Chapter 354: Bound Beast (2)

On the day the Demonic Faction Lord was confirmed, the former Cult Leader spoke to me on the Cheon Clan’s Night.

“Yura, who was born with the Divine Demonic Physique by using the remains of the Heavenly Demon Founder, fundamentally harbors another’s demonic nature within her.”

“You mean the Founder’s demonic nature.”

He nodded.

“Given Yura’s aptitude, she’ll eventually be able to overcome that demonic nature. But we must prepare for the worst-case scenario.”

“…Worst-case scenario?”

“Of course, I mean the possibility that Yura fails to overcome the demonic nature and is devoured by it.”

“……”

Devoured by demonic nature.

In truth, I had never once considered such a future.

In the ‘future of the past’ I had experienced, Yura never once showed signs of being overtaken or rampaging due to demonic nature.

To me, the only image burned into my mind was her final moment—her body torn apart and lifeless.

‘No, perhaps her growth was simply stunted compared to her true potential.’

Either way, to resolve Yura’s demonic nature, I would need a method.

“Is there a method?”

He replied without hesitation.

“There is none, for now.”

“……”

“Your gaze is quite irreverent.”

“Wouldn’t anyone feel the same?”

Isn’t this just him saying he’s dumping all the burdens on me because he’s on his way out?

“Of course, I could personally remove the demonic nature slumbering within Yura.”

“Then why not do so?”

“But if I do that, Yura will lose all her driving force and talent. She’ll freeze as she is. Quite literally, a gemstone losing its light and becoming just a stone.”

“……”

As he looked at my now-cold expression, he gave a bitter smile.

“Your eyes seem to be saying this—‘As her father, her safety should come before anything else.’”

“That’s right.”

“But I too am a martial artist. And I’m also a follower of the Cult, which the world calls the Demonic Cult.”

He let out a low sigh.

“To take away a martial artist’s potential is more cruel than taking their life.”

“Even if Yura were to become a mere ordinary person, I would still love her.”

“Indeed. That sentiment is why I came to recognize you. But.”

He shook his head firmly.

“From a martial artist’s perspective, that’s also a selfish declaration.”

“……”

“Do you really think that child would accept becoming like that?”

I could not answer his question.

Taken to the extreme, this would be akin to shattering someone’s dantian just because of the risk of Qi Deviation.

Of course, even if Yura maintained her current realm, it wouldn’t be a huge issue for ruling over the Cult. But still…

‘…Damn it.’

I might end up watching, for a lifetime, as Yura struggled in agony from having lost her martial potential.

“Of course, I’m not claiming to be selfless, either.”

He turned his body and looked up at the sky.

“I enjoy imposing trials. Even if it results in rivers of blood or drags unrelated lives into chaos.”

People grow stronger as they overcome adversity.

But he cared not at all who might get caught in the process.

“If I may offer one piece of advice—it would be wise to search more thoroughly for the Founder’s traces.”

“You mean the Founder’s traces?”

“My prediction is this—the Founder probably never fully overcame his own demonic nature.”

“……!”

“Even if he reached the Supreme Demon Realm, unlike Yura who merely bears a fragment, what he harbored would have been entirely different.”

A fragment of the Demonic Immortal.

“Yet in the end, the Cult safely passed down through generations, and peace reigned in the Central Plains. Perhaps somewhere in that process… lies the answer.”

* * *

I had found it.

The answer.

Right before my eyes stood an old man bound, emitting corrupted demonic qi from his entire body.

No—not a man, but something wearing the shape of an old man.

The form of the old man began to twist like writhing black fog, gradually transforming into a massive black wolf-like being.

Its size rivaled that of a small hill, and its grotesque face was covered entirely in eyes.

–You dare… attempt to drink the Punishment Brew!

The only reassurance I had was that it remained bound by massive chains.

“A wolf… I’ve fought something similar before.”

Not alone, of course. I had plenty of help back then.

When I didn’t respond, the creature growled more fiercely and unleashed its murderous intent.

–Even those others only managed to seal me. You, far weaker than they, think you can do more?!

“We’ll see soon enough.”

I extended Heaven-Slaying Qi as far as I could and hurled it at the creature.

Kwa-gwa-gwang!

The Heaven-Slaying Qi exploded, shrouding the area in thick black fog for a moment.

However—

–Was that all?

Despite its size being more than enough to sever the creature’s neck, the Heaven-Slaying Qi couldn’t even penetrate the chains binding it.

‘As expected…’

Those black chains were not only its shackles—they also served as armor protecting it.

Even if I could exploit a gap in the chains, an ordinary sword qi would never wound it.

If that were possible, it wouldn’t have been left sealed.

“Well then, time to get serious.”

Heart Sword – Heaven-Piercing Annihilation

Sensing the threat within Heaven-Piercing Annihilation, imbued with sword intent, the creature let out a roar.

–Do you think I’ll let that go unanswered?!

Its massive jaws lunged at me in an instant.

I dodged its strike and unleashed Heaven-Piercing Annihilation.

Thus began the battle between me and the beast.

***

“Ugh…!”

Gu Chil glared at the spot where Jin Yeomyung had disappeared.

Before long, he clicked his tongue in frustration and sighed.

“Ah, damn that Young Master! What the hell is he thinking, vanishing all of a sudden?!”

So Soryu slipped her arm around his and asked,

“What shall we do, Brother?”

