Chapter 74. He closed the door without realizing a demon had come out (4)

"Look at that scene."

Shiver.

Gwaksa trembled.

Jeong Ilryong spoke without even glancing at him.

"Isn't it truly ironic? Beasts that aren't even human submitting to real beasts."

"Ugh."

"This world of martial arts is filled with illusions.

A knight who draws his sword to save a family from injustice, the romantic exchanges of wine cups on a sailboat due to a friendly duel without any grudges...

Every martial artist who plunges into the world of martial arts harbors such illusions."

"..."

"But the world of martial arts is merely one aspect of the world. Though I don't like it, it operates according to the principle of the strong preying on the weak, as those demon cultists shout.

Ultimately, it's the rule of the beasts that eat and are eaten."

Jeong Ilryong's smile, which seemed almost divine, was as deep and dark as his noble appearance.

"People are ultimately beasts. Whether they kill by biting or deceiving, they kill and kill again to claim the top spot."

Jeong Ilryong turned his head to Gwaksa.

Gwaksa involuntarily squeezed his eyes shut. Jeong Ilryong's clear gaze was terrifying.

"In a world of beasts, morality and norms are worthless. Climbing endlessly to the highest place is the reason we exist in this world, is it not?"

Jeong Ilryong turned his head again.

In his eyes, Juhwa, whose hair was being held by Yullang, came into view.

"And those who sit at the top can strip the rights of those below them."

Grin.

The noble smile he had been showing twisted endlessly. It was bewildering how such an expression could come from his elegant appearance.

"Today is truly a pleasant day in many ways."

Behind the pure smile, the desire of a demon more vicious than those who proclaim the world as evil (惡) raged.

He had desired the ultimate throne but ultimately stepped back in the face of a stronger power. The defeated one still couldn't give up his dream.

Higher, stronger, more superior.

Behind him, where he stood, a red lightning bolt, surrounded by explosive killing intent, flashed.

* * *

Yeon shouted.

"Everyone, stop! Stand by!"

Rumble.

The demons and the wolves stopped their attacks.

The demons could do so, but it was unexpected that the wolves' attacks had ceased. Yullang had stopped the Blood Wolf Pack.

Yullang looked around.

A fine crack appeared on his usually expressionless face.

"I lost to eight of those scoundrels... Clearly, I am lacking."

Squeal.

The wolves retreated, bowing their heads deeply. They seemed terrified.

Yullang looked down at Juhwa.

Apart from her swollen cheek, her expression remained unchanged. However, the shock and anger in her trembling eyes revealed her feelings.

Yullang's eyes sank deeply.

Smack!

"Keh!"

Juhwa's waist bent. She had been hit in the abdomen again with a knee.

"That's not a fitting expression for a loser."

Yeon gritted her teeth.

"You! Can't you release her right now!"

Yullang turned his gaze to Yeon.

Instantly, Yeon felt her legs go weak.

'What kind of gaze is this...'

It wasn't a human gaze. It wasn't even a beast's gaze.

The fear of the Evil Eye, which she had only felt from high-ranking figures in the inner circle. His gaze was similar to that unknown terror which seemed impossible to exist in this world.

Rumble.

A demonic aura rose from Yeon's body. It was as if another beast, facing a threatening predator, was raising its fur.

Yullang smiled.

Slowly raising his arm, he pointed at Yeon.

"Die."

"What?"

At that moment, Madongphil, who had regained his senses, shouted.

"Get away...!"

Crack!

In an instant, a giant wolf leaped and tore off Yeon's neck and upper body.

Crunch! Crack!

The merciless jaws crushed her bones. The light in Yeon's eyes vanished.

Yullang said coldly.

"Since you killed her, she's yours. Finish her off cleanly."

Crunch!

In front of everyone, the wolf swallowed a person whole.

The demons' faces turned pale. Although Juhwa had the highest status, Yeon was the actual leader who had been leading them.

The sight of their leader being torn apart by a wolf like a calf was a shock in itself.

Madongphil's eyes wavered.

'How could this happen.'

Yeon was a skilled martial artist. Although she was below him and Juhwa, she was a demon who could be called a peak martial artist.

She could have avoided the attack. Why didn't she notice the wolf coming at her?

At that moment, Yullang turned his head to Madongphil.

"You were quite active. I don't know how many Blood Wolves you killed."

"!"

"But I'm not the type to overlook the effort I put into raising them, even if they can be raised again."

Madongphil felt his muscles stiffen.

The moment he met Yullang's eerie gaze, his nerves went wild. His heart raced, and his hands and feet turned cold.

'That gaze!'

Yullang was a great martial artist.

But his body wasn't reacting to his aura. The bizarre gaze was binding his opponent's body with invisible chains.

Yullang raised his hand again.

The thick, long finger pointed at Madongphil.

"Die as well."

Bang!

Madongphil charged.

He charged directly at Yullang, not anywhere else. His intention was to kill the leader of this group before any attack could come.

A faint admiration appeared on Yullang's face.

"Excellent."

Bang!

"Keh!"

Madongphil was sent flying backward.

