episode_0029

“Traitor? Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

A traitor, huh.

When I looked at Ilyeon, she nodded as if she already knew the fact.

“Actually, the existence of a traitor had not been accurately revealed. Until now.”

“And that has become certain this time?”

“Yes. I became convinced after hearing about the incident where the Tang Clan members who participated in this Dragon Phoenix Gathering were attacked. There is a traitor hiding in the current Tang family who deserves to be torn to pieces.”

The energy felt from Tang Seol-pung changed in an instant.

The only emotion felt in that energy was one thing.

Anger.

Very clear and intense, full of anger towards the traitor.

Well, it’s understandable since his daughter was almost in danger.

“But what does secretly meeting a traitor have to do with anything?”

“You killed the executives of the Beastman Alliance. Seomgae and Ogam, I heard.”

“Yeah. That’s right.”

“Even if Seomgae is so-so, Ogam is a very strong person. He was even a descendant of the divine beast, the Three-Legged Crow.”

Oh…, he was a named divine beast.

But I thought those beastmen who inherited the blood of such famous divine beasts were a bit more relaxed when it came to discrimination, so how did he end up in a place like the Beastman Alliance?

“It is said that Sword Beast Ogam had a personality that enjoyed life-or-death duels…, that is, fighting to the death with strong people. However, since the current Yeom Country implicitly discourages life-or-death duels, he expressed that the state of this Yeom Country was rotten and voluntarily headed to Cheonsan with those who followed him.”

“What a crazy bastard.”

Good thing I killed him.

A crazy bastard who can’t get enough of spilling blood has no value in living.

“In other words, Ogam must have been a fairly influential executive within the Beastman Alliance. A soldier from the Yeom family executed such an executive of the Beastman Alliance. And entered Sichuan. So, what do you think the Beastman Alliance would think?”

“….The Yeom Country army and the Tang family have allied?”

“Yes. They are preparing for war. And the most ideal situation for them is when each sect and family are not united and are checking each other for their own interests. But if the fact that the Yeom Country army and the Tang family are allied gets into their ears….”

“Are you saying we could unnecessarily provoke them?”

Certainly….

If that’s the case, then Tang Seol-pung’s actions at that time are understandable.

Even saying to the benefactor who saved his daughter and the young master to just take the money and leave.

Even accepting my provocation and dueling.

In the end, it was a show to clearly show the enemy within, the traitor, that the Tang family and the Yeom Country army were not allied.

‘….I didn’t think of anything.’

Is this what they call accidentally catching a rat while stepping backwards?

“So, when you act in Sichuan, I would appreciate it if you would act as if you are having a war of nerves with the Tang family, that is, with me.”

“I understand. Then one more thing. What made you so sure that there is a traitor?”

“The young master and Seolrin said that the poison toad had sufficient resistance to the Tang family’s poison.”

Hmm…, that’s true.

The poison didn’t work, and the hidden weapon techniques worked a little, but the moment it transformed into a beastman, even the hidden weapons didn’t work.

“That’s the strange thing. The Tang family’s poison has been gradually developing over a long period of time. But, the situations in which poison can be used are becoming increasingly rare.”

“You can’t use poison in a duel.”

“That’s right. No matter how small the lethal dose is, taking a human life is too simple if handled incorrectly. So, at most, you can only use paralyzing poisons that temporarily paralyze in duels. In other words…, since there is no chance to show the Tang family’s poison, there is no way to create countermeasures elsewhere.”

“….Huh?”

In other words, what that means is….

“A traitor who leaked the Tang family’s secrets…, poison, to the outside world to prepare countermeasures against it…, and a traitor who provided information to plan the attack when the Dragon Phoenix Gathering ended and they were returning.”

Gritting.

As he mulled it over, Tang Seol-pung clenched his fists so hard that they made a sound, as if he was getting angry.

And the Tang family’s unique green energy seems to be slowly flowing out.

“Cough! Cough!…”

“Hey, that guy’s gonna die.”

“…Oh dear, excuse me.”

When Tang Seol-pung withdrew his energy, Ilyeon, who had turned pale, barely caught his breath and gulped down his tea.

