113. Strife Martial Council
“Mu Geuk-i. Fire. Suck it in.”
Piik—
Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa lived off fire. So I believed it could even absorb the flames of Maeng Wi-hak.
But Mu Geuk-i seemed reluctant, as if something felt off to it.
“Sorry. But we have to, if this guy's gonna live.”
Mu Geuk-i shook its head as if sighing in resignation, then approached Hwang So Gun with eyes full of defeat.
With a whoosh, the small ember burning into Hwang So Gun's back was sucked into Mu Geuk-i's mouth.
Gulk!
Mu Geuk-i belched with a displeased expression.
[He's alive. Though his breathing's pretty ragged.]
I nodded at Pa Cheon's words. Hwang So Gun was a martial artist, after all, so his vitality was tough enough to begin with.
[If it's really Maeng Wi-hak, this is serious. The Baekhoe River is the passage connecting the Divine Cult to the martial world.]
“We'll see.”
[Aren't you taking this too lightly, you yokai?]
“No, that's not why.”
It was just weird that Maeng Wi-hak would show up here at this timing.
“If it's really Maeng Wi-hak, it might actually be good for us.”
[What do you mean by that?]
“The Heavenly Demon will win.”
[...I can't tell if your attitude toward the Sovereign is rude or reverent.]
I shrugged at Pa Cheon's remark.
I could say that because I knew this world's lore inside out.
At this point in the story, Yi Se-ryeong versus Maeng Wi-hak would be a total stomp for her.
Even later, when her innate abilities were crippled by severe internal injuries, she'd still won with only minor losses.
So of course I felt secure.
The only concern was if the Divine Cult's location got exposed somehow.
'The problem is, that could spark a war.'
First things first: assess the situation. To do that, I needed to wake up the unconscious Hwang So Gun.
“Mu Geuk-i. Burn this guy too and let's go.”
I loaded Hwang So Gun onto Mu Geuk-i's back.
[Dok Ma or Ma Ui?]
External wounds were better for Ma Ui's pavilion, but exposure to such vicious poison energy might make Dok Ma the better choice.
I made up my mind and shared my thoughts with Pa Cheon.
[You're insane.]
“Thanks for the high praise. Let's go, Mu Geuk-i.”
Mu Geuk-i shot into the sky.
A few hours later.
News hit the Divine Cult like a thunderbolt: the lead ship had been attacked, the entire crew massacred, and the sole survivor, Hwang So Gun, had died en route.
The Divine Cult went on high alert.
Cultists always carried weapons anyway, but this was on another level.
The Sword Wearing Decree.
The Heavenly Demon's edict: every soul must carry a weapon at all times, even while sleeping or going about daily life.
And it wasn't just for martial artists.
Family retainers, servants, even the farmers tilling fields in the Demon Realms—all armed to the teeth.
A 12-hour emergency protocol was activated, and tension etched every face patrolling the streets.
And in the Heavenly Demon Palace.
Just past Yin hour—around 3 a.m.—a meeting convened.
Not the Six Families Assembly.
The Strife Martial Council.
Not just the Six Demonic Families, but the heads of every Divine Cult division—all gathered.
It was called only for crises on the scale of war.
At the center of the grand hall, flanking the central aisle leading to the throne: the seats closest to the Heavenly Demon were reserved for the heads of the Six Demonic Families, with the rest arrayed by rank to left and right.
Most were Six Families alumni, of course.
So the Six Families folk clustered together, while the wildcards grouped with their own kind.
Just the division heads numbered around fifty.
The grand hall buzzed like a marketplace.
Cultists came in all flavors: clothes, weapons, genders, ages—total chaos.
Murmuring leaders grabbing collars or even drawing blades—that was standard Divine Cult chit-chat—froze at my entrance.
Eyes shot my way: doubt, hostility, envy—all mixed.
Mostly from the wildcards. The Six Families had heard about the Families Assembly, directly or indirectly.
“Sado Family Head!”
Someone blocked my path.
A disheveled middle-aged man.
“Is it true? That you found Hwang So Gun?!”
“...”
“What, cat got your tongue? Speak up!”
“And who might you be?”
“...What?”
I fixed him with a sharp glare. Hard to use Black Ox Aura here, but with the Heavenly Demon not yet arrived, channeling Heavenly Demon Divine Art energy was child's play.
The disheveled man recoiled at my gaze.
“One should introduce themselves before standing before me.”
“Y-You...!”
He trembled like I'd dealt him mortal insult.
Pa Cheon spoke.
[Twin swords on his back—Rank 38, Dong So A.]
Rank 38: Peak realm, edge of the brink.
But after hanging with so many Super Peaks, it barely fazed me.
I'd topped off my inner energy in Punishment Cave the second I heard about the meeting anyway.
Whatever.
Dong So A slyly reached back for his swords. True to Cult form, gearing up to strike.
“I, Rank 38 Dong So A! Challenge the Sado Family Head Sado Hwan to—”
That was when.
“Enough.”
Kwak Ri Yeon had appeared, grabbing Dong So A's hand.
“...Kwak Family Head.”
“Impatient, aren't you, Dong So A? Even if Hwang So Gun's your friend, this is improper.”
“My apologies.”
“Apologize to the Sado Family Head, not me. And...”
Kwak Ri Yeon’s eyes gleamed coldly.
“Be grateful your head's still attached.”
