Chapter 104 – Timewheel Jade
The Iron Vault was located underground.
Cheol Sopyeong and Cheol Muguk took the lead, with Cho Ryang and me following behind.
We had to descend a spiral corridor that resembled a miniature disciplinary dungeon.
This <Return of the Murim> world really loves caves and underground spaces. Most relics were either in caves or underground places, after all.
“No wonder it’s hopeless if it ever burns down.”
They clearly had zero thoughts about the possibility of fire. The Iron Vault was located in the deepest part of the Iron Mountain Cheol Clan’s territory, its location shared only among the senior members of the clan. Access required combining keys held by the elders to unlock the door.
It was that lunatic Sado Gwang who burned it down.
Of course, there was no direct evidence that Sado Gwang did it, but sometimes circumstantial evidence is more than enough.
Looking back, forcing his early exit was the right call. Though, I still felt a bit uneasy about it.
Even though my status in the cult had risen this far, there hadn’t been a single reaction from him. That meant he was either dead, or alive and secretly grinding his teeth somewhere while pretending to be dead. But with his body ruined by deviation, the latter seemed nearly impossible.
Still, it left a bitter taste in my mouth.
It’s that same “Did I really kill it...?” feeling. Better not to think about it anymore.
Once we descended the spiral staircase and passed through a short hallway, a massive chamber opened up before our eyes.
Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!
I didn’t know what kind of technique was used with the current level of technology in this world, but as if sensor lights were installed, lights flickered on in the vast space, pushing back the darkness.
[Those are all Nightshine Pearls. There must be at least several hundred even at a glance.]
“So this is where the real rich folks were hiding.”
If we were to convert the price of a single Nightshine Pearl into modern terms, it’d probably cost as much as an S-class car. And here they were, using hundreds of them just to light up a storage room. This gave a glimpse into the hidden wealth and resources of the Gwaesan Cheol Clan.
“That must mean the items stored here are equally exceptional.”
The space lit by the Nightshine Pearls was filled with shelves as tall as me. They were sealed in glass as if on display at an exhibition, and inside were various treasured relics and mystical artifacts.
There must have been at least 200 of these display shelves.
“What do you think? This is our Iron Vault. All the treasures and artifacts here are at least at the Heavenly-Tiger grade. Even among them, only twenty are Tigrer grade, the rest are Dragon-grade, and there are two Heavenly-grade.”
“Amazing.”
“That’s all the reaction I get? Well, I suppose it wouldn’t impress someone like you.”
Cheol Muguk nodded as he looked at Skybreaker hanging from my waist. The Skybreaker Sword was a treasured relic that was treated as a class above even the standard Heavenly-grade weapons.
“You’ll be taking three treasures from here. I’ve already chosen mine, so you two go ahead and pick.”
“C-Can we really choose from here?”
Startled, Cho Ryang asked, and Cheol Muguk smiled in satisfaction.
“Of course. That’s the normal reaction. Honestly, I’d love to say ‘choose whatever you like’... but there are a few you shouldn’t touch. Some of these are cursed.”
“Gasp!”
“Don’t worry. They’ve been thoroughly sealed. See that? Just avoid anything covered with Cursed Yellow Paper and cursed spell talismans.”
Cheol Muguk pointed to a display case wrapped with long strips of yellow paper. It was sealed in the shape of a cross using talismans, and red, glowing script was inscribed on them, carrying clear magical power.
“There’s too much... I don’t know what to choose.”
“From what I can tell, you’ll need a Treasured Relic that blocks fire. Has your martial level reached Second-rate?”
“A-Actually, I achieved First-rate just last night. It’s not perfect yet, though!”
“How long has it been since you began training in martial arts?”
“About two months.”
“…Sado Clan Head. Just what kind of monster did you bring here?”
Even I couldn’t help but let out a chuckle at Cheol Muguk’s stunned expression.
“Cho Ryang. Would you consider joining our clan?”
Of course, Cho Ryang looked troubled and glanced toward me.
Reaching First-rate after only two months of martial training?
[Utterly absurd.]
It went beyond talent. It was to a level where “talent” didn’t even begin to describe it. Cho Ryang’s ability was so overwhelming it bordered on unnatural.
At this point, isn’t Cho Ryang the real protagonist?
He had every trait a main character should have. A back-alley orphan background, shocked even the Poison Demon, caught the attention of the former Heavenly Demon, desired by a Heavenly-rank blacksmith… Not to mention, he was decently good-looking and great with animals.
It was such a waste for him to fade out like he did in the original novel.
“If you’re First-rate... Then come here.”
Cheol Muguk took Cho Ryang’s hand and led him.
“Sado Clan Head, you should pick one too. Each display has a description, so it shouldn’t be hard.”
“Thank you.”
Though it was only a temporary loan, this was still a rare chance to obtain a useful treasure.
I slowly browsed through the relics one by one.
[Dream-Haze Ring - Tiger Grade]
A ring imbued with a bewitching spell. Activated by channeling inner qi.
[Sun and Moon Twin Sabers - Dragon Grade]
Appears as a single saber in normal state. When imbued with qi, it splits into two temporarily.
[Verdant Staff - Dragon Grade]
When infused with qi, allows manipulation of nearby plants.
These were all truly valuable and powerful relics. Each was impressive in both power and versatility.
[...]
The problem was that they all required infusing internal energy or qi to use.
Unless the relic was made wholly from Cloud Demon Iron like the Guardian Armring, I had no way to channel qi into them.
