Chapter 818: Because It’s Shameful to Be the Same Heavenly Demon
The Fist Demon King’s gaze turned toward Geom Woojin.
It was the Cult Leader cursing—something he had not heard in a long time. In his younger days, the Cult Leader had cursed quite often.
Before he became the Young Cult Leader, and even during that time, his atmosphere had been quite different from now. If he had something to say, he said it. He expressed his emotions freely. There had even been a time when he called the Blood Heaven Blade Demon “older brother.”
In any case, one thing was certain. Throughout his life, the Cult Leader had cursed far more than he had.
Though no one would believe it.
The person most shocked by Geom Woojin’s words was Jin Paecheon.
‘To think that man could curse like that?’
Jin Paecheon glanced at Baek Jagang.
The look in his eyes clearly asked, *Did you know?*
Baek Jagang shook his head.
But he did know one thing. A man who had cursed before could always curse again.
‘So he used to be a foul-mouthed Cult Leader? How did he hold it in until now?’
The more he looked, the more he felt that the man was impossible to understand.
Those who had not yet heard the voice transmission realized through Geom Woojin’s words. Hwa Moogi was not acting—other souls truly resided inside his body.
The Sword King stepped forward and looked at the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult, who had blocked the attack.
Seeing the gratitude in his gaze, the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult nodded once with a reassuring expression.
If Hwa Moogi’s second and third attacks had continued, it was impossible to know how that fight would have ended.
Though it had been only a single strike, the moment their swords collided, the Sword King had understood.
‘Strong!’
He had never encountered such profound internal energy before.
And it was not only the internal energy. That clean, refined movement! The Sword King felt a desire to continue fighting him. Meeting such a strong opponent made his blood boil.
The Poison King silently watched as Hwa Moogi—who had been approaching him—turned away.
He understood.
The Cult Leader had diverted Hwa Moogi’s attention away from him.
The Poison King had known from the start. The Cult Leader did not expect any great performance from him in this battle.
What the Cult Leader expected from him was simple—if he lost this fight, the Poison King was to protect the Young Cult Leader.
When that order had been given earlier, the Poison King had replied that he would protect the Young Cult Leader by threatening to kill everyone in the world.
Even so, the reason he had been seated here today was likely so he could clearly see who their opponent was.
After all, threats could only be made properly if one understood the enemy.
Hwa Moogi slowly turned toward Geom Woojin.
In an instant, the air around them grew heavy.
His gaze was fixed solely on Geom Woojin.
The Poison King, whom he had first tried to kill, and even the Sword King and the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult who had interfered—none of them held his interest anymore.
Naturally so.
Right now, it was not Hwa Moogi but another soul staring at Geom Woojin.
“How dare you, knowing who I am!”
Geom Woojin knew who had emerged.
The Demonic Cult Leader from three hundred years ago!
“Where did you learn such a disgusting way of speaking?”
It was a tense moment that looked as though a clash would erupt at any second, yet Geom Woojin stared straight at him and said,
“Who are you?”
None of them had yet revealed their identities.
And aside from the Heavenly Will Palace Master—who had drawn his sword earlier in anger due to a disagreement about the interpretation of Heavenly Will—they had not even drawn their weapons.
Geom Woojin understood.
Those souls definitely had restrictions placed upon them.
‘I need to break those restrictions.’
He had to drive them into a frenzy.
The more souls inside the Heavenly Killing Star rampaged, the greater the chance of defeating the Heavenly Killing Star.
Normally, the more chaotic and unpredictable the opponent, the more disadvantageous it would be.
But with the seven masters gathered here, that chaos would actually work in their favor.
“I asked who you are.”
“I am…”
The demonic practitioner within Hwa Moogi could not reveal his identity.
It was a powerful restraint that could even seal the mouth of the Demonic Cult Leader, but Geom Woojin provoked him further.
“A cowardly bastard who can’t even reveal who he is!”
The moment those words reached Hwa Moogi—
The next instant!
