Chapter 412: The Last Bandit.

Smoke rises in the dark forest.

The smoke, rising high, is mixed with a nose-piercing smell of gunpowder.

“Hwaa… Uwaaaa! Kkwaaa!”

The nameless man repeatedly let out screams. This was because the flames stuck to his entire body were burning his flesh.

“Please… Pleeeease!”

For some reason, he desperately pleaded with the one holding his neck, but the opponent merely looked at the man with the same eyes as before.

Unlike his expressionless face, his pupils were dyed red like burning flames.

As the moonlight gently shone, the dirt ground hidden by shadows was revealed.

The hidden ground was particularly dark in color.

Being soaked in blood was the cause.

“…Kkeureu… Heureu… Euk.”

The man caught in the flames screamed forcefully, then gradually grew quiet.

He had finally breathed his last.

“…”

Thud.

The young man who had been silently watching let go of the man’s body.

The man whose breath had ceased fell powerlessly onto the ground.

The flames that had clung to the man like a ghost disappeared.

“Hweup…”

One of those watching covered his mouth with his hand. The leader who led the group had died.

The leader was a great figure, said to have reached the peak of mastery even after passing forty.

The leader was a force that the Chaeju himself somewhat acknowledged, yet to be killed so effortlessly by a youth who looked barely twenty…

‘What is this… What the hell.’

The man covering his mouth couldn’t comprehend what had just happened.

The corpses lying behind the dead leader were no different.

The first one captured had turned into ashes, unrecognizable.

The others had died instantly, their necks snapped.

The leader from just moments ago was no different.

‘A monster… That’s a monster.’

The man retreated backward little by little with trembling body, but he had to stop moving upon facing the wooden pillar blocking his back.

“Haak… Haak…”

His mind was already crushed by the fear of death.

Am I going to die? Am I going to die like this?

The fear surging up made tears stream down his face.

He couldn’t even escape.

His leg was already mangled in the monster’s hand.

Kkeugeuk.

The crouching monster moved.

Fwoosh-! Flames still clung to the monster’s body.

The man facing the flames had only one thought.

‘Cruel.’

It was far from the sanctity and warm energy that a fire mage possessed.

Nothing could be felt.

That’s why it was even more frightening.

How could flames contain nothing?

No, not nothing.

‘…Killing intent.’

The flames were like a mass of killing intent.

Was it because everything was contained within the flames he emitted that nothing could be felt from that monster?

Just how much killing intent must one possess to be like that?

‘Flames…? If it’s flames…’

At that moment, a rumor flashed through the man’s mind.

The most famous fire mage in the Central Plains, currently.

A martial artist called the young hero who will lead the current era.

It was said that the youth, newly given a nickname for repelling the Demon King’s attack and mercilessly executing the unrighteous, used fire magic.

That nickname was precisely.

“So-yeom…”

Kkwadeuk-!

“…!”

Just as the man was about to scream from the sudden pain, the youth who had approached unnoticed covered his mouth with his hand.

He didn’t even know when it happened.

All five of his fingers were twisted in unnatural directions.

“If you spout that fucking word one more time, even by mistake, I’ll rip your whole arm off next time. I’ll rip it off even if you scream. I’ll take my hand off in three seconds. You need to be quiet. Got it?”

At the youth’s indifferent words, the man nodded repeatedly.

There was no way to refuse in the first place.

The youth quietly removed his hand.

Then, the man had to remain silent, enduring the rising pain.

The red-dyed eyes looked down at the man.

Eventually, he knelt on one knee, meeting the man’s gaze.

“What’s your objective?”

He asked the same question he had asked those torturing him earlier.

At those words, the man spoke with a voice trembling in fear.

“…You… already… already heard, didn’t you.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes… yes.”

The story regarding this had already been blurted out by the first one captured.

That they received orders to tail the Tang Clan’s transport and figure out its route.

Even after hearing that, the youth… no.

‘So-yeomra…’

The man clenched his teeth, recalling the youth’s identity.

They said he becomes more brutal than anyone when it comes to executing the unrighteous. It seemed those words were true.

