Chapter 861 ·As If He Could Escape So Easily

There were two questions he had wanted to ask his father.

He was curious about what his father hated the most.

But in this pleasant atmosphere, drinking alone together and talking, he did not want to ask that question.

So he asked the other one.

“I want to know about Mother.”

His father nodded as if he had expected it.

But soon, unexpected words came out.

“Do not try to learn more.”

Geom Mugeuk looked at his father with a startled face. His father’s face flickered red in the bonfire light.

A heavy piece of advice a father gave to his son.

“The dead do not remain only in the past.”

How could Geom Mugeuk not understand that it meant the more he knew, the more he would long for her?

He was someone who had felt the sorrow of losing everyone in his previous life more deeply than anyone else. That death had ruled him his entire life.

“Leave it as a vague longing, like it is now.”

Geom Mugeuk understood. His mother’s short yet radiant life was still shining forever in his father’s heart. The love that had lost its place remained in his father’s heart under the name of longing.

“Is it not difficult, keeping those memories to yourself alone?”

At the unexpected words, Geom Woojin flinched and looked at his son.

With his father’s personality, he would never have spoken about Mother to anyone.

Not to Hui, not to the Fist Demon King, not to Sima Myung. His father would not have told anyone. He must have endured that pain of loss alone. This blunt man surely had.

In his previous life as well, he had borne all that pain alone. Looking back, that never had a good influence on anyone’s life.

He wanted to see them. He missed them. He was sad. He was angry.

If he could at least say a single word to someone, his heart might have eased a little.

Just as he had been in his previous life, it saddened him that his father had never had such a chance.

“I want to rejoice with you, to long with you, and to grieve with you.”

Geom Woojin looked at his son with trembling eyes. He had not known his son asked for such a reason.

“Father, I want to hear about Mother, who liked floral patterns.”

Geom Woojin drank silently. As he stared at the empty cup, he lifted his gaze to the night sky.

Geom Mugeuk did not ask further and quietly filled his father’s cup again.

At last, after a long silence, Geom Woojin opened his mouth.

“I met your mother when I was about your age.”

It was a story he had buried in his heart for a long time.

“She was a woman of the Righteous Faction.”

He now understood why his father said he resembled his mother. He also understood why he was walking the path of both righteousness and demonic so naturally. It was because her blood flowed within him.

It seemed his father might say more, but after finishing his drink, he lay back down. It seemed he could not hide the surge of emotions when it came time to speak.

“Let’s sleep.”

Whenever he looked at his father’s back, many thoughts came to mind. The back he saw today felt different from anything he had seen before.

Geom Mugeuk did not ask further. If he insisted, his father might have said a few more words, but he chose not to.

He could imagine, even without hearing the details, how arduous the journey must have been for a woman of the Righteous Faction to rise and become the Demon Empress. There must have been countless stories that could not easily be told to a child, enough to fill several volumes if committed to writing.

What mattered was that his father and mother had overcome all those hardships, achieved their love, and gave birth to his older brother and himself.

“You have worked hard, Father. Thank you for bringing me into this world like this.”

For a moment, he felt his father’s back tremble faintly. But in the end, his father said nothing.

Geom Mugeuk also lay down and looked up at the night sky.

‘Father, someday, please tell me about Mother.’

---

“You’ve come?”

The Demonic Buddha, who had been sitting in the Dharma Hall chanting sutras, spoke without turning around.

The one who entered the hall was Geom Mugeuk. The Demonic Buddha received him calmly, as if he had expected him to come as soon as he descended the mountain.

“You came down earlier than expected.”

“I couldn’t bear it. I missed you, Demonic Buddha.”

Demonic Buddha, who had been facing the Blood Buddha, turned to face Geom Mugeuk.

“As always, you must have come because you want something from me.”

He already had a guess as to why Geom Mugeuk had come.

“The Cult Leader would not have permitted it, would he?”

At the moment Geom Mugeuk handed the Inner Core of the Thousand-Year Carp Core Essence to Geom Muyang, Demonic Buddha had read his true intentions.

“He has not permitted it yet. He is certain my brother will not listen to me.”

The Demonic Buddha thought the same as his father.

“You see things well.”

“So I came to seek an answer from you, Demonic Buddha.”

“Then this was a wasted trip.”

“What do you mean?”

The Demonic Buddha spoke firmly. If it was the Geom Muyang he knew,

“Do you not know what kind of person your brother is? He will never accept that position.”

The Demonic Buddha asked with a look of incomprehension.

“Why are you suddenly trying to run away? Have you been influenced by Ak Gunhak?”

“That person has decided to settle down now.”

“Then why?”

It was not a feeling that had appeared suddenly. His heart had always been split in two. He had thought about becoming an outstanding Cult Leader himself, but he had also thought about giving the position to his brother and leaving freely.

