The Poison Demon’s Strategy for the Martial Tower Chapter 30

Chapter 30.

The Traitor Is Among Us

In my past life, when I was young, I was learning martial arts from my father.

"Seon."

"Yes, Father."

"Do you think you can break this iron orb?"

The iron ball my father held out to . It was incomparably hard.

"Can't I just smash it with brute force?"

"Like this?"

My father brought an iron hamr down onto the iron orb.

Clang!

But the iron orb only dented slightly—it didn't break.

"What if you keep hitting it?"

Clang! Clang! Clang!

My father struck it several more tis, but it still wouldn't break.

"See? It doesn't work, does it?"

"You're right."

"But what about this?"

My father put his left hand behind his back and extended his right hand forward.

Hoooom—.

After drawing up his inner energy, he launched a palm strike and slamd it into the iron orb!

Thwack—!

The iron orb, struck by the Sichuan Tang Family's palm technique, the Flying Cotton Palm, shook quietly—then,

Boom!

It exploded from the inside.

Rat-tat-tat—! Shards of iron scattered in every direction.

My father raised his protective energy in front of , shielding from the flying fragnts.

Then he turned to face , shrugged, and clasped his hands behind his back.

I said,

"Co on, that's not fair!"

"W-what do you an!"

"When you threw the palm strike you used inner energy, but when you hit it with the iron hamr you just used plain strength."

"……Did I get caught?"

My father smiled awkwardly.

"But I definitely understood what you ant!"

"Tell ."

"Flying Cotton Palm is a palm technique that destroys drifting cotton. In other words, it's a martial art that channels energy inside to shake the target to its core."

"And so?"

"That ans even if you can block an attack from the outside—you cannot stop sothing from crumbling from within!"

"Well learned."

Swish.

My father stroked my head.

"Even if you have iron gates and iron walls, there's no stopping a fire that breaks out from inside. Rember this. When you beco Family Head soday, you must respect and cherish those in the household. The direct line, the collateral line—even the servants."

"Yes! I will obey!"

I gave my father a fist-and-palm salute with spirited posture.

"Now, clean this up."

"What? You're the one who broke it!"

"Ahem! Telling the Family Head to clean up."

"Wow……. That's so an!"

"Hahahahaha!!"

That day, the bright smile my father showed —I still cannot forget it.

* * *

【Bonus Mission Success】

【Assassinate White Tiger Gate's Gate Master, Lightning Flash Seol Cheon-ho.】

—Mission (13th floor) deed complete!

—Happiness Points 30,000!

—Treasure 'White Tiger Sword' will be awarded!

【Ti taken to complete mission: 9 minutes 58 seconds】

【Overwhelming Completion (GOLD)!】

【13th floor of the Murim Tower turns golden.】

【The whole world takes notice of Korea's tower.】

Whooom—.

11th through 13th floor. I had cleared the tower in an instant.

A body drenched in blood…… My hands were trembling slightly.

A curse slipped out on its own.

"Damn it……. What the hell is this."

As I'd said before, I already knew it was White Tiger Gate.

But no matter how I thought about it, I couldn't see any connection between White Tiger Gate and , the Poison Demon.

If anything, the conflict was between our Dang Family and White Tiger Gate.

After Blue Dragon Gate was swallowed by Dark Tortoise Pavilion, White Tiger Gate—which had already consud Vermillion Bird Sect while that opening remained—then struck Dark Tortoise Pavilion.

In the end, White Tiger Gate unified all four factions of the Four Divine Gate. White Tiger Gate expanded its power and engaged in a territorial struggle with our Sacheondang Family in Chengdu.

That fight produced nurous casualties.

But.

"A common territorial struggle in the martial world."

If the tower intended to show every sect that had had a conflict with the Sacheondang Family—and with —100 floors wouldn't be enough. 300 floors wouldn't be either.

So why was the tower showing White Tiger Gate again?