‘I didn’t believe it because he was just a young kid…!’

The truth of the rumors was far more terrifying.

How could he possibly be so cruel? He was too frightening and bizarre to be called a righteous path disciple.

The form of torture he displayed right before his eyes was enough to make one wet themselves in fear just by looking.

He used his flames in torture better than anyone.

Was this truly the person called the future of the righteous path?

As the man looked at So-yeomra with trembling eyes, So-yeomra continued speaking, looking at the man with an expressionless face.

“Seven in total. Among them, one was second-rate, five were first-rate, and one was at the peak.”

“…!”

The man internally exclaimed in shock at the words, which seemed to grasp the entire group’s cultivation levels.

Because that was correct.

The leader was a martial artist who had reached the peak.

The remaining ones were first-rate, and he himself was a second-rate martial artist.

“It’s a level far exceeding what mere bandits should possess. What exactly are you guys?”

“…Heueu… Heueu…”

“What’s the objective? Huh?”

“I don’t know beyond that…”

Chi-i-i-k-!

“Kkeureureuk…!”

He grabbed one of the twisted fingers and seared it with flames.

The man had to tremble violently in pain from that dizzying agony.

After searing it like that for a while, he asked again.

“Answer again.”

“I… I don’t know… Please… Please…”

“Good. Then let’s ask something else. Is the name of your highest superior, Tang Deok, correct?”

“Heup…!?”

The moment So-yeomra uttered the Chaeju’s name, the man’s body jolted.

‘How…?’

How does So-yeomra know the Chaeju’s name?

It was said that in the Central Plains, he was only known by his nickname, and no one knew his real name.

Perhaps confirming the man’s reaction? So-yeomra’s lips curled upwards.

That sight was incredibly chilling.

How can a person smile so terrifyingly?

“That’s right. He’s that bastard’s tail.”

“…Just what…”

“Why? When you should be staying put, why crawl out and try to do useless things?”

“…Are you perhaps acquainted with the Chaeju?”

“Acquainted?”

In response to the man’s question, So-yeomra said with a smile in his eyes.

“We’re acquainted, close enough to burst each other’s eyeballs.”

“…”

No matter how you looked at it, it was clear they were definitely not on good terms.

The man’s plan to survive by using connections crumbled to pieces.

The man endured the continued pain and kept rolling his eyes.

He was full of questions.

He knew the information.

That So-yeomra of the Gu family was also present in the Tang Clan’s transport.

However, no matter how renowned he was by reputation.

They had judged that his presence wouldn’t be as threatening as the Poison King or the Patriarch of the Pei Family.

‘How….’

He recalled the bead the leader possessed.

A treasure that erases the presence of its owner and surroundings.

The explanation stated that even for a Poison King-level expert, it would be difficult to detect unless one got quite close.

‘…How did this guy find him?’

What was So-yeomra, who easily dug through the surroundings, penetrating such a treasure?

Could it be that he’s stronger than the Poison King?

That couldn’t be it.

Even for a genius of the century, it was an impossible tale.

Then, was there another way?

“I can hear the sound of your eyes rolling all the way here.”

“…!”

Kkwadeuk-!

“Kkeueup!?”

One more finger is bent.

Since it was already a twisted finger, the pain was much worse.

“Wh-why.”

“Ah, sorry, it’s a habit. I have a habit of breaking things while talking, and it’s not easy to stop when I’m trying to kill someone.”

It wasn’t something to say with a smile.

To have a habit of torturing?

‘This guy… Is he really a righteous path disciple?’

Only questions deepened in the man’s mind.

“The bandit brutes are strangely strong, were they always like this?”

“…”

“Ah, I wasn’t asking you, so you don’t have to answer.”

At So-yeomra’s words, the man’s back gradually began to get wet.

His voice was somewhat high, as if he hadn’t quite finished puberty.

Although his demeanor seemed much softer than when they first met.

The man could intuitively tell.

That killing intent permeated that voice.

