Skybreaker was right.
Mujin only came here once…This was my third trip down to the Disciplinary Hall.
“But to me, it’s like a goldmine.”
Because of the unique mechanisms of the formation within the Disciplinary Hall, internal energy control is suppressed. Most martial artists detest entering this place for that reason.
But thanks to the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, I was completely unaffected.
You could say I had a kind of "personal immunity to debuffs."
Which meant—Every treasure in here is basically mine.
Of course, I didn’t recall there being any truly valuable treasured relics.
Still, as the saying goes: the more, the better. If it could be collected, it should be.
“Is your body okay?”
“Yes, Young Lord!”
Cho Ryang stood stiffly at attention like a newly enlisted soldier.
He flinched at every move I made, and yet, his actions were awkward—just like a real recruit. He held a small cage in his hands, like a birdcage.
As we descended the spiral staircase down the cliff wall, I asked,
“How’s life in the Sado Clan treating you?”
“Yes, sir! I heard it’s thanks to your care, Young Lord!”
It did seem like he was doing well. Where once he was gaunt with nothing but fierce eyes, now his face had filled out with youthful softness. He looked much healthier. It was good to see.
“How are your siblings?”
“They’re doing fine!”
He likely still felt some guilt from what had happened at the Cradle.
When he first arrived at the main sect, he had seemed overwhelmed, but after experiencing the authority of the Sado Clan and the Six Demon Families, he probably felt I was someone far beyond his reach.
[Stick to the wall.]
“Stick to the wall, Cho Ryang.”
At Skybreaker’s words, I pressed my back against the wall.
From high above, something began descending at high speed.
A giant basket tied to a rope was being lowered.
It was food.
Not trash like before—this time, it was actual provisions: salted rice balls and dried meat that was just on the verge of spoiling. Still, it was proper sustenance.
That was thanks to my influence. Not because I felt pity for the prisoners here—But because this place is my final fallback.
After frequenting the Disciplinary Hall, I came to see it as the last line of defense.
If everything was exposed and I had to run, this place would be perfect.
Others would grow weaker here, while I would grow stronger.
That’s why I was trying to make it more livable in advance.
Call it part of the “Disciplinary Hall Environmental Improvement Project.”
Anyway—We’d now reached the entrance.
[So, where is this mystic beast snake you’re after?]
That’s what we have to find now.
[…My mistake was trusting someone like you. Do you have any idea how big this place is?]
“Nope.”
[Exactly. No one does. It’s massive.]
It’s fine, really. Don’t trust me—trust Cho Ryang.
I turned to him and asked,
“Think you can find it?”
“Yes, Young Lord!”
Cho Ryang stood still and closed one eye. He looked around the cave for a long while before pointing in a direction.
“That way.”
[…What the hell.]
I gave Skybreaker a smug look only he could see.
The One-Eyed Beast Master.
He was the terrifying figure who had single-handedly destroyed the Sichuan Tang Clan using mystic beasts.
Each mystic beast was different, but they were essentially animals that had gained spiritual power, and thus, they were mysterious and powerful.
Cho Ryang had complete mastery over such beings, even forming a mystic beast legion.
He lacked a true ego due to the many dark arts and forbidden techniques used on him, And yet—he could still control mystic beasts.
“That must mean his senses toward mystic beasts are unusually sharp.”
Honestly, I hadn’t expected this much. I thought he’d just be good at tracking traces.
He must be one of those special types—like Yun Yeopja, the Sword Saint, or the Heavenly Demon herself. People born with unique gifts.
What a brutal, unfair world. Some were born with heavenly talent or extraordinary abilities, While others, like those with blocked meridians, couldn’t even properly use martial arts.
Still—I had to fight through it. If I had just sat down and given up, I’d have been brutally killed on day one in that cave.
Suppressing my wandering thoughts, I followed behind Cho Ryang and realized something.
This path feels familiar.
[That way leads to…The plaza where Do Il-gwang is confined.]
“I did bring the liquor… but Cho Ryang might be in danger.”
Do Il-gwang was an unpredictable guy.
[And is that kid even tracking anything properly?]
Before Skybreaker finished his sentence—
“Found it!”
Cho Ryang proudly held something up with a pair of tongs.
It was a snake’s shed skin.
“You did well. How’d you find it?”
“Hehe, I’m not really sure myself. When I focus with this left eye, I start seeing things—like animal traces or something like that.”
So that’s why the Beast Master in Return of the Murim had only one eye.
“Where do the traces lead?”
“That direction.”
It was definitely toward Do Il-gwang.
[Most mystic beasts are born in places where spiritual energy is dense. It wouldn’t be strange for one to settle near the formation that feeds off Do Il-gwang’s energy.]
He might be right.
I warned Cho Ryang,
“If we’re heading that way, you need to be cautious. Do you know who Do Il-gwang is?”
“I’ve heard of him. He’s the terrifying former Heavenly Demon, right?”
“Drop the honorific. Anyway, we’re heading toward where he’s confined.”
