The Elder has gone there.
Geom Mugeuk thought of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
Of his figure, walking alone with a great blade slung over his back.
Ja Gyeong must have believed he could handle him and went to resolve the matter.
-Master could be in danger.
Worry bloomed all over Seo Daeryong’s face.
-How do we find out where that place is?
At Seo Daeryong’s question, Geom Mugeuk’s gaze naturally turned to Ja Gyeong.
Ja Gyeong, who was speaking with the Phoenix Mountain Sword Sect Leader, Bang Cheongmun, also glanced their way.
Ja Gyeong smiled affably.
From that expression, Geom Mugeuk could feel that his intuition was correct.
He considered this situation a success.
Geom Mugeuk also smiled brightly back at him.
The moment Seo Daeryong saw that smile, he knew.
Geom Mugeuk was beginning to open the Gates of Hell.
Geom Mugeuk asked Ja Gyeong.
“I have something to ask our dear Rising Hero.”
"Please, speak."
The surrounding Righteous Path martial artists held their breath, listening intently to their conversation.
Geom Mugeuk asked bluntly.
"Where?"
A faint smile crossed Ja Gyeong’s lips.
He knew what Geom Mugeuk was asking.
Of course, since everyone was watching, Ja Gyeong feigned ignorance.
“What do you mean?”
Geom Mugeuk’s eyes grew cold.
“There’s something you don’t know about me.”
As Geom Mugeuk’s attitude toward Ja Gyeong changed, all the Righteous Path martial artists around them tensed up.
Geom Mugeuk paid them no mind, looking only at Ja Gyeong as he continued.
“The reason you’re alive right now isn’t because of the Righteous Path people here. It’s not because of your hidden forces either.”
Geom Mugeuk’s every word was quiet, yet incomparably cold.
“You are alive because of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. It’s because I don’t know exactly how you’re entangled with him. So I ask. Where is the Blade Demon Elder now?”
Ja Gyeong looked straight into Geom Mugeuk’s eyes and answered.
“I don’t know what you are talking about.”
In this situation, surrounded by Righteous Path members, he was certain that Geom Mugeuk would never attack him.
His eyes said as much.
-So? You’re going to attack me here, with so many Righteous Path masters around? Then this whole incident will be confirmed as your doing.
“Why are you doing this?”
Geom Mugeuk could tell.
This was not a man who would answer just because he was asked, and he was very skilled at the act of concealing himself.
After all, if he wasn't, how could he have hidden his identity as a demonic practitioner and lived the life of a warrior of justice so perfectly?
Geom Mugeuk spoke to Bang Cheongmun.
“Please step back for a moment with everyone here.”
Bang Cheongmun was flustered by Geom Mugeuk’s unexpected action.
Judging by what he had just said to Ja Gyeong, it seemed the Young Cult Master and the Underworld Pavilion Lord truly believed the Blue Cloud Rising Hero was the culprit.
“What are you planning to do?”
“I will determine who the culprit is, right before your eyes.”
Ja Gyeong shouted to Bang Cheongmun.
“Do not fall for the Demon Sect’s trickery. Please help me.”
Even if the Blue Cloud Rising Hero hadn't asked for help, it was a situation where they couldn't simply step back.
Just as he was about to answer that he couldn't do that.
Splash.
Bang Cheongmun flinched in surprise.
He was suddenly floating in the sky.
'What in the world?'
But looking again, it wasn’t the sky.
He was standing on water, but the water was so clear that the sky was perfectly reflected, making him think he was in the sky.
The moment he realized that,
Plunge.
Bang Cheongmun fell into the water.
He struggled and thrashed, but it was no use.
The surface of the water grew more distant.
He was starting to suffocate.
As the pitch black of the abyss was added to the terror of suffocation, Bang Cheongmun couldn’t bear it.
…I’m going to die like this!
Just then, everything vanished.
Geom Mugeuk was staring at him silently.
Bang Cheongmun knew.
What he had just felt was Geom Mugeuk’s aura.
Gasps escaped from those around.
It seemed everyone had felt the same aura.
But what each person felt was different.
The stronger their martial arts, the greater the fear they felt.
That beautiful sky, water, and abyss.
Could a person possess such an aura? And could he neutralize him with his aura alone?
Bang Cheongmun couldn't believe it.
