So Baek-ta was about to turn and speak to the Illusion King.
To the one who had toyed with his heart.
Get lost, you bastard!
Sensing his intent, the Illusion King spoke first.
“I’ve already heard it, so don’t say it.”
The Illusion King was not at all tense, even with the appearance of the Wind Heaven Sect Leader.
Of course, that didn't mean he was careless.
Using So Baek-ta as his shield, he spoke from behind him.
“Welcome, Cult Master. Please understand my current appearance.”
Though he was acting like a coward, taking a disciple hostage, the Wind Heaven Sect Leader could feel that the Illusion King was truly strong.
It wasn't just his skill; his opponent was the type to do anything to achieve his goals.
“It’s fine. Being so frightened is a way of showing me respect, is it not?”
Though they were fated to kill each other, they treated one another with courtesy.
No, it was because they were fated to kill each other that they could be courteous.
Unlike with Geom Mugeuk or the Demon Buddha, nothing had blocked the Wind Heaven Sect Leader’s path to this place.
Indeed, the Illusion King had invited only the Wind Heaven Sect Leader here.
“The reason masters always die is because of pride. It would have been difficult to deal with the Young Cult Master or the Demon Buddha had they come along.”
“Having too many people only makes a fight distracting. You don’t know because you haven’t faced the Young Cult Master. Before you even fight, you’d get so angry you’d bash your own head against that wall.”
As he spoke, the Wind Heaven Sect Leader casually looked around, his hands clasped behind his back.
“So this is what the Blood Sect’s Cult Master's Hall looked like. Oh, was this the original appearance of the Blood Ghost?”
The Blood Ghost painted on the wall was quite different from the image passed down in the Wind Heaven Sect.
“This is where the real members of the Blood Sect lived.”
“How would you know, having never lived here? I would have thought it was more of a mess than it is now. Wouldn’t this great hall have been swarming with things rampaging, starved for blood?”
The corner of the Illusion King’s eye twitched slightly.
At his reaction, the Wind Heaven Sect Leader casually asked.
“You’re one of them, aren’t you? The secret society trying to revive the Blood Sect?”
“Calling it a secret society is too grand. I was, at first.”
“But not anymore?”
“Reviving the Blood Sect is not my ideal.”
Only then did the Wind Heaven Sect Leader turn his gaze to his disciple.
“That’s how you should be. See how even a man like that tries to find his own dream? You should let go of this talk of advancing into the Central Plains that you’ve heard since you were young, just like that.”
So Baek-ta was still looking at his Master, overcome with intense emotion.
He was only worried that his Master would die because of him.
“Are you alright, Baek-ta?”
Hearing his name called and being asked if he was alright, So Baek-ta felt a surge of emotion.
There were so many things he wanted to say, but he didn't know what to say.
The only words that came to mind were these.
“Please do not surrender to this man because of me. I am not worthy of it.”
The Illusion King watched with an intrigued expression, curious to see how the Wind Heaven Sect Leader would respond.
“Do you know what the Young Cult Master said when I told him I was going alone because it was dangerous to enter the picture?”
The Wind Heaven Sect Leader brought up the story of Geom Mugeuk.
“The Young Cult Master said this. That it was my way of begging him to come with me. So, if you’re worried about me, you should say the opposite."
"‘Please save me. If you are my Master, you have to save me. Save me! Even if you die, you must save me!’ Like that. Then wouldn't I be so annoyed that I wouldn't care if you lived or died?”
Though said in jest, the words struck a chord in So Baek-ta’s heart.
‘That's right. The more composed I act, the greater the burden on him to save me will be.’
Coming to that realization, So Baek-ta repeated his Master's words exactly.
“Please save me. Even if you die, Master, you must save me.”
At those shameless words, the Wind Heaven Sect Leader nodded as if he had been waiting.
“Alright, I will save you.”
That wasn't the response he was looking for, so So Baek-ta was flustered.
