A giant shadow that covered the sky.
Beneath it, the Cheonma (Heavenly Demon) wearing a black robe descends.
A man slowly descending, wearing a cracked mask with his hands clasped behind his back.
Those gathered on the ground glared at the Cheonma with fierce eyes.
"That guy...!"
"How dare he shamelessly come here again...!!"
Clank-!
Shring-!!
The martial artists all drew their swords. Fighting spirit began to fill the surroundings.
A hair-trigger situation.
Everyone expressed their rage, ready to slash the Cheonma down right that moment, but...
[Keukeuk.]
Looking at them, the Cheonma quietly let out a laugh as if amused.
"...Cheonma."
Seeing this, Geomseon furrowed his brow to the extreme.
Like the others, but especially, the aura emanating from him was extraordinary.
Geomseon was putting all his emotions into his sword, as if he would dice the Cheonma up at any moment.
"I thought you would have fled long ago. What more do you have to say that you graced us with your presence?"
At Geomseon's words, the Cheonma tilted his head.
[I originally wasn't planning on showing myself, but...]
Sweuu.
The Cheonma descends a little lower.
It was a position where they could easily strike him with sword qi if they launched it.
[I suddenly became curious about your impressions. How is it?]
A hint of laughter laced his voice.
[The gift I prepared?]
"...Kkeudeuk."
At the mocking tone, Geomseon's teeth ground down.
Asking how the gift was?
"It made me feel a lot. A whole lot."
It would probably be a gift he'd never forget for the rest of his life.
Kiing.
A sound rang out from the sword Geomseon held.
It was a sword cry directly imbued with his emotions.
"Cheonma. You have made a mistake."
Huuuk-!
The wind blows. The autumn wind bearing a chill circled and began to hover around Geomseon.
"Revealing yourself like this means it's the same as saying you wish to die right here."
As Geomseon, filled with rage, tried to advance straight toward the Cheonma...
"I will execute the traitor who attacked Henan right here...!"
Geomseon, about to leap, suddenly narrowed his eyes and stiffened his body.
Because someone had blocked him.
Geomseon immediately looked at the person.
"...What are you doing? Maehwaseon."
Maehwaseon, Dohwa.
He was pressing down on Geomseon's shoulder.
Plum blossom petals fell over the scattered fighting spirit, and Maehwaseon, for some reason, not only gathered Geomseon's aura but also the energy spread all around, even circulating the air.
As the air began to circulate slightly.
"...Maehwaseon...!"
Geomseon glared at Maehwaseon with blazing eyes.
His expression asked why he was doing such a thing.
With an enemy he must kill right in front of him, why was he being blocked?
To Geomseon's face, Maehwaseon answered.
"Alliance Lord. Calm down."
"...What? How can I calm down right now...!"
"If the Alliance Lord cannot calm down, others will die. I beg you to look at the forest, not the tree."
"...!"
Maehwaseon's heavy tone, stripped of any smiles.
Hearing that, Geomseon momentarily turned his head to look at the Cheonma.
Maehwaseon must have a reason for mentioning this. That was his judgment.
Examining the Cheonma once again, Geomseon realized it before long.
"Cheonma...!"
[What's wrong?]
It became visible belatedly.
The Cheonma had already unclasped his hands from behind his back, and his right hand was pointing somewhere.
The extended direction was none other than where the refugees were gathered.
The Cheonma was stretching his hand toward that place.
That implied only one thing.
Do not act rashly.
If they did something useless, who knows what would happen to the refugees.
It was like an implicit warning saying exactly that.
"...That wicked man, truly!"
"After reducing Henan to this state, he intends to make more sacrifices!"
"They are innocent!"
The martial artists who confirmed this spat out fire-like curses, but...
[It's truly ridiculous.]
The Cheonma, as if the action was trivial, spat out words mixed with laughter.
[In a well that has shown its bottom, are you trying to debate that there's barely any justice left? Do not be mistaken.]
Grrrrr--!!
As he continued speaking, the demonic beast in the sky let out a low roar.
[I am the one who created this situation, but can you truly say you are without sin?]
It was the Cheonma's doing that made Henan collapse.
However.
The Murim Alliance, which claims to maintain the peace of the Central Plains and protect the honor of the righteous faction.
If such people were reduced to this state by just a single upheaval...
[Arrogant.]
Did the Murim Alliance truly have no faults whatsoever?
At this question, everyone contorted their faces, but no one voiced a rebuttal.
