Chapter: 765
‘Oh dear.’
He wore an awkward expression as he noticed all the gazes fixated on him.
Who would have thought this would be resolved so quickly?
No matter how hard he tried to smile, no one else laughed. Everyone just stared with their eyes wide open, focus solely on him.
The weight of their attention felt quite burdensome.
‘Is it really that shocking?’
Honestly, he couldn’t comprehend why everyone was making such a fuss.
‘Why can’t they handle this simple task?’
They could have just grabbed it and ripped it apart, yet they kept arguing about “this” and “that.” Weren’t they just wasting time instead?
Thus, he simply couldn’t understand their predicament.
‘Is this really so difficult?’
What’s so challenging about it? Just do as it appears.
‘Hmm…’
A question crossed his mind.
Could it be, that I’m the odd one here?
If it’s surprising enough for them to react like this, it seems like something pretty strange must have happened…
‘What could it be?’
He pondered thoughtfully.
What could be the reason they find me so strange?
What in the world makes this so challenging?
‘Is it because of the mind’s eye?’
Can you see the difference in the threads, or not?
If that’s the case, then it’s indeed a difference. The reason is likely whether one possesses the mind’s eye or not.
The mind’s eye allows one to read the flow of energy and, with that ability, makes it easy to grasp the spell.
What this means is…
‘Is the mind’s eye specialized in dispelling spells as well?’
That could be the case.
If it weren’t, he wouldn’t understand why there was such a reaction.
Then comes the biggest question.
‘Why didn’t Pajeon mention this?’
If Pajeon were here, they would surely have clarified that the mind has such efficacy. It was a bit strange that there hadn’t been any explanation at all.
‘Hmm.’
Well, I can just ask Pajeon about this later.
Swish—!!
Before long, the veil that had been gradually lifted completely vanished from around the pavilion.
The barrier that had bound a number of teenage masters and many martial artists faded away without a trace.
“Phew, it’s gone!”
“The barrier has been lifted…!”
“Your Majesty—!!”
“Hurry, bring Lord Danju!”
As soon as the barrier disappeared, everyone rushed forward as if they had been waiting for this moment. The pavilion was notably high, but since they were all martial artists, they were able to climb it quickly.
He squinted slightly as he observed the flurry of movements.
‘Alright.’
The situation had turned out a tad differently than expected, but nonetheless, it was a success in releasing the barrier. He managed to achieve it in far less time than half a day.
That was sufficient.
This served as a solid foundation for the final tactic to be used in this plan.
Thud.
Someone fell to the side.
In that brief moment, he felt a chilling gust in the air.
It indicated that the person’s aura was quite cold.
Ha ha.
He suppressed a laugh upon seeing the culprit.
The current leader is Geomseon.
He was frowning deeply, clearly unable to hide his emotions.
No matter how much one tried to ignore him, he was still one of the top ten masters of the Central Plains.
As he freely displayed his aura, those around him had to shrink down.
It was a potent force.
“…”
Before anyone else could approach,
The swordsman who had descended on his own stiffened slightly upon seeing someone.
None other than the Heavenly Lord.
“…Senior.”
The Heavenly Lord responded to Geomseon.
“It’s been a while. I guess I should call you the leader now.”
“What brings you here?”
The Heavenly Lord was smiling, but Geomseon’s expression remained grim.
Or rather, it seemed to have worsened.
“Didn’t you say not to contact you because you’d be stepping away from the front lines for a while?”
“That’s true. My feelings haven’t changed.”
“If that’s the case… then why?”
“Hmm.”
As he spoke, the Heavenly Lord suddenly glanced in his direction.
Upon catching that glance, he immediately shook his head.
“I have some matters to attend to.”
“…”
Thanks to that, thankfully, the subject of the master didn’t come up this time.
Rumors were bound to spread eventually, and they’d likely reach Geomseon’s ears soon enough, but for now, he wished to avoid it.
When Geomseon mentioned the Heavenly Lord, only then did others start to pay attention.
They must have been in such a hurry that they hadn’t even realized the Heavenly Lord was present.
“The Heavenly Lord is here?”
“Could it be that the thunder we heard just before was…?”
The site where the monster had arisen was quite distant, yet the striking thunder had been powerful enough to be seen from here.
Indeed, it’s baffling if someone couldn’t spot something that immense.
“Did you assist us, Senior?”
“Not at all. I merely lent a slight hand at the end. It was those youngsters who did all the hard work.”
“…”
“Seems you’ve gone through a bit of discomfort. Are you alright, Your Majesty?”
“…You don’t need to worry about me, Senior.”
Geomseon spoke to the Heavenly Lord in a notably somber tone.
“This is strictly a matter for the Clan. I’ll handle it myself.”
“…Hmm.”
The Heavenly Lord let out a shallow sigh upon hearing that.
A clear air of concern hung over them.
“Leader.”
“…Yes.”
Geomseon’s demeanor suggested something could explode at any moment.
Watching him, the Heavenly Lord continued.
“From what I’ve gathered, that path leads deeper in rather than providing an escape.”
