Chapter: 488
“Ah… Your Majesty!? Why are you suddenly doing this…!”
I could feel Tang So-yeol flustered at the unexpected contact in his arms. It’s only natural to react like this after suddenly having your ear grabbed, after all.
But I had no intention of letting go.
“… What did you just say?”
I didn’t want Tang So-yeol to overhear my conversation with the person before me.
“What are you splitting? It’s really putting me in a bad mood.”
“Junior.”
My smirk seemed to have triggered a meltdown in the old man, Dangbyu. His formerly grinning face twisted, and one eyebrow shot up.
It was amusing in a very different way.
“I heard you were a young hero of the Central Plains, but it seems you lack basic manners. I’ll remind you, I am an elder of the Tang Clan. Do you not understand how dangerous your actions are right now?”
A high-ranking bloodline that forms the backbone of the Tang Clan. My verbal assaults aimed at such an individual could easily be construed as declaring war on the Tang Clan itself.
You know that, yet you continue to act this way?
The old man was delivering this warning with palpable discomfort.
For me, hearing such painfully obvious truths only made me want to laugh.
How could I not laugh?
“You know what I find to be the most disgusting and annoying? Those who age poorly yet prance around pretending to be noble. Those sorts are the ones ruining the world.”
As humans age, they begin to rot more terribly with time. Once decay starts, it influences everything around it.
In fact, it was beginning to feel like decaying humans were a bigger problem than mere garbage.
Dangbyu’s face distorted with malice upon hearing my words.
“How dare you…! Even after I showed you respect, you act so arrogantly. It seems that you are utterly unafraid of the world, hiding behind your talent.”
I chuckled at the fury dripping from his voice.
“Wow, what a funny guy you are.”
“This boy…!!”
“Then should I treat the one who poisoned me with respect?”
“…!?”
“No matter how shameless you are, that seems a bit much. Do I look like such a fool to you?”
As I grinned widely while saying this, Dangbyu flinched.
Yes, this is the one.
The person who fed me the poison of the metaphor flower.
It must be him.
Of course.
‘But that might not be the case.’
The doubt that it might not be him does not imply that the old man isn’t involved in all of this. It just means he might not have been the one who ordered me poisoned in the first place.
The old man was no different from the others after all.
“… What are you saying? Feeding poison!”
Dangbyu, having been taken aback for a moment, soon turned red and shouted.
He looked utterly wronged, as if he couldn’t comprehend how anyone could suspect such a thing.
“How could you utter such nonsense…!”
“If that’s the case, at least try to wash off the stench before you speak. It’s irritating.”
At those additional words, Dangbyu’s expression suddenly shifted.
Yeah, there was a smell.
A subtle scent emanating from the food. It seemed to be the scent of the metaphor flower wafting from the old man.
Was that what the problem was?
Dangbyu looked at me with a perplexed face.
“That’s absurd, the metaphor flower is a scentless poison. Does it even make sense for it to have a smell?”
Was it like that?
But honestly, it did have a scent.
While it wasn’t overpowering, I definitely sensed a peculiar aroma.
‘Finding a fragrance in scentless poison.’
Is it because I’ve reached a point of being completely immune that I’m able to smell what shouldn’t be there?
Initially, I wasn’t even sure if that immunity claim held true.
‘Because I haven’t checked properly.’
What I could say for certain was that I had developed a significant resistance to poison.
Ah, but that’s not what’s important right now.
“It’s a scentless poison.”
“I don’t know what suspicions you have, but your words are… an affront to the Tang Clan.”
“But how did you know? I never mentioned eating the metaphor flower.”
“…!”
Tangbyu, who had poured out his words with enthusiasm, abruptly stopped speaking and stood stiffly at my remark.
That expression was truly hilarious.
“Unfortunately, looks like you might be a bit dim. You’d need to be clever to pull off bad deeds, wouldn’t you?”
“Ha…”
A low, frustrated exhale.
I sensed the atmosphere shift abruptly at the sound of Dangbyu’s breathing.
I instinctively pulled Tang So-yeol a little closer to me.
Woof.
I drew upon my energy and subtly thickened the surroundings, ensuring that Tang So-yeol wouldn’t catch on.
“… I thought it was annoying, yet what I’ve got here is a much bigger hassle.”
“I suppose you’re not pretending anymore? Why not just keep going?”
