“You were alive.”
Geom Mugeuk recognized who it was, even though the other’s appearance had changed greatly.
He was none other than Tu Wang, returned alive from hell.
Now Geom Mugeuk could understand why they had dared to proceed with today’s banquet even though they knew he was here.
Why the movements behind the scenes this time had felt different from before. Why they had been so rough.
It was because of this man’s desire for revenge—because of Tu Wang.
It was now clear why Bisain was the one used as bait in the Lord of the Cheonhwa Tower’s trap. It was because the chief of the Sado Alliance had driven him to the brink of death.
Tu Wang slowly descended from the palanquin.
Clank. Clank.
Wrapped tightly around his chest was a chain glowing with a blue light. The chain radiating a cold gleam was no ordinary metal. It gave the impression that it would display far greater power than the armor or gauntlets he had worn before.
A woman’s voice came from inside the palanquin.
“When we saved this man using the Anlu Guihuanshu, the deadly poison had spread throughout his entire body to a state where not even the Dara Immortal could have saved him. Your Poison King’s poison truly was severe.”
Indeed, even now, toxic qi that had yet to be fully removed flowed from Tu Wang’s breath.
If the Poison King learned of this, he would be furious. A fine piece of leverage had been found.
“But we decided to save him. It required tremendous effort and enormous investment. He had to undergo two great rituals and six procedures.”
At the memory, Tu Wang’s expression twisted. He had endured such agony that the words *just kill me* had nearly escaped him.
He had endured all that pain for this very moment today.
“As you can see, he was worth the investment.”
Tu Wang’s energy was tremendous.
He gave off a feeling of strength greater than any enemy he had ever met until now. If the Tu Wang of the past had felt like a mere brawler, the current Tu Wang felt as if he had transcended that stage.
It felt as if he were looking at a fighting spirit that had transcended victory and defeat, even life and death itself.
Death resided in his two eyes.
There was a white ring around his pupils. Geom Mugeuk knew what that meant.
‘He has even mastered the Dark Heaven Evil God Technique!’
It meant that Tu Wang, already strong, having received all manner of great rituals and mastered the Dark Heaven Evil God Technique on top of that, had become far stronger than before.
On top of that, he was emitting the Poison King’s toxic qi.
While he himself was invulnerable to all poisons and unaffected by the toxic qi, if Bisain or Jin Hajeon fought him, they would not be able to endure it simply because of that qi. It was truly as if Tu Wang and the Poison King were attacking together.
Tu Wang truly possessed the confidence that he could destroy everyone here single-handedly.
“Just how strong have you become?”
“As much as I have given my life.”
Having mastered the Dark Heaven Evil God Technique, he had reached a state where he could no longer see the light of day.
It was solely for this revenge.
Tu Wang slowly shifted his steps. With each step he took, everyone’s gaze was drawn. The fighting spirit Tu Wang currently emanated was intense enough to face everyone here and then some.
He had been looking around as if seeing the world for the first time, but then—
Shwaaaaak!
Puh-puh-puh-puhk!
With a wave of his hand, the martial artists gathered there from the Baike Merchant Group all burst at the torso and died.
It was a move that allowed no time to block or defend. From this single move alone, one could tell how much stronger he had become. It was truly fast and powerful.
The one who let out a shriek at that sight was Vice Lord Pyeong Wi. Seeing those he had brought all die in an instant, he was aghast.
Geom Mugeuk spoke to him in a low voice.
“You didn’t know it would turn out this way?”
Of course, Pyeong Wi had come prepared to die. But he hadn’t known they would kill his subordinates first. If they were to die, it should be last. He should see them take revenge first!
“You were deceived by them. It wasn’t the Sado Alliance—they used you. To create today’s gathering.”
“Don’t make me laugh!”
With his subordinates dead, Pyeong Wi instead believed even less. Like a man possessed, he leaped and prostrated himself before the palanquin.
“Kill them as promised!”
To him who had rushed into her embrace like this, the Dark King was cruel.
“The young lord’s words are correct. You were used by us.”
In that instant, Pyeong Wi’s face went completely rigid. The truth was delivered to him, shocked and bewildered.
“To be precise, it was the Lord’s wife who used you.”
In that instant, Pyeong Wi’s eyes went wide. The worry he had dared not voice was becoming reality.
The very moment he learned the truth.
“Uwaaaaah!”
He let out a miserable scream. Before anyone knew it, Tu Wang was behind him, grabbing his neck.
