The Fist Demon’s gaze turned toward Geom Ujin.
It had been a long time since he had heard the Cult Leader curse. In his youth, the Cult Leader had cursed quite often.
Before he became the Young Cult Leader, and even during his days as Young Cult Leader, the Cult Leader’s air had been quite different from now. If he had something to say, he said it, and he expressed his emotions readily. There had even been a time when he called the Blood Heaven Blade Demon “elder brother.”
In any case, one thing was certain. Over the course of their lives, the Cult Leader had cursed more than he had. Though no one would believe it.
The person most surprised by Geom Ujin’s words was Jin Paecheon.
‘To think that man knew how to curse like this?’
Jin Paecheon looked at Baek Jagang. At the look in his eyes that seemed to ask, Did you know? Baek Jagang shook his head.
But this much he knew. Cursing, too, was something only those who had done it before could do.
‘So he was a foul-mouthed Cult Leader? How has he held it in all this time?’
The more he saw, the more he thought the man was impossible to understand.
The others, who had not yet heard the sound transmission, could understand from Geom Ujin’s words. Hwa Mugi had not been acting; other souls had entered his body.
The Sword King took one step forward and looked at the Cult Leader of Pungcheon, who had blocked the attack for him.
At the gratitude in his gaze, the Cult Leader of Pungcheon nodded once with a reassuring expression.
If Hwa Mugi’s second and third attacks had continued to fly in, there was no telling what the result of that battle would have been.
He had blocked only a single attack, but the instant sword met sword, he knew.
‘He’s strong!’
It was truly the first time he had encountered internal energy so profound.
And that was not the only astonishing thing. Those clean, precise movements! The Sword King found himself wanting to keep fighting him. Having met a strong opponent, his blood was beginning to boil as well.
The Poison King silently watched Hwa Mugi, who had been approaching him, turn back around. He understood. The Cult Leader had diverted Hwa Mugi’s attention away from him.
The Poison King had known from the beginning. The Cult Leader did not want him to take an active role in this fight.
What the Cult Leader wanted from him was for him to protect the Young Cult Leader if he lost this battle.
When he had given that order earlier, the Poison King had said he would protect the Young Cult Leader by threatening to kill everyone in the world.
Even so, the reason he had seated him here today was surely to make him see clearly who the opponent was. After all, even a threat could only be made properly when one knew the other party.
Hwa Mugi slowly turned toward Geom Ujin. In an instant, the air around them grew heavy. His gaze was fixed solely on Geom Ujin.
The Poison King, whom he had first intended to kill, and the Sword King and the Cult Leader of Pungcheon who had interfered, were no longer in his interest.
It was only natural. For what was glaring at Geom Ujin now was not Hwa Mugi, but another soul.
“Do you know who I am, to dare!”
Geom Ujin could tell who had emerged. The Demonic Cult Leader from three hundred years ago!
“Where did you learn such manners of speech?”
It was a tense situation, as though they might clash at any moment, but Geom Ujin stared straight at him and said,
“And who might you be?”
None of them had yet revealed their identities. And, apart from the Palace Lord of Heaven’s Will, who had become enraged at the Sword King over their differing interpretations of Heaven’s Will, none of them had drawn a sword either.
Geom Ujin could tell. There was definitely some kind of restriction on those souls.
‘I have to break that restriction.’
And make them go berserk.
Because the more the souls inside the Heavenly Slaughter Star ran wild, the greater their chances of defeating the Heavenly Slaughter Star would become.
Ordinarily, the more confused and unpredictable an opponent was, the more disadvantageous it would be, but with the abilities of the seven experts gathered here, that confusion would work more in their favor.
“I asked who you are.”
“I am…”
The demon within Hwa Mugi could not reveal who he was. It was a control powerful enough to seal the mouth of a Demonic Cult Leader, but Geom Ujin provoked him further.
“You cowardly bastard, unable even to reveal who you are!”
The instant those words reached Hwa Mugi.
The next moment!
One of the restrictions was released.