Then I’d have wanted to kill you even more. What a pity.
Dangbyu looked at me with an utterly changed gaze. His eyes were dull and tarnished, but many things were hidden beneath that smile.
“I merely intended to come here to see your face momentarily, but I unexpectedly made a nuisance of things.”
“Wasn’t necessary. I was planning to go see those folks anyway.”
I didn’t expect to see them quite so soon though.
Is it perhaps a stroke of good luck?
“What’s your goal? What purpose brings you out here like this?”
“As for purpose….”
I had to think about Dangbyu’s question for a second.
I pondered, but nothing particularly noteworthy sprang to mind.
So I decided to be straightforward.
“Just a favor, really.”
“A favor?”
“A great figure asked me to overturn your little dog-and-pony show.”
“Ha.”
In response to my calm declaration, Dangbyu laughed as if struck dumb.
“How dare you, which lowlife has the audacity to spew such words?”
“… Oh, you shouldn’t say that.”
Especially not if you’re the one being called a lowlife.
Going by status, it wouldn’t be an issue to call him the embodiment of the Tang Clan itself.
In all honesty, if she came back alive and had seen the Poison King, that Poison King would still have to roll around like a dog.
What are you saying about lowlifes? You’ll be in for a proper tongue-lashing after death.
But, clueless as he was, Dangbyu continued on with a rotten grin.
“This is the Tang Clan. Before long, it shall become the most powerful family in the Central Plains.”
“Oh.”
Quite the inflated ego. Dangbyu was dreaming of what he couldn’t achieve in his past life.
After the Namgung family was annihilated, while Sa-chun’s forces occupied the place they had barely fled to, it was none other than the Tang Clan.
From where I stood, knowing this made his dream seem aspirational.
“But here comes some clueless rat thinking to stir the waters. I was even kind enough to give you a warning; are you really not scared of the Tang Clan?”
Just as expected.
The poison that had been sent to me appears to have indeed been a warning.
That was precisely what it meant: don’t act recklessly.
However, it was contradictory to say it was out of kindness.
“If you were planning to kill me anyway, why bother with this charade? How pathetic.”
“… ”
“Still spinning tales, I see….”
These folks clearly have no intention of closing the curtain on this drama with just a warning.
If they had intended to do that, they wouldn’t have started this mess in the first place.
Dangbyu’s expression slightly shifted as if to indicate that my words rang true.
“Then you’re saying you’re throwing a fit despite knowing all this?”
“Maybe you’ve been under some misapprehension since earlier….”
Among the words that slipped out from Dangbyu, there was one particularly irksome statement.
Were you still flailing about knowing this? No.
That was precisely why.
“You are not part of the Tang Clan.”
The part where that old man claimed to be the real deal felt like a farce.
“You’re just one of those rotten roots. You’ve no idea what you’re dealing with, to talk like that.”
The one who doesn’t know is, rather ironically, Dangbyu himself.
At best, he barely functions as a pillar. And even then, he’s a decayed wood pretending to be something else.
I find it baffling that he behaves so arrogantly.
For someone like that to call themselves the embodiment of the Tang Clan is to insult the Poisonous Concubine, who sacrificed both her eyes and her life in its defense.
That absolutely should not have occurred.
“So, just wait quietly until I come to you. If you’re planning to flee, do so quickly. Then, based on your bravery, I won’t pursue you.”
“This boy…! Do you truly think you can speak so freely here…!”
Phew!
Unable to suppress himself any longer, a murderous aura erupted from Dangbyu’s body.
It was an energy that seemed to rise to the peak of a mountain, befitting one of the elder statesmen of the Four Great Families.
I nodded in acknowledgment of this.
The fact that he was venting his rage here, not too far from the residence of the Poison King, held its own significance.
Dangbyu was evidently not fearful of the Poison King.
It implied that, even if he tried to kill me right here and now, he possessed the means to conceal the situation or take care of it.
I got this far, and I wanted to gaze into Dangbyu’s eyes to ask a fundamental question.
“Are you really going to fight me?”
A martial artist of his caliber using poison — admittedly, a tricky opponent to confront.
Yet, I didn’t feel all that intimidated.
If he wanted to, I could reciprocate.
Coincidentally, I’ve been wanting to spar with someone.
Looking at Dangbyu with such intent caused him to pause.
Suddenly, the old man’s movements faltered.
