The Double Agent of the Heavenly Demon Sect

One Month.

To honor the one-month deadline I had set for myself, I gripped my sword and moved forward. This time, I ventured beyond the outer edges of Magok, heading deeper into its treacherous interior.

Isipguho trailed behind me, her expression a mix of panic and frustration.

"What's going on?! Why are you suddenly acting like this? First, you leave without a word to meet someone, and now you're saying you're heading to face the Magok Lord?! Can’t you at least explain what's happening?!"

"I’ll explain everything once it’s over."

"What?! What do you mean by that?!"

Isipguho tugged at my sleeve, but I brushed her hand away without hesitation.

If I talked to her now, it might lead to disagreements—or worse, she might try to stop me. And knowing her, she probably wouldn’t let me go.

But before I left, knowing this might be the last time she ever saw me, I figured I could at least say this much.

"I don’t like being in debt either."

"Can you speak plainly for once? Seriously!"

Deep within Magok, I pressed onward until I stood before the enormous figure that dominated the center of the vast land.

The creature resembled a tiger in form, but its size was many times larger than any ordinary tiger. Its thick hide gleamed ominously, and its elongated fangs extended so far they nearly touched its jaw.

Its claws alone were massive enough to kill most beasts with a single swipe.

And yet, what captured my attention most wasn’t its size or its teeth.

Its entire body emitted a strange, reddish glow, and I could feel the faint aura of qi emanating from it.

"..."

This beast...

It knew how to manipulate qi.

The air around us grew hotter. Judging by the fiery nature of the qi, it seemed likely this beast’s energy was aligned with fire. Isipguho wiped the sweat that had started dripping down her face.

"What kind of beast is this huge?! It’s... an ascended spirit!?"

"It’s only natural for the ruler of Magok to be at least this powerful."

"And you’re planning to... defeat that?! Can you even do it?!"

"I don’t know."

That was exactly what I intended to find out.

Drawing my sword, I steadied my breath and straightened my posture.

"Isipguho, return from here."

"What?! No! I’ll help you—we can take it down together!"

"I must do this alone. If we fight together, the meaning of this battle is lost."

Even after seeing such a terrifying creature, she still wanted to assist me.

I smiled at her determination and removed my bothersome mask.

"Samsipho?! You can’t take that off—!"

"There’s no one around to see me. Besides, it’ll likely be torn apart anyway. It makes no difference if I take it off now."

Exhaling onto the edge of my blade, I imbued it with my qi, ensuring the damaged weapon wouldn’t break prematurely. As the blade shimmered faintly in the crimson light, I stepped forward.

"Isipguho, I’ll see you in a month. Don’t worry about roll call—I’ve been granted permission from the Blood Demon Commander to be absent for that duration."

"You—! Why are you always like this?!"

"You saw it yourself back at the Sama family estate."

This is how I live.

That’s all there is to it.

"This is just who I am."

...

Isipguho returned to the shelter, still unable to make sense of what had just happened.

Samsipho had left so abruptly to face the Magok Lord, a creature beyond comprehension. And judging by his cryptic words, he had met someone besides Ilma beforehand...

But he didn’t tell her anything else. He remained silent, refusing to elaborate further.

Isipguho was curious—no, she was worried. But since he wouldn’t share, she decided not to push the matter.

Everyone has their secrets, after all. Still, it stung.

"..."

After all this time...

I thought we were comrades.

Surely, he must have his reasons for not saying anything. Yes, that must be it.

...But even so.

Even so, couldn’t he have at least given me a hint?

"..."

Frustrated, Isipguho drew her sword and began practicing. She swung it repeatedly, imagining the enormous beast in her mind, trying to internalize how she might fight such a creature.

Gwisuilma—her efforts felt meaningless. The imagined movements of the beast overshadowed her every attempt.

The advanced footwork techniques she visualized wouldn’t even faze such a massive creature. She couldn’t even manage a proper strike, let alone deliver any significant damage.

Its thick hide would likely shrug off even the sharpest blade. In her mind’s eye, the beast roared mockingly as her blade barely grazed its surface. Its claws, sharper than any sword, lashed out with devastating force.