I had originally planned to clear one floor at a ti with intervals in between, but my thinking changed.

A question lingered in my mind, and from 11th floor I headed straight to 12th floor.

I cleared them consecutively, but still couldn't figure it out.

"Seol Cheon-ho! Answer —did you target our Sacheondang Family?"

"I did not!"

"Speak truthfully! Did you join hands with the Murim Alliance Leader or the Evil Path Alliance Leader?"

"I did not!"

On 13th floor as well, I interrogated White Tiger Gate Master Seol Cheon-ho—but it remained shrouded in fog.

Has my interrogation technique grown rusty?

It wasn't the pinnacle of a transcendent master like in my past life, but at this level Seol Cheon-ho should have talked—yet he never gave anything up until the end.

"I had the wrong target."

It wasn't Seol Cheon-ho.

I shifted my gaze around and found a clue.

It happened right in the middle of interrogating Seol Cheon-ho. I caught the eyes of White Tiger Gate's chief steward trembling wildly!

On the 11th and 12th floors, I had already killed him. It was only because I'd kept him alive on 13th floor to buy as much ti as possible that I noticed.

Crack!

The mont I seized the chief steward, the man vomited blood and died.

Worried he would be tortured by , he had taken poison and killed himself.

"Damn it!"

It was already too late. I quickly searched the chief steward's person.

But no clues turned up.

"There's definitely sothing here."

Trusting my instincts, I tore off every piece of his clothing and searched every inch—and then,

"Why is this…… Here of all places?"

From the chief steward's forearm, one of our Sacheondang Family's signature hidden weapons erged!

‘Yama's Life-Chasing Threads!’

Impossibly thin to the eye, yet impossible to cut even with a treasured sword.

Channeling inner energy into the Yama's Life-Chasing Threads to execute the Thread-Piercing Lock Technique is a peerless hidden weapon art of the martial world.

If the pinnacle of Celestial Maiden Scattering Flowers is Flowers Filling the Sky Like Rain, then the end of the Thread-Piercing Lock Technique is the 'Yama's Invitation'.

True to its na—an invitation from the King of Hell—it's said to be nearly on par with Flowers Filling the Sky Like Rain, a secret technique passed down through the ages.

But regrettably, the Yama's Invitation had been lost long ago.

That was also the reason the collateral line had never managed to surpass our direct line.

And so those Yama's Life-Chasing Threads were transmitted only to—

"The collateral branch of the Dang Family……"

Having erged from the tower, I held the Yama's Life-Chasing Threads in my hand and sank into deep thought.

"Why would a treasure of our Family's collateral branch be in White Tiger Gate……"

The collateral branch of our Dang Family.

Originally, before my father rose to beco Family Head, there had been a power struggle between him and them over the headship.

The strongest would beco Family Head.

After two days of dueling, my father claid the position.

The Yama's Life-Chasing Threads were what I had seen during that duel.

The collateral branch was defeated, but my father embraced them.

He granted them considerable autonomy and even appointed the defeated among them as Elders.

My father's trust was imnse.

Even at the final battle against the Murim Alliance's coalition forces, he entrusted the left flank to the collateral branch.

But in that final battle—

"The left flank never appeared on the battlefield."

Our Dang Family, with the left wing of the collateral branch broken, crumbled far more easily than expected.

After that I set out on the path of revenge—but I never went after the collateral branch.

There was no need.

The collateral branch's estate, which I visited after the final battle ended, had been razed to the ground.

They had all been killed by the Evil Path Alliance Leader.

The Yama's Life-Chasing Threads were nowhere to be found either.

I assud the Alliance Leader had taken them.

Naturally, I hadn't even suspected it for a mont.

That the collateral branch—

……Might have betrayed us.

"Why did the Yama's Life-Chasing Threads turn up in White Tiger Gate? Why would the collateral branch give them to White Tiger Gate!"

A thought flashed through my mind, but I wanted nothing more than to erase it.

