The plan was simple. First, I’d threaten—no, catch the attention—of Paeng Woo-jin and Yeon Ga-hye by letting them know I was aware of their relationship.

After the Yongbong Gathering ended, when the two gathered at the designated location, I’d confirm they were both overly intoxicated, then I and Tang Sowol would escort them to the nearby inn.

“And lastly, when they’ve sobered up, we get the honest truth out of them. Isn’t it a perfect plan?”

“Perfect?! You just said it was a threat!”

“You misheard.”

“And they didn’t even drink that much in the first place! There’s no way they’d be so drunk they couldn’t stand!”

“If they can’t stand, then they’re drunk. Simple. Whether it’s because of demonic qi flow being blocked or due to paralysis poison, either way, they’re intoxicated.”

“Poison?! Are you planning to drag me into this too?!”

Tang Sowol shrieked. I gently cupped her face with both hands. Her small face fit perfectly in my palms. Admiring the softness of her cheeks, I lowered my voice.

“They say husband and wife are of one body and mind. Since we’ll be a couple one day, it’s not a bad idea to start practicing.”

“H-Husband and wife… of one mind…”

“Besides, what we’re doing is not only to uncover what the Demonic Cult is scheming, after they tried to kill us—it’s also to clear the misunderstanding between the Paeng and Yeon families and help them reconcile. It’s definitely not a bad deed. It could even be called righteous.”

“R-Righteous…?”

“Yes, righteous. A just cause, pure enough to face the heavens with no shame.”

“Uh… Uhh?”

Her green-tinged eyes began to spin. Her face grew increasingly red.

Good. It’s working. At this rate—

I was about to smirk when—

“Ha!”

Tang Sowol snapped back to her senses, her gaze sharpening.

“You scoundrel! Did you really think I’d fall for that smooth talk?”

“Didn’t you?”

“Of course not!”

“Then why are you still holding my hand?”

“!”

She placed her hand on mine, which was still cupping her cheek, seemingly to push it away—but then just left it there.

She pouted briefly in my direction, then finally pulled away with a reluctant and hesitant motion.

“Haa… Brother Cheon. Are we really doing the right thing?”

“Honestly, even I was surprised at how easily you were swayed just now.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about! I mean kidnapping the heirs of the Paeng and Yeon families!”

“It’s not kidnapping, it’s… temporary protective custody. Besides, I intend to make sure it ends up being the right thing. I don’t think this will be a simple matter.”

“You always seem so worried, Brother Cheon. What exactly is bothering you so much? To be honest, I don’t understand it. You’re more than just a genius—you’ve achieved something that only comes once in a generation.”

Well, to me, regaining my martial prowess from before the regression makes this progress feel slow…

From Tang Sowol’s perspective—without knowing I’d regressed—I had trained on my own, reached the Peak Stage in just a few years, and then within three years was already stepping into the Sub-Perfection realm.

Of course, I’m not the first of my kind in Murim’s history.

There was Zhang Sanfeng, founder of the Wudang Sect, Damo of the Shaolin Temple, and the Blood Buddha who once ruled the western Murim. They were like me.

Well, even without regression, they achieved even greater things at a younger age or pierced through unseen realms.

That’s probably why people are surprised but not suspicious of me.

As I silently nodded, Tang Sowol continued with a serious face.

“Brother Cheon, I still don’t quite get it. The Paeng and Yeon families might be on bad terms, but at most they’re fighting over influence and arguing. Maybe a harsh duel now and then. No one’s getting killed, are they?”

“That’s for now.”

“Sure, the relationship between Paeng and Eon’s children is unfortunate… Wait, did you just say for now?”

Tang Sowol flinched and questioned me, trying to persuade me not to go through with it.

“Yes. For now. But it’s going to get worse. I suspect that’s exactly what the Demonic Cult is aiming for.”

“Given their recent behavior—subtly stoking chaos in the Central Plains—it does make sense… But the Murim Alliance has already warned both families.”

Before regression, the cult had concealed its ambitions until the moment they invaded. But this time, I managed to reveal a few of their schemes.

Still, due to old biases, no one took the threat seriously yet.

At least the Murim Alliance is on guard. That’s how they quickly noticed the Demonic Cult’s potions spreading in Hebei Province.

By now, the cult must be frustrated that their plans keep getting disrupted. But—

“You think the Demonic Cult will just give up?”

“Hmm. I only faced them once, but I agree—they don’t seem like the type.”

The cultists are all lunatics. You can’t expect rationality from them.

Plans disrupted? Might fail?

I survived against them until the very end in my previous life. I know exactly what comes next.

They won’t back down. They’ll go even more extreme to achieve their goals. And if that doesn’t work, they’ll burn everything down out of spite.

They don’t value their lives. They don’t know how to give up. Their relentlessness is beyond comprehension.

Even though their power—besides the Heavenly Demon—is comparable to only a single elite clan, they were never easy to defeat.

“It never hurts to be cautious. And it doesn’t hurt to act fast, either. Didn’t they say it’s already been a while since that potion started spreading in Hebei?”

