His Identity (2)
“Then I’ll shamelessly accept a cup.”
To be frank, I could feel the ominous aura radiating off it plainly, but I pretended to fall for it hook, line, and sinker as I drank the tea.
Gulp!
And sure enough? The tea leaves had a strong flavor, masking the insidious poison as best it could, but it couldn’t pierce the barrier of my Mu Hyeong Dok Gong.
My body, impervious to all poisons, didn’t allow even the slightest hint of intoxication.
If anything, drinking it let me identify the exact type of toxin.
It’s laced with Sim Cheon Mong Hwan Yak to plunge the victim into a deep sleep, plus qi-dispersing poison to block inner energy use!
The fact that I could discern it so precisely with just one sip wasn’t just thanks to mastering Mu Hyeong Dok Gong—my medical knowledge played a part too.
In truth, the moment that teacup approached, the Yun family silver needle I always kept on me had discolored in warning.
Smooth.
Un Ja-an’s sharp eyes fixed on me intently.
The lechery and cunning in his gaze were beyond words.
“So, how’s the taste?”
What kind of taste? Mixing Sim Cheon Mong Hwan Yak with qi-dispersing poison was the sort of lowlife trick black faction thugs pulled. No shame as a martial artist?
It was the bold demeanor of a notorious fugitive who’d evaded capture for years.
“It’s absolutely outstanding… Huh? Wh-what?”
I immediately launched into my act, feigning the effects of poisoning.
I threw everything into the performance, lest this suspicious bastard catch on.
“My, my body… why…”
As I staggered dramatically, Un Ja-an swallowed the bait I’d dangled without a second thought.
“Heh heh heh. Do you know why I called you here alone?”
The Illusion Constable Un Ja-an finally revealed his true colors.
He approached me as if he’d been waiting for this moment, his fingertips creepily caressing my cheek and jawline.
“Sorry, but I… don’t fancy beautiful women.”
I prefer handsome young boys.
His words made my vision flash white, suddenly recalling a fact I’d forgotten.
Why hadn’t I realized sooner?
“Dongnam Color Demon Hwa Wol-un!”
That’s right. What I’d overlooked.
In this Seven Falls, Eight Rises: The Invincible Fist King world, there were all sorts of vile villains, but none with such a standout personality as this Dongnam Color Demon, Hwa Wol-un.
That’s it! This ‘Illusion Constable’ Un Ja-an is one of the Dongnam Color Demon’s many aliases!
The Dongnam Color Demon Hwa Wol-un was infamous for two things.
First, as his epithet suggested, he had a preference for young, pretty boys not yet in their thirties.
He cultivated a demonic art that absorbed their vital energies to boost his inner power.
That’s why he infiltrated Cheonmu Academy, full of boys like that!
From a villain’s perspective, it was perfect hunting grounds teeming with prey.
I was pushing thirty myself, so technically not quite a “boy,” but close enough.
“You’re a bit older than I like, but you’re just too tempting.”
Coincidentally, this psycho pervert had taken a shine to me.
He licked his lips, finally baring his lust—it was so repulsive my fists clenched on instinct.
Not yet. Lure him in closer.
I held back and recalled his traits.
Hwa Wol-un’s second claim to fame was his unrivaled disguise technique.
Disguise arts typically altered the face and body, but they usually showed tells. His Illusion Disguise Technique, however, was different.
Later revelations showed the Illusion Ghost Gate Art of the Illusion Constable was a branch of his illusion disguise technique too.
Blending disguise with illusion martial arts made it impossible to counter.
No one knew his true face, which fueled his infamy as an uncaptured criminal.
He has dozens of identities, including Illusion Constable Un Ja-an.
No wonder I, who knew the original story inside out, had overlooked it.
Better late than never, though.
“Heh heh heh. A bit of an old bird, but I’ll savor the novelty.”
Un Ja-an—no, Hwa Wol-un—finally bared his nature and reached for me with his filthy claws.
The sinister demonic art he was known to practice.
Beautiful Boy Vital Absorption Art!
He planned to drain my inner energy first, then sate his other hungers.
This explained why he’d targeted me specifically.
As Cheonmu Academy’s strongest trainee, I’d have plenty of qi—and my looks matched his tastes.
But what now?
I kept up the poisoned act until his grubby hands reached out—then struck back instantly.
Half Dragon Knee!
The moment I blocked his attempt to strip me, I drove my knee upward.
A sneak attack packed with pent-up rage.
Boom!
I slammed it straight into the filthy face of the utterly off-guard Hwa Wol-un.
“Gaaahhh!”
Caught right as he thought victory was his, Hwa Wol-un couldn’t muster his full strength and staggered back.
