Chapter 518: Give it to me just once.

Just as I was slightly surprised by the words I blurted out without realizing it.

“What the…?”

When Tang Soyeol, who heard my words, swayed as if about to collapse, I quickly supported her.

Why is she suddenly fainting?

I lifted Tang Soyeol’s incredibly light body into my arms. If I had left her as she was, she would have fallen to the floor.

Tang Soyeol, her face flushed crimson, had lost consciousness.

Up to this point, it was okay.

No, someone fainted, so it’s definitely not okay… but there was a bigger problem than this.

‘…What should I do?’

After supporting her, gazes pierced me from all directions.

Dozens of martial artists deployed around Tang Soyeol’s quarters at the time the incident occurred.

Amidst them, Tang Soyeol, who had lost consciousness, and me.

“…”

It was the perfect moment to be misunderstood.

Presence grew distinct. A slight cold sweat trickled down.

Sreung.

The sound of a sword being drawn came from somewhere.

“Hmm.”

I nodded as I heard the sound.

It seemed like the situation had gone south for resolving the misunderstanding peacefully.

Right after Tang Soyeol fainted.

As dozens of martial artists unleashed their ki, I first carefully set down the Tang Soyeol I was holding.

After setting her down, I called over a servant who was watching the situation worriedly and told her to take care of Tang Soyeol, and the woman hesitated before attending to Tang Soyeol.

After that, I had to confront the martial artists who seemed ready to pounce on me and ponder what to do.

There were immediately two options.

Either get captured obediently and explain the situation.

Or subdue them all and leave.

The most ideal option was the former, but I didn’t have time to waste.

So, should I go with the second option?

‘That’s also a bit troublesome.’

I pondered.

Killing them all is easy, but…

Subduing them all is quite a bothersome method.

Because I had to carefully control it so as not to injure each person.

‘…Fifteen First-rate experts, four Peak experts. And one fully matured Peak expert.’

As expected of a prestigious family, the martial artists’ skill level is quite high.

It seems they’ve deployed an entire Sword Brigade belonging to the Tang Clan as guards.

If they attacked in a combined assault, it would be difficult.

Seriously, what should I do?

Just as I was clenching and unclenching my fist slightly, observing their movements.

I saw someone cautiously approaching this way.

I sensed it was the man with the highest cultivation among the deployed martial artists.

As I watched him calmly, the man approached and abruptly offered a fist-and-palm salute to me.

“…I am Seong Ui-hyeok, the captain of the Tang Clan’s guard brigade. I greet the blood relative of the Nine Families.”

So he was the captain after all.

His skill level was higher than expected; I had anticipated he would hold a significant position.

As expected, he seems to be the captain of the Sword Brigade.

“I am Gu Yangcheon.”

As I introduced myself.

The man also showed clear signs of tension.

“…May I hear an explanation of the situation?”

Hearing him, I inwardly nodded.

Fortunately, it seemed he wasn’t going to resort to violence immediately.

“…We were conversing, and suddenly Miss Tang fainted.”

“The Young Lady, suddenly…?”

“Yes.”

Even explaining the facts, his eyes didn’t seem to believe me.

Naturally, I wouldn’t have believed it either.

If it were me, I might have started by breaking the opponent’s limbs.

Rather, it was peculiar that this Seong Ui-hyeok fellow was conversing rationally.

“I know it sounds unbelievable, but it’s the truth.”

As I spoke with an awkward expression.

“No. I believe you.”

Seong Ui-hyeok gave an unexpected answer.

You believe me? Hearing that, I was actually taken aback.

“…Yes?”

“The Young Lady spoke of you, Young Master, quite a lot.”

Seong Ui-hyeok quietly added ‘To the point of being sick of it’ afterwards, but I pretended not to hear.

Spoke of me…

“There weren’t any bad… stories, were there?”

“There were, occasionally.”

“…”

I was hoping he’d follow up with something like ‘Just kidding.’ But he didn’t. Damn it.

I glanced at Seong Ui-hyeok, frowning slightly, and he said with a faint smile.

“There were many more good things said.”

“…Yes, I see.”

I was already slightly hurt.

It felt a bit too late to fix it.

As I pouted slightly like a child, Seong Ui-hyeok spoke.

“…At least based on what I’ve heard from the Young Lady, I’ve judged that you, Young Master, are not someone who would harm her.”

Perhaps bothered by such talk, I said somewhat sharply.

“Is it okay to judge based on just those words? You, who are supposed to be a guard.”

A guard who protects their master shouldn’t make judgments based on such flimsy things.