‘This isn't right, is it? Master.’
The Wind Heaven Sect Leader's gaze seemed to say.
It's alright.
Leave it to me now, my disciple.
For that reason, So Baek-ta could not just stand by.
He quickly turned, trying to at least slap the Illusion King’s cheek.
But the Illusion King caught his hand, stopping him.
So Baek-ta glared at him and made a final effort.
“You bastard, you don't have to get lost. Instead, kill me and have a proper fight with my Master. You won’t be able to fight at your fullest while worrying about me. I am also a hostage holding you back. So kill me and pour out everything you have.”
The Illusion King stared silently at So Baek-ta for a moment, then spoke to the Wind Heaven Sect Leader beyond him.
“I see why you would be concerned.”
The Wind Heaven Sect Leader nodded.
He didn’t bother to hide his true feelings from the Illusion King, who had been through all sorts of trials.
“When I was so close to my disciple, nothing happened, but now that we're apart, an opportunity like this arises.”
That is why opportunities are so frightening.
His life had been completely changed by the opportunity of meeting Geom Mugeuk.
His relationship with Go Wol had changed, and in the end, his own life had changed.
Coming to the Outlands this time had also greatly changed his relationship with his disciple.
Thus, in changing the relationships between people, opportunity sometimes takes precedence over effort.
Just like how he had become enemies with this Illusion King.
“I am aware that you killed my sister.”
“I did.”
“How did she die?”
“She died as the Spirit-Sealing Mark left her.”
The Illusion King nodded silently, as if he understood the situation.
“Originally, I was supposed to go to the Demon Sect, and my sister was to come here. But she was stubborn. The mission to the Demon Sect must have seemed bigger to her. She was like that since she was young. She always wanted to beat me somehow. Though she never once did.”
No sadness or mourning could be felt from the Illusion King.
The Wind Heaven Sect Leader could tell.
This man was one who lived solely for himself.
“It would be fair if I killed your disciple.”
“It’s no use trying to shake my composure like that. I have already sensed that you are not so foolish a person as that.”
It was a retort implying that the Illusion King couldn't win against him in a straight fight, but the Illusion King remained unfazed.
“He is a disciple who would cast away his life for his Master like a blade of grass, so you must save him.”
“I’ll do my best.”
At this moment, So Baek-ta did not let go of the thread of hope.
He was just waiting for a chance.
For his Master's sake, he would grab onto the scoundrel's pant leg and cling to it.
If he could save his Master that way, he would gladly die.
And if by some miracle he survived, he would live the rest of his life for his Master.
It was at that very moment.
Swish!
Stab!
The Wind Heaven Sect Leader thrust his hand into the empty air to his left.
Then, blood dripped from the space where there had been nothing.
A corpse, bleeding from the neck, fell with a thud.
It was a subordinate of the Illusion King who had been approaching in stealth, trying to launch a surprise attack during their conversation.
Wiping the blood from his hand on the man's clothes, the Wind Heaven Sect Leader asked.
“By the way, why did you put the idea of unifying the Outlands into my disciple’s head?”
“Well, it was for your disciple’s dream.”
For a moment, So Baek-ta flinched, but as if to show him how to handle such a situation, the Wind Heaven Sect Leader spoke calmly.
“Thanks to you, my disciple was able to find his true dream. I’m rather grateful.”
His old self would not have been able to handle this so flexibly.
Meeting Geom Mugeuk, seeing a new side of Go Wol.
Through all the bickering and fighting, he himself had grown.
In a flash, the Wind Heaven Sect Leader disappeared and reappeared.
Stab!
A bloody hand shot out from thin air.
He had caught another enemy who had been approaching in stealth.
Instead of condemning the surprise attack.
“I've lost some weight recently, so my movements have gotten faster.”
The Wind Heaven Sect Leader was boasting about his weight loss to the Illusion King.
