Chapter 828: Because I'm in Front of My Son

TL: FoodieMonster007

"You acted so high and mighty, but all you do is hide behind your father?" Hwa Mugi openly mocked Geom Mugeuk.

Unfortunately, words couldn't hurt Geom Mugeuk, not unless Hwa Mugi used the black sword in his hand at the same time.

"Who else should I hide behind if not my father? It's the most comfortable place for me," Geom Mugeuk said shamelessly. "And Father needs an opportunity to show off his skills, too."

Geom Woojin slowly walked out from beside the table. It was the first time he had stepped forward since Hwa Mugi's arrival.

Hwa Mugi also stepped aside. Everyone who had been sitting at the table stood up and lined up behind Geom Woojin.

Was it because he was in front of his son? Even with the Celestial Killer Star before him, Geom Woojin looked completely calm, composed to the point of arrogance.

The one who was actually nervous was the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. Although the Celestial Killer Star was being swayed by Geom Mugeuk's words, he had fought the man personally. Even without that special defensive enhanced qi, the man's skills were extraordinary.

Hwa Mugi was an opponent who might be beaten with words but was not easy to defeat in a fight. If the Demonic Cult Leader stepped forward, that Celestial Killer Star might use different moves than before.

He glanced at the Fist Demon. A son who asked his father to beat such a man half to death, and a father who stepped forward without hesitation simply because he was asked. Even if those two were like that, why was the Fist Demon so calm? Considering his relationship with the Cult Leader, he should have been the most worried, yet he watched silently, his expression unchanged.

No, aren't you anxious? Am I the only one anxious?!

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's gaze shifted to the Poison King. The man had been half in his own world since Geom Mugeuk appeared. He hadn't taken his eyes off him for a moment, but now he was constantly looking out the window. It seemed the person who trusted Geom Mugeuk the most might be the Poison King.

Meanwhile, the Sword King was silently treating his internal injuries and didn't look worried at all. His trust in Geom Woojin was one thing, but his faith in Geom Mugeuk also seemed immense. His expression had become completely relaxed after Geom Mugeuk appeared.

Finally, Jin Paecheon and Baek Jagang seemed to have slightly different worries. They had already shown their skills, and now only Geom Woojin remained, but just how strong was the Demonic Cult Leader? It was a problem if Geom Woojin was defeated, but it was might be a bigger problem if he overwhelmed his opponent.

Hwa Mugi and Geom Woojin stood facing each other, about ten steps apart. Even though Hwa Mugi aimed his black sword, Geom Woojin did not draw his own.

Hwa Mugi asked in disbelief, "You intend to fight with your bare hands?"

He understood why Geom Woojin was doing it. Geom Mugeuk hadn't asked him to kill the man, but to beat him half to death and sit him back down. But even if his child asked him to do that…

His eyes grew cold. "Aren't you really underestimating me?"

If Geom Woojin had suggested they fight fairly without swords, he wouldn't have been this angry, but since he was acting like, 'You fight however you want, I'll beat you with my fists,' he felt thoroughly underestimated.

CLACK!

He sheathed his sword.

"Don't you think it would be shameful to get beaten up in front of your child?"

Geom Mugeuk answered on his father's behalf. "If he endures a wound for the sake of his son, that's something to be proud of. He'll boast about that wound for the rest of his life, showing it off and saying it's a wound he got for his son. See? This filial son is making you even cooler, Father!"

Hwa Mugi confirmed once again that he could not win a war of words with Geom Mugeuk. He resolved to smash that arrogant face and make Geom Woojin beg for his life in front of his son.

Let's see what you say then.

"Now, the one who draws their sword first loses!" Geom Mugeuk shouted loudly.

As the two were about to fight with their fists, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader spoke worriedly, "That guy's defensive enhanced qi absorbs external impact as inner qi. A fistfight is absolutely disadvantageous."

He couldn't know exactly how the Celestial Killer Star's Heaven Defying Demonic Absorption Art worked. He didn't know if the demonic art was continuously active, or if Hwa Mugi had to activate it to absorb external attacks, but either way, Hwa Mugi activated it the moment he was attacked.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's conclusion was simple. To kill him, one had to tear through the defensive qi and drive a sword into his body. Geom Woojin had watched the fight as well, so surely he knew that too, right?

He's overexerting himself because of the Young Cult Leader.

Geom Woojin beckoned for Hwa Mugi to come first.

Hwa Mugi sneered at the arrogant gesture. "The weak side should attack first…"

BAM!

Before he could finish his sentence, Hwa Mugi was slammed into the ground.

