Chapter 822: Judging by Appearances Alone, You Really Do Look Like the Villains
A faint smile formed on Geom Woojin’s lips.
The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader’s words—that not a single person should die for the sake of the Young Cult Leader—were also his own will.
The Fist Demon King found it comforting that he had been seeing that kind of smile from the Cult Leader more often lately. It was a smile he used to show frequently in his younger days, yet at some point, it had disappeared.
The Fist Demon King knew. As he led the cult, the Cult Leader had grown exhausted.
A man who once roamed freely across the Central Plains had become trapped on the throne mat—how suffocating that must have been. With his overwhelming sense of responsibility, he could not simply rise and walk away from it.
Perhaps the Cult Leader had long been weighed down by gloom. That was likely why his relationship with the Demon Supremes had once grown distant.
The one who broke that stagnation was the Young Cult Leader. And not only for the Cult Leader—he had pulled even the Demon Supremes, each trapped in their own darkness, back into the light.
Just as he had pulled himself out from the pit he had fallen into, a massive void that seemed like it would collapse a cliff.
“So we should all survive and go boast a little to the Young Cult Leader, shouldn’t we?”
Everyone agreed with the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader’s words.
Yes, no one should die in this battle. That would be the proper victory for Geom Mugeuk. They had received so much from that young Young Cult Leader—now it was time to give something back.
The Sword King asked the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader:
“Didn’t you say you’ve suffered quite a bit because of the Young Cult Leader?”
Even here at the tavern, he had complained about it several times—loud enough for Geom Woojin to hear on purpose.
“That’s right.”
“Then why are you acting like this?”
The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader spoke honestly.
“Because I’ve received more.”
His gaze turned toward the Sword King. Perhaps it was because he had promised to name the tavern, or because of the few days they had spent together here.
“And even if it weren’t for the Young Cult Leader, I couldn’t afford to lose you to someone like that.”
“You nearly put yourself in danger, Cult Leader.”
When Hwa Moogi had approached him earlier, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader had felt death.
Had he ever felt death so vividly before?
“There are five of us. Even if it wasn’t you, someone else would’ve saved me.”
Now he finally joked, but the Sword King took it seriously.
“Or no one might have saved you. Because there are five of us.”
“What do you mean?”
“Because everyone would assume someone else would.”
The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader feigned shock.
“Don’t tell me I was really about to die? That won’t do! I still have a mountain of things I want to do!”
The Sword King turned his gaze back toward Hwa Moogi.
“If we don’t kill that man, you won’t get to do even one of those things.”
The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader understood. Despite his internal injuries, the Sword King still wanted to fight.
“Will you be alright?”
“Yes.”
The Sword King had vividly realized it while fighting Hwa Moogi—this was an opponent he could not defeat.
But he had no intention of retreating like this.
As long as he still had internal energy left, he had to make that Heavenly Killing Star expend as much of his as possible before passing him on to the next fighter.
The internal energy he had left would become attacks directed at those who remained. He had to take even one more strike in their place.
And beyond exhausting his internal energy, there was something even more important.
Those who had yet to fight were watching this battle.
Letting them learn even a little more about Hwa Moogi—that was what mattered.
“Will you be alright, Cult Leader?”
“I was born and raised in harsh sandstorms. A fight like this is nothing more than a greenhouse scuffle.”
He had brought up the greenhouse just to say that.
The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader looked at Hwa Moogi, who was still only sticking his head out from the darkness.
“Is it warm in there?”
Riiiiiip.
Hwa Moogi tore apart the darkness beneath his face with his hand and stepped out.
“Even if your martial arts are unimpressive…”
His killing intent had grown even stronger. Facing seven masters, his primal killing intent had been pushed to its extreme.
“…at least you’re not a coward like someone.”
The Sword King responded to the remark mocking Jin Paecheon.
“He’s simply cautious and wise.”
If he had forced himself to fight in his injured state and lost the Gentleman’s Sword, there would be nothing worse.
“Before we fight, there’s something I want to ask the person inside you.”
It was unlike the Sword King to say such a thing—perhaps the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader would, but not him.
Hwa Moogi nodded as if to say, *go ahead if you can.*
“But who is in charge? I’d like to ask your leader something.”
Hwa Moogi immediately saw through his intent.
“You’re trying to stir internal discord with words? Not bad, but useless. These people were never truly one to begin with.”
His gaze shifted toward Geom Woojin, Jin Paecheon, and Baek Jagang.
“No matter how close they pretend to be, they can never become one.”
Geom Woojin and the two alliance leaders said nothing. It wasn’t wrong.
Once this battle ended, they would each have to place the other’s name at the top of their list of greatest enemies.
The Sword King spoke with certainty.
“This time will be different. Because of the Young Cult Leader.”
Hwa Moogi looked genuinely surprised. First the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, and now the Sword King as well.
“You really do like the Young Cult Leader. What kind of person is he, I wonder?”
