Chapter 222: Omen (9)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 222: Omen (9)
Only one day remained before I was to begin my closed-door training.
With my schedule essentially clear, I had a few personal matters to attend to. One of them involved Tang Soyeol.
Since the Dragons and Phoenixes Tournament had concluded, she was expected to return to Sichuan. Namgung Bi-ah was a special case; she showed no inclination to return to her clan. Tang Soyeol’s situation, however, was different.
So I asked her when she planned to go back. Her response was casual, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "I'm not going back."
"You're not going back?"
"Yes."
"...Why?"
"You know why."
I rubbed my forehead. She was implying she was staying because of me.
Is she serious?
I wasn't questioning the sincerity of her feelings. I was questioning the sheer practicality of a daughter of the Tang Clan refusing to return home.
"That's not a decision you can make so lightly."
"Right?"
What did she mean, 'right'? I stared at her, speechless. She simply smiled back.
"To be honest, I do have to return to Sichuan. I'd love to stay, but if I delay any longer, my father will probably come here himself to fetch me."
"...The Lord of the Tang Clan?"
"Yes. He tends to worry about me… a little too much."
The Poison King himself coming to Shanxi to drag his daughter home? That wasn't just scary—it was terrifying.
The Poison King's doting affection for his daughter was legendary. It was the reason she had remained unmarried and free to pursue the martial path. While the Tang Clan had its share of elders and higher-ups, the Poison King's authority was absolute, rendering their opinions moot.
Which made it all the more imperative that Tang Soyeol return. How could she possibly justify staying with the Gu Clan?
Seeing my troubled expression, Tang Soyeol smiled reassuringly. "I have my ways, so don't worry!"
What ways…?
"I think Father will actually approve. It's something he's always wanted."
"What did you do?"
"I arranged a collaboration with the Moyong Clan."
"...What?"
Her words made me pause, the teacup halfway to my lips.
Collaborate?
Since when did the Tang and Moyong Clans have anything to collaborate on?
The Tang Clan was renowned for its poisons and steel. Most of the world's master blacksmiths who worked with steel hailed from the Tang. Aside from the Black Assassins Army under the Dark King, the only assassination unit directly serving the Murim Alliance was the Tang Clan's.
The Moyong Clan, while skilled with the sword, was not singularly focused like the Namgung Clan. Their true specialty lay in using the silk of moth-type demons to produce fabrics. Garments made from this demon-silk were incredibly durable and sold for exorbitant prices. Since the Moyong Clan held a monopoly on the technique, they rarely engaged in business collaborations with other clans.
And now she's saying they're collaborating with the Tang Clan?
This never happened in my past life. In what world would these two clans, with their diametrically opposed specialties, work together?
Any clan would leap at the chance to partner with the prosperous Moyong Clan. My own father was a prime example: he had essentially sold off his only son to secure a business deal allowing the Moyong Clan to establish a presence in Shanxi. Of course, I had accepted the arrangement after seeing the benefits for myself.
"Because of this, I will need to make a brief trip back to Sichuan… but I plan to leave while you're unavailable."
Meaning she would depart during my two-month seclusion. It was a short window for a round trip to Sichuan, but I had no doubt she would manage it. The underlying message was clear: no matter what, she intended to return to Shanxi.
"The Tang Clan collaborating with the Moyong Clan…"
Whether it was this sudden partnership or the Moyong Clan's decision to set up shop in a place like the Gu Clan's territory, these rapid changes were as disorienting as ever.
Is Tang Soyeol planning to use this as her excuse to stay?
It seemed she believed this would grant her a legitimate reason to remain in Shanxi, but I suspected it wouldn't be that simple. Tang Soyeol was clever enough to know that too.
She must have another card up her sleeve.
It felt like she had a secondary plan to ensure her return to the Gu Clan. As I studied her, hoping to glean more, the perceptive Tang Soyeol spoke first.
"Oh, but regarding the business details, I'm afraid I can't share them, Young Master Gu. It's a confidential contract!"
"...I wasn't curious."
[You were intensely curious just a second ago. What's with this sudden nonsense?]
How could you… What do you mean, nonsense…?
I was momentarily taken aback by his crude remark.
Was she genuinely pleased about the collaboration with the Moyong Clan? While I was dealing with the complexities involving Namgung Bi-ah and Wi Seol-Ah, Tang Soyeol hadn't made any particular demands. In fact, she seemed happier than usual.
