Chapter 779: The Sun Would Set If Everyone Said Just One Word, Right?

TL: FoodieMonster007

Geom Mugeuk announced, "I'm going to give the Ghost Shadow Squad its first mission now."

Lee Ahn could not hide her excitement. She recalled the day she was appointed Commander of the Ghost Shadow Squad, when she joked about designing their uniforms. It felt like only yesterday.

"All divisions will be deployed," Geom Mugeuk added.

The squad members looked at each other. This was their first official mission. They had endured countless combat simulations, but it had all been training until now.

The four Division Leaders stood before them. The eyes of First Division Leader Green Mask shone sharply from behind his mask. Second Division Leader Seo Jin's eerie aura deepened. Third Division Leader Cha Yiran remained calm, while Fourth Division Leader Ji Han stared at Geom Mugeuk determinedly.

Their reactions differed, but their minds were one. They had to execute this mission perfectly.

"What is the mission?" Lee Ahn asked.

Geom Mugeuk shrugged. "I don't know either."

"……"

"The mission will be decided when we reach our destination," Geom Mugeuk added. "We might depart with great fanfare only to return after getting some fresh air. Or, most of the people here might return as corpses."

Lee Ahn immediately understood that the Young Cult Leader was serious. Geom Mugeuk rarely even considered the possibility of his people returning dead.

Geom Mugeuk sighed as he stared at the Ghost Shadow Squad. If he had his way, he would have left them behind. However, a calm sea never made a skilled sailor. It was time for them to overcome the waves.

"However, I believe you'll all do well," he encouraged.

""Leave it to us!"" the Ghost Shadow Squad martial artists answered thunderously. They could not hide their excitement and anticipation for their first mission.

"We depart early tomorrow, so get ready. All Division Leaders remain here for a further briefing. Everyone else is dismissed."

The Ghost Shadow Squad martial artists dispersed, leaving Lee Ahn and the four Division Leaders.

Geom Mugeuk regarded the four Division Leaders one by one. Green Mask, Seo Jin, Cha Yiran and Ji Han. They were all deeply connected to him and could understand his intentions easily, so he would not speak at length.

"If I worried about an organization with you guys as its Division Leaders, then I don't deserve to be leading it in the first place. Go and prepare for departure. Commander, stay behind."

The Division Leaders left, and now only Lee Ahn remained.

Geom Mugeuk visibly relaxed. He had intentionally created the tense atmosphere just now. "It was tough keeping a straight face," he complained.

However, Lee Ahn did not relax. "Do you know what I was just thinking?"

"No. What were you thinking?"

"It might be a bit of a downer right before a mission, is that okay?"

"Go ahead."

Lee Ahn honestly revealed her feelings. "Ah, this job really isn't for me! The moment I heard that most of us could die, my heart sank and my vision went white."

She really had thought that. For her, who had lived to protect others, the death of her subordinates was unbearable. Even if they returned safely this time, what about the next? Could she really accept a life of losing subordinates one by one?

She had worried about this before, but hearing those words right before a real mission brought a different level of fear.

Geom Mugeuk said to her, "Do you know what I was thinking when I said that?"

"What were you thinking?"

"Ah, this job really isn't for me!"

Lee Ahn laughed. How could she not know her Young Master? He was a man who would be happiest touring the Central Plains, punishing villains, and laughing with good people.

It was the same for Geom Mugeuk. How could he not understand Lee Ahn's heart?

"Lee Ahn."

"Yes, Young Cult Leader?"

"I'm not telling you to live this life forever. Sometimes, you have to experience a life like this to know just how precious the life you want to live truly is."

Even now, this life was incredibly precious to Lee Ahn. It was a life serving a Young Cult Leader who provided such breathing room in a world full of suffocating leaders. That was why she could probably hold her breath until her chest burst.

"I'll do my best for as long as I can."

"Get ready, and I'll see you tomorrow. Oh, and there are others going with us."

"……"

"You'll see tomorrow," Geom Mugeuk teased. "Also, pack everything you can think of that might have the slightest chance of being useful! Don't hesitate! Once you're out there, you'll find yourself short of everything."

Lee Ahn also left, and Geom Mugeuk was left alone. No, to be precise, he was not alone.

The Sword King landed silently beside Geom Mugeuk. "Why don't you ask me to go with you?"

"How could I take you with me, Ak-hyung?"

"……"

"What if the Darkness Palace Lord shows up? Can you kill him?"

"I can," the Sword King said, but this wasn't the reason why he was still staying in the cult. "The reason I'm here isn't because of the Darkness Palace Lord, but because of you."

Previously, he had decided to protect Geom Mugeuk after learning of the plan to resurrect the dead. Of course, the Darkness Palace Lord had intentionally revealed that plan to trick him, but that didn't change his will.

Geom Mugeuk smiled. "You don't have to do that. There's no need to prove yourself, Ak-hyung. I already know everything. Your existence alone is more than I deserve."

Ak Gunhak was baffled. Look who's talking! How can I not worry when you're this kind of person?

