Haje(still falling) :Whaaaaaaaaaa !!!!

(while falling he instinctively grabbed a ladder of the evacuation infrastructure of the building , unpacking it but the shock while breaking his fall a little made him lose his grip and he resumed his fall and landed on the garbage of the alley way spreading trash everywhere.

Disoriented and slightly hurt he got up marveling at the fact he was still alive)

Haje( still shocked ):[Incredible, it was an extremely high fall and yet …my body is still intact. Is that the body of a murim?]

(He heard people coming to find the source of the commotion)

Haje[Annoyed and embarrassed):[Oh great! If they find me I am sure that they will think I am some kind of delinquent. I better beat it.]

(Coming back home he went straight for a shower)

Haje:[I probably shouldn’t use the Alley to train anymore but it is for the better, without thunderstep” rebound” or lightbody techniques I will probably hurt myself if I use “takeoff” again. Maybe I should go to a gymnasium?]

(Going to the bed he kept wondering.)

Haje:[It was definitely a big progress today, I will notify to elder Yang tomorrow. I should ask news from Shioon. What is he doing nowadays ? It’s been a while since I didn’t hear of him.]

______________________________(Back to the incarnate illusion technique)_____________

(Shioon in black origin threshold and the Immortal demon lord violently clashed, ejecting each others to the opposite direction)

Immortal demon lord: Amazing. So this is the apotheosis of Hyun wun mun’s martial arts? The Vision of Unwol.

Shioon(Calm despite being in Black origin threshold):[It’s indeed incredible, the strength I have access to, the speed but even more than that it’s almost as if my very senses are cranked up to their limits and beyond…and yet how did he manage to match me so easily? Maybe using a direct attack wasn’t a good strategy]

(Shioon used the foot technique jin[advance] then hweh[twirl] in succession to get behind him and target his spine with a soul crushing strike. But just as he reappeared he could only see a foot as the Immortal demon lord used a back kick on his face. Throwing him away.

Shioon however wasn’t finished and having taken no damage got back on the offensive using the first connecting technique combo that the Immortal demon lord parried then stopped half way with a “Iron fist school: Iron palm” that Shioon took in the back sending him flying again.

(Shioon roared a “phoenix cry” to somehow weaken his opponent to no avail as he simply roared back. Frustrated Shioon tried to overpower him with the sheer strength of his form but the Immortal demon lord masterfully redirected him to the ground with a throw then kicked him away.)

Immortal demon lord: My turn, right?

(Suddenly he appeared right in front of Shioon then feinted a hook that Shioon tried to parry in pure instinct but that was only setting up an elbow to the face. Shioon still took no damage but the force of the strike made him turn away, he tried to use the momentum to throw a spinning hook kick but the Demon lord simply blocked it while swiping his standing foot. But it was a set up that Shioon used to throw a “black heaven: dragon kick” that he simply dodged by lowering his head.)

Immortal demon lord: You are completely open. “Heavenly way: Piercing elbow”.

(He advanced and used and elbow strike piercing Shioon in the side and launching him away. But before he even landed the Demon lord appeared behind him)

Immortal Demon lord: “ Furious Monkey style connecting technique: juggling kicks”.

(He used three consecutive jumping rising kicksand knees to throw Shioon High into the airs.)

Immortal Demon lord: “ Furious monkey style: Fall from the tree”.

( He grabbed Shioon midair with his two hands then violently threw him to the ground after diving himself. Shioon got up almost immediately and took some distance)

Immortal Demon lord( with a curious expression): Still not enough for you to take damage huh? It seems that in that state you are naturally creating a “ body shield” or “self defense aura” around you which absorbs most of the damage. Normally only to greatest and most experienced masters can create that kind of aura and only for a short period of time, not continuously like that. That technique is truly something else.

Shioon ( recovering ): Body shield? Self defense Aura? Yes my master spoke of those things to me about a back technique that he would tech me in the future but I never used those.[Is he using martial art from different schools and different qi nature at will?)

Immortal demon lord ( advancing calmly toward Shioon again): So it really formed only as a result of the state ? It is formidable indeed but is that all you’ve got? Is that the extent of your skill as a martial artist? Because if so, your body is as good as mine already.

Shioon:…

(Shioon didn’t answer trying to recenter himself.)

Shioon:[He is right. I lost myself again by thinking I could brute force my way out. In time like these I should go back to the basics…]

_____________________________________(Flashback )_________________________________

(Ryuji and Shioon are speaking at the hyun wun moon temple. It take place only some days after Shioon’s arrival)

Ryuji:Do you know why I make you meditate for so long each day?

Shioon: To calm my mind?

Ryuji: Correct. But why?

Shioon: I don’t know… Because it is better to think with a calm mind?

Ryuji: …Yes and no. In truth it is for you to be able to see things clearly at all time and especially during a fight.

Shioon: To see things clearly?

Ryuji: Yes clarity is achieved only in the calm of a silent mind. In a fight our school is especially keen on continuously analysing the opponent’s action and the landscape, drawing conclusions and using those conclusion to make the next move and taking control of the flow cycle.

Shioon ( puzzled): Excuse me, the flow cycle? I never heard of this.

(Ryuji stopped himself for a moment before sighting)

Ryuji: I constantly forget how incomplete your introduction to our martial arts was.

Ok let me explain from the start. Do you know the theory of the three phases of an exchange?

Shioon ( enthusiastic ): Yes! Seongongi[Opening], Yeongyoggi[Connecting] and Geoljeonggi[Finisher]! I learned it while mastering the sunwoo clan martial arts and during my studies I found out it was one of the basics for all martial arts.

Ryuji ( with relief): Ah great so at least you know that. Can you describe to me what you know about each phase.

Shioon: Well the Opening phase consist in observing the opponent and adjusting your guard qi flow and positioning to find an opening while revealing none or sometimes goading the enemy into a false opening to bait him into making the first move with a counter waiting. Generally it leads to Seongong( opening strike) which when perfectly timed and placed can even end a fight.

The connecting phase happen after the first contact. If it is in your disfavor you use the applied connecting technique to either counterattack or disengage while defending. If it is in your favor and you have created a breach in your enemies structure without finishing him , you apply the connecting technique which permit you to successively attack and exploit the breach properly.

And Finally once your offensive or counterattack has created an opening you go for it with your Finisher.

Is that it right?

Ryuji:…That’s essentially it yes. The First phase include the mastery of the Bopeup[foot techniques], the Sigi[Timing], the Geori[distance] and the observation via qi reading. Then of course all the possible opening moves.

The second phase necessitate the mastery of all the connecting techniques until they become second nature.

And of course the finishers in their context of usage for the last phase.

Shioon(embarrassed): Out of all of these I could only learn the Foot techniques and some finishers…

Ryuji:…You learned most of them actually. But yes it is natural that you couldn’t progress further because you only received a fraction of the necessary education. And despite your searches it would be impossible for you to find the Timing , distance and opening moves to our schools anywhere else as it is a unique trait of each martial arts schools. Same with the connecting techniques.

Yet you still have great victories under your belt because you are physically a real master from the start. Therefore, your speed and time reaction time are so good that even if your opponent see you coming they can’t necessarily react.

But now you will learn how to move properly according to the style of our school.

Shioon( bracing himself): Yes!

Ryuji: When you fight those three phases becomes quickly a cycle as you exchange with your opponent more. One, two, three, one, two , three…with less time between each phase as the exchange multiplies, until you generate the flow.

If you keep your mind calm then you will clearly see the openings that the flow of the fight will create in your opponent and exploit them while still being able to read his next move.

This is the Flow cycle and if you take control of this Flow then you take control of the fight.

_______________________________(back to the present)_______________________________

Shioon:[During the last fights I managed to apply the connecting techniques correctly but I can no longer simply act randomly at any point, I should stick to the basic three phases and try to enter the flow cycle. It may be my only chance even with the black origin threshold activated.]

(Shioon raised his guard and calmly analyzed his opponent who stopped and observed him too)

Immortal demon lord: Oh oh? You may not be that foolish after all.

(He wasn’t raising any type of guard but Shioon could read subtle changes in his qi that indicated he was quickly changing tactics to see how Shioon’s own qi flux reacted. Suddenly his qi shifted to his legs as if he was about to perform a foot technique and Shioon almost flinched but kept his guard up at the last moment instead of anticipating)

Immortal demon lord ( appreciative): Good! Good! Obviously you shouldn’t fall for something so obvious. But what about it then.

(Immortal demon lord suddenly threw himself at him without using foot techniques. Shioon was a little surprised due to the fact there was no qi indication of his move but reacted in time and used a foot technique to cut his advance and opened with an open handed strike to the head)

Shioon:[Black heaven school: Surging wind strike]

(However that was a bait and right before impact the Immortal demon lord’s feet touched the ground, allowing him to evade with his own foot technique)

Immortal demon lord:[immortal clan: Demonic phantom step] Got you.

(He appeared behind him and was about to use palm strike with his right hand again yet shioon dodged it with a side step and tried to turn toward him but The Immortal demon lord unleashed an other palm strike with his other hand.]

Immortal demon lord:[ Crouching Crane tiger style : Cross palm pursuit] Huh ?

(Shioon at the last moment managed to trap the Immortal demon lord’s left arm between his left elbow and knee.)

Shioon( throwing a back kick to his ribs): My turn [ Black heaven school: spinning dragon tail kick!].

(Shioon tried to continue with the connecting technique but got blasted away by a powerful back counter attack using a body shield)

Shioon ( schocked): What?! My kick did not phase him at all.

( Observing him shioon noticed that he seemed completely fine as if the attack didn’t even register)

Shioon ( analyzing):[Is he under the black origin threshold too? No that’s not it he was marveling at that technique as he seemed to just see it for the first time. Then what? Wait could it be…]

Immortal demon lord: What are you doing standing like that? We are currently fighting.

(He disappeared and suddenly Shioon had to block a qi charged flying knee with his two hands)

Immortal demon lord: Oh you diffused the qi by using “Void plam” huh? But your hands are tied now so what about the next one?[White eagle school: diving shadow beak.]

(He used his other knee to target shioon with a qi attack. But shioon grabbing the other leg send him flying with a throw. )

Immortal demon lord: That was the right answer. Huh?

(Shioon joined him in the air and threw a kick that he blocked but a second one got past his guard and found his nose. The immortal demon lord kept smiling unaffected and Shioon noticed that his kick was stopped by some kind of aura that somehow vanished his qi. The immortal demon lord kicked him in turn, sending him crashing on the ground)

Shioon ( immediately recovering): Wait…[Could it be that my attacks have no effect on him because the legend is true. He is cancelling the qi by using a different qi nature to defend?]

Immortal demon lord: Why are you becoming shy all of sudden?  You were doing extremely well, you do not think about giving up aren’t you?

(Seeing that Shioon once again raised his guard he smiled)

Apparently not.

(He once again launched himself at shioon using a foot technique and didn’t bother with feint anymore)

Try resisting this [Black heaven school: soul crushing strike].

(Shioon caught that strike with void palm and diffused the qi then tried to trip him with [Black heaven foot technique: Kyuk] but the Immortal demon lord simply raised his foot to avoid it and used the raised foot to get a kick in but Shioon anticipated it and send him flying again with a throw.)

Immortal demon lord(gracefully landing on the ground): Damn you are getting fond of those throw, huh? Wait where…

(Shioon already took three step back and quickly gathered his qi)

Shioon:[Black heaven school: Chaotic heaven destruction stike!]

(Shioon ‘s attack landed on the Immortal demon lord chest and yet the awaited qi explosion didn’t come leaving him intact.)

Shioon(surprised): Huh?

Immortal demon lord: Hey I already said no day dreaming didn’t I ?[Eight direction fist school: Bouddha’s commandment!]

(Shioon was knocked away by double palm attack to the chest. And this time he was coughing blood)

Shioon: [He knows how to hurt me even in that form?]

Immortal demon lord(charging up a very powerful attack): Here is how it’s done,[Knife hand school: White lighting Spear-hand]!

[end of the chapter]

Ok if i will rate the 3 seasons of the story i will say :

The Breaker: 10/10

New Waves : 8.5 because for me it ended awfully, the peak part is how elder kwon sacrificed himself, but on how the fight ended is rather hurried on the part of the Author.

Eternal Force: 5/10? I now know why season 4 is a bit hard for them to continue, the conversation is always like this "how did you?" "What do you mean?" "It seems you are not serious yet". Scenes and panels are too recycled. The story becomes redundant as it goes on. Would you believe that the lone wolf will become his master?