"Oh, right, Young Master Gu."
I looked up at her call.
She shifted awkwardly, her ears turning red with embarrassment. "It's nothing special… but if it wouldn't be too much trouble, would you like to take a walk through the town with me…?"
"Oh."
She was asking to spend time with me before my confinement began tomorrow. I did have some matters to attend to, but I figured I could accompany her for a while afterward.
I was about to agree.
"Ye-"
"Sure."
"Huh?"
The answer hadn't come from me.
At the sound of a voice nearby, Tang Soyeol and I turned our heads simultaneously.
"...Let's… go together."
There stood Namgung Bi-ah, her bluish-white hair tied up for some reason.
"What are you doing here?"
"Hmm…?"
"Where did you come from?"
"I came… after finishing my training…?"
Only then did I notice her appearance. Her clothes were soaked with sweat, clinging to her frame and outlining her figure. The air around her was warm with residual Qi.
"I finished… just now…"
No, it looks like you ran here in a hurry.
Her breathing and the slight tremor in her posture suggested a rushed arrival, but since she claimed otherwise, I had to take her word for it.
Namgung Bi-ah asked me, "The town… you are going?"
"Are you thinking of coming too?"
"Yeah."
I glanced at Tang Soyeol. As expected, her expression had soured, clearly displeased with this development. All I could do was scratch my cheek awkwardly.
No matter what I say now, I'm doomed.
That was the warning from my few surviving instincts. My best option was to remain neutral and observe.
[Wow…]
Elder Shin expressed surprise as I stood there with a blank look.
What is it?
[I can't believe a bastard like you has developed a sense of tact… I'll have to check which direction the sun rises from tomorrow.]
…
Why did this old man always have to be like this?
Pushing aside my frustration, I addressed both women. "It's fine to go out…"
"Yeah."
"Yes."
"...But I need to go somewhere first."
The weight of their eager stares was overwhelming. When I mentioned leaving, Namgung Bi-ah nervously grabbed my sleeve, as if worried I would slip away again.
"Where…?"
I met her gaze. "I have to go to the jail."
"Again?"
"…"
What did she mean, 'again'? That stung a little.
* * *
After obtaining the Lord of the Clan's—my father's—permission, and with a steward guiding me, I proceeded to the jail.
My destination was the old man held within.
Snore-
I could hear his snoring from far down the hallway. When I reached his cell, I found him sprawled comfortably on the cold floor as if it were a feather bed.
"…"
What the hell? How could anyone sleep so soundly in a place like this?
"Ooughh…"
He was even grinding his teeth.
"Elder, please wake up."
"Mmph…"
I raised my voice, but he merely rolled over, completely ignoring me.
Seeing this, I murmured quietly, "...Maybe he'll wake up if I set his beard on fire."
"Ooof…! I'm so tired…!"
The instant I contemplated a more forceful method, the old man jolted awake as if he'd been listening the whole time. He looked around groggily and spoke in a weary tone.
"I was having such a good sleep… but it seems a guest has arrived."
The old man looked much the same as when I first met him, except he now wore clean clothes, free of blood and dust. His gaze turned toward me.
"Have you come to tell me I can leave soon?"
That was rather shameless of him. "Unfortunately, that decision isn't mine to make."
"...Ugh… Tsk. What do they plan to do with an old man like me, putting me through all this trouble."
This old man was the Lord of the Hao Clan, formerly imprisoned in the Black Palace. We had placed him in our jail immediately after bringing him to the Gu Clan, but he had adapted surprisingly well, even thriving in this environment.
I stepped closer to the bars. "There's something I want to ask you."
Upon hearing this, the old man shifted position with a lazy expression. I couldn't see his eyes beneath the bandages, but the twist of his mouth made his irritation plain. He looked as if my visit was a mortal annoyance.
"You're asking me questions while keeping me locked in a cage. I'm sure I'll be most forthcoming."
"What do you mean, 'keeping you'? You came here of your own accord."
We had rescued him at his own request, and now he was making it sound like we'd captured him.
"If you were going to rescue me, you should set me free as well!"
"Now you're asking for too much…"
We had rescued the Lord of the Hao Clan, a prominent figure of the Unorthodox Faction. A clan of the Orthodox Faction couldn't possibly just let him go. It was a blessing the Murim Alliance remained unaware of his presence.
"Then when will you free me?"