"The Darkness Palace Lord is strong," he insisted. "No, he's even more terrifying because it's impossible to know how strong he is."

Geom Mugeuk was taken aback. The fact that even the Sword King could not fathom the Darkness Palace Lord's strength spoke volumes about his skills.

Ak Gunhak sighed, "I don't even know how old he is. Also, besides the people you've killed so far, the Darkness Palace Lord has many masters under his direct command."

Geom Mugeuk nodded. He'd figured as much. The Darkness Palace was an organization that had spent the last three hundred years preparing for war.

"Aren't you worried?"

"Don't worry."

"……"

Geom Mugeuk's gaze turned up to the sky and said to the Sword King what he had said to his father long ago. "Because my demonic path exists for this very moment."

He had worked himself to death precisely for a moment like this, to be able to say such words with confidence.

"So the Darkness Palace Lord is an opponent that makes even you nervous, Ak-hyung. I wonder, how terrifying must he be? A monstrous opponent whose age and strength are unknown. That's why he's an enemy no one dares to think of killing."

He looked back at the Sword King.

"My demonic path is the conviction that I must strike down the vicious and terrible evil that humans can't handle, that absolute evil."

"……" The Sword King stared at him wordlessly.

Geom Mugeuk added calmly, "If we can't kill him, who can? A greater demon must devour the lesser one."

The next morning, the Ghost Shadow Squad martial artist gathered at the departure point, wearing black martial arts uniforms and masks. On the black masks, the words 'Ghost Shadow (鬼影)' were embroidered in white.

Gathered together in their official uniforms, they felt they had nothing to fear. Their shoulders squared up on their own. They wanted to find a bronze mirror to see their reflection.

Just then, the Transport Division Director showed up. The martial artists under him brought and distributed horses, one for each member of the Ghost Shadow Squad.

"Our Transport Division's branches are spread out all over the Central Plains. You can switch out tired horses at any time."

"Thank you, Director," Lee Ahn said politely. This was their first large-scale operation, and the first time she learned the Transport Division provided such support.

The Ghost Shadow Squad martial artists were inwardly pleased. The Transport Division Director himself had come for their departure.

Of course, that brief happiness was a misunderstanding.

Another group of martial artists soon arrived, pulling enormous transport carriages and lining them up without the slightest error. There were not just one, but over a dozen of them.

The Ghost Shadow Squad martial artists were puzzled. They were riding horses, so why bring these carriages? Were they for luggage? Even so, why were they so large and numerous?

Their question was soon answered with the arrival of another group of martial artists.

Even from a distance, it was clear who they were. Only the soldiers of the Demonic Army, the most elite martial unit of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, possessed such massive builds. Their appearance alone radiated a terrifying, oppressive aura.

The Ghost Shadow Squad martial artists' eyes widened. They now knew what the carriages were for. They were for the Demonic Army.

Could this be a joint operation with the Demonic Army?

"……"

As camouflage paper was torn from the carriage walls, the symbol of the Demonic Army was revealed. They usually moved in secret, but this was an official operation. The thought of these giant carriages riding in a line was magnificent just to imagine.

From among the soldiers, the Demonic Army General Jang Ho walked out.

"Commander Lee."

"General Jang!"

Lee Ahn and Jang Ho greeted each other warmly.

"This is the first time we're going on a mission together, huh, Commander?"

"It's an honor, General. I'm still inexperienced, so I'll be in your care."

"I'm well aware that the Ghost Shadow Squad is excellently trained. We'll be in your care as well," Jang Ho replied humbly.

The Ghost Shadow Squad was greatly surprised by the joint operation, but their astonishment was just beginning.

The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme arrived, striding in with a haughty expression.

The surrounding atmosphere instantly changed. The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme radiated a chilling presence even without revealing her qi.

Everyone politely paid their respects to her with clasped hands.

The Ghost Shadow Squad martial artists grew even more tense. They had not known this operation would be with the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme. They now understood why the Transport Division Director had come in person.

A martial artist brought a carriage exclusively for a Demon Supreme. The walls of the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme's carriage were covered in dizzying, complex patterns that made one's head spin.

The patterns alone sent a clear message. Messing with the person within would make your life very complicated.

Just then, another Demon Supreme walked over, yawning.

"Is there really a need to depart this early in the morning?" the Drunken Demon groaned, his face already flushed from alcohol.

The Ghost Shadow Squad's jaws dropped in shock. So it was an operation with not one, but two Demon Supremes! The Demonic Army was not enough, now two Demon Supremes were going? What kind of operation was this?

A martial artist brought the Drunken Demon's carriage, which had been modified to be much longer than the others.

"I'm a bit hungover, so I'm going to rest," the Drunken Demon said, opening the carriage to reveal a bed inside and walls lined with liquor bottles.

Everyone's eyes widened. No one had ever seen such a carriage before!

Suddenly, the Demonic Buddha walked into the area, glowing golden as always.

The Ghost Shadow Squad gasped. The Demonic Buddha is going too? Not two, but three Demon Supremes?

While politely greeting the arriving Demon Supremes, they exchanged bewildered glances. Three Demon Supremes, whose faces were hard to see even once in the cult, had appeared.

