The Evil Ghost's Whisper
The woman at the forefront was none other than Kwonbong Eon Ui-jin, whom Jeong Gwang also recognized.
She spotted him too.
Even with the bamboo hat obscuring his face, she sensed his unique aura.
"……Who are you?"
"Hey there."
"……Not so great, actually."
"Aw, chin up."
A vein bulged on Eon Ui-jin's forehead.
The lanky young man glancing back and forth between them wore a knowing expression as he addressed Jeong Gwang.
"Are you the infamous Kunlun Demon Ghost everyone's talking about these days?"
"Kunlun's right, but not the demon part. Who's calling me that?"
The young man smirked and jerked his chin toward Eon Ui-jin.
She was pretending to look around innocently.
"Oh my, so many people. Ah, you're here too, Yu gongja."
"Hello, Eon sojeo."
"Hey. You didn't come with him, did you?"
She meant Jeong Gwang.
"That's right."
"Hmmm."
Eon Ui-jin couldn't make sense of it.
Yu gongja's so serious. Why's he hanging around with a guy like that?
Yu Jeong-pung only turned solemn around beauties because he was receiving guidance, but she had no way of knowing that.
And why's my sister sitting face-to-face with him?
Dang Ye-ji was always icy toward men. Seeing her like this felt not just strange, but downright eerie.
Is he really not just some demon?
From the first glance, he'd sparked her curiosity—like a man hiding depths.
Did Dang Ye-ji sense it too?
Eon Ui-jin witnessed something truly astonishing.
"Jeong Gwang gongja. Time's short—shall we move somewhere else?"
"Sure."
Dokbong Dang Ye-ji saying that to a man!
"Sister!"
"Oh, I've got something urgent right now. Sorry, little sis. Catch you later."
Something urgent.
Something urgent.
Something urgent.
Dang Ye-ji's words echoed in Eon Ui-jin's ears like an illusion.
What's so urgent!
She wasn't the only one baffled.
A deep voice boomed through the room.
"Dang sojeo. Long time no see—won't even acknowledge me?"
It was the handsome young man behind the lanky one. His luxurious blue robes and ornate sword marked him as a scion of the Namgung family.
Sure enough, Dang Ye-ji confirmed it.
"Namgung gongja. I was a bit preoccupied—sorry."
"No need to apologize. But where are you off to? Didn't we agree to tea since we're all here?"
It was a fair point, and embarrassment flickered in Dang Ye-ji's eyes.
"What business do you have with him? I'm curious about your relationship."
Rude, but she'd erred first.
She composed herself and replied.
"We're discussing poisons. Jeong Gwang gongja is my ji-eum."
"……Ji-eum?"
"Yes."
Everyone stared at Jeong Gwang in shock.
Ji-eum meant a true confidant, a soulmate. For the aloof Dang Ye-ji to say that—to a man!
The handsome youth glared at Jeong Gwang with sharp eyes.
"I'm Namgung Ryeok."
"Got it."
"……Never heard the name?"
"One of the Nine Dragons and Eight Phoenixes—Geomryong, right? Why?"
Namgung Ryeok let out a long sigh at Jeong Gwang's puzzled look.
"Hoo. So you're Dang sojeo's ji-eum."
"Apparently."
"……Just like the rumors—your words really grate."
Namgung Ryeok took an instant dislike to Jeong Gwang.
Jeong Gwang felt the same.
Who the hell is this guy?
His gaze, his posture—arrogance oozed from every pore. At this age already? How insufferable would he be later?
His martial arts are better than those Namgung Jin-yeong and Namgung Jin-do losers, though.
Much better, in fact.
Looks like he'd pack a punch—Jeong Gwang licked his lips.
Namgung Ryeok asked.
"Know much about poisons?"
"A bit."
"Hmph. If Dang sojeo seeks your counsel, it's more than 'a bit.' How good? Good enough to eat them like candy?"
"Oh, the one Dang sojeo gave me earlier was pretty decent."
Namgung Ryeok, dripping sarcasm, thought he'd misheard.
"……What?"
"Tasted good."
"……You ate Dang sojeo's poison?"
"Yeah."
"Impossible!"
Namgung Ryeok turned to Dang Ye-ji.
"Is this true?"
"Yes."
"……Tell me everything."
As she recounted the earlier events, his face hardened.
Ate Sichuan Dangga poison and came out fine? Ha!
Impossible.
Well, maybe if secluded like in closed-door training, circulating qi over days or weeks.
But expelling it right here, on the spot?
Only one conclusion.
It was weak sauce.
He couldn't fathom why Dang Ye-ji gave him such a mild poison.
Boosting his fame? Why?
A rumor about Jeong Gwang surfaced.
Handsomest man alive. No way……
No. Impossible.
My Dang sojeo wouldn't!
He needed to confirm.
"Take off the hat."
"Why?"
What a punk!
Namgung Ryeok swallowed his rising fury.
"We're fated to meet like this—shouldn't we talk face-to-face?"
"Hm. Fair enough."
Jeong Gwang removed the hat.
For a moment, the room seemed to brighten.
"Hmph."
Everyone but the pouting Eon Ui-jin gaped.
Namgung Ryeok glanced sideways—Dang Ye-ji stared with wide eyes.
Boosting his fame because he's that good-looking!
Not just good—stunning—but that's how Namgung Ryeok saw it.
What makes him so special compared to me!
Dang Ye-ji ignored even overt advances from him.
Yet this guy gets her favor?
Heir to Namgung Segah, one of murim's top young geniuses—when had he ever been dismissed like this?
