Chapter 780: How Could the Golden Carriage Endure It?
“We’ll rest here for today.”
At Geom Mugeuk’s command, Jeokyeon relayed the message to everyone.
At her shout, the large transport carriages at the front slowed down and came to a halt.
Not only did Geom Mugeuk know the terrain well, but with his abundant camping experience, he knew precisely where such a large group should stop to rest.
The carriages left the road and came to a stop in a wide field. There were too many people to enter the village.
The Demonic Army’s massive carriages formed a wall-like formation around the perimeter, and within them, the carriages of Geom Mugeuk and the Demon Supremes were arranged in a circular pattern.
Though the Demonic Army’s numbers were the greatest, they were quiet and efficient. They were, after all, warriors seasoned through countless battlefields.
Without a word, Lee Ahn observed them securing their positions and then issued an order to her Tenebrous Ghosts subordinates.
“We’ll settle over here.”
Pretending not to watch, Jangho observed her. Having never commanded or moved such a large military force before, he expected her to struggle somewhat.
He was about to send her a voice transmission to offer advice, but to his surprise, she handled the deployment of her subordinates perfectly.
What was even more impressive was this.
“Fourth Squad Leader.”
She called for Ji Han.
“Yes, Leader.”
“To be honest, I’ve learned more from books than actual experience. Since Fourth Squad Leader once served as the Soul-Chasing Squad Leader, I believe you’re more skilled at this kind of work than I am. Does this formation look right?”
She didn’t pretend to know what she didn’t. She showed a willingness to learn and didn’t let her pride get in the way.
“Yes, you’ve done better than I expected. Though I think the gaps between the units could be a little wider. If an ambush comes from outside…”
Lee Ahn listened intently to his explanation.
Watching the exchange, Jangho thought she was doing very well.
‘You’re doing great, Leader.’
Thus, with the Demonic Army and the Tenebrous Ghosts stationed on the outer perimeter, Geom Mugeuk and the Demon Supremes took position at the centre.
Bonfires blazed throughout the camp, and Geom Mugeuk and the Demon Supremes sat around the central fire.
Behind Geom Mugeuk, the martial guards took their places. They applied their training flawlessly in this real situation, maintaining a perfect defensive perimeter.
Geom Mugeuk called for Jeokyeon, the head of his guard.
“Jeokyeon.”
“Yes, Young Cult Leader.”
“Honestly, wouldn’t it be nice if someone attacked?”
Jeokyeon was caught off guard by the sudden question.
“No, sir.”
“Come on, admit it. You’ve all trained so hard for today—how can you show your skills unless someone comes to attack?”
“Of course, as long as we are here, not a single hair on Young Cult Leader’s head will be touched.”
Geom Mugeuk looked toward the Demonic Army and the Tenebrous Ghosts stationed outside.
“If they were the ones who could broke through those people, you think you’ll be able to stop them? Does that mean you’re stronger them here? I should probably tell the Demonic Army to put in more effort.”
“That’s not what I meant…”
The one who came to Jeokyeon’s rescue from his flustered state was the Drunken Demon. He stepped over with a bottle of liquor he had taken from the carriage.
“Young Cult Leader, why are you picking on an innocent man?”
The Drunken Demon did not speak informally in front of everyone. He addressed Geom Mugeuk with full respect as the Young Cult Leader.
“When you speak so politely like that, it really makes me sound like a bully, doesn’t it?”
The Drunken Demon glanced at the other three Demon Supremes sitting around the bonfire.
“How about we each have a drink before turning in?”
He first poured a cup for Geom Mugeuk, then for the Demonic Buddha, the Evil Smiling Demon, and the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme. It was the first time the four of them shared drinks together in a field like this.
Since his return from mission, the Drunken Demon had been perpetually drunk. Everyone could sense it—that his drunkenness was part of his martial training. To continue cultivating even while traveling like this showed just how crucial that training must be.
“This liquor is excellent, Drunken Demon.”
