Chapter 240
Chapter 240
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 240
Chapter Title: Pitiful Warriors
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Tang Yi-cheon scanned the gathered warriors of the Nangong Clan, his brows furrowed as deeply as they could go.
Sunken eyes, cheeks hollowed out like wells, faces not just haggard but ghostly pale, necks bent halfway over.
Not a single one of them looked the part.
Even a rooster on its last legs waiting to die would probably move with more vigor than these Nangong Clan warriors.
What in the world had happened to them over the past few days?
“……These guys are coming along too?”
Namgung Hyeok nodded.
“Of course.”
“Hmm…….”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll handle my own share.”
His own share?
*Cough, cough.*
*Pfft.*
One of the Thunder Dragon Squad members spat out a lungful of phlegm, then vomited blood and staggered.
The others quietly pulled him back and sent him to the rear.
“…….”
Tang Yi-cheon looked at Namgung Hyeok.
“Can they really fight properly?”
“They’re tough. No problem.”
“Hmm.”
The corner of Tang Yi-cheon’s mouth twisted oddly.
‘He must think this is child’s play.’
If he truly understood the difference between real combat and sparring, he wouldn’t speak so lightly.
Confident about fighting the Five Poisons Sect?
Even the Tang Clan of Sichuan, renowned as the world’s best with poisons and hidden weapons, feared the Five Poisons Sect’s toxins.
That’s why they’d made every preparation to face them.
Yet here was a rookie fresh to the martial world, who’d never even encountered the Five Poisons Sect, speaking with such bravado. To Tang Yi-cheon, it was simply laughable.
What could they accomplish in that mental state?
‘A sparrow has come.’
Tang Yi-cheon’s last sliver of expectation for the Nangong Clan vanished.
No, they seemed more like extra baggage now.
Tang Yi-cheon spoke with a sneer.
“You’re free to follow, but I can’t guarantee the Tang Clan will have the capacity to protect the Nangong Clan.”
“I’ll take care of my own share.”
“My own share…….”
Tang Yi-cheon made a strange face at Namgung Hyeok’s words, then flicked his hand.
Tang Myeongjin and Tang Myeongok, who had been with the Poison King Squad, approached with gleaming eyes.
“These are my children. They may not be much, but they’ll help you and share what they know about the Five Poisons Sect, along with basic knowledge on poisons.”
“Oh, you’re helping us?”
Namgung Hyeok grinned as he eyed Tang Myeongjin and Tang Myeongok.
‘They all look so sinister.’
As expected of the Tang Clan of Sichuan—their skin was deathly pale.
Namgung Hyeok gave them a meaningful look, shrugged, and bowed his head politely.
“Oh, thank you. I had so many questions anyway.”
Tang Yi-cheon gave Namgung Hyeok an odd look before speaking coldly.
“I have one request.”
“Please, go ahead.”
“Once you enter Five Poisons Sect territory, follow these children’s instructions without fail. If you want to live.”
Namgung Hyeok stared blankly at Tang Yi-cheon’s firm tone, then grinned.
“Yes, sir!”
Tang Yi-cheon glanced once more at the Nangong Clan warriors before turning away.
The Tang Clan’s leadership, gathered in the meeting hall, ebbed out like the tide.
Even under their unkind stares, Namgung Hyeok kept grinning as he turned his head.
Tang Myeongjin and Tang Myeongok stared at Namgung Hyeok with expressionless faces.
They quietly walked toward the Thunder Dragon Squad.
The squad flinched.
They blended in seamlessly, like seeping water, as they eyed the Thunder Dragon Squad members drooling like they were high on drugs.
Namgung Hyeok strode over, and the drugged-out(?) Thunder Dragon Squad looked up.
“Time for us to get ready too, right?”
* * *
Tang Myeongjin and Tang Myeongok were Tang Yi-cheon’s children.
The seventeen- and eighteen-year-old siblings eyed the Thunder Dragon Squad with hawk-like sharpness.
The squad was attaching the items distributed from the poison warehouse to their bodies, one by one.
[These guys’ condition is seriously off.]
[Heard they ate poison to build resistance.]
[Crazy bastards. Do they think you just build tolerance by scarfing it down? They’re lucky to be alive.]
[Father told us to watch if they’re up to no good.]
[If they strut around and die, it’s their loss.]