“…What are you suddenly talking about?”
“I hope you understand one day. Preferably before it’s too late, unlike me.”
“…”
Upon hearing those words, Geomseon frowned slightly, but that was the end of it.
There was little point in saying more.
At this moment, he certainly had a mountain of work awaiting him.
“…Blue Dragon and Flying Dragon.”
“Yessir!”
“Yes, yes…!”
Upon being called, Ilcheonggeom and Seomggeom promptly approached and bowed before the leader.
The leader gazed at them and said.
“I’ll grant you some time, so after organizing, report to me in detail about how things have been.”
“…Understood.”
The great lords began to move after receiving their orders. Amid the heavy air, Geomseon’s eyes shifted.
As soon as they did, his gaze fell on him.
“…”
Countless emotions flickered in his eyes. A gaze filled with unexplainable thoughts.
He simply maintained a steady gaze into those sharp eyes.
Wondering if he was seeking even a scrap of respect.
He felt compelled to wait for Geomseon’s intentions.
“I see, it appears you were the one who released this barrier.”
“Yes.”
He nodded in agreement with Geomseon’s statement.
Wondering what question he would pose, that was it.
“How did you manage that?”
“…Excuse me?”
He found himself momentarily taken aback by the inquiry.
How had he managed it?
“…Well, I just did it?”
Perhaps his answer was lacking, for Geomseon’s expression soured.
But there was nothing he could do.
“No, really… I just did it.”
What was he supposed to do since it had already happened?
No matter how much he tried to explain, he couldn’t.
“I grabbed it and tore it apart, and it just came undone.”
“…”
To be precise, there was merely a place that looked like it could be torn, thus he really did tear it.
Even he hadn’t anticipated this outcome.
“…Anyway… as long as it works, isn’t that good?”
After all, as long as it’s resolved, that’s all that matters.
Yet, despite his words, Geomseon’s expression remained unchanged. He began to doubt what the problem could be.
“That was a barrier even those trapped within, including the Wind Dragon Lord, couldn’t easily dispel. You claim you simply loosened it? That’s hard to believe.”
“…”
Oh, he understood now.
Only after absorbing Geomseon’s words did it finally dawn on him.
That old man.
‘He’s doubting me.’
Bimapa was known throughout the Central Plains for her prowess in formations.
Even she struggled with it, and that spell had caused her considerable distress.
Thus, it seemed odd to Geomseon that he had casually ripped that method apart.
Even more so,
‘Given the circumstances, my presence seems odd.’
An unexpected situation where the Heavenly Lord conveniently appeared alongside him.
To Geomseon, it must have felt like he had abruptly intruded.
‘Oh, this is troublesome.’
His head seemed to be working sharper than he thought.
‘I must have been desperate to burst onto the scene so suddenly.’
He never imagined he would arouse such suspicion the moment he made an entrance. As he’d stated last time, Geomseon seemed no fool.
But then again…
“Even if you ask me that… there’s really not much I can say. It worked when I tried it.”
What could be achieved through suspicion?
Were more explanations necessary just because he had pulled it off by sheer chance?
Nothing would be resolved by Geomseon’s doubts right now.
His demeanor, which might seem a tad brazen, seemed to irritate Geomseon further, causing the lines on his forehead to deepen.
“…You.”
At that moment, as Geomseon approached him,
“Your Majesty—!!”
“Pay attention!”
A loud shout echoed from behind.
Immediately, all eyes turned in that direction.
The location was precisely where the barrier used to stand.
It was the spot where Bimapa had been releasing the barrier, and that’s exactly where the noise originated.
“Your Majesty…!! Hurry, a doctor!”
The individuals appearing to be from the Flying Dragon Corps shouted urgently.
And who could blame them? For the Bimapa, who had just been manipulating the technique moments ago, had collapsed.
Blood poured from the figure, who was breathing shallowly.
“Heh… Heh heh… Heh heh… .”
“Your Majesty… please—!”
The gaze barely gathered any focus. Noticing those weary eyes, he could immediately tell.
Bimapa’s eyes were distinctly locked onto him.
Though others remained oblivious, he was certain of it.
The vitality in those imploring eyes was fading rapidly.
He simply stood there, watching for a moment.
“Oh, my lord-!!”
Before long, Bimapa ultimately succumbed.
It was a sudden death that left everyone bewildered.
‘Is it time?’
He secretly nodded.
Now was the right moment. With resolution, he summoned strength to his heart.
[Prepare yourselves.]
It was a signal sent to the tormentor lingering in the shadows somewhere.
It was indeed time to set his final scheme into motion.
When the moment passed,
Swish—!!
“Wha?”
In that instant, as everyone’s comments were drawn away to Bimapa’s death,
One of the warriors looked skyward, having seemingly discovered something.
“That, that’s—! Everyone, look over there…!!”
As the shout rang out, heads turned in unison.
In that moment, something began rising slowly into the heavens.
Even those who attempted to avert their gazes couldn’t help but see it.
An enormous entity was emerging against the backdrop of the clearing sky.
