You Want Me to Find Wang Shin?
Jin Somyeong spoke to Beom Chang, who looked as if he had been struck on the back of the head and wronged by the heavens themselves.
"How long are you planning to lean on your uncle? Brother, if your uncle told you to die, would you die?"
"No, what kind of—"
"Good. Let's think this through calmly. What are you going to do after you reach Foundation Establishment?"
"If I become a great Foundation Establishment cultivator, that's a good thing. What do you mean, what am I going to do?"
"Do you really not have even the slightest thought of challenging the Golden Core stage?"
"G-Golden Core? How could I possibly dare!"
Beom Chang's eyes shook.
His mouth denied it, but desire was written plainly across one corner of his face. For any human being, that was only natural.
Jin Somyeong watched him for a moment, then jerked his chin.
"Enough. Go and gather detailed information. Your life is on the line too, so you'd better work hard."
"...Understood."
Beom Chang's expression curdled. His shoulders drooped, and he trudged away with the weary gait of a man walking to his own funeral.
Seeing not a trace of motivation in him, Jin Somyeong clicked his tongue.
If he doesn't want to die, he'll prepare as best he can.
He put the matter out of his mind and focused on cultivation.
After all, Beom Chang was nothing more than insurance. What Jin Somyeong truly trusted and relied upon was his own strength.
One year later.
Jin Somyeong, now seventeen, sat cross-legged inside his cave residence.
He did not move in the slightest, looking almost like a statue carved from stone.
After sitting in silence for a long while, he slowly opened his eyes.
"Finally."
A faint smile touched Jin Somyeong's lips.
At that very moment, a hologram visible only to him appeared before his eyes.
"Qi Refining, fifth layer."
Two years after beginning cultivation, he had reached the fifth layer of Qi Refining.
Though his start had been slow, he was now growing fast enough that he would not fall behind anyone.
Ordinarily, one's cultivation speed slowed sharply upon reaching the middle stage of Qi Refining, but that did not apply to him. Thanks to all sorts of fortuitous encounters, including the Simsangbigyeong, his speed only continued to rise.
Good.
His preparations for achieving Foundation Establishment were also progressing step by step. Everything was going smoothly.
A year and a half remained until the Red Cloud Secret Realm opened.
If things go well, I may be able to enter the secret realm at the sixth layer of Qi Refining.
If he reached the sixth layer, then with the Boundless Great Ability added on top, he would have a chance even in a head-on battle against cultivators at the late stage of Qi Refining.
He reminded himself of his goal and was about to immerse himself in cultivation again when Beom Chang came looking for him.
What is he doing here when I didn't call him?
Jin Somyeong regulated his breathing and operated the Breath Concealment Art, suppressing the aura of the fifth layer of Qi Refining and adjusting it down to the fourth.
Only after finishing every preparation did he grant permission. Soon, Beom Chang entered and bowed respectfully.
"Brother, has your cultivation been going well?"
"Stop saying things you don't mean and tell me why you're here."
The fellow avoided Jin Somyeong desperately because he hated seeing him. There was no way he had come without a reason.
After hesitating for a while, Beom Chang forced an awkward smile and spoke.
"Brother. Do you know it's already been a year since you entered the Red Sun Sect?"
"So?"
"Ugh! Are you truly asking because you don't know? For the past year, you have done absolutely nothing but cultivate! In a premium spirit vein borrowed with my contribution points!"
The instant Jin Somyeong's brow furrowed, Beom Chang's shouting momentum shrank at once. He fidgeted, then barely managed to speak again.
"S-so. It is about time you performed a mission."
"A mission? Hey, brother. Are you telling me to take on a mission? Didn't you say inner disciples could just cultivate?"
"I said you didn't have to do menial chores. That doesn't mean you can throw missions away too!"
"Tsk. What a bother..."
"It has already been a year. I have been holding them off, but I'm starting to reach my limit."
