Chapter 787: Would You Really Come Alone?

TL: FoodieMonster007

A martial artist appeared on the deck of the Ship of Fortune as Geom Mugeuk's small boat approached. "Do you have an invitation?"

Geom Mugeuk pulled something from his robes. "Here, an invitation."

He flicked a piece of paper through the air. It flew straight to the martial artist on the ship. The martial artist caught it and saw it was a one-hundred taels bank note.

While the martial artist checked the note, Geom Mugeuk and the two women appeared before him. Their silent, instantaneous movement revealed the high level of their skills.

"Guide us to the Captain."

They could have easily subdued me and forced me to guide them with skills like these. Why are they paying me and asking for guidance?

"I must inform the Captain beforehand."

"I don't mind."

"Please follow me."

The three followed the martial artist into the ship.

The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme and the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman quietly trailed behind Geom Mugeuk. They were surprised that he wanted to immediately seek out the ship's captain.

A blast of hot air hit them as they opened the first door, leading to a large, hall-like space.

This place was a casino where over a hundred people gambled intently, but it was no simple gambling den on a ship. The facilities were far better than most on land.

Women carried trays of liquor, while martial artists stood guard, watching for trouble. Sighs of regret, shouts of joy, and angry curses filled the air. One could feel the gamblers' emotions without even looking.

Geom Mugeuk's party crossed the room, but no one paid them any attention. Every gambler's gaze remained fixed on their cards, their opponents' faces, or the rolling dice.

The martial artist demonstrated the power of one hundred taels without being asked. "There are seven rooms like this on the ship," he introduced. "This is the lowest tier, a place for those with five hundred taels."

Five hundred taels was an unbelievably large sum for ordinary people.

The martial artist led them down a narrow corridor and knocked on an iron door with a predetermined signal. The thick door opened into another room.

The martial artist explained that while the previous room required five hundred taels, this one required two thousand.

"If you win enough to make five thousand taels here, you can move to the next room. Or you could just bring five thousand taels from the start."

One could keep moving up that way. The higher the tier, the bigger the stakes. The structure was designed to exploit a gambler's desire to win big in high-stakes games, something like, I've been this far, I can keep winning!

It expertly exploited the human desire to see things through to the end.

Doubt once again troubled the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman.

Why did the Saintess ask to meet in a place like this?

She could not understand, no matter how hard she thought. She glanced at Geom Mugeuk, feeling a little more at ease, believing he surely had a plan.

They passed through several more rooms. The one they now crossed required thirty thousand taels for entry.

One might expect a more relaxed atmosphere among the rich, but that was not the case. Although the place was not as loud as the first room, the suffocating tension in the air grew with the stakes.

Geom Mugeuk shook his head. Gamblers are gamblers, regardless of the amount of money involved.

The martial artist finally guided the three into the Captain's office.

The Captain of the Ship of Fortune was Yang Dong. He had a sturdy build and was one of the top three masters in the Water Dragon Pirates, a man who had earned the full trust and favor of the pirate boss.

He studied Geom Mugeuk, the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman, and the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme. A single look told him they were not ordinary. "Where are you from?"

"What does origin matter in a gambling den? What's important is how much money we have, right?"

"Origin is more important to us, because many try to reclaim the money they lost through less than peaceful means. If you don't intend to reveal your identities, then you'll have to leave the ship."

"We're from the Divine Cult," Geom Mugeuk answered without hesitation, as if he had always intended to reveal his identity.

Yang Dong's eyes widened in disbelief. "How can I believe that?"

Geom Mugeuk smiled. The captain's genuine reaction made it clear he had no connection to the Darkness Palace.

SWISH!

In an instant, his sword was at Yang Dong's neck, a faint demonic qi flowing from the blade's tip.

Yang Dong froze. Even though he was supposedly one of the top three masters in the Water Dragon Pirates, he'd missed seeing Geom Mugeuk draw his sword.

This young man is an unparalleled master, far beyond my own level!

SWOOSH!

In the blink of an eye, Geom Mugeuk's sword was back in his sheath.

Yang Dong clasped his hands together politely. Just as he hadn't seen the sword being drawn, he also didn't see it being sheathed. "What brings such esteemed guests to this place?"

"Don't be nervous. We didn't come here to ruin your business. In fact, you could say we came to catch someone who plans to do just that."

Yang Dong was not only a skilled martial artist but also quick-witted, which was why he operated the profitable Ship of Fortune. He could tell the demonic master before him had not come to cause harm.

"Where are they?"

"Guide us to the VIP room."

Yang Dong flinched in surprise. "How did you know there was a VIP room?"