He didn’t break his neck. It would have been better if he had.
The moment the toxic qi flowing from Tu Wang’s hand invaded his body, he writhed in terrible agony and perished on the spot.
Thud.
Tu Wang threw his corpse before Geom Mugeuk.
And he laid the responsibility for that death at Geom Mugeuk’s feet.
“This is all because of you.”
Of course, Geom Mugeuk was not one to accept it meekly.
“With so many eyes watching, do you really think you can force this nonsense on me?”
“If not for you, I wouldn’t be here. If not for you, I wouldn’t have this toxic qi in my body.”
He blamed Geom Mugeuk, saying that by revealing his existence hidden within the Sado Alliance, things had turned out this way. Because Geom Mugeuk had drawn in the chief of the Sado Alliance and the Poison King.
“Why is it my fault? It’s your fault for hiding in a place you shouldn’t have hidden in the first place. Why is it my fault? It’s because of your petty heart that couldn’t let me go with a ‘good work’ after using me.”
He had tried to make Geom Mugeuk feel guilty, but couldn’t even break even.
“And why are you doing this to me? If you want revenge, go to the chief of the Sado Alliance or the Poison King. Why? Are you scared of the two of them? Is that why you’re tormenting weak, young me?”
At the words *weak and young,* Bisain and Jin Hajeon let out wry smiles. Truly, this was Geom Mugeuk—able to make one laugh even in such a terrifying situation.
Of course, to Tu Wang, those words touched a sore spot.
“Shut up!”
Clank.
A metallic sound came from Tu Wang’s hand as he clenched his fist. Tu Wang, whose expression had seemed like it wouldn’t waver no matter the situation, was stiff.
“The chief of the Sado Alliance will soon die by my hand as well.”
Tu Wang intended to kill everyone here and then kill the chief of the Sado Alliance as well. He had felt it. This body, forcibly maintained by great rituals, could not survive for long. Before he died, he would kill them all. The organization had likely saved him because they wanted that too.
Then the Dark King spoke from the palanquin.
“As expected, the rumors that the young lord’s tongue is sharper than his sword are true.”
Geom Mugeuk could tell that the Dark King had stepped forward to calm the agitated Tu Wang. She was definitely the more troublesome one to deal with.
“Truth, my foot! Baseless rumors.”
Geom Mugeuk turned to Bisain and asked.
“Isn’t my sword sharper than my mouth?”
At that, Bisain shook his head firmly.
Geom Mugeuk made an incredulous face.
“Why are you trying to be funny at such a serious occasion?”
Bisain’s eyes said it. *Isn’t that you?*
This time, Geom Mugeuk looked at Jin Hajeon.
“I trust you will speak the truth.”
“I don’t want to have a war of words with you.”
He spoke so calmly that it sounded like the truth.
Laughter flowed from inside the palanquin. Both Geom Mugeuk and the Dark King were composed.
“Shall we see directly which is sharper?”
The moment those words ended, the palanquin door opened again.
Shwaaaa.
A hand parted the hanging curtain. It was a bony, wrinkled hand.
The person who revealed his face was an old man. There was no way the Dark King, Tu Wang, and this old man could all have been inside the palanquin, so this was the moment one could be certain that the space inside was no ordinary space.
The old man’s eyes were incomparably sharp.
His old dao robe was covered in bizarre patterns, and the unfolded fan he held was also covered in indecipherable patterns.
A bizarre, murderous aura emanated from his entire body.
The first to recognize him was Jin Hajeon.
“Tian Guai!”
He was a public enemy of the martial world who had thrown the martial world into chaos by mastering all manner of sorcery and formations. His sorcery was truly vicious and cruel, causing countless people to lose their lives to him.
Now they could know who had created the formation installed at the Baike Merchant Group.
Tian Guai looked at Jin Hajeon and spoke.
“You tried so hard to catch me, so try catching me now.”
The Demon Slaughter Squad martial artists simultaneously stepped before Jin Hajeon and pointed their swords.
But Tian Guai was not frightened in the slightest.
Another figure revealed itself from the palanquin. This time, it was not a person. Something leaped out.
Grrrr.
Surprisingly, what came out of the palanquin was a black dog as large as an adult human. It was no ordinary dog. Its build was larger than a wolf’s, and it had huge fangs.
Black energy wafted from its large body like a haze. It was truly a hellhound worthy of guarding the gates of hell.
It was not just one dog. Dozens of hellhounds came out in succession. The sight was truly bizarre; it felt as if this palanquin were connected to hell.
