Chapter 725: Live Well and Eat Well
Seo Daeryong did not say a word.
He only kept silently staring at Blood Heaven Blade Demon. The sight of him smiling brightly engraved itself deep into his heart at that moment.
“Leader Seo.”
At the call of One-Slash Sword Supreme, Seo Daeryong suddenly came to his senses and looked at her.
“Yes, Sword Supreme.”
“You need to receive greetings from the guests.”
While he had been staring at Blood Heaven Blade Demon, a few martial artists had lined up, waiting.
“Ah, yes.”
As One-Slash Sword Supreme turned to walk away, Seo Daeryong spoke to her.
“Thank you, Sword Supreme.”
If she had not reminded him, he would have been so distracted by the guests’ congratulations that he would not have noticed his master’s expression.
One-Slash Sword Supreme silently nodded her head and walked off.
The place she headed to was where Geom Mugeuk stood. Geom Mugeuk was standing a short distance away beside Drunken Demon, conversing with him.
“Since Brother isn’t sulking, it actually makes me the one who feels a bit sulky.”
Even though Geom Mugeuk had not come to visit him after returning from the Unorthodox Alliance, Drunken Demon no longer seemed to care in the slightest. He should have been grumbling and complaining instead.
“You must have been busy.”
“I wasn’t busy. I had time to come find you.”
“Your heart must have been busy.”
Geom Mugeuk stared intently at Drunken Demon.
“Did something happen in the meantime? Are you ill? Is it said to be an incurable disease?”
“In the end, everything is meaningless once it passes. Do you think, when I die, I’ll regret that you didn’t come see me?”
At that moment, One-Slash Sword Supreme approached the two and spoke.
“You just changed the way you’re sulking. It’s a strategy shift, so don’t be fooled.”
Startled, Drunken Demon chuckled and looked up at the sky.
Leaving him behind, Geom Mugeuk turned and respectfully greeted One-Slash Sword Supreme.
“My apologies for not coming to see you immediately after returning from the Unorthodox Alliance.”
“I heard you were in the middle of fist training.”
One-Slash Sword Supreme observed Geom Mugeuk quietly before shaking her head.
“With you like this, I never get a moment’s rest.”
Her words carried the meaning that every time she saw him, he had grown stronger — and that she, too, still had to keep striving.
“Would it be acceptable if I soon came to see you as a sparring partner?”
One-Slash Sword Supreme smiled and nodded.
“Come anytime.”
Just then, a new Demon Supreme arrived.
It was none other than Soul Reaper Demon Supreme. Since she had come as a guest, she suppressed her demonic energy as much as possible. Yet even so, Geom Mugeuk recognized it at once. She had grown far stronger since the last time he saw her. She too was growing at an astonishing pace every time he encountered her.
Soul Reaper Demon Supreme offered her congratulations to Seo Daeryong. Her presence was not really because of her personal ties with Seo Daeryong, but rather because of her connection with Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
After giving her congratulations, she went straight to greet Geom Mugeuk. Regardless of what others might say, the person she cared most about was Geom Mugeuk.
The one she most wished to show her growth to was the Young Cult Leader.
“This waiting is such a fascinating and joyful wait.”
It meant that he was waiting for the day she grew enough to become his own Demon Supreme.
Soul Reaper Demon Supreme laughed pleasantly. Those words were the reward for all her efforts so far, and enough motivation for her efforts yet to come.
The next Demon Supreme to arrive was the one with the most fearsome face among all the guests today.
At the appearance of Fist Demon King, everyone held their breath. His broad back parted through the crowd of guests as he walked.
Fist Demon King went not to Seo Daeryong, but first to Blood Heaven Blade Demon to offer congratulations.
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you for coming.”
Geom Mugeuk watched the two of them converse.
They were the two people closest to his father. Because of that, there was a bond only they could share with his father. And there was another bond they shared with each other — through him.
When the two glanced at him and said something, Geom Mugeuk smiled and spoke.
“You’re not talking badly about me, are you?”
