Chapter 623: We Just Have to Not Get Caught

TL: FoodieMonster007

"The First Young Lord has arrived safely at the second residence."

At the Strategist's report, Geom Mugeuk and Sama Myeong were relieved.

Next to the existing map of the Central Plains, an incredibly detailed topographical map centered on the Murim Alliance Headquarters had been created. Three flags stood upon it.

Two flags that had been on the verge of getting closer were now far apart. They were the flags of Geom Muyang and the Cold Moon Warrior.

Between those two flags, another flag had been planted. It was the one that had separated the two flags that should never have met. The Demon Supreme banner of the Poison King.

Right, if not for that green flag, who else could have sent the enraged Cold Moon Warrior back alive?

Thank you, Poison King. When you return, I'll offer my body and let you conduct all the poison experiments you want.

Sama Myeong said to Geom Mugeuk, "The critical situation has passed, so you should go and rest. I'll take care of the remaining work in the Heavenly Demon Hall."

The two of them had been working in the Heavenly Demon Hall as usual when they received an urgent message and came to the All-Knowing Hall.

He would have liked to just read books in the Heavenly Demon Archives, but he had to do his duties while reading. A task far more important than reading was filling his father's position.

"No, I'll handle the remaining work in the Heavenly Demon Hall," Geom Mugeuk countered. "You're the one who should be resting, Strategist."

"I'm fine."

"I'm not fine."

Because of the state of emergency in the All-Knowing Hall, Sama Myeong hadn't been sleeping properly lately. The accumulated fatigue was plainly visible on his face.

"Come this way."

Geom Mugeuk took Sama Myeong's hand and pulled him along. The place they went to was the room with a bed inside the All-Knowing Hall that he had shown him before.

"Get some sleep, even if it's just for a moment. I'm not leaving until you lie down."

As Geom Mugeuk stubbornly insisted he wouldn't back down, Sama Myeong had no choice but to lie down on the bed.

"Then I shall be rude to the Acting Cult Leader."

Sama Myeong closed his eyes, thinking that Geom Mugeuk would leave if he at least pretended to be asleep.

Just then, Geom Mugeuk's hand moved lightly.

The gentlest finger qi bullet Geom Mugeuk had ever launched flew out and pressed Sama Myeong's vital points. It was such an exquisite technique that he didn't even realize his acupoints were being pressed.

Without even realizing he was falling asleep, Sama Myeong drifted off.

Geom Mugeuk left the room and spoke quietly to the attendant Strategist who was assisting Sama Myeong.

"He'll wake up on his own in four hours. Don't wake him before then, not even if the Murim Alliance attacks."

"Yes! I will obey your command."

Knowing full well how much Sama Myeong was overworking his old body, the attendant Strategist bowed respectfully with a grateful expression.

After leaving the All-Knowing Hall, Geom Mugeuk returned to the Heavenly Demon Hall and took care of the day's tasks. Fortunately, he could now handle the cult's affairs with some proficiency.

Whenever he had to make a choice, he always thought.

What decision would Father make?

Then the choice became easier. He focused not on his own thoughts or opinions, but on what his father would have done. After all, he was only filling in for his father.

Having finished all his duties, Geom Mugeuk next headed for the Heavenly Demon Archives. His days were busy.

Geom Mugeuk entered the Heavenly Demon Archives and immediately selected a book.

Nothing is as subject to personal taste as reading. That's why people usually end up reading only the types of books they like.

However, Geom Mugeuk once again randomly picked the books he would read today.

The unexpected lessons that come from not choosing what you read. The unique knowledge and inspiration gained from a book one would never read because it's outside their field of interest was an experience that those who haven't tried it could never feel.

Geom Mugeuk vaguely sensed it. He wouldn't gain something just by reading many books here in the Heavenly Demon Archives, but rather from the choice to read indiscriminately.

After selecting all the books, Geom Mugeuk snapped his fingers.

TAK!

In this field where a cool breeze blew, there was only a single desk and a single chair.

He had tried various methods so far. He had read comfortably lying in a hammock strung between two trees, he had read leaning against a bed, and he had read lying on his stomach on a warm floor. However, in the end, he chose to simply sit at a desk and read. This was the most comfortable.

Today, too, Geom Mugeuk read and read. He read martial arts manuals, history books, poetry collections, adventure novels, and the autobiographies of peerless masters. He simply read whatever book his hand landed on.

The more he read, the more he had the strange experience of not knowing more, but of realizing how much he didn't know. With every book, his eyes were opened to a new field.

Previously, unless it was a special case, he never read martial arts manuals at all. To say nothing of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art, even the Soaring Sky Sword Art alone was a supreme martial art that made it unnecessary to covet any other.

However, this time he read other martial arts books as well. They were well worth reading. After all, they were martial arts worthy of being included in the Heavenly Demon's library.

Geom Mugeuk set aside the book he had finished and opened the next one.

The Principles of Wielding the Iron Hammer.

A title that really makes me not want to turn the page.

