“Still, taking a hit like that really clears my head.”
Hwa Mugi needlessly caressed his unblemished face.
It was both an exaggeration and a provocation.
But the Fist Demon did not so much as blink at the provocation.
His gaze was on Hwa Mugi, but his heart was with the Cult Master.
The Cult Master never lost his composure, no matter the situation.
Yet now, he could feel that his attention was elsewhere.
‘What in the world is going on?’
He must have realized something when he had him attack Hwa Mugi.
Just then, a telepathic message from Geom Woojin reached the Fist Demon.
—He isn't acting.
Other souls have entered his body.
Geom Woojin informed the Fist Demon first of what he had realized.
It had been that way since their youth.
He always told him important matters first.
What shocked the Fist Demon even more was the message that followed.
—I believe the soul of one of the past Demon Cult Masters has entered his body.
Now the Fist Demon understood why Geom Woojin was so serious.
If a Demon Cult Master, of all people, was inside him, this was the worst possible situation.
—Do you know who it is?
I have a few guesses.
Whenever his son returned after leaving the sect, he would recount every trivial detail of what had happened.
This time he had caught this person, there seemed to be something behind it, and they needed to be careful of this in the future.
Geom Woojin had listened to all of his son's chatter.
That time wasn't for listening to a report, but time spent with his son.
It was a conversation with his son.
That time with his son finally paid off.
If he had simply read the Heaven-Reaching Pavilion's report and moved on, he would not have recalled it so readily at this moment.
‘It's them from three hundred years ago!’
He already knew that the Darkness Palace, the force behind this conspiracy, had its beginnings in the battle between the Heavenly Will Palace and the Martial Alliance three hundred years ago.
The Righteous Path master he had mentioned to Jin Pae-cheon had shown deep regret for associating with the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect and the Unorthodox Alliance.
To be able to speak so strongly, even when his opponent was the Martial Alliance Leader?
‘He was the Martial Emperor Divine Sword from three hundred years ago!’
The Martial Emperor Divine Sword was the most famous figure among the past Martial Alliance Leaders, one even Geom Woojin knew of.
If the two people he had seen were the Martial Alliance Leader and the Demon Cult Master, then the soul of the Unorthodox Faction he had yet to see must be the Unorthodox Alliance Leader of that era.
Now Geom Woojin understood why Hwa Mugi was so strong.
Seeing how he was completely unfazed by the Fist Demon's punch earlier, it wasn't just souls that had possessed him.
‘All of their power has merged into him!’
If that were the case, this would be anything but an easy fight.
Just because they had more numbers didn't mean their strength would combine proportionally.
For masters, a joint attack is both easy and difficult.
They knew better than anyone when and how to intervene, but conversely, interfering when another was unleashing a supreme martial art was never a simple matter.
What if the man tried to pick them off one by one with his overwhelming martial might? Everyone except himself and the two Alliance Leaders could be defeated in an instant.
The best method was for their side to kill him in a single blow.
The first thing that came to mind was Heavenly Demon World Annihilation.
It could kill him cleanly and certainly, but there was a chance others would get caught in the crossfire and die.
And an even bigger problem was that Hwa Mugi might also be able to use Heavenly Demon World Annihilation.
In that fleeting moment when Heavenly Demon World Annihilation is unleashed.
Raise the Great Demon Wall.
And in the interval as the Great Demon Wall melts away, launch Heavenly Demon World Annihilation.
If his opponent used Heavenly Demon World Annihilation, this was how he would respond.
It meant that at the very least, he wouldn't just die.
What if that Hwa Mugi made the same choice?
No one here would survive.
The next method that came to mind was to kill him with the Heavenly Demon Soul.
If the Heavenly Demon Soul manifested, Heavenly Demon World Annihilation could not be used.
This was because the Heavenly Demon Soul was an absolute being born from the ultimate state of the Nine Calamities Demon Art at Great Mastery, and the Nine Calamities Demon Art could not be used against the Heavenly Demon Soul.
The problem was that, by nature, Heavenly Demon Souls were beings that refused to fight each other.
If one manifested, it was highly likely the other would not appear, so it was impossible to know whose Heavenly Demon Soul would manifest.
Geom Woojin relayed what he had discovered to the two Alliance Leaders via telepathic message.
If Hwa Mugi were to use the Nine Calamities Demon Art, it was highly likely he would use it on the two Alliance Leaders, so they needed to know in advance.
Jin Pae-cheon tensed internally.
It was a tension incomparable to anything before.
The fact that his opponent could use the Nine Calamities Demon Art was frightening, but what concerned him even more was...
The Martial Emperor Divine Sword is in his body?
Of all the past Alliance Leaders, the person he respected most was the Martial Emperor Divine Sword.
The historical footprint he had left on the Righteous Path martial world was truly great.
If it was really him, as Geom Woojin said, then why was he residing inside the Heaven Killing Star's body?
Did this mean there was another secret story behind his sublime history in the martial world?
Baek Ja-gang, on the other hand, had no interest in who the Unorthodox Alliance Leader inhabiting the body was.
