Let's Go Catch Him.
Before Taeju entered closed-door training.
That is, back when Cheon Kyung-ho mistook the rain of hidden weapons for Myriad Heavenly Rain and fled in blind terror.
Cheon Kyung-ho ran nonstop across the Gobi Plateau all day long.
Only once he'd put some real distance between them did the doubt creep in.
...Was it really Myriad Heavenly Rain?
He shared memories with the true Heavenly Demon of Infinite Hell.
So he knew all too well the horrific power of that technique at the Demonic Cult's headquarters in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.
Hmm. It felt a bit off.
Still, fleeing had been the right call.
The emperor, Geum Suhu, and elite-grade monsters obeying Kim Taeju's orders were all there.
No doubt he would've been overwhelmed in a fight.
Anyway, there was no way they'd ever track him down.
Time for a breather.
He was getting tired.
Even circulating the Heavenly Demon Divine Art would've helped, but he had no catalyst.
In his panic to escape, he hadn't grabbed a single elite crystal.
He'd crossed the Gobi Plateau, so this had to be Central Asia, right?
There should be a city nearby.
Right then!
Vroom! Vrooom! Vroooom!
Hm?
Cars kicking up dust storms in the distance, barreling toward him.
Almost all off-road SUVs.
No way?
Cheon Kyung-ho shot to his feet.
Trackers on his tail?
Damn!
Straining his eyes for a closer look...
Phew.
Not imperial troops.
Just ordinary hunters' gear.
From their features and eyes, Chinese refugees or imperial citizens.
Vroom! Vrooom!
The cars circled him, trapping him in the middle.
Windows rolling down, men with rifles and pistols leaning out, bellowing.
"Kyaa-hoo!"
"Fearless bastard, passing through here all alone."
"Kuhahaha!"
"Scared yet, punk?"
Chinese.
He got the picture now.
Bandits.
Mostly normals. Just one awakener—the boss, probably.
But that awakener wasn't ordinary.
...Jackpot.
He was exhausted, craving demonic qi anyway.
Cheon Kyung-ho had no awakener tattoo on his face.
That's why they'd charged in so carelessly.
Screech!
The SUVs slammed to a halt.
Bandits pouring out one after another.
"Hands up!"
"Where you looking?"
"Hey! Strip that punk naked."
Cheon Kyung-ho took a single step forward.
Thud!
Whoosh!
Dust billowing from his foot.
A ferocious aura exploding outward in all directions.
"Gasp!"
"...Huh."
"Wh-what?"
"Ughhh..."
"..."
They all froze in place.
Clatter! Clink! Thud!
Their guns dropped limply to the ground.
Heavenly Demon Overlord Step.
A Heavenly Demon exclusive technique that subjugates foes with a single step.
Sometimes a swift, ever-changing movement art, but at its core, an offensive suppression skill.
This was how Heavenly Demon Overlord Step was meant to be used.
Not for running away.
Crunch! Crackle!
The body of the sole awakener among the bandits began to warp.
Swelling bulk, elongating nails, razor fangs, fur sprouting wildly across his face.
He was a mine.
Forced into monsterization by the Heavenly Demon Overlord Step.
Cheon Kyung-ho approached with heavy steps.
"Pl-please, sp-spare..."
Grinning, he reached for the mine's crown.
"Kk!"
Demonic qi sucked out in an instant.
"Gaaahhh!"
The massive mine's body shriveled like a deflating balloon.
Demonic qi absorption.
The Heavenly Demon Divine Art began circulating simultaneously.
"Ah, much better."
The other bandits still couldn't budge.
Cheon Kyung-ho eyed them.
"Anyone know the way to Europe from here? Raise your hand."
A normal bandit timidly lifted his.
"Can you drive?"
"...Y-yes, I can."
"Good."
In that instant!
Splat! Splatter! Splat!
The heads of all the bandits except the driver exploded in unison.
"H-heek! P-please!"
"Don't freak. Might let you live."
"R-really?"
Cheon Kyung-ho climbed into an off-road SUV.
"Drive."
"Y-yes, sir!"
Now he could travel in comfort.
Pick a decent city in the European Empire, hole up there.
