Geom Mugeuk displayed all of his strength in the confrontation with his father.
No, he had to do it even if he didn't want to.
Swaeeeeeak!
His father's attacks flying toward him were, without exaggeration, fiercer than a blade of fire.
'Father, it's me, your son! Not an enemy, not the Thousand Kills Star!'
He didn't even have the luxury to spout such nonsense. The moment he lost focus was the moment he died.
Geom Woojin had returned to being that ruthless father who had whipped wind across his son's face when they first climbed the mountain.
Considering the purpose of this training, these lethal attacks were only natural.
And this confrontation was a training that required an extraordinary mindset beyond mere skill.
It was a fight where lethal techniques ran rampant, yet he absolutely must not harm his opponent. He had to display extreme focus and judgment.
It was a confrontation that only Geom Woojin and Geom Mugeuk could have carried out from the very beginning.
In the exchange between father and son, right answers and wrong answers repeated.
'This is the answer,' said his father's flying attack, and Geom Mugeuk blocked it, saying, 'Wrong answer.'
Again, thinking, 'Then this must be the answer,' as the attack flew toward him, Geom Mugeuk desperately rendered it an incorrect answer.
Of course, that was only between the two of them; to others, every single one of those moves was an attack with the correct answer.
Geom Mugeuk desperately dodged his father's attacks.
He wouldn't die from attacks of this level. If he failed to meet the standard his father had set.
'He'll really kill me!'
When the first confrontation since entering the Space-Time Conversion Art ended like that, Geom Woojin recognized the change in his son.
"It wasn't just internal energy that you gained!"
His son's skill had clearly risen. Putting aside the fact that the Nine Transformations Demonic Art had risen from Ten Stars to Eleven Stars, his depth regarding the martial arts as a whole and his martial prowess had improved.
"I obtained all of their innate true qi and internal energy, of course, but even the martial arts they had mastered."
It was something impossible to achieve unless it were a gift sent from the heavens. After all, the realms they had spent their lifetimes reaching were given to him as they were.
Moreover, Geom Mugeuk could use those martial arts.
Originally, a person who mastered demonic arts could not use orthodox or unorthodox martial arts. Because the fundamental nature of the internal energy that served as the basis was different from the start.
But this time, as his innate true qi and internal energy combined, he could use all the martial arts he had obtained.
It meant that when he went out into the martial world in the future, he could appear like an orthodox practitioner, or pose as an unorthodox one.
Geom Woojin pointed his sword again. Just how many times would he have to say this before they could leave?
"Now, again!"
The two charged at each other.
Shwiiiiiiik.
Their movements were as fast as light, yet the insects of the outside world were still flying very slowly, having not yet reached the lamp.
* * *
"Am I still not fully sober?"
Chwima, looking out the window, blinked his eyes in surprise.
"Didn't you say we were entering our Maga Village just a moment ago?"
To Chwima's question, the warrior in the coachman's seat answered.
"That's correct, this is Maga Village."
The coachman was no less surprised. His voice trembled as he looked around in bewilderment.
"Halt the carriage."
As Chwima's carriage stopped, the carriages following behind also came to a halt.
When Chwima got out of the carriage, Mabul and the Soul-Seizing Demon Lord also got down. They were equally surprised.
Maga Village had disappeared without a trace.
The three Demon Lords exchanged glances. They had already heard the urgent message from the Tongcheon Pavilion that the Thousand Kills Star had been repelled.
But that fight had been this fierce?
The large carriage carrying the Ghost Shadow Squad and Magun that had ridden up behind them also stopped.
The most surprised among them was Ian. Because she knew better than anyone how important this place was to Geom Mugeuk.
'Young Cult Leader!'
In the place where Maga Village had disappeared, demonic followers and workers were preparing for construction. They were dividing the area and discussing where to erect which buildings.
The demonic followers and workers recognized the Demon Lords and politely bowed their heads in greeting.
One person walked out from among them. He was none other than the Eldest Young Master, Geom Muyang. The Chief Strategist, Sima Ming, had appointed him as the person in charge of the reconstruction of Maga Village. Because of his meticulous personality, he was better at handling such practical matters than Geom Mugeuk.
"Eldest Young Master!"
"Lord Mabul!"
Geom Muyang exchanged greetings with the three Demon Lords. Ian and Jang Ho also came to greet him.
Geom Muyang first examined the Demon Lords' injuries.
"Are your injuries alright?"
"We are all fine."
"That's a relief."
Mabul asked with a worried gaze.
"What happened?"
"As you may have heard, the Cult Leader repelled the Thousand Kills Star here."
Hearing the added remark that the Cult Leader and the residents of Maga Village were all safe, Ian asked in a trembling voice.
"Is the Young Cult Leader unharmed?"
