Chapter 32: Hold My Hand
They say that when Shaolin's divine monk was asked, "What exactly is the Super Peak realm?" he replied:
"Guiding the Buddha within me to the world outside."
Super Peak masters hone their will. Unlike games where you grind experience and level up, martial arts is an uncertain path where you never know when enlightenment will strike. You must forge ahead on willpower alone.
That's why a Super Peak master's resolve is immense. And their will doesn't end at mere "intent." It warps the natural laws of the world.
Creating hot ice or burning water—miracles like that.
People called it Manifestation.
Not long ago, when Un Yeop Ja evolved(?) into Super Peak, awakening the energy of "Dharma," it followed the same principle.
"The little sorceress can't perform Manifestation right now."
If she could truly manifest, neither Paeng So So nor Sa Wol would have gotten off that lightly. The moment they touched her, they'd be encased in ice crystals, turned into statues. That would be normal.
"……!"
Paeng So So's eyes widened at my words.
Up to Peak realm, martial arts can only whip up sword winds or make things a bit hotter or colder. Paeng So So's Three Joys Blade carried lightning, but a Super Peak master would summon actual thunderbolts.
The scariest thing about Super Peak masters wasn't just their Gang Qi—it was the Manifestation achieved through Gang Qi techniques.
Right now, the little sorceress couldn't use Gang Qi techniques or Manifestation. Because...
"A monster without a sense of self can't wield Gang Qi techniques. They're born from the will."
Baek So Hyang was being controlled by Jo Yang's puppet arts. She'd absorbed the jade containing the little sorceress's power, but what moved her now was instinct.
A warrior driven by instinct alone could never reach Super Peak.
"So don't be scared. She's just a tougher Peak expert."
"Suddenly dropping the honorifics?"
"Your life's on the line—should I keep being polite?"
"Hm, fair enough. It'd be weird if my lord kept using them anyway. You're way older than me."
I chuckled. Despite seeming a bit unhinged calling me "my lord," Paeng So So had regained her composure after hearing me out.
Laughter, huh? With my body—.
Are you really marrying her? Shut up. I need to think.
[……]
First things first: keep the little sorceress in check.
"Paeng So So, you draw her attention from the front. Sa Wol's trained in assassination arts. She's better for lethal strikes."
"You can just say that out loud?"
"The little sorceress won't understand anyway."
Jo Yang didn't seem to be controlling her precisely either. He'd probably just set her on "enemies."
Paeng So So nodded, took a deep breath, gripped her blade with steadying hands, and stepped forward.
"Come at me!"
Paeng So So clashed with the little sorceress. Sa Wol watched from behind, waiting for an opening.
I wasn't just standing around either.
Jo Yang.
This all came down to him. Steal his puppet arts, and maybe I could control the little sorceress.
Can I even take them from him?
Jo Yang wasn't trained in martial arts. But he had formations and spells. Just look at what almost happened to Paeng So So earlier—rushing in blindly could've sent her plummeting into a pit. I couldn't charge recklessly.
Plus, Jo Yang kept glancing my way, clearly wary. From his perspective, I was the guy who'd crushed his guardian, then absorbed the jade with some insane technique.
[Why didn't that bastard absorb the jade then?]
No intel, so he didn't want the risk. Even golden hands can't turn his revived lover to gold.
[Makes sense. We were desperate.]
Jade aside, Jo Yang was my problem. I couldn't fight the little sorceress anyway.
[What's your plan?]
Only one way.
I glanced at the back of my hand. The ">>>" pattern visible only to me shimmered with dark blue light.
Opportunities like this don't come twice.
Blink Jade: 5m range, 3 uses.
Each use dims one ">". They recharge over time—one per minute.
Three chances to end it. After that, Jo Yang would counter with formations or spells.
I casually unfurled the Black Rain Banner and fanned it.
"Aren't you cold!?"
Paeng So So shot me a "what the hell" look.
"I'm thinking—focus on your side."
"Eek!"
The Black Rain Banner's paralyzing poison shot toward Jo Yang. Too fast and chaotic to aim precisely at the little sorceress.
