Chapter 278: Does Seeing the Beauty of Hubei After All This Time Make Your Heart Flutter?
Chapter 278: Does Seeing the Beauty of Hubei After All This Time Make Your Heart Flutter?
When I went to visit the Blood Heaven Blade Demon with the Fist Demon, I found him buried in a book.
“What kind of book are you reading all the way out here?” I asked.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon replied without even looking up. “Since you won’t let me go home, I might as well catch up on my reading.”
“Where did you even find that?”
“There is a library prepared for the branch warriors.”
I doubted the warriors here actually bothered to read. He must have gone out of his way to scavenge through a place kept only for appearances just to find something to occupy his mind. It was clear he truly was a man who loved the written word.
“Stop reading for a second and take a look at this.”
Only then did the Blade Demon close his book and look up.
“A missive arrived from the Murim Alliance Leader’s granddaughter.”
“Why the Murim Alliance Leader’s granddaughter?”
“She sent an invitation to a gathering of the Rising Stars, along with a plea for help. It’s undoubtedly related to our current situation.”
“So, they’ve finally started to react,” the Blade Demon noted.
He had previously advised me to wait and respond to their movements, but the message had come from someone I hadn't expected.
“I suspect that whoever connected the Heavenly Flower Sect Leader with Jin Ha-gun is now pressuring him because the operation failed.”
For Jin Ha-ryeong to ask to see me at a time like this meant that some kind of trouble had befallen her brother, Jin Ha-gun.
The Fist Demon’s expression turned serious. “What do you plan to do?”
“A friend has asked for help; I must go.”
“You must be cautious about going to the Murim Alliance,” the Fist Demon warned.
It was one thing when I contacted them before, but it was a different matter entirely now that I was the Young Cult Leader. My actions would be taken as the official stance of the Demonic Cult.
“I will move with caution.”
At that, the Fist Demon said firmly, “We are going with you.”
Seeing as he spoke without even asking for the Blade Demon’s opinion, it seemed they had already agreed to stick by me until this matter was concluded.
“If you two attend, the entire Murim Alliance will be put on high alert,” I pointed out. “You’re the kind of people who put even our own Hunan Branch on edge.”
The two Demon Lords chuckled softly. Even they seemed to find the memory of the Hunan Branch’s panic amusing.
If it were the Poison King or the Drunken Demon, they might have been able to attend the banquet together, but these two were far too recognizable. They had to move without drawing attention.
“Please stay at the safe house closest to the Murim Alliance. If I need help, I’ll send word immediately.”
Just as the two Demon Lords nodded, Jeok-yeon arrived to report a new arrival. Following the unexpected missive was an unexpected visitor. Coincidentally, both were women.
“Lee An has arrived.”
*
Lee An made her entrance into the Hunan Branch. Wearing a mask and dressed in martial robes different from her usual attire, she drew the gaze of every warrior in the vicinity.
Her beauty, which even a mask could not fully hide, was one thing, but the aura she radiated was extraordinary. Her gait alone carried the momentum of a master, overwhelming the average warrior. She wore black martial robes and a mask, with the words 'Ghost Shadow' embroidered in elegant white silk against the dark fabric.
Behind her, Cheong-myeon entered with a dozen warriors. They were all dressed in the same uniform, and every single one of them possessed a formidable presence.
“Lee An!”
At my call, Lee An looked toward me. Normally, she would have come running, shouting "Young Master!" after being apart for so long, but conscious of the eyes around her, she maintained a slow, dignified pace.
— You got a new uniform? It looks cool! I sent via voice transmission.
Lee An replied quickly. — Don’t talk to me! I’m trying to give a cool greeting.
— Right now, you’re moving your left arm and left leg at the same time.
— Stop it! Don’t tease me! This is my first time greeting the Young Master in this capacity, so I’m going to do it properly.
Having walked up to me, she gave a polite fist salute. “I greet the Young Cult Leader.”
— What a hypocrite!
— Bear with it!
The warriors who came with her lined up in a row behind her.
“We greet the Young Cult Leader!”
At their thunderous greeting, Lee An introduced them. “This is the First Team of the Ghost Shadow Squad.”
Then, Cheong-myeon took a step forward and bowed. “I am Cheong-myeon, Leader of the First Team. I formally greet the Young Cult Leader.”
Finally, the First Team of the Ghost Shadow Squad was complete. Cheong-myeon still wore his blue mask, but the eyes behind it looked more reliable than ever. This was the man who had turned down a position as a Demon Lord to choose the role of a team leader. I believed that the First Team he led would be superior to any elite unit in the Murim.
“It’s only the First Team for now, but we will grow,” Lee An said, pride radiating from her.
Cheong-myeon added his loyalty to the sentiment. “We only carry out the orders of the Young Cult Leader.”
“Any order?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“What if I ordered you to go right now and kill the Murim Alliance Leader?”
Despite it being a suicide mission, Cheong-myeon answered without a second of hesitation. “I would carry out the order immediately.”
