Chapter 846 : I Want to Achieve It Slowly

Geom ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Mugeuk had unleashed all his power in the duel with his father.

No. ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Whether he wanted to or not, he had to.

Swaeaeaeaeak!

Without ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍exaggeration, the attack his father hurled at him was fiercer than even Hwa Moogi’s.

‘Father, ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍I’m your son! I’m not an enemy, not the Heavenly Killing Star!’

He ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍didn’t even have the leisure to joke like that. The moment his concentration broke, death would follow.

Geom Woojin had returned to that ruthless father who, on their very first climb together, had sent wind strikes flying at his son’s face.

Considering the purpose of this training, such brutal attacks were only natural.

And this duel required more than mere skill. It demanded an extraordinary mindset.

Techniques capable of killing the opponent flew freely, yet neither side could afford to injure the other. It was a battle that required extreme concentration and judgment.

From the start, it was a duel that only Geom Woojin and Geom Mugeuk could carry out.

Within the exchanges between father and son, right answers and wrong answers repeated themselves.

“This is the answer,” his father’s attack declared as it flew in, only for Geom Mugeuk to block it as if saying, “Wrong answer.”

Then came another strike. “Then this must be the answer,” and again, Geom Mugeuk desperately turned it into the wrong one.

Of course, this distinction existed only between the two of them. To anyone else, every single move would have been a correct, lethal attack.

Geom Mugeuk desperately evaded his father’s assaults.

He wouldn’t die from this level of attack, so long as he failed to meet the standard his father had set.

‘I’ll really die!’

When the first duel since entering the Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique ended, Geom Woojin recognized the change in his son.

“You didn’t just gain internal energy!”

His son’s skill had risen dramatically. Aside from the Nine Calamities Demon Art advancing from the tenth star to the eleventh, his overall depth in martial arts and combat ability had improved.

“I obtained not only their innate qi and internal energy, but even the martial arts they had cultivated.”

It was something that could only be called a gift from the heavens. The lifelong achievements of others had been granted to him intact.

Moreover, Geom Mugeuk could actually use those martial arts.

Ordinarily, one who cultivated demonic arts couldn’t use the techniques of the Righteous or Unorthodox factions. The fundamental nature of their internal energy was different.

But now, with innate qi and internal energy merged, he could use them all.

It meant that once he entered the martial world, he could appear as a member of the Righteous Faction, or pass himself off as one of the Unorthodox.

Geom Woojin raised his sword again. How many more times would he have to say this before they could leave?

“Again!”

The two charged at each other.

Shiiiiik.

Their movements were as fast as light, yet outside, a mere insect still flew slowly, unable to reach the lamp.

---

“Am I still drunk?”

The Drunken Demon blinked in astonishment as he looked out the window.

“Didn’t they just say we were entering Maga Village?”

At his question, a martial artist from the escort group answered.

“That’s correct. This is Maga Village.”

The coachman was just as shocked, his voice trembling as he looked around in confusion.

“Stop the carriage.”

As the Drunken Demon’s carriage came to a halt, the ones following behind also stopped.

When he stepped down, the Demonic Buddha and the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme also disembarked. They were equally stunned.

Maga Village was gone.

The three Demon Supremes exchanged glances. They had already heard through an urgent message from the Heavenly Communication Pavilion that the Heavenly Killing Star had been defeated.

But for the battle to have been this fierce?

Behind them, large carriages carrying the Tenebrous Ghosts Corps and the Demonic Army arrived and stopped.

Among them, Lee Ahn was the most shocked. She knew better than anyone how important this place was to Geom Mugeuk.

‘Young Cult Leader!’

Where Maga Village had once stood, demonic practitioners and workers were preparing for construction. They divided the area and discussed what buildings would be erected where.

Recognizing the Demon Supremes, they all bowed respectfully.

From among them, one man stepped forward. It was Geom Muyang, the Great Young Master. Chief Strategist Sima Myung had placed him in charge of rebuilding Maga Village. With his meticulous nature, he handled such practical matters better than Geom Mugeuk.

“Great Young Master!”

“Demonic Buddha!”

Geom Muyang exchanged greetings with the three Demon Supremes. Lee Ahn and Jangho also came forward to greet him.

He first checked on their injuries.

“Are you all unharmed?”

“We’re fine.”

“That’s a relief.”

With concern in his eyes, the Demonic Buddha asked,

“What happened here?”

“As you’ve heard, the Cult Leader defeated the Heavenly Killing Star here.”

Upon hearing that both the Cult Leader and the villagers were safe, Lee Ahn asked in a trembling voice,

“Is the Young Cult Leader alright?”

While waiting for the answer, her heart pounded as if it would burst.

