Chapter 678: Eating, Drinking, and Lazing Around

TL: FoodieMonster007

"You've changed lately."

Go Wol turned at the sound of the voice behind him and saw the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader standing there.

"What do you mean, Cult Leader?"

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's displeasure was obvious at Go Wol's polite tone.

"For starters, you've changed by speaking to me so formally."

"Aren't we in a place with many watchful eyes?"

The two of them were standing in the inner garden of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

"Watchful eyes, my foot! No one's paying any attention to us!"

Of course, everyone was paying attention. Who would dare ignore the man who was both the former Heavenly Wind Cult Leader and the current Master of the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme?

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader had returned to the cult before Geom Mugeuk and had sought out Go Wol first. However, Go Wol had been so busy with something since returning that it was difficult to even see his face. This was the source of the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's dissatisfaction.

How could Go Wol not understand his heart? He decided that for today, at least, he would stop using the excuse of being busy.

"Cult Leader."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's expression finally softened at Go Wol's informal address.

"I truly enjoy my work."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader then questioned him, as if looking for an argument.

"Do you really enjoy it?"

He looked at Go Wol with a determined gaze. "You've changed. I used to hear the sound of your heart beating, but now all I hear are the gears turning in your head. You used to be hot, but now you've grown cold."

As always, he placed the blame on a single person.

"This is all because of the Young Cult Leader. He doesn't even know that this is the obvious outcome when a perfectionist like you is given a job. No, he probably knows. There's no way someone that smart wouldn't know this."

Of course, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader liked Geom Mugeuk too. Seeing Go Wol suffer like this, however, made him angry.

He felt that Go Wol, after finally being set free, had put on shackles himself. No matter what anyone said, it was always Go Wol over the Young Cult Leader for him.

"Are you trying to make me out to be a cold-blooded monster just to criticize the Young Cult Leader?"

Even Go Wol's joke failed to improve the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's mood.

"What did the Young Cult Leader say? It's obvious, isn't it? 'Sorry for making you work so hard. Let's just endure a little longer. I'm counting on you!' Am I right?"

"I haven't met him yet."

"What?"

"He went hunting with the Cult Leader and the First Young Lord."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader wore a look of disbelief.

"So there was another cold-blooded one. See, I try not to badmouth the Young Cult Leader, but I can't help it. No matter how loyal you are, for the Young Cult Leader, family comes first. It's always family first."

"Isn't that obvious?"

Go Wol stared intently at the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader and posed another question.

"Aren't I your priority? You're my priority above all else, Cult Leader."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was stunned.

Those words meant that they were family to each other. They were also the perfect counter to instantly dissipate the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's anger.

"Because we both know we're that kind of person to each other, the Young Cult Leader uses me, and I am loyal to the Young Cult Leader. There's a certain trust that comes from someone who has things to protect."

After a brief pause, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader spoke. "You only suffer like this every time because you say such easygoing things."

Go Wol's gaze shifted toward the All-Knowing Hall, visible in the distance.

"I have to suffer. This is the path to becoming the master of that place."

It was the first time he had revealed his ambition to become the Head Strategist of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

"Cult Leader, I'm not cold. I'm hotter than I've ever been."

"Good for you, being so hot."

Go Wol smiled at the unnecessary grumpiness.

"Cult Leader, the Young Cult Leader is a man great enough for us to bet our entire lives on. We're the ones using the Young Cult Leader."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader lifted his head and looked toward the distant Daecheon Mountain. He spoke loudly, "The Young Cult Leader has it good. He has a passionate Strategist who understands everything, a father, and a brother. Damn it! How can a man with no family live with all this sorrow?"

Go Wol then walked over to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

"Why don't you have a family? You're hurting the feelings of the family who's listening."

The hunt continued on the day of the second brother. To be precise, it was a day for discovering prey. His brother continuously practiced emitting his ki, finding all sorts of animals. His skill in ki emission improved rapidly, proving that blood really doesn't lie.

It was almost as fast as his own progress as a Heavenly Martial Body, and he could see why.

It was because the martial arts level of their father, who was teaching them, had risen even higher.

"You're teaching my brother better than you taught me! You didn't explain things like that when you were teaching me!"

His father pretended not to hear and focused on teaching his eldest son. He was pouring out all the affection he had been unable to give until now.

While they were training in ki emission, they finally hooked something big.

"I think it's a tiger!"

Geom Woojin nodded at Geom Muyang's words.

"We came here to hunt, so we should at least catch a tiger before we go."

