AR Chapter 114

I arrived with Bi Sa-in at their safe house not far from the Unorthodox Alliance faction headquarters.

Extremely Evil Laughing Demon and the Unorthodox’s Thirteen Wolves were waiting there.

The First Wolf was overjoyed, as if a dead person had come back to life.

“Young Master! You’re safe!”

“First Wolf, I’m sorry for leaving without telling you.”

“We were very worried. Please don’t do this again.”

“I understand.”

The other Unorthodox’s Thirteen Wolves were also happy. Seeing them welcome him, Bi Sa-in’s heart seemed to soften.

“The Extreme Extremely Evil Laughing Demon Supreme assured us of your safety, but…”

I chuckled, imagining the First Wolf wondering if Extremely Evil Laughing Demon’s assurance of safety might actually mean more danger.

While Bi Sa-in and the Unorthodox’s Thirteen Wolves were reuniting, Extremely Evil Laughing Demon called me into a room separately.

The two eyes behind the white mask scrutinized me thoroughly.

“Bi Sa-in probably doesn’t even know what he’s lost. What exactly did you gain?”

“I just tried to win his heart.”

“That can’t be it. That’s something that could have been done even with me or the Unorthodox’s Thirteen Wolves around.”

Having been together for a while, Extremely Evil Laughing Demon had come to understand me too well.

“Come to think of it, your eyes seem deeper. Did you make some progress in your martial arts?”

“Just a little.”

In truth, achieving the Twelfth Star Great Completion of the Soaring Heaven Sword Arts was a tremendous accomplishment, but I only told half the truth. I thought I couldn’t completely fool Extremely Evil Laughing Demon, and I didn’t want to completely deceive him either.

“If Second Young Master’s skills have improved further, I would lose if we fought now.”

“I might not be able to beat other Demon Supremes, but I definitely can’t beat you, Sir Laughing Demon.”

“Why is that?”

“Because you’re Extremely Evil Laughing Demon.”

Realizing it was a compliment, Extremely Evil Laughing Demon laughed.

That afternoon, Bi Sa-in came to find me.

He had come up with a plan, and it was very dangerous.

“I intend to use myself as bait.”

He was staking his life on this matter.

“I’ll leak information that I have evidence. Evidence that reveals Seok Gwan-chu is behind all the things that have happened. If I say I’m about to report this to the Unorthodox Alliance Leader, Seok Gwan-chu will definitely come to kill us.”

With Dark Assassin leader dead, our visit to White Night Valley, and even the Sixth Wolf dead, it was plausible that we might have evidence.

“He’ll need to kill us as soon as possible, but he won’t be able to quickly find an external master. He’ll either come himself or send a master closely related to him.”

“Do you realize how dangerous this plan is?”

“I do. He will definitely send someone capable of killing me. He might even come himself.”

“Then why have you come up with such a dangerous plan?”

“Because they’re overlooking one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“You, Second Young Master. They would never think that you and Extremely Evil Laughing Demon would help me.”

He asked me.

“Will you help me?”

“I will.”

My answer without hesitation actually surprised Bi Sa-in.

“Why aren’t you asking for anything in return? This is a situation where you could ask for any condition and I’d have to accept. Even if you asked for everything I have, I’d have no choice but to give it.”

“Because I want to shake hands with you properly someday in the future.”

Bi Sa-in’s eyes wavered. Help given in difficult times tends to leave a deep impression. If I win Bi Sa-in’s heart this time, it could be more powerful than any elixir or treasure.

After parting with him, I met with Extremely Evil Laughing Demon and informed him about this plan.

“Second Young Master, you should stay out of this.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

“Are you worried about me?”

“No, I’m worried about myself. If Second Young Master came out with me and died in front of the Unorthodox Alliance faction, what would become of me? I wouldn’t be able to face the Cult Leader.”

In fact, I had the same worry. My father had ordered me not to kill any more Demon Supremes, so what would become of me if Extremely Evil Laughing Demon happened to die?

“Let’s decide based on the situation.”

“Alright.”

“This isn’t our fight. We don’t need to jump in too dangerously.”

At my words, Extremely Evil Laughing Demon’s eyes lit up instead. He was the type to burn brighter the stronger his opponent was.

