Laughter erupted instead of worship.

The source of the laughter was Jungak. Even when accused of accepting bribes, he showed no embarrassment.

“Could it be you’ve been impersonating the Little Pill Master?”

Ho-gyeong, who had been listening seriously, let out a bitter chuckle. But he had clearly heard what Juyang said earlier:

—The one who took bribes from Jeokpae and promised to kill you is that Demon Sword Great Lord.

If that were true, Juyang had become someone Ho-gyeong must protect.

Ho-gyeong asked Jungak,

“What brings you here, Great Lord?”

“Since the opponent is a master, I thought support might be needed.”

Ho-gyeong didn’t believe this. If that was Jungak’s real intention, he would have boasted that he himself was leading the Demon Sword Corps.

Jungak appeared just as Juyang’s mouth was about to speak Ho-gyeong’s name. It was clearly to suppress him from speaking.

“As you heard, Juyang accused you, so it would be better for you to withdraw for now.”

“Surely you don’t believe what he says?”

“Of course. But since he testified publicly, we have to investigate formally at least.”

“Juyang is the one who controls Yeomwangchae.”

Ho-gyeong then asked Juyang,

“Is that true?”

Intimidated by the cold question, Juyang answered,

“Yes, but what I said is true.”

Ho-gyeong did not trust those who controlled Yeomwangchae.

Seeing his expression harden, Juyang realized how great Geom Mugeuk was. Everyone frowned and dismissed him but no one stepped forward to remove him.

At that moment, Geom Mugeuk quietly interjected,

“If they cannot refute the claims, they tend to attack the messenger.”

Jungak’s eyes darkened fiercely at that.

Ho-gyeong calmed Jungak.

“If it’s not true, we will punish for false accusation. Don’t worry.”

Jungak appeared relaxed on the surface but was secretly looking for any chance to eliminate Juyang. If Juyang was fully interrogated at the branch, Jungak’s bribes would be exposed openly. Not only would he lose his position but likely be imprisoned.

Jungak’s gaze turned to Geom Mugeuk.

“How will our Little Pill Master handle this?”

“I will handle Juyang myself as well.”

“Isn’t that treason?”

No one laughed at his joke.

Meanwhile, Juyang looked at Geom Mugeuk. Everyone else was mocking, but he wasn’t. He had already accepted death.

“Little Pill Master, what do you intend to do now?”

Yes, since it started, he would see it through as the Little Pill Master.

As if waiting for this moment, Jungak drew his sword.

“How dare you speak of the Little Pill Master!”

Just as he was about to rush and strike Juyang,

Ho-gyeong blocked the way.

“Stop.”

“Step aside. We cannot let a blasphemous imposter go unpunished.”

“Impossible.”

They glared at each other, the long-hidden conflict surfacing. Jungak had expected Ho-gyeong to block him.

—Kill that bastard!

The command was sent to his right hand, Cha Hoe. This was his chance while Ho-gyeong blocked Jungak.

Cha Hoe unleashed a surprise sword qi attack.

Shiiiiiik!

A fierce wave of sword qi flew toward Juyang, sweeping even Geom Mugeuk away.

Bang!

Startled, Juyang fell on his backside.

Geom Mugeuk’s back was visible—he had lightly dispelled the sword qi by swinging his sword in place.

“Attack together and kill him!”

At Cha Hoe’s order, the Demon Sword warriors drew their swords simultaneously.

Ho-gyeong shouted too,

“Defend!”

Warriors from the branch also drew swords. Tense standoff between the two groups ensued. The branch warriors were no match for the elite Demon Sword Corps.

Then,

Geom Mugeuk stepped forward and unleashed his prayer.

Swaaaaaaah!

His prayer spread in all directions.

A massive wave crashed toward them.

No place to hide, no way to evade.

All demons plunged into the water. The abyss pulled them down endlessly.

They resisted, struggling to avoid being pulled in. But Geom Mugeuk’s prayer allowed no resistance.

Their bodies felt as if bursting, breath constricted.

“Uaaaaaaaah!”

They screamed, but no sound came out.

At the abyss’s end, they saw

Geom Mugeuk standing alone, shining in pitch-black darkness.

At that moment, his prayer vanished.

The abyssal Geom Mugeuk transformed into the real Geom Mugeuk standing before them.

Breathing heavily, they were all shocked. They knew without drawing swords—Geom Mugeuk’s martial arts were overwhelmingly superior. Also, what had been oppressing them was indeed dark energy.

