Even as we walked blindly through the darkness...

The Four Villains didn’t complain or voice any discontent. Normally, they would’ve asked me what the plan was, but with the ghosts following behind us, they walked in silence.

The ghosts didn’t speak often either.

Probably because opening their mouths carelessly could get them killed by the white-haired elder.

Just because the fight was set to happen at Manjang Gorge...

Didn’t mean that the Four Villains and the ghosts walking there together was a normal situation.

But then again, considering we were never normal to begin with, maybe it wasn’t so strange after all.

These bastards couldn’t kill me themselves anyway. Either they’d capture me and offer me to the Cult Leader, or, just as I predicted, they’d hand me over to the Black-Clad Person.

The number of people trailing behind us continued to grow, but I still hadn’t confirmed if the Black-Clad Person was among them.

As we trudged on endlessly, another flare was fired into the sky by the ghosts.

I stopped for a moment and watched the fireworks explode in the night sky. The mingling of stars and sparks created a spectacular view.

“Wow...”

When I stopped and looked up, the ghosts looked up at the sky as well.

Someone asked me,

“Where exactly is this Manjang Gorge? Are we close?”

I answered honestly.

“Far. Let’s find somewhere to sleep for the night, then head out again when the sun rises.”

The ghost who asked sighed and grumbled in annoyance.

“Baekya, what the hell is going on? How long do we have to keep following like this?”

I didn’t know who Baekya was, but after glancing over the ghosts, I asked,

“Hey, which old man was that?”

“......”

“Whether I die or you die, this is our last journey. You can’t even follow along without whining? With all your complaints and grumbling, no wonder you were pushed aside and ended up stuck in the old headquarters. Useless old bastard. If you really want to die, then come fight me right now. Come out... which one of you was it?”

As silence settled over the group, an unpleasant voice with a metallic edge rang out.

“Manjang Gorge was a battleground chosen by masters of the past. Many ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) arrogant fools died there. Beneath it lies vegetation and life nourished by the corpses of Jianghu's elites. Not a bad place to die. Gate Lord, since you seem unfamiliar with night travel, everyone prepare to camp.”

Only then did I realize that the white-haired elder’s name was Baekya.

Baekya continued.

“Before that, anyone who wants to die should settle things in one-on-one duels. It’s not like you ever listened to me while alive. The dead will be used as firewood for the campfire.”

Our journey to Manjang Gorge came to a brief halt.

I asked the ghosts,

“The Black-Clad Person still hasn’t arrived?”

“Who are you referring to?”

“The one you were protecting.”

The ghosts fell silent and began preparing for camp. I left the Four Villains behind and walked over to inspect the ghosts myself.

As I approached...

The ghosts looked at me with startled eyes. I strolled around under the moonlight, examining each ghost’s face one by one, then said to a few of them,

“Set up camp. Stop staring.”

The scrawny elder spoke in a baffled tone.

“Gate Lord, have you given up your life? You’re walking around our side like it’s your home.”

I plopped down among the ghosts and answered,

“Well, either we die or kill each other anyway... what’s the point of drawing lines?”

Baekya looked at me.

“So this is why the Cult Leader takes notice of you.”

Surrounded by ghosts, I looked over to the Four Villains a short distance away.

“What are you doing? Set up camp. Or come over here.”

The Lecher replied,

“You stay there.”

“Fine.”

Baekya and the scrawny elder came and sat down across from me. The scrawny elder smiled and said,

“Got you, you bastard.”

I smiled back.

“Let’s say I’m caught. So, have you decided?”

“Decided what?”

“Whether to offer me to the Cult Leader or feed me to the Black-Clad Person you were protecting. Haven’t made a choice yet?”

The scrawny elder tilted his head and replied,

“How do you know so much about the Cult’s affairs? Did Haomun plant spies like the scholars did?”

“No.”

“Hmm. That’s a bit troubling. I feel like my hand might move on its own and end up killing you. Mind explaining where all this confidence comes from?”

