I Really Didn't Know!

"Who the hell are you comparing me to...!!!"

Dang Aran's face twisted in fury.

"You insane bastard! I was five years old and brought food to my little aunt with good intentions because I didn't know! I'm not some crazy murderer who enjoys killing like you!!!"

She screamed with all the resentment and injustice boiling inside her, spitting blood with every word.

At that, Do Gwang blinked.

He opened and closed his eyes a few times, then—

"No, I really didn't know!!!"

—roared back at her, several times louder than she had been.

"Why are you painting a normal person as a bloodthirsty maniac, you crazy bitch!!!"

His expression was the very picture of genuine outrage.

"I had no idea those idiots were still holed up in there!!!"

His voice was filled with absolute sincerity.

He had smashed through the gate with such noise that everyone inside the main building had to know an intruder had arrived. So of course the people in the main hall should have come running out with weapons like the warriors in the courtyard, or at least started evacuating. That was only normal.

Pouring every ounce of that injustice into his voice, he bellowed again.

"You crazy bitch—!!!"

Silence fell over the courtyard.

Everyone present had a mountain of things they wanted to say to Do Gwang—things like "Who exactly is the normal one here?" and "You're saying you're not a bloodthirsty maniac?"—but his sheer madness had robbed them of every possible reply. They could only clamp their mouths shut. Talking back to this lunatic would only get their heads smashed in.

The suffocating silence was broken by a single sound.

Snicker—

It was the madman himself, laughing at his own joke.

"So what are you gonna do about it?"

Do Gwang asked Dang Aran with the most obnoxious, punchable smirk he could muster.

"What can you even do?"

Before the provocation could fully land—

"Kyahaha~~"

—a bright, cheerful laugh rang across the courtyard.

"That's right! What can you even do?"

Do Hwa pointed a tiny finger at Dang Aran and shouted gleefully.

"You insect! Kyahaha~~"

"Eek!!!"

Dang Aran trembled with rage and humiliation.

"What did I even do to deserve this!!??

"Huh? What did you do? You sent old geezers to beat me up and now you're complaining?"

Do Gwang snorted, then added with a dangerous tap of the steel bat against his shoulder.

"And I already warned you. One more provocation and the Tang family is finished. I'll smash it all to pieces."

He had already shown them once.

Overwhelming, absolute martial might.

The way the other Tang members had strutted around, relying on the Poison King Dang Jin-gyeong as their backing, had been so ridiculous that Do Gwang had poured every drop of his internal energy into demonstrating the truth. According to normal Murim logic, he shouldn't be able to repeat that kind of destructive display right away.

However—

Fwoooosh—!!!!

Do Gwang once again erupted with fierce azure qi from his entire body. If anything, the aura he released now was even more immense than when he had blown apart an entire building moments ago.

Everyone watching could only stare in shock.

『Branch Leader, that madman is definitely a monster wearing human skin. How does his internal energy make any sense? He hasn't performed a single qi circulation since the inn!』

『Heh... You're telling me. If you hadn't spoken up, I would have thought my old eyes were playing tricks on me.』

Moyong Jin and Gwak Byeok exchanged telepathic messages with the expressions of men whose souls had left their bodies. They could never have known—

—that Do Gwang possessed such a cheat-like passive trait. The enormous amount of internal energy and stamina he had spent blowing up the main building had already been completely restored while he was busy arguing nonsense with Dang Aran.

"A... ah..."

Dang Jung-hyeok's jaw trembled like a leaf in the wind.

Do Gwang was a calamity incarnate. He never should have tried to intimidate the man by name-dropping his father in closed-door cultivation. He should have groveled at Do Gwang's feet from the very beginning if it meant surviving.

'No... it's not too late even now...!'

Thud—!!!

Dang Jung-hyeok threw away every last shred of dignity and slammed his forehead into the ground.

"Great hero! I am truly sorry!!!"

Bang—!

He smashed his head against the dirt again and again, wailing as if vomiting blood.

"Please! Please show mercy! If the Tang family's centuries-old lineage ends with me, I won't be able to face my father in closed-door cultivation, let alone our ancestors!!!"

Bang—!

Thud—!!

Crash—!!!

While repeatedly bashing his head into the ground, Dang Jung-hyeok gritted his teeth inwardly. It was painful and utterly humiliating, but if he could just get through this one time...

If he could just survive this crisis...!

"Father will definitely reach the Star Realm and come back to take revenge!"

"Huh...?"

