A Rather Poisonous Guest (2)
"Quite the crowd."
It was an incredibly long procession. Peak Realm warriors clad in green martial uniforms and carrying swords streamed in one after another. Behind them came a luxurious carriage—almost certainly carrying a direct blood descendant of the Tang Clan. Bringing up the rear were comparatively plain cargo wagons escorted by first-class warriors.
"It's because the Poison Dragon is coming."
Like the Azure Dragon I'd seen before, the Poison Dragon was one of the Eight Dragons and Phoenixes. It was rare for siblings to claim those titles in the same generation, and even rarer for a dragon not to become the successor of his clan. That made him the young master of the Tang Clan without question.
Thinking of the young master reminded me of Namgung Jinhak. Every time he went out, he took a small army with him. In that sense, it wasn't so different.
"Do you know what kind of man the Poison Dragon is?"
"Not in detail. I've only seen him once."
Once was more than enough. I trusted Namgung Seha's judgment of people.
"Dang Hoyeong, the Poison Dragon. He's twenty-five this year, so it's only been five years since he earned his dragon title. Six years from now—when I turn fourteen—he'll be the one I replace."
Dang Hoyeong had returned early from his journey in the martial world to live within his clan, while Namgung Seha had only just left on hers. The two had never crossed paths under normal circumstances. Their meeting must have happened during the war.
"It was during the cleanup after that huge fight you had with the Sichuan Tang Clan."
The battle that had been called the Tang Clan Blood War in my previous life. Thanks to the sudden intervention of the Blue Sky Sword Empress and the Taiji Sword Lord, the Wulin Alliance had claimed victory, but several Tang Clan elders had died in the process.
"Covered head to toe in blood and poison and who-knows-what-else, he looked like the perfect fit for the Sichuan Tang Clan."
She waved her hand up and down in front of her face, mimicking something being smeared on.
"A perfect fit?"
When I asked, not quite catching her meaning, Namgung Seha nodded.
"His eyes were full of venom. The kind that said he'd kill every last bastard who dared trample his land."
Return favors twofold. Return grudges tenfold. That was the mindset expected of anyone who carried the Tang surname. It was famous enough that even I, who had lived in the Heavenly Demon Cult, had known it.
"So is he righteous? Or is he wicked?"
I wasn't simply asking which side he belonged to. Everyone in the martial world knew the Sichuan Tang Clan was a pillar of the righteous faction, even if they used poison. What I wanted to know was whether the Poison Dragon carried the heart of a righteous warrior or the heart of a demonic one.
"Hmm... I'd say somewhere in the middle."
The middle. A vague answer.
"He loves fighting too much to be truly righteous, but he despises the heretic path more than any demonic practitioner would. I think the first is his nature, and the second comes from growing up in the Tang Clan."
The Tang Clan was a family of poison users. Because of that trait, the world often viewed them as underhanded and demonic despite their own perspective. So it made sense that they would hate the heretic path with particular fervor.
"In short, he's an honest brawler."
That kind of guy would probably pick a fight with anyone. Still, I didn't think I needed to worry about it. What kind of idiot would mess with kids who were a full fifteen years younger than him?
...
"Have you been well, Clan Leader?"
"Good to see you, Poison Dragon. This is the first time we've met privately like this. How is your father?"
Dang Hoyeong offered a polite fist-and-palm salute to the Namgung Clan Leader. Namgung Hyeok returned the greeting and inquired after the Tang Clan Leader.
Like a man with nothing but pure intentions, the Poison Dragon answered cheerfully.
"Yes. He's been unusually vigorous lately, as if he's experienced a second youth."
"That's good to hear. I've been told your father has a lot on his plate these days. Both he and I are getting on in years. Tell him to take care of his health so we can enjoy our remaining time together."
"I'll be sure to deliver your words to him."
They shared warm laughter, and for a while the atmosphere remained pleasant. As representatives of two great clans, their ability to exchange subtle inquiries about each other's situation while trading pleasantries was impressive. They continued their relatively peaceful conversation—answering what they could, politely ignoring what they couldn't—until Dang Hoyeong's eyes suddenly gleamed.
"Clan Leader, there is one personal matter I would like to ask you about."
"Go ahead."
With Namgung Hyeok's permission, Dang Hoyeong lifted the corners of his mouth and began.
"Half a year ago, I had to visit the Wulin Alliance briefly and thus could not attend your daughter's celebration."
