As if it were the cry of fate, a low rumble of thunder came from far away.
Rrrrrumble.
Dark clouds were gathering in the distance. The air riding in on the wind already felt damp.
Like the weather changing in an instant, Geom Mugeuk could feel that this encounter would change his fate.
Within the Time-Space Displacement Art, Geom Mugeuk stared at the Dark Palace Lord.
He was meeting someone he should not have met, in a place where that person should not have been.
‘Just why are you in contact with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult here?’
As it happened, he was standing in a position where he could see the other man’s face in detail.
From the Dark Palace Lord’s intense gaze, he felt two contradictory sensations at once: coldness and heat.
The first impression was heat. In his eyes burned the fierce flame of a man who would surely achieve whatever he had set out to do.
And at the center of that flame, Geom Mugeuk could see it.
A cold-blooded ruthlessness that would sacrifice anything for the sake of its goal.
Because Geom Mugeuk had seen countless villains until now, he knew. This was a man who created answers from death. A man who solved problems by killing.
Geom Mugeuk’s gaze turned this time toward the masked man. Last time, he had seen him only from a distance, but today he could see him up close.
‘His skills are no ordinary thing.’
By feel, he was not a Demon Venerable, but he was at least a demonic practitioner of division-leader level or higher. He was probably someone adept at handling matters like this.
The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had met with Jo Ung of the Murim Alliance, and they had also met with the Dark Palace Lord of Heavenly Will Palace. In other words, they had made connections with both sides.
“It looks as though rain will fall soon.”
After looking around at the surroundings darkening beneath the clouds, the masked man added,
“Isn’t darkness on your side? It seems the heavens are helping you.”
The Dark Palace Lord turned toward the masked man standing behind him.
At that moment, Geom Mugeuk saw it. His gaze changed in an instant into a lukewarm look that was neither cold nor hot.
‘He is skilled at hiding himself.’
With an indifferent expression, the Dark Palace Lord gave an unexpected reply.
“That notion that darkness is evil, that darkness is bad, is a prejudice. Surprisingly, most bad things happen in broad daylight. Darkness merely gives humans rest and repose.”
At those half-joking words, the masked man’s eyes smiled.
“I know very well what sort of darkness yours is. Hearing someone like you speak of repose is amusing.”
The masked man spoke as though he knew exactly what kind of person the Dark Palace Lord was. He did not read the other’s mood, but neither was he rude.
Their gazes tangled in midair.
Between them, Geom Mugeuk was watching the two.
‘They don’t trust each other.’
In other words, they had joined hands for the sake of something they needed.
Just what sort of deal was the Dark Palace Lord trying to make with this dangerous opponent?
The masked man asked the Dark Palace Lord,
“Who has it now?”
To the masked man’s question, the Dark Palace Lord answered,
“The Palace Lord has it.”
Geom Mugeuk could tell. The thing the masked man was asking about was none other than the secret chest.
‘So the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult also knows that the secret chest has awakened.’
If so, the reason they were intervening this time would also be because of the secret chest.
“Has he obtained the power?”
“Not yet.”
“Why are you so certain? He may have already obtained it.”
“No.”
The Dark Palace Lord was certain that was not the case.
“If he had, the Martial Emperor Divine Sword would already be a dead man.”
He knew the personality of the Palace Lord of Heavenly Will better than anyone. If he had obtained power, he was not the sort of man who would leave the Martial Emperor Divine Sword be.
“Here, take it.”
The masked man handed him the leather pack he had been carrying on his back.
The Dark Palace Lord checked the contents of the leather pack.
“By tomorrow, everything will be over. Since we will have no reason to meet again, allow me to congratulate you in advance on ascending to the seat of the Palace Lord of Heavenly Will.”
After saying that, the masked man was about to turn away when the Dark Palace Lord spoke to him in warning.
“You had best keep your promise. If you do not want darkness to become a nightmare for the rest of your life.”
In the masked man’s gaze flashed a sneer that seemed to say, ‘You dare threaten us?’ but the words that came from his mouth were gentle.
“Even now, I do not sleep well at night. So do not worry. Our cult will certainly keep its promise.”
