“I made a bet with Father on who would win. It’s a wish-granting wager.”
When Geom Mugeuk spoke, infusing his voice with Internal Energy, everyone heard him. The Demon Supremes all turned toward him with interested expressions.
After announcing the bet to them, Geom Mugeuk spoke to his father.
“Now then, in one shijin, we choose who we think will win.”
Geom Mugeuk added one condition.
“And when we decide who to pick, we don’t reveal our choices to each other. We’ll write them on paper and only open them once the final winner is decided.”
“Are you worried someone might change their words?”
“Would I dare do such a thing? And Father wouldn’t either.”
“Then why?”
“Let’s assume I chose my master.”
Naturally, Geom Mugeuk’s gaze turned toward the Fist Demon King.
“Anything could happen. My master might win.”
The Fist Demon King replied bluntly while staring at the river.
“That won’t happen.”
There was nothing more boring than this. He had barely been here long, yet he was already bored.
Even if they were catching fish, what was so fun about it? The thrill of the catch? That was only because they didn’t know the satisfaction of punching something.
If it hadn’t been a competition hosted by the Cult Leader, he would have already left.
“If I chose him, then thinking about Father, how could my master possibly give it his all? And on the other hand, what if Father knew he had chosen my master?”
The Fist Demon King would surely use every trick possible to win. That much was certain, regardless of his boredom.
Geom Woojin nodded.
There were, after all, more Demon Supremes who would watch his reactions.
“Fine. Let’s do as you say.”
Acknowledging that his son was at a disadvantage, Geom Woojin readily accepted the proposal.
As Geom Mugeuk returned to his seat, his eyes met Geom Muyang’s.
“Hyung, keep an eye on who looks likely to win as well. If you get a feeling about someone, let me know quietly. Just don’t tell Father.”
Geom Muyang couldn’t understand his younger brother’s intention. That clever brat wouldn’t have made a bet without thinking.
‘What on earth is he planning?’
If their father hadn’t been there, he would have grabbed him by the collar and shaken him for answers immediately.
Clutching his head as if troubled, Geom Mugeuk walked back to his seat.
“Who should I pick?”
Instead of stopping at his spot, Geom Mugeuk headed toward the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
“Look at this. Even at this fishing spot, after Father, you’re the next person I come to first. Do you see that?”
“You don’t need to come today. Please stop being noisy and go away.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon was serious about fishing.
Today, he intended to show everyone skills worthy of being the Cult Leader’s fishing mentor.
“I’ll stay quiet beside you.”
Geom Mugeuk crouched next to him.
Staring at the float drifting on the river, the two continued speaking in hushed voices.
“What? Now that you’ve caused trouble, are you worried?”
“I did cause trouble, didn’t I?”
“It’s a big one. What were you thinking, staking a wish on this? The Cult Leader is……”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon didn’t finish his sentence, but Geom Mugeuk could guess what he meant. Everyone knew what his father’s wish was.
“So? Who are you picking as the winner?”
“If it were you, who would you choose?”
“Of course, me.”
Geom Mugeuk smiled as if he had expected that.
“Then I’ll choose you.”
So easily? The Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked down at him with that expression, then took a step back.
“Don’t pick me. I’ll obviously win, but don’t pick me anyway. It’s too burdensome. If the Cult Leader’s dream is shattered because of me, he may be the Cult Leader, but he’s still human. He’ll carry that wound in his heart for a long time. I don’t want to remain in his memories as the one who crushed his dream.”
Geom Mugeuk knew well how much he cherished his relationship with his father.
While quietly gazing at the river, Geom Mugeuk suddenly asked,
“Who do you think Father will choose?”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon answered without hesitation again.
“The Cult Leader will obviously choose himself.”
Given his father’s personality, that was highly likely. Especially since this fishing competition was a revenge match staking his pride.
“Then we need to find someone who can beat the Cult Leader. Except me.”
Geom Mugeuk looked around at the Demon Supremes fishing one by one.
Since it was still early, they all sat leisurely watching the river. His gaze stopped on the One-Slash Sword Supreme standing under a tree’s shade.
“Sir, instead of just staring at the water, why don’t you talk with the Sword Supreme and take a walk?”
“In such an important match?”
“That’s why it would be even more moving. ‘Ah, even in such an important match, he wants to spend time with me!’ When you die later, will you regret losing the fishing competition? Or regret not taking a walk with the Sword Supreme in such a beautiful place?”
“Of course I’d regret losing the fishing match. And the Sword Supreme would prefer the Millennium Snow Ginseng over a walk anyway.”
Just as Geom Mugeuk and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon were laughing together,
“Got one!”
At last, someone had caught the first fish.
It was someone entirely unexpected.
The one staring in surprise at the flopping fish at the end of the line was the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme.
Her spot had been considered rather poor by everyone, yet the first catch came from there. And it was quite a large fish.
“Could this be the beginning of an upset?”
At Geom Mugeuk’s words, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon answered curtly.
