Chapter 538: A Fight Impossible Without Trust
Chapter 538: A Fight Impossible Without Trust
Yeo-jeong strolled through the rear garden of the Heavenly Flower Pavilion alongside the Smiling Demon.
As they meandered through the meticulously tended flora, they came to a halt beside a serene pond. Carp breached the surface, sending ripples dancing toward the quietly floating water lilies.
This time spent with the Smiling Demon after so long was incredibly precious to Yeo-jeong. She had resolved to put the Hundred Precepts Merchant Group’s conspiracy out of her mind entirely; she didn't even care why they had tried to use her.
"Where did the Young Cult Leader go? I haven't seen him for the past few days."
"He went to meet the Young Alliance Leader of the Unorthodox Path Alliance."
Yeo-jeong asked with a playful smile, "Are the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult and the Young Alliance Leader of the Unorthodox Path Alliance on such easy terms that they can just meet like that?"
At her jest, the Smiling Demon’s eyes crinkled pleasantly behind his mask.
"He is the man who summoned the Murim Alliance Leader and the Unorthodox Path Alliance Leader to our Cult’s tavern. A simple meeting is nothing to him."
In truth, Yeo-jeong had her own perception of Geom Mu-geuk.
"When I look at the Young Cult Leader, a certain thought always comes to mind."
The Smiling Demon waited curiously. He expected something grand—perhaps a comment on a grand destiny surrounding the man.
"I feel like he’s someone who knows everything inside out."
If anyone else had said it, the Smiling Demon would have taken it to mean the Young Cult Leader was simply clever or well-informed. But he knew better.
He knew Yeo-jeong possessed a special ability—the power to read a person’s fate. It was a rare thing for her to speak of what she saw.
"It’s different from just being knowledgeable or wise. It’s hard to explain, but the Young Cult Leader has his own way of knowing things 'inside out.' Does that sound strange?"
The Smiling Demon’s gaze softened. This concerned the two people closest to him in the world; how could he not understand?
"Not at all."
The Smiling Demon knew better than anyone that Geom Mu-geuk was not a man easily understood.
"That is why I do not try to understand the Young Cult Leader. I simply feel."
Right then, something streaked toward them.
What began as a mere speck in the distance traversed the space in a heartbeat, hurtling toward the garden. It looked like a loosed arrow, or perhaps a raptor gliding at impossible speeds.
The Smiling Demon instinctively pulled Yeo-jeong behind him, his aura surging.
Only when the figure was nearly upon them did the Smiling Demon relax his tension. The man flying in was Geom Mu-geuk.
Geom Mu-geuk landed in the yard. What surprised the Smiling Demon wasn't that Mu-geuk’s lightness skill had become faster, but the manner in which he touched down.
He came to a halt as effortlessly as if he had simply hopped down from a low roof. Considering the velocity at which he had arrived, it was an impossibly smooth transition.
The Smiling Demon knew the truth of the martial path: once one's lightness skill reaches the pinnacle, stopping becomes more difficult than running. The true measure of the skill lies in the landing.
The Smiling Demon had just witnessed the perfect answer to that challenge.
"Your lightness skill has become even faster."
"I ran without rest because I wanted to see you both."
Geom Mu-geuk had indeed pushed himself, using a rapid speed step that outstripped the flight of birds. Breaking through his own limits of speed provided a pleasure distinct from the raw power of martial arts.
"Did you meet the Young Alliance Leader of the Unorthodox Path Alliance?"
"I did. He had already accepted the invitation from the Hundred Precepts Merchant Group."
"So those bastards were truly targeting him."
"On my way back, I sent word to Eun-wol and the Tongcheon Pavilion. I told them to investigate everything regarding the Hundred Precepts Merchant Group. They will find something."
As the talk turned to intelligence organizations, Yeo-jeong gracefully excused herself.
"You must be hungry after running all this way. I’ll show off my skills. It’s been a while, so please, enjoy a home-cooked meal!"
She was a woman who knew exactly when to step in and when to withdraw. Although her Heavenly Flower Pavilion was the backdrop for this conspiracy, the protagonists of this fight were these two men who had rushed here for her sake.
Once Yeo-jeong left the garden, the Smiling Demon asked cautiously, "Do you think they are behind this?"
"Perhaps. Even if they aren't, we must act under the assumption that they are the masterminds."
After all, a plot to assassinate the Young Alliance Leader of the Unorthodox Path Alliance was not a scheme just anyone could devise.
"Now then, shall we start with what we need to do?"
The Smiling Demon knew exactly what he meant. Before leaving, Mu-geuk had promised they would have a bout upon his return.
"Where shall we fight?"
Geom Mu-geuk already had a location in mind.
"I know the perfect spot. But first, let’s have that meal."
*
Geom Mu-geuk and the Smiling Demon stood in a forest of lush, towering trees.
