Chapter 861: Did You Think You Could Escape So Easily?

TL: FoodieMonster007

Geom Mugeuk had two questions for his father, but he didn't want to spoil the pleasant atmosphere by asking 'What do you hate the most?' now, while they were drinking and talking alone. So, he asked the other burning question on his mind.

"I want to know about Mother."

Geom Woojin nodded as if he had expected the question. "Don't try to know more."

Geom Mugeuk stared at his father, surprised. Geom Woojin's face flickered red in the bonfire's light.

That was advice for me.

Geom Woojin continued, "The dead don't just stay in the past."

Geom Mugeuk understood what he meant. He had felt the sorrow of losing everyone more keenly than anyone in his life before regression. Those deaths had dominated both of his lives. Therefore, he understood that the more he knew about his mother, the more he would miss her.

"Let her remain a vague longing, just as she is now," Geom Woojin added.

Geom Mugeuk could tell. His mother's brief, shining life was forever luminous in his father's heart. The love that had lost its way remained there, transformed into longing. "Isn't it hard for you, keeping the memories all to yourself?" he asked.

Geom Woojin flinched at the unexpected words and looked at his son.

Geom Mugeuk stared back. Knowing his father's personality, he was sure Geom Woojin had never spoken about his mother to anyone. Not to his brother, the Fist Demon, or Sama Myeong. He would have endured the pain of that loss all by himself. This gruff man would have certainly done so.

After all, in his life before regression, he too had endured all that pain alone. Looking back, keeping all their feelings bottled up hadn't done either of them any good.

I miss you. I long for you. I'm sad. I'm angry.

If only his father could have uttered a single word to someone, his heart might have felt a little lighter. It was a pity that Geom Woojin, just like himself before regression, never had that opportunity.

"Father, I want to rejoice with you, yearn with you, and mourn with you."

"……" Geom Woojin stared at his son with trembling eyes. He hadn't known this was why his son was asking about his mother.

"Father, I want to hear about my mother, who liked floral patterns."

Geom Woojin drank his alcohol without a word. He looked down at his empty cup, then gazed up at the night sky. He didn't ask any more questions and only quietly refilled his father's cup.

After a long silence, Geom Woojin finally told the story he had kept buried in his heart for a long time. "I met your mother when I was about your age. She was a woman from the orthodox sects."

Geom Mugeuk blinked in shock. Now he understood why his father had said he resembled his mother. He also understood why he had decided upon his demonic path so naturally. It was because his mother's blood flowed in him.

Geom Woojin seemed ready to say more, but after finishing his drink, he turned and lay down, seemingly unable to hide his surging emotions now that he had started to speak. "Let's get some sleep."

Geom Mugeuk didn't press further. His father might have said a few more words if he insisted, but he chose not to.

Anyway, looking at his father's back always brought various thoughts to mind. The back he saw today felt different from any he had seen before.

He could imagine, without hearing the full story, how arduous it must have been for a woman of the orthodox sects to become the Demon Queen. There must have been many things that couldn't be easily told to a child, enough to fill several books.

The important thing was that his father and mother had overcome that difficult process, found love, and given birth to him and his brother.

"You've been through so much, Father," he said. "Thank you for bringing me into this world."

For a moment, Geom Mugeuk felt Geom Woojin's back tremble slightly, but his father said nothing more.

He lay down and looked up at the night sky.

Father, please tell me more about Mother someday.

"You're here?" The Demonic Buddha, who was sitting in the Buddhist hall chanting, said without turning around.

Geom Mugeuk entered the Demonic Buddha's room.

The Demonic Buddha greeted him nonchalantly, as if he had expected Geom Mugeuk to visit as soon as he descended the mountain. "You came down earlier than I thought."

"I couldn't stand it. I missed you so much, Demonic Buddha."

The Demonic Buddha, who had been facing the Bloody Buddha, turned to face Geom Mugeuk. He had an inkling of why Geom Mugeuk had come. He had read the Young Cult Leader's mind the moment the bastard gave the 10,000 Year Fire Carp's inner core to Geom Muyang. "As always, you've come because you want something from me. The Cult Leader didn't allow it, did he?"

"He hasn't allowed it yet. He's certain my brother won't listen to me."

The Demonic Buddha nodded in agreement. "He sees things clearly."

"That's why I've come to you for an answer, Demonic Buddha."

"If that's why you're here, then you've come in vain."

"What do you mean?"

The Demonic Buddha declared confidently, "You know what kind of person your brother is, don't you? He will never accept that position." He tilted his head in confusion. "Why are you suddenly trying to run away, anyway? Did that swordsman, Ak Gunhak, put some ideas in your head?"

"No. That man has decided to settle down now."

"Then why?"

