Chapter 895: Are You Trying to Have a Showdown with Your Granddaughter?

TL: FoodieMonster007

The Poison King stood behind twelve dangling pouches, but even the cute animal drawings embroidered on them paled in comparison to his appearance.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Demonic Buddha admitted defeat.

We've lost. There's no beating that face.

Despite this, the Drunken Demon made one last, desperate struggle. He stood right next to the Poison King, saying, "Aren't we all part of the same handsome quartet?"

Geom Mugeuk shook his head, delivering the cold, hard truth. "Just because we're a quartet doesn't mean we're all equal, Hyung. Right now, you look like an uncle and his nephew."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Demonic Buddha nodded in unison. Getting involved with Geom Mugeuk was too entertaining for them to leave.

The Drunken Demon sighed, his hand instinctively reaching for the liquor gourd at his waist. He considered drinking it all but ultimately held back. "Hayeon's choice still remains!"

The Poison King looked toward the house behind Geom Mugeuk. "Is Hayeon inside?"

"No, she's at the Heavenly Demon Hall."

Disappointment flashed across the Poison King's face, and his shoulders slumped. If Hayeon wasn't here, he had no reason to be either. He turned decisively to leave.

"Aren't you going to leave that here?"

"I'll give it to her myself."

The Poison King left, but the other three Demon Supremes remained.

Geom Mugeuk asked, "Aren't you three leaving?"

The Drunken Demon sighed. "I'm going to wait until Hayeon comes. I even dreamed about playing with Hayeon last night."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon cut in. "If you played in your dream, then you don't need to play in reality."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Didn't she say she doesn't like you because you smell like alcohol?"

"I told you I quit, I'm on my tenth day!"

"Why is everyone acting like this?" Geom Mugeuk shouted. "She's my daughter, my daughter!"

Just then, a loud voice called out from behind them.

"Why is Hayeon your daughter?"

They turned to see the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader entering the area. It seemed everyone had decided to gather today.

"She's our daughter."

All the Demon Supremes nodded.

"No! She's my daughter!"

Despite his words, Geom Mugeuk was truly grateful they all adored his daughter so much.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader took a small box from his robes and held it out.

"What's this?" Geom Mugeuk asked.

"It's a Little Divine Pill. Among the miracle herbs for children, it's the best of the best."

"Oh, I've heard of that. This must have been difficult to acquire."

"There's nothing I wouldn't do for our Hayeon."

"What? But you whined so much after giving me your artifacts!"

"Are you the same as her? Make sure you tell her Grandpa Heavenly Wind gave it to her when you have her take it. I'm only giving it to you because I know you'll administer it better than I would." The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader snorted. If that were not the case, he would have given it to her himself to take all the credit.

"Thank you so much, Cult Leader."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader boasted in front of the Demon Supremes. "With this, I should be the first to play with Hayeon, right? Now, those of you who came empty-handed, please step far, far back."

Geom Mugeuk smirked. "Well then, why don't you go say that at the Heavenly Demon Hall? For your information, Father probably came empty-handed too."

"She's at the Heavenly Demon Hall again?" Disappointment flickered across the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's face. He understood the Demonic Cult Leader's situation, but still. "The Fist Demon is her maternal grandfather, so he probably gets to see Hayeon every single day, right?"

"He's with her at the Heavenly Demon Hall right now."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was genuinely regretful. "I should have adopted Lee Ahn as my foster daughter!"

"That would have been wonderful. You would have gained a son-in-law like me, too."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader flinched. His face contorted into an expression that screamed, 'Ah, right, there's that problem,' and he promptly abandoned the idea. Geom Mugeuk was no longer the thieving Second Young Lord to him.

He asked, "So? When is our Hayeon coming?!"

Tension filled the Heavenly Demon Hall. The Fist Demon stood hidden behind a pillar. Across from him, Geom Woojin stood by another pillar.

In their youth, the two had once stood side by side just like this, hiding behind pillars to dodge a barrage of hidden weapons while surrounded by enemies. That same tension flowed through the air now.

A clear voice echoed in the space.

"…Seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty. I'm coming to find you now!"

Geom Hayeon, who had been covering her eyes, opened them.

She had fair skin, a broad forehead, and sparkling eyes that seemed to hold the night sky. Her small, high-bridged nose and red lips, which revealed pearly white teeth, were the spitting image of Geom Mugeuk.

Her clear, shining eyes were full of intelligence, and she had dimples when she smiled. Her hair was a glossy jet-black that swayed with every movement.

She was so pretty and cute that anyone who passed by would stop in their tracks just to speak to her.

Moreover, she was more articulate and smarter than other children her age. She had already mastered reading and was faster at calculations than anyone.

Seo Daeryong had once assessed Hayeon this way: "I may be a prodigy, but Hayeon is a natural-born genius."

Geom Hayeon looked around and slowly took a step. She was in the middle of a game of hide-and-seek with her two grandfathers. This was likely the first time in the history of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult that hide-and-seek had been played in the Heavenly Demon Hall.