“Just a blind fish.”
Geom Mugeuk shouted toward her.
“Congratulations! That must be the first fish you’ve caught in your life.”
“Thank you, Young Cult Leader.”
The Soul Reaper Demon Supreme raised the fish with a moved expression.
Geom Mugeuk didn’t forget to tease the Demonic Buddha.
“Can you still stop beginner’s luck?”
He had claimed that as long as he was present, beginner’s luck didn’t exist.
The Demonic Buddha looked at Geom Mugeuk with a meaningful smile.
“Do you know what the greatest enemy of beginner’s luck is?”
“What is it?”
“Time.”
Like an enlightened monk, the Demonic Buddha spoke again.
“If you wait leisurely, beginner’s luck is bound to end. And this competition runs late today, doesn’t it?”
The Demon Supremes listened quietly to their conversation. It had truly been a long time since they had all gathered like this and shared such talk.
Instead of returning to his seat, Geom Mugeuk headed toward the Demon Supreme seated farthest away, the Evil Smiling Demon.
“If you take off your mask, the fish will all gather here just to see that handsome face.”
The Evil Smiling Demon’s eyes curved into a smile behind the mask. The two stood side by side by the river and talked.
Watching them, the Demon Supremes could not help but wonder how the Young Cult Leader had managed to grow so close to someone like the Evil Smiling Demon.
Once again, they were reminded that relationships between people were truly unpredictable.
“Is the Sky Flower Pavilion’s Mistress doing well?”
“Yes, she’s pleased that she can finally focus on her own work again.”
Having been caught up in recent events, she must have neglected the affairs of the Sky Flower Pavilion.
“When I go to the Central Plains, I should pay her a visit and greet her.”
“She’ll be glad if you do, Young Cult Leader.”
Suddenly, Geom Mugeuk grew curious. Perhaps the Sky Flower Pavilion’s Mistress knew something about his future? Maybe she had received a new prophecy regarding the Unification of the Martial World.
“You’re planning to take off your mask today.”
The Evil Smiling Demon had realized it the moment he heard about the bet. Today, at this fishing ground, the Young Cult Leader had made his move.
Yes, with all Eight Demon Supremes gathered, perhaps this was the most fitting moment.
“But how did you predict who would take first place?”
He asked because if Geom Mugeuk had made such a bet, he must have had a plan.
“I didn’t make the bet based on prediction.”
“Then why?”
“If I fail to change Father’s mind by the end of the competition, I’ll leave it to luck at the very end.”
It was half a joke, half the truth.
Whether it was a joke or not, the Evil Smiling Demon trusted him.
“Well done. Aren’t you someone who never loses when it comes to luck, Young Cult Leader?”
“I do have good luck.”
The two looked at each other and smiled.
“If it were you, Soma, who would you choose?”
After pondering for a moment, the Evil Smiling Demon chose an unexpected person.
“If it were me, I would choose the Cult Leader.”
“My father?”
“Yes.”
Since the Evil Smiling Demon did not explain his reason, Geom Mugeuk did not bother to ask.
“I’ll come visit again later.”
As Geom Mugeuk was returning to his spot,
“Got one!”
At that moment, someone caught the second fish.
Once again, it was unexpected. It was the One-Slash Sword Supreme. She shook her head as she looked at the fish flapping at the end of the line.
“You really are frustrating. Of all days, you had to bite the bait of someone fishing for the first time today?”
Looking at her, Geom Mugeuk called out loudly.
“How could one resist beauty? Congratulations, Sword Supreme!”
“Thank you.”
Geom Mugeuk immediately went over to the Demonic Buddha.
“What happens when a whole group of beginners starts riding a streak of luck? Even time itself might not be able to withstand it, don't you think?”
Knowing that Geom Mugeuk had come to tease him, the Demonic Buddha once again became like an enlightened monk.
“As long as beginners are fighting fish, they cannot defeat us. Aren’t we people who fight the mind?”
Geom Mugeuk crouched beside him.
“When did you find the time to go fishing so often?”
“Like you, I enjoy spending time alone.”
“I wander around far more than you do, Demonic Buddha.”
In that regard, the Demonic Buddha resembled him. Though he met many people and seemed to enjoy those encounters, he was someone who preferred being alone more than anyone.
“What do you think of my choice? From your perspective, Demonic Buddha, was it a good choice? Or a failed one?”
“That depends on whose name you write.”
“If it were you, whose name would you write?”
The Demonic Buddha slightly turned his head to look at Geom Mugeuk.
“Haven’t you already written it in your heart?”
“No. If I had, I wouldn't have given Father even a single shijin. I would have written it down immediately.”
“You caused such a big incident without any plan? That sounds like you.”
“You should say, ‘That doesn’t sound like you!’”
After a moment of thought, the Demonic Buddha pointed at someone. Given his confidence in fishing, everyone had expected him to choose himself, but the answer that came from his mouth was the same as the Evil Smiling Demon’s.
