TOTMO 11

Chapter 11

A shocking sight unfolded before their eyes.

On the inner thigh.

Just below the groin, there was a mark symbolizing the demonic cult.

Everyone could hardly believe their eyes.

Even Jin Hyeon-jin, who was the head of the sect and would normally know everything, did not know about this.

“These scum…!”

The sect leader’s voice, filled with deep rage, made every cultivator flinch.

But now was not the time to show anger.

The sect leader’s duty was to take care of those who were shocked.

“Listen carefully, everyone.”
“Yes!”
“Dispose of everything in the pharmacy right now.”
“…Yes!”
“Burn it all down. The pharmacy will be rebuilt anew.”

The pharmacy.

And the person who prepared the elixirs there had been a subordinate of the demonic cult.

That meant poison could have been mixed into everything used by the entire Kunlun Sect.

All necessary precautions had to be taken.

Since they didn’t know what kind of poison it was, the first step was to seal the area and check for any signs of poisoning.

Even if no one was poisoned, they wouldn’t just let it slide.

There was also the plan to personally visit the Sichuan Tang family.

As the sect leader considered these measures, he paused for a moment.

“Have you confirmed how they died?”
“It appears to be poisoning.”
“Poison, huh. Preserve the bodies intact. We must find out what kind of poison it was.”
“Yes!”

If it was poison, it was far too obvious.

Cheong-un, the head of Cheon-geum-jang.

That Cheong-un had killed them.

It could have been a matter that endangered the entire Kunlun Sect.

‘A life-saving favor has been granted.’

The whole Kunlun Sect had benefited from this favor.

The very person who delivered this favor, Cheong-un, had already left Kunlun Mountain and arrived at the inn.

He had little concern for it.

After all, favors are most effective when the recipient has to ponder what to give in return.

“This is the Kunlun Inn.”
“The scale isn’t very large.”
“…If we take Cheon-geum-jang as the standard, there’s probably no inn bigger than this anywhere.”

The inn had three floors, giving off a cozy charm.

It was certainly grand, but he had been here before in his previous life anyway.

“Welcome to the Kunlun Inn.”
“Third floor, please.”

The third floor.

Usually reserved for wealthy patrons or martial artists, it was the exclusive area of the third floor.

“Yes! I will guide you there.”

Following Jeom So-i, whose expression brightened, they headed to the third floor. Unlike the first floor, a quiet atmosphere awaited them.

For a moment, everyone’s eyes turned toward them, then quickly dispersed.

They sat at the last available window seat, ordered some dishes, and handed a gold coin to Jeom So-i.

“Uh… the gold coin…”
“Is this enough for the meal?”
“Ah, yes. It’s sufficient.”
“Good. Keep the rest.”
“Th-thank you!”

After ordering several expensive dishes, Cheong-un gazed out the window.

Everything that needed to be done in Kunlun was now finished.

He couldn’t recall the exact timing, but he had prevented the downfall of the Kunlun Sect that would occur roughly ten years later.

“You may speak freely now.”
“Right. When do we leave?”
“In three days.”
“Three days. That’s appropriate.”

Three days would probably be enough for the Kunlun Sect to come up with countermeasures.

Seeing the sect leader for a brief moment, he realized why he was truly capable of leading a sect.

“By the way, isn’t this the first time you’ve tasted food from another inn, Master?”
“Indeed. Cheon-geum-jang’s dishes suit my taste perfectly; I’m not sure if this place will be the same.”

Even just the head chefs of the Cheon-geum-jang area had remarkable skills.

From memory, this place was also fairly respectable.

“Phew… what is happening all of a sudden?”

At that moment, a group of people entered the third floor with awkward expressions.

Among them were two children of roughly Cheong-un’s age.

“Brother! What’s going on?”
“I don’t know. The Kunlun Sect has sealed the gates…”

Cheong-un had no intention of eavesdropping, but the faces looked familiar.

Zhegal Yun of the Zhegal family.
Namgung Jo of the Namgung family.

He didn’t recognize the two children, but since they called him “brother,” they must be relatives.

‘Zhegal Yun and Namgung Jo… future heads of their families.’

They had been at the very front during the True Demon War.

Those who had beheaded countless demons.

At that time, these children would have just come of age.

As he observed them, one of the children met his gaze.

“……”
“……”

No words were exchanged.

Both wore neutral expressions.

And yet, that made it even more intriguing.

Their eyes met without any emotion, yet they didn’t look away.

‘Where have I seen you before…?’
‘Why are you on the third floor?’

Their thoughts, however, were entirely different.

‘Ah!’

He remembered.

At the time, he had been confused as a child, but now it became clear.

Zhegal Hye.

A person essentially regarded as the brains of the righteous sects.

Why would someone like her be at the Kunlun Sect at this time?

“…Hye!”
“Ah, yes, brother.”
“There’s a child who caught Hye’s attention.”
“Eh? N-no, it’s not like that…”

Perhaps because she was still young?

Zhegal Hye looked very different from how he had seen her from afar before.

Just a ten-year-old child.

But her reaction seemed to impress Zhegal Yun, who then looked at him.

