CHAPTER 3

"It's my lunch."

Namgoong San-yeong coldly looked down at Hyung-sam, who was lying flat in front of her, his legs trembling.

"Is this really everything?"

"Y-yes...!"

Even though Hyung-sam had handed over all the items Un-hui had requested, Namgoong San-yeong's gaze remained as cold as ever, sending shivers down his spine.

Just how many times would he have to feel fear today?

The task Un-hui had given him was quite simple:

"Bring me everything that summarizes the recent state of Kangho. Especially anything related to the outer martial world."

"You never cared about Kangho before, nor even the affairs of the Tang family. Why the sudden interest?"

Namgoong San-yeong's mind flashed back to Un-hui's ridiculous antics, calling her an 'old lady' and complaining about her bad breath while getting beaten.

Had he taken the wrong medicine overnight? Or hit his head?

He was acting like a completely different person.

Normally, by now, he would be wailing and apologizing profusely. But today, he was strangely silent.

Even the errand he had ordered the butler to do was suspicious.

He wouldn't eat these scraps of paper, so what was he planning?

"Could he be preparing to argue with the family head at the upcoming visit…?"

A strange thought crossed Namgoong San-yeong's mind.

But she quickly shook her head.

No matter how much Un-hui had changed, there had to be a limit.

At the very least, the Un-hui she had watched over for sixteen years didn't have a scheming bone in his body.

Even his own father had abandoned him long ago because he was too naive and foolish for a Tang family descendant.

There had to be another reason.

"Could he have found another backer?"

Factional conflicts existed even within branch families.

There were certainly relatives who might try to use Un-hui to gain influence in the battle for the next branch head.

"Madam… what should I do with this?"

Hyung-sam hesitantly gathered the scattered documents and scrolls on the floor, stealing nervous glances at her.

"I don't have much time left before the deadline..."

Even though he knew how terrifying Namgoong San-yeong was, the fear Un-hui had instilled in him today had not faded—it had only grown.

"Stop making a mess and take it with you. Try to win Un-hui over if you can. But remember: until he shows genuine remorse, no food is to be brought to him."

"T-that…! U-understood, Madam!"

Hyung-sam hurriedly gathered the documents and rushed out before she could change her mind.

Namgoong San-yeong silently watched his retreating figure.

"Just in case... it might be best to lay a trap. If someone really is trying to use Un-hui, they'll take the bait."

She had no intention of forgiving Un-hui. Not until he grabbed her feet and begged for mercy like before.

In this household, where nothing pleased me, there was one thing I could finally look forward to.

The Dantian.

The Qi Sea Acupoint—something my previous self never had.

"It's small... but it's properly refined."

I couldn't stop my voice from trembling.

That's how overwhelming this moment was.

This was what I had always dreamed of.

"Master, I want to learn your sword."

That was my only wish.

There exists a technique called "Divine Heaven Nine-Flow Sword Demon Manual" (神天九流劍魔要).

It was the ultimate swordsmanship collection—nine sword arts my master had either gathered from across the world or created through enlightenment.

People often shortened it to "Heavenly Demon Nine Swords" (天魔九劍), some even comparing it to the Asura Hell Dance, the sacred martial art of the Cult Leader.

I desperately wanted to wield it with my own hands.

I wanted to stand by my master's side and see the same world he did.

But the Heavenly Demon Nine Swords relied on the lower dantian.

To me, it had always been nothing more than a fantasy.

But now—

"...Things are different."

Though my lower dantian was small and my meridians unrefined, those were problems I could overcome.

I could finally wield a sword.

I could finally train in the Heavenly Demon Nine Swords.

That alone was enough for me.

And…

"What if I add my original abilities to this?"

Martial arts and sorcery.

If I could unify what had always been separate worlds…

Perhaps I could become something the martial world had only ever whispered about in legends—a true master of all (全人).

I was certain of one thing.

This was the only way I could face the shadowy figures who had taken down both my master and me.

Those who had deceived not only the Heavenly Demon Cult but the entire martial world for so long.

Who knew how many secrets were hidden?

If even the Heavenly Demon Cult, at its thousand-year peak, had been overthrown, then there was something even greater lurking in the darkness.

But there was a problem.

The Tang Clan's Internal Energy Cultivation in this body was based on orthodox martial principles, making it incompatible with demonic arts.

I needed a bridge to connect the two.

"Let's give it a try."

I crossed my legs and closed my eyes.

As I delved deeper into my subconscious, an endless library of books appeared before me.

The Heavenly Demon Library.

Thanks to my highly developed upper dantian, I possessed absolute memory, allowing me to create this mental archive.

And among the countless martial tomes stored here…

I found it.

A smirk spread across my face.

"The Venomous Dragon Secret Art" (毒龍尋訣).

The book's cover still carried the faint, acrid scent of poison—a signature trait left by its original owner.

"This will do."

It was a forbidden technique created by a master poisoner, who had been falsely accused and forced to flee to Mount Tian.

A fusion of the Tang Clan's Three-Yang Return Technique, the Five Poison Sect's Deadly Veil, and the Beast Forest's Hundred-Petal Demon Art.

A poison art—yet a demonic art.

It was the perfect stepping stone.

"I just need the right materials for the poison pills."

But I had neither ingredients nor permission to leave my confinement.

No matter.

If I couldn't gather poisons…

I would make them.

And right before me stood the perfect solution.

"How long are you going to glare at me, old man? You're going to pop an eye out at this rate."

Across from me, Cheon Hwa-jin glared with bloodshot eyes, shaking with rage.

"You insolent wretch! Do you think you can get away with this?! You dare do this to me, the Vice Leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult?!"

Of course, it wasn't just Cheon Hwa-jin.

"Release us, Young Master!"

"Aren't you afraid of the wrath of the dead?!"

"To defile the Demon Dragon Sword like this…! The First Heavenly Demon will not stand for it!"

The ghosts of the elders I had slain were all here, wailing and hovering around me.

The moment I had unlocked my Violet Demon Eyes, my upper dantian had also opened, revealing them.

I was their Demon King—the ruler of all spirits.

And those who had died by my hand…

Could never escape my grasp.

"You want to be freed?"

I rattled the chains that bound them.

Their eyes followed the motion, wavering.

"If you stay like this, you'll never reincarnate. You'll be trapped as ghosts forever."

The elders' expressions darkened.

Cheon Hwa-jin sneered.

"You think we'd ever obey you?!"

I smiled.

"You don't have to."

I placed a hand on his head.

And crushed it.

CRACK!

No scream.

Only the echo of a shattered soul.

I compressed his essence into a small sphere.

I held it up for the others to see.

"Do you know what this is?"

They paled.

"A Wraith Pill."

"Infused with pure resentment and death energy."

I tossed it into my mouth.

And swallowed.

"It's my lunch."

The elders trembled in horror.

But I simply grinned.

This was going to be easier than I thought.