Chapter 286: When I Hear the Word Revenge

TL: FoodieMonster007

"This was it, the place where I parted with Miss Jin."

Lee Ahn pointed to the end of the narrow path.

"And Miss Jin walked that way."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Fist Demon listened to Lee Ahn's story. They wore bamboo hats pressed low to hide their faces. The Heaven Destroying Dao was also wrapped tightly in white cloth. Fortunately, the area was secluded, so they did not encounter anyone.

When Lee Ahn returned to the safehouse and reported what had happened, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon spoke first.

"Leaving that kid alone is the best way to help him."

This was the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's assessment of Geom Mugeuk. However, his actions differed from his words.

"It's not like we'll need to help, but just in case, shall we go get some fresh air?"

The Fist Demon, with his usual taciturn expression, followed the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's lead.

The Fist Demon began inspecting the area around the path. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon simply watched him quietly. It seemed strange that he left the search entirely to the Fist Demon, but there was a reason.

"It seems she was captured here."

Lee Ahn asked the Fist Demon, "How did you know?"

Normally, she would have been too scared to speak to him. After their late-night training sessions, however, she had grown a little more comfortable with the Fist Demon.

Ah! To think that if I had to choose the most comfortable person among the Demon Supremes, I'd pick the scariest-looking one, the Fist Demon!

"Look at the footprints here."

There were footprints on the ground, but they were so faint that Lee Ahn would not have noticed them if the Fist Demon had not pointed them out.

"How did you even spot these?"

"I took an interest in the art of tracking in my younger days."

At that, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon praised him.

"If he hadn't become a Demon Supreme, he would have become the world's number one tracker."

The thought of that big, scary man learning the art of tracking seemed unfitting, yet, at the same time, another thought occurred to her.

Not just anyone can become a Demon Supreme.

They were the eight people who had risen to the highest positions in the Demonic Cult after the Heavenly Demon. Geom Mugeuk was so exceptional that the Demon Supremes often seemed to follow his lead, but each one could shake the murim on their own.

"Fortunately, the kidnapper was careless, thinking no one would follow. This way."

"Lead the way."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon and Lee Ahn followed behind the Fist Demon.

Their pace grew slower. Even if the Fist Demon had learned tracking in his youth, using that ability properly now was not an easy task.

Just as they were about to give up, the Fist Demon found the trail. He discovered traces where someone had pushed through the forest.

"It's Mugeuk."

It was a trail Geom Mugeuk had left intentionally.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon shook his head and remarked, "He'll do anything to work this old man to the bone!"

Contrary to his words, relief flashed across his face. Lee Ahn could tell. Although he had said that leaving Geom Mugeuk alone was the best way to help, he was genuinely worried. She could also see that the taciturn Fist Demon was willing to use his old skills just to find Geom Mugeuk.

Lee Ahn felt happy for Geom Mugeuk because of their affection, and a little envious at the same time.

I want to have people like this in my life, too.

Geom Mugeuk had not only taught her martial arts, but he was also influencing the direction of her life.

Lee Ahn smiled faintly and said to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, "Let's hurry and go scold him!"

And so, the three of them began to cut through the forest.

"How did you find this place?"

Though he acted nonchalant, Baek Cheongeong was greatly surprised by Geom Mugeuk's appearance. This was his personal hideout, which no one had ever discovered. Of course, one or two herb gatherers had stumbled upon this place in the last ten years and died, but he never thought someone would intentionally seek it out.

"I threw my shoe to divine your location, and it pointed right here."

"Right, you were always one to spout nonsense."

Geom Mugeuk stared at him. "And what kind of person are you? Someone who kidnaps a woman to advance his schemes?"

"You see clearly. I'm the kind of person who will achieve his goal, even if it means kidnapping a woman."

The energy from the thousands of dolls began to grow stronger, a sign that Baek Cheongeong's emotions were heightening.

"Where is Miss Jin?"

"Haryong is fine."

"Haryong? Are you qualified to say Miss Jin's name?"

"Qualified? I've never seen anyone who discusses qualifications actually have any. What about you? Are you qualified to ask me about qualifications?"

"Me? I'm overflowing with qualifications. The Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult, here to save the granddaughter of the Murim Alliance Chairman. How about that? Ever seen someone like me? What qualification could I possibly lack?"

A sneer formed on Baek Cheongeong's lips.

"Right, you must have escaped by bewitching the Chairman with your sweet talk, just like now."

