Chapter 442: Father's Demon Supremes Are Too Impressive

TL: FoodieMonster007

Was it because my heart felt lighter? The Swift Step was even faster on the way back.

After returning to our Cult, I ate and rested sufficiently. Then I took a thorough bath and changed into a new martial arts uniform.

In the best of moods, I was about to see my father at the Heavenly Demon Hall when I found two people waiting for me. They were none other than Seo Daeryong and Jang Ho. Jang Ho's massive frame seemed to have grown even larger since I last saw him.

Seo Daeryong approached me, lowered his voice, and suggested slyly.

"I know I shouldn't be joking, Master, but if you combine the two of us, wouldn't that count as one Demon Supreme?"

Those words immediately told me what was on their minds. They felt that if they could, they would step up and lend their strength.

"The two of you are a match for three Demon Supremes."

"Do I handle two of the Demon Supremes?"

"General Jang is two and a half, and you're half."

"I'm the right-hand man! Me!"

Jang Ho, who had been coveting that right-hand position, looked at me and bowed respectfully. He was as reliable as ever.

"Young Cult Leader, you have always shown more than I could ever imagine, so I'm not worried, but please, judge the situation carefully."

They were worried about me like this because my opponent was my father.

At some point, the playfulness had vanished from Seo Daeryong's face as he looked at me.

These two would willingly lay down their lives at my command. They were my people, who must never die. That was why today's fight was also a fight for them.

"I'll make a reservation at the Alluring Inn. Are you suggesting we drink to our defeat? I refuse to hear such jokes."

"I wasn't thinking of making such a joke, but you just did."

Seo Daeryong smiled brightly and gave a polite clasped hands greeting. Jang Ho also performed a clasped hands greeting and bowed his head. It was a moment more empowering than any cheer in the world.

"Book the entire Alluring Inn. Let's get drunk all night."

Leaving the two men's encouragement behind, I left my residence.

When I arrived at the entrance of the Heavenly Demon Hall, my hyung, Geom Muyang, was waiting for me. I could see just how important this matter was to everyone.

"I heard everything from the Demonic Buddha."

It seemed the Demonic Buddha had told my hyung all about this matter.

"So? Did you come to help your cornered little brother?"

To that, my hyung gave an unexpected answer.

"I came to save our cornered father."

"Yeah, I guess that's a joke only you and I can make in this murim."

"It's not a joke."

My hyung's gaze toward me was filled with reproach.

"He trusted you and made you the Young Cult Leader, and you're going to defy Father's will?"

"If I fall out of Father's favor, wouldn't that be a good thing for you, Hyung?"

"I thought so too."

Apparently not. Seeing him come out here to stop me proved that.

We stood side by side without looking at each other, gazing together at the view from the Heavenly Demon Hall.

The time had come to have a conversation we should have had at least once. It was a conversation I couldn't have with anyone else, only with my hyung.

"Do you know? That no one can speak about Father's life?"

My hyung looked at me with an expression that asked what I meant.

"That's why Father has probably never once heard it. Someone speaking about his life, about his journey."

"Isn't the Head Strategist there?"

"Yes, he is. And Uncle Hwi is there too. They can probably offer direct advice. They can also comfortably exchange stories about the cult. However, Hyung, do you really think they can dare to speak about Father's life, about his beliefs?"

My hyung had probably never thought about this before.

"Are you doubting their loyalty?"

"I'm saying this because I know their loyalty is real. Because they are truly loyal, they can't do it. They won't do it. Because they will try to accept any side of Father. They will try to endure it all. You know how it is, right? If you're too close, you can't say it because you're close, and if you're too far, you can't say it because you're far."

After a brief pause, my hyung asked.

"So? Are you saying you're going to do it?"

"Yes, I will."

My hyung shouted with an angry face.

"How arrogant!"

"Still, we have to do it. Because it's something even you, Hyung, think shouldn't be done. That's why Father is living a life where he can never receive advice or counsel. We have to be the ones to say it. 'Father, I believe you may be mistaken about that.' Someone has to say it."

My hyung was about to say something but ended up sighing. How could he not understand the meaning of my words?

