Silencing the Witness
There was a martial art that should never have been unleashed.
But after vaguely grasping Jeong Gwang's prowess, he had no choice.
The middle-aged man who had revealed his hidden Transparent Dark Soul Demonic Art bit his lip.
It was to hide the trembling he couldn't control.
Master was right. So this is a demon of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult!
And not just any demon.
As that Sima Lian pig who dared plot against the Crown Prince had said, he might be one of the Left and Right Guardians of Light.
No, regardless of any title, he was a master beyond what this man could handle.
If I'd known he was like this, I never would have followed...
The middle-aged man shook his head inwardly, halting his thoughts.
Even if he'd known Jeong Gwang was a demon of supreme realm, he couldn't defy the Crown Prince's orders.
He was fated to follow Jeong Gwang anyway.
I'll do my best, but this will be my grave.
Was it a premonition of death?
Memories of the past flooded back.
Samho was born into crushing poverty.
When he turned seven, his father castrated him.
And sent him to the imperial palace.
His clever son might rise to eunuch rank one day, letting the family taste wealth and glory—that was the thinking.
Thus, robbed of his manhood, Samho entered the palace. But he was assigned to the Direct Hall Guard, the lowliest of the Twelve Directorates.
How could a young eunuch sweeping palace grounds gain power?
Samho endured beatings and curses from superiors and peers for a year.
It was inevitable for a boy sold into the palace without connections or coin.
One despair-filled day, he met his future master, who spotted his talent and took him in.
I'll give you a new life. Will you follow me?
What choice was there?
From then, Samho's life transformed.
He thought it was the East Depot, spy agency of eunuchs.
It wasn't.
Food, clothes, salary—all abundant.
And above all, he learned astonishing martial arts that made those trivial.
Time flew like an arrow.
After grueling training, a new title came: Secret Bodyguard of the Imperial Heir, Imperial Guardian Dark Eagle!
Samho, guarding the third-most vital imperial figure, the Crown Prince!
Master, please watch over me...
Shaking off reverie, Samho gripped his hands tight.
Two iron staves now filled them.
Common staves had vertical grips on wooden rods; his were different.
Chill black iron staves, tips sharpened like sword points.
A freakish weapon that put any warrior on guard at first sight.
Already infamous for grotesque, illusory strikes from odd shape and varied grips.
With durable iron and blade tips, its flashy assaults were unimaginable.
But Jeong Gwang's impression differed.
Staring blankly at the staves, he muttered in disbelief.
"Never thought I'd see that toy again."
"...?"
"Which North Heaven Escort House fool infiltrated the palace? Almost none survived."
"...!"
Samho ground his teeth.
He'd seen through it all at a glance.
His master's endless screams echoed.
The True Heavenly Demon is dead? Ridiculous! He's a devil god! The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult is still his! Flee anyone using demonic arts! He'll slaughter us!
His once-mighty master, now bedridden with age, trembled at the mere thought.
The True Heavenly Demon was that terrifying.
Samho didn't believe he still lived—no one lasted that long.
But fear of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult lingered.
North Heaven Escort House, one of the Demonic Path's Seven Great Families, wiped out by the True Heavenly Demon, survivors fleeing to the Central Plains.
They wouldn't welcome master and disciple warmly.
They'd eliminate us on sight, he said.
The Cult's Seven Families brooked no rivals.
When one fell, a new rose to keep seven—but the fallen were crushed utterly, no revival allowed.
Then...
Flight wouldn't solve it.
He had to kill Jeong Gwang and erase traces.
Samho's twin staves gleamed dark and translucent.
The light spread over his body, soon engulfing his form.
Transparent Dark Soul Killing Method!
As dark light faded, Samho vanished.
Melting into void with the family's secret killing art, he lunged full force.
Stealthy yet potent, grotesque to fantastical strikes assailed Jeong Gwang!
Jeong Gwang's brow twitched.
