Chapter 342: A New Era (3)
Mysterious Elegance Peak.
It was the place where Cheon Taejong, now the former Cult Leader, used to handle official affairs during his tenure.
“We have arrived, Cult Leader.”
Outside, the Right Guardian opened the door and bowed.
Cheon Yura and I stood before the pavilion at the summit of Mysterious Elegance Peak.
It was a place so modest that it hardly seemed fitting to be called the Cult Leader’s office, yet it was by no means poorly built.
No doubt about it.
The Cult Leader was inside.
“Let’s go.”
Cheon Yura gripped my hand tightly and led me forward.
Seeing her unusually assertive behavior today, I couldn’t help but forget all my worries and smile warmly, just for this moment.
“…Alright.”
At the entrance of Mysterious Elegance Peak, there were no Guardian Lions standing watch.
Only the Left Guardian, Mujeong.
And, absurdly enough, Murder Demon, So Mun-yak, was standing there as well.
“Why are you here?”
“……”
Murder Demon gave no reply to my question.
He merely lowered his head slightly toward Cheon Yura, the Cult Leader.
‘I heard that he once followed the Cult Leader in his youth… Does that bond still remain to this day?’
In any case, we attempted to pass by Murder Demon and head inside.
Just as we were about to step past him, he suddenly spoke.
“You sent Gu Chil to the north.”
“……”
I turned my gaze to Murder Demon with slight surprise.
The fact that he referred to him as Gu Chil instead of Byeok Cheon-un likely meant he acknowledged Gu Chil as one of my subordinates.
“That’s right.”
I no longer had any reason to bow to the Clan Leaders of the Six Clans.
Without hesitation, I spoke informally to him.
But still, Murder Demon showed no particular reaction.
Instead, he said something unexpected.
“So Clan still hasn’t found an answer regarding their successor.”
From what I had heard from So Soryu, the other direct descendants of Murder Demon lacked any significant qualities.
Well, none of the current So Clan’s later-generation disciples had managed to secure a spot among the Six Demon Dragons, after all….
“…And what of it?”
“I intend to have him succeed me someday. Jin Gun-ak agreed as well. My elder brother… told me to ask your opinion.”
Elder brother?
Who in the world could Murder Demon, So Mun-yak, be calling elder brother…?
‘Ah, he must be referring to the Chief Steward!’
Byeok Jisang, the Chief Overseer. He used to be a member of the Hidden Shadow So Clan. Though he was Murder Demon’s junior in rank, I recalled that he was older in age.
“And if I refuse?”
“Then So Clan’s gates will remain closed for fifty more years.”
I inwardly clicked my tongue at his not-so-veiled threat.
If So Clan didn’t oppose me, there was nothing to gain from their gates remaining closed.
Their strength would be essential in the battles to come.
‘For the balance between the Six Great Demonic Clans, I might indeed have to send Gu Chil back someday.’
It wasn’t just any position—it was the Clan Leader’s seat.
If Gu Chil truly refused to walk that path, I would respect his choice. But I couldn’t deny it felt like a waste.
‘Ah, come to think of it….’
I suddenly thought of another option and spoke.
“If it’s a successor you seek, there is another candidate….”
“If you’re talking about So Cheon, forget it.”
“……”
Murder Demon cut me off without hesitation.
“His martial arts….”
“I know. Whoever taught him, he’s turned into a monster. If I were to face him head-on, I couldn’t guarantee victory either.”
Surprisingly, Murder Demon seemed to have an almost perfect grasp of So Cheon’s abilities.
Furthermore—
“But that one is a wanderer by nature. Even if his martial arts reach the Cult Leader’s level, I would never make him the Clan Leader.”
“Hmm….”
So he understood not only So Cheon’s strength but also his very nature?
True enough, imagining So Cheon sitting as the Clan Leader of the Hidden Shadow So Clan felt like a far-fetched scenario.
It was all too clear that he would end up ruining the clan.
At that moment, Mujeong, who had been standing beside us, spoke up.
“Let’s discuss the successor another time. On this final day, there’s no need for such heavy topics.”
“……”
Murder Demon silently nodded.
‘Final day….’
Sensing the meaning behind those words, I fell silent.
“Go on inside. He is waiting for you.”
“Very well.”
Cheon Yura and I passed by them and entered the residence.
The interior of the residence had a surprisingly warm atmosphere, highlighted by red tones.
Above all, it felt like a space filled with quiet longing rather than extravagant decoration.
However—
I didn’t have the leisure to let my eyes wander around the furnishings.
“Welcome, Little Brother.”
Cheon Taejong, whom I hadn’t seen in a few days, had returned to the appearance of a young boy.
No, he now looked closer to a child than a youth.
‘…It’s true, he overdid it back then.’
Now, the Cult Leader’s remaining time could no longer be counted in days.
“Sit. Yura, you too.”
“Yes, Father.”
Seeing her father’s visibly younger appearance, Cheon Yura’s face froze for a moment.
But she quickly composed herself and sat across from me, with a small table adorned with flowers between us.
‘Red chrysanthemums….’
The flowers decorating the room were none other than red chrysanthemums.
“When Jeok Mae and I held our ceremony here, we had blood-red spider lilies arranged all around.”
‘…What kind of madness was that?’
I had to muster every ounce of patience to keep that thought from slipping out.
“…If it were blue stones like the ones Senior Sister Ma used, maybe I wouldn’t mind.”
“But red spider lilies? Really?”
Seeing the expression on my face, the Cult Leader let out a quiet chuckle.
“I can tell what you’re thinking just by looking at your face.”
“……”
“But, Little Brother, red spider lilies aren’t only tied to the meaning of death.”
His gaze drifted somewhere into the past.
