Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Dang Gyujin
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When Dang Gyujin stepped out of the hall, Dang Yuchang was waiting outside with a venomous scowl on his face.
Having been tormented by Unhwi all day, he was in a foul mood.
"Sister, don't you know that being too good-natured is a flaw? Please reflect carefully on Mother's words."
"What?"
"That's all I have to say."
Dang Gyujin watched Dang Yuchang turn away curtly and became convinced.
—There's something I don't know!
She immediately headed to the White Hall where Unhwi was staying.
The moment she entered the courtyard of the hall.
Whoosh!
"!!"
Suddenly, something chilling crawled up her spine.
It felt as if she'd been stripped naked and thrown into a tiger's den.
Hot heat and humidity emanated from everywhere, overlaid with a subtle undercurrent of madness.
'What the hell is this?'
Dang Gyujin hurriedly turned to Hyeongsan, who had brought her here.
"Is this really Unhwi's residence?"
"Y-Yes, it is. Why w-would this lowly one l-lie to you?"
Even through his trembling, it wasn't a lie.
'Wait. He's trembling?'
Only then did Dang Hosan realize the source of the unease he'd felt since arriving at the White Hall.
The servants here, who had clearly mistreated Unhwi more than the regular retainers, were acting extremely cautious.
As if a ferocious beast that must not be touched lived inside.
Once he realized that, the traces and aura in the training ground all looked different.
The footprints stamped into the ground everywhere, the cuts and scars slicing through the walls—everything.
'He... trained.'
Even in the Qingcheng Sect, there were people like this.
—Warriors who dove into the sword like madmen.
Unhwi must have been utterly devoted to training, just like them.
The more recent the traces, the more refined and sharp they became.
'Unhwi's changed!'
Zing.
Her fingertips twitched.
At the same time, something squirmed deep in her chest.
Thump thump!
It was fighting spirit.
To think he could provoke her, someone who had few equals among the disciples of her generation even in the Qingcheng Sect.
The Unhwi she remembered had been a very gentle soul, more terrified than anyone of hurting others.
But people could change in an instant.
Especially considering it had been a full five years since the siblings had reunited—it wouldn't be strange if he'd developed some venom.
'That's why Mother...!'
Now she naturally understood why Namgung San-yeong had started to be wary of Unhwi recently.
'Still, Mother's mistaken. If Unhwi's changed his mind, she should be even more welcoming!'
But on the other hand, looking at this room filled her with strong suspicions about Unhwi.
She was a cultivator who also pursued the Dao.
She had a unique affliction that others didn't possess, and she'd entered the Qingcheng Sect to manage it.
Her senses were constantly irritated by the alien something thickly embedded everywhere.
Ghostly qi and baleful qi.
If Unhwi had turned to the forbidden arts of the left path—all for revenge—
Shing!
Suddenly, Dang Gyujin spun around and drew her sword.
And with the crisp ring of metal.
Her eyes widened at what she'd thought was an ambush.
"Unhwi?"
Unhwi narrowed his eyes as he caught Dang Gyujin's sword barehanded.
"What exactly are you doing here, Sister?"
* * *
I'd sensed a presence outside and come out, only to find a real headache of a visitor.
As I mentioned before, Dang Gyujin's letters had arrived steadily even during my confinement.
But I'd never properly replied to a single one.
Because I suspected her true intentions.
However, it seemed I could set those suspicions aside now.
The look in her eyes as she gazed at me.
That look was all too familiar.
Wasn't it the same one my master used to give me?
But.
On the flip side, it created an annoying problem. She'd apparently spotted the traces I hadn't cleaned up.
"That's what I want to ask you. What the hell have you been doing here?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Don't play dumb. The Heaven-Earth Unified Qi Scripture I cultivate is the Qingcheng Sect's best at repelling evil and revealing truth. You can't fool my eyes."
I'd felt an ominous chill ever since hearing she'd joined the Qingcheng Sect.
Who would've thought Dang Gyujin possessed a spirit root!
I'd heard about spirit roots from my master.
'What’s a spirit root?'
'Yes. Didn't I mention it before? It's one of the biggest changes in the murim world since the emergence of abilities and the 'Tower.' But—'
'Hahaha! Regular books won't have anything on it, of course?'
'Yes. Why is that?'
'Because spirit roots are one of the greatest secrets of murim.'
'What do you...?'
'The seed that allows one to become a transcendent. That's a spirit root.'
A spirit root is the root of potential within the soul, enabling spiritual growth from spirit tree to spirit flower, and finally spirit fruit.
Thus, those with spirit roots have deeper thoughts and keener senses than others, along with a talent for reaching higher realms more easily.
But precisely because of that, they must walk a different path from ordinary people. Their spiritual talents can sometimes consume them.
'And only by honing a spirit root well can one qualify to climb that 'Tower'—'
It seemed that was why Dang Gyujin, despite her considerable talent in the Tang Clan of Sichuan, had been sent to the Qingcheng Sect.
The Qingcheng Sect was one of the nine great sects where cultivators seeking higher realms like ascension or nirvana gathered.
It was no wonder she was sensitive to the ghostly and baleful qi lingering thickly in the courtyard.
It was my mistake to assume no spirit root bearer would emerge from a branch family backwater like this.
Of course, that didn't mean there was no way to salvage the situation.
"Were you plotting something here? If you turned to the left path just for simple revenge—"
"Yes. And if I did? What then?"
"...What?"
"I asked what you'll do."
I smiled.
Smirk!
And then.
Roooar—
A tremendous aura swirled around me.
Screeech!
A gale battered the interior, clawing wildly at the walls and floor, while a glass-shattering wail tore at our ears like fingernails on a blackboard.
"You—"
Dang Gyujin tried to shout something but couldn't continue.