"So what if my choice isn't the right one? Father will correct me. Let's use our faith in Father for things like this."

My hyung didn't say anything more.

"Go on in."

"Thanks, though. For coming here to worry about me."

"I told you I didn't come here to worry about you."

My hyung, who had walked some distance away, looked back at me. I was still watching him.

His mind hadn't changed, even at the very end.

"Still, I'm against it."

"That's why I'm going to do it."

I watched my hyung's back as he turned and walked away, then entered the Heavenly Demon Hall.

But at least know this. You're now on the list of people I don't want to kill, Hyung. That's why I'm having this fight.

I stepped into the Heavenly Demon Hall.

Father was sitting on the grand chair, as always. Today, that sight was more special than on other days. It was probably because I had truly felt how terrifying it was to see that grand chair empty.

"Father, I have arrived."

I greeted my father in a brighter voice than usual.

I slowly walked the path of blood, a long red carpet, until I stood below the grand chair. The path felt especially long today.

At the end of the path of blood, I looked up at my father.

Did you know, Father? On the day I regressed, I stood in the dueling ground and looked at you just like this. Since that day, I have always been watching you.

After regressing, I put effort into everyone, but at the center of it all was always my father.

"I have something to confess."

Of course, my father probably knew everything I was about to say. However, just as I did when I returned after being excommunicated, I told my father the whole story.

"For the past few days, I've been visiting the Demon Supremes and pestering them to take my side."

Indeed, there was no surprise or agitation on my father's face.

"They are my Demon Supremes. Why did you ask them to be on your side?"

"Could it be because of jealousy?"

I could feel the corners of my father's mouth preparing to lift slightly.

"Your Demon Supremes are too impressive, Father. That's probably why I'm jealous."

Father didn't sneer. Instead, he nodded once as if sympathizing with my words.

"It's not easy for such fine people to gather in one era."

The moment I heard those words, I recalled what the Demonic Buddha had said.

[Because our Cult has never been this strong.]

Those eight fine Demon Supremes had changed and grown stronger in their own ways. They were growing stronger even at this very moment. The stagnant Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had begun to flow freely, gushing without obstruction.

"Since we're on the topic, why don't you summon them all and see their faces? Don't they say that if you don't see each other often, hearts grow distant?"

It was a probing move. If this event was a stage set by my father, as the Demonic Buddha thought, then my father would summon them. If not, he would simply ignore my words.

Father, how will you respond to this move?

Father didn't back down and accepted my move. He said softly.

"Summon the Demon Supremes."

Then, Hwi's reply was heard from the empty air.

"I receive your command."

A silent passion spread from deep within my heart. Father had really summoned the Demon Supremes. The thought that the Demonic Buddha's words might be true began to grow stronger.

Father, if that's the case, what do you intend to do on this stage? With the Demon Supremes as your audience, are you really going to try to persuade me? Or are you planning to crush me with force?

A moment of silence passed. This silence didn't feel particularly awkward, so I didn't deliberately continue the conversation. I saved my words. There would be much to say today.

How much time had passed like that?

Finally, the door opened and a person entered. The first to arrive was the Fist Demon. His figure, striding across the red carpet with his large body, looked as if he were walking out of the gates of hell.

He walked to the foot of the grand chair, greeted my father politely, and then stood to the right.

"Welcome, Master."

Because they were in front of my father, the Fist Demon only gave a light nod.

I asked with my eyes. Was the war with Father you mentioned a war with me?

The Fist Demon must have felt the meaning in my gaze, but he just stood there silently.

Another person entered. It was the Flower Sword Supreme, someone who followed my father as much as the Fist Demon. The pure white martial arts uniform and her white hair suited her perfectly, a complete contrast to the Fist Demon's entrance.

Watching her walk the path of blood with light steps, a thought occurred to me. Wouldn't the female martial artists of our Cult think this when they see her?

I want to age like that too.

That was the feeling the Flower Sword Supreme gave off these days. She was personally demonstrating that age has nothing to do with a person's transformation. She also greeted my father politely and stood next to the Fist Demon.

"You've arrived?"

The Flower Sword Supreme also greeted me with a faint smile.

The first two to arrive were people who absolutely respected and admired my father. They were the ones who had chosen my father without a shred of hesitation.

