Who was Sado Gwang?
One might call him a tragic genius imprisoned in the jail that was his body.
Even with that broken body, he was the legendary figure who elevated the once-average mid-tier clan of the Sado family to one of the Six Demon Families.
He had that many enemies.
He would take what he wanted, regardless of who stood in his way, and committed acts that others would call monstrous without even blinking.
Because of that, Sado Gwang considered protecting himself to be of utmost importance.
His bodyguards were all Peak-level masters, and he carried numerous defensive treasures and talismans. Most martial artists from the Sado family were trained in tracking techniques, with their top priority being to locate and rescue Sado Gwang in an emergency.
If it had happened somewhere out in the Martial World, it would be one thing.
But Sado Gwang going missing within the cult's territory was essentially impossible.
Which meant—
Everything I was seeing in front of me—
Was a lie.
“I... I really don’t kno— Aaaack!”
A woman who had been alive just seconds ago suddenly lost the top half of her head. Her scream was abruptly cut off.
She was an ordinary woman who had been pleading, even under cruel torture, that she knew nothing.
And it wasn’t just her.
Dozens of people were on their knees, tied up and trembling in fear. There were even elderly people and children among them.
Surrounding them were figures from the Sado family—more precisely, members of the Family Head faction, which stood in opposition to the Elder faction within the clan.
“We really... really don’t know anything!”
“Don’t lie!”
A disheveled middle-aged man shouted, eyes wild with rage.
“Gwang is gone! Vanished with his guards!”
Ssskuk!
A blade slashed through the air.
The old man who had just been crying out in innocence collapsed. Blood ran across the floor of the martial training hall.
“Those guards conspired to take Gwang away. There’s no other explanation! Which means, you—his family—must know something! Isn’t that right?!”
The people on their knees shook their heads and wept, crying that they didn’t know. Anyone could see they were innocent civilians.
Even in the Demonic Cult, which valued strength above all, there were limits—you couldn’t just drag in powerless civilians and torment them.
This was pure madness.
“This bastard…!”
And I wasn’t the only one furious.
Saweol clenched her fists so tightly her nails drew blood, too enraged to even feel the pain. This kind of scene must’ve been all too familiar and detestable for her.
I knew exactly who that wild-haired middle-aged man was.
Even Skybreaker was speechless at the sight, falling into a stunned silence.
A man of boundless incompetence, driven by greed and inferiority.
He was essentially Sado Gwang’s puppet, intoxicated by the scraps of power thrown his way.
Sado Muyul, Head of the Sado Clan.
The one who stood to lose the most if Sado Gwang disappeared.
He was never fit to lead one of the Six Demon Families in the first place, nor had he achieved anything by his own merit.
“You still won’t talk? Fine. Since I lost a son, I’ll kill your child in return.”
Sado Muyul strode forward, pointing his blade at a young child.
A woman—clearly the child’s mother—trembled violently. Despite being bound, she threw herself forward to shield the child with her body.
I knew I should just watch.
Sado Gwang disappearing was clearly part of his own plan. There was no way someone like him would vanish without a contingency.
Maybe he did this to see how I would react.
Rationally, I should stay put and observe.
I had to survive.
But—
“Please, no! Don’t do this!”
“Vermin like these… Just kill them all at once—”
“That’s enough.”
I couldn’t watch any longer.
I wasn’t some cold-blooded killer. I wasn’t a martial artist with a damaged sense of morality.
I was just an ordinary person.
And ordinary people don’t just stand by while others die unjustly.
‘Screw it. Let whatever happens, happen.’
There were no Transcendent Peak masters in the Sado Clan.
So I wouldn’t die.
I stepped through the gate into the training hall.
Sado Muyul’s sword halted. He turned to look at me. His face twisted the moment he recognized me.
“What did you just say?”
“I said, stop this.”
Sado Muyul’s lips trembled.
“Do you know what you just blurted out?”
“Father… no, Clan Head. Do you understand what you’re doing right now?”
“What?”
“These are ordinary cultists with no martial arts. They are assets of the Supreme One. Harming them recklessly is a grave act of disrespect to the Supreme One herself.”
“Heh… heh heh, ha ha ha ha!”
Sado Muyul’s awkward laughter quickly turned into maniacal laughter. He nearly doubled over with laughter.
“Hahaha! You’re hilarious, boy! Hahaha!”
He pointed his sword at me.
“Just because you have a mouth doesn’t mean you should spout nonsense.”
– You fake bastard.
The end of his sentence was followed by a silent voice in my mind—transmitted speech.
“Fake.”
Sado Muyul clearly knew I was an imposter.
He knew exactly where this body came from.
That was why Skybreaker Sword had no memories of his “father.” Why he always felt awkward around him.
Their relationship had never been like that of a real father and son.
“Oh ho… Come to think of it…”
Sado Muyul twisted his lips and spoke.
“The one who benefits most from Gwang’s disappearance is you. You’re the true culprit, aren’t you?”
“Were you jealous? Did you think you’d take the family head seat once Gwang was gone?”
“I was in the Disciplinary Quarters for a week. The Supreme One herself saw it. That proves my innocence.”
“The Supreme One?”
He sneered and continued.
“I don’t know how you managed to deceive even the Supreme One. Or maybe… you bewitched her with that face that looks like Gwang’s?”
It was blatant mockery. And an insult to the Heavenly Demon.
