Chapter 522: A Bet Is Meant to Be Won

TL: FoodieMonster007

Early in the morning, Hwi checked the horses, inspected the carriage, and finished loading the luggage. Today was the day they would finally return to the Cult.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon and Seo Daeryong had decided to travel with them in the carriage they had used to arrive. It was a large vehicle with plenty of room, but the issue was Seo Daeryong.

"I can just ride in the driver's seat, right?"

"You're the Sanzu Hall Director. You should ride inside with us."

Seo Daeryong flinched at Geom Mugeuk's response. How could he travel that entire long road with the Cult Leader and his master?

He felt he would age ten years during the trip. He wouldn't be able to breathe properly or even shut his eyes for a moment. "Please, let me ride in the driver's seat. Please!"

It would be more entertaining to tease the man if he rode with them, but Seo Daeryong's desperation was simply too great.

"Actually, you don't need my permission."

Just then, Geom Woojin and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon emerged from the building.

Geom Woojin boarded the carriage first, and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon followed him. The two of them sat facing each other, while Geom Mugeuk took a seat next to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

Hwi's voice then called out from the driver's seat.

"We will depart now."

The carriage pulled away from the safehouse and started to move.

Father closed his eyes and began to circulate his energy. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon started reading a book.

After observing the two of them for a moment, Geom Mugeuk leaned out of the window on the opposite side. The wind rushed past, making his clothes flutter.

"Uncle, you know, right? We're taking our time on the way back!"

When the carriage came to a stop by a riverbank, Geom Mugeuk finally delivered the words he had been saving for the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

"The competition is a fishing duel."

"Fishing?"

I had my suspicions when he asked if I had ever eaten fish cooked by the Cult Leader, but I didn't think it would actually be a fishing competition.

"The loser has to cook. This is our third match."

"Who won the previous ones?"

"I'm very curious to try my father's third fish dish."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon glanced over at Geom Woojin. His gaze seemed to ask, 'You mean you lost to your son twice?'

Geom Woojin looked from his triumphant son to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, whose expression clearly screamed 'How could you lose at that?'. He then walked silently toward the carriage.

Geom Woojin returned from the carriage holding a fishing rod. It was the exact one he had been crafting back at their residence.

"It's a fishing rod filled with my father's care. It's more valuable than the unique weapon of the East Sea Fisherman."

Hearing Geom Mugeuk's words, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon subtly provoked his father.

"There's more to fishing than just equipment."

As expected, the corner of his father's mouth tilted up in a slight smile.

"Has the Elder ever tried fishing?"

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon simply shrugged.

"I used to catch quite a few fish in my younger days."

There was no way he could let this provocation pass.

"How about it? Would the Elder like to join the competition? It doesn't matter to me since I'll be first place anyway."

Was there any chance his father's pride would allow him to sit this out?

"It doesn't matter to me either."

Geom Mugeuk then pulled Seo Daeryong into the contest as well.

"Since we're doing this, let's make it a four-way competition. Father and son, master and disciple. Who will come in last?"

They had plenty of fishing rods, since he had made several while competing against his father.

Geom Mugeuk and Geom Woojin took their rods first and walked to the riverbank.

The scenery was breathtakingly beautiful. Nameless wildflowers bloomed along the river, and the water flowed gently, its surface sparkling with fragments of sunlight.

Just being here, fishing with his father in a place like this, made Geom Mugeuk feel wonderful.

"Have you prepared a new recipe?"

The duel started with Geom Mugeuk's provocation.

WHOOSH.

His father's hand movements were incredibly smooth and fluid as he cast the fishing line.

The line flew straight across the water before sinking beneath the surface.

Truly, just watching him cast a line looked like a performance of a supreme martial art.

But fishing isn't a martial art, Father. Considering all the fish I've caught in my life, I'm sorry, but you still have a long way to go.

Geom Mugeuk also began to fish in earnest.

Watching the two of them, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's heart began to race. When it came to a competitive spirit, he was second to none.

Cult Leader, of all things, how could you lose at fishing to a kid? I'll show you how it's done.

Overflowing with confidence in his own fishing skills, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon led Seo Daeryong to the riverbank.

"There are certain spots where the fish bite well."

"What about the spots where the Cult Leader and Young Cult Leader are?"

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon shook his head.

"What do those two know about fishing? They only know how to kill people. Let's see now."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon scanned the riverbank with an expert's eye.

"There. Where the current is slow, there are stones, rocks, and aquatic plants, and it's shaded under a tree. Places like this are good for catching fish."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon took his position under a large, arching willow tree.

He also found a spot for his disciple.

"You fish over there. It's just as good a spot as mine."

"Thank you, Master!"

Seo Daeryong's spot was situated between the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and Geom Mugeuk.

Seo Daeryong cast his line with a clumsy motion and remarked, "This is the first time I've ever fished in my life. All I know is that the true charm of fishing is the wait! The patience to fish for time itself!"

