The owner of the Valley of Wicked, Gibangin, was seething with uncontrollable rage.
“Are you asking me to believe that?”
“What’s there to believe or not believe? It’s simply what happened.”
“The deaths of the two top masters of the Valley of Wicked don’t just happen like that.”
Gibangin, a short man with a gloomy gaze, naturally exuded an aura that dampened others’ spirits. With his mood soured, the atmosphere around him became so stifling that it was hard to breathe.
“Can you defeat the Odd Demon? Are you confident you can overcome Cheol Soeja? I’m not. And neither are you, right? So how do you expect me to believe that both of them were killed by the Evil Smiling Demon? And at the same time! Together!”
“It wasn’t because of the Evil Smiling Demon. It was because of the Young Master of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.”
“Do you even hear yourself!”
It was only natural that their voices rose. The owner of the Valley of Wicked didn’t know about the true strength of Geom Mugeuk. Only those who dealt with the most secretive information in the martial world knew that Geom Mugeuk’s martial prowess was far more formidable than expected, but his skill was not yet widely known.
“Was it just them? Didn’t we also send the Enchantress of Extreme Bliss, the Three Blood-Red Armies, the Blood Wolf Blade, and the Lord of Hell? And yet, he managed to annihilate them all and return alive!”“I barely made it back alive myself! I almost died too!”
“You know what? Your story is so ridiculous that it almost sounds true. You couldn’t possibly be stupid or inventive enough to come up with such an absurd excuse.”
The Lord of the Valley of Wicked found the situation unbelievable. This incident cost him his two strongest subordinates. He had sent them out, thinking no one would die.
“What were you doing when they died? What was the great Master Yang doing?”
“When I was about to step in, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon appeared. His profound internal energy was too much for me to handle.”
Yang Cheogi had concealed the fact that he had only stepped in after the Odd Demon and Cheol Soeja were already dead. The valley master would investigate and suspect him, but he would have no choice but to believe Yang’s words. After all, the only ones present that day were Geom Mugeuk, the Evil Smiling Demon, and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
“I also have ties with the Heavenly Society. Why would I mess things up? You have to trust me.”
The owner of the Valley of Wicked regretted his decisions. Had he known things would turn out this way, he would never have allied with the Heavenly Society’s leader. He now realized that the sweet promise offered by the leader might have been poison. Greed always sows the seeds of disaster.
The past was the past. The current problem, however, was this: with their deaths, his position as the master of the valley was now in jeopardy.
Among the organizations in the martial world, the one where the leader changed the most frequently was this Valley of Wicked. It was filled with those who would immediately bare their fangs if they sensed any weakness in their leader.
‘If you were scheming to take my place, you won’t die a peaceful death.’
Normally, even if he harbored such thoughts, Gibangin wouldn’t show it. He was always the type to smile at the enemies he intended to kill.
But today, he couldn’t contain his anger.
“I don’t want to see your face any longer, so leave now. We’ll talk again later.”
“Let’s do that.”
As Yang Cheogi turned to leave, the Lord of the Valley of Wicked spoke up.
“Do you know what my nickname was before I took over this place?”
“What was it?”
“It was Baekak. I was called that because they said I possessed all the evil in the world.”
“Is that so?”
Yang Cheogi’s indifferent response only fueled the valley master’s anger. Whether he realized this or not, Yang Cheogi threw out another concern.
“They’ll likely guess that I’m here.”
“And what are you trying to say? Are you suggesting they might invade this valley?”
“It’s not impossible.”
With these words, Yang Cheogi subtly blocked any thoughts the valley master might have had of killing him.
“You’ve cut off our two arms, so we’ll have to fight with just our legs. If what you say is true, then we’re all dead.”
Of course, he didn’t mean it literally. If the Valley of Wicked would collapse just because they were gone, it would have vanished long ago. This place was crowded with countless villains driven to desperation.
