Chapter 16
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Lactea Mountain Valley
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Lactea Mountain Valley.
Two heads popped up like mountain peaks from the crystal-clear water that looked utterly free of impurities.
Splash!
"Hoo...!"
It was Jayvolg and me.
Lately, since Jayvolg was training with me anyway, we'd been doing underwater sessions together, and he seemed extremely satisfied with it.
Jayvolg approached, rolling his shoulders.
"This is really great, young master."
His well-defined muscles flexed with every step, a sign his fundamentals were rock-solid.
"Glad you're enjoying it. Shall we eat, then?"
"Yes, young master. I can't wait to see what Marian's cooked up this time. Haha!"
Jayvolg patted his stomach.
Everyone knew Marian was a great cook.
As we climbed out of the water, Marian and Nellin had already built a campfire and were grilling fish.
I'd catch the fish, and Marian would cook them—a system we'd gradually settled into.
It was practically our unspoken agreement.
"Dig in!"
After changing clothes, Jayvolg and I sat on a log bench with its base chopped flat.
Marian handed us the grilled fish once they were ready.
The reddish fish was perfectly grilled, topped with a glossy sauce that made my mouth water.
"I sprinkled some rosemary to cut the fishy smell—hope it turned out okay. Oh, and! I found some nice herbs nearby and added those too."
Listening to her explanation, I tore into the fish.
Delicious, as always.
The perfect char and aromatic flavors were spot on. And... whatever those herbs were, they were definitely a game-changer.
Come to think of it, Marian had always been good at gathering and using herbs like this before.
When I had time later, I should teach her some medical arts.
The Sichuan Tang Clan was renowned for medicine as much as poison.
More importantly... was my body finally adapting to the training?
Before, my throws would miss, or lack power, leaving fish alive. Now, I could take them down in one strike.
Time to ramp up the intensity, then.
The body was clever—it adapted quickly and got complacent if you let it.
As I pondered this mid-bite of grilled fish...
"Young master, are you really going to enter the Trial Valley?"
Marian asked cautiously, seated on the log.
Nellin, mouth stuffed full like a hippo with a fish skewer, answered for me.
"He carved his name on the monument. Why wouldn't he go?! Our young master should absolutely participate. What, you think he's lacking or something? Can't handle a sword? Weak body?"
Please finish eating before you speak.
And was that concern or mockery?
Can't handle a sword, weak body—both hit too close to home for me.
Pick one... just one!
I held back from snapping at Nellin and turned to Marian.
"Worried?"
"Yes... I'm sorry."
Marian bowed her head like she'd committed a crime, even though she'd started the conversation.
She had reason to.
"No need to worry. I'll pass."
Ptooey...!
Nellin spat out her half-chewed grilled fish.
Did I say I'd win? I just said pass.
Nellin, what did you even think of me?
I nearly got splattered but quickly used Shadow Step to duck behind Jayvolg.
Who ended up wearing most of the fish spray.
"S-sorry!"
"N-no, it's fine. Really... haha ha ha..."
Jayvolg forced a laugh as he wiped off the mess.
Meanwhile, I continued.
"Since I'm entering, passing is the least I can do, right? Every Pador bloodline has participated so far, and all the direct descendants won. Can't do worse than that—at minimum, pass."
It was true.
The Pador Family always entered the Trial Valley. And proved their bloodline.
Not through status or family power, but individual strength.
Shown in a fair trial open to all.
It demonstrated the family's prestige and instilled faith and trust in the territory's people.
Naturally, my eldest and second brothers had entered and claimed victory proudly.
It showed the continent the Pador Family's enduring strength and heralded the new generation...
How could I skip it?
Even for appearances, I had to at least pass.
Truth be told, I'd entered before. Results weren't great.
Marian clasped her hands tightly and cheered earnestly.
"I'll cheer for you, young master! Passing? You'll win! And please get the Trial's Gift!"
Nellin, still sulky, propped her chin on her skewer-filled hand.
"That'd be amazing. I heard the fruit only winners get is incredible for the body. A knight I know told me—eat it, and you can smash rocks barehanded. Young master, it'd fix you right up!"
"The Trial's Gift... right, that too."
The Trial Valley's treasure, claimed by its victor: the Trial's Gift.
A fruit absorbing the valley's essence—a spirit pill, in a word. A spirit pill.
What to do?
To get it, I'd need to win... but hiding my skills made that impossible.
Regrettable, but I'd have to give it up. Maybe circumstances would let me snag it anyway.
Either way, my body was shaping up now. Time to surface and prevent the family's downfall.
The Trial Valley planted the seeds of that downfall, so I had to enter, no question.
Before that, check the bucket first?
The bucket brimming with fish guts.
A boy smacking his lips at the sight wouldn't be ordinary.
