Episode 28: The Twelve Styles of Asura (2)
The Twelve Styles of Asura.
It was a martial art passed down through the House of Sado, the clan of Sado Hwan. Like the mythical Asura ceaselessly wielding blades, the technique relentlessly overwhelmed opponents with intricate and unending trajectories of attacks.
[How did you manage to perform that?]
“Cough. Let’s… calm down first. I feel like I’m about to die.”
My skull felt like it was splitting apart, and every joint in my body throbbed as if slightly dislocated. Especially my arms, which had clashed swords—they were trembling like leaves in a storm.
Definitely not something I could do twice. Honestly, I didn’t even remember what exactly I did. It felt more like luck played a part. And it hadn’t even produced that great of a result—just pushed the statues back a little. Yet I was in critical condition.
Damn it, if I had to get possessed, why couldn’t it have been someone like Yun Yeopja? Then I could just unleash sword force and cut everything down.
[Spread your inner energy broadly through your whole body, like you’re filling yourself with water.]
I followed Skybreaker’s instructions. The inner energy moved according to my will, quickly dispersing through my entire body. That alone was a small blessing—unlike other martial artists who needed to sit cross-legged and chant mind arts, I didn’t need any of that. As long as I willed it, the energy moved on its own.
[The Asura Demon Emperor Divine Art really is amazing. No other martial art lets you move inner energy purely by will.]
No, it’s not.
This wasn’t thanks to the Asura Demon Emperor Divine Art. Skybreaker didn’t know it, but I’d been fooled since childhood. This was the power of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
And that wasn’t the only thing.
“Huu—”
Wherever the inner energy passed, my body recovered rapidly. The intense pain began to fade. The swelling in my wrists visibly reduced right before my eyes.
Of course, the internal damage wasn’t fully healed. I didn’t know much about blood pathways, but I felt a stomachache—not like a stomach bug, but definitely something.
[Still… amazing.]
Told you, it’s not that art.
This recovery ability, too, came from the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. The art, shaped by the eccentric will of the first Heavenly Demon, demanded that one fight endlessly, without rest. That’s also why it didn’t require energy circulation—after all, who has time for that mid-battle?
To others, it might sound insane. But for me, it was a blessing.
At least now I had proof—my body was solid.
“Whew. I can breathe again.”
In about five minutes, I’d recovered enough to stand.
[So, how the hell did that happen?]
“What do you mean how? I copied you.”
[…You copied me?]
“You remember that time you went nuts under the moonlight and started performing the Twelve Styles of Asura?”
That night when Skybreaker had flown up alone to practice the form, trying to purge the toxic internal energy, and I was mistaken for a descendant of the Medicine Immortal by Tang Siyuk.
[Don’t tell me you mimicked the form just from seeing it once? That’s absurd…]
“Don’t overreact. It was just a shallow imitation.”
I gestured toward the rubble of the statues.
“If I’d done the real thing, would that be the result?”
[Well… you’re not wrong. I get it now.]
If I’d truly used the Twelve Styles of Asura, I wouldn’t have just repelled the statues—they would’ve been diced to pieces by an unending flurry of slashes.
But what I did was just a single strike. Not even a full form—just one move from the opening sequence.
[If it’s just that much, then fine.]
Skybreaker seemed convinced. It wasn’t the complete technique, nor even a full sequence—just one clumsily imitated motion. In a world full of geniuses, even the neighborhood dog could probably pull off something like that.
“Still… it’s weird, no matter how you look at it.”
My talent was terrible. Copying a technique after seeing it once was impossible for someone like me. To be honest, I’d acted more out of shock than intention—closer to muscle memory.
‘That strange phenomenon.’
Letters had appeared in my mind. Words describing a scene from Return of the Murim. It was the passage where the genius Sado Hwan first performed the Twelve Styles of Asura. When I saw that, the one strike I’d made felt complete.
‘I still don’t understand what’s going on.’
And the treasure atop the altar? It wasn’t what I expected. I’d assumed it was the treasured relic that let people without inner energy use Transmission Sound.
But this wasn’t a treasured relic.
It was a Mystic Object.
Treasured relics had traceable origins. Mystic objects, however, were supernatural items whose origins were unknown.
[An Orb of Jade, huh.]
Jade orbs were a special subclass of mystic objects, usually taking the form of marbles. Mystic objects were rare, but jade orbs were so rare they were practically never found.
‘Even the Heavenly Demon’s secret vault only has two jade orbs. That says it all.’
Just by looking at it, you could tell it was extraordinary. Its material resembled transparent glass, but inside, a dark blue energy swirled like a vortex.
The defining trait of jade orbs was “absorption.” When crushed, the orb could be absorbed into the body. Even someone without inner energy would gain a unique ability. If the person died, the energy would return, reforming the orb.
That’s why it wasn’t a relic—but a mystic object.
“Well, it’s probably a gain.”
[Depends on what kind of orb it is.]
I searched the altar, but there was no information.
Jade orbs were rare and powerful—but not all were beneficial. Some were outright dangerous. For example, the Golden Orb. It sounded great, but its power turned everything it touched into gold.
Obviously ripped from the legend of King Midas.
This world was, after all, born from the imagination of Return of the Murim’s author, who often drew inspiration from myths and folklore. The Golden Orb was just one example.
So yeah—jade orbs were risky.
“Still, I should absorb it.”
[It could be dangerous.]
“Danger’s unavoidable anyway.”
I was painfully reminded of how weak I really was during the statue fight. My signature move—pressuring with bloodlust through Black Cow Vein—might work on average martial artists, but not real masters.
If I wanted to survive in this world, I had to strengthen myself in every way. If survival required drinking poison—I’d drink it gladly.
