Chapter 123
Chapter 123
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: Dark Scheme (2)
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A gruesome massacre claimed the lives of over thirty young martial artists, including disciples from the Hengshan Sect dispatched to the Murim Alliance.
The Murim Alliance was thrown into chaos, pouring all its resources into uncovering the truth behind the incident.
Here's what happened.
To celebrate the birthday of No Il-gyeong, a disciple of the Hengshan Sect, a modest gathering was held.
No Il-gyeong and his fellow disciples had wanted to keep it low-key due to the unfortunate incident a few days prior, but Elder Yi Gwak, concerned for the disciples' morale, arranged some light drinks and food for a simple celebration.
A few others who were close to No Il-gyeong also attended.
Despite the disciples' protests, Yi Gwak offered a brief blessing, telling the young ones to enjoy themselves, and left early.
But at some point, those who had been happily sharing food, drinks, and conversation began collapsing one after another.
The celebratory feast turned into hell in an instant.
Exactly thirty-seven people lost consciousness and fell.
Of them, twenty-nine were dead by the time the healers from the Medicine Hall arrived after receiving word. Five more perished the moment the healers got there. Of the remaining three, two succumbed despite the healers' desperate efforts before the night was out. The sole survivor was a single Huashan Sect disciple who hadn't touched the alcohol.
Faced with the most horrific incident in the Murim Alliance's history, Alliance Leader Jwa Ik-seon immediately ordered all four gates sealed and launched a full-scale investigation.
The victims' conditions matched classic symptoms of poisoning, so the Medicine Hall healers confirmed the cause of death as poison. They also detected traces of toxin in the food and drinks used at the feast.
With the conclusion of poisoning, all eyes turned to the Sacheon Tang Clan. Given the recent unpleasantness with the Hengshan Sect, the suspicion was natural.
Dang Yeo-song, the elder representing the Tang Clan at the Alliance, declared they had no involvement whatsoever and pledged full cooperation with the Medicine Hall's investigation to identify the culprit.
Some voiced concerns about possible tampering, but most welcomed the Tang Clan's participation—after all, no one rivaled their expertise in poisons.
Three days later, the shocking results emerged from the efforts of the Medicine Hall healers and Dang Yeo-song.
While the exact identity of the trace poison in the food and drinks remained unknown, they pinpointed the core toxin as one from Mokrin Temple.
The revelation of Mokrin Temple's poison put the Tang Clan in a precarious position. As far as was known, Mokrin Temple's poison wasn't particularly dangerous on its own—far less lethal than many snake venoms.
But refine it with a special method, and it became a deadly toxin unmatched by any other. The problem? The Tang Clan was the only known possessor of that refinement technique.
Dang Yeo-song argued that if the Tang Clan were guilty, they had no reason to expose it themselves, insisting on their innocence.
There was no concrete proof tying the Tang Clan to the use of Mokrin Temple's poison, and Dang Yeo-song's point about self-incrimination held weight, so the case seemed headed for a dead end.
However, during the inspection team's rigorous interrogation of the cooks who prepared the food and the servants who carried it, a decisive piece of evidence surfaced.
In the quarters of one cook, they found a sum of gold far beyond what such lowly servants could amass.
Unable to withstand the intense questioning, the cook confessed that Dang Hong—whose legs had been broken by Hengshan Sect disciples—had instructed him to mix a small amount of unidentified powder into the drinks and food for the feast.
The cook claimed he had no idea it was poison, believing Dang Hong's explanation that it was just a prank to ruin the party, and begged for mercy.
That night, overcome by guilt over the deaths caused by his actions, the cook ingested the powder Dang Hong had given him and took his own life.
The cook's testimony and the powder he received from Dang Hong became irrefutable evidence, plunging the Tang Clan's reputation into the depths overnight.
Dang Hong wept blood-tears, protesting his innocence, but a servant testified to witnessing him meet the cook. Dang Hong's claim that the cook had sought him out was dismissed outright.
The Hengshan Sect, which suffered the heaviest losses, along with the Huashan and Wudang Sects and many others who lost disciples, created an atmosphere thick with impending violence.
Questions like how a prisoner in chains had powder on him or how he ingested it with bound hands evaporated in the heat of the moment.
Representatives from the Hengshan Sect and other affected factions naturally demanded Dang Hong's execution and a sincere apology from the Sacheon Tang Clan—not to mention fitting compensation.
The Alliance's Enforcement Hall unanimously recommended the death penalty. But Dang Yeo-song stubbornly maintained the innocence of both Dang Hong and the Tang Clan.
Even setting aside that Dang Hong was the third son of Dang Yu, who had recently become clan head, Mokrin Temple's poison was handled by only a select few in the clan—far beyond Dang Hong's station to even glimpse.
Dang Yeo-song insisted they at least report to headquarters, verify any leakage of the poison, and then proceed with punishment.
The Zhuge Clan, suspicious of the cook's death, questioned his testimony. The Peng Clan of North Han River and the O Clan of Shandong argued it wouldn't hurt to wait until the Tang Clan's internal probe concluded. The situation took a strange turn.