“Wh-what the…”
His nose bridge shattered from the direct hit, leaving it dangling as he reeled.
With his nose collapsed, his exquisitely crafted disguise began to unravel.
Shhh.
Too massive a blow to the face? As the disguise peeled away, the Illusion Constable Un Ja-an vanished, revealing the Dongnam Color Demon Hwa Wol-un’s true, gaunt, harsh, and cruel visage—a rustic brute.
“So this is your real face, Dongnam Color Demon?”
Having seized control, I calmly cut off his escape while barring the door to his private quarters.
He’d cleared out the area to assault me in peace, but now it backfired.
No one around but us. Time to crush him slowly.
And claim everything this vile demon owned.
“Impossible! You drank my poison and drug…”
Hwa Wol-un couldn’t grasp why his prized Sim Cheon Mong Hwan Yak and qi-dispersing poison had failed.
He’d never dreamed I was poison-proof.
“You filthy pervert. Infiltrating all the way here for your crimes?”
His methods were so brazen it was almost admirable—in a ridiculous way.
“Ugh… I don’t know what happened, but it’s unfair! Absorbing a strong boy’s yang energy a few times would’ve perfected my Beautiful Boy Vital Absorption Art… I’d have become a true transcendent!”
That was his brazen confidence.
Demonic arts often granted massive realm leaps upon fulfilling conditions.
Had he claimed me and a few others, he might’ve reached peak superhuman or even Entry to Divinity.
“Dongnam Color Demon Hwa Wol-un. Today, you shatter in my hands.”
Daring to target me? After nearly suffering disaster, my fury boiled over.
Divine Transformation Heart Method!
Alone, no need to hold back.
I circulated it at full power, my rage turning to golden light.
Flash!
My body glowed gold in the dark room, shocking Hwa Wol-un.
“My god! A mere trainee… at peak mastery or higher?”
Filthy demon or not, he had an eye for skill.
Realizing I outclassed him, he glanced around slyly.
Whoosh!
Seizing a gap, he bolted for escape—but.
“Huh? Wh-what?”
This time, the bewildered groan came from him.
His lower body wouldn’t budge when he tried to flee—panic set in.
“Heh heh heh. Not moving, huh?”
Unable to twitch, I grinned in satisfaction.
“What did you do to me?”
Hwa Wol-un eyed me more shocked than ever.
I considered toying more, then revealed the truth.
“The instant you touched me, formless paralyzing poison infiltrated you.”
I’d activated Mu Hyeong Dok Gong to neutralize his tea poison—not just defensively.
While rendering myself poison-proof, I’d slipped the Man Dok Mun’s signature paralyzing toxin into him via contact.
The result?
“Starting from your lower body, the paralyzing poison will creep upward, hardening you bit by bit.”
They called it Petriying Paralysis Poison for how it solidified from the bottom up.
This wasn’t Sacheon Dang Clan fare—it was Man Dok Mun’s deadliest.
My Mu Hyeong Dok Gong mastery was still low. Would it work on a peak mastery expert like this demon? Turns out, perfectly.
I was surprised myself.
“Please! Release me. I was wrong!”
Finally grasping the peril, Hwa Wol-un begged cowardly, but I showed no mercy.
“How did those boys you victimized wail and beg? What did you do then?”
I didn’t know his crimes in detail, but I could guess.
No mercy for scum like this.
“Th-they were just ingredients! You’re not!”
He spouted mad nonsense, flipping my stomach completely.
Villain logic was incomprehensible.
“Yeah, this won’t do. Time for a beating.”
I reached for him, waist now petrified by the poison.
Fighting Cock Angry Fist!
I unleashed Fighting Cock True Fist with gusto—he couldn’t even dodge.
Splat!
He was a living sandbag, plain and simple.
“Guhhh, ughhh!”
He couldn’t breathe properly, only howl—but no salvation for an irredeemable villain.
“Too noisy.”
Of all people, he picked me?
Smooth.
I sealed his mute acupoint, forcing silent screams.
“You fugitive scum, slinking into the righteous cradle of Cheonmu Academy?”
I planned the most agonizing torture for Hwa Wol-un.
Cold Seal Palm!
Froze half of him solid.
Flame Tiger Double Claw!
Roasted the rest to a crisp.
They say battling demons risks becoming one yourself.
Still, he endured hellish pain until near blackout.
I focused on justice, not enjoyment.
After a thorough thrashing and execution of judgment, Hwa Wol-un foamed at the mouth, more pathetically than any fugitive, passing out without a sound.
I wanted to end him then and there, but I needed to show Cheonmu Academy’s leadership his true face as proof.
“Rot in hell.”
I spat curses at the pitiless wretch, then inspected his quarters.
And there they were—ownerless treasures he’d left behind, welcoming me.