Small Sun
The method to fix Sado Hwan's body was difficult.
Or could it even be called difficult?
[Ten types of elixirs left by Yakseon, spirit pills from spirit beasts holding the power of the Four Directional Gods, five or six brushes with death, forming the Lesser Supreme Ultimate, the Shaolin Abbot's body-transference technique and thousand-year Hwasu-o, ten-thousand-year snow ginseng to harmonize yin and yang.]
'He remembers it all.'
[Of course. It's about fixing my body.]
A single warrior might never encounter even one such fateful opportunity in their entire life, yet they all had to be crammed into a single body.
Only then could the qi and blood barely flow freely, allowing Sado Hwan's body to barely reach first-rate.
[This could be the starting point. Didn't you say the same? That if Ma Ui latches on, the condition could improve somehow.]
For now, the situation right in front of me took precedence over responding to Pa Cheon.
"Sit down. Your injuries look serious."
Paeng Soso nodded with effort and approached her seat.
Dang Si Hyeok naturally pulled out her chair for her.
"How did you make it all the way here?"
"I heard the news."
"Your speech feels a bit different somehow."
I must have unconsciously used the speech patterns from the cult.
"I heard the news. Living long in foreign lands has its effects."
"Well, the fact that an Easterner is fluent in our tongue is impressive enough. Anyway. Hey, Dang Si Hyeok. Rub her arm a bit."
"Why me?"
"This big sis is hurting."
"Ugh, I oughta stick a needle in you."
For all his words, Dang Si Hyeok carefully massaged Paeng Soso's arm, looking worried for her.
"Anyway. That ruin—it really was Yakseon's ruin."
At those words, Dang Si Hyeok looked back at me. Wondering if I knew.
I ignored him for now and continued.
"How did you confirm it?"
"Ruins left by Eastern sages usually have traces. There were symbols representing Yakseon—"
"Hibiscus flower patterns."
"Exactly. You know your stuff."
Dang Si Hyeok's suspicion seemed to ease a little at my words.
Paeng Soso pressed on.
"Of course, it could be fake, but I don't think so."
"Evidence?"
"No madman would make a door out of Cloud Star Iron and engrave someone else's symbols on it."
[Cloud Demon Iron, huh.]
'Yeah.'
In the cult, it was called Cloud Demon Iron; in the central plains, Cloud Star Iron. Same metal, different names.
Always rare this and that, but popping up commonly in 'ancient ruins'—that was the hallmark of rare metals.
If Paeng Soso was right, the chances were high that it truly was Yakseon's ruin.
'The ten elixirs from Yakseon do appear in the story.'
The original Mu Jin had eaten them. It might even be the ruin where that ten-set was unearthed.
If so, what had been a quiet excavation in the original had blown up into major conflict this time.
'So many variables, I can't even call any one of them the variable.'
As expected, it seemed I'd have to face things head-on to grasp the full picture.
"The ruin's in Bang Tae Mountain, which has a gorge. They built it into a crevice in the gorge."
"They've probably sealed off the gorge entrance."
"Spot on."
Paeng Soso nodded.
"Those shady Tang Clan bastards have it blocked off, probing the ruin. They'll fail, though."
"Can't... can't open the Cloud Star Iron?"
"I hit it full force—no scratch."
"To damage Cloud Star Iron, you need at least gang qi. Or some other method."
Dang Si Hyeok, who'd been listening, spoke up.
"That's why he's a fake. A true heir of Yakseon would've opened the door long ago. Right, hyungnim?"
"The vibe feels suspicious."
At Paeng Soso's words, I nodded to Dang Si Hyeok. He said,
"Paeng Soso."
"It's big sis."
"Anyway. This hyungnim here is—"
"The Eastern Sword Dragon, right?"
"Don't interrupt. The Eastern Sword Dragon and the true heir of Yakseon."
"......What? This guy?"
Paeng Soso narrowed her eyes and scanned me up and down.
"Handsome, strong in martial arts, and now heir of Yakseon too? Got it all? Gotta marry me then, huh?"
"Seeing you spout nonsense means you're all better."
"Still hurts. That guard's martial arts are insane."
With that, Paeng Soso casually lifted her shirt.
Dang Si Hyeok and I turned away simultaneously, but my freakish dynamic vision caught it.
A massive wound slashing diagonally across Paeng Soso's abdomen.
"Huh? You shy boys. What's the big deal over this."
"S-still, put it down. We get it."
"Anyway. Without that spirit beast, I might've really died. Thanks, Dang Si Hyeok."
"Thank hyungnim. He told me about that spirit beast."
"As expected! True heir of Yakseon!"
Paeng Soso gave a thumbs-up, acting cheerful, but soon grimaced and hunched over. Up close, she was covered in cold sweat.
"Ugh, hurts like hell. Hey, Kim hyung. As Yakseon's heir, can't you check me out?"
[She's trembling. Classic symptom when alien qi infiltrates the body. Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa can help.]
"Yakseon was good at making medicines, not doctoring."
"No elixir for internal injuries?"
"I have some. But."
I whistled. Mu Geuk-i, still playing with the stray cats outside, flapped over and perched on my shoulder.
"Mu Geuk-i. Breathe fire on that woman."
Piik-!
Mu Geuk-i didn't hesitate, spewing flames at Paeng Soso. She flinched at first, trying to dodge, then accepted them with a pleased smile.
