ShadowVane

Once feared as the Crimson Storm, Jin Mu-won was the strongest martial artist of his era—until betrayal shattered his path and death consumed him atop a mountain of corpses. But fate had other plans.

Reborn as a boy in a peaceful village at the edge of the Murim world, Mu-won awakens in a new era—one of hidden sects, decaying traditions, and rising darkness. With his memories intact and a mysterious pendant bound to his soul, he uncovers a sealed legacy: forbidden arts, long-lost realms, and a power that should not exist.

Smart, handsome, brutal, and cunning, Jin Mu-won is no hero. He's a predator in a world of prey. As ancient seals break and enemies rise from the shadows, Mu-won begins a ruthless ascent—shattering bones, defying fate, and dragging the martial world into an era of chaos it cannot escape.

Because this time, the demon won’t stop at domination.

He wants everything.

Heavenly Demon Reborn: Chronicles of the One- in-Millennium Genius

The sun barely peeked through the misty mountain air as the outer court disciples began their daily training. Amid them, Kim Mu-won moved like a shadow—graceful, unnoticed, precise. His strikes landed with just the right amount of force, never drawing attention. But today was different. Today, he wasn't just here to blend in—he was hunting.

Whispers had reached his ears. A scroll from the forbidden vault had gone missing three nights ago. The elders dismissed it as internal chaos, but Mu-won knew better. That scroll contained fragments of the Shadow Demon Art, a cultivation method designed for assassination and infiltration—something far too dangerous to be left unattended.

He had seen that technique before.

In his past life, a lone assassin nearly pierced his heart using it. That man had served a hidden organization deep in the Murim underworld. If that scroll had truly surfaced again, then history was repeating itself—and Mu-won had no intention of letting that play out.

As the morning drills ended, he approached the one person who could give him answers.

"Brother Gyeom," Mu-won said calmly.

The muscular senior disciple turned, a forced grin stretching his lips. "Junior Mu-won. To what do I owe the honor?"

Mu-won returned the smile, hiding the blade in his tone. "I heard the Night Watch was attacked near the eastern cliffs. The patrol you were in command of. Curious, isn't it?"

Mu-won leaned closer. "Even more curious that a scroll went missing that same night."

For a moment, silence hung like a blade over their heads. Then Gyeom scoffed. "Careful, junior. Accusations like that can kill."

Mu-won's grin deepened. "Only if you're caught."

He turned away, walking back toward the training ground—but his ears stayed sharp. When Gyeom whispered to a cloaked figure hidden behind the trees, Mu-won heard every word.

Mu-won didn't stop walking. He didn't need to. A trap was being set—and he intended to be the predator, not the prey.

That night, while most disciples rested, Mu-won sat alone beneath the old sakura tree on the northern edge of the courtyard. The wind rustled the leaves. The moon cast long shadows across the ground.

Three figures emerged from the darkness.

"You shouldn't have poked your nose where it didn't belong," one of them hissed, brandishing twin daggers laced with a black, smoky aura—the mark of the Shadow Demon Art.

Mu-won stood slowly, his expression cold. "You shouldn't have stolen from the dead."

The fight was short. Precise. Brutal. Mu-won moved like a phantom, using techniques far beyond his apparent rank. One man screamed, another bled silently, and the last tried to flee—only to find Mu-won already behind him, whispering a line that sent chills down his spine.

"I've danced with shadows long before you were born."

The final strike was silent. Death came clean.

Mu-won stood amidst the corpses, the stolen scroll in his hand, his expression unreadable.

"Let the darkness come," he murmured. "I'll show it what real fear looks like."

Chapter 25 – The Hidden Blade