The Sea of Silence
Cheon Ma Gung.
I faced the Heavenly Demon one-on-one there, with Mugyeok-i in tow.
"Is that the fire bird?"
Yi Se-ryeong spoke in a calm voice.
There was no special energy mixed in, no martial arts being used. And yet, it was a tone that made my heart race.
The silver lining was that the intense trembling I'd felt before seemed to have been due to the shamanic curse.
After showering in Mugyeok-i's flames, it wasn't shaking like crazy anymore.
"Yes. It's a divine beast called Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa, a direct descendant of the Four Directional Gods' Zhuque."
"I see. No wonder it smells so savory."
I'd momentarily forgotten, but Yi Se-ryeong had the ability to smell energies.
"Savory scent" probably just meant the smell of fire, but for some reason, Mugyeok-i shrank back in terror, lowering its head.
Even though a normal fire-energy beast like Mugyeok-i should have been puffing up its feathers in front of someone who practiced ice arts.
"Come here."
Piiik!
Mugyeok-i was even more terrified than it had been with me, shaking its head furiously.
Yi Se-ryeong's eyebrows drooped downward.
—Mugyeok-i.
I sent a transmission to Mugyeok-i. The advantage of a puppet-like transmission was that, unlike normal ones, it couldn't be eavesdropped on. Even Yi Se-ryeong wouldn't be able to pick up sounds transmitted through a treasure artifact.
—If you don't really want to be roasted and eaten, go.
Piiik!
Mugyeok-i reluctantly took cautious steps forward, waddling like a chick afraid of getting caught.
"Ho."
Yi Se-ryeong spoke as if intrigued.
"It understands speech, it seems. Come up here."
Yi Se-ryeong, seated on her jade throne, patted her lap. Mugyeok-i hopped up and landed on her knee.
[Insolent creature.]
Pa Cheon muttered as if jealous of a pet.
"Hmm."
Meanwhile, Yi Se-ryeong placed Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa on her lap and stroked it.
"It's quite warm. What is this one's name?"
"I named it Mugyeok-i, taken from Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa."
"A fateful name. It'll be hard to call it that around the Iron Family head."
Yi Se-ryeong smiled as if holding a warm teacup on a cold winter day.
Her, who was always close to expressionless and cold, actually showing emotion.
Mugyeok-i's destructive power was tremendous!
"Good."
Piiik!
But Mugyeok-i didn't look so good.
Frost was starting to form lightly on the feathers that should have been ablaze with flames.
"My lord."
"Hm? Ah. Indeed."
Yi Se-ryeong stopped stroking Mugyeok-i.
Piiik—
Mugyeok-i let out a feeble cry.
"I must have gotten too excited. My apologies, Mugyeok-i."
Yi Se-ryeong withdrew her hand with an embarrassed look. Mugyeok-i shook its head, whether from fear or sensing her sincerity.
…Strange.
[What is?]
The Heavenly Demon.
[Insolent. Casually calling the lord by name.]
Anyway. Is it possible for someone of the Heavenly Demon's caliber to leak energy without realizing it?
[Impossible.]
Even first-rate experts could finely control their bodies and energy, and at Peak, it was nearly perfect.
Let alone a Super Peak or higher— they could move their energy at will.
Yi Se-ryeong had suffered deep internal injuries. From her fight with Do Il Gwang? That wouldn't have been a big deal for her.
It happened while training to recreate the Heavenly Demon Divine Art forms with her ice arts, pushing toward the ultimate realm.
That's why I gave her the ice crystal.
The small ice jade that had been the core of the Little Ice Witch Baek So Hyang. It was a concentrated ice crystal of extreme yin energy.
That ice crystal should have healed her injuries to some extent, if not completely.
Did she not consume it? Why?
As I pondered this, my eyes met the Heavenly Demon's. Her eyebrows curved like a crescent moon.
She was breathtakingly beautiful in a terrifying way.
Gazing at her didn't stir mere desire or lust. It was closer to the reverent awe of beholding a sacred work of art.
Which naturally shook my mind.
I barely steadied my shaken spirit. Exposure to someone of a higher realm was tough in many ways.
Still, it was worth probing a little.
"The gift I presented… you didn't consume it?"
At my words, Yi Se-ryeong's smile deepened.
"How could I casually consume such a precious betrothal gift?"
I nearly lost myself in her smile, but "betrothal gift" snapped me back to reality.
Right, I'd momentarily forgotten the yandere obsession lurking behind that otherworldly beauty.
Of course, it wouldn't flare up right now, but caution never hurt.
To return to my original world, I needed the freedom to act independently.
Requesting tasks was also to build that justification naturally.
"Be off."
Piiik!
Mugyeok-i came scampering joyfully toward me, obvious excitement showing.
Seeing this, the corners of Yi Se-ryeong's mouth twitched subtly downward.
As I looked at her, she cleared her throat a couple times and returned to her inscrutable expressionless face.
"What do you plan to do with Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa?"
"At Cheol Mu Geuk of Goe San Cheol Ga's request, I plan to keep it by his side for the time being."
