Chapter 468

Chapter 468
The reception was a grand affair. The members of the Tang-hyeon Sect lined up in flawless formation, clothed in immaculate uniforms, to welcome the arriving Yong-bong Association. Seeing nearly five hundred martial artists in matching robes offering greetings was an imposing display. At tables piled high with exquisite dishes and fine liquor, smooth compliments flowed back and forth.

Once the initial formalities and pleasantries had run their course, Mak Hyo-wol turned his attention toward Il-gak.

“It was my understanding that no representatives from Shaolin were part of the Yong-bong Association’s current roster. May I inquire why a monk wearing their sacred robes is traveling with you?”

Il-gak stood up, bringing his hands together in a respectful Buddhist salute.

“I am known as Il-gak, a follower of Shaolin.”

Watching Il-gak bow deeply, Mak Hyo-wol let out a soft murmur of recognition.

“Ah, so you are the renowned Vajra Monk of Shaolin, Il-gak *Sunim*?”

“That is far greater praise than I deserve,” the monk replied.

“But word reached me that Il-gak *Sunim* had journeyed elsewhere rather than joining the Yong-bong Association…”

“Indeed, things unfolded that way because I had a particular objective to pursue.”

“I see…”

Mak Hyo-wol’s response was somewhat guarded, given that the monk had evaded the core question of why he was presently accompanying the group. He paused as if contemplating whether to press further, but quickly redirected his attention to me.

“And the young man beside you would be…?”

I stood up, crossing my fists in a traditional martial greeting.

“My name is Jin So-un, representing the Tae-ul Sect.”

“Ah! The Black Mi— Ah, no, you are the chosen delegate from the Academy.”

I decided to proactively address the matter.

“I attached myself to the Yong-bong Association due to specific circumstances. I feel a bit apologetic, as though I have disrupted an important gathering.”

Mak Hyo-wol dismissed the notion with a wave of his hand, a warm, benevolent smile gracing his features.

“To meet not only the prominent figures of the Yong-bong Association but also the rising legends whose reputations shake the *Kangho* is a true privilege. Why would I be anything but thrilled? Let us drink to commemorate this gathering.”

As Mak Hyo-wol raised his goblet, everyone gathered in the hall followed his lead and lifted their drinks.

“To our auspicious meeting!”

The rich fluid burned smoothly down my throat, releasing a deep, pleasant fragrance. Il-gak, who had merely mimed the toast before setting his cup down untouched, leaned closer to whisper.

“Did you notice anything unusual?”

He was clearly reluctant to partake because of the warnings I had given before entering the estate.

“Even if the Tang-hyeon Sect has committed misdeeds, would they really strike so early in our visit?”

Unless they intended to slaughter the entire Yong-bong Association and immediately defect to the Sa-heuk Alliance, they wouldn’t dare make such a reckless move.

“That makes sense,” Il-gak conceded, finally draining his cup.

“Look at you, drinking like a secular man while wearing those robes. You really are a sham monk.”

“…Is it not also bad manners to reject a toast at a formal *Kangho* gathering? When done to maintain harmony, it is entirely permissible.”

“How incredibly convenient for you.”

“…Putting that aside, Jin *Siju*. Aren’t you overindulging a bit too much?”

“Why? This is a celebration.”

“Even so, one can never be too cautious,” Il-gak noted, gesturing toward the cluster of emptied flagons before me.

“Don’t worry about me. I built up a strong resistance to toxins back during my time in the Muk-rim, so standard poisons have no effect on me anyway.”

“…What did you say?”

Il-gak stared back and forth between his own empty cup and my face. For some reason, his eyes carried the look of someone dealing with a betrayer.

The banquet continued in high spirits. After the official pleasantries concluded, various members of the Tang-hyeon Sect approached the Yong-bong Association to exchange friendly words and share drinks. Several younger disciples requested autographs, while others engaged in deeper debates regarding martial concepts and sudden insights.

When the festivities wrapped up, we were escorted to our designated guest houses, which were perfectly appointed with every possible amenity.

“What did you make of it?” Il-gak asked the moment we stepped into our room.

“Why ask me?”

“I… didn’t observe anything out of the ordinary.” He wrinkled his brow in perplexity. “I didn’t sense any underlying malicious intent or dark energy either.”

To be frank, I had felt the exact same way, so I remained quiet. Seeing my silence, Il-gak spoke up tentatively.

“Perhaps… we can cross the Tang-hyeon Sect off our list of suspects?”

“Are you certain?”

“I know what Jin *Siju* suggested earlier made sense, but… it’s highly probable they simply failed to recognize us.”

The other members of the Yong-bong Association, who were listening intently to our exchange, nodded in agreement.

“Yes, that is a reasonable assumption.”

I posed a counter-question to the room.

