Chapter 778: I Need At Least One Pushover Too

TL: FoodieMonster007

Geom Mugeuk went to see his father first. He needed his father's permission to leave the cult with the Demon Supremes, and this time was especially important.

"Father! Your son's fists have now become a man's fists. The days of being teased by Master for having baby fists are over!" he bantered as he walked the Path of Blood. "I've finally achieved complete mastery of the Thunder Arhat Fist. If there's anyone who won't listen to you, just say the word and I'll beat them up!"

"Go beat yourself up then!"

Geom Mugeuk stopped before the throne. "Ah, that's right. No one will disobey you but me, huh?"

Geom Woojin stared silently at his son. "That person has performed a precious secret art for you."

"How did you know?" Geom Mugeuk's eyes widened. Amazingly, his father had noticed that he had grown stronger through the Meridian-Strengthening Electrocution Art.

I'm not surprised that Father recognized Body Reformation in an instant, but the changes from the Meridian-Strengthening Electrocution Art are largely internal. How did he notice it?

Nodding, he continued, "That's right. Master used his exclusive secret art to strengthen my body."

Geom Woojin snorted. There was a reason he had recognized the change instantly. He already knew about the secret art.

"Do you know what kind of secret art it is?" Geom Mugeuk teased.

Geom Woojin feigned ignorance. "Tell me."

"It's a secret art Master dreamed of using for the longest time. Everyone who learns the Thunder Arhat Fist dreams of achieving Body Reformation and then receiving the Meridian-Strengthening Electrocution Art," Geom Mugeuk explained emotionally.

After all, it wasn't just a simple secret art. The Fist Demon had willingly passed his own dream to him, his disciple. Even if the chances of achieving Body Reformation were slim, it couldn't have been easy to give up his lifelong aspiration, yet the Fist Demon hadn't hesitated when making that choice.

"…But he could've at least made a big deal out of it when he did it," Geom Mugeuk added, grumbling.

Geom Woojin smiled at the thought of the man who wasn't here. "That's just the kind of person he is."

Both he and the Fist Demon had lived their entire lives without ever seeking credit.

"Oh, and Master has also reached a new realm."

"I know."

Geom Mugeuk nodded. Of course. Father understood that the Fist Demon had reached a new realm just from the sound of thunder.

"You're truly amazing. Is there anything you don't know, Father?"

"If you're done bragging, you may leave."

"No, I didn't come to see you today to brag."

Geom Mugeuk relayed the message from the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman to his father exactly as he'd heard it.

"…So, it seems I must leave the cult tomorrow. This time, I plan to go out in a proper formation. I'll take all the Demon Supremes with me, leaving only two behind."

Since the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Flower Sword Supreme were outside the cult, there were a total of six Demon Supremes left. This meant he intended to take four of them.

Geom Woojin shook his head. "If you're going to take that many, then you might as well just take them all."

It was a gesture of concern for his son.

"But then you'll have to protect our Cult all by yourself, Father."

The corner of Geom Woojin's mouth lifted slightly. "Why? Do you think I can't protect it alone?"

"Of course you can."

"Then why?"

"Well, if you were to attempt conquering the murim while I'm gone, someone has to be here to stop you, right?" Geom Mugeuk said jokingly.

However, he wasn't actually exaggerating. Not even he could imagine how powerful his father, who had reached the Twelfth Star mastery of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art, currently was.

If someone saw Father walking out of the Heavenly Demon Hall alone and asked where he was going, and he said, "I'm going to conquer the murim." Would that person dare to laugh?

"We also have to consider Strategist Sama. If all the Demon Supremes leave the cult, our dear strategist will be extremely worried. Uncle Hwi and the bodyguard units will also be several times more concerned. So, I'll leave two of the Supremes behind."

Geom Woojin sighed. His son was right. He couldn't cause others worry because of his selfishness.

Now, however, he started to get curious about who would be taken away and who would be left behind.

"So, who's staying behind?"

The Drunken Demon was completely wasted. When he saw Geom Mugeuk, he waved his hand, his words slurring in a lazy drawl, "My little brother! Come quick and pour this hyung a drink."

Geom Mugeuk was baffled. The Drunken Demon had drunk so much that the area around the Drunken Dream Palace was thick with alcohol qi, like a fog. "Why are you so drunk in the middle of the day?"

The Drunken Demon shook a liquor bottle. "This bastard here is my only friend in this lonely life!"

Geom Mugeuk instantly understood. Ah, he's sulking!

Yes, he had every right to be. He had come to see him last this time as well.

"Did you say that's your only friend? Don't hurt your other friend's feelings!"

"Well well, who do we have here? My, if it isn't our busy Young Cult Leader? What brings such an esteemed person to this humble place?"

"Hyung, where did that magnanimous demeanor you showed me last time go?" Geom Mugeuk imitated the Drunken Demon. "Once it's past, it's all meaningless. When I die, am I going to regret that you didn't visit me?"

Back then, the Drunken Demon had even looked up at the sky and laughed.

Geom Mugeuk stared at the Drunken Demon with puppy dog eyes. "Where did that great hyung go?"

