Chapter 842: You Survived Too

TL: FoodieMonster007

Geom Mugeuk stood looking up at the sky. He felt unburdened, as if he had completed the greatest task of his life. He was so happy he could fly.

This was the moment all his efforts finally bore fruit, including the time spent wandering for materials before his regression and all the work he had put in since.

Most importantly, this moment was precious not because he had killed Hwa Mugi, but because no one had died.

Geom Mugeuk slowly turned around, toward the place where his real life awaited. He first greeted his father. "It's all thanks to you, Father, that I was able to finish this safely. Thank you."

He meant it sincerely. His father's presence had allowed him to act freely and without worry, doing everything he wanted with a peaceful heart.

Geom Woojin gazed at his son and said calmly, "Come closer."

Geom Mugeuk approached, and to his shock, Geom Woojin silently hugged him.

Everyone stared in surprise, not expecting Geom Woojin to hug his son in front of them all.

Geom Mugeuk was the most surprised of all. He was too shocked to even think of a silly joke.

"Your inner qi has increased," Geom Woojin remarked.

Geom Mugeuk's expression seemed to say, 'surely not…', even as he asked, "Don't tell me you hugged me just to check how much my inner qi has increased?"

"Did you think I hugged you because I love you?" Geom Woojin stepped back as if his business was done.

Geom Mugeuk raised his voice. "That's too much!"

However, he had felt the sentiment in his father's touch.

I'm sorry for making you worry, Father.

Next, Geom Mugeuk greeted the Fist Demon. "Master!"

The Fist Demon nodded once. "You've worked hard."

It was a blunt response, as always.

In truth, if the Cult Leader hadn't hugged Geom Mugeuk first, the Fist Demon would have. He would have told him he had worked hard. Just for today, he had wanted to.

Geom Mugeuk's gaze turned to the two Chairmen. He first relayed Ju Gasin's message to Baek Jagang. "Chairman Ju had a message for you. He said you'll surely achieve what you desire."

"I see."

Geom Mugeuk knew exactly what that dream was, but he feigned ignorance. "It won't be easy, spending the rest of your life traveling and having fun with my father and Chairman Jin."

Hearing this, Jin Paecheon subtly interjected, "I'm fine with it, but I'm not sure if Cult Leader Geom would want that."

He said it like a joke, but his words held a hidden meaning. Having witnessed Geom Woojin's power, he worried that the end of this fight might be the beginning of a new one. He had come to help for his grandson's sake, but despite his good intentions, he couldn't help but worry about the future.

Geom Mugeuk couldn't confidently tell Jin Paecheon that his father would make peace with them. He still didn't know what his father was thinking. If his father hadn't given up on his ambition, stopping him from conquering the murim would be a far more difficult task than killing Hwa Mugi.

Indeed, his father didn't even offer an empty, "I'm fine with it too." Perhaps he was sending a signal to the two Chairmen at that very moment, telling them, 'My mind hasn't changed, so be prepared.'

As an unknown tension filled the air, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader stepped forward. "Young Cult Leader, you don't seem to know, so I'll tell you. While you were trapped in there, do you know who stepped up to protect you? I'm talking about the one person who stood up like a hero among those heartless people trying to kill the Celestial Killer Star before you even came out."

His expression screamed, It was me, me! but Geom Mugeuk looked at the Sword King. "Of course, it must have been my friend. He probably ran out barefoot."

The Sword King had a relaxed expression. He had gained great enlightenment in swordsmanship while watching the battles, and on top of that, Geom Mugeuk was safe. He couldn't have wished for a better result.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader waved his hand dismissively. "It's a shame, but your friend was so busy thinking about the new tavern he's going to open that he didn't even care you were in danger."

Seeing the smile on the Sword King's lips deepen, Geom Mugeuk turned to the Poison King. "He may not look it, but the Poison King is actually a very affectionate person."

This time, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader lowered his voice and whispered in Geom Mugeuk's ear, "Actually, the person who had it easiest in this fight was the Poison King. He didn't lift a single finger."

"Doesn't that actually mean he had a harder time than anyone else?"

Although they spoke in whispers, everyone heard their conversation.

"I'm telling you, it was someone else!"

"The only one who would do that for me is the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon."

"Stop looking for people who aren't here!"

"Perhaps one of the two Chairmen…"

As Geom Mugeuk continued to joke, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's lips jutted out in a pout. "You're treating me like that Cult Leader from back then!"

Only then did Geom Mugeuk look at him and say calmly, "So that Cult Leader from back then protected the me of today," he said, his eyes filled with sincere gratitude. "I'm talking about that Cult Leader from back then who gave everything for me without holding back."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was stunned. Right, I always complained about having my sacred artifacts taken, but he never once argued against me for that. Yes, nothing I gave him was a waste.