He had heard rumors that the Demon Sect’s Young Cult Master was strong, but he never imagined he would be this powerful.
'If he decided to, we would be… annihilated.'
Bang Cheongmun stared at Geom Mugeuk with a fearful heart.
His eyes were still clear and deep.
A thought crossed his mind that perhaps he was a person just like the aura he had just shown.
A deep abyss hidden within those clear eyes.
Unlike his terrifying aura, Geom Mugeuk spoke calmly.
“I will give you my word, on the name of the Young Cult Master of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect. If I have misjudged, I will take responsibility.”
What if this was a ploy by the Demon Sect? To kill the Blue Cloud Rising Hero…
In that moment, Bang Cheongmun realized.
A person this strong would not go to such lengths just to harm a mere warrior of justice, not the Martial Alliance Leader or the Demon Slaying Branch Master.
He wouldn’t go this far, even staking his own name on it.
Bang Cheongmun spoke to the leaders around him.
“Since the Young Cult Master of the Divine Sect has spoken so earnestly, let’s step back for a moment.”
The invited sect leaders looked at each other, exchanging glances.
Some thought they should intervene.
But faced with Geom Mugeuk’s overwhelming aura from a moment ago, they didn’t dare to step forward.
Even if a problem arose later… Bang Cheongmun, who made this decision, would have to take responsibility.
After they moved back, Geom Mugeuk turned to Ja Gyeong.
“You were trying to pressure the Underworld Pavilion Lord into using the Heaven‑Slaying Demon Blade Form, weren’t you?”
Ja Gyeong continued to feign ignorance until the end.
“Is this your way? Framing and eliminating anyone who gets in your way?”
“Yes, this is our way. Your way and my way.”
“I, the Blue Cloud Rising Hero, will never yield to the threats of the Demon Sect! Come at me, Young Cult Master!”
Those words were not meant to provoke Geom Mugeuk, but the members of the Righteous Path.
Then, Geom Mugeuk said something unexpected.
“The one who will face you is not me.”
Geom Mugeuk spoke to Seo Daeryong.
"Underworld Pavilion Lord."
“Yes, Young Cult Master.”
“You will deal with this man.”
Seo Daeryong was inwardly surprised, never expecting to be told to fight.
But what surprised him more was the telepathic message that followed.
—Kill that man with the Heaven‑Slaying Demon Blade Form! Use it from the very beginning.
Seo Daeryong was shocked.
'You really want me to kill him?'
It was uncertain whether he could even kill him, but what worried him more was this.
'If I kill him, how will we find out where Master is?'
But Seo Daeryong quickly cast his worries aside.
If Geom Mugeuk said to kill him, he would kill him.
There must be a reason for this.
“I will face him.”
Seo Daeryong stepped forward.
“He probably wants to exhaust my inner energy before the Young Cult Master steps in at the end.”
He had blocked Geom Mugeuk from intervening, and Geom Mugeuk had gone along with his wishes.
“Even if the Underworld Pavilion Lord loses, I will not step in. I promise this, also on the name of the Young Cult Master.”
With Geom Mugeuk saying this, Ja Gyeong no longer tried to provoke the Righteous Path members.
Otherwise, he would have somehow incited them to intervene.
He knew well how to provoke the pride and honor of the Righteous Path members.
But the Underworld Pavilion Lord? He could kill him.
He knew well enough about his level of martial skill.
'I’ll kill him with my own hands.'
And so, the two stood facing each other.
-Didn’t I tell you? That rivals exist in this world.
Seo Daeryong replied to Ja Gyeong’s telepathic message.
Seeing that Geom Mugeuk was putting him forward instead of killing him himself.
-It seems that rival is truly me.
With that last telepathic message, the two clashed.
Seo Daeryong immediately unleashed the Heaven‑Slaying Demon Blade Form from the very first move.
Swaaaaaaa!
An attack of immense power flew forth.
First Form of the Heaven-Slaying Demon Blade technique: Annihilation Blade Strike.
If it were the Seo Daeryong of a few days ago, Ja Gyeong might have been able to block the attack with the Righteous Path martial arts he had displayed as the Blue Cloud Rising Hero.
But Seo Daeryong’s inner energy had greatly increased after consuming the Azure Jade Divine Pill, and he had also received Geom Mugeuk's practical combat teachings.
