Chapter 589: Now You Look Like the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult
Chapter 589: Now You Look Like the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult
Yeon Baek-in stared down at Gi Seok’s corpse in heavy silence.
When he first received the report of the death, Yeon Baek-in hadn't believed it. He had immediately barked out a shout, demanding to know what kind of nonsense he was being told.
It wasn't that he thought his subordinates would dare lie to his face; he simply refused to believe it.
Furthermore, the report claimed the man had simply collapsed and died while walking down the street. For a man whose skills were incomparable to ordinary instructors, such a death was utterly absurd.
The physician who had examined Gi Seok’s body entered the room. He was the most skilled doctor in the region.
“How did he die?”
Yeon Baek-in skipped the pleasantries, demanding the cause of death immediately. The physician answered cautiously.
“Upon examining the interior, I found that his internal organs were completely destroyed.”
Yeon Baek-in felt a grim sense of confirmation. “Was he poisoned?”
“No. It was caused by a powerful impact from the outside.”
Yeon Baek-in’s gaze shifted back to the corpse. There wasn't a single mark of impact anywhere on the body. Not even a bruise.
“It appears a powerful Internal Family Heavy Hand Technique was used to apply shock only to the interior. However, even I have never seen a case where there were absolutely no external traces like this.”
Moreover, according to witnesses, no one had actually struck him.
If that were the case, it meant someone had thrown a punch from a distance to cause this. It was a level of martial mastery that was truly hard to fathom.
When considering who the culprit might be, two people came to Yeon Baek-in’s mind.
The first was the husband of the couple who had visited his office. Since the death wasn't caused by a blade but by a blunt blow, the man’s massive fists naturally came to mind. He had been a remarkably imposing opponent.
But he has no reason to kill Gi Seok.
The next person he thought of was the man in the basement.
Could it be his doing?
Had he released the officials while anticipating something like this? Was he trying to find an excuse to discard Yeon Baek-in? Or was he truly so angry that Yeon Baek-in had tried to kill those he had released?
Whatever the motive, the only person in the vicinity capable of killing Gi Seok with such terrifying skill was that man. Even if he hadn't done it personally, he was the most likely person to have a master under his command who could.
Even so, to kill my right-hand man like this!
This death felt like a warning directed at him. A message saying: You’re next.
Fear was quickly followed by a surge of rage.
This is my martial arts hall. This is my land, and these are my people.
Leaving the room, Yeon Baek-in headed straight for the sparring arena.
He had to find out for certain if the man had done it. If so, he would have to appease his wrath, even if it meant kneeling and begging for forgiveness. He had already gone as far as killing his own brother to pave this path.
When he reached the arena, a man blocked his path to the basement. It was the mechanism expert who served as the Sword King’s subordinate.
“You cannot go down.”
“Move aside. I must see him.”
Yeon Baek-in was prepared to use force if necessary. Just then, the mechanism expert looked to the side. Yeon Baek-in naturally followed his gaze.
A man was sitting in the spectator stands far off in the distance. Had he been there from the beginning? How could he have failed to notice someone there, no matter how rushed he was?
The man sat in a chair with his arms draped over his knees, his head bowed. Was he wearing something on his hands? Only the white reflection of the sunlight off them caught Yeon Baek-in's eye.
“Please turn back.”
Just as Yeon Baek-in turned back to the mechanism expert to refuse—!
He felt an inexplicable energy and whipped his head back around.
The man who had been sitting far away was now standing right beside him. He hadn't sensed the man's approach at all. It felt as though the man had folded space to move, or rather, as if he had been standing there from the very start.
Usually, when one looks at a person, they look at the face first, but with this man, Yeon Baek-in’s eyes were drawn to his body.
With long arms and long legs, he had a perfectly proportioned physique. Yeon Baek-in had never seen someone with such magnificent musculature. He thought that if there were ever a description for a body with not a single ounce of unnecessary muscle, it should belong to this man.
The man’s fists were wrapped tightly in bandages. It was unclear if he was injured or if he was simply protecting his hands.
After taking in the body, Yeon Baek-in finally looked at his face. In truth, he should have looked at the face first. Had he done so, he wouldn't have had the leisure to scan the man's physique so calmly.
The moment he saw those hollow, empty eyes, Yeon Baek-in felt his entire body freeze. It wasn't because the opponent was emitting a powerful aura.
Though the eyes held no emotion, they were the eyes of someone who had killed countless people. Behind this man, Yeon Baek-in could almost see a vision of hell, with people screaming in a pit of fire.
By the time he regained his senses, Yeon Baek-in was scurrying back the way he had come. He had been so terrified after meeting that gaze that he had suffered a brief memory lapse. He couldn't even remember turning around.
When he was far enough away to look back, the man was nowhere to be seen.
*
Geom Mu-geuk and the Sword King walked together through the dark passage.
