Kata-kata itu keluar dengan alami dari mulut Hwa Moogi.
Geom Mugeuk menyeringai lebar seperti orang gila.
Geom Mugeuk menatap orang-orang yang duduk bersamanya.
"Ayah, jika Ayah ingin mengatakan sesuatu, silakan sampaikan juga."
Mendengar itu, Geom Woojin membuat lelucon yang jarang.
"Keluarga kita sudah cukup merepotkan hanya dengan keberadaanmu."
"Kalau begitu, aku akan berbicara sebagai perwakilan keluarga Geom!"
Tatapan Jin Paecheon saat menatap Geom Mugeuk sangatlah lembut.
Setelah melihatnya bercakap-cakap dengan Martial Emperor Divine Sword, kepercayaannya semakin dalam.
Dia sendiri telah berbicara dengan Martial Emperor Divine Sword terlebih dahulu. Dia sudah berusaha sebaik mungkin, tetapi tidak mampu menggerakkan hatinya. Namun Geom Mugeuk berhasil menenangkannya dengan baik. Dia seratus kali lebih baik daripada dirinya yang dulu.
"Para Pemimpin Aliansi, silakan berbicara dengan santai juga!"
Saat Geom Mugeuk hendak menoleh lagi, dia melihat ekspresi tidak senang dari Cult Leader dari Heavenly Wind Cult.
"Kenapa kau tidak menyuruhku berbicara dengan santai juga?"
"Kau akan melakukannya juga meski aku tidak menyuruhmu."
"Kalau begitu, setidaknya ambil pujiannya dulu."
"Pujian?"
Geom Mugeuk berbicara seolah-olah dia telah menyaksikan apa yang terjadi sebelum dia tiba.
"Pasti kau yang menangani pembicaraan pihak kita saat aku tidak ada, kan? Betapa repotnya kau berbicara mewakili orang-orang kaku dan pendiam itu?"
"Aku bisa melewatkan hal lain, tapi bagaimana mungkin aku melewatkan usahamu, Cult Leader?"
Setelah membuat wajah Cult Leader dari Heavenly Wind Cult dipenuhi emosi, Geom Mugeuk kembali menghadap Hwa Moogi.
"Jika kau ingin mengatakan sesuatu, katakan dengan bebas."
Tentu saja, Hwa Moogi tidak mengatakan sepatah kata pun. Tatapannya mengandung nada mengejek, seolah berkata, *Apa kau pikir aku akan membuka mulut hanya karena itu?*
Tentu saja, Geom Mugeuk baik-baik saja apa pun yang terjadi.
"Kau bilang aku gila, kan? Kalau begitu, kau lebih gila lagi."
Hwa Moogi merasa itu tidak masuk akal. Dipanggil gila oleh orang gila! Tetapi mendengar kelanjutannya, dia tidak merasa buruk.
"Kau menyerbu masuk sendirian, kan? Kemungkinan besar kau satu-satunya orang dalam sejarah persilatan yang mencoba melawan seluruh dunia persilatan sendirian. Tidak ada yang mendahuluimu, dan tidak akan ada yang menyusulmu. Kau telah menciptakan rekor yang belum pernah ada sebelumnya."
"Jangan mencoba merayuku. Aku tidak punya urusan untuk dibicarakan denganmu."
"Aku tidak merayumu. Itu hanya kebenaran."
Hwa Moogi mencoba untuk tidak terlibat dalam percakapan sama sekali, tetapi kata-kata Geom Mugeuk terus memprovokasinya.
"Mengapa kau menyerang?"
Hwa Moogi dan yang lainnya secara alami menafsirkan pertanyaan ini seperti ini: Mengapa Heavenly Demon Divine Cult yang pertama, bukan Martial Alliance atau Unorthodox Alliance? Tetapi bukan itu maksudnya.
"Kau bisa saja menjalani kehidupan yang berbeda, bukan? Dengan level seni bela diri itu, kau bisa menjalani kehidupan yang cukup mengesankan."
