The expression on Baek Mang-gi’s face held many emotions.

Fear, surprise, excitement, anger.

But the very first to surface was surprise.

“So young?”

When he first almost died by my sword, he must have thought I was Geukak Soma. He must have thought he was mistaken—if it weren’t Geukak Soma, I wouldn’t have swung my sword so fast.

“Hey, old man.”

I skipped any courtesy. I didn’t know his life story, but the moment he was cutting down the Third Lord here today, there was no reason left to respect him.

“Did you say we’re playing ghost games? You’re the one playing ghost games right now.”

“What did you just say?”

“Why crawl out of your grave and interfere with the affairs of later generations? You lived in your era, gained the name Sword Emperor. Wasn’t that enough?”

His words struck a nerve; the air around us chilled.

But I felt a burning heat. Slowly, behind me, Geukak Soma properly donned his mask. I didn’t need to look into his eyes to know what he was thinking.

Yes, some things can be known without words or sight.

“Listen, young junior. What use is such rude speech to your elders?”

“Old man, since you’re going to kill me anyway, expecting manners is just shameless. If you had any shame, you wouldn’t be hacking at those young juniors.”

The air grew even colder as he stroked his trimmed beard. I fed his killing intent.

“If your disciple goes mad and jumps into power struggles, it’s your responsibility as master to stop him. Now that he’s crawled out, what do you expect? Are you both crazy?”

Baek Mang-gi’s face flushed faintly. Yes, get excited. Get even more excited.

I shouted to Bishain and the Demonic Twelve Lords standing far off.

“Let’s send these old men back to history.”

We would handle this; let them handle Seok Gwan-chu.

Hope blossomed in Bishain’s despair-filled eyes. If we handled Baek Mang-gi, this fight was worth trying.

Seok Gwan-chu’s face hardened. He could never have dreamed of such a variable even with the master involved.

Baek Mang-gi asked coldly,

“Who is the cunning one?”

“The old man missing from the ledger, here to take you to the afterlife.”

In a flash, Baek Mang-gi drew his sword like lightning.

Flash!

I barely dodged the flying blade. His attack was swift and powerful.

Then—

Fwee!

Geukak Soma’s Blood Crimson Seal erupted. Baek Mang-gi twisted his body to evade, but my sword pierced him.

We clashed instantly as Bishain and the Demonic Twelve Lords rushed Seok Gwan-chu.

I decided not to worry about Geukak Soma and fight.

We had never fought in sync before, and trying clumsy cooperation against Baek Mang-gi would only be disadvantageous. I trusted Geukak Soma.

He would intervene, evade, and assist on his own. He would fight well.

So I fought Baek Mang-gi one-on-one.

Clang!

We clashed again. His swift swordsmanship was beyond what the Demonic Twelve Lords could handle. Even Geukak Soma struggled to dodge such rapid attacks consecutively.

Seeing and blocking was too slow. One had to rely on experience and instinct.

If he attacked left, I had to strike right. Thinking otherwise meant losing my head.

Baek Mang-gi’s formerly speed-focused techniques became dazzling. This sudden change was highly threatening.

But I barely blocked his attacks, struggling not to be overwhelmed.

While exchanging techniques, Geukak Soma’s Blood Crimson Seal flared. Our movements were so fast it had to be used with utmost caution—one wrong move, and I could have been hit.

Though it was a two-person fight, Baek Mang-gi did not falter. Being named Sword Emperor eighty years ago was no joke, and he showed his strength.

His footwork was as splendid as his swordsmanship. Had I not learned the Wind God Step, I would have been completely trampled. He fought me almost tangled up like avoiding the Blood Crimson Seal, his every step perfectly flexible.

After over a hundred seconds, while exchanging sword qi, Baek Mang-gi suddenly unleashed his tensile force. It was a wildly changing attack, but fortunately, I responded in time.

Bang!

The collision of tensile forces exploded like thunder.

We staggered back. Our power was nearly equal. Without the recent Ten-Thousand-Year Black Spirit Mushroom, I might have been outmatched.

As we distanced, we had a moment to speak.

“I don’t want to be surprised, but I can’t help it. How can you hold such deep internal power at your age?”

I said warmly,

“My friend, don’t you know?”

“What?”

“I’ve undergone Return-to-Youth Reversion.”