Looking around to see if there were any other hidden assassins, the Wind Heaven Sect Leader began to walk toward the Illusion King, as if to start the fight in earnest.
Before that, he asked about Geom Mugeuk.
“The Young Cult Master?”
“He will be fine.”
“No, I mean, have you locked him up properly?”
“He is trapped in a place he cannot escape. Even if he breaks through that place, there are three more gates that are absolutely impenetrable.”
“Only three?”
“Only?”
“You say that because you don't know him.”
The Wind Heaven Sect Leader released his aura.
Swoooosh.
A powerful ghostly energy, unlike anything experienced before, spread in all directions, and blue flames began to burn in both of the Wind Heaven Sect Leader's hands.
“Then I’d better hurry. If I want to show off when the Young Cult Master arrives.”
*
“Ah! This isn't right.”
I had swung the door open with gusto, only to shut it again.
After dealing with all the evil spirits in the banquet hall, I found the solution and located the next door.
Where was the solution, you ask? It was hidden under the zither the musician was playing.
It was a good thing I had experience finding hidden solutions multiple times; a first-timer would have had a very hard time finding it.
The problem was the next room.
When I opened the door just a moment ago, a giant snake was coiled up in a room as large as a plaza.
A Blood Venom Giant Serpent.
It was the Blood Venom Giant Serpent, called the king of venomous snakes.
Surrounding the Blood Venom Giant Serpent, thousands of venomous snakes were squirming.
Just from opening the door for that brief moment, an incredible amount of poison energy and a foul smell emanated.
The poison energy was so potent that an ordinary master would have been poisoned just by opening the door and would have had to perform energy circulation.
Anyway, I can't stand snakes.
“Cult Master, fight well. I trust you and will be leaving now.”
Of course, I couldn't do that.
If it were just a matter of catching the Illusion King, I could trust the Wind Heaven Sect Leader.
But now, there was the variable of So Baek-ta.
I didn't know what dangerous situation his affection for his disciple might create.
I had to get there as soon as possible to create the variable named ‘Geom Mugeuk’.
I suddenly remembered the time when the Wind Heaven Sect Leader came to rescue me when I was trapped in an illusion.
I recalled the hellscape that unfolded beyond the open door.
He was the one who broke through that path to save me.
Yes, even if all the snakes in the Central Plains were here, I would break through.
I drew the Black Demon Sword and opened the door again, stepping inside.
The nearby venomous snakes rushed toward me.
Shhh! Shhh-eek!
I swung the Black Demon Sword and cut them down.
As the snakes burst, poison energy spewed out.
The other snakes began to move in unison.
They were no ordinary snakes.
They shot up into the air, lunging toward me.
The next moment!
A single form was unleashed.
Third Form of the Nine Calamities Demon Art—Great Demon Wall.
A massive wall of force was erected in front of me.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwaack! Thwack!
The snakes that crashed into the wall of force exploded.
Poison energy spread thickly.
That poison energy stimulated all the venomous snakes in the room.
The Blood Venom Giant Serpent raised its massive body and charged toward me.
Boom!
With a loud explosion, the Great Demon Wall shook.
Wounded by the force, the Blood Venom Giant Serpent began to thrash about.
In the process, smaller snakes were crushed to death, creating chaos.
The Blood Venom Giant Serpent spewed a poisonous liquid.
Chiiiiik!
This vicious poison, which would melt anything it touched, was truly enormous in its toxicity.
A thick poisonous smoke billowed up.
If I did not have a Body Invulnerable to All Poisons, I would never have been able to withstand it.
The poisonous liquid began to melt the Great Demon Wall.
A tremendous amount of inner energy was being consumed to maintain the Great Demon Wall.
And, for the first time in this battle, I tried something new.
While maintaining the Great Demon Wall, I unleashed another form.
An evil spirit appeared in front of the Great Demon Wall.
I had just unleashed the Second Form, Great Annihilation Form.
Ssssssssss.
The evil spirit split into six.