"Has this guy lost his mind?"
He'd endlessly crushed the Demonic Path's Seven Great Families in his past life.
Who was he?
The greatest genius of past and present!
Over time, he knew their arts better than they did.
Devising efficient counters was natural.
This Transparent Dark Soul nonsense...
Barely a snack... too young now, maybe post-meal exercise.
Jeong Gwang retreated a zhang, then slanted right.
By a hair, explosive blasts erupted where he'd stood and passed.
Kaboom!
Air burst from Samho's hidden staves!
The shock whipped Jeong Gwang's robes like a gale.
He ignored it, doing what needed doing.
"Around here, probably."
He shifted left a step, spun, and thrust Yunryong.
Golden Yunryong pierced a void point.
Then slashed down.
Screeech—
Something tore; space ripped open.
Inside, wide-eyed Samho awkwardly clutched his staves.
Jeong Gwang grinned.
"Infinite Mercy Buddha."
"...!"
A massive golden dragon filled Samho's view.
He bared teeth, swinging staves with all might.
Krunch!
* * *
Jeong Gwang tilted his head at the Anti-Demonic Beads on his wrist.
Heavy demonic arts use had exposed his demonic qi.
Limit to concealable demonic qi?
That'd limit utility.
Something to investigate.
Should've asked the pig in detail.
That fat one seemed to force it only when needed, but Jeong Gwang planned constant use.
Thinking of Sang So-un recalled a forgotten promise.
Oh right. Said I'd soak Reverse Heaven Mirror in pig blood.
Jeong Gwang kept promises.
He went to where Sang So-un bled, drew Reverse Heaven Mirror.
Placed it atop...
Damn.
Blood dried solid; no absorption!
Not even surface wetting!
Can't back out now.
He had to keep his word.
He scraped Reverse Heaven Mirror over floor stains.
Screech, scrape, screee—
Chillingly sharp sounds raised arm hairs.
Useless.
Damn, still no.
Another way.
Corpses overflowed the compound.
Hey, bear with it. Fresh blood from another.
...Ung.
Huh? Why so meek?
Expected raging vibrations, but bridal quiet.
Then he recalled husbands of Kunlun women saying:
Ah, some brides like fierce generals.
Irrelevant now.
Why keep shivering? Hurt?
As if.
Reverse Heaven Mirror was terrified.
It knew Jeong Gwang monstrous, but this much!
It had vowed to devour him someday, but changed mind long ago.
Hmm, scared stiff?
Strike while iron hot.
Guessing its fear, Jeong Gwang infused demonic qi.
How about fasting? Sticky blood's bad for you.
...Ung.
Jeong Gwang roughly patted its surface.
Good boy. Not totally dumb.
Reverse Heaven Mirror swallowed indignation, calming forcibly.
It was a Monster Illuminating Mirror variant.
Proper control needed supreme demonic or evil qi, unbreakable will.
Jeong Gwang had it all.
How resist?
Eying silent Reverse Heaven Mirror, Jeong Gwang pressed on.
Get along with Half Buddha Beads, got it?
It nearly unged reflexively, barely held back.
Reverse Heaven Mirror detected demonic and monstrous qi.
Anti-Demonic Beads concealed it.
Opposites.
Not hearing? Be nice.
...
You can think and hum; it can't even think.
...Ung!
Reverse Heaven Mirror hummed desperately.
Not convinced, but surrendered to grip strength.
There we go.
Pocketing it, Jeong Gwang infused inner power into his robes.
Short burst flung off bloodstains.
Checking attire, he smirked.
Rags now.
Not quite, but plenty of tears from Sima Lian warriors and Samho.
Stretching with a yawn.
"Yawwwn."
Rare unrestrained fight felt good, but just that.
Past or present life, crude brawls bored him.
So he quenched thirst.
Ransacked corpses and halls thoroughly.
A hobby from this life.
"Oho."
