Early in the morning, Hwi checked the horses, inspected the carriage, and loaded the luggage.
Today was finally the day they would return to the Main Sect.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon and Seo Daeryong were to ride with them in the carriage they had arrived in.
It was a large carriage, so there was plenty of room, but the problem was Seo Daeryong.
“I can just ride in the driver’s seat, right?”
“You are the Underworld Pavilion Lord, you should ride inside with us.”
At Geom Mugeuk’s reply, Seo Daeryong flinched.
Travel that long road with the Cult Master and his own Master?
“I’ll age ten years during the trip. I won’t be able to breathe properly or even close my eyes for a moment. Please, let me ride in the driver’s seat. Please!”
Although he would be able to tease the man more if he rode with them, Seo Daeryong was too desperate.
“Actually, I’m not the one you should be asking for permission.”
Geom Mugeuk took Seo Daeryong to find Hwi.
“Mister, you are the only one who can save our Underworld Pavilion Lord.”
Even though that was all he said, Hwi understood what he was asking.
Hwi spoke to Seo Daeryong.
“The driver’s seat will be more uncomfortable than you think.”
“That’s fine. I’ll take turns driving, so you can rest comfortably then.”
A carriage driven by Seo Daeryong? Geom Mugeuk did not let that slide.
“What if the carriage jolts while you’re driving? What if, at that very moment, my father is drinking tea and it spills all over his face? One jolt, and your head will be lopped off! Can you handle that?”
Though he knew it was a joke, Seo Daeryong became serious.
Hwi reassured Seo Daeryong.
“No matter how much it jolts, tea will not spill on the Cult Master’s face.”
After all, this was a Cult Master who could walk out of a carriage filled to the brim with poison without a single drop on him.
Besides, Seo Daeryong would not be driving anyway.
Hwi would never entrust the reins of the Cult Master’s carriage to someone else.
“Very well. Let’s go together.”
As Hwi gave his permission, Seo Daeryong thanked him, his face looking as if he had just been saved from death.
“Thank you so much.”
Meanwhile, Geom Woojin and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon came outside.
Geom Woojin boarded the carriage first, followed by the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
The two sat facing each other, and Geom Mugeuk sat next to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
From the driver’s seat, Hwi’s voice was heard.
“Then, we shall depart.”
The carriage left the safehouse and began to move.
His father closed his eyes and began his energy circulation, while the Blood Heaven Blade Demon read a book.
After watching the two for a moment, Geom Mugeuk leaned out the opposite window.
The incoming wind fluttered the hem of his clothes.
“Mister, you know, right? We’re taking our time getting back!”
When the carriage stopped by a riverbank, Geom Mugeuk delivered the words he had been saving to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
“The duel is a fishing duel.”
“Fishing?”
When he had asked if he had ever eaten fish cooked by the Cult Master, he had his suspicions, but he never thought it would actually be a fishing duel.
“It’s a bet where the loser cooks. This is the third duel.”
“Who won the previous ones?”
“I’m very curious about my father’s third fish dish.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon glanced at Geom Woojin.
His gaze seemed to say, ‘You lost to your son twice?’
Geom Woojin looked back and forth between his triumphant son and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, whose eyes seemed to ask how he could lose at such a thing, then walked silently toward the carriage.
Geom Woojin brought out a fishing rod from the carriage.
It was the very one he had been making at the residence.
“It’s a fishing rod made with my father’s utmost care. It’s more valuable than the signature weapon of the Eastern Sea Old Fisher.”
At Geom Mugeuk’s words, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon lightly provoked his father.
“In fishing, there are many things more important than equipment.”
As expected, the corner of his father’s mouth slightly curled up.
“Elder, have you tried fishing before?”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon shrugged.
“In my younger days, I was quite the fisherman.”
He could not let this provocation pass.
“How about it? Would you like to join the duel, Elder? It doesn’t matter to me since I’ll be first anyway.”
Would his father’s pride allow him to just stand by?
“I don’t mind either.”
Geom Mugeuk even included Seo Daeryong.
