Chapter 18 — The Sect Leader Assassination Incident
The Sect Leader would be murdered.
More precisely, he would be poisoned.
One week from now, during a special banquet attended only by Kunlun’s highest-ranking figures, the Sect Leader would be assassinated.
Naturally, his death would send massive shockwaves through the once-quiet Kunlun Sect.
To find the culprit who poisoned the Sect Leader, everyone even remotely connected to the banquet that day would become a suspect.
A full-scale investigation and harsh interrogations would last for months, yet in the end, they would fail to identify the true killer.
From that point onward, Kunlun’s influence would suffer a devastating blow.
A sect already considered one of the weakest among the Nine Great Sects would see its position grow even more precarious.
And the Sect Leader’s assassination would also drastically alter my own fate.
In my previous life, the direct catalyst that ruined my life so miserably was none other than the Sect Leader’s death.
Why?
‘Damn it… Even now, just thinking about that day makes my blood boil.’
On the day of the assassination, many members of the sect had been mobilized to prepare for the banquet.
It was only natural that some members of the Affairs Hall — who handled most of the miscellaneous chores — were also involved in the preparations.
And they, too, became potential suspects in the Sect Leader’s murder. They were subjected to brutal, excessive interrogations by the Hall of Martial Law.
I was among those potential suspects.
In the end, everyone from the Affairs Hall, including myself, was released after being proven innocent.
But that wasn’t the end of it.
A far more miserable future awaited us.
Every single person from the Affairs Hall who had been questioned was expelled from the sect without exception.
The shock of the incident was simply too great, and the internal distrust toward the Affairs Hall members involved in the banquet reached its peak.
‘After being driven out of Kunlun… my life went straight to hell.’
After being thrown out overnight from the place I once called home, I wandered aimlessly across the Jianghu.
Eventually, I was kidnapped by the Shadow Corps — the underground organization of the Orthodox Alliance — and spent decades as their test subject, enduring endless suffering. In the end, I met a miserable death on the battlefield against the Heavenly Demon Cult.
‘Well, dying back then is what allowed me to regress and live this new life.’
Regardless, there was no doubt that the Sect Leader’s assassination was the single most decisive turning point in my previous life.
And it had twisted in the worst possible direction.
As I was momentarily lost in those painful memories of the past—
“Hey, you brat! Why are you making such a gloomy face since morning? Did you have a nightmare about ghosts or something? Hehehe.”
Jin Gwang-ung, completely oblivious as always, threw in a useless joke.
I was already well aware of his lack of tact, so I simply let it slide.
I swallowed a dry laugh and replied.
“No, Master. I just felt a bit nervous thinking about meeting the Sect Leader.”
“Hehehe, nervous? Just think of it as going to see a nagging old man living in the back room.”
I almost laughed at how casually he called even Kunlun’s Sect Leader a “nagging old man,” but I kept a straight face and bowed my head.
“Yes, Master.”
“Good. Then let’s go.”
Jin Gwang-ung kicked open the door of the dormitory with his foot and stepped out. I quickly followed behind him.
Despite his claim that the sun was already high in the sky, the sky outside still carried the pale light of early morning.
Feeling the cool chill in the morning air, I thought to myself.
‘In this life too… the Sect Leader will still end up dead.’
The poisoning incident would occur in one week.
I only knew that fact. I had no idea who the culprit was.
Even in my previous life, the identity of the person who killed the Sect Leader was never revealed.
I quickened my steps, cutting through the chilly morning air.
Heading toward the residence of the unfortunate victim who was fated to face a tragic death.
Following Jin Gwang-ung, we eventually arrived at the Sect Leader’s residence.
The place where the Sect Leader lived was surprisingly modest.
From the outside, it didn’t look much different from the dormitory I had been staying at in the Affairs Hall.
It seemed far too humble for the dwelling of Kunlun’s supreme authority.
However, the warriors guarding the entrance were anything but ordinary. Even their mere presence radiated the aura of true experts.
“You’ve arrived, First Generation Elder Jin Gwang-ung.”
[TL Note: From now on, I’ll be using “First Generation Elder” instead of “First Elder.” Let me know in the comments which one you prefer — “First Generation Elder” or “First Elder”?]
One of the guards greeted Jin Gwang-ung with a respectful tone. It seemed they had already been informed of our visit.
Jin Gwang-ung gave a light nod.
“Yes. Is the Sect Leader inside?”
“The Sect Leader has stepped out briefly. He mentioned he had important people to meet.”
“Important people?”
When Jin Gwang-ung frowned, the guard smiled and replied.
“He said he would return soon. Please go inside first. The other Elders are already waiting.”
“Hmm. Understood. Good work.”
Jin Gwang-ung strode straight into the building. I followed closely behind him.
The first thing I saw upon entering was three old Daoists.
The aura they emitted was no joke. Simply by standing there, they dominated the entire space with overwhelming pressure.
The moment they saw me, all three began scanning me from head to toe with sharp, piercing eyes.
One of them was a face I already knew — First Generation Elder Na Gwang-do of the Finance Hall.
That meant the other two were…
‘…The remaining First Generation Elders.’
This was my first time seeing the other First Generation Elders in person.
I carefully observed the remaining two.
