Chapter 421: I Can Endure the Cold Well, Too.
Chapter 421: I Can Endure the Cold Well, Too.
A startled gasp escaped Yang-seok’s lips.
He was so genuinely shocked that he almost spat out a curse. How could he have imagined that Geom Mu-geuk would be waiting inside the carriage?
A brief silence hung in the air, as if time itself had ground to a halt.
"I asked why you didn't contact me," Geom Mu-geuk repeated.
Yang-seok stammered out a belated excuse.
"That... that is because I only just found out myself. I didn't have the leisure to reach out. I was planning to contact you immediately after I secured the location."
He was so flustered that his voice trembled, his words tripping over one another.
"But how did you know to come here, Young Cult Leader?"
"How do you think I knew?"
Looking at Geom Mu-geuk, who threw the question back like a riddle, Yang-seok realized the grim truth.
How else? He must have followed me. Damn it! He clearly didn't trust me and kept me under surveillance.
It was he himself who had led Geom Mu-geuk straight to the Extreme Cold Body.
I should have been more careful.
He had been too blinded by the thrill of discovering the route.
Yang-seok wasn't the only one reeling from Geom Mu-geuk’s appearance. Ha Gyeol, standing behind him, was even more stunned—though not because of the man in the carriage.
Someone made off with the Extreme Cold Body.
Something that should never have happened had occurred. The Drunken Demon must have spirited the person away earlier when the scent of alcohol filled the air. He had to pursue the Drunken Demon immediately.
He didn't come this way. He’s behind the carriage. The opposite direction.
Ha Gyeol strode toward the carriage. He intended to pretend he was approaching Yang-seok, then leap over the carriage in a single bound to give chase. Since the thief was carrying a person, Ha Gyeol might be able to catch them if he moved fast enough.
Whether it was the Young Cult Leader or Yang-seok, the only thing on Ha Gyeol’s mind was the Extreme Cold Body.
Geom Mu-geuk saw right through his intentions.
"You won't make it anyway. Don't even try."
The moment Geom Mu-geuk’s warning fell, Ha Gyeol threw himself forward instead.
Whoosh!
Ha Gyeol’s Lightness Skill was impressive; he kicked off the ground and soared, justifying his decision to ignore the warning. But just as he was about to clear the carriage—
Boom!
An explosive shockwave erupted in mid-air, and Ha Gyeol went crashing back down to his original position.
Geom Mu-geuk had blocked his path as if teleporting through space, delivering a heavy palm strike. Ha Gyeol’s left arm, which had blocked the attack, throbbed with a numbing pain.
He’s strong.
This time, Yang-seok was more shocked than the victim. He wouldn't have been this surprised if Geom Mu-geuk had burst through the roof of the carriage to stop him. Instead, Geom Mu-geuk had vanished in the blink of an eye and intercepted Ha Gyeol in the air above the carriage. When had he even stepped out?
Even if Yang-seok was the weakest martial artist among the three, he was still the successor of the North Blood Sect. Yet he had missed Geom Mu-geuk’s movements with his eyes wide open. It meant that if the man had intended to kill him, he would have died without even knowing why.
Geom Mu-geuk, having sent Ha Gyeol back to the dirt, was now perched calmly on the roof of the carriage.
"Is it right for a guard to leap over the head of the person he serves?"
He wasn't referring to himself, but to Yang-seok, who was standing beside the carriage.
Yang-seok shouted out, as if reporting a crime.
"That man tried to kill me!"
He realized the time had finally come to execute his plan of Borrowing a Knife to Kill. Although the Extreme Cold Body he intended to steal was gone, the opportunity to eliminate Ha Gyeol had arrived.
"Young Cult Leader! I beg of you, please give this fellow a severe lesson on the strict hierarchy of the Murim!"
Ha Gyeol let out a cold, mocking laugh. He had saved the man from dying by his own subordinate's Self-Destruction Art, and yet here he was, acting so brazenly.
"I told you from the first time I saw you that you smelled of blood," Geom Mu-geuk said with casual ease.
Ha Gyeol was gripped by conflict.
It’s already too late.
If an ordinary martial artist had taken the Extreme Cold Body, it would be one thing, but if the Drunken Demon had taken them, they would already be too far away to track. He truly hadn't expected such a variable. He had let his guard down, thinking Geom Mu-geuk and the Drunken Demon were only concerned with the Institute Head’s death. Regardless, his course of action was set.
I have to settle this with the Young Cult Leader and get the Extreme Cold Body back.
There were two ways. First, he could take a step back and slowly plan for the future. It was the safe and wise choice, but the possibility of finding the Extreme Cold Body would grow slimmer with every passing second.
The problem was his Master.
Will Master wait for me?
His Master was reaching the limits of his patience inside that tank. If Ha Gyeol reported that the Extreme Cold Body had been snatched by Geom Mu-geuk, the Master would burst out of the tank immediately.
In the end, I have to settle this here.
Could he really defeat this Young Cult Leader?
