She Is Innocent
"No..." Bukjin’s eyes widened. His reaction was lightning-fast, but he was already a step behind.
Water Circulation Healing
Bukjin roared the incantation. His eyes no longer saw Mi Yeo-yeon or Ak Hong-hyang, whose transformations into demons were nearly complete. He saw only Baek Geum-un and Han Bul-bu, who were hemorrhaging a terrifying amount of blood.
He grabbed both of them by their necks, desperately channeling the Water Circulation Healing. Rings of azure light surged from his palms, flowing relentlessly into their broken bodies.
"You have to... you HAVE TO! Don't you dare die! Please! Stay with me!" Bukjin screamed, his mind a frantic white void. If it's the Water Circulation, I can save them! I have to! Don't you dare collapse! I won't allow it! Please! Just stay standing! Don't fall!!!
Beside him, the two girls who had already fully transformed into Demons let out guttural roars. They swung blades of bone at Bukjin, their strikes laced with frigid demonic energy. They looked ready to butcher him where he stood.
But Bukjin didn't care. He had always thought of himself as someone who would never sacrifice his own life for others. Yet now, he was willing to pay any price to save his friends, even if it meant being slaughtered in the next heartbeat.
Screams of pure terror erupted from the crowd. The citizens in the square were paralyzed by the horror unfolding on the podium. The spreading demonic energy and the spray of crimson blood were more frightening than any nightmare. It had happened without warning, plunging the entire city into chaos.
Heavenly Evil Gods! Living demons right before their eyes! The very embodiment of death and suffering!
Im Gun-hyeon, the 7th Prince, the experts of the Unmong-wi, and the powerful members of the investigation team finally snapped out of their shock. They lunged toward the two girls who had turned into demons.
"Stop them!" Im Gun-hyeon bellowed.
The commander of the Unmong-wi didn't just watch from afar either. He vaulted from his seat, turning into a streak of light as he appeared on the podium.
"Apprehend them all!" Dam Gogeum shouted. Deep within his eyes, a flicker of predatory joy danced. Finally, it worked!
At the same time, a cold dread pooled in his heart. That Baek Hae-geum is a terrifying man. To think a disciple of White Cloud City is so deeply entangled with the Demon Worshippers. He actually did everything he boasted he would! Is Baek Hae-geum a demon himself? Or just their agent in this world?
The thought flashed through Dam Gogeum’s mind, but he didn't have time to dwell on it. He barked orders to the investigation team's experts, commanding them to surround and attack.
"Do not let Im Bukjin escape!"
Meanwhile, Baek Hae-geum drew his sword and began striking at the transformed Mi Yeo-yeon and Ak Hong-hyang. The podium was a vortex of violence. Everything was happening at a breakneck pace.
However, the first person to truly threaten the two demons wasn't Im Gun-hyeon or Baek Hae-geum. It was Jin Ju-je.
The peerless beauty flickered onto the stage, and wings of swords unfurled from her back. Clang! Clang! Clang! Sparks flew as the blades ground against each other. As the sword-wings swept forward, they sheared off the demonic claws of the two girls. The massive demons were forced back, the bone-swords growing from their hands shattered repeatedly. But the claws regrew almost instantly.
Jin Ju-je held the two demons at bay until the other experts could complete their encirclement.
The demon that had been Mi Yeo-yeon suddenly spoke. Her voice was a grotesque grinding of stone on stone, but the words were unmistakable. She turned, grabbed Bukjin, and began to flee. Simultaneously, the demon that had been Ak Hong-hyang threw herself recklessly at the encircling experts, clearly intending to buy them time.
The hearts of Cho Heun and Ban Oe-min plummeted into an abyss. The demon called Im Bukjin 'My Lord'... It's protecting him and trying to help him escape...
The scene was being broadcast in real-time to everyone watching through the crystal screens. It's over! That was the only thought in Cho Heun’s mind. They couldn't believe Bukjin was truly a Heavenly Evil God, but the evidence was unfolding right before their eyes.
"Stop them!" Dam Gogeum shrieked. "Stop Im Bukjin! He must not escape! If you cannot capture him, kill him!"
Dead men tell no tales! If he dies, the evidence dies with him!
