Chapter 248: When Are You Going to Kill Me?

TL: FoodieMonster007

After leaving the Demonic Buddha's residence, Geom Muyang walked slowly through the inner court of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

He walked while carefully observing each of the inner court's buildings. He had never looked at these buildings in detail before.

The martial artists standing guard greeted him politely.

When Geom Muyang accepted their greetings, the martial artists exchanged puzzled glances. Geom Muyang was always in a hurry and had never properly returned a greeting before.

Walking through the inner court, Geom Muyang arrived at the Eastern Fist Garrison.

Although it was late, the Fist Demon was awake.

Geom Muyang followed a guide and arrived before a cliff.

The Fist Demon stood before the cliff and spoke without turning around.

"I plan to shatter this cliff with a single blow. That's my dream."

Geom Muyang looked up at the massive, seemingly endless cliff. He thought it was an impossible task, even for the Fist Demon.

"If it's you, Fist Demon, you'll surely achieve that dream."

Only then did the Fist Demon turn to face him.

"Greetings, Fist Demon."

"First Young Lord, welcome."

Every time Geom Muyang saw the Fist Demon's terrifying face, which made even the cult's demonic statues look kind, he felt a natural fear.

"I apologize for visiting so late at night."

"Not at all. I was awake for my late-night training."

Surprisingly, the Fist Demon still attended the late-night training sessions. Geom Mugeuk had not participated since returning to the cult, but Lee Ahn and Cheon Sohwi attended consistently.

The Fist Demon did not want to seem like he stopped attending just because Geom Mugeuk was absent. He had continued to go, and these days, he never missed a session because of Cheon Sohwi.

He hadn't realized it when Geom Mugeuk first mentioned it, but as time passed, he saw that her talent and character were flawless for the next Fist Demon. So, he would give her separate instruction during their training.

The Fist Demon found this late-night training enjoyable.

Honestly, it might have been because he was with two young, beautiful women. It could have been Cheon Sohwi, who held absolute respect for the Fist Demon, or Lee Ahn, who made him laugh with her unexpected jokes. For a man who had been a sincere teacher his entire life, these sessions had become a valuable and enjoyable time.

"So, what brings you here?"

The Fist Demon could sense from the late-night visit that Geom Muyang was on the verge of a major decision.

"You're the only one, Fist Demon, who has announced official support for me."

"I'm not a man who breaks his promises."

"If you had met Mugeuk first, would you have made that promise?"

The Fist Demon stared at Geom Muyang as if to pierce through him. Still not used to the Fist Demon's face, Geom Muyang slightly bowed his head to avoid his gaze.

"If that were the case, I would have announced my support for the Second Young Lord."

Geom Muyang was actually glad the Fist Demon answered so honestly. He had come to see him today precisely because he knew this was the kind of man the Fist Demon was.

"What kind of person is Mugeuk?"

"Wouldn't you, his older brother, know better?"

"No, I don't know him well."

The Fist Demon's gaze turned back to the cliff.

"I said the same thing to the Second Young Lord as I did to you earlier. I told him my dream was to shatter this cliff."

Geom Muyang was curious. He wondered how Geom Mugeuk had responded.

"He said he wanted to shatter it too."

Geom Muyang felt it in that moment. To the Fist Demon, at least, those words were the correct answer.

"Perhaps the one to shatter this cliff one day will be the Second Young Lord. That's the kind of person your brother is."

It must have been because of this small difference. These small differences must have accumulated, creating the gap that now existed between him and Geom Mugeuk.

"Couldn't those words have been a lie? Couldn't he have said that just to get on your good side?"

They were desperate words he would not normally say, but Geom Muyang seemed determined as he revealed his honest feelings.

"Of course, that's possible."

"Then why did you believe him?"

The Fist Demon understood how Geom Muyang felt. Geom Mugeuk could wrap even them around his finger, so it must have been impossible for the young Geom Muyang to deal with him.

"Because the Second Young Lord showed me with his actions. He came to the Eastern Fist Garrison and rose from the White Fists to the Black Fists."

"With Mugeuk's martial arts skill, that wouldn't have been a difficult task!"

The Fist Demon calmly asked the agitated Geom Muyang.

