Chapter 814: Who’s Doing the Dishes?
Everyone who had been in the cabin came up onto the deck of the ship.
The dark mist that had surrounded the ship was now gone, and the barrier that had covered the lake around it had also completely disappeared.
After the long night, dawn was breaking.
Geom Mugeuk looked far away and saw boats carrying the gamblers away. Numerous small skiffs were transporting the gamblers from the **Ship of Wealth and Honor** toward the shore.
Martial artists of the **Tenebrous Ghosts Corps** were aboard the boats, and Geom Mugeuk waved toward the boat where Lee Ahn was.
“Lee Ahn!”
When Geom Mugeuk waved, Lee Ahn shouted happily.
“Young Cult Leader!”
Seeing that Geom Mugeuk was safe, she jumped up and down with joy even though her subordinates were watching.
Dignity meant less to her than the Young Cult Leader.
At that moment, cries of joy and victory burst out from all the surrounding boats. Not only Geom Mugeuk, but all the Demon Supremes who had entered the ship had appeared on the deck.
On the skiffs were the four squad leaders of the **Tenebrous Ghosts Corps**—Cheong Myeon, Cha Iran, Seo Jin, and Ji Han. They too looked toward Geom Mugeuk and the Demon Supremes with delighted expressions.
Cheong Myeon’s gaze, which had been fixed on Geom Mugeuk, shifted to the **Evil Smiling Demon**.
The words the Evil Smiling Demon had once told him came back to mind.
—If you want to come back, you may return.
Whether he returned or not, simply hearing those words made this expulsion from the sect something immensely meaningful to Cheong Myeon.
*I’m glad you are safe.*
Though they were too far away to see it, Cheong Myeon respectfully bowed his head toward the two of them.
Cha Iran could tell one thing. If those people had come out safely from the final battle—
*The Dark Palace Master is dead.*
The darkness that had followed her all this time had vanished forever.
*You really did it.*
If she had not chosen Geom Mugeuk, her name would have been written on the list of sacrifices.
Seo Jin and Ji Han cheered as the Tenebrous Ghosts Corps’ first mission concluded safely.
“That was the round I won! Because of you people!”
Ji Han smacked the back of a red-eyed gambler’s head.
“You lived because of us!”
He had survived now, but if he couldn’t escape gambling, destruction would eventually await him.
Yang Dong, the owner of the **Ship of Wealth and Honor**, who was on another skiff, was inwardly astonished.
When he had realized a terrifying conspiracy was unfolding on his ship, he had truly believed he would die. Yet astonishingly, the demonic practitioners had spared them.
“I will definitely inform the **Unorthodox Alliance** that you saved us.”
Lee Ahn, who was on the same boat, nodded.
Well, even if he didn’t say it, there was someone who would loudly boast to the **Young Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance** until his ears hurt, so everyone would know anyway.
Lee Ahn’s gaze turned toward Geom Mugeuk in the distance. Even standing among many people, Geom Mugeuk shone.
From afar, Geom Mugeuk’s shout could be heard.
“Everyone worked hard!”
The cheers of the Tenebrous Ghosts Corps grew even louder. From far away, the thunderous roars of the Demonic Army waiting in standby could also be heard.
After boosting the morale of his subordinates, Geom Mugeuk bid farewell to the Demon Supremes.
“I will return to the cult first.”
The Demon Supremes nodded. No one could match Geom Mugeuk’s movement technique, so running alone would allow him to arrive the earliest.
“We’ll follow as quickly as we can.”
The **Blood Heaven Blade Demon**, the **One-Slash Sword Supreme**, and the **Evil Smiling Demon** decided to pursue Geom Mugeuk using lightness techniques.
Because of their injuries, the **Demonic Buddha**, the **Soul Reaper Demon Supreme**, and the **Drunken Demon** had to return by carriage. They would go as quickly as possible, but it could not compare to the speed of traveling with lightness techniques.
Gaye sat on the deck, staring blankly at the lake.
The death of the Dark Palace Master neither saddened her nor satisfied her.
