Chapter 687: Affiliation: Heavenly Demon Divine Cult
Chapter 687: Affiliation: Heavenly Demon Divine Cult
“They say life is easy when you pick the right line.”
Judging by her looks alone, she seemed like the type who wouldn't spare a word for anyone, yet the woman struck up a conversation with practiced ease.
Lee An stared at her in silence.
At such close proximity, one would expect to find at least one flaw, but this woman was perfect. Her outfit was impeccable, and her makeup was flawless. Lee An felt a genuine urge to ask her for a lesson in styling and cosmetics.
She wondered if this encounter was truly a coincidence. The woman exuded an aura far too extraordinary for someone met simply by standing in line.
Lee An glanced at the other queues nearby. Theirs remained the shortest.
“It’s too early to tell if we’ve picked the right one,” Lee An replied, looking toward the front of the line. “You never know what might happen up there. If luck isn't on your side, the cutoff could happen right before your turn.”
The woman offered a mysterious smile at Lee An’s remark.
Their gazes locked in midair. It was a clash of contrasting beauties, as tense as two absolute masters facing off. The surrounding crowd held their breath as they watched the sparks fly.
Geom Mu-geuk, standing closest to them, observed the exchange.
The woman’s eyes shifted toward him. Her seductive gaze changed depending on whether she was looking at a woman or a man; she was a woman who knew instinctively how to entice the opposite sex.
Lee An nudged Mu-geuk in the ribs.
“What are you staring at so blankly?”
Mu-geuk finally snapped out of it and gave an awkward smile.
“My apologies. You are simply so beautiful that I lost myself for a moment.”
The woman smiled, clearly pleased by the compliment. Lee An, however, repeated the words Mu-geuk had said to her back in the carriage.
“It’s frustrating, but I have to admit it.”
Simultaneously, she sent him a message via Voice Transmission.
— Kill her, please. This woman.
It was an extension of her earlier joke about killing any woman prettier than herself. It was her way of acknowledging that this woman was indeed more beautiful.
— Is she really worth killing?
— You should be looking at me, not her, when you say that.
— Someone was staring at the Smiling Demon just like that in the carriage.
— Now you know how I felt back then.
Despite her words, Lee An felt her situation with the Smiling Demon was different from Mu-geuk’s. The Smiling Demon was someone they knew, someone who clearly had a person he loved.
But this woman? She was a complete stranger.
Did he really take a liking to her?
Lee An had never seen Mu-geuk stare so intently at another woman. She was inwardly surprised.
Well, the Young Master is a man, after all.
How could he not look at someone that beautiful? Even as a woman, Lee An was struck with admiration. Yes, it was perfectly understandable.
If Lee An could feel it, there was no way the woman herself hadn't noticed. A flash of confidence flickered in the woman's eyes at Mu-geuk’s gaze.
Lee An changed the subject.
“Are you here alone?”
“Yes.”
The woman was clearly a martial artist, yet Lee An couldn't accurately gauge her level. Whether it was because her skills were superior or because she practiced a unique martial art, the stranger was exceptionally adept at concealing her presence.
“It’s surprising that someone as beautiful as you travels alone.”
“I suppose I’m just fearless.”
The woman introduced herself first.
“My name is Cha Yi-ran.”
“I am Lee An.”
Finally, Mu-geuk introduced himself.
“Geom Yeon.”
Cha Yi-ran gave Mu-geuk a flirtatious smile.
“That’s a lovely name.”
“Thank you. Miss Cha’s name is also beautiful.”
Cha Yi-ran then asked Mu-geuk, “What is the relationship between you two?”
“She is the one I serve,” Mu-geuk answered.
Cha Yi-ran tilted her head, her eyes searching Mu-geuk’s face.
“You don't look like the type of person who serves anyone.”
She then cast a sidelong glance at Lee An.
“Where can I find such a dashing martial artist for myself?”
Look at this woman.
Between the way she looked at Mu-geuk and the words she just spoke, she was openly flirting with him.
Lee An glanced at Mu-geuk. Don't you dare look so happy about it!
She spoke to the woman firmly.
“You won't be able to find one.”
“One never knows,” Cha Yi-ran replied, looking back at Mu-geuk. “There’s no guarantee he’ll protect only one person for the rest of his life, is there?”
Protect me instead of this woman.
After making her point clear, she gave Lee An a bright smile.
“I’m only joking.”
Lee An didn't get angry. Getting angry would mean losing the exchange.
“You’re right. If he finds someone else he wants to protect, I should let him go at any time.”
