Chapter 134
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: Fabricating a Pretext (2)
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Kang Mujin ascended Yungzhong Mountain.
Though it had been one-sided, he had already coordinated with the Beggars' Sect, his fellow members of a shared fate, and sent a letter to the Tang Clan. They were working together to build a world where they helped one another.
The timing was perfect.
"Already here."
He had told them to come to the tomb of the One-Horned Venom Dragon, who had met an untimely end due to an unexpected accident, so they must have rushed over without delay.
He sensed presences gathering around the waterfall.
For a moment, he mistook the Tang Clan's perverse obsession with reclaiming the One-Horned Venom Dragon as quickly as possible to craft poisons and hidden weapons.
They believed poisons and hidden weapons would complete the Tang Clan's bright future.
When Mujin arrived, Poison King Dang Sadok and Dang Yeonu were there, along with several Tang Clan warriors. Considering the size of the One-Horned Venom Dragon, more hands would be needed, but too many people risked leaks.
The recovery of the One-Horned Venom Dragon needed to be kept as secret as possible. Only then could it serve as a hidden weapon in the future.
As Dang Sadok and Dang Yeonu stood side by side,
"What a touching grandfather-grandson duo."
"Quiet. Just where is it?"
"Behind that waterfall."
"Well hidden. But what the hell have you been up to that's stirring up all this chaos in Huguang Province?"
"Nothing worth worrying about."
Dang Sadok didn't erase his suspicious glare. He glanced at Cheol-ho, Na-reung, and Yuk-chil. Unlike their last meeting, they had grown even more.
One day, one improvement, as they say.
'Did they stuff themselves with spirit herbs in the meantime?'
Cheol-ho's rapid growth could be chalked up to his youthful looks despite his mature demeanor, but Na-reung and Yuk-chil's progress was astonishing. At this rate, stationing clan warriors by Mujin's side wouldn't be a bad idea.
"I'm not raising them for you."
"I didn't say a word."
"You didn't have to. It's obvious."
"Sharp as a ghost."
"Do you know how hard it is raising these kids? I agonize and fret over it several times a day. The weight of responsibility as their master is crushing."
"Enough already, you brat!"
Na-reung, Cheol-ho, and Yuk-chil thought they were hallucinating. His shamelessness was proven time and again, but how could he say such things without batting an eye? It was so unbelievable they had to check with each other, wondering if they'd misheard.
'I want to say that's not true!'
'Our lord isn't like that!'
'Master isn't human!'
He wasn't the type to fret over his disciples. He left them to grow on their own, then unleashed violence if they fell short. Growth and responsibility were entirely on them. He shirked duty while claiming all the privileges of master and lord.
Yet they couldn't rebel.
Why? Because they were growing stronger, and tattling would bring consequences they couldn't handle. Mujin's bone-deep pettiness was incomprehensible to outsiders.
Dang Yeonu, meeting again, showed Mujin utmost courtesy. His gaze toward Cheol-ho, Na-reung, and Yuk-chil was entirely different.
"Greetings, my lord."
"Grown stronger again. No issues?"
"Petty scum stirs trouble, but it's not all bad."
"Anything needing special attention?"
"They're more cautious than expected. I'll push harder."
"Good."
Dang Sadok was dumbfounded by Mujin and Dang Yeonu's brazen plotting. Dang Yeonu's words were bad enough, but they were conspiring openly.
And the targets were his grandson and nephew. He knew they weren't close, but this was beyond expectation. No hesitation in provocation or scheming.
"You brat, they're still family."
"Family or not, if they sin, they die."
Dang Sadok's heart ached at his grandson's matter-of-fact tone, like he belonged in the middle of a desert. It was commonsense, yet they were family. He knew the grudges from growing up, but his grandson spoke as if discarding trash.
"What if this one sins?"
"My lord is not family—he's my life."
