Chapter 504: The Arm That Defeats a Hundred

TL: FoodieMonster007

After regressing, many things had happened.

He had been surprised many times while experiencing those events, but had he ever been this shocked?

Wait, Elder, why are you coming out of there?

Normally, he would have started with such a jest. But Geom Mugeuk said nothing. The words wouldn't even come out. He had to grasp the situation first.

Calm down.

The first thing he met was the gaze of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. His eyes were colder than usual, but Geom Mugeuk could tell.

It's the real Elder.

He wasn't an imposter in disguise, nor was he under the influence of evil arts. He could fake everything else, but he could never fake that stubborn gaze. Even without the look in his eyes, Geom Mugeuk's instincts told him. It was unmistakably the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

Jin Hagun looked at Geom Mugeuk. He knew enough about the relationship between Geom Mugeuk and the Demon Supremes. He also knew that the Blood Heaven Blade Demon shouldn't be appearing here.

Was the master you said would kill us all the Blood Heaven Blade Demon?

He didn't send the thought via telepathy. He could feel that Geom Mugeuk was even more surprised than he was. And with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's appearance, a suspicion naturally arose.

Could it be that the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was the one who annihilated the Great Justice Sect?

Furthermore, an event followed that strengthened his suspicion. Yoo Beom pointed at him and said this, as if telling them that this was the person they had to kill.

"That man is the head of the Demon Slaying Brigade, Jin Hagun."

Even without the introduction, they knew each other, as they had met before.

Jin Hagun calmly greeted the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

"It's been a long time."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon merely stared with a blunt gaze, not offering a single word to Jin Hagun.

At that reaction, the Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists tensed up. Although they had greater numbers, their opponent was a Demon Supreme. Moreover, the aura of Yoo Beom, who had revealed his true colors, was extraordinary. The martial artists who had been disguised as patients in the beds were not to be underestimated either.

And above all, what they feared was Geom Mugeuk siding with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. They knew his relationship with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was as deep as his relationship with Jin Hagun. No, the arm always bends inwards.

If Geom Mugeuk didn't side with them, Jin Hagun would die here today.

The Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists looked at each other, exchanging glances. A resolve passed between them, that even if they all died, they had to save Jin Hagun.

Yoo Beom then looked at Geom Mugeuk. He knew that Geom Mugeuk was not a martial artist of the Demon Slaying Brigade, but the Young Cult Leader.

"I didn't expect the Young Cult Leader to come here as well. He saw right through our plan."

If it weren't for the Young Cult Leader, the Demon Slaying Brigade and Jin Hagun would already be lying as cold corpses.

"Young Cult Leader."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon said as he walked toward Geom Mugeuk.

"I believe I told you once. This old man has lived his entire life with misfortune, so it's better not to see me often."

Geom Mugeuk silently watched him approach.

Jin Hagun, tense from the terrifying pressure, watched the two of them.

SWOOSH.

The Heaven Destroying Dao was aimed at Geom Mugeuk's neck. A sharp energy flowed along the keen blade, one that felt like it could sever his head with a mere flick of the hand.

His face was reflected on the Heaven Destroying Dao.

Geom Mugeuk briefly stared at his own reflection on the blade's edge.

Suddenly, he recalled that day. The day he first met the Blood Heaven Blade Demon after regressing, he had aimed the Heaven Destroying Dao at his neck just like this.

Geom Mugeuk's gaze moved slowly along the blade's edge. Past the hand gripping the dao, it reached the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's face.

Looking at that face, Geom Mugeuk smiled brightly.

"I'm so glad you're safe."

The corner of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's eye twitched. His gaze remained cold.

A suffocating tension flowed between the two, as if he might swing the dao and cut off his head at any moment.

However, Geom Mugeuk acted no differently than how he usually treated him.

"I was so worried!"

He didn't show it on the outside, but he was inwardly worried about the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. What if he was defeated by someone? What if he's being held captive somewhere?

"Still, the person who knows you best is my father, Elder. He said you're not the type to be defeated anywhere, so there's no need to worry about you."

He deliberately mentioned his father to see how the Blood Heaven Blade Demon would react. He showed no reaction at all.

"And Elder, how could you surprise someone like this? When I saw you walk through that door, my heart nearly dropped out of my chest!"

Even in a moment like this, Geom Mugeuk was talking a lot, just as usual.

In contrast, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon responded with extreme coldness.

"Don't you think that I came here to kill you?"

One person acting like someone else, the other unchanging, their conversation continued.

"Of course not."

"Why is that?"

"Because you're not that kind of person, Elder."

"What if I've been deceiving you all this time? What if I am that kind of person?"

