Chapter 831: Ilcheonkyo.

“Welcome.”

As I crossed the main gate, an old woman greeted us.

“You must have had a difficult journey.”

She was an old woman with a truly kind impression. I understood she was the one newly put in charge of the Tang family’s Medicine Hall. Was she one of the elders who managed to survive?

Looking at the old woman, I carefully bowed my head.

“Have you been well since then?”

“As always. And how have you been, Young Master?”

“I’ve been… well…”

“From what I hear, you’re doing so well that it makes me proud.”

“…Hahaha….”

I laughed awkwardly. Whenever this happens, there’s nothing specific I can react with. It’s hard to feel pleased, and even harder to brag. This was just about my limit.

After finishing the brief greeting, the old woman smiled and looked to the side.

“Young Lady.”

“Hello….”

At the old woman’s gesture, Tang Xiaoye also bowed her head. For some reason, her reaction seemed slightly uncomfortable.

“It’s been a while. I’ve also been listening well to how you’ve been soaring high, Young Lady.”

“…Thank you.”

The conversation didn’t last long. The old woman seemed to know that Tang Xiaoye was uncomfortable. Did something happen to Tang Xiaoye specifically? I had never heard of anything. I considered asking about it, but I couldn’t right then.

“First, I will escort you to the preparation room. The Family Head is waiting.”

After all, I had to resolve the reason for coming to the Tang family first.

---

I followed the old woman for a short walk. The interior of the Tang family’s estate wasn’t much different from before. Although they said the gates were sealed, it was managed to some extent. However.

‘It’s a bit run-down.’

It seemed they couldn’t maintain the former splendor. The slightly dim atmosphere and the quiet feeling were faintly chilling. The imposing presence that showed the might of the Tang family, known as one of the Four Great Families, wasn’t fully felt. In a way, it was an expected outcome. Furthermore, it was something the Tang family brought upon themselves.

Seeing that, I glanced over at Tang Xiaoye. Just like before, Tang Xiaoye’s expression wasn’t exactly pleasant either. The problem was whether it was due to the Tang family’s current situation. Or if it was for some other reason, I wasn’t sure. I tried hard to ignore it and walked on.

Walking a little longer like that, we eventually reached our destination.

The Medicine Hall.

The name written on the building. Seeing that, I nodded. It was because I felt something strange even before the door was opened.

‘This energy.’

A strong energy could be felt emanating from within the building. Moreover, it wasn’t just any energy.

‘It feels like poison?’

Poison. And a considerable amount of it, too. It’s not really a problem. Since I possess immunity to all poisons anyway, the poison won’t affect me. Besides, even if the quantity is large, it’s not actually penetrating directly, so if one’s cultivation level is high, it’s a tolerable level. Tang Xiaoye, well, since she’s someone who learned poison arts from the beginning, she’ll be fine too.

“If, perhaps, you feel uncomfortable. I could prepare something like cloth…”

“No. I’m fine.”

The old woman cautiously asked, not knowing I had immunity, but of course, I declined.

“I can endure it. Please, enter.”

I grabbed the door and opened it. At that moment.

Hwa-ahk-!

Energy surged from inside. Within the energy, along with poison, permeated a pungent herbal scent. I frowned and checked inside.

“You’ve arrived…?”

Inside was a middle-aged man looking tired. The Tang family’s master, the Poison King, greeted me.

“Sorry I couldn’t come out to greet you…”

The Poison King, speaking to me in a weary voice, suddenly flinched mid-sentence. It was because he saw Tang Xiaoye standing beside me.

“Oh, you’ve… arrived.”

“Father….”

His attitude was somewhat awkward. As the Poison King swallowed hard while looking at his daughter. Tang Xiaoye sighed and said to the Poison King.

“It’s been a while.”

“Yes, you’ve been well-“

“I heard you visited the branch yesterday.”

Mid-conversation, Tang Xiaoye cut off the Poison King.

“W-well. I had separate business with Young Master Gu…”

“I clearly told you I would visit today.”

Her voice had turned a little cold. Because of that, the Poison King started to falter even more.

“It was that urgent…”

“I suppose so. It must have been very urgent. But…”

Tang Xiaoye added, furrowing her brow slightly.

“But why didn’t you look for me when you came?”

“…”

Hearing that, the Poison King looked over at me. I could feel it in his gaze. It seemed like he was asking for my help…

‘What could I possibly do even if he looked at me?’

There was nothing I could do. I was genuinely curious, too. Isn’t it strange that he came all the way to the branch only to leave without seeing his own daughter? ‘Back then, I just thought maybe he didn’t want to get scolded.’ Seeing Tang Xiaoye’s reaction, it doesn’t seem like that was the only reason. It seems there’s something I don’t know.

“That is…”

The Poison King, hesitating, tried to say something.

“…Forget it.”

Tang Xiaoye turned her back abruptly, as if she didn’t want to hear it.

“…I’ll be going ahead. I’ll see you again when Young Master Gu is finished.”

