Seo Daeryong tidak mengucapkan sepatah kata pun.
Ia hanya terus menatap tanpa suara pada Blood Heaven Blade Demon. Senyum cerah yang terpampang di wajah pria itu tertanam begitu dalam di hatinya saat itu juga.
Mendengar panggilan One-Slash Sword Supreme, Seo Daeryong tiba-tiba tersadar dan menoleh ke arahnya.
“Yes, Sword Supreme.”
“Kau perlu menerima ucapan selamat dari para tamu.”
Sementara ia sibuk menatap Blood Heaven Blade Demon, beberapa pendekar bela diri telah berbaris, menunggu dengan sabar.
Ketika One-Slash Sword Supreme berbalik untuk pergi, Seo Daeryong berbicara kepadanya.
“Terima kasih, Sword Supreme.”
Seandainya ia tidak mengingatkannya, ia mungkin akan begitu terpesona oleh ucapan selamat para tamu hingga tidak menyadari ekspresi tuannya.
One-Slash Sword Supreme mengangguk tanpa berkata-kata lalu melangkah pergi.
“Karena Sang Kakak tidak lagi merajuk, justru aku yang merasa sedikit kesal.”
Meski Geom Mugeuk tidak datang menemuinya setelah pulang dari Unorthodox Alliance, Drunken Demon tampak tak lagi memedulikannya sedikitpun. Seharusnya ia mengeluh dan terus mermoncong.
“Kau pasti sibuk.”
“Aku tidak sibuk. Aku punya waktu untuk mencari kau.”
Geom Mugeuk menatapnya tajam.
“Apa yang terjadi meanwhile? Kau sakit? Katanya penyakit yang tidak bisa disembuhkan?”
“Pada akhirnya, semua menjadi tidak berarti begitu semuanya berlalu. Kau pikir, saat aku mati nanti, apakah aku akan menyesal karena kau tidak datang menemuiku?”
Saat itu juga, One-Slash Sword Supreme menghampiri keduanya dan berbicara.
Terkejut, Drunken Demon terkekeh dan menatap ke langit.
Meninggalkan pria itu, Geom Mugeuk berbalik dan dengan hormat menyapa One-Slash Sword Supreme.
“Mohon maaf karena tidak langsung datang menemui Yang Mulia setelah pulang dari Unorthodox Alliance.”
“Aku mendengar kau sedang sibuk berlatih tinju.”
“Dengannya seperti ini, aku tidak pernah mendapat waktu untuk istirahat.”
Ucapan darinya membawa arti bahwa setiap kali ia melihat Geom Mugeuk, sang pemuda semakin kuat — dan bahwa ia sendiri pun masih harus terus berusaha.
“Apakah bisa saya segera datang menemui Yang Mulia sebagai pasangan latihan?”
One-Slash Sword Supreme tersenyum dan mengangguk.
Saat itu juga, seorang Demon Supreme baru tiba.
Ia adalah Soul Reaper Demon Supreme. Karena datang sebagai tamu, ia menekan energi iblisnya sebanyak mungkin. Namun meski begitu, Geom Mugeuk langsung mengenalinya. Ia telah berkembang jauh lebih kuat sejak terakhir kali ia melihatnya. Ia pun berkembang dengan kecepatan yang menakjubkan setiap kali Geom Mugeuk bertemu dengannya.
Soul Reaper Demon Supreme menyampaikan ucapan selamat kepada Seo Daeryong. Kehadirannya bukan karena hubungan pribadi dengan Seo Daeryong, melainkan karena hubungannya dengan Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
Setelah menyampaikan ucapan selamat, ia langsung menghampiri Geom Mugeuk untuk menyapa. Tak peduli apa yang orang lain katakan, orang yang paling ia pedulikan adalah Geom Mugeuk.
“Penantian ini benar-benar menarik dan penuh kebahagiaan.”
Artinya, ia sedang menunggu hari di mana ia cukup kuat untuk menjadi Demon Supreme miliknya sendiri.
