Chapter 147: With Whom Did You Join Hands?
Chapter 147: With Whom Did You Join Hands?
“I refuse.”
The Smiling Demon’s rejection was flat and unwavering.
“You dare defy your uncle-master’s command?”
The fact that Yang Cheo-gi could utter such shameless words—after having already unleashed the cutthroats of Villain Valley to murder the Smiling Demon—laid bare the true depth of his character.
“What is so special about this damn mask anyway!”
Yang Cheo-gi reached up and ripped off his own mask. Beneath it lay the face of a shriveled old man—a truly hideous sight. It stood in stark, ugly contrast to the handsome face the Smiling Demon had possessed before my regression.
“Take it off. Now!”
“I refuse.”
“Right. You always did look down on me.”
It seemed the Smiling Demon’s relationship with his late master hadn't been poor. Given his personality, the only reason he was even entertaining his uncle-master with this much patience was likely out of respect for his master’s senior brother.
“The moment your master died, you lost the right to wear that mask.”
“What are you implying?”
“You were only part of the White Face Sect as long as your master was there to shield you. You are no longer one of us. As of this moment, I am expelling you.”
The sect where the Smiling Demon had first learned his martial arts was the White Face Sect, an organization belonging to the Unorthodox Faction. Later, the Smiling Demon had devoted himself to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and risen to the rank of Demon Lord. Becoming a Demon Lord had been his master’s ultimate dream—a dream the Smiling Demon had achieved in his stead. I had heard the full story while interacting with him in my past life.
“You cannot cast me out on a whim, Uncle-Master.”
“Shut up!”
Killing intent erupted from Yang Cheo-gi. It wasn't the kind of aura meant merely to intimidate; it was a cold, murderous resolve—a genuine intent to slaughter.
“I suppose since you managed to slay the Sword Emperor, you think you have no reason to fear your uncle-master. When I first heard the news that you two killed him, I couldn't believe it. I thought perhaps the Sword Emperor had grown senile or ill. But seeing you walk out of that valley unscathed, it seems he was perfectly fine.”
Despite that realization, Yang Cheo-gi showed no fear. He clearly had a trump card hidden up his sleeve.
“He’s your uncle-master,” I interjected, “so why is he so hell-bent on killing you?”
At my question, the Smiling Demon answered calmly.
“His dream was to become the Unorthodox Path Alliance Leader. He resents me, believing I am the reason he failed to achieve it.”
“Of course it’s because of you! My lifelong ambition crumbled because of you! A single sect cannot produce both a Demon Lord and the Unorthodox Path Alliance Leader simultaneously!”
He blamed the Smiling Demon for his failure to reach the pinnacle of the Unorthodox Path. It was an event from years ago, but it seemed he had let that resentment fester and rot his soul all this time.
“You didn't dare move a finger while Master was alive,” the Smiling Demon noted, “yet you act like this now that he’s gone.”
“Shut up! I only endured it because you were bound by a restriction and stuck in the Demonic Cult. This has nothing to do with my junior brother!”
Yang Cheo-gi had been a loser his entire life. In his youth, he had joined the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult to become a Demon Lord but failed to adapt and was practically chased out. He wanted to lead the White Face Sect, but that position went to the Smiling Demon’s master. Finally, even his ambition to lead the Unorthodox Path Alliance went unfulfilled. His life was a series of dreams far larger than his actual capabilities.
“How pathetic.”
At my words, both the Smiling Demon and Yang Cheo-gi turned to look at me.
“Blaming others, using proxies to try and kill... you really are a pathetic man. How is it the Smiling Demon’s fault that you’re miserable? It’s your own fault for ruining your life by doing nothing but pointing fingers.”
Cold killing intent poured from Yang Cheo-gi, but I didn't stop.
“Do you really think you failed to become the Alliance Leader just because a Demon Lord came from the same sect? I think that’s just a convenient excuse. If you had shown the talent and ability suited for the position, you would have become the leader regardless. Isn't this just a justification you made up to soothe your own ego?”
Yang Cheo-gi opened his mouth, but no rebuttal came out.
“With such a narrow mind, even if you had become the Alliance Leader, the Unorthodox Path Alliance would have turned into a disaster. You would have ended up assassinated by your own men within a month. Instead of resenting the Smiling Demon, you should be thanking him. Go on, say it after me: ‘Thank you for saving my life. Thank you, Smiling Demon!’”
Yang Cheo-gi’s eyes grew cold and still. I could feel a singular, focused will to kill me radiating from his gaze. It seemed I had struck a nerve.
I stared straight into those eyes, which were struggling to hide his shame, and spoke again.
