Chapter 850 : It Was Time to Remove the Mask

When ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Geom Mugeuk returned to his residence after meeting the Poison King, Seo Daeryong was waiting in front of the door.

“Young ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Cult Leader!”

“My ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍right-hand man!”

Geom ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Mugeuk welcomed Seo Daeryong warmly. Seeing him greet him with such a bright expression, the worry he had carried the whole time, wondering if he had come uninvited while he was busy, finally melted away.

“I ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍know you must be busy, but I still wanted to see your face, so I came.”

“You ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍came at the right time. Come in.”

“No, it’s fine. Seeing your face is enough.”

“It’s not enough for me. Get in here.”

As Geom Mugeuk went in first, Seo Daeryong had no choice but to follow.

“Yeongha is growing well, right?”

Seo Daeryong felt deeply grateful that Geom Mugeuk remembered his son’s name like this.

“He’s growing by the day. You’ll be surprised when you see him.”

“I can already picture the little rascal. You should’ve brought him.”

“A son is great and all, but… I need some freedom too. You don’t know that, do you? You might be someone who knows everything in the world, Young Cult Leader, but not this.”

Seo Daeryong said exaggeratedly, letting his shoulders droop.

“Raising a child is harder than martial arts training.”

At that, Geom Mugeuk burst out laughing.

“At first, he kept waking me up at night so I couldn’t sleep. Now, if I just take my eyes off him for a moment, he causes trouble—bumping into things, falling over, swallowing stuff. Is this how you felt watching us, Young Cult Leader?”

Seo Daeryong then scratched his head awkwardly.

“I ended up saying something unnecessary in front of someone who isn’t even married, didn’t I?”

“No, in this field, you’re my senior, aren’t you? Pass down all your knowledge. Now, sit.”

After seating Seo Daeryong at the table in the yard, Geom Mugeuk brought out alcohol from a box placed in the corner. Each time a bottle disappeared from the liquor box, the person sitting in front of Geom Mugeuk had been changing.

“This is a special drink given by the Drunken Demon. The taste is incredible.”

Seo Daeryong subtly checked the remaining bottles in the box. There weren’t many left. Even just giving them to the Demon Supremes would make them run out.

“The drink is fine.”

But how could Geom Mugeuk not notice Seo Daeryong’s hesitation?

Without a moment’s pause, Geom Mugeuk opened the bottle and poured him a drink.

“Drink.”

“Is it really alright for you to give me such a precious liquor?”

“It’s because it’s precious that I’m giving it to you.”

Seo Daeryong spoke with deep emotion.

“Thinking of the grace you’ve shown me, you could curse me every day until I die and I’d still accept it.”

“The moment you hear even one unpleasant word, you’ll think this instead—‘How could you do this to me!’”

Seo Daeryong laughed as he emptied his cup.

“The taste is truly intoxicating.”

Just as the Drunken Demon had said, there was a certain power in good alcohol. It lifted one’s mood, making a person say two things instead of one.

And so, he heard news about Seo Daeryong’s wife, Dan Ah, and his sisters-in-law, as well as how, thanks to their recent victory, both his father and his own popularity had soared through the sky within the cult.

As they chatted about various things, Geom Mugeuk casually asked,

“Daeryong, if Yeongha grows up and strongly opposes something you want to do, how would you feel?”

“My son?”

Of all times, it was now—when he was suffering through the hardships of childcare.

“My son, whom I’ve raised like gold and jade? The son I raised while barely sleeping or eating properly? I’d gladly give my life for him. And after raising him like that, he says, ‘Father, I don’t like it. That’s not right!’? If that happens, I’d drag him to the sparring ground and just—!”

Seo Daeryong, who had been raising his voice, soon let out a light sigh. What he truly wanted to say came next.

“I’d feel hurt, but in the end, I’d understand my son and follow his words.”

“Why?”

“Because if my son opposes me, there must be a reason for it.”

“What if your son is wrong?”

“No, he wouldn’t be wrong. I’ll raise him so that I can believe that. Just like you, Young Cult Leader.”

With a faint self-mocking smile, Geom Mugeuk asked,

“Do I look like a good son to you?”

“Of course. My wife and I wish more than anything that our son will grow up to be like you, Young Cult Leader.”

Soon, Seo Daeryong let out a small sigh and said,

“No matter how much I tell my child, ‘You must grow up to be like the Young Cult Leader!’ he’ll still grow up to be like Seo Daeryong, since he’s my son. That’s why I’ll try to become even cooler.”

Geom Mugeuk smiled.

Seo Daeryong, who had become a father, had clearly grown more mature than before. His change was as noticeable as that of the Poison King.

Geom Mugeuk patted Seo Daeryong on the shoulder.

“Impressive, my right-hand man. Let’s finish all that liquor together today. Just for today, we’re completely escaping childcare! What do you say? Your father’s going to get drunk. Lady Dan, your husband belongs to me today!”

