Chapter 43 - You're Insane, Aren't You
[What do you an by that? You’re saying my brother will notice?]
I set down the power structure map of the Sado Clan that I had just morized. morization ca naturally to from rehearsing scripts, and since most of the figures appeared in Return of the Murim, I was able to morize them instantly, down to their personal details and primary weapons.
“I an it literally. He’ll quickly notice that I’m not you.”
Sado Gwang is weak. Even soone like , who knows nothing of martial arts and is all bluff, or even a child, could easily overpower him.
But still, he is the heir of the Sado Clan, one of the Six Demon Families that represent the entire Heavenly Demon Cult.
Which ans he’s a genius to that extent.
That’s a setup perfect for a protagonist, if you think about it.
In a world where martial strength is the sole asure of worth, to seize control of a clan through intellect alone? That’s practically the textbook definition of a lead. Well, if only his personality matched.
If there’s sothing he wants, he’ll take it by any ans. If he can’t have it, he’ll destroy it completely to prevent any consequences. If it weren’t for the penalty of his dying body, his life would be completely free of setbacks.
Anyway.
[Weren’t you full of confidence, you monster!]
“I’m confident I won’t get caught through acting.”
I know Sado Gwang better than Skybreaker. Most of the things he’s suspicious of can be resolved with acting. The problem is the word ‘most’.
He’s the type to detect a lie from that remaining 1%, even if you deceive him with 99%.
[So what’s the actual problem?]
“It cos down to martial arts in the end.”
[...Martial arts?]
“You can still perform techniques with this body, even if you can’t draw on inner energy, right?”
[Of course. A true martial artist must never neglect daily training. Even you, monster, must—]
“I’m not here for a speech.”
[Kuheum.]
“You know the big problem. I can’t use martial arts.”
[Didn’t you use them in the ruins? And besides, your brother knows better than anyone that you can’t properly use martial arts.]
“That’s not the issue here.”
I shook my head.
“Rember the Twelve Forms of Asura I used?”
[I do.]
“How was it?”
[You perford well, but—ah, I see.]
I nodded.
Martial arts in the world of Return of the Murim are not rely about good physical movent.
They embody the will of the martial artist who created them.
Techniques are rely the ans of expression.
“To use an acting analogy, the technique is the facial expression, and the intent is the emotion.”
Can one say an emotion is fully expressed just by copying the facial expression?
Shouting doesn’t an you’re angry, and tears don’t necessarily an you’re sad.
Is every smile a happy one?
Happy smile, sorrowful smile, sneering smile, radiant smile, pathetic smile, pure smile.
Even if the expression is the sa, it holds completely different emotions.
Just swinging a sword doesn’t an you’re truly using a martial technique. To truly use martial arts, you must understand its intent.
With that in mind—
“My martial arts were just an imitation of the shell.”
It must have looked like a robot clumsily mimicking a human smile.
“You, Skybreaker, trained in martial arts your whole life, so you understand the aning behind them. I don’t.”
[You don’t know the martial incantations?]
“Of course I know them. But seriously—what does it even an that Asura incarnated and split the world into twelve parts, and then split those twelve again?”
I lived in the real world. No matter how good an actor I am, that kind of abstract concept is difficult to grasp. Acting, if anything, requires more concrete direction, so vague expressions like that just sound like nonsense to .
[To think a rockhead like you occupies my body and doesn’t understand even the simplest concepts...]
“Wait, didn’t Asura have six arms? Why twelve?”
[Because twelve is a complete number, and it represents infinity.]
“That’s not right? This is how you write infinity—”
[Tsk tsk. Ignorant fool.]
“Ah...”
Man, I suddenly miss math. I hated it all my life, but hearing soone who doesn’t even understand the concept of infinity call ignorant…
Sure, in martial arts worlds, twelve does have special aning. Internal energy levels are often divided into twelve stages, the “12 Stars.”
“Ugh, whatever. The point is, your brother trying to test makes sense. That’s what I’m saying.”
[Then just use . Even if you can’t do it, I can.]
“You confident you can stand against a Peak-tier master who uses sword energy?”
