53. Find Big Brother
Mu Yeong-do snorted as he looked at Sado Hwan.
'Super Peak?'
Reaching the Super Peak realm wasn't something just anyone could do. Even Mu Yeong-do himself, who had survived countless battles and killing fields, had only attained Peak realm twenty years ago—and he still hadn't grasped even a proper clue to Super Peak.
'It's gotta be fake.'
There were plenty of rumors calling Sado Hwan a master, but he'd never once proven it. That's why so many eyed him with suspicion, and Mu Yeong-do was one of those doubters.
'He's probably strong to some degree.'
But Super Peak at barely past fifteen years old?
In the history of the Divine Cult, those who reached Super Peak around that age had met one of two ends.
Death.
Or becoming the Heavenly Demon.
'So it's fake.'
Martial artists often exaggerated their skills. It kept others from looking down on them. This would be no different, he figured.
Besides, there was no trace of the unique aura that marked a Super Peak master. Those who shook the world's principles naturally exuded a distinct presence, but he felt nothing of the sort.
'Even if he really is Super Peak, he's just a greenhorn who's never seen real combat, let alone carried out missions.'
Overwhelm him from the start, throw him off balance, and take him down. That was the plan.
So.
He panicked.
Dozens of warriors spat up blood. Just from his released presence alone.
'My qi circulation's slowing... Poison? No. The Sado family has no poison arts. No way they could administer it this subtly. This is killing intent.'
Up to that point, it was still understandable.
Killing intent was ultimately just overwhelming the foe with inner energy, and it was natural for someone raised in a prestigious house like Sado Hwan to have a vast reserve.
But that wasn't the issue.
"Didn't you hear me say come at me?"
Sado Hwan's low, taunting words.
He dismissed it as bravado.
After unleashing that much energy, he couldn't have much left—or so Mu Yeong-do thought. He rallied the remaining warriors and launched their assault.
'Greenhorn after all. Not even considering narrowing the attack angles.'
When facing simultaneous attacks like this, the basics dictated reducing the angles by turning your back or using footwork.
But Sado Hwan wasn't doing any of that.
'That sword. Even I, a blade specialist, want it.'
He couldn't wield it himself as a saber user, but selling it? That was different. A sword like that could buy a fine estate in the Second Demon Realm, no problem.
'The sword's mine!'
Mu Yeong-do was confident his strike would land.
Wooong—!
Until Sado Hwan slowly swung his sword downward.
"?!"
Whether sword, saber, or spear, every martial technique began with the grip. The proper way to hold your weapon before swinging.
It was so fundamental that even beginners were drilled in it first—to cultivate the mindset of never dropping your weapon, no matter what.
That's why warriors almost never let go. It was one reason the Tang Clan of Sichuan got mocked: for mindlessly hurling their beloved weapons.
But the moment Sado Hwan's sword fully arced downward.
'...Arm?!'
As if some invisible force had plummeted from the sky and smashed into it, excruciating pain exploded in the arm gripping his saber.
'Three Yang Tendon Acupoint..!'
Once the acupoints supporting arm strength were struck, losing grip strength was inevitable—and
Kududuk!
Mu Yeong-do and the warriors' weapons slammed into the ground.
They didn't just drop.
They buried deep, as if hammered in by a mallet. Even on the training ground's packed earth, trodden firm by thousands upon thousands of footsteps.
"Impossible..."
"What the hell?"
At Sado Hwan's low, steady voice, Mu Yeong-do snapped to his senses and turned.
Locking eyes with those gleaming orbs, he shuddered like he'd been struck by lightning.
The lazy gaze of a predator eyeing prey.
Calm, yet laced with madness, and above all.
'My body... won't move...'
At some point, it wasn't just his weapon—it felt like his entire body was being crushed. This wasn't mere killing intent. He couldn't move his body at all, inner energy or not.
"Pathetic."
Sado Hwan clicked his tongue and strode toward Mu Yeong-do.
No martial stance, no footwork—just ordinary steps.
But to Mu Yeong-do now, they looked entirely different.
'He doesn't need to...'
Footwork, martial arts—they were all created by the weak to overcome the strong. The strong had no need for such things against the weak.
A tiger didn't practice special steps to intimidate a rabbit. It just moved as it was, and the rabbit froze in terror.
He was simply being himself, yet Mu Yeong-do couldn't even meet Sado Hwan's gaze.
Yes.
Sado Hwan was the tiger. He was the rabbit.
The moment he realized it, Mu Yeong-do dropped to his knees. The other warriors followed suit in unison.
And Sado Hwan walked through them.
As if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Domination.
'Huh?'
They'd been glaring daggers earlier, but now everyone was on their knees.
He'd expected some shock, but kneeling? Wow.
'No need for Flicker after all.'
He'd been ready to Flicker away if someone lunged suddenly. That'd buy a turn with another "Illusory Shift!?"
But the real jackpot was Pa Cheon.
Not only had it perfectly grasped the essence of Domination, but it had even adapted it.
[No matter how much strength you pour in, striking the acupoints will loosen your grip. It's the law of nature.]
So it had pinpointed Domination's "pressure" right onto their moving forearms.
Of course, Dok So Gong's acid lung toxin had already softened them up.
[I never knew directing qi could be this easy... The one good thing about not being in my own body.]
