Chapter 116
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 116
Chapter Title: Crushing the Tang Leaf (2)
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She was born with innate superior talent, and through relentless acquired training in poison arts, never slacking off.
Tang Sorin could see what others could not.
The flow of poison, and its origin.
Even colorless, odorless poison—she could clearly grasp it just by gazing at the toxins drifting through the air.
Of course, to reach that point, she had lived longer as a poison person than as a human.
Even without borrowing her grandfather—the Poison King's view, it was crystal clear: she was a genius that appeared perhaps once every millennium.
Of course.
Sometimes, she wanted to set down the heavy burden weighing on her shoulders.
"Eek, hee hee hee…."
Only after finishing all her daily tasks and rolling around alone on her bed did she find her sole moment of respite.
Then, into her ears.
Creak—
A very faint sound of the window opening.
Poison qi permeated the room, but it was tightly controlled through formations, so it posed no real problem.
But.
"…?"
The first thing that entered Tang Sorin's eyes.
A focal point stronger than any poison qi she had ever seen— even more vast and ferocious than her own or her grandfather's poison core.
Not a poison core condensed from various toxins, but something so perfect it could be called the essence of poison itself.
At first, no human form was visible whatsoever.
But from the moment she recognized the poison essence, the translucent shape began gradually assuming a human silhouette.
Under fabric too refined to dismiss as mere black attire, exquisitely honed muscles—nearing the realm of art—asserted their presence.
The exposed nape not covered by the black clothes, and a single prominent dot around the collarbone momentarily seized her gaze.
And.
She ended up locking eyes with the man in the jade mask, who had layered excessive suspiciousness atop the already dubious black garb.
A jade mask quite familiar to her eyes.
Of course.
[Anon / [Tang] More Jade Mask Young Lord pics? ㅠㅠㅠㅠ (7)]
Just moments ago.
Tang Sorin had been fervently collecting photos of the Jade Mask Young Lord posted on the gallery.
She couldn't pretend not to recognize him even if she tried.
…Though there was that minor issue of him nearly causing serious damage to her family.
But merit is merit, grudge is grudge.
The jawline revealed in the photos alone exuded handsomeness, so regardless of the Jade Mask Young Lord's misdeeds, they were worth collecting.
Tang Sorin nearly fell under the spell of that beauty for a moment.
But if this wasn't merely a dream to soothe her fatigue, but reality.
If it meant not just indirect financial harm, but deliberate physical damage…!
Wha—what the—.
It had been ages since she'd faced someone eye-to-eye and spoken—grandfather aside—so at first, her voice wouldn't come out.
"Wha—whaah, in—intruder… mmph!"
The moment her gaping mouth finally tried to form words without sound.
Thud, thud, thud—
The jade-masked handsome youth—no, monster—simply flicked his fingers, instantly sealing her major acupoints across her entire body.
Gazing down at her as she toppled stiff as a log onto the bed.
"Phew… That was close…."
The jade-masked man, who had just committed the grave crime of breaking and entering in real time, muttered in a self-mocking tone.
Of course, hearing that, Tang Sorin lost a bit of her composure.
Because he casually strode right up to her bedside and grasped her hand.
"—! —!"
Half by force, half by choice.
Her body, harboring poison qi within, couldn't embrace a man, and she'd never found one to her taste anyway—so her cherished purity was now in peril.
But whether misfortune or fortune.
Even by her own standards, her voluptuous figure drew not a glance; the Jade Mask Young Lord's gaze lingered briefly above her head.
And.
"Multiple Clone Technique…."
The Jade Mask Young Lord muttered something incomprehensible, twisting his lips in an expression that was neither a smile nor a frown.
Soon, the firm hand that had gripped hers released.
Contrary to her expectations.
The Jade Mask Young Lord indifferently pulled up the blanket to cover her body, then lost all interest and boldly began rummaging through the room.
Even her underwear drawer.
"Ah, pardon."
Tang Sorin's face flushed red with shame.
Soon after.
The Jade Mask Young Lord left her be and slipped out of the room.
"—!"
Seizing the chance, Tang Sorin strained with all her might to unseal her sealed acupoints.
But nearly perfectly executed, and utterly antithetical to her cultivated inner energy, she couldn't dispel the pure true qi.
Tang Sorin gave up resisting and could only lie limp, desperately turning her mind instead.
Regaining a shred of reason, she realized a terrifying fact.
The Poison Pavilion was a place where the entire building was shrouded in her brutally toxic training qi.
No matter that she harbored a poison essence within, she couldn't be immune to every type of poison.
…Unless she reached the legendary realm of Immunity to All Poisons.
And moreover.
Why infiltrate the Poison Pavilion specifically—and her room precisely.
