Chapter 48 - Heavenly Demon Domination
Murim is a genre overflowing with clichés, thanks to its long history.
Ever since the concept of the Heavenly Demon first appeared, countless variations have emerged.
Psychopathic Heavenly Demons, tragic ones with deep backstories, pushover types, childlike Heavenly Demons, and so on...
For all those many Heavenly Demons, though, their defining trait boils down to one thing.
The Heavenly Demon dominates. Heavenly Demon Domination.
In Murim Returner, that was a concept Do Il Gwang had created.
Later, the Heavenly Demon of that era absorbed the technique and used it as her own. As a genius who transcended mere genius, she could replicate it perfectly just by seeing it a few times.
Domination. The power to crush the weak.
It was the ultimate intent for facing multiple foes.
But I can't use it anyway.
Intent was ultimately gang qi projection. I couldn't even manage sword qi, let alone gang qi. Hell, I hadn't even properly grasped the incantations for the Asura Twelve Forms.
But Pa Cheon could use it. The sword had been hailed as a genius in martial arts during its early years, even if it was a dimwit otherwise. It might not reach gang qi, but by interpreting the incantation, it could at least channel the technique's nature.
Just like how it used recirculation to escape that first cave—it could infuse sword qi with those properties.
That alone would be incredible. The moment an opponent's body collided with Pa Cheon's sword qi, their arm would snap right off.
Not some fake killing intent that only works on weaklings, but real pressure.
It wasn't just pressure, either. Against Sa Wol or Tak Horak, it could even deal actual damage.
In other words, for the first time, I'd have a proper area-of-effect attack.
The activation condition for the Domination intent, however, was that my total inner energy had to exceed the opponent's.
All Pa Cheon had to do was absorb the energy from multiple prisoners instead of just one.
...Of course, that assumes Pa Cheon listens to me.
Pa Cheon remained silent, still embedded in Baek Ryung's heart.
"Heh heh heh... What a clown."
Do Il Gwang sneered at me.
"I didn't expect you to grasp the essence of my intent... but that's not enough."
"Oh?"
"How old are you?"
"Just over thirteen."
"Hah... To reach that realm at your age. First that woman, now you? Is this the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's fortune... or the birth of chaos...?"
Do Il Gwang clicked his tongue and continued.
"I'm over sixty-two. I've lived twice as long as you. Do you think someone who's only lived half my life can comprehend the convictions forged over my entire existence?"
"That's odd."
I pressed him even more provocatively.
"For someone so weak, why question how the strong operate?"
"..."
"I'll handle things my way. You just recite that incantation."
"Puhahaha!"
Do Il Gwang burst into laughter.
"Fine. Taking what you want is the right of the strong. That's the cult's law of strength."
...Not exactly. It was a glimpse into what kind of cultist Do Il Gwang had been.
"But struggling is the right of the weak. You think I'll tell you easily?"
"I see."
I stepped back and yanked Pa Cheon from Baek Ryung's heart. No need to shake off the blood—it had absorbed every last drop.
The one disgusting part was how, the instant I pulled the sword free, rats swarmed the corpse from who-knows-where. Baek Ryung's body was turning to bare bones in real time...
"You think waving a sword and threatening me will make me talk? Look at me. You think you can inflict worse pain than this? Keh heh heh..."
He must've thought I was about to torture him now that I had the sword. I'd planned to have Sa Wol do it if he didn't crack, but she was still in meditation, so I'd have to fall back on my original plan.
I snorted and sheathed Pa Cheon.
"I don't care for such crude methods. However."
I rummaged in the pouch at my waist and pulled something out. Do Il Gwang's eyes widened at the sight.
"Th-that's... No way!"
I approached him.
The item in my hand was—
Pop!
A bottle of liquor.
If dealing with someone called for carrot and stick, Do Il Gwang had already taken plenty of the stick. Now it was time for the carrot.
I uncorked it, and a fragrant aroma wafted up. Do Il Gwang wrinkled his nose, nearly mad with desire.
"S-Soheungju! Top-grade stuff! Give it to me! Hand it over!"
"You want this?"
"Of course!"
He had no choice.
The only food in Punishment Cave was scraps discarded by cultists. Anyone would lose their mind at the sight of fine liquor like this.
"Then tell me the Domination incantation."
"Hmph! In your dreams!"
"Really?"
So I stood right in front of him and—
Crash!
—smashed the bottle on the ground.
Liquor soaked the floor.
"You bastard!"
Do Il Gwang bellowed in unprecedented rage.
"You think you'll get away with that? Once my seal breaks, I'll crush you first!"
"Try it."
I pulled another bottle from my pouch and uncorked it. An especially sweet scent spread.
"Wha—Wongongju! Monkey liquor!"
"Good nose."
Do Il Gwang's face twisted.
"What do you want? What do I have to do to drink that?!"
