Chapter 751: Fine, You Can Come Too
The Blade King awakened the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s ferocious nature.
It was a side of him that had been buried deep within, especially since the day he met Geom Mugeuk.
It was the same wild temperament that had driven the Man of Ten-Thousand Evils to take his own life—his nature from a time when he had absolutely no faith in humanity.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon was a man who possessed both that savage aspect and another who quietly enjoyed reading books.
“Sometimes, even I get confused about which one is the real me. Well, I suppose it doesn’t matter.”
Whoosh!
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon swung the Heaven-Extinguishing Saber as if to loosen his body.
The energy emanating from the two men had already declared the start of the fight.
To an ordinary martial artist, it would feel like standing in a dark alley just before a brawl broke out. But to a true master, it would feel like standing in the middle of hell itself—the pressure between the two was that immense.
It was the first time for the Blade King. He had never before encountered another’s energy that resonated so perfectly with his own cold and terrifying aura.
“O Old Demon Supreme, we’re of the same kind.”
The Blade King meant those words sincerely.
But the Blood Heaven Blade Demon rejected them.
“It seems I find the words ‘of the same kind’ more unpleasant than being called old. At least that tells me the kind of person I want to become.”
He wasn’t speaking to the Blade King but rather to himself—and at the same time, to Geom Mugeuk and One-Slash Sword Supreme.
Geom Mugeuk didn’t let those words pass in silence.
“Elder, you look the coolest when you’re reading.”
A faint smile formed on the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s lips.
Through the long years he had lived as the Demon Supreme, even as he read book after book, he realized that he had never truly reflected on who he was.
Even after meeting Geom Mugeuk, he had focused more on observing the young man than on looking inward.
Now, in this clash with the Blade King, such thoughts surfaced because within that cold, ruthless aura of his opponent, he saw his own past self—the nature he wished to call nothing more than his bygone days.
From behind, Tae Soo’s eyes trembled as he listened to their conversation.
At first, when the Blade King addressed the Blood Heaven Blade Demon as “Old Demon Supreme,” he thought he’d misheard. Surely, it must have been some title that merely 'sounded' like it began with “Demon.”
But just a moment ago, he had heard it clearly.
‘Demon Supreme? The Demon Supreme of the Demonic Cult?’
Was it even possible for someone who wasn’t of the Demonic Cult to bear that name as a title?
Tae Soo’s heart pounded so violently it felt as if it would burst.
He immediately sent a voice transmission to Ji Han.
—Did you know that he’s the Demon Supreme of the Demonic Cult?
Even as he sent the message, a part of him hoped for this reply:
Demon Supreme? What nonsense are you talking about?
So it could all be dismissed as another misunderstanding.
It was a place that raised a thousand horses—so wasn’t it only natural for him to be called the Demon Supreme? (TL/N: Cheonma = Heavenly Demon or thousand horses, Demon Supreme)
That was the kind of absurd answer Tae Soo had half expected to hear.
But the voice transmission from Ji Han shattered all such expectations.
―You didn’t know that the two of them are the Demon Supremes?
Tae Soo let out a gasp without meaning to.
A chill ran down his spine.
‘Why did I never once think they might be demonic practitioners?’
The answer came easily. It was because of Geom Mugeuk.
How could anyone look at that man and associate him with a demon?
Only now did Tae Soo realize the absurd misunderstanding he had been living under.
Right—how could they possibly be from an escort bureau?
How could those people be escorts or guards-for-hire?
Judging from the martial prowess and aura of their enemies—the Sword King and the Blade King—if such figures were their foes, what on earth could this supposed escort bureau be transporting?
Even if they were carrying the most precious treasure in the world, such formidable enemies would never appear for it.
Yet even though the truth had been revealed, Tae Soo still couldn’t bring himself to believe it.
He had ridden in the same carriage with the Demon Supreme, swum together with the Demon Supreme—
and those Demon Supremes had once lined up just to eat five-spice braised pork?
The same kind of people who, after slaughtering everyone—both customers and bystanders alike—would sit among the corpses and tell the chef, “Bring out the five-spice braised pork,” weren’t they the Demon Supremes?
