“Master, happy birthday.”
The man bowing respectfully was Sahyo, disciple of the Five-Thunder Divine Sword. This Sahyo was the very man Geom Mugeuk had seen yesterday.
Before him sat the Five-Thunder Divine Sword.
The first impression of the Five-Thunder Divine Sword was ‘truly bizarre.’ Despite being ninety years old, his face was taut like the skin of a youth. But his arms and hands were covered in dense wrinkles, making this imbalance exceedingly grotesque.
“A birthday gift.”
Sahyo withdrew a small box from his bosom and presented it.
“This time, it is a Rejuvenation Pill made by extracting the vital essence of girls no older than fifteen.”
At the words ‘Rejuvenation Pill,’ the Five-Thunder Divine Sword’s expression brightened delightedly.
“From how many?”
“Ninety.”
Even though it meant ninety precious lives were contained within this small pill, a radiant joy spread across the Five-Thunder Divine Sword’s face. As he smiled, his skin stretched even tighter, making him appear all the more grotesque.
“It couldn’t have been easy?”
Gathering the vital essence of ninety people must have taken years to produce. It was truly a rare and precious medicine.
“You have reached the venerable age of ninety, Master. As your disciple, it is only proper I exert this much sincerity.”
The Five-Thunder Divine Sword smiled in satisfaction. At some point as he aged, he had become obsessed with youth. The deeper that obsession grew, the more blood stained Sahyo’s hands.
“I shall pass on the next formula to you. This time, I shall especially bestow three passages.”
At that, Sahyo prostrated himself flat on the ground and bowed.
“Thank you, Master.”
But his expression, with head bowed, was stiff.
‘Damned old man, only three measly passages!’
Each time he offered such loyalty, he received martial arts teachings.
Now, if he only inherited the final fifth form, he would have learned the entire Five-Thunder Sword Technique, but the process of learning that final form was anything but smooth.
Sahyo was a figure born with innate talent for martial arts. His qinggong was especially outstanding, and he possessed innate gifts not only in his five senses but his sixth sense as well. Moreover, his memory was excellent; once he saw or heard something, he never forgot it.
The single problem in his life was that his master was the Five-Thunder Divine Sword. Twenty years had passed since he became a disciple, yet he still hadn’t received the complete transmission.
‘This is truly going too far. Look at how much blood I’ve stained my hands with for you.’
The expression of the Five-Thunder Divine Sword looking down at him was cold beyond compare.
‘Did you think I wouldn’t know your scheme?’
His disciple possessed a ruthless nature that might try to kill him once the martial arts were fully transmitted. From then on, he wouldn’t be able to consume the Rejuvenation Pills with peace of mind, fearing they might be poisoned.
‘I’ll teach you the final formula the moment I die!’
By the time Sahyo raised his head, both their expressions had returned to normal.
“I shall take the Rejuvenation Pill, so leave for a moment.”
“Yes.”
Once Sahyo went outside, the Five-Thunder Divine Sword consumed the Rejuvenation Pill with a satisfied face.
Then he quietly closed his eyes and began circulating his qi.
* * *
Geom Mugeuk quietly leaped over the manor wall.
The first place he headed was the annex building where the workers of this place slept.
He entered each of their rooms and sealed their acupoints. By the time they awoke, everything would already be over.
Having exited the annex, Geom Mugeuk cautiously moved toward the main house.
Right then.
Swoosh!
Someone pressed a sword against Geom Mugeuk’s neck.
“Move and you die.”
The one holding the sword from behind was none other than Sahyo. He had just come out of his master’s chamber and discovered Geom Mugeuk.
“You were there yesterday too, weren’t you?”
Geom Mugeuk answered without turning around.
“Yes, it was me.”
“If you lack fear, you should at least have skill. Turn around slowly.”
Geom Mugeuk turned to face him. Despite being caught trespassing, his expression showed no tension whatsoever.
“Who sent you?”
“Does that matter? Sahyo.”
Sahyo was startled for a moment. He had believed no one knew his name besides his master.
