"Father, you were truly magnificent!"
Geom Mugeuk cheered joyfully.
The Fist Demon and the Poison King bowed to Geom Woojin to show their respect.
For a Demon Sovereign, it was a great honor to watch the Cult Master fight.
"Thank you, Father."
Geom Woojin's expression remained unchanged, but the Fist Demon could feel it.
The Cult Master was in a better mood than ever before.
He knew that if he were to be prodded even slightly, those emotions would come pouring out, which was why he was maintaining a completely stoic demeanor.
He felt a sense of relief.
If the Cult Master had lost to Hwa Mugi, Geom Mugeuk would not have been bothered, but the matter would have surely weighed on the Cult Master's mind.
‘You fought well, Cult Master.’
Geom Woojin replied to the Fist Demon's unspoken words.
"How was it? The skills I learned from you haven't rusted yet, have they?"
The two men looked at each other and smiled.
Meanwhile, Hwa Mugi's face was utterly distorted.
'The Heaven-Defying Demon Absorption Art is broken.'
The Heaven-Defying Demon Absorption Art had a side effect.
As Jin Pae-cheon had said before, a demonic art that displayed such astonishing effects was bound to have a corresponding side effect.
The side effect of the Heaven-Defying Demon Absorption Art was that when it absorbed an external blow using protective energy, it transmitted pain far greater than what one would normally receive.
It felt as though his protective energy was merely striking water, so it should not have hurt at all, yet each and every blow inflicted excruciating pain.
But when he endured that pain, his opponent would fall into despair, believing their attacks were useless.
That was the true terror of the Heaven-Defying Demon Absorption Art.
If he could not bear the pain and stopped, the Heaven-Defying Demon Absorption Art would be broken, and he would suffer internal wounds.
Thus, with extreme endurance, Hwa Mugi had withstood all the preceding attacks.
Considering whose attacks they were, Hwa Mugi was a truly incredible martial artist for that alone.
At first, Geom Woojin's fists had been bearable.
But as he was hit again and again, the shock was no ordinary matter.
He had withstood the combined attacks of the Unorthodox Alliance Leader and the Fist Demon before, yet he could not understand why these fists hurt so much.
While forcing himself to endure the pain, the Heaven-Defying Demon Absorption Art had finally shattered.
He did not know.
The Heaven-Defying Demon Absorption Art, true to its name, belonged to the demonic arts.
When creating the art with the help of the souls within his body, Hyeok Do-cheon had been the most helpful.
In the end, because the foundation of the Heaven-Defying Demon Absorption Art was based on demonic arts, it could not handle the fists of Geom Woojin, who had mastered the Nine Calamities Demon Art, the supreme among all demonic arts.
Moreover, it was not just any Nine Calamities Demon Art.
These were the fists of Geom Woojin, who had achieved Twelve-Star Great Mastery in the Nine Calamities Demon Art.
The fact that he had endured for that long could be considered remarkable in itself.
Hwa Mugi's gaze turned to Geom Woojin.
Now that the Heaven-Defying Demon Absorption Art was broken, his plan to kill his opponent by completely depleting their inner energy was foiled.
'In the end, there's only one way to beat this man!'
In his mind, Hwa Mugi thought of a certain martial art.
Geom Mugeuk boasted about his father to the Wind Heaven Sect Leader.
"Did you see that? That's what my father is like when he fights."
The Wind Heaven Sect Leader nodded with a surprised expression.
Just as Geom Mugeuk had said, Geom Woojin had not fought emotionally because of his son.
Was he the only one who was surprised? Jin Pae-cheon and Baek Ja-gang were also shocked.
Although it was a fight without drawing swords, Geom Woojin had overwhelmed Hwa Mugi.
What was even more surprising was that he had found his opponent's weakness.
If it had been them, they would have retreated to avoid expending more inner energy.
Until now, they had only thought Geom Mugeuk was special.
'The Young Cult Master inherited his father's blood.'
The thought came to them naturally.
Hwa Mugi looked at Geom Woojin and said coldly.
"Now, let's fight with swords."
There was no way Geom Mugeuk would just let that stand.
"Wipe the blood from your mouth first."
Blood was trickling from the corner of Hwa Mugi's mouth.
It was blood he had shed from internal wounds when the Heaven-Defying Demon Absorption Art was broken.
"And you have to keep your promise. Didn't you say the one who draws their sword first loses?"
Hwa Mugi stood his ground, as if refusing to acknowledge it.
"Can a man who will leave a unique name in the history of the Martial World go back on his promise?"
"Once you're all dead, it's a history that only I will remember anyway."
Just then, Geom Mugeuk said something unexpected.
"There are people watching you here besides us, you know."
Who else is here? Not only Hwa Mugi, but the others also had this thought.
Just then, Geom Mugeuk mentioned someone no one had expected.
"The souls dwelling in your heart, aren't they watching?"
"..."
"You can just kill us and be done with it, but they're watching to see what kind of person you are."
