Chapter 373 : Hot, Cold, and Lonely

Translator: FenrirTL

Editor/Quality Checker: Saphartlantis

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Chapter 373: Hot, Cold, and Lonely

The Immortal Divine Robe had upheld its name thus far by never being torn.

But could one truly claim it wouldn’t be cut by the sword of the Unorthodox Alliance Leader?

The Battle King forced himself to dismiss the doubt that momentarily crossed his mind.

“Would ‘immortal’ be called ‘immortal’ for no reason?”

Then Baek Jagang countered,

“Do you believe there’s truly anything immortal in this world? It’s only the human desire for immortality that exists.” 1

Love, dreams, hope.

Baek Jagang never believed in such things. He was a thorough realist.

“Then why does someone so cold-headed like you believe in the Young Cult Leader?” 2

Baek Jagang could tell. The Battle King was deliberately trying to sow doubt in his heart and shake his focus. And in a battle between himself and the Battle King, even the slightest break in concentration could not be allowed.

“I don’t believe in the Young Cult Leader. It’s my disciple who believes in him.”

“Your disciple is being deceived by the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.”

The Battle King’s gaze turned to Geom Mugeuk. Like the others, he appeared in black and white—but his two eyes were tinged red. A body in black and white, but red eyes—because of that, Geom Mugeuk looked like a fiend.

“Look at the eyes of that young Young Cult Leader. Do you see the ambition and yearning burning within those eyes?”

If it were anyone else’s words, he would have ignored them—but since it was about Geom Mugeuk, Baek Jagang replied to the Battle King’s question.

“Seems like you see burning heat in those eyes. But what I see is only the chill of a frozen snowy field.”

The Battle King saw heat, while the Unorthodox Alliance Leader saw cold.

Geom Mugeuk cracked a joke at them.

“Well observed. My left eye is hot, and my right eye is cold.”

As he said this, he glanced at Bih Sa-in beside him and smiled. This ease amidst the tension was possible only because of his absolute trust in the Unorthodox Alliance Leader.

To be honest, Bih Sa-in didn’t feel any heat or cold from Geom Mugeuk. What he sensed was nothing more than a mischievous gleam, as though pondering what nonsensical thing to say next.

And yet, staring into those mischievous eyes, he could perceive one emotion.

Geom Mugeuk asked Bih Sa-in,

“Don’t tell me you see something too?”

Bih Sa-in nodded and answered honestly. It was a confession he wouldn’t have made in any other circumstance.

“You look lonely.”

He hadn’t noticed it at first—but now, he did. That Geom Mugeuk was a lonely person. Maybe it was because he himself understood what loneliness felt like.

“As expected, a friend sees it best. Just how lonely must one be to come to the Unorthodox Alliance’s Young Leader and ask to be friends?” 3

“I hope your loneliness doesn’t lead to a strange ending.”

“Our ending is to laugh and joke until we die of old age.”

The Battle King cut into the conversation between the two with a cold voice.

“Whether it’s hot or cold, what I see is greed. Can you be sure your greed is smaller than mine?”

“At the very least, it’s not the kind of greed that tries to take from others like you do. Let’s just say I have personal business to attend to.”

But I won’t let that business consume my life. I live both hot and cold not just to kill Hwa Moogi.

It’s for my life.

Because I want to live with the people I care about.

Once this fight is over, I’ll forget the Battle King cleanly, go back, and meet my people. I won’t spend my time restless, worrying what might come, who might show up.

Someday, after killing Hwa Moogi, I’ll continue living the life of the Young Cult Leader, and rise to the position of the Heavenly Demon. What may happen in that process, what kind of life might await me even after becoming the Heavenly Demon, I can’t know.

But one thing is certain. A life where I pour everything into one evil person is enough to experience just once—before the Great Regression.

I’ll tell the Demon Supremes I’m stepping out for a bit during a meal, then go and kill Hwa Moogi. While hunting with my father, I’ll slip away for a moment to kill something instead of a tiger.

If someone asks where I went, I’ll just laugh and say I went to take care of something briefly. 4

May that be the life I live in this lifetime. I will work myself to death to build such a life.