Geom Mugeuk confirmed one fact in this place.
‘The Dark Palace Lord has betrayed the Palace Lord of Heavenly Will.’
At first, he had thought that perhaps he was carrying out this matter under the orders of the Palace Lord of Heavenly Will. After all, they might have been trying to draw in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and kill the Alliance Leader.
But that was not it. This was the Dark Palace Lord’s rebellion.
Just what was inside that leather pack?
Rrrrrumble.
As the thunder sounded even closer, the Dark Palace Lord slung the leather pack over his shoulder and slowly began descending the mountain.
Once he disappeared, Geom Mugeuk emerged from the Time-Space Displacement Art.
The Dark Palace Lord was undoubtedly going to meet the Palace Lord of Heavenly Will. To learn what he was scheming, Geom Mugeuk had to reach the camp faster than him.
‘I have to hear what they talk about.’
Of course, if the Palace Lord of Heavenly Will was in the tent, he would not be able to enter, but that was a problem to worry about when the time came.
Geom Mugeuk looked down below the cliff. With his current internal energy, jumping down felt precarious, but—
“Wind God, I’m counting on you!”
Geom Mugeuk hurled himself off the cliff.
* * *
Swaaaaaaaaa!
Amid the pouring rain, the Palace Lord of Heavenly Will sat cross-legged on a rock.
The falling rain did not strike his body, but bounced away. It felt as though an invisible membrane surrounded him.
He was in a secluded place a little distance from the camp, settling his mind ahead of tomorrow’s decisive battle.
The power of the secret chest had still not been transmitted to him.
If he fought like this? Would he truly be able to defeat the Martial Emperor Divine Sword?
Not even vaguely could he say, “Of course.” His opponent was a man whose martial skill bore the character for emperor, and whose sword bore the character for god.
‘Heavens, are you toying with me?’
He even felt resentment.
Just then, the voice of the Guardian Palace Lord was heard.
“The Dark Palace Lord has arrived.”
At that, the Palace Lord of Heavenly Will’s eyes snapped open. The emotion that flashed through them was unmistakably anticipation—‘At last!’
When the two returned to the tent, the Dark Palace Lord was waiting while looking at the map of the Central Plains hanging on the wall.
As the Palace Lord of Heavenly Will entered, the Dark Palace Lord greeted him with the utmost courtesy.
“I pay my respects to the venerable Palace Lord.”
“Welcome, Palace Lord Hua.”
The Dark Palace Lord, Hua Shaoqiang.
He also exchanged greetings with the Guardian Palace Lord. Outwardly, they greeted each other with proper courtesy, but the gazes they exchanged were far from pleasant.
In particular, the Guardian Palace Lord always suspected and guarded against the Dark Palace Lord. He believed that the Dark Palace Lord harbored ambitions to seize Heavenly Will Palace.
Of course, he had never told the Palace Lord of Heavenly Will of such suspicions.
There was no proof, and above all, the Palace Lord of Heavenly Will trusted the Dark Palace Lord. He knew that the Palace Lord liked him more than he liked himself.
Then again, unlike himself, who always spoke against his will, the Dark Palace Lord usually said what the Palace Lord of Heavenly Will wanted to hear.
His first words today were no different.
“Tomorrow, at last, the master of the orthodox murim will change.”
At those words, as if guaranteeing the victory of the Palace Lord of Heavenly Will, a thought suddenly occurred to the Guardian Palace Lord.
‘So the Palace Lord must have wanted to hear those words.’
He had been by the Palace Lord’s side the entire time, yet he had not said such a thing even once.
Perhaps it was because although he now believed that Heaven’s Will had descended upon the Palace Lord, he still had lingering discomfort about this war itself.
The Palace Lord of Heavenly Will responded humbly.
“Tomorrow’s battle cannot be guaranteed. The Martial Emperor Divine Sword is not an opponent to be taken lightly.”
“Heaven’s Will has reached you, Palace Lord. It is not something a mere human can stop.”
At that, the Palace Lord of Heavenly Will mentioned the Divine Maiden. His intention was to hear what Hua Shaoqiang thought of the prophecy.
