On-Site Visit (4)
‘I, I can’t believe this...!’
Geumjang couldn’t accept the reality before him. His blood-soaked palm, stopped dead by a single finger. That slender finger, so fragile it seemed it would snap with a squeeze, had effortlessly blocked his heavy strike. Impossible, unless their martial arts levels were worlds apart. That meant the gap between this woman and him was like heaven and earth.
“...Hah!”
But Geumjang didn’t give up. Denying reality, he attacked again. There’s a saying among masters: they can gauge each other’s disparity without crossing blades. Yet from this woman, he felt nothing. She was like an ordinary civilian. Geumjang’s realm was the Fire Realm, not novice level but mid-stage. He had undergone Hwan-gol-tal-tae, taming his wild inner power like a feral horse. And what of the current martial world? Hadn’t it been dragged down by the Blood Demon’s bloody rampage? His recent fight with those martial artists confirmed the rumors were true.
So for Geumjang, emotionally and rationally, he had to deny this absurd situation. Otherwise, he’d have to admit the woman before him was stronger than him.
Shrieeeek!
His bloodied palm flew toward her face again. So fast it tore the air with a clear rip. But the woman kept her smile beneath her hat, moving her hand.
Thud—
Just like before, she pressed her index finger to the bloodied palm. But this time, she didn’t stop. She flicked it slightly to the side. Just a slight flick, relative to her.
Slash!
Geumjang’s hand grazed past her face. And that wasn’t all. Whether he couldn’t control his own force or she’d done something, he tumbled.
Crash!
Pathetically. Beyond kneeling, both hands hit the dirt. As Geumjang reeled in disbelief, the woman looked down at him calmly and spoke.
“This lady told you to kneel, not grovel like a dog.”
“...”
“Stand again. And kneel properly to the heavens...”
Whoosh!
Her command cut off. Geumjang, still prone, unleashed a spinning back kick. No rage-filled roar this time. His face was coldly composed. Caught off-guard, she tilted her head back just enough to evade.
In that instant, Geumjang sprang away, putting distance between them.
“Arrogant fool. But that arrogance has its reasons.”
Geumjang spoke to her in a calmer voice than before. She tilted her head slightly in surprise. Her hat hid her expression, but her lips quirked.
“Some think martial depth is everything. That’ll be your downfall.”
Geumjang was a survivor of the bloody Jeonghyeol Great War, where countless absolute masters had perished. His secret to survival? Objectivity. If an opponent outmatched him, he admitted it outright. With monsters like the Blood Demon looming, pride was nothing. That keen objectivity let him find any means to crush foes, no holds barred. The strong don’t always survive—the survivors are the strong. Geumjang embodied that.
“You talk too much. First...”
Swish—
She raised her slender hand. Tension etched Geumjang’s face. Then she took one step forward. Literally one step.
Whoosh!
“...!!!”
Geumjang’s eyes bulged. That single step had brought her right to his nose. Overwhelming martial prowess that ignored space itself.
‘Sh, Shrinking Earth Stride?!’
As he gaped, she slowly extended her raised hand.
“I’ll start by ripping out that tongue root.”
Snapping to his senses, Geumjang countered. A cornered rat bites the cat to death, after all. He didn’t even realize he saw himself as the rat, whipping his leg like a lash. Disrupt her balance, then strike.
Slashhh!
Lightning-fast toward her ankle. Until the moment before contact, she did nothing. Geumjang inwardly cheered—
Crack—
She’d lifted her foot slightly, blocking it effortlessly. Simultaneously, her raised hand thrust toward his mouth. He’d half-expected it and retreated.
Slash!
As he fell back, he swept his leg up, kicking up a dust cloud. Thick dirt obscured vision. Cowardly? In a life-or-death fight, cowardice be damned. There’s fair play and unfair play. Survivors are strong.
Kwaaaaah!!!
Seizing the blind spot, Geumjang unleashed a palm strike—not direct, but projecting inner power. A massive, blood-red palm-shaped blast hurtled at her position, fitting his Blood Hand name.
Krunch!
The potent energy palm obliterated her spot and the structures beyond, carving a new path like that gorilla heir-apparent had. But Geumjang cared only if she survived. As he scanned the rubble—
“Is that all?”
“!!!”
Her voice from behind. He whipped around in shock, attacking instinctively.
Stab!
“Guhk?!”
Too late. Before he could strike, something jammed into his mouth. His tongue was gripped tight. Panicking, he looked ahead. Her hat had flown off in the blast, revealing her full face. Her lower features hinted at beauty, but her complete visage shattered expectations. A peerless beauty. A flower blooming at heaven’s peak. Dazed by her allure and nobility for a moment, he belatedly sensed his body.
‘M-my inner power...!’
No acupoint sealed, yet he couldn’t use it. Just his tongue held. Geumjang was baffled.
“You seem shocked. Understandable. You can’t use your inner power now.”
“Urgh...”
“Now, I’ll tell you. The one path to survival.”
Cheonma commanded once more.
“Kneel.”
“...”
“Kneel, and I’ll spare your life.”
Geumjang’s answer was set. No inner power? No issue—his dantian was intact. His ultimate secret art, held for the last resort. Acupoints didn’t matter; this was separate.
“Kuhuhuhu...”
“Hm. Something to say?”
Hearing his laugh, Cheonma released his tongue slightly. Freed, Geumjang grinned vilely.
“Still so arrogant. That’s why cats die to rats’ bites.”
