Chapter 140 Fox Den
Sichuan had no branches of the Divine Cult.
Come to think of it, the reason was ridiculously simple.
'This place is too tightly bound by blood ties.'
Everyone here handles everything among themselves—go one way and it's your cousin, the other way and it's your eighth cousin. It wasn't just the Tang Clan; that was the atmosphere of Sichuan as a whole.
Naturally, they developed an extremely closed-off attitude toward outsiders, making it hard for the Divine Cult to establish a branch.
Of course, they could force one if they tried, but it was more profitable to focus on the Murim Alliance instead of constantly monitoring the insular Tang Clan.
"Is that true?"
Dang Mugi asked Dang Si Yul. He undoubtedly knew exactly what I was thinking. After all, he was the one who had maximized the idea of running the clan and dominating the city through blood ties.
"Yes, it's undoubtedly true."
But Dang Si Yul's face held remarkable certainty, as if he believed whatever he was basing it on.
However—
'His mouth and eyes aren't quite in sync.'
From my perspective as the world's foremost expert in acting—at least in this one—something smelled fishy.
[Even lying in front of the Poison King?]
The Poison King was a living legend to the Tang Clan. Moreover, Dang Si Yul had already failed once in a plan alongside him, even if my variable had appeared.
With that kind of pressure, he couldn't just casually lie.
'Right, not casually.'
In other words, he'd prepared it deliberately.
"Where is this place?"
"It's my achievement, so I'd like to see it through. Give me overall command."
"That's reasonable, but this involves the Demonic Cult—a grave matter that should put the entire martial world on high alert. We can't take it lightly."
"However, Grandfather, if the Tang Clan mobilizes on a large scale again after our previous move, the Demonic Cult might catch on."
"Are you saying we shouldn't repeat the mistake of judging a book by its cover? Who else knows about this?"
Dang Si Yul answered immediately.
"Only those present here."
"Hmmm. Is that so... What do you think, Clan Head?"
At Dang Mugi's words, Dang Mun Su—still wearing his ever-present smile—replied.
"The eldest young master's words have merit. It seems best to let him proceed as he wishes."
"Thank you, Clan Head!"
Dang Si Yul's face lit up with triumphant pride. According to the merit points calculation, pulling this off would qualify him for the title of young clan head.
I glanced at Dang Si Hyeok. His expression was subtly dark.
Even as half-brothers, in the original Murim Returner, Dang Si Hyeok and Dang Si Yul got along quite well.
Thinking back to our first meeting in Taeryeong County, Dang Si Hyeok had the looks of a thug and acted like one too.
Their vibes had naturally meshed.
But the current Dang Si Hyeok was different. He'd awakened, gone through various incidents, and matured into a proper righteous faction youth.
Sometimes, people did reform.
'All things considered, Dang Si Hyeok really should be the next clan head.'
But Dang Si Yul's scheme wasn't over yet.
"I have one more request as well."
"What is it?"
"Though I've discovered the Demonic Cult's branch, I still don't fully understand their operations."
Then Dang Si Yul looked at me and continued.
"However, the great hero Eastern Sword Dragon here is known to have single-handedly driven off the Demonic Cult's elite Black Shadow Corps."
"......"
"In exchange for yielding 5,000 of my merit points to Si Hyeok, I'd like to bring the Eastern Sword Dragon on this mission."
"Brother!"
Dang Si Hyeok called out in surprise, but Dang Si Yul wore a warm smile—fake, of course—and said,
"Surprised? That's how serious I am about this. With a master like the Eastern Sword Dragon against the Demonic Cult, wouldn't it be reliable?"
[He plans to take us out while we're at it.]
No one except Dang Si Yul knew about this supposed Divine Cult branch.
That meant he might have set up some trap.
In other words, it was the perfect setup to disguise an "accidental" death during the mission as something incidental.
'Even if he yields 5,000 points, if I die, Dang Si Hyeok's 50,000 points get wiped out.'
The merit system allowed additions and deductions based on later outcomes from accumulated scores.
'Not bad thinking.'
[If he has the power to take us out.]
'What guts.'
I was publicly known as a Super Peak master, and even Sa Wol had been revealed as one capable of gang qi after clashing with Sa Wang Castle's young lord Yeon Ju Dam.
Dang Si Yul's strongest cards were probably just the Qingshui Ferry Guests or the Gisan Twins at best.
With the Avoid Poison Jade sealing poisons, Sa Wol alone could handle them without issue.
I couldn't fathom his thinking right now.
'In the end, to catch a fox, you have to enter the fox's den.'
[It's a tiger's den, not a fox's.]
'Dang Si Yul isn't a tiger. Fox fits him perfectly.'
[Fair point.]
Enough chit-chat.
I, who had been silent, finally spoke.
"As the Eastern Sword Dragon and heir to the Apothecary Sage, I'll lend a hand against the Demonic Cult."
"I salute your heroic spirit."
Dang Si Yul offered me a cupped-fist salute.
"The sooner we depart, the better. Let's head out at dawn tomorrow."
He aimed to wrap it up swiftly.
"Understood."
Dang Mun Su and Dang Mugi watched us with pleased expressions.
They were probably thinking something like, "They say rivals become friends through fights—ain't that the truth."
Though inside, we were plotting each other's demise, on the surface, it looked harmonious enough.