Now that someone was seriously trying to wedge themselves between the Young Cult Leader and herself, Lee An realized how she truly felt about him.
Until now, she had thought that if the Young Cult Leader found someone he loved, she would sincerely congratulate him and be as happy as if it were her own joy. That was how it should be.
Even if the Cult Leader called her his heart.
Even if he allowed her to learn the Flying Heaven Sword Technique.
Even if she became the foster daughter of the Fist Demon.
Even if she became the Ghost Shadow Squad Leader.
Her heart had always remained in the days when she was simply the guard escorting Geom Mu-geuk.
And today, through this woman, she realized something.
She might not be able to offer her sincere blessings after all.
“If he wanted to leave, would you really let him go?”
At Cha Yi-ran’s question, Lee An shook her head.
“No. How could I let a man like this go? If he said he was leaving…”
Lee An looked at Mu-geuk.
“I’d kill him.”
Mu-geuk looked at Lee An with startled eyes.
Lee An immediately smiled at Cha Yi-ran.
“I’m only joking, too.”
Though they both claimed to be joking, an inexplicable tension hung between the two women.
In the meantime, the line gradually shortened, and it was finally Lee An’s turn to register. Mu-geuk stepped forward to handle the application on her behalf.
The martial artist taking the registrations asked without looking up, “Name of the participant first, please.”
“Lee An.”
The man wrote the name down.
“Lee An. A martial artist?”
“Correct.”
“Martial artist… and your affiliated sect or family?”
Then, words Lee An never expected to hear flowed from Mu-geuk’s mouth.
“The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.”
The man began writing it down mechanically.
“Heavenly Demon Divine Cult… and next is…”
Only after he finished writing did the man freeze.
“What did you just say?”
The four syllables were repeated clearly.
“Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.”
The man’s expression hardened as he looked up.
“You will be punished for playing such pranks!”
He intended to give them a stern scolding, but the words died in his throat. For one, the veiled Lee An was breathtakingly beautiful. Furthermore, he could instinctively tell that the man standing beside her, Geom Mu-geuk, was no ordinary person.
“I heard anyone could apply regardless of their origin. Was I mistaken?”
“No, that is correct. Are you truly from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?”
“I am.”
The man hadn't expected the Cult to participate in this event, let alone reveal their identity so boldly.
He asked in a trembling voice, “May I ask your rank within the Cult?”
“I cannot disclose that.”
“Yes, I understand.”
In truth, Lee An was just as shocked—perhaps even more so than the registrar. She had assumed they would use a fake identity to hide their tracks. Especially with that woman listening right behind them.
He didn't do that just to impress her, did he?
She knew Mu-geuk wasn't that kind of person, but the woman was so beautiful that the thought crossed her mind nonetheless.
The registrar handed over the participant tag.
“The preliminaries will be held in three days.”
He then addressed the rest of the line.
“Please wait a moment.”
He abandoned his post and ran off somewhere.
Lee An turned around. Despite having heard the name of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, Cha Yi-ran didn't seem particularly surprised.
“You don't seem shocked.”
“I told you, I’m fearless.”
Their gazes met once more.
“Still, you chose the wrong line today,” Lee An said, before turning and walking away with long strides.
As if making sure Lee An could hear, Cha Yi-ran spoke to Mu-geuk as he followed.
“Let’s have a meal together sometime.”
Mu-geuk gave a slight nod and a faint smile before following Lee An.
Once they had left the training grounds and were completely clear of the Sinhwa Guild, Lee An finally spoke.
“A peerless beauty asked you to dinner. Why didn't you set a date?”
“We’ll end up eating together eventually anyway.”
At Lee An’s questioning look, he added, “That woman will approach us again.”
Lee An stopped in her tracks. Her stiff expression instantly softened.
“Right? I knew it! She approached us intentionally because she knows who we are, didn't she? You knew all along. That’s why you revealed our identity.”
As Mu-geuk nodded, a wave of relief washed over Lee An.
“Ah, I was so nervous. I thought you’d fallen for that suspicious woman.”
She wasn't being entirely honest. She should have said 'beautiful woman' instead of 'suspicious woman.'
“However, there was another reason I revealed our identity.”
“What reason?”
“Because of you.”
“Me?”
As Lee An blinked in confusion, he gave a reason she had never even considered.
“Even if you become the World’s Most Beautiful Woman, it would be meaningless under a fake identity, wouldn't it?”
“...!”
“The world should know that Lee An of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult is the World’s Most Beautiful Woman.”
Lee An could tell Mu-geuk was being sincere. But there was one more reason.
