The Poisoned Absence
"You've all worked hard to make it this far."
He wasn't shouting, but his voice filled the entire training ground. All the branch family children straightened up, listening intently to his words.
"Only ten will remain today, but if you don't slack on your training back home, I'll call you again soon!"
It was his way of saying not to be disheartened even if they were eliminated. Danmok Cheon-gi summed it up briefly, then nodded toward the side. Gang-rip struck the gong, and at the same moment, twenty children hurriedly formed lines front and back. They'd never practiced lining up in ranks before, and being so young, it was clumsy at first, but they managed to sort it out somehow.
That's when it happened.
"Huh? There's one missing?"
Danmok Hyeon-yo, resting her chin on her hand as she looked down, muttered to herself.
Hearing that, Danmok Hyeon-u counted the children one by one.
"You're right. Nineteen? One's missing."
Murmurs spread from both the platform above and the ground below.
Ryeon pretended to cover her mouth with her round fan while checking the children's names and documents one by one.
"Seo Geuk-rim? Seo Geuk-rim's not here."
He's the one I had my eye on.
Seo Geuk-rim was the great-grandson of Danmok Cheon-gi's cousin's daughter, and Ryeon had sent a messenger after hearing he was exceptionally talented and just turned eleven this year. Among the children she'd seen, he had the best aptitude. Despite not coming from a wealthy background, he had grit—he'd learned Falling Star Twelve Swords up to 1 Star all on his own from his grandmother.
The next best was Danmok Wan, who stood huddled anxiously in a corner, shoulders hunched.
"Seo Geuk-rim? How did you know that was the missing one? Have you already memorized all their faces?"
Danmok Han-so leaned in and asked.
"Oh, Master."
"Master? No need for that. Speak comfortably, little uncle."
"Pardon? How could I... Anyway, does anyone know where this child went?"
Ryeon looked around as she asked. She even questioned the children below, but they just whispered among themselves. In the meantime, the closer relatives seemed to have bonded a bit, but no one appeared close to Seo Geuk-rim.
That's when something floated above Ryeon's fan.
Ryeon wanted to smack her forehead with the fan. Danmok Jun!
When she checked Seo Geuk-rim's document, there were a few notes below, and Danmok Jun's name was among them.
— Lived in nearby villages and interacted with Danmok Jun.
They already knew each other. So Danmok Jun must have known Seo Geuk-rim's skills.
I just told myself not to hate a kid who hasn't done anything yet!
Ryeon sharpened her gaze and stared at Danmok Jun.
"Danmok Jun!"
Even her young voice carried a chill, drawing everyone's eyes to her, then to Danmok Jun.
"You came from the hometown with Seo Geuk-rim all the way to Hangzhou, right? Do you not know where he is now?"
"Y-Yes... Yes?"
'He's a genius, so he gets to sit? Direct lineage, so he sits. You're branch family, that's why you're here.' The boy who'd sneered like that—Danmok Jun—jumped in surprise, stammering his reply. His over-the-top reaction to the question about Seo Geuk-rim's whereabouts looked suspicious to everyone.
Ryeon's fingertips trembled.
He must have gotten sick from the rotten food. With dysentery, he couldn't even make it to the training ground.
And if he ate a lot of rotten stuff, it could really be dangerous!
Botulism from bad meat could kill if mishandled.
"I-I don't know much about... about Seo Geuk-rim's situation. I'm sorry."
I can see your eyes darting!
"Your friend who came all this way with you doesn't show for the final test, and you're not curious at all?"
"P-Pardon? Oh, no, it's just... Geuk-rim's really timid... He kept saying he was scared of the final test!"
Ryeon realized she couldn't just grill Danmok Jun without evidence, so she turned to her grandfather beside her.
"Grandfather, send the physician and some people to the guest quarters right now—no, let me go check...!"
Right then.
"S-Seo, Seo Geuk-rim... h-here! S-sorry I'm late!"
A pale, gaunt boy stumbled in half-running. Even in the chilly autumn wind, cold sweat beaded on his forehead and chin, his limbs shaking visibly—anyone could see he was ill.
The moment Ryeon checked with her Divine Eye, she leaped from her seat and rushed to Seo Geuk-rim.
"L-Lady...?"
Seo Geuk-rim was serious even at his young age and rarely left the guest quarters, so he'd never greeted Ryeon directly, but he'd seen her from afar a few times. He'd recognized her instantly: That's Danmok Ryeon. Her delicate features sparkled with bright eyes. Sometimes she was with her siblings or cousins, often bustling about. Occasionally, she'd chat with a servant boy while admiring flower clusters, and those times, Seo Geuk-rim vaguely thought Danmok Ryeon must be a good person. Who else would care for every wilted petal?
That girl was now right in front of him. Flustered, he tried to bow, but his shaking legs and rising nausea wouldn't let him. His lips were parched, blood visible beneath.
"Are you okay? You look sick."
"I-I'm fine! Fine!"
Desperate not to be dismissed for being late, he shouted with all his might.
Then Ryeon grabbed his wrist. It was smooth like a carp gliding through water—the same motion Danmok Cheon-gi had used earlier to probe her meridians through her wrist.
"Wh-What's...?"
"Hold still."
At the same time, she infused Purification. His body was weak, so she didn't overdo it—just enough to treat the immediate beast meat poison from the bad meat.
So I can use Purification directly on people. Maybe I could even help Uncle with this...
Purification demanding rapid state change consumes a large amount of Spiritual Energy.
Spiritual Energy: 13 / 100(-30)
What?! No way! You should've warned me first!
Her Spiritual Energy plummeted in one go, leaving her dizzy. If it had dropped another 30, disaster. She might've been the one staggering and vomiting instead.
Uncle's purification plan goes on hold.
Ryeon wiped imaginary sweat from her brow inwardly. Just easing the food poisoning enough to endure took 30 Spiritual Energy—what would purifying a heart demon cost?
Probably 200 or 300? I'd die first.
In that brief moment, the nausea and dizziness faded, and Seo Geuk-rim blinked in astonishment.
"Huh... This... Just now..."
"You okay? Can you do it?"
"Y-Yes! Yes, I can!"
To onlookers, it looked like Ryeon had come over, supported him a bit, and now he seemed spirited. Only Danmok Cheon-gi on the platform watched sharply as Ryeon returned to her seat.
As she sat, Danmok Cheon-gi covered her hand with his own, like enveloping his granddaughter's. Her chilled hand warmed slightly under his.
"Is that child alright?"
"Yes, Grandfather. He can do it."
In the meantime, Ryeon had racked her brains. Danmok Jun might ruin the family in the future, but he was still just a twelve-or-so-year-old kid. It was chilling that a child had done this, but she doubted he'd covered his tracks perfectly.
There must be evidence somewhere...
Searching the guest quarters would turn something up. She scribbled quickly with her brush and passed the note to Jeong Yeong behind her. He glanced at it, bowed to her, and slipped quietly from the training ground.
One late arrival stumbling in, and now a direct blood relative sending someone off—it screamed something was up. Danmok Jun's eyes darted anxiously from the platform.
But the assessment proceeded without further delay.
"Pharmacy Master."
At Danmok Cheon-gi's call, Danmok Hyeon-u stood.
"One by one, come up and spar."
The children stared at Danmok Hyeon-u with tense faces. Some shrank at the sight of his tall frame, shoulders slumping, while others bit their lips, eyes flashing with resolve to prove themselves.
Danmok Hyeon-u scratched the back of his neck awkwardly at their tension, then glanced up at the platform. Ryeon met his eyes and nodded with a smile.