"Grandpa, no concealment techniques."

Hayeon's clear voice echoed inside the Heavenly Demon Hall. She walked between the terrifying pillars, which were supported by demonic fiends, but she wasn't scared at all. The giant demonic statues of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult were all she had seen since birth.

Hayeon approached Geom Woojin's side, but when she checked the pillar where he had been standing, he was already gone.

The Fist Demon, hiding behind the opposite pillar, laughed silently. What the hell? You're even using movement arts to get away?

He peeked his head out, but he could not see Hayeon…

The next moment, he raised his hands and turned around. Hayeon had somehow gotten behind him.

Hayeon made a 'shh' gesture and then went to find Geom Woojin. She was very good at finding him, since he was not using his full skills as the Cult Leader to hide from her.

Still, Geom Woojin moved from pillar to pillar, avoiding Hayeon. He could have let his granddaughter find him, but he did not just yet.

The Fist Demon watched the scene with a smile. Are you trying to have a real showdown with your granddaughter?

After failing to find Geom Woojin for a while, Hayeon stood in the middle of the Heavenly Demon Hall, closed her eyes, and fell into deep thought.

Finally, she ran not toward where Geom Woojin was, but toward the pillar next to it.

Geom Woojin let himself be caught, matching Hayeon's prediction.

"Found you!" Having found him with such difficulty, Hayeon jumped up and down with joy.

"Well done, Hayeon." Geom Woojin lifted her up in a big hug. His eyes, as he looked at his granddaughter, were full of affection.

The Fist Demon walked over to where the two were. "Yeon, how do you find us so well?"

The secret to Hayeon's skill at hide-and-seek was revealed.

"Paternal Grandpa taught me before."

"Taught you what?"

"How to find hidden people."

Geom Woojin had taught Hayeon the qi emission technique he had once taught Geom Mugeuk when they went hunting.

Still, even though Hayeon had found him using qi emission, Geom Woojin had moved to the side. Only when Hayeon anticipated his move and ran to that spot did he finally let himself be caught. He was trying to teach her the lesson of anticipating an opponent's movements.

The Fist Demon smiled faintly. It was just like the Cult Leader not to play for the sake of playing.

This must be a trait of his bloodline.

Moreover, there was another reason Hayeon was capable of qi emission at such a young age. She was born with the Heavenly Martial Body, the most perfect physique for learning martial arts, just like her father.

That was not all. Geom Woojin had personally opened her Conception and Governing Vessels and even performed Meridian Purification. After that, he taught her a qi cultivation technique and the Four Strides of the Wind God.

Amazingly, Hayeon learned the cultivation technique, built up inner qi, and quickly understood the basics of the Four Strides of the Wind God. She even managed to execute it.

Geom Woojin was completely engrossed in the fun of teaching martial arts to the prodigiously talented Hayeon.

"Let's play again!"

When Hayeon asked to play again, Geom Woojin and the Fist Demon looked at each other. They had already played hide-and-seek seven times.

We're too tired for more!

The sentiment was mutual.

"Let's play physician," Geom Woojin said to Hayeon.

"Okay!"

Geom Woojin and the Fist Demon exchanged a look, a silent battle of wits. The Fist Demon was about to lie down first…

SWOOSH!

But a formless wave of energy shot out from Geom Woojin, immobilizing the Fist Demon.

Geom Woojin then collapsed to the ground, feigning a faint. "Help me, physician!"

The Fist Demon looked at the Cult Leader, speaking with his eyes. Seriously, you're going too far, Cult Leader! No, my brother-in-law! How could you do this!

Geom Woojin closed his eyes with a smile.

"I need medicinal herbs," Hayeon said to the Fist Demon.

The Fist Demon naturally took on the role of the physician's assistant. "Physician, what kind of herbs do you need?"

"The Cold Blood Grass and the Soul Heart Grass!" Hayeon cried out. These were real poisonous herbs she had heard about when she visited the Poison King.

"I'll go gather them."

"The Cold Blood Grass is over there."

The Fist Demon went to the pillar Hayeon pointed at and pretended to gather herbs.

"You need to gather a lot of the Soul Heart Grass."

Meanwhile, Geom Woojin lay comfortably with his eyes closed. Even the great Demonic Cult Leader found playing with a child exhausting.

The Fist Demon smiled as he gathered the imaginary herbs. This is the first time I've ever seen the Cult Leader look tired.

"The herbs are ready," he said.

Hayeon nodded and placed her small, fern-like hands on Geom Woojin's chest. She then recited not only the exact locations of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, but also how to treat various ailments.

"Physician, from whom did you learn medicine?" the Fist Demon asked in surprise.

"From Grandpa Physician."

"How many times did you hear the explanation?"

"Once."

The Fist Demon was astounded. Hayeon's memory was so exceptional that she had memorized everything after hearing it just once.

He wondered what kind of martial artist this gifted child, with the Heavenly Martial Body and a brilliant mind, would become if she were taught by the Cult Leader, Geom Mugeuk, and even the Demon Supremes. She might even become a master who surpassed her father and grandfather.

