Immortal Spirit Art (2)
Jang Cheon sat in the center of the room, circulating his Sohyeon Ilgi-gong.
The endless repetition of the 3rd Stage dragged on, feeling eternal. It was a dull, monotonous training that sometimes made him feel like he was swimming across an endless ocean, with no shore in sight.
The real hardship in any endeavor wasn't endurance itself, but the constant temptation to give up.
Could he truly achieve a second hwangol taltae? Even the creator of the art hadn't managed it.
Such temptations often turned into heart demons.
But Jang Cheon knew. Only by refusing to quit could he reach his goal. And didn't he have Geum Sa-cheon's dying words to steel him against the loneliness? Now a constant mentor in his heart, that voice played like background music as he steadfastly crossed the sea. Someday, a beach of glittering golden sand would appear.
After hours of heart method training, his phone rang. It was Bishop.
"Check it right now."
Jang Cheon immediately opened his laptop and reviewed the files Bishop had sent— a combination of additional materials from the Murim Alliance and Bishop's own research.
With 8th Stage mastery, he'd plunged Korean Murim into chaos with a bloodbath. It was undoubtedly an extraordinary art.
"Eternal life?"
"Baek Sang-du believed it too."
Eternal immortality. Regardless of feasibility, it was an incredibly powerful temptation.
"Will Baek Sang-du fall into deviation too?"
He couldn't be certain, but his intuition said so. If he'd achieved Great Success, he wouldn't have come to help U Myeong-hwan, and the Black Spirit Art at the club would have been far stronger.
Perhaps Baek Sang-du had some demand of U Myeong-hwan, emerging after decades for this reason.
"Then how did he get so young?"
"Boss, kill this bastard for me!"
"Okay!"
The problem was finding Baek Sang-du. After failing at the club, he'd attempt something more dangerous and covert. They had to locate him first.
As Bishop was about to hang up, he shouted excitedly.
"It's him!"
In the chaos, he must have fled without disposing of the body.
Jang Cheon left the room immediately.
Baek Sang-du stood on the street, gazing up at a massive screen on a building rooftop. The news was in full swing, covering Dae Jeong San Jang. Subtitles scrolled live beneath the anchor's face.
Baek Sang-du, watching, resumed walking.
Time's running short.
His body hadn't fully recovered. The two prior Black Spirit Arts had drained immense inner energy.
Absorbing a woman's essence would speed recovery.
He'd love to kidnap women at random, but the world was blanketed in CCTV and dashcams. One slip, and the Murim Alliance would hunt him. Especially now, after failing to assassinate the Alliance Leader, they'd be on high alert.
Decades of quiet cultivation for Immortal Spirit Art Great Success could go to waste.
Best to handle this job, then take a year of women supplied by U Myeong-hwan in seclusion.
Great Success felt close. Finish this, and eternal life awaited.
Jang Cheon stood on the rooftop of the building opposite the love hotel, overlooking it.
One man arrived hurriedly.
"Boss."
"Night."
"What is it?"
"I called you for a favor."
Night tensed. Jang Cheon never summoned him for trivial matters.
"You have a tracking team at the company, right?"
"Of course."
"How good are they?"
"The best."
Jang Cheon handed over a photo—Baek Sang-du's from Club Zeus.
"Two nights ago, find out where this guy went after leaving that love hotel. Check every CCTV on his path."
Night examined the photo.
"Who is he?"
"A very dangerous old monster."
"Old monster? Rejuvenation technique?"
"No. He absorbs people's essence to stay young. The corpse was female, so likely focuses on yin essence. He operates alone, so be cautious—no risk of counter-tracking. Contact me the moment you spot his trail."
"Got it. Activating the tracking team now."
"Tell them to be careful."
"Yes."
Night immediately called his tracking team lead, relaying Jang Cheon's words and sending the photo. Specialists in pursuit, they'd uncover clues.
After hanging up, Night asked,
"Back in the homeland, and the work piles up, huh?"
"If I'd known it'd be this busy, I might not have come."
Night laughed at the half-joking truth.
"Busy is good."
Jang Cheon asked cautiously,
"No issues going on, right?"
He worried if Night's workaholic ways hid pain. He didn't know everything about his subordinates' lives.
"Boss, I don't do melodrama."
Night grinned, adding,
"Or maybe having no drama makes it seem like there is—that's the real problem?"
This time, Jang Cheon laughed.
"Watch for burnout."
"Boss, hyper types like me are fine. You know—problems hit the quiet ones. The slacker will burn out first. Who?"
After a moment, Jang Cheon replied,
"Me?"
By workload, it wasn't wrong. Night burst out laughing.
"Hahaha. No evil CEO with burnout-prone underlings."
As they caught up on backlog, two large SUVs pulled up—SGC's elite tracking team.
Park I waited at the appointed café.
The white-haired elder looked up as Baek Sang-du sat across.
Studying his face, Park I gasped.
"It's really you?"
Park I knew pre-rejuvenation Baek Sang-du. A famed info broker then, now retired as Mr. Park.
"My God, it is you."
The call had shocked him that Baek Sang-du lived; appearing young was unimaginable.
"Does my youth tempt you for info?"
Park I sensed the subtle killing intent.
"Luckily, I'm retired."
"Good. Info on Jang Cheon?"
"Here."
Park I handed over the envelope.
Baek Sang-du scanned it, returned it. Nothing beyond U Myeong-hwan's intel.
"That's it?"
"Yes. You know the World Murim Alliance Leader's lock on his info, right?"
"Damn that lock! Lock!"
Feeling the killing intent spike with each word, Park I offered unexpectedly,
"There's a way to learn about Jang Cheon."
"What?"
"Tomorrow, someone from the World Murim Alliance arrives in Korea."
"Who?"
"Alliance Leader Tae Cheon-gi's third disciple, Ri Han."
Baek Sang-du's eyes gleamed. He knew Ri Han: Tae Cheon-gi's third disciple, absolute expert handling Alliance affairs worldwide.
"Why Korea?"
"Not sure. Meeting someone, probably?"
"Cheon Myeong-jin maybe?"
"Don't know. What I can do is arrange a brief meeting. Five minutes at the airport exit."
"You pulled that off."
"Ri Han owes me. Like you once did."
"Will he give me info?"
Park I shrugged—uncertain; after that, it was on him.
"Payment after the job."
"No need. This repays my old debt."
"Take it. Or I won't call next time."
Without reply, Baek Sang-du left.
Park I watched darkly. He wanted no ties to Baek Sang-du, past or present.
But he relaxed. It didn't matter. Baek Sang-du might feel time was his, but Park I's end neared regardless.
He took his empty cup to the counter, asking for a refill. At 1,000 won, he paid from his wallet.
This coffee was all he could refill.
Baek Sang-du walked the street post-café.
A woman ahead caught his eye.
Glancing around—empty—he followed slowly.
She turned into an alley. He quickened. Nearly upon her, she waved happily.
"Oppa."
"Seon-ah."
She ran to a man at the alley's end, companions behind.
Baek Sang-du veered aside.
Damn.
Couple? He'd kill both. But too many with the group.
Essence quality varied. Pure innate essence yielded more—like hers.
Regretfully, he exited the alley for other prey.