Chapter 13
Chapter 13
13.
The Spring that Mother Bloomed (2)
Poison Whip Enchantress.
A moniker the Central Plains would later bestow upon Seo-ryeon.
Frankly.
Un-hyeok felt awkward facing Seo-ryeon at this moment.
Whip crack-! Bang-!
It was still vivid in his ears.
A woman wielding a whip and laughing as if her mouth would tear open.
During the Central Plains Blood War, Seo-ryeon was famous for turning captured prisoners into her slaves.
And only men.
She made the warrior monks of Shaolin lick her feet.
She made the plum blossom swordsmen of Mount Hua dance and fawn over her.
So much so that even the Iron-Blooded Poison Lord Dok Mu-won gave up trying to suppress his younger sister's madness.
However.
'Seeing it now, I understand why Dok Seo-ryeon and Dok Mu-won changed so much.'
The cause was the death of the original owner of this body, Dok Un-hyeok.
Having spent several days here, Un-hyeok realized that the people of this Poison Demon Sect had too much affection.
Conversely, that meant they would be greatly shocked if a loved one passed away.
'...Seriously, this meddling.'
Un-hyeok ruffled his hair and knelt on one knee in front of Seo-ryeon.
When his eye level matched Seo-ryeon's, he placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Lyun, there is no such thing as a life that should not have been born in this world."
This was not only for Seo-ryeon.
It was also what Un-hyeok of the past was saying to himself.
During his time as a hunting dog for the Sichuan Tang Clan.
Un-hyeok repeatedly survived countless near-death experiences in impossible missions.
As a result, his mental strength was also worn down.
'How long do I have to carry out these ridiculous missions? Is there really an end?'
'Will I really be able to survive the next mission?'
'No, am I even allowed to wish for life in the first place?'
All his thoughts always led to one conclusion.
'Maybe I shouldn't have been born.'
He heard those words from a child much younger than himself.
Un-hyeok couldn't just stand by and watch.
"When spring passes, winter will eventually come, and when winter passes, spring will return. All living things know their end, so they prepare for the next."
Un-hyeok looked into Seo-ryeon's eyes.
Still untainted by anything.
The woman who would later become the Poison Whip Enchantress was now just a child craving love.
And Un-hyeok didn't have the heart to turn away such a child.
"Lyun, you are not a child who was born by devouring your mother."
Un-hyeok took Seo-ryeon's hand.
He felt warmth.
"You are the spring that your mother bloomed."
Huaak-!
Seo-ryeon's eyes widened.
She probably never imagined receiving such a title from Un-hyeok.
So much so that even the servant who was listening was dumbfounded.
"Hey."
At Un-hyeok's call, the servant snapped to attention.
"Yes, y-yes…! Young Sect Leader!"
"Go and tell all the members of the Poison Demon Sect immediately. From now on, anyone who speaks carelessly about Lyun will be severely punished."
Gulp-!
The servant swallowed at those words.
Even now, the story of the martial arts contest between Un-hyeok and Japil that took place in broad daylight had spread in an instant.
The servant had also heard it.
'I heard that the Young Sect Leader sent Lord Neung to the medical ward with cruel hands, and made the remaining warriors do drills….'
Now, none of the warriors of the Poison Demon Sect looked down on Un-hyeok.
How frightening it must be from the perspective of an ordinary person.
"Yes, y-yes! I will make sure to warn everyone as you instructed."
"Okay, then go. We have some family matters to discuss."
"Understood!"
At Un-hyeok's command, the servant ran towards the other side as if his feet were on fire.
Un-hyeok looked at Seo-ryeon warmly, unlike the way he had looked at the servant earlier.
"Lyun, did you resent this brother who ignored you?"
Why?
In the past, Seo-ryeon would have answered 'no' to win Un-hyeok's favor.
But now she mustered the courage to speak her mind.
"...Sometimes. Very, very rarely, I thought you were being unkind."
"Sometimes…"
Un-hyeok stroked Seo-ryeon's hair.
