Each time the lanterns swayed, blade-like sword qi split the night sky.
The four men in black fought with lanterns in one hand and swords in the other. Even so, they held their own against the Sado Thirteen Lang and Bi Sain.
Shweeeek! Kwaaang!
Bi Sain flung himself aside, avoiding the sword qi that came flying in. The stone lantern behind him was sliced through and crumbled apart.
Sasasasasasak!
Sword qi poured down in succession toward Bi Sain.
The ones who blocked the incoming sword qi were First Lang, Second Lang, and Third Lang.
Boom! Booom! Booom!
Sword qi collided with sword qi and dissolved in midair.
The next barrage was blocked as another of the Sado Thirteen Lang changed places with them as if taking turns.
The bastards persistently targeted only Bi Sain, and the Sado Thirteen Lang blocked the incoming attacks with perfect coordination.
A battle of four against fourteen. The reason such a tilted fight was possible lay in their internal energy.
They were truly pouring out sword qi without rest to an astonishing degree.
At first, Bi Sain had expected this fight to end quickly. If they used internal energy so recklessly, their dantians would be emptied in no time.
But their internal energy did not run dry.
Their attacks were not the only troublesome thing. When the Sado Thirteen Lang counterattacked, the four men in black avoided the sword qi along strange trajectories.
Their feet were floating slightly above the ground, so it was accurate to say they were flying. Their lightness skill, as though they were gliding over ice, was unlike anything he had ever experienced.
And that was not all. The black-blue light spreading from the lanterns contained an aura of darkness that slowed and dragged down not only a person’s mind, but even their movements.
“Back!”
At Bi Sain’s command, the Sado Thirteen Lang retreated another three zhang.
At a glance, it looked as if they were being pushed back by the enemy’s momentum, but that was not the case.
It was Bi Sain’s deliberate retreat.
As he fought, Bi Sain was focusing on one fact.
These men were not normal martial artists. He had realized that the reason they could display such astonishing movements and pour out sword qi endlessly lay in those shadow-like cords connected to the palanquin.
‘Let’s see how much farther they stretch!’
To resolve that question, Bi Sain had been repeatedly falling back.
Amazingly, even though they had completely left Cheonhwaru and were fighting outside, those cords continued to lengthen.
In any case, the longer the cords grew, the better. If they lengthened, opportunities to cut them would increase, and surely the internal energy being transmitted to them would diminish rather than grow.
But as if to prove that this was a miscalculation, rougher and more powerful sword qi surged from the four men in black.
Fortunately, the Sado Thirteen Lang were elites among elites. Even though their opponents were launching attacks beyond common sense, they did not panic and dealt with them skillfully.
—First Lang! We have to cut those!
—I believe the same.
—I’ll cut the one attached to the leftmost bastard! Focus your attacks on the other three!
—Yes, Young Alliance Leader!
Bi Sain and the Sado Thirteen Lang, who had only been evading until now, launched a counterattack all at once.
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!
The moment the Sado Thirteen Lang fired sword qi in unison to cover him, Bi Sain kicked off the ground and rushed toward the leftmost man in black.
Bi Sain avoided the sword qi the man in black sent flying with his footwork and thrust out his sword.
Shweeek!
The man in black slid away swiftly and dodged.
Bi Sain passed him, twisted his body, and brought his sword down. His target was not the man in black, but the black cord connected to his body.
At that moment, the black cord undulated and avoided the attack.
Bi Sain persistently chased after the cord, and the man in black attacked Bi Sain fiercely.
The other men in black could not help him. That was because the Sado Thirteen Lang were pouring onto them the attacks they had held back until now.
Paaak!
Blood sprayed from Bi Sain’s shoulder. In return, he made sure to claim the price for throwing himself in despite knowing he would be injured.
Chwaaaak!
The cord of the leftmost man in black was severed. Like a snake cut in two, the cord thrashed violently. Black smoke gushed from the severed cord.
Within the smoke, Bi Sain and the man in black crossed paths.
Shweeeeek!
Pwaaaak!
Blood spurted out from within the smoke.