Geom Mugeuk added with a sincere gaze.
"Just like me, you should think about your life after you kill us."
A life after killing them?
Hwa Mugi had never once seriously considered it.
Geom Mugeuk's words continued.
"I consider the life after I kill you to be more important. I've lived that way until now."
I will not miss the scenery flowing past the carriage window while only thinking of the destination.
I will not neglect the time I spent gasping for breath at the foot of the mountain for a fleeting moment of joy at its peak.
"After I kill you, I'm going to take my father and Master on a trip. I'll go digging for poisonous herbs with the Poison King, and I'll send the Martial Alliance Leader on a trip with Ha-gun and Ha-ryeong, just the three of them."
"I'll visit the Unorthodox Alliance Leader to get a home-cooked meal, and I'll go on a trip with the Wind Heaven Sect Leader and Grand Strategist Go, just the three of them."
"I'll drink and hang out all night with Squad Leader Cha, who likes my friend over there, and Lee Ahn. Those things are a thousand, ten thousand times more important than killing you."
In truth, he was not speaking to Hwa Mugi.
It was what Geom Mugeuk was saying to his father and the others here.
Let's live like that from now on.
"Just as I have these people, you have those people, right? You wouldn't want to show them the ridiculous sight of you not even keeping a promise, would you?"
Hwa Mugi's face twitched.
He did not like how Geom Mugeuk spoke as if he knew him so well.
"Do you think the ones inside me hold some great meaning to me?"
The Wind Heaven Sect Leader, who was listening, almost blurted out, 'If you're going to ignore them, then you shouldn't use their inner energy or martial arts!' He naturally expected Geom Mugeuk to retort in the same way.
"They have a great meaning, don't they?"
Hwa Mugi flinched, and Geom Mugeuk added with conviction.
"If they were people who meant nothing to you, you wouldn't have let them come out and speak freely before."
Even if that were not the case, how could his relationship with them be meaningless? They must have fought, reconciled, and ignored one another, going through all sorts of things and developing a complex mix of affection and resentment.
As he stared silently at Geom Mugeuk, Hwa Mugi took a step and said.
"Fine, I'll keep my promise."
Surprisingly, he was the first to walk back into the tavern.
When Hwa Mugi first came here, he truly could not have imagined the fight would proceed like this.
Am I going crazy too from hanging out with this madman?
When Hwa Mugi sat at the table he had first occupied, Geom Mugeuk and the others all went inside and sat in their original seats.
As a result, it was as if Geom Woojin had beaten him up and forced him into his seat.
"I want to hear your story too."
At Geom Mugeuk's words, the corner of Hwa Mugi's mouth seemed to lift slightly.
Hwa Mugi's gaze changed in an instant.
"Did you say you were there three hundred years ago?"
Geom Mugeuk could tell.
The Heavenly Will Palace Master, whom he had not yet spoken with, had appeared.
"That's right."
"Did you see me there?"
Geom Mugeuk nodded.
At that time, Geom Mugeuk had infiltrated the Heavenly Will Palace's camp and seen him.
"At that time, Palace Master, you denied the Divine Maiden's prophecy."
The Heavenly Will Palace Master could be certain that Geom Mugeuk's words about being there were true.
Because that was something only he knew.
"As the Divine Maiden prophesied, I failed to achieve Heaven's Will."
A deep regret crossed the Heavenly Will Palace Master's face.
What would have happened if he had listened to her words then? Perhaps he would already be dead, and the descendants of the Heavenly Will Palace would be trying to achieve Heaven's Will.
"Do you know why I've been able to endure until now?"
"I have an idea."
"What do you think it is?"
"It must be because you wanted to confirm if Heaven's Will would truly be achieved."
As if confirming he was correct, the Heavenly Will Palace Master nodded.
"As the Divine Maiden prophesied, only now, after three hundred years, has it become possible to achieve Heaven's Will."
He spoke as if Heaven's Will had already been fully achieved.
"Since you are in that body, you believe you are the one achieving Heaven's Will."
As if his words were unsettling, the reply that came was sharp.
"You will all die today. Because there was a prophecy."
Geom Mugeuk firmly denied his words.
"That prophecy is wrong."
"Prophecies are never wrong!"
"Are you talking about the prophecy you denied three hundred years ago?"
The Heavenly Will Palace Master's expression stiffened, but Geom Mugeuk's words continued.
"The Darkness Palace Master who succeeded the Heavenly Will Palace is dead. His subordinates are all dead too. All that's left is your soul and this Heaven Killing Star."
"As long as my soul lives, Heaven's Will has been achieved."
Then, Geom Mugeuk mentioned someone unexpected.
"The Guardian Palace Master tried to protect you until his last moment, even as his arm was being cut off."
The Heavenly Will Palace Master's eyes wavered.
The image of the Guardian Palace Master trying to protect him came to mind.
Geom Mugeuk poured him a cup of wine.
"Have a drink for him."