"This is truly amazing."
The Smiling Demon held out his hand. Sunlight filtered through the canopy, dappling the back of his hand. The rays piercing the leaves felt as sharp as flying sword qi, yet they were warm.
He stroked a nearby trunk, feeling the rough bark. The air was cold and crisp.
"I didn't know the Space-Time Displacement Technique could be so vivid."
This was the interior of the pocket dimension opened by Geom Mu-geuk.
The Smiling Demon was aware that Mu-geuk could perform the Space-Time Displacement Technique. During their battle against the Strange Demon and the Iron Chain Master, Mu-geuk had used it to save him from a lethal crisis.
"I couldn't see it clearly back then because of the chaos, but this place feels so real."
To create such a vast expanse within the confines of a guest room? Even looking around, there was no sense of artifice. It felt as if they had simply walked into a mountain range. That made it all the more terrifyingly impressive.
If it were possible, Geom Mu-geuk would have wanted to pass the Space-Time Displacement Technique to his father or the Demon Lords, but he couldn't. This was the unique technique of the Pungcheon Cult Leader. For that reason, within this space, he treated the technique's creator as his master.
"I intentionally chose a lush forest."
The Smiling Demon’s martial arts centered on finger wind and palm techniques. In an open field, the traces of his power would vanish into the air, but here, the marks of his strikes would remain etched in the environment.
This duel would be a bloodbath, but it was, ultimately, training. Furthermore, while this fight was for the Smiling Demon’s growth, it served Mu-geuk’s as well.
Geom Mu-geuk drew the Black Demonic Sword. "Shall we begin?"
The Smiling Demon stared at him. Today’s training boiled down to a single premise—one he had to believe in to maximize the results.
‘No matter what I do, I cannot kill the Young Cult Leader.’
If he embraced that belief, he could push his skills to their absolute limit. But... what if the Young Cult Leader made a mistake? Even a one-in-a-million chance?
Geom Mu-geuk spoke as if reading his mind.
"You saw my lightness skill. I’m quite good at dodging."
The Smiling Demon nodded. ‘Then I shall believe in you, Young Cult Leader.’
The two men exchanged a respectful fist salute.
Then, the world exploded.
Swish!
The Blood Calamity Finger erupted from the Smiling Demon’s hand. The beam of energy extended instantly, piercing a distant tree. Geom Mu-geuk, who had been in its path, was already airborne, striking down with his sword.
Whoosh!
The Smiling Demon twisted his body to evade and unleashed the Blood Calamity Finger again. Could the Young Cult Leader truly dodge the technique at such close range?
He was worried, yet he did not hold back. He unleashed his best move.
Swooooosh!
The Blood Calamity Finger, shot like a bolt of light, split into three branches, targeting Mu-geuk’s head, chest, and legs simultaneously.
Mu-geuk’s figure blurred like a phantom, slipping through the gaps with exquisite precision. The Wind God Four Steps had been invoked.
The moment he saw that move, the Smiling Demon released the final lock on his heart.
‘Worrying about the Young Cult Leader is nothing but arrogance.’
It was the same for Geom Mu-geuk. His strikes were as fierce as if he were truly trying to slay the Smiling Demon.
Shhhhk!
The Black Demonic Sword lashed out as Mu-geuk rushed in with lightning speed, the blade moving too fast for the eye to track. The Smiling Demon scrambled up a tree with the agility of a squirrel.
Slice! Slice! Slice!
In an instant, the tree was carved into segments from the base upward. As the Smiling Demon soared through the upper branches—
Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish!
The Blood Calamity Finger rained down from the sky. From between the branches, finger wind poured toward Geom Mu-geuk like a localized storm.
Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish!
The technique was as rapid as a mechanical trap firing hidden weapons. The previous strikes paled in comparison to this barrage.
Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud!
The ground was riddled with over twenty holes, the strikes missing Mu-geuk by a hair’s breadth. Both knew that the closer the calls, the more their martial arts would evolve. Heart-stopping moments followed one after another.
Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!
The surroundings were devastated by the Demon Extreme Wild Rage Palm. A wave of immense pressure swept through the forest, grinding earth, trees, and rocks into powder, carving a new path into the distance.
"Are you alright?" the Smiling Demon called out.
Geom Mu-geuk’s voice drifted from within the thick dust cloud. "Do I look alright? I’m not exaggerating—I really almost died."
But he was exaggerating.
Whoosh.
Sword qi sliced through the dust, grazing the Smiling Demon’s shoulder. It was an attack that would have severed the limb had he not dodged instinctively. Though he had just escaped disaster, the Smiling Demon’s eyes were bright with excitement.
The sparring was relentless. They fought as fiercely as if they were mortal enemies. This was a perilous dance that required absolute trust in each other’s competence—an adventure that could only be attempted by those with a sincere desire to help one another.