Soul Reaper Demon Supreme tertawa senang. Kata-kata itu adalah hadiah atas semua usahanya selama ini, dan cukup menjadi motivasi untuk usahanya yang akan datang.
Demon Supreme berikutnya yang tiba adalah ia dengan wajah paling ditakuti di antara semua tamu hari ini.
Fist Demon King tidak pergi ke Seo Daeryong, melainkan lebih dulu ke Blood Heaven Blade Demon untuk menyampaikan selamat.
“Selamat.”
“Terima kasih sudah datang.”
Geom Mugeuk mengamati kedua orang itu mengobrol.
Ketika keduanya melirik ke arahnya dan mengatakan sesuatu, Geom Mugeuk tersenyum dan berbicara.
“Kalian tidak membicarakan keburukan tentangku, kan?”
Keduanya tidak menjawab, melanjutkan percakapan mereka sendiri.
Jika seseorang belum pernah mengalami Geom Mugeuk sebelumnya, dari tindakan itu saja saja ia bisa tertinggal dengan berbagai kecurigaan.
Saat itu juga, Geom Mugeuk melihat seseorang dan berlari ke arahnya dengan gembira.
“Pemilik Kedai.”
Jo Chunbae yang berpakaian rapi berdiri di sudut. Tentu saja, ia pun diundang ke pernikahan ini.
Geom Mugeuk mengambil tangannya dan membawanya ke Seo Daeryong.
“Kan Owner Kedai kita ini sudah saling mengenal dengan semua Demon Supreme yang ada di sini? Bagaimana kalau berkeliling dan menyapa mereka satu per satu?”
“Oh langit, tolong jangan jadi-jadian tentang hal seperti itu.”
Orang yang datang berdiri di sampingnya dan berbicara adalah Lee Ahn.
Ia tidak lagi berpikir bahwa Geom Mugeuk menyembunyikan sesuatu. Setiap kali melihatnya, ia justru menemukan hal-hal baru yang menakjubkan.
Lalu Lee Ahn tersenyum dengan ekspresi yang sulit dibaca.
“Tidak, itu tidak akan sulit, justru karena itulah yang akan membuat kami sulit.”
Cha Iran merasa ia punya gambaran kasar tentang maksud Lee Ahn.
Saat itu juga, Geom Mugeuk membawa Jo Chunbae ke tempat mereka berdiri.
“ Tolong tetap di sini bersama kami.”
“Tidak, aku baik-baik saja berdiri di sana di belakang.”
“Tetap di sini.”
Tidak jauh dari mereka, pengantin perempuan Dan Ah duduk.
Para pemimpin Sekte Iblis Surgawi telah datang, para pemimpin divisi telah datang, dan Demon Supreme datang sebagai tamu. Sepanjang hidupnya, ia tidak pernah melihat maupun mendengar pernikahan seagung ini.
Bermodal apa ia dulu pernah khawatir bahwa pernikahan seagung ini mungkin akan terasa hampa. Apakah sebenarnya apa yang ada di pikirannya dulu?
Dan kemudian sebuah pikiran menghantamnya lagi.
‘Ia benar-benar pria yang luar biasa.’
Geom Mugeuk melihat ke sekeliling. Ia telah menemukan Jo Chunbae, tapi masih ada orang lain yang harus ditemukannya.
“Ngomong-ngomong, mengapa mereka tidak ada di sini? Aku akan keluar sebentar.”
Di tengah-tengah keramaian para tamu yang tak terhitung banyaknya, Geom Mugeuk pergi mencari seseorang.
Orang yang ia cari sedang berjongkok di bawah pohon di sudut lapangan pelatihan. Orang itu adalah Poison King. Alih-alih menyapa siapa pun, ia langsung datang ke sini.
Benar sekali, semut-semut yang merangkak di tanah semuanya berkepala berwarna merah.
“Jika kau meremehkan mereka karena ukurannya kecil, kau akan membayar harganya.”
“Kapan kau tiba?”
Jawaban itu datang bukan dari Poison King, melainkan dari belakangnya.