“That way, you won't be bothered by nuisances in the future.”
If people knew the World’s Most Beautiful Woman was from the Demonic Cult, who would dare harass her? Even if some lecherous martial artist felt like catching a glimpse of her, would he dare if she were from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?
Ah! You revealed it for my sake.
Lee An was moved. Here was the Young Cult Leader, thinking so much of her, and she had gone and misunderstood him.
“But how did you know she approached us intentionally?”
The reason was simple. He already knew who she was.
She was one of the Twelve Zodiac Kings.
The Seventh King, the Flower King.
She had been the World’s Most Beautiful Woman back when the Twelve Zodiac Kings ruled the world. Though she had drawn the attention of the entire Murim with her stunning looks, no one knew her true identity.
Rumors had been rampant. Some said she rose to the rank of King solely because of her beauty. Others whispered that one of the other Kings loved her and gave her the position.
But those were all baseless lies from people who knew nothing about her.
“She is an assassin.”
“...!”
Lee An’s eyes widened in shock. She hadn't imagined for a single moment that such a beautiful woman could be an assassin. If Mu-geuk hadn't told her, she wouldn't have believed it.
A true assassin, unknown to the world.
During the era of the Twelve Zodiac Kings, the most famous assassin was the Murder King, the Fourth King. But the Flower King had operated in the shadows until the very moment of her death.
Having lived with the dishonorable reputation of being merely the 'flower' of the Twelve Zodiac Kings, it was only after her death that the Murim realized she had been a truly exceptional assassin. The reason why she lived such a life was never revealed to the world.
She was the most beautiful assassin in the history of the Murim, and the most skilled. Even though the Murder King held all the fame, she had never desired it. In that sense, she was the true blade in the darkness.
Mu-geuk had stared at her earlier first out of surprise, and later because he realized her approach was a honey trap intended for him.
“So she approached you as a target, Young Cult Leader.”
Lee An tensed up. An assassin and an escort—they were fated to be adversaries.
Fortunately, Mu-geuk wasn't the target.
“I am not her target.”
If he hadn't chosen the Dream of the Divine Maiden at the Murim Treasure Vault, if he hadn't given it to the Heavenly Flower Pavilion Master, and if he hadn't left the Cult to meet her, he wouldn't be here. His presence here was entirely his own choice and will.
However, the decision to hold this contest had been made long before that. In other words, regardless of her approaching him now, the purpose of organizing and participating in this contest lay elsewhere.
Mu-geuk stopped walking. He looked at a poster for the World’s Most Beautiful Woman contest pasted on a wall.
Only then did Lee An understand.
“Her target is the Unorthodox Path Alliance Leader.”
The winner of the contest would be granted the prize of attending a banquet with the Alliance Leader. With her looks, she would undoubtedly be crowned the winner.
Mu-geuk nodded. If it was an assassination that required her personal involvement, the target had to be the Alliance Leader. Of course, he could be wrong, or the situation might change now that he had intervened.
Mu-geuk intended to deal with it while keeping all possibilities in mind.
“The way to stop it is simple.”
“You just have to kill her, Young Cult Leader.”
“Nothing has been proven for certain yet.”
“Ah, right. Then how do we stop it?”
Mu-geuk gave a meaningful smile.
“You just have to become the World’s Most Beautiful Woman. That way, she won't be able to attend the banquet. 'Lee An, the World’s Most Beautiful Woman, Saves the Unorthodox Path Alliance Leader!'”
“Stop teasing me!”
Could she really beat that woman and be chosen as the most beautiful? Lee An recalled the way the woman had walked toward her. Even now, it was hard to believe she was an assassin.
“It must be fate that we got entangled with them. Of all times, she joined the line when ours was the shortest.”
One might think it was fate that brought them into the same line, but Mu-geuk knew better.
The secret assassin organization led by the Flower King: the Beauty Cult. Every assassin in the Beauty Cult was a woman, and they were said to be composed entirely of beauties.
“I don't think it was a coincidence that our line was the shortest when she arrived.”
“What do you mean? Surely you don't mean...?”
“Yes. The assassins she leads likely stood in the other lines to manipulate the lengths, ensuring she could naturally fall in behind us.”
“...!”
Mu-geuk now understood clearly why they had organized a beauty pageant instead of a martial arts tournament. In a place crowded with women gathered from all over the Central Plains, the assassins of the Beauty Cult could blend in naturally without a shred of suspicion.
There was no telling how many of them were here, but one thing was certain.
“These streets are currently crawling with beautiful assassins.”