Chapter 91: What is Engraved
Muhonjibyeok.
The strike imbued with a martial artist's intent.
'A clichéd concept, so it would be weirder if it didn't show up.'
One of those scenes that always pops up in wuxia novels.
You see a rough mark slashed into a wall, and someone goes, "This isn't just any mark—it's the trace of XXX's martial art!" They tremble, sit in lotus position, and gain enlightenment.
This was exactly that situation.
'The First Heavenly Demon's muhon?'
As if he'd heard my doubt, Cheol Mu Geuk chuckled dryly and continued.
"Intent is, after all, the unique martial logic established by a Super Peak master, isn't it? Muhonjibyeok is the trace of that logic carved for posterity. Even if the flesh scatters and fades, the will of that logic endures—that's why we call it Muhonjibyeok."
So, some absurdly powerful master had basically gone, "If you think you can do it, give it a shot~ lol," scratched it into the wall, and now everyone was staring at it like they'd been collectively hypnotized.
Maybe because of my lukewarm reaction, Cheol Mu Geuk kept going.
"That ain't just any wall made of Cloud Demon Iron. It's iron compressed and compressed again until it hit its limit. I wouldn't be surprised if it took an entire mine's worth. And he carved it with nothing but a single finger—not even a legendary sword."
Cloud Demon Iron, as I'd seen with the Pa Cheon Sword, could block even gang qi if forged right. To slice it with just a finger? That implied insane martial prowess.
Maybe that's why.
The family heads—the Super Peak masters—were all staring at the wall like they'd been entranced. It went beyond just appreciating a masterpiece.
Of course, one group wasn't.
The Eum Hyeol Jin Family folks. They'd been eyeing me instead of the Muhonjibyeok since earlier. More precisely, my palm, still oozing droplets of blood from the unhealed wound.
'This feels ominous.'
I focused the Heavenly Demon Divine Art's energy into my hand. In about a quarter of an hour, the wound would be gone. Hiding my hand behind my back, I nodded vaguely at Cheol Mu Geuk.
"But you—apart from that first glance—don't seem too impressed, huh?"
"Eh... well."
Honestly, I'd never heard of Muhonjibyeok until coming here. Even as a veteran reader of Murim Returner, I couldn't know what the book didn't mention.
But other things—like, for example.
'If it's the First Heavenly Demon's intent, then I already know one.'
[What?!]
Whoa, startled me.
It was a mutter meant for Pa Cheon, but I didn't expect such a quick reaction.
[Demon, how do you know of the First Heavenly Demon's intent?]
'You already know one too, don't you?'
[......What?]
'Hwalliu.'
[Hwalliu is an intent left by the First Heavenly Demon? You're serious?]
'Of course, I didn't explain it fully—just skimmed the surface.'
Intent isn't some simple concept like Do Il Gwang's Domination. It's a martial artist's lifetime of martial logic distilled.
Could I, who knew jack about martial arts, explain it perfectly? I just gave a rough outline.
You can't capture "rotate your energy" and call it the full hwalliu. That's why I called it that—a shallow imitation.
Like eating canned tuna and claiming that's all there is to tuna.
[Demon. When you say 'already know one,' does that mean there are more besides hwalliu?]
'Yeah. Spot on.'
In the Murim Returner world, later in the story, even dogs and cats were using certain techniques. Like hwalliu, they were all diluted versions of specific intents.
And those intents? All created by the First Heavenly Demon.
'The jianghu one was hwalliu... and the cult brought something else.'
Apparently, this "Muhonjibyeok" wasn't unique to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult—it was scattered across the world.
'Makes sense. The First Heavenly Demon supposedly appeared out of nowhere, so they might've wandered the continent before the cult even formed.'
If this were a game, it'd be prime time for a side quest like Find the First Heavenly Demon's Muhon.
Come to think of it, there was that theory.
The "First Heavenly Demon is a modern person" rumor.
From the mentions in Murim Returner, fans had analyzed that the First Heavenly Demon was definitely from the modern world.
They made shocking statements and actions by jianghu standards, and techniques like hwalliu required modern knowledge.
'Of course, the author never confirmed it. Probably meant to be that ridiculous.'
Unable to hold back, Pa Cheon spoke up again.
[What else besides hwalliu? Do you know about that Muhonjibyeok too?]
'Not the Muhonjibyeok itself, but a rough idea of its content.'
As I was about to elaborate for Pa Cheon, Kwak Ri Yeon approached.
"What do you think? Your impressions after seeing the Muhonjibyeok left by the First Heavenly Demon."
Kwak Ri Yeon's face was flushed with excitement. Like he was thrilled, full of anticipation.
'Weird.'
Super Peak masters glimpse new realms through mind-energy-body harmony. They impose their will and logic on the world. They wouldn't get that flushed just from "seeing" something.
