Chapter Text
Geom Woojin hadn't left his son's side since that day. That day haunted him as the day he nearly lost his youngest son. He had killed Hwa Mugi the moment he could with Heavenly Demon Destroys the world, barely blocking the same technique deployed by his enemy using the Impenetrable Demonic Wall. It was a miracle that he could stop it on his own.
The moment the Celestial Killer Star was dead his head snapped in the direction of his son to the side, who had started coughing violently, blood among the spit leaving his mouth. And it wasn't a small amount either. Geom Mugeuk had suffered internal injuries whilst trying to block the Hwa Mugi's Heavenly Demon Destroys the World barely conscious after emerging from his coma like state after being in Hwa Mugi's mind for two hours.
To say Geom Woojin ran in the flash of light was an understatement. He had bolted to his son's side in under a second, checking on his vitals. Absolute horror was seen on the Cult Leader's face. No one in the Inn currently had seen such vivid emotions from that man. The most surprised were the Two Chairmen, Jin Paecheon and Baek Jagang at seeing such an expression from the stoic Geom Woojin. Just how bad of a state was Geom Mugeuk in?
The answer is horrible. Mugeuk was in the worst state possible. His qi was flowing backwards, many if Maridians burst, causing many internal injuries and bleeding and a few broken bones from the impact. It was a wonder how the boy was still alive.
The Heavenly Demon at that second wasn't the Cult Leader worried for The Young Cult Leader, but rather a father terrified for his son's life. It didn't take long for him to scoop his boy into his arms and bolt out of the destroyed Alluring Inn towards the cult where the Demon doctor was. Thankfully, the doctor as well as anyone under his command were deployed and told to ready themselves as a precaution.
Everyone present saw Woojin vanish in mere seconds. The Fist Demon was the most taken aback. He wasn't even able to ask anything or see his disciple's state. And odd silence fell, everyone on edge, afterall, they all had a connection to the silver tongued brat.
With Woojin having left in a hurry, as a Demon Supreme, Dan Woo-gang had to step up and take charge despite the aching to chase after the Cult Leader and check on his disciple. But reluctantly he stayed and the Poison king also stood, knowing now wasn't the time to space out. He stood up next to the Fist Demon King to send off the Chairmen.
"We apologise for the improper send off. But i hope you understand our cult will need to be on alert now so we can not accommodate your stay for any longer." The Demon King spoke formally, his body tense and agitated. The Poison King standing to his side, a step behind. Aswell as the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader and Ak Gunhak, the Sword King stood a few more steps behind, seemingly seconds away from bolting back into the Cult. Thankfully, the two Chairmen were understanding, but worried aswell.
Geom Mugeuk was a friend to Evil Alliance Chaitman's disciple and a friend to the Orthodox Alliance Chairman's grandchildren. They also had their own affection to the Young Cult Leader. They truly didn't know how to face their own disciple and grandchild respectively and tell them that a dear friend of theirs was injured and they could do nothing to help. They wanted to check on the kid themselves but knew they wouldn't be able to. If the roles were reversed they wouldn't let it happen either.
So reluctantly they bid farewell and left the destroyed Demon village with hearts full of worry. Neither of the two Chairmen had seen that boy in such a vulnerable state. Nor have they ever seen the Cult Leader expressive before.
The moment the two were out of sight, all four that had seen them off bolted towards the Cult in urgency. The flame was now off, but the cult was in a more guarded state then ever before with their Young Cult Leader in critical state.
----
Inside the Cult's main headquarters, a sudden surge of energy boomed, knocking all those with low to no qi down. The villagers of the demon village were terrified and confused at the energy that bypassed the formation that surrounded where they had temporary settled for safety. At first the lower ranked demons thought they were being invaded but the captains and higher ups assured them it wasn't the case, making it apparent it was the Cult Leader's energy. Naturally, they thought it was a show of power, an announcement of victory. But one knew it wasn't. Aside from the rest of the absent Demon Supremes who would've recognised the reason behind that suffocating demonic energy, Hwi knew exactly what it could mean.
