This Is Real (5): Betraying Cheonma, the Demonic Cult's Absolute
Betraying Cheonma, the absolute ruler of the Demonic Cult—this was only natural. Anyone capable of sound judgment, whose life or something equally precious wasn't entangled with him, would obviously betray Cheonma. Even I, whose lifeline he gripped through Godok, didn't truly follow him.
Escape depended on intelligence. The Demoness had scattered her demon concubines across the Central Plains, securing hideouts everywhere, and even forged ties with our Moyong family through the Lustful King, ready to shamelessly cling to Deputy Head Moyong San if needed.
For those who could flee the Demonic Cult, doing so as soon as possible was simple common sense, the rational choice of any intelligent person. Even I knew the Thunder Demon was plotting his escape. He just couldn't abandon the cult outright without leaving his assets behind, so he was racking his brains over how to sell it off for the highest price.
In any case, barring such extenuating circumstances, most of the Ten Demons had already fled. One of them had sworn "revenge against the OO Sect!" only to impregnate the sect leader's eldest son—his own latent poison disciple—subtly infusing his martial arts into that sect. I won't name the sect out of respect, but if plum blossoms ever cast a dark shadow there someday, it'll be their own fault.
Amid all this, Honma coming to Moyong Sega was proof of his smarts. Though captured by the Sword Saint, it looked like he'd deliberately let himself get caught. He had some goal in mind—but first—
"Before the interrogation, why do you call me Little Heavenly Demon?"
I was deeply displeased by Honma's title for me.
"Doesn't 'Little Heavenly Demon' make me sound like Cheonma's heir? Apologize. To Lady Moyong."
"Apologize...? To Lady Moyong, you say?"
"I can tolerate being called Little Heavenly Demon as an insult linking me to Cheonma, but you owe an apology for momentarily branding Lady Moyong as the Little Heavenly Demon's wife. Honma."
"I-I'm sorry. Lady Moyong."
Honma bowed deeply toward Moyong Seol. Then he lifted his head, shooting me a complex glance that screamed, What the hell is this madman? But I wasn't mad.
"Call me Physician Seok. That's my position in Moyong Sega."
"Not the Sword Saint's son-in-law...? Eek?!"
Honma suddenly screamed. There was no visible change, but I distinctly felt something unseen. Invisible Sword. A realm beyond realms where sword aura melts into nature itself, formless, ambiguous even in its existence. Someone was likely holding an invisible blade to Honma's throat with it—but this was just inference from experience, not sensing inner energy or qi.
"Call me Physician Seok, Honma."
"Y-yes, Physician Seok."
Honma bowed his head.
"You must have many questions, but I wish to surrender to Moyong Sega. Spare my life, at least."
"Surrender, huh."
The blunt term made his intentions crystal clear. The problem was—
"Is this a defection from the Demonic Cult, or from the Namgung family?"
"......!"
Where did his loyalties truly lie?
"I know you bore a grudge against the Namgung family and infiltrated them with your latent poison disciple. A girl named 'Sehwa,' right?"
"Another woman?"
Moyong Seol's voice rose briefly.
"Are latent poisons all female survivors? Not a single male among them?"
"That's... not it, ma-madam."
"Ma-madam?"
Her voice softened slightly at the title. Was it necessary to go that far? It felt excessive, but she didn't seem displeased. Honma's tone dripped with desperation, after all.
"Just 'wife' will do."
"Thank you. Physician Seok's wife."
Honma was sharp.
"Ahem! So, what exactly happened with the latent poison...?"
"A brief detour: the Poison Demon swept up all the boys, and most died."
"Ah."
"Girls died too, of course, but among surviving latent poisons, females make up about ninety percent. Many are demon concubines, but even other Ten Demons' prized disciples tend to be girls. Like... the Little Poison Demon over there."
"You can call me Little Poison Demon, it's fine."
Dang Yuri waved at Honma with a smile. He bowed politely back. By rank, Honma outranked her, but among Demonic Cult defectors in Moyong Sega, she was the senior.
"Anyway, I infiltrated the Namgung family with my latent poison. And despairingly... I lost to their patriarch and now follow his orders."
Honma mimed a collar around his neck.
"Then isn't it fine? You're already here."
"It's... more complicated than that, wife."
At Moyong Seol's question, Honma lifted the paper covering his face.
"This body isn't mine."
"!!"
His face was ruined beyond recognition—eyes, nose, mouth barely discernible, melted like by extreme poison.