They also knew.
They were gradually realizing their own problems.
[You were arrogant and also ugly.]
[How disappointing. Even if you've lost the light of the past, I thought you'd at least provide some entertainment... To think even that was a big expectation.]
A clear tone looking down on them.
At the grating words, Geomseon ground his teeth hard.
He wanted to rush in and slash the bastard's neck right that instant.
Thus, he wanted to shut that nauseating mouth, but he couldn't.
Because the Cheonma was threatening the lives of the refugees?
No.
Normally, he would have thought that just blocking whatever the bastard did before he did it and dealing with him would be enough.
But Geomseon couldn't bring himself to do so.
The lives of the refugees? That could be important.
But.
'Executing the traitor comes first.'
An existence that raised a flag against the Alliance and brought chaos. To execute him, unavoidable sacrifices would be necessary.
Geomseon thought so, but...
It wasn't the lives of the refugees that was the problem.
'I can't see it.'
The problem was that he couldn't gauge the Cheonma's power right now.
Geomseon continuously shot out his senses while looking at the man floating in the sky, but...
'...Why can't I grasp anything?'
He felt absolutely nothing from this being called Cheonma.
'I... can't feel even a little bit?'
As if he was there but didn't exist. A situation where nothing could be felt.
Seeing this nonsensical situation, Geomseon wiped away cold sweat.
No matter how weak, a slight presence should be felt.
There was only one possible answer in this case.
The gap with the opponent was so high that his presence couldn't be felt.
'Nonsense...!'
He came up with the answer, but Geomseon couldn't believe it.
How could that be?
Geomseon's gaze turned sideways.
There, Cheonjon was quietly staring at the Cheonma.
One of the Three Lords. He could clearly feel the presence when looking at Cheonjon, but felt nothing when looking at the bastard called Cheonma?
'He's using sorcery.'
It was definitely something that couldn't happen without sorcery. He tried to believe so, but...
'But...'
A very slim probability.
What if this being called Cheonma was truly a monster whose realm couldn't be grasped?
The reason he confidently descended, knowing that the seal had been lifted and they were freed...
'Is truly because he can massacre all these people alone.'
If that were the case?
It was truly an absurd notion, but that low probability kept holding Geomseon back.
And.
'Yes.'
Looking at such a Geomseon, Guyangcheon quietly held back a smile.
'Stay like that.'
It was exactly the form he wanted.
He couldn't help but laugh because he was showing it to them.
He had hoped they would stay like that.
Even with the enemy appearing directly, they were full of hesitation.
While anger surged, they couldn't act rashly because they didn't know the opponent.
Making them unable to move carelessly.
This was the sight Guyangcheon had been continuously aiming for.
"Huuuuu..."
He continuously calmed his breathing.
He felt a sensation of his heart being squeezed, but he had to endure this too.
'...My body is a mess, so even this is hard.'
The Cheonma in the sky right now was not someone else acting as a substitute.
That existence was purely made of authority.
It was the Authority of Wind he absorbed from Mang.
Guyangcheon used that to create the Cheonma.
'...I practiced this continuously. Of all times, it had to be in this state.'
To create something he desires.
Whatever it becomes. The power to create anything as long as he knows it in detail.
That was precisely 'Wind'.
When he first obtained this authority, Guyangcheon recalled.
'If I use this well... it'll be doable, right?'
He had obtained a very good authority.
When he handed over regeneration to Uhyeok, he regretted it enough to vomit blood, but he thought it was rather better.
He said it was fine since he at least saved the wind.
It was a useful power enough to think so.
Creates anything as long as he knows it in detail. This absurdly overpowered trait.
From the moment he obtained this, and realized that growth was possible by wielding it, Guyangcheon had prepared this plan.
There were three conditions for the plan.
One.
Can he create a human form with wind?
Two.
Can the created human form even produce a 'voice'?
Three.
That which is created.
'Can he use it for at least half a quarter of an hour even at worst?'
It had to meet these three conditions.
Every night.
Even if it meant using up all his energy, he continuously trained his authority.
Doing so, he succeeded in creating the Cheonma's form and enduring for half a quarter of an hour, but...
'...Real combat is a bit difficult.'
Right now, let alone half a quarter of an hour, it's difficult to even last half of that.
Of course, creating a human body, but he first had to move the created body naturally.
A body that subtly heaved as it breathed in and out.
Fluttering hair and small movements to make it look natural—he had to use all his strength to maintain those delicately.
