Chapter 715: Worried About Us the Moment You Woke Up?

TL: FoodieMonster007

Blood splattered across the moonlit alley. Cha Yiran stood behind a martial artist who collapsed, clutching his throat.

She closed her eyes and sensed the surrounding energy. Scanning the area with an assassin's unique senses, she found no enemies nearby.

A moment later, the First Bridge came to report to her.

"It's all taken care of."

Behind her, the other assassins of the Beautiful Bridges were visible. Cha Yiran, the First Bridge, and the remaining assassins had returned to the alley without delay, which allowed them to minimize the damage. However, several of the Beautiful Bridges assassins had been killed or injured in this fight.

And the battle was not yet over.

"We're going back."

Cha Yiran sent the severely injured for treatment and led all the remaining assassins who could still fight. They returned to where they had fought Hwa Domyeong.

She never thought this would be her fate with the Demonic Cult.

Either they would all die together, or they would all live together. Today's battle was that kind of fight.

Trusting the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, she had come here to save her subordinates.

But their opponent was Hwa Domyeong. He had shown a new side of himself this time, disappointingly revealing his true nature, but the fact that he was a strong man remained unchanged. The martial artists in bamboo hats who were with him were also formidable.

Above all, Hwa Domyeong hadn't tried to flee even after seeing the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon. It clearly meant he had something to rely on.

"Hurry."

She unleashed her movement arts and ran at the head of the group.

This was for Geom Mugeuk, which ultimately meant it was for herself as well. She had already become a traitor to her organization. If something happened to Geom Mugeuk now, her choice would become meaningless.

While Cha Yiran was worrying, the Seventeenth Bridge, who followed behind, was thinking of someone else.

She desperately hoped that the Crescent Moon Faceless Warrior was alive.

She kept getting a bad feeling. An image of herself discovering a mask with a crescent moon drawn on it among a tangle of unrecognizable corpses came to mind.

As they drew closer, the thickening scent of blood made her heart pound even harder.

Just as Cha Yiran and the assassins left the alley, they arrived at the place where they had fought before.

They stopped in their tracks. The scene unfolding before them was completely unexpected.

First, Geom Mugeuk was still sitting with his eyes closed.

Seeing him, Cha Yiran felt a wave of relief.

The Young Cult Leader is alive.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon was also alive. He sat in front of Geom Mugeuk with his eyes closed, seemingly circulating his energy to recover his inner qi.

Around the two of them were the Faceless Warriors.

They were disposing of the corpses. A large pit was already filled with bodies. Even as she and her group arrived, the Faceless Warriors were still carrying more.

This was so the Young Cult Leader would not see a scene littered with corpses when he opened his eyes.

The Seventeenth Bridge looked for the Crescent Moon Faceless Warrior first. She could always spot him at a glance, but perhaps because she was anxious, she couldn't see him.

So she started counting the Faceless Warriors.

One, two, three… eight, nine, ten!

Thankfully, all the Faceless Warriors were alive.

Just then, her eyes met with a Faceless Warrior carrying a corpse nearby. Only then did she realize he was the Crescent Moon Faceless Warrior. His clothes were soaked in blood, but thankfully, he didn't seem to be seriously injured.

The Seventeenth Bridge gave a slight nod to the Crescent Moon Faceless Warrior, who was staring at her.

He returned her greeting with a slight nod of his own.

Another Faceless Warrior, carrying a corpse with a partner, glanced at the two of them. They pretended not to notice and avoided each other's gazes.

Meanwhile, Cha Yiran was inwardly shocked.

They killed them all!

The first person she looked for was Hwa Domyeong. At first, she couldn't find his body. Seeing three bamboo hats on the ground, it seemed all the hat-wearing martial artists were dead.

Hwa Domyeong's body was nowhere to be seen.

Did he escape?

Then, an object caught her eye.

It was a fan.

A familiar fan stuck out from inside the pit of corpses.

The man who had died clutching that fan had numerous lines drawn on his face. She hadn't recognized him at first because his makeup was wiped away, but upon closer inspection, he was Hwa Domyeong. The red lines that had crossed his face were now all a dull gray.

More shocking than his death was that the Faceless Warriors had carelessly tossed him and his subordinates into the corpse pit like this.

The Faceless Warriors.

And their leader, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon.

Cha Yiran thought she must not let her guard down. Just because a man named Geom Mugeuk smiled and didn't act like a demonic practitioner, she shouldn't think these people were also good.

They are the demonic practitioners of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. And not just any, but the demonic practitioners of the Valley of Evil.

