Chapter 538: A Fight Impossible Without Trust

TL: FoodieMonster007

Yeo Jong strolled through the rear garden of the Thousand Flower Palace alongside the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon. Their walk concluded at a pond surrounded by well-tended flowers and trees, where carp splashed water near the serenely floating water lilies.

This time with the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, after so long, was incredibly joyful and precious to Yeo Jong. She decided to forget her worries about the Hundred Prosperities Trading Company's plot and why they had tried to use her.

"Where did the Young Cult Leader go? I haven't seen him these past few days."

"He went to meet the Young Alliance Chairman of the Evil Alliance."

A smile touched Yeo Jong's lips as she asked, "Are the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult and the Young Alliance Chairman of the Evil Alliance on such terms that they can meet so easily?"

The eyes behind the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's mask crinkled in amusement at her joke.

"He's the one who summoned the head of the Murim Alliance and the Evil Alliance Chairman to a tavern of our Cult. This is nothing."

In truth, there was a particular aspect of Geom Mugeuk that Yeo Jong saw and felt.

"When I look at the Young Cult Leader, I get a certain feeling."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon was curious about what she would say. He expected some grand statement, like 'I can feel a special destiny'.

"I get the feeling that he's someone who knows things inside and out."

If someone else had said it, he would have taken it to mean a smart person or someone well-informed. However, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon knew. He knew that Yeo Jong had a special ability. She was someone who could read a person's fate. Of course, it was very rare for her to tell anyone what she had read.

"It's a bit different from knowing a lot, or knowing things deeply. It's hard to explain, but the Young Cult Leader has his own way of knowing things inside and out. That sounds a bit strange, doesn't it?"

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's eyes showed that he understood her meaning. How could he not, when it concerned the two people closest to him in his life?

"Not at all."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon knew better than anyone that Geom Mugeuk was not a person who could be easily understood.

"That's why I don't try to understand the Young Cult Leader. I just feel."

Just then, something flew rapidly toward them. What had been a mere dot in the distance instantly crossed the space, rushing at them like a shot arrow or a bird gliding at incredible speed.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon quickly moved Yeo Jong behind him and raised his qi.

Only when the figure was almost upon them did the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon relax. The person who had flown in was Geom Mugeuk.

Geom Mugeuk landed softly in the yard. The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon was surprised not by the increased speed of Geom Mugeuk's movement arts, but by the way he landed. He came to a stop as effortlessly as if he had just hopped down from a roof. It was an impossibly soft and light landing considering the speed at which he had arrived.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon knew that when one's movement arts reached the pinnacle, stopping was more difficult than running. The true measure of one's skill was in how one stopped.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon had just witnessed the answer.

"Your movement arts have gotten even faster."

"I ran without rest because I wanted to see you both."

Geom Mugeuk had truly run without rest, using the Swift Step, which was faster than a bird. The act of running and breaking through his own speed limits offered a unique pleasure, different from the satisfaction of growing stronger through martial arts.

"Did you meet the Young Alliance Chairman of the Evil Alliance?"

"Yes, I did. It seems he had already accepted the Hundred Prosperities Trading Company's invitation."

"So those bastards really were targeting the Young Alliance Chairman."

"On my way, I also sent word to the Hidden Moon and the All-Knowing Hall. I told them to investigate everything about the Hundred Prosperities Trading Company. They'll surely find something."

At the mention of the intelligence organizations, Yeo Jong excused herself.

"You must be hungry from all that running, right? I'll go show off my skills. It's been a while, so please have a home-cooked meal I've prepared!"

She was a woman who knew better than anyone when to participate and when to step aside. Even though the plot's background involved her own Thousand Flower Palace, the true protagonists of this conflict were the two men who had willingly rushed here for her.

After Yeo Jong left the rear garden, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon asked cautiously, "Could it be those masterminds?"

"Perhaps. Even if not, we must act cautiously, keeping in mind that they might be behind it."

After all, a plot to assassinate the Young Alliance Chairman of the Evil Alliance was not something just anyone could devise.

"Now, we should get to what we need to do, shouldn't we?"

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon knew what Geom Mugeuk meant. Before leaving to see the Young Alliance Chairman, Geom Mugeuk had said they should have a match upon his return.

"Where shall we fight?"

It seemed Geom Mugeuk already had a place in mind.

"I know the perfect place. Ah, but before that, let's eat that home-cooked meal first. It's been a while."

Geom Mugeuk and the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon stood in a dense forest.

"This is truly amazing."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon held out his hand, and sunlight shone on the back of it. The light filtering through the leaves was as distinct as if a sword qi had flown by. It was warm. He then caressed a tree, feeling its rough surface while the air remained cool and fresh.

"I didn't know the Spacetime Manipulation Technique could be this vivid."

