Believe
What the hell just happened?
That was Super Peak……
Impossible.
In reality, even if a person swings a sword with all their might, they can barely chop down a tree properly. Yet she altered the terrain with a mere gesture.
And the moment Jin Yeong Ryeong's simsang unfolded, I felt like my mind was melting under that sticky, insidious malice. It wasn't a mere threat or warning like the simsangs I'd encountered before—it carried genuine killing intent……
Thank goodness I'd been exposed to simsangs multiple times. Otherwise, I might have truly lost my mind. Even channeling the Heavenly Demon Divine Art's energy to maintain my composure was my limit.
Act! Keep acting! You can think later—it's not too late!
At Pa Cheon's words, I snapped back into character a half-beat late.
"The victor's prerogative. Quite the amusing trick."
After all the role-playing I'd done, the arrogant tone now emerged automatically.
"P-Please… f-forgive…"
Jin Yeong Ryeong, who had been begging and pleading, collapsed face-first while still on her knees.
Thud!
Kwak Ri Yeon, Hyeok Mun, and Cheol So Pyeong leaped dozens of jang in an instant to appear by my side. Chu Tae Su floated up about a cheok into the air and glided over smoothly.
"Sado Hwan!"
Hyeok Mun ground his teeth as he spoke.
"What insolence is this against the head of one of the Mad Demon Six Families?!"
Sparks flew from Hyeok Mun's eyes. This wasn't mere metaphor—red sparks truly erupted from them, a phenomenon that appeared when one mastered the Red Dragon Revolution Family's secret art, the Red Thunder Divine Art, to its extreme.
But I didn't flinch.
Hyeok Mun wouldn't attack recklessly.
No, it wasn't just Hyeok Mun. No one here would dare attack me carelessly now.
Who was Jin Yeong Ryeong?
She wasn't just any Super Peak expert. She was a Super Peak master who wielded the bizarre blood arts that even others dreaded facing.
No one here could subdue her so easily(?) like this. No, subduing her was impossible—they'd have to fight with the resolve that one of them would die.
Yet I'd done it.
Without even drawing my sword, at that.
Of course, they didn't know the full context, and even I wasn't entirely sure what had happened……
But from anyone's perspective, it looks like I won, right?
So I was certain Hyeok Mun wouldn't charge at me, no matter how much he gnashed his teeth. If he intended to, he wouldn't be glaring like that—he'd have yelled "Kill!" and drawn his sword first.
"She told you herself. The true purpose of the Six Families Gathering is to share insights and compete. She couldn't withstand mine. That's all."
"Even so, how dare a mere Sado—"
"You'd best watch your mouth, Hyeok Mun Family Head."
I fixed him with a steely gaze.
"You're insulting the Sado Family right now. I won't tolerate any further affronts."
Hyeok Mun gnashed his teeth with a grinding sound. But as I expected, he didn't attack.
"Now, now, let's all calm down."
Kwak Ri Yeon stepped between us.
"Isn't testing each other's skills a virtue among the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult? What happened between the Sado Family Head and the Jin Family Head is their affair."
Cheol So Pyeong inserted himself as well.
"The Kwak Family Head speaks truly. When Cult members compete and one loses, how is that wrong?"
With two Super Peak experts blocking his path, Hyeok Mun had no choice but to back off grudgingly before turning sharply and vanishing.
Kwak Ri Yeon then turned to me.
"Sado Family Head, I won't pry into what happened…… but wouldn't it be wise to show some mercy now?"
I nodded.
From afar, the flustered Jin Family retainers, who had been stamping their feet in confusion, approached, helped Jin Yeong Ryeong up, and withdrew.
Impressive, Sado Family Head.
Chu Tae Su, who had maintained silence until now, finally spoke up.
I heard you recently bested the Kwak Family Head in a single exchange…… but I never dreamed you'd display such a realm.
……
At his words, Kwak Ri Yeon's eyes deepened. It wasn't resentment over losing to me in that duel. The emotion was closer to bewilderment.
In that single exchange, I'd landed one strike on him before vomiting blood. (Well, from biting my tongue, but it must have looked like internal injuries.) Yet now, without a scratch—my palm wound wouldn't have been visible—I'd subdued Jin Yeong Ryeong. No wonder it seemed odd.
Kwak Ri Yeon then concluded on his own.
"……You must have gained enlightenment from the Muhonjibyeok."
Beautifully, and gratefully so.
"This Cheol Mo has been greatly enlightened—no, enlightened, Sado Family Head."
Cheol So Pyeong bowed to me. Though the young master of the Goe Mountain Iron Family and senior to me, he'd used informal speech before—but now he showed formal respect.
This was the Cult's strong-eat-weak hierarchy.
"Others call Super Peak the ultimate realm, but you all know it's not the end—it's the beginning toward new heights. The Sado Family Head has shown us that, like a signpost on the path to Mount Tai."
I had nothing to say, so I just shrugged. I hadn't really shown anything.
"I agree with Young Master Cheol. My blood's boiling tonight—I must visit the Muhonjibyeok."