I nodded and pointed at the white-haired elder.

“This one is Elder Baekya, and you?”

The scrawny elder answered,

“I’m Number Eight. Usually called Palnoya.”

“Whoa. But you’re not the same Number Eight from Sword Demon’s time, right?”

“How could I be from the same time as the Left Guardian? I was Number Eight even before that.”

“So the number eight has never been reissued? That’s oddly impressive.”

Palnoya said,

“Now tell me. Why are you sitting here so confidently?”

“I will.”

I glanced around. The Four Villains were preparing a fire, and the other ghosts were just sitting wherever, planning to spend the night like that. Apparently, only the Four Villains were building a fire.

I looked at Palnoya and said,

“Before I answer, I have a question of my own.”

“What is it?”

I scanned the ghosts nearby, then asked both elders,

“Which of you ghosts massacred the unarmed civilians in the village? A lot of people died.”

Palnoya looked at Baekya.

“Who killed them?”

Baekya replied,

“A man named Iron Corpse killed most of them.”

“Where is he?”

“He challenged the Sword Demon and got his head chopped off.”

“And the others?”

“War Demon and Flesh Ancestor also went on killing sprees.”

“Where are they?”

Baekya answered in a sunken voice,

“The War Demon tried to kill Master Yukhap but was killed in a surprise attack by the White-Robed Scholar. The Flesh Ancestor was killed by a young boy using ice arts.”

I nodded.

“I see. You two could’ve stopped them. Why didn’t you? Doesn’t seem like you’re weaker than Iron Corpse, War Demon, or Flesh Ancestor. You two look like top-tier masters among the ghosts.”

Baekya looked at me.

“Why ask such a pointless question? Do you think those who follow orders well would be sent into exile at the old headquarters? They’re all former cult members who caused trouble.”

I crossed my arms and nodded.

“Right.”

Palnoya spoke.

“Well, now that you’ve heard what you wanted, it’s your turn to answer.”

“Why I’m sitting here so confidently?”

“Yes. That’s what I want to know.”

“I’m just... how should I put it? I was curious what kind of people ghosts were. I’m the type who can’t suppress curiosity.”

Palnoya looked at Baekya.

“He’s too reckless.”

The look in Palnoya’s eyes seemed to suggest let’s just attack him now. Baekya looked at Palnoya, then turned his gaze to me.

“That’s not the reason.”

Palnoya replied in his stead.

“Then what is it?”

Baekya stared into my eyes and said,

“...You’re sitting here because you believe you could kill everyone present at any moment.”

Palnoya stared at me.

“You don’t seem strong enough to do that...”

“Palnoya.”

“Go ahead.”

“Have you seen my skills?”

“Your confidence must have grown after killing the Four Heavenly Kings. But those guys were the kind who used to fetch washbasins back at the old headquarters.”

“Considering I’m over thirty years younger than you, that’s not surprising.”

“So then, like Elder Baekya said, you really do have that confidence?”

I shook my head.

“That’s not true. I don’t have that kind of confidence.”

“......”

The surrounding ghosts sneered. Baekya remained stone-faced. Palnoya clicked his tongue and shook his head.

Palnoya asked me,

“Are you seriously insane?”

I looked at the ghosts around me, then at Baekya and Palnoya, who seemed ready to strike at any moment, and disrupted the flow with a chuckle.

“My nickname is Crazy Demon.”

Palnoya tilted his head.

“First I’ve heard of it.”

“Someone knew it, but they’re dead now.”

Palnoya laughed.

“Crazy Demon sounds like it’d fit better with us.”

“I know. That’s why I’m fitting in now.”

Baekya asked,

“Why is your nickname Crazy Demon?”

“My skills fluctuate. My emotions swing. I get depressed over nothing, laugh at trivial things. My martial strength rises and falls. Most of the time I’m shallow, occasionally sane. I’ve spilled as much blood as you have, so I’m clearly a villain. But I don’t think I’ve ever killed someone without martial arts. That young Black-Clad—he’s your disciple?”

