Chapter 95: Believe
What just happened?
Is that...Transcendent Peak...?
No way.
Even if someone swings a sword with all their might, in reality, they can barely cut through a tree. Yet with just a single hand gesture, he had shown destructive power capable of reshaping the terrain.
And the moment Jin Yeongryeong’s mental domain unfolded, that thick, grimy malice—It felt like my mind was about to melt in an instant.
This wasn’t like the threatening or warning-type mental domains I’d encountered before. This one truly harbored murderous intent...
If I hadn’t already experienced mental domains several times, I might’ve genuinely lost my mind. It was all I could do to suppress my expression by drawing upon the energy of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
[Act. Keep acting! You can think later!]
At Skybreaker Sword’s urging, I belatedly slipped back into character.
“Victor’s rights, was it? An amusing little trick.”
After all this time pretending, the arrogant tone came out naturally.
“F-F-Forgiiiiiive meeee...”
Jin Yeongryeong, who had been begging and pleading, collapsed unconscious right there on her knees.
Fwoosh!
Gwak Riyeon, Hyuk Mun, and Cheol Sopyeong crossed dozens of paces and appeared beside me.
Chu Taesu floated about a foot off the ground, gliding in as if sliding through air.
“Sado Hwan!”
Hyuk Mun ground his teeth.
“What do you think you're doing, attacking the head of one of the Six Demon Families?!”
His eyes sparked—literally.
Red sparks flashed from his gaze, a sign that he had cultivated the Red Lightning Divine Art of the Red Dragon Hyuk Clan to its highest level.
But I didn’t flinch.
Hyuk Mun wouldn’t dare act recklessly.
Not just him—no one here would try anything rash against me now.
Who was Jin Yeongryeong?
Not just any Transcendent Peak master, but one who had mastered the bizarre and dreaded blood arts, techniques everyone dreaded to face.
No one here could’ve subdued her this easily. No—To do so would require a fight to the death.
But I had done it.
Without even drawing my sword.
Of course, none of them knew the full context. And to be honest, neither did I.
Still, from the outside, I clearly look like I won, don’t I?
That’s why, even though Hyuk Mun was gnashing his teeth, I knew he wouldn’t attack.
If he were really going to, he would've shouted “Strike!” and drawn his sword already.
“Jin Yeongryeong herself must’ve told you. The true purpose of the Six Families Gathering is to share insights and test each other’s skills. She simply couldn’t withstand my insight. That’s all.”
“Even so! How dare someone from the Sado Clan touch a head of the Six Demon Families!”
“Watch your mouth, Clan Head Hyuk.”
I focused my gaze.
“You’re insulting the Sado Clan. If you say another word, I don’t think I’ll be able to let it slide.”
Hyuk Mun grit his teeth audibly. But as I expected, he didn’t come at me.
“Come now, let’s all calm down.”
Gwak Riyeon stepped between us.
“Isn’t it a virtue for members of the Divine Sect to compare their abilities? What happened between the Sado and Jin Clan heads is strictly between them.”
Cheol Sopyeong also intervened.
“Clan Head Gwak is right. When two Divine Sect martial artists duel and one loses, how can that be considered wrong?”
With two Transcendent Peak masters standing between us, Hyuk Mun had no choice but to back off. He turned with a huff and vanished.
Then Gwak Riyeon turned to me.
“Sado Clan Head. I won’t ask what happened. But would you consider showing some leniency now?”
I nodded.
At that, the Jin Clan members who’d been flailing about uselessly rushed over to carry off the unconscious Jin Yeongryeong.
— Impressive, Sado Clan Head.
Chu Taesu, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke to me.
I had heard rumors that you defeated Clan Head Gwak in a duel not long ago. But I never imagined you possessed such a level of mastery.
His words caused Gwak Riyeon’s eyes to deepen. It wasn’t anger or jealousy. Rather, it was closer to perplexity.
After all, during our duel, I had left him with a single strike and spat blood afterward. Of course, I’d only bitten my tongue, but it had looked like I’d taken internal damage.
Now, however, I didn’t have a scratch on me. Aside from a cut on my palm (hidden), I looked perfectly fine—even after subduing Jin Yeongryeong. Naturally, it would raise questions.
Eventually, Gwak Riyeon muttered:
“You must’ve gained enlightenment from the Wall of Martial Soul.”
He reached a beautiful conclusion all on his own. I was thankful for that.
“This Cheol Sopyeong has truly had his eyes opened—no, awakened. Sado Clan Head.”
Cheol Sopyeong bowed his head to me.
Though he was the young lord of the Iron Mountain Cheol Clan, older and more senior than I, he now addressed me with formal respect.
This was how the Divine Sect's hierarchy of strength worked.
“Many think Transcendent Peak is the ultimate stage, but I’m sure we all know the truth. Transcendent Peak is not the end—it is the beginning of something new. And the Sado Clan Head has shown us that path, as clearly as a signpost planted on a mountaintop.”
I had nothing to say, so I just shrugged. I hadn’t really shown them anything.
“I agree with Young Lord Cheol. Tonight, my spirit burns too hot to rest. I’ll visit the Wall of Martial Soul myself.”
