A terrifying silence flowed.
It truly seemed as if even the ghosts had been frightened into stopping their cries.
Though his move had been broken with a single counter, Gwak Ju instead burst into loud laughter.
Jin Hagun could tell. That laughter was not originally Gwak Ju’s voice. And if the laughter of a master of the Soul-Capturing Art was mixed in with it, what did that mean?
‘His emotions are wavering.’
Jin Hagun felt it. The first crack had begun to form in the world he had created.
Gwak Ju, who had been laughing aloud, abruptly stopped.
“Our young Demon Venerable is better than that old codger from the righteous faction over there.”
At those words, Hwasong’s face flushed red.
He was one of the two grand masters who taught the Great Orthodox Soul-Returning Art in the Murim Alliance.
He already felt deep shame over the fact that he, of all people, had fallen victim to the Soul-Capturing Art, and his opponent had dug right into that wound.
“That old man even activated the Blood Heaven Soul-Forcing Art himself.”
Just as his face was turning even redder, Jin Hagun stepped forward.
“At the very least, however, he does not hide behind someone else.”
Jin Hagun’s voice was clear and powerful. It carried the Righteous Heart Art (正心功), which blocked stray thoughts and drove away heart demons. At once, the feverish flush blooming on Hwasong’s face subsided.
“I have no face to show you, Commander Jin.”
Jin Hagun consoled him in a firm tone.
“There is no need to blame yourself. That man is someone who has been working beneath the surface around Master Hwa for a very long time. It was likely a conspiracy that began from the very first day Master Hwa taught his disciples. No one can know what he secretly fed you all this time, or what suggestions he continued planting. The arrangement of the Blood Heaven Soul-Forcing Art was also extremely cunning. Anyone would have fallen for it.”
Then Gwak Ju sneered at Jin Hagun.
“Our Commander Jin is quite busy. Flattering the Demon Venerable, comforting an old codger of the righteous faction.”
Even at his mockery, Jin Hagun did not waver in the slightest. Though this place was a world within that bastard’s sorcery, he was still the commander of the Demon Extermination Unit.
If anything, he was grateful to him. Thanks to this incident, he had realized many things.
It was not merely a resolve to become stronger.
After falling under that bastard’s sorcery, he had been insulted again and again, and had been forced to feel helpless.
Yet even throughout that process, he had tried to keep his subordinates from being hurt. At that time, he had continued thinking one thing inwardly.
My pride may be wounded. But my subordinates must not be.
Jin Hagun paid attention to this feeling within himself.
Seeing how he had changed, he felt for himself that he had matured. Yes, even if the tip of the sword wavered, the heart must not.
As he was steadying his heart like that, the Soul-Capturing Demon Venerable said to him,
“When it grows fully, a tiger is frightening. A serpent is not.”
How could he not know that she meant he could not deal with that serpent because he was still a tiger not yet fully grown?
Because he had not expected her to say such a thing, Jin Hagun was inwardly moved.
Jin Hagun lowered his head slightly, conveying his gratitude to her.
Gwak Ju cut in again.
“What a sight. A Demon Venerable of the Demonic Cult comforting the commander of the Demon Extermination Unit! Could anything be more bizarre?”
The Soul-Capturing Demon Venerable slowly turned to look at him.
Shh!
Because the gesture felt as if it meant, You shut up, Gwak Ju’s expression hardened. Without saying a single word, she had turned his insides upside down.
Of course, he did not simply endure it and let it pass.
“Your Young Cult Leader died at the hands of the grandfather of the man you are trying to save. Now then, who is the serpent?”
In case there was any misunderstanding, Jin Hagun quickly stepped forward.
“Do not be deceived. That would never happen.”
Then unexpected words came from the Soul-Capturing Demon Venerable.
“I know. If one of the two died, then, forgive my presumption, it would have been the Alliance Leader.”
For a moment, Jin Hagun flinched in surprise. From her unwavering gaze, he could tell that she truly believed that.
Jin Hagun could feel that it did not stem from rudeness, but from absolute faith in Geom Mugeuk.
‘Ah, now that I think about it, she is the first Demon Venerable of the next generation.’
Thinking of her as Geom Mugeuk’s first Demon Venerable, he could understand this absolute faith of hers.
The Soul-Capturing Demon Venerable moved toward Gwak Ju and said,
“Ghost games should be played among ghosts.”
Gwak Ju smiled broadly as he watched her walk toward him. The emotion he felt toward this young Demon Venerable was this:
“How cute.”
After stopping, the Soul-Capturing Demon Venerable looked at him and smiled brightly.
“Don’t change your words later.”
“Even the way you talk is cute.”
Step, step, step, step!
The warriors of the Demon Extermination Unit who had fallen under the Soul-Capturing Art blocked the way in front of Gwak Ju. Gwak Ju watched with an expression that said, What will you do with them? Go on, show me your tricks.
The Demon Extermination Unit warriors aimed their swords at her and stepped forward.
Naturally, the one whose heart grew urgent was Jin Hagun.
They themselves had not attacked their comrades, even while prepared to be wounded, but the Soul-Capturing Demon Venerable was different. There was no reason for her to show such consideration, nor could he force it upon her.