“......”

“Is he perhaps a candidate for the Heavenly Demon? Whether he absorbs me or I absorb him, it doesn’t seem like either of us could handle the Cult Leader alone. What do you two think?”

Baekya asked,

“Are you really a Yin-Yang dual constitution?”

“Probably.”

“You’re right. Even if one of you absorbed the other completely, it wouldn’t be enough against the Cult Leader. Do you know why?”

I looked at the goosebumps rising on my arms and nodded.

“Ah, I get it. This isn’t the first time ghosts like you created a Black-Clad Person and offered him up, is it?”

Palnoya nodded.

“You’re smart. No, it’s not the first.”

“Been going on a long time?”

Palnoya smirked.

“For a very long time. Previous Cult Leaders did it too...”

“So that’s why the old headquarters still exists. My curiosity is finally satisfied. Now I understand why they exile people instead of killing them outright—even after all the chaos they cause. Because eventually, they’ll become living elixirs to be merged and consumed by the Cult Leader. This isn’t ordinary demonic sect behavior. It’s presented as chaos and rulelessness, but in truth, it’s all managed—by people like you two.”

For the first time, Baekya smiled. It looked like a toothless evil spirit grinning.

“Now that you know everything, how do you feel? Are you overcome with rage? Planning to use that technique you used to kill the Four Heavenly Kings?”

That things had reached this point...

It was clear they had full confidence they could take me down at any time. There’s no need to rationalize demonic ways. No matter how you look at it, it’s all thick darkness.

Baekya said,

“You’d have become a grandmaster no matter where you were born. That, I respect. That’s the one reason I led the ghosts to Manjang Gorge.”

I laughed quietly under the night sky.

As I was chuckling to myself, Palnoya suddenly struck at me while seated. I casually blocked it with my right arm.

Thunk!

Baekya moved in right after, trying to capture me, and launched a strike. I blocked that with my left arm.

Thud!

Only then did I realize that while I was trading palm strikes with them, I had left myself completely open.

Palnoya laughed.

“Gate Lord, the conversation was fun. Farewell.”

The ghosts all rose at once and started moving toward me.

“......”

While I held Baekya and Palnoya with one hand each, my vision blurred.

“...Let’s go to hell.”

The Heavenly Demon Technique didn’t unfold. But even with my eyes open, a white veil spread across everything. Not the whole world—just the area in front of me. As I felt my pupils freezing, my vision blurred, and I saw Baekya and Palnoya’s arms beginning to freeze.

I wanted to open my mouth and taunt them, but my tongue had already frozen solid.

“......”

I didn’t know which ghost it was, but when someone struck my shoulder from behind, my vision went completely dark.

Everything white meant everything black.

I couldn’t see a thing.

Wearing the snowy veil of the Moonlight Cold Heart Technique, I froze together with the old bastards.

A man must have pride.

Truth is, I was always ready to die with these ghosts.

The problem was... I might actually die too.

But if I was afraid of that, my nickname never would’ve been Crazy Demon.

Above my frozen body, dull impacts and the clash of metal resounded roughly.

‘Harder. That’s not enough to cut the full moon.’

I couldn’t speak, so I laughed internally.

...The Lecher, the third of the Four Villains, thrust both palms out as he froze and jumped into the air, pressing down on the ground once.

Already frozen with the ghosts in his grip, he bent low and burst into the sky as if tearing it apart. Reaching the air above the ghosts, the Lecher detonated Moonlight One Flash across his entire body.

It was a burst of freezing light gathered from all his Ice Arts in an instant.

Below, the third’s ice arts spread across the earth, painting it white. In the air, the Lecher’s Moonlight One Flash unleashed a blizzard of cold that covered the land.

The Sword Demon and the Drunk charged forward together and drew their swords...

Under the moonlight glinting off the blades...

The entire world turned white.