Sichuan (2)
Dang So-wol's daily routine was so packed she barely had time to catch her breath.
From developing new poisons and curses to maintaining weapons, her hands were always full.
Recently, she had been putting immense effort into getting not just daggers and throwing weapons, but also guns, cannons, and grenades recognized as "official items" by the system.
But this was no easy task.
Unless it was a highly exceptional case like Zinkwax, obtaining the Tower's recognition was virtually impossible.
‘After all that hard work, too.’
Regrettably, coating them with the Dang Clan's poison was the best she could do for now.
Since the power of mana itself was something the Tower held absolute control over, there was no easy way around it.
“Phew...”
And today was her free time, a rare luxury that came only once every fortnight.
It was one of the few days she could relax her exhausted mind and body and just take it easy.
‘Ugh.’
Stretching as she stepped out of the laboratory, Dang So-wol shielded her eyes slightly against the warm sunlight falling on her shoulders.
“Good work, Lady So-wol.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Greetings followed one after another. The elite members of the Dang Clan bowed to her in unison.
From this brief scene alone, one could tell how prominent a position Dang So-wol had secured within the Dang Clan in such a short time.
‘I'm so tired.’
Basking in the warm air, she pulled a sweet from her sleeve and took a bite.
She headed toward a small garden.
In the middle of it, a beautiful Elf with long, flowing hair sat cross-legged with her eyes closed.
Tzzzzzt!
It was a wondrous sight. Just by sitting quietly and circulating her mana, the surrounding plants grew rapidly, nourished by her energy.
“...”
How long had she been waiting?
“Oh? You're here?”
Opening her eyes, the Elf, Kaelion, welcomed Dang So-wol warmly.
“I didn't interrupt you, did I, sister?”
“Huh? Interrupt? Not at all.”
Kaelion waved her hand with a bright smile.
“Not in the slightest.”
They both laughed lightheartedly.
“...So that's how it went with Jin-hyuk...”
“...Yeah. I ended up speaking casually to him without realizing it. And I have no idea where Elruin disappeared to...”
Dang So-wol had been raised in the Witch's coven since childhood and had never hung out with other girls like this.
The "daughters" Majuron gave birth to or brought in were rivals; if they were looked down upon or became useless, they died.
In a way, it was a society full of women, but since everyone was a competitor, she had never had anyone she could talk to comfortably.
And the same went for Kaelion.
Her past was just as tragic as Dang So-wol's.
Despite being a High Elf, she had achieved the feat of being abandoned by both the spirits and the World Tree, and had been treated as a monster since childhood.
Thanks to that, she hadn't grown up in a normal environment.
The elves who approached her fell into two categories: those who tried to forcibly awaken her potential, or those who threw stones at her.
As such, Kaelion had never opened her heart to talk to boys or girls her age.
When she began climbing the Tower in earnest, she focused only on getting stronger.
And on the 6th floor, she had spent twelve years focusing solely on a single sword technique.
“Jin-hyuk isn't exactly the gentle, sweet type, is he? Hohoho.”
“You're right. He's a bit on the blunt side.”
Because both carried such wounds, and because they looked to be about the same age, they quickly became close.
The chemistry between the lively Kaelion and the quiet Dang So-wol fit surprisingly well, which also played a part.
“Did you dress up to go on a date with me, sister?”
“This is how I always look.”
“Hehehe. Cute.”
“...Sister. I told you not to do that...”
Playfully pinching Dang So-wol's cheeks, Kaelion giggled.
“Let's go!”
And so, the two went out to the market street.
They drank exotic tea at a teahouse overlooking a pond, went to the market to try on and buy various accessories, and laughed as they tried on pretty clothes for each other.
Above all, they indulged in sweet snacks and candies that filled their mouths with sweetness.
The faces of the two women were filled with the unique laughter that only came when girls hung out together.
Flash!
Just as they were having a good time.
“L-Lady So-wol!”
“It's an emergency!”
Dang Clan members dressed in green rushed over in a panic.
Seeing that their poison and mana were not properly settled, it seemed to be no ordinary matter.
“What's going on?”
“The Young Master has been attacked!”
“Attacked?”
Dang So-wol tilted her head.
‘Unless they're an idiot with nothing but muscle in their brain, no one would dare touch a Dang Clan member in Sichuan.’
And not just anyone, but the Young Master, Dang Jun-seong, who was slated to be the next patriarch.