"That must be father. Did they finish already. It seems like he came back. But why like this?" Geom Muyang asked cautiously, knowing his father isn't the type to show off. If anything, had they been victorious, he'd be hearing his brother at where the villagers were, comforting them that everything is safe now.
"Something must've went wrong. He's heading to the infirmary.." Hwi answered warily, accurately reading the agitated energy of the cult leader he has served for years.
Then four more energies entered from the gate, this time Muyang felt them more clearly then the dashing of his father where he only felt the explosion of demonic qi.
Four...
Only four...
The Fist King.
The Poison King.
The former Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.
And the Sword King.
Muyang felt his blood go cold as a sudden realisation hit him. The reason why Mugeuk wasn't where he villagers were now. The reason why his father was in a rush. The reason only four and not 5 people followed in.
"Mugeuk!" Muyang exclaimed, rushing off to the infirmary before Hwi can even process it. His brother. His baby brother must be in critical condition. Mugeuk must be in a horrible state for his father to panic like that. Mugeuk must be close to death. Muyang could only remember the incident of the forged weapon in that moment as he bolted to the infirmary to where his brother and father was. The incident where his brother nearly died back then.
No. It can't happen again. His baby brother can't die like this. Because of one man. He would fall into a rage way stronger then the one he was in back then. Back then he could control himself. Right now? There is no guarantee what he might do this time. Especially that now all enemies that actively threatened Mugeuk and the Murim were dead. Him and his father might as well declare war on all of the Murim just to find someone to blame and let out their anger on.
----
Geom Woojin didn't know this would happen. The attack went too fast for him to react. He would've rather had all of them die then his son. But no. His foolish instincts put up the Impenetrable Demonic Wall in front of him and the allies of that day. His Heavenly Demon Defense Art made him act before thinking. If he just had a second to think he wouldn't be holding his son's battered body. Bones were broken, meridians shattered, qi veins broken and leaking out, the connected ones flowed backwards, and the internal bleeding was heavier then the external. He didn't even check on the Celestial Killer Star's condition. Whether he was still alive (unlikely) or dead. All he saw was his son's body in pain, coughing up blood like no tomorrow.
He hated how long the seconds were as he scooped Mugeuk into his arms and flew out. He should've been faster. But he couldn't. He had to focus on sending his own qi into his son's body to protect his heart, mind and all other vital organs from combusting due to the disorganised state of his boy's internal system. Mugeuk cried in agony in his father's arms as Woojin flew as fast as possible but also cautiously to not accidentally make his state worse. How slow was he? He felt like no matter how fast he went it was too slow? His son continued to cry and whimper in pain, head tucked into the Heavenly Demon's shoulder as more blood is coughed up.
"F'her... fa.. er.. hurts..." his son moaned in pain, tears flowing from his eyes. The sight itself broke Woojin. He has never felt so panicked in his life. He never would think he'd be cradling his dying son's body and running to the infirmary where the Demon Doctor was.
Why was it taking so long? The village isn't far. So why did it feel like it's taking ages for Geom Woojin to get there?
His son's mood changed constantly, his mind deliriously speaking in broken words, trying to deflect the pain as the Cult Leader desperately shushed him so the boy wouldn't exhaust himself. Though those delirious words would come back to haunt him later. Wondering how he ignored them despite how odd they sounded.
Every now and then Mugeuk would speak.
"Fa'er... Fa'her.." His son would pant in exhaustion, barely conscious. But Woojin tried to keep him awake whilst encouraging him not to exhaust himself by trying to move. Mugeuk continued to speak. The words entering one ear of Geom Woojin and leaving out the other. His hysteria not allowing him to process those words at the present moment.
"I did it rig't..." Mugeuk panted incoherently.
"No one di'd thish t'me ye? Ever'o'e ish al've?" His words slurred, slipping out between sobs of pain and coughs of blood that bloodied his father's martial clothes.
His father only answered with gentle comforting words of confirmation, not yet having realised what it really meant.
As if hours had passed when in reality it was like two minutes, only because he had to focus on protecting the major organs, he had arrived at the infirmary. His landing caused a huge wave of demonic energy to surge through the whole cult and knock open the door of where the Demon Doctor waited at attention in case something went wrong. And oh boy it did.
