Chapter 144
"How is it progressing?" asked the man wearing the Bloodwind Robe in a grating voice that sounded like scraping metal.
From the opposite side came a completely different, refined voice.
The fifth seed has just been planted in the Demonic Alliance.
From what I hear, aren't you wasting too many seeds on incompetent fools who can't even be expected to reach Full Bloom, let alone be special targets?
Hey now. Don't just look at the trees; see the forest. What I desire right now is something else entirely.
And what might that be?
Chaos.
Chaos?
The man in the Bloodwind Robe furrowed his brow as he asked.
Yes. Currently, the Demonic Faction is tightly bound together by the Demonic Alliance organization and the iron-fisted rule of the Black Emperor above it. I want chaos to create cracks in that structure.
A chilling smile spread across the face of the man giving the answer.
It could only be described as madness.
Moreover, if we can steadily harvest energy from the seeds sown in the process, wouldn't that be the icing on the cake?
"Hmm."
But the man in the Bloodwind Robe reacted as if wondering why they were making things so difficult.
Why not just eliminate the Black Emperor instead?
Impossible.
Why?
The reason is simple. The balance of the martial world would collapse in an instant, and far too early at that. If that happens, the situation will become an uncontrollable mess. It would be inviting great chaos. It's still too soon. That must be saved for that day.
Didn't you say you wanted chaos?
I meant I would use chaos as a weapon given the situation, not that I wanted a situation that couldn't even be properly controlled.
Timing is important for everything.
That's why he had quietly lived as a member of the Demonic Alliance for such a long time.
It wasn't time yet.
And now that time was approaching.
He began the tasks he had postponed for that day.
In fact, the Demonic Alliance was recently in an uproar due to the Demons created by the Seeds of Ruin.
On top of that, complaints both big and small were erupting even among those who had shown unlimited trust and loyalty to the Black Emperor until then, because the Black Emperor had invited the White Wolf Unit to the Demonic Alliance.
Although the White Wolf Unit's visit was not at all welcome to them as it was completely unplanned, the end result turned out to be not bad.
I see.
The man in the Bloodwind Robe nodded as if he understood.
But even so, his face still showed that he didn't much like the way the other worked.
He absolutely hated doing things in complicated ways.
But we must also prepare a mature body for the day when He returns. Don't forget that.
Of course. However, being overly cautious only delays things. Sometimes my methods are necessary too.
You've changed after sitting in that thinking seat for so long. To think that you, who would crush anything in your way, would say such things.
The man in the Bloodwind Robe cackled.
It was an unpleasant noise that would disturb anyone who heard it, but the other didn't seem to mind at all as he replied.
My methods haven't changed. It only appears that way because of my current appearance.
Is that so? Well then, I'll take your word for it. I'll come again.
Don't come and go too often. Troublesome things might happen.
Hmph. Who would dare trace my tracks here? Even the Black Emperor couldn't do it.
Well, perhaps you're right.
Soon, the man in the Bloodwind Robe vanished like smoke.
As if he had never been there.
Soon, only one figure remained alone in the room.
He slowly looked out the window.
Come to think of it, he had lived here hidden for a truly long time.
He had formed quite a few relationships too.
Here, he had made his lord, his friends, and even his family.
His life had somehow become deeply rooted in the Demonic Alliance.
But not once had he forgotten.
Why was he here?
He reminded himself once again.
Yes, it didn't matter how much blood was spilled or what sacrifices were made.
Just,
For the sake of an era of eternal darkness.
The lone figure left behind muttered with fiercely glinting eyes.
Mmm.
Late at night.
Yeo Un-hwi was dreaming.
*Kuuuung!*
*Kwaaaang!*
It was inside a tall castle where black flags bearing the face of the Yellow Fiend were raised.
Everywhere was filled with countless corpses, forming a sea of bodies.
They were all wearing black martial uniforms as if they had been a single army.
And surprisingly, the fallen corpses were gradually decomposing into black ash and disappearing, the disappearance starting from far away.
A death that left no trace behind.
Annihilation. Yes, that was the word that suited the scene.
What on earth had been happening here?
It was then.
"Kueeek!"
In the deepest part of the castle, someone had just vomited blood.
A middle-aged man with a unique appearance—everything from his hair to his beard and eyes was red—wearing armor like a general on a battlefield, had fallen while fighting.
Anyone who knew him would have their jaw drop at this sight.
That's how surprising it was to see him fall.
Kek, kuluk
He had rarely ever been forced to his knees like this in his life until now.
Except for his master, there was no one in the world he should kneel to.
And he believed that if he didn't want to, no one in the world could make him kneel.
Because he was born a strong one.
One is destined to rule over others.
His title was the Crimson-Bearded Demonic Emperor.
When the martial world once trembled in fear at the name of Black Darkness, he was always at the forefront.
The seven Absolutes who had ruled the world, known as the Seven Stars of Murim at the time, were all killed by this one man.
Subsequently, the shocked Central Plains martial world fell in an instant before the name of Black Darkness.
Black Darkness was strong.
To the extent of overturning the concept of strength as they had known it.
It seemed no one could stop Black Darkness, the Crimson-Bearded Demonic Emperor.