“The Divine Maiden came.”
The Dark Palace Lord asked carefully,
“Was a prophecy given?”
When the Palace Lord of Heavenly Will slowly nodded, the Dark Palace Lord respectfully cupped his fist and said,
“I dare ask about the sacred prophecy.”
After a brief pause, the Palace Lord of Heavenly Will answered.
“It was a prophecy that I would lose this war. She said our Heaven’s Will would only be fulfilled three hundred years from now.”
Even at those astonishing words, the Dark Palace Lord’s expression did not change at all.
“You are not surprised.”
The Dark Palace Lord said calmly,
“Three hundred years from now… It is too distant a matter to feel real.”
He had not directly commented on the prophecy, but his words already contained more than enough of his feelings.
“It is not as though you can wait three hundred years, is it?”
At the Dark Palace Lord’s words, a faint smile formed on the lips of the Palace Lord of Heavenly Will.
The Guardian Palace Lord could tell. That, too, was what the Palace Lord had been hoping to hear. He had been wishing for someone to support him like that. Because the Dark Palace Lord was someone who said such things, the Palace Lord had been so pleased earlier when he heard that the Dark Palace Lord had arrived.
“A prophecy is, in the end, no more than a prophecy.”
“It has never once been wrong.”
“Then make it wrong this time.”
The Palace Lord of Heavenly Will laughed loudly.
What the Dark Palace Lord had prepared was not only words pleasing to the ear.
“To that end, this should be of help.”
The Dark Palace Lord took something out of the leather pack he had brought.
“Please wear this, Palace Lord.”
What he presented was a suit of protective armor.
“It is the Ice Dragon Divine Armor.”
Both the Palace Lord of Heavenly Will and the Guardian Palace Lord were surprised that it was the Ice Dragon Divine Armor. This Ice Dragon Divine Armor was truly difficult to obtain.
“How did you acquire this?”
“I made inquiries in every direction and barely managed to obtain it.”
Moreover, there was a reason why it had to be the Ice Dragon Divine Armor.
“The Martial Emperor Divine Sword’s martial arts are based on extreme yang internal energy. This Ice Dragon Divine Armor contains extreme yin energy, making it the most suitable protective armor for facing the Martial Emperor Divine Sword.”
The Palace Lord of Heavenly Will was greatly delighted.
“Thank you.”
The Dark Palace Lord had prepared more.
He took a small box from the leather pack.
“Please take this as well.”
When the Palace Lord of Heavenly Will opened it, there was a single pill inside.
Seeing it, the Palace Lord of Heavenly Will and the Guardian Palace Lord were startled. It was a spiritual medicine they both knew.
“It is the Heavenly Yin Pill.”
The Heavenly Yin Pill was a spiritual medicine with effects superior to Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng, and it was not easy to obtain.
“This, too, is a spiritual medicine based on extreme yin, so it will be of help in facing the Martial Emperor Divine Sword.”
“Thank you. Truly, thank you.”
“It will take time for the extreme yin energy to spread throughout your body. Therefore, please take it now. We will stand guard for you.”
Once the energy of a spiritual medicine was dissolved and refined, it became internal energy, but it took time for its unique properties to take effect within the body. Especially in the case of this spiritual medicine, the extreme yin property was more important than the internal energy itself.
“Thank you. I will take it now.”
At that moment, the Guardian Palace Lord sent a sound transmission to the Palace Lord of Heavenly Will.
—It would be best not to take the pill.
He knew very well how this would sound to the Palace Lord of Heavenly Will. The Dark Palace Lord had even obtained protective armor and a spiritual medicine for tomorrow’s battle, while he was suspecting the other man’s goodwill.
But ahead of this important duel, he thought the spiritual medicine given by the Dark Palace Lord must not be taken.
—Do you think the Dark Palace Lord would betray me?
Did he truly not know that there was such a possibility? Or was he himself blinded by jealousy?
—The Palace Lord Hua I know is a man of great ambition. I worry he may be plotting something on this occasion.
The Dark Palace Lord realized that the Palace Lord of Heavenly Will and the Guardian Palace Lord were exchanging sound transmissions. But he did not step forward and simply waited, pretending not to know. The situation was on his side.