It was not an attack that could be blocked with ease.
Kwaang!
Two bolts of force collided in mid-air.
Ja Gyeong was surprised and flustered.
He was far stronger than he had thought.
This strong?
The problem was that the attack was so fast and powerful that he had no choice but to use the Heaven‑Slaying Demon Blade Form to block it.
Otherwise, his arm would have been torn off.
The Righteous Path members watching were unable to hide their surprise at the unexpected power.
The exchange had happened so quickly that they had not yet clearly recognized that the Blue Cloud Rising Hero had used the same martial art.
Only Bang Cheongmun, the most skilled among them, tilted his head slightly.
Second Form of the Heaven-Slaying Demon Blade technique.
Annihilation Blade Wave.
The Blade Energy spread out like a wave.
If he had to use all his strength to block the first form, how could he block the second?
This time too, Ja Gyeong countered with Annihilation Blade Wave.
Kwaaaaaang!
With a deafening roar, a fierce blade wind spread in all directions, pushing back the onlookers.
At the second clash, Bang Cheongmun’s eyes widened, and the other leaders also wore expressions of suspicion.
And when the Third Form of the Heaven-Slaying Demon Blade technique, Annihilation Blade Blood Wind, collided, everyone knew.
“It’s the same martial art!”
“The Rising Hero has learned the Heaven‑Slaying Demon Blade Form!”
Everyone was aghast at the fact that Ja Gyeong had learned the Heaven‑Slaying Demon Blade Form.
Seo Daeryong now understood Geom Mugeuk’s intention.
He had to display the Heaven‑Slaying Demon Blade Form so that everyone would realize the art Ja Gyeong used was also the Heaven‑Slaying Demon Blade Form.
This was only possible because Geom Mugeuk had accurately gauged both his and Ja Gyeong's skills.
In the end, he had accomplished what Ja Gyeong had intended to do to him.
If you want to live, you’ll have to use the Heaven‑Slaying Demon Blade Form!
Having been exposed for learning the Heaven‑Slaying Demon Blade Form, Ja Gyeong blatantly unleashed his demonic energy and charged toward Seo Daeryong.
Seo Daeryong also swung his blade to meet him.
Kwaang!
The two great blades collided with a thunderous roar.
The shock was transmitted to both of their hands.
Surprisingly, what Seo Daeryong felt was this.
'I can withstand it!'
If not, he would have dropped his blade.
Though he had started learning martial arts late, he had trained harder than anyone else.
-I don’t have enough time to train.
To his complaint, Geom Mugeuk had once told him this.
-That’s why your martial arts will be stronger.
-What?
-What?
The experience of having lived your life diligently during the day can sometimes overcome training that consists of just swinging a blade all day long.
Believe in yourself! Believe in your experience, and believe in your clever self!
Normally, Ja Gyeong was clearly the more skilled one.
But he too had an unexpected weakness.
His prolonged use of Righteous Path martial arts instead of demonic arts was now holding him back.
Conversely, Seo Daeryong was in a state of peak sharpness.
Thus, the two were engaged in a closely matched battle.
Chwaaaaa! Ttaeng! Ttaeng!
Lethal attacks flew back and forth.
Sparks flew each time their blades, which seemed to cleave the sky, clashed.
The ground was deeply gouged, and the rocks that decorated the flower garden were shattered and scattered.
Seo Daeryong was in a state of selflessness.
He was unaware that he was engaged in a fight that was making the jaws of the watching Righteous Path members drop.
The training he had done by splitting time and cutting sleep was guiding him.
And at the crucial moment, his body moved according to the method Geom Mugeuk had taught him.
Utilizing his footwork, he twisted his body and brought down his blade lightly, as if throwing it.
Swish!
Phuuaak!
The two men’s movements stopped in an instant.
The one who spewed a mouthful of blood was Ja Gyeong.
Seo Daeryong’s blade had passed through his shoulder and was lodged deep in his torso.
Seo Daeryong’s hand trembled.
It was the first time he had killed an opponent in a fight with a master of equal skill.
When he was learning it, he just thought it was another technique, but in a real fight, that single move was truly a decisive one that determined victory or defeat.
'You taught me such an amazing technique so casually?'
Ja Gyeong looked up at Seo Daeryong and said with a grim face.
