The village appeared ordinary. No, it seemed ordinary.
There were passersby and vendors, and even children running around.
From this scene alone, no one would think this place was the “Valley of Wicked.”
However, while it looked like a normal village at a glance, the gazes, the awareness, and the atmosphere of those coming and going were anything but ordinary.
We could sense the subtle exchanges of glances, but we pretended not to notice as we walked along the path.
“Not everyone here follows the Valley Lord. In fact, many are constantly eyeing his position. You can think of it as being similar to Forest of Bandits.”
That’s why we didn’t rush in using light footwork.
We made sure our approach wouldn’t be perceived as an intrusion or attack. If it was deemed an attack, every villain in the Valley of Wicked would come out. Whether they liked it or not, they would come out to protect their sanctuary.
But we were merely walking as unfamiliar visitors. This distinction was significant, a strategic choice possible because of the Evil Smiling Demon, who knew the ways of the Valley of Wicked better than anyone.
As we continued walking along the path, we saw a group of about ten men and women sitting in a clearing, drinking. They were laughing and chatting loudly, seemingly in high spirits.The moment we passed by them.
They suddenly sprang up, attempting to throw concealed weapons. However, before the weapons could even leave their hands—
*Shhhhhh.*
*Boom! Boom! Boom!*
The blade energy of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon swept through them a step ahead. We had already anticipated their ambush.
It was fine for them to laugh, chat, and play, but not a single one of them glanced our way even after we passed. It would have been natural if two or three of them had done so, but for all ten to ignore us was too unnatural.
“Most of the villains in the Valley of Wicked would sell their souls for money. The Valley Lord probably put a bounty on our heads in anticipation of our arrival,” explained Soma.
I laughed and replied, “He’d better put at least a million nyang on us.”
Then the Drunken Demon quipped, “Obviously, per person, right?”
As we continued joking and walking, ambushers once again emerged from the woods on both sides.
This time, the Sword Supreme lightly leaped into the air, spinning once midair, and unleashed her sword energy. Her sword whirled with her, scattering sword energy in all directions.
The assailants who charged at us were cut down by the sword energy, all of them falling dead, not a single one missing its mark, the vegetation unscathed.
The Sword Supreme gracefully descended back to the ground, continuing to walk with an elegant step.
We kept walking, continuing our conversation as if nothing had happened. 1
“How could the Valley Lord possibly put a million nyang bounty on each person? He’s not the wealthiest man in the world.”
“That’s why only these kinds of people are coming after us,” Drunken Demon remarked.
Just as he spoke, concealed weapons flew out from the bushes ahead.
We all casually twisted our bodies, dodging the weapons. The projectiles shot through the space between the five of us. They had flown in fiercely as if they couldn’t be avoided, but everyone evaded them with ease.
This time, it was Song Sa-hyuk who moved. His figure flashed and vanished into the bushes. He returned to his original spot even faster than when he left. Not a single cry of pain was heard, though it was clear he had dealt with the ambushers.
After reappearing, he took a sip of his drink and said, “I gave each of them a drink, and now they’re all sleeping.”
I had never seen the Drunken Demon fight properly before, but even this brief display was enough to show that he was not someone whose martial arts could be underestimated.
We resumed our peaceful journey and soon arrived at a ferry crossing.
“From here, we need to take a boat across the river.”
We boarded a boat we found at the dock and crossed the river.
“Since I’m the youngest, I’ll row,” I offered.
As I began to row, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon commented, “When did you learn to handle a boat? You seem quite skilled.”
“What is there that I can’t do?”
The other three Demon Supremes stared at me intently.
“Why are you all staring at me like that? You’re making me… row even better! I do enjoy the attention, after all.” 2
I made a joke, but they continued to look at me with curious expressions. Perhaps they were surprised that there was indeed nothing I couldn’t do.
The boat sliced swiftly through the water.
After a moment of gazing at the river, the Drunken Demon suddenly spoke to Gu Cheonpa.
“Seeing you in action against the enemies earlier, Senior, you still seem as vigorous as ever.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked visibly flustered at the unexpected praise from Song Sa-hyuk.
“Well, I don’t drink much.”
At this, the One-Slash Sword Supreme interjected, “In situations like this, you should just say thank you. Why is it that your temper never softens, no matter how old you get?”
Though she was chiming in, her tone was gentle. Usually, she would have been more sharp-tongued, and this time the Blood Heaven Blade Demon backed down.
“Thank you.”
He straightforwardly expressed his gratitude to the Drunken Demon.
“Oh, don’t mention it. I was just speaking from the heart”, Song Sa-hyuk replied.
