69: From Now On, It's Me
"This is the first gift in my entire life that's truly to my liking."
Dok Ma's attitude had done a complete one-eighty from before.
The only ones in Dok Ma's room were me and Cho Ryang. I'd given Sa Wol and Tak Horak separate tasks to handle.
"I'm glad it pleases you."
"Even in the jianghu, you couldn't get your hands on a treasure like this. How on earth did you tame it?"
Dok Ma gazed lovingly at the Poison Horn Net on the desk. A normal one would bare its fangs and hiss threateningly when surrounded by humans, but this tamed specimen was utterly docile, showing no such signs.
"It's thanks to this kid."
I beckoned Cho Ryang over. He stood nervously at my side, his face tense.
"That brat?"
"Yes. Cho Ryang here has the ability to tame spirit beasts."
"......No way."
At that moment, a green glow flickered in Dok Ma's eyes. Simultaneously, a massive green serpent phantom rose behind him. Anyone meeting those vertically slit pupils would feel their heart drop in terror.
[It's a simsang.]
'These Super Peak bastards and their simsangs at every turn.'
Of course, the moment I sensed it, I'd already drawn up the Heavenly Demon Divine Art's energy to prepare—
"Whoa...... a snake......"
Cho Ryang just marveled at the serpent's form. The kid was a riot; he'd started off giving off hot-blooded high schooler vibes, but now he was a full-on animal lover who lost his mind at the sight of any critter.
"Unfazed by a simsang, and with such bizarre abilities...... Don't tell me it's a Shangdan—"
"His upper dantian is open."
Dok Ma's face lit up with shock at my words.
"Not even all Super Peak experts know about the upper dantian...... Black Shadow Corps Leader, I may have to reevaluate you."
"You're too kind."
Of course, I'd only learned about it myself from Do Il Gwang recently. Luckily, Cho Ryang was sharp enough not to mention it.
"Anyway. If the kid's upper dantian is open, that explains it...... Then let me make a proposal."
Dok Ma spoke in a sly, insinuating tone.
"Hand the boy over to me. If you do, I can wipe the slate clean on all the bad blood between us."
Every martial artist harbored the desire to take a talented prodigy as a disciple. Just like with Do Il Gwang, Dok Ma wanted Cho Ryang under his wing.
"Unfortunately, that's not possible."
"What?"
"Cho Ryang here has already sworn loyalty to me."
"That's nothing a little agreement between you two couldn't fix."
"He swore it to the Heavenly Demon himself."
"Grr...... This is why you cultists are so damn rigid."
It was blasphemous talk from a Heavenly Demon Divine Cult perspective, but Dok Ma's deep knowledge of the jianghu allowed it. Out there, even selling kids to martial schools for cash was commonplace.
"So, what do you propose we do?"
In an instant, Dok Ma had flipped from dragon to worm.
"First...... I'm sorry about your disciple. It was during a mission—"
"Forget that guy. He was too greedy for his talent anyway; he was bound to croak soon. Let's talk something more constructive."
Fast turnaround for someone who'd just been griping about grudges, but that was how impressive Cho Ryang's ability was.
"Very well. Then I'll get straight to the point."
I laid out a few options. Dok Ma's reaction......
"Mind if I take your pulse real quick?"
"I'm not hurting anywhere."
"You're talking nonsense no sane man would, so I figured you might be ill. You're serious about this."
I nodded.
"Yes, completely serious."
"No skin off my back, so I don't mind...... What a fascinating bunch you are."
"Thank you for understanding."
"But I have one condition. I'm fine with the kid visiting once a month to tame my poisons."
Dok Ma pointed at Cho Ryang.
"Even if he ends up a retainer of the Sado Family later, I want to register him as my nominal disciple. Sort that out, and we're good."
[Lame trick.]
Pa Cheon muttered. I agreed.
Nominal disciple.
Put simply, a disciple in name only—no real martial arts training, just the formal master-disciple title.
[With Cho Ryang's talent, he'll shine soon enough. Dok Ma just wants to ride his coattails as his 'master.']
I transmitted the intent to Cho Ryang via internal message. His response?
"Sounds good to me!"
"Ho?"
Dok Ma looked intrigued.
Cho Ryang stepped up himself.
"Being Dok Ma's disciple means no one will mess with me anywhere, right?"
"Damn straight! Who dares disrespect my disciple? Anyone tries, and I'll turn 'em to a puddle of blood in a heartbeat."
"But...... to handle poisons, I can't get poisoned myself. Even if they obey me, their basic venom aura could—"
"Kahahaha! No worries, kid. I'll teach you poison arts. Even basic ones from my own creation—no poisoning risk! Just don't slack off; work hard and diligently."
Dok Ma laughed heartily. Cho Ryang winked at me where only I could see.
'......Is this the street smarts of an orphanage survivor?'
He'd snagged Dok Ma's poison arts with one line. Dok Ma probably knew the kid was scheming too, but it didn't threaten him—and that cleverness only endeared him more.
"Deal. I'll drop all grudges and throw in an extra gift."
Dok Ma hauled over a large chest.
"This is......"
"Ma Yeong Dan. Elixirs that absorb five years' worth of inner energy each. 120 total—perfect for your Black Shadow Corps."
