Chapter 270
Chapter 270
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 270
Chapter Title: The Immortal Herb
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"...Immortal Herb?"
Dang Yun-do's eyes flashed as he welcomed Choi Mu-gyeol into the room.
Immortal Herb.
It was an item that every member of the Tang Clan dreamed of. To them, the Immortal Herb was no different from a divine-grade item—a treasure of the ages.
"Is the former Poison Pill Sect Leader truly still alive?"
"Yes. My master is still alive."
"Hmm..."
"Brother, this is..."
Avarice flickered in the eyes of Dang Yun-do and Dang Yu-seong.
In this world, was there any poison user who wouldn't lose their mind over the Immortal Herb? Even their clan head, the Poison King Dang Pae-gun, was the type who would do anything for it.
But.
"We mustn't approach rashly."
Dang Yun-do opposed rushing off to find Je Un-hak despite knowing of the Immortal Herb's existence.
"What do you mean? We should go seize it right now!"
Even with the Poison Pill Sect Leader Choi Mu-gyeol right in front of them, Dang Yu-seong spoke without restraint.
The Sacheon Tang Clan had always been unhesitant about snatching and plundering compared to other sects. Especially when the Immortal Herb was involved, there was no need for further discussion.
"Brother, surely you're not worried about the Poison Pill Sect's..."
"Fool!"
Dang Yun-do barked at Dang Yu-seong's persistent words.
"Have you forgotten what happened fifteen years ago? How we lost the Immortal Herb?"
"Fifteen years ago..."
"That's right."
Choi Mu-gyeol interjected as he listened to their conversation.
"My master will never hand the Immortal Herb over to the Tang Clan. He'd die first—he's not the type."
Simply intimidating with force wouldn't secure the Immortal Herb.
That had already been proven fifteen years ago. Knowing this, Dang Yun-do couldn't act recklessly.
Dang Yun-do's eyes gleamed at Choi Mu-gyeol's cooperative attitude. Since it involved the Immortal Herb, his tone naturally softened.
"Do you have some idea in mind, Poison Pill Sect Leader?"
Choi Mu-gyeol nodded.
"I have one plan."
"What is it?"
"I need the clan head's help."
"The clan head's?"
Dang Yun-do was taken aback at the mention of the Tang Clan head, Dang Pae-gun.
Dang Pae-gun's very existence was why he couldn't move freely.
If he acted first to obtain the Immortal Herb and botched it, Dang Pae-gun's wrath would fall entirely on him.
"But right now, the clan head can't easily leave the clan."
"Don't worry."
Choi Mu-gyeol thumped his chest confidently.
"I'll meet him in person and explain."
"You'll go yourself, Poison Pill Sect Leader?"
Dang Yun-do's eyes sparkled.
If that were the case, there was no issue. Dang Pae-gun wouldn't need to leave the clan, and they could safely claim the credit for discovering the Immortal Herb's whereabouts.
The judgment afterward would be up to Dang Pae-gun. His role only extended to escorting Choi Mu-gyeol safely to the clan.
"Very well."
Dang Yun-do shot to his feet.
"No need to delay—let's depart right now."
Sacheon Castle.
The most bustling heart of the vast Sacheon lands, home to the Sacheon Tang Clan.
Upon arriving at Sacheon Castle, Soo-hyuk set down Je Un-hak, whom he had been carrying on his back.
"You must be tired from the journey."
"The old man being carried isn't tired— you've suffered more."
Though in the same Sacheon territory, Sacheon Castle and Kunlun Mountain were quite far apart.
Moreover, carrying Je Un-hak had taken a full three days of hard running to reach the Tang Clan.
'I could have come faster, but...'
Soo-hyuk glanced at the staggering Je Un-hak.
Whether reading his concern or not, Je Un-hak insisted he was fine, but he had likely pushed himself hard.
No matter that he was carried, enduring Soo-hyuk's speed on an elderly body was no small feat. Three days of such a grueling march would leave anyone wrecked.
But unlike his trembling body, Je Un-hak's eyes burned fiercely.
Likely from the anticipation that here, he would meet one of two extremes: his own death or Dang Pae-gun's.
"What do you plan to do now?"
"What else? Head to the Tang Clan, of course."
"Through the main gate?"
"The back gate works too."
Je Un-hak startled at Soo-hyuk's joke. He hadn't expected "going to the Tang Clan" to mean literally entering it.
"Do you even know where it is?"
Je Un-hak, who had staggered all the way, blocked Soo-hyuk's path.
"We can't go in there."
"Why not?"
"I've dreamed for fifteen years of vengeance against Dang Pae-gun. Do you know how this frail old man could harbor such a dream?"
"Tell me."
"Because I'm a poison user."
Fifteen years of memories flashed through Je Un-hak's mind.
He had gathered and concocted every poison in the world. Some days he made a few kinds, others dozens; sometimes he spent entire nights refining a single one.
The reason he could do so was simple.
"Even someone like me, this worthless old man, has the potential to kill Dang Pae-gun if the right conditions align."
The power where the weak become strong, and the strong become the strongest, depending on the environment.
