Chapter: 766
A massive shadow obscured the sky.
Beneath it, a heavenly demon dressed in a dark robe was descending.
A man, wearing a cracked mask and standing with his hands clasped behind his back, was coming down slowly.
Those gathered on the ground were glaring at the heavenly demon with intense focus.
“That guy…!”
“How dare he shamelessly show up here again…!!”
Clank—!
Swoosh—!!
The warriors all drew their swords in unison, and the air began to fill with their fighting spirit.
It was a tense standoff.
Everyone was furious and eager to take down the heavenly demon immediately.
[Tsk, tsk.]
Even while looking at them, the heavenly demon quietly chuckled as if he found it amusing.
“…Heavenly Demon.”
Seeing this, Geomseon furrowed his brow even deeper.
Others felt it too, but the aura emanating from him was particularly intimidating.
Geomseon was trembling with rage, as if he were about to slice down the heavenly demon at any moment.
“I thought you had escaped long ago. What more do you have to say to come here like this?”
The heavenly demon bobbed his head in response to Geomseon’s words.
[Originally, I wasn’t supposed to show up…]
Hissss.
The heavenly demon descended a bit further.
He was now within striking distance.
[Suddenly, I just became curious. What are your impressions?]
There was a hint of laughter in his voice.
[What gift did I prepare for you?]
“…Tch.”
Geomseon’s teeth clenched at the sarcastic tone.
How was the gift?
“It made me experience a lot. A whole lot.”
It was probably a gift he would never forget.
Ding!
Emotion echoed through the blade that Geomseon held.
It was the Sword with its spirit infused.
“Heavenly Demon. You’ve made a grave mistake.”
Hooosh—!
The wind began to swirl. The chilly autumn breeze danced around Geomseon.
“If you’ve shown yourself here, it means you’re ready to die.”
Geomseon, filled with anger, was about to charge at the heavenly demon.
“I will eliminate the traitors who attacked Hanam here…!”
Just as he was about to leap, Geomseon narrowed his eyes and came to a halt.
Someone had intervened.
Geomseon immediately turned to look at the person.
“…What is the meaning of this, Plum Blossom?”
Plum Blossom—a painting of flowers.
He was pressing down on Geomseon’s shoulder.
Plum petals drifted down over the dispersed fighting spirit, and in an odd way, Plum Blossom managed to rein in the energy scattered around.
The air started to circulate a bit.
“…Plum Blossom…!”
Geomseon glared at him with seething eyes.
His expression was as if to say, “How could you do this?”
With an enemy right before him, why was he being stopped?
To that, Plum Blossom responded calmly,
“Chief, please calm down.”
“…What? Am I not being calm just now…!”
“If the chief cannot remain calm, then others will die. I beg you to look at the forest, not just the trees.”
“…!”
The weighty tone of Plum Blossom’s words erased any hint of a smile.
Hearing that, Geomseon turned his head to look at the heavenly demon.
There must be a reason Plum Blossom mentioned this.
That’s what he concluded.
As he examined the heavenly demon again, Geomseon soon realized something.
“Heavenly Demon…!”
[What’s wrong?]
He finally noticed.
The heavenly demon had loosened his grip and was reaching his right hand toward a certain direction.
That reach pointed to none other than where refugees were gathered.
The heavenly demon was extending his hand toward them.
That could only mean one thing.
Don’t act rashly.
If you do something careless, you never know what could happen to the refugees.
It was an implicit warning of sorts.
“…That villain really!”
“Making Hanam like this and still wanting more innocent victims!”
“They’ve done nothing wrong!”
Seeing this, the warriors erupted with fury.
[How utterly amusing.]
The heavenly demon’s laugh dripped with disdain as he spoke.
[Having finally brought justice to the ground, are you so foolish as to debate over what little remains? Don’t be deluded.]
Rumble—!!
As he continued, the creature in the air let out a low wail.
[It is true that it was me who presented the situation to you, but can you truly claim to be without sin?]
The collapse of Hanam was the heavenly demon’s doing.
First,
The Murim Alliance, maintaining peace in the Central Plains while upholding the honor of the righteous faction.
If they collapsed so easily over such a trivial matter,
[Oh, how arrogant.]
Was there not a single trouble for the Murim Alliance in this regard?
When that was questioned, everyone’s faces drained, yet none dared to speak up.