With the Red Cloud Secret Realm right around the corner, there was no way he would be pleased at being told to go perform some mission.
When Jin Somyeong fell silent, Beom Chang watched his expression and spoke cautiously.
"Brother. You really can do it in name only. Please, just complete one mission."
"Haa... Tell me what kind of mission it is first."
"Ah! Thank you!"
"I haven't decided yet. I need to know what it is before I choose whether to do it."
Beom Chang swallowed hard, then hurriedly explained the mission. As Jin Somyeong listened, his expression gradually turned strange.
"So..."
Inwardly, he was dumbfounded.
"You want me to monitor Cheong Hwa-ran? And find the whereabouts of Wang Shin, one of the Blue Flood Dragon Gang's members who went missing?"
"Yes. It was originally a mission handled by Elder Sim's side, but they failed to produce results for over a year, so it has been handed over to us."
What an absurd coincidence.
Wang Shin had died while trying to rob Jin Somyeong in the first place.
Ordering him to find Wang Shin was no different from leaving a fish in the care of a cat.
"...The ones originally handling that mission were Elder Sim's people?"
"Yes. Monitoring and eliminating rogue cultivators who might become future threats is the duty of Elder Sim's lineage. But their surveillance of Cheong Hwa-ran produced so little that we took it from them."
Jin Somyeong sank into silent thought for a moment, then opened his mouth.
"If it's surveillance, what exactly am I supposed to do?"
"Find out what Cheong Hwa-ran's current cultivation realm is. If she has passed the eighth layer of Qi Refining, report it to those above."
"I've heard of Cheong Hwa-ran as well. She's a rather famous rogue cultivator, isn't she? But who exactly is Wang Shin, and why am I supposed to find him?"
"I don't know. They say he's one of Cheong Hwa-ran's subordinates, but I don't know much either. It is certainly odd. The reward is fairly high."
"Hmm."
"They say that if he's dead, we should at least find the body... but honestly, that's absurd."
Elder Sim's lineage, rivals of Beom Chang's uncle, had tried to find Wang Shin.
As expected, Wang Shin seemed to have been a spy.
Otherwise, there would be no reason to go through such trouble searching for a mere cultivator at the middle stage of Qi Refining.
"To be honest, it would be good if we found Wang Shin. We could point out Elder Sim's incompetence. But it will be difficult. Elder Sim's side failed to achieve anything, so you needn't worry about it."
"...Fine. I'll take that mission. But don't complain if I don't produce results."
"Of course! Thank you so much!"
The fellow bowed at the waist again and again before leaving.
Not long after, someone else came to the cave residence.
"Senior Sister Sim?"
"Oh my, our Junior Brother Somyeong lives in such a nice place. Beom Chang must be treating you quite well."
With graceful poise, Sim U-yeon looked around the first-rank premium cave residence, then glanced sideways at him.
Jin Somyeong understood the meaning behind her silent rebuke well enough.
After all, he had told her nothing about Beom Chang for an entire year.
"Haha. Brother Beom Chang hasn't had any particular issues. Ah! He did say recently that he was entering the Red Cloud Secret Realm. Would that count as something unusual?"
"...What? He's going to that dangerous place?"
"Yes. He said he would absolutely obtain a Foundation Establishment spiritual treasure and return. I was so moved by his courage that I decided to enter with him."
"Impossible! With his personality?"
Sim U-yeon's beautiful brow tightened.
If Beom Chang successfully obtained a Foundation Establishment spiritual treasure, it would be a fatal blow to her. In the competition between the two of them, which was currently neck and neck, he would gain a decisive advantage.
"..."
Conflict flickered across her face. From the way she bit her lip, it was obvious what she was thinking.
She's probably wondering whether she has to go in too.
If Beom Chang returned alive from the Red Cloud Secret Realm... no, even if he died there, she would be treated as a coward.
In this world where the strong were revered, such gossip might be meaningless, but it would certainly not be pleasant.