“That’s not the only reason you’re trying to kill him, is it?”
Yang Cheo-gi flinched. The Smiling Demon, standing beside me, asked, “What do you mean?”
“A petty man like him always puts his own profit first. He wouldn't risk his life just for a grudge. Tell me, Yang Cheo-gi—with whom did you join hands? What did they promise you in return? Did they say they’d fulfill your final dream?”
Yang Cheo-gi didn't deny it.
“You have quite the sharp tongue for a brat. The Demonic Cult has a bright future ahead!”
His shame curdled into rage, which he redirected at the Smiling Demon.
“So you went to the Cult and became the Smiling Demon? Let’s see just how ‘extreme’ and ‘evil’ you really are.”
Yang Cheo-gi snapped his fingers, signaling for those in hiding to reveal themselves. Dozens of figures appeared one by one. They were all masked, but their movements and uniforms clearly marked them as disciples of the White Face Sect.
“Now, go ahead. Try and kill all your brothers and sisters from the sect.”
I was stunned. I hadn't expected him to pull a move this low.
These people weren't brought here to kill us; they were brought here to torment the Smiling Demon’s conscience. Because of the masks, I couldn't tell their ages, but judging by their auras, there were many young experts among them.
What choice would the Smiling Demon make?
If they rushed us with intent to kill, I would have no choice but to strike back. Even if it was an unorthodox sect, this was the Smiling Demon’s home. Could he really bring himself to slaughter them?
I glared at Yang Cheo-gi. When I spoke of Absolute Evil, I meant people like him. Not someone forced into a hard choice, but someone with a malicious heart who intentionally tries to break another’s spirit—someone who sacrifices his own disciples without a shred of remorse. You will definitely die by my hand.
Right then, the Smiling Demon spoke in a voice that rang out like a crack of thunder.
“Listen, my seniors, juniors, and disciples! Though I left this sect to serve the Divine Cult, I am still the top disciple of the late Sect Leader. Since the former leader did not expel me during his lifetime, I command you as the legitimate successor of the White Face Sect. All of you, stand down!”
The disciples of the White Face Sect wavered, exchanging uncertain glances.
Yang Cheo-gi screamed, “What are you doing? Kill them already!”
The Smiling Demon’s voice grew even louder, commanding the space.
“Yang Cheo-gi is a traitor who has recklessly manipulated the sect’s members for his personal greed. He shall die here today. Therefore, stand down!”
“I said kill them!”
At that moment, someone fired a finger wind.
Zip!
The Smiling Demon twisted his body to dodge. It wasn't a lethal shot, but a warning.
“Senior Brother!”
The Smiling Demon recognized the man who had fired the shot instantly.
“You recognized me?”
“How could I not?”
Their gazes met in the air, filled with memories of their youth and a heavy sense of longing.
“Senior Brother, take the disciples and go back.”
“I cannot defy the Uncle-Master’s orders.”
“He has already betrayed the sect. Can’t you see he’s joined hands with Villain Valley and is using you and the disciples as mere meat shields?”
Having heard everything I had said to Yang Cheo-gi earlier, the disciples finally understood the gravity of the situation.
“There are only two outcomes to this fight,” the Smiling Demon continued. “Either you die fighting me, or you kill us and the sect is annihilated by the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. Is that what you want, Senior? To lead everyone to their deaths?”
Yang Cheo-gi continued to scream for blood, but the Smiling Demon and the man he called senior brother simply stared at each other in a heavy silence.
“That old man, who uses his seniority as a weapon to ruin our sect, will die by my hand. So go back without worry. You know what kind of man I am, don't you?”
“I do. You were always a man of your word.”
“I’ll see you again, Senior.”
The Smiling Demon’s senior brother turned and shouted to the disciples.
“We’re leaving!”
The disciples of the White Face Sect followed him without hesitation, leaping away into the distance.
I was truly impressed by the Smiling Demon’s calm handling of the situation. It was a side of him I hadn't seen before.
—To settle it without any sacrifice... that was the coolest I’ve seen you since we met, Lord Smiling Demon.
—Finding it ‘cool’ that the Smiling Demon didn't shed blood? That sounds a bit awkward.
I thought that perhaps he was changing, little by little, through his time with me.
“You idiots!”
As Yang Cheo-gi fumed in frustration, the Smiling Demon spoke mockingly.
“It seems I have better luck with my senior brothers than my master did.”
“Shut up!”
I added my own comment to Yang Cheo-gi’s frantic reaction.
