Baek Ja-gang was genuinely moved.
Where Beon Cheon was supposed to fight alone, three people now stood.
It had become possible for them to attack together without damaging Beon Cheon's honor and pride in front of his subordinates.
Who else could have achieved such a result against that Blue Killing Ghost?
He had inwardly scoffed at the words that they had been bewitched by the Young Cult Master of the Demon Sect.
It seemed he now had to admit it.
How could one not be bewitched by such a person?
And above all, he was grateful for the chance to raise his hand for his disciple.
When he had raised his hand, the depth of Bi Sa-in’s emotion was plain on his rugged face.
He felt so sorry for ever having doubted such a disciple.
That was why he would not trust Geom Mugeuk.
Knowing he was a person who could charm even himself, he would trust him even less.
After ninety-nine truths, a single lie could bring about the downfall of the Unorthodox Alliance.
Still, he had to express his gratitude.
Baek Ja-gang gave a slight nod toward Geom Mugeuk.
It was not a greeting for the Young Cult Master of the Demon Sect.
It was a greeting from Baek Ja-gang the martial artist to Geom Mugeuk the martial artist, regardless of age or status.
A thank you for protecting our honor, and our faith in a disciple.
Geom Mugeuk, his expression devoid of any playfulness, also bowed his head respectfully to him.
Watching this, the Blue Killing Ghost could clearly feel it.
That Geom Mugeuk had intentionally created this situation from the very beginning.
He knew he had been deliberately provoked, but he never imagined that the Young Alliance Leader had requested it from the start.
If he had his way, he wanted to spew a torrent of curses at Geom Mugeuk, starting with ‘you and your filthy tongue,’ but it would clearly be like spitting into the wind.
The unnecessary sparks flew to the three men standing before him.
“Did you think things would be different if the three of you gathered? You would have simply died with dignity, but now you will only die disgracefully, tangled up with one another.”
The Blue Killing Ghost thought the outcome would not change anyway.
Today’s battle would only end when one side was completely wiped out.
It was just a matter of sequence and a difference in the process.
“Who should I kill first?”
Meanwhile, the three men were secretly exchanging telepathic messages.
Bi Sa-in took the lead and gave instructions to the other two.
— I will take the lead from the center, so please support me from both sides.
We must not be more than two steps away from each other.
He will undoubtedly try to toy with us in the early stages of the fight, so we must not miss that opportunity.
Bi Sa-in’s will to kill the Blue Killing Ghost burned fiercely.
He did not show it to the two, but frankly, he was afraid and trembling.
His opponent was a master stronger than them.
Moreover, the Alliance Leader and the martial artists of the Unorthodox Alliance were watching.
He had experienced real combat many times, but he had never been as nervous as today.
The reason that made him tense was this.
‘If I make a mistake, the First Wolf and Division Lord Beon will die.’
Just as this worry was making him rigid, a telepathic message from Geom Mugeuk arrived.
— Don’t worry about the other two.
Bi Sa-in almost shouted, ‘Are you inside my head!’
— If you fight to protect, you will lose.
Fight as if it is a one-on-one duel, regardless of whether they die or not.
That is how you can win.
— !
He instinctively felt that Geom Mugeuk’s words were right.
He had to trust the two of them.
If he awkwardly tried to protect them, all three would end up dead.
— Fight a fine battle.
Geom Mugeuk’s final piece of advice was truly unexpected.
It was not advice to fight desperately, nor was it advice to fight cautiously.
Finely.
He knew well that it did not simply mean to show off.
Rather, this unfitting word felt like a guide on how to fight.
‘Yes, a fine battle.’
As Bi Sa-in drew his sword, Beon Cheon and the First Wolf drew their swords as well.
The Thirteen Wolves of the Unorthodox Alliance and the warriors of the Extreme Blade Corps, cheering them on, let out a unified roar.
Not to be outdone, the Fighting Wolves also shouted in unison.
The one who took the offensive with the roar was Bi Sa-in.
He unleashed the Soul-Chasing Four Swords, his own martial art in which he had achieved Great Mastery, rather than the Alliance Leader’s art, of which he had only learned the First Form.
As the First Sword of the Soul-Chasing Four Swords, Soul Severing, was unleashed, a pure white Sword Qi raged like a wave from Bi Sa-in's sword.
