Chapter 190
Who are these guys?
The Squad Leader guarding the gates of the Evil Love Palace made a puzzled face.
The guests he had been informed of by his superiors had already passed through the gates.
This meant there were no more guests to arrive.
Yet, the people who had just appeared simply stood before the gates with overly confident attitudes.
“Who are you, and where are you from?”
Normally, he would have glared and asked the question fiercely, but given the importance of the day, he showed the utmost courtesy just in case.
However,
“Wow. To think there’s something like this halfway up such a deep mountain.”
“Tell me about it. It really is grand.”
“My goodness. It must have taken quite a long time just to build this, right? Wow. How did they do it?”
“What can’t you do when you have a lot of money?”
“I suppose that’s true.”
Why, these little…
The Squad Leader’s face crumpled.
He was displeased by how they casually ignored his question and chatted among themselves.
“Did you come with an invitation?”
“An invitation? No, not really.”
Ha.
They aren’t invited guests?
From the moment he heard those words, the Squad Leader, who had been trying his best to be polite, openly became fierce.
They dare come to the Evil Love Palace without fear, despite not even being invited? Do they know what kind of place this is?
But he held himself back one more time.
“Today is an important day for our palace, so consider yourselves lucky and turn back while I’m asking nicely. This is my first and last warning.”
Any place would be reluctant to see blood on an important day.
At the Squad Leader’s words, one of Yeo Un-hwi’s eyebrows slightly rose.
An important day, huh.
He didn’t know what kind of day they were talking about, but it seemed he had picked a good day to come.
Yeo Un-hwi paid no mind to the fiercely growling Squad Leader. He casually looked around the buildings of the Evil Love Palace and soon nodded.
“They really live in luxury.”
It wasn’t just once or twice that he had seen rotten bastards living lavishly who didn’t deserve such a life, but he couldn’t help the anger that surged up every time.
Of course, he had no intention of just standing by and watching it.
Now then. Shall we begin?
Soon, a cold smile spread across Yeo Un-hwi’s lips.
At the same time.
The Palace Lord’s Hall is located in the deepest part of the Evil Love Palace.
“Welcome to the Evil Love Palace.”
Palace Lord Sa, Gong Cheol-san, was welcoming the guests.
But for some reason, many of the people visiting this place right now were inwardly laughing hollowly.
They were all Demonic Leaders who made a name for themselves in the Murim. Naturally, their respective residences were fitting for their reputations.
But even so, they were nothing compared to the Evil Love Palace.
Its scale was extraordinary right from the entrance, but the Palace Lord’s Hall was an incredibly large and splendid place with carvings of a giant phoenix, Jujak, Blue Dragon, and White Tiger everywhere.
It felt like a place where an emperor would reside.
Far from looking fitting for the Palace Lord of the Evil Love Palace, it looked excessively extravagant.
So they couldn’t help but laugh hollowly.
That alone was enough to tell what kind of person the Palace Lord of the Evil Love Palace was.
He was a man overly mad with vanity and greed.
But what did that matter?
“You have all worked hard coming this long way.”
“Well, it was something we had to gather for at least once anyway, so it’s fine. Besides, we took our time and enjoyed ourselves on the way here, so it didn’t feel like that long of a journey.”
At Gong Cheol-san’s words, a handsome man stepped forward.
He was called the Lustful Dream Young Master, a Murderous Ghost who toyed with and killed countless people.
“That’s right. We had a very enjoyable trip, you know?”
Following the Lustful Dream Young Master, the Rakshasa Demonic Woman also showed a wicked smile.
For some reason, the scent of blood wafted from their words about having an enjoyable trip.
“I actually feel like it’s a bit late for us to be gathering like this.”
“We originally intended to gather earlier to talk, but what could we do when all our plans went awry after what happened to the Phantom Divine Monarch? Gathering haphazardly would have only added to the confusion.”
A beautifully dressed middle-aged woman and a middle-aged man dressed like a scholar continued the conversation.
However, they too were people whose bodies always carried the Blood Scent.
