Chapter 557: Demonic Practitioners Don't Break Up

TL: FoodieMonster007

Seo Daeryong waited at the safehouse with the Dan sisters. Their injuries were almost fully healed thanks to the continuous treatment they received there, and they were now simply waiting for news from Geom Mugeuk.

During this time, he spent many hours with Dan Ah. They talked about all sorts of things, from stories of their pasts to discussions on martial arts. Through these conversations, Seo Daeryong became absolutely certain.

This is the woman!

He had a powerful feeling that if he let Dan Ah go, he would regret it for the rest of his life.

However, he could not bring himself to confess to her. She was a guest in a Heavenly Demon Divine Cult safehouse, recovering from her wounds. To make such a confession to someone in her position would be no different from pressuring her with her life.

The problem was that the situation would be the same even after she was completely healed. The woman was a Director of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. How much of a burden would that be?

This was what made the relationship so difficult. It had been so much better when he was just reciting poetry to her, completely unaware of her identity.

That afternoon, a martial artist from the safehouse delivered a messenger pigeon.

After reading its contents, Seo Daeryong went to find the Dan sisters with a bright expression on his face.

"A message has come from the Young Cult Leader," he announced. "He has taken care of all the bastards."

The Dan sisters were delighted. The youngest, Dan Yeon, even let out a cheer.

"You are all safe now."

However, Dan Ah's expression soon darkened.

This news meant that her departure from Seo Daeryong was imminent. A heavy silence descended upon the room.

Honestly, Dan Ah had even entertained the thought of a life following Seo Daeryong.

He was the Sanzu Hall Director, yet he read collections of poetry. He was a man who spoke frankly about his gloomy and dark past, and who was actively trying to escape it.

The more she talked with him, the more she realized what a truly pure person he was. For some reason, she felt she could be happy building a life with this man. No, she wanted to.

But she could not part with her sisters. The three of them had only survived this long because they had stuck together.

What if she left? Could her sisters survive in this murim?

She would never be happy if she was worrying about her sisters every day. Still, she couldn't force her sisters to become demonic practitioners too. That would be too great a change to their destiny.

"We'll be leaving now. Thank you so much for saving us."

Seo Daeryong was flustered. He had secretly hoped she might choose to go with him to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. It seemed she had already decided to leave. He hadn't realized their farewell would arrive so suddenly.

Dan Ah looked at Seo Daeryong with affectionate eyes.

I'm sorry, I have to protect my sisters.

After their many conversations over the past few days, he knew well how she had lived. He understood the part of her heart that was devoted to her sisters.

Feeling a great sense of loss, Seo Daeryong looked away to stop the tears that threatened to well up. In the end, tears streamed down his face anyway.

Seeing Seo Daeryong's tears, Dan Ah felt her own tears coming. She gritted her teeth and held them back. If her sisters saw her looking sad, their hearts would ache.

"Thank you so much, Director Seo."

She said her goodbyes in a deliberately bright voice.

Seo Daeryong knew that if he let her go now, it would be the end forever. If they were fated to meet again, then they were fated to make it work now. He had to hold on to her. He had to, even by force, even by begging.

It was at that exact moment that the youngest, Dan Yeon, spoke.

"We'll pack our things, Unnie."

Her two sisters immediately started packing. They didn't have much to call luggage, but they began stuffing various things into their leather pouches.

Seeing that, the last of his courage to hold onto Dan Ah broke. A wave of disappointment washed over him.

He had gotten close to the two sisters as well. No, he had deluded himself into thinking he had.

He had felt so good when the youngest had called him 'brother-in-law'. Of course, he knew she was joking, but he still liked it. He must have been intoxicated by that joke and misjudged the entire situation.

Right, who am I to think I could have a woman!

As his heart weakened, a demon immediately whispered in his ear.

[Why would an amazing woman like that ever like you? She only pretended to like you because you're a Director of the Divine Cult. Are you an idiot? Did you think reciting a poem once would be enough? Look in the mirror! Look at yourself!]

Dan Ah's heart ached seeing Seo Daeryong in such pain.

Unable to bear the sight, she was the first to leave the room.

"I hope you achieve great things! I'll be cheering for you from afar."

Dan Ah left the room.

Right, who am I to think I could have a man.

Just as she had lived until now, she would survive in this harsh jianghu by helping her sisters. She had lived well without a man so far.

She was just about to walk out the safehouse door.

"Where are you going?"

The person who called to her from behind was the youngest, Dan Yeon.

When Dan Ah turned around, Dan Bi and Dan Yeon were standing next to the carriage.

"We have to ride in this."

"What?"

Dan Yeon spoke to Seo Daeryong, who had followed her out and was standing there blankly.

"You're going to the Divine Cult in this carriage, right?"