It had burst from the chest of the man in black. With his cord cut, the man in black was no match for Bi Sain.
As the man in black collapsed and died, the lantern he had been holding went out.
The remaining three men in black, having lost their comrade, let out a ghastly cry. Then ghostly wailing resounded from the lanterns they held.
Swaaaaaaak!
The deathly energy created by dark sorcery stretched out from the lanterns and swept over them.
First Lang shouted.
“Deploy the Ghost-Annihilating Formation!”
At once, the Sado Thirteen Lang gathered around Bi Sain and unfolded a sword formation.
The powerful energy released from the completed sword formation blocked the deathly energy that came flying in.
When the outstretched evil aura was blocked, the ghostly wailing of the lanterns sounded even more sorrowful.
Bi Sain did not miss this momentary opportunity when their attack was halted.
Bi Sain, First Lang, Second Lang, and Third Lang launched themselves forward at the same time.
First Lang kicked off the ground and charged in, aiming directly for the second man in black.
Second Lang aimed for the black cord, and Third Lang aimed at the place where the man in black would dodge.
He avoided Third Lang, but Bi Sain was waiting where he dodged.
Slice! Pwaaaak!
Blood gushed from the neck where the head had fallen, and the body collapsed. Drenched in blood, they launched themselves forward again.
Having been together for so long, they knew one another’s minds from a single glance. They possessed the years that could overcome infinite internal energy.
They did not let go of the advantage they had seized.
“Thirteen Flying Swords!”
At First Lang’s shout, the Sado Thirteen Lang fired sword qi in unison.
Thirteen strands of sword qi flew toward the third man in black as fast as light.
Sasasasasak.
The man in black slipped through the sword qi like an acrobat. It was truly an unbelievable, dazzling movement.
At that very moment, someone shouted.
“Over here, you bastard!”
When the third man in black turned, First Lang was already bringing his sword down on the cord connected to him.
Papapapa!
The severed cord spewed black smoke like blood and thrashed madly.
When the man in black turned his head again, he saw twelve streaks of sword qi flying into his eyes. This time, he could not dodge.
Pukpukpukpukpukpukpukpukpuk!
As the sword qi pierced through his body all at once, the severed cord thrashed one last time, and soon the flame of the lantern in his hand went out as well.
The fourth man in black could not help him.
That was because Bi Sain had rushed in to stop him, and a contest of internal energy had begun.
The two men’s palms were pressed together in midair.
Swaaaaaaak!
The black cord connecting the last man in black to the palanquin swelled.
A tremendous amount of internal energy entered the man in black’s body and pressed Bi Sain back.
Bi Sain gritted his teeth and endured. The opponent’s internal energy was monstrous.
Bi Sain looked at First Lang.
Even without words, First Lang could tell what that gaze was saying.
‘This far!’
Without hesitation, First Lang brought his sword down and cut off the man in black’s arm.
Slice!
“Aaaagh!”
Blood spurted from the severed arm.
The Sado Thirteen Lang rushed in and hacked him to pieces.
First Lang looked over the corpses strewn across the ground and said coldly.
“These bastards. What did they take us for?”
And so the last of the lanterns went out.
Bi Sain asked everyone.
“Are you all right?”
“We are all right.”
Bone was visible in the shoulder of Eleventh Lang, who had been injured by sword qi.
“I was just scratched a little.”
“If that’s a little scratch, I won’t even be able to mention mine.”
At Bi Sain’s words, Eleventh Lang smiled awkwardly.
First Lang treated Bi Sain’s shoulder, and Twelfth Lang treated Eleventh Lang’s shoulder. Fortunately, neither injury was on the side they used to wield a sword.
Bi Sain said to everyone.
“The secret lies in the palanquin those cords were connected to.”
No matter how much dark sorcery they had employed, the internal energy they used had been real internal energy.
Someone inside the palanquin had sent that much internal energy?
That was absolutely impossible. The four men in black had quite literally poured out internal energy without limit as they attacked. This was not internal energy a single person could release.
Besides, was that palanquin not currently fighting Geom Mugeuk?
Bi Sain, who had been lost in thought for a moment, made his decision.
