104. Time Wheel Jade
The Iron Vault was underground.
Cheol So Pyeong and Cheol Mu Geuk led the way, with me and Cho Ryang following behind.
We had to descend a spiral passage that reminded me of a miniature Punishment Cave.
This Murim Return world really loved its caves and underground lairs. Just look at all the ruins—most of them tucked away in caverns or buried deep below ground.
No wonder fire wrecks everything here.
They probably never even considered the place might burn down. The Iron Vault was the Goe Mountain Iron Family's deepest secret, known only to their inner circle. Accessing it required combining keys held by the elders to unlock the door.
And Sado Gwang burned it anyway. What a mad bastard.
There was no hard proof tying it to him, of course—just a gut feeling. But no matter how I sliced it, kicking him out early had been the right call. Sure, things still felt a bit off...
With my position rising in the Divine Cult and no sign of him stirring, he was either dead or playing dead for some long con. But with his body wrecked by Deviation into Devil, the latter seemed impossible.
...Still creepy as hell.
It gave off that "did I actually take him out?" vibe, so I decided to stop dwelling on it.
After spiraling down the stairs and passing through a short corridor, a massive cavern opened before us.
Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!
Somehow, with this era's tech—or whatever sorcery they used—the vast space lit up as if motion sensors had kicked in, banishing the darkness.
Pa Cheon: Those are all night pearls. Hundreds of them, easy.
The real tycoon stash was here all along.
Night pearls went for about the price of an S-class car back home. And they were using hundreds just to light a warehouse? It was a glimpse of the Goe Mountain Iron Family's hidden might.
Means the stuff here is on another level.
The illuminated space held shelves as tall as me, sealed behind glass like a museum exhibit. Inside were all manner of treasure artifacts and devices.
At least two hundred shelves, by my count.
"What do you think? This is the Iron Vault of our Iron Family. Everything here is Tiger Grade or higher. Only twenty are Tiger— the rest are Dragon Grade, with two Heavenly Grade."
"Impressive."
"...That's all you've got? Figures it wouldn't impress you."
Cheol Mu Geuk nodded at Pa Cheon hanging from my belt. The Pa Cheon Sword was another level even among Heavenly Grade treasures.
"Pick three to take. I've already chosen mine—you two go ahead."
"R-Really? We can pick from here?"
Cheol Mu Geuk beamed at Cho Ryang's startled question.
"Yes. That's the normal reaction. I'd love to let you grab anything... but some are off-limits. Cursed items lurk here."
"Gasp!"
"Don't worry. The seals are airtight. See those? Skip anything coated in cursed talismans."
He pointed to a display wrapped in long yellow paper strips, crossed like a hash mark. Glowing red runes of sorcerous script adorned them.
"I have no idea what to pick... There's too much."
"You need something to block fire and heat, from what I see. Your arts at second-rate yet?"
"A-Actually, I had a breakthrough last night and hit first-rate. Not perfect yet!"
"How long have you been training?"
"About two months."
"...Sado. What kind of monster did you bring?"
I nearly burst out laughing at Cheol Mu Geuk's stunned look.
"Cho Ryang, ever thought of joining our family?"
Cho Ryang looked torn but glanced my way.
First-rate in two months?
Pa Cheon: Absurd.
Talent beyond reason. Was "talent" even the word? Reducing Cho Ryang's gifts to that felt criminal—they were that insane.
...At this rate, isn't Cho Ryang basically the real protagonist?
He had every protagonist trait: slum orphan, shocking Dok Ma, begging former Heavenly Demon, coveted by a Heavenly Grade smith. Decent looks, animal whisperer too.
Too good to sideline like in the original.
"First-rate, eh? Come here, then."
Cheol Mu Geuk took Cho Ryang's hand and led him off.
"You pick too, Young Master Sado. Explanations are below each—easy enough."
"Appreciated."
It was just a loan for now, but free treasure? Score.
I browsed slowly, one by one.
Real treasures, powerful ones. Versatile, devastating effects.
...
Pa Cheon: ...
The catch? All needed inner energy or qi infusion.
Unless forged wholly from Cloud Demon Iron like my guardian ring, I couldn't power them. Only Cloud Demon Iron withstood the Heavenly Demon Divine Art in my blood.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Pa Cheon: This one...