"Have you already forgotten who we are?"

A faint smile appeared on the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme's lips. When Geom Mugeuk said he was going to show off before boarding, she had assumed he meant among the gamblers, but that was not it.

The person Geom Mugeuk intended to impress was the captain. As always, he defied her expectations.

If it had been her, she would have infiltrated quietly and started gambling in the lowest room to gauge the atmosphere. She would probably still be in the first room, trying to learn from other gamblers that a second room even existed.

On the other hand, Geom Mugeuk was already on his way to the VIP room for the wealthiest patrons.

Thinking about it, his choice was correct. A meeting in a place like this was likely not meant to be in some deserted corner. If so, they would have met on a quiet boat. Therefore, it made sense to start from the most central location.

If the Saintess wasn't in the VIP room, then they could make their way down from there.

I'm learning from the Young Cult's Leader's way of handling things, huh.

"Guide us there," Geom Mugeuk demanded.

"Why are you trying to go there?" Yang Dong asked, not backing down just yet. The tycoons in that room were people he could not hand over, even at the cost of his own life. "No matter who you are, I can't take you there…"

Geom Mugeuk cut him off and revealed his identity. "I am the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult."

Yang Dong's eyes widened. A demonic practitioner would never dare impersonate the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

I knew this kid was formidable, but to think he was the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult!

Geom Mugeuk continued, "I hate gambling. I also hate gamblers, and I hate those who run gambling dens and casinos even more. A murderer at least only kills the victim, but you people drive their families and acquaintances into misery as well. So stop pissing me off. I'm just going to handle my business quietly and leave."

This was his philosophy on gambling.

Yang Dong sighed, resigned to his fate. He couldn't possibly oppose the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. "Please, handle it quietly."

For a moment, he wanted to add, 'If you cause trouble, we won't stand for it either', but ultimately, he couldn't bring himself to do it. There was no way he could stand up to the Demonic Cult.

He personally guided Geom Mugeuk and the two women to the VIP room. They navigated complex cabins and passed through a secret door to arrive.

"Well now, new guests have arrived."

The gazes of those inside turned toward Geom Mugeuk's party.

Seven people sat around a large round table. There was an old man, a middle-aged man, and a young man, all dressed in expensive clothes that marked them as wealthy.

Among them was a woman.

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman knew the moment she saw the woman. It was the Saintess. She had left the palace at a young age and had never seen the Saintess before, but she recognized her at a glance.

She quietly informed Geom Mugeuk and the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme, "That's her."

Indeed, the woman was the Saintess, Ga Ye. The woman who had read constellations for the Darkness Palace Lord now sat at a gambling table.

Ga Ye looked at the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman. "You've come? You're here sooner than I expected," she said calmly and even a little joyfully. "Have you ever played this game? It's more fun than you'd think. Come over and play a round."

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman did not know what to make of the offer. She never imagined sitting at a gambling table.

Geom Mugeuk strode forward and drew his sword. "Anyone not involved with this woman, get out right now. If you stay, I'll consider you her ally," he warned, releasing a cold, demonic sword qi. "No matter how crazy you are for gambling, you can at least read the room, right?"

The demonic qi the Young Cult Leader released was not something ordinary people could withstand. The people at the round table immediately stood up, trembling.

Yang Dong ushered them out, thinking it was for the best. If these esteemed people died in a fight and rumors spread, it would be the end of the Ship of Fortune.

I just need to keep them alive.

Once outside with Yang Dong, the VIPs finally got angry.

"Is this how you're going to manage your guests?"

"I apologize. There are circumstances, so I ask for your special understanding just for today."

"You have another room, right?"

Even now, they were more interested in gambling than in going home.

Yang Dong smiled. "Of course. Now, let's go."

He led them away. Ensuring these tycoons remained addicted to gambling was more important than what happened inside the room.

Now, only Ga Ye remained. It seemed she had truly come alone.

However, Geom Mugeuk thought this was not a good sign. Being alone meant she trusted in something unseen.

The Saintess's gaze turned to Geom Mugeuk. "You're more handsome than I expected."

Geom Mugeuk's assessment was harsh. "And you're more shameless than I expected."

"Shameless?"

"You told our Chairwoman to come alone, didn't you?"

"I did."

"Think about everything you people have done. How could you tell her to come alone? If we asked you to visit our Cult alone, would you have really come alone?"

Ga Ye did not refute his words. Instead, she smiled.

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman slowly walked over and sat opposite the Saintess. The two women, both saintesses who received prophecies yet lived completely different lives, stared at each other.

