Chapter 822: Just by Their Appearance, They Are Indeed Villains

TL: FoodieMonster007

A faint smile touched Geom Woojin's lips. The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's declaration that no one must die for the Young Cult Leader was his desire, too.

The Fist Demon was happy to see that smile on the Cult Leader's face more often these days. It was a smile he had seen frequently in their youth, but at some point, it had vanished.

He knew the Cult Leader had grown exhausted while leading the cult. How stifling it must have been for a man who once roamed the Central Plains freely to be trapped on that throne?

Yet, Geom Woojin's strong sense of responsibility prevented him from simply kicking the chair away and standing up.

Perhaps the Cult Leader had been depressed all this time. That was likely why his relationship with the Demon Supremes had grown distant.

The Young Cult Leader was the one who broke that spell. It wasn't just the Cult Leader. Geom Mugeuk dragged all the Demon Supremes who had fallen into their own darkness out into the light, yust as he had pulled him from the deep hole of his obsession with bringing down a cliff.

"Shouldn't we all survive and show off a bit to the Young Cult Leader?"

Everyone agreed with the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. No one must die in this fight. Only then would it be a true victory for Geom Mugeuk.

They had received so much from the young man, it was time to return the favor.

The Sword King asked the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, "Didn't you say you suffered a lot because of the Young Cult Leader?"

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader had complained about it several times in this very tavern, speaking loudly on purpose so Geom Woojin would hear.

"That's right."

"Then why are you doing this?"

"Because I received even more." The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader revealed his honest feelings. His gaze turned to the Sword King, perhaps softened by the affection built during their stay. "And even if it weren't for the Young Cult Leader, I can't lose you to a guy like that, can I?"

"You almost fell into danger because of that, Cult Leader," the Sword King argued. When Hwa Mugi had approached him earlier, he had felt the chilling touch of death. Had he ever felt it so vividly?

"There are five of us. Even if it wasn't you, someone would have saved me," the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader joked.

Still, the Sword King took his words seriously. "That's exactly why they might not have been able to save you. Because there are five of us."

"What do you mean?"

"Thinking that someone else would save you."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader feigned shock. "Did I really almost die? No! I still have a mountain of things I want to do!"

The Sword King's gaze returned to Hwa Mugi. "If we don't kill that man, you won't be able to do a single thing, let alone a mountain of them."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader could tell the Sword King wanted to keep fighting despite his internal injuries. "Are you alright?"

"Yes."

While fighting Hwa Mugi, the Sword King sensed he was an opponent he could not defeat. However, he had no intention of backing down.

As long as he had inner qi, he had to force the Celestial Killer Star to expend even a little more of his own before the next person took over. Every bit of Hwa Mugi's remaining energy would become an attack aimed at the others. He had to absorb as many of those blows as possible.

Moreover, there was something more important than draining Hwa Mugi's inner qi. The others, who had not yet fought, were watching. It was crucial to reveal even a little more about Hwa Mugi's abilities.

"Will you be alright, Cult Leader?"

"I was born and raised in rough sandstorms. A fight like this is like a skirmish in a greenhouse." The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader then looked at Hwa Mugi, whose head was still the only thing visible in the darkness, and continued his analogy. "Is it warm in there?"

RIIIIIP!

Hwa Mugi tore apart the darkness below his face with his hands and stepped out. His killing intent intensified. Facing seven masters was pushing his primal bloodlust to its absolute limit. "Even if your martial arts are insignificant, at least you're not a coward like a certain someone else," he sneered.

The Sword King retorted to the jab at Jin Paecheon. "That someone was just being cautious and wise."

It would be a disaster to lose the Gentleman Sword by fighting recklessly with an injured body.

Still, unlike the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, he was not one for theatrics.

"Before we fight, I have something to ask a person inside your body," he said directly.

Hwa Mugi nodded, gesturing for him to ask.

"So? Who's in charge? I have something to ask the leader."

Hwa Mugi instantly grasped the Sword King's intention. "Are you trying to cause internal division with such words? A clever attempt, but useless. These people were never united in the first place." His gaze shifted to Geom Woojin, Jin Paecheon, and Baek Jagang. "Just as those three can never become friends, no matter how close they pretend to be."

Geom Woojin and the two Chairmen remained silent. It wasn't a false statement. Once this fight ended, they were destined to be each other's greatest enemies.

The Sword King spoke decisively. "It will be different this time. The Young Cult Leader is here."

Hwa Mugi looked surprised. First the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, and now the Sword King. "You all really like the Young Cult Leader. I'm curious what kind of man he is."

"Then why didn't you go after the Young Cult Leader?"

Hwa Mugi's expression flinched at the question before he quickly recovered with a cold smile. "I left the Young Cult Leader to the Darkness Palace Lord."

"Aren't you just afraid of the Young Cult Leader?"

