Chapter 1

Chapter 1
## Chapter 1: Evil Ties and Good Ties

For nearly three centuries following the collapse of the original Heavenly Demon Cult, the dark factions of the world remained shattered and warring. The figure who finally forged these fractured pieces back into a single entity was the Thunderclap Demon Emperor, Gwan Hyo.

A solitary figure moved toward Infinite Sky Pavilion, the private sanctuary of Gwan Hyo. As he advanced, the killing intent radiating from the elite guards stationed around the building descended upon him like a barrage of invisible blades. Nevertheless, the traveler appeared entirely unbothered, maintaining a relaxed posture and a steady pace, as if he were simply enjoying a quiet walk through a garden.

The man in charge of the pavilion’s safety, Sky Guard Unit Leader Yul Sarim, was the one suffering from frayed nerves.

“What is the plan, Leader?”

His second-in-command, Neung Cho, inquired with a face pale from anxiety.

“There has been no command to grant him passage. Therefore, we hold the line,” Yul Sarim replied, his voice carrying a weight of self-conviction as much as it was a command to his subordinate.

The traveler reached the perimeter and stopped. Yul Sarim called out, “What is your purpose here, Divine Demon Leader?”

Sima Geon looked at him with an indifferent gaze. “I am here to speak with the Cult Leader.”

“You must depart. The prohibition on visitors is still in effect.”

Sima Geon’s eyes narrowed slightly, causing the temperature of the air to seem to drop several degrees. “I have heard that same refusal every afternoon for two weeks. It has become tedious.”

Yul Sarim’s stomach churned at the icy tone. His eyes drifted downward to the weapon secured at Sima Geon’s hip. His expression instantly froze; a visible tremor took hold of his hands, and his lips twitched with an instinctive, uncontrollable dread.

Within the confines of Infinite Sky Pavilion, the law dictated that only the Sky Guard Unit and the Divine Demon Division Leader, Sima Geon, were permitted to carry arms. It was Sima Geon who had been the architect of the victories that unified the demonic path, the one who paved the way for Gwan Hyo of the Divine Demon Clan to ascend as the absolute head of the new Heavenly Demon Cult.

In recognition of these peerless deeds, Gwan Hyo had bestowed upon Sima Geon a unique grace: the promise of a single pardon for any crime—even high treason—and the permanent right to enter Infinite Sky Pavilion while wearing his blade.

However, in all the years prior, Sima Geon had never actually brought his sword inside.

Today, the pattern was broken.

The simple, unadorned sword hanging at his side carried a weight that felt suffocating to those watching. It served as a silent declaration that he would not be turned away today.

*Can we actually stand against him?* Yul Sarim wondered, casting a glance at his surroundings.

Thirty members of the Sky Guard Unit had Sima Geon surrounded. These were no ordinary soldiers; they were peak-tier late-stage martial artists recruited directly from the Divine Demon Clan, capable of challenging almost any master in the realm.

Then, there was the Diamond Yaksha.

Yul Sarim’s eyes landed on the massive, hulking figure standing casually behind Sima Geon. This was Diamond Yaksha Cheol Woo, the second-in-command of the Divine Demon Division. While he often stood in the shadow of Sima Geon’s reputation, the name Diamond Yaksha was legendary in its own right. He was a pillar of loyalty to his comrades but a more ruthless executioner than the King of Hell to his foes. Most terrifying of all was his singular devotion; he moved only for Sima Geon. He would laugh in the face of the Cult Leader’s own authority if it conflicted with his master’s wishes.

“I have business with the Cult Leader. Move,” Sima Geon stated. It wasn’t a request; it was a final ultimatum. Yul Sarim felt the hair on his arms stand up, but he forced himself to remain in place.

“I have no orders to let you in. Please, go back.” Yul Sarim tried to project strength, but the slight crack in his voice revealed his desperation.

“So, you intend to obstruct me?”