The single move shown just now was no joke. Furthermore, there was another problem. He couldn't just kill the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult recklessly. Doing so would cause a problem even greater than failing to secure the Extreme Cold Body. However, the higher one’s level of mastery, the harder it was to suppress an opponent rather than kill them.
While Ha Gyeol struggled with this agonizing situation, Geom Mu-geuk looked up at the sky from the roof of the carriage.
Time was on his side. He held the handle of the blade. There was no need to push first; he just had to respond to whatever the other man did.
The biggest reason people ruined things even when they had the advantage was failing to overcome their impatience. Because they were winning, they felt they would win; because things were going well, they felt they would go better. It was the simple, dangerous desire to see a result faster.
One had to endure that desire, which was powerful precisely because it was simple. Once you start collapsing from a position of advantage, it becomes uncontrollable. Because you were winning, you become more rushed, more regretful, and angrier. Meanwhile, the opponent gains momentum for a reversal. In the end, everything is ruined.
The sky existed for moments like this—to be looked at.
Watching Geom Mu-geuk gaze at the sky, Yang-seok felt a strange sensation.
"Don't look at me; look at the sky."
"Ah, yes!"
Startled by Geom Mu-geuk’s words, Yang-seok looked up. But in his current state, there was no way he could actually see the beauty of it.
Please, just kill him!
He wanted to get rid of Ha Gyeol first and think later. He thought he was playing a game of Borrowing a Knife to Kill, but he failed to realize he was currently nothing more than a guide leading Geom Mu-geuk to the Blood King.
Just then, the surrounding air began to shift. Ha Gyeol unleashed the Aura he had been hiding.
He fully released the power that he had only shown a fraction of to Yang-seok earlier. His hot, heavy Aura began to dominate the surroundings. As he revealed his true self, he became a completely different person.
Truly, his Aura smelled of blood.
Yang-seok felt a nauseating sense of dread from this eerie pressure. He knew the man was an expert, but he hadn't realized he was a master of this caliber.
Wait, could the Young Cult Leader actually lose?
In truth, with his level of insight, he couldn't tell who was stronger. It was just that Ha Gyeol’s presence, now fully revealed, was that overwhelming.
It wasn't just Ha Gyeol who terrified Yang-seok. The Blood People, who had been waiting a short distance behind Ha Gyeol, showed themselves. There were seven in total. One could tell they were masters just by the look in their eyes and their posture, and all of them were capable of using the Self-Destruction Art.
Ha Gyeol questioned Geom Mu-geuk. His polite tone had vanished.
"Where is the person who was in the carriage?"
He had concluded that he would pressure the Young Cult Leader here to find the Extreme Cold Body. Geom Mu-geuk could tell for certain by his choice. His opponent needed the Extreme Cold Body badly enough to reveal his true colors.
"I can endure the cold well, too. How about taking me instead?"
He’s joking in this situation? Ha Gyeol’s gaze toward Geom Mu-geuk grew even colder.
"Do you think I won't kill you just because you're the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult?"
"No. Aren't you the kind of people who would even kill your own kin? If you could, you'd probably try to kill my father, too."
At those words, Yang-seok flinched. Because the person who killed his own kin that Geom Mu-geuk mentioned was exactly who he was.
Ha Gyeol asked Geom Mu-geuk.
"What is it you want?"
Staying behind in the carriage meant he wanted something. Indeed, Geom Mu-geuk had a purpose.
"Let me meet the person you serve."
Ha Gyeol didn't show it outwardly, but he was shaken. How did he know I have a Master?
Yang-seok momentarily misunderstood and thought that person was his own father.
Perhaps this is the chance.
Now, he didn't hesitate to think the unthinkable. The moment Ha Gyeol appeared here, he believed his father had completely abandoned him.
Which side should I take?
Knowing that Ha Gyeol was such a formidable master, he fell into deep thought. Siding with Ha Gyeol wasn't the worst choice. Seeing how the man had saved him earlier, even killing his own subordinate to do so, it didn't seem like he would kill Yang-seok.
Should I side with Ha Gyeol now? No. What if he loses to the Young Cult Leader?
Then he would have betrayed the Young Cult Leader. However, Yang-seok soon reached a conclusion.
At the very least, they won't fight right here, will they?
Think about it. He was the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult, a person of noble status. Would he really risk his life so recklessly? This wasn't even a matter directly related to the Cult.
But the situation did not unfold as he expected.
"And if I refuse?"
There was no way Ha Gyeol would let him meet his Master.
Geom Mu-geuk spoke calmly.
"Then the only reason to keep you alive will disappear."
Ha Gyeol could feel that Geom Mu-geuk’s words were not a simple threat. He really intends to kill me.
Which meant he was confident he could do it.
Ha Gyeol raised his energy and scanned the surroundings. He was checking to see if the Drunken Demon had returned. But there was no one else around. Geom Mu-geuk intended to kill him alone.