Hwa Mugi snorted at the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's taunt. "I'm not afraid of all of you combined. Why would I be afraid of the Young Cult Leader?"

"!!!" Goosebumps rose on Baek Jagang's skin.

Which part of that was a lie? That he isn't afraid of us? Or that he isn't afraid of the Young Cult Leader?

Judging by the composure Hwa Mugi had shown so far, Baek Jagang had a sudden revelation.

The Celestial Killer Star is scared of the Young Cult Leader!

When he had spoken with Ju Gasin via telepathy earlier, he had guessed Hwa Mugi might have a weakness. Now he realized that weakness was Geom Mugeuk.

He thought of Geom Mugeuk.

To make even the Celestial Killer Star feel fear… perhaps that young man truly is an agent of destiny sent by the heavens.

Hwa Mugi rushed toward the Sword King. "I'll kill all of you, and then I'll kill the Young Cult Leader too!"

The two men's swords clashed in the air again.

Again, just a few clashes of their swords shook the Sword King's insides. It was a level of speed and power he couldn't get used to, even after exchanging several blows, all backed by an even more potent killing intent.

However, the Sword King's will was no less formidable than Hwa Mugi's killing intent.

Even if it's just one more move, I will do my best to exhaust you.

Of course, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was not just watching. He unleashed the Bloody Sandstorm of the Uncanny Blood Demon Art.

SWISHHHHHHH!

Furious winds of death raged toward Hwa Mugi, threatening to tear his defensive qi to shreds. This was a martial arts technique, not just wind.

However, Hwa Mugi didn't falter in the slightest. He didn't even blink in the face of the fierce gale, his focus remaining entirely on the Sword King.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was not surprised. This was the man who had withstood the Death Vortex with the Thousand Pound Smash and torn his way out in an instant.

Still, the Bloody Sandstorm gave the Sword King the opening he needed to unleash his own techniques. Though he was outmatched in inner qi, he initiated an exchange that would consume a great deal of it.

Second form of the Divine Formless Sword Technique, Formless Chop.

The moment the White Flower Sword trembled in the air, a streak of sword qi struck down at Hwa Mugi like lightning.

Hwa Mugi dodged the seemingly unavoidable attack. He used the movement arts of Ju Gasin, the Lord of the Evil Alliance from three hundred years ago, the Bright World Heavenly King Steps.

He dodged a light-speed attack with a light-speed movement art. It was a profound technique that made them realize he had only been taking hits earlier to show off.

The Sword King's assault continued.

Fourth form of the Divine Formless Sword Technique, Formless Tempest!

Formless sword qi rained down from all directions.

"Good!" Hwa Mugi thrust his sword in all directions, an excited look on his face. He proved he could block even a storm of blades.

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!

The impact shook the walls, sending fragments and dust raining from the ceiling.

PATTER PATTER…

The moment the debris obscured their vision was exactly what the Sword King had been waiting for.

SWISHHH!

A sharp whistling sound cut across the hall as Hwa Mugi thrust his sword forward.

RIIIIIP!

A horizontal line appeared on the wall behind Hwa Mugi, exactly at the height of his neck. The line sliced through the air from the far wall, stopping just short of his throat. If it had continued, his neck would have been severed, but the line stopped next to Hwa Mugi's neck.

RIIIIIIIP!

The line started again on the other side of Hwa Mugi's neck.

This was the seventh form of the Divine Formless Sword Technique, Formless Life, and the very move that had cut the Sound King's neck.

Nevertheless, Hwa Mugi had blocked the decisive strike.

"I was a little surprised that time," he laughed.

The Sword King's heart sank. Hwa Mugi was truly an invincible, immortal monster.

Hwa Mugi rushed at the Sword King again.

CLANG! CLANG! CLAAAANG!

As if determined to kill him this time, Hwa Mugi pressed his attack with even greater force.

The Sword King had a premonition. He would be lucky to last another fifty moves. In a fight where a dozen exchanges passed in an instant, fifty moves was no time at all.

Suddenly, however, he saw the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader behind Hwa Mugi, drawing something invisible from his body.

It was the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's peerless secret technique.

Formless Spear!

This was a Formless Spear infused with all the inner qi the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader had saved up.

For a brief moment, their eyes met.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's gaze conveyed a clear message: [If my technique hits, I'm confident I can pierce the Celestial Killer Star's body.]

TING!

The Sword King's White Flower Sword flew from his grasp, but he quickly grabbed Hwa Mugi's wrists in exchange.

Hwa Mugi realized instantly that the Sword King had let go of his sword on purpose.

SWISHHHHH!

At the same time, a powerful energy surged from behind.

Hwa Mugi read the death wish in the Sword King's eyes. The man was sacrificing himself to hold him in place, saying, 'Pierce through me as well!'

SWISHHHHH!

The Sword King froze. Hwa Mugi was grinning.

WHISH!