Hwa Moogi tidak bisa menjawab. Anehnya, dia tidak pernah sekali pun mempertimbangkan untuk menjalani kehidupan yang berbeda.
Dia mengira sudah sewajarnya untuk menyerang. Sudah sewajarnya untuk membunuh mereka semua dan mengambil alih dunia persilatan ini.
Geom Mugeuk melanjutkan:
"Kau bisa saja mengatakan ini, kan? 'Takdir yang diberikan surga? Jangan membuatku tertawa. Aku tidak akan hidup sesuai dengan itu apa pun yang terjadi!"
"Surga memberiku kekuatan besar ini—apa kau pikir surga memberikannya hanya untuk menjalani kehidupan biasa? Jika orang sepertiku dikirim oleh surga, maka itu semua karena kalian."
"Apakah itu pikiranmu? Atau sesuatu yang dikatakan Master Istana Gelap atau jiwa-jiwa di dalam dirimu?"
Hwa Moogi tidak bisa menjawab bahwa itu adalah pikirannya sendiri.
Apakah dia terkena tepat di intinya? Tatapannya menjadi dingin.
"Kau berbicara seenaknya karena ini bukan urusanmu."
"Ini pasti tujuanmu. Untuk membingungkanku dengan lidah perakmu itu."
Geom Mugeuk meminum alkohol di depannya.
"Aku juga tidak bisa tidak menjadi egois. Apa kau pikir mengusulkan percakapan ini demi kebaikanmu? Itu demi orang-orang di sini dan diriku sendiri. Untuk memahamimu lebih baik, sehingga kami bisa membunuhmu dengan lebih pasti. Meskipun kata-kataku terdengar menyedihkan, mohon pengertianmu."
Hwa Moogi sekarang mengerti. Mengapa semua orang berubah begitu Geom Mugeuk tiba.
Dia bilang dia tidak akan berbicara, tetapi sebelum dia menyadarinya, dia sudah terlibat dengannya, dengan sarafnya yang tegang.
Itu sudah cukup rasa penasaran tentang Geom Mugeuk. Saat dia hendak berdiri dan menghunus pedangnya—
"Ah, benar. Aku harus berterima kasih kepada seseorang di dalam dirimu."
Secara alami, dia mengira itu akan menjadi Demonic Cult Leader. Tetapi itu seseorang yang sama sekali tidak terduga.
Orang yang paling terkejut dengan kata-kata itu adalah Baek Jagang. Dia telah bertemu Martial Emperor Divine Sword dengan kembali tiga ratus tahun, tetapi hubungan apa yang dia miliki dengan Joo Ga-shin?
"Untuk alasan apa?"
Jika dia meminta Demonic Cult Leader, Hwa Moogi tidak akan pernah mengabulkannya. Tetapi bahkan dia pun penasaran mengapa rasa terima kasih diberikan kepada Unorthodox Alliance Leader.
Hwa Moogi mengabulkan permintaan itu.
Tatapannya menjadi tenang saat Joo Ga-shin muncul. Dia juga tidak tahu mengapa Geom Mugeuk memanggilnya.
"Mengapa kau mencariku?"
Itu adalah pertanyaan yang membuat semua orang penasaran.
Mendengar jawaban Geom Mugeuk, Joo Ga-shin mengerutkan kening dengan bingung.
"Ketiga kalinya? Jika kita bertemu tiga ratus tahun yang lalu dan sekarang, ini seharusnya yang kedua kalinya."
"Aku melihatmu di kuburanmu."
Saat itu, tatapan Joo Ga-shin menajam.
Geom Mugeuk telah mendapatkan manik terakhir dari mayat Joo Ga-shin.
Tetapi dia tidak mengungkapkan apa itu.
Ada alasan dia tidak berbicara tentang energi dari Six-Origin Energies.
Master Istana Gelap tidak akan pernah memberitahunya tentang satu-satunya kekuatan yang mampu mengendalikannya.
Sampai menyaksikan hari itu, Geom Mugeuk mengira para pemimpin faksi Righteous, Unorthodox, dan Demonic yang berkumpul hari itu telah membagi Six-Origin Energies di antara mereka sendiri, dan bahwa sebagian darinya kemudian mengalir ke tempat-tempat seperti Ice Palace dan Heavenly Wind Cult.
