Chapter 155
Chapter 155: Know Yourself and Your Enemy
The Collapse of Brazil's Tower.
The incident that had plunged the world into fear and shock had grown somewhat quiet after a few days had passed.
What had already happened had happened.
There was no way I could do anything about it.
What was fortunate, at least, was this.
The Rio de Janeiro Murim Tower of Brazil.
It had been confirmed that I was not the culprit who had wiped out its 1 year.
I had turned up to 40th floor of the Republic of Korea's tower into the Golden Tower, and almost immediately afterward, Brazil's tower had lost 1 year and collapsed—so it was concluded that Ghost was not responsible.
Thanks to that, the convenient misunderstanding also arose that the disappearance of 1 year from both the Republic of Korea and Japan's towers was likewise probably not something Ghost had done.
The intense scrutiny that had been treating Ghost and Nameless Hero like omnipotent gods and strategic nuclear weapons had eased somewhat.
"Good. The excessive attention was narrowing my room to maneuver."
I confirmed the outside situation and returned straight to the Poison Herb Field.
I could see the broken medicine cabinet and bottles filled with poisons.
"Do not touch them. You could die."
"Yes. As it happens, one of the Human Oxen suddenly lost consciousness."
"When was that?"
"2 days ago."
"He would be dead."
"No. He is still alive."
I turned around to find a Human Ox collapsed on the ground.
"Let us go take a look."
The collapsed Human Ox was groaning, continuously drenching his entire body in sweat.
A bluish tinge had settled on his face, and there were puncture marks on his ankle.
"A scorpion, then."
The poor fellow was gasping desperately.
An Artificial Dantian was attached to his lower abdomen.
Wuuung—.
Since the fellow was also a former Climber, he was constitutionally robust, and it was the internal energy from the Artificial Dantian keeping him alive.
"Did you attach the Artificial Dantian?"
"Yes."
Omar nodded.
They were men I hated enough to kill, but it seemed even hatred could turn to a kind of affection—and so he had kept them alive.
I looked quietly at Omar.
Omar seemed to be feeling somewhat complicated emotions, but soon bowed his head to me and spoke.
"Please…… Save him."
"Very well."
I rummaged through my pockets, took out the Poison-Gathering Bead I had converted through the Great Law Of Reversal, and pressed it to the Human Ox's lips.
Color immediately returned to his face, and he regained consciousness.
I plucked several medicinal herbs, crushed them, and placed them in the fellow's mouth.
【The Human Ox conveys his gratitude to you for saving him. +500 Happiness】
The other fellows, delighted that their comrade had awakened, embraced one another.
I swallowed my elixir pills and absorbed the poison stored in the Poison-Gathering Bead as well.
If I left things as they were, Omar could fall victim to the poisons that had escaped.
For a while I searched the Poison Herb Field and hunted down the escaped poisons.
Fortunately, what had escaped were mere creatures.
Using the abilities of the Heavenly Poison Blood Divine Art, I lured them in and captured every last one.
"You may rest easy now."
"You have labored hard."
And then I devoted myself to circulating my energy at the Poison Herb Field.
‘I need to grow stronger.’
Nearly dying at a single utterance of ‘who are you’ had made me fearful—yet it had also sharpened my purpose with striking clarity.
It had been a brush with death.
If, rather than a mass of energy, even 1 of those individuals had appeared before my eyes……
I surely would not have escaped death.
I organized the rewards obtained from Poison Valley and focused on producing the third of the Eight Great Extreme Poisons—Seven Steps Soul-Severing Powder.
‘Just a few more ingredients and it will be complete.’
I restabilized my realm and reviewed what needed to be done.
The single greatest piece of information I had obtained on 40th floor was this,
The situation and objectives of the Murim Alliance Leader and the Heavenly Demon.
Those men are trapped within the Murim Tower, and they called it a ‘barrier’.
They intend to gather souls and shatter the barrier.
[It was that dark-skinned Kunlun slave from Africa, I tell you.]
‘Africa’ was a phonetic rendering, and ‘Kunlun slave’ was how the martial world referred to Black people.
