Arrival at the Sichuan Dang Clan
Yoo Eunhyeon followed Dang Sukrang toward the Dang Clan. Even while they walked, the man never stopped running his mouth. At first Eunhyeon listened in silence, but before long he simply plugged his ears.
Never mind that the conversation had zero nutritional value—he kept veering off onto side paths so badly I couldn’t focus at all. It felt like my energy was being drained. Had he mastered some kind of Star-Sucking Mouth Technique that siphoned qi through his snout?
For that reason Eunhyeon deliberately quickened his pace, urging Dang Sukrang along. Thanks to that, they managed to reach the Dang Clan rather quickly.
“Welcome to the Dang Clan, Young Master.”
The estate truly lived up to its reputation—vast and imposing. The gates stood firmly shut, yet the four bold characters carved into the plaque, Sichuan Dang Clan, still spoke of the family’s former glory. Eunhyeon glanced around and murmured under his breath.
“Seems not everyone is welcoming us.”
The walls stretched high and wide, and the surrounding trees and buildings were plentiful. That meant plenty of places to hide. Though he could not see them, Eunhyeon sensed several people concealed nearby. Their task appeared to be watching anyone who entered the clan, and they were studying the newly arrived Eunhyeon with careful eyes.
“Pardon? What did you say?”
Dang Sukrang, completely oblivious to the hidden watchers, replied in a vacant tone. Eunhyeon shook his head.
“Nothing. So this is the famous Dang Clan. It certainly lives up to the name.”
“Doesn’t it? This clan has stood for hundreds of years—nearly as long as Shaolin, which people call the Mount Tai and North Star of the martial world. But…”
As Dang Sukrang’s words threatened to stretch on again, Eunhyeon wore a look of pure exhaustion. Fortunately, the gates opened and a sharp-faced man appeared, cutting the chatter short.
“What’s all this racket? Who dares make a scene— Huh? Sukrang? You’re back?”
“Yeah. Barely managed to finish the mission.”
“Ah, is that so? Then this must be that peerless handsome young master?”
The man’s expression, which had held a flicker of expectation at Dang Sukrang’s words, went flat the moment he looked at Eunhyeon. Eunhyeon frowned—not so much at the man’s reaction as at the clear culprit who had caused this whole mess: Ju Yu-ryeon.
“Hah. What kind of talk is that? Do you even know how extraordinary this young master is? Let me tell you how I came to meet him…”
“Enough. Just shut it for once. Save it for when we have a drink later. Making a spectacle of yourself in front of a guest? Young Master, my apologies. Please, come inside.”
Fortunately the man seemed more sensible than Dang Sukrang—or perhaps he had simply suffered enough. He cut the rambling short and ushered Eunhyeon in.
“I’ve already sent word. Someone will be out to receive you shortly.”
Not long after the man spoke, the person Eunhyeon had been searching for so long finally appeared.
“Well, well~ Eunhyeon! Long time no see!”
Ju Yu-ryeon approached with a bright smile, waving her hand enthusiastically. Eunhyeon scowled and opened his mouth to say something, then closed it again. She was not alone. The person walking with her was someone he recognized.
“Dang Jaseung?”
It was the man who had been fleecing people at the gambling tables of Sugyeongru by Dongting Lake. Eunhyeon’s eyes widened briefly in surprise, but the feeling passed just as quickly. This was the Dang Clan, after all. Finding Dang Jaseung here was only natural.
“It’s been a while. Things were a bit urgent last time, so I never properly greeted you.”
“You’re alive. I was wondering what became of you after that.”
Dang Jaseung grinned and offered his hand. Eunhyeon returned a similar smile and clasped it. They were not exactly close, but neither were they enemies, and the goodwill in Jaseung’s gaze made Eunhyeon see no reason to be cold.
“It was genuinely dangerous back then. I survived thanks to you.”
“I never intended it, and it just sort of happened. I’m done accepting thanks for things I never meant to do.”
Eunhyeon shrugged with a thoroughly fed-up expression. Ju Yu-ryeon, who knew his circumstances, offered a bitter smile. Dang Jaseung, who did not, chose not to pry.
“Looks like there’s a story there. We’ll set that aside for now. Welcome to the Dang Clan.”
“Appreciate it.”
When Jaseung dropped the subject without further questions, Eunhyeon accepted the welcome with a small smile. Watching the two of them, Ju Yu-ryeon pouted lightly.
“You two look closer than I expected. Guess it’s true that men bond over shared hobbies?”
She jabbed Eunhyeon in the side with a greasy look on her face. He stared at her as if he could not believe what he was hearing.
“I thought I’d finally gotten used to your nonsense, but after only half a month apart it feels brand new again.”
“Ugh, don’t even start. It’s been a while for me too. There’s a reason for everything, okay?”
When she heaved a deep sigh, Eunhyeon looked mildly puzzled. He had almost never seen her like this. Just as he was about to ask, Dang Jaseung cut in.
“Let’s continue inside. There’s someone waiting for us.”
“Standing around like this isn’t ideal, true.”
Eunhyeon nodded at the reasonable suggestion. Jaseung took the lead, and as they followed, Eunhyeon spoke.