Geom Mugeuk hesitated. This wasn't a sudden impulse. His heart had been divided for a long time. He had considered becoming a truly amazing Cult Leader, but he had also thought about giving the position to his brother and living freely.

However, something else had influenced him this time.

Why would I obtain the inner core of the 10,000 Year Fire Carp after Hwa Mugi's death?

He wondered if this might be a destiny ordained by the heavens. After all, it was unlikely to be a heavenly gift to increase his inner qi.

The Demonic Buddha asked, "Is it because of the First Young Lord?"

"……" Geom Mugeuk couldn't deny it.

"Listen, Young Cult Leader."

"Yes, Demonic Buddha?"

"I know very well what kind of person you are. You might find a way to persuade the First Young Lord. You might even succeed. And I hope you fail."

Geom Mugeuk could feel his sincerity, so he asked cautiously, "May I ask why?"

The Demonic Buddha's gaze turned cold. "Because it will make the First Young Lord's life miserable."

"!" Geom Mugeuk was too startled to speak. Coming from someone who knew his brother better than anyone, the words carried immense weight.

"After ascending to the position of Cult Leader, the First Young Lord will have to fight with himself endlessly. He'll question whether he's a person suited for the Cult Leader's seat. Moreover, he'll be endlessly suspicious. He will wonder if the Demon Supremes truly follow him, or if they are reminiscing about someone else, ready to abandon him the moment that person comes back."

"But you'll be by my brother's side, won't you, Demonic Buddha?"

The Demonic Buddha slowly shook his head. "My existence will only make it harder for the First Young Lord. I was with him through the defeat in the succession battle. Every time he sees me, he'll be reminded of the ghosts of the past. Listen, Young Cult Leader. The human heart is not that strong. Not everyone can have a heart like yours."

"……" Geom Mugeuk couldn't reply. He had vaguely thought it would be fine if his brother took the position, that it would be okay if the Demonic Buddha helped. He never thought the Demonic Buddha was seeing the outcome of this matter much more realistically and accurately.

"Did you think you could escape so easily after getting so deeply involved in everyone's lives?" the Demonic Buddha asked.

Geom Mugeuk knew the Demonic Buddha was right. He couldn't make any excuses.

After a moment of thought, he readily admitted his mistake. "I was too selfish and narrow-minded."

He had only focused on whether his brother would accept, not on what his brother's life would be like afterward. The brother from his previous life, the man who had won the succession war was no longer here.

"I would have disappointed everyone who trusted and followed me until now."

The rigid expression on the Demonic Buddha's face softened. Because Geom Mugeuk admitted what he needed to and didn't cling to useless stubbornness, he could offer heartfelt advice. "It's not that there's no way at all."

Geom Mugeuk's eyes sparkled as he looked at the Demonic Buddha. "Please tell me."

The Demonic Buddha, who seemed to have already pondered the matter, said calmly, "There's just the one method."

"What is it?"

"Justification."

"?" Geom Mugeuk blinked in confusion. The Demonic Buddha had given him the same advice when he asked how to stop his father from trying to conquer the murim, but what did it mean now?

The Demonic Buddha continued, "The First Young Lord needs justification to inherit the position of Cult Leader."

"Is there a way to create that justification?" Geom Mugeuk asked, not expecting much.

Surprisingly, the Demonic Buddha had an answer.

"There is, but it requires a condition. You must become the Cult Leader."

"!" Geom Mugeuk's eyes widened in shock, but he waited for the Demonic Buddha's explanation patiently.

"If you hand over the position without becoming the Cult Leader, that's just yielding, but if you become the Cult Leader, lead our Cult, and then appoint the First Young Lord as your successor, that becomes a formal succession," the Demonic Buddha said. "While you are the Cult Leader, lead our Cult in your own way, but while doing so, keep entrusting the First Young Lord with important duties, the kind of tasks only a Cult Leader can assign."

Geom Mugeuk nodded in understanding. His brother would probably handle those tasks better than anyone. Because it concerned his brother, the Demonic Buddha was giving his advice more earnestly than ever.

"Through that work, the First Young Lord will prove his own excellence. That will become his justification to become the next Cult Leader. Try this, and try that. If it doesn't seem right, devise another method. As time passes, your thoughts, the First Young Lord's thoughts, and my thoughts will all change. The worries of today might be nothing by then. Perhaps you would have truly regretted giving up the Cult Leader position. You might even complain to me about that. But… there is a time for everything, even running away. You run when fate cracks open the back door for you."

Geom Mugeuk, who had been listening silently, recalled his conversation with the old man.

"You asked me how I'm going to live, but my future life might disappoint you. I've used up almost all the coolness I had in me."

"Don't worry. The people you've made cool will in turn lead you to become even cooler."

Geom Mugeuk shot to his feet and bowed his head respectfully to the Demonic Buddha. "Your words are wise. Thank you."

