“The truth in your words is clear.”

That was the first thing the Evil Song Sect Leader said to Yang Cheogi as he entered the main hall.

The Evil Song Sect Leader had sent men to gather information about the situation and learned that on that day, a young man and a masked figure met at the Yellow River Guesthouse. Yang Cheogi’s words were true.

“Why would I lie to the Sect Leader? I told the truth.”

“Then it means the sword techniques of Geom Muguk were enough to face the Fiend.”

“That’s right.”

“No matter how much one is kin to the Heavenly Demon, it’s hard to believe.”

“I felt the same. I never imagined Geom Muguk was such a master.”

Recalling that day, Yang Cheogi’s expression hardened. He appeared honest, but the Evil Song Sect Leader still doubted him.

It was entirely possible Yang Cheogi had helped Geom Muguk kill his own subordinates. Indeed, that was more plausible than the idea that Geom Muguk killed the Fiend.

What if it was a conspiracy by the Demon Cult to seize control of Evil Song?

What if they used Yang Cheogi to cut down their own followers? What if even the Cheonmyeonghoe was created by the Demon Cult?

Having lost warriors as strong as himself, it was natural for the Sect Leader to suspect this.

Yet there were puzzling parts.

“Until now, the Demon Cult showed no interest in Evil Song. Why suddenly target our sect?”

Evil Song was a thorn in the side of the Martial Alliance. The Demon Cult had no reason to attack it. If the Demon Cult directly ran Evil Song, it would face fierce protests from the Martial Alliance and the Sado Alliance. So why cause trouble? Especially since the villains wouldn’t even pledge loyalty to them. Why?

Because of the lack of trust in Yang Cheogi, the Sect Leader conjured every possible hypothesis. One thing was certain: just looking at Yang Cheogi annoyed him.

“If you have other sly schemes, you will never leave Evil Song alive.”

At that moment, a subordinate rushed in with urgent news.

“Intruders have appeared. The Gwapyo gang was defeated at the village entrance.”

The Sect Leader finally felt that what was to come had come.

Yang Cheogi quickly asked.

“How many intruders?”

“Five, they say.”

Yang Cheogi tilted his head.

“If it’s Geom Muguk’s group, there would be at most three.”

“Why are you so sure it’s three? Geom Muguk could have brought more demons.”

“That may be so.”

The Sect Leader was inwardly puzzled by Yang Cheogi’s reaction.

“Are they really not on the same side? Or is he pretending not to know?”

From the reaction so far, it didn’t seem they were conspiring.

Then another subordinate burst in urgently.

“The Cheonga gang was also defeated by the intruders.”

“Already?”

The Cheonga gang was known for strong martial arts and excellent combined skills. Yet they were already beaten?

Soon after, another subordinate ran in.

“All the bugs are dead.”

This was more surprising. The "bugs" referred to the Yangsu gang living in the forest. They were notoriously difficult enemies, hiding in the woods and throwing hidden weapons.

Yang Cheogi and the Sect Leader exchanged looks. Yang Cheogi nodded.

“They are certain.”

Considering who Geom Muguk and Geukak Soma had killed, what would happen if five came?

Before the surprise faded, another subordinate ran in. This time the Sect Leader asked first.

“Who fell this time?”

“The Yellow River Water Ghosts from Seonak-kyo.”

“What? The Water Ghosts?”

The Sect Leader was shocked. Though not the strongest, the Water Ghosts were among the strongest in water combat.

Yes, they could die. But the problem was how fast they were being eliminated — as if casually picking flowers along the way.

At that moment, the Sect Leader saw Yang Cheogi’s eyes tremble — he was afraid.

“If you want to run away, do so now.”

Without him, the Sect Leader planned to pin all the blame on Yang Cheogi and find a way to survive.

“What will you do, Sect Leader?”

“I can never leave here. If I flee, those vying for my position will have every reason to kill me.”

His reliable followers had all died.

Yang Cheogi was conflicted. He never expected Geom Muguk to invade here. Nor that Evil Song would fall so easily. The entrance was a maze that should have taken days to find.

But if he fled now, the Sect Leader would never accept him again. Their feelings for each other were already at the worst.

“To rise as Sect Leader, I must stop Geom Muguk’s group today. Only then will the villains here recognize me.”

If the Sect Leader died in the process, so much the better.

At this tense moment, another subordinate ran in.

