CHAPTER 79: Flame Fire Jade
Truth be told, if Sa Wol weren't on my side, this girl would be downright terrifying.
Former top-secret human weapon specialized in interpersonal interception—she's a Super Peak master, plain and simple.
In the late stages of Murim Returner, every Tom, Dick, and Harry hits Super Peak—and some of the spirit beasts that show up are that strong too—but people tend to underrate it. Super Peak is a realm where you can dominate an entire region as an absolute powerhouse.
You twist the world's rules with your will and reshape its manifestations with your mental image. That's what Super Peak means.
And most of Sa Wol's techniques are specialized for assassination and tracking. Her pinnacle movement art, Nine Swamps Ghost Step, looks like it leaps through space-time from the enemy's perspective—terrifying stuff.
A talent that's downright absurd, honed through blood-soaked effort fueled by her vow of vengeance.
Honestly, if Sa Wol set her mind to it, she could take out anyone below the top ten in the cult's hierarchy.
From the top ten up, you're talking true superhumans, so "not yet." But it's only a matter of time. The author even admitted in an interview that she had the talent closest to the Heavenly Demon.
Anyway.
Sa Wol's eyebrow twitched.
To put it bluntly, her siding with me was partly my doing (?), but mostly because she'd forgiven the Sado family.
That "forgiveness," though? More like she'd buried it. Poke those buried feelings too hard, and it might explode.
Cheol So Pyeong, oblivious, kept right on talking.
"The Gwangmyeongseong family didn't get wiped out. Though you'd know better than me, as head of the Sado family."
The Sado family had led the extermination of the Gwangmyeongseong family. More precisely, Sado Gwang.
"True enough. So—"
"So because the Sado family wiped them out, the family's heir didn't die, right?"
"Well—"
"Sure, it's tragic, but the real issue is the Holy Fire."
I'd been desperately trying to steer the conversation, but "Holy Fire" stopped me cold.
"Holy Fire?"
"The sacred flame only the Gwangmyeongseong bloodline could wield."
Settings vary, but in most wuxia, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult draws from fire-worshipping faiths like the Zoroastrians.
Murim Returner was no different.
The Heavenly Demon ruled the cult; the Gwangmyeongseong were its priests.
Even the current Heavenly Demon, peerless in martial arts, had legitimacy issues partly because of the missing Holy Fire.
"To kindle pure flames, you needed the Gwangmyeongseong's help. The Holy Fire purified and healed, an essential condition for the purest blue flame, the Azure Flame."
Sado Gwang had destroyed the family because of that property. A flame of purification and healing could cure even his devilish deviation-turned-cripple body, he'd thought.
The family, of course, refused to use it for personal gain. In retaliation, Sado Gwang wiped them out...
Chills ran down my spine.
In the original Murim Returner, the Iron family was in decline. The surface reason was that after Patriarch Cheol Mu Geuk's death, forging techniques weren't passed down properly.
Sado Gwang's doing, no doubt.
He must've learned the Iron family was borrowing the Holy Fire he was denied. Sure, their Heavenly Grade treasures all went to the cult—not personal use.
But from the perspective of Sado Gwang, slowly dying? Different story.
Good thing I got him out early.
Can't let my guard down yet, though. I figure there's a good chance he's still alive.
Cliff fall into a river, lucky encounter, triumphant return—that's wuxia cliché 101, and this world runs on them.
Cheol So Pyeong gazed wistfully at his father's forge ahead of us.
"Father's researching how to kindle Azure Flame without Holy Fire. As his son, I'd stop him if I could... but forging is his root. Can't interfere."
Forging chews up your lifespan. Constant exposure to scorching heat and acrid smoke.
Considering the Iron family's arts started as body-tempering for forge endurance.
[Cheol Mu Geuk's skills top out at first-rate at best. Given his age, he doesn't have much time left anyway.]
That he'd burn his remaining years on flames? Only artisan spirit explains it.
"Sado Patriarch. As young master of the Iron family, I have a request."
"What?"
"Can't ask you to stop Father outright. No one sways that stubbornness. But if he pushes too hard... rein him in."
"I'll think about it."
"Anyway."
Cheol So Pyeong added,
"Why'd you stick that tassel on the sword? Ruins a fine blade."
[See?]
"…."
I ignored Cheol So Pyeong and headed into the forge.
Cheol Mu Geuk was already pumping the bellows. He glanced at me, then back to the furnace.
"Late today."
"Your son held me up."
"Spouting nonsense again, huh."
"Filial piety, I say."
"Filial my ass. Can't fend for himself, so he pushes me forward."
Grumpy old coot.
"Sitting there again today?"
I didn't answer, just took the chair.
Cheol Mu Geuk snorted and resumed bellowing.
His brief glance at me might've been a lie—he snapped into total focus. Facing his lifelong rival, he looked almost reverent.
One gak.
Half shichen.
One shichen.
Two shichen.
Cheol Mu Geuk never left his spot once.
If not for you, I'd be bored stiff.
Outwardly, I looked the stoic type—quietly reading or watching. But nah. Soon as I sat, I was chattering with Pa Cheon.
Not just empty talk, either. I outlined my rough future plans.
Pa Cheon called me a mad demon for it, sure.
To survive this mad world, I gotta be a little mad myself.
"Ugh…."
Finally, Cheol Mu Geuk straightened up.
"Feels like I age ten years each time."
"So I'm ten thousand now?"
Lame joke, but he chuckled like it slayed.
"Lunch? You've skipped meals this week, haven't you?"
True. Grit, baby. Heavenly Demon Divine Art kept my energy topped off—no real hunger.
"Sure."
"Guys line up to eat with me."
"Same here?"
"Never yield an inch, do you."
"Tongue or blade, cultists shame losing."
"Fine. You win."
Cheol Mu Geuk paused mid-step.
"That tassel on the sword, though—why?"
[…….]
"…."
Argh, ditch it?
Cheol Mu Geuk didn't look the Iron family type, but his room screamed Goe Mountain Iron family.
No warmth in the materials. All metal or ore.
The faint cozy scent? From the corner bookshelf, worn tomes jammed in.
"Ever wonder why the cold metal room?"
"Obvious."
"Obvious?"
"Fire conquers metal in the five elements. Alternate day fire exposure, night metal—self-tempering the body."
Core of the family art, Ten Thousand Phenomena Sun Divine Art. Extreme yang for near-external body forging.
"…Right. Forgot you're Super Peak too."
Not my martial lore—just Murim Returner lore nerd. Know all the Mad Demon Six Families' secrets cold.
"Spot on. We're dead serious about hammering steel."
His words hinted at the heart demon gripping him.
As I set down my teacup to speak, lunch arrived.
For