Chapter 279
Chapter 279
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 279
>Chapter Title: Return in Glory (1)
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A few days later.
Il-mok took a single letter and went to find Dam-bin.
“Please enclose this with the letter to be sent to headquarters.”
At Il-mok’s instruction, Dam-bin took the letter without asking any questions and placed it on top of the stack of letters.
“Aren’t you curious what’s written in that letter?”
“If it’s a letter penned by you, Young Master, then it must have its reasons.”
Il-mok gave a faint smile at her response, filled with absolute trust.
“This letter is one you could read once.”
Dam-bin, her face tinged with puzzlement, unfolded Il-mok’s letter and read it for a moment.
Her eyes widened.
“Y-Young Master?”
Il-mok replied softly to her rare flustered expression.
“It’s unexpected, but a marriage is a marriage, so we must hold the ceremony.”
The letter Il-mok had written detailed matters concerning Dam-bin and Gu Yang-mun.
It briefly summarized how Gu Yang-mun had fallen into demonic deviation, how Dam-bin had saved him, and how they had decided to become husband and wife as a result.
“With your personality as Team Leader Dam-bin, it seemed uncomfortable for you to report this directly to Master, so I wrote it myself. If it feels like too much meddling, we don’t have to send the letter to headquarters.”
“Not at all. I’m simply grateful for your consideration, Young Master.”
She bowed her head in thanks, then cautiously asked Il-mok.
“Then, the wedding will take place on the date written in this letter?”
Il-mok nodded at her question.
“It’ll take quite some time for a letter from here in Nanju to reach headquarters and for someone to come back from there, so I’ve set it generously for about forty days from now. Since our mission is proceeding in secret, I honestly don’t know if any guests will come.”
“I’m grateful just that you’ve informed the Venerable of Ten Thousand Demons of our wedding.”
Il-mok shook his head at her words.
“I’m sorry that the wedding must be modest because we have to hide our identities.”
With a gentle smile, Il-mok added.
“But a wedding is a wedding, so please prepare carefully over the next forty days. With the money left, it wouldn’t be fun to pick out wedding clothes together with Young Master Gu Yang?”
Dam-bin beamed in response to Il-mok’s question.
“I’m simply grateful for your consideration, Young Master.”
* * *
Time passed quickly.
Construction of the sewer system in Nanju was progressing steadily, and missionary activities in areas beyond Gansu Province were steadily expanding territory bit by bit.
This was thanks in part to Seo Wan-pyeong and the Shadow Hall warriors who hadn’t returned to headquarters even after dealing with the Hao Clan Leader, and in part to those trained at the Maitreya Cult’s estate.
Those who had learned the Maitreya Cult’s doctrines and script at the estate were heading to other regions, spreading the teachings little by little.
The Shadow Hall warriors and Heavenly Demon Divine Cult branch warriors were backing them up.
Amid handling these official duties, preparations for Gu Yang-mun and Dam-bin’s wedding were also progressing steadily.
Then, five days before the scheduled wedding day, a guest arrived at the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s Nanju Branch.
As Il-mok eyed the middle-aged man with a strangely familiar face, Gu Yang-mun greeted him.
“Father!”
That single word revealed the man’s identity.
Gu Yang-mun’s father meant he was the head of the Gu Yang Family, one of the five great demonic clans.
“It’s an honor to meet the head of the Gu Yang Family.”
Following Gu Yang-mun, Il-mok approached and offered a fist salute to the Gu Yang Family head, who laughed heartily in welcome.
“Hahaha. At last, I meet the famed Eighth Young Master in person. I am Gu Yang-pae, head of the Gu Yang Family.”
“It’s my honor to meet you in person as well.”
After a brief exchange of greetings with the Gu Yang Family head, Il-mok subtly stepped aside to make room for Dam-bin standing nearby.
Unlike usual, she bowed to the Gu Yang Family head with a somewhat tense demeanor.
“Silver Wing Hall Team Leader Dam-bin greets the head of the Gu Yang Family.”
