Heavenly Demon Ruling Step
The bandit leader, having lost both his reliable fan leader and the hostages that had given him the upper hand, glared at us with bulging eyes. Ah, if you're so pissed, why don't you turn your back on an equal expert and come at me? …Of course, if he actually did, I'd run.
One-on-one, I might risk it trusting Hong Yeonhwa, but fighting while dealing with the other bandits? No confidence there.
Well, now, what'll you do? I kept a relaxed expression on the outside while racking my brains internally… but the bandit leader picked an option I never saw coming.
He clicked his tongue with a "Tch!" and fell back. The Paeng family woman battling him tried to pursue, but maybe the accumulated minor injuries were catching up.
"Ugh…."
She staggered after a few steps and stopped in place. Even as she quickly recovered, the gap was exposed.
But instead of striking it, the bandit leader rolled his eyes, scanning the surroundings. Then he bolted, yelling,
"The risk is too high! Everyone, scatter! Regroup at Point Eol in ten days!"
"Yes, Boss!"
"Got it!"
The bandits surrounding us scattered in all directions the moment his order dropped.
……?
No hesitation in running? At peak realm with this many numbers, don't they usually try fighting at least once? Could they have sensed something from Hong Yeonhwa's Bandit Meteor Bullet (or whatever)?
As question marks flooded my mind, I suddenly recalled what I'd heard about bandits' peculiarities. Yeah, they rampage everywhere but bolt at the first sign of trouble. That's why they're so hard to eradicate….
I'd known it intellectually from the kidnapped women earlier, but seeing it firsthand was a whole different level.
"…Huh!"
Snapping out of my daze too late, I pointed frantically at the fleeing bandit leader's back.
"That guy! Him, him!"
Too urgent for proper words, but Hong Yeonhwa got it perfectly.
"Just trust in this lady!"
Thwung! Her breasts, perched on my head, jiggled from the recoil. Such a violent motion I had to tense my neck.
A pebble loaded with far greater power than before shot toward the bandit leader's nape….
"Hup!"
Somehow sensing it, he spun and swung his fist in a wide arc.
Crack.
The flying pebble shattered against his fist wrapped in qi. He winced a bit, but no visible injury. He just had to stop in place to block it.
"Hmm… so that's the limit. I'm still not used to finger arts, it seems."
Hong Yeonhwa said as she dropped her breasts from my crown. My neck wobbled from the sudden lightness, but she fidgeted her legs on my shoulders, expertly finding her balance.
Then came her signature confident voice.
"Come to think of it, this lady knows your martial arts, but you've never properly witnessed mine."
"Yeah…?"
Against Cheok An Geum Gwi, I barely had enough inner power for basics.
"Seize this chance to see exactly why this lady is the Heavenly Demon. And praise… no, extol this lady!"
Leaving words that were either cool or cute—I couldn't tell—she hopped down ahead. The bandit leader was already prepped to flee again by then.
But Hong Yeonhwa ignored it, lifting one foot as if it were nothing.
At the same instant, black energy rose across her body. It was faint, like heat haze, yet its presence stabbed sharply into my heart, clearer than anything.
I knew it the moment I saw it.
That's the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
A chilling pressure like facing an endless mountain.
Sensing it, the bandit leader's face twisted in horror. He poured massive inner power into his legs, visible to the eye, desperate to escape….
But Hong Yeonhwa's foot slammed the ground first.
And.
The sky collapsed.
Well, not literally. But it felt that way. Something utterly irresistible—expressible only as the heavens—crushed the earth.
Toward the bandit leader, not me.
"Gahk…!"
He collapsed the moment he took a step. He struggled to rise, but his muscles just spasmed, refusing his will. Up, down, then flailing on the ground.
Hard to believe this was a peak expert beyond human limits. Pathetic.
All I could do was watch every moment unfold.
……Until Hong Yeonhwa suddenly plopped down, and the pressure vanished.
"Nyeooong."