One was an old Daoist with an ordinary appearance and average build. However, his facial features and eyes carried a strange sharpness. It felt as though he could see straight through a person’s outer appearance into their true inner nature.
The four crimson bands on his sleeve clearly indicated his identity.
‘Iron Lion Gwang-heon.’
The true ruler behind the Hall of Martial Law, which oversaw Kunlun’s laws and discipline.
There was no doubt he was First Generation Elder Gwang-heon.
‘His aura is similar to Hall Master Hyun-yul.’
Now I understood where Hyun-yul’s characteristic coldness and razor-sharp gaze had come from.
‘Then the last one must be…’
The final Elder was a massive old Daoist who felt like a walking mountain. Thick forearms, broad shoulders, and trapezius muscles bulging prominently up his neck. His size and rugged appearance were almost on par with Jin Gwang-ung.
I immediately recognized him.
‘The Explosive Sword Yu Gwang-cheol.’
He was one of Kunlun’s greatest experts and currently served as the Head of the [Heavenly Guard] — the strongest military force that symbolized Kunlun’s power.
Heavenly Guard acted as both Kunlun’s shield and spear. They protected the sect from external threats and stood at the forefront in battles against enemies.
It was said that whenever Yu Gwang-cheol drew his sword, not only his enemies but everything around them would be devastated.
Despite being a Daoist of Kunlun, he had earned the title “The Explosive Sword” for his ruthless and relentless sword that delivered death without hesitation.
‘Now that all four First Generation Elders are gathered… the atmosphere is on another level.’
Right now, the four people who truly controlled Kunlun were all present in this room.
Their combined presence alone was enough to make it hard to breathe.
In the heavy, tense silence, I noticed other figures entering my view.
I had been so focused on the First Generation Elders that I hadn’t noticed them at first, but when I shifted my gaze, I saw several young Daoists standing in a neat line behind the Elders.
They were most likely the proxies of the First Generation Elders — my competitors for the upcoming Great Assembly of Elders.
One of their faces looked familiar.
‘Huh? That guy is…?’
The young man staring holes through me from behind Iron Lion Gwang-heon was none other than Junior Hall Master Hyun-kwon of the Hall of Martial Law.
Just like last time, he was glaring at me with that irritating, piercing gaze.
I lightly ignored his stare and turned my eyes to the others.
Behind First Generation Elder Na Gwang-do of the Abandoned Martial Hall stood a boyish Daoist with a somewhat sly impression. He kept his head slightly lowered, his eyes darting around as he carefully read the room.
There was nothing particularly standout about him.
Finally, I looked at the last proxy — the one standing beside The Explosive Sword Yu Gwang-cheol.
‘…Huh? A girl?’
Next to First Generation Elder Yu Gwang-cheol stood a young woman.
Though calling her a “woman” felt too much — she looked like a girl in her mid-teens at most. She had snow-white skin and delicate, well-defined features.
Her beautiful appearance was eye-catching, but what drew my attention even more was her expression.
While the other proxies stood a few steps back with nervous, tense faces, she stood right beside Yu Gwang-cheol with a completely relaxed, almost carefree expression.
‘Who is this kid? She’s definitely a proxy, right?’
Perhaps sensing my puzzled gaze, the girl looked straight at me with a slightly pouty expression.
As I was bearing the intense scrutiny of the four First Generation Elders and their proxies alone—
“What’s so interesting about my disciple’s face that you’re staring at him like that? Why, does he have gold dust on his face or something? Hehehe.”
“….”
Jin Gwang-ung broke the heavy atmosphere with his signature creepy chuckle.
First Generation Elder Na Gwang-do let out a light cough and spoke.
“Ahem, Elder Gwang-ung. This is the disciple you finally took in after ten long years. And you’ve even appointed him as your proxy for the Great Assembly of Elders… It’s only natural that everyone is curious.”
“You old fossils are being nosy. What does it matter to you whether I take a disciple or not? You’ve gotten old and all you have left is useless curiosity. Hehehe.”
Listening to their exchange, I couldn’t help but frown slightly.
‘Jin Gwang-ung had other disciples before me?’
This was the first I’d heard of it.
In truth, even in my previous life, very little was known about Jin Gwang-ung.
Despite holding the powerful position of First Generation Elder, he was an eccentric who refused to build any faction or take disciples under him.
He lived freely, unbound by Kunlun’s rules.
That was everything I knew about him.
‘Now that I think about it, I really didn’t know much about Jin Gwang-ung…’
Why had he gone over ten years without taking any disciples? And what happened to his previous ones?
Just as these questions began swelling in my mind—
“I think that’s enough idle chatter.”
Iron Lion Gwang-heon, who had been silently listening, spoke in a low voice.
At the same time, the entrance door opened, and a figure slowly entered the room.
‘…Finally.’
I quietly stared at the old Daoist who stepped across the threshold.
The man who presided over this gathering and stood at the very peak of Kunlun.
Yet soon, he would fall from that peak and end up as a cold corpse buried in the ground.
The man fated to fall from the highest place in Kunlun to the lowest.
The true master of Kunlun — [Sect Leader Cheon Gwang-cheon].
He walked toward me with slow, heavy steps.