Ak Mujin and Seo-mok’s eyes met briefly. Seo-mok could read the fear and dread flickering in his eyes. Who wouldn’t? But as the one who had served Ak Mujin most closely, the one who had persuaded and brought him here, she felt it more keenly than anyone else.
Unable to bear it, she took a step forward and said, “Cult Leader, even so, Second Young Master was once the Vice-Leader. This treatment is…”
“Silence. This is the Cult Leader’s command.”
Elder Yeo quickly interjected before Seo-mok could continue. Seo-mok still looked as if she was facing something confusing and unfair.
The Cult Leader slowly turned his head and looked at Seo-mok, who had just spoken. Then, he slowly walked over and stood in front of her. Seo-mok, with her sturdy build, was second to none, but when the Cult Leader stood before her, she couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by his imposing presence.
“Who are you?”
“I am Seo-mok of the Second Assassin Squad.”
Seo-mok replied clearly, her voice filled with military discipline. The Cult Leader quietly stroked his chin.
“What connection do you have with Second Young Master that makes you so agitated?”
“…That is……”
“Confess the truth.”
The Cult Leader urged her on as Seo-mok hesitated, stammering, unsure of what was holding her back. Only then did Seo-mok speak again.
“…When I was the former Vice-Commander of the Crimson Kill Squad, Second Young Master saved the lives of all the Crimson Kill Squad members.”
At those words, the Cult Leader stared intently at Seo-mok’s face. Then, he tilted his head to one side and began to scrutinize her face carefully. Seo-mok lowered her eyes, unable to shake off her nervousness.
“…I see. Yes, indeed. Second Young Master Ak Mujin was once the Vice-Leader.”
The Cult Leader fell into thought. Then, he turned his back on Seo-mok and returned to his throne.
“Very well, I grant you to Second Young Master as his attendant. Take good care of him by his side.”
That was all he said.
Ak Mujin’s fate remained unchanged.
But should she be grateful that she could at least look after him by his side?
To watch her benefactor be ruined in such a way from close by?
Seo-mok was even more confused.
Ak Mujin was on the verge of grabbing the Cult Leader’s pant leg and begging. He desperately looked up at the Cult Leader, who was sitting on the golden throne, thinking that he would rather have his head chopped off right then and there.
“Cult Leader, can’t you reconsider? Even though I have become a Yin Person, wasn’t I once the Cult Leader’s disciple…!”
The Cult Leader looked down at Ak Mujin with unwavering eyes, showing no sign of changing his mind.
“Mujin.”
His voice was affectionate. But Ak Mujin felt goosebumps rise on his back.
“You are still my beloved disciple.”
As he said that, a deep smile hung on the Cult Leader’s lips.
It seemed that the Cult Leader no longer cared about what Ak Mujin had been in the past or what he was in the present. He seemed to have decided to focus solely on the fact that Ak Mujin was a ‘Yin Person’ and to ignore everything else.
The two words ‘despair’ flashed across Ak Mujin’s eyes.
*
As soon as the Cult Leader spoke, he had the Demonic Cult’s sorcerer choose an auspicious day. He wanted to create a day for everyone to enjoy together as soon as possible, as there had been no such joyous occasion in the Demonic Cult for some time.
And so, from morning onwards, the entire cult was bustling.
The groom, Joo Mu-jeong, also woke up at dawn, put on red robes, and sat in his inner chamber, receiving congratulations from the morning onwards. He felt as if he was receiving even greater congratulations than when he had been appointed Vice-Leader. It wasn’t bad, but he couldn’t say it was good either.
That’s right. Ak Mujin, who was to be his bride, was his Senior Brother. Joo Mu-jeong had plotted to bring him down and become the Vice-Leader, but he hadn’t wanted to see him fall so far to the bottom, so he felt a little conflicted.
But what could he do? The Cult Leader’s will was an order that Joo Mu-jeong could not refuse. Moreover, how could he dare to defy the Cult Leader just to save Ak Mujin’s face? It wasn’t that Joo Mu-jeong didn’t feel sorry for Ak Mujin at all, but he wasn’t the kind of person who would go out of his way for him.
The cult was noisy all day long. The main characters hadn’t even appeared yet, but all sorts of extraordinary feats were being performed to entertain the guests. The disciples laughed and chattered at the special sights they couldn’t normally see.
Joo Mu-jeong, who had become bored waiting for the ceremony, now wondered how Ak Mujin was doing. He couldn’t resist. He intended to sneak into the bride’s room and have a little chat. It was said to be bad luck for the groom to see the bride’s face before entering the bridal chamber, but after all, she was just a plaything. What did it matter?
Joo Mu-jeong made a rough excuse to his servant and headed to the large building where Ak Mujin would be waiting, carrying a bottle of alcohol.