“Anyway, to think the Phantom Divine Monarch would die like that.”
“Tell me about it. No matter how unpredictable the affairs of the Murim are, it was truly a shock.”
“Did they say it was Mu Myeong who killed him? I heard the Phantom Divine Monarch was ambushed.”
“That’s different from what I know. From what I heard, the Phantom Divine Monarch was overwhelmingly pushed back to the point where the Monarch couldn’t even be compared. They even said it was a very young man.”
“Huh. Does that make any sense? What in the world is his identity? Could he be some kind of secret weapon raised by the Murim Alliance or the Nine Great Sects?”
A shabbily dressed man made a fuss.
He was a lunatic who couldn’t swallow his food unless he killed at least five people a day.
“They call him a Mysterious Master precisely because his identity is completely unknown.”
“That’s not all. You’ve all heard the rumors that the Heavenly Demon has appeared, right? They say he killed the Cult Leader of the Demonic Heavenly Cult and all the Ten Great Demon Stars as soon as he showed up. Word has it that it was simply because he didn’t like them.”
“Huh… The Heavenly Demon.”
“You have no idea how surprised I was when I heard that news.”
Who wouldn’t be afraid of the name Heavenly Demon?
Funnily enough, the Villains were the ones who feared the existence of the Heavenly Demon even more.
Someone had once said.
The Heavenly Demon was like a Calamity that swept away everything, regardless of good or evil.
“Somehow, the Murim is moving in an increasingly unpredictable direction.”
Outwardly, they seemed not to care about anything, but the changes happening in the Murim right now were so significant that even they couldn’t ignore them.
It was unusual.
To the point where even they felt a great sense of crisis.
In fact, there had been quite a bit of clashing opinions and then coordinated efforts before they could gather like this.
But with the Phantom Divine Monarch dead and the Heavenly Demon appearing, they realized they could no longer just assert their own stubbornness.
As those on the Demonic Path, they could have relied on the Black Emperor, but unfortunately, they were people who had fallen out of the Black Emperor’s favor.
Thus, they had finally each made concessions and gathered to form an Alliance among themselves.
But even so, someone who still feared the Black Emperor opened their mouth with an anxious face.
“If we proceed like this, will the Black Emperor really just leave us alone?”
“Hmph! What is there to fear? We’re already marked targets anyway. Besides, didn’t we all gather here knowing that this is our only option right now?”
Everyone’s faces stiffened at the name of the Black Emperor.
That name was like a curse to them.
The one who terrified them even before the Heavenly Demon.
It was true that they were always anxious about when his blade would turn toward them.
Perhaps the reason the Black Emperor still kept them alive was that if he killed them all like that, there would definitely be more dead than living on the Demonic Path right now.
That was the reality.
The Demonic Path that the Black Emperor dreamed of was such a distant and difficult road.
“He won’t do anything to us right away. It’s not like we’re plotting something as the Demonic Alliance, after all.”
“He’s not the kind of old man to be petty about every little thing in the first place. Rather, he’s the type to say, “Go ahead and try whatever you want.” I hate that about him even more, though.”
Everyone nodded at the words of the Rakshasa Demonic Woman and the Black-faced Asura.
They all knew the Black Emperor’s personality well enough to understand.
“What’s the point of talking about that now? We’ve already decided on our path. Isn’t that right? Everything will turn out fine. Hahaha!”
As if to lighten the mood that had suddenly turned serious, Palace Lord Gong Cheol-san of Four Linked Palace laughed heartily.
For some reason, unlike the others, he seemed to be in a good mood.
In fact, with the Phantom Divine Monarch - who had been slated to be the head of the Alliance - dead, the discussion of who would take his place as the leader had already concluded.
That person was Palace Lord Gong Cheol-san of Four Linked Palace.
There was a reason why the Evil Love Palace was chosen as the location for today’s gathering.
Thus, knowing that a lot of money would be needed in the future, the Palace Lord of the Evil Love Palace had already begun various behind-the-scenes operations.
That was also the reason why the Vice Palace Lord temporarily left his seat with his subordinates for some businesses that would serve as funding sources.