“If he’s confined, doesn’t that mean it’s safe?”
“…Not quite.”
In my opinion, it was very dangerous.
Most people would ignore the risk and just drag Cho Ryang along. But I wasn’t most people. I was the one who brought this kid out of the Cradle. His life was partly my responsibility. I didn’t want to put him in harm’s way.
“I’ll be fine, Young Lord!”
“You’ll be fine?”
“You fed us, sheltered us, and even taught us martial arts—That’s more than anyone ever did for us.”
“That’s just…”
“It might be a cliché, but to us, you saved our lives.”
Hearing that made me feel guilty. I’d brought them along because I thought they’d be useful, Then used Sado Gwang’s death as an excuse to mostly ignore them.
If I’d really cared, I should’ve brought them over as soon as Sado Gwang died.
All that talk about ‘my force’ is embarrassing now.
Return of the Murim might just be a world designed to force me into self-reflection.
Anyway—
“Alright. I’ll make sure that bastard doesn’t pull anything.”
“I believe you.”
We entered the plaza where Do Il-gwang was sealed.
I was a little tense—But surprisingly, Do Il-gwang was quiet.
Though he wore a serious expression.
“You brat… who’s the kid you brought with you?”
“None of your concern.”
“No, I think it is.”
And then—A crushing pressure descended.
It wasn’t killing intent.
His shadow began to grow, taking on mass and shape.
A shadow should never separate from its owner, But this one expanded and formed a tangible figure.
[It’s his mental world!]
I immediately drew on the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. No way Cho Ryang could withstand the mental world of a former Heavenly Demon. I stepped in front of him to shield him.
And then—
“Oooh…!”
Cho Ryang gasped in awe. And it was no wonder.
“A cat!”
“A black tiger!”
“S-Sorry!”
Do Il-gwang’s mental world had taken the form of a black tiger, just as he’d described. But it wasn’t an ordinary tiger—its tail floated behind it like a demonic spirit. That demonic figure I’d seen before? That was just the tail.
“You okay, Cho Ryang?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
He meant it. I had activated the Heavenly Demon Divine Art and still felt a headache—But he looked perfectly fine.
“Of course he’s fine…Where do you even find these kids?”
“What do you mean?”
“That boy.”
Do Il-gwang said in a low, impressed voice,
“His Upper Dantian is open.”
“Upper Dantian?”
“Yeah. You’ve at least heard of it, right?”
Honestly, I hadn’t. But I nodded calmly.
“You know how when you reach ‘Three Flowers Gather at the Summit,’ You feel temporarily connected to the heavens?”
I didn’t—but nodded anyway.
“The part you feel in that moment is the Upper Dantian.
You get just a glimpse of it, then it fades. Old texts mention it—and I’ve felt it myself. That’s the key to reaching the next realm. The reason martial artists at Transcendent Peak can manifest their mental worlds is because of that fleeting connection.”
“So?”
“But sometimes, rare individuals are born with unique gifts—Like that kid you brought here. He’s already using the power of the Upper Dantian. That’s why he’s unaffected by others’ mental worlds.”
He meant the ones born with awakened abilities.
“They all share one thing: Even without martial arts, their Upper Dantian is already open. Now imagine what would happen if such a person learned proper martial arts.”
“I see.”
“No, you don’t ‘see.’ Even Lee Seryeong had her Upper Dantian opened. If someone like that is properly trained, an unmatched martial artist could be born!”
He shouted to Cho Ryang.
“Boy! I am the Heavenly Demon, Do Il-gwang! Learn my martial arts, and I will make you strong enough to be called the next Heavenly Demon!”
It was a tremendous opportunity.
In the Cult, strength and martial power were everything.
No one would blame you for learning Do Il-gwang’s martial arts. So most would accept without hesitation.
Maybe that’s why—Cho Ryang slowly stepped toward the altar.
Do Il-gwang smiled wide.
“Hahaha! Yes, you have a good eye! Come, bow to your master, and I shall—”
Cho Ryang bowed down—
“I got it!”
From under the altar, he pulled out a snake.
It had a single horn on its head.
The Single-Horned Firefang.
A rare and dangerous type of mystic beast. Normally, it would take several Peak-level martial artists to capture one unharmed—But Cho Ryang had caught it effortlessly.
Even stranger, the snake wasn’t resisting at all. Instead, it rubbed its head against his arm affectionately.
He placed it in the cage and said,
“Sorry, but I won’t be learning your martial arts, Sir Do Il-gwang.”
“What?! Are you insane?!”
“If I did, I’d have to stay down here in this prison, right?”
“Obviously! That’s the price you pay!”
“But my siblings are outside. I have to protect them.”
“You idiot! Do you have any idea how incredible it is that your Upper Dantian is open?!”
“I do.”
Cho Ryang looked at me.
“I know I’m different. I’ve got a strong sense about things. And that sense…It’s pointing not to Sir Do Il-gwang—But to you, Young Lord. It feels like…You’re more like me.”
[…?]
“…Me?”