Chapter 504: Just Let Me Hold It Once. (11)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 504: Just Let Me Hold It Once. (11)
My training session, which felt more like a light warm-up, concluded. I glanced up at the sky. The sun was still a long way from setting.
Hmm.
And my body was far from properly warmed up. I picked up the martial robe I had discarded and slipped it back on. It was a pity; I hadn't even worked up a single drop of sweat. But there was nothing to be done about it.
This isn’t the time for dedicated training.
If it were up to me, I'd seal myself in a cave and enter seclusion. The current situation, however, didn't permit such luxuries.
Still, I pushed myself quite hard.
I had moved with intense fervor, trying to squeeze every second of value from the time. And yet, truly, not a single speck of sweat had appeared. My body didn't even feel fatigued.
Tsk.
Was it because my realm had advanced, or because my body had undergone a change? Whatever the reason, it should have been a cause for celebration, yet a strange unease lingered within me. It probably stemmed from not having been able to properly examine my new physique.
It’s my own body, yet it’s frustrating not knowing it well.
Due to the drastic transformation it had undergone, I didn't fully understand this vessel. And this was despite spending days on end checking it. How tough were my newly fortified skin and muscles? How much exertion was required to tire me out? With my vessel now expanded, what was the state of my qi reserves? How much compression and rotation could it withstand? The time I had was far from sufficient to confirm all of this.
In other words…
My body’s limits have expanded that much.
My physical form had grown so powerful that even all this time wasn't enough to grasp its full extent. That much, at least, was certain.
At this level, how much of my past life’s skill can I wield?
I had initially estimated twenty percent, but now, it felt closer to fifty. Of course, that wasn't an exact figure. Again, I lacked the time to verify it.
Testing its durability, in particular, is a bit of a hassle…
The fastest way to gauge the strength of my muscles and the toughness of my skin… was to cut and tear them myself. It might sound insane. But a martial artist's skin often becomes tougher through repeated tearing and regeneration. There were even those who seared themselves with fire while training their external arts. It was something I had done in my past life for the sake of improvement. Endure the pain, and you emerge stronger. There was no simpler or faster method.
[…So, you mean to tear your own flesh. Is that it?]
If it becomes necessary later.
To fight effectively, I needed to understand my body's condition thoroughly. How much could it endure? How many blows would it take to sustain an injury? How close to death could I tread? I needed to know all of it.
Just when I was finally getting used to the old body. Tsk.
My pre-transformation body had just begun to feel familiar after all the use and training. To think it would change so drastically that I couldn't get my bearings again.
Squeeze.
I clenched my fist, my brow furrowing. I needed time. But I was also acutely aware that time was the one thing I lacked most right now. What should I do?
I considered delving deeper into my training, but then I remembered the immediate task and circulated my qi.
C-c-c-creak-!
As qi seeped into my vessel, my body reacted instantly. I felt my skin shift and my bones twist. The pain was laughable compared to the agony of the Tuapachunmu. At most, it felt like a few bones breaking. Compared to the Tuapachunmu, which felt like being constantly ground to dust, this was child's play.
Crack-!
The creaking of my bones, which had persisted for a while, ceased. It signaled the completion of my body's transformation. I felt my line of sight lower as my body shrank. After confirming the Qi Body Transformation Technique had worked correctly, I straightened my martial robe.
Right after that…
"You're late."
I spoke without turning, addressing the woman who had arrived behind me. It was Nahee. The moment she saw me, she averted her eyes. Wondering why, the reason soon dawned on me. She had likely witnessed my body transformation firsthand.
“…My apologies.”
"Why were you late?"
I had summoned her quite some time ago, but Nahee had arrived later than expected. I was curious about the reason, but she seemed to interpret my words differently, trembling as she knelt.
“…I… I am sorry."
“…Hmm."
Watching her, I lightly scratched my cheek. Had I subdued her too harshly? She seemed completely intimidated.
“…Well, it’s not like… anyone said they were going to kill you, did they?"
Or maybe someone had. I think I might have.
"Never mind that… Just tell me why you were late."
Pushing aside the awkward feeling, I asked for the reason again.
