Preparation
The Liu family of Shaanxi.
What kind of place was this?
It was my maternal family, a household of considerable renown within Shaanxi Province.
Of course, they were not a martial clan. They were merchants, and I knew they possessed considerable acumen in commerce.
Still, it was a flaw that no male heir had been born to carry on the family line.
Grandfather doted on me quite a bit.
In truth, my maternal grandfather, Liu Zhangbai, the head of the Liu family, had shown unmistakable favoritism toward me, his youngest grandson. So much so that the other grandchildren considered it favoritism.
I finished my preparations to visit my maternal family.
The journey from Gangseo to Shaanxi was quite long.
It is a long road, but I cannot afford even a moment's delay.
The poison given to Mother was clearly the work of the Demonic Cult.
No one else in the world could concoct such an intricate poison and employ such cunning methods.
The Blood Hand Poison Emperor.
Grind.
The moment I thought of him, my teeth clenched on their own.
How much effort had I poured into killing him in my past life?
The damage he had inflicted upon the martial world was beyond imagination.
Using poisons so lethal that even the Tang family could not neutralize them, he had poisoned and manipulated nearly every major orthodox clan in the martial world.
If it is not him, there is no one else who would dare act so boldly against the Ju family.
It was undoubtedly the Blood Hand Poison Emperor's doing.
The one who had mixed a poison so potent that even Heo Su-gyeong, who oversaw the Ju family's medical hall, could not cure it.
I will find him…… and kill him.
I had to crush him before he could properly grow, right at the outset.
My preparations were complete.
I packed a simple bundle with food, money, and a few changes of clothes, then slung it over my back.
"Young Master, the carriage has arrived."
Muyoung's voice reached me at just the right moment.
There was not much time.
I must return within ten days at the latest.
That meant five days for the round trip at most.
Five days to track the culprit.
Ten days would be enough.
"Let's go."
"Yes, Young Master."
Muyoung followed behind me with a grave expression.
Meanwhile, Muyoung fell into thought as he watched Ju Woo-jin's back.
What is it?
It was difficult to put into words.
He was Ju Woo-jin's closest personal guard, accompanying him from dawn until dusk except when sleeping.
Naturally, he noticed even the slightest changes in Ju Woo-jin faster than anyone else.
He has changed. Ever since that day at Geungnakru.
Thinking back, something had been off since that day.
Normally, once Ju Woo-jin set foot in Geungnakru, he would hole up in a room for three or four days.
But that day, he had stormed out like a madman after only one day and had worn a serious expression ever since.
Moreover, he had gone to the main hall on his own, something he rarely did, and suddenly paid his respects to the family head.
He had even asked Muyoung to look into the Lady's movements.
Was that all?
After that day, he had stopped visiting Geungnakru altogether.
Instead, he began training like a madman in the training grounds from the moment he opened his eyes, skipping breakfast and devoting himself to practice all day long.
Especially when he had pressured the guards at the annex.
Why did I do that?
For a moment, Muyoung had felt overwhelmed by Ju Woo-jin.
If he had left things alone, it felt as though Ju Woo-jin would have killed the guards at the annex.
That chilling sensation had made him unconsciously charge at the guards without realizing it.
He had truly felt that if he hesitated even for a second, Ju Woo-jin would kill them on the spot.
Phew, focus.
Muyoung soon shook his head and cleared his thoughts.
What mattered now was finding the culprit who had poisoned the Lady, just as Ju Woo-jin had said.
If word reached the clan, it would spark a massive incident that could bring a storm of blood.
And at the center of it all were Ju Woo-jin and himself.
For now, focus on tracking the culprit.
Regardless, Ju Woo-jin's transformation was a welcome change for a martial artist.
Muyoung silently followed behind him.
The carriage raced onward without rest.
I had deliberately hired a four-horse carriage and employed two coachmen.
The intent was for them to take turns sleeping and drive without pause.
Of course, the horses' stamina was not infinite, so we had to change horses once in a while, but aside from that, we pressed on without stopping until we finally arrived in Shaanxi.
"Hoo."
The carriage reached Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi.
Unlike Nanchang in Gangseo where the Ju family resided, it was bustling yet possessed a certain refined calm.
It seemed that way because of the Mount Hua Sect, the prestigious sect and great power based here.
Indeed, Taoist priests in Mount Hua Sect attire could occasionally be seen throughout the city.
The carriage soon left the main road and turned onto a quieter path.
In the distance, my maternal family's estate came into view.
Though not as grand as the Ju family's, it was a large, elegant residence.
The carriage stopped. I paid the coachmen and stepped down.
"Oh? Well, if it isn't our Young Master Ju?"
A servant who had been entering the Liu estate spotted me and ran over with a cheerful greeting.
"It's been a while, Uncle Heo."
"Goodness, how did you come all this way…… Oh? Did you come alone?"
Uncle Heo.
I did not know his real name. People simply called him Heo, so I did the same.
He looked around with his usual good-natured smile, clearly searching for Mother.
"Mother could not come. She is not feeling well."
"Oh dear, is that so? Come inside quickly. Hurry now."
Uncle Heo patted my back and led me into the estate.
"Huh? Who is this? Is that Woo-jin?"
The moment I crossed the main gate of the Liu family, familiar faces greeted me.
