Chapter 754: What I Hate Is That Ponytail of Yours!

Geom Mugeuk revealed his demonic energy.

Ssshhhhhhhhhh.

An overwhelming wave of demonic energy surged toward those standing before him.

Unable to withstand it directly, the Dark Blood Four Blades wrapped themselves in the Blood Wind Garment and retreated, while the Iron-Masked Man also gathered his inner energy to face the oncoming force.

It was a fierce and potent demonic energy. Normally, Geom Mugeuk appeared calm, his aura as soft and peaceful as the reflection of the sky upon the sea—but now, he was different.

The chill that crept down one’s spine and the cold that made one shiver—it was a demonic energy that froze the soul. A single shared thought arose in everyone’s mind.

So this… is demonic energy.

It was so intense that fear alone made it difficult to move.

Geom Mugeuk intended to sweep away everything before him using the Great Annihilation Form of the Nine Calamities Demon Art. After all, this was a battle where only one side would be left alive.

Let’s see if you can withstand my Nine Calamities Demon Art, which has reached the Completion.

You all should sleep here, become part of this tomb!

Then, the next tale to spread through the martial world would make the Treasure Map buzz even louder with rumors.

So go on, leave now. Brother Ak.

Everyone’s eyes turned toward Ak Gunhak.

Blinking as if burdened by their stares, Ak Gunhak slowly began to move. He walked forward, as though truly intending to leave—toward Geom Mugeuk.

The Blade King asked, half in disbelief, “What are you doing right now?”

“You told me to leave, didn’t you?”

The Blade King’s expression hardened. The uncertainty of whether the man was joking or serious was infuriating.

“You were on the Young Cult Leader’s side from the start, weren’t you? This whole thing was planned in advance.”

“Don’t you see how angry the Young Cult Leader is? When someone like that gets angry, it’s truly terrifying.”

The Sword King then strode toward Geom Mugeuk’s group once more.

He stopped before Geom Mugeuk.

“Why are you so angry?”

“I can’t stand it when someone insults my parents. And the two behind me are no different from my parents.”

At those words, the eyes of the two Demon Supremes behind him deepened. They knew he didn’t say that merely to sound pleasing.

It seemed he would really leave—but then, the Sword King turned again and walked toward the Sound King.

“Now calm down, and enjoy the music.”

In truth, Geom Mugeuk had already known it clearly. From the start, Ak Gunhak had never intended to leave. If he were the type to walk away just because someone told him to, he wouldn’t have come here at all.

“Brother Ak, step aside. I’m truly angry.”

“I know.”

Saying he knew, the Sword King stood squarely before the Sound King, blocking Geom Mugeuk’s view on purpose.

From behind, the Sound King’s gaze upon Geom Mugeuk was colder than ever. He couldn’t understand why Geom Mugeuk was angry. In his mind, he was the one who should be furious.

Who was it that mocked his music and belittled him?

The Sound King lifted his stringless pipa as though to begin playing.

“I didn’t expect the Young Cult Leader to obediently listen to me.”

Dding.

The moment the Sound King plucked the pipa!

A low and deep wave cut through the air.

Kaang!

The Black Demon Sword swung into the air, trembled violently.

It was a light, playful flick, yet the power behind it was formidable. Moreover, it wasn't ordinary internal energy. It was sound, that cannot be seen; the incoming attack was simply invisible to the eye. It had to be blocked by instinct. With just a single flick of a finger, it was clear that this was truly a top-class sound technique.

“You said you’d protect everyone? Then try protecting them now.”

The Sound King flicked the stringless pipa once again. In that instant, the air seemed to burst apart.

Tuaang!

Bang!

This time, Geom Mugeuk was blocking the attack in front of Ji Han. He had moved in an instant to intercept the blow flying toward him.

This attack was even more powerful than the previous one. But it was evident from his relaxed expression—he hadn’t used his full strength yet.

“Isn’t that a bit too much when you are just plucking pipa strings? You should’ve been a woodcutter instead.”

Taaaaaang!

Puff!

This time, it targeted a martial artist from the Unorthodox Alliance. Though he was far more skilled than Ji Han or Tae Soo, he was still not at the level to block the Sound King’s attack.

Jiiiiing.

The Black Demon Sword vibrated in midair. The vibration left by the sound technique traveled along the blade. His wrist tingled as it absorbed the shock.

“As expected of the Young Cult Leader. Then, can you block this as well?”

Sensing that an extraordinary attack was coming, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was about to step forward.

But One-Slash Sword Supreme stopped him. It meant they should wait unless Geom Mugeuk asked for help.

Ttarararang!

This time, the sound attack flew toward three people at once.

Bang! Bang! Baaang!

Geom Mugeuk appeared in front of the three simultaneously and blocked the attack. Truly, his movements were lightning-fast.

At that incredible martial might, the Sound King was rather delighted.

“For our Young Cult Leader, I must play a truly exhilarating tune.”

Geom Mugeuk shouted at the Sword King.

“Brother Ak! At this rate, your little brother’s going to die! Move aside!”

He could tell it was an exaggeration, but even in a situation where he was getting relentlessly attacked, he was still shielding the front?

