Chapter: 537
The meal we had after a long time wasn’t very long.
Given the situation of the Tang Clan, it wasn’t a time to be flashy or cheerful.
In particular, it was noticeable that Dang So-yeol’s face was especially dark throughout the meal.
‘It was like a death sentence…’
The Poison King must have been hiding what happened within the Tang Clan.
But it wouldn’t have been possible for him to hide everything, and it seemed that Dang So-yeol had found out about it.
Honestly, I thought Dang So-yeol would have figured it out by now.
But I couldn’t just leave her alone; I had forced her to sit down.
Namgung Bi-ah and Wi Seol-ah stayed close to Dang So-yeol, taking care of her.
That alone wouldn’t solve everything.
It was just a simple time of seeing faces after a long while.
It had just enough value.
“So, what did you decide to do?”
“What do you mean?”
I had a moderate meal and, while walking along a quiet path, asked Mo Yong-hee.
Since our destinations were the same, I had something to ask her anyway.
“You knew that the Poison King made that decision.”
“I knew.”
Mo Yong-hee reacted indifferently to that.
So I became even more curious.
“How did you know?”
“Huh? Prince Gu didn’t know?”
“I didn’t know. That’s why I’m asking now.”
How could anyone have possibly predicted that?
I mean, who would have thought the head of the household would act to destroy his own family?
To that question, Mo Yong-hee casually brushed her hair aside and said,
“I wasn’t really sure either. It was just a guess.”
“But you ran like that?”
Mo Yong-hee had moved swiftly, as if she had noticed something.
Yet she also claimed it wasn’t certainty.
Perhaps embarrassed by her own actions, Mo Yong-hee slightly reddened her face.
“… Even if I wasn’t sure, there was a probability.”
“What probability?”
“The probability that the head of the Tang family would choose righteousness.”
“…”
I couldn’t help but flinch a bit at Mo Yong-hee’s words.
“I considered many scenarios. There were many better ways to handle the situation at the time, but in the end, the outcome of the Tang leader’s actions was only that.”
A better way.
This was from Mo Yong-hee’s point of view.
It was impossible to hide all the family’s corruptions, but some control was necessary to minimize leaks.
Time had to be allotted to absorb and control the strength of the elders before beheading them.
That’s what seemed best to Mo Yong-hee…
No, it seemed like the best approach for both of us.
But the Poison King didn’t do that.
What reason did he give?
‘Because I was embarrassed.’
As a warrior, as a head of the family.
And also, as a politician, he claimed it was shameful.
So he said he couldn’t do it.
It was an incomprehensible act.
‘It’s a tough situation.’
Some might call this an incompetent choice.
Moreover, others might label it a foolish choice.
But I couldn’t say a word.
The reason was simple.
‘Belief.’
I judged that this was the Poison King’s belief.
It was an action I couldn’t take… no, an action I would not take.
In the end, I couldn’t refute the Poison King’s words, which he spoke with conviction, just because I thought it was wrong.
It was ultimately because I didn’t have a belief that I could trust and act upon like him.
I have to find it.
I needed to find something.
Something to believe in and follow.
Something that could steady me and allow me to endure as I continued to waver.
“Confucius?”
Was it because I had fallen silent during our conversation?
Mo Yong-hee called me.
“Sorry, I needed to think about something. So what did you do?”
“How should I put it? I’ve wrapped up everything related to the Tang family.”
A sigh laced her voice.
Given the tired look on her face, it seemed that Mo Yong-hee hadn’t been able to sleep properly since the incident.
She said she wrapped up the matters with the Tang family.
That means, then.
“Are you saying the deal is done?”
The question concerned whether they had severed all dealings with the Tang clan aside from existing agreements.
If this were a regular scenario, it wouldn’t be possible to just cut ties indiscriminately for a set period.
‘Given the circumstances…’
Now that it had reached this point, there wouldn’t be anything they could say about severing ties with the Tang family.
Even if Mo Yong-hee unilaterally cut ties, there wouldn’t have been a problem.
But.
“I didn’t cut all ties completely. If I had, it would’ve been less busy.”
Mo Yong-hee denied it.
“I just had to adjust some conditions and modify the ratios….”
Ah.
So that’s why she was busy.
