“Master, happy birthday.”

The man bowing respectfully was Sa-hyo, Oreu Shingum’s disciple. He was the same man Geom Mugeuk had seen yesterday.

Oreu Shingum sat before him.

Oreu Shingum’s first impression was “truly strange.” Despite being ninety years old, his face was tight and smooth like that of a young man. Yet his arms and hands were covered in deep wrinkles, making this imbalance utterly bizarre.

“A birthday gift.”

Sa-hyo took a small box from his bosom and offered it.

“This time, it is a Rejuvenation Pill (Hoichundan) made specially from the essences of girls under fifteen.”

At the mention of the Rejuvenation Pill, Oreu Shingum’s expression brightened.

“How many essences?”

“Ninety.”

Though this meant the precious lives of ninety individuals were contained in the small pill, joy lit up Oreu Shingum’s face. His skin tightened further as he smiled, making him look even stranger.

“Not an easy feat, I’m sure.”

Gathering the essence of ninety people must have taken years. It was truly a precious medicine.

“As your disciple, I had to show this much devotion for your ninetieth birthday.”

Oreu Shingum smiled with satisfaction. At some point in aging, he became obsessed with youth. The more intense this obsession grew, the more blood stained Sa-hyo’s hands.

“I will pass on the next secret phrase to you. This time, I will specially teach you three phrases.”

Sa-hyo immediately bowed deeply.

“Thank you, Master.”

Yet his bowed face was rigid.

‘Damn old man, only three phrases!’

Every time he pledged loyalty, he received a portion of martial knowledge.

Once he inherited the last fifth phrase, he would have learned all of Oreu Sword Technique, but mastering that last phrase was no easy task.

Sa-hyo was naturally talented in martial arts, especially in lightness skill, with keen senses and even a sixth sense. His memory was excellent, never forgetting what he saw or heard once.

The only problem in his life was his master was Oreu Shingum. Though twenty years had passed since becoming a disciple, he still hadn’t received the full transmission.

‘This is really too much. How much blood have I stained for you?’

Oreu Shingum’s expression as he looked down on him was icy cold.

‘You think I don’t know your true intentions?’

His disciple possessed a cruel mind that might try to kill him once fully taught. Because of this, he could not even safely consume the Rejuvenation Pill without fear of poisoning.

‘I will only teach you the last phrase the moment I die!’

When Sa-hyo raised his head, their expressions returned to normal.

“I will take the Rejuvenation Pill, so leave for a while.”

“Yes, Master.”

When Sa-hyo left, Oreu Shingum took the pill with satisfaction.

Then he quietly closed his eyes and began circulating his energy.

Geom Mugeuk quietly climbed over the manor wall.

The first place he headed to was the detached quarters where the workers slept.

He entered each room and pressed on their acupuncture points. By the time they woke, everything would be over.

Leaving the detached quarters, Geom Mugeuk carefully moved toward the main building.

Just then—

Swish!

Someone pressed a sword to Geom Mugeuk’s neck.

“Move and you die.”

The one holding the sword was Sa-hyo. He had just come out of his master’s room and caught Geom Mugeuk.

“You were the one yesterday too.”

Geom Mugeuk answered without turning.

“Yes, it was me.”

“If you have no fear, then you’d better have skill. Turn slowly.”

Geom Mugeuk turned toward him, expression unbothered despite the intrusion detection.

“Who sent you?”

“Does that matter? Sa-hyo.”

Sa-hyo was startled. He thought only his master knew his name.

He didn’t know that in the secret documents Bisa-in had given, it stated that about twenty years ago, Oreu Shingum took Sa-hyo as a disciple.

“How do you know my name?”

At the moment his composure broke—

Ping!

Two blood blades flew from behind.

Sa-hyo was truly a born expert. He twisted his body to avoid the wind blades while trying to cut down Geom Mugeuk in front of him.

But in that split second, Geom Mugeuk’s fist struck his chest.

Bang!

His body staggered back. Without immediately activating his protective energy, his internal organs would have ruptured.

“Damn it!”

He had no time to curse.

Ping! Ping!

Two more blood blades flew in rapid succession.

Judging they couldn’t dodge or block, Sa-hyo turned and swung his sword.

His sword aura dispelled the flying wind blade.

At that moment, Geom Mugeuk’s sword struck his head. It was too late to block. He barely twisted away but blood spurted from his shoulder.

Sa-hyo was shocked to be cut by a sword after so long but had no time to tend to the wound.

Ping!

Another wind blade tore into his side. Again, if he hadn’t dodged in time, it would have pierced his abdomen.