“Actually, I wasn’t that curious about what you guys had to say. Because whatever you said would be obvious anyway.”

It meant he intended to kill them all from the start.

Then why…? Why did he resort to this form of torture?

“I needed to pick a person. Someone timid, a bit slow-witted, and obedient.”

“…That’s…”

“Do you want to live?”

At So-yeomra’s words, the man shut his mouth tightly.

Did he want to live? Of course, he wanted to live.

It was just that So-yeomra’s presence, asking that question, cast a sense of unease upon him.

“I won’t ask twice. Answer.”

“I… I want… I want to live.”

He couldn’t just be swept away by unease and die, so the man had to answer.

Hearing the answer, So-yeomra nodded as if pleased.

“Ah, this is a personal question. How many people who told you that have you let live?”

“…!”

“It’s fortunate you’re silent. That answer is enough. You must feel somewhat at ease.”

Since he had never let anyone live, he wondered if he was going to kill him like this.

After saying that, So-yeomra took no further action.

What is it? Is he planning to leave it at this?

As he thought that far, a sense of relief arose, but a problem followed.

‘Is this… truly living?’

His ankle was broken, rendering his body unable to walk any further.

One hand had all its fingers ruined.

He didn’t know about his hand, but his foot was beyond repair by any renowned physician.

Living wasn’t truly living anymore.

Just as relief began to turn into despair.

So-yeomra grabbed the man by the neck.

What is it? Didn’t he say he’d let me live…

“Let me tell you beforehand, endure it. I don’t know how to be kind and gentle like the Heavenly Demon.”

“Heavenly Demon? What are you talking about. You, you definitely said you’d let me live…!”

“I will let you live. I have to let you live to do the work.”

With those words, the man could see.

So-yeomra’s red-dyed eyes, for some reason, began to turn violet (紫色).

That color was exceptionally beautiful, captivating his gaze for a moment.

Even in such a distant and terrifying situation.

As he stared at him, seemingly mesmerized by his pupils.

So-yeomra spoke to the man.

“What is your name.”

“Jool… Joolbok, I am called.”

“Joolbok, yes. You have only one task. Return to Tang Deok with those clumsy steps and deliver my message. That is your task.”

The moment the man wondered what that meant.

Squirm.

“…!”

The man felt something burrowing into his dantian.

An unknown energy that burrowed in just a little. It was.

Kuwoooong-!

“Keoheok!?”

In an instant, it expanded its range, becoming his entire dantian.

That wasn’t all.

Immediately after taking over the entire dantian, the energy broke free and burrowed into Joolbok’s heart.

“Kkeureureuk… Kkwaaaaaaa!”

The pain that came during that process was extraordinary.

It was more than any pain Joolbok had ever felt in his entire life.

Was So-yeomra intending to torture and kill him, contrary to his promise to let him live?

Joolbok thought so.

If not, what else could be the source of such pain?

‘I don’t, I don’t want to die…’

Earnestness for life was added.

Joolbok wished to live.

And that was.

The emotion Gu Yangcheon so desperately desired.

Becoming a demon is like that.

Whether the purpose is revenge or the desire to live.

Something must be earnest.

Otherwise, one could not endure this demonization.

Of course, if he were the Heavenly Demon of his past life, he would have done it in a better way than this.

Gu Yangcheon had no intention of taking that approach.

He couldn’t take it in the first place.

Starting with Namgung Cheonjun, this was the second time.

Just that alone made him realize for now.

That making someone a demon without causing them pain meant, conversely, that the Heavenly Demon had an unbelievable level of control.

He didn’t know why the Heavenly Demon made such a choice, but Gu Yangcheon had no such intention.

‘These kinds of guys don’t need that.’

Leaving aside the righteous and the wicked, there is no mercy for those who block the path one wishes to take.

He decided so.

Speaking of the Green King, he was one of the most wicked demons in his past life.

His subordinates were the same.

Not only killing and playing with civilians. The evil deeds committed in the name of demons were not just one or two.

Judging by his reaction earlier. It could be known that this guy was no different from those bastards.

