Clatter.
The bowl fell to the floor and shattered.
The Mistress of Cheonhwa Pavilion silently looked down at the broken bowl.
“Are you all right?”
Seo Daeryong, who had been bringing ingredients into the kitchen, asked in surprise.
“Yes, I’m fine.”
When she tried to pick up the shards, Seo Daeryong stepped forward and stopped her.
“Please leave it. I’ll clean it up.”
This was a safe house of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. The owners of the pleasure houses they had rescued from Yeobulgae were being kept here for the time being. Under the care of the Mistress of Cheonhwa Pavilion, they had regained much of their composure.
The Mistress of Cheonhwa Pavilion had been bright all along, but today, her expression was dark.
“Has something happened?”
After a brief pause, she answered.
“I had a bad dream.”
Seo Daeryong had heard from Geom Mugeuk that she was no ordinary woman. He knew he could not dismiss her dream as nonsense, but pretending not to know, he said to her,
“Don’t they say dreams mean the opposite?”
“Do they?”
She forced a smile as she spoke, but her expression remained dark. Perhaps those ominous dreams of hers had always come true.
Then Seo Daeryong suddenly said,
“It won’t work.”
“Pardon?”
“I heard from the Pavilion Lord that you are no ordinary person. So I know it may be rude of me to say this. Still, I will say it. That bad dream won’t work on our Pavilion Lord. And if it doesn’t work on the Pavilion Lord, it won’t work on Lord Soma either.”
Seo Daeryong crouched down and began gathering the broken pieces of the bowl.
“My life before I met the Second Young Master was like this broken bowl. I was ugly, gloomy, and crooked in character.”
His face was reflected in one of the shards he had picked up. Seo Daeryong thought the distorted figure, barely recognizable in the fragment, was what he had been like in the past.
“No one considered me important, and I thought of myself as worthless too. But after meeting the Pavilion Lord, my life changed. In someone else’s eyes, I may still be nothing but a broken bowl, but to myself, I believe I am a vessel that must surely be useful somewhere.”
Seo Daeryong finished collecting the shards and rose to his feet.
“To tell the truth, I was being modest just now. I think I am more than that. The Second Young Master put the broken bowl back together and turned me into an expensive porcelain vessel.”
He had become the disciple of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, and perhaps he might even become the next Lord of Hwangcheon Pavilion.
“He is someone who can make even a life like mine into this. So bad dreams and the like won’t work on the Second Young Master.”
At last, a smile appeared on the face of the Mistress of Cheonhwa Pavilion.
“Yes. They won’t work.”
Seo Daeryong came outside carrying the broken bowl. The Poison King was digging up the ground in a corner of the yard. Seeing him digging around a uniquely shaped flower, it seemed poisonous snakes or insects must be living around it.
Seo Daeryong was usually too afraid of the Poison King to speak to him, but today, he approached him.
“The Pavilion Mistress had a bad dream. Her dreams tend to come true.”
Then the Poison King said without looking at Seo Daeryong,
“When we return to the Cult, I’ll drive the carriage, so you may go help them if you wish.”
“Ah, dreams don’t always come true, I suppose.”
There was one thing Seo Daeryong found strange.
Why had Geom Mugeuk not asked the Poison King to go with him in the first place?
Was it to protect the Mistress of Cheonhwa Pavilion and the rescued women? That was important too, but the fight against Yaryul Han was a matter of life and death.
It was just then. As if he had read Seo Daeryong’s mind, the Poison King suddenly said,
“You’re curious, aren’t you? Why the Second Young Master did not ask for my help?”
“Yes, to be honest, I am.”
The Poison King answered while intently examining an insect in the ground.
“Because his only purpose is not to kill Yaryul Han.”
Seo Daeryong asked with a startled expression,
“There is another purpose?”
The Poison King looked at Seo Daeryong. Seo Daeryong did not dare meet those clear eyes, which looked far younger than his own.
“You’re his right arm, are you not? Then you should know.”
“I’m a right arm with a poor head.”
“I heard you entered Hwangcheon Pavilion at the top of your class.”
Seo Daeryong was shocked.
“The Pavilion Lord even told you that?”
“Your Pavilion Lord does have quite a lot to say.”
For no reason, Seo Daeryong felt pleased, and his chest swelled with pride.
“So? What do you think?”
After a brief pause, Seo Daeryong said,
“I am someone who is only ever amazed by what the Pavilion Lord does, so how could I know what lies within him? But while watching him, there are times when I think this. Why is he trying to go this far? Why is he trying to become this strong?”
Seo Daeryong continued as he watched the Poison King, who was still digging something out.
“Is he perhaps looking toward something beyond becoming the successor? Sometimes I get that feeling. Just where is the Pavilion Lord looking?”
The Poison King turned back to him and asked,
“Why are you asking me that?”
“Ah! You’re right. My apologies.”
Seo Daeryong bowed politely, then hurriedly withdrew.
“I will go help the Pavilion Mistress prepare the meal.”
Seo Daeryong ran into the building.
The Poison King seemed lost in thought for a moment, then began digging up the ground again.
* * *
Yaryul Han was confused.
