We'll Discuss That When the Time Comes
As he'd sensed when they first met Paeng Gang-ung in Henan Province, the man's energy was different from that of the other Paeng Clan warriors.
It was such a subtle difference that only Jeong Gwang could detect it, leaving him curious about what it might be...
Then the Reverse Heaven Mirror in his bosom began to vibrate, making it clear.
'Evil qi?'
*Wooong! Wooong!*
The Reverse Heaven Mirror vibrated excitedly in response.
It was a demon-illuminating mirror, capable of detecting and revealing demonic qi and evil qi, exposing their true nature.
In short, it was a treasure among treasures.
For such an artifact to react to that faint evil qi was no small matter.
'It's so subtle it's hard to detect, but that means a considerable power is embedded within.'
*Wooong! Wooong!*
Jeong Gwang, once the lord of the demonic path, would never miss demonic qi.
So it had to be evil qi, though he hadn't been able to confirm it definitively before.
Today, he finally knew for sure.
Thanks to the Reverse Heaven Mirror.
'Not bad, you little thing. Pretty useful.'
*Wooong! Wooong!*
'But hey.'
*...Wooong?*
'Didn't I tell you to stay dead silent until I call for you?'
*...!*
'Why'd you vibrate on your own?'
The Reverse Heaven Mirror snapped to attention.
This absurd young monster carrying it around wasn't right in the head.
It had to come up with an excuse, fast.
But you found out thanks to me!
Say that, and it'd be obliterated on the spot.
I'm sorry! Forgive me!
That might get it beaten half to death.
In the end, only one option remained!
The Reverse Heaven Mirror opted for the latter!
But...
Unfortunately, it lacked the spiritual energy to speak.
'Oh? No answer?'
*...*
'Oho, got some guts, huh? We'll talk later.'
*...Woooooong...*
The Reverse Heaven Mirror wailed in grief, but Jeong Gwang couldn't tell.
It was just noisy to him.
'Should I just erase you now?'
*...*
Jeong Gwang wrapped up the matter simply and turned his attention back to Paeng Gang-ung.
The journey from the Murim Alliance in Henan to the Paeng Clan in Hebei wasn't short.
His group's clothes were caked in dust from the hurried travel, but their momentum was imposing.
And among them, Paeng Gang-ung stood out head and shoulders above the rest.
'The Paeng Clan's legitimate heir is harboring evil qi?'
Evil qi so covert that no one else could detect it, yet so dangerous.
A technique of that caliber had to be connected to the Sima Lian.
Now the pieces were falling into place.
'That pig, Sang So-un.'
Jeong Gwang's mood lifted.
It was worth coming all the way to the Paeng Clan.
Sang So-un was the second disciple of the Sima Lian Lord.
Someone of that status would surely bring a horde of elites.
'The sooner they show up, the better.'
They were probably already nearby, plotting something.
'When those bastards swarm in...'
He'd cut loose to his heart's content.
He had the perfect excuse of aiding the Paeng Clan, and since the Sima Lian were enemies of the Murim Alliance, there was no need to hold back.
This was his first real chance since reincarnating to go all out!
But hold on.
Look at this guy?
'Hey, why are you gulping like that?'
*...Wooong.*
'Lying now too? Should I just dominate your soul and make you my puppet?'
*Wooong! Wooong!*
Jeong Gwang nearly drew Yunryong to slash at it a few times but held back.
More pressing matters awaited.
— Paeng Gongja. Hold on a moment.
Paeng Gang-hwi, who had been rushing to greet his brother, paused.
— Hm? Why the transmission all of a sudden?
— Was the eldest gongja coming too?
— Indeed.
— Why?
— Someone has to greet the guests in Father's place for this banquet.
That meant his grandfather, Pang Man-so, had fully retired from clan affairs.
'So Paeng Gang-ung's representing the Paeng Clan and hosting the banquet. This could be fun.'
Something was bound to happen at the feast.
Jeong Gwang decided to enjoy it.