Dang Sadok's head throbbed. He needed to sway his grandson's heart, but it was unyieldingly stubborn. If only he'd rage, there'd be an opening—even a pinhole. But none.
"Such consistent stubbornness is the mark of a true warrior. You've raised an exemplary grandson."
"Too kind, my lord."
This bastard!
Dang Sadok itched to unleash Myeongcheon Hwau, but restrained himself—it'd just waste his weapon. Crafting new ones was tough, and using it on Mujin would only dull it.
That absurd body was the pinnacle of fraud. He felt a violent urge to dissect how it became that way.
Fine, but don't chime in!
Watching his grandson tainted by that stifling Mujin felt like withering away. Yet surrender was hard. His grandson's achievements were astounding. Day by day, his progress unmatched—even Dang Sadok nearly blurted "genius" despite bias.
'Give me back my grandson, you damn punk!'
His suffocating attitude—all Mujin's fault. Yet Dang Sadok swallowed it. Speaking up would just spit in his own face. If Mujin had cared for Yeonu as family, this wouldn't have happened.
Mujin lavished praise on Dang Yeonu.
"Punish family sinners too. That cool-headed distinction between public and private! Never change it."
"Could you do that to your family?!"
"I'd exempt mine outright."
"Your family precious, others' not?!"
"Others just don't sin."
Dang Sadok, seeking compromise, felt like talking to a wall. Nothing penetrated. Mujin shielded only his own. Yet so brazen! Hypocrisy heroes and knights avoided, he flaunted as virtue. Proudly admitting worldliness over righteousness.
"Who'd follow a guy like you?!"
"No need. I deeply respect everyone's opinions."
Absurd nonsense, delivered calmly. Yet it worked—Mujin never forced. The situation just twisted oddly.
'What sin did I commit in my past life for this humiliation?!'
He said not to follow, yet Mujin's flock grew—influential Murim groups. Beggars' Sect and Nangong family were plenty, now him too.
"Still, your personal connections shine—Ami Sect yielded results."
"You?"
"Just spread some smoke."
"Another wild swing."
"They're probably fuming. You know losing temper loses the game."
Gasp!
Sichuan's odd trends—Mujin was behind them. Meddling in every hidden plot. Ami Sect likely next.
'Insolent punk!'
He read Dang Sadok's mind, dangling Ami Sect. Leverage against Tang Clan—behave or else.
'Future matters—who cares now.'
The seed in Ami Sect needed time. Poison King would get it. Tang Clan couldn't spy Ami internals easily, so peddle poison freely.
'Now fraud too!'
'Even Poison King helpless.'
'Master isn't human!'
Even if deliberate, Mujin's lies were next-level. Who scams the Poison King?
He wouldn't die, so lies flowed easy.
Ugh!
As Mujin and Poison King bantered idly, the warriors at the cave entrance sighed in frustration. What now?
Utter bafflement.
"Why loiter? Move it!"
"Well..."
Irked by their dazed scanning, Dang Sadok barked, but they had reasons. Cave behind waterfall? No entrance—just a suffocating wall.
"You're not messing with me?!"
"Look closely—that's the entrance. Sealed to keep poison from harming innocents. I'm that thoughtful."
Solid, no vents. Could swear no cave existed.
'Melted it with Samadhi True Fire!'
Outrageous antics.
But Mujin was capable. His soul-deep greed and materialism sufficed.
"Need help punching through?"
"No."
Before Dang Sadok replied, Mujin exited the waterfall. Expecting it, embarrassment fell to Poison King. No intent to help—just polite bait.
'No fondness, huh.'
Every act irked. Bitter taste. What to do? He volunteered—blaming was pathetic.
Whoosh!
Reduced wall to powder with inner energy.
One zhang to dust.
Two zhang to dust.
Three zhang to dust... Damn it!
Pouring vast energy, Dang Sadok nearly snapped seeing Mujin splash playfully. Shielding from splashes mid-task. Overflowing power wasted—Mujin's tyranny boiled his blood.
