Chapter 236: And That Is Why This Fight Is Difficult

TL: FoodieMonster007

"……"

A bowl fell to the floor and shattered.

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman stared silently at the broken pieces.

"Are you alright?" Seo Daeryong asked in surprise as he brought ingredients to the kitchen.

"Yes, I'm fine."

She tried to pick up the broken pieces, but Seo Daeryong stepped forward and stopped her.

"Please, just leave it. I'll clean it up."

This was a Heavenly Demon Divine Cult safehouse. They were temporarily keeping the brothel owners here after rescuing them from Yeo Bulgae. The women had stabilized a great deal under the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman's care.

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman, who had been cheerful the whole time, had a dark expression today.

"Is something the matter?"

She paused briefly before answering.

"I had a bad dream."

Seo Daeryong knew from Geom Mugeuk that she was no ordinary woman. He couldn't just dismiss her dream as nonsense, but he pretended otherwise.

"Don't they say that dreams are the opposite of reality?"

"They do, don't they?" she said, forcing a smile. Her expression remained dark. Perhaps her ominous dreams had always been right.

Then, Seo Daeryong suddenly spoke.

"It won't affect him."

"Pardon?"

"I know from the Director that you're not an ordinary person, Pavilion Master. So I know this might be rude, but I'll say it anyway. That bad dream won't affect our Director, and if it doesn't affect the Director, it won't affect the Smiling Demon either."

Seo Daeryong crouched down and began to clean up the broken bowl.

"Before I met the Second Young Lord, my life was like this broken bowl. I had an unattractive appearance and a dark, twisted personality."

He picked up a broken piece and saw his face reflected in it. Seo Daeryong felt the distorted image, where only his form was faintly visible, was what he used to be.

"No one considered me important, and I thought of myself as insignificant, but after meeting the Director, my life changed. To some people, I might still be a broken bowl, but I believe I'm a useful vessel for something, somewhere."

Seo Daeryong finished gathering the pieces and stood up.

"Actually, I'm being modest. I think I'm more than that. The Second Young Lord put the broken pieces back together and made me into a priceless piece of porcelain."

He had become a disciple of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and might even become the next Director of the Sanzu Hall.

"He's the kind of person who can transform a life like mine. So, a bad dream won't affect the Second Young Lord."

A smile finally appeared on the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman's face.

"Yes. I suppose it won't."

Seo Daeryong took the bowl pieces and went outside. The Poison King was digging in a corner of the yard near a unique-looking flower. It seemed poisonous snakes or insects lived around it.

Although Seo Daeryong was usually too scared of the Poison King to speak to him, today he approached.

"The Pavilion Master had a bad dream. Her dreams tend to come true."

The Poison King replied without looking at Seo Daeryong.

"I'll drive the carriage when we return to the Cult. You can go help them if you want."

"Ah, I'm sure her dreams aren't always right."

Seo Daeryong was puzzled by one thing.

Why hadn't Geom Mugeuk asked the Poison King to go with him in the first place? Protecting the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman and the rescued women was important, but the fight with Yayul Han was a matter of life and death.

Just then, the Poison King spoke abruptly, as if he had read Seo Daeryong's mind.

"Curious, aren't you? Why the Second Young Lord didn't ask for my help?"

"Yes, honestly, I am."

The Poison King answered while carefully observing an insect in the ground.

"Because killing Yayul Han isn't his only goal."

Seo Daeryong asked with a surprised face.

"He has another objective?"

The Poison King looked at Seo Daeryong. Seo Daeryong didn't dare meet those clear eyes, which looked much younger than his own.

"You're his right-hand man, aren't you? Then you should know."

"I'm a right-hand man with a bad head."

"I heard you were the top entrant at the Sanzu River Hall."

Seo Daeryong was startled.

"The Director told you even that?"

"Your Director, he sure talks a lot."

A sense of pride swelled in Seo Daeryong's chest, inexplicably lifting his mood.

"So? What are your thoughts?"

After a brief pause, Seo Daeryong spoke.

"I'm always just surprised by what the Director does, so how could I possibly know his inner thoughts? However, watching the Director, I sometimes have these thoughts. Why is he trying to do so much? Why is he trying to become so strong?"

Seo Daeryong continued, staring at the Poison King who was still digging.

"Could it be that he's aiming for something more than just becoming the successor? I get that feeling sometimes. What in the world is the Director looking at?"

The Poison King turned to him and asked.

"Why are you asking me that?"

"Ah! You're right. I'm sorry."

Seo Daeryong bowed politely and quickly retreated.

"I'll go help the Pavilion Master prepare the meal."

Seo Daeryong ran into the building.

The Poison King seemed lost in thought for a moment, then started digging in the ground again.

Yayul Han was confused.

