Chapter 234: If Even One Is Missed

TL: FoodieMonster007

"Master, happy birthday."

Sahyo, a disciple of the Five Thunder Divine Sword, bowed respectfully. He was the man Geom Mugeuk had seen yesterday.

The Five Thunder Divine Sword sat before him.

The Five Thunder Divine Sword looked truly bizarre. His face was taut like a young man's, unbefitting his ninety years. His arms and hands, however, were covered in fine wrinkles. The imbalance was grotesque.

"This is your birthday present."

Sahyo took a small box from his robes and offered it.

"This time, it's a special Pill of Youth, made by extracting the essence of girls no older than fifteen."

The Five Thunder Divine Sword's expression brightened at the words 'Pill of Youth'.

"How many?"

"Ninety."

A radiant joy spread across the Five Thunder Divine Sword's face, even though ninety precious lives were contained in the small pill. His smile pulled his skin even tighter, making him look more bizarre.

"It couldn't have been easy."

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

"As your disciple, it's my duty to show this devotion for your ninetieth birthday, Master."

The Five Thunder Divine Sword smiled, satisfied. As he grew older, he became obsessed with youth. The more his obsession grew, the more blood stained Sahyo's hands.

"For you, I'll pass down the next verses. This time, I'll specially impart three."

Sahyo prostrated himself and bowed deeply.

"Thank you, Master."

His expression stiffened as he lowered his head.

Damn old man, only three verses!

He received martial arts teachings every time he offered his loyalty.

He only needed the final fifth form to learn the entire Five Thunder Sword Art, but learning that last part was not easy.

Sahyo was a natural genius in martial arts. His movement arts were particularly outstanding, and he was gifted with a sixth sense beyond his five senses. His memory was also so good that he never forgot anything he saw or heard.

The only problem in his life was his master, the Five Thunder Divine Sword. Twenty years had passed since he became a disciple, yet he still hadn't received the complete martial arts transmission.

This is really too much. How much blood have I stained my hands with for your sake?

The Five Thunder Divine Sword's expression was exceedingly cold as he looked down at Sahyo.

You think I don't know what you're plotting, you bastard?

He knew Sahyo was a vicious disciple who might try to kill him once the martial arts were fully transmitted. From then on, he wouldn't even be able to take the Pill of Youth in peace, fearing it might be poisoned.

I'll tell you the final verses the moment I die!

When Sahyo raised his head, both of their expressions were normal again.

"I'm going to take the Pill of Youth. Leave for a moment."

"……"

Sahyo went outside. The Five Thunder Divine Sword took the Pill of Youth, his face satisfied.

He then quietly closed his eyes and began to circulate his qi.

Geom Mugeuk silently scaled the manor wall.

He first headed to the annex where the workers slept.

He entered each room and pressed their acupressure points. The situation would be over by the time they woke up.

Geom Mugeuk left the annex and moved carefully toward the main building.

Just then.

"……"

A sword pressed against Geom Mugeuk's neck.

"Move and you die."

The person holding the sword was Sahyo. He had just left his master's room and spotted Geom Mugeuk.

"It was you yesterday too, wasn't it?"

Geom Mugeuk answered without turning around.

"Yes, it was me."

"If you're not scared, you'd better have the skills to back it up. Turn around slowly."

Geom Mugeuk turned to face him. His expression showed no tension, despite being caught.

"Who sent you?"

"Does that matter? Sahyo."

Sahyo startled. He thought only his master knew his name.

He didn't know that the top-secret document Bi Sayin provided mentioned the Five Thunder Divine Sword had taken a disciple named Sahyo twenty years ago.

"How do you know my name!"

The moment his composure broke.

PING!

The Blood Calamity Finger flew in from behind him.

Sahyo was a natural-born master. He twisted his body to dodge the finger qi bullet and simultaneously tried to cut down Geom Mugeuk.

But in that fleeting moment, Geom Mugeuk's fist slammed into his chest.

"……"

His body flew back. The attack would have ruptured his organs and killed him if he hadn't instantly raised his protective qi.

"Son of a bitch!"

He had no time for curses.

PING! PING!

Two more streams of the Blood Calamity Finger flew in.

Sahyo judged he couldn't dodge and block them, so he turned and swung his sword.

He released sword qi, neutralizing the incoming finger qi bullet.

At that moment, Geom Mugeuk's sword descended from behind to split his head. It was too late to block. Sahyo barely twisted away, but blood spurted from his shoulder.

Sahyo was shocked. It had been a long time since a sword had cut him, but he had no time to check the wound.

PING!

A finger qi bullet tore into his side. The attack would have pierced his stomach if he hadn't dodged instantly.

Attacks flew from the front and back, giving him no time to breathe, let alone think. Seeing Geom Mugeuk's skill, Sahyo realized.

He got caught on purpose!

They had set a trap and lured him in.

He couldn't block the frantic attacks from both sides.

