Chapter 95:The Lion in his Den

The first thing Ock, Sue, Yu Ming, and Daxia did after entering Murim Alliance territory was split up.

No unnecessary conversation.

No lingering.

Each disappeared into the sea of people.

Hours later...

They reunited inside a modest inn hidden among the crowded streets.

From the outside it looked ordinary.

Inside...

The atmosphere was heavy.

The four women sat around a wooden table while bowls of untouched food slowly grew cold.

Ock broke the silence.

"...The Alliance is in worse shape than we imagined."

Yu Ming nodded.

"The riots have spread across every district."

"People don't believe the official report anymore."

"They're saying the Murim Alliance assassinated Lucifer and framed it as an ambush."

She sighed.

"Crowds are marching every day."

"Some demand justice."

"Others want the Alliance dissolved completely."

Sue quietly poured herself tea.

"This was inevitable."

Everyone looked toward her.

"The Murim Alliance has been losing this war for years."

"They've lost elders."

"They've lost sects."

"They've lost territories."

She calmly took a sip.

"And now..."

"They've lost the Devil."

Her crimson eyes became cold.

"People don't care who is righteous."

"They only want to survive."

"If supporting the Demonic Cult increases their chances of living..."

"They'll abandon the Alliance without hesitation."

Silence followed.

The truth hurt.

Daxia finally spoke.

"We move tonight."

Everyone looked toward her.

"The main army is busy controlling riots."

"The city's defenses are stretched thin."

"The Main Hall will have fewer guards."

She placed a finger on the table.

"I built this Alliance."

"I know where every hidden passage begins."

Ock frowned.

"...That was centuries ago."

"The layout must have changed."

Daxia smiled.

"The buildings may change."

"The foundation never does."

"And foundations..."

"...are impossible to move."

One after another...

Everyone nodded.

Tonight...

They would infiltrate the heart of the Murim Alliance.

Just as they stood—

A drunken laugh echoed through the inn.

"Hahaha..."

Four rough-looking men staggered toward them with wine jars in hand.

One leaned over Sue's table.

"My... what beautiful ladies."

He grinned.

"Must be lonely without men."

"Come."

"We'll make sure none of you leave disappointed."

His companions burst into laughter.

"Don't hog all the beauties!"

"Leave some for us!"

Sue slowly removed the bamboo hat covering her face.

The entire inn froze.

Even the drunkards stopped breathing.

Her beauty was enough to make the noisy tavern fall silent.

The lead drunkard swallowed hard.

"...Worth dying for..."

Sue's voice remained calm.

"I can't believe the Murim Alliance has fallen this low."

"No one even bothers controlling vermin anymore."

The drunkard licked his lips.

"What Alliance?"

"They're already finished."

"If I can spend one night with you..."

"I'll die happy."

He lunged forward.

SHING!

A silver flash crossed the room.

His body remained standing.

His head rolled across the wooden floor.

...

Silence.

Blood slowly spread beneath the corpse.

The remaining drunkards stared with pale faces.

Sue calmly wiped her blade.

She looked toward the others.

"I'll catch up."

Ock nodded.

"Don't take too long."

The three women quietly left the inn.

The moment the door closed—

The drunkards surrounded Sue.

Weapons were drawn.

"Kill her!"

"No!"

"Don't kill her!"

"Break her legs first!"

"We can enjoy ourselves afterward!"

Sue slowly sheathed one sword...

...and drew the other.

A faint smile appeared.

"It won't take long."

The inn became a slaughterhouse.

Meanwhile...

Inside the Demonic Cult...

War had already begun.

Not on the battlefield—

But in preparation.

Thousands of disciples marched through the streets.

Blacksmiths forged countless weapons.

Formation masters carved arrays.

Talisman masters painted scrolls without rest.

Supply wagons filled every road.

Warhorses thundered through the camps.

Food...

Medicine...

Armor...

Everything was being prepared.

Because this time—

The Demonic Cult wasn't defending itself.

It was marching into the heart of the Central Plains.

To erase the Murim Alliance forever.

Elizabeth watched the preparations from a high balcony.

Her expression remained calm.

But her eyes missed nothing.

She turned toward the others.

"Lei Xin."

"The Assassin Pavilion."

"Watch every movement."

Lei Xin nodded.

"Understood."

"Tsuru."

"The Formation Pavilion."

"Learn what arrays they're preparing."

Tsuru smiled.

"Leave it to me."

"Zhong Yu."

"The Talisman Pavilion."

"I want reports every day."

He bowed.

"It will be done."

They dispersed.

Each disappearing into their assigned missions.

Elizabeth remained alone.

"..."

She looked toward the towering Demonic Palace.

"...I have somewhere else to go."

The guards crossed their spears.

"Stop."

"No one may proceed beyond this point."

Elizabeth continued walking.

"I wasn't asking."

The guards frowned.

"Princess—"

Before they could finish—

BOOM!!

Crimson killing intent erupted from her body.

The earth cracked.

The guards collapsed onto one knee.

Sweat poured down their faces.

Elizabeth's voice echoed like thunder.

"I am the daughter of the Heavenly Demon."

"And..."

"The wife of the Devil."

"Move."

Before anyone could react—

A calm voice echoed directly inside everyone's mind.

"Let her enter."

The Heavenly Demon's telepathy.

The guards immediately stepped aside.

Elizabeth entered.

Inside the palace...