Her heart was indescribably complicated.
What would become of her now?
*Is the Young Cult Leader leaving just like this?*
Before he left, she needed to ask and confirm.
“Are you sparing my life?”
“I already spared your life.”
Before entering the room where the Dark Palace Master had been, Geom Mugeuk had already given her a chance to leave.
“If you don’t have the **Six-Origin Energies**, you can’t control that man.”
Geom Mugeuk nodded.
“I know.”
“Aren’t you worried? The Six-Origin Energies are with you.”
“Of course I’m worried. I’m worried enough to go mad.”
A puzzled expression crossed Gaye’s face.
“Then do you really have the leisure to be talking with me like this?”
An unexpected answer came from Geom Mugeuk.
“Because the matter concerning you is just as important.”
“!”
Gaye suddenly thought—
*Right. That must be why someone like him has such deep bonds with the Demon Supremes.*
She felt like she finally understood why the Dark Palace Master had not been able to defeat this Young Cult Leader.
To defeat someone like him… yes.
The Dark Palace Master had become far too fossilized.
“Still, there is one thing I believe in. In the process of obtaining the Six-Origin Energies, not only I but also my father and the Demon Supremes all grew stronger. And everyone changed a great deal. I believe in the power of that change just as much as I believe in the power of the Six-Origin Energies.”
Gaye felt as though it was destiny that she would say these words.
“Memorize the mnemonic verse I’m about to tell you. I don’t know exactly how it works either. It’s a verse that has been passed down in relation to the Six-Origin Energies since ancient times.”
Perhaps what the Dark Palace Master had feared the most was that she would pass this mnemonic verse to Geom Mugeuk.
Geom Mugeuk memorized the verse Gaye recited with perfect accuracy. The verse was not very long, yet he instinctively knew—
This verse was exactly what was needed to control **Hwa Moogi**.
“Thank you very much.”
The **Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress**, who had been watching beside them, spoke to her.
“Heaven has not abandoned you.”
A surprising statement came from the Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress.
“This moment of you was the prophecy I saw.”
“!”
“I saw you passing the mnemonic verse to the Young Cult Leader.”
Just as she had once seen the prophecy of the Evil Smiling Demon stabbing Geom Mugeuk’s heart, she had now seen this moment as well.
Gaye stared at the Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress with wide eyes.
“So that’s why you spared me.”
The Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress shook her head. Certainly, she had told the Demon Supremes to spare her life—and because of that, she had survived.
“But I don’t think I was the one who spared you. I think you were destined to live.”
Feeling an indescribable swelling emotion, Gaye looked toward the rising sun in the distance.
Perhaps heaven had given her one last chance—to see whether she would pass the mnemonic verse to Geom Mugeuk.
Her shadow appeared in the sunlight.
Suddenly, she remembered the words Geom Mugeuk had said to the Dark Palace Master. When one stands with their back to the light, only then can they clearly see what their own darkness truly is.
Gaye lifted her gaze to the sky.
It had been a very long time since she had looked up at the sky. She had always resented it, but it had been so long since she had looked at it like this.
Watching the light push away the darkness made such feelings arise naturally.
*For the rest of my life, I will live helping people with a heart of repentance.*
Through the conversation between the two women, Geom Mugeuk realized just how important the Six-Origin Energies were if even prophecies were descending because of them.
Now it was time to return.
Geom Mugeuk greeted everyone.
“I will return to the cult first. See you later.”
With a leap into the air, Geom Mugeuk shot upward and vanished into the distance in an instant, becoming nothing more than a dot.
“He’s gotten even faster.”
At the admiration of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, everyone shook their heads in amazement. Even to Demon Supremes, it was a movement technique that left their mouths hanging open.
With pure internal energy infused with the mysterious power of the Six-Origin Energies, and after undergoing **Body Reformation**, Geom Mugeuk’s **Star Light Step** cut through the sky at extreme speed.
*Father, I’m coming!*
---
The day after **Jin Paecheon**, the **Martial Alliance Leader**, arrived at the **Flowing Wind Tavern**, he suddenly asked a question after finishing breakfast.