But he didn’t know. The top-secret documents on the Five-Thunder Divine Sword provided by Bisain contained records of a disciple named Sahyo being taken in over twenty years ago.
“How do you know my name!”
In that exact moment his composure broke.
Swoosh!
Blood needles flew in from behind.
Sahyo was undoubtedly a born expert. He twisted his body to dodge the dart while simultaneously trying to cut down Geom Mugeuk before him.
But in that fleeting instant as he twisted, Geom Mugeuk’s fist embedded itself in his chest.
Boom!
His figure slid backward. It was an attack that would have burst his internal organs and killed him had he not instantly raised his protective astral qi.
“Damn it!”
He was in no situation to be spitting curses.
Ping! Swoosh!
Two more streaks of blood needles flew in continuously.
Judging he couldn’t dodge and block them all, Sahyo turned and swung his sword.
Sword qi erupted, neutralizing the incoming darts.
In that very moment, Geom Mugeuk’s blade fell from behind, splitting toward his head.
It was too late to block.
He barely twisted his body to avoid it, but blood spurted from his shoulder.
Sahyo was deeply shocked at being cut by a blade after so long, but he had no time to examine the wound.
Swoosh!
An incoming dart tore at his side.
Once again, had he not dodged in that instant, the attack would have pierced his stomach.
Attacks flew from front and back without giving him room to breathe, let alone think.
Watching Geom Mugeuk’s skill, Sahyo realized.
‘He got caught on purpose!’
They had set a trap on both sides to lure him in.
He couldn’t block the attacks flying frantically from front and back.
“Master! Please save me!”
In the end, he screamed desperately.
In the time it took to shout those words, blood spurted from his body once more.
“Master! You bastard!”
Despite his desperate cries, his master did not emerge.
Sahyo could tell. His master considered consuming the Rejuvenation Pill more important right now. Because if he stopped circulating qi at this moment, he would only obtain a portion of the medicine’s efficacy. Would he come to save him? The one who had sacrificed himself like a dog his whole life?
“Uwoaaaaah!”
Attacks of fury poured out.
In a state where his entire body was torn and tattered, the First Form, Second Form, and Third Form of the Five-Thunder Sword Technique erupted in succession.
Sword qi poured down from all directions.
But the frenzied thrashing of a wounded beast merely struck empty air and scattered.
No matter how much of a martial prodigy he was, he remained incomplete.
Therefore, he could not block the combined assault of Geom Mugeuk and Geukak Soma pouring from front and back.
Shhk!
In the very moment the Black Demon Sword cut diagonally across his back!
Thud!
The final dart pierced his forehead.
As he perished and collapsed, Sahyo saw fleeting images for a very brief moment.
Not his own life, but the faces of the girls he had killed to make the Rejuvenation Pill flashed past rapidly.
Thud.
Geom Mugeuk and Geukak Soma looked at each other and nodded once.
They had already known through Bisain’s documents that Sahyo was someone who committed all manner of evil deeds for his master. Thus, Geom Mugeuk hadn’t hesitated for an instant in eliminating him. The documents provided by Bisain were certainly proving helpful.
Right then.
Shhhaaaaack!
The two twisted their bodies to dodge, and a streak of sword qi passed between them.
It was truly powerful and swift sword qi.
The one who launched the sword qi was the Five-Thunder Divine Sword.
He had heard his disciple calling for help. But he couldn’t stop absorbing the medicinal effects.
“You damn bastards!”
Because he had been paying attention to the fight outside, he hadn’t been able to fully absorb the Rejuvenation Pill’s efficacy.
He was angrier about that than his disciple’s death.
He was furious that he wouldn’t be able to obtain another Rejuvenation Pill for the time being.
His desire for youth took precedence over everything else.
He had heard that Yayulhan was currently engaged in sharp conflict with the Evil Path Alliance Leader. Were they now raiding his residence?
‘How could they handle things like this!’
The target of his rage was Yayulhan.
He showed no sign of fear or dread even in this situation. He was someone who had once devoured the unorthodox martial world.
The Five-Thunder Divine Sword’s gaze turned toward the two men.
‘One is a greenhorn, and the other wears a mask?’
