The Demon Lord of the Swordsmanship Family – Chapter 165
Every matter has its “line.”
Not the line that connects points in a geometric sense, but rather an abstract, existential line—a minimal line that must be upheld.
The stronger one becomes, the clearer this line becomes.
Because even the smallest of your actions can lead to unexpectedly colossal consequences.
When you become a being powerful enough to alter the terrain with a mere thought or take a life with a flick of your wrist, this line becomes undeniable. Like chains binding you from all sides.
And once you surpass even this and reach the level of an absolute being like myself, you don’t just see this line—you fully understand it.
Responsibility of the strong? No.
Right and wrong? No.
A divine mission bestowed by God? No.
Let me explain what this line is.
It’s the bare minimum line that allows me—the one who has transcended humanity—to remain “human.”
I willingly chain myself within the walls of society, living humbly among those I love, laughing, crying, and enjoying a simple life.
And you… you just crossed it.
“…”
“The sound of your eyes rolling reached me here.”
When I flicked my fingers, the trash that had been hesitating finally sprang into action.
“Activate the Ten Thousand Directions Formation!”
Swords swirled around me in chaotic patterns as the trash moved aimlessly.
Normally, I would have treated this as a trivial display, but today I’m not in the mood to entertain them.
A towering giant floating above me swung its fist downward.
Bang!
As the ground trembled and expelled dust, a Hexagram magic circle emerged around me.
Earthquake
An earthquake surged through the land. The masked members of the Triad froze in place, their steps faltering. And at this very moment—a decisive moment that could not be escaped—terror overtook them. Punishment descended upon them, absolute and unyielding.
Crack!!
Something moved so quickly, my eyes couldn’t track it.
“AAAHHH!!”
The screams erupted.
As if on cue, their gazes turned toward me…
Where they saw their comrade being eaten alive.
“P-Please save me…!!”
Long ago, a certain Absolute One posited a hypothesis: If one could transcend the unbreakable law of time—the inviolable line of time—then one might achieve immortality, perhaps even ascend to godhood.
But as is often the case, research was halted by the limits of the human body. The Absolute One then began an eccentric experiment: forcibly transplanting the body and soul of others into themselves.
This led to the birth of a grotesque monstrosity that was essentially human upon human stitched together in abomination.
Black Magic Summoning
Abomination
Out from the body of the Abomination, dozens of faces emerged, biting and devouring their captured prey.
The trash struggled in agony as limbs were torn off, flesh consumed, even their faces devoured—all while remaining alive.
Not a single drop of bl**d was shed because they were not being killed.
This was simply the process of them becoming part of the Abomination.
The Abomination doesn’t k*ll. It collects. Why would it k*ll something it depends on for sustenance?
At first glance, it might seem like the Void Abyss Worm, which also leaves its victims alive and in perpetual torment.
But there’s a key difference: forgetfulness.
Some say forgetfulness is a blessing from the gods.
The Abomination takes away this divine blessing.
Whereas those consumed by the Void Abyss Worm eventually forget they were ever human, the victims of the Abomination remain fully aware. They retain their intelligence and humanity while living as monsters.
The face on its left shoulder, as well as the dozens of other faces scattered around, all possess the memories of their former lives.
Without a doubt, they are enduring the worst suffering imaginable for eternity—eternity, because they cannot d*e.
…nor are they permitted to.
Ker-r-rk…
Gasp… Choke…
Seeing their comrade’s tragic end, the trash clenched their teeth. They realized now that d*ath is no longer the issue.
“Release the Jiangshis!”
Caskets opened, and Jiangshis emerged, exuding an oppressive aura that filled the space.
And I? I laughed.
Because it’s all the same.
Summoning Jiangshis after witnessing the Abomination devouring corpses?
Jiangshis are crude summoned creatures compared to my Abomination. When I saw them conjuring such crude things, I knew immediately they had only scratched the surface of Black Magic.
“Activate the formations!”
The leader commanded the Jiangshis.
But nothing happened.
…
…
“…”
They didn’t move.
“How is this possible?!”
“What do you mean, they’re not moving?!”
There’s no reason to be surprised. This is the natural result.
Do you think I summoned the Abomination—a being that consumes human flesh—just for show?
Your Jiangshis, while technically corpses, are fundamentally no different from the Abomination’s prey.
The Abomination bit into the head of the nearest Jiangshi.
Crack!
The Iron Jiangshi’s tough exterior crumbled like tofu under the Abomination’s jaws. The act of “eating,” however, is merely a show. The real process is the Abomination seizing control.
Compared to humans, Jiangshis lack reason and instinct. They are merely tasty snacks.
At this point, one of them yelled out.
“I’ll confess everything! Anything you want to know!”
The guy rambled on incoherently, driven mad by fear.
With his confession, others dropped their weapons and knelt.
“I’ll tell you everything!”
“Just k*ll me, please!”
This reminded me of the goons involved in the kidnapping of Spring years ago. They begged for mercy until the end, but these people… they’re asking for d*ath. What a bunch of dignified villains they turned out to be.
But what can I do?
“I have no interest in anything you have to say.”
Unfortunately, it’s as simple as that.
You don’t look like fanatics with horns sticking out of your heads. Even if I were to extract your memories, what’s the point of keeping you alive?
Especially given it was already established that members of the Triad have already been consumed by this Abomination. Killing these people would only add to the cries of those already locked inside that grotesque being.