"My younger sister, Heea, attended in my place. She has been boasting endlessly about the spar she witnessed that day."
"She said she saw with her own eyes the sword of the one they call the Namgung Sword Net—the very technique that has been heating up the martial world lately."
With a smile on his lips and eyes burning with a mixture of desire and fighting spirit, Dang Hoyeong asked carefully yet firmly.
"As you know, the reason he is called the Sword Net is because people speculate that if the next Dragon and Phoenix Gathering is held, he will become the next Dragon. I've heard he is a once-in-a-thousand-years genius."
It had not even been half a year since the current Dao Phoenix had stepped down from her position. People were already predicting that Jin Sowoon—the Sword Net—would claim the title of Dragon that day.
"I would like to witness the achievement of my future junior Dragon while he stands before me."
He offered another deep salute, bowing his head low.
"If it would not be too rude, I would like to exchange martial insights with him. Would that be acceptable?"
In that moment, Namgung Hyeok realized the Poison Dragon was far more formidable than he had expected.
...
"...So even the Clan Leader couldn't stop him?"
Namgung Jinhak, the young master, spoke with an exhausted face. His voice lacked energy; he seemed completely drained.
"That's right. Even Father couldn't handle that poison fanatic."
Namgung Jinhak shook his head like a man who had just fought a wild beast rather than a human. The Poison Dragon really was venomous in every sense. In all my years, I hadn't seen such reckless determination since that beggar half a year ago.
Challenging a junior from the martial world whose seniority was vastly different wouldn't help his reputation at all. If anything, it would only tarnish it.
"Wouldn't someone of the Clan Leader's stature be able to refuse for the sake of protecting his own people?"
It was a reasonable question. Namgung Hyeok was known to be extremely protective of his own. And I currently fell within that protective circle. Especially since he had made a promise to me about my freedom, he had perfectly blocked all such sparring requests until now under the pretext of protecting his people.
The young master nodded in agreement.
"Normally, yes. But that crazy poison worm bet his own poison on the outcome."
Even Namgung Jinhak, who rarely used vulgar language, had called Dang Hoyeong a crazy poison worm. That said, while the Namgung Clan Leader held absolute seniority and higher status, Namgung Jinhak was younger and held a similar position. The man really was insane about fighting.
For a poison user to bet his own poison meant that if he lost, he would permanently give up that poison. Once its recipe became public, an antidote would soon follow, and the poison would lose most of its value.
"It was the Crimson Spray Poison, I believe..."
Crimson Spray Poison. As the name suggested, the moment one was affected, blood would pour from their entire body like sweat. Despite it being a rather famous poison, he had offered it without hesitation. If he lost to me, he would have no choice but to hand it over, return to his clan, and face severe punishment from the Clan Leader. There was no way he had received permission to use it, and there was no way the Tang Clan Leader would have allowed it. The level of the Tang heir seemed to have dropped quite a bit.
"If he wagered something like that..."
Even the Clan Leader would have found it difficult to deflect the request. The man had come with his own lifeline on the line. Since it was a life-or-death spar without actual risk of death, it was even harder to refuse. If the Clan Leader tried to block it any further, it might lead others to think I possessed something extraordinary—and who knew what crazy stunt the Poison Dragon might pull next.
"Fine. Let's do it."
It was more than a little annoying, but it wasn't something I could avoid. Refusing would only cause more trouble later. Besides, even if it was only in name, I currently belonged to the Namgung Clan. Thanks to the Clan Leader's personal reasons, I had been living comfortably. There was no need to create unnecessary rumors that the Namgung Clan's warriors feared sparring by avoiding it too obviously.
"Are you sure? I've heard the stories, but the Poison Dragon reached the Peak Realm several years ago."
Ah. That goes for me as well, Young Master.
I had already regained my old senses and could perfectly handle the power of the Peak Realm.
"Young Master."
I glanced once more at the training ground where I had been training until just moments ago. Dust was still floating in the air. I turned my head and spoke.
"No matter how much I think about it, I have absolutely no confidence."
I drew the sword from my waist in a smooth motion. The characters Ryeon Ryeon Ryeon stood out clearly. It was a phrase that neatly summarized the past six months of my life.
This was the perfect opportunity to show everyone the results of that training once again. While I was at it, I might as well snatch one of the Tang Clan's precious poisons. And besides, I was born with—
"—no confidence in losing."
—I am immune to all poisons.