“If that were true, shouldn’t the rest of their disciples have been equally oblivious?”

“…?”

“Did anyone notice the expressions on the faces of the Tang-hyeon Sect members when Il-gak introduced himself?”

I surveyed the gathering of the Yong-bong Association, but no one responded.

“I was paying close attention.” The memories of the Tang-hyeon Sect disciples’ reactions remained crystal clear in my mind. “Not a single one of them looked startled.”

“…!!!”

“Now, you might argue, ‘Who cares about a fake monk who drinks and eats meat?’ But the name of Shaolin’s Il-gak is universally recognized across the realm, is it not?”

“…I didn’t touch any meat!” Il-gak interjected with a minor, irrelevant correction, which I promptly ignored.

“Instead of showing surprise, they were actively trying to hide their nervousness. And later during the banquet, they came up to Il-gak again, showering him with praise about how eager they were to meet him.”

Perhaps I was merely being paranoid. I might have already branded them as the culprits in my mind and was twisting the evidence to fit my theory.

However,

“The hospitality feels unnaturally forced.”

The survival instincts that had kept me alive against all odds in my previous life were sending loud warning signs.

“For a faction like the Tang-hyeon Sect, who must know our arrival isn’t driven by simple goodwill or camaraderie, what logic is there behind such lavish treatment?”

It left a bad taste in my mouth.

“Well…”

At that moment, Danmok Gyo-ryeon slowly raised her hand.

“Come to think of it, there was one peculiar detail.”

All eyes swung toward Danmok Gyo-ryeon. While one person’s suspicion can be dismissed as anxiety, the situation changes when someone else validates it. Danmok Gyo-ryeon spoke with growing conviction.

“When the Tang-hyeon Sect Leader addressed Jin *Danjunim*, he avoided using titles like ‘Black Flame Dragon’ or ‘Black Maitreya’ and specifically used ‘Academy Representative.'”

“….”

What on earth was she implying? Just as I was about to call out the absurdity of her statement…

“Ah… now that you mention it!”

The others gasped, their expressions turning rigid. What was with this collective reaction? This was utterly preposterous…

“That… is definitely odd.”

“Yes! They are clearly concealing something.”

“Highly untrustworthy.”

…And just like that, the suspicion surrounding the Tang-hyeon Sect reached a boiling point.

After cleaning myself up first, I strolled out into the courtyard garden. Even if I voiced my doubts about the Tang-hyeon Sect right now, we couldn’t just launch a sudden raid. Regardless, the official probe into the Tang-hyeon Sect would commence in full force once dawn arrived tomorrow.

The Tang-hyeon Sect was merely the initial phase of this special investigation, not its conclusion. It would be reckless to stretch my nerves to the breaking point and burn out on day one. For a prolonged special investigation mission, maintaining a steady pace was critical.

To ease my mind, I retrieved the manual of esoteric techniques that had been presented to me by the Mo-san Sect.

*[Jeryeong-jubak-gwe]* (Exorcism Binding Casket)

In honesty, the sentiment I experienced upon receiving this ultimate method was confusion rather than awe. The accumulated knowledge of an entire sect is a treasure that cannot be valued in gold or silver. Gifting the core teachings of one’s lineage to an absolute outsider is tantamount to surrendering the very spirit of that sect. Moreover, it wasn’t as though the Mo-san Sect was destitute, yet they chose to gift a martial legacy… It made little sense.

Furthermore, the spiritual energy used for secret arts operates on an entirely different principle than standard martial internal energy. Consequently, studying a secret art yields nothing if the corresponding cultivation method (*Simbeop*) is absent. The Mo-san Sect was surely aware of this reality, making their underlying motive difficult to read.

‘They didn’t give this to me just to use as scrap paper.’

Regardless, now that the text was in my possession, it was best to study it carefully. I began absorbing the contents of the *Jeryeong-jubak-gwe* using my customary rapid-reading technique.

*Sarak, sarak, sarak, sarak.*

As the pages rustled rapidly under my fingers, Il-gak, who had finished bathing and was returning to the rooms, paused and tilted his head.

“Jin *Siju*, what exactly are you doing?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I am reading.”

“…Who on earth reads a book in that manner?”

“Why are you suddenly picking on me? Are you bitter because you lack hair?”

“I have hair…! *Ahem*, that is beside the point. I am saying no ordinary person flips through pages that fast and claims to be reading.”

Only then did I realize what was bothering him. To be fair, this reading technique was unique to me. During my past life with the Man-tong Bureau, in order to digest as many records as possible in the shortest timeframe, the habit of forcing vast amounts of raw data into my mind had become second nature, and it manifested automatically.

“People blessed with hair read books this way all the time.”

“No, what does hair have to do with… Forget it. Enjoy your book.”

