Chapter 850: I Think It's Time You Take Off Your Mask

TL: FoodieMonster007

When Geom Mugeuk returned to his residence after meeting the Poison King, Seo Daeryong was waiting at the door.

Seo Daeryong called out, "Young Cult Leader!"

"My right-hand man!" Geom Mugeuk greeted Seo Daeryong warmly. The bright smile on his face instantly melted away the worries Seo Daeryong had while waiting.

"I know you're busy, but I just wanted to see you," Seo Daeryong said sheepishly.

"I'm glad you came. Let's go inside."

"No, it's alright. I've seen you, so that's enough."

"It's not enough for me. Come on in."

Geom Mugeuk went inside first, leaving Seo Daeryong no choice but to follow.

"Is Yeongha growing up well?"

Seo Daeryong was incredibly grateful that Geom Mugeuk remembered his son's name. "He's growing so much every day. You'd be surprised if you saw him."

"I can picture the little guy. Why didn't you bring him?"

"Having a son is great and all, but I need a little freedom too. You wouldn't know, would you? The Young Cult Leader may know everything in the world, but you probably don't know this." Seo Daeryong slumped his shoulders and said exaggeratedly, "Raising a child is harder than martial arts training."

"Pfft!" Geom Mugeuk giggled.

"At first, he'd wake up all night and keep us from sleeping. Now, if I take my eyes off him for even a second, he gets into so much trouble. Bumping into things, falling over, swallowing stuff. Is this how you felt watching over us, Young Cult Leader?" Seo Daeryong's expression turned awkward. "Wait, I shouldn't have said that in front of someone who isn't even married, right?"

"No, in this field, you're my senior, aren't you? Pass on all your knowledge. Come on, sit down."

Geom Mugeuk seated Seo Daeryong at a table in the courtyard and brought out some wine from a box in the corner. Every time he took a bottle out of this box, he would share it with different people. "This is a special wine from the Drunken Demon. It tastes amazing," he said.

Seo Daeryong glanced at the remaining bottles. There weren't many left, not enough even for just the Demon Supremes. "I'm fine without any wine."

Geom Mugeuk noticed Seo Daeryong's hesitation. He opened the stopper without a second thought and poured a cup for his friend. "Drink up."

"Are you sure you can give this precious wine to me?"

"I'm giving it to you because it's precious."

Seo Daeryong was deeply moved. "After all the grace you've shown me, you could curse me every day until I die and I'd be fine with it."

"Don't lie. The moment you hear just one unpleasant word, you'll immediately think, 'Young Cult Leader, how could you do this to me?!'"

Seo Daeryong laughed and emptied his cup. "This wine tastes truly exquisite."

Just as the Drunken Demon had said, good wine had a power of its own. It lifted one's spirits, making them say two words where they might have only said one.

Seo Daeryong told Geom Mugeuk about his wife, Dan Ah, and her sisters. He also mentioned that thanks to their recent victory, the Cult Leader and Young Cult Leader's popularity within the cult had skyrocketed.

While they were chatting, Geom Mugeuk asked casually, "Daeryong, if Yeongha grew up and vehemently opposed something you wanted to do, how would you feel?"

"My son?" Seo Daeryong fell into deep thought. The question was especially poignant now, as he was suffering through the hardships of raising a child.

"My son, whom I've raised like a precious treasure? The son I raised while losing sleep and missing meals? I'd willingly give my life for that boy, and after all that, what if he says, 'Father, I refuse. That's not right!' Is that what you mean? If that happened, I'd drag him to the duel grounds and just…!" He, who had been raising his voice, let out a soft sigh. "…I'd be disappointed, but in the end, I'd understand my son and follow his wishes."

"Why?"

"Because if my son opposes something, he must have a good reason for it."

"Couldn't your son be wrong?"

"No, he won't be wrong. I'll raise him well enough that I can trust him like this. Just like you, Young Cult Leader."

Geom Mugeuk smiled self-deprecatingly. "Do I look like a good son to you?"

"Of course. My wife and I wish so much for our son to grow up to be just like you, Young Cult Leader. It's our greatest wish. Even if I tell my child a hundred times, 'You have to grow up like the Young Cult Leader!' he's my son, so he'll probably grow up to be like me. That's why I'm going to try to become a better man myself."

Geom Mugeuk smiled. Having become a father, Seo Daeryong had certainly matured. The change in him was as palpable as the change in the Poison King.

He patted Seo Daeryong's shoulder, saying, "That's admirable, my right-hand man. Let's drink all of that wine tonight. You're completely escaping from childcare for today! What is little Yeongha gonna do? His daddy's going to get a little drunk! And tell Lady Dan, her husband is mine tonight!"