Demonic energy began to dwell in the eyes where red energy had been wavering. Until now, only a faint aura had brushed past, weak enough that only Geom Ujin could sense it, but now he revealed his demonic energy in earnest.
The soul within Hwa Mugi revealed himself.
“I am Hyeok Docheon, who led the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult three hundred years ago.”
He might have endured it from anyone else, but he absolutely could not endure hearing such abuse from a later Demonic Cult Leader. His pride would not allow it.
Having revealed himself, Hyeok Docheon spoke sternly.
“Kneel at once and apologize!”
Tremendous demonic energy poured toward Geom Ujin.
Swaaaaaaah.
Everyone inside the tavern simultaneously raised their protective qi to shield their bodies. Though the demonic energy had been directed only at Geom Ujin, merely sharing the same space made it hard to breathe.
Then a single sentence was heard.
“No.”
Hyeok Docheon’s face stiffened. Rather than anger, his expression was closer to bewilderment.
He did not know. The Demonic Cult Leader he was facing now was the man who had left the words “you idiots” for the previous Cult Leaders on the wall of the Socheon Cave where Geom Mugeuk had undergone his trial.
Geom Ujin did not go easy on him just because he was a Demonic Cult Leader from three hundred years ago. Rather, he used the man’s fiery temperament against him.
“Because you are not the Heavenly Demon.”
When his very self was denied, Hyeok Docheon was enraged.
“You say you cannot believe me? I am Hyeok Docheon!”
Craaaaaack.
The floor split, and fissures began to spread.
It had not been broken by the exertion of internal energy, but solely by the force of demonic energy.
In truth, this demonic energy alone was more than enough to prove that he was Hyeok Docheon. He was not strong merely because his internal energy was profound. This was not ordinary demonic energy; it contained a majesty only a Demonic Cult Leader could display.
But far from being afraid, Geom Ujin poured oil onto that fury.
“If you were truly the Heavenly Demon, you would already have come out of there. You would not be trapped in another man’s body, defiling the honor of our cult.”
The fury of having been struck at his sore point flared up like fire.
Yes, go mad! Reveal your emotions! Let your demonic energy explode and stir everything up! Tear apart the other souls!
The black sword Hyeok Docheon extended pointed at Geom Ujin. His momentum was such that he seemed ready to charge at any moment.
“If by any chance you really are the Heavenly Demon.”
Everyone expected the words, Show me proof that you are the Heavenly Demon, to follow.
“Then I am ashamed that we are both called Heavenly Demon.”
But what flowed from Geom Ujin’s mouth was something no one had imagined.
“Kill yourself.”
“!”
A heavy silence fell.
Jin Paecheon swallowed hard. Judging from the situation, that soul was undoubtedly Hyeok Docheon, the Demonic Cult Leader from three hundred years ago, just as he had said.
And yet he told him to kill himself? Even though the other party was a soul?
Goosebumps did not rise around Baek Jagang’s ears. That meant those words had not been spoken lightly, but in all seriousness.
In this atmosphere, Baek Jagang nearly burst into loud laughter.
At that moment, there was someone who actually did laugh aloud.
It was Hwa Mugi.
Just as the demonic energy was about to explode, laughter burst out first. Hyeok Docheon, who had been on the verge of exploding, went back in, and Hwa Mugi came out again.
“They said the Young Cult Leader amused people by acting like a madman. It seems he takes after his father.”
In that moment, Geom Ujin understood.
Though who came out emerged at random each time, the one ultimately controlling them was that Hwa Mugi.
If he had not controlled him, Hyeok Docheon would already have charged at him.
Hwa Mugi walked into the kitchen and looked for liquor.
As if to soothe the enraged Hyeok Docheon, he poured liquor into a large cup and drank.
Hwa Mugi lifted the bottle toward Geom Ujin with an expression that seemed to ask, Would you like some too?
Geom Ujin shook his head.
“How utterly lacking in style. If you’re the Heavenly Demon, you should drink straight from the bottle!”
Hwa Mugi scooped up the stew Baek Jagang had made earlier and ate it as a side dish.
“It’s a little cold, but it’s tasty. Who made this?”