“…Cheon-geum-jang?”

If there was anyone who wouldn’t lag behind in information, it was the Zhegal family.

Even the leader and deputy of Cheon-geum-jang’s personal guard, the Blackwood Guards, were well-known faces.

No matter how discreetly they moved, exposure was inevitable when performing external missions.

“Brother. Cheon-geum-jang?”
“Ah, no. Just an unexpected face.”

Then who was the child beside him?

After a moment of thought, Zhegal Yun quickly concluded.

‘The head of the sect.’

Not much different from the rumors.

He seemed to be hiding more than expected.

Around the same age as Hye, with a solid build and internal strength to match.

And quite handsome.

From the perspective of a younger sibling, it was unsettling.

“Why are you staring… hmm?”

Namgung Jo’s gaze shifted toward him as well.

“I’ve seen this face somewhere…”
“Cheon-geum-jang.”
“The great magnate?”
“Yes. The one sitting in front seems to be the sect leader.”
“Hah, so rumors aren’t reliable after all.”

The problem was Namgung Jo’s younger sister, Namgung Je-yeon.

Her gaze, which had been on Zhegal Hye, now shifted toward where Cheong-un was sitting.

‘Hye is looking that way…!’

Normally, she wouldn’t even look at him, but now she stared as if seeing an old friend.

“Brother.”
“Yes. What is it?”
“Cheon-geum-jang really has that much wealth?”
“Hmm?”

Who wouldn’t question that?

“Are you asking because you really don’t know?”
“Ah, no. It’s just that rumors always exaggerate things.”
“Cheon-geum-jang. Literally, gold reaches the sky. It controls half the wealth of this vast land.”

It wasn’t just that.

To amass such wealth, one essential factor mattered most.

Even the royal family could not be ignored.

Would they really have remained idle?

It might be a rumor, but Cheon-geum-jang supposedly had more gold than the royal family.

“Leaving the scale aside, it would be hard to find anyone who hasn’t received money from Cheon-geum-jang.”
“Th-that much…?”
“Yes. So…”

At that moment, Namgung Jo’s expression turned cold.

“Abandon futile thoughts.”
“It’s not like that…”
“I said abandon them.”
“…Yes, brother.”

Even while they conversed, Zhegal Yun and Hye did not look away.

Cheong-un watched as well, reflecting on the childhood of those who would become famous in the future.

‘All of them were caught in the great storm of the True Demon War.’

“…Do it!”

At that moment, noise came from near the inn.

Being on the third floor, even a slight tilt of the head allowed a clear view of the alley below.

“What are you looking at?”

He indicated the alley with a nod.

“Ah, just ruffians. They seem to be taking advantage of the Kunlun Sect temporarily sealing the gates.”

Truly honest, weren’t they?

The strong remained silent, while the weak bullied those weaker than themselves.

From the conversation alone, it was clear.

They bumped into people deliberately and tried to frame them for pickpocketing.

“Your ordered dishes are ready!”

Jeom So-i’s cheerful voice rang out, having received a generous tip.

Even though there were only two of them, the portions were substantial.

“Did we order this much?”
“Yes. To find something that suits the taste.”

Chopsticks made from good wood.

Cheong-un used his internal strength on the tips of his fingers to manipulate the chopsticks.

Very subtly.

He applied internal strength only to the surface in contact with the chopsticks, shaving one side thinly.

A thin, long piece, about two finger-lengths, was completed.

Though it seemed too thin to be of any use, martial artists could create weapons from leaves.

It was also his specialty in his previous life.

Like threading a needle, precise use of internal strength.

‘By directing different amounts of internal strength to the tip and center, the shape changes.’

The wood curled naturally into a needle-like shape.

Now, by compressing internal strength at the tip and releasing the stored energy suddenly,

The wooden needle would fly at high speed, like a small explosive at the end.

The expelled internal strength did not vanish.

Its recoil transferred back into the wooden needle, making it an exceptional concealed weapon.

This differed from simply throwing it.

It amplified the power of the internal strength itself, so no throwing motion was necessary.

“Now, quickly…”

A drip of blood.

The ruffian’s final words.

The Yamun acupoint.

The first acupoint on the Du meridian.

A point that could render one mute with a small shock, part of the Eight Extra Meridians.

The ruffian collapsed immediately, unable to utter a word.

“…Sect Leader?”

He could not have missed it.

Being closest, he sensed Cheong-un’s internal strength moving subtly.

“Why?”
“What… just happened?”

Had something like this existed?

If Cheong-un were merely a master at Fire or Water energy, he would have just admired it, but this was different.

To handle internal strength with such finesse—

‘I’ve never seen or heard of this concealed weapon technique.’

“It’s called the Needle Firing Technique.”
“R-really?”
“I saw it in a study.”
“Ah, I see.”

Of course, that was a lie.

This was Cheong-un’s own concealed weapon technique from his previous life.

“Why… teach me?”
“Joking… right?”

Cheong-un chuckled, starting his meal first, and only then did Heuk-jeon follow.

And Zhegal Hye still could not take her eyes off Cheong-un.

‘Just now…’