"The Domination incantation."
"Grr..."
"Guess you don't need it."
I dropped the Wongongju bottle to the floor.
"You scum!"
I took out yet another from my bag.
"The Domination incantation."
"..."
"Don't want it?"
I opened the cork.
"Jukyeopcheong... No, this scent—Geumjoncheong."
This time, I didn't smash it on the ground.
I just set it down in front of Do Il Gwang, uncorked.
"Last bottle."
"You... "
"Think it over, Do Il Gwang. You're trapped in Punishment Cave for life with no chance of escape. Why not leave your martial legacy behind? Wouldn't that be a warrior's honor?"
Sure, he'd break out in three years... but not from this timeline's perspective.
"Sophistry! You're asking me to sell my life's work for a single bottle!"
I just shrugged.
"Your choice."
With that, I retreated to where my subordinates sat cross-legged. Their breathing was steadying—they seemed to have finished meditating and were resting.
Grow a bit more.
I swung the Black Ox Needle to put them to sleep.
Because—
Let's talk, you yokai.
I had no memories from my childhood.
Normal people occasionally recall bits from age five or six, they say.
But I had none before age ten—a fact I never shared with others.
And at ten, where those memories began—
"You're worthless without me. You can't survive on your own."
—it was my brother.
Father was always too busy to care for me, so Brother filled the void.
I feared him as a child. He berated and scolded me constantly.
"Pathetic! Can't you even do that right?"
"Tsk tsk. Without my guidance, you can't do anything properly."
"And you call yourself my blood?!"
But Brother's true feelings were different.
"It's all for your own good, little brother."
"You think I enjoy this? Someone has to do it."
"Trust only me, and I'll handle everything."
Brother wanted the family to prosper more than anyone—even more than our unseen patriarch.
He acted almost as proxy head, and Sado Ga rose from mid-tier to prestigious family.
Of course, I was strictly forbidden from going out, so I only heard rumors.
Anyway, his harsh treatment was all swallowed tears for the family's—and my—future...
"Brother is amazing!"
"Nothing to it. Listen well, little brother."
Brother shared his plan.
"Pretend to be an expert? But... I'm meridian-blocked."
At twenty.
I was still second-rate.
Cult juniors my age were usually eyeing Peak from late First-Rate.
My inner energy volume surpassed Peak, and I handled Asura Twelve Forms masterfully. Purely on forms, I could beat even Brother's escorts.
But that was it. Still just second-rate, unable to project energy.
"Only direct kin know that. You, me, Father."
"The physician knows too."
"We eliminated everyone who did. No worries."
"...What?"
"Why the face? Remember: the weak get devoured once their use ends."
Brother taught me to act like an expert: chin up, arrogant eyes, low voice. Show any weakness, and you're eaten—always crush others.
"Our family lacks authority relative to size because we have no true experts. But isn't hierarchy laughable?"
Brother's plan was brilliant.
"Hierarchy is illusion. Only who beats whom matters."
And more.
He betrothed me to Yi Se-ryeong, a junior tournament standout. With family backing, she grew at unbelievable speed—
"A new Heavenly Demon is born!"
"Hail the Sovereign!"
—becoming Heavenly Demon at twenty-seven. Unprecedented in cult history.
Sado Ga soared like a tiger with wings.
As the previous Heavenly Demon fell and sealed, we shoved aside Janghyeol Baekga to claim a Mad Demon Six Families seat—and the name "Asura."
"Become Black Shadow Corps Leader. Your rank is now 50."
"Pardon? What do you mean?"
Brother brought a woman. Slightly younger than me, sharp-eyed, lips sealed like glued.
"Decent martial skill. She'll clear your superiors, then 'lose' publicly to you. You'll be a safe expert."
I disliked her suspicious glare at Brother.
"What's your name?"
"Called Number Seventeen... but not anymore. It's spring—Sa Wol fits."
Thus, I became Sado Ga's heir, Black Shadow Leader, rank 23 expert.
Everything went as Brother said.
His words were truth, gospel. Following his arrangements never failed.
Yet.
Why.
Yokai.
The bastard possessing my body.
Why do Brother's words keep failing since you showed up?
The one wearing my skin trailed off infuriatingly, as if pitying me.
I couldn't say it till now... but it's time you knew the truth.
What truth?
Pa Cheon.
The yokai spoke.
The art you cultivated wasn't Asura Demon Sovereign Divine Art—it was Heavenly Demon Divine Art. The reason you're meridian-blocked... is because your brother forced half the Heavenly Demon Divine Art on you.
Don't lie! Why would Brother do that?!
Because... you're Sado Gwang's clone.
What?
You. Pa Cheon. No—Sado Hwan.
The yokai said it.
You're not the patriarch's son.
What are you saying? No. No!
You're Sado Gwang's son.
Pretending to Be the Heavenly Demon