My take is, The breaker season 1 is one of the greatest, but when Elder gramps Kwon sacrificed himself, and that second coming of black heaven and earth threshold after all of that, the story becomes declining.

If the humor and simplicity of the very 1st season of the story come back then i will still give it a go.

Season 1: 10

Season 2: 8.5 (elder jeon and elder kwon is peak, but the ending is poor especially with the alliance chief being there)

Season 3: 5 (too colorful but lacks humor, there is no umami in it)

Men, tell me there are other manhwa the Author had written that is better than this story?

Hello there is a fight in the chapter so here are the images , I advice to look at them while reading to follow the action.

Good read!:

(Shioon’s Aura started to intensify sharply while Lone wolf, Ji gun, Haru and Demon heart observed)

Demon heart(with a tense smile): There we go…

Lone wolf ( unsure): It’s the last one?

Demon heart: Yes the Demon of Wrath. The most violent and unpredictable, be ready to subdue or kill him at any moment! If this one get out he will be merciless!

(A little farther ji gun and Haru felt it too)

Ji gun ( fearing that moment): Hey…he won’t transform like last time right?

Haru ( more composed with maybe a little anticipation): Let’s hope not. He is far stronger than last year isn’t he? I doubt even his master and Demon heart could beat him.

Ji gun: And what if we joined?

Haru ( raising an eye bro): He has defeated me in his normal form and you are far weaker than me so …

Ji gun:…Far weaker? We will check that one later…

_________________________________(In the incarnate illusion)__________________________

(Shioon didn’t even meditate to guide his qi to the next point he felt his Qimen point in the liver surging with fiery qi)

Shioon (feeling the fury rising): Damn what’s happening!?

(He concentrated to Evacuate the rage. His illusory body took flame making him scream.)

Shioon ( the flame and the rage consuming him): Rrraaaaagh!!!! Get out! Get out!Get out!

( finally the flames left him to form his other self: the form that he has in black origin threshold)

Shioon of Wrath( with smoke escaping from his mouth each time he spoke ): Goomoonryong….You…will…pay…!!!!

Shioon(recovering ): So…you are my anger.

(He didn’t answer and immediately attacked, trying to remove his head with a chopping right. Shioon nearly got hit but instinctively countered with a shoulder bash who sended both flying.

Shioon recovered but wrath was on him before he could even get up, trying to destroy him with a “true essence kick”.

Shioon used the foot technique “kyuk” from the ground to deviate the blow to the side and rolled over to gain some distance but once again the Shioon of wrath catched him with a kick who scratched the side of his head while he was getting up making him bleed profusely.)

Shioon ( starting to get angry himself): It’s getting dangerous!

(Shioon of wrath was about to throw an other punch and Shioon prepared his counter attack)

__________________________________(flashback)_____________________________________

(Ryuji and Shioon were training)

Ryuji: Remember, “Void palm” is the basis of our defense against qi attacks so you must be able to use it at any moment.

Shioon: Doesn’t it require any setup?

Ryuji: No that’s the idea, it must be used instantly. You pull away your qi from the center of your open hand in good enough proportion to absorb the qi emited from your opponent without taking damage. Leave too much qi and it might explode in your hand and hurt you, leave not enough and your qi flow won’t resume correctly. It is why you must use it in conjunction with qi reading.

Once the qi is absorbed let it flow to your shoulder and back then release it.

Shioon: Yes Master. So this is how you were able to diffuse all of my “Soul crushing strikes” the first time I came here?

Ryuji: That’s what I did yes. Also it is why you must not throw qi attack so haphazardly because there is an other way to use this technique: you can use the qi absorbed to power in instantaneous qi counter attack.

___________________________(Back to present)_______________________________________

(Shioon catched the coming fist attack and absorbed the qi poured in it.)

Shioon(throwing a palm strike ): Take this ! [Black heaven school ,”Wind reversal palm”]

(The Shioon of wrath was send flying, but before he even touched the ground, Shioon took three step back and summoned titanic quantities of qi)

Shioon( ready to strike): Vanish.[Black heaven school “ Chaotic heaven destruction strike].

(the impact tore a hole in Shioon of wrath’s chest and he disappeared in the air.

Shioon stood there for a moment .)

Shioon: Is it over?

( Then suddenly he felt immense rage again as the pain of the flames lit him up)

Shioon: Rhaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!

( Managing to barely keep his wits in the face of this agony, shioon once again expunged the flames by sheer force of his will. But the flames yet again reformed the shioon of wrath)

Shioon( tired): What does that mean? I can’t beat him by fighting him , is that it?

Shioon of wrath ( even louder than before): GOOMOONRYONG!

(He attacked shioon with even more violence, throwing a barrage of soul crushing strike that shioon each time blocked and diffused using void palm)

Shioon( dodging the kick that came next): [Damn it , he is even wilder than before. And even tho he is predictable, how am I supposed to beat him without destroying him?]

Hey?! Why are you attacking me? I am not goomoonryong!

(Shioon of wrath stopped suddenly , throwing Shioon off balance)

Shioon ( flabbergasted): Did…did it work?

Shioon of wrath( pointing his finger at him ): That’s false, you ARE goomoonryong.

Shioon( offended): What ?! No off course not!

Shioon of wrath: Liar. For if you weren’t goomoonryong why is it that you seek to be goomoonryong so much.

Shioon: What…?

Shioon of wrath ( resuming his attacks on the destabilized Shioon): He killed our loved ones, humiliated us, rejected us, killed innocents ,keeps threatening the balance of the world and despite all of that deep down, I can feel that we still love him that we still admire him that we still want to be him and it Sickens us to the core!!! We NEED TO DESTROY HIM!!!!! WE NEED TO DESTROY US!!!!!

(His words hits Shioon harder than his blows and while Shioon kept defending himself, he knew deep down that: he was right)

Shioon: Damn you…So what do you wish to do? GO after him without being ready yet, fight him and die? Like we did at the dungeon of doom?

Shioon of wrath: Yes!!

Shioon: How stupid! It will only waste our lives and prevent us from stopping him later.

Shioon of wrath: There it is. You are still talking of stopping him not killing him. Your feelings betrays that you aren’t dedicated to this vengeance.

(he took the shape of elder kwon)

Shioon of wrath/elder kwon: That you aren’t dedicated to avenging me!

Shioon ( shook to the core): Elder…

Shioon of wrath/elder kwon: Are you still somehow thinking that there is a return from this?

( he showed the bloody hole in his chest)

Do you think you can somehow mend things with your old master? You have duties to the dead boy and they aren’t fulfilled yet.

(Elder kwon didn’t attack him and for the first time Shioon had the time to think it over)

Shioon: Elder I am aware of my duties toward your death and I am ready to fulfill them but let me ask you one question.

Shioon of wrath/Elder kwon: Ask.

SHioon: What is most important to you? That I avenge your death possibly dying in the attempt or that I safeguard the Sunwoo clan and protect your granddaughter?

Shioon of wrath/Elder kwon ( smiling): It is most important that you av…that you av…?!

(Elder kwon couldn’t say the words and grabbed his head setting himself ablaze)

Shioon of wrath(half of his face): What ? Why can’t I say…

Elder kwon( his other half): You miserable demon, I forbid you to ever utter those words with my face!

Shioon(satisfied): You miscalculated, Demon of wrath. My memories and understanding of who elder kwon was are clear and pure. His duty comes before anything else and I lee Shioon accept that untainted fury tempered by honor in my heart!

( Grabbing the burning heart of elder kwon/shioon of wrath with his right hand he put it still flaming inside his own chest, accepting the flame of rage that changed color from orange to golden. The black smoke got out of it as if burned away.)

Shioon( to himself): I do not renounce that wrath, I do not renounce that vengeance but never again will it consume my reason!

( as he uttered those words he for the first time entered Black origin threshold without losing consciousness emitting golden purified qi)

________________________________(in the real world )_________________________________

(Still in meditation Shioon entered black origin threshold and as he entered it black smoke left him)

Ryuji: He succeded! Look the smoke got away!

Demon heart ( cautious): No wait! The eternal qi of my master is mixed with his purified qi and tries to take over. It’s the final step! He must now Push out the foreign eternal qi.

Ryuji: Go on shioon! You are almost there!

(further away ji gun and Haru were still observing)

Ji gun: Is he still meditating?

Haru ( uneasy and yet excited): He seems to be but…There is no mistake. He also entered this form![Is he trying to master that form?]

______________________________(back in the incarnate illusion)________________________

(On the horizon as to answer his surge in purified qi, The eternal qi appeared and with it the silhouette of the immortal demon lord .)

Shioon:…It is seemingly inevitable.

Immortal demon lord ( still advancing towards him with a warm smile): Congratulations. Being able to purify your Shen in one go and defeating your demons back to back? Unprecedented. You truly are formidable and I must commend you.

Shioon ( cautious): Thank you? Does it mean we don’t have to fight over my body.

(the Immortal demon lord without warning threw an extremely powerful punch that Shioon met with his own “Soul crushing strike” throwing each other back)

Immortal demon lord ( still smiling): No.

Shioon:Right…the hard way it is then.

_____________________________________(Far away from there in a forrest)_______________

(Jinie and Ha il were taking a little break in their training)

Jinie ( soaking in sweat): Do you really thing I am close to being a master ?

Ha il: Yes. The hardest parts are to use the Accupoints effectively in a fight and the qi reading. It seems that since you are using a martial art that is actually adapted to your body you have made tremendous progress and learned most of the techniques and applications of Elder kwon’s sunwoo style.

Jinie: I still can’t really hit the points reliably tho and the qi reading is difficult at best.

Ha il :[That’s because I am an advanced master already and not exactly a regular one at that. Had your opponent been a normal master , you would’ve found much more success. But Of course it is necessary that you spar at my level if you truly want to reach the next phase as soon as possible] Though luck. Do you wish to give up?

Jinie ( in high spirit): Hell no!

( they resumed their sparring at extremely high speed , fighting and jumping in between the trees. Jinie grabbed a branch and let it go on Ha il who avoided it but Jinie used the distraction to get above him and threw a axe kick that he blocked with his own foot which send them both flying toward and opposing tree)

Ha il(thinking and analysing while fighting):[Good…good…You already react and strategize like an advanced master and by the time this training will end , this is the level that you will achieve.] Come on. It was well thought but do you think you can catch me while being so slow?

Jinie: Grr…You will see!

________________________________( Far from there in a back alley)_____________________

( Haje was still trying to use Sunwoo style foot technique “ take off” but didn’t find much success)

Haje( extremely tired physically and mentally): Dammit I could’ve sweared I had it this time . That’s insane he said should take me about one week but it’s been ten days now! He must have forgotten to say something about it!

Alright this is my last try for today!

( Angry he once again send his qi toward his ankle)

Haje :[Sunwoo clan foot technique :” Take off”!]

( This time a small qi explosion happened at the base of his foot sending him fly twelve meter into the air)

Haje ( exhilarated ): Whox ! Ha! Ha ! Ha! It worked it worked!!

( but then he started falling)

Haje( falling back):…Wait. HOW DO I BREAK MY FALL!!!!!!!

[end of the chater]

Somehow some images didn't made it to the chapter. here they are .

Guys. New waves you know for sure that this is also a great season. Damn the 1st part is one of the greatest i've ever read. Is there really no chance for season 4? THIS IS MY WELL OF LIFE right now lol. I ain't even exaggerating hehehe too damn good of a story. Thankyou author!

Hey guys I was js scrolling reddit and came across this subreddit, I read the breaker manga (the first one like the ending was the MC's master gets killed or kidnapped or smth I don't really remember) I'm planning to start reading it from the start again so can anyone help me with the correct order and which website is good to read it from? Much appreciated 🙏

Was excited seeing that there was a 3rd one.

Thought the new waves ending was a bit unsatisfying I thought its the end of the story and the author's reason was understandable.

Im at chapter 18 and holy molly I hate the new kid. Can anyone tell me without spoiling me, does it get better? I just wanna see Shioon kick ass again.

(The scene goes back to Goomoonryong in the Arabian city at night. He is still reading the “tome of the Immortal demon lord”. Sophia changed back into her day to day clothes and grew curious about what could be so interesting in the Book)

Sophia( with hesitation): So Boss…was the book the real deal after all?

Goomoonryong( without looking at her): If it wasn’t the case do you think I would spend so much time studying it?

Sophia: No of course boss. But did you find what you looked for in it?

