You want to eat? In the middle of a life-or-death battle?
The moment he heard those words, this was the first thought that came to Hwa Mugi's mind.
It was a thought that many who had experienced Geom Mugeuk had at least once.
'Is he a madman?'
Of course, he couldn't be a madman.
'He has some kind of plan.'
He knew the Young Cult Master was no ordinary person.
In fact, what was more surprising was the reaction of the others.
Shouldn't they at least show some confusion, or question what he was saying in a situation like this? At least one of the seven of them.
But then, a completely unexpected reaction began.
The Wind Heaven Sect Leader rubbed his stomach.
“Come to think of it, we're hungry too.”
Just as Baek Ja-gang had finished cooking, Hwa Mugi had burst in, so no one had been able to eat.
One could let the Wind Heaven Sect Leader slide.
The man had been saying all sorts of ridiculous things from the start.
Baek Ja-gang said to Geom Mugeuk, as if boasting.
“I learned how to cook from the Cult Master.”
Why on earth was the Unorthodox Alliance Leader saying such a thing? So what? Was he going to cook now? The man who had been fighting so fiercely just moments ago?
Even the Demon Cult Master's face showed a flicker of pride upon hearing those words.
It felt as if a switch had been flipped when the Young Cult Master arrived, turning them all into different people.
They, who hadn't taken their eyes off him for a single moment, began to do other things, and their serious expressions all brightened.
The Sword King looked up at the sky for the first time, and the Poison King, who had been staring at him with eyes as deep as an abyss, was looking at an uprooted tree by the roadside.
Don't tell me you're looking at that bug crawling out from the roots?
The common emotion felt from them was a sense of relief.
Even if the Heavenly Demon himself had arrived where the Young Cult Master stood, he wouldn't have given them this much relief.
Hwa Mugi was bewildered, but also curious.
‘What is this man?’
When the Darkness Palace Master had told him that the Young Cult Master was influencing everyone, he had no idea the influence was to this extent.
Geom Mugeuk spoke to Hwa Mugi again.
He didn't make some pointless threat like, 'I'll kill you after we eat.'
"Even if you're going to kill someone, you should feed them first.”
“Is there a reason I should?”
"There is."
Geom Mugeuk said something unexpected.
“Because this moment will be the last in your life.”
"What?"
He thought he meant, 'Because you will die here today,' but this too was the complete opposite.
“If you win and we all die, this atmosphere, this feeling, this tension, it will be the last time in your life you experience it.”
Geom Mugeuk’s expression had suddenly turned serious.
“After we are all dead, you will only have people trembling in fear, feigning loyalty."
"To be precise, they'll be people pretending to be loyal."
"You, unable to overcome your boredom and temper, will kill this person, and that person. You'll just kill wantonly.”
Geom Mugeuk stared into his eyes for a moment before adding.
“But no matter how many you kill, your heart will never beat like it is today.”
"…"
Hwa Mugi's gaze, which had been on Geom Mugeuk, shifted to Geom Woojin standing behind him.
He was the one Hwa Mugi had been conscious of throughout the fight.
He hadn't drawn his sword yet, but it already felt like they had engaged in an intense battle.
Next to him stood the Fist Demon, his fists still expressing a sense of lingering disappointment.
Beside him stood Jin Pae-cheon and Baek Ja-gang, side by side, and next to them were the Wind Heaven Sect Leader and the Sword King.
And at the very back was the Poison King.
Yes, he was right.
A moment like today would never come again.
Standing before them, Geom Mugeuk smiled and said.
“So, let's eat."
Hwa Mugi was strangely persuaded.
From the moment that Young Cult Master arrived, the tension had kept dropping for some reason.
“If you're not going to eat, then let us eat! Are you really going to be this petty about food?"
To just attack now felt wrong; Geom Mugeuk was stimulating his curiosity too much.
In the end, Hwa Mugi nodded.
“Let's do that."
He couldn't fight with this deflated fighting spirit anyway.
Geom Mugeuk smiled brightly.
"Alright, let's go inside."
The moment Geom Mugeuk turned toward the Flowing Wine Tavern, he let out a scream.
“Aaaah! What is this!"
One wall of the Flowing Wine Tavern had collapsed, and the second-floor wall where the words had been carved was completely gone.
Geom Mugeuk whirled back toward Hwa Mugi.
“You bastard, you broke that? Do you know how precious that wall was! This won't do.”
Geom Mugeuk looked ready to draw his sword at any moment.
“No matter how hungry I am, you need to be taught a lesson.”
At Geom Mugeuk's sudden change, Hwa Mugi also placed his hand on the Black Demon Sword.
He welcomed a fight, but, you’re misunderstanding something right now.
Just then, Geom Woojin casually remarked.
“I broke it.”
A moment of silence fell.
