The moment Geukak Soma finished speaking, three crows took flight. The Black Night Three Ravens (Heugya Sam-o) launched their attack.

Their murderous intent was clear; they hesitated not at all. If their master, Yeobulgae, was determined to kill them, there was no way they could survive without killing their opponents.

The Black Night Three Ravens charged from three directions.

From the left, aiming for the shoulder; from the right, the ribs; and from the front, the neck.

No one had ever withstood this combined assault. Indeed, these night crows were skilled enough to elevate Yeobulgae to the title of King of Night. Except for the fact that the target was Geukak Soma, the attack was flawless.

Geukak Soma moved just one step to evade the attack. Three swords barely grazed past his body, but the eyes behind his mask were calm. Calmly and precisely, he dodged with a sharp “fiiing!”

He couldn’t avoid the spear flying right at him—Hyeolmyeongchang’s spear.

The spear halted behind Geukak Soma’s back.

The one who caught it with his hand was Geom Mugeuk.

Hyeolmyeongchang was shocked. His spear was not something to be caught barehanded. If it could be caught with bare hands, how would he have become a renowned spear master in the Sapa faction?

Geom Mugeuk plunged the spear into the ground.

Geukak Soma turned and flicked the spear’s shaft lightly with his finger.

“Chaeang!”

The clear ringing sound was Geukak Soma’s sign of gratitude.

Taking this as the starting signal, Geom Mugeuk charged at Hyeolmyeongchang.

Hyeolmyeongchang quickly combined the two short spears on his waist. He had enough time to do so—if Geom Mugeuk hadn’t charged using Myeongwangbo.

“Seok!”

The newly connected spear was sliced in two along with its owner. Geom Mugeuk wielded a sword, not the Black Horse Sword, but the sword formerly used by the Black and White Twin Swords; he was a master calligrapher who wielded any brush with skill.

At that moment—

“Sseuuu!”

Vines erupted from the ground, wrapping around Geom Mugeuk’s entire body—a binding sorcery to restrain the opponent for a brief moment.

The Yin and Yang Ghosts, sitting before the flower garden, now stood beside Geom Mugeuk, grabbing his wrists.

“Kwak kwak kwak kwak kwak kwak!”

Through Geom Mugeuk’s wrists, the Yin and Yang Ghosts poured their internal energy like a waterfall.

Their technique was Pasimhupseonggong (Heart-Breaking Star-Absorbing Skill).

They mercilessly used their immense internal energy to explode the opponent’s heart to death, then absorb all the internal energy and vitality.

Alone, one of them could easily kill a high-level master; now that both had latched on, they believed the opponent could not hold out.

But this was a misconception of who Geom Mugeuk truly was regarding internal energy.

The internal energy continued pouring in.

By now, he should have been vomiting blood and severely injured internally, but Geom Mugeuk remained unharmed.

The Yang Ghost gave the Yin Ghost a serious look—a signal to stop, but the Yin Ghost firmly shook her head in refusal. She knew from experience that the stronger the opponent, the more delicious their internal energy and vitality.

A little more, just a little more!

It seemed Geom Mugeuk would collapse, vomiting blood any moment.

More than half, almost two-thirds of the internal energy was absorbed. As time passed, they refused to give up. They couldn’t waste the internal energy they had already invested.

The Yang Ghost attempted the Weird Shadow Technique (Goeongyeong Sul).

Though internal energy absorption should never be accompanied by other martial arts, circumstances forced their hand.

Geom Mugeuk’s shadow rose. Normally, the shadow would invade his mind, causing internal injury.

“Ssss!”

The shadow merged with Geom Mugeuk, then quietly returned to its original place.

“The sorcery doesn’t work!”

The Yang Ghost spat a mouthful of blood.

Only when it became irreversible did Geom Mugeuk reveal his true skill. Far from dying, he spoke to them leisurely.

“What now? Sorcery and internal energy are my specialties.”

The Yin and Yang Ghosts realized they had been outmatched. They had deliberately given up their wrists from the start. Now, even if they wanted to stop, they couldn’t. Their energy was endlessly drained like falling into an abyss.

Completely drained, their energy channels dried out, the Yin and Yang Ghosts collapsed with a thud. They had lost their lives pouring water into a bottomless jar.

