Thoughts gradually faded and disappeared.
It wasn't about fear or trembling. The moment they faced the killing intent radiating from Heaven Killer, all thoughts vanished from their minds.
This killing intent made everything they had endured and overcome until now seem like child's play. Before that overwhelming pressure, all living beings held their breath.
Intent-Form Killing.
It was the moment they were forced to understand why the phrase "killing with will alone" existed.
Heaven Killer's gaze, reminiscent of the biting north wind from the North Sea, slowly swept over everyone remaining there.
It felt as if a person filled with intense malice was pressing an incredibly sharp blade against their neck. The pressure was such that the slightest finger movement would cause the blade to pierce their throat instantly. To those who didn't know what to do, Heaven Killer's voice murmured into their ears.
"Mount Hua… yes. It is Mount Hua. You have still managed to maintain your lineage well."
From that reaction alone, it was clear that this newly appeared high priest harbored a deep grudge against the Mount Hua Sect.
And the result of that grudge… anyone could predict.
Because Chung Myung and Jang Ilso, already worn out from fighting Dan Ja-Kang, could never handle that high priest. If it was impossible for those two, it was impossible for anyone here.
There was only one path left: escape.
It was better to survive by turning their backs than to resist meaninglessly against an unbeatable enemy. Wasn't that what Mount Hua had repeatedly emphasized to its disciples?
But…
'Is it really possible?'
To run away from that high priest?
They couldn't even continue thinking, much less attempt anything. All they could do was barely avoid collapsing on the spot. But how could they possibly escape from someone like that?
But just then, amidst the intense pressure, someone began to move. It wasn't Chung Myung, Baek Cheon, or even Jang Il-so, but someone else.
Step. Step.
All eyes poured onto the back of the man walking forward through the stiffened crowd.
A back not very broad.
One sleeve awkwardly empty and fluttering in the wind.
"Sa-Sasuk…"
A strained voice escaped from Baek Cheon's mouth. His sasuk, Un Geom, had moved forward alone.
Baek Cheon swallowed dryly without realizing it.
'Un Geom Sasuk!'
How could that be? It was already hard enough to endure without losing their minds in front of such deadly killing intent, so how could he move like that?
Baek Cheon looked at Un Geom with near horror.
Un Geom took his final step and stood facing Heaven Killer. Trembling as if it was difficult to straighten his body, he opened his mouth with a suppressed voice.
"Great… Mount Hua sect."
Those standing behind couldn't see Un Geom's expression. All they could see were his trembling shoulders and hear his voice. It was hardly a confident appearance.
But who would dare belittle that back? Un Geom standing alone facing Heaven Killer looked even more impressive than Heaven Killer himself who had intimidated them, at least to the eyes of Mount Hua disciples.
"…I am called Un Geom, the First class disciple."
Heaven Killer silently glared at Un Geom with cold eyes. At that moment, the intense pressure that weighed on the others lessened. But that meant even greater pressure was now placed on Un Geom.
But Un Geom continued speaking to the end.
"…Do you have business with Mount Hua?"
"Ha…?"
Heaven Killer let out a hollow laugh as if incredulous.
Of course, they might not know what happened between Mount Hua and the Demonic Cult in the past. But even so, wasn't this question utterly unreasonable?
They had just been at war with the Demonic Cult, pushing the High priest Dan Ja-Kang to the brink of death. And now, they were asking Heaven Killer about business?
"Hahahahaha!"
Heaven Killer finally burst into loud laughter.
"Business…"
Then suddenly wiping away his laughter, he coldly glared at Un Geom and asked.
"Then what do you intend to do if I do?"
"…"
"If I decided to kill you all right here and now, would you try to stop me, descendant of Mount Hua?"
"…"
"With that feeble abilities?"
Heaven Killer slowly shook his head as if emphasizing the point.
"It's absurd. You may bear the name of Mount Hua, but you possess none of its power. Compared to those I had to respect even as enemies, you are less than a worm. Yet you dare stand before me?"
At that moment, the overwhelming killing intent from Heaven Killer was fully directed at Un Geom.
"You who have inherited nothing but the two words 'Mount Hua'?"
"Gulp!"
Black blood gushed from Un Geom's mouth. The killing intent, too intense to describe, completely shook his qi.
Un Geom, wounded internally by the pressure alone, coughed up black blood several times before wiping his mouth with his remaining arm.
"…It seems there has been a misunderstanding."
Though his face was pale from internal injuries, Un Geom's expression looked somewhat more at ease than before.
"I also know my place. I don't dream such high dreams."
"Then why did you dare stand before me?"
"…You are also someone in a higher position, so you would understand."
"Hmm?"
Un Geom smiled faintly with much difficulty.