Having them together made it easier to tease Cheol Mu Geuk, and ability-wise, they matched perfectly.
The owner of the Flame Fire Jade that controlled all fires, paired with a divine beast bearing an eternal flame.
Of course, the true owner was still me.
"Not just slaying the fire bird, but contributing to the cult through it once more. You've performed the task admirably."
"You overpraise me. I humbly accept."
"The first task is passed."
I bowed my head.
"I'll inform you of the second task shortly."
"I shall obey."
"And."
Ahem. Clearing her throat, Yi Se-ryeong looked away casually as she spoke.
"Could you bring Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa sometimes?"
She seemed quite taken with Mugyeok-i.
"As you wish. I have a subordinate child named Cho Ryang. Through him—"
"No."
Yi Se-ryeong shook her head.
"You must come. It might get swept up in my presence."
"Understood."
True, Cho Ryang-i was still young and weak; he might lose his mind if careless.
[Tsk tsk.]
It could happen if I blink.
[I don't know whether to be glad or not that you're residing in my body.]
What're you saying.
I bowed, and Yi Se-ryeong descended from the jade throne and left the hall.
"Haa—. Mugyeok-i. Give me some fire."
Piiik!
Mugyeok-i shot flames at me, but nothing changed. This was just mental fatigue.
"Let's go."
I headed out with Mugyeok-i.
As always in Seung Cheon Gye, Gu Jin-gyeong, the Heavenly Demon's steward, saw me off. He wore an oddly pleased smile—
Creepy as hell.
A stern old man smiling warmly was somehow more unsettling.
As he saw me off, Gu Jin-gyeong said,
"By tradition, one doesn't use lightness skill when ascending to the Heavenly Demon Palace where the lord resides. Like you, Family Head Sado. Isn't that right?"
"Yes."
"However—"
Gu Jin-gyeong nodded toward Mugyeok-i.
"There's no rule against flying in from the sky."
"What do you mean?"
"Fate arises from frequent encounters, Family Head Sado. Remember that. For you, the skies of Cheon Ma Gung are always open."
He winked slyly with one eye.
Chilling. It felt like hearing a murder announcement right in front of me. Like that famous pro wrestler who did a chokeslam in an undertaker gimmick—exactly his signature move vibe.
"…Understood."
As I left Cheon Ma Gung's gates, Gu Jin-gyeong's words reminded me of something.
"Mugyeok-i. Can you give me a ride?"
Piiik!
Mugyeok-i nodded and grew back to its original size.
It gestured behind with its head as if to say hop on, and I climbed onto its back.
Holding the large feathers on its nape, it was surprisingly comfortable.
Piiik!
Flap, flap.
After a couple flaps, Mugyeok-i shot into the sky.
My vision twisted like smeared paint.
"Whoa!"
I couldn't help exclaiming.
From the high heavens, the entire Ten Thousand Great Mountains sprawled below.
Tiny buildings the size of fingernails dotted the landscape.
[Not scared?]
Domination's got me covered anyway.
[Not much internal energy left.]
Oh.
[Kidding. I can control a fall just fine.]
Worst case, use Blink into a river or lake. Momentum conservation would make the impact rough, but better than solid ground.
This body, tempered by Heavenly Demon Divine Art, could handle it.
Anyway.
Up this high, the view was spectacular.
Those toiling below seemed utterly insignificant.
No wonder people loved flying on planes during trips.
Funny thing—I'd never flown in real life. Too busy scraping by for travel.
"Can you fly a bit higher?"
Piiik!
Mugyeok-i spiraled as if bracing me, then soared even higher.
Soon, it pierced straight through the clouds.
Like gazing at a sea of cotton candy.
A silent sea, save for the wind and Mugyeok-i's wingbeats.
Who knew a person could float so leisurely above the clouds bare-bodied.
For a fleeting moment, I thought if the Heavenly Demon chased, I could just bolt into the sky.
But Yi Se-ryeong could rip through those clouds and pursue in an instant.
"Let's descend, Mugyeok-i. Good work—go ask Cheol Mu Geuk for some fire."
Piiik~!
Mugyeok-i cried cheerfully and plummeted like an arrow. Vision spun wildly, revealing—
"Hm?"
Baek Hoe River, the passage linking Ten Thousand Great Mountains to the central plains.
At its end, acrid smoke billowed.
[What's that?]
"Mugyeok-i. Head there."
Piiik!
Mugyeok-i flew swiftly, reaching Baek Hoe River.
And there—
"Sado… Family Head…"
A half-sunken, burning ferryboat and the gravely wounded Hwang So Gun.
The rest of the ferry crew—
Ash?
[Hey, demon. Hwang So Gun's on fire.]
I looked at Hwang So Gun. Sure enough, a tiny ember clung to his back.
One might think a shake would snuff it out—but no.
A minuscule flame. Yet it burned relentlessly, unquenchable until the will broke.
I knew its nature.
"Ambush… barely… escaped…"
Hwang So Gun continued.
"Alliance… enforcer… ha…"
The energy of Sword Saint Maeng Wi-hak.
Pretending to Be the Heavenly Demon