Chapter 786: Even No Matter How Busy, One Should Have a Moment to Speak
Thump! Thump! Thuuum!
The deep sound of drums echoed through the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult as demonic flames rose into the air.
Seo Daeryong arrived and informed the people of Maga Village.
“From now on, a formation will be deployed outside the tents.”
At the announcement, the residents of Maga Village all grew tense. It was the first time in their lives they had ever seen a formation activated before their eyes.
Ssss—
While everyone stood dazed, mist began to rise around the tents.
Swoooosh!
Pillars of mist shot up from all directions, and from the ground, threads of fog spread like a spider’s web.
Something shimmered within the mist—it felt almost alive. A sound echoed through it, though no one could tell whether it was voices or the wind, and rays of light burst forth in all directions.
“Ahh!”
It was a sight so mysterious and marvelous that gasps escaped their lips. Even Seo Daeryong himself was witnessing a formation being deployed for the first time.
Sssssss—
When the formation was fully spread, only a thin layer of ordinary mist drifted about.
“The Phantom Mist Maze Formation has been deployed. Even if intruders appear outside, they will not be able to reach this place.”
At Seo Daeryong’s words, the people of Maga Village felt two emotions at once. They were moved that he would go as far as deploying a formation to protect them, yet fearful of a situation that required such measures in the first place.
And it wasn’t just the Phantom Mist Maze Formation.
Throughout the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, other formations of varying natures were also unfolding. While the Phantom Mist Maze Formation was optimised to protect those within, the others were purely meant for slaughter.
But that wasn’t all.
Rumble—
Clank, clank.
As the ground opened, new mechanisms began to rise throughout the main compound of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Some were stone lanterns. Others were stone benches made for those passing by to sit on. Some were railings, and others were statues shaped like animals.
They all appeared ordinary—but each one of them was a lethal killing device.
From a place overlooking everything—
Atop the outstretched palm of a towering statue of a demon, a massive brazier burned with demonic fire.
Beside it stood a man.
With a hardened expression, he watched from afar as Geom Woojin and four masters departed. That man was Geom Muyang.
Though he trusted his father more than anyone in the world, unease still gnawed at his heart. He could hardly believe that things had grown dire enough to require lighting the demonic fire.
And the fact that he could not go out there with his father made him feel powerless. In times like this, he should have stood firm and done what he must—but his heart refused to follow his will.
At times like this, he wished his younger brother were here.
If that rascal were around, he would probably say something ridiculous like, ‘Who’s worrying about who?’ Or perhaps he would pierce straight through the heart of the matter with words like these:
‘Are you feeling gloomy because you’re worried about Father? Or are you upset that he didn’t ask you to go with him? Or maybe you’re angry because you’re not strong enough to go along?’
His brother would have undoubtedly seen right through him and said something exactly like that. It was the sort of remark that would make him flare up—but at this moment, Geom Muyang wanted to hear it. He wanted, somehow, to shake off the pitiful thoughts he should never have been having.
Just then, a voice called from behind him.
“So, you’re here.”
He turned around—and saw someone he hadn’t expected. Without a sound, Hui had somehow climbed up onto the demon statue’s palm.
Geom Muyang was inwardly surprised. He hadn’t thought Hui would come looking for him.
“Did Father send you?”
Was he being called to go to him? He couldn’t help but hope so.
“No.”
“Then why?”
Hui was not someone who normally came to see him. More than that, it was strange for him to be away from Father’s side at all.
As Geom Muyang looked at him questioningly, Hui spoke words he hadn’t expected.
“I thought that right now, my feelings might be the closest to yours, Young Master.”
Before departing the cult, Geom Woojin had given Hui a separate command.
—You’ll remain here at the cult. I think I’ll go out and fight for old times’ sake.
“Old times” referred to when he had roamed the Central Plains with the Fist Demon King. In other words, it meant Hui and the guards were not to follow.
—Cult Leader!
—Hui.
At that single call of his name, Hui had been unable to say another word. There was a firm, unshakable will contained in Geom Woojin’s voice.
This battle was one in which the Fist Demon King, the Poison King, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, and Ak Gunhak would all fight together.
If the situation came to the point where even a guard like himself had to step in, it would already mean the battle was lost.
That was why Geom Woojin had left him behind—to entrust him with Geom Muyang’s safety should anything happen to him.
After a moment’s hesitation, Hui had replied respectfully,
—I will await your return here at the cult.
Had it been under any other circumstances, he might have insisted on following. But then again, if it were any other fight, the Cult Leader wouldn’t have gone out himself.