If Maga Village had been completely obliterated, Geom Mugeuk would have tried to stop it no matter what. She feared he might have been injured in the process.

Fortunately, that wasn’t the case.

“The Young Cult Leader is safe as well.”

“Ah!”

Just as Lee Ahn let out a sigh of relief, astonishing news reached the Demon Supremes.

“The Cult Leader and Mugeuk have entered joint closed-door training.”

At the mention of joint closed-door training, everyone was shocked. Never before had they heard of the Cult Leader and the Young Cult Leader entering such seclusion together.

“It’s been two days since they entered.”

The Demonic Buddha asked cautiously,

“Could it be…?”

He worried they might be hiding injuries under the guise of training.

Reading his concern, Geom Muyang smiled.

“There’s nothing to worry about.”

Only then did everyone, including the Demonic Buddha, relax at his bright expression.

“You must be tired from the long journey. Please go and rest.”

As the Demonic Buddha climbed back onto the carriage, he said,

“If it’s only the second day, the cult will be quiet for quite some time!”

The Drunken Demon urged the coachman as he boarded.

“Let’s go. I can already smell the liquor stored in the Tower of Drunken Dreams.”

The Soul Reaper Demon Supreme said nothing, but more than ever, he wanted to see the Young Cult Leader. After all, as his first Demon Supreme, the young man had safely finished the battle.

Thus, the carriages carrying the Demon Supremes sped toward the main headquarters.

Lee Ahn lingered for a moment, staring at where the Flowing Wind Tavern had once stood.

A trace of regret crossed her face.

It was a great relief that the Cult Leader and Geom Mugeuk were safe, but the complete destruction of Maga Village was deeply saddening.

The Flowing Wind Tavern, in particular, held many memories for her.

She recalled drinking with Geom Mugeuk—how she had gotten drunk and been carried back on his back. She remembered the gatherings with Seo Daeryong and Jangho as well.

Drinking in the place where the Three-Way Summit had been achieved had felt especially meaningful.

She wished she had come more often. She had been too busy lately, and after Seo Daeryong got married, their drinking gatherings had stopped entirely.

Just then, Jangho came to stand beside her.

“Division Leader Lee, don’t be too disheartened.”

“Commander Jangho, once this place is rebuilt, let’s resume our drinking gatherings.”

“Agreed.”

After promising their next meeting, the large carriages led by Jangho departed as well.

Lee Ahn was about to tell her subordinates that they should leave too, when she noticed Cha Iran staring intently at something.

She walked over to her.

“What are you looking at so intently?”

“I’m watching a scene that’s about to turn me into a cruel villain who interferes with love.”

What did that mean? Lee Ahn turned her gaze to where Cha Iran was looking.

The person Cha Iran was looking at was the Seventeenth Beauty.

The Seventeenth Beauty was staring in one direction, where a young man stood among the workers. The way they looked at each other was unbearably affectionate.

That man was the Crescent Moon Faceless Swordsman. He had already once removed his mask and shown her his face.

After hearing that she was about to arrive, he had been waiting among the workers. Since only a few people nearby knew about their relationship, they were meeting like this in secret.

“They’re really showing off their love properly.”

At her words, Lee Ahn smiled.

“They say even during war, children are born and cooking smoke still rises, don’t they?”

Cha Iran said to Lee Ahn,

“Why don’t you try making me jealous too, Division Leader?”

“Who are you to say that?”

The two women looked at each other and smiled.

“It’s really over now.”

Lee Ahn added as she looked around.

“Completely clean.”

When she thought about the forces behind all this, the first person that came to Lee Ahn’s mind was Geom Mugeuk. After he had left the cult, she had been so worried that she focused solely on martial arts training. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that was how she reached her current level.

Lee Ahn looked at Cha Iran.

“How does it feel?”

Just like her, this ending must carry great meaning for Cha Iran as well.

“I feel relieved.”

It felt like shackles she had worn for a long time had been removed. The darkness that had been tied to her was completely severed.

Now was the moment a new life began.

Cha Iran spoke to her team members.

“Alright, dismissed here. Get some proper rest today!”

She had dismissed them here for the sake of the Seventeenth Beauty. It was her consideration, so that they could spend even a little more time together.

“How about a drink later, just among the squad leaders?”

At Cha Iran’s words, Lee Ahn nodded. If life could have everything vanish overnight like this.

“Sounds good.”

This time, she had no intention of postponing it.

---

Before they knew it, two days had passed since entering the Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique.

Since two days had passed outside, a considerable amount of time had flowed within.

The bold claim that they would leave before morning had collapsed before the difficulty of achieving Twelve Star Greatness. Indeed, how could such a thing be easy?