An astonishing statement flowed from the mouth of the Palace Lord of Heavenly Will.
—That is right. More than anyone, Palace Lord Hua is a man of great ambition.
He knew as well. In fact, he knew it even better than the Guardian Palace Lord.
—His lifelong dream is to sit in my seat.
—!
The Guardian Palace Lord asked in shock,
—Then why do you intend to take the pill?
There was another reason for that.
—Precisely because of that, he would not do something like poison the pill.
—What do you mean?
—The moment he poisons me to death, the seat of Palace Lord will vanish for him.
It meant that the members of the palace would never accept someone who had poisoned the previous Palace Lord.
The Guardian Palace Lord looked at the Palace Lord of Heavenly Will in astonishment. He had thought the Palace Lord was simply melting beneath a treacherous subject’s honeyed tongue, but that was not so. He saw through everything.
“The two of you stand guard.”
The Palace Lord of Heavenly Will took the Heavenly Yin Pill on the spot.
Then he sat down, circulated his energy, and began dissolving and absorbing the pill’s medicinal power.
He circulated his true qi once, then again.
While the Palace Lord of Heavenly Will dissolved the medicine’s effects, the Guardian Palace Lord waited inwardly tense.
By contrast, the Dark Palace Lord acted as though it were nothing at all, arms folded, merely staring at the map on the wall.
The Guardian Palace Lord found it strange. If the Palace Lord’s words were correct—
‘Just what are you scheming?’
He must be hoping that the Palace Lord of Heavenly Will would die in tomorrow’s duel. Then why had he obtained and given him protective armor and a spiritual medicine?
A short while later, after dissolving all the energy of the spiritual medicine, the Palace Lord of Heavenly Will opened his eyes. His gaze had deepened even further. Just as he had said, there had been no poison in the Heavenly Yin Pill.
“It has greatly helped increase my internal energy. Moreover, by tomorrow, the extreme yin energy should protect me from the Martial Emperor Divine Sword’s extreme yang true qi. Thank you.”
“For the sake of your victory, Palace Lord, I would gladly offer even this life.”
Since there was nothing wrong with the spiritual medicine, the Guardian Palace Lord had nothing to say. Rather, he felt awkward, but the Palace Lord of Heavenly Will did not rebuke him.
“Please put on the Ice Dragon Divine Armor as well.”
The Palace Lord of Heavenly Will also put on the Ice Dragon Divine Armor in front of them. This, too, was so precious that it was only proper to wear it before the person who had gifted it.
After putting on even the Ice Dragon Divine Armor, the Palace Lord of Heavenly Will said to the Guardian Palace Lord,
“Leave us for a moment.”
Supporting the Palace Lord’s will, bringing protective armor, and even a spiritual medicine—if he was told to leave ten times over, he was in no position to refuse.
The Guardian Palace Lord bowed respectfully and left.
Swaaaaaaaaa.
He slowly stepped into the rain.
Since the Palace Lord of Heavenly Will had said he knew of the man’s ambition as well, he was not worried, but for some reason he felt troubled. Everyone was living while using one another, and he alone felt left behind. He wondered if he was merely being stubbornly loyal.
The reason the Palace Lord of Heavenly Will sent the Guardian Palace Lord out was not because he favored the Dark Palace Lord. It was because there was an order he had secretly given to the Dark Palace Lord.
“Did you bring the secret chest?”
“Yes, I brought it.”
He had brought the large secret chest from Heavenly Will Palace’s treasury to this place.
The reason the Palace Lord of Heavenly Will had started this war, and the reason he intended to continue fighting while ignoring the prophecy, was all because of the secret chest. Because he believed the secret chest had chosen him and would grant him power.
But as time passed and he still failed to obtain power from the small secret chest, he grew more anxious by the day.
In the end, the conclusion he reached was this.
Perhaps the large secret chest was needed in order to obtain the power of the small secret chest.
He had secretly ordered it brought here in order to make even that final effort.
Because now, the only thing he could believe in was the secret chest.
“Where is it now?”