I could use the Guardian Armring because the Cloud Demon Iron could withstand the energy of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art that resided in my blood.
Thump, thump, thump.
[This one...]
Then, something caught my eye.
[Flying Dragon Sword - Dragon Grade]
When infused with qi, the sword can float in midair.
[Displeasing.]
Skybreaker spoke bluntly. No wonder — the Flying Dragon Sword looked blatantly like a knockoff of Skybreaker. Its blade was entirely black, just like Skybreaker’s.
Likely, one of the Gwaesan Cheol Clan’s blacksmiths had seen Skybreaker’s legend and tried to replicate it.
At this point, Skybreaker might actually believe it is a real person.
“You haven’t chosen yet?”
As I was still browsing, Cheol Muguk and Cho Ryang approached.
Cho Ryang was carefully holding something bundled in cloth.
“A robe made from the feathers of a roc. Just wearing it protects the wearer from most forge flames and heat.”
“It even covers exposed areas like the face and hands?”
“You already know?”
“I didn’t know it was in the Iron Vault, but…”
It was a Treasured Relic I’d read about in the “White Book of Garments” while visiting Cheol Muguk daily to open communication.
“And that?”
“This is called the Golden Gate Lock.”
Cheol Muguk held a bundle of chains glowing golden.
“Looks like it’s for capturing Infinite Heavenly Flame... but is that enough?”
“This is one of only two Heavenly-grade Treasured Relic, you brat.”
“Really?”
At first glance, it just looked like a golden chain with no special features.
“Pfft, you’re no artisan. What would you know? This chain may look short, but it can extend up to a hundred jang. All you need is qi.”
“It’s interesting, but can that really be Heavenly-grade?”
Wooooong!
The golden chain began emitting a powerful golden glow with a strange vibration.
Then—
Fwoosh!
The flames rising from Cheol Sopyeong’s body instantly vanished.
“As you can see, if you can just bind the opponent, the Golden Gate Lock can suppress even the qi of a Transcendent Peak master. The stronger they are, the tighter it binds.”
“At that level, I can believe it’s Heavenly-grade.”
“There are only two ways to escape this lock. Either you have almost no qi, or your power exceeds the chain’s limits.”
Just as I thought Cheol Muguk’s eyes gleamed with mischief—
The chain, which had bound Cheol Sopyeong, suddenly shot toward me.
But—
Nothing happened.
Unlike with Sopyeong, the chain failed to detect me, whipping off in the wrong direction.
“Uh... Huh???”
Cheol Muguk looked baffled. He probably intended to play a prank on me by binding me like he did to Cheol Sopyeong.
Idiot.
I’m a Veinless. That kind of thing would never work on me.
“I knew you were strong, but this strong?”
“What are you doing?”
“W-Well, Sado Clan Head, it was a joke! A harmless prank!”
[Displeasing.]
“Sopyeong! Sopyeong! He’s going to kill me! Help me!”
“I’m embarrassed, Father.”
Still, at least I learned that the Golden Gate Lock was the real deal. With that, they might really be able to capture Infinite Heavenly Flame. And once captured, Cho Ryang could tame it.
After the fuss settled—
“By the way, Sado Clan Head. Why haven’t you chosen anything?”
“Nothing particularly useful to me.”
Now, I was leading the group, and the others followed after me.
Then I saw it.
Jade?
“You didn’t hear my earlier warning? I told you — the cursed items are sealed with spell talismans.”
It was a small box displayed on a shelf. The case was sealed, and the box inside — which held the jade — was also plastered with talismans.
“That jade is cursed.”
“Cursed, you say?”
“Everyone who absorbed it died. Without exception. As if their life force had been drained, they withered away instantly.”
Naturally, both I and Skybreaker became interested.
Absorbing life force — that was Skybreaker’s specialty, after all.
“What if I used it?”
“No. Are you trying to die?”
I smiled faintly and pointed to the diamond-shaped socket in Skybreaker’s hilt. Cheol Muguk frowned as he saw it.
“Even so... I said I’d lend items from the Iron Vault, not give them.”
“You didn’t say they couldn’t be detached.”
“Hmmm…”
“It might kill two birds with one stone. We’ll find out if it’s truly cursed. And if it is, I’d be getting rid of a problem for you, no?”
“Judging by how long you’re talking, seems you’re interested too.”
“Don’t you want to know what kind of jade this is?”
Cheol Muguk gave a short groan. He was an artisan. No artisan could suppress their curiosity.
“…Fine.”
Though Cheol Sopyeong tried to dissuade him, he couldn’t stop Cheol Muguk once his stubbornness kicked in.
Cheol Muguk removed the Cursed Yellow Talisman Paper sealing the shelf and handed me the box like it was contaminated.
I removed the talismans and opened it.
No flash, no eerie chill crawling over my body. The jade box opened anticlimactically.
Inside was a golden jade. Another golden one — I felt slightly underwhelmed.
“Still, new jade is always welcome. Skybreaker, ready?”
[Of course.]
I slotted the jade into the diamond socket of the Skybreaker Sword.
Strangely, the jade reshaped itself to fit the socket perfectly.
Then—
[Hmmm...]
Skybreaker let out a low hum.
“So? What do you think? Is it really cursed?”
[Not at all. In fact, it doesn’t even absorb life force.]
“Then?”
[It’s something far, far greater.]
What Skybreaker said next almost made me faint.
[This jade is called the Timewheel Jade. It holds the power to manipulate fleeting moments of time.]