Their internal energy fused into Geom Mugeuk’s dantian. Born with the Cheonmu physique and having reached a new realm, Geom Mugeuk’s internal energy absorbed theirs much faster and smoother than before. Like a vast ocean still remaining vast despite rivers flowing into it.

Yeobulgae, dazed, watched the death of his last hope—the Yin and Yang Ghosts—and blankly scanned the room. All the masters except himself and Hwangyeom were dead.

‘If only this were a dream.’

Surprisingly, he wished this were all a dream. He had lived a life fulfilling all his lowest desires on Yalyulhan’s back.

‘I won’t ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) give up!’

Yeobulgae gritted his teeth.

—Take that woman hostage!

Despite Yeobulgae’s telepathic order, Hwangyeom did not move.

—What are you waiting for? Take her hostage quickly!

But Hwangyeom was already subdued by Ahyeol and Maheol. When had they taken him down amid this chaos?

Originally, Yeobulgae planned for Hwangyeom to take Cheonha Ruju hostage while he took the women hostage.

But now—

Yeobulgae lunged at Cheonha Ruju.

‘I can survive if I take only her hostage.’

Just as he was about to overpower Cheonha Ruju, Geukak Soma blocked him first.

Yeobulgae unleashed all his force, but how could an old lustful man handle Geukak Soma, who was difficult to fight even with a lifetime of training?

Geukak Soma easily dispelled Yeobulgae’s attack with his own force.

Only then did Yeobulgae see the white mask under the death cap and was shocked.

“You are—!”

Before he could speak further, Jipung was unleashed.

“Ping! Puh-ok!”

A sharp wind pierced Yeobulgae’s mouth—the ray of light he had held back until now. Yeobulgae let out a short scream, clutching his mouth as blood streamed through his fingers.

Then Cheonha Ruju spoke to the women.

“Now, open your eyes and see.”

The women opened their eyes, shocked by the scene unfolding. They had prayed desperately for this moment while hearing the sounds of battle, never imagining Yeobulgae’s strong followers lying dead all around.

Among the scattered corpses, Yeobulgae’s body was riddled with holes.

“Fiiing! Puh!”

His shoulder was pierced. The back of his hand reaching to clutch it was pierced too.

Realizing the opponent was the cult’s Geukak Soma, Yeobulgae lost all will and flailed helplessly. He begged for mercy but could barely speak—his mouth was pierced from the first Jipung.

He crawled on the floor begging to be spared.

Geom Mugeuk understood. That desperation would return later as something else. A moment of mercy and forgiveness could lead to countless deaths.

Fortunately, today his opponent was Geukak Soma.

“Paak!”

Geukak Soma mercilessly kicked his groin. The desire that had led Yeobulgae to evil was shattered, and he screamed in agony.

“Uaaaaah!”

Blood poured from his screaming mouth.

‘I will survive no matter what and take my revenge!’

Yeobulgae crawled toward Geukak Soma again.

“Damn bastard! You’re dead! I’ll repay this pain a hundred, a thousand times over!”

Blood-covered, Yeobulgae forced a smile.

“…I’ll live a good life.”

His words were barely audible, but it was clear he was speaking of repentance.

Of course, it meant nothing.

This time joints in his limbs were pierced, aiming only for places where pain was most intense. Jipung shot them. He didn’t even offer the advice to live a better next life. Geukak Soma utterly ignored him.

Finally, Geukak Soma pulled the spear from the ground and drove it into Yeobulgae’s struggling abdomen.

The future Cheonha Ruju had spoken of was not hell—it was unfolding here.

Geukak Soma coldly stared at the dying man and extended his palm toward him. The fire pit Cheonha Ruju mentioned was Geukak Soma’s Magedokgwangpokjang.

“Kwaaaang!”

Yeobulgae’s body was blown away.

Thud.

He disappeared as a bloody mess, leaving only the broken spear rolling on the ground. This was Geukak Soma’s answer to anyone who dared touch his woman.

Some women cheered, some wept tears of joy, and others turned away, unable to bear the horrific sight.

Their reactions varied, but the feeling was one: joy that they were finally freed from this hell….

Rumble, bang!

As if to mark the moment, rain began pouring from the sky.

Sssshhhhhhh!

