Chapter 431: The Moment My Busy Life Stops

TL: FoodieMonster007

It was a gorgeous yet mystical-looking cup. The pure white ceramic was decorated to look like a moon hanging over a snowy field. Gazing at it quietly made one feel as if they were standing alone in a white, snowy field under the moonlight. A crescent moon on one side served as a handle, making it possible to carry at one's waist.

However, the cup's appearance was not what made it special.

"Do you know what kind of cup that is?"

The Ice Empress truly had not expected Geom Mugeuk to choose this cup.

"I've heard rumors of a sacred cup in the North Sea Ice Palace. Isn't that it?"

"You've seen correctly."

She began to explain about the cup.

The Ice Palace Chalice.

At a glance, it looked as if it were made of pure white porcelain, but the cup was actually made of metal. This specially alloyed cup was known to be incredibly light, yet would never break or bend. What was important was the cup's effect. The cup itself had a cold nature, so one could drink cool alcohol even in the middle of summer. It was also said that drinking from this cup would enhance one's inner qi and nourish the body.

Of course, the amount of inner qi gained was not more than what could be gained from meditating for the same amount of time, so it would be foolish to ruin one's health by drinking for the purpose of enhancing inner qi. With the exception of just one person in this murim. For the Drunken Demon, who lived and breathed alcohol every moment, this cup was certainly of great significance.

Moreover, only one such cup existed in the world, and it could only be obtained here in the Ice Palace Vault. For someone who loved alcohol more than life itself and would drink for the rest of his days, this cup would be the greatest gift.

"Are you sure you want this?"

Geom Mugeuk smiled as he answered.

"Because the Drunken Demon will like this cup more than the Ten-Thousand Year Blood Ginseng."

That was not why the Ice Empress had asked. There were simply too many precious items here to choose a gift for someone else. She looked at a magnificent suit of protective armor displayed in the empty air on the opposite side and spoke.

"That Ice Armor could save your life. There are also miracle herbs that can grant you more inner qi than the Ten-Thousand Year Blood Ginseng, though not as much as the Glacial Ice Essence you just took."

"I'm fine."

Once she saw that Geom Mugeuk had set his heart on the cup, the Ice Empress did not recommend anything else.

When she extended her hand, the block of ice containing the cup flew to her. The Ice Empress easily melted the ice using her unique inner qi. A normal expert would have had to use an incomparably greater amount of inner qi to melt this special ice with their solar energy.

Freed from the ice, the Ice Palace Chalice revealed a mystical aura. A white energy shimmered around the cup, like a snowstorm sweeping across a snowy field. Its preciousness was evident just by looking at it, making it a cup that an ordinary person could not carry around. Countless people would try to snatch it away every single day.

"Here, take it."

The Ice Empress handed the cup to Geom Mugeuk.

He carefully accepted the cup, placed it on his palm, and marveled.

"It's a truly magnificent cup."

Geom Mugeuk was genuinely delighted at the thought of giving it to the Drunken Demon.

The Ice Empress could feel it. In this moment, Geom Mugeuk was as purely joyful as a young boy.

So the rumors were all true.

When she had heard the news that Geom Mugeuk had taken control of the Eight Demon Supremes, she had been half in doubt.

The Eight Demon Supremes are who they are. How could he control all of them? They wouldn't follow him sincerely. Some must have only joined hands on the surface. The Eight Demon Supremes were not a group that a young successor could handle so easily.

But seeing him now, the 'doubt' part of her 'half in doubt' vanished. If their relationship was one where he could so joyfully give such a precious gift, then the expression 'control' seemed insufficient.

"Thank you. I'll never forget the great favor you've shown me today."

Geom Mugeuk was sincerely grateful to the Ice Empress. Even though she had told him to choose whatever he wanted, it was not an easy thing to so readily give away a cup that bore the name of a sacred chalice.

"It's a small thing compared to what you've done for this palace. Now, let's go back."

Geom Mugeuk left the Ice Palace Vault with the Ice Empress.

SHIIIIIIII.

As they opened the door and stepped out, a strange sound accompanied the forgotten, insane cold that rushed in. Leaving behind the place where even conversation was difficult, the two of them walked away quickly.

As they were retracing their steps and about to leave the valley, Geom Mugeuk spoke.

"Sometimes, those of my generation gather together."

The Ice Empress knew. She was also aware that the successors and siblings of each sect had all gathered at the recent three-party talks.

"I'll invite a certain Young Lady then."

The Ice Empress stopped in her tracks.