Keep it quiet if possible.
Then head to the American Republic.
America had plenty of hiding spots.
Especially southern America—mine heaven, full of food.
Stock up cash in Europe, catch his breath, then cross over.
Who'd recognize him?
No chance of running into Absolute Poison Demon Kim Taeju.
Seemed like Cheon Kyung-ho was right.
A whole month in Europe, and nothing happened.
Taeju's private residence, basement training chamber.
The soul link with Dang Gunak hadn't severed yet.
Poison core explosion.
It had raged almost a full day.
The humanoid ghost's hallucinogenic poison was no joke.
A supreme toxin targeting the mind, not the body.
If the poison core hadn't detonated right then, who knows what madness he'd have unleashed outside.
Pop! Bang bang!
Decomposition from the poison core blast, then reconstruction.
The moment of perfect mastery in Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong's 10th stage.
His comprehension of poisons skyrocketed.
Not book knowledge, but the poison core's analysis and synthesis abilities.
Plus the soul link with Dang Gunak.
All those experiences and memories slotted neatly into his mind.
The Celestial Realm's changed a lot.
No longer a boring prison.
A vibrant, lively world.
He felt Dang Gunak's warm gaze.
Soul-linked, no words needed for their communion.
Suddenly!
Bzzzzt! Bzzzzt! Bzzzzt!
Delivery signals blaring nonstop.
Why now?
...Whoa.
Two windows popped up.
One his infinite storage, one Dang Gunak's.
He could even transfer items between them.
What a windfall?
Their infinite storages were shared?
A flash event from the soul link.
Take it quick. Link's about to cut.
Dang Gunak shifted items from Taeju's storage to his own.
Excluding Taeju's daily essentials—hidden weapons, poisons, personal gear.
Taeju did the same.
Dang Gunak's storage brimmed with hundreds of immortal peaches.
Some premium and top-grade ones too.
Can I take them all?
Such treasures.
That'd be shameless.
Earth equivalent? Way beyond 10 billion won supreme elixirs.
Dang Gunak conveyed his intent.
Take every speck, he'd do the same.
Fine then.
He cleared it out.
Minus Dang Gunak's Celestial Realm essentials.
Storages emptying and filling in tandem.
Felt amazing.
Another event like this?
Maybe once the poison spirit fully awakens from its seed.
Soon after, the soul link ended.
Haa.
Shame.
Wanted to sit face-to-face all night swapping stories.
Or spar like with Jeong Yeonhui, the emperor, or Geum Suhu.
Though he'd be no match.
Anyway, mission accomplished.
Time to head out.
The training chamber door was welded shut.
Taeju channeled qi into his Wall Gecko Skill blade.
Zzzzzing!
Brighter, stronger.
Not just poison qi—his qi denser too.
Biggest growth: infinite storage.
Massively expanded.
Shared warehouse too.
Schwick!
Sliced into the door like a knife through cream cake.
Screeeeech!
The thick steel door cut into a perfect square.
"Eh? M-Master!"
"Suncheol. You doing well?"
"Yes! Been waiting."
Suddenly!
Somehow knowing, Sam-baek scampered over on tiny paws.
Patpatpat!
Hop, leaping into his arms.
"Nyaang!"
Closed-door training finally over.
But more work ahead.
After closed-door training, Taeju messaged everyone.
A massive backlog of unread replies.
From the emperor on down: Geum Suhu, Major General Oh Jinhyeong, Leaders Club owner Igor Baranov, Baekdu Group Chairman Jeong Ukcheol...
Then he met orphanage director Baek Hongpyo.
"How's it going? Any progress?"
"Almost there."
"Hmm, I tried not to get my hopes up, but..."
Baek Hongpyo's expression darkened oddly.
"Something wrong?"
"Well, a kid with mana rejection syndrome showed up at the orphanage recently. Teenager, but symptoms so severe he's bedridden."
Needed to hurry.
Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong perfection was the final piece for the mana rejection cure.
Handle the Heavenly Demon, then straight to experiments.
Next, Taeju met Baek Seoyeonn.
"Leaving again?"
Her eyes wide in disbelief.