Yet, for all its violence, the fight was incredibly calculated.
They paused intermittently. Whenever a moment required discussion, Geom Mu-geuk halted the battle. He accurately identified the points where a single word of advice would be more effective than a thousand sword strikes.
In the same way his father had once taught him, Geom Mu-geuk guided the Smiling Demon. Of course, the roles were reversed now. Mu-geuk did not miss the enlightenment that came from being the teacher rather than the student.
"Perform that move from a moment ago again."
As Geom Mu-geuk snapped his fingers, the environment reset. The shattered trees and cratered earth returned to their original state.
The exchange began anew.
It was different from the Blood Calamity Finger he had performed earlier. The traces left in the environment proved it. Standing before a hole left by the finger wind, Mu-geuk noted, "If you had unleashed it like this at first, this hole would be in my chest."
The Smiling Demon shook his head. "Even then, the Young Cult Leader would have found a way to dodge."
The forest wasn't the only setting the technique offered.
Snap!
As Mu-geuk snapped his fingers, the world plunged into darkness.
"This time, we fight at night."
An even more treacherous battle commenced. When it ended, a bright full moon emerged from behind the clouds. Under the silver light, they reviewed their movements and spoke again.
When they had first started, the Smiling Demon never imagined it would be like this. The Young Cult Leader was pouring everything into him, risking his own life to do so. The Smiling Demon gave his all in return, determined not to let such kindness go to waste.
"This time, it’s raining."
Shhhhhhh.
They fought in a downpour. In the rain, the Blood Calamity Finger became even harder to track and evade.
Nevertheless, Geom Mu-geuk remained untouched. He dodged and counterattacked with desperate focus. The moment he was truly injured, the training would have to end. For both their sakes, he could not afford a mistake.
When the Smiling Demon’s internal energy ran dry, they paused for him to circulate his qi, then began again.
They fought for two days and two nights. They fought without sleep, without food.
And when that desperate, brilliant struggle finally reached its conclusion...
The Smiling Demon sat in a cross-legged meditative posture, lost in a trance of enlightenment. Geom Mu-geuk sat beside him, waiting patiently.
Mu-geuk was certain his father had realized many things while teaching him; he, too, had gained fresh insights from this bout. This two-day bloodbath was a fated encounter he wouldn't have easily found elsewhere.
After some time, the Smiling Demon opened his eyes. Through this single session, he had solidified the higher realm of martial arts he had recently reached. Usually, even after a breakthrough, it took years for a new realm to become truly one's own. Some never managed to stabilize it in a lifetime.
But through these two days, the Smiling Demon had bypassed that entire process.
"Thanks to you, I can finally see the path to the next stage."
This fight had provided more enlightenment than all his previous battles combined. It was only possible because both men operated at such a high level.
"My congratulations." Geom Mu-geuk smiled sincerely.
The Smiling Demon looked at Mu-geuk’s arm with concern. "Is your arm alright?"
There was a streak of blood on the sleeve. Mu-geuk grimaced, playing it up. "How could it be alright? My arm almost fell off."
It wasn't nearly that bad—a wound slightly deeper than a graze. In truth, the moment the blood had splattered, it wasn't Mu-geuk’s arm that had almost failed, but the Smiling Demon’s heart. He had been so startled he’d let out a short cry.
"I don't know what to say to you."
"You don't have to say anything."
The Smiling Demon took him at his word. How could words possibly convey such immense gratitude?
The two sat side by side, looking out over their final battlefield. The Smiling Demon was struck with fresh wonder. Geom Mu-geuk had maintained this pocket dimension for two whole days, even while engaged in an insane high-level duel.
"Can your internal energy hold out any longer? To think you are still maintaining this space..."
"It’s just about at its limit now."
It was only possible because he hadn't used techniques that drained massive amounts of internal energy, like the Nine Calamities Demonic Art, opting instead for pure swordplay and sword qi.
"Still, I’ve saved the last bit of energy for the most important part."
Snap!
The surroundings transformed once more.
"Ah!" The Smiling Demon’s eyes widened behind his mask.
"You must have missed this after seeing nothing but green for two days."
A pristine, white landscape of snow unfolded before them. It was a scenery that brought utter peace to the Smiling Demon’s soul. Though his heart had softened lately—to the point of actually furnishing his room—this pure white solitude was still where he felt most at ease.
What could he say to such thoughtfulness? The Smiling Demon simply gazed at the vast, sprawling snowy plain in silence.
"Lord Smiling Demon."
"Yes, Young Cult Leader."
"Next time, you must go on a journey with me."
"At that time..."
The Smiling Demon hesitated. What was it he wanted to say that made him falter, so unlike his usual self?
Right then, from outside the Space-Time Displacement Technique—from outside the residence—Yeo-jeong’s voice rang out.
"Young Cult Leader, are you there? Someone has come to see you."