Chapter 93: Let's Do It. Marriage. Resolved.
The drinking session with Cheol Mu Geuk ended up being pretty underwhelming, all things considered.
They'd hyped it up as some grand affair befitting a great family, but there was no way alcohol would be stocked on Jan Hon Do. The island wasn't open year-round—it only popped up briefly for gatherings like the Mad Demon Six Families assembly. Even the so-called lodgings weren't the lavish setups they were used to back home; they were just basic spaces meant for a few nights' stay at most.
A trio of creaky beds and a single table—that was the extent of the Goe Mountain Iron Family's quarters.
The cramped space meant Tak Horak had to stand watch outside.
"What a shame. Should've swiped a few more bottles if I'd known."
"And you'd pass out cold."
"Such a mouth on you. Aigoo. Sitting on a wooden chair instead of metal's killing my back."
"That's not the chair's fault—it's your posture. Straighten up and it'll be fine."
Cheol Mu Geuk grumbled something like 'This guy's got no manners,' but everyone knew that was just his way of showing familiarity.
With a heavy sigh, he spoke up.
"If only my boy was half the man you are."
One sip in and he was already spilling drunken truths out of nowhere?
"One bottle and you're sloshed? Not with that Flame Fire Jade reversing your age—you shouldn't even be able to get buzzed."
"Kid, the jade burns it right out of you. I'm stone-cold sober."
"Then you're sober and rambling nonsense."
"Nonsense?"
Cheol Mu Geuk clicked his tongue.
"That boy's got no business leading the family yet."
"What makes you say that?"
"You stand tall in front of everyone and speak your mind like it's nothing. But him? Can't even open up in front of his own father. Big as a mountain, and all he does is stand there listening."
He was talking about what went down at the Muhonjibyeok.
The crazy one there was me—the quiet Cheol So Pyeong didn't deserve any flak.
Plus...
"...You really don't get it?"
"Get what?"
"Iron Family Head, you're treating him like a kid, so of course the young master stays quiet."
I'd grown up without parents myself, which made it all the clearer.
Kids from the system mature fast—they have to. You're thrown into the world with nothing but the shirt on your back.
But people with parents have it different. They grow up safe inside that fence, nice and slow.
The problem is, some parents never realize that fence can turn into shackles.
Cheol Mu Geuk just stared at me, speechless.
"Anyway. The young master's long outgrown it—probably sees that fence as chains by now. Look at his size, like you said. Doesn't it suffocate you?"
"......"
"Time to head out. Getting late."
I left the Iron Family quarters like that.
But then...
"...What the hell are you doing?"
"Hngh. Sniff. N-nothing, sir."
Tak Horak was furtively wiping his reddened eyes.
No way—he'd overheard and teared up? Over what?
Embarrassed, he bellowed, "I'll escort you!" and strode off.
[To Cult members, that was downright heretical talk.]
'Ah, right.'
Yeah, well...
Cheol Mu Geuk was a damn good dad by any measure. Just look at the Hyeok family brats—no sooner does their pride take a hit than Dad's slapping them in front of everyone. Didn't even need to go that far; the Sado family was proof enough.
The affectionate Kwak father-son duo were the outliers.
[Anyway. Looks like you've grasped the full concept now.]
'Quick study.'
[The swarm itself is easier than Domination, really. Controlling the energy is trickier, more precise... If you hadn't half-achieved Three Flowers Gather at the Summit, it'd be impossible.]
'The First Heavenly Demon's intent, after all.'
[It's not that simple.]
Pa Cheon continued.
[Master this Ultra Vibration concept right, and you can slice Cloud Demon Iron like butter—or even trigger earthquakes. Theoretically, anyway. Earthquakes would take an insane amount of energy, of course.]
'Like, say, Heavenly Demon Divine Art levels?'
[Exactly.]
Fix this Heavenly Demon Divine Art business, and I might pull off First Heavenly Demon-level invincibility. Then again, a talentless hack like me could just as easily die swaggering around.
Lost in chat with Pa Cheon, we arrived at the Sado family quarters before I knew it.
"...Compared to the Iron Family's, this is downright luxurious."
"The dignity of a famed house."
"Hahaha, spot on!"
Unlike the Iron Family's crumbling shack, the Sado quarters were a neat single-story pavilion.
Building that just for the times Jan Hon Do opened...
They must've brought in builders. Out of the three slots for escorts, one got used for construction.
'No wonder the Sado family got no respect.'
Not just a upstart house—they'd piled up karma from all angles. No room for complaints when you made enemies like that.
The storeroom even had top-shelf Preserved Grain Pills, good for years. Unlike the dusty ones, these had a nutty, sweet flavor.
Thanks to Sado Mu Yeol blowing cash on useless crap, I got to enjoy some honey.
—Or so I thought, flopping onto my bed.
Plop.
Plop.
