The Fist Demon's usual words did not come.
A good attempt.
Had my attempt finally worked? Or did he mean he would no longer even mention it?
The Fist Demon silently turned his gaze to the fighting ring.
Two men were fighting a bloody battle.
And a crowd was cheering for them.
“This place will look the same even after decades have passed.”
“Perhaps my son will come here with you, Fist Demon, when he has become a grandfather.”
At that, the Fist Demon looked at me with a surprised expression.
“Why are you so surprised?”
“Are you thinking of marrying?”
“If there is a good person.”
Of course, I had no intention of marrying, but I gave a conventional answer.
The Fist Demon said firmly.
“I recommend you don’t, unless it is someone you truly love.”
The Fist Demon had once told me stories of his youth, saying he had resolved to never have a family or friends his entire life, so I thought it was natural for him to give such advice.
But there was another reason for his counsel.
“Is not a succession dispute without bloodshed this difficult, even for an outstanding person like you? Will your children truly be able to handle it as you do? It is a difficult task for an ordinary person to bear.”
It was a compliment to me, and also a worry for the future generation.
Above all, it was a scenario assuming I had become the Heavenly Demon.
“I will judge with care.”
“Come to think of it, we spoke of ending the Heavenly Demon bloodline.”
“It matters not. It is what happens after I am dead.”
Hearing my words, the Fist Demon’s expression was thus.
It seemed to say that he could believe someone like me would genuinely think such a carefree thought.
“Let us be on our way.”
“Yes.”
At the exit, the Fist Demon looked back at the fighting ring one last time.
Would he ever come to this fighting ring again in his lifetime? The future was unknowable, but the Fist Demon was likely looking at it with the thought that he would never be able to return.
He had looked around slowly with eyes full of complex emotions, but once he turned away, he strode out with purpose.
Leaving the fighting ring, we walked without a destination.
The Fist Demon no longer asked where we were going.
I too, as if having no plan was the plan, walked along the road without a thought.
“Have you ever been lost?”
“Never.”
“Neither have I.”
Perhaps that was why this trip of slacking off was more precious and meaningful.
Neither he nor I had ever lived so planlessly.
The joy of being lost in life was something we could never have imagined.
“Ah, I lost the bet. I admit it.”
“No. I lost this bet.”
It was unexpected.
I thought that although he said it was fine, he must not have been too pleased to see the match being fixed.
“I enjoyed it for the first time in a long while. Thanks to you, I reminisced about the old days.”
Wasn’t this what he wanted to say? Thanks to you, I let you know what kind of person I am.
“Then our pride battle is one to one.”
“We must settle the score.”
“Of course.”
Then, the Fist Demon spoke.
“Before that, there is a place I wish to go.”
For the first time, the Fist Demon said he wanted to go somewhere.
“With you, Fist Demon, I would go even to hell!”
“The place we are going is not so hot. In fact, it is a place where we must pack thick cotton clothes.”
And so, leaving behind the fighting ring filled with the Fist Demon's old memories, we began to walk, following the lingering sunset.
*
After a long journey, the Fist Demon and I stood together on the peak of a snowy mountain.
Whoooosh.
The wind, carrying snow, swirled the accumulated snow around us and rose into the air.
“Why did you want to come here?”
The place the Fist Demon wanted to go was this very snowy mountain.
“This is the place where the previous Fist Demon made me his successor.”
“Ah, is that so?”
It was a fact I had not known.
“In truth, my Master and I did not get along well. When it came to choosing the final successor, my Master wanted to choose someone else. His martial arts were inferior to mine, but that friend was much more affable to my Master. But do you know why my Master chose me?”
“Was it because of my father?”
“Correct, it was because of the Cult Master.”
When the young Fist Demon was put into the Eastern Fist Hall, my father was not yet the Cult Master.
But by the time the Fist Demon was to formally inherit the position of Demon Sovereign, my father had ascended to the position of Heavenly Demon.
The previous Fist Demon could not have ignored the wishes of my father, who had become the Heavenly Demon.
“I became the Fist Demon because of your father.”
“Isn't that an even greater thing for you, Fist Demon?”
“Greater?”
“Because my father's eye for people must be better than the previous Fist Demon’s. My father chose a young fighter throwing punches in a fighting ring without a shred of inner energy. That fighter, alone, went from the White Fists to the Black Fists and eventually became the Fist Demon. When it comes to judging people, you should trust my father.”
“There was a time when I was full of confidence. Who else but me could become the Fist Demon? But now, I am not so sure. Was the Cult Master’s judgment truly correct?”
