Chapter 769: Do You Dare Look Down on a Martial Arts Hall Instructor?
When he said that, he now understood why someone like the Young Cult Leader could be born,
“You insult me even though I gave you a sword?”
At Geum Woojin’s words, the Sword King looked slightly flustered. Are all of you insane? He had softened his words, yet had his true feelings still been exposed?
“Please don’t misunderstand. I meant that after meeting the Cult Leader, I finally understood how such an excellent son could be born.”
Standing before Mugeuk’s father, the Sword King tried to explain himself earnestly, but Geom Mugeuk understood well enough. His father’s words had only been a jest. And the fact that his father would even make a joke with him meant one thing—
He had passed.
To his father, the Sword King was accepted. After all, what kind of parent would dislike someone willing to lay down their life for their child?
“Of course it was high praise—truly. You’ve done well, Father, raising such a remarkable son.”
His father made a face that said, ‘You’ve got quite the nerve to say that yourself.’ Had the Sword King not been there, he surely would’ve said it out loud.
The Sword King bowed deeply, expressing his gratitude.
“I will not forget the kindness you’ve shown me.”
It didn’t matter how valuable this sword was to him personally. What mattered was how valuable the White Flower Sword was to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. He had been entrusted with one of the four greatest treasures.
Geom Mugeuk also bid farewell to his father.
“Father, I’ll come visit again later. There are so many things I wish to tell you this time.”
As always, whenever he returned from a mission, he would report everything that had happened to his father. Especially this time—he couldn’t possibly skip the thrilling tale of Blood Heaven Blade Demon and One-Slash Sword Supreme.
“Let’s at least have dinner together.”
His father could never know how deeply those simple words moved his son.
Geom Mugeuk left the Heavenly Demon Pavilion alongside the Sword King.
As they walked down the long corridor before the Heavenly Demon Pavilion, the Sword King suddenly stopped.
He stood still for a while, staring at the demonic statues holding up the pillars along the hallway.
“What is it that you truly want from me? Do you wish for me to fight for you? Or do you wish for me to become your subordinate?”
Their gazes tangled in the empty air.
“If I were to ask you to become my subordinate and fight for me… would you accept?”
The Sword King gave no reply. It was a question that could not be answered easily—yet perhaps could be answered all too easily.
“To be honest, I’d like to throw a tantrum and ask you to do exactly that. Because once we’re bound as master and subordinate, Brother Ak, you’ll have to stay by my side for the rest of your life.”
After a brief pause, Geom Mugeuk spoke.
“But still, I would rather be your friend, Brother Ak. Even if one day you suddenly disappear, and I end up wondering every year where you are and how you’re living, I’d still rather stay friends with you. I don’t ever want to see you living under someone else.”
The Sword King’s gaze deepened. That was it. That was why the question could be answered easily. To be able to serve someone like this—such a chance wouldn’t come without the favor of heaven.
“No matter what, this sword is too great a gift.”
Geom Mugeuk eased that weight with a calm smile.
“It’s not a gift for Brother Ak—it’s a gift for me.”
“For you?”
“Yes. For me. Because I want to live among admirable and good people.”
“What does that have to do with this sword?”
“Because this sword will make you stronger and even more admirable.”
The Sword King had once believed that when one discarded a treasured sword, one truly became admirable—and free.
Yet now, Geom Mugeuk was saying the opposite.
That wielding the treasured sword would make one stronger. Freer. More admirable.
“If I couldn’t live among such admirable people, I would have probably shared the same dream as you, Brother Ak.”
The Sword King let out a quiet sigh.
“That dream… is not a good one.”
Knowing that, why were you still so determined to leave, Brother Ak? Wake from that dream. And dream a new one!
But he didn’t say it aloud. The Sword King surely already knew what he thought.
Geom Mugeuk’s gaze turned to the sword case in the Sword King’s hands.
“Would you draw it once? You should at least give me the chance to brag.”
The Sword King opened the sword case and drew out the White Flower Sword. Its sheath was elegant—refined yet dignified.
Srrring—
As the sword was unsheathed, the air around them seemed to shift instantly.
It was a sword that radiated brilliance—bright, but not blinding. Its aura carried quiet grace and soft dignity.
Just imagining the Sword King striking with that blade was enough to make one’s heart tremble.
“It is the only one among the four treasured swords of our Cult that does not carry demonic or ghostly energy.”
When the Sword King infused it with his inner power, the sword gave a low hum.
Oong—
A thin stream of energy flowed along the blade, resonating with the Sword King’s own breath.
With his eyes closed, he felt the sword for a moment, then opened them with a bright expression.
“It truly is a fine sword.”
Of course, how could it not be? Especially since its nature suited the Sword King’s personality perfectly—it was only natural that it would feel all the more right to him.
The Sword King drew the old iron sword he had been wearing.
Clang.
At a light flick of his finger, the blade snapped cleanly in two.