The deaths of thirty-six people devolved into a power struggle between the two pillars upholding the Murim Alliance: the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Clans.
"This morning, we received word from the Nangong Clan that they will soon invoke the Blue Sword Decree."
Jwa Ik-seon's words threw both feuding factions, who had been pointing fingers wildly, into disarray.
"I-Is that true?"
Peng Hu asked, his face pale with shock.
"The Alliance Leader just informed me."
Nangong Gi, representing the Nangong Clan at the Alliance, nodded gravely.
"Heavens! If they're invoking the Blue Sword Decree, the Heavenly Demon Cult's movements must be far more serious than we thought."
Nangong Gi's eyebrow twitched at Elder O Jang-chu's words from the O Clan of Shandong.
"Haven't I said it time and again? Their persecution of the Hahu Clan isn't just about extracting an apology—there's a deeper scheme."
Nangong Gi's furious gaze swept the room.
"You all knew from the start they were up to no good, didn't you? The incident at the Living Immortal Medical House, the one with the Chongmyeong Order—they were all struck by their own. The Hahu Clan had nothing to do with it. What about the Soheung matter? Though few in number, every one was a master. They rampaged right under the Murim Alliance's nose without us even grasping the situation, and we lost a great elder of the martial world because of it."
All eyes turned to the Beggar Clan's elder, Six-Fingered Divine Beggar Yuk Ji-sin-gae, who had vowed revenge for Joo Yu-geol-goe.
Yuk Ji-sin-gae ignored the stares, maintaining a stoic expression—a silent protest against those who had ignored the Beggar Clan.
"So we must wrap this up as quickly as possible."
Present Jin from the Wudang Sect, who had lost a disciple, raised his voice.
"How can we conclude when there's no resolution yet?"
Yi Gwak from the Hengshan Sect, the hardest hit in this tragedy, exploded in rage at O Jang-chu's words.
"We have witnesses and evidence! How is there no conclusion?!"
"The witnesses and evidence could be tainted. That's what I've been saying. How could a chained prisoner with hands bound behind his back take his own life? It's still unexplained. Someone might have bribed the cook to frame the Tang Clan. And how could he have poison after a thorough search?"
Zhuge Suk, representing the Zhuge Clan, fanned his whisk calmly.
"Is that what you call words?!"
Yi Gwak glared as if to devour him, but Zhuge Suk remained unflappable.
"Just wait a little longer. Once the Tang Clan confirms if any Mokrin Temple poison was removed, it will resolve naturally."
"Even if it was, do you think the Tang Clan—those 'lords of heaven and earth'—will admit it? Ha!"
Dang Yeo-song, who had been holding back, shot to his feet at Yi Gwak's sneer.
"Are you mocking the main clan?"
"Just stating facts."
"I understand your grief over losing disciples, so I'll overlook it once. Mock us again, and..."
As Dang Yeo-song suppressed his fury, Yi Gwak's taunts continued.
"Hmph! Think I won't? I could do it a hundred, a thousand times."
Before Yi Gwak finished, thick killing intent emanated from Dang Yeo-song.
Yi Gwak braced for a counterattack.
A powder keg ready to ignite!
Bam!
Jwa Ik-seon slammed the table and stood, unable to bear it.
"You're disrespecting this Alliance Leader too much! Even if this old man seems like a puppet, there are lines to uphold!"
Jwa Ik-seon swept the room with volcanic eyes.
"That's not..."
"The Leader is too agitated..."
"Silence!"
His roar at those trying to excuse themselves revealed why, despite lacking power, he had been elected Alliance Leader by acclaim.
"You have one day. Reach a conclusion by then—compromise or fight till blood flows. End this chaos. If it persists tomorrow, I have my own plans."
Despite pleas from the leaders, Jwa Ik-seon stormed back to his quarters after his ultimatum.
"Everyone, withdraw."
He waved off the servants roughly.
"Yes, Alliance Leader."
Once the servers cleared the drinks and the room quieted, the door opened softly. Guest Hall Leader Nok Hyeon entered.
"Sit."
Jwa Ik-seon, expecting him, gestured.
"How's it going?"
"They're not swinging swords yet, but it's a madhouse. I'm worried actual blood might spill."
Jwa Ik-seon clicked his tongue in mock disappointment.
"Still at it? Tsk tsk. I even laid out the stage for bloodshed, but they lack the resolve."
"Pardon? Ah!"
Nok Hyeon gasped, realizing Jwa Ik-seon's intent.
"Pitiful fools. If they won't do it, make them. Nok Hyeon."
"Yes, Elder."
"Time for a secret sword."
"Se-Secret sword?"
Nok Hyeon tensed at the term.
Secret swords were covert agents the Blood Slaughter Cult had infiltrated and nurtured in sects for ages, ranging from lowly disciples to elders. Unlike mere followers like the cook who aided this plot, their value was incomparable.
"Got a suitable one?"
After a moment's thought, Nok Hyeon recalled one.
"One in the Zhongnan Sect."
"Rank?"
"Second-generation disciple. Note: his junior brother died in this incident."
"Perfect."
Jwa Ik-seon nodded with a satisfied smile.