The carriage the Transport Division brought for the Demonic Buddha was plated in gold. It was a carriage that would attract every bandit in the world.

And then… a fourth Demon Supreme appeared.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon and the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman strolled in together.

Upon seeing that pure white mask, the Ghost Shadow Squad martial artists froze.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon is going too!

This went beyond bewilderment and surprise. It was pure chaos.

An martial artist brought the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's carriage. It was made with plain white walls, with nothing drawn on them.

The Ghost Shadow Squad martial artists were all at a loss for words. The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's Young Cult Leader, four Demon Supremes, and the elite Demonic Army were all going on this trip?

A single thought crossed their minds. Did a war break out somewhere or something?

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman was also surprised. She had heard Geom Mugeuk would be going out with a proper entourage this time, but she had expected one this grand. She had even considered going to meet the Saintess alone.

However, Geom Mugeuk had judged this matter to be something that required this many people.

"The Young Cult Leader is arriving!" Cheokyeon, Geom Mugeuk's head bodyguard, announced loudly.

CHAK CHAK CHAK CHAK CHAK CHAK.

The Young Cult Leader's bodyguards walked out in official uniforms and masks, clearing a path. Having devoted themselves to training, they proved themselves to be superior to all the martial artists here. They were the epitome of what the Young Cult Leader's bodyguards should be like now!

Geom Mugeuk walked down the path they had cleared, saying, "The main character always appears last."

The window of the Drunken Demon's carriage opened. "So cool! My little…"

Before the Drunken Demon could make a drunken scene, Geom Mugeuk lightly waved his hand and shut the carriage window with telekinesis. "Your hangover must be severe, so please get some more sleep," he sighed.

Seeing that the Drunken Demon was not sober yet, it seemed he had been training in martial arts until morning.

After politely paying his respects to the Demon Supremes, Geom Mugeuk looked around at the other subordinates present. He saw Jang Ho and specifically raised a hand and greeted him.

At that sight, the morale of the Demonic Army rose even higher.

"There are so many people, the sun would set if everyone said just one word, right?"

Normally, the next line should be, 'So let's keep it short!', but Geom Mugeuk was different.

"I don't mind if the sun sets, so everyone say whatever you want to say."

A smile appeared on everyone's lips. Of course, no one was tactless enough to speak up in this situation.

Except for one person.

"Why are you leaving me behind!" the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader cried, having somehow found out about the trip. "I'm going too."

"You can't."

"Why not?"

"It would be uncomfortable for the disciples to be with their masters," Geom Mugeuk said firmly. If the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader came along, his disciple, the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme, would surely be uncomfortable. This was a conversation only he and the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader could have in her presence, so he needed to say it.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader pouted. "You might not know this, but we have a very close master-disciple relationship. She'll be comfortable even if I'm there."

"That's what you think. The one in the higher position is always comfortable. The poor little disciples are the ones who aren't!"

"I doubt your Master feels that way."

Instead of replying to that irrefutable statement, Geom Mugeuk flattered the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. "Cult Leader. It's because you're protecting our Heavenly Demon Divine Cult that I can leave so comfortably. The only reason I can take the Demonic Army with me is all thanks to you."

"Is that so?" Since many people were watching, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader needlessly shrugged his shoulders with pride.

"Then, what about me?!" someone else screamed.

Turning around, Geom Mugeuk spotted the Sanzu Hall Director, Seo Daeryong.

Once again, the Ghost Shadow Squad martial artists were surprised. To think the Young Cult Leader was someone who could make even the head of that strict organization come and ask to be taken along!

"Are you afraid the sun will really set if I follow you? I'll keep my mouth shut," Seo Daeryong added. He wanted to follow Geom Mugeuk on an operation like this, even if it meant quitting his position as the Sanzu Hall Director.

Geom Mugeuk shook his head. "No, I can't take you because I'll keep thinking of your newborn baby."

"I can bear it."

"I'm not talking about you, I'm talking about me. If I see you, I'll keep thinking of the baby. He's just too damn cute, so no."

Geom Mugeuk pleasantly refused Seo Daeryong, then looked at those who would be going with him.

"Well then, we're planning to really raise hell this time, so I'll be in your care."

The martial artists brought the exclusive carriage of the Young Cult Leader. The symbol of the Heavenly Demon Soul was fearsomely drawn on the sturdy, blade-proof walls of the carriage.

"Haa… Have a safe trip!" Seo Daeryong shouted, despite his disappointment at being left behind.

Everyone boarded their carriages. The Demonic Army's carriages took the lead, followed by Geom Mugeuk's carriage, which was surrounded by the bodyguards on horseback. The four Demon Supremes' carriages followed behind them, and finally, the Ghost Shadow Squad followed on horseback.

The Transport Division martial artists used hand signals to guide the carriages out in an orderly fashion. The line of carriages and horses galloped forward past them.

As Geom Mugeuk's carriage passed them, they bowed their heads.

This was the first time the Young Cult Leader departed the Cult in a formal, proper manner.