Setting aside whether the situation resolved favorably, I was quite displeased if Tang Soyeol’s guard felt that way.

Hearing my words, Seong Ui-hyeok actually laughed.

This bastard, he’s laughing…?

“I wasn’t saying that to make you laugh?”

“Yes, thank you for your concern. However, hearing your words makes me feel even more certain that my judgment is correct.”

“What are you talking about…?”

“I can tell from the way you look at the Young Lady, Young Master.”

“…”

“Just as we value the Young Lady, I believe you do as well, Young Master.”

At Seong Ui-hyeok’s words, I clicked my tongue inwardly.

Damn it, they all claim to know from looking at someone’s eyes. Do they think they’re mind readers or something?

Even so, I subtly averted my gaze.

I didn’t want to admit it, but I couldn’t deny it either.

One might laugh at such childish behavior, but…

This time, Seong Ui-hyeok turned his expressionless face and offered me another fist-and-palm salute.

“Please continue to take good care of our Young Lady.”

“…Yes.”

As I replied, something vaguely surfaced in my heart.

What should I call it?

It was an emotion difficult to describe.

******************

A few minutes later.

I left Tang Soyeol’s quarters and started walking.

“…Hoo.”

As I walked, I wiped away a slight bead of sweat.

Fortunately, it seems I managed to get through the situation.

Although Tang Soyeol’s sudden fainting worries me, based on the internal energy check I performed while holding her briefly, there didn’t seem to be any major issues.

If necessary, I’ll have to ask the divine physician to examine her.

After all, fainting so suddenly was strange.

[…No matter how I look at it, isn’t it your fault?]

“What did I even do…?”

[Forget it. That’s just how you are.]

Why is this old man picking a fight again?

I held back from saying another word.

This wasn’t the time to be bickering with Elder Shin.

Not to mention the tumultuous Tang Clan.

I looked at the jewel in my hand and thought.

‘If Tang Soyeol refuses to accept this….’

What should I do? I did snatch it from Elder Iljangro.

I needed to figure out how to use it.

‘Should I eat it?’

Should I just consume it myself? That would be the most useful way to use it.

Honestly, it would be better to just eat it.

If I had to pick a problem.

‘It’s that the conditions aren’t right.’

Although there’s a risk of my energy exploding because I’m not female.

I knew that consuming this wouldn’t cause me any problems.

[You’re quite confident.]

“Yes.”

I could sense and understand the energy.

I could fully absorb this if I ate it.

Whether it’s due to the Demonic Heaven Absorption technique or a transformation from shedding my skin, I don’t know.

I naturally knew.

That I could consume this.

The amount of internal energy contained within the jewel is about one hundred energy stones.

It’s an enormous amount for something artificially refined.

Furthermore, in terms of benefits, there was the aspect of strengthening poison qi.

However.

‘Speaking of poison qi….’

I’ve become immune to all poisons, and faint traces of poison qi permeate a corner of my body.

I could use it if I wanted to, but with demonic qi present, it wasn’t a particularly necessary energy.

It’s difficult to mix it into the martial arts I currently use.

It was inconvenient to connect it with flames.

In other words, for me, eating this jewel would only increase my energy, and nothing else.

‘The problem is that now is not the time to increase my energy.’

It’s really not the time to be taking spiritual herbs right now.

I still had energy I hadn’t consolidated yet, which I needed to manage.

I also had to exert effort in assimilating my body and energy.

In that sense, too much energy is just recklessness.

‘So giving it to Tang Soyeol would have been best.’

If that righteous person had received it, they might have destroyed it for the sake of the sacrificed, but…

That wasn’t me.

How much sacrifice went into this, or what it was made for.

Even knowing that, it wasn’t important to me.

‘So what?’

Who cares about that?

I didn’t need to feel guilty about the crap others had left behind.

[…Damn it. To think someone like you is my successor.]

‘You must be very satisfied?’

[This life is ruined….]

What is a dead person looking for a life for?

I understand Elder Shin’s displeasure, but…

This was my way.

I pondered, turning the jewel in my hand.

Tang Soyeol refused to eat it. And if I also found it unsuitable…

“Hmm.”

I turned my head and asked.

“Then, do you want to eat it?”

Flitch.

As I turned and asked, someone trembled.

It was Nari. It wasn’t strange; I had told her to come.

As soon as our eyes met, Nari knelt down stiffly.

Her expression seemed somewhat different from usual.

“Don’t you want it?”

“…What are you saying…?”

“This is an item created by Elder Iljangro. It feels like it’s connected to you.”

“…!”

At my words, Nari stiffly lifted her head and stared at the jewel.