The two did not answer, continuing their own conversation.
“You’re being too much!”
Cha Iran, who had been watching from the side, could sense from the way they ignored him and continued their talk just how deep their relationship with the Young Cult Leader was.
If one had not experienced Geom Mugeuk before, from that very action alone one would have been left with all kinds of suspicions.
At that moment, Geom Mugeuk spotted someone and ran toward him with delight.
“Owner.”
Well-dressed Jo Chunbae was standing in a corner. Of course, he, too, had been invited to this wedding.
“Young Cult Leader.”
“I’m glad you came. Come, let’s go.”
Geom Mugeuk took his hand and led him to Seo Daeryong.
“In fact, isn’t our Tavern Owner already acquainted with all these Demon Supremes here? Why don’t you go around and greet them one by one?”
“Oh heavens, please don’t even joke about such a thing.”
Cha Iran silently watched as Geom Mugeuk brought Jo Chunbae to Seo Daeryong and introduced him. The Young Cult Leader welcomed him more warmly than even the Demon Supremes. If she had not already seen Geom Mugeuk in action beforehand, she might have seriously wondered what the tavern owner’s true identity was.
“There’s no need for suspicion.”
The person who came to stand beside her and spoke was Lee Ahn.
“I’m not suspicious.”
She no longer thought that Geom Mugeuk was hiding something. Each time she saw him, she simply found him new and astonishing.
“I just… thought it must be really hard to become that Young Cult Leader’s shadow. That’s all.”
Then Lee Ahn smiled with an unreadable expression.
“No, it won’t be hard, and that’s exactly why it will be hard for us.”
Cha Iran felt she had a rough idea of what Lee Ahn meant by those words.
Just then, Geom Mugeuk brought Jo Chunbae over to where they stood.
Lee Ahn warmly greeted Jo Chunbae.
“Please stay here with us.”
“No, I’m fine standing over there in the back.”
“Stay with us.”
Not far from them, the bride Dan Ah sat.
Dan Ah was still overwhelmed by the incredible guests.
The leaders of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had come, the division leaders had come, and Demon Supremes had come as guests. She had neither seen nor heard of such a grand wedding in her entire life.
To think she had once worried that such a grand wedding might end up feeling empty. Just what on earth had she been thinking?
And then a thought struck her again.
‘He really was an extraordinary man.’
She felt deeply grateful that such an extraordinary person had loved her.
Geom Mugeuk looked around. He had found Jo Chunbae, but there were still others he needed to find.
“By the way, why aren’t they here? I’ll just step out for a moment.”
In the midst of the crowded gathering of countless guests, Geom Mugeuk went off in search of someone.
The person he was looking for was crouched under a tree at the corner of the training grounds. It was none other than the Poison King. Instead of greeting anyone, he had come straight here.
Sitting down beside him, Geom Mugeuk asked.
“What’s this fellow’s name?”
“It’s a Red-Headed Ant.”
Indeed, the ants crawling along the ground all had red-colored heads.
“If you look down on them because they’re small, you’ll pay the price.”
It seemed they were ants with extremely potent poison.
“When did you arrive?”
The answer came not from the Poison King but from behind him.
“We came earlier.”
When he turned around, Demonic Buddha was standing there. And a little further away was his older brother, Geom Muyang.
“What’s this? Some kind of suspicious gathering?”
In truth, there was nothing suspicious about it. His brother was close with Demonic Buddha, and Demonic Buddha was close with the Poison King.
“I think I know what this group should be called. The Flame of Rebellion!”
To Geom Mugeuk’s playful remark, Geom Muyang replied gruffly.
“That flame burned out long ago. Someone went and snuffed it out so thoroughly.”
At his words, Demonic Buddha gave a faint smile. It showed that Geom Muyang’s heart had relaxed enough that he could even make such jokes comfortably now.
“Since you’re all here, you should at least congratulate him first.”
“Later.”
Of course, it seemed they had all been held up because the Poison King had become engrossed with the ants.
“I expected you to make your grand entrance shining with golden radiance.”
