Chapter 565: Take Good Care of My Daughter and Bring Her Back

TL: FoodieMonster007

"The Fist Demon's daughter is no different from my own daughter."

Lee Ahn was utterly shocked and bewildered the moment she heard those words. She had never expected to hear such a thing from the Cult Leader of all people, not even in her wildest dreams. She could not even imagine that the Heavenly Demon thought of her in that way.

Lee Ahn stared blankly at Geom Woojin for a moment before she bowed her head. Her mind went completely white, and she was unsure of what to say.

"Thank you, thank you so much."

All she could manage to offer were words of humbled gratitude.

As she gave her thanks and walked out across the red carpet, her legs suddenly gave out, and she felt a wave of dizziness wash over her.

I was just an insignificant bodyguard.

But she had overcome the side effects of the Self-Petrification Art and inherited the Soaring Sky Sword Art. She had become the Fist Demon's adopted daughter and even learned of her own lineage. And today, the Cult Leader himself had told her she was no different from a daughter to him.

The person who had made all of that possible was waiting for her at the entrance of the Heavenly Demon Hall.

Young Cult Leader.

What could he be discussing so earnestly with the Cold Ice Dual Swords?

As she drew closer, she could make out Geom Mugeuk's voice.

"…This noodle shop here is truly delicious. I heard it used to be a dumpling house. And if you go thirty li east from here, there's an inn. It may look shabby on the outside, but the boiled meat dish there is to die for. Then if you go straight north from there…"

He was pointing out all the places along their route that sold delicious food. He knew the roads well, and his memory was so good that he knew what was tasty at every single location.

Of the Cold Ice Dual Swords, Sa Han stood a step back and feigned disinterest, but he was listening intently to Geom Mugeuk's words. So Bing, on the other hand, was listening with active enthusiasm.

"All the places I've mentioned so far should suit both of your tastes, so please be sure to stop by."

Sa Han glanced at Han Seol and then remarked, "It should suit the Princess's taste more than ours."

Geom Mugeuk's gaze also turned toward Han Seol.

"The Princess will have many opportunities to eat. She'll be coming to the Central Plains often from now on, won't she?"

Han Seol could tell. Geom Mugeuk was encouraging her to come out often in the future.

Geom Mugeuk spoke to the two of them again.

"So please, the two of you, eat your fill before you go."

So Bing smiled and replied, "We will."

"If the two of you ever happen to come to the Central Plains by yourselves later, please let me know. I'll treat you to even more delicious food then."

Even if they were just empty words, they were still appreciated. Besides, hadn't he taken good care of them at the drinking party yesterday?

Only after definitively scoring points with the two masters from the North Sea did Geom Mugeuk's gaze turn to Lee Ahn, who was standing a short distance away and watching him.

"What was that long secret conversation about?"

Lee Ahn had calmed down considerably in the meantime.

"He was earnestly asking me to take good care of his son," she joked.

Geom Mugeuk laughed at her jest. He could tell that his father had bestowed a miracle herb upon her. The sweet fragrance of the Ten-Thousand Year Blood Ginseng still lingered on her, a scent he knew well from having eaten it himself.

Congratulations, Lee Ahn.

After congratulating her in his heart, he turned his attention to Han Seol.

"Well then, shall we go?"

Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn escorted Han Seol and the Cold Ice Dual Swords to the main gate of the Headquarters.

As she walked, Han Seol looked at the demonic statues that were erected everywhere. Her stay had been too short to form much of an impression of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, but she felt she would never forget those massive demonic statues for the rest of her life.

The carriage they would be taking was waiting at the main gate.

Han Seol was sad to part with Lee Ahn, but she did not express it with words.

"See you next time."

"Take care."

Lee Ahn watched their carriage recede into the distance before she looked at Geom Mugeuk.

His face was so taciturn as he stood there silently that it was hard to believe he had been such a chatterbox just moments ago. People didn't know that this face was closer to the Young Cult Leader's true self.

Geom Mugeuk smiled at Lee Ahn and said, "Let's go, to Master."

The Fist Demon was in the middle of his morning training with the Black Fists.

Below the Fist Demon, who threw punches from a platform, Cheon Sohwi was also throwing punches. In front of her, the Black Fists, all clad in black martial arts uniforms, executed the exact same movements.

PWAAANG!

As they were the most skilled among the Black Fists of the Eastern Fist Garrison, every one of their movements contained a discipline and power that no one could easily imitate.

From the Fist Demon down to the Black Fists, each and every one of them put their heart into every single movement, even though they were only basic fist techniques.

