The Poison Researcher's Secret and the Heavenly Alliance's Iron Fist
“Clinical practice?”
Yoo Eunhyeon’s brows furrowed at Dang Eunseon’s words. To a farmer like him, the term felt as foreign as a foreign dialect.
“It’s the work of confirming the effects of medicine and researching them in the medical field,” Ju Yu-ryeon added, then stopped short.
Yoo Eunhyeon pieced together the rest in an instant. When the word clinical practice was used in the context of poison, it clearly meant testing the effects on the body and conducting research.
And with that, he immediately understood why the Poison Body Gong — the divine art that created those immune to all poisons — was essential to the Dang Clan.
“Poison is something that will be used on people one day. The effects must be clear according to dosage, so no one nearby suffers harm. The only way to be certain is to test it directly on a person…”
“Impressive. Does it cause you any discomfort?”
“Not really. Externally I look a bit off, and the poison has weakened my muscles, so I can’t do anything too vigorous. But that actually suits me better. I wasn’t built for using my body while traveling around…”
Dang Eunseon’s cheeks flushed faintly as she spoke, trying to downplay the embarrassment, but the content was anything but casual. She was, after all, the Dang Clan’s foremost expert in poison research. If that was true, it made perfect sense for a direct descendant of the clan to take on such a role.
She must have trained hard enough to say that much. The Poison Body Gong is a realm no one can reach without internal energy. From what I can see, she’s using all her energy to protect her internal organs and marrow.
Yoo Eunhyeon grasped the core principle of the Poison Body Gong in a flash, and Dang Jaseung chimed in with a single remark.
“And it’s not like we’re the only ones using poison. It’s necessary even just for the medical purpose of countering new poisons.”
“Amazing, but… is it okay for you to tell me this? It feels like something extremely secret.”
Though the story was quite intriguing, Yoo Eunhyeon suspected it was not something to reveal right away and asked skeptically. If it sounded like classified Dang Clan lore, it was hardly a tale to share with an outsider like him.
“It’s not secret at all. It’s just common knowledge even among outsiders, to some extent.”
“I didn’t know that.”
Dang Jaseung spoke casually, but Ju Yu-ryeon shook her head in surprise. When Yoo Eunhyeon glanced at Yeo U-hui, she gave a tiny nod. It seemed she already knew.
“Consider it a sign of trust.”
“What do you mean, giving trust out of nowhere?”
It was Yoo Eunhyeon’s honest question. Trust was a good thing to give, yet it was obvious this was not the main point — it raised suspicion about what the real intention was.
Clearly, she was testing the waters before dropping a secret, and his guess was spot on.
Probably about the Red Steel Poison Corpse. But why drop it so abruptly?
After all, even the Poison Body Gong was nothing compared to the Red Steel Poison Corpse. While the Poison Body Gong was a secret that could be exposed, the Red Steel Poison Corpse — according to Hwajin Satae and Jang Deokhyeon — was a taboo so severe it could be labeled a Murim taboo.
“Enough, we’re not even fighting. Don’t push me so hard. I rushed the seating because I heard you were coming.”
Before Yoo Eunhyeon could sharpen his words further, Yeo U-hui lightly tapped the table to regain focus. He lowered his head, recognizing he had no right to speak first after offering trust.
“If I’ve made you uncomfortable, I apologize. The matter earlier was sharp, wasn’t it?”
“Mm. Speaking of which, I heard you met with the Emei Sect’s Hwajin Satae and the Cheongseong Sect’s Jang Deokhyeon. Were you all right?”
Yoo Eunhyeon let out a long sigh. Yeo U-hui asked as if she already knew the answer.
“Far from all right. How much did I have to endure?”
“Who came?”
Yeo U-hui’s question drew the gazes of Dang Jaseung and Dang Eunseon toward Yoo Eunhyeon, suggesting the Dang Clan here was not fully aware of every detail unfolding at the farm.
And that very situation indirectly reflected the current state of the Dang Clan. The front gate of a clan was its courtyard; if Murim sects could not even control what happened on their own doorstep, their influence had waned.
“Hwajin Satae of the Emei Sect and Jang Deokhyeon of the Cheongseong Sect.”
“As expected, the Emei and Cheongseong…”
Dang Eunseon and Dang Jaseung murmured in solemn tones. Yeo U-hui paused in thought, then pointed with one finger.
“Hwajin Satae. It seems she has no intention of going full force yet. Good for you, Eunhyeon.”
“Good for me? We almost got into a fight! There’s no crazier man obsessed with chivalry than that Second Great Disciple of the Cheongseong Sect.”
“Still, he’s a crazy man with standards. There are plenty of crazy people in the world who ignore standards. Or if they have any, they swing them only to fit their own convenience.”
“If the standards are that rigorous, he’s still just a crazy person.”
Yoo Eunhyeon shuddered at the thought of Jang Deokhyeon. As a farmer, he valued rules but adjusted them flexibly to the situation. Such people were better avoided.
“True. What did they say to you?”
“They told me not to interfere in anything happening at the Dang Clan.”
“They must have been annoyed that you almost caused a fight.”
“I said I wouldn’t let my conscience burden me.”
As he spoke, Yoo Eunhyeon glanced at the two siblings. Dang Jaseung flinched, while Dang Eunseon averted her eyes entirely.