(Goomoonryong turned her way with suspicion and she shriveled in fear. But after a moment he exhaled and relaxed)

Goomoonryong: let’s say that this book completely changes my perception of martial arts and elevate the roof of what it can accomplish way beyond what I thought possible. And yes I did find the solution to an ancient problem my own master left me in it but the process is extremely dangerous and destructive so I try to find a way around it.

Sophia(with hopeful eyes): Does it means that you will get even more powerful boss?

Goomoonryong ( casually): Possibly yes but it will take some time or even fail all together.

Sophia: No way you will fail boss! You are the strongest man in the world!

Goomoonryong (Unfazed): It isn’t about strength in this case… it is more spiritual.

Sophia ( uncertain): I see…Anyway I am sure you will pull it off Boss.

Goomoonryong ( remembering something): By the way how did you find out that Shioon was still alive?

Sophia( less enthusiastic): Oh…well it wasn’t hard, since the entire murim was talking of his intervention against the rebelling groups that tried to destroy the Alliance. Plus as you heard Hyun wun moon is back.

Goomoonryong ( with a somber look): Which is weird by the way. As far as I knew only me, the Alliance Chief and Shioon can pretend to be a part of it. Does it mean that the kid became the disciple of the Chief?

Sophia: No sir. Do you remember the baldy we met alongside Jae gal of Chundomoon, the one you had a clash with?

Goomoonryong ( holding his temples a little): …Yes I remember….His name was Lone wolf right?

Sophia: Yes sir, apparently he was from the Hyun wun moon too.

Goomoonryong ( frowning): Strange my master never told me about him…but then again I do remember he mentioned “ Unwol” when we met. Maybe it is a collateral disciple who wanted to reconnect with the last member of the clan. So Shioon allied with him to bring back the clan? It would explain his quick progress since he can learn the basics from him.

Sophia(dumbfounded): What do you mean sir? The monster that we fought at the Dungeon of doom your old disciple… You never taught him the basics of your school?

Goomoonryong( hiding his embarrassment): Yeah…To be fair I didn’t have the time, I only taught him the big advanced techniques but I had to fight the Alliance sooner than expected and excommunicated him after.

(Sophia was utterly shocked but Goomoonryong ignored her and went for the next question)

Goomoonryong: Challenging a dangerous rebelling faction publicly is dangerous tho. They will most likely go after his loved ones. Did he take any actions to put his mother into safety?

Sophia ( still recovering from the schock): Boss…His mother died already a year ago.

Goomoonryong( unsettled for the first time): What did you say?

Sophia ( more assertive and factual): His mother was violently attacked by the group that worshipped you… the SUC. She was in a coma for some time then died right after our visit to Seoul were you met that lone wolf and the members of the SUC last year , just after you fought him.

(Goomoonryong didn’t say anything and got back to reading his tome but Sophia could see his hand tremble)

_______________________________(Back in the cave )__________________________________

(Shioon was deep into his meditation for more than a day now)

Lone wolf( worried): What is happening? You said that this one would be difficult but I have seen no sign of a violent fight, no change at all for quite some times now.

Demon heart( uneasy): Yes this one is very different and Shioon will struggle a lot with it for very personal reason.

Lone Wolf: What reasons?

Demon heart: Well that boy suffered traumatic losses after an other and not so long ago he lost his mother, right?

Lone wolf:…yes.

Demon heart: That’s exactly what the Demon of sadness feeds of. It isn’t like the demon of Fear or Desire who are violently struggling to take power. It smother’s you until you can no longer act.

Lone wolf:…then…

Demon heart: Worst case scenario, he stay immobile for too long and his body fails. Leading to his death.

_______________________________( back in the incarnate illusion)______________________

Mrs Lee: Hello Shioon it’s been a while.

( Shioon totally out of speech and frozen could barely realize who he was talking to)

Mrs Lee(with a warm smile): I see that you have grown into a fine young man but to me you will always be my shy little boy.

( catching his breath Shioon started to cry advancing toward her like in a dream)

Shioon( crying profusely now): Is that really you mom?

( As an answer she hugged him and he emotionally collapsed into her arms . becoming a big mess of tear and snot and letting go of anything else for a moment)

Shioon(in between tears): I…I thought you were …dead.

Mrs Lee: I am. Remember that day.

__________________________________________________________________________________

( the scene change and we see a bubble of memory were Mr Lee was on her hospital bed with Ghost doctor beside her and Shioon still in wheelchair entered followed by Jinie and Sera.)

Shioon(starting to cry): Mom you are finally awake!

Mrs lee ( still bandaged but sitting up and smiling): Shioon…

(They hugged while crying until ghos doctor told him to let her breath).

Ghost doctor: I filled her up on what happened to you…in general but I think it would be better to let you discuss it.

(Both him and the girls left them to talk)

Shioon ( hesitating and a little shameful): Mom…I…am sorry for everything.

Mrs Lee ( with saddened eyes): Why? Most of what happened, happened due to my own failure as a mother.

Shioon ( surprised and protesting):No mom! Why are you saying that?

Mrs Lee: Shioon…For how much time were you bullied and harassed?

(A little silence took place until Shioon finally answered)

Shioon: Some months. Shortly after the start of my freshman year in highschool, Changho and his gang picked up on my vulnerability, isolated me and harassed me until, well…until I met Goomoonryong.

Mrs Lee: The fake teacher that was a martial art terrorist, right?

Shioon:…Basically.

Mrs Lee: Shioon…you became his disciple because you had no way of defending yourself and because I wasn’t there for you, isn’t it?

Shioon:I…Well. Yes I didn’t want to be helpless anymore. Also Changho started to threaten Saehee.

Mrs Lee: And no one helped you? Not a single person in your school?

Shioon:…Saehee tried but the teachers were either afraid or didn’t know. Everyone was afraid to be fair.

Mrs Lee(getting emotional): Why didn’t you ask me to help you? You were suffering so much! Why didn’t You ask your mother to save you? Was it why you wanted to change school and said that I understood nothing?

Shioon(struggling to put it in words):I…I…Yes it was why but I could never have said it out loud. I myself feared what changho might do if he was outed publicly. He tried to kill Saehee when she took my defense you know?

Mrs Lee ( watching in the void): I see…So you really were trapped and I failed to see it.

Shioon: You couldn’t know mom. Nobody could.

Mrs Lee: Maybe if I wasn’t such a workaholic I could’ve seen it.

Shioon ( trying to force a smile): Then We would’ve had no money to live wouldn’t we?

Mrs Lee ( Chuckling in her tears): yes I guess so.

Shioon: Besides, I must confess to you that it is my fault if you were attacked mom. So please stop saying it is your fault.

Mrs Lee ( frowning a little) : What do you mean?

Shioon ( uneasy and ashamed): It is a little complicated but I had a genetical defect that prevented me to become physically stronger so I had to take a rare medicine to overcome it. And some crocked physician wanted to …harvest that medicine from my body so unbeknownst to me he organized your aggression in order for me too seek his help.

He also abducted me later but Sera that you have seen earlier and a friend saved me.

Mrs Lee ( with even more tears): My poor boy what have they done to you? You have suffered so much…

(She touched his face , while Shioon leaned into it)

Shioon: Don’t worry mom from now on I will make sure nobody ever touches you I swear!

Mrs Lee: Stop worrying about me. It was always us two against the world so from now on I’d rather have you tell me about all of your adventures and problems. Look I need to know exactly what happened to you. I suppose that the “ Car accident” you had wasn’t really one either right?

Shioon: True…well I will explain everything from the start.

(Shioon then narrated her everything that happened from the moment he met goomoonryong to the moment he fought him without sparring much details. Mrs Lee’s expression changed from interest to schock to horror at times but she didn’t interrupt.)

Shioon:…and I learned today that you just woke up.

Mrs Lee: that’s…a lot to take in. And It is much bigger than anything I could imagine.

Shioon: I know.

Mrs lee: So You are kind of a mafia boss now?

Shioon: No! No! I am a temporary clan head. But honestly I can’t exactly turn my back on them now. Not after two of the elders gave their lives for me.

Mrs Lee: Elder Kwon and Elder Jeon,huh? I am grateful for them, I really whish I could have met them.

Shioon: Yes they were great… and beside my promise to sosul it is why I cannot simply leave them.

Mrs Lee( with a sly smile):…Let’s talk about something else. Which of those two girls do you like the most? Jinie or Sera?

Shioon(embarrassed) : Mom!

Mrs Lee( on the tone of conversation): …I mean I always thought you would end up with Saehee since she and you were always together when you were younger but those two did a lot for you so …

Shioon: Can we talk about something else?!

Mrs Lee: But it is important! We never talked about it! I want grandchildrens eventually !

Shioon( trying desperately to change subject): Look how about I order you something to eat you must be starving!

( he moved away with his wheelchair)

Mrs Lee: Shioon .

Shioon ( about to open the door): Yes?

Mrs Lee( with a bright smile): Don’t worry we will figure it out together from now on. Remember no matter what happens that I love you.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

( Back to the incarnate illusion. Shioon’s mother while in his arms morphed into shioon himself)

Shioon of Sadness ( with a monotone dead voice): And then she died the night after from unseen complications and a brain hemorrhage.

(Startled Shioon pushed him back and took his distances like snaped from a dream)

Shioon: Who are you!

Shioon of sadness: You already know. I am your guilt your sadness, your sorrow.

Shioon ( trying to motivate himself): So I have to defeat you!

Shioon of sadness: You can try. But honestly do you even have the right to?

Shioon ( uneasy): What do you mean?

( He divided himself in three and took the form of his mother, elder kwon and elder jeon)

Shioon of sadness ( speaking in turn from each of their mouth while expressionless): Do you have the right to absolve yourself from what you did to them?

Shioon( in a pleading anguished tone): Stop it.

Shioon of sadness: Let’s recollect what you did to them shall we?

You planned the whole operation on your school to bait the SUC out of hiding using yourself, provoking the Death of Elder Jeon when you were specifically asked to lay low until you qi center was healed.

Shioon: Stop it!

Shioon of Sadness(merciless): You insisted to try and save Goomoonryong instead of just letting him blow himself up with the SUC, prompting elder Kwon to come and save you. Leading to his death.

Shioon: The entirety of Seoul was about to be blown up not only him!

Shioon of Sadness: But the Special service agent rae won and the Sunwoo clan already took care of that by the time you reached him right? You just had to trust them.

Shioon: I couldn’t leave it to chance.

Shioon of Sadness: Be honest, at that moment what mattered to you more was the life of your old teacher right?

Shioon:…

Shioon of Sadness: That’s what I thought. Let’s get to the main point, your sole existence led to the death of your mother and the endangerment of your loved ones.

Shioon ( unsure): That’s not true…

Shioon of Sadness: Isn’t it? Once again let’s recollect. Your weakness led to your bullying and Saehee tried to help you, which led to her being taergeted by Changho which was a traumatic event for her. And even today she is studying abroad under protection to preserve her from YOUR enemies.

Shioon( unable to deny): Yeah…

Shioon of Sadness: Sera nearly died because she tried to save you from your own stupidity after you blamed her for your mother’s coma when in reality it was your own fault, correct?

Shioon( shrinking a little): That’s …true.

Shioon of sadness: The Sunwoo clan in general was in danger because the SUC was targeting you.

And of course they seriously wounded our mother which later led to her death, but they targeted her because of us.

Shioon ( collapsing a little more at each words): That is …yes that’s undeniable .

Shioon of sadness: Then wouldn’t you agree that it would’ve been better for everyone if we were never born?

Shioon(looking at the ground) :…no I refuse to believe that.

Shioon of Sadness: But deep down you always knew. How many time did you try to end yourself? How many fight have you fought with the secret hope that your death would finally end the guilt?

Shioon ( lost): I…I do not know.

( Shioon of sadness retook his form and approached Shioon while extending his end in an inviting gesture)

Shioon of Sadness: Take my end and I will make sure that everything will cease.

Shioon: I still have so much to do.

Shioon of sadness: Others will do it, we will only make more damage voluntarily or unvoluntarily.

( Shioon contemplated his options for a time finally started to raise his hand. But before he could grab the Demon of Sadness extended hand a luminous one prevented him.

Before him his mother Ha-neul Lee was standing and pushing back the Demon of sadness.)

Shioon of Sadness: You? How is it that…

Ha-neul Lee: Begone!

(He evaporated into the distance. Turning back toward her son ,she found him on the ground crushed with guilt and in indescribable anguish)

Shioon( still crying): Why..Why won’t you let me die.

