The first to speak was Geukrak Yohi.

She fluttered her pale pink fan lightly and said,

"Hey, handsome younger brother!"

Her gaze toward me was filled with seduction.

"How about you go out with me, younger brother? It seems like something terrible is about to happen here soon."

I smiled and said to her,

"What should I do? You're not really my type."

"Oh my! Not your type? I'm not that old. Just call me older sister."

I asked Geukak Soma,

"How old do you think she is?"

"At least over sixty."

Then Geukrak Yohi shouted angrily,

"Shut up! You ugly devil bastard. I'm still twenty-eight."

She was not even afraid of Geukak Soma. She was truly a fearless villainess.

"Weren't you twenty-eight ten years ago as well?"

"You remember that?"

"You looked over forty back then too."

Geukak Soma seemed well aware that these words irritated her the most.

From the furious Geukrak Yohi, a wicked aura flowed out.

"Today, finally, I will see the face behind that mask. If you hadn't sneaked into the demonic sect, you would have died by my hand long ago."

From their conversation alone, it was clear that the two did not get along.

Then, among the three Blood Path Warriors nearby, the third actually took Geukak Soma’s side.

"The witchery of that old hag grows more wicked by the day."

Then the second, pretending to restrain her, mocked Geukrak Yohi.

"Brother, if you speak carelessly, that witch will suck out your vital energy."

When Geukrak Yohi turned with a stern face to them, this time the eldest of the Blood Path Warriors spoke.

"Brothers’ chatter is nothing new. Just think of it as a passing dog barking."

Geukrak Yohi scoffed.

"Why do those dog bastards bark at every person they see?"

Still, she seemed to have some acquaintance with the eldest. It was obvious the calm eldest was the leader of the Blood Path Warriors.

"Next time you come out, you should wear a muzzle."

At that moment, the third pretended to whisper into someone’s ear, but his voice was still loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Seeing how he always defends her, maybe the eldest spent a hot night with that witch?"

"Then we should call her sister-in-law."

The eldest closed his eyes gently and said to Geukrak Yohi,

"Let them think you’re senile."

On the surface, it looked like idle banter, but they were ready to strike at any moment.

Even the second and third, who jabbered like drunkards, were sending intense prayers with every word. Otherwise, they would have already been torn apart by Geukrak Yohi.

I emitted multiple layers of energy like spider webs to sense their prayers. Like spiderweb vibrations when prey is caught, I keenly monitored how their prayers changed.

They were confident. The atmosphere showed they believed that if they attacked together, killing Geukak Soma would be easy. The jokes passing around reflected that confidence.

Then the last one who entered, Yeomra Shingun, spoke.

"If you’re senile, you should just die."

He deliberately changed his voice to sound gloomy, like a death god speaking.

He took out a booklet from his bosom and opened it. It was the list of lives he carried.

"Bad guys who should have fallen to the Eight Hells long ago. I’ll send you there now."

Then the youngest and second of the Blood Path Warriors clicked their tongues and said,

"That madman’s sickness shows no sign of improving."

"You fool, instead of writing our names, you should write the name of that masked guy."

I guessed they knew each other well and even met frequently, so I sent a secret message to Geukak Soma.

―Do you know where these guys came from?

―They are from Akin Valley.

Within the Heavenly Demon Sect, Geukak Soma stayed at Akin Valley. But the Akin Valley he just mentioned was not the place where he lived.

There was a real Akin Valley in the Central Plains where villains gathered.

No one knew when Akin Valley first appeared. It was created when criminals who committed sins and fled began to gather one by one. The terrain was filled with swamps, poisonous snakes, venomous insects, and countless traps, so anyone who entered carelessly lost their life within a few steps.

Even if one passed the dangers and went inside, all kinds of villains awaited. A child who offered to show the way stabbed you with a dagger in the neck; a kindly old woman poisoned the food. That was Akin Valley.

The Martial Alliance tried to cleanse that place several times but failed every time. The number of villains was too great, so they always suffered heavy losses and withdrew.

Still, the reason Akin Valley never emerged as a power into the martial world was one:

Because they were villains.

Whenever someone tried to unite them, someone always betrayed. They fought and killed each other so often that they could not consolidate into a single force.

This Akin Valley group had come together to kill Geukak Soma. Not ordinary villains, but people of this caliber. This alone implied that the mastermind behind was truly formidable.

―What is our plan?

Geukak Soma answered without hesitation.

―Wipe them all out.

―Is it possible?

―It is. They missed the most important factor in their calculation.

―Of course, you mean?

―They ignored the fact that I do not like falling into traps.

They had truly provoked Geukak Soma’s temper.

Daring to set a trap to kill me? Even using Eunwon Jeon?

Geukak Soma was very angry now. But of course, he was not an opponent to be dealt with recklessly and was only waiting for the right opportunity.

At that moment, Hyeollangdo, who had been sitting alone, suddenly stood up and declared.

"Geukak Soma, this is a matter of life and death between us."

Then Yeomra Shingun immediately stepped forward.

"Geukak Soma’s name is already on the register. I will take him."

When he opened the Book of Life and Death, Geukak Soma’s name was written in red letters.

Geukrak Yohi licked her lips with her tongue, coveting Geukak Soma.

"He looks disgusting but must taste delicious."

The Blood Path Warriors felt the same.

"If they kill that guy, they will have to listen to his bragging for a long time. Let’s take the lead."

They all seemed eager to fight Geukak Soma. For them, killing Geukak Soma would be a lifelong boast.

Seeing this, I said to Geukak Soma,

"You're quite popular."

