Chapter 114: I Tried to Lure in Villains, But...
Chapter 114: I Tried to Lure in Villains, But...
Bi Sa-in and I arrived at a safe house located not far from the Unorthodox Path Alliance headquarters.
The Smiling Demon and the 13 Wolves of the Unorthodox Path were already there, waiting for us.
The 1st Wolf, Baek Cheol-gi, looked as overjoyed as if someone had just returned from the dead.
"Young Master! You’re safe!"
"1st Wolf, I apologize for leaving without a word."
"I was worried sick. You must never do this again, Young Master."
"I understand."
The other members of the 13 Wolves were equally delighted. Seeing them welcome him so warmly seemed to soften Bi Sa-in’s heart.
"The Smiling Demon did guarantee the Young Master’s safety, but still..."
I let out a small chuckle. I could easily imagine the 1st Wolf worrying that the Smiling Demon’s "guarantee" might actually make things more dangerous.
While Bi Sa-in and the 13 Wolves had their reunion, the Smiling Demon called me into a separate room. His eyes, visible through the slits of his white mask, scrutinized me thoroughly.
"Bi Sa-in probably doesn't even know what was taken from him. What exactly did you gain?"
"I just put in some effort to win the man over."
"I doubt that’s all. That is something that could have been achieved even if I or the 13 Wolves were present."
Having traveled together for a while now, the Smiling Demon had grown far too perceptive of my character.
"Now that I look at you, your gaze seems deeper. Have you made progress in your martial arts?"
"A little."
In truth, achieving the Twelve-Star Great Achievement of the Flying Heaven Sword Technique was a monumental feat, but I only offered half the truth. I knew I couldn't perfectly deceive the Smiling Demon, nor did I particularly want to.
"If the Second Young Master’s skills have improved further, I might actually lose if we were to fight now."
"I don't know about the other Demon Lords, but I doubt I could ever beat you, Lord Smiling Demon."
"And why is that?"
"Because you are the Smiling Demon."
Knowing it was a compliment, the Smiling Demon chuckled.
*
That afternoon, Bi Sa-in came to see me. He had devised a plan—an incredibly dangerous one.
"I intend to use myself as bait."
He was putting his life on the line for this.
"I’ll leak information that I have evidence—proof that Seok Gwan-chu is the mastermind behind everything that’s happened. If I claim I’m about to report this to the Alliance Leader, Seok Gwan-chu will undoubtedly come to kill us."
The Black Murder Lord was dead, we had visited White Night Valley, and the 6th Wolf had been killed. It was a situation where it was entirely plausible for us to have evidence.
"He’ll need to kill us as quickly as possible, and he won't be able to hire outside experts on such short notice. He’ll either come himself or send masters deeply connected to him."
"Do you realize how dangerous this plan is?"
"I do. He will surely send someone capable of killing me. He might even come in person."
"Then why propose such a risky plan?"
"Because there is one thing they are overlooking."
"What is it?"
"You, Young Master. They would never imagine that you and the Smiling Demon would help me." He looked at me and asked, "Will you help me?"
"I will."
My immediate, unhesitating answer actually took Bi Sa-in aback.
"Why aren't you asking for a price? This is a situation where I’d have no choice but to accept any condition you set. Even if you asked for everything I own, I’d have to give it to you."
"I just want to be able to truly shake your hand one day."
Bi Sa-in’s eyes wavered. Help given in times of hardship leaves the deepest impression. If I could win Bi Sa-in’s heart now, it would be a greater power than any elixir or treasure.
After parting with him, I met with the Smiling Demon and told him about the plan.
"You should stay out of this, Second Young Master."
"Are you being serious?"
"Yes."
"Are you worried about me?"
"No, I’m worried about myself. If I take you out and you end up dead in the Unorthodox Path Alliance’s front yard, what does that make me? I wouldn't be able to face the Cult Leader."
In truth, I was having the exact same worry. My father had ordered me not to kill any more Demon Lords; if the Smiling Demon were to die, what would that make me?
"Let’s decide after we see how the situation unfolds."
"Very well."
"This isn't our fight. There’s no need to jump in too dangerously."
