Chapter 103 – Iron Vault
Cheol Muguk widened his eyes and said,
"That's right. I'm talking to you."
"You brat, with every sentence it's 'you, you'! Isn't this Peach Blossom Red Wine?"
"I brought it as a gift."
"You should’ve said that earlier if you brought something this good! Don't just stand there, set the table, the table!"
"How about we finish the conversation before we drink?"
"You wicked bastard. Terrible guy. Petty jerk."
Of course, I didn’t even snort at Cheol Muguk’s words.
"Now, Cho Ryang. Explain."
“Come to think of it, you only grumble at me, and you're kind to everyone else, aren't you?”
"It's just your imagination. Are you really going to act so childish in front of a kid watching?"
A vein throbbed visibly on Cheol Muguk’s forehead. However, as I said, he couldn’t act immature in front of Cho Ryang.
He’s a man who gives without hesitation, but he's still one of the heads of the Six Demon Families, and the greatest craftsman in the cult. The title of Heavenly-Rank Blacksmith wasn’t something he earned for nothing. A person of his caliber should naturally have authority.
"Ohh, I see, is that so? What a cute kid."
"Hehe, thank you!"
Cheol Muguk stroked Cho Ryang’s head as he explained about Infinite Heavenly Flame. Though he didn’t even look that old anymore, it was like he was praising a grandchild at a talent show. Even though Cho Ryang was taller than him.
Seems Father has taken a liking to that child, Cheol Sopyeong said to me. Ever since he recognized my strength, he had spoken to me respectfully. I, on the other hand, was still half-heartedly being polite.
"Why is that?"
"Because he’s never once praised my son, Seok-ah."
"Young Lord Cheol. In the East, there’s a saying."
"What saying?"
"You beat the precious child one more time, and give the hated child an extra rice cake."
At my words, Cheol Sopyeong clamped his mouth shut as if pondering something.
That father and son, always mulling over something whenever they get the chance. What a pair of blunt blacksmiths.
Anyway.
"Do you understand Cho Ryang’s explanation?"
"My ears aren’t going deaf, and I’m not senile like someone else."
"So the workers must’ve passed on Elder Il’s story?"
"It’s not just the workers. Anyone with ears could hear it. That Il Elder, he sure is greedy."
"Anyway."
"'Anyway' my ass."
Cheol Muguk now spoke with a serious expression, different from the earlier carelessness.
"Why should I help you?"
"Didn’t you say I am your benefactor?"
"That’s a personal matter. This isn’t. Capturing Firebird is a mission given to you, not something that concerns me."
True, from the perspective of the head of the massive Iron Mountain Cheol Clan, my request was already bordering on disrespect.
"If I say that, I’m sure you’ll immediately come out with some argument that'll leave me speechless, won't you?"
Honestly, that was true. Things might become a bit awkward between us.
Then Cheol Muguk smirked and said,
"Just trying to act a bit high and mighty. Felt like you were treating me too lightly."
"If I looked down on you, I wouldn’t have even asked."
"That’s true. With your current momentum, even if you kicked down the Iron Clan's gate and yelled, no one would dare say a thing."
The titles attached to me now were absurdly grand.
Transcendent Peak master.
The youngest head of the Six Demon Families.
The Heavenly Demon’s betrothed.
Each of those alone was impressive, yet they were all tied to me. On top of that, I’d defeated Gwak Riyeon in a single exchange, and had beaten Jin Yeongryeong on Island of Restless Souls. There were even rumors now suggesting, “Among the Six Families' heads, Sado Hwan is the strongest.”
[Didn’t you say at the beginning that you’d keep a low profile, you monster?]
"I know, right? I feel like some kind of attention-seeker now."
Looking back, the choices I made at the time thinking they were the best… honestly, I did a lot of crazy stuff.
I still don’t know what sort of guts I had to stand against Sado Gwang, or to take on Transcendent Peak masters. If I had to go back and do it again, I wouldn’t.
But thanks to all that, my name within the cult was soaring nonstop.
"You think I’d kick down the Iron Clan’s gate? If anything, I’d just hurt my foot."
"It’s a figure of speech. Just saying, be careful, Sado Clan Head."
"Careful?"
"You must know there are plenty of people targeting you now."
I nodded.
Having a prominent name and presence in the cult meant, equivalently, a lot more challengers would appear.
"The incident at the Heavenly Demon Palace has spread across the cult. That means even the 'Outsiders to the Hierarchy' will begin targeting you."
Outsiders to the Hierarchy.
The cult operated on a strict hierarchy. Although the higher-ups could bend that somewhat depending on their positions, most cult members were subject to the hierarchy.
The 'Outsiders to the Hierarchy' were those who rejected that structure.
Ranking inherently meant comparison with others, tying you deeply to the cult’s system. It often led to situations where you were forced to act against your own will. Even in a cult that worships strength, many had to do only administrative tasks instead of training. Just look at the heads of the Six Families.
The Outsiders were those who rebelled against that. Like ascetics, they dedicated themselves solely to martial arts training. In terms of Martial World language, they were similar to secluded martial masters.
In a way, they were arguably the purest form of cultists.
They normally trained deep in the cult's remote mountains, occasionally emerging to prove their strength.