Hwa Mugi was still at ease.
From the ease he had shown ever since he first appeared, Geom Ujin had harbored one question.
‘Why doesn’t he attack us immediately?’
Because he had come out into the world after a long time and wanted to enjoy it? Because he wanted to toy with them and savor his own strength?
At first, that was what he had thought.
But from the killing intent that was gradually intensifying, Geom Ujin found another answer.
‘He is being cautious too.’
Geom Ujin could feel it. Though Hwa Mugi appeared calm on the outside, his murderous intent was steadily rising.
By using the emotions of the people within his body.
‘He is gathering Heavenly Slaughter.’
The time when this murderous star bestowed by heaven would display its greatest power was surely when the killing intent thus filled reached its peak.
Hwa Mugi would move at that moment.
And from this fact, Geom Ujin inferred one thing.
If this fight were too easy for him, there would be no need to gather killing intent like this.
Now Geom Ujin had two choices.
Fight before the killing intent was filled any further!
Or shake the souls dwelling in his body.
The method Geom Ujin chose was the second.
On this side were himself, the Martial Alliance Leader, and the Unorthodox Alliance Leader; on that side were the Demonic Cult Leader from three hundred years ago and the two Alliance Leaders.
If fate had brought them together like this, then surely those souls might play some role.
He could not know how many souls were inside, but the souls that had revealed their identities so far numbered three. The Divine Sword of the Martial Emperor, Hyeok Docheon, and the Palace Lord of Heaven’s Will.
There was one soul he suspected was there but had not yet revealed itself: the Unorthodox Alliance Leader.
The next target Geom Ujin aimed for after Hyeok Docheon was the most異질 among them.
Geom Ujin sent a sound transmission to Jin Paecheon.
—Do you not wish to see the Divine Sword of the Martial Emperor?
Jin Paecheon understood. He did not know the exact intent, but it meant he was to draw the soul of the Divine Sword of the Martial Emperor out of Hwa Mugi.
Even without his words, the Divine Sword of the Martial Emperor was the one person he wanted to meet again properly.
Jin Paecheon said to Hwa Mugi,
“Give me a cup of wine.”
Hwa Mugi looked at Jin Paecheon and laughed heartily.
“Excellent! The Demonic Cult Leader, who looks like he would drink boldly, is guarding himself, while the Martial Alliance Leader, who looks like the primmest scholar, is truly magnanimous!”
Hwa Mugi lifted the wine bottle and beckoned Jin Paecheon closer.
“Come here! I’ll pour it for you myself.”
Srrrrk.
But Jin Paecheon did not approach. Using void-seizing force, he brought the wine bottle to himself.
At that, Hwa Mugi put on a deliberately disappointed expression.
“So you are a prim scholar after all.”
Jin Paecheon’s next action was unexpected.
Holding the wine bottle, he asked Hwa Mugi politely,
“Alliance Leader, will you accept a cup from me?”
Just as a strange smile formed at the corners of Hwa Mugi’s mouth.
In an instant, his eyes changed.
“Give me a cup.”
The calm voice made it clear that another soul had already appeared.
Jin Paecheon silently gazed at Hwa Mugi for a moment. He felt that he was not playing a prank, but had truly changed into another person.
Geom Ujin admired the way Jin Paecheon had summoned him. He had not provoked the Divine Sword of the Martial Emperor to call him out, but had called him in a manner suited to his nature. With a single polite sentence.
Jin Paecheon carried the wine bottle and approached him.
Glug.
Jin Paecheon filled his cup to the brim.
After emptying the cup, Hwa Mugi asked,
“Do you know who I am?”
“Are you not the Divine Sword of the Martial Emperor?”
“How did you know it was me?”
At the confirmation that he truly was the Divine Sword of the Martial Emperor, fierce emotion coursed through Jin Paecheon’s heart.
‘Cult Leader Geom’s words were true.’
With calm eyes, Jin Paecheon spoke his honest feelings.
“The person I respect most is you, Alliance Leader. Whenever someone asked me whom I respected most, I always answered that it was you.”
