It likely wasn't something he was deliberately ignoring. I more or less knew the reason as well.
The moment he heard last night that the Dark King's bloodline had been afflicted by a curse.
From that point on, Noya's reactions had been unusual, as if he had suffered a great shock.
[...How... how could this be...]
Whether it was lamentation or shock, Noya spat out those words in a trembling voice and then concealed himself.
He probably hadn't fallen asleep like before; he likely just needed time to think.
The Yeon family bloodline had received the Blood Demon's curse.
This part seemed to have been quite a shock to Noya.
This was something I was curious about as well.
'What on earth had happened?'
Yeon Ilcheon, who had sealed away the Blood Demon and hidden his presence.
That man recorded in history as a hero—his descendants were living an inhuman life, bearing the very curse of the Blood Demon.
'Serve the Dragon.'
The more I thought about it, the more absurd the curse sounded.
It couldn't even be broken through death.
To break it, one had to pass it on to future generations, or some 'dragon' had to lift it. Utter nonsense.
'What shitty karma.'
How shitty must it be, for the Dark King to beg for salvation to the point of wishing for his own death?
It wasn't something I could fully understand.
Only.
Even so.
'I can't just let the Dark King die.'
Even if he begs for death, finding his life agonizing, I simply cannot leave him be.
'Sorry, but things aren't easy on my end either.'
In this increasingly dogshit situation, the Dark King was an existence of considerable value.
Moreover, if he desires something from me.
'...I'll use him.'
Such opportunities were rare.
It was also my favorite kind of situation.
A useful human who wants something from me.
The easiest kind to handle, and the easiest kind to discard, but...
"...Tch..."
The thought of exploiting him kept making these shitty feelings well up inside me.
"Please kill me."
The way the Dark King had pleaded, begging me to kill him...
Unlike his usual expressionlessness, the look on his face at that time stuck with me.
It was truly unpleasant.
Not tormenting someone who wants to live, but tormenting someone who wants to die.
Such a disgusting thing.
I knew all too well that for the person on the receiving end, life becomes hell.
It was exactly what I had experienced in my previous life—how could I not know?
From my position, knowing that emotion better than anyone, it was something I never wanted to do.
Even knowing it all too well, I had no choice.
There were too many things I had to protect now to dwell on such matters one by one.
"...This is seriously pissing me off."
Recalling it made my blood boil.
I wasn't angry at the situation.
Simply.
It was rage directed at myself for exploiting even those emotions of his.
******************
"You have come."
Right after washing up, the place I immediately went to was the Poison King's quarters.
I smiled as I looked at the Poison King, who had grown haggard in just a day.
"You don't look well at all."
He definitely hadn't been fat, but he hadn't been a skinny man either. Yet in the short time since I last saw him, he had lost a great deal of weight.
'And it's only been a day...'
It must mean it had been an incredibly difficult time.
Perhaps aware of it himself, the Poison King smiled bitterly and spoke to me.
"...It is because there were far too many matters to attend to."
The Poison King's words, spoken with a bitter smile, were truly heavy.
Was it because I knew his situation so well?
'His face doesn't even look like he's smiling.'
It couldn't be helped.
An elder had died.
Not just the First Elder, either.
Upon hearing the news that the First Elder had been beheaded, the Third and Fourth Elders had tried to flee.
However, they were said to have been captured by an unnamed martial artist.
It was obvious who that unnamed martial artist was.
'...He's been busy, I see.'
It must be my father. Having said he would clean everything up this time, it seemed he had really done it.
He hadn't returned all night—I see he had been running around busily.
Which is why the Poison King likely looked the way he did.
'If an elder has died, it doesn't end there.'
What an elder possesses in a great family is not merely a title.
They would each have their own factions.
And the larger the household, the greater their scale.
If three elders of such a prestigious clan died, what would happen to the factions they managed?
'They scatter and collapse.'
The master of the clan is the clan head.
That is only natural.