I recalled Cheol Mu Geuk's words from days ago: the first sight of Muhonjibyeok could make you lose your mind. Even Sa Wol, trained for composure, looked dazed.
It was just like...
'When I was exposed to the Heavenly Demon's simsang.'
Like confronting something vast and incomprehensible beyond human perception.
No way I could grasp it. As before, you'd need at least Super Peak to sense anything.
"......Impressive."
At my words, Kwak Ri Yeon raised an eyebrow. Not anger—just mild bewilderment.
"Impressive? That's all the reaction?"
"Should I do more?"
"Legend has it the Muhonjibyeok left by the First Heavenly Demon holds the secrets of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. Indeed, Heavenly Demons before the Blood Purge gained clues to new realms from it. Doesn't that tempt you?"
There it is. No wonder everyone's reactions were off. I couldn't help but chuckle.
"The Muhonjibyeok left by the First Heavenly Demon is amusing?"
Suddenly, Kwak Ri Yeon turned serious. Not just him—all the Super Peak masters glared at me.
Looked like I'd messed up. But backing down now would ruin everything. I'd built this image meticulously.
To avoid flinching, I channeled the Heavenly Demon Divine Art's energy and spoke.
"It's not the Muhonjibyeok that's amusing."
"Then what?"
"A true martial artist must firmly establish their own righteousness. It's laughable to be swayed by mere traces on a wall. Moreover."
I stepped forward. Sa Wol snapped to attention and followed.
"Even if these wall traces hold the secrets of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, what then?"
"......"
"The Heavenly Demon Divine Art belongs solely to the glorious master of that name. Do you plan to challenge the Sovereign?"
"You'd know the true purpose of the Six Families Gathering if you'd heard it."
Hyeok Mun muttered irritably from where he'd been listening silently.
"Then let me ask."
Standing right before the Muhonjibyeok, I turned to face the group.
"How many times have you challenged the Sovereign?"
At my question, they all coughed awkwardly—"Ahem, hmm"—and looked away.
No choice.
The current Heavenly Demon, Yi Se-ryeong, was the world's strongest. At just twenty-seven, in a woman's body, she'd crushed the tyrant Do Il Gwang and claimed the throne.
Challenge her?
The family heads of the demonic six families, with too much to lose? No way.
The cult's top twenty rankings had been stagnant for years.
"How can those who won't challenge carry on the First Heavenly Demon's legacy? That's what's amusing."
"You're speaking as if you intend to challenge, Sado Family Head?"
In response to Chu Tae Su's provocation, I replied.
"A true cultist with real qualifications must look upward."
Of course, I wasn't a real cultist. Only an idiot who wanted to die would challenge the Heavenly Demon.
"Then prove it."
"Prove?"
"The Six Families Gathering was originally for sharing martial arts and insights. Thus, the tradition is that the first to stand before the Muhonjibyeok wall demonstrates their gained enlightenment. Look around—you'll see they're all traces of that."
I'd thought it was just ruins. Guess not.
[Come to think of it... that mark over there is a fist—Kwak Family martial art trace.]
A rock the size of a person's torso bore a clear fist imprint. Leaving a mark like that on stone? Unimaginable power.
Pa Cheon pointed out a few more traces too.
All featured secret arts from the demonic six families or their predecessors.
"Sado Family Head, do you see the tiny scratch right where you stand?"
I turned at Chu Tae Su's words. A groove about finger-thick and a handspan long.
"The trace of a sword swung confidently by Do Il Gwang. After leaving that, he became the Heavenly Demon."
If even Do Il Gwang only left that much...
'Screwed. What now?'
The Pa Cheon Sword could probably nick the Muhonjibyeok wall since it cut sword gang. But Cheol Mu Geuk would see it was the sword's power, not mine.
"Won't you show us your enlightenment?"
Chu Tae Su pressed relentlessly. Probably probing my full power. Not that I had much.
[Demon. Suppose the Heavenly Demons before the Blood Purge gained insights here... It might really relate to the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. Later ones lacked it.]
'You want me to bleed on it?'
[If it's Cloud Demon Iron, blood might trigger a reaction.]
Nothing to lose.
I pried open the healing palm wound. Blood welled again. Slowly, I pressed it to the Muhonjibyeok wall.
"What're you doing? Stupidly testing how tough it is?"
The moment Hyeok Mun grumbled.
Kurrrrrrumble!
"?!"
"......!"
The Muhonjibyeok wall shuddered with noise. The massive block split into four, each into four more, then four again, and again.
Like assembling a Rubik's Cube, they rotated noisily, dipping in and popping out, forming shapes.
"Sword path—geomro!"
"Nonsense, that's fist technique trajectory!"
"Looks like sorcery talk."
The family heads gawked at the shapes, arguing whose interpretation fit.
No.
They were wrong. I was sure.
Because.
Pretending to Be the Heavenly Demon