"Demon Doctor!" Geom Woojin had yelled in urgency as he found the nearest bed to set down his son but not fully letting go, sitting at the head and laying Mugeuk's head on his lap, patting his cheek to keep him concious. The Demon Doctor only had a second to process what happened before he grabbed the necessary equipment for emergency and made his way to the bed, quickly inspecting the Young Cult Leader. He immediately called on his most trusted subordinates for assistance. This matter was no matter to underestimate or underreact in. This was the heir to the Divine Cult.
When the Physician saw the extent of the internal injury, he was ashamed to think this was almost impossible. The Young Cult Leader must be truly blessed by the Heavens to be alive right now. He thought that it is a pity to keep the boy living through the misery of pain, crying and sobbing in pain, whimpering father every time he could, expressing pain to the only man who he felt safest with at the moment. Truly as if he was a little boy not a man in his twenties, that is the severity of the pain he was going through.
The Demonic Doctor pushed those corrupt thoughts away. If he can't save Mugeuk after the debt he owed him, he truly can't live with himself. At the least he would let go of the position. At worst he might take his own life. It all depended on his effort and success. The Young Cult Leader was a man admired by many. He was a symbol of joy and change in the Cult. His death might send everyone into a rampage.
He, and his trusted subordinates got to work. Injecting acupuncture needles with care, careful of the amount of qi entered. Repeating the process many times, sealing maridians and blocking and realigning qi vains to try and settle the chaos in the battered body whilst also at the same time treating any internal bleeding. During all that Mugeuk screamed in pain and convulsed endlessly. They were lucky to have the Cult Leader there to keep his son stable, comforting him with small words, and protecting the major organs from failing or being injured. Had they not been so focused on treating the boy, they'd be in awe at the unnatural sight they were seeing from the Heavenly Demon, who at most times was stoic and put together. However anyone could see his horror and desperation to keep his youngest son alive.
He cradled Mugeuk's face, trying not to get in the way as he tried to comfort his son and carry him throughout this treatment. It was too critical to use any pain relivers. That would have to come much later when he was more stable. He saw the pain in his son's barely concious eyes but the worry they held for his father.
"D'n't be mad... f'ther. Don't.... be mad." Mugeuk would mutter occasionally when he had a small break from pain. A clear message for his father.
Do not rampage for my sake.. do not start a war against the wrong people.
That however ended the second a surge of pain crossed him. Woojin truly felt helpless at seeing his usually cheerful son so weak. He wished to hear one of his jokes again. He never thought he'd hate it so much, to see his youngest in so much pain. He thought his son was powerful enough to never be vulnerable again. But he had seemingly let down his guard. He let his son get hurt. The closest he had to seeing Mugeuk like this was when he rushed to the cult carrying the Smiling demon on his back and passed out. This was nothing like this. Mugeuk was screaming in pain. In agony. Barely able to handle the mess in his body.
Muyang had rushed through the door despite the many physicians that tried to stop him. But he wouldn't let anyone get in his way. He needed to be by his baby brother's side. His eyes laid on their father first, sitting on the head of the bed sideways with Mugeuk's head on his lap, gently caressing the dishevelled hair and bruised cheeks. Muyang can tell how arduous the fight was. But he never thought this would happen. His heart broke when he heard his brother scream as if being tortured. No even if he was he wouldn't be like this. His brother's torso was bare, his pants also stripped, leaving only undergarments to cover as the Demon Doctor and his subordinates worked on healing all over his body. No matter how long it went. Every new spot a needle was entered, a stronger, more excruciating blood curling scream would leave Mugeuk. No doubt that sound reached the outside.
His father looked at him for a fraction of a second, nodding to come closer. Muyang wasted no time in doing so. He rushed to Mugeuk's side, gripping the weak hand in his, not daring to lend any qi in fear of disrupting the treatment. Muyang never imagine to see his father so fearful, but he didn't have time to linger on the thought as he paid attention to his baby brother, feeling the same fear. Mugeuk, randomly gaining a slight concious which happened here and now before the pain made him delirious, recognised his brother despite the tears that blurred his vision. He gripped as hard as he could. Now crying out for two people who he had needed in that moment.
