Geom Mugeuk stood there and looked up at the sky.
He felt as though he had finished the greatest task life had given him. He felt light. Truly, as if he might fly away with joy.
Because this was the moment when all the time he had spent wandering in search of the materials for the Great Art before his regression, and all the effort he had put in since his regression, bore fruit.
This moment was worthwhile not because he had killed Hwa Mugi. It was because no one had died.
Geom Mugeuk slowly turned around.
Toward the place where his true life was waiting.
Geom Mugeuk greeted his father first.
“It was thanks to you, Father, that I was able to end this safely. Thank you.”
He meant it sincerely. Because his father had been there, he had been able to act freely without worry. He had been able to do everything he had wanted with an easy heart.
Geom Ujin, who had been gazing at his son, spoke calmly.
“Come closer.”
When Geom Mugeuk approached his father, something truly unexpected happened.
Geom Ujin silently embraced his son.
Everyone watching stared in astonishment. They had never imagined Geom Ujin would embrace his son in front of everyone like this.
The most surprised person was Geom Mugeuk. He was so shocked that not even a silly joke came to mind.
Then came Geom Ujin’s single remark.
“Your internal energy has increased again.”
Geom Mugeuk wore an expression of disbelief.
“Don’t tell me you hugged me just to check exactly how much my internal energy increased?”
“Then did you think I hugged you because I wanted to?”
At the sight of his father stepping back as if his business were done, Geom Mugeuk raised his voice.
“That is too much!”
But Geom Mugeuk had felt it. The feeling contained in his father’s hands when he embraced him.
I’m sorry for making you worry, Father.
Next, Geom Mugeuk greeted Kwonma.
“Master.”
Kwonma answered with a single nod.
“You worked hard.”
As always, his reaction was blunt, but in truth, if the Cult Leader had not embraced him, he would have done it himself. To tell him he had worked hard. At least today, he had wanted to do that.
Geom Mugeuk’s gaze turned to the two Alliance Leaders. First, he relayed Ju Gasin’s words to Baek Jagang.
“Alliance Leader Ju asked me to tell you something. He said you must achieve what you desire, Alliance Leader.”
“I understand.”
Geom Mugeuk knew exactly what that dream was, but he glibly changed the subject.
“It won’t be easy. Traveling around with my father and Alliance Leader Jin to enjoy the rest of your lives, I mean.”
At that, Jin Paecheon, who had been listening, casually interjected.
“I would not mind, but I do not know whether Cult Leader Geom would wish for it.”
He said it like a joke, but there was meaning beneath his words.
Having clearly witnessed Geom Ujin’s strength over the course of this battle, he was worried that the end of this fight might be the beginning of a new one.
He had come to help for the sake of his grandson, for the sake of Geom Mugeuk. But apart from those good intentions, he could not help worrying about what was to come.
Geom Mugeuk could not confidently tell Jin Paecheon, My father will come with us too!
Because he still did not know what his father was thinking.
If he had not given up on his will, then perhaps stopping his father from unifying the murim would be far more difficult than stopping Hwa Mugi.
Indeed, his father did not answer, even as empty words, Let us do that. Perhaps in this moment, he was sending a signal to the two Alliance Leaders.
My mind has not changed, so prepare yourselves.
As an inexplicable tension flowed through the air, Cult Leader Pungcheon stepped forward.
“Young Cult Leader, since it seems you do not know, I will tell you. While you were trapped in there, do you know who stepped forward to protect you? I mean the one person who came forth like a hero among those heartless people who tried to kill the Heavenly Slaughter Star before you had even come out.”
His expression said, It was me, me! but Geom Mugeuk looked at the Sword King.
“Of course it must have been my friend. He would have rushed out barefoot.”
The Sword King’s face was serene. In the process of watching his own fight and the fights of others this time, he had gained a tremendous realization in swordsmanship. And Geom Mugeuk was safe on top of that? There could be no better result.
Cult Leader Pungcheon waved his hands.
