Chapter 794: Help a Friend’s Father |
Perfect darkness where nothing could be seen.
Eternal Dark Prison.
Normally, once trapped here, people would wander blindly in the dark, trying to figure out how vast this space was, how to escape it, or whether anyone else might be here. They would search desperately for a way to break free.
But the Evil Smiling Demon did no such thing.
He stood still in the darkness. Eyes wide open, staring as though he could see something ahead. The sight was eerie, even grotesque.
But ultimately, the control still belonged to him.
‘It won’t break easily—but it will break, eventually.’
The darkness of this place drove people mad. It dug deep into their hearts, unearthing every ounce of negative emotion buried within.
Fear, anxiety, helplessness, hatred, sorrow, guilt, weakness...
Soon, rage would consume him, and he would burst into laughter like a madman. Even the most stoic martial artists who had never shed a single tear in their lives had wept bitterly in this place—the Eternal Dark Prison.
‘Now crumble, Evil Smiling Demon!’
As Hwe drew upon more of his inner energy, the darkness thickened even further.
Yet, seeing no reaction at all, Hwe finally decided to provoke him directly.
“Do you know why you were imprisoned and not Lee Ahn?”
His voice echoed in every direction, making it impossible to tell where it had come from.
“Because we judged that your death would deal a far greater blow to the Young Cult Leader than hers would.”
Hwe was certain that the one thing that could shake the Evil Smiling Demon the most was the safety of the Young Cult Leader.
Sure enough, the silent Evil Smiling Demon finally spoke at the mention of Geom Mugeuk.
“You still don’t understand the Young Cult Leader.”
“What do you mean?”
After a brief pause, the Evil Smiling Demon said,
“Even if all of us die, the Young Cult Leader will not waver.”
“!”
“He’ll likely become even colder.”
Hwe could tell, the Evil Smiling Demon meant every word.
“That’s why, in the battle earlier, the one who should have protected the Young Miss wasn’t me. It was you. With the resolve that if she were harmed or killed, all of you would truly die.”
The words spoken from the darkness stilled Hwe’s heart.
“Then your death will be meaningless.”
“Why bother assigning meaning to death? I never sought meaning in life either.”
Hwe’s provocations and taunts had no effect at all.
This time, the Evil Smiling Demon asked,
“What exactly did you prepare on that ship?”
Hwe understood. This silent man had chosen to speak with him for one reason alone—to ask that question. To pry something out of him, anything at all, and deliver it to Geom Mugeuk.
“You’re insane about the Young Cult Leader.”
To have such a man under his command...
“What you said is wrong. If someone like you were to die, the Young Cult Leader would lose his mind and go on a rampage.”
The darkness grew stronger. Stronger, and even stronger still. Hwe poured out every last drop of his inner energy.
And yet, from behind his mask, the Evil Smiling Demon’s eyes were smiling.
“Thanks for bringing me to a place like this.”
With those cryptic words, the Evil Smiling Demon drew a dagger.
Even the blade of the dagger did not reflect in this darkness.
But when the Evil Smiling Demon slashed through the air—
Shwik.
A stark white line of the blade cut through the darkness.
That line should have vanished into the void, but instead, it remained—glowing, suspended in midair.
The darkness surged, attempting to erase it, but the line carved by the Evil Smiling Demon’s dagger did not disappear.
“!”
Hwe was stunned. Nothing like this had ever happened before.
And then, something even more astonishing followed.
The Evil Smiling Demon began executing the Smiling Fragrance Dagger Art in the midst of the darkness.
The lines drawn in midair were original, distinct, and utterly refined—an artistry of supreme martial mastery.
And unbelievably, the dagger’s trail shimmered with pure white light and lingered in the darkness.
Srrrrrrrk.
No matter how thickly the darkness tried to swarm and erase the lines, they would not fade.
Hwe couldn’t comprehend it.
‘How is he doing this?’
In the white chamber, the Evil Smiling Demon’s training had been about cultivating extreme concentration in tranquil clarity. It was training that delved into the contemplation of good and evil, and ultimately the truth of martial arts.
The moment he stepped into the Eternal Dark Prison, the Evil Smiling Demon understood.
That his white room—and this room of pitch-black darkness—were one and the same.
Because what he had been seeing in that white room wasn’t light... it was darkness.
He had stood there alone, staring into his own life—a life of utmost wickedness.
And so this place felt comforting to him. Like walking back into his own room.
Just as the Dark Painting Spirit could never contend with the Drunken Demon, the Eternal Dark Prison could not contain the Evil Smiling Demon. He had overwhelmed the Dark Demonic Art, and this room now belonged to him.
The Evil Smiling Demon was etching light into the darkness with the Smiling Fragrance Dagger Art.
And after executing every form, he calmly observed the path left behind.
Where else could one have the chance to vividly witness the full trajectory of one’s martial forms, right before their eyes?
It was something possible only in this meeting between the Evil Smiling Demon and the Eternal Dark Prison.
And that wasn’t all.
He moved again, taking a step to the side, and resumed his execution of the Smiling Fragrance Dagger Art.
Once more, the darkness tried to erase the remnants of his techniques, but the gleaming white lines remained untouched.
