Episode 12 – It Always Goes Like This
Seo In-geol didn’t like how things were going.
He was the eldest son of Seo Myeong-jang, a man of considerable power in Taeryeong-hyeon.
Recently, he had even stepped into the First-rate realm.
Using the excuse of throwing a celebratory party, he had invited Baek So-hyang—the daughter of the Baek family household—whom he had long held feelings for.
The other young n of Taeryeong-hyeon were enthusiastically playing along to support him.
So, the main character of this gathering was supposed to be Seo In-geol—no one else.
Yet, no matter how many jokes or tricks he tried, Baek So-hyang only responded with a polite smile.
Then, as soon as that flower boy-looking guy walked into the inn, she couldn't take her eyes off him.
Of course Seo In-geol was furious.
But there was sothing odd about the man’s appearance.
He ca alone without any guards. Though he had brought a sword, he was resting it on the opposite chair.
“He's clearly not a properly trained martial artist.”
A real warrior always kept their sword within reach, ready to draw it at a mont’s notice.
Who in their right mind leaned it on the opposite chair like seating a person?
The guy was clearly from so no-na family, just carrying a sword to look impressive.
And now he even had the nerve to sigh while looking this way.
“Did he just sigh at , Seo In-geol, the son of Seo Myeong-jang?”
Seo In-geol, arrogant and self-important, imdiately stood up.
But no matter what he said, the man didn’t respond and continued to look elsewhere.
“Thought so.”
The sword was just a decoration.
But then—
“The stench of rot is overwhelming.”
“What?”
“Every ti you open your mouth, the stench of rot spreads.”
“You bastard!”
It was Seo In-geol who started the aningless provocation, yet he couldn’t hold back his temper and drew his sword.
In contrast, the other man only lightly fanned himself.
Turning to face him, the man locked eyes with Seo In-geol and spoke:
“If you draw that, you die.”
The mont Seo In-geol locked eyes with the man—Sado Hwan—he faltered.
“What kind of eyes...?”
Just eting his gaze sent a chill down his spine. It felt like standing naked before a predator. As if death itself was creeping along the back of his neck.
But Seo In-geol gritted his teeth. If he backed down here, his reputation would be in tatters. Baek So-hyang, who had shown slight interest in his advancent to First-rate, would surely walk away.
A martial artist must risk death to protect their pride.
“Let’s see you kill , then!”
First-rate.
The level where one wields their weapon as naturally as their own body and can fully express their martial arts.
One can even draw internal energy outward.
He couldn’t form sword energy yet, but channeling internal energy into his sword greatly increased his moves’ power.
Seo In-geol summoned the qi resting in his lower abdon.
But—
“Kuugh?”
The energy wouldn’t flow properly.
His internal qi, which always moved in accordance with his heart technique’s incantation, was now completely unresponsive.
Not once had he lost control of his qi since becoming First-rate.
“It’s like... my energy is afraid...?”
At that mont, Sado Hwan’s face seed to zoom in before his eyes.
His expression was indifferent, as though looking at an object, yet sharp and frosty.
“I’ve heard of this!”
Sothing his father had once ntioned in passing when discussing martial levels.
When a master of Peak realm or higher releases their presence with intent, weaker opponents can't even circulate their energy.
Small energy is paralyzed by the pressure of vast energy.
“That’s killing intent.”
Terror and shock filled Seo In-geol’s eyes.
Was this unknown young man really soone who had broken past the Peak wall?
A level only elite successors of the great sects barely reached?
His ntal composure shattered, and the disrupted qi tangled his energy channels.
“Kuhugh!”
Internal energy is the power of nature drawn into the body.
It’s what allows martial artists to break stones and leap across rivers.
But that sa power was now wreaking havoc within him.
That’s why he coughed up blood and collapsed.
“Yep, having OP gear is the best.”
[I still don’t quite get what you an, but it seems to have worked.]
***
I gently stroked the Black Cow Fan I had reattached to my waist.
Even soone without internal energy could use its tiny inner grooves to release poison.
Earlier, I had loaded it with spoiled poison that Dok So-gong had left behind.
The Black Cow Fan was an infamous item that had once triggered a bloody incident in the martial world and led to war.
It was that stealthy and deadly.
And Seo In-geol wasn’t soone on Yun Yeopja’s level.
At best, he was a minor figure in a backwater town like Taeryeong-hyeon.
There was no way he’d notice the subtle poisoning.
Hence the outco just now.
“He probably thinks I suppressed him with killing intent.”
Skybreaker muttered in disbelief.
[To confuse poison with killing intent—seriously, you’re a freak.]
Killing intent is only effective around the Peak realm, when one can give form to their qi.
It’s about pressing down on soone by sending energy through sheer force of will.
People describe it as charisma or intuition, but in reality, it’s a technique of suppressing with inner power.
