Chapter 347: Heavenly Demon
One day, a devil descended from the sky.
The master of the Demonic Cult, who sought to devour the entire Central Plains and turn it blood red.
A monster that single-handedly killed all three deities, said to be superior to mere mortals.
Ultimately, until he was slain by the new sword, Wi Seol-ah, he was the master of the Demonic Cult, a villain known as the greatest in the world.
You can’t blame him.
Each time the Heavenly Demon took a step, the ground rotted beneath him.
He exuded a presence that weighed heavily on the surroundings just by breathing.
The difference was so profound that I could barely comprehend it.
Merely the existence of Cheonma paradoxically radiated a huge presence.
Facing him was enough to make one instinctively bow, as though he were an emperor.
The Heavenly Demon was just that—his existence alone commanded respect.
The lord of countless demons.
The essential figure and master of innumerable demons scattered beneath the heavens.
When recalling the reason the Demonic Cult could invade the Central Plains in an instant,
it ultimately traced back to the magic wielded by these demons.
The magical energy—Magi—was deadly to martial artists.
The moment it seeped into one’s body, it took root in the danjeon.
Those roots rapidly expanded, blocking the flow of chi.
When chi fails to flow smoothly, it spells significant trouble for martial arts.
To make matters worse, it doesn’t just impede the chi; it allows the imbued flesh to gradually rot away.
For martial artists, Magi is akin to a deadly poison.
Cheonma is the source of the magic employed by such demons.
He is a being like the gods who bestows powers upon some of them.
Tearing through the dimensions, he appeared above the Murim Alliance,
announcing that he would unleash a bloodbath from then on, with a smile that seemed to challenge me to try to stop him.
That image is still imprinted in my memory,
as he swept his long hair aside.
The gaze that soared above and looked down upon the world carried a chill that seemed capable of turning daytime into night in an instant.
Those eyes back then, and those I face now—there’s no difference.
“Why…?”
The Heavenly Demon, who wouldn’t appear for several years, stood before me right now.
Though he looked younger then, with a charming expression brimming with confidence, it was clear he was still the Heavenly Demon.
Rumble… Rumble…
A slight amount of magical energy swirled within me, resonating like an echo.
Just this was enough to ascertain that the being before me was indeed Cheonma,
but what solidified my conviction were his eyes.
His black hair reached just to his shoulders, his skin looked as white as snow.
His emaciated body seemed so frail, it could break with a mere touch, yet what I beheld was nothing other than his face.
Like the one cradled in my arms at that very moment,
with striking purple eyes.
The Black Night Princess’s eyes were also purple.
Yet they were different from the ones Cheonma possessed.
His purple gaze shone far more brightly, filled with an indefinable energy.
It resembled a jewel.
That’s just how beautiful it was.
However, no matter how beautiful, the energy it emanated didn’t feel beautiful at all.
‘Cheonma’
That being—whom I so cautiously feared—was a disaster waiting to happen.
That thought alone filled me with dread.
‘Why?’
Tight.
I gripped Wi Seol-ah’s shoulder a bit harder, pulling her closer into my embrace.
Cheonma, still tilting his head, gazed at Wi Seol-ah with curiosity.
Her features—eyes, nose, and mouth—were identical.
The only discrepancy was that Cheonma was abnormally thin, with different colors for hair and eyes.
All other features remained the same.
It was truly bizarre.
So much so, it made me wonder how this could even be.
And,
I wasn’t the only one astonished.
The bloodied figure seated behind me also wore a look of surprise as they observed Wi Seol-ah.
“The heavenly… two?”
Curious, I looked to see who it was—amazed to find it was the Black Night Princess.
Why she was sitting there, her body tightly coiled, I couldn’t fathom.
The energy she exuded confirmed it was indeed that Princess from before.
‘I couldn’t find her when I looked for her like that…’
The first time I saw Cheonma in this life was within the Black Palace.
Back then, the Black Night Princess had held Cheonma, and she disappeared through the opened magic gate behind her, a final glimpse I had.
How many times have I sought information regarding Cheonma and the Princess since then?
I had no idea where they had been hiding so well, only to run into them here?
“How… is that?”
The Princess, still wearing a blank expression, stared at Wi Seol-ah nestled in my arms.
I could understand her astonishment.
It’s not every day you see someone who looks just like you.
Cheonma, too, was peering at Wi Seol-ah with a curious gaze.
Sensing those eyes, I embraced Wi Seol-ah even tighter, as though trying to shield her.
At that moment,
“Confucius….”