"That is… the First Elder had given me a task…"
The First Elder. That would be the old man named Dangmyeon or Dangbui.
"What was it?"
“…He ordered me to mix a separate paralysis poison."
"A paralysis poison. Who’s it for?"
"…"
"Judging by your expression, it’s for me."
There was no verbal answer, but looking into Nahee’s eyes, I knew without her having to say it.
A foolish old man.
I had been watching him quietly, wondering if he was planning some grand scheme. A paralysis poison.
Not to kill, but to paralyze?
If his intention was to use a paralysis poison instead of creating a lethal one… it seemed there was more to his plan.
Hmm.
Hearing that, I pondered my next move. Since I was curious about his schemes, should I let him be for now? Or…
Should I just go and flip the whole thing over?
Tilt.
I tilted my head and looked at Nahee. Her body trembled as our eyes met. The reason I had been so urgently trying to grasp my body's power and limits was simple.
At this level.
Was it possible to turn everything upside down? That's what I needed to confirm.
And.
It doesn’t seem like it would be that difficult.
I became certain that it was possible. Normally, overturning the Tang Clan would have been an impossibility given their nature. But now, it was precisely because it was the Tang Clan that it became feasible. And for good reason.
Because I have immunity to all poisons.
I had developed a potent resistance to poison. An extremely strong resistance at that. This single fact made running rampant within the Tang Clan no difficult task.
I’ve lived to see all sorts of things.
Ten Thousand Poison Immunity. I didn't know if my body had truly reached that legendary state, but what mattered was that I had gained a formidable resistance. That was enough.
More than enough to kill a rotten old monster.
If I had to point out a problem, it would be…
Whether I can handle the aftermath of this affair.
That's why I had broached the subject with the Poison King, to secure a justification. But since I didn't know the Poison King well, I couldn't trust him completely.
So.
I have to consider every possibility.
Trust no one. After everything I'd been through in my past life, this was the most important principle in this one.
[So, what are you planning to do?]
I turned my thoughts to Noya's words.
Originally, I planned to finish this within a few days at most.
Today, or tomorrow. I would watch the Poison King's movements and end things at the right moment. That's why I had captured and taken in Nahee. I had even deliberately made a show of swallowing poison. Even as I assembled the situation piece by piece like this, if there was one thing that bothered me…
Father is the problem…
My father, who was now in Sichuan, was the problem. I didn't know if he had really come because of the letter. But beyond that, I wondered if I could handle this matter without him finding out.
…Ugh.
This is annoying. In so many ways.
"Hey."
"Yes, yes…!"
I called to Nahee. I saw her flinch at my call.
"Have you spoken with your brother?"
“…Yes."
"That’s a relief."
At the mention of Tang Duk, Nahee's expression darkened. She had probably fully realized by now that Tang Duk had also been corrupted by me.
Come to think of it, wasn’t that their goal all along?
Nahee on the inside, Tang Duk on the outside. Their intention must have been to act for their own purpose.
Both of them would have failed anyway.
Recalling my past life, Tang Duk had been obsessed with power. He was a demonic human consumed by an inexplicable thirst for revenge, wanting to destroy the Tang Clan. And seeing how he flew into a rage upon hearing that the Demonic Cult had occupied Sichuan and that I had killed the Poison Queen…
It means that whatever he tried to do, it ultimately failed.
It was possible that Tang Duk's external efforts had failed.
Or.
My gaze shifted to Nahee.
It could have gone wrong on the inside.
That might have been it. Recalling the events of my past life… I could tell that things hadn't gone as they should have.
"This is an order."
I imbued my words with qi. Instantly, Nahee's body stiffened.
"All you have to do is answer honestly."
I approached her and met her gaze.
"I'm thinking of killing the First Elder right now."
“…!"
I saw a flash in Nahee's eyes as she heard my words. I could tell from that. Just now, Nahee had felt a faint thrill at my words. Sensing this, I smiled and asked.
"For that, how far are you willing to go?"
How far are you willing to go? In truth, if I gave an order imbued with qi, I could make her give up her own life. But I asked her with words anyway. It wasn't to gain her loyalty or to boost her morale. I had no need for such useless things. This was merely for confirmation.
