Chapter 756: Just as You Trust Him, We Trust You

TL: FoodieMonster007

Blood filled the air with its metallic tang. Heavy silence crushed down on everyone standing behind Geom Mugeuk. No one dared speak.

Tae Su trembled. He'd witnessed countless deaths, but nothing this brutal.

So this is how terrifying he was.

Tae Su knew the Demon Supremes of the Demonic Cult were fearsome, but he had never felt that terror himself. Now he understood. This old man wasn't just a ordinary martial master, but a Demon Supreme.

Ji Han also grasped what kind of organization he'd joined. The Demonic Cult was a place where one small mistake could get him killed. The demonic qi that erupted from the Blood Heaven Blade Demon during the kill had frozen his blood.

The Evil Alliance martial artist felt the same fear.

Meanwhile, Dan Sojin, head of the Hundred Graves Clan, watched in silence.

Was my choice truly the right one?

These were the people he'd asked for help. He worried he had fled a wolf only to leap into the jaws of a tiger.

The man in the iron mask stepped back, horrified. The Sword King watched the Blood Heaven Blade Demon silently from behind him.

Finally, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon broke the crushing silence.

"Mugeuk, give me some water."

Geom Mugeuk held out his hand. His leather bag opened by itself, and a bamboo flask floated out. He stayed tense, watching for any movement from the Sound King while the Blade Demon was distracted.

The Sound King showed no emotion at the Blade King's death. He simply swayed gently, sinking deeper into his own rhythm, his own world.

Geom Mugeuk approached the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. Without turning, the old man held out a hand behind him.

Geom Mugeuk knew he didn't want to show his face, so he placed the bamboo flask in the waiting palm.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon hadn't asked for water to drink.

SPLASH!

Still facing away, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon poured the water over his face, washing away the blood.

Only then did he turn around. He was himself again, the same man who sat by windows reading books. The terrifying demonic qi from moments ago had vanished completely.

As if the fight had never happened, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon finally shared his thoughts on the Flower Sword Supreme's battle. "That was a splendid fight. Is your forehead alright?"

Geom Mugeuk understood. The Blade Demon had not wanted to face them with blood covering his features.

Similarly, how could the Flower Sword Supreme not understand his sentiment?

"I'm fine. It's just a small scratch," she said.

"Make sure to apply medicine so it doesn't scar."

"Yes, I will."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon glared at the Sword King.

Geom Mugeuk said on his behalf, "How dare you scar such a precious face?"

The Sword King gave Geom Mugeuk an aggrieved look. His eyes seemed to say he wanted to lift his bangs, show his own forehead, and complain, "What about me? Isn't this face precious too?"

If they had been alone, he surely would have, but with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon present, he did not want to provoke the man needlessly.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon spoke politely to the Sword King. "Step aside now."

"I can't do that," the Sword King replied.

The corner of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's eye twitched. He already disliked this man, yet he was still being defiant. Then again, the Sword King did not even listen to the Young Cult Leader, so why would he listen to him?

"Fine. You must have your reasons. Then, you'll understand our reasons too, won't you?"

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon strode forward, radiating killing intent toward the Sword King.

The Sword King did not back down. His resolve blazed clear. No one would touch the Sound King today.

Geom Mugeuk sighed. This fight had to be stopped. The battle with the Flower Sword Supreme had been life or death, but it had boundaries. The Sword King had drawn a line, and neither he nor the Flower Sword Supreme had crossed it.

However, a fight with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was different. Given his personality, if he truly charged in to kill, it would become a genuine battle to the death.

"Elder!"

"Don't stop me," the Blood Heaven Blade Demon answered without looking back.

"I won't stop you."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon glanced back at Geom Mugeuk. His look said, Really?

"Since you're fighting anyway, you have to win! That flimsy sword of his looks like it'll break with a tap, so snap it in two!"

"You're saying things you don't mean."

How could the Blood Heaven Blade Demon not know Geom Mugeuk's heart? He knew better than anyone that the Young Cult Leader was in the most difficult position.

If Geom Mugeuk had sided with the ponytail dude and tried to stop the fight, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon might have fought anyway, but since Geom Mugeuk took his side and told him to win, his desire to fight vanished.

Cunning punk. He knows me too well.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon stopped and turned back.

The Flower Sword Supreme nodded, her expression saying, Well done.

"I told you to apply your medicine first," he grumbled to her.

