Jao (Merciful Crow)
From his past life to this one.
No one who had tasted Jeong Gwang's methods stayed silent.
Moreover, this man was from the unorthodox paths.
It meant he could be treated without kid gloves.
Jeong Gwang, brimming with excitement, hoisted the man over his shoulder and returned to the inn.
When he removed the mask, the familiar face appeared.
"You're the guy who was with that pig young master. Nice to meet you."
Jeong Gwang pried open the man's mouth, extracted the poison pill, and gave a light warning.
"Don't even think about biting your tongue. My hands are faster. Oh, and even if you try, it won't come off clean. It'll just hurt like hell."
Jeong Gwang paused just as he was about to strike.
But I'm a righteous sect member now. Can't go too far.
He was a Kunlun Taoist from one of the most prestigious sects, after all.
If word reached his master, he'd be reciting Taoist scriptures—and possibly confined to quarters.
Jeong Gwang urged him once more.
"Speak if you want to. Or... no?"
Without giving the man a chance to reply, he struck.
Poke!
"……!"
Just a jab at the Central Mansion acupoint, and an overwhelming wave of agony crashed in!
"Wow, not even a groan. A real man, huh? I'll treat you accordingly."
The man's eyes widened as if they might tear.
Jeong Gwang's eyes curved like crescent moons.
"Been a while since I loosened up."
The former True Heavenly Demon had no mercy in his hands.
Not by wounding or breaking bones.
He injected inner energy with bizarre techniques, inflicting excruciating pain.
The man fainted and woke repeatedly.
Jeong Gwang admired his silence.
"You sure you're unorthodox? They weren't this tough back in the day."
"……."
"Fascinating. Let's keep going."
The man writhed, tears and snot streaming.
Jeong Gwang continued, then sensed something off.
"This is beyond human endurance... Oh, right. I sealed his dumbstruck acupoint."
Jeong Gwang released it.
The man's mouth and tongue moved faster than light.
"Great hero! I'll tell you everything—please spare me! This lowly one was born the eldest son among three brothers and sisters in Zheng'an County, Guizhou Province, forty-three years ago. At eleven, I joined the Pacheonbang under the Evil Black Alliance, and……."
His words were rapid and endless.
Fear of Jeong Gwang striking again made him babble madly.
But Jeong Gwang couldn't listen to it all.
He tried interrupting several times…….
"I killed my eldest and third brothers! It was unavoidable for survival—surely you'll show leniency, and……."
Each time, the man's desperate cries stopped him.
With nothing better to do, Jeong Gwang lounged back and listened to his life story.
"Oof. That's rough."
"Thank you for understanding, great hero! If I may explain further, it wasn't my desire to embezzle public funds, but……."
Listening quietly, Jeong Gwang realized Sima Lian's influence was vast.
The man wasn't high-ranking, so details were limited, but it was clear.
"Unorthodox life treating you well?"
"Very profit…… Sorry! It's worse than a beast's deed! Speaking of which, Sima Lian's lot are all mad! Not a sane one among the lord or his disciples! Take the second one, for example……."
The man spoke without pause; Jeong Gwang asked what intrigued him.
He learned much, but one thing stumped the man.
"You don't know why they're in Hebei?"
"I swear! Believe me, great hero!"
The man banged his head on the floor in plea.
"The ground's gonna cave. Stop. Blocking sound with energy is annoying enough—now the floor too?"
"Ah! My stupidity blinded me. I'll speak softly from now."
"So, to Hebei for some grand scheme? But you don't know what?"
"That pig young master, Sang So-un the Evil Elephant. That swine's skilled in evil arts, suspicious and cunning—even doesn't tell his confidants ahead."
"Harsh-mouthing your superior like that? Kinda extreme."
The man froze mid-reply.
His fogged mind cleared slightly, doubt rising.
Why am I spilling everything so eagerly?
Torture was bad, but this didn't add up.
He was trained for espionage and assassination.
He knew how to endure interrogation, keep silent when captured.
……No way!