Hui now said to Geom Muyang,
“The Cult Leader left me behind and went out to battle.”
That wasn’t surprising—but the fact that Hui had actually obeyed the order was. He was not the kind of man to accept such a command, even from Geom Woojin.
“This is the first time you’ve been separated from Father, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is.”
Seeing how calm Hui seemed, Geom Muyang asked,
“Are you not worried?”
“I am worried.”
How could he not be?
“I could even say I’ve never been more worried in my entire life.”
“Then why didn’t you follow him? A warrior like you, Hui, would have.”
He was the kind of person who would have gone even if it meant disobeying orders and following in secret.
“...I’m not quite sure myself.”
If he had to put it into words, it would be this:
“I felt that before the battle even began, nothing should be done that went against the Cult Leader’s will.”
At Hui’s honest answer, Geom Muyang nodded. He understood what Hui must have felt. The gravity of this battle weighed just as heavily on Hui as it did on him.
“At this moment, I can’t help but resent my younger brother a little. If I had been the successor instead of him, I would have mastered the Nine Calamities Demon Art and gone out with Father.”
But Hui firmly cut off that regret.
“That wouldn’t have happened.”
“What?”
“Even if you had mastered the Nine Calamities Demon Art, the Cult Leader still would have left you behind.”
“If I had learned it only half-heartedly, perhaps. But if I had mastered it completely, he would have taken me.”
Yet Hui shook his head.
“Even if you had achieved not mere mastery, but the Twelve Star Greatness, he still would not have taken you.”
Geom Muyang looked at him, puzzled. If that were true, then Father shouldn’t have taken the other four with him either.
Hui met his gaze with calm, unwavering eyes and explained why he thought so.
“No parent in this world takes their child along to a battle against an enemy whose outcome cannot be guaranteed.”
“!”
Their eyes locked in midair.
“I’ve never raised a child myself, but I understand the Cult Leader’s heart better than anyone. Leaving you behind has nothing to do with your martial strength, so please don’t feel slighted. It would have been the same even if the Young Cult Leader who left the cult were still here.”
Such words from Hui were truly unexpected. It was surprising enough that he had come to speak to him about something personal, but that he would offer comfort like this—he would never have imagined it.
Had Hui always been this kind of person? Probably not. His younger brother had changed even this lonely man who had spent his life hidden in the shadows—someone who, under any other circumstances, would have said nothing beyond that single remark.
“Until the Cult Leader returns, the guards of the Heavenly Demon Pavilion and I will protect you, Young Master.”
The Cult Leader had given no explicit command to protect his son, but some things did not need to be said aloud.
“Thank you, Hui.”
It wasn’t gratitude for the promise to protect him. It was for the comfort Hui had just given him—it had truly given him strength.
“Think nothing of it.”
The moment Hui bowed politely, he vanished from sight. No trace of his presence could be felt anywhere nearby, though Geom Muyang knew he must still be somewhere close.
A short while after Hui disappeared, a voice rose from below the demon statue.
“My neck hurts. Are you ever coming down?”
Looking up from below was Gwak Yeong of the Iron Workshop.
“I can’t climb up there.”
Geom Muyang leapt down lightly, landing right in front of her.
“I thought you might be feeling troubled, but it seems someone else came to look after you first.”
When she had first been permitted to forge swords in the Iron Workshop, they had shared a drink in celebration.
Drunk and excited, she had shouted that they should be friends from now on. Looking back, that was a reckless, life-risking outburst—but fortunately, Geom Muyang had simply let it slide.
“Aren’t you busy right now?”
Whenever the demonic fire was lit, the Iron Workshop went on high alert. It supplied not only the weapons of every martial artist within the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, but also the armaments used in the cult’s various mechanisms.
“Actually, I’m more idle than usual.”
Since the cult still hadn’t fully trusted someone who came from the Martial Alliance, she hadn’t been assigned any tasks during this emergency.
“And no matter how busy one is, a person should always have the time to say at least one word to the person who changed their life. So, if I may be so bold, could I say just one thing?”
“Go ahead.”
Looking straight into Geom Muyang’s eyes, Gwak Yeong said,
“The Cult Leader will be fine, so please don’t worry too much. I think you’re the one worrying most right now. Do you really think any enemy would dare to come here? They probably turned around halfway and went somewhere else.”
Geom Muyang quietly looked back at her, then suddenly said,
“Keep your promise.”
“What promise? Ah! You mean the one where I said I’d buy you a drink on the next full moon.”
