Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: To Treat Him (1)
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-To think the Second Prince was poisoned with a Lone Poison Worm...
'There was no such record.'
Before his regression, there had been no record of the Second Prince being fed a Lone Poison Worm.
This might be another change caused by Dang Yu-wol's actions.
-How did they manage to feed the Lone Poison Worm to him?
Those ignorant of poisons tend to think lightly of them.
Just make him eat it, right?
But handling a Lone Poison Worm is a highly advanced skill.
-To begin with, one mishandling and it dies instantly.
'Exactly.'
-No one without precise knowledge can handle it.
'At this point in time, there aren't many who can.'
-It must be... one of the elders researching poison arts. Elder Jang Jo, the Poison Flame Blaze.
He remembered.
That elder had tried to modify the Lone Poison Worm to create a more stable version usable by anyone: the Blood Slave Poison.
But he had failed in the end, and Dang Yu-wol had perfected the Blood Slave Poison.
'Right now, only that man can handle a Lone Poison Worm.'
-Then we can assume Elder Jang Jo is involved. So, what are you going to do?
'What else? Detoxify it.'
He didn't know the reason.
But if the Second Prince had been poisoned with a Lone Poison Worm, there was nothing more troublesome.
-We need to gather the materials first.
'Can you help?'
To detoxify a Lone Poison Worm required not just medicine, but poison as well.
Some of the poisons Ye-ui could produce might serve as substitutes.
-Of course. How could I refuse anything that screws over the Blood Cult?
"Little brother. What's wrong?"
"It's nothing."
'I've got a lot on my plate.'
Acquire the relic from Shaolin, find information on the fake divine beast...
And treat the Second Prince while rooting out Elder Jang Jo's lackeys connected to him.
-So you're not going to do it?
'As if.'
While conversing with Ye-ui, the prince arrived.
A vigorous man who appeared to be in his early thirties.
-The Third Prince isn't much older than him, is he?
'I've heard the Third Prince was a late child.'
That's why there's quite an age gap with the current emperor too.
As they talked, Abbot Gwang-ryun of Shaolin Temple came out personally to greet them.
"We are truly grateful that Your Highness has visited our temple!"
"It seems I've inconvenienced the warriors of Shaolin and the martial world by coming so suddenly."
The Second Prince dismounted his white horse and bowed his head slightly.
The abbot smiled warmly as he received him.
"Both Shaolin Temple and the martial world are subjects of the Great Empire."
"Oh ho."
"How could we feel burdened by an event from the imperial family? Namu Amida Bul."
"I'm grateful you see it that way."
"Please, come inside."
The abbot, Shaolin's martial monks,
And those who appeared to be Eastern Depot experts crossed Shaolin's mountain gate.
As they moved away, people began murmuring.
"But His Highness looks stronger than expected."
"I've heard he loved physical activity since he was young. He's close with the military too."
"Isn't the princess consort from a famous military family?"
How often does one get to see royalty in a lifetime?
Both commoners and martial artists dispersed, delighted at having met such noble figures.
"Shall we head in now too?"
"Yes."
Returning to Shaolin Temple with their group, it was busier than usual.
Probably due to the Eastern Depot experts.
"I'll step away briefly to handle some business."
Seol Ryua slipped away slightly.
She might be going to check on the Second Prince's side.
After she left, they arrived at their lodgings with the remaining group, where one man was waiting.
"Hey. You lot. Finally here?"
It was Namgung Cheon-gang.
"Welcome. Come on in."
As soon as they entered, he pulled out a box he had brought.
Gu Hwan-gae looked puzzled.
"What's this?"
"It's the item that friend asked the prior to prepare."
"Yu-wol's?"
"Yes. He said he wanted an imperial relic stored at Shaolin Temple."
Namgung Cheon-gang answered nonchalantly to the question and glanced to one side.
It was where the prince was currently staying.
"I did get it... but there was a condition."
"What is it?"
"His Highness said he wants to tour the martial world after the Victory Buddha Festival ends."
