Another VIP, or a Sucker.
Honestly, I hadn't even considered a situation like this.
Running away the moment I unleashed Flying Waterfall Flash.
...Is this part of some strategy?
I'd been on guard just in case, but it sure looked like a genuine escape.
What a petty bastard.
Heavenly Demon Divine Art is wasted on him.
Is he really my soul-linked counterpart?
Well!
Even if we're the same soul sharing memories and experiences, our environments are different.
Here it's Earth, over there it's the murim world of Jianghu.
I'm the same way.
Kim Taeju is Kim Taeju, and Dang Gunak is Dang Gunak.
Anyway, the battle erupted starting with Flying Waterfall Flash.
In that single volley, about eight mines bit the dust.
The emperor charged at the dazed vice chairman.
Zamal, the vice chairman, startled into his beast form to block the emperor's attack.
Clang!
"Do you have any idea how long I've waited for this moment?"
"...This time, I'll kill you for good."
Meanwhile, Geum Suhu went berserk, swinging his new sword every chance he got.
Slash! Slish-slash-slash!
"This is my sword right here!"
Ilbaek transformed into his white tiger form too,
"Kyarr!"
and hunted only the true demons on Taeju's orders.
Crunch! Crunnnch!
Taeju wasn't slacking off either.
Tssspit!
Willow Leaf Daggers fired from his hand like machine-gun rounds.
Heavy Soul-Stealing Fingers hurtling through the air.
Tssshaaa!
The demoralized mines were easier than regular beasts.
Before long, the only surviving mine was the vice chairman battling the emperor.
Things seemed wrapped up, so time to switch to spectator mode?
Clang! Cling-clang-clang!
Zamal in beast form—already master rank at baseline.
No pushover by any means.
His body blazed with demonic energy.
A monster straight out of a horror flick.
Any average awakener would shatter just brushing that demonic aura.
But his opponent was the emperor.
The empire's strongest awakener.
An emperor transformed beyond recognition.
Zing! Ziiing! Chaaang!
Every time the emperor's sword pressed down, Zamal retreated without a chance to counter.
"Is that all you've got? How disappointing."
"Y-You bastard!"
Blood vessels burst in Zamal's eyes.
The emperor had grown stronger.
And something was mixed into his mana.
It was gnawing away at his own demonic energy.
Pushing back with demonic power did nothing.
It stubbornly burrowed inside, disrupting his demonic flow.
What the hell?
Zamal had no way of knowing.
Not just raw strength—the emperor's mana now flowed with celestial energy from consuming immortal peaches, a treasure of the celestial realm.
He'd even hogged Geum Suhu's share, and drank even more of the immortal liquor Taeju gave him out of pity for Suhu.
Celestial energy repels evil and malevolence.
Mines, who devour others' hearts and organs to grow strong, were the epitome of malevolence.
Thus, Mine Zamal could only face judgment from that celestial energy.
The emperor knew it too.
The peaches and liquor from Chairman Kim Taeju.
I've received too great a gift.
Thanks to the energy within, he was toying with the bastard who'd once driven him to the brink of death.
Suddenly!
Dengk!
His elbow sliced clean off,
"Ah..."
He rushed to block with his other hand, but...
The emperor's horizontal slash cleaved his waist.
Slaaash-crunch!
Upper and lower body fully severed.
His torso slid sideways.
"...Kuh!"
Even in death, one question lingered in Zamal's mind.
Why did the chairman run?
With Vice Chairman Zamal's death, no living mines remained.
"What? All dead? We should've left at least one alive."
The emperor grilled Geum Suhu sharply.
"Didn't you get too carried away with that new sword? You should've spared at least one."
Geum Suhu pointed at Ilbaek with a gruff tone.
"This guy's the one who killed more than me."
"Nyang?"
"...Hah, you've been backtalking nonstop."
"Nyaaang!"
"Look, just fire me or send me away already."
"Six months' pay docked... Or swap swords with me, and I'll let it slide."
"I'll submit my resignation."
While the emperor and Geum Suhu bickered like kids,
Taeju inspected the corpses of the dead mines in beast form.
Not this one, not that one either...
Good.
No sign of the mine Jeong Yeonhui had shown him among the dead.
But what about that runaway bastard?
Ditching his men and bolting alone.
He'd fled the instant Flying Waterfall Flash went off, without even fighting properly.
I'd get it if he were weak.
But that guy was a powerhouse—not even Taeju could guarantee victory.
How do I catch the one who ran?
Too fast to even chase.
If I knew his real name and face, I could use a tracking talisman.
Celestial tracking talismans aren't omnipotent.
You need solid info on the target.
Used it twice so far.