He changed the topic, "So, when are the three of us going on that trip with Go Wol?"

"We have to! We'll go soon! However, for now, I have a mountain of things to do. Just pack your bags and wait…" Just then, something caught Geom Mugeuk's eye. "Ah! Look over there."

Everyone's gaze turned behind them.

Geom Mugeuk's happy voice flew toward what was there. "You survived too!"

Geom Muyang stood on the palm of a giant demonic statue that held up a burning Demonic Flame brazier, gazing toward the Demon Village. Several days had passed, but those who left with his father had not returned.

As the Demonic Flames blazed, the information network of the All-Knowing Hall moved even more swiftly. He had heard that the Evil Alliance Chairman and the Murim Alliance Chairman had come to help, and finally, that Geom Mugeuk had also arrived.

"Is there still no news?" he asked.

Hwi's reply came from the empty air. "No, not yet."

So the battle isn't over.

That made him even more worried. Even with all of them there, they still hadn't been able to kill the Celestial Killer Star.

Geom Muyang tried to shake off his anxiety with a joke. "The fight's probably dragging on because Mugeuk talks too much."

He heard Hwi's soft laughter.

FLAAAAASH!

Geom Muyang was startled as the entire world lit up brightly in the distance.

Hwi suddenly appeared beside Geom Muyang and shouted, "The Heavenly Demon Destroys the World has been unleashed!"

Geom Muyang's expression hardened. A battle had broken out that required the use of the Heavenly Demon Destroys the World, the final technique of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art.

When the light faded, Geom Muyang said to Hwi, "Snuff out the Demonic Flames and come with me."

Hwi looked at him, surprised. "You can't."

With the lives of the Cult Leader and the Young Cult Leader unknown, he couldn't send out the Cult Leader's only remaining blood relative.

Geom Muyang insisted, "Now that the Heavenly Demon Destroys the World has been used, the fight must be over. If we lost, do you think these mechanisms and formations could stop him?"

Hwi agreed with him. If the worst-case scenario had happened…

The two immediately shot out of the Cult. When they arrived at the Demon Village, there was nothing there. It was a space of nothingness where everything had vanished.

Then, an astonishing sight met their eyes—a single table.

The object Geom Mugeuk had been looking at when he said, "You survived too," was that very table.

Everything had been obliterated by Hwa Mugi's Heavenly Demon Destroys the World, but by chance, a table and chairs from the Alluring Inn, which had been behind the Impenetrable Demonic Wall, remained intact.

It wasn't intentionally protected. It was the very table where they had all eaten together.

Geom Mugeuk walked over and caressed the table.

Perhaps the heavens are telling me to continue living while protecting my demonic path.

When Geom Muyang and Hwi arrived, everyone was sitting at that table. Geom Woojin was at the center, flanked by Jin Paecheon and Baek Jagang. Next to them were the Fist Demon and the Poison King, and at the ends sat Geom Mugeuk, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, and the Sword King.

Sitting like that in a space of nothingness, they looked like a scene from a painting.

"Hyung! Over here! Uncle Hwi! Welcome!" Geom Mugeuk greeted cheerfully.

Geom Muyang's tension eased. No one could know the anxiety he had felt on his way there. He walked quickly to his father.

Hwi, who had been walking with him, vanished without a sound, returning to his original duty.

Geom Muyang bowed politely to Geom Woojin. "Greetings, Cult Leader. Congratulations on defeating the Celestial Killer Star."

Geom Woojin nodded and gave the credit to the two Chairmen. "We won safely because these two helped."

Geom Muyang expressed his gratitude to the two Chairmen. He then greeted the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader and the Demon Supremes, before Geom Mugeuk pulled him into the seat next to him.

"I missed you, Hyung-nim."

Geom Muyang wondered, Did he really miss me as much as I missed him? For the first time, I prayed to the heavens. For everyone to be safe. For my younger brother to welcome me with his usual banter.

He looked around and said, "We'll have to rebuild this whole place."

"We'll build it up again, grand and new. Bigger and taller. Let's just tell everyone to take a good long rest on this occasion."

Geom Muyang looked at Geom Mugeuk. His gaze was softer than ever before. "You look tired."

Geom Mugeuk leaned back in his chair and stretched out his legs. It was the first time his brother had ever looked at him and said he looked tired. "I'm going to sleep all day tomorrow. No, wait. On days like this, I'm too happy to sleep, no matter how tired I am."

Just then, three more people arrived, rushing in like the wind. They were the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, the Flower Sword Supreme, and the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon.

Since they were the first group to depart the ship, they arrived first. Due to their injuries, the Demonic Buddha, the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme, and the Drunken Demon were returning by carriage and would come later.

The three Demon Supremes could tell from the state of the Demon Village just how difficult and incredible the battle had been.