No good. The transparent gem on Jo Yang's necklace turned green.
Avoid Poison Pearl.
Poison's out.
The Avoid Poison Pearl neutralized toxins—a type of treasure artifact. Makes sense for a guy who'd schemed for decades.
Of course, Dang Si Hyeok's milder poison got blocked—not Dok So Gong's lethal stuff.
"Do something! She's freaking strong!"
Paeng So So retreated under the little sorceress's onslaught—like a rampaging tank. The ferocity kept even Sa Wol at bay.
Can I pull this off?
I'm a klutz at fighting. Acting got me this far—a miracle born of desperation.
Idiot.
Pa Cheon spoke.
[If a warrior doesn't believe in himself, who will he believe?]
I'm not a warrior.
[Shut it. You're in my body—you're a warrior. Believe in yourself. You... you're Sado Hwan right now.]
...Right. I'm Sado Hwan.
I exhaled deeply. Distance to Jo Yang: about three jang—9 meters. Consecutive blinks could reach him.
But if I vanish suddenly, he'll dodge or block.
Hit him where it hurts. Feint east, strike west—or in game terms, pull aggro elsewhere.
I drew Pa Cheon, posing for a downward slash.
Blink preserves momentum.
No need for a stance shift. Just one thing: downward slash.
"Let's go."
I blinked.
Fwip—!
Toward Jo Yang.
Or rather, toward the little sorceress.
I appeared above her head as she swung at Paeng So So's blade. Dark blue energy swirled around me. Paeng So So panicked.
"I-illusory form shift?!"
The little sorceress reacted faster, sensing me and swinging her arm.
Collision!
I scattered my inner energy across my body—not just my arm. Clashing stone-on-stone would just shatter me, as I'd realized from Pa Cheon's words and that statue hit.
Clang—!
Pa Cheon met the little sorceress.
"Kuh!?"
Her startled voice rang out.
Pa Cheon, the legendary sword.
No Gang Qi—just claw energy couldn't withstand its edge. Her nail snapped off.
"Kieeeek!"
Enraged, she flailed wildly. I deliberately met it with Pa Cheon.
Boom—!
"Kim hyung!"
Explosion rocked me airborne. Paeng So So's voice stretched like taffy. I was hurtling back at insane speed.
Honestly, without that statue crash experience, I'd be out cold. But maybe from surviving it—or Heavenly Demon Divine Art—
Pain seared, but my mind stayed sharp.
So, once more.
Blink.
Fwip—!
Dark blue enveloped me. I reappeared above Jo Yang's head. Blink kept my momentum.
Target was always Jo Yang.
I plunged Pa Cheon down in my flung pose—using the little sorceress as propulsion.
"What the—!"
Jo Yang panicked, scattering something on the ground. Milky, translucent barrier rose from the floor. A shield—our speeds matched perfectly.
Reach him!
I thrust. Pa Cheon pierced the nearly complete shield. Jo Yang's eyes bulged in slow motion. I released the hilt. Pa Cheon shot forward like a salmon upstream.
Soon.
"Argh—!"
Jo Yang screamed.
"......Fuck."
I cursed under my breath.
Missed.
Aimed for the puppet arts, but the hilt snagged the shield, veering to graze his left shoulder. Pa Cheon tried a follow-up, but the little sorceress now guarded him.
Should've gone for the heart?
No. Not fear of murder—survival trumped that. It was Cheon Gi-ja. Jo Yang knew something. Any scrap on the elusive prophet was gold.
"You damn bastards!"
Jo Yang snorted furiously.
"Prey like you! Fine, I'll kill you all!"
As if he wasn't planning that anyway.
He stomped. Fog billowed from somewhere, thickening fast.
"This is!"
Paeng So So gasped. Same fog array that blocked the passage earlier—blurring senses.
He could tweak formations at will. Maybe even manipulate the ruins themselves. Perhaps why Un Yeop Ja and others hadn't arrived—he was looping them.
Phase 2, huh.
Classic wuxia cliché.