Watching the Faceless Warriors begin to cover the corpse pit, Cha Yiran looked up at the night sky.

There was no turning back now. Since Hwa Domyeong, their kinsman, was dead, the organization behind him would surely try to kill her.

The moon had already begun to set, and a host of bright stars had become the new masters of the night sky.

The energy of the Flying Blood Snake was completely converted into inner qi and stored in his qi center.

Geom Mugeuk could say with certainty that in terms of inner qi alone, he was now the best in the murim.

Of course, one could never be sure about the ways of the world. No, at this level, he was the best.

The five energies that had been rampaging through his body had also quieted down and fallen dormant within him.

Only one energy remained.

Where could the last bead be hidden? And what would happen when he gathered all six energies?

With that final thought, Geom Mugeuk slowly opened his eyes.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon was looking at him. He was there when he closed his eyes, and he was there when he woke up.

"You're awake?"

The eyes of the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon were smiling in welcome.

Staring quietly into those eyes, Geom Mugeuk stretched widely instead of saying thank you.

"I slept well, thanks to you."

Geom Mugeuk got up from his spot, and the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon rose with him.

His body felt more refreshed than ever. It wasn't because he had slept until dawn. The pure inner qi filling his qi center was as vast and deep as the ocean.

The sense of stability and confidence from this magnificent inner qi, which felt like it would never run dry no matter how much he used it, was beyond words.

What if he were to unleash the sixth form of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art, the Heavenly Demon Destroys the World, with this inner qi?

If that art, which required most of his inner qi, was unleashed with this immense power? Even before, everything in sight had been annihilated.

Now, the result would be difficult to even imagine.

And what if he could control the Heavenly Demon Destroys the World at will, like his father?

What if he could create a sword of light with this inner qi?

Geom Mugeuk's heart pounded.

As Geom Mugeuk awoke, the Faceless Warriors lined up and offered a respectful clasped hands greeting. Joy could be felt in their eyes.

Geom Mugeuk examined their condition. While his own body felt so light, the martial arts uniforms of the Faceless Warriors were covered in blood. Many of them were injured as well.

He could guess how fierce a battle they had fought.

"You all worked hard protecting me, didn't you?"

At those words, the Faceless Warriors beamed. That one sentence from the Young Cult Leader was enough. As long as he acknowledged them, they were willing to lay down their lives at any time.

Opposite the Faceless Warriors stood the assassins. Cha Yiran was among them.

Geom Mugeuk walked over to her.

"Wasn't I heavy?"

"You were incredibly heavy."

She had fulfilled his request.

"You kept your promise that the Smiling Demon would be here when I opened my eyes."

"I'm the type to always keep my promises."

"Then let's make one more promise."

"That you'll let that person leave?"

She thought he was about to suggest they go rescue Ak Gunhak together.

Geom Mugeuk shook his head. His promise was something she hadn't expected at all.

"Rest in the shade of our Cult until we have dealt with all of them."

He had phrased it nicely, but what Geom Mugeuk was saying was this.

I will protect you.

Yes, only the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult could say such a thing to them.

"Are you worried about us the moment you woke up?"

Geom Mugeuk replied, his gaze deepening.

"Because you're the one who made it possible for me to open my eyes."

This was Geom Mugeuk's way of saying thank you.

Forming a formal connection with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was a matter that required careful consideration. If the person making the offer hadn't been Geom Mugeuk, she would have politely refused.

However, she didn't let pride or the honor of her organization interfere with this matter. When she thought only of the lives of her subordinates, the answer was not difficult.

"Then we will entrust ourselves to you for a while."

Cha Yiran offered a respectful clasped hands greeting. The female assassins behind her also bowed in unison. Among them was one woman who wore an unreadable smile.

Geom Mugeuk also returned their greeting respectfully.

"Once we've eliminated all of them, you are free to leave whenever you wish. I promise you on my name as the Young Cult Leader."

And so, it was decided that the assassins of the Beautiful Bridges would temporarily take refuge with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

Geom Mugeuk asked the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon.

"What happened to the man with the painted face?"

"He's dead."

"Well done."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon nodded and pointed out one thing.

"From the way he talked, he seemed to be the kinsman of a key figure."

Geom Mugeuk recalled what Cha Yiran had said.

That it was better not to touch him.

He must be a kinsman of the Hwa family.

"Even so, could he be the kinsman of a figure as important as me?"

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon laughed at Geom Mugeuk's joke, and Cha Yiran smiled as well.

