Chapter 857: What's a Drunkard Doing Worrying About a Hangover

TL: FoodieMonster007

The Drunken Demon was right. Geom Mugeuk didn't need to worry about his father's hangover. Whether his father regretted it or not, he couldn't let such feelings stop him. "I've said it before, but the more I see you, the smarter you seem. You're the smartest of all the Demon Supremes, Hyung."

The compliment always felt good, and the Drunken Demon couldn't hide the smile that bloomed on his face.

Geom Mugeuk continued praising, "You're not just an ordinary drunkard, Hyung. You're an extraordinary one!"

Pleased, the Drunken Demon poured wine into the Ice Palace Chalice.

Geom Mugeuk drank, then returned the Drunken Demon's earlier words to him. "If this wine was called 'The Drunken Demon,' I'd gladly get drunk on it all night!"

As the two drank, someone caught a fish.

FWOOSH!

It was the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, and it was the first fish he had caught all day.

A reaction completely opposite to the Smiling Demon's own indifference erupted.

"Smiling Demon!" Geom Mugeuk shouted. "Congratulations! Our Smiling Demon has finally caught his first fish! It's probably the most handsome fish in this entire river!"

The Drunken Demon watched Geom Mugeuk jump up and down, as happy as if he'd caught the fish himself. He expressed his dissatisfaction, "Isn't your reaction a bit too different? You weren't this happy when I caught one, were you?"

"Because you're not the Smiling Demon, Hyung."

"Don't discriminate right in front of me. That's the worst."

"If you didn't like it, you should've stepped up when I shouted, 'Please help me, Drunken Demon!'"

"I was about to."

"……" Geom Mugeuk stared into the Drunken Demon's eyes.

Faced with that direct gaze, the Drunken Demon couldn't lie. Defying the Cult Leader's order and stepping forward for Geom Mugeuk was impossible for him. " I wouldn't have been able to. I have to admit it. The most I could've done was probably pour some wine on your grave."

Geom Mugeuk smiled. "It's fine. If it was wine from you, it would've been delicious. I'll pour your favorite wine on your grave, too."

The Drunken Demon unexpected shook his head. "No, don't pour wine on my grave. I've spent my whole life drinking, so why would I need it in death? I intend to walk the path to the underworld sober."

As if to say they should drink while they were still alive, the Drunken Demon took a drink and refilled Geom Mugeuk's chalice.

Geom Mugeuk looked down at the cup. "What's the side dish of your life, Hyung?"

The Drunken Demon thought for a moment. "You. Watching you is fun."

"Besides me?"

"……" The Drunken Demon couldn't answer easily.

"What about Yeo Bin?"

"Yeo Bin isn't a side dish for me… she's hard liquor."

Geom Mugeuk laughed at the half-joking, half-serious remark. "Isn't it about time you partook of that hard liquor?"

The Drunken Demon gave Geom Mugeuk a disbelieving look.

"I'm saying, it's time the two of you got married."

"All of a sudden?"

"You have to think for her sake, too."

Geom Mugeuk didn't know Yeo Bin's exact age, but as one of the Three Drunkards, she couldn't be young.

The Drunken Demon took a drink. The contemplation in his eyes suggested he wasn't entirely against the idea.

Geom Mugeuk asked, "Has she ever said anything? Doesn't she ask you to marry her?"

"She's not the type to bring something like that up."

"Her counterpart is a Demon Supreme. Who would bring that up so easily? You have to bring it up first, Hyung. Don't you have some wine saved for your wedding? Bring out some sweet wine and ask her to marry you on a day with a good atmosphere."

"……" The Drunken Demon simply emptied his cup without a word.

"Why? You don't like Yeo Bin?"

"Of course not. Where else would I find a woman like her?"

"Then why?"

The Drunken Demon looked down at his empty cup and sighed lightly. "Because I only know how to get drunk. I don't really know how to sober up."

He seemed worried about whether someone who had only ever drunk could be responsible for another person.

"Aigoo, they say a monk can't shave his own head. You give me all sorts of good advice, but you're so bad at handling your own affairs." Geom Mugeuk refilled the Drunken Demon's empty cup. "Yeo Bin probably agrees with me."

"What do you mean?"

"She's probably worried, too. As one of the Three Drunkards, she's also lived a life of drinking, whether for martial arts or not. Don't you think she's worried? 'Can someone like me live well with the Drunken Demon?'"

"……" Again, the Drunken Demon emptied his cup without a word.

"She knows more about wine than anyone, she's watched you longer than anyone, and she likes you more than anyone. So think of her as a lifelong drinking companion and marry her. Drink together in the evening, then wake up and regret it together in the morning. Live like that, taking turns quitting drinking."