Dang Jung-hyeok jolted in terror, shoulders shaking. Why was his inner thought suddenly echoing loudly across the courtyard?

He hadn't spoken aloud.

His lips hadn't moved.

"Not ten times— a hundred times! No, a thousand times the revenge! So please, just let me survive this crisis!!!"

The voice was coming from Do Gwang's mouth.

"...is what you were thinking, right?"

"N... no..."

Dang Jung-hyeok tried desperately to deny it, his face deathly pale, but his lips only trembled uselessly. No excuse would work. This madman had no intention of listening to anything.

Ah, the Sichuan Tang family...

It was truly going to be wiped out.

Despairing, Dang Jung-hyeok squeezed his eyes shut.

But contrary to his grim expectations, Do Gwang simply rested the steel bat on his shoulder and smirked.

"Clan Head, want to hear something interesting?"

"Something interesting...? What...?"

Dang Jung-hyeok asked with a dumbfounded expression. Who in their right mind would talk about "something interesting" in this blood-soaked situation?

Even Moyong Jin, who had been silently watching from the back, didn't bother with a hollow reaction this time.

Gwak Byeok sent a relieved telepathic message.

『Branch Leader, thank goodness. I was worried he was about to spout more nonsense, but it seems he actually read the room for once.』

『...Even I have a minimum sense of atmosphere. But still, Gwak Byeok, calling your superior's words "nonsense"...』

『Aigoo... I wonder how many buildings we'll have to rebuild. At least five years of our branch's budget is probably gone.』

Moyong Jin glared at him, but Gwak Byeok simply turned his head away and pretended not to notice.

While the Murim Alliance idiots were having their little exchange, Do Gwang casually dropped a bomb in a light tone.

"The Poison King, that idiot."

"Hup...!"

"Hic...!"

"Kek!!!"

Gasps of shock burst from everyone's mouths at once.

Calling one of the Twenty Heavenly Kings an idiot?

Do Gwang paid no attention to the horrified stares and continued flatly.

"He'll probably come out in half a year at the earliest. Anyway, that guy will never break through to the Star Realm."

"W-what are you saying...!?"

Dang Jung-hyeok's mouth fell open so wide it looked like it might tear. Was this madman really spouting more nonsense?

Dang Jung-hyeok didn't respect or admire his father as a person. But as a martial artist—the Poison King—he acknowledged his skill from the bottom of his heart. That was why he firmly believed that after more than five years of closed-door cultivation, his father would emerge having reached a new realm.

Yet this man was saying—

"He won't break through, I said."

How could he sound so certain?

"Pfft. You think anyone can reach that level?"

Do Gwang snorted derisively.

The Five Great Stars of the World—those who had pierced through the peak of the Profound Realm and reached the Star Realm. If simply shutting oneself away for a few years was enough to break through, then every leader of the orthodox sects would be holed up in the mountains doing closed-door cultivation day and night.

"An old man who's only at the middle stage of the Profound Realm aiming for the Star Realm? Ridiculous."

Do Gwang let out a disbelieving laugh.

『Heh... Gwak Byeok, my ears must be going bad.』

『...No, they're perfectly fine, Branch Leader. I heard it clearly too. That madman just called the Poison King "middle stage of the Profound Realm."』

Moyong Jin and Gwak Byeok once again felt their souls trying to escape their bodies. Every word that came out of that man's mouth shattered common sense.

"Well, whether you believe it or not is up to you."

Do Gwang grinned at the ashen-faced Dang Jung-hyeok.

"Anyway, Clan Head? If the Poison King comes out of closed-door cultivation and doesn't become one of the Six Heavenly Kings, he'll be furious, won't he?"

"W-what... what are you implying...!?"

"What do you think I'm implying? That you're screwed."

"...!!!"

Only then did Dang Jung-hyeok fully understand Do Gwang's meaning.

Suppose he somehow survived this crisis.

But if, as Do Gwang said, the Poison King emerged from years of grueling closed-door cultivation without reaching the Star Realm he had so desperately sought... and then discovered that the main estate of the centuries-old Sichuan Tang family had vanished, that the elders were either dead or crippled, and that the family's honor had been dragged through the mud beyond recovery—then what?

Who the Poison King would blame was painfully obvious.

"N... no... Father would never..."

Dang Jung-hyeok began trembling in terror. The mere thought of that future sent chills down his spine.

Looking at the pathetic sight, Do Gwang let out a long sigh and shook his head.

Then he slowly lowered the steel bat he had been holding up.