The Drunken Demon pouted. "That great hyung withered and died of loneliness. Now, only a petty, small-minded hyung remains. Just because I said it was okay for you to come late, did you really have to come here last?"

"Hyung, I'm being serious. I didn't come late because you're a pushover, but because I feel you understand me the best."

"That's what being a pushover means!" the Drunken Demon shouted.

Geom Mugeuk employed a strategy of turning the tables. "So what if you're a bit of a pushover?!"

"What?"

"I need at least one pushover too!"

"What is this? This shamelessness? It's… it's sobering me up!"

Geom Mugeuk filled a cup from the bottle on the table and downed it in one gulp. "Elder Blade Demon is an Elder, so he's a toughie. The Fist Demon is my Master, so he's hard to be friendly with. The Sword Supreme is too elegant and noble, so talking to her feels stuffy. The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme is too young, so she's hard to understand. The Demonic Buddha only likes Hyung-nim, so he's impossible to get through to. The Poison King is obsessed with poison, and doesn't want to talk about other things. The Smiling Demon is too nice, so I feel bad being mean to him. For someone like me, I need at least one easy-going hyung like the Drunken Demon! Right? Be my easy-going hyung forever!"

The Drunken Demon listened with a dumbfounded expression, then finally burst into laughter. "Right, you're right. Everyone needs at least one pushover in their life, so they can have some breathing room. Fine! I'll be that pushover for you."

"Yay! The petty hyung is gone, and my great hyung has returned!"

"This is the magnanimity of drunkards! Now, let's drink!"

The two men vigorously clinked their cups and emptied them.

"From now on, always come to me last!"

"There's a good side to it! Because I come here last, I have so much juicy gossip about the other Demon Supremes, we won't need any snacks!"

"Excellent! Let's get wasted while bad-mouthing those bastards!"

The two emptied their cups, united in spirit.

Of course, Geom Mugeuk knew the Drunken Demon wasn't drunk because he had come here last. He was no longer the same Drunken Demon of the past. He just said he was upset for the sake of it.

Feeling the dense alcohol qi in the air, he asked casually, "Were you training?"

As expected, the Drunken Demon nodded. The reason he was so drunk was that he'd been in the middle of martial arts training. "This is all your fault. The good thing about being the Drunken Demon was that I could just drink and live recklessly."

However, at some point, the other Demon Supremes had started to get stronger. The one who had led the charge was even his friend, the Flower Sword Supreme.

"With thunder striking from a clear sky, how can I drink in peace… hmm?" The Drunken Demon tilted his head. "What's this? Is it because I'm drunk? You seem… different somehow."

He blinked his drunken eyes and stared at Geom Mugeuk.

"Hehe…" Geom Mugeuk told the Drunken Demon about his Body Reformation.

When he finished his story, the Drunken Demon grinned. "My little brother achieved Body Reformation, I can't just let this pass. We need proper celebratory drinks. Yeo Bin, bring out the best liquor I've been saving."

Yeo Bin brought the liquor as requested. It was a bottle the Drunken Demon had treasured and saved.

"When did you hide this one away?" Geom Mugeuk asked,

The Drunken Demon replied, "I hid it away to drink on a day like this."

"Not this one, bring out the one you hid to drink when you achieve Body Reformation!"

The two men drank. The liquor tasted absolutely amazing.

"This liquor is really delicious."

"On a day like this, you have to drink good liquor! Drink more!"

Geom Mugeuk laughed. This truly was the most boisterous celebration he'd received so far.

Right, a celebration for Body Reformation should be at least this grand. He should get drunk and dance.

"Does Body Reformation change your internal organs too?" the Drunken Demon asked. "I want to drink with a clean stomach, like starting fresh!"

"Don't worry," Geom Mugeuk said seriously, "People like you, hyung, are surprisingly clean on the inside. Your insides are probably cleaner than mine."

The Drunken Demon laughed loudly, saying that was probably true.

For the first time in a long while, Geom Mugeuk drank comfortably with the Drunken Demon.

"By the way, what was that loud thunder yesterday?"

"It was the sound of Master ascending to a new realm."

"Then what about you?"

"I also achieved complete mastery of the Thunder Arhat Fist."

"Already?" The Drunken Demon's jaw dropped.

How long has it been since he became the Fist Demon's disciple? He's already reached complete mastery?

"You, what are you planning to do, getting this strong? Don't tell me you're the one dreaming of conquering the murim? You bastard! That's it, isn't it?"

Geom Mugeuk fell silent. The Drunken Demon was joking, but it was nonetheless a reminder that someone who didn't know him well might actually misunderstand. He had a feeling that the Murim Alliance and the Evil Alliance might be getting nervous, even if they weren't showing it on the surface.

After some time, he asked, "The drunken madness of the Great Drunken Forest… it still corrupts you, doesn't it?"

The Drunken Demon nodded. "Yeah, so I have no choice but to train."

"Fortunately, you seem a lot less affected than before."

"Really?" For a moment, both the drunkenness and the playfulness vanished from the Drunken Demon's face. "That's why it's okay for you to visit me last. It's proof that you're doing really well right now."

The Drunken Demon emptied his cup alone. The blowing wind rustled his disheveled hair.