Back in my room, I wrapped the Supreme Heavenly Silkworm Thread around my heart, throat, abdomen, and the vital points of my arms and legs. Over that, I put on the Ghost Protective Garment given by Blood Heavens Saber Demon.

Then I quietly regulated my breathing and prepared for the upcoming fight.

Late at night, I opened my eyes.

The Heavenly Demonic Defense Art had awakened me. This was the first time it had awakened me so intensely and strongly. I could tell.

‘A formidable opponent.’

I had expected a strong opponent to come, but this was the first time the Heavenly Demonic Defense Art had reacted so powerfully.

Extremely Evil Laughing Demon, who was sleeping in the same room, also opened his eyes abruptly.

“Did you feel it?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s go out.”

I put on a mask, just like Extremely Evil Laughing Demon.

We headed towards where that energy was flowing from. It was the building where Bi Sa-in was staying.

Crash! Bang!

Martial artists burst out, breaking through windows and walls. It was Bi Sa-in and the Unorthodox’s Thirteen Wolves. They looked clearly flustered.

And soon after, an old man revealed himself, walking out leisurely.

Dressed in pure white robes, he had a white beard growing down to his chest like an immortal. His face and hands were covered with wrinkles of unfathomable age, but his eyes were as fierce as those of a wild beast.

The old man was dragging someone. He was already a corpse, and blood was soaking the ground where he was being dragged.

Whoosh.

The old man threw the corpse, and it flew and rolled into the middle of the courtyard. The dead person was the Third Wolf.

The Unorthodox’s Thirteen Wolves’ expressions hardened at the death of their comrade. Their eyes filled with killing intent for revenge, but no one dared to curse or act rashly.

They must have been intimidated by the swordsmanship the old man had displayed when killing the Third Wolf.

“Who are you?”

The First Wolf asked the old man, suppressing his anger.

He wasn’t Seok Gwan-chu. He was older than Seok Gwan-chu, a master of the previous generation, and exuded a much more intense presence.

“And who might you be?”

The old man’s voice cut through the night air. It was low and calm, but a voice filled with deep inner energy.

“I am the First Wolf, leader of the Thirteen Unorthodox’s Thirteen Wolves.”

“Come closer.”

Of course, the First Wolf didn’t approach.

“How can a coward be leading the Thirteen Unorthodox’s Thirteen Wolves?”

The First Wolf’s expression hardened, but he didn’t fall for the old man’s provocation.

Instead, he quietly said to Bi Sa-in.

“We’ll handle this, please escape.”

The plan to lure them in and capture them immediately crumbled with the old man’s appearance.

Bi Sa-in had no intention of escaping, but even if he had wanted to, it wouldn’t have been possible. Another master had revealed himself on the opposite wall.

It was Seok Gwan-chu, the mastermind behind this incident. He too was displaying the demeanor of a great master of the previous generation.

The fact that he appeared in person meant he intended to kill everyone and destroy all evidence.

Seok Gwan-chu, with his hands behind his back, looked up at the night sky and said.

“The moonlight is nice, so I came out for a short walk with my master.”

The moment everyone realized the old man’s identity, they were shocked.

Seok Gwan-chu’s master.

The Sword Emperor^[1], Baek Mang-gi^[2].

A master of the Swift Sword Technique, he was a great master of two generations ago, already over 130 years old.

He had revealed himself after not appearing in the martial arts world for decades. We had tried to lure in a villain, but a monster had been drawn out instead.

“Listen, Young Master Bi.”

Seok Gwan-chu was calm and composed.

“There’s only one way for you to live.”

“What is it?”

“You know what I want, don’t you?”

“You mean the evidence I was going to present to the Unorthodox Alliance Leader? It seems even you, Elder Seok, are afraid of the Unorthodox Alliance Leader.”

“Hand it over while I’m asking nicely.”

“I’m not a fool, why would I have it with me? If you kill me, the evidence will immediately go to the Unorthodox Alliance Leader. If that happens, you’ll have to bear the crime of killing me as well, Elder Seok.”

Right at that moment, Baek Mang-gi, Seok Gwan-chu’s master, leaped lightly. He walked slowly through the air and landed gently in front of Bi Sa-in. It was like a divine general descending from the heavens.

Clang clang clang!

All the swords trying to protect Bi Sa-in were deflected.