Finally, the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman asked calmly, "Why did you want to see me?"

"You're as impatient as the Young Cult Leader."

"I've become this way after enduring several storms because of you people."

"The phrase 'you people' is a bit strange. Shouldn't the Chairwoman and I be bound by the word 'us'?"

"I left when I was young because I hated that."

The two women exchanged polite words, but an unseen energy clashed intensely between them.

"You're aware that the Celestial Killer Star has appeared, aren't you?"

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman nodded.

Ga Ye continued, "I've received a new prophecy. 'This world will be ruled by the one born with the Celestial Killer Star.' That is the new prophecy that has been handed down."

A heavy silence fell at the incredible prophecy from the Saintess's lips.

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman was the most shocked. She had lived believing prophecies were never wrong, and her heart pounded fiercely. This prophecy meant the Young Cult Leader and the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon would die.

"Why are you telling me this?"

"It's a prophecy of our palace. Others may not know, but shouldn't you, at least, be aware?"

Geom Mugeuk slowly walked over and sat beside the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman. "That prophecy is a lie."

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman looked at Geom Mugeuk with surprise. "A Saintess can't lie about a prophecy."

"Then it seems she has given up on being a Saintess," Geom Mugeuk stated firmly. "If a prophecy were to be given in this situation, it would have been given to the Chairwoman."

Ga Ye asked with genuine curiosity, "Why do you think so?"

Geom Mugeuk's gaze was cold. "Because your life is wrong."

"!" Ga Ye's relaxed expression hardened slightly.

"I think you're a worse person than the Darkness Palace Lord. The Darkness Palace Lord has a clear objective, but what about you? Was the role of the Saintess Palace ever to help the Darkness Palace conquer the world?"

"The Darkness Palace inherited the will of the Heavenly Fate Palace."

She meant she followed the Heavenly Fate Palace, not the Darkness Palace.

"Do you really think so?" Geom Mugeuk stared at her so intensely that his gaze seemed to pierce through her. "If the Saintess from the era of the Heavenly Fate Palace Lord saw you now, what do you think she would say? Would she say you're doing a good job?"

The corner of the Saintess's eye twitched.

Geom Mugeuk provoked her further. "If the Darkness Palace Lord is trying to use the Chairwoman to lure me in and kill me, aren't you the opposite? Don't you want to kill the Chairwoman more than me?"

"Why would I want to kill her?"

"How would I know what's in your heart? Perhaps it's because you can't receive prophecies, while the Chairwoman here can, and it makes you angry."

"Shut up!" Ga Ye's composure shattered, and her expression turned cold.

Geom Mugeuk raised his sword and half-drew it before her face. "I believe the heavens would not bestow a prophecy upon a person like you. Instead of meeting the Chairwoman to tell her a fake prophecy, you should have apologized. You should have said you were sorry for calling her into a trap like this. That you had no other choice."

The Saintess's scowling face reflected on the shining blade.

Geom Mugeuk sheathed his sword again and rose from his seat. "We're leaving."

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman glanced at the quietly sitting Saintess, then asked Geom Mugeuk, "Are we just leaving her here?"

"She has already left."

"What?"

SWOOOSH!

A single stream of sword qi sliced through the Saintess's neck, and her severed head flew into the air. Geom Mugeuk had beheaded the Saintess with the Black Demon Sword.

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman and the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme were startled, but not as startled as when they noticed that no blood came was flowing from the corpse's neck.

POOF! POOF!

The Saintess's head and body vanished into black smoke.

Geom Mugeuk frowned. The moment he had sheathed his half-drawn sword, he had noticed the Saintess's energy change. Someone, he did not know who, had spirited her away with incredible skill.

"A formation was just deployed around us!"

Geom Mugeuk walked back and opened the door. The corridor outside shimmered with black energy, filled with black smoke like a fog.

"Now I think I know why she wanted to meet on this ship."

He recognized the technique from the Pitch Black Demonic Art unfolding before his eyes.

"The Greedy Annihilation Art has been deployed on this ship."

The Greedy Annihilation Art was a representative Pitch Black Demonic Art passed down in the Darkness Palace.

The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme also knew what kind of demonic art it was. "It's a Pitch Black Demonic Art that is activated by feeding on instinctive human desires. The more primal the desire, like appetite or lust, and the stronger that desire, the greater the power it generates… Ah!"

In that moment, she too understood why the meeting had been arranged here.

"This ship is filled with a desire that chews up and spits out even appetite or lust…"

Geom Mugeuk gazed at the corridor, filled with terror and foreboding.

"No. It's filled with a much crazier desire," he whispered.