“Unfortunate as it is, your friend was thinking about the tavern he would open and paid no attention to your danger.”
Seeing the smile deepen at the corners of the Sword King’s mouth, Geom Mugeuk looked at the Poison King this time.
“Despite how he looks, the Poison King is secretly a man of much affection.”
This time, Cult Leader Pungcheon lowered his voice and whispered into Geom Mugeuk’s ear.
“The truth is, the person who had the easiest time in this battle was the Poison King. He did not lift a finger.”
“Wouldn’t that have made it harder for him?”
They spoke in whispers, but everyone heard their conversation.
“I’m telling you, it was someone else!”
“The one who would do that for me would be Extreme Evil Soma.”
“Don’t look for someone who isn’t here!”
“Could it have been one of the two Alliance Leaders...”
When he kept joking until the end, Cult Leader Pungcheon’s lips jutted out in a pout.
“So in the end, I am treated as that Cult Leader from back then.”
Only then did Geom Mugeuk look at him and speak calmly.
“That Cult Leader from back then protected me now.”
The look in Geom Mugeuk’s eyes toward him held sincere gratitude.
“I mean that Cult Leader from back then, who gave me everything without holding anything back.”
Yes, though he had complained every time about having his divine treasures taken, Geom Mugeuk had never once shown dislike. Yes, nothing he had given him had been a waste.
“When are the three of us going traveling with Gowol?”
“We should go. We will go soon! But for the time being, I have a mountain of work piled up, so pack your bags first and wait!”
Just then, something entered Geom Mugeuk’s sight.
“Ah. Look over there.”
Everyone’s gaze turned behind them.
Geom Mugeuk’s delighted voice flew toward what was there.
“You survived too.”
***
Geom Muyang stood atop the palm of the giant demon statue holding up the Demon Flower and looked in the direction of Maga Village.
Several days had passed, but those who had gone out with his father had not returned.
As the Demon Flower bloomed, Tongcheongak’s information network had been moving even more swiftly.
He had heard that the Sado Alliance Leader and the Murim Alliance Leader had come to help, and at the end, he had heard that Geom Mugeuk had arrived as well.
“Is there still no news?”
At Geom Muyang’s words, Hwi’s answer came from midair.
“No, not yet.”
And yet the battle had not ended.
That was why he was even more worried. Because even with all of them there, they had not been able to kill the Heavenly Slaughter Star.
Geom Muyang tried to shake off his anxiety and made a joke.
“It must be because Mugeuk is talking too much and delaying the fight.”
He heard Hwi laugh quietly.
It was right then.
Flash!
Watching the whole world brighten in the distance, Geom Muyang was startled.
Hwi, who had revealed himself before he knew it, shouted beside Geom Muyang.
“Heavenly Demon Destroys the World has been unleashed.”
Geom Muyang’s expression hardened at once. A battle had taken place that required even Heavenly Demon Destroys the World, the final technique of the Nine Flowers Demonic Art.
When the light disappeared, Geom Muyang said to Hwi,
“Put out the Demon Flower and come with me.”
Hwi looked at him in surprise.
“You cannot.”
In a situation where the Cult Leader’s and Young Cult Leader’s lives were unknown, he could not send out the Cult Leader’s one remaining blood relative.
“In any case, now that Heavenly Demon Destroys the World has been unleashed, the battle should be over.”
If the worst-case scenario had unfolded.
“If we lost, could these mechanisms and formations stop him?”
Hwi agreed with his words.
The two immediately shot off and left the main cult.
When they arrived at Maga Village, there was nothing there.
It was truly a space of nothingness, where everything had vanished.
And then an astonishing sight entered their eyes.
A single table.
There was a single table there.
The thing Geom Mugeuk had looked at earlier and said, You survived too, was that table.
Everything had vanished under Hwa Mugi’s Heavenly Demon Destroys the World, but the table and chairs that had happened to be behind the Great Demon Wall in the Pungryu Tavern had remained intact.