Kwak Ri Yeon smiled warmly and placed a hand on my shoulder. Warriors don't tolerate hands on their shoulders, but when I allowed it, his eyes widened.
Well, more like he couldn't react.
"More importantly, about your subordinate. She looks quite dejected—best console her well."
"Hm."
"Don't be too harsh just because you're superior. Holding out that long against the Jin Family Head at her age is truly remarkable."
I nodded. Kwak Ri Yeon patted my shoulder with a good-natured grin before departing.
……
"What are you doing?"
Nothing.
Chu Tae Su also failed to place a hand on my shoulder. Kwak Ri Yeon was one thing, but not Chu Tae Su. Who knew what sorcery he'd cast?
Once everyone left, only Tak Horak—with his flushed, excited face—and Sa Wol, wearing a gloomy expression—remained.
"Family Head! I believed in you! You're amazing!"
"Quiet."
"Anyone but Jin Yeong Ryeong! To subdue her—the Super Peak expert with the trickiest arts—without a single injury! We must tell the entire Cult…… Ah, but since it's on Jan Hon Do, it has to stay secret—what a pity!"
"Tak Horak."
"Yes, Family Head!"
"Quiet. It was nothing—stop fussing and go organize the lodgings."
Tak Horak, mid-fuss, looked a bit hurt at my words. Feeling a pang, I added,
"No matter what anyone says, Tak Horak, you're my left arm. Thanks to you, I sleep soundly with both legs stretched out."
"Whoooaaa!"
Tak Horak grinned ear-to-ear and dashed off to the lodgings. Such an easy-to-read guy.
But the real issue was Sa Wol.
She hung her head like a rain-soaked puppy, utterly dejected.
I approached her.
"Sa Wol."
She looked up at me. Up close, her eyes were bloodshot red.
"Frustrated?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Sa Wol replied in a voice trembling with pent-up emotion.
"Even though you gave me the chance, Family Head…… I'm furious at how pathetically I lost."
"How old are you?"
"Twenty-five."
"You reached Super Peak after just ten years of training. I didn't touch Super Peak until I was thirty."
I continued.
"You heard Cheol So Pyeong earlier. Super Peak isn't the ultimate—it's the starting point to new realms. Facing Jin Yeong Ryeong from the outset and holding your own is remarkable."
"But…… I……"
Tears welled in Sa Wol's eyes.
From watching her, she always acted stoic and emotionless, but inside hid a fragile little girl craving recognition.
"If you can't believe in yourself, believe in me—the one who believes in you."
"Family Head……"
"Believe. You're the one I trust most."
Officially, according to the author who made this Murim Returner world, Sa Wol has the highest potential.
Sa Wol's ears flushed red. She wiped her tears, nodded, and said,
"I'll believe…… in you, Family Head."
"Good."
"May I also visit the Muhonjibyeok?"
"Rest well tonight."
"No. To live up to the faith you've given me, I'll train hard."
Sa Wol bowed deeply and left.
Tak Horak's easy to handle, but Sa Wol's surprisingly easy too.
What do you mean?
Look how she's blushing because I acknowledged her.
……Monster.
Why?
Were you…… married in your old world?
No, I wasn't.
I see.
What kinda random crap is this? That's not important right now.
With all the incidents settled, it was time to figure out why this happened. Only then could I prepare for what was coming.
You've probably guessed it already, right?
Yeah. The Heavenly Demon Divine Art, huh.
Jan Hon Do, Eum Hyeol Jin Family lodgings.
How tragic.
Chu Tae Su stood before Jin Yeong Ryeong. She trembled in the corner of the bed, gnawing her nails.
For the Jin Family Head to end up in such a pathetic state.
No reply came. It couldn't.
The Jin Family's young master and protector were embedded in the wall.
What happened?
"Scary. Scary. Scary. Scary."
Scared? Of what?
"Blood. Blood? Blood!!!"
Jin Yeong Ryeong clutched her head as if in a fit.
"Demon! Demon! In my head!"
Hm…… Did she spit up blood crystals and suffer a realm drop? A form of Deviation into Devil?
With a face full of curiosity, Chu Tae Su approached Jin Yeong Ryeong.
Let me take a peek inside your mind.
Normally impossible. But Jin Yeong Ryeong was far too vulnerable now.
Chu Tae Su reached toward her head. An eerily pale blue energy emanated from his hand.
And in that instant.
"─────────────!"
Chu Tae Su beheld an illusion of something beyond human comprehension overwhelming him.
Fragmentary, yet vast, hopeless, and overwhelming……
Even as a sorcery master, Chu Tae Su couldn't describe this 'something' in words. No existence could explain it.
"KyaAAaAaK!"
Jin Yeong Ryeong's scream snapped Chu Tae Su back. He yanked his hand away as if burned.
……Can a martial art leave such traces with just a few drops of blood?
Impossible. Except for one possibility in his mind.
If things go well……
Chu Tae Su muttered as he left the Jin Family lodgings.
I might catch both rabbits.
Snap!
Chu Tae Su lightly flicked his fingers.
The Jin Family lodgings burst into flames.
Pretending to Be the Heavenly Demon