As Seo Daeryong nodded with a bewildered face, Dan Yeon said something astonishing.

"My second sister and I want to serve the God of War in the Divine Cult."

Not only Seo Daeryong, but Dan Ah too was startled.

"Can you accept us?"

A flustered Seo Daeryong looked back and forth between Dan Ah and her two sisters.

Dan Ah quickly said to Seo Daeryong, "Don't mind her. My sister is just joking."

"It's not a joke, Unnie."

"Stop it! Even if it's a joke, it's rude to Director Seo."

Dan Yeon's expression was serious.

"We're not joking."

Then, the second sister, Dan Bi, spoke for the first time.

"It's not just because of Unnie."

Everyone's gaze turned to Dan Bi.

"Living as a mercenary… I'm tired and weary of it now."

Dan Ah could feel that her sister was speaking from the heart. Her second sister was not the type to make things up about something like this.

"I want to settle down and live somewhere now."

Dan Ah understood Dan Bi's feelings. How many things had they gone through, and how much had they suffered, for three women to survive as mercenaries? She herself hadn't even realized her hardships were hardships due to her sense of duty, but her sisters' feelings must have been different.

"Our goal was to save money and settle down, wasn't it? Now is that time."

A moment of silence passed.

Dan Ah looked at her youngest sister. In response to her gaze, which asked if she thought the same, Dan Yeon answered with a question.

"Can you accept us?"

Seo Daeryong was so happy he wanted to shout. He felt so pathetic for having felt disappointed in these sisters, even for a moment.

"Youngest Young Lady, you might not know because my appearance doesn't seem very authoritative, but the Sanzu Hall Director is a pretty high position."

He had humbly called it a 'token', but the Sanzu Hall Director was at the center of power.

Dan Yeon let out a cheer of joy and said, "Today is our first day as demonic practitioners."

Even Dan Bi, who didn't express her emotions well, smiled.

Dan Ah knew. It was true that they were tired and weary, but the decision to become demonic practitioners was because of her.

"Are you really okay with this? You'll have to live as demonic practitioners from now on."

Dan Bi answered her calm question. "We survived as mercenaries from the very bottom. You think we can't survive as demonic practitioners?"

Dan Yeon also showed her optimistic nature. "If it gets too hard, the three of us can just run away in the middle of the night! We're amazing at running away, aren't we?"

She had said it to make them laugh, but tears welled up in Dan Ah's eyes. How could she not know her sisters' hearts?

Dan Bi said the decisive words.

"Too great a sacrifice is a burden on us. What are we supposed to do later if we have to leave? Don't do it, for our sake too. We can all take care of ourselves."

Dan Ah, who had been lost in thought for a moment, raised her head. One could tell from her expression. She had made a decision.

Seo Daeryong looked at her with a pleading gaze. He just hoped she wouldn't say something like, 'I still can't do it'.

Dan Ah took a deep breath and then spoke forcefully.

"Director Seo, the Three Dan Sisters will serve the God of War for the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult!"

In that moment, Seo Daeryong threw both his arms up. He was too happy to even shout.

This wasn't a moment where the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult gained three new members.

It was the moment a woman who would accept him as a man had appeared. And she was even willing to serve the God of War in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult to do it.

He, who had never been chosen by a woman in his entire life. Such a good woman had accepted his heart.

"I've already told you about myself. Are you okay with someone like me?"

At that, Dan Ah gave her characteristic, meaningful smile and said, "You probably don't know everything about me yet. I'm sure I have many hidden bad sides. Are you okay with someone like me?"

Seo Daeryong nodded. "I'm okay with it."

The youngest, who was listening, said, "You can't take it back, brother-in-law!"

At the words 'brother-in-law', Seo Daeryong's face flushed red.

"I'll never take it back, sister-in-law."

He used all his courage to say the word 'sister-in-law' for the first time. The tips of Seo Daeryong's ears turned red.

Then, Dan Bi said nonchalantly, "But what if they break up after being so lovey-dovey?"

At that, the youngest sister imitated a deep voice and replied, "We demonic practitioners don't break up. We just kill!"

Seo Daeryong waved his hands in denial. "It's a misunderstanding! Our Cult isn't a place like that!"

Dan Bi and Dan Yeon boarded the carriage first.

Seo Daeryong conveyed his sincere feelings to Dan Ah. "I will protect you for the rest of my life."

Dan Ah smiled and said, "From now on, we have to protect each other."

Seo Daeryong was so happy he felt like he could fly. It truly felt like a dream. He wanted to hurry and meet Geom Mugeuk to brag. He wanted to brag all night in front of Lee Ahn and Jang Ho.

As Dan Ah passed by Seo Daeryong to get into the carriage, she said softly.

"And I will kill you."

"What?"

