Chapter 125
Chapter 125
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 125
Chapter Title: Deep Night
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People began their individual training sessions. With nothing particular to do until the Jeomchang Sect warriors staying at the Yu Manor arrived in Luoyang, they also needed time to reflect on their encounter with the Three-Eyed Fiend.
Namgung Myeong focused on manipulating his prosthetic arm and practicing void grasping techniques, while Hong Geolgae honed the Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms and, as a bonus, refined the martial forms he had learned from Great Wind Beggar. The Jeomchang Sect warriors threw themselves into sparring and training as well.
Dan Seolyeong holed up in the workshop. Her goals were to compile improvements for crafting a new prosthetic arm for Namgung Myeong and to create a weapon powerful enough to fell even the Three-Eyed Fiend.
However, while the former was feasible, the latter was practically impossible. Even for Dan Seolyeong, not everything could be achieved.
Dang Mujin sank into deep thought, replaying his battle with the Three-Eyed Fiend.
'Sword and poison.'
In Dang Mujin's hands were not the Soul-Severing Sword, but a dagger and a few needles.
'In the end, the path forward is poison.'
In their recent fight, the Three-Eyed Fiend had expelled the poison Dang Mujin injected into it after just a few breaths.
When Dang Mujin witnessed that sight, his disappointment was beyond measure. If it could vomit out and discharge a large quantity of poison in one go, what use was the poison art he had mastered?
But as a bit more time passed, Dang Mujin's perspective on the same scene flipped completely. Upon reflection, he was the only one who had landed an effective strike on the Three-Eyed Fiend.
Namgung Myeong, with talent that would make anyone else envious; Yu Jingwang and Wi Hwan, who had long mastered the Four-Season Sword and the Phantom Thirty-Six Swords.
All renowned experts, yet none of them posed a threat to the Three-Eyed Fiend.
But after inhaling Dang Mujin's poison, the Three-Eyed Fiend's attitude changed unmistakably. It ignored everyone's attacks to expel the poison first, then charged straight at Dang Mujin without hesitation. That meant the poison had been that threatening.
'Even when peak experts combined their strength, they couldn't achieve what a mere first-rate nobody like me—'
Dang Mujin paused his train of thought and scowled.
'No, what's this about a first-rate nobody? At my age, first-rate is impressive.'
In any case, to the transcendent expert known as the Three-Eyed Fiend, he had been the most threatening presence there. It was proof of the immense potential of his poison art. Dang Mujin's heart pounded fiercely.
'Fancy techniques? People's skeptical stares? None of it matters. What counts in the end is practicality. Just like Master taught me through the Heart-Piercing Sword.'
Once he embraced poison positively, the advantages of the poison art came into sharp focus.
Its inherent power, its compatibility with other martial arts, the fact that not even Namgung Myeong's genius could steal and learn it—among other benefits.
'There's no need to focus solely on the sword. Poison is definitely the right direction.'
It was merely the first time he had consciously acknowledged it, but Dang Mujin had already intuitively grasped the poison art's might. That was why, against the Three-Eyed Fiend, he had concentrated on poison rather than approaching with his sword.
And the poison art's power inevitably depended on the potency of the poison itself.
'An ultra-potent toxin that spreads through the whole body's meridians before even a transcendent expert can resist. Is there a poison out there that could topple even the Three-Eyed Fiend?'
The world was vast, so such a poison surely existed somewhere.
Dang Mujin decided he would soon visit Old Army Mountain. It hadn't been long since he parted from the people there, but with venomous creatures everywhere on the mountain, they must have gathered a substantial amount. With luck, there might even be one harboring the world's deadliest venom.
Dang Mujin sat cross-legged and began leisurely circulating his qi. Energy from the air entered through his nose, swirled through his body, pushed out waste from his acupoints, and headed toward his dantian.
The dantian, always so reliably full, felt empty today. After using up every last bit of the poison from his Poison Pellet, he hadn't replenished it once.
This was the first time he had completely emptied his Poison Pellet.
'...No. Shouldn't it be completely empty?'