"You want that too, don't you? Am I wrong?"
“…I… I…"
At my question, Nahee's eyes kept shaking, as if an earthquake was happening within her. As I stared into her eyes, the trembling Nahee finally spoke.
"An…anything…. I can do anything."
"Anything?"
"Yes…"
Hearing her answer, I nodded.
"Good. Then let me ask you for one thing."
"…"
This time, too, there was no refusal. It wasn't a particularly difficult request. It was just a matter of resolving a question that had arisen while recalling the Tang Clan of my past life. The thought I had earlier. Aside from Tang Duk becoming a demonic human in my past life, considering he had managed to stay alive… I had to consider the possibility that not only Nahee but others involved in this affair had failed. If so, one hypothesis naturally formed.
The possibility that the rotten roots knew about those moving to cut them out from the very beginning.
The possibility that they knew Nahee and the others were trying to do something. Whether they realized it later… or whether they knew from the start, I couldn't tell. But if. If they knew something from this point on… that would be a bit of a problem.
A paralysis drug, she said.
The paralysis drug they had prepared. Nahee said it was meant for me, and the shackle I placed on her would prevent her from lying. But then.
What if she knows a different version of the truth to begin with?
That's where the problem arises. She might have been told one thing, but if the reality was different, it would all be for nothing.
…In that case.
If that's really the situation…
Who are they planning to use it on, if not me?
I thought about this, my eyes gleaming. Because I had a guess. If my guess was correct, that too would be an annoying problem, but…
It should be fine.
Despite the nagging feeling, my demeanor was rather relaxed. The reason was simple.
I’ve already prepared countermeasures.
Whatever happened, I had prepared a way to solve it. All I had to do now was confirm it.
* * *
On the outskirts of the Tang Clan, near the mountains, stood a large residence. This was a dwelling used by the blood relatives of the Tang Clan, and among them, it was where the Poison King's treasured daughter stayed. One might wonder why a blood relative so cherished by the Lord was staying in such an outlying area, near the mountains at that. But this was something she had requested from the Lord herself.
Grrr.
A large wolf was growling contentedly in the yard. It was a giant mountain wolf with black fur, a Sichuan-native species, one of the few remaining after the appearance of demonic beasts. It was the cherished pet of the Tang Clan's blood relative, the Poison Phoenix, Tang Soyeol.
"Feeling good?"
Tang Soyeol smiled upon hearing the wolf's growl. It seemed to be enjoying the long-overdue brushing.
"I'm sorry. I should have done this more often."
Grrr…
"You understand? Thank you."
At Tang Soyeol's words, the wolf moved its body, acting cute. It was funny, yet also adorable, to see such a large wolf fawning like this. At least, in Tang Soyeol's eyes. As she stroked the wolf's upturned belly, a thought crossed her mind.
I wish the Young Master would approach me like this, too.
Thinking of the young man who resembled a fierce wolf, Gu Yangcheon, Tang Soyeol couldn't help but sigh. It was a sigh filled with frustration. And the cause was not the young man, but herself.
…No. If he did approach me, I wouldn’t be able to do anything anyway.
It was a kind of lament. Tang Soyeol had realized something was wrong ever since she was held in Gu Yangcheon's arms last time. When she heard his powerful heartbeat in his embrace. When she realized that his chest, which she thought belonged to a small frame, was much broader than expected. She hadn't been in her right mind since then. She could no longer meet Gu Yangcheon's eyes properly, and even holding a conversation with him had become difficult.
…Why am I like this?
Did I only just realize my feelings? That couldn't be it. She had realized her feelings of love long, long ago. Then what was the problem?
…This isn’t the time for this…!
This wasn't the time to be startled and keep her distance. Tang Soyeol felt a wave of frustration at her own situation. The engaged Namgung Bi-ah seemed to know her place, acting with a relaxed yet firm hold on her position. Wi Seol-Ah, while seeming to do nothing, was clearly marking her territory beside him. Furthermore, Moyong Hi-ah, despite being the last to arrive, had exceptional abilities and had carved out a position for herself.