Tang Myeongjin sneered.
No matter how you sliced it, they were a ragtag bunch.
Drugged-up weirdos mixed with beggars, sloppy attire, weapons in poor shape.
Sure, the Namgung brothers had shone in the sparring tournament, but that didn’t make it the clan’s strength.
[Nangong Clan guys—I knew they weren’t right in the head, but they’re all like this.]
[Keep an eye on them; they might bolt anywhere.]
[You handle that, sis. I’ll knock ’em out if needed.]
[We stick to protocol.]
Tang Myeongok said sharply.
She turned to the Thunder Dragon Squad and spoke.
“The antidote’s usage is simple. For wounds from hidden weapons, apply to the injury. For poison smoke, ingest it.”
The overly basic instructions stirred the Thunder Dragon Squad.
Geon Cheon-hwi held up an antidote vial and asked.
“Just take one of these and you’re good?”
“No. It only halts symptom progression. It buys time to evacuate for treatment. Useless against high-lethality poisons.”
“Ah, good.”
“Pardon?”
“Nothing.”
Geon Cheon-hwi and the others sighed in relief.
‘If one pill fixed everything, we wouldn’t have suffered like hell!’
Kinda proud now?
Tang Myeongok gave Geon Cheon-hwi a weird look but continued.
“The Five Poisons Sect wields superior poisons and venomous creatures freely. I’ll explain the creatures en route.”
“What’s this?”
“Poison masks. They filter out some hidden weapons and poison smoke, so wear them.”
“It’s stuffy.”
“Wear it if you want to live.”
The Thunder Dragon Squad flinched at Tang Myeongok’s icy words.
Just then, Namgung Hyeok waved his hand dismissively and said nonchalantly.
“Why bother with that cumbersome crap?”
“Pardon?”
“Take it all off. Spit out that medicine too!”
“Hey! You trying to get yourself killed?”
Tang Myeongok stared at Namgung Hyeok in bewilderment.
Namgung Hyeok glanced indifferently at the poison masks and antidotes, then shrugged.
“Told you, it’s cumbersome. Gets in the way while moving.”
Did they build resistance for nothing? That’s exactly why they did it—not to wear this junk.
If they planned to use amateur gear, they wouldn’t have bothered.
But Tang Myeongok, unaware of the backstory, went from baffled to horrified.
Even moths flying into flames weren’t this reckless.
“Hey! You all trying to commit suicide?”
“No way.”
“Then hurry up and…….”
“That stuff won’t kill us! We’ve already taken what we need!”
……Ah.
These guys are actually insane?
Out of their minds.
Tang Myeongok was speechless.
‘The Mad Dragon…… he really is the Mad Dragon.’
Now she understood why he had that moniker—up close, it made perfect sense.
Namgung Hyeok was crazy.
Poison must’ve seeped into his brain.
How else could he spout such nonsense…….
Then, So Geolgae piped up.
“Listen to the expert. It’s just a mask; it won’t kill you…….”
“It will.”
“Huh?”
“Wear it if you want.”
“……Uh, no. Don’t say it like that; it’s creepy.”
“I guarantee you’ll die if you wear it.”
“……By whose hand?”
“The enemy’s.”
Namgung Hyeok shrugged.
This wasn’t idle talk.
Sure, poison masks and antidotes could block Five Poisons Sect toxins temporarily.
But that was it.
As Tang Myeongok had said, they only bought time for treatment.
They weren’t a real solution.
Worse, against the Five Poisons Sect’s venomous creatures, superior poisons, acidic toxins, etc., poison masks were lethal.
They slowed mobility, and if poison seeped inside, it could cause greater damage.
And the biggest issue……
‘Ruins the resistance.’
The hard-earned resistance could weaken from the Tang Clan’s antidotes.
Namgung Hyeok absolutely refused to let that happen.
The Tang Clan survived their way; his side would survive his.
So Geolgae rolled his eyes frantically.
‘What’s with this confidence?’
Tang Myeongok was the poison expert, so she should be right, but somehow Namgung Hyeok’s words stuck.
Even if Namgung Hyeok was eccentric, ill-tempered, and personality-deficient, he had something special.
‘Driving me nuts.’
He glanced at the others.
Everyone must be anxious too……
*Swish, pat pat!*
Namgung Ryong returned his poison mask and antidote.