The Demonic Buddha, with his wise and gracious teaching, had guided him back to the right path when he was about to go down the wrong one.

"You have set my life and my brother's life straight. You've caught two big fish today." Grinning, Geom Mugeuk added an utterly unbearable remark. "You should've caught some like this that day."

The Demonic Buddha, who had been smiling like a devout monk, closed his eyes and squeezed his prayer beads so forcefully they seemed about to break. "When did you say the next competition would be held?"

"Here, these are the necessary supplies."

Geom Muyang handed a document to Gwak Yeong. They were standing in the Demon Village, where reconstruction was in full swing. He was the general manager of the project, and Gwak Yeong had come on an errand for the smithy.

"I'll see you again then." Gwak Yeong bowed politely and turned away. She wanted to crack a friendly joke, but seeing him working hard, she didn't dare open her mouth.

Suddenly, she heard Geom Muyang's voice from behind her.

"When are you going to give me the treasured sword you promised?"

Gwak Yeong smiled and turned back. "At this rate, by the time I've made a treasured sword, you might have forgotten all about me, First Young Lord."

It was half a joke, but she was genuinely worried about when she would reach a position to make treasured swords. She was still just making iron swords at the smithy. Even with her artisan-level skills, her history as a Murim Alliance traitor held her back.

Geom Muyang tilted his head. "Why do you think I would forget you?"

"Because you're a noble and busy person, First Young Lord."

"Couldn't it be the other way around? You'll become the one and only famous artisan of the smithy, and I'll still be an insignificant First Young Lord."

Gwak Yeong smiled. "Seeing you engage in such unfitting self-pity, you look like you need a friend to drink with. If you feel like a drink later, come to the smithy. I'll buy you one!" After a quick bow, she started to walk away, but abruptly decided to glance back at Geom Muyang. "You're the smartest demonic practitioner I've ever seen. Don't forget that."

After blurting out the words, she ran off into the distance.

Geom Muyang watched her go, then turned around to find Geom Mugeuk standing behind him. He gave a start, shocked.

Geom Mugeuk pouted. "You're the smartest? How can she say that after seeing me?!"

Knowing that engaging with that comment would surely lead to teasing about Gwak Yeong, Geom Muyang changed the subject. "When did you come down the mountain?"

"A little while ago."

"How's Father?"

"He blamed me for coming back empty-handed from the hunt. He said the three of us should go next time, you included."

Geom Muyang tried to suppress a smile. "Why are you here?"

"I missed you."

"You say that to everyone you meet, don't you?"

"You really are smart. Though not as smart as me."

Geom Muyang stared at Geom Mugeuk intently and then said seriously, "I know what you're thinking. Don't even dream of it."

As if to prove he wasn't just saying it, his eyes shone sharply, and his tightly closed lips held a firm resolve.

"I shouldn't have taken the inner core."

He had taken it because of his father, but he regretted it afterward.

Geom Mugeuk snorted. "I know what you're misunderstanding, but sorry, you're the one who shouldn't be dreaming. Don't you know how hard I worked to get this position?"

"……" Geom Muyang stared at his younger brother suspiciously.

Geom Mugeuk continued, "This position I snatched from you, I'm going to keep it until I'm old and dead. Don't come begging me to let you have it for just one day later. Oh, but I'll let you sit on the throne once."

Despite his brother's joke, the suspicion on Geom Muyang's tense face did not fade. "Then why did you give me the inner core?"

"I gave it to you for practical reasons. It's more effective for you to have it than me. If the benefit of taking the 10,000 Year Fire Carp's inner core is a ten, then for me, it would be a benefit of two or three, objectively speaking, but you could take all ten."

Geom Muyang frowned. His brother wasn't wrong. Geom Mugeuk's inner qi was so pure and vast that adding the inner core of the 10,000 Year Fire Carp wouldn't have a significant, noticeable effect. For him, however, it was different.

His life could now be divided into two parts. Before taking the core, and after taking it.

Geom Mugeuk added an emotional component to his rational calculation. "You're the one who will support the Cult Leader in the future, so you need to be strong too. That way, I can go around and say, 'That man is my brother.' This is for my own vanity, so don't be too grateful!"

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

Only then did Geom Muyang's expression relax.

Seeing his brother like this, Geom Mugeuk was reminded once again how right the Demonic Buddha's advice had been. "…I'm sorry, Hyung."

"For what?"

For being selfish and only thinking of myself.

"I bad-mouthed you again behind your back."

Geom Muyang laughed in disbelief, and Geom Mugeuk laughed along with him.

Geom Mugeuk's gaze turned to the bustling construction site. Since the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was mobilizing massive manpower and resources, the buildings were rising day by day.

He looked up at the building rising from the site of the Alluring Inn.

"Oh? It seems our dear innkeeper will be very happy."