Chapter: 482
Just after Nahi came to her senses.
The first thing I did was naturally to put a shackle on her.
It seemed that Nahi wasn’t grasping the situation very well.
However, as she felt the shackle on herself and the ensuing circumstances, she quickly caught on to what was happening.
‘I suppose that means her mind is functioning well enough.’
Why Dangdeok sold himself out and betrayed her, and what had happened to her transformed body?
The look on Nahi’s face as she uncovered the secret was quite amusing to see.
Should I call it despair?
Or should I say, just before despair?
The sight of everything teetering on the edge of collapse invokes a mix of feelings.
‘Not that it was particularly important, though.’
Of course, I felt no sympathy while watching her.
If I had felt that way, I should have arrived much sooner.
I approached Nahi, who was barely holding on to her sanity.
I lifted her hair, locking eyes with her before I asked.
“I have something to do, you know.”
“…”
Could it be because it happened right after the mine transformation?
Nahi’s eyes were filled solely with fear.
A little awe emerged, but I wasn’t keen on exploring such mixed feelings.
“You, that is.”
I simply smiled at Nahi and said, “Do you want revenge?”
Nahi’s expression changed abruptly upon hearing those words.
I had something to ask her at that moment.
There was an immediate need to put her to use.
After that, the first place we headed, with Nahi leading the way, was naturally the residence of the Poison King.
This was probably related to an incident concerning Dokcheon Lake and there were parts that needed confirmation in advance.
Kuuuuuu-!
The process escalated somewhat intensely.
An enormous amount of air pressure filled the room.
A rough and fierce aura began to engulf the space, reflecting the Poison King’s mental state.
“What did you just say?”
The distorted expression on his face clearly showed that he was quite angry.
It was pressure strong enough to make your skin tingle.
While the Poison King’s level might fall somewhat short compared to the heads of the Four Great Families, there was clearly a weighty atmosphere that should not be underestimated.
What’s strange here is that if it had been my old self, I would have realized it was already time to rein it in.
“This is the third time I’ve said this. Want to hear more?”
Oddly enough, I didn’t feel that way.
Was my indifferent response the problem?
The momentum of the Poison King intensified even more.
“You’ve truly crossed the line. Soyeomra, while I acknowledge your exceptional talent, I did not think you would stoop so low.”
Boom-!
The teacup in front of me shattered to pieces.
I had to protect my own teacup since I hadn’t finished my tea yet.
After taking a sip from my cup, I looked at the agitated Poison King and suggested,
“Why don’t you calm down and listen to what I have to say?”
“Calm down? You just told me to calm down?”
Well, I guess it wouldn’t exactly calm down.
A foreigner, especially a young one, suddenly shows up at your place saying he wants to off your elders, what kind of head of household would accept that calmly?
I understood the Poison King’s rage, but I was glancing away to feel what was going on with his movements.
‘I smell blood.’
Despite looking normal on the outside, there was something strange about the Poison King.
A mixture of blood and an unknown, sharp scent danced around my nostrils.
This was a unique trace I had personally sensed.
‘Has he been torturing someone just before coming here?’
It seemed the Poison King had been involved in some torture before arriving.
I could only guess that the unfortunate person was likely…
‘The Black Dragon Sword?’
These must be the criminals he transported here.
It implied he’d been busy torturing them until just before arriving here.
‘Hmm.’
When I thought about it, a question arose.
Even someone of the Poison King’s stature, as sudden as the visit was, shouldn’t have arrived without masking the odor of blood, shallow schemes, and poison first.
But now I was sensing such energy…
‘My senses have evolved.’
It suggests that my senses, including my perception, had grown sharper.
‘What a pity.’
I wish I had grasped the physical changes a bit better.
I felt regret about not properly understanding my state due to having to move hastily.
However, it was also unavoidable.
“I heard that you have damaged the valuables in the document. I believe your current actions should involve an apology for your rudeness, don’t you think? Am I wrong?”
I’m here because I caused the evaporation of Dokcheon Lake.
‘How unfair that is.’
The damage to the items – let’s be real, it’s not merely damage, it’s outright destruction.
Evaporation of Dokcheon Lake?
Strictly speaking, that wasn’t really my fault.
It’s right to place the blame on Dangdeok’s actions.
If you look at it that way, it was the ancestors of this family who had left a mess.
‘But the suspicion rests with me.’