“Then why didn’t you go to him?”
At that question, Hwa Moogi’s expression faltered for a moment before turning into a cold smile.
“I left the Young Cult Leader to the Dark Palace Master.”
“Not because you’re afraid of him?”
At the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader’s words, Hwa Moogi scoffed.
“Even all of you together don’t frighten me—why would the Young Cult Leader?”
At that moment, Baek Jagang felt chills run down his spine.
Which part was the lie? That they didn’t frighten him? Or that the Young Cult Leader didn’t?
Judging from the composure he had shown so far, Baek Jagang realised the truth.
‘The Heavenly Killing Star fears the Young Cult Leader.’
Earlier, when he had spoken with Joo Ga-shin via voice transmission, he had speculated that Hwa Moogi might have a weakness.
Now he knew—his weakness was Geom Mugeuk.
Baek Jagang thought of Geom Mugeuk. To make even this Heavenly Killing Star feel fear—
Perhaps Geom Mugeuk truly was a destiny sent by the heavens.
Hwa Moogi charged toward the Sword King.
“I’ll kill all of you—and the Young Cult Leader too!”
Once again, their swords clashed in midair.
After just a few exchanges, the Sword King’s insides churned violently. Despite having already traded quite a number of moves, he still could not adapt to the speed and power—not to mention the even stronger killing intent.
But the Sword King’s will was no less intense.
‘Even if it’s just a single move, I’ll exhaust you with everything I have.’
Of course, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader did not merely watch.
Outer Heavenly Blood Demon Art—Mad Sand Blood Wind.
Swoooooosh!
A violent wind surged toward Hwa Moogi.
Would it be mere wind in this situation? It was a deadly gale that tore apart protective energy.
Yet Hwa Moogi did not waver in the slightest. Even amidst that fierce wind, he didn’t blink, focusing solely on his fight with the Sword King.
The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was not surprised.
His opponent had endured the Death Vortex with Thousand-Pound Descent and had torn his way out of it in an instant.
Still, thanks to the Mad Sand Blood Wind, the Sword King gained the opening to unleash his true techniques.
Though his internal energy was far inferior, he began a battle that consumed it even more rapidly.
Formless Divine Sword, Second Form—Formless Severing Strike.
The moment the White Flower Sword trembled in the air—
A lightning-fast streak of sword energy struck down at Hwa Moogi.
An unavoidable attack—yet Hwa Moogi avoided it.
This time, he used footwork from three hundred years ago, belonging to the Unorthodox Alliance Leader Joo Ga-shin.
Radiant World Heavenly King Step.
A light-speed attack dodged with light-speed movement.
It revealed that up until now, he had been taking attacks head-on merely to display his strength.
The Sword King’s attacks continued.
Formless Divine Sword, Fourth Form—Formless Wind and Rain.
Formless sword energy poured down from all directions like a storm.
“Good!”
Hwa Moogi, delighted, swung his sword in all directions, proving he could block even a storm.
Boom boom boom boom boom!
The impact shook the walls, and debris and dust rained down from the ceiling.
Rumble.
As the falling debris obscured vision—that was the moment the Sword King had been waiting for.
To unleash this very move.
Swiish!
A sharp slicing sound cut across the arena.
Hwa Moogi held his sword forward.
Riiiiip.
A horizontal line began forming on the wall behind him—at the exact height of his neck.
The line extended from the edge of the wall all the way to where Hwa Moogi stood.
If it continued, it would mean his neck had been severed.
The line stopped right beside his neck.
Now, a red line should have appeared across his throat—
Riiiiiiip.
The line continued past his neck.
Formless Divine Sword, Seventh Form—Formless One Slash.
The very move that had beheaded the Sound King.
Yet Hwa Moogi had blocked that decisive strike.
“This time, I was a little surprised.”
Hwa Moogi smiled.
The man standing before them was an immortal, indestructible monster.
He charged again at the Sword King.
Clang! Clang! Claaang!
This time, as if determined to kill, he pressed him even harder.
The Sword King sensed it—he would not last even fifty more exchanges.
In a battle where dozens of moves passed in an instant, fifty was nothing.
At that moment, the Sword King saw the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader behind Hwa Moogi pulling something invisible from his body.
His ultimate secret technique.
‘The Formless Spear!’
It was a Formless Spear infused with every last bit of internal energy he had conserved.
For a brief moment, their eyes met.
—If it lands, I can pierce even the Heavenly Killing Star.
At that very instant—
Ting!
The White Flower Sword was knocked from the Sword King’s grasp.
In the next moment, both of his hands grabbed Hwa Moogi’s wrist.
Hwa Moogi immediately understood.
The Sword King had intentionally let go of his sword.
Swiish—
At the same time, a powerful presence surged from behind.
The Sword King drew out all his internal energy to restrain him.
In that moment, Hwa Moogi read the resolve in his eyes.
‘*Even if I’m pierced along with you!*’
Swoooooosh!
And then—
This time, it was the Sword King who saw it.