So Yeonrang gave Gu Cheonpa a look, as if wondering what had gotten into him.
I could sense that the Drunken Demon was making an effort. That effort was bringing about change. 3
Our eyes met. *Thank you, brother. You’re doing well.*
The attacks continued.
When the boat reached the middle of the river, assailants sprang out of the water, throwing concealed weapons.
This time, I soared into the air, still holding the oar, and struck them down.
I struck one down, used him as a stepping stone to strike another, and then again, stepping on him to strike yet another. It might have seemed simple, but it was a technique that combined supreme-level footwork and lightness skills.
Each of the attackers who had jumped up was hit by the oar, their heads exploding as they fell back into the water. Dressed in fish-scale armor, they were the Yellow River Water Ghosts, who had once terrorized the Yellow River region. Driven out, they had eventually taken refuge in the Valley of Wicked. 4
Just as I landed back on the boat—
*Boom!*
With a loud explosion, the ferry we were on was shattered.
All of us, the Demon Supremes and I, leapt into the air. The Water Ghosts surfaced from the water, launching poisoned needles from bamboo tubes in their mouths.
*Pew, pew, pew, pew, pew!*
But not a single one of us was hit. We twisted our bodies in midair, dodging all the attacks. This time, the Evil Smiling Demon took action.
*Ping! Ping! Ping! Ping!*
The Blood Disaster Fingers were released in rapid succession. It was the first time I realized that Soma could unleash his finger technique in such quick succession. 5
The Water Ghosts who had shot the poisoned needles floated to the surface like dead fish, their bodies lifeless.
The Demon Supremes and I landed on the broken pieces of the boat. Even though the pieces were smaller than a person’s forearm, they didn’t sink.
*Shhhhhhh.*
The wooden fragments carrying the Demon Supremes sliced through the water, moving forward.
In the distance, the Water Ghosts who had emerged from the water watched us, but they didn’t dare attack. The mere sight of us using our internal energy to ride across the river on broken wood was enough to crush their fighting spirit.
In no time, we reached the opposite shore.
About a hundred jang ahead, a group blocked our path.
The auraof the five warriors standing in our way was extraordinary.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon recognized them.
“Chongqing’s Five Evils!”
They were notorious villains who had once terrorized the Chongqing region.
“After all these years, there are few who would recognize us. Old man, who are you?”
“You’ve forgotten me.”
“Do you know me?”
Gu Cheonpa responded with nothing more than a faint smile.
“If you’re blocking our way, it seems that age has dulled not just your memory but your judgment as well.”
The expression of the leader, Il Sa, hardened.
He had stepped forward to kill, but an inexplicable unease gnawed at him. This old man seemed familiar, yet he couldn’t place him.
“Kill them!”
Il Sa’s command was meant for his subordinates, but it ultimately became an order for the Demon Supremes.
Before his words had even finished, we each engaged our opponents.
The Evil Smiling Demon relentlessly unleashed his Blood Disaster Finger. Sa Sa’s forehead was pierced, and he collapsed, unable to dodge the close-range attack. So Yeonrang’s sword beheaded Yi Sa, while my Azure Sky Form split Oh Sa’s chest in the blink of an eye. The Drunken Demon’s Bloody Tear crushed Sam Sa’s head, leaving him lifeless on the ground.
Only Il Sa remained. The moment his comrades died, recognition dawned on him.
“Ah! You… why are you here?”
His voice trembled uncontrollably. There was a time when the Blood Heaven Blade Demon shook the martial world. Back then, Il Sa couldn’t even meet his eyes properly, and now, after all these years, they met again in this place.
Il Sa desperately tried to flee, but his body was cleaved in half by the Heaven-Extinguishing Saber.
As I fought alongside the others, I noticed something. While it seemed like they were fighting casually, the Demon Supremes were highly conscious of each other. Every move was carefully considered, and they subtly observed the techniques their counterparts used, pretending not to notice. In some sense, their real focus wasn’t on the villains of the Valley of Wicked, but on each other. And they were particularly attentive to my movements and martial arts.
Nevertheless, I didn’t go out of my way to hide my abilities. I didn’t show everything, but I also didn’t deliberately hold back. After all, I was the one who would become their leader. They needed to trust and follow me.
This time, those who wielded poisonous smoke launched an attack.
Several hidden figures revealed themselves, releasing toxic fumes toward us.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the One-Slash Sword Supreme stepped forward simultaneously, sweeping their sleeves to redirect the poisonous smoke back at the attackers.
The poisoners writhed in agony, blood pouring from every orifice as they fell to the ground.