At my words, the Smiling Demon’s eyes actually sparkled. He was the type to burn even brighter the stronger his opponent was.
Returning to my room, I took the Supreme Heavenly Silkworm Thread wrapped around my sword hilt and wound it around my vital areas—my heart, neck, abdomen, and limbs. Over that, I donned the Ghost Guard Robe given to me by the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
Then, I quietly performed Qi Circulation, preparing for the battle to come.
Late at night, my eyes snapped open.
The Heavenly Demon Body Protection Art had jolted me awake. It was the first time it had ever alerted me so violently and intensely. I knew instantly.
A powerful foe.
I had expected a strong enemy, but I had never encountered a master who triggered such a powerful reaction from the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Art.
The Smiling Demon, who had been sleeping in the same room, also opened his eyes wide.
"Did you feel that?"
"Yes."
"Let’s go."
I put on a mask, just like the Smiling Demon. We headed toward the source of that energy: the building where Bi Sa-in was staying.
CRACK! CRASH!
Martial artists came bursting through windows and walls. It was Bi Sa-in and the 13 Wolves. Their faces were etched with clear panic.
And then, an old man stepped out, walking with a leisurely gait.
Dressed in pure white robes, he had a white beard reaching down to his chest, looking much like a transcendent immortal. His face and hands were etched with wrinkles of an indiscernible age, but his eyes were as terrifying as those of a predator.
The old man was dragging someone along. The person was already a corpse, leaving a thick trail of blood where he was being pulled.
Flap.
The old man tossed the body, and it rolled into the center of the courtyard. It was the 3rd Wolf.
The 13 Wolves’ expressions hardened at the sight of their fallen comrade. Their eyes filled with vengeful killing intent, but none of them acted rashly. They were utterly suppressed by the sword skill the old man had displayed when he killed the 3rd Wolf.
"Who are you?" the 1st Wolf asked, suppressing his rage.
It wasn't Seok Gwan-chu. This man was older than Seok Gwan-chu and exuded a far more intense presence.
"And who might you be?" the old man’s voice cut through the night air. It was low and calm, yet carried the weight of profound internal energy.
"I am the 1st Wolf, leader of the 13 Wolves of the Unorthodox Path."
"Come closer, then."
Naturally, the 1st Wolf did not approach.
"How can a coward lead the 13 Wolves?"
The 1st Wolf’s expression soured, but he didn't fall for the provocation. Instead, he whispered to Bi Sa-in, "We’ll handle things here. You must escape."
The plan to lure them in and trap them had crumbled the moment this old man appeared.
Bi Sa-in had no intention of leaving, but even if he did, it wouldn't be easy. Another master appeared atop the opposite wall. It was Seok Gwan-chu, the mastermind behind this entire affair. He, too, exuded the aura of a master of the previous generation.
The fact that he had shown himself meant he intended to kill everyone to silence the witnesses.
Seok Gwan-chu looked up at the night sky with his hands behind his back.
"The moonlight was so fine that I decided to take a stroll with my Master."
The moment his identity was revealed, everyone was struck with horror.
Seok Gwan-chu’s Master.
The Sword Emperor, Baek Mang-gi.
A master of the Fast Sword and a legend from two generations ago, he was a man well over a hundred and thirty years old. A man who hadn't been seen in the Murim for decades had finally appeared. We had tried to lure in a villain, but a monster had crawled out instead.
"Now then, Young Master Bi." Seok Gwan-chu was calm and composed. "There is only one way for you to live."
"And what is that?"
"You know what I want, don't you?"
"Are you talking about the evidence for the Alliance Leader? It seems even our Elder Seok is afraid of him."
"Hand it over while I’m still asking nicely."
"Do you think I’m a fool? Why would I keep it on me? If you kill me, that evidence will go straight to the Alliance Leader immediately. Then, you’ll have to answer for my murder as well."
Right then, Seok Gwan-chu’s master, Baek Mang-gi, leaped into the air. He drifted through the void and landed softly in front of Bi Sa-in. It was as if a divine general had descended from the heavens.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Every sword raised to protect Bi Sa-in was deflected. Baek Mang-gi’s sword was already back in its sheath. In the blink of an eye, he had drawn his blade, struck down the 13 Wolves’ weapons, and sheathed it again.
