Chapter 754: What I Hate is Your Ponytail!
Chapter 754: What I Hate is Your Ponytail!
Geom Mu-geuk unleashed his demonic energy.
Swaaaaaa—
A torrential wave of dark power surged toward those standing before him.
Unable to withstand the pressure head-on, the Dark Blood Four Blades wrapped himself in his wind-avoiding cloak and retreated, while the iron-masked man circulated his internal energy to resist the crushing weight.
It was a violent, overwhelming force. Usually, Geom Mu-geuk exuded an aura as serene as a calm sea reflecting the sky, but now, he was different.
This demonic energy sent chills down their spines and made their blood run cold. A single thought echoed in everyone’s mind: So, this is true demonic energy.
It was a force so potent that fear threatened to paralyze their very limbs.
Geom Mu-geuk intended to sweep away everything in his path using the Nine Calamities Demonic Art’s Great Annihilation Form. This was a situation that would only end when one side was completely wiped out.
Can you truly block my Nine Calamities Demonic Art now that it has reached Great Achievement? You can all rot in this tomb! Then, the next treasure map will circulate through the Jianghu accompanied by even more clamorous rumors.
“So, please leave, Brother Ak.”
Every eye turned toward Ak Gun-hak.
Blinking as if the sudden attention was a burden, Ak Gun-hak slowly began to move. He walked toward Geom Mu-geuk as if he truly intended to exit.
The Blade King asked, his voice laced with disbelief, “What do you think you’re doing?”
“Didn’t he tell me to leave?”
The Blade King’s expression hardened instantly. He was irritated, unable to tell if the man was joking or serious.
“You were on the Young Cult Leader’s side from the start, weren’t you? This whole situation was planned in advance.”
“Can’t you see the Young Cult Leader is actually angry? When a man like that loses his temper, it’s truly terrifying.”
The Sword King continued walking toward Geom Mu-geuk’s group. He came to a halt directly in front of Mu-geuk.
“Why are you so upset?”
“I’ve never been one to tolerate insults directed at my parents. And the two behind me are no different from parents to me.”
Hearing this, the eyes of the two Demon Lords deepened. They knew these weren’t just empty words meant to please them.
Just when it seemed he would walk past, the Sword King turned around and walked toward where the Sound King stood.
“Cool your head now, and just enjoy the music for a moment.”
In truth, Geom Mu-geuk had sensed it. The man never had any intention of leaving. If he were the type to leave just because he was told to, he wouldn’t have come in the first place.
“Brother Ak, move. I’m truly angry right now.”
“I know.”
Despite saying he knew, the Sword King stood defiantly in front of the Sound King.
Standing behind him, the Sound King’s gaze toward Geom Mu-geuk was ice-cold. He couldn’t understand why Mu-geuk was the one being angry. If anyone had the right to be furious, it was him.
Who was the one who had mocked his music and ignored him?
The Sound King lifted his pipa as if to play. “I didn’t expect the Young Cult Leader to listen to me so easily.”
Tting—!
The moment the Sound King plucked a string, a low, deep vibration sliced through the air.
Kyang!
The Black Demonic Sword, thrust into the air, trembled violently.
It was a single note plucked lightly, almost playfully, yet its power was immense. Moreover, it wasn't ordinary Gang Qi. Like sound itself, the attack was invisible to the eye. One had to block it by pure instinct. With just that one pluck of a finger, it was clear this was a sound art of the highest order.
“You said you would protect everyone? Then let’s see you try.”
The Sound King plucked the stringless pipa again. In an instant, the air seemed to explode.
Tuaang! Boom!
This time, Geom Mu-geuk was in front of Ji Han, blocking with his sword. He had moved in a flash to intercept the attack aimed at his subordinate.
This strike was even more powerful than the last. However, Mu-geuk’s relaxed expression revealed the truth: he hadn't even begun to show his true strength.
“Isn’t that a bit too much force for plucking a pipa string? You’d be better off as a woodcutter.”
Taaaaa! Pung!
This time, the attack targeted a warrior of the Unorthodox Path Alliance. Though the warrior was far more skilled than Ji Han or Tae-su, he was nowhere near strong enough to block the Sound King’s assault.
Zzzzzzt.
The Black Demonic Sword vibrated in the air. The resonance left by the sound art flowed through the blade, making Mu-geuk’s wrist tingle.
“As expected of the Young Cult Leader. Then, can you block this as well?”
Sensing an extraordinary attack was coming, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon moved to step forward. However, the One Flower Sword Venerable stopped him. Her gesture signaled that they should leave it to Mu-geuk until he asked for help.
Trrrrring!
This time, the sound art flew toward three people simultaneously.
Boom! Boom! Bang!
Geom Mu-geuk appeared before all three at once to block. His movements were truly like lightning. Seeing such incredible prowess, the Sound King actually looked delighted.
“I’ll have to play an especially exciting piece for our Young Cult Leader.”
