Sichuan Dang Clan (5)
Indeed.
The reason Hyeon Yucheon had tolerated Dang Bijan's tasteless antics was his burning desire to test his second Formless Mystery.
'Having pierced the tricky senses of the Thousand Blood Poison Maniac Dang Bijan so effortlessly... I can confidently say I've mastered it completely.'
As Hyeon Yucheon mulled this over—
Ooooh!
The elite forces of the Sichuan Dang Clan, the Dang Family Heavenly Blood Unit, collapsed in unison, pounding the ground in despair now that their patriarch was gone in an instant.
These Heavenly Blood Unit warriors were truly exceptional, wielding insidious poison arts and hidden weapons that had even pushed Ga Jinuk, Eum Ji-myeong, and So Jaun to their limits. Yet the tide had turned in a flash.
"...We'll withdraw now. At least allow us to recover the patriarch's body."
With morale in the gutters, the unit's captain—the Whip Hand Poison Man Dang Judong—spoke in a defeated tone.
But what was this?
"Can't do that."
To everyone's shock, Hyeon Yucheon flatly rejected the plea.
'Why?'
So Jaun turned to him, stunned by the uncharacteristic response.
Hyeon Yucheon was ruthless to enemies but always knew where to draw the line.
He wasn't the type to deny even a corpse its dignity.
So this refusal was baffling.
Naturally, there was a reason.
"Did you think I wouldn't notice?"
Hyeon Yucheon adopted a stance ready to unleash Formless Flash Quick Sword at any moment, signaling that he'd kill Dang Judong if he came closer.
"Y-Yes?"
Dang Judong looked up at him, unable to hide his bewilderment.
"The corpse of the dead Thousand Blood Poison Maniac Dang Bijan is still laced with the potent poison of Thousand Blood Poison Flow. Your real aim isn't the body—it's recovering that poison to inherit the patriarch's legacy, isn't it?"
Hyeon Yucheon's insight was as sharp and seasoned as ever.
He'd seen right through Dang Judong's true motive.
"Gasp! N-No, how did you...?"
Dang Judong recoiled in shock.
Hyeon Yucheon's guess hit the mark.
His goal wasn't the body—it was the poison.
The Thousand Blood Poison Flow had always been passed from one patriarch to the next, and Dang Judong schemed to claim it for himself and rise as the new head.
"Your acting was solid, and your logic held water. But you couldn't hide one thing."
Hyeon Yucheon barked at him and continued.
"The greedy glint in your eyes."
Hyeon Yucheon had suspected as much, but up close, his instincts confirmed it.
Those weren't eyes of mourning—they were eyes of covetous hunger.
And sure enough, he'd been right.
"Thousand Blood Poison Flow makes up over seventy percent of the clan's signature poisons, doesn't it?"
The patriarch's version was the pinnacle among all the Sichuan Dang Clan's creations—the king of poisons, unrivaled.
With that, Hyeon Yucheon calmly extended his hand toward Dang Bijan's corpse.
Igniting flames in an instant with the scorching Formless Hot Fire Sword.
Whoosh!
Moreover, Hyeon Yucheon's inner energy was infused with the inner core of the Sun Golden Frog, brimming with blazing solar essence. With a mere thought, he could summon flames eclipsing the Buddhist Samadhi True Fire.
Thus, Dang Bijan's body was soon reduced to a pile of black ash, scattering into the sky.
"No! Nooooo!"
Dang Judong leaped desperately, trying to gather the remains of the man who once lorded over all of Sichuan Province.
But it was too late—like prescribing medicine after the patient was already dead.
The Thousand Blood Poison Flow he coveted had been utterly vaporized by the intense heat.
'Kuhuhu. Serves him right.'
Gong Jin, the pharmacist of Eokdang Pharmacy—who'd pledged loyalty to the Dang Clan only to nearly lose his life—felt a long-held grudge finally lift at the sight.
"The Sichuan Dang Clan has been a thorn in my side not just today, but at the Five Great Families' gathering too. I'm not petty by nature... but I'll make sure your poison arts regress by a century."
Hyeon Yucheon's words were no exaggeration or bluff.
With the centuries-old Thousand Blood Poison Flow burned away, their poison techniques were inevitably set back.
The clan had reserves of the poison, of course—but those were pre-Dang Bijan's improvements, inferior in potency.
"Sect Leader! Qingcheng Sect warriors are approaching from afar."
Just then, as Dang Bijan wailed—
Ga Jinuk spotted the incoming reinforcements.
"Murim Alliance Sichuan branch goons on the opposite side too!"
So Jaun shouted upon sighting them as well.
Hyeon Yucheon nodded.
'Time to go.'
Today's haul was flawless.
The Sun Golden Frogs fully purged, ten precious Golden Frog Pills secured.
Plus slaying the Sichuan Dang Clan patriarch and incinerating their ultimate poison—what more could he want?
