Chapter 658: I Don’t Waste Words on Cowards
Chapter 658: I Don’t Waste Words on Cowards
“The successor to the Murim Alliance trusts the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult more than anyone else?”
Gwak Ju burst into laughter.
Then, just as his expression abruptly returned to a chilling mask of normalcy, Hwa Song, standing some distance away, began to laugh in his stead.
The laughter was contagious. One after another, the warriors of the Demon Extermination Squad who had already fallen victim to the Soul-Seizing Technique began to laugh in a haunting succession.
The entity was flitting freely between their bodies.
Then, the presence returned to the body of Gwak Ju, who stood beside Jin Ha-gun. He asked with a smirk, “Do you really trust him?”
Did he really trust Geom Mu-geuk?
Of course Jin Ha-gun trusted him. If it was Geom Mu-geuk, he would easily evade the fate of dying at his grandfather’s hands.
He was the kind of man who would save a friend in a tight spot and then act as if he’d done them the greatest favor in the world—even though he claimed to despise such posturing.
“He’s my friend. Of course I trust him.”
At Jin Ha-gun’s unwavering answer, Gwak Ju openly sneered.
“The Orthodox Murim will collapse even if left to its own devices.”
Then, he barked out a sharp rebuke.
“Aren’t you ashamed to face your subordinates as the Leader of the Demon Extermination Squad?”
However, none of the Demon Extermination Squad warriors felt ashamed of Jin Ha-gun. They knew better than anyone what kind of person he was. They had watched from the closest distance as he met Geom Mu-geuk and seen the depth of the bond they had forged.
Perhaps sensing the loyalty radiating from their expressions, Gwak Ju’s eyes sank coldly.
“You die here today.”
He was plotting an exceptionally cruel end.
“I will kill you last, only after you’ve watched your subordinates slaughter one another.”
If he cut down this Gwak Ju before him, would the opponent actually die?
Jin Ha-gun doubted it. If that were the case, the enemy wouldn't have exposed themselves so defenselessly. He stared quietly into Gwak Ju’s eyes. He had much to say to the master of the Soul-Seizing Technique hiding behind that gaze.
You cowardly wretch, unable to even show your face!
He wanted to provoke and mock him. But he didn't think doing so would make the man reveal himself. If he were that kind of person, he would have shown his face from the start. Clumsy provocation would only put his subordinates’ lives in greater danger.
Right. What was needed now was not to fall for the enemy’s taunts, but to hold out until Geom Mu-geuk came to help. In the past, even harboring such a thought would have wounded his pride, but not anymore. Saving his men was more important than his ego.
Jin Ha-gun stepped back and leveled his sword. The subordinates beside him lined up on either side.
To be honest, he was at a loss as to how to deal with this man. How on earth could he break this Soul-Seizing Technique?
Then, his grandfather’s words came to mind.
Do you know why we have not crumbled before their cruel and persistent desires?
Jin Ha-gun spoke proudly to his men.
“The path we walk is the righteous one!”
Yes, no matter how much they hurried, they were always a step or two behind this bastard’s evil, but this belief remained unchanged.
“We are the Demon Extermination Squad. We fear no enemy!”
Clang, clang, clang, clang!
At Jin Ha-gun’s words, the subordinates leveled their swords in unison. They pointed them toward the comrades they had stood with just moments ago.
Swish!
Starting with the warrior right next to Jin Ha-gun swinging his sword at him, the battle that had briefly paused resumed in earnest.
Clang!
Jin Ha-gun lightly blocked the sword flying from his side. He showed no sign of surprise or panic. The mindset Jin Ha-gun had settled on was this:
“From this moment on, we begin live-combat training with our comrades!”
He was telling them to treat the comrades under the Soul-Seizing Technique as if they were in a training exercise. Those possessed would fight as if in a real battle; those who weren't would treat it as practice.
Clang, clang, clash!
A chaotic fight broke out among the Demon Extermination Squad. Since those not yet possessed still outnumbered the others, they had some breathing room.
Nevertheless, Jin Ha-gun poured all his mental energy into the fray. There was no telling when someone might suddenly turn or what tragic outcome might occur.
Even if the Blood Heaven Soul-Strengthening Art has made him stronger, there must be a limit.
The opponent must also be consuming a massive amount of internal energy to maintain this.