He'd ignored Jeong Gwang beating up his collateral cousins—pathetic losers anyway.
But now.
……Won't let him off.
Jealousy ignited into blazing rage.
He wanted to cleave him now, but too many eyes.
First things first.
Show Dang Ye-ji exactly who he was.
Why they called him Geomryong!
That he dwarfed this punk!
Calming his fury, he asked her.
"Got more of that poison?"
"That was the last."
"No choice, then."
"Pardon?"
Namgung Ryeok extended a hand to Jeong Gwang.
"Give me the poison you expelled."
"This stuff's valuable."
"……I'll pay! Hand it over!"
"What for?"
Namgung Ryeok's face twisted menacingly.
"I'll eat it too."
Jeong Gwang tilted his head at the gold nyang bills piled on his palm.
Is this enough?
One more landed.
Should've brought Seung-mu.
Another joined.
Just wait it out.
Namgung Ryeok was losing his mind.
How many was this now?
"……Last one."
Yet another.
Jeong Gwang nodded magnanimously.
"Guess I'm taking a loss."
"……Thanks!"
"No biggie."
Jeong Gwang uncorked the vial and poured a droplet into an empty teacup.
Chicken-tear sized.
"Here."
"……You're joking."
"Nope. Exact amount you paid for. Right, Dang sojeo?"
"……Even factoring materials, time, labor for Jinhapda hyang, it's a tad short."
Jeong Gwang kept a straight face.
"Gotta add labor for mixing and expelling it too."
"……Forgot that. But Namgung gongja—really eating it?"
"Yes."
"Dangerous."
"……He gets to, but not me?"
"Not insulting you. Jeong Gwang gongja's special."
That word snapped Namgung Ryeok.
"I'm the special one!"
He snatched the cup and gulped it down.
But.
Too little.
It clung to the cup's bottom, refusing to drip.
"Ack! Ack! Won't fall!"
Jeong Gwang offered kindly.
"Stick out your tongue and lick."
"You want me to do something so vulgar! Give more!"
"Told you it's pricey."
"Take it all! Everything!"
Namgung Ryeok hurled his entire money pouch.
Jeong Gwang checked it gravely and poured into the cup.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
"……Three drops?"
"Yes."
"……Too much?"
"Not about the money."
Jeong Gwang's face turned solemn.
"That's plenty to kill."
"How dare you!"
Dang Ye-ji chimed in.
"Dangerous. Stop."
"Danger? Watch closely!"
Namgung Ryeok swallowed, then licked the cup clean—even the residue.
"Gah!"
He groaned, crossed his legs in lotus position, and circulated Cheonggung Daeyeon Singong.
His dantian erupted, qi surging wildly inside.
But.
What the hell!
It started in his chest.
Lungs clogged, breath ragged.
He rushed qi to protect Fengyan, Fengmi, Ib-dong, Jang-tae points.
Ugh. Got it contained. Now just push it out…… Huh?
Next, his limbs. Tingling toes and fingers went numb.
The numbness surged like waves toward his heart.
No!
Qi to Shindoh, Yeongdae, Jeonjung—barely shielded his heart.
Yes! Now……
Pouring inner power to expel it.
But the qi guarding his lungs scattered—breath failed again!
Damn poison!
Frantically circulating, he finally protected both heart and lungs.
But it wasn't over.
Tongue, esophagus, stomach—itching, stinging.
Turned to excruciating agony, devouring his insides.
"Gaaah! Cough!"
Black dead blood spewed from his mouth, followed by thick crimson.
D-don't toy with me! Think I'll go down like this? Me, Namgung Ryeok—to mere poison!
Clinging to fraying qi, enduring—voices around him.
"Can't watch anymore! Antidote, now!"
The lanky youth with him.
"Don't have any."
"……What?"
"Mixed Dang sojeo's poisons and expelled earlier. None left."
The youth looked dazed; Dang Ye-ji stepped up.
"No helping it. Not much, but feed him these. Pry Namgung gongja's mouth open."
"R-right!"
His mouth gaped; antidotes poured in.
"Hooo……."
Namgung Ryeok's face eased slightly.
As expected of Sichuan Dangga!
Effective, befitting their fame.
For a fleeting moment.
"Gyyyaaah!"
He screamed, rolling in agony.
Utter madness!
Onlookers paled.
N-Namgung Segah's heir is dying!
Bloodstorm in murim for sure!
But rationally, he'd brought it on himself.
Namgung would rage, but no one to blame.
Namgung Ryeok knew his folly.
Tears of regret welled.
Is this it? Me? To poison!
Then Jeong Gwang's voice.
"Need help?"
"……!"
"Ah, don't answer. Qi'll scatter—you'll die."
"……."
"Guess not. Geomryong lives up to the name—something special."
Don't answer, he says!
Namgung Ryeok was going insane.
Others too, apparently.
"Junior brother! Save him!"
"Yes! You can do it. You expelled my poison."
"Won't call you demon anymore. Hurry! Please!"
In Namgung Ryeok's heart, fondness for Yu Jeong-pung, Dang Ye-ji, Eon Ui-jin soared.
And.
"Amitabha. Life turns to emptiness after a speck of time, so no regrets for Namgung gongja."
Killing intent toward Jeong Gwang pierced the heavens.
You bastard! I'll tear you apart with everything I have! Even in death!
Death precluded that.
But reason had fled.
Few face death with poise.
Then Jeong Gwang smiled brightly and spoke.
His voice refreshingly clear—but to Namgung Ryeok, the whisper of an evil ghost.
"From now on, do exactly as I say."