Chapter 672: Why Are You So Good? Tell Me Why!

TL: FoodieMonster007

Geom Muyang was in his quarters practicing the Heavenly Demon Defense Art.

This was a martial art his younger brother had passed on to him. Geom Mugeuk had even broken the cult's rules for his sake. How could Geom Muyang possibly neglect it? Whenever he had a spare moment, he focused entirely on mastering the Heavenly Demon Defense Art.

While engrossed in his training, Geom Muyang opened his eyes and stopped his practice.

He had sensed someone entering the house. In the past, he would have noticed much later. Even though he had only been learning the art for a short time, it was already showing its effects.

When Geom Mugeuk entered the room, Geom Muyang was standing by the window.

"You're a young man, why are you always staring out the window?"

"So only old people are allowed to look out windows?"

"Young people don't. They can't stand it and just run outside."

"That's just a stereotype."

Geom Mugeuk walked over and stood beside Geom Muyang.

"How did it go?"

"I had a good meeting with the Chairman."

In the entire history of murim, had there ever been an era when the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult could so easily meet the head of the Murim Alliance? His brother was likely the first.

"Are you hungry by any chance?"

When Geom Muyang shook his head, Geom Mugeuk pressed him again.

"This is important. I'm worried you might get so hungry you can't resist and gulp it down."

What kind of nonsense was he about to spout now? Geom Muyang shot his brother a look that said just that.

"Here, I bet this is the first time you've ever seen this."

Geom Mugeuk pulled a white bottle from his robes. The reason he had come running so excitedly was inside this bottle.

As Geom Mugeuk slowly uncorked it, an indescribably pleasant fragrance wafted out.

Geom Muyang, who had been staring quietly at the bottle, was startled.

"Don't tell me this is Blue Sky Stone Essence."

Geom Mugeuk nodded.

"Pay your respects! This is the Cult Leader and Chairman of the miracle herbs world. This is my pathetic older brother, Cult Leader, Chairman."

The aroma alone was overwhelming. Truly, he had never smelled such a sweet fragrance in his entire life.

"Where did you get this?"

It was such an incredible miracle herb that even the stoic Geom Muyang's voice trembled.

"The Chairman gave it to me as thanks for helping out this time. He said to split it with you. And he told me to be sure to pass on his thanks to you as well."

Geom Muyang let out a small, scoffing laugh.

That was impossible. It was even more impossible that the Chairman would have told him to share something so precious.

"I'm fine. You drink it."

"I can't do that. He gave it to us to share."

"Should I go confirm with the Chairman?"

"Go ahead if you don't believe me."

Of course, he couldn't confirm it. It wasn't in Geom Muyang's nature to go to the Chairman and ask, "Did you really tell him to share this with me?"

"It's fine. Even if he did, you drink it all."

"If you don't drink it, I'll throw it away."

"Go ahead."

"You think I can't do it?"

Geom Mugeuk made a motion to dump it on the floor.

Of course, he couldn't.

"Ugh, I'm so nervous it'll spill I can't even pretend to tilt it."

Geom Mugeuk held the bottle with both hands as if it were a sacred offering.

Geom Muyang turned back to the window.

A younger brother who wanted to share Blue Sky Stone Essence with him?

When had their relationship reached this point? It felt like just yesterday they were trying to kill each other, hating one another. In fact, the emotions from that time were still vivid. That was why moments like these sometimes felt so unfamiliar.

Then, he heard Geom Mugeuk's low voice from behind him.

"I'm scared."

When Geom Muyang turned around, the playful look had vanished from Geom Mugeuk's face.

"I'm scared I won't be able to stop these masterminds. As you saw this time, they're persistent bastards who have been patiently preparing for decades. What if someone even more vicious appears and I can't handle them?"

Geom Muyang stared at his brother for a moment before speaking abruptly.

"Are you fighting alone?"

As if he had been waiting for those words, Geom Mugeuk held out the bottle of Blue Sky Stone Essence.

"That's why we should drink it together and fight together. I'm not giving this to you for your sake, I'm giving it to you for mine. So you can protect me. If you keep this up, I'll issue an order in my capacity as the Acting Cult Leader."

How could he refuse the boy when he put it like that?

Geom Muyang said calmly, "Then just one drop! No more."

"Alright. I don't have many drops to give anyway."

"Drink it and leave me the rest."

"I'll drink mine later."

When Geom Muyang reached out his hand, Geom Mugeuk shook his head and said, "Open your mouth."

"What?"

"How can I trust you with this? What if you say you'll only drink one drop, then gulp it all down and claim it was a mistake?"

Geom Muyang's face twisted into an expression of disbelief.

"I'd rather not drink it at all."

"Then you're admitting my guess was right. You were trying to drink it all and failed."

Geom Muyang glared at Geom Mugeuk with a look that screamed, "Are you really insane?"

Geom Mugeuk met his gaze shamelessly.

"If you're innocent, then open your mouth."

Eventually, Geom Muyang slightly opened his mouth.

"Don't you dare close your mouth! If we spill this, we're ruined."

After that stern warning, Geom Mugeuk tilted the bottle without hesitation.

