Chapter 153: I Didn't Intend to Take You With Me
Chapter 153: I Didn't Intend to Take You With Me
Geom Mu-geuk goaded him intentionally.
The Smiling Demon had warned that the Mutual Destruction Technique was impossible to evade if one’s internal energy was lacking. That meant even the Demon Lords could be in peril. Furthermore, the Master of Villain Valley could not be allowed to die yet; they still needed the clues he held regarding the Leader of the Heavenly Mandate Society.
However, Geom Mu-geuk was more confident in his internal energy than anyone else present. No matter how profound Yang Cheo-gi’s reserves were, they could not surpass Mu-geuk’s own—which already exceeded the Demon Lords' and had been further bolstered by absorbing the energy of the Paradise Demoness.
“Let’s go together, then—to the Yellow Springs. I’m quite the talker, so at least you won’t be bored.”
Yang Cheo-gi’s eyes burned a deeper crimson, taking the words as pure mockery. Even in that hair-raising moment, with the Heavenly Light Instant Kill Art on the verge of detonating, Geom Mu-geuk continued to needle him.
“You’re going to your grave having done nothing but chase dreams you could never grasp.”
Those words struck Yang Cheo-gi’s reverse scale. The wounds left by a life of failure—never becoming a Demon Lord, a Sect Leader, an Alliance Leader, or even the true Master of the Valley—ran far too deep.
Just as Yang Cheo-gi made up his mind, thinking, Fine, it’s you, a sudden force erupted.
Whoosh!
The Master of Villain Valley, who had been waiting for the perfect opening, lunged forward and slammed a palm strike into Yang Cheo-gi’s back.
From the Master’s perspective, Geom Mu-geuk absolutely could not die. If Mu-geuk fell, the Demon Lords would never let the Master leave the valley alive.
Yang Cheo-gi spun around like a bolt of lightning and thrust his own palm out to meet the attack.
With a deafening explosion of energy, both the Master of Villain Valley and Yang Cheo-gi skidded backward. Yang Cheo-gi was pushed further. It wasn't because his internal energy was inferior, but because he had been focusing his qi to trigger the Heavenly Light Instant Kill Art, preventing him from exerting his full strength in a standard exchange.
Enraged, Yang Cheo-gi unleashed his Blood Calamity Finger.
Ping!
The sound that followed was not the wet thud of a body being pierced by a finger, but the sharp slide of a sword skewering flesh.
Squelch!
The Blood Calamity Finger missed the Master’s face by a wide margin. Blood splattered from the tip of Yang Cheo-gi’s extended finger.
He slowly lowered his head to look at his chest. A cold, sharp blade had erupted through his front, having entered through his back.
With the sword still embedded in his torso, Yang Cheo-gi slowly turned around.
He had expected a sneak attack from Geom Mu-geuk or one of the Demon Lords, but they were all standing in their original positions.
Instead, he saw a stranger. This man was the Master of Villain Valley’s final subordinate, a master of stealth and swordsmanship. The Master’s true hidden ace had not been Elder Seok, but this man. The secret trump card, hidden even from Yang Cheo-gi, had struck true.
Yang Cheo-gi’s knees slowly buckled. He had neither the strength nor the time to choose a different target to take with him.
“Damn it… I didn’t… intend to take… you with me.”
In that instant, a red light flared from Yang Cheo-gi’s eyes.
Thwack! Thud!
The eyes of the man who had ambushed him exploded, and he collapsed backward. Simultaneously, Yang Cheo-gi, having expended that final burst of life, suffered the explosion of his own eyes and perished.
He had been forced into a Mutual Destruction Technique with a man whose name he didn't even know, simply because he would have died without ever triggering his Heavenly Light Instant Kill Art otherwise.
He died without being able to use his final secret technique on the person he truly hated. Just as Geom Mu-geuk had said, he passed away having done nothing but chase unachievable dreams until his final breath.
The Smiling Demon looked down at the corpse with a stoic expression. It was the moment the long-standing grudge caused by his grand-uncle’s death finally ended, yet he showed no emotion. He didn't look relieved, nor did he look sad.
On the other hand, the Master of Villain Valley was laughing.
In the end, he was the one who survived. Although he had lost his final hidden subordinate, the only thing that mattered was that he was alive.
“Keep your promise and let me live!”
Neither Yang Cheo-gi’s death nor the death of his subordinate meant anything to him.
Geom Mu-geuk stared at him coldly.
“Whether you live or die depends on you.”
The Master of Villain Valley began to spill everything he knew about the Leader of the Heavenly Mandate Society.