But what influenced that decision this time was this:

Obtaining the Inner Core of the Thousand-Year Carp Core Essence after Hwa Moogi’s death?

Geom Mugeuk wondered if this might be fate granted by the heavens. At the very least, it could not be a gift sent by the heavens simply because his internal energy was lacking.

“Is it because of the Great Young Master?”

Geom Mugeuk could not deny it.

“Listen, Young Cult Leader.”

“Yes, Demonic Buddha.”

“I know well what kind of person you are.”

That was why he could predict it. It was a conjecture close to certainty.

“If it is you, you might find a way to persuade the Great Young Master. You might even succeed.”

Demonic Buddha, however, worried about that success.

“I hope that does not happen.”

Since it sounded sincere, Geom Mugeuk asked cautiously,

“May I ask the reason?”

The Demonic Buddha’s eyes sank coldly.

“If that happens, the Great Young Master’s life will become miserable.”

“!”

Geom Mugeuk was startled and could not speak. Since it came from someone who knew his brother better than anyone, it was not something he could take lightly.

“After ascending to the position of Cult Leader, the Great Young Master will be locked in an endless struggle with himself. He will constantly question whether he is truly suited for that position. Moreover, he will never be free from doubt, wondering whether the Demon Supremes truly follow him or are merely reminiscing about you instead.”

“Isn’t Demonic Buddha by my brother’s side?”

Demonic Buddha slowly shook his head.

“My existence will only make things harder for him. I am someone who shared in the defeat of the succession struggle. Every time he sees me, he will be reminded of the ghosts of the past. Listen, Young Cult Leader. A person’s heart is not that strong. Not everyone can have a heart like yours.”

Geom Mugeuk could not respond. He had vaguely thought his brother would do well, that it would be fine if the Demonic Buddha helped him. But the Demonic Buddha was viewing the outcome of this matter far more realistically and accurately.

“You have interfered so deeply in everyone’s lives, yet did you think you could escape so easily?”

Realizing the Demonic Buddha’s words were right, Geom Mugeuk could not offer any excuse.

After a moment of thought, he readily acknowledged his mistake.

“My thinking was short.”

He had only focused on whether his brother would accept or not, and had not deeply considered his brother’s life after accepting. The brother who had fought in the succession struggle was no longer the same person now.

“It was also a decision I feel sorry for, to those who have trusted me and followed me until now.”

The Demonic Buddha's stiff expression relaxed. Yes, because it was Geom Mugeuk, a man who acknowledged what needed to be acknowledged and did not cling to pointless stubbornness, he could offer advice that truly came from the heart.

“It’s not that there’s no method at all.”

Geom Mugeuk’s eyes lit up as he looked at the Demonic Buddha.

“Please tell me.”

As if he had already thought it through, the Demonic Buddha spoke calmly.

“If there is a way, there would only be one.”

“What is it?”

A single word came from the Demonic Buddha’s mouth.

“Justification.”

It was the same advice he had given before when asked how to stop his father’s unification of the martial world.

“The Great Young Master needs justification to inherit the position of Cult Leader.”

“Is there a way to create that justification?”

He had asked without expecting much, but surprisingly, Demonic Buddha had an answer.

“There is. But it requires a condition.”

That condition was something Geom Mugeuk had never expected.

“You must become the Cult Leader.”

“!”

Geom Mugeuk waited for Demonic Buddha’s next words with a shocked expression.

“If you hand over that position without becoming the Cult Leader, that would simply be yielding. But if you become the Cult Leader and lead the Cult, then appoint the Great Young Master as your successor, that would be a proper succession.”

The Demonic Buddha added calmly,

“Lead the Cult in your own way. And as you do, continue entrusting the Great Young Master with important responsibilities, tasks that only the Cult Leader can assign.”

His brother would likely perform those tasks better than anyone.

“The Great Young Master will prove for himself, through those tasks, just how capable he is. That will become the justification for him to become the Cult Leader.”

Because it concerned his brother, the Demonic Buddha gave his advice more earnestly than ever.

“Try this, try that. If it doesn't seem right, find another way. As time passes, your thoughts, the Great Young Master's thoughts, and even mine will all change. What troubles you now may become nothing more than a passing concern. And when that time comes, you may deeply regret having yielded the position of Cult Leader. You might even come to me and say as much.”

The last words he conveyed were:

“Even running away has its time. When fate quietly opens the back door, that is when you run.”

As he listened silently, Geom Mugeuk recalled the conversation he had with the old man.

—You asked me how I would live, but my future life might disappoint you. I’ve already used up most of the ‘coolness’ I could muster.

—You need not worry. The people around you, whom you made admirable, will lead you to become even more admirable.

Geom Mugeuk suddenly stood up and bowed respectfully to the Demonic Buddha.

“You are absolutely right. Thank you.”

