Chapter 893: Drive the Carriage Slowly

TL: FoodieMonster007

Geom Mugeuk sat on his bed, looking at a painting on the wall. It depicted their wedding ceremony. The two of them stood in their ceremonial robes, getting married, with his father and the Master beside them.

It was not the only one. Below it, smaller paintings showed them dancing with friends, bidding them farewell the next day, and leaving for their honeymoon.

These were gifts from Jang Ho, who had magnificently captured not only the events of that day but also what followed.

Suddenly, someone wrapped their arms around Geom Mugeuk's neck from behind like an assassin.

"To think the Young Cult Leader of the Divine Cult is so full of openings!" Lee Ahn, wrapped in a blanket with her snow-white shoulders exposed, wrapped her arms around his neck. She asked in a sweet voice, "When did you wake up?"

"I woke up a little while ago."

"I didn't even know. I don't know why I'm so tired these days."

"Aren't you training too hard?" Geom Mugeuk grumbled. Even after their marriage, Lee Ahn had not neglected her martial arts training. "Could it be that you're the one with ambitions to conquer the murim?"

At his joke, Lee Ahn tightened her grip on his neck and replied like a villain. "Now that you know my ambition, I can't let you live."

"And I can't just let a villain go."

Geom Mugeuk turned to embrace her, but Lee Ahn was faster. She stepped down to the other side of the bed, clutching the blanket.

"No, you can't. We have to wash up and get ready to go out."

"Where are we going?"

"Father-in-law called for me. He said he'd treat me to something delicious."

Geom Mugeuk blinked. "He didn't say anything to me."

Lee Ahn smiled faintly. "I guess he wanted to go with just me."

"He's taking care of his daughter-in-law while ignoring his son? How many times have you two gone out to eat alone!" Geom Mugeuk complained. Geom Woojin had already taken Lee Ahn to several places famous for their food. "I don't care! I'm definitely coming with you today!"

A single carriage stood in the front yard of the Heavenly Demon Hall, with Hwi in the driver's seat. His presence meant they were planning a quiet outing without bodyguards.

Geom Woojin walked out of the Heavenly Demon Hall.

Lee Ahn, who was waiting by the carriage, greeted politely, "Father-in-law."

"Have you been waiting long?"

"Not at all."

"Let's go."

Lee Ahn had initially found Geom Woojin difficult to be around, but after several meals and teas together, she was now much more comfortable.

Just as the two were about to get into the carriage, though, Geom Woojin paused. "Come out."

Geom Mugeuk revealed himself from behind a distant building. "Father, I like delicious food too."

"Then go and eat some."

"I mean the delicious food you're buying. You can't leave me behind." Geom Mugeuk leaped through the air and blocked the front of the carriage. "Mr. Driver, if you want to leave, you'll have to run me over!"

Hwi, in the driver's seat, laughed.

His father's voice rang out from inside the carriage. "Get in."

Geom Mugeuk quickly hopped inside, and the carriage departed with the three of them inside.

Geom Mugeuk asked unhappily, "I know a father-in-law's love for his daughter-in-law is special, but do you really like her that much?"

"……" Geom Woojin simply gazed out the window.

Lee Ahn teased Geom Mugeuk. "Why did you follow us? I was planning on having fun with just Father-in-law."

"What on earth do you two talk about that's so fun?"

"That's a secret between Father-in-law and me."

Geom Mugeuk pouted, but deep down, he was grateful to Lee Ahn.

No matter how much Father cherishes his daughter-in-law, given his personality, he would never ask her to go if she showed even the slightest sign of being burdened. It's because Lee Ahn enjoys it and treats Father well that he wants to keep treating her well.

The carriage passed through the Demon Village.

"Stop the carriage for a moment," Geom Woojin commanded.

The carriage stopped, and he called out to the goat-bearded merchant who sold dolls in the Demon Village through the window.

"You there!"