No matter how complex or flashy a technique was, it was always built upon these fundamental movements. The Fist Demon considered these basics to be extremely important.

The reason he personally taught the Black Fists was to ensure these fundamentals were completely ingrained in their bodies.

Just as one round of training concluded, Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn entered the area.

"Father!"

The gazes of the Black Fists split in two. The hot-blooded youths turned their gazes to Lee Ahn, while the older members mostly looked toward the Fist Demon.

This was because they knew it was a chance to see an expression on the Fist Demon's face that was rarely seen. The Fist Demon was not a man who revealed his emotions, but this moment was an exception.

"You're here?"

It was surprising every single time.

The Fist Demon's expression softened. The Black Fists who had been watching him looked at each other, sharing their amazement at the pleasant and comfortable expression that had been hidden within that fearsome face.

Geom Mugeuk, who had followed Lee Ahn in, announced, "The unfilial daughter has arrived."

"Unfilial daughter?" Lee Ahn asked in surprise.

Geom Mugeuk tattled on her. "After arriving at our Cult, your daughter went straight to drink with me without greeting you first, Master."

Lee Ahn spoke as if she had been wronged. "It was so late, wasn't it?"

"Even though you know full well that Master doesn't sleep much at night."

Lee Ahn glared at Geom Mugeuk. Are you really going to do this?

Geom Mugeuk smiled, then clasped his hands in a formal greeting to the Fist Demon.

"Master, have you been well?"

The Fist Demon nodded, greeting Geom Mugeuk with a pleased expression. It was a long-awaited reunion with both his daughter and his disciple.

At that moment, a greeting rang out like a roar.

"We greet the Young Cult Leader!"

The Black Fists greeted him with booming voices. They felt a sense of pride that the Young Cult Leader was the Fist Demon's disciple.

"Have you all been well?" Geom Mugeuk also greeted the Black Fists warmly, as he had trained with them before.

Cheon Sohwi, with a face full of hangover, gave Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn a nod.

The Fist Demon left the training to her and began to walk with Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn.

Once they were away from the training ground, Lee Ahn spoke with an apologetic look.

"I'm afraid I have something to apologize for. Something has come up, and I must leave the Cult with the Young Cult Leader immediately."

Knowing that his own disappointment would only weigh on Lee Ahn's heart, the Fist Demon simply nodded silently without asking for a reason.

"And I have something to tell you."

Lee Ahn told the Fist Demon that she had received the Ten-Thousand Year Blood Ginseng from Geom Woojin. She also relayed the reason exactly as it had been given to her.

"The Cult Leader said that?"

"……"

Knowing the relationship between his father and the Fist Demon better than anyone, Geom Mugeuk could see it. It was the unconcealable emotion that flickered across the Fist Demon's fearsome face. To the Fist Demon, his father's words were surely far more precious than the Ten-Thousand Year Blood Ginseng.

In moments like these, an image always came to Geom Mugeuk's mind. It was the image of two iron-like men striding through the Central Plains in their youth.

In the meantime, the three of them arrived at the entrance of the Eastern Fist Garrison.

"Be careful on your journey."

"Yes, Father."

As she was about to turn and leave after her farewell, Lee Ahn said to the Fist Demon, "The undeserved gift I received from the Cult Leader today is all thanks to you, Father."

The Fist Demon shook his head.

"It is thanks to you."

After a brief pause, the Fist Demon added, "None of this would have happened if you hadn't become my daughter."

The moment she heard those words, tears streamed down Lee Ahn's face.

She had held them back in front of the Heavenly Demon, and she had held them back in front of Geom Mugeuk. The tears she had held back for so long finally burst forth in front of her father. She was so grateful to everyone. She had been nothing more than an abandoned child in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. Was it okay for her to receive such undeserved love from these incredible people?

"I'll… be going now."

Flustered by her unstoppable tears, Lee Ahn hastily left the place first.

The Fist Demon looked at Geom Mugeuk. His gaze was gruff, but Geom Mugeuk read the Fist Demon's heart within it.

[Take good care of my daughter and bring her back.]

Don't worry, Master. Your daughter will take good care of the Young Cult Leader and return. You know, don't you? How strong your daughter is.

After bidding the Fist Demon farewell, Geom Mugeuk also left the area.

Outside, Lee Ahn spoke as if nothing had happened. "You said you were busy, so why are you dawdling?"

Geom Mugeuk smiled as he looked at her.

You fool, the tear stains around your eyes haven't faded yet.

