Chapter 853 : The Heavenly Demon Cup Fishing Tournament Begins

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Soul Reaper Demon Supreme arrived at the appointed place.

Since ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍she had arranged to meet Geom Mugeuk, she had arrived earlier than the agreed time.

By ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the riverside, the Heavenly Demon Pavilion’s escort martial artists had come out and were setting up tents for the Cult Leader and the Demon Supremes, while conducting a sweep to check if anyone lay in ambush nearby.

As ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍it was an event attended by the Cult Leader and Demon Supremes, they had exercised utmost vigilance. Of course, it was also an event that, more than any other, required no vigilance at all.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Soul Reaper Demon Supreme spotted a Demon Supreme fishing while standing by the river.

Since ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍it was still early, she had assumed none of the Demon Supremes would be present yet, but someone unexpected had already arrived.

“Poison King, have you arrived?”

As the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme politely greeted first, the Poison King also inclined his head and accepted her greeting.

The Soul Reaper Demon Supreme found it rather unexpected inwardly. Anyone else would have been one thing, but the Poison King arriving first to practice fishing? He, who seemed the farthest from such behavior?

‘Did the Poison King have such a side to him?’

Just as she was thinking that, Geom Mugeuk also arrived at the scene.

After exchanging a brief glance of greeting with the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme, he approached the Poison King first.

“Have you practiced a lot in the meantime?”

Hearing him speak to the Poison King, the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme understood.

‘Ah, it’s because of the Young Cult Leader.’

Then it made sense. Just as she herself had been made to come out this early, if not for the Young Cult Leader, who in the world could make the Poison King come out early and practice alone? There must have been something between the two that she did not know.

“How is it? Is my posture decent?”

The Poison King demonstrated the motion of casting and retrieving the fishing line to Geom Mugeuk.

“Who did you learn from?”

“From Sangseon.”

“As expected! Your posture is excellent. However, when you take a spot later, not here.”

Geom Mugeuk looked around.

“That side looks like a good spot. Father and Elder Blade will definitely try to take that place, so even if you have to use poison, make sure to secure that spot.”

At that terrifying joke, the Poison King nodded with a resolute expression.

Geom Mugeuk spoke quietly so that only the Poison King could hear.

“There is only one antidote to building a good relationship with Father.”

“Winning.”

“No. Winning is not an antidote. It could instead become an even stronger poison.”

At the Poison King’s questioning look—

“It is the fact itself that you learned fishing in order to grow closer to Father. It’s about showing that you’ve learned the discernment to claim a spot like that.”

He had spent his entire life detoxifying countless poisons, but he had never tried to find an antidote for human relationships like this… ah, no, that wasn’t true.

When he had barked like a dog alongside Geom Mugeuk, and when he had left the Heavenly Poison Forest to venture into the Central Plains, all of it had been part of his effort to find antidotes for relationships. Because of those efforts, this one did not feel unfamiliar.

“Then continue practicing.”

Just as Geom Mugeuk was about to walk toward the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme, the Poison King suddenly spoke.

“Have you found your antidote?”

Geom Mugeuk turned back to look at him. The antidote the Poison King had told him was this:

Have you ever asked the Cult Leader about the unification of the martial world he dreams of?

A question that might, perhaps, be the most important of all.

“I plan to ask that question today.”

The Poison King’s gaze, now turned back toward the river, deepened.

“No one knows what anyone will catch today.”

Geom Mugeuk stood with the Poison King, watching the river where the morning sunlight shattered across the surface.

“I’m more nervous than when fighting the Heavenly Killing Star. Poison King, please be on my side.”

The Poison King cast his line back into the river and said,

“That was a good attempt.”

Geom Mugeuk smiled and walked over to the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme.

“Go to wherever feels right to you and cast your line. Savor the joy of your first fishing experience.”

“Yes, understood.”

Though he said that, Geom Mugeuk still properly taught her how to fish, from attaching the bait to where and how to cast the line, and even the precise moment to reel it in.

While he was teaching her, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon arrived. He stood at a distance, watching Geom Mugeuk teaching the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme how to fish.

Then, as if overlapping with their figures, a scene from long ago surfaced in his mind.

His younger self, teaching the Cult Leader how to fish. Back then, both he and the Cult Leader had been just as young.

Geom Mugeuk noticed the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s arrival and greeted him warmly.

“Welcome, Elder!”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon spoke with a confident expression.

“Fishing is not something you master in a day or two of practice.”

He had not brought just one fishing rod.

Shrrr—

As if weapons were being unfurled, more than ten fishing rods spread out in the air at once.

Geom Mugeuk looked up at the floating rods and said with a smile,

“They must all have their own stories.”

Then he subtly said something to stroke the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s pride, something that would have meant more than anything else in his life as a fisherman.

“Which one is it? The rod you used to teach my father how to fish for the first time?”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon pointed to the first rod floating among them.

