Chapter 36 – The Heavenly Demon Reigns, Ten Thousand Demons Submit
Tang Siyuk wore a deeply furrowed expression. Crumpled sheets of paper lay scattered across the desk before him.
As a contender for the Tang Family’s head, each participant was required to report their activities in a letter every fortnight—a way to prevent them from wasting time.
Letting out a long sigh, Tang Siyuk began writing again.
To Father,
This is your third son, Siyuk.
He furrowed his brow and added two more characters at the end.
—Yak Seon.
And then,
Crkk.
He crumpled the paper once more.
“…What should I do?”
Tang Siyuk was no fool. As a direct descendant of the Tang Family, raised from birth to fight for the patriarch’s seat, the idea that he might be stupid was absurd.
‘Brother is hiding something.’
The Eastern Sword Dragon, heir of the Medicine Immortal Yak Seon, from the Eastern lands—strong, righteous, a hero as if painted with a brush. He’d made Tang Siyuk feel ashamed of his own shortcomings. That’s why he wanted to become like him. That’s why he tried to change.
But that didn’t mean the man was transparent. He was definitely hiding something.
Especially that guard.
Siyuk had been trapped in the same corridor as Tak Horak during the ruins incident. The man didn't act like a normal bodyguard. His aura was darker, more… twisted.
‘Even Master Yun Yeopja sensed it.’
Yun Yeopja, possessing the aura of Destructive Flame, had sent a secret transmission to Siyuk saying something about Tak Horak's internal energy gave off a presence similar to demonic energy.
Not to mention, Horak never once responded to Yun Yeopja’s words—almost like it was forbidden.
In truth, it was because he was trained to never speak to those who possess the Eye of Truth, but Siyuk and Yun Yeopja didn’t know that. To them, it was simply suspicious.
Which naturally led to suspicion of the Eastern Sword Dragon himself. His closest man gave off demonic energy?
But then, when Brother collapsed, Yun Yeopja sent another transmission.
That he sensed nothing unusual from Brother. That not even his Pama aura reacted.
‘Which means…’
In the end, Siyuk couldn't write anything about the Eastern Sword Dragon in his letter.
No matter how controlled she was, the Witch of the Small Marsh had been taken down. The same woman the Dao King had barely defeated over three days and nights in his prime.
He wasn’t just strong. He was too strong.
‘Even that smug bastard from the Namgung Clan isn’t on this level.’
And this man was hiding something?
Siyuk knew the laws of Martial World all too well.
Even the slightest threat—they would try to eliminate it.
Even if he was the heir to the Medicine Immortal, even if he was the rightful owner of the Black Feather Fan—it wouldn’t matter.
Would his father, receiving this in a letter, feel the same?
‘Probably not.’
He couldn’t be sure. But not writing about Dong-yun at all would mean failing to justify two wasted weeks. And since Siyuk was the only one who knew the Eastern Sword Dragon’s true identity, it would be seen as a failure to recover the fan.
Benefit, or humanity?
Siyuk agonized.
And then… decided not to send the letter at all.
‘I’ll just explain it in person.’
It wasn’t like he was lying, after all.
‘Brother will rise to power in Martial World anyway.’
Though a newcomer, he already bore the title Eastern Sword Dragon. His fame would only grow—and once it did, not even the great clans would treat him lightly.
‘Just like the cult leader, the Supreme Heavenly Demon.’
That thought comforted Siyuk.
Just then, a Tang Clan guard approached.
“Sir.”
“What is it?”
“The Eastern Sword Dragon is departing.”
“Brother?”
Siyuk leapt to his feet.
“Where is he?”
“He’s downstairs, in the inn.”
“I have to see him. Oh, and—”
Siyuk turned back to the guard.
“We were never at the ruins. Got it?”
“Sir? But…”
“Don’t report anything. Understood?”
Caught off-guard by his firm tone, the guard nodded. Satisfied, Siyuk patted him on the shoulder and strode off like the wind.
“…Wow, he really changed in just two weeks.”
Normally, he’d have gotten kicked in the shins.
“…But I already sent the report, though.”
The guard scratched his head sheepishly.
“Brother! Brotherrr!”
Tang Siyuk ran up with a beaming face.
Why is this guy so clingy? He seemed normal at first.
“You’re here.”
“I heard you’re leaving.”
“There’s work to be done.”
“That’s a shame…”
Siyuk’s eyes shone with emotion.
***
“Creepy. Get away.”
“So cold! It breaks my heart…”
“Anyway.”
Yun Yeopja set down the tea he’d been drinking and spoke.
“Which direction are you headed?”
Thankfully, Yun Yeopja didn’t use the Eye of Truth on me. It seemed he fully trusted me.
“I’ll be heading toward the desert. Planning to take a boat down the river, then cross overland.”
“A grueling journey.”
Of course, I wasn’t actually going to the desert. I’d take the boat, then veer toward the Heavenly Demon Cult.
“And what about you, Master Yun Yeopja? Will you return to Kunlun?”
Yun Yeopja shook his head.
“No. I’ve decided to travel the Martial World.”
“Martial World travel?”
“Watching you, I’ve realized something. This world is vast, and there are countless people within it. I need to experience more—to internalize what I’ve realized. And more importantly…”
Yun Yeopja’s expression turned serious.
“I think an era of chaos is approaching.”
Siyuk’s eyes widened.
“Kunlun can divine the heavens too? Then can you read my fortune?”
“That’s more of a Jeonjin or Mosan Sect specialty.”