As the Blood Heaven Blade Demon returned, Geom Mugeuk looked at the Sound King. The Sound King still swayed, never once glancing at the Blade King's corpse. Even without seeing his non-existent pupils, it was clear he felt no sadness or worry.

Someone as powerful as the Blade King is dead, and you aren't worried? What's the source of your confidence? Do you trust the Sword King that much?

"Were you on bad terms with the deceased? For a musician, aren't you far too apathetic?"

Geom Mugeuk provoked the Sound King about music again, knowing it was the most effective taunt. Since he could get nothing from the Sword King, he would provoke the Sound King instead.

The swaying Sound King turned his head toward Geom Mugeuk. "Young Cult Leader, you underestimate me too much."

"I'm not underestimating you. I'm afraid of you." Geom Mugeuk's gaze shifted to the Sword King. "That man's trying so hard to protect you, so how could I not be afraid? Would he protect you like that if you didn't have something extraordinary?"

The Sound King looked at the Sword King. "He's certainly a reliable person."

His words and expression showed sincere trust, but Geom Mugeuk sensed something else.

This man. He doesn't trust the Sword King. Right… considering Ak-hyung's relationship with me, it's natural he wouldn't trust him. Then why is he so relaxed? If he doesn't trust the Sword King, it must mean he believes in himself.

Even now, the Sound King nodded his head, feeling a melody. Heat radiated from him, as if he wanted to leap up and dance wildly at any moment.

Something has changed.

With the Blade King's death, he seemed even more confident. He looked delighted, as if he had moved to the next stage.

The Sound King said to Geom Mugeuk, "The smell of blood is too strong here. Let's move."

He started walking without waiting for a reply. He passed right in front of Geom Mugeuk, who could have cut him down ten times over.

Geom Mugeuk looked at the Sword King. You know I could do it, right? I'm letting him pass because I trust you.

How could the Sword King not know? Still, he showed no reaction.

"I misjudged you! I was fooled by those bare feet and that ponytail. I forgot for a moment what a villain Ak-hyung really is."

The Sword King yelled back from up ahead. "Hey! To the murim, aren't you the bigger villain?"

They walked back to the room with the dolls. The man in the iron mask followed quietly.

Geom Mugeuk looked at the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Flower Sword Supreme.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon glared at him. Are you going to keep following that bastard's lead?

He had every reason to explode with rage, but the two Demon Supremes stood silently on either side of Geom Mugeuk. A single emotion blazed in their eyes.

Just as you trust that man, we trust you.

Geom Mugeuk bowed his head to them in gratitude, then started walking again. His party followed the Sound King back to the room. In the new space, the smell of blood was less intense and more bearable.

Tae Su shouted, "Look over there!"

He pointed to where the dolls had been set up. The dolls had fascinated him most in this room earlier. He had observed them carefully, so they were the first thing he looked at upon returning.

However, they had changed.

Not only Geom Mugeuk but also the two Demon Supremes were startled. There was one more doll among the Twelve Zodiac Kings that had attacked Geom Mugeuk. A doll of the dead Blade King now stood there. Between the Brawling King and the Blood King, the Blade King fiercely swung his dao.

Geom Mugeuk walked slowly toward the dolls. The Blade King doll, like the others, was exquisitely crafted. Its vivid expression recalled his fight with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon just moments ago.

"You anticipated this man's death," he remarked.

The Sound King did not deny it.

"Did you make a doll of yourself too? Where would you like to stand?"

The Sound King's voice came from behind him. "Young Cult Leader, there is no doll of me."

Geom Mugeuk turned to him. "These dolls, did you make them?"

He asked because he felt it might be true.

The Sound King retorted, looking dumbfounded. "You've seen my eyes. Surely you're not asking that seriously?"

"You're more sinister than you look, so I asked just in case you can see everything with those eyes."

"Conversely, many people can't see properly even with their eyes open."

The Sound King scanned them all, as if to say that applied to Geom Mugeuk and the Demon Supremes. The confidence of the man with closed eyes overwhelmed those with open eyes.

"Young Cult Leader, it's still not too late. There's no need to sacrifice all these people here, is there?"

He was confident he could kill them all.

Geom Mugeuk stared at him intently, then asked abruptly, "You've had a miraculous encounter recently, haven't you?"

Otherwise, he would not have come flanked by the Sword King and the Blade King.

Could it be?

In his life before regressing, the Sound King had perfected a terrifying sound art before he died. It was a sound art so powerful that no master could stand against it.