Once to find the Black Evil Dragon, once to rescue his father in the Paju DMZ monster zone.
But Earth's Heavenly Demon? No name, no face.
"That guy who ran earlier... I just can't figure it out. He seemed the strongest, but I was on high alert."
The emperor was curious about the fleeing Heavenly Demon too.
"Yeah, tell me about it."
"Who the hell could he be?"
"Gone means no way to know."
Taeju had no intention of explaining in detail to the emperor.
Too complicated.
And thinking about it, maybe not the Heavenly Demon.
Didn't Dang Gunak kill Jianghu's Heavenly Demon?
Anyone who learns Heavenly Demon Divine Art a Heavenly Demon?
Could be a disciple.
Meaning remnants of the Demonic Cult might linger in Jianghu murim.
But even so, that's human realm business.
Not for an ascended immortal to worry about.
This incident happened on Earth.
So he'd handle it personally.
No need to worry Dang Gunak over it.
Time to wrap up and head home.
Geum Suhu called in the Sahara Plains Pioneer Force.
After waiting a while collecting bodies,
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
Four helicopters flew in from afar.
The Pioneer Legion Commander-in-Chief, Major General Seo Gangjin, rushed over upon hearing His Majesty had graced Barun.
"L-Loyalty!!!"
The emperor half-acknowledged the salute,
"Gangjin."
"Y-Yes, Your Majesty!"
"What is this? Making a fool of yourself in front of Chairman Kim Taeju—Napan, Barun, all of it."
"E-Execute me, Your Majesty. It's all my incompetence."
"Really kill you?"
"..."
"Killing monsters doesn't automatically make it empire land."
"I have no place to put myself."
"Do better, yeah?"
After instilling discipline, he turned to Taeju.
"Your next schedule?"
"Gotta go home."
"...Already?"
"Got a ton of work because of someone."
"Ahem."
The emperor cleared his throat awkwardly, pleading with earnest eyes.
"Hang out a bit longer. Catch up, have a drink."
"Hmm."
"You know how boring the imperial palace is? When else we gonna hang?"
"Niang?"
Boring imperial palace.
Suddenly, Dang Gunak and the immortals in the celestial realm came to mind.
Passing time idly up there until Taeju sent Earth's goods and culture, now enjoying themselves endlessly.
Overlaid on the emperor's face.
"...Sure, let's do that."
"Oh! Thanks, man."
"Niang!"
Seo Gangjin, the commander-in-chief, stole a glance.
He didn't show it, but he was stunned.
First time seeing the emperor so deferential.
Geum Suhu taking it in stride too.
Who'd believe it without seeing?
Can't just rest easy hunting beasts.
The empire's real power wasn't the empress or princes—it was Kim Taeju.
The general closest to Chairman Kim right now? Oh Jinhyeong of Jirisan.
Promotion might slip away.
How to get in good with Chairman Kim?
Seo Gangjin's new homework.
Anyway, Taeju spent time with the emperor and Geum Suhu.
Hunted beasts together, camped, grilled meat, drank—returned to Paju three days later.
And they wanted to follow to Paju.
Why don't these guys go home?
Celestial Realm.
Poison Immortal Dang Gunak smiled faintly at the videos Taeju sent.
From a previous shipment, but he pulled them out whenever he thought of it.
Geomseon kept asking to see them too.
A real pain.
Seeing Taeju thriving made him so happy.
Plus that spirit beast guarding him like a bodyguard.
"Heh heh, a three-headed white tiger. Always reassuring."
The three heads were a bit creepy, sure.
Now to finish up.
Dang Gunak carefully packed the processed poisons into individual boxes.
Human-faced spider and millennium pentagonal wasp venom were inner cores—best eaten raw.
But antler demon net and crane essence crimson needed refinement.
Only then did their true potency emerge.
First, slice and dry the antler demon net's horns.
Grind to fine powder with Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong, mix with bile juice, form into pills.
Crane essence crimson? Dissolve in dew for liquid form.
Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong essential there too.
Taeju refining personally vs. Dang Gunak—which more effective?
Next, handwrote poison ingestion instructions for each box.
All set.
Just wait for the delivery signal.
No immortal peaches this time.
Last batch plenty.
Should be signaling soon.
Right then!
Bzzzzt.
Delivery signal rang.
"Oh!"
Checked shared storage.
Taeju packed it full again.
Hurriedly unpacked.
Poisons into subspace pouch.
Smartphone straight to storage.
"Done."
These poisons should suffice for Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong 10th stage.
Air-element smartphone held intel on Earth's Heavenly Demon from Miteran's Heavenly Demon in Infinite Hell.
But Dang Gunak didn't like Taeju bothering with some Heavenly Demon.
