Three Flowers Gather at the Summit
Thud—.
Thud—.
Thud—.
Not in some stuffy room, but in a wide-open outdoor space. Even with hundreds of people gathered, breathing the same air, the footsteps echoed extraordinarily loudly.
All eyes turned and fixed on Sado Hwan.
Torches blazed, but midnight fog shrouded everything in darkness.
In the midst of it, Sado Hwan's eyes gleamed ferociously like a tiger's.
Gulp—.
The warriors, overwhelmed by his presence, froze in place. Friend or foe, it didn't matter—the sheer intimidation made them hesitate.
Sado Hwan strode forward, ignoring everyone as if they didn't exist.
'Danger...!'
Watching him approach, Un Yeop Ja bit his lip. With the Black Shadow Corps at his back, no less.
Those cowardly Demonic Cult bastards would strike without mercy, even at an unarmed foe turning away.
They were the type to massacre an entire village just for existing there.
Un Yeop Ja circulated his true energy throughout his body, ready to strike at any moment.
But then.
"...?!"
As Sado Hwan walked, the Black Shadow Corps didn't budge an inch. They stood frozen, as if struck by lightning.
'No way—.'
In that instant, Un Yeop Ja realized.
'Killing intent... it's killing intent!'
He was radiating overwhelming killing intent, enough to bind dozens at once.
Nothing else explained why the Black Shadow Corps—menacing and poised to charge moments ago—remained still.
What was truly astonishing, however, was Sado Hwan himself.
Killing intent infused energy with overwhelming pressure to crush the opponent's internal energy. The stronger or wider the spread, the greater the burden—requiring immense internal energy and masterful control.
And yet, here was Sado Hwan.
Alone, while walking, scattering killing intent. Yet it barely brushed the righteous warriors ahead like a gentle breeze!
Chills ran down Un Yeop Ja's spine.
He'd sensed Sado Hwan as a considerable master—calm and serene like a vast lake. Unable to gauge his exact level, he'd assumed they were equals or he was slightly superior. How arrogant that thought had been.
'A truly formidable expert... far above my level.'
Whether he knew Un Yeop Ja's thoughts or not, Sado Hwan calmly approached, gripped the sword, and yanked it free like drawing a blade from its sheath—half-buried though it was. He turned.
"How dare you."
Sado Hwan spoke, low anger lacing his words.
"Wander the jianghu as you please."
I set the mood to the max.
I'd flung Pa Cheon to draw eyes, tensed my gaze for bluffing flair. Everyone hung on my every move, nerves on edge.
Un Yeop Ja, of course, and even that snide Dang Si Hyeok gaped speechless.
Acting was half direction, after all.
Time for the finale.
If I could send transmissions, I'd cue them perfectly—but no dice, so it was frustrating.
All I could do was pray dim Sa Wol caught on and retreated.
"How dare you (without my orders) wander the jianghu as you please (act out)."
The Black Shadow Corps members I locked eyes with flinched. Gasps like "Heuk!" and "Heop!" from behind—they must've thought I'd forced them back with sheer presence.
I continued.
"This crime warrants death (want to die?)."
I pointed Pa Cheon forward. Thanks to all-night practice, the stance looked natural enough.
"Return to your lands (crawl back and stay put). Do so, and I'll spare your worthless lives (if you don't want to die)."
Panicked voices erupted—not from ahead, but behind.
"What nonsense is this?!"
Dang Si Hyeok.
"They're Demonic Cult dogs! Kill them on sight!"
That damn cabbage worm never took the easy out.
Still aiming Pa Cheon forward, I said,
"Can't you read the Black Shadow Corps' energy?"
"...What?"
"One at mature Peak, five near-Peak first-rates. The rest all first-rate."
Enough to wipe out Baek Family Manor before tea cooled—not even time for a sip. Taeryeong County's third- and second-rates? Like cutting scarecrows.
"Fighting them, most of you die."
"Such sacrifices are fine!"
"Noble birth makes you reckless with words."
"What?"
"Look behind you. To your sides."
Around Dang Si Hyeok clustered Taeryeong's second- and third-rate warriors, naturally.
"They're not like you—born to luxury, trained in comfort. They survive this harsh jianghu by the sword alone."
"...What?"
"Unlike you, if they die or get hurt, no one cares for their families."
In that moment, the mood shifted.
Hesitation crept over faces once burning with zeal to crush the Demonic Cult.
Demagoguery starts with empathy. Poke at not being nobles, then families—got 'em.
"Kill them, sure—gain merit, fame. But tell me: Does that glory go to Taeryeong's warriors here, or to the Tang Clan and Kunlun?"
Warriors eyed each other.
"Win here, the Cult retaliates. Tang Clan? Safe in Sichuan. Kunlun? Who dares touch the world's giant? Taeryeong takes the hit."
"Absurd sophistry."
"Call it that if you like."