Tetapi pada hari itu, semuanya telah diserap ke dalam Secret Box, terperangkap di dalam manik-manik transparan, dan jatuh ke tangan Master Istana Gelap.
Apakah enam manik muncul dari Secret Box setelahnya? Atau apakah itu sudah ada di tempat lain sejak awal? Karena dia telah kembali ke masa sekarang tanpa melihat bagian itu, bahkan Geom Mugeuk pun tidak tahu.
"Jadi, tolong makan hidangan yang tidak bisa dimakan oleh Martial Emperor Divine Sword."
"Apakah kau tahu orang seperti apa aku ini, untuk menyuruhku makan ini?"
Dia tidak tahu segalanya tentang dirinya. Tetapi dia bisa menebak satu hal.
"Kau adalah seseorang yang belum meninggalkan mimpimu, bukan?"
"Mengapa kau berpikir begitu?"
"Karena kau campur tangan dalam masalah itu tiga ratus tahun yang lalu demi menyatukan dunia persilatan."
Baek Jagang, yang mendengarkan, mengaguminya dalam hati. Dia tahu Joo Ga-shin belum meninggalkan mimpinya karena dia telah mendengar proposalnya. Namun Geom Mugeuk telah membaca hatinya dengan sempurna tanpa mendengar semua itu.
"Itu tidak akan terjadi. Jadi jika kau memiliki sesuatu yang ingin kau katakan, katakan semuanya. Jika tidak sekarang, kau tidak akan pernah mendapatkan kesempatan lagi."
Setelah menatap Geom Mugeuk sejenak, Joo Ga-shin menolak dengan datar.
"Aku tidak punya apa-apa untuk dikatakan kepadamu."
Saat Joo Ga-shin hendak menghilang, Geom Mugeuk tiba-tiba menyebutkan sesuatu yang tidak terduga.
"Di kuburanmu, aku melihat Red Wolf yang biasa kau pelihara."
"Ah, tentu saja, aku tidak melihatnya secara langsung—aku melihatnya di sebuah lukisan. Itu terlihat sangat megah dan tampan."
Saat menyebut Red Wolf, untuk pertama kalinya, sebuah emosi berkedip di mata Joo Ga-shin.
Itu adalah kerinduan.
"Bahkan dari lukisan kalian berdua, aku bisa tahu betapa kau menyayanginya."
Dia tidak menyelesaikan kalimatnya.
Mungkin dia bermaksud, *satu-satunya yang memahamiku.*
"Minumlah untuk Red Wolf. Itu pasti sangat berduka atas kematianmu."
Seorang pria yang tampaknya tidak akan pernah mengangkat cangkir untuk alasan lain—
Joo Ga-shin mengangkat cangkirnya. Dan dia juga mengangkatnya ke arah Baek Jagang.
Itu adalah isyarat mengundangnya untuk minum bersama.
Dia masih berharap Baek Jagang akan menerima proposalnya. Bahwa dia entah bagaimana akan menyelamatkannya dan mengizinkannya hidup sebagai salah satu di atas dan di bawah sepuluh ribu.
Saat Joo Ga-shin hendak membawa cangkir itu ke bibirnya—
Klang.
Sekali lagi, cangkir itu jatuh dan hancur di tanah.
Tatapannya telah berubah lagi. Dan kali ini, bukan Hwa Moogi yang kembali.
Itu adalah Demonic Cult Leader, Hyeok Do-cheon.
"Righteous dan Unorthodox semuanya sama saja. Apa hebatnya membawa beberapa kekuatan eksternal sehingga kau merasa bersalah selama tiga ratus tahun? Dan dalam situasi seperti ini, kau merindukan seekor binatang biasa?"
Geom Mugeuk berbicara kepadanya.
"Biarkan aku mengoreksi dua hal. Mereka bukan 'kekuatan eksternal biasa,' mereka adalah Heavenly Demon Divine Cult dan Unorthodox Alliance. Dan itu bukan 'binatang biasa,' itu adalah serigala. Serigala yang sangat tampan bernama Red Wolf."
