“After all that showing off, is all you can do hide behind your father?”
Hwa Mugi openly mocked Geom Mugeuk.
But unless he stabbed him with the Black Demon Sword in his hand, words could not wound Geom Mugeuk.
“Well, if I don’t hide behind my father, who should I hide behind? It’s the place I feel most at ease hiding.”
Geom Mugeuk was not at all ashamed of hiding behind his father.
“And my father should have a chance to show off his skills, too.”
Geom Woojin slowly walked out from beside the table.
It was the first time he had stepped forward since Hwa Mugi arrived.
Hwa Mugi also stepped out to the side, and those who had been sitting at the table all rose and stood in a line behind Geom Woojin.
Was it because his son was in front of him?
Even facing the Heaven Killing Star, Geom Woojin showed no sign of tension.
He was so proud, he was calm and composed.
If anything, the one who was tense was the Wind Heaven Sect Leader.
Although the Heaven Killing Star had been swayed by Geom Mugeuk’s words, he himself had fought him directly.
Even without that special protective energy, the man’s skill was no ordinary matter.
He was an opponent who was not easy to defeat in a fight, even if one could win with words.
If the Demon Cult Master stepped forward from this side, that Heaven Killing Star might use different tactics than before.
And then there was the son who asked him to half-beat the man and make him sit down, and the father who stepped forward so boldly at his request.
Setting those two aside, why was the Fist Demon so calm? Considering his relationship with the Cult Master, he should be the most worried person, yet he watched silently without a change in expression.
‘Are you not anxious? Am I the only one who’s anxious!’
The Wind Heaven Sect Leader’s gaze turned to the Poison King this time.
Since Geom Mugeuk’s appearance, the Poison King had been half-lost in his own world.
The man who hadn't taken his eyes off the fight for a moment was now constantly looking out the window.
It felt like he was standing on the borderline between his own world and reality.
In a way, it seemed that the person who trusted Geom Mugeuk the most might be the Poison King.
The Sword King was silently treating his internal injuries, but he too showed no sign of worry.
His faith in Geom Woojin was strong, but one could feel that his trust in Geom Mugeuk was even greater.
His expression had completely relaxed after Geom Mugeuk appeared.
Meanwhile, Jin Pae-cheon and Baek Ja-gang had a slightly different worry than the Wind Heaven Sect Leader.
They had already shown their skills, and now only Geom Woojin remained.
Just how strong was the Demon Cult Master? It would be a problem if Geom Woojin was defeated by him, and a problem if he overwhelmed him.
Hwa Mugi and Geom Woojin stood facing each other, about ten steps apart.
Even though Hwa Mugi had his Black Demon Sword aimed, Geom Woojin did not draw his sword.
Hwa Mugi asked, with a sliver of doubt.
“Are you saying you’ll fight with your bare hands?”
He could guess why Geom Woojin was doing this.
Geom Mugeuk hadn't asked him to kill the man, but to half-beat him and make him sit down again.
And just because his son asked.
“You dare to disregard me like this?”
Hwa Mugi’s eyes turned cold.
If he had proposed they fight fairly without swords, he wouldn’t have been this angry.
But the way he came out, as if to say, ‘You fight however you want, I’ll beat you with my fists,’ made him feel properly disrespected.
Click.
Hwa Mugi sheathed his sword.
“It must be embarrassing to get beaten up in front of your son.”
Geom Mugeuk took the words for him.
“Those are honorable scars for his son. He’ll be boasting about those scars for the rest of his life, showing them off. ‘These are the wounds I got for my son.’ Thanks to this filial son, he gets to be a cool father.”
Hwa Mugi confirmed once again that he could not match Geom Mugeuk with words.
Hwa Mugi resolved to shatter that arrogant face.
He would make him beg for his life in front of his son.
‘Let’s see what you say then.’
Geom Mugeuk said in a loud voice.
“Alright, then! The one who draws their sword first loses!”
As the two men prepared to fight with their fists, the Wind Heaven Sect Leader spoke with concern.
“That man’s protective energy is absorbing external shocks into inner energy. A fistfight is absolutely disadvantageous.”
It was impossible to know exactly how the Heaven Killing Star’s Heaven-Defying Demon Absorption Art worked.
He couldn’t tell if the Demonic Art was continuously active with his protective energy, or if he had to actively use the Heaven-Defying Demon Absorption Art for external attacks to be absorbed.
Whichever it was, Hwa Mugi had activated the Heaven-Defying Demon Absorption Art in the brief moment he was attacked.
The conclusion the Wind Heaven Sect Leader had drawn was this: to kill him, one had to tear through his protective energy and drive a sword into his body.
Geom Woojin, who had watched the fight alongside him, couldn’t possibly be unaware of this.
‘He’s pushing himself because of the Young Cult Master.’
Geom Woojin gestured with his hand, beckoning him to come forward.
At that arrogant gesture, Hwa Mugi sneered.
“The weaker one should attack first…”
Before he could finish his words.
Boom!