"'Yang... 'Yang-ie... fa'her..." he sobbed in torment, barely able to handle the pain, but when he was about to pass out, a new wave would have him wailing again.
This went on for an excruciatingly long time. Geom Woojin and Geom Muyang feeling helpless in lessening the pain from the baby of their family. They felt useless. All they could do was hold him in a way it wouldn't get in the way and say gentle, comforting words that did nothing. Though slowly, after a long 5 hours, the damage to his body was predominately healed, his cries getting quieter to mere whimpers till he passed out when all was done. Streak marks of tears flowing down his cheeks, head slumped on his father's lap and body weak, no longer squeezing his brother's hand. He just panted and slept, knocked out from exhaustion and pain.
The infirmary was silent finally but no one liked said silence. They wanted to hear Mugeuk's jokes. His mischief. Smart words and rambling. They wished that was the problem they were facing. Not whatever this was. With his head in his father's lap he'd let out soft moans of pain, but not as agonising or loud as before. The Demon Doctor fed him pain relivers. The strongest he had. It didn't include any qi or need for energy circulation. It just relaxed the muscles and dulled pain receptors, it was often used as a truth potion in investigation and had no negative effects.
"He should be in stable condition for now. Though I would prefer he stays at the infirmary for a bit. I doubt he'll wake up any time soon." The Demon Doctor informed as he carefully dressed Mugeuk's broken bones, mostly his ribs and a few fractures in his arms. Due to his qi being so unstable, it would take longer for those to heal then most martial artists, especially at his level.
"I do recommend you seal his qi until his injuries are fully healed, Cult Leader."
Geom Woojin only nodded curtly, too focused on his son who lay weakly in his lap, patting down his dishevelled hair, finally calmer now that his son was in a better state and not in such a state of agony anymore. Though his worry was still present, how could it not be? That was his son. He'd rather all that pain befall him then any of his two children. If only he took a second to protect him, he wouldn't be in such a critical state. If only.
The physicians left the family alone, letting them process what was happening.
"Father-"
"I messed up... I was too late.."
Muyang couldn't reply at the self-deprecation of his father. He wasn't there to see what had happened. He wished that he was. He should've. Reluctantly he stayed silent, sitting besides the limp body of his brother, still holding the weak hand that had lost its grip a while ago.
----
The Fist King, The Poison King, The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader and the Sword King had landed in front of the infirmary but froze outside when they heard the loud cries from the inside and saw Geom Muyang arrive around the same time as them and bolted inside unrestrained. Soon after Hwi revealed himself beside the four men, standing outside the infirmary listening to the pained wails that echoed to the outside. The cries of their Young Cult Leader who they have never witnessed express any pain for any other reason but to be dramatic. Those screams were anything but dramatic. They were one of torment and pain.
It felt like they had been standing there for days to say the least. Helplessly listening to the loud cries of Geom Mugeuk. Before long The Blade Demon, Sword Supreme and Evil Smiling demon had finally arrived back at the cult. They had departed at the same as the Young Cult Leader, but his superior speed had beat them. They had arrived hours later because they thought Mugeuk would have it under control like usual. That he'd be safe. That he won't be hurt. They had seen Jin Paecheon and Beak Jagang walking away from the destroyed Demon Village with a grim expression on their faces. It was then that they had that feeling of foreboding and they pushed their qi to the limit to get to the headquarters.
They entered the gates and sensed the tension, feeling the waves of demonic energy from the Heavenly Demon. Naturally they followed it, shocked to land in front of the infirmary of the Demonic Cult. They found the five standing there with clenched fists and tense faces. Only then did they register the piercing shrieks from the inside. They did not recognise it, the Blade Demon turned to the Fist Demon for an explanation.