That's right. Worry over it.
The more chaotic the secret realm became, the more advantageous it would be for Jin Somyeong.
Opportunities were more likely to reveal themselves amid disorder than under an orderly situation.
He was confident in his stealth, so the more confused things became, the better.
Furthermore, the secret realm would not be occupied only by forces from Jeokyang Market. Since people would come from all kinds of places, it would be advantageous for him if the Red Sun Sect's forces were stronger.
No matter how much of a mess the Red Sun Sect was internally, they would unite firmly against external enemies.
"...In any case. I came to see Junior Brother Jin today for a different matter."
Her surprise lasted only a moment.
Regaining her composure with a radiant smile, she spoke in a whispering tone.
"Junior Brother Jin. No, little brother Somyeong. Did Beom Chang happen to tell you about a certain mission?"
"A mission? Well, yes, I heard about one."
"The mission to surveil the rogue cultivator Cheong Hwa-ran, right?"
When Jin Somyeong nodded, she suddenly stepped so close it felt burdensome and whispered.
"Did you know that mission was originally being handled by a close little sister of mine?"
"Ah... Is that so?"
"Yes. The Blue Flood Dragon Gang's guard suddenly became strangely strict, so she failed the mission. She's such a pretty and kind girl. Seeing how sad she is right now hurts my heart too."
"That's unfortunate."
When he gave a perfunctory response, Sim U-yeon's red lips curved into a smile. Then, as though tempting him, she spoke slowly.
"But if our little brother Somyeong suddenly succeeds at the mission, how difficult would things become for my other little sister?"
"Mm... I suppose that could happen."
"How could I bear to watch that? So... could our little brother Somyeong perhaps ease up a little and take it gently?"
"Ah."
Jin Somyeong put on a conflicted expression, as though he only now understood what she meant, and thought inwardly.
The Red Sun Sect is running splendidly, isn't it?
For such a sect to have survived fierce competition and taken up half of Jeokyang Market...
It was truly far too strange.
"...This puts me in a difficult position. It's the first mission I've ever taken, so I wanted to do well."
"Hmm?"
The radiant smile at Sim U-yeon's lips slowly began to fade.
Under her gaze, which was growing colder by the second, Jin Somyeong let out a sigh.
"Haa. I suppose it can't be helped. Since it's your request, Senior Sister, I cannot refuse. But I would like some compensation."
"...Compensation?"
"Brother Beom Chang entrusted this mission to me because he believed I could succeed. If I fail to produce results, I will be scolded severely. My heart will be wounded, so wouldn't it be all right for me to receive a little comfort?"
"Ha. Now that I look at you, our little brother Jin is quite bold, isn't he? Fine. What do you want?"
She folded her arms and took a step back.
The way her gaze swept him up and down looked as if she were telling him not to reach for something beyond his station. He almost laughed at the absurdity of it.
Jin Somyeong shrugged and spoke in a light tone.
"I heard a grand auction will soon be held in preparation for the Red Cloud Secret Realm. They say countless magical artifacts will be sold there. The thing is, I don't have any Spirit Stones."
Sim U-yeon paused, then considered for a moment before answering.
"Fine. I'll give you three hundred Spirit Stones. In exchange, make sure you handle the mission properly. It has to be bad enough that you get scolded."
"Three hundred is a bit..."
"Don't get greedy. You're only at the third layer of Qi Refining... Hm? When did you reach the fourth layer?"
"A few days ago."
"...Congratulations. In any case! Why would you need so many Spirit Stones? Be satisfied with three hundred."
Jin Somyeong's current daily income was twenty-five Spirit Stones.
Lately, he had been spending Spirit Stones freely because he was cultivating both body refinement and the Five Elements Qi Refining Art at the same time, and it seemed he had momentarily lost his sense of money.
Indeed, three hundred was a fairly large amount.
"Understood. Since it is your request, Senior Sister, I will handle the mission carelessly. But if I get scolded too much, you must help me from the side, all right?"