Oho.
Kwak Ri Yeon winked at me on the sly after saying it.
Come to think of it, that uncle of his.
He might treat me well—who knows why—but he's the Cult's top stickler for hierarchy.
No way he'd let some low-rank punk strut like that.
“Forgive my... impropriety.”
Dong So A bowed under Kwak Ri Yeon's killing intent. I nodded curtly.
Strong-eat-weak world—love it.
“Thank you, Kwak Family Head.”
“No trouble. No need for a fuss before the meeting, eh? Hahaha.”
At Kwak Ri Yeon's pointed words, the bickering leaders quietly released their grips.
I headed to the seats prepped for the Six Families heads. Right side of the Heavenly Demon.
But.
“What're you lot doing?”
“What's that? Goe Mountain Iron always sits here.”
“Red Dragon Revolution claims this seat from now on.”
“...That's our Nine Yin Kwak spot.”
Right side: Sado, Kwak, Iron. But Hyeok Mun had barged in to claim it.
[Idiot?]
'Seems like it.'
I turned to go left instead—no need to fight for right.
“Scary. Scary. Scary. Scary.”
Jin Yeong Ryeong, dark circles down to her chin, gnawed her nails at the sight of me.
And next to her, Chu Tae Su with his signature smarmy grin... made me wanna deck him.
He'd known ages ago the curse on me was broken. Even the one on Hyeok Mun.
Yet that smug face.
[The Cult's future looks bleak.]
'Tell me about it.'
Made the Heavenly Demon leading these fools against the whole martial world seem even more impressive.
I gave up and took left of the throne. Chu Tae Su welcomingly gestured to the center.
While slyly reaching to touch me.
[Predictable.]
Pa Cheon slowed time's flow with Time Wheel Jade.
And I saw it.
A dark green glow racing up Chu Tae Su's wrist, spinning like a comet's tail.
[Right, Il Wol Chu Family majors in curses, but their Seizing Hand is top-tier too. For laying curses?]
Seizing Hand.
General term for grabbing techniques.
Master it to extremity, and foes don't even notice they've been caught.
'That's how it got me on Jan Hon Do without realizing.'
I dodged his hand, stepped in front of Jin Yeong Ryeong, and released the Time Wheel Jade.
“!?”
I felt their shock even without seeing it.
Jin Yeong Ryeong in front of me nearly fainted from surprise.
“Move aside.”
Nodnodnodnodnodnod.
She bobbed her head frantically and shifted over.
Chu Tae Su looked baffled.
Me—Jin Yeong Ryeong—Chu Tae Su—throne.
In that order.
The hall fell silent.
Sure, whispers of my rising star had spread, but always in private.
Jin Yeong Ryeong cowering publicly like this? New.
Gulp—
The loudest swallow? Probably Dong So A.
Soon, Gu Jin-gyeong entered the hall.
“The Sovereign arrives.”
“Heavenly Demon Sovereign! Eternal fortune to all demons!”
“...Demon Sovereign! Eternal fortune to all demons!”
[Can't they get the timing right?]
'Progress for the masses, no?')
Still off-beat, but better than total buffoonery before. Gotta give credit.
Yi Se-ryeong entered the hall.
Her already icy face was frozen solid. The crisis demanded it.
No preamble—she cut straight in.
“Sado Family Head Sado Hwan, step forward.”
I was prepared and strode down the aisle calmly.
“Report the details.”
I recounted the events from hours ago.
Murmurs erupted as I finished.
They knew of the attack, but not Maeng Wi-hak's involvement.
“Sado Family Head, was it really Maeng Wi-hak?”
Cheol Mu Geuk questioned me. I nodded.
—Can you be certain?
Chu Tae Su this time.
—The ship at the scene was burned, crew reduced to ash. Only Hwang So Gun left, and he died en route.
Chu Tae Su continued.
—If it was truly Maeng Wi-hak, do you think any would survive?
The assembly nodded.
Who was Maeng Wi-hak?
The Sword Saint—undisputed strongest in the martial world.
If he'd spotted Hwang So Gun, survival odds weren't near zero—they were zero.
—Frankly... hearing about the fire makes me think of the firebird that torched Red Dragon Territory. And oddly, you were the first discoverer, Sado Family Head.
“Doubting me?”
—Perish the thought. Just a coincidence. Divine beasts aren't tamed so easily, after all.
Childish ploy—made me scoff.
Chu Tae Su was pulling a classic 'king-god-go' here.
Stir opinion: 'Fire? Must be that Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa.' Then when truth outs, 'Whoops, my bad.'
No skin off his back—just shapes sentiment and dips.
But the flaw?
His opponent's me.
[Overkill.]
'Nah. Possessor privilege—double payback for getting hit first.'
Let him get cursed, then pass? He'd keep seeing me as easy prey.
I wanted him to fumble publicly, curb his influence.
“I have a witness.”
—Divine beasts can't testify. They're beasts.
“Sovereign.”
I ignored Chu Tae Su, addressing Yi Se-ryeong.
“I request a witness.”
“Granted.”
I snapped my fingers.
The hall doors opened. Ma Ui and Dok Ma entered together, visibly uncomfortable side-by-side but hiding it before the Sovereign.
And trailing them.
“Heavenly Demon Sovereign, eternal fortune to all demons.”
Hwang So Gun, on crutches.