When he turned in surprise, the youngest sister was smiling as she said, "I definitely said no take-backs!"

The three women in the carriage smiled as they looked at Seo Daeryong.

Seo Daeryong felt that a new life had now begun. When he first left the cult to meet his master, he was alone, but now he was returning as a group of four.

Seo Daeryong climbed into the driver's seat and said, "I won't take it back, if only for my sister-in-law's sake."

Another carriage, carrying another destiny, was also speeding towards the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

Throughout the journey, the Cold Ice Dual Swords, responsible for being Han Seol's bodyguards, were tense.

The Central Plains murim, rampant with all sorts of schemes and conspiracies, was a dangerous place. The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was even more so!

They had tried to stop her, saying she couldn't go to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult of all places, but Han Seol refused to listen in the end.

The reason the Cold Ice Dual Swords didn't stop her until the very end was because of Geom Mugeuk. They knew that Geom Mugeuk was a great benefactor to the North Sea Ice Palace and had earned the trust of the Ice Empress.

[Will it be alright?]

[We must protect her well.]

The Cold Ice Dual Swords were a married couple. The husband was Sahan, and the wife was So Bing. The name the Cold Ice Dual Swords was an alias derived from their names.

They were masters who had been active as a married couple in the North Sea murim for a long time.

The Empress of the North Sea Ice Palace trusted them not just for their skill, but also because they had lived for a very long time as a happily married couple. She believed that a couple who knew how to respect each other could be trusted.

Although they were returning to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult as quickly as possible, Geom Mugeuk always had the carriage stop at scenic spots to show them to Han Seol.

"It's amazing."

Han Seol exclaimed in admiration as she looked up at the sheer cliff. It was truly such an overwhelming, spectacular view.

However, he didn't only show her spectacular views like this. He also took her to places like historical sites in the murim where famous masters had fought, or places where one could see things not found in the North Sea.

"I believe that hearing about something and seeing it for yourself are very different. I hope that your trip to the Central Plains this time, Young Lady Han, will be a journey where you see many things."

Han Seol could definitely feel that Geom Mugeuk's thoughtfulness was different.

If she had invited someone to the North Sea Ice Palace, she would have hurried to show them the Ice Palace. The Ice Palace is this splendid, this magnificent, this strong.

However, Geom Mugeuk was placing more meaning on her first trip to the Central Plains than on the invitation to the Divine Cult.

He genuinely wanted her to see many things before she returned.

"Now, repeat after me! I'll see a lot before I go!"

When Han Seol hesitated, Geom Mugeuk said, "Just thinking it is different from saying it out loud. Now, repeat after me."

At his continued urging, Han Seol finally gave in and said, "I'll see a lot before I go!"

As they traveled, he also made sure to stop at any inn or restaurant with a skilled cook.

At such times, he mainly took care of the Cold Ice Dual Swords.

"You two will like this dish."

"You don't need to worry about us."

"You should eat food that suits the tastes of the Young Cult Leader and the Princess."

To their refusal, Geom Mugeuk said this. "We're young, so we could chew on rocks."

Han Seol nodded at Geom Mugeuk's gaze, which sought her agreement. It was the moment she, a picky eater, became a youth who could chew on rocks.

The dishes Geom Mugeuk treated them to were well-suited to the tastes of the Cold Ice Dual Swords.

They tried this, and they tried that. They were all things they had never eaten in the North Sea. Thanks to him, their eyes were being opened to the delicacies of the Central Plains.

[Still, a demonic practitioner is a demonic practitioner, so let's be careful.]

[That's right. We don't know when he might change after looking so kind.]

[Let's be especially careful of poison.]

At first, they exchanged this kind of telepathy every time, but the frequency gradually decreased. Now they were exchanging telepathic messages wondering what kind of dish it would be today.

And today, a cry of joy was heard from Geom Mugeuk's lips.

"We're finally back!"

The carriage had arrived at the Demon Village.

"From here on is the Demon Village. Shall we walk and take a look around?"

She became tense. There were rumors she had heard since she was young about the Demon Village. It was a village where demonic practitioners lived in front of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult Headquarters.

It was said that no one who entered that place ever came out with their body intact.

Some had their arms cut off, some came out as madmen, they made dumplings with human flesh, they sold cursed dolls of Demon Supremes. It was a place rife with all sorts of terrifying rumors.

People with wicked glints in their eyes would be walking the streets, and drunkards would be leaning against walls, sending gloomy stares. Of course, with the Young Cult Leader next to her, no one would dare to openly pick a fight, right?

[No matter what happens, please endure it as much as possible!]

After sending a telepathic message to the Cold Ice Dual Swords, Han Seol followed Geom Mugeuk out of the carriage. It was the moment she finally took her first step into the front yard of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.