He had decided not to reduce the entire Sichuan Tang family to ashes.

The reason he stopped—despite having been fully prepared to wipe them out moments ago—wasn't because Dang Jung-hyeok had kowtowed and apologized, nor because he pitied the man for the beating he would eventually receive from his father.

It was because Dang Jung-hyeok had mentioned the Poison King.

More precisely, if he destroyed the Tang family completely now, he would lose the chance to ever copy their ultimate technique—

Rain of Flowers Filling the Sky.

'I can't give that up, no matter what.'

It was one of the most famous ultimate techniques in any Murim world. The romance of raining hidden weapons like a storm to sweep away enemies—he couldn't abandon that.

'If I were sure the Poison King already knew it, I'd just smash everything and go straight to the cave...'

But he wasn't sure.

The Poison King, who had failed to reach the Star Realm, had been consoling himself with the fact that he had restored and perfected the long-lost Rain of Flowers Filling the Sky. The problem was that the game never specified exactly when he would master it, so there was no guarantee.

If he wiped out the Tang family here, the Poison King would notice something was wrong and interrupt his closed-door cultivation. Regular reports confirming the family's safety and supplies for his seclusion would stop coming.

And if the Poison King emerged without having mastered Rain of Flowers Filling the Sky?

'Then he'd just be a walking elixir dispenser.'

Exactly.

Just a living bag of poison arts. Nothing that interested Do Gwang in the slightest. In his eyes, after pouring thousands of hours into this game world, elixirs were scattered everywhere underfoot.

'I shouldn't have blown up the building.'

Do Gwang clicked his tongue inwardly as he glanced at the empty lot where the main hall had stood. The Tang family's treasures and secret manuals had been stored there, so the family had suffered an enormous financial blow. That could potentially disrupt the supplies being sent to the Poison King during his seclusion.

'I should've just smashed the heads of Dang Aran and those other annoying bastards and left.'

Thinking that, Do Gwang looked down indifferently at Dang Aran, who was still sprawled on the ground trembling.

"Hic... hic..."

She could only curl up like a worm, sniffling, unable to even meet his eyes.

At that moment—

'Aha!'

Do Gwang's expression brightened instantly, as if he had never been worried.

'I was worrying over nothing.'

Financial problems?

There was no way something so trivial would be an issue for the Tang family.

This was the Sichuan Tang family—the one with Dang Jung-hyeok, who would do anything, and Dang Aran, whose face was at least decent to look at.

"Whew..."

Having realized this, Do Gwang let out a relieved sigh.

Then he smiled brightly down at Dang Jung-hyeok.

"I'm just too kind for my own good."

".....?"

Dang Jung-hyeok could only stare at him with dazed eyes and tilt his head.

"Who... is kind...?"

"Me, of course!"

"......"

Dang Jung-hyeok was speechless. He couldn't understand a single word this madman was saying.

But Do Gwang paid no mind and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠continued.

"I'm too soft-hearted, so I'll stop here. Our Clan Head looks so pitiful kowtowing and apologizing that I can't bring myself to do anything more."

"Stop here...?"

Dang Jung-hyeok felt like he was losing his mind. "Stop here" meant he was being spared. That was good, but hadn't this lunatic already wrecked everything possible? The family estate was in ruins, and the key figures' heads had long since been smashed on their way to the afterlife.

Yet the madman's nonsense wasn't over.

"Yes! But in exchange, you have to tell your wonderful father exactly what I said earlier, understood? Tell him to come find me without fail!"

"....."

Dang Jung-hyeok's mind went blank. He had to deliver the message as Do Gwang said, but would he even be able to finish speaking? He felt like a dagger would be stabbed into his crown the moment he opened his mouth.

The present and the future both looked unbearably dark.

But Dang Jung-hyeok's circumstances were none of Do Gwang's concern.

Instead, Do Gwang let out another deep sigh and piled on more nonsense.

"Sigh... Still, I'm really letting this slide... What am I supposed to do with myself being this kind? I need to harden my heart, but how am I supposed to survive in this harsh Murim world if I keep acting like this~"

Do Gwang genuinely lamented his own weakness.

At that absurd statement—

『Branch Leader, my ears must definitely be broken...』

『If you've heard that madman say he's kind, soft-hearted, and needs to harden up, then your ears are perfectly fine, Branch Leader. No need to worry.』

Moyong Jin and Gwak Byeok felt their souls being ground to dust in real time. The man had essentially wiped out an entire family and was now spouting such drivel.