For a moment, he thought I was someone he knew.

“Who?”

“Who else but the rude young junior? Why ask when you have no friends?”

Only then did Baek Mang-gi realize I had mocked him. His face twisted. I must provoke him whenever I can.

As always, the one who gets excited loses.

For the first time, Baek Mang-gi’s sword radiated qi.

Shwaaak!

The moment I’d awaited.

Bang!

My emitted sword qi collided with his, roaring explosively.

Seizing this chance, Geukak Soma unleashed Blood Crimson Seal and Demon Light Explosion successively. This two-person fight favored us.

I unleashed continuous Flame Heaven Techniques.

Geukak Soma relentlessly cast Blood Crimson Seal and Demon Light Explosion.

Baek Mang-gi wildly swung his sword and released tensile force to disperse them. Explosions followed one after another.

Bang! Bang! Kwaaang! Bang!

The earth shook, dust billowed.

Amid this fierce exchange, Seok Gwan-chu, Bishain, and the Demonic Twelve Lords paused and observed.

When the dust settled, we were shocked.

He stood unharmed.

And the Sword Emperor’s deadly aura of rage.

Shssssss!

Before him, swords divided into sword-shaped qi.

I realized he intended to kill everyone here. To kill the Demonic Twelve Lords and Bishain, and face us alongside Seok Gwan-chu.

The Black Demon Sword rose before my chest, dividing.

Shsssssss!

The seventh form of Radiant Sword Art, Flowing Heaven Form.

Perhaps thanks to achieving the Twelve-Star Great Perfection, it divided faster and more numerous than before.

Baek Mang-gi’s sword qi flew toward everyone here.

Shshshshshsh!

Swoosh!

Simultaneously, my sword qi erupted.

Then, a magnificent scene unfolded.

Two types of lines weaving through space — one meant to kill, the other to protect.

When these lines crossed, explosive clashes of sword qi erupted continuously.

Bishain saw Baek Mang-gi’s sword qi flying toward his face — too fast to dodge.

But my sword qi came faster, tearing it apart right before his eyes.

Bang!

Other Demonic Twelve Lords experienced the same — sword qi flying at them was shredded by other sword qi, a sight rarely witnessed in a lifetime.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Kwaang! Bang!

Geukak Soma destroyed sword qi himself, trusting mine to block nothing.

When all flying sword qi vanished and dust settled completely,

Baek Mang-gi appeared. His eyes, a mix of disbelief, shock, and anger, shone with murderous intent. Seok Gwan-chu was shocked and flustered; he never imagined the master’s deadly aura would be blocked.

In contrast, Bishain and the Demonic Twelve Lords looked on with awe, almost reverence.

This time, I charged Baek Mang-gi first.

“If you do your best, I will give my all. If you die, only you die; if I die, too many will.”

I poured everything into my sword.

In moments, dozens of moves passed between us.

Blood splattered from both bodies. There was no time to check where we were cut. Even after wearing Supreme Heavenly Subjugation Armor and Ghost Tiger Armor, blood flew—meaning without them, I might have been cut in several places.

I endured and endured; Baek Mang-gi’s impatience grew.

When was the last time he had fought such a long battle?

Fifty years ago? Seventy? Perhaps never. Since becoming Sword Emperor, no one dared attack him recklessly.

Geukak Soma’s help was vital. Though our fight was too fast for him to interfere recklessly, he struck Blood Crimson Seal when sure.

Blood Crimson Seal saved me at critical moments. One timely strike turned the tide and gave me chance.

Eventually, Baek Mang-gi changed tactics, trying to kill Geukak Soma first.

Sensing the killing intent toward Geukak Soma, I fiercely pressed Baek Mang-gi.

If I left ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) a gap, Geukak Soma would die.

That was all I thought.

I did not want to lose Geukak Soma in this fight. I did not want him to die by this old man.

“If you kill him, I’ll kill you! Damn old man!”

This desperate desire created a remarkable phenomenon.

My vision narrowed to only Baek Mang-gi.

It was as if, against a black background, only Baek Mang-gi dressed in white moved before me. Everything else vanished.

All sounds were cut off. Only I and Baek Mang-gi’s sounds remained. It was the first such experience since learning martial arts.

At the moment our swords clashed and sparks flew,

Another change occurred.

