Kwung!

Cheonma Goon Rim Bo (Heaven Demon Overcoming Steps).

It was a footwork technique that was said to be passed down only to Cheonma, the leader of the Demonic Cult.

Unlike typical footwork techniques that serve as a foundation for other martial arts, each step of the Cheonma Goon Rim Bo exudes a fierce power, allowing it to be used for actual attacks on its own.

‘This is… Cheonma (Heaven Demon).’

Na Rin gulped nervously.

With a single step.

That one step alone parted the flames blocking Dokgo Cheon’s path, creating a way through.

The majestic appearance of an absolute ruler who subjugates even nature itself.

Although she knew nothing about the cult’s doctrine, Na Rin somehow felt like she understood why the cult members were so devoted to Cheonma.

“According to the laws of the Asura…”

And just as Dokgo Cheon had found Na Rin hiding from the flames, he noticed the trembling fragment of the demon beast, cornered and cowering.

At first glance, the demon beast’s fragment had shrunk so much that it could be mistaken for soot or dust. Dokgo Cheon raised his sword in front of it.

The Sword of God. The Asura Sword.

“There are no exceptions.”

From the upper right to the lower left.

The diagonal slash had no special technique.

But it was enough.

Just like blowing out a candlelight before bed with a single breath.

In the place where the deep pink flames disappeared, only white smoke, gray ashes, and dark shadows remained.

“…Is it over?”

“Thanks to you weakening its power, I easily sealed it.”

Dokgo Cheon showed Na Rin the faint shadow flitting inside the brightly glowing jade tassel attached to the hilt of the Asura Sword.

“In here?”

Na Rin examined the jade tassel with a dubious expression.

Hmm. If she squinted and looked closely, it seemed like she could see a speck of something. Or maybe not. As long as the fire was out, whatever.

“Anyway, thank you.”

“What are you saying?”

“For saving me…”

At that, Dokgo Cheon’s gaze toward Na Rin softened a little.

“From now on, we are fellow disciples.”

Just as Na Rin was about to question him with a “Huh?”

“Na Rin!”

At the joyful voice, Na Rin’s eyes widened and sparkled.

“Master!”

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

When Gong Son Wu scooped Na Rin up in a hug, she grinned and nodded her head vigorously.

It felt good to have her master, who only had one disciple, worrying about her.

But that moment was short-lived.

“What is all this chaos! Were you trying to worry your master to death!”

As soon as Gong Son Wu confirmed Na Rin’s safety, anger seeped into his voice.

“Tsk. If you think about it, it’s not entirely my fault.”

“Then whose fault is it?”

“It’s the fault of the master who sent me here!”

“Don’t get cheeky with me, you little…!”

“Ow!”

The moment Gong Son Wu smacked Na Rin’s head, his young disciple suddenly disappeared from his sight.

“Don’t hit her.”

Dokgo Cheon had snatched Na Rin away.

Then, glaring at Gong Son Wu as if he were the world’s greatest villain, Dokgo Cheon said,

“Where do you get off hitting her.”

“My mistake, my mistake.”

Gong Son Wu made a dumbfounded face before sighing.

What could he do? To Dokgo Cheon, Na Rin was like water in a desert.

Gong Son Wu decided to talk to Na Rin separately later and first assess the situation at hand.

“Putting cleanup aside, is the problem solved?”

Dokgo Cheon nodded.

“Then that’s enough. For now, let’s return to Myeonggung and…”

“You’re quite hasty, Jiguk Cheonwang.”

At the rough bass voice coming from behind, Gong Son Wu made a small tsk sound.

Sure enough, it had to be that Jeok Gun Ak.

At Gong Son Wu’s telepathic message that sounded serious, Na Rin obediently buried her face in Dokgo Cheon’s chest. Thankfully, the darkness concealed her white hair.

“Is it wise to take an important witness away on your own? You’re not someone who doesn’t know the importance of initial investigation.”

“Sorry, but our child needs to go to bed. The questioning can wait until dawn.”

