Chapter 1224: Scorched World

Poisoned Dagger.

It was the sobriquet Tang Xiaoyeol possessed, and what was called the exclusive property of the Tang Clan.

There were only a handful of families and sects that handled poison, and among them, the Tang Clan’s position was overwhelming, so most poison-related sobriquets were owned by the Tang Clan.

Among those, if it was related to skilled disciples, you could safely say it was unconditional.

Generation after generation, the male destined to become the Tang Clan’s young master was the Poison Dragon.

And the daughters with outstanding skills became the Poisoned Dagger.

That was also the reason Tang Xiaoyeol was called the Poisoned Dagger. Of course, it was true that Tang Xiaoyeol herself had outstanding skills, but even if she hadn’t possessed any skills, she would still have been called the Poisoned Dagger.

Exclusive property. That phrase fit perfectly.

The Poisoned Dagger was the exclusive property of the Tang Clan.

‘The person in front of me is also a Poisoned Dagger.’

The woman in front of me, as if proving it, was someone who had become the Poisoned Dagger while bearing the Tang surname.

“……It’s been a while.”

When I greeted her, she flinched.

“You remembered me……!”

“Huh? Ah, yes.”

It probably wouldn’t be easy to forget. But why is that woman here?

“……Um, what brings you here?”

“Ah…… I came to see my brother.”

“Your brother. Ah.”

Tang Cheongi. It seemed she was referring to the current Poison Dragon. I had just been facing him.

“I see. Understood.”

I heard her purpose, so I should just pass by. Thinking that, I lowered my head.

“Well then, excuse me.”

Just as I turned to leave after greeting her.

“Ah……! Wait……!”

The Poisoned Dagger called out to me. I tilted my head.

“Yes?”

“……Um. Are you perhaps busy?”

“Yes.”

“Huh?”

“I am busy.”

Busy. I said that firmly and tried to leave, but.

“Ah……! Just a moment……!”

The Poisoned Dagger approached and grabbed my wrist.

What the hell.

“Why are you doing this?”

“I know you’re busy… but still. Could you perhaps spare some time for a cup of tea?”

“……Tea?”

I’m busy as hell, what tea are you talking about? I scrunched up my face. The grip on my arm was strong.

It was considerable gripping strength.

“Hah.”

I was already annoyed from having just suffered something from the Iron Blood Fan, and now this. I put strength into it and pulled my hand away.

Tak-!

“Ah!”

“About the tea, I’m busy so maybe next time……”

The moment I spoke.

The woman’s gaze shifted away from me. She looked straight behind me.

Seeing what was reflected in the Poisoned Dagger’s eyes, I immediately ducked my head.

Whoosh-!!

Wind rushed past. Someone had aimed for my head and thrown a kick.

“You bastard……!”

I heard a voice. It was a familiar voice.

At the end of my lowered gaze. I saw toes on the ground. I realized he had approached.

A fist flew towards me.

Just as I prepared to counter.

Thwack.

A pale white hand shot out and blocked the fist aimed at me.

“Tang Cheongi.”

A chilling voice was heard.

It was the Poisoned Dagger.

The one who had ambushed me had eyes completely opposite to the demeanor she’d shown me moments ago. She was glaring at the Poison Dragon, Tang Cheongi.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“……Nuna.”

“What is this disrespect?”

“But, this guy, to Nuna……”

Tang Cheongi glared at me. Seeing that, I shrugged.

“I didn’t do anything.”

“That’s impossible. You must have done something to make Nuna scream.”

“What scream? Besides, if anyone screamed, it would have been me.”

I was the one whose wrist was grabbed first, so if anyone screamed, it should have been me.

He stared incredulously, but the Poison Dragon’s expression grew even more crumpled.

“Ever since I met you, Nuna has been acting strange.”

“Ah, damn it all.”

I waved my hand. I didn’t want to talk anymore.

“I’ve said what I needed to say, so I’ll be going now.”