“So that’s why you’re calling it kidnapping.”

“There’s another reason. Honestly… I just don’t see myself becoming friends with people quickly.”

“But you got close to Namgung pretty fast, didn’t you?”

“That was just because Namgung hyung is strange. I showed a bit of pressure, congratulated him on his win, gave him some face… but I didn’t think he’d latch on so fast. Turns out he really craves recognition, just like Paeng Woo-jin said.”

“I think anyone would like being treated that way. Well… he does seem to crave approval. Still, he’s not the kind to let just anyone near him. Remember how he looked at Hwangbo?”

“That was cold. Honestly, like he was looking at trash. Which… isn’t entirely wrong.”

It’s not widely known yet, but before regression, Hwangbo Gwang’s crimes had been exposed by Agwibu.

People knew he bullied civilians and weak martial artists, but the truth was worse.

“Even if Namgung’s weak to flattery, he still has discernment. Anyway, that’s not what matters now. We’re almost at the meeting point. What’s important is how we take down Paeng Woo-jin and Yeon Ga-hye.”

“You’re really going through with this…”

“I started the moment I sent that first sound transmission.”

“Once we’ve… kidnapped—I mean, protected—them, what then?”

“First, we hear their side. Then we share our information. Hopefully explain why it had to be this way… Though I’m not sure they’ll accept it.”

“Then we’d better do it right. If we fail, it’ll just get worse.”

“I don’t plan to fail. But that means you’re in this with me, right?”

“We’re already in this together. There’s no backing out. And besides, a perfect ambush isn’t even possible.”

“True. They’ll both be on alert.”

“Then how about this? There’s a type of poison that’s harmless by itself, but causes strong paralysis the moment the two meet…”

In a cautious tone, Tang Sowol whispered her plan to me. It actually made a lot of sense.

Later that night…

The clouds covered the moon. It was a pitch-dark night.

I stepped out in front of Paeng Woo-jin and Yeon Ga-hye, who had arrived first, and gave them a casual wave.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. I’m a bit late.”

“You bastard. What’s your goal, threatening us like that? What do you, the Tang Family’s son-in-law, expect to gain?”

“Depending on your answer, we won’t stay quiet.”

Despite my polite greeting, Woo-jin growled like a wild beast, and Yeon Ga-hye coldly gathered her inner power.

“Threaten? That’s harsh. I just had a few questions.”

“Hah! What a coincidence. I’ve got some questions too.”

Paeng Woo-jin scoffed and strode toward me, his large frame and unchecked aura like a wild predator.

But as he walked, his expression subtly twisted.

“What’s this smell? Cough!”

His face crumpled instantly, like he’d inhaled something foul. Clutching his neck, he forcibly summoned his qi and drew the massive blade on his back.

“Poison…! Was this the Tang Family’s doing?!”

“Of course not. Just my own decision.”

I responded flatly and drew my sword, swinging it toward his blade.

Chaeng!

His qi was weak—he was too busy purging the poison and rushed to attack—but the strength of his arm was impressive. The rebound force in my hand was no joke.

Still, if brute force alone could defeat qi, inner techniques wouldn’t have evolved this far.

Now that I’d gauged his strength, my second strike came with a higher level of qi.

Slice.

The sword’s fiery aura cleanly split the large blade in two.

“What the—?!”

Woo-jin had expected a clash or a stalemate. Caught off guard, he was a half-beat too slow.

I used Ghost Shadow Steps to close in and pressed on a pressure point.

Thunk!

Maybe I hit too hard because of his thick muscles. The sound was like a punch. Woo-jin’s body froze as I struck his meridian.

“Just a pressure point…!”

He tried to brute-force his way out—something his exceptional physique almost allowed—but…

“Don’t worry. Nothing bad will happen.”

As if I’d just stand and watch.

I struck him again, hitting a second point to seal his voice too.

Then I turned around.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

Tang Sowol was holding Yeon Ga-hye, who had collapsed, and apologizing profusely.

First, she used an odorless poison in the darkness. Once they were partially affected, she released a strongly scented poison to paralyze them.

Of course, this alone wouldn’t have worked. Too dangerous poisons weren’t an option, and subtlety limited the choices even more.

Also, both the Paeng and Yeon families were physically resistant to poison due to their strong bodies.

So with Woo-jin slowed down, I struck his pressure point, and as Yeon Ga-hye moved to help, Sowol sprayed another dose to neutralize her.

It was an improvised plan, but it worked.

Woo-jin was still glaring daggers at me. I sighed and slung him over my shoulder.

“I admit it. You’ve got a talent for kidnapping, Tang Sowol.”

“Please, shut your mouth, Brother Cheon.”

Tang Sowol, carrying Yeon Ga-hye, closed her eyes tightly.

Now all that was left was to have a quiet conversation at the inn.

When I unsealed his speech point, Paeng Woo-jin shouted in solemn defiance:

“Ugh! Kill me!”

“Didn’t I just say I have no intention of doing that…?”

His first words gave me chills for some reason.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep