Rumble---!!!
The thunderous roar echoing through the air threatened to burst my eardrums.
Crackle.
Rumble.
Unfathomable lightning qi raged beyond the persistent dark storm clouds. A spectacle one might witness only in a thunder-filled tempest.
Everyone who saw it could only swallow hard.
It was a sight majestic enough merely to behold. Yet it was no natural phenomenon—merely something created by a single human.
How could they not be astonished?
This surpassed the level of mere awe.
Rumble-!! Rumble---!!!
The surging thunder looked almost like a giant serpent writhing within the clouds.
A vast sight from which no one could tear their eyes.
As countless people watched in silence—
[Screeeeeech—Aaaaaah—!!!]
A demon let out a cry.
That moment.
[Kraaaaaaaa---!!!]
Demons erupted from the countless demonic gates floating in the air.
Though each resembled a beast, their individual traits and sizes were incomparable to anything ordinary.
They looked like massive buildings raining down.
Each and every one was an existence more than sufficient to devastate a village, so the martial artists nearby all held their breaths.
Disaster was falling.
Peak mastery. Demons that one could only face alone upon reaching a level truly accustomed to fighting such creatures—red demons.
Dozens of those monsters were appearing simultaneously.
If they descended here, everything would be destroyed.
There is a limit to what can be endured through righteousness and alliance alone.
Thus, all the martial artists were prepared to throw their lives away, but they could not have expected this.
“Be careful, everyone.”
In order to face such monsters,
“Your eyes will likely suffer, so it would be best to keep them closed, if possible.”
I had called a stronger monster.
Flutter.
As the old man’s red martial robes billowed, he drew his sword finger slightly downward. Then.
Rumble---!!!!
Boom—!!!
Lightning began falling from the air.
[Kraaaaah!!]
[Screeeech—!!]
Heavenly punishment poured down endlessly.
The lightning qi of overwhelming magnitude pierced through the demons, impaling them all.
The red demons, boasting tremendous defensive power, were perforated by that lightning qi and dying helplessly.
[Kyaaaaaaaah!!]
The demons’ howls filled the surroundings.
The smell of burning hung at the tip of my nose, and vibrations dominated the area.
The demons, which had been thirsting for slaughter, were dying one by one.
“…Hah…”
Watching that, I let out a hollow gasp.
‘…That old man…’
Was he always that strong?
He merely held a sword and flicked his fingertips.
With that alone, he was annihilating a force capable of destroying Hannam.
Cheonjon.
One of the Three Venerates of the World, and perhaps the eldest among the current martial artists.
A living legend of the Namgung Clan, said to have single-handedly faced thousands of demonic path martial artists in his prime.
His strength truly befit the title of one of the Three Venerates. His current display showed a presence as powerful as his epithet, the “Lord of the Sky,” but—
‘He wasn’t at that level, I think.’
I had my doubts.
This was something I had assumed from the moment I first heard of the dragon’s resurrection from Pilduma.
It was preparation for the unforeseen while organizing and revising my plans.
Not knowing the full extent of a white-grade demon’s power, but expecting it to be stronger than myself, I had acted.
‘Demons are strong.’
Unless one reached the realm of the mental image, one could not even inflict damage.
Their offense was as formidable as their defense, making them difficult to face alone.
But to proceed with my plans, I needed to summon and hunt the creature. The method I chose was simple.
‘If I cannot kill it, I will call someone who can.’
If I could not hunt a white-grade demon alone, I had to call an existence that could.
With that decided, the one I found was Cheonjon.
The strongest being I could possibly call.
Of course, I had to exploit the situation, swallow my pride, and do all manner of things, but in the end, the one I could call was that old man.
For some reason, since the incident with the Tang Clan, he had stayed at the Gu residence following my father, brazenly saying he had to earn his keep, even taking up a sword to work as a gatekeeper.
Thanks to that, I had experienced a bizarre situation where I was waited on by Geomjon, had Cheonjon guarding the gate, and Paejon training me daily, but—
Anyway.
‘…At any rate, I succeeded in calling him.’
Whatever the case, Cheonjon had arrived in Hannam about half a month ago at my request, and was now displaying such overwhelming might.
‘Why is he so strong?’
I had to be greatly astonished by Cheonjon’s appearance.
Cheonjon is strong. Naturally so.
How else would he be one of the Three Venerates?
In my previous life, I had briefly clashed with him a few times and, knowing his strength, had tried to avoid facing him.
He is stronger than me. Stronger even than I am now, having reached a higher realm than in my previous life.
Of course he should be strong, and yet…
‘…He’s far stronger than I expected.’
The display Cheonjon was putting on now far exceeded my expectations.
A single gesture swept away the red demons.
It was the same in my previous life.
When the red demons first appeared, it was naturally Cheonjon who first hunted them and discovered their weakness.
There are two ways to deal with red demons.