Today, Demonic Buddha’s body glowed with a far softer light than usual. It looked like he had toned down his brilliance since he was attending as a guest.
“At my wedding, you’ll have to walk in shining so brightly that you blind all the guests.”
“Are you planning to marry too?” Demonic Buddha asked in surprise.
“Of course. I have to,” Geom Mugeuk answered as if it were obvious.
He spoke so readily that Demonic Buddha found it hard to believe.
“Even if you do, your wedding will be so crowded with radiant people that my light won’t even stand a chance.”
Truly, it seemed it would be a wedding where one couldn’t even imagine who might show up.
Just then, the surroundings suddenly began to grow quiet. Everyone’s gaze turned in one direction. The relaxed postures straightened all at once.
Even the Poison King, who looked as though he would remain crouched down even if a bloody battle erupted beside him, rose to his feet.
Geom Woojin was walking toward them.
As he appeared, no one even dared to breathe deeply. Those who had thought, “Surely the Cult Leader wouldn’t come,” were even more shocked.
Among them, the most astonished were Seo Daeryong and Dan Ah. They had never imagined, not even in their dreams, that the Cult Leader himself would attend their wedding.
Clack, clack, clack, clack!
Everyone standing along the path Geom Woojin walked quickly cupped their fists and bowed in salute. Though he revealed no hint of energy, his mere presence alone overwhelmed everyone there.
Slowly, Geom Woojin walked — and surprisingly, he headed toward the bride’s side. With gentle eyes, he spoke to Dan Ah.
“Congratulations on your marriage.”
It was already shocking enough that the Cult Leader had come, but for him to come to her first and offer his congratulations left her utterly speechless.
Dan Ah’s mind went blank, not knowing what to do.
“How could the Cult Leader possibly…”
To her astonishment, Geom Woojin answered calmly.
“Did we not have a connection back in the Central Plains?”
He was referring to the time when she and her sisters had sent him a dish.
Of course, that was not why he had come. Naturally, he had attended because of Blood Heaven Blade Demon, but since she had thrown herself into the Cult with only her two younger sisters, he had chosen to look after her first.
“Thank you so very much, Cult Leader.”
Unconsciously, she almost bowed to the floor in her wedding robes, but the gentle energy Geom Woojin released stopped her.
As the Cult Leader turned and walked away, Dan Bi and Dan Yeon gazed at his back with deep emotion.
That day, Dan Yeon — who had sent the dish to Geom Woojin — truly wanted to shout,
‘The most handsome and wonderful person in this world is the Cult Leader!’
After showing care for the bride, Geom Woojin approached Seo Daeryong.
“Leader Seo, congratulations on your marriage.”
“Thank you, Cult Leader.”
Seo Daeryong was moved. He was deeply grateful that the Cult Leader had looked after her before him.
When Geom Woojin sat in the central seat, Geom Mugeuk and Geom Muyang sat on either side of him, and the Demon Supremes lined up beside them. Naturally, the Poison King and Demonic Buddha, who had been at the edge of the arena ground, also sat with them.
The wedding ceremony proceeded according to custom, and at last it was Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s turn to deliver the officiant’s address.
Blood Heaven Blade Demon, who had never shown nervousness before anyone, now revealed it faintly.
After clearing his throat, he slowly began to speak.
“Today, in the presence of our revered Cult Leader, my disciple, the Underworld Pavilion Leader Seo Daeryong, and his beautiful bride, Dan Ah, are bound by a heaven-sent bond into a hundred-year vow of marriage.”
A smile formed at the corner of Geom Mugeuk’s lips.
‘You brats, live well and eat well.’
Blood Heaven Blade Demon — he had said he would do it this way. And surely, he must have truly wanted to do it just like this. He recited the words he had painstakingly memorized and delivered the officiant’s speech.
“Groom Seo Daeryong joined our Cult early on and walked the harsh path of the demonic way…”
This was not a place where he could simply let loose as his temperament dictated. This was not a place to reveal his own character — it was a precious occasion for Seo Daeryong and Dan Ah.
