Chapter 844 : I Can’t Give Up Because of You
Chapter 844: I Can’t Give Up Because of You
“Didn’t you say you were going to play to your heart’s content from now on? What are you doing here?”
Without taking his eyes off the book, Blood Heaven Blade Demon asked Geom Mugeuk.
Geom Mugeuk sat across from him, busily writing something on a sheet of paper since earlier.
“I’m organizing the things I have to do from now on.”
“What could there be so much of?”
The paper was filled with tasks. They were all things he had postponed, thinking he would deal with them after catching Hwa Moogi.
First, there were many people he needed to meet.
He wanted to meet Jin Hagun and Bih Sa-in and share a celebratory drink. Although the conclusion had been made by their cult, the two of them had gone through that long process together with him. If not for his connection with them, the Martial Alliance Leader and the Unorthodox Alliance Leader would not have come to help them. Ah, he also wanted to see Jin Haryeong and Han Seol of the Ice Palace.
It had been a while, so he wanted to have a drink with Seo Daeryong and Jangho, and he also planned to share a drink with the Sword King and Cha Iran.
He also needed to meet the Demon Supremes. First, he wanted to speak separately with the Evil Smiling Demon, and once the Drunken Demon arrived at the Main Division, he wanted to drink together with him.
He also had to take care of the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme, who had fought excellently as the youngest, and he wanted to visit the Poison King to talk about this battle as well. Since the Poison King had done nothing, he might actually have the most to say.
“Who else do you need to see?”
While reading, Blood Heaven Blade Demon glanced at what was written on the paper.
“What’s this? ‘The Four Handsome Men—Central Plains Expedition?’”
It was the most eye-catching line among what was written.
“Ah, that’s the plan to go out and have fun in the Central Plains with the representative handsome men of our cult. I made that plan a long time ago.”
“Who are these four?”
Curiosity flickered across Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s face.
“Of course, the first is me. Next is the Evil Smiling Demon, then the Poison King, and finally the Drunken Demon. That makes four. To be honest, there was a time I lost in popularity to my father, but that was because of Daeryong’s sister-in-law’s unique taste.”
What Blood Heaven Blade Demon was curious about was this:
“Is that masked guy really that handsome?”
“He’s no joke.”
The dissatisfaction in Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s expression could be summed up like this:
A masked man, a drunkard, and a poison freak are grouped together as the Four, and I’m left out?
In the end, he couldn’t hold back and casually asked,
“What about me?”
Geom Mugeuk looked at him and smiled.
“If we’re judging by how tight your skin is right now, then of course you’d come right after me, sir. But if we go out as five, would that be acceptable to the Sword Supreme?”
Of course it wouldn’t. As Blood Heaven Blade Demon turned his gaze back to the book, Geom Mugeuk asked with a smile,
“How was your trip?”
“It wasn’t bad.”
Though he said that, it had been the most enjoyable journey of Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s life. He had seen many places he wondered if he would ever visit again. Above all, the fact that he was together with the One-Slash Sword Supreme made it all the better.
There were even many moments when he couldn’t quite get used to her treating him kindly.
What he found regrettable was that he wished he had come when he was younger.
“You should travel diligently while you’re young.”
At those words, Geom Mugeuk began writing something again.
A trip with the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult, a trip with Gowol, a trip alone with his brother, and a trip with Lee Ahn. And a trip with his father.
“Why are you taking care of all the men? Just go have fun with Lee Ahn.”
If he suggested they go somewhere together, Lee Ahn would truly be happy. She had followed him like a shadow all her life, silently staying by his side.
If she met another man, she would probably show a far more charming side, using all nine of her tails—but in front of him, the Young Cult Leader, she was always busy hiding them.
“Do you have any thoughts of getting married?”
At the sudden question, Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s hand, which had been turning the page, paused for a moment.
“Marriage, at my age?”
“What does age matter?”
“People will point fingers.”
“I’ll cut off every one of those fingers.”
Blood Heaven Blade Demon lifted his head and looked at Geom Mugeuk.
“And you?”
“As for me, what marriage at my age? It’s still too early. My brother hasn’t married yet either.”
“Do you at least have the intention?”
Geom Mugeuk turned his head and looked out the window. For some reason, the moon was especially bright tonight.
“I’m not sure if I can make someone happy.”
“What do you mean, make them happy? Marriage isn’t about keeping your partner from getting rained on. It’s about willingly getting drenched together.”
Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s gaze returned to his book.
Geom Mugeuk looked at him and said,
“Perhaps the Sword Supreme is also waiting to get rained on together with you.”
Blood Heaven Blade Demon let out a self-deprecating chuckle.
“We… are just pitiful.”
After watching him for a moment, Geom Mugeuk began writing something again.
Under *Get my brother married* and *Get Ak Gunhak married*, he added in very small letters, *Make sure the elder as well.*
And that wasn’t all he had to do.