“But who’s doing the dishes?”
Yesterday had been too chaotic for him to think about it, but suddenly the question came to mind.
There was no one here besides them, so someone among them had to wash the dishes.
No matter how he looked at it, there didn’t seem to be anyone suited for washing dishes.
Would the **Poison King** do it? Judging by appearances, it seemed obvious he should—but still.
Or perhaps the **Fist Demon King**? Could those huge hands even wash dishes? No, they would probably just break them.
At that moment, the **Sword King** said to Jin Paecheon,
“I’m the youngest here, so I’m in charge of the dishes.”
“You’re the youngest?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Jin Paecheon suddenly thought that the Poison King truly had a youthful appearance.
“I’ll help today.”
Everyone looked at Jin Paecheon with shocked expressions.
The Martial Alliance Leader doing the dishes?
Seeing their surprised gazes, Jin Paecheon looked around and said,
“It’s customary not to bother the eldest or the youngest.”
For some reason, Jin Paecheon helped the Sword King gather the used dishes and went to the back of the tavern.
Baek Jagang saw straight through Jin Paecheon’s inner thoughts.
“People’s greed truly knows no bounds. He’s coveting that martial artist Ak.”
He meant that Jin Paecheon was trying to make a good impression on **Ak Gunhak**.
Baek Jagang himself also wanted to bring Ak Gunhak into the Unorthodox Alliance. How reassuring would it be to have such an absolute master by his side?
Looking toward the backyard visible through the open door, the **Heavenly Wind Cult Leader** said,
“Even if the Young Cult Leader hands over the **Gentleman’s Sword**, do you think he would hand over that man? Not a chance.”
“Well, if Alliance Leader Jin puts in enough effort, who knows.”
At Baek Jagang’s words, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader nodded.
“That’s true. That man does seem to have a disposition closer to the orthodox faction.”
At that moment, **Heavenly Demon Geom Woojin** spoke firmly.
“That will never happen.”
He had already promised Ak Gunhak to protect Geom Mugeuk.
Realizing that the Demonic Cult Leader had already made his move, Baek Jagang shook his head.
“The truly greedy one was here all along.”
Their gazes turned again to Jin Paecheon, who was squatting and washing dishes beside the Sword King. It was probably the first time in his life he had ever washed dishes.
“Even if you washed every dish in the world, it would be useless, Alliance Leader Jin.”
At Baek Jagang’s quiet remark, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader laughed.
“Still, since this is a sight that will never be seen again in the history of the martial world, let’s enjoy it while we can.”
---
Several days passed after Jin Paecheon joined them at the Flowing Wind Tavern.
Even during that time, the **Heavenly Killing Star** did not appear.
When Jin Paecheon had first come here, he had never imagined he would spend several days living together in such a small place with these people.
Since becoming the Martial Alliance Leader, had he ever lived in such a cramped place with others?
And with the Demonic Cult Leader and the Unorthodox Alliance Leader, no less?
What could possibly be more uncomfortable than this?
He could fight alongside them!
But eating together, washing up together, and sleeping in the same space—he had thought that would be a hundred times more difficult and uncomfortable.
Yet surprisingly…
It was fine.
Actually, it wasn’t bad at all. He had thought he would never adapt, but it turned out to be manageable.
There was a clear difference between meeting someone briefly and living with them for several days.
To him, Geom Woojin had always seemed extremely cold and arrogant.
“Sleep here. This spot has less draft.”
Geom Woojin gave up his own sleeping place.
*Did this man have such a side to him?*
“It’s fine.”
“Use it.”
Would a draft really matter to someone of Jin Paecheon’s martial level?
Still, it was Geom Woojin’s consideration for the oldest person present.
“Thank you.”
And contrary to what he had expected, Geom Woojin actually spoke quite well. Jin Paecheon had thought he was someone who hardly talked at all, but he conversed regularly—not only with him but also with the Unorthodox Alliance Leader, the two Demon Supremes, and the Sword King.
Thinking about it, the reason he had assumed Geom Woojin was silent was simple.