“What if my father gives an order? And what if that order conflicts with mine?”
Cheong-myeon was momentarily flustered, but he soon answered calmly. “We only follow the orders of the Young Cult Leader.”
“I appreciate your loyalty, but my father’s orders are the exception. Consider my father’s orders as my own and follow them. Understood?”
“Yes, I understand!”
I patted Cheong-myeon on the shoulder with deep trust. “I’m counting on you.”
“I will serve you with all my loyalty.”
My real request was sent via voice transmission. — Take good care of your Squad Leader. That's more important than looking after me.
Cheong-myeon replied with a look in his eyes. It was a gaze more trustworthy than any words.
Passing Cheong-myeon, I walked slowly in front of the members of the First Team. They were all young. Since they were handpicked by Lee An and Cheong-myeon, they were warriors I knew I could trust. Each time I passed one, they removed their mask and stated their name.
After making eye contact with each of them, I spoke.
“There is something I always tell your leaders. Cherish yourselves above all else. Live for your own happiness.”
They all had expressions that suggested they had heard this before. Lee An had likely already explained my philosophy to them.
I asked one of the Ghost Shadow warriors, “Do you know why the name Ghost Shadow Squad was chosen?”
“I heard it was named with the resolve to become the Young Cult Leader’s shadow.”
“Yes, that’s right. You are my shadows.”
I felt Jeok-yeon, standing behind me, grow slightly tense. The momentum of the Ghost Shadow warriors was no less than that of my personal guards, and hearing them named as my 'shadows' seemed to spark a strange sense of rivalry. He likely considered himself and the guards to be my true shadows.
Ignoring the silent tension, I continued.
“It would be strange if the body is happy but the shadow is miserable, wouldn't it? So, don't make me out to be a villain; make sure the shadows are even happier than the body. I am a person who believes this organization will only grow stronger if you are happy. Now, repeat after me: 'I will become a happy shadow!'”
“I will become a happy shadow,” they chanted.
Though they followed along, the members of the First Team looked awkward. They had heard the Young Cult Leader was unique, but they probably hadn't expected to be chanting about happiness.
Happiness.
It was a word that had likely never been emphasized in any organization of the Demonic Cult until now. In fact, it probably hadn't been emphasized in the Orthodox or Unorthodox factions either.
Then Lee An stepped in, her voice sharp. “You do realize that doesn't mean you should become cowards, right?”
“Of course!” came the thunderous response.
“Good work getting here. Jeok-yeon, provide the Ghost Shadow Squad with food and quarters. And Squad Leader Lee, a word.”
After letting the Ghost Shadow Squad rest, I walked through the flower garden with Lee An.
“How did you end up here?”
“I heard you were here, so I stopped by on my way back to the main cult. It was on the way.”
“You didn't just come to show off the First Team?”
“Was it that obvious?” She laughed awkwardly. She had clearly rushed to me immediately because she wanted to brag. “I wanted to show them to you first. What do you think? My subordinates.”
I withheld my answer for a moment. As I was debating how to tease her while she was so tense, she beat me to it.
“I’m glad you think I picked well.”
“I haven't said anything yet.”
“I can tell just by seeing you struggle to think of a way to tease me. If I had messed up, you wouldn't even be thinking of a joke.”
At Lee An’s quick-witted remark, I gave her a sincere compliment instead. “Yes, they all look excellent. You worked hard picking them.”
Lee An beamed. Those few words likely made all her past hardships feel worthwhile.
“How was it for you?” she asked.
“Traveling through the Central Plains this time, I realized several times over that I was like a frog in a well. I also felt how important experience really is.”
“In that sense, let’s go gain one more experience together. An invitation arrived the same day you did; I suppose it’s fate that we go together.”
On the day Jin Ha-ryeong’s missive arrived, Lee An had also arrived. I considered it fate that these two women should meet. Since both were exceptionally brilliant, I believed this meeting would help them grow.
And there was one more reason. I recalled the conversation I’d had with Jin Ha-ryeong.
— Do you have a woman back home? Someone you like?
— There is a woman even more beautiful than you.
— More than me? Then the credibility of your words just plummeted.
— You’re the Beauty of Hubei, aren't you? She is the World’s Most Beautiful Woman.
— Make sure to show me this 'World’s Most Beautiful Woman' next time!
I had intended to introduce them if the chance arose, and finally, the opportunity had come.
“Who sent the invitation?” Lee An asked.
I smiled faintly. “Someone. The person who made my credibility plummet.”
*
Jin Ha-ryeong held the gathering as usual.
To participate in this meeting, the Rising Stars exerted all kinds of effort. One had to be a young talent who stood out in their respective region to even receive an invitation. The greatest advantage of the gathering was the opportunity to build connections with the children of other prestigious sects. In particular, the meeting was meaningful just for the chance to be noticed by Jin Ha-ryeong.