Unexpectedly, he sensed a faint poisonous qi within his dantian. The amount was so minuscule that one might overlook it without close inspection. But the poisonous qi was undeniably there.
It wasn't leftover poison from use or some missed residue. Poisonous qi had the property of clumping and sticking together, so without deliberate effort, it would gather into a single mass.
He had meticulously cleared every trace, so his dantian should have been pristine, without a speck of poison.
Moreover, the poisonous qi inside his dantian wasn't like any he had taken before. Not particularly strong or potent, but alien and unfamiliar.
'Where did this come from?'
Dang Mujin racked his brains for a while before realizing it late. The internal energy flowing through his meridians—it carried a faint poisonous tinge.
Dang Mujin focused on qi circulation again. The internal energy, pure when inhaled through breathing, acquired a subtle poisonous qi as it wound through his meridians and accumulated in his dantian.
A story he had once heard came to mind. Certain insects or animals are born without poison but gradually develop it by living near toxins and consuming venomous substances.
He must surely be in a similar situation.
'I've lived with poison in my body, so it's not strange for this to happen.'
Dang Mujin pondered blankly before stopping his thoughts.
The faint poisonous qi in his internal energy didn't seem harmful, and worrying wouldn't reveal anything more.
Still, it would be nice to have someone to ask about this phenomenon.
For the first time in a while, Dang Mujin recalled Strange Robes' appearance. A corner of his heart felt empty.
*
A few days later, some of the Jeomchang Sect warriors from Jiangxi arrived in Luoyang.
Some were still out on escort duties and hadn't returned, but within five days, all Jeomchang Sect members from Jiangxi would gather in Luoyang.
They repeatedly asked the other Jeomchang Sect warriors.
"The debt's fully paid?"
"Yeah. How many times do I have to tell you?"
"It just doesn't feel real."
In the end, Wi Hwan opened the chest and showed everyone the gold and silver brought by Chief Steward Seo. It was concrete proof that the debt had been settled.
The warriors stared blankly at the gold, then laughed like madmen in delight, before soon starting to plan for the future.
However, their plans all shared one thing in common. Everything would begin after returning to the Jeomchang Sect.
The Jeomchang Sect warriors rushed to Yu Jingwang.
"Senior Brother Yu. When do you plan to depart for Yunnan?"
But Yu Jingwang's response was lukewarm.
"Uh... I suppose I should head back."
"It sounds like you don't want to."
"It's not that. I just think I should take it slow. Just me, not you all."
"You're going separately?"
"Yeah. I feel like taking the scenic route back."
"...Is there a reason for that?"
Yu Jingwang spoke with his usual expression.
"Might as well sightsee since we're out here. If I go back to Yunnan now, who knows how long until I can return to Luoyang?"
"I suppose you're right."
The Jeomchang Sect warriors nodded along, but Yu Jingwang's true intentions differed from what he said.
Yu Jingwang had no intention of returning to the Jeomchang Sect.
Over the past few days, he had visited the Ten Thousand Gold Manor Lord twice. And he asked directly. Why had he thrown the gambling match?
But the Ten Thousand Gold Manor Lord didn't give a clear answer. He had undoubtedly lost on purpose for a reason, yet he seemed uncertain about his own actions.
Thus, his response to Yu Jingwang was inevitably vague, like grasping at clouds.
"Well. I'm not sure if this was the best choice."
"What do you want from me?"
"Nothing from you."
"Then are you trying to saddle the Jeomchang Sect with debt?"
At Yu Jingwang's question, the Ten Thousand Gold Manor Lord chuckled softly.
"Debt? Even before I threw the game, the Jeomchang Sect already owed me. Only the form of the debt changed."
"Then what is it?"
"What I want concerns neither you nor the Jeomchang Sect—it's with Yu Gwanil."
He had business with his father, who had fled after losing the bet. An incomprehensible story.
Yu Jingwang demanded explanations several more times, but the Ten Thousand Gold Manor Lord offered no further details.
One thing was certain: the Ten Thousand Gold Manor Lord wanted nothing from Yu Jingwang himself. That was the problem. Yu Jingwang had no way to repay this debt.
