Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time

It was an utterly surreal sight.

A person emerging from the shadows—such things were spoken of in myths, but witnessing it firsthand was rare, even in an era where all manner of mystical beings, martial arts, and sorcery ran rampant.

The one most taken aback was the Lord of Sunmaren.

‘Return…!’

The old man directed his will toward the weasel.

Mayu. A spirit beast devoid of physical form or true intellect.

Its body was composed of pure spiritual energy, allowing it to appear and disappear at will.

It was akin to a blade of the mind—easily wielded with little effort. This was especially true against a master deep in internal circulation.

As Sunmaren’s own yokai and sacred beast, it should have returned to its master immediately. And yet, the old man's grasp remained empty, the chilling wind scraping against his skin in its place.

A soft gulping sound echoed.

The woman who had suddenly appeared tilted her slender, pale throat, swallowing.

Haa—

A sigh, heavy with satisfaction, brushed against the air. A faint crimson gleam flickered in her single red eye. She looked pleased.@@novelbin@@

To the Lord of Sunmaren, it was nothing short of a waking nightmare. The wrinkles at the corners of the old man’s eyes deepened as his face twisted in fury.

"You wretched creature, how dare you…!"

"Wretched…?"

The Seventh Apostle's voice was soft, teasing. "Not exactly the kind of thing I'd expect to hear from an old Sunmaren fossil. I was born a rightful heir of Ilmak’s bloodline, while you, well…"

She let her words trail off in amusement, clearly mocking Sunmaren, once a branch of the old Ming Cult.

Her words were not false, but few would dare to say them outright in the presence of a demonic sovereign.

Rumble—