109. Red Dragon Revolution Family
Piik-!
“That’s truly wondrous.”
Cheol Mu Geuk muttered in amazement as he gazed at Mu Geuk-i—the name that had now stuck for the real deal.
It was understandable.
This wasn’t hyperbole; the house-sized Mu Geuk-i had shrunk to the size of an ordinary falcon.
Now it perched on Cho Ryang’s head, yawning lazily.
According to the intent of Domination, objects should have their own inherent mass. That shouldn’t change just because the size does... Are divine beasts different?
Pa Cheon found it fascinating too, but honestly, I was more amazed by Pa Cheon.
No matter how much the intent of Domination manipulated gravity, for it to vaguely grasp the law of conservation of mass—a concept unknown in this world—was incredible.
I wanted to show off my knowledge, but I had to avoid exposing my shallow liberal arts background from a pureblood humanities major.
Just roll with it. It’s a divine beast.
Fair enough. When there are divine beasts that summon wind, rain, and storms, this makes sense.
That said, Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa wasn’t inferior by any means.
It only seemed easy to capture because Cheol Mu Geuk, infused with the energy of the Flame Fire Jade, and the treasure artifact Gold Gate Lock were conveniently on hand.
The ability to “purify all negativity with fire” was insanely powerful. It had even helped me escape my curse.
Even if it was once a day at most—or every few days—I needed to bathe in that purifying flame.
You know that’s just a temporary fix, right, you yokai?
Of course.
As Pa Cheon said, it was only a stopgap. I needed an elixir from Ma Ui or Dok Ma to protect my mind, or a treasure that formed a mental barrier.
The problem is, most mental protection items I know of come from Daoist sects, and they’re out in the jianghu.
But venturing into the jianghu meant facing curse-wielders like Chu Tae Su—a real dilemma.
“Hey, Mu Geuk-i. You’ve grown bigger, so can’t you spare some feathers?”
Piik!
“Mu Geuk-i says no.”
“I’ll feed you Cheonghwa.”
Piiik!
“Mu Geuk-i says it’ll think about it if you give a lot.”
“Damn, who’d it take after to be so picky?”
Piiiik-!
“Mu Geuk-i’s asking if you’re insulting the Four Directional Gods’ Zhuque right now?”
“Cho Ryang, you don’t have to keep saying Mu Geuk-i, Mu Geuk-i.”
“Yes, sir!”
…I really needed that mental barrier soon. Listening to their banter was making my mind foggy.
“By the way, Sa Wol.”
“Yes, Family Head.”
“Looks like you’ve had an enlightenment.”
At my words, Sa Wol blushed faintly and nodded.
“Yes. I humbly tried to imitate your technique, Family Head.”
The situation had been too urgent to notice, but Sa Wol had clearly used a Flying Sword to control the Gold Gate Lock. Or since it was a chain, Flying Chain?
Even if the Gold Gate Lock could fly toward a designated target, it didn’t return on its own.
Sa Wol had turned the chain’s end mid-battle and sent it flying back.
“Impressive.”
“The impressive one is you, Family Head.”
Sa Wol stated matter-of-factly.
“If Gang Qi is proof of the Super Peak, then the Flying Sword is its symbol. A familiar phrase among martial artists.”
That’s what let me pass as a Super Peak expert.
“In trying to imitate your meager skill, I realized. The Flying Sword is imposing my qi—my will—upon the world. That’s why it’s the mark of a Super Peak master.”
A Super Peak expert could impose their intent on the world, after all.
Which required an unyielding mind. It could harden for ill, like Do Il Gwang’s.
The Revolution Clan’s Super Peaks are the weird ones.
The Yin Blood Jin Family used the monstrous Yin Blood Heavenly Dance, but each had their own unique intent.
The Red Dragon Revolution Family was different. They...
“Multiple presences.”
Speak of the tiger, and he appears—the Revolution Clan thugs swarmed in, led by Family Head Hyeok Mun and young master Hyeok Gon, blocking our path with dozens of warriors.
It would’ve been weirder if they hadn’t shown up.
Yokai, don’t provoke them if you can help it. My core only holds about ten percent of my inner energy right now.
Tricky.
The inner energy stored in Pa Cheon came from those whose life force it absorbed—retaining their unique traits.
From Mo Yong Su, Dok So Gong—it preserved and used their energies as-is.
If, god forbid, I absorbed Revolution Clan warriors in a pinch, it’d be chaos.
To keep my secret, I’d have no choice but mass slaughter. Fine alone, but I had allies here.
They probably want Mu Geuk-i.
That thought sparked one last-resort idea.
I stepped forward.
“Hyeok Mun.”
