Absolute Regression - Chapter 828

“You ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍acted so full of yourself, and now you’re hiding behind your father?”

Hwa ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Moogi openly mocked Geom Mugeuk.

But ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍while he might stab with the black sword in his hand, he could not wound Geom Mugeuk with words.

“Of ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍course I’ll hide behind my father—who else would I hide behind? It’s the place I feel most at ease.”

Geom ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Mugeuk showed no shame at all in hiding behind his father.

“And ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍my father should take this chance to show his skills too.”

Geom Woojin slowly stepped out beside the table.

It was the first time he had stepped forward since Hwa Moogi arrived today.

Hwa Moogi also moved to the side, and those seated at the table all rose and lined up behind Geom Woojin.

Was it because his son was watching?

Even facing the Heavenly Killing Star, Geom Woojin showed no tension at all. He was calm and composed to the point of being lofty.

Rather, the one who was tense was the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult.

Though the Heavenly Killing Star had been swayed by Geom Mugeuk’s words, he had fought him himself.

Even without that peculiar protective energy, the man was no ordinary opponent. One might win with words, but winning in combat was not easy.

If the Demonic Cult Leader stepped in on this side, the Heavenly Killing Star might use a completely different method than before.

And yet, the son asked to beat him half to death and seat him again, and the father stepped forward without hesitation.

Even setting those two aside, why was the Fist Demon King so calm? Considering his relationship with the Cult Leader, he should have been the most worried, yet he stood silently watching without even a change in expression.

‘Aren’t you anxious? Am I the only one anxious here!’

The Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult’s gaze shifted to the Poison King.

Since Geom Mugeuk appeared, the Poison King seemed half-lost in his own world. The man who had never taken his eyes off the situation was now repeatedly glancing out the window.

Standing at the boundary between his own world and reality—perhaps he was the one who trusted Geom Mugeuk the most.

The Sword King was silently regulating his internal injuries, but he too showed no sign of worry. Of course, he trusted Geom Woojin, but it was clear he trusted Geom Mugeuk just as much. Since Geom Mugeuk arrived, his expression had completely relaxed.

Meanwhile, Jin Paecheon and Baek Jagang were worried about something slightly different from the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult.

They had already shown their abilities. Now, the only one left was Geom Woojin.

Just how strong was the Demonic Cult Leader?

If Geom Woojin lost, it would be a problem. If he overwhelmingly won, that would also be a problem.

Hwa Moogi and Geom Woojin stood facing each other about ten paces apart.

Despite Hwa Moogi pointing his black sword, Geom Woojin did not draw his own.

Hwa Moogi asked, half in disbelief:

“You’re going to fight barehanded?”

He understood why. Geom Mugeuk had not asked him to kill, but to beat him half to death and seat him again. Even if his son had asked such a thing—

“You’re going to disrespect me like this?”

Hwa Moogi’s eyes sank coldly.

If he had suggested fighting fairly without weapons, he would not have been this angry.

But this—*fight however you want, I’ll beat you with my fists*—felt like outright contempt.

Click.

Hwa Moogi withdrew his sword.

“It’ll be embarrassing if you get beaten in front of your son.”

Geom Mugeuk answered in his stead.

“It’ll be a glorious wound for his son. He’ll boast about it his whole life—saying it’s a wound he took for his son. Because of this filial son, he’ll become a cool father.”

Once again, Hwa Moogi confirmed that he could not deal with Geom Mugeuk with words.

He decided to crush that arrogant face. He would make him beg for his life in front of his son.

‘Let’s see what you’ll say then.’

Geom Mugeuk shouted loudly:

“Alright, then whoever draws their weapon first loses!”

As the two prepared to fight with fists, the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult spoke worriedly:

“His protective energy absorbs external shocks into internal energy. A fistfight is absolutely disadvantageous.”

It was unclear exactly how the Heavenly Killing Star’s Reverse Heaven Demon Absorption Art worked.

Whether it continuously operated alongside the protective energy, or only activated at the moment of impact, was unknown.

But either way, Hwa Moogi activated it in that brief instant when he was struck.

The conclusion was simple: to kill him, one had to tear through the protective energy and drive a blade into his body.

There was no way Geom Woojin, who had observed the previous fight, did not know this.

‘He’s overexerting himself because of the Young Cult Leader.’

Geom Woojin beckoned with his fingers, telling him to come.

