Demonic Energy
The final form of all that is chaotic, ferocious, and brutally savage—domination, arrogance, contempt, destruction, and tyranny.
We call it demonic energy.
It operates on principles completely opposed to the martial arts of the orthodox sects of the righteous path.
The typical characteristic of demonic arts is that they are overwhelmingly composed of terrifying techniques capable of driving even the practitioner themselves toward ruin—techniques so extreme they are sometimes called arts that defy the heavens.
“Ha, damn it.”
I opened my eyes.
Judging by the sound of birds chirping outside the window and the murmur of servants, it seemed I had properly passed out during the night.
I shot upright on the spot and immediately began checking my physical condition.
Thud!
My dantian felt numbingly full. A heavy, coiled inner energy sat firmly within it.
Three stars… four stars… no… at least eight stars!
The Dragon Heaven True Qi had reached the eighth-star realm.
This was beyond common sense.
But the real problem was that the energy composing the Dragon Heaven True Qi was none other than destructive demonic energy.
I’m screwed.
My head was a mess.
How on earth was I supposed to explain this situation?
The Dragon Heaven True Qi followed the natural flow of the heavens.
It had absolutely no connection to demonic energy, which possessed the nature of defying the heavens.
Yet what filled my dantian was unmistakably demonic energy.
What exactly was demonic energy in the first place?
It referred to an energy that betrayed the natural order pursued by the orthodox Daoist sects—an energy that went against the heavens.
Its speed of accumulating power was unmatched, but in return, it carried equally severe side effects.
For example, it could turn the practitioner into a madman or a blood-soaked murderous ghost.
Still… is this fortunate? At least I haven’t become a mindless soul.
Yes. Let’s think positively.
The Dragon Heaven True Qi was in harmony with the demonic energy.
Even though they had mixed together and become one, my mind remained perfectly clear. As long as I was careful, there shouldn’t be any problems.
Moreover, the eighth-star realm of the Dragon Heaven True Qi already surpassed my eldest brother Ju Seung-hyeok’s level.
Of course, one couldn’t judge overall strength by internal cultivation method alone, but at least in terms of pure inner energy, it was safe to say no one of my age could compare to me.
“One cycle of the heavenly stem. Incredible.”
What filled my dantian was inner energy equivalent to one full cycle—sixty years’ worth of cultivation.
It meant an amount that could only be accumulated by steadily training and circulating energy for sixty full years.
Of course, as the murim had advanced and internal cultivation methods had improved, the speed and volume of accumulation varied wildly depending on the type of method each sect or family practiced.
“Ugh. That smell.”
Only after I relaxed a little did the pungent stench finally hit my nose.
My entire body was drenched in sweat, and the room reeked from the waste and turbid energy expelled from my body.
I first opened the windows to ventilate the room.
Despite the heavy sensation in my dantian, my body felt incomparably light and nimble compared to yesterday.
“As expected.”
Feeling a deep sense of satisfaction, I smiled faintly.
My mood improved.
Of course, I would have to hide the Dragon Heaven True Qi for a while and circulate the Ju-wall Divine Art instead, but that wasn’t particularly difficult.
“Shall I loosen up my body after so long?”
When I opened the window, the training ground came into view.
Just seeing it made my body itch with anticipation.
I quickly changed into training clothes and headed straight for the training ground.
Ah, damn it.
As soon as dawn broke, Muyoung headed for the rear garden again.
His mind was quite complicated.
He recalled what Ju Woo-jin had said the previous night.
‘Listen carefully to what I’m about to tell you from now on.’
What followed was a series of unbelievable statements.
‘When I held Mother’s hand, I felt poison energy.’
‘…!’
It was an enormous claim.
Poison energy from Yu Ha-rin, the matriarch of the Ju family?
That meant someone had poisoned her food or medicine…
Or, if not, that someone who had learned poison arts had infected her.
Only then did he instantly understand why Ju Woo-jin had ordered him to monitor the rear garden.
‘Poison energy? Are you certain?’
‘Yes. I’m certain.’
‘Then we should report it immediately…’
‘No.’
Ju Woo-jin had cut him off at once.
‘If we move recklessly, we might lose the culprit who administered the poison entirely.’
‘……’
Muyoung understood what Ju Woo-jin meant.
If they acted clumsily, the culprit might notice and escape.