“Kami datang lebih awal.”
Ketika Geom Mugeuk berbalik, Demonic Buddha berdiri di sana. Dan sedikit lebih jauh, ada kakaknya, Geom Muyang.
Sebenarnya tidak ada yang mencurigakan. Kakaknya dekat dengan Demonic Buddha, dan Demonic Buddha dekat dengan Poison King.
“Aku rasa aku tahu nama apa yang cocok untuk kelompok ini. Api Pemberontakan!”
Terhadap candaan Geom Mugeuk, Geom Muyang menjawab dengan kasar.
“Api itu sudah lama padam. Seseorang telah matikannya sepenuhnya.”
“Karena kalian semua sudah di sini, minimal congratulation dulu dong.”
“Nanti.”
Tentu saja, sepertinya mereka semua terlambat karena Poison King telah asyik memperhatikan semut-semut.
“Aku erwartasi kau datang dengan kemunculan yang memukau, bersinar dengan cahaya keemasan.”
“Di pernikahanmu, kau harus berjalan masuk dengan begitu terang benderang hingga membutakan semua tamu.”
“Apa kau juga rencana menikah?” Demonic Buddha bertanya dengan terkejut.
“Tentu saja. Aku harus,” Geom Mugeuk menjawab seolah itu hal yang jelas.
Ia berbicara dengan begitu mudahnya hingga Demonic Buddha sulit mempercayainya.
Sungguh, sepertinya akan ada pernikahan di mana bahkan tidak bisa dibayangkan siapa yang mungkin datang.
Saat itu juga, suasana sekitar tiba-tiba menjadi sunyi. Semua tatapan terarah ke satu arah. Postur-postur yang rileks semua tiba-tiba tegak.
Bahkan Poison King, yang tampak akan tetap berjongkok meski pertempuran berdarah pecah di sampingnya, bangkit berdiri.
Geom Woojin berjalan menuju mereka.
Di antara mereka, yang paling tercengang adalah Seo Daeryong dan Dan Ah. Mereka tidak pernah membayangkan, bahkan dalam mimpi terkhayal mereka, bahwa Cult Leader sendiri akan menghadiri pernikahan mereka.
Klik, klik, klik, klik!
Semua yang berdiri di sepanjang jalan yang dilalui Geom Woojin dengan cepat menangkupkan tinju dan membungkuk dalam salute. Meski ia tidak menunjukkan sedikitpun energi, kehadirannya saja sudah压倒所有人.
Perlahan, Geom Woojin berjalan — dan mengejutkan, ia berjalan menuju sisi pengantin perempuan. Dengan mata yang lembut, ia berbicara kepada Dan Ah.
Sudah cukup mengejutkan bahwa Cult Leader datang, tapi untuk ia datang lebih dulu kepadanya dan menyampaikan selamat membuatnya sepenuhnya kehilangan kata-kata.
Pikiran Dan Ah kosong, tidak tahu harus berbuat apa.
Dengan penuh惊讶, Geom Woojin menjawab dengan tenang.
Ia merujuk pada saat ia dan saudara-saudarinya mengirimkan makanan untuknya.
Tentu saja, bukan itu alasan ia datang. Secara alami, ia datang karena Blood Heaven Blade Demon, tapi karena ia telah mendedikasikan dirinya pada sekte hanya dengan dua adik perempuannya, ia memilih untuk mengurusi dirinya lebih dulu.
“Banyak terima kasih, Cult Leader.”
Secara tidak sadar, ia hampir meniarapkan tubuhnya di lantai dalam gaun pernikahan, tapi energi lembut yang dirilis Geom Woojin menghentikannya.
Hari itu, Dan Yeon — yang mengirimkan makanan untuk Geom Woojin — benar-benar ingin berteriak,
‘Orang paling tampan dan wonderful di dunia ini adalah Cult Leader!’
Setelah menunjukkan kepedulian pada pengantin perempuan, Geom Woojin menghampiri Seo Daeryong.
“Kepala Seo, selamat atas pernikahanmu.”
