Chapter 114: I Meant to Lure in a Villain

TL: FoodieMonster007

I arrived with Bi Sayin at a safehouse near the Evil Alliance Headquarters. The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon and the Thirteen Evil Wolves waited for us there.

First Wolf looked as overjoyed as if he had seen a ghost.

"Young Lord! You're safe!"

"First Wolf, I'm sorry for leaving without telling you."

"We were so worried. You mustn't do this again."

"I understand."

The other members of the Thirteen Evil Wolves were also delighted. Seeing them welcome Bi Sayin, he seemed to relax.

"The Extreme Evil Demon Supreme did guarantee the young lord's safety, but…"

I chuckled.

First Wolf must have worried, 'Doesn't having the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon guarantee his safety make it even more dangerous?'

While Bi Sayin and the Thirteen Evil Wolves had their reunion, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon called me into a separate room. His two eyes scrutinized me from behind the white mask.

"Bi Sayin probably doesn't even know what was taken from him. What exactly did you gain?"

"I just tried to win his heart."

"That can't be it. That's something I or the Thirteen Evil Wolves could have done."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon knew me too well after traveling together for so long.

"Come to think of it, your gaze seems to have deepened. Did you perhaps make progress in your martial arts?"

"Just a little."

In truth, I had completely mastered the Soaring Sky Sword Art, a huge accomplishment, but I only told him half the truth. I didn't think I could completely deceive the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, nor did I want to.

"If the Second Young Lord's skills have improved even more, I suppose I'd lose if we fought now."

"I might be able to beat the other Demon Supremes, but I could never defeat you, Smiling Demon."

"Why is that?"

"Because you are the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon laughed, knowing it was a compliment.

That afternoon, Bi Sayin came to find me. He had devised an extremely dangerous plan.

"I intend to use myself as bait."

He was betting his life on it.

"I'll leak information that I have evidence. Evidence that proves Seok Gwanchu is behind everything. If I say I'm about to report it to the Chairman, Seok Gwanchu will surely come to kill us."

This was a plausible situation. The Black Death Leader was dead, we had visited the White Night Valley, and the Sixth Wolf was dead. It was believable that we had found evidence.

"He'll need to kill us as soon as possible, and he won't be able to hire an outside expert on short notice. He'll either come himself or send an expert with deep ties to him."

"Do you know how dangerous this plan is?"

"I do. He'll definitely send someone who can kill me. He might even come himself."

"Then why did you come up with such a dangerous plan?"

"Because there's one thing they're overlooking."

"What is it?"

"You, Second Young Lord. They'd never imagine that you and the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon would be helping me."

He asked me, "Will you help me?"

"I will."

My unhesitating answer took Bi Sayin aback.

"Why don't you ask for something in return? This is a situation where I'd have to agree to any condition you set. A situation where I'd have no choice but to give you everything I own if you asked for it."

"Because I want to properly shake your hand someday."

Bi Sayin's eyes wavered. Help given in times of hardship always leaves the deepest impression. If I could win Bi Sayin's heart this time, it would become a greater strength than any miracle herbs or treasures.

After parting with him, I met the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon and told him about the plan.

"Second Young Lord, you should stay out of this."

"Are you serious?"

"……"

"Is it because you're worried about me?"

"No, it's because I'm worried about myself. I came out here with you, Second Young Lord. What would become of me if you died in the front yard of the Evil Alliance? I wouldn't be able to face the Cult Leader."

In truth, I had the exact same concern. Father had ordered me not to kill any more Demon Supremes. What would become of me if the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon died?

"Let's just see how the situation unfolds and decide then."

"Let's do that."

"This fight isn't our fight. There's no need for us to jump into it too recklessly."

At my words, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's eyes glinted. He was the type to burn brighter the stronger his opponent was.

Returning to my room, I unwound the Top-Quality Heavenly Silk from my sword hilt. I wrapped it around my vital areas, my heart, neck, stomach, arms, and legs. Over that, I wore the Ghost Armor from the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. Then, I quietly circulated my qi and prepared for the coming fight.

Late at night, I opened my eyes.

The Heavenly Demon Defense Art had woken me. It had never woken me so violently and intensely before. I could tell.

A formidable enemy.

I had expected a strong enemy, but this was the first time I had encountered an expert powerful enough to make the Heavenly Demon Defense Art react so strongly.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, sleeping in the same room, also snapped his eyes open.

"Did you feel that?"

"……"

"Let's go."

Like the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, I put on a mask. We headed toward the source of the energy, which was the building where Bi Sayin was staying.

KWAJIK! WASPEAR!

Martial artists burst out, shattering windows and walls. It was Bi Sayin and the Thirteen Evil Wolves. They were clearly flustered.

Soon after, an old man appeared, walking out leisurely. He wore pure white robes and had a white beard that reached his chest, like a divine hermit. His face and hands were covered in wrinkles of indeterminable age, but his eyes were as fearsome as a beast's.

The old man dragged a person behind him. The person was already a corpse, and a pool of blood marked the path where he was dragged.

"……"

The old man threw the corpse. It flew into the middle of the courtyard and rolled. The dead man was the Third Wolf.

The expressions of the Thirteen Evil Wolves hardened at their comrade's death. Their eyes filled with a vengeful killing intent, but none of them cursed or acted rashly. The swordsmanship the old man had displayed when killing the Third Wolf had undoubtedly intimidated them.

"Who are you?" First Wolf asked the old man, suppressing his anger.

He was not Seok Gwanchu. He was older than Seok Gwanchu, an expert of the previous generation, and he exuded a much more powerful presence.

"And who are you?"

The old man's low, calm voice cut through the night air. It was a voice that carried the weight of profound inner arts.