What she was saying now meant she had to completely restructure bound agreements.
This implied that she had revised all the transaction ratios.
‘… Wow, this girl is pretty impressive.’
Hearing that made me see Mo Yong-hee in a new light.
I already knew she was capable.
The surprise came from something else.
‘It seems her position is much higher than I thought.’
What I mean is that the power Mo Yong-hee holds in the Sega appears larger than I had assumed.
Sure, adapting to situations quickly is her strength, but what I found remarkable was her ability to make those changes without asking the head of the family, Baek Cheon-geom-ju.
Of course, it would be the Baek Cheon Sword Master’s job to confirm and stamp these changes.
‘Considering that you did it without hesitation, it likely means you were allowed to do so.’
It shows that she was confident enough to take the action herself.
That she believed the head would approve of this.
Noticing my gaze that carried that implication, Mo Yong-hee tilted her head and asked,
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I just thought you were amazing.”
“… Huh?”
Her expression shot back, signaling bewilderment at my unexpected comment.
I genuinely meant it, but she certainly didn’t seem to believe me.
In the midst of that, a question surfaced, prompting me to ask her more.
“But why didn’t you just cut all ties and only adjust?”
If the incident in the Tang clan were to spread throughout the Central Plains, the Murong clan that had an agreement with them would clearly suffer damage as well.
Mo Yong-hee would know that better than anyone, yet it seems she chose to adjust rather than entirely sever ties with the Tang clan.
To my inquiry, Mo Yong-hee averted her gaze slightly and said,
“Honestly, I wanted to break ties.”
“Hmm.”
“The ship I was on caught fire. I can’t stay on it with you.”
I understood. They were justifiable feelings.
“However.”
“However?”
“I don’t think people can live purely calculating everything.”
I was a bit surprised by the words coming out of Mo Yong-hee’s mouth.
It was hard not to blink when the most calculating person I knew said something like that.
“What’s with that expression this time…?”
“It’s the look of someone hearing the most shocking statement I’ve heard all year.”
“What did you say?”
“Just kidding.”
In fact, it wasn’t entirely a joke, but seeing Mo Yong-hee narrow her eyes made me change my words right away.
‘… The Mo Yong-hee is saying this…’
The woman, who coldly discarded what should be discarded and focused on survival in the devil realm.
Hearing her say she acted this way due to circumstances felt remarkably out of place.
“Who’s fault is this…? It’s truly absurd.”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Hmph.
Mo Yong-hee huffed and frowned.
“Anyway, since things have come to this… Your Majesty should prepare too.”
“What for?”
“Since the Tang clan has come to this point, shouldn’t the Gu family also respond in some way?”
“… No, I suppose I would need to do something, but I don’t do anything.”
Even if it meant working on behalf of my father or the elders.
If it came down to it, Gu Hee-bi might take action, but still.
‘What could I possibly do?’
Regardless of whether I could do something or not, I had no intention of joining in.
At least, not yet.
“You seem to have little interest in family matters?”
It was embarrassing, but that was accurate.
I wasn’t particularly invested in it.
My interests solely lay in matters relating to bloodshed.
When I wore an expression of indifference, Mo Yong-hee’s face slightly changed.
“… Then, if I get married later, things will get busier… Should I study up beforehand?”
“What?”
“Nothing. If you don’t have any plans, I can’t do anything. I have too much work already, so I’ll head out first.”
“No… Hey, what did you just say?”
“If you have nothing to do, please look after Lady Dang. She looks extremely worn out.”
Having ignored my questions, Mo Yong-hee uttered her intent and simply vanished.
“… What?”
After sending Mo Yong-hee away, I rubbed my lips together.
“Hmm…”
Now left alone, Mo Yong-hee’s words about taking care of Dang So-yeol echoed in my mind.
Gone was her usual smile, replaced by the dark expression on Dang So-yeol’s face.
I recalled the day I sought out Dang So-yeol regarding the jewels.
She had outright refused, saying this clearly:
“I can overcome it.”
She was aware of her own insecurities.
Yet, she believed wholeheartedly that she could overcome whatever challenge was thrown her way.
Seeing that determination, I had to give up using the jewels on Dang So-yeol.
One.
‘Still. I can’t just leave it like that.’
At that time, she was oblivious to the turmoil.
