Chapter 150: The Good Must Die
Chapter 150: The Good Must Die
Gi Bang-in, the Master of Villain Valley, was seething with uncontrollable rage.
“Do you honestly expect me to believe that?”
“What is there to believe or disbelieve? It is simply what happened.”
“The deaths of the two greatest masters of Villain Valley do not ‘simply happen.’”
A man of short stature with somber eyes, Gi Bang-in naturally possessed an aura that dampened the spirits of everyone around him. Now that his temper had flared, the surrounding air grew so heavy it felt difficult to breathe.
“Could you defeat the Strange Demon? Do you have the confidence to best the Iron Chain Master? I certainly don’t. And neither do you, do you? So how am I supposed to believe that those two were killed by the Smiling Demon? At the same time! In the same place!”
“It wasn’t because of the Smiling Demon. It was because of the Second Young Master of the Demonic Cult.”
“Listen to yourself!”
It was only natural for his voice to rise. The Master of Villain Valley knew nothing of Geom Mu-geuk’s true strength. Only those who handled the most clandestine information in the Murim knew that Mu-geuk’s martial prowess was far greater than expected; his true skill had not yet been revealed to the world.
“And was it just them? Did I not send the Paradise Demoness, the Blood Path Trio, the Blood Wolf Blade, and even the Yama Divine Lord along with them? And yet, they were all annihilated, and you are the only one who returned alive!”
“I barely escaped with my life! I’m telling you, I almost died.”
“Do you know something? Your story is so absurd that it almost sounds like the truth. Surely you aren’t stupid enough to come up with such a ridiculous excuse.”
The Master of Villain Valley could not wrap his head around the situation. Through this single incident, he had lost two of his strongest subordinates. He had sent such an overwhelming force specifically so that no one would die.
“What were you doing, Great Hero Yang, while they were being slaughtered?”
“I was about to step in when the Blood Heaven Blade Demon appeared. That old man’s internal energy was so profound that there was nothing I could do.”
Yang Cheo-gi thoroughly concealed the fact that he had only stepped forward after the Strange Demon and the Iron Chain Master were already dead. He knew the Valley Master would investigate him out of suspicion, but in the end, the man would have no choice but to believe him. It was an undeniable fact that only Geom Mu-geuk, the Smiling Demon, and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had been present that day.
“I also have a relationship with the Leader of the Heavenly Mandate Society. Why would I ruin things? Please, believe me.”
The Master of Villain Valley felt a pang of regret. Had he known things would turn out like this, he never would have joined hands with the Heavenly Mandate Society. The sweet offer they had presented now felt like it might have been poison all along. Greed was always the root of calamity.
What was done was done. The immediate problem was that these deaths had put his position as Valley Master in jeopardy.
Among all the organizations in the Murim, Villain Valley was the place where leaders were replaced the fastest. It was filled with people ready to bare their fangs the moment a leader showed even the slightest hint of weakness.
‘If you played some trick to aim for my seat, you won’t die a pleasant death.’
Even if he harbored such thoughts, Gi Bang-in did not let them show on his face. He was a man who always smiled at the enemies he intended to kill.
But today, he could not suppress his fury.
“I don’t want to see your face. Withdraw. We will speak again later.”
“As you wish.”
As Yang Cheo-gi turned to leave, the Master of Villain Valley spoke again.
“Do you know what my title was before I came here?”
“What was it?”
“It was Baek-ak—the Hundred Evils. I was called that because it was said I possessed every evil in the world.”
“Is that so?”
The nonchalant response only angered the Valley Master further. Whether he noticed that mood or not, Yang Cheo-gi tossed out a new concern.
“They will likely guess that I am here.”
“What are you trying to say? Are you suggesting they might actually invade this valley?”
“The possibility isn’t zero.”
Yang Cheo-gi was preemptively blocking any chance of the Master of Villain Valley trying to kill him.
“Since you’ve returned after cutting off both our arms, we’ll have to fight with only our feet. If what you say is true, then we are all dead men.”
Of course, he didn’t mean it literally. If Villain Valley were to collapse just because those two were gone, it would have vanished long ago. This was a place teeming with countless villains who had been driven to the brink.
No one in the Jianghu would dare dip their toes into these filthy waters. Just as it had always been.
Once Yang Cheo-gi left, the Master of Villain Valley summoned a subordinate and issued an order.
“Investigate this matter thoroughly. From this moment on, kill anyone who sets foot in the valley. Inform everyone! I will give fifty thousand taels for every intruder’s head.”
* * *
After sending a missive to the Main Cult requesting the presence of the Drunken Demon and the One Flower Sword Venerable, we headed straight for Villain Valley.
Since our lightness skills outpaced any horse, we traveled on foot.
A journey alongside the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Smiling Demon? This was something I couldn't have imagined before my regression, nor even after it.
I had traveled with the Smiling Demon before, but this was my first time with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. During this journey, I learned something new about him.
I had expected the Blood Heaven Blade Demon to be the type who enjoyed staying cooped up in a room reading books, but surprisingly, there wasn't a corner of the Central Plains he hadn't visited. Whenever we reached a familiar region, he would stop and tell us stories about it.