A rough bass voice, like gravel being scraped with metal.

Na Rin’s body trembled slightly at the familiar voice.

‘This voice is…?’

There are situations that one can never get used to, even if reborn ten times.

It’s the reunion with someone you knew in your previous life.

The despair and loneliness Na Rin felt when she went to reconnect with someone who was as close as family in the next life was too horrific and immeasurable for a person to bear.

So each time Na Rin was reborn, she painted a new background for her life.

Once in Xi’an, then in Beijing. Sichuan, Guangdong, Luoyang…

‘Stay calm. You knew you would meet him someday after coming to the Demonic Cult.’

Na Rin crumpled Dokgo Cheon’s clothing in her shrunken fists.

“Your love for your disciple is dreadful.”

“I’m like that. She’s the youngest.”

There was no way she could forget.

The nemesis of Hyeol Mae Hwa Ju Na Rin and the culprit behind the Xi’an Bloodbath.

The Guardian of the North.

Bisahwacheok Jeok Gun Ak.

“I wonder what the disciple’s face looks like for you to cherish her so much after such a short time.”

Step.

As Jeok Gun Ak took a step closer, Gong Son Wu unconsciously blocked his path.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

That momentary and clear wariness pulled the surrounding air taut, and just as Jeok Gun Ak’s ominous smile was slowly rising,

“I found the Asura Sword.”

Dokgo Cheon spoke.

Jeok Gun Ak slowly turned his head to look at Dokgo Cheon.

“…Asura Sword?”

Before he could even realize how unfamiliar it was to see Dokgo Cheon holding a young child as if protecting something precious, Dokgo Cheon held out the Asura Sword.

The jade tassel emitting a white light like the moon illuminating the dark night and the blade shining like glass.

It was exactly like the appearance of the Asura Sword from myths.

“Bisahwacheok. You investigate it.”

At Dokgo Cheon’s words, Jeok Gun Ak, who had been captivated by the Asura Sword, abruptly raised his head.

Surely it couldn’t be the real thing, but it was still the Asura Sword.

The most sacred artifact proving that the first Cheonma was a human chosen by the gods.

‘He’s telling me to investigate it?’

It wasn’t just an investigation, but essentially an entrustment.

Jeok Gun Ak did not turn his head away from his own greed.

“As you command.”

Gong Son Wu’s face was filled with shock, and Na Rin’s eyes also widened like coins, but Dokgo Cheon did not hesitate.

The moment Jeok Gun Ak knelt and received the Asura Sword handed over by Dokgo Cheon with both hands,

Chiiik!

The sound and smell of Jeok Gun Ak’s palms being scorched filled the surroundings.

“Argh!”

Even in the agony that made his eyes widen and cold sweat drip, Jeok Gun Ak did not let go of the Asura Sword. No, he couldn’t let go.

If he, the Guardian, were to drop the sacred artifact to the ground, not only would he be unable to escape the sin, but he would also never be able to touch the Asura Sword again.

“It is indeed a divine sword.”

Meanwhile, Gong Son Wu said with a grin.

“They say the flames of hell punish those unworthy of touching the Asura Sword. It must be very hot. You have my sympathies.”

‘Unworthy.’

Anger surged at the words that seemed to be meant for him to hear.

Because there was nothing wrong with what Gong Son Wu said.

Just looking at how the Asura Sword, which had been docile when Dokgo Cheon held it, was now burning red-hot like a lump of metal heated in a furnace the moment Jeok Gun Ak’s hands touched it was proof enough.

However,

“If I’m determined to hold it, even by force, there’s nothing I can’t hold.”

Even while enduring the pain that made blood vessels burst in his eyes and blood drip from the corners of his mouth, Jeok Gun Ak spoke with a smile.

‘Disgusting bastard.’

Gong Son Wu clicked his tongue, feeling repulsed by the madness-filled green eyes. What devotion could there be in someone who goes against the will of the gods to satisfy his own desires?

“If you’re done here, get lost to Bukcheon Palace. I’d love to leave you until both your hands are severed, but I can’t stand the sight of your face any longer.”

