Chapter 224: From Head to Toe

Even when Kim Muhyuk had only been a pinnacle expert, Phantom Dream had been unable to bewitch his mind.

Now that he had become a supreme master and his realm had deepened even further, there was no chance Phantom Dream could rival him simply because it had grown into a demonic sword.

“I warned you before, didn’t I? I said I’d break you if you tried anything stupid again.”

Clang! Clang! Clang!

“I was wrong! Aagh! I really was! Let me off just this once! Please!”

Phantom Dream’s spirit body rolled across the floor, wailing as though it were dying.

Kim stood before it with an indifferent expression, repeatedly slamming the sword against the ground.

“I might as well break you now and find a new sword. Surely I can get my hands on another decent sacred weapon.”

Clang! Clang! Claaang—!

“Sniff! Please! Forgive me just this once!”

Normally, striking a sacred weapon against the floor should have gouged or shattered the ground.

That was why Kim had wrapped Phantom Dream’s blade tightly in protective aura.

It was a feat made possible by the tremendous improvement in his control over qi after entering the supreme-master realm.

From Phantom Dream’s perspective, every impact probably felt like being rolled in a mat and beaten.

Actually breaking it would be impossible, though.

Even for Kim, destroying a sacred weapon was beyond his ability.

Had it been as easy as it sounded, there would not have been so many uncontrollable sacred weapons sealed away across the world.

Clang! Claaang—!

Phantom Dream apparently did not know that, however, because it trembled in terror.

The faint smile on Kim’s otherwise indifferent face and the look in his eyes as he drove its true body against the floor seemed far too sincere.

“P-please spare me, Master...”

It took less than ten minutes for Phantom Dream’s spirit body, eyes and nose streaming, to clasp its hands and beg desperately.

As my realm deepened, my ability to control anomalies grew stronger as well.

Phantom Dream’s conveniently timed rebellion had allowed Kim to confirm that fact.

The reason it suffered so intensely was also connected to its master’s unusual constitution.

“...Hmm. Perhaps I should give you one final chance.”

Kim pretended to consider it for a moment, then crooked a finger at Phantom Dream, as though waiting to see what it would do.

“Compact form.”

The young man’s spirit body vanished from the air with a pop.

It reappeared the size of a palm-sized doll and looked up at Kim.

“Sniff... Sniff...”

Kim pinched the back of its neck between two fingers and dropped it into the breast pocket of his shirt.

“If you get arrogant again... you know what happens.”

“I-I’ll never act up again!”

Perhaps due to the beating it had received, black demonic qi streamed from Phantom Dream’s nose like snot as it hung from Kim’s pocket.

“Ha! To think you would tame a sacred weapon through a method no one has ever heard of. This is the first time in my life I have ever felt sorry for a demonic sword.”

The Azure Sky Sword Elder, who had watched Kim thoroughly correct Phantom Dream’s behavior from beginning to end, voiced his admiration.

Every time he thought the boy could no longer surprise him, Kim would prove him wrong with something even more astonishing.

The Azure Sky Sword Elder smiled with immense satisfaction as he looked at the young man he had chosen as his prospective grandson-in-law.

“Let us go upstairs and have lunch together.”

A short while later.

Bu Yeonha had been called away from her busy work, and when she spotted Kim, she approached with a delighted expression.

“I heard you arrived earlier... But how did you get hurt this badly again?”

She frowned and began scolding him after noticing the traces of injury all over his body.

Kim shrugged and smiled.

“After fighting about thirty life-or-death spars against supreme masters, there wasn’t much chance of coming out unscathed.”

“You’re trying to brush it off with another joke, aren’t you? Just don’t tell me if you don’t want to.”

“But it’s true...”

The Azure Sky Sword Elder looked delighted simply watching the two of them talk.

“Hoho. Just sitting here with such a handsome young man and beautiful young woman makes this old man feel full already. Shall I step away for a while?”

“Why?”

“You were the one who called me here, Grandfather. What are you talking about?”

“...Tsk. We still have a long way to go.”

The three shared lunch and talked about all manner of things.

They began with simple updates on their recent lives, exchanged insights on martial theory, and the Azure Sky Sword Elder occasionally made pointless jokes that left his granddaughter visibly appalled.

It’s peaceful.

After a long series of battles, a brief return to peaceful everyday life had arrived.

Kim found the comfortable atmosphere deeply appealing.

Even if it may only be the calm before the storm...

The Heavenly Demon Cult remained a powerful enemy.

He had dealt with people connected to the Cult one after another—Jang Jinmyeong, Shin Junhyun, and Yang Seonu—but in the process, both the Blue Wolves and Kim’s identity had been exposed to the world.

From now on, his enemies would be wary of him and watch his every move.

The deeper I become involved with them, the more dangerous it will grow. Not only for me, but for everyone around me.

His opponent was an enormous organization that would one day destroy the world, and at its summit stood the Strongest in the World.

It would have been a lie to say he felt no anxiety or unease.

The more people he had beside him, the more he had to worry about.

Were he to turn away from the coming future—to close his eyes and pretend he knew nothing—he could live peacefully and happily for at least another twenty years.

The thought had shaken him countless times even during Choi Geon’s birthday party.

And yet—

“...No. With my personality, I could never do that. Once you draw your sword, you have to see it through to the end.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Hmm?”

Kim gave the two of them a meaningful smile before speaking.

It was the first time he had told anyone besides his parents and fellow crew members.

“I’m planning to visit America.”

Both of them looked startled by his sudden declaration.

“America... Are you planning to follow the Sword Demon to World Martial Alliance headquarters?”

Kim nodded at Bu Yeonha’s perceptive question.

“I’m going with Master when he travels there for his Black Restraint Band suitability assessment. I think the trip will take around ten days.”

