Chapter 141: Heaven-Slaying Star (4)

Step. Step.

Amidst the quiet yet menacing atmosphere, thousands of elite martial artists surrounded Iron Steed Prison Cave.

Cheon Yura and her followers slowly made their way between them.

“Young Cult Leader….”

“It’s the Young Cult Leader.”

Countless martial artists held their breath as they fixated on the Young Cult Leader’s group.

Depending on her actions here, a significant ripple effect could unfold.

‘What will she say?’

‘She wouldn’t take anyone’s side… would she?’

If the Young Cult Leader were to take a side here—

The cult would plunge into civil war.

But then—

Without saying a single word, Cheon Yura walked straight through the crowd and made her way directly to the entrance of Iron Steed Prison Cave.

“……!”

“Don’t tell me… she plans to ignore the Heavenly Demon Order?”

The murmured words of one person were silently agreed upon by many.

No matter how high her status as Young Cult Leader, she was not free from the Heavenly Demon Order issued by the Cult Leader himself.

“Young Cult Leader, are you sure this is alright?”

“Most likely… it will be fine.”

Though Sa Biyeon voiced her concern, Cheon Yura remained unmoving.

Originally, her intention had been to visit each family’s formation, urging them to stop the confrontation and disperse.

However—

Rumble! Rumble!

The tremor that had been shaking all of Iron Steed Prison Cave from earlier unsettled her heart with growing urgency.

“Step aside.”

At the entrance to Iron Steed Prison Cave—

Gwanghyeol, the bodyguard of Ma Seonghwan, blocked Cheon Yura’s path.

“You may not pass.”

“How dare you.”

Wang Cheongeol, who had been guarding Cheon Yura’s rear, revealed his quiet anger.

But Gwanghyeol stood firm.

He had his reasons for confidence.

“According to the Heavenly Demon Order, even the Young Cult Leader is forbidden from entering Iron Steed Prison Cave.”

“Hmph, is it because you’re worried I might get in your master’s way?”

“…….”

If that weren’t the case, then no matter the Heavenly Demon Order, Gwanghyeol would have no real reason to block Cheon Yura’s path.

“Even the Heavenly Demon Order does not apply to the Young Cult Leader. Unless the Cult Leader himself names her directly!”

“Such a law does not exist, Wang Cheongeol.”

Wang Cheongeol stepped in front of Cheon Yura, clenching both fists tightly.

Gwanghyeol also flared his aura, preparing to counter Wang Cheongeol’s advance.

Just as the two elite martial artists were about to clash—

—Let them through.

A commanding voice came from deep within.

“……!”

Recognizing the speaker, Gwanghyeol swiftly stepped aside.

“Please, go ahead.”

“…….”

Wang Cheongeol, who had been about to charge forward, looked disgruntled at Gwanghyeol’s sudden change in attitude.

“Tch, that’s quite the quick shift in stance.”

Many nodded in agreement with Wang Cheongeol’s remark.

Just as Cheon Yura’s group was about to step into Iron Steed Prison Cave—

Flinch!

Cheon Yura, who was leading the way, suddenly froze.

“What is it, Young Cult Leader?”

Even at Sa Biyeon’s question, Cheon Yura didn’t respond.

It was the kind of reaction someone might have when facing a truth they didn’t want to believe.

Her gaze fixed somewhere far off, her expression dimmed as she quietly uttered a name.

“……Ma Jinyoon.”

—

“Hyungnim.”

“Jinyoon-ah…”

Ma Chulsoo stared at his dying younger brother, tears falling from his eyes.

From the very first time they’d met, his entire body had already been covered in wounds.

And by throwing himself to protect his older brother, he had burned away what little life he had left.

Ma Jinyoon faintly smiled.

“The Clan Head… still… showed mercy in the end.”

“Wh-what mercy?!”

“He allowed me… to end things this way… with dignity.”

A strict father who had barely spoken a kind word his whole life.

But Ma Jinyoon could now faintly understand his true feelings.

“It’s farewell.”

“J-Jinyoon-ah.”

Unlike Jin Yeomyung, who had pressed down lightly with his thumb—

Ma Jinyoon raised his own hand and stabbed his heart.

Thud!

From the ruptured heart, thick black blood began to pour out in streams.

“A-ah…!”

Ma Jinyoon looked at his trembling second brother, who stood helplessly, and gently embraced him with his other arm.