In other words, those men were the cause behind the collapse of the African Murim Tower.
The collapse of Brazil's tower this time—also their doing.
‘What I had suspected had come to pass’.
The realization that the Alliance Leader and the Heavenly Demon could affect even the reality outside the tower made my spine stand on end.
Whether, if the barrier were shattered, they would burst out into this world—
Or return to the martial world—I did not know.
"However, 1 thing is certain, I must prevent the tower's collapse."
Just 1 thing.
The only regret I had was this part.
‘I shouldn't have wasted Japan's 1 year.’
I had deleted Japan's detestable 1 year as a supposed gift to the Republic of Korea.
‘I had no idea that would end up helping those Murim Alliance Leader bastards.’
At present, many of the Murim Towers across the world had 1 year or less remaining.
Among them, the most urgent was the Japan Murim Tower.
"I just need to clean it up."
[We must shatter the next barrier.]
[Must we not wait through a considerable interval?]
Even for the Murim Alliance Leader and the Heavenly Demon, shattering the barrier required an enormous number of souls—
And furthermore, it seemed they could not simply destroy a tower by gathering souls alone.
Thankfully—
Climbing the Japan Murim Tower could be resolved with the newly acquired Jade Key.
【The 'Jade Key' has been summoned.】
① Once per month, you may intrude upon another nation's Murim Tower.
② Upon each intrusion, you may climb 3 consecutive floors.
③ Entry and exit are also possible from your current home nation.
‘However, even if I go to Japan immediately, I cannot climb the Murim Tower.’
There was a 1-month restriction.
‘I'll have to take Park Je-hwang and head to Japan.’
The more I thought about it, the more the Murim Tower seemed to be pointing me toward the path I needed to walk.
I had needed to build the Golden Tower.
The Golden Tower extended the tower's time.
40th floor had revealed my enemies' objectives.
And it had placed in my hands the Tower Affiliation Transfer Ticket and the Jade Key—items that allowed me to travel to other nations.
【Fill the world with happiness, and 1 wish shall be granted.】
At first I had thought the Murim Tower was tormenting me.
Now there is nothing as reassuring as this.
"Understood, Murim Tower. I will gladly do it."
【Kim Tae-yang, having awakened, says 'I'm here too, Poison Demon’. +1 Happiness】
Right. Kim Tae-yang.
【Kim Tae-yang says 'It was truly exhausting getting you out of there'. +1 Happiness】
Was that so.
"Thank you."
【Kim Tae-yang urges 'Don't be impatient, and don't rush'. +1 Happiness】
I know.
The greater the enemy one faces, the more composed one must be.
‘Know your enemy and know yourself, and in a hundred battles you will never be in peril, they say.’
Until my next climb, I must look carefully at my surroundings.
Come to think of it, Kim Tae-yang.
Had this fellow grown as well?
Before, when dealing with Park Seon-su, he had seemed consumed by the dopamine of revenge.
【Kim Tae-yang says 'Coming face to face with the Murim Alliance Leader and the Heavenly Demon snapped me right back to my senses'. +1 Happiness】
"As it did for me as well."
Now then!
Kim Tae-yang.
It is time to move forward again.
【Kim Tae-yang lets out a roar of 'Let's gooo!' +100 Happiness】
Once my body had recovered, I headed outside once more.
First, for the matter in which I felt a measure of responsibility—
"The handling of the Brazil Murim Tower collapse."
From my assets, I donated 10,000,000,000 won in the names of Nameless Hero and Ghost to those who had suffered losses in Brazil.
【The grief-stricken people of Brazil express their gratitude to you. +1,000,000 Happiness】
‘The most pressing matter is.’
【Kim Tae-yang says 'We need to dig into that Hwangbo Geom who keeps going on about the Supreme Sword of the Realm'. +1 Happiness】
Confirming the tower's secrets through Hwangbo Geom.
[He is what one might call a successor.]
[The one who tipped off Africa was that wretched creature.]
The Murim Alliance Leader's successor.
"Hwangbo Geom."
At that moment—the altar I had seen in Hwangbo Geom's underground.