A 'chu' refers to a weight, and in the murim, there are very rare martial artists who use weights as weapons. However, one might only see a martial artist who uses a weight once or twice in a lifetime.

Therefore, an ordinary martial artist would not have even taken it from the shelf, but Geom Mugeuk was different. He had decided to read every book without discrimination.

As he turned the pages, Geom Mugeuk tilted his head. The title and the contents of the manual were different. The book's content is about a martial art that uses a throwing knife?

Geom Mugeuk examined the book's cover. Looking closely, he could see that someone had pasted a new cover on it.

"……"

When he tore off the cover, a new title was written underneath. It was a different martial arts manual, but someone had attached the title of a martial art that no one would be interested in.

The moment he saw the newly revealed title, Geom Mugeuk was startled. It was a martial arts manual he knew. It was also a martial art that someone he knew had desperately wanted.

"So it was here!"

Geom Mugeuk's gaze deepened at the profundity of the fate arranged by the heavens.

He immediately released the Spacetime Manipulation Technique. After taking the hidden manual, he grabbed another book that was on the shelf. Both of these books were for him.

At that moment, outside the Heavenly Demon Archives, the head bodyguard Cheokyeon was leaving food. He himself could not go inside, nor could he stay here, so he would leave food at the entrance like this, and later, the empty dishes would be put out.

Geom Mugeuk usually came out after six to eight hours, but he consumed an enormous amount of food for that amount of time.

Has he suddenly developed a huge appetite?

The amount of food Geom Mugeuk requested was enough to make one think several people were inside. But without fail, all the dishes came out empty.

Cheokyeon worried to himself. "Is it really alright for you to eat this much, Young Cult Leader?"

He did not know. That while it was one meal outside, because the Heavenly Space Secret Art was in effect, several meals were needed. That two hours outside was fourteen hours inside.

The only relief was that he wasn't gaining any weight. Does reading books consume that much mental energy?

"What worries you so much that you're binge-eating like this?"

Just then, the door of the Heavenly Demon Archives opened and Geom Mugeuk came out.

"Whose worries do you think? It's worry for my brother."

Cheokyeon was startled. "Young Cult Leader! No, Acting Cult Leader!"

Geom Mugeuk quickly dashed off somewhere. "Don't ever have an older brother in your life!"

"That's not really something I can decide… but where are you going?"

"To the kitchen."

"I brought food here!"

"I'm not going to eat, I'm going to cook."

"What?"

Leaving the bewildered Cheokyeon behind, Geom Mugeuk vanished from sight in an instant.

A meal was prepared in the space where the Heavenly Demon dines. It was a meal personally prepared by Geom Mugeuk for one person.

One person entered the room. It was the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, wearing a white mask and a pure white martial arts uniform.

Geom Mugeuk, who was standing in front of the food, greeted him. "It's been a while, Smiling Demon."

This was his first reunion with the Smiling Demon since returning to the cult. He had missed him dearly, but it was a moment he had saved and cherished.

"I greet the Cult Leader."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon greeted him with formal respect. He did not call him Acting Cult Leader, but addressed him as Cult Leader.

How could Geom Mugeuk not understand? The heart of the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, who had deliberately omitted the word 'Acting'. It wasn't out of disrespect for his father, but a sign of respect for him, who had ascended to the position of Acting Cult Leader for the first time.

"The title 'Cult Leader' feels awkward."

"It's a title you'll hear until you're sick of it later."

"That position, don't even mention it. I never knew there was so much work. How troubled must I be for someone like me, who hates books, to be reading in the Heavenly Demon Archives?"

"That's not the reason, is it?"

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon knew what was in Geom Mugeuk's heart. "You're enduring your desire to run to the First Young Lord by reading books, aren't you?"

"How did you know?"

That feeling was truly there. No matter how much he trusted the Poison King and the Demonic Buddha. He was still worried about his brother.

The two eyes behind the mask seemed to say.

How could I not know the Young Cult Leader's heart?

Geom Mugeuk asked with a smile, "Have you ever been here before?"

"This is my first time."

A dining place was the most unfitting location for the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon. That's why today's meeting would be all the more meaningful.

"Here, please sit."

Geom Mugeuk and the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon sat facing each other.

"I made all of this food myself."

Surprise flickered in the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's eyes. He was well aware of the cooking skills Geom Mugeuk had shown while camping, but to prepare such a magnificent spread?

"The day you took off your mask, didn't I say I would treat you to a meal and drinks? Today is that day."

The two eyes behind the mask smiled brightly. Geom Mugeuk had not forgotten the words he had said in passing.

And there was a reason why Geom Mugeuk had chosen this place. "This is probably the quietest place to have a meal in our Cult, no, in this entire murim."

It was an invitation to take off his mask and eat comfortably here. A place where no one could steal a glance at his face. It was a consideration for the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon.

