Chapter 879: Don't Go Anywhere Else, Come to Us

TL: FoodieMonster007

Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn stopped walking. Beside their path, a drunkard sat on the steps of a building, singing.

Lee Ahn thought to herself. What kind of story does he have to be singing so sorrowfully?

Geom Mugeuk, listening beside her, commented, "He's a terrible singer."

"Pfft!" Lee Ahn laughed out loud. How could he critique the man's singing in a situation like this?

Courtesans came out and led the drunkard inside.

"You said you were going out for some fresh air, what are you doing here?" one said.

"Do you know who I am?! Tell the Chairwoman to come out here! Now!" the drunkard yelled.

Watching the scene, Lee Ahn remarked, "I wonder if he even knows who the Chairwoman here is."

She and Geom Mugeuk were outside the Thousand Flower Palace, having come to meet the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman while traveling through the Central Plains.

The shouting drunkard turned on them. "Hey! Who are you? What are you staring at? What's your problem?"

"No, no, we're leaving. Sorry for staring!" Lee Ahn grabbed Geom Mugeuk and pulled him away. "Let's go. We don't need to get involved in his miserable life."

The drunkard continued to scream behind them as courtesans came out to soothe him and lead him inside. Martial artists were not mobilized unless it was a major disturbance.

"Phew, no matter how much money I made, I could never do this business," Geom Mugeuk sighed. "How could anyone watch this kind of thing every day?"

"You'd probably be the best at it if you tried," Lee Ahn argued, shaking her head. If it had been Geom Mugeuk, he probably would have sat down with that singing drunkard and sung along.

Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn entered the inner garden containing the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman's residence. They could feel martial artists concealed all around them. There had been guards on their previous visit, but the ones hiding now were far more skilled. The Thousand Flower Palace had clearly overcome many challenges and built a steady foundation.

When they opened the last gate to the inner garden, they were greeted by two Faceless Warriors.

Even without them removing their masks, Geom Mugeuk knew they were the Crescent Moon Faceless Warrior and the Seventeenth Bridge. Now, the Seventeenth Bridge also wore the mask of a Faceless Warrior, confirming she had joined them. Moreover, the character '17 (十七)' was written on to her pure white mask.

""Welcome, Young Cult Leader!""

The two bowed respectfully, their gazes exceptionally warm. After all, Geom Mugeuk had been instrumental in bringing their love to fruition.

The Crescent Moon Faceless Warrior, in particular, had found Geom Mugeuk's words helpful when he had come to him with his worries. He had been agonizing over whether he could force the Seventeenth Bridge to become a Faceless Warrior with him.

"Let's try living the life of Faceless Warriors first. If we don't like it, we can run away together, leaving no regrets behind."

After that, the Seventeenth Bridge began her life as a Faceless Warrior. Contrary to the Crescent Moon Faceless Warrior's worries, she found it enjoyable. The life behind a mask suited her surprisingly well.

"Why are the two of you here? Were you dispatched?" Geom Mugeuk asked,figuring the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon had sent them to protect the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman.

"I was the one who was dispatched," an unexpected person replied, walking out from another building.

To Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn's surprise, it was the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon.

Geom Mugeuk's face brightened. "My goodness, Smiling Demon, when did you arrive?"

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's eyes smiled brightly behind his mask. "Quite a while ago."

Geom Mugeuk looked at the pair of lovebirds and nodded. Now, it was clear that the Crescent Moon Faceless Warrior and the Seventeenth Bridge were accompanying the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon.

"It seemed the Young Cult Leader was especially fond of these two, so I brought them out to get some fresh air," the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon added.

"They're a fine-looking young couple, aren't they?" a woman remarked, walking out from behind them. "But can they be as fine-looking as the Young Cult Leader and Martial Artist Lee?"

This time, it was the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman. To her, Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn were at a truly beautiful age, just like the two young Faceless Warriors.

"Welcome, Young Cult Leader."

Geom Mugeuk turned toward her. The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman, whom he had not seen in a long time, wore a splendid outfit and makeup, but her bright expression stood out most of all. "Chairwoman, you've become even more beautiful and radiant."

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman glanced at the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon. "How could I not be?"

Geom Mugeuk grinned. He knew she meant she was happy because the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon was there.

Lee Ahn greeted the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon and the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman. "It's been a long time."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon nodded in acknowledgment, while the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman welcomed Lee Ahn warmly, taking her hand in delight.

"I've missed you, Martial Artist Lee. You've become even more beautiful since I last saw you."

Lee Ahn smiled. In reality, her appearance had not changed. However, her martial arts had improved during her travels, changing her atmosphere and presence. "Thank you, Chairwoman. I've missed you too."

