Chapter 516: Give it to me just once.

As more time passed and it became noon.

The incident that broke out in the middle of the night caused quite a stir.

For now, the commotion was confined within the Tang Clan, but…

I wonder how long it will last.

If the Poison King cannot firmly grasp public opinion within the clan, it won’t be long before it spreads not only throughout Sichuan but the entire Central Plains.

It was the kind of thing that would cause such a stir.

‘Rather… it couldn’t be helped.’

How could it be otherwise?

The fact that the Tang Clan, of all people, had been conducting human experiments in secret.

Because the truth about that matter had burst forth.

If the rumors couldn’t be contained, it was only a matter of time before they spread everywhere.

The captured First Elder confessed everything while apologizing for his crimes.

The wicked deeds he had committed over the past hundred years to make the Tang Clan the foremost clan.

The ‘Heavenly Martial Body Creation Plan’ that had been continuously mentioned.

The full story behind this plan was properly revealed.

‘It was far more heinous than I thought.’

By the time I checked it in my previous life, it had already been erased so many times that only traces remained, so I only saw tiny fragments.

I could understand such truths now, seeing the depths of the Tang Clan’s underground.

I remember the corpses of monsters imbued with poison piled up like mountains.

There were so many, the basement was quite large, yet they filled it completely.

Up to that point, it didn’t really matter.

Experiments using monsters? That was something often heard about.

Take the Moyong Clan, for instance; they keep monsters imprisoned underground, extract silk from them, and use it for their silk business, and the Martial Alliance was also continuously conducting experiments using monsters.

Therefore, it wasn’t something that would cause such a heated reaction.

Naturally, there would be no need to proceed with the matter secretly from the Clan Head.

So, what became the problem here?

It was none other than…

‘Human experimentation.’

That was probably the problem.

Around the time I subdued the First Elder and took care of the unconscious Heavenly Venerate.

Ah, around that time, the fire clinging to the Heavenly Venerate’s body had extinguished.

Strangely, it went out just as the Poison King arrived.

I wondered if Father had controlled it, but I don’t know about that.

Anyway.

When the Poison King dug deeper into the Tang Clan’s underground, even deeper than that.

A sight unfolded that would make even my father frown, let alone him.

The thick scent of blood that made my nose tingle… I wondered where this stench was coming from, and it turned out to be from beyond a space sealed tightly shut with a door.

When they forced the door open and infiltrated the space, everyone clamped their mouths shut upon seeing the scene inside.

Something was piled up so densely that no gaps were visible on the floor.

It took a little time to realize they were all human bodies.

Rotten, decayed bodies.

They were damaged to the point where it was difficult to discern their shapes properly.

The blood was dried and hardened.

Fragmented chunks, impossible to identify any specific part, were rotting and emitting a stench.

“Ugh…! “

One of the martial artists behind me suddenly vomited.

They were likely veterans who had been through thick and thin under the Poison King’s command, yet they couldn’t endure it.

The sight was that disgusting.

Just then.

Swoosh.

Father suddenly placed his hand on my back.

Just as I wondered why he was doing that, I felt a thin barrier form around my body.

Only then could I realize.

That potent poison gas permeated this space.

Whoosh-!

At the same time, a gust of wind blew.

I could see the poison gas spread throughout the room being sucked somewhere.

It was the Poison King’s hand.

The Poison King was gathering the floating poison gas into one place.

‘How fascinating.’

I wondered if it was a Tang Clan martial art, perhaps used to manipulate poison gas, similar to how Gu Clanga manipulates heat.

Before long, all the poison gas in the space disappeared, revealing the feast of corpses left in the room and apparatuses suggesting some kind of experimentation had been conducted.

I already knew what those things meant.

Because I had heard it from the First Elder long ago.

Furthermore, even with the corpses piled up like this, I felt no particular emotion.

Having seen worse in my previous life.

‘Just this much…’

Of course, that’s from my perspective. The Poison King or the others likely felt differently.

Grind.

As proof, a harsh sound came from the Poison King’s hand.

It felt like he was forcibly restraining himself from smashing everything.

The sound of him forcibly composing himself, his breath filled with emotion, could also be heard.

After composing himself over a few short seconds, the Poison King…

“Could you… excuse us… for a moment…?”

He spoke, looking at Father and me.

I had to inwardly panic quite a bit at his words.

‘He’s going to let us leave?’

It was clearly a situation where the Tang Clan was up to something in the basement.