Since I offered a dismissive answer out of irritation, Il-gak seemed to take offense, shaking his head as he retreated inside.

At any rate, after swiftly imprinting every detail of the *Jeryeong-jubak-gwe* into my memory, I channeled the internal energy of the Solar Might (*Taeyang-hu*).

*Fwa-reureuk!*

The text of the *Jeryeong-jubak-gwe* dissolved instantly, reducing to a pile of cinders in a split second.

“Hmm… this is a far grander gift than I initially anticipated.”

That was my primary takeaway after fully grasping the core of the *Jeryeong-jubak-gwe*. The technique was far more than just restrictive bindings. In truth, prior to the Great War between Justice and Evil, an art like the *Jeryeong-jubak-gwe* was regarded as a mere performance tool for public rituals or basic cleansing rites. In an era dominated by orthodox martial paths, designed primarily to counter corrupted or demonic practices, what major purpose could it serve?

While it lacked the power to counter high-level malevolent sorcery, its foundational principles were more than enough to dispel low-level curses or hexes.

‘And it turns out I don’t require a dedicated cultivation method either.’

The mystical arts within the *Jeryeong-jubak-gwe* could be fully activated using the Jade Pure Heavenly Power (*Ok-cheong-cheon-sang-ryeok*). This meant I didn’t need a specific internal system focused on the Upper Dantian like the proprietary methods of the Mo-san Sect. They must have decided to pass down this secret art after witnessing my mastery over the Jade Pure Heavenly Power.

‘Moreover, it even allows for basic illusion arts.’

This was the most startling revelation within the *Jeryeong-jubak-gwe*. Because the principle of binding extends to clouding a target’s perceptions, even basic illusion techniques were outlined. It wouldn’t hold up in a high-stakes duel between grandmasters where a single breath dictates life or death, but it would serve as an effective tool against the erratic sorcerers and zealots of the Heavenly Demon Cult.

I retrieved a paper talisman to test the illusion technique. Just then, Il-gak stepped back outside, having changed into more relaxed attire.

“It appears your literary session is already over?” Il-gak remarked with an unusual hint of mockery. “As one would expect, the pace is entirely different for those blessed with hair.”

What was this? Was he genuinely sulking? His sarcasm carried a decent bit of bite, but as a veteran of the So-jeong-dae, I was completely unfazed by such mild teasing. Frankly, it barely registered. The ideal response to mockery isn’t to fire back with more insults; it is far more effective to remain completely unbothered while turning their own words against them.

“Would you care to see the results?”

“What?”

I activated the Jade Pure Heavenly Power. The flow of this energy differed significantly from when it was deployed for physical combat. Instead of surging through my muscles, it felt as though the strength was gently ebbing away. In contrast, my mind became incredibly sharp and clear, as if the world had suddenly been unveiled in high definition. Simultaneously, a profound wave of exhaustion washed over me.

‘No wonder practitioners of these arts always look so frail.’

If a simple, low-grade spell drained this much mental fortitude, a high-level ritual would likely leave someone incapacitated. Shaking off the distracting thoughts, I began reciting the necessary incantation. As the words left my lips, the energy transferred smoothly into the paper, causing the talisman and my Middle Dantian to vibrate in perfect sync.

‘Now!’

With the preparations complete, I tossed the paper forward.

*Flutter.*

The talisman drifted through the air like a stray leaf before suddenly exploding—*Poof!*—in a plume of gray smoke, materializing into a solid figure.

“….”

It was an exact replica of Il-gak in his monastic vestments, save for one distinct feature: a thick, luxurious head of hair.

“What do you think?”

“….”

“Quite a full head of hair, wouldn’t you say?”

As a consequence of my inaugural illusion, Il-gak’s gaze filled with pure, unadulterated fury.

‘Ah, did I cross the line?’

To be fair, it was a massive psychological blow to a man accustomed to nothing but reverence throughout his entire life.

“Il-gak, I might have taken the joke a bit too far…”

Before the apology could fully leave my mouth, a brilliant golden radiance erupted from Il-gak’s form. A barrage of golden fist-intent (*Gwon-gyeong*) rained down upon the illusion.

“Whoa…!”

I instinctively raised my arms to defend myself, but his strike wasn’t directed at me.

*Peo-peo-peo-peo-peok!*

The golden fist-intent hammered relentlessly into the false figure. Immediately after, the pure internal energy of the Muscle-Tendon Changing Classic (*Yeok-geun-gyeong*) completely dissolved the illusionary construct I had forged with the Jade Pure Heavenly Power. The long-haired phantom version of Il-gak reverted back into a plain paper talisman and crumbled away.

“That was my first successful creation!”

Ignoring my complaints entirely, Il-gak turned on his heel and marched back inside the quarters. The bright moonlight reflected sharply off his bare scalp.