“Hahaha. No need for such stiff formalities between future family. Just call me Father.”
Dam-bin flinched briefly at the Gu Yang Family head’s hearty greeting, then smiled happily.
“I shall, Father.”
Seeing her tension ease a bit, Il-mok swallowed a silent sigh.
‘It’s understandable to be nervous.’
It was hard to believe from Gu Yang-mun’s usual attitude, but that guy was still direct lineage of one of the five great demonic clans. Though unlikely to become family head as the youngest son, from Dam-bin’s position, this was suddenly marrying into prestigious direct lineage.
With the age gap too, there was a chance the Gu Yang Family might not accept the marriage.
Though she hadn’t shown it, she must have been worried about that scenario.
“Hahaha. I’ve heard much from the Venerable about my soon-to-be daughter-in-law. Praised far and wide for her devotion and competence. I was worried whether my youngest could even handle a proper marriage, but to bring home such an outstanding wife. Hahaha.”
At his father’s teasing, Gu Yang-mun looked flustered with an “Ah, Father,” while Dam-bin smiled shyly at the excessive praise.
“It would be proper for the whole family to attend such a major event as a wedding, but since your presence here, including the Eighth Young Master’s, is top secret, only I, the family head, came alone, so don’t feel too slighted, my dear daughter-in-law.”
“Not at all, Father. I’m delighted just that you’ve come.”
As Dam-bin bowed again, the Gu Yang Family head burst into laughter once more.
“Haha. Seems I’ve made things awkward again. I have matters to discuss privately with the Eighth Young Master, so you two go rest comfortably.”
As Dam-bin and Gu Yang-mun bowed and withdrew at his words, which seemed considerate of Dam-bin, Il-mok alone wore a puzzled expression.
‘Matters to discuss with me?’
Aside from Gu Yang-mun, there was no connection between himself and the Gu Yang Family head, so nothing came to mind.
‘Well, I’ll find out once we talk.’
Il-mok quickly composed his expression and said to the Gu Yang Family head.
“Please, come inside.”
Il-mok guided Gu Yang-pae to the hall where he usually resided, and Jin Ha-yeon quickly brought tea before leaving the room.
Right after sipping the tea she had brought, the Gu Yang Family head spoke.
“Hahaha. No need to be so tense. I summoned the Eighth Young Master on behalf of the Venerable to relay his message.”
“Master’s message?”
Il-mok barely hid his bewildered expression.
‘Using the head of one of the five great clans as a messenger? Master.’
Of course, even the five great clans of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult didn’t wield immense power.
The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was based in the harsh Heavenly Myriad Mountains and ruled the barren land of Shinkang to begin with.
With few members, the five great clans’ strength couldn’t compare to the Nine Great Sects or Seven Great Families of the Central Plains.
But in terms of individual prowess, they yielded to no one.
The Gu Yang Family head before Il-mok now was a man whose personal martial might was in no way inferior to the sect leaders of the Nine Great Sects or heads of the Seven Great Families.
It was bizarre that the Heavenly Demon would use such a man as a mere messenger.
“Ahem. I’m sorry if I’ve made you run errands because of me.”
Il-mok worried he might have offended him unnecessarily, since no one would dare get angry at the Heavenly Demon.
“Hahaha. I was coming anyway for my youngest’s wedding, so it’s killing two birds with one stone. To begin with, only a handful know that you Eighth Young Master and my youngest are here, so it couldn’t be helped.”
The Gu Yang Family head heartily accepted Il-mok’s apology with a laugh, then grew serious.
“Then, I’ll relay the Venerable’s message. The Venerable said, ‘Revenge is achieved, now return to headquarters.’”
“Right now?”
Il-mok asked calmly.
He had anticipated this since reporting the Flying Dragon Hall Leader’s death to headquarters.
The pretext for coming to the Central Plains had been revenge against the Flying Dragon Hall Leader to begin with.
At Il-mok’s question, the Gu Yang Family head shook his head.
“You’ve stayed long handing over duties here to others. With my youngest, daughter-in-law, and Third Young Master there, entrust it to them.”