The Blue Killing Ghost did not evade and met the incoming Sword Qi by releasing a palm strike.
Boom!
With the explosion, the ground shook.
As if boasting of his own inner energy, the Blue Killing Ghost blocked the attack without taking a single step back from his spot.
At the same time, Beon Cheon and the First Wolf sent Sword Qi from the left and right.
This time, too, the Blue Killing Ghost parried their attacks by thrusting twin palms to his left and right from where he stood.
Along with successive explosions, dust rose from the ground.
Just when they thought he would continue to mock them and show off his strength, the Blue Killing Ghost's form vanished in a flash along with the dust.
Swish!
The Blue Killing Ghost was already behind Bi Sa-in, striking down with a palm.
Bi Sa-in twisted his body and barely dodged, but he could not avoid the subsequent palm strike.
It was fast.
Far too fast.
Just as Bi Sa-in was raising his protective energy to brace for the impact!
The First Wolf, who had rushed in, thrust his sword toward him.
The First Wolf's sword technique was the Seven Solar Hands.
The fastest of the seven forms, the Fourth Hand – Swift Sun Form, was unleashed.
His attack was desperate, as he was prepared to sacrifice his own body if Bi Sa-in was in danger.
The Blue Killing Ghost gave up on Bi Sa-in and dodged the First Wolf's attack.
Since the fight was in his favor anyway, there was no need to take an injury to force a reckless attack.
As he dodged, Beon Cheon’s attack flew at him.
Beon Cheon’s sword, flying in like a downpour, was fast.
His martial art was the Soul-Shocking Sword Technique, a sword style based on speed and extreme yin.
Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish!
The tip of the sword was always at the Blue Killing Ghost, but regrettably, the sword could not pierce his body.
The Blue Killing Ghost was so fast it was hard to understand how he could move so quickly with that old body.
That movement was also the answer to how he had survived until now.
As the Second Sword of the Soul-Chasing Four Swords, Soul Calming, was unfurled, five streams of Sword Qi bent as if alive and flew to envelop the Blue Killing Ghost.
The Blue Killing Ghost flew into the air to evade it, and the Sword Qi changed direction to chase him.
They were like dragons chasing a dragon’s pearl, but unfortunately, they could not obtain the pearl in this ascension.
The Blue Killing Ghost, who had evaded the Sword Qi by changing direction in mid-air, shot down as fast as a ray of light.
This time, the person he targeted was the First Wolf.
The Blue Killing Ghost flew downwards, continuously unleashing palm strikes.
Boom! Craaack!
The space where the First Wolf had been standing exploded, and the earth was overturned.
As the First Wolf threw himself to narrowly avoid the attack, the rising dust parted, and the Blue Killing Ghost rushed through.
A palm, glowing with a pure white light, flew toward him!
It was the White Bone Heart-Piercing Palm, filled with the energy of extreme yin.
An attack that would cause a severe injury if it landed.
‘Too late.’
Getting injured would only be a burden in the fight, so the First Wolf thrust his sword out with the intent of mutual destruction.
He would give up his life in exchange for at least one arm.
‘I’m sorry, Young Alliance Leader! This is as far as I go.’
At that moment, the White Bone Heart-Piercing Palm changed direction.
The moment he disappeared.
Kwakwakwakwakwak!
Sword Qi swept through the spot where the Blue Killing Ghost had been.
It was the Third Sword of the Soul-Chasing Four Swords, Iron Soul.
The Blue Killing Ghost could have killed the First Wolf, but doing so would have resulted in him being heavily injured, so he twisted his body to avoid the attack.
This time, Bi Sa-in had saved the First Wolf.
The First Wolf had no time to offer his thanks.
The Blue Killing Ghost was now attacking Beon Cheon.
Kwaaang!
Overpowered by inner energy, Beon Cheon was pushed back.
The First Wolf flew to him, catching him and pushing his own inner energy into him.
Only then did the two men stop being pushed back.
Bi Sa-in was unleashing a barrage of attacks at the Blue Killing Ghost to prevent any follow-up.
The other two also joined the attack.
They did not think about what came after.