―The two before you are the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the One-Slash Sword Supreme, two of the Eight Demon Supremes.
The identity of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had been revealed. Ji Han saw no reason to hide it from Tae Soo.
Tae Soo could hardly believe that both the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the One-Slash Sword Supreme had been traveling with him all this time.
They were legendary figures he had only ever heard about in tales—tales not even told by eyewitnesses.
―Then who is that young man?
Geom Mugeuk had spoken freely with the two Demon Supremes, joking and moving about with ease.
Just who was he, to act so familiarly with them?
Ji Han’s answer came plainly.
―He is the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
―!
Tae Soo jumped as if struck by lightning.
“Don’t be ridiculous!”
He immediately clamped his hand over his mouth.
He had forgotten that they were speaking through voice transmission and had shouted aloud.
Every gaze turned toward him.
Among them was Geom Mugeuk’s.
With a look that said he knew exactly why Tae Soo had cried out, Geom Mugeuk spoke.
“Now do you understand why I told you to meet your father first before making your decision?”
As the shocked Tae Soo stood frozen, Geom Mugeuk turned his gaze toward Danso Jin and the martial artist from the Unorthodox Alliance beside him.
Geom Mugeuk had already knew that Danso Jin knew his true identity.
But the man wearing the sword uniform of the Unorthodox Alliance didn’t seem the least bit surprised at the turn of events either.
Apparently, he too had already known who Geom Mugeuk and the two Demon Supremes truly were.
Anyway, one thing was certain.
To the ones behind this, the existence of these people was important.
Especially that Danso Jin.
In the meantime, Blood Heaven Blade Demon and Blade King once again charged toward each other.
As the energy they exuded grew fiercer, their movements also changed.
The stronger the master, the less emotion they placed in their attacks.
But these two did not hide their emotions.
A clash between masters who did not conceal their feelings.
The emotion of "I despise you!" was fully contained within their strikes—each one carrying a clear intent to kill.
Kang! Kaang! Kangkang! Kangkang!
The three blades that collided looked as if they could shatter at any moment.
Each time the twin sabers crossed and flew, it was as if the moon set and the sun rose again.
Every swing of their blades sent powerful gales spiraling and roaring through the air.
Anyone without the inner strength, forced to defend themselves would have been swept away by those gusts.
Beyond the battle, the Sword King watched Geom Mugeuk.
The Sword King could tell—Geom Mugeuk was ready to intervene if Blood Heaven Blade Demon faced any danger.
That was why Geom Mugeuk did not look at the Sword King.
He was fully immersed in the fight.
He had to watch every breath, every moment, in order to step in at the right time.
‘Yes, that’s the kind of man you are.’
A man who strove never to lose those he cared about,
a man who cherished others more than himself,
and yet, one who remained utterly free.
Kwaang!
The Heaven-Extinguishing Saber, driven into the ground, blocked an incoming strike.
Blade King immediately followed up, aiming for Blood Heaven Blade Demon, who stood behind the Heaven-Extinguishing Saber.
His body coiled like a snake as he slipped in, swinging his blade in a swift, decisive strike—truly a blow meant to end it all.
‘!’
But Blood Heaven Blade Demon was no longer behind the Heaven-Extinguishing Saber.
A single thought flashed through Blade King’s mind in that instant—
There was no way he would’ve let go of his blade, right?
As that realization turned into a sense of crisis, Blade King instinctively threw himself aside.
Hwaaaang!
Kwaaaang!
A massive force crashed down where Blade King had just been.
The ground shattered, and the Heaven-Extinguishing Saber, still buried in the earth, tilted.
Blood Heaven Blade Demon, who had been perched on the hilt, landed smoothly and raised his blade once more.
The moment Blade King’s attack came flying in, Blood Heaven Blade Demon had leapt onto the hilt of the Heaven-Extinguishing Saber that was embedded in the ground.
He had anticipated that Blade King would immediately attempt to strike from behind.
“You’re pretty good.”
Blade King acknowledged the move.
He hadn’t expected Blood Heaven Blade Demon to use such an unorthodox tactic.
It didn’t suit him at all, nor did it fit with the rhythm of the earlier battle.
That was precisely what made it so dangerous.