Yul Sarim found himself unable to find words. The lives of all his men were balanced on his next breath. He was trapped in an impossible position—he wanted nothing more than to step aside, but his duty to the Cult Leader demanded he stay.

“Forgive me. The Sky Guard Unit exists to protect Infinite Sky Pavilion and the Cult Leader,” Yul Sarim declared, drawing his blade with a heavy heart. Following his lead, the thirty guards drew their steel in a single, metallic ring.

“Ha! Have you lot lost your minds? You actually think you’re going to point those toothpicks at us?” Cheol Woo, who had been acting as if he were a mere spectator, roared with a savage grin. He stepped forward as the guards shifted their aggression toward Sima Geon.

A few guards moved to block the giant’s path.

“Stop!” Yul Sarim yelled, trying to prevent the slaughter, but Cheol Woo was a blur of motion.

With a casual sweep of his arm, the blades coming at him were snapped like dry twigs. A swift, effortless kick sent one of the elite guards spinning through the air until he hit the ground with a sickening thud. Cheol Woo huffed a breath of hot air, turning his predatory gaze toward the next man.

“That is enough.”

The feral bloodlust radiating from Cheol Woo vanished instantly at Sima Geon’s quiet word.

“I told you there would be no senseless violence.”

The giant scratched his head, looking suddenly embarrassed, his terrifying aura replaced by a sheepish grin. “Those idiots forgot who they were talking to. My bad, Boss.”

The Sky Guard members watched Cheol Woo retreat like a scolded pet, but the display only deepened their terror. The realization that Sima Geon could control such a monster with a whisper made their spirits sink.

“I have run out of patience. If you continue to block me, I will cut through you,” Sima Geon said, stepping forward. Even with his sword still in its sheath, the sheer pressure of his presence forced a heavy silence over the area.

“B-block him!” Yul Sarim cried out, sweat pouring down his face. His men, though shaking, tried to muster their resolve one last time.

“Morons. You really have a death wish, don’t you?” Cheol Woo mocked from the side.

“I gave you fair warning,” Sima Geon said. His voice was like ice, and the aura he had been suppressing suddenly exploded. A violent wind whipped up, rattling the heavy tiles of the pavilion’s roof. Slowly, his hand moved toward his hilt.

*This is the end,* Yul Sarim thought, a sentiment shared by every guard present. Sima Geon finally unsheathed his steel.

“Gah!”

Just as the two sides were about to collide in a bloodbath, a booming voice echoed from deep within the Infinite Sky Pavilion.

“Stand down. That includes you, Divine Demon Division Leader.”

The moment the voice ceased, Yul Sarim screamed at the top of his lungs. “Lower your weapons! Retreat!”

The Sky Guard members didn’t hesitate; they scattered instantly, disappearing as fast as they could. Cheol Woo watched them go with a look of pure disdain. “What a pathetic sight.”

“Wait here and be quiet. Do not cause any more trouble,” Sima Geon instructed as he sheathed his sword and walked toward the entrance.

Yul Sarim, feeling as though the life had been drained out of him, stepped aside. “I am relieved I did not have to strike you down, Leader,” Sima Geon said as he approached.

“You consider yourself lucky? Did you truly intend to kill us?” Yul Sarim asked, his face hollow.

“Who can say? Perhaps I would have,” Sima Geon replied with a faint, enigmatic smile before passing into the building.

Watching him go, Yul Sarim bit his lip. He knew the reputation of the Divine Demon Division Leader well. Sima Geon was a man who rarely drew his blade, but once the steel was bared, it never returned to the scabbard without a kill. He was a man who put mission above sentiment, even with those he had known for years.

*He would have killed us all. There’s no doubt.* Yul Sarim instinctively rubbed his neck, thankful his head was still attached.

—

Inside the Infinite Sky Pavilion, Sima Geon knelt and performed a formal bow. “I greet the Cult Leader.”

At the head of a massive table sat Gwan Hyo. Beside him were his two sons, both of whom looked at Sima Geon with unconcealed resentment.