Hwa Mugi was slammed into the floor.
In a flash, Geom Woojin had rushed forward, grabbed Hwa Mugi by the collar, and slammed him straight down.
It was so fast that Hwa Mugi couldn’t avoid the attack.
Surprise filled Hwa Mugi’s face as he lay on the floor.
“He’s this fast?”
Thwack!
Geom Woojin’s fist slammed into the spot where Hwa Mugi’s face had been.
Craaaaack!
The floor caved in around the fist, and spiderweb-like cracks spread out in all directions from that point.
Hwa Mugi, who had been there, was now getting up some distance away.
In the instant the fist flew at him, he had rolled his body and escaped.
Hwa Mugi was as fast as Geom Woojin.
The faces of the onlookers were filled with surprise.
Hwa Mugi was faster than he had been when fighting them earlier.
It seemed that as the nature of his killing intent changed, he was showing the next level of his skill, and indeed he was.
But Geom Woojin had properly slammed such a Hwa Mugi down.
Geom Woojin’s figure flew towards Hwa Mugi again.
Hwa Mugi threw a punch at Geom Woojin.
He was confident he could win if it was a clash of inner energy against inner energy, even with the Demon Cult Master.
Whoosh!
Swoosh!
Just as their fists were about to collide.
Swish.
Geom Woojin’s body seemed to move to the side.
Whoooosh.
Geom Woojin’s kick struck Hwa Mugi squarely in the stomach.
Thud!
Hwa Mugi stumbled back a few steps.
Hwa Mugi was surprised, and so were the people watching.
From a punch to a kick, Geom Woojin’s instantaneous movement was like a flash of lightning, as if the intermediate process had been omitted.
Whoosh.
Geom Woojin’s pursuing fist grazed Hwa Mugi’s face.
He had dodged by leaning back, but Geom Woojin had already leaped into the air and was bringing his foot down from above.
Boom!
The floor that Geom Woojin stomped on cracked.
Hwa Mugi narrowly avoided it and stood far ahead.
He was now outside, on the street in front of the Flowing Wine Tavern, through the gaping hole in the wall.
He couldn’t hide the surprise on his face.
Geom Woojin was much faster and stronger than he had thought.
As Geom Woojin slowly walked towards him, everyone followed him out.
“This is the first time I’ve seen Father use his fists and feet.”
At Geom Mugeuk’s words, the Fist Demon, walking beside him, replied.
“In his younger days, he preferred using his fists.”
“Father did?”
“Many were crushed by those fists.”
Geom Mugeuk looked at his father’s back.
Every time he heard stories of his father’s youth like this, it was hard to imagine.
A father who expressed emotions and threw punches.
‘Secret Vessel, if you were going to take me to the past, you should have taken me to my father’s youth.’
The Fist Demon was inwardly relieved.
‘He’s become much stronger.’
He knew that Geom Woojin had recently been engrossed in martial arts training and had made progress, but he didn’t know he had become this strong.
How could the two Alliance Leaders not know what the Fist Demon recognized?
Watching the fight, Jin Pae-cheon was inwardly astonished at Geom Woojin’s skill.
He had been cheering for him, but now that he saw his true skill, another worry followed.
Jin Pae-cheon looked at Baek Ja-gang.
From his eyes, Baek Ja-gang could tell that he was feeling the same emotion.
It wasn't relief.
Surprise and worry.
‘Cult Master Geom’s skill is above ours.’
He hadn’t even drawn his sword yet, but it was clearly felt.
It meant that if he drew his sword and fought in earnest, the difference might be felt even more keenly.
Was that why? Though it wasn't a worry for this moment, a concern crossed his mind.
Was it just the Demon Cult Master? With the Demon Sovereigns stronger than ever, and outstanding masters like the Wind Heaven Sect Leader and the Sword King at their side.
And above all.
His gaze turned to Geom Mugeuk.
What if that Geom Mugeuk also decided to follow the Demon Cult Master’s will?
Perhaps the Martial Alliance would have to join hands with the Unorthodox Alliance, an unprecedented event.
He had never once in his life thought he would have to ally with the Unorthodox Alliance.
Geom Woojin and Hwa Mugi faced each other across the road.
Despite having allowed two attacks already, Hwa Mugi was full of composure.
“Perhaps because it’s the Demon Cult Master’s inner energy, it’s even more delicious.”
It was the very situation the Wind Heaven Sect Leader had worried about.
Despite that, Geom Woojin’s expression was completely unconcerned.
Flash.
Geom Woojin’s fists, flying in an instant, rained down on Hwa Mugi.
It was too fast.
He dodged the first punch, but not the second.
Thwack!
Geom Woojin’s fist struck Hwa Mugi’s shoulder.
He had felt it when he kicked him earlier, but it was like hitting water.
It was a protective energy with a texture he had never felt before.
It felt as if no impact had been transmitted at all, so he likely wouldn’t feel any pain.
Fists were exchanged between the two once more.
Geom Mugeuk could feel it.
