Chapter 48: Heavenly Demon Reigns
Martial arts fiction, with its long history, is a genre saturated with clichés.
Since the concept of the Heavenly Demon first appeared, countless variations have followed: Psychopathic Heavenly Demon, Tragic Heavenly Demon, Naïve Heavenly Demon, even Childlike Heavenly Demon…
But in the end, they all share a single defining trait:
The Heavenly Demon reigns.
And in Return of the Murim, that very idea—“Supreme Reign”—was created by Do Il-gwang.
Later, the current Heavenly Demon adopted and refined it. A true prodigy far beyond any genius, she could imitate even Do Il-gwang’s ideation after just a few observations.
Supreme Reign—the power to crush the weak.
It was the perfect ideation for fighting multiple enemies at once.
“I can’t use it anyway.”
Ideation manifests as True Qi—and I couldn’t even produce regular sword energy, let alone True Qi. I didn’t even fully understand the mnemonic verses of the Twelve Shura Techniques.
But Skybreaker might be able to.
While he's dull in many ways, when it comes to martial arts, he had once been considered a prodigy in his youth. Even if he couldn’t produce True Qi, interpreting the mnemonic might allow him to replicate the martial nature.
Just like how I used Flow Reversal to escape the cave, I could now imbue my sword strikes with that trait.
And that alone would be amazing.
Anyone struck by Skybreaker’s blade would have their wrist bones shattered.
Not a fake aura to fool weaklings—but real pressure.
It wasn’t just “pressure.” As I saw with Saweol and Tak Horak, it could deal actual damage.
In other words, for the first time, I might gain a true area-of-effect ability.
However, to activate Supreme Reign, my total internal energy had to exceed my opponent’s.
Simple—Skybreaker just needed to absorb the energy of a few prisoners.
…Assuming he listened.
But he still remained embedded in Baekryung’s chest—silent.
“Hehehe…”
Do Il-gwang laughed mockingly.
“You really are amusing.”
“I didn’t expect you to understand my ideation. But that alone isn’t enough.”
“So?”
“How old are you?”
“A little over thirty.”
“Huh… At that age, you’ve already reached this realm? After that woman, now you too? Is this the Cult’s blessing, or the chaos of an era?”
Do Il-gwang clicked his tongue.
“I am sixty-two. Twice your age. Do you truly believe you can understand a lifetime’s belief with half the years?”
“That’s odd.”
I decided to push him further.
“If you’re weak, why do you question the path of the strong?”
“...”
“How I do it is my choice. You just recite your essence.”
“Puhaha!”
Do Il-gwang burst into laughter.
“Yes, taking what one desires is the right of the strong. That’s the Cult’s doctrine of strength.”
Well, not always. But this showed what kind of Cultist Do Il-gwang had been.
“But even struggling is the right of the weak. Did you think I’d give that up so easily?”
“I see.”
I stepped back and pulled Skybreaker from Baekryung’s heart. No need to shake off the blood—it had absorbed even the last drop.
What disgusted me was how, as soon as I removed the blade, rats swarmed from who-knows-where to feast on Baekryung’s corpse.
He was turning into bare bones in real time…
“Do you think I’ll tell you anything just because you wave a sword around? Look at me. Do you think you can inflict pain worse than this?”
He must’ve thought I meant to torture him. I might’ve considered having Saweol do that if she weren’t still recovering. That left me with Plan B.
I scoffed and sheathed Skybreaker.
“I don’t enjoy vulgar methods. However…”
I reached into the pouch at my waist.
Do Il-gwang’s eyes widened.
“Th-That…! No way!”
I stepped closer and revealed—
Pop.
A liquor bottle.
If “carrots and sticks” are the core of negotiation, Do Il-gwang had already received plenty of stick. Now it was time for a carrot.
As I uncorked it, a fragrant scent wafted out.
Do Il-gwang, visibly intoxicated by the aroma, practically cried out in mania.
“S-Soheungju! Top grade! Give it to me! Give it now!”
“You want this?”
“Of course!”
Understandable.
The only “food” available in the Disciplinary Block were scraps left by Cult members. Seeing such a fine liquor must’ve driven him insane.
“Then tell me the essence of Supreme Reign.”
“Hmph! Nonsense!”
“Oh?”
I stood in front of him and—
Crash!
Dropped the bottle.
Liquor splashed across the floor.
“YOU BASTARD!”
Do Il-gwang roared louder than ever.
“You think you’ll walk away unscathed?! If my restraints are lifted, you’re the first I’ll crush!”
“Try me.”
I pulled out another bottle.
Pop.
An even sweeter aroma.
“W-Wongongju! The monkeys’ brew!”
“Good nose.”
Do Il-gwang’s face twisted.
“What do you want?! What must I do to drink that?!”