At Geom Mugeuk’s admiration, Drunken Demon proudly lifted the bottle.
“I’ve been saving this ‘Battle Liquor’ for just such an occasion.”
“It isn’t that grand of an occasion to deserve such a title.”
The Drunken Demon looked around as if his very gesture said, ‘Even if you came with enough force to start a war, would it still not count as a grand occasion?’
Demonic Buddha turned his gaze toward the Tenebrous Ghosts’ warriors.
“When did you manage to train such an excellent unit?”
“It wasn’t me—it was Lee Ahn.”
Geom Mugeuk’s eyes shifted to Lee Ahn. She stood among her subordinates, her demeanor befitting that of a true leader. Though she always complained that it didn’t suit her nature, she was performing remarkably well.
“When we retire, they’ll be the ones to lead the cult.”
At that, the Demonic Buddha gave him a bewildered look.
“Thinking about retirement already, before anything’s even begun?”
“I can’t live like my father did.”
“And if you can’t?”
Demonic Buddha pressed with a sharp gaze, but Geom Mugeuk didn’t elaborate.
“I’ll live enjoying myself. Come now, have another drink.”
This time, Geom Mugeuk filled everyone’s cups. As he poured the last for the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme, the Demonic Buddha suddenly asked,
“Don’t you have any desire to unify the martial world?”
At his question, everyone turned to look at Geom Mugeuk.
When the Drunken Demon had visited him earlier, he had asked the same thing. Lately, as the power of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult surged, talk of unifying the martial world had become frequent.
Seizing the opportunity, the Drunken Demon joined in to probe further.
“I admit, I am curious about what kind of martial world our Young Cult Leader would build.”
After a brief pause, Geom Mugeuk spoke.
“What’s there to look forward to in a martial world built by killing friends?”
Everyone there knew well of his relationships with Bih Sa-in and Jin Hagun, so it was the Demonic Buddha who responded to his words.
“If you managed to end the fight between your brother and the successor without spilling blood, couldn’t you also unify the martial world the same way?”
Had it been anyone other than Geom Mugeuk, they would have dismissed the remark as absurd. But since it was Geom Mugeuk, everyone waited for his response.
“You’re overestimating me. Even if, by some miracle, that impossible feat were achieved, do you really think that peace would last?”
Just as the Dark Palace had spent three hundred years cultivating its power in the shadows to claim the martial world, so too would the Orthodox and the Unorthodox sects. No—perhaps even more viciously.
“In the name of restoring the fallen Orthodox sects and reclaiming the lost Unorthodox path, countless attempts would be made, and in the end, as much blood would be shed as in any war.”
Geom Mugeuk continued calmly.
“This martial world has been divided between the Orthodox and the Unorthodox for far too long. Becoming one again is nothing more than an ideal.”
Demonic Buddha fixed his eyes on Geom Mugeuk.
“Depending on whose ideal it is, that ideal could very well become reality.”
Geom Mugeuk understood that Demonic Buddha’s words referred to his father.
“There will likely come a time when I’ll have to persuade you all about this matter.”
Geom Mugeuk raised his cup.
“When that time comes, I’ll be counting on you.”
A brief silence followed.
The first to lift his cup was Evil Smiling Demon. His toast meant that he would follow Geom Mugeuk even if it meant defying his father’s orders.
Until now, Evil Smiling Demon had been the only one to defy his father.
Then, Soul Reaper Demon Supreme raised her cup.
Although she had once been unable to go against Geom Woojin’s will and had crossed over to the opposite side, this time, she intended to follow the Young Cult Leader’s command. The Young Cult Leader was a man worthy of it.
Demonic Buddha, however, did not raise his cup until the end, and Drunken Demon drank alone without toasting.
“One day, I’ll be able to share a toast with the two of you as well!”
Demonic Buddha emptied his cup with an amused expression, already entertained by what the future would bring.
“That must be your ideal.”
