Chapter 489: Do You Need It? (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 489: Do You Need It? (1)
A letter was dispatched to the Gu Clan.
My throat went dry when Nahee delivered the news.
…What do I do?
A cold sweat even broke out on my forehead.
This was completely unexpected.
To be fair, it was the most logical course of action for the Poison King, as the clan lord. A guest had been harmed under his roof; he had to take responsibility. Sending a formal letter of inquiry was the obvious, proper thing to do.
But to act this swiftly?
Most clans would have swept such an incident under the rug. Strained inter-clan relations were a risk, and it could further tarnish the already-wounded reputation of the Tang Clan. Dealing with it as quietly as possible would have been perfectly understandable.
Yet, the Poison King chose decency. It was… startling.
Has he always been this kind of person?
I didn't think so. To be honest, I still had my doubts. While I'd learned he was a much more principled man than I'd assumed, I found it hard to believe any clan lord could be completely free of sin.
Which led to one possibility.
…Does he have some other plan?
I had no answer. I could only hope this wouldn't spiral into another problem.
…Surely, nothing would come of it, right?
The letter most likely included the fact that I had survived the poisoning unscathed.
Moreover…
Even if my father hears this news, I doubt anything will happen.
That, at least, had to be true. If not… then it would indeed become a problem. I'd already caused enough trouble since my regression. I had no idea what fresh chaos would unfold if I stirred the pot again.
So… I prayed that nothing would happen.
But a few days later, I realized there was no god in this world listening to my prayers.
* * *
There were many bustling streets in Sichuan, but their prominence often depended on their proximity to a major clan. While the Tang Clan was the most powerful, other great clans like the Pe Clan also called Sichuan home. The province was dotted with famous clans and sects.
Given the ever-present threat of the Gates of Demons in this world, there were clear benefits to living near such powers. As long as the locals paid their dues—donations, tributes—they received protection from these powerful families.
Furthermore, since the Tang Clan's merchant associations rivaled even those of the Moyong Clan, their streets were exceptionally well-managed, comparable to the streets of Henan where the Murim Alliance was headquartered.
"Brother!"
A booming voice welcomed me the moment I set foot on the main street. It was Pe Woocheol, whom I hadn't seen in a while.
"It's been a while."
"Hahahaha! Have you been well?" Pe Woocheol beamed with a terrifyingly bright smile and moved to crush me in a bear hug.
I sidestepped smoothly and pushed Cheol Jiseon, who was standing beside me, into the path of the incoming embrace.
"Ugh!? Wait…!"
Caught off guard, Cheol Jiseon had no time to react before Pe Woocheol's arms wrapped around him with a bone-creaking intensity. I felt a twinge of guilt, but I had absolutely no interest in hugging another man.
Pe Woocheol didn't seem to mind the substitution. He just tightened his grip. "Have you been well too, Brother Jiseon!"
"Agh…! W-Wait…!" Cheol Jiseon's pained scream was completely ignored.
"Can you… really just let that happen?" Woo Hyuk, who had finally found his way back after a couple of days of struggling, asked as he witnessed the scene.
"Leave them be. They look happy."
"…They look happy, you say?"
Cheol Jiseon's face was turning blue, on the verge of passing out from Pe Woocheol's suffocating hug. Well, maybe that was his particular form of happiness.
…Or maybe not.
As I scoffed, Woo Hyuk gave me a strange look.
"What?" I asked, noticing his stare.
"Are you okay?"
"About what?"
"I heard you ate poison."
"Oh."
How did he know? A smirk touched my lips. I hadn't realized news traveled so fast to him.
"I was just hungry."
"You were hungry, so you ate poison?"
"It was tasty."
"…"
Woo Hyuk stared at me as if I were a complete lunatic.
To be honest, the 'food' hadn't tasted bad at all.
…Crap, this isn't good.
I was suddenly reminded of Tang Soyeol finding her poisonous tea delicious. Maybe my heightened poison resistance was starting to affect my taste buds.
I'll just pretend I don't know anything for now.
"What about you?" I changed the subject. "Did you have a good talk with him?"
"Hmm…"
I was asking about his conversation with the Monster of Wudang, but Woo Hyuk's face clouded with hesitation.
"What?"