Before he could think or breathe, attacks came from front and back. Watching Geom Mugeuk’s skill, Sa-hyo realized,

‘They deliberately let themselves be detected!’

They had set a trap from both sides to lure him in.

He couldn’t block the frantic attacks from front and rear.

“Master! Please save me!”

Finally, he shouted desperately. Blood sprayed again as he cried out.

“Master! You son of a bitch!”

Despite his desperate cries, the master did not come. Sa-hyo understood. His master was prioritizing taking the Rejuvenation Pill now. If he stopped circulating energy, the pill’s effect would be partial. But kill him? The disciple who had sacrificed like a dog all his life?

“Aaaaaaah!”

A furious barrage followed.

With his body torn, Sa-hyo unleashed the first, second, and third moves of the Oreu Sword Technique in succession. Sword auras poured down from all directions. But the injured beast’s desperate flailing only struck empty space.

Though naturally talented, Sa-hyo was unfinished. Thus, the combined attacks of Geom Mugeuk and Geugak Soma from front and rear could not be stopped.

Shing!

At the moment the Black Demon Sword slashed diagonally across his back—

Thunk!

The final wind blade pierced his forehead.

As he fell dead, Sa-hyo saw a fleeting flash—not his life, but the faces of girls whose essences he had stolen to make the Rejuvenation Pill.

Thud.

Geom Mugeuk and Geugak Soma exchanged a nod.

Since Bisa-in’s documents had revealed that Sa-hyo committed all manner of atrocities for his master, Geom Mugeuk had no hesitation in eliminating him. Bisa-in’s information was indeed helpful.

Right then—

Shwaaaak!

The two turned and dodged, but a streak of sword aura passed through them. It was a very powerful and swift sword aura.

The one who sent it was Oreu Shingum.

He heard his disciple’s call for help but could not stop the pill’s effect from wearing off.

“You damn bastards!”

Because he was focused on the fight outside, he hadn’t fully absorbed the pill’s efficacy. He was angrier about not being able to get more Rejuvenation Pill soon than about his disciple’s death. His yearning for youth surpassed all else.

Lately, he had heard of sharp conflicts between Yalyulhan and the Satan Alliance leader. They dared to raid his residence like this?

‘How did they handle this!’

His anger was directed at Yalyulhan.

He showed no fear or hesitation. Once, he had swallowed the heretic martial world.

Oreu Shingum’s gaze fell on the two.

‘One is a very young one, the other wears a mask?’

Did these guys kill Sa-hyo? The moment of doubt—

His gaze landed on Geugak Soma again.

“No way.”

How could a ninety-year-old not recognize Geugak Soma’s white mask? If Sa-hyo were alive, he’d think it was just a masked person. But having killed Sa-hyo in such a short time, he must be a demon of the cult.

“Why do these cult lackeys want me?”

Geugak Soma’s eyes coldly smiled.

Geom Mugeuk answered instead.

“What a monstrous face. Killing so many children to become that monster!”

Bisa-in’s secret documents also mentioned the Rejuvenation Pill.

“The maggots that will devour you after you die will spit and turn away in disgust!”

Though Oreu Shingum, who had lived ninety years in the heretic world, wouldn’t fall for such provocations, he did.

Flash!

Oreu Shingum drew his sword.

Bang!

Sword aura struck where Geom Mugeuk had stood—lightning fast.

Geom Mugeuk stepped aside.

“You ugly, vile, wicked old monster!”

Bang! Crash!

Two more sword auras descended, but he dodged with teleportation.

Oreu Shingum was angered by the insults after a long time, especially coming from a young man. And the insult about maggots spitting was the first in his ninety years.

“Tear that mouth apart...!”

Just as he opened his mouth to speak in rage—

Geom Mugeuk cut off his breath and surged forward. This was the moment his energy was most unsettled.

With the Mingwang Posture, he executed the Heavenly Sword Technique first form, the Balanced Sky Slash.

Shiiiik!

A sword light sliced horizontally.

Kaang!

Oreu Shingum blocked the Black Demon Sword with his own sword, shocked at the speed. His mouth was not so easily torn.

Ping!

Geugak Soma’s blood blades flew toward Oreu Shingum. From start to finish, the fight was a combined attack. These villains deserved no chivalry.

Oreu Shingum was taken aback by the relentless combination.

Geugak Soma’s blood blades targeted the most vulnerable spots, so he could not block them, and Geom Mugeuk was behind him—an opponent he should not have at his back.

Not long after, a wind blade brushed Oreu Shingum’s left shoulder. He didn’t hesitate to unleash his own energy technique. A master’s judgment: the longer he delayed, the less chance of winning.

