Geom Mugeuk restricted the area before the contest began in earnest.
“Today’s fishing must not go past that jutting rock over there, or that tree on the other side.”
He limited them to places within sight of everyone, and close enough that they could be heard if they spoke with internal energy behind their voices.
Since this was where the river bent, they would not be lined up in a row, but positioned where they could see one another’s faces.
After all, today’s gathering had been arranged not so much for fishing as for conversations they usually never got to have.
“Now, we’ll decide on our spots. Once you’ve picked your first spot, if you don’t like it, you may move later or stay where you are.”
In truth, securing a good spot was more important than the fishing itself. Especially since the area was restricted, choosing well at the start mattered more than anything.
“Father, you should choose your spot first.”
Geom Mugeuk offered him the chance, but Geom Ujin declined.
“I’ll choose later.”
Knowing his father’s personality, he would not want to hear that he had won because he had taken the best spot.
As if he had been waiting for this, Geom Mugeuk made a suggestion.
“Then how about this? To be fair, let those without fishing experience choose their spots first.”
His father nodded and accepted the suggestion. Today’s contest was both a fishing contest and a contest of pride.
Once his father had made the decision, priority in choosing spots was given to the beginners.
“First, those who were boasting earlier will step aside.”
The trio who had boasted were the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, the Demon Buddha, and the Drunken Demon. They were eliminated from priority seating.
The three of them knew very well how important it was to secure a good fishing spot, so though they did not show it, they were inwardly disappointed.
“Now, among those remaining, who arrived here first today?”
As everyone looked around, the Poison King quietly raised his hand.
“Then the Poison King will choose his spot first.”
He had said he had to defend that spot even if it meant scattering poison, and Geom Mugeuk had created an opportunity for him to choose it first.
“Then I will not stand on ceremony.”
After bowing to Geom Ujin, the Poison King was about to head for the spot Geom Mugeuk had told him to take.
Just then, someone’s voice flowed out.
“How strange.”
The Poison King flinched and stopped in his tracks.
The one who had spoken was, unexpectedly, the Demon Buddha.
“The Poison King has absolutely no interest in fishing, and yet you arrived here first today?”
Among the Demon Venerables, the one closest to the Poison King was the Demon Buddha, and yet he had stepped forward to put on the brakes.
“Why did you come out first?”
Geom Mugeuk looked at the Demon Buddha.
Was he trying to steal the Poison King’s spot in order to win the fishing tournament?
The Demon Buddha of the past would have done that and then some. He would have raised a conspiracy theory, claiming the Young Cult Leader and the Poison King had colluded to secure a good spot in advance. Then, under the pretext of having exposed the truth, he would have taken the spot for himself.
But there was no way the present Demon Buddha would do that. Because Geom Mugeuk trusted him, he could make such a joke.
“At last, the small giant’s revenge begins for being used as an herb gatherer.”
With those words alone, everyone could tell that the Demon Buddha had gathered poisonous herbs for the Poison King.
With everyone’s eyes focused on him, the Poison King calmly replied.
“Is this not the first tournament the Cult Leader has ever held? That is why I came early to practice. The Young Cult Leader taught me how to choose a spot.”
“I see.”
The Demon Buddha readily believed him.
Just from that reaction, it was clear. The Demon Buddha had led the Poison King into saying those words himself, so that his father could hear the reason.
It was just as Geom Mugeuk had expected. Upon hearing that the Poison King had arrived first, the Demon Buddha had guessed that he was making an effort to improve his relationship with the Cult Leader.
Since the Young Cult Leader had gone around meeting all the Demon Venerables, Geom Mugeuk must have presented him with a way to mend that relationship.
So he had stepped forward to help the Poison King.
The most important thing was Geom Ujin’s reaction.
He looked at the Poison King with calm eyes, then spoke in a gentle tone.
“Fishing will become an enjoyable pastime for you.”
The Poison King respectfully cupped his fist and bowed, then went to stand in the spot he had been heading toward. And so the Poison King took the best spot.