Geom Mugeuk lowered his voice and spoke seriously.
"You did well. It is always best to remove a wall that obstructs a fight beforehand."
"To be honest, now that I can say it, everyone's first attempt at writing on it was a bit lacking."
"Now that we've had a practice run, we can leave even more magnificent words next time."
As soon as he finished speaking, Geom Mugeuk went inside.
Geom Woojin followed him in, and Jin Pae-cheon and Baek Ja-gang followed with smiles.
Surprisingly, the three of them didn't even glance at Hwa Mugi as they entered.
Only the Fist Demon remained vigilant, wary of Hwa Mugi's movements until the end.
The rest of them simply filed into the Flowing Wine Tavern one after another.
They're just going to leave me here and all go inside? It was something he couldn't believe even seeing it with his own eyes.
'These people!'
Just moments ago, he was the one they were fighting, deciding if he was a hero or a villain.
But now… he felt like he was nothing.
He had been the main character, and suddenly he'd become a supporting actor.
No, not even that.
He was an extra left all alone on the road.
Right, there are stories where everyone dies at the hands of an extra.
Hwa Mugi stared at the tavern for a moment before finally going inside.
Geom Mugeuk, who had entered first, looked around the interior.
“It's more broken than I thought.”
The remaining walls were cracked in places, and broken tables and chairs were scattered everywhere.
Geom Mugeuk looked up at where the second-floor wall used to be and said.
“I once had a conversation with the owner here. I told him that if that wall were to break, it would have its own meaning.”
Just then, Geom Woojin asked an unexpected question.
“Are you disappointed that I didn't protect it?"
The broken tables and walls, they were all part of the Demonic Path his son had tried to protect.
Geom Mugeuk looked at his father.
You have no idea how much it means to me that you would ask such a question, Father.
“But you already did, didn't you?”
When Geom Woojin looked puzzled, Geom Mugeuk glanced out the window, far in the distance, at the Demon Flame rising from the main sect.
“What I was trying to protect wasn't that wall or those tables, but the owner here, and the people of the Demon Family Village. You already protected them by lighting the Demon Flame.”
Geom Mugeuk’s gaze returned to his father.
"The people of the Demon Family Village will never forget your grace for the rest of their lives. It was truly a magnificent choice, Father.”
Geom Woojin simply looked at his son without a word.
The person who reacted was the Fist Demon, who had been listening.
A faint smile graced his lips.
The Cult Master was only human.
While protecting the people of the Demon Family Village inside the sect, how could he not have thought of Geom Mugeuk? He must have looked forward to the moment he would hear these words from his son.
“The fact that you chose this place as the battleground where the fate of the Martial World hangs in the balance will be a lifelong source of pride for the owner."
"It will hold a much greater meaning, one that cannot be compared to the words left on the wall."
The Fist Demon knew how pleased the Cult Master must be right now.
If he himself felt this gratified, how much more would the Cult Master feel?
“Still, it's a relief there are some things here that are still in one piece.”
Geom Mugeuk brought an unbroken table and chairs from a corner to the center.
“Please, sit, Father.”
Hwa Mugi stood at the entrance, watching Geom Mugeuk’s words and actions.
His eyes seemed to say, I'll just see how far you take this.
This time, Baek Ja-gang stepped forward first.
“I learned a few dishes from your father. How about it? Would you like to have a taste?”
"Please do! In the history of this Martial World, how many people can say they've eaten a meal prepared by the Unorthodox Alliance Leader?"
Baek Ja-gang immediately went into the kitchen and looked around.
“You're in luck. The kitchen isn't too badly damaged.”
“Can I get my hopes up?”
“Get them up!”
Even if the food was terrible, he had an escape route.
“He said it's the skill passed down from your father.”
The hands that had been unleashing the Tyrant Heaven-Piercing Sword Technique just moments before were now holding a kitchen knife again.
Somehow, he looked more excited and thrilled than when he was fighting.
“Is there anyone who can help me with the cooking?”
At Baek Ja-gang's request, Geom Woojin remained in his seat.
He couldn't go into the kitchen while in the same space as Hwa Mugi.
The Poison King, who had once cried his eyes out peeling onions, turned his head to look out the window.
He had helped the Cult Master, but he was making it clear that he wouldn't do the same for anyone else.
“I'd like to help, but I'm just not very good at it.”
The Wind Heaven Sect Leader was more likely to cause trouble than be of any help.
The Sword King, who might have been helpful, was suffering from internal injuries.
Jin Pae-cheon had also suffered external injuries, and even if he hadn't, it was an awkward situation for him to step in.
Just then, one person stood up from his seat.
“I will help.”
The one who stepped forward was the Fist Demon.
He had already shown his skill by slicing carrots in the kitchen earlier.
Though his appearance didn't suit it, his cooking skills were far superior to Baek Ja-gang's.
