Chapter 36: Heavenly Demon Domination, Ten Thousand Demons Salute

Dang Si Hyeok scowled deeply. Around the desk where he sat, crumpled sheets of paper lay scattered on the floor.

Participants in the Tang Clan heir competition had to submit reports by letter every half month, detailing their experiences. It was a reminder not to waste time.

Letting out a sigh, Dang Si Hyeok started writing the letter again.

Soon enough.

Crumple.

He crumpled the paper again.

"What should I do?"

Dang Si Hyeok was no fool. It didn't make sense for a direct descendant of the Tang Clan—born into the cutthroat fight for clan head—to be an idiot.

Big brother is hiding something.

The Eastern Sword Dragon, descendant of Yakseon, who had come from the East.

He was undoubtedly strong and righteous, with the bearing of a hero straight out of a painting. Dang Si Hyeok had felt ashamed of his own inadequacy by comparison. That was why he'd been trying to emulate him, to change himself.

But that didn't mean the man wore his heart on his sleeve. He was definitely hiding something.

Especially that guard of his.

Dang Si Hyeok had been trapped in the same passage as Tak Horak in the ruins. To his eyes, Tak Horak hadn't seemed like an ordinary bodyguard. The energy he wielded felt too domineering and sinister for a mere guard.

Un Yeop Ja sensed it too.

Un Yeop Ja, who bore the energy of the Dharma, had sent a transmission to Dang Si Hyeok, repelled by something in Tak Horak's inner energy. It resembled demonic qi.

Moreover, Tak Horak had been unnaturally silent whenever Un Yeop Ja spoke, as if it were taboo.

In truth, he'd avoided answering because he'd learned about the "eyes that see truth," but neither Un Yeop Ja nor Dang Si Hyeok knew that. To them, Tak Horak looked suspicious.

That suspicion extended even to the Eastern Sword Dragon. How could he keep a guard so close who reeked of demonic qi?

But after the Eastern Sword Dragon fainted, Un Yeop Ja sent another transmission.

No such energy emanated from him. His own Dharma energy hadn't been provoked at all.

That's why.

He couldn't write about the Eastern Sword Dragon in the letter.

Even if he seemed foolish, the man had slain the Little Witch of the Few Poisons—the foe who, in his youth, had taken the Dao King three days and nights to barely subdue.

He was too exceptional. Exceptionally so.

Even that annoying prick from the Nangong Clan isn't on that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠level.

Was such a person hiding something?

Dang Si Hyeok knew the ways of the jianghu better than most.

In the jianghu, if there was even the slightest threat, people moved to eliminate it.

No matter if he was a descendant of Yakseon or the rightful owner of the Black Ox Sword.

Dang Si Hyeok himself had observed Dong Yun up close, so he was fine with it. But would his father, reading the letter, think the same?

"......Probably not."

Dang Si Hyeok couldn't be sure.

But omitting Dong Yun meant he couldn't explain away the wasted time over the past half month.

Since only he knew the Eastern Sword Dragon was Yakseon's heir, the failure to retrieve the Black Ox Sword would be chalked up to incompetence.

Pragmatism or loyalty?

Dang Si Hyeok agonized.

But soon enough.

He decided not to write the letter at all.

I'll explain it in person. It'll work out somehow.

It wasn't a lie, after all.

Big brother will stand tall in the jianghu anyway.

A newcomer to the jianghu, yet he'd already earned the moniker Eastern Sword Dragon. His fame would rise quickly from here. No one would dare touch him then—not even a great clan.

Just like the Alliance Leader.

With that thought, Dang Si Hyeok felt much relieved.

At that moment, a timely Tang Clan warrior arrived to see him.

"Young master."

"What is it?"

"The Eastern Sword Dragon is leaving."

"Big brother?"

Dang Si Hyeok shot to his feet.

"Where is he?"

"At the inn below."

"I need to go. Oh, and one more thing."

Dang Si Hyeok instructed the warrior.

"We never went to the ruins. Got it?"

"Pardon? But......"

"Don't report it either. Understand?"

At Dang Si Hyeok's earnest command, the warrior nodded hesitantly. Satisfied, Dang Si Hyeok patted his shoulder with a smile and vanished like the wind.

"Man, the young master's really changed. He's human now after just half a month."

Before, he'd have kicked him in the shin.

"But I've already sent the report. What now?"

The warrior scratched his head awkwardly.

"Big brother! Big brooother!"

Dang Si Hyeok approached with a beaming face.

Why's this guy so clingy when his first impression was so different?

"You're here."

"You're leaving?"

"Got things to do."

"That's a shame."

Dang Si Hyeok shot him a meaningful look.

"Creepy. Get lost."

"I'm hurt. Really hurt."

"Anyway."

Un Yeop Ja set down his tea and spoke.

"Which way are you headed?"

Fortunately, Un Yeop Ja seemed to fully trust me now and didn't use his "eyes that see truth."

"Gotta cross the desert...... so first, I'll take a boat down the river. Then over the sands."

"A grueling journey."

In truth, I wouldn't go all the way to the desert. I'd board the boat, then veer toward the Divine Cult.

"What will you do now, Daoist? Back to Kunlun, I assume."

Un Yeop Ja shook his head.

"No. I'm thinking of wandering the jianghu."

"Wandering the jianghu?"

"Watching you taught me much. The world is vast, full of people. I'll wander to embody my enlightenment. And......"

Un Yeop Ja's expression hardened.

"I sense turbulent times approaching soon."

Dang Si Hyeok's eyes widened at his words.