Seo Daeryong stared at Geom Mugeuk. He was suggesting they drink all of that precious wine together, even though there were still Demon Supremes and other important people who should be drinking it. Anyone who could read his thoughts would probably sigh in boredom.

Are you moved by the Young Cult Leader again? Is being moved the only emotion you can feel for him?

But what could he do? He was constantly moved by the man named Geom Mugeuk.

If it were him, he would have screened and vetted everyone, weighing who would be most useful before appointing them as his right-hand man. Yet, this precious man had taken him when he was shabby and insignificant, and still treated him as his right-hand man.

When Geom Mugeuk went to the wine box to get more wine, he shot up from his seat and rushed out the door.

"Ah! I completely forgot my wife asked me to buy something. I'll be going first, Young Cult Leader!"

The next day, Geom Mugeuk visited the Fist Demon with a bottle of wine. When he arrived, the Fist Demon was in the courtyard, training his fist techniques while shirtless as usual.

"Master! Do you still have more training to do?" he asked.

"If I didn't, the Celestial Killer Star would have died by my fist, wouldn't he?"

Geom Mugeuk watched the Fist Demon train for a moment, then placed the bottle of wine beside him. "This wine is a gift from the Drunken Demon. Save it and drink it with Lee Ahn later. It tastes amazing."

He stood to the side, watching the Fist Demon train. After a while, though, he couldn't stand it anymore.

"When you swing your fists, Master, I just can't hold back. I'll join you."

Geom Mugeuk took off his shirt and jumped into the training. The two masters of the Thunder Arhat Fist created art in the empty air.

As he thrust his fist in the exact same motion, Geom Mugeuk suddenly remarked, "Father told me about Mother."

For a moment, he felt the Fist Demon's fist flinch.

"Did he?" the Fist Demon asked.

Geom Mugeuk nodded. "Yes."

He could have asked the Fist Demon about his mother, but he didn't.

The Fist Demon's fists never stopped moving. When the training ended, for some reason, he took Geom Mugeuk to that cliff.

Geom Mugeuk looked up at it and commented, "This cliff hasn't changed at all."

"What do you think? Do you think you can destroy it with a single punch now?"

Power flowed into Geom Mugeuk's fist. If I channeled all my inner qi into this one punch, couldn't I destroy that cliff?

The Fist Demon asked calmly, "What does this cliff mean to you?"

"……" Geom Mugeuk couldn't easily answer.

The Fist Demon knew the answer better than he did. "Even if you could destroy this cliff with one punch, you probably wouldn't. You're not the type to show off your skills. More importantly, you'd think, 'If this cliff collapses, all the trees and animals living here will die.' You'd think that if you just left it alone, they could live in harmony."

"…You're right," Geom Mugeuk readily admitted. Yes, he wouldn't destroy the cliff even if he could.

"Come, let's go up."

"Didn't you say this cliff was meant for destroying, not for climbing?"

The Fist Demon didn't answer, simply launching himself into the air. His large body ascended the cliff with surprising lightness.

TAP! TAP!

The two men leaped off the protrusions on the cliff face, soaring up in an instant. Geom Mugeuk could now reach the top without any intermediate leaps, but he followed the Fist Demon's path exactly, stepping where he stepped.

And so, they stood atop the cliff. Looking down from there, not only the Eastern Fist Garrison but also the entirety of the Headquarters was clearly visible. In the distance, even the Heavenly Demon Hall could be seen.

Geom Mugeuk asked, "How long has it been since you've been up here?"

"I haven't come up here since I resolved to destroy this cliff," came the reply.

Geom Mugeuk could confirm once again that the Fist Demon had now completely abandoned that resolution. This change was also proof that his master had grown stronger. It meant his target was no longer the cliff, but something within his heart.

WHOOSH!

The wind blew, fluttering the hems of their clothes.

After a moment, the Fist Demon said, "For the Cult Leader, achieving world domination is probably similar to how I felt about this cliff."

"!" Geom Mugeuk stared at the Fist Demon in surprise.

The Fist Demon continued stoically, "It's a personal target he always thought about and aimed for. He must have thought every day that he would surely achieve it someday, just as I thought about destroying the cliff."

Geom Mugeuk said nothing. He had no intention of persuading the Fist Demon to help him. No, even if he could, he wouldn't. Even if he succeeded in persuading all the other Demon Supremes, he wanted the Fist Demon, at least, to stand by his father's side.

Of course, the Fist Demon was a man who wouldn't be swayed by any persuasion in the first place.

He suddenly recalled something. "A long time ago, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon told me something. Back in the old days, when Father and you, Master, fought your way across the Central Plains, Father returned to the cult one day and said this to Elder Blade Demon: 'This murim… I must have it.' Do you know why Father said that?"