I smirked faintly, like hiding painful history. Tilting my head for Un Yeop Ja to see clearly.
"But if it saves even one life, I don't care."
"...".
Conflict crossed Un Yeop Ja's face.
His hatred for the Divine Cult likely stemmed from losing family to them. Prime revenge chance—but someone here dies for it.
Two beliefs: justice, revenge. The heavier? Obviously.
"...Go. Demonic Cult."
Justice.
"Un Yeop Jin-in!"
"Young Hero Kim is right. This could spark a Righteous-Demonic War."
"Righteous-Demonic War" panicked even Dang Si Hyeok. Small clash could ignite the jianghu.
Mood set. Justification secured. Exactly my picture.
I turned back.
"Return to your border lands, Demonic Cult."
Hand subtly to chest, shooing frantically out of sight. Pray they got it.
The dawdling Black Shadow Corps vanished in a blink.
"...Black Shadow Corps retreats!"
"What now?"
Cheonghae Sam Geol answered someone's mutter. Beaming proudly, they raised weapons, shouting at me.
"Demonic Cult retreats! We won!"
Chaos flipped to cheers for me.
"Who the hell is that young hero?!"
"Repelled Demonic Cult with presence alone...!"
"Looks and skills extraordinary."
"A new dragon rises in the jianghu!"
Admiration poured. Perfect—Tak Horak's stage, my scene. Hero status, proof I'm no Cultist, witnesses galore. Nickname here? Travel convenience forever.
I spun, robes flapping, sheathing Pa Cheon flawlessly. Even I thought it cool. "Oohs" erupted; I stifled laughter inside.
[Only the sword drawing improves.]
'All I drilled to death.'
[Anyway. Must admit your scheming talent.]
'Hey, schemes? Strategy.'
[Demon, so you see through people?]
'Close enough.'
Sales background. Dealing people, selling stuff—jerks teach you hearts fast. These folks? Murim Returner gave full backstory. Swaying minds? Easy.
Un Yeop Ja approached, clear-faced, cupping fists. Enlightened glow.
"Learned much, young hero."
"What'd I do?"
"No. As a Dao cultivator, blinded by revenge, I overlooked—"
Suddenly, Un Yeop Ja shuddered mid-sentence, dropping into lotus. His body floated slowly; auspicious energy seeped from nose, enveloping him.
Wait. This?
I yelled urgently.
"Silence, all!"
Victory-celebrating warriors shut mouths at his pose.
Wuxia protags get this level-up often. Stumble on rock, boom—enlightenment. Lazy "gained insight" fixes power jumps.
Infuriating.
Protagonist's Pa Cheon; side character Un Yeop Ja enlightens off one line? BS.
I'd gained fortune too—half Heavenly Demon Divine Art. But no easy insights for me. No lifelong martial life; math-wise, barely add/subtract. Insight? Ha.
Anyway, ally Un Yeop Ja powering up? Welcome. Roaming jianghu post-Cult, solid backup rocks.
Event peaked. Milky energy swirled, forming three buds above head. They bloomed, dissolved to light particles.
"Three Flowers Gather at the Summit…!"
Someone whispered. That legend. Free energy control, so...
"Super Peak!"
Super Peak phenomenon.
Un Yeop Ja opened eyes. Flash! Gaze swept like spotlight.
He drew sword. Hazy energy condensed, forming pale new blade over it.
Imperfect, but proof: Sword Gang.
Then—
[Mm...]
'What?'
[Chest feels stuffy.]
'Stuffy chest?'
I eyed Un Yeop Ja's Sword Gang, then Pa Cheon. Ah, got it.
[What sorcery?]
'Roughly know why... talk later.'
Un Yeop Ja approached, grabbing my hand. Sword Gang gone, Pa Cheon's discomfort vanished too.
"Young hero...!"
Eyes full trust, goodwill. No wonder—I'd basically enlightened him. Other jianghu folk gawked, alternating stares.
"Thanks, young hero! Your words brought insight."
"Congrats on great achievement."
"All thanks to you."
Flattery flowed. I chuckled dryly. One word to Super Peak; me, survival circus.
Someone shouted.
"Feast time! Repelled Cult, new star born, Un Yeop Jin-in hits Super Peak!"
"Yes! Celebration needed!"
Baek Manor Lord, So Myeongjang Lord boomed agreement.
"Honor jianghu's heroes!"
"I'll bring my best brew!"
...Daddy's girls and boy's club uncles forgot picking fights blindly.
To Un Yeop Ja:
"I'll pass."
"Pardon?"
"Overworked energy, minor internal injury. Back to inn, rest."
"Then I—"
"Can't without leads."
I like booze. But drunk slip? Better bail quietly.
'Bonus: Whip Sa Wol, Tak Horak.'
You're dead.
Leaving feast, I slipped from Baek Manor.
Pretending to Be the Heavenly Demon