The 13 Wolves were utterly overwhelmed by that blinding speed.
Baek Mang-gi stared quietly into Bi Sa-in’s eyes. "Those are eyes that don't know how to lie."
Baek Mang-gi turned to Seok Gwan-chu and said, "There is no evidence."
"I thought as much."
As if he believed anything his master said, Seok Gwan-chu rebuked Bi Sa-in with a cold face.
"What were you thinking, pulling a stunt like this? Did you truly think I was foolish enough to walk into your trap and offer up my own neck?"
Bi Sa-in said nothing. The moment Baek Mang-gi appeared, all his plans had been rendered moot. The 13 Wolves could have handled Seok Gwan-chu through a combined attack, but Baek Mang-gi was a being far beyond their level.
Then, Baek Mang-gi turned his head and looked toward us.
"I suppose you were relying on those two playing ghost over there."
Naturally, both Baek Mang-gi and Seok Gwan-chu had been aware of our presence from the start. Seok Gwan-chu knew exactly who we were.
"That is the Smiling Demon, one of the Eight Demon Lords."
"I’ve heard that the Demonic Cult has some underlings who like to act mysterious behind masks," Baek Mang-gi said. "But why are you still standing there, knowing who I am? Do you think I won't kill you because I fear the Heavenly Demon?"
"It would seem so."
At that, the Smiling Demon spoke to me. "It’s not too late."
"Should we run?"
"Do as you wish, Second Young Master."
My eyes met Bi Sa-in’s. His expression held a sense of stoic resolve rather than fear. It was a look that said I could leave, and he wouldn't resent me for it.
"I don't want that look to be the last thing I remember of him. Loyalty, pride, promises... Ah! This is why the average life expectancy of martial artists is so damn low."
"I figured you’d say that." The Smiling Demon laughed. Even if he were to die, the Smiling Demon was the type to go out fighting like a madman.
I didn't decide to fight just because of that, though. I knew they had no intention of letting us go. There was no way they would let such a massive secret leak to the outside world.
"Hey, old man. Your opponent is over here."
Baek Mang-gi laughed at the Smiling Demon’s words. Seok Gwan-chu laughed as well.
"Did you truly think I would give a damn about the Heavenly Demon?"
The moment Baek Mang-gi finished speaking, he charged toward us. He was incredibly fast. By the time I registered the attack, his sword was already being drawn right in front of our noses.
Swish! Whoosh!
Slice! Rip!
The exchange was over in an instant.
Baek Mang-gi took a step back from us, staring at me with a look of pure shock.
"You...?"
Strands of his long beard had been severed and were fluttering in the air between us.
Baek Mang-gi had intended to cut down the Smiling Demon first, and I had struck at Baek Mang-gi. He was fast, but I was fast too. Baek Mang-gi had come hair-thinly close to having his throat slit by my sword.
The composure vanished from Baek Mang-gi’s face. He likely hadn't experienced such a dangerous moment in decades. It was probably the first time his heart had ever skipped a beat like that.
Not just Baek Mang-gi, but Seok Gwan-chu, Bi Sa-in, and the 13 Wolves were all staring at me with stunned expressions.
It was then.
Riiip.
The Smiling Demon’s mask, struck by Baek Mang-gi’s earlier swing, split in half from the forehead to the chin and slid off. Even the Smiling Demon hadn't been able to perfectly evade Baek Mang-gi’s attack.
As the mask fell, the Smiling Demon panicked. He was the type who would choose death over having his face revealed.
Just as his face was about to be exposed—
Snap.
A new mask covered his face.
I had taken off my own mask and used it to cover him. For a moment, our eyes met. Instead of the shame he would have hated more than death, his eyes were filled with a surging intensity directed at me.
"Only remove your mask when you truly wish to, Lord Smiling Demon."
Leaving behind the Smiling Demon’s swelling emotions, I turned back toward Baek Mang-gi.
I hadn't realized it. I hadn't known that seeing the Smiling Demon come so close to death would make me this angry. I truly hadn't known.