Chapter 434: Please Deliver This Message
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 434: Please Deliver This Message
Heavenly Poison, Tang Jaemoon.
He was one of the five heroes who had ended the Blood Demon War in the past. He was the man who had elevated the Tang Clan from their status as an Unorthodox Faction to become part of the Orthodox Faction, and he had played a key role in founding the Murim Alliance.
I had heard stories about him from Elder Shin.
According to the elder, Tang Jaemoon was a complete madman.
…But that’s no man, you old coot.
I stared at the figure before me, my expression one of pure shock.
She had hair that cascaded all the way down to her waist. It was a beautiful, light green hue, far more vivid than the hair of Tang Soyeol or even the Poison King. At first, I couldn't place why the color seemed familiar.
It’s the same color as the lake.
Her hair seemed to almost glow with a soft, internal light. Her eyes held a dreamy quality, and her pupils shone like polished jewels. There was a resemblance to Tang Soyeol, but this woman was far more feminine and carried an air of mature grace.
Her chest, in particular, was—
…
It wasn't as… pronounced as Namgung Bi-ah's, but it still looked substantial enough to make practicing martial arts seem rather inconvenient.
Was this really Tang Jaemoon?
Maybe this was his younger sister? Or his older sister?
If not…
Was Tang Jaemoon seriously a woman?
It felt strange to think one of the five great heroes was a woman. And how did a woman end up with a name like 'Jaemoon'?
As I stood there gaping, Tang Jaemoon—he? No, she—began to walk towards me.
Hssss—!
The Red Water Snake coiled tightly, radiating hostility.
What was this bastard's problem now?
Tang Jaemoon tilted her head slightly upon seeing the snake and spoke.
[How fascinating. You keep a spirit with you.]
"A spirit… you say?"
The term sounded familiar, but I couldn't quite recall where I’d heard it.
[Who are you?]
"…"
[You are definitely not Shincheol… and yet, I sense his aura upon you.]
I offered a wry smile. Hearing her mention Elder Shin's Taoist name, Shincheol, finally made me understand what this place was.
This place, too.
It was another one of the preparations made for Elder Shin. The Light of Might had hinted at it, and Yeon Il-Cheon had all but confirmed it. So, the Tang Clan's Lake of Poison was also a place meant for him.
That was the only explanation for Tang Jaemoon's presence here.
"Elder Sh—... No, I shared a… connection with Taoist Shincheol."
[Are you Shincheol’s disciple?]
His disciple?
I wondered if it was right to claim that title, especially since I'd even hesitated to call myself a disciple of Mount Hua.
"Yes."
But I knew better than to hesitate here. If I did, Elder Shin would scold me mercilessly later. He'd be furious if I didn't acknowledge the things he had taught me.
"I am his disciple."
So, this time, I answered without any doubt.
[…]
A shadow of disappointment crossed Tang Jaemoon's face.
Why did she look like that?
[…Then, it seems Shincheol ultimately did not return.]
"Ah."
So that was it. Every time I met one of these heroes from the past, they were all disappointed by the same thing—the fact that Elder Shin had not been resurrected. That was what mattered most to them.
[Then, I shall ask a question of his disciple.]
"You believe me just like that? That I'm his disciple?"
I was genuinely surprised she accepted my claim without any skepticism.
Tilting her head, Tang Jaemoon replied in a curious tone.
[Are you not?]
"No… I am. It's just—"
Swish.
In the blink of an eye, she closed the distance between us and pointed a finger directly at my chest.
[You are unstable.]
"…!"
Her sudden comment made me gasp. A cold shiver ran down my spine. I was reminded of what Yeon Il-Cheon had told me back in the Heavenly Dragon Academy's secret vault.
—You are a calamity.
That's what he had said. I was afraid she would say the same thing.
[I sense too many mysterious presences within you. It seems you are struggling to maintain your equilibrium.]
"…"
[However.]
Her finger, which had been hovering, gently pressed against my chest. I didn't feel any physical contact, but a strange sensation bloomed where she pointed.
[I can indeed feel Shincheol inside you.]
"…!"
[That alone is enough for me. You are truly his disciple.]
"But… what if I obtained his spirit with malicious intent?"
[If you had, he would have screamed at you. That is the kind of man Shincheol is.]
Her trust in him was absolute.
I looked into her eyes. Within those beautiful green pupils, I could see a deep, profound emotion. It was so clear and intense that I instantly understood how Tang Jaemoon felt about Elder Shin.
And this old man had the nerve to complain that he never got to date anyone.
After all his whining, this situation was hard to comprehend. I swore to myself that once he woke up, I would interrogate him thoroughly.
As I was thinking this, Tang Jaemoon spoke again.
[Shincheol’s disciple.]
"Yes, Senior."
[…Have you seen Shincheol?]
Her tone was unusually careful, laced with both nervousness and a flicker of hope.
"I have."
Tang Jaemoon's eyes widened slightly.
"…And he is still with me."
[He is…?]
Her expression brightened more than I had ever seen, but seeing that hope also made me feel a pang of guilt.
Are you really not going to wake up now?
I felt a surge of resentment toward Elder Shin. He had at least woken up when I met Yeon Il-Cheon. Why was he being so silent now?
Sighing inwardly, I began to explain everything to the hopeful woman before me. I told her how I had absorbed Elder Shin along with the energy sealed within a treasure, and how several years had already passed with him residing inside me.