Gwak Riyeon placed a friendly hand on my shoulder with a grin. Martial artists usually never allow others to touch their shoulders—The fact I didn’t react must’ve surprised him. His eyes widened slightly.
Well, rather than allowing it, I just didn’t react fast enough.
“More importantly, your subordinate over there—she seems greatly disheartened. You should console her.”
“Hmm.”
“Don’t be too harsh just because you’re talented. For someone her age to hold out against Jin Yeongryeong to that extent...It was truly commendable.”
I nodded silently.
Gwak Riyeon patted my shoulder with a friendly smile and left.
“What’s he doing?”
Nothing.
Even Chu Taesu had tried to pat my shoulder but failed. Gwak Riyeon might get a pass, but not Chu Taesu. Who knows what kind of sorcery he might try?
Once everyone left, only two remained: the flushed-faced Tak Horak and the despondent Saweol.
“Clan Head! I believed in you! You were amazing!”
“Shut up.”
“But it was Jin Yeongryeong! Among all Transcendent Peak masters, she’s one of the hardest to deal with, and you subdued her without a scratch! We must spread this across the entire Divine Sect...Ah—but it happened on Island of Restless Souls, so we must keep it secret. How unfortunate!”
“Tak Horak.”
“Yes, Clan Head!”
“Quiet. It’s nothing worth fussing over. Go clean up our quarters.”
Tak Horak looked slightly hurt at my words.
Feeling a bit bad, I added:
“Still, no matter what anyone says, you’re my left arm. Thanks to you, I sleep soundly at night.”
“Chuuung~!”
Grinning foolishly, Tak Horak dashed off. He really was easy to read.
Still, the real issue was Saweol.
She looked like a drenched puppy—shoulders drooped, unable to lift her head.
I walked over.
“Saweol.”
She looked up at me. Her eyes were red with tears.
“Are you frustrated?”
“I am.”
“Why?”
She replied in a slightly trembling voice, as if holding back emotion.
“Even though you granted me this opportunity…I was completely overwhelmed. That’s what frustrates me the most.”
“How old are you?”
“Twenty-five.”
“You reached Transcendent Peak in ten years. I didn’t touch it until I was thirty.”
I continued:
“You heard Cheol Sopyeong earlier, didn’t you? Transcendent Peak isn’t the final stage–it’s just the beginning. The fact that your very first opponent at that level was Jin Yeongryeong, and that you survived—that alone is remarkable.”
“But I...”
Transparent tears streamed down Saweol's cheeks.
I had always seen her as cold and stoic, but deep inside was a fragile girl desperate for recognition.
“If you can’t believe in yourself, then believe in me, who believes in you.”
“Clan Head…”
“Believe. You’re the one I trust the most.”
After all, according to the author of Return of the Murim, Saweol held the greatest potential in this world.
Saweol's ears turned red. She wiped her tears, nodded, and said:
“I will believe—in you, Clan Head.”
“Good.”
“May I also visit the Wall of Martial Soul?”
“You can rest today.”
“No, I want to push myself further, to be worthy of your trust.”
She bowed deeply, then disappeared.
“Tak Horak is easy to handle, but Saweol... might be easier than I thought?”
[What are you saying?]
“Look at her—so flustered just from being acknowledged.”
[...Monster.]
“Why?”
[Tell me—did you happen to be married in your past life?]
“No, I wasn’t.”
[Makes sense, then.]
“What the hell are you talking about? That’s not what’s important right now.”
With everything settled, I had to figure out what had caused all this in the first place. I needed answers to prepare for what might come next.
[You’ve figured it out, haven’t you?]
Yeah... it’s got to be the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, right?
***
Island of Restless Souls, quarters of the Shadow Blood Jin Clan.
Truly unfortunate.
Chu Taesu stood before Jin Yeongryeong, who was trembling in a corner of her bed, biting her nails.
How humiliating—to see the head of the Jin Clan in such a wretched state.
No one answered.
They couldn’t.
The Jin Clan’s young lord and guardian were both embedded in the wall.
What happened here?
“Scary, scary. So scary. So scary…”
Scared? Of what?
“B-blood? BLOOD!!!”
Jin Yeongryeong clutched her head as if having a seizure.
“Demon! Demon! In my head!”
Hmm…
She had vomited blood essence, and her cultivation had dropped. Was this some kind of deviation?
With curious eyes, Chu Taesu approached.
Let’s take a peek inside your mind, shall we?
Normally, this would’ve been impossible. But Jin Yeongryeong was now extremely vulnerable.
Chu Taesu reached toward her head, releasing an ominous pale-blue energy.
And in that instant—
He saw it.
A glimpse of something that transcended understanding.
It was fragmented—But vast, infinite, and overwhelming.
Even Chu Taesu, master of dark arts, couldn’t describe it in words.
No known being could explain what that was.
“KYAAAAAAAA!”
Jin Yeongryeong’s scream snapped him out of it. He yanked his hand away from her head like he’d touched fire.
Was there truly a martial art that could leave such an imprint with just a few drops of blood?
It couldn’t be—
Except for one possibility.
If this goes well…
Chu Taesu muttered as he stepped out of the Jin Clan’s quarters.
I might just catch two rabbits at once.
Snap!
He flicked his fingers.
The Jin Clan’s quarters went up in flames.