Chapter 659: Still Think I'm Cute, Oh?

TL: FoodieMonster007

A terrifying silence descended, so profound it seemed even the wailing ghosts had been frightened into stillness.

Despite having his move countered in a single stroke, Gwak Ju chose to laugh out loud.

Jin Hagun could discern that the laugh was not Gwak Ju's own voice. The sound was mixed with that of a soul-enthralling art master, and Jin Hagun understood what that implied.

His emotions are wavering.

Jin Hagun sensed it. The first crack had just appeared in the world his enemy had created.

Gwak Ju, who had been laughing loudly, came to an abrupt stop.

"Our young Demon Supreme is better than that old man from the orthodox sects over there."

Hwa Song's face turned red at those words.

He was one of the two great Masters responsible for teaching the Great Order Soul Returning Art at the Murim Alliance.

He felt an immense shame that he, of all people, had succumbed to a soul-enthralling art. His opponent had just twisted the knife in that very wound.

"That old man even activated the Blood Heaven Soul Strengthening Art himself."

Just as Hwa Song's face flushed an even deeper shade of red, Jin Hagun stepped forward.

"But at least he doesn't hide behind other people."

Jin Hagun's voice was clear and powerful, imbued with the True Heart Technique which blocks distracting thoughts and drives out inner demons. The feverish color blooming on Hwa Song's face began to subside.

"I have no face to show Commander Jin."

Jin Hagun comforted him with a firm tone.

"There's no need to blame yourself. That person has been working behind the scenes around Master Hwa for a very long time. It was likely a conspiracy that started the very first day Master Hwa began teaching his disciples. No one can know what he might have secretly fed you or what suggestions he continuously gave you during that time. The arrangement for the Blood Heaven Soul Strengthening Art was also extremely clever. Anyone would have fallen for it."

At that, Gwak Ju directed a sneer at Jin Hagun.

"Our Commander Jin is quite busy, isn't he? Sucking up to the Demon Supreme and comforting an old man from the orthodox sects."

Jin Hagun remained unshaken by the mockery. Even though this was a world created by the scoundrel's evil arts, he was still the commander of the Demon Slaying Brigade.

In fact, he felt grateful to his enemy. He had learned a great deal because of this incident.

It was more than just a renewed determination to grow stronger.

After being caught in the scoundrel's evil arts, he had been subjected to continuous humiliation and forced to feel helpless.

Yet, even during that process, he tried to prevent his subordinates from getting hurt. He kept repeating this thought to himself.

My pride can be wounded. But my subordinates cannot be.

Jin Hagun focused on this feeling inside his heart.

He felt that he had matured, seeing how he had changed. Yes, the tip of the sword could waver, but the heart must not.

As he was steeling his resolve, the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme spoke to him.

"When a tiger is fully grown, it fears no serpent."

How could he not understand her meaning? She was telling him that he couldn't face this serpent because he was a tiger that wasn't yet fully grown.

He hadn't expected her to say such a thing, and Jin Hagun was inwardly moved.

Jin Hagun bowed his head slightly to convey his gratitude to her.

Gwak Ju interjected once more.

"What a scene. The Demon Supreme of the Demonic Cult comforting the commander of the Demon Slaying Brigade! How bizarre can you get?"

The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme slowly turned to look at him.

SHH!

The gesture felt as if it meant, 'You, shut up!' which caused Gwak Ju's expression to harden. She had managed to turn his insides upside down without uttering a single word.

Of course, he didn't simply let it pass.

"Your Young Cult Leader was killed by the grandfather of the man you're trying to save. Now, who do you think the serpent is?"

Jin Hagun quickly stepped forward, lest there be any misunderstanding.

"Don't be deceived. That could never happen."

Then, unexpected words came from the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme.

"I know. If one of the two were to die, forgive my presumption, but it would have been the Chairman."

Jin Hagun was startled for a moment. He could see from her unwavering gaze that she truly believed what she said.

Jin Hagun could feel that her belief stemmed not from rudeness, but from an absolute faith in Geom Mugeuk.

Ah, now that I think about it, she is the first Demon Supreme of the next generation.

Thinking of her as Geom Mugeuk's first Demon Supreme helped him to somewhat understand her absolute faith.

The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme started walking toward Gwak Ju and spoke.

"Ghost games should be played between ghosts."

Gwak Ju grinned broadly as he watched her approach. His feeling upon seeing this young Demon Supreme was simple.

"Cute."

The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme stopped walking and gave him a bright smile.

"Don't take that back later."

"The way you talk is cute, too."

CHAK CHAK CHAK CHAK!

The Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists, still under the soul-enthralling art, moved to block the path in front of Gwak Ju. Gwak Ju watched with an expression that seemed to say, 'What are you going to do about them? Go on, show me a little trick.'

The Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists aimed their swords at her and advanced.

Naturally, the one who grew anxious was Jin Hagun.

While he and his men had avoided attacking their comrades even at the risk of injury, the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme was different. It was unlikely she would show such consideration, nor could he demand it from her.

Jin Hagun gestured with his eyes to the Demon Slaying Brigade subordinates beside him, then moved forward. All the Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists followed him and stepped forward.

"We will handle them."

"There's no need for that."

At the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme's words, which told him to trust her and stand back, Jin Hagun immediately had his subordinates retreat. He trusted her. He trusted Geom Mugeuk, who had sent her.

The Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists under the soul-enthralling art rushed toward her all at once.

SHWIIIIK! SHWIK! SHWIIIIK!

Thinking that someone was bound to die, the watching Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists were about to rush out, but Jin Hagun spread his arms to the sides and stopped them. If you don't trust her, you step in from the start. If you trust her, you must trust her to the end.

The swirl pattern drawn on her cheek glowed, and at the same time, a pure white wave of energy erupted forward from her body.

FUWOOOOONG!

The fiercely blowing wave of energy made everyone's collars and hair flutter.

A silence followed.

The Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists who had been striking with their swords all froze in place. Their sword techniques, thrusting toward the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme, had stopped.

"……"

Their expressions had all returned to normal. They wore looks that questioned why they were attacking a woman they had never seen before.

As if blowing it away with the wind, the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme had released them from the soul-enthralling art all at once. It was a truly incredible display of divine power.

Soon after, the Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists saw Jin Hagun standing behind the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme and grasped the situation. They realized they had fallen under a soul-enthralling art.

They all leaped toward Jin Hagun in unison.

Jin Hagun joyfully welcomed them.

"Welcome back."

Seeing Jin Hagun drenched in blood, they guessed what the situation had been like.

"Thank you, Commander."

"You should give your thanks to the Demon Supreme."

At that, the Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists politely paid their respects to her.

"Thank you."

The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme simply raised a hand lightly without looking back.

Jin Hagun found himself liking her. Perhaps it was because she was a Demon Supreme he would be seeing for a very long time, as long as his connection with Geom Mugeuk continued.

Now, only Gwak Ju stood alone before the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme.

He was not flustered, even though the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme had instantly broken the soul-enthralling art cast on the Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists.

The moment he unleashed a sharp gaze.

CHAANG.

One of the Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists half-drew his sword.

Having fallen under the soul-enthralling art again, he was about to attack the martial artist next to him, but the art was broken by the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme before he could fully draw his sword.

CHAANG!

A sword being drawn from another's hand stopped.

It was truly a soul-enthralling art confrontation the likes of which he had never witnessed.

Like a game of Go, it was a continuous sequence of attacking and defending, attacking and defending.

Each time, the swirl pattern drawn on her cheek shone with a radiant light.

Just as the opponent had strengthened his soul-enthralling art with the Blood Heaven Soul Strengthening Art, he could see that the Honhwa was also lending her its power. And each time it glowed, the swirl pattern faded slightly.

In the end, the opponent gave up on casting the soul-enthralling art on the Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists.

Gwak Ju gently tapped his palms together in a silent applause, as if admitting defeat. He still acted relaxed, but he couldn't hide the surprise in his eyes.

The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme spoke, tossing the words out indifferently.

"You're such a coward, so why did you get involved in something like this?"

It wasn't blatant mockery, but a question that sounded genuinely curious. Because of that, a flash of irritation crossed Gwak Ju's face, and it truly hardened.

The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme never had an ordinary personality. She possessed great ambition and a sharp, fierce nature.

However, she had only recently ascended to the position of Demon Supreme and had been focused solely on training. She was relatively weaker than the other Demon Supremes, so how hard had she worked to escape that evaluation of being weak?

After only training for so long, she was finally facing a strong enemy, and her tongue was starting to loosen up.

"It's my first time seeing someone hide behind a hostage."

Of all people, the body he was currently possessing was Gwak Ju.

She knew that this current operation was a mission to rescue Gwak Ju.

Gwak Ju immediately countered.

"I hear the Young Cult Leader placed you in the position of Demon Supreme. Did you offer him that body of yours?"

The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme returned the provocation. It was a taunt that paid him back in spades.

"And you? Did you come here after offering up your courage?"

In the end, the opponent couldn't hold back his anger.

Gwak Ju's gaze turned cold as he took something out from his robes.

It was a forged hidden weapon, a Blitz, which was a surprise.

He thought he had taken it out to fire at his opponent.

Gwak Ju began to bring the Blitz under his own chin. He was trying to kill himself.

