Yang Seok couldn’t help but let out a surprised “Oops.”

He was so shocked that he almost swore. Who could have imagined Geom Mugeuk was inside the carriage?

For a brief moment, as if time had stopped, silence fell.

“Why didn’t you contact me?” Geom Mugeuk asked.

Yang Seok hurriedly tried to explain, belatedly.

“Well… I only found out suddenly myself. I didn’t have the chance to contact you. Right after I discovered it, I intended to reach out immediately.”

He was so flustered that his voice trembled and he even stammered.

“But how did the Little Pill Master know and come here?”

“How could I not know?” Geom Mugeuk replied, asking as if posing a question.

Yang Seok could tell what was really meant.

“How could I not? You must have followed me. Damn it! You didn’t trust me and had to watch me.”

He was the one who had led Geom Mugeuk to the Extreme Vessel.

“I should have been more careful.”

He had been too excited by discovering the travel route.

Yang Seok wasn’t the only one surprised by Geom Mugeuk’s appearance.

Ha Gyeol, standing behind, was even more shocked. It wasn’t because Geom Mugeuk was inside the carriage.

“He smuggled out someone with the Extreme Vessel.”

Something that should never have happened. When the intoxication fell earlier, it was certain Chimma had smuggled the person out. They had to chase Chimma immediately.

“He didn’t come this way. Behind that carriage, the opposite side.”

Ha Gyeol strode toward the carriage. Pretending to approach Yang Seok, he planned to quickly leap over the carriage and chase after Chimma.

Since Chimma was likely carrying someone and escaping, he might catch them if he was quick.

For both the Little Pill Master and Yang Seok, the only thing on Ha Gyeol’s mind right now was the Extreme Vessel.

Geom Mugeuk saw through Ha Gyeol’s thoughts.

“You won’t get there anyway. Don’t even try.”

The moment Geom Mugeuk warned, Ha Gyeol launched himself forward.

Swish!

Ha Gyeol’s light step off the ground showed his exceptional agility, enough to ignore the warning.

Just as he was about to leap over the carriage and fly forward—

Bang!

A loud blast exploded in midair, and Ha Gyeol fell back down to where he started, almost crashing.

It was Geom Mugeuk who had instantly appeared before him, striking him.

Ha Gyeol’s left arm throbbed from blocking the attack.

“He’s strong.”

This time, Yang Seok was even more surprised than Ha Gyeol. If Geom Mugeuk had struck after climbing the carriage roof, it wouldn’t have been this shocking.

But Geom Mugeuk vanished in the blink of an eye and was already in midair above the carriage blocking Ha Gyeol. When had he gotten off the carriage and flown upward?

Even if he was the weakest of the three here, wasn’t he the heir of Bukhyeolmun? He had missed Geom Mugeuk’s movements with his own eyes. If Geom Mugeuk wanted to kill him, he would have died without even knowing it.

After sending Ha Gyeol back to his original spot, Geom Mugeuk sat astride the carriage roof.

“Does a bodyguard jump over the head of the person he serves?”

He wasn’t speaking about himself, but meant Yang Seok standing beside the carriage.

Yang Seok blurted out like tattling.

“That man tried to kill me.”

He finally realized it was time to carry out the murderous plan. Although the Extreme Vessel he had tried to smuggle away was gone, now was the chance to kill Ha Gyeol.

“Little Pill Master! I beg you, please teach that man the strict lesson that in this martial world there is a solemn hierarchy.”

Ha Gyeol sneered coldly. He had saved a man who would die by self-destructive qi, yet that man had the nerve to talk like that.

“I told you from the start, I smell blood.”

Geom Mugeuk’s casual words filled Ha Gyeol with worry.

‘It’s already too late.’

If the person who took the Extreme Vessel was a normal martial artist, maybe he could catch up. But since Chimma took him, they were already too far to track.

He truly hadn’t expected such a variable. He had been careless, thinking Geom Mugeuk and Chimma only cared about the Original Lord’s death. Anyway, what he had to do now was clear.

“I must negotiate with the Little Pill Master to get the Extreme Vessel back.”

There were two ways. First, to step back and slowly plan for the future. A safe and wise method, but the longer the time passed, the less likely to recover the Extreme Vessel.

The problem was with the master.

‘Will the master really wait?’

His master was reaching the limits of patience inside the water tank. If he heard the Extreme Vessel was taken by Geom Mugeuk, he would come out immediately.

“In the end, I must negotiate right here.”

Could he really defeat this Little Pill Master?

