〈 Episode 417 〉 Came Alone?
Night had fallen. It was the hour when the martial artists of the Tang Clan and Paega began keeping night watch and making their rounds.
Feeling that the time had come, I rose to my feet.
"..."
The moment I rose, I sensed an unknown presence beside me.
What?
After confirming it, I let out a small sigh.
There was only one person who would be taking the spot beside me at this hour.
'When did she come in?'
The culprit was Namgung Bia, just as I had expected.
As if the sleeping space wasn't cramped enough, her tall frame kept crowding in, making it suffocating.
On top of that.
'Why didn't I notice?'
The problem was that I hadn't woken even when she came in and lay down beside me.
No matter how accustomed I had become to Namgung Bia's presence, wasn't this a bit dangerous?
Even if Namgung Bia tends to have a faint presence, to think I hadn't noticed her approaching while half-asleep.
At this rate, what if someone stuck a knife in my neck....
'Though she wouldn't do that to me.'
To think my sense of tension had faded like this. Whether it was because Namgung Bia's realm had risen, or because the vigilance I had maintained within myself was dying, I couldn't tell.
I needed to be more careful anyway.
Thinking so, I raised myself.
"..."
Careful not to wake Namgung Bia, I got up and gently stroked her hair.
Though she didn't seem to particularly maintain it, it still had a texture like silk.
Doing this somehow made me feel like a pervert.
The moment I realized it, I immediately let go and left.
When I exited the carriage, Baekryeongeom was already waiting outside.
She must have looked inside the carriage as I was coming out. She looked at me and grinned somewhat slyly.
"Must be a good time."
She must have seen Namgung Bia lying inside the carriage. What was I supposed to do about that woman's incorrigible habits?
"...It's not like that."
"Of course, of course. Noona knows everything."
"You don't seem to know anything at all? What do you even know...."
"It's like that when you're young! Why are you digging into it so much! Noona will pretend she doesn't know, okay?"
...Please.
I had much to say, but Baekryeongeom's antics, which were far from a one-time occurrence, had to be deliberately ignored for now.
Because there was something more important.
I looked in the direction where I could feel him, inwardly repeating my unease.
'Can it be done in a day?'
If things went as expected, it was possible.
And I hoped for that as well. But that was yet to be seen.
Hwarurureuk—
As I wrapped heat around my body, a faint killing intent was felt from Baekryeongeom.
Strange as her personality was, she was also a master, and thus quite perceptive.
She didn't ask where I was going or what I was going to do.
Yet, from the fighting spirit I felt from her, and from the fact that she seemed to have tended to her sword, she appeared to have figured out what I wanted from her.
'As expected.'
She wasn't someone to be taken lightly. Having discerned that much, I immediately increased my speed and leaped.
The destination was where the Green Forest bandits of Guimun Mountain were gathered.
*************
Poison Lord (Dokgun) Dang Biseong.
The former head of the Tang Clan and the grandfather of the current Poison King.
The people of the Central Plains say that, had he been alive, one called the Poison Venerable would have been added to the Three Venerables to make them the Four Venerables—a transcendent beyond the heavens of the previous generation whose rise they were certain of.
A master of poison arts said to be the closest to immunity against ten thousand poisons.
A great figure whom the Tang Clan revered for having greatly elevated their waning prestige.
But in reality, he was not a figure close to being a great man.
At least not to Dang Deok.
"A failure."
He remembered the cold gaze with which Dang Biseong had looked down at him.
Behind the cold stone floor, the piled-up corpses were all children who looked at best nine or ten years old.
All of them had been given the surname Dang under Dang Biseong's hand.
"Lord. But this child, in terms of bone structure, is as you wished...."
The man spoke urgently to Dang Biseong, but Dang Biseong's gaze did not change.
"Even if the flesh is perfect, it is useless if it cannot learn the poison arts. Remove him."
Hearing those words, Dang Deok wailed immediately.
He cried out, begging to be saved.
Despite Dang Deok's cries, Dang Biseong did not stop walking.
After the sound of Dang Biseong's footsteps had finally faded.
When only Dang Deok's sobbing filled the underground room.
The men who had been keeping silent beside him moved toward Dang Deok.
Only when their hands blocked his vision was Dang Deok able to wake from the long nightmare.