With wise and grateful teachings, the Demonic Buddha had guided him away from the wrong path he was about to take and set him on the right one.

“You have set both my life and my brother’s life back on the proper course. Today, you’ve caught two big catches.”

And then he added a remark he simply could not hold back.

“You should’ve caught them like this that day.”

The Demonic Buddha, who had been smiling like an enlightened monk, slowly closed his eyes and spun his prayer beads so forcefully they seemed about to break.

“When did they say the next tournament would be held?”

---

“Here, these are the required materials.”

Geom Muyang handed documents to Gwak Yeong.

The place they were standing was Maga Village. Reconstruction was in full swing there, and Geom Muyang was the overall supervisor of the project.

Gwak Yeong had come on an errand from the Iron Workshop.

“Then, I’ll see you again.”

Gwak Yeong bowed politely and turned away. She wanted to make a light joke out of familiarity, but now that they met at a workplace, she could not bring herself to speak casually.

At that moment, Geom Muyang’s voice came from behind.

“When will you give me the sword you promised?”

Gwak Yeong turned back with a smile.

“At this rate, by the time I’m in a position to forge that sword, the Great Young Master might have already forgotten me.”

It was half a joke, but it was true she worried about how long it would take before she reached that level.

Even now, she was only making iron swords at the workshop. No matter how skilled she was, her past of surrendering from the Martial Alliance still tightly held her back.

“Why do you think I would forget you?”

“Well, you are someone important and very busy.”

“Could it not be the opposite? You might become a famous artisan of the Iron Workshop, while I remain an insignificant Great Young Master.”

Gwak Yeong smiled.

“Seeing you make such unfitting self-deprecation, it looks like you need a drinking partner. If you feel like drinking later, come to the workshop. I’ll treat you!”

After bowing, she walked off some distance, then turned back toward Geom Muyang.

“Among all the demonic practitioners I’ve seen, you’re the smartest. Don’t forget that.”

After blurting it out as if in a rush, she ran off into the distance.

As Geom Muyang turned after watching her leave, Geom Mugeuk was suddenly standing behind him.

Seeing his startled brother, Geom Mugeuk made a displeased expression.

“The smartest? Even after seeing me, she says that?”

Since responding would clearly lead to teasing about Gwak Yeong, Geom Muyang changed the subject.

“When did you come down?”

“Earlier.”

“And Father?”

“He blamed me for the failed hunt. He said that next time, we should go together, the three of us.”

Geom Muyang suppressed the smile that almost formed.

“Why did you come here?”

“I couldn't bear it. I missed you.”

“You must be saying that to everyone you meet.”

“You really are smart. Not as much as me, though.”

Geom Muyang stared at Geom Mugeuk, then spoke seriously.

“I know what you’re thinking. Don’t even dream about it.”

His sharp eyes gleamed, and his tightly pressed lips carried firm resolve.

“I shouldn’t have taken the Inner Core to the end.”

Though he had swallowed it impulsively because of their father, he regretted it afterward.

“I know what misunderstanding you’re having, but don’t even think about it. Do you know how I took this position?”

Geom Muyang looked at Geom Mugeuk suspiciously.

“This position I took from you, I'll hold onto it until the day I die. Don't come begging to try it, even for a single day. Well... I might let you sit on the Throne Mat once.”

Even at his younger brother’s joke, the suspicion did not leave Geom Muyang’s stiff face.

“Then why did you give me the Inner Core?”

“From a practical standpoint. It’s more effective for you to have it than me. If the benefits of the Inner Core of the Thousand-Year Carp Core Essence are ten, then for me, objectively, it would only be about two or three. But for you, you could take all ten.”

It was not wrong.

From the start, Geom Mugeuk’s internal energy was already extremely pure and vast, so the addition of the Inner Core would not create a noticeable effect. But Geom Muyang was different.

His life could now be divided into before and after consuming it.

Geom Mugeuk added an emotional layer to that rational calculation.

“You’re the one who will become Cult Leader. You need to become strong as well. That way, no matter where I go, I can proudly say, ‘That man is my brother.’ So don’t be too grateful. This is just my vanity.”

“You’re sure?”

“I’m sure.”

Only then did Geom Muyang’s expression relax.

Seeing his brother like this, he once again thought Demonic Buddha’s advice had been right.

“I’m sorry, Brother.”

“For what?”

For being selfish and only thinking of himself.

“I badmouthed you again when you weren’t around.”

Geom Muyang laughed in disbelief, and Geom Mugeuk laughed along.

Geom Mugeuk’s gaze turned toward the construction site.

“They’re building it really fast.”

Since the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was pouring in massive manpower and resources, the buildings were rising day by day.

Looking up at the structure being built where the Flowing Wind Tavern once stood, Geom Mugeuk said,

“Our innkeeper will be happy.”