Geom Mugeuk continued onward, toward the place where the aura of darkness grew ever stronger.
After his transformation, not only his five senses but even his sixth sense and survival instincts had awakened far beyond what they had been before.
And so, no matter how thick the dark mist became, it could not slow Geom Mugeuk’s steps.
Shhk!
Just then, a sword suddenly shot up from the floor, trying to stab through the sole of Geom Mugeuk’s foot.
Geom Mugeuk instinctively dodged and leaped over it, and swords shot out from both walls as well.
Shhiiik, shhk!
This time too, he evaded lightly and withdrew.
It was not merely the sword blades that had emerged. Arms gripping the swords had come out with them.
And there were not just one or two arms holding swords.
Arms filled the corridor. They jutted out not only from both walls but from the ceiling and floor as well. It was a grotesque hallway packed with sword-wielding arms.
Whoooong!
Geom Mugeuk lightly struck out with a palm, as if to see how they would react.
Like a crab hiding its eyes, the sword-wielding arms vanished into the walls in an instant. Once the palm force passed, the arms holding swords appeared again. They looked like living arms.
Geom Mugeuk could tell. What lay before him was no simple mechanism.
‘This is the work of an expert in dark summoning, among the dark demonic arts.’
Just looking at it was enough to make one’s skin crawl and inspire terror, but Geom Mugeuk actually liked it.
“Seeing how hard you’re trying to stop me from going this way, I guess this is the right path.”
Geom Mugeuk charged forward. It was the sort of reckless rush that made one wonder how on earth he intended to deal with all those countless arms.
Geom Mugeuk answered with his skill.
Shhk! Shhiiik! Shhiiik! Shhk!
Pak! Pak! Papak! Pak!
Each time sword light flashed, an arm was severed. The arms gripping swords were no ordinary things either.
Their swords stabbed and flew at Geom Mugeuk from truly bizarre angles.
They were tricky attacks, coming from directions and angles rarely experienced in battles against people.
Their movements truly seemed to possess the minds of several clever masters.
They had simply met the wrong opponent.
Papapapapapapapak!
Geom Mugeuk broke straight through head-on. The Black Demon Sword moved so quickly that, within the mist, only its sword light flashed, and severed arms flew in every direction.
By the time Geom Mugeuk reached the end of the corridor in an instant—
Thudududududuk.
The severed arms came raining down, filling the corridor floor.
Boom! Boom boom! Boom boom boom boom boom!
The arms turned into black smoke and vanished.
Astonishingly, throughout the entire process, they had failed to tear even a single hem of Geom Mugeuk’s clothing. It was overwhelming martial prowess in the truest sense.
Just then, the door directly ahead at the end of the corridor opened.
Clack.
It was a room where gambling was in full swing.
Geom Mugeuk looked inside. Despite all the chaos outside, the place was still packed with gamblers absorbed in their games. The fervor was even hotter than when Geom Mugeuk had first arrived on this ship.
‘The Great Annihilation Art of Greed is sucking up all their energy.’
They were lost in gambling, unaware that Geom Mugeuk was watching them.
Among the gamblers were some crouched in corners with their heads buried between their knees, and others sprawled out unconscious. Those with weaker bodies had begun to suffer the effects of having their vitality drained first.
At that moment, one person caught Geom Mugeuk’s eye.
The old man watching them gamble was, astonishingly, the Dark Palace Lord. This time too, Geom Mugeuk could tell he was an illusion, just like the ones that had appeared before.
The gamblers, on the other hand, did not even realize that the person observing them from the side was an illusion.
The Dark Palace Lord looked at Geom Mugeuk and said,
“What do you think? Would you not like to test your luck?”
“I have no interest in gambling whatsoever, but I do know one secret.”
“What secret is that?”
“The sure-win secret to always winning at gambling.”
The Dark Palace Lord waited for Geom Mugeuk’s answer with curious eyes.
“The only way to win at gambling is to never step through the door of a gambling den.”
Geom Mugeuk slammed the door shut and continued on his way.
Geom Mugeuk’s voice came from outside the door.
“I won.”
The Dark Palace Lord’s illusion wore an expression of utter disbelief at that action, but the door had already closed. Truly, Geom Mugeuk never once moved as he expected.
Geom Mugeuk was walking quickly down the corridor when the Dark Palace Lord’s illusion appeared in front of him this time.
“What if I become angry and kill them all? Why would you simply leave?”
“So, did you kill them all?”
The Dark Palace Lord gave no answer.
“Right, I thought so. You’re maintaining this grand art by sinking tubes into those people’s desires, so you can’t kill them carelessly. Each and every one of them must be precious, no?”
“I could go back right now and kill everyone in that room.”
“Then kill them.”
When Geom Mugeuk showed such nerve, the Dark Palace Lord stared at him piercingly, trying to discern his true intent. But he still could not reach Geom Mugeuk’s heart.
“Why? Because I protect the people of Maga Village as though they were my own, did you think I’d be frantic to save the gamblers here? If I were that kind of person, do you think I could have made it this far?”
