The one who had reeled in the fish was none other than Geom Mugeuk.
As everyone’s eyes focused on him, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon asked with a startled expression,
“Surely that isn’t a Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp?”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon had once seen an illustration of the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp in the Illustrated Compendium of Spiritual Creatures. It certainly resembled the fish Geom Mugeuk was holding.
Geom Ujin and the other Demon Venerables had likewise never seen a Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp in person. They had only seen it in pictures or roughly guessed at its appearance from stories handed down since ancient times.
Geom Mugeuk looked down at the fish in his arms and answered in a trembling voice.
“Yes, I believe it is.”
Geom Mugeuk was certain that the fish he had caught was truly a Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp. After all, he had caught one once before.
The Demon Venerables were swept up in shock. They were men who had weathered every sort of hardship and were not easily surprised by most things, yet to think they would witness a Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp being reeled in with a fishing rod right before their eyes.
Geom Ujin, too, could not hide the astonishment on his face.
“How did you catch a Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp?”
At his father’s question, Geom Mugeuk answered in a quivering voice.
“I don’t know either.”
He had not caught it by deliberately trying to. The Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp he had caught before his regression had not been caught here, nor had it been caught at this time.
In his life before regression, he had gone through unimaginable hardship to catch a Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp.
A Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp was not a spiritual creature one could catch in an ordinary river like this. He had caught it deep beneath a fiery cavern, in a truly dangerous and dizzying place.
And yet a Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp had been caught at a fishing tournament? By him, no less?
Was it his fate, regardless of regression, to catch a Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp at least once in his life? If not that, then—
Geom Mugeuk thought of the old man who had sent him back.
‘Is this a gift for me?’
It might not be a gift. If he ended up winning, he might lose the bet with his father. Geom Mugeuk had not written down his own name.
The Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp in Geom Mugeuk’s hands thrashed powerfully once. As if bidding farewell, it spread its large fins wide, and at that moment, a sunset-colored radiance began to pour from its scales. A light more beautiful than an actual sunset began to shine, mingling with gold.
The brilliant light that had been streaming forth gathered into a single point.
Swaaaaaang.
When the light vanished, the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp was gone.
In its place, a large crimson inner core remained in Geom Mugeuk’s hand.
The inner core of the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp.
Alongside Kongqing Stone Milk, one of the two supreme peaks of all spirit medicines.
Its fragrance spread through the air.
Subtle yet clear, the scent alone made one feel as though the mind were being purified. Aside from Geom Mugeuk, none of those present had ever smelled such a fragrance in their lives.
Geom Mugeuk looked down at the inner core in his hand with eyes full of emotion. All the countless efforts he had made to obtain this in his life before regression flashed past him.
Everyone stared at Geom Mugeuk in utter astonishment. Geom Mugeuk had shocked them countless times before, but to think he would astonish them even at a fishing tournament to this extent.
Geom Mugeuk spoke to the martial artist of the Heavenly Demon Hall who had been counting down to end the tournament.
“Aren’t you going to continue counting?”
The martial artist, who had been staring in a daze, finally came to his senses and resumed the count.
“Three, two, one. The fishing tournament has ended.”
The martial artist loudly announced the winner. There was no need to measure its size.
“The winner of the First Heavenly Demon Cup Fishing Tournament is the Young Cult Leader!”
They had also decided to give Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng to the person who caught the most fish, but the winner of the fishing tournament was, after all, determined by who caught the largest fish. And the fish that had led to victory was none other than a Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp.
Geom Mugeuk held the inner core of the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp high and shouted,
“I won!”
He did not know how the bet with his father would turn out, but for now, Geom Mugeuk was happy. It wasn’t just any fish, but a Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp that had fallen into his arms and given him victory, so of course he ought to be happy.
Just then, Geom Mugeuk received a prize even greater than Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng.
Geom Ujin burst into loud laughter. It was the first time he had ever seen his father laugh so loudly. It was simply pure laughter, carrying no intent whatsoever.
When his father laughed, the Demon Venerables also laughed loudly with him. The laughter came naturally. As they laughed together with the Cult Leader, the Demon Venerables thought,
It was only natural that their connection with this young Young Cult Leader had changed them. He was someone born under such a grand fate—how could they not be influenced?
It was also the first time the Cult Leader and the Demon Venerables had all burst into such hearty laughter together.
When the laughter echoing along the riverbank subsided, Geom Mugeuk asked his father for permission.
“May I keep this inner core?”
“You caught it, so of course it is yours.”
Geom Mugeuk smiled and checked once more.
“You truly won’t feel disappointed if I don’t give it to you, Father? ‘This is a tournament I hosted, so hand it over, you brat!’ You would even have a solid justification.”
A faint smile formed on Geom Ujin’s lips.
“This is a tournament I hosted, so hand it over, you brat!”
“Now you truly sound like the Martial Cult Leader.”
After playing along with his son’s joke, Geom Ujin spoke calmly.
“I cannot say for other spirit medicines, but there is no martial artist in this world who would call you an undutiful son for not giving away the inner core of a Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp.”