“They must have needed a clear answer. The Heavenly Martial Alliance seems to hold you in high regard.”
“No kidding. I could do without it.”
Actually, that was exactly Yoo Eunhyeon’s wish. If so, he would not have suffered through all this.
“Have you had similar issues before?”
Yeo U-hui smiled lightly, recalling the kidnapping incident where Yoo Eunhyeon had faced off against Son Jin-won. Yoo Eunhyeon shrugged.
“Can’t say it was better than last time.”
“Better now. In this matter, the Heavenly Martial Alliance’s responsible party isn’t Hwajin Satae.”
“Isn’t it? Is there someone above that old lady? Isn’t the head of the Heavenly Martial Alliance quite high?”
“The head of the Jeongeumdae is the core pillar of the Heavenly Martial Alliance. I didn’t say she was just a responsible party. Because of her position, she’s only here to provide support.”
Yoo Eunhyeon nodded. Of course, when a Murim sect was involved in such a major affair, they could not simply watch.
Even the Heavenly Martial Alliance, fundamentally an alliance of righteous sects, could not easily interfere in every detail, and that restraint was part of their nature.
“The actual responsible party is the head of the Samwon Squad, So Jeongdan — one of the Ten Fingers, known as Yeonggop-binghan in the Heavenly Martial Alliance.”
“So Jeongdan… wait, one of the Ten Fingers?”
Yoo Eunhyeon’s eyes widened. Yeo U-hui nodded calmly and explained.
“Yes. The head of the Samwon Squad, the strongest martial force of the righteous path, and the Palace Master of Bukryeo-jin Palace, whose courtesy name is Yeonggop-binghan — one of the top three powerhouses in the Heavenly Martial Alliance.”
“Even without being part of the four great families or the six pillars, she made the Ten Fingers.”
“Especially Bukryeo-jin Palace, which isn’t exactly the righteous path, but in Sichuan now, So Jeongdan has been dispatched, and she is the overall leader of this affair.”
“…” It was truly someone he would prefer not to meet.
Yoo Eunhyeon recalled his encounter with Wi Cheon-ryang, one of the Ten Fingers, and frowned. He had not met So Jeongdan, so he could not compare, but if she had even a hint of that same aura, Hwajin Satae might have been the lesser evil.
“The Heavenly Martial Alliance must be taking this matter very seriously. Normally they dispatch disciples as leaders, but sending So Jeongdan says everything.”
“The Emei Sect is basically calm and gentle, and Hwajin Satae is so experienced she tries to resolve things diplomatically. Besides, Sichuan is close to the Demonic Cult, so even for contingency, the Heavenly Martial Alliance had no choice but to dispatch the Samwon Squad.”
Dang Jaseung added a remark as Yoo Eunhyeon nodded. Indeed, while he had subtly threatened him, compared to other Murim people, So Jeongdan at least preferred words.
“So the righteous path must have at least two masters who have reached the Lotus Realm, right? Does the Cheongseong Sect have any?”
“Not outwardly, but perhaps. Especially the former sect leader of the reclusive Cheongseong Sect — a master who reached the Lotus Realm, though he might suddenly appear if something happens.”
“Because the righteous path has deep history, it may hide strong forces.”
“Yes. Most Murim people have long prime years thanks to internal energy, but aging is inevitable. Even Hwajin Satae, with her age, is not at her peak now, but in her prime she was comparable to the Ten Fingers.”
“That’s weakened?”
Yoo Eunhyeon wrinkled his face at the thought of Hwajin Satae. Yet when he considered her objectively, she was indeed a strong person, just not as strong as Wi Cheon-ryang.
Yeo U-hui smiled faintly and asked.
“So what are you going to do?”
“Honestly, I have no idea. I came here because I thought Yu-ryeon was here. I should be asking you — why are you here, Yu-ryeon?”
Given how things had unfolded, Yoo Eunhyeon had no desire to get involved in such matters. His own affairs were already overwhelming, and he was not close enough to the Dang Clan to intrude.
“Hey. I came here because I wanted to come. If I knew Mom was assigned here, I would have run away long ago.”
“You really tried to run away.”
“That’s because if I disappeared, Eunhyeon would be in trouble… Aaaah! At least I’m not acting on my own will!”
As Yeo U-hui retorted, Ju Yu-ryeon clutched her head and let out a wail. Yoo Eunhyeon turned to Yeo U-hui instead.
“How did you know we were here?”
“Hwasun asked me. Did you think I would just abandon my children to the chaos of the Murim world? I had to at least monitor their movements.”
“I didn’t sense any pursuit or anything.”
“I wasn’t curious about what you were doing. Just where you were heading. Collecting information from nearby cities and villages was enough. Especially since you two are quite noticeable. I don’t think you mind people staring.”
“Y-yes, that’s true.”
Even Yoo Eunhyeon could not avoid people staring along the way, whether in inns or restaurants.
“If you don’t want to be pursued, the standard way is to avoid places with many people.”
“Mm. I understand.”
Yoo Eunhyeon nodded, having learned something new. Then his gaze caught Ju Yu-ryeon subtly killing her aura and turning in circles, clearly trying to slip away.
Right on cue, Yeo U-hui’s sharp command fell like thunder.
“By the way, you two… have been playing quite extravagantly, haven’t you?”