In an instant, their positions were swapped. The Sword King had channeled all his inner qi to hold on, but he couldn't withstand Hwa Mugi's strength.

As Hwa Mugi spun him around, the Formless Spear flew straight toward the Sword King's back.

SWISHHH!

"Hmm?"

Hwa Mugi saw it again. The Sword King wasn't flustered. His eyes were calm.

Don't tell me?

The Sword King didn't gather his defensive qi. He had predicted their positions would be swapped, no matter how hard he held on.

So this was his plan all along!

He intended for the Formless Spear to pierce his own body and continue on to strike Hwa Mugi.

The Sword King didn't let go of Hwa Mugi's wrists. He should have died at Geom Mugeuk's hands. The heavens must have saved him for this very moment.

However, the Formless Spear stopped right in front of the Sword King's back.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader hadn't thrown the Formless Spear. He had rushed forward, holding it himself.

Throwing it would have been faster and more effective, but the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader had worried about their positions being swapped. He didn't know the Sword King intended to sacrifice himself.

SSSSSS…

The Formless Spear in the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's hand vanished. Against any other master, he would have pressed the attack, but against Hwa Mugi, the spear would only be a hindrance, especially since he was no spear master.

THUD!

Hwa Mugi's palm strike sent both the Sword King and the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader staggering back together.

"Fine! If you won't do it, I'll pierce you both at once!" he roared, thrusting his Black Sword forward.

SWISHHHHH!

The Sword King didn't dodge. If he moved, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader behind him would be stabbed, but he had dropped his sword to grab Hwa Mugi's arms. All he had left was his body.

He raised his defensive qi to its absolute limit, hoping that even if the blade pierced him, it wouldn't reach the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

SWISH! PUUK!

The Black Sword tore through the defensive qi and plunged into the Sword King's chest.

TAK!

Just as Hwa Mugi pushed the sword to drive it all the way through, though, the Black Sword stopped dead in midair.

Someone had grabbed the sword with their bare hands.

"Grabbing my sword with a bare hand? Who?" Hwa Mugi raged, only to realize that it was the Fist Demon.

No, he didn't grab it with his bare hands!

The Fist Demon was wearing the Fighting God gauntlets, a gift from Geom Mugeuk.

WHOOOOSH! PUCK!

The Fist Demon's other fist slammed straight into Hwa Mugi's face.

RUMBLE, BOOM BOOM!

A tremendous clap of thunder echoed at the same time.

Hwa Mugi flew backward, the Black Sword yanking free from the Sword King's chest.

The Fist Demon instantly sealed the acupoints on the Sword King's chest to stop the bleeding. Fortunately, the sword had missed his heart, and since it hadn't pierced all the way through, the wound wasn't fatal.

"You should have dodged!" the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader shouted at the Sword King for foolishly taking the blow for him.

"…You should have thrown the Formless Spear."

In the end, the two had saved each other.

"Thank you for saving me," the Sword King said.

The Fist Demon gave a single, stoic nod in response.

Hwa Mugi clutched his ears, not his bruised face. The thunderous crack from the Fist Demon's punch had nearly torn his eardrums.

His anger flared toward the Fist Demon. "Empty carts make the most noise."

However, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was ready with a retort. "Why do you think that cart is empty? It's waiting to be loaded with your corpse."

Hwa Mugi's killing intent flared, but the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader had already moved the injured Sword King back to where Geom Woojin and the two Chairmen stood.

Geom Woojin didn't ask if the Sword King was alright. He knew what the man needed to hear more. "You fought well," he praised.

The Sword King bowed his head in shame. He wished he could have fought better, but he had given it his all.

"And don't do that again," Geom Woojin added, showing that he knew the Sword King had tried to sacrifice himself.

The Sword King bowed his head again. Geom Woojin was scolding him for trying to die after they had all promised to protect the Young Cult Leader.

Well, as long as someone understood, that was enough.

I will dedicate the rest of my life to the Young Cult Leader.

Just then, Baek Jagang walked over to the Fist Demon. Hwa Mugi may have taken one hit, but that didn't mean the Fist Demon could handle him alone. He decided it was his turn to step up.

He stood shoulder to shoulder with the Fist Demon. He never thought he would see the day he fought on the same side as this man.

As two new opponents appeared, Hwa Mugi spoke loudly, as if making a speech. "Cult Leaders and Chairmen, all gathered to fight me one after another! Tell me, who is the villain here, and who is the hero?"

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader dampened Hwa Mugi's spirit by readily agreeing. "Honestly, just by their appearance, those two are definitely villains."

Baek Jagang looked at the Fist Demon and shared his thoughts on the fight so far. "Everyone was too gentle."

By his standards, not only Jin Paecheon but also the Sword King and the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader had been too soft. But the Fist Demon?

"Since that man wants to be a hero so badly, why don't we show him what real villains look like?"

An incomparably evil and cold qi unlike anything they had seen before erupted from his body.