"You divine with heavenly omens at Kunlun or something? Then read my fortune too."

"......No, nothing like that. Divination and shamanism are specialties of the Forward Truth Sect or Mount Mo lineages."

"Then what's this about heavenly omens?"

Un Yeop Ja answered Dang Si Hyeok's question.

"Peak experts are popping up like weeds. You, Miss Paeng So So. And shamefully, me too. So many masters in one generation signals chaos ahead."

Maybe he'd hit the nail on the head. In Murim Returner, the world grew chaotic amid skyrocketing martial prowess. Enlightened masters really were different.

"Yeah, I heard something similar about the Heavenly Demon Blood Massacre a century ago. A bunch of masters emerged right before the catastrophe."

Dang Si Hyeok seemed to share the thought. Had his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠intelligence debuff finally worn off now that it was time to part?

"What about you? Plans?"

"Back to Sichuan first. I'll get chewed out for no results."

Dang Si Hyeok's goal was the Black Ox Sword. Which I'd pocketed myself......

I felt a twinge of guilt.

"There's a place called Ilryung in the Southern Wilds."

"Ilryung? Never heard of it."

"A tiny village not even on maps. Find the mountain there with a snake-shaped rock. It holds a spiritual creature."

"A spiritual creature? For real?"

"Yes. It's real."

In Murim Returner, it was the poison beast claimed by the Tang Clan's eldest young master, Dang Si Yul. Better in Dang Si Hyeok's hands than that madman's. For a poison clan like the Tangs, it was like gaining a heavenly army.

"But beware. Without at least Peak realm, you can't control it. Mess up, and it'll devour you."

"Peak......"

Dang Si Hyeok bit his lip. At just twenty-one, even as a decent talent, Peak was a distant goal.

But without genius level, he'd die in the coming world.

I'd grown fond of the guy. Didn't want to see him go.

"I'll do my best."

"Good. Do that."

I patted Dang Si Hyeok's shoulder and stood.

"Time to go for real. Farewell."

Un Yeop Ja, Dang Si Hyeok, and I exchanged clasped-hand salutes.

"Let's go, Sa Wol."

And so, I set off for the Divine Cult.

Not far from the ruins flowed a tributary of the great Baekhoe River. The Baekhoe stretched from Cheonghae Province near the desert, but its rapids were fierce and twisting, so boats rarely plied it.

The water was murky, almost ochre—surrounding soil pouring in from the swift current.

Sa Wol, Tak Horak, and I followed the tributary for days. No tails followed, thankfully.

About five days later, we reached an obscure ferry hidden in the woods.

A single boat was moored there—large enough for dozens.

Whiiist—whiiist whiiist!

Tak Horak whistled in a strange rhythm. Then.

Whiiist—whiiist whiiist!

An answering whistle came from the boat. Soon.

Shhhhk!

As if they'd been there all along, black-clad figures appeared on deck.

"We see the Division Leader!"

The black-clad warriors bellowed their greeting.

The Black Shadow Corps.

Pa Cheon sounded pleased.

Always loving the spotlight.

Truth be told, Pa Cheon was a riot too. Second-rate at best, yet strutting like nobility.

Guess that's the gaslighting effect.

Now I really couldn't let my guard down. Heading to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the Divine Cult meant enemies everywhere.

Anyway, I boarded. Entering the largest cabin, Sa Wol and Tak Horak followed naturally. Tak Horak said,

"As you know, we'll arrive in about a week."

"Got it."

"Yes, sir."

He subtly tried claiming space in my cabin.

"Out. I want to be alone."

"I get seasick bad......"

"Circulate your qi. Out."

"Yes, sir!"

Tak Horak left. But Sa Wol lingered.

"I must guard you."

I hadn't even asked.

"They're all Black Shadow Corps. Guard who?"

"......"

"Out. I'm doing mental image training."

Sa Wol bowed and left.

The reason was simple.

The Baekhoe's swift, twisting flow made the boat rock violently, inducing severe seasickness. This spacious cabin was tolerable, but narrower ones would amplify it.

I'd suffer too.

Couldn't let Super Peak experts see the Heavenly Demon laid low by seasickness.

Three days passed like that.

I'm dying.

Truly dying.

Vomited everything inside, bile rising, yet the retching continued. Couldn't show it—pure agony.

"Don't know how."

"Well......"

I trailed off.

The Heavenly Demon Divine Art moved energy by intent. Meridians didn't matter. Pa Cheon, unaware, had faked the circulation.

Then.

Knock knock knock.

Someone knocked. Perfect timing to dodge the issue.

"Come in."

It was Sa Wol.

I'd told her not to disturb my training, so there must be a reason.

"What is it?"

"A guide ship has appeared."

"I'm going out."

I followed Sa Wol to the deck.

Standing there, river wind whipped my robes and hair.

In the distance, a boat approached—defying the insane current upstream. Could even a modern speedboat manage that speed?

The boat, seeming set to collide, halted three zhang away and rode the current parallel to ours, matching speed.

Soon.

Whiiiiiing!

The mystery ship hurled grapnels onto our deck. In moments, dozens climbed aboard via the ropes.

Once all had crossed, the last one came.

Not swinging on the rope—but walking atop it.

The fierce-looking middle-aged man evoked the infamous pirate Blackbeard.

Each step on deck carried weight. Heavy in body, but more so in presence.

The man grinned, gold tooth flashing. Is he a real pirate? Then he spoke.

I replied.

At my words, the middle-aged man spread his arms wide.

"Welcome back to the Divine Cult, brother."