Geom Mugeuk shouted to them. "Elder! Sword Supreme! Smiling Demon!"

He shot to his feet and ran to them like an overjoyed child.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon used his movement arts to dodge Geom Mugeuk, who was about to throw himself into his arms, and walked toward Geom Woojin.

The Flower Sword Supreme, following behind, said to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, "See? I told you, didn't I? Since the Young Cult Leader ran ahead, everything would be fine." She then tattled to Geom Mugeuk. "You can't imagine how much he rushed us, saying we had to get here quickly."

Geom Mugeuk shouted at the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's back. "Elder! I want to go to your house, pile up a bunch of books on the bed, and lie down to read!"

"Is that your bed?! That's my bed!"

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, who walked up last, smiled brightly from behind his mask.

Geom Mugeuk smiled back. As always, that was enough of a reunion greeting for them.

The three Demon Supremes greeted Geom Woojin, and then the Chairmen as well.

The two Chairmen sensed a different kind of energy from the three Demon Supremes than they had before. It wasn't just Geom Mugeuk. The Demon Supremes also grew stronger every time they met.

After the greetings were over, since everyone was safe, the Flower Sword Supreme joked with Geom Woojin, "We should have finished our tour of the Central Plains before coming back."

Geom Woojin smiled. "I heard you visited many places?"

"We even went to Lake Tai. Do you remember it?"

Geom Woojin nodded, indicating he remembered.

"When we went, it hadn't changed as much as I expected."

Listening in, Geom Mugeuk said to his father, "Since you're talking about it, the four of you should go again."

Jin Paecheon smiled. "Next time, be sure to let us know. Otherwise, there will be another emergency."

He and Baek Jagang rose from their seats.

"Well, we'll be on our way now."

They were two people who had come like the wind and intended to leave just as quickly.

Geom Woojin didn't try to force them to stay. He was grateful they had come all this way, but their presence was something that shouldn't be known to the outside world.

He gave the two a polite clasped-hands greeting. "I will not forget the help you've given me this time."

After they exchanged farewells, Baek Jagang said one last thing. "Thank you for teaching me how to cook."

"I still have some recipes I've saved."

"I hope there will be another chance to learn."

Geom Woojin turned and walked back toward the Cult. Geom Muyang and the five Demon Supremes followed him, and the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader and the Sword King also joined the group so that Geom Mugeuk could see the Chairmen off comfortably.

Their departing figures looked incredibly majestic, as if with wings spread, even though not all the Demon Supremes were gathered.

Watching them leave, Jin Paecheon's gaze deepened. Throughout the entire battle, he had been more worried about Geom Woojin and the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult than about Hwa Mugi.

Geom Woojin is strong. Too strong.

He recalled the Heavenly Demon Destroys the World that Geom Woojin had unleashed earlier.

A sword of light that pierced through the light.

Using the Heavenly Demon Destroys the World was said to exhaust nearly all of one's inner qi, but he had no confidence he could block that attack. In short, to fight Geom Woojin was to die.

And on top of that, there was the Heavenly Demon Soul.

In the current murim, no one can defeat Cult Leader Geom.

And that wasn't all. The Demon Supremes were also strong, stronger than any in history.

Like Jin Paecheon, Baek Jagang had a premonition that Geom Woojin would not abandon his dream of unifying the murim. With such power, he would never give up.

He suddenly recalled the words Ju Gasin had left behind.

Did you tell me to unify the unorthodox factions? You've given me too difficult a task.

Geom Mugeuk greeted Jin Paecheon. "I'll come visit Hagun and Haryong soon."

Jin Paecheon looked at Geom Mugeuk with a gentle smile, feeling that the fate of the murim now rested on the Young Cult Leader. Nevertheless, he showed no sign of placing that burden on him. "I'll be waiting." He also said his goodbyes to Baek Jagang. "I'll come over to have some of your home cooking."

"I'll make it spicy and stimulating for you."

Geom Mugeuk looked around. His father was walking toward the Headquarters, while the two Chairmen were heading in the opposite direction. He alone stood in the middle.

They had exchanged pleasantries, but he could feel the Chairmen were tense.

Why are you all being like this? You can't be this tense already! I still have plenty of time left to persuade Father!

Geom Mugeuk imbued his voice with inner qi and spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear, "From now on, I'm just going to have fun. If another mastermind appears in the murim, contact my father or the two Chairmen over there. Conspiracies, schemes, tricks, plots. Those words are no longer in my vocabulary.

"From now on, for me, there will only be rest, hanging out with friends, traveling, cooking, drinking parties, dancing, and reading! You can't scold me for having too much fun. 'Are you playing around again? If you're just having fun, who's going to protect the murim?' If you nag me like that, I'm running away from home."