That’s what really gets under my skin.
“Damage? You must have received the reports. If you approach me, I’m in trouble too.”
I faced the Poison King, forcing a frown.
The reason I’m behaving like this is none other than this.
“I told you I didn’t do anything!”
The Poison King must have heard through Nahi’s testimony.
I hadn’t done anything, but upon reaching the lake, suddenly all the water had vanished.
“Ha.”
Oh, of course.
“Are you asking me to believe that?”
The Poison King wouldn’t buy that.
Smiling, I looked at the Poison King and said, “Then, on the contrary, if I were to suddenly remove all the water from the lake, would that be believable?”
“…”
“Are you suggesting I drank all the water and disposed of it somehow?”
When I spoke with a hint of irritation, the Poison King’s intensity wavered slightly.
Surely he couldn’t genuinely believe I drank it all.
No sane person would think it made sense for that much water to vanish simultaneously.
‘Even I can’t grasp the logic behind that!’
Where did the lake’s water go when it entered my body?
Where did all the poison vanish to?
Questions spiraled in my mind, but it was more urgent to confront the Poison King first.
“If you’re just going to summon someone who claims innocence and start doubting them, what do you expect to achieve?”
Thud.
It was the sound of the Poison King clenching his fist.
Was he regretting sending me off alone with Nahi?
At that time, I had questioned that decision.
Observing the expression on the Poison King’s face, I began to piece things together.
‘Guess he looks quite busy.’
He appeared to have immediately tortured the Black Dragon Sword and other members of the Black Dragon Corps upon delivering them to the Tang Gate.
He probably wouldn’t be doing this alone, but the rush of dealing with so many people might be why no one came to my aid.
‘Or perhaps…’
Was he using them for something shady?
Having heard only an echo of the Tang family’s dealings, it struck me that even this corner might not be entirely pristine.
Oh, perhaps I had already known that.
It was already common knowledge that in the realm of so-called righteous sects, there are hardly any clean homes.
“If you’re so suspicious, why not just come and see for yourself? Then everything can be put to rest!”
I pointed this out directly to the Poison King.
Of course, putting aside the fact that he was busy, I believe my unlikable personality might have influenced his decisions as well.
If it unfolded this way, it was definitively the Poison King’s error.
‘No evidence, no witnesses saying it’s my fault.’
If he tried to catch me out of suspicion, he would only be left with conjectures.
Knowing that, I was brazen enough to stand firm, unyielding.
“From the start.”
The Poison King faced me with a question.
“Why on earth did you go to see the lake?”
The reasoning behind his suspicion became apparent with that remark.
Though I even went so far as to write a request to see the lake, the Poison King was suspicious of me for recalling this small detail.
“I was just curious.”
“That reasoning is far too flimsy for anyone to believe.
“Then should I fabricate a reason out of thin air? Is that your suggestion?”
“Feel free, if that’s what you can do.”
Creak.
The Poison King lowered his stance and met my gaze.
“Although I lack evidence, this is the Tang Gate, Soyeomra.”
The pressure in his stare was intensely sharp.
If I didn’t speak correctly, I could be arrested without needing proof. That was the gist of it.
The Poison King was leveraging the Tang family’s authority against me.
But.
Knock knock.
I kept a defiant smile on my face as I stared back at the Poison King, refusing to yield.
“That’s right! This is the Tang Gate.”
One of the Four Great Families and at the pinnacle of independence.
Moreover,
“This is an incompetent clan that doesn’t realize how rotten its own house has become!”
The moment those words left my mouth.
The Poison King’s fingers shot out towards me with speed.
Bam!
“!”
I grabbed his hand and thwarted the attempt.
Then the Poison King’s eyes widened in surprise.
It seemed he hadn’t anticipated my counter.
I too was taken aback.
‘Oh… I actually responded to that.’
Not only did I react – I managed to block it as well!
Perhaps I had fully ascended to a perfected state?
‘It feels a bit slow, likely due to using gas transformation.’
I had forcibly reconfigured my physical state, and since the condition changed, it was now shackled in chains.
What then would happen if I released this form and engaged him wholeheartedly?
Could I outrank the Poison King?
There was a faint flicker of childish pride swirling within me.
‘Not now.’
I wanted to know just how much my strength had increased, but now was not the moment.
I gently released the arm I held and spoke again to the Poison King.
“I apologize for my rudeness just now. I may have spoken too harshly.”
