Chapter 659: Do You Still Think I'm Cute?
Chapter 659: Do You Still Think I'm Cute?
A terrifying silence descended.
It was as if even the ghosts had ceased their weeping out of sheer terror.
Though his move had been thwarted in a single strike, Gwak Ju laughed uproariously.
Jin Ha-gun could tell—that laughter did not belong to Gwak Ju. The fact that it was laced with the mirth of a Soul-Seizing master meant only one thing.
‘His composure is cracking.’
Jin Ha-gun felt it. The first fracture had begun to form in the world the enemy had constructed.
Gwak Ju, who had been laughing wildly, stopped abruptly.
“Our young Demon Lord is far more capable than that old Orthodox fossil over there.”
At those words, Hwa Song’s face flushed a deep crimson.
He was one of the two Great Masters who taught the Great Correction Soul-Returning Art at the Murim Alliance. He felt a profound sense of shame that he, of all people, had fallen prey to Soul-Seizing techniques, and the enemy was now twisting the knife in that very wound.
“That old man even went so far as to trigger the Blood Heaven Soul-Strengthening Art himself.”
As Hwa Song’s face burned with even greater intensity, Jin Ha-gun stepped forward.
“At least he doesn’t hide behind the backs of others.”
Jin Ha-gun’s voice was clear and resonant, infused with the Righteous Heart Technique—a power designed to block distracting thoughts and dispel heart demons. The feverish flush blooming on Hwa Song’s face began to subside.
“I have no face to show you, Captain Jin,” Hwa Song muttered.
Jin Ha-gun comforted him with a firm, steady tone.
“There is no need to blame yourself. This man has been working beneath the surface around you for a very long time. This conspiracy likely began the very day you started teaching your disciples. No one knows what he might have secretly fed you or what suggestions he continuously planted. The setup for the Blood Heaven Soul-Strengthening Art was incredibly subtle. Anyone would have succumbed.”
Gwak Ju sneered at Jin Ha-gun.
“Our Captain Jin is quite busy, isn't he? Flattering a Demon Lord one moment and comforting an Orthodox geezer the next.”
Despite the mockery, Jin Ha-gun did not waver. Even though this was a world born of the villain’s sorcery, he was still the Demon Extermination Squad Leader.
In fact, he felt a strange sense of gratitude toward the man. He had realized much thanks to this ordeal. It wasn't just a renewed determination to become stronger.
After falling into the enemy’s sorcery, he had been forced to endure constant insults and feelings of helplessness. Yet, even then, he had struggled to keep his subordinates from being harmed. During those moments, one thought had repeated in his mind like a mantra:
My pride can be wounded. But my men must not be.
Jin Ha-gun focused on this sentiment. Seeing himself changed like this, he felt he had truly matured. Indeed, even if the tip of the blade trembles, the heart must remain steady.
As he was steeling his resolve, the Soul-Seizing Demon Lord spoke to him.
“To a grown tiger, a python is no threat. But to a cub, it is a different story.”
How could he not understand her meaning? She was saying that because he was still an adolescent tiger, he couldn't yet handle that python.
Jin Ha-gun was inwardly moved; he hadn't expected her to offer such words of encouragement. He bowed his head slightly to express his gratitude.
Gwak Ju cut in again, his voice dripping with venom.
“What a mess. A Demon Lord of the Demonic Cult comforting the Demon Extermination Squad Leader! Could anything be more bizarre?”
The Soul-Seizing Demon Lord glanced at him and then—
Shhh.
She placed a finger to her lips. The gesture was such a blatant command to "Shut up" that Gwak Ju’s expression hardened. She had managed to turn his stomach without uttering a single word.
Of course, he didn't let it slide.
“Your Young Cult Leader died at the hands of the grandfather of the man you’re trying to save right now. Now, tell me—who is the python?”
Lest there be any misunderstanding, Jin Ha-gun quickly stepped in.
“Do not be deceived. That will not happen.”
Then, unexpected words came from the Soul-Seizing Demon Lord.
“I know. If one of them were to die—forgive my boldness—it would have been the Alliance Leader.”
Jin Ha-gun flinched. From her unwavering gaze, he could tell she truly believed that. He could feel that her statement didn't stem from rudeness, but from an absolute, unshakable faith in Geom Mu-geuk.
‘Ah, come to think of it, she is the first Demon Lord of the next generation.’
Realizing she was Geom Mu-geuk’s first appointed Demon Lord made her absolute trust understandable.
The Soul-Seizing Demon Lord stepped toward Gwak Ju. “Ghost games should be played between ghosts,” she said.
Gwak Ju grinned as he watched her approach. His feeling toward this young Demon Lord was simple.
“How cute.”
The Soul-Seizing Demon Lord stopped and smiled brightly at him.
“Don’t change your tune later.”
“Even the way you talk is cute.”
Clack, clack, clack, clack!