Of course, Do Gwang didn't care about their horrified stares in the slightest.

So he turned around without a second thought and began walking away lightly.

"Let's go, Do Hwa."

"Okay!"

Do Hwa followed right behind him with quick steps.

Thud. Thud.

Dang Soryeong stared blankly at their retreating backs.

'Ah...'

They were getting farther away.

The only ray of light that had pulled her out of this horrific hell in one go was leaving for a place she could never reach again. Her chest tightened painfully at the thought.

Just then, Do Gwang casually turned around.

"What are you doing? Aren't you coming?"

"Yes...?"

"If you don't want to, I won't force you. Are you going to stay in this garbage place? Come with us."

"Ah...!"

Life instantly returned to Dang Soryeong's empty eyes, and they shone brightly.

"Yes...!"

Her steps had never felt lighter. As she walked out of the hellish gates of the Sichuan Tang family, a bright smile—the first of her life—spread shyly across her lips.

###

After Do Gwang, Do Hwa, and Dang Soryeong disappeared—

"...."

Dang Aran slowly pushed herself up, her body trembling.

"Ha...!"

She exhaled ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠roughly, unable to contain her humiliation.

"Ha...! Ha...!"

They were leaving just like that?

And taking that lowly woman instead of her?

"Gwang-gongja..."

Her eyes, pride torn to shreds, filled with vicious killing intent.

"...I won't forgive you..."

She had bitten her lip so hard that bright red blood trickled down her chin.

"Never..."

Just as she was vowing bloody revenge against Do Gwang—

Slap—!

"Kyaaaaah!!!"

A rough hand flew out of nowhere and mercilessly struck Dang Aran's cheek.

"It's all because of you, you bitch!!!"

Dang Jung-hyeok snarled, eyes bloodshot.

"I warned you over and over not to wander outside carelessly!!!"

"F... Father... Kyaaaaah!!"

Slap—!!

"Why did you have to provoke that madman and bring the family— no, bring me—to this miserable state!!!"

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry... Kyaaaaah!!!"

Slap—!!!

Dang Aran wept and begged, but Dang Jung-hyeok, having lost all reason, kept slapping his daughter across the face.

Then, seeing his daughter's bloodied cheeks, he suddenly stopped.

"Ah... ah... I need ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to calm down... I need to calm down..."

He froze his striking hand in midair and took ragged breaths.

"I can't ruin your only good point..."

"F... Father...?"

Dang Aran looked up at him in terror, trembling.

But her father paid no attention to her gaze. With cold, dead eyes, he called for his subordinates.

"You lot... Take this girl to the medical hall immediately and treat her. Make sure her face is healed perfectly without a single ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠scar. We need it to rebuild the main estate, don't we?"

Whether through a political marriage or by selling her as a concubine—

it was a horrific sentence: he would use her beauty to raise the funds needed to rebuild the ruined family.

Understanding this, Dang Aran—

"Father, I'm sorry! So please...!"

—clung desperately to her father's pant leg, but—

Thud—!

"Get lost! I don't even want to look at a thing like you!"

Dang Jung-hyeok coldly kicked his daughter away and turned his back without a shred of warmth.

At that unbearable scene—

"Heh..."

Moyong Jin swallowed a hollow laugh and shook his head.

"The Tang family is as good as wiped out."

Gwak Byeok clicked his tongue and added bitterly.

"Indeed."

Moyong Jin nodded heavily and sighed. Whether the Poison King reached the Star Realm or not, as long as these human trash were leading the family, the Sichuan Tang family's future was already over.

"Anyway, is the on-site investigation finished?"

"Yes, it's done. But something strange happened."

"Strange?"

"I'm not sure if that madman deliberately targeted them or not, but the only deaths were the eldest son Dang Cheol-woo, who charged at him, the warriors, and..."

Gwak Byeok looked at the empty lot where the main hall had stood with a dumbfounded expression.

"...only the fifth wife who was in the main hall, along with the branch family members and guards who had bad reputations. The servants, retainers, and innocent commoners who did the dirty work weren't harmed in the slightest."

"Heh... Is that so? That's a relief, at least."

Moyong Jin patted his chest and let out a deep sigh of relief. The fact that the madman wasn't an indiscriminate killer was the only consolation.

He looked up at the night sky and prayed sincerely.

Tomorrow morning—

or even a little later, that was fine.

He just hoped that walking disaster would leave Chengdu without causing any more incidents in his jurisdiction of Sichuan.