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Chapter 9
An unforgettable face.
Five years ago.
The repulsive face he first encountered back then became clearer with each passing day; it never faded.
Because of the injuries from that time, hadn’t he been unable to train properly for several days afterward?
“This brat…!”
“You little—”
With a thwack, a long staff struck Juhyeokjo on the crown of his head.
“Ahh!”
“What kind of language is that to use with a guest?”
“B-But…!”
“Still!”
Again, with another thwack, the staff landed on his crown.
Cheongun watched every movement without missing a single detail.
“…….”
And Jin Hyunjin, the master, could not have failed to notice that gaze.
‘Huh… how admirable…’
Even in that fleeting moment, his gaze did not waver.
It had been the same when they first met, but now it was even more astonishing.
Above all, his level was unreal.
Even Juhyeokjo alone was a prodigy on the brink of his peak at the age of ten, yet Cheongun had already reached his peak.
This could not continue.
As someone who had seen greater talent and had trained others, even thinking for a moment that he was envious made him feel ashamed.
‘How can one even call oneself a Taoist in this way?’
He closed his eyes for a moment to collect his thoughts, then spoke to Heukjeon, who had accompanied him.
“I heard you brought Master Jang’s letter.”
“Yes, Master. I apologize that it was I who came instead of Master Danju.”
“Ha ha, no matter. Who comes is irrelevant. What matters is what is brought. Please, have it.”
With that, Juhyeokjo followed Jin Hyunjin inside.
“Joya, make sure to attend to the guest properly.”
“…Yes, Master.”
Though reluctant, he answered promptly.
With Jin Hyunjin and Juhyeokjo inside, only Cheongun and Juhyeokjo remained outside.
“…Since Master said to receive the guest properly, I will follow that instruction.”
“Is that so?”
“But! That doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten what happened that day!”
Even from his gaze, one could see the strong anger.
Yet, perhaps because he was a disciple of a Taoist, it did not feel like resentment or inferiority.
“Do you know me?”
“…What?”
But that moment passed quickly.
Looking at that expressionless face asking who he was, Juhyeokjo finally lost his restraint.
“Argh! You little—!”
“…If you ask who someone is, isn’t it normal to answer?”
“Shut up!”
“Ah, I remember now. Aren’t you the little boy who couldn’t even hold a sword properly back then?”
“Y-You…!”
Clenching his fists tightly and trembling, he looked unbearably cute.
Perhaps that was why a small chuckle escaped.
If he had married and had a child in a past life, he might have seen that exact expression.
But Juhyeokjo was still a child.
To him, that light laugh felt like ridicule.
“The blush on your face pleases me. Today, I’ll let it slide.”
The finishing touch.
If the cord of restraint had broken a moment ago, now the tether of reason snapped.
Ultimately, he drew his sword and charged at Cheongun.
“Taechung Sword Technique, First Move…”
“Golden Flash!”
Since the other side also used a technique, he intended to do the same.
He remembered Taechung Sword Technique as a rather decent method, yet he had already learned it.
Still, he was very young.
His stance was too straightforward, and the flow of his inner energy was clear as if written on his body.
Thud.
“Ugh, ugh…!”
His nature did not seem bad, so Cheongun did not draw his sword.
He had no intention of doing something foolish like killing the most treasured disciple of the Gunlun Sect.
Nor did he intend to maim him.
Judging by appearances, this child could become Gunlun’s future sword master; a suitable lesson would suffice.
But he would not tolerate such insolence again.
Kindness would only extend once.
The “Golden Flash” he aimed just below the sternum hit precisely, and the shock of the counter from the charge caused Juhyeokjo to tumble to the ground.
Yet this time, he did not drop his sword.
“Ugh…!”
Once more.
His gaze did not die.
Though sheathed, the sword’s force was on a different level from a wooden sword.
Juhyeokjo, struck squarely on the back of the hand, had no choice but to let go.
“Since you swung a real sword, I suppose I’ll take an arm.”
“W-What did you say?”
A lie.
It had to be a lie.
But why didn’t it feel that way?
Looking into that expressionless gaze, it felt as if he were being regarded as nothing more than an insect.
Shwing.
The sword within the sheath finally revealed itself.
As if reflecting Cheongun’s emotions, the jet-black blade reflected nothing.
“Don’t move. You’ll lose more.”
No hesitation.
Before his words even finished, the sword had already begun to fall.
“Ugh… I-I was wrong!”
With a shlash, the sword plunged into the floor, just an inch above him.
“Is this how you treat a guest?”
“I-I was wrong. I apologize….”
His voice grew smaller and smaller.
At first, it had been loud like a shout.
The sword returned to its sheath with another shwing sound.
Half-conscious and lying on the ground, Juhyeokjo’s pants were visibly wet.
“Ugh…!”
He seemed to be fighting back tears.
“Joya…”
From the very beginning, Master Jin Hyunjin had witnessed all of it.
He had known something would happen.
Cheongun was, after all, the most certain stimulus for Juhyeokjo.
‘Excessive.’
No, watching Cheongun’s gaze, he could sense that he himself had been excessive.