Gu Yangcheon didn’t really intend to blame him for this part either.

He himself was a demon, and there were countless people he had killed with his own hands under the guise of war.

This was merely venting disguised as atonement. He had no intention of making excuses.

A moment passed, and a change occurred in the man called Joolbok.

Although there seemed to be no significant difference in his appearance, Gu Yangcheon could tell.

That demonic energy had properly attached itself to his dantian and heart.

Joolbok became a demon by Gu Yangcheon’s hand. Seeing that, Gu Yangcheon frowned.

‘Being at the second-rate level, he barely managed to endure.’

If not at a certain level, he would have exploded and died unable to withstand the demonic energy.

From the beginning, he had paid attention to Joolbok’s survival instinct and appropriate cultivation level.

That’s why he chose this guy from the start.

Once one reaches the first-rate or peak level, there are limits to controlling them with demonic energy.

At best, it would be imposing restrictions on speech or preventing betrayal.

Not to mention the Hua Jing realm.

In that regard, Joolbok was just right.

He was at a level perfectly suitable for Gu Yangcheon to handle.

Joolbok seemed to have immediately noticed his changed body, looking at Gu Yangcheon with surprised eyes.

He seemed to be feeling the difference in his body, having become a demon.

His broken leg moved.

It wasn’t completely healed.

The demonic energy was barely holding it together by connecting the shattered bone joints.

Seeing that, Gu Yangcheon got up. Although his expression was indifferent, he was quite surprised internally.

‘Was that possible too?’

He knew it was definitely possible with the Heavenly Demon’s demonic energy, but.

He just realized now that his own demonic energy could also do such a thing.

Was it possible because Joolbok’s cultivation level was low? Shouldn’t it be impossible if it’s low?

He felt he needed to investigate this part further.

For now, this was enough.

Because his current objective wasn’t about fixing or altering others’ bodies with demonic energy.

After getting up, he spoke to the man.

“You have one task.”

Joolbok looked at Gu Yangcheon with trembling eyes.

Those eyes were filled with awe, along with fear.

It’s incomprehensible.

Why do the eyes of those who accepted demonic energy and became demons become like that?

At least he hadn’t looked at the Heavenly Demon that way.

It was incomprehensible and he wasn’t interested.

He doesn’t pay attention to such things.

He only looked out for the safety of himself and those around him.

Gu Yangcheon continued speaking, meeting Joolbok’s gaze.

“Tell Tang Deok that I said this.”

This was the choice made for that purpose.

Joolbok listened attentively to the words that followed.

Joolbok relayed this.

“…Stop this pathetic act and show yourself directly… you failure?”

He delivered it to Tang Deok exactly like that.

Kudeudeudeuk-!

The heavy stone chair instantly crumbled under his clenched fist.

Furthermore, the terrifying aura emanating from the person sitting on the chair caused the surroundings to tremble.

A giant man with dark green hair.

The master of the bandits gathered at Ghost Gate Mountain, Chaeju Tang Deok, repeated the words spoken by the person before him.

“That blood clot told me to deliver that message.”

“…Yes… Yes, Chaeju.”

Tang Deok looked at the one delivering the message.

Was his name Joolbok?

He said he was a subordinate of that guy Godong, who reached the peak last year.

Recalling Godong, Tang Deok’s brow furrowed deeply.

The Tang family head, that worm-like fellow, he sent them to scout his route, only for them to…

‘Everyone died, and only this guy came back alive?’

Ha-

He even heard that the treasure they sent was lost.

Tang Deok could only let out a hollow laugh at the rather absurd situation.

Kkudeuk.

Right after letting out a slight laugh.

Tang Deok grabbed the enormous spear beside him, larger than any giant, and stood up.

“…He knows my name, and furthermore, he dares to provoke me.”

Was his name So-yeomra?

He’s quite an interesting fellow.

Tang Deok smiled as he looked at Joolbok.

As he smiled, the other bandits nearby flinched and trembled.

“Joolbok-ah.”

“Yes… Chaeju.”

“Everything’s fine, but…”

He still had a question.