"I am First Wolf, leader of the Thirteen Evil Wolves."

"Come closer."

Of course, First Wolf did not approach.

"How can a coward be leading the Thirteen Evil Wolves?"

First Wolf's expression hardened, but he did not fall for the old man's provocation. Instead, he spoke quietly to Bi Sayin.

"We'll handle things here, so please get away."

The plan to lure them in and capture them had collapsed the moment the old man appeared.

Bi Sayin had no intention of escaping, but it would not have been easy even if he had tried. Another expert had appeared on the opposite wall. It was none other than Seok Gwanchu, the mastermind behind this incident. He too displayed the bearing of an expert from a previous generation.

His appearance meant he intended to kill everyone to silence them.

Seok Gwanchu clasped his hands behind his back, looked up at the night sky, and spoke.

"The moonlight is lovely, so I brought my Master out for a short walk."

Everyone was horrified the moment they realized the old man's identity.

Seok Gwanchu's Master.

The Sword Emperor Baek Manggi.

He was a master of swift sword techniques, an expert from two generations prior, and well over one hundred and thirty years old. He had not been seen in the murim for decades, but he had finally appeared. They had tried to lure in a villain, but a monster had been drawn out instead.

"Listen here, Young Master Bi." Seok Gwanchu was calm and composed. "There is only one way for you to live."

"What is it?"

"You know what I want, don't you?"

"Are you talking about the evidence to be presented to the Chairman? It seems even our Elder Seok fears the Chairman."

"Hand it over while I'm asking nicely."

"It's not some treasured blade, why would I be carrying it? If you kill me, the evidence will go to the Chairman immediately. Then, Elder Seok, you'll have to bear the sin of my murder as well."

Just then, Seok Gwanchu's Master, Baek Manggi, leaped into the air. He walked slowly through the void and landed softly before Bi Sayin, like a divine general descending from the heavens.

TATATANG!

All the swords that tried to protect Bi Sayin were deflected.

Baek Manggi's sword was back in its sheath. In an instant, he had drawn his sword, struck away the swords of the Thirteen Evil Wolves, and sheathed it again. His swift swordsmanship overwhelmed the Thirteen Evil Wolves.

Baek Manggi gazed silently into Bi Sayin's eyes.

"Those are the eyes of someone who doesn't know how to lie."

Baek Manggi looked at Seok Gwanchu and said, "There is no evidence."

"I thought as much."

Seok Gwanchu scolded Bi Sayin with a calm face, as if he would believe anything his master said.

"What on earth were you thinking, pulling a stunt like this? Did you really think I was foolish enough to walk into your trap and offer my own neck?"

Bi Sayin said nothing. The entire plan had fallen apart the moment Baek Manggi arrived. They could have faced Seok Gwanchu with a combined attack from the Thirteen Evil Wolves, but Baek Manggi was an existence far beyond their skill level.

Just then, Baek Manggi turned his head and looked our way.

"It seems you put your trust in those things over there playing ghost."

Naturally, both Baek Manggi and Seok Gwanchu had been aware of our presence from the beginning. Seok Gwanchu knew exactly who we were.

"He is the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, one of the Eight Demon Supremes."

"I've heard there are lackeys in the Demonic Cult who wear masks and act all mysterious, but why are you just standing there, knowing who I am? Do you think I won't kill you because I'm afraid of the Heavenly Demon?"

"It seems so."

Then, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon said to me, "It's not too late."

"Should we bolt?"

"Do as you wish, Second Young Lord."

At that moment, my eyes met Bi Sayin's. His expression held not fear, but resolve. It was a look that said it was okay for me to leave, that he wouldn't resent me.

I don't want that to be the last expression I remember of him. This damned loyalty, pride, and promises. Ah! This is why the average lifespan of martial artists is so short.

"I knew it." The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon laughed.

To fight like a madman and die, even if death was certain, that was the way of the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon.

That wasn't why I decided to fight. It was because I knew they had no intention of letting us go. They would never let such a huge secret get out.

"Hey, old man. Your opponent is over here."

At the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's words, Baek Manggi laughed. Seok Gwanchu laughed too.

"Did you really think I give a damn about the Heavenly Demon?"

The moment Baek Manggi finished speaking, he rushed toward us. He was incredibly fast. The instant I perceived his attack, his sword was already being drawn right in front of our noses.

SHWIIK! SHWIIIK!

PIIT! PAT!

In an instant, it was over.

Baek Manggi had taken a step back from us and was staring at me with a shocked expression.

"……"

His long beard had been cut and was fluttering between us.

Baek Manggi had tried to cut down the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon first, and I had cut Baek Manggi. He was fast, but so was I. My sword had nearly slit Baek Manggi's throat.

The composure vanished from Baek Manggi's face. He likely hadn't experienced such a dangerous moment in decades. This was probably the first time his heart had sunk like this.

Not only Baek Manggi, but Seok Gwanchu, Bi Sayin, and the Thirteen Evil Wolves all stared at me with astonished faces.

It was at that very moment.

JJIIIIK.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's mask, struck by Baek Manggi's earlier swing, split in half from forehead to chin and slid down. The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, too, had failed to completely dodge Baek Manggi's attack.

As the mask slid down, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon panicked. If given the choice between death and unmasking, he was the type to choose death.

Just as his face was about to be revealed.

CHAK.

A new mask covered his face.

I had taken off the mask I was wearing and used it to cover his face.

For a moment, our eyes met. Instead of the shame he must have felt was worse than death, his eyes welled up with intense emotion for me.

"You should only take off your mask when you, Smiling Demon, wish to."

Leaving the surging emotions of the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon behind me, I turned back toward Baek Manggi.

I didn't know. I didn't know that the fact the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon had almost died would make me this angry. I truly had no idea.