Though some said he fell short compared to Dang So-wol, he was already a Ranker and recognized as one of the rising stars of the generation. Someone attacked him?
Even with Dang Clan members surrounding him?
Even the "Emperors" who existed before the integration of the Tower wouldn't dare attempt such a thing.
“Let's go check it out first.”
“Yes!”
“I'm sorry, sister.”
“It's fine.”
Pinning her newly bought accessory in her hair, Kaelion also lifted her two swords.
“I should earn my keep.”
“...You don't have to do that.”
In truth, Kaelion, who belonged to the Mount Emei Sect, was currently staying with the Dang Clan for free.
Therefore, it was time to move.
‘Reassuring.’
Dang So-wol thought.
Kaelion, who had recently cleared the 10th-floor trial by defeating one of the Dang Clan's elders, was ranked in the 3,000s.
Though her achievements were somewhat overshadowed by the "Star Slayer" Lee Jin-hyuk, it was undoubtedly an unprecedented record for anyone else.
‘The Master of Flow, Kaelion?’
‘With her, there's no way we can lose.’
The Dang Clan members who heard the news also felt reassured as they moved.
Since they had been hanging out nearby, they arrived at the scene in no time.
“Huh?”
“What in the world...?”
“Buddhist robes? Is that Shaolin?”
However, the scene that unfolded was completely different from what they had expected.
“...”
“...”
The Shaolin monks and the Dang Clan members.
All of them were kneeling in front of someone, hands raised in the air as if receiving punishment.
“Hahaha! Look at you villains! Serves you right!”
“Do you want to join them?”
“...My apologies, Jin-hyuk.”
A voice boomed as if the speaker had swallowed a train horn.
Behind a massive, muscular figure, a familiar face was revealed to both Dang So-wol and Kaelion.
“Jin-hyuk!”
“Jin-hyuk.”
“Peep!”
Lee Jin-hyuk turned around, and Elruin fluttered her wings and flew over.
“What's this?”
Looking at the two dressed-up women, Lee Jin-hyuk smirked.
“Looks like you two have been getting along well.”
“Jin-hyuk. Still, this is Sichuan...”
“He was trying to release poison regardless of civilians. I couldn't just let him be.”
Lee Jin-hyuk frowned and glared at Dang Jun-seong.
Dang Jun-seong flinched.
The pride he held as the Young Master clashed with his fear of Lee Jin-hyuk.
And his pride was being shattered into pieces.
If someone was in the rank 1,000s, there would be no one in the Dang Clan who could face them, except for the Patriarch.
Even Dang Jun-seong, who was quite recognized in the Tower and held the title of "Poison Dragon", couldn't dare to do anything.
It would have been nice if he had known that before directly clashing, but learning is always faster after getting hit a few times.
“...”
If there was one consoling fact, it was that those Shaolin bastards, the pillars of the orthodox sects, were also kneeling.
Seeing those who wouldn't kneel to anyone but Buddha cowering in helplessness made him feel as if a ten-year-old clog in his chest had cleared.
“Still.”
At Dang So-wol's firm words, Lee Jin-hyuk gestured to Dang Jun-seong as if giving in.
“Get up.”
“...”
After glancing at Dang So-wol and Lee Jin-hyuk, Dang Jun-seong stood up.
“...”
“...”
Hyeon-beop and the Shaolin Temple members tried to lift their hips, but...
“Tsk.”
With a single sound from Lee Jin-hyuk, they sat right back down.
In front of Dang Jun-seong, the highly renowned Shaolin.
Hyeon-beop, the Formless Vajra who always maintained a lofty posture, was forced to kneel.
-Sister. Thank you. Sincerely.
- ...Uh, yeah.
Even though it was telepathy, hearing Dang Jun-seong call her "sister" for the first time made Dang So-wol feel a bit complicated.
It seemed the relationship between Shaolin and the Dang Clan was worse than she thought.
“So, to summarize the situation.”
Lee Jin-hyuk looked around and sighed.
“This idiot attacked a Dang Clan member who was abusing a venomous beast to free it. Is that it?”
“Yes, that's right.”
“I did nothing wrong!”
“You dummy.”
Lee Jin-hyuk let out a sigh.
“Dang Clan members don't abuse venomous beasts.”
“...Huh?”
Russell made a face even dumber than before.
