The Descent of Namgail
Half an hour ago.
Jeok-un dashed swiftly across the waves of the Yangtze River.
Though his speed rivaled that of a swift clipper, no one noticed him.
He left absolutely no trace behind.
Even as his feet struck the water, not a single ripple formed, nor did he make the slightest sound. No one could have guessed a man was running across the river.
Ah, now I can finally breathe. Even the greatest footwork under heaven can't compare to your power, Ochu.
Wuuung!
The spirit of Ochu, wrapped around Jeok-un's feet, resonated. It seemed pleased by the compliment.
Indeed, this terrifying movement technique, which far surpassed the legendary art of skimming across water, was entirely Ochu's doing.
Normally, movement techniques and footwork relied on the Yongcheon acupoint. The most common method was to condense and detonate internal energy at the sole of the foot.
By utilizing this explosive force, martial artists could defy inertia to make sharp right-angle turns or leap dozens of feet in a single bound.
But Ochu's ability was different.
It absorbed and stored the natural energy of the world, releasing it whenever necessary, just as it was doing now.
Unlike standard movement techniques, it did not rely on explosive bursts. Instead, the released energy was finely tuned to flow in harmony with nature.
This was why Jeok-un could run so freely across a river as vast as the Yangtze. Despite executing a movement technique that bordered on divine authority, he showed no signs of strain.
Found them.
In the distance, the fleet of the Geumhwang Merchant Group came into view.
One ship, two ships...
Even at a glance, there were dozens of them. It was a massive fleet.
Despite facing a grand spectacle that overwhelmed in both scale and number, Jeok-un's eyes remained completely steady.
If anything, they only gleamed with a cold, sharp light.
I don't even need to look to know what's happening.
With the Demonic Cult backing him, Oh Chu-baek would have had no reason to hesitate.
He had likely used his past failures as fuel to push forward, recklessly launching an even larger trade expedition. The result was the massive fleet before him.
With a transaction of this scale, succeeding would have allowed him to overturn his fortunes in a single stroke.
It wasn't a bad strategy.
Assuming, of course, that Jeok-un wasn't in the picture.
This will be your greatest mistake, Oh Chu-baek.
Jeok-un sneered coldly and released his energy.
Ssshh.
A faint, subtle aura spread slowly but densely across the surface of the water.
Perhaps because he had reached the Profound Realm, his energy, though vast enough to be called immense, did not feel foreign at all.
It resembled nature itself. Like the gentle touch of the great earth embracing all creation, Jeok-un's energy enveloped the entire fleet like a fine net, instantly mapping out everything within it.
He sensed the martial artists of the Geumhwang Merchant Group, the hired mercenaries, and even the cultists of the Demonic Cult who were thoroughly concealing their demonic qi.
As expected, the Sword Demon's disciple didn't come.
Regrettably, he could not sense Ho Baek-seon's presence within the fleet.
The man had likely decided that his Ghost Spirit Squad would be more than enough. After all, the Ghost Spirit Squad could easily eliminate any ordinary enemy.
Unfortunately for the Ghost Spirit Squad, however...
I am far from ordinary.
Jeok-un lightly loosened his muscles.
It would be a lie to say he wasn't disappointed, but it was fine.
The Ghost Spirit Squad was one of the Demonic Cult's Eighteen Revered Demonic Guards. Wiping them out would deal a significant blow to the Cult's military strength.
Is this the first time since the Beast Poison Demon?
It had been a long time since he last had the chance to slaughter the Cult's bastards. The mere thought sent a thrill of excitement through his chest.
Ssshh!
As his emotions stirred, his internal energy responded, and his artificially whitened hair began to flutter in the wind.
Under the moonlight, Jeok-un's face was revealed.
Surprisingly, his appearance was completely different from his usual self. He had skin as pale as snow, eyebrows straight as blades, firmly set lips, and a stubborn impression.
He looked to be around thirty years old. No matter who looked, he appeared to be a striking, handsome gentleman who would easily command attention.
This was the secret treasure of the Divine Thief and the Shadowless Sect. It was a disguise created through the power of the Cheonmyeonji, which he had obtained from the Sichuan Treasury.
Though paper-thin and unlike any ordinary mask, simply applying it to one's face allowed them to change their appearance at will.
There was only one reason Jeok-un wore the Cheonmyeonji to hide his identity.
Was it because he feared the Demonic Cult discovering who he was? Far from it. It was the exact opposite.
Those cunning bastards won't rashly approach 'Jeok-un' now that he has become a core figure of Sadocheon. I need to create a 'new identity' that the Demonic Cult can approach more easily.
Because his presence had grown so prominent after the events in Tongseong County, the Cult could not afford to make a careless move against him. They couldn't risk exposing their hidden claws while trying to reach him.
On the other hand, there were constraints on Jeok-un hunting down the Demonic Cult first.
There are branches and sects of the Demonic Cult operating under disguise. I know where they are from my past life, but they are too far from Sadocheon's territory.
Physical distance was the greatest obstacle. With so much work left to do in Sadocheon, he couldn't just vanish to some far-off region.
Therefore, instead of going to them, he had to make them come to him.
To do that, there is only one way.
He had to create a new identity.
Thus, before coming here, Jeok-un had summoned Old Hwang and given him a few instructions.
"Old Hwang, I need you to become me for a while."
"…Excuse me?"
He had asked Old Hwang to play the role of Jeok-un. In short, he wanted a body double. It sounded absurd, but it was actually a simple task for Old Hwang.
