Shaolin Temple, Mount Song, Henan Province.
Amidst the tense atmosphere following the recent attack, a large figure appeared within the temple grounds.
"Hah! Where have you been?"
"Kahaha! I had some urgent business to attend to! My apologies! Were you waiting long?"
"…Not particularly. There's nothing else to do, so I was just killing time. Especially after the clash with the Demonic Cult."
"Right, right. I brought you some gifts to make up for it, my friend!"
Harley laughed heartily at Mok Ingwang, the Mad Demon, whose gruff voice couldn't hide his relief.
While the Shaolin monks were turning away all visitors at the foot of the mountain, Harley was an exception. He was their savior.
Munch Munch
"…Just curious, but what are you doing?"
"Huh? Eating meat? Want some? …This is precious stuff, I don't share it with just anyone…"
That's why they only frowned and gave him disapproving looks, unable to scold him despite his outrageous behavior.
But they couldn't ignore him devouring meat within the sacred temple grounds.
"Hmm."
Harley looked at the meat in his hand, then at Mok Ingwang's perplexed expression. He nodded resolutely.
"Tsk— Right, a man shouldn't be stingy with food. Here, have some of this precious meat. Be grateful! This is really good stuff!"
"No, that's not…"
As he extended the meat—
"Ahem, ahem. Benefactor? This is a sacred Buddhist temple. Please refrain from consuming meat within these grounds."
A monk approached hesitantly, forcing a polite smile, clearly uncomfortable with having to address the issue directly.
"…Oh, right. I forgot!"
Gulp
Hari quickly retracted his hand, shoving the large chunk of meat into his mouth and swallowing. He smacked his lips, wiping the grease on his pants, and grinned.
"Ehaha! My apologies! I'm not used to your customs! I'll be more careful!"
A quick apology and acknowledgment of his mistake. Whether he was truly remorseful was debatable, but the monk, relieved, bowed and retreated.
"Oh well! We can eat meat later!"
Harley's reaction, as if he had been waiting for the interruption, wasn't because he was reluctant to share.
'Should I eat a little more? There are always losses in battle. This is just… one head's worth, right?'
He glanced at his arm, flexing his fist. The familiar, immense strength. But within that strength, there was something subtly different.
'「Food God」… It certainly lives up to its name. Though it's still just a seed.'
He hadn't liked the skill's name initially. It sounded too commonplace, like something from a TV show.
But that was just prejudice.
Food God (食神).
It contained the word 'God (神)'. It couldn't be ordinary.
'The pinnacle of consumption, capable of devouring even divinities.'
The skill's evolution wasn't solely due to consuming Tam's flesh while possessing 「Power of Gluttony」. Consuming a part of the Master of Heaven's Turn Society's wing, imbued with his power, had also contributed.
At the time, he had only gained resistance to holy power. But the karma remaining within him had reacted to this recent event, triggering the evolution.
It was a shame about Greed's meat. Though weakened, he was a monster who had touched divinity. His flesh contained a portion of that divine power.
But Harley suppressed his appetite, shaking his head.
'No, I shouldn't be greedy. Moderation is key. The seed has been planted. No need for more.'
Death significantly diminished one's power. Even a true god had to pay a heavy price for resurrection. Greed, in his incomplete state, was no exception.
Devouring his entire body would yield little divine power. It was more efficient to use it for restoring Ganghwange as planned.
'There will be other opportunities.'
He was confident he could obtain what he desired.
'Opportunities will arise as I do what needs to be done. Just like always.'
But first, he had unfinished business. A crucial task he had postponed!
"My friend?"
"…What?"
"I heard people calling us the Former Mad Demon and the New Mad Demon."
"…"
"Tsk— I don't like it. Those present at the time must be responsible for spreading those rumors. If someone had corrected them, we wouldn't have those ridiculous names. Don't you agree?"
Hari's narrowed eyes met Mok Ingwang's, who averted his gaze.
He was right. If Mok Ingwang had spoken up when the nicknames were first circulating, they could have been different. Even if nicknames were given by others, they wouldn't easily dismiss the words of someone who had performed heroically in a crisis.
But he had chosen silence. It was understandable. Being known as the Former Mad Demon was far better than revealing the humiliation of having his nickname stolen and becoming the 'Mad Dog.'
"I couldn't help it. There was chaos after you disappeared, and when things settled down, everyone was busy returning to their homes… Besides, one can't choose their own nickname…"
"Hey, why are you being so long-winded? I'm not blaming you! Are we so petty as to argue over such trifles? I'm hurt!"
"…Ahem, is that so?"
Mok Ingwang's face brightened at Harleys magnanimous words. He had expected an argument, but it seemed he was mistaken.
