heaven Saber Demon stared at the Drunken Demon in disbelief.
“But why would the Drunken Demon quit drinking over that?”
“That’s why you shouldn’t talk about taking numbers.”
The Demon Buddha seemed unwilling to get involved in the dispute over numbers.
“I only came to deliver the clothes. If they don’t fit, let me know and I’ll exchange them.”
As the Demon Buddha turned to leave, Geom Mugeuk said,
“Hayeon really likes you, Demon Buddha.”
“She likes me?”
The Demon Buddha was startled. The Blood Heaven Saber Demon and the Drunken Demon also pricked up their ears.
“She asked a few days ago when she could see the Golden Buddha Grandfather again.”
“She really said she likes me?”
“It seems she finds the light emanating from your body fascinating and pleasant. Your short stature probably makes you seem more approachable to her as well.”
The Demon Buddha’s expression brightened. The traits he had considered weaknesses had become the very things Hayeon liked about him.
“Still, meeting someone like me won’t do Hayeon any good.”
When he unnecessarily took a step back, the Drunken Demon suddenly said,
“If you put it that way, then what am I? A drunkard?”
The Blood Heaven Saber Demon added his own remark.
“Am I any different? My epithet even contains the character for blood.”
“Still, Saber Demon, don’t you read a lot? You’d be a great help to Hayeon.”
To Hayeon, the Blood Heaven Saber Demon was Grandfather Book. She liked going to his home because it was filled with books.
The Blood Heaven Saber Demon asked Geom Mugeuk,
“Which of the Demon Venerables does Hayeon like best? You’d know, wouldn’t you?”
All three Demon Venerables’ eyes gleamed at once. Because he was Grandfather Book, because he was the Golden Buddha Grandfather, because he had quit drinking!
Geom Mugeuk’s answer was someone none of them had expected.
“The Poison King.”
At the mention of the Poison King, they were all disappointed, yet curious at the same time.
“Why? Didn’t you say the Poison King put Hayeon through a hard time last time?”
The Poison King had increased Hayeon’s resistance to poison through various methods. As a result, although she had not reached the state of being impervious to all poisons, her constitution had changed so that ordinary poisons could no longer harm her.
It had to be done while she was young for the best effect, but without the absolute trust Geom Mugeuk and Ian placed in the Poison King, they could never have entrusted her to him.
In any case, it must have been difficult for Hayeon, so the Demon Venerable she liked least should have been the Poison King.
“Why the Poison King?!”
At the three Demon Venerables’ jealous cries, Geom Mugeuk answered,
“He’s handsome.”
The Blood Heaven Saber Demon and the Demon Buddha sighed and clicked their tongues. The Poison King even possessed an exceptionally youthful appearance.
But the Drunken Demon reacted differently from the others.
“I refuse to accept this! Once I get rid of the smell of alcohol, I can win!”
But he could not win.
From far away, the Poison King walked toward them and displayed what he held in his hands, driving the final nail into the ranking of their popularity.
They were twelve small, adorable pouches. Each pouch was embroidered with one of the animals of the Chinese zodiac—a rat, an ox, a rabbit, a tiger, and so on.
“I didn’t know which one Hayeon would like, so I prepared them all.”