Until now, he had kept offering drinks and food to the souls, but the cups and dishes were all thrown to the floor and shattered.
He thought he would finally have a drink, but...
"That's enough."
This time, the Heavenly Will Palace Master refused.
Geom Mugeuk guessed why he would not drink.
"Do you know how he died?"
"I do not."
Even if his voice did not tremble, it was clear he was lying.
If he truly did not know, he would have asked how he had died.
"The Darkness Palace Master killed him. He killed him and obtained the orb containing your souls."
The Heavenly Will Palace Master's gaze faltered.
It was something he had desperately tried to deny.
In his mind, he had imagined many times that the Guardian Palace Master had left the Martial World and lived a happy life until his death.
He imagined him living as the master of a martial hall, having children, and living well before dying, and he imagined him becoming rich and living in luxury before dying.
But the Heavenly Will Palace Master had also suspected it.
That he had died at the hands of the Darkness Palace Master.
The reason he desperately denied that fact was because it was too difficult to accept the reality.
"The Guardian Palace Master died without even being able to close his eyes."
After a brief pause, Geom Mugeuk added.
"I closed them for him."
Not just Geom Woojin, but everyone listened to Geom Mugeuk's words with expressions of astonishment.
It was surprising enough that he had gone back three hundred years, but to have been at the center of that incident and even closed the Guardian Palace Master's eyes...
"Inside the Heaven Killing Star created by the descendants of those who killed that Guardian Palace Master, you claim to have achieved Heaven's Will. Is your Heaven's Will to become a Killing Star?"
The Heavenly Will Palace Master was overcome with passion and rage.
"You think all of this is because of me, don't you? That's why you resent me, right?"
"I don't resent you. Thanks to you, I've gained so much. As for you, who do you resent?"
"I………."
The Heavenly Will Palace Master could not answer easily.
Who should he say? The Darkness Palace Master who betrayed him? Or the Martial Alliance Leader who brought in the Demon Sect? The Secret Vessel that drew him in? Or the heavens above? Or……… himself, for having a foolish dream?
The Heavenly Will Palace Master's gaze changed, and he reverted to Hwa Mugi.
"Do you think you can beat me by provoking them like this?"
Geom Mugeuk replied with a calm gaze.
"That's not why."
"Then why is it?"
"You've been trapped in there for three hundred years. You should know the truth before you die. You should leave one last word before you die."
Hwa Mugi could sense that Geom Mugeuk was speaking from the heart, which made it all the more incomprehensible.
"What's the meaning of such nonsense!"
"It's important. To say the words you've kept in your heart."
Hwa Mugi still could not understand.
"Why are you going this far? He's an enemy you're going to kill anyway, so why!"
"That's right. After today, I will never think of you or those people again. That's why I'm getting it all out today. If you have anything to say, say it all."
Hwa Mugi, at least, had no intention of being swayed by Geom Mugeuk.
"I have nothing to say."
"Then say it to them, not to me. You may see them as enemies, but weren't they your friends, your teachers? Don't take my words the wrong way. Say it while you have the chance. Speaking of which, I should say something too."
Geom Mugeuk truly spoke to everyone.
"As you know, that man has achieved Great Mastery in the Nine Calamities Demon Art. Therefore, if things go wrong, we could lose. I'm saying this in advance in case I die without getting to say my goodbyes."
Geom Mugeuk bowed his head respectfully.
"Thank you for looking upon me so generously, even though this greenhorn has been recklessly stirring things up."
Hoo.
Geom Mugeuk's gaze moved from one person to another, finally landing on his father.
"You know my heart, right?"
Geom Woojin retorted bluntly.
"I don't."
"No, that's too harsh!"
The Fist Demon standing next to him smiled faintly.
"Master, you know, right?"
"I don't know either."
The Wind Heaven Sect Leader next to him, without even being asked, shook his head, saying he knew the least of all.
"You're all so mean!"
After greeting everyone like that, Geom Mugeuk looked up at the sky through the hole in the ceiling.
What could he be thinking?
As Geom Mugeuk looked up at the sky, his gaze was profound.
Since fate had allowed him to arrive on time.
Geom Mugeuk said calmly.
"I will take the final fight."
With his father here, he could fully immerse himself in the fight.
No matter what unexpected situation arose, his father would handle it.
No one objected.
In fact, Geom Woojin had originally intended to finish off the Heaven Killing Star himself.
But seeing his son arrive and the conversations he had with them, this fight was indeed his son's to fight.
Geom Woojin's gaze toward his son was deep, but he said only one thing.
"Be careful."
"Yes, Father."
As Geom Mugeuk rose from his seat, Hwa Mugi also stood up.
Before the fight, Geom Mugeuk poured wine into the cup placed before Hwa Mugi.
"If you don't want to talk, at least have a drink."
Ttororong.
He filled Hwa Mugi's cup, then filled his own.
"You had a hard time dealing with talkative me."
Geom Mugeuk drained his cup in one go.
"Let's end this now."