The Restored Biwon Forest
In his previous life, the Yin Spirit Ice Fox had been so affectionate toward him for one reason alone: the Tyrant Blood Poison Qi.
Tyrant Blood Poison Qi was a power that held both the energy of extreme yin cold and the force of extreme yang. Depending on the one who cultivated it, the art could lean toward yin or toward yang.
He himself was a being far more compatible with yin than with yang. That was why his poison qi carried a thick, pervasive aura of yin cold.
When my poison qi collides with the Yin Spirit Ice Fox’s energy, it produces a poison qi purer than any other.
With it, he could bestow life upon the Biwon Forest. No—herbs far rarer and more precious than before would grow there. He had already lived through it once.
Just what the hell is this guy’s true identity?
Hwancheonjihwan was on the verge of complete confusion. Did he know the connection between the Yin Spirit Ice Fox and Tyrant Blood Poison Qi? Or was it pure coincidence? Judging by how boldly and without hesitation he moved, he almost certainly knew the relationship.
Have the Poison Sage’s records been passed down in the Sichuan Tang Clan? No… that can’t be it.
Every record of the Poison Sage, the founding ancestor of the Sichuan Tang Clan, had been erased. All that remained was a simple account of what kind of master he had been. The only place the Poison Sage’s writings still existed was in the latter half of the Dark Blood True Scripture.
But this bastard is doing exactly what the Poison Sage used to do when he tended his poison herb fields.
It was something no one could pull off without having seen those records.
Should I give this guy the latter half of the Dark Blood True Scripture or not?
Hwancheonjihwan sank into deep deliberation. The Dark Blood True Scripture was a forbidden text. Anyone who learned it improperly would be seized by demonic nature. The only human who had ever endured it was the Poison Sage, Tang Mumyeong. No one else had even been allowed to catch its scent.
If the Dark Blood True Scripture appears in the world, the dogs of the Nine Provinces will awaken as well.
But this gambling-mad bastard… this one who had been born with the Heavenly Luck of the Sword God… might he not be able to master the Dark Blood True Scripture after all?
The more he thought, the deeper the dilemma grew. One day, two days, three days. While he fretted, seven full days and nights slipped by in a blink.
If he can restore the Biwon Forest this perfectly, he must know something about the Dark Blood True Scripture…
The Biwon Forest had been restored. Far more poison herbs and medicinal plants than before now thrived there. All of it was thanks to the Yin Spirit Ice Fox’s energy. Making plants grow this lushly in a mere seven days and nights would have been impossible without the aid of a spiritual beast.
And yet…
There’s no core to it. Almost as if he planned it this way… he left out every single important poison herb and medicinal plant.
Was it deliberate, or was this simply the limit of what he could do? Knowing Tang Cheonwi as he did, Hwancheonjihwan suspected the former.
In the end he could not contain his curiosity. He asked Tang Cheonwi, who was still circulating his Tyrant Blood Poison Qi.
Is this the end of the Biwon Forest’s restoration?
Isn’t this enough? With four-flower grass, white lotus blossom, blue snake grass, and white cloud grass I can mass-produce both Soul-Severing Powder and Seven-Step Death Poison.
Soul-Severing Powder was a toxic dust that severed the soul, striking the brain and nervous system through the respiratory tract. And Seven-Step Death Poison? A lethal toxin that killed within seven paces. Both were signature poisons of the Tang Clan.
Is that really the end? I’m a little disappointed.
At Hwancheonjihwan’s reaction, the corner of Tang Cheonwi’s mouth curled upward.
You’re asking because there are no top-grade poison herbs like Bone-Rotting Flower or Dream-Illusion Lotus, right?
That’s right. Even if not top-grade, you didn’t restore a single upper-grade poison herb either.
Leaving those in Jamun Village would be dangerous. And if I want to take the Yin Spirit Ice Fox with me, I need those top-grade poison herbs as bait.
I knew it! This was your intention all along!
Tang Cheonwi had no intention of leaving top-grade poisons in Jamun Village, so far from the main clan. Moreover, he planned to use those top-grade poison herbs as bait to relocate the Yin Spirit Ice Fox’s den. A thoroughly crafty scheme.