She went limp like a squid yanked from water.
Not quite—squid are limp in water too.
Despite my half-frozen panic, my body moved on instinct. Just before her head hit the ground as she toppled, I caught it in time.
Then she wriggled into my arms like a true mollusk, nuzzling her head against my chest for a comfy spot. Satisfied, she peeked up, her pink eyes sparkling like stars full of expectation.
"How was it? This lady's Heavenly Demon Ruling Aura."
So that was it. The Heavenly Demon Divine Art I'd longed to see since realizing my Murim reincarnation—given up on in a world without demonic cults. Who knew I'd witness it like this.
Overwhelming emotion spilled from my mouth unbidden.
"Fucking awesome."
"Fucking aw…?"
She tilted her head, clueless. Oops, Korean slipped out.
"Incredibly cool."
"Is that so? It is so. It must be so!"
Her voice shot up in Middle Realm tongue. She emphasized it three times, beaming with worldly bliss, humming happily.
Cute, but couldn't leave her half-sprawled on the ground. I slipped hands under her armpits, hoisted her up, then cradled her baby-style with my forearm under her butt. Her chin naturally rested on my shoulder.
"By the way, dear. This lady lacked inner power to finish it off."
"Don't worry. I can handle that much."
Indeed, the bandit leader was limp, just twitching on the ground. Holding Hong Yeonhwa, I strode over and slashed his throat.
He twitched his lips with desperate eyes at the end… but who cares. A bastard who deserved death anyway. Even if I handed him to officials, he'd be executed soon. No need to hesitate.
No demonic cults in this world. But vicious humans remain. Like bandits with kidnapped women, they'd committed every crime with power. That's why the world calls them evil factions.
Gazing at his fading eyes, I suddenly worried about the others. Even I, just grazed by it, was overwhelmed—what about them?
Fleeing bandits? Whatever. But the Paeng woman, worn from wounds, and the kidnapped civilians with no martial arts? Shit.
I scanned urgently. Thankfully, no issues. They all looked dazed, like scholars realizing a platypus's bill won't pull off because it's fused to the skull.
I stared blankly, equally puzzled why they were fine, when Hong Yeonhwa rested her chin on my shoulder and spoke.
"Is something wrong?"
"Nah, it's good actually…. Just wondering why others who should've felt that aura are fine, and if it's okay getting caught using obvious demonic arts."
"Ah, that. No worries. This lady limited the range due to insufficient inner power."
Got it. That's why they looked so dumbfounded.
"Wait. Then how'd I feel it?"
"W-Well…."
If she said it so boldly, control was perfect. So what did I feel? Anxious it was all imagination, I pressed. She mumbled, then whispered softly in my ear.
"Th-This lady let it leak on purpose…. So you'd realize this lady's greatness and praise… no, extol me."
"So… you did it deliberately so I'd notice?"
She nodded silently. Each time, her chin pressed my shoulder, kinda ticklish.
What? Some quota system? Why show cool then immediately cute?
A different-but-similar boiling impulse hit. I rubbed my cheek furiously against her soft one.
Rub rub.
"Nyat! It ti-tickles! Dear, when was your last shave…?!"
"Dunno. Call it punishment for startling me."
"Overkill! This lady just wanted to show you a good side."
"And I'm praising you like this?"
"Pra-Praise? No, extol! Extol this lady. Applaud with reverence!"
"Reverently calling you cute."
Cheeks are among the softest human parts. Cheek-on-cheek? Double soft!
But this rough? Different story.
"My cheek! This lady's cheek…! At this rate, it'll swell like a bun! Might even fall off!"
"It's fine. You have two. Can spare one."
"Eek!"
She shivered, taking the joke seriously. I pulled back to pepper kisses on her warm, friction-heated cheek….
"Um, ex-excuse me…."
The Paeng woman had gathered the kidnapped women and approached, bowing hesitantly with clasped fists.
"Th-Thank you for the help, benefactor."
Ah.