"No. It can't be!"

Surely there hadn't been a traitor inside our Sacheondang Family?

Our Dang Family was a great sect.

Great sects do not fall easily.

And yet—

[You cannot stop sothing from crumbling from within.]

The reason for our clan's annihilation being so swift—nothing was more certain than internal division.

The collateral branch, who had lost to my father and were forced to remain as the collateral line.

The Alliance Leader and the martial world had set their sights on our Dang Family, and—

"The collateral branch sold my father and to seize power over the Dang Family."

But in the end, they were massacred by the Evil Path Alliance Leader, who had joined hands with the Murim Alliance Leader.

"So that's how the story connects."

Only a hidden weapon had turned up—but I was certain.

"Ugh……"

A mistake on my part.

Not Seol Cheon-ho—I should have properly interrogated the White Tiger Gate chief steward.

Since being reincarnated in this era, my razor-sharp senses seed to have dulled sowhat.

I bit my lip until it bled.

"Damn it."

To enter again, I would have to wait another month.

Clunk—!

I tossed the newly acquired White Tiger Sword carelessly into my herb field.

【Treasure White Tiger Sword lv1: A treasured blade that can cut through iron.】

Creak! My mood was filthy.

Right now I wanted to kill dozens of people.

* * *

To soothe my frustrated heart, I'd gone out for a walk.

Breathing the night air, my head cleared a little.

I had my cap pulled low. I'm not sure how long I walked—but before I knew it, I had ended up back at the entertainnt district where I'd t Min-jeong and the thugs.

Tring—.

Just then, a call ca in.

It was Baekgyeong Departnt Store Food Business Division Manager Jeong Jang-hyeon.

"Sir, this is Jeong Jang-hyeon."

"Yes, Manager Jeong."

"There's no space available at the main branch, so would it be all right to open at one of our departnt store branches first and gradually expand from there?"

"That's fine."

"Ah, thank you. A spot opens up at a branch next month, and once construction is done I expect it'll take about two months."

"I see."

He spoke cautiously.

"Um, sir……. Are you feeling unwell by any chance? Your voice sounds off……."

"I'm not."

"I see. Then I'll speak with you again next ti."

Manager Jeong Jang-hyeon seed to have sothing more to say.

"It's all right, Manager Jeong. Go ahead."

"I'm ntioning this just in case. That 'Handso Bungeoppang' went viral on social dia, as you know. They say those who rise by public opinion can also fall by it……."

He hesitated a little, then opened up.

He was speaking indirectly, but I understood what he ant.

Not to cause any trouble, no matter what.

"I know."

"Yes, yes……. I'm sorry for bringing this up. Of course, getting caught up in unpleasant matters isn't always sothing one can control……."

"I'll be careful."

"Thank you, sir."

Click—.

Manager Jeong Jang-hyeon's tone had been exceedingly polite.

When I checked the ti on my phone, midnight had long since co and gone.

Should I head back?

Mother might be worrying.

I was thinking about hailing a cab, but there wasn't one in the alley.

No cabs in a red-light district at midnight?

Just as I thought that was strange—

Crash—!

From the alley, one of the shops was smashed apart, and a great commotion rang out.

"Where the hell is that guy!"

Thwack!

n in dark suits were beating soone.

"I-I don't rember!"

"What? Let help you rember."

Thud! Thud!

The sound of solid beatings.

But the one being hit looked oddly familiar.

Who is it?

Ah!

"That thug's lackey from Ace Song Bar!"

It was that guy. His hand, which I had poked holes through with a ballpoint pen, was in a cast.

I spared his life and this is what he's doing—getting beaten up over there?

"Tell us the truth. Who is it? Who killed Boss Yang?"

"It was !"

The thug's lackey answered, his face covered in blood.

"Don't lie. There's a witness who saw a man and a girl that day!"

"I-I really don't. I can't rember. I'm sure it was !"