"Who told you that? The charm of fishing is the feel of the line when you reel one in! You can wait all day just for that one feeling! Do you understand?"

"Yes, Master!"

And so, the four men began to fish by the gently flowing river.

From a distance, Hwi stood watching them in front of the parked carriage.

He had experienced many unexpected things on this journey, and another one was being added to the list at that very moment.

Who would have thought he would ever see the Cult Leader, the Young Cult Leader, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, and his disciple all fishing together?

The fishing rod belonging to the very person who had created this surprising change bent sharply.

"Here we go. The first bite!"

With skilled hands, Geom Mugeuk reeled it in, not letting it get away.

"It's big. So big!"

Geom Mugeuk beamed as he held up the fish he had caught, showing it off to everyone.

A flicker of disappointment at missing the first fish crossed Geom Woojin's face.

He couldn't remember. That was why the expression in that moment was so precious to Hwi.

Only Hwi saw that fleeting look. Had he ever seen such a disappointed expression on the Cult Leader's face? No matter how hard he thought about it, he couldn't recall. How much time had passed?

The next person to catch a fish was, unexpectedly, Seo Daeryong.

"Ah! I caught one!"

Seo Daeryong had really managed to reel in a fish.

"It's my first time, the first fish I've ever caught in my life!"

Seo Daeryong jumped up and down with joy.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon came over and showed him how to remove the fish from the hook. As he placed it in the net, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon spoke to the fish. "Getting caught by a complete novice like him, you must be a pretty clueless one."

It seemed this river was home to many blind and clueless fish.

"I caught another one," Seo Daeryong shouted happily.

"Beginners always have good luck. It's always like that at first."

Growing slightly anxious, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's gaze shifted to Geom Woojin. Seeing the determination not to lose in the Cult Leader's eyes, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's own fighting spirit flared.

A shout suddenly extinguished that flame.

"I caught another one!"

This time, Geom Mugeuk had reeled in a fish.

"Oh! Young Cult Leader! That's a big one!"

Seo Daeryong, who had been cheering along, suddenly shivered.

"Why does it suddenly feel cold?"

Geom Mugeuk laughed at Seo Daeryong's words. A chilling aura was now flowing from his father on the left and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon on the right.

You punk, Daeryong! You've survived this long on your wits alone, what are you doing now? Don't catch any more, don't catch any more!

Finally sensing the change in atmosphere, Seo Daeryong realized his mistake. He had been so excited about his first time fishing that he had failed to read the room. He cursed himself for it.

But something was wrong. Every time Geom Mugeuk caught one, Seo Daeryong also reeled in a fish.

He couldn't just intentionally not catch them either. If he did that, knowing his master's personality, a storm of reprimands would surely fall upon him.

Geom Mugeuk reeled one in, and then Seo Daeryong reeled one in. As if by some lie, the fish only bit the bait of the two younger men.

Then, for the first time, Geom Woojin reeled in a fish.

"Congratulations, Father. That's the biggest one caught so far."

Geom Woojin's expression relaxed, but the Blood Heaven Blade Demon grew more anxious.

After one hour had passed, the score was as follows. Geom Mugeuk had eight fish, Seo Daeryong had six, Geom Woojin had three, and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had three.

They had agreed to a two-hour duel, so only one hour remained.

Geom Woojin reeled in his line and walked somewhere. The place he headed for was right between Seo Daeryong and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. He had decided to move, thinking he would lose at this rate.

As the Cult Leader stood next to him, Seo Daeryong very slowly and stealthily began to move toward Geom Mugeuk.

[Young Cult Leader, let me get closer to you!]

[You have a talent for being an assassin!]

Seo Daeryong was truly moving away from Geom Woojin, little by little, without being obvious.

In the midst of it all, Seo Daeryong's float went down again.

Ugh!

Please don't get caught! he begged, but the fish seemed to love Seo Daeryong.

And so, as Seo Daeryong moved toward Geom Mugeuk, Geom Woojin and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon stood side by side, fishing.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon saw it. He saw the heat rising in Geom Woojin's eyes, a clear declaration that he would not lose. He hadn't come over to talk. He had really come to catch fish.

Right, the man with this kind of competitive spirit was the Cult Leader.

Then he suddenly remembered the fortune he had tucked away in his chest.

The Young Cult Leader's fortune came out as the Unification of the World.

What would the Cult Leader's reaction be if he saw this?

The Cult Leader's dream was the unification of the murim, so what if his son's fortune was the unification of the world?

It was impossible to know what fate held for the two of them.

Clouds drifted slowly between the mountain ridges across the river. Geom Woojin, who had been staring at the clouds, spoke abruptly to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

"It's been a long time since I've fished."

Surprised by his words, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon asked, "You remember?"

Geom Woojin nodded.

They had gone fishing together in their youth. It was just once. At that time, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had taught Geom Woojin how to fish, explaining what bait was good and where the best spots were. He had taught him everything, just as he had with Seo Daeryong. That had been Geom Woojin's first time fishing.

