The Truth Revealed (2)
What lay before us was unmistakably a research facility.
Tools for experimentation were neatly arranged everywhere, and the shelves beside them were packed with books.
On the desk sat a book that appeared to be in the midst of being recorded, held open by a paperweight.
Dang Su-bin headed straight there and began reading the record.
Meanwhile, I made my way to the bookshelves.
The books lining them would surely reveal what had been going on here.
Poison Combination Methods
Symptoms of Poisoning
Compendium of Poisons and Toxic Herbs—and so on.
There were countless types of books, but it wasn't hard to guess their purpose.
They were for creating and manufacturing poisons.
"No way!"
At that moment, Dang Su-bin looked shocked.
"What's wrong?"
"This is... research data on the Neigong Reversal Plague and Seven Treasures Scattering Poison that was mentioned this morning."
"What?"
"The names are written here."
I looked where Dang Su-bin was pointing.
She was right.
"It seems this place was secretly used to produce those two poisons. And the books on these shelves are the references needed for that research."
Dang Su-bin approached the shelves, examined the books, and gasped again.
"Huh? These books... I saw them when I was young."
"Pardon?"
"They're the essentials that anyone from the Sacheon Dang Clan learns at the clan school."
The Sacheon Dang Clan operated its own school, where the basics were taught.
I'd toured it yesterday during the visit to the outer quarters.
In any case, if these were basic texts from the school, something was truly off.
The third young master must have made those poisons himself.
So why would he need such rudimentary books?
Dang Su-bin had already mastered them, so the third young master surely had too.
Then, another rumor from my memories surfaced.
"But something must have happened to the third young master, right? To become acting young master through such secretive training."
"Come to think of it, they said his personality changed a bit."
"Yeah. He used to be sly and cunning, but now he's somehow sharper."
"Did something shocking happen to him?"
The rumor about his personality changing caught my attention.
That's when a certain book on the shelf caught my eye.
It gave me an unsettling feeling for some reason, but I knew I had to look at it.
I picked it up.
There was no title.
Flipping it open revealed instructions for crafting a human skin mask.
Why was this here?
Nothing happens without reason—that's what I believe.
I pieced together the rumors from my past life with this book.
And in that instant, I recalled what Dang Su-bin had told me yesterday.
"I know it's rude to say this on our first meeting, but lately, seeing my third brother just gives me a bad feeling."
That was her response when I asked why she avoided the third young master.
And the third young master never used certain pronunciations that would sound off with a human skin mask.
"No... it can't be...!"
"What's wrong?"
Dang Su-bin looked at me with concern, but I couldn't respond.
It was absurd, but it was the only conclusion.
The man we'd known as Dang Yeon-chil wasn't the real one.
His personality hadn't changed.
The person had.
I recalled the unorthodox aura I'd sensed from Dang Yeon-chil.
It was even more repulsive than that of Jegal Se's Jegal Kyung.
That meant he was an unorthodox figure from the start.
No one had noticed, whatever method he'd used, but the perceptive Dang Su-bin had sensed it instinctively.
I needed to revise the hypothesis I'd formed earlier.
The reason he hadn't killed Dang Jo-woong in my past life but kidnapped him instead.
It was probably because the real Dang Yeon-chil had stubbornly refused to cooperate if Dang Jo-woong died.
And the reason for killing Dang Su-bin: she'd realized the third young master was fake and tried to rescue him.
Once the real Dang Yeon-chil was no longer needed, he killed him and discarded the now-useless Dang Jo-woong.
That meant the real third young master was still alive.
I scanned the bookshelves filled with tomes.
Producing poisons required specialized knowledge.
In other words, the fake Dang Yeon-chil had some poison expertise.
But not enough to match the real one, so he'd gathered these references.
Even to replicate the Sacheon Dang Clan's poison methods, these books were necessary.
But could he make Sacheon Dang poisons just from books?
No.
He needed someone's guidance.
And that guidance surely came from the real Dang Yeon-chil.
As a direct heir of the clan head, he'd received advanced education.
So he was likely imprisoned somewhere here.
Where?
"Young master?"
"......"
"Young master!"
Dang Su-bin's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
"Ah! Miss."
I shook my head.
"Sorry. I was lost in thought for a moment."
Then I sent a sound transmission to Seo-u Warrior and Jin Yu Warrior.
- Is there any door leading to a hidden space in here?
- Why do you ask?
In response to Seo-u Warrior's question, I transmitted again.
- Finding it will explain everything. Look for traces of a space big enough to hide a person.
At my words, they immediately began searching, and soon Seo-u Warrior called me over.
"Here."
Seo-u Warrior was formerly a detective captain.
He didn't miss the subtle clues.
It was one of the pillars with a night pearl hung and fixed to the wall, but the moment I saw it, I understood why he'd pointed there.
Only that spot was free of dust.
I immediately called Dang Su-bin.
"Miss, doesn't this seem odd?"
"Pardon?"
"No dust here."
"Oh? You're right."
I pulled it down.
Rumble rumble rumble.
In that instant, the wall directly below the night pearl pillar slid smoothly aside.
And the stairs it revealed stretched deep underground.
I swallowed hard and asked Dang Su-bin,
"Shall we go down?"
"You're stating the obvious."
"Jin Yu Warrior, hold this place."
"Go ahead."
I pulled out the night pearl pillar. It came free easily, so I figured I should take it with me.
We proceeded slowly.
To be safe, we masked our presence, silenced our footsteps, and moved cautiously.
About half a gak later?