Baek Mang-gi’s sword was back in its sheath. He had drawn his sword, deflected the Unorthodox’s Thirteen Wolves’ swords, and resheathed it in an instant.

The Unorthodox’s Thirteen Wolves were intimidated by that swift swordsmanship.

Baek Mang-gi quietly looked into Bi Sa-in’s eyes.

“Eyes that don’t know how to lie.”

Baek Mang-gi looked at Seok Gwan-chu and said.

“There’s no evidence.”

“I thought as much.”

As if he believed everything his master said, Seok Gwan-chu calmly rebuked Bi Sa-in.

“What did you believe in to do something like this? Did you think I was foolish enough to walk into a trap you set and offer my neck?”

Bi Sa-in said nothing. All plans had fallen apart the moment Baek Mang-gi arrived.

While Seok Gwan-chu might have been someone the Unorthodox’s Thirteen Wolves could fight together, Baek Mang-gi was an existence far beyond their abilities.

At that moment, Baek Mang-gi turned his head and looked in our direction.

“It seems you trusted those ghost-playing things over there.”

Of course, Baek Mang-gi and Seok Gwan-chu had been aware of our presence from the beginning. Seok Gwan-chu knew exactly who we were.

“That’s Extremely Evil Laughing Demon, one of the Eight Demon Supremes.”

“I’ve heard there are underlings in the Demon Cult who wear masks and pretend to be mysterious. But why are you just standing there when you know who I am? Do you think I won’t kill you out of fear of the Heavenly Demon?”

“It seems so.”

Then Extremely Evil Laughing Demon said to me.

“It’s not too late even now.”

“Shall we run?”

“Do as you wish, Second Young Master.”

At that moment, my eyes met Bi Sa-in’s. Instead of fear, there was composure in Bi Sa-in’s expression. It was an emotion saying it was okay if I left, that he wouldn’t resent me.

“I don’t want to remember that expression as the last one. This damn loyalty, pride, and promise. Ah! This is why the average lifespan of martial artists keeps dropping.”

“I knew you’d say that.”

Extremely Evil Laughing Demon laughed. Even if he were to die, Extremely Evil Laughing Demon would fight like a madman until the end.

That’s not why I decided to fight. It’s because I know they have no intention of letting us go. They wouldn’t let such a big secret leak outside.

“Hey, old man. Your opponent is over here.”

At Extremely Evil Laughing Demon’s words, Baek Mang-gi laughed. Seok Gwan-chu laughed too.

“Did you think I cared about the Heavenly Demon?”

The moment Baek Mang-gi finished speaking, he charged towards us. He was truly fast. The moment we perceived his attack coming, his sword was already being drawn right in front of our noses.

Swoosh! Swooosh!

Ping! Pat!

In an instant, the situation was over.

Baek Mang-gi had stepped back from us and was looking at me with a surprised face.

“You?”

His long beard had been cut and was fluttering between us.

Baek Mang-gi had tried to cut Extremely Evil Laughing Demon first, and I had cut at Baek Mang-gi. He was fast, but so was I. Baek Mang-gi had nearly had his neck cut by my sword.

The composure disappeared from Baek Mang-gi’s face. He probably hadn’t experienced such a dangerous moment in decades. It must have been the first time his heart had dropped like this in a long time.

Not only Baek Mang-gi, but Seok Gwan-chu, Bi Sa-in, and the Unorthodox’s Thirteen Wolves all looked at me with surprised faces.

Right at that moment.

Rip.

Extremely Evil Laughing Demon’s mask, cut by Baek Mang-gi’s earlier sword strike, split in half from forehead to chin and slid down.

Extremely Evil Laughing Demon hadn’t been able to completely avoid Baek Mang-gi’s attack either.

As the mask slid off, Extremely Evil Laughing Demon was flustered. If given the choice between death and removing his mask, he would choose death.

Just as his face was about to be revealed.

Thwap.

A new mask covered his face.

I had taken off the mask I was wearing and covered his face with it.

For a moment, our eyes met. Instead of the shame he would have hated more than death, his eyes were filling with intense emotion towards me.

“Only remove the mask when you wish to, Sir Laughing Demon.”

Turning away from Extremely Evil Laughing Demon’s surging emotions, I faced Baek Mang-gi.

I didn’t know. I didn’t know that the fact Extremely Evil Laughing Demon had nearly died would make me this angry. I really didn’t know.