They were all too aware of their flaws, becoming painfully cognizant as time went on.
[You were arrogant and moreover, ugly.]
[What a disappointment. Even though you have lost the light of your past glory, I expected you to provide at least some entertainment… and even that seems too much to ask.]
The tone was clearly disdainful.
Geomseon gritted his teeth at the unbearable remarks.
He wanted nothing more than to rush in and behead that loathsome figure.
He wanted to shut that despicable mouth for good, yet he felt he couldn’t.
Was it because the heavenly demon was threatening the lives of the refugees?
No.
In truth, the swordsman thought he might have time to stop him before he could act, deal with him and move on.
Yet Geomseon couldn’t bring himself to do it.
The lives of the refugees? Sure, they might matter.
But,
‘Dealing with traitors comes first.’
Those who turn against the alliance and create chaos.
In order to eliminate such a being, unavoidable sacrifices are indeed necessary.
That had been Geomseon’s reasoning.
It’s not the lives of the refugees that mattered most.
‘It’s just not visible.’
The problem was he couldn’t gauge the heavenly demon’s power right off the bat.
Looking at the figure suspended in the air, Geomseon strained to sense the presence coming from him.
‘…Why can’t I feel anything at all?’
There was nothing perceivable about the heavenly demon.
‘Is it really true that I can’t feel anything?’
It felt as if he was present but somehow not… A situation devoid of anything to grasp.
Wiping the cold sweat off, Geomseon thought,
No matter how weak you might be, some presence should at least be detectable.
In moments like this, there was only one explanation:
A gap between them so wide that he couldn’t sense anything.
‘What the hell…!’
The realization struck him, yet Geomseon found it hard to believe.
How could that even be possible?
Geomseon’s gaze drifted sideways.
There, he spotted Cheonjon, who was quietly observing the heavenly demon.
As one of the three gods, he felt a certain presence from Cheonjon, but not anything from the heavenly demon?
‘It must be some form of magic.’
It couldn’t possibly happen without a hint of sorcery.
He wanted to believe that, but…
‘But one…’
A chance so fine, it was practically a whisper.
What if the heavenly demon was truly a monster whose realm of understanding was beyond comprehension?
They had brazenly descended after having lifted the veil, showing no sign of fear.
‘If he truly could wipe out this entire group by himself…’
Then maybe that’s why.
It’s truly ridiculous, but that slender chance kept tripping up the swordsman.
And then.
‘Alright.’
Watching Geomseon’s plight, Gu Yangcheon quietly stifled a smile.
‘Just remain like that.’
It was just the situation he had hoped for.
How could he not smile at that?
He wished wholeheartedly that things would stay this way.
A sight of hesitance, even with the enemy directly before them.
They couldn’t move rashly, for they lacked knowledge about their opponent, despite all the anger swirling in the air.
This was precisely the outcome Gu Yangcheon had been aiming for.
“Hoo—”
He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself.
His heart was racing, but he had to endure.
‘…My body’s in ruins, so even this is tough.’
Right now, the heavenly demon floating in the air was not a result of someone else’s performance.
It was an entity comprised solely of divine power.
The power of wind he had absorbed from the lord was used to create the heavenly demon.
Gu Yangcheon had successfully summoned Cheonma using that power.
‘…Practicing this endlessly, and how ridiculous that it ended up incapable of properly showcasing it.’
He was creating something he desired.
Power allowing the creation of anything he knew well; that was the essence of ‘wind.’
When he first obtained this power, Gu Yangcheon thought,
‘If I utilize this well… maybe I’ll achieve something great?’
He had gained quite a potent ability.
When handing the reins over to Woohyuk, he felt an immense regret, almost vomiting from it.
Yet part of him thought it was for the best.
“At least I could save the wind…”
That thought settled in because that power was indeed useful.
Everything he knew inside and out could be conjured. That was a ludicrously overpowered trait.
After having obtained and harnessed that power, Gu Yangcheon had been plotting since then.
Three conditional steps for his plan had been laid out.
One.
Can wind take on human form?
Two.
Can the created human form even produce a ‘voice’?
Three.
Can he use what he created?
‘Even if it’s just half of what he could.’
These three conditions had to be met, and every night,
Even at the cost of his energy, he diligently trained that power.