But it is obvious that not everything in the world works that way.
Even if the one they must swear loyalty to is the clan head, one cannot prevent power from coalescing around the elders directly above them.
The Namgung clan was a prime example.
Because the council of elders was too powerful, the Sword King could not exercise his authority as clan head.
'...On our side, it's just because Father allows it.'
The Gu clan is an exception, so let's move past that.
The Tang Clan might not be on the level of the Namgung clan, but the power held by the elders could hardly be weak.
The void left by the elders' deaths would surely become a problem.
'Ultimately, it's not the Poison King's fault, but...'
One couldn't call it the Poison King's problem when the elders died by their own actions.
'But the fact that he seems to lack the time and strength to rein that in is a problem.'
The situation was far from good.
It would be hard enough to grasp one faction, yet he had to control three at once.
'And on top of that, an incident has blown up too.'
In an already difficult situation, an incident that could cause the Tang Clan to falter had erupted as well.
It was only natural that the Poison King looked the way he did.
That was why it was strange.
A man who should still be running around with his feet worn out was sitting perfectly fine in his quarters.
"You must still have much to do—why are you here?"
"Because I knew. That you would come soon, Young Master."
"...Hm?"
I had to tilt my head at the Poison King's words.
He knew I was coming?
"I don't quite recall. Did I say I was coming today?"
"Not particularly... but I had a feeling the Young Master would do so."
"Well, I'll be..."
I don't know what everyone sees in me to predict my actions.
The annoying part is that they're mostly right.
"Then, you were waiting for me?"
"...There were words of thanks to convey, and matters to ask. That is why."
At those words, I crossed my arms slightly.
There was no need for thanks; it was the latter part that caught my attention.
"Something to ask?"
"I heard that while speaking with you, my daughter collapsed."
"..."
Sruk.
I immediately uncrossed my arms.
Damn.
"...There were some circumstances..."
"I am not trying to reproach you, so do not be tense."
"Ah, really? That's a relief."
"..."
Was the guileless reaction the problem?
The Poison King's expression twisted slightly.
...No, I said no and expressed relief. Why is he making that face?
"...That was almost a jest. Now I shall ask the main question."
"There is more of a main question?"
It seemed he hadn't been curious about Dang Soyeol's matter after all.
Then what?
Just as I narrowed my eyes slightly and watched the Poison King,
Sswik.
He pulled an object from his bosom.
'Hm?'
I looked, wondering what it was, and it was a Heavenly Poison Pill.
Probably one I had given him. Why was he pulling that out all of a sudden? I looked at it with questions in my eyes, when—
"Young Master Gu."
"Yes."
The Poison King spoke to me.
"I know you have more Heavenly Poison Pills."
"...!"
I had to widen my eyes at those words.
...How did he know?
'Did I tell him I had plenty?'
I couldn't remember, but there was no way I had.
I know myself well.
Had it been something good, I might have hoarded it all; I would never have honestly admitted I had more.
Then how on earth did the Poison King know?
Unable to fathom the reason, I looked at him with surprised eyes, when—
"Ha ha."
The Poison King suddenly burst into laughter.
What's with him, why is he laughing?
Just as I wondered if he had lost his mind.
"I was merely... testing. It seems you really do have more."
"...?"
At the Poison King's laughing words, I had to let out a hollow breath.
'Damn.'
Sighing, I realized.
It wasn't the Poison King who had lost his mind—it was me.
'Was it because I heard too much yesterday?'
One might think so.
But that was no excuse.
I had simply been stupid, that was all.
"Tch, shall I return them?"
It was too late to make excuses now, so I spoke like I was confessing.
"With a face that so clearly dislikes giving them up?"
"Ah, I got caught, didn't I."
Coming out boldly like that, the Poison King's expression turned strange instead.
I didn't like it, but I meant it.
If he asked for them back, I would have to give them.
They originally belonged to the Tang Clan.
'...Even if Dang Jemun gave them to me.'