This place existed inside the Spacetime Manipulation Technique that Geom Mugeuk had opened.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon was aware that Geom Mugeuk could use the Spacetime Manipulation Technique. During the past battle with the Weird Demon and the Chainman, Geom Mugeuk had saved the endangered Extremely Evil Smiling Demon by opening it. He had explained then that he had learned the technique.

"I was in a state of confusion back then and couldn't get a good look, but it was such a vivid place."

To think he could create such a vast space from within his room.

Looking around, there was no mystical feeling at all. It simply felt like being on a mountain behind one's home, which made it all the more surprising and incredible.

Geom Mugeuk wished he could teach the Spacetime Manipulation Technique to his father or the Demon Supremes, but it was impossible. The technique was the unique martial art of the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. For that reason, Geom Mugeuk treated him as Master, at least within this space.

"I deliberately made it a dense forest."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's unique martial arts involved finger qi bullets and palm techniques. In an open field, his attacks would vanish without a trace. However, in a forest dense with trees, the evidence of his martial arts would remain.

This confrontation would be a bloody battle, but it was ultimately for training. Furthermore, while the fight was training for the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, it was also for Geom Mugeuk himself.

Geom Mugeuk drew the Black Demon Sword and said, "Shall we begin?"

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon stared at Geom Mugeuk. The effectiveness of today's fight depended on whether or not he could believe in one major premise.

No matter what I do, I cannot kill the Young Cult Leader.

If he believed this, he could display his skills to their absolute limit.

However, what if, by some chance, the Young Cult Leader made a mistake?

As if guessing the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's worries, Geom Mugeuk spoke. "You've seen my movement arts, so you should know. I'll dodge well."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon nodded.

Then I will trust you, Young Cult Leader.

The two men politely performed a clasped hands greeting to each other, and the fight began.

SHUK!

First, the Blood Calamity Finger shot from the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's hand. It flew out and instantly pierced a distant tree. Geom Mugeuk, who had been in its path, was already in mid-air, striking down with his sword.

SHWIIIIK!

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon twisted his body to dodge and unleashed the Blood Calamity Finger once more.

Could the Young Cult Leader really dodge the Blood Calamity Finger from such a close range? He was definitely worried. Nevertheless, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon executed the best move he could.

SHUUUUUUK!

The Blood Calamity Finger, fired like a beam of light, split into three streams that targeted Geom Mugeuk's head, chest, and legs.

Geom Mugeuk's figure moved like the wind, exquisitely slipping away as he unleashed the Four Strides of the Wind God.

The moment he saw that technique, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon unlocked the final lock in his heart.

Worrying about the Young Cult Leader is arrogance.

The same was true for Geom Mugeuk, whose moves were as fierce as someone trying to kill the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon.

SHWIIIIIK!

Geom Mugeuk rushed in as fast as lightning, his sword swinging too quickly to be seen.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon scrambled up a tree with the speed of a squirrel.

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!

In an instant, the tree was sliced apart from its base upwards.

Just as the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon burst through the branches and soared into the air, the Blood Calamity Finger rained down from the sky. Finger qi bullets poured toward Geom Mugeuk like rain from the very spot the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon had just vacated.

SHUKSHUKSHUKSHUKSHUK!

SHUKSHUKSHUKSHUKSHUKSHUKSHUK!

The Blood Calamity Finger moved with the speed of hidden weapons fired from a mechanism. His previous attacks had been fast and powerful, but they couldn't compare to this.

THUDTHUDTHUDTHUDTHUDTHUDTHUD!

Creating about twenty holes in the ground, the Blood Calamity Finger missed Geom Mugeuk by a hair's breadth. Both men knew that such close calls would help improve their martial arts, so the heart-stopping moments continued one after another.

KABOOM!

The surroundings were overturned by the Extremely Savage Demonic Palm. A palm technique of immense power swept through the area, pulverizing the ground, trees, and even rocks in its path, carving a new trail far into the distance.

"Are you all right?"

From far away within the cloud of dust, Geom Mugeuk's voice responded to the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's question. "How could I be all right? I'm not exaggerating. I really almost died."

However, he was exaggerating.

SHWIIIIK.

A sword qi flew through the dust cloud, grazing the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's shoulder. It was an attack that would have severed his shoulder if not for his instinctive dodge. Despite overcoming the crisis, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's eyes were smiling.

The duel was fierce, with the two men fighting ferociously as if against a real enemy. It was a perilous fight, impossible without trust in each other's skills, and an adventure that could never be attempted without a genuine desire to help one another.

Furthermore, this fight, while violent and rough, was an exceedingly wise one.

They paused the fight periodically. Geom Mugeuk would invariably halt the exchange whenever a moment for discussion arose. He precisely understood when a single word was more effective than a thousand sword strikes.

