Chapter 90: Muhon
“……!”
Hyeok Gon jolted in shock and lunged forward. The guy spun around, baring his teeth at the black feather fan in my hand. Its metal ribs made it look just like a sword at a glance.
“This place is a maze. Thanks for the help.”
“You vermin!”
Rage boiled over him as he ground his teeth. He looked ready to pounce on me any second.
— Hold yourself back.
A chilling voice reverberated right in my ear. It wasn't telepathy. It felt like some invisible presence leaning in to whisper, feeble yet utterly eerie. No, not the ear. The sound was booming directly inside my head.
“Kuhk?!”
Thanks to Pa Cheon, I was pretty much immune to voices in my head by now—used to it like second nature.
But Hyeok Gon wasn't. He flinched hard and whipped his head around, scanning everywhere.
Someone who could slam sound straight into your mind like that...
That was when it happened.
Boom!
“As Lord Chu Tae Su said, stop the nonsense and come down here, young master!”
A middle-aged man in robes plastered with red dragons—just like Hyeok Gon's—slammed the table and bellowed.
The head of the Red Dragon Revolution Family, Hyeok Mun.
Hyeok Gon went dead silent at the sight of him.
“What are you waiting for? Get down here now!”
“Y-yes, sir!”
Hyeok Gon scrambled down like hot coals were under his feet. He rushed to Hyeok Mun, bowed his head, and started to speak.
“I'm sorry, Fath—”
Crack!
Before he could finish, Hyeok Gon's cheek whipped around. Hyeok Mun had slapped him at a speed too fast to see. The force sent Hyeok Gon staggering, but he pulled himself back up.
“You fool. Is that all the blood of the Red Dragon can muster? Next time, chew your tongue and end it yourself.”
“My apologies, Family Head.”
“Fool. Get out. You don't belong here.”
“B-but—”
“I said get out. Don't set foot outside your quarters during the Six Families Gathering.”
Hyeok Gon fled with panic still raw on his face.
[I've seen that scene somewhere before...]
'Don't be so hard on yourself.'
[Tsk.]
Pa Cheon's words left a bitter taste in my mouth too. I figured they'd try to exploit the kid's hot blood, but I didn't expect it to be this pathetic.
Anyway.
With the drama wrapped up, I headed down the stairs. Sa Wol and Tak Horak had quietly fallen in behind me before I knew it.
— Pleased to meet you. Allow me a proper introduction. I am Chu, head of the Il Wol Chu Family—modest as it may be.
Another voice echoed in my head.
I turned toward the source.
The head of the Il Wol Chu Family, Chu Tae Su.
He had that classic “I'm smart as hell” look—put glasses on him, and he'd pass for a professor anywhere. Even sported a friendly smile.
Except...
— There was a bit of a disturbance, but please, take a seat.
He never opened his mouth. Kept talking with lips sealed tight.
[Someone weak-minded might lose their sanity just hearing that. Some kind of sorcery.]
'What a nasty hobby.'
I naturally took the empty seat between the Kwak and Cheol families.
I sat calmly and said, “Pleased to meet you. I'm Sado Hwan of the Asura Apostles.”
As I spoke, I scanned the room—and couldn't help but be stunned inside.
You know how in comics, when all the powerhouses or villains gather, they're striking these weird poses?
Used to think it looked cool back then...
'Seeing it for real? They just look like total weirdos.'
Me, the Kwak Family, maybe even the Chu Family—we could pass for normal. The rest? Not even close.
The Cheol Family—everyone but Cheol Mu Geuk—had stripped to the waist, flexing their pecs. The Hyeok Family wore robes covered in red dragons, and even their chairs were carved with dragons.
Jan Hon Do rules let only three in per group, so they must've hauled those dragon chairs themselves. Eaten alive by their own aesthetic.
Fine, whatever.
The Eum Hyeol Jin Family barely acknowledged the meeting, each doing their own thing. The family head stared off into the distance, gnawing her nails nonstop. One paced the hall endlessly. Another hung upside down from the second-floor railing like a bat.
If Hyeok was fake madness, Jin was the real deal.
'...Can you really hit Super Peak in that mental state?'
[Super Peak doesn't require a sound mind.]
Since no one batted an eye, it must be normal for them.
Amid it all, one guy scowled harder than the rest: Hyeok Mun of the Hyeok Family. He worked his lips like he had something to say but never spoke.
“Quite the flashy entrance.”
“Blame the late summons.”
“Isn't that how maknaes roll?”
I snorted at Cheol Mu Geuk's jab. I turned to see Kwak Jeong flashing a thumbs-up.
— Master, that was badass.
Telepathy from him. Scold the brat or praise him? Tough call.
I exchanged nods with the familiar faces. Kwak Ri Yeon winked at me with one eye.
Correction: Kwak Family's not normal either.