He didn't tease her for crying. For her, there could be no tears more precious than these.

"Are you ready?"

"……"

Geom Mugeuk launched himself forward first and called out.

"Let's go, Lee Ahn!"

Seo Jin was looking up at the signboard.

She had never seen such a large signboard in her entire life.

As if the size of the signboard was meant to display the might of this martial arts academy, the four characters for the Yellow Dragon Academy were written in gold on the massive plaque.

There was not a single martial artist guarding the entrance, and the gate was wide open. It exuded a confidence that seemed to ask how anyone would dare enter the Yellow Dragon Academy with disrespectful intentions.

A huge training ground was visible inside. The training ground was so large that its end could not be seen. Countless people were coming and going there.

Just then, a passing martial artist saw her and walked over.

"What brings you here?"

Seo Jin looked at the martial artist. "I'm here to see Master Lim."

"There's more than one Master Lim. Which Master Lim are you referring to?"

"Instructor Lim Hyeon."

"Wait a moment."

The martial artist went inside and came back out a short while later.

"Follow me."

Seo Jin followed the martial artist inside.

As she followed him, she looked around the interior. It was so vast that she couldn't tell if she had come to the Murim Alliance or a martial arts academy.

In various spots around the training ground, members were practicing their martial arts. Some were gathered in groups of dozens, while others practiced in smaller groups. She could feel their passion to become stronger.

"This place is truly incredible."

At Seo Jin's words, the guiding martial artist replied proudly, "The Yellow Dragon Academy, the number one martial arts academy in the Central Plains. Haven't you heard of it? We don't just accept anyone who pays, like a regular martial arts academy. You have to pass a test to get in."

That was another reason it was so famous. It was also known that graduating was even more difficult than entering. If you didn't pass the graduation exam, you couldn't go around saying you were from here.

The place the martial artist guided Seo Jin to was an office in a large building.

"Welcome. I am Gi Seok, a Master of the Yellow Dragon Academy."

The system of the Yellow Dragon Academy was divided into Principal, Grand Master, Master, and Instructor. There were over a hundred instructors, but only seven Masters, who were called the Seven Instructors.

He was one of the Seven Instructors at the Yellow Dragon Academy.

Seo Jin had naturally expected to be guided to Lim Hyeon, so she was inwardly puzzled to be brought here.

"My name is Seo Jin."

"You came to see Master Lim?"

"That is correct."

"What is your relationship with Master Lim?"

For some reason, Seo Jin felt a sense of foreboding.

"I'm like a younger sister from his hometown."

Lim Hyeon had been friends with her Orabeoni, the Ghostly Sage, since they were young, but he was closer to her. He had played with her a lot more than with her Orabeoni, who was always cooped up in his research lab.

She had come to find him today to receive an item Lim Hyeon was supposed to pass on to her Orabeoni.

"I see."

Gi Seok's expression darkened, and he then delivered news that felt like a bolt from the blue.

"Master Lim passed away a short while ago."

Seo Jin was so startled she cried out with a gasp. She was so flustered she didn't know what to say.

"…My Orabeoni is dead?"

Her voice trembled.

Gi Seok brought her a cup of cold tea. "First, have a drink and calm down."

Seo Jin held the teacup in her hands and asked him, "How did it happen?"

"He had an accident during training."

"What kind of accident?"

Did he die during a duel with disciples? Or what kind of accident did he have?

"I cannot give you the details since you are not an immediate family member."

"I'm as good as family."

"But you are not family, are you?"

His mother had passed away over a decade ago, leaving him with no family.

"It is the academy's policy, so please understand."

Seo Jin let out a sigh. What good would it do to know the reason now? He was already dead. He had died alone and lonely in this distant land.

"What about the body?"

She thought she should at least retrieve Lim Hyeon's body herself. She had planned to bury him in his hometown.

"We cannot release it to a non-immediate family member. We have already buried him, so you need not worry."

They buried him? Even so, they didn't contact her or her Orabeoni?

"Master Lim did not leave any emergency contacts."

Suspicion bloomed in Seo Jin's mind.

That can't be right.

Lim Hyeon had told her before. He said he had arranged for them to be contacted in an emergency. That they were his family now.

They won't tell me the cause of death, won't release the body, and are even lying?

She had a gut feeling that they were hiding something about Lim Hyeon's death.

Gi Seok asked her, "But Young Lady, why did you come to see Master Lim?"

Seo Jin, who had been staring at Gi Seok, let out a sigh and said, "To enroll in the Yellow Dragon Academy."