"How are the preparations going?"
"They're going well."
"What kind of preparations have you made?"
"Well... faith in myself?"
"..."
"Honestly, there's nothing else to prepare. You said he's the eldest son of the Demon Sword Clan, right? Even when I try to find information about him, it's all superficial, and I don't even know his exact martial arts level."
"What are you planning to do?"
"Why did you ask someone like me to do this?"
"I'm starting to regret it now."
"Regret a lot."
"Stop joking and tell me seriously. Do you really have no preparations?"
"None, except for mental readiness."
"..."
"And well, there's one more thing, though it's hard to call it a preparation."
"What is it?"
"Um..."
"Why are you hesitating? Is it something illegal?"
"Not exactly illegal, but..."
"What is it? If it's something we can handle, we'll try to cover it up."
"Oh, really? Then should I tell you?"
"Go ahead."
"(Whispering)"
"...?"
"(Mumbling)"
"...!!"
"Well, I'm expecting something like this to happen."
"..."
"Why that expression? Does it seem like a bad idea?"
"...Third Young Master."
"What?"
"Are you crazy? Do you want to be dragged to the main hall before catching the real culprit?"
"Why are you suddenly using harsh words?"
"No, even if you're not dragged to the main hall, you're as good as dead. Do you think the higher-ups will just watch?"
"Why are you being so sensitive about something that's not a big deal?"
"I have to be sensitive! How could you, as a member of the cult, think of such an absurd idea?!"
"What? I was just trying to catch the real culprit."
"Absolutely not. If you do that, I'll be the first to run and put handcuffs on you."
"Why put handcuffs on me when I haven't committed a crime? You know abusing power is a serious offense, right?"
"How is that not a crime? How can it not be a crime?!"
"I didn't see it in the law book. It's not illegal. It can't be illegal in the first place."
"...?"
"If you doubt it, look it up."
"Third Young Master! What you're planning is far beyond the bounds of the law!"
"No one's dying, I'm not planning to beat anyone up, and I'm not going to dance naked in front of everyone, right? Can you get arrested for public indecency?"
"...Do as you please. I won't stop someone who's determined to commit suicide."
"Instead of wishing me success, you're cursing me? Anyway, there's no more certain way to catch the real culprit, right?"
"..."
"See?"
"Do you know why I came to you for help?"
"That's why I'm going to do it this way."
"...Fine. Do as you wish, Third Young Master."
"If I need help, I'll ask, so don't forget to keep an eye on the situation."
"..."
"Answer?"
"Just catch the real culprit properly."
Paaaang!
A powerful energy burst from the extended fist. The invisible true energy spread out in concentric circles. Yet, as soon as it reached a certain distance, the energy vanished as if it were a lie.
A pure joy appeared on Madongpil's face.
'It's done!'
His martial power had doubled compared to before, and his demonic cultivation had advanced by two stages. It was no exaggeration to say that he was on the verge of great success.
Now, his martial arts surpassed even the leader of this division, Giyang. It was an achievement worthy of praise, as he had surpassed Giyang, the second-in-command of the Law Enforcement Hall, excluding the Great Protector.
The Special Guard's First and Second Divisions were composed of experts on a different level from the Third Division and below. Especially, each member of the First Division was a master not much different from Madongpil.
The same was true for the Second Division. The martial arts gap between the members was similar to the gap between the division leaders.
To have leaped two stages in one go from an already high level, surpassing even Giyang, was something no one could believe.
It was not a mere coincidence.
However, compared to the advanced level, he lacked experience and training. Due to the excessively vigorous demonic energy, he couldn't control his strength. Through days of sweat and blood training, he had managed to somewhat grasp the control of that power.
'This is just the beginning. I've succeeded, but I must not be complacent. I must train constantly so that even when I act instinctively, I can hit my target accurately.'
But now, his body felt too heavy. He had trained tirelessly from morning till night, and it was time to really rest.
Madongpil relaxed his posture.
"Hoo! Hmm?"
He looked towards a corner of the training ground.
There, Seoryang was sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, meditating.
Seoryang, emitting a gentle red glow all over his body, looked incredibly beautiful.
A hint of worry appeared in Madongpil's eyes.
'He's been like that for half a day already. Is he okay?'
But who was worrying about whom? It was like a wildcat worrying about a tiger.
Having roughly wiped off his sweat, he sat cross-legged in the middle of the training ground. He intended to recover his inner strength through breathing exercises and relieve the fatigue of the day.
It was when he was about to channel his true energy.
Whiiing.
'Huh?'
Madongpil's eyebrows twitched.
'Wind?'
The winter in the south is not very cold. Even here, because it's a mountain, it's not too bad, and if you go down, it's as warm as late spring in other regions.
Of course, it wasn't strange for the wind to blow. But what made Madongpil's nerves stand on end was the energy carried by the wind.
'What kind of wind is this?'
It wasn't particularly powerful energy. But for some reason, it bothered him.
In the end, curiosity won over his breathing exercises. Madongpil slowly opened his eyes.
At that moment.
"Gasp!"
Startled, Madongpil stood up without realizing it.
"Y-Young Master?"
Uuuuuung.
Seoryang, with his eyes closed, was still emitting a gentle red glow.
He looked the same as before.
Except for the strange shape that had appeared behind Seoryang and the alien energy it emitted.
Haaa.
Seoryang opened his mouth and exhaled deeply.
At the same time, the massive red beast that had appeared above his head also opened its mouth wide.
'...!'
A colossal phantom beast.