Geom Mu-geuk shouted to the Sword King, “Brother Ak! Your younger brother is going to die at this rate! Move out of the way!”
It was obviously an exaggeration, but was he really going to keep standing there while Mu-geuk was forced to play defense?
“Is he your secret son or something?”
At that moment, Geom Mu-geuk saw it—the Sword King struggling to suppress a smile. Yes, the Sword King was still the same man he knew. Such small glimpses told him more than a hundred words ever could.
In truth, if he were determined to kill, Mu-geuk could have killed the Sound King even with the Sword King blocking the way. He could simply use the Nine Calamities Demonic Art’s Annihilation Form. Could the Sound King truly withstand an attack from the four Great Achievement ghosts of the cardinal directions?
Even without the Annihilation Form, there were other ways. He could drive the Soul-Severing Demonic Strike straight into all their crowns.
The only reason he didn't kill him was because of the Sword King. Because of his trust in the man.
Was the Sword King a stubborn, inflexible man? Was he a frustrating person? No. He was more brilliant and composed than anyone. If such a man was acting this stubbornly, there had to be a reason.
Though he hadn't sent a single word via Voice Transmission, he was speaking through his actions: You must not kill the Sound King.
The fact that he didn't explain the reason meant he had his own circumstances to deal with.
It was then that the One Flower Sword Venerable, who had been watching silently, stepped forward.
“Young Cult Leader, leave this to me.”
Geom Mu-geuk looked at her. Since she had volunteered, he couldn't say no. She wasn't stepping in because she was ignorant of his relationship with the Sword King.
Now, this was their fight.
“Yes, I’ll leave it to you, Sword Venerable.”
Geom Mu-geuk glanced at the Sword King. “Brother Ak, you’re in trouble now. You should have moved when I told you to. Our Sword Venerable has stepped up.”
Even as the One Flower Sword Venerable approached, the Sword King remained standing in silence.
Geom Mu-geuk gave a cold warning to the Sound King behind the Sword King. “If you interfere in this fight and try to attack the Sword Venerable, you’re dead. Even Brother Ak won't be able to save you then. I talk a lot of nonsense, so you might be confused about what’s real, but I don't joke about life and death. The moment you lift a finger, you die.”
The Sound King looked at Geom Mu-geuk with a strange glint in his eyes before smiling and replying, “I have no intention of interfering.”
The Sound King took his hands off the pipa entirely and tucked it into his waist.
The One Flower Sword Venerable stood face-to-face with the Sword King. One might have expected her to be polite, considering his relationship with Mu-geuk, but she was not.
“Move.”
When they first met, she had at least offered a light fist salute, but now she was acting cold.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon let out a faint smirk. Indeed, he wasn't the only one who had to suppress his temper.
The Sword King, staring back at her calmly, responded in kind. “I don’t want to.”
The One Flower Sword Venerable nodded as if she had expected that answer.
“What I don’t want is this: the fact that you have such a bond with the Young Cult Leader, your bare feet, and that ponytail of yours!”
It was likely that the Young Cult Leader had been charmed by that unique, hard-to-find charisma.
The Sword King lightly tapped his tightly bound hair. “I can’t give this up, though.”
Geom Mu-geuk chimed in with a comment. “So you’re saying you can give me up!”
The One Flower Sword Venerable steadied her heart. She did not view this as a fight against someone the Young Cult Leader knew. This was a battle against an enemy trying to protect the forces behind the scenes.
“The more I look at you, the more dangerous you seem.”
His standing in the way in this situation was proof enough. Whatever relationship he had with the Young Cult Leader was their business. Right now, she saw him only as a Demon Lord, the One Flower Sword Venerable.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon nodded silently. He felt the same way. He would have stepped in himself if he could. But just as he had engaged in a blade duel with the master of the twin blades, this fight belonged to her.
The problem was that this barefoot man felt even stronger than the one who had wielded the blades earlier.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked at Geom Mu-geuk. The Young Cult Leader was the one who knew the barefoot man best. Is it really okay to let these two fight like this?
However, for whatever reason, Geom Mu-geuk was not stopping them.
Fine. If you trust him, I must trust him too.
Still, since it involved the One Flower Sword Venerable, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon couldn't help but feel anxious.
A frigid chill flowed between the One Flower Sword Venerable and the Sword King. The tension was even thicker than the tension between the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Blade King earlier.
The One Flower Sword Venerable already knew from Geom Mu-geuk just how powerful this man was. A life-and-death battle against such a master was an opportunity that might come only once in a lifetime.
The two charged at each other.
Kaaaang!
The moment their swords clashed, the One Flower Sword Venerable felt the infinite power contained within her opponent’s blade. He had seemed as light as the wind, but his sword was heavy—as if Mount Tai were collapsing upon her. This wasn't a matter of how much internal energy was poured into it; it was pure weight of intent.
Seeing him up close, the feeling was different again. He felt like a completely different person from the man who had been trading jokes with Geom Mu-geuk.
Shiiiik.