Before fog fully blanketed, Paeng So So and Sa Wol reached me. Now 2v3.
But Sa Wol looked off—fidgety, unlike her stoic self.
"What do we do? Visibility's shot!"
Paeng So So freaked too.
[Tell them: block external senses, focus inward.]
Pa Cheon couldn't train properly due to his constitution, so he obsessed over theory—and nailed it.
I relayed it.
"Then I can't use blade energy!"
"Don't obsess over blade energy. It's just a tool—Gang Qi or whatever. What matters is you, not the tool."
Paeng So So shuddered violently.
Oh, come on.
Not a level-up now.
If everyone's enlightening but me, the novel's Return of the Murim Master, not Enlightenment for Everyone But Me.
Paeng So So spaced out, then danced wildly like a maniac. Fierce momentum.
Enlightenment hits differently—Un Yeop Ja sat calmly; Paeng So So moved. Guess avoiding brute-force Paengs is best.
Anyway, leaves me and Sa Wol.
Fog rose to our chins, then swallowed sight. Even Paeng So So and Sa Wol vanished nearby.
Three steps: blind. Two: visible.
[Little sorceress incoming! Dodge!]
I leaped sideways on Pa Cheon's word. Chilling gust grazed me despite twisted bearings.
She ignored the fog. And I—her top threat—was priority.
[Left rear!]
Cold energy slashed past again. Dodged, but—
"Ngh!"
Her nail tip nicked my left upper arm. Flesh-ripping agony—wound froze solid.
"Kihehehek!"
Her laugh echoed. Pa Cheon warned urgently.
[Blind spot below!]
What nonsense is that?!
[Your right underside!]
I blinked blindly.
[It's Paeng So So. Dodge to the four directions.]
No bearings! Lead me.
Pa Cheon tugged impatiently. I followed.
Clash sounds—Paeng So So met the little sorceress.
Relief sighed—then chill prickled.
[Sa Wol! Head back!]
I tilted back. Sharp energy skimmed my chin.
[You insolent wench—! Demon, burst the Gu Poison! Kill her now!]
Pa Cheon raged at his wound, lunging at Sa Wol. I stopped it.
"Sa Wol. It's me. Sado Hwan."
No reply—just another strike. Pa Cheon parried.
"Sa Wol!"
[She's lost it.]
"What?"
[Sa Wol. Her mind's gone.]
"Ah!"
Right—her "setting."
Trauma. Heart Demon, in this world's terms.
Her clan burned amid fog. She hated—feared—mist.
Explained her chill in the cave.
Fog array resurfaced memories, reigniting killing intent.
Now, center of it exploded her Heart Demon—mind blank, slashing wildly.
Not official Return of the Murim Master lore. That's why I didn't recall. Instead...
Clang—!
Sa Wol struck again; Pa Cheon blocked. Powerless, mindless swings.
"Sa Wol."
I called. Strike, no answer.
I stepped into it.
[What are you doing? Dodge!]
Sa Wol solves this.
Blink teleports what you touch—like Pa Cheon. I'd blink her too.
Pa Cheon protested; I pressed. Two steps away—her face: terrified, tear-streaked.
She sensed me, stabbed my right shoulder. Dizzying pain, blood fountained.
But I gripped her shoulders.
If this Heart Demon stemmed from trauma "setting"—
A resolution "setting" existed.
"Sa Wol."
Softest voice.
"Time to go home."
That instant.
Her dazed pupils focused.
She blanked stoically.
"Back to your senses?"
"How did—"
"I know you want me dead. But."
Her blank cracked.
"This time, hold my hand."
I yanked the dagger free, offered it.
"Gotta go home, right?"
"……."
Lip-biting, she took my hand.
Pa Cheon. To Jo Yang.
[Damn fool. Front, three jang.]
Judged distance. Two blinks.
"Going, Sa Wol."
Fwip—!
Blink.
Fwip—!
Again.
Above Jo Yang.
Released her hand.
"Blind spot below."
[...Hilarious bastard.]
Sa Wol's blade traced light-speed arc.
Pretending to Be the Heavenly Demon