"Since our Demon Supreme teases me for being a coward, I have no choice but to show you I'm not."

He grinned at Jin Hagun.

"Your objective was to save me, wasn't it? Mission failed."

Jin Hagun's heart raced. He couldn't let Gwak Yeong's younger brother die like this.

However, he trusted the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme. She knew that they absolutely had to save that man.

Before the Blitz could be triggered!

Something else was unleashed first.

CHEOLGEUREONG, CHEOLGEUREONG!

Before he knew it, something was wrapped around Gwak Ju's body.

The black chains that had been engraved on the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme's hand had actually manifested and were now tightly wound around him.

"Go on, die if you want to die!"

His fingers weren't restrained. However, Gwak Ju couldn't fire the Blitz. Normally, he would have been able to escape Gwak Ju's body the moment Gwak Ju died.

But he couldn't do that while bound by these chains.

"The Soul Confinement Seal!"

The chains had completely trapped his soul within Gwak Ju's body. In the end, if Gwak Ju killed himself, he would die along with him.

Gwak Ju tried to break the chains. But the black radiance only shone more intensely, and they did not break.

"You drew such a powerful Honhwa yourself?"

He widened his eyes, which were full of disbelief.

"Who drew this Honhwa for you?"

He was certain she hadn't drawn the Honhwa herself. She didn't deny it.

"If I'd had just a few more years, I wouldn't have needed a Honhwa to deal with you."

After she finished speaking, the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme pulled the chains, and Gwak Ju flew right in front of her.

She grabbed Gwak Ju's neck forcefully.

He felt it. Her killing intent was no simple threat.

"Are you planning to kill this man too?"

He threatened her with Gwak Ju's life, but it didn't work.

"Why? Am I not allowed?"

The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme's other hand, the one not gripping his neck, rose into the air.

"It's a good deal for me!"

SWAAAAEK!

Before anyone could stop her, she struck down with a palm toward Gwak Ju's head without any hesitation.

"Wait!"

At Gwak Ju's urgent shout, her hand stopped. It stopped precariously, right above his head.

He could tell. The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme had genuinely intended to kill him.

For the first time, a look of fear appeared on Gwak Ju's face.

Of course, he had no intention of dying along with this insignificant hostage.

"I'll leave."

TEOK.

As if in surrender, the Blitz held in Gwak Ju's hand fell to the floor.

However, the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme continued to look down at him with a cold gaze, contemplating.

Gwak Ju shouted urgently.

"This is the man the First Young Lord promised to save at all costs. You must not kill him!"

To think he would end up begging like this.

The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme smiled brightly, like a madwoman, and asked.

"Still think I'm cute, oh?"

As soon as her words ended, the black chains vanished, retracting into her arm. The chains were a much lighter shade than their original color.

Gwak Ju's expression returned to normal.

The being inside his body had vanished in an instant.

With Gwak Ju being the last, everyone present was now free from the soul-enthralling art.

Watching her threaten her opponent, Jin Hagun felt as if he were looking at a witch. He wondered what this young witch would become when she grew older.

An enraged voice echoed thunderously from the empty air. He no longer hid his fury.

"How dare you open the door to my world and enter."

His voice reverberated as if he wasn't physically present, like an echo in a cave.

"You mock and threaten me?"

In an instant, the surrounding scenery changed.

HWIIIIIIING!

The place where a fierce wind was blowing was the top of a cliff. Everyone stood precariously on that cliff. It was a cliff so high that the clouds could be seen far below.

The cliff was real. If they fell from here, they would really die.

"You should not have opened that door and entered."

In a battle of soul-enthralling arts, entering another's world was always an absolute disadvantage. It was much harder to dismantle a world than to create one.

"Go on, save them if you can."

GWADEUDEUK! GWADEUK!

The cliff they were standing on began to crack and crumble from the edges. It was a height that would be difficult to survive even with movement arts.

As the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme chanted an incantation, the swirl pattern engraved on her face shone more brilliantly than ever before.

The moment the light vanished!

GUUUUUUUUU!

A deep roar sounded from below the clouds, and a massive cliff pierced through them, rising up.

Surprisingly, a cliff similar to the one they were standing on had risen from below. This was no time to be amazed.

"Everyone, to the other side!"

At Jin Hagun's shout, the Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists used their movement arts to cross to the opposite cliff. Jin Hagun flew there with Gwak Ju tucked under his arm.

Those whose movement arts were lacking received help from their comrades and all landed safely on the opposite cliff.

GWARRRRREUNG!

In that time, the original cliff they had been on had completely collapsed.

The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme's hair fluttered in the wind.

"You call this your world?"

She shouted in a sharp, clear voice from the cliff she had raised.

"If I take it, it becomes my world."