“Is he perhaps your secret son?”

At that moment, Geom Mugeuk saw it—the Sword King forcing back a smile. Yes, the Sword King was still the Sword King of old. That expression said more than a hundred words could.

In truth, if he were truly determined to kill, he could have killed the Sound King standing behind, even with the Sword King blocking.

He could just use the Annihilation Form of the Nine Calamities Demon Art on the Sound King. Would they even be able to stop the four Demonic Ghosts of East, West, South, and North that reached the Ten Star Greatness?

Even without the Annihilation Form, there were other ways.

What if he struck down with the Soul Severing Demonic Strike directly onto all of their crowns?

And yet, the only reason he didn’t kill him—was the Sword King.

Because of his trust in him.

Was the Sword King really such a rigid man? Was the Sword King really such a frustrating man?

No. He was sharper than anyone, more composed than anyone. For someone like that to act so stubbornly—there had to be a reason.

Though he hadn’t sent even a single sound transmission to him, his actions spoke clearly.

The Sound King must not be killed.

And not telling the reason—he surely had his own circumstances for that.

It was at that very moment. One-Slash Sword Supreme, who had only been watching, stepped forward.

“Young Cult Leader, please leave this to me.”

Geom Mugeuk looked at her. Since she stepped forward on her own, he couldn’t tell her no. It wasn’t because she was unaware of his relationship with the Sword King.

This fight was now theirs.

“Yes, I’ll leave it to you, Sword Supreme.”

Geom Mugeuk glanced at the Sword King.

“Brother Ak, now we’re in trouble. You should’ve stepped aside when I told you. Now our Sword Supreme has stepped up.”

Even though One-Slash Sword Supreme had stepped forward, the Sword King still stood silently.

Geom Mugeuk coldly warned the Sound King standing behind the Sword King.

“If you interfere in this fight and try to attack the Sword Supreme, you will really die. Not even Brother Ak can save you then. I may talk a lot and make it hard to tell what’s serious, but when it comes to life and death, I don’t joke. The moment you so much as twitch a finger—you’re dead.”

The Sound King looked at Geom Mugeuk with a curious gaze, then smiled and replied.

“I have no intention of interfering.”

The Sound King took his hands completely off the pipa and clasped them behind his back.

One-Slash Sword Supreme stood in front of the Sword King. Considering her relationship with Geom Mugeuk, he thought she might act respectfully. But she didn’t.

“Move.”

When they first met, she had at least exchanged a light greeting with a fist salute, but now One-Slash Sword Supreme was being cold.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon gave a faint smile. Yeah, he wasn’t the only one holding back his temper to live.

The Sword King, who had been silently staring at her, responded in kind.

“No.”

As if she expected that, One-Slash Sword Supreme nodded.

“What I hate is stuff like this. That you have a relationship with the Young Cult Leader, your bare feet, and that stupid ponytail of yours!”

It must’ve been those uniquely rare charms that drew the Young Cult Leader to him.

The Sword King flicked the hair tied tightly behind his head with his hand.

“I can’t give this up, though.”

Geom Mugeuk interjected with a line.

“So you're saying I can be given up!”

One-Slash Sword Supreme calmed her heart. She couldn’t see this fight as one with someone the Young Cult Leader knew. This was a battle against an enemy trying to protect those of the hidden forces.

“The more I see you, the more dangerous you are.”

Just the fact that he was blocking her path in a situation like this proved that. His connection with the Young Cult Leader was their business to mind alone, not her’s.

Right now, she was looking at him as the Demon Supreme of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, not as So Yeonrang, the One-Slash Sword Supreme.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon silently nodded. He felt the same. If only he could, he would’ve stepped up for himself already.

But just as he had once clashed in a duel of blade arts with that expert wielding twin blades, this fight now belonged to her.

The problem was—the man with bare feet felt even stronger than the one he faced.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon glanced at Geom Mugeuk. Because among them, the Young Cult Leader was the one who knew that barefoot man best.

Was it really okay to let the two of them fight?

But whatever he was thinking, Geom Mugeuk didn’t try to stop them.

Fine then. If you trust her, I have to trust her too.

Still, because this concerned One-Slash Sword Supreme, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

A cold chill passed between One-Slash Sword Supreme and the Sword King. The tension between them was as intense as that between the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Blade King earlier—no, perhaps even greater.

One-Slash Sword Supreme had already heard from Geom Mugeuk just how powerful the man before her was.

A life-or-death battle against a master like this—an opportunity that might never come again in one’s lifetime.

The two of them charged at each other.

Kaaaang!

At the moment their swords clashed, One-Slash Sword Supreme felt the overwhelming power contained within her opponent’s blade.

He looked like someone as light as the wind.

‘The sword is heavy.’

The blade felt as heavy as Mount Tai crashing down. This wasn’t simply a matter of how much internal energy was imbued.

Seeing her opponent up close, her impression of him changed yet again. He was nothing like the man who had bantered with Geom Mugeuk.

Shiiik.

The Sword King slid past her sword and launched a counterattack.

Shwik!