She felt it. With Geom Mugeuk here, the atmosphere changed. Faces brightened, and the air filled with life. It felt like the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, the Faceless Warriors, and even she and her assassins were being influenced.

The sun rose brightly, and the world brightened with it.

The long night was finally over.

Lee Ahn stood by the window, watching the sunrise.

Geom Mugeuk would surely handle things well, and since the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon went with him, it should be fine. No matter how positively she tried to think, she couldn't help but worry.

Just then, the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman said from behind her.

"I feel bad, it's because of me."

"What?"

When Lee Ahn turned with a questioning look, the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman explained.

"You wanted to go with the Young Cult Leader, didn't you?"

Lee Ahn smiled and replied.

"But because of that, the Smiling Demon can fight with a peaceful mind. It's better to have a comfortable Smiling Demon without me than an anxious Smiling Demon with me."

It was a statement that held the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon in high regard and a humble one that lowered herself. It was also a statement that acknowledged the relationship between the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon and the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman.

Looking at Lee Ahn with a gentle gaze, the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman asked.

"Are you worried the prophecy will come true?"

To that, Lee Ahn gave an unexpected answer.

"No, I hope the prophecy does come true."

When the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman looked at her with questioning eyes, Lee Ahn revealed her honest feelings.

"Because the Young Cult Leader already knows what the prophecy is. He must have prepared for it well. I'd rather not have any new variables appear."

From those words, the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman could tell.

This martial artist trusts the Young Cult Leader more than the prophecy.

Lee Ahn did not deny it.

Just as Lee Ahn was looking out the window again, a happy gasp escaped her lips.

People were walking into the courtyard.

Geom Mugeuk was in the center, flanked by the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon and Cha Yiran. Behind Cha Yiran walked the assassins, and behind the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon walked the Faceless Warriors.

Geom Mugeuk saw Lee Ahn at the window and waved. The sight made Lee Ahn so happy she felt tears welling up, but she managed her emotions and waved back vigorously.

Watching them enter the guest hall safely, the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman thanked the heavens.

She had no idea how scared and trembling she had been, worried that the event would truly happen because she had prophesied it.

Seeing her like that, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon gave her a bright smile. If no one had been watching, she would have run into his arms.

Lee Ahn saw that Geom Mugeuk's chest was wrapped in bandages.

"You're hurt?"

At Lee Ahn's surprised question, Geom Mugeuk clutched his chest.

"I was stabbed in the heart."

At those words, not only Lee Ahn but also the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman was startled.

"The Smiling Demon really did stab me."

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman realized the prophecy had come true. She had thought this one would be wrong for sure. But how did he survive?

"Are you okay?"

At Lee Ahn's concern, Geom Mugeuk began to exaggerate his pain.

"Okay? The Smiling Demon stabbed me so painfully. Phew, don't even get me started. I only survived because I have the strongest and most magnificent heart in the world."

Lee Ahn whispered to the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon.

"You should've stabbed him harder. Or maybe not his heart, but that mouth of his."

Of course, it was a joke loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Not the mouth! Stab my heart instead!"

Everyone laughed as Geom Mugeuk played along.

"By the way, Lee Ahn, your prize money is gone."

With the Mythical Sect Leader and even Hwa Domyeong dead, it was impossible for the world number one tournament to continue.

At that, Lee Ahn looked at Cha Yiran and said.

"Young Lady Cha must be disappointed."

"Are you being serious?"

To Cha Yiran's question, Lee Ahn laughed pleasantly and replied.

"About fifty percent."

Cha Yiran smiled along with her. If the final stage had truly unfolded, what would the result have been?

Geom Mugeuk said to Lee Ahn.

"For the time being, Young Lady Cha will be with us. Lee Ahn, you'll be in charge of her."

"Yes!"

Lee Ahn looked at Cha Yiran. The emotion in her gaze was one of delight and a pleasant welcome.

Cha Yiran responded to the goodwill.

"Then I suppose I'll have to teach you a few things."

Cha Yiran said this while looking down at her own blood-stained martial arts uniform.

"That a martial arts uniform is something you only wear occasionally, on days like today."

Choosing clothes and putting on makeup. She meant she would teach her how a woman should adorn herself.

Lee Ahn grinned and said.

"I do kind of miss the clothes I wore on stage."

As the women shared such everyday conversation, everyone finally felt that this battle was over.

However, one task still remained for Geom Mugeuk.

Now that he was back, there was someone he had to meet first. The person who had been the cause of all this.

"I'll be back after I go see the Evil Alliance Chairman."