Gu Chil let out a heavy sigh.

“What else? We follow orders for now.”

No matter how shitty it was, if the command came down, they had to obey.

That was the way of this world.

Gu Chil dispersed the Underworld King Unit to prepare for a possible reinforcement from the Evil Refining Sect, then remained behind with So Soryu at the site where Jin Yeomyung had vanished.

“What kind of formation makes a person disappear like that?”

So Soryu also stepped around curiously, pressing her foot into the ground.

“Doesn’t seem like a Maze Formation… Feels more like a physically hidden space.”

“Hmm…”

“Hmmm…”

Their expressions twisted in an instant.

“……!”

“……?!”

Because an entirely unexpected second groan echoed out.

Paht!

Reacting instinctively, So Soryu hurled a hidden weapon at the source.

“Soryu, wait…!”

Sensing something unusual about the opponent, Gu Chil tried to stop her.

But the weapon had already been thrown.

However—

There was no sound of impact.

“Hm, Spiral Phantom Killing Dagger, is it? Not bad.”

“…Who are you?”

Seeing the opponent see right through her technique, So Soryu tensed to the limit.

“But still far from enough. You’re disqualified.”

“What?”

The moment those words were spoken—

So Soryu felt something black flying toward her neck.

‘……!!!’

In a single fleeting instant, she thought,

Ah.

So this is how I die.

But her thought did not become reality.

Kkagagagak!

A streak of thunder qi stretched out in front of her throat and pushed back the black force.

“You fool!”

She was shoved back by Gu Chil’s forceful hand.

It was that single instant of judgment from Gu Chil that saved So Soryu’s life.

“Ho? Thunder Kill?”

Only then did a glint appear in the opponent’s eyes.

‘He even knows about Thunder Kill?’

Gu Chil shielded So Soryu and asked respectfully,

“May I ask who you are, sir?”

“I am the gatekeeper of this place.”

Only after some time did the opponent’s form begin to reveal itself.

‘What is this?’

It didn’t feel like a normal lifeform. More like something painted into reality.

“To be precise, I am another beast bound here for a thousand years.”

“……”

The opponent was an old man. Except for the area around his eyes, his entire face bore the marks of horrific burns.

But his appearance didn’t matter. He was dangerous.

That strike just now—

Gu Chil barely managed to counter it with Thunder Kill. Had they exchanged just a few more moves, he wouldn’t be sure of So Soryu’s life—or even his own.

That alone proved that this old man who appeared now was a ridiculous monster.

Yet—

For some reason, the old man smiled warmly at Gu Chil.

“Hm, you pass.”

“…Pass?”

“My original duty was to ensure that when this gate opened, no riffraff could interfere.”

The old man straightened his hunched back and stood up.

“But you two do not seem to be such riffraff.”

“Well… I suppose not?”

“Good. That’s good.”

What exactly was good?

Gu Chil wanted to ask, but held his tongue.

“Anyway, now that our true successor has finally shown himself, this wretched time may finally end.”

The old man did not show any particular hostility toward Gu Chil and So Soryu.

However…

His gaze toward Gu Chil carried a strange hunger.

“Senior Brother Hwan said there would be two successors in this era… but the more the better, no? Talents like yours don’t come by just searching.”

“What do you mean by…”

“My name is So Jeong.”

“……”

Though his words were cut off, Gu Chil turned over the name in his head to remember it.

So Jeong. So Jeong. The So Clan. So… So Family… Clan Leader… First Clan Leader… Death Demon… God!

He had heard it once.

From his lord, Jin Yeomyung.

The personal names of the six First Clan Leaders, who were the direct disciples of the Heavenly Demon Founder and founders of the Heavenly Demon Cult and Six Great Demonic Clans…!

And among them, there definitely was—!

“Come, disciple.”

So Jeong’s eyes gleamed with a wild light.

“Become one who scatters death.”

***

-Release my chains at once!

Kwa-gwa-gwang!

The wolf’s forepaw slammed into the ground, further shattering the already dead earth.

-The time when the demon descends from the heavens is drawing near. None but this body shall be able to stop him!

Even with all its powers sealed, it pressed forward with nothing but brute physical strength.

But that physical strength alone was absurdly overwhelming.

‘At this rate, it’s going to be tough.’

I had already hammered its body with Heart Sword for over a hundred seconds.

But even the supreme Heart Sword couldn’t inflict a critical blow on it.

‘If it were the Underworld Net Sword, it might deal a proper hit… but a single strike wouldn’t be enough.’

In the end, would I have to use my final trump card?

I reached for the small hand mirror I had kept hidden in my robes.

After I became the Demonic Faction Lord, I had poured in more resources than I spent raising the Underworld King Unit to charge it—a finishing arrangement.

With this, I could surely…

“Oh! You’re holding out quite well!”

Just then, a short exclamation pierced into my ear.

“My Junior! Still, wouldn’t it be a shame to use the Mirror of Karma now? From the look of it, you only have one use left!”

Despite the deafening chaos of battle and destruction all around, the voice struck clearly into my ears.

Unconsciously, I turned my head toward the voice.

And when I saw who had suddenly appeared, my lips parted slightly.

“Senior Brother Hwan Seong?!”

He had aged far beyond the last time I saw him—he had become a true old man.

But just as I remembered, Hwan Seong greeted me with a warm smile.

“It’s been a while, My Junior.”

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