No matter how close they became, no matter how deep a loyalty the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon showed, Geom Mugeuk did not grow complacent in this relationship. The closer they got, the more he tried to be polite and treat him well.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon stared at Geom Mugeuk silently before slowly starting to remove his mask. The moment he removed his mask after the last battle and the moment he was removing it now were different yet again.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon placed the pure white, smiling mask on the table. The face of the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon was revealed from beneath the mask. Benevolent eyes and perfectly harmonious features. As expected, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon was handsome, even seeing him again.

"I have long awaited this day, when I could drink comfortably with the Young Cult Leader."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon first politely poured alcohol into Geom Mugeuk's cup, and Geom Mugeuk filled his cup in return. The two men's cups clinked in the air with a clear sound.

After taking a refreshing drink, Geom Mugeuk picked up his chopsticks and said, "Please, try some."

After tasting the food, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon was genuinely impressed. "You made this yourself?"

Then, Geom Mugeuk took out one of the two books he had brought. This was the second book he had taken from the bookshelf. "I found this book in the Heavenly Demon Archives."

Uncle Tae's Cuisine Guide.

That book was a cookbook written by Tae Jeong, who was once the most famous chef in the Central Plains. It was a secret manual considered legendary among chefs.

"I cooked according to the secret methods written here. Of course, the chefs helped a little. Now, even if I get kicked out of my position as Young Cult Leader, I won't starve to death. I'll be reborn as the world's greatest chef."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon laughed at Geom Mugeuk's joke. Seeing him laugh made Geom Mugeuk feel good. The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon is more cool and mysterious when he wears his mask. However, there was an unburdened joy in that handsome laugh.

"Oh, by the way, I had a miraculous encounter in the Heavenly Demon Archives this time."

"Congratulations. Truly, congratulations."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon was as happy as if it were his own good fortune. Yes, the Smiling Demon was the kind of person who could genuinely share in joy, which is said to be ten times harder to share than sorrow.

That must be why I can present this to him with such a happy heart.

"The miraculous encounter wasn't for me."

To the puzzled Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, Geom Mugeuk took a book out from his robes. It was the martial arts manual that had been hidden under a different cover.

The Laughing Fragrance Dagger Technique.

Seeing the title of the manual, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon was shocked. It was the first time he had ever looked so surprised.

"I brought it as a gift for you, Smiling Demon."

Then, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon asked in a trembling voice, "How did you know I was looking for this martial art?"

Because you told me. The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon from my life before regression. The one who had wanted to be my friend.

The Extremely Savage Demonic Palm, the Blood Calamity Finger, and the Laughing Fragrance Dagger Technique. He said that if these three martial arts were harmonized, they could display truly invincible divine power. But he lamented that at some point, the Laughing Fragrance Dagger Technique was lost, making it impossible to perform the complete martial art.

For whatever reason in the past, that Laughing Fragrance Dagger Technique had been hidden in the Heavenly Demon Archives.

Geom Mugeuk feigned ignorance and asked, "Were you looking for this martial art?"

"Yes, I was."

"When we fought before, didn't you use a throwing knife to face your enemies, Smiling Demon? At that time, I thought it would be good if you had a decent martial art for throwing knives. Then, when I happened to find this martial art and saw it had the character for 'laugh' in it, I thought it might suit the Smiling Demon, so I brought it out."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's eyes trembled. Now that he could see the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's full expression, he could feel his deep emotion.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon was once again amazed at how deeply he was connected to Geom Mugeuk by fate. And he was incredibly grateful to Geom Mugeuk. He felt that this was a debt he would have to repay not just in this life, but in the next as well.

"This is the manual I desperately wanted."

Even his voice trembled.

This isn't a manual that I'm giving you. It's a gift from the past him, the older him from the distant future, to himself. If he hadn't told me, I would never have thought to give this martial art to the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon.

Geom Mugeuk recalled the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon from before his regression.

Don't be so sad anymore. Because you and I have become friends like this.

Geom Mugeuk smiled brightly and held out the manual. "That's a real relief. Since it's something you needed. I'm just this lucky."

However, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon couldn't readily accept the manual. He said worriedly, "As you know, the martial arts manuals of the Heavenly Demon Archives cannot be recklessly taken out without the Cult Leader's permission."

"Aren't I the Cult Leader? You called me Cult Leader just a moment ago, didn't you?"

"No, that's…"

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon wore a troubled expression at Geom Mugeuk's joke. No matter how great his feelings for Geom Mugeuk were, his respect and loyalty for Geom Woojin remained unchanged. He felt uneasy about receiving this martial art while Geom Woojin was absent.

He could have made a big deal out of it, but Geom Mugeuk wanted the Smiling Demon to accept it comfortably.

Geom Mugeuk made a gesture of covering his mouth and whispered quietly. "I've already given a book from the Heavenly Demon Archives to Elder Blade Demon. And I'm going to give this cookbook to the chefs of the Heavenly Demon Hall. So you can accept it with a clear conscience."

Geom Mugeuk added in an even quieter voice. Though he wasn't sure if it was possible in our Cult, where there are no secrets.

"We just have to not get caught by Father."