'That's a relief. He doesn't seem like the type to…'
But Harley wasn't finished.
"Kahaha! Let's have our kind of conversation! That's how we became friends in the first place!"
"…Our kind? Became friends?"
"Yes! Just like when we first met!"
Thump
Harley grinned, bumping his rock-like fist against Mok Ingwang's. His muscles rippled.
A vaguely unpleasant memory resurfaced in Mok Ingwang's mind.
Gulp
His face stiffened, but Harley ignored his reaction. Physical communication, a conversation between bodies. The best way to have a genuine, unfiltered exchange!
'A perfect opportunity. I can test my new strength.'
The best way to understand one's changes was through action. And Mok Ingwang, renowned for his durability, was the perfect sparring partner.
"Come on, my friend! Kahaha!"
"…"
Hari strode confidently towards the training grounds, while Mu In-gwang trudged along like a lamb to the slaughter.
Some time later, only one person walked out of the devastated training grounds on their own two feet.
'Hah, refreshing. He needed another dose of my medicine to suppress his madness.'
Despite becoming a model citizen after meeting Harley, Mok Ingwang was once one of Ganghwange's most notorious madmen, known as the "Mad Demon."
Regular treatment was necessary to prevent any relapses.
This wasn't just venting; it was therapy, a pure act of kindness.
'Golden Island strangely lacked anyone knowledgeable about the Mad Conquest Technique, but I have 「Mad Conquest Technique (Modified)」, so I'm not lacking.'
With his guidance, Mok Ingwang could reach the Transcendent Realm. The process might be painful, but enlightenment often came through hardship.
'Now, let's get down to business.'
Having pleasantly dealt with that lingering task, Harley requested an audience with the Shaolin Abbot.
To further his plans for the rehearsal.
It wasn't surprising that Zhuge Huimei's communication attempt reached Hugo. Even a genius like her was using a spell for the first time. A slight miscalculation in targeting was understandable.
[…It seems the calculations were thrown off when I borrowed Prince Zhu Gangin's help. I was unsure about doing it alone, and the others weren't in good condition, so I asked the prince for assistance…]
It meant she had formed a connection with both of them, and a karmic thread linked her to Hugo, who was nearby, seeking to rescue them.
'That's impressive in itself.'
It saved him time, which was crucial in this situation. The sooner, the better.
Hugo reassured the anxious Zhuge Huimei, encouraging her to try again and relay the information to the Zhuge Clan headquarters.
[Are you sure it's safe? It's been a while since the commotion outside stopped. Even if I was careful, a master nearby might notice.]
It was safe. He had cleared the area around her. But he couldn't reveal that, so he reassured her with confident words.
[…Sigh, alright. I'll try again. I'm feeling a bit more confident after trying it once. To think I spent all those years bedridden because of this…]
Her voice, initially trembling with anxiety, regained its resolve. The communication seemed to be ending, but—
[…It's all thanks to you, Young Master Ha. If I were still weak like the others, I wouldn't have even been able to try this.]
Her voice was hesitant, a hint of lingering anxiety.
[…We'll meet again, right?]
Hugo's answer was ready.
[Of course. Didn't I promise? I'll tell you about what happened at the Murim Alliance gathering.]
[…You remember?]
[Of course. I even got you a souvenir. Have you been exercising diligently?]
[I haven't missed a day until today. I haven't done today's exercises yet because of this.]
[Fortunately, it's still a while before midnight. Contact the Zhuge Clan, exercise, and then you'll have just enough time to sleep.]
[…Tsk, fine.]
Their lighthearted banter eased Zhuge Huimei's tension. The conversation had been beneficial.
[I've almost reached Beijing. I'll find a way, so don't give up. I'll rescue you no matter what.]
[······.]
An unwavering, confident promise. Zhuge Huimei was silent for a moment.
[…Yes, I'll be waiting.]
With a faint reply, the communication ended. She would rest, contact the Zhuge Clan, and relay her location and the surrounding situation in detail.
He might have come to Beijing for nothing, but he didn't mind. Gathering information wasn't his only objective.
"Now then…"
Hugo nodded, his expression serious. The communication with Zhuge Huimei had interrupted him, but he was in the middle of something important.
'Let's see, next is… Hundred-Year Wild Ginseng? Skip. Don't want to build up a tolerance with low-grade elixirs. Oh! Thousand-Year Ginseng King. This is more like it. Still not quite enough… I should call Harris to gather some proper elixirs.'
Hugo swallowed the elixir without any processing. Normally a reckless act, but it didn't matter to him with 「Power of Gluttony」.
Hum
Energy surged through him, his internal energy boiling.
Hugo—Ha Seung-hoon, a Supreme Realm master in his early twenties. His internal energy was already immense, rivaling the strongest in the world.