Episode 19 – Sword Energy
Inn, annex.
When I returned, Saweol and Tak Horak were waiting with the same look as puppies about to be scolded for making a mess—nervous and fidgeting. Since they were masters, they probably sensed me approaching. I wasn’t exactly skilled at hiding my presence.
That only made it worse for them. It was as if I were approaching while silently saying, “You’re dead.”
With a stony face, I pushed open the door and entered my room.
Then I sat at the table and poured a cup of tea that had gone cold. Normally, this is when Saweol would coldly ask, “Shall I pour the tea?” but now her fingers just twitched.
Honestly, I wanted to splash the tea in her face like a mother-in-law from a trashy drama. But if I did that, I’d be no better than the awful customers I used to deal with.
I drained the cold tea in one gulp and spoke.
“Saweol. Tak Horak. Do you two understand what it is you did today?”
“…We’re sorry.”
“We’re truly sorry!”
“I’m not asking for apologies.”
I continued.
“Even if you had exterminated the Baek and Seo families, a Demon Cult Annihilation Squad would have been formed immediately. The Beggars’ Union already had eyes everywhere. We were one step away from being discovered. Even the Tang Clan of Sichuan had picked up our trail.”
They probably thought something like, “Even if we get found out, we’ll end it quickly.”
But from what I’ve experienced, the Murim Alliance’s intelligence network is terrifying. There are no CCTV cameras or satellites here, yet they’re everywhere.
Since Taeryeong Prefecture is a tiny border town, they’d naturally be extra alert to outsiders.
“There might even be someone with specialized surveillance abilities.”
People like Yun Yeopja or the Sword Saint Maeng Wihak have unique abilities. There could be others the novel Return of the Murim didn’t cover.
Anyway, putting that aside…
“I told you already. If a Demon Cult Annihilation Squad is formed, even if I survive, you’ll die. Did you want to die?”
“Never, never, sir!”
“Then…”
I looked at Tak Horak, who had started making excuses.
“Are you saying you intended to disobey my orders?”
“Absolutely not!”
“I already denied the Supreme Heavenly Demon himself to protect you. But you, Tak Horak—you dared to presume my intent and act on your own? That crime…”
Before I could finish—
Tak Horak suddenly pulled a dagger from his robe and brought it to his neck. I panicked and hurriedly finished my sentence.
“…must be paid for.”
Blood trickled from his neck where the dagger had grazed. Fortunately, he had stopped mid-motion after hearing me.
He’s insane. If I had told him to die, he would have actually done it. It was terrifying. Surely this wasn’t normal for Demon Cultists? If it was… I was in for a rough life.
“I can’t take back a life I spared. However, Tak Horak, from this moment until your return to the Demon Cult, you are stripped of your squad leader status. Furthermore, you’ll spend a month in the Disciplinary Cave.”
Tak Horak’s face turned pale. Just moments ago, he was ready to die, but now he looked like he’d heard something far worse. Saweol, listening beside him, also looked horrified, as if doubting her own ears.
“What? Why?!”
[Didn’t I tell you to just kill him instead?]
‘Is the Disciplinary Cave really that bad?’
[Even you don’t know everything, monster.]
‘What the hell’s in there?’
[Ugh… I don’t even want to talk about it.]
But I couldn’t go back on what I’d said. That would break the cold, strict persona I’d crafted for Sado Hwan. I’d just quietly reduce the sentence later, once the memory of my scolding faded. Maybe to a week? I did benefit from the mess Tak Horak made, after all.
“Vice-Captain Saweol. You’re at fault too. If a subordinate says something absurd, it’s your duty as a superior to stop them.”
“I understand. I’m sorry.”
“Your punishment will be…”
I was about to say “the Disciplinary Cave,” but the way their expressions shifted made me reconsider. It was clear what I knew as the Disciplinary Cave and what they knew were entirely different things.
“…submitted in a formal report. A decision will follow.”
“Thank you, sir!”
Tak Horak gave me a look like What about me? Please?? But I turned away and ignored him. Sorry, pal.
“What about the other members?”
“I ordered them to change clothes and scatter.”
“Make sure none of them act without my direct command.”
“Understood!”
“Go.”
They bowed and left the room.
[So… about Yun Yeopja earlier. What was that all about?]
“What, the nausea thing?”
[Yes.]
“I’ve been wondering—how do you feel nausea without a body?”
[…Get out of me this instant, monster.]
“Kidding.”
[It wasn’t nausea exactly. More like… an unpleasant sensation. Like a bug squirming inside me. Any idea why?]
“I do.”
I placed Skybreaker on the table.
“You know more about martial arts than I do. So tell me, Skybreaker—what exactly is sword energy?”
[It’s not just internal energy being emitted—it’s the process of shaping that energy into a solid form. A weapon imbued with sword energy can slice through steel like paper.]
Even back in the cave when I first arrived in this world, just sword aura alone could cut through soft rock. Sword energy was several times, even hundreds of times, more powerful—a condensed force.
The reason the strength varies so wildly is because—
“That’s not all, right?”
[No. Sword energy can reshape the world.]
“Exactly. That’s the key.”
[Ah… now I get it. Why Yun Yeopja’s sword energy made me feel so repulsed.]
The limit for an ordinary martial artist—not one like Sado Hwan with a special constitution—is Peak. That’s already considered elite.
But to surpass that, to reach Transcendent Peak, something else is needed:
Enlightenment.
