Chapter 719: That's Just Because You Haven't Tried My Cooking

TL: FoodieMonster007

Geom Mugeuk had called her name for the first time.

Cha Yiran stared at him with a surprised expression. As if nothing had happened, Geom Mugeuk treated her with the same formality as before.

"From now on, you'll have to get friendly with those evil demon statues."

Cha Yiran recalled what Geom Mugeuk had said just a moment ago.

Cha Yiran, welcome home.

She had never been under anyone's protection before. Ever since she came of age, she had lived her life by her own strength.

But hearing Geom Mugeuk's words stirred a strange feeling within her. For some reason, she felt as if she was being protected. It was the kind of feeling you get when a real adult pats your head and tells you, "Welcome."

"Now that I'm your subordinate, Young Cult Leader, please speak comfortably."

"No, let's continue as we have been."

"Why is that?"

"Sometimes, a leader needs a subordinate who isn't so comfortable. Wouldn't that keep them from letting their guard down?" Geom Mugeuk said, looking at Lee Ahn. "If I have a subordinate who is unconditionally on my side, I also need one like you."

The truth was, it was because of Ak Gunhak. There was no telling what the future held, and she might end up with Ak Gunhak in Chengdu. Out of consideration for him, Geom Mugeuk couldn't just drop the formalities.

He had also taken her as a subordinate to offer her the most certain form of protection.

"Do as you please."

Cha Yiran looked back at her subordinates. Unlike their usual selves, they looked tense and intimidated. It was only natural. No matter how experienced these assassins were, how could they not feel daunted by the overwhelming pressure of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?

The endlessly towering buildings, the terrifying evil demon statues erected between them, and the fierce-looking demonic beings coming and going from all directions. And then there were the countless Faceless Warriors standing before them.

"You heard the Young Cult Leader, didn't you? This is our home now."

"Yes!" the assassins answered energetically.

She had come here trusting Geom Mugeuk, but her subordinates had come trusting her. She was the one who had to protect them.

Just then, Geom Mugeuk spoke to her. "Now that you're home, you should greet my father. Young Lady Cha, let's go together."

At his words, Cha Yiran flinched in surprise. Go to meet the Demonic Cult Leader? The Heavenly Demon?

"Why me?"

"It's customary to greet him when you return from a mission. Since you're my subordinate now, Young Lady Cha, shouldn't you pay your respects?"

It was a valid point, so Cha Yiran couldn't refuse. She had her subordinates wait there and followed Geom Mugeuk, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, and Lee Ahn toward the Heavenly Demon Hall.

As they neared the hall, Cha Yiran's heart pounded even harder. It had never beaten this fast, not even when she was heading out on a difficult assassination.

As they walked, she asked cautiously, "What does the Cult Leader think of assassins?"

"He hates them."

He answered so bluntly that she thought she must have misheard.

"How much?"

"He hates them very much."

"Please be more specific."

The answer that came made her wish she had never asked.

"I can't be sure, but probably second most in the world?"

The Heavenly Demon hated her kind second most in the world, and she was on her way to see him? Even in this situation, she couldn't help but ask.

"Then who does he hate the most?"

"Martial artists who use poison. Our poor Poison King."

With such a specific number one, she could now be certain that he truly hated assassins second most.

Seeing her dismay, Geom Mugeuk pressed on. "Isn't it more comforting this way?"

How could he say it was comforting when she was this worried and uneasy?

"He'll dislike you anyway, even if you try your best to make a good impression, so you can just give up comfortably. Is there anything more tiring than trying to curry favor with someone?"

Cha Yiran shook her head in disbelief. At the same time, his words were strangely persuasive.

"Actually, Lee Ahn probably has it harder. Father has been doting on her lately."

Ever since she became the Fist Demon's adopted daughter, his father had become much gentler in his treatment of Lee Ahn. Hearing this, Lee Ahn let out a sigh.

"I wasn't thinking about it at all, but now that you've said that, I feel uneasy."

After roping in Cha Yiran and Lee Ahn, Geom Mugeuk now drew in the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon.

"You must be comfortable, Smiling Demon, right? Since you've been clearly marked by Father."

He had been the only one to stand on Geom Mugeuk's side in front of his father.

Then, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon said something unexpected. "I'm not comfortable either."

He added, as if he truly meant it, "Being marked is one thing, but I am always striving to make a good impression on the Cult Leader."

Geom Mugeuk and the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon smiled with their eyes.

Geom Mugeuk knew. His father liked deeply loyal people like the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon. He was not the type to hate someone simply because that loyalty was not directed at him. That was why he could so casually mention that he had been "marked."

And knowing that, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon was also making an effort.