Wi Seol-ah’s fingertips wrapped around my hand, causing me to tremble at the contact involuntarily.
I lowered my head to glance at Wi Seol-ah.
Her golden eyes gazed back at me.
“Are you okay?”
“…what?”
Taken aback by her sudden reassurance, I couldn’t help but inquire.
What’s “okay” supposed to mean?
“I’m fine. Let me go.”
“…!”
Was it my stiff grip that was the problem? I relaxed my hold slightly at Wi Seol-ah’s words, but I didn’t fully let go.
Feeling that, Wi Seol-ah exerted some strength to free herself from my grasp.
While I wanted nothing more than to keep holding onto her, I hesitated, worried about the eyes she had just seen.
Gradually pulling away, Wi Seol-ah got to her feet, facing the Heavenly Demon.
Swish.
She aimed the tip of the sword she held.
The sight of two identical faces confronting each other in the same space seemed almost surreal.
Addressing Cheonma, Wi Seol-ah opened her mouth.
“Who are you?”
She didn’t appear flustered despite standing before her exact likeness.
Of course, Cheonma looked unfazed as well.
Step.
After hearing Wi Seol-ah’s words, Cheonma advanced a step.
Even this minor motion sent my nerves into overdrive.
I expanded my perception, directing it solely toward Cheonma.
To prepare myself for whatever might unfold.
Honestly, I had no idea if I could handle it, though.
Wi Seol-ah, recognizing that readiness, drew upon her own energy.
A bright golden hue.
It shone so brilliantly, it felt almost contrasting against the darkness.
Cheonma’s expression remained calm despite facing such power.
To be precise, it seemed Cheonma had no interest in Wi Seol-ah’s energy.
His steps were directed at me.
Cheonma was advancing toward my direction.
Upon realizing this, Wi Seol-ah’s eyes flashed, and she swung her sword defiantly, as if to say she wouldn’t allow him to approach.
Shhh-!
The sword slicing through the air was rapid.
A golden trail marked the pure energy-filled blade.
There was no hesitation in her movements.
But then,
Whoosh!
A black aura suddenly erupted from the tips of Cheonma’s feet and deflected the blade.
Ting-
The sound of steel ringing out resonated.
Throughout this, Cheonma didn’t spare a single glance towards Wi Seol-ah.
I was convinced the moment I laid eyes on it.
It was Magi.
The energy Cheonma unleashed was the purest form of magic I had ever encountered.
Swept away by the magical force, Wi Seol-ah twisted her body to evade it.
The energy erupted in thorn-like projectiles, akin to the martial arts techniques used by the Black Night Princess, striking at Wi Seol-ah.
Yet Wi Seol-ah’s agile movements allowed her to evade easily.
And then.
‘…move.’
As I witnessed it, for some reason, my body refused to budge.
Grrk.
“…guh…”
When I attempted to gather my strength, my body defied me.
The reason for my sluggishness was the Magi embedded in a corner of my danjeon, starting to run wild.
This was different from the moment my chi had solidified when I witnessed the Black Dragon Sword’s transformation.
This time, it was the Magi interfering.
As if elated to see its master, it was writhing excitedly within my body.
It felt just like the last time.
The day I encountered Cheonma at the Black Palace.
When Cheonma gestured, the magic energy in my body had writhed like a screaming bat.
Now, with the true owner present,
was it going to disregard my commands?
‘Why don’t you help me now, of all times?’
At that time, was it because the beast roared, restraining the Heavenly Demon?
The magic had swiftly quieted down then.
But that damned beast…
Just moments ago, it had been growling and causing chaos.
Now it had gone silent.
‘Are you seriously avoiding me now?’
I stifled the scream threatening to erupt and struggled to move my body somehow.
There was no stopping now.
Wasn’t he right in front of me?
The very being who would later drag the world into a bloody calamity, the one who’d turn me into a demon and ruin all chances for my future!
I had rolled around relentlessly to confront that monster.
Trapped within the devil’s realm, I searched for the key to the Flower Realm and crossed over to the living world, seeking to elevate my abilities.
Until now, I had tirelessly hunted for opportunities.
All of this was to stop the Heavenly Demon.
‘Damn it.’
Even having barely reached Hwagyeong, kneeling in the presence of Cheonma felt absurd.
That shouldn’t be possible.
Moreover,
Wi Seol-ah was now standing before Cheonma.
That was the very situation I had wished to avoid, one that could potentially spell my demise in this life.
Click!
Brilliant lights exploded in all directions.
The gold-encircled sword swung rapidly.
As a result, numerous lines were drawn through the air, only to fade away again in a dance of brilliance.
