This Venerable One Is.
Not long before the incident.
I was in the middle of a yawn inside the cell I’d been dragged into.
Perhaps because I hadn’t slept a wink, I was feeling a bit drowsy.
At the sight of me, Guryeonghwa, who was beside me, spoke up as if scolding me.
“How can you yawn in a situation like this, Oppa…?”
“It’s a physiological phenomenon. I can’t help it.”
It’s not like there’s anyone here I need to watch myself for, so what’s wrong with it?
I wanted to sleep if I could, and it was a shame I couldn’t.
On the other hand, Guryeonghwa seemed unable to understand this situation and wore an extremely intimidated expression.
Seeing that, this time I asked.
“Why the long face? Relax.”
“Are we going to die?”
“I don’t think it’s a situation where we won’t.”
I thought, we’re just thrown in jail, what’s so annoying about that?
*Well, I suppose it could be.*
From Guryeonghwa’s position, it was understandable.
Me, I had a track record of going in and out of prison like it was my own home.
Guryeonghwa had joined the Huashan Sect and lived being treated as a renowned disciple of the Orthodox factions.
A situation like this wouldn’t feel familiar at all.
*It’s also strange that I’m so used to it.*
As I chuckled at the amusing thought, Guryeonghwa’s expression grew even stranger.
“Oppa… You were like this last time too, but I think you’re in a slightly strange state.”
“I’ve always been strange.”
“That is true, but.”
“What, brat?”
At the words I’d spat out as a joke, Guryeonghwa nodded as if possessed.
It was truly absurd.
“And you think you’re normal?”
“What? I am normal!”
“That’s hilarious. Little sister, didn’t you know?”
“…What…”
“Originally, among humans with the family name Gu, there isn’t a single sane person.”
“…”
Guryeonghwa seemed unable to refute my words and merely wriggled her lips.
Seeing that, I added,
“Except for me, that is.”
“Damn it…!”
Guryeonghwa was about to flare up at my snickering remark when—
“Haha.”
The guy quietly listening beside us let out a laugh.
It was Yeongpung, who had likewise been dragged here.
As attention focused on his sudden burst of laughter, Yeongpung made an embarrassed expression.
“Ah… I’m sorry. You seemed to be on such good terms that I couldn’t help myself…”
“Does this look like a good relationship? Where?”
“Martial Nephew Yeongpung, are your eyes very bad?”
Even at the words piled on with irritation, Yeongpung simply smiled.
Fortunately, unlike Guryeonghwa, he had an expression that showed no particular deep thoughts.
“Unlike this good-for-nothing, the Dao Master seems a bit more relaxed?”
At this, Guryeonghwa shrieked, “Good-for-nothing!?” but I deliberately ignored her.
Hearing my question, Yeongpung blinked his large eyes and spoke indifferently.
“Outwardly it may seem so, but I too am worried.”
He didn’t particularly look it, but if Yeongpung said so, then I suppose that was how it was.
I nodded slightly, then asked something else.
“Is your jaw alright?”
“Ah.”
The jaw I’d struck last time.
That was what I was asking about. At this, Yeongpung smiled awkwardly.
“It’s nothing. Didn’t you show me consideration?”
I did hit him lightly.
Just enough to knock him out; I had to regulate my strength since anything more could have cracked his bones.
“Moreover, rather…”
Yeongpung’s gaze turned to me.
“Is it not I who should be apologizing?”
The matter of having come out demanding the return of the earring so suddenly and unreasonably. He must be referring to that.
“Yes, well. I’m fine too.”
I wasn’t paying it much mind.
No, to be precise, I should say I didn’t consider it Yeongpung’s problem.
*There was something odd about it.*
The jealousy and fervor I’d seen in Yeongpung’s eyes at that time weren’t wholly his own issue.
The eyes bound by energy—it was too much to say they held only his emotions.
“Dao Master, I’m asking just in case.”
“Yes?”
“Do you… by any chance, hear an old man’s voice in your head…? Or anything like that?”
“…Yes?”
At the question, Yeongpung made a strange expression.
It was the face of someone asking what kind of bizarre nonsense that was.
“No.”
Seeing that, I withdrew the question.
It seemed Yeongpung couldn’t hear it after all.
If I asked any more, I’d obviously be called a madman, so I had to shut my mouth for now.
Clank.
When I moved my hand, an irritating sensation brushed across my wrist.
I lowered my gaze to look at my wrist.
Iron restraints bound both arms.
I clicked my tongue inwardly at the sight.
*They used expensive ones too.*
Restraints meant to restrict the movements of martial artists above the Transcendence realm.
I could tell just by feeling their strength that it wasn’t ordinary iron. Did they mix in some Myriad-Year Cold Iron?
