Episode 24

The Poison Demon

A group of martial artists traversed the winding mountain paths of Wawu ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Mountain.

Located south of Chengdu, Wawu Mountain was infamous for its treacherous terrain.

At the head of the group, the escort flag of the Manhaepyoguk fluttered in the wind, emblazoned with the character for "Ten Thousand."

The formation was unmistakable—skilled escorts and seasoned caravan guards surrounded the central wagon carrying the escort goods.

Their mission, assigned by the Martial Alliance as a mid-rank task, was simple: receive the Alliance's cargo at Chishui County, on the border of Sichuan and Guizhou, and safely deliver it to the Alliance's Shaanxi branch.

Not a single person among them let their guard down, their expressions grave and focused.

Yet, strangely, the interior of the wagon reeked of strong liquor—an aroma entirely out of place for such a serious escort mission.

"Ahhh, now this—this is truly exceptional liquor."

"Hoh, you have fine taste! This is Jiannanchun, Sichuan's finest brew, specially prepared for you, Lord Takbi."

"Oh-ho! Jiannanchun—the very wine Li Bai once traded for a thousand-gold sable coat in his poem 'Battlefield Wine'!"

Unbelievably, a drunken feast was unfolding inside the wagon carrying the Martial Alliance's cargo.

Drinking during a mission was unprecedented—and absolutely forbidden—for the Manhaepyoguk.

But this time, they had no choice.

The elite rogue martial artist they had barely managed to hire for this mid-rank mission—

Takbi, the Blizzard Blade—had to be appeased with liquor.

Thus, Tang Heok, the senior escort leader and right-hand man of Tang Ho-yeol, forced a merchant's ingratiating smile as he poured drinks for Takbi.

'Li Bai's poem was 'Invitation to Wine,' not 'Battlefield Wine,' you illiterate brute.'

"Exactly! That's the very one!"

Suppressing his boiling frustration, he responded with exaggerated enthusiasm.

"Hahaha! As expected of me—the youngest elite rogue martial artist and a master at the pinnacle of martial arts—only the finest liquor will do!"

"Your discernment is impeccable. Our Chief Escort Leader especially—"

Tang Heok caught himself too late—he had carelessly mentioned Tang Ho-yeol's name.

The moment the words left his lips, Takbi's brow furrowed deeply.

Thud.

Takbi slammed his cup down loudly.

"Tch. What's the point of expensive liquor if the company isn't up to par?"

Clicking his tongue, Takbi made his displeasure clear.

'Damn it, here we go again.'

Tang Heok inwardly cursed.

This wasn't the first time Takbi had thrown a tantrum.

"If you wanted to entertain me properly, the clan head or the Chief Escort Leader should've come themselves!"

"Or at least send that so-called 'Young Lord' who's been making waves in Sichuan lately to bow his head before me!"

Truthfully, Takbi wasn't entirely wrong.

Had this been an ordinary escort mission, Tang Ho-yeol himself would have led it.

But there was a simple reason he couldn't.

'Sigh... The Chief Escort Leader had to remain at the bureau to monitor the main family's movements in real time.'

If the main family found out Tang Ho-yeol had independently taken on a mid-rank Martial Alliance mission—

Tang Ho-yeol needed to stall for time until the mission was complete, hence his presence at Manhaepyoguk.

"Hahaha... Lord Tak, why must you be like this? Come, have another drink."

"Tch. What's the point? You think I'll be swayed by this?"

Tang Heok deftly poured more wine, steering the conversation away.

Takbi, despite his bluster, eventually succumbed to the rising aroma of Jiannanchun.

Watching the half-drunk man gulp down the liquor, Tang Heok sighed inwardly.

It was almost laughable—this was the elite rogue martial artist they had paid a fortune to hire.

'Disgusting as he is, I have to endure. Strength is everything in this world.'

Despite appearances, Takbi was indeed a master at the pinnacle of martial arts.

Though barely clinging to the threshold of the extreme realm, he was still the most talked-about rising blade master in recent rogue circles.

'Still, thanks to him, we've made it safely this far near Chengdu.'

Just as Tang Heok recalled Takbi's terrifying prowess—slaughtering the bandits who had attempted to raid their wagon—

Neigh!

The wagon abruptly jerked to a halt.

"Ugh!"

"W-what's happening?!"

The sudden stop overturned the liquor table, causing chaos.

Seeing Takbi's icy expression, Tang Heok hurried toward the driver's seat.

The coachman was struggling to calm the horses, but the panicked animals refused to settle.

"What's going on?"

"F-forgive me, Escort Leader. The horses were spooked by an old man who suddenly appeared in the middle of the road."

An old man?

Following the coachman's gaze, Tang Heok looked ahead—

And saw a hunched, white-haired blind man blocking their path.

"Excuse me, old man. You're in the way. Step aside."

"Kehehe. Hehe."

A madman?

Despite being blind, the old man wore pitch-black spectacles—clearly unhinged at a glance.

"Hah. Looks like the horses were startled by the glare off his spectacles."

"Ah, you've come out, Lord Tak. We'll handle this—"

"Handle this my ass. Move."

Takbi strode toward the old man.

A greedy glint flickered in his eyes.

'Hehe. What use are spectacles to a blind man anyway?'

The old man's spectacles were clearly expensive.

"Hey, old man. You ruined my clothes. How are you gonna compensate me for this?"

"Where are the goods?"

"—!"

In an instant, the old man's aura shifted.

The madman's laughter vanished, replaced by an overwhelming surge of sinister demonic energy.

Hummm.

Simultaneously, the pitch-black lenses of his spectacles began to glow blood-red.

A chill ran down Takbi's spine at the horrifying sight.

'At least my equal!'