Splash, splash!
Cheol-ho grilled meat diligently. Utter focus to prevent burning. Witnessing mooah trance in barbecue.
Don't look, don't hear!
Bubble bubble!
Five zhang later, entrance cleared. Innate talent for suffocation. But not deliberate mockery—still infuriating.
Fishy stench wafted from within. Terrifying poison aura clung to the faint energy.
"Beware poisoning."
"Yes, former patriarch!"
Antidotes swallowed, poison-proof gear donned—no risk, but not invincible. Never underestimate One-Horned Venom Dragon's toxin.
Thud!
Deep into the long passage, a massive serpent lay limp.
"...Huge!"
Warriors' honest awe. Legendary venom beast, yes—but this size? Beyond reason, perhaps dragon-bound for ascension.
"How'd you kill this?!"
"Already dead."
"Alive? Horrific!"
Dang Sadok saw what they missed: minimal decay. Fresh kill—no processing.
Confirming inside solidified it.
'Monster!'
One strike pulverized internals. Regrettable—no inner core. Invaluable, leap for poison arts. But consumed already—let it go.
"Cut by section, handle carefully."
"Yes."
One-Horned Venom Dragon—all parts valuable to poison experts. Thus utmost care. Any nick devalued it.
'Sigh, long haul.'
Won't finish in a day—must oversee. Transport too delicate. Venom beasts bred disaster from negligence.
After portioning and instructing, Dang Sadok exited.
"Drink up! Drinking's learned from elders. You puked before—why? Take it!"
"Cheers!"
"Good boy. Men must hold liquor. Then women come easy. Outdrink courtesans or waste silver."
"Master been to brothels?"
"Nope."
Slick! Teaching the kid right.
Mujin's drunken revelry veined Dang Sadok's brow. Not his fault, but making elders work while youth debauches? No.
"Human of you?!"
"Qingyang's top wastrel, haha!"
People live on memories!
Boasting past, laughing boldly—Mujin's gall unearthly. Even immortals would crack.
Especially crusty Dang Sadok?
Regrettably, Murim: might is right.
"Sit already. All for livelihood, no?"
"You halved my lifespan!"
Dang Sadok—dying now was fine. Nineties—time to pass torch. Emperors that age birthed traitorous heirs.
"Half could be century or two—who knows."
"Sharp tongue!"
Quick retorts. Truly unprecedented. How to live into absurdity? Thoughts endless.
Must have grand purpose. Else, life's futility loomed.
Glug!
Mujin filled Dang Sadok's cup generously.
No regrets, he downed it.
Gulp!
Smooth, rich flavor soothed innards. Dense aroma and taste—rare even for him.
"Soul-Returning Brew!"
"Wino indeed."
Named for reviving souls of dead—Sichuan treasure, priceless. Tiny batches, pricier than gold. He guzzled it. Ancestors would wail at Tang funds vanishing thus.
"Money tree?"
"Not anywhere. Sideline trivialities. We meet—share a task."
Throat prickled like bone—Dang Sadok glared. Carefree, but purposeful.
"That why you called?"
"Check with Yeonu too. Honestly, why bother elder otherwise."
"Not in face!"
"Can't to beasts."
"Joking?"
"Yes."
Currently, needed Tang mechanisms and weapon craft. Align rumors with Beggars' Sect till ready. Then diversion. Plan skeleton done, supplies passed. Skim cream—overlooked.
Tada.
Mujin pulled a booklet.
Uncommon script and text caught Dang Sadok's eye. High master's aura emanated.
"See?"
"What is it?"
"Weapon manual by one who mastered heavenly martial arts."
"Delusional madman!"
Skimming, Dang Sadok's pupils quaked. Tremor said enough.
"Release, draw crowds. Haha."
"...You mad bastard!"
Release this?!
Dang Sadok's head already throbbed.