Geom Mugeuk strode forward until he stood before the Dark Palace Lord’s illusion.
Rather, the one probing the truth beyond the illusion was Geom Mugeuk.
“Shall I guess why you appeared before me again?”
Geom Mugeuk stared straight into the Dark Palace Lord’s eyes and asked,
“Things outside the ship didn’t go well, did they? You tried to take Ian hostage or kill him, but failed, didn’t you?”
For an instant, the Dark Palace Lord’s face twitched.
“So you came to test whether you could at least use those gamblers as hostages, and whether that would work on me?”
The Dark Palace Lord neither confirmed nor denied it.
“Or are you trying to keep showing up like this to stall for time? Am I perhaps reaching you much faster than you expected? Why? Do you need more time before you can unleash whatever you’ve prepared?”
From the moment he first boarded this Fortune Ship, Geom Mugeuk had acted outside all expectations.
“I’m going to run from here on.”
Geom Mugeuk passed straight through his illusion and truly began to run.
When the illusion turned around to look, Geom Mugeuk had already vanished around the corner at the end of the corridor.
Geom Mugeuk ran. If, as he had guessed, the Dark Palace Lord was trying to delay his arrival, then arriving even a moment sooner would give him an absolutely advantageous fight.
As he sprinted through the mist like that, Geom Mugeuk’s figure came to a halt.
Something filled the corridor ahead.
Red eyes shining in the darkness.
He could tell by instinct. Though they had human forms, they were monsters summoned through dark demonic arts.
There were not just one or two of them. They packed the corridor tight. The dark aura they exuded was enough by itself to terrify a person.
‘They’re monsters summoned by that expert in dark summoning from before.’
Judging by their momentum, he could tell they were stronger summons than the sword-wielding arms earlier.
“Kraaaaaah!”
The monster at the front let out a hideous roar and charged at Geom Mugeuk.
Shhiiik! Slice!
Following the line of the Black Demon Sword, drawn diagonally with lightning speed, the monster’s body split apart.
And the monster’s attack began from that moment.
Chiiiiiiik.
The black blood that scattered melted the floor and walls.
The Corpse-Dissolving Powder used in the jianghu to dissolve bodies was its blood.
And that was not all. Even though its body had been split lengthwise, it did not fall and continued to rush forward.
Shkshkshkshkshkshk!
The Black Demon Sword moved like lightning and tore it to pieces. Only then did the monster turn into black smoke and vanish.
Chiiiiiiik.
A poisonous smoke rose from the Corpse-Dissolving Powder scattered everywhere.
Monsters that sprayed Corpse-Dissolving Powder were packed tight into the narrow corridor. Once one died, the rest did not charge in; they waited.
It was a situation that would naturally make one worry about how to break through, but Geom Mugeuk did not spare his martial arts.
“If you come at me like this, I have no choice either.”
Sseuk.
A reliable back appeared before Geom Mugeuk’s eyes.
The second form of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art, Great Annihilation Form.
It was a small Great Annihilation Form, split into only two.
But its power remained unchanged. The two evil spirits filled the corridor and pushed straight ahead.
Kwakakakakakakakakakak!
The monsters charged in, trying to endure, but they were not opponents they could withstand. Their entire bodies burst apart.
Puff puff puff puff puff puff puff!
Chiiiiiiik.
Corpse-Dissolving Powder scattered, but to the evil spirits of the Great Annihilation Form, it was no different from being drenched in rain.
When the two evil spirits had pushed all the way to the end of the corridor—
A scream burst out from the end.
“Uaaaaaagh!”
The evil spirits stopped just before sweeping away the one who had screamed as well.
The person trembling as if he might faint was none other than the ship owner, Yang Dong. He had been attending to the distinguished guests absorbed in gambling, but when he heard strange noises outside and opened the door, he came face to face with the evil spirits.
Yang Dong fell flat on his backside.
A terrifying evil spirit looked down at him coldly.
“……Please spare me!”
Ssssst.
As the evil spirits slowly vanished, Geom Mugeuk’s words came from beyond them.
“Do not be afraid. At least for today, they are guardian gods who will protect you.”
* * *
Bi Sain flew up onto the largest giant wolf statue in the inner compound.
The leader of the Evil Dao Alliance, Baek Jagang, stood atop it. From there, the entire view of the Evil Dao Alliance could be seen at a glance.
“I heard that the Demon Flame has risen in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. Is that true?”
Bi Sain had been carrying out an operation outside when he heard the news and hurried back. He could not say how shocked he had been by it.
Baek Jagang silently nodded.
“The fact that they lit the Demon Flame is not what matters.”
What Baek Jagang was focusing on was this.
“What matters is that Geom Ujin allowed it.”
The Geom Ujin in Baek Jagang’s mind was by no means someone who would light the Demon Flame. He knew very well how proud that man was. If someone like him had sealed off the main headquarters of the Demonic Cult?
“Unless it’s a deception meant to kill us all.”