Startled, the man hurried over and bowed so low his back folded in half. "Cult Leader!"

"Is what I asked for ready?"

"Yes, I've already prepared it."

"Give it to me."

The merchant brought over two wrapped dolls, and Geom Woojin handed him money.

However, he refused to take it. "This is a gift from me to you, Cult Leader. I've been able to make a living because you permitted me to make these dolls. Please, accept it."

"Thank you. I hope you sell many dolls."

The carriage started moving again.

Geom Mugeuk was curious about what his father had received. "What's that?"

Geom Woojin handed one of the packages to Lee Ahn, who unwrapped it.

When she saw the doll inside, she was stunned. It was a Lee Ahn doll!

"I thought it was time you had one of your own," Geom Woojin said,

Geom Mugeuk understood. His father had commissioned the doll merchant to make a doll of Lee Ahn. Now, her doll would also be officially sold.

"Thank you, Father-in-law," Lee Ahn choked, so moved that her eyes grew hot. What touched her just as much was that the Cult Leader had bought two, intending to keep one for himself.

"It's so well-made! It looks exactly like you!" Geom Mugeuk praised.

Lee Ahn's doll was truly beautiful and magnificent. It was so well-crafted that even the sword at the doll's waist had all the characteristics of the White Flower Sword.

Geom Mugeuk sighed. "Ah, my doll's sales rank is going to drop by one."

The carriage arrived at a noodle shop housed in a large tent.

Geom Mugeuk blinked in surprise. "Ah, this place is?"

It was the delicious noodle shop he had once told his father about, the very same one his father had said used to have delicious dumplings.

"Welcome!"

The place was run by a middle-aged couple. Despite its secluded location, there were quite a few customers.

"Hwi, you eat with us too."

"Yes, Cult Leader."

They found a table and placed their order.

"We'll have four bowls of noodles."

"Yes, please wait just a moment!"

Just then, an old woman entered the shop and began clearing an uncleaned table.

"Mother, why did you come out? I told you to rest at home."

"I'm fine."

The old woman had come out to help her son and daughter-in-law, who had taken over the business she originally ran.

As she wiped the table with a cloth, she saw Geom Woojin and flinched. "…Could it be?"

"Do you remember me?" Geom Woojin asked.

"Oh my, it is you! Of course, I remember."

The old woman moved to prostrate herself, but Geom Woojin used telekinesis to gently stop her.

"To think I'd live long enough to see such an esteemed person again," the old woman exclaimed.

Geom Woojin replied, "I sometimes find myself thinking of the dumplings you used to make."

Whenever he returned from trips to the Central Plains with the Fist Demon, he would occasionally stop by to buy dumplings. He used to come often back then but stopped after he became the Cult Leader.

The old woman, too, had passed the business to her son as time went by and had forgotten. And yet, today, she met Geom Woojin again.

"No matter how skilled the chefs here are, they could never replicate your dumplings."

The old woman's face filled with overwhelming emotion. "I'll make some dumplings for you right now."

"It's alright. I came today to eat the noodles your son makes."

The old woman looked at him with emotional eyes. "You haven't changed one bit."

Geom Mugeuk playfully teased her. "Does that mean he looked old when he was young?"

The old woman grew flustered. "T-That's not what I meant."

"Nonsense!" Geom Woojin scolded Geom Mugeuk.

Geom Mugeuk smiled at the old woman. "I'm just kidding, Elder. My father is still handsome, isn't he?"

At the word 'father', the old woman's eyes widened. Her expression shifted as if she was remembering someone. "…Now that I look at you, you look just like her."

Geom Mugeuk immediately realized that his father had brought his mother here before. "Yes! Thankfully, I take after my mother, not my father."

The old woman recalled the sight of the young couple sitting and eating dumplings. It was a completely forgotten memory, but seeing Geom Mugeuk's face brought it back vividly.

Soon, the noodles arrived, and they began eating.