Geom Mugeuk spoke to Ho-gyeong.

“Long time no see. You said at the branch celebration you’d carefully examine small things to prevent big disasters.”

Ho-gyeong vividly remembered. It was his greeting at his first branch celebration. How could he forget?

“You were there too?”

Geom Mugeuk nodded.

“Who is this companion?”

Just then, someone appeared.

Ho-gyeong was shocked on seeing him.

“Pill Master Im!”

It was Im Jeong, Tongcheongak Gangseo Pill Master.

He rarely showed up unless important matters arose.

Before coming here, Geom Mugeuk met Tongcheongak warriors and requested Im Jeong’s help.

“All martial artists belonging to Gangseo branch have been ordered to wholeheartedly serve the Little Pill Master.”

Everyone was stunned when the Little Pill Master was mentioned. Weren’t they the same people mocking the fake Little Pill Master moments ago?

“No way!”

All eyes turned to Geom Mugeuk, and Im Jeong loudly declared,

“Yes, this is the Little Pill Master.”

Shock and awe fell into silence.

The first to regain composure was Ho-gyeong. He respectfully bowed deeply.

“I greet the Little Pill Master!”

Then warriors of the branch and even Jungak and the Demon Sword Corps respectfully bowed. Respect for the leader and Little Pill Master was absolute.

“We greet the Little Pill Master!”

The warriors’ voices echoed thunderously.

Even without Im Jeong’s confirmation, Geom Mugeuk’s magnificent prayer alone was enough proof.

Only Juyang stood there blankly.

Geom Mugeuk looked at him with a faint smile.

“You’ll believe now even without the Majon behind me?”

Juyang, now fully awake, let out a shout and bowed deeply.

“I was rude not recognizing a noble person.”

“Rude? You were the only one who believed in the Little Pill Master.”

Juyang was moved to tears. He couldn’t believe it. That meant he had met the heretical sect’s Little Pill Master, received interest, and talked with him—even called him a madman.

“You’ll have to suffer going forward.”

Now he understood the source of that unbelievable confidence.

How could the Little Pill Master neglect Tongcheongak’s affairs?

“I will work with a repentant heart for my whole life.”

Having saved his life, what else could he want? Until recently, he had been struggling in the sea, now floating peacefully under warm sunlight.

In contrast, great waves crashed in Jungak’s heart.

‘Why on earth is the Little Pill Master here?’

Ho-gyeong had targeted him. Was he colluding with Ho-gyeong to target Geom Mugeuk? But judging by Ho-gyeong’s startled reaction, he surely had not expected the Little Pill Master’s arrival.

“Everyone, rise!”

All demons present stood up. They still looked at Geom Mugeuk with awe and astonishment. He was to be the next sect leader. If he ordered “Die!” they would immediately obey.

Geom Mugeuk walked toward Jungak.

“You’ve taken quite a bit of bribe.”

Before Jungak could deny, Im Jeong spoke first.

“Gold from Tongcheongak under Jungak’s name was confirmed stored across many battlefields. The investigation continues; more evidence is expected. Other places besides Tongcheongak are under investigation too.”

If it had been anyone else, Jungak could have denied it as fabrication, but this was the Gangseo Tongcheongak Pill Master speaking.

Still, Jungak raised his head confidently and said as if it was nothing.

“They didn’t give it forcibly; they gave it voluntarily.”

“Would they have given money if you weren’t the Demon Sword Great Lord?”

“It was their choice.”

With subordinates watching, he was proud. The moment he showed weakness, respect would vanish.

“Did you distribute the money among your men?”

A tense silence. The only one who received money was Cha Hoe.

“I intended to distribute it.”

He shouldn’t have said that. The lame excuse chilled the Demon Sword warriors.

“I think such trivial matters should never harm the authority of the Demon Sword Corps.”

Jungak tried to avoid the issue, but Geom Mugeuk was not one to let it slide.

“That’s why.”

Geom Mugeuk looked at the Demon Sword warriors.

“Because you are the Demon Sword Corps. Even if we were crushed by the Murim Alliance or Satan Alliance or the main branch, hearing you’re alive keeps hope alive. We believe you will break through enemies to rescue us. That is the faith the main sect places in you.”

Pride bloomed on the warriors’ faces.