“Hyungnim, you must grow stronger…”

Blood seeped not only from his heart but also from his seven orifices.

“Not just in will—but in everything.”

However, instead of spilling to the floor, the blood took on a strange motion and began to envelop Ma Chulsoo’s entire body.

As if the blood itself had a will of its own.

With each drop that left his body, Ma Jinyoon’s voice grew fainter.

“Do you remember… the day Brother Jeongcheon first sent an assassin after me?”

“……I do.”

“You took care of that assassin… and then stormed over to Brother Jeongcheon, yelling at him not to touch me or Sister Yeonhee. That we had nothing to do with it.”

“……That’s right.”

“From that day on, I made up my mind to follow you, Hyungnim. I thought someone like you should be the one to stand at the pinnacle of our clan.”

Chzzzzz!

As if entrusting his very soul, Ma Jinyoon’s life force began to flow into Ma Chulsoo.

And through the memory carried by that blood, a sword technique was etched into Ma Chulsoo’s mind.

“So from this moment on, you must never shed tears again.”

Ma Chulsoo clenched his eyes shut and desperately nodded his head.

“Yes, never again. I’ll never show such weakness again—not like today.”

He couldn’t bear to imagine it.

What his younger brother must look like right now, as he held him in his arms.

“I must… fulfill our dream… Tell the Young Cult Leader… I’m sorry…”

With those final words, Ma Jinyoon’s head dropped.

“Ah…”

A groan of pain escaped Ma Chulsoo’s lips.

“AAAAAAAAAAH!”

At the same time—

The massive stream of blood swirling around him began to dye Ma Chulsoo’s body completely.

In response, shamanic patterns started to emerge all over his skin.

“……”

Just moments earlier, Ma Seonghwan had been filled with bloodlust from his fight with me. But now, he stood dazed, silently watching his second son inherit the Heaven-Slaying Star.

‘Still… he is a father, huh?’

My senses told me what he was feeling.

The emotion Ma Seonghwan was experiencing now… was sorrow.

If he were simply grieving the loss of the Heaven-Slaying Star, there should also be anger or resentment toward Ma Chulsoo.

But from Ma Seonghwan, no such emotions could be sensed.

Perhaps about half a quarter-hour passed.

The massive blood vortex gradually subsided, and Ma Chulsoo, still cradling Ma Jinyoon’s shriveled, mummified body, slowly stood up.

‘…Ma Chulsoo.’

I focused on Ma Chulsoo’s next move.

Even though Ma Jinyoon had confidently passed it on, it was still the Heaven-Slaying Star.

If Ma Chulsoo had acquired it while emotionally unstable, it could result in unintended side effects.

“Clan Head.”

Thankfully, the worry I had did not come to pass.

“I’d like to make a grave… for Jinyoon.”

“……”

Holding his younger brother’s corpse, Ma Chulsoo stepped toward his father and gave a small bow.

Ma Seonghwan remained silent for a moment, gazing down at Ma Jinyoon’s closed eyes.

Then, he gave a soft nod of approval.

“So be it.”

“Thank you.”

Shwing!

Whether he had truly lost all will to fight, Ma Seonghwan sheathed his sword without another word.

Then, with his signature calm tone, he made a shocking declaration.

“Second son of the Blood Dragon Demonic Clan, Ma Chulsoo.”

“Yes, Clan Head.”

“From today onward, you are the heir apparent.”

“……!!”

“Once you return to the clan, prepare for your succession training.”

Even though much had already been invested in the eldest, Ma Jeongcheon—

It didn’t matter.

In the Blood Dragon Demonic Clan, Ma Seonghwan’s word was absolute.

“Understood, Clan Head.”

I was stunned by Ma Seonghwan’s sudden declaration, but Ma Chulsoo, having finally achieved his goal, did not seem particularly joyful.

‘Well… that makes sense.’

He had climbed to this position not through his own efforts, but over the sacrifice of his family. Even I wouldn’t be able to truly rejoice in that.

“Let’s return. I don’t think we’ll have any more reason to come here.”

Just as he said, the once-grand Research Cavern had been utterly destroyed by my brief fight with Ma Seonghwan—beyond recognition.

‘Still… I suppose I survived and gained some recognition.’

I tucked the archive scroll—the only tangible reward from this place—into my robes.

I hadn’t read all of it yet. Even if it didn’t contain any unnecessary truths, there might be valuable information about the Heaven-Defying Society that I didn’t know yet.

And with that, one incident came to an end.

A wave of exhaustion washed over me—and with it, a sense of longing.

‘I want to see Cheon Yura.’

* * *

“Young Master Jin!”

The moment I stepped out of the cave with Ma Chulsoo and Ma Seonghwan, Baek Sang-ah practically charged at me, nearly shrieking.

“Lady Baek…”

“W-what happened to you?! What’s with this state?!”

“Haha, let’s just say… something happened.”

Something akin to an infernal-difficulty boss fight, really.

“I-I thought something terrible had happened to you…”

Baek Sang-ah looked on the verge of tears. I suppose if she’d seen the true form of the Sword Demon, she’d certainly have thought so.

“It’s over now. Don’t worry.”

I gently patted her head, then turned my gaze to Cheon Jeonmun of the Four Elders.

He was currently speaking with Ma Seonghwan, who had just exited the cave.

“You kept your promise.”

“I told you I wouldn’t kill him, didn’t I?”

“Still, I thought you’d at least take an arm. The entire Iron Steed Prison Cave was shaking—I thought for sure you’d broken our agreement.”

“……”

Cheon Jeonmun asked with a faint, teasing smile.

“So, now that you’ve experienced it, how was it?”

To this, Ma Seonghwan narrowed his eyes and responded with a loaded statement.

“I can’t shake the feeling that I made a foolish promise.”

“Hoho, is that so?”

“He used some kind of unknown external force. If he hadn’t stuck to his sword techniques until the end… I would’ve been cut down.”

Even Ma Seonghwan had not fully grasped the nature of that force.

Despite its overwhelming power, it somehow felt… sacred, rather than demonic.

Cheon Jeonmun stroked his beard with visible amusement.

“For someone of your caliber to speak so cautiously about a mere late-stage cultivator… The world truly is changing.”

Ma Seonghwan’s gaze turned for a moment toward someone.

“Well now, should we really still be calling him a mere late-stage cultivator…?”

“Indeed. Since you reached the state of Demon-Shedding, you haven’t had such a satisfying fight, have you? So much so that you didn’t even notice the wound on your arm?”

“……!!”

At those words, Ma Seonghwan’s eyes widened as he lifted his left arm.

There, he suddenly saw traces of blood that had flowed along the back of his hand.

“This… when did…”

Only then did he realize when the injury had occurred.

That technique—where his sword strike was rebounded back at him in a massive spiral—it was practically a self-detonation move.

Because of the following events—his son’s death, the appointment of a new heir—he had failed to notice it until now.

“Truly remarkable.”

He had thought he’d already been surprised enough today, but this, he admitted, was genuinely astonishing.

“We’ll have to keep a close watch on the Jin Clan from now on.”

“Do you intend to reject their outstretched hand?”

“If not, then we might as well go together. If it’s Chulsoo… he won’t fall behind.”

“Of course. You worked hard enough to commit such a ‘forbidden act,’ after all.”

“…….”

At the mention of a forbidden act, Ma Seonghwan’s eyes twitched slightly.

“You would’ve preferred if it had been your eldest son in that role.”

“Let’s end that line of talk here.”

If he allowed him to keep speaking, there was no telling how deep the wounds would be pried open.

Ma Seonghwan hurriedly turned his body away.

“I’ll be taking my leave. I’ll handle the aftermath properly.”

“Leaving already?”

“This prolonged standoff must be uncomfortable for you as well. Besides… I need to return and build my son’s grave…”

Cheon Jeonmun’s eyes widened slightly.

Anyone who knew the usual Ma Seonghwan would have reacted the same way.

“I didn’t think you were such an emotional man. Fine. But before you go, pay a visit to that Jin brat. If you don’t clear things properly, more cracks could form.”

“I will.”

As the figure of the Demonic Sword of the Demon Path walked away, it seemed far too small to be that of a giant.

Cheon Jeonmun looked after him with a slightly complicated expression.

“My condolences for your son.”

“I’ve no intention of ending this with the head of some lowlife like O-ro. Everyone involved… will have to be prepared to bear the weight of my wrath.”

“Yes… you’re one of the few people with the right to say such things.”

It was, in effect, the moment the Blood Dragon Demonic Clan—one of the dominant clans among the Six Great Demonic Clans—took Cheon Yura’s side.

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