The Evil Heart Laughing Demon, who had been sitting in front of Geom Mugeuk, stood up.
As the Evil Heart Laughing Demon walked forward, the Faceless Ones who had been standing in a circle tightened their ranks, closing the entrance.
It seemed as though they were determined to protect the Young Cult Master’s body, but their true intention was to shield Geom Mugeuk from the outside.
At first, the Faceless Ones were also shocked.
When they had looked back, they had seen the Evil Heart Laughing Demon stabbing Geom Mugeuk’s heart with a dagger.
But now they understood.
Geom Mugeuk, sitting with his head bowed, was alive.
And it was their duty to protect him until the Young Cult Master regained consciousness.
The Evil Heart Laughing Demon’s eyes met Cha Iran’s, who was standing among the assassins.
Had she not brought Geom Mugeuk here, he might have missed the opportunity.
Cha Iran could feel it.
The gaze of the Evil Heart Laughing Demon was gentle.
Knowing what the gratitude in his eyes meant, Cha Iran finally felt a sense of relief.
‘The Young Cult Master is alive.’
Yes, if he were the type to kill him, he wouldn't have asked her to bring him to the Evil Heart Laughing Demon in the first place.
Cha Iran’s gaze shifted to the Faceless Ones.
They stood so densely packed that she couldn't see Geom Mugeuk.
‘The contract has been completed safely.’
For the first time, she had succeeded in an assassination contract to save a person’s life.
Moreover, thanks to the efforts of the Faceless Ones, all the assassins, including the First Assassin, were safe.
Just then, the sound of fighting echoed from a distant alley.
The battle over there was not yet over.
The Evil Heart Laughing Demon spoke politely to Cha Iran.
It was a courtesy to the one who had saved Geom Mugeuk.
“Please leave this place to us now.”
He meant for her to go and save her subordinates.
Cha Iran did not hesitate.
If she stayed here with her internal injuries, she would only become a burden to the Evil Heart Laughing Demon.
That Hwa Do-myeong clearly had something he was counting on.
After all, he showed no intention of fleeing, even with the Evil Heart Laughing Demon right before him.
She bowed respectfully to the Evil Heart Laughing Demon, bidding him farewell.
“Then, I will take my leave.”
After her parting words, she turned and left first.
“Let’s go.”
The female assassins bowed to the Faceless Ones.
Thanks to their efforts, not a single assassin who had come here had died.
The Seventeenth Assassin, who had joined the fight late after leaving the Fifth Assassin safely with her comrades, bowed respectfully to the Crescent Moon Faceless One.
She owed him her life twice over.
‘Don’t die, I have to repay my debt.’
It was unclear if he understood the sentiment in her gaze.
With that, Cha Iran and her subordinates leaped toward the alley.
Even as she left, she was seeing a new side of Hwa Do-myeong.
He didn’t even glance her way as she departed.
They had been like friends, then he had tried to kill her.
And now, he wouldn’t even give her a look.
Was it because he was consumed by the shock and anger of a failed mission? The usual relaxed and playful demeanor was nowhere to be found.
The composure he had shown before was just that—composure for when things were easy.
Yes, adversity always reveals a person's true nature.
‘I wonder if your hidden, desperate desire behind that fan can truly overcome the loyalty behind that smiling mask?’
With that thought, she was able to leave without worry.
At that moment, Hwa Do-myeong was seething.
He truly could not contain his rising anger.
With the fact that the Young Cult Master was dead, Cha Iran was not even on his mind.
“What will your Cult Master say when you return? Ah, you truly lived up to your name! Will he say that?”
The Evil Heart Laughing Demon actually thought this was for the best.
If they misunderstood that Geom Mugeuk was dead, he would have to worry less about Geom Mugeuk’s safety.
Though he wanted to rush in and kill them all immediately, the Evil Heart Laughing Demon did not hurry.
Time was on their side.
The enemy surely had something they were counting on, which was why they weren't fleeing.
“It’s already over.”
Just then, a voice refuted the Evil Heart Laughing Demon's cold words.
“That’s a lie.”
It was the man in the bamboo hat, one of the three who had yet to step forward.
His voice was very young.
Everyone’s attention focused on him.
“The Young Cult Master is alive.”
The man had sensed the faint life energy from Geom Mugeuk, despite being far away.
Moreover, the Faceless Ones surrounding him would have made it even harder to read that energy.
Hwa Do-myeong’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Is that true?”
The man was certain.
“Absolutely. I don’t sense any anger or sorrow from the Evil Heart Laughing Demon. The Young Cult Master is alive.”
He could not only sense presences from afar but also read the emotions of his opponent.
It was clear he was a very special person.
“How did he survive being stabbed in the heart?”
A surprising answer came in response to Hwa Do-myeong’s question.