Geom Mugeuk whispered into the Demon Buddha’s ear.
“I told you, you’re being fooled! Our Demon Buddha is being fooled to the very end.”
The Demon Buddha smiled when Geom Mugeuk understood his intention. Yes, because the Young Cult Leader understood without misunderstanding, he had been able to step forward like that just now.
Once the Poison King had taken his spot, Geom Mugeuk called out.
“Who came next?”
Then the Soul-Subjugating Demon Venerable stepped forward.
It was surprising enough that the Poison King had been first, but the second to arrive was the Soul-Subjugating Demon Venerable? Everyone looked at her in disbelief.
The Poison King and the Soul-Subjugating Demon Venerable.
They were the two people martial artists feared most in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. And yet those two had arrived first at a fishing tournament. Even though they were fishing beginners.
The Soul-Subjugating Demon Venerable chose a spot as she pleased, and relief bloomed on the faces of the boastful trio. From an expert’s eye, she had taken a place where it would be difficult to catch even a single fish.
Geom Mugeuk called to her.
“Soul-Subjugating Demon Venerable!”
The moment she saw the mischief flash across Geom Mugeuk’s face, the Soul-Subjugating Demon Venerable tensed inwardly.
So it has come.
Now, in front of the Cult Leader, he would surely say, Our cult has not Eight Demon Venerables, but Six Demon Venerables.
She had already resolved herself to become the Young Cult Leader’s Demon Venerable, but even so, when she thought of having to acknowledge those words in front of the Cult Leader, her heart began to pound.
But the words Geom Mugeuk said were not those.
“Use your Soul-Subjugating Art to send all the fish to me! Absolutely do not send them to Father!”
Of course, since they were not allowed to use martial arts, it was a joke on Geom Mugeuk’s part.
Inwardly relieved, the Soul-Subjugating Demon Venerable smiled and said to him,
“For some reason, it sounds as though you are telling me to send them to the Cult Leader.”
Geom Mugeuk shook his head.
“I may be a naturally born filial son whose name will go down in the history of the Divine Cult, but not today! Today is not a fishing tournament. It is a fishing war!”
Indeed, Geom Ujin also did not hide the competitive fire in his eyes and expression.
Geom Mugeuk looked at his father with eyes that said he would never lose. The sight of the two of them stirred everyone’s fighting spirit.
“Now, the next to arrive was Elder Blade Demon, yes? Since you are a master among masters, I’m sure you’ll yield.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon smacked his lips regretfully. He had marked out several spots, and if all of them were taken, he would have no chance of winning.
The next person to choose was the Ilhwa Sword Venerable. Since she had no way of knowing which spot was good, she moved toward a place shaded by trees. She had dressed herself beautifully today and did not want to stand in the sun all day.
As she was about to settle there, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon quietly jerked his chin, telling her to go farther. A little farther back. Good grief, at least you should take a good spot!
He did not send a sound transmission because he thought that would truly count as cheating.
There was no way Geom Mugeuk would miss it.
“Our elder is beside himself with worry that the Sword Venerable will return with an empty basket.”
The Ilhwa Sword Venerable smiled as she looked at the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
“Please catch plenty for my share as well.”
Just this alone showed how much she had changed.
The Fist Demon simply strode forward and took an empty spot. Judging by appearance alone, he looked as though he would snap the fishing rod out of impatience and leap into the river at any moment to catch fish with his bare hands.
The Extreme Evil Lesser Demon took the farthest spot. Just by watching how they chose their places, one could sense the personalities of the Demon Venerables.
“Brother? Aren’t you participating in the tournament?”
“Today, I’ll watch Father fish and learn.”
Geom Mugeuk thought it was a wise choice. On a day like this, rather than competing, staying beside their father and attending to him would be better for their relationship in many ways.
Now the ones left were the self-proclaimed fishing masters: Geom Ujin, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, the Demon Buddha, the Drunken Demon, and Geom Mugeuk.
“Then, as the youngest, I will choose my spot first.”
