Chapter 482: The Rotten Thing.

Right after Nah-hee regained consciousness.

The first thing I naturally did was place restrictions on her.

Nah-hee didn’t seem to grasp the situation well, but.

Feeling the subsequent events and the restrictions placed upon her, she seemed to quickly figure out what was going on.

‘Guess her brain works pretty well then.’

Why Dang-deok had sold her out and betrayed her, what had happened to her changed body.

Nah-hee’s expression upon learning the secrets was quite something to behold.

Should I call it despair?

Or perhaps, the moment right before it.

A state on the verge of collapse makes one feel all sorts of things.

‘Though it wasn’t particularly important.’

Of course, I didn’t feel any sympathy watching it.

If I were going to feel that, it should have happened much earlier.

I approached Nah-hee, who was barely holding onto her consciousness.

I grabbed her hair, met her eyes, and asked.

“Because I have something I need to do.”

“…”

Perhaps it was because it was right after her demonization had progressed.

Nah-hee’s eyes were filled only with fear.

I could sense a tiny bit of awe, but I didn’t care to know about such trivial emotions.

“You, specifically.”

I simply smiled at Nah-hee and said.

“Do you want to get revenge?”

Upon hearing that, Nah-hee’s expression changed drastically.

I happened to have something to ask her.

And I also had an immediate use for her.

---

The place I headed to first, with Nah-hee leading the way.

Was, naturally, the Poison King’s family head’s chamber.

It seemed there had been an accident concerning the Poison Lake, and there were also things I needed to check beforehand.

Kuuuuuuuung-!

The process became somewhat intense.

An immense pressure spread throughout the not-so-small room.

As if representing the Poison King’s state of mind, a rough and fierce aura began to consume the room.

“What did you just say?”

His contorted expression clearly showed how furious he was.

It was a pressure that made one’s skin tingle.

Although the Poison King’s level was said to be somewhat lower compared to the heads of the Four Great Families.

His heavy pressure was exquisite, as if to say it was by no means a level to be ignored.

The strange thing here was that if it were the old me, I would have thought ‘I’m screwed’ and tried to backtrack.

“Strangely, I didn’t feel that way.”

Was it my nonchalant reply?

The Poison King’s momentum intensified further.

“You truly are crossing the line. So Yeom-ra, I know you possess outstanding talent, but I never thought you’d be this lacking.”

Tching-!

The teacup placed before me was crushed.

He couldn’t break my teacup too, so I had to grab and protect it.

Because I hadn’t finished my tea yet.

After taking a sip from the teacup in my hand, I looked at the agitated Poison King and said.

“How about calming down and listening to the rest of my story?”

“Calm down? Did you just say calm down?”

Well, it’s understandable that he wouldn’t calm down.

A complete stranger. And a young one at that, showing up and saying he needs to kill one of your elders.

What family head would understand that?

While I understood the Poison King’s anger,

I turned my attention to confirm something I sensed from his movements.

‘I smell blood.’

Although the Poison King looked fine on the outside, I sensed something unusual about him.

A fishy smell brushing against my nose and an unknown, pungent aroma.

This was a unique trace I had personally experienced before.

‘Did he come from torturing someone?’

It seemed the Poison King had been torturing someone right up until he came here.

My prediction was that the victim was likely…

‘Black Dragon Sword?’

The criminals transported here.

Meaning he came here after torturing them right up until the last moment.

‘Hmm.’

Thinking that, a question occurred to me.

Someone like the Poison King, no matter how suddenly he arrived,

Could not have come without erasing the smell of blood, the faint killing intent, and the poison aura.

Yet, the fact that I’m sensing these energies now…

‘My senses have evolved.’

It must mean that my various senses, including my ki perception, have become sharper.

‘What a shame.’

I wish I had come after understanding my body’s changes a bit more.

It was regrettable that I couldn’t properly assess my condition due to moving somewhat hastily.

But it couldn’t be helped.

“I heard you damaged an artifact of my house. I believe the proper course of action for you now is not this, but an apology for your rudeness. Am I wrong?”

After all, I was here because I had evaporated the Poison Lake.

‘This is a bit unfair.’

Damage to an artifact, huh? Actually, it wasn’t just damage, I completely got rid of it.

The evaporation of the Poison Lake?

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t my fault.

It was correct to see it as something the Tang Imperial Gate caused. If you think about it that way, it’s this family’s ancestor who shit the bed.