He had expected that Geom Mugeuk would not fall into his trap so easily. After all, Geom Mugeuk was the one who had forced him to advance his plans in just a few days.

"What is this all about? At this point, you could at least tell me, couldn't you? Tell me. Why are you doing this?"

"Since you brought up qualifications, let's first see if you're qualified to hear my story."

As Baek Cheongeong extended his hand, a deep green verdure seemed to pour from the eyes of the dolls closest to Geom Mugeuk.

SSSSSSST!

Ten of the dolls grew in size.

They drew their weapons as if they were living people. The sight of wooden dolls moving so naturally was truly bizarre and eerie. Their weapons were also wooden, except for the blades. The blades were neither steel nor wood, yet they shone sharper than any other.

Geom Mugeuk was now directly confronting the Thousand Wooden Souls Art, which he had only ever heard about. Of course, he was neither surprised nor flustered.

At that reaction, Baek Cheongeong felt both puzzled and admiring.

He's not surprised at all.

How could he be so calm when small wooden dolls grew to human size and started moving? Was it because he had experienced all sorts of demonic arts since he was young?

Of course, that did not mean Baek Cheongeong thought Geom Mugeuk could overcome the Thousand Wooden Souls Art. No matter how great the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult was, his youth could not overcome experience.

Geom Mugeuk knew the fastest and most certain way to break this martial art was to kill Baek Cheongeong directly. Baek Cheongeong would surely protect himself in many ways, but at least Geom Mugeuk would not have to face all the dolls.

However, Geom Mugeuk did not charge forward. His main purpose was not to kill Baek Cheongeong, but to rescue Jin Haryong and find out about Hwa Mugi. For that reason, he respectfully received the first move.

The moment Geom Mugeuk drew his sword, ten wooden dolls charged at him simultaneously.

Geom Mugeuk unleashed the Four Strides of the Wind God. No matter how fast the dolls were, they could not keep up with his wondrous movements. He cut them down decisively without using the Soaring Sky Sword Art, treating them as if they were people.

How could ten ordinary masters possibly kill Geom Mugeuk? Of course, the dolls had frightening aspects that were different from humans. They had no emotions, no fear, and no mercy. They only followed orders, regardless of their opponent.

What was even more frightening was that they felt no pain.

Moreover, they even had regenerative abilities. If an arm holding a sword was cut off, a sword would grow from the other arm to continue the attack. If both arms were cut off, they would charge forward, ramming with their torsos.

They only stopped moving when their torsos were bisected or their heads were cut off. The neutralized dolls then returned to their original size.

While dealing with these ten dolls, Geom Mugeuk thoroughly grasped their characteristics and movements. Watching him not waste a single move, Baek Cheongeong was inwardly impressed.

He's really no ordinary person.

After eliminating all ten dolls, Geom Mugeuk feigned distress.

"What are you going to do if I die from this?"

"If you die, you die. Why? You think I can't kill you?"

"I'm the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult, the Young Cult Leader."

"You may be a big shot in the murim, but to me, you're nothing more than a meddler who suddenly appeared in my life. Like a carriage that suddenly rushes at you when you turn a corner."

"Not a carriage, the Demonic Cult. A war is going to break out because of this, a war."

He tried to test the waters with the word 'war', but Baek Cheongeong was completely unfazed. Perhaps that was what he wanted. His goal in clashing with the Chairman was to cause a dispute between the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Murim Alliance.

"I've shown my qualifications, so answer my question."

"Didn't I just answer you? If you want to talk to me again, show your qualifications again."

This time, twenty wooden dolls grew larger.

Twenty dolls out of thousands was a truly insignificant number. The frightening thing was not the twenty dolls, but the thousands that remained.

Of course, Geom Mugeuk was not afraid. Using the Thousand Wooden Souls Art must also consume inner arts. Baek Cheongeong could not move the dolls indefinitely, and when it came to a battle of inner arts, Geom Mugeuk was confident against anyone in the world.

This time, Geom Mugeuk dealt with them differently.

SHWAAAAAAAK!

Before they could charge, Geom Mugeuk's sword qi swept over them. It was the Soaring Sky Sword Art First Technique, the Equal Sky Strike, which he had mastered to the Twelfth Star. The sword qi could not be dodged. It was so fast and powerful that it cut down all twenty dolls simultaneously.

"Keuk."

Baek Cheongeong let out a low groan. The shock of his Thousand Wooden Souls Art being cut down all at once traveled through his body.

Twenty of them in a single move?