The profound martial will contained in each of his father’s movements.
It might look like a simple exchange of fists, but he understood why he attacked from that angle, why he dodged in that way.
The martial arts enlightenment gained in the process of achieving Twelve-Star Great Mastery in the Nine Calamities Demon Art was being displayed.
There was no wasted space between the two.
A truly perfect offense and defense were exchanged.
It was also a conversation shared through their bodies.
The attack was a question, and the defense was an answer.
And in that process, the one asking and answering more properly was Geom Woojin.
Thwack!
Hwa Mugi flew through the air and crashed into the grains displayed in front of a grain shop.
Swoooosh.
Rice poured out like a waterfall from the torn sack.
Rice rained down on his head, but Hwa Mugi laughed.
He beckoned with his hand as if to say, ‘hit me as much as you want.’
The Wind Heaven Sect Leader sent a telepathic message to Geom Mugeuk.
-Have him stop before the fight drags on.
The Cult Master is just depleting his inner energy.
The Wind Heaven Sect Leader believed Geom Woojin was overexerting himself because this fight was to grant his son’s request.
-The Cult Master is pushing himself because of you.
At that, Geom Mugeuk sent back an unexpected reply.
-That’s because you don’t know my father well.
-What?
-My father is not someone who would engage in a disadvantageous fight for my sake.
When it comes to fighting, he is a cold man.
He meant that his father would never be swayed by sentiment to fight a losing battle.
Especially not in such an important fight.
-You saw the previous fights, didn't you, Father?
-I did.
-For him to insist on a fistfight despite that, it must be because he believes he has a good chance of winning.
Not because of me.
Even in this moment, Geom Mugeuk trusted his father.
-The whole world may worry, but you don’t need to worry about my father.
For this moment, the Wind Heaven Sect Leader envied Geom Woojin.
He thought it would be nice to have even one child who trusted him like this.
Hwa Mugi spread his arms wide and provoked Geom Woojin.
“You don’t want to admit it because your son is here, do you? That you were being arrogant.”
Like an arrow, Geom Woojin’s fist flew and buried itself in the water-like protective energy again.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
Hwa Mugi took all of Geom Woojin’s consecutive punches head-on.
The two seemed to be locked in a battle of wills.
One side seemed to say, ‘Go on, hit me,’ while the other seemed to say, ‘Let’s see how long you can last.’
“At this rate, his inner energy will be completely depleted.”
The Wind Heaven Sect Leader voiced his concern aloud.
It was a worry meant for Geom Woojin to hear, in case he was so caught up in anger that he didn’t realize his inner energy was being consumed.
Hwa Mugi was pushed back as his entire body was battered.
But his expression was bright.
“Your attacks are useless! It doesn’t hurt at all.”
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
Under the continuous attacks, Hwa Mugi said loudly.
“Draw your sword! Admit defeat.”
But Geom Woojin’s fists flew even faster.
Thwack-thwack-thwack-thwack-thwack-thwack-thwack!
He cornered Hwa Mugi against a wall and relentlessly threw punches.
The two were like a wave and a rock.
Just as a rock remains unmoved no matter how much the waves crash, Hwa Mugi endured all the punches with his protective energy.
He was also like a lump of iron being struck by a blacksmith.
It seemed to grow stronger and more complete the more it was struck.
But Geom Woojin did not stop.
The punches he threw became faster and more powerful.
Everyone watched the scene in silence.
The Wind Heaven Sect Leader looked at Geom Mugeuk again.
‘You’re the only one who can stop him!’
The very next moment!
“Stop!”
A single shout erupted.
The Wind Heaven Sect Leader thought the shout came from Geom Mugeuk.
But it wasn’t.
A single sword was streaking through the air.
Hwa Mugi’s Black Demon Sword had been brandished, and Geom Woojin had stepped back to avoid it.
Everyone watched this unexpected situation with surprised faces.
He had held out so well until now.
Just when they thought he was happily depleting his opponent’s inner energy, Hwa Mugi suddenly drew his sword.
The person who shouted “stop” was Hwa Mugi himself.
“Ugh… enough.”
Hwa Mugi’s face was contorted in pain.
The rock had been broken by the waves, and the sword had been broken by the blacksmith’s hammer.
Geom Mugeuk knew his father had attacked with certainty of this outcome.
“How did you know he was forcing himself to endure the pain?”
There were two reasons why Geom Woojin had been so certain.
“If his martial art were perfect, he wouldn’t have tried to deplete our inner energy in the first place.”
The Wind Heaven Sect Leader nodded.
He was right.
If it were truly such a perfect Demonic Art, given his personality, he would have fought more arrogantly.
But he hadn’t revealed that fact from the start, instead draining their inner energy and inflicting injuries.
And another crucial reason.
“Why would such a meticulous man, while fighting me, keep saying it didn’t hurt? Instead of pretending to be in pain to drain my inner energy as much as possible.”
Geom Mugeuk nodded, guessing the reason.
What other reason could there be?
“Because it hurt too much.”