However, the opponent’s Soul-Seizing Technique, bolstered by the Blood Heaven Soul-Strengthening Art, was beyond imagination. He continued to use the technique tirelessly. One by one, the number of warriors falling under the Soul-Seizing Technique increased.
Jin Ha-gun could tell. A master of this caliber could have killed them in other ways. But the bastard was toying with them. He wanted to see Jin Ha-gun suffer as his subordinates stabbed each other to death.
“Hold on! Endure until the end!”
Someone will surely come to help us!
Clang, clash, clang, clang!
The warriors under the Soul-Seizing Technique attacked with lethal intent. Because those on Jin Ha-gun's side could not bring themselves to kill their brothers-in-arms, the fight was incredibly difficult despite their numerical advantage. Furthermore, the number of those possessed was steadily growing.
“Watch out!”
Jin Ha-gun leaped over a subordinate rolling on the ground to block another warrior attacking him.
Clang, clang, clash!
Sparks flew, and in that interval, the fallen warrior picked himself up. He had saved him, yet that very subordinate immediately stabbed at Jin Ha-gun’s back.
Clang!
Jin Ha-gun spun around and parried the blade. He didn't get angry. Instead, he felt a deep sorrow for his subordinate.
I’m sorry. I’m sorry I couldn’t save you.
He had faced many crises in his life, but he had never felt as apologetic to his men as he did at this moment. And he had never felt a stronger desire for power than he did now.
If I survive today, I will become strong enough to never let this happen again.
Jin Ha-gun threw himself toward a subordinate who was being slammed into a wall. Blood sprayed from his arm due to the forced movement, but he had no time to check the wound.
He pushed back a subordinate attacking a fallen comrade while scanning for other threats. Both the attackers and the victims were his own men. That was why he, at least, had to keep his head. He could never let his subordinates die here—especially not by a comrade’s sword.
“I won’t let a single person die!”
Jin Ha-gun swung his sword like a madman.
The warriors not yet under the Soul-Seizing Technique had never seen Jin Ha-gun like this. Because they knew better than anyone why he was so desperate, they too fought like demons. But soon, they too became enemies.
It was not enough. Jin Ha-gun and the remaining Demon Extermination Squad warriors were pushed back to the wall where the rear door was located.
The opponent brought the fight to a temporary lull.
Clap, clap, clap!
This time, Hwa Song walked forward, clapping his hands. The man who was supposed to break this space had become the enemy's puppet.
“Impressive! You haven't killed a single subordinate even while fighting like this.”
Jin Ha-gun couldn't answer immediately.
“Haah… haah… haah…”
Only his ragged breathing echoed through the space. The Demon Extermination Squad warriors standing beside him checked his condition. His entire body was already drenched in blood flowing from his arms, legs, and back.
“Are you alright, Captain?”
At the subordinate’s question, Jin Ha-gun nodded.
At that very moment—Swish!
The subordinate who had just asked if he was alright lunged his sword at Jin Ha-gun. Dodging the incoming blade, Jin Ha-gun grabbed the man’s wrist firmly.
Though the man’s eyes had already lost their reason, Jin Ha-gun stared into them and said, “I’m fine.”
He then threw the subordinate toward the group of possessed warriors. Once the man landed on the floor, he did not attack again.
“The hypocrisy of you Orthodox bastards is laughable no matter how many times I see it.”
Despite Hwa Song’s mockery, Jin Ha-gun stared at him and spoke calmly.
“I’m the target anyway, aren't I? You’ve had your fun, so let my subordinates go.”
Hwa Song snorted. “Still playing the hypocrite until the end?”
Hwa Song walked slowly toward Jin Ha-gun. He came right up to Jin Ha-gun’s nose and said coldly, “Stop acting so virtuous!”
Jin Ha-gun refused to let his emotions explode. But the opponent wanted to provoke him by any means necessary to see his true nature.
Hwa Song looked at the door behind Jin Ha-gun and said, “This is a door that can never be opened unless I allow it.”
Hwa Song smirked and suggested slyly, “How about it? Shall I open it just for you? If you stop acting virtuous and agree to escape alone, I’ll open it.”
The subordinates beside him nodded. They meant that if it were possible, he should at least save himself. Of course, they knew Jin Ha-gun was not the kind of person who would ever leave them behind to escape alone. Just as they wouldn't leave him.
“Why can’t you all just be honest?” Hwa Song tapped on the door behind Jin Ha-gun. “‘Please open it, I want to live! To hell with chivalry, I have to survive first! I’ll do lots of good deeds later! Alright, the first five people to line up get to live!’”