Madongpil had seen that beast before. He couldn't remember exactly whether it was during the internal strife or in the ancient bamboo forest, but he had witnessed it once.
It was as if the demonic cultivation itself was a living creature.
A monster with a spirit that parasitized the body to drag its master into the abyss.
Even then, Seoryang had created a similar beast shape.
But it was vastly different from back then. The beast was twice as vivid and ten times larger, announcing its presence to the world.
Twitch! Twitch!
Madongpil unconsciously took a step back, one step at a time.
The faint energy mixed in the wind was coming from that beast. But it wasn't significant enough for ordinary martial artists to notice.
However, facing that beast was a different story.
'This can't be!'
Madongpil, standing at the peak of his power.
Even he was overwhelmed by fear and stepped back.
He couldn't even imagine how terrifying the beast's aura would be if it unleashed its full power.
Even amidst this, he was worried.
'Can the Young Master handle such an absurd thing?'
Even Madongpil, who trusted Seoryang's abilities more than anyone, had doubts.
'That's not just a beast.'
It's a real demon summoned from hell.
While Madongpil was gritting his teeth in fear.
Uuuuuung.
A faint five-colored glow flowed from the window of Seoryang's room into the center of his forehead.
Srrrrrk.
Then, as if it were a lie, the shape of the beast, no, the demon, disappeared. All that massive power was absorbed into Seoryang's body.
"Hoooo."
Seoryang exhaled again.
Crackle!
Familiar dark lightning fragments arose around his body. Though smaller than before, reducing the noise, each fragment held a terrifying pressure.
Even a stone would shatter into dust if it merely brushed against it.
Whoosh!
Soon, the dark lightning and red glow disappeared.
Flash!
Seoryang opened his eyes, and his gaze was more brilliant than ever. His flawless red pupils were filled with a mesmerizing power.
"Is it already night?"
Seoryang stood up and took out a neatly folded piece of paper from his pocket. It was part of Ichun-sang's insights that complemented the Shadow Demon Art.
Seoryang's eyes wavered.
'That man is truly...'
Ichun-sang's insight was as sharp as a dagger.
Even without knowing the incantations of the demonic cultivation, he had seen through the gaps in the martial arts just by observing the demonic energy and the emitted force.
That alone was impressive, but he had even created several incantations to complement the martial arts.
Thanks to that, Seoryang was able to 'complete' his demonic cultivation.
It wasn't about combining them into one and calling it complete. It was literally perfected, with nothing to add or subtract.
Like the secret techniques of the Nine Great Sects, which had been honed over the years to achieve the fame of being the best in the world.
Rustle.
He unfolded the paper.
At the end of the two hundred characters written on the paper were the words "Nine Nether Supreme Chapter."
Rippp.
Seoryang tore the paper into pieces.
Whoosh.
The shredded paper burned in a blue flame, turning to ash.
Madongpil's face was filled with astonishment.
"...Upper Demon True Flame?!"
Upper Demon True Flame, known as Samadhi True Flame in orthodox martial arts, was a realm.
It wasn't about learning a flame technique to ignite fire.
It was the flame of inner strength that could only be revealed when one's true energy was refined to the extreme through pure enlightenment, reaching the state of furnace fire turning pure.
It signified only one thing.
"Could it be that the Young Master has already..."
"No, it's not the Extreme Demon Realm. I've almost reached it, though."
Seoryang smiled bitterly.
"It's just that the demonic energy that had been refined long ago is finally seeing the light."
The Extreme Demon Realm was equivalent to the top ten masters of the world. The Nine Great Demon Lords of the cult had reached that absolute realm.
Seoryang, too, had reached a similar realm in his previous life. However, the Shadow Demon Art was not a martial art that could fully embody his enlightenment.
If he continued to strive and strive as he did now, he might one day reach the Extreme Demon Realm through demonic cultivation.
The timing was unknown even to Seoryang. It could be tomorrow, or it could be a year later.
'It won't take more than a year.'
He looked up at the sky.
Countless stars filled the night sky, draped like a curtain of darkness.
"I had forgotten. The sorrow of being nameless."
No one in the martial world knew his real name.
Even the leader of the Righteous Heaven Alliance didn't know his name. He was only called by a number, known as the Righteous Killer, and later as the King of Killers.
There was only an assassin dreaming of freedom, not a human named Cheonhajin.
"Even the realms of martial arts have names."
Clench.
The demonic energy pulsed in his tightly clenched fist.
A demonic energy that had reached a more complete red light, seemingly darker than before.
'Combining the Shadow Energy and True Demon Art, you named it like that? Well done.'
Seoryang, who had been gazing at the twinkling stars, then looked at the moon.
Under the pouring moonlight, a hint of a sad smile floated in the wind.
"If it's a martial art that opens the gates of hell in a fantasy, it should have a name befitting its dignity."
Seoryang lowered his head.
Madongpil swallowed hard at the imposing figure with red eyes.
'Nine Nether Demon Art. From now on, this martial art will be called the Nine Nether Demon Art.'
The difference between knowing and not knowing the true name of what one possesses was significant.
Seoryang, the Third Young Master of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
The absolute demonic art that would leave a mark in the cult's history was quietly stretching under the moonlight and starlight, watched over by a master of the highest order.
Another day passed.
"Dongpil."
"Yes, Young Master."
"Tell Aenghwa to prepare some clothes."
Seoryang grinned.
"Let's go see the real culprit's face."
The first day of the Pasun Festival had begun.