“That goes without saying.”
“Huh? Then what other promise did I make?”
Gwak Yeong widened her eyes.
“You said you’d personally forge me a sword as magnificent as the Heavenly Demon Sword.”
“I did?”
Geom Muyang nodded. She must have said it while she was drunk, talking nonsense.
“I’ll keep it! I will!”
Smiling faintly, Geom Muyang turned and began to stride away.
As his figure grew distant, Gwak Yeong murmured softly,
“Stay strong, my friend. I’ll stay strong too—and one day, I really will keep that promise.”
* * *
Countless boats floated upon Dongting Lake.
On one small boat gliding slowly under the moonlight were Geom Mugeuk, the Mistress of the Sky Flower Pavilion, and the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme.
From somewhere came the sound of a danso flute, mingled with the laughter of women. Many were lost in the pleasures of a midnight boat ride.
Seated at the center, rowing, was Geom Mugeuk. On either side of him sat the two women.
The three of them were quietly observing the waters, looking for boats flying white flags.
Geom Mugeuk turned his gaze far into the distance, toward the opposite direction.
There, in the darkness, was another boat—on it were the Drunken Demon and the Demonic Buddha. Though distant and shrouded in shadow, Geom Mugeuk could see them clearly.
The Demonic Buddha had suppressed the radiance from his body to the barest minimum. Around him, he had hung several lanterns, masking the faint light that leaked from his form.
The Drunken Demon was drinking, while the Demonic Buddha was gently dropping small lotus flowers into the lake.
They were Blood Lotuses—one of the Demonic Buddha’s own creations.
The Blood Lotuses, connected to him through his internal energy, drifted across the surface of Dongting Lake, sensing any traces of qi or unusual energy beneath the water. Whether it was a Waterfolk hiding in the depths or something else concealed below, the Blood Lotuses would detect it.
Meanwhile, the Drunken Demon kept drinking. From afar, Geom Mugeuk could tell exactly what he was doing—gathering energy in preparation for battle. A sober Drunken Demon was terrifying, but one completely drunk was truly fearsome.
Geom Mugeuk’s gaze shifted toward the lakeside. From this distance, the figures of people there looked no larger than dots. The darkness made it nearly impossible for even a master to discern their shapes, yet Geom Mugeuk saw them clearly.
Lee Ahn was walking arm in arm with Ji Han, the Fourth Squad Leader, pretending to be lovers while secretly scanning the surroundings for anything suspicious.
On the opposite side, Cha Iran was walking with several members of the Third Squad. Their beauty drew the attention of nearby men—they didn’t avoid the attention, but rather courted it deliberately.
While they drew the eyes of others, the rest of their squad combed through the lakeside, searching every corner. If they found even the slightest sign of something odd, they would immediately report it to the Demonic Army hidden in the forest behind them.
Everyone was carrying out their role from their respective positions.
Then it happened.
“Look over there,” cried the Mistress of the Sky Flower Pavilion.
Geom Mugeuk turned his head. A massive ship was emerging from the darkness, gliding toward them.
It was a large vessel capable of carrying hundreds of people—and Geom Mugeuk recognized it instantly.
“The Ship of Wealth and Honor.”
Both the Mistress of the Sky Flower Pavilion and the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme had heard of it before.
“They say that anyone who boards that ship will come back down a rich man. These days, only the wealthy are allowed aboard, so it’s called the Ship of Wealth and Honor. It’s a gambling ship operated by the Water Dragon Gang.”
The Water Dragon Gang was a renowned faction in Hunan, known for controlling the area around Dongting Lake.
They had their hands in many of the lake’s businesses, but none brought them more profit than the Ship of Wealth and Honor.
The gang would invite the wealthy from across the Central Plains aboard, enticing them with pleasure and gambling, draining them of their fortunes.
Just then, the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme pointed at something.
“Look up there!”
To their astonishment, a white flag fluttered at the very top of the ship’s mast.
Not only Geom Mugeuk but also the two women beside him were shocked.
“They said we’d meet on the Ship of Wealth and Honor?”
They had expected the white flag to appear on a ghostly, ominous vessel—but this… this was entirely unexpected.
It was a meeting place that defied all predictions.
As the Mistress of the Sky Flower Pavilion tensed at the thought that they might finally meet the Priestess Palace Master, Geom Mugeuk remained composed.
“Isn’t this exactly why I came properly dressed this time?”
He said, rowing powerfully toward the Ship of Wealth and Honor.
“There’s no better place to show off than a gambling den.”