When he first saw the corpse of the Five Thunder Divine Sword, he had thought he had been killed by a blade sent by the leader of the Sado Alliance. But astonishingly, it had been the work of Geukak Soma. Along with an unidentified young master.
‘The Alliance Leader joined hands with the Demon Cult?’
He, too, could not understand it. The Sado Alliance Leader he knew was not the kind of man who would join hands with the Demon Cult, no matter how much he wanted to get rid of him.
‘Then the Demon Cult intervened on its own, without the Alliance Leader’s involvement? But why?’
When conducting various businesses in the murim, clashes with the Demon Cult could happen. But there had never been a conflict serious enough to risk their lives like this.
Yaryul Han’s gaze turned toward Geom Mugeuk. The movements the other man had shown while disposing of the Three Evils earlier had truly been an astonishing display of divine might. He was this young, and yet his movements were better than Geukak Soma’s? How could that be?
“I have never heard that the Demon Cult had someone like you.”
Yaryul Han had not realized Geom Mugeuk’s identity. Of course, as the second-in-command of the Sado Alliance, he could hear all sorts of information sent up to the alliance by spies. Naturally, that information included the fact that the Demon Cult’s Second Young Master had recently begun to distinguish himself.
But at this moment, the thought that the young man before him was the Demon Cult’s Second Young Master did not occur to him. First of all, his martial arts were far too outstanding for his age, and the son of the Heavenly Demon would never personally undertake something this dangerous.
He thought he must be a secret weapon raised by the Demon Cult. Or else a master of the Demon Cult who had undergone rejuvenation.
“I told you, we’re not from the Demon Cult. We are grim reapers specially sent by the King of Hell.”
At Geom Mugeuk’s mockery, an aura like a cold blizzard surged from Yaryul Han’s entire body.
This was Yaryul Han’s presence. It froze the whole body with cold, and when fear was added to this aura, the opponent would die without even being able to lift a hand.
Of course, Geom Mugeuk did not stop provoking him.
“With cold like this, maybe the fires of hell will feel a little less hot when you enter them?”
The fact that he continued to provoke him even in this urgent situation meant he acknowledged his opponent that much. Just from Yaryul Han’s aura, he could tell his skill. The outcome would be decided by a single choice, a single mistake.
Then Yaryul Han said,
“I should take you with me. If someone as irritating as you is there, I feel like even the pits of fire might go out.”
Cha Hwan, who had fallen back because his martial arts were comparatively weak, was startled.
It was the first time he had seen it. Yaryul Han saying something like that to an opponent. He could see for himself that the greenhorn was strong, but was he really to that extent? If it was such an evenly matched fight…
‘I must play a major role.’
His heart pounded quickly. The desire to achieve merit somehow took hold of him. He would watch for an opportunity and leap in. At the decisive moment!
This time, Blood Wheel Calamity chuckled and said to Geukak Soma,
“I never thought my Blood Wheel would get to taste Geukak Soma’s blood.”
Geukak Soma showed no reaction at all, and Blood Wheel Calamity was somewhat embarrassed by this complete disregard.
“Arrogant Demon Cult bastards, all of you.”
He was confident he could defeat Geukak Soma. He, too, had noticed that the wound Geukak Soma had suffered from Yaryul Han’s earlier surprise attack was deep. In terms of original skill, he was one step below a Demon Venerable, but in this situation, he had enough chance of victory.
Moreover, Geukak Soma had expended more internal energy. He had used his internal force earlier while facing the Five Thunder Divine Sword and his disciple as well.
Geom Mugeuk’s gaze turned toward Geukak Soma’s arm, stained red. The fact that blood was seeping out even though he had pressed his acupoints to stop the bleeding meant the wound was deep.
‘We have to end this fight as quickly as possible.’
But if he fought hastily because of that, Yaryul Han would kill him. His heart was urgent, but he could not show it. He had to put forth everything he had, yet end the fight as quickly as possible. That was why this battle was difficult.
“By the way, if you mess with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, your Alliance Leader won’t like it. Will that be all right?”
Geom Mugeuk threw out words meant to shake the hearts of his enemies.
Then Yaryul Han asked,
“Didn’t you say you weren’t from the Demon Cult?”
“As if. If not us, who would try to get rid of you?”
“Why is the Demon Cult trying to kill me?”
“I’ll tell you when you die.”
“You die first. So tell me now.”
“I don’t want to.”
For the first time in a very long while, Yaryul Han felt the emotion called irritation. In his life, no one had dared irritate him. Even if there had been someone, they would already be lying as a corpse.
But soon, Yaryul Han brought his emotions under control.
“Fine. I’ll hear it when you die.”
Seeing his calm gaze, Geom Mugeuk also steadied his mind. Provocation had no effect on Yaryul Han whatsoever. He had no choice but to kill him with skill alone.
Whirrrrrrrrr!
The Blood Wheel sliced through the air, and the battle between Geukak Soma and Blood Wheel Calamity began.
Geukak Soma lightly avoided the Blood Wheel as it flew swiftly through the air.
At the same time, Geukak Soma launched himself toward Blood Wheel Calamity.
Screeetch!
