Chapter 824: Because I Have to Curse at You for You to Show Up!
Hwa Moogi’s atmosphere changed.
Compared to when his killing intent had been running wild, the current state—where it had completely vanished—felt even more terrifying.
The fact that he had endured the combined assault of the Fist Demon King and Baek Jagang, and had even recovered his internal energy in the process, was enough to break everyone’s momentum.
It was the Fist Demon King who broke the heavy silence.
“I’m sorry. I should have noticed it first.”
When he had struck Hwa Moogi’s body earlier, he had felt a kind of protective energy unlike anything he had ever experienced. He should have realized it then.
At his self-reproach, Geom Woojin spoke firmly.
“It was difficult to notice even while watching from the side. It would have been impossible to realize it in the middle of such a battle.”
The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader nodded.
“None of us who fought him earlier noticed it either.”
Who could have imagined such an absurd martial art existed?
That was why the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader couldn’t help but say:
“If it takes something like this to cause a Blood Calamity, then I’ll never manage it in my lifetime.”
As if shedding a layer to reveal his true self, Hwa Moogi no longer smiled.
“The Righteous, the Unorthodox, even those beyond the borders—all gathered and waited for me. Are you people even sane?”
As he had said before, the implication was clear—you are the ones who made me.
As Hwa Moogi’s cold gaze turned toward him, Jin Paecheon thought to himself that it was truly fortunate he had come here.
If he had not come to help the Demonic Cult Leader—
Could the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult have faced that monster alone?
And if that Heavenly Killing Star, who had swept through the Demonic Cult, had instead come to the Martial Alliance?
Would he have been able to stop him?
He had come for his grandson, but in the end—
‘Hagun… you sent me here to save this old man.’
And even placed the Gentleman’s Sword in his hand.
Geom Woojin asked Baek Jagang:
“Will you continue fighting?”
Though he had uncovered the secret of the protective energy, this was still the fight of Baek Jagang and the Fist Demon King.
Whether to continue or not was their decision.
Before answering, Baek Jagang looked at the Fist Demon King.
It was his way of showing respect—asking the opinion of the man who had fought beside him.
Under normal circumstances, the Fist Demon King would have said they should continue.
Ending the fight after merely restoring the opponent’s internal energy? That was an unacceptable disgrace.
But after seeing Baek Jagang choose cooperation over pride, he had reconsidered.
Baek Jagang was someone who valued practical gain over pride or honor. Yet he did not appear lacking in dignity or self-respect.
To continue fighting blindly when they didn’t even understand their opponent?
Just because he had already been fighting?
The Fist Demon King chose practicality over pride and stepped back.
“I will follow the Alliance Leader’s decision.”
Baek Jagang did not decide immediately.
Instead, he turned and asked the others:
“Does anyone have a good idea?”
Because he had no desire to impress anyone, his attitude inspired even more trust.
Jin Paecheon spoke quietly.
“The more extreme the effect of a demonic art, the greater its side effects tend to be.”
He was certain that while Hwa Moogi had absorbed internal energy, he must have sacrificed something in return.
“We must find that weakness.”
At that moment, Hwa Moogi’s killing intent began to rise again.
But it was completely different from before.
This was his true killing intent—and that of the souls within him.
It carried the weight of time.
A killing intent accumulated over three hundred years drifted through the air, making death feel imminent.
That killing intent seemed to declare:
‘I have no weakness!’
The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader sighed.
“Where in the world is the Young Cult Leader? With that clever mind of his, he should be saying—this is this, that is that! This is how you fight that monster! He should be telling us that! He’s never around when we need him, but he always shows up when it’s time to take my treasures. When he took Gowol, he even came in a group! Every time I complain or curse, he appears, doesn’t he? So hurry up and show yourself, Young Cult Leader!”
The Sword King looked at him as if he were incorrigible.
Joking at a time like this?
The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader even turned around.
He desperately hoped to see him walking from the end of the road—
But nothing happened.
‘What kind of ridiculous expectation is this?’
And yet, the Sword King’s gaze followed his.
He, too, wanted to see Geom Mugeuk.
Not just him.
Jin Paecheon and Baek Jagang felt the same.
Because of everything Geom Mugeuk had shown them so far—
‘If it were the Young Cult Leader, he would find an answer.’
At that moment, Jin Paecheon and Baek Jagang briefly met eyes.
They realized they were thinking the same thing.
‘The Martial Alliance Leader and the Unorthodox Alliance Leader… waiting for someone young enough to be their grandson or son?’
It was a thought they would never admit aloud.
Then Geom Woojin spoke.
“What do you think?”
Everyone turned toward him.
Surely he wasn’t asking Hwa Moogi?
“I suppose you think I’d answer that?”
Hwa Moogi assumed the same—
“I wasn’t asking you.”
Geom Woojin’s gaze shifted past Hwa Moogi, toward a distant rooftop.
Everyone followed his gaze.
Far away, a figure stood on a rooftop, waving cheerfully.
So far away he looked like a dot.
“Come.”
It was a quiet voice—
Yet the figure reacted immediately.
Flash—
In an instant, he crossed the distance, as if moving through space itself.
No one present could match such movement.
And there was only one person capable of such a feat.
“I have returned, Father.”
The one who landed before Geom Woojin—
Was Geom Mugeuk.
Everyone stared in shock.
Especially the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, whose mouth fell open in astonishment and joy.
‘He’s here! The Young Cult Leader is really here!’
At last, the one they had been waiting for had arrived.
“I came in a hurry, so I couldn’t bring you a gift, Father.”
Even in this situation, he spoke of gifts—he was undoubtedly his son.
“When did you arrive?”
“When the fight moved outside the tavern.”
He had arrived during the battle.
“Why did you hide?”
His internal energy had been completely depleted.
He had stayed at a distance to recover, then signaled his father using a technique he had learned long ago.
“I wasn’t hiding. You haven’t fought in a while—you should show your skills. Give your son something to brag about.”
A faint smirk appeared on Geom Woojin’s lips.
It had been a long time since he had seen that smile.
‘You came.’
‘Yes, Father.’
Their eyes alone conveyed everything.
‘I made it in time.’
He had feared arriving too late.
But everyone was still alive.
Then—
“Alliance Leader!”
Geom Mugeuk greeted Jin Paecheon respectfully.
“Thank you for coming.”
Then Baek Jagang.
“Anything from Bih Sa-in?”
“I told him not to come in case he got hurt.”
“Then he’ll sit at the lowest seat.”
Even now, he joked.
And then—
“I will never forget this. When the time comes, I will be the first to arrive.”
It was a promise.
One that meant everything.
“Come to us first.”
Even Jin Paecheon smiled.
The atmosphere changed completely.
Then finally—
Hwa Moogi spoke.
“If someone saw this, they’d think the fight was already over.”
Geom Mugeuk replied without turning.
“It means I think highly of you.”
“What?”
“If I die, I should at least greet them first.”
Hwa Moogi could not respond.
Then—
Geom Mugeuk looked at the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.
“Cult Leader, are you cursing me in the middle of such an important fight?”
“Because I have to curse at you for you to show up!”
Their eyes met.
“Truly worthy of you. Always appearing when the cult is in danger.”
“I had no choice.”
They laughed.
Then—
He greeted everyone.
Finally—
He turned to Hwa Moogi.
Their eyes met.
“I don’t know why… but you don’t feel unfamiliar.”
“That’s what happens when you see a handsome face.”
Then—
Geom Mugeuk smiled.
“I haven’t eaten and rushed here. I’m starving to death, so please.”
And with that—
The moment came.
“Let’s eat first before we fight.”