Geommugeuk went straight to his father.
Since he needed his father's permission to leave the sect together with the Demon Venerables. Especially in this case, he had to receive proper permission.
"Father! Your son's fists have become adult fists now. The days of being teased by Master for having baby fists are over!"
Geommugeuk spouted such nonsense as he walked the Path of Blood.
"I have finally achieved Grand Mastery of the Thunderbolt Asura Fist. If there are any unruly fellows, just say the word!"
"You!"
"Ah, that's right. There aren't any aside from me, are there?"
Geommugeuk stopped beneath the Taesa.
Geomujin silently gazed at his son.
"So that person bestowed a precious secret technique upon you."
Remarkably, Geomujin had noticed that his son had grown stronger through the Thunderclap Tendon Technique.
"How did you know?"
Indeed, if it were his father, he could recognize Rebirth at a glance.
But the changes brought by the Thunderclap Tendon Technique were largely internal; there weren't that many external changes. And yet, he recognized it with a single glance?
"That's correct. Master used a secret, exclusive technique to make my body stronger."
There was a reason Geomujin recognized that fact immediately. He had already known about that secret technique.
"Do you know what kind of secret technique it is?"
"What kind of secret technique is it?"
"It is the technique that person dreamed of. To achieve Rebirth and receive the Thunderclap Tendon Technique as well—that is the long-cherished dream of those who learn the Thunderbolt Asura Fist."
It hadn't been merely passing down a technique. Fist Demon had willingly handed his dream over to his disciple.
No matter how slim the possibility of achieving Rebirth, giving up a lifelong wish couldn't have been easy. Yet Fist Demon hadn't hesitated in making that choice.
"If that was the case, he should have boasted about it a little while bestowing it."
At those words, a smile formed on Geomujin's lips toward one who was not present.
"That is the kind of person he is."
That man and he alike had lived their lives without ever knowing how to boast.
"Oh, Master has also reached a new realm."
"I know."
As expected. His father had known that Fist Demon had reached a new realm from the sound of thunder alone.
"Truly amazing. What in the world don't you know, Father?"
"If you're done showing off, be on your way."
"No, I didn't come today just to show off."
Geommugeuk relayed to his father exactly what the Heavenly Flower Pavilion Lord had conveyed.
"Therefore, I believe I must leave the sect immediately tomorrow. And this time, I intend to go out in proper formation. I will take all the Demon Venerables except for two."
Since Blood Heaven Blade Demon and One Flower Sword Venerable were outside, there were six Demon Venerables within the sect. He was saying he would take four of them.
At the mention of leaving two behind, Geomujin spoke.
"Since you're taking them out, take them all."
It was a sentiment for his son.
"Then you would have to guard the main sect alone, Father?"
One corner of Geomujin's mouth rose slightly.
"Why? Do you think I cannot guard it alone?"
"Of course you can guard it."
"Then why?"
"If Father goes out to unify Murim while I'm away, someone would have to stop you, wouldn't they?"
He spoke as if joking, but it wasn't entirely an exaggeration.
The Guhwamagong of Twelve Stars Grand Mastery.
Not even Geommugeuk could imagine what that power would be like.
When he had asked his father, who walked out of the Heavenly Demon Hall alone, where he was going.
"I go to unify Murim."
Who could dare laugh at that?
"And we must consider the Strategist. If all the Demon Venerables leave the sect, he will be greatly worried. Uncle Hwi and the guard unit will also have to worry several times more. So I will leave two behind and go."
Having put it in terms of other people's concerns, his father said no more about taking them.
Instead, he seemed curious about whom he would take and whom he would leave behind.
"So whom will you leave behind?"
* * *
Chwima was thoroughly drunk.
When he saw Geommugeuk, he slurred his words and waved his hand.
"Our little brother! Come here and drink this hyung's liquor first."
He had drunk so much that the area around the Drunken Dream Tower was filled with intoxicating energy like fog.
"Why are you so drunk from broad daylight?"
Chwima shook the liquor bottle.
"In this lonely life, this fellow is my only friend!"
The moment the words "lonely life" came out, Geommugeuk knew.
Ah, he's sulking!
Yes, he had every right to sulk. Because Geommugeuk had come to see him last again this time.
"It makes the friend listening feel bad, calling me your only friend!"
"Who might this be? Oh my, isn't this our busy Young Cult Leader? What brings such a noble person to this shabby place?"
"Hyung, where did that magnanimous demeanor you showed me last time go?"
Geommugeuk imitated Chwima.
"After it passes, it's all useless. Would I die regretting that you didn't come see me?"