‘He intends to catch them all at once and wipe them out.’
It was surprising that Ju Woo-jin could even think that way.
In the end, Muyoung decided to follow his young master’s wishes and observe Yu Ha-rin’s movements for a few more days.
“Hello, Uncle.”
“……”
The moment I stepped onto the training ground, the voice that reached me made me freeze.
It was a small, adorable child.
Her hair was braided into two pigtails, and her chubby cheeks—still carrying baby fat—were quite cute.
On top of that, she had big eyes and skin as soft as glutinous rice cake.
But… who was she again?
I felt like I had seen her before, but the memory was extremely hazy.
“This niece’s name is Ju Seol-ah, Uncle.”
“Ju… Seol-ah?”
Ah, I remembered now.
She was the eldest daughter of my eldest brother, Ju Seung-hyeok.
In my previous life, we rarely crossed paths, so I hadn’t remembered her clearly.
“Yes, nice to meet you. Where are you headed?”
I quickly lowered my posture to meet Seol-ah’s eyes at the same level.
Seeing her tiny, charming expression up close made her so cute I wanted to bite her cheeks.
“This niece was on her way to see Father. What are you doing here, Uncle?”
How strictly had my brother and sister-in-law taught her? For a child who looked no older than five, she was remarkably intelligent.
Feeling a surge of affection, I gently stroked Seol-ah’s head.
This child… must have died too when the Demonic Cult rose up.
My chest ached.
I would rather die than allow the Heavenly Demon or the Demonic Cult to crawl back into the world again.
Not if I wanted to protect my family and watch this little girl grow up properly.
“Uncle?”
When I didn’t answer, Seol-ah tilted her head and asked again.
“Haha, this uncle was thinking of training here. But…”
“Kyaa!”
I scooped Seol-ah up in my arms.
At that moment—
“Y-Young Master!”
Along with a sharp voice, someone came running in a panic.
Hair neatly braided to one side, big eyes similar to Seol-ah’s, and fair, delicate skin.
She was quite a beauty.
“Who might you be…”
“P-Please put Seol-ah down. Young Master, I beg you…”
Young Master?
Wait a minute…
A woman who looked so much like Seol-ah… and the fact that she could enter this place, which only direct family members were allowed to access, so naturally…?
“Sister-in-law?”
“Yes, Young Master. I don’t know what Seol-ah did wrong, but she’s still just a child. So please…”
She was now practically begging me pitifully.
My sister-in-law’s face had turned deathly pale.
I quietly set Seol-ah down.
So this is the kind of misunderstanding I get.
I felt a bit awkward.
I had only picked her up because she was cute, but given my past behavior, it must have looked like I was about to harm Seol-ah.
“Why? Mother. Uncle was just hugging me.”
“I’m sorry, Young Master. There’s something I need to attend to… We’ll be going now.”
Her tone toward her brother-in-law was quite stiff and awkward.
It was obvious she was afraid of me.
I could only nod.
The reality that my relationship with everyone except Muyoung and Mother was still awkward couldn’t be helped.
I’ll gradually mend it.
Even as Seol-ah was led away by her mother’s hand, she kept turning back to wave, as if reluctant to leave.
I waved back at her.
“Well then, shall we begin training?”
I slowly loosened my stiff body.
Though it was demonic energy, my inner power was full, and the enlightenment I had gained in my previous life hadn’t gone anywhere.
What I needed most right now was my body.
I slowly extended my fists and carefully adjusted my forms.
The training I was doing was body techniques meant to rebuild my physical stamina, balance, and fundamentals.
Naturally, the Ju family also possessed body techniques.
Not only the Ju family—any family or sect that trained in martial arts considered body techniques an absolute basic necessity.
However…
I boldly discarded the Ju family’s body techniques.
I had already experienced them countless times.
What?
The Ju family’s body techniques are too honest.
I had learned to the point of madness in my previous life just how fatal an honest set of movements could be in real combat.
Therefore, I abandoned the Ju family’s body techniques and learned those practiced in the underworld.
Though if we’re talking body techniques, Wudang is the best…
It was a shame, but in my previous life I never had the chance to witness Wudang’s body techniques.
Their unique soft fist techniques that returned an opponent’s power or redirected it were considered the best in the Central Plains among body techniques.
On the other hand—
Swish! Whoosh!
My fists and feet sliced through the air.