Baek Cheongeong could not believe it. Since he had started using the Thousand Wooden Souls Art, he had never been so helplessly defeated.

Despite showing such an amazing move, Geom Mugeuk was calm. He slowly walked over and sat down where the dolls had been. Then he picked up a doll next to him. He fearlessly fiddled with it, even though it could grow and attack at any moment.

"What on earth happened to you?"

With his playfulness gone, Geom Mugeuk gave off a different vibe. His clear, deep eyes seemed as if they would listen to any story. Though he was an enemy, he seemed like he could offer a comfort that not even an ally could.

Was it because of those eyes? A scene surfaced in Baek Cheongeong's mind. That place, on that day, filled only with corpses. The events of that day, branded onto his heart like a hot iron.

Then Geom Mugeuk suddenly asked, "Are you trying to get revenge?"

Baek Cheongeong stared at Geom Mugeuk. He had resolved never to tell his story, but looking at Geom Mugeuk, he felt an urge to speak. He wanted to hear what this eloquent and strange man would say.

"Then what are you trying to do? Are you aiming to become the Murim Alliance Chairman's grandson-in-law? Or are you trying to get on his good side and then kill him?"

Geom Mugeuk fiddled with the doll. "I'm trying to get revenge, too."

Baek Cheongeong was startled. It was the most surprised he had been since meeting Geom Mugeuk. He had never imagined the word 'revenge' would come from his mouth.

"Against whom?"

"You see? When you hear the word 'revenge', aren't you immediately curious about who it's against?"

Geom Mugeuk placed the doll he was holding back in its spot.

"Shouldn't you listen to my story first, in order?"

At that moment, four dolls around Geom Mugeuk suddenly grew and launched an attack.

SHWIIIIK!

The four dolls were cut down simultaneously.

Geom Mugeuk reacted as if he had known the attack was coming. His martial arts already overwhelmed the dolls' attacks.

Baek Cheongeong could tell. With this method, he could not harm a single hair on Geom Mugeuk's head. He would have to use his trump card to have a chance at victory.

TUK TUK.

The dolls fell, cut apart, as they returned to their original size.

Instead of cursing him for the surprise attack, Geom Mugeuk picked up the fallen pieces and placed them back in their original spots.

"Are you mocking me?"

"If I were mocking you, I would have stomped on these or pissed on them. At the very least, I know how diligently you carved each and every one of these. I know because I tried to copy it. Carving these is no ordinary task."

"No matter what you say, you won't be leaving here alive today."

"Then you can tell me, can't you? Since I'm going to die anyway. The same goes if you die. Since you're going to die anyway, is there any reason you can't talk? Why are you so full of worries that you're even shouldering the burdens of what happens after you die?"

Those words struck Baek Cheongeong's heart. Yes, he was carrying all sorts of lingering attachments and worries, even though he did not fear death itself.

"You're quite good at spouting sophistry."

"Tell me. I want to know your story."

Their gazes locked in mid-air.

Baek Cheongeong could feel that Geom Mugeuk genuinely wanted to know, and not just to gain an advantage in their fight.

Finally, Baek Cheongeong slowly extended his hand.

Dolls a little distance away from Geom Mugeuk grew to human size. They did not charge at Geom Mugeuk. Instead, they began to fight amongst themselves in the center of the clearing.

Geom Mugeuk understood. Baek Cheongeong was showing him what he had experienced. The clearing had now become a stage for his past.

A masked doll cut down the other dolls. Male dolls and female dolls all fell to its sword, completely helpless. The Thousand Wooden Souls Art was even demonstrated on the stage, showing small dolls growing larger to try and stop the attacker.

It's the Wood Heaven Clan.

He was showing the annihilation of the Wood Heaven Clan. The scene of his entire clan being killed would enrage Geom Mugeuk more than anyone. Familiar faces overlapped with the falling dolls.

The masked doll cut down every last person. From this, Geom Mugeuk could tell that a single person carried out the annihilation that day.

"You want to know why I spent ten years in the Murim Alliance carving these? Why I don't care whether a war breaks out or not? Why I fearlessly kidnapped the Chairman's granddaughter? Watch closely and see why I've been waiting for the perfect moment of revenge!"

As his words ended, the doll that had committed the massacre turned its head toward Geom Mugeuk.

The moment he saw it, Geom Mugeuk was startled.

It wore a mask, but he recognized those sharp and intense eyes. It was someone he knew.

He was none other than the Murim Alliance Chairman, Jin Paecheon.