"I'm controlling one of the Namgung warriors via Seophonsul. My true body is imprisoned in their estate."
"True... body?"
"Yes. Not to boast, but..."
"Honma is a master of Seophonsul, Lady Moyong."
"Hold on."
As I started explaining, Moyong Seol raised a hand and stared at me.
"He's calling me 'wife' too—how do you feel about that, physician?"
"He wants to hear it from me, but I'm not yielding on this."
"Pardon?"
"To me, only you are called 'Lady.' That's why."
"Ah, um, uh..."
Moyong Seol started to speak but fanned her face and turned away.
"...We'll discuss that later. Ahem. So, what's the situation now?"
"We need to ask if he's fully possessed or just remotely controlling. What is it, Honma?"
"As you say, physician... I can do Seophonsul in two ways."
He lowered the paper again.
"To cut to the chase, I'm 'possessed' in this body."
"Pos...sessed?"
"Yes. My true self is maintained by Namgung retainers checking it daily, while my soul inhabits this one."
"Uh... well, sure, why not. The Central Plains martial world is full of bizarre happenings."
Hard to believe, but true. If Gu-eum Jeolmok could be cured, soul possession via Seophonsul wasn't impossible.
"Though I've been captured here, if I don't return to the Namgung patriarch in time, my true body dies. Then I'd abandon a Hwagyeong—no, Hyeongyeong-level body for this third-rate warrior's shell."
"Hyeongyeong?"
"I attained enlightenment a year ago and advanced."
"Weren't you Chojeoljeong?"
"That's the public story. Hiding thirty percent of your power is the way of the jianghu, but for me, masquerading as Chojeoljeong boosted my Seophonsul effectiveness."
"Makes sense."
Even Hwagyeong experts often fell to carelessness assuming he was merely Chojeoljeong.
"A Hyeongyeong captured by the Namgung family..."
"Their patriarch, Namgung Hwi, is also Hyeongyeong-level."
"Hm."
"Please help me, physician. For old times' sake, I beg Moyong Sega's aid."
Honma bowed deeply. What drove him to such desperation, risking even his Hyeongyeong body? But here he was.
"If you don't hurry back, the Namgung patriarch will burn your body or something, right?"
"...Yes."
"Then, Patriarch?"
I turned to the Sword Saint.
"Sheltering Honma risks enmity with the Namgung family."
"No matter."
The Sword Saint, who'd been listening silently, shrugged.
"If it's a means to handle your affairs, becoming enemies with them is a price to pay. They've always been rivals we must surpass anyway—no love lost there."
"A Demonic Cult member..."
"Aren't there three right here?"
"True enough."
Three: me, Dang Yuri, and now Honma. The Sword Saint had already decided to accept him into Moyong Sega. By having Honma bow to us instead, he clarified the hierarchy out of consideration.
"Physician Seok. Honma is a Seophonsul master. Any other demon, and I might've beheaded him on the spot."
"I see your wisdom, Patriarch."
As the Sword Saint said, Honma was the expert we needed.
"Honma."
"Yes, physician."
"From now on, you're a nurse in Seongnakwon's medical quarters."
"......Pardon?"
"As a nurse, cast Seophonsul on the women in the treatment beds. Ensure those receiving my Jeolmok Jeong cure drink it without second thoughts."
Bringing Honma in was tantamount to revealing Geukyang Jihwan's potential.
"Fulfill their Jeolmok Jeong treatment and grant the wishes in their hearts—at a moderate level. Manipulate those desires with your Seophonsul."
Right now, Honma might be the most vital asset we had.
"First, let's restore your body. I can't return your inner energy, but I can revert this shell to your original form."
"...Is that possible?"
He glanced downward.
"This body's male."
"Hold on. Honma's a woman too?"
Moyong Seol asked.
"Again?! How many non-women are even in the Demonic Cult?"
"...Well."
Honma scratched his cheek.
"Cheonma... really likes women. Even at Ten Demons gatherings, he said he didn't want to see men..."
"......."
"Ah, rest easy, wife. I've never been with Cheonma. Never even tried, dodged his advances every time..."
"That sounds even riskier... Is this for real?"
"It is—"
Honma startled, glancing aside.
"Little Poison Demon. Why are you staring at me like that...?"
"...Tsk."
Dang Yuri clicked her tongue, lost in thought. Honma didn't know her true nature.
"...Fine. Anyway, Honma. Let's start."
I rolled up my sleeve.
"With an experiment."
"Experi...ment?"
"Simple enough."
Extremely.
"Body first, or soul?"