“The Heavenly Mandate Society Leader never revealed his identity. Even when he met us, he wore a bamboo hat with a heavy veil. He never met us when we contacted him; he was always the one to reach out and dictate the time and place.”
“How did he recruit you?”
“What else? Money.”
He had offered a sum of money large enough to move even a man of his status.
“But don't look down on me. Money is what maintains this position. You people wouldn't know how unstable this seat is. There are so many madmen who would gladly die just to sit here once.”
Money was the only thing that allowed him to protect his throne.
The Strange Demon and the Iron Chain Master were both experts capable of usurping the position of Valley Master at any time. Money was the only leash that could bind their ambitions by allowing them to indulge in every vice.
“Didn't you say you had a clue to find him?”
“I do. But first, promise me. Swear on your Divine Cult that you will let me live.”
“I swear on the Main Cult. If you give me a clue that leads to the Heavenly Mandate Society Leader, I will let you live.”
Only then did the Master of Villain Valley reveal the secret.
“Do you think I just blindly trusted a man like that? I investigated him in secret. It wasn't easy. The men I sent either went missing or were found as corpses. But I kept sending them, again and again. And finally, I discovered one thing.”
An unexpected term crossed the Master’s lips.
“The Young Dragon Tournament.”
The Young Dragon Tournament was a martial arts competition hosted by the Murim Alliance to select talented Rising Stars from the Orthodox Faction and induct them into the Alliance’s elite ranks.
“This is information my spies obtained at the cost of their lives. The Heavenly Mandate Society Leader is definitely plotting something related to this year’s Young Dragon Tournament!”
The Master of Villain Valley trembled, fearing they might deem the information insufficient.
But there was no need for that. Geom Mu-geuk was already recalling a certain fact regarding the event.
Ah! Come to think of it, this was the year!
Geom Mu-geuk nodded.
“Fine. I accept this as useful information.”
“Then, you’re letting me live?”
“I will keep my promise. I truly hope you manage to survive.”
“?”
As Geom Mu-geuk and the Demon Lords turned their backs and left the main hall, the other villains were waiting outside.
It wasn't just the Ghost Strength Giant Spear and his subordinates. Eun-wol and her assassins, groups of drug-addled lunatics, bands of predatory women, hunters, and beggars were all there. They were the very people who had refrained from attacking earlier.
The moment the group stepped out, the villains began to swarm into the hall one by one, their eyes filled with murderous intent and greed.
Curses erupted from inside, followed quickly by the sounds of desperate combat. Along with several other screams, the Master of Villain Valley’s final shriek rang out.
The scene made it perfectly clear why Villain Valley could never emerge into the world as a unified organization. This place was hell.
*
At the entrance of Villain Valley, Mu-geuk formally expressed his gratitude to the Demon Lords.
“Thank you for your help.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon replied gruffly, “Did we even do anything? They just fought amongst themselves and died.”
“It happened that way because you were all there. Imagine if I had gone in alone. I’d be covered in blood and causing a scene right now.”
I made eye contact with each of the Demon Lords.
The eyes within the Smiling Demon’s sockets conveyed a deep sense of gratitude. Normally, this would never have happened. But because of my intervention, he was able to settle an old grudge.
The One Flower Sword Venerable said with a smile, “It was nice to get some fresh air thanks to you.”
The One Flower Sword Venerable, who had claimed he wouldn't be my "wings," had played that role perfectly. Sometimes, the people who say they won't belong anywhere are the ones who fall the hardest. Perhaps they guard themselves because they know they are prone to becoming more invested than anyone else.
Beside him, the Drunken Demon took a swig of alcohol. He was the one who had actively moved to reconcile the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the One Flower Sword Venerable. Though he had made mistakes in his youth, he was now acknowledging those wrongs and trying to set them right. I like you, brother.
Finally, I locked eyes with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. If he hadn't come to the Yellow River Inn earlier, I might have died.
I didn't say thank you. My feelings reached him through my gaze alone.
I don't know how things will end with these people—whether this rapport will sour over some future incident, or if we will form a bond deeper than I can currently imagine.
I might know what will happen at the Young Dragon Tournament, but these newly forged relationships were things that never existed in my past life. I would simply do my best in each moment.
“What do you plan to do now?”
At the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s question, I answered without hesitation.
“I have to go to the Murim Alliance.”
The Young Dragon Tournament was to be held at the Murim Alliance headquarters in about two months.
“It will be dangerous.”
“This successor trial is about catching the Heavenly Mandate Society Leader. Failing the trial is more dangerous for me than the Alliance.”
“So? You’re going to participate in the Young Dragon Tournament yourself?”
“No. If I enter, I’ll eventually be recognized. I’ll stay on the periphery. I have someone else to send in—someone completely unknown to the Murim.”
