Geom Mugik had one conviction that never changed.
If you worked as hard as I did, then yes, take this victory!
Having done the very best he could, he was prepared to accept the result as well.
Of course, it wasn't as though he could afford to lose and die, but this mindset had positive effects on Geom Mugik in many ways.
Because no matter how difficult the fight, he could approach it with a light heart and overflowing confidence.
As he clashed with Geom Mugik once more, Tuwang could see that Geom Mugik's eyes were clearer and brimming with more vitality than ever.
How could such a madman exist! These damnable demonic cult bastards! Amid all those thoughts, his final conclusion was this:
'I must kill him today, no matter what!'
If he was this strong now, what if he met this Geom Mugik again next year? What about the year after? When he reached his thirties, forties, and fifties? He would become an existence beyond imagination.
It seemed Amwang, inside the carriage, felt the same way.
Sssss.
Black energy flowing out from the carriage seemed to form a curtain along Tuwang's body before being absorbed into him. It was clear Amwang had infused him with some power.
"Young Cult Leader, let us see your great art."
As expected, Tuwang regained his vitality. He was as fresh as if he were fighting for the first time.
Riding his momentum, he displayed his unique martial art. It was precisely the Yeonhwan Pungun Gwon he had shown when fighting the Sado Maengju.
Yeonhwan Pungun Gwon, Third Form: Seomjeon Nanmu.
Shushushushushushushuk!
Dozens of fists fast as light flew toward Geom Mugik.
Sasasasasa.
Using the Amyeongbo, Myeongwangbo, and Jeommyeolbo in succession, an opening was created in a space that seemed impossible to escape.
Missed fists overturned the earth and sent debris flying in all directions.
At the end of that final opening was Tuwang.
"I've been waiting!"
It was a move made believing and predicting that Geom Mugik would definitely dodge. Geom Mugik had escaped exactly where he predicted, and there he unleashed a hidden move.
Yeonhwan Pungun Gwon, Fourth Form: Jeoksae Geumryeong.
A chain-shaped red gangqi erupted from Tuwang's palm.
Chwarurururuk!
Perhaps because it was wrapped in chains? The Jeoksae Geumryeong coiled around Geom Mugik even more powerfully.
The very moment Tuwang was about to unleash the Yeonhwan Pungun Gwon, Fifth Form: Pungun Gaebyeok without hesitation!
Geom Mugik abruptly asked.
"Are you ready?"
From this angle where only Tuwang and the carriage were ahead, this exact position where not a single person on his side would be hurt even if he swept everything away.
It was the moment Geom Mugik had been waiting for amidst the chaotic battle with Tuwang. A move already unleashed before being bound by the Jeoksae Geumryeong.
Sssssss.
The evil spirit appearing before Geom Mugik began to split rapidly.
The evil spirits finally revealed themselves.
He couldn't know what preparations they had made, but now was the time to use the Guhwamagong.
Earlier in the hall, there had been too many of his own people, so he couldn't use the Daemyeolsik.
But with Jinha's forces and the Demon Annihilation Corps gone, an opportunity had arisen.
From this angle where he now stood, there were no Bisain or Mumyeongaks. The sound of dogs barking could be heard from far away in the opposite direction.
'I'll blow away not only Tuwang but the palanquin too!'
Just what countermeasures have you prepared?
Kwakwakwakwakwakwakwakwak!
The Daemyeolsik charged toward them, sweeping everything away.
At that very moment!
An astonishing thing happened.
Shuuuk!
Black holes simultaneously formed beneath Tuwang and the palanquin, and they disappeared as if sucked down into the holes.
Kwakwakwakwakwakwakwak!
The Daemyeolsik passed right over them. It disappeared without a trace all the way to the far rear wall.
A black circle formed where everything had been swept away, and the palanquin rose up.
Fortunately, the Jeoksae Geumryeong came undone, but Geom Mugik stared at the palanquin with a surprised expression.
Seureureuk.
The palanquin door opened, and between the curtains, a hand wrapped in chains revealed itself.
Tuwang walked out from inside the palanquin.
Geom Mugik realized one thing.
"It was also you who saved this man before."
Then Amwang's answer came from the palanquin.
"That's right. The Amno Gwihwansul is my unique secret technique."
Earlier, when Tuwang first got out of the carriage, she had mentioned the Amno Gwihwansul. At the time, he hadn't thought it would be her martial art.
When the Daemyeolsik is unleashed, the target is crushed by demonic energy and cannot escape that place.
But with the Guhwamagong of the Seventh Star, it was impossible to stop the Amno Gwihwansul from rescuing its target.
Previously, the user had disappeared leaving behind everything on his body, but today's Tuwang not only had chains on his fists and body but was even wearing his clothes intact. Because Amwang unleashed the Amno Gwihwansul from nearby, it was different from that time. It meant the technique was operating more powerfully.
"Have you no pride, fleeing cowardly in the middle of a fight?"
Geom Mugik provoked Tuwang.
Tuwang did not assert his pride in this regard.
"Your Guhwamagong is what's cowardly."
He was the one who had faced the Daemyeolsik directly just moments ago. The momentum of those evil spirits surging toward him was still vivid. Could he really have blocked that with his bare body?
