CHAPTER 508: EPILOGUE EARTH DEMON (5)

The map handed over by the Supreme Pavilion Lord clearly marked the location of Wang Mo-rok’s residence.

It was about 9 kilometers away from the northern village of Silver Demon Hall.

He might be temporarily elsewhere, but judging by the marked location, it seemed best to head towards the residence.

‘Lucky me.’

Upon arriving at the destination, he scouted around his house and found him deeply engrossed in training on the hill behind.

Seol-Hwi considered speaking to him briefly but didn’t want to disturb someone in the midst of training.

‘I need to provoke him…’

Sitting on a chair at the homestead, he fell into thought for a moment.

How could he bring him to his side?

It was clear that Wang Mo-rok wouldn’t be swayed by ordinary persuasion.

Even after the successor struggle began, he showed no intention of joining, likely having been persuaded multiple times by the First, Second and Third Disciples.

Yet, his continued presence here meant he had rejected all their offers.

‘There’s no other way…’

It seemed best to change his appearance first.

If he knew Seol-Hwi was the Fourth Disciple, he’d be on guard, making persuasion even more difficult.

‘This appearance should do.’

Transforming into the face of the past Seol-Hwi, he decided to wait for his return.

Persuasion through words seemed unlikely, so finding an answer through force seemed more promising.

Saaaah.

About three hours passed.

At dusk, he heard a presence from afar.

It gradually drew closer until he finally opened the small door and entered.

“Hmm…”

Wang Mo-rok walked briskly and wiped his sweat with a towel hanging on the wall.

He caught his breath for a moment before speaking.

“What brings you here?”

In response to his question, Seol-Hwi calmly replied.

“Came to see you.”

“Me?”

Wang Mo-rok finally focused on him.

His familiar face, with only a few strands of hair left on his shiny head, looked unusually serious.

“For what reason?”

“For a rather meaningful reason.”

“Do you know who I am?”

“I know.”

“Then….”

Swish.

His expression suddenly turned icy.

“You do realize you could die for acting so cocky, right?”

“Hey, baldhead.”

Seol-Hwi leisurely stood up and said,

“You can’t beat me.”

“…?”

“You’re dealing with me, after all.”

“Ha….”

True to his expressive nature, his face changed by the second.

Seol-Hwi read his emotions.

There were probably only a handful of people in the main sect who could rival him, and he knew them all.

But now, a stranger appeared, claiming to be able to defeat him, stirring curiosity, doubt, and obviously, anger.

“I don’t know where you came from….”

Anger was at the forefront of his emotions.

Yet, he didn’t rush in, maintaining his composure, perhaps not ruling out the slim possibility.

The slight suspicion that there might be someone in the main cult, unknown to him, who surpassed his skills held him back.

“I’ll listen to why you’ve come all this way.”

His cautious demeanor seemed unlike him, so Seol-Hwi attempted to provoke him once more.

“It’s nothing special. I wanted to make a bet.”

“A bet?”

“Yes.”

Seol-Hwi pointed at him and spoke.

“If you can leave even the slightest scratch on me, I’ll grant you anything you want.”

“Even if you say you’ll grant anything, do you even have anything that will benefit me?”

“Of course, I have the formula for a hair growth tonic you need.”

“……!”

‘There’s a reaction.’

In the past, when Sa Yu-kang proposed it, it didn’t even get a bite, but this time, it was met with interest.

“Oh, that’s quite an intriguing proposal.”

Seol-Hwi wasn’t sure if someone who had reached the peak of martial arts would be obsessed with a mere formula, but he didn’t bother to ask.

As long as it works out in the end, right?

“Then, if I win…”

Seol-Hwi looked at him intently and continued.

“Become my subordinate.”

“…That’s not difficult.”

Boom.

As soon as he finished speaking, the ground beneath him cracked.

Moreover, a deep green energy began to swirl around his body.

Clearly, he didn’t seem to entertain the thought of losing at all.

‘Well, let’s see, shall we?’

Seol-Hwi gestured leisurely.

At that moment.

Swoosh—

He charged forward immediately.

And when the distance closed to a single step, he unleashed his qi, curiously aiming not at him, but at the ground below.

Boom!

The force of qi exploded at close range, causing the ground to erupt.

With the condensed, absolute power of his fist, the ground shot up tens of feet.

Rumble—

Even though he struck the ground, it was with the force of his fist.

Even without a direct hit, the shock alone would have transmitted thirty percent of its power.

This was his way of showing restraint and expressing curiosity about the hair growth formula.

“Heh heh heh. I thought I was being careful… Did I kill you or what?”

As the dust began to clear, his face hardened.

And after seeing Seol-Hwi completely unharmed, his eyes widened in shock.

“Is this the start?”

When Seol-Hwi casually prompted, he shouted in desperation.

“You… how are you still alive?”

“What do you mean?”

“How are you still alive?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

Swoosh.

Seol-Hwi casually rotated his arm and said,

“Hasn’t it started yet?”

“……”

“Come on, let’s begin.”

For a moment, Wang Mo-rok’s expression became peculiar.

Then, with a face full of words, he lowered his head and groaned.

“Uuuuugh.”

His face seemed about to burst with blood vessels and muscles swelling.

It was as if he was squeezing every ounce of his qi in his body.

After the failure of the first attack, it seemed he was ready to give his all this time.

“Roooar!”

