Chapter 114 Winter
I saw it.
The fleeting twist on Chu Tae Su's face, even as he desperately tried to keep it under control.
'Must've looked like a total pushover.'
He used his sorcery to push people's minds to the brink. Then, like some savior, he'd appear with a kind word.
Of course, they'd grovel and offer themselves up as pawns on his chessboard.
He must've thought it'd play out the same way this time.
After all, some among the attendees here had surely fallen under his influence.
A single cough from him, and the crowd would've turned on me. My status might've shielded me, but Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa would've been in real danger.
They'd claim an uncontrollable divine beast was a threat and move to kill it.
Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa's purifying flames were the natural antithesis to Chu Tae Su's sorcery, after all.
But his pretext fell apart the moment Hwang So Gun showed up alive.
Of course, I'd told Yi Se-ryeong the whole truth.
Obviously. Who in their right mind lies to the Heavenly Demon?
"Captain of the ferry ship, Hwang So Gun."
"You're injured. No need for formalities."
At Yi Se-ryeong's words, Hwang So Gun lifted his head with a look of profound gratitude. Her expression softened ever so slightly compared to the others—the angle of her lips was proof enough.
'Come to think of it, he's from the same region.'
The reason Hwang So Gun could swagger around on the ferry was simple: he hailed from the same hometown as Yi Se-ryeong.
Not that they were particularly close, as he'd claimed.
It was my cue to step in.
"Witness. Recount the events to everyone."
Hwang So Gun hesitated, then met my eyes.
"First off, if not for the Sado Family young master here, this lowly life would've been crossing the River of Three Paths by now. My deepest thanks."
Hwang So Gun bowed deeply to me before continuing.
"It was indeed Meng Wei Xue, the Sword Saint, who attacked me."
Murmurs rippled through the hall at his words.
"Does that mean the Divine Cult's defenses were breached?"
"No, that's not it. Everything... ugh."
Hwang So Gun clutched his head as if in agony.
— He's suffering from deep heart devil corruption. I should handle this...
As Chu Tae Su stepped forward to intervene, Dok Ma beat him to it.
"Take this. It's a pill to preserve your mind."
The pill Dok Ma offered was a sinister dark purple orb that looked ominous to anyone.
"You. Forcing untested medicine on a patient?"
"Hey now, untested? It's been through trials."
"Trials on beasts don't count."
Dok Ma and Ma Ui bickered like they'd forgotten they were in front of Yi Se-ryeong.
The one I'd brought the unconscious Hwang So Gun to wasn't either of them—it was both. External wounds were Ma Ui's domain; internal energies, Dok Ma's.
They squabbled whenever they met, but Ma Ui was under my control, so they'd cooperated to treat him.
That's how Hwang So Gun, who'd been on death's door mere hours ago, could now move.
— Hwang So Gun. Take it. Better than letting the sorcery take hold.
Hearing my transmission, he swallowed the dark purple pill without hesitation.
[Yo, demon. I'd have passed on that.]
'Yeah, exactly. Not my problem, so I fed it to him.'
No matter my rapport with Dok Ma, it was just a shallow contract-based acquaintance at best.
Hwang So Gun's face paled, his stomach clearly churning, but he couldn't show it.
The effect, at least, was immediate.
He began to speak haltingly.
"As you know, the Baekhoe River has countless complex tributaries of unknown origin. That's why outpost villages are essential along them."
Outpost villages dotted the river's branches and main stems—closely tied to the Divine Cult but manned by non-cultists.
Hwang So Gun continued.
"We'd moored the ferry for resupply when one crewman claimed he'd forgotten something ashore and went back briefly."
Normally, Hwang So Gun would've dismissed such nonsense and rung the alarm.
"E-embarrassingly, I had a stomachache that delayed our departure. His return was so late we thought to leave him. Then he came back."
Terror seized Hwang So Gun; he began to tremble.
"H-he... his whole body was engulfed in flames. We tried everything to extinguish it, but it wouldn't go out."
The crewman had uttered "Meng Wei Xue" before dying, they said.
That was when the tragedy began.
"The flames spread from him."
One by one, two by two.
The fire crept slowly but surely, tormenting the crew in agony.
As if the energy itself willed their suffering.
"Is that even possible?"
Cheol Mu Geuk voiced the question, but Dok Ma answered.
"It was vicious fire qi infused with intent."
The intent: "Reject all demonic qi."
Impressive, really. Most intents established concepts like "Domination" or "Ultra-Vibration."
Meng Wei Xue's went further, breathing life into gang qi like an artificial intelligence.
'Fitting for the world's top tier.'
Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa had absorbed the flames, but residual intent clung viciously to Hwang So Gun.
Dok Ma had eyed me curiously—"How are you fine?"—but I'd brushed it off: Mu Geuk sucked it up.
The real reason? Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
Its dominion over all demonic arts dwarfed that puny flame's intent.
Anyway.
"We steered for the Divine Cult. In the process, everyone..."
Hwang So Gun trailed off.
Dok Ma addressed Yi Se-ryeong.