At the same time, she clenched her fist tightly.

Seeing that, I realized. Nari seemed to have recognized what it was immediately.

Her expression crumpled in an instant.

I don’t know the details of how Nari was captured and forced to work for Elder Iljangro.

All I know is that she was one of the individuals used for this experiment, at best.

And that despite her youthful appearance, she’s somewhat older.

Furthermore, that she was under a restriction imposed by Elder Iljangro.

I wasn’t particularly curious about anything else, so I didn’t ask.

‘I already broke that restriction.’

I covered the restriction with demonic qi and bound her with an oath, so she should now be free from Elder Iljangro’s restriction.

“Do you need it?”

“…”

Nari’s eyes turned red as she looked at me.

Her expression was filled with resentment.

This is absurd.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Why is she looking at me like that?

As I asked, frowning, Nari spoke to me in a dry voice.

“…How… how could I possibly eat that….”

“What’s stopping you?”

“I remember those who died for it. And yet… you’re telling me to eat something made from their blood and flesh…!”

Nari screamed.

From her perspective, it could indeed be a terrible thing.

I knew that both Tang Deok and Nari harbored great vengeance against the Tang Clan, especially those who planned this incident.

Vengeance for those who died? Perhaps something like that.

I understand.

I understand how she feels, but…

“So. What’s the reason you can’t eat it?”

“…You…!”

Fadadaduk-!

“Kkeueueuk…!”

As I spoke, Nari tried to resist, but the restriction activated, causing her to clutch her heart.

The restriction prevented her from defying me.

Seeing that, I moved a little closer to her.

Elder Iljangro died, just as she wished.

The other elders, Elder Samjangro and Elder Sajangro, will likely meet similar ends.

‘Although I didn’t do it myself.’

I had planned everything, but my father just showed up and handled it.

In the end, everything turned out well, so that’s fine.

The Tang Clan was shaken.

If word got out to the Central Plains, it could cause a scandal, potentially forcing the Four Great Families down from their positions.

It was that significant an event.

“Heok… heok….”

Nari coughed raggedly.

I lifted her chin with my hand and said.

“Honestly, I considered eating it myself. But it felt like a waste, and there’s something I need to verify.”

If not Tang Soyeol, Nari was the only one around suitable for me to feed it to.

Watching the trembling Nari, I thought.

‘The reason Elder Iljangro kept Nari around, knowing of her existence, was probably this.’

There’s a possibility he left her to be used as an experimental subject later.

If there’s one thing that bothers me.

‘It’s the fact that she might be past the age of twenty.’

Considering her relationship with Tang Deok, maybe so.

Even if she has.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

Even if problems arose, it wouldn’t matter much.

If issues did occur, there were things I wanted to try based on that. Furthermore, even if it didn’t work and she truly died.

‘That wouldn’t matter either.’

Unlike when I looked at Tang Soyeol, I stared at Nari with dry, withered eyes.

Perhaps sensing something from my eyes.

Nari bit her lip.

“…Are you… truly intending to make me eat that?”

“Don’t you want it? You can become incredibly strong if you eat this.”

“That’s nonsense! If I were to eat that… I’d rather…! I’ll die right now!”

Nari was serious.

Even if it wasn’t the revenge she desired, the people she wanted dead were ultimately dead.

A restriction that kills by bursting the heart?

Now, it didn’t matter when she died.

Sensing that resolve, I said with a laugh.

“Why? Because your revenge is complete. You feel like you can die now?”

“If you know that… then right now…!”

“Who said that? That your revenge is complete?”

Stutter.

At my words, Nari’s expression stiffened.

“What… what do you mean?”

“Elder Iljangro is dead. And it seems like more nameless old folks will die. So you think your revenge is complete?”

“What are you trying to torment me with now….”

Nari’s eyes trembled.

She was talking like she was ready to die, but now she’s easily swayed by my words.

It struck me as amusing.

“Don’t get the wrong idea. Those old folks were nothing in the first place.”

“That’s impossible…! I saw it with my own eyes…!”

“Yes, you saw it. But what do you know just from seeing that little bit?”

It was a plan carried out without the Clan Leader’s knowledge.

No matter how influential Elder Iljangro or the other elders were within the clan.

Could they really have carried out the plan solely through their own power?

This had been ongoing for decades.

Right from the time of that fellow Dokgun until now.

Just that alone tells you.

‘The Tang Clan alone could secretly bring in so many experimental subjects? Bullshit.’

That’s truly unbelievable.

Recalling that, I can now connect the dots.

It means something more was added to the reason Tang Deok fell into becoming a demonic cultivator.