“Rather, they do what the beasts like and take care of them. That way, the beasts survive longer and provide poison.”
“B-but my friends...”
“From the beasts' perspective, they might have misunderstood. Since they were suddenly taken. If the beasts really want to, they even return them to where they lived. Most of them are injured and need help anyway...”
“...”
“It was a misunderstanding.”
Russell looked around.
After rolling his eyes faster than any player Jin-hyuk had ever seen, he burst into laughter.
“Hahahahaha! I am so sorr...”
“...”
“I'm sorry.”
He then bowed 90 degrees to Dang Jun-seong and apologized.
“I misunderstood.”
“...Russell Mighty.”
Dang Jun-seong was also quite flustered.
Dang Clan members, who were particularly prideful even among martial artists, would never apologize like this even if they were in the wrong.
Because of this attitude, he could easily accept Russell's apology.
“...I'm glad the misunderstanding is cleared up.”
For Dang Jun-seong, this was a decent resolution.
“Peep!”
Since that small bird had even healed them under the Star Slayer's orders, he had no complaints.
In fact, considering the value of the unaffiliated player 'Star Slayer', it was right to treat him as an honored guest.
Though those foolish Shaolin and Hyeon-beop bastards failed to do so.
‘I'm glad I settled this before the Patriarch and the elders arrived.’
Dang Jun-seong gestured to the remaining Dang Clan members.
-Understood.
-Understood.
The quick-witted Dang Clan members began to clean up the area quickly.
Now, only Lee Jin-hyuk's group, the Dang Clan, and the kneeling Shaolin remained.
“Benefactor...”
Was kneeling in front of the Dang Clan unacceptable to him? Hyeon-beop quickly raised his hand and spoke.
“Yeah.”
Lee Jin-hyuk looked at Hyeon-beop.
He was also a player with high potential, to the point of being called one of the Four Heavens of Murim in the future.
He wasn't someone who should be kneeling like this.
“Why do you keep calling me benefactor?”
“...Did you not save the corrupted sentient beings?”
“Ah.”
Lee Jin-hyuk nodded.
He was probably referring to the incident at the Potala Palace.
According to Hyeon-beop, by killing Chardis, Lee Jin-hyuk had saved a significant number of monks.
Not only the monks of the Potala Palace, but also the Shaolin monks who had gone to help them were freed.
Freed from the surveillance and confinement of the Witch's coven and the Heavenly Demon Cult, whose command system had collapsed.
‘Though that wasn't my intention.’
In any case, from Shaolin's perspective, they owed Lee Jin-hyuk a debt, both personally and for the greater good.
That was why they had tried to help him when he was in trouble, calling him benefactor.
‘I understand the situation now.’
Lee Jin-hyuk fell into thought.
‘If that's the case, how should I use Shaolin against the Witch's coven and the Heavenly Demon Cult...’
“Peep.”
Holding Elruin in his arms, Lee Jin-hyuk began to lose himself in his own thoughts.
“Guys, I won't hurt you.”
Hiss?
Russell turned around and began to play with and comfort his venomous beast friends.
‘Now is the time!’
Dang Jun-seong's eyes gleamed, not wanting to miss this opportunity.
Noticing this, the Dang Clan members quickly began to redirect their paths.
‘Huh?’
‘Sister, this...’
‘...Martial artists, honestly.’
Dang So-wol and Kaelion immediately realized what was happening.
The Dang Clan members, who had been controlling the civilians and players in the area, suddenly pretended to be slacking off and disappeared one by one.
“What's that?”
“Is Shaolin kneeling in front of the Dang Clan?”
“I guess even the pillars of the orthodox sects can't do anything in Sichuan.”
As a result, this scene was instantly exposed to the public.
“...!”
Hyeon-beop and the monks' faces flushed red in an instant.
And that day.
All kinds of posts began to appear on the Tower's community board.
“Muhahaha!”
And seeing these posts, someone began to laugh like a madman.
“Indeed! In Sichuan, no matter how great Shaolin is, they are no match for us!”
The eyes of the man who had just stepped onto the land of Sichuan gleamed.
A mad laugh, born of a long thirst, brushed his lips.
The Poison Dark Emperor, Dang Gun-san.
“I wonder what the face of that Shaolin monk, who struts around as the Alliance Leader, looks like right now?”
After a long period of secluded cultivation, the master of the Dang Clan had returned to Sichuan.