…And me?
Tang Soyeol had to recall how she was the only one isolated in this situation.
What should I do…?
She wasn't as talented as Namgung Bi-ah or Wi Seol-Ah. And while she knew she was pretty, she wasn't as unbelievably beautiful as those two. Nor was she as skilled at handling people or as exceptionally smart as Moyong Hi-ah. Lately, she had been firmly realizing that what she possessed was far too lacking. The only thing she could possibly compete with was her family. But Namgung Bi-ah was born of the Namgung Clan, and Moyong Hi-ah was a blood relative of the Moyong Clan. And Wi Seol-Ah was said to be the granddaughter and descendant of the Sword Venerable. Even her background, which was enviable to others, felt like it was subtly falling behind.
…
There's no answer. There's really no answer. At this rate, it felt like it would become increasingly difficult to stay by Young Master Gu's side.
…What do I do? What do I really do?
Is it okay to be by his side without any special abilities? Gu Yangcheon might say it's fine, but that wasn't what Tang Soyeol wanted. She couldn't be incompetent. Gu Yangcheon was far too outstanding. It was a problem for her, incompetent as she was, to be by his side. To stay by his side, she had to achieve something, anything. Tang Soyeol recalled the words Moyong Hi-ah told her every day.
—We must be people who are not ashamed to be by his side.
When Gu Yangcheon wasn't around, Moyong Hi-ah was always reading some thick, mysterious letters. Namgung Bi-ah and Wi Seol-Ah swung their swords every single day. So, in the midst of all that, what was Tang Soyeol doing?
Stop.
The brushing that had been grooming the wolf came to a halt. Then, Tang Soyeol looked at her own palm. She saw calloused, cracked skin. It was proof that Tang Soyeol was always trying hard, but…
There are no results.
Unlike her efforts, the results were poor. Her martial arts didn't improve. The only thing that grew was her hair. She carefully touched her hair, which she had diligently cared for and grown out beautifully.
...
Since all the women around Gu Yangcheon had long hair, Tang Soyeol, who used to have short hair, was trying to grow it out as well. But the strange sense of self-loathing she felt from it was agonizing.
This makes me… just an imitator.
She always tried to be better. But it was overwhelming trying to follow those flying ahead.
"Haa."
A sigh escaped her. Despite having come all the way to Sichuan with Gu Yangcheon, Tang Soyeol, who had made no progress, could only let out sigh after sigh. What should she really do? As she was pondering this…
"Hoho, is anyone here?"
A voice came from outside the residence. Tang Soyeol lifted her head and saw an old man's face. She quickly got to her feet.
"Ah… Elder."
"I apologize for visiting so suddenly."
"Not at all…"
The old man was an elder of the Tang Clan. He was one of the people who had cherished her like a real granddaughter since she was young. Tang Soyeol forced a smile as she looked at him.
"What brings you here?"
"It's nothing special…. I just wanted to see your face, so I stopped by for a moment."
"Ah, then I'll have a servant bring some tea…"
"Oh."
At Tang Soyeol's words, the First Elder's eyes lit up. He then took something out from his sleeve.
"It felt a little strange to come empty-handed, so I brought some fine tea as a gift. This is perfect."
"Oh my…. You didn't have to."
"Haha, still, how could I come with nothing?"
The First Elder smiled kindly and was about to hand the tea in his hand to Tang Soyeol. Just as Tang Soyeol was about to receive the First Elder's gift…
Grip-!
Thud-!
The object in the First Elder's hand fell to the ground with a thud. It was because someone had grabbed the First Elder's wrist.
"…!"
The First Elder's eyes widened at the sudden contact. The hand was large, the pressure immense.
"What…!"
The First Elder looked at the one who stopped him, surprised and flustered. But the man who had blocked him simply stared back with a cold glint in his eyes.
"You bastard…! What do you think you're doing!"
The First Elder roared, but the man's reaction remained the same. Then, at that moment.
"Unauthorized approach is forbidden."
The man, Tang Duk, spoke while looking at the First Elder. Hearing his words, the First Elder's brow furrowed deeply.