It was also mentally taxing.
'...I feel like I'm going crazy.'
It was on a different level from the sense of incongruity he felt when releasing the seal.
In terms of difficulty, this was hundreds of times harder; why did I go through all that trouble for that mere seal?
His body was already a wreck from the battle, and the inner qi he had saved up was emptying in an instant.
Authority wasn't used only with energy, but there were more than one or two difficult things here and there.
'If things go slightly wrong, it'll unravel right away.'
He had to endure.
If it unraveled now, everything would be over.
He had gone through hell for this. He couldn't ruin it like this.
Oooong--!!!
He continued to maintain the authority and gulped down the blood rising up.
Even then, the Cheonma's mouth kept moving.
[Justice has already crumbled and collapsed. Do you believe yourselves to be justice?]
[Wrong.]
[If righteousness and chivalry are justice at the very least, you cannot covet them.]
[Narrow-minded and arrogant insects. Remnants who have long forgotten the essence you were supposed to have, too busy just protecting your own positions.]
At most, a fleeting moment remained.
Feeling his limits approaching, he curled his body slightly.
'Not yet.'
Just a little more.
He just needed to endure a little more.
[You are not justice.]
There were still words left to say.
[I am certain as of today.]
He poured in every last ounce of strength he had.
Doing so, the Cheonma's voice became clearer.
[There is no need for you in the world I will create.]
Words driven in resolutely.
The martial artists who heard those words grew agitated.
They began to fill with vigilance.
Everyone was extremely tense, not knowing what action the Cheonma would take.
The moment such a chilling atmosphere reached its peak...
[However.]
The Cheonma suddenly lowered the hand he was holding toward the refugees.
Everyone widened their eyes at the sudden action. What was his intention?
[I will show magnanimity and give you one chance.]
A chance? Their gazes focused, wondering what he meant.
Then.
Sweuk.
The Cheonma suddenly moved his hand and spread his fingertips toward the martial artists.
A gesture as if pointing at someone.
At this, as if brainwashed, everyone raised their heads and looked in the direction of the fingertips.
There, a young man was catching his breath with his body curled up.
A body that was clearly a wreck.
Struggling to support himself, he swayed and sat down, but...
Even in that situation, he was staring distinctly at the Cheonma with bloodshot eyes.
[You. What is your name?]
"..."
The Cheonma asked his name.
The young man spoke to him with blazing eyes.
"...Gu...yang...cheon."
Perhaps his body was in great distress, his voice was fragmented and broken.
[Guyangcheon. I see.]
As if intending to remember it, the Cheonma continued speaking.
[For a bug's struggle, it was quite a sight. Since I saw something good rarely among the ignorant...]
Sweueu-!!
The Cheonma's body, which was speaking, slowly rose into the sky.
[I will let it pass today. To trample on a bug and dirty my feet... I am in a good mood right now.]
I could wipe you out right now, but I will let it go this time.
It was a statement full of such confidence.
[So, when I visit next time. Please entertain me a little.]
With those final words, the Cheonma slowly floated up into the sky.
"...Cheonma! Trying to escape again...!"
Seeing that, Geomseon couldn't hold back and tried to raise his voice again, but...
Kururung--!!!
"...!"
"Heok!"
Then, a flash of light suddenly erupted.
It was because lightning qi exploded along with the sound of thunder.
It was the lightning qi emitted from Cheonjon.
Everyone covered their ears at the thunderous roar.
That wasn't all.
"Th-That..."
Someone let out a groan while looking at the Cheonma.
The lightning qi Cheonjon shot out. The Cheonma's upper body that was hit by it was pierced through.
Did the Cheonma get hit by Cheonjon's surprise attack?
Hope rose, and everyone was about to be filled with ecstasy, but...
Seueueu....
"Heok!"
"Th-That!!"
Surprisingly, the pierced body of the Cheonma was gradually being restored.
Flesh filled the hole in his upper body seamlessly.
His clothes also became exactly as they were at the beginning, as if nothing had happened.
A bizarre and terrifying sight.
Someone who saw it with their own two eyes spat out in a whisper.
"...Has he really... become a god?"
Normally, they would have gotten angry and told them not to spout nonsense, but no one around could say a word.
It meant it was that shocking.
[Hm.]
The Cheonma stroked his pierced upper body a few times and then looked at Cheonjon.
Since he was surprised attacked, was he going to start a real fight this time?
Everyone swallowed their dry saliva and watched, but...
