Chapter 722: I'll Pick a Day That's Convenient for Me

TL: FoodieMonster007

"…Just kidding."

With all eyes on her, Cha Yiran let out a laugh. Their first mission couldn't possibly be to attend a wedding just to kill someone. Sending them as actual guests was just as absurd. She had assumed 'wedding guest' was some kind of code word the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult used.

"But I wasn't joking," Geom Mugeuk said.

Cha Yiran stared at Geom Mugeuk for a moment. Her voice was filled with disbelief as she asked, "You really mean for us to go as wedding guests?"

"That's right."

"And once we're there?"

"You just need to congratulate them and come back."

Lee Ahn suddenly asked with a surprised expression, "No way, is Director Seo getting married?"

When Geom Mugeuk nodded, Lee Ahn's expression brightened. She knew that Seo Daeryong and Dan Ah were developing feelings for each other, but she hadn't expected them to marry so quickly.

Geom Mugeuk explained to Cha Yiran. "The part about it being a mission was a joke. There is a Young Lady who lived as a mercenary before joining our Cult. She's getting married soon, but since she has no friends here, I was hoping you all would be her guests."

If they hadn't experienced what kind of person Geom Mugeuk was, they would have assumed there was some hidden meaning and never taken his words at face value, but now they knew. This Young Cult Leader was the kind of person who would even find wedding guests for his subordinate's wedding ceremony.

Cha Yiran said with a smile, "You've never attended a wedding as a guest for the bride, have you?"

Geom Mugeuk nodded. He had attended several weddings in his past life, but never once paid any mind to the ceremony itself. He was only there to meet someone or simply to mark his attendance.

"The bride should be the star of the wedding," Cha Yiran said, gesturing toward her subordinates. "What do you think? Do my girls look like they'd let the bride be the star?"

Only then did Geom Mugeuk understand what Cha Yiran was saying.

"Oh. I was shortsighted."

He really hadn't thought that far. He only assumed it would be enough for these women to go as her friends.

Geom Mugeuk walked over to Dan Yeon, who was with the second team of the Ghost Shadows. "Youngest Young Lady."

As Geom Mugeuk singled her out, everyone's gaze focused on her.

"Yes, Young Cult Leader?"

In the past, they had comfortably exchanged jokes, but she couldn't do that now with everyone watching.

"Congratulations."

"Young Cult Leader, thank you for taking care of our Unnie's wedding."

Dan Yeon could tell what had happened. She had once mentioned the guest situation to Seo Daeryong, her future brother-in-law, who must have told Geom Mugeuk about it.

"Of course, I should. Thanks to Young Lady Dan, our Cult has received a great deal of help."

Geom Mugeuk made it clear that this was not a matter stemming from a personal relationship. He was taking care of this because of the Dan Sisters' contributions to the Cult. This was a consideration for them as they navigated life in the organization.

Just then, Captain Seo Jin stepped forward and asked Dan Yeon, "Youngest, why didn't you say anything?"

"It was just decided yesterday."

Seo Jin addressed Geom Mugeuk. "Why are you worried about her not having guests? We're here."

An astonishing statement followed.

"Our Youngest's family is our family too."

Seo Jin meant it sincerely. At the very least, she considered the Ghost Shadow Squad family, especially the martial artists of the second team she led. She had dedicated her life to this work upon becoming a Captain.

Dan Yeon, on the other hand, wasn't quite there yet. The organization was still new to her even though she was doted on as the youngest. To her, family was still just her two elder sisters.

That was why Seo Jin's words were both surprising and gratifying, though she figured the captain was only saying it because the Young Cult Leader was present.

"Thank you, Captain."

Seo Jin looked at Geom Mugeuk and said, "Don't worry."

Geom Mugeuk suddenly recalled the Seo Jin from before his regression. She had always said those words during the darkest and most difficult period of his life.

"Don't worry. Everything will be alright."

Yes, thanks to you, it was. Thank you, my friend.

"With Captain Seo here…" Geom Mugeuk added with a smile. "I guess there was no need for me to worry in the first place."

"I don't know if this was the right choice."

A bouquet of flowers sat on the table in front of Dan Ah. A little while ago, Seo Daeryong had come to give her the flowers and formally propose. She had been too flustered to answer properly when he blurted it out during dinner yesterday, but today, she had said yes.

"Congratulations, Unnie."

"What's there to congratulate?"

Dan Ah glanced at her younger sisters, feeling unnecessarily sorry for getting married before them. This perfectly normal event felt like something she had to apologize for.

Originally, she had no intention of marrying. If she did, she planned to do so only after both her younger sisters were married, and she had even told them as much. But now that a good man had come along, she was getting married first, and she felt she couldn't face her sisters.

"I'm sorry to you both."

Then, her blunt-natured second sister, Dan Bi, said to her, "We're actually grateful you're getting married, Unnie."

"What?"

"If you were alone, Unnie…"

"If you don't get married, Unnie, that's great for us," Dan Yeon interjected, stopping her second sister from saying that if their Unnie remained single, she would be a burden to them. "Still, you have to go so we can learn how to have a wedding, spend the honeymoon, and have and raise children. You have to experience it and teach us, Unnie."