Geom Mugeuk taught the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, following the methods his father had used with him. The situation was completely different, of course. Back then, he was the disciple, but now he was the teacher. Geom Mugeuk did not overlook the enlightenment this difference provided.

"Please show me that last move again."

When Geom Mugeuk snapped his fingers, the surroundings changed. The damaged trees and rocks returned to their original state, and the exchange of blows resumed.

The Blood Calamity Finger he unleashed was different from before. That much was clear from the new traces left in the surroundings.

Geom Mugeuk stood before a hole left by the Blood Calamity Finger in a different location. "If you had unleashed it here at first, this hole would have been in my body."

However, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon didn't think so. "Even so, you would have found a way to dodge it, Young Cult Leader."

That wasn't the only advantage of fighting within the Spacetime Manipulation Technique.

SNAP!

Geom Mugeuk snapped his fingers again, and this time, the surroundings became pitch-black.

"This time, it's night."

An even more dangerous fight had begun. When it ended, a bright full moon emerged from behind the clouds. The two men reviewed their battle and talked again under the bright moonlight.

When the duel began, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon could never have imagined it would turn into this. The Young Cult Leader was pouring everything he had into him, even risking his life. For that reason, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon also gave his all, determined not to waste the Young Cult Leader's goodwill.

"This time, it's raining."

SWAAAAAAAAAA.

The two men fought in the downpour. In the rain, dodging the Blood Calamity Finger was even harder.

Despite this, Geom Mugeuk was not hit by the Blood Calamity Finger. He dodged and counterattacked desperately. The training would end the moment he was injured. For his own sake, and for the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's, he absolutely could not get hurt.

When the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's inner arts were completely exhausted, Geom Mugeuk would wait for him to circulate his energy before they fought again. Amazingly, the two men fought for two days and two nights, literally without sleeping or eating.

And now, after that desperate yet brilliant fight had ended, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon was sitting cross-legged, lost in thought. Geom Mugeuk sat beside him, waiting for him to emerge from his state of self-annihilation.

Geom Mugeuk was certain that his father had also realized many things while teaching him. After all, he himself had gained several enlightenments from this fight. The bloody battle of the past two days was a miraculous encounter that was difficult even for him to obtain.

How much time had passed?

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon opened his eyes. This single fight had allowed him to firmly solidify the new level of martial learning he had recently attained. Even when one's level rises, it takes time for that power to become completely one's own.

Depending on one's experiences, it could take several years, or one might never be able to consolidate that level in a lifetime. However, through the bloody battle of the last two days, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon had surpassed that process.

"Thanks to you, I am now able to move on to the next stage."

This two-day fight had given him more enlightenment than all the battles of his life combined. Such a feat was only possible because the martial level of both men was so incredibly high.

"Congratulations." Geom Mugeuk smiled brightly and congratulated him sincerely.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon looked at Geom Mugeuk's arm with a worried expression. "Is your arm all right?"

A trace of blood was on Geom Mugeuk's arm. At that, he grimaced and exaggerated his injury. "How could it be all right? My arm almost fell off."

Of course, it wasn't that bad. The wound was just a little deeper than a graze.

In truth, the moment blood splattered, it wasn't Geom Mugeuk's arm that nearly fell off, but the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's liver. He had been so shocked in that instant that he had even let out a short scream.

"I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything."

Right, it was better that the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon said nothing. How could he possibly convey such immense gratitude with words?

The two men sat side by side, looking at the place that had been their final battlefield. The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon was once again amazed. Geom Mugeuk had maintained this space for two whole days, even while engaged in that insane fight.

"But can your inner arts hold out any longer? To think you're still maintaining this space."

"It's on its last legs now."

It was only possible because he had fought using pure swordsmanship and sword qi, avoiding techniques that consume massive amounts of inner arts like the Nine Calamities Demonic Art.

"Still, I've saved the last of my inner arts to use on the most important thing."

SNAP!

Geom Mugeuk snapped his fingers, and the surroundings changed to a new place.

"Ah!"

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's eyes widened behind his mask.

"You must have missed this after seeing nothing but green foliage for two whole days, right?"

Spread out before them was a pure white, snowy landscape. It was a scene that put the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's mind at utmost ease.

Although his thoughts and feelings had changed recently, even to the point of placing furniture in his room, this pure white landscape remained the space that most put his mind at ease.

What could he say to such thoughtfulness? The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon could only gaze silently at the vast, sprawling snowfield.

"Smiling Demon."

"Yes, Young Cult Leader."

"Next time, you must go on a trip with me."

"At that time…"

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon hesitated for a moment. What did he want to say that made him hesitate so uncharacteristically?

Just then, a voice came from outside the Spacetime Manipulation Technique, from beyond their quarters. It was Yeo Jong. "Young Cult Leader, are you there? Someone has come looking for the Young Cult Leader."