Seo Daeryong tersentuh. Ia sangat bersyukur bahwa Cult Leader lebih dulu mengurusi pengantin perempuan sebelum dirinya.
Ketika Geom Woojin duduk di kursi tengah, Geom Mugeuk dan Geom Muyang duduk di kedua sisinya, dan para Demon Supreme berbaris di samping mereka. Secara alami, Poison King dan Demonic Buddha, yang tadi berada di tepi arena, juga duduk bersama mereka.
Upacara pernikahan berlangsung sesuai adat, dan akhirnya giliran Blood Heaven Blade Demon untuk menyampaikan pidato officiant.
Blood Heaven Blade Demon, yang never pernah menunjukkan kegugupan di hadapan siapa pun, kini mengungkapkannya dengan samar.
“Hari ini, di hadapan Cult Leader yang dihormati, muridku, Pavilion Leader Underworld Seo Daeryong, dan pengantin Cantiknya, Dan Ah, terikat oleh ikatan dari surga menjadi vows pernikahan seratus tahun.”
Senyum terbentuk di sudut bibir Geom Mugeuk.
‘Kalian brengsek, hiduplah dengan baik dan makanlah dengan
Chapter 725: Live Well and Eat Well
Seo Daeryong did not say a word.
He only kept silently staring at Blood Heaven Blade Demon. The sight of him smiling brightly engraved itself deep into his heart at that moment.
At the call of One-Slash Sword Supreme, Seo Daeryong suddenly came to his senses and looked at her.
“Yes, Sword Supreme.”
“You need to receive greetings from the guests.”
While he had been staring at Blood Heaven Blade Demon, a few martial artists had lined up, waiting.
As One-Slash Sword Supreme turned to walk away, Seo Daeryong spoke to her.
“Thank you, Sword Supreme.”
If she had not reminded him, he would have been so distracted by the guests’ congratulations that he would not have noticed his master’s expression.
One-Slash Sword Supreme silently nodded her head and walked off.
“Since Brother isn’t sulking, it actually makes me the one who feels a bit sulky.”
Even though Geom Mugeuk had not come to visit him after returning from the Unorthodox Alliance, Drunken Demon no longer seemed to care in the slightest. He should have been grumbling and complaining instead.
“You must have been busy.”
“I wasn’t busy. I had time to come find you.”
Geom Mugeuk stared intently at Drunken Demon.
“Did something happen in the meantime? Are you ill? Is it said to be an incurable disease?”
“In the end, everything is meaningless once it passes. Do you think, when I die, I’ll regret that you didn’t come see me?”
At that moment, One-Slash Sword Supreme approached the two and spoke.
Startled, Drunken Demon chuckled and looked up at the sky.
Leaving him behind, Geom Mugeuk turned and respectfully greeted One-Slash Sword Supreme.
“My apologies for not coming to see you immediately after returning from the Unorthodox Alliance.”
“I heard you were in the middle of fist training.”
“With you like this, I never get a moment’s rest.”
Her words carried the meaning that every time she saw him, he had grown stronger — and that she, too, still had to keep striving.
“Would it be acceptable if I soon came to see you as a sparring partner?”
One-Slash Sword Supreme smiled and nodded.
Just then, a new Demon Supreme arrived.
It was none other than Soul Reaper Demon Supreme. Since she had come as a guest, she suppressed her demonic energy as much as possible. Yet even so, Geom Mugeuk recognized it at once. She had grown far stronger since the last time he saw her. She too was growing at an astonishing pace every time he encountered her.
Soul Reaper Demon Supreme offered her congratulations to Seo Daeryong. Her presence was not really because of her personal ties with Seo Daeryong, but rather because of her connection with Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
After giving her congratulations, she went straight to greet Geom Mugeuk. Regardless of what others might say, the person she cared most about was Geom Mugeuk.
“This waiting is such a fascinating and joyful wait.”
It meant that he was waiting for the day she grew enough to become his own Demon Supreme.