"If it was such an easy task, why didn't you do it?"

"!"

Geom Muyang could not answer. He knew it too. The Fist Demon was not talking about just martial arts skill. He meant that when actions followed words, belief gained power.

The Fist Demon's gaze turned back to the cliff.

After a moment, Geom Muyang asked.

"May I ask one last question?"

"Go ahead."

"Do you believe that it would be better for our Cult if Mugeuk becomes the Heavenly Demon?"

"Why do you ask me that?"

"Because I feel that among the Demon Supremes, you would give the most honest answer."

The Fist Demon was lost in thought for a moment. He had a premonition that his answer would greatly impact Geom Muyang. Nevertheless, the Fist Demon spoke honestly.

"Before I answer, I'll say one thing. Regardless of my answer, my official position of supporting you won't change."

"Thank you."

The Fist Demon stared at Geom Muyang and said without a hint of apology.

"I have higher expectations for the Second Young Lord's Heavenly Demon Divine Cult."

It was a cruel answer for Geom Muyang, but he had answered honestly.

Those words flew and lodged themselves heavily in Geom Muyang's chest.

"Thank you for speaking honestly."

Geom Muyang bowed politely with a trembling voice and turned away. Before leaving, he looked up at the cliff one last time. Looking at it again, he did not have the courage to even think about shattering it.

The Fist Demon watched his departing back, then turned to head to the late-night training.

He offered no words of comfort or encouragement.

Because the cliffs given to each person had to be overcome by themselves.

My brother came to see me.

Dressed neatly in a martial arts uniform with his sword at his side, my brother stood under the moonlight with a different feel than usual.

My brother said abruptly.

"Let's have a match."

I could tell. This was to decide the successor by the outcome of this fight. He had come knowing he would lose.

"Alright. I've wanted to beat you up for a while now."

"This isn't a joke."

"I'm not joking either. You're a vicious brother who tried to instill a fear of the murim in his younger brother, who was about to become a martial artist. You deserve a beating, don't you?"

"If it has caused you that much resentment, then by all means."

"Don't talk like it's no big deal."

"Even so, I won't apologize."

As if by agreement, we did not speak of fighting over the succession. We just acted as if we were settling an old score.

My brother drew his sword, and I drew mine as well. Except for when we dueled as children, this was the first time we had pointed our swords at each other like this.

The Soaring Sky Sword Art versus the Soaring Sky Sword Art.

My brother had reached ten-star complete mastery, and I had reached twelve-star complete mastery. Even without that difference, the gap in experience, skill, and inner arts was too vast for my brother to defeat me.

I would not hold back. However, I would not overwhelm him at once, allowing him to use every technique he could.

"Be careful, I'm coming for real."

My brother, after a serious warning, unleashed the First Technique, the Equal Sky Strike.

SHWIIIIIIK!

A single streak of sword light flew to cut me in two, but my own Equal Sky Strike was faster and more powerful.

KWAAANG!

My brother was shocked to see his First Technique nullified so futilely in mid-air.

With a surprised face, he unleashed the Second Technique, but this time too, a more powerful Second Technique nullified it.

Third Technique, Fourth Technique…

As the exchange continued, my brother's despair grew deeper. He must have known I was stronger, but he probably did not know I was this much stronger.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon had said it.

Crushing him completely would be the best path for my brother. I agree with those words.

I revealed all of my skills, enough to make my brother feel despair.

That was the path for my brother. So that he would never harbor any other thoughts. So that he would accept that not becoming the successor was not a disappointment, but the natural outcome.

My brother must be looking at a wall. A wall taller and larger than the cliff the Fist Demon was looking at.

When the Soaring Sky Sword Art did not work, my brother charged, swinging his sword. He must have come knowing he would lose. However, as defeat became a reality, my brother grew desperate.

I want to be the successor!

However, that desperation could not bridge the gap in our skills.

TAAANG.

The sword flew from my brother's grasp and fell to the ground.

After staring at the sword with a dazed look for a moment, my brother glared at me and said.

"Actually, I was planning to beat you with these fists."

"Of course! A man's gotta use his fists!"

I sheathed the Black Demon Sword and told my brother.