Whether the Poison King was involved or not, trying to force witnesses to leave was a situation that could cause problems.

There was no way the Poison King wouldn’t know that. Had he gone mad?

As I watched the Poison King with a strange expression…

“Very well.”

Father didn’t say much and agreed to the Poison King’s request.

Although it felt a bit unsettling, since Father said it was okay, I had nothing more to say.

And so, I followed Father, who turned and walked away first, and briefly glanced at the Poison King’s back.

Due to the Tang Clan’s characteristics, most individuals have relatively small physiques.

Perhaps because of that, the Poison King’s back seemed particularly small.

That bothered me quite a bit.

Afterwards, upon returning upstairs, I couldn’t go straight to my quarters.

Because the situation demanded that I wait in the main building.

After that, things proceeded at a remarkably fast pace.

“…The Third and Fourth Elders are involved in this matter.”

This was because the captured First Elder relentlessly spewed out the truth about the incident.

“Everything was for the sake of Lord Poison Emperor’s will….”

“So that the Tang Clan could become the greatest clan….”

It was carried out to make the Tang Clan the foremost.

The current Tang Clan is not a proper clan.

How can a clan that has lost its military power become the foremost?

Those were the words the First Elder uttered with sincerity.

Shortly after the Tang Clan began dealing with and selling iron.

The point when they diverted from their original intended purpose.

The First Elder said that was the problem.

It was a trend that the Poison King’s father, the previous Clan Head, had chosen to change.

The elders who opposed this decided to stir up trouble, and that trouble has now erupted.

That’s roughly the gist of it.

It wasn’t a particularly interesting story.

‘Since they were told to speak with sincerity, it doesn’t seem like a lie.’

Because there was a restriction placed upon the First Elder, his words wouldn’t be lies.

However, they seemed like utterly futile words to be spoken with sincerity.

Up to that point, it was somewhat acceptable.

Even when I heard that the disappearances in Sichuan over the past few years were the Tang Clan’s doing.

Even when they spoke of using those people for human experiments.

Even when the First Elder spewed nonsense, claiming he intended to take over because the Clan Head lacked ability.

The Poison King, who had barely managed to listen and endure…

“Right after the medicine was completed… through Lady Gongnyeo, the world…”

Chwaaak-!

Upon hearing the intent to kidnap Tang Xiaoye and force-feed her the completed medicine, the Poison King drew his sword and personally beheaded him.

It was the Poison King, who usually didn’t use a sword, deliberately drawing one to strike.

Blood splattered, soaking the floor, and the atmosphere grew cold due to the Poison King’s uncharacteristically violent actions.

Seemingly furious, the Poison King ground his teeth and ordered the Tang Clan martial artists.

“Bring the Third and Fourth Elders.”

His face, contorted like a demon’s, was quite menacing.

Seeing that, I couldn’t help but be surprised inwardly.

‘Ah, I shouldn’t have killed that guy.’

I was surprised about killing the First Elder.

There was much information I needed to extract. But the Poison King arrived then, so I couldn’t hear it all.

Since he was killed like that, it put me in a bit of a predicament too.

‘…Damn it.’

Still, it wasn’t without its gains.

I learned that if one succeeded in ‘Demonification,’ their damaged mind could be somewhat restored.

As the First Elder’s head rolled on the floor and the martial artists began scattering at the Poison King’s command, I too left the place.

It would only be troublesome to stay there longer.

I could see it was about to get noisy, so I decided to escape for a bit.

I was about to ask if Father would come along, but…

“Go on ahead.”

As if he knew I was planning to bolt, he spoke preemptively.

‘…And the Clan Head?’

I asked what Father would do.

When I asked, Father looked at me with eyes that seemed displeased about something.

What is it? Did I do something wrong?

As I cautiously tried to gauge the situation, Father spoke to me.

“Use the correct title.”

“Huh?”

“This place is not Gu Clanga.”

‘…What does that mean?’

That was a rather strange statement.

Then what should I call him? If not Clan Head, what should I call him?

After thinking for a moment, I uttered the only word that came to mind.

“Father…?”

Upon hearing my title, Father nodded.

So that was the correct answer?

I didn’t know why he liked that, but putting it aside, I asked the main question.

“Aren’t you coming with me?”

“The transaction isn’t finished yet.”

“Transaction?”

I looked at him, wondering what he meant, as Father started walking.

As he did, I heard a telepathic message in my ear.

-I made a deal with the Poison King. If he helps with this matter, I promised him priority trading rights with the Tang Clan.-

My eyes widened upon hearing Father’s words.

