A Familiar Aura
Jeong Gwang's exclamation of shock made Sang So-un's eyes gleam.
He'd mistaken it for a direct hit on his weak spot.
"Indeed. It would take someone on the level of the Left and Right Radiant Lion Guardians to break my Reverse Heaven Return Annihilation Soul Great Law. How many such experts could there possibly be in the world?"
Jeong Gwang shook his head slowly.
What a name.
Everyone and their dog was going "Reverse Heaven" these days.
It had been somewhat effective, but in the end, it was just sorcery and illusion.
"A great law that defies heaven's principles, returns one to their origin, and annihilates the soul?"
"That's right. It manifests the painful memories from one's life—the ones you never want to relive again—as reality. And it annihilates not just the soul, but the body as well."
Jeong Gwang let out a hollow chuckle.
And you think that'll destroy my soul and body?
To truly annihilate Jeong Gwang, even all the memories from his Heavenly Demon Divine Cult days wouldn't suffice.
Maybe if you threw in every moment he'd spent reading Taoist scriptures on Kunlun too—but this? What a waste of effort.
Jeong Gwang possessed an unshakable immovable mind.
Though seeing that old man's face did hit a little hard.
He shook his head vigorously, shaking off the image of his father's face from moments ago.
Watching this, Sang So-un inwardly wavered.
He mistook it for Jeong Gwang struggling to hold back the trauma before finally cracking.
Should I go for it?
The hesitation was brief.
Even if Jeong Gwang was shaken, Sang So-un had no confidence he could win.
Instead of swinging his blade, he continued slowly.
"Just how far has your cult extended its reach?"
"What?"
"I met one of your cult's men at Iron Blood Manor. My subordinate, who was watching him, said he was Kunlun's Jade Jade Dragon. Did you recognize my blade from what he told you?"
What nonsense was this?
Jeong Gwang must have been using a disguise technique that hid his demonic qi, leading to the confusion.
And it didn't stop there.
"It's been ages since contact with the subordinate tailing the Jade Jade Dragon went dark. He must have been discovered and eliminated."
Jin Chung? The guy had been stuffing his face like a madman just moments ago. Eliminated, my ass.
Sang So-un's misunderstandings piled up.
"Infiltrating Kunlun is shocking enough, but to think a demon like you has ties to the Paeng Clan and even the Crown Prince... I can't help but admire your cult's capabilities."
"Those your last words?"
"...What is your cult after? Tell me, and I'll inform my master. We'll do our utmost to avoid clashing. There's no need for your cult and our main branch to fight, is there?"
Sima Lian was offering to yield, as long as it didn't interfere with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's movements.
"How about it? Not a bad proposal, right?"
After Sang So-un's long-winded pitch, Jeong Gwang shot back curtly.
"So, you're begging me to let you live?"
"..."
"Just say it straight—why's your tongue so damn long?"
"...Would you really?"
Jeong Gwang smirked.
"You got the pull to convince your branch leader?"
"...Of course."
"Ha. Whatever. Point is, you don't know shit about the demonic path."
"...?"
"Real demons pick fights even with enemies that don't exist. Compromise? Not a chance."
"...!"
Besides, in this life, Jeong Gwang was a Kunlun disciple, not from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
No need to spell that out, though. He rubbed his palms together.
"Ready to die?"
"...I'm a man of great use. Second disciple to the Sima Lian Lord, and..."
"So what? You're not even as good as the youngest."
"...You know my junior brother?"
"A bit."
"...I'm beyond surprised at this point. But I'm not inferior to that guy..."
"You're a tad stronger, but otherwise, he's better all around. That Jade Qilin nickname is bullshit, though."
It was true.
If Jade Qilin had been Sang So-un, he'd have charged the moment Jeong Gwang broke the spell.
Desperate resolve leads to survival.
Sang So-un lacked that courage.
But he sure could talk.
"Hoo. I'll admit my shortcomings. Still, just in case, I was prepared. How the hell did you track me here?"
"Well."
"Can't you tell me more? I'm dying to know."
Jeong Gwang smirked.
"Cut the crap."
"...Why the sudden change?"
"You've stalled long enough. Even got your positions set."
"...!"
"You again. You really like the number four, huh?"
In an instant, Sang So-un's aura shifted.
The fear vanished, replaced by a thick, oozing evil energy.