But his fierce momentum ended here.
Because of the golden-eyed man right in front of him.
Martial God Hyuk Jong-hu.
The only being who had put a stop to Black Darkness that no one else could handle.
He was looking down at the Crimson-Bearded Demonic Emperor with an expressionless face.
They called you the Martial God, and indeed, you're impressive.
The Crimson-Bearded Demonic Emperor looked up at the golden-eyed man staring down at him with bloodshot eyes.
He hadn't let his guard down.
The Crimson-Bearded Demonic Emperor had given his all in the fight against the Martial God who had suddenly barged in alone to where his troops were stationed.
But the result was a crushing defeat.
No, it was so one-sided that it was embarrassing to even call it a battle or fight.
Not a single one of the Crimson-Bearded Demonic Emperor's attacks had landed properly.
And in just three moves, the Crimson-Bearded Demonic Emperor was rendered incapable of fighting.
It was unbelievable.
He had been confident that he wouldn't lose to anyone in the world except 'Him'.
In just three moves, it is yet to be defeated.
Rather than anger at that overwhelming force, he felt like laughing in disbelief.
To think, such a monster existed.
But more than anything, the Crimson-Bearded Demonic Emperor had something he was curious about.
How on earth did you do it?
What do you mean?
The Martial God slightly raised an eyebrow at the Crimson-Bearded Demonic Emperor's question that came out of nowhere.
You've been able to accurately distinguish us from among all those countless people. Because of that, many of our plans have failed. How is that possible? There couldn't have been a spy among us.
No matter how much he thought about it, he just couldn't understand.
The Crimson-Bearded Demonic Emperor was amazed by the Martial God's strength, but more than anything, he was curious about this.
Even in a situation like this, he was facing his final moments.
The golden-eyed man quietly looked at his opponent before speaking again.
Natural enemies.
Natural enemies?
My Heavenly Martial Divine Art deals only with extremely refined positive energy. And that has been embodied throughout my entire body. Thanks to that, I can sense the energy of your Black Darkness, which is completely opposite to it, more clearly than anyone else. Well, that's all there is to it.
In fact, even the Martial God hadn't known this fact from the beginning.
Nor had he particularly intended it.
It just felt like fate.
It was as if heaven had prepared for the invasion of Black Darkness that no one else could stop.
At his words, the Crimson-Bearded Demonic Emperor burst into laughter.
Kuk, what? Kuhahaha! That, that's all?
It's the truth.
*Kwaaang!*
Don't make me laugh!
The Crimson-Bearded Demonic Emperor slammed his fist on the ground with an utterly indignant face.
But that didn't pose even the slightest threat to the Martial God.
He knew that fact well too.
It was so close! So close! Why did heaven send such a monster into the world! Why!
He spoke with bloodshot eyes filled with hatred as if cursing the Martial God.
You! If it weren't for you and that damned Heavenly Martial Divine Art, we could have achieved everything! Even without His having to step in, I alone could have! But because of you alone!
The Martial God smiled coldly at that sight.
You don't care at all about the innocent people who died because of you.
Hmph! Throughout history, sacrificing the small for the greater cause has always happened. That is just their innate fate, too.
Bullshit. Who said it was okay to decide their lives were small?
That's...
I didn't stand against you with some grand cause. I simply couldn't stand by and watch innocent people die unjustly.
For such a trivial reason!
There's no value in listening to any more of your words.
The Martial God's eyes began to turn golden again.
Everyone will follow after you, so don't feel too wronged and just return to the earth, Crimson-Bearded Demonic Emperor.
Ugh, He will punish you without fail!
I wonder about that.
The Martial God smiled.
As if such a thing would never happen.
That made the Crimson-Bearded Demonic Emperor even more furious.
Kuaaaa...!
Soon, as brilliant golden light burst forth like the sun from the Martial God's hand, Yeo Un-hwi opened his eyes.
Mmm.
Yeo Un-hwi slowly sat up.
The Martial God's... memories?
It had been a truly long time since he had dreamed of the Martial God.
Since obtaining the Martial God's inheritance, Yeo Un-hwi has occasionally had dreams like this.
The feeling was... how should he put it?
It felt as if he was being shown things he needed to know, one by one, at the right time.
That meant the information Yeo Un-hwi needed right now was contained in the dream he had just had.
Hmm.
Yeo Un-hwi soon began to carefully recall the dream he had once more.
He had a lot to think about.
And one thing seemed certain.
The energy he felt from the being the Martial God had called the Crimson-Bearded Demonic Emperor.
It was the same as what he had felt when Tang Guhwi, the unfilial son of the Sichuan Tang Clan, had become a Demon.
That meant,
So it was Black Darkness's doing. All those incidents?
He had just discovered the mastermind behind the still unsolved Tang Guhwi incident.
According to Jegal Gil, a similar incident had occurred in the Murim Alliance as well.
And Yeo Un-hwi-hwi-hwi-hwi had sensed the same energy in the Demonic Alliance not long ago.
So that's how it is.
Yeo Un-hwi's eyes gleamed coldly.
Black Darkness was once again stirring throughout the martial world.