Still, I had intended to give them back if the Poison King asked.
Of course, I had intended to live while hiding them well so that wouldn't happen.
Damn it. To think I'd get caught like such an idiot.
'...Should I skim off just three when I give them back?'
Without realizing it, I was being greedy deep down.
I wanted to hand them over cleanly, but precisely because they were Heavenly Poison Pills and not something else, I felt that way even more.
'No, three pills should be fine...? I've been through a lot too.'
Just as I was wondering how to pocket some, the Poison King spoke to me.
"If you need them, you may take them all."
"Yes?"
You may take them all.
At those words, I stopped all thought and looked into the Poison King's eyes.
He's giving all of them to me?
"..."
I met the Poison King's eyes after hearing those words. A strange emotion flickered past.
Should I be grateful for this absurd consideration?
Should I be relieved that they weren't being taken away?
Or should I be happy at this unexpected good fortune?
Unfortunately, it was none of the three.
The emotion contained in the Poison King's words was a chill.
A coldly hardened glint in my eyes, without my realizing it.
As I held that gaze with the Poison King, this time it was the Poison King who reacted.
"...Dear me, I was hasty. In this case, have we both made a mistake each?"
As the Poison King had discovered what I was hiding,
this time I had discovered something on the Poison King's end.
"What is it?"
A low, cold voice flowed out toward the Poison King.
He had made a mistake in his haste.
That was what he himself had just said.
He should not have offered the Heavenly Poison Pills so hastily like this.
If he were going to do it, he should have been a bit more delicate about it.
That way, I wouldn't have noticed the hint contained within. But he hadn't been able to do so.
And so I had caught the scent.
"What are you thinking?"
Something was there.
In the Poison King's intention to hand over the Heavenly Poison Pills so easily, there was something.
"Young Master Gu."
Fortunately, he didn't seem to have any intention of making excuses like me. Or perhaps he was too tired to do so now.
I saw it as the latter. As if to confirm this belief, the Poison King spoke to me with a tired face.
"In the near future, an official announcement will likely come from the Murim Alliance."
"...What do you mean?"
An official announcement? What do they mean to announce?
"Surely you don't mean you'll announce the incidents caused by the Tang Clan?"
Did he really write everything down and send it to the Murim Alliance?
Though I spoke up at the unexpected words.
"That is not it."
The Poison King denied my words.
'...It's not that?'
Indeed, no matter what, the Poison King wouldn't have done such a thing himself.
Just as I was thinking so and about to nod my head.
"The announcement the Alliance will make is that the Tang Clan will fall from the Four Great Families."
"...?"
Something even more outrageous popped out.
'What did I just hear?'
It didn't easily register.
I was sure I had heard correctly, but no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't understand.
So I asked the Poison King.
"...Clan Head Tang."
"Speak."
"Have you perhaps taken some medicine...? Something strong?"
"..."
At my question, the Poison King's brow furrowed deeply.
Perhaps the Poison King had taken the wrong medicine.
That was the only way I could comprehend what I had just heard.
"The Tang Clan is falling from the Four Great Families?"
"That is correct. The announcement will be made soon."
"...Are you insane...?"
This wasn't a statement that it could happen—it was a conviction that the announcement would be made.
In other words.
"...You mean you've already sent a letter to the Murim Alliance?"
"That is correct."
It wasn't mentioned by the Murim Alliance; it meant the Tang Clan had requested to step down.
They wanted to descend from the Four Great Families. That was what they had written and sent.
The problem is.
"Can you just step down because you want to...?"
The Four Great Families is closer to a symbolic meaning than an official position.
Since they simply refer to the four most outstanding prestigious families in the Central Plains.
It meant it wasn't something the Tang Clan could decide to step down from just because they wished to.
To this, the Poison King spoke to me with a bitter smile.
"Does it seem impossible?"
"..."
"I believe it is possible."
At the Poison King's words, heat began to rise in my head, contrary to my coldly frozen brain.