Soul Reaper Demon Supreme laughed pleasantly. Those words were the reward for all her efforts so far, and enough motivation for her efforts yet to come.
The next Demon Supreme to arrive was the one with the most fearsome face among all the guests today.
Fist Demon King went not to Seo Daeryong, but first to Blood Heaven Blade Demon to offer congratulations.
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you for coming.”
Geom Mugeuk watched the two of them converse.
When the two glanced at him and said something, Geom Mugeuk smiled and spoke.
“You’re not talking badly about me, are you?”
The two did not answer, continuing their own conversation.
If one had not experienced Geom Mugeuk before, from that very action alone one would have been left with all kinds of suspicions.
At that moment, Geom Mugeuk spotted someone and ran toward him with delight.
“Owner.”
Well-dressed Jo Chunbae was standing in a corner. Of course, he, too, had been invited to this wedding.
Geom Mugeuk took his hand and led him to Seo Daeryong.
“In fact, isn’t our Tavern Owner already acquainted with all these Demon Supremes here? Why don’t you go around and greet them one by one?”
“Oh heavens, please don’t even joke about such a thing.”
The person who came to stand beside her and spoke was Lee Ahn.
She no longer thought that Geom Mugeuk was hiding something. Each time she saw him, she simply found him new and astonishing.
Then Lee Ahn smiled with an unreadable expression.
“No, it won’t be hard, and that’s exactly why it will be hard for us.”
Cha Iran felt she had a rough idea of what Lee Ahn meant by those words.
Just then, Geom Mugeuk brought Jo Chunbae over to where they stood.
“Please stay here with us.”
“No, I’m fine standing over there in the back.”
“Stay with us.”
Not far from them, the bride Dan Ah sat.
The leaders of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had come, the division leaders had come, and Demon Supremes had come as guests. She had neither seen nor heard of such a grand wedding in her entire life.
To think she had once worried that such a grand wedding might end up feeling empty. Just what on earth had she been thinking?
And then a thought struck her again.
‘He really was an extraordinary man.’
Geom Mugeuk looked around. He had found Jo Chunbae, but there were still others he needed to find.
“By the way, why aren’t they here? I’ll just step out for a moment.”
In the midst of the crowded gathering of countless guests, Geom Mugeuk went off in search of someone.
The person he was looking for was crouched under a tree at the corner of the training grounds. It was none other than the Poison King. Instead of greeting anyone, he had come straight here.
Indeed, the ants crawling along the ground all had red-colored heads.
“If you look down on them because they’re small, you’ll pay the price.”
“When did you arrive?”
The answer came not from the Poison King but from behind him.
“We came earlier.”
When he turned around, Demonic Buddha was standing there. And a little further away was his older brother, Geom Muyang.
In truth, there was nothing suspicious about it. His brother was close with Demonic Buddha, and Demonic Buddha was close with the Poison King.
“I think I know what this group should be called. The Flame of Rebellion!”
To Geom Mugeuk’s playful remark, Geom Muyang replied gruffly.
“That flame burned out long ago. Someone went and snuffed it out so thoroughly.”
“Since you’re all here, you should at least congratulate him first.”
“Later.”
Of course, it seemed they had all been held up because the Poison King had become engrossed with the ants.
“I expected you to make your grand entrance shining with golden radiance.”
“At my wedding, you’ll have to walk in shining so brightly that you blind all the guests.”
“Are you planning to marry too?” Demonic Buddha asked in surprise.
“Of course. I have to,” Geom Mugeuk answered as if it were obvious.
He spoke so readily that Demonic Buddha found it hard to believe.
Truly, it seemed it would be a wedding where one couldn’t even imagine who might show up.
Just then, the surroundings suddenly began to grow quiet. Everyone’s gaze turned in one direction. The relaxed postures straightened all at once.
Even the Poison King, who looked as though he would remain crouched down even if a bloody battle erupted beside him, rose to his feet.
Geom Woojin was walking toward them.
Among them, the most astonished were Seo Daeryong and Dan Ah. They had never imagined, not even in their dreams, that the Cult Leader himself would attend their wedding.