As suspicion dawned, Jeong Gwang's voice came.
"Look at me."
"……!"
The man instinctively looked—and froze.
Jeong Gwang's eyes gleamed like glass.
His cleared gaze clouded again; facial muscles slackened.
Jeong Gwang nodded, checking.
Well-trained. Freed briefly, and he almost snapped out.
Jeong Gwang had cast the Soul Capturing Art.
It pierced the mind, compelling answers—more effective after intense pain.
Drawback: prolonged use shattered the mind.
So, occasional releases; the man nearly recovered in that instant.
Annoying to toggle. Just use Demonic Spirit Soul Control Art?
Jeong Gwang shook his head.
It crumbled the will for domination.
For warning Mugak Sayong or halting Un Hu's ascension—not this man.
Would leave him witless, disposable.
Got most intel. But wasting him's a shame.
His martial arts were mediocre, but stealth and infiltration solid.
As a Kunlun disciple, clashes with Sima Lian loomed. Useful asset.
Soul Capturing Demonic Eye Art won't cut it. Time for that.
Jeong Gwang pulled small vials from his robe.
Opened corks, pondered, mixed liquids into an empty one.
Shook it—liquid turned vividly eerie green.
"Name's Jin Chung, right?"
"Yes, great hero."
Jeong Gwang offered it.
"Expensive stuff. Drink it all."
"Yes, great hero."
Still under Soul Capturing Art, Jin Chung drank without hesitation.
Then clutched his throat, rolling in agony.
"Gaaahhh!"
Jin Chung's mind snapped clear.
Any spell vanished.
The poison inflicted monstrous pain.
"Guhhh. P-Please... spare……."
"Over soon. Hang in there."
"Kuhk. Cough. Cough. H-How long?"
"Hmm. Generously, two shichen?"
"……!"
Jin Chung's eyes bulged.
Endure this for two shichen?
You bastard!
His mind back, he glared venomously.
Jeong Gwang chuckled.
"Tough guy, nice. Don't thrash—lie still."
Jeong Gwang sealed his Ma-hyeol (Paralysis Points), instantly rendering him completely immobile. Then, he struck the dumbstruck acupoint; a sudden and profound silence fell over the scene.
Two shichen... what to do?
Rushed poison—duration uncertain.
Time for Qi Circulation and Breath Regulation.
Jeong Gwang sat cross-legged.
Introspecting silently, he smiled satisfied.
Thanks to steady True Void Wonderful Existence Pills and later elixirs. He'd nearly fully refined Supreme Pure Unsurpassed Divine Art energy into his new method.
Finish it now.
Jeong Gwang recalled the Three Pure Ones United Divine Art incantation.
Kunlun founder's creation—no one had mastered it.
Rightly so…….
Grab clouds in moderation.
The verses were incomprehensible gibberish.
But Jeong Gwang differed.
Sensing profundity, he'd pored over eagerly.
Conclusion: anticlimactic.
Just self-praise, ultimately.
Excellent art, yes.
Who else gathered such pure, serene energy?
But the founder's self-adulation wrinkled Jeong Gwang's nose.
Jade Qilin pales.
Kunlun Taoists interpreted: "Yuanshi Tianzun, Taishang Laojun, Lingbao Tianzun's virtues fill the world; they unite as the Dao."
As scripture, not cultivation.
Truth: founder's arrogant boast of embodying the Three Pure Ones.
Wait a bit. I'll remake you better.
Muttered to the founder—wandering immortal realms or nine hells—Jeong Gwang refocused.
Dantian energy awakened, surging through meridians.
How much time passed?
Jeong Gwang opened his eyes.
Deeper, more profound.
Good enough.
Refined energy fully; foundation solid.
Build atop steadily.
Huh? What's that smell?
Foul stench.
Impurities purged long ago via pills—what now?
"Ah!"
Jin Chung, shoved in the corner.
He'd soiled himself.
"Ugh, seriously. A martial artist can't hold it?"
Jin Chung felt wronged.
How hold under that agony?
But more pressing:
His pupils shook wildly.