"Of course. Just trust me. I'll give you the Spirit Stones after I see how you carry out the mission."
With a radiant smile, she departed.
The moment Sim U-yeon's back vanished completely, Jin Somyeong chuckled.
Works for me.
He had intended to handle the mission carelessly anyway.
Yet he had even managed to obtain Spirit Stones as compensation. It felt like picking up money on the roadside. There was no profit sweeter than this.
Beom Chang's anger? Such a thing had never existed in the first place.
As the elder brother, how could he possibly scold his dear younger brother? There was no need to worry about it.
The Inner City of Jeokyang Market.
Amid the bustling marketplace, Jin Somyeong glanced at a certain building.
So that's the Blue Flood Dragon Gang.
The Blue Flood Dragon Gang's headquarters was a five-story pavilion.
It could not be called enormous, but it was well maintained.
A proper formation had even been installed, so not even his sharpened senses could probe the inside.
Hmm.
After thinking for a moment, Jin Somyeong began strolling forward at an unhurried pace.
"Haaam..."
He yawned casually as he passed the building's entrance.
His gaze met the eyes of the guards, who were watching every direction, but there was no reaction.
They merely glared as if to ask why he was loitering.
...They don't recognize me at all. It's certain. The Blue Flood Dragon Gang doesn't know that I killed Wang Shin.
The threat Wang Shin had made before his death, that his big brother would come for revenge, had indeed been a lie.
Well, of course.
Robbery was not exactly an honorable act. There was no way he would have reported every detail to his superiors.
Jin Somyeong had never even believed half of it to begin with, but now it was nearly certain. The chances were high that it had been false.
That's a relief.
The leader of the Blue Flood Dragon Gang, Cheong Hwa-ran, was an expert at the late stage of Qi Refining.
As a genius overflowing with talent, she was better left as anything but an enemy.
Of course, he no longer feared her as much as he had in the past. Many things had changed since then, both in terms of status and strength.
Late stage Qi Refining... I wonder how strong she is.
A fighting spirit stirred deep in his heart.
It was an impulse that had grown ever since he had become aware of his talent for martial arts and combat.
Enough. There's no reason to pick a fight on purpose.
Jin Somyeong shook his head and moved far away from the Blue Flood Dragon Gang.
Whoosh!
While activating the Breath Concealment Art, he leaped onto the roof of a seven-story shop.
He glanced at the Blue Flood Dragon Gang headquarters visible in the distance.
There were two guards at the entrance, both at the middle stage of Qi Refining.
For a group that had supposedly started with children begging in the streets, their vigilance was strict.
The guards did not indulge in even the most ordinary small talk. Their eyes remained wide open as they scanned every direction.
Their posture was stiff, like raw recruits who had been drilled to attention.
Interesting. At the middle stage of Qi Refining, they should have at least some room to relax. Could this be because of the letter I sent long ago, the one saying Wang Shin was a traitor?
Perhaps the Blue Flood Dragon Gang's sudden tightening of security was his fault.
After watching the Blue Flood Dragon Gang from afar for a while, Jin Somyeong nodded.
Whoosh!
Without the slightest hesitation, he pulled paper and a brush from his subspace and began writing with bold strokes.
I attempted to infiltrate the Blue Flood Dragon Gang in secret and observe the interior, but failed.
The Blue Flood Dragon Gang has two guards, neither of whom engaged in conversation even once. Their watch is too strict for me to discover anything.
I spent the entire month attempting to infiltrate them, but unfortunately, I failed.
Three sheets in total.
Jin Somyeong smiled after drafting a month's worth of reports in advance in the span of a single minute.
Whoever read them would be appalled, but what did that matter?
It was wiser to spend time cultivating than wasting effort on a mission like this.
In any case, he planned to leave Jeokyang Market as soon as he emerged from the secret realm, so there was nothing to worry about.