The carriages galloped vigorously toward the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect's Main Sect.
In the lead carriage rode Geom Mugeuk, the Evil Heart Laughing Demon, the Heavenly Flower Pavilion Mistress, Lee Ahn, and Cha Iran.
Normally, they would have been in three separate carriages, but they rode in one because of the number of injured people.
The Evil Heart Laughing Demon and the Heavenly Flower Pavilion Mistress sat side by side, and across from them sat Lee Ahn, Geom Mugeuk, and Cha Iran.
During this carriage journey, Cha Iran was able to see an unexpected side of Geom Mugeuk.
It was the sight of him working.
Dispatches from Silver Moon continuously flew to him.
The dispatches had stopped while he was fighting enemies, but now that he had some free time, the backlog of information was being reported to him.
Go Wol had carefully selected and sent information about what had happened in which region, which master had been killed by whom, and what transactions were being made by the merchant groups.
Fwoosh.
Each time he read a dispatch, he would summon his Extreme Yang Energy to burn it.
For matters that required a response, he would immediately write a reply and send it off.
Sometimes, he would exchange telepathic messages with the Evil Heart Laughing Demon regarding the information.
It was the first time she had seen him working so seriously, so it was hard to get used to.
On top of that, she came to realize just how vast Geom Mugeuk’s knowledge was.
“In that village, there is a place called the Tiger Pass Restaurant. It’s run by two brothers, and their fish dishes are absolutely exquisite. If you get the chance next time, you must go. In the next village, there is a very skilled physician called Doctor Gu. If you get hurt anywhere near here, run to that village.”
And was that all? He knew every nook and cranny of the roads.
“Instead of that path, if you take the left road and go down the lower path, you can get there much faster.”
He would even give directions to the Faceless One driving the carriage.
“I’m truly envious of your good sense of direction. I have a terrible sense of direction.”
When the Heavenly Flower Pavilion Mistress expressed her envy, Geom Mugeuk smiled and said.
“Don’t you see a more important path than I do, Mistress?”
The Heavenly Flower Pavilion Mistress gave a pleasant smile.
Indeed, some people just made you want to talk to them, even for a single word.
Before the sun set, Geom Mugeuk had the carriage stop.
“Alright, let’s rest here for today.”
They were traveling while avoiding villages as much as possible.
With their large numbers, they were bound to stand out, so they intended to return while camping out, even if it was uncomfortable.
They arranged the carriages in a circle, leaving a space in the center, and let the horses loose in the fields to rest.
A large bonfire was lit in the middle, and sleeping areas were prepared.
The Faceless Ones and the assassins were all so skilled that they moved in perfect sync without anyone needing to give orders.
“Alright, I’ll show off my skills for dinner tonight.”
Geom Mugeuk rolled up his sleeves and stepped forward.
With an expression that said she couldn’t believe the Young Cult Master could cook well, Cha Iran whispered to Lee Ahn.
“It won’t be a dish we have to eat out of loyalty, will it?”
In response to Cha Iran’s worry, Lee Ahn praised Geom Mugeuk’s cooking skills.
“Once you try it, you’ll feel a loyalty you never even had before.”
Cha Iran thought it was an exaggeration.
She knew Geom Mugeuk was multi-talented, but she doubted he could cook well on top of everything else.
The Faceless Ones and female assassins who had gone to find food returned, having hunted a wild boar and gathered vegetables and fruits.
Geom Mugeuk looked for people to help with the cooking.
“Alright, anyone who has sliced meat and vegetables, not just people!”
Everyone just looked at each other, not stepping forward.
It wasn't an easy thing to volunteer to be the assistant to the Young Cult Master of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect.
“Then I have no choice. I’ll pick two people to assist me.”
Geom Mugeuk chose one from the Faceless Ones and one from the assassins.
Of course, the two he chose were the Crescent Moon Faceless One and the Seventeenth Assassin.
“Alright, you two, wash and trim those vegetables over there.”
They realized that Geom Mugeuk had deliberately chosen them since the three of them had met at the pavilion.
Although they had laughed and talked at the pavilion, they now started working without even glancing at each other.
At that moment, a telepathic message from Cha Iran came through.
-You’re too persistent.
-I must hear what they’re talking about!
Cha Iran shook her head with an expression that said he was hopeless.
But Geom Mugeuk only paid lip service to his obsession; he was focused on cooking.
After all, there were many mouths to feed.
Geom Mugeuk began to prepare the wild boar they had caught.
Swish, swish, swish!
His hand movements were truly fast.
In an instant, he had dressed the fur, cut open the belly, removed the entrails, and drained the blood.
Geom Mugeuk was showing off his true skills for the first time in a long while.
After preparing the meat, he began to make his secret marinade.
Cha Iran learned for the first time that there was no spice the Young Cult Master’s leather pouch did not contain.
He applied the marinade he had made to the meat, repeating the process several times.