"Even if my ability is lacking, if I have those who follow me… at least I must die first."
Un Geom gripped the sword at his waist. His hand no longer trembled.
"As you said, my ability may be less than a worm in your eyes. But people can also die from a worm's bite at times. If I'm lucky, I might save even one more person."
Heaven Killer's eyes narrowed.
"Is your life worth only that much?"
"Only that much…?"
Un Geom bared his teeth and laughed. His expression was endlessly bright, but the blood-soaked figure evoked a strange eeriness.
"Where else is there a matter more valuable than that?"
Heaven Killer silently watched Un Geom for a moment, seemingly intrigued.
Just by looking, one could tell that this was all Un Geom could do now. Yet he never backed down. He was literally enduring while chipping away at his soul.
Heaven Killer slowly nodded.
"You have not inherited only the name I see."
Heaven Killer took his gaze off Un Geom and looked at the distant sky, as if recalling old memories.
"Even after a hundred years, even if its power is lost, Mount Hua is still Mount Hua…"
Heaven Killer's expression softened momentarily. At the same time, the intense killing intent that seemed ready to slash everything around vanished as if washed away.
"I got a little excited."
Everyone looked at Heaven Killer with suspicious faces. Heaven Killer slowly shook his head and said.
"No need to look at me like that. I will not harm you here today."
"…"
"Of course, don't misunderstand my actions. The cult shows no mercy to lowly unbelievers. Especially those who use the name Mount Hua with theirs—I honestly don't want to spare even an ant. But…"
Heaven Killer glanced elsewhere. There lay the scattered ashes of Dan Ja-Kang.
"Everyone has their positions assigned."
"…"
"Erasing Mount Hua's traces from the world is an unavoidable duty given to me, but inheriting what the apostate intended is something a Cultist must avoid. So you will not die. At least not here today."
"Heh heh heh heh."
At that moment, a low laugh burst out.
Heaven Killer's gaze naturally turned toward the source of the laughter. A man dressed outrageously was covering his mouth as if struggling to hold back laughter.
Heaven Killer silently stared at him, and Jang Ilso waved his hand.
"Ah, sorry. You were speaking seriously."
"…"
"But I'm a bit twisted. When someone acts like they hold my life by the throat, it's hard to hold back laughter."
Heaven Killer narrowed his eyes at Jang Il-so and shook his head.
"The Central Plains have changed a lot."
"…"
"Yes, enough time has passed. A hundred years have gone by, enough to forget us."
Heaven Killer slowly looked around.
A land of unparalleled devastation. Almost nothing remained, but he could clearly feel the aura of death that had engulfed this place.
A city had vanished. All lives within it were gone. But…
"Don't think this is all there is. What you have seen is only a fragment of the Cult's power."
"…"
"You will know. Even if you don't want to remember the past, you will recall it. Unbelievers of the Central Plains."
At that moment, an indescribable solemnity blossomed on Heaven Killer's face.
"Soon, HE will return."
Everyone's hearts dropped.
Who here would not understand who "HE" referred to from those words? Among those in the Demonic Cult, only one being could make even a High priest so reverent.
"Then, you will face it. The predetermined outcome. An unavoidable fate."
Heaven Killer turned around.
"Until then… enjoy the remaining time given to you. Though it may not be much."
Heaven Killer moved forward indifferently. Or rather, tried to.
But what grabbed his ankle was a flat voice that pierced his ear.
"That's not it, is it?"
Heaven Killer stopped and glanced back without moving his body. There stood a young Mount Hua swordsman, still bearing a youthful innocence.
Chung Myung spoke softly.
"It's not that you don't kill, but that you can't kill. Isn't that right?"
"…"
"What should we do about this?"
The teasing voice seemed to pierce Heaven Killer's heart.
"You never know. Among the people killed here by those who ran wild because you couldn't control them… there might have been that proud Heavenly Demon brat? Isn't that right?"
"You…"
Grinding teeth!
Heaven Killer gritted his teeth. Suddenly, his eyes bloodshot—not because of martial energy, but purely from overwhelming rage causing the veins in his eyes to burst.
"Hahahahaha!"
Seeing that, Chung Myung laughed like a madman.
"Are you angry?"
"…You, bastard…"
"Then what will you do to me? Try to kill me?"
Everyone could clearly feel the tremendous anger Heaven Killer emitted. But unlike before, his anger was not directed as hostility toward them.
"No. You can't."
Chung Myung sneered crookedly.
"I am."
"Eee…"
"I might be the Heavenly Demon for all, you know? Isn't that right?"
"BRATTTTTTT!"
A scream filled with deep resentment, intense malice, and foul-smelling grudge erupted. Red blood trickled down from the corner of Heaven Killer's eye.