It must be the place where the Murim Alliance Leader delivers revelations to Hwangbo Geom.
【Kim Tae-yang says 'Killing Hwangbo Geom indiscriminately isn't the answer'. +1 Happiness】
"You are right."
Hwangbo Geom is colluding with the Alliance Leader.
To me, he is an enemy who must die—yet on the other hand, he had once been a hero of the Republic of Korea, and was Chief Han's master.
‘Killing him rashly will make the aftermath difficult to handle.’
If nothing else, for the safety of my family, Chief Han had to remain firmly on my side.
"First I must expose Hwangbo Geom's secret, and reveal the fact that he is an enemy of the world."
If possible, I must also deal a blow to the Murim Alliance Leader through Hwangbo Geom.
"For now, let us head to Hwangbo Geom's home."
But—
When I returned to Hwangbo Geom's remote house, no one was living there.
Beyond the door being firmly locked, it had been reduced to an utter ruin.
"Damn!"
I immediately headed to the wells in the nearby village.
"He's filled all the wells with concrete."
He had erased every trace and vanished somewhere.
‘Blast, Hwangbo Geom was the key and he's gone into hiding.’
The Choi Brothers would not know about this either. If they had known, they would have contacted me immediately.
‘I can't ask Park Je-hwang either.’
Who among Hwangbo Geom's disciples was there?
Chief Han……
Knowing her character, there was no way she would tell me, no matter who was asking.
"What about Jang Ae-guk?"
It seemed he had been practically expelled by Hwangbo Geom—I could not pry carelessly.
It might arouse undue suspicion, and if it came to that, he would have to be killed.
Which would mean discarding the Jang Ae-guk card, which I might be able to make use of someday.
[You sent them outside before too!]
[They are my young little birds. I listened to their chirping and found the next barrier to shatter.]
Beyond Hwangbo Geom, there were others I needed to find.
Martial world figures who had come out into this world.
However, where those men were—I did not know.
"For now, I should probe around Changbai Sect and Hwangbo Geom's circle."
Ding-dong!
Just then, a text message arrived.
It was from Lee Won-ryong.
—My liege, I have dealt with the matter you spoke of.
Good.
I took the opportunity to meet with Lee Won-ryong in person.
The Hair Growth Elixir appeared to be working—he had grown his hair back once more.
It was not as long as before, but this length was just right.
"My liege. I have captured that man and locked him up."
"The location?"
"One of Red Dragon Gate's safe houses."
I tucked the note with the address Lee Won-ryong had given me into my pocket.
"You have worked hard. Come here."
"Yes. My liege."
The Gu Poison I had planted in Lee Won-ryong.
I withdrew it.
【Absorbing Gu Poison. Internal Energy increases.】
"Ah!"
Lee Won-ryong's eyes cleared.
"What is it?"
"Ah, it is nothing. I just felt something strange……"
I observed him closely.
I had withdrawn the Gu Poison, and so I was wary of whether he might harbor different intentions.
I exchanged words with him for a short while, and felt nothing amiss whatsoever.
"Gate Master Lee. Send someone to France and bring a person back to Korea. They will need to take the long way around."
Omar's younger sister's repatriation to Korea was taking longer than expected.
Chief Han had said she would handle it, but it seemed she was busy with the Black Market and the Senzo-gumi business.
When I looked into it myself, I found that the issue of Omar's sister's nationality was tangled up in it.
Being a Syrian national, repatriation from France to Korea was proving difficult.
For that reason, I had decided to send her to Syria first, then bring her from there to Korea.
"Yes. I will handle it as instructed."
Lee Won-ryong asked nothing.
"I had been trying to contact Chief Han to deal with the Senzo-gumi, but I cannot reach her."
"I will resolve that."
I conveyed my instructions to him to carefully investigate Hwangbo Geom's whereabouts.
Afterward, I headed to Baekgyeong Department Store.
It was for business pertaining to the Handsome Bungeoppang venture.
I had ordinarily left everything to my mother and grandmother, but this time there was something I needed to handle myself.
