Absolute Regression - Chapter 860

Even ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍if it was not a wish, they could have gone.

If ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍his father simply said, “Let’s go,” they could go tomorrow, the day after, or even every single day.

They ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍could hunt all year round. And yet, his father had made this into a wish.

“I ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍want to go hunting with you, just the two of us.”

Perhaps ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍it was because it was something he had never expected?

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍moment he heard those words, an indescribable surge of emotion rose from deep within Geom Mugeuk’s chest.

It was not something that could be hidden, and the Demon Supremes who were watching him all felt that overwhelming emotion together. They all knew how much Geom Mugeuk had worked for the Cult Leader, and so they shared in that great joy.

Geom Mugeuk smiled brightly as he spoke.

Just as his father had done in the past. Back then, his father had made promises whenever he pleased, without giving a thought to his son's circumstances.

“Departure is tomorrow morning!”

At such a very Geom Mugeuk-like answer, the Demon Supremes laughed. Who in the world would dare speak like that to the Cult Leader? It was quite a sight to behold.

A faint sneer formed at the corner of Geom Woojin’s lips.

Geom Mugeuk had seen his father laugh heartily today, and now even this sneer. That was enough. He had seen all of his father’s smiles for today.

“Good.”

Geom Woojin accepted readily.

‘Thank you, Father.’

Even until the very end, Geom Mugeuk did not neglect the progress of the fishing tournament.

“Now then, before we conclude the fishing tournament, the Cult Leader will say a few words.”

In truth, today’s gathering had been a place for him and his father, but it had also been a place for his father and the Demon Supremes.

Geom Woojin looked around at the Demon Supremes. He met each of their gazes one by one, and the look in his eyes was gentler than ever before.

Especially today, the Poison King, the Drunken Demon, and the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme had been deeply moved by the Cult Leader. The small puddle, the question asking whether it was alright to drink liquor, and the elixir given only to them had all stirred their hearts.

This keeps the original meaning and Murim tone while making the sentence flow more naturally.

What made the impact even greater was that it had come from someone who seemed like he would never do such things.

“It was enjoyable today. If there is another opportunity, let us have a gathering like this again. You’ve all worked hard.”

At the short farewell, the Demon Supremes clasped their fists and greeted in unison.

“We enjoyed it as well, Cult Leader.”

Geom Mugeuk shouted loudly.

“Then, with this, the First Heavenly Demon Cup Fishing Tournament comes to an end!”

Thus, with an unexpected outcome, the fishing tournament concluded.

Geom Muyang gathered Geom Woojin’s fishing rod, while the Demon Supremes returned to their spots to collect theirs. The fish they had caught were released back into the river.

Geom Woojin left the place together with Geom Muyang.

The Demon Supremes followed behind in a single line, carrying their fishing rods or slinging them over their shoulders. They could have taken their time returning, and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon or the One-Slash Sword Supreme could have even taken a walk.

But they all followed the Cult Leader.

Seeing that he did not force Geom Mugeuk into war, the Demon Supremes felt deep respect for the Cult Leader.

Of course, it was not entirely a good thing for Geom Mugeuk. Because of this kind of father, the moment he said, “Now is the time,” they would all charge into the battlefield without hesitation.

Geom Mugeuk shouted from behind.

“Now then, anyone who wants to ask today's winner about fishing techniques, feel free to do so! Don't you want to know the secret to catching a Thousand-Year Carp Core Essence? The feeling of reeling one in... surely you're curious, aren't you? No, why is everyone in such a hurry? Stay and keep me company for a while! It's not like any of you have anything to do anyway!”

But not a single Demon Supreme turned back.

And so, his father and the Demon Supremes grew farther away.

Geom Mugeuk watched them until they disappeared from view.

The sight of the eight Demon Supremes following behind his father. That perfect image of their backs as they walked side by side with their wings spread wide was the very scene he had most wanted to see when he proposed this fishing tournament.

‘You did well, Father.’

Geom Mugeuk’s gaze returned to the river.

At some point, his eyes had returned to their original calm state.

Geom Mugeuk stood there alone until the sunset fully faded and darkness fell.

--- 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

At dawn the next day, Geom Mugeuk left the cult together with his father.

Just like the first time they had gone hunting together, Geom Mugeuk carried a large leather pack. No—he had brought even more than back then.

“You know, don’t you? How many necessary things are packed in here.”

Geom Woojin climbed the mountain with his hands behind his back, and Geom Mugeuk followed behind him.

They had hunted together many times before. There had even been hunts with his older brother, the three of them together.

But today’s hunt was more special than any before.

“Uncle Hui didn’t come today.”

Geom Mugeuk had now reached the level where he could even detect Hui’s concealment with certainty.