“We will not go to aid the Young Cult Leader.”
Bi Sain spoke as he walked into the darkness.
“We will uncover the secret of that palanquin. It must be somewhere not far from here.”
The Sado Thirteen Lang silently followed behind him.
* * *
“Stake that palanquin in a wager.”
At Geom Mugeuk’s words, the Dark King’s laughter came from within the palanquin.
“A wager is only made when both sides have something to stake, isn’t it?”
“That’s right.”
“The Young Cult Leader will soon be dead, so what can you stake?”
“Why act like that just because I took one hit? When fighting, you can get hit once or twice.”
Geom Mugeuk was still relaxed.
“I’ll stake my mouth. How about it? If you carry this mouth around, you’ll never be bored.”
“Instead, I’ll develop pent-up rage.”
Leisure answered leisure. A low laugh seemed to come from the palanquin, and then a calm voice flowed out.
“Young Cult Leader.”
After a brief pause, the Dark King added,
“You have lost. Today, you will not save anyone. Not even yourself.”
As soon as those words ended, the Fighting King walked forward.
Geom Mugeuk said to the Faceless Guests who had blocked the way for him.
“Everyone, return to your positions.”
But none of the Faceless Guests moved. They had judged that the Young Cult Leader was at a disadvantage.
The one enraged by that sight was the Fighting King.
“You disgusting things!”
They were unpleasant just to look at, and now they were standing in his way.
“I’ll send every last one of you off!”
The Fighting King thrust his fist toward the Faceless Guests and Geom Mugeuk.
Papapapapapapapapapa!
He had unleashed Lightning Wild Dance of the Chain Wind-Cloud Fist, filled with extreme internal energy.
Dozens of fists flew toward the Faceless Guests.
The Faceless Guests who stood before Geom Mugeuk did not dodge and unleashed Evil Shadow Finger all at once.
Shukshukshukshukshukshukshuk!
But their Evil Shadow Finger could not break the Fighting King’s Lightning Wild Dance.
Papapapapapapapak.
The fist-shaped astral energy shattered the finger winds and poured toward them.
To the very end, the Faceless Guests did not dodge. It was their will to protect the Young Cult Leader, even if they had to block it with their bodies. Because their masks were smiling, the sight truly made them look like madmen.
Kwaang! Kwaaang! Kwaang! Kwaaang!
Ear-splitting explosions followed one after another, and the earth shook.
The Faceless Guests stared in astonishment at the sight unfolding before their eyes. Under normal circumstances, their bodies should have been blown to pieces.
Sssst! Ssssst! Ssst! Ssssst!
The fist-shaped astral energy that had flown in was melting before their eyes. It was truly melting like ice.
Something had been erected before them.
A single wall that had blocked that terrifying attack.
It was the Great Demonic Wall of the Guhwa Demonic Art.
Before the eyes of the Faceless Guests, every fist unleashed by Lightning Wild Dance melted away.
“That damned Guhwa Demonic Art!”
At the Fighting King’s sunken words, Geom Mugeuk replied.
“I want to make wagers with you people and get along, but you keep making me put up walls.”
The Faceless Guests all cupped their fists and bowed their heads, paying respect to the Guhwa Demonic Art.
Then they turned back and looked at Geom Mugeuk.
Geom Mugeuk looked at them and said with a smile.
“Thank you for protecting me.”
The Faceless Guests were moved. The Young Cult Leader had unfolded for them the Great Demonic Wall that he had not used even while he himself was being beaten. They were even more overwhelmed by the fact that the martial art which had saved their lives was the Guhwa Demonic Art.
Now, when Geom Mugeuk went to the Valley of Villains to meet the Extreme Evil Little Demon, their smiles were sure to brighten even more.
“Now trust me and go up.”
Without hesitation, the Faceless Guests launched themselves up onto the trees and the walls. Even as they did, the eyes in the darkness confronting them ahead still held their positions.
The Fighting King and the Dark King said nothing. They looked shocked by the power of the Great Demonic Wall.
Earlier, both the Great Annihilation Form and the Human Annihilation Form could only be avoided by using the Dark Path Return Art. Yet upon seeing this Great Demonic Wall, they were overwhelmed by its majesty.