“Wait—does this sword really break that easily?”
“I bought it at the marketplace for a single nyang.”
Geom Mugeuk shouted in disbelief.
“And you just throw it away like that? It must’ve been full of memories. My friend, this man’s abandoned you.”
“What memories? If it breaks or gets lost, I just buy another.”
The Sword King fastened the White Flower Sword to his waist, where the iron sword had once hung.
“This is mine now. Don’t ask me to give it back.”
Geom Mugeuk stood still for a moment, watching the Sword King stride away.
How could there not have been memories tied to that old iron sword? Breaking it was his answer to the gift of the White Flower Sword.
That he would truly wear this sword.
It was his response to Geom Mugeuk’s goodwill.
“Well then, since we’ve met my father—the most ordinary and down-to-earth man alive—it’s time to visit the person who’s been yearning day and night for Brother Ak! Ji Han, you’ll have to wait a bit. Let’s take care of the urgent ones first.”
---
In the training yard, swords sliced through the air in unison.
Those training there were the Tenebrous Ghosts Corps—specifically, the assassins of the Court of Beauties.
“Keep your backs straight!”
The woman instructing them was Cha Iran.
Shiiing!
Slash, thrust, block.
They were basic sword forms, yet their blades carried weight, and their movements showed not the slightest error. Without using inner power, they were strengthening their bodies and refining the fundamentals of swordsmanship.
Once they joined the Tenebrous Ghosts Corps, they were no longer mere assassins. If they only carried out covert missions, it might have been fine—but in open battle, assassination arts were fatally disadvantageous.
Thus, they had to learn swordsmanship suited for the battlefield. The problem was that there wasn’t any appropriate sword art to teach. Though Cha Iran had once learned some sword techniques in her youth, they weren’t skills worth passing down to her subordinates.
So, for now, she had them repeat the most basic sword drills over and over again.
Ah…
Soft sighs of admiration could be heard from somewhere nearby.
Dozens of demonic practitioners were watching the women train. Some had been passing by, while others had come deliberately. The sight of those beautiful women practicing together had become the talk of the entire cult.
But among the onlookers was another woman observing from a hidden spot.
It was the Seventeenth Beauty. She kept scanning the crowd, wondering if the Crescent Moon Faceless One might be among them.
She had thought that since they were both part of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, she would see him far more often.
Yet instead, she hadn’t had a single chance to meet him. She had joined the Tenebrous Ghosts Corps, while he had gone to dwell in the Valley of Wicked.
As each of them became busy with their own lives, she found that there was hardly any chance to meet him. She had even taken strolls around the cult grounds for no reason, and gone as far as the area near the Valley of Wicked, but she still hadn’t been able to see him.
Of course, she couldn’t just walk into the Valley of Wicked to find him either.
“Stop looking. He’s not there.”
The one who whispered to her was the Fifth Beauty, who was swinging her sword beside her. As Seventeenth Beauty’s closest friend, she knew full well that Seventeenth Beauty had feelings for the Faceless One.
“I heard the Faceless Ones almost never leave the Valley of Wicked.”
Maybe that was why. She had never once seen any of them while coming and going.
“He might be watching me with his mask off right now.”
Could the Crescent Moon Faceless One be among those people over there?
“Wake up from your dream!”
The Fifth Beauty raised her voice without meaning to, and Cha Iran heard it.
When their eyes met, the Fifth Beauty lowered her head in apology and focused back on training.
At last, the exhausting practice came to an end.
Some of the onlookers clapped, while others shouted in excitement.
They only dared to do so because they didn’t yet know who these women were. And since it was merely basic sword training, the group might have seemed harmless.
Depending on how one looked at it, it could have been insulting—but none of them paid any mind.
If anything, they enjoyed the gazes and reactions. If they truly wished to, they could kill every one of those onlookers in an instant. The loudest one clapping would simply die first.
Just as the women were catching their breath and about to disperse, Cha Iran called out to Seventeenth Beauty.
“Can we talk for a moment?”
“Yes!”
The two walked out of the training yard together, conversing as they went.
“Have you seen him again?”
Before coming here to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, during *The Greatest Beauty Under the Heavens Selection Tournament*, Cha Iran had sent her to meet the Faceless One. It was Geom Mugeuk who had arranged the meeting, and Cha Iran had simply followed through.
At that time, Cha Iran had learned about her connection to the Crescent Moon Faceless One.
“No, not yet.”
Seventeenth Beauty spoke words she didn’t mean.
“I think now isn’t the time to be thinking about men.”
How could Cha Iran not know that those words weren’t sincere?
Time would cool those feelings, and eventually, they would fade into nothing more than a memory—just as her own thoughts of Ak Gunhak had.
“Go see him.”
“…What?”
“Go to the Valley of Wicked and find him. You’re part of the Young Cult Leader’s direct unit. He’s under the Demon Supreme. There’s no reason for us to bow our heads.”
