“The First Young Master has arrived safely at the second location.”
At the Grand Strategist's report, Geom Mugeuk and Sama Myeong felt relieved.
Next to the original map of the Central Plains, a detailed map of Wuhan was laid out, centered on the Martial Alliance headquarters.
Three flags stood upon it.
Two flags that had been about to get closer were now far apart.
They were the flags of Geom Muyang and Han Wol-gaek.
Between those two flags, a single flag was planted.
The one that had separated the two flags that should not meet.
The Poison King's Demon Sovereign flag.
Right, if not for that green flag, who could have sent the enraged Han Wol-gaek back alive?
Thank you, Poison King.
When you return, I will offer this body of mine for you to conduct all the poison experiments you want.
Sama Myeong said to Geom Mugeuk.
“The critical situation has passed, so you should go and rest now. I will handle the remaining work in the Heavenly Demon Hall."
The two of them had been working in the Heavenly Demon Hall as usual when they received an urgent message and came to the Heaven-Reaching Pavilion.
He would have liked to just read books in the Heavenly Demon Scripture Pavilion, but he had to do it while taking care of his duties.
A far more important task than reading was filling his father's position.
“No, I will handle the remaining work in the Heavenly Demon Hall. It is you, Grand Strategist, who should be resting.”
“I am fine.”
“I am not fine.”
Because the Heaven-Reaching Pavilion had been on high alert, Sama Myeong hadn't slept properly recently.
The accumulated fatigue was clearly showing on his face.
“Come this way.”
Geom Mugeuk pulled Sama Myeong by the hand.
The place they went to was the room inside the Heaven-Reaching Pavilion with a bed, which he had shown him before.
“Please, get some sleep, even for a moment. I won't leave until you lie down.”
As Geom Mugeuk stubbornly insisted he would not back down, Sama Myeong had no choice but to lie down on the bed.
“Then I shall be rude to the Acting Cult Master.”
Thinking that Geom Mugeuk would leave if he pretended to fall asleep quickly, Sama Myeong closed his eyes.
Just then, Geom Mugeuk's hand moved lightly.
The gentlest finger wind Geom Mugeuk had ever projected flew out and pressed on Sama Myeong's vital points.
It was truly a sublime technique, as he didn't even realize his pressure points were being pressed.
Ssshh, without even realizing he was falling asleep, Sama Myeong drifted off.
Geom Mugeuk left the room and spoke quietly to the military attendant who assisted Sama Myeong.
“He will wake up on his own after two hours. Before then, do not wake him, even if the Martial Alliance attacks.”
“Yes! I will obey your command.”
Knowing full well how much Sama Myeong was overworking his old body, the attendant bowed respectfully with a look of gratitude.
After leaving the Heaven-Reaching Pavilion, Geom Mugeuk returned to the Heavenly Demon Hall and took care of the day's tasks.
Fortunately, he was now able to handle the sect's affairs with some skill.
Whenever he had to make a choice, he always thought, 'What decision would Father make?'
Then the choice became easier.
He focused on what his father would have done rather than his own thoughts or opinions.
After all, he was only filling in for his father.
Having finished all his duties, Geom Mugeuk headed for the Heavenly Demon Scripture Pavilion this time.
His day was busy.
Geom Mugeuk entered the Heavenly Demon Scripture Pavilion and immediately selected a book.
Nothing is as dependent on personal taste as reading.
That's why one often ends up reading only the types of books they like.
However, today too, Geom Mugeuk picked a book to read at random.
The unexpected lessons from reading without choosing.
The novel knowledge and inspiration gained from books one would never read because they are outside one's field of interest was an experience that those who have not tried it could never feel.
Geom Mugeuk vaguely felt it.
He would gain something not from reading many books here in the Heavenly Demon Scripture Pavilion, but from the choice to read indiscriminately.
After choosing all the books, Geom Mugeuk snapped his fingers.
Ttak!
In this field where a cool breeze blew, there was only a single desk and a single chair.
He had tried various methods until now.
