Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Become My Disciple (1)
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"Once we dock at the port, I should spread your nickname through the beggars."
A new undercurrent had emerged in the Yangtze River.
It was a bitter development for the waves that had to recede.
But if he was a prodigy of the orthodox faction, it was a joyous occasion.
"It's a nickname that suits the young hero well."
Even the captain stepped forward in agreement.
As Dang Yu-wol looked troubled, Seol Ryu-a quickly added,
"Sometimes people use utterly ridiculous nicknames."
Gu Hwan-gae nodded in agreement as well.
"Right, right. Like Jade Face Divine Hero or Black Dragon Young Expert."
"It wouldn't be strange for Young Hero Dang to bear a dragon nickname either."
Dang Yu-wol was the sort of person who could handle even a dragon moniker.
His character, knowledge, and martial arts—all were impeccable.
"Of course, to truly earn a nickname, you'll need more feats beyond this..."
Gu Hwan-gae gave Dang Yu-wol a quick once-over from head to toe.
'He's already this impressive after just entering the martial world... In time...'
"Well. You'll be fine."
"Whoa! So should I call you Poison Dragon bro from now on?"
-Heh heh heh. Poison Dragon, eh? Congratulations.
"Just call me like you always have."
Frankly embarrassed, Dang Yu-wol declined.
But Yi Kyung and Yi Yul simply chanted "Poison Dragon" in delight.
-Poison Dragon! Poison Dragon!
Even Ye-ui joined in playfully.
It seemed like an unstoppable tide.
Dang Yu-wol could only clamp his mouth shut.
"Hahaha. The military will take notice too."
The captain laughed heartily at them.
With the Yellow Dragon Stronghold established, it had crushed or absorbed all the surrounding water bandits.
Thanks to that, their journey to Okang County in Hubei proceeded without incident.
"Whoa!! We're almost there already?!"
"This is a military vessel, after all."
A massive port loomed in the distance.
Far larger than any they'd seen before, Yi Kyung and Yi Yul gasped in admiration.
"Wooow!!"
"It's huge...!!"
"Okang County grew around the port built by the loyal General Okang."
"Really?!"
"That's why it's so big..."
"Yes. Almost everyone using the Yangtze in Hubei passes through here."
The captain smiled as he explained to the two Taoists.
"Merchant groups, martial artists, and people from other provinces to the north all flock here."
True to his words, countless ships were docked at the port.
"We'll resupply here and head back."
The captain couldn't hide his regret.
His gaze drifted toward Dang Yu-wol.
-He looks like he'll hand over an enlistment form.
"You've worked hard all this time."
"No, we should be the grateful ones. But..."
Finally, the captain reached into his bosom.
What emerged was an enlistment application.
"I heard from General Seol... that Young Hero Dang is on good terms with the military."
With that, he firmly placed the form in Dang Yu-wol's hand.
"Hahaha..."
-What can you do with a pearl among swine? Just accept it.
"Then fare well."
As the warship docked, the captain, officers, and soldiers saluted those disembarking.
Yi Kyung and Yi Yul, waving back repeatedly under their escort, kept turning to look at the ship.
"I liked traveling by boat."
"Can't we ride it anymore?"
"Won't you ride it back?"
"Right... Master. Where are we going now?"
"Since we're in Hubei, I was thinking of visiting Mount Wudang."
When it came to the most famous sect in Hubei, the Wudang Sect was a given.
Gu Hwan-gae, who knew the lay of the land well, grinned broadly.
"It's about ten days from here to Wudang County. Let's stop by."
"The elder says so, and it's on the way to Henan too... Little brother, Miss Seol. What do you think?"
"I'd like to visit the Wudang Sect as well."
"Great!"
Dang Yu-wol glanced at Seol Ryu-a.
She nodded lightly as well.
He hadn't forgotten their promise to retrieve an artifact from the Wudang Sect.
"The problem is the Poison Buddha Statue the Yellow Dragon Stronghold leader had. How should we explain it..."
"Wait! Wait!!"
"Hm?"
Hwan-gyu spotted someone dashing through the crowd, shouting.
It was Yang Ui-seok of the Healing Immortal Sect.
"Huh? Ui-seok, isn't it? Shouldn't you be with the soldiers?"
"Huff... huff... I-I had business here too... But everyone. Are you leaving right away?"
"Well, we're planning to stay a day or so."
"Perfect then. I need to procure herbs here too, so I'll be staying a day."
Having caught his breath, he made his request.
"If it's alright, how about traveling together??"
"Sure. Herbs, huh... Hey, Yu-wol. Don't you need to buy some herbs or poisons too?"
-I can make poisons or medicines for you.
'Still, it's good to have stock. Making them with you drains my internal energy anyway.'
"Sounds good. Young Hero Yang. Do you know a good place?"
"Haha! Of course! It's the same place I'm headed. Let's go together!"
"Then we'll split up. I need to meet some Beggars' Sect folks here."
Gu Hwan-gae had his own errands and would be gone briefly.
When Dang Yu-wol asked, he said he'd just feed the beggars.