A light appeared in the distance, and as we drew nearer, a repulsive feeling grew stronger.
There was an unorthodox warrior in that space.
I whispered softly to Seo-u Warrior.
"There's a guard ahead. Seems like just one."
"I'll handle him."
Seo-u Warrior sprang forward and subdued him instantly.
"Move and you're dead."
"Ugh... wh-who...?"
Dang Su-bin and I approached and questioned him.
"What's this place for?"
"L-like I'd tell y-you...!"
At that, Dang Su-bin—dagger already in hand—stabbed his shoulder.
"Gaaah!"
"Answer."
"Th-this is a prison."
"For whom?"
"D-Dang Yeon-chil, the young master...!"
Dang Su-bin's eyes widened, then filled with venom.
"By whose order?"
"Th-that's...!"
As he hesitated, Dang Su-bin twisted the dagger without mercy.
Crunch!
"Gaaaaah!"
He trembled in agony and finally confessed.
"B-Bae Du-gap's... orders."
Bae Du-gap.
A name I'd never heard before.
But right now, entering that room came first.
"Knock him out."
"Yes."
Thwack!
Seo-u Warrior struck the back of his neck, rendering him unconscious. He was an important witness.
No killing him yet.
Just then, the sound of a group approaching reached us.
And voices.
"Young master! Where are you?"
It was Palgap's voice.
I whistled sharply.
The interrupted signal whistle was known to all Eunhae Merchant Group members.
It meant we're close.
Soon, Palgap led a group of warriors to us.
Their chest insignias marked them as Danhwa Corps warriors.
"Miss!"
They gasped at the blood on Dang Su-bin's hand, but she replied nonchalantly.
"Just interrogating."
"......"
"More importantly, we need to go inside. He said the third young master is in there."
"What? The third young master?"
While they talked, I searched the unconscious man's pockets and found a key.
I unlocked the iron door.
"Let's go in."
"Yes."
Dang Su-bin and I entered quickly, with the warriors following.
I couldn't help but harden my expression.
The fishy smell grew stronger.
Blood, unmistakably.
Dang Su-bin's face also stiffened as she noticed.
Soon we reached a dead end.
Only one door was there, and Dang Su-bin hesitated to open it.
"Miss..."
"Sorry."
"I'll open it."
I flung the door wide.
Creeeeak.
The grating metal sound accompanied the opening door, revealing a sight that made Dang Su-bin cover her mouth.
Someone was chained tightly to the wall with iron shackles.
His body was a horrific mess of wounds, no inch unscathed, but Dang Su-bin recognized him.
"Brother...?"
"Wh-who...?"
A hoarse, cracked voice responded.
"Brother Yeon-chil!"
"This voice... Su-bin?"
No unorthodox aura emanated from him.
The real third young master, Dang Yeon-chil.
The warriors following us were stunned speechless at the scene.
I learned then that even the mighty Danhwa Corps could freeze in such an unprecedented crisis.
I assessed the situation coolly.
This wasn't the time to gape.
"Squad leader."
"...Yes?"
"Call a physician immediately."
"Ah! Yes!"
"And report this to the clan head at once. Have them pursue the fake Dang Yeon-chil."
"Yes! Understood!"
The squad leader issued orders to his men.
A group hurried off.
"Let's get the real Dang Yeon-chil down."
"Got it."
We approached Dang Yeon-chil.
"Brother Yeon-chil... sob..."
Dang Su-bin choked up, but he spoke in a strained voice.
"Blood Poison Ghost. The Blood Poison Ghost is targeting this clan."
"Is he the one called Bae Du-gap?"
"Y-yes... but who are you?"
Dang Su-bin explained about me.
Blood Poison Ghost?
So his real name was Bae Du-gap?
Among unorthodox martial artists who used poison, a few were notoriously infamous.
Blood Poison Ghost was one.
His specialty: attacking with a blade coated in poison.
Meaning he mastered both poison arts and swordsmanship.
He'd been posing as a deputy commander of the Hobu Corps, which required Sacheon Dang Clan martial arts?
"But they said the Blood Poison Ghost was dead?"
"Yet he lived."
Ah...
I could piece together what happened.
The scheme began when they announced the Blood Poison Ghost's death.
The Murim Alliance erased him from the world.
Then he learned Sacheon Dang arts, biding his time until he swapped with the real Dang Yeon-chil.
They made the Neigong Reversal Plague and Seven Treasures Scattering Poison here because this place was so securely managed for poisons.
"Report this to the clan head too."
"Yes."
The squad leader dispatched two more to relay the information.
Then a warrior struggling with the chains spoke up.
"Th-these chains are too sturdy. Without the key, we can't—"
Seo-u Warrior stepped forward.
"I'll cut them."
I nodded at his words.
"Please do."
A faint light gleamed on Seo-u Warrior's sword as he swung down at the chains.
Slash!
They parted like tofu.
The Danhwa Corps squad leader gasped.
"S-sword qi?!"
Sword qi, the mark of a peak master.
In truth, when Seo-u Warrior had gone missing with me to find Brother Jin-ho, he'd been a first-rate warrior. But recently, he'd broken through to peak realm.
"The time I spent bedridden wasn't wasted. All I could do was think, and thinking led to enlightenment."
He pledged his life to me once more.
Saying it wouldn't have happened without the Vision Duplication Ritual I'd performed on him.
His oath embarrassed me greatly.
In any case, thanks to that, Dang Yeon-chil's limbs were freed, and the Danhwa Corps warriors gently supported him to the floor.