He had read comfortably lying in a hammock strung between two trees, read leaning against a bed, and even read lying on his stomach on a warm floor.
But in the end, he chose to simply sit at a desk and read.
This was the most comfortable.
Today, too, Geom Mugeuk read and read.
He read martial arts manuals, history books, poetry collections, adventure novels, and the autobiographies of peerless masters.
He simply read whatever came to hand.
The more he read, the more he experienced the strange phenomenon of not knowing more, but realizing how much he didn't know.
With every book, he opened his eyes to a new field.
In the past, he never read martial arts manuals unless it was a special case.
Needless to say about the Nine Calamities Demon Art, even the Flying Heaven Sword Technique alone was a supreme martial art that left no need to covet others.
But this time, he read other martial arts books as well.
They were well worth reading.
After all, they were martial arts deemed worthy of being in the Heavenly Demon Scripture Pavilion.
Geom Mugeuk set aside the book he had finished and opened the next one.
The Principles of Using the Iron Weight.
It was a title that truly made him not want to turn the pages.
A 'chu' referred to a weight, and in the martial world, there were very rare martial artists who used them as weapons.
But one would be lucky to see a martial artist who used weights even once or twice in a lifetime.
For that reason, an ordinary martial artist would not have even taken it off the shelf, but Geom Mugeuk was different.
It was because he had decided to read every book without discrimination.
Turning the page, Geom Mugeuk tilted his head.
The title and the content of the manual were different.
The book's content was a martial art that used a dagger?
Geom Mugeuk examined the book's cover.
Looking closely, he could see that someone had attached a false cover.
Rrrrip.
When he tore off the cover, a new title was written underneath.
It was a different martial arts manual, but someone had attached the title of a martial art that no one would be interested in.
The moment he saw the newly revealed title, Geom Mugeuk was startled.
It was a martial arts manual he knew.
It was also a martial art that someone he knew had desperately wished for.
“So it was here!"
Geom Mugeuk's eyes deepened at the profundity of the fate arranged by the heavens.
He immediately released the Space-Time Displacement Art.
After taking the hidden manual, he took one more book from the bookshelf.
Both of these books were for him.
At that moment, outside the Heavenly Demon Scripture Pavilion, the head of the guards, Jeok-yeon, was leaving food.
He himself could not go inside, nor could he stay there, so when he left the food at the entrance like this, the empty dishes would be put out later.
Geom Mugeuk usually came out after three or four hours, but he came out having eaten an enormous amount of food for that amount of time.
Had he suddenly developed a craving? The amount of food Geom Mugeuk requested was enough to make one think several people were inside.
But without fail, all the food came out in empty dishes.
Jeok-yeon worried to himself.
“Is it really alright for you to eat this much, Young Cult Master?”
He did not know.
Though it was one meal outside, because the Heavenly Time Secret Art was in effect, several meals were needed.
That one hour outside was seven hours inside.
The only good thing was that he didn't seem to be gaining weight. 'Does reading books consume that much mental energy?'
“What worries you so much that you're eating like this?"
Just then, the door of the Heavenly Demon Scripture Pavilion opened, and Geom Mugeuk came out.
“Whose worry do you think it is? It's worry for you, Brother.”
Jeok-yeon was startled.
“Young Cult Master! No, Acting Cult Master!"
Geom Mugeuk quickly ran off somewhere.
“Don't ever have an older brother in your life!”
“That's not something I can decide... But where are you going?”
"To the kitchen."
"I brought food here!"
“I'm not going to eat, I'm going to prepare it.”
"What?"
Leaving the bewildered Jeok-yeon behind, Geom Mugeuk disappeared from sight in an instant.
A meal was set in the space where the Heavenly Demon ate.
It was a meal Geom Mugeuk had personally prepared for one person.
One person entered.
It was the Evil Heart Laughing Demon, wearing a white mask and a pure white martial robe.
Geom Mugeuk, who was standing in front of the food, greeted him.
“It's been a while, Laughing Demon Sovereign.”
This was his first reunion with the Laughing Demon since returning.
