Chapter 678: Eating, Drinking, and Rolling Around
Chapter 678: Eating, Drinking, and Rolling Around
“You’ve changed lately.”
At the sound of the voice behind him, Go Wol turned to find the Pungcheon Cult Leader standing there.
“What do you mean, Cult Leader?”
The Pungcheon Cult Leader looked thoroughly dissatisfied with Go Wol’s polite demeanor.
“Starting with that cold, formal way you speak to me—that’s a change right there.”
“Are there not many eyes watching us here?”
The two were standing in the Inner Court of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
“Eyes? To hell with the eyes! No one is paying us any mind!”
Of course, everyone was paying attention. Who would dare ignore the former Pungcheon Cult Leader and the master of the current Soul-Seizing Demon Lord?
Having returned to the Cult before Geom Mu-geuk, the Pungcheon Cult Leader had sought out Go Wol first. However, even after his return, Go Wol was so busy that it was difficult to catch even a glimpse of him. This was the source of the Pungcheon Cult Leader’s frustration.
How could Go Wol not know what he was feeling? For today, he decided to stop using busyness as an excuse.
“Old man.”
At Go Wol’s sudden drop of honorifics, the Pungcheon Cult Leader’s expression actually softened.
“I truly enjoy my work.”
The Pungcheon Cult Leader asked pointedly, “Do you really?”
He looked at Go Wol with a piercing gaze.
“I’m telling you, you’ve changed. Before, I could hear your heart beating, but now all I hear is the sound of your brain whirring. You used to be passionate, but now you’ve grown cold.”
And, as always, he shifted the blame to one specific person.
“This is all the Young Cult Leader’s fault. He should have known that giving work to a perfectionist like you would lead to this. No, he probably did know. A man that clever couldn't have missed it.”
In truth, the Pungcheon Cult Leader liked Geom Mu-geuk.
However, seeing Go Wol suffer like this made him angry. He felt as though Go Wol had been set free only to put on his own shackles again. To him, Go Wol would always come before the Young Cult Leader.
“Did you turn me into a cold-blooded man just so you could insult the Young Cult Leader?”
Even at Go Wol’s joke, the Pungcheon Cult Leader’s mood didn't lift.
“What did the Young Cult Leader say? It’s obvious. ‘I’m sorry for making you work so hard. Let’s endure just a bit longer. I’m counting on you!’ Am I right?”
“I haven’t met him yet.”
“What?”
“He went hunting with the Cult Leader and the First Young Master.”
The Pungcheon Cult Leader looked dumbfounded.
“The real cold-blooded one is over there. See? Even if I try not to badmouth the Young Cult Leader, I can’t help it. No matter how loyal you are, the Young Cult Leader puts family first. It’s always family first with him.”
“Isn’t that only natural?”
Go Wol stared intently at the Pungcheon Cult Leader and added a question.
“Aren't I your priority? To me, you come before anything else.”
“...!”
That was his way of saying they were family. It was also the perfect counter-method to instantly dissolve the Pungcheon Cult Leader’s anger.
“Because we both know we are that kind of person to each other, the Young Cult Leader uses me, and I am loyal to him. There is a certain trust that comes from a man who has things he must protect.”
After a brief silence, the Pungcheon Cult Leader spoke.
“It’s because you say such easygoing things that you end up suffering like this every time.”
Go Wol’s gaze drifted toward the Tongcheon Pavilion in the distance.
“I have to work hard. I am on the path to becoming the master of that place.”
It was the first time he had openly stated his ambition: to become the Chief Strategist of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
“Old man, I’m not cold. I’m more passionate than I’ve ever been.”
“Good for you, being so passionate,” the old man grumbled.
Go Wol smiled at the petty complaining.
“Old man, the Young Cult Leader is a man great enough for us to bet our entire lives on. We’re the ones using him.”
The Pungcheon Cult Leader looked up at the distant Daecheon Mountain and shouted loudly.
“Lucky Young Cult Leader! He has a passionate strategist who understands everything, a father, and an older brother. Dammit! Is a man without family supposed to just live in sorrow?”
Go Wol stepped forward and stood side-by-side with the Pungcheon Cult Leader.
“What do you mean, no family? You’re making your family feel bad.”
*
The hunt continued on the second day.
To be precise, it was the discovery of prey. His brother continued his Qi Emission training, using it to locate all sorts of animals. Blood didn't lie; his skill in Qi Emission grew rapidly.
He was nearly as fast as Mu-geuk himself, who possessed the Heavenly Martial Physique, and the reason was clear. It was because their father’s realm of martial arts had reached even greater heights, and he was teaching them accordingly.
“You’re teaching Brother better than you taught me! You never gave me explanations like that when I was learning!”