"Kau bilang bahwa jika aku tidak diserap ke dalam Secret Box, kultus kita akan menjadi lebih buruk?"
Tatapannya beralih ke Geom Woojin. Dari pertemuan pertama mereka, dia juga tidak menyukainya.
"Bocah kurang ajar. Kau persis seperti ayahmu."
Tentu saja, bagi Geom Mugeuk, itu adalah pujian tertinggi.
Mengira dia sedang diejek, Hyeok Do-cheon menjadi marah. Energi iblis dan niat membunuh melonjak.
"Beraninya kau menghina mantan Cult Leader?"
Geom Mugeuk berbicara dengan tenang.
"Heavenly Demon yang aku kenal tidak memecahkan cangkir yang dibagikan dengan penerusnya setelah tiga ratus tahun. Jadi, siapa pun kau, kembalilah ke dalam, dan keluarkan Demonic Cult Leader yang sebenarnya."
Ada alasan dia mendorong Joo Ga-shin untuk muncul.
"Melihatmu
Chapter 827: Let’s Talk With Words!
The words came naturally out of Hwa Moogi’s mouth.
Geom Mugeuk grinned brightly like a madman.
Geom Mugeuk looked around at the people seated together.
“Father, if you have something to say, please say it as well.”
At that, Geom Woojin made a rare joke.
“Our family already has enough with just you.”
“I’ll speak as the representative of the Geom family!”
Jin Paecheon’s gaze, as he watched Geom Mugeuk, was incomparably gentle.
After seeing him converse with the Martial Emperor Divine Sword, his trust had deepened even further.
He himself had spoken with the Martial Emperor Divine Sword first. He had tried his best, but he had not been able to move his heart. Yet Geom Mugeuk had properly comforted him. He was a hundred times better than his old self.
“Alliance Leaders, please speak comfortably as well!”
As Geom Mugeuk was about to turn his head again, he noticed the displeased expression of the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult.
“Why don’t you tell me to speak comfortably?”
“You’ll do that even if I tell you not to.”
“Then at least take the credit first.”
“The credit?”
Geom Mugeuk spoke as if he had witnessed what happened before arriving.
“You must have been the one handling our side’s talking when I wasn’t here, right? How much trouble you must have gone through speaking on behalf of those stiff, silent people?”
“I might miss everything else, but how could I miss your efforts, Cult Leader?”
After filling the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult’s face with emotion, Geom Mugeuk turned back to Hwa Moogi.
“If you have something to say, say it freely.”
Of course, Hwa Moogi did not say a single word. His gaze carried a mocking tone, as if saying, *Do you think I’d open my mouth just because of that?*
Of course, Geom Mugeuk did well whether there was a mat or not.
“You called me insane, right? Then you’re even more insane.”
Hwa Moogi found it absurd. To be called insane by an insane person! But hearing what followed, he did not feel bad.
“You stormed in here alone, didn’t you? You’re probably the only person in martial history who tried to fight the entire martial world alone. There was no one before you, and there won’t be anyone after you. You’ve set an unprecedented record.”
“Don’t try to butter me up. I have nothing to say to you.”
“I’m not buttering you up. That’s just the truth.”
Hwa Moogi tried not to engage in conversation at all, but Geom Mugeuk’s words kept provoking him.
“Why did you come attacking?”
Hwa Moogi and the others naturally interpreted this question like this: Why the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult first, not the Martial Alliance or the Unorthodox Alliance? But that was not it.
“You could’ve lived a different life, couldn’t you? With that level of martial arts, you could’ve lived quite an impressive life.”
Hwa Moogi could not answer. Surprisingly, he had never once considered living a different life.
He had thought it was only natural to attack. Only natural to kill them all and take over this martial world.
Geom Mugeuk continued:
“You could’ve just said this, right? ‘A fate given by heaven? Don’t make me laugh. I won’t live according to it no matter what!’”
