Chapter 293

Chapter 293

Generally, the reason demons become stronger when they receive offerings of fear is simply because the demon’s own demonic energy increases.

When demonic energy increases, gigantic demons become stronger, demons whose specialty is fast speed or sharp claws become even swifter and sharper.

Demons that induce confusion can use even stronger illusion arts, and as for demons that can process demonic energy as they wish, as long as demonic energy permits, they can display power close to omnipotence. That’s the potential demonic energy possesses.

Currently, most of the Seven Great Demons standing at the pinnacle of demons know how to utilize that potential to the extreme.

Nakcheon, Toehui, Heukya, and most other Seven Great Demons are no different. They extract optimal uses case by case and use demonic energy, reaching the summit with that. The more demonic energy they have, the stronger they become because they can completely control that demonic energy.

Unusually for a Seven Great Demon, Muhyeong was a type of demon that couldn’t control demonic energy.

And for good reason—Muhyeong was a demon without a main body.

It was that kind of demon that couldn’t pursue greater strength or faster speed.

“Haaaaah…….”

A village in front of the front lines.

Watching the villagers who had been moving and living just moments ago now blankly staring into space, Muhyeong let out an intoxicated sigh. A long, drawn-out sigh like belching after a meal.

“Not bad, but not exceptional…….”

The demon called Muhyeong is a demon that eats humans.

This happens in a different way from other demons ‘eating’ humans. Muhyeong doesn’t eat human flesh but devours the human itself.

Muhyeong can steal all the memories and history of humans it directly killed and took life from, making them its own. Making that body, that flesh, its own, and even pulling out and using that flesh as it wishes as long as demonic energy permits.

Being able to pull out and use those it killed means, conversely, that it can’t pull them out if it doesn’t kill them. And.

Therefore, Muhyeong always thirsted for the strong.

No matter how much Muhyeong increased its demonic energy, what increased was only ‘capacity,’ not ‘strength.’

‘Humans are a strange species……’

The strong don’t hesitate to move to protect the weak. In most cases, they don’t back down even in the face of death to protect the weak—a strange species.

That strangeness would be a blessing for it. If it attacks weak places, eventually the strong will flock over and offer their necks.

“First, Dianqiang Sect Leader.”

Sareureureuk!

Watching shadows rise and take the form of Dianqiang’s Five Swords it had eaten, Muhyeong wore a thick smile. The prey it was aiming for in this Yunnan was one.

‘Dianqiang Sword Sage.’

Though humans are said to be weaker than demons, not everyone is like that. If humans properly unite, killing one of the Seven Great Demons except Heukya wouldn’t be difficult.

Dianqiang Sword Sage is one of the especially outstanding among them. Among those who haven’t ‘molted,’ he possesses strength that ranks at the top.

‘I’ll devour Dianqiang Sect Leader, then devour Dianqiang Sword Sage after that. Then next…… Sichuan.’

The Ten Celestials, Chillyun, and even the Three Lords—devour them all.

After devouring all the strong of the human world and using that strength as the foundation to devour the Seven Great Demons one by one. And after devouring even Heukya with that martial power, what remains is one thing.

‘I will become the Demon King.’

I will sit on the throne of demons, and thus on the throne of the world.

So that no one can look down on me.

“──This way!!!”

Seureureuk!

Immersed in sentiment and wearing a faint smile, Muhyeong turned its head at the presence felt from afar. Discovering a group entering from the village entrance. Something strangely disrupting its senses.

‘Humans?’

At a glance, they’re martial artists. And not the chilling, domineering energy of the Unorthodox or Demonic paths, but the clear and pure energy characteristic of the Orthodox path.

‘I didn’t hear there would be additional reinforcements.’

Well, I can find out from now on.

“For guests to come to such a remote place.”

Casually wearing an artificial smile and moving its steps, Muhyeong looked directly at the opponent. A strange group consisting of two women and six men.

“This is a Murim Alliance operation area. Passage should have been prohibited… Young Masters?”

“Are you the Sect Leader of Silyong Scholar Sect?”

“That’s correct. I’m Yubaek.”

“We’re reinforcements.”

At the sight of the white-robed man casually responding at the front, Muhyeong tilted its head. Clearly it had submitted a false report saying there were no problems, so what reinforcements?

“Reinforcements? We haven’t particularly requested reinforcements.”

“We didn’t come because we received a request.”

“Then…….”

“We came of our own judgment, determining this side was dangerous. We also need to investigate the incident that occurred at the border.”

“Ah, you mean the Five Swords and Changcheon Corps……?”

Continuing to speak before narrowing its eyes at a familiar face, Muhyeong let out a small exclamation after recognizing the opponent. Because it was a man in the memories of someone it had devoured.

‘Uicheon Sect Leader Baekri Un……’

Former Changcheon Corps Captain, current Uicheon Sect Leader. A man outstanding in improvisation whose martial power even reaches the top ranks of Jianghu martial arts.

According to ‘Sugak’s’ memories, he’s a very excellent human. Though he doesn’t possess martial power at the level of Dianqiang Sword Sage or other Ten Celestials he’s aiming for, he’s a talent who could easily claim the position right below that.