Dozens of experts charged at Bukjin. He was being pulled back by the demon Mi Yeo-yeon, his mind reeling with a massive, flashing question mark. When he looked back, Baek Geum-un and Han Bul-bu were still enveloped in a blue haze. Saturated with an immense amount of Water Circulation energy, their bodies were dyed azure. Their wounds were visibly knitting shut, but as soon as Bukjin was pulled away, they collapsed to the floor, looking as though the last of their life force had vanished.
The demon Ak Hong-hyang let out a roar of fury, doing everything in her power to block the oncoming experts. In that moment, for reasons he couldn't explain, Bukjin’s mind suddenly cleared.
I have to run! I have to get out of here!
Things had reached a point where even Bukjin wondered if he really was a Heavenly Evil God. The original owner of this body had many secrets, and Bukjin still hadn't fully merged with all of his memories. And his father, Im Geun-nam, was an even bigger enigma. Bukjin was certain he hadn't consorted with demons since arriving in this world, but he couldn't be sure if Ak Hong-hyang and Mi Yeo-yeon were connected to his missing father in some way.
Normally, those who suffered Demonic Possession lost all recognition of family or friends and became mindless slaughterers. Yet these two were protecting him instead of attacking. Regardless of the truth, the brand of a Demon Worshipper had been burned into his reputation. He couldn't make sense of it, but one thing was certain: if he was caught by Dam Gogeum today, he was a dead man.
If I'm captured, they'll kill me in secret without a second thought!
Even Im Gun-hyeon, Dan Si-bi, and Jin Ju-je—people who had supported him until now—remained silent. They made no move to help. Bukjin realized he had to use the protection of this powerful demon to survive and escape.
Survive first, think later! Once I'm away, I can figure this out! As long as I'm alive, there's hope!
His decision made, Bukjin took one last look at Cho Heun and the others, sighing inwardly. They were watching him with complex, unreadable expressions. Then, Bukjin turned and began to fly toward the edge of the square at a terrifying speed.
"STOP HIM!!!" Dam Gogeum screamed.
The user manifests thousands of identical phantoms to confound the enemy.
Bukjin’s form flickered and split into thousands. Identical copies of Bukjin bolted in every direction across the square. It was impossible to tell which one was the real him.
"It's the Great Incarnation Art of the demons!" Baek Hae-geum shouted. "Don't trust your eyes! Use your mental power to track the trajectory of the living!"
Before he could finish, dozens of Bukjins waved their hands simultaneously. White smoke billowed from their palms, saturating the air.
"Poison!"
"It's toxic! Be careful!" someone screamed as their legs gave out.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! The Great Martial Masters of the investigation team activated their secret arts. Mystic Energy flared around them, forming translucent armor to ward off the toxins. They lunged into the fray, but they immediately stepped on something.
Crack! Boom! Crack! Boom! Strange explosions rocked the square. This time, a blue toxic mist erupted and spread everywhere. Caught off guard by Bukjin’s bizarre and unprecedented tactics, the crowd fell into a panicked scramble. By the time the smoke cleared, Bukjin was gone from the temple square.
"Pursue him! He couldn't have gone far!" Dam Gogeum roared.
At the same time, the demon Ak Hong-hyang, who had been holding the line, was completely surrounded. Letting out a final, haunting roar, she was struck down by the massive sword-wings of Jin Ju-je and collapsed to the ground.
"Kill her!" Dam Gogeum ordered. To the public, anyone who had entered the Mara was no longer human, but a monster. Everyone moved in for the kill. Several experts from the investigation team struck out at once, their blades aimed at the defenseless demon Ak Hong-hyang.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Sparks flew as a flurry of strikes was deflected. Wings of swords, radiant as moonlight, blocked every single attack aimed at the fallen demon.
"What?" Dam Gogeum’s face twisted. "Jin Ju-je, what is the meaning of this?"
It had been a perfect opportunity to end the demon in one stroke, but the spinning sword-wings behind Jin Ju-je had neutralized everything.
"Jin Ju-je, what are you doing? Does one who holds a divine office truly intend to protect a demon?" Baek Hae-geum snarled.
Jin Ju-je didn't even look at them. Her pale face remained serene, her expression as calm as a still lake.
What?! Im Gun-hyeon, the 7th Prince, and everyone else were stunned. She's fully possessed and turned into a demon, yet you say she's innocent?