The disciple guarding Ak Mujin’s residence stiffened as soon as he saw Joo Mu-jeong and bowed politely.
“Open the door. I need to see the bride for a moment.”
The disciple briefly wondered if the groom was allowed to see the bride before the wedding ceremony, but Joo Mu-jeong was the Vice-Leader of the main cult. He couldn’t dare to object to his words, so he immediately stepped aside and opened the door.
Joo Mu-jeong entered without hesitation, with a confident stride.
The residence was eerily quiet.
Considering that he had received an almost execution-like punishment, it was no wonder that this waiting room had the atmosphere of a funeral home. Joo Mu-jeong still held the alcohol he had brought to cheer up Ak Mujin with good intentions, since they were entering into this relationship anyway, and stood in front of the bedchamber where he would be.
“Senior Brother Ak. It’s me.”
Joo Mu-jeong stood for a moment, waiting for a reply. But there was no answer from inside.
He clicked his tongue and opened the door without hesitation, saying, “Senior Brother Ak. You must be feeling down, but still, an auspicious day is an auspicious day, isn’t it? Drink this and cheer up…”
But Joo Mu-jeong, who had taken a step inside, couldn’t finish his sentence.
What unfolded before his eyes was the bride, collapsed on the floor.
To be precise, the bride’s lips were all red, as if she had vomited blood, and her skin was as pale as a corpse.
Overwhelmed by shock, Joo Mu-jeong could not say anything for a while, taking in the scene. Finally regaining his senses, he hurriedly approached and tried to shake Ak Mujin awake.
But Ak Mujin’s body, which Joo Mu-jeong touched, felt strangely cold. Unable to hide his bewilderment, he threw Ak Mujin aside and jumped up from his seat.
“Someone! Bring a physician! Quickly!”
What else would be the reason for the groom to see the bride in advance? The disciples, who had been expecting some kind of marital bliss, were startled by the unexpected voice and hurriedly left to call a physician.
Joo Mu-jeong was dumbfounded.
Even if it was a humiliating measure, would Ak Mujin give up his life so easily? Ak Mujin had once been recognized for his talent and had even risen to the position of Vice-Leader, receiving all that glory.
For him to end up like this in an instant.
There is a superstition that the more red there is on a wedding day, the more auspicious it is.
The room was all red.
Even Ak Mujin’s collar.
*
The wedding became a funeral.
The Cult Leader deeply lamented the futile loss of the life of a disciple he had once cherished and had Ak Mujin’s body enshrined in the mausoleum. He intended to mourn his death, who had once even been the Vice-Leader, for a long time.
Every Demonic Cult disciple, regardless of their affiliation, had to wear a white handkerchief embroidered with chrysanthemums on their wrist for 60 days after the funeral.
During that period, all Demonic Cult-affiliated Houses of courtesans were closed, including the Fragrant Flower Pavilion.
Chun-wol was quite shocked by Ak Mujin’s death, so she thought the measures taken by the main cult were very fortunate.
Contrary to her wishes, she had not been ousted from her position as Madam Lou. It seemed that Elder Yeo couldn’t easily dismiss her because she was listed in the Demonic Cult’s intelligence division.
The Fragrant Flower Pavilion had been closed for ten days, but in the afternoon, news reached her ears that a warrior was causing trouble, demanding that the door be opened.
Chun-wol was already heartbroken, and this troublesome event made her even more annoyed. But the warrior was so highly skilled that he had knocked down all the guards of the Fragrant Flower Pavilion and forcibly opened the door and entered.
Eventually, she came out of the secret chamber and headed to the second-floor staircase.
Sure enough, a warrior was standing in the middle of the ruined House of courtesans.
The warrior, with a rather youthful face, didn’t seem to be in a good mood, as if he was confused by the situation he had created.
“…May I ask who Young master is to have made such a mess of the Fragrant Flower Pavilion? The Fragrant Flower Pavilion is not open for business for the time being.”
Chun-wol asked him, not hiding her displeasure. Then, the warrior found Chun-wol, sheathed his sword, and performed the cupped fist salute.
“I only came to ask something. I had no intention of using violence. Please forgive my rudeness.”
Unexpectedly, the warrior came out in a docile manner and bowed to Chun-wol. Chun-wol thought that it would be better to talk to this skilled person and send him away, as she would not get her money’s worth if she stirred him up.
“What were you so curious about?”
Chun-wol asked.
“I already know that this place belongs to the Demonic Cult.”
At the warrior’s words, Chun-wol slightly raised her eyebrows. In fact, the Fragrant Flower Pavilion was one of the Houses of courtesans that was openly affiliated with the Demonic Cult. So it was not surprising that this warrior knew that fact.
However, the next words that came out of his mouth were enough to embarrass Chun-wol.