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chapter 31
The rumors about the appearance of the Demonic Beings (Ma-in) had been officially confirmed by the Martial Alliance, so they were no longer mere rumors—they had become fact, they had become the truth.
People thought that the emergence of the Ma-in would once again bring a bloodstorm to the martial world.
“How foolish.”
Sword Spirit (Geomryeong) was climbing Dinghu Mountain (Jeongho Mountain) after leaving Guangzhou, heading to Guangxi Province with an unexpected group: Leng Yuesol, Jeok Hwamyeong, and Jin Aseol.
Dinghu Mountain wasn’t very high, but it was densely forested, and many wild animals made it their home. Hence, there were both slash-and-burn villages and hunter villages.
“What do you mean by foolish?”
“To try and find Ma-in while whispering in secrecy is one thing, but now to talk about it so openly—do you think the Ma-in would be afraid and go anywhere outside?”
“That’s your misunderstanding. Knowing of the Ma-in and preparing for them will reduce the damage. And…”
Jeok Hwamyeong spoke, correcting Geomryeong’s misconception.
Geomryeong listened and understood but still felt it was clearly the wrong approach.
Neither the second son of Cheonmyeong Mountain Villa, Hyun Jinmyung, nor the second son of Myunghwa Trading Company, Gon Honggi, had originally been Ma-in. By coincidence—or perhaps conspiracy—they acquired the Demonic Technique (Magong), learned it, and thus became Ma-in.
It wasn’t impossible that others who had learned Magong could have experienced something similar.
Whether from righteous or unorthodox martial sects, martial artists who learn Magong would likely hide it carefully at first, rather than display it openly.
‘Of course, they don’t think those two actually learned Magong…’
They assumed that those two were victims of Magong, not its practitioners. The sons of Cheonmyeong Mountain Villa and Myunghwa Trading Company were excluded from suspicion from the very start because no one thought they would learn Magong voluntarily.
—The more one has, the greedier one becomes.
Geomryeong recalled what the Ghost Martial Lord Gu Yeongcheol had once said.
What can someone without much greed really want? But someone who has power is different—they want more, bigger, better. That’s why those who have are often more terrifying than those who have nothing.
“Even if they’re Ma-in, if you know how to deal with them, it shouldn’t be that difficult…”
“How to deal with them?”
Leng Yuesol asked.
“As I said before, Magong is an incomplete martial art, so it always has a weak point.”
This was the first time Leng Yuesol had heard this.
“For example, for those who have learned the Magong called Surapok Cheongong, the weak point is the Qimen Acupoint (Rib Gate Point), located on the ribs.”
“And for the Huama Okhyeonggong Magong, its weak point is the Changgang Acupoint (Strong River Point), which is a bit crude. It’s located at the end of the hip bone.”
“But uncle, where exactly are Qimen and Changgang points?”
Jin Aseol asked.
“Qimen is here, Changgang is here.”
Geomryeong touched his own body to show the locations of the two acupoints.
“So, if Aseol meets a Ma-in, hitting those points will let her win?”
“No. Even a weak point requires a certain amount of force. Aseol isn’t strong enough yet, so winning would be difficult.”
Jin Aseol looked a little disappointed but then turned to Leng Yuesol.
“Master will teach me a martial art that allows me to win, right?”
Leng Yuesol patted Aseol’s head.
“Of course. I will make sure no one can look down on you.”
Aseol smiled brightly at that.
“But how do you know this?”
Leng Yuesol asked Geomryeong.
“I’ve experienced it myself.”
Jeok Hwamyeong squinted slightly.
“Is that so? You survived even after encountering Ma-in?”
“Of course. That’s why I’m standing here.”
Jeok Hwamyeong and Leng Yuesol didn’t fully believe him.
“I see. Thanks for sharing such information.”
“You’re welcome.”
Geomryeong knew they didn’t fully trust him, but he didn’t mind. After a few experiences, he had grown indifferent. After roughly guessing what kind of person Geomryeong was, Leng Yuesol and Jeok Hwamyeong didn’t pay much attention to his words.
It was only when the four reached mid-mountain at Dinghu Mountain that they found a small slash-and-burn village. There were only nine households.
“Let’s rest here for a moment,” Leng Yuesol said, pointing to the village.
Geomryeong tilted his head while looking at it.
‘Have they all gone out to work?’
A village where people live should exude some vitality, but this village felt lifeless.
Jeok Hwamyeong led, with Geomryeong following behind.
As they entered, Jeok Hwamyeong stopped, sensing something unusual, and stared straight ahead with wary eyes.
“The feeling is strange.”
Leng Yuesol also seemed tense, scanning the surroundings.
“They’re all dead.”
Geomryeong spoke quietly. The others didn’t seem to hear him.
Geomryeong moved forward.
“Geomryeong Soje! It’s dangerous.”
“It’s okay.”
Ignoring Jeok Hwamyeong’s warning, Geomryeong entered one of the houses.
Upon opening the door, a stench of rotting corpses hit him. Two corpses, long dead, were so decomposed that maggots were already present.