"Fire qi that burns relentlessly, infused with intent at that level? The first victim's words ring true, Your Supremacy."
Ma Ui chimed in.
"I concur."
They squabbled over whose diagnosis it was. But their childish banter couldn't continue.
Tap. Tap.
Yi Se-ryeong.
Her fingers drummed the jade throne's armrest.
[Yo, demon. Steel yourself. Something's off.]
I pulled Heavenly Demon Divine Art qi up to my chest.
Then.
―――!
The air froze.
Inhaled breaths shriveled my lungs; gooseflesh prickled my skin.
Super Peak masters impose their intent on the world.
This transcended that.
...Snow?
Snowflakes fell—huge crystals you could peer into—one, two, then a blizzard.
At Yi Se-ryeong's will, the world humbled itself, twisted...
And winter arrived.
I instinctively stepped back.
Flashes from my first meeting with the Heavenly Demon resurfaced.
[Snap out of it. No need to fear.]
Pa Cheon was right. It wasn't serious—just her venting ill mood.
"Ugh!"
"Hngh!"
Stifled groans echoed everywhere.
Only high-ranking officers stood tall.
Me? Heavenly Demon Divine Art kept me steady amid the shock.
Then.
"Your Supremacy."
A low, gravelly voice.
Turning, I spotted a middle-aged man leaning on a pillar.
[Divine Cult Rank 8. Yu Il O.]
Worn traveler's robes, scruffy beard, wine gourd at his side. Sword clutched to his chest, not sheathed at his waist.
He looked like a wandering poet, loose and carefree.
'His vibe's even more on-point than mine.'
First time seeing anyone Rank 10 or above.
Ranks inside 10—"Beyond Heaven" tier—were wild cards who ignored hierarchy and the Heavenly Demon alike.
Yu Il O showing up was the anomaly.
"It might irk Your Supremacy, but these others can't take it."
"Hm."
Yi Se-ryeong's brow twitched.
The snow ceased.
Temperatures normalized from midwinter chill—though the hall remained cool.
Yu Il O pushed off the pillar, approaching me. Pa Cheon tensed, readying the Time Wheel Jade.
Understandable.
The Heavenly Demon was another league. But Cult Ranks under 10 were monsters.
Even Kwak Ri Yeon of the prestigious Nine Yin Kwak Family stalled at 11, unable to breach that wall.
"Protecting the witness amid all that. Impressive, Sado Family young master."
Only then did I glance back.
"S-Sado young master."
Hwang So Gun stood behind me, face full of awe.
I'd just recoiled in shock from the phenomenon.
To onlookers, it looked like I'd shielded him from the Heavenly Demon's pressure.
'Even a cow's backward step catches a rat. Guess my step did some good.'
No time to gawk. I braced myself, slipping back into character.
"Just doing what was right."
"Fun guy. Let's grab a drink sometime."
Yu Il O shook his gourd.
No thanks. I avoided even lower Super Peaks; no need for Beyond Heaven types.
"Now, we need a moment to regroup."
Kwak Ri Yeon stepped up.
"Per the witness, Ma Ui, and Dok Ma's diagnosis, Meng Wei Xue was the attacker. We must discuss next steps."
"What is there to discuss?"
Hyeok Mun spat sparks from his eyes.
"If true, we repay in kind. This is the jianghu declaring war on the Cult."
— Hold back, Hyeok Mun.
"O-Of course, we should investigate further."
At my transmission, Hyeok Mun broke a sweat and backpedaled.
"Sado Hwan."
Yi Se-ryeong, who'd been silent, called my name.
"What's your view?"
"Not a declaration of war, I believe."
"Why?"
"If Meng Wei Xue meant serious conflict, he wouldn't have made it so obvious."
Meng Wei Xue cloaked himself in righteousness, but a sly serpent lurked within.
He'd never declare war openly. Ambush? Sure.
"The flames' intent spread contagiously to those with demonic qi."
"Return home wreathed in fire, and it'd burn everything down. Treating us like bugs."
Yu Il O muttered nearby.
I pressed on.
"We can't dodge war if it's declared. But if accidental, we must consider all angles."
I said that, but war had to be avoided at all costs.
Yet.
"Innocent Cultists died."
Yi Se-ryeong's tone was firm, her eyes tinged with sorrow.
"Fellow humans, slain merely for their demonic qi. Hear me, Sado Hwan."
"Yes."
"I assign you your second mission."
"I accept."
"Go to the outpost village. Uncover exactly what happened. And if Meng Wei Xue intended more..."
Crunch!
Her fingertip pierced the jade armrest.
"The jianghu will relearn the Divine Cult's might."
"Heavenly Demon Supremacy. Long live the myriad demons."
I bowed.
[Fresh air at last.]
'Film it quick and get back. Run into the real Meng Wei Xue, and I'm toast.'
With his "eyes that see energies," he'd spot the Heavenly Demon Divine Art in my gut.
Instant death.
The conclave ended, and the investigation team formed immediately.
Included: Hwang So Gun, me, Sa Wol, Jin Yeong Ryeong who can extract information via blood. And...
"So, about that drink."
Yu Il O.