‘But the suspicion is falling on me.’

That was the truly annoying part.

“Damage? You must have heard the information. If you act like this, I’ll be in trouble too.”

I forced a frown and faced the Poison King.

The reason I’m acting like this is simple.

“I told you, I didn’t do anything?”

The Poison King must have heard from Nah-hee’s testimony.

The story that I did nothing, but upon arriving at the lake, its water suddenly evaporated.

“Hah.”

Ah, of course.

“You expect me to believe that?”

The Poison King wouldn’t believe this.

Seeing the Poison King like that, I said with a smile.

“Then, conversely, if I had suddenly evaporated all the lake’s water myself, would that be believable?”

“…”

“Are you suggesting I drank it all to make it disappear?”

As I brought this up with a hint of annoyance, the Poison King’s momentum faltered slightly.

He couldn’t possibly think I actually drank it all to make it disappear.

Or rather, he probably wouldn’t even consider it plausible for that much water to vanish all at once.

‘Even I, who actually drank it, can’t comprehend it.’

Where did the lake’s water go after entering my body?

And where did all that poison aura go?

Questions floated around, but it was more important to argue with the Poison King first.

“If you bring someone here and suspect them right away, what am I supposed to do?”

Grrrind.

That was the sound of the Poison King clenching his fist.

He’s probably regretting it, isn’t he? Sending only that girl Nah-hee and me.

I wondered why he had done that back then.

Seeing the aura emanating from the Poison King, I roughly figured it out.

‘No wonder he looked so busy.’

It seems he immediately locked up the members of the Black Dragon Unit, including the Black Dragon Sword, upon bringing them to the Tang Gate and started torturing them himself.

He probably isn’t doing it alone, but perhaps time is tight because there are many people involved?

‘Or perhaps.’

Is he using them for something?

Hearing vaguely about the Tang Gate, I realized this household wasn’t exactly pristine either.

Ah, maybe that was something I already knew.

Because it was already a known fact that very few households claiming to be righteous sects were actually clean.

“If you were that suspicious, you could have come to see for yourself. That would have resolved everything.”

I pointed this out to the Poison King.

Of course, aside from being busy, I think his dislike for me also played a part.

Given how things turned out, it was definitively the Poison King’s fault.

‘There’s no evidence. And the witness says it wasn’t my fault.’

Even if he holds onto this suspicion, there’s only circumstantial evidence.

Knowing that, I was able to act shamelessly.

“In the first place.”

Seeing me like that, the Poison King asked.

“Why on earth did you go to see the lake?”

This was the reason for his suspicion.

Going to see the lake even after writing a request.

The Poison King recalled this incident and suspected me.

“I was just curious.”

“You know that’s too flimsy an excuse, don’t you?”

“So, are you saying I should make up an excuse? Is that it?”

“If you can, try doing that.”

Screeeech.

The Poison King lowered his stance and met my eyes.

“While there may be insufficient suspicion or evidence, this is the Tang Gate, So Yeom-ra.”

The pressure conveyed in his gaze was quite sharp.

It meant that if I didn’t speak properly, he could capture and deal with me even without evidence.

The Poison King was using the Tang Gate’s societal standing to pressure me.

However.

Grrrind.

I, too, without backing down, continued to smile while looking at the Poison King.

“That’s right. This is the Tang Gate.”

One of the Four Great Families, and a clan at the peak of poison arts.

Furthermore.

“A incompetent clan that doesn’t even know how its own house is rotting away.”

The moment I uttered those words.

The Poison King’s fingertips shot out rapidly.

Thwack.

“!”

I grabbed and blocked his hand.

Then, the Poison King’s eyes widened like saucers.

It seemed he hadn’t expected me to block it.

And the same was true for me.

‘Oh… it reacted to this.’

Not only did it react, but I also managed to block it.

Is it thanks to reaching the complete Hwagyeong stage?

‘Although using the Ki-Body Transformation Technique makes things a bit sluggish.’

I had forcibly shrunk my body, and also changed my state, which acts as shackles.

So, what would happen if I released this and went all out?

Could I defeat the Poison King?

A trivial sense of competitiveness arose within me.

‘Not now.’

I wanted to know how much stronger I had become, but now wasn’t the time.

I slightly released the arm I had grabbed and spoke to the Poison King again.

“I apologize for my rudeness just now. My words were a bit harsh.”

“…So Yeom-ra.”

