‘Chun Ma?’

’The Chun Ma?’

Hearing the title proclaimed by Dan Cho-jin, everyone went silent.

The moment they heard the title, the people of the Palace couldn’t hide their shock. They, too, were under the Sky Demon Order for a long time and thus knew what the name meant.

“Father, isn’t the Sky Demon Order in ruins right now?”

Dan Young-soo asked his father, unable to understand. His father nodded,

“Yes, but I have no clue what this is.”

It was natural for them to react so cluelessly. 27 years back, the Sky Demon Order had given up on everything and went into hiding; the North Sea Ice Palace took the chance to cut off their contact with China completely.

Since then, North Sea Ice Palace started making efforts to be incorporated into Russia.

It was no exaggeration to say that the people of the Palace knew nothing of the current events happening in China.

“What are you talking about? Lord Dan! What are those Chinese bastards talking about?!”

Major Verno yelled on top of his lungs, unable to understand the circumstances.

‘Fucking shit!’

Dan Kyeong-gak and his son felt embarrassed: the Russian government hated the Sky Demon Order, but Dan Cho-jin had openly proclaimed the monster-like newcomer as Chun Ma.

“T-that–”

“What are they talking about?! Didn’t he just call that man the Chun Ma of the Sky Demon Order?”

Dan Cho-jin was surprised by Modve’s ability to understand Chinese.

“What? The Sky Demon Order? The group involved in the massacre 27 years ago?”

Major Verno began to emit an aura of hostility now, prompting Dan Young-soo to intervene.

“Major! They aren’t related to us. In addition, the Sky Demon Order collapsed so long ago that there’s no way anyone can be related to them.”

Modve intervened,

“Putting that aside, it is indeed strange that a person of the Sky Demon Order has entered Russia. Major, aren’t all affiliated individuals banned from entering the country?”

Modve talked excitedly, not wanting to miss the chance to ruin North Sea Ice Palace’s chancecs of being incorporated into Russia.

Step!

Meanwhile, Chun Yeowun took steps towards them, increasing the pressure in the atmosphere with each step.

Terrified by the abilities Chun Yeowun had showed, Major Verno shouted,

“L-Lord Dan! That monster is coming! If you really have nothing to do with them, what can I do here?”

Modve stepped ahead.

“Modve?”

“Major, give me a chance.”

“Ah! You want to fight?”

Major Verno was pleased with Modve’s willingness to help.

Despite Modve’s assignment to assist Major Verno, he couldn’t just give orders to Modve, who was one of the heads of Russia’s four armed groups.

“Leave it to me.”

With those proud words, Modve walked towards Chun Yeowun as strategies ran through his mind.

‘This man was gifted with abilities.’

Modve was convinced that Chun Yeowun used abilities and not martial arts, and had counted two abilities so far. He considered it Chun Yeowun’s telekinesis ability to be at the SS-level.

‘However, all abilities have fatal weaknesses.’

All abilities have weaknesses; Chun Yeowun’s ability was weak in combat, and it would be easy to neutralize him before he had the chance to demonstrate any other abilities.

‘I’ll just move towards him for now.’

Modve loosened the belt he had on, setting it on the ground.

There were three knives and a pistol attached to the belt, and as he put it down, he raised his hand and said,

“I want to talk.”

Saying those words, he walked closer to Chun Yeowun as Dan Cho-ja informed Chun Yeowun of what he knew about Modve.

“Lord Chun Ma. That man is Modve Radev, a leader of one of the four armed groups in Russia.”

“Really?”

When the North Sea Ice clan had come back to Russia, they were first sent to two of the armed groups that monitored their immigration, allowing him to gain some knowledge of the Russian bureaucracy and officials.

Modve approached Chun Yeowun and said,

“I heard you came from China. We have no information about your arrival, so you must have come here illegally, right?”

Modve went straight to the topic, to which Chun Yeowun answered,

“So?”

“So, there is a high ranking official from the Russian government here. I think you understand where I’m going with this.”

Modve thought any decent human would quickly understand and realize the repercussions of their actions.

“So?”

’!?’

Modve’s brows twitched.

Despite the mention of the Russian government, Chun Yeowun’s reaction didn’t change. Modve assumed that Chun Yeowun would at least try to converse, but he didn’t seem like he wanted to talk at all.

‘Tsk. As if that wasn’t enough, he had even killed Russian soldiers without blinking an eye.’

The man’s behavior would be understandable if he was confident in his own power. Realizing this, Modve decided to use his backup plan.