The training continued. Some days they clashed using the Nine Calamities Demon Art, other days with the Soaring Sword Art, and sometimes even with the most basic swordsmanship.

Whenever it seemed they had grown accustomed to each other’s swordsmanship, his father would unfailingly unleash a powerful move. At that moment, it was a terrifying attack that truly made him think, ‘I’m going to die!’

Today as well, Geom Mugeuk, who had practically died and come back to life, announced mealtime.

“Father, it’s time to eat.”

“Alright, let’s eat.”

Snap!

With a flick of Geom Mugeuk’s fingers, a table appeared on a field overlooking a beautiful lakeside.

At every meal, he created various beautiful settings for his father.

“Don’t waste your internal energy on pointless things!”

“That won’t do. Even if I use one less technique, meals must be proper.”

Geom Mugeuk brought several dishes from the food piled nearby and set the table.

The one responsible for supplying food from outside was Hui.

Earlier, Geom Mugeuk had briefly gone out, gathered a large amount of food, and asked Hui to continuously bring provisions to the place where the technique was deployed.

He could have brought in months’ worth of food at once, but then his father would have had to eat only jerky or preserved dried food.

So Geom Mugeuk had food prepared by the chefs of the Heavenly Demon Pavilion continuously brought in.

He had honestly explained to Hui that time flowed differently inside, so a large amount of food was needed.

For two days straight, Hui had placed food there as soon as the chefs finished cooking. And every time, the food disappeared immediately.

“The food today is really delicious. The chef truly showed his skills.”

“That person must be having a hard time.”

“What can we do? He’ll have to suffer for a few days.”

“And can you even get out within a few days?”

“No, how did you manage to achieve something this difficult, Father?”

Food wasn’t the only thing Geom Mugeuk took care of for his father.

Even within this space, he made time pass like it did outside.

The sun rose and set; night came, and dawn followed.

This too was for his father. As someone young, he could endure chaotic days and nights, but for his father, such a lifestyle over a long period would harm his health.

When it was time to sleep, he made him sleep. He kept meal times exact.

To recreate an almost perfect day within this space was something only an absolute master like Geom Mugeuk could accomplish.

Geom Woojin was inwardly moved by how much his son cared for him, but he did not show it outwardly.

After finishing the meal—

Snap!

Geom Mugeuk transformed the surroundings into a walking path. Some days it became a beautiful bamboo forest, other days a trail he had once seen in the Daecheon Mountains.

And sometimes, it became a snow-covered path untouched by anyone. It had once been lonely to walk alone, but now, he walked it together with his father.

Geom Mugeuk cherished this time with his father more than anything. In truth, it didn’t even matter if he failed to achieve the Twelve Star Greatness of the Nine Calamities Demon Art. This time spent together was simply too precious.

He knew better than anyone how fleeting such moments were, even when they felt endless.

And how only after they passed could one realize just how radiant they had been.

After the walk, they continued with evening training.

In the evenings, rather than practical combat, they mainly discussed martial arts theory.

“Among the Heavenly Will Palace Master’s techniques, there is one called ‘Two Lives Turning Cycle.’ When using it, the flow of internal force differs from other martial arts. This technique begins from the Central Pole Point…”

Geom Mugeuk did not want this precious time with his father to end as mere instruction.

Though his father had achieved Twelve Star Greatness, the path of martial arts had no end.

His father could still reach even higher realms.

That was why, after obtaining the martial arts of the Martial Emperor Divine Sword, Joo Ga-shin, and the Heavenly Will Palace Master, he shared all the insights he had gained.

Geom Mugeuk passed them on to his father without holding anything back.

And when those teachings returned to him, they came back enriched with even deeper meaning.

After finishing even the evening training, Geom Mugeuk turned the space into night.

And for sleep, he recreated his father’s room as comfortably and familiarly as possible.

Of course, it wasn’t identical, but with his exceptional memory, he made it close enough.

He even placed a painting of his father with his older brother and did not forget the ornaments on the cabinet.

And beside his father’s large bed, he placed one for himself.

The few words they exchanged before falling asleep were also precious.

Sometimes he asked about his father’s days as the Young Cult Leader, sometimes about the Demon Supremes, though most of the time, he spoke alone without receiving answers.

But not once did he bring up the unification of the martial world. Neither did his father.

“Sleep.”

“Rest well, Father. Thank you for today as well.”

With a snap of his fingers, the surroundings darkened.

“Tomorrow will be even harder!”

Geom Mugeuk understood. His father truly intended not to leave until he achieved Twelve Star Greatness.

‘Please don’t push yourself too hard.’

Because this time with his father was too precious—

‘I want to achieve it slowly, even if just for one more day.’