TUK TUK TUK!

Three drops fell in succession. He didn't have a chance to close his mouth after the first drop.

As Geom Muyang stared in shock, Geom Mugeuk shouted, "Talk later, hurry up and circulate your energy!"

This was not a situation to be stubborn, so Geom Muyang immediately sat cross-legged and began to absorb the elixir's effects.

Geom Mugeuk then tipped the remaining Blue Sky Stone Essence into his own mouth.

TUK! TUK!

There were two drops of Blue Sky Stone Essence left.

And so, the two brothers sat side by side, absorbing the energy of the Blue Sky Stone Essence into their bodies.

A warden was not needed. Geom Mugeuk's level was now so high that even if a problem arose, he could temporarily pause the absorption, deal with the issue, and then resume.

Geom Muyang was having a new experience.

A single drop held immense energy, yet he had received three! His meridians all opened up to a colossal energy he had never felt in his life.

Following the flow of his true qi, the energy of the Blue Sky Stone Essence began to melt into his meridians.

SHWAAAA, SHWAAAA!

Each time it dissolved, a powerful energy was transmitted through his meridians. The thrill of that moment was beyond words.

Geom Muyang cautiously, yet boldly, continued to dissolve the energy.

Once all three drops of the Blue Sky Stone Essence were absorbed, the energy raced fiercely through his meridians.

It was a sprint. A sprint of immense power he had never experienced before.

The wildly rushing energy gathered in his qi center and merged with his existing inner arts.

The next moment!

As the magnificent inner arts filled his qi center as if in an explosion, a look of ecstasy spread across Geom Muyang's face. He felt a greater joy now than any pleasure he had ever felt related to martial arts.

After calmly settling his inner arts, Geom Muyang opened his eyes.

A magnificent inner art surged within his qi center, and his eyes had become clearer and deeper. His body felt light, and his skin seemed to glow. He could vividly feel that he had become stronger.

The effects of the Blue Sky Stone Essence were not limited to just enhancing inner arts. It had also cleansed his meridians and further purified his inner arts.

Geom Mugeuk, who had finished circulating his energy first, was watching him.

It seemed he had been waiting, barely even breathing, until he was finished.

"Awesome, right?"

He couldn't deny those words. It was truly awesome.

Geom Muyang nodded silently and asked, "Why did you give me three drops?"

"Damn it! You think I wanted to? My hand slipped."

Geom Mugeuk put on a frustrated expression.

"I'd rather drop my sword fighting an enemy."

It was nonsense. There was no way Geom Mugeuk would have failed to control it, which meant he had intended to give him three drops from the start. He had been tricked by the boy again.

"I was lucky there were two drops left. If I'd poured it all, I would have cut your stomach open."

Instead of taking credit, Geom Mugeuk chose to play the villain.

"Did you think I'd just let you live after our fight for succession? You're going to have a hard life supporting your younger brother. Get ready."

Geom Muyang did not say thank you. Three drops of Blue Sky Stone Essence were not nearly enough to cover the cost of looking after this boy.

Geom Mugeuk shot up from his spot.

"Let's go out."

"Where?"

"We're in Wuhan, we have to at least see the market."

Just as Geom Muyang was about to refuse, Geom Mugeuk beat him to it.

"We came all the way to Wuhan, we have to buy a gift for Father. Aren't you going to buy one? Aigoo, our poor father who only favors his eldest son, when will he ever get a gift from his eldest…"

Before the words could get any longer, Geom Muyang rose from his seat.

The market street in front of the Murim Alliance Headquarters was bustling with people.

Shops lined both sides of the street, and peddlers with stalls slung over their shoulders called out to customers in hoarse voices. Countless pedestrians came and went.

Geom Mugeuk and Geom Muyang appeared on that crowded street.

Geom Mugeuk walked with his face uncovered, but Geom Muyang wore a bamboo hat pulled down low.

"Hyung, no one's looking. And so what if they are?"

However, Geom Muyang did not take off his hat. For a demonic cultivator to walk openly with his face revealed in Wuhan was something only his brother could do.

"Have we ever walked a market street together like this? This is the first time, right?"

He had walked a market street with his father when they traveled together. Today, he was walking with his brother. Would the day come when the three of them could walk together?

He thought his brother would just walk straight ahead, but surprisingly, he looked around at the various stalls as they walked.

It seemed he was genuinely looking for a gift for their father.

Just then, a merchant at a dumpling cart shouted loudly.

"Come and taste dumplings so good you wouldn't notice if the person eating with you dropped dead!"

At those words, Geom Mugeuk turned to his brother and said, "Well, killing someone is pretty hard, so I doubt we'll experience that kind of taste. Still, should we give it a try?"

Geom Mugeuk pulled his brother toward the cart.

They ordered a plate of dumplings, and for street food, they were quite delicious.

"Have you ever stood on the street and bought food before?"

Geom Muyang shook his head.

"What are your thoughts?"

"I'd like to kill one person and eat in peace?"

Geom Mugeuk laughed out loud. It was a rare joke from his brother, so he had to give it a big laugh.

As they ate their dumplings, the two of them looked around.