“If that judgment had been wrong, the other Demon Sovereigns would not have considered you the most difficult Demon Sovereign to face. To anyone who sees, you are the one who befits that position, Fist Demon.”
The Fist Demon silently gazed at the snowy landscape.
It was a dazzling scene that could only be enjoyed from this peak, standing tall in a world of pure white.
I held the Fist Demon’s self-reflection in high regard.
Without such a heart, he would harden like a fossil into a stubborn old man.
Because he was a man who looked within himself, I believed the Fist Demon could shatter the cliff.
I conveyed my honest feelings to him.
“At first, I was curious about what kind of person you were, Fist Demon. Then, I was captivated by your goal to shatter the cliff, and I wanted to shatter it too. Now, I have grown to like your true self even more.”
“My true self?”
“I believe your true self is the you from your youth, fighting against the dark factions. When we return, I want to gather all the Iron Fists and tell them that story. Hey! This is the kind of man your Fist Demon is! I want to tell them.”
“Did you say such pleasing words to the other Demon Sovereigns as well?”
“I spoke many honest words rather than pleasing ones. Words that others would not say because of the position of Demon Sovereign. Ah, of course, I admit I flattered them to some extent. I tried to see them in a good light if I could, and I had the heart to befriend them if I could. But I did not invent stories that were not there. I said the kind of things I would wish someone would say about my own life one day.”
And looking at the Fist Demon, I added.
“They don’t do that for you, do they?”
Even if you teach hundreds, even if you are in a place where tens of thousands of followers come and go.
“You don’t hear such words… often, do you?”
Will there be anyone who will say such things to me later? When I have done it all like this.
The Fist Demon silently gazed at me.
After staring for a long while, he looked at the mountain across from us for another long while.
“What do you plan to do when you become the Heavenly Demon? Is your dream perhaps the Unification of the Martial World?”
“It is the opposite.”
“The opposite?”
“I will stop anyone from achieving the Unification of the Martial World. Even if that person is my father.”
The Fist Demon’s eyes shone.
“You knew as well.”
Those words meant that the Fist Demon also knew.
“I know that my father dreams of the Unification of the Martial World.”
“Yes, there is no way a clever person like you would not have noticed.”
“What are your thoughts, Fist Demon?”
“I will follow whatever your father wishes. If he commands a war to kill everyone, I will kill them all without hesitation. No matter who it may be.”
Now I could see it clearly.
My father’s right-hand man was the Fist Demon.
Then was his left arm the Blood Heaven Blade Demon? The Blood Heaven Blade Demon had said that the Elixir he gave me was from my father.
“I will stop you. Both my father and you, Fist Demon.”
After that, we stood there in silence for a long time.
Whooooooosh.
When the blowing blizzard brushed past us coolly, the Fist Demon's decision was carried on the wind.
“Mugeuk, I will take you as my first disciple.”
I was startled.
Although becoming his disciple was my goal, I had not expected him to take me as his disciple like this, in this place.
Moreover, it was at the very moment we had confirmed our opposing views on the Unification of the Martial World.
His large, thick body turned towards me.
That fearsome face, now familiar, his gaze was different from usual.
With deep and serious eyes, the Fist Demon spoke.
“I will be your Master, so become my disciple.”
The moment I heard those words, I felt a surge of emotion.
Joy welled up inside me.
I had finally succeeded in moving this man’s heart.
It was not to gain the Demon Sovereign known as the Fist Demon, nor was it to obtain his fist techniques.
I was just so happy that this person had become my master.
“Waaaaaaaaah!”
I was so happy that I jumped on the spot.
Like a puppy excited by the snow, I expressed my joy to my heart’s content.
As I genuinely rejoiced, the Fist Demon’s expression softened.
To a degree that I wondered, was such softness hidden in that fearsome face?
Overcome with joy, I unleashed the First Fist Form.
I unleashed it into the empty air, where there was nothing, as it could cause an avalanche.
I then instantly poured out the Second Fist Form.
“Thank you. I am truly grateful.”
On the spot, I performed the Nine Prostrations of Worship.
“Disciple Geom Mugeuk, I formally greet you, Master. Please guide this foolish disciple well with your great teachings from now on.”
The Fist Demon’s large hand was placed on my prostrated shoulder.
He lightly patted my shoulder with his rough, thick hand.
Come to think of it, it was the first time I had felt the Fist Demon’s gentle touch.
“Rise.”
I rose from my spot.
“Master.”
The Fist Demon is a person I want to have as a master.
He is more than qualified to be one.
“My disciple.”
It seemed the Fist Demon was not displeased to have his first disciple either.
“From now on, I will impart the entirety of the Thunder Asura Fist.”