---
Mak Chung, the Chief of Great Tiger Stronghold, had a dream the previous night.
In the dream, a massive golden whale swam toward him. It was so vivid that even after waking, he could recall the scene clearly.
And now, he was seeing that golden whale. Or, more precisely—
“It’s really a golden carriage.”
Mak Chung stood atop the canyon, staring blankly at the golden carriage rushing toward him from afar.
When his scout first reported it, he had assumed it was simply a carriage painted in a yellowish hue. Who in their right mind would coat an entire carriage with gold?
Yet the way the sunlight gleamed off its surface left no doubt—it was plated with real gold.
As the memory of his dream resurfaced, Mak Chung felt that the once-in-a-lifetime jackpot moment that every Green Forest bandit dreamed of had finally arrived for him.
“How much money does one have to have to ride in a carriage made of gold?”
It was time to risk his life. Yet, one thought lingered uneasily in his mind.
“It’s not from the Demonic Cult, is it?”
The subordinate who had led the scouting party was his right-hand man, Gong Bae.
“Chief, I’ve never once heard of demonic practitioners riding in a golden carriage.”
“Could it be from a famous martial family?”
“Please take a look at the carriages at the front. Those are large transport wagons — the kind martial families never use. It’s most likely a trading company moving valuable goods, or a wealthy noble relocating.”
“What about their guards?”
“There are plenty.”
Rather than being alarmed, Mak Chung felt relieved by that. A true martial organization wouldn’t travel in such large, cumbersome groups.
It was clear — this was a caravan of merchants or a rich man showing off his wealth by hiring a bunch of vagrant mercenaries.
“Besides, their formation is terrible. Look over there — no guards stationed near the main transport carriages, and the riders are trailing behind. They’re just panicking and filling numbers to look strong.”
“There must still be at least a few real experts.”
When Mak Chung hesitated, Gong Bae gave him a confident look.
“If we ambush them from the canyon, they won’t have a chance.”
The hesitation didn’t last long. After all, they’d lived as Green Forest bandits their entire lives.
“No matter how dangerous it is, how could anyone resist a golden carriage?”
---
The line of carriages passing through the narrow canyon slowed and came to a stop.
Jangho stepped out of his carriage and walked toward Geom Mugeuk’s.
“It’s the Green Forest.”
At that, Geom Mugeuk, who had complained at least a hundred times about how boring it was to travel separately from the Demon Supremes, let out a cheer.
“Finally!”
He leapt from the carriage as if he had been waiting for this moment. Ahead, Green Forest bandits stood blocking the path, and atop both sides of the canyon, dozens of them had their arrows drawn.
But the arrows weren’t the real problem. Dozens of massive boulders had been set on levers, ready to be rolled down at any time. People might be able to dodge, but the carriages would be crushed.
“Finally! I went in and out of the cult so many times and never once ran into those guys. Even when I wished to meet them just once out of boredom, they never showed up. And now, when I bring everyone along, they appear? Are they blind or what?”
As Geom Mugeuk exclaimed in disbelief, Jangho smiled faintly and said,
“They must have mistaken the large transport carriages for a trading company moving goods.”
And seeing the number of followers trailing behind, they must have underestimated them even more.
“This is all Demonic Buddha’s fault. With that shiny golden carriage rolling down the road, how could the Green Forest possibly resist? Even I wouldn’t be able to.”
Geom Mugeuk would never miss such a perfect opportunity to tease Demonic Buddha.
“Really now, what’s a man of Buddhism doing riding around in a golden carriage?”
From inside the carriage came Demonic Buddha’s awkward cough.
“What will you do about this, then? Are you going to enlighten all those people over there? Take responsibility.”
Then, from inside the carriage, came Demonic Buddha’s calm voice.
“There’s nothing I can’t do.”
It sounded as though he genuinely intended to kill them all. Demonic Buddha was already reaching for the door of the carriage to step out when Geom Mugeuk used Void Telekinesis to slam it shut.