As he prepared to depart in high spirits, Gong Jin raised his hand.
"Sect Leader Hyeon. I wish to join the Demon Sword Sect."
"What?"
Hyeon Yucheon blinked in surprise at the unexpected offer.
"I'm too old for martial arts, but I can handle herbs and refine pills. I'll be of some use."
With the Sichuan Dang Clan patriarch dead inside Eokdang Pharmacy, its owner Gong Jin faced not just survival woes in Sichuan Province, but relentless pursuit from the vengeful clan.
Better to seek refuge in the Demon Sword Sect than die hounded.
Hyeon Yucheon knew Gong Jin possessed exceptional talent as a pharmacist, along with shrewd business sense and integrity.
"Very well. Let's move together, then."
* * *
'Sigh~ He's from the Sichuan Dang Clan circles. Can we trust him?'
Gu Seung-hwan, the Black Island steward playing a key role in the Demon Sword Merchant Association's Shaanxi branch, eyed Gong Jin suspiciously.
—He's an exceptionally skilled pharmacist. Make good use of him.
He'd summoned Gong Jin on Sect Leader Hyeon Yucheon's orders, but doubts lingered.
Thanks to the Sichuan Dang Clan's official announcement from days prior in Sichuan Province.
—Our patriarch, the great hero Thousand Blood Poison Maniac Dang Bijan, fell to a cowardly ambush!
—By the hand of Demon Sword Sect Leader, Demon Sword Young Master Hyeon Yucheon!
The rumor spread like wildfire, shocking the Sichuan martial world—until witnesses emerged.
Turned out Dang Bijan had lusted after Hyeon Yucheon's Sun Golden Frog haul, made a grab, and died pathetically.
The clan declared Hyeon Yucheon and the Demon Sword Sect prime enemies, vowing vengeance someday.
"Steward, may I organize the herb and medicine warehouse myself?"
Sensing the skepticism, Gong Jin stepped up proactively.
"Ahem. Do as you like."
Gu Seung-hwan was wary, so he'd ostentatiously removed the priciest herbs and elixirs.
'If you steal or undersell these, I'll have your head.'
He watched and waited.
But what happened next?
"All sorted."
Just a day later, Gong Jin called him back—and Gu Seung-hwan's jaw dropped.
"D-Did you really do this yourself?"
The warehouse was impeccably organized: hot-natured herbs first, then cold ones in reverse order.
And not just that—
"Yes. Some moisture-sensitive herbs were out in the sun, so I rearranged based on my knowledge."
Things like hahsuo, meant for damp storage, had dried out crisp. Gu Seung-hwan had planned to toss them, but Gong Jin had revived them perfectly.
Even middling herbs emerged as top-grade under his touch.
"Is this arrangement acceptable?"
Gu Seung-hwan saw him in a new light but hid it.
'Too soon to praise—he might get cocky.'
He kept a cool demeanor.
"Not bad... If you have time, care to join a herb procurement run?"
He wasn't jealous of Gong Jin's talent.
Far from it—this was a golden chance to boost the association's performance.
Hence the invite for the newbie to a buying trip.
"Understood."
Gu Seung-hwan took Gong Jin to Shaanxi's largest herb market.
Shaanxi had long thrived on fertile lands around the Wei River, with bustling markets—but it paled against Sichuan Province's natural bounty.
"Hmm."
Gong Jin scrutinized the wares carefully, weighing purchases—
"Um... Steward Gu."
Gu Seung-hwan smirked inwardly at the call. Figures—a rookie's still a rookie.
"What? Too tough?"
But Gong Jin's reason was anything but trivial.
"If I may... Buying these low-grade herbs at this price kills our competitiveness."
"What?"
Gu Seung-hwan gaped, stunned by the bold critique.
Had the Demon Sword Merchant Association ever had such an audacious newbie?
Even more shocking—Gong Jin offered a perfect solution.
"I can source them for half the cost."
"For real?"
Gu Seung-hwan's heart raced.
Half meant double the margins.
"Yes. My Eokdang Pharmacy may be gone, but I still deal with those suppliers—and top herb dealers across the Central Plains."
Gong Jin's eyes gleamed.
"Entrust me with the Demon Sword Merchant Association's herbs and medicines... and I'll make it surpass Eokdang, into the martial world's finest pharmacy."
Gong Jin brimmed with confidence in his domain.
Pharmacist Gong Jin was far more capable than he let on.
Eokdang had started grand with Dang Clan backing but hit limits, content as Sichuan's best.
'With Demon Sword Young Master Hyeon Yucheon's support and the Demon Sword Sect's wealth... I could outshine even the Seok Family.'
Another key point: Gong Jin harbored no love for the Seok Family.
Anyone in merchant auctions loathed their monopolies on everything from goods to poisons.
"Excellent. You're now the head of herbs for the Demon Sword Merchant Association—give it your all!"