"It's merely the realm of the Seventh Star. Surely it's worth enduring once?"
"I'll pass."
He was crazed for battle, crazed for victory, and crazed for revenge, but he refused only when it came to the Guhwamagong.
Right then, Geom Mugik unleashed the Inmyeolsik by surprise.
Saaaak.
In an instant, evil spirits appeared in all four directions around Tuwang and swung their swords.
The swords of four evil spirits from east, west, south, and north struck down at him.
Shwiik! Shwik! Shwiik! Shwik!
But the opponent was fast too. This time as well, a black hole formed on the floor and sucked him in.
Therefore, the four evil spirits' swords cut through empty air.
Geom Mugik saw it. The evil spirits facing him disappearing with stiffened expressions. He could feel that their pride was hurt.
In his eyes, he held a different feeling toward the disappearing evil spirits instead of apology.
'If you come out and live with me from now on, you'll make plenty of wasted moves too. It happens. Don't be ashamed. Your master doesn't bother with pride in matters like this.'
Tuwang walked out of the palanquin again, frowning.
"I said I'll pass."
"I'll keep going. If you keep getting out of that carriage, eventually your pride will be hurt and you'll clash with me head-on. You're a fighter who doesn't back down from a fight, aren't you? It's merely the Seventh Star!"
Amwang stepped in and blocked the provocation.
"Why don't you try it. Let's see whose internal energy runs out first. Ah, but before that, all your friends will die."
At those words, Geom Mugik reined in his aggressive momentum.
"Don't try to trigger my anxiety by talking about my friends."
A low laugh flowed from the palanquin.
She was right. He couldn't drag out time recklessly like this. He had to eliminate them as quickly as possible and save everyone.
He clashed head-on with Tuwang again. Having absorbed the black energy, Tuwang was faster and stronger. They had already been evenly matched, and now he had grown stronger.
Chaengchaengchaengchaengchaeng!
Amid the battle where sword and fist met, sending sparks flying, Geom Mugik ultimately failed to block one fist.
Pueeeoek!
Geom Mugik, struck in the chest, flew far away and collapsed on the ground. The gazes of the Mumyeongaks watching from the walls and trees all turned toward Geom Mugik at once. They looked at each other and exchanged glances.
The Mumyeongaks jumped down all at once and surrounded Geom Mugik in a circle. They were ones who never moved without Geukak Soma's order, but today was an exception.
Tuwang looked at them with eyes full of scorn and unleashed killing intent.
"I'll kill you all!"
But the Mumyeongaks didn't move a single step.
Right then, Geom Mugik's face appeared between the white masks.
"I'm fine, so go back to your positions. Lord Soma will be here soon."
Then a gentle, enchanting voice of Amwang came from inside the carriage.
"Geukak Soma will definitely not arrive in time."
Amid the Mumyeongaks' watch, Geom Mugik showed absolute faith.
"Want to bet? On whether he'll come or not?"
* * *
Geukak Soma was literally fighting dogs.
Swaeeeek!
Two hellhounds were swept away and disappeared by the Mageuk Gwangpokjang.
But the hellhounds in the back scattered in all directions and dodged. They weren't ordinary dogs. They moved like martial arts experts.
The vicious murderous intent they exuded while growling aroused an unpleasant fear.
But Geukak Soma's gaze looking at them was only indifferent and cold.
Shuk shuk shuk!
Hyeorangji was fired in succession at the hellhound flying toward Geukak Soma's nape.
Shuk shuk shuk!
Puk puk puk!
Only after three holes appeared in its head did it turn into black smoke and disappear. Another demon dog charged through that smoke.
Puk!
Geukak Soma jumped up, striking its jaw with a fist.
The demon dogs targeting its legs and back flew forward through the air. Other demon dogs charged from all directions.
Geukak Soma grabbed the nape of the one that had leaped into the air and fell to the ground together.
Kwang!
When he slammed it into the ground with internal energy, it turned to smoke and disappeared.
More demon dogs charged there again.
Hwiik, hwiik.
He twisted his body to dodge the charging demon dog. Twisting his body the other way to dodge again, another demon dog brushed past Geukak Soma's side.
In a situation where dozens of demon dogs charged from all sides, ordinary experts would have their hands and feet tangled from visual fear alone, but Geukak Soma's movements were calm to the point of elegance.
Hwik.
Geukak Soma's figure quickly flew toward the one isolated on the left.
Shuk! Puk!
If it deviated even slightly from the center of the forehead, it wouldn't die in one hit. Only when consecutive Hyeorangji pierced through its head did it finally turn to black smoke and disappear. This one wasn't it either.
They knew no fear. From the eyes of those slowly approaching in a siege, red killing intent flowed, and from their bodies, the unique black energy of dark sorcery rippled.
Catching them one by one, Geukak Soma was only thinking of finding the dog handler. The faster he killed him, the more he could reduce his internal energy consumption.
But he didn't easily reveal his identity.
The dog handler was definitely among these demon dogs. At a glance they seemed to move randomly, but the demon dogs had their own order. The dog handler was definitely giving commands among them.
