Chapter 860: A Harder Battle to Give It Back

TL: FoodieMonster007

Geom Mugeuk was taken aback. His father could have gone hunting with him anytime. If Geom Woojin had just said, 'Let's go,' they could have gone tomorrow, the day after, or even every day. They could have gone hunting all year round. However, his father had made it his wish.

I want to go hunting you, just the two of us.

Was it because the words were so unexpected? The moment Geom Mugeuk heard them, an indescribable passion surged from deep within his chest.

The emotion was impossible to hide, and the Demon Supremes watching Geom Mugeuk all felt that same passion. They knew how hard Geom Mugeuk had worked for the Cult Leader, so they shared in his profound emotion.

Geom Mugeuk grinned. "We leave tomorrow morning!" he replied, speaking just as his father had in the past when he had made a promise without considering his son's circumstances.

The Demon Supremes laughed at the very Geom Mugeuk-like response. Who else in the world could speak to the Cult Leader like that? It was quite amusing to watch.

Even a smirk formed on Geom Woojin's lips.

Geom Mugeuk had seen his father laugh heartily today, and now he had seen this smirk. That was enough. He had seen all of his father's smiles for the day.

"Good." Geom Woojin readily accepted.

Thank you, Father, Geom Mugeuk thought. Still, he didn't miss a beat, continuing to host the fishing competition until the very end. "Alright, alright, before we conclude the fishing competition, the Cult Leader has a few words for us."

In truth, while this competition was for himself and his father, it was also for his father and the Demon Supremes.

Geom Woojin looked around at the Demon Supremes. He met each of their gazes, his eyes softer than ever before. "Today was enjoyable. Let's have another gathering like this if the opportunity arises. You've all worked hard."

At his brief words, the Demon Supremes all clasped their hands politely. "We enjoyed it as well, Cult Leader."

The Poison King, the Drunken Demon, and the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme were especially moved by the Cult Leader during the competition. The small puddle of water, the question about his drunken fit, the domain granted only to her—the hearts of the three were stirred. The impact was far greater because it came from someone who would never be expected to do such things.

Geom Mugeuk announced loudly, "With this, I now declare the end of the very first Heavenly Demon Cup Fishing Competition!"

And so, with an unexpected result, the fishing competition came to an end.

Geom Muyang packed up Geom Woojin's fishing rod, and the Demon Supremes returned to their spots to pack up their own. They released the fish they had caught back into the river.

Geom Woojin left the area first, with Geom Muyang in tow. The Demon Supremes followed behind him in a single file, carrying their fishing rods or slinging them over their shoulders.

They could have returned slowly, and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon or the Flower Sword Supreme could have gone for a walk. However, they all chose to follow the Cult Leader. The Demon Supremes felt a deep respect for him after seeing him refrain from forcing war upon Geom Mugeuk.

Of course, this wasn't entirely good for Geom Mugeuk. Because Geom Woojin was this kind of father, everyone would rush to the battlefield without hesitation at the single phrase, 'The time has come.'

Geom Mugeuk shouted from behind them. "Come on, anyone who wants to ask today's winner for his fishing secrets, feel free to ask! Don't you want to know the secret to catching the 10,000 Year Fire Carp? The thrill of reeling in the 10,000 Year Fire Carp, you're curious, aren't you? Hey, where are you all going in such a hurry? Stay and hang out with me for a bit! You're all free, aren't you!"

Unfortunately, not a single one of the Demon Supremes looked back.

Soon, Geom Woojin and the Demon Supremes grew distant. Geom Mugeuk watched until they disappeared from his sight. The sight of the eight Demon Supremes following his father, their figures walking away with their wings spread perfectly, was the very scene he had most wanted to see when he proposed the fishing competition.

You did a great job, Father.

As Geom Mugeuk's gaze returned to the river, he returned to his true self, his eyes calm and subdued. He stood there alone until the sun had completely set and darkness fell.

At dawn the next day, Geom Mugeuk left the cult with his father. He carried a large leather pack, just like the first time they went hunting together, no, he had even more baggage than back then.

"You know how many necessary things are packed in here, don't you?" he exclaimed, seeing Geom Woojin climb the mountain with his free hands clasped behind his back.

He followed his father. They had hunted together many times by now. There were also hunts where the three of them, including his brother, went together, but today's hunt was more special than any other.

"Uncle Hwi didn't come today either. It's really just you and me, Father," Geom Mugeuk remarked. He had now reached a level where he could clearly detect even Hwi's stealth.

Geom Woojin nodded. He really hadn't brought Hwi along.

Geom Mugeuk understood the reason for that. This was, after all, a perfect opportunity to have a heart-to-heart talk about things they had kept hidden deep inside. "Please understand if I, the quiet one, become a bit talkative today!"