When he first saw the Five Thunder Divine Sword's corpse, he thought a blade from the Evil Alliance Chairman had killed him. Surprisingly, it was the work of the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, along with a young master of unknown identity.

The Chairman joined hands with the Demonic Cult?

He couldn't understand it. The Evil Alliance Chairman he knew would never join hands with the Demonic Cult, no matter how much he wanted to eliminate him.

Then does this mean the Demonic Cult intervened without the Chairman's involvement? But why?

Conflicts with the Demonic Cult could occur while conducting business in the murim. However, there had never been a conflict serious enough to risk their lives like this.

Yayul Han's gaze turned to Geom Mugeuk. The opponent's movements while dispatching the Three Evils earlier were a display of divine prowess. He's so young, yet his movements are better than the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's? How could that be?

"I've never heard of someone like you in the Demonic Cult."

Yayul Han didn't recognize Geom Mugeuk's identity. As the second-in-command of the Evil Alliance, he had access to various reports from spies. That information naturally included the fact that the Demonic Cult's Second Young Lord had recently been distinguishing himself.

However, it didn't occur to him that the young man before him was the Demonic Cult's Second Young Lord. First, his martial arts were too exceptional for his age. Second, the son of the Heavenly Demon would never undertake such a dangerous task himself.

He thought he was a secret weapon raised by the Demonic Cult. Or perhaps a master from the Demonic Cult who had undergone Rejuvenation.

"I told you, we're not from the Demonic Cult. We're grim reapers specially sent by King Yama."

At Geom Mugeuk's mockery, an aura like a raging, cold blizzard erupted from Yayul Han's entire body.

This was Yayul Han's qi. It was so cold it could freeze one's body. When fear was added to this qi, an opponent would die without even lifting a hand.

Of course, Geom Mugeuk didn't stop provoking him.

"With this kind of cold, I wonder if it'll be a little less hot when you enter the fiery pits of hell?"

To continue provoking in such a tense situation was to acknowledge his opponent's strength. He could tell his skill just by looking at Yayul Han's qi. A single choice, a single mistake, would decide the outcome.

Then, Yayul Han spoke.

"I'll have to take you with me. With someone as annoying as you, I think I could even extinguish the flames of hell."

Cha Hwan, who had retreated due to his weaker martial arts, was startled.

It was the first time he had seen Yayul Han speak to an opponent like that. He could see the young punk was strong, but was he really this strong? Was it such a tight fight?

I must play a major role.

His heart beat rapidly. The desire to achieve something dominated him. He would jump in at the decisive moment when he saw an opportunity.

This time, the Blood Calamity Bringer laughed heartily and said to the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon.

"I never thought my Blood Wheel would get to taste the blood of the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon showed no reaction. The Blood Calamity Bringer became somewhat embarrassed at this complete disregard.

"Anyway, you arrogant Demonic Cult bastards."

He was confident he could defeat the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon. He had noticed that the wound the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon sustained from Yayul Han's surprise attack was deep. He was a step below the Demon Supreme in skill, but in this situation, he had a good chance of winning.

Moreover, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's qi consumption was more severe. He had also used his inner arts while dealing with the Five Thunder Divine Sword and his disciple earlier.

Geom Mugeuk's gaze fell on the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's blood-soaked arm. Blood still seeped out despite him having pressed the blood dao to stop the bleeding. The wound was deep.

This fight, I have to end it as quickly as possible.

However, if he fought hastily, Yayul Han would kill him. He had to be urgent but not show it. He had to give his all but end it quickly. That is why this fight is difficult.

"By the way, your Chairman won't be happy if you mess with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. Are you sure that's okay?" Geom Mugeuk said, trying to shake his enemies' resolve.

Yayul Han then asked.

"Didn't you say you weren't from the Demonic Cult?"

"Of course we are. Who else would try to eliminate you if not us."

"Why is the Demonic Cult trying to kill me?"

"I'll tell you when you're about to die."

"You'll die first. So tell me now."

"I don't want to."

For the first time in a very long time, Yayul Han felt annoyed. In his life, no one had ever dared to annoy him. If they had, they would already be a corpse.

However, Yayul Han soon controlled his emotions.

"Fine, I'll hear it when I die."

Seeing his calm eyes, Geom Mugeuk also calmed his own mind. Provocation tactics didn't work on Yayul Han. The only way was to kill him with pure skill.

HWIRURURURURURU!

The Blood Wheel cut through the air, and the fight between the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon and the Blood Calamity Bringer began.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon lightly dodged the Blood Wheel as it flew swiftly through the air.

Simultaneously, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon lunged towards the Blood Calamity Bringer.

SWOOSH!

SHWIIING!

At that moment, two streams of sword qi tore through the air.

One was Yayul Han's sword qi, trying to block the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's approach. The other was Geom Mugeuk's sword qi, trying to neutralize it.

