Chapter 142
Chapter 142
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 41
>Chapter Title: The Exterminating Poison King (2)
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Thanks to the three-year mourning period, no one had managed to make contact with the Exterminating Poison King, Baek Sa-ha.
That included the Society Leader's third disciple, Wi So-yeon.
No matter how much she was seen as a candidate for the next Society Leader, she still couldn't match the authority of the Five Kings, who were among the Heaven-Earth Society's top executives.
As such, without a proper pretext, she hadn't had a chance to approach the Exterminating Poison King all this time.
But finally, an opportunity to meet him had arisen.
It was none other than the doljanchi celebration for Baek Sa-ha's grandson, Baek O-chan, which was today.
‘If I miss this chance, it’ll be tough until the three-year mourning ends.’
Among the Five Kings, the upper executives, only the Illustrious Sword King, Son Yun, supported her.
Securing Baek Sa-ha's backing here would instantly give her a support base strong enough to rival the second disciple, Jang Neung-ak.
However,
“Miss.”
A man in his mid-thirties with a stylishly trimmed beard nodded toward her from the side.
She turned her head accordingly, and,
‘Ah...’
She spotted a group approaching from the southwestern path.
The group was none other than the second disciple, Jang Neung-ak, and his close subordinates.
The Five Peaks Society.
First Peak, Hegemonic Demon Fist Go Yeon-hu, the Grand Division Leader of the Supremacy Squad.
Second Peak, Blind-Eye Sword Wi Maeng-cheon.
Third Peak, Five Rigid Axes Dismantler Ho Jong-hyeok, the Grand Division Leader of the Annihilation Squad.
Fourth Peak, Seo Hye-in, Division Leader of the Transcendent Squad.
Fifth Peak, Giant Rock Fist Jeo Mo-pal.
All of them were renowned young later-generation talents within the Heaven-Earth Society.
Among them, the standout was undoubtedly the First Peak's Hegemonic Demon Fist, Go Yeon-hu.
He was one of the Five Tigers, hailed as the Heaven-Earth Society's top later-generation talents, and his father was Go Yeon-byeok, the Defense Sect Leader—one of the Three Clan Leaders in charge of the society's entire defense.
‘He brought all his close subordinates... no, just four of them?’
The Second Peak's Wi Maeng-cheon was nowhere to be seen.
He was famous for his extraordinary swordsmanship despite being blind.
In any case, seeing him bring his close subordinates like this, their goal seemed the same.
‘...The Exterminating Poison King.’
To win over Baek Sa-ha.
But she frowned with strong hostility.
‘Why is he doing that?’
The reason was that Jang Neung-ak was glaring at her and Woo Ho-rang, standing to her right, with murderous eyes.
She didn't know it, but Jang Neung-ak had good reason for it.
‘Is it that guy?’
The man in his mid-thirties with a short beard that Jang Neung-ak was glaring at.
He was Woo Ho-rang, the chief disciple of one of the Five Kings, the Illustrious Sword King Son Yun, and the Grand Division Leader of the Great Citadel Squad.
Wi So-yeon's close subordinate and one of the Five Tigers, the Heaven-Earth Society's top later-generation talents.
He had reached the Superhuman Realm in his mid-twenties, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say his skills were already at executive level.
Following him were Yang Il, the Sub-Division Leader of the Azure Sea Sword Squad, and Ki Ok-ryeon, the eldest daughter of Ki Hae, the Valley Lord of Yang-am Valley—both highly skilled upper later-generation talents.
But in Jang Neung-ak's eyes, only Woo Ho-rang registered.
‘If you killed Maeng-cheon, this young master will sever your head and stain that bitch Wi So-yeon's bed with your blood.’
Feeling this intense murderous intent and hostility, Woo Ho-rang grew wary as well.
His hand instinctively reached for his sword hilt, but,
“Keep your composure.”
“Ah.”
At Wi So-yeon's quiet warning, he lowered his hand again.
If he fell for the provocation and caused trouble here, it would ruin their plans.
He wasn't the only one thinking that.
“My lord. Calm yourself first. We can't confirm he's the culprit yet, and causing a scene here would disgrace you before the Exterminating Poison King.”
“......Understood.”
At First Peak Go Yeon-hu's advice, the Society Leader's second disciple, Jang Neung-ak, nodded.
Even in his agitation, he wasn't so lacking in judgment.