Fighting while conserving inner energy against the Blue Killing Ghost was arrogance.
They had to pour everything out and settle the score before their inner energy was depleted.
The Blue Killing Ghost was certainly stronger than them.
Every gesture he made was a series of fatal strikes that would inevitably lead to death.
In the midst of that perilous situation, Bi Sa-in felt a glimmer of hope.
‘We can do this!’
Their coordination was much better than he had feared.
Because they weren't trying to coordinate, it worked even better.
If they had tried to match their moves from the start, it would have been a much more difficult fight.
Fearing they might interfere with an ally's ultimate technique, it would have been difficult to rashly jump in.
In the end, it might have become a battle where they fought one by one in turns, rather than a joint attack.
But now, it was different.
Bi Sa-in was fighting with the mindset of a one-on-one duel, with the thought that it didn't matter if his Sword Qi injured the First Wolf and Beon Cheon.
The attack that had just saved the First Wolf was also a direct application of Geom Mugeuk's advice.
It was an attack to save the First Wolf, but he did not think of it that way.
It was not an attack to save, but an attack to kill the Blue Killing Ghost.
The result was the same, but Bi Sa-in was clearly fighting a different kind of battle.
And all this was possible because the First Wolf and Beon Cheon were fighting much better than he had thought.
In the end, Geom Mugeuk's words were right.
Trusting the two of them and focusing only on this fight was the best course of action.
Before long, the leisure had vanished from the Blue Killing Ghost’s face.
The fight was not resolving as easily as he thought.
There was one fact he had overlooked.
All three of them were fighting with their lives on the line.
Beon Cheon for the honor of the Extreme Blade Division Lord, the First Wolf to protect Bi Sa-in.
Bi Sa-in for the Alliance Leader and the Unorthodox Alliance.
When the fight didn't go well, the Blue Killing Ghost took his frustration out on an unexpected target.
A palm strike that seemed aimed at Bi Sa-in instead flew towards the martial artists of the Extreme Blade Division who were watching the fight.
It was a deliberate attack, too fast and powerful for them to dodge.
Their deaths would shatter Bi Sa-in’s concentration, and more than anything, it felt like the only thing that would satisfy him.
Those standing at the front unleashed their own palm strikes and shouted.
“Get back!”
They had resolved that if they could not dodge, they would at least unleash their own palm strikes to save their comrades behind them.
Kwaaang!
An explosion erupted, and dust rose.
The Extreme Blade Division warriors at the front looked at each other.
They, who should have been swept away by the palm strike, were unharmed.
The person who had neutralized the attack was Baek Ja-gang.
His hand, extended toward the air, was still fixed on the Martial King.
Baek Ja-gang slowly lowered his hand.
All the warriors of the Extreme Blade Division respectfully bowed their heads.
If not for the Alliance Leader, they would all be dead.
The Martial King could have used that opportunity to attack, but at that moment, Geom Mugeuk stirred his energy as a warning.
If you go, I go too.
The Martial King did not move.
He was certain that if he failed to eliminate Geom Mugeuk today, he would become a great source of trouble, even if he ascended to the position of Unorthodox Alliance Leader.
If Geom Mugeuk returned fully prepared, could he really be stopped?
The Blue Killing Ghost's attack just now had been the signal.
The warriors of the Extreme Blade Division rushed at the Fighting Wolves.
“Kill them!”
The warriors from both sides charged at each other.
Their fighting spirit had already reached its peak while watching the battle.
The Thirteen Wolves of the Unorthodox Alliance also joined the fight.
Baek Ja-gang and the Martial King did not stop their fight.
They had to fight at least once anyway.
With the Thirteen Wolves of the Unorthodox Alliance involved, the Unorthodox Alliance had the advantage in both numbers and skill.
Despite this, the Martial King just watched.
Of course, the moment he intervened, the Alliance Leader and Geom Mugeuk would jump in, and a melee would unfold.
It was not an easy situation to jump into even if he wanted to.
Meanwhile, Bi Sa-in's fight was reaching its climax.
Swaaaaek!
The Blue Killing Ghost’s fingers, digging toward Bi Sa-in, curled.
He was about to use his signature martial art, the Blood Yin Iron Claw Hand, along with the White Bone Heart-Piercing Palm.