“So how did the two of you end up together? Did you already know each other? Yu-ryeon was completely wasted that night—she shouldn’t remember a thing.”
“I just couldn’t control my body. I remember everything.”
Ju Yu-ryeon pouted. Jaseung added lightly,
“Haha. At the time there was no chance for a proper introduction with Young Lady Ju. We greeted each other properly once we reached the main family.”
“Is that so? This one didn’t give you any trouble?”
Unlike Dang Sukrang, who had merely guided him here, Dang Jaseung appeared to be a direct descendant of the clan. He looked three or four years older than Eunhyeon, but he was still young. Honestly, Eunhyeon found it hard to believe Ju Yu-ryeon would have left him alone, which was why he asked.
“Not at all? Young Lady Ju’s mouth is a bit rough, but her behavior was extremely demure.”
“……Demure?”
Eunhyeon muttered in disbelief at the shocking word. If he had to pick the three words least suited to Ju Yu-ryeon, “demure” would definitely make the list.
Sensing there had to be a reason, he looked at her expectantly. She clutched at her own throat and muttered,
“Urgh…… There’s an unavoidable reason, okay?”
The sight reminded Eunhyeon of the “peerless handsome young master” incident, and he retaliated with a petty murmur.
“And all you can manage is a few tears……”
“What was that, you bastard? You looking to die?”
Of course she caught the remark with supernatural hearing. She whipped her head around and glared. This time Eunhyeon had something to say and refused to back down.
“You’re the one who went around rating my face. What right do you have to talk?”
“Ah, that peerless handsome young master story? That wasn’t me.”
“Huh? It wasn’t you? You trying to bluff? Then who was it?”
“You’ll find out when we get there. That’s also why my heart feels like it’s being squeezed.”
Eunhyeon looked puzzled, but decided he would learn soon enough and closed his mouth. Dang Jaseung glanced at the two of them with mild interest and continued leading the way.
Once they reached their destination, Eunhyeon finally met the person who made everything Ju Yu-ryeon had said make perfect sense.
“You’re finally here.”
“Aunt?”
The room was not particularly large. It seemed designed for this purpose, containing only a single round table. Two women sat waiting. The one who greeted the entering Eunhyeon was, surprisingly, Yeo U-hui.
“It’s been a while. Have a seat first.”
Her expression held a warm smile for Eunhyeon, yet fatigue was also deeply etched into her features.
Since she had invited him to sit, Eunhyeon took one of the three empty seats. Yeo U-hui then introduced the woman beside her.
“This is Dang Eunseon, the youngest daughter of Clan Leader Dang Juhan.”
“Hello. I’m Dang Eunseon.”
The woman who introduced herself as Dang Eunseon looked roughly ten years older than Eunhyeon. Her voice was soft and hesitant, almost too quiet for her frame, yet the shy, awkward way she carried herself somehow balanced it out.
“I’m Yoo Eunhyeon.”
What made her truly distinctive, however, were the patches of pale green and purple staining various parts of her exposed skin. Makeup had softened the effect on her face, but her hands and neck made it obvious at a glance.
Did she make a mistake while handling poisons? No—this is the Dang Clan, of all places.
A direct descendant of the clan famous for poisons and hidden weapons showing signs of poisoning? It was the sort of thing one would be too embarrassed to show even within the family, let alone to an outsider like Eunhyeon.
“Surprised by my cousin’s appearance, are you?”
Dang Jaseung remarked, noticing Eunhyeon’s reaction. Eunhyeon nodded honestly. If they were displaying it so openly, there had to be a good reason.
“No need to worry. My cousin may look like that, but she has Mandok-bulchim—immunity to all poisons.”
“Mandok-bulchim?”
Mandok-bulchim was the legendary state of being completely unaffected by any poison under heaven. People often said that reaching the pinnacle of poison arts granted it, and for the Dang Clan it seemed plausible. What struck Eunhyeon as odd was that he could see no trace of martial training on Dang Eunseon.
“The Dang Clan possesses a rather unique divine art called Dokshin-gongbang—the Poison Body Gong. It grants the practitioner Mandok-bulchim.”
“That’s incredible.”
Eunhyeon was genuinely impressed, yet Dang Jaseung’s expression was far from proud for someone boasting of a family secret technique.
“But the moment Dokshin-gongbang is completed, the practitioner loses every martial art they have ever learned. In other words, they become immune to all poisons—yet end up as if they had never trained in martial arts at all.”
Eunhyeon had never imagined such a side effect. His brow furrowed. Absolute poison immunity was something anyone would desire, yet if the price was every martial art they possessed, most would shake their heads.
Ordinary people rarely encountered deadly poisons, and the ones they did meet were usually mild enough for a physician to treat. Only martial artists who lived constantly with danger would find the ability valuable—and even they would rather have stronger martial arts. With sufficient internal energy, most poisons could be forced out or neutralized without needing absolute immunity.
“Yet paradoxically, it is an essential divine art for the Dang Clan.”
“Why?”
Dang Jaseung answered only with a bitter smile. In a small voice, Dang Eunseon spoke.
“Because of the clinical trials for poisons.”