When Geom Mugeuk and Geom Ujin came outside, Hwi happened to have just brought food and left it there.
At their emergence, Hwi greeted them with a glad expression, cupping his hands.
"We greet the Cult Leader and the Young Cult Leader."
As he did so, he examined Geom Ujin first. Because time flowed differently inside and outside, he had been worried if there might be any changes to the Cult Leader. Fortunately, Geom Ujin was no different now than before he had entered.
"Uncle, you must have had a hard time?"
"Not at all. I merely carried the food."
"Please tell the chefs! That their hard work is finally over!"
Thanks to the chefs and Hwi, his father and he had been able to eat well and train.
"If we had only eaten jerky and Wall-Breaking Pellets, we wouldn't have come out yet."
Hwi spoke respectfully to Geom Mugeuk.
"Congratulations on achieving a great accomplishment."
Geom Mugeuk asked with a surprised face.
"Is it showing?"
"No. Your realm is now beyond even my ability to fathom."
It was not something said out of courtesy, but the truth. Having already surpassed the realm of Banbak Gwijin, Geom Mugeuk now stood at the final realm of martial arts.
"But how did you know?"
"Had it not been a crucial moment, you would not have entered joint closed-door seclusion, and having entered such seclusion, you would not have emerged empty-handed."
Hwi knew the two's personalities accurately. He was the one who knew the Cult Leader better than anyone. For the Cult Leader, there was no such thing as giving up halfway.
Geom Ujin spoke as if proud.
"Mugeuk has achieved the Twelve-Star Grand Completion of the Guhwamagong at the youngest age in the history of our cult."
At the words "Twelve-Star Grand Completion," Hwi congratulated Geom Mugeuk again with a surprised face.
"Young Cult Leader, I sincerely congratulate you."
He had truly become the second-strongest expert under heaven. Because he was still young, becoming the number-one expert under heaven was only a matter of time. Considering the outstanding achievements he had shown until now, it would not take very long.
The fact that he achieved the Twelve-Star Grand Completion was indeed amazing, but to Hwi, there was something even more surprising.
'Cult Leader, do you realize you just boasted about your son to me for the first time?'
Geom Mugeuk attributed that achievement to his father.
"I don't fall behind anyone when it comes to the fortune of having parents, do I? Who in the world is there who could guide someone as young as me to the Twelve-Star Grand Completion?"
It wasn't just this closed-door training session. Even in the previous process of achieving the Ten-Star Grand Completion, his father's help had been the greatest.
"That's enough."
Truthfully, it had also been a time of great help to Geom Ujin. It was an experience where he realized that the completion of martial arts was far, far away, and that even after achieving the Twelve-Star Grand Completion of the Guhwamagong, there was still a road remaining.
Hwi delivered the news he needed to convey while the two were present.
"The Demon Lords, Magun, and the Ghost Shadow Corps have all returned. However, during that process, an incident occurred."
After the battle with the Dark Palace Lord, the large coffer that had remained there was being moved to the main headquarters of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
"It is said that the coffer disappeared during transport. Not looted or lost, but vanished without a trace. The Yellow Heaven Pavilion has launched an investigation regarding that matter."
Geom Ujin looked at Geom Mugeuk. Because when it came to the coffer, his son knew best.
"I don't think we need to investigate."
Geom Mugeuk could tell. That the old man who had allowed his regression had retrieved the coffer.
Considering the mysterious efficacy of the coffer, perhaps from the very beginning it had not been an object of the human world.
"It seems the coffer has returned to where it originally belonged."
At Geom Mugeuk's words, Geom Ujin nodded. He knew that the multiple souls entering the body of the Thousand-Killing Star had also been because of that coffer. Therefore, it was something that absolutely had to be retrieved, but if his son spoke thus, there must surely be something he suspected.
"Have the investigation halted."
"I will relay that."
Geom Mugeuk spoke to his father.
"Oh, and Father. Why don't we open the Heavenly Demon Treasury wide open this time?"
At the questioning look, Geom Mugeuk made an unexpected suggestion.
"The great battle is over, so why don't you gather all the Demon Lords and hold a tournament soon? With some ten-thousand-year snow ginseng roots as prizes."
"What kind of tournament?"
"Since the Demon Lords can't brawl and fight, how about a fishing tournament? A contest of pride! You, me, and Hyung will attend too."
At the mention of fishing, competitive spirit flashed across Geom Ujin's face.
"Excellent!"
Geom Ujin accepted in one breath and strode toward the Heavenly Demon Hall, and Hwi followed behind him.
A faint smile formed at the corners of Geom Ujin's mouth as he walked.
How could he not know? His son was setting up an opportunity for him to look after the Demon Lords. Using the fishing tournament as an excuse to comfort the Demon Lords who had suffered.
Even after Geom Ujin and Hwi walked toward the Heavenly Demon Hall, Geom Mugeuk stood there for a moment, looking up at the sky.