In the meantime, they arrived at the Heavenly Demon Hall. No one was guarding it. Only rows of pillars, shaped like demons supporting the high ceiling, stood there with a massive door at the far end.

But Cha Yiran could feel it instinctively. This space was by no means empty. Extreme danger lurked everywhere, danger that would only reveal itself to an uninvited guest.

Sure enough, as the four of them arrived, the door opened on its own. It was a sign that someone was watching.

As Cha Yiran stepped into the Heavenly Demon Hall, the first thing she saw was a red carpet. At the end of that path of blood, she saw a man sitting on a grand chair.

That must be the Demonic Cult Leader.

She could feel his presence even from a distance. It was an intense presence, the likes of which she had never felt in her life.

Usually, when one's martial arts reached the pinnacle, they would hide their presence. But the Demonic Cult Leader right now seemed to be saying…

Why should I hide?

The four of them walked the path of blood and arrived below the grand chair.

Geom Mugeuk greeted his father, who was still in his seat as always, in a loud voice. "Father, have you been well? I have returned safely."

Their gazes locked in mid-air.

Geom Woojin recognized his son's achievement at a glance.

"You've had some success."

Geom Mugeuk looked back at the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon. "Thanks to the Smiling Demon, I gained a great miraculous encounter."

He had not yet given a detailed report about the Flying Blood Snake. He thought that even his father would be shocked by a report of his son's heart being pierced, so he intended to tell him in person.

When he was given credit, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon said calmly, "I was only assisting for a moment as ordered."

After speaking so humbly, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon bowed respectfully. "I have returned, Cult Leader."

"You've worked hard."

Indeed, what filled Geom Woojin's eyes as he looked at the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon was trust. If he hadn't trusted him, he would not have sent him out alone with the Young Cult Leader.

Next, Lee Ahn offered her greeting. "Lee Ahn has returned from her mission."

Just as Geom Mugeuk had said, Geom Woojin's gaze was gentle as he looked at Lee Ahn.

"Did you have a safe trip?"

"Thanks to your concern, I returned safely."

Finally, Geom Mugeuk introduced Cha Yiran. "This is someone who became my subordinate during this mission."

Cha Yiran bowed respectfully and greeted him. "My name is Cha Yiran. It is a true honor to meet such a distinguished person."

Of course, Geom Woojin had already received a report about her from the All-Knowing Hall.

Cha Yiran spoke in a trembling voice. "Although I was once an assassin, I intend to live a new life from now on."

But Geom Woojin's expression held no welcome whatsoever. He didn't even hide his disapproval of her.

At that cold gaze, Geom Mugeuk said to Cha Yiran, "Perhaps the ranking of what Father dislikes is not second, but first."

Geom Woojin's gaze shifted from Cha Yiran to his son. There was a clear reason for his father's coldness.

"What will you do if this woman's objective was to infiltrate our Cult?"

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon glanced at Geom Mugeuk, and from the other side, Lee Ahn did the same.

The moment she heard Geom Woojin's words, Lee Ahn's heart sank. What he had just said meant the assassination could still be in progress. It was a possibility she had never considered.

"What will you do if that woman exploited your cheap sentimentality?"

Lately, his father had stopped using the word "cheap" when talking about his sentimentality.

Now, his father was using the expression "cheap sentimentality" again as he questioned him. He was reprimanding him.

Cha Yiran turned her head to look at Geom Mugeuk.

She actually agreed with Geom Woojin's words. An assassin was someone who would kill their target by any means necessary. If she had truly been hired to kill Geom Woojin, she might have approached him just like this, by gaining Geom Mugeuk's trust.

As everyone wondered how he would explain himself, an irresponsible answer flowed from Geom Mugeuk.

"I didn't think that far. If that's the case, I suppose Uncle Hwi will protect you, Father."

In truth, he had thought about it. How could he not, when bringing an assassin into their Cult? But this time, he knew for certain that her target was the Evil Alliance Chairman.

Because there was a prophecy.

Even though he had reported this entire process to his father, he knew this was likely a warning for the future. He was worried that his lack of coldness would cause him to fail. Since the other party happened to be an assassin, he was taking this opportunity to emphasize his point.

Normally, even if he disliked Cha Yiran, he would have just given a nod and left it at that. That was his father's way of dealing with people he disliked. It was because he was worried about his son that he was even asking such a question.

"For what reason did you choose the Young Cult Leader?"

After a moment of thought, she gave an unexpected answer.

"Because of the chopsticks."

At Geom Woojin's questioning gaze, Cha Yiran explained. "The Young Cult Leader was camping and carved chopsticks for me from a log. Looking at those chopsticks, I thought I could trust and follow this person."

She did not avoid Geom Woojin's gaze, which felt like it could see right through to her soul.