He'd spent his life fighting the Heavenly Demon and Demonic Cult.
Lost his youth pointlessly.
He hoped Taeju wouldn't.
Live his own life.
But ignoring the Heavenly Demon was trouble too.
Let Taeju decide.
Taesang Nogun stroked the slender neck of the aggrieved immortal crane shedding tears.
"Kawk! Kawhk! Kaaaaawk!"
"There, there. Must've hurt so much."
To him, the immortal crane was more than a mount.
A longtime friend.
Yet some damn immortal had scalped its crown.
"Really no idea who?"
"Kaaaa..."
"Just some immortal?"
"Kawk."
"Can spot 'em if you see 'em?"
"Kaaaawk! Kawk! Kawk!"
"Right, let's find the bastard."
Taesang Nogun was furious to his core.
Immortals' antics had no end.
Stealing peaches, then mobbing his abode daily for more, now baldifying his precious crane.
What? United struggle? End peach monopoly? Taesang Nogun step down?
Learning all the weird crap.
Work hard, demand pay? Fine.
But these lounging freeloaders in the celestial realm.
Hence "immortal pastimes."
But he'd watched silently till now.
Even as manager, couldn't manhandle immortals.
Each independent beings.
He was one too, sort of.
Only the judge's scales could condemn them.
But now, limit reached.
Taesang Nogun shot to his feet.
Mounted the crane.
"Let's go. We'll find him, toss him in Infinite Hell, avenge you."
"Kyaaawk!!!"
The crane carrying Taesang Nogun soared.
Instantly at destination.
But.
Hm?
A skyscraper in the celestial realm's heart.
Towering building before Taesang Nogun's eyes.
When did that go up?
Remembered visiting before.
Was a tent then.
Tore down the tent for this?
Come to think, sent some sturdy celestials when they needed muscle for construction.
As apology for Poison Immortal stuff.
Thought a small pavilion, but this big?
What even is this place?
Times change, indeed.
Utterly transformed.
"Let's land."
"Kawk!"
Crane touched down before the building.
No immortals in sight.
All inside?
Exterior dazzling.
Taesang Nogun entered.
Smooth marble floors.
Greeted by Alcohol Immortal Juseon, Taepyeong Immortal.
"Oh! Taesang Nogun!"
"...Juseon? And what're you wearing?"
"Bartender uniform. Gift from Great Hero Taeju."
"Bartender? Great Hero Taeju?"
"Over there. Sends us treasures from another world."
"Ah!"
Juseon subtly nodded at Galhong Immortal.
Meaning: Fetch Poison Immortal.
Two bigshots in celestial realm: Queen Mother of the West and Taesang Nogun.
Both loaded with peaches.
Whales incoming.
"Since you're here, let me pour you one."
"...Huh?"
"On the house."
"H-House? What?"
"Free."
Juseon measured liquor into a jigger, added orange and cranberry juice, ice to shaker.
Shakit! Shakit!
Clink, clink!
Fluid, expert motions.
"Vodka base, swapped essential peach distillate for immortal liquor."
"..."
No clue what that meant.
But took the glass anyway.
Taesang Nogun liked booze.
Had to try.
"Called Sex on the Beach."
"S-Sex...? What?"
"Give it a sip."
Taesang Nogun brought glass to lips.
Slurp!
"Hmm."
Sweet.
Strong liquor melded with immortal brew, fruity sweetness filling mouth.
Heavenly harmony.
"How is it?"
"Delicious. First time tasting such a drink."
"Hur hur hur!"
Celestial immortal drinking Sex on the Beach.
Who could've imagined?
"G-Got another?"
"That was free. This one's pay."
"With what? ...Ah! Peaches! Don't worry, I'll pay."
"No cash trades..."
"What? Can't buy with goods?"
"Need a credit card."
Credit card?
What?
Then.
"Put the old man's drink on my tab."
Poison Immortal arrived.
Fresh smile, sparkling eyes.
"Booze alone's bitter. Hey, Juseon! Mix a beer-chaser."
"You got it."
Pulled steaming chicken from infinite space.
"Beer-chasers need chicken."
"Ch-Chicken?"
Taesang Nogun forgot why he came.
Eyes wide at the novel, spicy, oily aroma.
What food is this?
Dang Gunak gazed warmly at Taesang Nogun like a casino boss eyeing a newbie high roller—or sucker.
"Kawk, kawk, kyaaa..."
The crane wailed pitifully outside the multiplex.
But.
"Try a drumstick."
Taesang Nogun's ears were deaf to the crane now.
Crunch!
The chicken bite echoed louder.
End of Another VIP, or a Sucker.