Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Murim's Las Vegas
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After walking for about nine more days, we finally reached Sichuan.
Sichuan.
The land where Liu Bei founded his kingdom in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, isolated from other regions by its rugged mountains.
In particular, Sichuan's spicy cuisine has carried over into modern times and become widely renowned.
In wuxia tales, Sichuan holds significance as the home territory of the Tang Clan, one of the Five Great Families.
The youngest glanced around the bustling streets of central Sichuan and let out a gasp of amazement.
“Wow! First time in Sichuan. I had no idea it was such a flashy place packed with people.”
“It's all thanks to the Tang Clan.”
“The Tang Clan? Why's that?”
Our youngest was as clueless as ever, so once again, I explained it from the beginning.
“Kid, what do you think of when you hear Tang Clan?”
“The Tang Clan... poison, right...?”
“Yeah, poison.”
Each of the Five Great Families has something that symbolizes their house.
The Nangong Clan has swords, the Hebei Peng Clan has sabers. And the Tang Clan has poison.
The Tang Clan, which had long specialized in poisons, honed their skills even further and wielded them aggressively to expand their influence across the jianghu, ultimately ascending to their position among the Five Great Families.
“So, what happens if you ingest poison?”
“If you ingest poison... you die, right?”
The kid's face said, *Why ask something so obvious?*
Of course, he was right. Ordinary folks drop dead immediately from deadly poison, and even trained martial artists might endure it somewhat, but the Tang Clan possesses toxins that can kill even masters in an instant.
Thus, poison is seen as something bad, something you absolutely must not consume. That's the common perception.
But...
“Poison isn't always bad.”
“...Huh?”
“You've never heard that poison can be medicine, and medicine can be poison?”
“...First time hearing it.”
“Then just take my word for it. In reality, poison can become medicine, and medicine can become poison.”
In the end, the difference boils down to the formulation. It was true in actual history, and even more so in this novelistic world.
That's why, in this world, masters of poison can become renowned physicians of the realm—or the exact opposite.
In fact, the Tang Clan is also famous for their medical expertise.
At that moment, the youngest raised his hand like he still didn't get it and asked a question.
“But, big bro. Sure, poison can be medicine or whatever, but that doesn't explain why Sichuan is so developed.”
“I'll get to that now. Sichuan is Tang Clan territory. A lot of folks living here are connected to them.”
In other stories, Sichuan is often split between unorthodox factions and the Tang Clan, but in this world, the unorthodox are total nobodies, so Sichuan is practically the Tang Clan's front yard.
“And the Tang Clan folks mix poison into their liquor and drink it.”
“Poison in liquor?”
“Yeah. They're so resistant to it by now, and like I said earlier? The right mix of poison can act like medicine. The Tang Clan discovered a subtle blend of poison and alcohol that makes a safe brew, and they drink it.”
“Hoo...”
“Then people who worked for the Tang Clan couldn't forget the taste and started making their own poison brews. They experimented with all sorts of formulations. And since it tasted so damn good, they started selling it to others.”
“They sell... poison brew? You don't mean...”
Only then did the kid notice that the streets were lined entirely with taverns, and he looked around. I nodded to him and confirmed.
“Yeah, the taverns in Sichuan sell poison brew. And it's marinated to perfection.”
**
“Red Sparrow brew laced with Red Sparrow toxin—get it here! It'll set your insides ablaze!”
“Hawk Spirit brew ground from Hawk Spirit grass—on sale now! One sip, and even if two drink it and one drops dead, you won't notice! No, really!”
The youngest stared in fascination at the merchants hawking their various poison brews, but his face twisted in distaste.
“Ugh... I like booze as much as the next guy, but poison brew? Kinda creepy...”
“I thought the same at first. But once you get a taste for poison brew, regular liquor won't cut it. It's pure heaven.”
I pointed around us as I continued.
“See? Place is overflowing with people. They're all folks who tried the poison brew once and keep coming back. And where there's lots of booze, what else do you find?”
I gestured at the prettily dolled-up women strolling the streets, and the youngest hesitantly replied.
“You mean... courtesans...?”
“Right, courtesans. Blue ladies, red ladies, entertainers, whores... Every kind of courtesan you can imagine in this world is here.”