His original plan had been to play to his heart's content, but unexpectedly he had emerged from the most difficult training of his entire life.
And so he shouted toward the real sky he was seeing after a long time.
"Don't try to stop me now! I'm really going to play!"
In the sky that offered no reply, only indifferent fluffy clouds slowly drifted by.
* * *
Because he had achieved the Twelve-Star Grand Completion of the Guhwamagong, there was something he absolutely had to do.
Returning to his quarters, Geom Mugeuk immediately unleashed the Space-Time Transposition Technique. A blue plain unfolded. Geom Mugeuk summoned a being well-suited to this vast space.
A massive Heavenly Demon Soul descended.
It was the first time seeing his own Heavenly Demon Soul after achieving the Twelve-Star Grand Completion. Just as his father's Heavenly Demon Soul had changed, his own Heavenly Demon Soul's appearance had also changed.
The flame pattern on its chest had grown larger and clearer, and the symbol of the Heavenly Demon Soul was engraved on the backs of both hands. His father's Heavenly Demon Soul had been engraved only on the back of his right hand, but his own was on both hands.
Various parts of its body were different from before, as if wearing armor. It was a far cooler and more refined appearance, but its eyes were only fiercer and more intense.
"Congratulations. On becoming a Twelve-Star Heavenly Demon Soul."
The Heavenly Demon Soul slowly brought its hands together and then cupped them slightly like a human, lowering its head. Geom Mugeuk could tell. That the Heavenly Demon Soul was celebrating his achievement of the Twelve-Star Grand Completion.
"Thank you, my friend. We have somewhere to go right now, so descend at human size."
At that, the Heavenly Demon Soul disappeared and then descended again at a small size.
The small form of the Heavenly Demon Soul definitely gave off a much more intense feeling.
Snap.
When Geom Mugeuk snapped his fingers, the space the two were in changed.
It was that very small island that Geom Mugeuk liked the most.
There was a tree with broad leaves on a white sandy beach that stretched out under the blazing sun. Under its shade, two comfortable chairs were placed.
"This is your seat."
At those words, the Heavenly Demon Soul's pupils shook slightly. It is said that a Heavenly Demon Soul's personality takes after its master; indeed, the reaction of Geom Mugeuk's Heavenly Demon Soul was extraordinary.
Geom Mugeuk leaned back into the chair first, half-reclining.
"You have no idea how much I missed this place throughout my training."
Geom Mugeuk continued speaking while still looking at the sea.
"Sitting here like this and looking at the sea, you can forget all your worries for a while. Though I don't know if you have any worries."
The Heavenly Demon Soul glanced at Geom Mugeuk, then looked again at the sea that Geom Mugeuk was watching.
"Now that you've become Twelve-Star, you'll be able to speak too, right? Honestly, your mouth is itching to talk too, isn't it? Father said so. There were Heavenly Demon Souls in the past that conversed with their masters. Since you're not the first, you don't need to feel burdened about speaking. And how can it be possible that the Heavenly Demon Soul of a master who loves to talk so much can't speak?"
The Heavenly Demon Soul remained silent.
In truth, it didn't matter if it didn't speak. Just having a being that listened to his words like this was something to be grateful enough for.
It was right at that moment. The Heavenly Demon Soul slowly sat in the chair beside him.
Geom Mugeuk looked at the Heavenly Demon Soul with an emotional face. It was not simply obeying an order to sit. This action was clearly an emotional exchange with him. An indication that they had grown one step closer.
With a stoic face, the Heavenly Demon Soul gazed far out at the sea.
He wondered if perhaps this Heavenly Demon Soul resembled not his talkative self after the regression, but rather the self from before the regression. One that resembled his true personality from deep within his heart.
"Yeah, if both of us talked a lot, it'd be too noisy, right?"
And so Geom Mugeuk and the Heavenly Demon Soul sat silently on the beach, watching the sea.
* * *
"You already came out of closed-door training?"
Chwima was startled to see Geom Mugeuk. After resting on the beach with his Heavenly Demon Soul, the first person he had gone to find was Chwima.
"I heard you entered joint closed-door training with the Cult Leader, so I thought you'd come out after quite a while?"
He seemed surprised that he had come out after only a few days.
"That's how it turned out. Any injuries?"
"I'm fine now. Don't tell me you came because you were worried about me?"
Geom Mugeuk nodded. Chwima had fought fiercely, even drinking all the alcohol he had. This time, he had wanted to look after him first above all.
"Because I wanted to share a celebratory drink with you."
"Good."
About to fetch the alcohol tucked away in a corner of the Drunken Dream Pavilion, Chwima suddenly spoke as if something had come to mind.
"No, there's somewhere I need to take you."
Chwima took Geom Mugeuk and headed somewhere.
The place they arrived at together was the Absolute Forbidden Zone deep within the Great Drunken Forest.