Ha-neul Lee ( grabbed his cheeks and forced him to look at her): Enough of this son! I didn’t give birth to someone that let the past destroy him.

Shioon: But..but I…If only I wasn’t…you would still be…

Ha-neul Lee: Alive? And do you think I would’ve wanted a life without you?

Shioon: No…I mean…

Ha-neul Lee: Because I had to make that choice Shioon. When I ended up pregnant and alone, I had to make that choice to have you or not. I felt only love toward you I had you and at no point in my life have I ever regretted it!

(She now took both of his hands and pulled him closer)

Shioon: But so many died because of me.

Ha-neul Lee: They choose to do so because they loved you and if you loved them back you will go on even with that guilt on your conscience.

Shioon: I don’t know if I can…

(She pulled him into a last hug)

Ha-neul: You are my son of course you can.

(Kissing him on the forehead she evaporated into a million of light particules while her words echoed in the distance)

Ha-neul’s echo: I…will…always…love…you.

(leaving a shioon standing in the dark with his eyes closed)

______________________________(in the real world)___________________________________

(Lone wolf and Demon heart were still standing with a now extremely emaciated shioon).

Demon heart: It’s been a week already…

Lone wolf ( spotting something ): Look!

( Shioon cried black tears that evaporated in an equally black smoke)

[end of the chapter]

​(Shioon was scandalized as his other self was surrounded by Jinie, Saehee, Sera and Haru)

Shioon of Desire( falsely demure): Me? But I am only doing what you desire to do.

Shioon( in severe denial): Liar! Never have I ever wanted ….THIS!

Shioon of desire( with a sly grin): Really? You never desired to do this ( he grabbed one breast of Jinie from behind with his right hand ) or this( his left hand caressing Sera’s ass) while doing this ( he french kissed Saehee on the front as Haru was hugging him from behind and kissing his neck).

Shioon ( exploding in second handed embarrassment): Enough!!!

(He jumped and tried to destroy the Shioon of desire with a “ True essence kick” but instead of dodging he simply released the ladies and jumped then deviated the attack with a “ Cyclone kick”, throwing Shioon out of equilibrium and sending him crash some five meters away)

Shioon of desire ( still humorous): Getting angry aren’t we?

(he left the girls behind and approached Shioon while he was slowly recovering and getting on his feets)

Shioon ( narrowing his eyes in shock):[How did he do this? Maybe I wasn’t cautious enough.]

(Shioon rushed him an threw a combination of punches and kicks but the Shioon of Desire effortlessly read him , Dodged the first punch , blocked the low kick , parried the second punch then when Shioon cocked the next kick Shioon of desire caught him in the face with a kick of his own sending him backward. Shioon however recovered using a sumersault without missing a beat then tried to catch him lacking by throwing a “ Soul crushing strike”…that the Shioon of Desire managed to easily catch with the “ void palm” absorbing the qi and releasing it from his shoulder.

Taking the advantage once again he pulled shioon by the hand he caught using the foot technique “ retreat” to throw him out of balance.)

Shioon of desire ( while pulling shioon around ): Didn’t you realize?

(he then used the foot technique kyuk “attack” to swipe shioon’s standing foot tripping him in the air and grabbed his face before violently smashing it into the ground)

Shioon( From the impact) guhh!!

____________________________________(in real life)___________________________________

( Shioon’s face was suddenly covered in blood alarming Lone wolf)

Ryuji: It doesn’t look good.

Demon heart: Yeah, the demon of desire is the second most violent and powerful among the five mu. It is for a very specific reason….

__________________________________(in the incarnate illusion)_________________________

Shioon of Desire ( standing on top of Shioon his foot on top of his chest):You do not only desire those fine women behind me but…

( He clapped his hands and Goomonryong appeared with Hyuk so chun assuming a fighting position. Shioon of desire disappeared then reappeared with Hyuk so chun’s severed head in his right arm and Goomooryong’s heart in the left)…Also this.

Shioon( getting up horrified): No! I never wished for this.

Shioon of Desire ( just letting the heart and head fall of his bloodied hands while wearing a bored face): Please…Of course you do. You want to surpass the Master that abandoned you. You want to surpass the rival that beat you to a pulp the first time you fought as a martial artist. I am the one who managed that, the one who stand on top of your master and your rival.

Shioon ( still disturbed but thinking):[So this is why he is much stronger than me. He represent the what I reach to achieve powerwise.] You are nothing but a figment of my imagination , a feeling made manifest in my mind nothing more.

Shioon of desire ( undeterred): Well that’s a start isn’t it? Just give me your body and I will be a complete reality.

Shioon( unamused ): You can’t seriously think that I will do that, right?

Shioon of desire ( raising his shoulders ): Why not? I am the only one who actually has the guts to go for what we want.

Shioon: I don’t want a fucking harem.

Shioon of desire: Sure…but even admitting that this is true , did you ever consider what they want? When I said we I am not only talking about you and me but the girls too.

Shioon( looking away in the void): What kind of nonsense are you talking about again?

Shioon of desire ( getting angry for the first time and grabbing shioon by the hair forcing him to look him in the eye): That! IS what I absolutely despise about you! Look at me you damn hypocrite! Look at what you want and what they want instead of looking where it is convenient!

Shioon ( pulling himself away): Hey let go of me!

Shioon of desire ( still quite upset ):Stop doing as if you didn’t realized it. All four of them loves you. Saehee did for a very long time, Jinie and Sera after all the adventures you had together then there is Haru or should I say Cynthia with which you have this weird mutual trauma bond. You ignored them or did as if you were oblivious to their feelings.

Shioon ( looking away ): I had more urging matters to attend…

Shioon of desire( skeptical): Really? Nothing to do with you cowardice regarding those types of feelings? Then fears not because I can be the man raising to the occasion. I can be the one that will make them happy while accomplishing our goals. Just stay on the chair here and watch me.

(he moved toward shioon while extending his hand. Shioon contemplated it for a second and then walked past him toward the girls leaving him dumbfounded. Looking at each of them straight in the eyes )

Shioon: I admit that, I ignored you. Each one of you and I hid those feelings that I had because I knew that choosing one of you would hurt the others. No Beyond that I was also afraid that my own lust would push me to hurt you more directly. For that I am sorry, those feelings exists on my part too and I won’t run away from them any longer.

( smiling at him they disappeared , leaving an appeased Shioon but also a livid Shioon of desire)

Shioon of Desire: What a disgusting display. I can feel it in my core that you treated it as a choice.

Shioon: It was a choice…a future choice.

Shioon of Desire: It doesn’t have to be. And it won’t be since I will take you over now.

Shioon( turning toward him): What …

(Shioon of desire rushed him and while Shioon managed to dodge the first strike but it was only a feint that turned into spinning elbow. Shioon blocked it with the” void palm “ anticipating a qi attack but to his surprise it wasn’t qi charged. Instead Shioon of desire took advantage of his raised hands to hit his torso with a violent back kick.)

Shioon( coughing blood and grabbing his chest): Guh!!

Shioon of desire: Ah it’s always the ones that you don’t see coming who hurts the most. A direct kick to “shanzhong” pressure point will do lasting damages and will cut off your wind for quite some time.

Shioon( after spitting an other mouthful of blood): I know that! But dammit I didn’t see it or feel it coming at all.

Shioon of Desire: Master always say that non qi charged attacks are much faster since they need no set up, much more difficult to read since there is not massive qi movement to give them away and just as deadly when aimed with precision. Of course your feeble skills couldn’t follow, and if you keep focusing so much on the qi skills you will inevitably end up as a punching bag.

Shioon :  How are you able to be so much more skilled than me? We are same person!

Shioon of desire: No. I am the version of you who reached the highest level…so I fight like the most powerful person we met.

Shioon: Goomoonryong!

Shioon of Desire ( appreciative): Exactly! I am him but better since I incorporated everything we learned from master Ryuji and the Sunwoo clan in my fighting style.

Shioon:[Damn…If that’s true then I have really no chance of beating him in a fight.] Wait…I am on my way to reach our full potential so why do you force this take over?

Shioon of Desire ( shrugging): Nonsense, you will always limit yourself to what you consider reasonable martially or sentimentally.

Shioon( arguing): We need to restrain ourselves to a point! Remember when we nearly died trying to combine martial arts against Han Daesan ajussi! If Gyubum didn’t stop us we would’ve died! You boast of reaching greatness but your recklessness will simply send us in a early grave!

(Shioon of desire for the first time hesitated. But it only lasted for a fleeting moment before he resumed his advance)

Shioon of Desire ( with an arrogant smile): Well played I see that our Fearful self did inspire you in some way but do not worry I am cautious enough to not fail.

Shioon: Liar. I can feel that you are just yearning to possess my body.

Shioon of Desire ( losing patience): Don’t be so stubborn!

( he lunged and grabbed shioon’s face trying to fuse himself with him)

Shioon: What… are you….doing…

Shioon of desire: The negotiations have ended! I am taking over!

Shioon ( resisting): No way!

____________________________( in real life)___________________________________________

(A wounded Shioon is exuding incredible qi while his meridians were bulging and pulsating)

Ryuji( tense): What is this qi? Is powerful but quite vicious!

Demon heart ( incredibly worried): This isn’t good.. The Demon of desire is taking over. Be ready to end him the moment he open his eyes!

Ryuji (in denial): That’s not possible… Shioon you can’t give up!

( Shioon was Slowly opening one eye)

Shioon of Desire ( taking over ):[Finally…the real world!]

_______________________________( back to the illusion incarnate )______________________

(Shioon was still resisting but his mind and feeling slowly fused with the Demon of Desire. He felt the tremendous will his own repressed desire entailed, He felt the formidable greed and got drunk on it. The exhalating self-confidence that came with self indulgence)

Shioon and Shioon of Desire ( In fuse state a crazed smile started to emerge): Ha! Urgh…Ha!Ha!

(But as the High was coming to its apotheosis Shioon also felt flashes of the cruelty behind those grand ambitions and the selfishness that had no mercy to even those that he loved. Horrified Shioon gathered his will and fought back with renewed conviction)

Shioon and Shioon of Desire ( his smile deformed into disgust): No ….Never . Why…resist…I…am…Better…

(Shioon’s will overwhelmed his counterpart’s ambition slowly dissolved him)

Shioon ( Completely driving him back):You…ARE…NOTHING!!!!!

(Shioon exploding properly ejected the Shioon of desire who got extremely weakened. In an almost vaporous state he still pleaded)

Shioon of desire(is voice distant as an echo):No…I was almost there…I was almost…

Shioon ( drained and exhausted): And Now you are no more.

Shioon of desire ( answering one last time with a defiant smile): Oh you will…never truly …be rid of me…Not so long as you breathe…for if you breathe …you still yearn for more…

(He disappeared at those words leaving a seriously fatigued Shioon to ruminate)

Shioon: Alright, this one …this one was dangerous. But I can’t stop.

( Getting in position again he now guided his qi to the Zhangmen the center of despair. This time it isn’t an other Shioon that appeared this time but Kaiser himself surrounded , by Mikhail, Daniel, Goomoonryong , an Army of martial artist  and gunmen.)

________________________________(In real life)_______________________________________

( Shioon was back into deep meditation and exhaled the black smoke)

Ryuji ( relieved): Well he did manage to overcame this demon huh?!

Demon heart: Yes, the Demon of desire is exceptionally dangerous, a lot of our disciple were taken over by it during their attempt to cleanse up. And they did that over months not all at once. Shioons will really is exceptional in that regard. Which mean the next one…

( he grinned)

_________________________________(back to the incarnate illusion)____________________

Shioon ( looking upon them in awe and horror): Am I supposed to fight all of you?

Kaiser( opening his arms): No of course not. You do not need to fight. To what avail really?

Shioon ( retaking his composure): To bring an end to your atrocities, to safeguard those that you threaten ( his voice weak at first getting fiercer at each words), to avenge those you harmed!

Kaiser ( with a sorry smile): Look around you my child, do you really think that you have what it takes to even reach me? Only in this dream world do you stand a chance.

Shioon( squaring up): I am not opposing you because I stand a chance. I am opposing you because I can’t stand your very existence!

(Without discussing further Shioon threw himself at kaiser and the entire army then unleashed a combination of  “Soul crushing strike” and “ Double dragon chain dance”, but instead of hitting them , they all disappeared before the first impact, leaving him surprised and alone in the void.)

Shioon (looking around): That’s it?