The warriors of the Demon Extermination Squad, still under the influence of Soul-Seizing, blocked her path. Gwak Ju watched with an expression of amused expectation, as if waiting for a performance.
The possessed squad members stepped forward, pointing their swords at her.
Naturally, Jin Ha-gun was the one who grew anxious. He and his conscious men had refrained from attacking their comrades even at the risk of injury, but the Soul-Seizing Demon Lord was different. There was no reason for her to show such consideration, nor could he force it upon her.
Jin Ha-gun signaled to the subordinates beside him and stepped forward. All the conscious squad members followed suit.
“We will handle them.”
“There is no need.”
At the Soul-Seizing Demon Lord’s command to trust her and step back, Jin Ha-gun immediately pulled his men away. He trusted her. More importantly, he trusted Geom Mu-geuk, who had sent her.
The possessed squad members lunged at her all at once.
Swish! Whoosh! Shhh!
Just as the watching squad members were about to rush in, fearing someone would surely die, Jin Ha-gun extended both arms to stop them. If you cannot trust, do not step aside; if you trust, trust until the end.
The swirl pattern on her cheek began to glow, and simultaneously, a pure white wave of energy erupted from her body.
Vroooooom!
The violent surge of energy whipped everyone’s clothes and hair. Then came the silence.
The squad members who had been swinging their swords froze mid-motion. The blades thrusting toward the Soul-Seizing Demon Lord stopped dead.
“Huh?”
Their expressions returned to normal. They looked around in confusion, wondering why they were attacking a woman they had never seen before.
As if blowing away dust with a gust of wind, the Soul-Seizing Demon Lord had dispelled the techniques placed upon them all at once. It was a truly magnificent display of power.
Soon after, the squad members saw Jin Ha-gun standing behind her and realized the situation—that they had fallen under a Soul-Seizing spell. They all leaped back toward Jin Ha-gun.
Jin Ha-gun welcomed them with relief. “Welcome back.”
Seeing Jin Ha-gun drenched in blood, they could guess what had transpired.
“Thank you, Captain.”
“Give your thanks to the Demon Lord.”
At that, the squad members bowed politely to her. “Thank you.”
Without looking back, the Soul-Seizing Demon Lord simply raised a hand slightly in acknowledgment.
Jin Ha-gun found himself liking her. Perhaps it was because she was a Demon Lord he would be seeing for a very long time, as long as his connection with Geom Mu-geuk continued.
Now, only Gwak Ju stood before the Soul-Seizing Demon Lord. Even though she had broken his spell on the squad members in an instant, he did not panic.
The moment his eyes flashed with a sharp light—
Clang.
One of the squad members half-drew his sword. He had fallen under the spell again and tried to attack the person next to him, but the Soul-Seizing Demon Lord broke the spell before the sword was even fully drawn.
Clang!
A sword being pulled from another man's sheath stopped.
It was a duel of Soul-Seizing techniques unlike anything ever seen. Like a game of Go, it was a continuous cycle of attack and defense, move and counter-move. Each time, the swirl drawing on her cheek pulsed with light.
Just as the opponent had reinforced his Soul-Seizing with the Blood Heaven Soul-Strengthening Art, it was clear that her Soul Painting was lending her strength. And with every pulse of light, the swirl pattern grew slightly fainter.
Eventually, the opponent gave up on trying to ensnare the squad members.
Gwak Ju clapped silently, tapping his palms together as if conceding. He maintained his leisurely air, but he couldn't hide the shock lingering in his eyes.
The Soul-Seizing Demon Lord spoke with an indifferent toss of her words.
“If you’re this cowardly, why did you get involved in something like this?”
It wasn't an outright mockery; she asked as if she were genuinely curious. This caused Gwak Ju’s face to stiffen, a flash of irritation crossing his features.
Originally, the Soul-Seizing Demon Lord was not one to be trifled with. She was ambitious and sharp-tongued. However, she had recently ascended to the position of Demon Lord and had been focused solely on her training. Because she was considered weaker than the other Demon Lords, she had worked tirelessly to escape that evaluation.
Having done nothing but train, she was finally facing a formidable foe, and her tongue was starting to loosen.
“It’s my first time seeing someone hide behind a hostage.”
It just so happened that the body the enemy was currently inhabiting was Gwak Ju’s. She knew that this operation was a rescue mission to save him.
Gwak Ju immediately counterattacked.
“I heard the Young Cult Leader placed you in the seat of a Demon Lord. Did you offer him that body of yours?”
The Soul-Seizing Demon Lord returned the provocation in kind. It was a classic case of giving an inch and taking a mile.
“And what about you? Did you offer up your courage before coming here?”
Finally, the opponent could not endure it. Gwak Ju’s gaze turned cold and heavy as he pulled something from his robe.
Surprisingly, it was the counterfeit hidden weapon, Jin-gyeok.
One might have thought he intended to fire it at her, but instead, Gwak Ju brought the Jin-gyeok under his own chin. He intended to commit suicide.