Anyone from the Tang Clan would recognize the sticky sensation underlying the swirling aura.
Poison qi.
"Poison comes in incredibly diverse types. Broadly, biological and mineral, and biological can be further divided into vascular and neural, etc. Even the categories defined by the main family number over thirty."
I'd intended to hide it as much as possible, but in a situation where I had to reveal, I wouldn't hold back.
As long as I bore the Tang name and operated under the Dark Lord's watchful eye, I couldn't fully conceal my inner power.
Especially the poison arts that made up the bulk of my current strength—I couldn't hide them completely.
So I needed a smokescreen of partial truth.
The most important secrets are hidden beneath layers of truth.
That's why I planned to disguise it as me cultivating a new form of poison.
Poison qi laced with ghostly and baleful qi.
Or something very close to it.
"Malediction poison...! You mastered that?!"
Malediction poison was a type known to have been successfully cultivated by only a tiny few even in the Tang Clan of Sichuan.
Only those initiated into sorcery could obtain it.
Malediction poison is created by continuously cursing oneself and refining the accumulated poison qi.
Since it required no gathering of toxic herbs, it was once hailed as the dream of all poison users—an intangible deadly poison.
But that hype didn't last.
Limits to enhancing toxicity, inconsistent quality requiring great effort to handle.
Above all, the drawback of constant bodily weakening leading to early death.
And now, to think I'd mastered something like that—she looked shocked.
"The clan provided no support, so to survive somehow, didn't I have to learn something like this?"
I shrugged nonchalantly, and Dang Gyujin's face flushed red.
Embarrassment, probably. From her perspective, it looked like I'd achieved this much through self-study without proper guidance.
"Of course, even this might seem like misguided sorcery in the eyes of a Qingcheng disciple like you, Sister. But the Tang Clan has always pursued only efficiency to build its current hegemony."
I assumed a stance.
The stance for the Mad Gale Dance that Dang Gon had taught me.
"If you call my path wrong for pursuing that, then come at me."
Rumble...!
Now the entire White Hall shook.
This should be enough to deter even Dang Gyujin from further resistance.
But.
Heh!
Huh?
Dang Gyujin... laughed?
"Our Unhwi... you've grown, haven't you? You even know how to stoke fighting spirit now."
It was a completely different side from the serious and solemn Dang Gyujin up to now. Her face brimmed with ecstasy.
Her upturned lips resembled a malevolent ghost itching to swing its blade wildly.
Hehehehehe!
...What is this? I didn't hear Dang Gyujin had a split personality?
"But this is all my fault, so... I shouldn't draw my sword, right? I'll apologize."
Clang!
Then Dang Gyujin sheathed her half-drawn sword and bowed her head.
Her hostility vanished like a lie. Sorry, she said.
But the skin-prickling killing intent lingered faintly.
* * *
"Young Cult Leader, just give the order! Let me smash this vile Qingcheng heretic's skull and spread the great teachings of the Heavenly Demon—"
"No! Entrust it to me! I'll discipline her as the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's top instructor—"
'Shut up. All of you, disperse. Don't approach until this woman leaves.'
"Understood!"
"U-Understood!"
After chasing away all the noisy spirits.
Drip drip.
I poured tea into Dang Gyujin's cup.
Where had that sword ghost gone, the one giggling eerily just moments ago?
Sitting quietly and savoring the tea's aroma, she looked every bit the refined lady.
By the way, of all the spirit roots, why did it have to be the Azure Ghostface Root?
I didn't know many types of spirit roots, but I knew the Azure Ghostface Root well.
My master had warned me emphatically.
'The Azure Ghostface Root doesn't suit you particularly. It's the one closest to a murderer's among spirit roots.'
A spirit root that delights in battle and finds joy in death.
They grow stronger at terrifying speeds the harsher the battlefield, but gradually lose reason to instinct until they become murderous demons.
One might say it's closest to the demonic path, yet she maintained such upright character—Dang Gyujin's resolve must be extraordinary.
...How did a daughter like that emerge from parents like Namgung San-yeong or Dang Hosan?
That thought crossed my mind too.
If the fully blossomed talent of her Azure Ghostface Root clashed hands with my current self, who would win?
Snicker!
I barely hid my emerging smile behind my teacup.
Thinking like this made me realize I'd fully become a murim man.
"The tea's aroma is excellent. Even in the Qingcheng Sect, I often shared tea with my master, but this flavor's a first."
"It's specially sourced from Cheonmok."
"I didn't know you were versed in tea too."
"It's a recent interest."
Recent for Dang Unhwi, that is. For 'Yeon Unhwi', it was a hobby over ten years old.
"You gave me something good, so here's this for me."
Dang Gyujin rummaged in her inner pocket and slid something over.
Almond candies, neatly wrapped.
"Almond candies from Misan. You liked these, right?"
Dang Gyujin always secretly slipped one to Dang Unhwi whenever she returned from an outing.
Dang Unhwi would hide it under his clothes and munch on it under the covers before bed.
For the constantly discriminated against and oppressed Dang Unhwi, these candies were the pillar that helped him endure day by day.
I unwrapped it in Dang Unhwi's stead and popped one into my mouth.
Munch munch.
"Delicious."
"Right? I knew you'd like it."
Though 'Yeon Unhwi' didn't particularly like sweets.
Still, watching Dang Gyujin's beaming smile made my heated fighting spirit melt away like snow.
"You're the same as ever, Sister."
"You think so? I thought I'd changed a lot."
"Everyone changes. But there are parts that remain eternally the same."
I set down my teacup and steered the conversation back.
"By the way, what brings you here? If it's to stop the sparring match with Yuchang—"
"It's not that."
Dang Gyujin hung her head low.
"I came because I really wanted to apologize."