The company ran fine without Chairman Kim Taeju, of course.
"But it's been almost a month..."
"Seeing you now counts. And I can take calls—contact me if anything comes up."
"Hmm, nothing urgent, but... Paju factory groundbreaking's scheduled soon after I return."
"I'll be back by then."
Taeju headed to the Paju lord's mansion.
If there was a place changing fastest in the world, it'd be the Celestial Realm or Paju.
Didn't even see Seo Pilmyeong.
Too busy touring with staff, barely at the mansion.
Paju's infrastructure booming everywhere.
Needed funds?
Handed Seo Pilmyeong one of his pharma sales revenue accounts.
"Deputy Commander Ryu."
"Yes! My lord. Heh."
Former Section Chief Ryu—now Deputy Commander Ryu Jincheol of Paju's territorial army.
"Territorial army status?"
"50 regular soldiers, 5 compatible NCOs, and awakeners... just me."
Pathetic.
Soon as former lord General Kim Ungbang announced returning Paju to the empire, officers and compatibles resigned en masse.
After Taeju took over, applications flooded back—but he rejected them all.
Why take back deserters?
"DMZ monster dense zone subjugation proceeds as planned. Prep accordingly, no worries."
"Haha, with you—er, my lord—here, monsters are dead meat. Why would I worry?"
Jeong Yeonhui raised her hand.
"I've got your back too."
"Oh! Right."
Confidence shone on her face.
How much had she grown in a month?
"70% there. Confident full mastery in half a year."
Half a year?
She underrated herself.
Probably sooner.
Sword Empress trait, after all. Child's play for her.
"Sword treating you well?"
"Love it. Where'd you even get..."
"Don't swap it even if the emperor insists."
"Never!"
Nice having reliable people.
Paid them well.
Seo Pilmyeong: fat salary, house, full authority.
Jeong Yeonhui: Demon Subduing Swordsmanship and sword.
Fifth Prince Ryu Jincheol?
Loyal from life debt, but mostly knew whose side to pick.
To catch the emperor's eye, naturally.
Not bad.
Throne ambitions needed that brain.
Taeju stayed at the lord's mansion for once.
Read Deputy Director Moon Kyungshik's email on Cheon Kyung-ho.
True face photos and video—not his disguise—plus police records as murder suspect.
Sense sharpening.
His identity crystallizing in Taeju's mind.
The Heavenly Demon.
Absolute Poison Demon Dang Gunak's arch-nemesis.
But nothing to Taeju.
He hadn't perfected Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
Taeju had.
Sorry Dang Gunak, but Taeju was stronger now than Dang Gunak at perfection.
Poison core different.
Infused with mana and celestial qi atop original poison—primed for poison spirit growth.
No Myriad Heavenly Rain needed to kill him. Easy.
Late night now.
In the mansion's front yard, Taeju pulled out the Celestial Realm's tracking talisman and pictured Heavenly Demon Cheon Kyung-ho.
Whoosh!
The talisman ignited, white ashes scattering northwest.
Northwest it is.
Going solo.
Left Ilbaek back in Gurye.
No need for backup against one Heavenly Demon.
Celestial Realm.
Dang Gunak's face split in a grin that wouldn't quit.
"Hohoho, Geomseon! Tell me right away when you're low on juice."
"..."
"Here, let me top you up. On the house."
"No nee—"
"Hey now! Sit tight. I got this."
At Juseon's cocktail bar.
"Juseon! Ring the golden bell."
"G-golden bell?"
"All immortals' drinks today go on my tab."
Ding-a-ling!
The multiplex's golden bell rang out.
"Gasp! Free booze?"
"Poison Immortal forever!"
"Kim Taeju forever!"
"Hwaseon, paint Taeju the hero on that back wall. Daily greetings mandatory."
"Sweet. Time to show my skills?"
Shops packed to the brim.
A massive placard read:
Pride of the Universe Kim Taeju
Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong 10th Stage Perfection
30% Off ALL Items Celebration Sale
"Today only at this price! Decide now."
"Ring this up quick! Credit peach here."
"I grabbed it first!"
"Proof?"
A festival.
The Celestial Realm brimmed with energy.