So sometimes, these Outsiders would unleash monstrous figures into the world.
The 3rd and 5th Heavenly Demons were Outsiders. In some ways, even Lee Seryeong too.
Lee Seryeong had practically disappeared from the world, immersed in training, before suddenly bursting onto the scene to become the Heavenly Demon.
I replied to Cheol Muguk’s words.
"Let them come."
"You’re saying it’s no big deal? Arrogant little punk."
It wasn’t that I thought it was no big deal or that I was arrogant.
Whether they were in the hierarchy or not, a Transcendent Peak master could kill me just the same. If they were Outsiders, they’d certainly be Transcendent Peak. Lasting 10 seconds against one would already be a feat.
So to me, they were all just crazy people. Moreover—
The real threat of the Outsiders is not knowing who they are.
Being part of the hierarchy meant they’d fought someone and their martial arts would’ve leaked. But Outsiders didn’t follow that rule, which made them fearsome.
But I knew. At least, within the work, I knew who had been mentioned or appeared. I could think of a few people I needed to watch out for.
"Well, it’ll definitely be a pain. Thanks for the advice, Lord Cheol."
"It’s not that I care for you or anything. Just bring the booze."
"So, what’s the conclusion here? What are you going to do?"
"What can I do? Even if you say you’re not like your older brother, you’re still a Sado. If I say I won’t help, you’ll definitely start scheming something."
"Either curse me or praise me. Pick one."
"I’m just twisted. What can I say?"
Then Cheol Muguk turned to Cheol Sopyeong.
"Sopyeong."
"Yes."
"We’ll have to open the Iron Vault."
"The Iron Vault, sir?"
Startled by Cheol Muguk’s words, Cheol Sopyeong asked again, and I was just as shocked.
The Iron Vault wasn't a literal iron suitcase, but Cheolga-bang, the Iron Vault — a secret storage where the Iron Mountain Cheol Clan kept their most precious artifacts.
Didn’t it burn down in <Return of the Murim>?
In the original story, Cheol Muguk dies, and the Iron Clan falls. The Iron Vault being destroyed was a fatal blow that led to their downfall. It was a treasure trove comparable to the Heavenly Demon’s secret library.
"Right. If you’re going to catch that Infinite Heavenly Flame or whatever that monstrous bird is, you won’t manage with regular equipment."
He spoke with some irritation, unlike when talking to me, which caused Cheol Sopyeong’s face to harden.
Then he said,
"You mustn’t, Father. No, Clan Head."
“What?”
"I said, you mustn’t."
"Are you disobeying me?"
Cheol Muguk frowned deeply.
"You are the head of the Iron Mountain Cheol Clan. Releasing our treasures for personal feelings or gain is unacceptable."
"Now you’re not just defying me, but lecturing me?"
"I’m sorry. But I must refuse."
Cheol Muguk stared at Cheol Sopyeong with a stern face, then suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
“Clan Head??”
"That’s right, that’s how a true blood of the Iron Clan should be. Don’t you think?"
"…Sir?"
"Well done, Sopyeong. Always speak your mind like that."
At the sudden praise, Cheol Sopyeong looked dumbfounded but blushed.
A muscular, bald middle-aged man blushing… honestly, I wanted to erase that image from my memory.
"Still, I have my reasons, Sado Clan Head."
"What is it?"
"The Supreme One clearly said to 'take care of Infinite Heavenly Flame', but didn’t say how. Right?"
"Right."
"If you capture it alive, hand it over to me. Even if you can’t, just give me parts suitable as materials. In return, I’ll open the Iron Vault and lend you the necessary treasures."
The calculation was over in an instant. I nodded without hesitation and said,
"Deal."
"You’re surprisingly cooperative."
"If you don’t like it, forget it."
"You make me feel like I’m being tricked. Why is that?"
I wasn’t tricking him. I had simply calculated it.
If I try to capture it alive, it won't listen to me anyway.
A divine beast has the intelligence to communicate and the instincts of an animal. It’ll realize I can’t harm it and reverse the situation. I must avoid becoming a pet’s pet.
Besides, Cheol Muguk and Infinite Heavenly Flame? It’s literally a ‘Muguk-Muguk(Flame)’ set.
I couldn’t even imagine what would happen if the fire-handling divine beast met Cheol Muguk, who handles blue fire.
Even if I failed to capture it, the materials would be useless to me. Giving them to Cheol Muguk was more efficient. For a modern person, division of labor was common sense.
[You must not capture Infinite Heavenly Flame. Kill it, so you can consume its essence pill.]
Skybreaker still seemed full of hope about healing its body.
"What do you think, Sopyeong? Isn’t this a deal with no losses?"
"You're right. But Clan Head—no, Father. If the borrowed items are damaged, you’ll have to repair them yourself."
Ugh. I want to take back what I said about speaking your mind. Fine.
Though he said that, Cheol Muguk smiled with satisfaction. Truly, the Cheol family were amusing people.
Even Cho Ryang looked at them with a contented expression.
"Then I’ll inform the elders and bring the key."
"Very well. We’ll wait while drinking this Peach Blossom Red Wine. Perfect timing."
"Iron Vault first. Wine later."
"You wicked brat."