Chapter 82:Spear Demon

Its walls had survived assassins, wars, and countless storms.

Today...

It was surrounded by the Murim Alliance.

Thousands of martial artists formed an unbreakable ring around the estate. Spears glimmered beneath the afternoon sun. Archers occupied every rooftop. Even the narrow mountain paths leading into the clan had been sealed.

Not even a bird could leave unnoticed.

An elderly man stepped forward from the Alliance ranks and infused his voice with qi.

"On behalf of the Murim Alliance... we request an audience with the Poison Queen."

Inside the estate, Tang Ryeong slammed her hand onto the wall.

"They dare surround our home?"

Her hand instinctively reached for her sword.

"I'll kill every last one of—"

"Ryeong."

Tang Ock's calm voice stopped her immediately.

"They came prepared for war."

"Then let them have it!"

Ock slowly shook her head.

"If we fight now..."

She looked toward the frightened disciples gathering inside the courtyard.

"...they'll be the first to die."

Without another word, she walked toward the main gate.

The massive gates slowly opened.

Silence swept across both armies.

The Poison Queen stepped outside wearing her emerald robes, her expression unreadable.

Even surrounded by thousands of enemies...

She looked like the one in control.

The elder immediately bowed.

"We greet the Poison Queen."

Ock studied him quietly before speaking.

"Your words show respect."

Her emerald eyes narrowed.

"But your eyes don't."

The elder smiled politely.

"We came only to check on the Tang Clan's well-being."

Ock glanced behind him.

Thousands of soldiers.

Formation masters.

Archers.

Elite disciples.

"So many people..."

"...just to ask how I'm doing?"

Several Alliance members awkwardly looked away.

The elder maintained his smile.

"We recently received intelligence."

He paused.

"Lucifer is planning something... significant."

Ock already understood everything.

"So you're here to ensure I don't assist him."

"We have our reasons."

"Be reasonable."

A faint laugh escaped Ock.

"Reasonable?"

"You surround my home with an army..."

"...and ask me to be reasonable?"

The elder remained silent.

"I also suffered because of Lucifer."

"So why would I help him?"

The elder answered immediately.

"Because he spared you."

The atmosphere became colder.

"During the Above Heaven Tournament..."

"...he slaughtered countless people."

"He spared clan leaders."

"He spared sect masters."

"And most importantly..."

"He spared you."

Ock calmly replied,

"He spared many others too."

"Not like this."

The elder stared directly into her eyes.

"The Devil shows mercy to no one."

"So if he spared someone..."

"...that person must matter to him."

Silence.

Ock sighed softly.

"So your evidence..."

"...is nothing more than a guess?"

"We're acting on probability."

"Not certainty."

She almost laughed.

"And because of that probability..."

"...you've placed the entire Tang Clan under house arrest."

Even the elder couldn't answer immediately.

Tang Ryeong finally snapped.

"Enough!"

Her sword left its sheath halfway.

"If they want war—"

"Ryeong."

Ock didn't even raise her voice.

Yet her younger sister froze.

"We're not sacrificing our people."

Ryeong bit her lip before slowly lowering her weapon.

"...Understood."

The elder finally nodded.

"Thank you for your cooperation."

Ock turned around.

"Follow me."

Inside the Tang Clan's reception hall...

The contrast was absurd.

Outside...

Thousands prepared for battle.

Inside...

Two people quietly drank tea.

Ock poured the elder another cup.

The aroma drifted peacefully through the room.

After a long silence...

She finally spoke.

"You didn't come here to watch me."

The elder calmly lifted his cup.

"No?"

"You came to lure Lucifer."

She met his gaze.

"I'm simply the bait."

The elder smiled.

"What makes you think that?"

Ock took a sip before answering.

"If your goal was only surveillance..."

"...a few hundred men would've been enough."

She placed her cup down.

"But you brought an army."

"Formation masters."

"Archers."

"Elders."

She looked directly into his eyes.

"You're preparing to kill him."

The elder remained silent.

Ock smiled faintly.

"So I was right."

After several moments...

He finally spoke.

"If Lucifer comes..."

"...he dies."

There was no hesitation in his voice.

Only certainty.

Ock slowly laughed.

The elder frowned.

"Did I say something amusing?"

"You did."

She looked outside toward the endless sea of Alliance warriors.

"You believe..."

"...this is enough."

The elder confidently answered,

"It is."

Ock gently shook her head.

"No."

"You aren't surrounding Lucifer."

A chill passed through the room.

"You're surrounding yourselves."

The elder's fingers tightened around his teacup.

No matter how outrageous the rumors surrounding the Devil sounded...

They always became reality.

He forced himself to stay calm.

"We believe in our strength."

Ock smiled.

"I hope you enjoy your tea."

"...because it may be your last."

Far beyond Sichuan...

On a mountain overlooking the entire province...

A lone figure watched silently.

Hands inside his pockets.

Black robes dancing in the wind.

Lucifer.

His crimson eyes overlooked the Alliance encirclement below like a predator studying trapped prey.

Footsteps approached behind him.

Sue stopped beside him.

"What are you looking at?"

Lucifer never looked away.

"A massacre."

She followed his gaze.