One restriction broke.
A demonic aura began to gather within his eyes, which had previously been filled only with a crimson glow. Until now the energy had been so faint that only Geom Woojin could sense it, but now it openly revealed itself.
The soul inside Hwa Moogi declared his identity.
“I am Hyeok Do-cheon, who led the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult three hundred years ago.”
Anyone else might have endured it, but to hear such insults from a Demonic Cult Leader of a later generation was something he could not tolerate.
His pride would not allow it.
Hyeok Do-cheon declared sternly,
“Kneel immediately and apologize!”
An immense demonic aura poured toward Geom Woojin.
Swaaaaaaa!
Everyone inside the tavern immediately raised their protective energy to shield their bodies. Even though the demonic aura was directed only at Geom Woojin, simply sharing the same space made it hard to breathe.
Then a single sentence was heard.
“I refuse.”
Hyeok Do-cheon’s face stiffened.
His expression was closer to bewilderment than anger.
He did not know.
He did not know that the Demonic Cult Leader he faced now was the man who had once left the words *“You idiots”* carved on the wall of Heavenly Cave where Geom Mugeuk had undergone his trial.
Geom Woojin showed no leniency just because he was a Demonic Cult Leader from three hundred years ago. Instead, he exploited his opponent’s fiery temper.
“Because you’re not the Heavenly Demon.”
Denied outright, Hyeok Do-cheon grew furious.
“You doubt me? I am Hyeok Do-cheon!”
Crack—!
The floor split as cracks spread across it.
It had not been caused by internal energy, but purely by the pressure of demonic aura.
In truth, that aura alone was more than enough to prove that he truly was Hyeok Do-cheon. It was not simply powerful because of deep internal energy. It was the dignity of a Demonic Cult Leader—something ordinary demonic aura could never replicate.
But instead of fearing him, Geom Woojin poured oil on the flames.
“If you were truly the Heavenly Demon, you would have already come out of there. You wouldn’t be trapped inside someone else’s body, staining the honor of our cult.”
The anger of being struck at the core flared like wildfire.
Yes, go mad. Reveal your emotions. Explode your demonic aura and stir everything into chaos. Tear the other souls apart!
The black sword Hyeok Do-cheon extended pointed toward Geom Woojin. He looked ready to charge at any moment.
“In case you really are the Heavenly Demon.”
Everyone expected the next words to be something like *Show proof that you are the Heavenly Demon.*
But what came from Geom Woojin’s mouth was something no one had imagined.
“Then you are truly a shameful stain on all Heavenly Demons—Kill yourself.”
“!”
A heavy silence fell.
Jin Paecheon swallowed hard.
Judging by the situation, that soul was undoubtedly the Demonic Cult Leader Hyeok Do-cheon from three hundred years ago.
And yet he told him to kill himself?
And the opponent was a soul, no less?
Baek Jagang did not get goosebumps from the words.
Because he knew they were not spoken lightly—Geom Woojin had meant them sincerely.
In this atmosphere, Baek Jagang almost burst out laughing.
At that moment, someone actually did laugh loudly.
It was Hwa Moogi.
Just as the demonic aura was about to explode, laughter burst out first.
The Hyeok Do-cheon who had been on the verge of erupting disappeared, and Hwa Moogi appeared again.
“They said the Young Cult Leader acts like a madman and makes people laugh. Seems he takes after his father.”
At that moment, Geom Woojin realized something.
The souls that emerged were random, appearing differently each time—but the one controlling them was ultimately Hwa Moogi himself.
If he had not restrained them, Hyeok Do-cheon would have already charged at him.
Hwa Moogi walked into the kitchen and looked for alcohol.
As if trying to calm the enraged Hyeok Do-cheon, he poured liquor into a large cup and drank it.
Then he lifted the bottle toward Geom Woojin with a look that asked, *Want a drink?*
Geom Woojin shook his head.
“No sense of style. A Heavenly Demon should drink straight from the bottle!”