Il-mok had planned the same upon returning, so he nodded in understanding.
“Then I’ll complete the handover and return.”
“Do so. Ah, and that granddaughter of the Hyeok-ryeon Family must enter the Demonic Path Academy in a few months, so return together before the entrance exam.”
Hearing about Seon-a, Il-mok realized quite some time had passed since coming to the Central Plains.
* * *
Five days after Gu Yang-pae’s arrival, Dam-bin and Gu Yang-mun’s wedding took place.
Being during a top-secret mission, it was modest, but they managed to handle all the essentials in abbreviated form.
This was possible because Branch Leader An Jeok-un remained.
As direct lineage of the An Family and a shaman, he knew all the rites for Heavenly Demon Divine Cult religious ceremonies.
Gu Yang-mun, dressed in dashing attire, fidgeted throughout the rites, while Dam-bin, in flowing fairy robes that hid her slightly rounded belly, blushed faintly and cutely smiled at him often.
The day after the abbreviated wedding ended and the couple officially shared a room. The Gu Yang Family head, who had come to celebrate their wedding, departed.
As if that special day had never happened, everyone else’s lives returned to normal.
Yet the atmosphere felt slightly different from usual.
Not just because of the couple’s wedding.
“For missionary activities, it’s best to proceed as safely and gradually as possible. Even though the war between the Martial Alliance and Blood Cult is intensifying by the day, being too conspicuous is dangerous.”
Anticipating his return to headquarters, Il-mok began handing over duties to Seo Wan-pyeong and Dam-bin.
In truth, aside from matters requiring his personal involvement, he had long delegated everything to subordinates, so the handover wasn’t difficult.
It was just pointing out precautions and giving slight hints.
‘As expected, delegating early makes things easier later. Yep.’
Il-mok rationalized his past subcontracting as a matter of course.
“And the faith education center created due to the Hao Clan’s schemes should later be repurposed for devoted believers, not new converts.”
“Is there a need to educate the faithful in faith?”
At Seo Wan-pyeong’s question, Il-mok replied.
“Shouldn’t we gradually teach them the doctrines of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, not Maitreya Cult? Revealing we’re the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult at once is risky, so it’s better to impart deeper teachings step by step. But select only the most devout and proceed cautiously.”
After explaining the final stage of his planned missionary work, Il-mok spent the rest of his time leisurely.
Aside from occasional training to reach Transcending Demon, it was practically a vacation.
An inexplicable foreboding made it unavoidable.
‘If it were Master, he wouldn’t just call me back to rest.’
Anxiety that he’d be worked like a dog upon returning to headquarters.
He’d used the handover to the Gu Yang Family head as an excuse, but really, he wanted to delay return even a day longer to rest.
While Il-mok relaxed leisurely, Dam-bin also began her handover.
“Your movements are sluggish. How will you properly assist the Young Master like that?”
Unlike Dam-bin and Gu Yang-mun staying in Nanju, Jin Ha-yeon, Ju Seo-yeon, and Jeong Hyeon planned to return to headquarters with Il-mok.
Hyeok-ryeon Seon-a, who was also returning to headquarters for the Demonic Path Academy, was being drilled alongside for some reason.
The one being worked the hardest was Jin Ha-yeon.
Not because she was Gu Yang-mun’s first love, whom he’d married off to Dam-bin.
“You’ve escaped Extreme Demon now, so upon returning to headquarters, you’ll likely be promoted to Team Leader. If you remain the Young Master’s maidservant, it means you’ll lead the team in my stead from now on.”
It was because Jin Ha-yeon now had to take over everything Dam-bin had done.
“As long as I can be of help to the Young Master and the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, I can endure any hardship, Team Leader.”
Dam-bin smiled in satisfaction at Jin Ha-yeon’s calm yet resolute reply.
After the women were drilled this way and Il-mok enjoyed his final rest leisurely for a time.
About ten months since Il-mok came to the Central Plains.
“It’s time to head back.”
Il-mok and his group, packed and ready, departed Nanju.