CHAPTER 509: EPILOGUE EARTH DEMON (6)

On the way to meet Dam Cheon, Wang Mo-rok asked,

“But what role am I supposed to take?”

It was bewildering to suddenly jump into the successor struggle, and he hadn’t heard about the assigned task for him yet, so he was asking Seol-Hwi.

“First, act as a guide, and later, accompany the Supreme Pavilion Lord.”

“The Supreme Pavilion Lord?”

His puzzled gaze turned to him.

“Yes. The assassins under the First Disciple might suddenly storm in to kill the Supreme Pavilion Lord. You should provide some protection if that happens.”

“Why would the First Disciple’s subordinates… Ah, never mind.”

Perhaps he felt it was odd to ask questions after deciding to become a subordinate.

He seemed curious about the reason, but he didn’t bother to voice it.

Thus, the two of them moved and arrived at their destination.

‘Huh? Is it here?’

Since it was a place in the woods, he stared at Wang Mo-rok.

He gestured and led Seol-Hwi to a massive rock.

“There’s nothing here…”

Standing in front of a rock the size of a house, Seol-Hwi noticed a crack in the rock just in time.

When he pointed to the fist-sized space, Wang Mo-rok smiled and nodded.

“Yes. He should be inside.”

“Inside here?”

“Yes.”

Only then did Seol-Hwi understand why he was hard to find.

Squeezing into such a narrow place, it was natural that passersby wouldn’t notice him.

“How did he get in?”

“I heard there’s a technique to make a person’s body as small as a fist. Perhaps he used that.”

“The Hidden Shadow Transformation Technique, I see.”

Seol-Hwi said it, but in truth, it’s nearly impossible to shrink one’s body to this extent with the Hidden Shadow Transformation Technique alone.

It was likely that he used a more advanced technique than that.

And if that’s the case, he wasn’t just any ordinary martial artist.

‘Was Dam Cheon a shaman?’

In the past, there was no opportunity to witness his abilities because events unfolded too chaotically.

‘Well, it is easier to understand considering how Songhwa turned into a chick back then.’

Seol-Hwi quickly gathered his thoughts and took a step back, speaking to Wang Mo-rok.

“Watch.”

“Yes?”

Wang Mo-rok blinked at his words.

Then, as if realizing his intention, he waved his hand dismissively.

“Hahaha. Just to clarify, this isn’t something that can be solved with brute force. And it’s not like Master Dam Cheon is just in a small crevice; I’ve heard you have to go almost a hundred feet inside…”

“Got it, so step aside.”

With that, he hurriedly retreated, still wearing a puzzled expression.

“Tsk.”

Seol-Hwi concentrated his qi in his hand.

After some thought, he concluded that something with definite destructive power was necessary.

That way, the commotion would cause him to come out on his own.

‘That’ll do.’

As he condensed his qi, the force began to rise.

Initially, it was a fierce wind, which soon transformed into searing heat that scorched the surroundings.

While heat surged inward, a bitter cold whirlwind swirled outward.

Then a massive convection formed, shaking the ground.

“Th-That… Absolute Supreme Demonic Arts!”

At that moment, Wang Mo-rok, standing beside him, gasped in shock.

The manifestation of the Four Supreme Demonic Arts—Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind.

The combination of all these elements was unmistakably the Absolute Supreme Demonic Arts.

“Yeah, that’s right.”

At that moment, Seol-Hwi unleashed the Absolute Supreme Demonic Arts he had been holding in his hand.

The effect was truly explosive.

Kuaaaang!

The massive boulder slid away like a roof tile, unleashing a thunderous roar.

Bang!Bang!Bang!

It repeatedly shattered and crushed the rocks inside.

Rumble.

The scene unfolded as if a part of the mountain had been pushed away.

“Surpassing the limits of the demonic…”

Wang Morok was once again left in awe, his expression dazed.

His face showed a lack of understanding.

“Wang Mo-rok, it seems you were right.”

“…Yes?”

“You said Dam Cheon is hiding deep inside. So, I’ll need to use more force this time.”

“W-Wait!”

Wang Mo-rok approached him in a panic, repeatedly mentioning, “He could die.”

But Seol-Hwi firmly replied,

“He should come out. Do you expect me to crawl in there?”

“No, it’s just… Let me try talking first…”

It was then.

“How dare you cause such a disturbance here!”

Had the martial arts display worked?

Through the dense sand mist, an old man shouted in displeasure as he approached.

It was clear at a glance that he was Dam Cheon.

“Ah, greetings.”

Seol-Hwi greeted him warmly as if nothing had happened. Yet, his mood did not seem pleasant.

Then, Dam Cheon’s gaze turned to Wang Mo-rok.

“Why are you here?”

“Ah, well, you see.”

Wang Mo-rok quickly explained the situation.

“It just happened that I was to bring you here. Let me introduce you. This is the Fourth Disciple of the cult.”

“Fourth Disciple?”

At those words, Dam Cheon’s expression shifted from displeasure to surprise.

He seemed taken aback by the unexpected response.

“Yes. What Wang Mo-rok said is true.”

“Then, for what purpose have you come here?”

“I’ve come to recruit you, elder.”

At his composed reply, his expression subtly shifted.

Recalling past experiences, Seol-Hwi thought he might find it absurd.

Yet, perhaps because of the mention of ‘Fourth Disciple,’ he seemed inclined to be courteous.

“Ah. You must not have heard the news yet, having just arrived.”