“I do not sense the energy of the Flying Blood Snake from the Young Cult Master’s body.”
Hwa Do-myeong’s surprised eyes grew even wider.
“And not because he’s dead?”
“The Young Cult Master is definitely alive.”
Hwa Do-myeong’s expression brightened.
If he was alive, it meant the energy could be recovered.
The man’s gaze turned to the Evil Heart Laughing Demon.
Staring into the eyes behind the mask, he spoke.
“The Evil Heart Laughing Demon must have stabbed him with the dagger to kill the Flying Blood Snake in his heart.”
Though it was hard to believe, Hwa Do-myeong trusted the man’s words.
This man was the disciple of the person who had created the Flying Blood Snake.
In fact, he had helped his Master create it.
Since the Flying Blood Snake was used in this plot, he had come along to help.
Even more shocking words came from his mouth.
“Right now, the Young Cult Master must be absorbing the energy of the Flying Blood Snake.”
Hwa Do-myeong’s expression hardened instantly.
“Didn’t you say the energy of the Flying Blood Snake is too immense for a human to absorb?”
“That is correct.”
Although he said so, his tone lacked the conviction it had before.
But one thing was certain.
“If the Young Cult Master awakens, we have no chance of victory. We must finish this before he wakes up.”
Just as he was about to give the order to kill the Evil Heart Laughing Demon and all the Faceless Ones.
The Evil Heart Laughing Demon smiled coldly and asked.
“Is there any chance of victory now?”
As soon as he finished speaking, the Evil Heart Laughing Demon gave an order to his subordinates first.
“Kill them all!”
At the command, the ten Faceless Ones leaped forward in unison.
From the other side, a dozen or so surviving martial artists also rushed out.
This was a fight being watched by the Evil Heart Laughing Demon.
The morale of the Faceless Ones pierced the heavens.
Although they had the assassins with them before, these were the same Faceless Ones who had killed ten out of twenty enemies without a single loss.
The way the Faceless Ones fought was truly the way of villains.
They focused solely on winning.
They rolled on the ground, launching finger techniques, and if at a disadvantage, they would even throw dirt.
They had no hesitation in stabbing someone in the back, nor did they feel any aversion if a comrade killed the opponent they were fighting by stabbing them in the back.
They had no pride or ego about having to kill the opponent themselves.
And yet, they did not fear death.
At one point, the two martial artists in bamboo hats tried to join the fray.
But the Evil Heart Laughing Demon stopped them with a single phrase.
Not, “If you move, I will move too.”
“If you move, that man dies.”
It was a warning that he would kill Hwa Do-myeong.
The threat worked perfectly.
They could not move.
After felling all the enemies, the Faceless Ones leaped back.
Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud!
They once again surrounded Geom Mugeuk.
Even amidst the ongoing battle, Geom Mugeuk remained with his eyes closed.
The Faceless Ones protected him, forming a circle around him again.
Their masks were being continuously painted over with blood.
Once all the martial artists in front were dealt with, the Evil Heart Laughing Demon strode toward Hwa Do-myeong.
Seeing the white mask approaching without a hint of hesitation, Hwa Do-myeong felt a sense of fear and opened his fan.
Shwaaak.
From behind the fan, his command was issued.
“Hurry. Didn’t you say the Young Cult Master is alive?”
The two martial artists in bamboo hats, standing side by side, strode forward.
A black energy began to ripple around their bodies.
The reason Hwa Do-myeong did not fear the Evil Heart Laughing Demon was because of these two martial artists.
They were masters who had learned the Dark Arts of the Palace of Darkness.
The Dark Arts.
A martial art passed down to the martial artists of the Palace of Darkness, it boasted truly immense power.
However, its powerful might came with definite restrictions and side effects, so it couldn't be used indiscriminately.
It was a martial art that could only be used in moments of absolute necessity.
The moment one succumbed to the temptation of its strength, only destruction awaited.
Swoosh.
As if tattoos were being carved, long black lines were etched onto the cheeks of the two people under the bamboo hats.
The Dark Arts that dramatically increased one's speed.
The Dark Ghost Step.
That wasn't all.
This time, a circle was drawn.
The Dark Arts that made skin and muscles as hard as steel and even enhanced the power of protective energy.
The Dark Iron Body Art.
As the round circle was layered over the long line, the shape looked like the wind brushing over a full moon.
With two Dark Arts layered, they became incomparably faster and stronger than before.
Shiiik!
The movements of the two charging forward were swift.
Their speed was on a different level from when they fought Cha Iran earlier.
Especially the woman's movements, which were already fast, were now like a flash of lightning.
In a flash, the two martial artists in bamboo hats were attacking the Evil Heart Laughing Demon from the left and right.
They were perfectly synchronized, like people who had practiced coordinated attacks for a long time.
Swishhhhh! Shiiiiiik!