The move shown earlier was no joke. And there was another problem.

He must not kill this Demon Sect Little Pill Master recklessly. Doing so would cause even bigger problems than failing to get the Extreme Vessel.

But the stronger a master, the harder it was to subdue than to kill.

While he struggled with this headache, Geom Mugeuk looked up at the sky from the carriage roof.

Time was on his side. He held the hilt of the sword. Instead of pressing hard first, he could wait and see how his opponent would move and then respond.

The biggest reason to ruin things despite advantage was the failure to overcome impatience. Because he had the advantage, he thought he could win; he thought things would go better. So he wanted to see good results sooner.

That simple desire was powerful because it was simple.

If you start to collapse when in a favorable situation, it’s uncontrollable. Because it was favorable, you grow more impatient, more regretful, more angry. And the opponent gains momentum for a comeback. In the end, everything gets ruined.

This was the reason to look at the sky.

Seeing Geom Mugeuk looking up, Yang Seok felt a strange sensation.

“Don’t look at me, look at the sky.”

“Ah, yes!”

At Geom Mugeuk’s words, Yang Seok was startled and looked up. But in this situation, he couldn’t see the sky.

‘Please kill me now!’

First, he wanted to eliminate Ha Gyeol and then think. He thought he was executing a murderous plan, but didn’t realize he was only a guide bringing Ha Gyeol to the Blood King.

Then the atmosphere around them began to shift. Ha Gyeol revealed his hidden qi.

Earlier, he had shown only a faint trace to Yang Seok, but now he completely opened it.

His hot and heavy qi began to dominate the surroundings. Revealing his true self, he became a completely different person.

There was truly a scent of blood in his qi.

Yang Seok felt a nausea-inducing terror from this eerie qi. He knew Ha Gyeol was a master, but hadn’t imagined he was this strong.

‘Is it possible the Little Pill Master will lose?’

Actually, he couldn’t tell with his eyes who was stronger. But the presence Ha Gyeol showed was that overwhelming.

Yang Seok wasn’t scared by that alone.

Seven Bloodmen waiting a little behind Ha Gyeol appeared. All seven were clearly masters just by their eyes and posture, and all could use self-destructive qi.

Ha Gyeol asked Geom Mugeuk, his respectful tone gone.

“Where is the person who was riding in the carriage?”

He had concluded to pressure the Little Pill Master here and now to find the Extreme Vessel.

Geom Mugeuk understood from his choice. The opponent needed the Extreme Vessel enough to show his full true strength.

“I’m good with cold. How about taking me?”

Playing around at a time like this? Ha Gyeol’s gaze toward Geom Mugeuk grew colder.

“You think I can’t kill the Demon Sect Little Pill Master?”

“No. You’re the kind who would even kill your own blood, right? If you could, you’d try to kill my father too.”

Yang Seok, standing nearby, flinched inwardly at that. Because the “killing your own blood” person Geom Mugeuk mentioned was himself.

Ha Gyeol asked Geom Mugeuk.

“What do you want?”

That Geom Mugeuk stayed in the carriage meant he had a purpose.

“Let me meet the person you serve.”

Ha Gyeol showed no sign on the outside, but inside he was shaken.

‘How did he know there was a master?’

Yang Seok mistakenly thought that person was his father for a moment.

‘Maybe this time...’

He now shamelessly entertained a forbidden thought. The moment Ha Gyeol appeared here, he thought his father had completely abandoned him.

‘Which side should I take?’

Learning that Ha Gyeol was such a great master, he was troubled.

Joining Ha Gyeol wasn’t the worst choice. After all, he hadn’t killed him despite killing his first subordinate who saved him.

‘Should I join Ha Gyeol now? No. What if he loses to the Little Pill Master?’

That would mean betraying the Little Pill Master.

But soon Yang Seok concluded.

‘At least he won’t fight here.’

Think about it. Being a noble Demon Sect Little Pill Master, would he recklessly risk his life? This wasn’t even a matter directly related to the Demon Sect.

But the situation didn’t go as he expected.

“What if I refuse?”

Ha Gyeol wouldn’t let him meet his master.

Then Geom Mugeuk calmly said,

“Then the only reason I’m keeping you alive disappears.”

Ha Gyeol sensed Geom Mugeuk’s words were not empty threats.

“He really intends to kill me.”

Meaning he was ready to die.

Ha Gyeol raised his qi and surveyed around, checking if Chimma had returned. But no one was nearby. Geom Mugeuk alone was trying to kill him.