Geom Mugeuk observed him.

The Demon Supremes have really changed a lot recently. They've become boisterous and loud.

When he thought about it, they had all been lonely people previously.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon believed that he was a bringer of misfortune. The Fist Demon hesitated alone before a cliff. The Flower Sword Supreme hid her heart behind thick makeup. The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon stood alone in an empty room staring at a white wall. The Poison King holed up in the Thousand Poisons Forest, immersed in his poison research. The Demonic Buddha ran around on his short legs to make Hyung-nim the Young Cult Leader, and this Drunken Demon was forever wasted all by himself. Yes, they were all lonely people.

He took a deep breath and said, "Hyung, I'm leaving the cult tomorrow. I'd like you to come with me."

"Where are you going?"

"To Hunan, Dongting Lake."

"Who else is going?"

"Quite a few of us are going this time."

The Drunken Demon didn't bother asking who they were. He simply leaned against a pillar behind him and took a swig of his drink. "Okay. I'll go out with you for a drink."

The next person Geom Mugeuk visited was the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme.

"Young Cult Leader?" she exclaimed. She was engrossed in her training didn't expect his visit at all.

"Have you been well?" Geom Mugeuk asked politely.

"I've been well, thanks to you. I heard the news of your return to the cult, but what brings you here?"

"I came to greet you after being away for a while."

The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme had never expected the Young Cult Leader to visit her like this. Moreover, he hadn't come just to say hello.

Geom Mugeuk told her about what had happened during his recent trip outside the cult.

The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme was moved. She was aware that whenever the Young Cult Leader returned from a trip, he would visit the Demon Supremes and tell them what had happened, but until now, he had never visited her.

I've always wondered if such a day would come for me.

She was overjoyed that Geom Mugeuk had now begun to include her in these matters as well. It meant that he had acknowledged her as a proper Demon Supreme.

When Geom Mugeuk was done talking about his adventures, he relayed the matter concerning the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman.

"I intend to leave the cult tomorrow. If you're free, I'd like you to come with me and help me."

"Of course, I'll go with you!" the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme replied without hesitation. She was grateful to Geom Mugeuk for coming to her and asking for her help. "Thank you, Young Cult Leader."

Geom Mugeuk nodded. If the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme was still lacking in skill and ran the risk of becoming a burden, he wouldn't have asked her to come along. He would have told her to build up her skills more.

Fortunately, she had grown stronger every time he saw her, and was now gradually becoming the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme that martial artists once feared the most.

Finally, before leaving, he said the words she wanted to hear most.

"I'm comforted to know that my Demon Supreme will be joining me on this journey."

The Demonic Buddha stared at Geom Mugeuk in shock and disbelief. "What? You want me to go too?"

Geom Mugeuk nodded. With this, the four Demon Supremes who would go with him were decided. Naturally, the Demon Supremes who would remain were the Fist Demon and the Poison King. With those two protecting his father, there was no need to worry about the Cult.

The Demonic Buddha narrowed his eyes. "Are you perhaps worried about the Cult Leader?"

He was quicker on the uptake than anyone. How could anyone deceive him, who had played politics his whole life?

Geom Mugeuk played dumb. "What do you mean?"

"I'm asking why you chose to leave those two behind, of all people," the Demonic Buddha said, knowing those two were the strongest and most dangerous among the current Demon Supremes.

"Going out with Master is inconvenient. I can't swagger around and say, 'I'm the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult!'"

"As if you'd ever want to do that. Then what about the Poison King?"

"You know that the Poison King hates going to the Central Plains more than anything in the world, don't you?"

"……" The Demonic Buddha didn't believe Geom Mugeuk's excuses for a second. There was definitely a reason why he was leaving those two in particular. "You've already killed so many of the enemies, so who are you afraid of?"

He had realized a while ago that Geom Mugeuk was more concerned about the hidden enemies than a war with the Murim Alliance or the Evil Alliance.

Of course, he understood that the enemies from the three-hundred-year-old Dark Palace were unimaginably strong, but weren't they already broken beyond repair?

Geom Mugeuk answered matter-of-factly, "As you know, I have anxiety issues. I worry about all sorts of things even if they're unlikely to happen. Anyway, Demonic Buddha, you'll come with me, right?"

The Demonic Buddha regarded Geom Mugeuk for a moment, then nodded. "Do I, who lost the power struggle, have any say in the matter? If you say let's go, then I must go."

"Now you sound more like your normal self."

"So I sound like myself only when I'm being sarcastic?"

Geom Mugeuk smiled. The Demonic Buddha was heeding his advice not to act like a Buddha who had emptied his mind.

With this, he would be going out with the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, the Drunken Demon, the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme, and the Demonic Buddha.

"So? Are you going to launch a surprise attack on the Murim Alliance? Or the Evil Alliance?" the Demonic Buddha joked, feeling that the lineup was excessive.

Geom Mugeuk replied without hesitation, "I plan to strike both at the same time."

"???" The Demonic Buddha was bewildered.

However, Geom Mugeuk made that nonsensical joke for good reason.

"Because this isn't the end. I'm going to take even more people with me."