With Tyrant Blood Poison Qi, top-grade poison herbs, and the power of the Yin Spirit Ice Fox, he can create a den right inside the Tang Clan. This cunning bastard has already laid out the entire board.
Having grasped Tang Cheonwi’s thoughts, Hwancheonjihwan was filled with excitement. What a remarkable brat. No wonder he had handled things so carefully, so unlike a mere wastrel.
If you’ve figured it out, then hand over the latter half of the Dark Blood True Scripture already.
I lost. I’ll give you the latter half of the Dark Blood True Scripture as you wish. But you may only read the Poison Sage’s diary after you’ve reached Transcendence.
I promise.
Go to the Poison Forest Valley. The latter half of the Dark Blood True Scripture is there.
The Poison Forest Valley? It was there all along?
He had obtained the first half of the Dark Blood True Scripture in the Poison Forest Valley. Yet the latter half had been nowhere to be found. The darkest place is under the lamp, as the saying went. He had never dreamed it would be right there in the Poison Forest Valley.
Tang Saeng gazed at the Biwon Forest with a look of overwhelming emotion. On the fields that had been burned to barren ruin, medicinal plants and poison herbs now grew even more lushly than before.
“We did it…! I was able to help the Young Master.”
Every scrap of knowledge his grandfather had taught him had proven true. He had cut away every dead portion of the medicinal and poison herbs. When he applied the Tang Clan’s mind method together with a specially prepared fertilizer to the remaining roots, the plants that had been losing their vitality came back to life.
“We did it!”
“In just half a month we restored the Biwon Forest to its original state…”
“Thank heavens.”
The people of Jamun Village were overcome with emotion as well. They praised themselves freely—restoring the Biwon Forest was an achievement that fully deserved praise.
“Kyiiing!”
The Yin Spirit Ice Fox scampered happily through the poison herb fields. The poison qi and yin energy flowing from the herbs were being absorbed straight into its body.
Watching the scene, Tang Cheonwi spoke.
“I know a place even better than this.”
The fox’s ears pricked up at once. Its eyes sparkled as it stared at Tang Cheonwi.
“The Tang Clan has an enormous number of rare poison herbs and medicinal plants. There’s no river here, but the place I’ve set aside has both a river thick with yin energy and a cave.”
“Kyiiing!?”
A prize catch was about to be reeled in. Its ears fluttered limply from side to side—a habit that appeared whenever its heart softened.
“Don’t you want to make a field of top-grade poison herbs and medicinal plants your own territory? If you grow stronger there, you could steam and eat even the Heavenly Spirit Flame Wings.”
A flash of light burst from the Yin Spirit Ice Fox’s eyes. It sprang up, settled onto his shoulder, and rubbed its cheek against his. This arrogant creature was actually fawning on him.
This can’t be happening…
Hwancheonjihwan was utterly dumbfounded. The Yin Spirit Ice Fox, fawning? Even the Poison Sage had struggled to tame the beast. Yet Tang Cheonwi had enchanted it in an instant with nothing but words.
In the next moment Hwancheonjihwan bellowed in fury.
This is infuriating! I, ranked first among the divine treasures, can’t even understand a creature like this!
It was unfair. It was humiliating. He felt as though he were being toyed with by a human. He had always been the one on the other side of that equation. Why in the world had a madman like this woken him up? He was ready to lose his mind.
Goddamn it all! This won’t do. I’ll have to dig into this bastard together with the other divine treasures.
He desperately needed his friends’ help. On his own it was too hard to uncover Tang Cheonwi’s true nature. He vowed to swallow his pride and learn everything about the man.
Meanwhile Tang Cheonwi, whose ears had been ringing from the racket, wore a small smile.
Hwancheonjihwan’s reaction is stronger than I expected.
The Yin Spirit Ice Fox’s attitude had driven Hwancheonjihwan to play his final card. The ring’s companions—the other divine treasures—would join forces to investigate him.
All the hell I went through in Jamun Village was worth it.
In his previous life he had monopolized everything like this. And what had been the result? He had grown strong, yet the people he cherished had been hurt instead.
This time I’ll arm Yuhyeon completely with divine weapons and artifacts.