Sahyo had fallen to guys like these? The moment that doubt arose—
His gaze fixed once more on Geukak Soma.
“It can’t be?”
How could a man of ninety not know of Geukak Soma’s white mask?
Had Sahyo not died, he would have thought him merely a masked fellow, but if they had killed Sahyo in such a short time, it had to be a Majon of the Demonic Cult.
“Why would riffraff from the Demonic Cult come after me?”
Geukak Soma’s eyes smiled coldly.
Geom Mugeuk answered in his stead.
“What a monstrous face, indeed. To kill so many children just to become such a measly monster!”
The top-secret documents Bisain had obtained also contained information about the Rejuvenation Pills.
“Even the maggots that will devour you after you die will spit in disgust and turn away!”
Would the Five-Thunder Divine Sword, who had spent ninety years rolling around the unorthodox faction, fall for such provocation? He did.
Flash!
The Five-Thunder Divine Sword’s blade was drawn.
Boom!
Sword qi impaled the spot where Geom Mugeuk had stood.
The sword qi was as fast as lightning.
Geom Mugeuk had already sidestepped from that spot.
“Ugly, hideous old man! Filthy, vulgar, evil monster!”
Boom! Crack!
Two more streaks of sword qi crashed down, but he dodged with Flicker Step.
The Five-Thunder Divine Sword was enraged at hearing curses after so long. And from a young man at that.
Moreover, it was the first time in his ninety years of life he had heard an insult about maggots spitting in disgust.
“I’ll tear that mouth—!”
In that very moment he tried to speak while excited!
Geom Mugeuk severed his breathing and charged.
With him excited and speaking, this was the moment his qi and blood were most disrupted.
Penetrating with the Bright King Step, what unfolded was the Equal Heaven Form, the First Form of the Soaring Heaven Sword Technique.
Shiiiiick!
In the moment a streak of sword light bisected him horizontally—
Clang!
The Five-Thunder Divine Sword blocked the Black Demon Sword with his blade.
He was appalled by Geom Mugeuk’s attack speed. This was no mouth he could easily tear apart.
Swoosh!
Geukak Soma’s blood needles flew toward the Five-Thunder Divine Sword. Today’s battle would start and end with a combined assault from beginning to end.
Since their opponent was one who had committed evil deeds deserving death, the courtesies of a martial artist were omitted.
The continuous combined assault bewildered the Five-Thunder Divine Sword.
Geukak Soma’s blood needles flew toward the most troublesome spots, so they couldn’t be ignored, and Geom Mugeuk was an opponent who couldn’t be allowed at his back.
After only a few exchanges, a dart grazed his left shoulder, and the Five-Thunder Divine Sword unleashed his ultimate technique without reservation.
He had made the judgment befitting a master: if he dragged this out, he absolutely couldn’t win.
Thud! Crack! Thud!
His sword qi curved and stabbed down like lightning strikes.
The sword qi of the Five-Thunder Sword Technique was an attack that impaled the crown of the head; those unaccustomed to such attacks would die in a single blow.
Earlier, Sahyo had died without being able to properly display his swordsmanship, but the Five-Thunder Sword Technique was a peerless sword art modeled after the shape of lightning, a martial art that rivaled those mastered by the Majons.
Crack! Crack! Thud-thud!
Along with bizarre sounds, the sword qi grew even stronger.
The Second Form was stronger than the First Form’s lightning, and the Third Form displayed fearsome power.
Meeting a strong opponent after a long time, the Five-Thunder Divine Sword grew excited as he poured out his ultimate techniques.
He laughed like a madman and unleashed sword forms continuously.
Against the cascading sword qi, Geom Mugeuk and Geukak Soma displayed their footwork to evade.
They moved away in opposite directions, crossed paths, and gave way to one another.
Having fought together many times, the two could read each other’s intentions with just a glance.
The Five-Thunder Divine Sword poured his final Fifth Form onto Geukak Soma. He had realized from the way they dodged his attacks that Geom Mugeuk’s footwork was superior.
He decided to kill the relatively weaker Geukak Soma first, then deal with Geom Mugeuk.