“I appreciate the offer. I’ll do that.”

After making sure Jeok Gun Ak was definitely out of sight, Gong Son Wu spun around.

“Why did you do that?”

“…”

“Answer me. Leader.”

Gong Son Wu was barely containing himself.

“Everyone in the cult knows that bastard Jeok Gun Ak has been eyeing the leader’s position! The Asura Sword is practically the seal of the Cheonma Cult, yet you handed it over so easily! And to that bastard of all people!”

Gong Son Wu’s hand trembled as he raged.

“I wanted to divert his attention.”

Dokgo Cheon fell silent for a moment before carefully continuing.

“Ju Na Rin… was trembling and burrowing into my chest.”

“What?”

Now it was Gong Son Wu who was dumbfounded.

Was he saying he gave the Asura Sword to protect Na Rin from Jeok Gun Ak?

The Asura Sword of all things!

“Argh…!”

Gong Son Wu clutched his head in agony.

Gong Son Wu also sensed that Jeok Gun Ak had an unknown interest and malice toward Na Rin. Why else would he have unconsciously blocked Jeok Gun Ak’s path?

‘But to hand over the Asura Sword to that kind of bastard!’

The frustration as a Guardian and the gratitude he felt as Na Rin’s master clashed within Gong Son Wu.

“But you know what, Master.”

Na Rin, who had been nestled in Dokgo Cheon’s arms, poked her head out and said,

“He didn’t give it away, he just lent it for investigation, right?”

Gong Son Wu sighed heavily.

Right. What could be done about something already given?

“That bastard won’t easily return something like the Asura Sword. He could delay returning it indefinitely, claiming the investigation isn’t finished, or he could pretend it was lost or damaged, or even make a counterfeit. Such risks should have been eliminated from the start.”

Is that so?

Na Rin pondered deeply.

“I don’t think he’ll do that.”

“And how would you know?”

Na Rin barely stopped herself from saying ‘I know what kind of man he is.’ It made no sense for her to know the character or way of thinking of Jeok Gun Ak, whom she was meeting for the first time.

“If it were me, I wouldn’t do that. Wouldn’t it be unpleasant to delay returning it and give an excuse for Bukcheon Palace to be investigated? He doesn’t seem like the type to have nothing to hide.”

“Well, that’s…” Gong Son Wu grumbled.

Na Rin continued, shrugging as if it were no big deal.

“Saying he lost or damaged it is the same. If you’re entrusted with something important and manage it poorly, of course you’ll be punished. He’ll be afraid of getting caught while imprisoned in the Ox Prison and try not to be accused.”

“What about replacing it with a fake?”

Na Rin laughed and shrugged.

“If he has the skill to make a sword that burns selectively, he’s welcome to try.”

“Hmm.”

Gong Son Wu rubbed his chin and fell into thought. Considering Na Rin’s words one by one, the chances of what he feared happening weren’t very high.

‘Was I being too sensitive?’

It was possible. Na Rin had been in danger, so his nerves were already on edge, and then Jeok Gun Ak, whose very existence grated on Gong Son Wu’s nerves, had also appeared. And on top of that, the unexpected existence of the Asura Sword.

It would be inhuman not to be shaken in this situation.

“It’s an item that had been missing for thousands of years.”

Dokgo Cheon said.

“Having lived that long without it, its presence or absence doesn’t make much difference now. Moreover, what can the Bisahwacheok, who can’t even touch the sword, do?”

“Ah, really! I get it, I get it!”

Gong Son Wu roughly scratched the back of his head and bowed his head with a sigh.

Losing the Asura Sword still stung, but…

Gong Son Wu’s gaze shifted to Na Rin.

‘Na Rin is safe too. And with the leader saying this, it’d be uncool to dwell on it further.’

At least while Jeok Gun Ak was occupied with the Asura Sword, he probably wouldn’t realize that Dokgo Cheon’s condition was improving.

‘We need to thoroughly prepare our defenses in the meantime.’