"All treated."

Now, it was the Fist Demon's turn to become the patient.

Let me lie down for a bit!

However, Geom Woojin slyly turned over, showing his back. "Physician, my back hurts too."

"Hahaha!" The Fist Demon couldn't help but laugh out loud at that sight.

Geom Woojin, who had turned over, also smiled.

Soon, the game of physician finally ended after Geom Woojin had his back, as well as his arms and legs, fully treated.

"Grandpa has to work now, so let's go," the Fist Demon said to Hayeon.

"Wait a minute!" Hayeon ran over and gave Geom Woojin a kiss on the cheek. "See you later, Grandpa. Thank you for playing with me."

Geom Woojin beamed at Hayeon. "Alright."

The Fist Demon stared in shock. He had never seen the Cult Leader smile so brightly since he had met him. It was a smile on a completely different level from when he looked at his son.

"Maternal Grandpa, give me a ride!"

The Fist Demon lifted Hayeon up and sat her on his shoulders.

As they walked out of the Heavenly Demon Hall, Hayeon commented, "I like Maternal Grandpa's shoulders more because they're so broad."

"Aren't you scared of being so high up?"

"Nope!"

The Fist Demon was nervous. Sitting on his shoulders, she was close to his face, making him a bit self-conscious. "Don't you think my face is scary?"

"Nah, you're not scary at all." Hayeon gave the Fist Demon's face a tight hug. "I love you, Maternal Grandpa."

The Fist Demon did not realize that the expression he was making right now was not much different from the Cult Leader's just a moment ago.

"Later, this grandpa will teach you fist techniques."

"Okay!"

At the entrance of the Heavenly Demon Hall, they found the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon waiting for them. Having seen the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader shouting at Geom Mugeuk's residence from a distance, he had come here to wait instead.

"Uncle Mask!"

"Yeon!"

Hayeon leaped nimbly from the Fist Demon's shoulders using a swift movement art.

"Here, this is your present." The Smiling Demon held out a small mask made to fit Hayeon's face. She had said she wanted one, so he had a craftsman who made his own masks specially create it for her. As a result, it was an incredibly light mask that would not cause sweating even if worn for a long time.

Hayeon put on the mask. Wearing it, she looked incredibly cute. "Uncle Mask, let's play together!"

The Fist Demon's face showed an expression of final liberation.

The two eyes behind the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's mask smiled brightly. He took Hayeon's hand and started walking. "Shall we go see the Faceless Warrior Uncles?!"

A few days later, Geom Mugeuk stood before a bronze mirror, looking at his reflection. Despite the early hour, he had already bathed and was fully dressed.

In the bronze mirror, he could see Lee Ahn looking at him.

"How do I look?" he asked.

In fact, he had asked her this on the very day he first returned.

Lee Ahn remembered that day's answer perfectly. "You're the most handsome man in the jianghu."

Normally, if Geom Mugeuk had replied, "That's boring," Lee Ahn would have retorted, "The questions from the person who pays my monthly salary always have a predetermined answer."

Today, though, Geom Mugeuk's reply was different.

"And you are the most beautiful woman in the world."

Lee Ahn's face flushed red, so she walked over and wrapped her arms around Geom Mugeuk from behind. "…The day is finally here."

The day Geom Mugeuk had promised his father had finally dawned, and she knew very well how important this was to him. To her husband, this was more important than his fight with the Celestial Killer Star.

"Are you nervous?" she asked.

Geom Mugeuk honestly nodded.

"Are you scared?"

Again, he nodded.

"Should I help you win?"

"Are you going to see him with me?" Geom Mugeuk had no intention of taking her, but he playfully took her hand.

"No, I could never oppose Father-in-law." Lee Ahn gently pulled her hand from his grasp. Geom Woojin had been so good to her. "The moment I see Father-in-law, the first thing I'll say is, 'I will stand at the forefront of the war to conquer the murim!'"

Geom Mugeuk laughed at her half-joking, half-serious words. "Then how will you help me win?"

"We'll have to wake Yeon."

Geom Mugeuk laughed out loud. Her attempt to ease his tension had worked wonderfully.

Before leaving the house, he went to Hayeon's room.

After pulling the kicked-off blanket back over her and watching his sleeping daughter for a moment, he left the house.

"I'll be back."

"Have a safe trip, Darling!"

As Geom Mugeuk disappeared into the distance, the bright smile on Lee Ahn's face hardened, replaced by worry.

Stay strong, my love.

She closed her eyes and prayed earnestly that, at least for today, the heavens would be on her husband's side.

When Geom Mugeuk entered the Heavenly Demon Hall, the Demon Supremes had already arrived.

Today, the Eight Demon Supremes stood in a single line below the grand throne, looking his way.

Behind the, his father sat on the grand throne.

From the entrance of the Heavenly Demon Hall, Geom Mugeuk announced in his usual loud voice, "Father, I have arrived!"

He slowly walked forward on the path of blood.