People haggling and fighting, a woman running with a bowl of food, children chasing after a candy seller, pedestrians moving to avoid men with heavy packs on their backs.

Geom Muyang saw it then. He saw Geom Mugeuk smiling as he watched them.

What was so great that his brother was smiling like that, watching a life he himself had never once paid any mind to?

Geom Mugeuk popped the last dumpling into his mouth.

"Since I lost the Blue Sky Stone Essence, I should at least get to eat this."

Geom Muyang let out a dry laugh.

The two of them started walking again.

As they walked through the market, Geom Muyang's gaze fell on a particular shop.

Geom Mugeuk noticed that the way his brother looked at that place was different from how he looked at others. It was a shop that sold musical instruments.

"Let's go in and have a look."

Geom Mugeuk entered first, and Geom Muyang followed him inside.

"Hyung, do you know how to play any instruments?"

"No."

For someone who said that, the look in his eyes as he gazed at this place was different.

"Right. What instrument would you play? Seeing as I have no sense of pitch, you must be the same. I've never seen Father play either, so it must be in our blood, our blood! All we know how to do is kill people!"

Just then, a sound came from behind him.

He turned in surprise to see Geom Muyang had started to play a bamboo flute.

As he breathed into the short bamboo flute, a beautiful sound flowed out.

The melody pierced through the surrounding noise and spread out.

Geom Mugeuk's eyes widened.

He wasn't just blowing into it. His brother was properly playing a song.

He was truly shocked, as he had never dreamed his brother could play an instrument.

It was another moment that made him realize how difficult it is to truly know someone, no matter how hard you try to see them.

Was it because he felt his brother's heart was in this melody? It was so wonderful to listen to.

When the performance ended, applause erupted from behind them. He turned to see that people who had been walking by had stopped and gathered at the shop's entrance.

Geom Mugeuk shouted at his brother, "What was that? Why are you so good? Tell me why!"

The shop owner also expressed his amazement.

"That was a truly wonderful performance."

Perhaps burdened by the praise from the crowd outside and the owner, Geom Muyang walked out of the shop.

Geom Mugeuk quickly bought the bamboo flute and chased after his brother.

"Why did you buy that?"

"The price of this bamboo flute has already jumped a thousandfold just because you played it. And who knows, we might have a use for it again soon."

When Geom Muyang looked at him as if to ask what he meant, Geom Mugeuk changed the subject.

"You seem like a different person. Imagine, laying out the bodies of your enemies, your hair whipping in a bloody wind, and then playing a tune on the bamboo flute! So cool, so cool! All the women would faint!"

"They'd faint from fear."

It was at that exact moment.

RATTLE.

A cargo cart passed by, splashing muddy water onto his brother's pants.

However, Geom Muyang paid it no mind and kept walking.

"I really thought a bloody wind would blow and the entire Wuhan market would be massacred."

At the nonsensical words, Geom Muyang, who was walking ahead, smiled silently.

Geom Mugeuk could feel it. His brother was also enjoying this moment.

Yeah, you should smile like that more often. Doesn't it look good?

Geom Mugeuk was thoroughly enjoying this time with his brother.

The two of them looked at various things. Geom Mugeuk had been the one to bring up a gift for their father, but Geom Muyang was the one searching more seriously now.

However, there wasn't a gift that particularly caught his eye.

Geom Mugeuk held up a pair of pajamas and asked, "How about some Wuhan-style floral pajamas?"

At Geom Muyang's "Are you out of your mind?" look, Geom Mugeuk shook his head.

"Ah, you haven't seen it."

Geom Mugeuk quietly put the pajamas down.

"Never mind. It's fine. The shock would be too much for you."

As they were walking through the market again, Geom Muyang's gaze stopped at one spot.

An elderly artist was sitting and drawing portraits of passersby.

For some reason, Geom Muyang walked over to the spot and sat down in front of the artist.

Geom Mugeuk followed with a surprised expression and asked, "What are you doing? You're scaring me."

This was his brother, who would never in his life sit in a place like this.

"You sit too."

"Me too?"

Even more surprised, Geom Mugeuk sat down next to his brother.

Could it be that he wanted to have a picture of them together?

As if to confirm it, Geom Muyang took off his bamboo hat for the first time since they arrived at the market.

After revealing his face, he said to the artist, "Please draw us together. I'll pay you more, so please draw it as well as you possibly can."

The artist began to move his brush with great care.

Geom Mugeuk stared at his brother with a shocked face.

Getting a portrait together was surprising enough, but asking him to draw it well?

"Who are you? Where did my brother go, and why are you pretending to be him!"

Even at Geom Mugeuk's joke, Geom Muyang's expression didn't change. He even took it a step further.

"I'm going to have this painting made into a scroll."

"What?"

Geom Muyang said something completely unexpected.

"I'm going to make it and give it to Father."

"!"

Only then did Geom Mugeuk understand his brother's intention. This was the gift for their father.

There could be no greater gift for their father than a picture of his two sons side by side.

"They say there's no younger brother as good as an older one. Were you always this smart?"

"Look forward." Geom Muyang added bluntly, "Or that ugly face of yours might get drawn weird."