Kwak! Kwak kwak! Kwak!

Like lightning, his sword aura curved and struck. The Oreu Sword Technique was designed to strike the crown of the head, fatal to those unfamiliar.

Though Sa-hyo hadn’t fully demonstrated his sword skill before dying, Oreu Sword Technique was modeled after lightning and was among the supreme martial arts rivaling even cult magic arts.

Kwak-sik! Kwak-sik! Kwak-kwak!

With a strange sound, the sword aura grew stronger.

The second form was stronger than the first, and the third form unleashed terrifying power.

Excited to face a strong opponent after a long time, Oreu Shingum laughed wildly and continuously executed sword forms.

The raining sword auras were dodged by Geom Mugeuk and Geugak Soma’s footwork.

The two moved apart and crossed paths, giving way to each other. Having fought many times, they understood each other’s intentions at a glance.

Oreu Shingum unleashed his final fifth form on Geugak Soma. He noticed Geom Mugeuk’s footwork was better and decided to kill the weaker Geugak Soma first, then face Geom Mugeuk.

At the moment the strongest martial art was about to be unleashed—

Geom Mugeuk and Geugak Soma locked eyes and silently said,

“Now!”

They gambled everything.

Kwak-kwak-kwak-kwak-kwak-kwak-kwak-kwak-kwak!

A furious storm of sword aura poured down on Geugak Soma. Though it was the enemy’s martial skill, the spectacle was awe-inspiring.

But instead of blocking the sword aura falling from the sky, Geugak Soma released the Magical Extreme Light Explosion.

Kwaaaaah!

Oreu Shingum’s eyes widened. It was an unexpected reaction.

‘A mutual death!’

But it wasn’t. Thirty-six sword auras flew toward the sword auras flying at Geugak Soma.

This was the seventh form of the Heavenly Sword Technique, the Flowing Sky Slash. Geom Mugeuk released the greatest number of sword auras he could.

Kwak-kwak-kwak-kwak-kwak-kwak-kwak-kwak-kwak!

Shh-shh-shh-shh-shh-shh-shh-shh!

Missing even one would mean Geugak Soma’s death.

Geugak Soma trusted Geom Mugeuk to block every attack aimed at him, so he released the Magical Extreme Light Explosion.

Puff-puff-puff-puff-puff-puff-puff-puff-puff!

The sword auras of the Flowing Sky Slash completely neutralized the fifth form sword auras of the Oreu Sword Technique above Geugak Soma’s head.

The carefully executed Flowing Sky Slash missed not a single sword aura.

At the moment the sword auras were neutralized—

Kwaaang!

The Magical Extreme Light Explosion struck Oreu Shingum’s body. He couldn’t dodge while unleashing the fifth form and pushed his protective energy to the limit.

Thrown by the explosion, he crashed into the wall.

Hoooo!

Dust rose and settled.

Leaning against the wall, Oreu Shingum expressed /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ rage.

“I’ll tear both of you apart!”

But his words went unheard. He felt puzzled. Was his hearing damaged?

Moreover, in this critical moment, Geom Mugeuk and Geugak Soma looked at each other.

Why aren’t they looking at me? The fight isn’t over yet.

Oreu Shingum’s gaze casually dropped down.

‘!’

His chest was completely missing.

At that moment, Oreu Shingum’s torso fell from the wall. The last thing he saw was his strange face reflected in the pool of blood on the ground.

Geom Mugeuk and Geugak Soma smiled at each other.

No words were necessary. Soma at this moment was truly the “Laughing Demon,” his smile irresistibly charming.

Geom Mugeuk enjoyed fighting alongside him. With Soma, he wanted to fight again and again until his heart exploded.

Especially the last move was one they could never have attempted without trust. As the battle continued, their trust deepened.

“Let’s recover our energy first.”

But they never got the chance.

Crash!

The wall behind where Oreu Shingum fell collapsed.

“No!”

Geom Mugeuk cried in regret. If the wall was down, the enemies would not be contained, and the plan to kill them one by one would fail.

But such worry was unnecessary.

As the dust settled, people appeared beyond the broken wall. People who should not have arrived yet. They were Yalyulhan, Samak, Hyeollyun Geop, and Cha Hwan.

Yalyulhan stepped through the broken wall silently.

He looked down at the mutilated Oreu Shingum without a word. Cold chills flowed from his body that would freeze a heart, but his indifferent gaze showed no emotion.

“Cha Hwan, just as you wished, there is no need for gifts anymore.”