Geom Ujin, and of course the Demon Venerables as well, believed that treasures and precious spirit medicines like this had destined owners. They also believed that coveting a treasure that was not meant for you would instead bring harm.
“Consume it at once. I will stand guard for you.”
It was the most exalted protection befitting the most precious of spirit medicines.
At that moment, Geom Mugeuk said something no one had expected. The day’s surprises were not yet over.
“I will not be consuming this. There is someone I intend to give it to.”
He wasn’t going to consume the inner core of the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp? Just who was he planning to give it to?
Under everyone’s puzzled gazes, Geom Mugeuk held out the inner core to one person present.
“Take it.”
The person Geom Mugeuk offered the inner core to was none other than Geom Muyang. Of all the people there, Geom Muyang himself was the most surprised.
“You’re giving that to me?”
When Geom Mugeuk nodded, Geom Muyang widened his eyes in astonishment and asked,
“Why?”
“Why else? Because you’re my brother.”
Geom Muyang refused at once.
“No.”
This time, Geom Mugeuk asked,
“Why?”
Geom Muyang’s reason was the same as the answer Geom Mugeuk had given.
“Because I’m your brother.”
Geom Muyang had absolutely no intention of accepting it.
“You consume it. This Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp came to you.”
“It came to me so I could give it to you.”
“What nonsense!”
Geom Mugeuk had expected in advance that his brother would refuse. But he had a trump card that could defeat that stubborn brother of his.
Geom Mugeuk looked at his father with eyes asking for help.
Geom Ujin had an idea of why Geom Mugeuk wanted to give that precious inner core to Geom Muyang.
After being lost in thought for a moment, Geom Ujin said to Geom Muyang,
“Muyang.”
“Yes.”
“Consume it.”
“Father!”
For the first time since he was born, Geom Muyang refused his father’s command.
“I don’t want to.”
As if understanding his son’s feelings, Geom Ujin spoke again in a calm tone.
“Consume it.”
Geom Muyang could no longer defy an order repeated twice. He could not continue refusing the Cult Leader’s command in a place where all the Demon Venerables were watching.
“Yes, Father.”
Geom Muyang accepted the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp that Geom Mugeuk held out. The brothers exchanged their feelings through their gazes.
You bastard! Are you really going to do this?
Save that look for when someone tries to steal the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp inner core from you.
The Demon Venerables were witnessing with their own eyes an unbelievable scene: Geom Mugeuk yielding the inner core of the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp to his brother. It was also a moment that reaffirmed just how vast Geom Mugeuk’s vessel was.
“Then I will consume it.”
Geom Muyang sat cross-legged on the spot and consumed the inner core.
The inner core of the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp melted in his mouth. It was the sweetest taste he had ever put in his mouth in his entire life.
An immense internal force began to circulate through his whole body, and Geom Muyang focused on circulating his energy and regulating his breath.
Geom Ujin placed a hand on his back and infused a stream of internal force. He was helping him absorb all the energy of the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp.
Geom Mugeuk silently watched the scene. Then his eyes met those of the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon standing across from him. The two eyes behind the mask were smiling brightly.
Splendid, Young Cult Leader.
Beside him, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon nodded, and the One Flower Sword Venerable smiled beautifully.
The Drunken Demon filled the Ice Palace Holy Cup with liquor, raised it as if offering a toast, and emptied the cup.
The Poison King watched Geom Ujin and Geom Muyang without letting his attention wander elsewhere, and the Demon Buddha also looked at Geom Muyang with a pleased smile.
The Fist Demon clenched both of his enormous fists, and the Soul-Capturing Demon Venerable bowed his head in respect.
At last, all the energy melted into his body. With Geom Ujin’s help, Geom Muyang absorbed every last bit of the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp’s energy.
Now his dantian was filled with internal energy of a purity incomparable to before. In terms of internal energy, he had gained strength that would not fall behind anyone except Geom Mugeuk.
Geom Muyang opened his eyes. A clear, deep light in them revealed his achievement. It was truly the moment he had obtained the greatest fateful opportunity a martial artist could attain.
“Thank you, Father.”
After first expressing his gratitude to Geom Ujin, Geom Muyang stood before Geom Mugeuk.
Back when they had agreed to have a succession struggle without killing each other, he had never even dreamed that such a moment would come.
Geom Muyang said to Geom Mugeuk,
“You have given me both of the most precious spirit medicines in the martial world.”
Geom Mugeuk had also once put three drops of Kongqing Stone Milk into his mouth.
“You really are insane.”
Today, one more sentence was added to that.
“You’re the most splendidly insane man I know.”
It was the highest praise Geom Muyang could give his younger brother.
“You refused the Kongqing Stone Milk, and you refused the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp too. Don’t forget that you’re no less insane yourself, Brother.”
Geom Muyang smiled brightly, and Geom Mugeuk smiled along with him.
Geom Mugeuk said to Geom Ujin,
“Now then, you should hold the award ceremony. Poison King, come here! We have to receive our Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng.”
Geom Ujin personally presented the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng. First, he bestowed it upon the Poison King, who had caught the most fish.
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you, Cult Leader.”