"Our Lyun, you're amazing. If it were other children, they would have resented this brother every day."
"It's not that I didn't understand you…"
"You…"
Yes, Dok Seo-ryeon was still within the realm of a normal person(?).
He knew that she was the seed that would grow into a high-ranking female master representing the Poison Demon Sect in the future.
Un-hyeok had no intention of missing this opportunity.
'It started with meddling, but it worked out well. If I raise her properly from now on, it will be helpful to me.'
So Un-hyeok spoke with the warmest smile he could muster.
"Can you forgive this unworthy brother?"
It was clearly a word she had longed to hear for a long time.
Seo-ryeon couldn't readily accept the apology.
But Un-hyeok was not disappointed at all.
He had somewhat expected that the accumulated years would not be resolved with just a few words.
"Then Lyun, how about this? I was planning to go to the marketplace with Won-i after a long time."
In fact, he hadn't made an appointment.
But Un-hyeok was sure.
If he suggested it, Mu-won would readily follow.
'This will also be a good excuse.'
Soon, it would be time for his appointment with So-ye.
But if he said he was going out in this condition, Lyun Hui was unlikely to allow it.
She would definitely nag him about how a patient shouldn't be wandering around.
But.
'If I say I'm taking Dok Seo-ryeon with me, it will be a different story. Dok Lyun Hui doesn't not know about their relationship. She'll probably be very happy and let us go?'
So Un-hyeok planned to spend some time with them and then meet So-ye.
That's why he needed Seo-ryeon.
"Would you like to come with us?"
"M-me too…?"
"Yes, Won-i too, and you too. This unworthy brother hasn't been able to take care of you for a while. I thought this would be a good opportunity for the siblings to have some quality time together."
Seo-ryeon's eyes twinkled.
Her first outing with her brothers.
It was clear that she was already looking forward to it.
'She's almost completely won over.'
Seo-ryeon's sulky face had already turned into that of an innocent child.
Meanwhile, at that moment.
In Go-gu's office.
"Ughaaaaa-! How dare a declining sect give me such humiliation?!"
Crash-!
Fragments of expensive porcelain and inkstones flew into the air.
Go-gu shouted loud enough for the Black Kill Sect to hear.
"Ruin!"
Even after causing such a commotion, his anger was still not relieved.
So how could the members outside not be in agony?
They trembled in fear and prayed.
Hoping that their Sect Leader would calm down.
But, right then.
"Oh, my."
A young man who resembled Go-gu, but was much younger, stood in front of the office.
"I heard about it, but it seems Father is quite angry."
One of the members said with a worried expression.
"Young Sect Leader, please come back later. Even if it's you, you will be in trouble if you go in now."
But the young man smiled leisurely and patted the member's shoulder a few times.
"It's okay, I have a way."
"What do you mean…"
The young man cleared his throat and reported to Go-gu.
"Father, this is your son, Eo-ryeong. May I come in for a moment?"
Pause-!
At his son's voice, Go-gu stopped picking up objects.
"...Come in."
"Yes."
The door to the office opened, and the inside was even more of a mess than Eo-ryeong had expected.
"I heard that you were hit by the Poison Demon Sect Leader, but how could you make such a mess of the office?"
Twitch-!
Go-gu glared at Eo-ryeong menacingly.
"Did you come all the way here just to say that?"
"Of course not."
Eo-ryeong shrugged.
"I came to deliver good news. But it seems the timing is not right."
"Good news?"
Eo-ryeong had been remarkably quick-witted since he was young.
The fact that he came in knowing that his father was furious meant that he was that confident.
Go-gu stepped on the leg of a fallen chair to stand it up again, then sat down and asked.
"Tell me. What news is it?"
"Please take a look at this."
A pouch came out of Eo-ryeong's arms.
Eo-ryeong showed the powder of a spiritual ore that had a crimson color mixed in with the dark ink, giving off a brilliant light.
"Do you recognize what this is?"