“That’s why you must be different from others. You mustn’t accept bribes lightly. ‘This much is okay,’ is never okay. If you’re the kind who takes bribes without care, we won’t wait for the Demon Sword Corps. We’d think you took the easy way, not the hard one of breaking through enemies. You won’t come, and we won’t wait.”

Jungak’s face twisted but the warriors agreed with Geom Mugeuk.

Jungak protested,

“Why worry about what hasn’t happened yet?”

“I will, because I will be your leader. Others may not, but I must worry.”

Jungak could not argue.

An additional accusation was made.

“What I cannot forgive you for is not the bribes. You wished Pill Master Ho dead or injured here today.”

The surrounding crowd murmured.

“No, if that were true, why would I be here?”

“Finding the one who harmed the Pill Master would be your task anyway. You probably planned to finish it all here—kill Ho and get revenge.”

“Why would I do that?”

Ho-gyeong answered.

“Because I found out you were investigating me.”

Now Ho-gyeong was sure.

“You came to me to guide me to the task.”

Jungak tried to yell to deny, but he caught the disapproving, distrustful, and disappointed gazes of his subordinates. Their respect was gone.

“If you lose me, the main sect’s strength will be severely damaged.”

“Considering the possibility that the sword you wield is aimed at us, it might even be beneficial.”

“That would never happen.”

“We don’t know. If you take bribes too large to refuse, who knows?”

Geom Mugeuk spoke calmly to the resentful Jungak.

“That’s why. That’s why you should never have accepted. Whether your story is true or false, everything falls apart. You become someone who would sell me out for a few coins.”

Geom Mugeuk spoke sincerely.

“Pay your dues and start over. Then I will give you another chance.”

Jungak sighed deeply for the first time.

How many years would he spend in prison? Five? Ten?

“I do not want that.”

Jungak’s choice was to kill Ho-gyeong and then himself. He had to blame someone, and that someone was not himself.

“This is all your fault!”

He drew his body forward and his sword.

Flash!

As his swift sword aimed to cut Ho-gyeong’s body,

The sword that could cut even huge boulders was stopped by something, then broke.

Clang!

As he looked at his opponent, Jungak’s eyes widened.

A terrifying demon shattered his sword and then slashed at his chest.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Demon swords flew from left, right, and behind. Jungak was sliced to death.

Those watching were so shocked they could barely breathe.

Since the demon magic the Little Pill Master wielded was Flame Demon Martial Art, all bowed their heads respectfully. This was not out of respect for Geom Mugeuk but for the Flame Demon Martial Art.

At that moment, Cha Hoe, Jungak’s right hand, tried to fulfill the dead leader’s will but was killed by Ho-gyeong’s sword.

Ho-gyeong’s skill amazed the branch warriors. They had only seen his meticulous nature flipping through papers at his desk, but he was far stronger than they thought. Having never shown his power before, the impression was greater. If they had known, they would have complained less about the workload.

While the branch warriors were uplifted, the Demon Sword warriors felt only gloom. Though corrupt, they had lost their leader and right hand.

Geom Mugeuk comforted their hearts.

“At this hour, at the Magachon tavern I often visit, they’re all drinking. Worries about money, children, work, people. Many worries, but at least they don’t worry about Satan Alliance warriors breaking in and killing them. Why? Because you protect Gangseo Branch.”

Geom Mugeuk sincerely conveyed his honest feelings.

“I know you expect the best treatment but feel it’s not enough. With your skills, you could earn ten times more elsewhere. But you wouldn’t get the honor of being Cheonma Sin Gyo’s elite Demon Sword Corps. You might say honor doesn’t feed you, but you live on honor. You are the ones who feed others comfortably with that honor.”

After a pause, Geom Mugeuk added,

“Even if no one else acknowledges it, I do.”

Pride and determination lit the warriors’ eyes. What kind of comfort could mere words bring? This was comfort from the future sect leader himself.

“I will dedicate my life /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ to loyalty.”

Their comfort was not the end, but the beginning.

“Now, all follow me.”

The Demon Sword warriors and branch warriors followed Geom Mugeuk.

He also said to Juyang,

“Lead the way.”

“Me?”

“You’re the main character here. You have to go.”

Juyang understood. They were all going to Jeokpae’s manor—not out of respect for Jeokpae.

Geom Mugeuk had told Im Jeong,

“Send word to Satan Alliance. It’s the Gangseo Branch Assembly day; don’t touch us today.”