‘So that bastard can use the Nine Calamities Demon Art, too?’
A desire for battle grew as large as his fear.
Perhaps today, he would finally get to face the Nine Calamities Demon Art directly.
As the telepathic messages were being exchanged, Hwa Mugi was engrossed in provoking a new person.
“Our Poison King is quite taciturn.”
As far as they knew, Hwa Mugi was the first person to ever provoke the Poison King while knowing his identity.
“Aren't you curious? Whether I'm Immune to All Poisons or not.”
The Poison King sat in a corner, gazing at him silently.
His eyes held a depth that didn't match his youthful face.
“You are absolutely not Immune to All Poisons.”
Aside from his conversation with Geom Woojin, this was the first time the Poison King had spoken in the Flowing Wine Tavern.
“Why are you so certain I'm not Immune to All Poisons?”
The Poison King's reason was simple.
“Because such a noble opportunity would not have been given to you.”
To those who used poison, being Immune to All Poisons was more than a natural enemy; it was a natural disaster.
Yet the Poison King described it as a noble opportunity.
Because he was someone who truly loved poison, he did not view even Immunity to All Poisons with hostility.
He also believed that Geom Mugeuk had received that precious opportunity because his character was just as noble.
Even though the words were dismissive of him, Hwa Mugi laughed instead of getting angry.
Unless another personality emerged, Hwa Mugi wouldn't fall for most provocations.
He was a man who expressed even his anger with a smile.
“Right, I'm not Immune to All Poisons. But I'm immune to about nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine of them.”
Meaning that while he wasn't perfect, he was prepared for most poisons.
“I wonder if you can find the exact poison that works on me? The moment you try administering any poison, I'll kill you first.”
Hwa Mugi slowly walked toward the Poison King.
As he moved, the texture of the air changed.
It was a different kind of tension from when he had approached Baek Ja-gang.
“Or should I just kill you now?”
The red aura in Hwa Mugi's eyes deepened.
It looked as though he would rush at the Poison King and slice his throat at any moment.
The Poison King, on the other hand, remained seated even in this moment of crisis.
“Why don't you try poisoning me? Are you scared of me?”
But the Poison King wasn't defenseless because he was scared.
“Because the Cult Master's order hasn't been given.”
"Ha."
The Poison King's will was to administer poison only when Geom Woojin ordered it.
In other words, it also meant he would simply die if the order was not given.
“You ask how I'll find a poison that works on you?”
A green light spread from the Poison King's eyes.
"I won't look for it."
The surprising reason followed.
“Because when the order is given, I will administer all ten thousand poisons to you.”
"Hahahaha!"
It was a truly arrogant statement.
How could one person carry ten thousand poisons? But coming from the Poison King's mouth, the words carried a different weight.
A mad joy flickered across Hwa Mugi's face as he looked at the Poison King.
“I want to hurry up and cut off your head.”
Hwa Mugi turned his head toward Geom Woojin.
“I want to bring it to that man. I want to see how that Cult Master takes your death!”
It was clear he was being sincere.
Though it didn't show on the surface, Hwa Mugi's killing intent had been steadily rising since he arrived.
Just as Hwa Mugi started walking toward the Poison King again!
Shing.
A sword, drawn without a sound, blocked his path.
Surprisingly, it was the Sword King's sword.
No one had expected him to step forward for the Poison King, so all eyes focused on him.
The Poison King himself looked at him with surprise.
In truth, the Sword King had positioned himself nearby from the start to protect the Poison King.
“You dare draw your sword before me?”
To say that to the Sword King was also a truly arrogant statement.
But coming from the mouth of someone who had declared he would annihilate all of the Righteous, Demonic, and Unorthodox Sects, it was hardly surprising.
The Sword King answered calmly.
“You must understand. This is the only thing I have to show for myself.”
To call it 'only this' was an understatement.
With the White Flower Sword in the Sword King's hand, his presence felt like a fortress wall hundreds of feet high blocking the way.
The red energy flowing from Hwa Mugi's body froze in mid-air as it met the cold chill surrounding the sword.
The White Flower Sword was like a breakwater, holding back the waves of red energy.
"So you're a cold man? I thought you must have a very hot heart, betraying us to join hands with the Young Cult Master."
The Sword King replied placidly.
"If my heart had been hot, I would have died with you."
A new joy filled Hwa Mugi's face.
His expression truly said it all.
Isn't this fun?
“I'll kill you second.”
Just as Hwa Mugi tried to pass him and approach the Poison King.
Shiiink!
Fast as lightning, the Sword King's sword cut through the air.
The tip of the sword, thrusting up at a sharp angle, grazed past Hwa Mugi's chin by a hair's breadth.
It was an attack so fast that one wondered how it could possibly be dodged, yet Hwa Mugi dodged it.
With his head still tilted back, Hwa Mugi looked down at the Sword King with arrogant eyes.
“Want to be the first?”
The Sword King was making his intentions clear: Hwa Mugi would not get to the Poison King without cutting him down first.
With calm eyes, the Sword King recalled the past.
"The Darkness Palace Master always told me that what we were doing was following Heaven's Will."