No one present here understood Geom Mugeuk’s thoughts. Those feelings came across only as something hot, cold, and lonely.

“What if that personal business is what’s leading your disciple astray?”

Even to the end, the Battle King tried to provoke Baek Jagang’s temper.

At that very moment Baek Jagang briefly glanced toward Bih Sa-in—

Swae-ae-ae-ae-aek!

From the Battle King’s palm, an attack burst forth suddenly with immense force.

But Baek Jagang twisted his body to evade the surprise strike. Even though the force grazed right past his face, he didn’t blink an eye.

Baek Jagang spoke in a calm tone.

“The only thing certain in this place is the greed under your robe.”

Baek Jagang aimed his sword, flowing with sword energy, at the Battle King.

“No need to show me. I’ll rip that robe myself and see what’s underneath.”

The moment those words ended, a bluish sword energy scattered through the air and flew toward the Battle King.

Meeting it head-on, both of the Battle King’s fists surged with red energy. An overwhelming force exploded from his fists as well.

With an explosive clash of energies, two colors collided and blended. The red and blue energy spreading through the air like a spectacular tapestry felt like a masterpiece painted by a brush in the hand of an artist.

Puaaaaang!

From the first collision, dozens of streaks of blue light split and shot out. It wasn’t destruction and scattering. All at once, they changed direction and flew straight toward the Battle King.

Because it was an unexpected attack, the Battle King had no time to evade. He pushed his Protective Energy to its absolute limit.

‘With the Immortal Divine Robe, I can endure this!’

The energy that had split into dozens of strands converged before the Battle King and formed a new shape. What the blue energy created was a wolf.

In that moment, Geom Mugeuk understood. That wolf-shaped figure was the same as the one in the Alliance Leader’s Hall of the Unorthodox Alliance. The lonely wolf that protected the Unorthodox Path—Blue Wolf.

Tyrant’s Heaven-Shaking Sword Art - Fourth Form: Blue Wolf Form.

With an ear-splitting wolf's howl, the massive wolf lunged and swallowed the Battle King whole.

At the very moment the energy struck the Battle King, the martial artists of the Unorthodox Alliance let out a collective gasp. With the howl of Blue Wolf, the spreading energy made their entire bodies shudder. Every hair stood on end, and a primal urge to scream surged through them. It was the overwhelming spirit of their leader, seen for the first time in actual combat.

Peopeopeopeopeok!

Something burst out of the Blue Wolf.

Soon, through the settling dust, the Battle King could be seen.

Crossing both hands forward to barely block the energy, blood poured down from the Battle King’s mouth.

Dudududuk.

The Immortal Divine Robe was torn, and blood flowed freely from the Battle King’s body. It was a move from Baek Jagang that pierced through both the Immortal Divine Robe and the Battle King's Protective Energy. 5

The Battle King looked down in shock at the torn Immortal Divine Robe. The words spoken by the Unorthodox Alliance Leader echoed in his mind.

—Do you believe there’s truly anything immortal in this world?

With the Immortal Divine Robe in such a state, the Twin Souls guarding his wrists and shins were completely shredded.

Still, it was only because those items existed that the Battle King could even remain standing and not lose a limb.

The Battle King gritted his teeth.

He thought he was only behind by one move—but he was wrong. It was clearly two moves, and considering hidden moves yet to be shown, he might be trailing by three, even four.

‘Stronger than I imagined.’

Geom Mugeuk was thinking the same.

It was also the reason why the Unorthodox Alliance Leader dreamed of unifying the martial world.

His father, the Unorthodox Alliance Leader, and even Jin Paecheon, the most tyrannical among the past Alliance Leaders—

The great tyrants of an era had all gathered by coincidence. Perhaps the birth of Hwa Moogi was an inevitability drawn out by these three people.

Baek Jagang, seeing the blood flowing behind the Immortal Divine Robe, muttered quietly.

“Your greed is shedding tears.”

Was it regret, or was it fear? The energy extending from those small eyes asking that question made the Battle King clench his fists.

Baek Jagang began to drive the Battle King into a corner.

