Episode 111: Red Dragon Manifestation
“P-please try this as well. It’s roasted duck—our clan’s top chef’s specialty and most prized dish.”
Hyuk Mun nervously placed another dish before me. The table was so piled with food that it looked as if the legs would give out.
“Hmhm. The duck’s glistening... looks delicious. Bet it goes well with this liquor.”
Cheol Mugeuk reached out with his chopsticks, wearing an eager expression—
Crackle!
Sparks literally flew from Hyuk Mun’s eyes, and his murderous aura immediately wiped the smile off Mugeuk’s face.
“Sigh… I should just die of old age already. What a humiliating sight this is.”
Shaking my head, I pushed the roasted duck over to Cheol Mugeuk.
“Truly, only you are worthy of being the Sado Clan’s Patriarch.”
Hyuk Mun didn’t seem offended by my actions. However—
“D-did the roasted duck not suit your taste?! I’ll cut off the chef’s arm at once!”
“How vulgar. I’d prefer to eat in peace.”
“F-forgive me!”
Hyuk Mun clamped his mouth shut. He looked like he was itching to say something, but held himself back.
It was absurd.
Just a few hours ago, this guy was barking about killing me, and now he was cowering like a puppy desperate to pee.
[It’s because the Red Dragon’s energy bowed its head.]
Just as Skybreaker said.
That energy, which should’ve dispersed into nature when released from Skybreaker, had instead bowed its head to me.
The reason was likely—
[Because you didn’t destroy the Record of the Red Dragon.]
Only humans fail to show gratitude. Even a divine beast as close to an evil dragon had shown its thanks for my actions.
The problem was that Hyuk Mun didn’t know any of that.
From his perspective, he saw the Red Dragon’s energy bow to me and assumed it was because I was the Red Dragon’s manifestation—then started treating me with absolute reverence.
He misunderstood. Severely.
“Yes, of course. Until your strength has fully returned, I’ll keep this to myself.”
Which only deepened the misunderstanding.
‘Well, it’s awkward…’
But at this point, such misunderstandings were nothing.
A few months ago, when I was a total nobody, I’d bluffed my way through as a Successor of Medicine Immortal after being misunderstood by Tang Siyuk.
Compared to that, this was nothing. Sure, the scale had grown a bit.
Thanks to Hyuk Mun’s newfound reverence, Hyuk Gon—who had previously been bristling at me—now couldn’t even look me in the eye.
The funniest part was my companions. For some reason, they were all just rolling with it and enjoying themselves.
Cheol Mugeuk had poured himself a drink, and Cheol Sopyeong was eating like he hadn’t had food in days.
Even Mugeuk-i was sipping the flame from a small brazier next to Choryang.
Only Sawol remained by my side on guard duty, but judging by her pleased expression, the meal must’ve been to her liking. I’d thought the Sado clan’s meals were decent—but perhaps I should invest more effort.
Anyway.
‘Normally, people would be curious why someone suddenly started treating me this well… right?’
[Because you’re strong. At least, that’s how it looks on the surface.]
True. Things escalated so fast, no one else could even react properly.
When the meal ended and tea was served, Hyuk Mun finally spoke up.
“The Manifestation of the Red Dragon…”
“Sado Patriarch.”
“Sado Patriarch-nim, may I request a private word?”
I nodded.
“Everyone, leave us for a moment.”
Sawol tried to conceal herself with stealth—
“The Sado Patriarch’s escort may remain.”
Apparently, he wasn’t just hot-headed.
Hyuk Mun pointed out Sawol’s exact hiding spot.
‘Is it because he deals with electricity that he’s more sensitive to detection?’
I nodded. Sawol revealed herself and exited. Only then did Hyuk Mun—
Thud!
“O Manifestation of the Red Dragon! Please forgive my rudeness!”
—drop to his knees before me. No, he didn’t stop there.
“For my arrogance in failing to recognize you as the Manifestation, I beg you to punish me!”
He bashed his head against the ground.
If I left him like that, he’d keep slamming his head until it split open—like any typical martial arts story.
“Enough.”
At my words, Hyuk Mun stopped. He raised his head—his forehead was already flushed red.
“That’s enough.”
“I am unworthy of your mercy!”
This was getting uncomfortable. He wasn’t just reverent anymore—he looked like a fanatic.
“May I ask what your next steps will be, Manifestation? Are you planning to overthrow the Heavenly Demon?”
“The Heavenly Demon?”
“Yes! You must lift the curse attached to the name ‘Heavenly Demon’!”
“A curse? What do you mean?”
“You… don’t know about the curse…?”
Hyuk Mun looked at me as if I’d asked why water was wet.
I didn’t panic. I responded smoothly.
“I asked what you meant.”
I rose from my seat, gathering the aura of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. Hyuk Mun instinctively stepped back.
With a low voice, as though restraining my fury, I said,
“Hyuk Mun.”
“Ye-yes?”
“Your Hyuk Clan was meant to carry on my will. And yet, why do you think I awoke not in a Hyuk body—but in a Sado one?”
“Th-that is…”
“Because of your petty doubts.”
Hyuk Mun’s face turned pale.