She ducked, narrowly avoiding a fatal blow, and retaliated with a slash of her own.

Danhonchu.

Her imaginary sword barely nicked the beast’s hide. No blood flowed. Even when she poured her qi into the strike, it only left the faintest scratch.

If this were a real battle...

—Would her blade even pierce its hide in the first place?

She tried increasing her speed using the advanced technique Gwiyeongbo, only for the imagined beast to catch up effortlessly with a single leap.

Her mental battle ended with her crushed into the ground, her final desperate stab snapping her sword in half before the beast sank its teeth into her neck.

Collapsing onto the dusty ground, Isipguho gasped for air. Even in her imagination, she had been utterly defeated.

"...This..."

She was at the initial stage of the pinnacle realm, able to focus her qi to cut through solid rock—a feat beyond ordinary humans.

And yet...

She couldn’t even land a proper strike.

"...How does he plan to kill that thing?"

Even with Paeryeok Mado, would it make any difference?

She knew she had to stop him. No matter what orders he had received, if it led to his death, what would be the point?

Resolving to intervene, Isipguho returned to where Samsipho had gone.

But when she arrived, the sight before her left her frozen in shock.

The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood. The ground was littered with gore and remnants of the battle.

Samsipho was fighting with every ounce of his strength, his body shredded and covered in wounds.

And yet, despite the overwhelming odds...

He fought the colossal beast with a fierce determination, as though he truly believed he could win.

...

The Lord of Magok.

A colossal tiger, its size rivaling that of a small house.

The battle began with my left arm being torn away. I twisted my body, trying to salvage what remained of my broken form.

I launched Danhonchu, but it was blocked. Even with my qi-infused blade, not a single scratch marred its hide.
A natural barrier of reflected qi enveloped its body, while the blazing heat radiating from it made it difficult to breathe.

I tried closing the distance, aiming for its underbelly, but even that proved futile.

It was as if I were facing a creature with no vulnerabilities.

In exchange for my failed strike, one of my legs was ripped away. My severed limb gushed blood as the pain roared through my body like a tidal wave. But, as always, I pressed the agony down and fought on. Even as my body was torn apart, I refused to stop struggling.

Danhonchu failed.
Gwisuilma was, of course, ineffective.

If neither worked...

Then what about Paeryeok Mado?

Invoking the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Technique, Third Form: Overpowering Demon Path.

A blood-red shadow enveloped my body, incomplete yet potent. My grip tightened, my strength magnified.
My movements—footwork, swordplay, and martial arts—evolved to a higher state.

I pushed off the ground with explosive force, using Gwiyeongbo to leap into the air. My blade struck the beast's side with everything I had.

But the hide was still too thick.
The beast’s body wavered slightly from the impact, but that was all.
Annoyed, it ripped away another one of my arms, flinging it into the air. Twisting my body, I barely managed to grab hold of the severed limb.

My attacks weren’t working. None of them.

Was there truly no way to break through? No solution to be found?

"…!"

And then I saw it—something on its hide.

A faint scratch, shallow but distinct, where my previous attack had landed.
It wasn’t something a normal blade could achieve, but Paeryeok Mado had left its mark.@@novelbin@@

The cost of maintaining this technique was steep, draining my qi at an alarming rate. If I were to continue, I would need to maximize the effectiveness of each strike.

But even so, it was just a scratch—no blood, no lasting damage. The thin film of skin seemed to regenerate almost instantly, erasing any evidence of the wound.

It could regenerate, too.

If I couldn’t deliver a fatal blow in a single strike, the battle would become an endurance match. And in such a contest, I would lose. My body would give out long before the beast did, leaving me back where I started.

An impossible situation. Yet, despite it all, a smile tugged at my lips.

"A battle of blood, is it?"

A creature that couldn’t be cut...
Against someone who couldn’t be killed.

We were like distorted reflections of each other, brothers standing on opposite sides of a mirror.

The Magok Lord growled, its massive maw opening to intimidate me further.
Raising my sword, I gripped it with both hands.