After giving a look to the Demon Extermination Unit subordinates beside him, Jin Hagun stepped forward. Following him, all the warriors of the Demon Extermination Unit stepped up as well.
“We will take care of them.”
“There is no need.”
At the Soul-Capturing Demon Venerable’s words telling him to trust her and step back, Jin Hagun immediately withdrew his subordinates. He trusted her. He trusted Geom Mugeuk, who had sent her.
The Demon Extermination Unit warriors caught in the Soul-Capturing Art rushed at her all at once.
Shiiik! Shik! Shiiik!
Just as the Demon Extermination Unit warriors, watching with the thought that someone would surely die, were about to rush forward, Jin Hagun stretched both hands out to either side and stopped them. If you could not trust her, you should have stepped in from the beginning; if you trusted her, then you must trust her to the end.
The swirl pattern drawn on her cheek shone, and at the same time, a pure white wave of energy burst forward from her body.
Whoooooong!
The fierce gust of energy whipped everyone’s collars and hair.
Then came silence.
The Demon Extermination Unit warriors who had been swinging their swords all stopped in place. The swords thrusting toward the Soul-Capturing Demon Venerable had also halted.
“Huh?”
All of their expressions had returned to normal. They wore looks that asked why they were attacking a woman they had never seen before.
As if blowing it away with the wind, the Soul-Capturing Demon Venerable had released the Soul-Capturing Art placed on them all at once. It was truly an astonishing divine feat.
Soon after, the Demon Extermination Unit warriors saw Jin Hagun standing behind the Soul-Capturing Demon Venerable and understood the situation. They realized that they had fallen into the Soul-Capturing Art.
They all leaped toward Jin Hagun at once.
Jin Hagun welcomed them with joy.
“You have returned well.”
Seeing Jin Hagun drenched in blood from head to toe, they guessed what sort of situation it had been.
“Thank you, Commander.”
“Give your thanks to the Demon Venerable.”
At that, the Demon Extermination Unit warriors courteously paid their respects to her.
“Thank you.”
Without turning around, the Soul-Capturing Demon Venerable merely lifted one hand lightly.
Jin Hagun liked that about her. Perhaps it was all the more so because, as long as her connection with Geom Mugeuk continued, she was a Demon Venerable he would be seeing for a very long time.
Now, only Gwak Ju stood before the Soul-Capturing Demon Venerable.
Even though the Soul-Capturing Demon Venerable had released the Soul-Capturing Art on the Demon Extermination Unit warriors in a single stroke, he was not flustered.
The moment his gaze sharpened—
Chang.
One of the Demon Extermination Unit warriors half-drew his sword.
Caught once more by the Soul-Capturing Art, he had tried to attack the warrior beside him, but before he could fully draw his sword, the Soul-Capturing Demon Venerable released him from the art.
Chang!
A sword being drawn from another man’s hand stopped.
It was truly a contest of Soul-Capturing Arts unlike anything seen before.
As if playing go, attack and defense, attack and defense, continued in succession.
Each time, light shone from the swirl pattern drawn on her cheek.
Just as the opponent had strengthened his Soul-Capturing Art with the Blood Heaven Soul-Forcing Art, it was clear that her soul painting was also lending her power. And each time the light flashed, the swirl pattern grew a little fainter.
In the end, the opponent gave up on casting the Soul-Capturing Art on the Demon Extermination Unit warriors.
Gwak Ju lightly tapped his palms together as if admitting defeat, giving soundless applause. He still acted composed, but he could not hide the astonishment in his eyes.
The Soul-Capturing Demon Venerable spoke indifferently, as if tossing the words out.
“If you are this much of a coward, why did you involve yourself in something like this?”
It was not open mockery, but a question that sounded as if she were truly curious. That was why Gwak Ju’s face truly hardened, irritation flashing across it.
The Soul-Capturing Demon Venerable had never had an ordinary personality to begin with. She was ambitious, and her temper was sharp.
However, after recently rising to the position of Demon Venerable, she had focused solely on training. Since she was relatively weaker than the other Demon Venerables, how hard had she struggled to escape the evaluation that she was weak?
After doing nothing but train, she was now facing a strong enemy for the first time in a while, and her tongue was slowly beginning to loosen.
“It is my first time seeing someone hide behind a hostage.”
Of all things, the body he had entered was Gwak Ju’s.
She knew that this operation was a rescue mission to save Gwak Ju.
Gwak Ju immediately struck back.
“I hear the Young Cult Leader seated you in the position of Demon Venerable. Did you at least offer him that body of yours?”
The Soul-Capturing Demon Venerable returned the provocation exactly as it came. It was a provocation returned with interest.
“And you? Did you offer up your courage before coming here?”
In the end, the opponent could not endure it.
Gwak Ju’s eyes sank coldly, and he took something out from his bosom.
Astonishingly, it was the counterfeit hidden weapon Jingeok.
One might have thought he had taken it out to fire at his opponent.
But Gwak Ju began bringing Jingeok beneath his own chin. He was trying to commit suicide.