“Your Hyuk Clan's suspicion of me prevented my full manifestation.”
“I-I deserve death!”
Was it because I’d set the stage so well?
Even this light bluff had Hyuk Mun slamming his head again like he was making atonement.
[What are you doing? You’re going to cause problems later.]
‘Just wait.’
I slumped back into my seat.
“I’m not here to place blame. As I said, I manifested incompletely, and my memories are fragmented.”
“Ah!”
“Because of that, the original owner of this body sometimes regains consciousness. That’s why I asked not to be called the Manifestation.”
“So you returned in the form of possession… I see.”
“My contact with the dragon claw only briefly cleared my mind. I don’t have much time.”
‘That should do it, right?’
I asked Skybreaker.
[Tch.]
Skybreaker clicked his tongue, muttering that I was clearly a con artist.
Well, technically, it was possession.
“So. What’s the connection between me and the Heavenly Demon?”
“It is… because of a contract with the First Heavenly Demon.”
According to Hyuk Mun, the Red Dragon entered an unfair contract with the First Heavenly Demon, and most of its power was sealed as a result.
That explained why the Hyuk Clan was so hostile toward the Heavenly Demon.
“If we can erase the name of the Heavenly Demon, you could return in full form—not just as a possession.”
“I see. So that’s why you tried to become one of the Six Demon Clans.”
“Yes. Our clan is old, and we knew the true purpose of the Six Clan Conference.”
I nodded. Classic wuxia.
Secret goals always ended up being “known by everyone except the protagonist” anyway.
“One more question.”
“Please ask.”
“How much do you know about Chu Taesu’s plan?”
At my words, Hyuk Mun again prepared to bow his head and beg for death.
I warned that if he said “I deserve death” one more time, I really would kill him.
“Actually…”
Hyuk Mun’s confession matched my theory almost exactly.
Just some slight differences in context.
Apparently, Chu Taesu was the one who first mentioned Infinite Heavenly Flame.
Even the conflict at the Six Clan Conference had been staged.
Normally, I’d have seen through such an act immediately—but the sorcery had dulled my judgment.
“To think you fell for sorcery. Fool.”
Though he didn’t cry “I deserve death,” Hyuk Mun trembled in fear.
“Chu Taesu cannot be trusted. He only acts when he benefits. What would he gain by reviving me?”
“He must intend to offer himself as your servant. That would be an honor beyond compare.”
This was why zealots were terrifying.
“No. He has other plans.”
“What might those be?”
“Yin Corpse.”
“Yin Corpse! Then that escort with no aura—is it a Yin Corpse?!”
“Yes.”
Hyuk Mun nodded in awe.
I subtly tested him.
“Do you have anything to defend against sorcery? A treasure? A talisman? Jade?”
“We have nothing of the sort. But…”
Hyuk Mun’s eyes gleamed.
“If you grant me a piece of the Red Dragon, I believe I can overcome it.”
I shook my head.
“Chu Taesu wants to strengthen a Yin Corpse. If even a piece of me falls into his hands, what do you think will happen?”
“Gasp!”
Hyuk Mun shuddered, horrified by the thought.
“That cannot happen.”
“There is a solution.”
“Please command me.”
“The Sado Clan must form a blood alliance with the Cheol Clan. Befriend the Gwak Clan as well.”
“Ohh! You intend to make them your slaves!”
“Indeed. But until I am fully reborn, that must remain secret.”
“Of course. I will treat those destined to be slaves with utmost kindness.”
Skybreaker, who had been listening in, muttered,
[I should’ve punched you back in the spirit world. You’re infuriating—even on the same side.]
‘This is called strategy.’
With that, three of the remaining five clans—excluding the Sado Clan—were now on my side.
The Shadow Blood Jin Clan was already terrified of me.
Chu Taesu’s room to move would shrink drastically.
In a novel, this would’ve been considered absurdly fast development.
But it had worked. I got everything I wanted.
Now it was time to return.
“Ugh…”
“W-what’s wrong?”
“The owner of this Sado body is waking up. Hyuk Mun—one last warning.”
“Yes?”
“Do not oppose the one who owns this body. Even he resists me to this degree.”
“Of course.”
“He’ll awaken soon. Act natural.”
After leaving a final safeguard—
“Ugh?!”
—I smoothly began the act of regaining consciousness.
[Tsk.]
‘Don’t ruin my flow.’
Despite Skybreaker’s interference—
“Where am I…”
“Are you… awake, Sado Patriarch?”
“Hyuk Mun?”
“Y-yes!”
Hyuk Mun welcomed me with a warm smile, faithfully playing his role according to my fake Manifestation’s orders.
“I must have lost my mind briefly… I seem to have mistaken you for someone else. Hahaha!”
Everything had gone according to plan.
I nodded vaguely at Hyuk Mun’s made-up explanation, pretending to grasp the situation.
[Ghost. If martial arts were about the tongue, you’d be beyond transcendent. Maybe the greatest under heaven.]
Honestly, maybe my real weapon wasn’t Skybreaker or any treasure—but my silver tongue.
And so, I returned to the stronghold—
And once again, stood before the Heavenly Demon.