Eventually, he succeeded in creating the form of a Heavenly Demon and withstood the half-moon.
‘…But real combat is much tougher.’
Right now, it’s not even half-width; it was a struggle to anticipate the initial quarter’s figure.
To create a human body, movement without restriction was necessary.
A body that inhaled and exhaled, shivering slightly.
Maintaining that delicate fluttering of hair and subtle movements to avoid being unnatural took all his effort.
It’s mentally straining too.
‘…It feels insane now.’
This wasn’t the same awkwardness he felt when the barrier was lifted.
If we judge the difficulties, this was hundreds of times harder.
What were those barriers, anyway?
His body had taken a beating from battle, and his set-aside reserves emptied in an instant.
Though powers can’t be solely drawn from energy, there were countless complications everywhere.
‘If I mess this up even a little, it could all unravel.’
He had to endure it.
Once it’s loosening, everything will come crashing down.
He had slogged through so much for this.
He couldn’t let it all go down the drain.
Vroom—!!!
He kept swallowing the blood upsurging, forcing himself to maintain the power.
Even in that state, the heavenly demon moved with his mouth.
[Justice has already been shattered and crumbled. Do you believe you are justice?]
[Wrong.]
[At the very least, if righteousness and harmony are justice, you cannot desire it.]
[Narrow-minded and arrogant bugs! Remnants that have long forgotten their nature in a desperate struggle to defend their own spots.]
Ahead lay only a brief moment.
He began to feel the limits and curled in slightly.
‘Not yet.’
Just hold on a little more.
There’s still one last thing to convey.
[You are not justice.]
There were still words to utter.
[Today I’ve come to a firm conclusion.]
Pushing energy into his heart made the heavenly demon’s voice resonate sharply.
[You are not needed in the world I shall create.]
Those emphatic words triggered murmurs among the unmanned warriors.
A surge of anxiety began to swell.
Everyone was on high alert, conscious of what action the heavenly demon might take.
Then came that chilling atmosphere, clenching everyone around.
[One.]
Suddenly, the heavenly demon lowered his hand toward the refugees.
Everyone’s eyes widened at that sudden movement. What could be his intention?
[I’ll grant you a chance, leniency this time.]
A chance? All eyes turned to him in curiosity.
And then—
Swish.
The heavenly demon moved his hand and extended his fingertips to point at someone.
They all looked up as if brainwashed, gazing where he pointed.
There huddled a young man catching his breath, looking like a wreck.
His body was clearly battered and bruised.
As he struggled to maintain his composure, his bloodshot eyes were locked on the heavenly demon.
[You. What’s your name?]
“…”
The heavenly demon asked for his name.
The young man replied, his voice breaking,
“…Gu…Yang…Cheon.”
His voice came out stuttered, as if he were physically strained.
[Gu Yangcheon. I see.]
As if wishing to memorize the name, the heavenly demon continued.
[You’ve put on quite a show for a mere worm. It’s the rare spark among the insignificant…]
Swish—!!
The heavenly demon’s body gradually ascended into the air as he spoke.
[Today, I’ll let it slide. I’m in a good mood; too much bother and trample on you crawlers would spoil it.]
Although he could readily wipe them away, he would let it pass.
It was a statement oozing confidence.
[So, when I return, do entertain me a little, would you?]
As his words fell, the heavenly demon slowly rose into the air.
“…Heavenly Demon! Does it really take off again…!”
Geomseon couldn’t take it anymore; he raised his voice.
Rumble—!!!
“…!”
“Gah!”
Suddenly, a flash erupted.
It was the sound of thunder cracking.
A thunderous bout erupted from the Cheonjon direction.
With the roar of thunder, the warriors shielded their ears.
That wasn’t all.
“Th-that’s…”
Someone gasped in shock, staring at the heavenly demon.
It was the strike launched at the heavenly demon.
The upper body of the heavenly demon was pierced by the blast.
Had the heavenly demon been caught off guard by this assault?
As hope surged, cheers and joy began to fill the air.
Whooosh…
“Gah!”
“W-Wait!!”
Surprisingly, the heavenly demon’s pierced upper body was starting to mend itself.
Flesh filled the formerly gaping wound seamlessly.
His attire regained its original form, as if nothing occurred.
A grotesque and terrifying scene ensued.
Someone who beheld it nervously muttered,
“…Does this mean he really is… a god?”