The last person to come out was recognized by Bisain.
“Quan Ren!”
He was an absolute master of the evil sect who called himself a dog butcher while wielding dark sorcery among the sorcerous arts. He was someone who rarely revealed himself to the outside world, yet he had shown himself here today. The hellhounds he summoned were fearsome creatures known to bite and kill even masters.
The hellhounds looked up at one spot and growled lowly.
That spot was the roof where the Extreme Evil Soma stood.
The Extreme Evil Soma silently looked down at the dozens of hellhounds growling at him.
The four black-clothed figures who had flown in with the palanquin stepped before Bisain holding lanterns.
The Sado Thirteen Wolves simultaneously drew their swords and pointed them at the black-clothed figures. Even though they were facing forces they could not handle, the four showed no fear.
Then Bisain saw it. Their shadows stretched long and connected to the palanquin. It was a bizarre sight that made them seem as one body with the palanquin.
Tian Guai for Jin Hajeon, the dog butcher for the Extreme Evil Soma, and the four black-clothed guards who had escorted the palanquin for Bisain.
And Tu Wang for Geom Mugeuk.
The problem was that the Dark King still remained inside the palanquin. It was impossible to know how she would intervene in the fight.
Jin Haryeong retreated as far back as possible with Yeo Jeong. This was not a fight for her to step forward in. She knew it was a fight where she would have to run, carrying Yeo Jeong on her back if necessary.
‘Orabeoni! Be careful!’
The last person she looked at was Geom Mugeuk. As always, she asked again.
‘Please take care of our orabeoni! I will protect the Tower Lord until the moment of my death… No, even if I die, I will protect her.’
Geom Mugeuk’s eyes, meeting hers, turned upward.
The Extreme Evil Soma stood on the roof. Still with arms crossed, he watched the situation below. It was impossible to know what he was thinking, but the most trustworthy person in today’s fight was the Extreme Evil Soma.
Geom Mugeuk and the Extreme Evil Soma’s eyes met.
His two eyes behind the mask were smiling. From that abyssal smile, Geom Mugeuk could tell.
That he had already become the true Extreme Evil Soma.
Then that was enough. Without worrying about the rear, he would focus on Tu Wang before him.
The first to move was Tu Wang.
“Shall you taste my fist?”
Tu Wang extended his fist forward. Along the chain wrapped around his fist, blue energy flowed coldly. He was full of confidence and composure.
‘He knows I have mastered the Guhwa Demonic Art.’
Does he have the confidence to endure the Guhwa Demonic Art that has not achieved great success?
“Then let us have a small taste.”
Geom Mugeuk did not draw his sword but extended his fist.
Fist against fist.
Meaning they would have a contest of strength.
Huaaaaaang.
Tu Wang charged at Geom Mugeuk and threw a punch.
Geom Mugeuk threw a punch without dodging.
What met Tu Wang’s fist, imbued with his Linked Cloud-Storm Fist, was the Thunderbolt Asura Fist learned from the Fist Demon.
The moment fist met fist, an ear-splitting explosion rang out.
Kwa-ah-ang!
Geom Mugeuk’s fist struck the chain wrapped around Tu Wang’s fist.
It was an attack infused with powerful qi, but Tu Wang didn’t budge.
With their fists against each other, Geom Mugeuk and Tu Wang glared at each other.
Of course, it wasn’t an attack using full power, but the same was likely true for Tu Wang.
Tu Wang twisted his body and threw another punch.
The second strike was far faster and more powerful than before.
The second fist collided with fist. An even greater roar burst out than before, but Tu Wang’s fist and chain did not break.
Once again, the two men’s fists met in midair. The sensation of the cold chain was transmitted to the end of Geom Mugeuk’s fist. That sensation spoke thus: *I will never break!*
Tu Wang’s third punch flew in again. Even faster and stronger.
Chae-aeng!
It was not the sound of fist striking fist.
Geom Mugeuk had leaped back, and in his hand, the Black Demon Sword was already drawn.
He could not withstand Tu Wang’s fist technique with the yet-incomplete Thunderbolt Asura Fist.
Having exchanged fists, he felt it through his body. That Tu Wang had become incomparably stronger than before.
“You’ve become a monster.”
Geom Mugeuk turned to Bisain and spoke.
“My friend, if I ever told you to trust only in me, I retract those words.”
Geom Mugeuk did not lose his composure until the very end. And he gave everyone these words of encouragement.
“Today, each of us must survive on our own.”