Despite his words, he walked quietly behind his father, basking in the joy of walking through the mountains with his father. Of feeling the sunlight filtering through the branches, hearing their muted footsteps on blades of grass, listening to the quiet murmur of a stream in the valley below, smelling the scent of pine resin, earth on the wind, and seeing a squirrel rustling the leaves as it climbed a tree.

After wandering through the mountains for some time, Geom Woojin said, "Tiger tracks."

Geom Mugeuk nodded. It was a rather large tiger. "It went this way!"

They could have found the tiger in an instant by using martial arts to track it, but Geom Woojin didn't even use his qi to locate the animal. He was purely enjoying the hunt itself. Yesterday, he was a fisherman, today he was a hunter.

Geom Mugeuk felt that his father's heart was the same as his own when he had first returned and asked to go hunting with him. Back then, he had simply wanted to get closer to his father. Now, his father simply wanted to spend time with his son.

That was why, as if by an unspoken agreement, they didn't talk about conquering the murim.

"It looks like it spotted prey here and took off running," Geom Woojin muttered. He could tell the tiger's situation just by looking at the tracks.

They tracked it for a while longer before spotting the tiger far in the distance, below a rock.

Geom Mugeuk's bowstring was drawn taut, but in the end, he didn't shoot the arrow. In that time, the tiger disappeared.

Geom Woojin asked, "Why didn't you shoot?"

Geom Mugeuk gave an absurd reason. "It looked like one of the cubs of that tiger that Hyung spared back then. Ah, but I would have shot the firstborn. That one's clearly the second brother."

During one of their hunting trips, Geom Muyang couldn't bring himself to release the bowstring after seeing the cubs near the tiger.

At the silly joke, Geom Woojin rolled his eyes incredulously and walked toward the sound of water.

The two of them quenched their thirst with water from the flowing stream.

Geom Mugeuk suggested, "We lost it anyway, so why don't we rest for a bit?"

The two sat on a rock by the stream. The sound of the flowing water was so clear and cheerful that just sitting there felt pleasant.

Geom Woojin briefly switched from being a hunter to a fisherman. "So, how did it feel to catch the 10,000 Year Fire Carp?" he asked, purely curious.

Geom Mugeuk grinned and boasted, "It was amazing. The moment it was hooked, I knew it was a huge catch. Elder Blood Heaven Blade Demon said it, didn't he? That sometimes when you're fishing, it feels like the whole world is rushing toward you. That's exactly what it felt like when I reeled in the 10,000 Year Fire Carp… You're jealous, aren't you?"

Geom Woojin couldn't say no, but he coveted the thrill of catching the fish more than the inner core of the 10,000 Year Fire Carp.

Geom Mugeuk continued, "Elder Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Demonic Buddha will probably be seeing fish in front of their eyes for a few days."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon had placed second in the number of fish caught and third for the largest catch. If he had placed second in the largest catch category as well, he would have been truly disappointed.

As for the Demonic Buddha, who hadn't reeled in a single fish, why, he might even be at that riverbank today, scolding the poor fish, 'You should have been caught like this yesterday!'

In truth, though Geom Mugeuk didn't know it, Geom Woojin had also been grinding his teeth, determined to take first place. Fortunately, winning the bet had lessened the disappointment, but his desire for the top spot was stronger than anyone's.

He subtly suggested, "You should hold a second competition next year."

Geom Mugeuk shook his head. "But at that rate, we won't have any Ten-Thousand Year Blood Ginseng left."

Geom Woojin snorted. "Since I put up the Ten-Thousand Year Blood Ginseng for the first competition, I'll naturally have to put up something different for the second one. There are plenty of martial arts manuals in the Heavenly Demon Archives, aren't there?"

Geom Mugeuk naturally brought up the topic of the Demon Supremes. "I was reminded once again this time just how much the Demon Supremes like you, Father."

"And not you?"

"No, they like you. I can feel it when I watch the Demon Supremes," Geom Mugeuk said sincerely, not just to please his father. "When I think about it, the reason I've been able to act so freely is because you backed me all the way, isn't it? That's probably why the Demon Supremes put up with me no matter how much I messed around. Thanks to you, I had my fill of enjoying the most powerful bodyguards."

Geom Woojin stared at his son. "Then why are you trying to give up your position?"

Geom Mugeuk shuddered. As expected, his father knew why he had given the inner core of the 10,000 Year Fire Carp to his brother. It was because he intended to hand over the Young Cult Leader position. No matter how he thought about it, he didn't have the confidence to live his entire life protecting that throne.

He had felt it keenly when he was the Acting Cult Leader. That path was not his to walk. He wanted to wander the Central Plains and live freely.

"It's not because I hate it…"

Hating the position his father had protected his entire life would be the greatest disrespect he could show him.

"It's because Hyung is a better fit."