“I’ve grasped the general situation. Then let me introduce myself properly. My name is Leon. From the Pilgreah Central Continent…, in the place you call the West, I came to Yeom Country for a while to find the Huge Root Pill…, the Sun Pill. In addition, I am also called the Incompetent Hero.”

“Incompetent Hero? You?”

“Incompetent (武能)?” [This is a play on words, asking if he means incompetence in martial arts ability.]

“No, I mean incompetent (無能).” [This means complete lack of ability.]

Of course, those who didn’t know Leon during his real incompetent hero days had expressions that they really didn’t understand why I was called the Incompetent Hero.

“Anyway, as a hero, it’s hard to just watch the current situation in Yeom Country. I will cooperate.”

“That’s trustworthy. As you already know, let me introduce myself again. My name is Tang Seol-pung. I am the head of the Sichuan Tang Family and the one with the alias of Poison Sovereign. Hero Leon, I look forward to cooperating with you.”

“Ahem…, I’m not at a level to be in a place like this…, but…, I will still participate as a member of the Yeom Country army. I am Ilyeon, the head of the Sichuan branch of the Yeom Country army’s secret intelligence unit, Hao Moon.”

Hero, Tang Family, Yeom Country army (temporary).

The cooperation of the three forces was decided in the basement of a shabby shop.

* * *

Hehehe, when I first heard about the situation regarding the Huge Root Pill at Maradang, I thought it would be a long way before I could get the Huge Root Pill. I never thought things would work out so well. After all, you have to live a good life.

“Young master, you seem to be in a good mood?”

“I guess so.”

“Hmm….”

First of all, the Tang family provided me with a meal.

I think they hate me a lot, but anyway, it’s a relief that they give me food because I’m a guest.

And it doesn’t seem to have poison.

“Baekryeon. You have nothing to do, right?”

“That’s obvious. Isn’t it natural that I have nothing to do in this place?”

“Then let’s go to the training hall.”

“Training hall?”

Doubt arose on Baekryeon’s face.

Well, it’s understandable since I suddenly said let’s go to the training hall.

However, it’s a necessary process.

‘If Baekryeon is going to travel with me in the future, she won’t be able to protect herself with her current level.’

Of course, as I told Baekryeon herself, I will definitely protect Baekryeon as long as she is within the reach of my sword.

I have the confidence and ability to do so.

But I can’t protect Baekryeon if she’s not within the reach of my sword.

She can only save herself with her own strength.

If that’s the case, then what I have to do is help her become stronger on her own.

I have plenty of time since I have to wait here until I make the Sun Pill anyway.

When I arrived at the training hall, I saw people repairing the part of the training hall that was messed up when Tang Seol-pung and I had a fight last time.

It’s only been a day, but it was amazing to see that they were almost done repairing it.

“That person is….”

“Why is that person?….”

“She should just stay in her room….”

Hahaha, as expected, those are the reactions I expected.

I didn’t pay attention to their reactions and was looking for a suitable empty corner in the training hall when I found someone I knew.

“It’s Young Lady Seolrin.”

“I guess so.”

Tang Seolrin.

She was in the training hall.

Come to think of it, was she here when I dueled with Tang Seol-pung yesterday? That guy is a great hard worker after all.

She also found us and tilted her head as if she was wondering why, but still came over.

“Why are you here?”

“I’m going to watch Baekryeon’s training a bit. Is it okay to use the training hall?”

“Hmm…, it’ll be fine.”

Okay, I got permission.

Shall we have some fun?

I picked up a wooden sword for sparring that was in the training hall.

Then I looked at Baekryeon, and Baekryeon was looking at me with a blank expression.

“What’s wrong?”

“Young master, did you just say you would watch my training?”

“I did?”

When she heard my answer, Baekryeon’s eyes widened for a moment, and she breathed slightly heavily as if she couldn’t believe it.

“…I, I didn’t mishear!…, You, are you really going to watch my training?!”

“Yeah. That’s right, have you ever seen me lie?”