Clap!

Modve clapped and laughed,

“Hahaha! Indeed, spoken like a true SS-class person. If you had given in simply because I mentioned the government, I would have been quite disappointed.”

He was now acting bold.

“I like you. You see, Russia doesn’t allow the people of China to enter, but I think it’s acceptable with your level of power.”

Modve chuckled and raised his thumb, continuing to speak,

“What about this? A person of your strength would be greatly appreciated in the Russian government. Considering that less lives would have to be sacrificed, would you consider standing down to and joining Russia? I promise to treat you right.”

His backup plan was to buy Chun Yeowun as a mercenary.

The stronger one was, the higher their pride. But, if the right conditions were given, there was a chance for the pride to be quelled and the situation to be settled.

Normally, most people who would accept Modve’s conditions, but,

“No need.”

’!?’

Chun Yeowun’s blunt refusal made Modve’s brows twitch once again, as he had rejected both of Modve’s options.

‘How is he so picky?!’

Now, there was only one way left for Modve: the method that he had initially planned. As if feeling troubled, Modve said,

“It’s quite absurd how difficult you’re being. It would be a waste to fight someone as strong as you. Can we settle this peacefully?”

Along with those words, Modve took another step closer to Chun Yeowun.

‘Six more steps closer to him.’

Modve was one of the three top martial artists in Russia. He could kill anyone 100 away, but against a monster like Chun Yeowun, he had to be much closer. Somehow, he had to close a distance of five more steps to kill him.

His skill was Silent Break, which allowed him to ignore the opponent’s defenses and increase his speed for those five steps.

‘Five more steps.’

Modve tried to speak naturally as he tried to get closer,

“The Gate is open and we can’t close it, so we should work together and fight—”

“I’m going to warn you. If you want to live, don’t take another step.”

’!?’

Taking in Chun Yeowun’s words, Modve paused. Did this man read his intentions? He stopped his feet as it hung in the air.

’…’

Another step and everything would have been resolved, but Chun Yeowun didn’t let that happen. Flustered, Modve scratched his head and spoke with a puzzled expression,

“Huh. This is the first time I’ve met someone like you. Before I’ve even attacked—”

It was then.

Pak!

Modve stepped forward as fast as a flash of lightning and tried to use his technique.

Shh!

His arm, which moved like a whip, aimed for Chun Yeowun’s heart. He moved so fast that even Dan Cho-jin didn’t notice what happened.

In Modve’s mind, time moved slowly.

‘This is the end for you.’

His fingers were imbued with a white light from all of the energy coalescing at his fingers, which would allow him to easily penetrate his target.

However,

Pak!

“Huh?”

The hand that Modve placed all of his confidence in didn’t pierce Chun Yeowun, but was in fact being held by him.

“Y-you blocked it?”

Modve couldn’t hide his shock. To him, Chun Yeowun responded in an emotionless voice,

“Taking your time and then acting fast, so Russian-like.”

Chun Yeowun raised his hand, exerting enough pressure to make the heart beat faster. Modve hurriedly tried to shake off the hand holding his but it was to no avail.

“W-wait—”

Flustered, he tried to ask Chun Yeowun to stop, but,

Smash!

“Kuaaak!”

Chun Yeowun lowered his hand, and Modve’s body slowly crashed down into the ground.

“Modve!”

Major Verno cried out in panic.

One of the best martial artists in Russia was defeated in mere seconds. Out of fear, he looked at the Palace Lord.

“Y-You! How did this happen? The Russian Defense will never let you live if I’m hurt by this monster! Get it? Are you listening to me?”

No one was listening to him, as everyone was focused on Chun Yeowun.

‘Monster… he is a monster.’

‘In just one move, the strongest man died…’

It was a startling scene. Although he seemed to die with such little resistance, Modve was known to be extraordinarily strong, even stronger than the North Sea Ice Lord.

Tremble!

Dan Young-soo tried to strengthen himself but his body didn’t listen to him.

‘This is the Chun Ma…’

A story from the North Sea Ice Palace that he had forgotten suddenly came to his mind.

[Never disobey the Chun Ma. If a being with the title of Chun Ma is born again in the Sky Demon Order in particular, obey them unconditionally.]

It was an absurd rule. Although it now seemed like a rational warning, it was considered as a joke by the people of the past.

As generations passed, people became dissatisfied with the rule, but seeing this man here, the Palace Lord realized what kind of existence the Chun Ma was.

‘Not human.’