[What a pity.]
The Cheonma spat out that one line and ascended into the sky as if going on his way.
Grrrrr-!
He disappeared along with the unknown existence in the sky.
For such a massive existence to disappear so instantly....
In the situation that passed like a whirlwind, everyone was unable to even speak, but then...
"Keolheok-!!"
Someone vomited blood and collapsed.
"So Yeom-ra!"
It was So Yeom-ra Guyangcheon.
Guyangcheon swayed and poured out black blood, and at this, the martial artists all approached him.
They urgently checked his condition.
"...He has lost consciousness."
"First, contact the physician...!"
Those moving urgently.
Not just Guyangcheon, but there were so many things that needed to be handled, starting with the branch leader.
So, even in the disastrous situation, the martial artists somehow continued to move forward, but...
One person.
Only Geomseon stood there, quietly staring at Guyangcheon.
Geomseon, with an expression that seemed distorted and a lukewarm heat beyond his field of vision...
Until Cheonjon approached Guyangcheon.
Kept staring at him.
With an expression that couldn't quite be understood.
*******************
Immediately after the attack that occurred in Henan.
Three days had passed since then.
Not much time had passed, but so many things had happened in Henan.
It started with the devastated county following the attack.
Most of the inns that held their ground had collapsed, and not only the merchant guilds, but many people lost their places.
The damage was so severe that they said it would take several more days just to clear the debris, and it would easily take years to restore it to its original state.
At this, the people who lost their homes and workplaces all screamed in despair, but...
There were those who stepped forward to help in that situation.
They were the Baekhwa Merchant Guild and Jangwon Merchant Guild, known as the great merchant guilds of the Central Plains.
As soon as the incident broke out, they immediately stepped forward and began to provide support.
They set up tents where the refugees were and began to supply food.
Also, they declared that they would clean up the collapsed buildings and provide a place to stay for free until it was restored later.
Thanks to that, they were able to breathe a little easier, but...
It only solved the things that could be handled with money.
The most important matters still remained.
Right away, there were obviously casualties in this attack.
Because several people with high standing were included among them.
First, the Eight Swords Units that made up the Murim Alliance.
The captains of three of those units died.
The deceased were the Ilryong Captain, the Pungryong Captain, and even the Cheolryong Captain.
It was the Alliance's official position that a total of three captains died after getting caught up in the attack.
The Ilryong Captain died a heroic death while blocking an executive of the Demonic Cult who was said to have led this attack.
The Pungryong Captain was said to have died while undoing an evil sorcery, burning his own soul to save the Alliance Lord and others.
Furthermore, the Cheolryong Captain was said to have achieved an honorable death by perishing together with the enemy while chasing the enemy who took the Alliance Lord's beloved, along with another enemy.
This alone was enough to make everyone appalled, but...
Not long after, there was an even bigger report than this.
It was precisely...
"They say King Do has passed away..."
"...Heo... is that really true?"
The Hebei Peng Family, known as one of the Four Great Noble Families.
Dowang Peng Zhou, the head of that family.
He was also said to have lost his life in this attack.
"Nonsense... How could a figure like King Do-!"
"...Well. The person from the Demonic Cult who killed the Ilryong Captain... apparently also killed Head Peng."
"...Really? Just how strong must they be...!"
"They say that while Biseongdo was supporting the unconscious Head Peng, they were attacked."
"Biseongdo tried to resist somehow... but unfortunately, he couldn't protect Head Peng."
"Don't tell me, they killed a father in front of his son? Is there such a wicked person in the world...!!"
King Do Peng Zhou was killed.
Biseongdo failed to block such an attack, and his current wounds were so deep that he hadn't regained consciousness.
A villain who killed not only the Ilryong Captain but also King Do and fled.
People started calling that cruel person by the name Gwiakchang (Ghost Evil Spear).
"What is the world coming to..."
The speaking voice sounded truly like a sob.
"Not only losing so many precious people... but a disaster even broke out..."
"By disaster... are you talking about the White-grade demonic beast?"
"Yes... Damn it, it hasn't been that long since the Red-grade demonic beasts appeared...!"
At the man's words, everyone swallowed a groan.
White-grade demonic beast.
Perhaps this was the biggest incident.
It had already been three years since the Red-grade demonic beasts appeared.
Although they found a way to hunt them not long after and barely prevented the damage, for a White-grade demonic beast to appear now...