The next person to enter was the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon. He walked in wearing a white mask that contrasted sharply with the red carpet. He greeted my father politely, then stood on the opposite side of the carpet from the other two.

It wasn't an intentional move to create a confrontation. He naturally stood on the other side of the red carpet.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon looked at the Fist Demon and the Flower Sword Supreme with an emotionless gaze. Then, his gaze turned to me.

The two eyes within the eyeholes said this.

Young Cult Leader, I have come.

I looked at him and smiled with my eyes.

Smiling Demon, I have been waiting.

I loved this courtesy that only he and I shared.

When I turned my head again, my father was silently watching us.

I'm sorry, Father. Your Demon Supreme was so impressive that I brought him over to my side. It's just one person, so please understand.

The next to arrive, the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme, had a different feel. She was not only my father's Demon Supreme but also the next Demon Supreme. After greeting my father, she chose a spot next to the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon.

Although she faced the Fist Demon and the Flower Sword Supreme, she wasn't intimidated at all. As she stood side-by-side with the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, the auras that stimulated a martial artist's primal fears, extreme evil and soul-stealing, mixed together, doubling the terror.

The next Demon Supreme to arrive was the Drunken Demon, who entered reeking of alcohol. He naturally stood next to the Flower Sword Supreme. Unlike the others, his gaze toward me was filled with apology. He had probably drunk a lot after telling me he would choose my father.

He looked incredibly weak at times like this, but I had seen it, hadn't I? I knew what kind of person the Drunken Demon was on the battlefield.

The next Demon Supreme to enter was the Demonic Buddha. Entering with a golden glow, he stood next to the Drunken Demon without hesitation. He should have stood next to the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme to balance things, but for some reason, he stood on the opposite side.

I could tell he had stood there intentionally. He was the one who had said this event was a stage created by my father. Therefore, he was likely trying to heighten the tension of this stage to its peak.

No matter how hard he hammered at his stone statue, it seemed he couldn't do anything about his innate nature that loved such conflicts.

The seventh Demon Supreme was the Poison King. As if to keep his word that he was on neither side, he stood alone, far away from both groups. The Poison King had clearly revealed where he stood in front of my father and the other Demon Supremes.

In a way, he was the bravest. In this case, choosing neither side was a more difficult choice than choosing one. However, by standing far apart, he was also keeping his past promise to my father not to participate in the unification of the murim.

The last person to enter was the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. He hadn't made a decision until the very end. If he had, he would have come and told me.

What choice would he make today?

Walking the path of blood, he looked at the Demon Supremes standing on both sides. Since the sides were so unbalanced, I had hoped for a brief moment that he might stand on my side.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon stood on the opposite side without hesitation.

I feigned a disappointed expression and said to him, "Elder, that's too much! I believed that at least you, Elder, would support me."

He didn't take my words as a joke. Instead, he rebuked me sharply.

"The one who is wrong is you, Young Cult Leader. How dare you go against the Cult Leader's will?"

That was the same displeased look from when I first met him. It was as if our relationship had been reset to the very beginning.

I could tell from this cold reaction.

That he had chosen me.

Even though he was standing over there, I felt that he had chosen me. Why? Because he was worried about the relationship between my father and me. He had set aside my father's aspirations and my demonic path, thinking only of that.

He must have judged that it was better for me to stand on my father's side and scold me sharply.

Thank you, Elder.

However, I didn't send a voice transmission to thank him, nor did I give him a look that said I understood his heart. For now, going along with his intentions was the best way to show my gratitude.

But what can I do, Elder? I'm going to defeat my father and return today.

And so, the eight Demon Supremes gathered in one place. Father, the eight Demon Supremes, and me. It was a force so powerful that no one would find it strange if we were to walk out right now and set off to conquer the murim.

Finally, my father rose from the grand chair.

The Demon Supremes all straightened their postures and tensed up. They, who had been shining in their own colors until now, all became black and white, concealing themselves.

In that black and white picture, only my father and I revealed our presences, red as blood and blue as the sky.

Father, who had been gazing at me for a moment, began to slowly walk down toward the stage filled with spectators.