At those words, Dan Ah smiled. When had this little kid grown up so much to say such thoughtful things?

"But there will be too few guests on our side."

At her practical concern, Dan Yeon reassured her. "Some of my colleagues from the Ghost Shadow Squad will come."

The atmosphere had suggested more would come than she thought, but she made no promises, just in case her sister was disappointed later.

Dan Bi, on the other hand, couldn't even promise a single person. "The people from the Sanzu River Hall are all Director Seo's guests."

Dan Ah forced a smile. "It's okay, don't worry about it."

Though she said that, she was worried deep down. It didn't really matter to her personally, as she wasn't the type to care what others thought or desire to look good to them.

She never regretted or felt ashamed of her life as a mercenary. She had saved many people doing that work, and it was how she and her two sisters had survived.

The only one she was worried about was Seo Daeryong. Since she had no parents, the lack of guests on her side would surely be noticeable. She didn't want Seo Daeryong to hear people ask, "Why is he marrying a woman like that?"

"I'm worried I'll be a burden to Director Seo."

"What are you talking about? Even if it were the Young Cult Leader and not the Director, you'd be too good for him, Unnie. Unless it was the Cult Leader himself, then maybe."

The comment went too far, so Dan Ah clamped a hand over her sister's mouth. Then again, Dan Ah herself had picked the Demonic Cult Leader as the most desirable man when they first met at the inn.

Just then, Dan Bi took out an envelope she had prepared. "Take this."

Dan Ah took it and opened it to find a promissory note for a rather large sum.

"You'll have a lot of expenses, so use this to help. The youngest and I both pitched in the same amount."

"It's fine! I have plenty of money!"

The money they had earned from their contracts so far had been divided equally among the three of them. However, her two younger sisters knew that even though they split the money equally and pooled funds for common expenses, their Unnie had always spent much more. They were now old enough to understand how large those subtle, unseen expenses could become when they added up.

"I have plenty of money. So take it back. Save it and use it when you two get married."

Of course, the two sisters didn't take it back.

"We're still a long way off. Besides, when we get married, you'll help us then, won't you, Unnie?"

Dan Yeon picked up where Dan Bi left off. "You have to get married and show us you're living well. How else would we feel like getting married ourselves?"

The sisters she had devoted her everything to raising were saying this to her.

"Unnie, use this money and prepare without feeling intimidated!"

"I told you, you don't have to come anymore."

When Geom Mugeuk visited the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's residence again, Seo Daeryong was just about to begin his training.

"After his training, Daeryong and I need to plan our strategy."

While Seo Daeryong trained, Geom Mugeuk fidgeted restlessly, pacing back and forth. He sat down only to stand up again, then went into the room and busily pulled books from the bookshelf before putting them back.

Finding the sight distracting, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon retrieved a practice dao from a corner and tossed it to Geom Mugeuk.

"Don't just stand around, swing this at least."

"Why is this so heavy?" Catching the large dao, Geom Mugeuk whined that his arm was going to fall off. "But if I'm going to train, it should be with swordsmanship."

"Training with those light swords that would break with a single tap in our Southern Blade Sect? Not a chance."

"Father uses a sword, you know."

"The Cult Leader's sword is heavy."

Geom Mugeuk looked down at the large dao. He could guess why the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had insisted on putting a blade in his hand.

Stay away. Avoid thinking about complete mastery of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art.

Geom Mugeuk swung the blade in a corner until Seo Daeryong's training was over, though he spent most of the time just staring at it and only swung it a few times.

When the training ended, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon asked Geom Mugeuk, "How is it?"

"It's heavy. I was thinking about why it's so heavy."

The moment he heard Geom Mugeuk's answer, a strange smile formed on the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's lips.

Seo Daeryong knew what that smile meant. He recalled what the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had said on his first day of training, when he had commented that the blade was heavy.

"Understanding that weight is the beginning and the end of the blade arts I intend to teach you."

Geom Mugeuk had understood the core of the blade arts in an instant.

Just as he was looking at Geom Mugeuk with an impressed expression, Geom Mugeuk showed an even more surprising side.

"You met with Young Lady Dan before coming here, didn't you?"

"How did you know?"

"You brought her flowers, too, right?"

Seo Daeryong gasped, his eyes widening. "How did you know that as well?"

"I'm the Young Cult Leader. Your Young Cult Leader!"

Just then, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon picked up some flower petals from the floor. More than just one or two had been stuck to Seo Daeryong's clothes before he started training.

"Did you get into a fight with the flowers or something?"

At the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's question, Seo Daeryong finally understood how Geom Mugeuk had known.

Naturally, a protest from Geom Mugeuk followed. "Hey, what am I supposed to do if you reveal the secret to my mystique and the respect I command!"

As the Blood Heaven Blade Demon pretended not to hear and started to head inside, Geom Mugeuk hurriedly stopped him. "Now, Elder, please sit here for a moment. You need to know what this disciple of yours has been up to."

And so, the three of them sat side by side in the training yard.

"Before coming to train today, I picked a bouquet of flowers and went to see Young Lady Dan. I formally asked her to marry me."