No one in the martial world would want to get involved in this filthy water, as had been the case up until now. 1
Once Yang Cheogi left, the owner of the Valley of Wicked summoned his subordinates and gave an order.
“Thoroughly investigate this incident, and from this moment on, kill anyone who enters the valley. Spread the word! Fifty thousand nyang for each intruder’s head.”
* * *
I sent a message to the cult requesting the Great Drunken Demon and the One-Slash Sword Supreme, and we immediately headed towards the Valley of Wicked.
Since using lightness skill was faster than riding horses, we sprinted using lightness skill.
Traveling alongside Gu Cheonpa and Soma? It was something I couldn’t have imagined, not just before the regression, but even after it.
While I had traveled with the Evil Smiling Demon before, this was my first time traveling with the Blade Demon. On this journey, I learned something new about him.
Contrary to my expectations that he would prefer staying locked in a room reading books, old man Blade had surprisingly been to every corner of the Central Plains. Whenever we came across a place he recognized, he would stop running to tell us about it.
“If you cross that mountain, you’ll come to a place called Jo-yapyung, where I fought a Biryugak challenger for five hundred rounds. That was when I was still in my prime.”
He would share stories like this about his battles.
“In that village over there, there’s a sect composed entirely of women. The leader and her top disciple were both fond of me.”
He would even tell ridiculous stories like this with a straight face. At this, the Evil Smiling Demon and I simultaneously sent each other a telepathic message: “He’s lying.”
“Beyond that area lies the territory under the influence of the Unorthodox Alliance. If you travel eight hundred li from there, you’ll reach the domain of the Martial Alliance.”
He was also well-informed about the terrain and the current power dynamics in the martial world.
There were many moments when I wanted to chime in with what I knew, but I had to resist the urge.
“But, was your internal energy always this profound?”
Gu Cheonpa looked puzzled as he saw that I could keep up with them without falling behind.
“I consumed a miraculous pill given to me as a gift by a very noble person.”
That miraculous pill was the Celestial Elixir that he had given me long ago.
“That alone wouldn’t allow you to wield this much internal energy.”
“During my fight with the Enchantress of Extreme Bliss, I absorbed her internal energy.”
Of course, there were other fortuitous encounters, but I didn’t bother mentioning them all.
“Ah, the heavens are truly favoring you.”
“So, you two should also lend me a hand.”
Then, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Evil Smiling Demon suddenly dashed ahead.
With the sole intention of teasing me, they were matching each other’s pace even though they supposedly disliked each other. Perhaps they didn’t dislike each other as much as they claimed.
Chasing after them, I shouted,
“Where are you two running off to when you’re both slower than I am!”
* * *
We ran and ran until we finally arrived at the entrance of the Valley of Wicked.
In the distance, I could see So Yeonrang and Song Sa-hyuk who had arrived earlier and were waiting for us. Seeing them outside was different from watching them swim drunkenly or tending to flowers in her garden.
The Drunken Demon, standing with his arms crossed and gazing up at the sky, somehow looked both lonely and cool, while the Sword Supreme, standing in her pristine white attire with her sword at her side, appeared elegant and graceful. Both of them felt extraordinary.
“Brother!”
Even in the presence of the Demon Supremes, when I called out to him as ‘brother,’ the Drunken Demon’s face lit up brightly.
“My dear brother!”
I focused on my relationship with the Drunken Demon, ignoring other connections.
“Brother, thank you for coming.”
It would be disrespectful to both the Drunken Demon and the other Demon Supremes to worry unnecessarily about their opinions because of my other relationships.
I am someone who shares a brotherly bond with the Drunken Demon. By clearly establishing who I am, I believe I can also forge proper relationships with others.
“I usually don’t let anything disturb my seclusion, but Lyu Bin passed the message to me. She said my brother needed my help. How did you manage to get Lyu Bin on your side?”
All I did was take care of your health, Brother. So, Lyu Bin is truly on your side.
Since I couldn’t exactly say that, I replied with a smile.
“I’ll treat you to a drink once this is over.”