In that time, my mastery of the martial art had progressed, and the number I could split into had increased from four to six.
“Let's go!”
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!
The six evil spirits swept through the snakes, pushing forward.
Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pak!
All the snakes in their path were shredded to pieces.
The target was the Blood Venom Giant Serpent in front.
Could I really catch it?
The Blood Venom Giant Serpent, which had been melting the Great Demon Wall, sprayed its poison at the evil spirits.
Covered in the poisonous liquid, the evil spirits pushed forward regardless.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!
Puaaaaaaak!
I saw it.
The six evil spirits severing the body of the Blood Venom Giant Serpent.
The head and tail sections, split in two, began to writhe in pain.
As the creature thrashed, the surrounding venomous snakes were crushed to death.
Thrashing about, the Blood Venom Giant Serpent charged at the Great Demon Wall with its severed body.
Kwaaaaang!
The Great Demon Wall shook violently, but with its severed body, it could do nothing to the wall.
Thud!
Collapsing to the floor, the Blood Venom Giant Serpent, after a final twitch, disappeared with a ‘poof!’ sound, releasing a noxious poison energy.
Then, all the other venomous snakes also began to disappear.
Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pak!
Normally, even after defeating them, I wouldn't have been able to pass through this room filled with poisonous smoke.
But I crossed the space and opened the door that was behind the Blood Venom Giant Serpent, stepping through.
Surprisingly, beyond the door was the Cult Master's Hall.
And the moment I saw the scene that unfolded there, I froze.
The place, filled with signs of a bloody battle, was destroyed on all sides, and corpses were strewn about.
My gaze was drawn to the Grand Advisor's seat in the distance.
Someone familiar was sitting there.
Surprisingly, it was the Wind Heaven Sect Leader.
He was covered in blood, his head hanging low.
The corpse lying in front of the Grand Advisor's seat was none other than So Baek-ta.
In the end, he had failed to protect his disciple.
The thought that the Wind Heaven Sect Leader might be dead made my heart start to pound like crazy.
I launched myself toward that place.
Had I ever been so startled in recent times?
After landing in front of the Grand Advisor's seat, I called out to him.
“Cult Master.”
The Wind Heaven Sect Leader did not stir.
“Cult Master.”
Then, the Wind Heaven Sect Leader struggled to open his eyes and looked at me.
“... I couldn't kill him.”
“Cult Master.”
“... I'm sorry.”
The life vanished from his eyes, and his head began to droop again.
“Cult Master!”
Just as I was about to support him.
Shwiiik!
Stab!
The Wind Heaven Sect Leader's hand, extended to subdue my paralyzing point, had stopped in front of my chest.
In return, my ten‑thousand‑year cold iron dagger was embedded in his heart.
A dark energy swirled in his eyes, and a black ghostly energy flowed out.
“... How did you know?”
He was a fake Wind Heaven Sect Leader.
“Because the Cult Master I know would not have said 'I'm sorry' as his last words. He would have said, ‘I’m dying because of you. Give me my divine relic, Young Cult Master! Try living well without Go Wol and me!’ The Wind Heaven Sect Leader is that kind of person.”
The moment my belief was conveyed, the fake Wind Heaven Sect Leader's body burst and scattered into black smoke.
The corpse of So Baek-ta that had been lying there also began to vanish into smoke with a poof.
I believe.
“That man might die from a knife wound while drinking in Demon Family Village. But he won't die inside an illusion here. Because this is his world.”
I strode purposefully toward the door behind the Grand Advisor's seat.
A moment ago, I had felt what it would be like if the Wind Heaven Sect Leader died.
Even though I had a feeling it was a trap, my heart pounded as if it would burst.
I must never let the scene I saw here become a reality.
Drawing the Black Demon Sword, I forcefully opened the door and leaped inside.
It didn't matter what awaited beyond the door.
Just as you came to save me.
‘This time, I’m coming for you!’