The Fist Demon did not delay the transmission of his martial arts.
He did not demand anything from me as a condition for teaching his techniques.
This is the kind of man the Fist Demon is.
On the peak of the snowy mountain, the Fist Demon began to transmit the Thunder Asura Fist, from the Third Fist Form to the Sixth Fist Form.
Third Fist Form, Heavenly Thunder Asura.
It was the heaviest of the Fist Demon's punches.
It was not about striking a distant enemy like the Black Cloud Asura, nor was it an attack that threw punches quickly like the Thunder Asura.
It was a form that struck directly with the fist, and the power contained in each and every blow was tremendous.
Fourth Fist Form, Iron Leg Asura.
The Thunder Asura Fist did not consist solely of techniques using the fist.
There were also forms that crushed the opponent with powerful kicks.
The movements themselves were so flashy and cool that I was certain that when the Iron Leg Asura was unleashed, it would surely be followed by admiration.
Fifth Fist Form, Diamond Asura.
It was a form that temporarily made the body as hard as steel for protection.
It was a form that consumed a great deal of inner energy, but it was one that could save one’s life in a moment of crisis.
I anticipated that if I used the Fifth Fist Form together with the Heavenly Demon Body-Protection Art, I might be able to temporarily achieve the effect of Diamond Indestructibility.
And the final Sixth Fist Form, Yama Thunder Asura.
The final fist of the Thunder Asura Fist.
It bore the name of the thunderbolt struck by King Yama, and it was the final form that poured out all the inner energy in the body in a single blow.
It was also the form that would shatter the cliff, and if this technique did not work, one would be killed by the opponent.
To face an enemy strong enough to require the use of the final Sixth Form, if this technique failed, one would have to face him without a shred of inner energy.
For seven days on the peak of the snowy mountain, I was taught the Thunder Asura Fist.
I learned it thoroughly again, from the First Fist Form to the last.
In the process, I also received the various enlightenments about the fist technique that the Fist Demon had felt throughout his life.
Once he decided to take me as his disciple, the Fist Demon truly gave without holding back.
It must be this straightforwardness that I was also captivated by.
Now, all that was left was for me to train diligently and achieve Great Mastery.
From now on, even if I lose my sword in a fight, that situation will not be an opportunity for my opponent.
Rather, that moment will be my chance to land a blow on an unguarded opponent.
“When we return to the sect, I intend to make two announcements. The first is that I have accepted you as my disciple. The second is that the Eastern Fist Hall will officially support the First Young Master.”
It was as I expected.
With this announcement, the sect would once again be in an uproar.
How would the other Demon Sovereigns or my brother react? And what about my father?
“Everyone will see me as a greedy man with a foot on both your side and the First Young Master's.”
“What does it matter if they see you that way? It's how you've decided to live, Master. If they're jealous, they can do the same. Is that going to be easy? You cowards! You can just say that.”
The Fist Demon laughed.
I feel that his laughter towards me has now become comfortable.
“Let’s go down now, my disciple.”
“Yes, Master.”
I walked down the snowy mountain with the Fist Demon.
We descended, leaving footprints on the untrodden snow.
Both he and I had already reached the level of mastery of Leaving No Trace, but we deliberately left deep footprints as we descended.
If I had my way, I would have wanted to press my footprints into the stone ground and erect a sign next to it like this.
The path where the Fist Demon and Geom Mugeuk walked down after forming the bond of master and disciple.
After descending the mountain, we naturally set our direction towards the Main Sect.
Before departing, we stopped by the West Lake Inn near the snowy mountain to check if there were any messages for me.
“Ah! Master. I have a place to stop by.”
“Where?”
“A message came from my people asking to see me.”
Go Wol and the Wind Heaven Sect Leader, who were out in the Central Plains building an information organization, had sent a message asking to meet me.
“So? You're going to abandon me?”
“Abandon you?”
“Aren't you saying I should return alone? Now that you've learned all the martial arts, you're just going to leave now that I'm all used up. Isn't that it? Ah! This is why they've always said you shouldn't give everything away at once.”
I had not expected such words to come from the Fist Demon’s mouth, so I laughed out loud.
“Well, if you come with me, I don’t know when we’ll return.”
Go Wol would not have contacted me for something trivial.
“The classes for the Iron Fists, will you be alright?”
He had already been away for quite a few days.
So I was being considerate, thinking that the Fist Demon might be inwardly concerned.
“What is there to worry about? I have a disciple now.”
“You have learned how to make people feel good very quickly.”
The Fist Demon said as he strode ahead.
“Of course. Whose master do you think I am.”