The Evil Smiling Demon compared the Smiling Fragrance Dagger Art he had just performed to the one he had executed earlier.
“You lunatic! Are you seriously training your martial arts inside my Eternal Dark Prison right now?!”
Hwe’s agitated voice echoed out. He had never imagined—not even once—that something like this could happen within his exclusive Dark Demonic Art.
His qi nearly reversed and caused internal damage. This wasn’t simply a matter of the dark energy being ineffective.
“Stop it! You mad bastard!”
But the Evil Smiling Demon didn’t stop. As if this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity bestowed upon him by fate itself, he continued executing the Smiling Fragrance Dagger Art. As if determined to perfect the technique here and now.
Hwe shouted in a frenzy.
“Don’t you care about the Young Cult Leader? What would he say if he knew you were calmly training in here of all places?”
From behind the mask, the Evil Smiling Demon’s eyes curved in a glowing smile.
“He would love it most of all.”
Hwe poured his last remaining inner energy into strengthening the darkness, but just like the moon shining brighter in the deepest night, the glowing lines left by the Smiling Fragrance Dagger Art only became more vivid.
In that moment, the agitated Hwe realized something.
It was himself—not the Evil Smiling Demon—who was being affected by the darkness.
‘I was never someone who could handle him to begin with.’
As countless glowing sword lines appeared, the space gradually brightened.
This solitary training in the dark was more than just martial cultivation. It was the Evil Smiling Demon’s journey toward finding light.
And when the space finally filled with light—
Flash.
In an instant, the surroundings lit up brightly, and the two of them found themselves back in their original positions.
Blood spilled in heavy gushes from Hwe’s mouth. As the Eternal Dark Prison was broken, he had sustained a fatal wound.
With the blood vessels all throughout his body severed, Hwe gasped in unbearable pain.
“...Kill me.”
The Evil Smiling Demon gazed silently into Hwe’s tortured eyes. Behind the mask, there was no hatred, no resentment toward the man who had tried to kill him. Only a gentle gaze.
“Your darkness was comforting to me.”
Shhrrrk.
The Evil Smiling Demon’s dagger slashed through the air, releasing Hwe from his pain. The last thing Hwe saw was the character for "smile," carved into the blade by Geom Mugeuk.
Outside, Lee Ahn, Cha Iran, Cheong Myeon, and Jangho waited and respectfully greeted him. They had all been anxiously standing by, tense from the moment he’d been suddenly pulled into the darkness.
But the Evil Smiling Demon had not died—he had returned safely.
They had known it already, but now they had seen it with their own eyes.
Just how terrifying a being a Demon Supreme truly was.
The Evil Smiling Demon stood by the lakeside, silently gazing at the Ship of Wealth and Honor.
Under normal circumstances, this would have been a moment to remain on edge, wary of what might emerge next. But standing beside the Evil Smiling Demon, everything felt calm.
She couldn’t help but feel envious of Geom Mugeuk. How wonderful it must be to have someone like that by your side in life—even just one person.
At that moment, Cha Iran’s voice flew in through sound transmission.
—Don’t be too jealous.
She was frighteningly perceptive.
—I’m not jealous. If I had to put it one way, I’m someone closer to Soma than the Young Cult Leader.
—What do you mean?
—I’m just not someone who could contain a person like that. I’m better suited to follow, to admire. Even if I end up being cast aside, I’d still feel more at peace with that.
Cha Iran smiled at the sound transmission.
Lee Ahn found herself thinking that this kind of relationship wasn’t so bad either. After all, it wasn’t easy to meet someone in life with whom you could be so honest.
Yeah, so what if your heart was the size of a soy sauce dish? Just fill it with soy sauce and live your life. What mattered was not spilling it!
Her gaze turned once more to the distant Ship of Wealth and Honor.
‘So, Great Bowl of the World, please come out now and hold all us tiny little dishes!’
---
An urgent report flew into the Martial Alliance’s Alliance Leader’s Hall.
“The demonic flower has bloomed within the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.”
Alliance Strategist Jeogal Hyeon’s report shocked not only Alliance Leader Jin Paecheon, but also Jin Hagun, who was with him.
Not once had the demonic flower bloomed since Geom Woojin had ascended to the position of Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
“With the blooming of the demonic flower, all branches and divisions of the cult have entered emergency status.”
Jin Paecheon grew uneasy, fearing that what he’d long been anxious about was finally beginning to unfold. He trusted Geom Mugeuk—but not Geom Woojin.
Jeogal Hyeon knew exactly what his leader was concerned about.
“Fortunately, there are no signs of war breaking out.”
Which only meant one thing: the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was in danger.
“There is one more report.”
And it was even more startling than the demonic flower’s blooming.
“After sealing off the main division of the cult, the Cult Leader and the Demon Supremes have left for Maga Village.”
Jin Paecheon, leader of the Martial Alliance, fully understood the implication.
It meant that a foe strong enough to rattle the Cult Leader—and enough to make him bring even the Demon Supremes with him—was approaching.
“It’s likely related to the appearance of the Heavenly Killing Star.”