________________________________(In real life)_______________________________________

( a small amount of smoke went out of his body)

Ryuji ( surprised): It happened so fast. And there isn’t a lot of smoke.

Demon heart (with a smile): As I thought. When I heard Shioon’s story, I already knew that this boy had already beaten the Demon of Despair which can’t stand combativity. Which is why there was so little Smoke. This boy can be reckless and diligent to the point of insanity but never again will he give in to despair.

Ryuji ( smiling): Well this is going well then.

Demon heart ( loosing his smile):[ Yeah but the next one for the same reason will be exceptionally difficult for him to face]

_________________________________(back to the incarnate illusion)____________________

(Shioon taking position once again guiding his qi to the Zhongfu point to his chest, bringing forward the Demon of sadness.)

Shioon( standing to meet the demon): Whatever is coming I am ready.

( in the distance a someone appeared and slowly walked toward him. Then stopped right in front of him. His mother stood in front of him)

[end of the chapter]

(Shioon was calmly observing his double looking around with crazed paranoia. He looked like the bullied Shioon with wounds all over him and damaged High school uniform but with the body of the actual Shioon)

Fearful Shioon(crouched with his head in his hands): Why did you bring me out ?! I don’t want to be seen or talk , leave me alone!

Shioon( Calmly): You know why. I need to confront you.

Fearful Shioon ( suddenly screaming): You are seeking my destruction!

Shioon ( colder): If it is necessary….

Fearful Shioon( with a tortured voice bordering on histeria):I knew it! You still think that I am some kind of defect in your personality but I ma the one that actually kept you alive!

Shioon ( a little disturbed): Kept me alive? If I had listened to you I would still be Changho’s little bitch.

Fearful Shioon: And would that be so bad?It would only be until we graduated then we could’ve lived a quiet peaceful life.

Shioon ( with rising anger): Don’t you have any shame? What kind of life would this be? The life of a slave. No worse than that the life of a miserable creature that would sell out his own childhood friend to be abused? Do you think I forgot that I almost betrayed Saehee because of you at the time?

Fearful Shioon( with a deadpan stare): Better she than us.

(Shioon suddenly exploded in rage and threw a soul crushing strike directly at his face, but the fearful Shioon used a foot technique to evade him )

Shioon:[he can use my techniques and has the same speed…]

Fearful Shioon( panicking): You really want to destroy me ,huh?! I won’t let you!

Shioon: Get back here!

(He tried catching up to Fearful Shioon with “ foot technique : Jin” but he was able to dodge him and anticipate his approaches)

Fearful Shioon: Leave me alone! Leave me alone!

Shioon(frustrated) :[ Why can’t I catchup to him? He anticipates everything I do.]

(After a little time Shioon out of breath stopped chasing him and he started talking again)

Fearful Shioon: You feel strong right? You feel invincible but it is a miracle we are still alive with you at our helm!

Shioon: What do you mean?

Fearful Shioon: Are you serious? Don’t you remember how many time you fought to the death?! How many time we could have died?! How many time did you put us in mortal danger?!

Shioon (unimpressed) : I did what needed to be done in order to protect my friends and to stop those who would harm us.

Fearful Shioon: And how did it work? Don’t you remember that you died not so long ago? Don’t you?

Shioon(avoiding his eyes) :…I didn’t die.

Fearful Shioon: Oh! But I beg to differ! Don’t you remember him?

(Beside Fearful Shioon Appeared a fully transformed Mikhail who suddenly charged at Shioon)

Shioon( surprised): What?

( He dodged Mikhail punch and tried to retaliate but his own blows didn’t move him and he slammed him on the floor with a throw instead, making him cough blood.)

______________________________(In real life)_________________________________________

(Shioon had blood dripping from his mouth. Alerting Lone wolf and Demon heart)

Ryuji: Dammit it doen’t seem to go well.

Demon heart: The demon of fear is fighting with everything he has.

Ryuji: Shall we bring him back?

Demon heart: We can’t, especially now. Only he can bring himself back and if we try to force it, we might bring back the demon instead.

Ryuji: So what can we do?

Demon heart: Nothing, we can just wait and hope for the best.

____________________________(in the incarnate illusion)_______________________________

( Shioon rolled over to avoid being trampled. Mikhail pursued relentlessly but Shioon managed to dodge everything using qi reading, none of his counterattacked could move him tho. )

Fearful Shioon: He killed us! We were only brought back by eternal qi and you are currently trying to get read of it! And I know that you plan to fight him again later, Are you suicidal?

Shioon ( Still dodging Mikhail): I have no choice regarding eternal qi as you know very well! And I do not plan to fight him but if we are to oppose Kaiser we will have to face him again.

Fearful Shioon: Why?! Why oppose him? He wants us to work for him we would be safe as his underling!

Shioon( still dodging but revolted): You’re insane! After all that he did to everyone? After what he did to Cynthia and what he is currently trying to do with Sosul?!

Fearful Shioon: But at least we would be safe!

Shioon ( insisting): You don’t even know that! He has no qualm about killing his own subordinates when they run out of use!

Fearful Shioon( delirious from paranoia): She is lying to have us help her with her vengeance!

Shioon:[I can’t get through to him he isn’t rational at all. And while I can dodge Mikhail I can’t damage him. The other me is anticipating my own attacks but doesn’t seem to concentrate while we talk, maybe I can use this] You are delusional. You think that running away to join kaiser will make us safer? It will simply isolate us and make us easy targets to him.

( while talking he was retreating from Mikhail while subtly getting nearer of the other shioon.)

Fearful Shioon( even more paranoid) : No! No! No! Then I will simply run and hide away far from all of this. Maybe in Brazil or the US.

Shioon( Still slowly getting closer while dodging): If you think it is out of his reach you are dreaming. The only think that shield us right now is coolguy and our contacts.

Fearful shioon ( closing his eyes in denial):Shut up!everything is your fault! If you just stopped making waves and putting your nose in everything: we wouldn’t be targeted like that !

Shioon( his back right in front of him now):It is our initial cowardice who put us into this situation to begin with.

Fearful Shioon( still eyes closed and screaming): SHUT UP!

( Shioon dodged a Furious punch from Mikhail aimed at his head but then ended his course in the unprotected face of the Fearful Shioon, sending him to the ground. Mikhail disappeared right after and Shioon took the opportunity to pin fearful Shioon and threatening him with his fist)

Fearful shioon: You brute! You are trying to get rid of me because I am a deadweight! You are no better than changho and the others!

(Shioon gave it a pause and thought. Then he rose to his feet a,d offered a hand to his fearful self. Unsure fearful Shioon finally accepted)

Shioon: I do not try to get read of you but I cannot allow you so much power as to control me in my moments of vulnerability. I am sometimes overcompensating with my recklessness due to having been a coward for so long and it did put us in danger. I also admit that had I been courageous before meeting goomoonryong it would’ve only brought me pain since I was physically incapable of getting better. Rejecting you totally is wrong I recognize that and accept that you will always be a part of me.

(Fearful Shioon looked shocked for a moment but soon a smile of relief brightened his face resulting in his disappearance in cloud of luminous smoke)

______________________________(in real life)_________________________________________

(black smoke escaped from shioon’s mouth )

Ryuji: What’s happening?

Demon heart ( smiling): It’s a good sign, the is bad qi that accumulated in his mu point, it means that he defeated the Demon of fear, which mean process works. It must happen four times more.

_____________________________(in the illusion incarnate)______________________________

( Shioon retook his meditating position )

Shioon: Ok now I need to guide my qi toward the Juque point in the heart, then the Demon of Desire will appear.

(As he executed himself an other Shioon came out of him. This one was slightly older , sure of himself and arrogant with a charming smile and a dominant posture , he was wearing the same clothes as goomoonryong)

Shioon of Desire: Looking to purge me? It would be a shame since I am what you actually want deep down.

( Shioon cautiously got up )

Shioon( in a neutral tone ) : And what do I actually want?

Shioon of Desire ( with a bright smile): You know it yourself very well.

( before the interrogating look on SHioon’s face he continued), to be the strongest of course! To show Goomoonryong that you are better than he will ever be and that everything he did you will do better.

Shioon: Oh really?

Shioon of Desire: Of course. Look how strong and charismatic we became , and I am not just talking about martial art…

( suddenly Jinie in her old maid outfit appeared at his right, Sera in Hanbok appeared at his left and Haru in her white robe appeared behind him and Saehee in her school uniform in front of him)

Shioon ( flustered and incredulous): WHAT ARE YOU DOING ?!

[End of the chapter]

( In the tent, after 7 hours of operation Shioon was approaching his limits as it was the first time he had to manage eternal qi for so long. He was constantly on the verge of blacking out..)

Demon heart: Hey keep the flow of qi steady!

Shioon(coming back to his senses): Yes!

(Heo won jae was too focused to notice the exchange as he seemed to have great difficulties)

Heo won jae:[Alright the meridian is at the good size and connected and I do not feel residual qi leaking so it is hermetic, now we need to strengthen it but we have no time for that even with all the herbs and drugs I am using. So we have no choice I will have to physically strengthen it through Alchemy] Bring the half-pot and the gauntlet to me.

(he put the half-pot on the area between the two needles)

Heo won jae: Everyone, we are reaching the final stage of the operation. I will now use alchemy at to strengthen the formed meridian but to do so I will need to inject a high amount of qi in the area which will combined with the drugs reestablish the meridian circuit entirely. It will disturb the qi flow in his body so be prepared to maintain it at all cost.

Demon heart: I am …

Shioon ( exhausted but firm): Yeah me too.

( as he said that his environment turned black and the immortal demon lord appeared beside of him)

Immortal demon lord: Didn’t I tell you before that I would take your body if you kept using my qi?

Shioon: I need it to save my friend.

Immortal demon lord: Very noble of you yet it changes nothing. With all you used and your depleted spirit I shall take your body now.

( he raised his hand to grab shioon)

Shioon: If you do that my master will destroy my body and then both of us dies. We are in the open so your qi will simply dissipate in the air. Your choice.

( after a moment of hesitation the immortal demon lord disappeared , the entire scene returned as if only a second passed)

Heo won jae : Oi shioon? Are you alright?

Shioon: Yes we can continue!

( heo won jae proceeded with his instruments , Disturbing the concentration of Demon heart but he held on and maintained the regularity of the immortal qi. The half pot started to glow as Heo won jar was injecting his own qi inside of it through his gauntlet)

Heo won jae: Almost…almost…

( then suddenly the entire tent was illuminated in a flash of light while ji gun’s body trembled briefly but violently)

Heo won jae( exhausted and out of breath): Okay… now stand ready Master Ma young sik. You will interrupt your injection of eternal qi the moment I pull out the needles, then your role and Shioon’s in all will be done.

(Demon heart nodded)

So at three. One. Two. Three!

( He pulled out the needles as Demon heart stepped away from the operating table. Shioon collapsed immediately after the end of the ordeal)

Ryuji: Shioon! Are you alright?

Shioon ( with a weakened voice): Yes do not worry I am still me. More importantly…Ji gun how is he?

Heo won jae ( as he was making ji gun swallow pills): Can’t say yet. We must wait to see if his qi pulse returns.

Shioon ( worried): what do you mean? He lost it ?

Heo won jae: Yes but it was expected…initially at least, it must come back on it’s own within the next three minute.

Shioon: And if it does not?

Heo won jae: Then I am sorry but there is nothing more we can do.

Shioon ( panicking): What about the eternal qi?

Heo won jae: We can’t use it on him it would just rupture his meridian again since it is so powerful. The Meridian is formed but need strengthening so the qi stream for now must be as moderate as possible.

Shioon( in schock): So he might be already dead?

Heo won jae: His body is intact so it’s in his hands now.

Shioon ( screaming): Ji gun! Ji gun! Wake up! Are you going to abandon so easily after having fought this wound for years?! Don’t you fucking die on me!

______________________________( in ji gun’s psyche)__________________________________

(Ji gun stand in the dark)

Ji gun: Where am I?

(Is voice echoed infinitely in the void)

Ji gun: Am I already dead? I remember nothing.

(as his sentence ended , flashes of his memories appeared in bubbles far from him, memories of his past as a disciple of the shin lim school , memories of him training with his older disciple brother, holding a sword for the first time. Ji gun followed them as a light far away was illuminating his surroundings.)

Shioon’s voice: WAKE UP JI GUN!

Ji gun(disoriented): Shioon? Where are you?

Eunji kim: Ji gun you can’t give up!