"Ugh!" Lee Ahn suddenly retched. "I'm sorry…. Ugh!"

She ran outside. For some reason, she had suddenly felt nauseous after taking just one bite.

The old woman and the younger woman exchanged a knowing glance and nodded.

"Perhaps you have some good news," the old woman said carefully, smiling faintly.

Guessing what she meant, Geom Mugeuk and Geom Woojin froze in shock.

Geom Woojin shot up from his seat. "We'll come back for noodles another time," he said, walking outside.

Geom Mugeuk and Hwi followed him.

Lee Ahn, who was taking deep breaths in the fresh air, bowed her head to Geom Woojin. "I'm sorry, Father-in-law."

"It's nothing. Let's just go back for today."

"No, I'm fine…" Lee Ahn began, but Geom Woojin was already in the carriage.

As he boarded, he said to Hwi, "Go straight to the Demonic Physician."

"Yes, Cult Leader!"

As the carriage started, Geom Woojin's voice rang out again. "And drive the carriage slowly!"

Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn lay on Geom Mugeuk's favorite beach within the Spacetime Manipulation Technique.

However, there were actually three people lying here, not two. Lee Ahn's belly was now noticeably swollen.

Geom Mugeuk stared out at the distant sea before suddenly asking, "Can I be a good father?"

Lee Ahn was surprised. He's worried about being a good father? I'm worried he would be too good of a father!

"Do you want to be a good father?" she asked.

Geom Mugeuk nodded. "Of course I do."

"You know that just being nice doesn't make you a good father, right?"

Geom Mugeuk turned his body toward her. "Then what should I do?"

"Hmm…" Lee Ahn pondered for a moment. "We can't spoil them. They need to suffer some hardship…" After a brief pause, she sighed. "But that's impossible, isn't it?"

Geom Mugeuk nodded. "Their grandfather is the Heavenly Demon. How could we possibly let them suffer?"

The two looked at each other and smiled faintly.

Lee Ahn thought of something completely opposite to the blue sea. "Ah, I want to see the night scenery of Dongting Lake."

SNAP!

Right before her eyes, Dongting Lake appeared, and they were sitting in a small boat floating on the water.

"No, the real Dongting Lake!" Lee Ahn screamed.

Geom Mugeuk grinned smugly. "It's the same. Even if we go, it will look and feel exactly like this."

"They say it's good for the baby if the mother moves around a lot. Let's go, just the two of us!"

SNAP!

A green field spread out before them.

"Come on, let's walk together. Let's go to the end of that plain!" Geom Mugeuk suggested.

Lee Ahn could only shake her head. "Yeon, this is the kind of person your father is."

Yeon was the baby's prenatal name, inspired by Geom Mugeuk's favorite pseudonym, Geom Yeon. Because the child had come to them as the most precious fate, they had chosen the prenatal name using the character 'Yeon (缘)' for 'destiny'.

"The murim is so dangerous, and you want to wander around while pregnant?" Geom Mugeuk exclaimed, his overly worried nature on full display.

Lee Ahn was speechless. "What's there to worry about when you're with me? You're the most dangerous person in this murim!"

Geom Mugeuk pretended not to hear anything. "Let's travel to our heart's content later. I'll take you anywhere you want to go."

"I'll definitely remember that. Yeon, did you hear?"

The couple walked hand in hand across the green plain.

In truth, Lee Ahn couldn't care less if it was real or fake. As long as they could walk together like this, holding hands, what did it matter where they were?

"Ah, I wish there were some fluffy clouds over there."

SNAP!

"KYAAAAAARGH!"

Lee Ahn's painful screams echoed across the building.

Geom Mugeuk paced back and forth in front of the emergency room. The day of his child's birth had finally arrived.

Hang in there, Lee Ahn!

He had asked if he could go in and be by her side, but the midwife told him to wait outside.

"How long has it been since the labor pains started?" he asked impatiently.

