68. Dok Go Pung
If you thought the Poison Demon's birthday banquet would be some stiff, grumpy old man's gathering, you'd be dead wrong.
The Poison Demon, Dok Go Pung, was what you'd call a worldly scholar—one who'd studied every manner of culture and custom beyond the Divine Cult's borders. True to form, he'd decked out the banquet hall in flashy, jianghu-style flair that stood apart from the Cult's usual vibe.
The place was buzzing with excitement, a riot of laughter and clamor.
[Those must be your comrades.]
Yeah, they are.
Up front in the hall, clowns were putting on a show—juggling knives blindfolded, breathing fire mid-performance, all sorts of acrobatic feats.
As we pushed past them, a middle-aged man came into view, lounging on a massive chair atop a towering dais. Flanking him were gorgeously dressed maids fanning him with enormous feathers.
The Poison Demon, Dok Go Pung.
His hair was dyed a dark greenish hue, supposedly from the effects of his poison arts. Despite being over eighty, he looked like a well-maintained man in his prime.
Same deal as Dok So Gong's techniques.
Dok So Gong was past thirty but still had the face of a boy.
There'd even been a time when Cult women buzzed about the Poison Demon's arts containing some eternal youth secret...
But the Poison Demon was as proud of his techniques as he was greedy. He couldn't stomach just anyone learning them, and rumor had it he'd turned a few overzealous suitors into puddles of blood.
So when Dok So Gong took them up, his master's explosive rage was hardly surprising.
At any rate, the Poison Demon was now hoisting a golden goblet high, grinning ear to ear.
Is that allowed?
What do you mean?
Acting like he's some king or whatever.
And what's wrong with that? He's proven his strength. Who’s gonna tell him otherwise?
Fair point. This wasn't the jianghu with its hierarchies of seniority and status. In the Divine Cult, strength was king—everything else bent to it. Hell, for all its "Cult" label, the place felt wildly free-spirited.
"Hahaha! My thanks! Enjoy yourselves!"
Below the dais where the Poison Demon sat, a long line snaked for those presenting gifts. They might've cleared a path for us outside, but...
Every faction and clan’s pulling out all the stops to impress him. Not a slouch in the bunch.
...in here, even the Sado Family delegation had to wait its turn like everyone else.
As the Poison Demon exchanged boisterous greetings, our moment finally arrived.
"...!"
Our eyes met. He flashed an inscrutable smile and rose from his seat.
"Well, well, who do we have here!"
He pointed at me with exaggerated flair.
"None other than the young master of the Sado Family—one of the great Mad Demon Six Families! Sado Hwan himself graces this humble Poison Demon's banquet. I'm overjoyed!"
All eyes in the room turned to me at his words.
"Word is, you're a Super Peak master acknowledged by the Sovereign herself? Super Peak at your age? That's the Divine Cult's good fortune! Am I right?"
The crowd murmured agreement, nodding along.
"And so..."
The Poison Demon continued.
"This Poison Demon would pour you a drink personally. Will you accept?"
Gasps rippled through the hall.
A poison expert pouring your drink? It might look like booze, but who knew what lurked inside. With a flick of intent, he could slip in a lethal toxin undetectable to anyone.
"Heard there's bad blood with the Poison Demon over his disciple..."
"Bet he's here for payback."
"Black Shadow Captain's got some guts. Kill the disciple, then crash the master's party."
The whispers carried clearly—all attendees were masters, after all. No secrets here.
Guess you're pretty hated, huh.
Me? That's you they're talking about.
Pa Cheon pressed on.
Youngest isn't quite right, but Super Peak at your age, plus that summons to the Heavenly Demon Palace? No wonder they call it 'standing out like a crane in a flock of chickens.'
My name's spreading beyond the family, then.
The Sado Family symbolized upstart power—a mid-tier clan rocketing to Mad Demon Six Families status in mere years.
And I was their Super Peak prodigy.
To the old guard, I was a thorn in the side.
Hence the crowd quietly savoring this showdown.
Our patriarch and First Elder know all this and still aim to humiliate me. Lunatics.
With the Poison Demon's temperament, a good mood meant mere embarrassment; a bad one, a fatal wound.
Even if I'd caught the Heavenly Demon's eye and entered her palace, to Cult folk, that changed nothing. If I folded here, I'd just be a pathetic nobody—that was their logic.