It wasn't Yullang who did it. He was hit by the tail of the Blood Wolf Pack leader, who had approached unnoticed.

The body of the Blood Wolf Pack leader was as strong as steel. Being hit by his tail was like being struck by a piece of metal.

Gulp!

Blood gushed from his nose and mouth. The trembling of his body testified to the severe internal injuries.

'Dangerous.'

The internal bleeding was severe. His remaining true qi was raging, and intense pain rose from his tangled muscles and broken ribs.

Combat was impossible. If he moved recklessly, he would die without even being able to attack.

"Third Squad Leader."

A groan mixed with Juhwa's voice.

Yullang looked around and shouted.

"The prey is everywhere. Eat your fill..."

"Run away!"

Juhwa shouted again, spitting blood.

"Everyone, run away! Quickly report this situation to the branch..."

Smack!

Juhwa's words were cut off. Her face, which had been hit in the abdomen three times in a row, turned pale.

Even if he held back, Yullang was a man with a body dangerous enough to kill a first-class martial artist with his external skills alone.

It was impressive that she had held on this long.

Madongphil shouted in a hoarse voice.

"Quickly, flee..."

The members of the third squad clenched their teeth.

The squad leader's orders were absolute. As soon as Madongphil's words were spoken, they tried to flee immediately.

But it was impossible. Not because Madongphil was overpowered, but because they couldn't actually flee.

Swoosh.

The Blood Wolves surrounded them from all sides.

That wasn't all. Between the Blood Wolves, unknown beasts began to appear one by one.

Not only the dozens of wolf packs spread across the surrounding hills, but also two tigers and wild dogs had gathered.

The beasts that appeared didn't growl. They all had red eyes, drooling, and stared at the group as if under a spell.

They had the appearance of beasts but didn't act like them. The newly appeared beasts were even more terrifying than the Blood Wolves.

"Ugh!"

One of the demons clenched his teeth and charged. He aimed for the gap between the Blood Wolves and the ordinary wolves.

"Get out of the way, you things!"

Smack!

Two wolves were crushed by the demon's sword.

But.

Snap!

The wolves, charging recklessly, bit the demon's limbs.

"Ah!"

As he spun to throw them off, the wolves surprisingly held on until the end. It wasn't the strength of ordinary wolves.

Hiss.

A Blood Wolf, which had appeared behind the demon, bit his head.

Crunch!

It was a futile death.

Yullang smiled.

"Being torn apart alive is probably better than dying like that."

There was no resistance. In a situation where they couldn't even move a finger, the fear in the group reached its peak.

Thud.

When Yullang let go, Juhwa fell to the ground.

Yullang, looking down at her, slightly lifted the corner of his mouth. The exposed flesh between her torn clothes stimulated the beast's instincts.

"If I had the time, I would have ravaged her all night before killing her."

Shiver.

Juhwa looked up at Yullang with a fierce gaze.

Yullang looked around and shouted.

"It's time to eat!"

Roar! Roar! Roar!

The beasts, roaring fiercely, charged at once.

Madongphil and Juhwa squeezed their eyes shut.

* * *

Jeong Ilryong stroked his beard.

"Hmm, this is unexpected. I thought he would humiliate them in front of everyone."

The victor has the right to take everything from the loser. Even if they were going to be killed, he thought Yullang would at least enjoy some amusement.

Jeong Ilryong, looking at Juhwa, licked his lips.

"Of course, he probably didn't want to possess a stinky woman from the demon path."

He stood up.

"It seems to be almost over, so I'll prepare to move... Hmm?"

Jeong Ilryong frowned.

He looked at the back of his hand.

'...?'

The hair on the back of his hand stood up.

Not only that, his spine felt cold, and goosebumps rose on the back of his neck. In contrast, blood rushed to his face, making it hot.

An ominous sign. His body reacted before his mind could register it.

'This feeling...'

Swoosh!

Startled, Jeong Ilryong turned around.

His eyes widened.

Crackle!

The oppressive aura emanating from a distance. The light flashing continuously was distorted with killing intent and anger.

Swoosh!

Without realizing it, Jeong Ilryong drew his sword. He didn't know who the opponent was or their strength, but he felt he had to.

'The direction of the killing intent...?'

Jeong Ilryong's face hardened.

'Me?!'

Boom!

The red lightning bolt, which had been shooting straight, suddenly changed direction.

The lightning bolt, which had leaped high into the sky, seemed about to attack but changed direction. However, the killing intent remained directed at him.

Jeong Ilryong's gaze followed the lightning bolt upward.

And then downward.

'...!!'

Something much redder and more ferocious than the blood-colored wolves charging from all sides landed on the ground.

Boom!

Yullang, Madongphil, Juhwa, and everyone else were startled.

Dust rose from the broken ground. Beyond the dust, a red light flickered repeatedly.

Rumble.

The wolves, which had been charging, stopped and lowered their heads. The wolves, baring their teeth, showed signs of caution in their eyes.

As the dust slowly settled,

A young man, carrying a giant sword, appeared.

The young man, Xuliang, growled more ferociously than the Blood Wolves.

"I came to crush one, but there's a pile of trash to clear away."