“If you cross that mountain over there, you’ll find the Sinya Plains. That’s where I fought the Flying Stream Guest and Oh Baek-hap, who had challenged me. This was back when I was in my prime.”
He told stories of his battles like that.
“In that village over there, there’s a sect made up entirely of women. The sect leader and her top disciple both used to be in love with me.”
He also told these absurd, lie-like stories with a straight face. At that moment, the Smiling Demon and I simultaneously sent each other a voice transmission: That’s a lie.
“From beyond that point, we enter the territory under the influence of the Unorthodox Path Alliance. If you go eight hundred li that way, you’ll be in the Murim Alliance’s territory.”
He was also well-versed in the geography and the political state of the Murim.
There were many moments when I wanted to chime in because his knowledge overlapped with mine, but I had to restrain myself.
“By the way, was your internal energy always this profound?”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked at me with curiosity, seeing that I wasn't falling behind at all while running with them.
“I consumed an elixir given to me as a gift by a very precious person.”
That elixir referred to the Heavenly Outer Divine Pill that the Blood Heaven Blade Demon himself had given me in the past.
“You shouldn't be able to display this level of internal energy with just that, though?”
“While dealing with the Paradise Demoness this time, I absorbed that wench’s internal energy.”
Of course, there had been several other fated encounters, but I didn't mention them one by one.
“Ah, the heavens truly are helping you.”
“So please, both of you, help me as well.”
At that, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Smiling Demon suddenly accelerated and dashed ahead.
To think they would coordinate like that just to tease me, despite how much they claimed to dislike each other. Perhaps the two of them didn't actually hate each other that much.
I shouted as I chased after them.
“Where are you going, running off like that when you're slower than me?!”
* * *
We ran and ran until we finally arrived at the entrance of Villain Valley.
In the distance, I could see the One Flower Sword Venerable and the Drunken Demon already waiting for us. Seeing them out here felt different from seeing them drunk and swimming or tending to flowers in a garden.
The Drunken Demon, looking up at the sky with his arms crossed, appeared somewhat lonely yet cool, while the Sword Venerable, standing with her sword in her clean white robes, looked haughty and elegant. Both of them felt extraordinary.
“Hyung-nim!”
When I called him "Hyung-nim" even in the presence of the other Demon Lords, the Drunken Demon’s expression brightened instantly.
“My little brother!”
I focused on my relationship with the Drunken Demon without worrying about the others.
“Hyung-nim, thank you for coming.”
It would be disrespectful to the Drunken Demon and the other Demon Lords to act cautiously or be overly mindful of their relationships.
I am a person who treats the Drunken Demon as an older brother. I believe that only by clearly showing who I am can I properly establish other relationships.
“I don't usually let anything disturb my closed-door training, but Yeo-bin brought me the news. She said my brother needed my help. How on earth did you get Yeo-bin on your side?”
I only looked after your health, Hyung-nim. So Yeo-bin is the one truly on your side.
Since I couldn't answer like that, I simply smiled and replied, “I’ll buy you a drink once this is over.”
I then bowed politely to the One Flower Sword Venerable.
“Your beauty shines even brighter out here in the world.”
“I feel it every time, but your flattery is the most pleasant to hear. I heard you fought those Villain Valley bastards; are you hurt anywhere?”
“No. Lord Blade Demon appeared at the crucial moment.”
The One Flower Sword Venerable looked at the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and said, “He probably waited for it. That crucial moment.”
At those words, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon made an incredulous face and replied, “That’s right. I hid and waited. I wondered, ‘When will the crucial moment be? I should appear when things get a bit more dangerous.’”
“Still, I’m glad you arrived on time. Well done.”
For once, the One Flower Sword Venerable ended the conversation with a kind word. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon shot me a look that said, What’s wrong with that woman all of a sudden? but how was I supposed to know what was in her heart?
Perhaps the Drunken Demon had said something good about the Blood Heaven Blade Demon while they were coming here? If so, today might be the day a reconciliation begins.
The One Flower Sword Venerable asked me again.
“So? The mastermind hid in this place?”
“Yes. I confirmed it once more through Tongcheon Pavilion; he has entered Villain Valley.”
“This is quite a bothersome place.”
“Fortunately, the Smiling Demon knows Villain Valley well.”
“Is that so?”
The Sword Venerable’s gaze turned toward the Smiling Demon. His blood-stained mask told the story of how urgent the previous situation had been.
The Smiling Demon gave a slight nod, and the One Flower Sword Venerable exchanged greetings with him. While the Sword Venerable treated the Drunken Demon like a friend, she and the Smiling Demon maintained a relationship of mutual courtesy.
They seemed like they barely acknowledged each other, but in fact, it was because of the One Flower Sword Venerable that I had formed a connection with the Smiling Demon. When Cheong-seon was being established as the Soul-Seizing Demon Lord, she had told me that the Smiling Demon had cast a vote in her favor. That was why I had sought him out.
“Our target is Yang Cheo-gi. The villains here have committed crimes worthy of death, but there is no need to engage in an unnecessary massacre. Just consider it as eliminating those who stand in our way.”