“Then what do you mean by chaos?”
Yun Yeopja replied:
“Powerful individuals are emerging one after another—yourself, Paeng Soso, even me, though I’m embarrassed to say. So many experts appearing in one generation… it’s a sign. Chaos is coming.”
It might have been an uncanny insight. In Return of the Murim, the world also grew unstable as martial power skyrocketed.
Perhaps insight gained through enlightenment really was something else.
“Right. I heard something similar happened a hundred years ago, during the Heavenly Demon’s Bloody Reign. Lots of powerful warriors appeared, and a tragedy followed.”
Even Siyuk had the same thought. Looks like his “intelligence debuff” wore off before parting.
“What about you?”
“I’ll return to Sichuan for now. Didn’t really achieve anything, so I’ll probably get chewed out.”
His goal was the Black Feather Fan, after all. And I had it now.
I felt a little guilty.
“There’s a place in Southern Barbaria—called Yirung.”
“Yirung? Never heard of it.”
“It’s not even on maps. A tiny village, supposedly. Find a mountain there with a snake-shaped rock. There’s a spiritual creature dwelling there.”
“A spiritual beast? Is that true?”
“Yes. It’s real.”
In Return of the Murim, it was a venomous creature acquired by the Tang heir Dang Siyul. Better that Siyuk get it than that madman.
For the Tang Clan, masters of poison, such a creature was like an army in itself.
“But be careful. If you’re not at least Peak Realm, it’ll consume you instead.”
“Peak…”
Siyuk bit his lip.
He was only 21. Not a genius. Reaching Peak Realm wasn’t something he could do quickly.
But in this world, you die if you’re not a genius.
I didn’t want him to die. I’d grown fond of the guy.
“I’ll do my best.”
“You do that.”
I patted his shoulder and stood.
“It’s time. Farewell.”
Yun Yeopja, Siyuk, and I gave each other respectful martial bows.
“Let’s go, Saweol.”
And so, we departed for the Heavenly Demon Cult.
***
Not far from the ruins flowed a large tributary of the Baekhoe River. It stretched from Qinghai all the way to the desert, with powerful currents and violent bends—few boats dared to cross it.
The water was a murky yellow-brown from all the silt and rapid flow.
Saweol, Tak Horak, and I followed the river’s edge for several days. Fortunately, no one was tailing us.
After about five days, we arrived at a hidden dock obscured by forest.
A large ship was moored there, big enough for dozens of people.
Fweee! Fwee-fwee!
Tak Horak whistled in a strange pattern.
Fwee-fwee-fwee!
A reply came from the ship.
Sssshk.
As if they’d been there the whole time, black-clad figures appeared on deck.
“We greet the Lord!”
It was the Black Shadow Corps.
[Excellent.]
Skybreaker sounded pleased.
[You finally stopped playing nice with those righteous sect bastards.]
“You love titles way too much.”
Skybreaker was funny like that. Despite having the power of a second-rate martial artist, he still acted like nobility.
Though that was part of the gaslighting, I guess.
Now, I couldn’t let my guard down. Once I returned to the Cult, enemies would be everywhere.
I boarded the ship. In the largest cabin, Saweol and Tak Horak followed me in.
“We’ll arrive in one day and one night, as you know,” Tak Horak said.
“I know.”
“Yes, sir.”
Then he subtly tried to settle in the room.
“Out. I want to be alone.”
“I get seasick…”
“Circulate your qi. Out.”
“Yes, sir!”
Tak Horak quickly left. Saweol lingered.
“I must stand guard.”
No one even asked.
“Everyone here is Black Shadow Corps. Who am I being guarded from?”
“I’ll be meditating. Out.”
She bowed and left.
They were only acting this way because the river was rough and seasickness would be severe. This room was spacious and comfortable—unlike the tight cabins where it’d be much worse.
And I would definitely get seasick too.
I was supposed to be a Transcendent Peak Realm master. I couldn’t let anyone see me like that.
***
Three days later.
I’m dying.
Seriously, dying.
Even after vomiting everything inside, I was still dry-heaving. I couldn’t show it, but it was agony.
[Circulate your energy.]
“I don’t know how.”
[What!? Then how have you been controlling your energy until now?]
“Well…”
I trailed off.
Heavenly Demon Divine Art was powered by will, not blood vessels. I didn’t need to know about meridians.
Skybreaker had been doing fake circulation techniques all this time.
[You don’t even know meridians and yet—]
Just then—
Knock knock knock.
A knock at the door.
Saved.
“Come in.”
It was Saweol.
Despite being told not to disturb me, she had come. Which meant it was important.
“What is it?”
“An escort ship has appeared.”
“I’ll go out.”
I followed her out.
The river wind whipped my robes and hair.
Far in the distance, a boat approached—sailing against the massive current at an impossible speed. Even modern speedboats couldn’t do that.
Just when it looked like we would collide, the boat swerved and began to match our speed exactly.
Then—
Sswaeeek!
Hooks flew from the approaching ship, catching our deck.
In an instant, dozens of figures swarmed aboard.
And then, the last man crossed—not by holding the rope, but walking on it.
A fierce-looking middle-aged man. Honestly, he looked like a classic pirate with a golden tooth flashing in his grin.
Each of his steps was heavy—not just physically, but with presence.
Then he grinned and spoke.
“Heavenly Demon reigns.”
I answered.
“Ten thousand demons submit.”
At my reply, the man spread his arms wide.
“Welcome back to the Cult, brother.”