Yes, it hurt.
Every moment of this fight had been painful.

But I could endure it.

The feeling of surpassing an opponent once thought unbeatable...
The thrill of pushing beyond my limits...

If there was a path forward, I would carve through it. The beast before me wasn’t just an enemy—it was a mountain to climb, a warrior in its own right.

So, I would strike it down.
Not with a blade meant for survival, but with one meant for victory.

"If I can surpass you... then I can climb even higher."

Pain is heavy. Life itself is heavy.

At the brink of death, we all place the weight of our existence on the scales. And only those who bear the heaviest burdens emerge victorious.

So...

"...You."

I would prove my worth with my blade.

"I will surpass you, here and now."

The weight of one who surpasses.
The time earned by one who overcomes.

I swore to offer them as tribute to the Heavenly Demon herself.

But I had no intention of following her guidance step by step.

No, I would move faster.
Grow stronger.

I wouldn’t just meet her expectations—I would shatter them. Only then could I hope to catch up to someone like her.

The sword in my hand hummed, almost mournfully. In its cry, I heard the voice of Seong Jamyeong.

"It seems to me, Samsipho, that you’ll climb even higher than I will."

Another voice, that of an old friend, whispered alongside it.

There was no reason to stop moving forward.

"Let’s dance, beast. For I, too, am a..."

The beast’s claws flashed toward me. I met them head-on with my blade.

"...Beast."

...

Elsewhere.

"So, the puppy said that, did it?"

Cheonma chuckled, her amusement evident. Ilma bowed her head in confirmation.

"Even though I gave him six months, he reduced it to just one month. Hmm... Well, if he manages to pull it off, it’ll be for the best. It’ll give me more time to teach you."

Cheonma’s lips quirked as if she were deep in thought. Ilma glanced up at her subtly, observing the rare sight of Cheonma genuinely enjoying herself.

When was the last time Cheonma had found such pleasure in someone else’s actions?

To Cheonma, the boy was like a treasured toy—a precious object whose every move she watched with keen interest.

"Ilma."

"Yes, Master?"

"What do you think? Can the puppy actually do it?"

"..."

Can he do it?

Ilma recalled the state of Jeok Woon’s body during their last consultation. Whatever Cheonma had done, she had perfectly balanced his mind, energy, and body.

He had reached the peak of the pinnacle realm. But even so, could someone at the pinnacle defeat the Magok Lord?

No.

Absolutely not.

"Its hide cannot be pierced by sword qi."

"Correct."

"Even with Paeryeok Mado, he’ll only manage shallow scratches."

"That’s true as well."

"Without gang-gi (force qi), it’s impossible to kill the Magok Lord. Achieving gang-gi requires reaching the transcendent realm—a level reserved for leaders of squads and armies. It’s a realm no ordinary person can reach, no matter how hard they try. Six months would be a stretch. A single month? Out of the question."

It was too early. That was her judgment.

Cheonma’s smile widened.

"Ilma."

"Yes, Master?"

"Even so, you haven’t said he can’t do it."

"..."

The words were on the tip of her tongue, but they refused to come out.

Why couldn’t she say it? Why couldn’t she declare it impossible?

"Ilma."

"...Yes."

"Why did you accept that absurd proposal of his?"

Jeok Woon’s audacious request had amused her. His arrogance, his inability to recognize his limits—it was almost endearing.

And yet, he had followed through. Every time she expected him to fail, he had proven her wrong.

Ilma finally understood why she couldn’t say he would fail.

Jeok Woon had always defied expectations.

"...At first, I thought it was absurd."

"And now?"

"Strangely enough..."

She hesitated. It was illogical to think he could succeed.

"...I think he’ll do it."

Cheonma burst into laughter, slamming her hand on the table.

"To think the cold, calculating Ilma would say such a thing! Isn’t that quite the departure from the reason you pride yourself on?"

"..."

"But I understand. After all..."

Cheonma’s laughter faded as she brushed her fingers over her lips.

"He’s someone who dares to aim for my back. If his dreams are absurd, then achieving the absurd should come naturally to him."