"So it really is a trap."

"It is."

"And you're still going."

"Of course."

Yu Ming climbed the rocky slope and folded her arms.

"You're insane."

Before Lucifer could answer—

Another familiar voice echoed behind them.

"When exactly was he sane?"

Elizabeth arrived alongside Zhong Yu, Tsuru, Lei Xin, and dozens of Demonic Cult and Unorthodox Murim elites.

Everyone silently nodded.

"She's right."

"Definitely."

"There was never a sane moment."

Lucifer scratched his cheek.

"...Fair enough."

Even he couldn't argue with that.

Elizabeth stepped beside him.

"So?"

"What's your plan?"

Lucifer pointed toward Sichuan below.

"I'll begin at the entrance."

His smile slowly widened.

"And stop..."

"...at the Tang Clan."

Everyone immediately understood.

He intended to carve a path through the entire Alliance army.

Tsuru frowned.

"You know Ock is being used as bait."

"I know."

"And you'll still walk into it?"

Lucifer's grin became even wider.

"That's what makes it fun."

Several disciples subconsciously shivered.

Only Lucifer could describe a death trap as entertaining.

Then—

The mountain itself trembled.

A suffocating pressure engulfed the surroundings.

Trees bent.

Birds fled.

Even the clouds seemed to part.

Heavy footsteps echoed across the peak.

One of the Four Great Evils had arrived.

The Spear Demon.

Towering over everyone, his muscular frame resembled a walking fortress.

His spear rested casually across one shoulder.

Yet merely standing there made breathing difficult.

"I disagree."

His deep voice echoed through the mountains.

Everyone instinctively stepped aside.

Except Lucifer.

Lucifer merely glanced at him.

"I don't remember asking."

The Spear Demon walked forward until only a few steps separated them.

"I have no interest in rescuing your lover."

"I can destroy Great Elder Dragon's territory myself."

Lucifer shrugged.

"Really?"

"Funny."

"You've been fighting that old man for years."

"And somehow..."

"...neither of you ever finishes the job."

The words struck deeper than any blade.

Veins bulged across the Spear Demon's forehead.

"You brat..."

A terrifying killing intent exploded outward.

The mountain cracked beneath his feet.

Lucifer's crimson killing intent answered instantly.

The two invisible forces collided.

BOOM!

The surrounding forest exploded outward.

Trees shattered.

Rocks floated into the air.

Every disciple retreated dozens of meters under the overwhelming pressure.

Even Zhong Yu struggled to breathe.

Elizabeth immediately stepped between them.

"Enough!"

Her voice echoed across the mountain.

"We came here to kill the enemy."

"Not each other."

For several tense moments...

Neither man moved.

Finally...

The killing intent disappeared.

Lucifer slipped his hands back into his pockets.

"Fine."

He looked toward Elizabeth.

"You take the Unorthodox army."

"And him."

He pointed lazily at the Spear Demon.

"Attack Great Elder Dragon."

"I'll stay here."

Elizabeth blinked.

"You know Ock won't die immediately."

"You don't have to—"

Before she could finish...

Lucifer slowly turned toward her.

His smile vanished.

For the first time...

His expression was completely unreadable.

"Don't."

His voice was quiet.

Yet colder than ice.

"Speak about things..."

"...you don't understand."

Elizabeth's heart skipped a beat.

She had never seen him look at her like that.

She lowered her head.

"...I'm sorry."

Lucifer looked away without another word.

The Spear Demon snorted.

"After I'm finished with Dragon..."

"...you're next."

Lucifer smirked.

"Try surviving first."

The Spear Demon clicked his tongue but said nothing.

He turned and marched toward the battlefield.

Elizabeth followed after one last glance at Lucifer.

Soon...

Only Sue...

Yu Ming...

Zhong Yu...

Tsuru...

Lei Xin...

and Lucifer remained atop the mountain.

Lucifer looked back.

"Why are you all still here?"

Sue stepped beside him without hesitation.

"Where my husband goes..."

"...I go."

Yu Ming immediately crossed her arms.

"Same."

Zhong Yu smiled.

"You think we'd let you have all the fun?"

Tsuru sighed.

"Someone has to stop you from doing something stupid."

Lei Xin nearly cried.

"I really don't want to be here..."

"...but everyone else stayed..."

Lucifer stared at them for several seconds.

Then...

A small smile appeared.

"...Idiots."

No one denied it.

Far away...

Elizabeth looked back one final time while descending the opposite mountain with the Spear Demon.

She watched Lucifer standing among people willing to follow him into hell itself.

A strange ache tightened inside her chest.

He's ruthless to the world...

Yet somehow...

He's kind to those he accepts.

Her fingers slowly clenched.

I wish...

She stopped herself.

"...No."

She shook her head.

"This isn't the time."

Without looking back again...

She continued toward war.

Lucifer remained standing at the mountain's edge.

Below him...

Sichuan waited.

The Murim Alliance believed they had prepared the perfect execution ground.

The Tang Clan believed they had become helpless prisoners.

The Alliance elders believed the Devil would walk willingly into their trap.

Lucifer looked down upon them all...

and smiled.

A smile that promised only one thing.

Blood.