"Clan Head Tang. Surely you didn't write everything down and send it...?"
"Not a single character was omitted."
"Have you lost your mind?"
The affairs that occurred in the Tang Clan, the experiments they were conducting.
It meant he had written down everything regarding the elders and sent it to the Alliance.
'Has he really gone mad?'
Even without doing such a thing, an inspection would have come from the Alliance before long.
To think he had written it down himself and sent it to the Alliance when he should have been hiding it even then.
"Is this a deliberate attempt at ruin?"
It was no different from wanting to destroy the clan himself.
Though I spoke out in absurdity,
the Poison King merely let out a dry smile.
Does he find this situation amusing...?
'No wonder he beheaded the elders left and right without a care.'
Beheading the elders without caring about people's gazes.
Was that the reason he had thrown his whole being into handling matters?
Only then did the Poison King's actions make sense.
'So that's why he was acting that way.'
From the beginning, had he intended to destroy the clan?
The lord of a prestigious family, trying to destroy his own family...?
'And so Moyong Huia ran out?'
The memory of Moyong Huia suddenly running off as if she had realized something came to mind.
I had wondered why she was running so urgently, but if she had predicted this, it made sense.
'Because the Moyong clan is commercially connected.'
They had also made an agreement with the Tang Clan.
If the Tang Clan chose to collapse on its own from here.
'...The power structure changes.'
It wasn't just the Tang Clan collapsing; the situation that would arise because of it was also a problem.
It seemed Moyong Huia had immediately predicted this and moved to respond as quickly as possible.
If the Tang Clan collapses, the power structure changes.
The meaning contained in those words was that the value held by the Tang Clan was enormous.
If even a prestigious family below them collapsed, it would cause an uproar.
If the Tang Clan were to do so? The repercussions would obviously be tremendous.
That was why it was even more questionable.
"...Why did you make such a choice?"
No matter how I looked at it, I couldn't understand the choice the Poison King had made.
'I had thought perhaps the Tang Clan might be ruined.'
Given the magnitude of the incident, I had thought there would be considerable damage.
If it were destroyed by others, that would be one thing.
I hadn't known the Poison King himself would think of destroying the Tang Clan.
Why had he really done so?
It was a choice I would never have made.
To this, the Poison King fell silent for a moment, then looked into my eyes and spoke.
"It is thanks to the Gu Clan Head."
"...Yes?"
I had to falter at the Poison King's words.
Why did my father suddenly come up here?
I thought he had done something, but because the Poison King had said "thanks to" and not "because of," I held my tongue.
"He said to me. Are you sure this is the orthodox faction, after seeing this?"
"..."
"He is right. At least, they were not actions befitting the orthodox faction."
It was impossible to refute.
Whatever the reason, what had just transpired were not things the orthodox faction should do.
But.
"But those were not things done by you, Poison King."
"Are you certain?"
"...What do you mean?"
"That I did not get involved. That is what I am asking if you are certain of, Young Master Gu."
"..."
The Poison King asked with brightly shining eyes.
The plan to create the Heavenly Martial Body and the countless evil deeds committed to achieve it.
If he asked whether I was certain the Poison King had not been involved in any of it.
'...No.'
I believed not, but I was not certain.
Reading my expression, the Poison King smiled faintly and spoke.
"I did not do it."
"Then..."
"Even so, there will be fewer who believe it. That is reality."
Right.
That was reality.
Even if he said he didn't do it, given the situation, there would be fewer believers.
"And even if I was not involved. I must bear that responsibility."
"Is there a reason you must go so far, Clan Head Tang...?"
"As for the reason—it is what you just said, Young Master Gu."
"Yes?"
"Because I am the clan head of the Tang Clan."
"..."
As if comfortable, or as if resigned.
Countless emotions were mixed in the calm voice that flowed forth.
"Until now, though I called myself clan head, it seems I have accomplished nothing of note. Should I not do something before it is too late?"