The Poison King could feel it. The antidote Geom Mugeuk had made for him had taken proper effect. His relationship with the Cult Leader had changed from before, and he sensed that it would continue to change in the future.
Next, Geom Ujin held out the box containing Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng to Geom Mugeuk.
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you, Father.”
Geom Mugeuk held the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng high and shouted,
“I will keep this Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng safe and give it as a wedding gift to whichever of the Demon Venerables gets married first! If you’re going to do it anyway, don’t miss your chance!”
At present, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Drunken Demon were the strongest candidates.
The remaining Demon Venerables also received Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng, and only one person, the Demon Buddha, had not caught a single fish. Returning once more to the demeanor of an enlightened high monk, the Demon Buddha rolled his prayer beads and said,
“As the Buddha taught, one must cast aside greed.”
Of course, Geom Mugeuk was not about to let such a perfect opportunity to tease him pass by.
“Demon Buddha cast aside greed, and the fish cast aside Demon Buddha.”
From the little giant’s body, a golden radiance burst forth, wishing for the second tournament.
Once the award ceremony ended as well, what had to come finally arrived.
Geom Muyang took two folded pieces of paper from his breast pocket.
“I will announce the result of Father and Mugeuk’s bet.”
Everyone’s attention focused on whom the two of them had each written down.
Geom Muyang unfolded the paper Geom Mugeuk had written first. After checking the contents, Geom Muyang held it up for everyone to see.
Father.
Surprisingly, Geom Mugeuk had chosen his father.
Geom Ujin asked with a curious expression,
“Why did you write my name?”
Geom Mugeuk answered honestly.
“I expected that you would write your own name, Father, and win. Since I also wrote your name, the bet would have ended in a draw.”
“Why did you think I would win? When you and I had a fishing wager before, you were the one who won.”
It was a question that meant, Wouldn’t it have been better to write your own name and win yourself?
“Because things are different now than they were then.”
The Demon Buddha had said it. He himself was not as desperate as his father. The Extreme Evil Smiling Demon had also advised that if it were him, he would have chosen his father.
“Isn’t it something Father has long yearned for? I thought I couldn’t win.”
Geom Mugeuk added with a smile.
“I meant for both Father and me to guess correctly and end in a draw, but we both got it wrong and drew that way instead.”
At that, Geom Ujin asked with an unreadable expression.
“Why do you think it was a draw?”
“Father, you must have written your own name too, didn’t you? Surely not?”
Geom Muyang unfolded the paper Geom Ujin had written on.
After checking what was written there, Geom Muyang’s expression flinched. Then he held it up for everyone to see.
Gasps burst out from all directions. The name written on the paper was—
Geom Mugeuk
Astonishingly, Geom Ujin had written his son’s name. The son had written his father’s name, and the father had written his son’s.
“I won the wager.”
Geom Mugeuk asked his father in surprise.
“Why did you choose me?”
“Because I thought you would win.”
“Why? Don’t tell me that Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp earlier was one you released, Father. How many are you secretly raising in the Heavenly Demon Treasury?”
At the absurd joke, the corners of Geom Ujin’s mouth lifted slightly. The reason he had written his son’s name was the same reason his son had written his.
“Because you will always accomplish what you set out to do.”
“!”
“I, too, thought you would write your own name and certainly win.”
Geom Ujin and Geom Mugeuk had thought exactly the same thing.
Geom Mugeuk could not understand it.
If it had been the old man who sent the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp, then he surely would have foreseen this result as well.
Did he want Father to win?
‘Was it the unification of the martial world you wanted?’
That didn’t seem likely. Or had it truly not been the old man, but his own turbulent fate that had sent him the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp?
“I have lost.”
Geom Mugeuk admitted defeat. The Demon Venerables looked at him. No matter how outstanding Geom Mugeuk was, there was nothing to be done about this.
Hyeolcheon Doma spoke as if consoling Geom Mugeuk.
“This is the will of heaven.”
“If I’d known I was going to lose like this, I should have written your name, Elder, and at least made a show of it.”
Chwima poured liquor into the Ice Palace Sacred Cup and held it out.
“Drink a cup of defeat wine.”
Geom Mugeuk drank it down.
“Bitter. So bitter!”
Geugak Soma said calmly,
“I will attend you.”
It was his resolve that, if Geom Mugeuk stood at the vanguard of the war, he would support him. They were words more reassuring than anything else in the world.
“Thank you, Lord Soma.”
Before Geom Ujin stated his wish, he asked Geom Mugeuk,
“If you had won, what wish would you have made?”
After a brief pause, Geom Mugeuk answered.
“There was something I very much wanted to hear from Father. I probably would have asked you that.”
Geom Ujin gazed at his son in silence. Yes. Even if he had won the wager, this was not a son who would wish for him to abandon his dream.
At last, Geom Ujin opened his mouth.
“My wish is……”
Stand at the vanguard of the Demonic-Orthodox Great War!
Everyone thought that wish would come. But instead, a wish flowed out that not a single person present had imagined. It was the very wish Geom Mugeuk had made to his father after winning the Divine-Demon Contest on the first day of his return.
“For the two of us to go hunting together.”