Baek Ja-gang felt the Martial King’s fighting spirit raging all around him.
As the sharp fighting spirit dug into his flesh, tearing at him, urging him to rush out and fight, this was the first thought that came to his mind.
‘He’s a man who has fought properly!’
Baek Ja-gang’s chest grew hot, and his fists clenched on their own.
His opponent was a man who truly stimulated a martial artist’s primal urge for destruction, the desire to sweep everything away in one go.
The Martial King’s feelings were similar, yet different.
His opponent’s calm gaze and the single remark about his vacation being too extravagant made the hair on his entire body stand on end.
‘One wrong move and I’m dead!’
This heart-stopping tension was precisely the feeling the Martial King cherished most.
He recalled the image of the Unorthodox Alliance Leader lying dead.
Just thinking about that moment sent a thrill through his entire body.
It would bring him a joy he would never experience again in his life.
A joy greater than all the victories he had ever won combined.
‘I will win, no matter what.’
The heated fighting spirit and fervor created by the two men swept through the area.
Feeling the swirling energy, Hyeok Sa-gun belatedly stepped out of the carriage.
Things were proceeding according to plan, yet strangely, he had a premonition of doom.
The Unorthodox Alliance Leader’s calm reaction was understandable.
He was an extraordinary man, after all.
But the reaction of the Escort Martial Artists bothered him.
Even though Hwang Seok-gyeong blocked their path, they stared at the Martial King with composure, as if they had anticipated this very moment.
Hyeok Sa-gun feigned ignorance and spoke to the Martial King.
“Instructor Hwang, the Alliance Leader is asking you a question, is he not? For what reason do you dare to block the Alliance Leader’s path?”
My lord, the day has finally come.
May you achieve your great ambition!
At last, the Martial King calmed his fighting spirit and spoke composedly.
“You said my vacation was extravagant? It’s fine. Once this vacation is over, I will return to the most extravagant position in the Unorthodox Alliance.”
As his opponent revealed a clear intention to kill him, Baek Ja-gang actually smiled.
“My position is not as extravagant as you think.”
“I will experience that emptiness for myself.”
The Martial King lightly struck his right fist against his left palm.
Pang!
As if signaled by the loud, eardrum-shattering sound, hidden masters began to reveal themselves.
The first to appear was a middle-aged master with a sword curved like a crescent moon.
Crescent Moon Saber.
He was one of the Seven Great Masters of the Unorthodox Alliance.
Following Gwang-seom, who had tried to kill Bi Sa-in earlier, another of the Seven Great Masters appeared as an enemy.
“It has been a long time, Alliance Leader.”
Crescent Moon Saber bowed politely to Baek Ja-gang.
“Have you been well?”
“Thanks to your excellent leadership of the Unorthodox Faction, I have been well.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
“I apologize in advance for how things have turned out.”
“It’s fine, these things happen.”
Baek Ja-gang did not question why he had sided with the Martial King.
He must have offered him conditions compelling enough to move him.
Baek Ja-gang considered it natural to move for profit.
The second person to appear was an old man with a face full of wrinkles.
He had so many wrinkles that he looked over a hundred years old, but he was not actually that old.
Blue Killing Ghost.
He was a legendary figure, a master from a past generation who belonged to none of the Righteous, Demonic, or Unorthodox Sects, and was considered a public enemy by all three.
He was an infamous villain, and he had revealed himself today, alive.
The appearance of the Blue Killing Ghost was even more surprising than that of the Crescent Moon Saber.
His inner energy was also far more profound than that of contemporary masters, making him a more difficult opponent to face.
“I saw you when you were a child. Do you remember?”
The Blue Killing Ghost asked Baek Ja-gang, feigning familiarity.
Baek Ja-gang shook his head.
“Well, you were only about this big.”
He lowered his palm to about his waist, as if measuring the height of a small child, then his palm suddenly twisted and unleashed a palm strike.
Swhoooosh!
Kwaaaang!
It was the guard commander, In Gung, who blocked the palm strike that flew in with a wave of blue energy.
Pushed back by the sheer inner energy, he slid backward, and the other guards supported his back, lending him their own inner energy.
Only when two more men joined in did he finally stop being pushed back.
The Blue Killing Ghost smiled, revealing his few remaining teeth.
“Oops, my hand slipped.”
In Gung and the guards silently stepped aside.
Baek Ja-gang, standing behind them, said nothing and watched the newly appearing figures.
This time, a hunched, ugly old man walked out slowly.
Poison Overlord.
He was a poison master who had once made a name for himself with poisons.