Their father didn't even pretend to hear him, focusing entirely on teaching his eldest son. He was pouring out all the affection he hadn't been able to give over the years.
As they practiced Qi Emission, they finally caught something big.
“It looks like a tiger!”
At Geom Mu-yang’s words, Geom Wu-jin nodded.
“Since we’ve come hunting, we should at least catch one tiger before we go.”
Geom Mu-yang leaped forward first, with Geom Wu-jin and Geom Mu-geuk following close behind.
Landing lightly on a rock, Geom Mu-yang silently drew his bowstring. Geom Wu-jin and Geom Mu-geuk landed soundlessly behind him. Even if it weren't a tiger but a giant spirit creature possessing an inner core, it could not escape this hunt.
In the distance, the tiger came into view. It was a truly massive beast.
The string was pulled taut. The arrow, which looked ready to fly and pierce the tiger at any moment, did not launch.
Geom Mu-yang spoke respectfully to his father.
“Its size makes it look like a divine tiger protecting Daecheon Mountain. I wish to spare it.”
His father nodded.
Just as the two were about to turn away without regret—
“It’s not because of those little guys over there?”
Geom Mu-geuk was pointing to a spot. A short distance from the tiger were two cubs. If he had seen them, his father and brother must have seen them too.
“Father, you should tell Brother too. Tell him it’s just cheap sentimentality that’ll get him killed. If I had done that, you would have scolded me! You would have told me to catch it immediately and turn its hide into a rug for my bed!”
Geom Mu-geuk saw it—one corner of his father’s lip curling up slightly.
Yes, if it were you, you would have.
Geom Wu-jin spoke firmly as he turned to walk away.
“One does not kill spirit creatures recklessly.”
His brother followed behind with long strides.
Geom Mu-geuk shouted toward the tiger cubs following their mother in the distance.
“Hang in there, second-borns! Let’s do our best!”
A smile played on the lips of Geom Wu-jin as he walked in the lead. It was a rare and precious smile, but unfortunately, his two sons could not see it.
*
That night, the campfire blazed again.
Geom Mu-geuk liked this time even better than the day. Roasting meat with his father and brother, sharing drinks, and talking about this and that under the influence of alcohol. And when the poetic atmosphere of a starlit sky was added, as it was tonight, his mood improved even further.
“Father, may I relax my posture a bit?”
“When have you ever found me difficult?”
Geom Mu-geuk laughed and relaxed. He stretched his legs out and leaned back, propping himself up with his arms. He looked up at the stars in the night sky. A cool breeze ruffled his hair. The words “Ah, this is great!” escaped his lips naturally.
“Brother, you relax too. The true charm of camping is eating, drinking, and rolling around.”
Given his brother’s personality, such a thing was impossible in front of their father. Still, compared to that dawn when they first set out for the hunt, his brother was quite relaxed.
“Father, I’m going to read a book for a bit.”
From the leather pouch that seemed to hold everything, a book emerged. Since he hadn't expected anyone to read a book on a hunting trip, Geom Mu-yang asked curiously.
“What book is it?”
Geom Mu-geuk held up the cover. It was a collection of poetry.
“You... you read poetry?”
“Ugh, Brother. All you know is how to kill people. Do you even know what poetry is? Do you know literature?”
He had an intention behind bringing out the book and saying these words.
“Well, I suppose you know a bit about music.”
At the mention of music, Geom Mu-yang flinched.
Surely you wouldn't?
Sorry, Brother.
Before Geom Mu-yang could send a Voice Transmission to stop him, Geom Mu-geuk spoke to their father first.
“Father, did you know Brother knows how to play the danso?”
Startled, his brother looked at their father. Hardly anyone knew, so he wondered how his father could possibly know. Surprisingly, his father nodded slowly.
“See? I told you. Father probably already knew.”
Truly, their father knew many things about his two sons. It was only surprising that he had never shown it.
“Brother, for the sake of Father’s hidden affection, we should have another drink.”
Geom Mu-geuk reached into his leather pouch to pull out more liquor. But instead of a bottle, something else came out.
The moment he saw it, Geom Mu-yang let out a groan. It was a danso.
“Huh? Why is this in here? I must have packed it by mistake while I was rushing.”
As if! Geom Mu-yang shook his head.
Their father did not stop his younger son’s mischief. What did that mean? If his brother had set his mind to it, he would end up playing eventually.
Geom Mu-yang stepped forward first.
“My skills are lacking, but may I play a song?”
Geom Wu-jin nodded.
Geom Mu-geuk felt he understood the heart behind that blunt nod. His father had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
Meanwhile, Geom Mu-yang took his stance and brought his trembling lips to the flute. He was likely more nervous now than if he were standing before tens of thousands of people.