She knew why he wanted to invite her daughter, even without him saying it. Han Seol would have to leave this North Sea and meet many people to grow further.

But could she really send her daughter, who had never once been to the Central Plains? She was already so worried just thinking about it.

When the Ice Empress looked back at Geom Mugeuk, his eyes seemed to say it all.

Don't worry, I will take good care of her and bring her back.

It was a sign of his gratitude for the precious gift she had given him. Whether she could trust him enough to send her daughter was, however, another matter entirely.

When Geom Mugeuk returned, the Drunken Demon was lying in bed.

"How are you feeling?"

"I feel like I'm going to die from the pain."

Just a little while ago, when the physician had come and gone, he had received his treatment with great dignity. He had shown the majesty of a Demon Supreme without a single change in his gaze or expression.

He had been perfectly fine then, but upon seeing Geom Mugeuk, he began to whine.

"I can't even lift my arm. It hurts too much."

The Drunken Demon showed the sole of his foot while still lying down.

"Look here. If you'd taken out the bottle shard earlier, it wouldn't hurt this much."

"You're so persistent. Anyway, I brought you a gift."

"I'm dying of pain, what good is a gift?"

Geom Mugeuk placed a small box on the table.

"You really don't want it?"

"I don't want it."

"You'll regret it."

"It's alcohol, isn't it? You bought alcohol? So obvious."

The Drunken Demon pretended to be uninterested while sneaking a glance at the box.

"It's no use regretting it later."

As Geom Mugeuk moved to take the box back, the Drunken Demon asked casually.

"What is it? Let me just have a look."

"You'll just feel bitter then."

How could he possibly not look now?

"It's fine, just show me!"

"Just look with your eyes. I have to give it back."

Geom Mugeuk slowly opened the box.

The moment he saw what was inside, the Drunken Demon's eyes went wide. It was an item he would recognize even if no one else in the world did.

"Uwaaaaah!"

The Drunken Demon roared as he rushed to the table, running without even feeling the pain in the sole of his foot.

"No way, is this? Is it really that? It is, right? It's that thing, isn't it?"

He was at a loss for words. This was the one thing he wanted most.

"Why is this here?"

The Drunken Demon's voice trembled.

"I picked it up on the way."

"Stop joking!"

"I received it as a gift from the Ice Empress."

The Drunken Demon immediately understood. The Ice Empress must have given a gift as a reward for this incident.

"You gave up your own reward to get a gift for me."

"That would've been really touching, but I got my own thing too. So don't feel burdened and take it. Oh, wait. You said you didn't want it, right?"

"What are you talking about!"

The Drunken Demon spread his arms like wings to protect the cup. The arm he claimed he couldn't even lift was now forming a perfect defensive line.

"You'd have to take my life first! It's mine! Go away!"

How could the Drunken Demon not know? That Geom Mugeuk could have taken something else instead of this cup. He had given up the value of this Ice Palace Chalice to give him a gift. A wave of emotion crashed over the Drunken Demon's heart. It was the most precious gift he had ever received, and above all, the one he had wanted the most.

Geom Mugeuk had known the Drunken Demon would like it, but he hadn't known he would like it this much.

"Here, have a drink. I washed it clean before coming."

Geom Mugeuk poured some alcohol.

TORURURUNG.

It was the moment alcohol was poured into the long-sealed Ice Palace Chalice. Was it his imagination? The white energy shimmering around the cup seemed to grow stronger.

The Drunken Demon took a deep breath, then drank. The cold alcohol flowed down his throat, GULP GULP, without pause.

"Kyaaaaah! This is delicious!"

Geom Mugeuk shouted "Kyaaah!" along with him. It looked so delicious just watching.

"Me too, one glass!"

This time, the Drunken Demon poured a full glass. As he poured, the moonlight on the cup seemed to shine even more softly.

Geom Mugeuk drank the alcohol from the Ice Palace Chalice in one go. The alcohol was truly cold and delicious. An exclamation of Kyaaah! came out all by itself.

"This is amazing!"

The taste of alcohol always depends on the mood, and there would not be many days when it tasted as good as this moment.

"Here, one more for me."

"You're on medication, stop!"

"Just one more glass!"

Geom Mugeuk poured the drink and said, "I'm not giving you this cup so you can drink more. I'm giving it to you so you'll drink less. They said the cup has an effect that protects the body. So, think of my heart in giving you this, and every time you pour a drink into this, have one glass instead of two. Drink one delicious glass instead of two. With that kind of mindset."