Deflecting her blade, the Sword King launched a counterattack.
Swish!
The blade flashed past her eyes in an instant. Had she been a fraction of a second slower, she would have been blinded. It was a strike that snapped her mind into sharp focus.
Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!
Their swords accelerated instantly. There was no probing or testing. Their blades raced at maximum speed from the start, sword light flashing through the air.
To anyone other than Geom Mu-geuk, the Demon Lord, the Sound King, and the Blade King, their speed was impossible to follow with the naked eye. Flashes of light exploded in every direction like a firework display.
The accumulation of sword trajectories and afterimages created a masterpiece. It looked like bamboo swaying in the wind, or plum blossoms blooming in the depths of winter.
The ones truly appreciating the painting were Geom Mu-geuk, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, the Sound King, and the Blade King. Even looking at the same picture, each felt different emotions based on their own skill and inner state.
The sword lines were sometimes thin, and sometimes as thick as a brush stroke of ink. And then, there was the negative space.
In the negative space they created lay opportunities for counterattacks and ambushes. The negative space was an opportunity, but also the greatest danger. Misusing it meant immediate defeat and death. Every time a new sword line filled the negative space, the two faced a moment between life and death.
‘This man’s sword is the real deal.’
Her treasured One Flower Sword was unable to break that old steel sword. The moment she truly acknowledged her opponent, the One Flower Sword Venerable felt something awaken in her heart.
‘I will win!’
Their battle was both elegant and violent. Moves that could lead to death with a single mistake were exchanged, yet they did not fear them. There wasn't even an opening to unleash their unique martial arts; the moment one tried to execute a major technique, their arm or neck would be severed.
The onlookers held their breath. The chance to witness a sword duel between masters of this caliber occurred only once or twice in a lifetime. No one dared to blink.
The Sword King was surprised. He hadn't expected the One Flower Sword Venerable to fight this well. Initially, he thought Geom Mu-geuk’s permission for this fight was a request for him to teach her a lesson.
‘It wasn't just permission for her sake.’
It was a gesture of goodwill from Geom Mu-geuk, wanting him to learn and grow through this fight as well.
‘You, of all people!’
Knowing it would be such a terrifying battle, Mu-geuk still pushed his precious Demon Lord into it. Just how much do you trust me?
Therefore, for the Sword King, this was also a fight against Geom Mu-geuk. His opponent was pressing him with skill that allowed no room for holding back, yet he had to be careful. The Sword King exerted extreme concentration. This was the first time since he had picked up a sword that he fought with such total devotion.
Shwaaaaaak.
The area of the battle gradually expanded. As they exchanged blows, they passed in front of Geom Mu-geuk, then past the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon glared fiercely at the Sword King, but the latter had no leisure to return the gaze. The remaining four people stood like dolls with their eyes squeezed shut. With sword light flashing beside them, any reckless movement meant death.
Amazingly, despite the intensity of the fight, they didn't injure any of the bystanders. But the surroundings were another story.
Chwaaaaaak!
Hundreds of sword lines already marked the walls, and a portion of the ceiling had collapsed. This was despite them not yet using full-scale Sword Qi or Sword Force. That was how fiercely they fought.
Sword fought sword, aura fought aura, and the lives the two had lived fought each other.
The One Flower Sword Venerable instinctively felt herself growing through this battle. It was different from sparring with Geom Mu-geuk. This fight was real. She attacked with the intent to sever his arm, and she was prepared to have her own arm severed in return.
At some point, she fell into a trance. Gradually, the sound of clashing swords faded, and the surroundings began to grow quiet. Everything started to move in slow motion.
Pat!
A single drop of blood rose into the air. It was impossible to tell whose body it had come from. In this moment, the One Flower Sword Venerable experienced time slowing down.
A single drop of blood suspended in the air. She saw her own face reflected in that drop. Was it a hallucination? Or was she truly seeing it? Or had she already been cut?
Pwaaaaak!
Her face reflected in the blood was split in half. The next moment, time resumed its normal flow, and sound returned.
Chwaaaaaak! Shwaaaaak!
A sudden silence descended.
The One Flower Sword Venerable’s body was twisted to the side. One of her shoulders was drenched in blood. If she hadn't dodged, her body might have been severed, just like her reflection in the blood drop.
At the same time, the Sword King’s bangs were sliced off and slid to the floor. A faint sword line had appeared on his forehead. Fortunately, it was only a superficial skin wound.
The One Flower Sword Venerable and the Sword King looked at each other. They couldn't hide the thrill in their eyes. Would they ever meet such a magnificent opponent again in their lives?
It was a situation where one might expect a polite fist salute and words of mutual respect. It felt like the moment to say it was the greatest battle of their lives.
“I just can’t do it,” she said.
One might have expected the One Flower Sword Venerable to say she couldn't continue because of her injury. But that wasn't it. She meant she couldn't let it go because she was annoyed. She meant she couldn't stop because she was unsatisfied.
“I absolutely have to cut off that ponytail today.”