“… Soyeomra.”
Even with my apology, the Poison King still looked furious.
Of course, that makes sense. Who wouldn’t be angry when an unbothered fellow suggests their family is decayed?
Nonetheless, I thought there was no better description than this.
The family is decayed.
Perhaps it was because I put all my efforts into studying alone. It felt like it had rotted from the roots, emitting a terrible stench.
Nowhere near the sweet fragrance that used to emanate from their ancestors.
Looking at me with a bewildered expression, the Poison King seemed baffled by my boldness.
I took the opportunity to pose a question I had been itching to ask.
“Your Majesty, are you aware of the Cheonmujichetangsaeng plan?”
“…!”
The Poison King’s eyes flickered at my mention of it.
Seeing that, I was confident he knew all too well.
“… How do you…?”
Watching the rarely shaken demeanor of the Poison King was amusing in itself.
Yet this was just the beginning.
“Then, furthermore, Your Majesty, do you also know that this plan is still secretly ongoing?”
“Such nonsense…!!”
Crash!
The Poison King abruptly stood, knocking the table over and shattering glasses.
What’s more,
“Not only do you insult the text, but then you make empty proclamations? What is your goal?”
Now I could sense lethal intent radiating from the Poison King.
I pondered while observing him.
Is that expression genuine?
Is he truly unaware of what he’s saying?
‘Not yet.’
It’s still too soon to decipher that part.
Right now, I needed to concentrate on the matters mentioned in the Tang family’s text.
“Your Majesty.”
His gaze bore into me, sharp with the desire for an explanation, or he’d kill me.
Murderous energy enveloped the room.
I slowly rose up against the weight of that intense pressure.
“Even in anger, whether you agree or disagree, my initial meaning remains unchanged.”
The query about whether it’s allowable to terminate the elders of the Tang family.
In a sense, it came across as seeking permission.
But in truth, that wasn’t my intention at all.
“This is also the reason I came to Sacheon and to the Tang family, at that.”
That wasn’t accurate.
The original plan was to drop these lines and vanish. What inclination had I to go offing the elders of the family?
That was a sheer fabrication.
But nicely packaged, it certainly seemed plausible.
‘This also aligns with the Tang family’s text.’
Before airing out, the text had passed an important request to me.
I declared that I would kill the elders of the Tang family to the Poison King as execution of that request.
A declaration.
Indeed.
This is a declaration.
“I am not asking for permission.”
“…What?”
“It constitutes a sort of deal, as well as an offer to assist you.”
“Soyeomra. You seem to underestimate how difficult it is for me to refrain from slaying you with my own hands. Do you genuinely wish to die?”
“I’m offering to eliminate the rot and assist you in cleaning up the debris. Why are you so furious?”
“Do you truly think…!”
Just before the Poison King lost his temper and reached for me again.
Thud.
I pulled something out from my garment and presented it to the Poison King.
At first glance, it resembled a lovely light green ball.
“…!”
As soon as the Poison King recognized it, his movements became rigid as stone.
Luckily, he seemed to identify it right away.
How fascinating.
It had been hundreds of years since this elixir had vanished, but being a blood relative of the Tang family, perhaps he recognized it instantly.
What was the item, you ask?
“This… this….”
“This is Dokcheondan.”
It was Dokcheondan.
Once the identity was revealed, the Poison King’s eyes began to swing like crazy.
If you were to ask what the most regrettable ancestral legacy that the Tang family lost was, nine out of ten would likely point to this.
An overwhelming elixir comparable to Shaolin’s Daehwandan.
For those lacking an affinity to poison, it creates tolerance.
An elixir that serves as a tremendous boon to poison-users.
The long-lost elixir of the Tang family lay right before the Poison King’s eyes.
Forgetting even his prior rage, the Poison King gazed at me with bewildered awe.
“This… How did you…?”
“First, please sit down again.”
Gently nudging the Dokcheondan towards the Poison King, I flashed him a grin.
“At this point, would you not be willing to hear me out?”
“…”
“Including the story of the Dokcheondan as well.”
I wasn’t anxious about the Poison King’s reaction.
Regardless of the rudeness of my family, or what my attitude might be.
Once he had confirmed the Dokcheondan, there would be no other choices left for the Poison King.
And.
As expected.
Swish.
The Poison King sat down across from me.
I was able to confirm this and internally breathed a sigh of relief.
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