As they drew closer, someone caught Jang Neung-ak's eye.
“Ho. Mok Kyung-un.”
It was Mok Kyung-un.
Wi So-yeon, who had been wary of Jang Neung-ak, also noticed Mok Kyung-un at the entrance to the Baek estate, having overlooked him until now.
‘Mok Kyung-un?’
Why was he here?
He hadn't entered anyone's faction yet.
As she puzzled over it, Jang Neung-ak waved to Mok Kyung-un with a smiling face.
“Are you doing well?”
Wi So-yeon frowned at this friendly overture.
What was that?
She remembered things hadn't gone smoothly back then, so why was her senior acting so amicable, like they were close?
Had he perhaps tried to recruit him again in the meantime?
Feeling a twinge of anxiety, she greeted Mok Kyung-un first.
“Long time no see. Have you been well?”
‘Long time no see?’
At Wi So-yeon's greeting, Jang Neung-ak furrowed his brow this time.
What was this now?
Had this bitch made contact with the guy he'd marked for himself?
How dare she eye what was his?
That thought reignited his anger.
Just then, Mok Kyung-un bowed in a fist salute and greeting.
“Disciple of the Shadow Sect Leader, Mok Kyung-un, greets Young Master Jang Neung-ak and Miss Wi So-yeon.”
“Yes.”
“Indeed.”
At his greeting, the second disciple Jang Neung-ak and third disciple Wi So-yeon unintentionally replied in unison and glanced at each other.
Wi So-yeon then clasped her hands and lightly bowed her head in greeting.
“I see you, senior brother.”
“Hmph. You look quite radiant.”
Though they eyed each other warily, as she had to show respect to her senior, Wi So-yeon greeted politely—unlike Jang Neung-ak, who was openly curt.
She was used to this attitude from him anyway, so she didn't mind.
“You as well, senior brother.”
“What?”
Already suspicious of her over the death of Wi Maeng-cheon, Jang Neung-ak's tone sharpened slightly.
Worried, First Peak Go Yeon-hu quietly intervened again.
“My lord. Not here.”
-Grit!
Jang Neung-ak ground his teeth and shook his head.
The incident from just a few hours ago made it hard to calm down.
But for the greater cause, he had to endure now.
Turning his head away from Wi So-yeon as if she were beneath contempt, Jang Neung-ak said to Mok Kyung-un,
“You must have much to do to earn trust, so what brings you here?”
At the question, Wi So-yeon also looked at Mok Kyung-un.
She was curious about that herself.
Mok Kyung-un pointed to the large wooden box carried by his escort warrior Seok Jung and replied.
“As you see, I've come to deliver a doljanchi gift on my master's orders and pay my respects to Lord Exterminating Poison King.”
“Ho. Is that so? The same business as this young master, then.”
“Ah, yes.”
“But you haven't made any other friends in the meantime, have you?”
Jang Neung-ak blatantly glared at Wi So-yeon before asking Mok Kyung-un.
It was tantamount to asking outright if he'd contacted other successor candidates besides him.
Mok Kyung-un smiled faintly and replied.
“Of course not.”
“......”
Wi So-yeon furrowed her fine brow at those words.
Had Mok Kyung-un leaned toward Jang Neung-ak instead of her?
That would be quite troublesome.
The Shadow Sect, which handled intelligence, was quite important too.
Just then, Jang Neung-ak shot Wi So-yeon a triumphant look, as if he'd won, and said,
“Good. That's how it should be. I have high expectations for you.”
-Tight!
Wi So-yeon's grip tightened.
Normally, she wouldn't fall for such childish provocations or mind games.
But she couldn't tolerate a rival successor trying to snatch what she was after like this.
Thus, she said,
“Mok Kyung-un.”
“Yes, miss.”
“Are you keeping the token I gave you safe?”
She revealed it, something she hadn't planned to disclose.
At those words, Jang Neung-ak's triumphant expression instantly hardened sharply.
A token? What was this about?
‘Token?’
He wasn't the only one reacting.
Woo Ho-rang, the chief disciple of Illustrious Sword King Son Yun—called Wi So-yeon's right arm—also frowned and looked at Mok Kyung-un.
He had thought he was the only one she'd given a token to.
And this pretty-boy kid had received one from the miss too?
“Yes. I'm keeping it safe.”
‘This bastard...’
Jang Neung-ak's mood soured at Mok Kyung-un's response.