“Since we’re at it, let’s make it a four-way duel. Father and son, master and disciple, who will come in last?”
They had enough fishing rods, as they had made several while dueling with his father.
Geom Mugeuk and Geom Woojin were the first to take their fishing rods and walk to the riverbank.
The scenery was breathtakingly beautiful.
Nameless wildflowers bloomed along the river, and the water flowed gently, sparkling with pieces of sunlight.
Just the fact that he was fishing with his father in a place like this made Geom Mugeuk feel wonderful.
“Have you prepared a new recipe?”
The duel began with Geom Mugeuk’s provocation.
Swoosh.
His father’s hand movements as he cast the line were incredibly smooth and fluid.
The fishing line flew straight over the water and sank into it.
Truly, just watching him cast a line looked like he was performing a supreme martial art.
But fishing isn’t a martial art, Father.
Thinking of all the fish I’ve caught in my life, I’m sorry, but you still have a long way to go.
Geom Mugeuk also began fishing in earnest.
Seeing the two of them fishing, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s heart also stirred.
His competitive spirit was second to none.
‘Cult Master, of all things, how can you lose to a child in fishing? I’ll show you my skills.’
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon, overflowing with confidence in his fishing abilities, walked to the riverbank with Seo Daeryong.
“There are spots where fish bite well.”
“How about the spots where the Cult Master and Young Cult Master are?”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon shook his head.
“Those two only know how to kill people, what would they know about fishing? Let’s see.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon surveyed the riverbank with an expert’s eye.
“There. Where the current is slow, with stones, rocks, and waterweeds, and a shady spot under a tree. Places like these are where they bite well.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon took his place under a large, bent willow tree.
He also found a spot for his disciple.
“You fish over there. It’s as good a spot as mine.”
“Thank you, Master!”
Seo Daeryong’s spot was between the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and Geom Mugeuk.
As Seo Daeryong cast his line with a clumsy motion, he said.
“This is the first time I’ve ever fished. All I know is that the true charm of fishing is the wait! The patience to fish for time itself!”
“Who told you that? The charm of fishing is the feel of it on your hands when you reel it in! It’s for that one feeling that you can wait all day! Do you understand?”
“Yes, Master!”
And so, the four of them began to fish where the river flowed gently.
From the carriage parked at a distance, Hwi stood and watched them.
He had experienced many unexpected things on this trip, and at that moment, another one was added to the list.
To think he would see the Cult Master and the Young Cult Master, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and his top disciple, fishing together.
The fishing rod of the one who had created this amazing change bent sharply.
“Here we go. The first bite!”
With skillful hands, Geom Mugeuk did not miss and reeled it in.
“It’s a big one!”
Geom Mugeuk smiled brightly and held up the fish he caught, showing it off to everyone.
A hint of disappointment for missing the first fish crossed Geom Woojin’s face.
Only Hwi saw that fleeting expression.
Had he ever seen such a look of disappointment on the Cult Master’s face? No matter how much he thought, he could not recall.
So, that momentary expression was very precious to Hwi.
After some more time passed, the next person to catch a fish was, unexpectedly, Seo Daeryong.
“Ah! I caught one!”
Indeed, Seo Daeryong had reeled in a fish.
“It’s my first time, the first fish I’ve ever caught in my life!”
Seo Daeryong jumped up and down with joy.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon came over and showed him how to remove the caught fish.
As the Blood Heaven Blade Demon put it in the net, he spoke to the fish.
“To be caught by such a novice, you must be a rather absent-minded one.”
And in this river, there lived many blind fish, many absent-minded fish.
“I caught another one.”
Seo Daeryong shouted with joy.
“Beginners are always lucky. It’s always like that at first.”
Slightly anxious, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s gaze turned to Geom Woojin.
The Cult Master’s eyes, determined not to lose, also fueled the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s fighting spirit.
A shout that extinguished that flame.
“I caught another one!”
This time, it was Geom Mugeuk who reeled in a fish.
“Oh! Young Cult Master! It’s a big one!”