Once broken and bent, Yu Jingwang could no longer regain his former upright self.
Unnoticed by anyone, he had become a snapped arrow.
And a snapped arrow had no place in a quiver. For his own sake, and for others'.
That was why Yu Jingwang decided to leave the Jeomchang Sect.
Yu Jingwang looked at his junior brothers, excited about returning to the sect.
He felt only bitterness.
*
Dang Mujin's group's plans were equally tangled.
Though overshadowed by the gambling incident and the Three-Eyed Fiend's appearance, their original goal was to eradicate Salmak while under the Jeomchang Sect's protection, then return home.
Yet nothing had been resolved. Salmak still lingered, even if repelled once.
No, the situation had arguably worsened. The reliable shelter of the Jeomchang Sect was gone.
'...Should we follow the Jeomchang Sect there?'
Not a great option. The Jeomchang Sect was too far and too remote. Staying there would be safe, but they couldn't fight Salmak.
Then, was there somewhere else to seek refuge instead?
Two places immediately came to mind. Shaolin Temple and the Namgung family.
Shaolin Temple was the safest place in the world. Not even Salmak, let alone the Three-Eyed Fiend, could invade it.
The distance was extremely short too—just two or three days away.
But there was one major issue. Shaolin Temple wouldn't admit Dan Seolyeong within its gates. The Precepts Keeper and the Ten Great Monks would rigidly enforce their rules.
'Then, the Namgung family?'
The Namgung family was equally safe. As one of the leading martial clans, it wielded immense power, and with the transcendent expert Namgung Jincheon, it could repel even the Three-Eyed Fiend.
But this option had its own problem. Namgung Myeong.
Dang Mujin poked at Namgung Myeong, who was fiddling with his prosthetic arm.
"Hey."
"What?"
"What if we go to the Namgung family?"
At Dang Mujin's bold question, Namgung Myeong was aghast.
"What the hell for?"
"It's safe. We could get all sorts of help too."
"You heard everything I said to my father, didn't you?"
"We'll apologize profusely with contrite faces. Say the pain in my left arm made me spout nonsense. He's my dad—he won't cast me out heartlessly."
Namgung Myeong glared at Dang Mujin with utter contempt.
"What kind of lunatic talk is that? Has poison finally seeped into your brain?"
Unlike his usual glib self, Namgung Myeong showed no intention of yielding an inch.
Since it had been half in jest, Dang Mujin wasn't disappointed. Pressing further would be rude to Namgung Myeong anyway.
Dang Mujin's dilemma didn't resolve easily. And without settling on a concrete plan, he went to bed.
*
Dang Mujin tossed and turned for a long while before finally falling asleep late at night.
How much time passed?
Even in his half-dreaming state, Dang Mujin sensed a strange incongruity.
A faint prickling at his nerves. The peculiar sensation unique to someone's presence nearby.
Probably nothing. As Dang Mujin thought that and tried to sink back into deep sleep, a small rustle came from right beside his head. In that instant, a sharpened sense of crisis thudded against the back of his neck.
A belated realization struck.
'At this hour, Namgung Myeong wouldn't be in the room?'
This was an inn, and Dang Mujin's group had rented three small rooms. One for Dang Mujin and Namgung Myeong, one for Hong Geolgae and Chu Sam, and one for Dan Seolyeong alone.
And at this deep hour of night, Namgung Myeong had no reason to be in the room. Especially since arriving in Luoyang, he had been even more diligent about prowling the night streets.
'Who the hell is it?'
Feeling as if his heart had plummeted, Dang Mujin opened his eyes. A massive shadow blotted out the moonlight, crouched right by his bedside.
He couldn't see the face.
But the faint moonlight revealed countless scars etched into the man's skin, and even in the darkness, his eyes gleamed.
Finally, a large scar on his forehead was visible. It was as if the man's third eye was staring at Dang Mujin.
The moment Dang Mujin tried to spring up, a huge hand seized his face.
"Good to see you."
The Three-Eyed Fiend bared his white teeth in a grin.