The Dark King’s calm voice came from the palanquin.
“Now I understand why the Guhwa Demonic Art is called the greatest demonic art of all time.”
“Don’t be afraid. It’s only at the seventh star for now. Let’s have a proper match.”
Geom Mugeuk provoked the Fighting King again. It would be good if he clashed with the Guhwa Demonic Art.
Just then, the cords hanging long from the palanquin began to thrash, then soon went limp. The other cords were the same.
How could Geom Mugeuk not know what that meant?
“That sounds like bad news.”
As a faint smile formed on Geom Mugeuk’s lips, the Dark King’s voice sank coldly.
“Then I suppose I must deliver bad news to the Young Cult Leader as well.”
As an unknowable incantation began to flow from within the palanquin, the air around them changed.
The Faceless Guests crouched on the tree branches all looked around at once. Something invisible had begun to gather from every direction.
It was darkness. Darkness granted life gathered like storm clouds. It was a visible darkness, and darkness within darkness.
It was a sight neither Geom Mugeuk nor the Faceless Guests had ever seen before.
From the palanquin, the low incantation that tickled the ears continued.
Far away, in the darkness, the eyes all widened at once and began to stir with excitement.
The gathered darkness formed a single shape in the air above the palanquin. It was darkness, yet transparent; darkness, yet gleaming.
What that darkness created was the figure of a woman. Within the darkness, delicate light like the tip of a painter’s brush flowed, shaping her features.
The woman so formed hovered in midair.
The Faceless Guests and the eyes within the darkness all stared at the woman made of darkness.
Darkness was shining within darkness.
“All life shall return to the dark!”
The voice of the Dark King came from the woman made of darkness. If the earlier voice had been soft and alluring, the voice now was deep and mysterious.
The moment her words ended—
Saaaaaaa.
The woman descended onto the body of the Fighting King. Then the Fighting King and the darkness merged into one.
Over the Fighting King’s body, the woman’s form appeared superimposed like a transparent shadow. When the Fighting King raised his hand, the woman of darkness raised hers in the same way. They were two, yet one; one, yet two.
It was none other than the Dark King’s signature ultimate technique, the Dark Descent Art.
The Fighting King had returned far stronger than before, and now even the Dark King had descended upon him. He revealed a force incomparably stronger than when the Fighting King had absorbed the black energy earlier.
“It was already a close fight with him alone. What will you do now? We’ll be fighting as two, you know.”
As her voice flowed out while she was overlaid with the Fighting King, the sight was truly grotesque.
At that very moment, a deep voice came flying through the darkness.
“There are two of us as well.”
Someone crossed the night sky with robes fluttering and landed beside Geom Mugeuk.
A white mask that suited the darkness perfectly—he was none other than Geugak Soma.
“You’ve come?”
“Am I not too late?”
“You arrived at the perfect time.”
At Geugak Soma’s appearance, the Faceless Guests all cupped their fists and paid their respects. In their eyes, one could feel joy and a loyalty deeper than anything.
Geom Mugeuk looked at Geugak Soma. The two eyes within the mask holes shone clear and bright.
“I even made a bet that Soma-nim wouldn’t make it in time.”
“I dislike dogs that bite people.”
At Geugak Soma’s words, Geom Mugeuk smiled brightly.
He had always fought difficult battles with Soma. And he had a premonition that tonight’s battle would be harder than any battle he had fought with him before.
Even so, he was not afraid at all. Because he would be fighting together with his Demon Venerable, with whom no words were needed.
“I won the bet. That palanquin is mine now.”
While joined with the Fighting King, the Dark King spoke softly.
“Nothing will change tonight.”
Over the Fighting King’s fierce face, a deep and beautiful darkness was rippling.
“Let’s see about that. I happen to be rather good at changing things.”
Geom Mugeuk walked forward side by side with Geugak Soma.
As they went, he drew the Black Demon Sword and let it hang down, and Geugak Soma lightly flicked the blade with his finger.
Ting!
A clear metallic ring echoed through the darkness.