“You… you bastard.”
His expression showed he couldn't believe he had lost to Seo Daeryong.
To lose to this scrawny man, not even the Young Cult Master?
Thinking that even getting angry was a disgrace, he forced a smile at Seo Daeryong.
"If you kill me, you won't be able to find where the Blood Heaven Blade Demon is."
The moment Seo Daeryong heard him refer to him as the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, he was relieved.
'This man, he's not Master's disciple!'
Ja Gyeong tried to use the Blood Heaven Blade Demon to survive, but it didn't work on Seo Daeryong.
“He told me to kill you, so I’m sure he’ll figure it out.”
As soon as those words ended, Seo Daeryong brought his great blade down.
Slice!
Chwaaaak!
Ja Gyeong’s body split in half, falling to either side.
The smell of blood filled the air, and all the Righteous Path martial artists watched with shocked faces.
Seo Daeryong’s eyes did not see them.
The person he looked for was Geom Mugeuk.
Geom Mugeuk was looking at him, smiling.
—Well done, my right-hand man.
At those words, Seo Daeryong felt a lump in his throat.
He was so moved that he felt he would boast about this fight all night, no, for the rest of his life, whenever he drank.
Seo Daeryong, whose list of things to brag about kept growing, had grown once again today.
Bang Cheongmun spoke to Geom Mugeuk.
“What the Young Cult Master said was correct. The culprit was him.”
He was now certain that Ja Gyeong was the culprit.
A man famed as a Righteous Path hero had learned the Heaven‑Slaying Demon Blade Form? It was something that could never happen unless he was plotting a grand conspiracy.
Through today’s events, the truth would be known to the Righteous martial world.
That this incident was a conspiracy planned to drive a wedge between the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect and the Righteous Path.
Geom Mugeuk bid farewell to Bang Cheongmun and the Righteous Path martial artists.
“Thank you for believing me.”
In truth, they had been half-forced to believe him because of his overwhelming power, but they were grateful for his words.
“If you need help, just say the word anytime. We will help too.”
“I will. Then, we will take our leave for today.”
Geom Mugeuk and Seo Daeryong hastily left the place.
“You have an idea where Master is, don’t you?”
“No.”
Seo Daeryong was shocked by Geom Mugeuk’s answer.
“Then, why did you tell me to kill him?”
“He wasn’t the type to talk anyway. He would have just stalled for time.”
Seo Daeryong agreed on that point.
“I still have a long way to go. Seeing how I’m so restless. You’re not worried at all, are you, Young Cult Master?”
He thought he was this relaxed because he trusted the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, but,
“If you’re talking about the Elder, I am worried. That stubborn personality of his, trying not to be a burden to others, why wouldn’t I be worried?”
At that, Seo Daeryong also revealed his true feelings.
“Right? I’m worried to death, too. But why are you so relaxed?”
Because he had something he believed in.
“I might not trust your master, but I trust my father.”
Geom Mugeuk trusted his father, and he trusted the relationship between his father and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
When he first met the Blood Heaven Blade Demon after regressing, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had faith that his father would forgive him even if he killed the Young Cult Master.
He trusted in the relationship between those two.
“As long as this incident is related to their past, my father will not just stand by and watch. He’s not one to ever entrust his affairs to others.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon opened the main gate and stepped inside.
The training ground, which would normally be bustling with people, was empty.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon crossed the deserted training ground and entered the great hall.
A person was sitting on the Grand Advisor's seat.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon slowly walked towards him.
The person sitting on the Grand Advisor's seat opened his mouth.
“Why do you not ask? If I have killed all who were here?”
His voice, echoing through the great hall, was raspy and cracked, deep and desolate like the barren lands of the frontier.
Yet, that voice was so intense it felt like it could claw at a person’s heart.
“Because I know you have not killed them yet.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s tone was calm, yet respectful.
“Why is that?”
“The purpose of this incident was not to kill them, was it? The purpose was to lure myself and the Cult Master here from the start.”
Having reached the foot of the Grand Advisor's seat, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked up.
An old man was sitting on the Grand Advisor's seat atop the stairs.
The fine wrinkles made it impossible to guess his age.
But the light shining from his eyes was as powerful as facing the sun.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s eyes trembled as he looked at the old man.
“It has been a long time, Master.”