The Fist Demon entered the kitchen.
The two men who had been about to fight Hwa Mugi were now continuing a new battle in the kitchen.
The Fist Demon's decision to help was partly because there was no one else suitable, but more so because he genuinely wanted to help Baek Ja-gang.
He had learned something from him this time.
A choice made for practical reasons.
It had a great impact on him, especially since he had always valued honor and pride.
Hwa Mugi watched the scene unfold.
'They're all out of their minds.'
Baek Ja-gang and the Fist Demon, who were about to fight him just moments ago, had disappeared into the kitchen.
If they were normal people, they shouldn't have gone in to cook in the first place, and even if they had.
'Let's postpone our fight until after the meal.' Shouldn't they at least say something like that?
Do you truly believe that the Young Cult Master can handle me? Or has the Poison King released some kind of poison that has made you all go mad?
Just then, his eyes met Geom Mugeuk's.
“Come and sit.”
When Hwa Mugi still didn't move, Geom Mugeuk added.
“We don't kill people who are eating. So come on.”
Hwa Mugi felt that Geom Mugeuk's gaze was dangerous.
Looking into those eyes, it seemed as if he was telling the truth.
Hwa Mugi slowly walked over and sat down.
Geom Mugeuk went to the kitchen and came back with a bottle of wine and cups.
“It's been a while. Allow me to pour you a drink.”
Geom Mugeuk first poured a drink for his father.
“I should have brought some of the Drunken Demon's delicious wine, but we're all out.”
From those words, everyone understood.
A battle had taken place that required the Drunken Demon to drink all his wine.
They felt that the fight on that side might have been truly fierce and terrible.
Geom Mugeuk started with Jin Pae-cheon and poured drinks for the rest of them in turn.
This was a drink that felt more profound than any other time.
Just moments ago, they had been feeling helpless watching the monstrous Hwa Mugi, and now they were receiving a drink poured by Geom Mugeuk.
Finally, Geom Mugeuk filled the cup in front of Hwa Mugi to the brim and then offered the bottle to him.
“Pour me a drink too.”
Geom Mugeuk wanted to receive a drink from him.
Hwa Mugi glared at Geom Mugeuk over the bottle and asked.
“What are you doing?”
“I'm trying to have a drink with the nemesis of my life, for the first and last time.”
Hwa Mugi stared at Geom Mugeuk as if to pierce through him.
But no matter how he looked, he could see no scheme, only sincerity.
“One of us will die before today is over anyway. Even when you rule this Martial World later, you should live with this much leisure.”
Eventually, Hwa Mugi took the bottle and filled Geom Mugeuk's cup.
He was wary of a surprise attack while pouring, but nothing of the sort happened.
Geom Mugeuk raised his cup high.
"Now, let's have a drink with the Heaven Killing Star.”
Everyone drank, except for Hwa Mugi, who hadn't even picked up his cup.
Until Geom Mugeuk's arrival, Jin Pae-cheon had vaguely hoped that his presence would improve the situation.
But once he arrived, the entire game had changed.
There was no exception, even if the opponent was the Heaven Killing Star.
A short while later, Baek Ja-gang brought out a large bowl of food.
The Fist Demon served the food into smaller bowls for everyone.
Baek Ja-gang looked slightly nervous with anticipation.
“Here, everyone, please try it.”
Geom Mugeuk sniffed the air and exclaimed.
“It smells delicious already.”
Geom Woojin said to Baek Ja-gang.
“Let's eat together.”
Baek Ja-gang and the Fist Demon also joined them at the table.
Hwa Mugi looked down at the food placed before him.
When Geom Mugeuk first suggested they eat, he never could have imagined a situation like this would unfold.
And it wasn't just Hwa Mugi.
Who would have thought they'd be sitting at a dining table with the Heaven Killing Star?
“It's really delicious!”
At Geom Mugeuk's exclamation, Baek Ja-gang asked suspiciously.
“You're not just saying that because you're thinking of your father, are you?”
“I have about nine tongues, and this tongue right now is for tasting food, not for flattery. It's truly delicious.”
When the others also chimed in with their praise, Baek Ja-gang's expression finally brightened.
He definitely had a talent for cooking.
“Next time I visit, please make it for me again!”
“Come anytime.”
Watching this, a sneer formed on Hwa Mugi's lips.
There will be no next time for you.
Geom Mugeuk looked at Hwa Mugi.
“Why aren't you eating?”
Hwa Mugi hadn't even picked up his chopsticks.
They had all lost their minds, but he couldn't afford to lose his.
Geom Mugeuk, who was staring intently at Hwa Mugi, said something astonishing.
Hwa Mugi had been surprised by Geom Mugeuk several times today, but this was the most surprising thing he had said.
“Actually, this is the second time we're eating together.”