Instantly, Go-gu's eyes widened.
"T-this is…?"
"It is a powder made by collecting a part of the Black Spirit Stone Iron."
Just like how the Geongondokma, one of the Four Great Demonic Gods, had their weapons made of Black Spirit Stone Iron.
When it came to preciousness, it was a mineral that would never be inferior to anything.
"Where did you get this?"
"I was lucky. I found the Magnificent Gate bastards smuggling goods from beyond the Western Regions this time. I killed them and took it."
"Hmm!"
"Don't worry. I completely hid my identity, so they won't even dream of who carried out the attack."
Go-gu nodded with a satisfied face at the perfect cleanup.
"As expected, you are my son. Well done."
Eo-ryeong put the pouch containing the Black Spirit Stone Iron powder back into his arms.
Go-gu asked.
"Then how much did you get?"
"I asked the blacksmiths and they said it was enough to make a sword."
"Oh! Heaven is helping us."
As a rare Spiritual Ore, it was definitely not a small amount.
Instantly, Go-gu's anger melted away.
Unfortunately, there was still a problem.
"Father, there is no one among the blacksmiths on our side who can handle Black Spirit Stone Iron, is there?"
Weapons are important not only for the materials that go into them, but also for who makes them.
As a simple example, the sword made by Ou Yezi and the sword made by an ordinary blacksmith cannot be the same.
"There is probably only one craftsman who can handle this."
"You must be talking about that old geezer."
"Yes, he's eccentric, but everyone acknowledges that he's the best blacksmith in the sect."
"Indeed…"
Go-gu also nodded.
The blacksmith Eo-ryeong was talking about would not pick up a hammer even if he was given thousands of gold.
There was only one thing that could move him.
"He only picks up a hammer when he is provided with rare minerals… He probably wouldn't refuse Black Spirit Stone Iron."
"Yes, so if you make your weapon with this…"
Then, Go-gu stopped Eo-ryeong's suggestion.
"No."
"...Yes?"
"My son, you will soon be entering the Water Demon Cave. So it would be better to make your weapon with Black Spirit Stone Iron."
"Not yours, Father?"
"What would an old man like me do with it?"
Even if he had it, he would not be able to defeat Dok Ryeon-hwi, or rather, the Poison Demon Sect.
Go-gu knew his own limitations too well.
That's why he was trying to entrust it to his son, the next generation.
"Instead, I have a request."
Revenge burned in Go-gu's eyes.
"In this Water Demon Cave, you must not lose to Dok Un-hyeok, that bastard."
"Dok Un-hyeok? No, why is that bastard in the Water Demon Cave…"
"It's hard to believe, but the Poison Demon Sect said they would send Dok Un-hyeok, not Dok Mu-won, to this Water Demon Cave."
"Yes?!"
Go Eo-ryeong let out a hollow laugh.
"Ha! What nonsense is that? Is the Poison Demon Sect Leader suffering from a mental illness? He must be out of his mind…"
"Don't take it lightly."
Go-gu's eyes deepened.
"Neung Ja-pil is not a wandering warrior. The fact that he won against such a person in a real sword fight is definitely not luck, but skill."
"Then, are you saying that Dok Un-hyeok has been hiding his skills until now?"
"That could be the case. So don't be careless."
To say this much.
Go Eo-ryeong suddenly became curious.
What was so special about Dok Un-hyeok that his father was warning him like this?
'Instead of this, should I try to poke him once?'
After all, there are still a hundred days left before entering the Water Demon Cave.
It would be a good idea to secretly spy on his skills once.
'If you know yourself and your enemy, you will never be defeated.'
For now, if I take about four reliable warriors with me, I'll be safe.
I can cover my identity with a mask.
'If I get the chance, it wouldn't be bad to cut off one of his arms.'
But Go-gu, who didn't know Eo-ryeong's thoughts, said with an infinitely serious face.
"Never be careless. Do you understand?"
Of course.
Go Eo-ryeong smiled brightly.
"Just trust me."