The man never spoke useless words.
When he did speak, it was only what was necessary.
That made him seem like someone who never talked.
Next was Baek Jagang.
This man was serious about cooking.
“Is there any food you particularly like?”
“I eat anything.”
“Still, there must be something you enjoy. I’ll learn it from Cult Leader Geom and make it for you.”
When he first heard that, Jin Paecheon wondered if Baek Jagang planned to poison the food at a critical moment.
If the Poison King hadn’t been here, he might have continued suspecting that throughout every meal.
Imagine worrying about poison from the Unorthodox Alliance Leader instead of the Poison King!
But after watching for several days, it turned out Baek Jagang simply enjoyed cooking.
“Is cooking fun?”
Even today Baek Jagang was busy making something in the kitchen. He was preparing a soup dish he had learned from Geom Woojin.
“It’s enjoyable to try things I’ve never done in my life. Alliance Leader, you should try learning as well.”
“I have no talent for cooking. I’d rather wash dishes.”
At that moment, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, who was sitting at the counter, spoke.
“We could all open an inn together.”
He began imagining a fictional inn.
“Cult Leader Geom and Alliance Leader Baek would run the kitchen. That martial artist Ak and the Poison King would be the servers. The Fist Demon King would deal with drunk troublemakers. Alliance Leader Jin would wash dishes.”
Since he conveniently left himself out, Jin Paecheon asked,
“Then what would you do, Cult Leader?”
After assigning the Demonic Cult Leader and the Unorthodox Alliance Leader to cook and the Martial Alliance Leader to dishwashing, he shamelessly replied,
“Obviously I’d sit at the counter. Just look at my appearance—don’t I look like the innkeeper?”
Everyone listening smiled.
In this dangerous meeting where war could break out multiple times, no one could deny that the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was the reason the atmosphere remained pleasant.
Of course, the two alliance leaders also maintained good boundaries. They didn’t bring up unnecessarily serious topics and tried to keep the conversation light and enjoyable.
At least while they were here, everyone had temporarily put down the heavy burdens they carried for the world.
It was probably because of the words Geom Woojin had spoken.
—Let’s end this fight at our level.
This battle was not for their honor.
Nor was it for peace in the martial world.
This battle was for their children.
And because that justification was stronger than any other, at least here they considered themselves to be on the same side.
The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader even went a step further.
“Let’s leave the martial world to the smart young successors and live like friends together. How much longer are we going to live anyway? Let’s stop glaring at each other.”
Jin Paecheon looked at Geom Woojin and Baek Jagang.
Honestly, it wasn’t hard to imagine being friends with the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. He was cheerful and good at maintaining the atmosphere.
But becoming friends with those two?
Was that even possible?
Then again, the fact that he could even imagine such a thing now meant their relationship had already changed quite a lot.
The **Fist Demon King** brought tea to the table where Geom Woojin and Jin Paecheon were sitting.
From the kitchen, Baek Jagang stuck his head out.
“Have some tea while you wait. The meal will be ready soon! Look forward to today’s cooking!”
The Fist Demon King placed the teacups in front of them.
As Geom Woojin reached to pick up his cup—
His hand stopped in midair.
Ripples appeared on the surface of the tea.
They were extremely faint ripples.
The next moment—
A larger ripple appeared.
Then a third. A fourth.
The ripples gradually grew larger.
Geom Woojin realized what the ripples were.
They were like heartbeats.
Someone was walking toward this place.
With each step, the ripples formed.
It wasn’t the ripple of someone stomping heavily.
The person was walking silently—
Yet their very presence created the ripples.
Jin Paecheon, who sat across from him, and the Fist Demon King, who had brought the tea, were both staring at the ripples with sunken gazes.
Had they ever felt such an overwhelming presence in their lives?
The Sword King, who had been wiping the table nearby, put down his cloth.
The sound of chopping from the kitchen stopped.
The Poison King, who had emerged from his own world, now had eyes colder and deeper than ever.
Without concealing their presence—
Someone was walking toward this place.