"But what can you do? I'm a disciple of the Fist Demon."

"……No techniques."

At my brother's words, I laughed out loud. For him to say something like that in this situation was a good sign.

Alright, brother. I'll beat you up for sure.

The two of us clashed with our fists. Whether it was swordsmanship, fist arts, or just brawling, how could my brother possibly defeat me?

PWAK! PWEOK!

My fists slammed into my brother's face and body.

This was the punishment for instilling fear in his younger brother because of his own greed. We had to settle the score.

PWAK! PWEOEOK!

These were fists meant to forgive my brother.

Even while being beaten to a pulp, my brother never used his inner arts. He could have taken the opportunity to try and kill me, but he did not. He did not even attempt it.

This is why. Brother. The reason I wanted to bring you back alive. Father probably saw it first. What kind of person you are.

And just as my exhausted brother was about to collapse!

My brother's fist connected with my face.

I took one solid hit. It seems I also had some feelings of guilt towards my brother. If I had not regressed, he would have become the successor.

But brother, me becoming the successor is for your own good too. Let's at least live this life. Whether we get along or fight tooth and nail, let's survive.

And so, the fight that was not a fight came to an end.

My brother, having succeeded in landing the final blow, smiled with satisfaction and fell flat on his back.

HUU, HUU, HUU.

My brother's ragged breaths contained everything.

His breathing slowly began to even out.

Until then, I also lay down next to my brother and looked up at the night sky.

Lying down, my brother asked.

"Can you do a good job?"

He was probably hoping I would say no, or that there was even a sliver of a chance I would say, 'you do it'.

"I can do better than any of the Heavenly Demons in history."

"Damn it!"

My brother shouted while lying on his back.

"Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

He screamed as if in a final struggle. Many people in our Cult must be hearing this shout. This shout was deciding my brother's fate and mine.

After he stopped shouting, my brother let out a deep sigh. He exhaled all his last lingering attachments with that breath.

"You really have to do a good job."

"I will."

"The successor of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult can't be joking around and acting flippant. You can't do that!"

"That's because you haven't seen me when I'm serious. You'll be begging me to tell a joke."

"Don't do things like that!"

"Alright."

My brother had completely given up on the succession. That was why this question was also sincere.

"When are you going to kill me? At least give me time to get my affairs in order before you do."

"Why is your head so full of such negative thoughts? Let's say my darkness was instilled by you, but who planted it in you?"

"You're the strange one."

My brother had given up on everything, but there was no need for that. Because I needed him.

"From now on, you have to help me."

"Don't say such nonsense."

"I'm serious. I don't need a puppet brother. I don't need a wounded and depressed brother. I need my real brother."

I got up first and extended my hand to my brother, who was still lying down.

After I get rid of Hwa Mugi, I might even give you his position. We don't know what we will be like then. So, brother, take my hand.

My brother sat up on his own without taking my hand. He wiped his bloody nose as he sat and said.

"This is embarrassing."

"Be proud. You've got a killer of a brother, don't you?"

"I want to kill you. For real."

And the next moment.

My brother extended his hand to me. It was a hand asking to be pulled up.

The moment I saw that outstretched hand, a surge of emotion welled up inside me. There were so many things I wanted to say that I could not say anything at all.

I grasped that hand tightly. I could feel my brother gripping my hand back just as tightly.

I forcefully pulled my brother to his feet.

After staring at me for a moment, my brother raised a fist in front of me and said.

"If you don't act like a proper successor from now on, you'll get another beating from me!"

I smiled at my brother. It was the first smile I had smiled because I genuinely liked him.

"If someone bullies me, can I call for you?"

"You crazy bastard."

My brother started walking towards the Heavenly Demon Hall first.

I had said I would bring my brother to our father, but now my brother was leading me.

The cultists standing guard were startled to see the two brothers walking side by side late at night, their faces bruised.

"Shouldn't we wash up a bit before seeing Father?"

"We have to go like this to show him what an extreme evil, atrocious younger brother you are for beating up your older brother."

And then my brother said.

"Make sure to tell me before you kill me… and if anyone bullies you, make sure to tell me."

A gust of wind blew, fluttering our clothes. It was a wind heralding a new beginning.