Chapter 42 – He'll Notice It, Your Brother Will
[Home…]
Skybreaker murmured in a wistful voice.
Before my eyes stood an enormous gate, and beyond it, countless grand pavilions stretched into the distance.
They were lavish buildings in traditional Eastern style, but to be honest, I wasn’t particularly moved. They were fancy, sure, but you could see similar structures in any East Asian cultural region.
Honestly, the metal-only buildings of the Geum Clan would have been more striking.
“Let’s stop for a moment,” said Sado-gwang.
At his words, I halted. I was the one pushing his wheelchair.
If it were up to me, I’d have shoved it down the stairs, not pushed it up.
But I couldn’t afford to raise suspicion.
That was actually the first reason the protagonist of Return of the Murim was suspected—he didn’t push Sado-gwang’s wheelchair.
Sado Hwan had always pushed it, presenting himself as a kind brother, even caring for his disabled elder sibling.
“In reality, he kept him close for constant brainwashing.”
When you think about it, even Skybreaker was a victim of that.
Anyway, I had to keep up appearances, so I was pushing the wheelchair.
“You’ve returned after a long journey. Rest well today, little brother. The family head has entered closed-door training to refine his martial arts, so no need to pay respects right now.”
“The family head… entered seclusion?”
At my question, Sado-gwang wore an ambiguous, subtly mocking smile.
“They say his proud son has reached Transcendent Peak and walks around wielding sword flight freely. As family head, wouldn’t that pressure him to improve?”
So he knew, of course. Well, I had shown off my martial prowess in front of the Black Shadow Corps.
That, too, was orchestrated—to spread rumors of my strength throughout the cult.
Considering 80% of the Black Shadow Corps were Sado-gwang’s people, it would have been weirder if he didn’t know.
“Whatever happened out in the Martial World…You’ll tell me everything, won’t you, little brother?”
Sado-gwang was the one who created Sado Hwan. Meaning, he knew more about him than even Skybreaker, who now resided within my sword.
Naturally, he also knew there’s no way Sado Hwan could reach Transcendent Peak.
He was the one who deliberately handed down an incomplete version of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, crippling his energy pathways.
“Yes, brother.”
“Good. That’s the brother I know.”
Sado-gwang gave what looked like a warm smile.
But to me, it was clearly an act. His mouth and eyes smiled, yes—but the emotion behind his gaze was not warmth.
It was suspicion.
“Vice-captain Saweol, come with me. Ah, right—”
Sado-gwang glanced at the children from the Cradle.
“Are these children ones you’ve taken in?”
“Yes.”
“Building a faction is a key trait for any cultist. Excellent work. But—”
He turned his eyes away.
“We can’t take in just anyone, can we? Stray dogs with no lineage, no background... You feed them, raise them, and someday they’ll turn and bite their master.”
His words were oozing with arrogance and malice.
Saweol flinched slightly, knowing who he was talking about. The Cradle children understood too and shrank back, some on the verge of tears.
Cho-ryang clenched his fists tightly, holding back his reaction.
[He’s not wrong.]
I sighed inwardly. With values like that constantly forced upon him, Skybreaker didn’t stand a chance of turning out decent.
“Remember this—A hunting dog that can’t prove its worth…”
[Gets boiled.]
“…gets boiled.”
This was clearly said for my benefit. His tongue could cut down thirty people in ten seconds flat—truly astounding.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Good. Then, let’s have lunch together tomorrow.”
I bowed slightly.
Sado-gwang rolled off with his wheelchair, and Saweol followed after him with a silent nod.
One of his unnamed subordinates tried to lead the children somewhere.
“Wait.”
“But, sir—”
“How dare you?”
I focused internal energy in my eyes. When my gaze locked with his, he flinched visibly.
“Are you trying to stand in my way?”
“M-my apologies!”
Terrified, the subordinate quickly stepped back.
I ignored him and approached Cho-ryang.
“Cho-ryang.”
“Yes, Captain.”
“Listen carefully to what they tell you. Do as they say. But—”
If they offer you medicine, or anything they say is good for you—don’t eat it. Just pretend to and spit it out.
I said it aloud while simultaneously transmitting a hidden message using Puppet Flute technique, inaudible even to Skybreaker.
Quick-witted as he was, Cho-ryang didn’t show surprise.
He simply nodded once.
If they gave them any so-called elixirs, it was certain they’d contain Heart-Soaking Poison, just like what had been done to Saweol.
If it reached the heart and detonated, it was instant death—a time bomb disguised as medicine.
I couldn’t just stand by and watch the children I brought here become poisoned addicts.
"You came with me. No matter what happens, I’ll protect you."
“Take them away. Their nutrition’s poor. Feed and clean them properly. Help them regain their strength.”