"What the—? You're nuts?"
"Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa's flames purify impurities. Even alien qi gnawing from inside. More effective than any healing elixir."
"Fine, I admit it. You're the real heir of Yakseon."
As Mu Geuk-i's flames died down, Paeng Soso's complexion eased greatly.
"Whoa. Feels like my internal injuries are gone in one go."
"Don't overdo it. The damage is still there."
"Your speech is weird, seriously. You sure you're not a Nangong?"
"......Anyway. So the only real threat is that guard?"
"Dang Si Yul's forces... Ah, so they're no threat."
Honestly, yeah. Even leaving Sa Wol to handle the guard, Mu Geuk-i could clean up the rest.
"Unless the Tang Clan commits more forces. They'd side with their young lord Dang Si Yul."
"I'm sorry......"
"Not your fault. If anything, you kept faith with me and ended up like this—I should be sorry."
At my words, Dang Si Hyeok's face nearly crumpled in tears.
[Your silver tongue works everywhere.]
'Call it flowery speech?'
Pa Cheon snorted in response.
"You too—take a hit from Mu Geuk-i's flames."
Dang Si Hyeok nodded and accepted them. The darkened patches on his body began regaining their original color.
"We don't have much time left."
I continued.
"Tang reinforcements aren't the only variable. If word spreads it's truly Yakseon's ruin, all sorts of factions will swarm."
"Even those scary Kunlun Taoist uncles."
"Plus, Gansu borders the unorthodox realm. Sa Wang Castle folks could show up too."
"That's why ruins are a speed game. Tsk."
"How far is Bang Tae Mountain from here?"
"Took five days and nights coming injured......"
"Not far, then."
Gauging the distance, riding Mu Geuk-i could get us there in under an hour.
"Small elite team. Leave the Spear Unit and your subordinates here."
"Is that okay?"
"Harsh truth, but the injured would just be baggage."
"Hmmm—."
Paeng Soso narrowed her eyes at my words.
Probably because she'd been leading those 'weak ones' herself.
"Like it or not, better than the ruin falling to some shady unknown."
"What the hell is Dang Si Yul thinking? Teaming with some nobody as a major clan's young lord?"
Paeng Soso muttered, and Dang Si Hyeok's face darkened further.
[Familiar face pisses you off, huh.]
'Got any words of wisdom?'
[......You'll handle it.]
'Yeah.'
[You'll handle it, but tell him this: If you see him veering wrong, smack the back of his head and guide him right—that's family's role.]
What a tsundere.
I relayed Pa Cheon's words, and Dang Si Hyeok teetered on the brink of tears before barely holding it back.
"Thank you, hyungnim."
"We leave at dawn tomorrow."
"Guek!"
"Urk!"
Dang Si Hyeok and Paeng Soso retched the moment they dismounted Mu Geuk-i. Probably because they had no concept of 'flying'.
- Central plains folk are so fragile. Can't even handle this.
Tak Horak mocked them via transmission. What a clown. He'd been the same at first.
Anyway.
With the injured pair on my back and the other two dangling from Mu Geuk-i's legs, we flew half a shichen and reached Bang Tae Mountain.
The gorge had a narrow mouth but soared dizzyingly high. Comparable to Forgotten Soul Valley's gorge.
I channeled Heavenly Demon Divine Art qi to my eyes. Like using a telescope, the hazy depths below sharpened into focus.
First to appear: stern-faced warriors in light green uniforms.
'Tang Clan warriors.'
Hundreds of them. Packed in the narrow gorge like cabbage worms.
Probably Dang Si Yul's group.
At the center of their camp was an unmistakably artificial structure—the ruin entrance.
"Problem is sneaking in without getting spotted."
Paeng Soso muttered.
"Tang Clan all needled up like a hedgehog—tough to break. Sneak in, seize the rear at once to minimize casualties."
"I see."
"Not 'I see'—"
Paeng Soso insisted.
"Sure, I struck first, but if we attack now, it's a declaration of war."
"No worries."
"......Even a Super Peak expert, Kim hyung—subduing three hundred warriors silently? With first-rates and Peaks mixed in?"
"Didn't say I'd do it."
Instead.
"Sa Wol."
"Yes."
"Subdue them silently."
"Understood."
Sa Wol leaped off the cliff without hesitation.
"!?"
"Keep your wits about you, whatever method. Unless you want to get hit."
"What are you— that woman, at best Peak—"
That instant.
A small sun rose in Bang Tae Mountain's gorge. Paeng Soso, watching Sa Wol descend from the cliff edge, took a direct hit.
"Uh...... uh......"
Paeng Soso's eyes glazed blankly.
"So...... a few days ago I stole that Gopok guy's rice balls...... and before that lied about extra booze......"
"Told you to stay sharp."
I clicked my tongue.
Dang Si Hyeok looked bewildered.
"What just happened?"
"Sa Wol's simsang."
"Simsang......! Even hyungnim's subordinate reached Super Peak?"
"Fresh enlightenment, still immature. But now just put them all to sleep with acupuncture and we're in."
"T-that's immature?"
Hundreds of warriors knelt in prayer-like trance—
Wuuung!
Sa Wol stood aloof amid the worship, a small sun blooming in her palm.
Pretending to Be the Heavenly Demon