Shing!

Sensing danger, Takbi swiftly drew the great blade strapped to his back.

But he never got the chance to swing it.

Clang.

The blade clattered to the ground.

Takbi clutched his throat, his face paling rapidly.

Despite seeing no poison being administered, he was already poisoned.

"Ghk—kuhk!"

"Kekeke. Delicious, isn't it? A lethal toxin that melts your tongue first."

The old man's tone reverted to that of a madman's.

It was as if two personalities coexisted within one body—a grotesque sight.

"Gurgle—cough!"

Black blood gushed from Takbi's mouth.

Watching the gruesome scene, Tang Heok's face drained of color.

'H-how is that monster still alive?!'

The crimson spectacles, the effortless toying with a pinnacle master—such overwhelming poison arts.

As a Tang clansman, he couldn't possibly mistake this figure.

The Great Demon Head, said to have fought the previous clan head, Tang Ui-tae, to a standstill—

The Poison Demon, Ya Yul-seung, had returned from the dead!

Crack.

In an instant, Ya Yul-seung seized Takbi by the throat and lifted him effortlessly.

"You call yourself an 'elite' rogue martial artist? Think you can uphold honor?"

"Ggk—kuh!"

Takbi frantically shook his head.

Then, with desperate fingers, he pointed toward the escort group's wagon.

Ya Yul-seung burst into laughter.

"Kehehe. My apologies. Right, I melted your tongue just now. Kekeke."

"Ggk!"

"Then you're useless. Die."

"?!"

Crunch.

Takbi's neck snapped like a twig, his body going ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠limp.

Dropping the corpse, Ya Yul-seung turned toward the wagon.

"Kekeke. Now, who should I ask about the goods?"

"All escorts—scatter! Survivors, report this at all costs!"

Whoosh!

Tang Heok, clutching the cargo to his chest, fled while shouting orders.

With their strongest fighter dead in an instant, the escort group's annihilation was inevitable.

To save even one life—and protect the cargo—this was the only way.

Watching the Tang clansmen scatter in all directions, Ya Yul-seung licked his lips.

"Annoying pests."

"Kehehe. But that's what makes hunting fun."

The Poison Demon's crimson spectacles gleamed ominously as he spoke to himself.

Manhaepyoguk Headquarters.

Chief Escort Leader Tang Ho-yeol's office.

"Hehe."

Trimming an orchid, Tang Ho-yeol chuckled unconsciously.

As the head of the New Tang Clan, he should maintain dignity—but the thought of the gold soon pouring in made it impossible to suppress his glee.

'Three days ago, the messenger hawk confirmed they received the cargo at Chishui County and began moving. It won't be long now.'

Greed shimmered thickly in his eyes.

Tang Mu-yeol—superior in neither martial skill, character, nor business acumen—

Had stolen the clan leadership solely by being born first.

Soon, the day of reckoning would come.

'That insolent brat Tang Se-woon will be the first to be stripped bare and cast out.'

Recalling his impudent nephew who had recently dared to defy him, Tang Ho-yeol gritted his teeth.

Just then—

Crash!

A commotion erupted outside.

The sound of shattering objects and panicked shouts filled the air.

Before he could wonder what was happening—

Bang!

The office door flew open, revealing a bloodied escort.

"Huff—hah! C-Chief Escort Leader! A disaster—!"

"—!"

Only one survivor had returned to Manhaepyoguk.

With each word, Tang Ho-yeol's expression grew colder than ice.

The Poison Demon, Ya Yul-seung, had ambushed the escort group.

Takbi, the elite rogue martial artist, had been killed.

Escort Leader Tang Heok's fate was unknown.

The Martial Alliance's cargo had undoubtedly been stolen.

As the situation crystallized in his mind, Tang Ho-yeol quietly asked the escort:

"Who else survived?"

"I-I don't know. Everyone scattered in panic."

"So someone might've fled toward the main family."

"I-I'm not sure. But why does that—?"

Thud.

A sickening squelch cut him off.

The escort's eyes bulged as he looked down at his body—

A hidden projectile from Tang Ho-yeol was embedded deep in his chest.

Thump.

The man collapsed, dead before he hit ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the ground.

"The fewer who know we failed the Martial Alliance's mission, the better."

Gazing dispassionately at the corpse, Tang Ho-yeol muttered.

Not a shred of remorse flickered in his eyes.

Damn it. Why today of all days?

He swiftly turned to erase all traces of corruption in his office.

"Damn it all. The moment the Emei Sect Leader finds out, she'll come straight here."

Two hours ago, his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spy in the main family had reported that Abbess Geumhwa, the Emei Sect Leader, had visited.

Though she was likely occupied with other matters, if any survivor reached the main family—

Abbess Geumhwa would come for him immediately.

Deceiving the Martial Alliance with falsified mission details was unforgivable.

Ya Yul-seung's interference was unforeseen, but Tang Ho-yeol couldn't escape blame for the failure.

'No choice. I'll regroup later—for now, I must flee.'

If the Martial Alliance's Enforcement Hall captured him, he'd never leave intact.

Abandoning his cleanup, Tang Ho-yeol grabbed only the financial documents and valuables.

The main family would prioritize rescuing the ambushed escort group upon hearing the news.

"Damn it. I'll take the essentials and—"

Just then—

Whoosh!

The air split with a piercing sound—

"—!"

Crash!

Something tore the office door clean off its hinges.

Tang Ho-yeol's stunned face and the escort's corpse were laid bare.

"You seem much healthier than rumored. How fortunate."

"...You."

Tang Ho-yeol's killing intent surged toward the intruder.

"Uncle, I've come to collect your debt."

Tang Se-woon spoke softly.

The Sichuan Overlord had arrived.