Chapter 651: Then I'll Tattle to Father

TL: FoodieMonster007

When Geom Mugeuk and the Poison King returned to their quarters, they found Geom Muyang and the Demonic Buddha drinking tea beside a wide-open window.

Geom Mugeuk paused at the entrance for a moment to watch them.

He could feel the trust in their eyes as they looked at each other. Geom Mugeuk loved the sight. The Demonic Buddha was filling a role for his brother that he himself could not.

Thank you, Demonic Buddha.

Of course, the words that came out of his mouth were completely different from what was in his heart.

"This is too much. While I was fighting a life-or-death battle of three hundred techniques against those terrifying old demons, you two were just relaxing!"

Geom Muyang and the Demonic Buddha glanced at Geom Mugeuk before greeting only the Poison King. As they exchanged pleasantries about the trip and the hard work involved, Geom Mugeuk raised his voice even louder.

"I'm the Young Cult Leader! The acting Cult Leader, even! If you keep this up, I'll go back and summon all the Demon Supremes!"

Of course, Geom Mugeuk had seen it. He saw the unconcealable relief that flashed across his brother's face when he glanced at him.

You were worried, weren't you? I'm back safe and sound.

With that, Geom Mugeuk and the Poison King entered the room where the other two were.

As soon as he entered, the Poison King opened his leather pouch and showed the poisonous herbs to the Demonic Buddha.

"Take a look at this."

"Oh, these are the poisonous herbs the Poison King was looking for."

The Demonic Buddha knew what kind of poisonous herbs the Poison King had been searching for.

"Those herbs changed the person the Poison King cherishes most. The number one spot has been permanently changed."

The Poison King corrected Geom Mugeuk's words.

"It only changed for a very short time."

Geom Mugeuk pouted at the Demonic Buddha. From that action, the Demonic Buddha could tell. He was number one again.

You don't have to tell me like that, Young Cult Leader.

Still, it felt good to hear someone say that he was cherished the most, even if it was just in words.

From those poisonous herbs, Geom Muyang knew for certain that So Cheongrak was already dead. Seeing him whine about fighting a life-or-death battle, it seemed he had killed the two old demons himself as well.

Just then, the Demonic Buddha took something out from a small pocket on the front of the leather pouch.

It was the half-eaten Heavenly Yin Myriad Poisons Grass. This was the very same one he had chewed like a balloon flower root in front of So Cheongrak.

Ah! Not that one!

Geom Mugeuk looked at the Demonic Buddha and shook his head violently, signaling him not to take it out.

The Demonic Buddha tried to subtly put it back, but it was too late.

The Poison King had already seen it and took it from him.

"Yes, I definitely smelled the Heavenly Yin Myriad Poisons Grass. So it was here."

A look of disappointment crossed the Poison King's face.

"Who ate this precious thing?"

"I don't know anything about it," Geom Mugeuk denied flatly.

As Geom Mugeuk flatly denied it, the Poison King carefully examined the cut section.

"I'll just have to check if it matches the shape of your teeth."

How could he possibly match it? He could have just insisted it was like that from the beginning, but Geom Mugeuk was not the type of person to lie to the Poison King about something like this.

"Well… So Cheongrak didn't believe that I have Myriad Poison Immunity. I showed him as an example."

"By eating this precious thing?"

"…Yes. He had to see me chew something potent to believe it. It looks cool that way."

Geom Mugeuk needlessly blamed the innocent Demonic Buddha.

"Hey! It's one thing to be good at finding poisonous herbs, but what am I supposed to do if you find things in the front pocket of the pouch too?"

"I just had a feeling."

"You had a feeling that the Young Cult Leader was about to get scolded by the Poison King from that front pocket, didn't you? Right?"

The Demonic Buddha smiled apologetically.

"Fine. I admit it. I concede the position of the person the Poison King cherishes most to the Demonic Buddha!"

Geom Muyang listened to their conversation in silence.

Even when Geom Mugeuk made silly jokes, they contained an effort to improve the relationship between the Demonic Buddha and the Poison King. He could now clearly see what kind of heart that effort stemmed from.

He doesn't have to be closest to me.

Because of this mindset, he did not distort the relationships others formed with different people. He was not jealous either. Geom Muyang knew how difficult that was when forming relationships with people. The closer you became, the more difficult it was.

Only after the commotion, which was not quite a commotion, died down did Geom Mugeuk speak seriously.

"By the way, there's something the Demonic Buddha and you, Hyung, need to know."

Geom Mugeuk told the two of them what he had experienced on his way back. It was the story of the woman he met in the marketplace.

"The opponent is a master of soul-capturing arts."

A brief silence fell at the words 'soul-capturing arts'.

"I don't know what their intentions are yet."

Geom Mugeuk had previously judged that it was not a simple warning to turn back, but that there was another intention. For now, that intention was also important, but this was the priority.

"We must prepare for the soul-capturing arts. We absolutely cannot fall victim to them."

Among those present, the one with the most expertise in soul-capturing arts was the Demonic Buddha.

The Demonic Buddha said to Geom Mugeuk, "The soul-capturing arts will barely work on the Young Cult Leader, who has mastered the Nine Calamities Demonic Art."