“Since our Demon Lord mocks me as a coward, I have no choice but to prove otherwise.” He smirked at Jin Ha-gun. “Your goal was to save me, wasn't it? Mission failed.”
Jin Ha-gun’s heart raced; he couldn't let Gwak Yeong’s brother die like this. But he trusted the Soul-Seizing Demon Lord. He knew she understood that this man had to be kept alive.
Before the Jin-gyeok could be triggered!
Something else was released first.
Clink, rattle!
Suddenly, something coiled around Gwak Ju’s body. The black chains engraved on the Soul-Seizing Demon Lord’s hand had manifested and bound him tightly.
“Fine, die if you want to!”
His fingers weren't restrained. Yet, Gwak Ju could not fire the Jin-gyeok. Normally, the moment Gwak Ju died, the enemy could have escaped the body. But he couldn't do that while bound by these chains.
“Soul-Locking Binding!”
The chains had completely locked his soul within Gwak Ju’s body. If Gwak Ju committed suicide, the entity would die along with him.
Gwak Ju tried to break the chains. However, the black radiance only grew more intense; they would not break.
“You drew such a powerful Soul Painting yourself?” His eyes widened, filled with disbelief. “Who drew this Soul Painting for you?”
He was certain she hadn't drawn it herself. She didn't deny it.
“If I’d had just a few more years, I wouldn't have needed a Soul Painting to deal with the likes of you.”
Having finished her piece, the Soul-Seizing Demon Lord yanked the chains, dragging Gwak Ju right in front of her. She grabbed Gwak Ju by the throat.
He felt it. Her killing intent was no mere bluff.
“Do you intend to kill this man as well?”
He tried to threaten her using Gwak Ju’s life, but it didn't work.
“Why? Am I not allowed to?”
The Soul-Seizing Demon Lord’s other hand, the one not clutching his throat, rose into the air.
“It’s a profitable trade!”
Whoosh!
Without a moment’s hesitation and before anyone could stop her, she brought her palm down toward Gwak Ju’s head.
“Wait!”
At Gwak Ju’s desperate cry, her hand stopped. It halted precariously, just inches above his skull. He could tell—the Soul-Seizing Demon Lord had truly intended to kill him.
For the first time, a hint of fear flickered across Gwak Ju’s face. Of course, he had no intention of dying along with this worthless hostage.
“I’m leaving.”
Thud.
As if surrendering, the Jin-gyeok held in Gwak Ju’s hand fell to the ground. However, the Soul-Seizing Demon Lord continued to look down at him with cold eyes, appearing to deliberate.
Gwak Ju shouted urgently, “This is the man the First Young Master promised to save at all costs. You must not kill him!”
To think he would end up pleading like this.
The Soul-Seizing Demon Lord laughed brightly, like a madwoman, and asked:
“Do you still think I’m cute?”
As soon as she finished speaking, the black chains vanished, receding back into her arm. The ink was now much lighter in color than it had been at first.
Gwak Ju’s expression returned to normal. The entity that had been inside him had vanished from his body in an instant. With Gwak Ju finally free, everyone present was released from the Soul-Seizing.
Watching her threaten the opponent, Jin Ha-gun felt as if he were looking at a witch. He wondered what this young witch would become as she grew older.
A furious voice thundered through the air. The enemy no longer hid his rage.
“You dare to open the door to my world and enter...”
His voice echoed as if he weren't physically present, reverberating through the cave.
“...to mock and threaten me?”
In an instant, the surrounding scenery shifted.
Whirrrrrrrr!
A fierce wind blew. They were now atop a precipice. Everyone stood precariously on the edge of a cliff so high that clouds drifted far below. The cliff was real. If they fell from here, they would truly die.
“You should never have opened that door.”
In a battle of Soul-Seizing, entering another person’s world was an absolute disadvantage. It is far more difficult to dismantle a world than it is to manifest one.
“Save them if you can.”
Crack! Crunch!
The cliff they stood on began to split and crumble from the edges. It was a height from which even the best lightness skills would likely fail to save them.
The Soul-Seizing Demon Lord began to chant, and the swirl pattern on her face glowed more brilliantly than ever before. The moment the light faded!
Rumble!
A deep thundering sound rose from beneath the clouds, and a massive cliff surged upward through the mist. Incredibly, a cliff nearly identical to the one they were standing on had risen from below. This was no time for admiration.
“Everyone, cross over!”
At Jin Ha-gun’s shout, the squad members used their lightness skills to leap to the opposite cliff. Jin Ha-gun tucked Gwak Ju under his arm and flew across. Those whose lightness skills were lacking were helped by their comrades, and everyone landed safely on the opposite side.
Crrraaaaack!
In the meantime, the original cliff they had been on completely collapsed.
The Soul-Seizing Demon Lord’s hair whipped in the wind.
“You say this is your world?” she shouted shrilly from the cliff she had created herself. “If I take it, it’s my world!”