Chapter 1164: Scorched World.

Frontline.

Approximately shortly after the Blood Demon War broke out.

This was the place where an anomaly originating from the edge of the Central Plains had become a problem.

It was an area with a drastically high number of Demonic Gate occurrences.

It was also an area where the number of occurrences was unusually high compared to elsewhere.

Moreover, the quantity of monsters appearing from the Demonic Gates that manifested was severe compared to other locations.

The reason remained unknown.

The only certainty was the significant difference between the number of Demonic Gates and the generation of monsters.

The Alliance had researched extensively to uncover the reason, but ultimately, nothing could be known.

The large-scale appearance of monsters.

If this wasn’t stopped, the monsters discharged from the frontline might expand their territory unchecked.

Therefore, the number of monsters had to be reduced periodically, and this was one of the important tasks undertaken by the Alliance after confirming the danger, handled under their leadership.

Especially the Nine Great Sects, or the Four Great Families.

In addition, individuals from renowned families and prestigious houses, no less than them, took turns managing the frontline in order.

“Move it! If you’re this slow, how are we supposed to hunt properly!?”

“Grab your weapons, you bastards!”

Rough voices echoed across the frontline.

Those wearing light cyan martial attire were all members of the Martial Arts Alliance.

And those amidst them, shouting fiercely and laughing madly…

‘It’s the Peng family bastards.’

One of the current Four Great Families.

They seemed to be from the Northern Ha-book Peng family.

‘So it’s the Peng family’s turn this time.’

It seemed to be the Peng family’s turn.

Kuaaaaaa-!!

Chwaak-!

Monsters charged, but the warriors dealt with them effortlessly.

At best, they were Green grade. At most, Blue grade monsters appeared, so it wasn’t particularly dangerous.

In the first place, going to the frontline itself was perceived more as a bothersome chore than a dangerous task.

Every time it was their turn, it was treated as a nuisance, and the Peng family’s perspective was likely no different.

‘Let’s see.’

Leaving those Peng family bastards behind, I shifted my gaze.

Silencing my presence in mid-air, I surveyed the surroundings.

‘There they are.’

I saw them not long after.

‘Ilgeomdae.’

The Gu family’s sword squad.

Besides managing the frontline rotation, since the Gu family was located in Shanxi, the closest province to the frontline, they tended to handle most of the frontline management.

When I was young, I wondered why the Gu family took on half of this bothersome task.

‘It’s different now.’

The current perception is different. The Gu family wasn’t managing the frontline.

‘They were blocking access to something deeper within.’

Preventing other warriors from daring to reach that place.

The Gu family existed to hide and block that.

‘Is that what Ilgeomdae does?’

A tent set up inside the frontline. That was the encampment formed for the Gu family’s Ilgeomdae’s activities.

And.

‘Hmm?’

I sensed a familiar presence from inside.

That is.

‘… First Elder.’

It’s First Elder.

He was inside the tent.

After arriving at the Gu family’s, causing trouble as he pleased, I wondered where he had disappeared to.

‘He came to the frontline.’

The management of this frontline seemed to be handled by Gu Lun. That makes sense.

‘Gu Lun must be the current Ilgeomdae leader.’

The current Ilgeomdae leader wasn’t the old man I knew, but Gu Lun, I heard. I was quite surprised to hear that.

‘That guy did that too?’

I heard for the first time that he had even been the squad leader before receiving the Elder position.

Sseueueu-!

Killing more Ki-yuns, I swallowed my presence. If it were Gu Lun now, he might have sensed my presence.

‘As quietly as possible.’

Pas-seut.

Abandoning my flight through the air, I dropped straight to the ground. I muffled my sounds, silenced my presence, and suppressed my aura.

So no one could feel me, after landing silently on the ground.

“Hoo.”

Along with a low breath, I released my Ki-sense.

My Mind’s Eye activates. My Ki-sense tangled like threads, floating around me.

I adjusted it meticulously. So it wouldn’t reach Gu Lun’s encampment. Letting it spread past that point throughout the forest.

Hwaaaaaa–!!

I sent my Ki-sense far and wide. Even if I moved while suppressing my presence, I probably would have passed by unnoticed.

‘But just in case.’

To be prepared, I used my Ki-sense. Because I had to avoid unnecessary trouble as much as possible.

As I gradually expanded my Ki-sense, trying to map the area.

“Kwak.”

“Uwaaak!”

‘Hmm?’

Something unusual was caught by my Ki-sense.

It was inside the frontline. Quite deep within. But.

‘It’s not the presence of monsters?’

It’s not from monsters. This was all human sensation.

‘What is it?’

I sense killing intent and screams.

Human killing intent and screams on the frontline?

Since anything could happen, it wouldn’t be strange. Normally, I wouldn’t have paid much attention.

‘Something feels off.’

It smelled strangely foul.

‘Since it’s on my way.’

Should I check it out?

Thinking so, I took a step.

* * *

Seogeok-!

“Kwaaak!”

Along with the sound of something being cut, blood spurted. He screamed in pain, but the sound didn’t last long.

Kwak-!

A sword was thrust into his open mouth.

“Kkeureuk”

Dripping saliva, another person fell. Thus, one more corpse appeared on the ground.

“Puhu.”

The man who pulled his sword from the deceased let out a sigh.

“See… why did you have to be so curious?”