[That’s...]
Skybreaker is powerful.
He can use sothing akin to sword flight, and since he has his own will, he can wield martial arts. His inherent power is so great he can even fly with in tow.
But things change starting from the Peak tier.
The mont a martial artist can externalize their internal energy and wield their refined qi, they beco almost superhuman.
[If I had sword energy, maybe... but without it...]
“It’d be impossible. In the end.”
Even if he pulled off sword flight, if he gets knocked out by a Peak-tier sword slash, it’ll be clear he’s a fake.
Sado Gwang is the type who never drops his suspicions. Just fooling him once isn’t enough—he won’t go “Ah, I see!” and move on.
He’ll keep raising the difficulty, testing again and again until he’s satisfied.
“So there’s only one way.”
[What is it?]
“We need to use sword energy.”
[But I already used up all the energy I had.]
Skybreaker’s energy ca from the internal energy of the Poison Blood Demon Art. Since it was ominous and suspicious, he used it all up to avoid drawing attention. A sha now, but it was the best choice at the ti.
Thanks to that, I could win over Tang Siyuk.
Anyway—
“We need to recharge you.”
To recharge Skybreaker, soone must die. And to survive, I hardened my resolve. Not to go crazy and start killing indiscriminately—
[Are you saying you’ll kill soone from the Cult?]
The Heavenly Demon Cult operates on strength, but that doesn’t an murder is unconditionally allowed. Their numbers are nothing compared to the Martial World, so randomly killing mbers isn’t acceptable. At least officially.
“It’s simple. Think about it.”
[You monster... wait, I get it.]
“You do? Really?”
[Saweol. It’s Saweol, isn’t it?]
...What?
[I couldn’t understand why you treated that woman so well. A monster like you wouldn't lust after a woman. You treated her kindly to make her lower her guard, then planned to strike and absorb her energy. You planned it all!]
“Hey, Skybreaker.”
[What? Surprised by my sharp logic?]
“You didn’t talk much when you were in this body, right?”
[A man’s mouth should be heavy.]
I sighed.
“Thank goodness. At least people didn’t notice how stupid you are.”
[What!?]
“Dude, Saweol’s unique martial art is assassination-based. Even if she lets her guard down a little, I’d still lose.”
[Then... is it Tak Horak? But he’s far too talented to waste!]
“Oh my god. Why would I kill a subordinate?”
[Then whose energy are you going to absorb!?]
“There’s one place where killing won’t get you in trouble. You might even get praised for it.”
Only then did Skybreaker seem to realize.
[No way... you an—]
“Yeah.”
I nodded.
“Disciplinary Cell. The prisoners there are fair ga.”
Among the sinners of the Cult, those who committed unforgivable cris are locked away deep in a massive cave where martial arts are sealed. That place is the Disciplinary Cell.
Even if I had to kill to survive, I didn’t want to murder innocent people. That was the last desperate resistance of Kim Dong-yun, a modern man living in reality.
[You’re insane... you really are insane.]
"Ohh."
[The Disciplinary Cell isn’t a place where people can survive. Just one hour in there is too much.]
Even before, I felt it—my perception of the Cell and theirs didn’t quite match. To , it didn’t seem that horrifying.
Wait, could it be?
“Skybreaker. Are you scared of the Cell because of the previous Heavenly Demon?”
Skybreaker didn’t answer—but that was answer enough.
There is only one Heavenly Demon, but that doesn’t an the position is eternal. It’s a title given to the strongest. The title always goes to the Cult’s supre.
And inside the Cell is the previous Heavenly Demon.
[The Tyrant? Can he even be called just a tyrant?]
6th Heavenly Demon, Do Il-gwang.
He was from Radiant Bloodblade, one of the Six Demon Families. Before becoming Heavenly Demon, his nickna was Blood Ghost—he earned it for leaving trails of blood wherever he went.
mbers of Radiant Bloodblade weren’t just hot-tempered—they were true rage-driven maniacs. Not the "strong against the weak, weak against the strong" kind, but the type to just bash you if they were annoyed.
