Chapter 77: Keep it Hidden (1)

"Master. Can I eat all of this?"

Chun Yeowun shook his head as he looked at Shakena, who was flicking her purple hair aside and showing a charming expression.

She was looking at the corpses on the floor like it was a dinner party.

'The energy rose.'

The unique energy which he sensed in her rose.

It was the energy that demons had and even the Murim warriors couldn't notice it. However, Chun Yeowun, who could feel the energy flow in nature, was able to recognize it.

'She can be more useful.'

The stronger she got, the more effective she would become.

However, since the day she crossed the Gate, she was caught and kept chained.

"Eat it. No exceptions."

"Woah!"

She smiled brightly and tried to hug Chun Yeowun. But he pushed her away as if she was a bother.

"Don't push me."

It was embarrassing, but Shakena chucked.

The colder he seemed, the stronger she felt the affinity of Chun Yeowun with her.

Watching her devour the hearts of corpses, Yu So-hwa mumbled.

"Crazy bitch."

Shakena looked back at her and asked.

"Want one?"

"You… euk have it."

Yu So-hwa hurriedly left the place.

At Chun Yeowun's orders, he tried to let it be, but seeing Shakena rip the hearts of his colleagues and eat them, Ko Wang-hyeon sent a telepathic message.

[L-Lord Chun Ma. Even if they were sinners, they were still members of the Cult. For their bodies to be like thi…]

Saying it out loud could have been dangerous, so he sent his opinion through telepathy.

However, Chun Yeowun wasn't bothered by it.

"Aren't we supposed to dispose of the bodies?"

"Yes, that is true."

"So? You want to hold a funeral and act all polite?"

At Chun Yeowun's words, Ko Wang-hyeon closed his mouth with a sad expression.

The bodies had to be disposed of. It had to be done either with acid or burned in fire.

'… I'm sorry.'

Because they broke the law and committed a sin, he couldn't save them, so he prayed for them.

On the other hand, Sub-hyung was puzzled as he stared at the human eating the hearts.

Raw.

"Lord Chun Ma. That secretary… is she even human?"

No human would do such a thing.

Chun Yeowun said with an uninterested expression.

"A demon."

"Yes?"

"You might understand if I say that she is a Special type entity from the Gate?"

'!?'

At Chun Yeowun's words, Ko Wang-hyeon and Sub-hyung's faces went stiff.

If it was a special type Gate entity, then it meant she had to be higher than A-class.

A total chaos bringer

They did think that her behaviour was non-human.

[My Lord. How could you, such a dangerous being?]

At Ko Wang-hyeon's concern, Chun Yeowun uttered.

"A slave, so don't worry."

Honestly, she wasn't dangerous. Since Chun Yeowun managed to subdue her easily, he was probably the most dangerous existence for the people of this era.

And at his words, they backed down.

"Understood."

It took around 40 minutes for Shakena to eat all the bodies.

Apart from the brutality, she looked like a glutton.

She ate every single part, leaving behind only the bloodstains on the ground.

She chewed a few times and then swallowed. However, despite eating so much, she didn't seem like she was full.

'Really not a human.'

Seeing her like that, Yu So-hwa's expression crinkled.

"Ahh, I am full. Are there any sweet things?"

She looked just like a woman, except for her lips and dress that were stained in blood.

'Food changes into energy right after eating it.'

Chun Yeowun was interested in her.

Her digestion system was intriguing.

It seemed to immediately break down the food and convert it into energy.

'Hmm.'

If the energy she had a while back was 100, then what she had now was 130.

And this was the result of eating the bodies of 39 masters, most of which were at the Super Master level.

Having so many to eat was very rare for her.

'I am curious about the traitor.'

Another entity had appeared 15 years ago.

If that traitor demon was still alive, it meant that it had developed strength for a long time.

Tak!

From the ceiling, Sub-hyung poured down the barrel of oil.

Inside the building, the smell could be perceived.

"It's done."

"The oil is poured on top."

The bodies were disposed of, but they had to remove all the useless traces too.

Wheik!

When Chun Yeowun set off the Flame qi, fire spread throughout the building.

It was fortunate that the restaurant was away from the city.

Even with the fire, which was close to an arson level, no one would notice.

"Hmm?"

Chun Yeowun, who was looking at the fire spreading all around the building, suddenly looked back.

Ko Wang-hyeon asked.

"What is it?"

"Are they coming late?"

"Sorry?"

It was then.

The place was so out of town that there were no lights on the road, so everything was in darkness, but someone was approaching them at high speed.