He had become a public enemy and disappeared after using mass-killing toxins, which were forbidden in the martial world, but he revealed himself here today.
It was this Poison Overlord who had created the poison used on the Grand Strategist.
At the appearance of the Poison Overlord, guard commander In Gung’s expression hardened.
The Poison Overlord was a more threatening figure than any of the enemies who had appeared before.
“Poison-Resistant Beads!”
At In Gung’s command, the Escort Martial Artists all took out Poison-Resistant Beads from their robes and swallowed them.
The Poison Overlord cackled mockingly.
“How long do you think you can last with those pathetic Poison-Resistant Beads?”
Even Poison-Resistant Beads had their limits in blocking toxins.
If the Poison Overlord were to launch a surprise poison attack during the chaos of battle, not only their own safety but also the Alliance Leader’s life could be in danger.
The Martial King, Crescent Moon Saber, Blue Killing Ghost, and the Poison Overlord.
But they were not the only ones prepared.
From all directions, about fifty martial artists revealed themselves.
They surrounded the area with blazing eyes, men who would later be known as the Fighting Wolves, followers of the Martial King.
They too were extremely belligerent, masters mad for battle who did not fear dying in a fight.
If the previously revealed masters were tigers, these men were at least hunting dogs.
Looking at them, Hyeok Sa-gun smiled unknowingly.
These were the men he had prepared for a long time for this day.
Of course, they would have made more preparations if they could have, but this was enough.
‘Even the Alliance Leader cannot withstand this.’
Pang! Paang!
Striking his fist against his palm again to draw everyone’s attention, the Martial King issued a command to all.
“Kill the guards first and then join the fight.”
The Fighting Wolves all drew their weapons in unison, unleashing their killing intent.
The Martial King was not ashamed of a joint attack.
If he were the type to be ashamed of such things, the Poison Overlord would not be here.
Baek Ja-gang understood why Geom Mugeuk had pleaded with him yesterday.
His opponent was trying to kill him by any means necessary, so he had been asked not to place any meaning in winning a fair and square fight.
The Escort Martial Artists who had swallowed the Poison-Resistant Beads drew their swords, blocking the left, right, and rear, leaving Baek Ja-gang’s front open.
In the touch-and-go situation as the enemies closed in, someone shouted from a distance.
“Wait a moment!”
The shout from afar reached them clearly.
“You, the tall one, sixth from the left! Put down your hidden weapon and wait a moment!”
His eyesight was so good that the sixth Fighting Wolf from the left was indeed drawing a hidden weapon.
He was tall, too.
As everyone looked toward the source of the sound, a single carriage was rushing toward them from the distance.
Hyeok Sa-gun’s expression soured.
He recognized the owner of that mischievous voice.
‘The Young Cult Master!’
Indeed, the person driving the carriage from the driver’s seat was Geom Mugeuk.
The Martial King raised a hand to stop the Fighting Wolves from charging.
It was a command to just watch.
The approaching carriage stopped in front of Baek Ja-gang.
“Thankfully, you haven’t started yet.”
Crescent Moon Saber, Blue Killing Ghost, and the Poison Overlord looked at the Martial King with puzzled expressions.
Their unspoken question was what this situation was, and the Martial King told them.
“That is the Young Cult Master of the Demon Sect.”
Having already heard that Geom Mugeuk was involved in this matter, the three men nodded and looked at him with renewed interest.
“He’s younger than I thought.”
Geom Mugeuk recognized them.
He was not one to be ignorant of who the hunched, ugly poison master or the master who used a curved blade was.
“You all look scarier than I thought.”
Far from being polite, Geom Mugeuk’s attitude was so relaxed it seemed like a joke, and they all hardened their expressions.
Of course, they did not know that the joke had not even begun yet.
The carriage door opened, and Bi Sa-in stepped out first.
Then, Geom Mugeuk introduced him in a loud voice, as if introducing a martial artist at a tournament.
“This is the successor of the Unorthodox Alliance, who has overcome a near-death experience and returned like an immortal! He’s embarrassed of me, but he is definitely my friend!”
Bi Sa-in was no longer fazed by this level of joking.
Bi Sa-in immediately greeted Baek Ja-gang in a trembling voice.
“It has been a long time, Master.”
The master’s gaze upon his disciple was endlessly gentle.
“Are you well?”
“Thanks to your concern, I am fine.”
Seeing the situation unfold, Bi Sa-in thought he had done well to come.
Next, Gwae-ak stepped out of the carriage.
“This is the great Gwae-ak, one of the Seven Great Masters of the Unorthodox Alliance, who has recently tasted the bitterness of life due to a friend’s betrayal!”
