He Meant It
He meant it.
The exchange between Earth and the Celestial Realm through the shared warehouse.
It had originally been for the sake of helping Taeju, his parallel soul from another world.
Dang Gunak's heartfelt wish for Taeju to succeed.
The main goal was to accept Earth's culture, exchange it for celestial peaches or protective talismans, and send them to Taeju.
Consuming celestial peaches granted longevity without illness, repelled evil energies, and balanced body, mind, and qi.
This would awaken Taeju's poison spirit more quickly, bringing peace to both Taeju and his world.
But an entirely unintended result emerged.
What he'd done to help Taeju had instead sparked change in the Celestial Realm.
Dubbed the Celestial Multiplex Construction Project.
They'd build a proper building for a more comfortable movie-watching experience.
Dang Gunak currently possessed three large TVs, two beam projectors, and three crystal-powered generators.
If one TV was for gaming, that left four screens running simultaneously.
About forty immortals had been mobilized for the multiplex construction.
Among them were even immortals who had betrayed him during the Scales of Judgment trial under Taesang Nogun.
But they'd promised diligent cooperation on the construction in exchange for amnesty seals.
Material sourcing and processing fell to immortals from the Murim world.
Immortals hauling massive ancient trees from the spirit beast forests.
They dried the logs instantly with heat-based martial arts, then shaped them with light sword taps into usable timber.
The foundation was already complete.
Under the command of Huto Seonin and Daemok Seonin, the Celestial Multiplex theater was rising steadily.
Projected height: seven stories.
He'd wanted reinforced concrete, but that would take too long.
Besides, where would he source cement in the Celestial Realm?
Wood for materials, reinforced with formations from Gwigok Seonin and Galhong Seonin.
Hwaseon Seung-eop Seonin handled the building's design and painting.
Immortals from Dohwa Palace supplied the dyes.
Even Taesang Nogun sent heavenly troops as laborers, as an apology for his treatment of Dokseon.
The immortals didn't rest.
No movies or dramas until the building was finished.
And so the structure grew taller by the day.
Dang Gunak recorded the entire process on video.
To show Taeju.
The more he thought about it, the more astonishing it was.
Independent immortals—selfish, even—who were now cooperating for the goal of a multiplex.
They were even enjoying the labor.
No trace of the idle, lazy immortals lounging in the Celestial Realm.
They're mad. Completely mad.
It was almost frightening.
What would become of the Celestial Realm?
Would the scales tip toward harmony rather than chaos this time?
In the midst of it, Geomseon would drop by Dokseon now and then to harass him.
"Dokseon, has the Harley bike arrived yet?"
"...No signal yet. Wait."
"Tell me the moment it does."
"Fine, now get back to work."
He must be itching for it.
"Dokseon, the Harley bike..."
"No signal..."
He'd show up again whenever Dang Gunak forgot.
"Harley?"
"Not yet."
Over and over.
"Harl?"
"Still no."
Endlessly.
"Ha...?"
"No...!"
Dang Gunak couldn't take it anymore.
"You old fool! Stop harassing me! Even if it arrives, it won't be this shipment! Earliest is the next one!"
"Hmm, is that so?"
"Does Taeju think he's the creator? Prep time is needed."
"Then the one after next."
"Can't guarantee that either."
Would it even come?
The Harley was too damn big.
The shared warehouse's volume had grown enough to handle it.
But could Taeju fit it into his infinite storage?
Of course, Dang Gunak could.
If he wanted, he could store trucks or even planes.
I'll remind him not to push it for the next shipment.
But Geomseon was far more persistent than expected.
He hadn't shown up for days.
So Dang Gunak had been free of the harassment, gathering celestial peaches and talismans to send Taeju.
Then—
Kaboom! Rumble rumble! Whoosh!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
A massive roar from afar.
The Celestial Realm's ground trembled faintly, like an earthquake.
What the hell?
He ignored it at first.
Probably immortals sourcing timber.
But it didn't stop. And it grew closer.
Curious, he headed toward the noise.
And gasped.
Gasp!
Stone slabs flying through the air and slamming down neatly.
Dozens at a time, polished slabs landing perfectly on the ground.
Each one a meter square, thick and solid granite.
Cut straight as if by a sword.
No way...
He knew who was behind this.
"Insane!"
Whoosh!
Wind whipped up.
His robe fluttered.
Geomseon, silver sword gleaming, slicing a massive boulder like tofu.
Where'd he get that?
Hummm!
Sword aura rose smoothly.
Slice! Slice!
A slab in the blink of an eye.
Stacked neatly beside him.
Once he had a pile,
Thwack!
He'd kick the square slabs flying in sequence.
Whip! Whirrr! Boom boom boom!
They laid down tightly, seamlessly, flat as pavement blocks.
It looked just like...
...A road.
Exactly.
Geomseon was building a road.
His method: Compress bare earth solid with immense celestial qi and inner power.
Rumble!
Then carve or pile soil to level height.
Creating a flat dirt path.
Topped with granite slabs.
Width: two Earth lanes.
Progress was well underway.
Eyeballing it, over a kilometer already.
All for a bike...
A private road for Geomseon's bike.
Probably starting from his residence.
Heading to the construction site.
Can one person do this?
...Not a person, true.
Geomseon, deep in granite slicing, spotted Dang Gunak and grinned happily.
"Oh? Dokseon? Surely the Harley bike's here?"
"...Not yet. You didn't do all this alone, right?"
"Well, just me. Got bored waiting, no one helping, clumsy at first but it got easier."
"How far's the road going?"
"Enough to loop the whole Celestial Realm."
"..."
Chills ran down his spine.
Geomseon meant it.
"Why obsess over a Harley? You're faster without it."
"It's cool."
"What's so cool?"