That was their problem. The Sado Family's issue was separate: crippling their top asset for personal power plays?
No one who truly cared for the family would stoop that low.
At least, not if they were smart.
"Black Shadow Captain Sado Hwan pays his respects to the Poison Demon."
I bowed my head.
His eyebrow twitched.
I'd just implied I wasn't here as Sado young master—but as Black Shadow Captain.
"Very well, Black Shadow Captain. So, will you take the drink?"
"With pleasure... but protocol demands it, no? Allow me to pour first, then accept yours."
"Protocol... hohoho!"
Status games were jianghu fare, not Cult. But the Poison Demon, ever the wanderer, knew them inside out.
"Fine, let's see it."
He downed the remnants in his golden goblet and handed it over.
"Cho Ryang."
"Yes, sir."
I took a pouch from Cho Ryang. The Poison Demon's eyes widened.
"That's... the Tang Clan's poison sack?"
The signature pouch carried by Sichuan Tang warriors.
"Correct. I figured you'd recognize it."
"That color and weave—direct Tang lineage. How'd you get it?"
"I heard about your duel with the Tang Poison King."
A grin cracked the Poison Demon's face, impossible to suppress.
"Ah, yes. That's how I claimed the Black Ox Thread for the Cult."
The Black Ox Thread was tangled in intrigue.
Originally held by an Eastern apothecary, it went to the Poison King, then to the Poison Demon via a wager he won.
Both vied for "Poison Sovereign" title; snatching the thread tipped the scales his way.
"Snatched it to shut up the nonsense about the Poison King being sovereign."
"Hohoho!"
His grin bloomed fully.
"Smooth talker, Black Shadow Captain. But..."
Murderous intent flickered in his eyes.
"It's a bit light for honoring my disciple's soul, don't you think?"
Not out of paternal love, surely. To him, the kid was just a poison-resistant errand boy.
But betrayal stung his pride, so he was venting on me.
I didn't bite, just pulled a small vial from the pouch—not quite a bottle, glass with clear liquid sloshing inside.
"Tang Clan poison brew. Thought it'd suit you."
"Tang poison after all these years. Cheers."
He slammed the contents into his goblet in one gulp.
"Gift accepted. My turn."
He poured for me. No clichés like infusing qi to pressure—no, he savored the moment, strolling back to his throne to loom over me.
'...'
The goblet gleamed, crystal clear.
Problem was, no telling what poison hid within. At his level, he could brew lethality with a breath, no powders needed.
Of course, I've got my aces.
The energy in my body was Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
It rejected all others—no mixing arts, minimal elixir gains.
Even poisons barely fazed it. Dok So Gong's acid waste poison downed Peak masters, but I inhaled it fine.
So I'd assumed resistance to most toxins... but if he ditched face for something beyond "most," I was in trouble. Flaunting the Tang sack to butter him up? Failed.
Best play: don't drink.
"I brought a gift for you... but first, a little trick."
He nodded, amused—show me.
"Cho Ryang."
Cho Ryang fetched a snake from a cage.
"Poison Fang Net Viper?"
The poison maestro clocked it instantly, but his face soured.
"Got a few in storage. Key ingredient for universal antidotes."
The viper brewed vicious venom, but uniquely neutralized other poisons—prime detox base.
"But to milk it, you kill it. You planning to slaughter my gift on the spot?"
Vipers spat only at death's door—hence their value.
But I had Cho Ryang, beast whisperer extraordinaire.
Fiercest creature tamed with a gesture!
Post-Punishment Cave capture, I'd tasked him with domesticating it—for this sole command.
I held the poisoned goblet to the viper's face.
"Spit."
It hissed—kyaaak!—and sprayed venom. No death.
"!?"
The Poison Demon flicked his hand; my goblet flew to him. He downed it.
"Real viper venom. The real deal..."
"Trained to heed human speech."
"Takes time to brew, but endless supply without killing... less downtime harvesting, no shortages for antidotes—experiments forever..."
"Works on other venom beasts too."
"?!"
Greed incarnate. I could read his mind: Dok So Gong vs. viper. Viper wins.
"Come inside—we'll talk business, Black Shadow Captain?"
"Th-that guy's..."
A Kwak Family warrior fidgeted.
"Our turn's next, and he cuts in? Unbelievable."
"...X, he's so cool..."
"Pardon?"
Pretending to Be the Heavenly Demon