However, the emotion didn’t last long.
“Drink.”
Cheon Taejong placed cups in front of Yura and me, filling them with something.
‘What is this?’
I was certain—it wasn’t alcohol.
Something dark crimson, yet it didn’t carry the metallic scent of blood.
Instead, I felt something spiritual resonating within the rippling liquid.
Cheon Yura looked at me and spoke.
“Let’s drink, Jin Yeomyung.”
“…Alright.”
Surely, he wouldn’t serve us something like the Heaven-Slaying Poison at a time like this, would he?
Yura and I raised our cups and drank at the same time.
And then—
Fwoosh!
In an instant, the scenery around us shifted.
“……!”
“W-What is this?!”
It wasn’t just our sight that changed.
The subtle scent of flowers and a soft breeze brushed against us.
We were surrounded by blooming peach blossoms.
It was like a literal paradise—Do Won Hyang, the fabled Peach Blossom Land.
‘This isn’t some cheap illusion.’
This was reality itself, indistinguishable from the real world.
I had thought the interior of the residence felt too plain for a wedding, but so this was what they had hidden all along.
“How do you like it, Yura? Does it please you?”
“Yes… I love it, very much.”
She nodded repeatedly, looking around with wide eyes.
Cheon Taejong turned to me and explained.
“This is a kind of pocket dimension created by Jeok Mae, using the Blood Cult’s techniques.”
“……”
“It’s not truly part of reality. It exists somewhere between reality and illusion. They say visiting too often can damage your mind, but once should be fine.”
“Now, stand facing Yura, Little Brother.”
“Yes, Cult Leader… no, Father-in-law.”
He showed no particular reaction to being called ‘father-in-law’ this time.
Though it seemed like he did clench his fist slightly.
In any case, following Cheon Taejong’s instructions, Yura and I joined hands and faced each other.
And then, bowing respectfully toward one another, we began.
“Let’s begin.”
Under Cheon Taejong’s officiation, our wedding ceremony lasted less than an hour.
Unlike the relationship between lord and vassal, this was a true wedding, binding us as equals.
After that simple yet meaningful ceremony came to an end—
“Yu…”
Just as I was about to call her name—
“……!”
Seeing the moisture welling up in her eyes, I found myself at a loss for words.
“I never imagined I would see a day like this.”
I flinched.
It was a tone completely different from anything I had ever heard from her.
Neither in our past lives, nor in this one.
I had never expected to hear such formal, respectful words from her.
“Since I was a child, I understood my fate. That I would live a life where I could not show respect to anyone, trust anyone, or open my heart to anyone.”
“……”
I had no words to reply with.
Because I remembered the Heartless Demonic Empress, who had dedicated everything to her followers, fighting lonelier than anyone else.
Because I remembered how she had disappeared so tragically.
“That’s why I came to admire Wolnyeo, the wandering swordswoman who traveled freely.”
The reason she had clung to that mask and the childish title of ‘Moonlit Sword Flower’.
She took out the mask from her robes.
And without hesitation, she broke it in half.
“But I won’t cling to things like this anymore.”
She dropped the broken mask to the ground and smiled brightly at me.
“Even though I know there are still many obstacles waiting for us ahead.”
She shared the same thoughts I had.
“Still, I ask for your support from now on, my husband.”
With trembling hands, I took hers as she bowed.
“Since that moment, I vowed to dedicate this life to you.”
She raised her head and looked into my eyes.
“That decision might have seemed impulsive, but it was never a promise made lightly.”
Suddenly, I could hear her past voice echoing like a hallucination.
‘Would you… seduce me… just a little?’
Though we had taken a long and winding path, I had kept my promise to her.
And I would continue to keep it, always.
“I should be the one asking for your support, my wife.”
And so, my wedding with Cheon Yura came to an end.
Honestly, I wanted to stay here and do this(?) and that(…) and even that(!) with her.
But here and now, there was something that still needed to be finished.
“Father-in-law.”
“……”
Cheon Taejong didn’t respond to being called father-in-law.
He stood with his hands behind his back, silently staring into the distance.
Trying to lighten the mood, I called out toward his back.
“Don’t worry too much. I’m not planning on giving you a grandchild right away!”
“Ahem!”
Strangely, it was Cheon Yura who reacted to that remark.
I couldn’t tell if she felt embarrassed or disappointed, but either way, it couldn’t be helped.
Of course, I wanted to start living a happy married life right away—two daughters, two sons, that kind of dream.
However, she had just ascended to the position of Cult Leader.
This was the time for her to actively participate in the Cult’s affairs and expand her influence.
If she happened to conceive, she’d be forced to step back from the Cult’s matters for at least half a year.
No matter how much I handled state affairs in her stead, such a long absence from the newly appointed Cult Leader would be fatal.
It was at that moment.
“Yura’s matters have now left my hands.”
Step.
As Cheon Taejong turned his body and faced us, I instinctively clenched my teeth.
I could feel the absence of emotion in his eyes.
Those who transcended humanity eventually lost human emotions.
It was a miracle that Cheon Taejong had managed to preserve his humanity while standing at that realm until now.
In truth, this should have happened to him long ago.
Just like his master, the Heavenly Demon Founder.
Cheon Taejong continued.
“Now, I am here to fulfill the final duty I have left.”
His cryptic tone was secondary.
“Final duty?”
Chchchch!
“Both of you, come at me together.”
Just like the previous night, the Cult Leader’s appearance suddenly shifted back to that of a young man.
And this time, he drew his sword—not barehanded, but with a blade.
“I will pass down the final secret technique left by the human Cheon Taejong to you two.”
He spoke in that same emotionless tone.
“You two are one. You must never forget that.”