The young Rising Stars participated while secretly dreaming of a marriage with her. Most of them were the most successful in their own towns, so they dreamed big. Since she was the granddaughter of the Murim Alliance Leader, the Beauty of Hubei, and possessed excellent martial arts, she was considered the most eligible bachelorette in the Orthodox Murim.
Of course, once they actually met Jin Ha-ryeong, they realized it was an unattainable dream. She led the meetings brilliantly, but she never showed any personal emotion. Especially after the Young Dragon Tournament incident, she hadn't allowed even a needle's worth of an opening.
“Is something the matter? You seem tense,” Jin Ha-ryeong’s guard, Chu Ho, asked with concern. She seemed exceptionally nervous today.
“I’m fine.”
She didn't necessarily think Geom Mu-geuk would come. Unlike their last meeting, there was now a clear difference in their status. Since coming to the Murim Alliance meant taking a great risk, it was more likely that he wouldn't show up.
Even so, she felt a lingering hope. She felt that if it were Geom Mu-geuk, he might just come. He was a man who inspired that kind of expectation.
In the meantime, people gathered in the banquet hall one after another. Everyone was busy greeting each other and trying to make themselves known. She looked out from behind a curtain, but Geom Mu-geuk was nowhere to be seen.
Is he not coming?
Setting aside her disappointment or bruised pride, her brother desperately needed him.
“It is time to go out,” Chu Ho said.
Jin Ha-ryeong composed herself. The expression on her face as she stepped out was completely different from a moment ago. As she appeared, everyone clapped and cheered. Those seeing her for the first time were struck by the legendary beauty of the Beauty of Hubei.
“Greetings, friends.”
When she opened with a joke, laughter erupted from all sides, and the atmosphere immediately lightened.
“When my grandfather starts a speech, no one dares to blink no matter how boring it is, right? Well, it’s okay to doze off now.”
More laughter followed. Originally, Jin Ha-ryeong didn't have such a refreshing personality. But after meeting Geom Mu-geuk, she had changed. She was trying to change. Even she didn't know why.
“You’ve likely heard some unsettling news lately. News from the Demonic Cult, and news from the Unorthodox Path Alliance.”
At the mention of the Demonic Cult and the Unorthodox Path Alliance, everyone’s expressions stiffened. Since most of those gathered were the children of prestigious families, they had heard rumors about the successors of the Cult and the Alliance. In particular, the rumors about the successor of the Demonic Cult were so incredible they were hard to believe.
“Those rumors tell us why we must gather and why we must stand united. Because someone more formidable than any successor in history has appeared. And the people who will have to face him aren't our grandfathers or our parents. We are the ones who must face him in the future.”
A heavy silence filled the hall. Stopping her speech for a moment, Jin Ha-ryeong looked around at them silently. The young warriors needed to wake up. To face him, they had to truly change.
It was then that Jin Ha-ryeong’s eyes met someone’s among the Rising Stars.
The moment she saw him, she was startled. When on earth had he entered? Geom Mu-geuk was standing among the crowd with a playful smile on his face.
Ah! He came!
A surge of joy welled up within her. His eyes—clear, deep, yet pure as if he were about to play a prank at any moment—were the same now as they were then.
She was grateful to him. When she asked for help, he hadn't refused; he had come running. Despite being the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult, he was standing alone among the people of the Orthodox faction. All because she had asked.
Staring at Geom Mu-geuk, she continued her speech.
“The Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult in the rumors is no ordinary person. They say he is stronger, smarter, and braver than anyone else. They even say he keeps his promises well, don't they?”
Geom Mu-geuk’s smile deepened.
“So, we must also stay sharp and build our strength. If we let our guard down, the sword of the Young Cult Leader will one day pierce our hearts. So let us all work together! For the peace of the Murim! There is no time to be dozing off.”
The Rising Stars cheered enthusiastically. In the noisy hall, the two of them stood there, gazing at each other.
*
After finishing her speech, Jin Ha-ryeong met Geom Mu-geuk separately in the back garden.
“You really came.”
“Didn't we agree to be friends?”
“It’s just awkward seeing you after so long.”
“You can be comfortable. I came as a friend.”
Seeing Geom Mu-geuk up close, Jin Ha-ryeong felt unnecessarily tense. With her brother’s problem weighing on her, all sorts of thoughts crossed her mind. He really came as a friend, right? Could I be being deceived by this man? Gratitude and fear were intertwined.
She tried to ease the tension with some banter. “So, does seeing the Beauty of Hubei after all this time make your heart flutter?”
“I’m someone who sees the World’s Most Beautiful Woman every day.”
“Bluffing again, are we?”
“I figured you’d say that, so I brought her along.”
“Then by all means, show me this 'World’s Most Beautiful Woman.'”
Until this point, Jin Ha-ryeong thought Geom Mu-geuk was joking. But when Geom Mu-geuk turned his head, Lee An revealed herself from behind a building in the distance. Jin Ha-ryeong was shocked to realize he had actually come with a woman.
Lee An slowly stepped out from the shadow of the building and began walking toward the two of them.