Chapter 856: You Just Killed the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon

TL: FoodieMonster007

What kind of murim does Geom Woojin dream of?

All the Demon Supremes held their breath. It was a question no one had ever dared to ask before.

"I'm curious, Father." Geom Mugeuk's gaze went past his father's shoulder to the Poison King.

"Have you ever asked the Cult Leader about his dream of conquering the murim?"

He was now using the harmful advice the Poison King had given him.

Geom Woojin stared at his son in silence, and Geom Mugeuk did not avoid his father's gaze. He knew why his father had decided to conquer the murim. The Fist Demon had told him it was because of his mother.

Father, is it still for that reason? How do you truly see this murim? Do you hate it? Is that why you want to tear it all down? Or are you, unexpectedly, dreaming of a peaceful murim at the end of it all?

Finally, Geom Woojin muttered, "To dream about this murim…"

Geom Mugeuk smiled and replied. It was a moment fitting for a phrase his father often used on him. "That's the kind of cheap sentimentality that gets you killed, is what you want to say, right?"

However, Geom Woojin did not smile. "This murim isn't worth that."

With those words, Geom Mugeuk understood his father's view of murim without needing to hear more.

Is it because of Mother?

He couldn't bring himself to say the words. He felt he could talk about anything else, but he had to be cautious with topics related to his mother. She was the most precious person to his father.

He argued, "It may have no value to you, Father, but countless people live in this murim, giving it their own value. I want to protect what they value."

Geom Woojin's expression twitched slightly. The tension between the two heightened.

This time, Geom Woojin questioned his son. "Fine. Then let me ask you something. If I go to war despite your persuasion, what will you do?"

After a brief pause, Geom Mugeuk answered, "I will stop you. If I do that, what will you do, Father?"

Geom Woojin read an intention in his son's unnecessary provocation. A desire to see the result for himself. "Blood Heaven Blade Demon, hear me."

"Yes, Cult Leader." The Blood Heaven Blade Demon politely clasped his hands, ready to receive his orders.

The Cult Leader's command soon followed.

"Suppress the Young Cult Leader's inner qi and make him kneel before me."

All the Demon Supremes were shocked. The pleasant, cheerful atmosphere from moments ago instantly turned cold, as if a river had frozen solid.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon answered without hesitation. "I will obey your solemn command."

He slowly walked toward Geom Mugeuk. He had expected this. If such an order were given, it would come to him, not the Fist Demon. The Cult Leader knew better than anyone that this would be far more effective.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon stared at Geom Mugeuk. You brat, what are you going to do now? You couldn't have been unaware that a moment like this might come, could you? Hurry up and ask the Cult Leader for forgiveness.

Geom Mugeuk must have read the emotion in his gaze, but he did not act as the Blood Heaven Blade Demon wished. He did the exact opposite. "Extremely Evil Smiling Demon!"

"Yes, Young Cult Leader?"

"Stop the Blood Heaven Blade Demon."

"I will obey your command."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon walked out from the opposite side and stood between Geom Mugeuk and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon unleashed a cold aura. "Step aside."

"I cannot."

"Don't you know what you're doing right now?"

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon couldn't understand. Stopping the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, who was acting on the Cult Leader's orders, could be considered treason. It was a situation where even a death sentence would be justified. There was no way Geom Mugeuk did not know that.

He should be stopping the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon from stepping forward, but instead, he's giving him an order?

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon politely bowed his head to Geom Woojin. "I apologize, Cult Leader."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon sent a telepathic message to Geom Mugeuk. [If you don't want the masked man to die, make him back down now.]

However, for whatever reason, Geom Mugeuk did not make the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon back down.

Geom Woojin gave another command. "Flower Sword Supreme, hear me."

"Yes, Cult Leader."

"Help the Blood Heaven Blade Demon subdue the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon."

"I will obey your solemn command."

The Flower Sword Supreme stepped forward. Her gaze fell on Geom Mugeuk, who was behind the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon.

Young Cult Leader, why on earth are you doing this?

Knowing that Geom Mugeuk was wiser and smarter than anyone, she too could not understand his current actions.

Tension flowed between the three facing Demon Supremes. A situation was unfolding where the unspoken rule that Demon Supremes never fight each other might be broken.

The Drunken Demon stared at Geom Mugeuk. Mugeuk, hurry and fix this. The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon could really die if this continues. No, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon isn't the problem. You could get kicked out of your position as Young Cult Leader!

However, far from fixing the problem, Geom Mugeuk escalated it. "Drunken Demon, please help me."