“No matter how large the Tang Clan is, they couldn’t handle such matters secretly.”

“…That…!”

“It means this is impossible unless someone turned a blind eye.”

“…”

Nari bit her lip.

Watching her, I inwardly chuckled and said.

“You already knew that, didn’t you?”

“…!”

Nari flinched at my firm words.

Yes, Nari must have known too.

It’s something that even someone as dim-witted as me could guess from just a few fragments.

Unless she’s an idiot, she couldn’t possibly not know.

Knowing that and claiming revenge is complete means…

“You just gave up because it was too much for you to handle.”

“…That…!”

Nari tried to retort indignantly, but my words came first.

“Revenge? What do you mean, you’re ending it just like that? Is getting rid of the people right in front of you considered revenge? Such a petty mindset. If that’s the case, then just die. I don’t need you.”

If you’re not going to do it, you’re not needed.

Nari was just a disposable pawn anyway, so discarding her now wouldn’t be a problem.

As I said that and started to get up.

“Then, what… what am I supposed to do…!”

Nari shouted furiously.

The restriction didn’t trigger.

It was thanks to me deliberately adjusting it so the restriction wouldn’t activate.

“Young Master… do you even know who you’re speaking of…! That place is not something one can simply meddle with…!”

“It’s the Martial Alliance.”

“…!”

At my nonchalantly spoken words, Nari’s eyes widened.

Seeing that, I smirked.

“What’s with the surprise? It’s obvious.”

Yes, it was obvious.

The reason the Tang Clan could conduct their affairs so secretly. The reason they could conduct such experiments for so many years.

Ultimately, it was impossible unless the Martial Alliance turned a blind eye.

Isn’t it obvious?

‘During the disappearance of so many experimental subjects, didn’t they investigate the missing persons cases?’

No matter how wealthy the Tang Clan is, their influence has limits.

As long as they belong to the Orthodox sects, they are inevitably under the wing of the Martial Alliance.

If they were preparing such a large-scale experiment, the Martial Alliance would surely find some clue.

Yet, the experiments proceeded without issue until now?

Then the conclusion was obvious.

‘The Martial Alliance is also involved in this.’

It’s not particularly surprising.

I wasn’t unaware that their side was also rotten inside.

However, Nari looked quite shocked at my words.

“What are you looking at like that?”

“…How… how can you state that so definitively?”

Is it that surprising that I stated it as if confirming it was the Martial Alliance?

‘Well.’

It wasn’t incomprehensible.

The Martial Alliance is a group that embodies the Orthodox sects themselves. At least, superficially.

In such a situation, for me, who belongs to the Orthodox sects, to assert that the Martial Alliance was heavily involved in this dirty business, it’s no wonder Nari was surprised.

‘It’s not really strange to me, though.’

I was all too aware of how politically narrow-minded and selfish those people were.

I just never expected they’d be involved in something this fucked up.

‘So that’s why Tang Deok joined the Demonic Cult?’

The Heavenly Demon’s goal was stated as dominating the world by overthrowing the Martial Alliance.

Tang Deok, seeing that joining the Demonic Cult could destroy the Tang Clan, and…

Perhaps he joined seeing the Heavenly Demon’s intent to crush the Martial Alliance.

Although it was purely speculation.

‘Then it’s not bad.’

It wasn’t bad.

Afterward, I spoke to Nari again.

“Given the situation, do you still think your revenge is complete?”

As I said that with a chuckle, I heard Nari grit her teeth.

“…The opponent is the Martial Alliance. It’s not something you, Young Master, would help me take revenge against, is it?”

“The word ‘help’ is a bit strange.”

“Then… I am merely….”

“It means you should join in since I have to do it anyway.”

“…Yes?”

At my casual remark, Nari, who had been growling until just now, wore a momentarily blank expression.

She looked like she had misheard something.

Should I say it again?

Then I should say it again.

“I intend to destroy the Martial Alliance.”

“…!”

“So if you want revenge, do it properly.”

Destroy the Martial Alliance.

When I heard that the Tang Clan was corrupt, and when I heard that the Martial Alliance was involved in this matter.

I decided inwardly that I had to do just that.

It would be strange to just leave it be, especially since the Blood Demon is linked to the Martial Alliance.

Therefore.

“Stop acting tough with your pathetic pride. Just eat what you’re given and help me out. Don’t annoy me.”

I had no intention of engaging in any more pointless emotional conversations with Nari.

As always, I never gave Nari any other options.

If I tell her to do something, she does it.

Those were the only remaining options for Nari, now that she had become a demonic cultivator.