"About time."
"Die!"
Sang So-un's Guhwan-do sliced through the air.
The nine rings on the blade's back clanged noisily, and crimson-black qi coiled toward Jeong Gwang.
A bizarre sound attack to disrupt balance, combined with evil sorcery to blind the vision!
At the same time, the ground around Jeong Gwang erupted, and four masked men sprang out.
Warriors who had sneaked in and surrounded him unleashed their killing blows!
Oh ho!
They blocked escape routes while targeting vital points—highly skilled.
But they'd picked the wrong opponent this time.
Jeong Gwang gripped Yunryong calmly and tensed his hand.
"Here we go."
Dazzling golden light exploded outward.
Yunryong had become a golden dragon, soaring into flight!
Kwaaaaa—
The majestic dragon's roar shook the manor.
The golden dragon swept through the world with unstoppable momentum amid the sound.
* * *
Jeong Gwang inspected his robes and sighed.
"Whew. What a mess. Still too weak."
Sang So-un, slumped against the wall, stared blankly.
...Too weak? With just a few tears in his clothes?
Around him lay the corpses of the four elders killed earlier and the four middle-aged men just slain.
His dented Guhwan-do too.
...Impossible. The Evil Soul Four Elders and the Secret Illusion Four Killers, dead like this...?
Their combined assault could easily take down several elders from the Nine Great Sects and One Gang.
Even Sima Lian, conquerors of the unorthodox world, acknowledged these experts.
Yet they'd fallen to one man.
Jeong Gwang, perpetrator of this absurdity, approached Sang So-un.
And squatted down in front of him.
"You played all your cards. What's next?"
"...Spare me. As I said, I'm useful."
"How?"
Sang So-un licked his lips with hopeful eyes.
"Paeng Gang-ung isn't the only one with my sorcery implanted. There are plenty in other righteous sects. Spare me, and I'll tell you who."
"To blackmail and use them?"
"Exactly."
Jeong Gwang was dumbfounded.
"Why bother with the hassle."
"...Or I could manipulate their evil qi to aid you."
"Like making high-status folks drop dead at the Paeng Clan, you mean?"
"Precisely."
"You scattered that crappy heart method everywhere to stir up chaos, right?"
"..."
Sang So-un nodded silently.
Jeong Gwang stroked his chin, thinking of the Murim Alliance.
Doesn't seem like he's lying. So a few in the Alliance too, then.
It was decent sorcery, as seen at the Paeng Clan.
But so what? It had nothing to do with Jeong Gwang.
Kunlun's heart methods purified the mind, and he'd refined them further—no one there would fall for such temptations.
Plus, the stretching exercises spread through the Murim Alliance contained Kunlun's immortal qi.
Consistent practice would immunize against such evil qi, or even purge it if already learned.
No need to babysit those who skipped it, though.
Besides, controlling those who'd learned it required more than ordinary sorcery.
Even Sima Lian likely had few who could pull it off.
Killed the old fogies. Just finish this one.
Jeong Gwang smiled faintly, and Sang So-un sensed it.
He's gonna kill me after all.
What was the point of more talk?
Sang So-un straightened his chest.
"Kill me."
"First, stick out your left arm."
"...?"
"Wanna get hit more?"
"...!"
Sang So-un had been beaten half to death by Jeong Gwang already.
The threat made him flinch; he thrust out his left arm hastily.
Shuuu—
A flash of light, and his arm felt light.
Huh?
Moments later, blood spurted from the stump.
"Kwaaak!"
Screaming, he pressed his right hand to the wound and sealed the acupoint.
The bleeding slowed, but the pain didn't.
Gritting his teeth, Sang So-un glared at Jeong Gwang.
"What the hell are you— Ah!"
Jeong Gwang was removing something from the severed arm.
A string of thirty-six beads.
Not plain ones—each alternated carvings of demons and Buddhas.
Examining it closely, Jeong Gwang asked abruptly.
"This hides your evil qi, right? What's it called?"
Sang So-un gnashed his teeth.
Just take it—why chop the arm!
His malice surged.
"You think I'll tell you!"
"Yeah."
Jeong Gwang prodded a few spots with his finger, and Sang So-un's eyes bulged.
Pain unlike anything in his life.
"Uwaaaak!"
"Huh? Scream before answering? Too weak?"