Not that I wanted to eat them or anything.
"Satisfactory. Very satisfactory."
Marian cooked the training fish, and I'd collected the guts.
Specifically, only the dark blue-black ones from certain fish.
"Young master, what are you planning to do with these?"
Marian recoiled at the bucket.
"These? They have their uses. Good for the body."
"These...?"
"What better tonic is there?"
Marian blinked her big eyes in disbelief. Nellin perked up at the words and rushed over.
"Are they tasty too, young master?"
"...Nellin, not everything you find is edible."
"W-what are you saying?!"
Flustered, Nellin sat back down—already holding another fish skewer.
That bottomless appetite of hers...
Truly wondrous. How did she eat like that without gaining weight?
Born lucky, that one.
I'd have to watch she didn't steal any fish guts.
They were my poison ingredients.
Preparations for the Trial Valley.
I planned to make Sichuan Tang poisons right here.
If my knowledge held, I'd need them in the valley.
Lucky there were fish with similar properties.
Poisons were closer than we thought. The easiest came from plants and animals like this.
Vipers, scorpions—or even bees.
This fish too. Not a fierce venom like those, but the kind that gives you a bad stomach.
Used right, though, it could turn deadlier than a viper's strike.
"Alright, let's head back."
"Yes!"
We descended Lactea Mountain and returned to the estate.
There, butler Bator was unloading herbs from a cart with the other servants.
"Young master, welcome back."
"You've worked hard. All herbs, right?"
"Yes, young master."
Nice aroma. Brewing or applying these would make potent medicines, for sure.
Bator glanced at them and tilted his head.
We didn't need this much, true.
"Young master, what do you need all these herbs for?"
Ever heard that saying?
Medicine can be poison, and poison medicine—depending on use.
For me, obviously poison.
"Heard they're good for the body. Thought I'd try some."
"Ah... I see."
Bator nodded easily and bowed. The Pador Family's invalid buying herbs wasn't odd. Handy, being "sick" sometimes.
I added to Bator and the servants,
"Take these herbs to my room."
"Yes, young master."
Bator and the servants carried them to my room.
With the herb bundles and gut-filled bucket, a strange smell filled the air.
One fragrant, one fishy.
Oddly alluring.
Now, to mix these unmixables?
I needed one special ingredient for that.
The silver tray on the table.
Deliberately leftover soup from a meal.
It contained top-grade poison, naturally—perfect.
I poured the fish guts into the bathtub. Then the herbs and soup.
All ingredients in.
Now, refining them would yield different poisons based on method.
Time to make poison...
Bit of a shame, though.
"Hm..."
Making poison was dangerous and demanded full focus.
Especially supreme venom—not half-baked stuff. Days sitting there, staring at it.
Location mattered too...
The Pador estate lacked it. No poison labs, terrain, or tools designed for safety.
A Sichuan Tang poison ground would've been ideal.
What now?
"Duh, idiot."
No poison ground? Make one.
And the ultimate one was right under my nose—I'd overlooked it.
Decision made.
Time to act.
I took a prepped oil lamp and dropped the flame into the tub.
Ingredients melded, melting in the fire as purple smoke billowed up.
Leave this smoke? Nine out of ten, everyone in the mansion poisoned, wasting away.
Can't have that.
I'd be the poison ground.
Hiss....
Purple smoke surged.
I extended my hands and inhaled it. The smoke poured into me nonstop. A normal person? Instant death.
But my body, forged by the Ten Thousand Poisons Heavenly King Divine Art, welcomed it with a grin.
Good...
Who knew this worked.
Unthought-of method.
Ten Thousand Poisons Heavenly King Divine Art. Versatile martial art, endlessly adaptable.
After inhaling long, the full tub emptied.
Now, shape these precious materials into the desired poison without waste.
Eyes closed, mind focused.
With the art, I caressed, gathered, compressed the poison essence.
"Hoo..."
Deep breath. Eyes open.
I touched my index finger to a prepared glass vial on the table.
Drip!
Purple liquid dripped like water from my fingertip.
Tiny compared to inputs... but any martial artist knowing its worth would flee.
This was that poison.
"Perfect."
I sealed the vial, filled with glistening purple liquid.
"Too perfect..."
That shimmering purple—like a gem?
The world's most beautiful thing wasn't jewels, but poison.
Truth!
Ever seen ugly poison?
Always vibrant, seductive.
Ah... feels good.
Moments like this lifted my spirits.
Reminded me of the Sichuan Tang days. Successful poison-making called for celebrations, everyone joyful...
Those times inevitably came to mind.
Of course. So many years there.
No regrets, but nostalgia was natural.
"Hm..."
Before sleep, I picked up needle and thread one last time.
Time to make Sichuan Tang mourning clothes and hit the hay.