“Sit,” Gwan Hyo offered, waving a hand.

“I will remain as I am,” Sima Geon replied, standing but politely declining the seat.

Gwan Hyo didn’t insist. Instead, he reached for a bottle and poured wine into an empty cup. With a subtle flick of his wrist, the cup rose into the air and glided across the room. Sima Geon caught it with practiced ease and drained the wine in a single motion.

“You drink without hesitation. No fear of what might be inside?”

“I have no reason to suspect you.” Sima Geon placed the cup on the table and lowered his head in respect.

“I had hoped this visit would never happen,” Gwan Hyo admitted, his expression clouded with regret. Sima Geon reached for the wine bottle to return the gesture.

“I could not avoid it. When we first crossed paths in Black Dragon Valley, you gave your word: ten years of service to the Divine Demon Clan in exchange for our freedom. That decade has passed. Furthermore, the specific task you assigned me three years ago has been completed.”

“A promise…” Gwan Hyo whispered, taking the cup Sima Geon had refilled. “Yes. It has been five years since you emerged from Black Dragon Valley to rejoin the world. Counting the time spent there, it has been twelve years?”

“Twelve years and fourteen days,” Sima Geon corrected. His voice was flat and clinical, which only seemed to further irritate Gwan Hyo’s eldest son, Gwan Pae. Sima Geon sensed the heat of Gwan Pae’s glare but chose to ignore him entirely, focusing only on the father.

“We have gathered the remnants of the demonic path and rebuilt the Heavenly Demon Cult, but the foundation is still settling,” Gwan Hyo argued.

“The deal three years ago was not for total perfection. You asked for the destruction of the Demon World’s Ten Strongholds that held sway over the lands. Every one of them has bowed to your name,” Sima Geon countered.

Gwan Hyo let out a dry, bitter laugh. “That… is true enough.” He took another drink, his eyes narrowing as he studied Sima Geon.

Of all the youths trained in Black Dragon Valley, Sima Geon had always been the star, yet he had surpassed even Gwan Hyo’s highest expectations. Initially, in terms of raw power, he had actually been behind Cheol Woo. But something had shifted. After he returned from wiping out the Ghost Gate Clan three years ago, he was a different man. The murderous, raw aura had been replaced by something far more profound and terrifying. His skill had ascended to a level that defied explanation. Gwan Hyo wondered what had truly transpired within the Ghost Gate Clan.

Before he could ponder further, Gwan Pae broke the silence. “So, you genuinely intend to walk away?”

“I do,” Sima Geon answered, not even turning his head toward the prince.

“And if we refuse to let you?” Gwan Pae’s voice rose, stung by the lack of acknowledgement.

Sima Geon offered no response to the son, remaining silent as Gwan Hyo finished his wine.

“Answer m—”

“I shall interpret your silence as consent and take my leave,” Sima Geon interrupted, bowing to the Cult Leader. Gwan Pae leaped to his feet, his face flushed with rage.

“You arrogant brat! How dare you—”

“Enough.” Gwan Hyo stopped his son with a single, sharp look. He turned back to Sima Geon. “I saw this coming three years ago. I have spent that time searching for a way to keep you here, to bind you to this cause. But I realized there is nothing I could offer that would sway your heart.”

“You have my apologies,” Sima Geon said.

“Those are empty words,” Gwan Hyo laughed softly, and the cup in his grip suddenly crumbled into fine powder. “Go then. You have sacrificed much. To you, this may have been a cursed tie of evil, but to me, it was a tie of great fortune. I will never forget what you have built here.”

The permission was finally granted. Sima Geon, who had been prepared for a fight to the death, felt a wave of relief. He knelt once more, bowing low to the floor. “I thank you, Cult Leader. May you remain in health.”

Gwan Hyo watched Sima Geon’s retreating back with a complicated mix of admiration and sorrow.

“I’m heading out too. Take care of yourselves!” Cheol Woo shouted, sticking his head through the doorway for a second before slamming the door shut behind them.