“Just stop resisting and let yourself be eaten. Don’t make this harder than it has to be.”
I said clearly.
Whatever consequences you face now, they are entirely your doing. Don’t expect a peaceful d*ath.
The Abomination, bloating into a grotesque, massive lump of flesh, began sucking in the trash one by one, slowly.
“Here we are, all cleaned up.”
Snap.
With a flick of my finger, the Dragon Armor flared around me, enveloping my body.
My vision blinked, and I transcended space, landing atop a skeleton in a defunct factory.
Waiting for me was none other than…
The Triad.
More trash.
“Why do you always lurk in these dim places?”
You crossed the line first.
Now, it’s on you to bear the consequences of crossing me.
There’s no escaping me.
Bang!
The door slammed shut.
“Salman!”
“Let go, let go!”
“Salman!!”
“Krrph!!”
Muhammad grabbed Salman by the collar roughly, the shorter Salman struggling and flailing.
“Brother, I’ve tried not to interfere with any of your actions.”
Not even when slanderous rumors were spread about him. Not even when he arranged the assassination of envoys.
Muhammad never confronted Salman personally. He endured it all, viewing these trials as tests on his path to becoming a strong king.
But now, Salman had crossed that line.
He had crossed it by a long shot.
“You tried to k*ll Ismail. Ismail is still your younger brother—a child!”
“I had no intention of killing Ismail… Krrph!!”
“Don’t speak. Listen!”
No one, especially someone who is not the king, has the authority to harm another royal.
Only the king can punish a member of the royal family.
Furthermore, how favored was Ismail by His Majesty? Salman has not only disgraced the royal family but insulted the king’s authority.
Muhammad believes Salman had no actual intention of killing Ismail. Salman may be greedy and reckless, but he’s certainly not stupid.
But that doesn’t resolve the issue.
In fact, it makes things even more complicated.
“What were you thinking when you picked a fight with Park Ki-hyuk?”
“Well… because he was your envoy…”
“And his daughter?”
“I don’t know about the daughter. Just the envoy.”
“Huh…”
Salman, now unreserved in his confession, left Muhammad feeling utterly suffocated. He loosened his grip, slipping the collar and falling back into a chair with exhaustion.
“Are you even aware that Park Ki-hyuk is a Sword Master?”
“What? What’s a Sword Master?”
“Have you studied the international relations? Korea?”
“That… all of that was Mother’s decision…”
This is madness.
Muhammad massaged his aching temple.
Where to even start explaining to this imbecile so that he understands the situation? It’s embarrassing that such a dimwit could have been one of the contenders for the throne.
On the other hand, Muhammad deeply admired the Fourth Queen’s ability to build a following around such a fool.
“To summarize, you shouldn’t have touched what you shouldn’t have.”
A Sword Master.
Park Ki-hyuk.
Even if it was just Park Ki-hyuk himself, matters would be hard to resolve, but he went after what Park Ki-hyuk cherished most—his daughter.
Even the smallest of animals will fiercely defend their offspring when in danger. What would Park Ki-hyuk do?
“Right now, people all over Riyadh are disappearing.”
All those involved in the kidnapping of Park Bom have been captured by Park Ki-hyuk. Their fates are predictable, even without seeing them firsthand.
As a royal of this kingdom, it is extremely unpleasant that a foreigner is interfering with internal affairs.
And in a larger sense, it’s an affront to the king’s authority.
It’s something that must be stopped.
And yet, Muhammad could not voice a single word against it.
Because he was terrified.
“Do nothing.”
Don’t offer excuses. Don’t offer help.
I’ll handle this my way.
Park Ki-huuk, holding his daughter Park Bom, returned straight to the hotel and has already embarked on wiping out the organization.
“Yesterday, Optimum sent a formal request. They requested information regarding this incident be disclosed.”
“No… no…”
“Still don’t understand the gravity of the situation? Because of your ignorance, the dignity of our nation has been compromised, and the king’s authority has been diminished.”
Despite the serious tone, Salman rolled his eyes trying to formulate an excuse.
“Ah, well… As a legitimate successor to the throne, I removed the envoy…!”
“Removed?! When did removing an envoy become part of a legitimate successor’s rights?!”
“Oh… it wasn’t?”
“Ah…”
Salman thought that it was acceptable because his mother, the Fourth Queen, said it was okay.
Furthermore, this excuse wasn’t even a decent one.
“Ah… that person wasn’t an envoy. Salman, how foolish can you be?”
“H-Huh?”
“Ha, even if Park Ki-hyuk were truly my envoy, the situation could have been smoothed over. However, attacking the daughter of Park Ki-hyuk cannot, and will not, be justified under any circumstances.”
At this moment, a servant rushed in desperately. Entering a room with both successor candidates without permission was a major offense, but this was no time for such formalities.
“The Yalta family has been attacked.”
“Wha—?!”
The Yalta family—a prestigious aristocratic clan that had handled the royal family’s various affairs for generations.
That the Yalta family was attacked now?
“Why? Why were they attacked?”
“It seems…”
The servant’s cold eyes shifted toward Salman.
“…they were harboring the criminal organization.”
“Ahh…!”
It was true.
The Yalta family was part of the Fourth Queen’s maternal family.
“H-Huh…?”
Muhammad truly wanted to k*ll this imbecile of a brother now.