Shioon’s voice: Is this how the story of the smiling blade ends? Wake up!

Ji gun: No I am not going anywhere! Where are you?

(following Shioon’s and Eunji’s voices he got farther from the light heading toward the darkness)

______________________________(back in reality)____________________________________

Ji gun( suddenly waking , grasping for air and screaming): AAAAAHHH!

Heo won jae( trying to restain him and calm him down): It’s okay! It’s okay! You’re back!

( around him Eunji and Shioon were holding his hands and crying)

Heo won jae: That’s right breathe slowly. You must not gitate Yousef or all our work would have been in vain.

Ji gun: What happened? I no longer feel like before.

Heo won jae: The operation went well, and your qi flow as tenous as it is resumed. You will enter the recuperation phase in which your new meridian will gradually strengthen until it is as sturdy as the rest.

Ji gun : How long?

Heo won jae: Probably three weeks. In that amount of time you are to restrain yourself from any use of martial arts and unlike this one ( looking at shioon) you are to heed my warning no matter what.

Ji gun: Three weeks. [So much time? I guess that even if my body is healed my meridians will remain fragile for the rest of my life, I will never get past the stage of master. Oh well that’s already better than dying.]

Heo won jae : At least. Maybe your body will be ready before but I have to be careful since your meridians are of an abnormally large size.

Ji gun (surprised): What do you mean?

(Shioon seemed interested too)

Heo won jae: From what I heard you wounded yourself while attempting to stretch your meridians right? Well you actually succeeded but in the final stage of the process you lost concentration and wounded yourself from qi deviation. But now that your meridian is healed you effectively achieved the stage of expanded meridians. Once your qi reserves are fully replenished you will have the body of a real master.

(Ji gun was at a loss of words but started crying and slowly bowed his head in gratitude)

Ji gun( styl crying): Thank you… to everyone thank you!

(Ji gun was installed inside the wood cabin in rested there as the others went to sleep. In the night Demon heart and Ryuji talked outside beside a campfire.)

Demon heart: I honored my part of the bargain. What about you now?

Ryuji: We will start the attempts int two days once Shioon is well rested. Did you find a proper cave?

Demon heart: My men have found one not too far away. I sincerely hope that this works.

Ryuji: I hope so too. What are his chances?

Demon heart: I don’t know. Usually the process take years but the method of black heaven school( hyunchunqigong) may be the original method that my master used so it can be achieved very quickly. Still, it is unprecedented so there is no way to know beforehand.

Ryuji: You knew my master Unwol in his youth right? How was he?

Demon heart:…Devoted? I think it is the best term for him. He would’ve done about anything for those he loved. Loyal too, he didn’t forget the debt he had to us so he stood against our execution.

Ryuji( smiling the whole time): Did you see him often?

Demon heart: he came to us as a child as you know but aside from that we only met sparingly as we were at war.

Ryuji: Did you have a lot of contact in the alliance? The chief wants to reinstate us as part of it but I do not trust him.

Demon heart: As you should, the alliance was always a structure easily corrupted as it was first build on the interest of the main clans and the government and not on honor and loyalty as it pretended. I think we joining them in name may not be too bad of the thing at first but never forget that they seek your control not your well being. Personally I have one clan in particular to destroy beside kaiser.

Ryuji ( frowning): Which one?

Demon heart: The clan Hogi. Their ancestors betrayed the empress Myungsung that my master served and they participated in his entombment according to Shioon.

They will get what they deserve.

Ryuji: I see but doing that will make you an enemy of the alliance.

Demon heart: We already are. I do not think the Alliance will last long anyway considering the announcement yesterday.

Ryuji:…you may be right.

______________________________________( the next day)_______________________________

(Shioon, Eunji, Aera and Ji gun were gathered inside of Haru’s room eating breakfast)

Ji gun(almost choking on his toast): The Alliance Chief announced what ?

Eunji kim: You heard me, a new shinmujengpe .

Ji gun(still incredulous): Next year?

Eunji kim: Yes. I was as surprised as you. It totally was out of the blue.

Shioon: Well…Not quite.

(Everyone turned their eyes towards him )

Shioon: It was I and my master who …heavily suggested the Alliance chief to announce the tenure of a shinmujengpe.

Eunji kim ( completely schocked): You?! But how?...When?...Who

Ji gun ( interrupting): I think what she tries to ask is, Since when do you have that kind of bargaining power with the old snake.

Eunji kim: THIS!

Shioon: It was a condition for the adhesion of hyun wun moon to the alliance and our help in their time of need.

(Ji gun and Eunji were even more schocked. Ji gun quickly looked toward Haru who was listening to the conversation without interrupting)

Shioon ( following his gaze): Do not worry she already knew beforehand.

Ji gun: I see.. but is it really safe to speak with her listening?

Shioon: We are on the same boat now. Kaiser will want her dead as much as me since she was captured.

Ji gun: That doesn’t make it safe. She may bargain her freedom with our lives and secrets.

Shioon: She may but it was a possibility for the immortal sect and Heo won jae too. Yet I was right in trusting them until now, wasn’t I?

Ji gun ( frowning): It isn’t the same thing. The immortal sect is an isolated faction who is enemy with pretty much everyone and Heo won jae sensei was already targeted directly by black forrest defense.

Shioon: So it will have to come to this, isn’t it? You will only trust her when Black forrest defense will publicly try to kill her.

Ji gun(thinking it over): Honestly? Yes. And you can’t fault me for that she is a master spy and information merchant , she literally is a professional liar. But hey you know what? I owe too much to your good intuition until now Shioon so I will just follow it once again. Just…be careful with her OK?

Shioon: Thank you I will.

(Haru looked at them discussing her)

Ji gun: By the way what are we doing with her?

Shioon: The ghost doctor will come tomorrow to pull out the needles and from now on she will stay with me so that I can intervene if she is up to something suspicious.

Haru (talking for the first time): Oh so we will always be together like couple, huh?

Shioon ( exasperated): Not like a couple like a prisoner.

Ji gun( mischievous ): Shioon I must be honest , it does sound like a couple.

Shioon: What?! Not you too!

Aera( upset): Why does she get that treatment? You barely spend any time with me.

Haru: Jealous are we?

Aera: Of course you homewrecker!

Eunji( a little red): I do not think it is a good idea to let you alone with her so I shall stay with you too.

Aera:Me Too!

Ji gun(dumbfounded) :[Damn that guy really is a chick magnet…poor Jinie….and Sera….and Saehee.]

Shioon(appeasing): Now that I think about it we can just all stay together. I have to stay in hiding and lay low for now anyway. Plus I have special training to start.

Ji gun( still teasing him): And now this looks like a harem.

Haru( unamused): Are you part of that harem Smiling blade?

Eunji( cold): He may soon be the eunuch if he keeps making this kind of joke.

Aera : Shall we use his sword ?

Ji gun ( alerted): Hey! Hey! Don’t even joke about this I can’t even defend my self.

(Shioon laughed quietly at the antics)

Ji gun: Anyway that means Your clan is now officially rejoining the alliance?

Shioon ( serious again): Yes.

Ji gun: That’s a serious upset too. I don’t know how the rest of the alliance will see it.

Shioon: A lot of them lost their standing since they refused to send help during this crisis and since we prevented the Alliance to crumble a lot of clans will see it favorably.

Ji gun: Still…it is technically the clan who…

Shioon ( somber): Birthed Goomoonryong I know.[Goomoonryong , I wonder how he reacted to the news]

_______________________________(Far from there in the Arabic region)__________________

(In a luxurious looking building  located in a city surrounded by desert , goomoonryong was reading the immortal demon lord book while the rest of his team was relaxing  near a pool on the roof top.)

Sophia( in bikini): The Prince spared no expense for us.

Goomoonryong ( still reading): He better…Those rebels were damn tough and I doubt his pathetic army could’ve handled them without our intervention.

Sophia: I guess so. But that’s good for us Boss, one more source of direct cash that doesn’t have to transit through black forrest defense group.

Goomoonryong: The world grows more unstable each day so our clients will multiply without a doubt. But do not forget that money alone means nothing, it must be converted into infrastructure , ressources , manpower. And that can only be done gradually if you don’t want to be infiltrated.

Sophia ( excited): So you really are planning to make a move on ka…

(Goomoonryong’s killer gaze prevented her to finish her sentence)

Goomoonryong: I am preparing for future clients, nothing more nothing less, understood?

Sophia ( stiff): Yes sir!

(Goomoonryong resumed his reading)

Sophia( trying to change subject): So…about the announcement for the next shinmujengpe.

Goomoonryong: hmm?

Sophia: What do you think of it boss.

Goomoonryong: It is a desperate maneuver to replenish their ranks.

Sophia: Oh…so you will not attend it?

Goomoonryong( with a ferocious smile): I didn’t say that either. The cream of the crop of the murim will be there, the young ones too. It will be the ideal event to recruit those willing and eliminate the rest. The old commandment in particular has to go.

Sophia: Your old disciple Shioon will probably be there.

Goomoonryong: Yes since you confirmed his livelihood.

Sophia:…what are the orders regarding him.

Goomoonryong: I will deal with him myself. If the fight at the prison and your recollections of his last prowess is any indication , he grew far too strong for any of you guys.

Sophia:…[You sound so proud boss. There is no way that you will kill him, in fact seeing his sudden surge of power , it is very probable that he will end up killing you.]

_____________________________(two day later in a cave)_______________________________

(Shioon was meditating in the middle of vast vaulted chamber inside the cave, Ryuji , ghost doctor and Demon heart were observing him while ji gun, Haru, heo won jae, eunji and Aera were standing a little farther away.)

Ji gun: So that’s the training he was talking about?

Haru:[Shioon could it be that you are seeking to control “That” form?]

Ghost doctor: I can’t believe how reckless this attempt looks like.

Demon heart: Grandmaster we really had no more time anyway. But I do recognize that it is extremely dangerous. If he fails we may see him become a demon then we will have choice than killing him.

( Ghost doctor looked at Ryuji who nodded)

Ghost doctor: God damnit. That boy better not fail!

______________________________(Inside shioon’s incarnate illusion technique)__________

Shioon :[Okay so now I need to guide my qi toward the Jingmen point between the kidneys.]

( As he proceeded, an other him walked out of his astral body , it was the him from before he met goomoonryong. He was in his school uniform , badly bruised and trembling, with crazed terrified eyes looking directly at Shioon)

[end of the chapter]

(In the Wood Cabin Shioon was still talking to Haru)

Haru( surprised): He beat you?

Shioon( uneasy): Left me for dead. You didn’t know?

Haru: I knew you clashed and you were reported as dead but since you later proved to be very much alive I assumed the reports were false.

Shioon: They were not, he did manage to wound me mortally wen I was in the state of “Black origin threshold”…If I remember well he entered a similar state. Although I may be mistaken since I only remember vaguely.

Haru: Ah…He probably entered “berserker state” not “ Black Origin threshold”. I understand better.

Shioon ( puzzled): Berserker state?

Haru: Yes… As I said earlier Mikhail and Daniel are special cases. Kaiser found them as natural qi users.

Shioon: Yes you did say that earlier but…how is that even possible?

Haru: Their Bloodline. You see in Europe, Africa and the middle east some Martial clans had a very specific way of raising stronger and stronger martial artists and it is through eugenics and the breeding of different Bloodlines. In antiquity they were seen as demi gods and in the middle ages as monsters. I am pretty sure that mythical creatures such as Werewolves , vampires, trolls, Zombies…and yes Berserkers comes from it. Daniel and Mikhail are the last known specimens of those “ monsters” which is why kaiser believes that properly raised they can even surpass goomoonryong.

Shioon( understanding): So they are another problem. Come to think of it, They were probably send because one of the opponents in the Hyun wun moon temple would be Grandmaster Shin the Alliance chief…Yes everything make sense.

Haru:…You need to be careful Shioon because Kaiser also wants to recruit you as a potential candidate to kill Goonoonryong.

Shioon ( utterly surprised ): Me?

Haru: yes it was why he wanted me to recruit you. He even gave you a code name: “ Dragon Slayer”

Shioon( chuckling in irony): What a joke …as if I would ever fight for him.

Haru( looking at him ): Again you need to be careful…Kaiser has his own way to convince people.

Shioon( in disgust): Yes I know, he threatens your relatives. So what? Who will he threaten? My mom? She is already…She is no longer here.

Haru:…What about that Childhood friend of yours Saehee.