“U-understood.”
But if I left it like that, the kids would be beaten or abused for sure. To the cult, children were barely seen as human. And these weren’t even noble-born—they were from the lowest rung.
“These children are mine. If you don’t treat them as you would treat me, I’ll erase your entire clan from existence.”
The subordinate went pale and bowed repeatedly.
[That’s right. A true cultist must treat his subordinates as if they were his own flesh.]
“Is that why you let Saweol get tortured?”
[…That’s…]
“Forget it. Let’s head to your room.”
[You’ll be amazed. Even with your pathetic standards, you’ll admit every place we stayed before was garbage in comparison.]
Skybreaker proudly guided the way.
***
Meanwhile...Sado-gwang was reviewing Saweol’s report.
Everything Sado Hwan had done during his time in the Martial World—every move, every word—had been recorded.
“The Eastern Sword Dragon…”
Tap, tap!
Sado-gwang’s fingers drummed on the table. His hands were so frail, it looked like a strong breeze might snap them.
“He freely used sword flight, a symbol of Transcendent Peak. Unearthed ancient ruins…Let’s say it’s believable that he impressed the Paeng Clan and the Tang Clan…But even Yun Yeopja of Kunlun recognized him?”
Kunlun.
Among all the great sects—Shaolin, Wudang, Mount Hua, Tang, Paeng—only Kunlun consistently got in the Heavenly Demon Cult’s way.
They claimed to be the umbrella shielding the Martial World from the cult’s poison.
To gather intel, the cult sent spies regularly—but Kunlun, and especially Yun Yeopja, was a wall.
Nine out of ten, no—ten out of ten spies who crossed his path were caught.
That’s why Qinghai Province, even though it bordered the cult, had the weakest cult presence.
“And Sado Hwan tricked that same Yun Yeopja?”
Impossible.
If anyone knew Sado Hwan best, it was Sado-gwang.
After all, he made him.
Sado Hwan was his creation—his shadow. And shadows don’t move on their own.
“So this is it, then?”
His strange finger tapping stopped—he had arrived at a conclusion.
“Does that make sense to you?”
He looked at Saweol. She bowed.
“Then answer me, Saweol. The Sado Hwan you saw—what was he like?”
She thought back.
At first, he had seemed utterly incompetent and annoyingly arrogant. Like a small dog barking furiously. An empty cart making the most noise.
But at some point, he changed.
“To save my subordinates, I’ll deny even the Heavenly Demon.”
He defied the being cultists saw as a living god—for her.
Even though he always called her “woman” with disdain before.
“I know you want to kill me. But I still need to go home, don’t I?”
Even after she drew her blade on him, he was compassionate.
“Quit moping in the mist, Saweol. You’re a vice-captain of the Black Shadow Corps. Show some dignity.”
When her heart was sinking into madness, he pulled her back.
“Don’t cling to pride at rock bottom, Saweol. You’re not the only one who’s been through hell.”
And most telling of all—his hatred of Sado-gwang. The same Sado Hwan who once loved and obeyed Sado-gwang more than the Heavenly Demon or even his own parents.
“So… it was all an act?”
Just as that question arose, her eyes fell again on Sado-gwang.
So thin, so weak—he needed a wheelchair, couldn’t do anything on his own.
If it weren’t for the poison embedded in his heart, even a flick of a finger could’ve killed him.
And yet, this fragile man held power over the entire Sado family.
He manipulated everyone—through schemes, blackmail, and psychological warfare.
He didn’t fit into the cult’s value system at all. A world of strength and pride—he was an outlier.
So that’s it…
Finally, Saweol understood everything.
If a true cultist valued pride and honor, they should correct even their own kin when they were wrong.
“Sado Hwan…were you the real cultist all along?”
The moment he emerged from that cave, he had chosen the thorny path. Like a bird breaking free from its egg.
“Can you not hear me?”
“N-no. Apologies. I was lost in thought.”
“You stupid girl.”
Sado-gwang clicked his tongue.
“I’ll be submitting a disciplinary order. Let’s see if you can survive seven days in the Discipline Chamber.”
“…Yes.”
“Get out.”
Saweol bowed and exited.
“Tch. All these people—blind as moles.”
He opened a drawer. Even that small action took all his strength—his body was deteriorating fast.
“At this rate… I’ll last three, maybe four more years.”
He looked at the paper inside the drawer.
[The Soul Separation Technique. Sword Saint Sighting.]
“So… it really exists…”
Fwsssh.
He held the paper to a candle. It burned.
“It’s real.”
His eyes darkened.
***
At the same time, back in Sado Hwan’s quarters—
“Most likely…”
I spoke softly.
“Your brother has already figured it out. That we’ve switched bodies.”