“This is the one.”

It was a rod he would never sell, even for a fortune.

“For our Poison King and Soul Reaper here, both novice anglers, please offer them a word of advice.”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon stroked his chin, pondering what to say.

“In the martial world, there are enemies who itch to draw their blades, aren’t there? It’s the same. You must not become desperate to catch fish. Fish sense the trembling of the line like ghosts.”

He approached Geom Mugeuk and lightly covered his face with his hand.

“And as for bait, use bait like this.”

“What kind of bait is something like me?”

But the Poison King and the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme both nodded as if they understood without needing explanation.

The Young Cult Leader knew better than anyone what the opponent liked. That was why, even knowing it was bait, one could not help but bite. In other words, it meant that using bait the fish liked was important.

“Today, the fish in this river might be creatures with no thoughts at all.”

At Geom Mugeuk’s words, someone spoke from behind.

“Then they must have come as empty-headed as I did today.”

The next Demon Supreme to arrive was the One-Slash Sword Supreme. She wore even more beautiful clothes and makeup than the day before. At her stunning appearance, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s eyes widened.

“Today’s first place will go to the Sword Supreme.”

“And why is that?”

“Because the fish will gather to admire her beauty.”

At Geom Mugeuk’s words, the One-Slash Sword Supreme smiled brightly.

“As expected! Waking up early to put on makeup for our Young Cult Leader was worth it.”

She, too, had memories associated with fishing. Looking at the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, she said,

“Seeing you holding a fishing rod again brings back old memories.”

She had never been interested in fishing, but there had been a time when the Cult Leader and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had gone around fishing for a while.

“Did you say fishing is about waiting?”

“That’s right.”

“For someone so impatient, I don’t understand how you like fishing this much.”

At her question, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon replied,

“Catching fish itself feels good, but sometimes you get a certain sensation. The world doesn’t go your way, yet at some point, it feels as if not the fish, but the world itself is being pulled toward you. I can’t forget that moment.”

The One-Slash Sword Supreme shook her head, unable to understand at all. She had never felt that sensation of drawing in either fish or the world.

At that moment, the Fist Demon King arrived. The fishing rod in his large hand looked as though it might snap at any moment.

“Do you like fishing, Master?”

“I’ve followed the Cult Leader and tried it once or twice in my younger days.”

As he recalled fishing together with his father, it felt like a painting to him as well.

“I have neither talent nor interest in fishing.”

Standing still and waiting for a fish to bite did not suit his temperament.

The sensation of catching a fish with one’s hands was not particularly moving to him either. Perhaps it was because he had trained in martial arts that primarily used his hands.

“Ah, it actually gets harder when there are many beginners.”

At that moment, someone arrived, drawing concern from Geom Mugeuk.

“Set your worries aside. As long as I’m here, beginner’s luck won’t have any room to intervene.”

The one who arrived confidently with a single fishing rod slung over his shoulder was the Demonic Buddha. Judging by his talent for gathering medicinal herbs, fishing was not something to be taken lightly for him either.

After greeting everyone, the Demonic Buddha came to Geom Mugeuk and quietly asked,

“The Poison King is a fraud? What exactly has changed?”

The Poison King was crouched by the riverside, searching for poisonous insects. As the Demon Supremes gathered, he had already begun to return to his usual self.

Geom Mugeuk shook his head.

“That’s all an act. He’s a master actor!”

Next, the Drunken Demon arrived. He, too, belonged to the confident group.

“Have you forgotten that the Tower of Drunken Dreams floats on a lake? Do you think I only drank alcohol there?”

The last Demon Supreme to arrive was the Evil Smiling Demon. Though he had no interest in fishing whatsoever, Geom Mugeuk showered him with high praise.

“You look surprisingly natural with a fishing rod in your hands, Soma.”

“Thank you, Young Cult Leader.”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon muttered with jealousy,

“What wouldn’t look good on him? Don’t you praise him even if he just stretches out a finger?”

“How often do you find someone who looks cool just by stretching out a finger? Someone like that deserves to be praised.”

Behind the mask of the Evil Smiling Demon, his eyes curved into a bright smile.

Since it was a tournament hosted by the Cult Leader, no one arrived later than the appointed time. As it was held after a great battle had ended, the atmosphere was exceedingly relaxed and pleasant.

However, when all eight Demon Supremes gathered in one place, their overwhelming presence made it feel as though the riverside might burst apart.

At that moment, one of the escort martial artists announced to everyone,

“The Cult Leader is arriving.”

The Demon Supremes solemnly welcomed Geom Woojin. The previously relaxed atmosphere instantly tightened.

Geom Woojin slowly walked in.

The one accompanying him while carrying the fishing rod was Geom Muyang.

“Father! The second son is still your son! You didn’t even ask me to come with you!”

The Demon Supremes could once again realize just how extraordinary what Geom Mugeuk had accomplished was.

