Chapter 778: I Should Have at Least One Person I Can Look Down On |
Geom Mugeuk went straight to see his father.
To leave the cult with the Demon Supremes, he needed his father’s permission. Especially this time, proper approval was necessary.
“Father! Your son’s fists have finally become the fists of a man. The days of being mocked by Master for having baby fists are over!”
Geom Mugeuk grinned as he spoke, walking along the path of blood.
“I have finally achieved mastery in the Thunderous Asura Fist. If there’s anyone who dares disobey, just say the word!”
“You.”
“Ah, right. There’s no one else, is there?”
Geom Mugeuk stopped below the Throne Mat.
Geom Woojin silently stared at his son.
Astonishingly, Geom Woojin had noticed that his son had grown stronger through the Thunderstrike Muscle-Tempering Method.
“How did you know?”
Of course, if it was his father, he could recognize the transformation of the Body Reformation at a glance after all.
But the changes caused by the Thunderstrike Muscle-Tempering Method were mostly internal, with little visible difference on the outside. Yet, he noticed it instantly?
“You’re right. Master used a secret technique to make my body sturdier.”
There was a reason Geom Woojin realized that so quickly—he already knew about the technique.
“Do you know what kind of technique that is?”
“What kind of technique is it?”
“It’s the technique that man dreamed of. To achieve Body Reformation and receive the Thunderstrike Muscle-Tempering Method—those have long been the dream of those who mastered the Thunderous Asura Fist.”
So it wasn’t just any inherited technique passed down casually. The Fist Demon King had willingly passed on his lifelong dream to his disciple.
Even if the chances of achieving Body Reformation were slim, giving up one’s lifelong aspiration would not have been easy. Yet, the Fist Demon King didn’t hesitate when making that choice.
“He could’ve at least boasted a little while using it.”
At those words, a faint smile appeared on Geom Woojin’s lips, directed toward the one absent from this place.
“He’s always been that kind of person.”
Just like himself—neither of them had ever known how to brag in their lives.
“Oh, and Master has reached a new realm as well.”
“I know.”
Of course. His father had already sensed it from the sound of thunder—that the Fist Demon King had broken through to a new level.
“That’s truly incredible. Is there anything at all that Father doesn’t know?”
“If you’re done bragging, leave.”
“No, that’s not why I came today.”
Geom Mugeuk relayed to his father exactly what the Master of Sky Flower Pavilion had told him.
“So, it seems I’ll need to leave the cult tomorrow. And this time, I plan to go out properly prepared. I’ll wish to take all the Demon Supremes except for two.”
Since the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and One-Slash Sword Supreme were outside, there were six Demon Supremes within the cult. He meant to take four of them.
At the mention of leaving two behind, Geom Woojin spoke.
“Since you’re already taking them, take them all.”
It was said out of concern for his son.
“But then Father, you’d have to protect the main cult alone.”
One corner of Geom Woojin’s mouth lifted slightly.
“Why? Do you think I couldn’t protect it by myself?”
“Of course, you could.”
“Then why?”
“If Father goes out to unify the martial world while I’m gone, someone has to stop you, right?”
He said it jokingly, but it wasn’t entirely an exaggeration.
The Nine Calamities Demon Art that has reached Twelfth Start Greatness—
Even Geom Mugeuk couldn’t imagine how powerful that would be.
If his father were to walk out of the Heavenly Demon Pavilion alone, and someone asked,
‘Where are you going?’
‘To unify the martial world.’
Who would dare to laugh?
“And we should also consider Strategist Sima. If all the Demon Supremes leave the cult, the strategist will be greatly burdened. Uncle Hui and the bodyguards will have to work several times harder too. So I’ll leave two of them behind.”
Once he gave logical reasons, his father didn’t insist further on taking everyone.
Instead, he seemed curious about who would stay and who would go.
“So who are you leaving behind?”
---
The Drunken Demon was completely intoxicated.
As soon as he saw Geom Mugeuk, he slurred his words and waved his hand.
“My little brother! Come here and take this drink from your big brother!”
He had drunk so much that the entire area around the Tower of Drunken Dreams was filled with an alcohol-scented mist.
“Why are you so drunk in broad daylight?”
The Drunken Demon shook the bottle.
“In this lonely life, this is my only friend!”
The moment he said “lonely life,” Geom Mugeuk immediately understood.
Ah, he’s sulking again!
Well, he had every right to. Once again, he had been the last one Mugeuk came to see.
“You’re hurting your friend’s feelings saying that. What do you mean by ‘only friend’?”
“And who might this be? Oh, isn’t this our busy Young Cult Leader himself? What brings such a noble man to this humble place?”
“Brother, where’s that bold attitude you showed me last time?”
Geom Mugeuk mimicked the Drunken Demon’s tone.
“In the end, everything is meaningless. When I die, I’ll regret that you didn’t come to see me one last time!”
When he said that, the Drunken Demon even looked up at the sky and laughed bitterly.
“So where did my great, broad-minded brother go?”