But first, there was something he had to do.
— Paeng Gongja. I'm not Jeong Gwang—I'm Hyeokryeon Hu.
It was an out-of-left-field statement, but the quick-witted Paeng Gang-hwi caught on.
— ...You want me to hide your identity from my brother too?
— Yes.
Paeng Gang-hwi couldn't understand.
Why would Jeong Gwang ask this?
'Did he come here hiding his identity because of my brother?'
He needed details.
— Mind telling me why?
— We're not on good terms.
— ...
— No need to make things awkward.
— ...
Paeng Gang-hwi got it.
He knew Jeong Gwang's usual demeanor and behavior.
'They're not close. Hell, as long as they don't fight, that'll be a relief.'
Wasn't it the same when he'd met Jeong Gwang before?
Memories of his father's letters about Jeong Gwang surfaced.
'Pure praise. But for my brother...'
Hardly anything.
Unusually so.
'There must've been some friction.'
Paeng Gang-ung was a man of fine character but fierce competitive spirit.
He even showed it toward his own brother, Paeng Gang-hwi.
'Probably the same with the Jade Cloud Dragon.'
And Jeong Gwang's personality was no ordinary thing.
Hiding like this must be consideration for the Paeng Clan.
Even so...
— Jade Cloud Dragon. We can't keep deceiving my brother forever.
Jeong Gwang had no intention of hiding forever, of course.
— Don't worry. I'll reveal it myself and apologize someday.
Probably while thrashing Paeng Gang-ung.
And apologize while at it.
Paeng Gang-hwi couldn't know such thoughts.
— Understood. We'll do that.
As soon as the transmission ended, he unleashed his movement technique and dashed to his brother.
Jeong Gwang watched for a moment and grinned.
'Perfect timing.'
Pang Man-so was approaching Jeong Gwang, apparently to greet Paeng Gang-ung.
— Elder. One favor, please.
Jeong Gwang sent Pang Man-so the same transmission as to Paeng Gang-hwi.
Pang Man-so merely gazed at him with deep, probing eyes.
— What, you don't believe me?
“...”
— We really don't get along.
“...”
Pang Man-so didn't budge.
Jeong Gwang sighed inwardly.
He knew this sharp old man wasn't ignoring the transmission out of inability to hear it—he simply didn't believe him.
What could he do?
He had to give a little.
— You asked why I came hiding my identity, right?
Pang Man-so's head tilted ever so slightly.
— Same answer as then. I'll tell you once it's certain.
“...”
— I'm doing this for the Paeng Clan. Cooperate a bit.
Only then did Pang Man-so speak.
“I hope your suspicions prove wrong.”
— Feels right to me.
“...And if they are right? What then?”
Jeong Gwang met Pang Man-so's eyes.
Fierce killing intent burned within them.
'Quite the temper. Makes sense—it's about his grandson.'
Unlike his usual self, Jeong Gwang yielded generously.
— We'll discuss that when the time comes.
Pang Man-so yielded too.
Though it concerned his eldest grandson, he'd trust Jeong Gwang for now.
Still, as Paeng Gang-ung's grandfather and the Paeng Clan's elder, he had words that must be said.
“You must.”
Jeong Gwang was busy.
Back at the training ground, he... persuaded Pang Su-bin—no, threatened her, and cautioned Baek Seung-mu.
“Don't act like you know that guy.”
“Got it, saje.”
“Oh. Gotta change faces too.”
Sang So-un might show up personally.
Since he'd detected the qi of the Thousand Transformations Disguise Bone Shrink Demonic Art, he'd need another disguise method.
Like the one he'd used on Baek Seung-mu.
'Annoying to do it once a day, but no choice.'
Jeong Gwang poked his own face with his fingers.
A few prods, and it warped into that of an overly gentle-looking young man.
Baek Seung-mu and Jao, watching, gaped.
'Too damn innocent-looking!'
'How can it suit him this poorly!'
But there was a difference between them.