The Vice Palace Lord also had a very sharp mind for such things, making him perfect to trust with the job.
Now, my world will come.
Gong Cheol-san had a face full of excitement at the thought that, starting with this, he too would become a big shot playing for Under Heaven.
'Pathetic. Tsk, tsk.'
There was no way the others gathered there didn’t already know Gong Cheol-san’s inner thoughts.
Especially since it was evident on his face right now.
Well, he didn’t seem to have any intention of hiding it.
But such a sight looked incredibly ridiculous in the eyes of the other Villains gathered here.
'Pathetic. To think he’s rejoicing that much. Tsk, tsk.'
'Right. Play boss all you want. Stupid fool.'
Their yielding the position of the Alliance’s leader to Gong Cheol-san easily was also because they all had their own ulterior motives.
In the first place, becoming the leader wasn’t something for him to be so happy about when he couldn’t even rank among the Ten Great Masters.
It would be a different story if he had the strength fitting for the position, but with Gong Cheol-san becoming the head like this, it was ultimately just a superficial title.
In the end, Gong Cheol-san would be nothing more than a mere shield for them.
Even if they went around committing all sorts of acts to their hearts' content like now, they could just hide behind the Alliance if anything happened.
And if the moment came when they were swept up in a huge fight, they could just turn tail and run.
Unless it was a fight they were guaranteed to win, they had absolutely no reason to risk their lives fighting for this Alliance.
It was a gathering formed without a shred of such loyalty or trust in the first place, so perhaps it was only natural.
Yet, to see him rejoicing here as if he had become a king just because he assumed a title.
It couldn’t help but be laughable.
But well, everyone’s desires were different.
Anyway, it seems he really does have a lot of money.
They had heard that he would use any means and methods to make money, and looking around on their way in, they could see quite a few skilled individuals staying as retainers here at the Evil Love Palace.
The guards standing next to Gong Cheol-san right now were the same.
Certainly, in terms of scale alone, it seemed it would be convenient in many ways for the Evil Love Palace to lead the Alliance for now.
“Now. Anyway, welcome once again. Since you’ve all come a long way, rest well today, and let’s discuss things in earnest tomorrow.”
Gong Cheol-san raised both hands in a boastful manner and spoke with a smile to the guests - no, to the Villains who would be his subordinates from now on.
“Above all, I have prepared gifts tailored to your tastes so that you can all fully relieve your travel fatigue before tonight’s banquet. I’m sure you will all be pleased.”
At Gong Cheol-san’s words, sticky smiles spread across the lips of the Villains.
Gifts tailored to our tastes.
Was there anyone who didn’t know the meaning of those words?
For them, who were perverted sadists and Murderous Ghosts, the things prepared were too disgusting to even speak of.
The Villains thought that perhaps having Gong Cheol-san act as the head for a while wouldn’t be so bad.
To the Villains, fulfilling their own desires like this was the most important thing.
It was then.
“Palace Lord.”
Someone entered the Palace Lord’s Hall urgently.
It was the man serving as the Squad Leader among those guarding the entrance of the Evil Love Palace.
At his appearance, Gong Cheol-san tilted his head.
“What is it?”
“Well, that is… Someone has come saying they urgently wish to meet you, Palace Lord.”
“Hmm? Who is it?”
“They said they cannot reveal their identity right now and will reveal it when they meet you. But they said they came to make a very good proposal, so they really want to see you.”
“Hmph! Where would I have the time to meet every single one of those bastards! Can’t you see the precious guests who have arrived here? Chase them out at once.”
Gong Cheol-san made an annoyed face and flew into a rage.
At that, the Squad Leader made a troubled face.
“I was going to do that, but they seem to know something.”
“Know what?”
Soon, the Squad Leader glanced at the Villains and sent a Telepathic Message to Gong Cheol-san.
It seemed to be an important secret.
However, upon hearing the Telepathic Message, Gong Cheol-san’s eyes widened.
“…What?”
It was a secret of the Evil Love Palace that outsiders must absolutely never know.