Geom Muyang leaped forward first. Geom Woojin and Geom Mugeuk followed right behind him.

Landing lightly on a rock, Geom Muyang silently drew his bowstring.

Geom Woojin and Geom Mugeuk landed noiselessly behind him. Even a giant spirit beast with an inner core, let alone a tiger, could not escape this hunt.

The figure of a tiger was visible in the distance. It was a truly massive Big Tiger.

The bowstring was pulled taut.

The arrow, which looked like it would fly and pierce the tiger at any moment, was not released.

Geom Muyang spoke politely to his father.

"Its large size makes it seem like a sacred tiger that protects Daecheon Mountain, so I wanted to spare it."

His father nodded.

Just as the two were about to turn away without any lingering attachment, Geom Mugeuk spoke.

"It's not because of them over there?"

Geom Mugeuk was pointing to a spot. A little ways from the tiger were two smaller tigers that appeared to be cubs. Since he had seen them, his father and brother must have seen them too.

"Father, you should tell my brother too. That it's the kind of cheap sentimentality that will get him killed. You would have said that if it were me! You would have told me to catch it right away and replace the hide I sleep on with that one!"

Geom Mugeuk saw it then. The corner of his father's lip was twitching slightly upwards.

Yes, if it were you, I would have said that. Geom Woojin turned and walked away, speaking firmly.

"One shouldn't kill a spirit beast carelessly."

His brother followed behind him with long strides.

Geom Mugeuk watched the tiger cubs follow their mother in the distance and shouted.

"Hey, second brothers, let's do our best!"

A smile formed on the lips of Geom Woojin, who was walking in the lead. It was a rare and precious smile, but unfortunately, his two sons could not see it.

That night, the campfire blazed again.

Geom Mugeuk liked this time of day more than the daytime. He enjoyed grilling and eating meat with his father and brother and drinking together. They shared all sorts of stories with the help of alcohol.

If the mood was enhanced by a night sky full of pouring stars like tonight, his spirits lifted even more.

"Father, may I relax my posture a bit?"

"When have you ever been formal?"

Geom Mugeuk smiled and relaxed his posture, stretching his legs out and leaning back on his arms. He looked up at the stars in the night sky as a cool breeze ruffled his hair. The words, "Ah, this is nice!" escaped his lips naturally.

"Brother, you should relax too. The true taste of camping is in eating, drinking, and lazing around, you know."

Given his brother's personality, that was absolutely impossible in front of their father. Still, considering the dawn when they first set out, his brother was also quite relaxed.

"Father, I will read a book for a bit."

This time, a book emerged from the leather pouch that contained all sorts of things.

Geom Muyang had never imagined reading a book while on a hunt. He asked with curiosity.

"What book is it?"

Geom Mugeuk held up the book's cover. It was a poetry collection.

"You read poetry too?"

"Aigoo, my brother. All you know is how to kill people. What do you know about poetry? About literature?"

He had a motive for taking out the book and saying this in the first place.

"Ah, but you do know a little about music."

At the mention of music, Geom Muyang flinched.

Don't tell me you're…?

Sorry, brother.

Before Geom Muyang could send a telepathic message to stop him, Geom Mugeuk spoke to their father.

"Father, did you know that my brother knows how to play the bamboo flute?"

His flustered brother looked at their father. Almost no one knew, so how could their father possibly know? But surprisingly, his father slowly nodded.

"See, I told you, didn't I? That Father would know."

His father truly knew a lot about his two sons. It was just surprising that he had never shown it so much.

"Brother, in honor of Father's hidden affection, we should have another drink."

Geom Mugeuk tried to take out alcohol from the leather pouch. However, something else came out instead of a liquor bottle.

The moment he saw it, a sigh escaped from Geom Muyang. It was a bamboo flute.

"Huh? Why is this in here? I must have been packing in a hurry and it got mixed in."

No way! Geom Muyang shook his head.

His father didn't stop his younger brother's prank. What did that mean?

He knew that if his younger brother was determined, he would end up playing it eventually. Geom Muyang decided to take the initiative.

"My skills are lacking, but may I play a piece?"

Geom Woojin nodded.

Geom Mugeuk felt he understood the heart contained in that blunt nod. His father had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

Meanwhile, Geom Muyang assumed the proper posture and brought the bamboo flute to his trembling lips. He was probably more nervous now than if he were in front of thousands, or tens of thousands, of people.

When a clear, deep sound flowed out, Geom Mugeuk saw it.

He saw his father gently closing his eyes.

