Closed-Door Training
Starting with his encounter with the Heavenly Demon in Hwangcheon's Avici Hell, Dang Gunak's explanations continued in a steady stream.
The Heavenly Demon of Earth was named Cheon Kyung-ho. Seven years ago, his soul had linked with the Heavenly Demon of the martial world, who was imprisoned in the Infinite Hell.
'These two don't get along.'
They shared the same soul, yet one was begging to be killed.
They were both cut from the same rotten cloth.
The Heavenly Demon who had fallen into demonic possession while cultivating demonic arts and slaughtered his own wife and child.
Cheon Kyung-ho, the parricide who killed his parents and brother for his own gain.
Psychopathic sociopath bastards.
One was trapped in Avici Hell, while the other had fled with his tail between his legs.
'Can't let that bastard live.'
He needed to gather more intel on Cheon Kyung-ho.
Enough to track him down with a wanted notice.
So Taeju called Imperial Intelligence's First Deputy Director Moon Kyung-shik from inside the bathroom.
"Yes, Chairman. Moon Kyung-shik speaking."
"I'm trying to get some personal info on a criminal. Possible?"
"Of course, sir."
"Name's Cheon Kyung-ho, age forty-two. Second son of the president of Pyeonghwa Industries, a munitions firm in Daejeon..."
Taeju rattled off everything he'd heard from Dang Gunak.
"Ah! I remember now. He was pretty infamous. Parricide suspect—wait, is he a mine?"
"Something like that. Get me as many photos as possible, especially clear close-ups."
"On it right away. But..."
Moon Kyung-shik trailed off slightly.
Then.
"Are you perhaps with His Majesty and Secretary Geum Suhu?"
"Yeah, we're in Paju. Tell him to head back to the palace, would you?"
"...Ah, you'll handle it yourselves, right? Just checking, haha."
He didn't sound like he'd handle it on his own.
Whatever. Whether those two were in Paju or not, Taeju had no time to escort them anymore.
First priority.
Achieve the 10th stage of Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong.
Then catch Cheon Kyung-ho.
Taeju left the bathroom and returned to the training hall.
The emperor grinned.
"Oh! There you are. Constipated?"
Constipated my ass.
Taeju approached Jeong Yeonhui.
Time to hand over her gift before leaving.
He'd planned to slip it to her quietly out of sight, but...
The coat he was wearing was his Phantom Fox leather coat.
He slipped his hand into the hidden inner pocket.
Swoosh.
He pulled a treasured sword from his infinite storage space.
The emperor, Geum Suhu, and Jeong Yeonhui all jumped in surprise.
"Huh?"
"Oh my?"
"That coat... it has a sub-space pocket?"
Taeju nodded.
"Yeah."
"Rich people really are something else. Even sub-space pockets on coats."
Glad they got it that way.
"Yeonhui, what do you think of this sword?"
"...Pardon?"
"Give it a swing."
"R-right now?"
"Yeah."
It was the Parasin Sword, passed down as a divine relic of the Gongpa Sect before Geomseon had snatched it.
He'd chosen it first since the Demonic Sword Technique originated from the Gongpa.
Whoosh! Whirrr! Slash!
Jeong Yeonhui unleashed the initial forms of the Demonic Sword Technique with the Parasin Sword.
"Like it?"
"Uh? Well, it's good, but..."
Of course she liked it.
It was a famed sword even in the martial world.
But it didn't sit right with Taeju.
It just didn't suit Jeong Yeonhui.
Plus, it was too big and thick.
Then something smaller.
The Jaha Sword, one of the famed blades of the Huashan Sect.
A beautiful sword engraved with plum blossom patterns on the blade.
"Try this one too."
"...O-okay."
Snap! Whirr! Flash!
The sound was a bit better, maybe.
Still not quite.
Taeju pulled out one more.
The Dara Divine Sword, a poison sect weapon once wielded by the Aami Sect's leader, Yeonhwa Goddess Nun.
"This too."
"..."
Everyone's eyes widened as treasured swords kept emerging from his coat.
Sub-space aside, where the hell did he get all these?
Tschwick! Tschwirrr! Psssh!
The whoosh of air being sliced.
Flashes of sword light in the training hall.
Faster, sharper.
Perfect.
It fit just right.
"Take it."
"W-what?"
"That last sword."
Jeong Yeonhui swallowed hard.
She knew after swinging it.
How exceptional it was.