I then respectfully greeted the One-Slash Sword Supreme.
“Seeing you outside, your beauty shines even more brightly.”
“As always, your compliments make me feel the best. I heard you fought with those from the Valley of Wicked. Are you hurt anywhere?”
“No. Senior Blade Demon arrived at the crucial moment.”
The One-Slash Sword Supreme glanced at Gu Cheonpa and said,
“He might have been waiting for it—the crucial moment.”
At her words, old man Blade responded with an incredulous expression.
“Yes, I was hiding and waiting. Wondering when that crucial moment would come. I should appear when the crisis deepens a bit more.”
“I’m just glad you arrived in time. Well done.”
For some reason, So Yeonrang ended the conversation with praise. Gu Cheonpa gave me a look as if to say, ‘What’s gotten into her?’ but how could I know her thoughts?
Maybe the Drunken Demon said something good about the Blood Heaven Blade Demon on their way here? If so, today might mark the beginning of their reconciliation.
So Yeonrang asked me again.
“So? The mastermind has hidden in this place?”
“Yes. I confirmed it once more through the Heavenly Communication Pavilion, and it was verified that he entered the Valley of Wicked.”
“This place is quite troublesome.”
“Fortunately, Soma-nim is well-acquainted with the Valley of Wicked.”
“Is that so?”
The One-Slash Sword Supreme’s gaze shifted toward the Evil Smiling Demon. The blood-stained mask he wore spoke volumes about the urgency of the earlier situation.
Soma bowed his head slightly, and So Yeonrang also exchanged greetings with him. While she interacted with the Drunken Demon like a friend, her relationship with Evil Smiling Demon was one of mutual respect.
Though they seemed to treat each other like strangers, in reality, it was through the One-Slash Sword Supreme that I became connected with the Evil Smiling Demon. She had mentioned that when Cheong Seon was established as the new Soul Reaper Demon Supreme, It was Soma who cast the decisive vote in favor. That’s why I sought him out.
“Our target is Yang Cheogi. The villains here have committed crimes deserving of death, but there’s no need to engage in unnecessary slaughter. Just eliminate those who stand in our way.”
Everyone nodded in agreement, indicating their understanding.
“One more thing I want to mention is about Yang Cheogi. Although our goal is to capture him alive, he’s highly skilled in martial arts. If capturing him alive proves too difficult, it’s permissible to kill him. The priority is not to take unnecessary risks for the sake of capturing him. Your safety is the most important thing.”
At this, the Drunken Demon spoke to One-Slash Sword Supreme.
“I wonder which one of us our dear brother is so concerned about?”
“It must be his drunken brother, right?”
“Oh, is it me?”
Even though these were Demon Supremes, the thought of attacking the Valley of Wicked could be burdensome and unappealing. Yet, they showed no signs of hesitation. They even joked about it. I believe this is because of their care for me. It’s a gratitude I must not forget.
“Thank you all for coming here for me. It’s truly an honor to carry out this mission alongside the four Demon Supremes. I will never forget today. If there’s an artist, we should have today’s events drawn… Ah, where are you going? Please stay and listen to the end! I’m coming with you!” 2
I followed the Demon Supremes as they proceeded into the Valley of Wicked.
After walking a short distance inside, I noticed a warning written in red letters.
―The good shall perish.
Song Sa-hyuk looked around at us and remarked,
“Luckily, there’s no one among us who’s going to die.”
At his words, everyone burst into laughter.
“I might be in danger.”
When I expressed my frustration, the Evil Smiling Demon spoke up.
“If we’re going by that warning, then the safest person here is Young Master.” 3
The looks directed at me seemed to agree with his statement. Only the Drunken Demon stood by my side.
“I believe in our brother’s innocence. Our dear, virtuous brother.”
“Which makes him seem even more like a villain, doesn’t it?”
Gu Cheonpa, who had been listening, couldn’t help but throw in a comment.