"Master! Please save me!"

He screamed in a final struggle. As he shouted, blood spurted from his body again.

"Master! You son of a bitch!"

Despite his desperate cries, his master did not appear. Sahyo knew his master considered the Pill of Youth more important. Stopping his qi circulation now would only grant a fraction of the pill's effects, but to let him die for that? Him, who had sacrificed his whole life like a dog?

"Uwaaaaaaaah!"

He unleashed a furious attack.

His body tattered, he unleashed the first, second, and third forms of the Five Thunder Sword Art. Sword qi poured down from all directions, but the death throes of a wounded beast only struck empty air.

No matter his natural talent, he was incomplete. That was why he couldn't block the pincer attack from Geom Mugeuk and the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon.

SHUK!

The Black Demon Sword sliced a large diagonal gash across his back.

THWACK!

The final finger qi bullet pierced his forehead.

As Sahyo collapsed, his life flashed before his eyes. He didn't see his own life, but the faces of the girls he had killed for the Pill of Youth.

THUD.

Geom Mugeuk and the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon looked at each other and nodded.

Geom Mugeuk already knew from Bi Sayin's data that Sahyo committed all sorts of evil for his master, so he didn't hesitate to eliminate him. The information Bi Sayin provided was proving helpful.

Just then.

SHWAAAAAAK!

The two turned and dodged as a stream of sword qi passed between them. It was a powerful and fast attack.

The Five Thunder Divine Sword had launched the attack.

He had heard his disciple's cry for help but couldn't stop absorbing the pill's effects.

"You bastards deserve to be torn to shreds!"

He couldn't absorb the Pill of Youth's full effects because the fight outside distracted him. That angered him more than his disciple's death. He was angry he couldn't get another Pill of Youth for a while. His desire for youth took precedence over everything.

I heard Yayul Han has been in sharp conflict with the Evil Alliance Chairman lately. How dare they strike my residence like this?

How did he handle things to let this happen!

His anger was aimed at Yayul Han.

Even now, he showed no fear. He was a man who had once devoured the unorthodox sects of murim.

The Five Thunder Divine Sword's gaze fell upon the two men.

One is a greenhorn, and the other is wearing a mask?

Sahyo was defeated by guys like these? He felt puzzled.

His gaze fixed on the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon.

"Could it be?"

At ninety years old, how could he not know the white mask of the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon? If Sahyo hadn't died, he would have just thought it was some guy in a mask, but for Sahyo to be killed so quickly, it had to be a Demon Supreme of the Demonic Cult.

"Why are the Demonic Cult's grunts after me?"

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's eyes smiled coldly.

Geom Mugeuk answered instead.

"What a monstrous face. You killed so many children just to become such a monster!"

The top-secret document from Bi Sayin also contained information about the Pill of Youth.

"After you die, even the maggots will spit in disgust and turn away!"

Would the Five Thunder Divine Sword, who had spent ninety years in the unorthodox sects, fall for such a provocation? He did.

"……"

The Five Thunder Divine Sword drew his sword.

"……"

Sword qi struck where Geom Mugeuk had been standing. It was as fast as lightning.

Geom Mugeuk had already stepped aside, dodging it.

"Ugly and hideous old man! Filthy, nasty, and wicked monster!"

KWANG! KWAKWANG!

Two more streams of sword qi struck down, but Geom Mugeuk dodged them with the Vanishing Step.

The Five Thunder Divine Sword was enraged by curses he hadn't heard in a long time. It was an insult from a young man still wet behind the ears. On top of that, he had never heard the curse about maggots spitting in his ninety years of life.

"I'll tear that mouth of yours…!"

The moment he spoke in his agitated state, Geom Mugeuk rushed in. This moment, when the Five Thunder Divine Sword was agitated and speaking, was when his qi and blood were in their greatest disarray.

Geom Mugeuk used the Hell Step to close in and unleashed the Soaring Sky Sword Art First Technique, the Equal Sky Strike.

SHWIIIIIIK!

A flash of sword light was about to bisect him horizontally.

KAAANG!

The Five Thunder Divine Sword blocked the Black Demon Sword with his own sword. He was astonished by Geom Mugeuk's attack speed. This was not a mouth that could be easily torn.

PING!

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's Blood Calamity Finger flew toward the Five Thunder Divine Sword. Today's fight would start and end with a joint attack. Their opponents had committed evil deeds deserving of death, so martial artist etiquette was omitted.

The continuous joint attack flustered the Five Thunder Divine Sword.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's Blood Calamity Finger flew toward the most troublesome spots, making it impossible not to block. Geom Mugeuk was an opponent one could not afford to have at their back.

After a few exchanges, a finger qi bullet grazed his left shoulder. The Five Thunder Divine Sword then unleashed his ultimate technique without holding back. He judged that he could never win if he dragged out the fight.

KWAK! KWAKWA! KWAK!