And they soon arrived.

A man wearing a mask with a strange pattern and a sword on his back with another middle-aged man with a tall build and short flame-like hair.

"Great Guardian! Left Guardian!"

They were Guardians like Sub-hyung, so he recognized them right away.

The one called Left Guardian was Lee Jong-hwa.

He looked at the burning restaurant and asked.

"Right Guardian. What the hell happened here?"

It was natural for Lee Jong-hwa to react as such. They were on their way here as they heard that a notary guest would arrive.

However, despite coming in haste, they only saw the place burn down.

"And why is vice-chairman Wang Shin like this?"

Wang Shin was on the floor, with signs of injuries all over his body.

Sub-hyung stuttered.

"There... was a problem."

"Problem?"

Sub-hyung answered with a slightly sad face.

"Both chairman Chun Yu-seong and the other clan leaders broke the Cult law and plotted rebellion."

"What are you spewing? Rebellion?"

Sub-hyung's words made Lee Jong-hwa frown.

Sub-hyung thought that he would recognize the identity of Chun Yeowun right away, but seeing his reaction, it seemed like he had no idea who Chun Yeowun was.

'Come to think of it!'

No one told him about Chun Ma.

At that time, the Great Guardian Marayun, who was wearing the mask, spoke to Chun Yeowun in a cautious tone.

"Who might you be?"

His voice filled with energy.

Lee Jong-hwa was shocked.

The Great Guardian would never take such a stance even when in front of an enemy.

But now he was.

"How interesting."

On the other hand, Chun Yeowun looked at Marayun with quite the interest in his eyes.

Startle!

Noticing his gaze, Marayun ended up opening a distance of ten steps between him and Chun Yeowun.

And shouted to Lee Jong-hwa.

"Away!"

Unexpectedly, Lee Jong-hwa's body moved at the shout and spread the distance.

Marayun seemed nervous.

The man in front of his eyes definitely possessed extraordinary abilities he couldn't handle.

The man looked like an abyss.

"Great Guardian he…"

Sh!

"Um!"

Ko Wang-hyeon tried to reveal the identity of Chun Yeowun to stop them from acting rude towards him, but Chun Yeowun gestured at him to stay silent.

And looked at the Right Guardian.

[Stay silent for a moment.]

Chun Yeowun turned away.

They couldn't understand what he was planning.

Chun Yeowun looked at Marayun,

"You seem quite sensitive to your surroundings."

"Who are you?"

Marayun wanted to know the man's identity.

Considering the strength he felt and the cautious attitude of Ko Wang-hyeon and Sub-hyun behind, this man had to be here for the inauguration or notary.

[Notary?]

[When both Guardians come, you will find out.]

Chairman Chun Yu-seong didn't give out the name till the end, so he couldn't guess.

'Bloodline?'

The most influential would be the bloodline of the Lord's family.

However, he knew the faces of all of them.

'Who the hell could he be?'

That was when Chun Yeowun's form scattered.

'No!'

Marayun moved.

To be precise, his upper body moved back.

"You are pretty good."

A hand holding a sword went past his body, which was now leaned back.

Chun Yeowun smiled.

He was testing Marayun without even giving out his name.

It was flustering and confusing for Marayun, who knew nothing about the situation.

"But this posture is…"

Shh!

Chun Yeowun tried to lower his hand.

Wheik!

Marayun, who was tilted back, leaned a little more to the back, and tried to kick Chun Yeowun.

Chun Yeowun titled his body lightly and avoided getting hit.

Path!

Taking advantage of it, Marayun opened the distance once again.

Then, he took off the necklace he was wearing and opened the lid.

'Steps of the Wind God!'

Marayun waved his hand, creating swords in the air.

Seven sharp swords.

Swoosh!

Seven swords flew in the air and moved at his will, rushing towards Chun Yeowun.

"Air Swords!"

Ko Wang-hyeon who watched that was shocked.

He knew that Marayun was, along with the Lord, the best in the current Cult. They were unmatched.

However, he never thought that Marayun could do this.

'Air Sword is possible only when one is a Supreme Master.'

As Shocking as it was, Great Guardian Marayun was a Supreme Master.

There were only five strongest warriors in the current Murim who could do that.

It seemed like this one stayed hidden.

'Seven swords?'

That meant he wasn't at the beginning of the Supreme Master, but at the end.

Swoosh!

The Air Swords lined up around Chun Yeowun.

All tips pointed at him to kill him.

"I have the upper hand. Please stop this and reveal yourself."