“The Five Evils of Chongqing are all dead.”

The Sect Leader was no longer surprised. If these were not pranks to scare him but disasters flying at him at terrifying speed.

His hatred for Yang Cheogi boiled up.

“This is all your fault.”

If he hadn’t provoked Geukak Soma for revenge, none of this would have happened.

“No matter what I do, I will kill you.”

The Sect Leader knew harboring such deep hatred would bring no good.

But Yang Cheogi was the one he could not tolerate. Even if he regretted this later, he vowed to kill him.

The Sect Leader ordered his subordinate.

“Tell Seokno (Stone Elder) to exhaust their internal energy as much as possible.”

“Yes!”

The subordinate ran off.

“Seokno is our last defense. If he falls, only you and I remain.”

“Let’s hope he drains their strength.”

If Seokno performed his role, there might still be a chance.

The courtyard was empty.

I looked around and said,

“Something’s eerie here.”

My feeling was right.

As we crossed the courtyard and approached the main hall building—

Ssssst—

The surroundings changed.

Before we knew it, we stood in a new space surrounded by hundreds of statues. They were statues of warriors holding swords, swords, and spears.

“An illusion!”

My shout made the Ma Jons tense. Without knowing how to break it, this was a very difficult trap. The Martial Alliance feared the Seophon Ma Jon for this reason.

“Everyone be careful.”

At Blood Heaven Butcher’s warning, we stood back-to-back in a circle.

The statues began to move. Though stone, they were surprisingly fast. The grotesque feeling was worsened by statues moving faster than expected.

Bang!

Geukak Soma’s Fierce Light Rampage Palm smashed the charging statue, and the fight began.

Sword Immortal’s sword aura sliced through statues. To save internal energy, she couldn’t strike stone directly with her sword. Her precious sword could handle some statues, but facing so many risked damaging it, so she had to rely on sword aura.

Blood Heaven Butcher was similar. Though better suited for a great sword than a regular sword, he couldn’t bash the statues with his precious Annihilation Great Sword. So he used his sword aura and sword wind to break them.

Geukak Soma was the same. The Blood Arrow pierced holes in the statues, so he had to use his Fierce Light Rampage Palm, which consumed more energy, to destroy them.

Chwima couldn’t strike with his Blood Flow, so he used footwork to counter them.

They were extremely energy-draining enemies that came endlessly.

I couldn’t waste energy recklessly, so I dodged their attacks and scanned the surroundings. With Blood Eye Essence and my New Eye Technique, I should be able to see the breaking point.

But nowhere in this space was the bluish light signaling the breaking point.

“It’s here, definitely here.”

No illusion existed without a breaking point.

I dashed between statues using Shadow Step and Blink Step, searching for the weak point.

After wandering among statues, suddenly—

“Found it!”

A bluish light gleamed on the back of a statue in the far corner.

Amidst hundreds attacking, it was a cleverly hidden breaking point.

Szzzzzt!

Without hesitation, I tore the bluish light in half with my Black Demon Sword.

Behind that light, an old man was horrified.

Thunk!

As my sword pierced the old man’s heart, the illusion shattered.

Freed from the illusion, we stood again in the courtyard we had entered earlier. Seeing the old man stabbed by my sword fall, the Ma Jons realized I had found the illusion’s breaking point.

Chwima praised me extravagantly, and Sword Immortal looked greatly surprised.

Blood Heaven Butcher was less shocked, knowing I had killed the Seophon Ma Jon.

Finally, Geukak Soma looked at me meaningfully and said,

“You have reached the realm of the invincible.”

Had it been only the two of us, he would have said it more bluntly: “Shameless one, will you still deny killing the Seophon Ma Jon?”

I strode into the building.

“Come on, let’s go in.”

Breaking down the main hall’s door, I entered inside with the Ma Jons.

Kwahhng!

Breaking through the main hall’s door, the Evil Song Sect Leader thought the Heavenly Demon was invading.

If not, how could Seokno’s illusion have been broken so quickly? Even he himself would have to endure until Seokno’s ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) internal energy ran out to escape the illusion.

But the invaders were not the Heavenly Demon. It seemed Yang Cheogi’s words were true, as the young man Geom Muguk led the way.

Geom Muguk looked at Yang Cheogi and said,

“In this situation, the only place you can safely hide is the Heavenly Demon Sect. Ah, that won’t do — you’ve provoked us.”