Not content with merely sealing my acupoints, they even put on this level of restraints.
“Needlessly thorough.”
It was an excellent way to treat a criminal, but—
*They’re treating me too much like a criminal.*
Nothing’s even been confirmed yet. What kind of treatment is this?
Of course.
*I am the one who committed it, though.*
The incident from before was indeed my doing.
I just hadn’t been caught.
On top of that.
*I don’t intend to get caught going forward, either.*
I leaned my back carefully against the wall and thought.
How far should I take this?
How much should I blow up here to be appropriate?
Where is the appropriate line?
I pondered endlessly.
Just enough to shoulder the burden.
I had to clearly define that ambiguous line.
Then.
“Will Master be alright…?”
Guryeonghwa blurted out, worried about Geomhu.
At those words, I momentarily stopped my spinning thoughts.
Geomhu.
There was a reason she wasn’t in the cell with us right now.
*She was probably summoned separately by Wubaek.*
Most likely, Elder Wubaek had called for Geomhu, who held the position of responsibility, to talk.
Wubaek must know that the current situation was unfavorable.
He probably wanted to reach an agreement with Geomhu.
*They think someone framed me.*
Someone committed the act.
And acted to pin the crime on me.
They would think so.
Even if they wished it weren’t the case, if they had eyes, they would surely judge it so.
However.
*Even knowing that, they’ll try to share the blame.*
Even if someone tried to frame me.
The current Wudang. No, Wubaek would try to prove that we were also at fault somehow.
*The theft of the item was our fault too, but.*
*You are guilty as well, are you not?*
*It is not solely our fault.*
Or.
*The item thought lost came out of this one’s room, did it not?*
*What if this one is also connected to the culprit?*
And so on.
They must prove that we were also in the wrong. Because only then…
Would it be convenient for them to maintain their position.
*Anyway.*
These were irritating matters to even think about.
Having seen this spectacle personally, I now understood the reactions Wuhyeok had shown in my previous life.
Every time Wudang was mentioned, he had clearly shown reluctance.
The sight of that guy wearing the Wudang dao uniform himself, yet not wanting to live that way.
*No wonder he only devoured meat.*
*Could even that have been an act of rebellion?*
I had such a thought.
And.
*This is enough.*
Watching until now was sufficient.
Two days. Two days had passed since arriving at Wudang. During that time, I had checked this and that.
Nothing special. I had merely confirmed Wudang itself.
I had examined whether it was different from the Wudang I knew in my previous life, and I came to know one thing.
I was wrong.
Wudang was more rotten than I had known in my previous life.
Of course, it might not be so, but that is how it appeared to my eyes.
It was more than enough to finish my judgment.
This was enough.
Thinking so, I slowly rose to my feet.
Srruk—
As I suddenly stood up, Yeongpung and Guryeonghwa looked at me with puzzled expressions.
I spoke to them.
“Geomhu will be fine.”
There should be no problem.
“Nothing will happen.”
Because I will make it so.
“Oppa…?”
“Young Hero Gu. What do you suddenly mean by…”
Leaving behind the two who couldn’t understand, I approached the iron bars.
Then, the Wudang martial artist guarding the cell looked this way with sharp eyes.
“What is it—”
“Did you bring the clothes?”
“Hm?”
At the sudden bizarre words,
the martial artist in front made a strange expression.
“What incomprehensible words are these suddenly? Clothes?”
“Tell Dangdeok to prepare as well. Because I’m starting now.”
“No, what—!”
Tuk.
“Kuk…!?”
The martial artist in front suddenly collapsed with a thud, as if struck by a shock.
It wasn’t just him.
One by one outside, they went down with dull thuds.
Before long, all the martial artists guarding the cell had collapsed.
Even Guryeonghwa and Yeongpung in the back had lost consciousness before anyone knew it.
I extended my hand at the sight.
“You’ve gotten faster than before?”
As I spoke as if amazed, a white hand suddenly popped out from the front.
It probably didn’t suddenly pop out.
It was always there, but its presence was so faint that it only became visible now.
The woman who had appeared abruptly used the key she held to unlock the restraints locked around my wrists.
Kkaang—!
The restraints fell to the floor with a loud noise, but no one came running at the sound.
They had already been taken care of long ago.
“Did you kill them all?”
I asked, recalling that.
“As commanded, not a single one was killed.”
The woman who appeared gave her answer. That was fortunate. Only one person was going to die here. Any more would be needless slaughter.
She spoke and knelt.
Then she took something from her bosom and handed it to me.
A black martial uniform and a white mask.
I accepted them and immediately changed clothes.