"Nah, nothing happened."
His expression clearly suggested otherwise, but since he denied it, I decided not to press further. I was curious, but some things were better left alone.
"By the way," I said.
"Hmm?"
"You said you'd leave after seeing your master, so why are you still here?"
"…"
Woo Hyuk flinched at my words. Did he really think I'd forget? Of course I wouldn't.
He awkwardly started whistling and walked ahead. "Hmm… I'm hungry, but I'm not sure what to eat. Maybe it's time for some meat?"
He was playing dumb again. And did he, a Taoist, really just say he was going to eat meat?
I sighed at his absurdity and followed. I had no real intention of kicking him out, but he was definitely annoying.
Just as I was about to walk past him, he spoke up. "Oh, right. Master told me to bring you again."
"Hmm?" I tilted my head.
The Monster of Wudang wanted to see me again? I recalled being practically thrown out by Namgung Myung last time.
…So it was the Monster of Wudang himself who summoned me?
I wondered why. But it didn't really matter.
I was planning to visit him again anyway. This is a perfect excuse.
I felt a sense of gratitude. This saved me the trouble of finding a reason to go back.
"When should I go?"
"…He didn't specify a date. Judging by my master's personality, it should be fine if you visit in about a week."
"…He's pretty laid back, huh?"
"Haha!"
I'd often wondered where Woo Hyuk's lazy personality came from. After meeting the Monster of Wudang, it all made sense.
Seeing Woo Hyuk's smile also reminded me of something I'd been curious about since then.
"Now that I think about it," I asked, "how did you even become his disciple?"
The lazy genius of the Wudang Sect—how had the 'Sleeping Dragon' Woo Hyuk ended up as the disciple of the Monster of Wudang? It was a mystery.
"…Hmm." Woo Hyuk thought for a moment, then answered with a light, almost nostalgic smile. "It's not any special reason… It's just—"
His smile seemed to hold a mix of nostalgia and refreshment.
"—helping each other as outcasts… something like that."
"What kind of nonsense is that?" This guy was terrible at explaining. It seemed he had no intention of elaborating further, so I just shook my head and walked ahead.
Leaving Woo Hyuk behind, I approached the area where the girls were standing.
…Flinch.
I noticed someone flinch as I got closer.
It was Tang Soyeol.
She had promised to accompany me to the streets, but ever since the last incident, it felt like she was actively avoiding me every time I came near.
…Why?
Setting aside Tang Soyeol, who was subtly edging away, I spoke to the others who were looking around curiously.
"Are you having fun?"
"Ah, yes!" Wi Seol-Ah smiled brightly at my question.
She had definitely matured since I first met her, but this childish, energetic side of her remained.
Though her appearance only makes her seem colder.
As if proving my memories of my past life weren't a lie, Wi Seol-Ah's appearance was becoming more refined and mature by the day. She carried a cold, aloof aura, much like the Celestial Sword I remembered.
However, the current Wi Seol-Ah had eyes that curved into happy crescents, her face still full of smiles. That was the biggest difference.
As I gently brushed Wi Seol-Ah's golden hair, someone next to me spoke.
"What happened?" It was Moyong Hi-ah.
It felt refreshing to see her face; it had been a while. Hiding that thought, I responded casually.
"What?"
"That." Moyong Hi-ah pointed discreetly.
I followed her gaze. "Oh."
I knew immediately what she was referring to.
It was the group of martial artists tailing us. They were perched on rooftops, blending into the crowd, their Qi carefully concealed. They were all from the Tang Clan.
The Poison King's doing, no doubt.
I thought to myself.
…Is this for protection, or to keep me under surveillance?
Probably both. Since I'd been harmed within his clan, he felt obligated to protect me. But the things I'd said to him had also likely made him want to keep a close eye on me.
I turned my gaze back to Moyong Hi-ah. Staring at them for too long would only raise suspicions.
"You don't need to worry about it."
"Just what have you been doing…?" Moyong Hi-ah spoke with a slight scowl, which made me feel a bit frustrated.
"Hey, I was the one who was poisoned. Shouldn't you be at least a little worried?"
Namgung Bi-ah, Wi Seol-Ah, and even Moyong Hi-ah had been in the annex when it happened, yet none of them seemed particularly concerned.