The Drunken Demon pouted.
“That great man withered away from loneliness. Now only a petty, narrow-hearted version of him remains. I said it’s fine if you come late, but really? You come last again?”
“Brother, I mean this sincerely. I didn’t come late because I take you lightly. It’s because I knew you’d understand me the best.”
“That’s exactly what taking someone lightly means!”
When the Drunken Demon shouted angrily, Geom Mugeuk immediately switched to a strategy of playing the victim.
“What’s wrong with being someone easy to deal with!”
“What?”
“I should have at least one person I can take lightly!”
“What is this shamelessness? My drunkenness just vanished.”
Geom Mugeuk filled his cup to the brim from the bottle in front of him and downed it in one gulp.
“Elder Blade Demon is too dignified, Master Fist Demon King is my teacher so he’s hard to approach, Sword Supreme is too elegant and refined, Soul Reaper Demon Supreme is too young, Demonic Buddha only likes my big brother, Poison King is too obsessed with poison, and Evil Smiling Demon is too nice! So for someone like me, I need at least one person who’s easy to deal with! Don’t you agree? Be that person for me for the rest of my life!”
The Drunken Demon, who had been staring at him in disbelief, eventually burst out laughing.
“You’re right. Everyone needs at least one person they can be comfortable around. That’s how life breathes. Fine! I’ll be that person for you.”
“The petty brother is gone, and the great manly brother has returned!”
“This is the magnanimity of drinkers! Come on, let’s drink!”
The two of them clinked cups energetically and emptied them in one go.
“From now on, always come to me last!”
“See? It’s not so bad! When I come last, I’ve got plenty of stories to gossip about the other Demon Supremes. I don’t even need snacks!”
“Perfect! Let’s drink and bad-mouth those bastards all night long!”
The two of them, in full agreement, drained their cups again.
Of course, Geom Mugeuk knew. The Drunken Demon wasn’t drunk because he came late. He only acted like he was sulking with words—but in truth, he was no longer the same Drunken Demon as before.
Feeling the thick alcohol energy lingering around him, Geom Mugeuk asked softly,
“Were you training?”
Sure enough, the Drunken Demon nodded. The reason he was so drunk was that he had been cultivating while drinking.
“This is all your fault. The good thing about being the Drunken Demon was that I could just drink and waste away.”
But at some point, the other Demon Supremes had begun to grow stronger. Leading the effort was his friend, One-Slash Sword Supreme. The others were no different.
“When thunder starts roaring in a clear sky, how can I drink in peace?”
Then the Drunken Demon tilted his head.
“What’s this? Am I that drunk, or did you change somehow?”
Blinking his hazy eyes, he looked at Geom Mugeuk. The latter then told him about achieving Body Reformation.
“My little brother achieved Body Reformation? I can’t just let that pass. We need a proper celebratory drink. Yeobin! Bring out the best bottle I’ve been saving.”
Lyu Bin really did bring the wine—the one the Drunken Demon had been saving so carefully.
“When did you even hide this one?”
“I kept it sealed away for a day like this.”
“Then not this one! Bring the bottle you were saving for when you achieve Body Reformation yourself!”
The two of them laughed and drank. The wine’s flavor was exquisite.
“This tastes incredible.”
“On a day like this, you’ve got to drink the good stuff! Come on, drink more!”
It was the loudest, most extravagant celebration Geom Mugeuk had ever received. Well, for an achievement like Body Reformation, this much was fitting. Maybe he should even dance a little while drunk.
“When you achieve Body Reformation, do your organs get replaced too? I want to drink with the heart of a man starting fresh with a clean inside!”
“Don’t worry. People like you actually have surprisingly clean insides. I bet yours are cleaner than mine.”
The Drunken Demon laughed heartily, agreeing with him. It had been a long time since Geom Mugeuk had shared a drink so comfortably with him.
“What was that thunder yesterday?”
“It was the sound of Master ascending to a new realm.”
“And you?”
“I achieved mastery in the Thunderous Asura Fist.”
“Already?”
How long had it been since he became a disciple, and he was already saying he’d reached mastery?
“What are you planning to do, getting this strong so quickly? Don’t tell me you’re dreaming of unifying the martial world? You brat! That’s it, isn’t it?”
Unifying the martial world, huh.
The Drunken Demon said it as a joke, but if someone else heard, they might not take it as one.
Though the Martial Alliance and the Unorthodox Alliance hadn’t shown it outwardly, Geom Mugeuk wondered if they might secretly be on edge.
“The liquor energy of the Great Drunken Forest—it still hasn’t recovered, right?”
The Drunken Demon silently nodded.
“That’s why you can’t stop training.”
“It’s better than before, at least.”
“Really?”
For a brief moment, the drunken playfulness disappeared from his face.
“So it’s fine if you come to me late. It just means you’re doing well.”
He emptied his cup in one go. A gust of wind blew through, tossing his disheveled hair around.
Noisy, loud, full of chaos. Lately, the Demon Supremes had changed a lot because of him.