Then something caught my eye.
Pa Cheon: Infuriating.
Pa Cheon grumbled. Fair enough—that Flying Dragon Sword screamed Pa Cheon knockoff. The all-black blade gave it away.
Probably some Goe Mountain artisan inspired by Pa Cheon's legends.
At this point, was Pa Cheon really starting to think of itself as a sword?
"Still picking?"
Cheol Mu Geuk and Cho Ryang approached. Cho Ryang clutched a bundled garment like treasure.
"Feather robe from Great Peng plumes. Blocks even forge heat just by wearing it."
"Protects exposed skin like face and hands too?"
"You know it?"
"Didn't know it was here."
I'd read about it in the Clothing Codex while buttering him up with daily visits.
"And that?"
"Golden Gate Lock."
Cheol Mu Geuk held a bundle of gleaming golden chains.
"Looks perfect for snaring Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa. But will it hold?"
"One of the two Heavenly Grades, you punk."
"That?"
Just plain golden chains, no frills.
"Heh heh. What would a non-smith know? Short as it looks, it stretches to a hundred zhang true. With energy infusion."
"Neat, but Heavenly Grade?"
"Heh heh heh. That's not all. It only reacts to mighty energy. So Pyeong—stand."
"...Must we?"
"Gotta humble that punk."
Cheol So Pyeong sighed and stepped up. Cheol Mu Geuk whirled the chain overhead like a cowboy, tossing one end at him.
Poor aim—it veered off—but then...
"Ho?"
Like a serpent striking, the end reared and curved toward Cheol So Pyeong. It coiled around him like a snake devouring prey, binding limbs tight. He stood rigid as a log.
"Break free."
Cheol So Pyeong strained, face red. No give.
"Channel Ten Thousand Phenomena Sun Divine Art."
Whoosh—!
Flames flickered over his body. But...
Hummm—!
The chains glowed fierce gold, vibrating wildly.
Poof!
The flames died.
"See? Once bound, it blocks even Super Peak power. Tighter against the strong."
"Heavenly Grade makes sense."
"Escape two ways: zero energy, or overwhelming force."
His eyes gleamed slyly—then the chains shot from Cheol So Pyeong toward me.
And...
Nothing. It veered away, ignoring me like faulty radar.
"Uh... huh...?"
Cheol Mu Geuk panicked. Planned to truss me up too, probably.
Idiot.
Meridian blockage made it useless on me.
"K-Knew you were strong, but this?"
"What's the play?"
"J-Just a prank, Young Master Sado."
"Annoying."
"So Pyeong! So Pyeong—he's gonna kill me!"
"...Embarrassing, Father."
Performance confirmed, anyway. Even Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa couldn't escape; once caught, Cho Ryang could tame it.
Chaos settled.
"Anyway, Young Master Sado. Why no pick?"
"Nothing useful."
Now I led, others trailing.
Then I spotted it.
"...Jade?"
"Missed my warning? Cursed stuff's sealed with sorcery."
A small case on a sealed shelf, plastered in talismans.
"Cursed jade."
"Cursed?"
"All who absorbed it died. Withered like life drained—instantly."
Pa Cheon and I perked up. Life drain was its schtick.
"How about that one?"
"No. Suicidal?"
I smirked, pointing to Pa Cheon's diamond-shaped slot. Cheol Mu Geuk frowned.
"Even so... Loaned, not given."
"Removable, right?"
"Hrm."
"Win-win. Tests the curse; solves a headache if real."
"Talky when hooked, eh?"
"Not curious what jade it is?"
He grunted. Artisan curiosity piqued.
"Fine."
Cheol So Pyeong protested, but stubbornness won.
He peeled the yellow paper gingerly, handing me the case like toxic waste. I stripped the talismans and opened it.
No flash, no chill—just mundane.
Golden jade inside. Gold again—kinda meh.
New jade's always welcome. Pa Cheon—ready?
Pa Cheon: Obviously.
I slotted it into Pa Cheon. Miraculously, it reshaped to fit.
And...
Pa Cheon: Hm.
Feel anything? Cursed?
Pa Cheon: Not at all. No life drain either.
Then?
Pa Cheon: Far greater. This jade is the Time Wheel Jade. It manipulates fleeting time.
I nearly choked.