“Why on earth did you come back alive?”

“…Chaeju…?”

At Tang Deok’s words, Joolbok’s eyes wavered.

“If your brothers died there without fulfilling their mission, you should have died too. You son of a bitch.”

“Chaeju…! Wait…!”

“And yet you shamelessly return alive? What a thick face you have.”

Growling, Tang Deok grabbed Joolbok by the neck and lifted him.

Although Joolbok wasn’t small either, he looked infinitely smaller compared to the giant Tang Deok.

“Useless bastard… I have no need for useless people anymore.”

“P-please spare me, Chaeju! Please… Please!”

Joolbok, as if driven mad, repeatedly begged for his life.

Tang Deok, even seeing that desperate cry, applied force without hesitation.

“Go pay respects to your brothers. You damn bastard.”

Woodeuk-!

With a chilling sound, Joolbok’s neck snapped, meeting his death.

It was then.

Woong-!

“…Hm?”

A change occurred in Joolbok’s body that Tang Deok was holding. It was a vibration.

Seeing the life gone from his eyes, he was surely dead?

What is this?

“What is this…”

The moment Tang Deok questioned it.

Pa-ang-!

Something burst from Joolbok’s body with a sound, and immense blood spurted from Joolbok’s mouth, drenching Tang Deok’s body.

“…”

Tang Deok, instantly covered in blood. Others who saw it hurriedly offered something to wipe it with.

Tang Deok simply wiped his face with his large hand.

He thought then.

Joolbok died suddenly and spewed blood.

He didn’t know what was going on, but at least Tang Deok seemed to know one thing.

That this was a provocation from the one who sent Joolbok.

Keuk-keuk…

Tang Deok began to laugh loudly while wiping away the blood.

Hahahaha-!

Tang Deok, laughing until the room echoed for a long time, said with a grin stretching across his face.

“Was his name So-yeomra?”

The guy who sent Joolbok to him. That blood clot dared to tell him to come see him in person?

Tang Deok recalled that and moved his steps.

He didn’t seem to intend to wipe away the bloodstains any further.

‘Originally, I would have moved a bit more cautiously.’

If provoked like this, there was no other choice.

Tang Deok chuckled and whispered softly.

“Grab your tools.”

From that point on, the others waiting instantly scattered their fighting spirit.

Among them, the most distinct killing intent and fighting spirit belonged, as expected, to Tang Deok.

---

While eating lunch, I suddenly felt something unusual and looked up.

“Ah.”

“What’s wrong?”

Wi Seol-ah, placing a side dish on my rice, tilted her head upon seeing my reaction.

Seeing that, I shook my head slightly and took a mouthful of rice.

“It’s nothing.”

Namgung Bi-ah and Moyong Hi-ah, sensing something from my reaction, sent strange expressions, but.

I had no intention of answering them about it.

I just clicked my tongue a few times inwardly.

Tsk tsk.

‘I intended to let him live as promised.’

There was only one reason for reacting like this.

It was because I realized the guy named Joolbok had finally died.

This was because the restriction I had placed on him had been activated.

The restriction placed on Joolbok wasn’t just to deliver the message to Tang Deok.

I had commanded it to activate if he seemed likely to be killed by Tang Deok’s hand.

To the point where his heart would burst and he’d vomit blood.

Seeing this, it seems Joolbok was killed by Tang Deok’s hand.

I didn’t kill him with my own hands.

I just knew that Tang Deok would kill his subordinate like this.

‘He must be very angry.’

Recalling Tang Deok’s fiery temper, he must have been quite angry.

‘I’ve laid all the groundwork.’

Even if Tang Deok didn’t come in person as expected, the plan could still begin.

For now, I just had to wait.

“Want… some water?”

“Yeah.”

I drank the water Namgung Bi-ah poured and surveyed my surroundings.

It was a forest no different from any other I’d seen, yet the change was significant.

‘Are we in the Sichuan region now?’

It was around the time when summer would arrive soon after embarking on the journey.

We had somehow entered the Sichuan region, our destination.