Perhaps that was why, this time, the word "old" was missing.
Swaaaang! Swaaang! Swaaang!
When they clashed again, Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s fighting style changed.
The speed of his saber strikes had increased.
Usually, when facing a dual-saber user as fast as Blade King, a master would respond with brute strength instead.
Yet Blood Heaven Blade Demon had quickened the tempo of his massive saber.
Geom Mugeuk was seeing it for the first time—the Heaven-Extinguishing Saber moving so swiftly and lightly in Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s hands.
No doubt, through this battle, Blood Heaven Blade Demon was feeling and learning much.
Kakakakakang!
The Heaven-Extinguishing Saber grazed just past Blade King’s face, then brushed his shoulder as it swept by.
In that same motion, the Blood Blade and Black Blade brushed past the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s neck and thigh.
Even within such a ferocious battle, both of them maintained a clear boundary in their fight.
The fact that not even a single doll standing nearby toppled amid that terrifying clash proved their precise control.
But then, the territory of that battle began to shift.
It slowly moved toward the side where Geom Mugeuk and his group were standing.
It was Blade King’s intention.
He thought that if they fought near them, Blood Heaven Blade Demon would be distracted.
However, that was Blade King’s miscalculation.
Blood Heaven Blade Demon paid no attention at all.
He had such unwavering faith in Geom Mugeuk and One-Slash Sword Supreme that he did not need to worry.
And in the end, that decision provoked Blade King’s temper.
It happened because of Geom Mugeuk.
The Blood Blade, which had been aimed at Blood Heaven Blade Demon, missed and swept right past Geom Mugeuk’s face.
Hwaaaang!
Despite the tremendous force of the passing blade, Geom Mugeuk did not move a single step.
He stood firmly in place, without dogding
At that moment, Blade King saw it—
Geom Mugeuk looking straight at him with a calm smile, without even blinking.
‘Arrogant bastard!’
But that brief flare of emotion during his fight with Blood Heaven Blade Demon brought about great danger.
Kaang!
Puaak!
He barely blocked the incoming massive saber with his twin blades, yet blood spurted from Blade King’s waist.
A little deeper, and his waist would have been cleaved in two by the Heaven-Extinguishing Saber.
It was the first time since their battle began that blood had been drawn.
The moment he bled, immense killing intent burst from Blade King’s eyes.
Wuuuuung—
Red and black saber energy began to gather around the Blood Blade and the Black Blade.
In response, the Heaven-Extinguishing Saber, too, was enveloped in saber energy—a pure white radiance, as if snow had begun to fall.
Watching closely, One-Slash Sword Supreme realized that the color of Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s saber energy had changed.
It had not been that pure white before.
‘Indeed, my brother’s martial realm has advanced.’
In the end, Blade King was the first to unleash his secret martial art.
Both fought with careful restraint, yet it was inevitable—
The one whose heart was more impatient was the relatively younger Blade King.
It was, in truth, because the Sword King was watching.
While he was observing, Blade King still hadn’t managed to kill even one old man.
He hadn’t meant for it, but at least in that moment, the Sword King’s mere presence was on Geom Mugeuk’s side.
Moon–Sun Dark Blood Saber Art
First Technique: Blood Dragon Shatters the Heavens
Blade King stepped forward with his right foot, stamping down as he thrust his blade.
The ground split apart as red saber energy erupted from his Blood Blade, spiraling like a dragon as it shot forward.
Kwaaaaaaaang!
The incoming strike, its jaws wide open, was not something that could be blocked by an ordinary saber energy.
Blood Heaven Blade Demon, too, unleashed his secret martial art.
Heaven-Extinguishing Demonic Saber Art, First Form: Extinguishing Blade Strike.
It was the Heaven-Extinguishing Demonic Saber Art, now stronger than it had been before his departure from the cult.
Shiiiing!
A single line of swift, ferocious saber energy burst forth from the Heaven-Extinguishing Saber.
Puaaaak!
The dragon’s head was cleaved apart, and the energy that followed it scattered in midair.
To think he could cut through it so easily?
Blade King wasn’t shocked nor flustered.
His opponent had already shown power enough for such a feat.