From the left came a blade, and from the right, a sword.
It was a perfect attack with absolutely no room to escape.
A smile formed on Hwa Do-myeong's lips as he watched.
‘How will you block this perfect coordinated attack?’
How? The Evil Heart Laughing Demon blocked it while standing in place.
Kang! Kaang!
After deflecting the blade that came from the left, he struck away the sword from the right.
A flicker of joy crossed the faces of the two martial artists.
This joint attack was impossible to escape if not evaded on the first move.
He should have escaped, even if it meant taking an injury.
The sword and blade linked together, pouring down a storm of attacks at incredible speed on the Evil Heart Laughing Demon.
Surely, he couldn't handle this speed and power.
Chaengchaengchaengchaengchaeng!
Dozens of sword strokes and blade strokes, and the lines created by the dagger blocking them.
The surroundings were instantly engulfed in the light of the sword and blade.
When they had first launched the attack, they never imagined the Evil Heart Laughing Demon would hold out this well.
The woman couldn't believe it.
He was blocking a joint attack from two people using the Dark Ghost Step?
The Evil Heart Laughing Demon was currently facing two ghosts.
No, they were the ones facing a ghost.
‘This isn’t going to work!’
The two of them made a quick decision.
The Dark Arts were not meant for a prolonged battle.
Swoooosh.
Another line appeared on the woman’s face.
Her Dark Arts were being enhanced.
She was prepared for internal injuries and layered the Dark Ghost Step to increase her speed.
There was a change in the man's face as well.
He enhanced not the Dark Ghost Step, but the Dark Iron Body Art.
Not just one, but two more stages.
Three circles overlapped on his face.
He knew that pushing himself like this would result in severe internal injuries after the Dark Arts wore off, but he had to take the gamble.
The woman knew what he intended.
Just as the sword, blade, and dagger of the three were creating a fantastical picture.
Someone threw their brush at the painting.
The man in the bamboo hat threw his blade at the Evil Heart Laughing Demon and simultaneously lunged forward.
It was an unexpected surprise attack, a move that was truly unforeseen, designed to fluster the opponent by throwing his blade.
He would be cut, but if he could just grab hold of the Evil Heart Laughing Demon in that moment?
Then it would be over.
She would take the Evil Heart Laughing Demon's head with a single stroke.
He was confident.
With the third stage of the Dark Iron Body Art, he would absolutely not die.
At this moment, he was invincible.
A dagger slashed toward his charging body.
Flash.
A single line created by the dagger.
The man, now without his blade, naturally couldn’t block this single strike.
Kaaaaang.
A metallic clang burst from his body.
The man knew instinctively that he had succeeded.
‘I did it!’
If he hadn't died from this one blow.
‘You die!’
The man wrapped his arms tightly around the Evil Heart Laughing Demon’s body.
He saw the woman flying in, about to cut the Evil Heart Laughing Demon's neck.
Both the man and the woman were smiling.
In that fleeting moment.
The Evil Heart Laughing Demon’s arm shot forward.
The man was startled.
He was holding on so tightly he felt like he would burst, so how did he pull his arm out?
In the next moment, an ear-splitting explosion erupted.
Kwaaaaaang.
The man behind saw it.
The force flying from the Evil Heart Laughing Demon’s palm.
The Extreme Demon Raging Palm exploding into the woman's face.
Pooooong!
Struck by the Extreme Demon Raging Palm at such close range, the woman’s face was blown away without a trace.
The woman’s headless body spurted blood and fell backward.
The man simply could not understand.
‘Why can’t I put any strength in my arms?’
Even at this moment, no strength entered his arms.
Only then did the man in the bamboo hat feel something hot flowing down his chest.
Drip.
His steel-like skin was split wide open.
From between the split, blood was gushing out.
‘I was cut?’
The fact that his third-stage Dark Iron Body Art was cut in a single strike sent a great shock through him.
But how could that seemingly ordinary strike be just an ordinary attack?
It was the Laughing Fragrance Secret Art, unleashed by the Evil Heart Laughing Demon with his ten-thousand-year cold iron dagger.
The Laughing Extreme Strike.
Pain followed.
It wasn't just a wound; it was a wound created as his Dark Arts shattered, so the pain was incomparable to a mere sword cut.
An excruciating, unbearable pain washed over him.
“Aaargh!”
A desperate scream tore from the man’s mouth.
The pain was so intense that he wished for a quick death.
Just then, someone covered his mouth.
The Evil Heart Laughing Demon was already behind him.
“Shh!”
The Evil Heart Laughing Demon, who had clamped his mouth shut, slit the man’s throat without hesitation.
Saaaaak.
It wasn’t to lessen his pain.
Standing behind the man who was spouting blood from his neck, the Evil Heart Laughing Demon spoke softly.
“You’ll wake the Young Cult Master.”