What kind of trial would be waiting for them this time? If it was more powerful than the previous one, passing it wouldn't be easy.
The walls of this passage were also covered in all sorts of unrecognizable characters, patterns, and drawings.
“That symbol is here as well.”
The pattern they had seen earlier was drawn in various places. Was it a crest representing the family of those who designed these trials? Or did it have another meaning?
“You know what this symbol is, don't you?”
“What makes you think I know?”
“Just a feeling. You don't seem like the type to do things you don't understand.”
“I appreciate the high regard, but I’m not that great of a person.”
“You’re even humble.”
“I told you, I’m not!”
Though their conversation flowed naturally, both men were sharply scanning their surroundings as they moved forward with caution.
And once again, when they reached the midpoint of the passage, the trial began.
Sssssss.
The formation activated, and their surroundings shifted.
A desolate wasteland revealed itself. Intense heat rising from the ground shimmered on the distant horizon, and the wind carried dust up into the sky.
“I like this formation!”
The reason Geom Mu-geuk was pleased was that the Sword King was right there beside him.
“It seems this is a trial we must break through by joining forces. It’s nice not to be lonely. Look over here.”
Geom Mu-geuk pointed to a signpost that had been erected.
— None may leave unless all are killed.
“Since it’s giving us a warning in advance, it looks like there will be a lot of blood.”
The Sword King nodded at Geom Mu-geuk’s words.
In the distance, enemies were surging toward them, kicking up clouds of dust. Their footsteps vibrated through the earth, and their war cries echoed from all directions.
“Now I see why the room with the elixirs was placed before this.”
The number of enemies rushing toward them was staggering. They swarmed like a colony of ants.
“You look like you’re enjoying this.”
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen this many enemies. I’m getting a bit excited.”
Of course, he wasn't excited out of fear. It was the joy of being able to display his skills to his heart's content. Since these weren't real people but creations of the formation, they were enemies he could cut down without hesitation.
“Seeing you get excited at the thought of seeing blood... you finally look like the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult.”
“I had a hard time hiding it.”
Geom Mu-geuk drew his sword.
“I’ll take this side. Oh, do you know what the best part about fighting together is? It’s that I can fight with my back against a wall.”
It was his way of saying he trusted the man behind him.
“And what if that wall collapses on top of you?”
“I’m sure it’ll be as soft as a cotton quilt.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a streak of Sword Qi flew from the Black Demonic Sword.
Shiiiiiiiik!
Those running in the front leaped away to dodge the Sword Qi. However, those behind them couldn't react in time and were swept away.
Geom Mu-geuk had used that move to gauge their level of martial arts by seeing how they reacted. With that one move, he was certain.
“This is only the first stage. Conserve your internal energy as you deal with them.”
He was sure that despite their numbers, these weren't all of them.
Geom Mu-geuk charged into the fray. The Black Demonic Sword mowed them down. Everywhere he passed, enemies with pierced hearts collapsed in succession.
Conserving internal energy didn't necessarily mean avoiding the use of Sword Qi altogether. Doing so would only lead to excessive physical exhaustion.
Swaaaaak!
The enemies couldn't dodge the Sword Qi he unleashed at close range. Dozens were swept away and killed at once.
Yet, the bastards kept swarming over the fallen corpses without end. The sheer sight of it was enough to make one lose heart.
In the midst of the battle, Geom Mu-geuk glanced toward the Sword King.
The moment the Sword King’s blade flashed, over a dozen enemies collapsed at once. Even though he wasn't visibly emitting Sword Qi, the enemies beyond the reach of his blade were being decapitated.
No-Form Sword Qi!
Geom Mu-geuk recognized the Sword King’s divine might instantly. It was that very No-Form Sword Qi that had elevated the Sword King’s name to the greatest under heaven before the regression.
Because the Sword Qi was invisible, dodging it was several times more difficult than dodging ordinary Sword Qi.
Was it confidence? The Sword King wasn't hiding his use of No-Form Sword Qi in this fight where Geom Mu-geuk could see it.
No matter how many enemies swarmed them, they were facing Geom Mu-geuk and a Sword King who used No-Form Sword Qi. In an instant, the massive horde of enemies was wiped out.
Sssssss.
The piles of corpses vanished.
Without giving them a moment to rest, more enemies rushed toward them from the distance, kicking up dust once again. They were moving faster than the first wave.
“That’s the first time I’ve seen No-Form Sword Qi.”
“Think you can dodge it?”
“I think I’ll need to refine my plan.”
“What plan?”
“The plan to make you hesitate at the final moment, Master.”
At that, the Sword King gave a cryptic smile.
“Then you’re falling for my plan.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m going to act like I’m going to hesitate, then cut you down without a second thought.”
“I can't believe you're telling me that.”
“Just to keep you confused.”