Most people accept the laws of nature—fire is hot, ice is cold. But a Transcendent Peak expert is different. They temper their will alongside their martial arts. That powerful will doesn’t just stay as intent—it alters reality.
They create cold flames and burning ice.
They make the impossible possible.
That’s sword energy.
So in the later half of Return of the Murim, once Transcendent Peak experts show up regularly, the whole story becomes a full-on superpower battle. Wild abilities and techniques everywhere.
[So Yun Yeopja has awakened the true qi of Anti-Demon.]
“Looks like it.”
The energy in Skybreaker still came from Dok So-gong, who inherited it from the Poison Demon—his master. Since both were from the Demon Cult, it was natural that their techniques were demonic in nature.
Anti-Demon energy and demonic arts were mortal enemies—so of course Skybreaker reacted badly.
[He’s insane.]
“He’s just one more lunatic… I swear, there are no normal people in this world.”
Martial arts styles reflect the ideology of their sect. Wudang techniques are soft, Mount Hua’s are flashy—that kind of thing.
But some martial artists break from tradition and forge their own path. Yun Yeopja was one of them.
Kunlun’s style is all about freedom—like its famous Eight Forms of the Cloud Dragon, modeled after a dragon soaring freely in the sky.
But Yun Yeopja had awakened an entirely different essence—to destroy the demonic.
[Then why are you fine? If I’ve inherited Surama Emperor Divine Art, it should react.]
Surama Emperor Divine Art—the Sado Clan’s secret martial art.
“I probably haven’t fully awakened yet.”
[Fair. Right now, you might be weaker than a seasoned Peak expert.]
Sword energy is powered by will. If you haven’t refined that will, even after awakening, you might be weaker than someone who’s mastered Peak. Just like brittle steel breaks easily.
“And also…”
[Also?]
“Never mind.”
[Ugh, you frustrating monster.]
Skybreaker assumed what he had learned was Surama Emperor Divine Art. But if it truly was, it would’ve reacted to Anti-Demon energy.
There was only one explanation for the lack of reaction—
I’d learned Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
The progenitor of all demonic techniques. A martial art so domineering that even Anti-Demon energy couldn’t touch it.
One day, I’d have to reveal this.
But for now—
“Sorry, but we need to drain your energy.”
[What?]
“If your energy comes from Dok So-gong, and that’s what’s causing discomfort, removing it should fix the problem.”
[Shouldn’t we keep it just in case? What about when we return to the Demon Cult?]
“They wouldn’t use this energy anyway—it’s too murky and poisonous. Too easy to trace.”
It wasn’t just demonic—it was filled with various poisonous attributes. Far too distinct. Better to start fresh.
Of course, that means I’ll have to kill someone again.
But I want to live.
“Let’s go.”
[Now? In the middle of the night?]
“I went to bed late yesterday. Now I’m wide awake.”
[Hard-working monster, aren’t you.]
I took Skybreaker and headed to the training yard behind the annex. Saweol tried to follow.
“I’m going to train. Leave me be.”
“Yes, Young Hero.”
As I turned to go, I felt a nagging doubt and added:
“Being told to leave doesn’t mean go off and do something stupid. No matter what happens, just watch.”
“Yes, Young Hero.”
After sending Saweol and Tak Horak away, I stepped into the courtyard.
Srrng—
Skybreaker slid from its sheath with a satisfying ring. Thanks to last night’s practice, my draw was smoother now—still a little awkward, but better.
“How about this—why don’t you demonstrate the sword techniques you learned, using sword energy?”
[Now that’s a good idea. I’ve been curious myself. Let’s see the true power of a sword form infused with sword energy.]
Skybreaker floated on its own.
[The Surama Emperor Divine Art has twelve sword forms—the Twelve Styles of Surama.]
I crossed my arms and nodded.
Under the dim moonlight peeking through clouds, the sword floated alone. A faint green glow began to flow along the blade—Dok So-gong’s qi manifesting into sword energy.
It started swinging lightly, as if a human were holding it.
And then—
I have no damn clue what I’m looking at.
Even with my enhanced vision using inner energy, I couldn’t grasp more than “Wow, flashy.” Of course, it looked impressive. The flurry of unpredictable slashes from impossible angles was definitely not something I could ever defend against.
But unlike the protagonists in martial arts novels who suddenly go “So this is what the form means!” I had no such revelation.
Still, I could feel it—speed and destructive power. That much, at least, I could sense, thanks to my knowledge from Return of the Murim.
Then, suddenly—
[…]!
Skybreaker abruptly turned and shot toward a shadowy corner of the training yard. Someone was there.
No!
Attacking someone just because you sense them—that’s the Demon Cult’s way, not mine.
I pulled Skybreaker back midair. Though it was a divine blade, it drank my blood and answered to me. The sword trembled in midair as if caught in a tug-of-war.
And at the end of that line—
…This guy.
Tang Siyuk, the guy who had spent all day doubting and picking fights with me, stood there. He looked utterly shocked.
“…Ah, sh*t.”
Maybe I should’ve just let Skybreaker stab him.
Where the hell was Saweol? But then I remembered…
“No matter what happens, just watch.”
I’d dug my own grave.
What now?
Then—
“Perfect sword flight… the scent of poison… a youthful face… Eastern origin…”
Tang Siyuk muttered, his gaze locking on me.
And then—
“C-could it be… is it really you?!”
Wait, what?
“That scent of poison…!”
Ah. So that’s what he was going on about?
“Yes. You’ve finally realized. That’s right—it’s me.”
I gave up trying to understand and just went with it.