A place where booze, women, and every pleasure under heaven converge. Sichuan was truly Murim's Las Vegas. Which is exactly why I loved it.
I happily took in the surroundings, savoring the sharp yet fragrant aromas of poison brew wafting through the air and tickling my nose.
That's when the youngest clutched his stomach and spoke up.
“But big bro... booze and women are great, but can't we grab some food first? We only ate breakfast, and the sun's already set...”
“Of course. Kid, the places with the best booze always have the best food. Anywhere you pick here will be delicious.”
At that, the kid sniffed the air and pointed to one spot.
“Then how about there, big bro? That restaurant smells super spicy. We're in Sichuan—gotta try the hot stuff at least once.”
“Oh, that one? Went there a few years back. They stir-fried noodles with killer spicy sauce. It was art.”
“Then let's go th—”
“But no.”
I grabbed the scruff of his neck just as he was about to bolt and said firmly.
“We've got a spot picked out already. That one's for next time.”
“Aww... well, guess can't be helped...”
The kid looked disappointed but obeyed my order and quietly followed behind me. I led him toward the outskirts of Sichuan.
**
“Big bro... what is this place...”
“What?”
“It's just too...”
I cut him off, anticipating what he'd say.
“Too shabby?”
The kid nodded openly, not hiding his disappointment.
And who could blame him? The building before us wasn't flashy like the ones downtown. Instead of appetizing smells, a musty odor drifted out.
Even though it was evening, no lights shone from inside. Anyone would hesitate to step in.
But...
“Hey, the shabbier it looks, the better the food.”
“Still...”
“No complaints—get in, come on.”
I shoved the reluctant kid inside.
As we entered, an old man who looked more like a shopkeeper than a waiter greeted us.
“Who're you?”
“Customers?”
“...Sit over there first.”
Unlike the rundown exterior, a few patrons inside were eating, ignoring us completely and focusing on their meals.
We sat at the innermost table as the old shopkeeper directed, and then a voice reached my ear alone. The kid, sensing something off, had sent a transmission.
*Big bro, something's weird here.*
“Oh, kid. You know sound transmission? Since when?”
I asked in surprise, and the kid's face flushed with panic.
“No, big bro... Why do you think I used sound transmission? Lower your voice...”
“Ah, sorry. Got carried away 'cause it's cool. So... what's weird about this place...?”
I brushed it off casually, and the kid fidgeted before speaking aloud instead.
“The other customers here... they're pretending to eat while staring right at us.”
“......”
Swoosh—
“......”
“......”
As soon as the kid finished, a heavy tension settled over the room. Even someone with dull senses would feel something amiss.
It was certainly an atmosphere to get tense about, but instead, I patted the kid's head.
“Sharp, aren't ya? Keep it up, and you'll be my vice-leader soon.”
“Big bro, this isn't the time—those guys' auras are...!”
That's when...
Swish—
“......What'll you have?”
The old shopkeeper who'd greeted us appeared right beside us without a sound.
Both I and the kid noticed it.
He was no ordinary old timer—he was a skilled master.
Even so, I played it cool and bantered. I knew full well this place wasn't hostile to me.
“What's good here?”
“...You come to an inn without even thinking what to order?”
Finding my stalling suspicious, the shopkeeper's hand drifted toward his pocket. The kid's hand twitched in response.
Oops, took the joke too far.
A fight breaking out here would be a hassle, so I spoke up just in time.
“Hot noodles, floating with ice cubes?”
“......Pardon?”
The kid shot me a baffled look like *What kind of order is that?* but the shopkeeper's face visibly relaxed.
The room's tension lightened too.
The shopkeeper immediately cupped his hands and bowed.
“My apologies. Right this way.”
“Yeah, sure.”
Only the kid was flustered by the sudden turn.
**
The shopkeeper led us straight to the kitchen, which looked ordinary at first glance. But when he lifted the floorboards, a passage to the basement appeared.
“Go straight, turn right at the fork, then straight again. That'll take you where you want.”
“Got it.”
Once we descended and it was just the two of us, the kid finally blurted out.
“B-Boss. What is this place...?”
“Kid. Booze is good, women are good, food is good—but first, you gotta make money to enjoy 'em.”
“So... this is...”
“Yeah.”
Following the shopkeeper's directions led us to a door. As I opened it, I told the kid.
“This is where we make our money.”