Marayun wiggled his fingers, the swords ready to pierce at his will.

He had done his best.

However, the opponent hadn't even pulled out his sword.

He thought that even if the opponent was skilled, the distance between them was too much for him to attack.

[Prepare, just in case.]

However, Marayun was the careful kind, so he sent a message to Lee Jong-hwa.

In response, Lee Jong-hwa increased his energy and condensed it on his sword, ready to move any time.

Shhh!

The hot flames that appeared, seemed like they were ready to exorcise everything with his Crimson Flame Sword.

"I told you that in this situation, my sword has the upper hand."

"Well. If you want to know my identity, try finding it out by force."

Chun Yeowun tried to move his hand.

Noticing the slight movement, Marayun quickly released the swords.

Swoosh!

All seven swords rushed for Chun Yeowun at the same speed.

"You brought this on yourse…. Uh?"

Marayun's eyes, which could be seen through the gap in the mask, shook.

The swords, which were heading towards Chun Yeowun, stopped before hitting him.

Shocked, he ended up using more energy to control them.

But.

Tremble!

The swords, which were stopped mid-air, only trembled but couldn't move.

Kikiki!

Soon, the swords turned in the opposite direction.

Chun Yeowun slightly stretched out his hand towards Marayun.

Swoosh!

Having escaped his control, Seven swords went for Marayun.

'H-he eroded my control?'

Marayun couldn't help but be shocked.

In a short span of time, the opponent managed to take control over his Air Swords.

"Haaa!"

Judging that Marayun was in danger, Lee Jong-hwa charged at Chun yeowun.

Hweik!

Flames soared from his sword.

Blazing bright, the sword drew a hot trajectory and rushed for the opponent.

[Great Guardian! Get away!]

His sword moved for the purpose of helping Marayun.

Those who used the Air Swords had to control them, so they wouldn't be able to change to close combat.

And if they decided to move their body, their control over the Air Swords would shatter.

But.

Pak!

"Ugh!"

Lee Jong-hwa couldn't hide his shock.

Chun Yeowun suddenly put his hand in the path of the trajectory, which was the first formation of the Crimson Flame Swordsmanship.

He grabbed the sword with two fingers.

"H-how?"

Even more shocking was that his sword, which was covered in flames, didn't seem to have affected the opponent.

'Does that mean he can handle Flame qi? Then!'

He increased the Crimson Flame energy to the maximum.

Wheik!

The flames on the sword blazed even more.

It was to push the sword further in and cut off the arm. But Chun Yeowun seemed calm all throughout.

'T-this one…'

Chun Yeowun said.

"Can you even call this hot?"

"What?"

At that moment, the sword Chun Yeowun grabbed turned hotter.

The eyes of the swordsman widened.

Jiiii!

"Euk!"

Lee Jong-hwa, unable to stand the heat, let go of the sword.

His palms were burnt black.

'A Flame qi which surpasses mine?'

He wasn't called the Fire King for nothing!

"Great Guardian."

Shocked, he widened the distance and looked at Marayun.

Despite getting the sword stolen by the opponent, he thought he bought enough time for the Great Guardian to escape.

"No way!"

The seven swords seemed to have reached Marayun's body, the swords had blood on them, and the body was gashed.

Cold sweat was running down the mask. A little further and the sword would have dug into his flesh.

"W-who are you?"

A level of mastery they had never seen.

Chun Yeowun flicked the sword he was holding.

"Take this."

Wheik! Pak!

"Huh!"

The sword went exactly where Lee Jong-hwa was and struck the ground.

The ground turned red from the heat.

Chun Yeowun reached out to the swords aiming at Marayun, and the seven swords that lost contact fell to the ground.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

As they stood stunned, Chun Yeowun said.

"This is surprising. I thought everyone was regressing, but did the Guardians actually surpass their predecessors?"

'!!!'

At those words, Marayun's eyes widened. He immediately ran to Chun Yeowun and bowed.

"Great Guardian, what are you doing?"

Lee Jong-hwa still couldn't understand, but Marayun didn't care.

"Great Guardian Marayun, greets the 24th Lord of the Great Sky Demon Order, Lord Chun Ma."

'Huh?'

Chun Yeowun's eyes lit up.

When he came here, everyone had to see the Sky Demon Sword, but this man accepted his existence right away.

He was about to ask out of curiosity, but Marayun said something unexpected.

"Please punish me! For not waiting for Lord Chun Ma to appear again! For forsaking what the predecessors have built!"