Seo Daeryong, who had been cheering along, suddenly shivered.
“Why does it suddenly feel cold?”
At Seo Daeryong’s words, Geom Mugeuk laughed.
A chilly air was flowing from his father on the left and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon on the right.
Only after belatedly feeling the energy did Seo Daeryong realize his mistake.
Excited by his first fishing experience, he had failed to read the room.
He reprimanded himself.
‘You fool, Daeryong! You who have survived by your wits, what are you doing now? Don’t get caught anymore, don’t get caught!’
But something was wrong.
Every time Geom Mugeuk caught one, Seo Daeryong also caught a fish.
But he could not intentionally not catch them either.
If he did, given his master’s personality, a storm of anger would fall upon him.
Geom Mugeuk reeled one in, then Seo Daeryong reeled one in.
As if by a lie, the fish only took the bait of the two young men.
Then, for the first time, Geom Woojin caught a fish.
“Congratulations, Father. It’s the biggest one caught so far.”
Geom Woojin’s expression softened, and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon grew anxious.
After half a shichen had passed, the score was as follows:
Geom Mugeuk, eight fish.
Seo Daeryong, six fish.
Geom Woojin, three fish.
Blood Heaven Blade Demon, three fish.
They had decided to compete for one shichen, so there was only half a shichen left.
Geom Woojin reeled in his line and walked off somewhere.
The place he headed was right between Seo Daeryong and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
He had moved spots, thinking he would lose at this rate.
As the Cult Master stood next to him, Seo Daeryong slowly, stealthily moved toward Geom Mugeuk.
-Young Cult Master, please move further away!
-You have a talent for assassination!
Seo Daeryong was truly, unnoticeably, moving further and further away from Geom Woojin.
In the midst of it all, Seo Daeryong’s float went down again.
‘Ugh!’
Please don’t get caught! He pleaded, but the fish seemed to love Seo Daeryong too much.
And so, as Seo Daeryong moved toward Geom Mugeuk, Geom Woojin and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon stood side by side, fishing.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon saw it.
He saw the heat rising in Geom Woojin’s eyes, the determination not to lose.
He hadn’t come to talk to him; he had really come to catch fish.
‘Right, the man with this kind of competitive spirit was the Cult Master.’
Then, he suddenly remembered the fortune slip he had kept in his chest.
‘The Young Cult Master’s fortune came out as the Unification of the World.’
How would the Cult Master react to this?
If the Cult Master’s dream was the Unification of the Martial World, and his son’s fortune was the Unification of the World?
It was impossible to know what the fate of the two would be.
Clouds drifted slowly between the mountain ridges across the river.
Geom Woojin, who was watching the clouds, suddenly spoke to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve fished.”
At those words, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon asked in surprise.
“You remembered?”
Geom Woojin nodded.
They had gone fishing together in their youth.
Just once.
At that time, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had taught Geom Woojin how to fish.
What bait was good, where the fish bit well.
Just as he had done with Seo Daeryong, he had taught him everything.
That was Geom Woojin’s first time fishing.
“Looks like I taught you poorly.”
At Geom Woojin’s words, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon smiled faintly.
That day felt as vivid as yesterday.
Decades had passed, and here they were again, standing side by side, fishing.
“A bet is meant to be won. I’ll find a new spot.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s eyes sparkled as he began to survey the surroundings.
Half a shichen later.
Geom Woojin was cleaning fish.
Next to him, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was chopping vegetables.
The last place was Geom Woojin, and third place was the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
Geom Mugeuk, Seo Daeryong, and Hwi watched them.
“I finally have something I can beat my father at!”
Unlike the excited Geom Mugeuk, Seo Daeryong looked as if the sky had fallen.
He was the one who had caught the second most fish.
He had beaten two people he should never have beaten in the world, all at once.
“It was because the spot my master found for me was good. I was lucky.”
Of course, those words could not console the third-place Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
“Luck is also a skill.”
At the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s words, Seo Daeryong, his face half-dazed, sent a telepathic message to Geom Mugeuk.