The sword edge flashed past her eyes in an instant with a gleam. Had she been even slightly slower to dodge, she would’ve been blinded. It was a strike that brought her fully to her senses.

Chengchengchengchengcheng!

Their swords suddenly accelerated. There was no probing exchange. Their blades clashed at full speed from the very beginning, and their sword-light flickered through the air.

Apart from Geom Mugeuk, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, the Sound King, and the Blade King—no one else could follow their speed with the naked eye.

Bursts of light exploded in all directions. It was like watching a fireworks display.

The trails and afterimages of the swords overlapped, creating a vivid painting in motion.

It was like bamboo swaying in the wind… like plum blossoms blooming in the dead of winter.

Those who truly appreciated the painting were Geom Mugeuk, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, the Sound King, and the Blade King. Though they saw the same image, each perceived something different depending on their own skill and inner nature.

Sometimes, the sword lines were thin. Other times, they were bold, like thick brush strokes sweeping black ink across a canvas.

And then—there was the negative space.

In the gaps they created, there lay openings for counters and surprise attacks.

That empty space was opportunity—and the greatest danger. A misused gap meant immediate defeat… and death.

Each time a new sword line filled the negative space, the two faced a moment between life and death.

‘This man’s sword is real.’

Even the treasured One-Slash Sword could not break that worn out iron blade.

The moment she truly acknowledged her opponent, One-Slash Sword Supreme felt something awaken within her heart.

‘I will win, no matter what!’

Their battle was elegant yet fierce. Every single move carried the risk of death with even the slightest mistake, but neither feared it.

There wasn’t even an opening to use a unique technique. The moment she attempted to unleash a major martial art, her arm—or her neck—would be cut off immediately.

Those watching held their breath.

The chance to witness a sword duel between masters of this caliber was something that might happen only once or twice in a lifetime. That’s why no one even blinked as they watched the fight. Blink once, and they had already exchanged another flurry of strikes.

The Sword King was surprised. He hadn’t expected One-Slash Sword Supreme to fight this well.

At first, when Geom Mugeuk allowed this battle, he thought it was to give her a lesson.

‘So it wasn’t just permission for her.’

It was Geom Mugeuk’s way of encouraging him to learn and grow through this fight, too.

‘Seriously, you…!’

You knew how terrifying this battle would be, and still pushed his precious Demon Supreme into it.

Just how much do you trust me?

That’s why, to the Sword King, this fight was also a battle against Geom Mugeuk. His opponent was pushing forward with unrelenting strength, leaving no room for leniency—yet he was supposed to go easy.

The Sword King brought forth extreme focus. Since taking up the sword, this was the first time he had ever fought with his entire soul.

Swaaaaaaahk.

The battlefield gradually expanded.

As the two crossed swords, they passed right in front of Geom Mugeuk, then past the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon shot a fierce glare at the Sword King, but he had no room to spare for that gaze.

The other four stood frozen like dolls, eyes tightly shut. Sword-light was flashing right beside them, and any careless movement meant instant death.

Amazingly, despite this immense battle, not a single person around them had been harmed.

But the surroundings were a different story.

Chwaaaaaaak!

Hundreds of sword marks had already been carved into the walls, and part of the ceiling had collapsed.

And this was without even using actual sword energy or secret arts yet. That was how intense their fight had become.

Sword clashed against sword, momentum against momentum, and the lives they had each lived were clashing as well.

One-Slash Sword Supreme instinctively felt that she was growing through this battle. It was different from her duel with Geom Mugeuk.

This fight was real. She attacked with the intent to sever her opponent’s arm, and fought with the resolve that it was fine if her own arm was cut off.

At some point, she slipped into a trance.

Gradually, the sound of their swords clashing began to fade, and the surroundings grew quiet.

Everything began to move in slow motion.

Pop!

A single drop of blood floated in the air. It was unclear whose blood it was.

In that moment, One-Slash Sword Supreme experienced time flowing slowly.

That lone drop of blood suspended midair.

She saw her reflection in the drop. Was it an illusion? Was it something she was actually seeing? Or had she already been cut?

Puaaaahk!

Her reflected face in the drop split in two.

And then, time returned to normal—and the sound followed.

Chwaaaaaak!

Swaaaaash—

In that brief instant came utter silence.

One-Slash Sword Supreme’s body had twisted to the side.

One of her shoulders was soaked in blood. Had she not dodged in time, she might have been sliced in half just like her reflection in that drop.

At that same moment—

Srrrk.

The Sword King’s bangs were sliced off and fell gently to the ground.

A faint sword line had appeared across his forehead. Fortunately, it was just a surface wound that had only grazed the skin.

One-Slash Sword Supreme and the Sword King looked at each other. In their eyes, they could not hide their awe. Would they ever encounter such a formidable opponent again in their lives?

It seemed like a moment where they would exchange a respectful fist salute and praise each other’s skill. A moment where one would say it had been the greatest of battles.

“I just can’t take this anymore.”

They thought she would say the fight couldn’t go on due to her injury. But it wasn’t that. It was because she was pissed off. It was because she couldn’t let it go.

“I’m cutting that damn ponytail off today, no matter what.”