Typically, rebukes would fly, protests against such nonsense, but no one could muster a word.
The shock hung thick in the air.
[Hmm.]
The heavenly demon brushed his wounded torso a few times, then stared at the heavenly lord.
Could he be gearing up for a real fight this time after having been surprised?
Everyone held their breath in anticipation, eyes fixed on the unfolding drama.
[How unfortunate.]
After that brief word, the heavenly demon continued on his way, rising higher.
Rumble—!
He vanished alongside the enigmatic presence hovering above.
How could that massive entity disappear in an instant?
In that whirlwind of events, no one could even utter a word.
“Cough—!!”
Someone fell to the ground, spitting out blood.
“Soyeomra!”
It was none other than Gu Yangcheon.
He staggered, spewing out dark blood, prompting all the warriors to rush towards him.
They scrambled to check his condition urgently.
“…I lost consciousness.”
“Contact a healer quickly…!”
The personnel moved in haste.
There were too many matters to handle, not just concerning Yangcheon, but also regarding the Lord.
Thus, even amidst this calamity, the warriors pushed on.
One among them,
Only Geomseon remained standing still, quietly observing Gu Yangcheon.
A face distorted with a lukewarm heat, Geomseon kept watching him
With an expression of perplexity.
What was it?
*
Immediately following the raid that transpired in Hanam,
Three days had since passed.
Though not a long span of time, much had occurred in Hanam.
The beginning was the rampage resulting from the raid.
Most of the inns keeping watch had collapsed, and many, including those at high standing, lost their foundations.
The damage was so extensive that it would take several more days just to clean up the rubble, and restoring it would likely take years.
Despair erupted from those who suddenly lost their homes and jobs.
Yet, there were those who stepped in to offer help.
They were none other than the Baekhwa Association and Jangwon Association, referred to as the target groups of the central plains.
The moment the incident occurred, they immediately took it upon themselves to provide assistance.
They set up tents where the refugees gathered and began to distribute food.
They also declared they would lend the land for free until it was rebuilt.
Thanks to that, some burdens were eased, but…
The things that could be resolved with money were hardly the most pressing matters.
Many significant issues remained pending.
Naturally, casualties emerged in this assault.
Many of them held elevated standings.
First, the eight big swords forming the Murim Alliance.
Three of those units’ leaders met their end.
According to the official statement from the Alliance, three major lords perished in the raid.
Ilryongdaeju and Pungryongdaeju. And even Cheolryongdaeju.
All three major lords perished amidst this crisis.
Ilryongdaeju died violently while trying to stop a leading figure from the Demonic Cult responsible for the raid.
Pungryongdaeju is said to have given his spirit to save the lord and others while attempting to break an evil spell.
Cheolryongdaeju engaged the enemy while chasing after them, achieving an honorable death during the encounter.
Such news alone was alarming enough.
However, before long, even more staggering news broke.
“That the King has passed away….”
“…Huh? Is that true?”
The Habuk Peng family, also dubbed the Four Great Families.
The head of that family, King Peng Zhou, reportedly lost his life in this turmoil.
“That’s absurd… How could someone of such stature—!”
“…It is claimed that the figure from the Demonic Cult who harmed Ilryongdaeju also killed the head of the Peng family.”
“…How strong could such an individual be?”
“Reports say that as Biseongdo attempted to assist a collapsed Peng Gaju, they were attacked.”
“Is it true that they murdered a father before his children? Can such wickedness exist…!!”
King Peng Zhou had been slain.
It was said Biseongdo couldn’t prevent the onslaught and lay incapacitated, unable to regain consciousness.
That villain, having decimated not only Ilryongdaeju but also the King, fled the scene.
People began referring to him as Gwiakchang, the vile spear, due to his brutality.
“What is this world coming to…?”
The voice of one saying that trembled as if sobbing.
“It’s not just losing the precious… and now a disaster has struck…”
“If it’s a disaster… is that what you mean by a hundred-level monster?”
“Exactly… Damn it, how long has it been since there’s been enemy-level monsters appearing…!”
At the mention of a man’s words, everyone fell silent.
A hundred-level monster.
This seemed to be the real calamity of the matter.
It had been three years since enemy-level monsters appeared.
Though shortly after, hunters devised ways to evade them, the fact that a hundred-level monster emerged now was alarming.
