Chapter 31 - Demonic or Immortal?
“G-G-Sword Family Head!!”
Jin Muhon brushed the dirt off his rear and stood.
Muheo came rushing over in a panic. He was so flustered that his usual way of addressing Jin Muhon came out all jumbled.
Jin Muhon furrowed his brow as he watched Muheo charge toward him.
“What is it? This early in the morning.”
“G-G-Sword! No, Jin Family Head!”
Muheo reached out to grab Jin Muhon’s arm.
Jin Muhon swung his arm casually, shaking off Muheo’s hand.
It was as natural as flowing water.
“······!”
Muheo’s small eyes widened in shock.
In his surprise, he had instinctively unleashed his Golden Claw technique.
And without realizing it, he’d even channeled his inner energy into it. Yet Jin Muhon had effortlessly evaded Muheo’s Golden Claw.
“If you slept well, get ready to leave. What’s with the nonsense, old man?”
“Ah, uh. Sorry about that.”
“Just know it.”
Jin Muhon flicked his sleeve once and walked toward the rest of the group as if nothing had happened.
Muheo sidled up next to him.
“Just now! That thing just now! That was spiritual ascension, right?”
Jin Muhon glanced sideways at Muheo.
“Forgot where I’m from?”
“Uh···yeah? Spiritual ascension doesn’t make sense for the Jin Family Head···.”
“Cut the crap and eat. I stood watch all night and I’m starving.”
Chusa Hwan bowed deeply at Jin Muhon’s words.
“I’ll prepare breakfast right away.”
“Something simple. Let’s eat and go.”
“Yes.”
Chusa Hwan dragged Oepari along and got to work.
He rekindled the fire, filled the pot with water, and set it to boil. Soon, smoke rose, filling the air with a sharp, acrid scent.
He dumped in the ground meat they’d brought, then chopped vegetables with resounding thwacks.
Han Sowol, quick on the uptake, tidied the sleeping area while everyone else handled their tasks.
The Taoist with nothing to do stuck right by Jin Muhon’s side, refusing to budge.
“As the saying goes, the paths of righteousness and demonhood diverge at the start but converge at the end. Could it be you’ve reached the realm of transcending the demonic?”
“Transcending the demonic? In your dreams. Say something that makes sense.”
“Then how do you explain what happened earlier?!”
“What phenomenon?”
Jin Muhon looked at Muheo with genuine confusion.
In truth, he had no idea what Muheo had seen.
He’d simply delved deep into Cloud Peak Mist Sea, focusing solely on elevating his enlightenment.
Of course, in the process, his soul had nearly slipped from his upper dantian and soared to the heavens.
“For a moment, heaven and earth resonated with you!”
“···What?”
“Effortless and natural! Heaven and earth in harmony! The mortal body transcends the mundane and ascends to the skies! That’s straight from the description of spiritual ascension!”
“······.”
“A realm no one has attained in centuries, and you have?!”
“Shut it.”
“Sword—!”
Jin Muhon fixed Muheo with a piercing glare.
His sharp eyes brimmed with chilling killing intent, silencing Muheo.
The others, unaccustomed to seeing Muheo so worked up, paused their tasks and stared at him.
Realizing his mistake, Muheo quickly calmed himself and glanced around.
“Sw-Sword···my sword···where’s my sword···ah! There it is!”
Swallowing “Sword Demon,” he pivoted and dashed to the tree where his rusted sword lay.
Jin Muhon shook his head and sat down.
“Family Head. Just a moment, please. I’ll make you some easy-on-the-stomach rice porridge with meat.”
Han Sowol approached with a bright smile.
Jin Muhon met her gaze with impassive eyes.
“Thanks. But it looks like Chusa’s handling the prep.”
“Oh! I’m helping too!”
“I see.”
“Yes!”
Perhaps because they’d left the medical hall.
Han Sowol seemed oddly naive, unlike her first impression.
Under Jin Muhon’s silent gaze, she opened and closed her mouth a few times before returning to Chusa Hwan’s side.
As if waiting, Muheo started heading over.
“······.”
Jin Muhon glared at him intently.
“Aigoo. Is rain coming? My back’s killing me.”
Flinching under the stare, Muheo pretended otherwise and slunk back to his seat.
Spiritual ascension, huh···.
Finally alone, Jin Muhon leaned against a tree stump and reflected on the night before.
First, the fifth stage of Cloud Peak Demon Sea: Sword Intent.
A demonic art that summoned vengeful spirits from the blood mist to serve as limbs.
Last night, he’d managed only dozens, but as his realm advanced, the number he could command would multiply endlessly.
Countless souls followed the Sword Demon, unable to let go of their grudges even in death.
But advancing wasn’t entirely joyful.
Like any demonic art, deeper cultivation of Cloud Peak Demon Sea gnawed at Jin Muhon’s mind bit by bit.
Were he not so familiar with demonic arts, he might not have noticed the change and slipped into qi deviation.
Ultimately, he’d have become a mad demon, dyeing the world in blood, only to feed the art.
“Huuuup···fuuu···.”
Thus, he delved deeper into his family’s righteous method.
The foundation of Cloud Peak Demon Sea: Cloud Peak Mist Sea.
When he came to, a full day had passed, yet it felt like a pleasant dream—he couldn’t recall exactly what happened.
Only the final moment, sensing his soul slipping out, and snapping back to awareness.
“What.”
Of course.
No special changes from the breathing.
No resonance with heaven and earth, no winds or rains.