Yang Cheogi said nothing.

Geom Muguk’s gaze shifted to the Evil Song Sect Leader.

“Are you the Evil Song Sect Leader?”

“Yes, I am.”

“I am Geom Muguk, the Heavenly Demon Sect’s heir.”

“I’ve heard your reputation.”

The Evil Song Sect Leader tried to act calm, but the pressure of the grim reaper walking toward him was suffocating.

His gaze moved to the four Ma Jons behind Geom Muguk.

“Such honored guests from the Sect. Welcome.”

Feigning hospitality, the Evil Song Sect Leader greeted them smoothly.

But the four Ma Jons only stared coldly.

The Evil Song Sect Leader spoke softly to Geom Muguk again.

“I hear your madmen caused great offense to the heir?”

“They tried to drain my internal energy and break my head with chains. If you call that an offense, I’ll have to return the favor today.”

“You will be the supreme in the martial world. Don’t act like those pathetic fools in this sect.”

The Evil Song Sect Leader desperately tried to win Geom Muguk’s favor.

With Geom Muguk and the Ma Jons lined up before him, he had no will to fight. If all the dead — the Fiend, Iron Chain Master, Blood Road Three Armies, Blood Wolf Path, Nirvana Demoness, and Lord Yama — were here, it would be different. But now, facing five with only Yang Cheogi and himself, it was impossible.

Geom Muguk stared at the Sect Leader and asked,

“Why did you do it?”

The Sect Leader, as if the act was not his will, looked at Yang Cheogi and asked the same.

“Why did you do it?”

Yang Cheogi looked at him with disbelief.

“What are you trying to do now?”

“You committed it, so explain yourself.”

The Evil Song Sect Leader’s struggle to survive began by distancing himself from Yang Cheogi.

When Geom Muguk’s group arrived, Yang Cheogi’s reaction clearly showed he was not on their side. The Sect Leader had only one option: abandon Yang Cheogi. They came to kill Yang Cheogi.

Yang Cheogi sneered.

“Do you think the others will spare you just because of this trick?”

Geom Muguk replied,

“They will spare you. We know this was all Yang Cheogi’s doing. If you cooperate in capturing the Cheonmyeong Sect Leader, no harm will come to you.”

The Sect Leader’s heart raced with hope.

“So they really aren’t on the same side!”

Seeing the Sect Leader’s agitation, Yang Cheogi shouted.

“Don’t trust them! This is a ploy to divide us!”

Despite Yang Cheogi’s urgency, Geom Muguk remained calm.

“We could kill you both, so why divide us? Four of the Sect’s Eight Ma Jons came personally. Does this look like a joke?”

The Sect Leader did not hesitate.

“I’ll help. I know clues to find the Cheonmyeong Sect Leader!”

If cooperation meant survival, what was there to hesitate about?

Yang Cheogi knew the Sect Leader’s mind had turned and grew cold.

As the Sect Leader turned away, he realized he would never leave here alive.

“You pathetic fool! That’s why you can never escape this filthy place!”

“Shut up! This is all your fault. I don’t want to hear your excuses, so just go straight to hell!”

Yang Cheogi spat coldly and sighed. Even if he gave information about the Cheonmyeong Sect Leader, his attempt to kill Geom Muguk and Geukak Soma meant survival was unlikely.

“In the end, I have no choice but to use this.”

Yang Cheogi raised his internal energy for a final forbidden technique he had never used before, nor ever wanted to.

Seeing the red aura in his eyes, Geukak Soma warned,

“Everyone, beware! The forbidden technique of the Sect’s martial art — the Soul-Linked Death Technique!”

As Geukak Soma said, the technique Yang Cheogi intended to use was the death technique of killing together with the opponent. It was a final technique that could kill one person surely while dying alongside.

“If your internal energy is weaker than mine, you will never stop it!”

Yang Cheogi’s fierce gaze swept over everyone present.

Who would he kill and take down with himself? The root of this incident, Geukak Soma? Blood Heaven Butcher, who ruined the revenge late that day? Or that idiot Evil Song Sect Leader?

If he could, he wanted to take all four.

Yang Cheogi’s eyes reddened, and he shouted loudly,

“Who will go with me?”

In the heavy silence—

Geom Muguk raised his hand.

“Me!”