D-Doing Qi Circulation and Breath Regulation, three flowers bloom above his head! The legendary Three Flowers Gather at the Summit!
Three Flowers Gather at the Summit: exhaling energy forms flower-like clusters.
No mere feat.
Rare to witness.
Cultivation vulnerable to slightest disturbance.
Who risks another nearby?
Lucky Jin Chung trembled—eyes only, body sealed—awed? No, terrified.
Impossible at his age! Illusion!
Jeong Gwang was unfathomable.
Sang So-un pegged him demonic.
Yet Kunlun disciple.
The rising star, True Jade Dragon!
Unmasked, rumors undersold his looks.
Martial prowess worse—such power young?
What is he? Human?
Jeong Gwang approached.
Hand on Jin Chung's head, coldly:
"I'll purify you."
"……?"
Immense heat poured from Jeong Gwang's palm.
Engulfed head, swept body, incinerating all.
Aaahhh!
Jin Chung screamed inwardly.
Melting to ash…….
No.
……Huh?
Filth vanished traceless!
Bewildered, blinking, Jeong Gwang released acupoints.
His Ma-hyeol (Paralysis Points) were struck, leaving him utterly dumbstruck and motionless.
"Open the door. Need ventilation."
"……Yes! Yes!"
Jin Chung flung it open.
Cool air rushed in.
Deep night outside.
Strange sensation.
This is... being alive.
Captured sans suicide chance.
Tortured brutally, ensorcelled evilly.
Spilled all Sima Lian secrets—then fed hellish poison.
Pain, fear... soul crumbling to dust.
Then the majestic Three Flowers…….
...And now, clean body in cool night breeze.
Longest day ever.
Tragically, not over.
"Sit here."
"Yes, great hero."
Jin Chung obeyed meekly.
No contesting him.
"Drop the 'great hero'."
"……Then True Jade Dragon."
"Better. You know what you drank?"
"Yes."
"Chronic Poison. No antidote, that pain repeats."
Jin Chung nodded silently.
Jeong Gwang could craft any poison.
Still, ask:
"Antidote frequency?"
"Rough mix, unsure. Every three days?"
No energy or will to rage.
Already Jeong Gwang's slave.
"I told True Jade Dragon everything. Back to the Lian? Death awaits. Take me in."
"Then, terms."
"……Pardon?"
Jeong Gwang glanced outside.
"Junior brother's thoughts?"
Jin Chung sensed Baek Seung-mu too—no surprise.
Baek Seung-mu, entering sodden and heavy, asked:
"……Who's this?"
"Hero Jin."
Jin Chung interjected:
"Just Jin Chung, please."
"Nah. Nickname?"
"Jao (Merciful Crow)."
"Crow? Who named that?"
"That young master."
"That pig always rubs me wrong. Crow? What crow."
Shaking head pityingly, Jeong Gwang magnanimously:
"I'll change it to Gak-eung (Hawk Eagle)."
"Thank you. Henceforth, Gak-eung."
"Huh?"
Jeong Gwang baffled; Jin Chung puzzled.
"Wasn't that it?"
"Name change does squat. Build skill first."
"……Then?"
"I'll train you worthy of Gak-eung. Work hard."
"……!"
Jin Chung trembled faintly.
Such chance for me!
Demonic arts? Kunlun energy? Irrelevant.
Jeong Gwang: supreme powerhouse.
Prostrated, cried:
"I'll serve as lord henceforth!"
"Bit much."
"……."
"Later. Junior brother, why so late?"
Baek Seung-mu, mind blown by stranger and antics:
"Junior brother!"
"Ah! Yes, senior brother."
"Why late?"
"Iron Blood Manor Lord messaged: arriving in three days. Must max work my sword till then."
"Oh? Nice."
Jeong Gwang's anticipation shone.
That day couldn't come soon enough.
Meanwhile, Baek Seung-mu burned with questions.
"Senior brother. Who the hell is he?"
Jeong Gwang's reply: concise.
"Our eyes and ears."