During this battle, his Nine Calamities Demon Art had surpassed the Tenth Star and reached the Eleventh Star. He still had to bring it to the Twelfth Star Greatness. That was something he needed to accomplish in the shortest time possible using the Heavenly Time Secret Art.
And he also wanted to spend an entire day lazing around alone within the Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique. One day on an island under a blazing sun, another day in a hot spring surrounded by snowy scenery.
Watching Geom Mugeuk diligently writing, a faint smile formed on Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s lips.
No matter what, he was grateful that Geom Mugeuk had come to see him first. Even when thinking about what to do, he came here to do it. There was a certain pride in being the Young Cult Leader’s first.
After writing down his tasks, Geom Mugeuk walked over to the window. He stood there for a moment, gazing at the bright full moon, then calmly called out to Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
“Elder.”
“What is it?”
“This is something I really want to keep buried and bring up later, but I think you’d know this part better than anyone.”
Blood Heaven Blade Demon raised his head and looked at Geom Mugeuk.
“Do you think my father really intends to unify the martial world? He knows I strongly oppose it, and he’s grown closer to the two Alliance Leaders than before. Even so… will he still go through with it?”
Blood Heaven Blade Demon fell into brief contemplation, then soon spoke in a calm tone.
“The unification of the martial world…”
After a short pause, he added firmly,
“He’ll push it through.”
There wasn’t a trace of humor on his face. It meant he truly believed it.
“He’ll find a way to persuade you and carry it out.”
As expected! Geom Mugeuk let out a deep sigh, his shoulders slumping.
“Ah! If he was going to unify the martial world, he should have done it earlier. Why does it have to come down to my father’s generation and make things difficult for me?”
“Do you know why our cult hasn’t unified the martial world until now?”
“Why not?”
“Because killing the Martial Alliance Leader and the martial artists of the Martial Alliance isn’t enough to end it. Their numbers are only a small portion of the whole, and in the Jianghu, there are as many martial artists as grains of sand on a beach. Among them, the number of Righteous Faction martial artists is overwhelmingly large. If a Grand Demon War were to break out, countless hidden masters of the Righteous Faction would emerge. Why do you think the Righteous Faction is so resilient in times of crisis?”
And that wasn’t all. Even if they won the war and took control of the Central Plains, there would be endless resistance ahead. Assassinations targeting demonic practitioners would continue, and countless of them would lose their lives.
It was a completely different situation from before his regression, when an overwhelming existence like Hwa Moogi had appeared and sealed off the Grand Demon War entirely. The demonic and righteous sides had long accumulated resentment and hatred toward each other.
“Besides, the unorthodox factions would never side with our cult. They’re not foolish enough to think they wouldn’t be next after the Righteous Faction. In the end, it would become a war against a combined force of both factions.”
“Please tell my father exactly what you just told me.”
“Do you think the Cult Leader doesn’t already know?”
Yes, that was true. More than anyone, his father would know best.
“I thought he would give it up because of me.”
The Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult raised his head and stared at Geom Mugeuk. What came out of his mouth was the exact opposite.
“He can’t give it up because of you.”
“…Pardon?”
“He’ll push it even harder because of you.”
Caught off guard by the unexpected words, Geom Mugeuk showed a surprised expression.
“What do you mean? Because of me? Why?”
“Don’t just think from your own perspective. Change your viewpoint. Think from the Cult Leader’s position.”
From his father’s position?
“If he can persuade just you, he can take you along and wage the Grand Demon War. If you help, that war would become several times easier. Wouldn’t that make the war all the more tempting—because of you?”
Geom Mugeuk couldn’t answer. He had never once considered things from that perspective. But thinking about his current martial prowess, it wasn’t wrong.
“It’s not just because you’re strong. With you there, he could achieve victory while greatly reducing casualties. And that’s something you desperately want, isn’t it? With that sharp mind of yours, wouldn’t you minimize the damage while carrying out the war?”
This too was something he had never considered before.
Blood Heaven Blade Demon understood his father perfectly.
“If I had a son like you, I’d want to try it myself. It would feel like there’s nothing I couldn’t accomplish with you by my side.”
“!”
After staring at Blood Heaven Blade Demon in silence, Geom Mugeuk chose to escape reality.
“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear any of that today. My father has abandoned his dream of unifying the martial world!”
“If that puts your mind at ease.”
“I shouldn’t have asked. This is why I was planning to bring it up after I had my fill of fun.”
Geom Mugeuk tucked the paper from the desk into his chest and gave a weak farewell.
“I’ll be going now.”
“Where are you going at this hour? To that masked guy?”
“No. At least for today, I want to see someone who has absolutely nothing to do with our cult or the unification of the martial world.”
“Who would that be?”
As he opened the door and stepped out, Geom Mugeuk replied,
“There is someone. A person who dreams of becoming the tavern owner who’s the best at fighting in the world.”
* * *
The Sword King sat on a rock in the courtyard of his residence, gazing up at the moon.