Geom Woojin stared silently at Geom Mugeuk. He was his own son, but he felt he truly couldn't understand him. Giving up this position so easily was by no means a simple matter.

Geom Mugeuk added, "Of course, I'm a responsible person, so I would lead the cult well regardless. I also worry a lot and tend to prepare in advance, so I'd overcome crises just fine. But if someone were to ask me if I was happy, though, I don't think I could say yes. On the other hand, if you asked Hyung, he would say he is happy. You can tell just by watching how he handles his duties within the cult now."

His brother handled his work so well it could be called nearly perfect.

"……" Geom Woojin nodded silently, as if he too agreed with that assessment.

Geom Mugeuk smiled. "Hyung becomes the Cult Leader, and I live freely. Both Hyung and I will be happy. Rather than a choice that makes us both unhappy, I've made one that makes us both happy."

Geom Woojin didn't deny or refute his son's words. Personality wise, Geom Muyang was indeed the one better suited for the Cult Leader position. The problem was something else. "Even if I allow it, Muyang will never accept your intentions," he said. "You can make him eat the 10,000 Year Fire Carp, but you can't make him replace you."

Geom Mugeuk nodded. His father knew his brother better than anyone. Geom Muyang, who had lost the power struggle, sitting in a position his younger brother yielded to him? His pride would never allow it.

"Father, how can I persuade Hyung? Should I just run away? What could he do if I just disappeared?"

Of course, he wasn't being serious. If he did that, his brother would live an unhappy life, even after ascending to the position of Cult Leader.

"I fought so hard to take that position in the succession battle, and now I have to fight an even harder battle to give it back!"

Geom Woojin, who had been quietly watching his son's theatrics, suddenly remarked, "You're confident you can persuade your brother, aren't you?"

Geom Mugeuk sighed. As always, his father was incredibly sharp. "Yes, I'm actually confident I can persuade him."

"Why are you so confident?"

"Because I know Hyung's weakness."

"?" Geom Woojin flinched at the word 'weakness'.

"Because Hyung truly loves our Cult."

"!" Geom Woojin's eyes widened in shock. This was a weakness he had never considered.

"In that respect, he's just like you, Father."

After a brief pause, Geom Woojin asked, "If you can hand over the position as you wish, what do you plan to do?"

"I plan to travel the Central Plains with Lee Ahn. I promised to take her out a long time ago. It's time to keep that promise."

We promised to visit every famous place and see every scenic view. I promised to let her taste every famous dish.

He had another purpose as well.

"I'm going to use this opportunity to help Lee Ahn find her true self."

Geom Woojin could have been confused by his words, but he simply nodded. Having lived for so long as a bodyguard, there must be a part of Lee Ahn that was inevitably bound to his son. Geom Mugeuk probably wanted to help her break that original bond.

"Though if I break the barrier that binds Lee Ahn, she might leave me."

Geom Woojin said something cryptic. "It could be the other way around."

"The other way around?"

"That child might cling to you. Not as a master, but as a man."

"She's not the type to do that."

Geom Woojin gave a strange smile. It was a look that said, 'Is that really so?' mixed with a look that said, 'What do you even know about women?'

Geom Mugeuk giggled. He was thrilled.

Talking about women with my father? With my father of all people? This is more precious than the 10,000 Year Fire Carp.

Seeing this side of his father and having this kind of conversation felt unfamiliar, yet wonderful.

He smirked naughtily. "Perhaps… when you were younger…?"

As if guessing what his son was about to say, Geom Woojin stood up. "Alright, let's get going."

"That just makes you seem more suspicious, you know?" Geom Mugeuk raised his voice as he followed behind. "Is the reason I want to form the 'Four Handsome Men' and leave the cult also because I inherited your blood?"

A campfire blazed on the mountainside where the sun had set early. They had come to hunt in earnest, but the two of them hadn't caught a single animal. They were capable of catching every beast on the mountain if they set their minds to it, but today's hunt was a bust.

For some reason, Geom Mugeuk didn't want to see any blood today, and his father, as if reading his son's mind, also didn't catch any animals.

"I knew this would happen, so I came prepared. This is a feast for failed hunters," Geom Mugeuk said as he took food out of his leather pack. Although it was dried food, the snacks were too exquisite to be considered hastily packed, and he even had his father's favorite liquor. "Please have a drink."

After accepting the drink, Geom Woojin filled his son's cup. The two of them pleasantly emptied their cups.

Geom Mugeuk felt comfortable and happy in this moment alone with his father. At the same time, he felt a strange tension. He didn't know what kind of stories would come out today.

After they had a few drinks, Geom Woojin asked a question, as if it had just occurred to him. "If you had won the bet… What was it you wanted to ask me?"

His son had said there was something he wanted to ask him, and he wondered what it was.