Everyone nodded in agreement at my words.
“One more thing regarding Yang Cheo-gi. Although our goal is to capture him alive, his martial arts are highly advanced. If capturing him proves difficult, you may kill him. Capturing him is the preference, but I am absolutely not asking you to risk your lives to do so. The safety of everyone here comes first, without exception.”
At that, the Drunken Demon said to the One Flower Sword Venerable, “I wonder which one of us my brother is so worried about?”
“Probably his drunken Hyung-nim?”
“Ah, is it me?”
Even for Demon Lords, invading Villain Valley could be a burdensome and unpleasant task. Yet, they showed no sign of it. They didn't even joke about doing me a favor. I believe that is their way of showing they care for me. It is a gratitude I must never forget.
“Thank you for coming here for me. It is truly a great honor to carry out a mission with four Demon Lords. I will not forget this day. If there were a painter here, I’d have him draw us... Ah, where are you going? Listen to me before you go! Wait for me!”
I followed the Demon Lords, who had already started walking into Villain Valley.
As we walked a short distance inside, we saw a warning written in red letters.
— The good must die.
The Drunken Demon looked around at us and said, “Fortunately, it seems none of us are in danger of dying.”
Everyone laughed together at his remark.
“I’m in danger,” I protested.
The Smiling Demon replied, “According to that sign, the Second Young Master is the safest person here.”
The looks they gave me suggested they all agreed with him. Only the Drunken Demon took my side.
“I believe in my brother’s innocence. My brother is the kindest soul in the world.”
“Doesn't that make him sound even more like a villain?”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon, who had been listening, couldn't help but interject.
“I’m sick to death of hearing ‘brother, brother’ every two seconds.”
Fearing he might start a petty argument with the Drunken Demon, I quickly chimed in.
“I agree. It’s enough to make someone without a brother feel quite sorrowful.”
The Drunken Demon laughed and took a sip of his liquor. I had been watching him since we first met, and the amount he drank had definitely decreased compared to before.
I sent a voice transmission to the Drunken Demon.
— You’ve cut back on the drinking a lot. That’s cool, Hyung.
— Thanks for noticing.
I couldn't bring myself to have this kind of conversation in front of the other Demon Lords.
How long did we walk like that?
We encountered a man carrying a basket of medicinal herbs. Just as he bowed to us and tried to pass by—
Swish! Thud!
His forehead was pierced by a Blood Calamity Finger fired by the Smiling Demon, and he collapsed instantly.
“He’s a scout guarding the entrance. When someone enters, he takes a shortcut to alert the others. Besides him...”
Before he could even finish saying that others were hiding in the trees and behind rocks—
Swish! Shing!
The One Flower Sword Venerable unleashed Sword Qi, and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon unleashed Blade Qi.
A man hiding in a tree fell dead, and a rock was sliced in half, along with the man hiding behind it. Moving with the Demon Lords required no words. We were perfectly in sync.
“It’s been a very long time since I was last here, but this place hasn't changed at all. Back then, three people guarded this spot as well.”
I smiled at the Smiling Demon’s words and replied, “Isn't the Main Cult the same? It doesn't seem like much has changed from decades ago to now.”
The Drunken Demon took a sip of liquor and said, “That’s probably why our brother is trying to establish a new Demonic Path.”
Instead of answering, I looked at the Demon Lords with a smile. Although I was becoming closer to them, I still didn't know how much they would understand the Demonic Path I was pursuing.
As we went deeper, we saw several hermitage huts, with rice paddies and fields in front of them. They grew fruit trees and raised cattle and pigs. It looked no different from any other village.
However, there were terrifying traps next to the fields, and the flower beds filled with vibrant blossoms were swarming with poisonous insects.
Poisonous bees flew out from somewhere and charged at us, but it was impossible for a bee to sting a Demon Lord. They were swept away all at once with a single wave of a hand.
If it weren't for someone like the Smiling Demon who knew this place well, the path here would have been much more treacherous. There were paths where none seemed to exist, and traps where the path looked safe.
The Smiling Demon guided us only through shortcuts, avoiding the traps.
Finally, a village appeared in the distance. It was the first village we saw after entering Villain Valley.
“From here to that tree at the village entrance, there are quite a few dangerous traps scattered about. Let’s just leap over them.”
The four Demon Lords and I took flight simultaneously.
We flew across a distance that an ordinary master could never cross in a single bound. It was an elegant yet spectacular display of the highest level of lightness skill, one that no one else could replicate.
Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap!
We landed in a line at the same time.
The moment we touched the ground, Sword Qi, Blade Qi, Finger Wind, and Palm Force flew in all directions. The enemies lying in ambush all around us dropped like flies before they could even launch an attack. Even though we hadn't pre-assigned targets, there were no overlapping attacks. These were the Demon Lords of the Main Cult.
“Now, let’s go in.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon stood to my left, and the One Flower Sword Venerable to my right. At the far ends stood the Smiling Demon and the Drunken Demon.
With the strongest wings in the world at my side, I walked into the village of villains.