“Heaven gave me this great power—do you think it gave it to me just to live an ordinary life? If someone like me was sent by heaven, then it’s all because of you.”
“Is that your thought? Or something the Dark Palace Master or the souls inside you told you?”
Hwa Moogi could not answer that it was his own thought.
Had he been struck at the core? His gaze sank coldly.
“You speak freely because it’s not your problem.”
“This must be your goal. To confuse me with that silver tongue of yours.”
Geom Mugeuk drank the alcohol in front of him.
“I can’t help but be selfish, too. Do you think suggesting a conversation is for your sake? It’s for the people here and me. To understand you better, so we can kill you more certainly. Even if my words sound pathetic, please understand.”
Hwa Moogi now understood. Why everyone had changed the moment Geom Mugeuk arrived.
He had said he wouldn’t talk, yet before he knew it, he was already engaging with him, his nerves on edge.
That was enough curiosity about Geom Mugeuk. Just as he was about to stand and draw his sword—
“Ah, right. I should thank someone inside you.”
Naturally, he assumed it would be the Demonic Cult Leader. But it was someone entirely unexpected.
The most surprised person at those words was Baek Jagang. He had met the Martial Emperor Divine Sword by going back three hundred years, but what connection did he have with Joo Ga-shin?
“For what reason?”
If he had asked for the Demonic Cult Leader, Hwa Moogi would never have granted it. But even he was curious why thanks were owed to the Unorthodox Alliance Leader.
Hwa Moogi granted the request.
His gaze settled calmly as Joo Ga-shin appeared. He too did not know why Geom Mugeuk had called for him.
“Why are you looking for me?”
It was a question everyone was curious about.
At Geom Mugeuk’s answer, Joo Ga-shin frowned in confusion.
“Third time? If we met three hundred years ago and now, this should be the second time.”
“I saw you at your grave.”
At that moment, Joo Ga-shin’s gaze sharpened.
Geom Mugeuk had obtained the final bead from Joo Ga-shin’s corpse
But he did not reveal what it was.
There was a reason he did not speak about the energy of the Six-Origin Energies.
The Dark Palace Master would never have told him about the only power capable of controlling him.
Until witnessing that day, Geom Mugeuk had thought the leaders of the Righteous, Unorthodox, and Demonic factions who gathered that day had divided the Six-Origin Energies among themselves, and that parts of it had later flowed into places like the Ice Palace and the Heavenly Wind Cult.
But on that day, they had all been absorbed into the Secret Box, trapped inside transparent beads, and had fallen into the hands of the Dark Palace Master.
Did six beads emerge from the Secret Box afterward? Or had they existed elsewhere from the beginning? Since he had returned to the present without seeing that part, even Geom Mugeuk did not know.
“So please eat the dish that the Martial Emperor Divine Sword could not.”
“Do you know what kind of person I am, to tell me to eat this?”
He did not know everything about him. But he could guess one thing.
“You are someone who has not yet abandoned your dream, aren’t you?”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because you intervened in that matter three hundred years ago in pursuit of unifying the martial world.”
Baek Jagang, listening, inwardly admired him. He knew Joo Ga-shin had not abandoned his dream because he had heard his proposal. Yet Geom Mugeuk had read his heart perfectly without hearing any of that.
“That will not happen. So if you have anything you wish to say, say it all. If not now, you will never get the chance.”
After staring at Geom Mugeuk for a moment, Joo Ga-shin flatly refused.
“I have nothing to say to you.”
Just as Joo Ga-shin was about to disappear, Geom Mugeuk suddenly mentioned something unexpected.
“At your grave, I saw the Red Wolf you used to keep.”
“Ah, of course, I didn’t see it in person—I saw it in a painting. It looked truly magnificent and handsome.”
At the mention of the Red Wolf, for the first time, an emotion flickered in Joo Ga-shin’s eyes.
It was longing.
“Even from the painting of you together, I could tell how much you cherished it.”
He did not finish his sentence.
Perhaps he had meant, *the only one who understood me.*
“Have a drink for the Red Wolf. It must have grieved your death deeply.”