-Surely, I won’t be on their bad side for something like this, right?
-If you knew how much effort my father put into making that fishing rod, you wouldn’t be saying that.
-Then what’s going to happen to me now?
-What do you mean, what’s going to happen? You’ll step down from your position as Underworld Pavilion Lord and become an investigator again.
The Elder will pick a new top disciple, and he said there was a really nice kid among his existing disciples, right? You’ll be fine, won’t you? You don’t have any ambition for success or honor, do you?
-I have a lot of those.
Meanwhile, Geom Woojin’s cooking continued.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon tossed the vegetables into the air and swung the Heaven-Slaying Blade.
Slice-slice-slice-slice-slice-slice-slice-slice!
With that huge blade, the vegetables were thinly sliced and fell into a bowl.
It was truly a wondrous skill he had never seen before in his life.
His father also matched the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s excitement.
When he extended his hand, spice jars flew from his leather pouch and danced in the air.
Chili powder scattered like blood, and salt fell like snow.
Both men looked excited.
Especially his father, who should have been in a bad mood, looked happier than he had during any of the three times he had cooked.
So, he cautiously asked Hwi.
“It’s different from last time, isn’t it?”
“It seems so.”
It was unlikely that his father, the incarnation of competition, would be in such a good mood after losing three times in a row.
Geom Mugeuk found one reason.
“Could it be because he wanted to cook for the Blade Demon Elder? Or perhaps he’s enjoying this moment of cooking together?”
If not for an opportunity like this, he would never have cooked for the Blade Demon himself, nor would he have had the chance to cook with him.
It had never happened before, and it would never happen again.
Hwi smiled and nodded.
‘Do you know, Young Cult Master? It’s been a very long time since the Cult Master has looked this happy.’
Geom Woojin personally placed the fish he had cooked into a bowl and gave it to Seo Daeryong.
“Oh my! Giving it to me first!”
Seo Daeryong received the bowl, not knowing what to do.
Geom Mugeuk teased him.
“Second place is more than worthy of eating!”
Seo Daeryong turned pale and shouted with his eyes.
Please stop! Stop saying second place!
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon played along with Geom Mugeuk’s joke.
“Then third place must not be worthy of eating.”
As he was about to get up, Seo Daeryong desperately stopped him.
“Master! Please, eat!”
Pretending to be reluctant, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon sat down and sent a telepathic message to Geom Mugeuk.
-Hey kid, couldn’t you have let your father win?
-I have to win so we can do it again.
You know my father’s personality.
He’ll come back after practicing his fishing.
-You like your father that much?
What should he say?
-Yes, I do.
That one phrase would be enough.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked at the Cult Master.
‘How could I not be envious of this?’
Bowls filled with food were placed before everyone.
Seo Daeryong was already worried if this overwhelming fish dish would even go down his throat.
But that was a groundless fear.
The fish dish made by the Cult Master was incredibly delicious.
“It’s delicious! This isn’t an exaggeration or flattery, it’s truly delicious!”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon also ate Geom Woojin’s cooking.
Come to think of it, this was the first time he was eating a dish made by the Cult Master.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon silently continued to move his chopsticks.
That it was delicious, he showed by cleaning his bowl instead of with words.
“Today’s is the most delicious.”
Geom Mugeuk looked at his father and smiled brightly.
Geom Woojin watched his son, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, Hwi, and Seo Daeryong eat well, a satisfied expression on his face.
And so, the five of them sat around and ate.
To a passerby, it would look like an ordinary mealtime for travelers.
This was the everyday life that Geom Mugeuk so desperately desired.
Geom Mugeuk captured this scene like a painting and stored it in his heart.
‘More than the moments my father won against his enemies, I like this moment better.
So I will try to keep making moments like these.’
After finishing the meal, Geom Mugeuk looked at Seo Daeryong.
Seeing the mischievous glint in the eyes directed at him, Seo Daeryong shook his head silently.
I don’t know what it is, but please don’t!
“Since the last and third place cooked, let’s have the first and second place clean up.”