“Our venerable Blood Buddha should remain seated for now. Lord Jang, the moment those guys see you, they’ll bolt without even breathing. Go hide. Guards, you fall back too! Don’t move, any of you! Absolutely no chasing!”
Jangho laughed as he climbed atop a large carriage, while the guards, wearing expressions that asked, ‘Are we really hiding?’, retreated to the rear.
Meanwhile, the Green Forest bandits were approaching. Leading them was Mak Chung, with Gong Bae right beside him. Behind them followed the most skilled fighters of the Great Tiger Stronghold.
Mak Chung first examined the opponents — gauging who they were and how strong they might be.
‘The coachmen don’t look like much.’
The martial escorts who stepped out looked, by all appearances, like ordinary drivers — the kind who could skillfully maneuver these massive carriages even through narrow paths.
‘So it really is a rich man’s procession.’
Was it wishful thinking? Or the influence of his dream about the golden whale? Either way, he hastily convinced himself of it.
After passing a dozen large carriages, they finally reached the one where Geom Mugeuk stood waiting.
Because of that, Mak Chung never made it close enough to see the insignia painted on Geom Mugeuk’s carriage.
“Nice to meet you, Green Forest friends! It’s my first time seeing you!”
What kind of bright, innocent greeting was that? Mak Chung had never met anyone so naïvely cheerful.
“I am Mak Chung, Chief of Great Tiger Stronghold.”
“Oh! So you’re Hero Mak!”
Why did he sound so delighted? ‘You fool, we’re the Green Forest!’
Mak Chung deepened his voice, keeping it polite.
“This canyon is a dangerous and treacherous place, easy to fall under attack. Allow us to protect you until you’ve passed through safely.”
“Yes, yes, I know. So we’ll be paying you a protection fee, right? I’m very familiar with how this works.”
Ah, what a fool! Mak Chung thought this might be the biggest payday of his entire life. No matter how he looked at it, the man before him didn’t seem to possess any martial strength.
“Our young hero knows the rules well.”
Normally, the Green Forest didn’t rob or kill their targets. Doing so would invite retaliation from the Trading Union or the Escort Bureau Alliance.
Thus, the unspoken custom of the martial world was to collect a toll and allow both sides to part peacefully.
Of course, today’s glittering procession made it tempting to take everything instead.
Even now, Mak Chung’s gaze remained fixed on the glittering golden carriage at the rear.
He was so absorbed by the sight that he completely overlooked the large carriage beside it — the one with the words “Demonic Army” written on its side. Not that it would have mattered; even if he had noticed, it would never have crossed his mind that ‘this’ Demonic Army was ‘that’ Demonic Army.
“How much should I offer as the toll?”
“We usually take one-tenth of the goods’ value.”
Of course, that wasn’t the usual rate. He just threw out a high number first, planning to bargain later.
“Oh, one-tenth! That’s quite a sum, but it’s my first time paying, so I’ll gladly do it!”
Had he known this would be the reaction, he would’ve asked for at least thirty percent.
As Mak Chung regretted his missed opportunity, Geom Mugeuk sighed softly.
“But what should we do? We didn’t bring that much money.”
At that, Mak Chung spoke generously, as though showing mercy.
“Normally, we only take coin, but today, I’ll make an exception. You’ve got more than ten carriages loaded with goods — why not just hand over one of them?”
“Oh, would that be acceptable?”
When Geom Mugeuk readily agreed, Mak Chung inwardly rejoiced. Then greed began to creep in.
“Now that I think about it, I should take two. You’ve got well over ten carriages, don’t you? And since I’m being generous by accepting goods instead of money, you should be generous as well, young man.”
Once again, Geom Mugeuk agreed without hesitation.
“Very well. Pick two. There are larger ones up front and several more behind. Take your time and choose whichever two you want.”
Beaming with an almost childlike smile, Geom Mugeuk added,
“But make sure to ‘take’ the ones you choose!”