“Since our Demon Venerable mocks me as a coward, I have no choice but to show you that I am not.”
He looked at Jin Hagun and grinned.
“Your objective was to save me, was it not? Your mission has failed.”
Because he could not let Gwak Yeong’s younger brother die like this, Jin Hagun’s heart grew urgent.
But he trusted the Soul-Capturing Demon Venerable. She knew that this man absolutely had to be saved.
Before Jingeok was triggered—
Something was unleashed first.
Clang, clang!
Before anyone knew it, something had wrapped around Gwak Ju’s body.
The black chain engraved on the Soul-Capturing Demon Venerable’s hand had actually shot out and coiled tightly around him.
“Now, if you want to die, die!”
His fingers had not been suppressed. But Gwak Ju could not fire Jingeok. Originally, the moment Gwak Ju died, he would have been able to escape from his body.
But in a situation where he was bound by this chain, he could not.
“Soul-Locking Bind (鎖魂結)!”
The chain had completely imprisoned his soul inside Gwak Ju’s body. In the end, if Gwak Ju committed suicide, he would die with him.
Gwak Ju tried to sever the chain. But the black radiance only shone more intensely; it did not break.
“You drew a soul painting this powerful?”
His eyes widened, filled with disbelief.
“Who drew that soul painting for you?”
He was certain she had not drawn the soul painting herself. She did not deny it.
“If I had just a few more years, I would not have needed a soul painting to deal with you.”
When the Soul-Capturing Demon Venerable finished speaking and pulled on the chain, Gwak Ju flew right in front of her.
She seized Gwak Ju by the throat.
He felt it. Her killing intent was not a mere threat.
“Do you intend to kill this man too?”
He threatened her with Gwak Ju’s life, but it did not work.
“Why? Am I not allowed to?”
The Soul-Capturing Demon Venerable’s other hand, the one not gripping his neck, rose into the air.
“It would be a profitable trade!”
Swaaaaak!
Before anyone could stop her, she struck down at Gwak Ju’s head with her palm without hesitation.
“Wait!”
At Gwak Ju’s urgent cry, her hand stopped. It truly stopped perilously close, right above his head.
He could tell. The Soul-Capturing Demon Venerable had genuinely intended to kill him.
For the first time, fear appeared in Gwak Ju’s expression.
Of course, he had absolutely no intention of dying together with this worthless hostage.
“I will leave.”
Thud.
As if surrendering, Jingeok fell from Gwak Ju’s hand to the ground.
But the Soul-Capturing Demon Venerable still looked down at him with cold eyes, pondering.
Gwak Ju shouted urgently.
“This man is someone the Eldest Young Master promised to save no matter what. You must not kill him!”
Truly, to think he would end up making such a plea.
The Soul-Capturing Demon Venerable smiled brightly like a madwoman and asked,
“Do you still think I am cute?”
The moment her words ended, the black chain disappeared and returned into her arm. The chain had become far paler than its original color.
Gwak Ju’s expression returned to normal.
The one inside his body had vanished from it in an instant.
With Gwak Ju as the last, everyone here had now escaped from the Soul-Capturing Art.
Watching the way she threatened her opponent, Jin Hagun felt as if he were looking at a witch. What would this young witch become when she grew older?
A furious voice thundered through the air. Now, he no longer hid his rage.
“How dare you open the door to my world and enter.”
As if he did not truly exist here, his voice echoed like it was reverberating through a cave.
“You mock me and threaten me?”
In an instant, the surrounding scenery changed.
Whoooooosh!
They were on top of a cliff where a fierce wind blew. Everyone stood precariously upon it. It was a cliff so high that clouds could be seen far below.
The cliff was real. If they fell from here, they would truly die.
“You should never have opened that door and entered.”
Originally, in a battle of Soul-Capturing Arts, entering another person’s world placed one at an absolute disadvantage. This was because breaking the art was far more difficult than unfolding it.
“Let us see if you can save them.”
Kwadududuk! Kwaduduk!
The cliff they stood on cracked apart, and its edges began to crumble. It was a height at which it would be difficult to survive with lightness arts.
As the Soul-Capturing Demon Venerable chanted an incantation, the swirl pattern engraved on her face shone more dazzlingly than ever before.
At the very moment the light vanished—
Guuuuuuu!
A deep roar rose from below the clouds, and a massive cliff pierced through them and ascended.
Astonishingly, a cliff similar to the one they stood on had risen from below. There was no time to marvel.
“Everyone, cross over!”
At Jin Hagun’s shout, the Demon Extermination Unit warriors used lightness arts to cross to the opposite cliff. Jin Hagun tucked Gwak Ju under his arm and flew there.
Those whose lightness arts were lacking received help from other comrades, and all safely landed on the opposite cliff.
Kwaaaaaaarung!
In the meantime, the original cliff where they had been standing had completely collapsed.
The Soul-Capturing Demon Venerable’s hair whipped in the wind.
“You say this is your world?”
From the cliff she had created and raised, she shouted in a clear, ringing voice.
“If I take it, then it is my world.”
Absolute Regression, Chapter 660