In the moment the most powerful martial art was about to unfold!
Geom Mugeuk and Geukak Soma’s gazes met. The two spoke simultaneously with their eyes.
Now!
Geom Mugeuk and Geukak Soma also staked everything on this gamble.
Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-crack!
Violent sword qi poured down like rain toward Geukak Soma.
Though it was an enemy’s martial art, it was a sight that warranted admiration.
But instead of blocking the sword qi falling from the heavens, Geukak Soma unleashed the Demonic Radiant Blast Palm toward the Five-Thunder Divine Sword.
Kwaaaaah!
The Five-Thunder Divine Sword’s eyes went wide. It was a truly unexpected reaction.
‘Mutual destruction!’
But it wasn’t mutual destruction.
Thirty-six streaks of sword qi flew to intercept the sword qi hurtling toward Geukak Soma.
It was the Seventh Form of the Flying Heaven Sword Art, the Yucheon Form, whose number of sword qi had increased along with his internal energy. Geom Mugeuk unleashed the greatest number of sword qi he could muster.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwak!
Shwik-shwik-shwik-shwik-shwik-shwik-shwik-shwik-shwik!
If even one was missed, Geugak Soma might die!
Geugak Soma had unleashed the Demonic Extreme Raging Palm, trusting that Geom Mugeuk would surely block the attack flying toward him.
Puh-puh-puh-puh-puh-puh-puh-puh-pung!
Above Geugak Soma’s head, the sword qi of the Yucheon Form and all the sword qi of the Fifth Form of the Five Thunder Sword Art were neutralized and vanished.
The Yucheon Form, into which he had poured his heart’s blood, did not miss even a single strand of sword qi.
At the very moment the sword qi was dispelled!
Kwaaaaaang!
The Demonic Extreme Raging Palm struck the Five Thunder Divine Sword’s body. Unable to dodge while pouring out the Fifth Form, the Five Thunder Divine Sword raised his protective qi to its limit.
Caught in the Demonic Extreme Raging Palm, he was sent flying and slammed into the wall.
Whooooo!
The rising dust settled.
Leaning against the wall, the Five Thunder Divine Sword gave voice to his rage.
I’ll tear both of you bastards to pieces!
But he could not hear the words he had spat out. The Five Thunder Divine Sword felt puzzled. Had his ears been injured?
Moreover, in this urgent situation, Geom Mugeuk and Geugak Soma were looking at each other.
Why aren’t they looking at me? The fight isn’t over yet.
The Five Thunder Divine Sword’s gaze drifted downward without thinking.
‘!’
Everything below his chest had vanished entirely.
The moment he saw it, the Five Thunder Divine Sword’s torso fell from the wall. The last thing he saw was his own grotesque face reflected in the pool of blood on the floor.
Geom Mugeuk and Geugak Soma looked at each other and smiled.
No words were needed. At this moment, Soma had become a true Soma (Laughing Demon), his smile overwhelmingly captivating.
Geom Mugeuk found it immensely enjoyable to fight alongside him. With him, he wanted to fight and fight again until his heart burst.
In particular, that final move had been an attack they could never have attempted without trust in each other. The longer the battle continued, the deeper their trust in each other became.
“Let’s recover our internal energy first.”
But the two of them were not given that chance.
Rumble-rumble-rumble.
The wall into which the Five Thunder Divine Sword had been hurled and killed collapsed.
“Ah! No!”
Geom Mugeuk cried out in distress. If the wall had collapsed, the enemies would not come in, and his plan to kill them one by one in order would go awry.
But there was no need to worry about that.
As the dust settled, people appeared beyond the collapsed wall. People who should not yet have arrived appeared all at once. They were none other than Yaryulhan and the Three Evils, Blood Wheel Calamity, and Cha Hwan.
Among them, Yaryulhan, who stood in the center, stepped over the broken wall and came inside.
He silently looked down at the Five Thunder Divine Sword, now cut in half. A cold chill that could freeze the heart flowed from his body, but no emotion at all dwelled in his indifferent eyes or expression.
“Cha Hwan, as you wished, there is no longer any need for a gift.”