"And the Young Cult Leader's food, which I ate with those chopsticks, was incredibly delicious."

Cha Yiran said no more, as if that was the entire reason.

An unexpected remark flowed from her father's lips, which had been cold the entire time.

"That's just because you haven't tried my cooking."

At those words, Cha Yiran's eyes widened in surprise.

Geom Mugeuk smiled and voiced his father's thoughts. "If you had come as a real assassin, you wouldn't have given such a ridiculous reason."

He added one more thing.

"You must never eat Father's cooking. If you do, you'll end up pledging your loyalty to him instead of me."

Hearing his son's flattery for the first time in a while, one corner of Geom Woojin's mouth curled up. He didn't say much more to Cha Yiran.

"Welcome."

As Geom Mugeuk and the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon went to the Heavenly Demon Hall, the Faceless Warriors mingled. The warriors who had come out to greet them now greeted the returning members. The ten who had returned were the top-ranked members, so they had many followers.

The Seventeenth Bridge discreetly glanced at the Crescent Moon Faceless Warrior. Several others had come to greet him as well. At times they were bizarrely strange, but at other times like this, they seemed like perfectly normal martial artists with a proper senior-junior relationship.

Her heart grew heavy as she watched.

Until she arrived here, there had been some hope. As she washed vegetables as the Young Cult Leader's assistant, her feelings for him had grown even stronger. But now that she was actually at the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, she had an ominous feeling that her relationship with him might be over.

Just then, someone next to her spoke softly. "It was just a coincidence."

Turning, she saw it was the Fifth Bridge. Having recovered somewhat from her injuries, she could now walk on her own.

"And just a fleeting emotion."

She had sighed when she saw the Seventeenth Bridge chosen as an assistant alongside the Crescent Moon Faceless Warrior. He was someone to be avoided, yet they had become entangled. She didn't know that Geom Mugeuk had intentionally put them together. Even if she had known, she would have said the same thing.

"If you get involved with a man like that, you'll be the one who becomes unhappy."

"And are our fates so grand?"

"You're different."

The Fifth Bridge was genuinely worried about the Seventeenth Bridge. It would be strange to describe an assassin as pure, but in her eyes, the Seventeenth Bridge was a person who fit that strange description. How could she not worry when such a person was losing her heart to a demonic being from the Valley of Evil?

At that moment, Geom Mugeuk, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, Cha Yiran, and Lee Ahn returned. The Faceless Warriors, who had been scattered about, instantly fell into formation.

"Then please rest, Young Cult Leader."

"Yes, thank you, Smiling Demon."

The two bid each other farewell. As the Smiling Demon walked away, all the Faceless Warriors followed behind him.

Geom Mugeuk said to Lee Ahn, "You should guide Young Lady Cha to her quarters."

"Yes, I'll do that."

He had sent word ahead, so their quarters were already prepared. He had requested separate rooms for everyone so they could rest comfortably.

As soon as he finished speaking, Geom Mugeuk leaped into the air and flew off somewhere.

"I wonder who he's so busy to see?" Lee Ahn wondered aloud.

At her words, Cha Yiran remembered what Geom Mugeuk had said. That he would be too busy to see her often. It seemed that abandonment was already beginning.

Lee Ahn led Cha Yiran and the assassins to their quarters.

The Seventeenth Bridge couldn't leave her spot, staring after the Faceless Warriors walking far away. When she lost sight of him for a moment, she could no longer tell where the crescent moon martial artist was.

She let out a sigh without realizing it.

The Fifth Bridge, who was behind her, said, "Let's go, us too. This place is so big, we could get lost if we're not careful."

Getting lost among demonic beings was a thought she didn't even want to entertain.

The Seventeenth Bridge was just about to turn and follow the Fifth Bridge when one of the Faceless Warriors pushed through his comrades, walking back in their direction.

To her surprise, it was the Crescent Moon Faceless Warrior.

He took out the dagger she had given him as a gift. The Seventeenth Bridge despaired. Now that they were back at the cult, he was surely returning the knife to end their relationship.

But that wasn't it.

The Crescent Moon Faceless Warrior cut his own finger with the knife and drew a long, diagonal line on his mask with the blood.

A wave of emotion crossed the Seventeenth Bridge's face. She understood. He had just drawn a line on his mask to make it easier for her to recognize him.

This mask with the line, this is me.

After drawing the line, the Crescent Moon Faceless Warrior turned again and ran to rejoin the other Faceless Warriors.

As the Seventeenth Bridge watched him with trembling eyes, the Fifth Bridge spoke from behind her.

"Seventeenth, no. He's a true madman!"

It was the moment a new life began for some, and for others, a new love truly began.