He had missed him terribly, but it was a moment he had saved and cherished.
“Greetings, Cult Master.”
The Evil Heart Laughing Demon greeted him politely with proper etiquette.
He did not call him Acting Cult Master, but Cult Master.
How could Geom Mugeuk not understand? The heart of the Evil Heart Laughing Demon, who purposely did not add the word 'Acting.'
It was not out of disrespect for his father, but a gesture of respect for him, who had ascended to the position of Acting Cult Master for the first time.
“The word Cult Master feels awkward.”
“It is a word you will hear until you are sick of it later."
"That position, don't even talk about it. I never knew it involved so much work. If I wasn't so troubled, would someone like me who hates books be reading in the Heavenly Demon Scripture Pavilion?"
“That's not the reason, is it."
The Evil Heart Laughing Demon knew Geom Mugeuk's feelings.
“You are enduring the desire to run to the First Young Master by reading books."
“How did you know?"
He really did feel that way.
No matter how much he trusted the Poison King and the Demon Buddha, he was still worried about his brother.
The two eyes behind the mask seemed to say, 'How could I not know your heart, Young Cult Master?'
Geom Mugeuk smiled and asked.
“Have you ever been here before?"
“This is my first time."
A place for eating was the least suitable place for the Evil Heart Laughing Demon.
That was why today's meeting would be even more meaningful.
“Here, please sit.”
Geom Mugeuk and the Evil Heart Laughing Demon sat facing each other.
“I made all of this food myself.”
A flicker of surprise passed through the Evil Heart Laughing Demon's eyes.
He was well aware of the cooking skills Geom Mugeuk had shown while camping, but to prepare such a splendid meal?
"The day you took off your mask, didn't I say I would treat you to food and wine? That day is today.”
The two eyes behind the mask smiled brightly.
Geom Mugeuk had not forgotten the words he had spoken in passing.
And there was a reason Geom Mugeuk had chosen this place.
“This must be the quietest place to have a meal in our Main Sect, no, in this entire Martial World.”
It was his way of saying, 'Let's take off our masks and eat comfortably here.' A place where no one could steal a glimpse of his face.
It was a consideration for the Evil Heart Laughing Demon.
No matter how close they became, no matter how deep the loyalty the Evil Heart Laughing Demon showed, Geom Mugeuk did not take this relationship for granted.
If anything, he strived to be even more polite and treat him better.
The Evil Heart Laughing Demon gazed at Geom Mugeuk silently before slowly starting to remove his mask.
The moment he removed his mask after the last fight was different from the moment he was removing it now.
The Evil Heart Laughing Demon placed the pure white, smiling mask on the table.
The face of the Evil Heart Laughing Demon, revealed from beneath the mask.
Kind eyes and perfectly harmonious features.
Seeing him again, he was indeed the handsome Evil Heart Laughing Demon.
“I have long awaited this day when I could comfortably drink with you, Young Cult Master.”
The Evil Heart Laughing Demon first politely poured wine into Geom Mugeuk's cup, and Geom Mugeuk filled his cup as well.
The two cups clinked in the air with a clear sound.
After drinking the wine refreshingly, Geom Mugeuk picked up his chopsticks and said.
“Please, try the food.”
After tasting the food, the Evil Heart Laughing Demon was genuinely impressed.
“You made this yourself?"
Then, Geom Mugeuk took out one of the two books he had brought.
This was the second book he had taken from the bookshelf.
“I found this book in the Heavenly Demon Scripture Pavilion.”
The Book of Refined Delicacies.
The book was a cookbook written by Taejung, the most famous chef in the Central Plains in the past.
It was truly a secret manual, hailed as a legend among chefs.
“I cooked according to the secret methods written here. Of course, the chefs helped me a little. Now, even if I get kicked out of my position as Young Cult Master, I won't starve to death. Because I will be reborn as the greatest chef under heaven.”
The Evil Heart Laughing Demon laughed at Geom Mugeuk's joke.
Seeing him laugh made Geom Mugeuk feel good.