Cheongun’s eyes were already the eyes of someone who knew.
He was aware of Jin Hyunjin’s intention to use him as a stimulus.
Cheongun had no obligation to act according to that intention.
Juhyeokjo had spoken his own words of apology; his pride had already hit rock bottom.
“Did you attend to the guest properly?”
Jin Hyunjin acted as if he had seen nothing.
Cheongun, too, remained silent as if allowing it.
“M-Master…”
“You’ve wet your pants. Change them, and today’s training ends here.”
“I-I’m sorry….”
“When you go downstairs, disciples who will guide you will be waiting.”
“Yes, Master. I shall go now.”
Cheongun bowed respectfully and turned to leave.
Heukjeon soon followed.
“Una, did you really use the same move as before?”
“Yes.”
“The Golden Flash I know was not like that.”
“That’s correct.”
“…I see. Understood.”
Though he wanted to ask how he had done it, Cheongun said nothing.
Then, quietly, he whispered to Heukjeon.
“Bu Danju, do you truly think you are my apprentice?”
In truth, the method was simple.
One only needed to understand the essence of the Golden Sword Techniques and the purpose of each move.
“…I apologize…”
Heukjeon realized he had overstepped and attempted to speak.
“There are the Masters. Let’s go.”
Cheongun stepped forward naturally.
After that, time passed normally.
He observed the training areas for ordinary disciples sent by the Upper Sect or minor clans.
He even looked at the places where the third and second-generation disciples trained.
There was nothing particularly remarkable.
Some stood out slightly, but none matched Juhyeokjo’s talent.
What about the first-generation disciples?
Curious, he checked—but they were no different.
“This is how the training is divided.”
“As expected of Gunlun. It almost feels… refined.”
The guide Taoist, hearing Heukjeon’s words, smiled proudly.
“That’s right. They are the steadfast shields and swords standing against the demonic cult. That is our Great Gunlun.”
“Everyone knows that. They must feel grateful as well.”
“Ha ha, you speak well. Ah, this way…”
From the tea room to the library containing secret manuals, they toured several places.
Finally, they headed to where Master Jang was.
“Master Jang is away for a moment. He returns soon, but no one knows where he is.”
“A Taoist and an immortal.”
“Ha ha ha. Very fitting.”
Cheongun made an interesting discovery.
He had thought the Ebony Sect, being secretive, would have difficulty dealing with people.
Yet they were surprisingly adept.
“Ah, could you show Una the pharmacy?”
“He seems very interested in herbs.”
“He also has talent.”
“Very well. Euiyeon, guide him through the pharmacy.”
With the second-generation disciple Euiyeon, Cheongun entered the pharmacy.
Since they lived in Mount Gunlun, all kinds of herbs were there.
On one side, they were actively making medicinal pills.
“Do you know much about herbs?”
“Only a little. That’s why I want to learn.”
To the Taoists, Cheongun appeared as an ordinary child.
He felt nothing unusual.
No one here had surpassed the peak.
So he seemed even more ordinary.
“I can provide at least one herb or pill for you.”
“Anything?”
“Ha ha. Within my discretion, but too precious ones are unfortunately impossible.”
Cheongun quickly scanned the pharmacy.
He knew now that he had returned to a past life in another body.
There were first priorities.
‘There’s one thing that will be revealed later.’
The one making the pills in Gunlun Sect.
A minion of the demonic cult.
He did not know how the War of Righteousness ended, but he knew the situation.
Gunlun had fallen too easily.
Almost absurdly so.
And the reason: everyone had been poisoned by the “End Governing Poison.”
The End Governing Poison.
A poison that controls the end.
Once infused with inner energy, one could decide when the poison would activate.
It twisted all the body’s energy channels and blocked the meridians—a deadly toxin.
A poison symbolizing the end of a martial artist.
Cheongun did not stop there.
That minion must die.
Only then would Gunlun investigate and discover the marks left by the cult.
Mixing multiple poisons was trivial.
Incidentally, the End Governing Poison was created right here by Gunlun.
When leaving the Heavenly Gold Chamber, he had secretly taken some.
Strictly speaking, they were herbs.
But anything could be medicine or poison.
Unfortunate for the cult, but Cheongun knew the formula for the poison.
“So this is how the pills are made?”
“That’s right. Would you like to see?”
“May I?”
“Yes. Just don’t go too close. Otherwise, you may be scolded.”
“I will be careful.”
Cheongun approached closely with Euiyeon and dropped a single drop of poison from his sleeve.
Plop.
He deflected it with inner energy and let it fall on the neck of the minion, who was concentrating on the pill-making.
“What—?”
The minion naturally brushed his neck and continued focusing on making the pills.
It was over. One hour remained.
The minion had that much time left to live.
“That was a valuable experience, Master.”
“Indeed. Have you chosen what you want?”
Cheongun smiled faintly.
“The pill you just made.”
“Not difficult. It’s a pill for restoring fatigue.”
With that, he took the freshly made pill and left the pharmacy.
Thud.
Until the door closed, his gaze never left the minion.