"This guy still won't—"

"Aaaah!"

Thwack! Thud!

The beating continued, and the lackey crawled along the floor.

"They're looking for ."

The thug's lackey couldn't rember because of the Gu Poison command I had planted.

It seed, however, that there was a witness who had seen and Min-jeong entering the bar that night.

Well, this works out nicely.

I'd been wanting to beat soone up anyway.

Crack, crack!

I was rolling my shoulders and about to step forward—

[Those who rise by public opinion can also fall by it……]

The warning from Manager Jeong Jang-hyeon to be absolutely careful ca to mind.

……Tch.

Consider yourselves lucky.

It was at that mont.

"There! I think that's the person!"

A woman from one of the entertainnt district bars pointed at .

She was a witness who had seen .

A leopard-print top.

Her lipstick was sared, tear stains on her cheeks, hair completely disheveled.

"Hey, you there!"

The thugs pointed out.

This is getting annoying.

I quickened my pace. No cabs in sight.

Of course—with this kind of chaos stirred up, not a single cab was around.

"Stop right there!"

To make matters worse, dark-suited thugs ca walking out from the very alley I was trying to duck into.

It seed they had already spread out across the streets before I even arrived.

I rummaged through my pockets for the Dark Moon Mask, but nothing ca to hand.

Damn, I left everything in the herb field when I ca out of the tower.

With no choice, I pulled the face mask from my pocket and put it on.

Will this do?

Swish.

With my cap and face mask pulled down tight, I looked around—and other thugs were smashing all the store CCTVs in the alley with baseball bats.

Crack! Bang.

……Oh? They're saving the trouble.

Are they on my side by any chance?

The thugs surrounded .

"Is it you?"

"……."

The n looked up and down and said,

"Co with us. You reckless little punk."

"Where to."

"Sowhere quiet."

Works for .

Surrounded by the thugs, I was led into a ga arcade in the entertainnt district.

Swish—.

As soon as I entered, the thugs drew the arcade's blinds.

To block the view from outside.

In the center of the arcade, their boss sat imposingly on a sofa.

The boss, legs spread wide, thumping an aluminum bat against the floor with a thud, thud.

He had pomade-slicked hair that glead under the lights.

Not even glancing my way, putting on airs with his eyes fixed on the floor—the boss slowly opened his mouth with gravitas.

"You're here?"

His voice was deliberately lowered, his charisma no ordinary thing.

He slowly raised his head.

And the mont our eyes t—

"Urk!"

Pshh—!

His nose began to bleed!

"Wait? You?"

It was Kang I-deuk, in whom I had planted the Gu Poison.

[Hand Jeoksapa over to Executive Manager Kang I-deuk, and all Jeoksapa mbers shall follow Kang I-deuk's orders. That is all.]

The ssage I had sent when disposing of Park Jeok-sa.

Kang I-deuk, who had beco the new boss of Jeoksapa.

True to his na, he had gotten an enormous lucky break.

Co to think of it, Jeoksapa was in Ace Song Bar's ledger, wasn't it?

It all roughly fit together.

Blood streaming down the boss's nose. It was as if soone had turned on a tap.

"Guhhh!"

Kang I-deuk looked nearly on the verge of collapse. His breath was hitching, hitching.

The Gu Poison command I had planted in Kang I-deuk was: 'You have never seen . You cannot rember . You cannot harm in any way.'

A situation directly in conflict with that command had unfolded.

He was probably experiencing the agony of his brain burning up.

"Oh my. He'll die like that."

Thud.

The man trembled and collapsed, crawling away from as if trying to flee.

"Hey! Kang I-deuk."

When I called his na—

"Gurgh—."

He fainted on the spot.

Wow……. This guy really is lucky.

Fainting saved him from death.

"B-Boss!"

Kang I-deuk's underlings grabbed him and shook him—but he didn't budge an inch.

The underlings turned their heads and looked at .