I spoke in a deliberately disappointed tone, but Moyong Hi-ah's expression didn't change. "…Young Master. Who would possibly believe that act of yours?"
"…"
Namgung Bi-ah and Wi Seol-Ah, standing nearby, nodded in agreement.
That stung a little. Was I really that transparent?
[That would be a huge understatement, brat.] Elder Shin chimed in unhelpfully.
"But I really did eat poison…" I insisted.
"I didn't think you would gulp it down without a plan. You may seem reckless, but you always calculate your actions. Is that not correct?"
"…"
Dammit.
I had no retort. She saw right through me.
"You aren't planning to cause any trouble, are you?" she pressed.
"Nothing that big…"
"So something huge, then."
"Are you even listening to me?"
"Yes." Moyong Hi-ah lightly pushed her hair back. "Considering you aren't telling us anything, I know it must be something dangerous."
"…"
"I also know very well that you won't answer, even if I ask."
A cold sweat trickled down my back. Each of her words felt like a sharp, cold dagger. I always felt this way when talking to her; holding a long conversation with this girl was a terrible idea. I knew I could never win a war of words against her.
So, I decided to employ the same tactic Woo Hyuk had used on me earlier.
"Anyway, where did the White Ripple Sword go?"
"I know you're trying to change the subject, but I'll let it pass this time, okay? Aunt went out, saying she had to meet someone."
"…Oh, okay. Thanks."
I coughed awkwardly and scratched the back of my head. Nothing worked on her. Dammit…
As I continued walking, feeling increasingly awkward, Moyong Hi-ah fanned herself lightly and asked another question. "So, Young Master, where are we going right now?"
We had been walking for a while, but we were still just moving forward aimlessly, which probably made her curious. Everyone else looked at me, their eyes echoing the same question.
Feeling their collective gaze, I pointed straight ahead with my fingertip.
"We're almost there. It's right in front of us."
"Right in front of— …Ah?" Moyong Hi-ah exclaimed aloud as she looked up, immediately realizing where I was pointing.
A large building stood before us. As far as I knew, it was the second-largest building on this street. The largest belonged to a merchant association with the strongest ties to the Tang Clan.
This second-largest building was…
"The White Flower Merchant Association…?" Moyong Hi-ah murmured.
It was the merchant association managed by Lady Mi.
"You came here for… Mother-in—… I mean, for Lady Mi's merchant association?"
"Hmm? What did you just say?" I could have sworn I heard something strange. Did I mishear her?
But it wasn't important enough to dwell on. I let it slide.
"I don't plan to stay long. I just have some business here."
My purpose for visiting was to sell the valuable items I'd been carrying around. Selling them in a random market would be a hassle. Getting a good price was one thing, but these were extremely rare items. Selling them carelessly was bound to cause problems.
After all, I didn't need rumors spreading.
…Like 'The Lesser King of Hell is carrying multiple Luminous Pearls.'
Such rumors would only attract bandits and thieves tailing me. I didn't think they'd be dangerous, but dealing with them would be nothing but a nuisance. It would just create more work for me.
Moreover, I had already used Lady Mi's name before. Selling these valuables through her association would settle the score, and I wouldn't feel guilty afterward.
[Brat, have you ever felt guilt in your life in the first place?]
Of course I have. I'm a person, you know.
[Not anymore, you aren't.]
…
Fuck. He really knew how to hit where it hurt.
Letting out a deep sigh, I walked toward the building's entrance.
"I'll be back right away. You all can have a seat on the first floor."
Leaving that message with my group, I reached for the door handle.
Creak—
"Hmm?"
But before I could even touch it, the door swung open from the inside, and someone stepped out.
"Hmmm?"
"Huh?"
We both made a sound of surprise as our eyes met.
I recognized these people.
A fierce-looking old man and a skinny young boy.
"Immortal Healer?" I said, my voice full of shock.
It was none other than the Immortal Healer and Zhuge Hyuk.
Why are they coming out of this building?
Huh?
But then I noticed something. The Immortal Healer's shocked gaze wasn't fixed on me, but on someone else behind me.
I turned around, following his line of sight.
Huh?
There, standing with a dark scowl on his face, was Cheol Jiseon, staring right back at the Immortal Healer.