Shiiing!
At that moment, two streaks of sword energy tore through the air at the same time.
One was Yaryul Han’s sword energy, meant to stop Geukak Soma’s approach, and the other was Geom Mugeuk’s sword energy, meant to neutralize it.
Boom!
The instant the two sword energies collided in midair!
Piing!
Geukak Soma unleashed a finger wind, and the returning Blood Wheel tried to strike the back of Geukak Soma’s head.
Geukak Soma twisted his body and avoided the Blood Wheel, and Blood Wheel Calamity likewise threw himself aside to avoid the Blood Ang Finger.
The tense first exchange ended, and for a moment, tension flowed through the place. It was a razor-thin contest whose outcome could not be known.
Geom Mugeuk made his judgment.
‘A fight like this is disadvantageous.’
Because Yaryul Han could abandon Blood Wheel Calamity at any time, but he could never abandon Geukak Soma.
The moment he reached that conclusion, Geom Mugeuk flew toward Yaryul Han.
He decided not to concern himself with Geukak Soma’s injury. From the beginning, worrying about him had been the wrong thing to do. He had to trust him.
And if he truly wanted to help Geukak Soma, then instead of offering half-hearted concern, he had to focus on his own fight and kill Yaryul Han as quickly as possible. He would make sure there would be no more occasions for him to dare send sword energy at Geukak Soma.
Clang clang clang clang clang clang!
The sword lights created by Geom Mugeuk and Yaryul Han flashed through the air so quickly they could not be seen.
The two of them were truly fast. The two who had clashed on the left were, before anyone knew it, exchanging swords on the right. Their movements were as though they were freely traversing space itself.
Geom Mugeuk’s pure white sword light and Yaryul Han’s deep blue sword light collided countless times.
Kakakakakang-kang-kang!
The two struck sword against sword and soared into the air. The sword lights flashing in the sky were like fireworks being set off for this astonishing battle.
They leapt down from midair and fought while running across the rooftops. Even as they ran, their swords clashed endlessly.
The sword light continued to flash until they dropped from the roof onto the top of a wall.
The clash between the Flying Heaven Sword Art, mastered to the twelfth stage, and the Primordial Dividing Light Sword Art, also mastered to the twelfth stage, was truly a match between dragon and tiger.
As the fierce battle continued, Geom Mugeuk instantly injected more internal energy into the Black Demon Sword.
At the unexpected force, blood burst from Yaryul Han’s mouth.
But before those droplets of blood could fall to the ground, a sword flew in, cutting through them.
Paaak!
Blood sprayed from Geom Mugeuk’s side.
Injecting more internal energy in the midst of that rapid, fierce battle had been a strain, and a forced attack always demanded a price. As expected, his skill was worthy of the second-in-command of the Sado Alliance.
They were neither surprised nor moved by each other. They focused only on the fight. From the exchange just now, they knew that the moment their attention strayed elsewhere, they would die.
At the very instant the distance between the two briefly widened!
Yaryul Han’s first secret technique was unleashed.
Sut-sut-sut-sut-sut-sut!
Yaryul Han’s form split into ten and surrounded Geom Mugeuk. This clone technique was the Ten Illusory Soul-Dividing Art, one of the essences of the Primordial Dividing Light Sword Art.
Sharararararak.
At the same time, thirty-six sword-shaped strands of sword energy surrounded Geom Mugeuk.
It was the seventh form of the Flying Heaven Sword Art, the Flowing Heaven Form. It was not the old Flowing Heaven Form. What had originally split apart in front of his chest was now formed into a circle around Geom Mugeuk’s body.
The martial art he had mastered to the twelfth stage was ripening further and further, revealing a new realm.
The moment the illusions charged all at once, ten of the floating strands of sword energy shot out in every direction.
Swish swish swish swish swish swish swish swish!
Puff puff puff puff puff puff puff!
The sword energies and illusions collided and vanished, and the real Yaryul Han swung his sword to neutralize the sword energy that flew at him.
After the illusions were eliminated, twenty-six strands of sword energy remained!
As if hidden weapons were being launched from a mechanism, the sword energies shot toward Yaryul Han all at once.
Swish swish swish swish swish swish swish swish!
Cha Hwan, who was watching, gaped. Since the day he was born, he had never seen nor heard of such divine might.
And what received that divine might was another divine might.
Boom boom boom kwa-kwa-boom kwa-boom!
The flying sword energies were blocked by something and collided against it.
It was a sword wall. Not an ordinary sword wall. It was a wall of sword energy as cold as an ice wall, the Blue-Cold Ice Wall, another essence of the Primordial Dividing Light Sword Art.
Srrrrrr.
The wall of sword energy disappeared as if snow were melting, and beyond it, Yaryul Han came into view.
His eyes were shining a fiendish blue like an evil spirit, and he was emitting a vicious killing aura.
At his presence, which declared that the real fight began now, the Black Demon Sword began to hum at length.
Wuuuuuuuu!
Geom Mugeuk gripped the Black Demon Sword tightly and walked toward that vicious killing aura.
‘My friends, hold on just a little longer!’
It was something he said to both of his friends.