Shwiik.
Geukak Soma charged toward the one furthest away this time. The one judged to be in the safest position in this fight. Then demon dogs charged from all directions.
Geukak Soma broke through the demon dogs with a protective aura and pounced on the target.
Pung!
The thing disappeared into smoke from the Mageuk Gwangpokjang, but the remaining demon dogs were still there. It wasn't the dog handler.
Right then.
Kwak!
A demon dog rushing from behind bit Geukak Soma's arm.
But its fangs didn't sink in. He had deliberately offered the spot wrapped in Geukpum Cheonjamsa.
Shuk! Peoeng!
When the Hyeorangji hit precisely the center of its forehead, the demon dog biting his arm turned to smoke and disappeared.
Dodging the demon dogs charging again from all sides, Geukak Soma flew toward the interior of Cheonhwaru. Once inside, he entered one of the brothels on this floor.
He was trying to lure them inside to fight because fighting in an open place was disadvantageous.
But the demon dogs didn't follow him in.
As if time was on their side, they gathered in front of Cheonhwaru and looked up at Geukak Soma.
Standing by the window, Geukak Soma looked down at the demon dogs with sunken eyes.
Then one of the demon dogs howled long like a wolf. Then all the other demon dogs howled together. Geukak Soma understood. They were trying to lure him out using the one that had howled first.
Watching the demon dogs howl, he suddenly thought of Geom Mugik making dog barking sounds with Dokwang in the training ground long ago. He needed to hurry and go help Geom Mugik.
Just then a thought flashed through Geukak Soma's mind.
Geukak Soma jumped lightly down.
The demon dogs surrounding him in a semicircle growled as if they would charge at any moment.
Swaaaaaaa.
Geukak Soma began emitting the Soageoksim again.
Originally, the Soageoksim was demonic energy that awakened the fundamental violence of existence. When exposed to the Soageoksim, one's heart beat faster and one wanted to kill someone.
When the fight first began, emitting the Soageoksim was about revealing his inherent demonic energy before battle rather than any special purpose. Because of the Soageoksim, the demon dogs had become excited, making the fight a bit more favorable at times.
But now there was a clear reason for emitting the Soageoksim.
The demon dogs exposed to the Soageoksim gradually began to get excited. The demon dog closest to him couldn't endure and charged toward Geukak Soma.
Shwaaaaaak!
Kwaaaang!
After blowing them apart in midair with the Mageuk Gwangpok Palm, Geugak Soma unleashed his evil intent even more fiercely.
Before that extreme evil intent, the demon hounds went berserk. They charged in even more madly, growing ever more ferocious. At last, they even began tearing into the demon hounds beside them, fighting among themselves.
Bang!
Geugak Soma hurled the one that had lunged at him into the one charging in behind it. Even in the midst of it, he continued raising his evil intent, his gaze fixed on the demon hounds.
Whoooooosh.
The reason Geugak Soma was doing this, despite consuming his internal energy, was to find the dog dealer.
As he thought of Geom Mugeuk and the Poison King, a thought suddenly occurred to him.
Like those two that day, wasn’t the dog dealer also merely shaped like a dog, and ultimately a person imitating one?
If so?
Before an extreme evil intent, he would surely react differently. A dog and a human could not be the same.
When his evil intent reached its peak, one of them entered Geugak Soma’s eyes.
‘That one!’
He felt that one’s reaction was different. It was an instinctive choice.
Shwaaaak.
Geugak Soma charged toward it.
The demon hounds desperately threw themselves in his path.
Demon hounds pounced on Geugak Soma from every direction.
They piled on him again and again, blocking him with all their might. Every demon hound rushed in, until Geugak Soma’s figure could no longer be seen.
The eyes of the demon hound Geugak Soma had targeted were not a dog’s eyes.
Geugak Soma’s premonition had been correct. This demon hound was the dog dealer.
‘He may be holding out with protective qi, but he won’t be able to withstand those numbers.’
Just as a satisfied look flashed in his eyes, the dog dealer flinched in surprise.
An arm was sticking out from between the piled-up demon hounds.
And its finger was pointing at him.
Shuuuuuk!
The Blood Calamity Finger shot toward the dog dealer like a streak of light.
Several demon hounds guarding him nearby threw themselves forward at once. They were the demon hounds prepared for just such a contingency.
‘Not a chance!’
At the very moment a triumphant gleam crossed the dog dealer’s eyes—
Chwaaaaaak!
The Blood Calamity Finger split into five streams.
The divided streams of the Blood Calamity Finger swerved in wide arcs around the demon hounds blocking the way.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
All of them struck the dog dealer’s face behind them.
A brief silence flowed.
Boom!
The demon hound beside the arm Geugak Soma had extended vanished into black smoke.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Starting with that one, the demon hounds began bursting one after another and disappearing. In the place where black smoke rose, Geugak Soma’s white mask was smiling.
When the smoke had completely settled, the dog dealer had returned to his original human body.
Beyond the dog dealer’s corpse, its face riddled with holes, Geugak Soma was launching himself toward the place where Geom Mugeuk was fighting.
‘Young Cult Leader, I’m coming!’