To say such a thing in this situation? Ah, this man is truly insane! Gwae-ak also pretended not to hear and greeted Baek Ja-gang with a polite fist-in-palm salute.
“Have you been well?”
“It’s been a while.”
“The Young Alliance Leader cares deeply for you, Alliance Leader.”
His words implied that he had come here for the Young Alliance Leader.
Bi Sa-in was grateful to Gwae-ak for speaking on his behalf.
Bi Sa-in recalled how Geom Mugeuk treated him.
If he could do even half of that, he could build a good relationship with Gwae-ak.
Next, Gwae-ak’s gaze turned to Crescent Moon Saber.
“Why are you here?”
Gwae-ak could not understand.
Among the Seven Great Masters, Crescent Moon Saber was the one least interested in the affairs of the martial world.
Yet he had shown up here.
“It just happened that way.”
“I never thought the day would come when I would have to fight you.”
“What else is the Unorthodox Path for?”
“True. Since it has come to this, let’s fight without regrets.”
“Let’s.”
The person most surprised and bewildered by the appearance of the three was Hyeok Sa-gun.
The original plan was to naturally fall back and retreat once the joint attack began.
The guards would be busy protecting the Alliance Leader and would have no time to pay attention to him.
But with their appearance, a problem arose in the plan.
He had to retreat, or else move behind Hwang Seok-gyeong over there.
Would that Geom Mugeuk really let him go?
On the other hand, the Martial King was not shaken at all despite the unexpected variable.
He would crush even the variables; that was his mindset.
“Kill them all!”
Just then, other people appeared.
“Stop!”
Thirteen masters descended with brilliant lightness arts—they were the Thirteen Wolves of the Unorthodox Path.
The First Wolf shouted at the Fighting Wolves.
“Your opponents are over here.”
Bi Sa-in’s eyes met theirs.
The gazes of the Thirteen Wolves were filled with fervor.
We greet the Young Alliance Leader!
Bi Sa-in’s gaze grew heated as well.
Yes, if I can overcome this crisis! He was confident he could do well from now on.
Yes, I will win! I must win!
They were not the only reinforcements.
Another cold remark was heard.
“Who is the one who framed me?”
The man with a ruthless atmosphere, as if not a single drop of blood would come out if he were stabbed, was none other than Beon Cheon, the Division Lord of the Extreme Blade Corps.
Behind Beon Cheon, the elite martial artists of the Unorthodox Alliance’s elite Extreme Blade Corps revealed themselves in unison.
“How dare you attempt to assassinate the Alliance Leader! Not a single one of you will leave here alive!”
The Fighting Wolves turned to face the Thirteen Wolves and the Extreme Blade Corps.
Beon Cheon repeated the words the Martial King had said earlier.
“Finish these men and help the Alliance Leader!”
At the thunderous shout, the elites of the Extreme Blade Corps drew their swords in unison.
With the situation turning like this, the morale and momentum shifted to the Unorthodox Alliance Leader’s side.
Just then, Geom Mugeuk saw it.
The Poison Overlord was stealthily reaching for a pouch at his waist.
Geom Mugeuk had a premonition.
He was about to spread a mass-killing poison to eliminate the martial artists of the Extreme Blade Corps first.
Having spent a long time with the Poison King, he knew the psychology and movements of poison users better than anyone.
That was why he had been keeping a close eye on the Poison Overlord, the most dangerous person here.
It was unlikely that all those martial artists of the Extreme Blade Corps possessed high-grade Poison-Resistant Beads.
Their mid-grade beads would not be able to block the Poison Overlord’s poison.
“Wait a moment, Elder Poison Overlord!”
Geom Mugeuk quickly shouted.
“Before we fight, let me ask one thing.”
The Poison Overlord’s hand, which was heading for the pouch, paused for a moment.
“Did our elder here use poison on the Grand Strategist? I heard it was a high-level poison that even the eyes of the Unorthodox Alliance’s Divine Doctor could not detect.”
“Yes, it was a poison I created.”
“Is there an Antidote? My sect’s Poison King once said that the true essence of Poison Arts lies not in administering poison, but in detoxifying it.”
The way he said it made it seem like there would be an Antidote even if there wasn’t one.
The Poison Overlord took a small pouch from his robe.
Fortunately, he had the Antidote.
“Here it is.”
“Give it to me.”
“Why should I?”
“Because if you give it to me now, you’ll die nicely, and if you don’t, you’ll die painfully.”
The Poison Overlord let out a contemptuous sneer.