"...A martial world tour?"
"He mentioned escorts back then, and we're included."
It could be seen as a headache.
The current Second Prince was in sharp conflict with the Crown Prince.
In the worst case, they might be marked as a faction supporting the Second Prince.
'Even so, he's keeping his promise.'
-He's a man of honor.
"If it's the Namgung family, we can trust them."
"Heh heh. Glad you think so. Also, someone from the Healing Sword Sect wants to meet you."
"Yes. I need to."
He had to meet Yang Ui-seok's master too.
There might be necessary herbs among the medicines he possessed.
-No need to waste time making basic ones.
As Ye-ui said.
With so much to do, he had to cut corners wherever possible.
"Anyway, thank you."
Dang Yu-wol took the box, and Namgung Cheon-gang left with a smile.
"Brother. What's this?"
Her gaze was filled with anticipation and curiosity.
Not just the two Taoists; everyone was curious.
So Dang Yu-wol opened the box.
"Huh? An arrow?"
Inside was a black arrow.
Quite old, rusted and dirty in places.
"It's called the Demon Arrow."
"Eek. The name alone feels ominous..."
"It would be. This arrow is poison in itself."
"Eh?"
"What does that mean?"
They looked puzzled, as if an arrow couldn't be poison.
But that expression soon changed oddly.
"Th-this arrow feels kinda eerie..."
"Right. They say it shoots ghosts dead."
The two young Taoists wore incredulous expressions.
Ghosts refer to the dead.
In other words, non-living things.
How do you kill something already dead?
-Life and death are two sides of the same coin.
Nothing is as bizarre as killing a non-living entity.
That's why Dang Yu-wol had sought this arrow.
"It was used by the founding emperor of the empire."
Whether real ghosts exist or not is unknown.
What matters is that this arrow contained the energy of defying heaven.
"So it's just some historical artifact? Then where do we use it?"
"Here and there?"
Even if he explained, they wouldn't understand.
Unlike Dang Yu-wol, they practiced Pure Heaven martial arts.
-To begin with, it was research deemed impossible even by the Blood Cult.
The only one who achieved the impossible was Dang Yu-wol.
Only he had succeeded.
"Little brother. Did you come to Shaolin for this?"
"Yes. I've achieved my goal for now."
One from the Blood Cult.
One from Wudang.
And now one from Shaolin.
He had gathered the three relics needed to reach the Absolute Realm.
-Absorb them whenever there's a chance.
'I need to stabilize the surroundings as much as possible first.'
Any interruption could mean total failure.
"Then we can just enjoy the trip leisurely and head back."
Gu Hwan-gae smiled as he spoke, but Dang Yu-wol shook his head.
There was still much to do.
"Haha. Not quite. I've got various things to handle."
"Things to handle? What are you so busy with...?"
"His Highness the Second Prince has been poisoned with a Lone Poison Worm."
Gu Hwan-gae, who had been about to snort dismissively, gaped in shock.
The claim was so absurd he wondered if he'd misheard.
"Wh-what did you just say?"
"His Highness has been poisoned with a Lone Poison Worm..."
"You madman!! You say that so casually?!"
"We must inform His Highness right—"
"Shh."
Dang Yu-wol grabbed Gu Hwan-gae, who was about to storm out in bewilderment.
Dang Yu-wol's expression was as impassive as ever.
But his voice was deadly serious.
"We don't know who fed the Lone Poison Worm to His Highness."
"Even so..."
"It could be someone from the Eastern Depot, or a maid serving the prince, or even a Shaolin monk."
"......"
It sounded impossible.
But they had all experienced the impossible.
"...Can't deny it. Considering the Blood Cult infiltrator in Wudang..."
Hwan-gyu nodded slightly.
"That dangerous?"
"Yes. Even the slightest sign of attempting treatment..."
The poisoner would manipulate the Lone Poison Worm.
And the Second Prince would die.
The atmosphere grew heavy in an instant.
"What about you? Can you detoxify it?"