“N, no, I haven’t!…”

“Well…, even if it’s training, I can’t really add anything to it. In the first place, Baekryeon, you have the swordsmanship that you have been learning for a long time. Even if I try to add something here, it will be difficult to accept and there is no guarantee that it will lead to improved skills.”

Technique is very delicate.

Even if you add technique to technique, 1+1 may not equal 2, but 4 or 5, 10, but conversely, it can be 0 or -1, -10.

Baekryeon’s swordsmanship is a swordsmanship that Baekryeon has been learning from another master for a long time.

I don’t know what that swordsmanship is.

I don’t know the meaning, principle, or ultimate form contained within it, so any advice is impossible.

At best, the most basic of basics. I have no advice to give other than to strengthen the lower body.

“Then what are you going to do?”

“Experience.”

“Experience?”

“It’s difficult to explain…, but I have quite a variety of experiences.”

The memories of the Sword King.

The memories that this Sword King has instilled in me are helping me many times. Like a guidebook that shows me the way, it allows me to experience the experiences I need as if I had experienced them myself. The accumulation of experience accumulated over the 100 years that the Sword King has lived. Through that, I can calmly continue thinking even in various situations, but Baekryeon does not have such experience.

So I’m going to instill it directly into her body.

“I won’t help you even if you say it’s hard in the middle. If you don’t like it, tell me now.”

“…No. I felt my shortcomings desperately at that time. In order to take my revenge, in order to follow in the young master’s footsteps, I will definitely endure it.”

“Good attitude. Then we will continue to spar. It doesn’t matter if you block or do anything, come at me with all your might to kill me.”

“I have a real sword?”

“It doesn’t matter. You won’t be able to cut me anyway.”

In a way, it’s a statement that could be disrespectful to the other person.

But Baekryeon nodded, believing in those words, and said.

“Then, I’ll go.”

Baekryeon, who drew her sword, rushed in at once.

“Tiger Hunt!”

A refreshing and unreserved strike with the momentum of a tiger.

Clang!

“?!”

“A sword without softness has no meaning.”

Using the wooden sword, I slightly deflected the descending sword, parrying it, breaking Baekryeon’s center of gravity, and then brought the wooden sword to her neck.

“….”

“I’ll cut you next time.”

“I understand.”

She creates distance again.

Perhaps because her attack was so easily thwarted.

She didn’t rush in as easily as she did a moment ago.

“It’s commendable that you know your opponent’s abilities and don’t rush in recklessly, but…, you can’t beat anyone if you just keep watching like that.”

“!!”

I rushed towards Baekryeon, who wasn’t attacking, and swung my sword. Baekryeon tried to block my attack by cutting off the wooden sword, but the attack to counter was conversely sacrificed as the counter was countered.

“What I want to build up for you is not how to be afraid of an enemy stronger than yourself. I want to teach you how to fight against an enemy stronger than yourself. It’s okay to test the waters, it’s okay to rush in recklessly, but…, if you get scared, I’ll cut you.”

“I understand!…”

Thud! Whack! Thud! Smack! Thwack!

What followed was not a spar, but something close to one-sided violence.

The violence in the name of sparring ended after about 3 hours when Baekryeon finally collapsed from exhaustion.

* * *

It’s been 5 days since I started watching Baekryeon’s training at the Tang family.

Eat breakfast, do light physical training, then continuous sparring until lunch. Rest for a while after lunch. After that, continuous sparring again, and finally, cool down exercises and then dinner and the end of training.

Perhaps because I kept repeating the above routine for 6 days, Baekryeon spoke less.

Am I pushing her too hard? I’m starting to wonder. But if I want her to get stronger quickly, I have no choice but to make her work hard.

In addition, I am sparring with Baekryeon using various weapons in order to give her a variety of situations to experience. Wooden sword, wooden katana, wooden spear, staff, wooden glaive, etc. Perhaps because of that, the memories of the Sword King are also being stimulated, and various skills have been newly added.

As a result, it’s as if growing Baekryeon is conversely making me grow too.

“But, why are you fighting?”

“Baekryeon fainted anyway, so there’s no one to fight? Fight me instead!”

In such a situation, on the 5th day, Seolrin suddenly rushed in.