One is to find the minute gaps in the endlessly regenerating membrane and target those spots.
In this life, I had spread this method to the world through the Beggars’ Sect while hiding my identity. Based on this, the damage from red demons had been reduced.
And the second method.
‘Pouring out internal energy in an amount the membrane cannot withstand.’
The membrane protecting the red demon.
If it absorbs more than a certain amount of energy, it is destroyed.
At a glance, the second method seems simpler.
But that “certain amount” is so enormous that the first method is generally considered the standard.
However—
‘…He’s just blasting through it?’
Watching Cheonjon’s hunting method was absurd.
A single bolt of lightning instantly killed a red demon resembling a pig.
It was a pig-type demon called Jeokbidon.
It was a troublesome creature with immunity to fire and physical blows, yet it died to a single flash of lightning.
He didn’t even bother looking for weaknesses.
The amount of energy contained in the lightning was more than enough to pierce the membrane.
Meaning there was no need to bother with finding weak points.
By now, I too often used the second method without bothering to find weaknesses.
‘To think he can use it even in this situation.’
Facing that many demons with such a method should have been impossible.
The amount of internal energy was one issue, but constantly unleashing such firepower meant extreme exhaustion.
‘The old man’s got reserves too.’
Cheonjon, seeming not to care about such things, kept unleashing lightning bolts.
Rumble-!! Rumble---!!
They truly poured down without rest.
[Krrrrrrak—!!]
Each time they struck, demons died.
I narrowed my eyes at that sight.
‘I definitely have more internal energy.’
No matter how high Cheonjon’s realm or how long his life, in terms of sheer quantity of internal energy, I should have more.
Then how is such a thing possible?
I could not understand it.
‘What’s the difference?’
It seemed to be a difference in usage, but rather than pondering that—
‘Is this what it means to be one of the Three Venerates?’
I swallowed dryly, feeling Cheonjon’s presence.
What was it I had failed to see in my previous life?
Somehow, the sensation was entirely different from back then.
The ruler of thunder and the heavens.
Despite being the same swordsman, I felt I now understood why he was called Cheonjon, not Geomjon.
‘…Seeing it from this level. It’s completely different.’
This was probably the first time.
My first time properly facing one of the Three Venerates after reaching the realm of my previous life.
Paejon had undergone rejuvenation, so there was no point in gauging him, but seeing Cheonjon made it clear.
‘A wall.’
That is a wall.
A wall risen so high that I cannot yet climb it.
When I saw the Sword Emperor, one of the Ten Great Masters, he merely felt like someone stronger than me.
But Cheonjon truly looked like a wall.
One I could not yet dare to scale.
Yet one I must someday overcome.
Such a wall stood before my eyes.
“…Kuh…”
I staggered and rose.
I moved slightly, and my joints screamed in agony.
‘Ah… I’m screwed.’
It was clearly an injury that would take months to heal.
My insides hurt especially badly.
It hurt so much that even the heart technique of my Tuapacheonmu had to stop.
I had nearly fainted earlier running it out of habit.
“Huu… hu…”
Barely breathing, I looked around.
Then the people’s reactions were clearly visible.
‘These people… I told them to close their eyes.’
Despite Cheonjon’s warning, everyone had their eyes wide open, mouths agape.
Doesn’t it hurt their eyes with all that lightning flashing?
“…Th-that person… could it be.”
“C-Cheonjon…?”
“How could the Cheonjon…”
Even with the red martial robes and his face obscured, his identity was unmistakable.
They knew as well.
That there is only one under heaven who can create such lightning from the sky.
No sooner had I thought it than lightning fell upon the demons once more.
A demon charred by the lightning qi collapsed with a thud, meeting its death.
And that was the end.
More than thirty demons.
The force I had believed would sweep through Hannam if unstopped was utterly annihilated by the hands of a single old man.
All that remained were demon corpses and the smell of charred skin.
At the center, the old man turned around nonchalantly and walked this way.
He held a sword, yet he had not swung it. All he had done was repeat a few hand gestures.
With just that, he had wrought all this devastation.
‘Cheonjon.’
Cold sweat ran down my back.
‘So he was this strong.’
Such presence from a brief display.
If he was this powerful, how did I not know in my previous life?
Had I simply never seen him properly?
‘This isn’t something one wouldn’t know just from not seeing it.’
In an era of war, it was the most specialized ability of all.
He hadn’t even used the sword that was his main weapon; if he fought seriously, he would be far more overwhelming.
This was not a level one could remain ignorant of simply by not witnessing it.
It was truly a puzzling matter, but—
“Are you alright?”
Seeing Cheonjon approaching, I could no longer dwell on my doubts.
“…Yes… I’m… fine.”
“Let me support you.”
“There is no need. Elder, and…”
I glanced around.