It was indeed a stronger force than before. Seeing the stones on the ground float in the air, it seemed he was not just releasing qi but packing it tightly with his resolve.

“Then now, let’s st—”

Whoosh!

In the middle of his response, qi flew from Seol-Hwi’s hand, brushing past him.

It moved like the wind, without any apparent motion or power, leaving him unable to react.

“……”

At first, Wang Mo-rok intended to ignore it.

But as an unimaginable roar, like gu-gu-gu-gu, kwaaang— resounded, his head turned naturally.

“Ah……”

A groan of both shock and awe escaped his mouth.

Even his voice trembled slightly.

And for good reason, the sight before him was hard to believe—A massive hole pierced through an entire mountain, stretching endlessly.

“Oh, sorry.”

At that moment, Seol-Hwi raised his hand.

And looking at Wang Mo-rok, who was still turned away, he spoke.

“I didn’t realize it hadn’t started yet. If I was rude, I apologize.”

Wang Mo-rok was still staring at the pierced mountain.

He seemed to need time to process this phenomenon.

When he finally turned back to him after standing there for a while, Seol-Hwi spoke.

“Then, give the signal.”

And then, with a serious expression, Seol-Hwi rotated his shoulders.

“When it begins, I’ll act immediately.”

He gazed at him with a dazed expression.

This time, he didn’t exude any qi.

He simply spoke in a calm, or perhaps somewhat bewildered, voice.

“Then now…”

Boom.

The ground shook. Not just a slight tremor, but a shock that felt as if the entire earth was quaking.

All Seol-Hwi did was stomp his foot on the ground.

“Yes. I’m ready.”

Gulp.

There was the sound of swallowing.

His face was still frozen, but if one looked closely, it was clear he was gripped by fear.

“St… Start…”

His jaw trembled visibly, as if he had already realized the outcome.

To ease his discomfort, Seol-Hwi spoke up.

“Ah, let’s not do this. Could you perhaps do me a favor?”

He responded as if he’d been waiting forever.

“Just tell me what you need.”

Thus, a negotiation that wasn’t quite a negotiation was settled.

----------------------------------------

Entering the room where Wang Mo-rok resided, Seol-Hwi began to share his story.

He explained his identity and the reason he was needed in the succession battle.

“Ah, indeed. Indeed…”

Hearing that Seol-Hwi was a disciple of the Cult Leader, his face brightened. Perhaps it was a mix of relief that he hadn’t been defeated by someone unknown.

“But aren’t you the Heavenly Killing Star?”

“There’s a story behind that too.”

Seol-Hwi glossed over it.

Seol-Hwi mentioned that he had the aura of the Heavenly Killing Star but had overcome it.

Wang Mo-rok was visibly astonished.

The idea of overcoming the Heavenly Killing Star, which was said to be certain death, seemed to strike him as mysterious.

“Then, have you perhaps reached a certain level?”

“Perhaps I’ve surpassed the Supreme Demon state?”

“Ah!”

His expressions were truly varied.

He initially looked as if he couldn’t be more surprised, but now he wore an even more astonished expression.

Since he was someone who had reached the peak of martial arts and gained the world, he seemed almost like a divine being.

“Then, instead of being a disciple, shouldn’t you just become the Cult Leader…?”

It was a dangerous statement, but there was a basis for it.

Though it was known that the Heavenly Demon had reached a transcendental state, he might have thought Seol-Hwi was beyond even that.

“There’s a story behind that.”

“What kind of…?”

“I’ll tell you when the time is right.”

Seol-Hwi deflected the question lightly. There was no need to tell Wang Mo-rok everything in full detail.

“Understood.”

As Wang Mo-rok nodded, Seol-Hwi decided to wrap up today’s matters.

It might seem trivial, but it was quite an important task.

“Let’s summarize today’s events. You decided to follow me because you were persuaded through our conversation, right?”

“Uh? Conversation?”

Wang Mo-rok questioned back.

Seol-Hwi strengthened his voice and continued,

“Wasn’t it through conversation? I didn’t engage in a power struggle, but rather led you to cooperate through proper dialogue.”

“Ah, ah…”

Wang Mo-rok, darting his eyes around, quickly nodded when he met his serious gaze.

“Yes, I was persuaded by the disciple’s words to lend his strength.”

“That’s right. Fortunately, a big fight didn’t break out.”

Conversation—This was a very important matter.

To persuade Yu Pae, what was needed was ultimately character.

The rumor that he could persuade masters through dialogue needed to spread to shake his heart.

“Then just give me your orders. I will do my utmost.”

“Yes. That’s a good attitude. Now, before I assign you any tasks, guide me to a place.”

“Guide you?”

“Yes.”

Seol-Hwi finally revealed his true intention.

“Do you know where Elder Dam Cheon resides?”

“Ah, yes. I certainly do.”

“Lead me there.”

Wang Mo-rok paused with a puzzled expression before asking.

“May I ask why?”

“For the same reason as with you—To make him one of my own.”

“Ah…”

At those words, Wang Mo-rok’s expression stiffened, as if he had much to say.

“Why is that?”

Seol-Hwi inquired.

“With all due respect, I know of your greatness, but the elder’s nature is not one to serve under another…”

“Don’t worry, I have a plan. Just show me where he lives.”

Wang Mo-rok still looked concerned, but Seol-Hwi offered no further explanation to ease his mind.

After all, he had met that old man in a past life.

Seol-Hwi definitely had a way to persuade him.