Hwa Moogi smiling.
Whoosh.
In an instant, their positions switched.
Even though he had gathered all his energy to hold him, he could not withstand Hwa Moogi’s strength.
As Hwa Moogi turned him around, the incoming Formless Spear flew toward the Sword King’s back.
Swoooooosh.
At that moment, Hwa Moogi saw something else.
The Sword King was not flustered. His eyes were calm.
‘Don’t tell me—?’
The Sword King had not raised his protective energy.
He had anticipated that even if he held on with all his strength, their positions would be reversed.
Which meant—
From the beginning, he had intended for the Formless Spear to pierce through his own body and, with that momentum, impale Hwa Moogi as well.
The Sword King did not release his grip until the very end.
A body that should have died by Geom Mugeuk’s hand—yet it had been left alive, perhaps for this very moment.
But the Formless Spear stopped just before his back.
The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader had not thrown it—he had charged forward holding it himself.
Throwing it would have been faster and more effective, but he had worried about their positions switching.
He did not know that the Sword King intended to sacrifice himself.
Ssssss—
The Formless Spear in his hand disappeared.
Against another opponent, he would have used it to kill.
But against Hwa Moogi, it would only hinder the fight.
Even a Spear King could not defeat such an opponent.
Thud!
With a single palm strike from Hwa Moogi, both the Sword King and the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader were pushed back together.
“Fine! If you can’t do it, then I’ll pierce both of you myself!”
Hwa Moogi thrust his black sword.
Swiish—
The Sword King did not dodge.
If he moved, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader behind him would be struck.
But he had already dropped his sword—his body was all he had left.
This time, the Sword King raised his protective energy to the absolute limit.
Even if he were pierced, he hoped the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader would not be.
Swiish!
Thud!
The black sword pierced through his protective energy and stabbed into his chest.
As Hwa Moogi pushed forward to drive it all the way through—
Tap.
The black sword stopped midair.
Someone had grabbed it with their bare hand.
“You caught my sword with your hand?”
It was the Fist Demon King, who had rushed in.
The hand gripping the black sword was not truly bare—he was wearing the War God gauntlets gifted by Geom Mugeuk.
Whoooooong!
Boooom!
His other fist slammed directly into Hwa Moogi’s face.
Rumble—Crash!
At the same time, a thunderous roar echoed.
The black sword was pulled from the Sword King’s chest, and Hwa Moogi was sent flying backward.
In that instant, the Fist Demon King pressed the Sword King’s pressure points to stop the bleeding.
Fortunately, the sword had missed the heart, and since it had been stopped before fully piercing through, it was not a fatal wound.
“You should’ve dodged!”
The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader shouted angrily at the Sword King, who had foolishly taken the blow instead of avoiding it.
“…You should have thrown the spear.”
In the end, the two had saved each other.
“Thank you for saving me.”
At the Sword King’s gratitude, the Fist Demon King simply nodded once with a stoic expression.
Hwa Moogi was covering his ears rather than his struck face.
The thunderous sound that accompanied the punch had nearly ruptured his eardrums.
His fury turned toward the Fist Demon King.
“Empty carts make the most noise.”
But the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader responded immediately.
“And why do you think the cart is empty? Because it’s waiting to carry your corpse.”
Hwa Moogi’s killing intent intensified further, but the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader had already retreated with the injured Sword King to where Geom Woojin and the two alliance leaders stood.
Geom Woojin did not ask if the Sword King was alright.
Instead, he said what the man would rather hear.
“You fought well.”
The Sword King lowered his head in shame. He wished he could have done better—but that had been his limit.
“And don’t do that again.”
Geom Woojin knew he had tried to sacrifice himself.
The Sword King bowed his head.
He had promised to protect the Young Cult Leader, yet had tried to die. The reprimand was deserved.
Yes—being understood was enough.
‘The life I have left… I will use it for the Young Cult Leader.’
At that moment, one person walked toward where the Fist Demon King stood.
It was Baek Jagang.
Although Hwa Moogi had taken a hit, that did not mean the Fist Demon King could handle him alone.
Now was the time for him to step in.
Baek Jagang stood beside the Fist Demon King.
He had never imagined that a day would come when he would fight on the same side as this man.
As the two new figures stepped forward, Hwa Moogi raised his voice like delivering a speech.
“The Cult Leader and Alliance Leaders gather and take turns fighting! Who exactly is the villain and who is the hero?”
The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader calmly accepted the remark, breaking his momentum.
“Honestly, just judging by appearances, the two of you really do look like the villains.”
Baek Jagang glanced at the Fist Demon King and shared his thoughts on the earlier fights.
“They were all too refined.”
That applied not only to Jin Paecheon, but also to the Sword King and the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.
But with the Fist Demon King?
“Since he wants to be the hero…”
A sinister energy began to flow from Baek Jagang’s body—colder and more malevolent than anything he had shown before.
“Let’s properly become the villains.”