When the clear, deep sound flowed out, Geom Mu-geuk saw it. His father gently closed his eyes.
The words that had gone unsaid resonated as a beautiful melody. The tune was like the sound of water flowing through a valley, or the flickering of the campfire. The pouring stars seemed to sparkle even more, intoxicated by the rhythm.
The clear, deep sound that pierced the heart echoed through Daecheon Mountain.
When the performance finally ended, Geom Wu-jin opened his eyes. The gaze he directed at his son was soft.
“It is truly good.”
Even just saying “It is good” would have been high praise, but he had added the word “truly.”
“Thank you, Father.”
Geom Mu-geuk had never seen his brother’s face look so unburdened. Perhaps something that had weighed heavily on his brother’s heart had vanished during this hunt.
When Geom Mu-yang turned his gaze toward him, Geom Mu-geuk shouted.
“Believe me! I didn't mean to pack the danso. I put it in thinking it was a skewer for roasting meat!”
He didn't know if he had ever said this to his younger brother before.
“Thank you.”
The playfulness vanished from Geom Mu-geuk’s face.
“Thank you, Brother.”
Their father watched his sons exchange words of gratitude in silence.
“Who do we take after to be so cool? As you’ve seen, Father, your sons are the type who read poetry and play instruments.”
As he spoke boastfully, Geom Mu-geuk saw it. A flicker of poignant longing passed through his father’s eyes. It was an emotion he had never felt from his father before.
But the emotion vanished in an instant. His father lay down, turning his back to them on the tiger skin.
“Let’s sleep.”
*
The next day, the three of them climbed to the summit of Daecheon Mountain.
This was a place where the boundary between heaven and earth blurred. The surrounding mountain peaks looked like martial arts masters standing tall. The three stood at the summit, gazing at the majestic scenery.
The last time he had come up here with his father, his father had told him that he used to climb this peak whenever his martial arts training became difficult. In his father’s current silhouette, he saw the overlap of his father’s younger self.
What were you thinking then, and what are you thinking now?
Then, his father asked without turning around.
“Your Nine Calamities Demonic Art has reached the Ninth Star, hasn't it?”
It wasn't just the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Art his brother had learned that his father saw through.
“Yes, I’ve reached the Ninth Star.”
What had it been like for his father?
“How long did it take you to reach Great Achievement from the Ninth Star?”
The period it took his father was...
“Seven years.”
Even that was a timeframe possible only because his father possessed innate talent.
“For you, it should be possible within five years.”
Geom Wu-jin acknowledged his son’s martial talent to that extent. He himself had not reached the Ninth Star at Mu-geuk’s age.
If he achieved Great Achievement within five years, he would become a legend—the one to reach Great Achievement in the Nine Calamities Demonic Art faster than any previous Cult Leader, even before ascending to the position himself.
“If your heart feels stifled or you hit a wall while training, climb this Daecheon Mountain. The energy of the mountain will surely help you.”
“Yes, I will.”
Geom Mu-geuk spoke triumphantly to Geom Mu-yang.
“This is the kind of person I am. I’m the successor to whom Father lends this entire great mountain!”
Usually, his brother would argue back, asking how that counted as lending it or if that was something to brag about to a brother who had been pushed out of the succession.
“I’m envious.”
For a moment, Geom Mu-geuk flinched. He couldn't think of a response to such a powerful blow.
“You’re ignoring me right now, aren't you? Ah, Brother, you’re saying that because you don't know, but Father brewed liquor the year I was born too. He’s just doing this to tease me. Come on, Father. Confess now! ‘My son, the day you were born!’”
Geom Wu-jin began walking away with long strides.
“The sun is setting. Let’s head down.”
Geom Mu-yang approached Geom Mu-geuk.
“I told you it’s a misunderstanding!”
“Give me the pack.”
He was asking for the luggage Mu-geuk was carrying on his back.
“It’s fine. Today, I’ll serve Father until the very end.”
After a moment of silence, his brother nodded and turned away. After walking a short distance, he looked back and asked.
“Is it not hard?”
Mu-geuk knew he wasn't just referring to the weight on his back.
“Of course it’s hard. I’m dying here.”
At those words, his brother gave a thin smile and continued walking.
Geom Mu-geuk stood there, watching the two of them walk away. His brother was walking one step closer to their father than when they had climbed up.
Since they had grown one step closer, they were now in a relationship that required twice the effort. Disappointment and hurt were things that only waited for people to become close.
The roar of a tiger echoed from somewhere in the distance. Thinking it might be the tiger his brother had spared, he followed after the two.
“I thought you’d surely carry the luggage on the way down, but Father! Brother knows how to kill people and play the flute, but he’s such a cold-hearted man. Can you hear me? Father!”