“Here goes.”
I clenched the orb.
Crack!
Like shattering glass, a strange phenomenon occurred. The dark blue energy within the orb rose like smoke, coiling around my right hand.
I felt a faint prick on the back of my hand, like a needle. Then, the blue smoke began to absorb into my skin.
A pattern I’d never seen before began etching itself into the back of my hand like a glowing tattoo. Something like a >>> symbol, with dark blue light pulsing as if it were alive.
It was visible only to me. A kind of hidden marker—like a status bar.
I knew that because—
“Oh…”
The moment the mark formed, information about the orb appeared in my mind. That was a basic function of jade orbs.
“Jackpot.”
I’d unexpectedly acquired an incredible mystic object. Not the Transmission Sound item I’d hoped for—but something that perfectly addressed another issue I’d been wrestling with.
[What kind of orb is it?]
I turned my gaze.
Sppat—!
In an instant, my vision shifted. I found myself standing five meters away from my original spot. Where I’d just been, a faint blue human-shaped afterimage flickered briefly before vanishing.
[...Spatial Shift?!]
Spatial Shift. A supreme level of movement technique that left behind only an afterimage. To reach it, one had to master body techniques, footwork, and lightness arts to an extreme level. With it, even running across water was possible.
But what I’d done wasn’t that.
I relayed the knowledge that had appeared in my mind to Skybreaker.
“The orb I absorbed is called the Blink Orb. Its effect is as you saw—short-range teleportation. It can even bypass obstacles.”
It was exactly like the blink skill from a game. With enough range, you could even jump over walls.
Unlike footwork techniques, it didn’t require specific posture. You could use it lying down if you wanted. However, momentum carried over. If you blinked while running, you’d still be running after you reappeared.
[That’s ridiculous.]
“And you flying around, talking, and draining energy isn’t?”
Skybreaker went silent, seemingly out of comebacks.
To be fair, Skybreaker itself was one of the highest-tier treasures. Unbreakable, capable of flight, absorbing energy—and even talking. Any one of those would cause wars over it, yet it had them all.
According to legend, whoever mastered Skybreaker would rule the world.
“Still… blinking makes me a little dizzy.”
Well, I was just an average guy until recently. It made sense that suddenly teleporting through space would throw me off.
“I’ll get used to it. Hehehe…”
Once I adapt, the ways I can use this thing are practically limitless.
[Don’t make that smug face using my body. Wipe it off. The others are coming.]
“Oh, really? I don’t look too beat up, right?”
[Brush off the dust and you’ll look fine.]
I quickly dusted myself off and adjusted my clothes.
“Sir—!”
At the approaching voice, I slowly turned around.
***
The narrow cliff path hidden by the mist had been longer than expected. Even walking slowly and carefully to avoid traps, they’d been on it for nearly thirty minutes.
“Tch.”
Paeng Soso walked up beside Tang Siyuk. He tried to step away but scowled, realizing they were on a narrow cliff.
“Aren’t you worried? He’s your brother, right? Something sounded off in there. And what was with the sudden fire?”
“Worried? About who? Sir?”
Tang Siyuk snorted.
“Worry about yourself. That man—Sir—is someone from the East—”
“From the East?”
“A man of high status.”
“So what? Even nobles bleed when you stab them in the gut.”
“Anyway! There’s nothing to worry about. You said he’s your future husband, right? So why the concern? Not that he’d care anyway!”
Yun Yeopja nodded in agreement.
Paeng Soso was confused.
‘Wait… even his own sworn brother’s acting like that? And that high-level Kunlun Taoist too?’
She’d been half-joking when she called him her husband. Maybe if he turned out to be strong and competent, she’d reconsider. But so far, it was all circumstantial.
Still, their reactions were making her wonder.
They weren’t the only ones talking.
Saweol and Tak Horak followed quietly behind, keeping low profiles. That’s why no one was paying them much attention.
—Will he be okay?
—I don’t know.
—Should I rush ahead and check? Those orthodox bastards keep calling him “Sir” and it’s pissing me off. Want me to shove them off the path?
—Tak Horak.
—Yes, Vice-Captain. Just give the order.
—Then here’s your order: shut up.
Click. Saweol clicked her tongue and thought:
‘What is he really planning?’
She couldn’t understand Sado Hwan’s intentions. Was he showing off high-level martial arts? Was he after the relic? Or—as Gwak Jin suspected—was he really planning to betray the cult and join the Martial World?
Saweol shook her head.
“No point being curious. After all…”
After all, she would kill him with her own hands.
Eventually, the group entered the cave chamber where the altar stood.
“Sir—!”
Sado Hwan slowly turned. His breathing was calm, and though his robes were a little dusty, he didn’t look the least bit flustered. He was quietly sheathing his sword—his movement graceful, aristocratic.
“These statues… what in the world…”
Sado Hwan replied calmly.
“They were the ruin’s guardians.”
“You… took care of them alone?”
Paeng Soso muttered in disbelief. She prided herself on being an expert in ruins. She’d never seen guardians like these, but from what she knew, they weren’t something one could take down alone. The proper method was to weaken them with spells, trap them in formations, then strike. That’s why she brought Jo-yang with her.
Paeng Soso walked over to the remains of the statues. She drew her saber and swung with all her might.
Kkaaaang!
A piercing noise rang out. The blade barely scratched a finger-sized mark.
“You… sliced through this so cleanly?”
The cross-sections of the shattered statues were unbelievably precise. If it hadn’t been done in one strike, in one breath, such clean cuts wouldn’t exist.
She turned back toward him.
Despite displaying such unbelievable skill, Sado Hwan stood there calmly—as if nothing had happened.
Thump.
Paeng Soso’s heart began to race.