At that lofty gesture, Hwa Moogi sneered.

“The weaker side should attack first—”

Before he could finish—

Boom!

Hwa Moogi was slammed into the ground.

In a flash, Geom Woojin had rushed forward, grabbed him by the collar, and smashed him down.

It was so fast that Hwa Moogi could not evade it. His face, lying on the ground, was filled with shock.

“So fast?”

Boom!

Geom Woojin’s fist struck where Hwa Moogi’s face had been.

Craaaack!

The ground caved in around the point of impact, cracks spreading like a spiderweb.

But Hwa Moogi was already rising from a distance away. At the moment the fist came down, he had rolled away instantly.

He was just as fast as Geom Woojin.

Shock filled the faces of those watching.

Hwa Moogi was moving even faster than when he fought them earlier. As his killing intent changed, it seemed he had stepped into a higher level—and indeed, he had.

Yet Geom Woojin had still slammed him down.

Geom Woojin’s figure shot toward Hwa Moogi again.

Hwa Moogi threw a punch toward him. If it came down to internal energy clashing, he was confident he could defeat even the Demonic Cult Leader.

Whoooosh!

Swaaaang!

Just as their fists were about to collide—

Swish.

Geom Woojin’s body shifted to the side.

Whoooosh!

His kick slammed directly into Hwa Moogi’s abdomen.

Thud!

Hwa Moogi slid back several steps. Both he and the onlookers were shocked.

From fist to kick, Geom Woojin’s movement was like lightning, as if the intermediate steps had been erased.

Whooong.

Geom Woojin’s pursuing fist grazed Hwa Moogi’s face. Hwa Moogi leaned back to avoid it, but Geom Woojin had already leapt into the air and struck downward with his foot.

Boom!

The ground split where Geom Woojin stomped. Hwa Moogi narrowly avoided it and retreated further.

He now stood outside, beyond the shattered wall, on the street in front of the Flowing Wind Tavern.

He could not hide the shock on his face. Geom Woojin was far faster and stronger than he had expected.

As Geom Woojin slowly walked forward, everyone followed.

“I’ve never seen Father use his fists and feet before.”

At Geom Mugeuk’s words, the Fist Demon King replied:

“In his younger days, he preferred using his fists.”

“My father?”

“Many were crushed by those fists.”

Geom Mugeuk looked at his father’s back. Every time he heard stories of his father’s youth, he found it hard to imagine—the man who expressed emotions and threw punches.

‘*If the Secret Box was going to send me back, it should’ve sent me to Father’s younger days.*’

The Fist Demon King felt relieved inwardly.

‘He’s become much stronger.’

He knew Geom Woojin had been focusing on martial training recently and had made progress, but he had not realized he had become this strong.

If the Fist Demon King could see it, would the two Alliance Leaders not?

Watching the fight, Jin Paecheon was inwardly astonished. He had been rooting for him, but now that he saw his strength, another concern arose.

He looked at Baek Jagang, and from his gaze, he knew Baek Jagang felt the same.

It was not relief.

It was shock—and worry.

‘The Cult Leader Geom is stronger than us.’

He had not even drawn his sword yet, and it was already clear. If he drew it and fought in earnest, the gap might become even greater.

Was that why? Even though this was not the moment to worry about such things, a thought crossed his mind.

Was it only the Demonic Cult Leader? The Demon Supremes were stronger than ever, and there were outstanding masters like the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult and the Sword King.

And above all—

His gaze turned to Geom Mugeuk.

If even Geom Mugeuk were to follow the will of the Demonic Cult Leader—

It might lead to an unprecedented situation where the Martial Alliance would have to join hands with the Unorthodox Alliance. He had never once imagined such a thing in his life.

Geom Woojin and Hwa Moogi faced each other across the street. Though he had already allowed two attacks, Hwa Moogi still looked relaxed.

“Perhaps because it’s the Demonic Cult Leader’s internal energy—it tastes even better.”

It was exactly the situation the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult had feared.

Yet Geom Woojin showed no concern at all.

Flash.

In an instant, Geom Woojin’s fists flew toward Hwa Moogi in rapid succession. They were unbelievably fast.

He avoided the first, but not the second.

Thud!

Geom Woojin’s fist struck Hwa Moogi’s shoulder.

He had felt it earlier with the kick—it was like striking water. A protective energy unlike anything he had ever experienced.

It felt as though no impact was transmitted at all, as though there should be no pain.