While waiting for the answer, Ian's heart beat as if it would burst. If a situation where Maga Village was blown away entirely had occurred, Geom Mugeuk would have tried to stop it by any means. She had worried that he might have been injured in the process.
Fortunately, that had not happened.
"The Young Cult Leader is also safe."
"Ah!"
Just as Ian let out a sigh of relief, startling news was delivered to the Demon Lords.
"Father and Mugeuk have entered into joint closed-door training."
Everyone was startled at the words "joint closed-door training." They had never heard of the Cult Leader and the Young Cult Leader entering closed-door training together until now.
"It is the second day since they entered closed-door training."
Mabul cautiously asked.
"Don't tell me...?"
Mabul worried that the two had entered joint closed-door training to hide from outsiders that they were injured and receiving treatment.
Geom Muyang, reading Mabul's worry, smiled.
"There is no need for concern."
Only then did Mabul and everyone else feel relief at Geom Muyang's bright expression.
"You must be tired from the long journey, so please go and rest."
Mabul said as he climbed into the carriage.
"Now that it's the second day, the Cult will be quiet for a while!"
Chwima climbed into the carriage and urged the coachman on.
"Let's hurry. I can smell the liquor stored in the Drunken Dream Tower from here."
The Soul-Seizing Demon Lord said nothing, but he wanted to see the Young Cult Leader more than ever. Because he had safely finished the battle as the Young Cult Leader's first Demon Lord.
The carriages carrying the Demon Lords sped toward the main hall.
Ian stood there for a moment, gazing at the place where the Pleasure Tavern had been.
A tinge of regret flitted across her face.
That the Cult Leader and Geom Mugeuk were safe was an immeasurably fortunate thing, but it was heartbreaking that Maga Village had been blown away.
The Pleasure Tavern in particular was a place of memories for her.
The moment she drank with Geom Mugeuk came to mind. She had been so drunk that he carried her on his back. The moments she had drinking gatherings with Seo Daeryong and Jang Ho also came to mind.
It had felt truly good to drink at the place where the Three-Party Talks were achieved.
She felt regret that she should have come more often. Lately, she had been too busy, and since Seo Daeryong had even gotten married, they hadn't been able to have drinking gatherings.
Then Jang Ho came and stood beside her.
"Leader Yi, do not take it too hard."
"Lord Jang, once it's rebuilt here, let's resume our drinking gatherings."
"Very well."
After promising their next meeting, the large carriages led by Jang Ho also left that place.
Ian was about to tell her subordinates that they should get going too, when she saw Chairan staring somewhere.
Ian walked over to Chairan's side.
"What are you looking at?"
"I'm looking at the scene that makes me out to be a cruel leader who obstructs love."
What did she mean? Ian turned her gaze to where Chairan was looking.
The person Chairan was looking at was Sipchilgyo.
Sipchilgyo was looking at one place, and among the workers, there was a young man. The gazes they exchanged were deeply affectionate.
The man was none other than the Crescent Moon Faceless Guest. He was the one who had previously removed his mask and shown his face to her.
Hearing the news that she had nearly arrived, he had been waiting among the workers. Since only a few people in the immediate vicinity knew of their relationship, they were meeting secretly like this.
"They're really flaunting their affection."
At her words, Ian laughed and said,
"Even during war, children are born and smoke rises from cooking stoves, no?"
Chairan said to Ian,
"Why don't you flaunt some affection too, Leader?"
"Look who's talking?"
The two women smiled at each other.
"It's really over now."
Ian added as she looked around.
"Completely clean."
Thinking of the forces behind this incident, Geom Mugeuk was the first to come to mind for Ian. After he left the cult, she had been so worried that she focused solely on martial arts training. Thanks to that, one could say she had grown strong enough to reach her current level.
Ian looked at Chairan.
"How do you feel?"
The fact that this fight had ended would hold great meaning for her as well, just as it did for herself.
"A relief."
She felt as though she had cast off shackles she had worn for a long time. The darkness that had been connected to her was completely severed. Now was the moment a new life began.
Chairan said to her subordinates.
"Alright, disperse here. Get some good rest today!"
They dispersed here for Sipchilgyo's sake. It was her consideration, letting them stay together a bit longer since she was so overjoyed.
"What do you say the section leaders have a drink together later?"
Ian nodded at Chairan's words. If life was something where everything could disappear overnight like this.
"Sounds good."
She was determined not to put it off anymore.
* * *
Two days had already passed since entering the Space-Time Conversion Art.
Since the time outside was two days, quite a long time had passed inside.
The bold declaration that they would leave before morning arrived had crumbled before the difficulty of achieving the Twelve-Star Grand Success. Right, as if such a thing were easy.
The training continued. On some days they clashed with the Nine Transformations Demonic Art; on others, with the Flying Heaven Sword Art; and on still others, they sparred with the most basic sword techniques.