“Traitor, in the end, you didn't follow Heaven's Will, did you?”
“Because Heaven's Will was not with you.”
For a moment, Hwa Mugi's eyes shone intensely.
“Then where is that Heaven's Will? Is it here? I don't see it anywhere.”
After a short pause, the Sword King said something surprising.
“Heaven's Will is with the Young Cult Master.”
Geom Woojin, Jin Pae-cheon, Baek Ja-gang, and the Wind Heaven Sect Leader, Fist Demon, and Poison King all listened to the Sword King's words in silence.
In that very instant, the look in Hwa Mugi's eyes changed.
A new personality revealed itself from within Hwa Mugi.
“How dare a mere traitor speak of Heaven's Will!”
Geom Woojin could tell.
This was a soul that had not appeared until now.
‘The soul of the Unorthodox Alliance Leader?’
No. Judging by such a violent reaction to the words 'Heaven's Will'...
‘It's the Heavenly Will Palace Master!’
With this, Geom Woojin was certain.
The Heavenly Demon Divine Sect and the Unorthodox Alliance had intervened in the war at that time, and something must have happened then.
The souls trapped at that time had been passed down to this day.
He had wondered if such a thing was possible over the long span of three hundred years, but now he was witnessing it before his very eyes.
Hwa Mugi asked with cold eyes.
“Do you even know what Heaven's Will is?”
Then came the answer from the Sword King who had dreamed of freedom.
“I do not know the will of the heavens, but I know what the heavens are. It's where the birds live, where the clouds live, where the wind lives, and where the sun lives.”
When the Sword King thought of the heavens, he mentioned the one person who always came to mind.
The one he wanted to see most, even at this very moment.
“While you were all droning on about Heaven's Will, Heaven's Will, Heaven's Will, the Young Cult Master told us to look up at the sky. Not for some grand meaning, but just to straighten our backs and look up at the sky.”
At those words, Geom Woojin thought of his son and gave a faint smile.
It was the same for Jin Pae-cheon and Baek Ja-gang.
If it weren't for Geom Mugeuk, they would never have been in this place.
The Sword King honestly revealed the words he had kept in his heart.
“Watching the Young Cult Master, I came to realize. Heaven's Will is not something bestowed with a grand meaning.”
It was also the first time he had revealed his own thoughts on Heaven's Will to everyone.
“Heaven's Will is not something that descends, but something one carries. It is willingly shouldering the burden placed before a person who can bear its weight.”
The Sword King looked into Hwa Mugi's eyes and asked a final question.
“Can you see the burden placed before you? Or have you spent your life pretending not to see it, searching only for Heaven's Will?”
Until now, no matter how angry the souls inside Hwa Mugi became, they never crossed a certain line.
But this time was different.
Hearing from none other than the one who betrayed the Palace that they did not have Heaven's Will, that anger crossed the line.
Shwiiing.
Swift as light, Hwa Mugi's sword was drawn.
His sword was unusual; it was a Black Sword with a black blade.
Kaaang!
The moment he blocked the incoming sword, the Sword King was pushed back.
Shwiiik!
When a second attack, faster than the last, flew in,
Puk!
The sound of tearing flesh was heard.
But what the Black Sword had pierced was a soft, human-shaped doll.
The doll seemed to grin at Hwa Mugi, and then...
Poof!
It vanished like smoke.
Behind it stood the Wind Heaven Sect Leader and the Sword King together.
Hwa Mugi's aura was so powerful that the Wind Heaven Sect Leader had intervened to help him.
It was an attack that could have cost a life in an instant, so the Wind Heaven Sect Leader did not delay his intervention.
"I still haven't decided on a name for the tavern."
To the Wind Heaven Sect Leader's joke, the Sword King replied, rubbing his wrist.
The immense inner energy contained in Hwa Mugi's sword had nearly broken his wrist.
“Just give it any name.”
“No. I'm going to give it a cool one.”
Judging by his earlier fervor, Hwa Mugi should have charged in several more times, but instead, he was smiling at the two of them.
He had returned to his original self.
As if he found the situation incredibly amusing, Hwa Mugi stretched widely.
The drawn Black Sword pointed to the sky along with his stretch.
“Now, shall we start fighting for real?”
Hwa Mugi's gaze shifted between the Sword King, the Wind Heaven Sect Leader, and the Poison King.
“Who should I kill first? Or should I kill all three at once?”
Hwa Mugi paid no mind to the other four people behind them.
His posture dared them to interfere if they wished.
Just then, a calm voice came from behind.
“Come here.”
The one who spoke was Geom Woojin.
Hwa Mugi turned to Geom Woojin and grinned.
“What to do? Our Cult Master is personally calling for me. I'm a bit busy here. Wait, I'll go after I reduce the headcount a little.”
Then, a surprising remark flowed from Geom Woojin's mouth.
“Not you.”
"..."
A cold demonic energy flowed from Geom Woojin's eyes.
Then, directed at the souls inside Hwa Mugi's body, a provocation that no one could have ever expected was launched.
"Stop hiding in there like cowards and all of you, come here.”