That’s why weaker fighters can’t even respond against stronger ones.
In my case, I just used poison to scatter his qi.
But with the right look in my eyes and a bit of acting, Seo In-geol was completely fooled.
His face had turned pale, like it had been dusted with powder.
Still kneeling and trembling, it seed he had suffered serious internal damage.
Honestly, I was being quite rciful.
In most martial world situations, a scuffle like this would end with soone losing an arm.
Internal injuries? With the right elixir and a few months of rest, he’d be fine.
So it was actually a bargain.
I an, sure, I was acting as Sado Hwan now, but that didn’t an I’d ntally beco a Murim maniac.
“Brother—!”
Finally, the other lackeys who had been watching with amusent jumped to their feet.
They looked like they were ready to draw their swords.
“How dare you touch our young master!”
“What sorcery did you use?!”
Martial artists always defaulted to calling anything they didn’t understand “sorcery.”
But I had already taken control of the situation.
Despite their words, they flinched every ti our eyes t.
I calmly turned my head and raised my teacup, as if saying, you’re not even worth my ti.
After a sip, I spoke softly:
“Choose.”
“What?”
“Either take him to a physician and save his life—”
I placed the cup down with a clink.
“Or all of you die here.”
At that, the thugs swallowed loudly. Sure, I was bluffing. If even one of them had charged at with a drawn sword, I’d be done for.
I’d barely been in a real fight even in my original world.
Of course, there was always Saweol or Tak Horak.
Saweol especially—if I just called, she’d appear instantly.
No way a Transcendent Peak master like her hadn’t sensed the disturbance.
She was probably hiding sowhere, observing.
But if Saweol made a move, everyone here would die.
To erase evidence of the Demonic Cult, she’d go full wuxia mode—kill all witnesses.
That would ruin everything, including my connection with Yun Yeopja.
Judging by their appearance, these guys were from so decent families in Taeryeong-hyeon.
“So just leave, already.”
Thankfully, they got the hint, hoisted up Seo In-geol, and left the inn.
“You bastard! I’ll rember this!”
They even threw out the obligatory cliché line.
But then, one of the group—the woman—didn’t leave.
Instead, she walked over to , her robe fluttering dramatically.
“Kuheum, hm.”
She stood in front of , clearing her throat, as if asking for a seat.
When I just stared at her silently, she spoke first.
“I’m Baek So-hyang, of the Baek family in Taeryeong.”
Telling her na and origin—she was asking to sit.
But I had no interest in such a companion.
A bond might beco an opportunity—but also a curse.
It was obvious she was the one Seo In-geol was desperate to impress.
If I let her sit here—
“Tomorrow morning, a mob’s coming for sure.”
That would seal it—a fated grudge.
Honestly, I was already a bit worried. One of wuxia’s biggest clichés:
The guy who says “I’ll rember this!” always cos back with a mob.
Claiming, “He hit !”
Normally, the protagonist would school them with righteous fury.
But I wasn’t that guy.
Places like the Baek or So families were never important enough to matter in the novel.
“Baek So-hyang’s na does appear in the book... but...”
Probably just soone with the sa na. She was way too different from the one I knew.
So my response was clear:
“Get lost.”
“What?”
“Didn’t you hear ? I said get lost.”
Baek So-hyang turned pale, as if shocked, then clenched her fists and trembled.
It’s not easy to say sothing so harsh to soone you just t, but I had no choice.
She quickly spun around and stord down the stairs.
“Phew...”
[You’ve been like this since before—but I have to admit, you’re sothing else, monster.]
“...Was that a complint?”
[I ant your skin is thick.]
“Hey, survival’s on the line. Gotta do what I gotta do.”
In this dangerous Return of the Murim world, there were only two ways I could survive:
First: Acting.
That part, I was good at.
Honestly, I might be playing Sado Hwan better than Sado Hwan ever did.
Maybe it was the influence of his martial arts, but every ti I moved my qi, a ridiculous confidence would surge through .
Maybe Skybreaker, too, was drunk on his own role because of “that martial art.”
“Might be worth investigating.”
Either way, I had to play a strong man. And for that, I needed to bluff. You can’t act tough while shaking in fear.
Second: Information.
At this point in the story, I held knowledge no one else did.
It was like having a ntal map full of hidden treasures and opportunities.
“There are certain artifacts I must obtain to survive as Sado Hwan, Transcendent Peak master.”
So were scattered across the martial world. Others lay buried within the Demonic Cult. And it wasn’t just items.
The secrets held by certain characters would also beco my weapons.
That information gap was the true power of a transmigrator.
For example, even Skybreaker didn’t know the secret of Sado Hwan.
Skybreaker—that is, the original owner of this body—had no idea what martial art he had learned.
Sado Hwan’s martial technique...
Was the Heavenly Demon Divine Art—An art said to be granted only to the Heavenly Demon.
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