Escort warrants, gold notes, ledgers—plenty.
Sorting compact valuables, deep regret hit.
Should've brought junior brother.
But wise not to.
Showing demonic slaughter? Nah.
Whatever, grab small stuff.
Entered hall, tore bed sheets, bundled loot into neat sack.
As he shouldered it, cleanup crossed mind.
Obvious Crown Prince's men; killing meant hassle.
Better spare?
Approached fallen Samho, kicked hard.
Thud!
"Kuhk!"
Samho flipped awake blindingly fast.
Landing far, he scanned warily with sharp eyes.
Spotting Jeong Gwang, he shivered like Reverse Heaven Mirror.
"Come sit. Let's talk."
"...!"
"Hurry."
Hesitant, Samho obeyed.
"You wanna live?"
"...!"
"Erase today's events from your head. I'll make it live witness silencing, not kill."
"..."
"Hmm. Wanna die? Cleanup's annoying, but oh well."
Silent Samho forced words, voice thin and warped.
"...Do you trust me?"
"No."
"...Then why spare?"
Jeong Gwang recalled North Heaven Escort House folk.
Guessed Samho's master.
"Black Rat your master?"
"...First time hearing that moniker."
"Huh? Guess he shared his self-made one. What was it? Embarrassingly ridiculous."
Digging memory, Jeong Gwang snapped fingers.
"Dark Drifting Murderous Guest!"
"...!"
Samho's eyes bulged.
Shock at how he knew; Jeong Gwang took differently.
"You find it ridiculous too. 'Drifting killer in shadows'? Bull. Directionless black rat pup. Right?"
Obvious to him, not Samho.
Instinctive killing intent surged.
"Don't insult my master!"
"Exactly."
"...!"
"Not in front of disciple. You're a decent one."
Jeong Gwang praised, then glared.
Fearsome demonic qi shot from eyes.
"But daring killing intent at me?"
"Kuhk!"
Enduring gritted teeth, Samho felt qi vanish suddenly.
"That's why praiseworthy. Anyway, your family art's flawed. You're feeling it, right?"
"...!"
True, as Jeong Gwang said.
Transparent Dark Soul Demonic Art's core had worsening side effects with realm.
Master long immobile; Samho leaked qi faintly.
"...How do you know?"
"'Cause it's me."
"..."
"Hmm. Show over tell?"
Jeong Gwang struck meridians: Tianrong, Xiebai, Tiantu, Liangmen, Tianchu, Qishe, Renying.
Too fast for reaction.
"How's that?"
Samho answered vomiting blood.
"Urk!"
Black clot spewed.
Dodging, Jeong Gwang continued.
"Circulate qi. Much better."
"..."
Samho sat cross-legged.
Soon eyes flew wide.
"H-how?!"
"No qi leak?"
"...Yes."
Jeong Gwang shrugged casually.
"Do same sequence on Black Rat. He'll walk again."
"...Why this grace?"
Jeong Gwang wagged finger.
"Don't misunderstand. Temporary fix."
"...Need another soon? Learn from you?"
"Yep."
Samho pondered, spoke.
"Just seal my lips?"
"Nah."
Jeong Gwang mentally tallied.
Past life, Black Rat's grandpa backstabbed, not him.
Black Rat believed impossible, desperately blocked grandpa.
Judgmental guy; fix and use properly?
Planned temporary seal then kill later; changed mind.
"I'll fix properly, you pledge properly."
Hard to refuse for Samho.
Nothing dearer than master and art.
Yet wanted to refuse.
Betraying palace aside, feared Jeong Gwang's demands.
But...
Samho swallowed, asked cautiously.
"Who the hell are you?"
"Jeong Gwang."
"..."
True identity asked, but deflating answer.
Still, one must-ask remained; forced words.
"...If I break pledge, what then?"
"That'd be fine too."
"...?"
Jeong Gwang grinned teeth-baring.
"Sounds fun, kinda?"