Baek Mang-gi disappeared too, and only his sword moved before my eyes. Only my sword. Maybe soon, I wouldn’t even see this sword.

Gradually, Baek Mang-gi’s sword became clearer.

Thanks to my Divine Eye Technique sharpening my vision, I adapted first—not that he slowed or I sped up. My eyes adapted.

Just sword then again Baek Mang-gi’s figure.

I saw his face.

Now I truly saw it.

His struggle.

His regret.

His fear.

And I saw—

The one flaw in his perfect form.

The moment I recognized it, my sword already moved from mind to action. My sword and body were one.

Thud!

My sword pierced Baek Mang-gi’s heart.

Vision returned to normal. Darkness around faded, and the surroundings appeared.

Baek Mang-gi’s body had multiple holes bleeding—where the Blood Crimson Seal hit.

I could not tell when he was hit. Baek Mang-gi fought so well despite facing us two.

Looking down at his last gaze, filled with surprise, shock, emptiness, and fear, I slowly sheathed my sword. I was too exhausted to say anything.

Blood gushed from his heart as Baek Mang-gi collapsed, dying.

Had I not attained the Twelve-Star Great Perfection, I would have lost. Without Geukak Soma’s cooperation, we would have died.

Monstrous predecessors like this exist in the martial world—in the Martial Alliance, the Sect, and even the Demonic Alliance.

Like fossils awakening to ignite a final flame. That is why the martial world is terrifying.

“Oh, I’m dying.”

I collapsed on the spot. I had used so much strength I couldn’t even move a finger. Unless someone stabbed me, I couldn’t move. A groan escaped me.

Geukak Soma sat heavily beside me. Beneath his mask, I saw his chin—blood had dried there.

“Are you hurt?”

“Just a scratch.”

“You can’t afford to be ugly. You mustn’t hurt your face!”

He laughed, probably never thinking such words in this situation.

“Fighting so hard and still joking?”

“When opportunity comes, you must not miss it.”

“Second Prince bleeds a lot.”

“It hurts like hell.”

Geukak Soma pressed the blood points on my arms, legs, abdomen, and shoulders to stop bleeding.

Could he have imagined when we started this journey he’d be healing my wounds?

“What about that fight over there?”

I asked. He glanced briefly at the ongoing battle and said,

“It’s almost over.”

Not mentioning help meant Bishain’s side was winning.

We looked at the sky silently.

Then I spoke first.

“Thank you.”

After a moment, Geukak Soma said,

“Thank you.”

We exchanged thanks only. No other words were needed.

“I’ll buy you a new mask.”

“Get me a better one. That mask gets sweaty after wearing it too long.”

“Will do.”

Then—

“Kraaak!”

I heard a scream as a life was cut short.

Looking up, Bishain and three Demonic Twelve Lords had their swords plunged into Seok Gwan-chu.

Two more Demonic Twelve Lords lay fallen on the ground. The wicked never go alone.

I sat up.

Bishain walked toward me. Standing a little away, he stared at Baek Mang-gi’s corpse. He seemed unable to believe we had killed him.

He bowed to me—the first time.

“Thanks to you, I survived.”

I smiled.

“Thanks to you, I almost died.”

He didn’t smile. Still resolute, gripping his blood-dripping sword, he said,

“I plan to go straight to kill Seok Gwan-chu’s grandson.”

He was more polite than before and took my advice well.

“The testimony of our Demonic Twelve Lords will be enough evidence.”

“Make sure the Demonic Alliance listens.”

“Then we shall meet again.”

Bishain bowed. The Bishain I first met and the one now were completely different.

After they gathered their fallen comrades and left, Geukak Soma asked,

“For the sect’s sake, shouldn’t someone more idiotic than Bishain be made successor?”

“Probably.”

“Then why help that man?”

Though it started because Seok Gwan-chu’s grandson was garbage, I replied,

“If the opponent is too much of a fool, it wouldn’t be fun.”

Geukak Soma chuckled. He thought the same — the stronger the opponent, the more fired up he became.

“Shall we go?”

“Ahhh, my legs hurt, I can’t walk. Carry me.”

“Don’t pretend. You’re limping on the other leg now.”

Geukak Soma and I walked side by side, leaving.

Only faint moonlight remained there, coldly illuminating old and older desires cooling down.