The very place where the Jujeong was kept.
Geom Mugeuk could understand why Chwima had brought him here. Having killed the Thousand-Killing Star, he wanted to check if the Jujeong had been damaged.
The two entered with tense hearts.
Having checked the Jujeong there, Chwima shouted with a joyful face.
"The Jujeong is unharmed!"
Chwima cheered loudly.
"It has finally returned to normal!"
Chwima was truly happy like a child. Geom Mugeuk could feel anew how important this Jujeong was to him.
"Are you that happy?"
"I am."
Others might think it superstition, but to Chwima, it was the most important thing.
"Congratulations, hyung."
"Thank you. Let's have our celebratory drink here."
"Good."
Chwima brought out the alcohol and cups stored in the forbidden zone.
The two sat beside the Jujeong and drank. Chwima smiled incessantly, seemingly in a good mood just from seeing the clear Jujeong.
"The taste of this liquor is incredible. Is this a liquor I've never had before?"
"It's alcohol I'd been saving. I was going to drink it when the Jujeong returned to normal."
"Your saved alcohol is endless."
"I also have alcohol I'd set aside for the day you become Cult Leader. That's the one I treasure most."
"Isn't the alcohol you were going to drink when you retire the best?"
Geom Mugeuk burst into laughter at the sight of Chwima flinching.
Drinking in the Absolute Forbidden Zone of the Great Drunken Forest had its own unique charm.
After they had drunk a few cups, Chwima spoke to Geom Mugeuk.
"Don't worry about the future beforehand."
"Is it showing?"
"Your face is full of worry."
"You know me. I'm the type to worry unnecessarily about useless things. I worry about things that might not even happen. Because of the gravity of the situation, it's not easy to put it off as something for later."
Geom Mugeuk emptied his cup and conveyed his honest feelings.
"Hyung, I even had a terrible thought just now. That I wished this Jujeong would be damaged again when Father starts trying to unify the martial arts world in earnest. Then I could use it to stop him, or so I thought."
"The Cult Leader wouldn't even care about something like the Jujeong being damaged."
Chwima refilled Geom Mugeuk's empty cup.
He had nothing to say. Because he was someone who would follow the Cult Leader's orders exactly as given. Even if an order came down to kill Jinhagun or Bisain, he would carry it out gladly.
Chwima looked down at the cup in his hand for a moment, then suddenly spat out words he hadn't expected.
"Don't overturn the Cult Leader's drinking table."
Geom Mugeuk looked at Chwima. Chwima continued speaking while keeping his eyes on the cup.
"The Cult Leader has drunk the liquor called Unification of the Martial Arts World for a long, long time, and is intoxicated by it. But if someone suddenly appeared, overturned the table, and doused him with cold water to sober him up, how would he feel? Even if it's his son."
Geom Mugeuk asked Chwima.
"Then what should I do?"
Chwima emptied his own cup and answered.
"You sit at that drinking table too."
It was something Geom Mugeuk had never considered.
"Just sit down and think first. Don't plan to recklessly overturn the table."
Sit at Father's drinking table? And then what?
"What if I get drunk too?"
"Even I don't know that."
Chwima smiled self-deprecatingly and poured alcohol into Geom Mugeuk's empty cup.
"Well, that's the advice of a drunkard for you."
"No. It was helpful advice."
"Really?"
Geom Mugeuk nodded. Until now, he had only been thinking of overturning the drinking table, just as Chwima said. He had only thought about how to end the drinking session.
But Chwima was right. From Father's standpoint, it was sudden and unfair.
"I felt it when we went to the Ice Palace before too, but hyung, you're really smart."
Chwima waved his hands saying no, but he couldn't hide the glint in his eyes that said 'tell me more'.
"You're the smartest among the Demon Lords."
"If only I hadn't been so caught up in alcohol, I might have served as a strategist at the Tongcheon Pavilion."
Gowol had told him to become Cult Leader, the Wind-Heaven Cult Leader had told him to give him a grandchild, and Chwima told him to get drunk with his father. They were all giving him advice in their own ways.
"Yeah, I should sit at that drinking table first, as you said."
At least one thing was clear.
"Father must know too. How terrible the hangover from this drinking session will be."
Because it would involve countless lives being lost.
'If I become his drinking companion instead, yet never bring the drinking session to an end?'
He didn't know if that was possible, but he had at least clearly grasped one direction.
He shouldn't try to stop his father recklessly.
Chwima brought out a box of alcohol he had kept in a corner of the forbidden zone.
"Take it with you when you go. It's the liquor we just drank."
"Why are you giving me something this precious? And a whole box?"
It wasn't because he had praised him for being smart.
"Didn't you say you're going to meet people and have fun now? Good alcohol makes a good atmosphere, and a good atmosphere..."
Chwima held out the box of alcohol and added,
"It will help you find the answer."