Old Hwang was once the greatest assassin in the world. An assassin had to be skilled not only in killing but also in infiltration and disguise.
In fact, Old Hwang was already living under a new identity in Sadocheon to evade the Demonic Cult's pursuit. He possessed disguise techniques and vocal mimicry skills that were more than enough to deceive anyone.
"And while you're at it, I have another favor to ask."
"Command me as you wish, My Lord."
"You need to thoroughly train the kids in the White Night Squad."
The second request was the training of the White Night Squad. Even if he wanted to feed them the Juhandan, they needed a proper foundation. If they lacked the vessel to sprout and nurture the elixir's energy, it would be no different from throwing it on the ground.
I told him to push them to their absolute limits, so they must be tasting hell right about now.
He felt as if he could hear their screams echoing all the way from the headquarters.
The Demonic Cult's intelligence network spread across the Central Plains like poisonous mushrooms. However, it was one thing if he were ignorant; knowing its true nature made exploiting its loopholes a simple matter.
With this, the Demonic Cult will have no choice but to be completely fooled.
Jeok-un gathered his thoughts and channeled his energy.
Chwaaaa!
Energy roared from the depths of his dantian. Yet, its form was peculiar. It was not the usual majestic and domineering force of his Heaven-Dominated Divine Qi. Instead, it took the shape of a bizarre, unsettling demonic qi.
Amazingly, this too was a profound application of the Heaven-Dominated Divine Qi. Since its inception, the Heaven-Dominated Divine Qi was an energy born of defying heaven. While its essence remained unchanged, disguising its outer shell as demonic qi was an easy task.
And now, Jeok-un intended to forge a new identity using this demonic qi.
He would present himself as a supreme demon, the successor who inherited the power of the Ice Sovereign, who had plunged the entire Central Plains into terror hundreds of years ago.
If he slaughtered the massive fleet and the Ghost Spirit Squad before him, and then tore Ho Baek-seon to pieces...
The Demonic Cult will have no choice but to pursue me. Without a doubt.
That was the common logic of the Demonic Cult. Whether to kill him or to recruit him to their side, they would be forced to make contact.
Indulging in the sweet imagination of his prey walking straight into his trap, he smiled.
"Well then, now..."
Let's have some fun!
Fwip!
Rumble!
Jeok-un raised his leg high and slammed it down like an axe splitting firewood.
Boom!
The impact whipped up a monstrous wave, swallowing the lead ship of the fleet.
Geometrically, a ship is shaped like a rectangle. A structure that is narrow in width and long in length ensures mechanical stability and increases efficiency.
Conversely, this meant that if a wave struck the side of such a long vessel...
"Aaaaah!"
"S-Save me!"
It was structurally at its weakest, rendered completely helpless.
Creak, crack!
The mast swayed violently before snapping. A wooden beam thicker than a man's torso rolled across the deck, crushing people and cargo alike.
"Urgh!"
"Aaargh..."
Most of the mercenaries on the lead ship, who had been drinking, were tossed around helplessly on the pitching deck. Half of them fell into the river, while the rest were crushed and injured by the falling mast, the deck, or broken doors.
"Get away! I said get away!"
"The helm is...!"
Nor was this disaster limited to the lead ship. The fleet had been moving in a tight formation with set intervals.
With the lead ship suddenly struck and capsizing, it was inevitable that the vessels following behind would be dragged into the chaos.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The warning bells belatedly rang out in a frenzy. Only then did the fleet commander, who was also the vice-captain of the Ghost Spirit Squad, burst out of his cabin in a rage.
"What in the world is—?!"
The vice-captain could not finish his sentence. As he took in the surrounding scene, his eyes filled with sheer bewilderment.
"It's an enemy!"
"We're under attack!"
"..."
He quickly channeled energy into his eyes to scan the area, and only then did he see it.
Crash! Boom!
A madman with fluttering white hair was slaughtering his men.
...Who on earth is that?
Amidst the utter chaos, that man alone seemed to exist in a different reality. He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, looking as relaxed as if he were taking a casual stroll.
The problem was that his casual night walk was leaving a horrific hellscape in its wake.
"Argh!"
"S-Spare—urgh!"
Thud! Crack!
With every flash of his feet, the mercenaries' faces and chests were crushed, and their spines and knees snapped in directions they were never meant to bend.
Yet, what truly caught the vice-captain's attention lay elsewhere.
It was the unmistakably vivid demonic qi erupting from the madman's body.
"Who the hell are you?!"
"Do you think you'll get away with doing this to the Geumhwang Merchant Group?!"
The martial artists of the Geumhwang Merchant Group shrieked in desperate rage.
Despite their agonizing cries, the intruder merely sneered. Even though he was the one who had created this living hell, his face remained devoid of any emotion.
"Insignificant insects of the Central Plains."
The moment the madman spoke, everyone standing on the deck stumbled. Some even coughed up dark blood. He had not shouted; it was a simple, quiet statement. But the internal energy infused within it was on an entirely different level.
"In whose presence do you dare raise your voices?"
It was a phrase used by a superior to reprimand an inferior, highlighting a strict hierarchy. Yet, no one on the ship dared to question his choice of words.
"I am the Lord of the Snowy Heaven, Namgail."
The Snowy Heaven.
Namgail.
Neither the martial artists of the Ghost Spirit Squad nor those of the Geumhwang Merchant Group had ever heard these names before.
Looking down upon his terror-stricken enemies, Namgail—no, Jeok-un—declared:
"I am the one who shall destroy you for daring to covet the treasures of the Snowy Heaven."
Their calamity had arrived.