“...”
“Blood Cult! Remember this day! I’ll drench this place in my blood!”
Geumjang bellowed heroically, channeling all energy to his dantian. Igniting it like gunpowder, using it as a detonator. Normally, half of Shaanxi would’ve exploded. If things had gone normally.
“...?”
Geumjang blinked. Why wasn’t the secret art activating? He’d gathered the energy there. Now, it was gone.
“Is this your dantian? Red like blood. Or because it is blood?”
“...Ah?”
Instead, agony exploded in his gut. In horror, he stared at her left hand. He’d never seen a dantian—intangible energy clump. Yet in her hand, a vivid red mass. His own belly? A hole gaped through it.
Crunch!
Cheonma crushed it in her fist. Geumjang went slack-jawed. His strength and flaw: objectivity. He accepted the truth. No attack, defense, or desperate flail would work. True heaven above heaven.
“Called yourself a rat? This lady thinks not.”
Cheonma smiled faintly. To him, it was the reaper’s grin. Grasping his throat, she declared.
“Just a worthless bug.”
“...”
“This lady has no interest in vermin that bite humans.”
Cheonma, Yuso Wol, pronounced.
“Exterminate.”
Crack!
Geumjang’s neck snapped at a right angle. Yuso Wol tossed the mocked corpse aside like trash.
Splat!
It rolled across the bloodied earth. She scanned around. Realizing it was over, the hidden onlookers crept out. Their eyes held terror, fear, awe—varied emotions.
“...”
Yuso Wol said nothing, turning away. Then vanished as if nothing happened, leaving only her fallen hat.
The survivors, seeing even her gone, murmured shakily.
“What... what did I just see...?”
“I-I don’t know.”
Chaos reigned; they asked each other what happened. Normally, they’d discuss, but...
“A post on the Gallery! Someone recorded video!”
“R-really?”
“Yes! Check it quick!”
This was a world with the Gallery. They rushed to access it, scrutinizing Cheonma’s prowess.
“Heavens... such martial arts...!”
“That beauty is really Cheonma?”
“High-Nick Cheonma is the real deal?”
“Don’t be ridiculous! She’s here to nab the impostor!”
A massive bombshell hit the Gallery.
******
For this on-site visit, Yuso Wol had taken Wisarak’s advice. Roughly: Go as the true Cheonma, not High-Nick Cheonma. Find and punish those sullying the name. If they don’t show, fine. If they do, even better. Pretext secured either way. Wisarak figured dealing with real Blood Cult remnants would simplify things—just handle them openly.
And High-Nick Cheonma? Wisarak didn’t say. Inevitable; scum sullying the name deserved death or not, who cared? Yuso Wol agreed, saying nothing.
‘They didn’t even guess it’s the same person.’
Unlike Yuso Wol’s thoughts, sharp Wisarak knew all. That’s why no advice. After deliberation, Yuso Wol devised her solution. Thus, this was a play scripted by her and Wisarak. Problem: the opponent wasn’t an actor...
‘Doesn’t matter.’
Especially not bug-like vermin treating lives as trash. Arrogant self-proclaimed Cheonma she might be, she valued lives as a ruler. Even Gallery mocks at her untactful posts, she forgave generously. As someone said, mildly attention-starved, but innately benevolent.
Title) Is High-Nick Cheonma the Real Heavenly Demon? (Yuso Wol Toying with Geumjang Video)
High-Nick Cheonma and real Cheonma same person? For real?
ㄴDon’t bullshit. No way.
ㄴIf real Cheonma uses Gallery, Ma-gyo folks would flip lol
ㄴDamn she’s gorgeous lol
ㄴGorgeous aside, OP as fuck;; Toying with him like a dog.
ㄴWon’t this get deleted? Kinda brutal.
ㄴIt does but randos keep reposting.
ㄴLmao Blood Cult cut down by Cheonma!
ㄴIs Cheonma a god? Cheonma god?
Title) High-Nick Cheonma ain’t the real one. Heard what that Cheonma said. Came to catch name-sulliers.
ㄴYou chummy with that Cheonma?
ㄴNah, Ma-gyo rumors. Said she’d nab name-sulliers.
ㄴYeah Ma-gyo would. Didn’t expect real visit lol
ㄴMa-gyo folk like Cheonma?
ㄴPretty good. No meddling, decent living.
Title) Sub-Mod, explain. While real Cheonma shows, what’d you do? Sit back?
ㄴJust summoned Cheonma and chilled lol
ㄴCheonma Summon lol
ㄴCheonma Summon OP lmao
ㄴAin’t that more impressive? Lmao
Above all, this attention. The bombshell scorching the Gallery. As Cheonma Yuso Wol, as human Yuso Wol, utter satisfaction.
Normally, she’d clarify... but why? Sit back, watch, done. Delete posts as bonus. “Sub-Mod duties delayed explanation.” Perfect.
ㄴYasaengGrill) That ain’t Cheonma. Not using the sword I gave her.
ㄴThat sword eye-catching?
ㄴYasaengGrill) Yeah super obvious.
ㄴBeat him barehanded, needs a sword?
ㄴYasaengGrill) True? Still, sword user with nothing.
And YasaengGrill’s unexpected backup. Yuso Wol loved it all.
‘Truly satisfying.’
Of course.
“Feels like the real Cheonma? Bored much? Surprisingly young? Realm perks, huh?”
Seasoned in advanced internet culture, Grill had caught on somewhat.