Naturally, the Martial Alliance had also been monitoring the appearance of the Heavenly Killing Star. They had taken it seriously and had been observing the martial world closely.
“They must believe that the one born under the Heavenly Killing Star is heading toward them.”
Jin Hagun, who had been silently listening to the conversation, stiffened. When he heard that the Demon Supremes had left the cult, it hadn’t seemed so worrisome.
But then the Heavenly Killing Star appeared, striking him with unease—and now, the demonic flower had bloomed.
He had experienced countless events with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and Geom Mugeuk before, but never had he been this concerned for them.
‘Mugeuk, are you alright?’
He truly wanted to rush to him immediately.
“Has there been any word from the cult about this matter?”
“None.”
Jin Paecheon’s expression hardened.
Would it kill them to send even a brief notice? Something along the lines of: We’ve ignited the demonic flower because of such-and-such reason. It seems someone born under the Heavenly Killing Star is approaching.
But, as always, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult acted unilaterally.
Then again, before Geom Mugeuk’s emergence, they themselves hadn’t been much different. Back then, they had feared the cult might learn of any critical developments first.
Already, with Geom Mugeuk having left the cult, the Martial Alliance’s main division had issued the highest state of emergency—the Celestial Dragon Order.
“What should we do now?”
“If the person born under the Heavenly Killing Star truly exists as the cult believes, there is no guarantee that they will not come for the alliance.”
Jin Paecheon slowly nodded. That person was undoubtedly connected to the forces behind the long conflict the Martial Alliance had fought alongside the Orthodox Factions against.
“Recall all experts deployed outside and authorize the activation of every formation and mechanism within the alliance.”
Doing so would turn the Martial Alliance into an impenetrable fortress and fully shift it into wartime status.
“Proceed.”
“Yes, I’ll carry it out immediately.”
Once Jeogal Hyeon left, only Jin Paecheon and Jin Hagun remained.
Jin Paecheon walked to the large window beside the throne mat and gazed out.
Jin Hagun read something in his grandfather’s back.
“Do you want to go help the Cult Leader?”
Jin Paecheon turned to look at his grandson.
“You just seemed like you did, so I asked.”
Surprisingly, Jin Paecheon did feel the urge to go help Geom Woojin.
They had made a pact during the Three-Way Summit to stand against the enemy together. But now, knowing the Cult Leader was in danger, he had shut his doors instead. It gnawed at him.
The Cult Leader—who made him uncomfortable just by being in the same room—but still, he wanted to help him. It wasn’t a rational decision; it came from the heart.
“If the Cult Leader dies because of this, where do you think the sword that topples the cult will turn next?”
It was something he had to do—for the sake of the Martial Alliance as well.
“Then why do you hesitate?”
Because of one single possibility.
It wasn’t fear of the Heavenly Killing Star, nor of the infamy that would come from aiding the demonic cult.
“What if the Heavenly Killing Star comes here to the alliance?”
What if, in his absence, the Heavenly Killing Star struck this place? What if his grandchildren died, and the alliance’s martial artists fell? That would be a regret he’d carry to the grave.
Then, Jin Hagun said something unexpected.
“You’ve protected the alliance with that exact heart your whole life, haven’t you?”
“!”
“I think... just once, it’s okay for you to follow your heart.”
Because he knew Jin Paecheon wasn’t doing it for himself, the Grandfather gently scolded his grandson.
“That’s a reckless thought.”
But Jin Hagun had spoken with a quiet certainty.
“The Heavenly Killing Star won’t come to the alliance.”
Seeing his grandfather’s questioning gaze, Jin Hagun calmly explained.
“If they had made that judgment, the cult would’ve sent word to warn us.”
It was a statement born from deep trust in Geom Mugeuk and the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
“I think I finally understand why the Young Cult Leader left with the Demon Supremes without sending any notice. That bastard wants to fight the final battle without our help. He made us promise to inform each other whenever something happened—and now he’s off trying to look cool all by himself.”
He wanted to run over right now and yell at him. Next time they drank, he’d make sure they started with at least three bottles of liquor.
“I believe even the appearance of the Heavenly Killing Star is part of that friend’s fate. It’s heading for the cult, without a doubt.”
Jin Paecheon silently gazed out over the Martial Alliance grounds, where formations were activating and mechanisms beginning to operate.
When his grandfather said nothing more, Jin Hagun bowed respectfully and left.
Even after his grandson had gone, Jin Paecheon continued to stare out the window for a long time.
And when he finally turned around, there beside the throne mat stood a single sword.
Astonishingly, it was the Gentleman’s Sword—the Greatest Gentleman’s Sword in All of History—that Jin Hagun had received as a gift from Geom Mugeuk.
Jin Paecheon slowly walked over and lifted the sword.
It seemed his grandson had assumed he might leave. He had likely left the sword here so Jin Paecheon could take it with him—believing that if his grandfather wielded this sword, he would be invincible.
Perhaps this deeply thoughtful grandson was making a silent plea to him.
‘Grandfather, please help my friend’s father.’
Jin Paecheon looked down at the Gentleman’s Sword with deepened eyes and muttered,
“How can I not want to go show off my grandson to that many now?”