Their boss had taken one look at , foad at the mouth, and collapsed.

It was natural that they sensed 'sothing is wrong' and instinctively shrank back.

"……."

I released my killing aura.

"Hah—!"

Those with good energy sense instantly went pale, and even those without it began to edge backward.

Step.

I took one step toward the thugs.

"Aren't you coming in?"

"……."

They flinched.

Grin—.

"Then I'll co to you."

* * *

The next morning, having thoroughly beaten the lot of them—

The morning news was on.

[Early this morning, a large brawl broke out in an entertainnt district, leaving shops damaged. Critically injured n were rushed to the ergency room and were reportedly repeating the words 'I'm sorry' over and over as they were loaded into the ambulance—]

What followed in the news was footage shot on a mobile phone.

A man wearing a face mask, surrounded by nurous thugs, entered a ga arcade—then ca back out alone a short while later.

And stretched out with a long, satisfying stretch.

Looking remarkably refreshed sohow.

His face was pixelated, and with both cap and face mask on he was unrecognizable—but,

"Huh?"

Mother, watching the news, slowly turned her head and looked at with puzzled eyes.

"That……looks like the exact sa outfit you wore yesterday?"

"Co on, it's different."

"It matches, though? The cap too."

Mother glanced at my cap sitting on the dining table.

"No, it doesn't. The color's lighter there."

"That's because of the pixelation."

"It's completely different. That one's light pink, mine's deep pink."

"Is it? Well, I suppose you wouldn't……."

Mother tilted her head and went into the kitchen.

"Don't watch this stuff. Co on! Fake news!"

Click.

I turned off the TV.

I trembled my way into my room and clutched my head.

Sigh—.

Who on earth recorded that?

Ding-dong!

A ssage ca in.

Baekgyeong Departnt Store Food Business Division Manager Jeong Jang-hyeon.

—Have you seen this?

It was a link to a news video.

The exact news from just monts ago.

"Oh no. I've been caught."

A call ca through imdiately after.

I hesitated briefly over whether to answer, then pressed the call button.

"Hell—"

"Sir! It's you, isn't it?"

"What? I don't know what you—"

"It's a match! Those clothes! The outfit I saw before!"

Aah, had I worn the outfit Min-jeong picked out for too long?

I resented the broadcast station.

They could have pixelated it a bit more thoroughly.

[Those who rise by public opinion can also fall by it……]

I braced myself for the fierce scolding that was about to follow from Manager Jeong Jang-hyeon.

'Are you trying to ruin your business!'

'You want a reputation as a gangster?!'

Ugh. Damn.

But imagine my surprise—

"This is a stroke of luck! A jackpot!"

……Huh?

"The public reaction is fantastic!"

W-what?

"Did you see the interviews? The rchants are singing praises, calling whoever did it a 'Young Hero' for taking down the mob!"

I quickly opened the news link and checked the latter part.

The woman in the leopard-print top shouted in excitent.

[Those thugs—do you have any idea how much they terrorized us rchants! That day too, they smashed up all the shop rchandise, stole our money, even destroyed the CCTVs—and then suddenly that Young Hero appeared out of nowhere!]

Behind her, the rchants were chanting in unison.

[Young Hero! Young Hero!]

Then the anchor's closing remarks.

[In this world that grows harder day by day, knowing there are hidden heroes makes our world still worth living in. This has been your anchor—]

Through the receiver ca Manager Jeong Jang-hyeon's excited voice.

"Don't hide your identity—go public with it! Our PR team will move right away! I'll talk to the police departnt and see about getting you a Brave Citizen Award!"

"Aah."

"Let's settle on the chocolate brand na while we're at it! Hero Chocolate! Oh my goodness! With the business poised for success, to have a marketing opportunity like this……"

【The local rchants rejoice at the birth of the Young Hero. 3,000 Happiness】

Aah.

A man like ……

In my past life, the public enemy of the martial world.

In this life, a hero.