What was he contemplating?
I sensed an unexpected emotion passing through my gaze fixed on Dangbyu.
Fear? Terror?
That’s what I felt it could be.
But why?
‘I didn’t really display any aggression.’
I was merely contemplating a scuffle simply by looking; why would that old man display such feelings?
I couldn’t decipher it.
Having observed quietly, it was me who ended up acting first.
Releasing Tang So-yeol’s ear, I gently pushed her away from my plush embrace.
And a smile appeared on my face.
“Thank you for your kind words, Elder Il.”
“…?”
Dangbyu’s expression trembled at my sudden shift in tone. His face seemed to scream, why is this kid acting like this?
“I’m sincerely grateful that you hold such a high opinion of me.”
“… What are you saying?”
“You even invited me for dinner next time! I’m at a loss for words. Haha, I will certainly attend.”
“…”
Dangbyu’s expression turned so grotesque it was almost humorous.
It took mere seconds for his bewildered look to morph into one that posed the question, what sort of punk is this?
“Then, please feel free to take your leave.”
“…”
In response to my farewell, however, Dangbyu’s steps remained unchanged.
I pitched a glance toward him to verify.
Are you going to do anything more?
‘If you’re going to do it, you might as well get on with it.’
With that look in my eye, Dangbyu gritted his teeth lightly, then turned away.
Should I read it as having decided to back off? I’m not sure about that.
“Pardon my intrusion… I believe I have matters to attend to. I hope you enjoy your time, Your Highness.”
After properly bowing to Tang So-yeol, Dangbyu slowly retreated from view.
I, too, restrained my disappointment as I watched his back.
‘Not just yet.’
Now isn’t the time.
I had plans in mind, so I needed to be satisfied with just a brief prod for now.
Moreover, I thought of it as a reasonably successful catch.
‘Now I’m sure that he’s the guy I intend to kill. That’s enough for the time being.’
I figured that this would be sufficient for now.
With that thought, I opened my eyes.
“Ah.”
I had completely forgotten about Tang So-yeol, who had been in my arms up to this point.
Panicking, I quickly looked down at her.
“Sorry, I must have startled you… huh?”
The moment I checked Tang So-yeol’s face, I found myself needing to pause.
“…you.”
And rightly so, since Tang So-yeol’s ears and face were as flushed as scarlet.
“How are you? What’s going on?”
Did I accidentally let off some heat?
The warmth radiating from Tang So-yeol’s face was considerable.
It wouldn’t have been out of place if steam started billowing from her head.
“What’s happening…? Why is this…?”
Feeling worried, I considered reaching out to touch her forehead.
“… I-I’m going now, I’ll go!”
Tang So-yeol shrugged off my hand and bolted away.
The problem, however, was that she didn’t head towards an exit.
Should I mention this to her?
But before I could think further, Tang So-yeol had already completely dashed out of sight.
“Hmm….”
Watching her, I found myself scratching my head.
Is there something urgent?
Well… I guess she’ll manage on her own.
I decided not to pay it much mind.
A day passed.
Originally, we were all supposed to head to the screening together yesterday, but due to my sudden collapse from poisoning in the morning, everything was thrown off track.
Because of this, my schedule had become even tighter.
I needed to head straight to the Baekhwasangdan Sichuan branch.
Following that, I wanted to meet Paejon.
It was necessary to prepare for the training that awaited me.
With my body undergoing changes, it was time to redefine my direction regarding my approach.
Just as I was about to set off for my busy schedule—
“… What?”
I suddenly found myself confronted by something I hadn’t considered at all.
Blocking my way was none other than Nahi, the secret guest of the Tang Clan.
She was not my servant but a messenger sent by the Tang Clan under the Poison King’s orders to convey information.
However,
the information was the problem.
“Say that again. What happened?”
In response to my urgent question, Nahi, who was semi-kneeling, carefully broached her words.
“Your Majesty, there’s news that you almost suffered an attempted poisoning at the Tang Clan, and the head family has sent an official letter to the Gu family.”
“…”
“It is expected that the messenger will arrive within no more than five days.”
The word about my poisoning in the Tang Clan would indeed reach my father in Shanxi.
Hearing this, a cold sweat trickled down my back.
Sure enough.
‘… This feels like it might cause some considerable trouble.’
It seemed I was right to anticipate unexpected developments ahead.
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