Geom Woojin nodded. He truly had not brought even Hui along.

“So it’s really just you and me, Father.”

It was an opportunity to share the most honest, unreserved thoughts buried deep in their hearts. That must have been why his father had left Hui behind in the first place.

“I may be a man of few words, but if I end up talking a lot today, please understand!”

Though he said that, Geom Mugeuk quietly followed behind his father.

Sunlight filtering through the branches, the sound of grass brushing beneath their feet, the murmur of water flowing through the valley below, the scent of pine resin, the earthy fragrance carried by the wind, and the sight of a squirrel scurrying up a tree.

Geom Mugeuk fully enjoyed walking through the mountains with his father.

How long had they wandered like that?

“Tiger tracks.”

It was a fairly large tiger.

“Here, this way.”

If they used martial arts to pursue it, they could find it in an instant, but his father did not do so. He did not release internal energy to detect where the animal was either.

His father purely enjoyed the hunt itself. Yesterday he had been a fisherman; today he was a hunter.

Geom Mugeuk felt that his father’s heart now was the same as his own when he had first regressed and suggested they go hunting together.

Simply wanting to grow closer to his father.

Wanting to spend time with his son.

That was why, as if by unspoken agreement, neither of them brought up the Unification of the Martial World.

“It seems it found prey here and gave chase.”

Just by looking at the tracks, his father understood the tiger’s situation.

After tracking for a while,

They spotted the tiger beneath a rock in the distance.

Geom Mugeuk drew the bowstring taut.

But in the end, he did not release the arrow.

In that brief moment, the tiger vanished into the wilderness.

“Why didn’t you shoot?”

Geom Mugeuk gave an absurd answer.

“It looked like the cub of that tiger my older brother spared back then.”

At the time, Geom Muyang had seen the cubs near the tiger and could not release his bowstring.

“If it had been the first one, I would’ve shot. But looking at it, that was definitely the second one.”

At that nonsensical joke, Geom Woojin looked dumbfounded and walked toward the sound of water.

The two quenched their thirst with the flowing stream.

“Since we lost it anyway, shall we rest for a bit?”

They sat on a rock beside the stream. The sound of flowing water was so clear and lively that simply sitting there lifted their spirits.

Then, for a moment, Geom Woojin became a fisherman instead of a hunter.

“How did it feel, catching the Inner Core of the Thousand-Year Carp Core Essence?”

It was a question asked out of pure curiosity.

“It was incredible. The moment it took the bait, I knew it was no ordinary catch. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon once said something like this: when you're fishing, there are times when it feels as though you're pulling in the entire world. That was exactly how it felt when I reeled in the Core Essence of a Thousand-Year Carp.”

Geom Mugeuk smiled and subtly boasted.

“Honestly, you’re jealous, aren’t you?”

Geom Woojin could not bring himself to say he wasn’t. More than the Inner Core of the Inner Core of the Thousand-Year Carp Core Essence, he coveted the thrill of catching it.

“The Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Demonic Buddha will probably see fish floating before their eyes for a few days.”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon had ranked first in the number of fish caught and finished third in big catches. If he had also taken first place in the big catch category, he would have been truly regretful.

As for the Demonic Buddha, he might even be by the riverside today, fishing and scolding innocent fish, saying, ‘You should’ve been caught like this yesterday!’

In truth, though Geom Mugeuk did not know it, Geom Woojin had also been determined to take first place. Fortunately, winning the bet had lessened his regret at not placing first, but his desire for that top spot was stronger than anyone’s.

“Let’s hold the second tournament next year.”

“There won’t be any Millennium Snow Ginseng left at this rate.”

“We put up Millennium Snow Ginseng for the first one, so we should offer something else for the second. There are plenty of martial art mnemonic verses in the Heavenly Demon Library, aren’t there?”

Geom Mugeuk naturally brought up the topic of the Demon Supremes.

“I felt it again this time. Just how deeply the Demon Supremes care for you, Father.”

“Isn't it you they care for?”

“No, it's you. When I watch them, I can feel it.”

This was not something he said just to please his father—it was the truth.

“Come to think of it, the reason I’ve been able to act so freely is because you were here, isn’t it? The reason the Demon Supremes tolerated my antics must be the same. Thanks to you, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed borrowing the tiger’s authority.”

Geom Woojin stared at his son and asked,

“Then why are you trying to give up this position?”

As expected, his father already knew. Why he had given the Inner Core of the Inner Core of the Thousand-Year Carp Core Essence to his older brother.

It was because he intended to hand over the position of Young Cult Leader to him. No matter how much he thought about it, he did not have the confidence to spend his entire life guarding the throne mat.