“Based on what those who witnessed it firsthand said… it truly could be described as a disaster.”
“If we hadn’t intervened back then… perhaps Hanam would have vanished entirely.”
The chaos and howls of something lurking beneath the surface was tangled with dozens of enemy-level monsters.
No one contested that if they hadn’t stepped in, Hanam could have been obliterated.
Words of affirmation about that echoed on the lips of everyone present.
“Really… truly, what a relief.”
“Correct… Thanks to him, we can breathe freely now.”
A strange relief began flooding their faces as they recalled someone.
Three lords had perished, and one king had died, yet strangely, they felt relieved.
“They spoke of heroes surfacing in times of chaos, didn’t they? It fits perfectly, doesn’t it?”
“…Indeed, he is a hero.”
“Didn’t the tremendous demon who appeared in Hanam acknowledge him?”
“Is that truly the case?”
“Yes. My nephew is a warrior from the Alliance, so I know. That fiend Cheonma, notoriously problematic; he acknowledged that person.”
That same entity had drawn Hanam into a state of tornado-like chaos.
Not only did he summon a hundred-level creature, but he commanded vast monsters with ease, treating the Murim Alliance like puppets.
Cheonma, the lord of the demonic realm.
Now he was infamous across Hanam, and even throughout the Central Plains.
However.
“He saved my life.”
“Did he save you too? I was saved as well; he pulled me from the ruin, almost entombed beneath the rubble.”
“Me too! Some assailant nearly had me, but he was the one to rescue me.”
In the chilling turmoil, thoughts of him spurred undeniable courage within them.
“They said never to trust rumors, but that turned out to be true.”
“Most likely a scheme by those harboring resentment toward him.”
“A lecherous man? A foul character… Yes, he’s terrifying, but anyway.”
“I only regret how easily I was swayed by half-baked gossip…”
“Better late than never, right?”
“Indeed. To have at least one person who can be trusted in these dire times feels almost like a blessing.”
The more they spoke, the clearer their relief appeared.
In their minds, they were all focused on one individual.
On the day the raid erupted,
Someone emerged, intrepidly saving the collapsing buildings and the wailing people, someone who approached those dismissed by the Murim Alliance without hesitation.
Not stopping there, he charged straight into the rampaging horde without flinching, fighting desperately as if his life bore no weight.
He poured forth his entire being, caring for the unmanned personnel around him.
Following that, devoid of rest, he raced back to the Alliance, teaming with Pungryongdaeju to rescue the Lord and others.
That figure possessed formidable prowess beyond measure but remained grounded, striving to save Hanam at the cost of his own spirit.
A hero of the present time, now embraced by the recognition of the supreme demonic figure, Cheonma.
While contemplating this form of greatness, someone finally spoke up.
“Oh, have you heard? This time, the Alliance will be changing his title to reflect his revered achievements.”
“A title? Just out of nowhere?”
“Don’t be shocked. This new title is….”
And with that,
While laughter bloomed amid the desolation,
Far away at the residence of the Baekhwa Association…
A figure strolled through the corridor.
A charming woman, dressed elegantly, emerged—Mo Yong-hee.
She stepped out gingerly, holding some snacks, and stopped before a door.
Knock, knock.
Delicately tapping with her white fingertips, she felt the absence of any response from within.
Was there no one in there?
No.
Mo Yong-hee had faith that wasn’t the case at all.
“Your Majesty, it is time for dinner.”
She called out in a sweet tone, but again received no response.
“Hmm.”
What shall I do now? Mo Yong-hee pondered for a moment.
Is he pretending to sleep?
Surely not; he’s someone who awakens at the fettest whisper.
If so, it must be that he didn’t want to come out.
That didn’t matter, however.
After all, she had a method to coax him out.
“Um… Hmph!”
Trying to suppress a laugh, she found the act a bit more challenging than expected.
She cleared her throat, honing her voice one last time.
“Your Star King.”
The moment the words tumbled forth,
Bam—!
The door swung open in a burst, revealing none other than the man Mo Yong-hee sought—Gu Yangcheon.
“Why not come out sooner?”
Mo Yong-hee beamed brightly at him, and upon seeing her smile, Gu Yangcheon muttered,
“…Please… Please don’t call me that.”
With a countenance that seemed to twist, he sighed deeply.
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