Baek Seung-mu was less skilled at hiding his thoughts than Jao.
It was so ridiculous, the words slipped out.
“Saje... that's a bit...”
“Why?”
As Jeong Gwang's eyes sharpened, Baek Seung-mu flinched.
“N-nothing!”
“You too, saje. Come here.”
“...Please go easy this time.”
“Of course.”
Jeong Gwang roughly poked Baek Seung-mu's face, then fixed Jao's.
“Hm. Looks good.”
Jeong Gwang smiled in satisfaction, but why did it feel so ominous?
Baek Seung-mu and Jao stared at each other and recoiled in horror.
“Gasp!”
“Eek!”
They stared for a long while.
Finally, Baek Seung-mu asked in a trembling voice.
“...How's my face?”
“...You look so pitiful I wanna give you my coin pouch. How about me?”
“...A vile rich man's face, grease dripping from every pore. Makes me wanna shave you bald.”
The two sighed deeply, as if the ground had caved in.
Jeong Gwang, the only one pleased, consoled them.
“Saje, it suits you pretty well. Jao fits too.”
Unable to hold back, Baek Seung-mu exploded.
“Why are you the only handsome one?!”
“Exactly. My base is so good, it stays handsome no matter how I twist it.”
“...”
“Got energy to yell? Your training's been too lax.”
“Gasp! Th-that's...”
“Good. Let's tighten it up.”
Jeong Gwang drilled Baek Seung-mu.
And Jao, who hadn't even moved.
Soon, they collapsed, utterly spent.
'Oops. Now what?'
Jeong Gwang waited for deep night.
Plenty of time left.
Maybe grab some food...
Pang Su-bin spoke up hesitantly.
“Master.”
“Yeah?”
“That disguise technique earlier...”
“...?”
After a pause, she mustered her courage.
“Could you teach me too?”
Jeong Gwang smiled unwittingly.
No matter how mature Pang Su-bin acted, she was still a child.
Curious about such tricks, naturally.
He answered warmly.
“You're too weak. Can't.”
“...”
“You'd need at least thirty years... Hold on.”
Jeong Gwang cut off, calculating mentally.
Soon, a way to shorten it emerged.
'To grow her fast, give her a more efficient cultivation method.'
The Paeng Clan's was decent, but didn't quite suit her temperament.
Nor her swordsmanship.
'To use her properly, raise her right.'
Jeong Gwang took Pang Su-bin to her room and had her begin qi circulation and breath regulation.
Soon, she entered the Lesser Heavenly Circulation.
Impressive focus for a child.
'Her talent's top-notch, as expected.'
He placed a hand on her Mingmen acupoint, observing her true qi flow.
By the third Lesser Heavenly Circulation, he had the measure.
'Not much needs fixing.'
Jeong Gwang completed the mental diagram and transmitted to his disciple.
— Follow my true qi's movement.
'...!'
— Don't panic.
'...'
The clever Pang Su-bin instinctively knew.
Her master was teaching her a cultivation method.
Worry hit first.
'Will it clash with the clan method?'
Then Jeong Gwang infused a strand of true qi to guide her.
Pang Su-bin decided.
'I trust Master!'
Doubt had no place in the master-disciple bond.
Especially when the master was the Jade Cloud Dragon.
She followed that path.
Similar to her old one, yet different.
The Lesser Heavenly Circulation followed a slightly altered route from the original Mixed Essence Unity Art, soon reaching the Greater Heavenly Circulation.
Jeong Gwang had already withdrawn his hand.
Having memorized the path, Pang Su-bin continued on her own.
For a good while.
Under Jeong Gwang's watch, she entered a new path.
Though uncharted, she instinctively accepted it as more fitting.
Jeong Gwang watched and chuckled softly.
'Might grow faster than I thought.'
The Paeng Clan heirs truly had martial talent.
'So why'd that one learn an evil art?'
He'd find out soon enough.
Jeong Gwang stood.
Opening the door revealed full night.
Time for business.