This was originally an impossible sight. If anyone were to accompany the Cult Leader to an occasion like this, it would have been the Young Cult Leader. How could the Great Young Master, who had lost the struggle for power, possibly be the one standing at his side?

Yet here they were: the Young Cult Leader had arrived early, chatting with the Demon Supremes, while the defeated Great Young Master entered proudly at the Cult Leader’s side.

“We greet the Cult Leader!”

The Demon Supremes shouted in unison.

As his father arrived, Geom Mugeuk stepped forward.

“Today, I will participate in the tournament, but I will also act as its host.”

How could there be any objection? He was the only one who could ease the atmosphere if it became stiff. Even if he refused, they would have had to push him into it.

“Now then, before we begin the fishing tournament in earnest, the Cult Leader who has hosted today’s event will say a few words. Father, please.”

Geom Woojin made eye contact with each of the Demon Supremes—starting from the ever-reliable Fist Demon King to the Poison King, who always shrank in his presence.

“You’ve all worked hard fighting those bastards. Think of today as a day of rest, and enjoy yourselves.”

After saying a brief remark and stepping down, Geom Woojin suddenly said to Geom Mugeuk,

“You say something as well.”

Everyone understood. This was the moment the Cult Leader officially acknowledged that the Young Cult Leader had played a major role in bringing the battle to a successful end.

Feigning a deeply moved expression, Geom Mugeuk addressed them all.

“Standing in this moving moment, I suddenly recall the first time I met all of you. First, our esteemed Blood Heaven Blade Demon—when I first saw you, how stubborn and rigid your personality was…”

As his speech seemed about to grow long, the Demon Supremes began to feign disinterest. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the One-Slash Sword Supreme exchanged glances and chatted, while the Demonic Buddha swung his fishing rod around. The Poison King resumed searching for bugs on the ground, and the Drunken Demon discreetly drank from the alcohol at his waist.

“I’m joking, joking! You’re all too much! How has this cult not changed at all!”

Having played along with the joke, the Demon Supremes turned their attention back to Geom Mugeuk.

“Thank you. Thanks to all of you Demon Supremes, we were able to eliminate all our enemies.”

After expressing his gratitude, Geom Mugeuk added what he truly wanted to say.

“However, I don’t think we need to place great meaning on that. It was only natural, wasn’t it? After all, aren’t we the ones best at killing enemies in this martial world?”

As the Demon Supremes all smiled, Geom Mugeuk spoke the words he had truly wanted to say.

“We are the ones who must kill the absolute evil that no one else can.”

Geom Woojin remembered.

Long ago, those very words had defined the demonic path his son pursued. And now, his son was continuing to uphold that path.

“I’ve heard that when external enemies disappear, internal crises arise. I am someone who worries a lot, so I intend to live without letting my guard down. My next battle has already begun.”

How could the Demon Supremes not understand what kind of battle that was?

It was the battle between the Demonic Cult Leader and the Young Cult Leader—a battle upon which the fate of the martial world rested.

And it was their battle as well. They would have to choose between the two.

Before the atmosphere could grow heavy, Geom Mugeuk changed the topic.

“Now then, let me explain today’s fishing tournament.”

Walking toward the table where the prizes were displayed, he explained the rules.

“As should go without saying, no martial arts are to be used in today’s tournament. Even emitting aura is forbidden. You must compete purely with fishing skill alone. The time runs from now until sunset over that river.”

He had deliberately set a long duration, so they could eat together and share stories they had yet to tell.

“Now, I will announce the most important part of today. The prize awarded to the winner of this tournament is!”

After checking the contents of the prize box, he exclaimed,

“Oh! Our father has been especially generous today.”

Geom Mugeuk lifted the box and showed its contents to everyone.

“The one who catches the largest fish today will receive a Millennium Snow Ginseng. This is the first time in martial world history that such a prize has been offered in a fishing tournament! Now, a round of applause for our Cult Leader!”

The Demon Supremes laughed and applauded. Until now, whenever they had all gathered, it had always been for something important. This was the first time the atmosphere had been this pleasant.

“There is another grand prize. Even if you don’t catch the largest fish, the person who catches the most fish will also receive a Millennium Snow Ginseng!”

At that, the One-Slash Sword Supreme asked,

“What if someone catches both the largest fish and the most fish?”

“Of course, they will receive both Millennium Snow Ginsengs. And anyone who catches even a single fish will receive a Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng as a commemorative gift.”

Then Geom Mugeuk glanced subtly at his father.

“Seeing how generous the prizes are, it seems our father plans to take them all back again later.”

At those words, one corner of Geom Woojin’s lips curled upward, and the smiles of the watching Demon Supremes deepened.

Raising his fishing rod high, Geom Mugeuk shouted,

“Now then, the First Heavenly Demon Cup Fishing Tournament begins!”