Seventeenth Beauty stared at Cha Iran in shock. Had her change in position changed her as a person, too? She never would have expected such advice from her.
“Will you come with me?”
“No, it’s fine. I can go alone.”
A courage she didn’t know she had began to rise within Seventeenth Beauty. Since Cha Iran herself had given her such advice, she couldn’t just stay idle.
“I’ll go right now.”
As she hurried off, Cha Iran stopped her.
“In my room, open the wardrobe—you’ll find a blue palace gown. Wear that when you go. It’ll suit you well.”
“How could I dare…?”
“Why? Should I come along and dress you myself?”
“N-no, that won’t be necessary!”
“Then go.”
“Yes.”
Seventeenth Beauty bowed politely and dashed off, but turned back after running a short distance.
“Thank you—truly.”
After bowing deeply, she ran off again.
Even just watching her go, one could feel how excited she was.
Yes, that’s what it means to like someone. When you truly like someone, it shows.
Cha Iran looked up at the sky.
A clear blue sky, without a single cloud. Maybe she’d have a drink with First Beauty later.
Just then, someone spoke from behind her.
“People who help others with their love stories are usually the ones who end up drinking alone.”
Startled, she turned around to see Geom Mugeuk standing there with a smile.
Honestly, no one could surprise others quite like this man could.
“You can’t even manage your own affairs,” she retorted.
Cha Iran recalled the memory of that day, at his provocation.
“Do you remember? Back by the lakeside, when that girl met the Faceless One—you, Young Cult Leader, said you’d help her elope if she wanted, and that you’d help me find my own love, too. So why haven’t you kept that promise? Help me find my love.”
Geom Mugeuk could tell. The fact that she could joke like this meant her heart was at ease—that she was adapting well to life within the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
“And if I do find him for you? You wouldn’t even have the courage to confess.”
“Why would you think that? It seems our Young Cult Leader still doesn’t know me very well.”
Seeing her speak so boldly, Geom Mugeuk gave a playful yet meaningful smile.
Then Cha Iran tilted her head slightly.
“But… your skin?”
As someone skilled in the art of cosmetics, she immediately noticed how Geom Mugeuk’s skin looked clearer and smoother than before.
“What did you put on? You even smell nice. Come to think of it, your shoulders look a little broader too.”
“Our Instructor, Cha, seems to be doing quite well surviving in the organization.”
Geom Mugeuk dismissed her remark as flattery, but Cha Iran could sense it—
‘Something’s changed about him.’
Geom Mugeuk shifted the topic.
“I heard you’ve been teaching swordsmanship to your subordinates.”
“I’m only teaching them the basics for now. But since swordsmanship isn’t really my specialty, I’m worried about what comes next.”
Then Geom Mugeuk said something unexpected.
“Perfect timing. I happen to know an excellent swordsmanship teacher.”
At his words, Cha Iran’s eyes brightened with curiosity and anticipation.
“He’s an instructor who once taught swordsmanship at a martial arts hall. He produced many excellent disciples.”
Naturally, a trace of disappointment flickered across Cha Iran’s face.
“No matter how unskilled I may be in swordsmanship, surely I’m better than some martial arts hall instructor, don’t you think?”
“Do you dare to look down on a martial arts hall instructor?”
Cha Iran smiled and replied,
“At that level, I think I’m allowed to.”
“That’s cruel of you. You’ll make the poor instructor sad if he hears that.”
Turning around, Geom Mugeuk spoke toward the back of the building, as if someone were actually there.
“Please forgive her, Master. She doesn’t mean it.”
Cha Iran naturally assumed he was joking. Knowing her and her subordinates’ skill, there was no way he’d actually bring in some martial arts instructor to teach them.
Looking in the same direction, she called out,
“You can leave! These women aren’t the kind you can handle, Master. As you can see, we’re rude and hopeless.”
“Don’t say that. Do you know how hard it was to invite this teacher here?”
Geom Mugeuk walked toward the back of the building and said,
“Don’t be too disappointed, Master. These days, students disrespecting their teachers is nothing new.”
Cha Iran followed him. If it had been anyone else, she would never have played along with such a joke.
“What kind of martial arts hall instructor did you bring, and who exactly did he even teach—”
But the moment she rounded the corner and looked where Geom Mugeuk was facing—
A sharp gasp escaped her lips. Her voice trembled with shock.
There stood Ak Gunhak—hair tied back, barefoot, just as he had always been. It was truly Ak Gunhak, the man she had longed to see so desperately.
“He taught at Golden Dragon Martial Hall. I was his student, your Division Leader was his student, and now you’ll be his student too. Fine disciples, wouldn’t you say?”
Cha Iran didn’t even hear Geom Mugeuk’s words anymore. Her heart pounded so hard it felt as though it might burst, and her cheeks and ears burned red.
“…W–what… how… why…?”