"Why are you asking me?"
Only my father knew the answer to that, and it was highly likely he had no intention of releasing him anytime soon.
"...And here I thought I'd escaped a snake's den, only to be bitten by a tiger…"
"Save your lamentations. I have a question."
"What a dogshit personality you have, only saying what you want."
Ignoring his comment, I pressed on. "What did the Lord of the Black Palace want from you, that he imprisoned and tortured you?"
"You really are identical to your father."
Elder Mook—for that was his name—replied with a hollow smile.
"Now you're just ignoring me."
"Child, do you really think I would tell you, when I refused to tell those bastards?"
Considering he had endured torture to protect his secrets, it was unrealistic to expect him to divulge such crucial information so easily.
"I knew you wouldn't."
"And yet you came to ask?"
"To be more precise, I came to propose a deal."
"Ha."
Elder Mook laughed at my words, as if I'd said something utterly absurd.
"You want to make a deal with me?"
"Yes."
"Let's hear it, then. What is it you want? Money? Women?"
"I want information from you, so I thought an exchange of information would be a fair trade."
Hahaha!
The Lord of the Hao Clan laughed even harder. He seemed to find the idea hysterical. It was understandable. I was proposing to trade information with the lord of a clan famous for its vast intelligence network, rivaling even the Beggar’s Sect.
"You seem to know who I am."
"I know a little."
"No, child, you certainly know. I can see it clearly."
"How can you see anything with your eyes like that?"
"...The way you speak is somehow ruder than your sister."
I could feel his gaze sharpening from beneath the bandages.
"...It is quite fascinating. Something that appears so light and soft is, in reality, so heavy and hard."
"I'm young, so I have trouble understanding such difficult words."
"I cannot understand. Child, what are you?"
The question was bizarre.
What did he mean, 'what are you'?
"As you can see, I'm the son of this household."
I responded apathetically. Elder Mook fell silent for a moment, then began to chuckle.
"That was a pointless question, I see. Very well, let's hear it. What information do you propose to trade?"
An item of information that the Lord of the Hao Clan might desire… I honestly had no idea. I hadn't concerned myself with such things in my past life. When the Hao Clan clashed with the Black Palace, I had been largely detached from worldly affairs and paid the incident little mind.
However, I did know one significant event that befell the Hao Clan afterward. I just didn't know if its lord would care about it.
"White Demonic Stone."
The moment the words left my mouth—
"...!"
I saw his shoulders flinch slightly. The light smile vanished from his face, and the atmosphere grew heavy and still. It wasn't a shift caused by Qi; it was simply the old man's entire presence changing.
Staring intently at him, Elder Mook asked, "What did you… just say?"
Seeing his reaction, I had to consider two possibilities. First, that he was feigning shock. For a man who had heard every manner of secret in his long life to react so strongly, I had to consider the possibility of an act. Second, that the information was genuinely that important to him—so shocking that it could provoke such a response from the venerable elder.
The White Demonic Stone, also known as the White-Grade Demonic Stone. It was a relic that could no longer be obtained, as it required slaying a white-ranking demon.
"I thought Elder Mook might be curious about the location of a White Demonic Stone."
I knew where one was hidden—beneath the ocean at the northernmost edge of the land. The creature guarding it was so powerful I dared not approach it yet, but I knew it was there.
Though it wasn't I who discovered it.
It was the Hao Clan. After immense sacrifice and over a long period, they had managed to locate a White Demonic Stone that, for some reason, had not dissipated. They succeeded in obtaining it.
But then…
It was taken by the Heavenly Demon.
I never learned why they needed the stone, but not long after the Hao Clan secured it, the Demonic Stone ended up in the Heavenly Demon's hands. He later gave it to me as a gift.
I didn't know if this information would truly shock the Lord of the Hao Clan, but I hoped it would.
Though I had no intention of giving it to him regardless.
Even if I decided to share the information, recalling the power I had gained from absorbing that White Demonic Stone in my past life, I had absolutely no intention of letting him have it.
Elder Mook remained silent, offering no response. He seemed to be pondering how I could possibly know such a thing, and perhaps was at a loss for words. He gave no indication, no reaction at all.
After enduring the uncomfortable silence for a while…
"...I see. Now I understand."
Elder Mook finally spoke, as if he had realized something profound.
"You are the owner of the Ancient Book."
His response was so unexpected and random that it caught me completely off guard.
"...What?"