"Six hours," the Demonic Physician, who was standing guard by the door in case of emergency, answered.

"Isn't it taking too long?"

"The first child always takes a long time."

"Shouldn't you be inside as well, Demonic Physician?"

"The ladies inside are our Cult's best midwives. I would only get in the way."

"She'll be alright, won't she?"

"Don't worry. She'll have a safe delivery."

Geom Mugeuk believed Lee Ahn would be fine, of course, but as the labor continued, he couldn't help but feel anxious. He shouted loudly enough to be heard inside. "Hang in there! I'm right outside!"

"You're being distracting. Stop it and come here!" the Fist Demon complained, sitting in a chair calmly.

"Yes, I'm sorry."

Geom Mugeuk plopped down next to him, thinking, Even if he acts this calm, he must be burning up inside. Father, who's waiting for news at the Heavenly Demon Hall, is probably in the same mental state as us too!

"What are you worried about? This is a child destined to be born as yours. Nothing will happen," the Fist Demon reassured.

Geom Mugeuk pouted. Hey kid, stop making it hard for your mom and come out already!

"WAAAAAH!"

The sound of a baby crying rang out from inside the room.

Geom Mugeuk and the Fist Demon shot up from their seats. For a moment, the two of them stood there, holding their breath as if time had stopped, watching as the door slowly opened.

Geom Mugeuk pleaded desperately. Please, let them both be safe! Please!

A middle-aged midwife came out. "The lady has safely given birth to a daughter."

"Ah!" Geom Mugeuk gasped. "Thank you, thank you so much!"

The midwife stepped aside from the door. "You may come in."

The Fist Demon charged into the room before Geom Mugeuk. Another midwife was holding the baby, but he went to Lee Ahn first. "Are you okay?"

"Yes," Lee Ahn replied tiredly.

Geom Mugeuk entered next, but Lee Ahn's form was hidden behind the Fist Demon's large back.

The midwife holding the baby turned to Geom Mugeuk. "Would you like to hold her?"

He nodded, and the midwife carefully placed the swaddled baby in his arms.

Geom Mugeuk looked at his daughter's face for the first time ever. The thought that this was his daughter made all sorts of emotions well up inside him.

Is this real? Am I in a fantasy within the spacetime illusion? I've become a father! A father? Me, a father?

The special feeling a child gave a parent was beyond words. He felt like he could just watch his little girl all day. He felt like he could hold her like this for a hundred days.

"She's our daughter."

Geom Mugeuk lifted his head and saw Lee Ahn looking his way. She was completely drained, and her voice had no strength. Her strong body seemed to have been shattered, and her limbs were limp. Her hair was soaked with sweat and stuck to her forehead.

In his eyes, however, she looked more beautiful than ever.

He approached Lee Ahn, still holding the baby. Only then did the Fist Demon look at the baby with an expression of utter joy.

Geom Mugeuk carefully laid the baby down beside her.

Tears streamed down Lee Ahn's face at the sight of the child. The birth of a life was something that had nothing to do with one's level of martial arts. As the labor pains continued, she had been so scared. It was painful and difficult, and she was more worried that the baby was suffering than she was for herself. She was terrified that something might happen to the baby.

She stroked the baby with a trembling hand. "You did well, little one."

Geom Mugeuk had always spoken formally to her even after their marriage, but in this moment, he did not. "You did well, Lee Ahn."

Finally able to relax, Lee Ahn was flooded with a comfortable sense of relief, joy, and happiness. "She looks like you," she remarked. Even though the girl was a newborn, her facial features were already distinct, and it was clear she resembled Geom Mugeuk.

Geom Mugeuk smiled brightly and whispered to the baby, "Daughter, welcome to the world!"

SWIIIIIISH!

He turned his head and looked out the window. In the far distance, someone was flying toward them at the speed of light.

It was Geom Woojin, pushing the Heavenly Demon Flight Step to its absolute limit.