Seo Daeryong looked at Geom Mugeuk. He was offering to drink all that precious liquor with him. There must still be Demon Supremes and other important figures who should be drinking it.

If someone looked into his feelings right now, they would probably frown in boredom.

—Are you moved by the Young Cult Leader again? Is that the only emotion you ever feel toward him?

But what could he do? The impression Geom Mugeuk gave him never changed.

If it were him, he would have carefully picked and chosen—measuring who would be most useful—and only then decided on a right-hand man.

Yet this precious man had taken someone as insignificant and worthless as himself and kept him as his right-hand man until the very end.

When Geom Mugeuk went to the liquor box to bring more alcohol,

Seo Daeryong suddenly sprang to his feet and hurried toward the entrance.

“Ah! My wife asked me to buy something, and I completely forgot. I’ll be going first, Young Cult Leader!”

---

The next day, the person Geom Mugeuk visited while carrying a bottle of liquor was the Fist Demon King.

“Master!”

When Geom Mugeuk arrived, the Fist Demon King was in the yard, shirtless, training his fist techniques.

“Master, do you still have more to train?”

“If I didn’t, the Heavenly Killing Star would have died to my fists already.”

Watching the Fist Demon King still immersed in training, Geom Mugeuk set the bottle he brought beside him.

“This liquor was a gift from the Drunken Demon. Save it and drink it later with Lee Ahn. The taste is incredible.”

Then, as he stood beside him watching the training,

“When Master swings his fists, I can’t just stand by. I’ll join you.”

Geom Mugeuk took off his shirt and joined the training.

The two Thunderous Asura Fists, having reached a high realm, created art in the air.

As he threw punches in identical motions, Geom Mugeuk suddenly said,

“Father told me about Mother.”

For a moment, the Fist Demon King’s fist faltered.

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

He could have asked the Fist Demon King about his mother. But Geom Mugeuk did not. The Fist Demon King’s fists had not stopped—they continued without pause.

After the training ended, the Fist Demon King, as if thinking of something, led Geom Mugeuk to that cliff.

Looking up at it, Geom Mugeuk said,

“This cliff hasn’t changed.”

“What do you think? Do you think you could collapse it with a single punch now?”

Power gathered in Geom Mugeuk’s fist. If he poured all his Internal Energy into it, perhaps he really could bring down that cliff with one punch.

In a calm tone, the Fist Demon King asked,

“What does this cliff mean to you?”

What should he answer? Geom Mugeuk could not easily respond.

Rather, the Fist Demon King understood it better than he did.

“Even if you could destroy this cliff with a single punch, you probably wouldn’t. You’re not the type to show off your strength. More importantly, you’d think that if this cliff collapses, all the trees and animals living here would die. You’d think it’s better to leave it be so they can live in harmony.”

Geom Mugeuk quietly acknowledged it. Even if he could destroy it, he would not.

“Come, let’s go up.”

“Didn’t you say this cliff was meant to be destroyed, not climbed?”

Without answering, the Fist Demon King leapt upward. His large body began to ascend the cliff with surprising lightness.

Tap.

The two stepped on protruding rocks and leapt upward in quick succession. Now, Geom Mugeuk could reach the summit without intermediate steps, but he followed exactly where the Fist Demon King stepped as he ascended.

Soon, the two stood atop the cliff.

Looking down from there, not only the Eastern Fist Faction but also the scenery of the main division was clearly visible. In the distance, even the Heavenly Demon Pavilion could be seen.

“How long has it been since you last came up here?”

“Ever since I decided I had to destroy this cliff, I haven’t climbed it again.”

Geom Mugeuk was able to confirm once more that the Fist Demon King had completely abandoned that  resolve. This change was also proof that he had grown stronger. It meant that his goal was no longer the cliff, but something within his heart.

Whoooosh.

The wind blew, causing the hems of their clothes to flutter.

As they stood there for a moment, unexpected words came from the Fist Demon King.

“To the Cult Leader, unifying the martial world must have meant the same thing as this cliff does to me.”

“!”

Geom Mugeuk turned to look at him. With a stoic expression, the Fist Demon King continued,

“It must have been something he always thought about, something he set as his goal. He must have believed every day that he would achieve it one day. Just as strongly as I once desired to destroy this cliff.”

He had no intention of persuading the Fist Demon King. No—even if he could, he wouldn’t.

Even if he succeeded in persuading all the Demon Supremes, he wanted at least the Fist Demon King to stand by his father’s side. Of course, he was someone who couldn’t be persuaded in the first place.

Suddenly, Geom Mugeuk recalled something.

“Once, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon told me something. Long ago, when Father was roaming the Central Plains with you, fighting battles, there was a day when he returned to the cult and said this to the elder.”

Geom Mugeuk repeated his father’s words exactly as they had been passed down.

‘This martial world… I should take it.’

Perhaps that day had been when his father first formed the dream of unifying the martial world.

