Chapter 98 - Judge Not by Face, Know Not the Heart
"What is this?"
Jin Muhon scanned the room not with a sense of crisis, but with curious eyes. The red lines creeping across the ceiling and walls surpassed mere formations, carrying the aura of sorcery that twisted spiritual energy.
"Ma-seon?"
In that brief moment, the unknown sorcery perfectly sealed the dwelling. Yet it lacked the sticky, repulsive malice unique to Ma-seon. On the contrary, this power seemed more protective, aimed at shielding the interior from something external rather than trapping intruders.
Jin Muhon drew upon his dantian's inner energy to survey his surroundings.
"...Blocked."
His inner energy wouldn't budge. The Blood Mist failed to rise, and the four souls remained silent. Just like when he'd been confined in the Nangong family's Present Iron Thunder Prison, his inner energy was perfectly sealed.
"Impressive."
Jin Muhon approached the wall and lightly thrust his fist.
Kuwoong—!
A dull metallic clang erupted from the old earthen wall. The mysterious sorcery had hardened it like present iron. Astonishingly, the seal enveloping the mansion didn't just affect the intangible—it altered the properties of matter itself.
"A fortress, huh."
Jin Muhon meticulously examined the room for a long while. It blocked intrusion from both inside and out. It would likely lift on its own at dawn tomorrow, but until then, it was a perfect stronghold.
"No. A prison right now."
Jin Muhon let out a smirk.
Sorcery, a discipline apart from martial arts. Ma-seon's Fate Soul Heaven Sacrificing Scripture commanded the souls of the dead. In contrast, Jin Muhon's Cloud Peak Mist Sea wielded the power of water. If sorcery harnessed souls and water, other forms surely existed for different forces. Of course, sorcery wasn't inherently superior to martial arts, but against Ma-seon, it would prove a valuable new weapon.
"Good."
Having assessed the situation, Jin Muhon slowly closed his eyes and unleashed Cloud Peak Mist Sea.
Shwaaaaa—
Cloud Peak Mist Sea Sixth Stage: Heaven Earth Infinite.
The ambient moisture scattered around the mansion resonated with his will.
Shwaaaaa—
Like hundreds of snakes slithering, the water qi writhed with a blue glow over the mansion walls. He'd escaped the Nangong Present Iron Thunder Prison by severing the soul seal with ease. But now, the barrier refused to yield. Jin Muhon poured in more power.
Shraaaaaak—!!
Water qi clawed at the outer walls like a whirlwind. An ear-splitting screech tore through the air.
Drdrdrdr—!
The walls, ceiling, and floor vibrated violently. Jin Muhon squeezed every ounce of power.
Shraaaaa shraaaaaak shraaaaaak—!!
Fine cracks spiderwebbed across the steel-like walls. Red blood trickled from Jin Muhon's nose. Then, suddenly—
Kwaaaaaang—!
The sturdy sorcery tore apart, and the mansion collapsed in an explosive ruin.
"Tch!"
Jin Muhon spat the blood pooling in his mouth and shoved aside the debris to stand.
Plip. Plip. Plop.
Caked in dust and blood, his appearance was wretched, but the aura he exuded was like a razor-sharp blade. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, Jin Muhon surveyed the dwellings where his group stayed.
"......"
Despite the commotion, an eerie silence blanketed the surroundings. Jin Muhon cracked his neck and headed toward Hongcheong's dwelling.
Step. Step. Step.
He grasped the door handle. It didn't budge. As expected, the same sorcery sealed this place too.
Shwaaa—
Jin Muhon summoned Heaven Earth Infinite to smash the door, then relaxed his hand. Even if forced, the clash with the unknown sorcery had taken its toll. Repeated confrontations might prove disastrous. Instead, he raised Blood Mist and drew the Four Emperors Sword.
Shring.
Tzzzzz—
Red mist swiftly enveloped the mansion. Dozens of crimson shadows clung to the roofs and walls.
Woooong!
Jin Muhon ignited his sword aura.
"Let's see if this holds too."
He swung the sword.
Shraaaaaak!! Kwaaaaaang!!
Before absolute destructive power, the sorcery shattered like glass. No matter how robust, it couldn't withstand Jin Muhon's profound inner energy in a contest of raw force. As the sorcery crumbled, the four souls leaped inside, tearing at the remnants.
"H-Heek!! W-Who are you!"
A familiar voice rang from within the dwelling.
Step. Step. Step.
Jin Muhon strode inside, Four Emperors Sword in hand.
"Y-You... you're...?"
Jin Muhon furrowed his brow. The guide, pants down to his knees, was scrambling back, his manhood flopping.
Jin Muhon slowly turned his head. Hongcheong lay gracefully on the bed, her face veil removed. Fortunately, her robes remained intact—but a moment longer, and the two women's purity would have been defiled.
"Tch."
Jin Muhon clicked his tongue and turned back to the guide.
"Speak."
"Y-Yes? Yes?"
"Speak."
Step. Step. Step.
Jin Muhon approached the guide. The man hastily pulled up his pants, eyes darting in panic.
"I-It’s a misunderstanding! I mean... um... this is— Gahk!"