His sword qi curved and plunged like lightning. The Five Thunder Sword Art's qi struck the crown of the head, so anyone unfamiliar with it would die in a single blow.

Sahyo had died without properly displaying his swordsmanship, but the Five Thunder Sword Art was a supreme art modeled after lightning. It was a martial art nearly on par with those learned by the Demon Supremes.

KWASHIK! KWASHIK! KWAK-KWAK!

The sword qi grew even stronger with a bizarre sound.

The second form's lightning was stronger than the first, and the third form displayed terrifying power.

The Five Thunder Divine Sword was excited, pouring out his ultimate techniques after facing a strong enemy for the first time in a while. He laughed like a madman and continuously executed his sword forms.

Geom Mugeuk and the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon used their movement arts to dodge the showering sword qi.

They sometimes moved apart and sometimes crossed paths, making way for each other. Having fought together many times, they understood each other's intentions with just a look.

The Five Thunder Divine Sword poured his final fifth form onto the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon. He realized from their dodging that Geom Mugeuk's movement arts were superior. He decided to kill the relatively weaker Extremely Evil Smiling Demon first and then deal with Geom Mugeuk.

The most powerful martial art was about to be unleashed.

Geom Mugeuk and the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's gazes met. They spoke with their eyes at the same time.

Now!

Geom Mugeuk and the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon also staked everything on this move.

KWAKWAKWAKWAKWAKWAKWAKWAKWAK!

Violent sword qi rained down on the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon. Though displayed by an enemy, it was a spectacular sight.

But instead of blocking the falling sword qi, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon unleashed the Extremely Savage Demonic Palm toward the Five Thunder Divine Sword.

KWAAAAAAH!

The Five Thunder Divine Sword's eyes widened. It was a completely unexpected reaction.

Take you down with me!

However, it wasn't a 'take you down with me' tactic. Thirty-six streams of sword qi flew toward the attack aimed at the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon.

It was the Soaring Sky Sword Art Seventh Technique, the Ominous Sky Strike. The number of sword qi had increased due to his improved inner arts. Geom Mugeuk had unleashed the maximum number he could muster.

KWAKWAKWAKWAKWAKWAKWAKWAKWAK!

SHWIKSHWIKSHWIKSHWIKSHWIKSHWIKSHWIKSHWIKSHWIK!

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon could die if even one was missed.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon unleashed the Extremely Savage Demonic Palm, trusting Geom Mugeuk to block the attacks flying toward him.

PEPEPEPEPEPEPEPEPEONG!

Above the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's head, the Ominous Sky Strike's sword qi neutralized and dissipated all the sword qi from the Five Thunder Sword Art's fifth form.

The Ominous Sky Strike, executed with all his heart and soul, missed not a single stream of sword qi.

The moment the sword qi was neutralized,

KWAAAAANG!

the Extremely Savage Demonic Palm struck the Five Thunder Divine Sword's body. He couldn't dodge because he was pouring everything into his Fifth Technique. The Five Thunder Divine Sword raised his protective qi to its absolute limit.

The Extremely Savage Demonic Palm sent him flying into the wall.

WHOOOOSH!

The rising dust settled.

The Five Thunder Divine Sword leaned against the wall and expressed his rage.

I'll tear both of you bastards to shreds!

But he couldn't hear his own words. The Five Thunder Divine Sword felt puzzled.

Have my ears been injured?

In this urgent situation, Geom Mugeuk and the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon were looking at each other.

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

The Five Thunder Divine Sword's gaze drifted downward.

"!"

Everything below his chest was gone.

The moment he saw it, the Five Thunder Divine Sword's torso slid down the wall. The last thing he saw was his bizarre face reflected in the pool of blood on the ground.

Geom Mugeuk and the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon looked at each other and smiled.

No words were needed. At this moment, the Smiling Demon had become a true Smiling Demon, his smile incredibly captivating.

Geom Mugeuk found it immensely enjoyable to fight alongside him. With him, Geom Mugeuk wanted to fight until his heart burst.

The final move was an attack they could never have attempted without faith in each other. As they continued to fight, their trust deepened.

"Let's recover our qi first."

But the two did not get that chance.

RUMBLE.

The section of wall where the Five Thunder Divine Sword had died collapsed.

"Ah! No!"

Geom Mugeuk cried out in dismay. If the wall collapsed, the bastards wouldn't come in, and his plan to kill them one by one would be ruined.

But there was no need to worry.

As the dust settled, people appeared beyond the collapsed wall. People who shouldn't have arrived yet appeared all at once. They were Yayul Han, the Three Evils, the Blood Calamity Bringer, and Cha Hwan.

Yayul Han stood in the center of the group. He stepped over the broken wall and entered.

Yayul Han silently looked down at the bisected Five Thunder Divine Sword. A heart-freezing chill flowed from his body, but his indifferent eyes and expression held no emotion.

"Cha Hwan, as you wished, the present is no longer needed."