It was not as if they had deliberately tried to protect it, but by chance, that was what happened. And it was the very table where they had eaten together.
Geom Mugeuk walked over and stroked the table.
Could it be that the heavens were speaking to him? Telling him to keep living while protecting his demonic path in the future as well.
When Geom Muyang and Hwi arrived, everyone was sitting at that table.
With Geom Ujin at the center, Jin Paecheon and Baek Jagang sat on either side of him. Beside them sat Kwonma and the Poison King, and at the end sat Geom Mugeuk, Cult Leader Pungcheon, and the Sword King.
Sitting like that in a space where nothing else existed, they looked like a scene from a painting.
“Hyung! Over here! Uncle Hwi! Welcome!”
Seeing Geom Mugeuk’s bright appearance, Geom Muyang’s tension eased. No one would know with what feelings he had come all the way here.
Geom Muyang walked quickly toward his father.
Hwi, who had been walking with him, vanished soundlessly. It was the moment he entered into his original duty.
Geom Muyang came forward and greeted Geom Ujin respectfully. He said nothing else.
“I greet the Cult Leader. Congratulations on repelling the Heavenly Slaughter Star.”
Geom Ujin nodded and gave the credit to the two Alliance Leaders.
“We won safely because the two of them helped us.”
Geom Muyang expressed his gratitude to the two Alliance Leaders.
After finishing his greetings even to Cult Leader Pungcheon and the Demon Venerables, Geom Mugeuk pulled Geom Muyang into the seat beside him.
“I missed you, Hyung.”
Had he truly missed him as much as he himself had? For the first time, he had prayed to the heavens. That everyone would be safe, that his younger brother would welcome him with his usual banter.
Geom Muyang looked around and said,
“We will have to rebuild starting from here.”
“We should build them a splendid new building. Bigger and taller. In fact, let’s just tell everyone to take a good rest this time.”
Geom Muyang looked at Geom Mugeuk. With eyes gentler than ever before,
“You look tired.”
It was the first time. The first time his brother had looked at him and told him he looked tired.
Geom Mugeuk leaned back crookedly in his chair and stretched his legs out.
“Tomorrow, I’m going to sleep all day. No, wait. On a day like this, even if I’m tired, I’ll be too happy to sleep.”
Just then, more people arrived there.
The three who came running like the wind and landed were the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, One Flower Sword Venerable, and Extreme Evil Soma.
Those who had set out first in the first group had arrived first.
Because of their injuries, Demon Buddha, the Soul-Subduing Demon Venerable, and the Drunken Demon were returning by carriage.
The three Demon Venerables could tell from the sight of Maga Village just how difficult and tremendous this battle had been.
Geom Mugeuk shouted to them.
“Elder! Sword Venerable! Soma!”
Geom Mugeuk sprang to his feet and ran over like a child, delighted to see them. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon avoided Geom Mugeuk, who was about to fling himself into his arms, with footwork and walked toward Geom Ujin.
One Flower Sword Venerable walked after him and said to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon,
“I told you, didn’t I? The Young Cult Leader went ahead first, so it would be fine.”
One Flower Sword Venerable spoke to Geom Mugeuk as if tattling.
“You cannot imagine how much he urged us to hurry.”
Geom Mugeuk shouted at the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s back.
“I want to hurry to your house, Elder, pile books all over the bed, and read while lying down!”
“Is that your bed?”
Extreme Evil Soma, who came walking last, smiled brightly beneath his mask.
Geom Mugeuk smiled back. As always, that was enough for their greeting upon reunion.
The three Demon Venerables greeted Geom Ujin, and also greeted the Alliance Leaders.
The two Alliance Leaders felt a different aura from the three Demon Venerables than before.
Not only Geom Mugeuk, but even the Demon Venerables—they were growing every time they met.
After the greetings were over, One Flower Sword Venerable said to Geom Ujin. Because everyone was safe, he could make such a joke.
