Chapter 114
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: Poison King (4)
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His own words fell on deaf ears, yet the boy obeyed this bizarre stranger. The Poison King had witnessed far too many unseemly sights in his later years. He even wondered if this was why he'd bothered recovering at all.
But right now, the priority was swaying Tang Yeon-woo's heart.
The Poison King suppressed his anger and accepted his grandson.
"From this moment, Tang Yeon-woo is restored as a direct descendant of the Tang Clan, with all privileges reinstated. What say you, Clan Head?"
There were procedures to follow, no matter the situation.
Though the Poison King was the clan's foremost expert, the current head was Poison Lord Tang Myeong-hu. Only his approval could officially restore Tang Yeon-woo's status.
"As you wish."
With Tang Myeong-hu's declaration, Tang Yeon-woo was fully reinstated. He now qualified for the matches.
Hmph!
Tang Yeon-su had stood alone on the arena stage, basking in everyone's attention until the Poison King's arrival sidelined him. No one knew his true feelings, but outwardly, he stared calmly across the venue.
"I'll end it quickly."
"Go on."
With Mujin's permission, Tang Yeon-woo slowly made his way to the stage.
Seeing his cold grandson, the Poison King grimaced bitterly. It wasn't he or the clan head whose approval mattered—it was Mujin's.
"Fetch a chair."
"...Ah, yes, sir."
The Poison King, expecting the seat of honor, instead settled beside Mujin. A Tang Clan servant, caught off guard, yielded his own chair.
Mujin stiffened as the old man sat next to him.
"You've quite the silver tongue to sway my grandson like this."
"I have a good eye for treasures."
It sounded like a sharp critique: their eyes were worse than a knothole. Boasting about himself while cutting others down—the epitome of killing two birds with one stone. In an instant, the Tang Clan looked like fools without discernment.
"What an absurd brat."
"Not bad, though, right?"
His grandson's drastic change was all this boy's doing. Yet it didn't change the fact that he'd lifted the dark cloud looming over the Tang Clan. What disasters might have unfolded if he hadn't recovered and the succession had shifted? The answer was obvious, even if he hated admitting it.
'And he's no ordinary fellow.'
He hadn't unleashed his full aura on his grandson, but it wasn't something easily brushed off. Yet this boy had sliced through his formless energy in a heartbeat. He'd even failed to fully retract his ki as intended.
'Was there ever a kid his age with such skill?'
He'd secluded himself after stepping down, but he hadn't ignored the martial world. The New Twenty Heroes were called superhumans beyond human limits, but at Mujin's age, it was a different story.
'Has the world changed?'
This boy, his grandson, that one over there.
Compared to the Poison King's active era, things were different. A new age had dawned. For the Tang Clan he'd once led to avoid obsolescence, they had to embrace change.
"That boy is my grandson."
"Who said otherwise? I respect Yeon-woo's choice."
Urgh!
The more he spoke, the worse it got for the Poison King. He couldn't seize the initiative. When had he ever endured such treatment? It stirred a sense of the times changing—and it grated on him. The boy had stolen his grandson's heart yet acted magnanimous, arrogant in his generosity.
Ahem!
The old man was sharp.
Mujin knew but saw no need to hide it. His loyal slave... er, brother Yeon-woo wouldn't waver.
-He won't hand him over easily.
'I know.'
The stubborn old man wouldn't have come uninvited, and having confirmed Tang Yeon-woo's potential, denying his greed now would be hypocrisy. Better to nail it down firmly first.
"Your brother's glaring."
"Quiet."
As the matchup between Tang Yeon-woo and Tang Yeon-su was set, the Tang faction's faces hardened. Subtle changes, hard to spot—but having the tablecloth yanked from a ready feast wouldn't sit well with anyone.
"Well-seasoned rice balls dusted with soybean powder are chewy and nutty. I'll make some for you later. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water."
...Crunch.
This brat was openly mocking him now.
He'd softened his stubbornness compared to before, but the Poison King was still the Tang Clan's top expert. New era or not, the New Twenty Heroes' prestige remained unshaken.
Did this punk see him as some third-rate thug instead of the Poison King? Treating him like a neighborhood grandpa idly playing go. It was a world the Poison King had never experienced.
'Has my reputation fallen this far?'
Or was the boy just ignorant?
Unlike Mujin and the Poison King's odd war of nerves, the arena remained calm.
"Unexpected."
"What is?"
"Didn't think you'd want this spot."
"Now you know."
Tang Yeon-su showed no reaction to Tang Yeon-woo's bored demeanor. He was a master at masking emotions. He must never reveal them until the chance came. And now it had, after a thousand hardships.
'The mongrel oversteps.'
Tang Yeon-cheon might not know his place, but he had pure clan blood. That earned some respect. But Tang Yeon-woo was rootless trash. Seeking equal treatment was presumptuous. Everyone had their station from birth; one shouldn't covet what they couldn't handle.
'You'll regret this.'
He'd prove the Poison King's choice a mistake.
Tang Yeon-su stood poised, waiting for Tang Yeon-woo to strike first. He'd demonstrate the gap with a counterattack.
"Begin the match!"
Tang Yeon-su was confident against any assault. Even against Tang Yeon-cheon, he hadn't gone all out. No technique could evade his eyes.
Whoooosh!
Tang Yeon-woo charged straight, then vanished like a ghost right before him. Faster than anticipated.
But he saw it.
Tang Yeon-su urgently twisted left.
"Good eyes."
He was already within arm's reach.
Baaaam!
A backhand strike.
It was Rock-Breaking Force, infused with considerable power. Without twisting and slapping it away with rotational force, it would've been dangerous.