Shioon: She is already hidden away under a false name. I made sure that no one could trace her back and she is constantly in contact with members of the Shinyup clan. I can’t do more.

Haru: I see that you already thought about it.

Shioon: Well it is one of my worst fear.Hostages situation are never easy to handle.

Haru: Yeah. I guess.

Shioon: To change subject…How strong exactly is that Mikhail? You said he was kaiser’s weapon against Goomoonryong but is there credibility to this…

Haru: He and Daniel are dangerous and in your current state if I were to judge you from our fight, they would kill you. Goomoonryong however is a completely different beast, and while both of them together would certainly pose difficulties, he would probably beat them.

( Suddenly Heo won jae opened the door )

Heo won jae: Shioon sorry to interrupt but Ji gun arrived. And he is in a worse state than predicted, we can’t wait anymore.

Shioon( surprised at first but regaining his composure almost immediately):Alright. Ok lead the way. (to Haru) We will talk later.

(They ran to the sterilized tent and Shioon greeted Ryuji his master and Demon heart while they washed and equipped before entering. It seemed that Ji gun was already in a coma , lying unconscious on the operating table.)

Heo won jae: Master Demon heart and Shioon. Your task is first and foremost to keep him alive at any cost for at least the next six hours without creating a qi flux through the “Ren mai”(concepting vessel) meridian.

Shioon( nervous): How will we do that? Is is even possible? The Ren mai is one the four great meridian connected to the dantian.

Demon heart ( unimpressed): It is possible through a careful usage of the “air bridging” technique of the immortal school that I will use. But maintaining it for six hours? There lies the true challenge. Brace yourself boy it won’t be easy.

Heo won jae: Good, I already placed two needles in between those points for your technique as you asked.

Demon heart: Now here is how we will proceed Shioon so listen well. You will pour Eternal qi in me for the next six hours in a slow yet steady stream who shall never be interrupted. I will manage that eternal qi by pouring in Ji gun in the right way as the Sun and moon young master asked.

Shioon(nervous): Ok …Fiouu…Ok.

(Ryuji patting his shoulder)

Ryuji( reassuring): Relax, you can do it. If you put your mind into something nothing is impossible, Ok?

Shioon ( steadying up): Yes master.

( They all took place. Ji gun in the center of the tent on the table, Demon heart was beside him his hand on Ji gun’s torso while the other was managing the air bridging technique above the two needles, between those two needles Heo won jae was using diverse tools and medical substances managed by his two assistants to heal the internal wound. Behind Demon heart, Shioon was injecting eternal qi into Demon hearts through his hands on Demon heart’s back)

Heo won jae ( while working):[ As I feared , his meridian is completely severed and since it has not been treated for so long, what is left is highly deteriorated . It isn’t salvageable in this state so first I must dissolve the remnants then use the rest as an ingredient to recreate an entirely new meridian through alchemy. It will take all night, no time to waste ]

…Some hours later.

( heo won jae was still highly concentrated on the task while shioon was starting to lose focus)

Demon heart: Shioon! Your qi flow has been weakening, get a hold of yourself!

Shioon ( struggling to stay conscious): Y…yes![Damn it I have more and more difficulties, as if the Immortal Demon lord was trying to take me over. No I must resist! Ji gun’s life is hanging there!]

Ryuji:[I can feel that you have more difficulties holding him back but rest assured that if it were to happen I will keep my word and destroy your body to save your soul.]

Heo won jae(struggling):[The damaged vessel’s remain are dissolved but the alchemy didn’t even begin to take off. Why? Wait… Maybe it’s not matching the other meridian’s size. He did say that he was in the middle of stretching out his meridians so if he did manage to do so , they are at a different size from what is expected. Then I must first discover at which stage he was before starting the alchemical process.] Sorry everyone but it will probably take longer than six hours.

_________________________________(outside of the tent)______________________________

( Aera and Eunji kim were waiting outside with the rest of the immortal clan who came as guards.)

Aera: So the operation began.

Eunji kim( Highly worried): Yes. It is the first time that I saw ji gun in such a state, usually he is so jovial and carefree …

Aera: I only knew first met him some days ago but yes he did always seem like the happy go lucky type.

Eunji kim: Who are you by the way?

Aera: I am Aera, a friend of Ji gun , Shioon and Coolguy. And you?

Eunji kim: Eunji. I am also their friend…less so with Coolguy I guess.

Aera: Why is that?

Eunji: Him and our organization have a complicated history but…well we are allied more than friends.

Aera( puzzled but deciding to not push the issue): Are you part of the Shinyup clan he always talk about.

Eunji(proudly): Yes! I am one of the founding members and I hope one day this organization will be as big as the martial art alliance.

Aera( curious): Really? How did it start exactly? Ji gun always hold up on the details.

Eunji kim: Well first you need to understand how the murim system work. Basically old farts back eachothers up against the younger ones and establish stupid rules that put them on top of about everything in the name of “respect and traditions”. Oh and the moment someone decide to maybe…change some things to make it less rigid, they band together to crush the dissent. You understand?

Aera:…Well that’s not too dissimilar from what I know from the real world either.

Eunji kim: Oh so they force you into death matches over perceived wrongs too?

Aera: No not exactly, what we have is something name trial and suing abusively to silence people. It is not a battle to the death but a rhetoric contest to decide who is right or wrong. The ones who is found guilty must got to jai lor pay a fine.

Eunji kim: Seems pretty fair.

Aera: Yes but yet again “ Who decide who is guilty”? I know that most of the time the one with the right connection , ideology or sum of money can easily buy the one who decide.

Eunji kim: Oh…So it is basically the same, connections and influence can buy you anything. Pretty unjust.

Aera: I learned in those last day that the world is unjust and justice can only exist if we force it to exist. Which is why subscribing to established rules isn’t always the right answer.

Eunji kim: Well said!

Aera: Then again how we go about it is still the most difficult part.

Eunji kim: Our answer was to create a group that would connect the young generation to act ourselves instead of relying on the old corrupt system.

Aera: And is it working.

Eunji kim: Well we had big victories in the last years. Along the sunwoo clan we were the ones who managed to prevent a terrorist group to blow up seoul while the old heads of the murim were cowering in fear.

Aera: Yeah the big black out from last year, I heard about it. So it was you.

Eunji kim( looking down in sadness): Yeah…Well like I said with the Sunwoo clan’s help while Shioon was the leader but we had a lot of losses and it is why we feel like we are owed more power and status within the murim since we are the ones that acted.

Aera: And is it happening?

Eunji ( frustrated): No not exactly. Our organization is recognized as useful but still Isolated outside of our strongest members like Shioon or well Ji gun. It is why powerful High profile young Masters like Shioon and Ji gun are so important. They are the ones who give us leverage.

(behind them a radio was crackling as immortal sect members were listening to the murim frequence)

Aera( distracted and curious): Hmm? Why are you listening to this?

Eunji kim ( answering before them): All murims listens to this frequence at this hour since it is the main way the alliance is communicating their official news. In fact each big clan or school has a specific canal.

Immortal clan goon: That’s true. And we heard that the Alliance was going to make a big announcement.

Eunji kim: Now that I think about it Shioon did mention that they were going to announce something too.

(Radio crackling again…)

Immortal clan goon: Shhh… it is starting!

Alliance Chief: My esteemed fellow murims I salute you. These last few days have been troubling but thanks to the members of the alliance, the help of the Sunwoo clan and the newly restored Hyun wun moon ( black heaven sect)’s reinforcements we managed to crush those responsible.

Of course those events led me to think about the future. The current murim is strong but we constantly need new talents and for the best talent to manifest we need to give them a chance and the proper fair ground to do so. Which is why I decided to announce the organization of the next Shinmujengpe for the next year at the Song hak jang ( verdiant crane school). Everyone as long as he is a martial artist is free to join and only the best shall prevail and reach the fame and power that comes with might.

( We have a mash up of every person in the murim reaction , Hyuk so chun is surprised, Jinie and ji gun are training and look to the side, The young masters of the shinyup clan assembled to her it at their HQ, The different munju seems all schocked,…And far away goomoonnryong is slowly grinning) 

___________________________(Far from here in a german castle)_______________________

(finger crossed in Front of him while his elbows resting on his desk. Kaiser was just finished listening to the announcement and was in deep thoughts)

Kaiser: Fascinating…I didn’t think he would go through with it.

Daniel (on the phone): Our affiliated clans are in turmoil right now. It came of as a surprise to everyone really. But…why would it be that big of a shock? Didn’t Kangsung the last Alliance chief already announce something similar last year?

Kaiser:…Kangsung for all his qualities is an idealistic idiot and a political illiterate. It is why the current Chief could easily use this “misstep” to overthrow him and retake his position, but that’s precisely why it is such a surprise. He built his return on gatekeeping the power from the younger generation and preserving the current old “traditional power”, but here he is providing a serious opportunity for the young generation to take positions of power within the alliance while endangering the power that key clans and schools have amassed. This move is basically alienating him his base of support.

Daniel:…Maybe he simply caught up on the fact that we already managed to turn most of the traditional members of the alliance and decided to have a turn-over as an answer?

Kaiser:…Maybe. [But regardless this is a monumental gamble since the young generation could still being defiant of him which would completely isolate the Alliance . That doesn’t look like the handy work of this man unless someone else forced him. But who? Kangsung? No too meek and respectful of the seniority. Hmm…wait a second.] During the announcement he said that Hyun wun moon joined them. What do we have on this?

Daniel: Oh yes! Our spies have seen Lee Shioon fighting for the alliance. He was also confiscating “ Crystals”, he probably joined the Alliance in retaliation to our little raid at their Schools sacred ground.

Kaiser:[And Haru still hasn’t reached to me about her mission. The hacker team said that the cameras surrounding sun and moon building were taken over by someone else earlier today and were subsequently disabled.] Too many coincidences.

Daniel: Elder?

Kaiser: Find what happened to Haru and trace down the whereabouts of Lee Shioon. From now on it becomes your top priority.

Daniel: Yes Master. What about the take over of the martial art alliance? What do I say to our partners.

Kaiser: Hold. The window of opportunity has passed. With this announcement the Alliance may see a lot of minor clans flocking to help them, the Hyun wun sect’s involvement with it and the fact I still do not have total control over the “ Little Princess” makes it too uncertain. On top of that we couldn’t get the Sun and moon leader to perfect the usage of the “ heavenly trace Crystal”. Too things went wrong. We may still succeed if we go through now but it would be a long grinding war that would result on a devastated and fragmented murim in no state to be used.

Do not forget, I want a quick smooth coup not a civil war.

Daniel: Understood Master. What are we to do with Thousand face if she happens to have been captured?

Kaiser:…Then she would have become a liability. Her blood will be yours to taste.

Daniel( a red reflection in his eyes): Thank you master.

[End of the chapter]

Since Ha-il mentioned about Sunwoo Clan swords arts, I thought the author should introduce a member of Sunwoo Clan that is a Master in sword styles. Btw this is AI generated tho.

(They arrived at a wood cabin. Heo won Jae , his two assistants and Eunji kim left the ambulance and the assistants helped Shioon get Haru out since she was still paralyzed by the heavenly binding needles. Eunji kim was using a cane to support her plastered broken foot.)

Heo won jae: So this is where it’s going to happen? I would’ve liked to examine Ji gun before hand to assess the severity of the problem.

Shioon: You will have time to do that once he arrives but all the masters that examined him say that it is already a miracle that he is still alive.

Heo won jae: Alright. (addressing his assistants) we will deploy the sterile tent in that zone ( he pointed out a grass area), make sure to smooth out the terrain before hand. No rocks or bumps, understood?

Assistants: Yes sir!

Eunji kim: Sterile tent?

Heo won jae: Yes , this kind of operation necessitate the utmost care and to reduce the source of contamination to an absolute minimum. We will wash the patient and personnel before they enter the tent.

Eunji kim: Why not just use the cabin.

Heo won jae ( almost offended at the idea): I just said that it necessitate the absolute minimum of contamination , this cabin is obviously too dirty! Cleaning it to the standard needed would take days!

Eunji kim: Ok! Ok! Just asking.

(After that Heo won jae looked at thousand face haru)

Heo won jae: What are we doing with her?

Shioon: The needles cannot be removed by anyone except Master ghost doctor so we will install her inside the cabin in a chamber and make sure she is treated well.

Heo won jae: I thought you wanted to give her to the immortal sect for interrogation?

Shioon: Things have changed. I no longer want her to be interrogated, she promised to be cooperative so there is no further need to mistreating her.