I’ve been watching me and Baekryeon training quietly, but she’s finally taking advantage of the gap when Baekryeon fainted and rushing at me.

Well, what…. Since your father is secretly making the Sun Pill himself right now, I don’t mind fighting you.

“That’s what I thought, but why are two people attacking at the same time?”

“Don’t be petty about such things, man!!”

“I’ll win no matter what, young master!!”

On the 9th day of watching Baekryeon’s training.

Now, Baekryeon and Seolrin are attacking at the same time.

Of course, it’s still no match for me….

‘But it’s only been a few days, but it’s starting to get tough….’

For the first few days, it seemed like they were matching up to some extent, but it was manageable enough, but the sight of them matching up with each other in just a few hours and trying to kill me is admirable, but something is something.

‘Now…, I might have to stop fighting with wooden swords.’

Thus, on the 13th day of training.

With the cooperation of the two, they finally succeeded in breaking my weapon.

* * *

It was 5 days later that Tang Seol-pung found me again.

It was Maradang, late at night.

“It’s complete.”

Wooooooooooooooah!!!

What Tang Seol-pung handed me was a small green wooden box.

Is what I’ve been waiting and waiting for inside this!!!

As if it were a precious treasure, I received the green wooden box that Tang Seol-pung handed over and carefully opened the wooden box.

Inside was a brownish pill with a slightly reddish tint.

The scent was…, odorless.

No, it smells a little spicy.

“This is….”

“Yes. It’s the Sun Pill. Eat it and circulate your energy. It seems that Hao Moon has also found out information.”

“You could say that the spirits of heaven and earth guided us.”

Hmm. I immediately put the pill in my mouth.

The taste…, like with the Great Pill, disappeared and melted into my throat without me even feeling it.

【Ki : 519 -> 549】

【HP : 42857 -> 53246】

【MP : 17827 -> 24220】

Oh. I expected the ki to go up, but my health and mana went up.

Judging from the fact that the numbers aren’t that high compared to the Great Pill, the Great Pill is still the Great Pill, even if it’s degraded.

【You have acquired the skill [Samadhi Fire].】

Oh, I got a new skill.

But it doesn’t seem like there’s any change in the most important thing? Or is there? Will it be a little different if I get erect?

It’s useless if there’s no change….

“You, you…”

“Great Hero Cheonwoo!!”

“?”

What’s wrong, what’s going on.

“You’re not circulating your energy after eating it! What a waste….”

“The energy will all fly away!!”

“I don’t know how to circulate energy?”

At my words, Ilyeon and Tang Seol-pung looked at me as if they were dumbfounded.

“Then why did you ask me to make it?”

“It’s like giving a pig a pearl necklace.”

“Shut up! I absorbed it properly!!”

“…Did you say you absorbed it properly? Show me your back for a moment.”

I turned around and showed my back, and Tang Seol-pung put his hand on it and started injecting something like energy into my body.

“Don’t resist. I’ll die if you resist.”

“What are you doing?”

“I’m just circulating my energy to check the condition of the target’s body.”

“Don’t talk to me, I need to concentrate.”

After a while, Tang Seol-pung let out a faint groan as if he was really wondering or couldn’t believe it.

“It’s true…, the Sun Pill’s yang energy is circulating stably through your body….”

“Is that really true? Clan leader Tang?”

“It’s hard to believe, but it’s true. I’ve heard that there are people who are born with a constitution that accepts the energy of spiritual medicines well, but it’s the first time I’ve seen someone accept it so perfectly.”

“Heh….”

“Don’t look at people like they’re monkeys in a zoo?”

These guys really…., anyway, let’s check out the most important efficacy of the Sun Pill, male enhancement…. or rather, the efficacy of increasing the size of the object later.

“So, where is it? Didn’t you say that the Beastman Alliance will destroy all the routes that sell the Huge Root Pill in order to prevent further funding?”

“….Hmm, that’s right. Here is a map of Yeom Country. And the places we have identified are two places. There may be more…, but I am confident that these two are the largest. Among them…, I would like Great Hero Cheonwoo to go to this place.”

That place was the Yogyeong area.

It was a border area of Yeom Country and close to Jo.