His closed eyes opened, and his dark pupils gazed at the moon.
Only then did Dang Deok realize he had been having a nightmare.
"...Phew."
After lifting his heavy eyelids, Dang Deok raised his massive body.
It was a truly shitty dream.
The memories he wanted to forget but couldn't were still vivid.
'Could it be that they're surfacing more now that it's time to act?'
As he drew closer to his desired goal, the memories he wanted to forget felt clearer.
It couldn't be helped. Dang Deok knew it was because he hadn't forgotten them that he was alive now.
Pudeudeudeuk—
Cracking his muscles, Dang Deok walked.
Pushing through the bushes and moving a bit, he arrived at where the men were gathered.
At Dang Deok's appearance, the men immediately rose from their rest.
"Chief."
"The situation?"
"It seems they will make camp and rest today."
Dang Deok's gaze turned somewhere.
Though the thick foliage prevented him from seeing far, Dang Deok knew the Tang Clan bastards were gathered in the distance.
The bloodline of that old man, whom he wouldn't be satisfied with even if he tore them apart and killed them.
If Dang Deok harbored an everlasting grudge.
'It was that old man who should have died by my hands.'
Poison Lord Dang Biseong. He hadn't been able to kill that damned bastard with his own hands.
Ppadeudeuk—
Recalling it, strength involuntarily entered his fists.
After all that fuss, to ultimately die of old age.
As rage and killing intent rose from Dang Deok's body, the bandits around him began to tremble.
Such was the rough and terrifying aura.
Dang Deok spoke to the men with murderous eyes.
"The destination is when they cross the river. We wait until then."
"If they keep their current pace, it will take them seven days and nights to reach the river..."
At the man's question, Dang Deok promptly reached out and grabbed his head.
"Kuk...."
The massive hand was enough to grip the man's head with one hand.
"Then, shall we go in like this and be beaten like dogs?"
"...Kkeuuueuk..."
"We should do what needs to be done, even if we're impatient. Isn't that right?"
"Y-Yes... it is...."
Only after hearing the man's answer did Dang Deok release his grip.
Dang Deok wanted to storm in right away and tear them all apart the most.
But with the Poison King and even the head of the Paega family present, storming in recklessly was impossible.
So he had decided to wait until they crossed the river.
The Tang Clan was transporting criminals, and on a boat—a rather limited situation—he had every advantage.
It was an ideal situation.
It had been twenty years since the Tang Clan had taken charge of and operated a transport convoy.
To Dang Deok, who had only been waiting for the right moment, it was a miraculous event.
That was why Dang Deok decided to be patient.
He had waited a very long time; seven more days and nights? He could endure as long as needed.
If by enduring he could bring about the Tang Clan's downfall.
He could endure forever.
Dang Deok forcibly suppressed his killing intent and regulated his breath.
He couldn't ruin things by getting carried away.
"Report when the scouts return. Especially."
A strange light filled Dang Deok's eyes as he gave the order.
"Soyeomra. If there's any information found about that whelp, bring it."
"Yes."
After uttering the moniker, Dang Deok ground his teeth inwardly.
The one who remained an unknown was still him.
It was questionable enough how he had found the advance scouting party.
But the fact that he knew they were behind them was even more incomprehensible.
'How did he know?'
How did he know and even deliver such provocation to him?
Did the Poison King know this as well?
Fearing so, Dang Deok had to change his plans somewhat.
The important thing was the word that bastard had delivered to him, along with what Soyeomra knew about him.
[Failure.]
Soyeomra had clearly told him to deliver that message.
Looking at that.
'...Could this bastard?'
Did he know not only his name, but even his identity that no one else knew?
'There's no way.'
Everyone who knew of that time had met their deaths.
Everyone involved, including his siblings, had died.
Except for the Tang Clan bloodline.
'Then how does he know?'
It was a word that stabbed at his chest too sharply to be a coincidence.
Was it really a coincidence?
Dang Deok felt a nagging doubt rising in his chest.
Giving strength to the spear gripped in his hand, Dang Deok recalled.
'If I catch him, I'll ask before I kill him.'
He was going to catch him anyway, and once caught, he just needed to interrogate him.
As Dang Deok resolved thus and was walking through the bushes.