“They left because they hate you. They only came here because they were forced to follow orders. They must hate you quite a bit to listen to the Smiling Demon, who left the sect ages ago. Do you think they don't realize you were leading them to their deaths just to satisfy your ego? You really should just die here today.”
Yang Cheo-gi sneered, his face twisting.
“I know you killed the Sword Emperor. Did you think I’d face you alone? You’ve waited long enough. Strange Demon, please come out.”
A man emerged from a building across the street. He was an old man who had not aged gracefully. Malice was etched into every wrinkle of his face, and his eyes were filled with nothing but raw bloodlust.
I was startled by the name 'Strange Demon.'
He was a practitioner of demonic arts, but he did not belong to our Cult. He was famous for going on slaughter sprees using his twisted techniques, to the point where the Cult and the Murim Alliance had once formed a joint task force to hunt him down. He had vanished after that, only to reappear today.
I turned to Yang Cheo-gi.
“Just who did you join hands with? Who is backing you that even the Strange Demon shows his face?”
But before I could get an answer, the Strange Demon stepped forward with a chilling gaze.
“‘Shows his face’? You have a foul mouth, boy. Is that how your father raised you?”
Bringing up parents in this situation? And my father, of all people?
“It’s because old farts like you act so shamelessly that there’s no room left for honorable veterans in the Murim. You came here to kill us, yet you expect manners? Fine, I’ll give you all the manners you want. Greetings, Senior. Please cherish the bond of being fellow practitioners of the demonic path and spare this humble junior! Well? Are you going to spare me now?”
The Strange Demon couldn't answer, his eye twitching in irritation.
“So cut the crap about manners. Where the hell did you even crawl out from to start acting up?”
I intentionally provoked him. They were here to kill us anyway. In that case, the more I provoked him, the better. In a fight between experts, letting emotions interfere is always a disadvantage. He had likely brought up my father for the same reason—to make me lose my cool.
Yang Cheo-gi said to the Strange Demon, “Break every bone in his body. Let’s see if he can still act so arrogant then.”
“Too much trouble. Take a good look at him now. In a moment, he’ll vanish without a trace.”
No matter how wretched their personalities were, their martial arts were likely on par with the Sword Emperor, Baek Mang-gi. Facing one of them would be hard enough, but facing two was a daunting task.
It was then.
Clang, rattle.
The sound of heavy chains echoed from the shadows.
I turned to see a man of massive build. Blood-red chains were wrapped around his forearms, trailing on the ground behind him like metallic snakes.
“The Iron Chain Master!”
He was a villain who had once plunged the Murim into terror. Countless experts had lost their lives, their bodies shattered by those red chains. His aura was every bit as formidable as the Strange Demon’s.
My heart sank at his appearance. Dealing with the first two was already going to be difficult. With the Iron Chain Master added to the mix, we were at an absolute disadvantage.
I sighed and said to the Smiling Demon, “This is all my fault.”
“What do you mean?”
“Lord Blood Heaven Blade Demon told me. He said I’d stir up enough trouble to wake all the hidden masters. I really didn't expect to run into the Strange Demon and the Iron Chain Master here.”
“It seems I’m the one who woke them this time, not you.”
“Then you take the stronger one.”
The eyes behind the mask crinkled in a smile as he saw me joking even in this situation. It was a dire scenario, but strangely, I felt reassured knowing I was standing beside the Smiling Demon.
“Oh, I should ask this first.”
I looked at Yang Cheo-gi.
“Which side are you going to join for the pincer attack?”
I asked, of course, to bait his pride and discourage him from joining in.
Yang Cheo-gi laughed leisurely.
“You don't need to bait my pride like that. I won't be stepping in. Now, I should take a good look at your face and body, Young Master. You’ll be a bloody pulp soon enough.”
Since the Strange Demon seemed intent on facing me, the Iron Chain Master naturally became the Smiling Demon’s opponent.
I thought it worked out well. Both were powerful foes, but I estimated the Strange Demon to be slightly more dangerous.
I looked at the Smiling Demon.
I didn't ask if he was confident. That would have been an insult to a man of his caliber. I maintained my composure until the very end.
“Let’s have a bet on who kills their guy first.”
The Strange Demon laughed at my words. The Iron Chain Master laughed, and so did Yang Cheo-gi.
“I don't know why those idiots are laughing when the Smiling Demon is just standing there quietly.”
Only then did the Smiling Demon laugh, and finally, I laughed too.
As I drew my sword and let it hang low, the Smiling Demon lightly flicked the blade of his Black Demonic Sword with his finger.
Ting!
Listening to the clear ring of the metal—a sound that carried the Smiling Demon’s resolve—I stepped forward into the most difficult battle I had faced since my regression.