The fight with this man would take place after they entered the final room.
The Sword King had clearly brought him along because he needed him. It wasn't just to pass these trials. There was definitely another reason. Geom Mu-geuk was just as curious about that reason as he was about what lay in the room the Sword King wanted to reach.
So, make sure you stay alive and enter that room with me.
Meanwhile, the second wave of enemies surged forward, their hundreds of blades gleaming. Their numbers were fewer than before, but their momentum was much sharper.
The two men handled them calmly. Geom Mu-geuk did not use the Nine Calamities Demonic Art, and the Sword King likewise only used No-Form Sword Qi without resorting to his own exclusive martial arts.
For ordinary masters, this would have been an overwhelming situation. The numbers were vast, and their skills were formidable. The biggest problem was that they knew no fear.
Furthermore, even if one could handle them well, the issue was internal energy. Most masters would have run dry before finishing this second wave.
However, Geom Mu-geuk’s internal energy was overflowing. Surprisingly, the fighting thus far hadn't even made a dent in his reserves.
The Sword King was equally vigorous. The level of the first and second waves was clearly different, but the second wave fell just as easily as the first.
Before the martial arts of Geom Mu-geuk and the Sword King, the difference in skill meant nothing. By their standards, both the first and second waves were merely amateurs.
The two of them slaughtered them all once again. As before, the piled corpses vanished.
Yet another wave of enemies was approaching. This time, they came more slowly. It was as if they were coming slowly just to ensure they killed their targets.
“I think this is the last one.”
No matter how great a formation was, it had its limits. Even the attacks so far must have required an enormous amount of resources, internal energy, and mental effort to create.
“You sound disappointed that it’s the last one.”
“To be honest, I am. It’s so much fun fighting alongside you, Master. I wish there were ten more stages starting from now.”
“You probably just want to steal more of my techniques.”
“I keep getting caught, and I keep realizing how quick-witted you are, Master.”
The Sword King stared at Geom Mu-geuk for a moment before bringing up the situation outside.
“Aren't you worried about what’s happening outside? The shield is here, but the one you need to protect is out there.”
“Do I need to worry?”
After a brief pause, the Sword King spoke. A hint of hesitation as to whether he should speak or not was visible.
“By now, the others should have arrived.”
Geom Mu-geuk understood. The "others" he referred to meant the other members of the Twelve Zodiac.
“They might come down here, or they might try to seize your people.”
He was saying he didn't know how they would move. One thing was certain from his words: while the Twelve Zodiac worked toward a single goal, they also acted quite independently. He had known they had disagreements before, but today it became even clearer.
“Why are you smiling when I said they might take your people?”
“Because I’m happy. You’re telling me this because you’re worried about me, aren't you?”
With an expression that seemed to ask if this was the time for such leisure, the Sword King mentioned Lee An.
“Didn't you say she was like your heart?”
He was implying she could be in danger. This time, Geom Mu-geuk spoke honestly.
“It’s fine. Another shield has arrived.”
The Sword King asked in surprise, “Are the Demon Lords here?”
“I called them the very day I first met you.”
He had called them because he knew the man would eventually become the First King of the Twelve Zodiac, but to the Sword King, it must have sounded like he had called them because he held the Sword King in such high regard.
In the meantime, the third wave of enemies attacked. These enemies unleashed Sword Qi. They were far more skilled than the ones before.
Swish, swish, swish, swish!
Dozens of strands of Sword Qi flew from all directions, tearing through the air. The powerful killing intent carried by their Sword Qi chilled the surrounding atmosphere.
Geom Mu-geuk and the Sword King moved through the air amidst the web of Sword Qi. No matter how dense a net of Sword Qi the enemies wove, they couldn't trap the two men.
Through the gaps in the enemy's attacks, the two unleashed their own strikes—demonstrations of what true Sword Qi looked like. Every time a sword flashed, the net of Sword Qi was shredded. The large net grew smaller and smaller.
The enemy unleashing the final strand of Sword Qi was struck by two blades simultaneously from the front and back. Geom Mu-geuk had thrust from the front, and the Sword King from the back.
The blades that had pierced through the body now pointed at each other.
Sssssss.
The final enemy, along with the other corpses, vanished.
This left the two men pointing their swords at one another. They stared at each other in silence until Geom Mu-geuk smiled first and withdrew his sword.
“Good work.”
“You too.”
As if the formation truly ended there, no more enemies swarmed them.
“We probably set the record for the fastest clearance since this formation was created.”
However, although all the corpses had vanished, the wasteland around them remained. The formation had not been broken.
Geom Mu-geuk looked around. He checked to see if there were any enemies he had missed. But the corpses were all gone, and there was no one else in the vast wasteland. No new enemies appeared.
The only thing remaining was the signpost they had seen at the beginning.
— None may leave unless all are killed.