Geom Mugeuk interjected, "You have no idea how much she pestered me to come see you, Chairwoman."

Since it was true, Lee Ahn did not deny it. The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman always had kind words for her, and she knew it was not just because of Geom Mugeuk.

Furthermore, the Chairwoman was a special person to her. When they had first met, she had not yet been cured of the side effects of the Self-Petrification Art. Even so, the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman had recognized her true worth. The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman was also the one who told her she was destined for great things and should cherish herself.

And there was one more thing. For some reason, she had felt a strong need to see the Chairwoman on this trip, an emotion she had never felt before.

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman eyed Lee Ahn, as if she could read her emotions. "My dear, shall we let the men have their fun and go for a walk?"

"Yes, I'd like that."

Geom Mugeuk shouted after the departing ladies. "Let the men have their fun! Those are the words we men most want to hear! Please say them often!"

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman smiled at Geom Mugeuk's shout from behind.

"The Young Cult Leader is always the same, isn't he?" Lee Ahn grumbled.

Surprisingly, the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman shook her head. "He seems very different to me."

"What? The Young Cult Leader? Different how?"

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman nodded but did not explain. Instead, she asked about Lee Ahn's journey. "Are you enjoying your travels?"

Lee Ahn smiled and nodded. A journey with Geom Mugeuk could not be anything but enjoyable.

Perhaps she had wanted to meet the Chairwoman because she knew the woman would understand her heart better than anyone. In truth, she wanted to ask her "What should I do?", but the words wouldn't leave her mouth.

Lee Ahn looked at the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman. "A few days ago, I had this strange feeling that I wanted to see you, Chairwoman, so I pestered the Young Cult Leader to change our travel plans to come here. I think I was craving your home-cooked meals, Chairwoman."

She had tasted the Chairwoman's cooking before, back when she was confined in the safehouse.

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman rolled up her sleeves. "It seems I'll have to show off my skills once again."

The two women looked at each other and laughed.

The Chairwoman's gaze shifted from Lee Ahn to the stars in the night sky, a hint of insight flashing in her eyes. "You're getting closer and closer to your destiny, Martial Artist Lee."

Lee Ahn flinched. From their very first meeting, the Chairwoman had spoken as if she could see her future. "I don't really know what my destiny is."

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman smiled. "No, you already know."

"……" Lee Ahn could not deny it. When Geom Mugeuk had suggested the trip, he had said he wanted to find the real Lee Ahn.

Lee Ahn knew those words foretold a change in her relationship with Geom Mugeuk. Whatever happened, it would be related to her destiny.

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman said encouragingly, "Believe in yourself. You will play a greater role than anyone else in the world."

Lee Ahn smiled, though it would be a lie to say the words were not a burden. "You have no idea how much strength words like these have given me."

"I'm only telling you what I see and feel."

Lee Ahn raised her head. What could she have possibly seen in me?

Far in the distance, on the roof of the tallest building in the Thousand Flower Palace, stood the two men.

Geom Mugeuk and the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon stood side by side, gazing at the sprawling night view.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon asked, "Are you enjoying your travels?"

Geom Mugeuk nodded eagerly. "Yes, it's been fun. I've met old acquaintances, and I've confirmed that over half of the restaurants listed in the Central Plains' Guide to Cuisine are terrible."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon smiled at the joke.

Geom Mugeuk added, "Actually, I came on this trip to find an answer."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon could guess the nature of the problem. Since it was a trip with only Lee Ahn, it had to concern her. "So, did you find your answer?"

Geom Mugeuk slowly nodded. "Yes."

In truth, when he first regressed, he had intended to send Lee Ahn away. He had even told her to leave, trying his best not to give her his heart.

He had planned to live this life alone as well. He thought it was disrespectful to love someone while carrying the baggage of his dark and difficult past life.

However, his heart began to change as he lived his new life. His relationships with his father, the Demon Supremes, and his friends grew precious, and a new desire sprouted within him.

Maybe I can be a good father, like my father.

Still, something made him waver.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon noticed his hesitation immediately. "What are you worried about?"

Geom Mugeuk sighed, "Am I allowed to dream of happiness?"

This was not a fitting answer for someone who could dream of conquering the world, but the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon knew where this question came from. He knew it was a question born from the unfitting darkness he sometimes sensed in Geom Mugeuk, an abyss of unknown depth.

"What makes you anxious?" he asked.

After a brief pause, Geom Mugeuk answered, "I'm afraid that by being overly greedy, a great misfortune like the Celestial Killer Star will come again. No, the Celestial Killer Star has already come, so perhaps an even greater misfortune will arrive."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon did not ask why that was overly greedy. Instead, he said, "Tell it to come."