"Hwan-gyu, find lodging with the disciples."
"Got it, Elder."
"I hear Yi River Inn is nice here. Good food too. General Seol, alright?"
"Of course."
Since she was covering expenses, even a pricier place was fine.
Gu Hwan-gae grinned cheekily at her confident reply and vanished like the wind.
"I'll head out first then. Kids, let's go."
Hwan-gyu led his disciples and Seol Ryu-a away.
Dang Yu-wol watched them go for a moment before turning to Yang Ui-seok.
"Shall we go too?"
Following him, they arrived at a rather large apothecary.
It seemed to operate alongside a clinic.
Patients sat here and there.
"Elder Sang! I'm here!"
"Oh! Who's this? Ui-seok!"
A well-dressed old man emerged from the back, laughing.
Spotting Dang Yu-wol with Yang Ui-seok, he narrowed his eyes.
"Who's this?"
"Dang Yu-wol of the Sacheon Tang Clan."
"Call me Elder Sang. Sacheon Tang Clan, eh? Here for poisons?"
"Yes."
"Good timing. The herb gatherers dug up some toxic plants thinking they were herbs."
"Any snakes?"
"Some snakes too."
Toxic plants were fine, but snake venom was key for live toxins and various poisons.
Could even eat them raw.
Dang Yu-wol was satisfied.
He looked forward to what poisons they'd have.
"Follow me."
Trailing Elder Sang inside, past some physicians, he grinned.
"Can you pick the best poison here? Pick right, and I'll give you one free."
It was a cluttered space.
Herbs, ores, jars, snakes, insects—all jumbled together.
At the challenge to pick one, Yang Ui-seok sighed.
"Elder Sang. You do this to every poison buyer...?"
There were no poisons here.
He'd make buyers pick like this, then refuse to sell upon proving their ignorance.
'Young Hero Dang should know his stuff, but this is rude...'
As he moved to intervene—
-Hm? That? Why's that here?
'Didn't expect this.'
Ye-ui and Dang Yu-wol alike marveled as he picked one up.
In his hand was a small ore.
"This seems the best."
"...Do you know what that is?"
The atmosphere shifted.
Yang Ui-seok glanced between Elder Sang and Dang Yu-wol.
But neither spared him a look.
"Yes. Nirvanic Stone, isn't it?"
"Know what it's used for?"
"Yes."
Calmly, yet firmly, Dang Yu-wol spoke slowly.
"It's an ingredient for Soul Extinguishing Powder, one of the Seven Great Extreme Poisons."
Elder Sang burst into laughter at the answer.
"Hahahahaha!!!"
His laughter faded, and he raised his hand.
Green poison qi infused his stellar energy.
"What do you think?"
"Impressive."
Poison qi in stellar energy.
Proof he'd reached transcendent realm or beyond in poison arts.
"Let me reintroduce myself. I am Sang Wi-cheon of the Poison Eye Heart Scripture."
-Whoa. Sang Wi-cheon.
'You know him?'
-One of the previous generation's top demonic experts.
'How'd you learn that?'
-Some guy in the treasure vault blabbed. They tried recruiting him to the Blood Cult.
'But I don't know him, so it failed.'
-Yep. Good skill, shitty personality, they said.
As Ye-ui explained—
Sang Wi-cheon smirked confidently.
"You. Become my disciple."
Dang Yu-wol smiled back.
"No thanks."
Silence blanketed the apothecary.
Relaxed Dang Yu-wol.
Sang Wi-cheon, stunned at the rejection.
Yang Ui-seok, caught between, just gauged the mood.
-What a face.
Sang Wi-cheon groaned softly.
After showing his prowess, this response?
After a moment's thought, he guffawed.
"Hahaha!! Is it because of the heart method you're cultivating?"
The young man before him was clearly at peak mastery.
Who'd abandon their heart method for his?
"Don't worry. I won't teach you Explosive Aura Poison Art."
"Not just that."
"Then?"
"As you know, those who cultivate poison arts tend to have poor temperaments."
Sang Wi-cheon nodded at Dang Yu-wol's words.
To cultivate poison arts, one ingested burdensome toxins daily.
Often deadly ones.
Sensitive dispositions were inevitable.
"Always on edge, they snap at trifles."
-If he took you as a disciple knowing nothing, fine. But you've mastered poison arts to a high level already...
If Dang Yu-wol became his disciple?
Ye-ui figured trouble within a month.
And Sang Wi-cheon knew it too.
"Uh... I'm the elder here. Can't you yield a bit?"
"Do you think a poison cultivator could manage that?"
"No, probably not."
Even he knew it wouldn't fly.
If he'd taken him in ignorant, maybe.
But Dang Yu-wol? Unlikely.
'Still, this kid's the real deal...'
If only he hadn't cultivated poison arts.
Just poison knowledge? He'd raise him proper.
"Shame. What a shame."
Ye-ui felt the same regret.
-He'd be useful. Any way around it?
'Don't worry.'
Master-disciple was off, but good relations? Easy enough.