It certainly appeared smaller than the Crimson Crest, yet it was impossible to compare them.
The reason being…
‘That’s a living thing.’
Unlike the phenomena they had likened to a mere symbol, what emerged was unmistakably a being of life.
A creature of immense size that not even the clouds could obscure.
By all means, that entity would seem even more fearsome.
What in the world could that be?
Was this fight truly not over yet?
Thoughts like these spread despair across the faces of the onlookers.
[Krrrrrrrr—!!!]
A terrifying roar resonated, shaking the very ground.
Could that outcry belong to the beast? It was utterly unbelievable.
Thus, everyone remained tense on edge, gazing at the creature.
“…Something is coming.”
They were taken aback by something descending from the entity writhing in the air.
To their astonishment, what floated down slowly resembled a person.
A figure clad in a fluttering black robe with arms folded behind their back.
Without a doubt, it was a human shape.
“… Surely not, no way. Is, is that the author?”
Someone recognized the identity of the figure, their surprise evident.
“…Heavenly Demon…!”
The softly whispered name somehow resonated loudly.
The very being who identified themselves as the perpetrator behind this assault—the one who had declared themselves the ‘Heavenly Demon.’
The enigmatic figure that had generated chaos across the Central Plains.
Leader of the Demonic Cult.
Heavenly Demon.
He was making his presence known once more.
As he gradually descended, he clutched his heart tightly.
‘Just hold on…’
I must endure that limit.
Focusing on the threshold of enduring mind and spirit, he concentrated deeply.
This was it.
This was the final plan he had devised for them.
*
Kururururung—!!
A massive shadow cast across the sky of Hanam from a distance.
Even from afar, it would be visible.
Something extraordinary seemed to be unfolding.
“… Phew… This.”
A giant with dark green hair gazed at the sight.
Dangdeok’s expression twisted.
“… We’re in big trouble.”
He recalled a fact he had forgotten.
In the heat of the moment, he had lost sight of it.
He had received orders to arrive on time.
“…”
Realizing this, Dangdeok’s face turned a shade of pale.
It was evident that in admitting he had likely forgotten, he was bound to experience something severe.
Shunk-!
Foreseeing the dreadful conclusion, Dangdeok pulled out the sword lodged in his abdomen and tossed it to the ground.
Blood gushed from the wound but Dangdeok paid it no mind.
He feared what lay ahead more than the pain he was currently enduring.
“This is all your fault,”
Dangdeok glared resentfully at someone.
The owner of the weapon still embedded in his body—the person he had just fought.
A young man, half-kneeling, attempting to breathe steadily.
The sacred island’s Peng Woo-jin.
He gazed at Dangdeok with a disheveled demeanor.
His left arm contorted grotesquely, and blood spilled from his abdomen, likely from a stab wound.
He looked on the verge of collapsing.
And yet, even in such a state, Peng Woo-jin didn’t let out a single scream.
Simply remaining undeterred.
Determined, he still vowed to continue.
Feeling the intensity of that madness in his gaze, Dangdeok found himself grinning.
“Indeed. You’re amusing. I like you.”
“…”
The expression of joy on Dangdeok’s face was scarcely different in meaning.
His wrist dangled as though it could snap with a tap and the sword thrust in prior hadn’t punctured but rather sliced.
It meant he had momentarily halted while attempting to sever.
Both stood there like living corpses. The only distinction being that Peng Woo-jin was kneeling while Dangdeok stood tall.
This only made it more regrettable.
“If I had my way, I truly wanted to kill you somehow…”
Thunk.
Dangdeok gripped his Unwol-do, casually draping it over his shoulder.
“Regrettably, if it takes too long, you’ll be dying by another’s hand, not mine.”
“…Are you thinking… of fleeing…?”
“It just turned out that way.”
In reply, Dangdeok cast a deeper grin toward Peng Woo-jin.
“…And your name?”
As the dialogue faltered, he inquired about the name.
At that, Peng Woo-jin spat blood and replied.
“Peng Woo-jin…”
“I am Dangdeok.”
They exchanged names.
The cordiality of the moment contrasted sharply with the murderous intent that filled their voices.
“I’ll be sure to kill you next time, Peng Woo-jin.”
“…Wait….”
Thud-!!
After concluding the exchange, Dangdeok sprang into motion, bleeding profusely.
Watching him, Peng Woo-jin staggered, barely managing to prop himself against the ground.
The battleground lay in ruins, beyond recognition of its former self as a forest.
“Cough.”
Spitting blood copiously, Peng Woo-jin turned to look behind.
There stood a solitary tree, clinging to life amidst the devastation of what once was a forest. Beneath it lay a corpse.
His father, Peng Zhou.
Peng Woo-jin had been mortally wounded while striving to protect him.
The final visage of the father he had slain with his own hands.
Observing that scene, Peng Woo-jin couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
“…Truly… a figure who was no help until the end.”
With that parting remark, Peng Woo-jin sank down, losing consciousness.
Not long afterward, he was discovered by the Murim Alliance as they searched the area in response to the commotion.
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