Geom Woojin had rushed in like a flash, grabbed Hwa Mugi by the collar, and thrown him straight down. It was so fast that Hwa Mugi couldn't dodge.

Lying on the ground, Hwa Mugi's face was filled with surprise. "…This fast?"

POW!

Geom Woojin's fist struck where Hwa Mugi's face had been.

CRACK!

The ground caved in around the fist, and cracks spread out like a spiderweb.

Hwa Mugi, who had been there a moment ago, was now getting up some distance away. The instant the fist flew, he had rolled over to escape, his speed no slower than Geom Woojin.

The faces of those watching filled with shock. Hwa Mugi was moving faster than he had when fighting them earlier. They had thought he might show another level of skill as his killing intent changed, and they were right.

Still, Geom Woojin managed to slam such a fast opponent to the ground.

Geom Woojin's figure flew toward Hwa Mugi again.

Hwa Mugi threw a punch at Geom Woojin. If their inner qi clashed, he was confident he could beat even the Demonic Cult Leader.

WHOOSH! SWISH!

Just as their fists were about to collide, Geom Woojin's body seemed to shift to the side.

SLAM!

His kick struck Hwa Mugi directly in the stomach.

SCREEEECH!

Hwa Mugi slid back several steps. He was surprised, and so were the onlookers.

Geom Woojin's instantaneous transition from a punch to a kick was like lightning, as if the intermediate steps had been completely omitted.

SWOOSH!

Geom Woojin's pursuing fist grazed Hwa Mugi's face. Hwa Mugi dodged by bending his waist back, but Geom Woojin was already in the air, stomping down with his foot.

CRASH!

The floor where Geom Woojin struck split open. Hwa Mugi barely dodged and came to a stop. He now stood on the road in front of the Alluring Inn, outside the wall that had been blown open.

He could not hide the surprise on his face. Geom Woojin was much faster and stronger than he had thought.

As Geom Woojin slowly walked toward him, everyone followed.

"It's the first time I've seen Father use his fists and feet," Geom Mugeuk remarked.

The Fist Demon, walking beside him, answered, "In his younger days, he preferred using his fists."

"He did?"

"Yes. Many people were smashed by those fists."

Geom Mugeuk looked at his father's back. Every time he heard stories like this about his father's youth, he couldn't quite picture it. A father who expressed emotions, spat curses, and threw punches.

Secret Box, if you were going to take me to the past, you should have taken me to my father's younger days.

Meanwhile, the Fist Demon was inwardly relieved.

The Cult Leader's become much stronger too.

He knew Geom Woojin had been immersed in martial arts training recently and had made progress, but he didn't realize he had become this strong.

The two Chairmen recognized it as well. Jin Paecheon watched the fight, inwardly surprised by Geom Woojin's skills. He had been cheering for him, but seeing those skills brought other worries.

Glancing at Baek Jagang, he could tell from the man's eyes that he felt the same. There was no relief there, only surprise and worry.

Cult Leader Geom's skills are above ours, damn it.

It was clear even before Geom Woojin drew his sword. If he fought in earnest with his blade, the difference would likely feel even greater.

Was that why? A concern unrelated to the current moment flashed through his mind.

Is it just the Demonic Cult Leader? The Demon Supremes are also stronger than ever, and outstanding masters like the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader and the Sword King have joined the Cult.

And above all else.

His gaze turned to Geom Mugeuk.

What if even Geom Mugeuk follows the Demonic Cult Leader's will?

Perhaps an unprecedented situation might occur where the Murim Alliance would have to join hands with the Evil Alliance.

Jin Paecheon sighed. He had never imagined a time would come where he would seriously consider allying with the Evil Alliance.

Geom Woojin and Hwa Mugi faced each other with the road between them.

Although he had already allowed two attacks, Hwa Mugi was overflowing with composure. "Perhaps because it's the Demonic Cult Leader's inner qi, it tastes even better," he taunted.

This was the exact situation the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader had worried about. Nevertheless, Geom Woojin's expression showed he didn't care at all.

FLASH!

Geom Woojin's fists flew toward Hwa Mugi in rapid succession.

This time, he was far too fast. Hwa Mugi dodged the first punch but couldn't avoid the second.

THUD!

Geom Woojin's fist struck Hwa Mugi's shoulder.

He frowned. He had felt it with the kick earlier, but it was like hitting water. It was a defensive enhanced qi with a texture he had never felt before, one that seemed to nullify all impact and pain.

Fists flew back and forth between the two again.

Geom Mugeuk could feel it. While the profound martial intent contained in each of his father's movements might look like a simple exchange of punches, he could understand why his father attacked from that angle, why he dodged in that way.

