Nine Stars, shining like heroes in the high sky. When the remaining eight returned to their respective families and martial arts sects, the unanimously elected True Moon became the Murim Lord. In reality, he had no inclination towards seeking honor or position. However, not everything goes as planned. The world was not as easygoing, and in the face of earnest requests from seniors and juniors who had fought alongside on the battlefield, coupled with subtle threats, refusal was simply impossible. One of those requests came from none other than Pung Jeon.[2]
In their first meeting, he saw in Song Yoon-Cheon, the presence of the one being he had ever seen with such an overwhelming aura. The Demon among Demons (마중마 — 魔中魔), the one who the Nine Stars, who are currently called Heroes, and dozens of Absolute Masters from the Previous Generation and the Generation Before the Previous, joined forces to deal with. The Heavenly Demon.[3]
Past[]
Not all villains are born evil. Not all heroes are born seeking justice. Although he is now often praised as the leader of the martial arts alliance, Maseokdong also has a past he is ashamed to reveal in front of others. As a child, Maseokdong was what one might call a neighborhood bully. To add a slight excuse, it can be said that his environment had more influence than his own will. He had never seen his parents' faces, and the world was too dangerous for an abandoned child to survive alone. Fortunately, it seemed there was no law that said he should just die sick; even as a child, Maseokdong was bigger than adults and possessed great strength. Moreover, he was not only strong but also quick-witted, narrowly escaping death several times.
Later, he caught the eye of a master and became his disciple. The master's eye was not mistaken, and Maseokdong's martial talents soon blossomed. Thus, he played a significant role in the great war between good and evil, becoming the current leader of the Murim Alliance, Maseokdong. Now, he has participated in the great war between good and evil twice as an active combatant, an experience few have even once in their lifetime. When leaving the Murim alliance, he did not expect to return alive. ‘My role is…….’ Like the many seniors who willingly gave their lives for the younger generation. Maseokdong also resolved to become a selfless support for the rising young sprouts.
And finally, when he met a worthy opponent on the battlefield, Maseokdong felt his heart beating faster than usual. Nervous? Or excited? Or both? He couldn't tell what kind of emotion it was.
The Fist Demon — Wang Ho. A man who reached the pinnacle of the Demonic Cult with nothing but his own strength. ‘And perhaps someone who could have been on Maseokdong's side…….’ The Fist Demon didn’t recognize Maseokdong, but Maseokdong recognized him instantly. Back in the days when he was rolling on the ground, training to death under his master. The one he had heard would one day rise to the top of their generation with his fists was Wang Ho, the Fist Demon. ‘It’s a pity, though.’
At that time, Wang Ho, like a chivalrous hero, punished anyone he deemed an evildoer, regardless of who they were. A so-called elite disciple of a prestigious orthodox sect had hidden his identity and was secretly massacring innocent people, but Wang Ho smashed his head. An appropriate retribution according to the murim's principle of blood for blood, life for life. But because he had no allies, he became a public enemy of the murim. Angry at the martial world's hypocrisy, he joined the Demonic Cult.
Upon hearing the belated backstory of Wang Ho, Maseokdong sympathized with the brutal actions he had committed. But by then, Wang Ho had already become a public enemy of the murim and had joined the Demonic Cukt. It was too late for Maseokdong to step in and turn things around.