"That's the terror of poison users. And Dang Pae-gun stands at the pinnacle of them."
In any other place, he might not worry so much. Though over twenty years had passed, it was known that the Dark King ranked above the Poison King.
But even so, Je Un-hak couldn't just stand by and let the two walk into the Sacheon Tang Clan.
"I know you're remarkable people. I know the Dark King is the pinnacle of shadow arts."
"Why exclude me?"
"You..."
As Je Un-hak trailed off, Soo-hyuk chuckled.
"I understand. You're still unsure."
"...Sorry."
"No need to apologize. Even if you fully believed, you'd still worry."
The Sacheon Tang Clan loomed too large in Je Un-hak's heart. The moment he lost his son to them had tormented him for fifteen years.
He understood. The anxiety was warranted.
The fear of missing a chance to kill the Poison King. Compounded by the dread that the two who came to help might die pointlessly.
That was why Soo-hyuk and Ye-ryeong had taken the long way around.
"Plus, though it's frustrating to admit, we're not quite at our old level yet."
No.
Even if they were back to full strength, nothing would change.
Twenty years had reshaped everything. Soo-hyuk had felt it keenly facing Hails and battling the Heavenly Demon.
The world hadn't stopped. The tower hadn't been cleared further, but players kept growing stronger.
'I've nearly caught up to my old power.'
Even he was astonished at his own speed.
But he couldn't settle for this. In truth, Soo-hyuk had only just reached the starting line.
'This is where it really begins.'
Soo-hyuk's eyes sparkled as he spoke.
"There's one thing you don't know, elder."
"Something I don't know?"
Je Un-hak countered, puzzled.
He believed he knew Dang Pae-gun better than anyone. As a fellow poison handler, he understood the Poison King's terror intimately.
"I probably know more about that bastard Dang Pae-gun than anyone."
"Yes, about the Poison King or the Tang Clan."
"What do you...?"
"You don't know about us."
Je Un-hak fell silent at Soo-hyuk's words.
True.
He didn't know these two. Intellectually aware, but not fully trusting or understanding from the heart.
Unlike the Poison King, whom he had experienced firsthand, the Dark King and Lee Soo-hyuk were distant from his life.
"If you'd met Ye-ryeong, you wouldn't say that."
Soo-hyuk's voice held unshakable faith in Ye-ryeong.
Be it the Sacheon Tang Clan or anywhere else—even hell itself—she wouldn't lose to the likes of the Poison King.
That faith spread instantly. Je Un-hak felt an odd trust in Ye-ryeong, whom he'd never met.
"Sorry. Here I am receiving help, yet fretting and babbling."
Je Un-hak nodded.
"Fine. Frontal assault or backdoor—let's go see."
Deciding to trust brought relief. Instead of blocking the way, Je Un-hak took the lead.
That was when.
"Who said frontal assault?"
Soo-hyuk chuckled as if wondering what he was on about.
"Entering through the main gate doesn't mean it's a frontal assault."
A banquet was laid out in the guest hall.
Dozens of dishes lined up, alongside famed liquors.
Dang Pae-gun, who had ordered the feast himself, smiled contentedly.
"Thank you all for coming. Thanks to you, this clan head eats heartily. I won't forget this favor."
Not a single ordinary figure sat at the table.
No need to mention Un Cheon-geuk, the Star Lotus Castle Lord; from former murim experts to Blue Zone members and hired high-rankers, all were renowned.
The two giants who had gathered them spoke.
"I only came at the guild master's request."
"Same here."
Kim Il-su and Jin Do-ha.
They were all assembled by these two to capture Ye-ryeong.
"Direct your thanks to the Alliance Lord."
"The Alliance Lord regretted your absence from this guardian raid."
The murim high-rankers still called Jin Do-ha "Alliance Lord."
They followed Jin Do-ha, not the current Murim Alliance.
Dang Pae-gun, absent from the guardian raid, laughed awkwardly.
"Haha, there'll be other chances. Truly regrettable."
Despite his words, Dang Pae-gun's eyes gleamed coldly.
'These vermin dare.'
Thanks to Jin Do-ha? Regretting not joining the guardian raid?
All words meant to pressure him.
To place him under Jin Do-ha. To swallow the Sacheon Tang Clan this time.
"Come, forget the past and eat. The food will get cold."
"..."
Meant to lighten the mood. Surely food and drink would ease tensions.
But no.
Not one picked up their utensils. They merely stared blankly at the dishes.
As silence stretched, veins bulged on Dang Pae-gun's forehead.
"You all must not like spicy food."
They feared poison in the food.
In the Sacheon Tang Clan, no one could ignore that possibility.
Clink.
Actually, one did.
Un Cheon-geuk.
He was the first to lift his chopsticks.
Dang Pae-gun's gaze shifted to him briefly.
Watching Un Cheon-geuk eat, the others gradually followed suit.
Just as the meal began.
-Clan head, urgent message.
A subordinate outside the guest hall sent a mental transmission.
-Important dinner. Postpone if not critical; keep it brief if necessary.
-It's...
At the subordinate's follow-up transmission, Dang Pae-gun turned and asked aloud in shock.
"What did you say arrived?"