Chapter 42
Cheonma bit his lower lip hard enough to draw blood, without answering.
“A formless voice has no right to control me.”
Yet, the Jemahyeon Sword inevitably rose in his hand.
From Cheonma’s teeth came a demonic growl: “Grrr…”
Baek Garim stepped back, looking for any chance to escape.
The mad Cheonma, consumed by frenzy, was beyond their control.
Even Soma-gi, who had been prostrating himself, hastily backed away.
“If he succumbs to madness and becomes a lunatic, a new Cheonma will be sought.”
The same thought flickered through both Baek Garim and Soma-gi’s minds.
Although they were loyal to Cheonma, part of their duty was to watch for signs of him turning into a madman.
The one they served was a powerful Cheonma, destined to reincarnate the power of Asura in the present world—not a mindless madman.
Fifty years ago, when the Demon Sect was destroyed, the survivors Baek Garim and Soma-gi created and nurtured new Cheonmas in this very way.
They had not trained with the Asura Blood-Sky Sword; they only mastered the subordinate martial art, the Death-Eradication Blood-Resonance Sword (滅死血響劍), so there was no risk of insanity.
Soma-gi quietly retrieved his Blood Demon Talisman, as if he had never been impressed by Cheonma.
At that moment, the nearly mad Cheonma’s sword rose sharply.
As it came crashing down, the burning halls of the Hebei Peng Family crumbled—or rather, melted—into ashes.
A ruin spread out before them.
The vast space, like a plaza, had become nothing.
“Fuu…”
Cheonma’s eyes finally returned to their natural color: pitch-black, without any glow.
Without killing someone or destroying something, it was difficult for him to regain his humanity.
That was why, before achieving his full potential, he tried to avoid using the Asura Blood-Sky Sword whenever possible.
Taking a deep breath, Cheonma’s gaze fell heavily.
Though he had been consumed by madness many times, the sensation still felt unsettling.
Soon, Soma-gi and Baek Garim pressed close behind him.
They immediately noticed that the violent aura had subsided.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes.”
Cheonma sheathed the Jemahyeon Sword. The blade that had urged slaughter was now silent.
“There is nothing more to do here.”
All tasks at Hebei Peng Family were complete.
Cheonma had come to take revenge on Hebei Peng Family, who had destroyed the Imakak faction a year ago.
The reason he hadn’t done it sooner was that his martial arts were not yet perfect.
But recently, he had finally learned to use the fifth hand of Asura.
At that level, he could rival the Seven Martial Lords.
Moreover, Peng Zhiliang was known as the weakest among the Seven Martial Lords, and he had already been injured.
He had expected to deal with him fairly easily—and indeed, Peng Zhiliang was swiftly eliminated, along with his subordinates.
“With this, revenge for Imakak is complete.”
Next remained the revenge for Ilmakak.
Cheonma cast a casual glance toward Hubei, where the Mudang Sect was located.
The current head of the Mudang Sect, Kwonwang Myeongheo, had eradicated Ilmakak.
He was stronger than Peng Zhiliang, and a highly troublesome opponent.
Perhaps he could even rival Cheonma.
But that was no reason not to kill him.
Since they had burned the Demon Sect’s halls, sooner or later, they would have to pay for it.
A flash of red determination sparked in Cheonma’s previously pitch-black eyes.
“Let’s go back.”
“Understood!”
The three of them disappeared without a trace.
That had been five days ago.
“Master, will you not answer?”
Soma-gi, recalling those few days, snapped back to reality at Cheonma’s call.
The present Cheonma appeared calm, as if he had never suffered from madness.
“…It was entirely my fault. I will find the other elixirs, I promise. Please trust me.”
“Remember, the time I have given you is not long.”
“Yes, understood.”
At last, the ferry docked at the landing.
Cheonma, who had been sitting motionless, stood.
Before stepping off, he looked at Soma-gi, as if remembering something belatedly.
“By the way, I heard an interesting story. Have you heard it too, Master?”
“What do you mean…?”
“They say a ‘Golden Miracle Maiden’ has appeared in the Namgung family.”
“…!”
“She supposedly healed the warriors of the Namgung family, wounded by a lunatic, with a mysterious golden aura.”
“The Golden Miracle Maiden…?”
Judging by the reaction, it seemed the Master did not know.
Cheonma walked briskly toward the landing.
“You should diligently search for the other elixirs. I will meet the Golden Miracle Maiden myself.”
Clearly implying he did not fully trust Soma-gi.
“This time, I will not disappoint you… and Master,”
“Yes.”
“Perhaps you should take a few of the Blood Wolf Demons who might cause personal trouble with you?”
Soma-gi spoke as if concerned, but in truth, he had another purpose:
‘The Master might act alone and turn mad, so surveillance may be necessary.’
But Cheonma would not be fooled by such a shallow ploy.
“If you intend to watch me, be prepared to lose your head.”
Startled, Soma-gi collapsed to the ground, banging his head repeatedly and pleading for forgiveness.
“I-I misspoke! Please forgive me!”
“…”
Cheonma silently disappeared into the crowd, moving without a sound.
Soma-gi, left behind without forgiveness, bit his lower lip.
‘At this rate, I’ll be trusted less than Baek Garim.’
But there was no time to dwell on anger or jealousy. Soma-gi licked his lips and moved forward.
He entered a narrow alley where few people passed.
As he looked at the dark walls, blocked from light by tightly packed buildings, a man in black clothing appeared silently.
“Blood Wolf Demon, have you confirmed the location of the other elixirs from Jegal Taek?”
The named Blood Wolf soldier stepped forward and answered without hesitation.
“Yes. They are near the Jegal family estate.”
“We leave for there immediately.”
“Yes, understood!”
Soma-gi and the Blood Wolf Demon vanished in an instant.
No one saw them leave.
When So-so awoke from her long sleep, she had returned to human form.
The two men who faced her almost cried in relief at seeing her awake.
They seemed to have kept watch over her the entire time she was asleep.
“Sam-ah, it’s all my fault. A disaster occurred, and I just slept through it… You have every right to resent me.”
This was Jegal Haesu speaking.
“Sojo, are you all right? Are you in any pain or discomfort?”
This was Namgung Jin speaking.
So-so realized anew how fiercely loved she was by the two men.
“I’m fine. And I don’t blame Jegal So-hyup.”
She was simply relieved that he was unharmed.
If Jegal Haesu had been a master, perhaps it would have been different.
No one understood his limitations in mastering martial arts as well as she did.
She treated him as if nothing had happened, so he wouldn’t feel embarrassed.
Even so, Jegal Haesu’s expression did not improve.
News of So-so’s awakening quickly spread to the head family.
Namgung Seonyul, Seolrin, the warriors she had healed, and even the unhealed ones all came to check on her safety.
“Golden Miracle Maiden! Thank you!”
“The Namgung family will never forget the Golden Miracle Maiden!”
…uttering these odd titles repeatedly.