"This is nothing. It’s chaos on the righteous side. They line up for ten li to kill me."

I burst out laughing at his joke.

Naturally, the villains’ gaze turned toward me. Judging by their manner, they still did not know who I was.

Hyeollangdo asked me,

"Kid, who are you?"

Instead of answering, I said to him,

"I heard you usually walk your own path, but I didn’t expect you to come here on someone else’s orders to kill."

Hyeollangdo looked at me coldly, clearly stabbed in the heart. I did not know why he came here, but I knew he was a man who lived by pride alone.

"I asked, who are you?"

"I am Geommuguk."

"Geommuguk?"

Then the eldest of the Blood Path Warriors recognized me.

"You’re the second son of Cheonma."

His previously calm expression immediately darkened.

"Damn it! Damn bastard! Dragging us into the place where Cheonma’s blood is."

Then the second responded to him.

"He will deny coming with Geukak Soma. But there is no way to retreat, so it’s difficult."

For some unknown reason, they too seemed forced into a situation where they had to kill Geukak Soma. Otherwise, they would never dare to kill a Ma Jon.

On the other hand, even knowing my identity, Hyeollangdo was not afraid at all.

"You recklessly speak, trusting your father. Do you think I fear your father?"

This was also a result of his pride. A man who lives and dies by pride alone. But how could this be pride?

"A person who has nothing to protect has nothing to fear."

My words raised his spirit. Just as if he was about to draw his blade, I cut off his momentum and stepped back behind Geukak Soma.

Hyeollangdo did not draw his blade recklessly. Since he probably did not yet know my true ability, he was cautious of Geukak Soma.

I loudly asked Geukak Soma so everyone could hear.

"The mastermind behind this is someone who can mobilize these people, right?"

"As you see, yes."

"Then why not come out yourself and send these people?"

"Probably... because of Lee Gongja."

"Because of me?"

"Someone among them hopes to kill Lee Gongja. Then the responsibility for Lee Gongja’s death will fall on that person."

"A very cowardly man."

I said to the villains,

"So, who will be the first to fall for this cowardly scheme?"

There was a brief silence. Even in Akin Valley, the name Cheonma inspired fear. If father really got angry, he could crush Akin Valley too. The reason it had been left alone until now was because it was a bigger burden to the Martial Alliance.

The villains started exchanging secret messages. Outwardly, they seemed to bicker as if eager to kill each other, but they were seasoned villains hardened in the martial world. Having dealt with life-and-death matters, they were extremely cautious. That was also why, despite their countless crimes, they survived until now.

A moment later, Geukrak Yohi stepped forward with a wicked smile.

"Brother, really, you must go out with me. Is it right for such a noble person to get mixed up with such filthy villains?"

The moment I looked into her eyes, I felt she was determined to kill me. It seemed she feared the mastermind nearby more than the distant Cheonma.

Geukrak Yohi fluttered her fan.

"Brother, shall we go out?"

At that moment, scarlet energy flowed from her fan, and a dense aura surrounded me. She was using her soul-subjugation technique on me. It was her soul-subjugation skill she had stolen from countless martial artists’ inner energy.

The moment scarlet light shimmered in my eyes, Geukrak Yohi shouted at Geukak Soma,

"If he moves, Lee Gongja dies!"

Geukak Soma did not move an inch. In fact, even if she had not warned him, he would not have moved. He was certain I had killed the soul-subjugation Ma Jon, so how could I not handle Geukrak Yohi’s ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) soul-subjugation? He must have trusted me like that.

When Geukrak Yohi thought I had completely fallen into the soul-subjugation and lost my senses, she came toward me and placed her palm on my dantian.

"Shall I taste our younger brother’s fresh inner energy?"

Whoooooosh!

I heard the sound of energy draining from my dantian.

Geukrak Yohi shouted in a voice full of delight,

"Sucking the vital energy of Cheonma has been my lifelong wish! Now that I have consumed his bloodline, half my wish is fulfilled."

Her expression changed moment by moment, filled with all kinds of emotions. Geukak Soma and the other villains inside just watched.

The youngest Blood Path Warrior spat toward Geukak Soma.

"You heartless bastard! You just watch while your Cheonma bloodline suffers."

Then Geukak Soma calmly asked them,

"Can you handle the consequences?"

"We just hide in Akin Valley. If we burn your corpses, no one will know it was us. Even if it’s revealed, would your demonic sect endure so many sacrifices to strike Akin Valley?"

At the third’s answer, Geukak Soma said nothing more and just watched Geukrak Yohi siphon energy.

And after a moment—

Thud.

Geukrak Yohi collapsed as if she had crumpled on the spot.

The eldest Blood Path Warrior looked at her in surprise.

"Old woman, what’s wrong?"

He checked her and shouted in shock.

"She’s dead! Her inner energy is depleted to death!"

Then I opened my eyes wide.

"Ah, I’m full! Even if she’s annoying, she tastes really good."

I had reversed absorbed all her inner energy.

I pretended to be affected, but sorcery did not work on me. Especially soul-subjugation techniques never worked.

Recently, I had acquired new insights in martial arts, and with the addition of Blood Eye Essence, Heavenly Demon Protector Skill, and Heavenly Pulse Reinforcement Technique, it was impossible for her to drain inner energy from my body in the first place.

In the end, Geukrak Yohi suffered a miserable death, having her own method of robbing men reversed against her.

I gathered the inner energy obtained from her into my dantian and said to Yeomra Shingun with an even deeper gaze,

"What are you staring at? Not writing our older sister’s name on the register?"