"...!"
Dang Deok suddenly stopped walking.
And looked somewhere with tensed eyes.
Though nothing could be seen for the tall, soaring trees.
Dang Deok could feel it.
That something was there in the distance.
Immediately, Dang Deok swung his spear in the direction where he felt the unknown presence.
Huuuuuk—!
Kwagagagak—! Terrifying power burst from the spear tip, and together with the wind pressure, it shattered all the trees in front.
But that powerful force could not travel far.
Kung—! Hwarururureuk—!
The force that had been pushing endlessly suddenly went peng! and burst, dissipating the moment it reached a certain point.
Dang Deok could feel it.
That someone had blocked his attack.
Moreover, he felt it.
That a dense heat was radiating from beyond.
Thick and hot.
Dang Deok leaped toward the energy.
The closer the distance grew, the clearer it became. Far in the distance, he could see a purplish-red flame burning alone in the darkness.
Looking at the heat, he could tell.
That flame was telling Dang Deok.
That it was here. That he should come quickly.
'To me?'
Dang Deok raised the corners of his mouth and increased his speed.
A spark grazed his cheek.
In that fleeting moment, Dang Deok arrived at the center of the flames.
Kuuung—!
As Dang Deok's massive bulk touched the ground, an enormous sound and wind pressure erupted.
Dust-laden wind blocked his vision, but.
Huung—!
The moment Dang Deok swung his spear, it disappeared from sight.
The cleared sight. Upon checking beyond it, Dang Deok had to click his tongue.
"...This is absurd."
Truly absurd.
Dang Deok spread his senses wide and checked for presences, but no matter how much he checked, the only thing he felt was the figure before his eyes.
Feeling that, Dang Deok asks.
"You came alone?"
The young man answered Dang Deok's question.
"As you see."
"...Ha, you mean alone without any reinforcements?"
"Why would I need that? I'm telling you in case you're scared. The Poison King didn't come."
He couldn't easily believe those words. But Dang Deok had another question first.
"Just what kind of confidence is that?"
Dang Deok smiled ferociously and looked at someone.
Small in build, but his presence was unmistakable.
He stood with flames wrapped around his body, his hands behind his back.
Facing Dang Deok, the young man merely looked at him without any reaction.
Seeing such a person, Dang Deok continued speaking.
"You should be hiding in the shadows, holding your breath so as not to be caught. Did your youthful impatience get the better of you, making you show your face?"
At Dang Deok's words, the young man finally tilted his head and asked.
"Hide? Why would I?"
"You have to hide. If you're found, I'll chew you up...!"
Dang Deok couldn't not know who that young man was. How could he not recognize the one who had dared to provoke him?
A young expert who used fire techniques.
With just a few of these outstanding characteristics, knowing his identity was very easy.
"Pleasure to meet you. Soyeomra."
Haha.
What was so funny?
At Dang Deok's words, the young man, Soyeomra, suddenly burst into laughter.
Seeing that, Dang Deok's brow furrowed deeply.
"What are you cackling about? Have you lost your mind, facing your death?"
"Ah, sorry. Is it because I haven't seen you in a long time? It's a bit funny."
"What?"
"You've been an idiot since the old days."
At Soyeomra's sneer, a ferocious aura burst from Dang Deok's body.
"...How dare you... The world has elevated you, so you don't know your place. Saying such things knowing who I am...!"
"Who else, a half-made failure."
Was that the problem?
Dang Deok's reason snapped in an instant.
It was certain. That bastard knew something.
Having confirmed that, he felt all the better.
"Very well, I shall kill you right here, without fail."
Just as Dang Deok gripped his spear and tried to emit killing intent.
Kkurureuk.
"....!"
At the sudden pain, Dang Deok clutched his stomach.
Just as Dang Deok was about to panic at the strange sensation tightening his whole body.
A voice was heard from the front.
"I'm glad you seem to like the gift I sent."
Mixed in the voice was clear amusement.
Sabak.
The footsteps gradually approached.
Soyeomra approached Dang Deok closely, met his gaze, and spoke thus.
"First, let's talk slowly."
Having checked Soyeomra's eyes as he said so, Dang Deok swallowed a hollow breath inwardly.
Because for some reason, his pupils were glowing purple.