"That's impossible."

"How can you be so sure?"

"It's because of this."

Geom Mugeuk slowly reached into his robes and took something out. It was the poetry collection he had received from Seo Daeryong.

"There are no evil people among those who love books."

"I could've pretended to like books to deceive you."

"For that to be true, you loved books far too much."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon let out a blatant scoff.

"If you trust people so carelessly like you do, you'll end up betrayed and killed. That's the world, and that's the murim."

A cold demonic qi erupted from the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's body. Not only Jin Hagun and the Demon Slaying Brigade, but even Yoo Beom and his subordinates felt goosebumps all over their bodies.

Only Geom Mugeuk watched the Blood Heaven Blade Demon calmly, without any agitation.

"It's alright. Even if I'm betrayed by you, Elder."

"Even if the result is death?"

"You've given me so much that it would be fine even if I died. With that much affection, I can give you this life."

SHIIING.

The Heaven Destroying Dao moved to slice his neck, and Geom Mugeuk twisted his body to narrowly avoid it. It wasn't a true killing intent, just enough to draw blood from his neck.

"Why did you dodge?"

"Did I dodge? The blade was cold, so I just moved away a little."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon merely made a look of contempt.

Yoo Beom requested of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

"We must finish what we started. Please hold the Young Cult Leader for a moment."

He had faith that the Blood Heaven Blade Demon would naturally follow his words.

As soon as he finished speaking, both sides moved at once. The Demon Slaying Brigade simultaneously moved to block the front and sides of Jin Hagun. The event they had feared had finally occurred.

The martial artists who had been in the beds also stepped forward, drawing their swords.

Yoo Beom wore a confident expression, as if he was sure of victory as long as the Young Cult Leader didn't intervene. And that confidence did not come from his skill.

Yoo Beom touched a device protruding from the bed right next to him.

CLANK.

Several small doors opened behind Jin Hagun and the Demon Slaying Brigade. From the holes within them.

HIIISSSSSS.

The smoke that flowed out from there was the scent of the Anti-Life Grass. They had installed a device in the back as well, in case they didn't approach the beds.

As the two scents combined, the flow of inner arts in Jin Hagun and the Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists was momentarily severed.

Yoo Beom's order fell.

"Kill them all!"

Just as they were about to launch themselves at the Demon Slaying Brigade all at once!

Geom Mugeuk drew his sword and aimed it at the empty space between the two groups. It was a warning not to advance toward the Demon Slaying Brigade.

"Go!"

At Yoo Beom's command, the martial artists in the lead flew toward Jin Hagun and the Demon Slaying Brigade as ordered. They were certain the Blood Heaven Blade Demon would stop the Young Cult Leader.

SHWIIIIING!

SLASH!

A stream of sword qi was unleashed from Geom Mugeuk's sword.

The martial artists in the lead were sliced apart by the sword qi and collapsed. Those following behind all halted.

The smell of blood filled the room, and blood began to flow across the floor.

Yoo Beom looked at the Blood Heaven Blade Demon with a shocked expression.

"Why didn't you stop the Young Cult Leader?"

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon withdrew the dao aimed at Geom Mugeuk's neck and approached Yoo Beom.

SLAP!

Yoo Beom's body, struck on the cheek, flew into a corner and crashed. Fortunately, he hadn't injected inner arts, so he didn't lose his life.

Getting up, Yoo Beom glared at the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. Although his martial arts skills were clearly far inferior to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's, he boldly revealed his anger.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked at him and spoke coldly.

"He's our Cult's Young Cult Leader. There is only one person who can stop his will."

It meant that no matter how special the situation, the Young Cult Leader was still the Young Cult Leader.

It was at that moment.

From behind, Geom Mugeuk said to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

"It doesn't matter if someone is controlling you with a parasite, Elder. I'll cure you. If you have a hidden child who is being held hostage, I will definitely rescue them. It doesn't even matter if you're doing this because you've suddenly grown bored with life. From now on, I'll visit you every day and make things fun for you."

It was at that very moment. The thing Geom Mugeuk had been hoping for ever since this meeting began finally happened.

A telepathy from the Blood Heaven Blade Demon arrived. And it was in his usual tone of voice.

[My ears hurt, you brat!]

That one sentence was enough. Without a lengthy explanation, he could understand. He was unavoidably on the other side for now. He was still the same, unchanging Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

[I knew it all along!]

[How?]

[Because you trust my father and me, Elder. I don't know what unavoidable circumstances brought you here, but you must have believed that my father and I would solve it. Trusting someone is also a form of intelligence, and you, Elder, have better judgment and are smarter than anyone. You're the only book-reading Demon Supreme in this world, aren't you?]