“I’m sick of hearing ‘brother, brother’ all the time.”
Worried that this might spark some tension between him and the Drunken Demon, I quickly intervened.
“I know, right? It’s tough for those of us without a sibling bond.”
Song Sa-hyuk chuckled and took a sip of his drink. I had been observing him since we first met, and it was clear that he was drinking much less than he used to just a few days ago.
I sent him a private message through our telepathic link.
―You’ve cut down on drinking a lot. That’s impressive, Brother.
―Thanks for noticing.
I couldn’t possibly have such a conversation in front of the other Demon Supremes.
How long did we walk after that?
Eventually, we encountered a man carrying a basket of herbs. As he saw us, he gave a slight bow and was about to pass by when—
*Swoosh! Thud!*
The Evil Smiling Demon’s Blood Disaster Finger pierced through the man’s forehead, causing him to collapse immediately.
“He was a scout guarding the entrance. His role is to alert others via a shortcut if anyone enters. Aside from him, there are also…”
*Swish! Shhhh!*
Before he could even finish mentioning that there were more hiding in the trees and behind the rocks, the One-Slash Sword Supreme unleashed a sword energy wave, and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon sent out his own blade aura.
The man hiding in the tree fell dead, and the rock split in half, killing the man behind it as well. Moving with the Demon Supremes, there was no need for words. They understood each other perfectly.
“It’s been a long time since I last returned here, and nothing has changed. Back then, the three of them guarded this place as well.”
Soma casually remarked, and I responded with a smile.
“Our cult is the same, isn’t it? It seems like not much has changed in the past few decades.”
The Drunken Demon took another sip of his drink and said,
“That’s probably why our brother here is aiming to establish a new Demonic Path, right?”
Instead of responding, I smiled and looked at the Demon Supremes. Although I was growing closer to them, I still wasn’t sure how much they truly understood the Demonic Path I sought to pursue.
As we moved further in, a few old houses came into view. In front of them were rice paddies and fields. There were also fruit trees, and they even raised cows and pigs. It was a scene no different from any other village.
However, next to the fields were terrifying traps, and the flowerbeds filled with colorful blooms were teeming with poisonous insects.
A venomous bee suddenly flew toward us, but it was impossible for a mere bee to sting a Demon Supreme. With just a wave of a hand, it was swept away along with several others.
If not for Soma, who was intimately familiar with this place, the journey here would have been much more treacherous. There were paths where none seemed to exist, and what appeared to be safe paths were filled with traps.
The Evil Smiling Demon led us through shortcuts, avoiding the traps.
Finally, we saw a village in the distance. It was the first village we encountered since entering the Valley of Wicked.
“From here to the tree at the village entrance, there are several dangerous traps scattered around. Let’s just bypass them.”
At that, the four Demon Supremes and I leaped into the air simultaneously.
We crossed a distance that no ordinary master could hope to cover in one leap. It was graceful, dazzling, and an unparalleled display of supreme martial arts.
*Tak! Tak! Tak! Tak! Tak!*
We landed in perfect alignment, side by side. 4
The moment our feet touched the ground, sword energy, blade aura, wind forces, and palm strength surged in all directions. The hidden enemies around us all fell without having a chance to launch a single attack. Even without prearranging our targets, there were no overlapping strikes. Such was the prowess of the Demon Supremes of our cult.
“Let’s go in.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon stood to my left, and the One-Slash Sword Supreme to my right. On their respective outer flanks were the Evil Smiling Demon and the Drunken Demon.
With the most powerful wings in the world at my sides, I stepped forward into the village of Wicked.
1 : Let me introduce you to a certain madman…. ^^
2 : Does he have a ‘run away’ add-on attached to his speeches or what ? XDXDXD
3 : Lol, he’s almost at anti-hero level indeed XDXDXD
4 : I don’t know why, but I suddenly have the ‘Go go Power Rangers !!!’ music in mind. Then again, I just woke, my brain is even weirder than normal XDXDXD
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