“Do you know why Father said that?”

The Fist Demon King, who had been standing silently, slowly nodded. As expected, he knew.

Soon, a shocking truth came from his lips.

“It was because of your mother.”

“!”

Geom Mugeuk stared at him in shock. As if telling him to ask the Cult Leader himself if he wanted to know more, the Fist Demon King said nothing further.

After staring silently at the distant Heavenly Demon Pavilion for a long while, Geom Mugeuk finally broke the silence.

“Master, putting everything else aside, there’s a reason this cliff must not be destroyed.”

Looking around, Geom Mugeuk spoke with a satisfied tone.

“The scenery here is too beautiful.”

---

Among the subordinates of the Eight Majestic Lords, the ones who welcomed Geom Mugeuk most enthusiastically were those who were perfectly normal when alone but became strange when gathered together—the Faceless Swordsmen of the Valley of Wicked.

Since they had once carried out a mission together, they liked Geom Mugeuk more than anyone.

The Faceless Swordsmen squatting on trees, those passing along the road, and even those huddled together for some unknown purpose, all of them greeted Geom Mugeuk with bright smiles.

Receiving their enthusiastic welcome, Geom Mugeuk arrived at the residence of the Evil Smiling Demon.

“Little Demon, I’ve arrived!”

The Evil Smiling Demon greeted him warmly.

“Welcome, Young Cult Leader.”

Geom Mugeuk set down the bottle of liquor.

“This is alcohol I received from the Drunken Demon. It tastes excellent.”

Now, there was even a table in the Evil Smiling Demon’s room where one could sit and drink together. Of course, the only person he could share a drink or a meal with was still Geom Mugeuk.

“How was your closed-door training?”

Geom Mugeuk told him about the Heavenly Time Secret Art. He also did not hide his martial achievements.

“So this time, I spent quite a long time with Father. In the end, I even reached the Twelfth Stage Great Completion of the Nine Calamities Demon Art.”

The Evil Smiling Demon rejoiced as if it were his own achievement and formally offered his congratulations.

“To reach the Twelfth Stage Great Completion at your age, Young Cult Leader, it will remain as a legend in the history of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. Congratulations!”

“Thank you.”

“We must have a celebratory drink today.”

“Of course.”

The two sat across from each other at the table.

“How was it with the Cult Leader?”

“It was good.”

Such an opportunity would not come easily again.

“The longer I stayed with Father, the weaker my heart became. I found myself thinking… when Father says, ‘Let us march to war,’ would I really be able to say, ‘I cannot go’?”

To the Evil Smiling Demon, he revealed feelings he had not shared with the other Demon Supremes.

“To be honest, I found myself not wanting to defy Father. And so, I kept rationalizing like this—if the martial world were unified, could it become happier than when it is divided between demonic and righteous factions and constantly at war? Could one great sacrifice prevent countless future sacrifices? I even wondered… is this martial world truly worth protecting to the extent that I must stand against my own father?”

The Evil Smiling Demon nodded as if he understood.

“To be honest, I still don’t know what I should do.”

He had heard much advice and even made plans, but he was still worried—could he really change his father’s mind?

The Evil Smiling Demon, who had been silently watching Geom Mugeuk, removed the mask he was wearing. It was a face Geom Mugeuk had not seen in a long time.

“How do I look without my mask?”

“What’s there to say? It makes me embarrassed to insist that I’m first among the four handsome men.”

As if he had not removed it merely to drink, the Evil Smiling Demon asked again,

“Am I still the Evil Smiling Demon without my mask?”

“It may feel unfamiliar and strange, but you are still yourself, Little Demon.”

After a brief pause, the Evil Smiling Demon said something astonishing.

“It is time for you to remove your mask as well, Young Cult Leader.”

“!”

“The mask of being a good son.”

The Evil Smiling Demon’s eyes were more serious than ever.

“The reason this feels so difficult is because you are trying to fight without removing that mask.”

Gazing at Geom Mugeuk, he asked,

“Are you afraid to take it off?”

Geom Mugeuk let out a sigh.

“I can take it off.”

The Evil Smiling Demon immediately saw through his heart.

“You are afraid of seeing the Cult Leader without his mask.”

Geom Mugeuk nodded honestly. Yes… he did not want to see that side.

“Unfortunately, this is not a fight that can be fought while wearing masks from the start. Nor should it be.”

Though usually a man of few words, the Evil Smiling Demon did not hold back his advice this time.

“Rather, you must make the Cult Leader remove his mask as well. If even one of you fights without removing it, then it will become a battle where one side yields, and that will leave lifelong regret and resentment. When you face death far in the future, you will remember that moment. So do not fear the unfamiliar face of the Cult Leader.”

As if to say the celebratory drink should be saved for when the real battle was over, the Evil Smiling Demon put the mask he had set on the table back on.

“And do not forget that I stand behind you, Young Cult Leader.”