“The essence of Supreme Reign.”
“Grrr…!”
“Guess you don’t need it.”
I dropped that bottle too.
“YOU—!!!”
I pulled out a third bottle.
“The essence of Supreme Reign.”
“No?”
Pop.
“This scent… Bamboo Leaf Green…? No—Golden Sovereign Green.”
I didn’t smash it.
Instead, I placed it—uncorked—right in front of him.
“This is the last bottle.”
“You…”
“Think it over, Do Il-gwang. You’re trapped here for life. You won’t leave this place alive. Wouldn’t it be a martial artist’s honor to at least pass on your martial art?”
(He does escape three years later, but not yet.)
“That’s absurd! You’re asking me to sell my life’s martial legacy for a bottle of booze?!”
I just shrugged.
“Your choice.”
With that, I returned to where Saweol and Tak Horak were meditating. Their breathing had stabilized—they were finishing their recovery.
Sleep a little longer.
I waved my black feather fan—putting them to sleep.
Because—
[Let’s talk, monster.]
Skybreaker spoke.
***
I had no memories from childhood.
Normal people remember bits and pieces from around age five or six.
But me? I had nothing before ten.
And my first memory, at age ten—
“You’re worthless. You can’t do anything without me.”
It was my older brother.
The family head was always busy, so my brother filled that void.
As a child, I feared him. He constantly scolded and berated me.
“Pathetic! Can’t you do even that much right?”
“Tsk, you really are useless unless I guide you.”
“And you call yourself my blood?”
But his “truth” was different.
“It’s all for your own good, brother.”
“You think I want to do this? Someone has to.”
“Just trust me. I’ll take care of everything.”
My brother wanted nothing more than for the family to prosper—even more than the reclusive family head, perhaps.
He acted almost like a deputy family head, and thanks to him, the Sado family rose from mid-tier to noble status.
I was banned from leaving the estate, so I only heard rumors. But still—I believed everything he did was for the family and for me.
“My brother is incredible!”
“It’s nothing. More importantly, listen carefully, brother.”
He laid out his plan.
“Pretend to be a master.”
“But I’m… spiritually crippled…”
At twenty, I was still second-rate.
Most Cult elites would be approaching the Peak Stage by now.
My inner energy surpassed the Peak level, and I had mastered the Asura Twelve Styles. In pure technique, I could even beat our household guards.
But I still couldn’t manifest internal energy—still second-rate.
“Only the direct line knows about that. You, me, and Father.”
“Wouldn’t the physician know?”
“He’s been dealt with. Don’t worry.”
“…What?”
“Why that face? Remember this: the weak are always devoured when they outlive their usefulness.”
He taught me how to act strong—raise my chin, glare with arrogance, speak in a deep voice.
“Our family lacks authority because we lack a true master. But isn’t ranking strange? In the end, it’s all perception.”
His plan was brilliant.
“Rank is just an illusion. What matters is who beats whom.”
It didn’t stop there.
He arranged my engagement to Lee Seryeong, a rising star from the post-generation talent competition. With our support, she grew rapidly—and at 27…
“A new Heavenly Demon has risen!”
“Hail the Supreme One!”
She became the Heavenly Demon—the youngest in Cult history.
The Sado family soared like a tiger with wings.
With the fall of the previous Heavenly Demon and the sealing of the Gwanghyeol Do Clan and Zanblood Baek Clan, we claimed a seat among the Six Demon Families—and earned the title Shura.
“Become the Commander of the Black Shadow Corps. Your rank will be 50th.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
He brought a girl. She looked a little younger than me. Sharp eyes. Lips sealed like they’d been glued shut.
“She’s got usable martial arts. She’ll establish your ranking by challenging and losing to you.”
I didn’t like her insubordinate gaze. How dare she look displeased at my brother’s words?
“What’s her name?”
“She was called No. 17... But since it's spring—let's call her Saweol.”
And so I became the direct heir of the Sado family, commander of the Black Shadow Corps, and a 23rd-ranked master.
Just as my brother promised.
His word was truth.
Following his plans never failed.
But then.
****
But then…
[Monster.]
The thing now inside my body.
[Why… why have my brother’s words been failing ever since you appeared?]
The creature using my body whispered in disgust. As if even it felt pity.
“I never told you before… but you need to know the truth now.”
[What truth?]
Skybreaker.
It spoke.
“The martial art you mastered isn’t the Asura Demon Emperor Divine Art… It’s the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
You became spiritually crippled because your brother forced you to learn a broken, incomplete version of it.”
[Liar! Why would my brother… why would he do that to me?!]
“Because… you’re Sado Gwang’s shadow.”
[What?]
“You, Skybreaker. No—Sado Hwan. You are not the son of the family head. You are the son of Sado Gwang.”