He kindly expressed his refusal in a roundabout way.

“I believe I have made it clear that I have no intention of serving under anyone.”

“I’m aware.”

“Then why have you come?”

“I heard you often have concerns, so I came to offer counsel.”

At those words, Dam Cheon’s expression instantly hardened.

It seemed that discussing past concerns had some effect.

After a brief silence, Dam Cheon spoke.

“I do have concerns. Would you care to hear them?”

He made the same proposal as in the past.

“Please, go ahead.”

“Bring me the head of the End Demon.”

“……”

“If you bring that, I’ll grant you anything.”

As those words fell, Wang Mo-rok showed a noticeably flustered reaction, but Seol-Hwi responded more calmly.

“What about someone else’s head instead of the First Disciple’s?”

“Who? Is there a head more valuable than the End Demon’s right now?”

“There is.”

“Whose?”

“Yours, Elder.”

“……”

“Isn’t that so?”

A brief silence followed.

Dam Cheon looked down at him with a peculiar gaze.

It was hard to tell if he was angry or surprised.

After that silence, Dam Cheon spoke first.

“I heard you possess the Heavenly Killing Star.”

“Indeed.”

“And yet you intend to confront me?”

“Yes.”

And once again, Dam Cheon remained silent.

Whether he was trying to engage in a battle of wills, he was staring intently at him.

Seol-Hwi decided to wait for him to speak.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking.”

After what seemed like a long deliberation, he finally spoke.

“If you die, your succession struggle ends. Yet you still wish to fight me?”

Seol-Hwi responded once more.

“Indeed. Other disciples couldn’t persuade you, either to save their own lives or to avoid unnecessary trouble. But for someone like me, with nothing to lose, I must stake that much to persuade you, don’t I?”

“Ho.”

Perhaps finding his response intriguing, Dam Cheon nodded.

“Indeed, you possess the caliber worthy of being chosen as a disciple by the leader.”

Then, extending his hand, he said,

“Come. I will see for myself if your spirit is genuine.”

He raised his hand.

It was a signal to attack.

‘He already knows I’m the Heavenly Killing Star.’

Seol-Hwi chose the straightforward approach.

Seol-Hwi could recruit him by force, but then he wouldn’t win his heart.

That would mean difficulties when recruiting Yu Pae in the future.

If that happened, he couldn’t envision the future world I sought.

‘When he sees the power of the Heavenly Killing Star, only then will he judge my sincerity.’

Using the weakness of the Heavenly Killing Star to persuade him—In a way, it was a gamble.

If the truth were revealed later, he might refuse to join.

But there was no other way.

‘The task to kill the End Demon is to see how one handles an impossible mission.’

Perhaps the proposal is a test.

Even if it’s not the correct answer, it seems like he wants to see if one can satisfy him with a solution.

Why did Jang Dal specifically choose to gain the Simulation ability from Dam Cheon in the past?

It’s because he’s such an important figure in this world.

“Then let’s begin.”

Seol-Hwi immediately began pressing the acupoints at his gesture.

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

‘Huh?’

Wang Mo-rok’s eyes widened in an instant.

He didn’t miss the moment Seol-Hwi pressed the acupoints.

“F-Fourth Disciple……”

His voice was filled with bewilderment.

His eyes seemed to ask, ‘Is there really a need for such an extreme choice?’

‘I’m not very good at acting, you see.’

Just mimicking the power of the Heaven Killing Star wasn’t quite enough.

So he chose to press the acupoints to draw out the qi.

To be precise, it was a ritual to release the sealed power of the Heaven Killing Star.

“Is it true? You’re going to make me your subordinate by unleashing the Heaven Killing Star……”

Did his clumsy act work?

Dam Cheon’s face was overtaken by blatant bewilderment.

He seemed to believe Seol-Hwi was genuinely about to end his life.

And at that moment.

“Wait.”

He shouted, urgently grabbing his wrist as Seol-Hwi was about to press more acupoints.

After a brief silence, he spoke.

“Why?”

“……?”

“Why are you making such an extreme choice?”

Though he didn’t use formal speech, his tone had softened considerably.

“To avoid bloodshed.”

“What do you mean?”

There was a hint of curiosity in Dam Cheon’s voice.

“To avoid bloodshed, strong power is needed, but……”

Seol-Hwi spoke with a bitter smile.

“As you can see, sir, I am someone who becomes powerless and dies after using absolute power just once.”

Seol-Hwi looked him straight in the eye and said,

“In this situation, I have two paths to choose from. One is to gather powerful followers to win this war. But that might not be the answer. What meaning is there in a war that leaves only scars, no matter who wins?”

“…So?”

“I have another path.”

At those words, Dam Cheon’s eyes wavered.

He showed interest in the idea of a path without fighting.

“Persuasion—Among those who follow the successors, there must be some who genuinely care for our Cult. Surely there are those who wish for this war to end without bloodshed, without death.”

Seol-Hwi spoke with conviction.

“But paradoxically, persuasion also requires strength. No one listens to the words of the weak. Therefore… I seek to borrow the power of the Heavenly Killing Star.”

“Borrow the power of the Heavenly Killing Star?”

“Yes.”

Seol-Hwi added the final words.

“If I cannot even persuade you, then the path I’m on loses its value. In that case, I would naturally accept my life ending here. What I proposed earlier was actually…”

Whether it would work or not, Seol-Hwi did not know.

However, at least this was the direction he had chosen for his life in this lifetime.

“It was not your life, but mine.”