But when he thought about it—they were all lonely people.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon, who believed he lived a cursed life;
The Fist Demon King, who always stood alone at the edge of a cliff;
The One-Slash Sword Supreme, who hid her emotions behind heavy makeup;
The Evil Smiling Demon, who stared blankly at white walls in his empty room;
The Poison King, who had never left the Heavenly Poison Forest, consumed by venom;
The Demonic Buddha, who ran around on his short legs just to serve his Great Young Leader;
And this Drunken Demon, who was always lost in drinking.
Yes, they were all lonely souls.
“I’m leaving the cult tomorrow. I want you to come with me, brother.”
“To where?”
“Hunan, Dongting Lake.”
“Who’s going?”
“There’ll be quite a few this time.”
The Drunken Demon didn’t bother to ask who they were.
He just leaned lazily against a pillar and took another drink.
“I’ll come along—and drink with you.”
---
The next person Geom Mugeuk went to see was the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme.
She was completely absorbed in her martial arts training at her personal training ground. Geom Mugeuk’s visit was the last thing she had expected.
“Young Cult Leader?”
“Have you been well?”
Geom Mugeuk treated her with the utmost respect.
“Thanks to you, I’ve been well. I heard you returned to the cult. But what brings you here?”
“I came to pay my respects after a long while.”
The Soul Reaper Demon Supreme hadn’t expected the Young Cult Leader to visit her in person.
And it wasn’t merely a courtesy call.
Geom Mugeuk told her about everything that had happened during his last journey outside the cult.
She already knew. Whenever the Young Cult Leader returned from a mission, he would visit the Demon Supremes and personally recount what had transpired. She had vaguely hoped that someday he would come to her as well—and now, that day had come.
The fact that he was sharing those stories with her meant something significant. It was proof that he now fully recognized her as one of the Demon Supremes.
He also told her about the matter involving the Mistress of Sky Flower Pavilion.
“So I plan to leave the cult tomorrow. If it’s not inconvenient, I would like you to accompany me and lend me your aid.”
“Of course, I’ll go.”
The Soul Reaper Demon Supreme was deeply grateful that Geom Mugeuk had sought her out and asked for her help.
“Thank you, Young Cult Leader.”
If she had still been lacking in skill, he would not have asked her to join him. He would have told her instead to continue improving her martial arts.
Fortunately, the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme was growing stronger every time he saw her. She was steadily becoming the same figure the martial world once feared the most.
Before leaving, Geom Mugeuk said the words she had most longed to hear.
“With my Demon Supreme accompanying me, I feel reassured.”
---
“You’re asking me to go too?”
The Demonic Buddha looked at Geom Mugeuk in surprise.
Thus, the four Demon Supremes who would accompany him were decided.
Naturally, the ones who would remain behind were also set.
The Fist Demon King and the Poison King.
With those two guarding his father, there was no need to worry about the main cult’s safety.
And as always, the Demonic Buddha was quick to notice things.
“Are you perhaps worried about the Cult Leader?”
How could one deceive someone like the Demonic Buddha, who had spent his life navigating politics and human nature?
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, why did you choose those two in particular to stay behind?”
The Demonic Buddha also considered those two to be the strongest among the current Demon Supremes.
“It’s just that it’d be uncomfortable taking Master along. How could I strut around saying, ‘I’m the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult!’ in front of him?”
“You’d love to do that, wouldn’t you? Then what about the Poison King?”
“You know he hates going to the the Central Plains more than anything in the world.”
But the Demonic Buddha didn’t believe his words. There had to be a deeper reason why Geom Mugeuk had chosen to leave exactly those two behind.
“After all the enemies you’ve already killed, who could you possibly be afraid of now?”
The Demonic Buddha had sensed it long ago. Geom Mugeuk wasn’t particularly concerned about the Martial Alliance or even the Unorthodox Alliance. The enemies he was truly wary of this time were different.
Of course, the enemies of the Dark Palace, who had endured for three hundred years, were unimaginably strong. But they were already fractured and broken beyond repair.
“As you know, I suffer from a bit of anxiety. I tend to worry about all sorts of things that probably won’t happen. Nothing ever really does, but still. Anyway, you’ll come with me, won’t you, Demonic Buddha?”
The Demonic Buddha stared at him for a moment, then nodded.
“What power does a man who’s lost in a struggle for authority have left? If you say go, then I’ll go.”
“Now that’s the Demonic Buddha I know.”
“You’re saying that because I sound cynical, aren’t you?”
He was following the very advice he had once given—to not act like an empty-hearted monk.
Geom Mugeuk, the Evil Smiling Demon, the Drunken Demon, the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme, and the Demonic Buddha.
It was quite the lineup, perhaps even excessive, which was exactly why the Demonic Buddha joked.
“So, which one are you planning to strike? The Martial Alliance or the Unorthodox Alliance?”
Without hesitation, Geom Mugeuk replied,
“Both, at the same time.”
The lighthearted joke actually carried weight.
“It’s not over yet. I plan to take even more with me.”