Moreover, the martial insights Geom Woojin had gained from achieving the twelfth star of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art were on full display.

There was no wasted motion between the two combatants. They exchanged truly perfect offense and defense, a conversation held with their bodies. An attack was a question, and a block was an answer.

And in that process, the one asking and answering more properly was Geom Woojin.

THUD!

Hwa Mugi was sent flying, smashing into a pile of large sacks in front of a grain store.

SWOOOSH.

Rice flowed down like a waterfall from the torn sacks, pouring over his head, but Hwa Mugi just laughed. He beckoned with his hand, as if telling Geom Woojin to hit him as much as he wanted.

Thinking Geom Woojin was overexerting himself to grant his son's request, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader sent a telepathic message to Geom Mugeuk. [Stop your father before the fight drags on. Only the Cult Leader's inner qi is being consumed. He's overexerting himself because of you!]

Geom Mugeuk sent an unexpected answer. [You're only saying that because you don't know my father well.]

[What?]

[Father is absolutely not someone who would fight a disadvantageous battle for me. He's cold-hearted when it comes to fighting.]

He meant there was no way he would fight a disadvantageous battle swayed by affection, especially one this important.

[Father watched the previous fight too, right?]

[He did.]

[Even so, the fact that he's fighting with his fists means he's doing it because there's a sufficient chance of winning. Not because of me. Even if everyone in the world worries, you don't need to worry about my father.]

Geom Mugeuk trusted his father, even in this moment.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader envied Geom Woojin at that moment. He thought it would be wonderful to have even one child who trusted him so completely.

Hwa Mugi spread his arms wide and provoked Geom Woojin. "You don't want to admit you were arrogant because you're in front of your son, do you?"

Geom Woojin's fist, flying like an arrow, struck the water-like defensive qi again.

THWACK! WHACK! SMACK!

Hwa Mugi took all of Geom Woojin's continuous punches head-on. The two seemed to be engaged in a battle of wills. One side was saying 'hit me,' and the other was saying 'let's see how long you can endure.'

"His inner qi will be completely exhausted at that rate," the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader worried aloud, intending for Geom Woojin to hear. He was concerned that anger was making the Heavenly Demon forget his inner qi was being consumed.

Hwa Mugi was pushed back while taking a beating all over his body, but he was smiling. "Your attacks are useless! It doesn't hurt at all!"

THUD! POW! BAM!

Amidst the continuous attacks, Hwa Mugi shouted loudly again, "Draw your sword! Admit defeat…"

Geom Woojin's fists flew even faster in response.

THUD THUD THUD THUD THUD THUD THUD!

After driving Hwa Mugi to a wall, he threw punches ceaselessly.

The two were like a wave and a rock. Just as a rock does not budge no matter how much the waves crash, Hwa Mugi endured all those punches with his defensive enhanced qi. He was also like a lump of iron being struck by a master blacksmith, seeming to grow stronger and more complete with every blow.

Still, Geom Woojin did not stop. His fists became faster and more powerful.

Everyone watched the scene silently.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader looked at Geom Mugeuk again. You're the only one who can stop him!

"STOP!" someone suddenly yelled.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader thought Geom Mugeuk had shouted, but it wasn't him.

A single sword cut through the air. Hwa Mugi's black sword was thrust forward, and Geom Woojin had stepped back to dodge it.

Everyone watched this unexpected turn with surprise. The person who shouted "stop" was Hwa Mugi.

They were confused. Why? Hwa Mugi had been enduring so well. They thought he was happily watching Geom Woojin use up his inner qi, but suddenly he drew his sword.

"…Stop now," Hwa Mugi groaned, his face distorted with pain.

It seemed the rock had been broken by the waves, and the sword had been broken by the blacksmith's hammer.

Geom Mugeuk could tell that his father had attacked like that knowing this would happen. "How did you know that he was forcibly enduring the pain?" he asked.

Geom Woojin smirked. There were two reasons why he was so sure of this outcome. "If his martial arts were perfect, he wouldn't have tried to steal our inner qi in the first place."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader nodded. That was true. If it were truly such a perfect demonic art, given Hwa Mugi's personality, he would have fought even more arrogantly, but instead, he had tricked them into exhausting their inner qi without revealing that fact from the beginning.

As for the other decisive reason…

"Why did such a meticulous person keep saying it didn't hurt while fighting me?" Geom Woojin continued. "He could have pretended to be in pain to make me let my guard down and exhaust my inner qi as much as possible."

Geom Mugeuk nodded in understanding. "I get it now. He said that because it hurt too much!"