Don't Get Cocky
Central lobby square. I approached the central pillar and placed my hand on it.
Bwoooong!
A powerful barrier repelled me.
I'd half-expected it, but it looked like my punishment had indeed been accepted. And sure enough, a message popped up.
Due to disciplinary action, you cannot enter stages for the next 3 months.
"Hm……."
-What are you gonna do, Master?
With things like this, there was only one answer.
"First, let's hatch these larvae."
-……So that's your final conclusion?
"I've told you over and over, this is really important."
Even with this punishment, there was plenty I could do. I decided to put my plans into action.
Back at the dorm, I pulled out the wooden box and breeding box. I laid down a pile of grass and placed the three eggs inside.
To hatch them, I needed a warm temperature. That was no problem either.
"Pingping, take good care of these eggs."
-Wh-what?! You want me to hatch mere larvae?!
"If you don't want to……."
-I-I'll do it, Master!
The little guy must've thought I was about to hit him—he curled his wings protectively over his head.
I'd only been testing how far he'd gotten in memorizing the basic elixir manual.
"Guess I'll memorize it myself now."
And so, I unexpectedly dove into studying.
"Hmm…… Huangyin Grass , Red Spirit Grass, Black Snow Flower ……."
I flipped through the pages from the front, imprinting names and forms in my eyes and memorizing them in my head.
After committing dozens to memory like that—
"……."
As I closed my eyes for a moment, something poked at my forehead repeatedly.
-Wake up, Master.
"Nngh…… what is it?"
-The larvae hatched.
"Oh, good job, Pingping."
I'd gotten so absorbed in studying that time had flown by.
I peered into the breeding box. There, black and white larvae the length of one knuckle on my finger wriggled around, munching on the scattered grass blades.
"Grow big and strong, Heuk-eum-go, Baek-yang-go."
-Heuk-eum-go, Baek-yang-go?
"Yeah. Each has its role."
Combined, they're called Heukbaek-eumyang-go
These guys are special—they don't grow into butterflies or moths. Instead, they have unique effects.
"But I still have no idea what this golden egg does."
-It hasn't hatched yet. Sorry, Master.
"Nah, no need. It's probably something special."
-Thank you, Master!
"Keep incubating it for now."
-……Got it, Master.
He crawled back into the breeding box and brooded the golden egg with his wings.
-Gasp! Th-they're coming toward me! Get away, you pests!
"Kill them and you die too."
Pingping's flames in his unawakened state weren't hot enough, so the Heukbaek-eumyang-go crawled all over him, popping harmlessly.
-Ughhh……!
I didn't know the golden egg's true nature either. Judging by the Heukbaek-eumyang-go, I figured a golden larva would emerge, but that was just a guess.
For now, I'd stay in the dorm until the Heukbaek-eumyang-go grew enough or the golden egg hatched.
Not that I planned it this way, but it was a perfect excuse for secluded training.
I swallowed a Spirit Pill and cultivated Dragon Whisker Art and Thunder Cloud Heart Knot.
Another day passed.
I checked the breeding box right after waking. The golden egg showed no signs of change.
But the Heukbaek-eumyang-go, once one knuckle long, had grown to two, plump and thriving.
"This should be good enough."
Suddenly, I spotted tiny egg-like grains in the corner. Black and white round objects.
They'd already mated and laid eggs. Fast breeders.
I scooped up the Heukbaek-eumyang-go into a mirror compartment and left the dorm. Someone to meet.
"Tae Ja-seok."
"Y-yes, Section Chief! You called, sir?"
He bent at the waist, rubbing his palms like a fly, sneakily gauging my mood—worried he'd messed up.
"You said you were a direct disciple of the Huanglong Sect?"
"Yes, sir! Huanglong Sect Lord Tae Ja-myeong—he's my father and master."
"What's the Huanglong Sect's standing in Murim?"
"Not quite the world's best, but anyone who reveres fist arts lines up to join us."
"I don't even know where the Huanglong Sect is or what they do, so prove your reputation."
"You mean……?"
I nodded toward his men behind him.
"Give me a demo."
"Understood, Section Chief."
Tae Ja-seok blinked his fully healed eyes and turned. He still had his old underlings with him.
He assumed a fist stance.
"Come at me all at once!"
His bold shout made his five men flinch. They clearly feared him—he had real skill.
"Th-then here we go!"
"We won't go down easy like last time!"
"Even you, Brother Tae, will get hurt against all five of us!"
"Charge!"
"Hyaah!"
The lackeys rushed in cockily. Tae Ja-seok thrust his fists, glowing golden.
Thud! Crack! Crunch! Boom! Clang!
"Argh!"
"Guhk!"
One punch per man, sending them flying.
As a Peak expert, I could tell the qi in his fists was no joke.
That proved his minimum competence.
"Heh, how was that, Section Chief?"
I nodded slowly and spoke.
"Not bad. But how'd you get owned by Lee Gun last time?"
"Th-that's…… After tasting defeat against you, sir, blades scare me now. I keep flashing back to that sword tip piercing my eyes…… My shame, sir."
I'd unintentionally traumatized him. I frowned.
"What? Then you're useless from now on."
His face went pale as he waved his hands frantically.
"N-no, sir! I'll overcome it soon, I swear!"
I pondered briefly and decided.
"Fine. I've got a job for you."
"Anything, Section Chief!"
"Follow me."
"Yes, sir!"
I led him to a quiet spot with no surveillance or onlookers.