Before the final impact, I would twist my wrist to change the trajectory or strike at the opponent’s eyes to disrupt their vision…
Yes. The body techniques I had learned were those of the underworld.
And not just any—the ones personally taught to me by the former leader of the Black Horn Gang, who had been torn apart by the Heavenly Demon.
True to its infamous reputation, my entire body was instantly soaked in sweat.
Black King Advance Strike Body.
There was no need to grandly call it fist arts or combat techniques.
It was, in itself, both fist arts and a complete body technique—an absolute skill.
Each punch carried a fierce, powerful strike that tore through the air.
Although my body had returned to its former state, the enlightenment from my previous life had not disappeared.
I was deeply immersed in training when—
Suddenly, a chill ran down the back of my neck, and my senses expanded dramatically.
“…!”
Something was watching me.
“Wow, impressive.”
And then came the voice.
Carrying a subtle killing intent, a figure approached me, clenching and unclenching their fists.
“Sister.”
It was my eldest sister, Ju Seung-gyeong.
“What kind of fist technique is that?”
Seung-gyeong immediately snapped at me.
“Huh?”
“Every single movement is drenched in killing intent.”
“……”
So she had been watching from afar.
Well, it didn’t really matter if she saw.
“It’s just a body technique.”
“A body technique? That killing intent is way too thick for it to be just a body technique.”
Grab!
She seized my shoulder.
Along with a powerful grip, I felt a subtle internal energy.
What now?
It was an awkward situation.
My sister was a genius considered quite strong among those of her age.
I could shake her off if I wanted to.
“Hmm.”
Still, my pride wouldn’t allow me to yield.
I calmly took her hand and removed it from my shoulder.
“Oh?”
“How about we stop here?”
There was no one watching anyway.
This training ground was reserved exclusively for direct family members.
“I don’t think I can do that.”
It seemed my words had properly struck her pride.
Given her personality—where losing was worse than death—her reaction was only natural.
“Have you forgotten all your old memories?”
Crack!
She clenched her fist tightly and stepped closer.
At those words, I flinched.
Right. She used to try to kill me whenever she had the chance.
In my previous life, I had always avoided her.
She had always looked at me with disapproval.
Well, I could understand how she felt.
Including me, there were only three of us siblings.
The other two had the Namgung family as their maternal side, so their noses were stuck up in the sky. The only easy target left was me…
And even I refused to listen, spending every day drowning in alcohol and women.
Hoo—!
I drew in a light breath.
It was true she was called a genius among her peers, but I was someone who had fought the Heavenly Demon to mutual destruction in my previous life.
Even the Heavenly Demon had acknowledged this body.
“Little brother, you’ve grown quite a bit, haven’t you?”
Seung-gyeong’s eyebrows twitched.
Then she immediately threw a punch at me.
Her fists rained down on me in rapid succession.
In response, I spun my body and lightly swept her leg.
True to her genius reputation, she didn’t fall for such a shallow trick.
As if she had anticipated it, she lightly leaped over it and instead charged straight at me.
Tsk.
Her movements were far too linear.
I had deliberately swept her leg to induce exactly this kind of fight.
She probably wouldn’t realize it at all.
Her openings were blatantly obvious.
Whoosh!
I stopped my fist just one inch away from her now-exposed cheek.
“……”
The surroundings turned icy cold.
Seeing that, Seung-gyeong flew into a rage.
“What the hell are you doing? Were you going easy on me? How dare you?”
It seemed I had properly wounded her pride.
Seung-gyeong charged at me even more fiercely, now completely enraged.
Thunderbolt Void Quake.
A body technique of the Ju family.
Its characteristic was to overwhelm the opponent with lightning-fast attacks and seize the initiative entirely.
The problem is that its power is weak.
More fundamentally, it didn’t match well with the Ju family’s martial arts.
Besides, I already knew that technique like the back of my hand.
Before my sister could even extend her fist, I swept her leg half a breath earlier and sent her tumbling to the ground.
“……”
A heavy silence fell over the training ground.
Seung-gyeong stood up with an expression of disbelief.
Clink.
She placed her hand on the hilt of her sword.
The smile that tugged at the corner of her lips somehow felt ominous.
“This won’t do. We need to settle this properly. You and me.”
“……”
Ha, damn it.
I seemed to have properly triggered her temper.