His strength didn’t belong to a human; no person in the North Sea Ice Palace could tackle this man, whether alone or with others.

‘We should avoid fighting.’

Dan Young-soo who quickly made the decision that it would be better to surrender and plead guilty than to fight and lose all their lives.

“Fa…ther.”

Dan Young-soo called his father in a cautious way. Fortunately, it seemed like they both had the same thoughts as he nodded he said to his son:

[Son… it seems like our generation will not be able to escape from the grasp of the Sky Demon Order.]

It was a bitter choice of words, so Dan Young-soo tried to comfort his father.

[Father… this must be fate. It would be best to make a promise to ensure our future; infact, this could even help strengthen the power in the palace.]

[Thank you for cheering me up.]

Dan Kyeong-gak clenched his fist, walking ahead as he looked at Dan Cho-jin.

Dan Cho-jin had gone under the Sky Demon Order because he had already thought about joining it as one entity, but the Palace didn’t want it.

‘I will never let those hybrids get close to the seat of power after they’ve succumbed to the Sky Demon Order.’

He had to strike some kind of a deal. In return for their surrender, he was going to ask Chun Yeowun to make some sanctions and prevent the outsiders from learning their Palace technique.

‘I have the Palace under me so he will grant me a request.’

He stepped forward, followed by his son and the elders of the Palace.

“L-Lord Dan!”

Major Verno was left alone and at a loss for what to do. Either way, the North Sea Ice Palace people began to move and got down on one knee.

Tak!

“Dan Kyeong-gak, the Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace, greets the Chun Ma of the Sky Demon Order.”

Everyone greeted him.

“So late.”

Chun Yeowun said in an uncomfortable voice. Hearing that, Dan Kyeong-gak bowed his head and shouted,

“Please forgive me for not knowing Chun Ma has come and committing this sin!”

“Forgive…?”

Instead of punishment, he had asked for forgiveness; since he was the Palace Lord, he still had a bit of pride.

Normally, he would have been on his knees with his head on the ground, but he was only on one knee and slightly bowed.

Shhh!

He raised his head and looked up at Chun Yeowun, who kept looking down at him with eyes that seemed to have daggers in them.

Dan Kyeong-gak bit his lips and said,

“The Palace will be returning to the Sky Demon Order and will show the same loyalty as our ancestors. Please, Chun Ma, accept us even if we are weak.”

“Ha!”

Dan Cho-ja snorted at that.

Until a moment ago, the Palace Lord had considered the Sky Demon Order to be a broken clan, but now seeing Chun Yeowun’s power, his attitude changed completely.

‘Opportunists.’

Dan Cho-ja was disappointed with them, but what could he do?

Whether he liked it or not, they were clearly relatives who shared blood. It was strange that their prolonged fight was resolved this way, but at least they managed to reunite in some way.

However, Dan Gyeong-gak’s words didn’t there,

“However, My Lord, I hope that a cost will be paid for our re-entry into the Sky Demon Order.”

“Cost?”

Chun Yeowun narrowed his eyes as the man continued to speak,

“In the Palace, there are traditions that have been followed since ancient times, similar to our relationship to the Sky Demon Order in a way.”

“So?”

“I implore you to sanction the Palace cultivation techniques to our Palace members only so that no one else can learn them.”

Dan Kyeong-gak looked at Dan Cho-jin and his son.

In other words, he wanted Chun Yeowun’s help to destroy the others’ dantians.

‘This cheeky bastard!’

Both the father and son were enraged. It was absurd for the Palace to ask for sanctions of this nature when they were the ones trying to kill their own people.

Chun Yeowun asked,

“Why?”

“The Cold Ice from Heaven Cultivation is something only the Palace Lord can master. Please consider this similar to the one technique that only the Lord of the Sky Demon Order can learn and no one else.”

In order to not raise objections, Sky Demon Order was constantly being brought into the conversation. Chun Yeowun stroked his chin as if he was thinking about it.

‘Yes!’

Dan Kyeong-gak smiled at the sight of Chun Yeowun thinking, thinking that he at least managed to protect his seat.

“Hmm. Right, let’s do that.”

At Chun Yeowun’s words, Dan Kyeong-gak put his hands together and thanked him.

“Thank you Chun Ma for–”

It was then.

Slash!

“Kuak!”

Dan Kyeong-gak’s eyes widened. He hurriedly grabbed his neck as he felt something sharp pass through his throat.

“W-why…”

Chun Yeowun smiled and said,

“Didn’t you say that only the Palace Lord can learn it?”