The Drunken Demon smiled at Geom Mugeuk. Sometimes, the bright young kid acted like someone who had lived a full lifetime.

Geom Mugeuk rambled on, "They say men who live alone die the fastest."

"What's the point of living a long life?"

"You have to drink and hang out with me until we're old. You need someone like Yeo Bin to watch over you, Hyung. Hurry and grab her before she runs off somewhere."

Geom Mugeuk finished his last cup, then looked at the Fist Demon standing in the distance. It would be nice to drink and talk about this all day, but there's work to be done.

"When it comes to Father, Master should know best, right?" he asked.

The Drunken Demon nodded blankly. "I suppose so."

Geom Mugeuk added as he stood up and walked away, "Hmph, what's a drunkard doing worrying about a hangover?"

Walking toward the Fist Demon, he paused. In the distance, he saw his father teaching his older brother how to fish.

Suddenly, he thought his father might be thinking of his own deceased older brother while teaching his eldest son to fish. He didn't know why the thought occurred to him.

Geom Mugeuk started walking again and stood next to the Fist Demon. "Fishing is boring, isn't it?"

The Fist Demon didn't answer, but his silence was answer enough.

"The fish are too scared to come near because you're scowling so fiercely, Master."

"Seeing as you're so relaxed, it seems you didn't write your own name down, at least."

"Who I wrote down is a top secret."

Geom Mugeuk stood beside the Fist Demon and gazed at the river.

The Fist Demon asked, "Why are you wandering around instead of fishing during a fishing competition?"

"I'm looking for a side dish."

The Fist Demon was about to ask what he meant, but he quickly turned his head back toward the river. How could I possibly understand the things Geom Mugeuk does? Just look at what happened earlier. The Young Cult Leader does things I can't even imagine.

Geom Mugeuk continued, "I've been thinking hard about what my father likes the most. Ah, excluding people. If we included people, wouldn't it be me?"

The Fist Demon looked at the confident Geom Mugeuk with an expression that seemed to ask, Is that really so?

"There are things I've learned after getting closer to my father. He likes Go, cooking, and fishing, but those are all hobbies, aren't they? Surely he doesn't enjoy his official duties." Geom Mugeuk sighed lightly. "I tried so hard to get close to my father, but I've realized I don't know what he likes the most."

Come to think of it, is it just Father? I don't know what Hyung likes the most. What does Lee Ahn like the most? I don't even know what the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, who willingly offered his life just a moment ago, likes the most. And what about the Drunken Demon, who I was just drinking with?

The Fist Demon looked at Geom Mugeuk. "Did you come here thinking I would know?"

"You don't know?" Geom Mugeuk tilted his head, puzzled. I thought the Fist Demon, who has been with Father since their youth, might know.

"No, I don't."

Geom Mugeuk nodded. There was no hesitation in that answer. The Fist Demon truly didn't know.

The Fist Demon looked at Geom Mugeuk. "Even if you asked me that question, I'd have to think for a long time to answer, and it would be an answer that could change tomorrow. What about you? What do you like the most?"

Geom Mugeuk couldn't answer readily, either. Right, how can I know someone else's heart when I don't even know what I like the most?

The two of them stared at the river in silence. The chatter with the Drunken Demon was comforting, but so was this silence with the Fist Demon.

After some time, the Fist Demon said abruptly, "I haven't forgotten our promise."

Geom Mugeuk understood. He had made a promise with the Fist Demon before. If his father decided to start a war, the Fist Demon would be the first to know, and he had asked the Fist Demon to tell him in advance. The Fist Demon had willingly made that difficult promise.

"I hope I won't have to keep my promise," the Fist Demon added, revealing his feelings on the matter for the first time.

Geom Mugeuk bowed his head respectfully to express his gratitude. "Thank you, Master…"

"It's a big one!" someone yelled.

The one who caught the first big fish was one of the three braggarts, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. It was twice the size of any fish caught so far.

Geom Mugeuk, who had been perfectly quiet with the Fist Demon, suddenly transformed back into his loudmouthed self. "Oh my! The current first-place fish has appeared!" He ran to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and said exactly what he wanted to hear. "As expected! You're amazing! The skills you had as Father's fishing teacher are still sharp! At this rate, aren't you going to win, Elder?"

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon brimmed with pride. "If you wanted to win the bet, you should've picked me."

"Didn't you tell me not to pick you?"

"You have to be humble to win."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon held up the large fish for the Flower Sword Supreme to see, as if to say they should win and take the Ten-Thousand Year Blood Ginseng together.

Just as his father had done for the Poison King, Geom Mugeuk made a puddle of water, and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon placed the fish in the puddle.