Think of the Hubei Paeng Clan, but turned evil and made worse—that’s Radiant Bloodblade.
Now imagine soone like that with the ultimate authority of Heavenly Demon?
No need to explain further.
Cult mbers hated the 6th Heavenly Demon more than even the 4th, who caused the Heavenly Demon Blood Massacre. At least the 4th didn’t harm the Cult’s own. So even believed he elevated the Cult’s status in the Martial World.
The current Heavenly Demon is popular, despite lacking legitimacy, because he saved the Cult from that kind of mad ruler.
“Even if he’s the Heavenly Demon, his martial arts must be sealed.”
[He was once the Heavenly Demon. You can’t treat him like an ordinary man.]
“So are you saying it’s impossible, or you just don’t want to?”
[If I had to choose, the latter.]
“Then we’re going.”
[Why go that far?]
“Because I want to live.”
My goal has always been survival. Even if that path is lined with thorns, I’ll walk it if it ans staying alive.
The previous Heavenly Demon.
I’ve learned an incomplete form of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
If I et the previous Heavenly Demon, maybe I can learn more. In fact, I have to et him.
Didn’t he have his own unique technique? The current Heavenly Demon copied it after seeing it once...
I’m not sure if I can pull it off in this body. But Skybreaker probably can. It’s worth the gamble.
And there might be a relic too...
In the original novel, Return of the Murim, the protagonist Mujin learns of a relic hidden in the Cell but fails to obtain it due to his limitations. He does, however, uncover Saweol’s true identity there.
Saweol’s fate might change... toward my side.
So I didn’t plan to go alone.
“I’m not going alone.”
[Saweol again?]
“Her, and one more person...”
I’ve got a comrade—though more like a patsy.
I tapped on the Sado Clan’s influence map.
“Sado Clan oversees the Disciplinary Cell. That ans it’s easier to operate there, right?”
***
Heavenly Demon Cult, Second Magyeong.
A street of pleasure and entertainnt for Cult mbers.
A crowd had gathered at one tavern, with Tak Horak—dressed in civilian clothes, not the Black Shadow Corps uniform—at the center.
“So? Was it real?”
“Kuheum, hmm. My throat’s a little dry.”
“Look at this guy! Hey! Bring more Fire Wine over here!”
“Thanks, haha!”
Tak Horak drank deeply, wearing a hearty expression. Then, looking annoyed, he spoke.
“It’s real. Our commander truly reached Transcendent Peak. With a flick—shk!—the sword rises and floats in the air. A wave of the hand—and it slices the sky like it’s alive!”
“Whoa! Transcendent Peak at that age?!”
“As expected of a prestigious clan!”
“They say he’s a genius, but this goes beyond the rumors. That’s almost at the level of a Supre Master!”
“Hey, don’t blasphe. The commander reveres the Supre Masters with utmost respect.”
Tak Horak nodded in satisfaction and continued.
“To be honest, even I doubted it when I was still in the Cult. I’d never seen the commander act directly. But when I saw that sword flight—I swore my loyalty. Ah, not that I wasn’t loyal before!”
Tak Horak slamd the table.
“From now on, every Cult mber must understand this. Anyone who spreads rumors about the Black Shadow Corps commander being a fake, will have to answer to , Tak Horak, his right-hand man!”
“Ooooh! The commander must really trust Squad Leader Tak!”
“Of course! I can’t talk details because of the mission, but I always supported him in the Martial World!”
“Could you end up in a leadership position in the Sado Clan later?”
“Hahah! That’d be an honor!”
Tak Horak basked in the praise, laughing heartily.
But then—
Crash!
The tavern door burst open.
A group in black entered—the Black Shadow Corps.
“Huh? What are you guys doing here—?”
“Forr 3rd Squad Leader of the Black Shadow Corps, Tak Horak.”
“What? Forr?”
“By order of the Corps Commander. For insubordination, you are sentenced to seven nights of imprisonnt in the Disciplinary Cell.”
“Wait, I thought I was the right-hand man?!”
Tak Horak’s face turned pale.
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