Baek Jagang’s eyes flashed sharply.
“Then something truly dangerous is heading there.”
Bi Sain’s expression hardened. Naturally, it would not be a deception meant to kill the righteous and evil factions. This matter had occurred after Geom Mugeuk led many Demon Venerables out; if they intended to start a war, that would mean Geom Mugeuk was involved as well, and that could not be.
“If they were truly targeting us, they would not have lit the Demon Flame.”
That was why Bi Sain was worried about Geom Mugeuk.
“Is it because of the Heavenly Slaughter Star?”
How could the Evil Dao Alliance not know what the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult knew and what the Martial Alliance knew? The Evil Dao Alliance had also been keeping a close eye on the appearance of the Heavenly Slaughter Star.
“Most likely. Because of this matter, the Martial Alliance has entered a wartime posture.”
“How will you respond?”
“We’ll have to move while watching both sides.”
Though it was the sort of statement that could wound one’s pride, Baek Jagang said it as if it were nothing.
Bi Sain respected and liked this aspect of his master. His master took greater pride than anyone in walking the path of the Evil Dao and had immense pride as the leader of the Evil Dao Alliance, yet he did not belittle others or exaggerate the Evil Dao Alliance’s strength.
“What would you do?”
“For now, this alliance should also strengthen its vigilance to the minimum necessary level.”
“No, not that. If you were the alliance leader, what would you have done?”
“Are you asking me to assume that Geom Mugeuk was the Cult Leader?”
When Baek Jagang nodded, Bi Sain answered honestly.
“If Mugeuk had lit the Demon Flame, I would have gone to help him.”
“What if he invaded this alliance? Would it be fine if the entire alliance were destroyed because of your friendship?”
At those words, Bi Sain lowered his head and said,
“This disciple let private feelings take precedence and made a foolish judgment without considering the greater cause.”
But it seemed Baek Jagang had not brought it up to reprimand him. Regret passed through his eyes.
“In all my life, I have never had a friend like that.”
Bi Sain looked at his master in surprise. It was something he had never once said before.
“That is because you devoted your entire life to the alliance.”
No, there was another reason. The ability to know when others were lying was, at least when it came to making friends, a curse-like ability.
On top of his distrust of humanity, there was another reason as well.
“It was bothersome.”
“Pardon?”
“Just look at you. Are you not agonizing over it? He is your friend, so should you go save him or not? I hated even thinking about such things.”
Baek Jagang had not said this because he wanted his disciple to live the same way. Rather, it was the opposite. His gentle gaze turned toward his disciple.
“Keeping the door closed is comfortable, but it also means you trap yourself inside.”
Bi Sain understood. It meant that he should cherish and protect his friendship with Geom Mugeuk. It was the moment his master acknowledged his friendship.
“I will… not find it bothersome.”
Baek Jagang read the purity dwelling in his disciple’s fearsome face.
Then another astonishing decision flowed from Baek Jagang’s mouth.
“I avoided it all my life, so shall I try doing something bothersome now?”
“!”
Bi Sain was startled. Because he understood that those words meant Baek Jagang would go to help the Cult Leader.
“What? Are you surprised that I am going to help him even though he is not my friend?”
Baek Jagang seemed like an emotional person, but he was not someone who made decisions emotionally. That was why Bi Sain was so curious about this decision of his master’s.
“May I ask the reason?”
“If the Cult Leader dies, I will not be able to take revenge on him, will I?”
Not revenge on the Heavenly Slaughter Star, but on the Cult Leader? Bi Sain wondered what that meant, but the reason was something he had never expected.
“At the tripartite talks, the Cult Leader and that old man of the Martial Alliance boasted endlessly about how they each had two children, did they not? I have to show them that one well-raised child can beat two.”
At the word “child,” emotion surged through Bi Sain’s chest. Nothing moved him more than when his master treated him not as a disciple, but as a child.
“If a man as proud as he is lit the Demon Flame, then this is something I must go to. It is no different from lighting a fire to call us there.”
Nor was he worried about leaving his post instead of protecting the Evil Dao Alliance.
“If that Heavenly Slaughter Star is strong enough to kill the Cult Leader?”
Baek Jagang had come to realize something after seeing countless villains of the evil factions. If someone was an absolute villain like that?
“If I am not in the alliance, he will not invade. So we will leave the doors wide open.”
Respect for his master rose in Bi Sain’s heart on its own. He could not hide that swelling emotion.
“Master, you are the most magnificent of all. I too truly wish to become an Evil Dao Alliance Leader like you.”
Throughout his conversation with his disciple today, not once had Baek Jagang felt goosebumps rise near his ears. If he had met someone like this when he was young, perhaps he might have had at least one friend.
“I will be back.”
“Yes, Master.”
Instead of telling his master to be careful, Bi Sain conveyed these words.
“As for that revenge match against the Cult Leader or the Martial Alliance Leader….”
When it came to the revenge match over child-rearing, he did not want to lose. For his master alone.
“Boast as much as you like and return. I will take responsibility!”