Because his back was turned, Geom Mugeuk couldn't see it. He couldn't see that the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's gaze had softened at the praise he hadn't heard in a long time.

[Still, you must have been surprised by my appearance at first?]

[You'll probably say you were trying to show them you were drawing a line with me by acting cold, but I know the truth. You were just trying to tease me, right? To enjoy seeing me flustered and surprised. You've been influenced by me. 'When an opportunity arises, I must tease him no matter what!' It won't work on me. Go tease your disciple instead!]

A smile formed on the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's lips. This was his true self.

However, the fleeting smile was brief. When he turned his head to Yoo Beom, his expression was utterly cold.

"We're leaving!"

Yoo Beom flinched in surprise.

"We must complete the mission."

"Then you can stay here and die."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon left Yoo Beom and the martial artists behind and walked toward the door he had come from.

Geom Mugeuk sent one last telepathy.

[I will move according to my own way. I'll see you again soon, Elder!]

After the Blood Heaven Blade Demon left, Yoo Beom looked at Jin Hagun, conflicted.

There were still traps left in this space. This place had been made to be the tomb of Jin Hagun and the Demon Slaying Brigade.

However, there was the variable of Geom Mugeuk. With him accompanying them, the entire plan had gone awry. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon's departure was also ultimately because of this Young Cult Leader.

Yoo Beom's deliberation was not long. If he was going to leave, he had to get out with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon before he got too far.

"We're leaving too!"

Yoo Beom and the martial artists, with their swords drawn, backed away toward the door the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had exited through.

The temporary effects of the Qi Dispersing Poison had already worn off, so the Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists awaited Jin Hagun's order to attack. Since the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had already left, they could probably annihilate the enemy if they attacked now.

Jin Hagun instinctively felt it. He shouldn't kill them now.

If it were a situation where they had to be killed, Geom Mugeuk would have killed them first. The reason Geom Mugeuk was letting them go was likely because of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

Even in this situation, Geom Mugeuk was leaving the decision to him. Since they tried to kill you and the Demon Slaying Brigade, I will follow your decision.

If a fight broke out, Geom Mugeuk would surely help them.

Feeling that consideration, Jin Hagun made a decision for Geom Mugeuk's sake.

"Just let them go."

At Jin Hagun's command, the Demon Slaying Brigade withdrew their killing intent. In the meantime, Yoo Beom and his martial artists all escaped.

"Thanks."

Geom Mugeuk expressed his gratitude to Jin Hagun.

"What's to thank? If it weren't for you, we would all be dead by now."

After all, they had been about to carry out the patients, not even knowing they were enemies.

No matter how careful one was, they would still face crises like this. Dealing with those who possessed only vicious killing intent and malice instead of a martial artist's honor was never an easy task.

The Demon Slaying Brigade, standing behind, all performed a clasped hands greeting and paid their respects to Geom Mugeuk. It was a sign of gratitude for saving their lives.

They hadn't fought a single battle today, but Geom Mugeuk saw the true character of the Demon Slaying Brigade.

Right now, none of them showed any dissatisfaction on their faces. They could have certainly been displeased about letting go of those who tried to kill them.

Furthermore, even though their opponent was the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult, they were clear about debts and grudges. This was why the elite were the elite.

Geom Mugeuk said to Jin Hagun.

"Even if I hadn't been here, there's no way the Blade Demon would have let you die."

It might be hard for Jin Hagun to believe, but Geom Mugeuk had absolute faith.

"If I weren't here, the Blade Demon would have used any means necessary to save you all. That's probably why the Blade Demon was here today."

"Why would the Blade Demon save us?"

Could that be possible? If he had to find a reason, was it because he was the next Chairman?

However, that wasn't the reason Geom Mugeuk was thinking of.

"Because he knows that you're my friend."

Jin Hagun understood what kind of moment this was.

It was a moment where he was witnessing the pinnacle of trust.

Geom Mugeuk was showing him now. What it meant to trust a person.

'Trust only as much as an arm,' you said? You're a liar.

Geom Mugeuk's faith in the Blood Heaven Blade Demon seemed insufficient even if you called it a ten, no, a hundred. That arm was an arm that could defeat a hundred.

"Well, let's get out of here too."

Geom Mugeuk took the lead and went outside.

He believed that besides his father, there was nothing in this world that could bind the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. And yet, he was entangled in something? There must be a reason why he had to help the enemy despite his reluctance.

He couldn't know the reason based on his life before regression. Because among the Demon Supremes, he had been the first to die.

In this life, I'll change that fate.