With every clash of energy, explosions rang out one after another.

As his Protective Armor sustained damage, the impact on the Battle King grew more severe.

But the Battle King did not retreat.

As he raised his internal energy to the extreme, a red aura began to pour from his eyes.

The Battle King charged and unleashed his fists.

Papapapapapapapak!

Chain Wind and Cloud Fist - Third Form: Lightning Chaos Dance.

Dozens of fists as fast as light filled the air.

And Baek Jagang dodged every one of them. It was so fast that those watching couldn’t even tell how or which punches he had avoided.

Only Geom Mugeuk could clearly follow the movements of both fighters.

“Ah!”

A gasp came out on its own. The Battle King’s technique was truly impressive. Had he not been an enemy, it would have been worthy of praise.

And to the Unorthodox Alliance Leader who avoided them all, Geom Mugeuk felt awe.

The Battle King’s assault didn’t end there. Following the Lightning Chaos Dance, the chain sequence continued.

Chain Wind and Cloud Fist - Fourth Form: Crimson Chain Restraint.

The final punch of the Lightning Chaos Dance stretched open. From the Battle King’s palm, red energy shaped like chains burst forth.

Chwarurururuk!

The chains instantly coiled around Baek Jagang.

‘Got him!’

No matter how skilled the Unorthodox Alliance Leader was, once caught in the Crimson Chain Restraint, he wouldn’t be able to move until the next strike landed.

Chain Wind and Cloud Fist - Fifth Form: Heaven and Earth Shattering Winds!

Shiiiiik.

A decisive blow, charged with lethal intent, flew toward Baek Jagang’s face. If the Heaven and Earth Shattering Winds struck his face, where his Protective Energy was comparatively weaker—

‘It’s over.’

At that very moment, the Battle King saw it. In Baek Jagang’s hand, bound by the chains, there was no sword.

“!”

The next instant—

Puk!

Without a sound, Baek Jagang’s sword dropped from the sky and pierced down through the Battle King’s shoulder.

Tyrant’s Heaven-Shaking Sword Art - Sixth Form: Shadowless Sword had been unleashed.

The sword pierced both bone and flesh.

“Uaaaagh!”

As the Battle King’s energy flow broke—

Papapapang!

With a series of explosive booms, the Crimson Chain Restraint that had bound Baek Jagang shattered into fragments and vanished.

Puaaaak!

The sword embedded in his shoulder pulled out on its own and flew back into Baek Jagang’s hand.

Blood burst from the Battle King’s shoulder.

Though he quickly pressed his blood points to stem the bleeding, the wound was deep. Even at full strength, he had struggled—now he could endure no longer.

The Battle King’s choice was to retreat.

He began fleeing with all his might. Despite his grave injury, he ran with terrifying speed.

Baek Jagang followed even faster.

Pueok!

Baek Jagang slammed the desperate Battle King to the ground.

Bang!

From the heavy impact, the Battle King rolled across the floor—but he immediately sprang up and began running again. Those who had been watching followed the two. In an instant, they moved dozens of meters.

Bih Sa-in subdued Hyeok Sagun's Devil's Hole and roughly hauled him by the side as they moved together.

The master fled, and he was dragged away in disgrace.

But even though his eyes should have been filled with resentment, hope had not yet vanished from them.

Once again, the energy Baek Jagang unleashed heavily struck the Battle King’s back.

Pueok!

The Battle King collapsed face down on the ground.

Having given up on fleeing, the Battle King sat where he fell, gasping for air.

“I promised not to harm even a single hair. Let’s end the fight here.”

At that very moment of crisis, when Baek Jagang was preparing the final blow—

The Battle King laughed instead.

“In that case… you’ve lost.”

Just as the Battle King formed a meaningful smile—

Over a hundred enemies appeared from all directions. This was the reason he had fled this far. For the final move he had prepared in secret at this location.

At the front was Sahon, the Battle King's close aide.

Those who appeared with him weren’t adults—they were children.

Some weren’t even ten years old, others looked around thirteen or fourteen. At most, they seemed about seventeen or eighteen.