Kwaaaaaang!
The guide smashed through the wall and flew outside.
"Gahk! Kk! Kk!"
It was a casual kick, yet the guide couldn't rise. Blood poured endlessly from his mouth. He could barely breathe. Genuine fear of death gripped him—but greater terror was the figure of Jin Muhon slowly approaching through the gaping hole.
"Uh... ugh... ugh..."
The guide flailed, trying to flee. The impassive face emerging from the red Blood Mist under moonlight. Especially those emotionless eyes— the guide felt his sanity unraveling.
Puuk!
The Four Emperors Sword pierced his thigh and plunged deep into the earth.
"Kaaaaaaaack!!!"
In the dead of night, the guide's scream rent the cold air. Jin Muhon gauged the presences in the village, then looked down at the man and spoke indifferently.
"Speak."
"A-Anything... you want?"
Jin Muhon silently gazed at him. Tears of blood streamed from the guide's eyes.
***
It was a small, peaceful village. Gathered folk who provided food and lodging to travelers passing to and from the North Sea. Not prosperous, but content with their settled lives.
Then calamity struck one day. A traveler died in his sleep at the inn. In a village untouched by incident for decades, even this was dire—but the corpse's state was horrifying. A hale man until bedtime had withered, twisted, as if drained of all vital essence.
"But that wasn't the end."
Unfortunately, deaths continued after the first. Always on the new moon, like clockwork. No culprit emerged. They hired local famed warriors and professional trackers, but to no avail.
Rumors spread, travelers vanished. Then that day returned again.
"Then villagers started dying."
"Yes! Exactly! As you say, great one, the villagers began dying!"
The guide nodded frantically at Jin Muhon's question, shouting desperately. Spilling everything he knew was his only lifeline, and he poured it out fervently.
"No way out! Traveler or not, every new moon! People kept dying! The skilled fled the village, but the weak and powerless? Can't just leave! Dying inside or out—same difference!"
That made sense. This was the vast plains, unlike the Central Plains. A land ruled by the law of the jungle.
"That's when the immortal appeared!"
A glint sparked in Jin Muhon's eyes.
"Immortal?"
"Yes! Said he was hunting demons! Heard our plight and sketched symbols everywhere in the village! No more deaths after that!"
Jin Muhon turned his head.
"The markings etched throughout the houses?"
"H-Houses too... have markings?"
The guide's pupils trembled in confusion. Likely, only those versed in sorcery could see them. As Jin Muhon sensed, the village's markings were protective spells against the curse. And this sly bastard had exploited them.
'Repaid good with evil.'
Jin Muhon posed his final question.
"Where is he?"
"I-I don't really know... Ah! It's only been a year since he left! Probably still hunting demons somewhere in the North Sea!"
"You don't know."
"W-Wait! Great one! I've told you everything—!"
Slice.
The Four Emperors Sword flashed. The guide's head cleanly severed and rolled across the cold ground. Jin Muhon flicked the blood from his blade and recited a funeral verse.
"Demons aren't out there. You're the demon."
Without Jin Muhon's power, Hongcheong would have been violated tonight, and he and Dokbi slain. The shameless undressing suggested this wasn't his first offense.
- Snore! Snore! Snore!
Dokbi's snoring carried through the quiet night air.
"Tch. Who’s protecting whom."
As Jin Muhon clicked his tongue, Hongcheong burst out from the broken dwelling, face pale with shock.
"Family Head!"
"Are you alright?!"
Two beauties stood wide-eyed under the moonlight. Jin Muhon regarded them silently.
"......"
What man wouldn't stir at those radiant faces? Without them, would the guide have harbored evil intent?
You can't judge a heart by a face. Even the Sword Demon of the world couldn't know a fellow traveler's depths.
***
At first light, Jin Muhon's group packed and left the village. A few remained amid the crumbling buildings, unable to depart, but he neither saved nor punished them.
Without a guide, they headed north by wagon. The journey proved arduous. Soon the ground turned marshy, stalling the wagon. Even riding proved difficult. Ultimately, they donned wide-brimmed hats and dashed north on lightfoot skill.
Ten days of traversing endless plains. Harsh northern winds, scorching sun, uneasy rests—even the peerless Hongcheong ended up beggar-like.
"Hahaha! You look good."
"Family Head."
"Embarrassing. Don't look."
Crackle. Crackle. Crackle.
Jin Muhon chuckled at Hongcheong's soot-streaked face across the campfire. Dokbi stealthily bowed her head, stifling laughter. Watching the bashful Hongcheong, he said,
"You can remove your veils and move freely. Isn't that good for you both?"
"Ho ho ho! True enough?"
"If you say so, Family Head, then yes for me too."
Hongcheong flashed white teeth in a smile. Soot-covered face, yet gleaming teeth—oddly striking. Her beauty shone through undimmed; Dokbi blinked in a daze. Then Jin Muhon subtly raised a finger. As if on cue, all fell silent, holding breath.
Shwaaaaa—
A chill night wind scoured the plains. Jin Muhon rose slowly. Faint, but carried on the breeze—a scent.
"That way."
He turned his head. Unmistakably, the smell of blood.