Hwa Moogi scooped up the stew Baek Jagang had cooked earlier and ate it as a side dish.
“It’s a bit cold, but it’s good. Who made this?”
Hwa Moogi still looked relaxed.
From the moment he first appeared, Geom Woojin had been puzzled by that composure.
‘Why hasn’t he attacked us immediately?’
Was it because he had come into the world after a long time and wanted to enjoy it?
Or because he wanted to toy with them and savor his own strength?
At first, Geom Woojin thought so.
But as the killing intent rising from him gradually intensified, he arrived at a different answer.
‘He’s being cautious too.’
Geom Woojin could feel it. Even though he appeared calm on the surface, Hwa Moogi’s killing intent was steadily increasing.
He was using the emotions of the people inside his body.
‘He’s gathering Heavenly Killing.’
The power of this Heavenly Killing Star would likely reach its greatest peak when the killing intent it had accumulated reached its limit.
Hwa Moogi would move precisely at that moment.
And from this fact, Geom Woojin made another deduction.
If this battle were truly effortless for him, there would be no need to gather killing intent like this.
Now, Geom Woojin had two choices.
Fight before the killing intent filled further—
Or shake the souls residing within his body.
Geom Woojin chose the second.
On their side were himself, the Martial Alliance Leader, and the Unorthodox Alliance Leader.
On the other side were the Demonic Cult Leader from three hundred years ago and two alliance leaders.
If fate had brought them together like this, perhaps those souls would play some kind of role.
He did not know how many souls existed inside that body.
But so far, three had revealed themselves—the Martial Emperor Divine Sword, Hyeok Do-cheon, and the Heavenly Will Palace Master.
One more soul was presumed to exist but had not yet revealed itself—the Unorthodox Alliance Leader.
The next target Geom Woojin aimed for after Hyeok Do-cheon was the most unusual among them.
Geom Woojin sent a voice transmission to Jin Paecheon.
—Do you not wish to see the Martial Emperor Divine Sword?
Jin Paecheon understood.
He did not know the exact intention, but it clearly meant he should draw the soul of the Martial Emperor Divine Sword out of Hwa Moogi.
Even without being told, he wished to meet the Martial Emperor Divine Sword again.
Jin Paecheon spoke to Hwa Moogi.
“Give me a drink.”
Hwa Moogi burst into laughter as he looked at him.
“Wonderful! The Demonic Cult Leader, who looks like he’d drink boldly, is holding back, while the Martial Alliance Leader, who looks like a timid scholar, is the truly bold one!”
Holding the bottle, Hwa Moogi beckoned him closer.
“Come here! I’ll pour it myself.”
Srrrr.
But Jin Paecheon did not approach. Instead, he used Void Telekinesis to pull the bottle toward himself.
Hwa Moogi deliberately made a disappointed face.
“So you really are a timid scholar.”
Jin Paecheon’s next action was unexpected.
Holding the bottle, he politely asked Hwa Moogi,
“Alliance Leader, would you accept a drink from me?”
At that moment, a strange smile formed at the corner of Hwa Moogi’s lips.
Then suddenly—
His eyes changed.
“Pour me a drink.”
With that calm voice, it was clear that another soul had appeared.
Jin Paecheon stared at Hwa Moogi silently for a moment. He could feel that it was not a trick—the person before him had truly changed.
Geom Woojin admired the way Jin Paecheon had summoned him.
Instead of provoking the Martial Emperor Divine Sword, he had called him forth in a way that suited his character—with a single respectful sentence.
Jin Paecheon approached with the bottle.
Drip.
He filled the cup completely.
After draining it, Hwa Moogi asked,
“Do you know who I am?”
“Aren’t you the Martial Emperor Divine Sword?”
“How did you know it was me?”
The moment he confirmed it truly was the Martial Emperor Divine Sword, Jin Paecheon felt overwhelming emotion surge in his heart.
‘The Cult Leader’s words were true.’
With calm eyes, Jin Paecheon spoke honestly.