"Tae-yang!"
As arranged, Grandmother was at the department store waiting for me.
"Have you been well?"
"Of course! Show me your face a little more often, will you."
"I'm sorry."
The reason I was meeting Grandmother today was regarding the 2nd-branch business.
The bungeoppang business was doing well.
In the meantime, Division Manager Jeong Jang-hyeon of Baekgyeong Department Store had been leading repeated talk of 2nd and 3rd branches—but I had refused.
This was due to concerns about leaking Grandmother's recipe and Happiness Points that could not be guaranteed.
Still, we had opened pop-up stores from time to time, and every time the crowds that poured in prompted Division Manager Jeong Jang-hyeon to bring up franchise branches again.
I had maintained a position of refusal—
And yet now, I had decided to open a 2nd branch after all.
This was none other than Grandmother's own request.
[Tae-yang. I have a sorry request to make.]
[Please go ahead. It's alright.]
[Well…… My son says he wants to do something. He wants to open a Handsome Bungeoppang franchise……]
Her son who had been a drug addict.
Whether he had fully recovered even now was unclear, but—
The connection between mother and son, which he had severed at his own discretion, had been rekindled recently.
From what I heard, her son had come back to find Grandmother and wanted to do something legitimate.
That being—a 2nd branch of my bungeoppang.
Grandmother had at first refused, thinking that even if it was her son's request, it would be a burden on me—
[Mom! This is my son. He's your grandson!]
The worthless scoundrel of a son had brought along a young man in his 20s, declared him her grandson, and made the plea—so even Grandmother had been unable to say no.
With her improved financial situation, Grandmother had been continuing her long-held dream of studying English—
Yet her son still remained like a thorn lodged deep in her throat.
If I only could, I would have wanted to grab that worthless son of hers by the scruff and bring him back to be reunited with Grandmother.
And so, hearing the news had made me inwardly delighted.
I had readily accepted.
Mother had naturally agreed as well.
"Please do not make that apologetic face, Grandmother. The start of this business—all of it is thanks to you."
"Still, I feel so sorry about it……"
"The son you had lost has come back, and a grandson along with him—your home must be lively again for the first time in a long while."
I smiled broadly so that Grandmother would not feel any guilt.
The process was straightforward.
Baekgyeong had agreed to handle and support everything.
Division Manager Jeong Jang-hyeon was elated.
The business he had been trying to launch, which I had been blocking all this time, was finally getting started.
In exchange, the profit distribution was handled precisely.
Grandmother agreed to share her recipe with Baekgyeong as well, and Baekgyeong in turn would pay Grandmother a separate royalty for it.
Grandmother said she would split that royalty with me, but I firmly declined.
I had more money than I knew what to do with now, and besides—this might actually be a good thing.
Just 1 thing.
‘Grandmother's son is a bit worrying.’
He was a man who had lived as a scoundrel past the age of 50.
From what I'd heard, he also had a son of his own—I would have liked to look after him one by one, but I had no such leeway.
For now, Division Manager Jeong was there.
And Grandmother would tend to things wholeheartedly, so she would surely manage.
【The Bungeoppang Master rejoices, saying 'Thanks to the newly found grandson, I have been given the chance to redraw my son's life'. +3,000 Happiness】
【Division Manager Jeong Jang-hyeon burns with passion, saying 'I have finally seized the chance to achieve a great result'. +2,000 Happiness】
For now, rather than franchising immediately, I decided to open directly managed branches up to 5.
Baekgyeong would take direct charge of management and operations, and once things stabilized, we would move to franchising.
"Please select diligent employees, or those with clear will and passion, to serve as managers."
"Yes, President Kim."
"Based on their performance, please also open franchise stores for them."
"There is no question of it."
"The taste, in particular, is important. Please replace them immediately if the quality drops."
"Yes!"
Since we had decided to start, let us go about gathering Happiness Points in earnest.
I moved swiftly to attend to and settle matters around me—
And the more I did, the more I felt the anxiety that had unsettled me begin to be put in order.
"Wait for me. Alliance Leader, Heavenly Demon."