When Geom Mugeuk tried to casually take a spot ahead of them, the Demon Buddha rolled his prayer beads and asked,
“Does our Young Cult Leader know what fishing and life have in common?”
“What is it?”
“There are days when you return from fishing with an empty basket and still feel good, and days when you return with a basket packed full of fish and still feel hollow. Is life not the same? There is no need to fill the basket so completely.”
“No, why are you saying such things during a fishing tournament of all times!”
Pretending not to hear, the Demon Buddha put on the air of an enlightened high monk.
“For you, would it not be more important how many people you spoke with than how many fish you caught?”
“So why are you doing this to me? Fish are more important to me! Do you think the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng is a joke?”
Everyone watching smiled. The mood was wonderful from the very start. As expected, with Geom Mugeuk leading the atmosphere, there was no chance for it to become dull or stiff.
Geom Mugeuk looked at the Demon Buddha and smiled.
Since he had made everyone laugh like this, he deserved a reward. Geom Mugeuk said to his father,
“Since the Blood Buddha has come to the fishing grounds and become a benevolent Buddha, we should yield a spot to him.”
Geom Ujin nodded readily.
“Ha ha. When one lets go of greed, unexpected blessings come like this.”
“That’s not true! You haven’t let go of your greed!”
Leaving Geom Mugeuk’s shout behind, the Demon Buddha chose his spot first. Seeing him take a properly good spot, it was clear he had not been bluffing about his fishing skills.
“Now then, next is the young me…”
Just as Geom Mugeuk tried to step forward again, Geom Ujin said to the Drunken Demon,
“You choose next.”
“Thank you for yielding to me.”
The Drunken Demon was greatly pleased that the Cult Leader had looked after him. On top of that, a decent spot was still left.
‘This isn’t bad at all!’
Overall, he was choosing late, but he had secured a better spot than the powerful competitors: the Cult Leader, the Young Cult Leader, and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
Geom Mugeuk had naturally thought his father would next tell the Blood Heaven Blade Demon to choose.
“Next is my turn.”
Seeing his father step forward as though he had yielded enough, Geom Mugeuk asked out of curiosity,
“I understand not yielding to me, but why aren’t you yielding to Elder Blade Demon?”
Then words he had never expected flowed from Geom Ujin’s mouth.
“I must protect the pride of the teacher who taught me fishing.”
At those words, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s face brightened radiantly. Just having him mention it in front of everyone like this was enough.
“No, Elder. Father stole your spot, so what are you so happy about that you’re smiling so guilelessly? Father is most wary of you. This fishing ground is crawling with conspiracies!”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon smiled and said,
“From what I see, the one he’s most wary of is you.”
“Pardon?”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon strode over and took the last passable spot, leaving Geom Mugeuk as the only one remaining.
“Ah! I was so busy watching the fight over spots that I forgot to look after my own!”
Everyone smiled at Geom Mugeuk’s joking complaint.
It truly would have been unimaginable in the old Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. There would not have been a tournament like this in the first place, but even if there had been, everyone would have been suppressed by the Cult Leader’s atmosphere, while the Demon Venerables engaged in contests of spirit among themselves. It would have been a brutal battlefield.
The place Geom Mugeuk took was between his father and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. Because he had squeezed in between them, the three of them ended up standing unusually close together, but Geom Ujin and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon did not mind at all.
Rather, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was glad and pleased that Geom Mugeuk had come beside him.
Once everyone had taken their places, all eyes turned to Geom Ujin. After baiting his hook, Geom Ujin cast his fishing line powerfully toward the river.
Swaaaaish.
The fishing line flew over the glittering silver surface of the river.
Plop.
With that as the start, everyone cast their lines. Fishing lines sliced through the air all at once.