He even let slip the secret about Sado Hwan and Sado Gwang.
But the family head’s lackeys didn’t know that—they just chuckled stupidly.
Some even joined in the mockery.
“Heh heh… The Supreme One is a beauty.”
“If only I could hold her hand just once…”
That was the kind of trash they were.
The Family Head faction was made up of rootless cultists with no honor or virtue—just thugs Sado Gwang had bought to boost his numbers.
‘Should I call Sado Gwang impressive or insane for building a Six Demon Family with these clowns?’
Sado Muyul lowered his sword. But it didn’t look like he was backing down. His bloodshot eyes were still gleaming.
“You dared defy me, the Clan Head. That is treason.”
He turned and shouted to his lackeys.
“What are you doing?! Subdue that traitor and make him kneel before me!”
–!
Dozens of people drew their swords at once, casting murderous glares in my direction.
No matter how strong I was as the Black Shadow Corps Commander, this was the Sado Clan’s domain.
And everyone here in the training hall was Sado Muyul’s closest ally. Each of them held some officer title—squad leaders, unit heads, and so on—and they were all skilled.
By my rough estimate, there were twenty-one Peak-level masters, and over sixty First-rate martial artists.
“Captain.”
Saweol said to me.
“You must fall back. I’ll hold them off.”
Honestly, I was moved.
Our dear Saweol was a walking siege weapon, a blunt instrument of destruction—and as temperamental as a wild cat. She was unreadable, and always looked like she was seconds away from stabbing me.
Normally, she would’ve hidden quietly and watched from the shadows. Maybe even had a drink while enjoying the show.
But now, she offered to protect me.
It felt like all my hard work was finally paying off.
Like watching your fragile goldfish of a game character finally level up into a tank.
“It’s fine.”
“But…”
Saweol bit her lip, showing a rare glimpse of concern.
Concern? From expressionless Saweol? For me?
‘No way… that can’t be it.’
Then it clicked.
There was still loneliness in her heart.
If I die here, that loneliness will die too, and with it, Saweol, who is connected to it, will also die.
That must be why. If I die for nothing, she won’t be able to accomplish her goal properly either.
‘Yeah. Better not get ahead of myself.’
I drew out the energy of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
Something about it stirred a deep sense of bravado, and I ended up speaking more boldly than I intended.
“Do you really think I can’t handle this rabble?”
With that, I lifted the Black Feather Fan hanging from my waist.
Even Saweol looked stunned. I gave her a telepathic command via Skybreaker Sword, and she hesitated only briefly before vanishing like smoke.
The family head’s men looked dumbfounded.
Me, fanning myself with a feather fan, must have looked utterly ridiculous.
“That’s a hard insult to tolerate, Young Lord.”
The man at the front—an old warrior with a long beard—spoke up. He held a massive dao.
[Moo Yeong-do. A Peak-level master. Strongest of the Clan Head’s allies. Comparable to Saweol.]
‘Doesn’t matter. As long as it’s not arrows.’
Arrows were my natural counter. They came too fast to detect or dodge. But very few used them.
In this world of Return of the Murim, long-range attacks like archery were considered cowardly, so archers were rare.
“You said that was an insult?”
“Young Lord, even if you are a Transcendent Peak master as rumors say, you lack experience. Throw down your weapon and kneel now. I’ll settle for just breaking one arm.”
Moo Yeong-do’s words drew laughter.
They didn’t really believe the rumors.
At most, they thought I was a sheltered prodigy. No one here had seen me fight.
And all those Transcendent Peak rumors had started outside the cult.
“Since when is calling weaklings ‘rabble’ an insult, when it’s the truth?”
“What did you say?”
“Come. I’ll show you what those words really mean.”
I drew Skybreaker Sword.
Its jet-black blade gleamed as it emerged, and the warriors instinctively swallowed hard.
They were sensitive to weapons—they knew at once it was a legendary sword.
Even Sado Muyul’s eyes gleamed.
“Whoever makes him kneel will receive that sword.”
Greed filled the eyes of every martial artist. Even Moo Yeong-do, despite wielding a massive blade, showed interest.
“Attack!”
“Formation!”
“Huaaah!”
The warriors let out battle cries and charged.
I focused my gaze.
“Kugh!”
“Gwah!”
Dozens of warriors collapsed on the spot, coughing up blood. Most of them were First-rate martial artists.
Killing intent?
No.
I hadn’t brought the Black Feather Fan for no reason. When I waved it earlier, I had scattered Decay Poison.
If someone pulled their qi too forcefully without realizing the poison was in the air, they would cough up blood.
I had used up nearly all of the Decay Poison, but—
Items are king.
Moo Yeong-do looked shocked, glancing between me and the fallen warriors.
As a Peak master, he was able to resist the poison to some extent. So were the others at his level.
“What are you waiting for?”
I lowered my voice.
“Did you not hear me tell you to attack?”
Moo Yeong-do shouted,
“He’s stronger than we thought! But that’s all! Attack together!”
Twenty-one Peak-level masters remained.
Each of them gripped their weapons and rushed toward me.
If items are king, then my strongest item—
Was the high-intelligence martial arts AI, Skybreaker Sword.
I slashed downward—
Kwajik!
“…!”
“?!”
Their weapons—about to strike—suddenly flew from their hands as if yanked by some invisible force and slammed into the ground.
Supreme Reign
It was Do Il-gwang’s will, manifested through Skybreaker Sword.