The Black Shadow Corps was elite, but its short history meant drawbacks, like shallow inner energy among the members.
'Won't do much for me, but......'
Even Sa Wol would see a massive boost. She'd cast Gang Qi techniques twice as often.
"We'll gratefully accept. Then about the Black Ox Fleet......"
"What issue is some outer-region junk to me? If the Sovereign said nothing, use it freely."
"Thank you."
I offered a cupped-fist salute. Dok Ma's eyes widened, then he burst out laughing and returned it.
The cupped-fist salute was jianghu style, not cult manner.
"Heh, you're more likable than I thought, Black Shadow Leader. Looking forward to more."
"Word should be coming soon."
Sado Family head Sado Mu Yeol paced his room anxiously.
Seeing this, First Elder sipped his tea.
"Keep some dignity, Family Head."
"You think I can afford dignity now? It should've come hours ago—no news at all."
"Pacing like a dog desperate to shit won't make it happen or not. Arrow's loosed; just wait."
First Elder said it coolly, but he was uneasy too.
'With Dok Ma's temper, trouble would've blown up already if it happened.'
No word from their planted spies either.
'Used the Black Shadow Corps to handle it......'
Impressively thorough. But that was separate from Dok Ma.
"Hmm...... Prepare for the worst, Family Head."
"The worst?"
"No news yet means he might've survived Dok Ma."
"Impossible! Not all Super Peaks are equal!"
"He could be stronger than we thought. But even so, he'd have taken fatal damage."
"Then......"
Sado Mu Yeol and First Elder spoke in unison.
"It's time to strike."
"Time to take him down."
No Super Peak could fight at full strength while poisoned!
Mobilize the family warriors, and 'handling' him became feasible.
"He's a Super Peak, sure...... but a rotten limb. Cut it off, or the whole body rots."
"Finally, some sense from you, First Elder."
Pure sophistry, of course.
Sado Gwang had elevated them to one of the Six Demonic Families; afterward, it was Super Peak Sado Hwan's presence.
Lose him, and they'd drop from the ranks—but power-blinded fools prioritized immediate gains over future losses.
"The elders will each muster two combat units."
"I'll deploy Mu Yeong Do and the Peak experts."
"No one's dumb enough to hold back for 'later.' Dealing with Sado Hwan comes first."
"That's my line. I'm putting my top retainer, Mu Yeong Do, on the line."
Thus, First Elder and Sado Mu Yeol summoned their closest allies, awaiting Sado Hwan's return.
And soon enough.
"Sado Hwan's heading back! Spotted on the way to headquarters!"
"Good. His condition?"
"He's...... urgently procured a palanquin and is riding in it."
"Is that so? Haha!"
Sado Mu Yeol and First Elder burst into laughter.
"A Super Peak in a palanquin?"
"That show-off riding one? Must've hit a snag. Everyone, listen up!"
Sado Mu Yeol bellowed sternly. Warriors packed the space outside the Family Head Hall—three hundred strong, over sixty Peak experts. Virtually every Peak they could muster.
"If he heads to the Black Shadow Pavilion, tell him the Family Head summons him here for questioning. And......"
He trailed off, but everyone knew the rest.
"He's wounded by Dok Ma, can't fight at full. The one who lands the killing blow gets his sword. Fight hard!"
Greed lit the warriors' eyes. They'd heard and seen Sado Hwan's blade; rumors spread from his clash with the Family Head's guards.
Moments later.
Sixth Elder burst in.
"Sado Hwan's coming! Straight to the Family Head Hall!"
"Everyone, prepare!"
Thus, the palanquin bearing Sado Hwan entered the hall.
Sado Mu Yeol drew his sword triumphantly.
"Young Master Sado Hwan, hear me! For your selfish acts damaging the family beyond repair, the Family Head Sado Mu Yeol and the elders decree your removal as young master. Dismount and face judgment!"
His grand speech ended.
Creak—
The palanquin curtain slid open smoothly.
And.
"Quite the grand welcome."
"......!"
Naturally, Sado Hwan emerged perfectly fine.
"How......!"
"Damaging the family, you say?"
Sado Hwan scanned the crowd with chillingly cold eyes.
Hundreds to one.
Yet his aura and presence crushed them all.
"At Dok Ma's birthday banquet, he declared: As punishment for the Sado Family Head and elders who dared toy with him, the Sado Family is forever barred from his elixirs and treatments. Who damaged the family?"
Murmurs rippled through the warriors at Sado Hwan's words.
The cult was a nest of battle maniacs. Constant fighting made them reliant on elixirs and healing.
Banned forever from Dok Ma's—on par with tricky Ma Ui Pavilion? Catastrophic loss.
"You bastard!"
"We've tolerated you out of respect for your elders. But......"
Sado Hwan drew his sword. The inky black blade, absorbing all light, floated into the air.
"F-Flying Sword!"
"Super Peak!"
The hovering sword aimed at Sado Mu Yeol.
"The Sado Family Head Sado Mu Yeol and the elders have inflicted irreparable harm on the Sado Family. As young master, I cannot stand by. I declare."
The moment sword qi gathered on Pa Cheon—
BOOM—!
Immense pressure crushed the hall. The building groaned, on the verge of collapse.
"From now on, I am the head of the Sado Family."