'In some ways, the Divine Cult is better.'
[What's this? You praising the Divine Cult?]
'Excluding Chu Tae Su, they're not this insidious.'
Of course, there was Ma Ui, Yu Il O, Jin Yeong Ryeong, Hyeok Mun, Do Il Gwang...
Never mind. Cancel that.
Even if they resolved conflicts with a quick brawl, there were way too many lunatics there.
After the meal, everyone who could be called my entourage gathered at my quarters.
Which basically meant just Dang Si Hyeok and Paeng So So.
"Brother."
Dang Si Hyeok said to me with a worried expression.
"What's wrong?"
"It's dangerous."
"Dangerous?"
Dang Si Hyeok hesitated, unable to speak plainly. Paeng So So, looking exasperated, cut in.
"That porcupine Dang Si Yul wouldn't just invite you without a plan."
"I know."
"Figured you did."
Paeng So So said,
"Hey, Dang Si Hyeok. Think about it. No matter what that guy schemes, you think he can even scratch this one?"
"Not that, but..."
"Ugh, you frustrating idiot. Keep dropping your tail like that, and you'll look like easy prey."
[That woman's got what it takes to join the Divine Cult.]
'Should I marry her?'
[You're insane.]
Suppressing a laugh, I said to Dang Si Hyeok,
"Paeng So So's right. I told you before—if you see family going astray, grab them by the collar and drag them to the right path."
[I said smack them on the back of the head, not collar.]
Pa Cheon interjected midway, but the intent was the same for Dang Si Hyeok.
Dang Si Hyeok fell into thought at my words.
"Or do you not trust me?"
"N-No, of course not!"
"Good. It'll be fine. Don't worry too much."
"Then at least take this guy."
Dang Si Hyeok offered me Sa Mi Myo.
"If anything happens and you get hurt, he'll definitely help."
Sure enough, Sa Mi Myo's licks healed external wounds incredibly fast. Paeng So So had barely any scars thanks to it.
With the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, I'd recover quickly unless something was severed, but it didn't hurt to prepare for the worst.
Sa Mi Myo hissed at me viciously.
"Hey, behave. This is my brother."
Kyaak!
Sa Mi Myo didn't stop hissing even at Dang Si Hyeok's words.
Of course, I had a way.
"It's fine. Let me hold him a bit."
I locked eyes with the wriggling, hissing Sa Mi Myo in my grasp.
Naturally, I let a sliver of Heavenly Demon Divine Art energy show—
Kiiing-!
Sa Mi Myo immediately averted his gaze.
A spirit beast like Sa Mi Myo could sense the immense energy lurking in my eyes.
"......I rolled around for a fortnight trying to win this guy's approval. As expected of my brother."
"Anyway, I'll borrow him as you said."
"I'll bring him when I see you off tomorrow morning."
With Sa Mi Myo on his shoulder, Dang Si Hyeok bowed politely, while Paeng So So yawned and left.
Once they were gone, I confirmed it and said,
"Tak Horak, go verify if there's really a Divine Cult branch."
"Understood!"
"Sa Wol, monitor Dang Si Yul's movements."
"Understood."
The next day, dawn broke.
As expected of a pro.
There was no Divine Cult branch in Sichuan. Sure, there were Divine Cult members, but not enough to call it a "branch."
That meant it was Dang Si Yul's scheme.
But he hadn't made any suspicious moves overnight. According to Sa Wol's report, nothing out of the ordinary happened at his quarters.
[He must be pretty confident. Someone like Dang Si Yul would check two or three times.]
'I'm puzzled too.'
Even with nearly a hundred Tang warriors mobilized, Dang Si Yul just rode in his carriage without showing his face.
I was in a carriage provided by the Tang Clan too. Sa Wol and Tak Horak flew behind on Mu Geuk-i in case of trouble.
I checked the Avoid Poison Jade for any poison in the carriage, but it showed no reaction.
Two days passed like that.
Just as boredom set in wondering how far we were going,
the carriage stopped upon reaching a forest that anyone would call eerie and foreboding.
It was a basin-like area where the dense canopy made the interior invisible from above.
"We've arrived."
Dang Si Yul knocked on my carriage and said.
I descended casually, feigning calm.
"A Demonic Cult branch in a place like this?"
"Cockroaches like them hide in spots like this, don't they?"
Pa Cheon ground his teeth. Good thing only I could hear him.
"It sure looks the part. Hardly any traffic, and the terrain hides whatever happens inside."
As Dang Si Yul spoke—
the Avoid Poison Jade began vibrating wildly.
At the same time.
"Gahk-!"
Tang Clan warriors clutched their throats, faces twisted in agony, collapsing one by one.
Even—
"Kuhk-!"
"Kak!"
"Euk!"
the poor extras, the Gisan Twins and Qingshui Ferry Guests, frothed at the mouth and fell.
The only ones unscathed were me and Dang Si Yul.
"Sorry for the cockroach comparison."
"Not meant for you, elder."
Someone in a blood-red bamboo hat and feather accessory emerged from the forest.
"The goods?"
"Loaded in the carriage."
"Good. Then—"
The bamboo-hatted figure turned casually, saw me, and visibly panicked.
And I couldn't hide my own shock.
That voice and distinctive arrogant tone were all too familiar.
"......Dok Ma."
The one who stepped out from the forest was Dok Ma.