He repeated the words his father had said to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. Perhaps that was the day his father first dreamed of conquering the murim.

The Fist Demon stood silently and slowly nodded. "It was because of your mother."

"!" Geom Mugeuk stared at the Fist Demon in shock. However, the Fist Demon did not elaborate, though his expression said, 'If you want to know more, ask the Cult Leader yourself.'

After staring silently at the distant Heavenly Demon Hall for a long time, Geom Mugeuk broke the silence. "Master, setting aside all other reasons, there is one reason why we shouldn't destroy this cliff." He looked around and said cheerfully, "The view from up here is just too good."

Of all the subordinates of the Eight Demon Supremes, the Faceless Warriors of the Valley of Evil welcomed Geom Mugeuk most enthusiastically. They were normally quiet when alone, but enthusiastic when gathered. Having carried out a mission with him before, they liked Geom Mugeuk more than anyone.

The Faceless Warriors squatting in the trees, passing on the road, and huddled together for some unknown reason, all greeted Geom Mugeuk with bright smiles.

After receiving their warm welcome, Geom Mugeuk arrived at the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's residence. "Smiling Demon! I'm here!"

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon greeted Geom Mugeuk warmly. "Welcome, Young Cult Leader."

Geom Mugeuk set down the bottle of wine. "This is wine I received from the Drunken Demon. It tastes really good."

Now, there was even a table in the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's room where they could sit and drink together. Of course, the only person he could drink or eat with was Geom Mugeuk.

"How was your seclusion training?" the Smiling Demon asked.

Geom Mugeuk told the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon about the Heavenly Space Secret Art and didn't hide his martial arts achievements. "…So this time, I spent quite a long time with my father. In the end, I even achieved twelfth star mastery of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art!"

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon was as happy as if it were his own achievement. "Congratulations on achieving twelfth star mastery at such a young age, Young Cult Leader!" he said sincerely. "This will go down as a legend in the history of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult."

"Thank you."

"We must have a celebratory drink today."

"Of course."

The two sat facing each other at the table.

"How was your time with the Cult Leader?"

"It was good," Geom Mugeuk said fondly.

An opportunity like that won't come easily again.

He conveyed his honest feelings to the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, feelings he hadn't shared with the other Demon Supremes.

"But the longer I spent with my father, the weaker my resolve became. I started to think, when Father says, 'Let's march to war,' will I really be able to say, 'No, you can't'? Honestly, I started to feel like I don't want to defy my father, so I keep trying to rationalize it. If we take over the murim, could it become a happier place than one divided with the orthodox and unorthodox factions? Could one great sacrifice prevent many more sacrifices in the future? I also had another thought. Is this murim really worth protecting, to the point of opposing my own father?"

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon nodded in understanding.

Geom Mugeuk sighed, "Frankly, I still don't know what to do."

I've heard a lot of advice and even made plans, but I'm worried about whether I can truly change Father's mind.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, who had been gazing silently at Geom Mugeuk, took off the mask he was wearing.

Geom Mugeuk was startled. It had been a long time since he had seen the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's face.

"How do I look with my mask off?" the Smiling Demon asked.

Geom Mugeuk pouted. "What's there to say? It makes me ashamed to insist I'm the first among the four handsome men of our Cult."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon nodded, but he hadn't taken off his mask just for a drink. He asked again, "With my mask off, am I still the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon?"

"It's a bit awkward and unfamiliar, but of course you're still the Smiling Demon!"

After a brief pause, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon said, "Young Cult Leader, I think it's time you take off your mask as well."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm talking about the mask of being a good son. The reason you are having such a hard time is because you are trying to oppose your father without taking off that mask," the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon explained, more serious than ever before. He met Geom Mugeuk's gaze. "Are you afraid to take off your mask?"

Geom Mugeuk sighed. "…I can take it off."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon understood Geom Mugeuk's heart immediately. "You're afraid of what the Cult Leader will look like with his mask off."

Geom Mugeuk nodded honestly. He's right, the thought of seeing that scares me.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon was usually a man of few words, but he did not spare his advice now.

"Unfortunately, this is not a fight you can wage while wearing a mask. You shouldn't do that. Rather, you must make the Cult Leader take off his mask as well. If either of you fights while wearing a mask, that means one side has conceded. The outcome will be a lifetime of regret and resentment. You will remember it at the moment of your death in the distant future. That's why, you must not be afraid to see another side of the Cult Leader."

As if to say they should save the celebratory drink for after the real fight, he put his mask back on.

"And do not forget that I am always behind you, Young Cult Leader."