For an instant, emotion flashed across the Divine Sword of the Martial Emperor’s face. It had been a long time since he had conversed like this not with evil men, but with a member of the righteous sects—and now he was hearing that this man respected him most of all!
“How did you end up in that body?”
At Jin Paecheon’s question, the Divine Sword of the Martial Emperor sighed and answered,
“There was a sacred object of the Palace of Heaven’s Will that absorbed evil spirits. As it absorbed the others, it sucked me in as well.”
“Then why was that Demonic Cult Leader there earlier?”
It was understandable that the Palace Lord of Heaven’s Will was there. But why was the Demonic Cult Leader there with him?
The Divine Sword of the Martial Emperor could not answer easily.
To the later-generation Martial Alliance Leader who said he respected him most, he could not bring himself to say that he had personally drawn the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Unorthodox Alliance into that war.
Jin Paecheon thought that unless it was for such a reason, there would be no reason for him to hesitate.
“By any chance, were you the one who called them?”
After a brief pause, instead of answering, the Divine Sword of the Martial Emperor recalled another day.
“I remember the day I declared war against Cheonui Palace. I spoke boldly before all the righteous factions. I said we would root out evil and protect the murim. Back then, I was confident. I was certain I could end the war with my own hands in no time.”
Darkness settled in the eyes of the Divine Sword Martial Emperor.
“But the war did not end quickly. Countless people died in that war. It was all my fault.”
As someone who had also been an alliance leader, Jin Paecheon understood that feeling better than anyone.
But what he was curious about now was not his feelings. Jin Paecheon still had not heard the answer to the question he had asked earlier.
“Was it you, Alliance Leader, who brought in the Demon Cult Leader?”
In the end, the Divine Sword Martial Emperor answered honestly.
“Yes. It was me.”
All sorts of emotions rose in the Divine Sword Martial Emperor’s eyes. The greatest among them was resentment at the injustice of it all.
“I only wanted to minimize the damage to my subordinates. I wanted to end the war decisively so that no more of my men would lose their lives. Even if my honor was tarnished, I believed that was the path for the righteous murim. My choice was for the sake of the murim!”
Jin Paecheon said nothing, sensing that he was growing more and more agitated.
“And yet! The heavens treated me the same as the Demon Cult Leader and the leader of the Evil Path Alliance! They swallowed me up along with the Palace Lord of Cheonui Palace, the very one who started the war! For no reason other than that I had been there!”
Jin Paecheon suddenly forced down the words that rose to his throat.
‘Was that truly the only reason?’
When Jin Paecheon remained silent, the Divine Sword Martial Emperor thought he was condemning him.
“Would you have been any different? You, who are here together with the Demon Cult Leader and the leader of the Evil Path Alliance, even though no war has broken out?”
Still, Jin Paecheon gave no answer.
Then someone spoke.
“He would have been different.”
The one who spoke in Jin Paecheon’s stead was Geom Ujin.
Everyone’s gaze turned toward him.
“He may be the sort of man who comes running all the way here alone for his grandson’s sake, but he would not call me into his own war. Alliance Leader Jin is that kind of man.”
Geom Ujin’s and Jin Paecheon’s gazes tangled in midair. Jin Paecheon was surprised that Geom Ujin understood him so precisely.
He was right. If it had been him, he would not have drawn in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. Even if that fight meant that he and everyone else would die.
On the other hand, rage surged across the Divine Sword Martial Emperor’s face. To hear such words from none other than the Demon Cult Leader was truly humiliating.
The reason Geom Ujin was pressing him so hard was that he hoped some variable would occur within that body.
Because the more murderous intent built up, the greater the chaos had to become.
“You say you did it out of concern for the murim?”
With deepened eyes, Geom Ujin stared straight into his.
“Then prove it.”
Geom Ujin did not say what he should prove or how. He knew full well that, at times like this, saying nothing had the strongest effect.
“If you cannot……”
Geom Ujin pushed him all the way to the end. He was not forcing him to do something; rather, it was the opposite.
“Stop with the stale whining and tell someone else to come out.”