It was clear just how much effort Wi Seol-ah had poured in thus far.
It was a firm and pristine sword technique.
If anyone had said she was a girl who knew nothing about martial arts years ago, no one would believe in her marvelous growth.
Bang!
The technique of her footfall resonated powerfully.
Thud!
She slashed her sword, evading the outstretched thorns.
Her response was flawless.
But.
Crack!
“…!”
Still, she couldn’t land a single scratch on the Heavenly Demon’s energy.
The Magi was as hard as steel.
Even more so, Cheonma continued to ignore Wi Seol-ah entirely.
Crack.
I could hear the sound of teeth grinding from Wi Seol-ah’s side, yet she seemed determined to keep swinging her sword.
In that instant, Cheonma turned his head and regarded Wi Seol-ah.
One flick of his wrist effortlessly sliced through the air.
WHOOSH—!
“Gah!”
Wi Seol-ah was swept away by the force radiating from Cheonma.
The moment I witnessed it, I sprang to my feet.
“Wi Seol-ah!”
As I rose, pain like tearing flesh coursed through my body.
Had I forcibly released the constraints of the Magi to get up?
I didn’t care. I needed to catch Wi Seol-ah before she fell.
There was no other option.
I flung myself forward.
No, I was going to launch myself.
Thud!
If Cheonma’s dainty gesture hadn’t caught me, that was.
The moment my arm, striving to move, was seized by Cheonma,
the strength drained from my body.
Thud.
I sank to my knees. My body fought against my will to move.
But as the strength ebbed away, yielding only barely enough to kneel struck my limit.
At that moment, a feeling of emptiness enveloped me.
I was exhausted.
Despite thinking I’d tried my best, I felt utterly powerless.
Was it because my body was laced with Magi?
Or was it a fear that reached deep within?
Regardless of the cause, it was evident that, having reached Hwagyeong, I had become pitifully weak.
I endeavored to shake off Cheonma’s hold.
I couldn’t shake him off.
His grip wasn’t tight; he merely feigned restraint.
Yet inexplicably, I couldn’t rebel against Cheonma.
How could this be?
After using numerous narrative moves and being slightly fatigued from combat, it shouldn’t come to this.
‘…react, please just react!’
I inwardly sighed in despair.
I had grown irritated with the beast who earlier growled emphatically, now I begged it to bark again, but for some reason, there was no reply.
Why did it have to be this moment?
“…what?”
A voice drifted into my ears.
A low voice, reminiscent of Wi Seol-ah.
It was Cheonma’s voice.
I turned my gaze to meet the purple pools of Cheonma’s eyes.
They were radiant, breathtaking hues.
So beautiful, they momentarily captured my attention, but the emotion swelling within me was not one of admiration.
“You are….”
“…!”
Thud!
In response, the Magi within my body surged with newfound vigor.
“Gah!”
“What are you?”
Did it want to burst forth?
The power of the Magi quaked violently within.
Up until now, it had obediently followed my commands; now, it seemed keen to betray me.
“What are you?”
Cheonma pressed on, the inquiry laden with intrigue.
With every syllable of that voice, I felt my body was on the verge of an explosion.
“Cheonma… what does that mean?”
Were my words mere echoes of my earlier panic?
Cheonma returned my inquiry with a voice that almost sounded fascinated.
At that moment, I was in no position to respond. The Magi was on the verge of eruption, clamoring to escape.
The ignorance and impotence, crushed beneath a being of such stature, were staggering.
All that struggling felt fruitless.
As the urge to surrender began trickling into my consciousness.
Whoosh! Crack!
Suddenly, a powerful energy barreled toward Cheonma.
The energy swept fiercely around, exploding outward.
Even Cheonma, who seemed unaffected thus far, relinquished his hold and moved away.
Strangely enough, while it was a vast and forceful energy, I was unscathed, being close by.
“Ugh… hah.”
As the oppressive weight lifted, I gasped for air, liberated from constriction.
Catching my breath, I lifted my bloodshot eyes toward the source of the incoming energy.
There she was.
Wi Seol-ah, brushing off her somewhat damaged clothing, advancing toward me.
With an expression twisted with rage.
An odd change had taken hold of her golden aura.
“Get your hands off him.”
Within Wi Seol-ah’s unique golden glow, a faint white aura mingled.
‘That’s…’
I recognized that energy,
How could I not?
It was the energy Wi Seol-ah had exhibited in her previous life.
“Don’t you dare touch him with those filthy hands!”
It was a sharpness in Wi Seol-ah’s voice that I had never heard before.
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