"……"

The moment the sword qi collided in mid-air!

PING!

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon fired a finger qi bullet. The returning Blood Wheel tried to strike the back of the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's head.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon twisted his body to avoid the Blood Wheel. The Blood Calamity Bringer threw himself aside to dodge the Blood Calamity Finger.

After the tense first exchange, a moment of tension flowed through the area. It was a razor-thin match where no one knew what would happen.

Geom Mugeuk made a decision.

This kind of fight is disadvantageous.

Yayul Han could abandon the Blood Calamity Bringer at any time, but he could never abandon the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon.

The moment he made that decision, Geom Mugeuk flew towards Yayul Han.

He decided not to worry about the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's injury. Worrying about him was a mistake in the first place. He had to trust him.

If he truly wanted to help the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, he had to focus on his own fight and kill Yayul Han as quickly as possible. He would make sure no one would ever dare launch sword qi at the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon again.

CHAENGCHAENGCHAENGCHAENGCHAENGCHAENG!

Flashes of light from Geom Mugeuk's and Yayul Han's swords flickered through the air, too fast for the naked eye to see.

The two were incredibly fast. They clashed on the left, then instantly exchanged blows on the right. They moved as if teleporting freely through space.

Geom Mugeuk's pure white sword light and Yayul Han's azure blue sword light clashed countless times.

KAKAKAKAKANGKANGKANG!

The two soared into the air, their swords clashing. The sword flashes in the sky were like fireworks celebrating this incredible battle.

They leaped down from the air and fought while running across the rooftops. Even as they ran, their swords clashed endlessly.

The sword light continued to flash until they dropped from the roof onto a wall.

The duel between the Soaring Sky Sword Art, at the Twelfth Star mastery, and the Primordial Splitting Light Sword Technique, also at the Twelfth Star mastery, was truly a battle between titans.

As the fierce battle continued, Geom Mugeuk momentarily injected more qi into the Black Demon Sword.

Caught off guard by the unexpected qi, blood burst from Yayul Han's mouth.

However, before the drop of blood could hit the ground, a sword flew through it.

PWAK!

Blood spurted from Geom Mugeuk's side.

Injecting more inner arts amidst such a fast-paced battle was reckless, and a reckless attack always came with a price. It was truly the skill befitting the second-in-command of the Evil Alliance.

They were neither surprised nor impressed by each other. They focused only on the fight. They knew from the fight just moments ago that they would die the instant their attention wavered.

The very moment a small distance opened between the two!

Yayul Han's first secret technique was unleashed.

SEUSEUSEUSEUSEUSEUSEUT!

Yayul Han's form split into ten, surrounding Geom Mugeuk. This cloning technique was the Ten Illusions Soul Splitting Art, one of the essences of the Primordial Splitting Light Sword Technique.

CHWAREUREUREUREUREUK.

Simultaneously, thirty-six sword-shaped qi surrounded Geom Mugeuk.

It was the Soaring Sky Sword Art's Seventh Technique, the Ominous Sky Strike. This was not the existing Ominous Sky Strike. What had originally split in front of his chest now formed a circle around Geom Mugeuk's body.

The martial art that had reached the Twelfth Star mastery was maturing further, revealing a new realm.

The moment the illusions rushed in, ten of the floating sword qi flew out in all directions.

SHWIKSHWIKSHWIKSHWIKSHWIKSHWIKSHWIKSHWIK!

PEOPPEOPPEOPPEOPPEOPPEOPPEOK!

The sword qi and illusions collided and vanished. The real Yayul Han swung his sword to neutralize the incoming sword qi.

Twenty-six sword qi remained after eliminating the illusions!

Like hidden weapons launched from a mechanism, the sword qi shot towards Yayul Han all at once.

SHWIKSHWIKSHWIKSHWIKSHWIKSHWIKSHWIKSHWIKSHWIK!

Cha Hwan, who was watching, had his jaw drop. He had never seen or heard of such divine prowess in his life.

And what met that divine prowess was another divine prowess.

KWANGKWANGKWANGKWAKWAKWANGKWAKWANG!

The incoming sword qi was blocked by something and collided.

It was a sword wall. Not just any sword wall. It was a wall of sword qi as cold as an ice wall, the Blue Ice Wall, another essence of the Primordial Splitting Light Sword Technique.

SEUREUREUREU.

The wall of sword qi vanished like melting snow, revealing Yayul Han's figure behind it.

His eyes glowed with a ghastly blue light like a demon's, and he emitted a vicious killing intent.

At his aura, which declared that the real fight was starting now, the Black Demon Sword began to wail.

WUUUUUUUU!

Geom Mugeuk gripped the Black Demon Sword tightly and walked towards that vicious killing intent.

My friend, let's hold on just a little longer!

He said this to both of his friends.