On top of that, since he had also mastered the Heavenly Demon Defense Art, there was no chance of his mind being controlled by soul-capturing arts.

"The chances of me falling for soul-capturing arts are also slim."

The Demonic Buddha's martial arts were also inherently strong against soul-capturing arts.

Geom Mugeuk's gaze turned to the Poison King.

"What about you, Poison King?"

The Poison King also had a countermeasure.

"I don't have to worry about soul-capturing arts either."

"In the Thousand Poisons Forest, from the moment one acquires three or more poison sacs, they periodically consume the fruit of the Soul Heart Grass. The Soul Heart Grass has the effect of clearing a person's mind and blocking the invasion of evil arts that attack the spirit. Naturally, the longer you take it, the more effective it is."

Geom Mugeuk thought that even without the Soul Heart Grass, it would not be easy for an external force to penetrate the mental world of a person like the Poison King.

The only one left was Geom Muyang.

"The problem is me, then."

His former self would have become very sensitive and his pride would have been hurt in a situation like this. But now, he did not show such discomfort.

Geom Mugeuk said to the two Demon Supremes, "Would you please excuse us for a moment?"

At the sudden suggestion, the Demonic Buddha said to the Poison King, "I'll help you organize the poisonous herbs."

"Thank you."

The two of them left without asking Geom Mugeuk why he wanted them to leave.

On his way out, the Poison King waved the half-eaten Heavenly Yin Myriad Poisons Grass at Geom Mugeuk once before leaving.

"Ugh, he's so persistent. So incredibly persistent when it comes to poison."

And so, only Geom Mugeuk and Geom Muyang remained.

"What is it?"

Geom Mugeuk then walked to the window. He could see the Poison King and the Demonic Buddha, who had left the room, walking into the courtyard. Geom Mugeuk shut the window tightly.

Geom Muyang wondered why his younger brother had suddenly sent the two Demon Supremes out. The reason was something he had never expected.

"From now on, memorize the incantation I'm about to tell you."

"What are you talking about all of a sudden?"

"It's a martial art I learned from the Heavenly Demon Archives. A mind art to counter soul-capturing arts."

Geom Muyang was flustered. He was suddenly going to teach him a martial art to counter soul-capturing arts?

"But the incantation is really difficult. You'll have to hear it repeated several times to memorize it."

However, Geom Muyang's gaze soon became intense.

"Alright, teach me."

As things stood, he was in a situation where he could not fight on the front lines. If he made one wrong move, he could become a burden, and that was something Geom Muyang never wanted.

"Alright, let's begin."

Geom Mugeuk released his energy to create a barrier around the two of them. It was to prevent the words spoken inside from leaking out. His younger brother had never been this cautious before, which made Geom Muyang even more curious.

Just what kind of martial art is this?

Just as Geom Muyang was about to ask the name of the martial art, Geom Mugeuk began to recite the mind art's incantation. The transmission had truly begun without him even knowing the name of the martial art.

First, Geom Muyang focused on memorizing the incantation.

"You must move the qi gently from the Myeongmun acupoint to Sinyu, Jisil, and Wiyu. The inner qi at this time must be as light as snow landing on a blade of grass. Up to Biyu, Ganyu, and Gyeogyu, the speed at which you move the qi is important…"

The incantation was truly difficult. He was only able to memorize it all after hearing it repeated several times. He could tell by the feel of it.

This is a martial art of an unspeakably high level.

After having his brother repeat and memorize the incantation several times, Geom Mugeuk spoke.

"Alright, this time, let's perform it together."

Geom Mugeuk was not just transmitting the incantation. He intended to teach it to him completely.

"Because the situation is urgent."

Geom Muyang could tell. That was part of the reason, but he also knew Geom Mugeuk wanted to teach him because the martial art itself was so difficult. Even after memorizing the incantation, there were parts he could not get a feel for at all. Moreover, it was such a supreme martial art that moving his inner qi incorrectly could result in severe internal injuries.

In that moment, Geom Muyang did not assert his pride. There is a truth that an incarnation of vain pride naturally learns when he has the world's most humble younger brother.

That a person falls because of pride and rises because of humility.

"Alright, I'm counting on you."

Geom Muyang's life was truly changing.

Geom Mugeuk injected a stream of qi through his brother's back. Like an advance scout, it moved along the meridians, directly teaching him how to move his inner qi.

"This is how I interpreted 'as light as snow.' Here, feel it."

Geom Mugeuk first demonstrated the movement with his own inner qi.

For each difficult section, Geom Mugeuk gave a direct demonstration and explained it simply. Such a process could easily ruin the recipient, but the one teaching was Geom Mugeuk.

Like that, Geom Muyang felt Geom Mugeuk's inner qi and completed the incantation to the end. There were several dangerous passes along the way, but he calmly trusted and followed Geom Mugeuk.

It was truly something that could never be done without trust in each other.

After completely learning the martial art, Geom Muyang could tell. He thought that if Geom Mugeuk had not taught him so easily, it might have taken him years to learn it on his own. No, he might not have been able to learn it properly at all.

"Hyung, take a short break."