I’d used honorifics before, but our ties soured long ago. Calling his name was fine—showing courtesy now would mean losing momentum, especially as a Divine Cult member.
“How dare you tread our Great Red Dragon Revolution Family’s territory, the Red Dragon Realm, without a word of notice? What rudeness is this?”
“I’m carrying out a mission from the Sovereign. Watch your words.”
“That firebird on that brat’s head is clearly a Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa.”
Greed burned in Hyeok Mun’s eyes.
“So?”
“Hand over the firebird and go. I’ll let you leave in one piece.”
“Go!”
Cheol Mu Geuk burst forward from behind me, face twisted in fury.
I barely held back a laugh at his “Go!”, but his expression was dead serious.
He declared,
“A head of the Mad Demon Six Families, stooping to banditry? Hyeok Mun, do you think the Sovereign’s mission is a joke?”
“Heh. That wench means nothing if we have that Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa.”
It crossed the line, which made it odd.
The Revolution Clan I knew overflowed with chosen-people arrogance, but they weren’t this brash.
Then Sa Wol shouted,
“How dare you insult the Sovereign—I’ll cut you down myself!”
Shing!
She couldn’t hold back and charged.
To Sa Wol, Heavenly Demon Yi Se-ryeong was both the Sovereign to serve and an idol who extended her life.
Her body scattered like a ghost, reappearing behind Hyeok Mun—her signature flank attack.
“You lot think I’m easy prey, eh? Me, of all people.”
But then.
Boom-!
Hyeok Mun stomped. Crimson lightning crashed in a circle around him.
Sa Wol retreated, not daring to underestimate it.
Crackle!
Red sparks flew from Hyeok Mun’s eyes—far more ominous than before.
His dragon-embroidered robes whipped wildly, revealing what he held.
...A bone?
A sharp bone of some creature. And I wasn’t the only one who noticed.
Piiiik-!
Mu Geuk-i on Cho Ryang’s head floated up, reverting to its massive size.
“Heh heh heh. Even a lowly beast recognizes it—the mighty Red Dragon’s power.”
Hyeok Mun smirked triumphantly.
“What is martial arts? Fundamentally, it’s weak humans imitating beasts.”
“This isn’t a lecture on the martial way.”
“Even mantis-mimicking trash gets a grand name like Mantis Fist. So, what would it be if we imitated not mere beasts, but spirits—or divine beasts?”
Red lightning swirled fiercer around Hyeok Mun, his red hair flying wild.
“Our Revolution Family’s art, the Red Dragon Manifest True Art, draws from the great Red Dragon’s power. And this...”
Vroooom—
A eerie sound emanated from the bone—like a distant wail.
“Is part of the great Red Dragon. With its dragon claw, I surpass Super Peak.”
That’s why the Revolution Clan’s Super Peaks were bizarre.
Super Peaks needed personal intent, but Hyeok Mun’s was different—no warrior’s life philosophy. Just mimicking the Red Dragon.
That’s why they grew stronger as a group. United under one intent, not individual enlightenments.
Like an army.
That’s how they ranked among the Mad Demon Six Families, despite their arrogance and temper—strength in unity.
And now:
As Hyeok Mun unleashed his aura, his warriors followed—each sparking identical red lightning.
Even same arts should manifest uniquely, yet theirs were uniform.
Young master Hyeok Gon’s was weaker but a perfect miniature of Hyeok Mun’s.
Their energies merged, swelling into a colossal force.
The power restructures around the dragon claw. Dangerous.
Hyeok Mun’s aura prickled intensely—vast energy converging.
But there’s a limit. The claw’s wearing down.
Focusing, I saw it: the claw’s tip crumbling like weathered stone.
To buy time, I asked,
“With the great Red Dragon’s power, why chase a Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa?”
“That’s—.”
Hyeok Mun grinned wickedly.
Chills ran up my spine, hairs standing on end.
“—ask in hell.”
Yokai!
With Pa Cheon’s roar, time slowed to a crawl.
Lightning and Hyeok Mun loomed before me.
Even at near-stopped time, the bolt approached fast—like a first-rate swinging a sword.
True to lightning arts, immense speed.
Without the Time Wheel Jade, I’d be minced.
No time to think. Half a breath left!
Pa Cheon. The energy you absorb is martial artists’ qi, right?
Yes.
Then.
I raised Pa Cheon.
Wanna see what happens if we stab the dragon claw?
Crazy idea, but...
No time—stab!
I swung Pa Cheon at Hyeok Mun’s dragon claw.
And in that instant.
Darkness swallowed my mind.
Within the void, I saw—
“An eye?”
A massive eyeball.
Pretending to Be the Heavenly Demon