If you hadn’t come here pointlessly, this wouldn’t have happened.

Looking at the dozens of corpses, the man lamented.

“This is why the righteous faction guys are useless.”

They should have just stayed put, with their ‘righteousness’ and ‘chivalry’. Moving their feet for pointless things, this is the result, isn’t it?

“Tsk…”

He brushed back his hair, matted with blood.

His eyes clearly showed fatigue. Proof that it wasn’t a short fight.

“Damn bastards.”

How did they find out my location?

Even if they weren’t from the main Alliance, the fact that people from the frontline moved meant that some information might have leaked.

“Hmm…”

Should I abandon this place too? I pondered.

“But I haven’t yet.”

I hadn’t achieved my goal. It wasn’t just about hiding by sneaking into the frontline. There was something I needed to check inside.

‘Those righteous faction guys. They’re hiding something.’

It wasn’t just about designating it a dangerous area and cleaning it up. It felt like there was something inside.

My gut feeling said so. Furthermore, even if that weren’t the case.

“I can’t leave this place right now.”

It was still dangerous.

“Tsk.”

A slight regret washed over me.

“… If only I hadn’t touched that.”

Provoking that woman in a fit of anger was the root of the problem. Thanks to that, the righteous faction was desperately trying to capture me, the man knew well.

“Damn it all. How did this Firework Demon (Hwagongma)…”

Just as the man muttered with annoyance.

“Hwagongma?”

He flinched.

A voice came from behind him.

Where the Hwagongma turned back in surprise, a young punk stood there.

About six feet tall, a punk with a strangely fierce appearance.

But looking at the clothes he wore…

“Cheongryongdae…?”

Cheongryongdae. It was martial attire from a very familiar place.

“Hah…! The Alliance’s dog has come this far already!”

The Hwagongma sneered. Just when I thought I could catch my breath, are these the real Alliance guys now?

“What did that merchant girl say? Just because you got a taste of me, why are you bothering people like this!?”

He roared, mixing in annoyance, but the punk remained silent. Just staring at him fixedly.

‘What’s this?’

What’s with that reaction? Is he scared? Well, that’s natural.

Because I am…

“The Hwagongma from the Five Demonic Masters?”

“Yes, I am one of the Five Demonic Masters.”

A great leader of the Demonic Sect. Because I was one of the Five Demonic Masters.

“Ah.”

Only then did the punk nod. As if he had realized something.

“… So you’re that punk who got cocky and died.”

“What did you say?”

“Ah, nothing. So, why are you here?”

Casually moving the corpses aside, the punk walked over. Seeing that, the Hwagongma frowned.

‘What is it?’

The atmosphere is strange.

The way he casually stepped over the corpses of fellow righteous faction members. And those emotionless eyes.

“… You’re not from the righteous faction, are you?”

No matter how I looked, they weren’t the eyes of a righteous faction member. They were deeper and much more ominous.

As the Hwagongma asked suspiciously.

Pishik.

The punk laughed.

“Roughly the same.”

What kind of crap answer is that? I don’t know if he’s saying yes or no.

‘Whatever.’

It doesn’t matter. Who that guy was didn’t hold much significance.

“You came alone?”

“As you can see. I don’t really have friends.”

“Oh?”

So you’re alone?

I definitely don’t feel any presence nearby. Realizing that, the Hwagongma laughed.

“Punk. Know this one thing.”

“What is it.”

“You’ve made the wrong choice right now. You should have run when I didn’t notice you. That’s how you would have lived.”

You should have run instead of calling out to me. If you had, you would have lived. But you deliberately revealed yourself. In that case, there’s nothing I can do.

‘Even if corpses pile up like mountains, it’s meaningless.’

It’s a place already filled with the smell of blood anyway. Even if there were corpses, monsters would appear and devour them quickly.

“No matter who you are, you won’t even leave bones behind.”

As the Hwagongma spoke, he moved to lick his sword with his tongue.

But.

“Huh?”

Strangely, his tongue didn’t reach the sword.

“What… Huh?”

Only then did he realize.

“Wha…?”

His arm was gone. His right arm, which held the sword, had been ripped clean off.

‘What is this?’

What is this…

“Kuaaak!!”

The pain finally hitting him, the Hwagongma screamed.

“Looking for this?”

In front of him, the punk held an arm. It was his arm.

“Huk… Kkeoeok…”

His arm was ripped off before he could even feel the pain. With trembling eyes, the moment the Hwagongma looked back at the punk.

“You should know one thing too.”

Blue eyes met his.

“You wouldn’t have been able to escape anyway. Because I never intended to let you go.”

The moment he saw the eyes, the Hwagongma’s body stiffened.

“I have a few questions. Do you have some time?”

“Ugh… Eugh…”

He couldn’t speak properly.

Hwa-reuk.

Chi-i-i-ik-!

“Kuaaaaaak!!!!”

The sudden searing pain in his shoulder, the Hwagongma shrieked.

“Answer me. If you don’t want to die.”

Even amidst the screams, the punk, Gu Yangcheon, spoke nonchalantly.

Hearing that, the Hwagongma, even while screaming, was certain.

‘This guy…’

He’s definitely not a righteous faction human. Not only that, but not a righteous faction human.

‘… He’s a devil.’

He’s not even human.

It was the moment the Hwagongma, who had seen countless villains, became certain.