"Looks like I taught you wrong."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon smiled faintly at Geom Woojin's words.

That day felt as vivid as yesterday.

After decades, here they were again, standing side by side, fishing.

"A bet is meant to be won. I'll find us a new spot."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon's eyes sparkled as he began to survey the surroundings.

One hour later.

Geom Woojin was cleaning fish.

Next to him, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was trimming vegetables.

The last place finisher was Geom Woojin, and third place was the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

Geom Mugeuk, Seo Daeryong, and Hwi watched them.

"I finally have something I can beat my father at!"

The person who had caught the second most fish was none other than himself. He had beaten the two people in the world he should never beat, all at once.

Unlike the elated Geom Mugeuk, Seo Daeryong looked as if the sky had fallen.

"The spot my Master found for me was good. I was lucky."

Of course, those words did little to console the third-place finisher, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

"Luck is also a skill."

At the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's words, Seo Daeryong, his face half-dazed, sent a telepathic message to Geom Mugeuk.

[Surely they won't hold a grudge against me for something like this, right?]

[If you knew how much effort Father put into making that fishing rod, you wouldn't be saying that.]

[Then what's going to happen to me now?]

[What do you mean, what's going to happen? You'll step down from your position as the Sanzu Hall Director and become an investigator again. The Elder will probably pick a new disciple. Didn't he say there was a really nice kid among his existing disciples? You'll be fine, right? You don't have any ambition for power or fame, do you?]

…I have a lot, actually.

While they were talking, Geom Woojin's cooking continued.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon tossed vegetables into the air and swung the Heaven Destroying Dao.

SLICE SLICE SLICE SLICE SLICE SLICE SLICE SLICE!

The vegetables were thinly sliced by the giant dao and fell perfectly into a bowl. It was a miraculous sight, the likes of which he had never seen.

His father also played along with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's excitement. When he extended his hand, spice containers flew from his pouch via telekinesis and danced in the air.

Chili powder scattered like blood, and salt fluttered down like snow.

Both of them looked excited. His father, in particular, had every reason to be in a bad mood, yet he seemed happier than during any of the three times he had cooked.

So he quietly asked Hwi.

"It's different from last time, isn't it?"

"It seems so."

There was no way his father, the incarnation of competitiveness, would be in such a good mood after losing three times in a row.

Geom Mugeuk found one possible reason.

"Could it be because he wanted to cook for Elder Blade Demon? Or maybe he's enjoying this moment of cooking together?"

If not for an opportunity like this, he would never have a reason to cook for the Blade Demon himself, nor would he have the chance to cook with him. It had never happened before, and it would likely never happen again.

Hwi smiled and nodded.

Do you know, Young Cult Leader? It's been a very long time since the Cult Leader has looked this happy.

Geom Woojin personally filled a bowl with the fish he had cooked and gave it to Seo Daeryong.

"Oh my! Giving it to me first!"

Seo Daeryong accepted the bowl, not knowing what to do with himself.

Geom Mugeuk teased him.

"Second place is more than qualified to eat!"

Seo Daeryong's face turned pale as he screamed with his eyes. Please stop! Stop calling me second place!

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon played along with Geom Mugeuk's prank.

"Then I suppose third place isn't qualified to eat."

As he started to get up, Seo Daeryong desperately stopped him.

"Master! Please, have your meal!"

Pretending to be persuaded, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon sat back down and sent a telepathic message to Geom Mugeuk.

[You punk, you should have let your father win.]

[I have to win so we can do it again. You know Father's personality, don't you? He'll come back after practicing his fishing.]

[Do you like your father that much?]

What should he say in reply?

[Yes, I do.]

That one phrase should be enough.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked at the Cult Leader.

How could I not be envious of this?

Bowls filled with food were placed in front of everyone.

Seo Daeryong was already worried if this overwhelmingly gracious fish dish would even go down his throat, but that was a needless fear. The fish dish made by the Cult Leader was incredibly delicious.

"It's delicious! This isn't an exaggeration or flattery, it's really delicious!"

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon also ate Geom Woojin's cooking. Come to think of it, this was the first time he had ever eaten a dish made by the Cult Leader.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon continued to eat silently. He conveyed that the food was good not with words, but by emptying his bowl completely.

"Today's is the most delicious." Geom Mugeuk smiled brightly as he looked at his father.

Geom Woojin wore a satisfied expression as he watched his son, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, Hwi, and Seo Daeryong eat well.

The five of them sat around and ate. To a passerby, it would look like a simple meal shared by ordinary travelers.

This was the everyday life that Geom Mugeuk desperately wished for.

Geom Mugeuk turned this scene into a painting and stored it in his heart.

I like this moment more than when Father defeats his enemies. That's why I'm going to keep trying to create moments like this.

After finishing the meal, Geom Mugeuk looked at Seo Daeryong.

Sensing the mischief in the gaze directed at him, Seo Daeryong shook his head silently. I don't know what it is, but please don't!

"Since last place and third place cooked, first and second place should do the cleanup."