Most of them were outside, apparently because a merchant caravan was departing.
"It has been a long time, Brother."
Na Baek-hwan, the eldest son of my eldest aunt, Yu Seo-rin.
He had a refined appearance, tall stature, and a sturdy build.
He resembled his father, Na Jin-han, more than my aunt. My cousin.
"What brings you here? Where is Aunt?"
"Mother could not come."
"Is that so? Is she very ill? Goodness, there should be some improvement by now."
The Liu family was well aware of Mother's condition.
Since she had always been frail, they had spent a considerable amount of money on her treatment.
"She will be fine soon. More importantly, what are you doing?"
"Ah, a caravan is departing today, so I was inspecting the goods."
"You must be busy."
"Indeed. You should have sent word ahead. I would have set aside my work and waited for you."
"Haha, just say the word and I will come running anytime."
"Right. Go on inside. Grandfather will be delighted to see you."
I smiled, bowed my head, and turned away.
The moment I turned, my expression hardened into something fierce.
The culprit is here.
The Cheonjung Merchant Guild.
I had to find the one among them who had given Mother the poison.
Glancing around, I headed toward the main hall where Grandfather was.
Investigating a merchant guild naturally required the permission of the family head, Liu Zhangbai.
Investigating a guild within a merchant family was a matter directly tied to the family's honor.
I entered the main hall, and the servants welcomed me with great fuss.
They immediately guided me to where Grandfather was.
"My Lord, Young Master Ju Woo-jin has arrived."
At the servant's words, a commotion sounded from inside.
"Hoho, who did you say? My youngest grandson, Woo-jin? Quickly, quickly, let him in!"
A welcoming voice rang out.
I opened the door and stepped inside.
"Hahaha! It is our Woo-jin! Come here! Quickly! Hahaha!"
A hearty great hero.
My maternal grandfather, whose temperament was straightforward and unrestrained, always pursued natural, unadorned emotions.
"It has been a long time, Grandfather. Have you been well?"
"Eh? Since when did my youngest grandson know how to give such a proper greeting? You must have learned some manners while I was not looking! Haha!"
Liu Zhangbai ran over barefoot and embraced me so tightly I thought he might break me.
For a merchant family head, he is incredibly strong…… Kh.
It was an intense display of affection.
Of course, I did not dislike it.
This was the overflowing love I had never received from the Ju family, given to me freely here.
"There, there, my grandson. Did you come alone? Your mother did not come with you?"
"Yes. I will definitely bring Mother next time."
"Good, good. Have you eaten, my grandson?"
I was already fifteen.
Though I was no longer a child, Grandfather still treated me like a baby.
"Yes, I ate something simple."
"Is that so? Goodness, why are you so thin? At your age, you should be eating and eating without end to build up your body……"
Just as he said, Grandfather himself had a large frame.
Of course, it was not just fat; his bones and muscles were thick and solid from the start.
"Grandfather, I actually came here with a request."
"Hm? A request? Do you need money?"
"No."
I quickly shook my head.
I received a very generous allowance.
Because Grandfather sent me money without rest.
"Then what request? Tell me quickly. I will do anything for you."
Liu Zhangbai patted my backside and smiled contentedly.
He seemed so pleased.
Despite having many grandchildren.
"Is there a place called the Cheonjung Merchant Guild?"
"The Cheonjung Merchant Guild? Of course there is. Why do you ask?"
"I would like everyone to leave the room."
At my words, Liu Zhangbai's expression changed.
As expected of a family head.
He immediately signaled the servants with his eyes, and they quickly left the room.
"What is it? You look so serious."
"Something has happened to Mother."
"What! Something happened?"
"Yes. Someone poisoned her. My subordinates reported that the poison came from the Cheonjung Merchant Guild."
"Those damned……!"
Liu Zhangbai's aura shifted.
He revealed his anger without restraint and quietly suppressed his fury.
"So it was the Cheonjung Merchant Guild? Who in the Cheonjung Merchant Guild?"
"I need to investigate. That is why I need your permission, Grandfather."
"Permission? Hmph, so someone in the Cheonjung Merchant Guild dared to do such a thing to my daughter? I will go right now and……"
"You must not, Grandfather."
I hurriedly stopped Liu Zhangbai.
If he acted according to his fiery and rough temperament, the Blood Hand Poison Emperor would undoubtedly cut off his tail and flee.
I did not believe the Cheonjung Merchant Guild was the main body to begin with.
It was merely a tail that could be cut off at any time. A true tail among tails.
That was all it was.
Using that tail to trace back to the Blood Hand Poison Emperor's location and kill him.
That was what I wanted right now.
"I will catch him. If you move, Grandfather, they will notice and run."
"……"
After pondering my words, Liu Zhangbai eventually nodded.
"Will you not be in danger?"
"It is fine. I brought a reliable guard with me."
"Very well. Go and find them. If it turns out to be their doing, I will stake the Liu family's honor and erase their signboard from history."
Liu Zhangbai was a merchant.
Sometimes, money stained with a merchant family's anger was more terrifying than the swords wielded by martial clans.
One could appeal to emotion and beg for mercy from a blade, but money held a cruelty that offered no hope whatsoever.
And Liu Zhangbai possessed an exceptional talent for wielding such money like a weapon.