[…]
By the time I finished, only disappointment remained in Tang Jaemoon's eyes. She seemed happy to know that Elder Shin still existed in some form, but the news that he hadn't awakened for nearly a year was a crushing blow.
[So that is why… you were not surprised to see me.]
"…Yes."
Based on my past experiences, I had a rough idea of who she might be.
The real shock was that Tang Jaemoon was a woman all along.
And not just that—I hadn't expected her to have such a gentle demeanor.
Tang Jaemoon still looked deeply disappointed. I considered giving her a moment, but time was not a luxury I had.
"The Golden Iron Fist, Yeon Il-Cheon, called me a calamity when we met."
Tang Jaemoon visibly reacted to the name.
[Yeon Il-Cheon?]
Huh. I might have been mistaken, but it seemed like a flicker of hostility crossed her face at the mention of his name.
"Yes. He saw me and declared me a calamity."
I had nearly died that day. Even now, the memory sent a chill down my spine. If not for Elder Shin's intervention, I would have been killed.
"Do you… feel the same way, Senior?"
I had to weigh my words carefully before asking. If Tang Jaemoon shared Yeon Il-Cheon's view and decided to eliminate me, I would be in serious trouble. But I took the risk, trusting in the feelings she held for Elder Shin. I believed she would spare the life of his disciple.
In response to my question, Tang Jaemoon asked another.
[And how did Shincheol respond to that?]
How did he respond? What had Elder Shin said to me back then?
"…He told me to believe in myself, not in the words of others."
That was what he had clearly instructed me. He said a true martial artist must have faith in their own path.
Hearing his words repeated through me, Tang Jaemoon smiled faintly.
[That is exactly what I would expect from Shincheol.]
She seemed satisfied with the answer.
[Yes… he would undoubtedly say something like that.]
"And how do you see me, Senior?"
[I am not certain.]
Even though Elder Shin had given his counsel, I still wanted to know Tang Jaemoon's personal judgment.
Upon hearing my question, she fixed me with a gaze so cold it felt piercing.
[I would likely have given the same answer as Yeon Il-Cheon.]
"…!"
A chilling aura laced her words, making me flinch instinctively. She was merely a spirit, yet she possessed an overwhelming pressure that rivaled Yeon Il-Cheon's. Once again, I was reminded of the sheer power these legendary figures wielded.
My eyes darted around, searching for potential escape routes.
[However…] she continued, her cold demeanor softening slightly, [if that is the answer Shincheol gave, then so be it.]
Relief washed over me, followed by a mix of other complex emotions. Her trust in Elder Shin was absolute. Just how deep did her feelings for him run?
"You must trust him a great deal."
[…]
She didn't answer. Instead, her gaze remained fixed on my chest, as if she were trying to peer inside and find Elder Shin.
"Senior…?"
At my call, she finally turned and walked in a specific direction. She moved back toward the darkness from which she had emerged. As she did, the darkness receded to reveal a small stone podium that I hadn't noticed before.
That's…
A single stone rested on the podium. It emitted a faint, white glow.
My eyes widened in shock.
A White Demonic Stone.
It was a White Demonic Stone, the core of a White Demon. The very stone I had been searching for was right there.
[As you may have surmised, I am a spirit left behind by Tang Jaemoon.]
While I was distracted by the stone, she began to speak slowly.
[This is one of the places prepared for Shincheol… I am the embodiment of the regret and lingering attachment felt for him.]
"Regret… and lingering attachment."
Her words made me curious about one thing. I understood that she represented these emotions, and that the real Tang Jaemoon had created this secret vault. But…
Why did she leave a White Demonic Stone here?
Demonic Stones were useless to most people. Even though they contained vast energy, they couldn't be consumed like herbs or medicine. It was strange that one would be prepared specifically for Elder Shin.
Just as I was about to ask,
[Shincheol’s disciple.]
she spoke first.
"Yes."
[If you wish to obtain the Heavenly Poison Orb, you must pass a trial.]
"What?"
[This, too, was prepared for Shincheol… but if you are his disciple…]
"W-Wait a second."
[Yes?]*
Had I heard her correctly?
"…The Heavenly Poison Orb?"
That was what she had clearly said.
Tang Jaemoon tilted her head, looking puzzled.
[Yes. Were you not aware of it?]*
She pointed in a specific direction. I turned my head to look.
And then I saw it.
Next to the White Demonic Stone was a dish. And on that dish was a small pile of spherical objects.
…How had I missed that?
Wait, are all of those…
Heavenly Poison Orbs?
Gulp.
I swallowed hard.
What was the Heavenly Poison Orb? It was a legendary treasure elixir of the Tang Clan, one whose recipe had been lost to time. Its effects were said to surpass even the most famous elixirs produced by Shaolin in the Central Plains…
And there's a whole pile of them just sitting there?
There weren't just one or two. I counted more than ten.
Seeing my stunned reaction, Tang Jaemoon asked,
[Perhaps, you have no need for those elixirs—]*
"No! I need them! I came here specifically for them!"
I answered without a moment's hesitation.
[I see.]*
She nodded, as if my answer was only natural.
Yes, I had come here for those. I absolutely had to have them.
A White Demonic Stone? What was that? Could you even eat it?
"The trial will now begin."
I was ready to risk my life for those Heavenly Poison Orbs. I feared no test.
Hssss…!
The Red Water Snake chose that moment to let out a cry, completely oblivious to the situation. I shot it a glare and stuffed it back into my pocket.