He didn’t know how it would end, but he was confident he wouldn’t lose in spirit to Geom Mugeuk. Though a son of the Celestial Demon, he was still very young. Even if he inherited the martial art and had inner power beyond his years, experience was another matter.

Moreover, he had probably never experienced blood techniques firsthand.

“Let’s try.”

The Demon Sect Little Pill Master wouldn’t sacrifice his life for the Extreme Vessel.

“If I can just subdue the Little Pill Master!”

He would give up the Extreme Vessel to save himself.

If by any chance Geom Mugeuk died in the process, he would have no choice but to blame the head of Bukhyeolmun. It was worth a try if he could get the Extreme Vessel back.

“Our Little Pill Master should taste some blood.”

Seven Bloodmen stepped forward.

They all drew their swords, emitting a red aura. Masters capable of using blood energy like sword energy.

Ha Gyeol expected that with their combined attack, they might not kill Geom Mugeuk but at least injure him. If lucky, he could get a chance to subdue Geom Mugeuk in the process.

That was what he thought.

In a flash, Geom Mugeuk teleported toward the Bloodman on the left.

Whoosh! Slash!

The sound of wind and a breaking neck came together. It couldn’t be stopped.

Before instinct or mind could register the attack, the black blade had already passed through the neck. The speed was overwhelming.

The nearest Bloodman reflexively swung his sword, but it only cut empty air. That miss came at a great cost.

Before the second Bloodman, pierced in the heart, hit the ground, Geom Mugeuk was already using shadow teleportation.

Just when it seemed he disappeared in front of everyone’s eyes, Geom Mugeuk reappeared between two Bloodmen standing in the center.

Thrust! Thrust! Thrust! Thrust!

Geom Mugeuk stabbed the neck and heart of the two Bloodmen on either side consecutively: once in the left heart, once in the right neck, once in the left neck, and once in the right heart.

Those four strikes were so fast they were invisible to the eye.

The two Bloodmen fell immediately, and just as the fifth Bloodman’s face and body turned red preparing to use self-destructive qi—

Puuuuuuh!

The person knocked down by blood energy was another Bloodman.

Geom Mugeuk quickly subdued the Bloodman using self-destructive qi, spinning him like a puppet to direct his body toward another Bloodman.

The sixth Bloodman fell, struck by self-destructive qi, whose power was unstoppable even by themselves.

The seventh Bloodman tried to use self-destructive qi as well. But this time Geom Mugeuk was faster.

Thrust! Thrust! Thrust! Thrust! Thrust!

His black demon sword pierced through his entire body’s major blood veins one after another. As soon as all were cut, the reddened face returned to normal color. Geom Mugeuk’s sword was faster than the speed of using self-destructive qi.

In the blink of an eye, all seven lay dead.

Yang Seok’s eyes were wide open as he trembled. He had experienced many real battles and watched many fights.

And now he thought: the fights he had seen before were not even fights.

Geom Mugeuk wiped the blood off his sword. Swish. A straight line of blood splattered on the ground.

“The taste of blood isn’t that great.”

Ha Gyeol’s expression was completely frozen. He had expected the Demon Sect Little Pill Master to be strong. But this strong?

He had promised to show him the taste of blood, but he had basically witnessed the taste of Geom Mugeuk’s blood.

“As expected, it’s the Nine Flames Martial Arts.”

He «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» naturally thought it was the Celestial Demon’s martial art. He had never seen it before.

“It’s not Nine Flames Martial Arts. Aren’t you overestimating yourselves? You thought I’d even use it just to fight your underlings?”

“You say this skill is without poison martial arts?”

Ha Gyeol was shocked for good reason. These weren’t just subordinates. Nobody knew how long it took to train these seven. They weren’t meant to die like this.

“If you want to see Nine Flames Martial Arts, I’ll introduce you to your leader.”

If that was true, he thought he could never beat Geom Mugeuk. Of course, it might be a bluff—an attempt to intimidate and gain advantage.

Anyway, unless he told about his master, he wouldn’t let him go. But even if it meant death, he had no intention to reveal his master.

Ha Gyeol drew his sword. A red aura flowed along the blade. It felt on a different level than the aura from his subordinates’ swords.

“I’ll decide whether it’s Nine Flames Martial Arts or not.”

Geom Mugeuk saw in his cold gaze and the heated blood qi swirling around that he was prepared to face death.

“Then I’ll just show you a little taste.”

From Geom Mugeuk’s mouth came a question Ha Gyeol couldn’t understand.

“Among east, west, south, and north, which direction do you prefer?”