He's perfected it!

Just as the fates of the figures in the dolls had changed, his fate must have also changed. Geom Mugeuk was certain of it.

"You've perfected your sound arts, haven't you?"

The Sound King did not deny it. Now it was clear where his confidence came from.

"Would you care to listen to a performance?"

"Fine. We're the type who dance when there's music. I'll perform a refreshing sword dance for you."

Geom Mugeuk stepped forward, and the Sword King moved to block his path.

"Let's dance together."

How could that be a real sword dance? The Sword King knew Geom Mugeuk intended to kill the Sound King, so he stepped forward.

Geom Mugeuk could have snapped at him, but he said gently instead, "No! What's a man who doesn't even attend gatherings for fear of dancing doing talking about dancing?"

TDIRIRING!

A melody rang out from behind them.

"Rupturing Resonance!" the Sound King cried.

Tae Su, Ji Han, the martial artist from the Evil Alliance, and Dan Sojin all covered their ears. A sound wave they could not handle washed over them.

"……"

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Flower Sword Supreme released their qi, blocking the surging sound wave. Only then did the pained expressions on the four people behind them ease.

Geom Mugeuk surged forward and shouted to the two Demon Supremes. "While I hold back this frustrating ponytail, cut off that man's arms and his pipa!"

Right. If the Sword King was so determined to save the Sound King, there was no need to aim for his life.

Geom Mugeuk rushed the Sword King like lightning and swung his sword. "This time, let's see you try and block me, Ak-hyung!"

Their swords clashed mid-air, blades flashing brilliantly. It was the pinnacle of swordsmanship, a clash between two absolute swordmasters.

CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG !

They exchanged blows at invisible speed, but Geom Mugeuk stared into the Sword King's eyes.

Why are you blocking me like this?

He knew by instinct. Even if it meant the Sound King's arms would be cut off, the Sword King was determined to block only him.

Swords clashed, moving too fast to be seen. To the four people in the back, it looked no different from the earlier fight with the Flower Sword Supreme, but the content of this fight was completely different.

Having mastered the Nine Calamities Demonic Art, Geom Mugeuk's sword now overwhelmed the Sword King's. Geom Mugeuk could win if he wanted to.

You must feel it too, right? You must know you can't stop me in the end. So why are you blocking me like this?

Meanwhile, the Flower Sword Supreme and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon rushed the Sound King, swinging their sword and giant dao.

SHWIIIIK! SWAAAAEK! PAANG! PWEOOONG!

Their weapons stopped mid-air. The Sword King had not flown in to block them. An invisible curtain blocked the way in front of the Sound King. It was a barrier of sound.

"A barrier of sound!"

Just as the Blood Heaven Blade Demon shouted, it was indeed the barrier of sound, a technique only possible at the highest realm of sound arts.

From within the barrier, the Sound King's gaze blazed intensely. He began to play his pipa in earnest.

TDIRIRING!

"Blood Thunder Resonance!"

Simultaneously, sound arts rained down from all directions like lightning strikes.

KWAKWAKWAKWAKWAKWAKWA!

The powerful, lightning-like attacks stormed toward the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Flower Sword Supreme, as well as the four people behind them.

"I'll take the rear."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon threw himself backward and swung his giant dao.

KKWANG! KWAANG! KWANG!

The Flower Sword Supreme dodged the sound arts and charged the sound barrier. If they both defended, they would be at their foe's mercy. Trusting the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, she attacked.

PWEOOONG!

The sound barrier's power was immense and would not break easily.

As such, the Flower Sword Supreme immediately unleashed the One Flower Sword Technique, First Stance, Blooming Flower!

SHUKSHUKSHUKSHUKSHUKSHUK!

Her technique began to rip apart the sound barrier.

Still, inside the barrier, the Sound King remained absorbed in his performance.

SWAAAAEK!

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon, who had been guarding the rear, surged forward. The Heaven Destroying Dao pierced the damaged sound barrier, already torn by the Blooming Flower technique.

KWAAAANG! JIIIIIIIIK!

The two Demon Supremes violently tore through the Sound Barrier Formation and entered the Sound King's domain.

The Sound King's performance reached its climax.

SHWIIIIK!

The Flower Sword Supreme's sword flew toward his arm.

Just as she was about to cut it off, however, the climactic performance abruptly halted.

"……"

With a single gust of wind, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Flower Sword Supreme vanished.