Yet he couldn't fully disperse the impact.
Staggering, Tang Yeon-su got no time to recover. Tang Yeon-woo was now on his right.
Baaaam!
Another Rock-Breaking Force.
The rock-shattering palm force, refined with Poison Phantom Step, hammered Tang Yeon-su's defenses without respite.
Whirrr!
Like light refracting, Tang Yeon-woo's form dominated all directions. Astonishing footwork, near Phantom Shift.
"...Poison Phantom Step at its peak!"
"I knew he was strong, but this exceeds expectations!"
"His internal energy deployment is near perfect."
Expectations pegged him equal or slightly above Tang Yeon-cheon, but Tang Yeon-woo's display shattered imaginations.
'...What is this?'
Tang Yeon-su was the most shocked. Tang Yeon-woo blurred even up close. His Insight Eye activated, reading flows. Opponent moves were crystal clear.
Yet Tang Yeon-woo stayed hazy, next moves unclear. Without Insight Eye, response would've been impossible.
"You see it. But that's it."
Seeing helped response, but against a vast gap, even sight availed little. Tang Yeon-woo's flow disruption was masterful.
Overwhelmed, Tang Yeon-su maxed his Insight Eye.
'This can't be! Show me!'
-Pathetic.
-Same old.
-Worm.
-Pitiful.
Reading Tang Yeon-woo's thoughts via Insight Eye twisted Tang Yeon-su's face. It matched his indifferent expression perfectly.
No two-faced pretense. He attached no meaning to this duel. It crushed Tang Yeon-su's pride.
Thwack, thump!
Fists slicing air pierced defenses, striking face and gut.
Hngh!
Despite the scream, Tang Yeon-woo's blows unrelented. He toyed with defenses, landing hits. It looked like mockery, but wasn't quite.
Tang Yeon-su's Insight Eye blocked lethal strikes. Instinctive survival, artfully dodging vitals.
But that was misfortune.
He saw too well, dodged too perfectly. Tang Yeon-woo unleashed full power; Tang Yeon-su became the test dummy.
A human punching bag. Not one counter; pure one-sided beatdown.
"You're just playing around."
Hmm.
Mujin called it play, but the Poison King couldn't look away. Tang Yeon-su was no slouch. His eyes gave him the edge in drawn-out fights. Yet his grandson surpassed that, using him to calibrate his own power. "Genius" felt insufficient.
"Relying solely on Insight Eye leaves him like that. Tsk tsk tsk."
"If he weren't my grandson, he'd have no equal."
"Bragging about your grandson now? Huh, you've got a knack for it."
"...Quiet!"
Embarrassed, eh?
How many grandfathers wouldn't swell with pride at such strength? Mongrel or not, in a martial house, skill was all. Personality barely mattered.
"Reconciled, you two make a fine sight."
"I said quiet."
The lopsided bout stunned everyone, Poison King included. No one doubted Tang Yeon-su's skill—lest Tang Yeon-cheon look pitiful. Good thing he'd been carted off for treatment.
-Pathetic.
-Meh.
-Amusing.
-Let's end it.
Pain he could endure. But the thoughts via Insight Eye shredded his pride, fraying his reason. A rootless mongrel scorned him.
"You filthy mongrel!"
Finally, reason snapped; something dormant inside erupted. Intense killing intent fused with aura, exploding outward.
"Die!"
Tang Yeon-su's sudden surge broke Tang Yeon-woo's onslaught. But his dagger thrust empty air.
Swish!
Tang Yeon-woo stood behind him.
Thud!
Struck at the nape, Tang Yeon-su choked. Deadly aura flared, but one blow severed consciousness.
"No...!"
Stumble, stumble!
Body and mind disconnected. Tang Yeon-su collapsed on the stage.
"Tang Yeon-woo wins the match."
Rooooaaar!
Deafening cheers erupted. Warriors marveled at Tang Yeon-woo's victory. Overwhelming might, potential to surpass even the Poison King.
Tang Yeon-woo was surprised by the genuine cheers. Moments ago, they'd scorned and shunned him.
'Won't change anything.'
He regained his cool.
Tremble, tremble!
Amid the cheers for the rising star, two couldn't join. Especially the Tang faction, who'd assumed Tang Yeon-su's win—their faces were stone. Hidden in subtly shaking hands: writhing killing intent.
'That damned mongrel ruins the greater good!'
Pretty packaging for "greater good"—just desire to control the clan.
'Lowborn scum eyeing my son's seat! Unforgivable!'
Jeon Gal-su glared murderously at the now-vice-young-lord Tang Yeon-woo. To her, he was the root of all chaos. She'd never let him be, by any means.
Such glares might bother others, but Mujin was debating the Demon King on another note.
'Demon Seed, huh.'
-Planted during the Blocked Meridians treatment. Cliché setup.
He'd wondered about Demonic Cult ties. But Demon Seeds were growth-type parasites with demonic nature. They grew with the host, turning them demonic over time. No signs until cornered or rage-fueled, like now.
'Why do I keep running into these?'
-Didn't I say? You attract trouble. Big incident incoming. The Demon King's prophecy.
Bullshit blocked.
Hard to trace Demonic Cult links now. Using a Demon Seed targeted the future, not present.
With sickly Tang Yeon-su as bait, the Tang faction made a deal. To fool the suspicious old man, no demands yet. Later, dominate the clan and collect.
It connected cleverly.
'Solved another one, though.'
-They'll pivot.
'If I can't block that, not my problem.'
-Fair.
Help once, done. Useless worms wasting energy? Pass.
Hm?
The Poison King glared at Mujin.
"What?"
"Follow me."
"A challenge?"
"Quiet!"
Every word irked him.