“If it were me, I would write the Cult Leader.”
“May I ask why?”
After a brief pause, the Demonic Buddha answered.
“You are not as desperate as the Cult Leader.”
“!”
The Demonic Buddha’s gaze turned toward his father. Geom Mugeuk understood.
The one who had most accurately grasped his father’s wish of Unification of the Martial World might be the Demonic Buddha, who had stepped forward more than anyone to seize power.
“If you think the Cult Leader merely wants to unify the martial world vaguely, that would be a grave misunderstanding.”
He was telling him that the longing was far stronger than he had imagined.
At that moment, another fish was caught.
The beginners’ luck continued.
This time, it was the Poison King. His face was filled with joy. It was the first time anyone had seen the Poison King look so delighted at something.
“Demonic Buddha, at this rate, instead of going to the mountains to gather poisonous herbs, you might have to dive into the water to catch poisonous fish.”
At Geom Mugeuk’s joke, the Demonic Buddha laughed.
“I’ll come again later.”
After parting with the Demonic Buddha and returning to his place, the fourth fish was caught.
The fourth person to catch one was again the Poison King.
As the beginners continued catching fish one after another, changes began to appear.
The golden radiance surrounding the Demonic Buddha grew increasingly intense as he cast his line farther and farther, while the Drunken Demon drank as though his impatience was getting the better of him.
“Look at that. Unlike you, he can't sit back and wait leisurely. He's getting restless.”
When Geom Mugeuk turned toward the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, he found him unfolding the fishing rods he had brought and selecting a different one. He was blaming the equipment.
The change wasn’t limited to the loud trio.
Geom Woojin slowly began walking toward the Poison King. At that sight, everyone’s attention focused.
Naturally, the most tense person was the Poison King.
Geom Woojin extended his hand.
Sssss—
With a single light gesture, a large pit formed beside where the Poison King stood.
With another movement, a small stream of water flowed from the river into it. After filling the pit with water, he placed the fish the Poison King had caught inside.
Two fish swam within the pool.
“From now on, place the fish you catch in here.”
“Yes, Cult Leader.”
“How is it, having tried it?”
“I think it suits me well.”
It was said sincerely.
The Poison King loved nature, and among the Demon Supremes here, he was the one best at idly spacing out.
“I thought as much.”
Geom Woojin walked back to his spot. The Poison King already wore a face as if he had won. The fact that the Cult Leader personally came for him like this was more precious than the Millennium Snow Ginseng.
“You’re not thinking of choosing the Poison King, are you?”
At Geom Mugeuk’s question, Geom Woojin replied with an inscrutable smile.
“Why do you think not? Could I not choose anyone here?”
Watching his father return, Geom Mugeuk let out a light sigh.
“So now you’re even deploying confusion tactics.”
At last, one shijin had passed.
Geom Mugeuk reported the fishing situation as if broadcasting it.
“The Poison King has three, the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme has two, the Drunken Demon has one, and the One-Slash Sword Supreme has one. A total of seven fish have been caught. Their sizes are similar, so there’s no decisive difference yet.”
The rest, Geom Woojin, Geom Mugeuk, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, the Demonic Buddha, the Evil Smiling Demon, and the Fist Demon King, had yet to catch a single fish.
After reporting the situation, Geom Mugeuk stood before his father.
“Have you decided who today’s winner will be?”
Geom Woojin nodded.
All the Demon Supremes’ gazes were fixed on the two.
From here on, depending on the names written, the fate of the martial world could change.
The two each wrote a name on paper. Geom Woojin wrote without hesitation and folded it so it could not be seen.
Geom Mugeuk, who had been slower, suddenly shouted again as he handed his over.
“Ah, this isn’t right.”
Fwoooosh.
The paper in Geom Mugeuk’s hand burst into flames. After burning it with Heat Yang Energy, he wrote the name again. Geom Woojin and the Demon Supremes regarded even this commotion as part of Geom Mugeuk’s strategy.
Who on earth had the two written?
Geom Mugeuk handed both his and his father’s papers to his brother.
“Hyung, hold onto these.”
Geom Muyang asked in surprise,
“What if I write different names for Father and then later reveal the winner’s name?”
“As if you’d do that. And even if you did, would Father really say I won because of a name you manipulated?”
That was true.
Smiling, Geom Muyang accepted the papers and tucked them into his clothes.
Geom Mugeuk then asked his father loudly so everyone could hear.
“Can't we just live like this, fishing together and enjoying ourselves?”
“How long do you think this enjoyment will last? It will end when the sun sets.”
“The next day we go hunting, the day after we go on a picnic, then we drink, then we go punish bad people. There’s so much to do.”
Geom Woojin gave no answer to his son’s words.
“Father.”
Instead of overturning the drinking table, Geom Mugeuk sat across from his father’s table.
And at last, he asked the question he had never once asked before.
“What kind of martial world is it that you dream of?”
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