Wait, when did he even arrange that…?

And the ‘matter’ he’s referring to… could it be…?

‘Does he mean capturing the elders?’

Thinking that far, I quickly looked towards the Poison King.

Did that guy perhaps anticipate all this and call Father here?

‘No wonder he handled things so conspicuously.’

Such matters are best handled quietly; a surprise attack is the standard procedure, as culprits might sense something and flee if it’s done noisily.

I had found it strange that the Poison King was making such a loud scene in front of everyone.

‘That fellow….’

The Poison King was a far more cunning man than I had anticipated.

The reason for deliberately causing such a commotion was clearly to boost the Clan Head’s authority.

It was to show the Clan Head’s influence, allowing him to seize the fragments of the Tang Clan that might scatter while dealing with the elders.

‘Ha….’

I let out a hollow laugh, feeling entangled in a more complicated web than expected.

The Poison King was far more capable than I had predicted.

However, what worried me was…

‘Priority trading rights…’

As they are the clan holding the highest commercial rights related to iron weaponry…

Being able to trade with them first holds considerable value.

As far as I know, the Martial Alliance held those rights.

‘Is it okay for Gu Clanga to have this?’

Especially since there was already much talk about the collaboration with the Moyong Clan.

I wondered if it was okay to snatch something like this from the Martial Alliance. If this happens, Gu Clanga’s power will become too great.

One clan becoming that immense is precisely what the Martial Alliance would least desire.

‘…Well, Father will handle it.’

I thought about it and quickly dismissed the concern.

Father will manage.

If things get dicey, Madam Mi usually steps in to resolve them.

Watching Father leisurely disappear to capture the elders, I started walking again.

My destination was already set.

“Oh, Young Master…?”

My quarters, located a little way back from the main building.

I saw a woman petting a wolf that looked strangely familiar.

The woman was, naturally, Tang Xiaoye.

This is Tang Xiaoye’s residence.

Tang Xiaoye smiled brightly upon seeing me arrive so suddenly.

Her smile, seeming both bright and shadowed, caught my attention.

It was something I had been subtly noticing, making it even more apparent.

“What brings you here?”

“I was just wondering what you were doing.”

It was around the time the Poison King was busy handling the situation.

However, judging by Tang Xiaoye’s reaction, it seemed the Poison King had kept her in the dark about it.

‘The energy signatures around are also more alert than usual.’

Around Tang Xiaoye’s quarters.

The number of martial artists maintaining formation was double the usual, and most of them were of a higher caliber than normal.

It seemed they were prepared for any unforeseen circumstances, and apparently, Tang Xiaoye hadn’t been informed.

As if to confirm this, a Tang Clan martial artist, seeing me appear suddenly, reacted.

-Young Master Gu…-

-I already know. Don’t worry.-

-…

He was probably about to warn me not to mention the First Elder, so I spoke first.

“Ah, Young Master. This is the wolf I’m raising. Isn’t he cute?”

Tang Xiaoye, perhaps just happy about my visit, introduced the wolf she was petting.

It was a huge wolf with black fur… um… how should I put it.

“…He looks like a total jerk?”

His appearance somehow displeased me.

Grrr…!

As if understanding me, the wolf bared its teeth. This punk?

Just as I was about to growl back, intending to teach it a lesson, Tang Xiaoye quickly raised her hand to stop me.

“That’s what makes him cute!”

“…Ah, right.”

Fine, if you think he’s cute, then that’s that.

I couldn’t exactly criticize the pet she was raising.

After all, I myself was raising a strange snake.

‘Come to think of it, I haven’t named that guy.’

I recalled Seoksu-sa (or rather, what used to be Seoksu-sa), who was probably sleeping in my quarters right now.

I kept him around because he seemed helpful and smart, but somehow I never got around to naming him.

What should I call him?

The deliberation was brief.

‘Let’s call him Ddol-dori.’

Since he helps out smartly, I should just call him Ddol-dori.

-Shaaaah!

I heard what sounded like Ddol-dori screaming from somewhere, likely an auditory hallucination.

It must be my imagination.

I nodded slightly and said to Tang Xiaoye.

“The reason I came is… well, I have something I need to ask.”

“Me?”

“Yeah.”

Her light, pale green eyes, tinged on one side.

Looking into those eyes, I asked.

“By any chance, do you want to become stronger?”

“…What?”

Even I had to admit it was a rather abrupt question.