He didn't know what the outcome would be, but he was confident he wouldn't lose in spirit. No matter if he was the son of the Heavenly Demon, he was still too young. Even if he had inherited the Heavenly Demon’s martial arts and possessed more internal energy than his age suggested, he couldn't do anything about his lack of experience. Moreover, the boy would never have experienced the Blood Arts he had mastered.
Let's do this.
The Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult wouldn't sacrifice his life for the Extreme Cold Body.
If only I can suppress the Young Cult Leader!
He would surely give up the Extreme Cold Body just to save himself. And if, by some slim chance, Geom Mu-geuk died in the process? Then he would just have to pin the blame on the North Blood Sect Leader. If he could find the Extreme Cold Body, it was a risk worth taking.
"It seems our Young Cult Leader needs a taste of blood."
The seven Blood People stepped forward. A red energy flowed from the swords they all drew simultaneously. They were masters who could use Blood Energy like Sword Qi.
Ha Gyeol expected that their combined attack, while perhaps not enough to kill Geom Mu-geuk, would at least be able to wound him. If he was lucky, he might find an opportunity to suppress Geom Mu-geuk in the process.
He truly thought so.
In a flash, Geom Mu-geuk used Blink Step to rush toward the Blood Person on the left.
Shhhk! Slice!
The sound of a gust of wind and the sound of a neck bone being severed were heard simultaneously. It was impossible to block. Before the instinct and the brain could even process the attack of Geom Mu-geuk, who had appeared before his eyes in a flash, the blade was already passing through his neck. It was truly overwhelming speed.
The Blood Person closest to him swung his sword reflexively, but the blade only cut through empty air. He had to pay a heavy price for that miss.
Before the second Blood Person, whose heart had been pierced, could even fall to the ground, Geom Mu-geuk was already utilizing Dark Shadow Step. Just as he seemed to vanish before everyone's eyes, Geom Mu-geuk reappeared between the two Blood People standing in the center.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Geom Mu-geuk pierced the necks and hearts of the two Blood People on his left and right in succession. Once in the left heart, once in the right neck, once in the left neck, and once in the right heart. Those four attacks were so fast they were invisible to the eye.
The two Blood People collapsed where they stood, and at the very moment the fifth Blood Person’s face and body turned red to use the Self-Destruction Art—
BOOM!
The person who collapsed from the Blood Energy was another Blood Person. Geom Mu-geuk had suppressed the one using the Self-Destruction Art in an instant and spun him like a doll, directing his body toward another.
The sixth Blood Person collapsed, hit by the Self-Destruction Art. The Blood Energy emitted by the Self-Destruction Art was a power that even they themselves could not avoid or block.
The seventh Blood Person also tried to use the Self-Destruction Art. But this time, Geom Mu-geuk was one step faster.
Stab-stab-stab-stab-stab!
The Black Demonic Sword pierced his entire body in rapid succession. As all the major blood vessels in his body were severed in an instant, his reddened face returned to its original color. Geom Mu-geuk’s sword had been faster than the speed of activating the Self-Destruction Art.
In the blink of an eye, all seven had fallen as corpses.
Yang-seok was trembling, his eyes wide with shock. He had experienced many real battles and watched many others fight. And now, this thought occurred to him: the fights he had seen until now weren't even fights.
Geom Mu-geuk flicked the blood off his sword. Splatter. A line of blood was sprayed across the ground.
"The taste of this blood isn't very good."
Ha Gyeol’s expression was completely frozen. He knew the Young Cult Leader would be strong. But this strong? He had been confident he would show Geom Mu-geuk the taste of blood, but he was the one who had tasted Geom Mu-geuk’s lethality.
"As expected of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art."
He naturally assumed it was the Heavenly Demon’s martial art. He had never seen it before.
"This isn't the Nine Calamities Demonic Art. Aren't you overestimating yourselves? Did you think I would need to use the Nine Calamities Demonic Art just to deal with your underlings?"
"Your skill without even using your signature martial arts is at this level?"
Ha Gyeol’s shock was natural. They weren't just any subordinates. He didn't know how much time and effort he had put into raising those seven. They weren't the kind of people who should have died like this.
"If you want to see the Nine Calamities Demonic Art, I told you to lead me to your leader."
If those words were true, Ha Gyeol felt he wouldn't be able to defeat Geom Mu-geuk. Of course, it could be a bluff—a trick to gain the upper hand in the fight by instilling fear. Regardless, as long as he didn't speak of his Master, the boy wouldn't let him go. But even if he died, he had no intention of speaking about his Master.
Ha Gyeol drew his sword. A streak of red energy flowed along the blade. A level of strength completely different from what had flowed through his subordinates' swords could be felt.
"I'll just have to see for myself whether it was the Nine Calamities Demonic Art or not."
From the cold gaze directed at him and the hot Blood Energy swirling around, Geom Mu-geuk could tell that the man was prepared for death.
"Then I'll give you just a little taste."
A question Ha Gyeol couldn't understand flowed from Geom Mu-geuk’s lips.
"Which direction do you like: East, West, South, or North?"