If he couldn’t, that would’ve been the true surprise.
Blade King immediately launched his second technique.
Moon–Sun Dark Blood Saber Art, Second Technique: Solar Ring Ultimate Slash.
This time, the Black Blade radiated a blinding light—
Chwaaaaaang!
With a sharp sound, saber energy poured out like beams of sunlight.
Dozens of streaks of energy rained down toward Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
To meet the Solar Ring Ultimate Slash, Blood Heaven Blade Demon invoked the Heaven-Extinguishing Demonic Saber Art, Second Form: Extinguishing Blade Wave.
Kwaaaaaaang!
Saber energy surged from the Heaven-Extinguishing Saber like flowing waves.
It wasn’t the same wave he had shown before—it was deeper, grander, and far more powerful.
Kwakwakwakwakwaang!
The dozens of saber energies were swallowed and swept away within that current.
The sight of them being unable to advance, forced backward by the torrent, was clearly visible.
But the impact of that collision made the walls and ground quake violently.
At this rate, if they unleashed any greater techniques, the entire cave could collapse.
Yet Blade King immediately moved into his next form.
Even if the cave were to fall, he intended to kill Blood Heaven Blade Demon before it did.
He drew upon his inner power to its utmost limit.
Third Technique: Blood Blade Linked Rings.
Saber energy formed into interlocking rings that flew forth.
They resembled chains of molten iron, twisting through the air without any fixed trajectory.
They bent and whipped unpredictably, attacking from all directions—an assault that gave no hint of where or how it would strike next.
Heaven-Extinguishing Demonic Saber Art, Third Form: Extinguishing Blade Bloodstorm.
Several waves of saber energy burst from the Heaven-Extinguishing Saber, spinning as they flew.
In the next instant—
Blade King’s eyes widened.
The attack before him was far stronger than the previous two, completely incomparable in power.
Pahk! Pah-aak! Pah-aak! Pahk!
The flying saber energies precisely sliced through the interlinked rings of energy.
Once severed, the rings lost their chaotic, unpredictable movement and shot straight ahead.
Kwakwakwakwaaang!
The stray waves of energy were swiftly cut down by Geom Mugeuk and One-Slash Sword Supreme.
Had they not intervened, those attacks would have crashed into the back wall and brought the entire cavern down.
“Old Demon Supreme, let’s finish this!”
Blade King drew up his inner power even further.
A blinding radiance erupted from the sun and moon engraved upon his twin sabers.
Just as the sun and moon rose together—
The Sword King slid forward and stepped between them.
Despite the danger of being attacked by both sides, the Sword King fearlessly inserted himself into the midst of the duel.
Even in his fury, Blade King could not strike toward the Sword King.
The brilliant light that had glimmered on the Blood Blade and Black Blade slowly dimmed away.
“You dare interrupt my fight?”
Blade King glared at the Sword King with eyes that looked ready to tear him apart alive.
But he wasn’t the only one enraged.
Blood Heaven Blade Demon also raised his saber toward the Sword King.
The demonic energy surrounding his body still flared violently, unspent and unyielding.
“Fine, you can come too!”
Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s voice carried the force of someone ready to take on the Sword King as well.
Of course, those were only words for the sake of momentum—he didn’t truly mean it.
He could already sense that the Sword King’s martial skill surpassed even the Blade King’s.
At that moment, Geom Mugeuk stepped forward.
“Please, restrain yourself. That man, who looks much older than you, is your sole opponent anyway.”
After throwing that jab at Blade King, who repeatedly called the Blood Heaven Blade Demon an old man, Geom Mugeuk’s gaze turned to the Sword King.
He remembered the Sword King’s earlier words in response to his question of why he had come.
He said he came to protect someone who sought to kill Geom Mugeuk.
“It seems, Brother Ak, that the one you must protect is not this man. Who is it?”
He was certain—the one the Sword King meant to protect was not Blade King.
And Geom Mugeuk was right.
The Sword King had not stepped in to shield Blade King.
The Sword King’s gaze shifted toward the rear.
Sreureuk—
Then, the door behind them swung open on its own.
From beyond it came a beautiful melody, utterly at odds with the thunderous battle that had filled the cavern just moments before.