Into the bathroom. Tae Ja-seok asked cautiously.
"……You gonna beat me, sir?"
"No, something worse—but good for you."
"Huh?"
As he tilted his head in confusion—
"……Eek!"
Wriggle, wriggle.
I pulled out the Baek-yang-go from my pocket, and his face turned blue.
"Wh-why do you carry something like that in your pocket, sir?!"
"Why? Brought it for you."
"……Huh?"
I held out the Baek-yang-go.
"Here, swallow it whole—no chewing."
Wriggle, wriggle.
"Wh-what is th-this……! W-wait a sec, sir!"
"Open wide. Incoming."
Wriggle, wriggle!
I dangled the larva before his eyes; he clamped his mouth with both hands and shook his head wildly.
"Was your loyalty all talk?"
"N-no, it's not……."
"At ease."
"Hup!"
He snapped to attention crisply. I struck his throat with precise force.
Thwack!
"Khek!"
I shoved the Baek-yang-go into his gaping mouth, then punched his gut.
Thud!
"Urk!"
Gulp.
His Adam's apple bobbed hard.
"Blergh!"
He dry-heaved.
"Puke it up. Regurgitate breakfast and you can skip lunch."
"Hngh!"
He clutched his mouth, straining not to vomit.
I timed it right there. After five minutes, he complained of a stinging in his lower abdomen.
"Takes about five minutes, huh."
"Wh-what does, sir?"
I poked his lower belly.
"Time from swallowing Baek-yang-go to settling in your dantian."
"……N-no way!"
He seemed to grasp its purpose.
"Right. The Baek-yang-go will parasitize you, feeding on your yang qi. But you won't lose your internal energy, so relax."
"Th-then……?"
I pulled out the Heuk-eum-go and continued.
"Heukbaek-eumyang-go always come in pairs. If I kill this Heuk-eum-go, the Baek-yang-go in you will explode all the accumulated yang qi and self-destruct. You get what that means, right?"
He nodded frantically.
"I can't just take your word for loyalty. Understand?"
"……."
Whip given—now for the carrot.
"But prove it with actions, and there'll be plenty of rewards."
"Wh-what…… rewards, sir?"
"Once your Baek-yang-go absorbs enough yang qi, swallow the Heuk-eum-go. They'll fuse into one inner pill—a huge boon for you."
It's called the Heukbaek-eumyang-danonce formed, I added.
"Try betraying me after that. It'll become mine. Got it?"
Nod, nod.
"Good. Though you won't, here's a demo to ease doubts."
"……?"
I pinched the Heuk-eum-go's plump body between thumb and forefinger, squeezing.
Instant reaction.
"Gaaahhh!"
Tae Ja-seok went white, clutching his lower belly and screaming.
I smiled satisfactorily at the sight.
I took the recovered Tae Ja-seok to the Media and Publications Department grounds. Cherubim the manager had said they were looking for me.
Employees glanced our way, recognizing me, then averted eyes and hurried off when caught.
They were curious but avoiding me—surprisingly pleasant. They parted like the Red Sea wherever I walked.
Moses' miracle, maybe. Or because of the burly suited guys trailing me—Tae Ja-seok and crew. Interns and contractors would dodge.
Lost in thought, I arrived: Media and Publications Broadcasting Station.
I frowned upon entering.
"What's with these employees?"
I knew already. The smear campaign behind the fake news targeting me.
Especially since Taki stared at me with trembling eyes.
The department head at the head seat spoke.
"Why we gathered them, Section Chief Kim Jeongha—you must know."
"I can guess."
I crossed my arms curtly, sizing him up.
"Must be comfy up there. Should I take this as 'let's meet like this often'?"
"……."
The room's employees shut up like mimes, frozen.
The head stood slowly, bowing.
"Sorry. I apologize."
"D-Director……?"
Taki gaped at him, voice shaking.
"Why bow to that guy?!"
Bang!
"Can't you read the room?!"
"Wh-what……?"
He glared at his staff and barked.
"What are you waiting for? Apologize to the Factory Manager!"
"Huh? Wha? Yes? What? Uh?"
Taki babbled idiotically, words not processing.
"Wh-what did you just…… say……?"
Still doubting her ears.
I spoke flatly.
"You asked who the Factory Manager was yesterday. Ask away—I'm right here, Taki."
She shuddered violently, turning to me.
"……Hic."
Hiccups from tension.
I sat cross-legged opposite the head seat.
"This seat okay? Legs hurt from walking."
Not really asking. I turned to Taki.
"So…… what? You missed me? Speak."
"Th-that…… No way! It's a scam! A staged fraud!"
I shrugged at the director.
"Can't reason with Taki."
"My apology…… won't cut it. Expected."
"Obviously not. You didn't wrong me."
"……Demands?"
"Return all artifacts first. Confiscated for 10 years."
10 years artifact seizure!
"Employees who damaged them pay up somehow. Oh, and thanks to Taki, I got punished—know about that?"
"What now?"
"Your info's slow."
I explained everything to the director. He pinched his brow, eyes closed.
"……We'll compensate. Somehow. Name more."
"10 stage rewards from Media and Publications henceforth. Fair since I can't enter stages."
He nodded.
"Understood."
"Minimum 10. I'll adjust based on artifact quality."
"Isn't 10 too many?"
"Work harder then."
"……."
"And."
I glanced at Taki.
"This fake news mess started with your bad reporting, so Safety Planning will censor your articles from now on."