The words, 'You crazy bastard! Is this really the time to ask me for help?!' rose in the Drunken Demon's throat, but he replied politely. "Young Cult Leader, I cannot do that."

Geom Mugeuk's gaze turned to the Demonic Buddha without hesitation. "Demonic Buddha, please help me."

The Demonic Buddha could tell Geom Mugeuk was doing this with some intention, and he was curious what that intention was. There was truly never a dull moment with the Young Cult Leader. "I'm sorry, but I refuse."

When the Demonic Buddha firmly refused, Geom Mugeuk's gaze turned to the Poison King. "Poison King, please help me!"

The Poison King silently watched the three fish he had caught swimming in the puddle. He knew the Young Cult Leader couldn't stop the Cult Leader's will with only the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon.

What if I helped? I could become his most powerful support. Of course, I'd be on the Cult Leader's bad side forever.

He slowly shook his head, indicating his refusal. He would have refused even without the puddle the Cult Leader had made for him. Today, he would not be barking like a dog with the Young Cult Leader.

Next was the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme.

"Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme, please help me."

The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme's situation was different from the other Demon Supremes.

"From now on, Father only has six Demon Supremes!"

It was Geom Mugeuk who had asked if it was okay to make such a joke to his father.

This isn't a joke, is it?

Nevertheless, the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme was about to step forward to help.

However, Geom Mugeuk's telepathic message reached her first. [Soul-Stealing, just stay put. Today is not the day.]

Believing he had a plan, the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme followed Geom Mugeuk's will. "I'm sorry, Young Cult Leader."

And so, the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme also politely refused.

Now, Geom Mugeuk looked at the last remaining Demon Supreme. He did not give up, even though he was asking someone who would never turn his back on the Cult Leader, not even if all the other Demon Supremes did.

"Please help me, Master!"

Indeed, the Fist Demon just looked at Geom Mugeuk silently. He did not even express his refusal, as if the request was absurd from the start.

Rejected by everyone, Geom Mugeuk looked at his father.

Geom Woojin asked in a low tone. "You just killed the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon for treason. Is this what you wanted?"

"……"

Geom Woojin had expected as much. His intelligent son would not have expected any Demon Supreme other than the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon to help. If he had been confident that even a few Demon Supremes would step up to help, he would not have created this situation in the first place. At least, he was not the kind of son who would corner his father like that. His faith in his son was that strong.

"Why did you tell the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon to stop him?"

The gazes of all the Demon Supremes turned to Geom Mugeuk. Everyone was curious why he had made the man step forward and block the way.

Geom Mugeuk answered, "Because it's something that won't happen in reality."

Not understanding what he meant, everyone wore puzzled expressions.

"That's why I wanted to see it once," Geom Mugeuk continued. "The sight of the Smiling Demon stepping forward for me, and the sight of the other Demon Supremes, who won't defy Father's orders no matter how close I get to them."

"Something that won't happen in reality?"

"Yes, this will never happen. The Smiling Demon will never become a traitor." Geom Mugeuk smiled. "Because if you start a war, Father, I will follow your orders."

"!"

Geom Mugeuk had felt the same way when he promised his father a five-year deadline. Today, he revealed that sentiment to his father in detail. "When that time comes, I will stand at the vanguard as promised. I won't resent you for going against my wishes. I have no intention of plotting to ruin your war. I will lead that war to certain victory."

Everyone could feel it. Geom Mugeuk was speaking from the heart.

"Of course, I will strive to minimize the casualties of the war. It won't be easy, but I will try my best to save the lives of the Chairmen and my friends. That's why I'm trying so hard to stop you. Because the outcome is already decided if I fail. I will try to stop you until the tournament ends today, and if I fail today, I will keep trying until the last day of our promised five years." He asked his father for forgiveness, "I created this situation intentionally to show you my true feelings. So please, forgive the Smiling Demon."

Geom Woojin sighed. Seeing that the Smiling Demon had not stepped forward on his own but was called out by his son, it was clear the situation had been intentionally staged. Besides, he already knew that the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon had dedicated everything to his son. The bigger problem would have been if he hadn't stepped forward for his son. Therefore, he held no ill will toward him for disobeying his command.

Geom Woojin sent a telepathic message to the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon. [Thank you for following my request so well.]

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon knew what he meant. The Cult Leader had once entrusted the Young Cult Leader to him, and now Geom Woojin proved that he remembered it precisely, that those words had not been spoken lightly.

[I will uphold that promise until the day I die.]