“It would taste better if it was marinated for a while, but we don't have the time.”
Geom Mugeuk extended his hand.
The energy emitting from his hand enveloped the meat.
“Ah! To think that precious martial art is being used to help meat absorb its marinade.”
To Lee Ahn's jesting sigh, Geom Mugeuk replied.
“It’s going into your mouths, so it’s the most precious use it could have.”
Geom Mugeuk picked up a log that had fallen on the ground and said to those around him.
“Alright, everyone, get ready to applaud!”
After drawing their attention to himself, he threw the log into the air.
Whoosh.
Like a flash of light, the Black Demon Sword was drawn.
In an instant, dozens of sword flashes flickered, engulfing the wood in a moment.
Soon after, something poured down.
Clack, clack, clack, clack, clack, clack, clack!
What fell into Geom Mugeuk’s hand was, surprisingly, dozens of chopsticks.
He did it so effortlessly that it seemed like a trick anyone could do.
But those who watched it firsthand were left with their mouths agape.
They were people who knew that this was a feat that absolutely no one could perform.
Just now, they had witnessed chopsticks being made with a level of mastery they might see only once in a lifetime.
Geom Mugeuk didn't stop there.
He scattered the chopsticks in all directions.
Fwooooosh.
Flying like a spray of hidden weapons, the chopsticks flew precisely to everyone.
Cha Iran looked down at the chopsticks in her hand with a surprised expression.
The chopsticks were uniform in size and thickness.
They were so perfect that one could believe he had dazzled their eyes with sword flashes and swapped them with pre-made items.
The Faceless Ones applauded in unison.
The assassins joined in the applause.
At their sincere admiration, Geom Mugeuk waved his hand boastfully as if it were nothing special.
And so, Geom Mugeuk’s cooking, a spectacle where all sorts of secret techniques were on display, was finished.
“Eat with appreciation. This isn't an opportunity that comes often.”
More so than the Faceless Ones, the assassins of the Cult of Beauties truly agreed with his words.
When in their lives would they ever get to eat a meal cooked by the Young Cult Master of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect?
Surprisingly, the food was truly delicious.
Cha Iran felt that she had never eaten meat this delicious, not even in a tavern.
But what truly surprised her was neither the deliciousness of the meat nor the chopsticks he had made with his own hands.
Geom Mugeuk served the food he had made to each person one by one.
On large, cleanly washed leaves, he placed meat, rice, and vegetables and handed them out.
Like a chef who had come to support a battlefield, he served everyone and said.
Cha Iran was surprised by his words.
“I figured you’re all people who like to be alone, so I prepared it separately.”
It was his consideration, telling them to take their food and eat quietly wherever they pleased.
Cha Iran imagined it.
What if she had been eating with her subordinates while camping?
She would probably have eaten the food her subordinates prepared for her.
She would have eaten with the First Assassin or the Second Assassin.
She wouldn't have cared about the other subordinates.
She would have assumed they'd fend for themselves.
But Geom Mugeuk was even observing what kind of people the Faceless Ones and the assassins were.
It was a detail that even she, who had been with them for a long time, hadn't considered.
“Keep the chopsticks safe. When I become the Cult Master, they’ll sell for a very high price.”
After taking care of the Faceless Ones and the assassins, and then serving Cha Iran, the Heavenly Flower Pavilion Mistress, and Lee Ahn, he finally prepared food for himself and the Evil Heart Laughing Demon.
“Please eat, you three. I will eat separately with the Laughing Demon Sovereign.”
Thus, Geom Mugeuk and the Evil Heart Laughing Demon flew to a distant hill and settled down.
Once they were alone, the Evil Heart Laughing Demon slowly took off his mask and placed it on top of his head.
The Evil Heart Laughing Demon was mimicking what Geom Mugeuk often did when he wore a mask.
How could Geom Mugeuk forget to compliment the Laughing Demon's face?
“If by any chance your enemy is a woman and you find yourself cornered, just as you're about to use the last of your strength for a final palm strike, just take off your mask. A chance to turn the tables will present itself.”
The Young Cult Master's compliments always felt good, so the Evil Heart Laughing Demon smiled brightly.
The two ate a meal together.
Geom Mugeuk was so happy that the Evil Heart Laughing Demon had taken off his mask in front of him.
He was so happy to share the joy of eating and drinking with him.
When they finished eating, the Evil Heart Laughing Demon said the words he hadn't been able to say before.
“When I stabbed the Young Cult Master’s heart...”
His honest feelings followed.
“I was scared.”
Geom Mugeuk was silent for a moment, lost in thought, before he said.
“I’m sorry. I wasn't worried at all.”
“What if I had made a mistake?”
After saying this, the Evil Heart Laughing Demon put the mask he had placed on his head back on.
At least for the moment he was making this assumption, he couldn't control his expression.
He hadn't realized it when he did the stabbing, but afterward, that moment kept replaying in his mind.