Living in a qi-absorbing sword might have made it hypersensitive to energy.
'You're the best wuxia AI ever.'
[What nonsense is that?]
'Just saying you're the best. Doesn't this mean we're legit strong now? We took down ten Peak and thirty First-Rate—that's basically Super Peak territory.'
[Don't delude yourself, demon. That move just burned through two-thirds of the qi we'd charged up.]
'...Fuel efficiency's trash.'
Pa Cheon had absorbed Baek Ryong, a Peak master. Sure, the Punishment Cave's suppressive formation had weakened his qi, and various factors meant less than a typical Peak master's reserve—but for a debut technique, the consumption was excessive.
[And if a real master came at you seriously, you wouldn't even react in time.]
'Fair point.'
Like in that first cave. He'd tracked Mo Yong Su's sword path—the hypocritical old righteous factioner's swing—but dodging was another story.
'If they hadn't bought the act, it'd have blown up fast.'
Anyway, things had gotten easier.
"Y-You bastard..."
Sado Mu Yeol backed away from me, panic clear on his face. No surprise. He'd been dead certain I couldn't use martial arts, yet I'd crushed his closest aides in an instant.
"How... how?! It's fake! All fake!"
"It's getting tiresome."
"Stay back!"
"Why not head inside, Family Head? I'll find Big Brother myself."
"...What?"
Sado Mu Yeol gaped at my words.
"I didn't orchestrate Big Brother's disappearance."
"And you're going to find him?"
"Black Shadow Corps."
The moment I finished speaking.
Shhh!
They emerged from the rooftops like rising mist. Sa Wol at the center.
Earlier, my transmission to her had been to summon the Black Shadow Corps.
Specifically, those least touched by Sado Gwang's influence—the ones who'd gone into the world with me. Tak Horak, the biggest hype man, was still in the Punishment Cave, of course.
They'd been excluded from the Sado Gwang search. Suspicion about me had spread even to the Corps.
"Find Big Brother."
"Yes, sir!"
And that suspicion was half-right. The Black Shadow Corps vanished like smoke, no questions asked.
My worldly exploits had made me the model Divine Cultist, and I'd heard even diehards like Tak Horak were fully on board.
Sa Wol was teetering; the rest naturally followed.
Once the Corps dispersed, Sa Wol alone descended from the roof with ethereal lightness and took position behind me.
"The Black Shadow Corps are tracking masters you personally raised, Young Master. They'll have results soon."
"..."
"So please, go inside, Family Head."
"You scum!"
Sado Mu Yeol reached for his sword.
"Don't."
I intensified my gaze. Heavenly Demon Divine Art energy surged like it would pierce my eyeballs.
"Don't make me accuse you of filial impiety, Family Head."
Sado Mu Yeol stumbled back and dropped his sword. A warrior never drops his sword—yet here he was.
[...]
Pa Cheon went silent, as if speechless. A sigh-like sound, then nothing.
For the head of one of the Six Demonic Families, he lacked dignity, grace—even skill.
Thus, Sado Mu Yeol fled like he'd poked a hornet's nest.
"Th-Thank you!"
"Thank you, Young Master!"
The unjustly detained bowed deeply, pouring out gratitude.
But I couldn't play the merciful savior here. A coward like Sado Mu Yeol would scheme even if I released them.
"Shut it."
"Y-Yes? What do you mean?"
"I spared you, but that doesn't clear your charges. Sa Wol. Detain them. I'll interrogate personally."
"...Yes."
Sa Wol was mostly expressionless. But after spending so much time together, I could read her moods. That slight pause before responding meant displeasure.
- Treat the wounded and ensure the children aren't harmed. Do it without the Family Head's aides knowing.
- Yes!
See? Quick reply to that.
I thought the incident was wrapped up.
Late that night.
"Haa—."
Returning from the mission Sado Hwan assigned, Sa Wol sighed and sat on her bed. The others had gone tracking, but not her.
Too much had happened in one day.
'I met the Sovereign...'
Out of the Punishment Cave, then the Heavenly Demon. Sa Wol's cheeks flushed red. A vivid emotion lit her usually numb face: admiration.
The Heavenly Demon was every Cultist's idol, but to Sa Wol, she meant more.
A woman with no backing, crushing bandits and claiming the Heavenly Demon's throne.
She embodied Sa Wol's ideal life.
But the flush faded quickly.
Kaduduk—
Her teeth ground.
Sado Gwang was missing. Not dead, surely. Hiding somewhere, plotting. Had to be.
And that brought to mind—
- Treat the wounded and ensure the children aren't harmed.
Sado Hwan.
Even volunteering as the villain to save the oppressed.
'...Maybe he's different from the other Sado bloodlines.'
The thought startled her; she shook her head fiercely. No. Sado blood was always wicked.
'Just family power struggles.'
Threatening his own father? Tongue-clicking scandal.
Forcing her thoughts aside, Sa Wol's expression sharpened. A dagger was suddenly in her hand.
"...Who's there."
Across the bed, in the thick shadow, space rippled.
'A formation!'
As Sa Wol moved to hurl her dagger.
"...!"
Someone emerged from the ripple.
"A dog that doesn't recognize its master gets turned into stew. Is that what you want, you lowly bitch?"
It was Sado Gwang.
Pretending to be the Heavenly Demon