"!"

"Aren't we the ones who handle such misfortune and darkness best? Tell it not to go anywhere else, but to come to us."

A smile spread across Geom Mugeuk's face. The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon had said to come to us, not just to the Young Cult Leader. He meant they would face whatever darkness came together.

"Besides, if we save the murim one more time, the Young Cult Leader would accumulate even more good karma and fortune."

Geom Mugeuk was moved. Could there be anyone who could give permission to be happy in such a cool way? That must be why he could so easily say the words he had buried deep in his heart.

"Then, shall I trust the Smiling Demon and try to be happy?"

"This is it, the place the Chairwoman told us about," Lee Ahn said.

Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn were talking a walk at a nearby flower garden recommended by the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman.

As expected, he place was truly beautiful. Weeping willows that looked hundreds of years old let their hair hang into the lake, and moonlight filtered through the leaves. The stars seemed to have shattered and fallen into the water, twinkling there. Hundreds, thousands of fireflies flew around the lakeside where beautiful flowers bloomed.

Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn stood lost in the beautiful scenery, surrounded by the scent of grass, water, and old trees.

"It's so beautiful," Lee Ahn muttered in admiration.

Geom Mugeuk nodded. It was the first time he had seen such a beautiful sight, too.

Lee Ahn held out her hand, and a firefly landed on her fingertip. Its light pulsed as if it were breathing.

For a while, she watched the scene quietly.

"Young Cult Leader, are you having fun traveling with me?" she asked suddenly.

Geom Mugeuk immediately nodded. "Of course."

"In what way?"

"Why? Do you think I'm traveling with you even though it's no fun?"

"Because you're someone who always keeps your promises."

Lee Ahn slightly raised her hand, and the firefly on her fingertip flew away. "If it's for my sake, you can go back now."

"I don't want to."

"Pardon?"

"I'm really enjoying this trip. Even if you're not, I'm going to continue because I am. If you don't like it, you should have been born as the Young Cult Leader."

Lee Ahn was truly grateful for his words. "Well, I'm not resentful at all that I wasn't born as the Young Cult Leader, but I am a little resentful that you were born as the Young Cult Leader." She paused for a moment. Finally, the time had come to ask her question. "So, why are you so good to me? Oh, and this is the last time I'm asking, I swear."

They had once jokingly promised she would only ask this question five times, and she had already asked it four times. Geom Mugeuk had been good to her far more than five times, but now she was asking the fifth and final question she had saved.

"I won't ask again after this," she added.

Geom Mugeuk had once answered playfully that it was to work her to the bone for the rest of her life. Another time, he had said she had suddenly come to mind on his way back from a fight with his brother. And now, she felt it was time he gave her a proper answer.

"There are many reasons," Geom Mugeuk replied. "Can you remember them all?"

Lee Ahn nodded. "Even if I forget the oral formula for the Soaring Sky Sword Art, I won't forget what you're about to say."

Geom Mugeuk smiled. "The first reason is because you're good at making jokes like that."

"That wasn't a joke."

"Second, because you're someone who nods along and takes my side no matter what I say."

Lee Ahn refuted that reason. "If the other person is the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's Young Cult Leader, even someone with a broken neck would nod and take his side."

Geom Mugeuk gave another reason. "Third, you possess the perseverance to never give up once you set your mind to something."

Lee Ahn had shown that perseverance while learning the Soaring Sky Sword Art. Every time he visited, she was practicing her martial arts.

Still, Lee Ahn snorted. "Who would give up after obtaining the Soaring Sky Sword Art? Even the laziest person in the world would have lost sleep over it."

Geom Mugeuk ignored her rebuttals and kept listing reasons. "More than anything, I like your goodness."

"You've been completely deceived." Eyes trembling, Lee Ahn told a story she had never told anyone before. "It's because of the side effects of the Self-Petrification Art. I had to be good to survive. That way, I wouldn't be abandoned by you, Young Cult Leader. I wasn't even ten years old back then. It's embarrassing, but from that point on, goodness became one of my methods of survival."

"……" Geom Mugeuk could feel it. She was trying to push him away, but it was not a true rejection. It looked more like she was using all her strength to break down the wall that stood between them, only to discover that it was made of steel.

Refuting a hundred reasons with a hundred rebuttals. This was her effort to break down the wall.

"There are no more, right? Now that you're trying to list them, there are only a few, aren't there?" Lee Ahn asked, looking back at the fireflies.

"Young Lady Lee," Geom Mugeuk suddenly said.

Lee Ahn flinched. Geom Mugeuk had surprised her countless times over the years, but never as much as in this moment.