His reaction had already shown her body wasn't the target.
Considering hostility toward the Tang Family….
'A rejuvenated Poison Demon…!'
Grandfather had said he committed an unforgivable grave sin and was exiled.
But if seeking revenge, wouldn't defiling or killing her be more fitting?
"…."
Tang Sorin's mind spun in dizzying circles.
How much time passed.
When the Jade Mask Young Lord returned to her room, a booklet was clutched in his hand.
Something familiar to Tang Sorin as well.
Training methods to create a poison person, and poison compounding recipes needed in the process.
The very essence of the Tang Family's poison arts.
"—!"
She thrashed futilely, pounding her still-sealed acupoints.
But her body wouldn't budge an inch.
However.
When their eyes met again through the mask.
A deep sorrow seemed to veil his gaze, draining strength from her body once more.
"I have no intention of harming you, miss. I came only to confirm something. Might I ask if you are Dang Narin by any chance?"
And the Jade Mask Young Lord's question.
Tang Sorin inwardly repeated the three syllables of Dang Narin.
Somewhere in her mind.
Somewhere in her heart, something stirred and welled up—a strange sensation.
As if.
She had forgotten something she must never forget—
"Well, we'll have a chance to talk next time. I'll convey my regards to your father. The acupoint seal will release automatically in about half a shichen. Have a peaceful night."
Dang Narin…?
Father…?
Officially, she was the daughter of the current family head, Tang Woojun.
But Tang Sorin had been an orphan without parents since childhood.
Yet, father…?
Leaving the even more bewildered Tang Sorin behind.
The Jade Mask Young Lord vanished smoothly out the window he'd entered by—as if nothing had happened—ignoring the door entirely.
* * *
Whether misfortune or fortune.
The explosive reveal show by Dang Narin (presumed) that would have delivered massive shock and terror to me didn't occur.
I could only surmise that my parting words had struck a chord in her heart….
That aside.
Honored Elder Tang.
Your daughter is a bit… broken….
How does she have eight gallery accounts…?
Unlike the modern world where infinite alt accounts are possible, here it's one smartphone, one ID limit.
Meaning she purely owns eight smartphones.
Not just the barcode ID inheriting D's will, but from plain accounts to all sorts of diverse concepts mixed in.
The crowning glory among them.
[Tang] Dropping a Jade Mask Young Lord pic collection!!!!!!! (16)
[Tang] Honestly, just the jawline makes him look kinda hot, right???? Strip off the top and heh heh heh (6)
A fresh account just starting its Jade Mask Young Lord fandom.
"Urk."
Forcing the abyss I'd recalled out of my mind, I headed toward the family head's residence.
Dark King Tang Woojun.
A true genius who ascended to the ranks of the Central Plains' Ten Great Masters through effort alone, without relying on poison.
The man who played a pivotal role in solidifying the Tang Family's status, despite their treatment as riffraff by the orthodox sects.
…And the younger brother of Honored Elder Tang Wuryang.
Just how deeply was he entangled in that incident seventeen years ago?
At least, the fact that Dang Narin (presumed) was alive was immensely encouraging, but if even the Dark King was connected.
The Tang Family could be considered rotten from top to bottom.
Of course, from observing the family atmosphere so far, contrary to public perception, he didn't seem particularly shunned within the clan.
Probably an issue between the poison arts faction and the dark arts faction.
Inhaling the faint black bean paste scent wafting into my nostrils from somewhere, and taking in the sight of the adorably buzzing bee floating midair.
I entered the family head's residence with a trace of tension.
"Please enter this way, Young Master Geum."
"My thanks for the guidance."
The room I entered upon opening the door was the family head's office.
Briefly taking in its austere space, modest enough to call spartan for a clan leader's workspace.
"Greetings. I am Geum Sihyeon, a first-year student from the Hundred Flowers Academy."
I bowed my head politely toward Tang Woojun, seated sternly in his chair.
What returned was.
"You seem to be up to quite the audacious antics, Geum Sihyeon. Or would you prefer I call you Jade Mask Young Lord?"
"…!"
Despite committing no grabbable offenses.
Tang Woojun's words pierced my chest like a honed dagger.
Lifting my head.
Tang Woojun's gaze brushed past me like frost-tipped thorns.
What I sensed in that gaze was not hostility, but curiosity.
…He knew and allowed it anyway.
Then I should be a bit more honest.
Clearing my throat.
"Haha… Yes. Allow me to correct my introduction once more. I stand here as the legitimate heir of the Ten Thousand Gold Treasury Fortress, also to discuss future business. …And as the junior brother of your elder brother, Tang Wuryang, I offer greetings anew."
"…What did you say?"
The stern, dignified, serious mask of Tang Woojun.
Cracked and wavered for an instant.