Despite my apology, the Poison King still looked furious.

Of course, he would be. A brat barely out of diapers suddenly called his clan rotten.

However, I couldn’t think of a better way to put it.

The Tang Gate is rotten.

Perhaps it was because it was a place that poured all its effort into poison arts.

It felt rotten to the core, emitting a stench.

Unlike the sweet fragrance I felt from their ancestors.

The Poison King’s eyes, holding surprise, perhaps because he didn’t expect to be caught.

Looking at him, I asked what I wanted to ask.

“Patriarch-nim, do you know about the ‘Plan for the Birth of the Heavenly Martial Body’…?”

“…!”

At my words, the Poison King’s pupils wavered.

Seeing that, I became certain that the Poison King knew about it too.

“…How could you….”

The Poison King’s rarely seen wavering expression was somewhat refreshing, but.

This wasn’t the end.

“Then, furthermore, Patriarch-nim… do you also know that this matter is still being secretly carried out?”

“That’s absurd…!!”

CRASH-!

The Poison King pushed himself up, overturning the table and shattering the cups.

Moreover.

“Not content with insulting my house, what is your intention in spewing such baseless rumors?”

Now, I could even feel killing intent radiating from the Poison King.

Watching him, I thought.

Is that expression genuine?

Is he truly ignorant, acting like this?

‘Not yet.’

It’s too early to judge that aspect.

For now, I had to focus only on what Tang Je-mun had mentioned.

“Patriarch-nim.”

The Poison King’s gaze, which seemed ready to kill me if I didn’t explain properly right now.

And the killing intent that filled the room.

Pushing through that immense pressure, I slowly rose to my feet as well.

“Whether you get angry and say it’s right or wrong, Patriarch-nim, my initial intention remains unchanged.”

The words asking if it was okay to kill the Tang Gate’s elders.

While it might have seemed like asking for permission, saying ‘Is it okay?’

That wasn’t the case in reality.

“This is also the reason I came to Sichuan, to the Tang Gate.”

This wasn’t it.

My original intention was just to grab the valuables and run, not to kill all the Tang Gate elders.

It was just a blatant lie, though.

If packaged nicely, it sounded rather convincing.

‘After all, this is also the Tang Je-mun’s wish.’

The request Tang Je-mun made to me before leaving.

For that request, I declared to the Poison King that I would kill the Tang Gate’s elders.

A declaration.

That’s right.

This is a declaration.

“I am not asking for permission.”

“…What?”

“It’s a kind of transaction, and an offer to help.”

“So Yeom-ra. You seem unaware of how much patience it takes for me not to kill you with my own hands right now. Do you truly wish to die?”

“I’m offering to cut away the rotten parts and help you clean up. Why are you so angry?”

“You truly…!!”

Just as the Poison King couldn’t contain his anger and reached out to me again.

Tuk.

I took something out of my pocket and presented it before the Poison King.

At first glance, it looked like a pretty, light green dumpling.

“…!”

The moment the Poison King confirmed it, his movements stiffened.

Fortunately, he seemed to recognize it immediately.

It’s truly amazing.

It’s an elixir that vanished hundreds of years ago, yet perhaps because he’s of the Tang bloodline, the Poison King recognized it instantly.

The item’s identity was none other than…

“Th-this….”

“The Poison Heaven Pill.”

Upon hearing its identity, the Poison King’s pupils shook uncontrollably.

If you were to ask what the Tang clan’s most regrettable ancestral legacy is, surely ninety out of a hundred would say this.

An overwhelming spiritual medicine comparable to Shaolin’s Great Restoration Pill.

It grants resistance to those without poison tolerance,

And becomes an unparalleled fortuitous encounter for those who practice poison arts.

The Tang clan’s elixir, lost hundreds of years ago, was right before the Poison King’s eyes.

The Poison King, forgetting his previous anger, stared at me with entranced eyes.

“This…. How did you…?”

“First, please sit down again.”

After gently pushing the Poison Heaven Pill towards the Poison King, I smiled at him and said.

“At this point, surely you can listen to my story, can’t you?”

“Including the story of the Poison Heaven Pill.”

I wasn’t worried about the Poison King’s reaction.

Regardless of the clan’s rudeness, or my attitude,

The Poison King, having confirmed the Poison Heaven Pill, would have no other choice.

And.

As expected.

Swoosh.

The Poison King sat down before me.

Seeing this, I could let out a sigh of relief inwardly.