Seeing the exchange of glances, Geom Woojin nodded with a satisfied smile.

Geom Mugeuk walked over to the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's side. "From now on, you won't have to stand between my father and me like this. Thank you for today, Smiling Demon."

Behind the mask, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's eyes smiled pleasantly.

Watching them, the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme felt relieved, but also a little disappointed. She could understand why Geom Mugeuk had stopped her from stepping forward. It must have been his way of telling her not to get on his father's bad side when it was not a real situation. If two of them had defied the Cult Leader's will, the atmosphere would have become completely different.

However, seeing Geom Mugeuk and the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, she couldn't help but feel that she wanted to stand on that side too.

Finally, Geom Mugeuk thanked his father. "Thank you so much for generously overlooking your son's childish behavior."

Geom Woojin felt it. His son had declared war on him by revealing his true feelings.

As always, his son did not hide his true feelings and let imagination fill the void. This clever boy knew that such imagination was always cold.

THUD!

Suddenly, the fishing rod propped up next to him fell over.

"Ah! That's my fishing rod!"

A fish had taken the bait on the rod Geom Mugeuk had set up. Geom Mugeuk ran over and pulled the fish up.

"It's my first fish!" Geom Mugeuk held the fish high, his face excited. "Did you see my skill? Catching a fish without even holding the rod? The fish just rush toward me even when I'm standing still… Hey, where are you going? Look at my fish! Doesn't it look like the biggest one?"

Geom Woojin cast his fishing line into the river again. The Demon Supremes who had been in a standoff returned to their spots, and the rest also picked up their fishing rods again.

Geom Mugeuk shouted to the Demon Supremes who had started fishing again. "Alright, the tournament continues. Please fish hard from now on! Especially the person whose name I wrote down!"

The heavy and serious atmosphere brightened up again.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon said to Geom Mugeuk, "I told you clearly not to write my name."

He had said it loudly on purpose for the Cult Leader to hear. He had told Geom Mugeuk that he did not want to be the reason the Cult Leader's will was bent.

It seems the Cult Leader's still confident he can win, even though he hasn't caught a single fish yet.

"What will you do if Father wrote your name?" Geom Mugeuk asked.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon glanced at Geom Woojin. "That's not possible."

"You never know. Father might have picked you, Elder. You have to get first place."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon stared at Geom Mugeuk. "You picked me, didn't you?"

"Who knows?" Geom Mugeuk smiled and started walking again.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon was astounded. "Where are you going again without fishing?"

"I caught one fish, but you still haven't caught any, Elder."

"I'm strong in the second half… and that fish, it caught itself!"

Geom Mugeuk walked over to the Drunken Demon, who wordlessly poured some wine into the Ice Palace Chalice he wore at his waist.

Geom Mugeuk drank the wine. Drinking the already delicious alcohol from the Ice Palace Chalice made it taste absolutely incredible. "This wine tastes great!"

"You're a real madman," the Drunken Demon sighed. He had not shown it earlier, but he had been incredibly anxious. He was worried the father-son relationship would be completely ruined.

Geom Mugeuk smirked. "Didn't you tell me to sit down and not flip the table? I just followed your advice, hyung."

"You brat, a drinking session needs good side dishes. How can the mood be good when you start with hard wine so openly?"

"I was too hasty, wasn't I?"

"You think?! Find some side dishes, even now."

"Yeah, I have to. I came out here today to avoid a situation like that. I have to find it!"

Geom Mugeuk stood next to the Drunken Demon for a moment, watching the flowing river. "Hyung, is it arrogant of me to believe I can change my father's mind?"

The Drunken Demon did not answer. If it had been anyone else, he would have answered with a firm yes. However, knowing everything Geom Mugeuk had done and all the effort he had put in, he couldn't bring himself to say it.

In the end, he looked down at the wine bottle in his hand and said, "You know what? Wine has never once tried to change me. It's just wine, but I, the one who drinks it, keep changing. I feel good, I get depressed, I get angry, I feel lonely." He poured more wine into the Ice Palace Chalice, then continued, "If you're set on changing the Cult Leader, it'll be the hardest thing in the world, but what if, instead, you decide to become a good wine and get the Cult Leader drunk that day? That might be worth a try."

Geom Mugeuk smiled. The words resonated with him, but a natural worry followed. "What if he regrets it when he sobers up?"

"Everyone has regrets the day after getting drunk." The Drunken Demon took a long swig of his drink. "But if the wine is named Geom Mugeuk, it'll at least be a pleasant regret."