Geomryeong inspected the corpses.
“They have no hearts.”
He confirmed that both corpses had no hearts and stepped out, rushing to another house.
Inside were three corpses, including a child.
“Just as I thought!”
“Ahhh!”
Jin Aseol’s scream came from outside.
“It’s okay. Don’t be afraid.”
Leng Yuesol’s voice suggested that Aseol had been startled by the sight of rotting corpses.
“Someone removed their hearts. Are they eating them?”
Some Magong require bizarre methods, and consuming hearts was not impossible.
As Geomryeong left the house, Jeok Hwamyeong also emerged from another.
“These two corpses are missing their hearts. While the intestines decay first, the absence of hearts suggests the killer took them.”
Leng Yuesol nodded in agreement.
“Those ones are missing hearts too. Speaking of which, is there any Magong related to hearts?”
Leng Yuesol thought for a moment, then nodded.
“What is it?”
“Amplification Magic Technique.”
Amplification Magic Technique (Zengbao Magong)!
This Magong could raise the level of an existing martial art by two steps.
If a third-rate martial artist learned this, they could rival a first-rate martial artist, perhaps even defeat them.
To cultivate this Magong, one essential ingredient was required: human hearts.
The more hearts consumed, the greater the power. Those who learned Amplification Magong would raid isolated villages to obtain the human hearts they needed.
“Then the lives of villagers here could be at risk… they might all be dead…”
Both Leng Yuesol and Jeok Hwamyeong’s expressions hardened. Indeed, it was highly likely that all residents of Dinghu Mountain had been killed.
“Why now? Why are all these Magong appearing at once?”
Jeok Hwamyeong asked.
“That’s probably due to their level of mastery. Previously, they practiced carefully to avoid detection, so progress was slow. But once they reach a certain stage, they might lose control of their Magong, causing it to appear all at once.”
Even though they often thought Geomryeong lied, both now had to nod.
“Those who have learned Magong must have been practicing for at least five to ten years.”
“Magong strengthens martial arts by attributes,” Jeok Hwamyeong added.
“Yes. Ordinary martial arts could be learned in a year, but Magong requires hiding from others, so progress is slower.”
Leng Yuesol thought Geomryeong was sharp-minded.
“Then these Ma-in must have crossed the Gobi Desert into the Central Plains at least ten years ago.”
“That’s not certain, but I think their schemes began over fifteen years ago.”
“Fifteen years?”
They looked at Geomryeong in question.
“To spread Magong throughout the Central Plains naturally would take some time.”
Leng Yuesol and Jeok Hwamyeong exchanged glances.
“You said they spread Magong across the Central Plains?”
“Yes. Once someone reaches a high enough level with Magong, they can think strategically.”
Leng Yuesol recalled events from thirty years ago.
“Yes, back then too. The Ma-in set traps, and we suffered greatly.”
“Magong has stages: Entry Demon (Imma), Capability Demon (Neungma), Superior Demon (Choma), Transcendent Demon (Talma), and Divine Demon (Shinma).”
This was the first time they had heard of stages in Magong.
“Really?”
“Yes!”
They couldn’t tell if Geomryeong was lying, but it seemed worth listening.
“At the Choma stage, they can think for themselves.”
“So, what’s the level of Choma?”
“Probably equivalent to a master at the peak of their skill.”
Jeok Hwamyeong noted: “Then Talma is super peak, and Shinma is the highest level?”
“No. Talma equals a master at the pinnacle (Hwakyung), and Shinma can create Primordial Spirit Gods. Each Magong stage is like two ordinary levels of achievement.”
“Primordial Spirit Gods?”
“Yes. It’s a stage that appears after breaking the barrier of peak mastery. Only three martial artists in history have reached it.”
“Who are they?”
“One is Cheonma, regarded as the greatest ever. Another is Gok Dokma, Tian Nan-yeon from fifty years ago. And the last is me!”
They blinked in surprise.
“Cough… wow.”
Everyone’s expressions reflected awe.
“Then show us what a Primordial Spirit God is like.”
Geomryeong patted Jin Aseol’s head.
“Martial arts aren’t for showing off. At a small scale, they protect me. On a larger scale, they uphold justice and help others.”
“Ha, you’re a liar,” she said, laughing at him.
“Anyway, we should descend the mountain and inform Gaebang of this situation.”
“Do we all need to go? I can go alone.”
“No. It’s not that we underestimate you, but if you encounter Ma-in alone, you could be at a disadvantage. It’s also burdensome for me to protect the two children while fighting Ma-in.”
Although he spoke that way, Jeok Hwamyeong knew Leng Yuesol could defeat Ma-in. He nodded, understanding the warning.
“Let’s go.”
“But…” Geomryeong hesitated.
“Why?”
“It seems we’re already too late.”
“What do you mean too late…?”
Leng Yuesol turned his head to the left, while Jeok Hwamyeong looked to the right.
Leng Yuesol’s gaze returned to Geomryeong, questioning how he knew the enemies were coming first. But Geomryeong ignored it, took Aseol’s hand, and moved behind him.
“They’re not alone.”