Everyone listened to Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s officiant address. At times, he stammered; at times, his words cut off.
“…Life is, by nature, a lonely path. To meet a companion with whom to walk that path — one can call that the greatest blessing in life.”
His words trailed off. He had forgotten the next line.
Flustered, Blood Heaven Blade Demon closed his eyes, summoned his memory, and continued. For his pride, it was unimaginable, yet he pressed on quietly.
“…Do not only see each other’s strength, but soothe each other’s wounds. Lean against each other’s backs and rest. At every moment, be together. A married couple is…”
Again, he forgot the next line, and again he recalled it and continued. He could have cut it short out of shame.
But Blood Heaven Blade Demon recited, word by word, all the words he had prepared.
Geom Woojin watched him with deep eyes. So did Fist Demon King, One-Slash Sword Supreme, Drunken Demon, and the other Demon Supremes. Today, for the first time in decades, they were seeing a new side of Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
“…And so, when you wander the martial world and finally come to rest in a field, look at the stars together, and share the final moment.”
That was the end of his officiant’s address.
After finishing, Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked at Seo Daeryong. Seo Daeryong’s eyes had reddened; he struggled to hold back his tears.
Now, Blood Heaven Blade Demon spoke from his true heart. These were not the words he had prepared, but the words he truly wished to leave for his disciple and his bride in this moment.
“I am a man who has never once married in my life. So I do not know how one must live to have a good married life.”
Seo Daeryong looked at his master with trembling eyes.
“I have not even lived as a good person. My life has been filled only with misfortune.”
Seo Daeryong nearly cried out, “That is not true, Master!”
“So truthfully, I do not know what I should tell you as a married couple.”
For a brief moment, Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked past the two of them, his gaze landing on Geom Woojin.
After exchanging glances with the Cult Leader, he slowly turned his head to Drunken Demon, and then to One-Slash Sword Supreme.
“As I grow older, I find myself regretting the days that have passed.”
At last, his gaze returned to Seo Daeryong and Dan Ah.
“You are smart children, so do not live a life of regret like this master of yours.”
Seo Daeryong bowed his head deeply. His shoulders trembled faintly. The tears he had tried to hold back finally fell. Seeing his tears, Dan Ah’s eyes too brimmed and spilled over. She knew all too well how much Seo Daeryong revered his master.
When the two began to cry, Blood Heaven Blade Demon grew flustered and looked toward Geom Mugeuk.
A wedding was never meant to be such a solemn affair, and so Geom Mugeuk stepped forward with a smile to lighten the mood.
“Our Elder, how could you possibly have held back what you truly wanted to say?”
Then he mimicked Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s voice and declared,
“Martial practitioners of the Cult, born and raised in the shadows! Betrayal means death, so swear an eternal blood oath! Cast aside your swords and raise your sabers!”
The Demon Supremes burst into laughter, and even the corner of Geom Woojin’s lips curled upward. Relieved that it was all finally over, the tension on Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s face melted away.
Since both Seo Daeryong and Dan Ah had lost their parents, the rites of bowing to one’s parents were omitted.
Instead, they prepared to bow to Blood Heaven Blade Demon. But he waved his hand hastily and walked far off, not allowing it.
Seo Daeryong and Dan Ah bowed toward his retreating figure.
With that bow, their wedding ceremony came to an end.
As the two straightened after their bows, a breeze swept through.
Fwhoosh—
A single petal fell from the flower in Dan Ah’s hand.
Fluttering, it drifted among the people and landed upon the hand of One-Slash Sword Supreme. She smiled faintly, for she had always loved flowers.
Geom Mugeuk walked over to Seo Daeryong. His face shone with a radiant smile. Looking at that expression approaching him, Seo Daeryong thought — had he ever seen the Young Cult Leader so happy before?
Bang! Boom! Bang!
Under the bursting fireworks, Geom Mugeuk spoke the words Blood Heaven Blade Demon had not managed to say.
“My right arm — live well, and eat well!”