As if.
Sang So-un screamed desperately.
"Evil Buddha Beads! Evil Buddha Beads! Guh-huk!"
"Sneaky Buddha Beads? Who named that crap?"
"I-I don't know! Master gave it to me because my demonic qi was too strong!"
"Damn. Unlike that Jade Qilin, you're actually favored by your master."
"A-anyway, please! J-just kill me now! Aaaak!"
Sang So-un begged earnestly, but Jeong Gwang had bigger priorities.
"Hmm. Whatever the name, I'll rename it. What sounds good?"
He pondered, ignoring Sang So-un's venomous, pleading gaze.
It didn't take long.
"Alright. Half Buddha it is."
"...!"
What a sense of humor!
Sang So-un wanted to curse, but death's allure was stronger.
"Kwaaak! P-please, kill m— Huh?"
Jeong Gwang's hand blurred, and the pain stopped.
Sang So-un stared in bewilderment.
"Wh-what the...?"
"Too wasteful to just kill you."
"...!"
"Feels like I'll meet your master someday. Better say hi in advance."
"...?"
Jeong Gwang fixed Sang So-un with a glare and unleashed the Demonic Spirit Soul Control Art.
Piggy.
"...!"
Jeong Gwang's terrifying voice reverberated in Sang So-un's soul.
Listen well from now on.
Jeong Gwang shattered Sang So-un's will with the art.
And dominated him.
...Got it?
"Yes."
Good. Head back carefully. Give my regards.
Sang So-un blinked his clouded eyes and replied dryly.
"Yes, Master."
* * *
After Sang So-un left, Jeong Gwang surveyed the manor.
A literal mountain of corpses and sea of blood.
Pretty remote, so no immediate issues, but someone would find it soon enough.
Bound to cause a fuss.
Anyone else might burn the evidence, but not Jeong Gwang.
Gonna be a hassle.
He meant the Sima Lian warriors who'd come checking after losing contact with Sang So-un.
Whatever.
Jeong Gwang tsked at his torn robes.
Liked these clothes. Guess I'm fated to wander in just disciple robes.
Shaking his head, he smiled contentedly.
Not a total waste, though.
He slipped the Half Buddha beads onto his wrist and eyed the shadow under the eaves.
"No demonic qi, right?"
No response.
Jeong Gwang removed the beads.
"Feels it now."
Still nothing.
"Sheesh."
Slipping them back on, he glared at the shadow.
"Come out. Or I'll kill you."
-....
"Aw. Was gonna spare you since we greeted, but no choice."
-....
"Amitabha. Farewell."
Jeong Gwang thrust his palm force at the shadow.
Kwang!
The ground cratered with a boom.
"Huh? Faster than I thought."
The shadow had shifted far away in a blink.
A smile curled Jeong Gwang's lips.
"Should've fought you first."
His figure vanished.
Sticking to the shadow, he unleashed countless palm strikes.
Predicting not just its current spot, but future moves.
Kwakwakwa-kwang!
But the shadow vanished in an eyeblink.
Jeong Gwang's gaze whipped behind him.
A massive tree entered his view.
"Going that route?"
Jeong Gwang drew Yunryong.
Infusing it with qi, radiant golden light flowed.
"Then I'll get serious too."
He charged.
Yunryong in hand cleaved the tree—and the air itself.
Saaak—
One sound, but as wind blew, the tree collapsed in dozens of chunks.
Kukukung!
Ignoring it, Jeong Gwang let out a low shout.
"Hup!"
Blood-red, sticky demonic qi exploded.
Heaven-Splitting Blood Sword!
The sword qi dominated the space instantly, birthing bloody illusions that slashed everything.
"Kuhk!"
The air tore, and a figure dropped to the ground.
A middle-aged man in black robes.
Powder-white face like a eunuch's, unnaturally red lips.
Jeong Gwang admired him.
"Looking sharp as expected. They say all eunuchs are beauties—true after all."
"...!"
"But tough luck. You saw what you shouldn't have."
His intent to silence the witness darkened the man's eyes.
He hesitated, as if pondering, then circulated his inner power.
Dark energy rose from his body.
Dark, yet strangely translucent, like sunlight filtering through.
Jeong Gwang's jaw dropped.
What the hell is this guy?
More importantly, this familiar energy.
Why the hell is this here!