His official purpose was to accompany Choi Geon and tour World Martial Alliance headquarters.

Given the chance, he also intended to watch the World’s Strongest Sparring Tournament in person while Richard Han was competing.

But the Azure Sky Sword Elder realized Kim had another objective and narrowed his eyes sharply.

“...Does this have something to do with the Heavenly Demon Cult?”

Kim nodded and explained that he had discovered a way to make contact with the Cult.

The expressions of both listeners immediately turned serious.

Bu Yeonha spoke first, her face full of concern.

“Be careful. Foreign martial artists think very differently from us.”

In Korea, the orthodox martial world was far stronger than its unorthodox counterpart, and cooperation with the authorities was generally smooth.

As a result, even among martial artists, murders in broad daylight were uncommon.

But places with unstable public order, such as parts of South America or Africa, were different.

There, the strong devoured the weak.

It was not rare for a great sect to rule an entire nation.

“Especially you...”

Bu Yeonha began to say something, only to trail off awkwardly.

Kim looked at her in confusion.

“What about me?”

She avoided his gaze and looked toward her grandfather.

The Azure Sky Sword Elder also appeared troubled as he muttered,

“America is not a country with such terrible public safety... but it may be even more dangerous for you, Muhyuk.”

“What? What do you mean?”

Kim tilted his head, unable to understand.

Bu Yeonha nodded in agreement.

“So it wasn’t just me who thought that.”

“Hmm. This is a serious problem...”

The grandfather and granddaughter exchanged glances and nodded, seemingly sharing the exact same thought.

They continued their grave discussion, leaving Kim completely lost.

“There seems to be a great deal we must prepare before he leaves.”

“If we send him in this state, trouble is bound to occur. It may even become a matter involving the dignity of the Korean martial world...”

“Just look at that wild gleam in his eyes. He’ll be dragged into every kind of confrontation the moment he arrives.”

“We will be fortunate if he even makes it through immigration.”

Kim, briefly made dizzy by their conversation, finally managed to interrupt.

“Wait! What have you two been talking about this whole time? You make it sound like there’s something wrong with me...”

“You are a problem, and so is your sword.”

The Azure Sky Sword Elder answered firmly, looked between Kim and Phantom Dream, and sighed.

“Unless we first do something about that overflowing demonic qi, your sword will inevitably cause bloodshed.”

Even while sheathed in the scabbard Kim Bokja had made, Phantom Dream continued to leak streams of demonic qi.

Ssssss...

Phantom Dream’s spirit body, seated atop the table, glanced nervously at Kim before speaking.

“I-I can’t help this! I still can’t control it properly...”

The Azure Sky Sword Elder clicked his tongue and nodded.

“Its power grew too rapidly, so it has yet to learn how to control itself. How many people do you think will come swarming like hyenas after sensing that demonic qi?”

A young swordsman from the East.

A boyish-looking youth carrying a sacred weapon that reeked of demonic qi.

To Western martial artists, he could only look like irresistible prey.

“Tsk. This is all because of you...”

“Eek!”

Just as Kim turned a cold glare on Phantom Dream and prepared to blame it, Bu Yeonha spoke with an incredulous expression.

“You’re the bigger problem. You don’t look remotely like someone from an orthodox sect. What do you think foreign martial artists will assume when you’re also carrying a demonic sword?”

“...I don’t look orthodox?”

Kim’s eyes shook as though an earthquake had struck.

In this life, he took greater pride than anyone in being an honorable member of the orthodox martial world.

“Apologize! How could you say something like that...?”

“I know your heart is more orthodox than anyone’s. But still.”

Bu Yeonha had no desire to hurt a close junior, but given the circumstances, she had no choice but to point out each problem one by one.

“Your eyes are as vicious as a wolf’s, your presence is sharp enough to cut someone, the way you snap out your words is unbelievably rough, and even the way you carry yourself has an oddly thuggish air...”

“Are you insulting my master right now?”

“I’m talking about you, Kim Muhyuk!”

On top of that, a faint but vicious killing intent now clung to Kim.

His recent brutal life-or-death battles had left traces that had not yet fully faded.

The Azure Sky Sword Elder added his opinion with a deep sigh.

“Muhyuk, I care for you greatly and am very fond of you, but I will be honest. Had I met you for the first time today, I would have driven you away before you could so much as approach the main sect.”

“...Tsk.”

With his brow drawn tight and Phantom Dream in his hand, Kim would not have looked out of place roaming the streets of Harlem before dawn.

“But do not worry.”

Having delivered the blow, the Azure Sky Sword Elder immediately offered the remedy.

He sprang to his feet and promised to resolve the problem before Kim left the country.

“I will transform you from head to toe into an orthodox martial artist of the Korean martial world whom we can proudly show anywhere.”

The solemn determination in his voice made Kim edge backward uneasily.

“I-I just remembered something I forgot. Master gave me a task, and I need to hurry back and take care of it...”

Unfortunately, neither Kim’s martial arts nor his schemes were yet a match for the sect leader of the Azure Sky Sword Gate.

“I will speak to the Sword Demon.”

The Azure Sky Sword Elder had no intention of allowing his prospective grandson-in-law to travel abroad only to be mistaken for a demonic fiend.

The moment Kim tried to escape with an excuse, Na Ilcheon called Choi Geon.

[What brings you to call me, Senior Sword Elder?]

“Listen, Sword Demon. I am currently with your disciple...”

The Azure Sky Sword Elder exchanged a few quick words with Choi Geon, and the contents did not sound promising.

[I had not considered that. You are entirely correct.]

“Hoho. Then I shall take that as your permission.”

The Azure Sky Sword Elder ended the call and beamed at Kim.

“You heard him. I have just received your master’s permission as well.”

Master?

For the first time in his life, Kim felt a little resentment toward his master.