Kwak Ri Yeon stood and said, “Everyone's here. Shall we begin the gathering?”
I stayed quiet, clueless on protocol.
“As you all know, the first day opens with the sacred oath confirming our attendance, followed by paying respects to Muhon.”
Muhon? I nearly asked what it was, but Pa Cheon was clueless too.
Cheol Mu Geuk smirked like, You have no idea, huh? That old coot.
“We'll bring out the Oath Plate.”
Kwak Ri Yeon rapped the table in a steady rhythm with his palm. The round table's center split in two, and something rose from below.
'...No wonder it took Hyeok Mun's punch. The whole table's one big mechanism.'
What emerged was a circular metal plate etched with six handprints—one per person.
“Hmmm—.”
Jin Yeong Ryeong, who'd been staring afar and chewing her nails, suddenly lit up. If she was interested, there was only one reason.
“I'll go first.”
Hyeok Mun stood abruptly and placed his hand on the plate. As I wondered what would happen, he pulled away.
'Blood?'
Whatever the trick, blood gushed from his palm, soaking it. The plate's grooves sucked up every drop without waste.
— I'll go next.
After Chu Family head, Cheol head, Kwak head—it was Jin head's turn. She moved limply, like a patient.
Jin Yeong Ryeong gazed fondly at the blood but scowled when her turn came.
[Hard not to be sensitive to blood when you wield blood arts.]
After Jin Yeong Ryeong, it was my turn last.
I placed my hand on the Oath Plate. A sharp sting, then blood welled from my palm.
And that was the moment.
“Kahak!?”
The Jin Family all snapped their heads toward me. The one dangling from the railing—his head spun a full 180? Is that even okay?
“Blood... fresh...”
Jin Yeong Ryeong, silent till now, muttered with gleaming eyes. Loud enough for everyone. She even squirmed like she might launch herself any second.
— Haha, our new Asura Apostle head is so young and vigorous, it's got the Jin head reacting.
Chu Tae Su's voice made her flinch and sit.
'Got the message.'
[The Heavenly Demon Divine Art's energy in the blood?]
'Nah. Just stay the hell away from Jin folks.'
Get too close, and I'd wake up a mummy next day, blood drained dry.
Anyway.
Once everyone was done, Kwak Ri Yeon stood again.
“With blood as our medium, we swear to the sacred flame. Shine brightly on the Divine Cult's future.”
The cult was a brute force group now, no “Lord” title for the Heavenly Demon, but its religious roots lingered in rituals like this.
As if understanding, the Oath Plate sank back, and the table sealed shut.
“The sacred oath is complete. The path to Muhon is open. Everyone, rise and proceed to Muhon.”
Path to Muhon open?
I was baffled, but—
“Just do as they say. It'll be fun, heh heh.”
At Cheol Mu Geuk's words, I glanced at his son, Cheol So Pyeong. He just chuckled excitedly too.
The back door had opened unnoticed. It should've been a sheer cliff—nothing there?
I followed the group out. And then—
No cliff. A vast clearing stretched before us, littered with shattered stones everywhere.
“...”
“Not even surprised? Hiding a space this big with a formation?”
“Knew there was a formation back there.”
I was shocked but played it cool with Heavenly Demon Divine Art aura. Pa Cheon had tipped me off anyway.
“Fine. Too early to be surprised. Follow.”
Cheol Family led, Kwaks behind.
“Master, hurry! It's amazing!”
Kwak Jeong waved eagerly.
What could get them this hyped?
We clambered over the rubble to the clearing's end.
Everyone stood before a black wall. A massive metal rectangular prism—five zhang wide, tall, deep—loomed absurdly in the open. From afar, it could've been a building.
They gawked like it was a masterpiece. Family heads especially.
'That's... not just metal. All Cloud Demon Iron?'
[...]
'A whole block of that much Cloud Demon Iron? What a waste.'
My guardian treasure was Cloud Demon Iron too... but expanded via artifact function, not solid like this.
'It'd shatter my guardian treasure on impact, right?'
[...]
'Pa Cheon?'
[...]
Weird—Pa Cheon wasn't responding. 'Like the other heads?' I thought.
“That thing...”
Sa Wol's eyes were huge, staring wordlessly at the prism.
'Hey, snap out of it?'
With Pa Cheon zoning, I hesitated. I poured inner energy into my eyes for a closer look. Still nothing, so I waited.
Cheol Mu Geuk approached with an I knew it grin.
“Told you it'd be fun.”
“...”
“I can't see past the Cloud Demon Iron with my lacking arts, but you should. It's sliced into four perfect blocks—so precise it chills you. Looks like one solid piece otherwise.”
Focusing my sight, I spotted hairline seams invisible without intent.
“That's the Muhon—a strike imbued with a warrior's soul.”
Cheol Mu Geuk beamed proudly.
“Left by the First Heavenly Demon.”