The Evil Heart Laughing Demon is more handsome and mysterious when he wears his mask.
But there is an unburdened joy that his handsome smile brings.
“Oh, by the way, I had a fortuitous encounter in the Heavenly Demon Scripture Pavilion.”
"Congratulations. Truly, congratulations.”
The Evil Heart Laughing Demon was as happy as if it were his own good fortune.
Yes, the Laughing Demon was a person who could sincerely share joy, which is said to be ten times harder to share than sorrow.
That must be why he, too, could bring this out with such a good feeling.
"The fortuitous encounter wasn't for me.”
To the puzzled Evil Heart Laughing Demon, Geom Mugeuk took a book out from his robes.
It was the martial arts manual hidden under a different cover.
Laughing Fragrance Secret Art.
Seeing the title of the manual, the Evil Heart Laughing Demon was startled.
This was the first time he had seen him so surprised.
“I brought it as a gift for you, Laughing Demon Sovereign."
Then, the Evil Heart Laughing Demon asked in a trembling voice.
“How did you know that I was looking for this martial art?"
'Because you told me.'
The Evil Heart Laughing Demon from my life before regression.
The one who wanted to be my friend.
The Extreme Demon Raging Palm, the Blood Calamity Finger, and the Laughing Fragrance Secret Art.
He had said that if these three martial arts were harmoniously combined, they could display truly invincible Divine Might.
But he had lamented that since the Laughing Fragrance Secret Art had been lost at some point, he was unable to display the perfect martial art.
He didn't know the story behind it, but that Laughing Fragrance Secret Art had been hidden in the Heavenly Demon Scripture Pavilion.
Geom Mugeuk pretended not to know and asked.
“Were you looking for this martial art?"
“Yes, I was.”
“In a past battle, didn't you use a dagger to fight an enemy? At that time, I thought it would be good if you had a fine martial art for using a dagger. But when I happened to find this martial art and saw that it had the character for 'laugh' in it, I thought it might suit you, so I brought it out.”
The Evil Heart Laughing Demon's eyes trembled.
Now that he could see the Evil Heart Laughing Demon's full expression, he could feel his deep emotion.
The Evil Heart Laughing Demon was once again astonished at how deeply he was connected to Geom Mugeuk by fate.
And he was incredibly grateful to Geom Mugeuk.
He felt that this was a debt he would have to repay not just in this life, but in the next as well.
“This is the manual I desperately wanted.”
Even his voice trembled.
‘This is not a manual that I am giving you.”
It was a gift from the him of the past, the older him from the distant future. If he hadn't told him, he would never have thought to give this martial art to the Evil Heart Laughing Demon. Geom Mugeuk recalled the Evil Heart Laughing Demon from before his regression.
'Don't be so sad anymore. Because you and I have become such friends.' Geom Mugeuk smiled brightly and held out the manual."I'm so glad.
Since it's something you needed.
I really am this lucky."
But the Evil Heart Laughing Demon could not readily accept the manual.
He said worriedly.
“As you know, a martial arts manual from the Heavenly Demon Scripture Pavilion cannot be taken out recklessly without the Cult Master's permission.”
“Am I not the Cult Master? You called me Cult Master earlier, didn't you?”
“No, that's..."
The Evil Heart Laughing Demon wore a troubled expression at Geom Mugeuk's joke.
No matter how great his feelings for Geom Mugeuk were, his respect and loyalty for Geom Woojin remained unchanged.
To receive this martial art while Geom Woojin was absent troubled his heart.
He could have made a show of it, but Geom Mugeuk wanted the Laughing Demon to receive it comfortably.
Geom Mugeuk made a gesture of covering his mouth with his hand and whispered softly.
“I've already given a book from the Heavenly Demon Scripture Pavilion to the Blade Demon Elder."
And I'm going to give this cookbook to the chef of the Heavenly Demon Hall."
"So please, accept it without worry."
Geom Mugeuk added in an even quieter voice, though he didn't know if it was possible in the Main Sect, where there were no secrets.
“We just have to not get caught by Father."