The women all looked up. It felt as if all their past suffering was being washed away by the rain.

Cheonha Ruju walked toward them.

“It’s time to go home now.”

Of course, Cheonha Ruju planned to stay with them until this was all over. Geom Mugeuk knew better than anyone that she was the one who could help them most now, tending their wounds better than anyone.

The women bowed deeply to the three.

“We will never forget the grace of being saved.”

Tears flowed freely from their eyes at the thought of seeing their families again. How much their families must have longed and searched for them.

Cheonha Ruju helped them stand.

The middle-aged woman who had tried to save the younger woman earlier asked, her face stained with tears,

“Please tell us your names, at least.”

Geom Mugeuk smiled.

“As you heard earlier, she is the gisaeng house owner, he is the pillar husband, and I am the pillar husband’s friend.”

Knowing they would not reveal their true identities, the woman asked no more.

Instead, she voiced their gratitude.

“We will live never forgetting this kindness for the rest of our lives.”

It was time to leave.

Geom Mugeuk approached Hwangyeom, the sole survivor after Ahyeol and Maheol were subdued.

He untied Hwangyeom’s Ahyeol and asked,

“Do you want to live?”

“Yes!”

Hwangyeom nodded frantically.

He was a subordinate worthy of his master. With the master dead, what loyalty remained? Who else in the world could so easily destroy Yeobulgae and his followers?

Geom Mugeuk quickly dug a pit with Geomgang and used Huseopseopmul to throw the bodies inside, then filled the hole swiftly.

The heavy rain washed away all the blood.

Meanwhile, the women cleaned the area thoroughly, and Geukak Soma brought the large carriage parked in the backyard.

Geom Mugeuk said to Hwangyeom,

“Tell your subordinates on the way out that Yeobulgae and his group have gone somewhere for a while. If they try anything, let them. I’ll lock you up in the torture chamber until you die. I’ll protect you like my own life for the rest of your days.”

“That won’t happen.”

They put the women in the carriage. Hwangyeom took the reins, Geom Mugeuk sat beside him.

The carriage sped away from Yeobulgae’s residence. Hwangyeom acted even more carefully than instructed, so Yeobulgae’s death would likely remain unknown until they reached Yalyulhan.

About ten ri from there, Duke Dok and Seodaeryong waited.

Seodaeryong took the reins, now responsible for Cheonha Ruju and the women.

“Please keep us alive as promised!”

“I never promised that. But I asked if you wanted to live.”

Just as Hwangyeom was about to argue—

“Puh-ok!”

Geom Mugeuk’s fist smashed into his chest. The price for help was a painless death. This lackey of Yeobulgae should have died painfully too, but there was no time.

Geom Mugeuk buried the bodies deep in the nearby forest.

Meanwhile, Duke Dok and Seodaeryong finished preparing to depart.

“Then, I leave it to you.”

When Geom Mugeuk entrusted the women to Duke Dok, he unexpectedly said,

“When we return, let’s try making poison again like last time.”

It was a subtle way to say “Come visit Cheontokrim again.” Wishing them a safe return.

“If you allow me to stay by the door again.”

Cheonha Ruju seriously did not want to send Geom Mugeuk and Geukak Soma alone.

“Please take good care of my husband.”

“As always, I ask Soma to take care of me.”

The most worried person was Seodaeryong. Handing over the Black Horse Sword he had been keeping, he repeatedly said,

“I know how skilled Master Lee is, but be careful. Be careful and be careful again. If things get bad, run! Don’t get cocky!”

“If you’re so worried, come with us.”

Seodaeryong flinched and took a step back.

“Unfortunately, there’s no one to drive the carriage.”

Duke Dok quietly said beside him,

“I can drive the carriage. Maybe I’ll drive it once in a while—it’s been a while.”

Seodaeryong pretended not to hear and told Geom Mugeuk,

“Then I’ll wait, as always.”

Geom Mugeuk smiled and patted his shoulder. Keep growing, Seodaeryong. One day, we’ll fight together.

After farewells, Geom Mugeuk and Geukak Soma began running toward where Gowol awaited. Now they had to face Yalyulhan, but Geom Mugeuk was not afraid—Geukak Soma was there to watch his back.

Whoosh!

Pushing through the pouring rain, the two ran without stopping.