As he said this, Chwima even looked up at the sky and laughed hollowly.
"Where did our great-man-like hyung go?"
Chwima pouted his lips.
"That great-man hyung withered away from loneliness. Now only the narrow-minded, petty hyung remains. No matter how late I come, I said it's fine, but you really come last?"
"Hyung, this is sincere. I'm not coming late because you're easy, but because I think you'll understand the best."
"That's exactly what being easy means!"
When Chwima shouted in anger, Geommugeuk employed a brazen reversal.
"So what if I'm a little easy!"
"What?"
"I need to have at least one easy person too!"
"What is this? Such shamelessness? I'm sobering right up."
Geommugeuk filled his cup with the liquor bottle before him and downed it in one shot.
"Blade Demon Elder is difficult because he's an elder; Fist Demon is difficult because he's my master; the Sword Venerable is too elegant and noble, so he's difficult; Seophon Majon is too young, so she's difficult; Mabul only likes you, so he's difficult; Dokwang is immersed in poison, so he's difficult; Soma is too precious, so that's difficult. For someone like me, I need at least an easy hyung like Chwima in this world! Right? Be my easy hyung for life!"
Listening with a dumbfounded expression, Chwima eventually burst into laughter.
"Right, that's right. One needs to have at least one easy person in life. That's how you breathe and live. Fine! I shall be that easy person."
"The petty hyung has left, and the great-man hyung has returned!"
"This is exactly the magnanimity of drinkers! Come, let's drink!"
The two men clinked their cups vigorously and emptied them.
"Come last from now on too!"
"There are good points to it! When you come last, there's plenty of material to badmouth the other Demon Venerables. No need for side dishes!"
"Excellent! Let's badmouth those people and drink to our hearts' content!"
The two men hit it off and emptied their cups.
Of course, Geommugeuk knew. That Chwima wasn't drunk because Geommugeuk came late. Despite saying it hurt his feelings, Chwima was no longer the same Chwima he used to be.
Feeling the intoxicating energy filling the surroundings, Geommugeuk asked casually.
"Were you training?"
As expected, Chwima nodded. The reason he was so thoroughly drunk was because he had been training in martial arts.
"It's all because of you. The good thing about being Chwima was that I could drink and live recklessly."
But at some point, the other Demon Venerables began to grow stronger. At the forefront of that effort was his friend, Ilhwa Geomjon. The other Demon Venerables were the same.
"Thunder strikes a dry sky; how can I drink with a peaceful mind?"
Then Chwima tilted his head.
"What? Is it because I'm drunk? You, something seems different?"
Chwima blinked his drunken eyes and looked at Geommugeuk. Geommugeuk told Chwima that he had achieved Rebirth too.
"If my little brother achieved Rebirth, I can't just let that pass. We must properly drink a celebratory toast. Yeobin, bring the best liquor I've been saving."
Yeobin really brought the liquor. It was liquor Chwima had cherished and saved.
"When did you hide this again?"
"I hid it away tightly for a day like this."
"Bring out the liquor you hid to drink when you achieve Rebirth, not this!"
The two drank. The taste was truly superb.
"The liquor is really delicious."
"On a day like this, one must drink good liquor! Drink more!"
It was truly the noisiest congratulation he had received to date. Yes, it should be this much for a Rebirth celebration. One should dance drunk.
"Does Rebirth change your organs too? I want to drink with the heart of starting anew with clean insides!"
"Don't worry. People like hyung unexpectedly have clean insides. You're probably cleaner inside than I am."
Chwima laughed loudly saying that would be the case. Geommugeuk drank comfortably with Chwima for the first time in a while.
"What was that thunder yesterday?"
"It was the sound of Master reaching a new realm."
"Then what about you?"
"I also achieved Grand Mastery of the Thunderbolt Asura Fist."
"Already?"
How long had it been since he became a disciple, and he already achieved Grand Mastery?
"Why are you becoming this strong? Are you perhaps dreaming of unifying Murim? You rascal! Am I right?"
Unifying Murim.
Although Chwima said it as a joke, Geommugeuk thought that someone who really didn't know might indeed misunderstand.
Although the Martial Alliance and the Evil Alliance weren't showing it outwardly, he felt perhaps they were nervous.
"Does the hangover from Daechwirim still hurt?"
Chwima silently nodded.
"That's why I can't help but train."
"Fortunately, it hurts less than before."
"Really?"
The drunkenness and playfulness briefly vanished from Chwima's face.
"That's why you can come late to me. It's proof that you're really doing well now."