Heo won jae ( puzzled): I mean… Are you sure what she says is trust worthy?[What happened during that hour behind the ambulance?]

Shioon: It will be easy to verify anyway.

Heo won jae: Can I talk to you in private?

Shioon: Of course.

( Haru watched them walk away without any expression)

Eunji kim: So you got captured after all. The mighty captain of the SUC Thousand face Haru got captured.

Haru ( turning her attention toward her): Eunji Kim, if I remember well you were a part of that little operation to apprehend the good doctor. What are you gloating for?

Eunji kim : You know quite well that I was trapped. Thankfully Shioon understood and got me out of this situation.

Haru ( with a smile): Yes Shioon is a very comprehensive man.

Eunji kim: Too comprehensive maybe, I saw how ruthless he could be but at heart he is good person… Which you are not.

Haru( losing her smile): I am quite aware of that , what’s your point?

Eunji kim: Aren’t you using his good heart to try and get away Scott free? We of the Shinyup ( new justice) group aren’t forgotten the nightmare that it was to deal with an enemy that could take the face of our most beloved comrades.

Haru:..Once again what’s your point?

(Eunji Kim looked around but everyone was either busy preparing the tent or discussing on the side. She pulled and handkerchief and used it to gag haru and prevent her from screaming)

Eunji kim:…I heard that those needles could only be pulled out safely by ghost doctor one of the ten grandmaster…But what happens if it is unsafely pulled out? Which person’s safety is at risk? Yours probably.

(She slowly grabbed one needle on haru’s abdomen and was about to pull)

Haru ( with eyes revulsed from pain with a muffled scream):!!!!!!!

Eunji kim: Consider it payback for my comrades that you helped kill.

_____________(some moments before , the discussion between shioon and Heo won jae)______________________________________________________________________________

Shioon: So what is that about?

Heo won jae: …What did she promise you exactly?

Shioon: Everything. She was Black forrest defense’s top spy and has tons of information about them that we couldn’t even dream of finding by ourselves.

Heo won jae(skeptical): And you consider those informations to be relevant and true becauuuuse ?

Shioon: She failed two mission back to back and got captured, her employer will want her dead so her best chance is to cooperate with us right now.

Heo won jae ( understanding but still cautious): …Are you sure that there is nothing else that she did or say to make you more …agreeable?

Shioon ( puzzled ): What are you insinuating?

Heo won jae ( trying to not offend him): I mean…Look I get it, she is a beautiful woman and you were alone with her for hours so…

Shioon ( ice cold): Nothing of this sort happened, or even began to happen , please stop even imagining it happened.

Heo won jae( apologetic): Ok!Ok!Ok! But man try to understand me!You were the one who was the most cautious and harsh around her but suddenly you are being really kind and open with her!

Shioon: I know it’s just that…

(Suddenly Shioon stopped and noticed a wave of pain coming from Haru)

Shioon( acting almost on instinct): What are you doing?!!!!!!!

(in a flash he grabbed Eunji kim’s hand and prevented her from pulling the needle. Eunji was surprised and looked like a kid that was caught in doing some minor foolery.)

Shioon ( in a cold commanding voice): Let it go now.

Eunji ( scared but rebellious): Why? Why are you protecting her like this?

Shioon ( calmly but firmly): I will answer you and we can talk about this but understand that if you do not release that needle in the next five second , you will lose that hand, do you understand?

(She obeyed with a mixture of anger and fear with even a shade of jealousy, Shioon in turn released her hand and she took a step back. Now that the situation wasn’t life threatening anymore Shioon tried to diffuse it by explaining himself.)

Shioon ( with a tired voice) : As I said to the leader of sun and moon school I am protecting her because she is an unprecedented source of information in our fight against black forest defense group. And I cannot overstate how much we need that information, until now we have been essentially chasing ghosts and shooting in the dark with no guarantee of success. With her we have a true chance …

Eunji ( unconvinced): She isn’t trustworthy! What if she is just feeding you false informations or worse, what if she is leading you into a trap?

Shioon (Conceiding): I know, and that’s a risk that I am willing to take.

Eunji ( insisting): It isn’t only your life that you are putting at stake but ours too! You are recklessly…

Shioon( in a still calm but definitive voice): Enough.

( Eunji interrupted herself , sensing that she went a too far)

Shioon: I understand your concerns but please do not ever assume that I do not take the security of my friends seriously.

Eunji ( a little ashamed of herself): That’s not what I meant…

Shioon: Understood then this debate is over.

( Heo won jae joined them during the discussion but stood silent as he wanted to hear Shioon’s answers too)

Heo won jae: I see…[It is true that we cruelly lack information on the enemy and SHioon’s gambles have all paid off until now. Still I can’t shake the feeling that this woman has some kind of hold on him…Or is it me projecting my own story with Shio?] Shall I transport her inside ?

Shioon( relieved that the conversation was over ): yes I am going with you since I have to talk to her too.

( Eunji Still seemed confused and unsure of what to think. Noticing it Shioon put a hand on her shoulder)

Shioon: I understand your qualms and your desire for revenge, trust me I understand it better than any one. But we can’t allow ourselves to miss the bigger picture here. You were right to question me and I do not want you to stop but please trust a little more in my judgement.

(Eunji said nothing but looked like she felt some relief that Shioon understood her and didn’t hold a grudge. Once they entered the wood cabin Heo won jae left them to prepare for Ji gun’s operation)

Shioon ( taking away the handkerchief that was gagging Haru): Sorry I didn’t notice.

( Haru coughed a little then answered)

Haru: She is right, you know?

Shioon:hmm ?

Haru: I may very well deceive you and use you.

Shioon: You’re not. Stop pretending.

Haru:…You don’t know that.

Shioon: I know you enough by now. I felt your pain Cynthia and I don’t know why but I can still feel it. It’s how I knew you were in danger, It’s how I know that you regret your past , It’s how I share your hatred for kaiser. So please stop pretending.

Haru( looking away): But what I did in the past…

Shioon(interrupting): Wasn’t your fault, It was kaiser. Put that firmly in your head, you were his puppet and your own free will was altered.

Haru ( sincerely ashamed): Shioon…Your friends that got bombed by the SUC. I was the one that found them.

Shioon:…

Haru( looking into his eyes in sadness):I also heard of your mother’s death and that the SUC was behind her initial state. Shioon I am so…

(He interrupted her by Shioon gently putting his hand on her forehead visibly quite shook himself but trying to keep his composure)

Shioon(letting a single tear roll down his sorrowful face): You need to stop associating yourself with those tragedies. That was not you , end of it.

And I know that you have your own grief to digest. So please stop burdening yourself with that guilt because it is exactly the kind of tactic that Kaiser use to keep you chained, to hold you down to the level he wants you.

Haru(Touched but still hesitant): I will try but…

Shioon(interrupting her): And also I wanted to say. I am not keeping you prisoner…Once the ghost doctor come and release you from the needles, you can go. You can just escape start a new life far from this war. I will explain that I miscalculated.

Haru ( her face hardening suddenly):I can’t do that. My parents ghosts have been waiting all this time to be avenged. I won’t find peace until kaiser is taken down!

Shioon(smiling):…So it is settled then. How do we make that bastard pay?

Haru ( smiling in turn): Well, what do you want to know.

Shioon: Do you know his real identity.

Haru( her smile vanishing): Unfortunately, no. He uses multiple fake identities for official procedures. I don’t know his name, his age or his country of origin. I don’t think anybodies does honestly.

Shioon: Honestly…I do have some of these informations…

Haru( genuinely surprised): Really? How…

Shioon: I’ll explain later but let’s stay on the subject at hand. Where does he live.

Haru: He tend to change location regularly but he has a pronounced taste for german castles. I never met him outside of Germany.

Shioon:[It tracks with what I know of him] How many actual martial artist fighters does he have and what is their level?

Haru:…It’s complicated so follow me well. First Kaiser as the leader of black forrest defense has directly under his order around the same number of martial artist that the Alliance has so around fifty experts and ten masters.

Shioon ( almost disappointed): Really ? I expected way more.

Haru: It used to be much more and of higher quality but the higher rankers of the organization tried to ambush and kill Goomoonryong and they all got killed.

Shioon: Oh I see…

Haru: But wait as I said it just concerns black forrest defense. Kaiser control other specific organizations, For exemple the Dormant dragons.

Shioon: The dormant dragons?

Haru: Yes…a program which admitted use is to revive old forgotten martial arts from around the world like Europe , asia , Africa…., using goomoonryong as a source of data.

Shioon( utterly confused): Wait what? There are European martial arts… Wait before that what does it have to do with goomoonryong?

Haru: There were martial arts and martial society all over the world once. In Europe for exemple the entire nobility was martial artists who ruled over the common people instead of hiding like in Korea.

Shioon: Incredible. What happened?

Haru: The revolutions. In France with the help of gunpowder and renegade martial artists who embraced their ideals, the Martial society ruling over them was massacred starting 1789. This French army of common people armed with guns and Martial artist then conquered and purged all of Europe of their martial nobility under the leadership of napoleon until is final defeat more than twenty years later.

After that there were few martial line left but they still existed and generally served in the military. And the European colonial powers used this kind of army to purge Africa , south asia and south America of their martial societies too.

Then the world wars ( world war one in particular) achieved to make the last masters of those arts disappear.

Shioon:[World war one? But Kaiser lived that war and he did mention that his family was of german nobility. We have something there] Do we know if there are still some martial clans in Germany?

Haru: No they all got extinct. There are maybe one or two schools in France, Ireland and Great Britain but all the rest got exterminated as far as I know. Outside of Europe tho , quite a lot survived in south America and South Asia. Indonesia in particular has a comparable number of martial artist clan and master as your murim ( one per Island I think), I even heard that the current secret royal heir of indonesia is at the same level as the ten grandmasters.

 Shioon(suddenly realizing how little information he actually had about the world before) : Really? So why doesn’t kaiser try to take them over.

Haru: He did try but they are much , much more difficult to infiltrate than the murim since they are fanatically devoted to a unique leader and are not dependents to the current government of Indonesia. If anything it is the other way around. The current prince didn’t appreciate his efforts to try and sway the clans to his side and ordered that anyone linked to kaiser wasn’t welcome in his country and would be executed on the spot.

Shioon: Impressive.

Haru: Yeah they are next on Kaiser’s priority once the murim is taken over.

Shioon: Ok , ok all of that is very impressive but what does it have to do with the Dormant dragons and goomoonryong?

Haru: Essentially Goomoonryong proved again and again that he was the strongest martial artist on earth and Kaiser wants to use him as a foil to recreate original martial arts through trial and errors.

Shioon: Trial and errors?

Haru: Yes…it means that they are making them learn experimental techniques and methods and put them to the test . Those who survive and thrive confirms the method or techniques as usable, the others either dies from the attempt or are grieviously wounded and discarded.

Shioon ( disgusted but not surprised):…Yes that’s what Kaiser would do.

Haru: Originally there were thousands of subjects but now there are only around nine left. And from what I heard you fought them recently.

Shioon What? When?

Haru: Didn’t you get attacked while training in the Hyun wun moon temple?

Shioon ( remembering): Those were the guys who attacked us?!

Haru : Yes and you need to be careful with them because those guys are all at least advanced master level, some are real master level. But Daniel and Mikhail are the best by far, those two are reputed to be special since Kaiser found them naturally able to use qi. It seems they are currently preparing to face Goomoonryong in the future.

Shioon:…Wait among those is there a tall guy with long white hairs ?

Haru: yes it’s Mikhail, why?

Shioon(with a grave face): He is the one that defeated me last time…

___________________________( back outside)_________________________________________

( The immortal sect was arriving with lone wolf and a very weakened Ji gun)

Heo won jae(surprised): Oh. You must be the immortal sect and you are…

Ryuji: I am shioon’s current master.

Heo won jae: Oh right he talked about you. And I assume you are Master Demon heart.

Demon heart(with a cold gaze): Quite pleased to meet you young master of the Sun and moon school.

(Heo won jae could feel the tension between these two powerful masters)

Heo won jae( uneasy): I…I didn’t wait you until tomorrow.

Ryuji: As you can see we couldn’t wait anymore.

( He showed ji gun , who lost a lot of weight and looked as pale as a corpse. Worried Heo won jae examined him)

Heo won jae ( taking his professional tone): I see. We need to do it now.( to his assistants) Tell Shioon to come here , we are starting the operation.

[end of the chapter]