His concern was conveyed. He was always nagging him to eat side dishes, and now he was nagging him here too.

"Never drink too much. Got it?"

"I know. But just one last glass. I have to have three."

"Fine, I'll allow it for today!"

The two of them looked at each other and laughed.

After drinking three glasses, the Drunken Demon fastened the Ice Palace Chalice to his waist, opposite his blood flute. The two artifacts looked strangely good together. Of course, that might have been because the person wearing them was the Drunken Demon.

"Well, get some rest."

As Geom Mugeuk turned to leave, the Drunken Demon spoke from behind him.

"Thank you, Young Cult Leader."

His words were devoid of any playfulness, so Geom Mugeuk also replied politely.

"You accomplished a great feat this time, Drunken Demon."

Back in my room, I activated the Spacetime Manipulation Technique to absorb the White Orb.

SNAP!

With a flick of my fingers, I was standing in a new space. It was not the usual beach I opened, but the second space, the one with a small hot spring in a pure white snowfield.

This was the very place I had created after taking a fancy to my father's hot spring. This space, after all, suited the North Sea so perfectly.

Only three things existed here. Pure white snow, the stars in the night sky, and a warm hot spring.

First, I took out the Secret Box and the White Orb from my robes.

VWOOOOM.

Upon seeing the White Orb, the Secret Box vibrated in response.

Even though this was the third time, I couldn't help but feel nervous.

I carefully placed the White Orb on top of the Secret Box.

SWOOOOOSH.

Then, the same wondrous sight as always unfolded. The hard White Orb seeped into the Secret Box like a liquid. After absorbing the entire orb, the Secret Box vibrated greatly.

SWOOOSH!

Something with a white aura began to emerge from the Secret Box. As always, it was not smoke, nor liquid, nor light. That indescribable thing spread from my hands and arms throughout my entire body.

The Heavenly Demon Defense Art, which I had completely mastered, still didn't activate. That meant it was okay. I was absorbing this energy because I trusted the Heavenly Demon Defense Art.

A refreshing sensation spread throughout my body.

The moment that energy spread through me, a radiance burst forth. It was a light so intense I couldn't open my eyes.

When I opened my eyes again, the white energy had been completely absorbed. I had now absorbed three energies through the Secret Box.

Just like the previous two times, there was no change in my body. The energies didn't meet and mix. It meant they weren't yet ready to create a big change, or perhaps that I needed to absorb more.

THUD.

The Secret Box spat out the White Orb, its energy now fully absorbed. It was just an ordinary stone.

"Just who in the world made you?"

As always, the Secret Box just seemed to be smiling.

After absorbing the White Orb's energy, I threw off my clothes and soaked my body in the steaming hot spring.

"Ah, this is nice!"

A cool breeze blew from above, while it was warm below. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the hot spring. This time alone is a precious moment for me.

After regressing, my life has been flowing by, packed full day after day. A continuous series of packed days. However, this moment alone in the Spacetime Manipulation Technique is when my busily running life slows down.

The slower the speed, the further I got from my life. I like this distance. Naked now, I have also cast off all responsibility.

"The murim is going to be destroyed? My Demonic Path is going to collapse? What do you want me to do about it! Don't disturb my rest!"

This irresponsibility slowed my life even more. The speed decreased and decreased until it finally stopped completely. The moment my busy life comes to a complete stop, I finally become free.

At the same time, I meet another version of myself.

The me from before the regression, who had become loneliness itself after it piled up and up. The me who ran for a single purpose, without rest, without ever properly comforting himself.

We stood facing each other across the large, black hole in my heart.

Is the me on the other side lonelier? Or is the me who smiles among countless people lonelier?

I couldn't easily find an answer.

Still, I wanted to say this.

[It's all thanks to you that I was able to come this far.]

I had said all sorts of kind things to the people around me, but this was the first comfort and thanks I had ever offered to myself.

[Thank you, really.]

I looked at the lonely me on the other side with a soft gaze. I don't wish for him to disappear. The me on the other side was, after all, still me.

[Just don't fall into this pit.]

At my words, the me on the other side sent a look that said it all. You be careful yourself. The one who always falls into the pit is the one trying to be perfect, the one who is smiling.

The next moment, the black hole between us turned back into the hot spring, and I was soaking my body in it. I looked up at the twinkling stars for a long time before getting out.

It was time to go back to reality.

"The murim can't be destroyed. My Demonic Path can't collapse. What else can I do? I have to go out and protect it."

SNAP!