It was right as his mockery continued.
CRACK!
The door shattered, and a hand burst through.
That hand gripped the throat of Hwa Song, who had been standing right in front of the door. It happened so fast that Hwa Song couldn't even dodge.
In the moment a choked scream erupted—Whoosh!
Jin Ha-gun and the Demon Extermination Squad warriors saw it then. Something pure white was ejected from Hwa Song’s body. They could see it now—something they hadn't been able to perceive until this moment.
It flew like an arrow and entered Gwak Ju’s body.
Then, the hand that had burst through the door released Hwa Song’s neck. Hwa Song stumbled back with a dazed expression. Simultaneously with his release—Creeeeeak.
The door that was said to never open unless the enemy allowed it swung wide.
Beyond the door was a pitch-black darkness where nothing could be seen. The hand that had reached out was still there, emerging from that darkness.
There were drawings on the hand. An intricate black chain was painted there, winding from the back of the hand up the arm.
The owner of the hand stepped forward from the darkness. The person who entered was a young woman.
It was none other than the Soul-Seizing Demon Lord, Cheong-seon.
Jin Ha-gun was truly shocked by her appearance. He had seen her during the last Three-Party Meeting, but he had never imagined she would appear here.
Immediately after, a thrilling shiver ran through Jin Ha-gun’s entire body. It was the joy of having his faith confirmed. Who else could have sent her if not Geom Mu-geuk?
Yes, this was the kind of man Geom Mu-geuk was. If he weren't such a person, how could the successor of the Demonic Cult and he have become friends?
The aura she exuded had changed so much he almost didn't recognize her. Her cold gaze was exceptionally calm and deep. Her presence was completely different from when she had first become a Demon Lord.
Mysterious patterns were drawn on her face and arms. The most striking was the drawing on her forehead: a closed eye, rendered in deep violet. It looked like a third eye.
On the left side of her face, a red swirl pattern was drawn, and on the back of her right hand was the chain painting he had seen earlier. On the back of her left hand, a blue flame pattern was drawn.
Even at a glance, these drawings, which looked far from ordinary, were Soul Paintings.
Soul Paintings were special drawings that strengthened the martial arts of those who practiced Soul-Seizing techniques; once drawn, they allowed for the manifestation of even more powerful Soul-Seizing abilities. They served the same role as the Blood Heaven Soul-Strengthening Art the opponent was currently using.
The fact that the Soul-Seizing Demon Lord had appeared with Soul Paintings drawn meant she acknowledged her opponent and intended to fight in earnest.
Jin Ha-gun bowed politely. Though she was young, she held the status of a Demon Lord.
“I greet the Demon Lord.”
The Soul-Seizing Demon Lord returned the greeting with a polite fist salute.
“I am a bit late, as I was meeting with a precious person.”
A precious person? Who was she talking about? Was it Geom Mu-geuk? If she had come after meeting him, they would have arrived together. Then who could it be?
Gwak Ju spoke to her.
“I heard news of the Demonic Cult’s new Soul-Seizing Demon Lord. You’re much younger than I thought. You crazy bitch, you almost made my heart drop earlier.”
Even though he knew who she was, he wasn't afraid. Instead, his eyes were full of curiosity.
“The previous Soul-Seizing Demon Lord dabbled in the Dark Demonic Arts. There’s a rumor that the Young Cult Leader killed him. Is that true?”
The Soul-Seizing Demon Lord gave no answer.
“A woman of few words, I see?”
Then, the Soul-Seizing Demon Lord replied with an indifferent gaze.
“I don’t waste words on cowards.”
It was a direct mockery of his hiding in other people’s bodies without showing his own face. Jin Ha-gun felt a surge of catharsis. He had held back from saying those exact words so many times.
Gwak Ju’s eyes sank coldly.
“Well then, shall we see what our young Demon Lord is capable of?”
The moment he finished speaking, the sound of ghosts wailing began to echo from the surroundings.
He-he-he-he-he-he.
It was a wail that dug into the human heart. The Demon Extermination Squad warriors circulated their internal energy to resist the sound. However, like a Sound Art, the wailing burrowed into their ears.
The Soul-Seizing Demon Lord slowly brought a finger to her lips.
“Shh.”
In that instant, the ghostly wailing stopped abruptly. The surroundings became so silent it felt as if a real ghost might appear at any moment.