“Huh? Uh, yeah.”

She said it as if informing me, then disappeared just like that. Wow… Her footwork skills seem to have improved during that time? The time it took for her to disappear was instantaneous.

“…”

Watching that, I scratched the back of my head. It was a situation where reacting felt really awkward. So I looked back towards the Poison King.

“…”

“…”

Even if we made eye contact, there was nothing I could do. Only the awkward situation continued.

“…Come in first.”

The Poison King said in a slightly sad voice, so I entered without further comment.

“Ahem. Well then, excuse me for a moment.”

The Poison King’s expression was too sorrowful to ask anything. His face looked so deeply hurt that I couldn’t even offer comfort.

‘He said he hadn’t been home for years.’

I thought it was just for training. Or was there some other reason? I was dying of curiosity, but I had to hold back.

‘If they didn’t say anything, there must be a reason.’

Tang Xiaoye herself didn’t tell me anything. There was no reason not to ask, other than that. Moreover, wasn’t the Poison King telling me with his eyes too?

‘Please don’t ask.’

He didn’t really want to answer. So please, don’t ask. There was no way I wouldn’t understand those eyes, so I just tried hard to ignore them.

After entering the Medicine Hall directly, I looked around as if to assess the situation.

‘Hmm.’

What a mess. The sight naturally brought that thought to mind. The inside of the building was not tidy at all. Unknown ingredients were scattered everywhere. I picked one up among them.

‘This is….’

Seeing it, my eyes widened slightly. It looked like a simple weed, but its shape was familiar.

‘It’s the Small Common Grass (Sogongcho).’

It looked similar to a weed, but it was a medicinal herb that fetched a considerable price. This meant it wasn’t something that should be rolling around on the floor like this.

‘And it’s not just this.’

Besides the Small Common Grass, I could spot other valuable ingredients. Seeing that, I let out a hollow laugh.

‘It wasn’t like this when I visited before.’

It wasn’t this bad the last time I visited the Tang family. The messy state showed the situation. Perhaps because my face showed my disbelief. The Poison King cleared his throat while looking at me.

“Ahem. Ahem. It’s because I’ve been quite busy lately.”

“…How busy do you have to be to handle medicinal herbs like this?”

Especially in the Tang family’s estate.

“As we reached the final stages, it was overwhelming to manage other things.”

“I see.”

It wasn’t my place to comment on the tidiness, so I let it slide. The important thing was the result.

“So.”

The Poison King said to me.

“Is there really a way?”

His eyes were filled with determination as he spoke. Could his gaze change so instantly, when just moments ago he was flustered by his own daughter? No, perhaps it’s something he couldn’t help but focus on? It was about reclaiming the family’s long-lost history. And perhaps, it was a chance to revive the family’s prestige. It was a significantly important matter for the Poison King. And naturally, it was important to me as well.

“…First, show me the situation.”

What exactly was the situation? I had to confirm that first. Upon hearing that, the Poison King immediately led me deeper inside.

The preparation room within the Medicine Hall. It was a space where the energy felt particularly strong.

‘This is it.’

It was impossible not to know. The amount of medicinal herbs and poisonous herbs was much greater than outside. Boiling water of unknown intent. The ingredients contained within it, and the clumps gathered on the left. An unknown stench could even be felt from there. It was so severe that I felt the need to block my sense of smell. Following the stench, I turned my eyes and immediately saw the cause.

Pointing at it with my hand, I asked.

“Is that it?”

“…”

The Poison King nodded. It was the correct answer. As I approached, I could see some kind of mixture. This was the source of the stench, and also…

‘The cause of the Poison King’s headache.’

Failed products that couldn’t become Poison Heaven Pills. It seemed this was it. I reached out and grabbed a handful of the mixture. Then, the stench intensified. Not only was it dry and crumbly, but with the poisonous herbs mixed in, a strong poison energy could also be felt.

“Hmm….”

The condition is serious. It was to the point where I wondered how something could rot this badly.

“So this is the mixture for the Poison Heaven Pills.”

“Not exactly. Because it failed before completion.”

“Can I see what happens?”

No sooner had I asked than the Poison King brought something. Unlike the mixture in hand, this looked intact. The poison energy was still present, but at least the stench wasn’t noticeable. Moreover, a considerable amount of energy was infused, indicating it was an ingredient for an elixir. And above it.

Woong.

The energy embedded in my heart. An object that reacted with my demonic energy was placed above it. It was a magic stone. A very crimson magic stone. The magic stone of a red demon beast. The Poison King, clutching it, picked up a tool.

“Hup!”

Kkeu-geu-geuk—!!

With great force, he ground the magic stone against the tool. Then, powder thinly fell from the magic stone, settled onto the mixture, and he immediately began kneading it. At that moment.

Chiiiiiiiii-!

“Huh?”

The color of the mixture, now mixed with the powder, instantly changed, and it began to emit a stench again, just like before. It was proof that it was rotting in real-time.