"Imagine: tight black leather hugging the body, helmet on, sword slung diagonally on the back, an immortal roaring by on a bike. Peak Geomseon style, no?"
"What nonsense, said so seriously..."
But Geomseon's face had gone dreamy.
Smiling contentedly at his own vision.
This was bad.
What if the Harley didn't come?
※ ※ ※
Gurye City Hall.
The Autonomy Committee dissolved, switched to lifetime mayor system, but little changed.
Civil servants stayed put, and citizens welcomed Chairman Kim Taeju's mayoral inauguration.
Taeju first met the three standing committee members.
He'd thought Guild Master Lee Jeonghak would leave post-dissolution.
"No way I'm leaving. Gurye's my hometown."
But the vigilante corps had to disband.
Instead.
"Can you head the new Gurye Police Station?"
"...I was hoping. But with current guild numbers, maintaining security's tough."
"Hire more cops. Budget's no issue."
"Yes! I'll do my best."
So Lee Jeonghak became Gurye Police Chief.
The other two standing members—Ji Gwangin and Chairman Min Dongyeol—had their poison shackles released too.
They pledged to serve in city hall divisions.
Taeju's mayoral powers in Gurye: two main ones.
Free personnel appointments, and policy decisions to allocate budget as desired.
Personnel done; now major policy for the year?
Since inaugurated, time for an impactful project.
Budget plentiful—overflowing, really.
Past regime limits had bottled it up.
Any spending needed committee approval; mutual checks stalled policies and executions.
He could even siphon budget to his pocket unnoticed.
Lifetime mayor power was immense.
Not that he'd pocket it; he had a long-planned idea.
"Let's redevelop Chilheuk-dong slum."
Chilheuk-dong shantytown: Gurye's crime nest.
Solve it, and Gurye becomes even better.
"What about residents? Evict them all?"
"No. Buy land, build apartments, give them residency rights."
Paju went smoother than Gurye.
New city development announcement skyrocketed territory folk's expectations.
Vast land, much idle.
No snags like buyouts or compensations.
Just build.
Excluding some folk-owned homes/properties, rest belonged to Lord Kim Taeju.
He'd delegated full authority to Administrator Seo Pilmyeong.
Ryu Jincheol learned beside him, doing well.
Gurye and Paju administration settling in.
Taeju just decided big issues, set directions.
Now, the most important task.
That evening, a massive crate arrived at Paju lord's residence.
Harley from New Seoul bike shop.
Parked in underground garage.
Tense moment.
Would it fit?
For this, he'd devoured premium celestial peaches and immortal sake—a whole unit.
Celestial qi surged palpably.
Infinite storage volume visibly expanded.
Let's try.
Taeju reached out, storing the Harley.
Shhhrk—
Front wheel first.
...Working?
Shhhrk!
Oh!
It fit perfectly.
Harley snug in infinite storage zone; helmet and leathers in compartment too.
"Yes!"
But to ride in Celestial Realm, one more thing: gasoline.
Electric bikes existed, but for that iconic grrr rumble, internal combustion ruled.
Ten fuel cans prepped, lined in storage.
Other immortals' items ready too.
Small volume, no issue.
Practice needed.
Retrieve instantly when shared warehouse opens.
Next up...
Time to meet disciples.
Appointment due.
Taeju mounted Manri Bigeom, heading to Gurye.
※ ※ ※
Gurye: Taeju's residence basement held a private training room.
Gathered: disciples Baek Changhoon, Jang Suncheol, plus six new from interviews—eight total.
All bore clear awakener tattoos.
"Master's late."
"Yeah. Too busy lately; barely see him."
"Forgot us?"
"Don't be ridiculous. You know Master."
"Some of us head to Paju, right?"
"Probably. Monster-dense there too."
Suddenly!
Door opened; Taeju entered.
"Master!"
"We've waited."
"Why so late?"
...
Taeju smiled warmly.
Good kids.
Expected complaints from neglect; instead, bright faces.
"Been too long. Doing well?"
"Yes!!!"
"Good. Let's start."
Taeju connected tablet to wall-mounted large TV.
"New skill training from today."
Disciples' eyes sparkled, crowding the TV.
"What...?"
"Dark arts?"
"No, swordsmanship."
TV on standby.
Taeju pulled burner smartphone from pocket.
"First, thanks."
"Huh?"
"Just say: 'Geomseon-nim, thank you for teaching martial arts! We'll train hard to meet expectations!' Then bow."
Geomseon?
Who? Absolute master from wuxia novel?
"Bow now?"
"When I signal!"
Phone to video record mode.
"Now, greet."
Disciples shouted.
"Geomseon-nim, thank you for teaching martial arts! We'll train hard to meet expectations!"
Bowing politely in unison.
"Watch first. Train here only till skill registers. Repeat."
Taeju played Geomseon's Bokma Swordsmanship video.
"Bokma Swordsmanship, First Form: Strike Sword Ward Demon—swing sword to repel demons."
Geomseon appeared on screen.
"Ah!"
"...That's Geomseon?"
"Not an awakener."
Immortal swordplay.
Beautiful.
Disciples glued to screen.
Geomseon's movements.
Beyond skills—another realm.
Jang Suncheol stood first.
Unconsciously drew sword, mimicking.
Baek Changhoon rose.
Others followed.
They knew acupoints from Five Elements Divine Art.
Guided mana as Dang Gunak instructed.
Taeju pleased.
Celestial ties reached disciples too.
Detailed breakdown, but first form would take time.
Daily views, repeats—eventually, skill registration.
Suddenly!
Ding! Bzzz!
Phone alert.
What? Interrupting.
Sender: Imperial Intelligence Mine Division Deputy Director Moon Kyungshik.
Hm?
Mines spotted?