He had realized it keenly when he had acted as temporary Cult Leader. That path was not his. He wanted to wander the Central Plains and live freely.

“It’s not because I dislike it.”

If he were to dislike the position his father had protected his entire life, there could be no greater disrespect.

“It’s because my brother suits it better.”

Geom Woojin silently stared at Geom Mugeuk. Though he was his own son, he felt he could not fully understand him. Giving up this position so easily was no simple matter.

“Of course, I have a strong sense of responsibility, so I would lead the cult well. I worry a lot and tend to prepare in advance, so I would handle crises well too. But if someone asked me whether I would be happy doing that, I don’t think I could answer yes. On the other hand, if you asked my brother, he would say he’s happy. You can tell just by looking at how he handles his duties within the cult right now.”

His brother handled things so well that it could almost be called perfect.

Geom Woojin nodded quietly, as if agreeing.

“My brother becomes the Cult Leader, and I live freely. Both of us will be happy. Rather than a choice where both are unhappy, I’ve chosen one where both of us can be happy.”

Geom Woojin did not deny or refute his words. As Geom Mugeuk said, the one more suited to the position of Cult Leader was the eldest son.

The problem was this.

“Even if I permit it, Yang will never accept your will. You might be able to make him consume the Inner Core of the Thousand-Year Carp Core Essence, but you won’t be able to seat him in your place.”

His father knew his older brother better than anyone.

Would the brother who had lost the power struggle truly sit in a position his younger brother had given up?

His pride would never allow it.

“Father, how can I persuade him? Should I just run away? If I run away, what can he do?”

Of course, he did not mean it seriously.

If he did, his brother would live a miserable life forever, even if he became the Cult Leader.

“I fought so hard to seize that position in the succession struggle… and now I have to fight an even harder battle just to give it back!”

As Geom Woojin watched his son’s exaggerated complaint, he suddenly spoke.

“You’re confident you can persuade your brother, aren’t you?”

His father was truly sharp.

“Yes, I am confident I can persuade him.”

“Why are you so confident?”

“Because I know his weakness.”

At the word “weakness,” Geom Woojin flinched. And that weakness was something he had never even considered.

“My brother truly loves this cult.”

“!”

“In that regard, he takes after you exactly, Father.”

After a brief pause, Geom Woojin asked,

“If you can pass that position on as you intend, what do you plan to do?”

“I plan to travel the Central Plains with Lee Ahn. I promised before that I’d take her.”

To visit every famous place, to see every breathtaking view, and to let her taste all the renowned dishes.

“It’s time I kept that promise.”

There was also another purpose.

“I’ll use this opportunity to help Lee Ahn find her true self.”

It was something that might not have been easily understood, yet Geom Woojin nodded.

Having lived as a guard martial artist for so long, she was inevitably bound to his son in some way. He likely meant to break that.

“If I break the barrier that binds Lee Ahn, she might leave me.”

Geom Woojin said something unexpected.

“It could be the opposite.”

“The opposite?”

“She might hold onto you. As a man.”

“That’s not her personality.”

At that, Geom Woojin gave a subtle smile. As if to say, “Is that really so?”—and more than that, “What do you even know about women?”

Talking about women—with his father, of all people? This was even more precious than the Inner Core of the Thousand-Year Carp Core Essence.

Geom Mugeuk was delighted. Seeing this side of his father, and having such a conversation, felt unfamiliar yet incredibly good.

“Perhaps when you were younger—”

As if he already knew what was coming, his father stood up.

“Let’s go.”

“That just makes it more suspicious, you know?”

Geom Mugeuk raised his voice as he followed behind.

“Is the reason I want to form the Four Handsome Men and leave the cult also because I inherited your blood?”

A campfire burned on the mountainside as night fell early.

Though they had come for a proper hunt, the two had not caught a single animal. If they had wanted, they could have hunted every beast in the mountain, yet today’s hunt had ended in failure.

For some reason, Geom Mugeuk did not want to see blood today, and perhaps sensing his son’s feelings, his father had not hunted either.

“I expected this, so I prepared in advance. A feast for failed hunters.”

Geom Mugeuk took out food from his leather pack. Though they were dried provisions, they were far too splendid to be called hastily prepared—along with his father’s favorite liquor.

“Please, have a drink.”

After receiving the drink, Geom Woojin filled his son’s cup.

The two drank pleasantly together.

Geom Mugeuk found this moment—just the two of them—comfortable and enjoyable. Yet at the same time, he felt a strange tension. Today was a day where he did not know what kind of conversation might unfold.

After a few drinks, Geom Woojin suddenly asked, as if something had come to mind,

“If you had won the bet……”

His son had said there was something he wanted to ask him.

“What was it you wanted to ask?”