Once fully dressed, it was somewhat large, not fitting my physique.
That wasn’t a problem.
Creak—crack—!
Joints twisted and my physical body gradually grew larger.
It took only a few seconds to attain a physique matching the uniform.
As I calmly adjusted my clothes, the woman spoke to me.
“Master, word has come from the Hwangbo household.”
“What did they say?”
“They say Shaolin has made contact, and they wish for you to decide which direction to take.”
“Ha. Already?”
Faster than expected.
As always, those baldies were quick in handling affairs.
“Send that fellow Jiseon. He’ll handle it on his own then.”
“I shall relay that.”
Hearing the woman’s answer, I donned the mask.
Then I turned around.
“…”
There, I saw Seongyul stuck to the wall with wide eyes.
He seemed quite surprised.
“You said you were curious about what I intended to do with you.”
“…”
About why I dragged him around.
Seongyul, who had asked what it was all for.
“Then wait and see. This will be my answer.”
Squeak—!
I stepped over the opening iron bars.
I naturally clasped my hands behind my back.
Chest out, posture as straight as possible.
Seeing this, the woman asked.
“Need I not undo your sealed acupoints?”
“Not necessary. I wasn’t sealed to begin with.”
“Understood.”
With each step I took, I erased my presence.
By the third step, my surroundings could no longer perceive me.
At that point, I lightly leaped into the air.
Very high up.
When I had risen to a certain height, I spoke to the woman.
“Release it now.”
“Yes.”
Tak—!
At the command, the woman lightly snapped her fingers.
Huaaak—!
The veil hiding in the air disappeared, revealing an enormous body.
That fellow Ttolttoli had been enlarged to maximum size and was floating in the air.
Standing atop it was a giant man holding a spear.
The giant, Dangdeok, confirmed I was approaching and immediately threw himself.
It was a plan already discussed.
Not long after.
Kuuuuuung—!!
An enormous sound burst from below.
After briefly checking below,
I immediately pulled up the demonic energy within my body.
Huaaaak—!
Demonic energy surged through my meridians, filling my entire body starting from my heart.
Even my pupils were affected by the demonic energy.
My body heated up, and heat naturally rose.
Feeling that, I spoke.
“Heaven of Blackness.”
At the same time as the words.
Huaaaaaaa—!!!
An enormous demonic energy erupted from my body.
Not spreading widely in all directions, but solely toward the sky.
The surging demonic energy devoured the sky.
The remaining demonic energy that devoured everything fell below, constructing a small but singular domain.
Within this space, broad daylight was overturned into night.
A space where neither moon nor stars existed, a space where only hollow darkness was created.
After confirming the created space,
I began to slowly lower my body.
Emitting a faint heat, I reduced my speed.
I had to create a difference from Dangdeok, who had fallen like a crashing object.
I could feel gazes.
I felt everyone was looking at me.
The fear of beholding an unknown existence was also clearly felt.
It didn’t matter.
Rather, it was welcome.
Since I had created such gazes, I needed to enjoy them instead.
I raised my hand.
Huuuk.
Internal energy gathered into a handful, converging at my fingertips.
The ferocious energy, resembling its master, was incomparably rough.
I liked this sharp energy.
Because pursuing compression upon compression made it endlessly more intense.
Clenching it tight, I twisted the flow into a single sphere.
Its rotational speed was so fast that if I let it slip even momentarily, it seemed it would explode.
I endured.
I had to. Because this was the most important moment.
Huaaak—!
Light seeped into the nimbly spinning orb.
A peculiar hue mixed with blue and purple.
It was not the Flame Jade I had originally used.
If I had intended to use something of that caliber, I wouldn’t have used this internal energy.
“Fire Wheel Star.”
An unknown realm unable to be completed by a mere flame.
A secret technique I had barely reached the level to use.
I gently lifted the sphere thus created and launched it into the air.
Then.
Paaaaaaa—!!
The soaring orb instantly burst brightly with light, illuminating the surroundings.
Having poured darkness into the sky to create a space.
And placed a sun upon it.
More than half of my internal energy had burst forth, but it didn’t matter.
Tuk.
My toes touched the ground.
Amidst the countless gazes I could feel, I looked straight ahead.
There, Elder Wubaek of Wudang was staring at me with contorted eyes.
It was a pleasing gaze.
It was evidence that the situation was proceeding well.
Fortunately, I was wearing a mask. Thanks to that, this smile wouldn’t be seen.
I looked at Wubaek and spoke the words I had prepared.
“It is a pleasure.”
Words I had loathed to hear and recall so much.
“This Venerable One is.”
Now, it is I who must utter them.
Yes.
“Heavenly Demon.”
It was the start of a damnable play.