‘A gourd rolled in on the vine.’

Uicheon Sect Leader is good, and those behind him also have quite usable energy from the feel of it.

‘Disposing of them right here would cause too much damage.’

I’ll change them out one by one and aim for Uicheon Sect Leader last—then I can catch him without difficulty.

Briefly rolling its eyes while judging the situation, Muhyeong smiled broadly.

“I welcome you.”

Thinking these people would soon become one with itself.

The village is somewhat strange.

“The atmosphere is odd.”

“What? What do you mean!”

“I’m saying the village’s atmosphere is strange.”

“It looks fine to my eyes!!!”

“Then your eyes must be wrong.”

Seong-uk, who had been tearing and chewing tough jerky packed as a bundle, tilted his head at my mutterings. Soon, Seohwa, who immediately responded to my gaze and nodded, spoke.

“It’s definitely strange.”

“What’s strange?”

“Well, it’s too peaceful.”

“Peaceful……?”

“I mean it’s too peaceful for villagers who heard news that demons are swarming around.”

“Ah! Definitely!”

Watching Seong-uk chime in, I shook my head and casually turned my gaze around. As Seohwa said, the village was extremely peaceful.

People, by nature, are animals that can’t help but worry much.

Especially those living in remote places like this react sensitively to demon movements because demon attacks aren’t other people’s business. Even a single miscellaneous demon that’s nothing to martial artists can cause damage close to disaster if it infiltrates such a village.

People worry so much that most Martial Corps or sects, when going out for demon subjugation, often don’t even say they’re going out for subjugation. Because there are many who tremble in anxiety just from knowing they’re fighting demons, they often just handle it quietly and make post-announcements.

What about this place now?

“Not a single person is anxious. They’re continuing what they were doing…….”

“Isn’t it because they think it’s safe since martial artists are here!!!”

“No. If martial artists are staying in the village, they should be more anxious. Because it means this place could become a battlefield.”

“……I didn’t think that far!”

“Either way, it’s definitely strange.”

Hmm.

Looking around before casually turning my gaze to those behind me.

“What do you think, Hyungnim? And Jeokyeol.”

“……I do think it’s strange. Because everyone’s breathing is uniform.”

“Their breathing is uniform?”

“Yes.”

Nodding heavily, Jeokyeol rubbed the sword at his waist with his wrist and continued.

“If you associate with martial artists for a long time, you can forget this, but originally people’s breathing can’t always be uniformly constant. Do you know this?”

“Well…….”

“If you do hard work, your breathing becomes rough, and when resting comfortably, it stretches long and thin. Not just people—any beast is like that. But in this village now, I don’t feel such changes.”

Though everyone is breathing individually, all their breathing is uniform. Like martial artists’ breathing. Then does that mean everyone in this place is a martial artist?

That can’t be. If everyone in this village were martial artists, there would be no reason to dispatch people to help with evacuation, and from the beginning, there are children here who can’t even run properly yet.

“It’s artificial.”

If I hadn’t noticed, I might not have known, but suspecting them before meeting, the incongruities catch my eye everywhere. Though we haven’t met long, Yubaek is strangely familiar with me, and despite seeming to have a personality that likes to interfere, the Poison Valley Sect Leader who deliberately doesn’t open his mouth.

Seven Great Demon Muhyeong. That bastard is right.

My senses judged so. That what I’m thinking now is correct.

“Young Master, what are you planning to do?”

“Mm, I’m thinking of watching for now.”

There’s strong suspicion, but no concrete evidence. Moreover, it’s not easy to move rashly.

If the opponent is truly one of the Seven Great Demons, Muhyeong, it might be difficult to face with just the personnel here. Though Muhyeong is said to have relatively lower individual combat power compared to other Seven Great Demons, if Muhyeong brings out all its ‘collection,’ it would be a formidable force that could look down on even the Ten Celestials.

The current me looks like this, but in reality, I’m a ghost, so I can’t be a fighting force. In other words, it’s practically a guaranteed defeat.

“It just so happens they say they’re going to push a bit more toward the front lines, so let’s wait a bit more until then. It would be difficult to respond with our forces alone. Moreover.”

“Moreover?”

“I know Sugak well. He’s not someone who’d die easily without doing anything.”

The opponent is a Seven Great Demon, so he died without even being able to run away?

That can’t be. Sugak is in Changcheon Corps—perhaps the one who most resembles me, a fellow with uncannily good instincts.

If a fellow with good instincts died without even being able to run away, there must be a reason for it. He probably prepared or took precautions for something. If my speculation is correct, the answer will be at the front lines.

“I’ll accompany them to the front lines, then decide on actions after that.”

In the worst case, confronting them while going to the front lines. And the best case, receiving covert support from the Murim Alliance after going to the front lines and returning to kill that bastard.

“Either way is extremely dangerous.”

“Is it unpleasant?”

“No.”

Jeokyeol, who chuckled, shook his head.

“This kind of thing is fun. Let’s proceed.”