Wow, that guy doesn’t hesitate.
If it’s his brother’s word……
Huh?
*Pat pat pat!*
Geon Cheon-hwi, Tak Hyeok-dong, Jang Ung, and others set down their gear with reluctant faces.
Then the Paeng siblings and So Hye-yeon returned theirs too. So Geolgae rolled his eyes and whispered.
“……W-what’s the plan? You know beggar lives and young master’s life are both just one, right?”
“You don’t block superior poisons and venom that way.”
“Huh?”
“Shut up and follow me if you want to live.”
“……O-one antidote can’t hurt, right? Heh heh.”
Namgung Hyeok shook his head firmly. So Geolgae slowly, regretfully smacked his lips and set down the supplies.
A crack appeared on Tang Myeongok’s expressionless face.
‘They’ve all lost their minds wanting to die!’
No, Namgung Hyeok was turning down all Tang Clan supplies while heading to fight poison experts?
Throwing away their lifeline!
Tang Myeongok’s eyes turned ice-cold.
“You’ll regret this.”
Namgung Hyeok chuckled.
“Doubt it. Never been big on regrets.”
“……So confident.”
“Supplies are settled. Tell us about the Five Poisons Sect.”
Tang Myeongok stared silently at Namgung Hyeok.
She flinched at his eyes gleaming with a strange light.
Averting her gaze, she continued with warnings and explanations.
Seeing her so proactive, Tang Myeongjin clicked his tongue.
‘People need to take initiative…… Hold on.’
Tang Myeongjin turned casually, then his eyes lit up.
“Huh?”
Isn’t that a Paeng Clan guy?
Bear-like bulk, broad shoulders, bulging eyes—unmistakably a warrior from the Northern Paeng Clan.
‘The Northern Paeng Clan was here?’
Why didn’t I notice?
Oh, blended in with these similar weirdos!
Looking closer, that guy was the Paeng Clan’s young master.
He recognized him from the sparring tournament.
‘But why’s the Northern Paeng young master with the Nangong Clan?’
Aren’t they blood enemies?
He even looks like Namgung Hyeok’s subordinate…….
‘Whatever. If he’s at the Tang Clan, he should pay respects, right?’
Tang Myeongjin smirked and approached Paeng Jung-hyeok.
“Young master, right? You were here too?”
Paeng Jung-hyeok looked at Tang Myeongjin, shoulders slumped like a rain-soaked mutt.
“……Yeah.”
“Didn’t even know you were here. Should’ve said something; Father gets upset. Why hang with this crew?”
“Sigh.”
Paeng Jung-hyeok spoke with obvious annoyance.
“I’m with the Nangong Clan now, so I’ll greet you separately. We’re prepping to depart, so later…….”
“Nah, Paeng Clan here? Let me talk to them; I’ll get you into the Poison King Squad. You’re not holding back because of us, are you? The Northern Paeng Clan that doesn’t even glance at the Tang Clan…….”
“Huuuugh. Young master.”
“……Yes?”
“Young master, I’m already suffering greatly. Let me breathe. Please, just leave me be.”
“…….”
“Let me live a little, yeah?”
Paeng Jung-hyeok gazed at Tang Myeongjin with eyes full of worldly woes.
The weight of ages and sorrow in that look made Tang Myeongjin pause.
‘What the hell? What’s with him?’
The Paeng Jung-hyeok he remembered brimmed with confidence and vitality.
What was it?
Yeah, like a neutered cat……
Tang Myeongjin looked dumbfounded.
Paeng Jung-hyeok sighed as if the ground would cave in and turned away sharply.
Tang Myeongjin blinked blankly for a moment before backing off helplessly.
He spotted Tang Myeongok just then.
She’d noticed him too and approached.
“Sis, the Paeng guy’s weird.”
“They’re all weird.”
“Huh?”
“……Weird.”
“……All of them?”
“All. Especially.”
Tang Myeongok glanced to the side.
Namgung Hyeok entered her view, grinning as he tapped his demon sword.
“That one’s the weirdest.”
“…….”
“Watch him closely. He’s really off.”
The siblings furrowed their brows.
Just then, Tang Yi-cheon’s voice rang out.
“Moving to the Golden River!”
The Tang Clan of Sichuan and Nangong Clan began their march.