Crouching in front of the puddle and staring at the fish, Geom Mugeuk suddenly spoke. "You were very surprised earlier, weren't you?"

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon's hands paused for a moment as he put a new worm on his hook, then started moving again. "It's not like this is the first time you've surprised me."

"I'm sorry."

"So? How are you planning to persuade the Cult Leader?"

"I'm trying to find what Father likes the most."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon shot back, "What are you going to do once you find out what he likes? Try to suck up to him with it? The Cult Leader would just love that."

He's right! Geom Mugeuk's eyes sparkled as he realized his entire approach of finding out what his father liked most to get on his good side was wrong from the get go. "Then what should I do?" he asked. When it came to his father, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon would be offended to be considered second to the Fist Demon.

"You have to find out what he hates the most."

"!"

"It's easy to fake what you like, but it's not so easy to fake what you hate. To know someone deeply, you should look at what they hate rather than what they like."

Geom Mugeuk exclaimed in admiration. "As expected! You're the smartest, Elder! You're probably the smartest of all the Demon Supremes, past and present!" he shouted loud enough for everyone to hear.

One person reacted immediately.

"I heard I was the smartest just a little while ago!" the Drunken Demon complained.

Instead of pacifying the Drunken Demon, Geom Mugeuk added to fuel to the flames. "You're drunk, Drunken Demon. With the widely-read and knowledgeable Blade Demon here, how could you possibly be the smartest?"

The Drunken Demon stared at Geom Mugeuk, dumbfounded, before giving up and taking a drink. "Ah, I'm getting drunk."

Even being accused of drunken rambling, he felt good. He enjoyed being able to exchange such jokes in moments like these.

Geom Mugeuk looked at his father. What does Father hate the most?

From what he knew, his father hated poison arts, soul-manipulation techniques, and assassins. However, those were just general things.

What does my father truly hate? The answer to this problem might lie in something I've never seriously considered before.

PSHHHHHH!

Everyone curled up under the tent, watching the sudden downpour. The Heavenly Demon Hall chefs had finished preparing lunch just as the rain started, so everyone had paused their fishing and gathered in the tent.

"Fishing in the rain is the best," the Blood Heaven Blade Demon remarked.

Those with fishing experience nodded in agreement.

Of course, the Fist Demon, the Flower Sword Supreme, and the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon did not agree with the sentiment. Meanwhile, the Poison King and the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme, who had newly discovered the joy of fishing, were eager to finish their meal and get back to it, rain or shine.

Currently, the Poison King was in first place for the number of fish caught, and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was in first place for the largest fish.

"It's the first time, isn't it?" Geom Mugeuk exclaimed. "That all of us are gathering and eating outdoors together like this!"

Everyone nodded. Who would have thought a day would come when all the Demon Supremes would gather so pleasantly to eat while watching the rain fall?

"Father, please accept a cup of wine from your son." Geom Mugeuk poured a drink for Geom Woojin.

After receiving the drink, Geom Woojin poured one for his two sons.

Following them, the Demon Supremes also shared drinks with those sitting next to them.

The Drunken Demon was the first to pour a drink for the Fist Demon, who sat beside him. "It's been a long time since we've drunk together like this."

It truly had been a long time since he had last shared a drink with the Fist Demon.

The Fist Demon filled the Drunken Demon's cup with his large hand. "I enjoyed the wine you sent through the Young Cult Leader."

The Drunken Demon understood. Geom Mugeuk had distributed the wine as gifts to the other Demon Supremes and had thankfully revealed it was from him. Aww, how sweet. How could I not like the boy?

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon shared a drink with the Flower Sword Supreme.

"Are you confident you'll win?" she asked.

He nodded confidently. "It'd be weirder if I couldn't win in this game."

The sight of the two of them together was now perfectly natural. They no longer bothered to hide their feelings for each other. Their last journey had brought a great change to their relationship.

Meanwhile, the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme felt good receiving a drink from the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon. The feeling was less romantic and more like admiration.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon had a unique atmosphere she hadn't felt from the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader or Geom Mugeuk. It was an atmosphere that made her want to become a person who gave off a similar feeling.

The Poison King poured a drink for the Demonic Buddha. "Thank you," he said, knowing the Demonic Buddha had stepped forward earlier for his sake.

The Demonic Buddha snorted. "The Young Cult Leader is worried. He says he might have to start looking for poisonous fish instead of poisonous herbs now."

The Poison King didn't deny it, smiling faintly. Suddenly, his eyes met Geom Woojin's, and he bowed his head slightly, much more naturally than before. A small puddle had created a big change.

PSHHHHHHH!

Geom Woojin watched the falling rain and murmured softly, "This is truly nice."