Chwima emptied his cup alone. The blowing wind fluttered Chwima's disheveled hair.
They were noisy and boisterous. Although the Demon Venerables had changed a lot because of him lately.
Thinking about it, they had all been lonely people.
Hyeolcheon Doma, who had believed he lived with misfortune his whole life; Gwonma, who stood alone before a cliff; Ilhwa Geomjon, who had hidden his heart with thick makeup; Geugak Soma, who stood alone in an empty room looking at a white wall; Dokwang, who didn't leave Cheondok Rim while immersed in poison insects; Mabul, who ran around on his short legs to make his brother the Young Cult Leader; and this Chwima, who was always drunk alone. Yes, they had all been lonely people.
"I'm leaving the sect tomorrow. I wish you'd come with me, Hyung."
"Where?"
"Hunan, Dongjeong Lake."
"Who all is going?"
"We'll be going with quite a few this time."
Chwima didn't bother asking who.
He leaned against the pillar behind him and drank.
"I shall go and drink with you."
* * *
The next person Geommugeuk visited was Seophon Majon.
Seophon Majon was immersed in martial arts training in her personal training ground. His visit was entirely unexpected to her.
"Young Cult Leader?"
"Have you been well?"
Geommugeuk treated her politely.
"I have been well, thanks to you. I heard you returned to the sect. But what brings you here?"
"I came to greet you after a long time."
Seophon Majon hadn't expected the Young Cult Leader to come find her like this.
Moreover, it wasn't just a greeting.
Geommugeuk told her what had happened during his departure from the sect.
Seophon Majon knew. That when the Young Cult Leader returned from leaving the sect, he would visit the Demon Venerables and tell them what had happened. She had vaguely hoped such a day would come for her too.
Geommugeuk was now beginning to tell her those things too. It meant he properly recognized her as one of the Demon Venerables.
He also relayed the matter of the Heavenly Flower Pavilion Lord.
"So I intend to leave the sect tomorrow. If it is alright, I would like you to come out and help me."
"Of course I must go."
Seophon Majon was so grateful that Geommugeuk had come to her and asked for help like this.
"Thank you, Young Cult Leader."
If she had still lacked skill and seemed like she would be a burden, he would not have asked her to come. He would have told her to accumulate more skill.
Fortunately, Seophon Majon had been growing every time he saw her. Now she was gradually growing into the Seophon Majon that martial artists had once feared the most.
And before leaving, Geommugeuk told her the words she most wished to hear.
"It is reassuring to have my Demon Venerable accompany me."
* * *
"Me too?"
Mabul looked at Geommugeuk with a surprised face.
This is how the four Demon Venerables to go together were decided.
Naturally, those to be left behind were also decided.
Gwonma and Dokwang.
If these two were guarding the father, there was no need to worry about the main sect.
And Mabul was quicker to catch on than anyone.
"Are you perhaps worried about the Cult Leader?"
How could one deceive Mabul, who had navigated politics among people?
"What do you mean?"
"Why leave those two behind?"
Mabul also considered those two to be the strongest among the current Demon Venerables.
"It's inconvenient to go out with Master. I'm the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult! I can't put on airs."
"You probably want to do just that. Then what about Dokwang?"
"You know Dokwang hates going out to the Central Plains the most."
But Mabul didn't believe Geommugeuk's words. He thought there had to be a reason those two were left behind.
"You've already killed so many enemies; who in the world are you afraid of?"
Mabul had sensed it for a while. Geommugeuk was more concerned about these enemies than the Martial Alliance or Evil Alliance.
Of course, the enemies from Amheuk Palace that had lasted three hundred years were stronger than imagined. But they were already shattered.
"As you know, I have anxiety. I worry about all sorts of things that won't happen in advance. When you look into it, nothing happens anyway. Anyway, Mabul-nim, you'll come with me, right?"
Mabul, who had been staring at Geommugeuk for a moment, nodded.
"I, who lost in the power struggle, have no strength. If you say go, I must go."
"Now you sound like Mabul-nim."
"Are you saying I sound like myself because you're mocking me?"
Mabul had given his advice to act like a Buddha who emptied his mind, and Geommugeuk was following it.
Geommugeuk, Geugak Soma, Chwima, and Seophon Majon. And Mabul.
Because he thought this was too excessive, Mabul made this joke.
"Are you going to attack the Martial Alliance? Or the Evil Alliance?"
Geommugeuk answered without hesitation.
"I'll hit both sides at the same time."
There was a reason for this absurd joke.
"It's not over yet. I'll take more out."