“As I told you before, please… lower your speech. There are too many eyes watching…”
Calling me young master is already too much, and now asking him to lower his speech too. I pleaded with him, but—
“As one working as a servant, how could I do such a thing?”
“…”
I’m going insane.
I don’t know why both Geomjon and Cheonjon keep making things so uncomfortable for me.
At this point, I suspected they were enjoying it.
“The Cheonjon is using honorifics with Soyeomra?”
“H-how… could that be. I was under the impression that Soyeomra was betrothed to the Namgung Clan…”
“Then could it be…”
Damn it. Just as expected, strange rumors were about to spread.
The moment I tried to stop it in a hurry—
[Kii… ki… screeeech…!]
Everyone turned their heads at the sound.
It wasn’t over yet.
The one who had summoned the red demons. The dragon was still alive.
However—
‘…It’s going to die soon?’
Its condition was very strange.
Its massive wings were riddled with holes like tattered rags. Moreover, its already emaciated flesh had become even more decrepit.
“I left it untouched, just in case. Perhaps this old man’s meddling was unnecessary.”
So that was why this one alone had survived—Cheonjon’s consideration.
Hearing that, I whispered quietly.
“…No. Thank you. I needed it regardless.”
“I am glad it helped.”
I steadied my breathing at the old man’s smile.
Anyone could see it would die at any moment.
Seeing that, I grew anxious.
‘If I’m not careful, I’ll be too late.’
It dying like that would be a problem.
So I moved my wrecked body and stepped forward.
“My lord…!?”
Seeing me walk, Dang Soyeol hurriedly tried to stop me, but—
Someone appeared and blocked her path.
It was Namgung Bia.
“Unni…! Why…?”
“…Wait…”
“But my lord…!”
“…There must be a reason…”
Namgung Bia, seeing my expression, blocked Dang Soyeol.
Dang Soyeol tried to say something but firmly shut her mouth.
Wi Seora also looked at me with hesitant eyes, but fortunately did not act.
“S-Soyeomra! Why are you going alone!”
“It is dangerous!”
“…Damn it, everyone move! We must save Soyeomra—!”
The martial artists around seemed of one mind and tried to rush over, but they could not.
Crackle.
A brief spread of lightning qi surrounded them.
“Hak…”
They were startled, but the owner of the lightning qi added with a smile.
“My apologies… Please wait a moment. It seems there is some intention behind this, after all.”
They were the words of none other than Cheonjon. Everyone had no choice but to fall silent.
“Hu…”
With my exhausted body, I arrived before the demon.
[Kii… kiiii…]
Truly on the verge of death.
I reached out my hand slightly.
Sizzle.
The membrane surrounding it had long since vanished.
It seemed to have been destroyed long ago, as if signaling its limit.
Perhaps summoning the demons had been its final desperate act.
‘I suppose the attack when it first resurrected was successful.’
Throwing the holy spear first had been the right call.
Otherwise, I might not have been able to win.
Thinking so, I grabbed its throat with my outstretched arm.
[Ki… i…]
It could not even resist.
Seeing that, I spoke.
“You lost. Admit it.”
[…]
There was no answer.
Well… even if it could speak, what would it change?
‘…Is this meaningless then?’
If it did not admit defeat, I could not use Tam. Was there nothing to gain from this irrational creature?
I had hoped, but it seemed to be a useless endeavor.
Just as I was about to kill it and be done—
Vrrrrm.
“…!”
I felt something near my heart.
Fssss—!!
Immediately, black energy erupted from my shadow and engulfed the creature’s body.
It was Tam.
Crunch. Crack.
Tam had leapt out and begun devouring its authority.
“…”
So it works.
I had planned to kill it if it didn’t work, but for some reason, the authority was compatible.
After feasting for some time, Tam finished its meal and returned into the shadow.
*Burp.*
“…Huu…”
Along with the sound of the burp, I felt something seep into my heart.
So this is its authority.
Realizing the strange sensation, I collapsed with a thud.
[Kuk… kkeur…]
The creature, stripped of its authority, began truly dying with an even more emaciated body.
I watched it quietly.
It was safe to say I no longer even had the strength to kill it.
“Huuuu…”
I let out a deep sigh, barely resting, when—
[…Kii… eu… go… ma…]
“Hm?”
Something foreign was mixed into its cry.
[Thank… thank… you…]
“What?”
Clear human language.
Where had the dry voice screaming in pain gone? The demon spat out words in a voice like a child’s.
Startled, I tried to approach it.
“What did you just…”
Fwing!
Sizzle…
Whether its breath finally stopped, the demon’s body scattered in the wind and disintegrated in an instant.
Immediately, everything vanished, and all that remained on the ground was a white jewel.
A white demon stone proving that it had been a white-grade demon.
“…”
Confirming this, I had to furrow my brow.
I did not know why.
How should I put it…
Because one side of my chest felt terribly uneasy.