Geom Muyang was sweating profusely from concentrating so hard. But he did not rest.

"I'll try it right away while I still have the feel for it."

Geom Muyang moved his inner qi alone, following the incantation.

Geom Mugeuk watched his brother's condition, tense. He was ready to inject his inner qi immediately if a problem arose.

Geom Muyang finished the incantation safely.

"As expected! My brother, you're amazing. I mean, whose son are you? How could you not pull this off?"

The joy that surged through him like a thrill was not because of his brother's praise. When he finished the incantation, there was an overwhelming sense of emotion that he felt throughout his body.

Had he ever felt such a full sense of satisfaction when learning a martial art? He did not think he had felt this way even when he learned the Soaring Sky Sword Art.

Geom Muyang asked with an overwhelmed heart, "Just what martial art is this?"

Then, an astonishing name came from Geom Mugeuk's lips.

"It's the Heavenly Demon Defense Art."

In an instant, Geom Muyang's expression hardened and his eyes flew wide open. He was so shocked he could not say a word.

His younger brother was not one to joke about the Heavenly Demon Defense Art. No, the feeling in his body was already telling him. If this was not the Heavenly Demon Defense Art, how could it possibly give him such a feeling?

Geom Muyang shot to his feet and shouted, "You! Are you crazy?"

Geom Muyang glared at Geom Mugeuk with a fearsome look in his eyes.

"Do you have any idea what you've just done?"

Geom Muyang genuinely scolded his younger brother. The Heavenly Demon Defense Art was a martial art transmitted only to the successor.

"I gave you another life, Hyung."

It is often said that learning the Heavenly Demon Defense Art is like gaining another life.

However, Geom Mugeuk, who had achieved complete mastery of the Heavenly Demon Defense Art, had already experienced it many times. It was not just one life. He had overcome crises with the Heavenly Demon Defense Art more than once or twice. It would help him countless times throughout his life.

"Hyung, this enemy is a master of soul-capturing arts. You can't block it with ordinary martial arts."

The one who weighed most heavily on Geom Muyang's mind was their father.

"If Father finds out, he won't just let it slide."

Aside from that, the fact that he himself had learned it was the problem. He could say he learned it without knowing it was the Heavenly Demon Defense Art. While that was true, he did not want to make such an excuse to his father.

"Father won't know."

"What?"

"As long as you don't say anything, Hyung. The Heavenly Demon Defense Art is a martial art that never shows on the surface. That's also what makes it so great."

"……"

"With this, you and I now have a secret between us, Hyung."

Geom Muyang did not know what to say.

Just then, Geom Mugeuk's gaze deepened as he looked at his brother.

"I didn't teach you just because of this enemy who uses soul-capturing arts."

If the opponent used soul-capturing arts, his brother could just stay back. He would be disappointed, but the person his brother was now would be able to accept it.

"Then why?"

Then, words even more surprising than when he had revealed the martial art was the Heavenly Demon Defense Art flowed out.

"I want you to be by my side, safe, for a long, long time, Hyung."

"!"

It was Geom Mugeuk's true heart. If he could have his way, he would have wanted to teach him the Nine Calamities Demonic Art as well. But that was something that could never happen.

Feeling his younger brother's sincerity, Geom Muyang was unable to say anything.

"Hyung, you've finally got a real weakness of mine. If you tell Father about this, I'll be kicked out of the successor's position."

Of course, he would not be kicked out. At least when it came to the Heavenly Demon Defense Art, their father was in no position to say anything. After all, he had taught it to him in exchange for the Four Strides of the Wind God before he became the successor.

Geom Muyang suddenly recalled something the Demonic Buddha had said.

[The Young Cult Leader would not want the First Young Lord to harbor killing intent as his shadow.]

Geom Muyang said bluntly, his gaze deepening.

"Alright. If I ever get really sick of you, then I'll go tattle to Father."

"We'll probably both be kicked out of our Cult."

And at that very moment.

His brother smiled.

It was the first time. The sight of his brother smiling so brightly. Did his brother even have such an expression?

Geom Mugeuk could tell. That smile was an expression of gratitude greater than his brother saying 'thank you' a thousand times. He knew that the moment he mentioned the smile, it would be a smile he would never see again.

Instead of saying anything to his brother, Geom Mugeuk walked to the window and threw it wide open.

The Poison King and the Demonic Buddha were in the courtyard, laying out the poisonous herbs and talking.

Geom Mugeuk shouted towards them.

"If my brother and I get kicked out by Father, you two will follow us, right?"

The Poison King and the Demonic Buddha glanced at Geom Mugeuk, then returned to their conversation without a word, their heads close together.

"You'll sell medicinal herbs to feed my brother and me, won't you? Right?"

Geom Muyang silently gazed at his younger brother's back.

Once again, the words of the Demonic Buddha came to mind.

'It's not easy being the older brother of such a talented younger brother, is it?'

Geom Muyang quietly closed his eyes and began to move his inner qi according to the incantation of the Heavenly Demon Defense Art. Until now, he had vaguely felt that he had to protect his younger brother simply because he was his brother.

Now, I must properly play the part of that older brother.