The Poison King, thanks to all his practice, made a plop that was unlike a beginner’s. The Fist Demon, who looked as though he would cast so far and so powerfully that the rod might snap, instead cast gently to a nearby spot. Conversely, the Ilhwa Sword Venerable, who seemed likely to cast with the most elegance, cast the farthest with the most excitement. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon moved with the greatest skill, the Demon Buddha cast his rod sideways in a peculiar manner, the Drunken Demon put on as much flair as he could with one hand, the Extreme Evil Lesser Demon moved with utmost simplicity, and the Soul-Subjugating Demon Venerable made a plop just as she had been taught.
Lastly, Geom Mugeuk cast his line. It was an ordinary cast, but the experience of having fished countless times was evident in his touch.
Thus the fishing began in earnest, and everyone gazed at the river, each lost in thought.
Geom Mugeuk had realized something in his life before regression, when he had searched for the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp.
Back then, his heart had been impatient. He had wanted to find it even a day sooner.
But in the end, he came to understand. Just as a life spent in haste ends chasing nothing but chances, an impatient fisherman only muddies the water.
One had to know how to wait. Calmly gazing at the river, one had to know how to wait a thousand breaths, ten thousand breaths, all for that single breath in which one struck. And if, just once, one did not miss that moment, one could change one’s life.
And do not despair because you missed an opportunity. No fisherman quits fishing just because he let a fish get away. It was because he had searched to the end with that sort of tenacity that he had succeeded.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon glanced sideways at Geom Mugeuk. The look in Geom Mugeuk’s eyes as he gazed at the river now was deeper than that of any Demon Venerable present.
‘You rascal, what are you thinking about now?’
At that moment, Geom Ujin also turned his head slightly toward his son.
Because of that, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and Geom Ujin’s eyes met.
‘Your son brought us all the way here. Do you intend to go to the end with a son like this?’
Had he read that thought?
Geom Ujin’s eyes seemed to say this.
‘As we are now, we can surely do it. Do you truly want to let this chance slip away?’
After gazing at each other for a moment, Geom Ujin and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon turned to look at the river at the same time.
A short while later, Geom Mugeuk secured his fishing rod and went to his father. His brother was standing beside their father, staring at the river.
Geom Muyang asked Geom Mugeuk,
“Should I move aside?”
“No. Unless I’m going to speak ill of you, what could I possibly have to say that I can’t say in front of you?”
Geom Muyang looked dumbfounded, but the words that there was nothing he could not say in front of him felt strangely gratifying.
“Come to think of it, this is the first time Father and the two of us have stood side by side on a riverbank like this, isn’t it?”
Geom Muyang nodded.
“It would be nice to bring that painter from back then and ask him to paint this scene too. Or else let’s ask the doll maker in Maga Village to make dolls of the three of us fishing.”
At that, Geom Ujin abruptly said,
“Seeing you act so relaxed, you must be confident.”
“Would a prize catch wake up and start moving this early? It’ll wake up late in the afternoon and start stirring then. It’ll be relaxed, like me.”
He even added a bit of smugness.
“Should I call this the composure of a victor?”
“Today won’t be easy.”
“Then, apart from this contest, shall we make a separate wager, you and I?”
At the word wager, Geom Ujin’s eyes gleamed.
“What wager?”
Geom Mugeuk seemed to have already thought it through.
“A wager on guessing who will take first place. Of course, you may predict yourself as first place.”
A fierce interest bloomed in his father’s eyes.
“We watch from now on, and after one shijin, we decide who will take first.”
“And if one wins the wager?”
Geom Mugeuk staked something far more drastic than ten-thousand-year snow ginseng.
“How about granting the winner’s wish?”
“Any wish?”
“Yes. Any wish, without fail.”
Geom Ujin snorted and said,
“You’ll lose.”
“That remains to be seen.”
After staring at his son for a moment, Geom Ujin nodded readily, for reasons of his own.
“Good.”
They should have set limits, saying that this much could not be granted, but neither of them did so. A truly great wager had been placed.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon, who had been listening beside them, shook his head as if they were beyond help and gazed at the flowing river as he spoke quietly. No, he spoke to the fish within it.
“The fate of this murim no longer rests on the Heavenly Killing Star, but on you.”