A man who seemed like he would never raise a cup for any other reason—
Joo Ga-shin lifted his cup. And he raised it toward Baek Jagang as well.
It was a gesture inviting him to drink together.
He still hoped Baek Jagang would accept his proposal. That he would somehow save him and allow him to live as one beneath and above ten thousand.
Just as Joo Ga-shin was about to bring the cup to his lips—
Clang.
Once again, the cup fell and shattered on the ground.
His gaze had changed again. And this time, it was not Hwa Moogi who returned.
It was the Demonic Cult Leader, Hyeok Do-cheon.
“The Righteous and the Unorthodox are all the same. What’s so great about bringing in a few external forces that you feel guilty for three hundred years? And in a situation like this, you’re missing some mere beast?”
Geom Mugeuk spoke to him.
“Let me correct two things. They weren’t ‘mere external forces,’ they were the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Unorthodox Alliance. And that wasn’t ‘some mere beast,’ it was a wolf. A very handsome wolf named Red Wolf.”
“You said that if I hadn’t been absorbed into the Secret Box, our cult would have become worse?”
His gaze shifted to Geom Woojin. From their first meeting, he had not liked him either.
“Insolent brat. You’re exactly like your father.”
Of course, to Geom Mugeuk, that was the highest praise.
Thinking he was being mocked, Hyeok Do-cheon bristled. Demonic energy and killing intent surged.
“You dare insult a former Cult Leader?”
Geom Mugeuk spoke calmly.
“The Heavenly Demon I know does not shatter a cup shared with a successor after three hundred years. So whoever you are, go back in, and send out the real Demonic Cult Leader.”
There was a reason he had pushed out Joo Ga-shin to appear.
“Looking at you, a thought suddenly occurred to me.”
For him, it was far more important than guilt or wolves.
Everyone present was shocked by that question. No one had expected him to suddenly appear and ask such a thing.
“Why are you asking me that?”
“If the Secret Box took you back three hundred years, it must have regarded you as special.”
That was not the only reason. The Dark Palace Master had said everything collapsed because of the Young Cult Leader. Just seeing how he made the Heavenly Killing Star sit at the table and handled him proved he was no ordinary man.
“Do you know a way?”
All eyes focused on Geom Mugeuk. Surely, even he wouldn’t say he knew—
But a shocking answer came from his mouth.
“I should be able to get you out of that body.”
Hyeok Do-cheon’s eyes widened. Because he said *should be able to*, rather than *I can*, it sounded even more trustworthy.
Everyone listening was shocked. Even Hwa Moogi must have been shocked, and the other souls as well. Baek Jagang, who had not once felt chills, was the most shocked of all.
Soon, Hyeok Do-cheon burst into loud laughter that echoed thunderously.
Then he abruptly stopped and glared again.
That single question carried shock, doubt, expectation, and excitement all at once.
“If it’s a lie, I’ll tear you apart alive!”
Geom Mugeuk looked at the shattered bowl on the ground and said:
“But you should have asked such an important question before breaking the cup.”
“If you can just get me out, I’ll grant you anything you want!”
Certain that this would be what he desired, he added excitedly:
“I’ll help you achieve unification of the martial world.”
At that, Geom Mugeuk burst into loud laughter. It seemed like laughter of joy—
Hyeok Do-cheon could not understand what he meant.
Meanwhile, those present each showed different expressions—some faint smiles, others slight awkwardness.
Only Geom Woojin showed no change at all.
He had already returned to Hwa Moogi. He could grant anything else, but he blocked this matter entirely.
“As expected! You don’t deviate even an inch from what I thought. You say you can take them out of my body? Are you trying to deceive the Demonic Cult Leader with such nonsense?”
Geom Mugeuk, who had been quietly watching him, suddenly asked:
“Do you not want it?”
“I’m asking if you’re okay with them being inside your body. They read your thoughts, read your emotions. Don’t you hate that?”
Hwa Moogi’s expression stiffened. His relationship with those souls was not something that could be explained or concluded in a few words.
Geom Mugeuk asked him:
“What are they to you?”
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