Far superior to weapons embedded with elite mana crystals.
A priceless treasure.
"H-how can I accept this?"
"Think of it as a bonus."
"Th-thank you, but it's too much."
"Then work even harder."
He stored the rest back in his infinite space.
But his nape prickled.
He glanced back casually.
"..."
The emperor was glaring at him intensely.
Taeju got the message.
Why not me? You gave to Geum Suhu and Yeonhui, so why not me?
"Mind if I join your company?"
"...You're the emperor."
"I could moonlight... I'd work like a dog."
"Think that'll fly?"
"Fine, sell me one of those swords from earlier. How much?"
"Can't sell even if I wanted. Got specific people in mind. Exact numbers."
"What about Suhu?"
The sword Taeju gave Geum Suhu was the Wudang Sect's Taecheong Sword.
"That was the last one."
The emperor's eyes turned pitiful.
Taeju's resolve wavered.
But he shook his head firmly.
Meanwhile, Geum Suhu felt uneasy.
Getting a sword from Chairman Kim Taeju seemed impossible.
And he knew how the emperor would react.
The man got whatever he wanted.
'He might eye my sword.'
Even now, he was staring at it.
Despite wielding a greatsword forged by the empire's master smiths from the finest materials.
'Can't let him take this too.'
Geum Suhu gripped his hilt tight and turned to Jeong Yeonhui.
"You said you were training skills?"
"Y-yes."
"Got a sword now, so how about sparring with me?"
"I'd be honored by your guidance."
"Your rank?"
"Superior Expert, sir."
Taeju was startled.
Already?
How long since she'd hit Middle Expert?
Well, her trait was Sword Queen, after all.
"Impressive talent. The empire's future looks bright. Let's cross blades."
"Thank you."
The two took positions in the training hall.
Their hands must be itching.
Who wouldn't want to test out a fine sword?
Geum Suhu called out boldly.
"Come at me!"
Jeong Yeonhui thrust first.
Clang!
Swords clashed.
Sword lights flashed through the hall.
Jeong Yeonhui, born with the makings of a Sword Queen. Geum Suhu, the strongest awakener after the emperor.
"Excellent!"
Clang! Clang-clang-clang!
Jeong Yeonhui's skill wasn't simple.
It had countless variations.
But they weren't isolated—they linked seamlessly, flowing like a single sword art.
Geum Suhu was shocked.
A skill with such transformations?
He paused his sword.
"...What's the name of that skill, anyway?"
"Even for you, Secretary Geum, asking an awakener's skill name outright is rude."
"Hah, fair enough. My apologies. Again."
Clang!
The spar intensified.
Woooom!
Mana swirled fiercely.
Even the emperor watched in a daze.
He knew Geum Suhu's skill well.
He'd expected a gentle demonstration, but no.
It was evenly matched.
Jeong Yeonhui lacked raw power, but her bizarre skill pushed Geum Suhu back.
"Heh."
He was an awakener too.
Couldn't hold back anymore.
"I'm joining!"
The emperor jumped in.
Clang-clang! Clang-clang!
Sword lights filled the hall.
Soon, the three were lost in a trance.
"Tch, sword nuts..."
"Nyaang?"
Ilbaek poked his head out from Taeju's coat, woken from sleep.
"Keep sleeping. Stay put."
"Nya."
Taeju had no intention of joining.
He quietly slipped out and shut the door.
Then headed straight for Gurye.
They'd find their own way home.
Taeju's first stop upon arriving in Gurye was the department store.
He had four poisons to ingest.
Venoms harvested from the Demon Realm neighboring the Celestial Realm.
Nothing ordinary about them.
Even digesting one would take ages.
Dang Gunak had warned him to fully assimilate each before the next.
At least half a month to consume them all completely.
Fifteen days.
He needed closed-door training.
No interruptions during that time.
He planned to consume them in his home basement, under heavy security.
But what if a delivery signal came midway?
He had to ship the goods.
Three to four signals minimum in fifteen days.
Maybe five.
That's why the department store.
Fill his infinite space to ship instantly.
The Gurye department store president was waiting, alerted in advance.
Taehong Bio's Kim Taeju was their ultra-VIP.
Of course he'd rush over.
"Aigoo! Chairman, it's been too long."
"That's why I'm here to shop up a storm today."
"Shall I close early?"
"Nah, we'll wait."
An hour till closing.
No need to disrupt other shoppers.
Soon, the store shut its doors.