"And?"

"She accepted my proposal." Seo Daeryong's face was filled with emotion.

"Congratulations. You're the first of us three to get married."

At the mention of "us three," the Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked incredulous before breaking into a faint smile. He too had once thought about marriage, but he just hadn't known back then that he would be single until now.

"I'm sorry for going first!"

"Sorry? I should be the one who's sorry."

"Huh?"

"My right-hand man is about to open the gates of hell, and I'm not stopping him, am I?" Geom Mugeuk grinned. No matter what he said, to Seo Daeryong, he knew they were the gates of happiness.

"With Young Lady Dan by my side, I'm not afraid of that hell."

"Later on, you can't come to me complaining, 'Why didn't you stop me back then?!', or 'Young Cult Leader, you knew it would turn out like this, right? You know everything in the world!' You can't do that! None of that!"

"I'll never do that." Seo Daeryong asked cautiously, "But… even if I get married, I'm still the Young Cult Leader's right-hand man, right? Nothing changes between us, right?"

Geom Mugeuk stared at him. "Something does change. You'll have to step down from being my right-hand man."

"Aw, you're trying to joke around again."

"You know full well how dangerous the job of my right-hand man is."

What Seo Daeryong knew was that the right-hand man was better protected from danger than anyone. The right arm was supposed to protect the body, yet he was always the one being protected.

"Happiness and the right-hand man, you can't have both. Choose one."

Seo Daeryong's face fell, and he stood up from his seat. "I'll go and tell her. That our love will have to be fulfilled in the next life."

"What are you doing? Go on."

"I'm going. I'm really going."

Watching Seo Daeryong hesitate, Geom Mugeuk said to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, "His footwork is as heavy as his large dao. He's still just a brat."

"He took two steps."

"And now he's taken one step back."

Just then, Seo Daeryong, who had walked a short distance away, came back. "Hey! This is too much! I can't give up either of them!"

At this sight, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon shook his head and remarked with a look of pity, "What's so great about being the right-hand man? Anyone would think it's a position that pays a monthly salary."

Then, Geom Mugeuk said suggestively, "Come to think of it, there was someone who once agonized over whether to be the right wing or the left wing."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon pretended not to hear and looked up at the distant sky. To Seo Daeryong, this position as the right-hand man was more important than any other.

"I… I'll work harder. So please let me continue to be your right-hand man even after I'm married."

This wasn't a joke, and it held a special meaning for him. Since he was the Director of the Sanzu Hall, he couldn't travel the Central Plains with Geom Mugeuk.

Even if that weren't the case, he still lacked the skills to assist Geom Mugeuk. He was afraid that if he lost this position, which he insisted on holding despite not being able to properly fulfill its duties, his connection with Geom Mugeuk might be severed completely.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon just looked up at the sky silently, his expression showing that he understood his disciple's heart completely.

The playfulness vanished from Geom Mugeuk's face as he spoke to Seo Daeryong with a calm gaze. "Once you have a wife and child, you have to put your energy there. I have no use for a right-hand man who can't even take care of his own family. Take care of your family first, then take care of me. Can you do that?"

Seo Daeryong, who had been staring silently at Geom Mugeuk, let out a sigh. "Isn't that too selfish for a right-hand man?"

"That's because you don't understand."

"Huh?"

"An arm that is responsible for a family is much stronger than an arm that is alone. You're going to become truly strong now, and the blade you wield will carry a different kind of power. Now, that blade will never break."

"!"

"If I knew this and still cut off that right arm, then I, the body, would be the selfish one."

Staring silently at Geom Mugeuk, Seo Daeryong said quietly, "That works out perfectly. A selfish body and a selfish right-hand man. I'll stick with you until the end."

Even if I'm cut off, I'll be cut off after properly doing my duty as the right-hand man.

"Once a right-hand man, always a right-hand man."

Someday, he would sit his grandchildren on his lap and tell them stories about this man, for there were so many stories to tell.

Just then, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, who had been listening to their conversation, interjected. "I'll officiate the wedding."

A startled Seo Daeryong shot to his feet and stood before the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, bowing politely to express his gratitude. "Thank you so much, Master!"

Given his master's personality, he wasn't the type to officiate a wedding, so Seo Daeryong knew very well what a huge decision this was.

"Have you set a date?"

"We haven't decided yet. Please pick an auspicious day for us, Master."

"I don't know much about that sort of thing. The Head Strategist or the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader might know."

Just then, Geom Mugeuk extended his hand, and a book that the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had been reading on the desk by the window floated into the air. The book's title was revealed to all.

❮Inquiring the Will of the Heavens❯

Below it was a subtitle.

❮How to Pick an Auspicious Day❯

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon gave Geom Mugeuk an exasperated look, realizing the young man must have peeked at it earlier when he was bustling in and out before the training.

"It's a coincidence."

How could that be a coincidence? Seo Daeryong was truly moved. "I would be honored if you would pick the date, Master. For that reason alone, we will live a happy life. I beg of you."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon rose from his seat and said as he walked into the building, "I'll pick a day that's convenient for me."