Feeling the Evil Heart Laughing Demon's heart, Geom Mugeuk also calmly conveyed his own feelings.
“I just had this belief. I might die at any time, but at least I wouldn't die by the Laughing Demon Sovereign's dagger. I don't know who will kill me, but at least it won't be you. It's obvious, isn't it! Thinking that put my mind at ease.”
Darkness was now beginning to fall around them.
They could have made a small bonfire, but they didn't.
They enjoyed the darkness and silence.
Geom Mugeuk, who had been laughing and joking pleasantly in front of others, became incredibly calm and quiet when he was alone with the Evil Heart Laughing Demon.
The Evil Heart Laughing Demon knew.
This was Geom Mugeuk's true self.
Perhaps he was an even more reticent person than himself.
So he wanted to let him rest quietly, at least when they were together.
The Evil Heart Laughing Demon didn't say another word until it was time to leave.
The carriages were now one day away from the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect's Main Sect.
Today, Geom Mugeuk cooked them their last meal.
“Well, it’s a shame, but my fantastic cooking ends today.”
Everyone was disappointed, but there was one person who was the most disappointed.
It was the Seventeenth Assassin, who had been continuously assisting with the cooking alongside the Crescent Moon Faceless One since the first day.
Thanks to Geom Mugeuk, she was able to create memories of washing and trimming vegetables with the Crescent Moon Faceless One.
'Thank you, Young Cult Master.’
She was sincerely grateful for the Young Cult Master's consideration.
At that moment, Cha Iran came up to Geom Mugeuk and asked.
“You, don't you get tired?”
At her words, everyone's gaze focused on her.
She had spoken provocatively in front of everyone.
Throughout the journey, Geom Mugeuk had treated everyone with energy.
He had cooked for them himself and lightened the mood with jokes and banter.
The Faceless Ones already liked the Young Cult Master, but now she could see that the assassins were also starting to feel favorably towards him.
“I was having so much fun scoring points with you all, I didn't have time to get tired.”
If that was an act to score points, then she was looking at the greatest actor in the Central Plains.
No one thought it was an act.
“And with my inner energy overflowing, why would I get tired?”
After a brief pause, she asked.
“I mean, don't you get tired of people?”
This question was not just about this one incident.
She cared for her subordinates, but separate from that, she had no faith in people.
What would change by feeding them with such sincerity? If a situation arose where they had to betray her, they would do so while feeling sorry.
“I’m cheating, aren't I?”
“What do you mean?”
“Young Cult Master of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect. I'm saying this seven-word shield is protecting me. There are no situations that are difficult or annoying for me.”
He was saying that he had no reason to be worn out by people.
But Cha Iran knows.
Those seven words aren't just a shield.
They also hold the blade of desire—to dominate, to show off, to enjoy.
It is also the blade of a primal desire to rule through fear.
He didn't brandish it.
Yes, perhaps the reason she came this far, the reason she is standing here having this conversation, is because he never once brandished that blade.
He used that blade to make chopsticks.
Geom Mugeuk returned the question with a deep gaze.
“Aren't you tired?”
A slight sigh escaped Cha Iran's lips.
Soon, she straightened her back and looked up at the sky.
After looking at the sky silently, she finally made a decision.
“The bridge we've crossed until now was a bridge of death. From now on, I will build a new bridge to cross.”
Cha Iran bowed respectfully to Geom Mugeuk.
“I, Cha Iran, pledge my body and loyalty to serve the Young Cult Master.”
The female assassins lined up behind her bowed in unison.
“We pledge our loyalty to serve the Young Cult Master.”
During their journey here, they had already decided to follow Cha Iran's will.
Geom Mugeuk smiled brightly and helped Cha Iran up.
His face was filled with joy.
“Thank you, thank you so much.”
Cha Iran looked at Lee Ahn standing in front of them.
Her face was also filled with joy.
“Someone once told me. When a hand reaches out, grab it tight.”
The next day, the carriages arrived at the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect's Main Sect.
Cha Iran and the assassins were astonished by its overwhelming scale.
The carriages that entered the Main Sect came to a halt.
Cha Iran and the assassins, who had disembarked from the carriages, were surprised by the scene that unfolded before their eyes.
All the Faceless Ones from the Valley of the Wicked were there waiting for them.
After only seeing ten Faceless Ones, the sight of countless masks filling their view overwhelmed them once again.
Oh no! In fact, the Seventeenth Assassin was the most surprised.
She felt like if he mixed into that crowd, she'll never find the Crescent Moon Faceless One again.
At that moment, Cha Iran was looking at something else.
Among the giant demon statues erected nearby, one caught her eye.
One of the demon statues was standing with its hand outstretched forward.
Looking up at the giant demon's hand, Cha Iran could truly feel what kind of hand she had taken.
Beside her, Geom Mugeuk stood side by side and looked up at the demon statue.
“Cha Iran, welcome home.”