"......"
"......"
[......]
My eyes met someone—something—staring down from the ceiling.
"Hey."
"...!"
My heart nearly jumped out my mouth, but I played it cool, channeling Heavenly Demon Divine Art energy.
Armed with nonchalance, I addressed the intruder.
"What're you doing here, Jin Yeong Ryeong?"
It was Jin Yeong Ryeong, head of the Eum Hyeol Jin family. Hanging upside down, hair dangling like a horror flick extra.
Even knowing the Eum Hyeol Jin family was inscrutable, who the hell sticks to someone's ceiling like this?
"You. Pounce."
"Why?"
"Tasty."
"You nuts?"
"No."
"Get down."
"Okay."
Jin Yeong Ryeong dropped casually from the ceiling to my bed.
"Not here. Over there."
"Mm."
Good—she was compliant. She moved to the room's table.
Still, better safe.
"Tak, squad leader."
"Yes, you cal—wait, you!"
Tak Horak spotted her late and jolted, reaching for his spear.
"No fussing. We have a guest—bring some tea."
—Pretend to serve tea and quietly summon Sa Wol.
"Uh? Right. On it."
I slipped him the order via Puppetry Art. Tak Horak got the hint, playing it natural as he left.
Now, stall.
I faced Jin Yeong Ryeong head-on for the first time—I'd been dodging her gaze on purpose.
She looked every bit the blood witch even from afar.
Her hair and eyes were blood-red. Dark circles plunged nearly to her chin—blood arts side effect?
Petite as a middle-schooler, fragile-looking. No way you'd peg her for a master on sight.
But in the wuxia world, beware the old, women, and kids.
She was both woman and kid-like. Double caution.
"So. What brings you here?"
"Told you. Pounce."
Normal Cult experts were rare; Jin Yeong Ryeong was creepy. Speaking in fragments, not sentences.
"Frustrating."
"That's my line."
"Reason. You. Blood. Tasty smell."
"...You're here to pounce 'cause my blood smells tasty?"
Nod nod.
Clear as day—I wanted to slap my forehead. The Eum Hyeol Jin family wielded blood arts, so they were hyper-sensitive to it.
She'd eyed me since I bled at the arena, tracking me here.
[Chase her out. Now.]
Agreed. Who knows what she'd do if I let her linger.
But how?
Not just any Super Peak—a family head from the Mad Demon Six Families.
She listened well, at least. Wait for Tak Horak and Sa Wol.
"Obviously not."
"Why?"
"Blood isn't something you just take."
"My house. Okay."
"This ain't Jin territory. And I'm Sado—asura bloodline. No reason to follow your rules."
"Then join. Jin person."
"I'm Sado family head."
Her eyes softened.
"Marry. Me. Fixed."
"...You crazy?"
"No."
"Crazies always say that."
"Me. Crazy? All. Die."
Meaning anyone who'd called her crazy was dead. Right now?
"You. Like. Marry."
"No."
"Why? You. Me. Single."
"Married to my family."
"You. Crazy?"
One more word and I'd go mad. Normal talk impossible.
"One sip. Enough."
"No."
From what I'd seen, my blood brimmed with Heavenly Demon Divine Art energy. If she tasted it... who knows? Could get ugly—might even drain me dry.
Or worse.
"Frustrating... frustrating."
She started gnawing her nails.
"Frustrating. Frustrating. Frustrating."
"Rowdy."
"Steal you?"
Her true colors emerging. She might act meek, but Jin Yeong Ryeong wasn't the type.
Mouth went dry. Timing game now.
She paused mid-chew.
"Steal?"
Madness flickered in her eyes—
Grind!
Before I could react, I slashed my palm to trigger Guardian Armlet. Sure enough—
Boom!
Time stuttered; her fist smashed the barrier. A gong-like ring exploded, shockwave scattering the room's furnishings.
"Neat. Cheol Mu Geuk?"
I didn't answer, blinking outside via Flicker Step. Guardian Armlet reverted to my wrist.
"Teleport? Strong?"
"What the hell?"
"Stance. Weak. Why? Strong."
I drew Pa Cheon.
'Domination. Can you land it?'
[Too fast. No.]
Damn.
A still Super Peak was one thing; a moving one was leagues apart.
Domination, Swirl, Ultra Vibration.
Plenty of tools, but hitting her? Problem.
'And that's not even her full effort.'
No real blood arts—just a jab.
She grinned wickedly.
"Fun—"
Her head snapped aside mid-word.
Sa Wol ripped through space like it tore open. Her dagger sliced where Jin Yeong Ryeong's face had been.
No—
It did slice.
Shallow.
Drip—
Jin Yeong Ryeong wiped the blood trickling down her cheek. Then—
"...This isn't fun."
The next instant—
Rooooar!
The whole world drowned in blood-red.
Pretending to be the Heavenly Demon