Just an abrupt image of a single sword floating in his chest.
“Resonance with heaven and earth, my ass.”
Jin Muhon scowled at Muheo.
How could a supposed Wudang elder spout such nonsense every time he opened his mouth?
“Th-Th-Th—!”
Jin Muhon sighed softly.
Muheo’s mouth gaped wide, pointing at him with whatever nonsense he was about to spew.
“What?”
Jin Muhon replied curtly, eyeing the trembling finger.
Muheo thrust his arm out in horror.
“Behind! Behind!”
“Behind?”
Jin Muhon turned his head to the left rear.
Han Sowol, Chusa Hwan, and Oepari, busy with breakfast and cleanup, froze and stared at him in shock.
“Hm?”
Muheo shouted again.
“No! Right behind!”
Jin Muhon scowled and whipped around.
And soon,
His face mirrored the others’ perfectly.
Astonishment.
Wuuung—wuuung—wuuung—
All eyes fixed on the spot.
There, the Four Emperors Sword floated in midair, drawn from its sheath.
“······.”
Its pitch-black blade sheathed in auspicious white energy.
***
Clack. Clack. Clack.
After breakfast, the group boarded the cart and arrived in Unbong County as the western sky turned red.
Silence filled the cart.
Muheo kept his eyes closed, lost in thought the whole way, while Han Sowol held her tongue out of caution.
Jin Muhon stared blankly at the passing scenery outside the window.
Not mind sword control···.
The Four Emperors Sword floating in the air.
Of course, at the peak of inner energy, one could manipulate a sword through the air with qi.
But even in his Sword Demon days, that supreme technique had been impossible.
Not even the Heavenly Demon could levitate a sword with void manipulation—that wasn’t true mind sword control.
Yet the glowing white Four Emperors Sword had flown freely through the air at Jin Muhon’s will.
And definitely not mind sword···.
After ruling out possibilities, Jin Muhon reached a conclusion.
It was the Sword Intent of Cloud Peak Mist Sea.
A righteous technique to wield the sword by will alone.
Unlike Ma-seon’s Sword Intent, which commanded souls,
Cloud Peak Mist Sea’s purely controlled the sword.
Does it have to be a sword?
Jin Muhon turned his gaze inside the cart.
Bags and clothes lay scattered on the seats. Bored with the quiet ride, Han Sowol had opened her needle pouch to organize her needles.
Wuuung.
Jin Muhon stirred his upper dantian energy and projected his will.
Soon, three slender needles floated up from Han Sowol’s pouch.
The silver needles sparkled in the light.
“Oh my!”
Startled, Han Sowol yelped and dropped the pouch.
Jin Muhon hurriedly extended his will to the falling pouch.
His head throbbed as if it might split.
Needs practice.
Jin Muhon reached out and caught the floating needles and pouch.
“Uh···?”
Han Sowol gaped at his hand.
Her eyes sparkled as she stared at Jin Muhon.
“Family Head! Is that something you can only do after learning martial arts? Can I learn it too?”
Having sorted the needles, Jin Muhon handed the pouch back with a light smile.
“Probably not.”
“I suppose so. My master visits the Nangong family estate sometimes for house calls, and they’re famous as a sword clan. But I’ve never heard of anyone there handling swords like you.”
So that’s why her master went to Anhui.
Connected to the Nangong family after all.
“Is that so?”
“Yes! Oh, right! They say the Nangong retired family head has no equal in the martial world with the sword! So doesn’t that mean you handle the sword better than him, Jin Family Head?”
Once she got talking, Han Sowol’s mouth showed no sign of stopping, as if she’d been holding back.
Chatting with her reminded Jin Muhon of Jin Hayeon, lifting his spirits.
“Haha! How could someone like me compare to such a great figure?”
“Oh! Did you just laugh?”
Han Sowol’s eyes widened as she looked at him.
Jin Muhon quickly hardened his expression.
“Laugh? No idea what you mean.”
“You just went ‘haha!’ It’s the first time I’ve heard you laugh out loud, Family Head!”
“······.”
“It suits you! Laugh more often! Why always frown?”
“Hm. This is my usual face.”
Jin Muhon was surprised too, just as Han Sowol said.
Laughing out loud naturally.
Perhaps balancing Ma-seon’s power had lightened his grim resolve.
Who knew.
Snap!
“Hm?”
Suddenly, the silent Muheo grabbed Jin Muhon’s wrist.
Lost in thought, Jin Muhon allowed it momentarily.
But he quickly twisted his wrist, shaking off the rough hand.
“Wanna hold hands? Go to a brothel, old man.”
“······.”
Muheo’s small pupils trembled.
Jin Muhon narrowed his eyes, watching Muheo’s mouth.
What crazy nonsense is this old man about to spout now.
After half a day of brooding, Muheo looked at Jin Muhon and opened his mouth vigorously.
“Sword Immortal, sir!”
“······.”
But what burst out exceeded all expectations.
Jin Muhon and Han Sowol’s jaws dropped.
Even for a monster like him, calling a junior in the martial world “sir”?
“······!”
Not content, Muheo even prostrated himself on the floor.
“Sword Immortal, sir! Teach me the method of shedding bones and exchanging tendons! I don’t need spiritual ascension or anything! Just!”
“······.”
Muheo lifted his head desperately, staring at Jin Muhon.
“She-She-Shed! Bones! Ex-Exchange! Tendons!”
“······.”
Indeed.
He wasn’t right in the head.