But now that we’ve reached this point, things could afford to change.
So, should I now use the jewels on Dang So-yeol?
‘No.’
I’d have to decline that myself now.
Dang So-yeol, who had claimed she could endure it herself, shone brightly.
I had no intention of tramping that light.
Then, should I stay beside her and comfort her?
‘That’s not it either.’
Given my personality, offering that type of comfort was out of the question; that’s not what Dang So-yeol needed at the moment.
What she needed was a path.
Since Dang So-yeol held faith, she needed an easier way to put an end to it all.
Even if Mo Yong-hee hadn’t said that.
I had already considered this.
Whether it was right or wrong, there was still uncertainty.
Yet, the final decision would ultimately rest with Dang So-yeol.
All I could do was show her one path at a time, one I believed to be correct.
After taking a few deep breaths, I softly gazed at the empty air.
“Senior…”
“Yes.”
I received a response almost immediately to my softly whispered words.
The reply came from behind me.
When I turned my head, the Dark King was kneeling there.
‘I didn’t even sense it.’
I had called him, yet I hadn’t felt the presence of the Dark King.
I had assumed he was simply around. Luckily, he truly was.
I opened my mouth to him.
“There’s something I didn’t get to tell you last time.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll listen to you.”
“…”
The Dark King’s eyes lit up at my words.
“I don’t know how to break the curse, but… the latter is at least something I can do easily. I’ll gladly hear you out.”
He had requested to be killed.
I could easily grant that request. Right now, if needed.
The issue was,
“But not right now. I need you, Senior.”
It was a matter of timing.
“It won’t take long… but after I accomplish what I wish to do, I think I could fulfill your request.”
“…”
“Would that work for you? If you dislike it, well, there’s little I can do about it.”
If he were to decline, that indicated I would ignore his request. It was a clearly threatening assertion.
When the Dark King heard those words, there was no noticeable change in his expression.
He likely already understood the situation.
‘That I need to make use of you.’
The Dark King must have recognized his own worth. Still, he had pleaded to me knowing all of that.
“What is it that you seek, great being?”
As expected, the Dark King tried to take my words casually.
Does that signify he felt compelled?
“First and foremost, I want to change that guy’s title… but setting that aside.”
I looked into the Dark King’s eyes and asked,
“How far are you willing to go for me?”
How far would he go for me, and to achieve what he wanted?
I inquired about it.
The Dark King replied firmly,
“Anything I can do.”
He stated it decisively.
It was rather surprising; I should have felt a bit embarrassed by his reply.
“Anything…?”
“If there is someone you wish to kill, I will bring you his head. Whoever that may be.”
“Oh…”
The words involuntarily left me in awe.
Such a statement from someone who is an assassin felt even more credible.
This detail held slight disappointment.
‘Is assassination the only thing to request him for?’
In truth, it was a bit awkward to ask that.
There were plenty of complications in requesting the head of a Heavenly Horse or Blood Horse.
‘It’s fine; besides, that’s not what I had planned to ask.’
If the Dark King desired, he could mobilize the all-night assassination unit.
For him to belong to me was tantamount to acquiring that assassination unit.
‘That could allow me to finish one plan quickly.’
I had aimed to create an assassination group within a few years, but with the Dark King added, I could skip that plan and substitute something else.
‘That’s not bad.’
When solely looking at the situation, it felt very convenient.
The need for a secret agent extended beyond just assassination; it included gathering information as well.
Being able to command the foremost assassin corps in the Central Plains was a much greater gain than expected.
However.
“That sounds good, but there’s something you need to accomplish first.”
That was not what I sought from him.
There were plenty of people to eliminate.
I preferred carrying out the killing by my own hands rather than leaning on others.
Truthfully, all those people were meant to die.
‘Rather than killing them, turning them into minions to use would be better.’
Since they were all intended to be corrupted into demons, I wouldn’t task the Dark King for such purposes.
So, what should I request from the Dark King in this moment?
What was most urgent wasn’t anything else.
I envisioned a woman with verdant hair and called for the Dark King.
“Senior.”
The Dark King raised his head, our eyes meeting.
I looked at him and said,
“Please accept just one disciple.”
“?”
A question blossomed in the Dark King’s eyes upon hearing this.
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