"Listening to the words of someone who witnessed it directly... they said it truly couldn't be anything but a disaster."
"If they hadn't stopped it then... they said perhaps Henan might have really disappeared."
The dozens of Red-grade demonic beasts that poured out and the bizarre roars that bloomed.
If they hadn't blocked that, Henan might have perished.
Not a single person denied those words.
"It really... is truly a relief."
"Yes... it's because he was there that we can breathe like this right now."
Perhaps recalling someone, a strange sense of relief enveloped their faces.
Three captains died. One of the King-grade had died, yet for some reason, they were relieved.
"They say when the world falls into chaos, a hero appears. That saying is exactly right, isn't it?"
"...Yes. A hero."
"Didn't they say even the Great Demonic Head who appeared in Henan acknowledged him?"
"Is that really true?"
"Yes. My nephew is a martial artist of the Alliance, so he knows well. That Cheonma who you wouldn't feel satisfied even if you chewed him up... that Great Demonic Head acknowledged him, I say."
The existence that reduced Henan to this state.
Not only did he summon the White-grade demonic beast to this land, but he also controlled the giant demonic beast and played with the Murim Alliance like a toy.
The master of the Demonic Cult, the Cheonma.
Now it was a notoriety that spread not only in Henan but throughout the entire Central Plains.
However.
"He saved my life."
"Did he save yours too? I also received his grace. I was almost buried alive in the building and died."
"M-me too, he saved me when I was about to be killed by a thug."
In the fearful situation, they were gaining strength by recalling someone.
"They say rumors are not to be trusted. That saying was true."
"That would all be the work of those who were jealous of the hero."
"A lecher, a dirty temper... a scary face... that part was true. Anyway."
"I'm just sorry for being swayed by petty rumors..."
"It's a relief to know now at least."
"Right. To think there's at least one person we can trust in this disastrous time. I don't know how fortunate that is."
The more they spoke, the deeper their relieved expressions became.
They were all recalling one person.
The day the attack suddenly broke out.
He saved the people from the collapsing buildings and the screams. There was someone who approached and reached out his hand without hesitation even to those who ignored the Murim Alliance.
Not only that, he jumped in without hesitation even when the demonic beast went on a rampage, fighting desperately as if his life wasn't precious.
He dedicated his entire body to even take care of the martial artists who were there.
Afterwards, without resting, he immediately went to the Alliance and, together with the Pungryong Captain, saved the Alliance Lord and others.
Despite possessing immense power that could not be seen as late-blooming, he was not drunk on that power and burned his own body to save Henan.
The hero of the present world who ultimately received the acknowledgment of the Great Demonic Head, the Cheonma.
Just as they were recalling such a great existence...
Someone brought up a topic as if they just remembered.
"Ah, by the way, did you hear? They say the Alliance is changing his epithet this time, reflecting these achievements of his."
"Epithet? What do you mean, an epithet all of a sudden?"
"Don't be surprised. This epithet is none other than..."
Like that.
About the time flowers of laughter were blooming in the ruins.
Far away, at the lodging of the Baekhwa Merchant Guild.
Someone walked down the hallway and advanced a few steps.
It was a woman with beautifully adorned clothes and a lovely appearance, Moyong Huia.
She lightly walked holding some food in her hands and stopped in front of a door.
Knock knock.
She knocked on the door with her white fingertips, but there was no sign of presence from inside.
Was there no one there?
No.
Moyong Huia didn't believe that at all.
"Young Master. It's mealtime."
She called out in a sweet voice, but it was the same this time. The other party didn't respond.
"Hmm."
What should she do. Moyong Huia pondered for a moment.
Is he pretending to sleep?
He probably isn't really sleeping. He was a man who would get up immediately if someone called him.
Then, this was a rebellion meaning he didn't want to come out.
Even so, it didn't matter.
Because there was a way anyway.
"Um... keuk...!"
She tried to speak but slightly suppressed a laugh that was about to burst out.
This method was a bit difficult even for Moyong Huia.
After clearing her throat for a while like that...
"Seongwang nim."
She finally mentioned that word.
At that moment.
"It's mealtime..."
Bang-!
The firmly closed door opened and a young man poked his face out.
It was the person Moyong Huia had been looking for so much. Guyangcheon.
"You should have come out earlier."
Moyong Huia smiled refreshingly at such a Guyangcheon, and Guyangcheon, seeing that smile...
"...Please... please just stop... calling me that."
Only let out a sigh with a heavily contorted face.