The unspoken words resonated as a beautiful melody. The tune was like the sound of water flowing through a valley and also like a flickering campfire. The pouring stars, intoxicated by the rhythm, sparkled even more brightly.

A clear and deep sound that pierced the heart echoed through Daecheon Mountain.

When the performance finally ended, Geom Woojin opened his eyes.

The father's gaze upon his son was gentle.

"That was truly good."

Just "good" would have been high praise, but he had even added the word "truly" before it.

"Thank you, Father."

Geom Mugeuk had never seen his brother's face look so relieved.

Perhaps something that had weighed heavily on his brother's heart had vanished with this hunt.

When Geom Muyang's gaze turned to him, Geom Mugeuk shouted.

"Believe me! I didn't mean to pack the bamboo flute. I mistook it for a meat-grilling skewer and put it in."

He wasn't sure if he had ever said this to his younger brother.

"Thank you."

The playfulness vanished from the clowning Geom Mugeuk's face.

"Thank you, brother."

Their father watched silently as his sons exchanged thanks.

"Who do we take after to be so cool? As you can see, Father's sons are the kind of sons who read poetry and play instruments."

As he spoke with pride, Geom Mugeuk saw it.

A faint longing flickered in his father's eyes. It was the first time he had sensed such an emotion from his father, but it vanished in an instant.

His father turned his back and lay down on the tiger hide.

"Let's sleep now."

The next day, the three of them climbed to the summit of Daecheon Mountain.

This was a place where the boundary between heaven and earth blurred. The surrounding mountain peaks soared high, looking like murim masters standing tall.

The three stood at the summit and gazed at the magnificent scenery.

The last time he came up here with his father, he had said that he would return whenever his martial arts training became difficult.

He saw the image of his father's younger self overlapping with his father's back.

What were you thinking then, and what are you thinking now?

Just then, his father asked with his back still turned.

"The Nine Calamities Demonic Art has reached the ninth stage, hasn't it?"

His father had seen through more than just the Heavenly Demon Defense Art that his brother had mastered.

"Yes, it has reached the ninth stage."

He wondered about his father.

"How long did it take you to achieve complete mastery from the ninth stage?"

The time it took his father was seven years.

"Seven years."

That was a period of time only possible because it was his father, a man of natural genius.

"You could probably achieve it within five years."

Geom Woojin acknowledged his son's martial talent to that extent. After all, he himself had not reached the ninth stage at Geom Mugeuk's age.

If he achieved complete mastery within five years, he would become a legend. He would be the fastest among all past Cult Leaders to master the Nine Calamities Demonic Art. He would even achieve the legend of mastering it as a Young Cult Leader, before even becoming the Cult Leader.

"If your chest feels tight or you feel a wall during your training, climb this Daecheon Mountain. The energy of Daecheon Mountain will surely help you."

"Yes, I will."

Geom Mugeuk spoke to Geom Muyang with a triumphant air.

"I'm this kind of person. The successor to whom Father lends this entire great Daecheon Mountain!"

If he said it like this, his brother should have retorted, "How is that lending it to you?" or "Is that something to boast about to your brother who was pushed out of the succession?"

"I'm envious."

For a moment, Geom Mugeuk flinched. He couldn't respond to this powerful blow.

"You're ignoring me now, right? Ah, you're saying that because you don't know, brother, but Father brewed alcohol in the year I was born too. He's just teasing me. Come on, Father. Confess now! 'Son, on the day you were born!'"

Geom Woojin started walking with long strides and said, "The sun is setting. Let's head down."

Geom Muyang approached Geom Mugeuk.

"I told you it's a misunderstanding!"

"Give me the pack."

He was asking for the pack on his back.

"It's fine. See Father to the end today."

His brother was silent for a moment, then nodded and turned away. After walking some distance, he looked back and asked.

"Isn't it hard?"

He could tell he wasn't just referring to the pack on his back.

"Of course it's hard. It's killing me."

At those words, his brother grinned and started walking again.

Geom Mugeuk stood in place and watched the two of them walk away. His brother was walking one step closer to their father than when they were climbing up.

Now that they were one step closer, their relationship had become one that required twice the effort. Disappointment and resentment were fellows just waiting for the chance to get close, after all.

From somewhere far away, the roar of a tiger was heard.

Thinking that it might be the tiger his brother had spared, he started walking after the two of them.

"I thought you'd naturally carry the pack on the way down, Father! My brother only knows how to kill people and play the bamboo flute, he's such a heartless person. Can't you hear me? Father?"