Whenever they grew accustomed to each other's swordsmanship, his father unfolded a powerful technique without fail. For that moment alone, it was a terrifying attack that made him think, 'I'm going to die like this!'
Geom Mugeuk, who had narrowly survived death again today, announced mealtime.
"Father, it's time to eat."
"Yes, let's eat."
Snap!
When Geom Mugeuk snapped his fingers, a table was placed on a field with a view of a beautiful lakeside.
Geom Mugeuk created various beautiful places for his father every mealtime.
"Don't waste your internal energy needlessly!"
"I cannot do that. Even if I unleash one technique less, you must eat your meals properly."
Geom Mugeuk took several of the foods stacked to one side and set the table.
The person responsible for providing the food from outside was Hwi.
Earlier, Geom Mugeuk had briefly come out, gathered a load of provisions, and asked Hwi to keep bringing food to the front of the area where the Space-Time Conversion Art was unfolded.
He could have taken several months' worth of meals in at once, but then his father would have had to eat only jerky or dried foods that could be kept for a long time.
So Geom Mugeuk had the chefs of the Heavenly Demon Hall keep bringing food to this place.
He had told Hwi honestly. In the currently unfolded space, time flowed differently from the outside, so a lot of food was needed.
For two days, Hwi had left the food there every time the Heavenly Demon Hall chefs prepared a dish. The food disappeared as soon as it was left there.
"Today's cuisine is truly delicious. The chef is properly displaying his skills."
"That person must be having a hard time."
"What can we do? He'll have to suffer for a few days."
"Can we leave within a few days?"
"No, how did you achieve something this difficult, Father?"
What Geom Mugeuk had worried about for his father was not just the food.
He made time pass inside this Space-Time Conversion Art just like the outside as well.
The sun rose and set, night came and dawn broke.
This too was for his father. While his young self could get by day or night in a daze without issue, if his father lived like that for an extended period, it would cause health problems.
When it was time to sleep, he let him sleep, and he matched mealtimes exactly.
Creating an almost exact day inside this place was something impossible unless one was an absolute master like Geom Mugeuk.
Geom Woojin was inwardly moved by his son caring for him so much, but he did not show it outwardly.
After finishing the meal like this.
Snap!
Geom Mugeuk turned the surroundings into a walking path. Some days it became a beautiful bamboo forest, and other days it became the mountain trail they had seen at Daecheon Mountain.
On still other days, it became a snow-covered path that no one had walked. A path that had been so lonely when walking alone, but now he walked it with his father.
Geom Mugeuk cherished this time with his father so much. Truthfully, he didn't mind if he never achieved the Twelve-Star Grand Success of the Nine Transformations Demonic Art. This time he was spending with his father was simply too precious.
Geom Mugeuk knew better than anyone else how quickly this time, which seemed like it would remain forever, would pass in an instant.
He also knew that one could only realize how brilliant that moment was after it had passed.
After finishing the walk like that, they had evening training. In the evening, rather than real combat training, they mainly discussed martial arts.
"There is a technique called Dual Life Reversal among the Heavenly Will Palace Lord's martial arts. When unfolding this technique, the movement of internal force differs from other martial arts. In this technique, the internal force begins from the Zhongji acupoint..."
Geom Mugeuk hoped that this precious time with his father would not end with merely being taught by him.
Although his father had achieved Twelve-Star Grand Success, the path of martial arts was a path without end.
Because his father could reach yet another realm.
That was why he discussed with his father the various enlightenments he had gained while accepting the Martial King Divine Sword, the Wine God, and the Heavenly Will Palace Lord's martial arts.
Geom Mugeuk passed them on to his father without reserve.
And when it went to his father and returned, it came back containing an even deeper meaning of martial arts.
When even the evening training ended, Geom Mugeuk changed the Space-Time Conversion Art space into night.
And so that he could sleep in the most comfortable and familiar place, he recreated his father's room exactly.
Of course, he couldn't reproduce it perfectly, but he made it roughly similar with his excellent memory.
He hung the picture of him with his older brother as well, and didn't forget the dolls on top of the display shelf.
And he placed his own bed beside his father's large bed.
The few words exchanged with his father just before falling asleep were good too.
He asked about his father's time as the Young Cult Leader in the past, and about the Demon Lords as well. Mostly, he couldn't get an answer and just talked to himself.
But neither of them uttered a single word about the unification of the martial world. Neither father nor son.
"Let's sleep."
"Sleep well, Father. Thank you for today as well."
When Geom Mugeuk snapped his fingers, the surroundings grew dark.
"Tomorrow will be harder!"
Geom Mugeuk could tell. His father truly intended not to leave until he achieved Twelve-Star Grand Success.
'Please don't push too hard.'
Because this time with his father was too precious.
'I want to achieve it slowly, even if it takes one more day.'