“We should have finished touring the Central Plains before coming back.”
Geom Ujin asked with a smile,
“I hear you went to many places?”
“We went to Taihu as well. Do you perhaps remember it?”
Geom Ujin nodded as if he did.
“When I went there, it had not changed as much as I thought.”
Geom Mugeuk, who had been listening, said to his father,
“Since it came up, the four of you should go again.”
At that, Jin Paecheon, who had been listening, said with a smile,
“When you do, be sure to send word to us. Otherwise, there will be another emergency.”
Jin Paecheon and Baek Jagang rose from their seats.
“We will be going now.”
They were truly people who came like the wind and were about to leave like the wind.
Geom Ujin likewise did not forcibly hold them back. The fact that they had come all the way here was already more than enough to be grateful for, and it was also something that must not become known to the outside.
Geom Ujin respectfully cupped his fist to the two of them in farewell.
“I will not forget the help you gave this time.”
After they had finished exchanging farewells, Baek Jagang spoke last.
“Thank you for teaching me to cook.”
“I still have some dishes I’ve been saving.”
“I hope I’ll have another chance to learn.”
After exchanging those words, Geom Ujin turned and walked away first. His elder brother and the five Demon Venerables followed behind him, and Cult Leader Pungcheon and the Sword King walked after them.
The two had gone in as well so that Geom Mugeuk could see the two alliance leaders off at ease.
Even though not all the Demon Venerables had gathered, the sight of them walking away looked so majestic it was as if they had spread their wings.
As Jin Paecheon watched their retreating backs, his gaze deepened. Throughout this fight, he had been more worried about Geom Ujin and the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult than about Hwa Mugi.
Geom Ujin was strong. Far too strong.
He recalled the Heavenly Demon Annihilates the World that Geom Ujin had unleashed earlier.
A sword of light that had flown through the light.
Of course, he had said that using Heavenly Demon Annihilates the World would exhaust almost all of one’s internal energy, but Jin Paecheon was not confident he could block that attack.
In short, if he fought Geom Ujin, he would die.
And on top of that, there was the Heavenly Demon Soul.
‘No one in the present-day murim can defeat Cult Leader Geom.’
And was that all? The Demon Venerables were strong as well. The Demon Venerables of this generation were stronger than any in history.
Like Jin Paecheon, Baek Jagang also sensed that Geom Ujin would not abandon his dream of unifying the murim.
If he himself possessed such power, he would never give up. Suddenly, he recalled the words Ju Gasin had left behind.
‘You told me to unite the Evil Path? You gave me far too difficult a mission.’
Geom Mugeuk greeted Jin Paecheon.
“I’ll come visit soon to see Hagun and Haryeong.”
Jin Paecheon looked at Geom Mugeuk and smiled gently. He felt that the fate of the murim would depend on this Young Cult Leader from now on.
But he did not show any sign of placing that burden on him.
“I’ll be waiting.”
He also exchanged farewells with Baek Jagang.
“I’ll come by to have a meal cooked by you personally.”
“I’ll make it spicy and stimulating.”
His father was walking toward the main headquarters, while the two alliance leaders were heading in the opposite direction.
Geom Mugeuk stood in the middle.
Though they had exchanged farewells casually, he could sense that the alliance leaders were tense.
Why are you all being like this? You can’t let things get this taut already!
There’s still plenty of time left before the day I promised I’d persuade Father!
Geom Mugeuk infused his voice with internal energy so everyone could hear him and shouted loudly.
“Starting now, I’m going to go around having fun. If another mastermind appears in the murim, contact Father or those two alliance leaders over there. Conspiracies, schemes, underhanded tricks, stratagems—those words no longer exist for me.
From now on, all I’ll have are things like rest, hanging out with friends, travel, cooking, drinking parties, dancing, and reading! Don’t scold me for playing around too much.
You’re playing again? If you keep fooling around like that, who’s going to protect the murim? If you nag me like that, I’m leaving home.”