“Who is that?”
An unexpected name came out of Geom Mu-geuk’s mouth.
“Your disciple, Elder.”
Seeing the startled Blood Heaven Blade Demon, Geom Mu-geuk smiled.
“I’m going to have Investigator Seo participate in this tournament.”
If I asked Tongcheon Pavilion, they would create a perfect fake sect for us. Seo Dae-ryong would enter as a member of that sect.
“And what role will you play?”
“I won't stand out much if I act as an attendant or an escort warrior.”
The Demon Lords gave him looks that clearly asked, Do you really think you won't stand out?
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon, looking worried, tried to tag along.
“I’ll go as well.”
Geom Mu-geuk’s gaze shifted to the Heaven Extermination Great Blade.
“Everyone would think that blade is a fake, right? Because surely the Blood Heaven Blade Demon wouldn't carry the real Heaven Extermination Great Blade all the way to the Murim Alliance, right?”
It was a roundabout way of saying he was too conspicuous.
The Smiling Demon’s mask and the One Flower Sword Venerable’s White Flower Sword, engraved with red camellias, were also too well-known in the Murim.
If Lee An went, she would draw everyone’s attention, and the same went for the scars on the massive Jang Ho’s face. For this task, Seo Dae-ryong was the perfect fit.
“Sounds fun. Brother, I want to go too,” the Drunken Demon chimed in.
As if he wouldn't stand out anywhere.
“I’ll tell you everything that happens later over drinks. Oh, and I might ask for your help again regarding the Heavenly Mandate Society Leader. I still have two out of my three requests left. I’ll be counting on you then.”
The Demon Lords nodded. Geom Mu-geuk felt reassured. With these men helping him, he felt confident enough to take on the Murim Alliance itself.
Alright, my right-hand man. Let’s make a name for ourselves at the Murim Alliance.
*
After parting with the Demon Lords, I headed straight for Wuhan, Hubei Province, where the Murim Alliance was located.
I ran, savoring the extreme speed of the Rapid Speed Step. I blurred through forests, wove through crowds, and leaped over boulders.
No one recognized me. Even the wild beasts that tried to give chase couldn't keep up and eventually gave up. In a flash, I would vanish into the distance.
The earlier I arrived, the more time I would gain for martial arts training, so I pushed my Rapid Speed Step to its absolute limit.
Upon arriving near the Murim Alliance headquarters, I bought long-lasting food and supplies for mountain living at the marketplace and headed into the wilderness.
It would take a long time for Seo Dae-ryong to arrive after receiving my missive, and the Young Dragon Tournament was even further off. Until then, I planned to stay secluded in the mountains and focus solely on training.
From that day on, I immersed myself in cultivation.
I forgot about people, forgot about my mission, and forgot about revenge.
I trained as if I were a man born solely for martial arts. I trained with the mindset that I could sleep when I was dead. I ate and trained, circulated my qi and trained, and then trained some more.
A month later, I was walking through the marketplace looking like a wild mountain man.
I had intentionally left my beard untrimmed. I had discarded the martial robes I wore during training and bought a set of cheap, shabby clothes that wouldn't draw a second glance.
When I reached the designated inn, Seo Dae-ryong was already waiting. Having entered the Murim Alliance’s territory, he was visibly tense.
It was great to see him after so long. Even though our eyes met briefly, he didn't recognize me. It was only when I sat down in the seat across from him that he realized who I was and jumped in surprise.
“Pavilion—!”
I cut him off before he could say "Pavilion Master."
“Do you want to announce to everyone that I’m here?”
“No, of course not. I was just startled.”
With my unkempt hair and bandit-like beard, if even Seo Dae-ryong couldn't recognize me at first glance, no one would.
“But why do you look like this?”
“It’s a disguise.”
“Ah! But what’s with the beard? This is such amateurish disguise work. It’ll actually make people stare more.”
Despite his words, he was just as conspicuous. He was wearing white martial robes embroidered with the character for "Justice."
“Look at me. Anyone would see me as a member of the Orthodox Path, right?”
“Look around you. Who else is wearing clothes like that? Those are exactly the kind of clothes a greenhorn who just joined the Murim Alliance wears excitedly for a few days before stuffing them in a corner.”
“Still, I think it’s better than that filthy beard.”
“Filthy? Not even just messy, but filthy?!”
We laughed together. After a warm reunion spent attacking each other’s appearances, Seo Dae-ryong asked seriously.
“But why did you call me all the way here?”
Seo Dae-ryong had come here without hearing any details beforehand. I gave the tense man a meaningful smile.
“Let’s do a job together.”