“The person I respect most is you, Alliance Leader. Whenever someone asked me who I respected most, I always answered that it was you.”
For a moment, emotion flickered across the Martial Emperor Divine Sword’s face.
It had been a long time since he had spoken like this with someone from the Righteous Faction rather than villains—and now he was hearing that someone respected him the most.
“How did you end up inside that body?”
At Jin Paecheon’s question, the Martial Emperor Divine Sword sighed.
“The Heavenly Will Palace possessed a divine relic that absorbed evil spirits. While it absorbed the others, it pulled me in as well.”
“Then why was that Demonic Cult Leader there?”
It made sense that the Heavenly Will Palace Master had been there.
But why had the Demonic Cult Leader been with them?
The Martial Emperor Divine Sword hesitated to answer.
He could not bring himself to tell the Martial Alliance Leader of a later generation—who said he respected him most—that he himself had dragged the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Unorthodox Alliance into that war.
Jin Paecheon thought there was no reason to hesitate unless it was for that reason.
“Were you the one who summoned them?”
After a brief silence, the Martial Emperor Divine Sword recalled another day instead of answering directly.
“I remember the day I declared war on the Heavenly Will Palace. I stood proudly before all the people of the Righteous Faction and said we would eradicate evil and protect the martial world. At that time, I was confident. I believed I could end the war quickly with my own hands.”
Darkness settled in his gaze.
“But the war did not end quickly. Countless people died in that war. It was all my fault.”
As someone who had also been an Alliance Leader, Jin Paecheon understood that feeling better than anyone.
But what he wanted to know now was not the man’s feelings.
He still had not heard the answer to his earlier question.
“Were you the one who brought in the Demonic Cult Leader?”
In the end, the Martial Emperor Divine Sword answered honestly.
“Yes. It was me.”
Many emotions surfaced in his eyes.
The strongest among them was resentment.
“I only wanted to minimize the casualties of my subordinates. I wanted to end the war decisively so that no more of them would lose their lives. Even if my own reputation was tarnished, I believed it was the path for the martial world of the Righteous Faction. My choice was for the martial world!”
Jin Paecheon sensed his agitation rising and said nothing.
“And yet! Heaven treated me the same as the Demonic Cult Leader and the Unorthodox Alliance Leader! It dragged me in together with the Heavenly Will Palace Master, who started the war! Just because I happened to be there!”
At that moment, Jin Paecheon swallowed the words that almost rose to his throat.
‘Was that truly the only reason?’
When Jin Paecheon remained silent, the Martial Emperor Divine Sword assumed he was being judged.
“Would you have been different? You who are standing with the Demonic Cult Leader and the Unorthodox Alliance Leader, even though no war has occurred?”
Jin Paecheon still did not answer.
Then someone spoke.
“It would have been different.”
The one who spoke in his place was Geom Woojin.
Everyone’s gaze turned toward him.
“He is a man who would run here alone for the sake of his grandson. But he would never summon me into his war. Alliance Leader Jin is that kind of man.”
Geom Woojin’s gaze met Jin Paecheon’s in the air.
Jin Paecheon was surprised.
Geom Woojin understood him exactly.
He was right. If it had been him, he would never have brought the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult into the conflict—even if it meant that he and everyone else would die in that battle.
Meanwhile, anger surged across the Martial Emperor Divine Sword’s face.
To hear such words from a Demonic Cult Leader—of all people—was humiliating beyond measure.
Geom Woojin pressed harder for a reason.
He wanted variables to appear within that body.
As killing intent accumulated, confusion also had to grow.
“You say it was for the martial world?”
Geom Woojin stared straight into his eyes.
“Then prove it.”
He did not say how or what he should prove.
Because he knew that in moments like this, saying nothing was the most powerful move.
“If you cannot…”
Geom Woojin pushed him to the very end.
He was not demanding that he do something.
Rather, the opposite.
“Then stop your stale old lament and bring out someone else.”