"I can. But it will take time."
That's not all.
He needed the Second Prince's permission too.
"Expecting to just feed him one pill would be too shameless, right?"
"Naturally."
At minimum, acupuncture for several hours.
Then medicine, and drawing out the poison with inner energy.
"Preparation alone takes dozens of days."
And if the fiend noticed during the process, it was over.
"...That's horrifying. We can't tell His Highness."
Not knowing who the fiend is, no need to stir unnecessary trouble.
"So what do you plan? Got a plan?"
"Hm... Well."
Dang Yu-wol crossed his arms, thought for a moment, then grinned.
"For now, how about seeking help from the Namgung family here?"
Namgung Cheon-gang had said he served the Second Prince.
With his help, access wouldn't be hard.
"Mm. But will they allow it?"
"I've heard the Eastern Depot experts have foul tempers."
As Yi-kyeong and Yi-rul had said.
Even before regression, the Eastern Depot was never to be underestimated.
"Well, then we'll use this."
Dang Yu-wol held up the secret envoy's plaque.
Appeal to authority?
Then counter with greater authority.
Namgung Cheon-gang couldn't hide his embarrassment at Dang Yu-wol's request.
"Truth be told, I've received similar requests a few times."
It was only natural.
There was no greater honor than serving royalty.
Even if the current Crown Prince and Second Prince were at odds.
"But His Highness won't permit it. Nor will the Eastern Depot."
"Then please show this plaque to His Highness."
"Hm? This is...?"
"Proof of serving a noble guest."
"Heh. Impressive."
"Moreover, we've worked with the military and officials extensively until now."
"Hmmm. I'll pass it along to the Chief Constable leading the Eastern Depot for now."
Namgung Cheon-gang left reluctantly.
And soon returned with a large, masked man.
"Are you the ones who served the noble guest?"
"Yes."
"Hmmm. You must be the Poison Dragon."
'A Flower Realm expert.'
He could tell just from his stance.
That the masked man was an expert on par with the Imperial Fury.
-I've heard there are three Flower Realm experts in the imperial palace.
Three were known publicly.
Eastern Depot Admiral.
Embroidered Uniform Guard's Grand Commander.
And the Imperial Guard Captain.
-So this must be the Eastern Depot Admiral?
A title like Chief Constable could easily be a front.
Dang Yu-wol bowed politely with a fist salute.
"Yes. I am Dang Yu-wol of the Sacheon Tang Clan."
"I hear you wish to join His Highness's escort."
"Yes."
"You must have the skills for it?"
"Would you like to test me?"
The man called Chief Constable chuckled.
Then his hand shot out.
Dang Yu-wol easily dodged the fist strike laden with qi.
"Oh ho. Not bad. What about this?!"
Qi shaped like a dragon's claw targeted his neck.
-Crimson Dragon Emperor Claw.
One of the imperial palace's martial arts.
Dang Yu-wol swung his Black Abyss Sword at the attack aiming for his head and shoulders.
"...Impressive indeed. Even if I held back, to block it so cleanly."
"Just a minor skill."
The masked man smiled in satisfaction.
"I heard you made those Embroidered Uniform Guard fools suffer thanks to you."
"Me...? What do you mean?"
"The poison the noble guest used. I heard you made it."
"Ah. Haha..."
-Used it on the Embroidered Uniform Guards? He's not right in the head.
'I doubt the Third Prince did it just for fun.'
"I'm relieved the noble guest used it well."
"How much more of that poison can you supply?"
"I didn't know the Constable was interested in poisons."
But if needed, he could provide.
"If you wish, I'll send some to the Eastern Depot after returning home."
"Interesting. Aren't you afraid of anything related to the Eastern Depot?"
Few hadn't heard of the Eastern Depot's infamous reputation.
But Dang Yu-wol wasn't foolish enough to say, 'Yes, I'm terrified.'
"The Eastern Depot isn't evil, after all."
Those words, scratching an itch, pleased him greatly.