Geom Mugeuk immediately realized.

They were the very children who had been kidnapped earlier.

There was no light in the children’s eyes. They had been brainwashed through some special method.

Strange bags hung from the children’s chests.

They soared into the air in all directions. At the same time, the bags hanging from their chests exploded, scattering white powder everywhere.

Pueok! Pueok! Pueok! Pueok!

The amount of powder that burst from a single bag was immense. But now, with over a hundred bags detonating at once, the surroundings were instantly covered in the powder.

“It’s Netherbane.”

Netherbane was a weaponized poison, strictly prohibited in the martial world for its mass-killing potential. The bags spewing this poison had been created by the deceased Poison Overlord.

The Battle King had strapped them to children. It was a plan devised to pin all the blame on the Poison King of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

When the children had first appeared, they had been used to prevent immediate elimination by a single strike. The Battle King was someone who would use not just children, but even infants, if it meant winning.

The martial artists of the Unorthodox Alliance simultaneously pulled out their Antidote Pellets and swallowed them.

“You can’t block it with Antidote Pellets.”

Earlier, Geom Mugeuk had managed to burn away the Poison Overlord’s toxin with a vortex, but this time, it was beyond control. The sheer volume spread in an instant to every direction—so much so that even Geom Mugeuk could do nothing against it.

Bih Sa-in threw himself forward to protect the Alliance Leader first.

“Please, get to safety!”

But the Unorthodox Alliance Leader had already been exposed to the poison.

“They’ll say the Poison King of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult killed you!”

Only three people had taken the antidote in advance—Battle King, Hyeok Sagun, and Sahon. Hyeok Sagun was someone the Battle King considered essential for his rise to Unorthodox Alliance Leader.

The Battle King wore a satisfied smile. He believed he could hold out by fleeing from the poisoned Unorthodox Alliance Leader’s attacks. Time was on his side.

As long as he won, it didn’t matter how. Victory by any means—this was the moment to seize the greatest triumph of his life.

But just then, the smile vanished from the Battle King’s lips.

He saw Sahon looking around in panic. The Battle King looked around too.

Nothing had happened.

The children stood motionless, and the poisoned Unorthodox Alliance martial artists had not collapsed. They should have already been dead.

Belatedly, the Thirteen Wolves and the warriors of the Extreme Forces Brigade began subduing the Devil’s Hole in the children.

The Battle King, who had never shown his emotions so clearly, reacted differently this time. He was visibly shocked and flustered.

‘Why?’

Why isn’t anyone falling?

Baek Jagang and every martial artist of the Unorthodox Alliance present were just as surprised. Everyone knew how terrifyingly deadly Netherbane was. Even Geom Mugeuk didn’t understand what had happened.

‘Could it be…?’

Geom Mugeuk’s gaze swept the surroundings before fixing on the sky. As his eyes focused, everyone else naturally followed his gaze.

A single person stood atop the branch of a giant tree, arms crossed, looking down at them. He was a young, handsome boy. Around his waist hung twelve pouches, each bearing the image of a zodiac animal.

“Poison King!” 6

At Geom Mugeuk’s startled shout, a faint smile appeared on the boy’s lips.

It really was the Poison King. The rumors that the Demon Doctor and the Poison King would come had been dismissed as lies—yet somehow, the real Poison King had appeared here.

As the wind fluttered his robe, the Poison King began to descend slowly from the sky, as if a celestial being had come down from the heavens.

1 : Especially with the inevitable freezing of the universe following the laws of Thermodynamics.

2 : Because he believes in results ? Mugeuk has been here for, what, 2 weeks ? And your entire operation has crashed down. If that’s not proof of his talent….

3 : The thing is, even this joke holds too much truth to be funny. The solitude of being the only one to remember his forgotten world….

4 : That’s probably the healthiest attitude to have. Being partial to epic fights, this approach is slightly disappointing, but silently erasing all traces of your enemies from the shadow have quite a charm too ^^

5 : Oh no, the loot…. Oh well, at least it’s a massive slap on the Battle King pride, so it was worth it ^^

6 : Feeew, I was much too tense to react earlier.