Geom Mugeuk stepped into that space.
“What are you doing sitting here alone looking all sentimental? At least have a drink.”
“I don’t like alcohol that much.”
Geom Mugeuk sat down beside him.
“For someone who doesn’t even like alcohol, why do you want to run a tavern?”
From what the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult had said earlier, he could tell that the Sword King wanted to open a tavern.
“If someone who likes alcohol runs a tavern, it’ll go under. Either the business fails or their health does.”
“Fair enough, I’ll give you that. But what about the tavern owner being good at fighting? The better you are, the less suited you are for it, isn’t that right?”
The Sword King, who had been listening, suddenly spoke.
“Speak comfortably now.”
“…What?”
“You said we’re friends.”
Geom Mugeuk looked at the Sword King in surprise. The Sword King was trying to change the nature of their relationship.
“Are you sure that’s okay?”
The Sword King nodded. Geom Mugeuk had killed the Heavenly Killing Star and given him a completely new life. Even if Geom Mugeuk told him to serve him as an elder brother, he felt he could accept it without hesitation.
“Brother Ak, then I’ll speak casually from now on. Feels like we’re really friends now.”
If the other person hadn’t been Geom Mugeuk, he wouldn’t have told him to speak casually, and if the other person hadn’t been the Sword King, Geom Mugeuk wouldn’t have done so either.
“Are you really going to run a tavern? It doesn’t sound like something you just said in passing.”
“I want to try living a different life.”
“Why a tavern of all things?”
“I don’t think it’d be boring. You can hear about what’s going on in the world through the customers.”
Geom Mugeuk imagined the tavern the Sword King would open. Ak Gunhak with his horse-tail hair and bare feet—at first glance, it oddly seemed to suit him better than anyone.
“A retired absolute master opening a tavern and living an ordinary life? Sounds cool, but…”
“But?”
“Wouldn’t you get tired of that ordinary life pretty quickly? I think I’d get sick of it just smelling food for a month. And you’d have to deal with all kinds of troublesome customers—could you endure that temper of yours?”
The Sword King couldn’t answer no. It wasn’t something he absolutely had to do right now—it was more like, *should I try it once?*
“If it’s not fun, I can just quit.”
Geom Mugeuk, who had been quietly watching him, offered unexpected advice.
“Instead of that, why not do it properly from the start?”
“Properly? How?”
“Build it on the largest scale in the Central Plains. You’ve earned that much money, right?”
To someone who said he’d quit if it didn’t suit him, telling him to build the biggest inn in the Central Plains?
“Make it top-tier and charge high prices. Serve premium dishes, and equip the guest rooms with the best facilities. Train the staff to be exceptionally polite, setting them apart from anywhere else. Make it the kind of place people say is the best inn in the Central Plains—the kind of place people want to visit at least once when they’ve made money. And the most important thing is this.”
It was a rule never seen in any inn before.
“When you enter this inn, you must leave all your weapons at the entrance. And inside, absolutely no fighting is allowed. Martial artists from both sides can enter, but fighting is strictly forbidden. And if someone breaks the rule? You know what you’re good at, Brother Ak.”
Geom Mugeuk slid his hand across his neck.
“You make it the safest inn in the martial world.”
The Sword King showed a slightly intrigued expression.
“If word spreads, all kinds of people will come flocking.”
“That’s the fun of it. Wouldn’t every day be interesting?”
There was a reason Geom Mugeuk said this to him.
“Brother Ak, it’s hard to live an ordinary life with that kind of martial ability. Since you only live once, live it in a cool and exciting way. You’re the type who wants to just leave everything behind and go somewhere, aren’t you? People like that should live boldly like this.”
In any case, it wasn’t a life where he could simply disappear to somewhere unknown. He had promised the Demonic Cult Leader to protect Geom Mugeuk. No matter where he lived or what he did, if Geom Mugeuk needed help, he would come running.
“And don’t try to do it alone—do it together with Unit Leader Cha. Brother Ak, you’ve got a soft side, so if you do it alone, you’ll end up taking losses all the time.”
At the mention of Cha Iran, the Sword King flinched.
“You don’t dislike Unit Leader Cha either, do you? If word spreads that there’s a peerless beauty like her at the inn, you’ll probably make a fortune. You’d become a great tycoon through the inn.”
The Sword King ended up laughing out loud. It was such typical Geom Mugeuk advice. The problem was that this absurd advice sounded strangely tempting. Even in this recent battle, there had been moments when he had been prepared to die. With a life like that, what was there he couldn’t try?
At that moment, the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult walked in and said,
“The name for the inn is decided. How about *Hero Inn*?”
He had originally prepared a different name, but after hearing Geom Mugeuk’s words on the way, he changed his mind.
“That sounds great. The inn run by the greatest swordsman in the world and the most beautiful assassin in the world is called Hero Inn.”
Geom Mugeuk beamed as he added,
“Could any martial artist resist that?”