Once again, fists clashed between them.

Geom Mugeuk could feel it—the profound martial intent contained in each of his father’s movements.

To others, it might look like simple exchanges of fists, but why he attacked at that angle, why he dodged like that—

The insights he had gained while achieving the Twelfth Stage Great Completion of the Nine Calamities Demon Art were being expressed.

There was no wasted movement between them. It was a perfect exchange of offense and defense.

It was also a conversation through the body. Attacks were questions, defenses were answers.

And in that exchange, the one asking and answering more precisely was Geom Woojin.

Thud!

Hwa Moogi was sent flying and crashed into sacks of grain displayed in front of a rice shop.

Shaaaar!

Rice poured out like a waterfall from the torn sacks.

Though it rained over his head, Hwa Moogi smiled and gestured for him to come, as if saying he could take as much as he wanted.

The Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult sent a voice transmission to Geom Mugeuk.

—Stop him before the fight drags on. Only the Cult Leader’s internal energy is being consumed.

He believed Geom Woojin was overexerting himself to fulfill his son’s request.

—Because of you, the Cult Leader is overdoing it.

Geom Mugeuk sent an unexpected reply.

—That’s because you don’t know my father well.

—What?

—My father would never fight at a disadvantage for my sake. He’s a cold man when it comes to battle.

He meant that Geom Woojin would never be swayed by emotion into a disadvantageous fight—especially not one like this.

—You saw the previous fight, right?

—I did.

—And yet he still chose to fight with his fists. That means he’s confident he can win. Not because of me.

Even at this moment, Geom Mugeuk trusted his father.

—Even if I worry about everyone else, there’s no need for me to worry about my father.

At that moment, the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult envied Geom Woojin.

To have even one child who trusted him like that—it must be nice.

Hwa Moogi spread his arms wide, provoking him.

“You don’t want to admit it in front of your son, do you? That your arrogance was a mistake.”

Geom Woojin’s fist shot forward again, sinking into the flowing protective energy like water.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Hwa Moogi took all the blows head-on.

It was as if they were engaged in a contest of will.

One saying, *Hit me as much as you want,* the other saying, *Let’s see how long you can endure.*

“At this rate, his internal energy will be completely drained.”

The Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult voiced his concern aloud, hoping Geom Woojin would hear.

Perhaps he was so consumed by anger that he did not realize his energy was being depleted.

Hwa Moogi was driven back as his entire body was pummeled, yet his expression remained bright.

“Your attacks are useless! They don’t hurt at all!”

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Amid the relentless blows, Hwa Moogi shouted:

“Draw your sword! Admit defeat.”

But Geom Woojin’s fists only grew faster.

Thudthudthudthudthudthud!

Driving him against the wall, he unleashed a storm of punches.

They were like waves and a rock. No matter how the waves crashed, the rock did not move. Hwa Moogi endured it all with his protective energy.

It was also like a blacksmith hammering iron—the more it was struck, the stronger and more complete it became.

Yet Geom Woojin did not stop. His fists grew faster and stronger.

Everyone watched in silence. The Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult glanced at Geom Mugeuk again.

‘You’re the only one who can stop this!’

At that very moment—

“Stop!”

A shout burst out.

The Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult thought it came from Geom Mugeuk.

But it did not.

A sword cutting through the air.

Hwa Moogi’s black sword had been drawn, and Geom Woojin had stepped back to avoid it.

Everyone stared in shock. He had endured so well until now. They thought he was simply draining internal energy—

Yet suddenly, Hwa Moogi had drawn his sword. The one who shouted “Stop” was Hwa Moogi himself.

“…Enough.”

His face was twisted in pain.

The rock had cracked under the waves, and the sword had shattered under the hammer.

Geom Mugeuk realized his father had been certain of this outcome all along.

“How did you know he was enduring the pain?”

There were two reasons.

“If his martial arts were perfect, he wouldn’t have tried to exhaust our internal energy from the start.”

The Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult nodded. That was true. If it were truly perfect, given his personality, he would have fought far more arrogantly.

Instead, he had concealed it and focused on draining their energy and injuring them.

And the second decisive reason, Geom Woojin continued

“If he were that meticulous, why did he keep saying he wasn’t in pain while fighting you? He should have pretended to be in pain to make me let my guard down.”

Geom Mugeuk nodded, understanding the reason.

Why else would it be?

“Because it hurt too much.”