He had nearly died from that attack twice before.
The powerful Blood Yin Iron Claw Hand, which would shatter flesh and bone upon a mere graze, flew to tear out Bi Sa-in's chest.
At this moment, Bi Sa-in made a dangerous choice.
The Blue Killing Ghost’s fingers scraped across Bi Sa-in’s chest, which he had failed to completely dodge.
Krrrrrrk!
His chest was being torn open, and at that very moment!
‘Got him!’
The balance of the fight was broken.
Just as the Blue Killing Ghost, a triumphant smile on his face, turned towards Beon Cheon!
Bi Sa-in's sword, who should have been dead with his chest torn open, flashed.
Shiiiiiing!
From an extremely close range, the Fourth Sword of the Soul-Chasing Four Swords, Mad Soul, was unleashed.
Puaak!
The Blue Killing Ghost, unable to dodge Mad Soul in time, took a direct hit.
As blood spurted from his shoulder and he staggered,
From the left, the final ultimate technique of the Soul-Shocking Sword Technique, Creation Shock, flew in, and from the right, the final ultimate technique of the Seven Solar Hands, Great Sun Form, flew in.
Puuk!
He dodged Creation Shock, but could not avoid the Great Sun Form.
As he staggered again.
Puuuuuk!
Bi Sa-in's sword pierced through his chest.
Impaled on the sword, the Blue Killing Ghost coughed up blood and stared at Bi Sa-in with a look of disbelief.
“... You were definitely hit by the Blood Yin Iron Claw Hand.”
Then, the Blue Killing Ghost's eyes fell on Bi Sa-in's chest.
Two layers of protective armor had been torn away.
It had torn through the layered protective armor, but it had not pierced Bi Sa-in's body.
The life-risking gamble had paid off.
Bi Sa-in stared at him intently and said softly.
“Even up close, I'm still better looking.”
“... Damn it!”
Puk! Puuk!
Following that, the swords of the First Wolf and Beon Cheon flew in and lodged in his neck and heart.
The Blue Killing Ghost died on the spot and collapsed.
The three men simultaneously let out a long sigh of relief.
Despite this being their first time coordinating, they had succeeded in killing the Blue Killing Ghost through a joint attack.
They looked at each other, exchanging heated gazes.
What need was there for words? They were comrades who had shared life and death.
Bi Sa-in turned his head and looked at the Unorthodox Alliance Leader first.
Baek Ja-gang gave him a bright smile.
It was the first time his master had smiled so broadly at him.
He had a feeling that his relationship with his master would also start anew from now on.
Bi Sa-in’s gaze then turned to Geom Mugeuk.
The reason he could win this fight was because of the telepathic message Geom Mugeuk sent before the battle.
He had won because he fought a battle of pouring everything out, not a battle of defending.
He had won because he fought thinking it was one-on-one, not a joint attack.
‘My life debt to him keeps piling up, yet he looks at me with such a bright smile.’
And then, a single telepathic message from Geom Mugeuk arrived.
— Your fight was a fine one.
As if in response to that message, the Thirteen Wolves of the Unorthodox Alliance and the warriors of the Extreme Blade Division all let out a unified roar.
Their battle had already ended as well.
Since the Thirteen Wolves of the Unorthodox Alliance had joined in, there was no upset in the result.
The Fighting Wolves were all dead, and in contrast, the Unorthodox Alliance’s casualties were not significant.
Now, only the Martial King and Deputy Commander Hyeok Sa-gun remained there.
Hyeok Sa-gun stood frozen and silent, while the Martial King was composed.
Everyone’s gaze was focused on the Martial King.
Geom Mugeuk calmly spoke to him.
“From the beginning, you were thinking that it didn't matter if all these people died.”
He was too calm about the death of his allies.
And he was sure that some other trick remained.
To say he trusted his own skills was not enough, for his opponent was the Unorthodox Alliance Leader.
“You, what kind of card are you hiding?”
When the Martial King did not answer, Baek Ja-gang finally stepped forward.
He slowly walked forward.
His presence overwhelmed everyone there.
Baek Ja-gang slowly drew his sword.
From his small eyes, an aura more chilling than the blade's edge began to flow.
“I will hear that answer through my sword.”