“Yes, I’ve heard the rumors. The unpredictable Young Cult Master is making a ruckus in the Central Plains, they say.”
The Poison Overlord glanced at the Martial King.
It was a look asking if it was alright to kill the Young Cult Master of the Demon Sect here today.
The Martial King gave a slight nod.
After all, the Young Cult Master was supposed to be dealt with as having been mutually wounded in a fight with the Unorthodox Alliance Leader.
If they said the Poison King’s help was involved, everyone would believe it.
The Poison Overlord held out the pouch.
“If you have the confidence to take it, come and get it yourself.”
At the Poison Overlord’s provocation, Geom Mugeuk walked towards him.
Knowing what kind of poison master the Poison Overlord was, guard commander In Gung looked back at Baek Ja-gang with an expression that said he should be stopped now.
Baek Ja-gang silently watched Geom Mugeuk.
He could guess why Geom Mugeuk was confronting the Poison Overlord.
To get the Antidote? It seemed so, but it wasn’t.
It was because the Poison Overlord was the most dangerous one.
To return safely, the first one who had to be killed was the Poison Overlord.
He himself had been thinking he had to kill the Poison Overlord first if he were to kill anyone.
Baek Ja-gang recalled what Geom Mugeuk had said yesterday.
—The honor I think of lies in the result of killing those who must be killed.
Can you truly kill those who must be killed and return safely?
The others watched with tense eyes.
From Bi Sa-in, who knew Geom Mugeuk well, to Gwae-ak, the Thirteen Wolves, and In Gung.
Though their experiences varied, they had all witnessed Geom Mugeuk’s surprising abilities.
Would that surprise and specialness work on the Poison Overlord as well?
Geom Mugeuk fearlessly walked right up to the Poison Overlord.
The Poison Overlord considered this courage to be recklessness.
‘He must believe I won’t kill him because he’s the Young Cult Master of the Demon Sect, right?’
If not, no one in the martial world would be able to walk up to him, the Poison Overlord, so confidently.
They would not be able to look at him with such a relaxed gaze.
‘You foolish demonic practitioner, your arrogance will lead you to hell.’
Just as Geom Mugeuk was about to take the pouch in his hand.
Fwoosh!
A cloud of poison burst out around the two of them.
“No!”
Bi Sa-in shouted.
He wanted to run and save him, but a cloud of poison had already filled the area around Geom Mugeuk.
He never thought he would be defeated so helplessly.
You should have had a way, shouldn’t you? I thought you would kill him before he could set it off.
Because it’s Geom Mugeuk.
It was at that moment.
Stab! Stab!
Flashes of a sword appeared within the poison cloud, and the sound of flesh being torn was heard repeatedly.
Whoooosh.
A whirlwind blew around the two of them, gathering the surrounding poisons.
Fwoooosh.
The poison cloud caught fire and began to burn.
The flames swirled, engulfing the two of them.
Everyone watched this astonishing sight with surprised faces.
Thus, the poison cloud was completely burned away, rising to the sky with the wind and disappearing.
Geom Mugeuk and the Poison Overlord were still standing there.
The Poison Overlord was still holding out the Antidote pouch.
As Geom Mugeuk took the pouch, the Poison Overlord tried to say something.
At that very moment!
Pshuuuuck!
Spurting blood from his neck and heart, the Poison Overlord fell backward.
Everyone there looked at Geom Mugeuk with shocked faces.
Such an exquisite technique of gathering poison and burning it with Extreme Yang Energy? No, before that, how did he withstand the Poison Overlord’s poison?
Geom Mugeuk took out two Poison-Resistant Beads that he had been holding in his mouth, making his cheeks bulge like a toad’s.
He didn’t need them, but he didn’t want to reveal that he was Immune to All Poisons in front of everyone, so he had held them in his mouth.
“Did you think you could ignore the supreme-grade Poison-Resistant Beads used by the Young Cult Master of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect? You gave me the Antidote, so as promised, I killed you nicely.”
Baek Ja-gang and the Martial King were half-convinced.
They thought that in that situation, the Poison Overlord must have used a poison that even supreme-grade Poison-Resistant Beads could not block.
In reality, the Poison Overlord had used an extreme poison that no Poison-Resistant Bead could block, but there was no way for them to know that.
In any case, the martial artists on the Unorthodox Alliance Leader’s side knew one thing for sure.
Geom Mugeuk had saved their lives before a terrible poison could be unleashed.
Geom Mugeuk pocketed the Antidote for the Grand Strategist and said to them.
“Now, you can take out the Poison-Resistant Beads you’re holding and fight comfortably.”