Clack, clack, clack, clack!
Everyone standing along the path Geom Woojin walked quickly cupped their fists and bowed in salute. Though he revealed no hint of energy, his mere presence alone overwhelmed everyone there.
Slowly, Geom Woojin walked — and surprisingly, he headed toward the bride’s side. With gentle eyes, he spoke to Dan Ah.
It was already shocking enough that the Cult Leader had come, but for him to come to her first and offer his congratulations left her utterly speechless.
Dan Ah’s mind went blank, not knowing what to do.
To her astonishment, Geom Woojin answered calmly.
He was referring to the time when she and her sisters had sent him a dish.
Of course, that was not why he had come. Naturally, he had attended because of Blood Heaven Blade Demon, but since she had thrown herself into the Cult with only her two younger sisters, he had chosen to look after her first.
“Thank you so very much, Cult Leader.”
Unconsciously, she almost bowed to the floor in her wedding robes, but the gentle energy Geom Woojin released stopped her.
That day, Dan Yeon — who had sent the dish to Geom Woojin — truly wanted to shout,
‘The most handsome and wonderful person in this world is the Cult Leader!’
After showing care for the bride, Geom Woojin approached Seo Daeryong.
“Leader Seo, congratulations on your marriage.”
Seo Daeryong was moved. He was deeply grateful that the Cult Leader had looked after her before him.
When Geom Woojin sat in the central seat, Geom Mugeuk and Geom Muyang sat on either side of him, and the Demon Supremes lined up beside them. Naturally, the Poison King and Demonic Buddha, who had been at the edge of the arena ground, also sat with them.
The wedding ceremony proceeded according to custom, and at last it was Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s turn to deliver the officiant’s address.
Blood Heaven Blade Demon, who had never shown nervousness before anyone, now revealed it faintly.
“Today, in the presence of our revered Cult Leader, my disciple, the Underworld Pavilion Leader Seo Daeryong, and his beautiful bride, Dan Ah, are bound by a heaven-sent bond into a hundred-year vow of marriage.”
A smile formed at the corner of Geom Mugeuk’s lips.
‘You brats, live well and eat well.’
Blood Heaven Blade Demon — he had said he would do it this way. And surely, he must have truly wanted to do it just like this. He recited the words he had painstakingly memorized and delivered the officiant’s speech.
This was not a place where he could simply let loose as his temperament dictated. This was not a place to reveal his own character — it was a precious occasion for Seo Daeryong and Dan Ah.
Everyone listened to Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s officiant address. At times, he stammered; at times, his words cut off.
“…Life is, by nature, a lonely path. To meet a companion with whom to walk that path — one can call that the greatest blessing in life.”
His words trailed off. He had forgotten the next line.
“…Do not only see each other’s strength, but soothe each other’s wounds. Lean against each other’s backs and rest. At every moment, be together. A married couple is…”
Again, he forgot the next line, and again he recalled it and continued. He could have cut it short out of shame.
But Blood Heaven Blade Demon recited, word by word, all the words he had prepared.
Geom Woojin watched him with deep eyes. So did Fist Demon King, One-Slash Sword Supreme, Drunken Demon, and the other Demon Supremes. Today, for the first time in decades, they were seeing a new side of Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
That was the end of his officiant’s address.
After finishing, Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked at Seo Daeryong. Seo Daeryong’s eyes had reddened; he struggled to hold back his tears.
Now, Blood Heaven Blade Demon spoke from his true heart. These were not the words he had prepared, but the words he truly wished to leave for his disciple and his bride in this moment.
“I am a man who has never once married in my life. So I do not know how one must live to have a good married life.”
“I have not even lived as a good person. My life has been filled only with misfortune.”
Seo Daeryong nearly cried out, “That is not true, Master!”
“So truthfully, I do not know what I should tell you as a married couple.”
For a brief moment, Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked past the two of them, his gaze landing on Geom Woojin.
“As I grow older, I find myself regretting the days that have passed.”
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