He'd just claimed not to be close to other successors, yet he'd accepted a token from that damned woman?
This was no small matter.
“You...”
As Jang Neung-ak moved to vent his displeasure at Mok Kyung-un,
“My lord. Shouldn't we join the celebration first and offer congratulations to Lord Exterminating Poison King?”
“......”
At the words from Third Peak Annihilation Squad Grand Division Leader Ho Jong-hyeok, Jang Neung-ak shut his mouth.
Right. This wasn't the place for it now.
He could settle it after meeting the Exterminating Poison King first.
Missing today would mean no chances for a while.
“......We'll talk later.”
At his words, Mok Kyung-un gave a small nod.
Jang Neung-ak then whipped around and headed to the estate entrance first.
Mok Kyung-un smiled indifferently at his retreating figure.
This time, Wi So-yeon spoke up.
“Didn't you say you hate conflicts?”
“Yes, that's right.”
“But your position seems to have changed since then.”
“No such thing. My thoughts remain the same.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
Wi So-yeon stared at Mok Kyung-un, shook her head, and then said,
“Fine. I'll believe you. But not the second senior brother. I let you go back then not because I intended to yield him to him.”
At her words, a furrow formed on the brow of Illustrious Sword King Son Yun's chief disciple, Woo Ho-rang.
He found her overt interest in Mok Kyung-un grating.
Unlike his fellow disciple Yeop Wi-seon, he had some maturity and composure, so he didn't show his feelings.
“We have urgent business now, so let's talk later.”
With that, she too hurried toward the estate entrance.
If she didn't hurry, second senior brother Jang Neung-ak would get the first move.
As they entered ahead, escort warrior Seok Jung, who had been tense, staggered with weakened legs.
-Thud!
Mok Kyung-un grabbed his arm.
“Ah. Be careful. It's a precious gift.”
“S-Sorry.”
Seok Jung inwardly clicked his tongue.
Mok Kyung-un had only become the Shadow Sect Leader's disciple recently, yet two successor candidates were vying for him and engaging in a mind game.
The person involved seemed unfazed, while he himself was trembling.
‘Is he really unaffected?’
Receiving attention from those two was quite burdensome.
A misstep with either would spell trouble.
Then Mok Kyung-un said,
“Shall we go in too?”
“......Yes.”
Who knew.
What could a lowly pawn like him do anyway.
It was easiest to just follow orders.
They were about to enter the estate when,
“Halt.”
The warriors guarding the entrance crossed their scabbards to block the way.
This was a stark contrast to how they'd let Jang Neung-ak's and Wi So-yeon's groups pass freely moments ago.
“What is your business here?”
“Ah. I'm Mok Kyung-un, disciple of the Shadow Sect Leader. As you see, I've come to deliver a gift for the Baek family's joyous occasion on my master's orders.”
At Mok Kyung-un's words, one warrior returned a fist salute and said,
“So you're the Shadow Sect Leader's disciple.”
“Yes.”
“Apologies, but please leave the gift here and...”
The warrior pointed to a paper on a table inside the entrance and continued.
“Write the Shadow Sect Leader's and your name in the visitor log here.”
“Yes?”
Mok Kyung-un tilted his head.
Didn't that mean just leave the gift and go?
Scratching his head awkwardly, he said,
“Leaving just the gift feels a bit off.”
“Though it's the Baek family's celebration today, it's still during the three-year mourning, so per Lord Exterminating Poison King's orders, we've been asked to turn away most guests except close kin and a few others.”
Apparently, the Society Leader's disciples were among those few.
Blocked right at the entrance like this.
“Ah, I see.”
“So please just turn back...”
“Sorry, but I can't just leave either.”
“What...? Are you taking Lord Exterminating Poison King's words lightly?”
The warrior raised his voice in warning.
Mok Kyung-un shrugged and said,
“Of course not. Then I'll enter through another way.”
“What? Another way?”
-Thud!
Then Mok Kyung-un pulled something from his bosom and placed it on the table.
‘!?’
The warriors' eyes widened at the sight.
It was the three top plaques he'd received from Blood River Valley.
It was only natural to be shocked seeing three top plaques, when even one was hard to obtain.
Smiling at the speechless warriors, Mok Kyung-un said,
“I seek instruction from Lord Exterminating Poison King Baek Sa-ha. Will you refuse this too?”