The Heavenly Demon sat upon his throne.

A sake bottle rested in one hand.

His expression remained unreadable.

Without looking up—

He spoke.

"Why have you come?"

Every word carried overwhelming pressure.

Elizabeth stood straight.

Unaffected.

"I have one question."

He finally looked at her.

"...Speak."

"How did Lucifer die?"

Silence.

The Heavenly Demon took another drink.

"Haven't you heard the official report?"

Elizabeth shook her head.

"I don't believe it."

"The Murim Alliance Leader couldn't kill Lucifer."

"He would've died first."

"So..."

She stared directly into his eyes.

"What really happened?"

The Heavenly Demon suddenly laughed.

A deep...

Almost lonely laugh.

"Hahaha..."

"You truly are strange."

"Even after Lucifer's death..."

"You trust him more than your own father."

Elizabeth answered without hesitation.

"...Yes."

Silence.

Then—

The Heavenly Demon slowly stood.

"What if..."

"I told you..."

"I killed him?"

Elizabeth's pupils shrank.

A heartbeat later—

She exploded forward.

"YOU—!!"

Her full power erupted.

The palace trembled.

She swung her blade—

—but before it reached him—

BOOM!!

An invisible pressure slammed onto her shoulders.

The floor beneath her shattered.

She collapsed to one knee.

Unable to move.

Unable...

...to breathe.

The Heavenly Demon hadn't attacked.

He simply released his aura.

Nothing more.

Elizabeth clenched her teeth.

"...I..."

"...can't..."

He looked down at her.

"There."

"Now you understand."

"I'm not afraid of your revenge."

He sighed quietly.

"I'm afraid..."

"You'll hate your own weakness more than you'll hate me."

Elizabeth trembled.

Because...

He was right.

She couldn't even force him to take one step.

The Heavenly Demon turned away.

He walked toward an ancient wooden chest covered in dozens of sealing talismans.

He lifted it into the air.

His eyes shone with anticipation.

"At last..."

"My lifelong dream..."

"...will finally become reality."

He looked toward Elizabeth.

"Come."

"We have work to do."

Outside...

The Heavenly Demon mounted the platform overlooking the army.

Thousands upon thousands of Demonic Cult disciples looked up at him.

He raised the ancient chest high.

His voice shook the heavens.

"Today..."

"We march."

"Today..."

"We end the history of the Murim Alliance."

The army erupted.

"GLORY TO THE HEAVENLY DEMON!!"

"FOR THE DEMONIC CULT!!"

The earth itself seemed to shake beneath their voices.

Meanwhile...

Near the Murim Alliance...

Ock...

Yu Ming...

And Daxia waited beside a towering waterfall.

Several minutes later—

Sue emerged from the forest.

Yu Ming crossed her arms.

"You took your time."

Sue smiled sheepishly.

"There were... more of them than expected."

Ock looked at the blood covering her robes.

"...Go wash."

Sue nodded.

She stepped beneath the waterfall.

Crimson blood disappeared into the rushing current.

Daxia watched quietly.

"...You've changed."

Sue looked back.

"What do you mean?"

"You kill without hesitation now."

"...You're becoming more like Lucifer."

Instead of being offended—

Sue smiled.

"...Really?"

Daxia blinked.

"...Why are you happy about that?"

Sue simply laughed.

"You wouldn't understand."

Daxia silently watched her.

Just what kind of man are you... Lucifer...

After cleaning herself—

Sue returned.

Ock asked,

"So..."

"Where's the entrance?"

Daxia pointed toward the roaring waterfall.

"...Behind it."

Yu Ming laughed.

"Why does every secret passage have to be behind a waterfall?"

Daxia smirked.

"Because nobody ever thinks to look behind the obvious."

The four women stepped through the rushing water.

Behind it...

A narrow stone staircase descended deep beneath the mountain.

Darkness swallowed them.

Sue looked around in amazement.

"I lived here my whole life..."

"I never knew this existed."

Daxia smiled.

"The safest hiding place..."

"...is where everyone believes they've already searched."

They continued deeper...

Until they reached the foundation beneath the Murim Alliance Main Hall.

Above them—

Voices.

Two disciples.

"...Did you hear?"

"The Demonic Army is marching."

"...Seriously?"

"I thought it was just another rumor."

"The city has already been sealed."

"No one can enter."

"No one can leave."

"If that's not proof..."

"...what is?"

The second disciple swallowed.

"...Then..."

"...should we run?"

The first answered immediately.

"Many already have."

"Our lives are worth more than loyalty."

The conversation ended.

Thud.

Two precise strikes.

The disciples collapsed unconscious.

Ock and Sue silently dragged the bodies into the shadows.

Ock whispered,

"...The situation outside is collapsing faster than expected."

Sue nodded.

"Then we'd better finish this quickly."

The four women stepped into the hidden corridor—

When suddenly—

BOOOOOOM!!

An overwhelming aura exploded through the hall.

The walls shattered.

Yu Ming was blasted through a stone pillar.

Daxia crashed through two massive walls.

Before Ock could even react—

A powerful hand wrapped around her throat and lifted her into the air.

The corridor fell silent.

An old man stepped out from the darkness.

His mere presence bent the air around him.

Sue's eyes widened.

"...Father."

The old man's gaze remained fixed on them.

Cold.

Unshakable.

The Murim Alliance Leader had been waiting all along.