VIP staff escorted Taeju.
First floor: cosmetics and luxury brands.
The Celestial Realm had plenty of fairy ladies too.
"Everything from here to there."
"Pardon?"
"No, the whole store."
"...Y-yes, sir."
Taeju's shopping style.
Buy the entire store, not items.
Watches, luxury, clothing, shoes, electronics, furniture, health, food hall...
He gutted the department store.
Hundreds of billions in value.
But who cared?
"Deliver to the Taehong Bio complex warehouse—you know the one."
"We'll finish even if it means overtime."
"And unpack the boxes if possible."
"B-but scratches..."
"It's fine."
After shopping, he left the store.
"Safe travels!"
Staff bowed at ninety degrees.
Now he was ultra-mega-VVVIP.
His private warehouse already held prior purchases.
Electric kickboards, scooters, self-generators using elite mana crystals.
Head there later, load with deliveries, stuff into infinite space.
'Prep so I can load right away.'
Delivery signals would ring in his mind.
As long as it didn't come during the first ingestion.
That'd be pure agony—no noticing signals.
During digestion? Fine.
Even if he broke through to 10th stage mid-training, he'd finish all four poisons.
Great completion of Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong and slaying the Heavenly Demon were key, but the mana rejection cure was urgent too.
He'd boasted to Baek Hongpyo he'd make it.
Three hundred years ago, world population hit 8 billion.
Mana invasion nearly wiped them out.
Explosive growth brought it near 4 billion.
But the mana rejectors remained.
Estimated at 5% of the population.
Success would revolutionize humanity.
Practically impossible.
Modern science couldn't crack it.
Unlike detox pills, recovery potions, Vitality Surge, or Fresh Flesh Growth.
All current meds contained mana.
Poison to rejectors.
Flip it.
Use poison as medicine.
Needed great completion for that.
Deeper poison mastery.
'I'll make it.'
Order was set.
Great completion first, catch Heavenly Demon, then dive into new drug R&D.
Taeju gathered his eight disciples, including Baek Changhoon and Jang Suncheol.
Handed them eight swords from his infinite space.
"Divide these up, one each."
"Th-these look crazy expensive..."
"They are."
Changhoon and Suncheol picked first.
Swung them repeatedly.
"Jackpot! Perfect balance."
"Elite weapons?"
"Nah, those aren't even close."
"You're just giving these? ...How do we repay?"
"Gonna need three reincarnations."
These two treated him casually.
Time together earned that.
The other six were still awkward.
They'd been out and about, short on shared time.
'They'll warm up soon.'
He'd memorized their names and backgrounds.
All late teens to early twenties.
Taegyun from the orphanage, taken in by Director Baek.
Seunghye, pretty face but wild temper.
Doyun, caring for his sick mother as family head.
Gaeun, recent high school grad from the orphanage.
Yuhan, strong sense of justice, accident-prone but caring.
Plenty ahead with the disciples.
One: Paju Territory DMZ monster purge op.
No outside help—just disciples' power.
'Time to prep?'
Taeju called Changhoon and Suncheol.
"I'm going into secluded training soon. Need you two for something."
"Just say the word."
"Need guards outside. Stay at my place with the kids for a bit."
"Got it. We'll stake our lives to—"
"No need for that."
Training spot: his home basement hall.
"Once I'm in the basement, weld the iron door from outside."
"...Ah! Yes, sir."
"And."
Taeju pulled Ilbaek from his coat.
"Yaang?"
"Feed him too... play together."
Brief parting from Ilbaek.
Then explained to Baek Seoyeonn and Baek Hongpyo, hit the warehouse, loaded all deliveries into infinite space.
Finally, closed-door training day.
Entered basement hall, shut iron door.
Zzzt-zzzt!
Welding sealed from outside.
"Hoo!"
Taeju took a deep breath, then pulled out the Myeonnang Ogre Poison Pill first.
'Don't chew—swallow whole...'
Gulp!
Down into his gut.
'Hmm, quiet.'
No reaction.
Before, the scent alone made him writhe.
Then.
Zing!
"...Huh?"
It hit.
"Ugh!"
Pain surged.
Growing worse.
"Grrrrrgh!"
Endless escalation.
Vision blacked out.
'N-not dying, right?'
Never this bad despite countless poisons.
"Kuh!"
Taeju collapsed to the floor.
Couldn't rise.
Ziiiiing!
Poison core vibrated fiercely.
Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong circulated naturally.