For the first time since entering this place, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the One-Slash Sword Supreme had joined forces to face the enemy. They exchanged quick glances, and the look between them grew increasingly softer. 6
“Once we cross that field, we’ll reach the Valley Lord’s residence.”
A hundred meters from the Valley Lord’s residence, a group of villains with spears suddenly surged out from one side.
At the forefront stood a massive man holding a spear as large as a pillar.
He was Giant Force Ghost Spear, a notorious figure in the martial world, infamous for his spear skills. A master from the unorthodox sects, he had perfected his spear techniques but was branded a public enemy by the martial alliance for attacking the Martial Alliance’s headquarters. He had disappeared afterward, only to reappear here in the Valley of Wicked. 7
On the opposite side, dozens of villains emerged as well. Dressed in black martial uniforms with their faces masked, only their eyes visible, they were assassins. Leading them was Hidden Moon, once a top-tier assassin who had once made a name for himself in the past and now commanded an assassin organization in this place.
Another group appeared from a different direction, consisting of men clad only in loincloths. Their eyes were vacant, indicating they were drugged.
But anyone who underestimated them based on their appearance would meet a grisly end, torn apart by these men. Their martial skills were far stronger than they appeared, and they felt no pain even when stabbed by blades. When these crazed men charged with all their might, few could withstand their onslaught.
In addition to these, a group of women appeared, followed by hunters in hunting attire, and even a band of beggars.
Those who appeared weren’t under the direct command of the Villain Lord but were individuals who had formed their own factions and lived independently. They were constantly vying for control of the Valley of Wicked, fighting among themselves to seize power.
The death of the Villain Lord’s subordinates had made these factions feel threatened, driving them to act.
The murderous intent and aura directed at us were overwhelming, but the Demon Supremes remained utterly unshaken.
Soman, still wearing his bloodstained mask, arrogantly crossed his arms and stared them down. His confidence alone was enough to intimidate his opponents.
The other Demon Supremes were no different. Their mere presence, standing proudly, deterred the hundreds of villains from charging.
Gu Cheonpa stepped forward, his voice booming.
“If you’re going to attack, come all at once!”
*Rumble!*
He raised his Heaven-Extinguishing Saber, and a powerful blade energy formed.
His energy was blood-red. It was my first time witnessing his fully unleashed saber energy, and the crimson hue made it incredibly intense and striking.
Starting with him, the Demon Supremes each unleashed their aura. So Yeonrang’s White Flower Sword radiated with sword energy as well. Her sword energy was pure white—a color that suited her perfectly.
As the combined force of the five of us extended outward, the villains were pushed back, as if by an invisible pressure, retreating even further.
Had I come alone or with just the Evil Smiling Demon, we would have had to fight all of them.
But with four Demon Supremes by my side, none dared to challenge us.
Hundreds of them gathered, but they only watched from a distance, unable to muster the courage to attack. When we were together, nothing could stand in our way.
In the end, they didn’t attack. Though our aura was formidable, they also knew we were only heading toward the Villain Lord’s residence and chose not to engage. Their ambitions now aimed for something greater.
We resumed our march. At the end of the path stood the mansion where the Villain Lord resided.
The signboard at the main gate read “Dongak Sangjo”, meaning “The wicked assist each other to achieve evil.”
“They must have been informed of our arrival, so they’ll be waiting, having made their preparations,” I said.
In response, the Evil Smiling Demon shattered the signboard with his Frantic Demonic Palm. The entire area where the signboard had been attached was blown away, leaving no trace.
Simultaneously, the other Demon Supremes released their energy. The main gate and the front walls crumbled into dust.
“If I had come alone, it might have been different, but with four of us here…”
Soma, leading the way, added with a smirk, “If their preparations were enough to stop us, we might as well step down from our positions as Demon Supremes, don’t you think?”
1 : In a way, it’s terrifying how easily they kill. Such is the nature of Murim, and it’s quite sad.
2 : He’s only half-joking ^^
3 : Well he clearly regretted his actions, so now his efforts are equivalent to the weight of his regrets.
4 : I was about to say BONK, but damn, this is LETHAL BONK. Not so funny anymore.
5 : Gatling Soma
6 : Good, it seems it won’t be long before they return to being lovey dovey. Quite a shame it took them so long, but much better than the last time.
7 : Ghost Spear reminds me of Possessing Nothing. As spear wielders, there’s also Chronicles of the Heavenly Demon, Murim Login, Everyone Else Is a Regressor, I Killed an Academy Player, My Daughter Is the Final Boss and Warrior Grandpa and Supreme Granddaughter, to only name a few ^^
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