He considered his younger brother one of the people who had suffered because of him. Guilt made him want to look after Yuhyeon even more carefully.
Before that, I need to gather people I can trust.
Tang Mansong had been a loyal retainer who served the Tang Clan until the day he died. Tang Saeng, however, had not. He had mistakenly believed that Tang Cheonwi was the one who killed his father—the very spark that had forged their bad blood. Now that ill-fated connection had been transformed into a good one. All that remained was to take the boy back to the main clan and make him a loyal subordinate who would follow Yuhyeon.
“Tang Saeng.”
“Yes, Young Master?”
“Want to come with me to the main clan?”
“Wh-what?!”
“There’s a limit to the books on poison herbs and medicinal plants you can get here.”
“But… how could someone like me ever enter the main family…?”
Tang Saeng’s expression turned gloomy. In the Sichuan Tang Clan, bloodline was rank. Tang Saeng belonged to a side branch so distant that one could almost say he merely shared the Tang surname.
“I know the people of Jamun Village have grievances about the Tang Clan’s class system.”
At his words every face around them stiffened. Having their true feelings exposed made them look like guilty criminals.
“I don’t like that system either. There are too many dogs who bite their master just because their blood happens to run a little closer to the direct line.”
It was a brutally honest description of the current state of the Tang Clan.
“I am looking for people who are loyal to the Tang Clan alone—direct line or side branch doesn’t matter.”
The villagers of Jamun exchanged glances. Then each of them urged Tang Saeng in turn.
“Saeng-ah, the Young Master has recognized your talent. Hurry and say you’ll go with him.”
“I think this is a golden chance to show your abilities to the main clan. You’re not thinking of throwing away such a fine opportunity, are you?”
“Don’t even think of disappointing the Young Master who is our benefactor.”
Everyone pushed Tang Saeng forward. Going to the main family meant a chance to rise in the world.
“I…”
Tang Cheonwi offered a proposal that swept the boy’s hesitation away.
“Don’t you want to take revenge for your father with your own hands?”
“I do.”
“I’ll give you that power.”
“Really?”
“Before I came here I made a promise with the Clan Head. He said that if I put down the epidemic, he would let me form my own unit. If you join it, you’ll be able to learn the Tang Clan’s higher martial arts.”
Life returned to Tang Saeng’s eyes. Higher martial arts—something every side-branch member dreamed of. To a martial artist, higher martial arts were treasures.
“I-I’ll go with you, Young Master!”
“Good decision. Not only will you be able to avenge your father, you’ll also be able to study poison herbology—the field you love—in far greater depth.”
The people of Jamun Village celebrated with joyful hearts.
“Our Saeng is going to make something of himself.”
“Go and serve the Young Master well.”
“Show the main family just how impressive someone from Jamun Village can be.”
“Yes! I’ll live up to Uncle’s and Auntie’s expectations!”
Tang Saeng shouted brightly. Tang Cheonwi had achieved every purpose that had brought him here. He turned to the villagers as well.
“None of you are exceptions either.”
“What… what do you mean by that…?”
“You may have grievances against the Tang Clan, but don’t you feel that the grace you have received from the clan runs even deeper?”
The people of Jamun Village had never betrayed Yuhyeon. On the contrary, when they learned that Yuhyeon had been isolated by the betrayal of his close aides, they had done everything they could to help him. Knowing that, Tang Cheonwi had chosen Jamun Village as the destination of his first outing—precisely in order to bring these highly loyal people under his wing.
“You have been loyal to the Tang Clan your entire lives, so you deserve a reward. Village Chief, bring me paper, brush, and ink.”
Tang Mansong, blinking in surprise, left the Biwon Forest and returned with writing materials.
“This is a gift from me to all of you.”
On the spot he began filling the paper with characters at high speed.
Six Poison Heart Formula? This is an internal art that doesn’t even exist in the Tang Clan.
Hwancheonjihwan tilted his head. It was a set of formulas he had never seen before. The more he read, the greater his astonishment grew.
An elementary mind method that lets even people who aren’t poison bodies cultivate poison arts!? Fuck!
Hwancheonjihwan had cursed out loud without even realizing it.