"Mugeuk. He got caught in one of the attacks of the nine calamities art. The Cult Leader Protected us, but the Young Cult Leader was passed out and woke up when that attack was deployed. He barely had time to block it." Dan Woo-Gang briefly explained the gist of it, worriedly looking at the building that no one dared to enter. Only listen from the outside. By now they all knew it was the Young Cult Leader, everyone was worried, barely focusing on their duties, worried for the man who changed the cult for the better. The most distraught was the villagers. Mugeuk was the fundamental reason for their improved living conditions so they all naturally felt worry for the young man.
"I don't know the extent of it but the Cult Leader looked horrified. From those sounds alone we can assume it wasn't at all good."
After the brief explanation, silence feel over them, a sense of dread befalling them all. They felt helpless, standing there listening to the agony the boy that they had gotten closer to was suffering. The news must've reached the three injured Demon Supremes by now who had to travel by carriage back. No doubt they'd spend less time resting and head back as quickly as possible. Not only were they attached to Mugeuk, there was also the threat on their Young Cult Leader being in critical danger which was a direct threat to the Cult if people got too brave and stupid.
It felt like decades had passed before the cries died down and the cult was thrown into silence. You might think you'd be relieved, but everyone tensed, unsure if the silence was good or bad news. However the calmed energy of the heavenly demon is what made the Demon Supremes slightly less tense. Only after a few minutes did the Demon Doctor personally leave the building to meet the Demon Supremes outside. The comforting smile he presented them with allowed the tension to finally leave them.
"The Young Cult Leader is stable now. Hopefully that stays like it. If any of you are injured please let me treat you." The Demon Doctor comforted and turned back to enter the pharmacy. The Sword King followed him in to a different room, far from Mugeuk's room to treat his internal injuries.
----
Five days has passed, his injuries got better, but he had not yet awaken fully. He'd wake up occasionally but he was too delirious, most times it was due to pain. They kept giving him the same pain relievers. When he would wake up, not out of pain, he'd sometimes mutter nonsense. This time was much different.
"mmh... ugh.." Mugeuk let out soft grunts as his eyes fluttered open lightly. Woojin rarely moved from his son's side. If he did, Muyang would be called. If the First Young Lord had a choice, he'd stay by his brother's side and never move. But his father didn't allow it, telling him to focus on his duties. Woojin himself stayed in the infirmary room and did all his Cult Leader duties in there. He wasn't yet allowed to move Mugeuk to somewhere else as the young man still occasionally convulsed and had seizures every now and then, not to mention the pain he regularly faced. Woojin put down the papers in his hand and immediately turned to his son, his hand cupped the grimacing face, trying to calm him down with a few gentle strokes of his thumb.
"Father...ugh.."
"Yes, i am here." Woojin answered almost immediately moved to comfort his son, too worried to keep his stoic demeanour. He couldn't bare to see Mugeuk in more pain, especially not when Woojin held his sobbing, battered body.
"You're.. here... father... You're alive this time..." Mugeuk mumbled incoherently, the pain relievers that acted as truth serums and made him speak nonsense. Except this time it wasn't. Woojin furrowed his brows at the cryptic words, reminded of the similar words he heard from his son as he carried him to the doctor.
"I am. Did I die before?" The Cult Leader asked, glad no one else was in the room currently, but he put up a barrier to block sounds from escaping just incase.
"Yeah... i worked so hard... so hard to get the materials..." Mugeuk muttered, his subconscious mind spoke, almost as if he was a drunkard that had no control of what he says.
"Materials?"
"For the.. The Great Regression Technique... it sent me back... to see father... to save father and brother..." Mugeuk spoke, a soft smile stretching on his lips, hand reaching for his father who immediately used his free hand to grab that hand.
"To kill Hwa Mugi... I did it.." Woojin wanted to know more, but his son immediately started spasming and a surge of energy from the Heavenly Demon had the Demon Doctor rushing into the room to treat the Young Cult Leader. That was what made up most of Woojin's time here, watching out for pain and seizures. He feared leaving his son's side.
And after that day, Mugeuk never awoke deliriously again. Only showing signs of pain. But that eventually wasn't necessary anymore. When Mugeuk was finally stable and wasn't seizing anymore, Woojin moved him to his room. Letting him rest comfortably. Once again, he never left his boy's side. Only letting Muyang, the Demon Doctor and Hwi to see him and be near him.