“Ah……! Wait!”

The Poisoned Dagger reached out towards me, but the Poison Dragon blocked her.

“Nuna, please stop……!”

WHAM-!!

“Huh?”

“Guhk!”

With the sound of something breaking, Tang Cheongi collapsed.

He fell to his knees and lost consciousness. Did I see that wrong?

‘Looks like she punched him.’

It seemed the Poisoned Dagger had punched the Poison Dragon in the face. As proof, blood was flowing from the Poison Dragon’s nose.

“So annoying.”

The Poisoned Dagger glared at her brother with cold eyes, then turned her face and looked at me.

“……I apologize. My brother was disrespectful.”

“……Ah, yes.”

She’s a scary woman. That thought bloomed in my mind.

“……I suppose I shouldn’t cause any more trouble today. I’ll take my leave first. Let’s definitely meet again sometime.”

“……”

I really don’t want to see her again?

Words like that rose to the tip of my throat, but I held them back.

For now, I don’t know about anything else.

‘I guess I shouldn’t mess with her?’

She’s not a normal woman.

I felt certain of that.

---

Right after the incident concluded, rumors began to spread throughout the Alliance itself.

“The Iron Blood Fan has sought out the Alliance.”

These words spread like wildfire through the series of events. The appearance of the number one under heaven. The impact it brought was incomparable to anything else.

Even when the Battle Sovereign appeared, things had been tumultuous. But this was the appearance of the number one under heaven, so it was incomparable to anything else.

It wasn’t just the Iron Blood Fan, either.

“The Sword Empress has also sought out the Alliance.”

Eul-yeong Sword Empress. The idol of all heroines, and considered by orthodox sects to be the greatest Sword Empress in history.

News that she too had sought out the Alliance caused the entire Alliance to buzz.

“Is something going on? Why are such big figures…….”

“With the Battle Sovereign arriving too, I wonder if something is about to happen.”

A gathering of big figures.

If you asked whether this event was entirely good, more people thought otherwise. Anxiety that some major event might occur was also soaring.

In such a situation.

“You caused trouble again.”

“Haha.”

I was summoned by the Grand Elder and being chewed out.

“And this time, you caused trouble so big it’s impossible to clean up.”

“……Ahaha…….”

“You find this funny?”

“I’m sorry.”

I apologized honestly. Because even I thought it was quite big. No matter how many excuses I might have, it’s difficult to resolve this. Because to anyone who saw it, I was just the guy who broke a fellow member’s arm.

“What are you planning to do?”

“I know…….”

“It would be good if this could be handled internally. But unfortunately, both the Alliance Leader-nim and the Iron Blood Fan saw it. This makes it hard to just let it slide.”

The situation is bad.

The Grand Elder sighed deeply.

“What are your intentions?”

“What else? If they impose a punishment, I’ll accept it.”

“You’re quite bold. The Namgung Clan might even shift the responsibility for this incident.”

“That’s terrible.”

“……You don’t look like you care at all.”

Of course not.

The Namgung Clan imposing punishment? If it were before, I would have been scared. But not anymore. If they give it, they give it. Whatever. Even without much power, I wasn’t particularly scared.

“……Of course, with the Battle Sovereign here right now, they won’t do anything to you, Member Baek, but. Given the current situation, who knows what might happen. You know that, right?”

“I know very well.”

“If a problem arises, are you prepared to accept it?”

“Yes. I suppose so.”

“You mean you’ll just accept any problem that comes up?”

“Well, yes-.”

“Really?”

“……”

I stopped mid-sentence and closed my mouth. Because something about the Grand Elder’s words felt strange. I frowned immediately. I realized what he wanted me to say. After thinking it over, I told him.

“……What happens if I don’t accept it?”

Saying I’d accept it would just lead to more questions, so I phrased it differently. Only after hearing that did the Grand Elder smile.

“Ah, then I’ll have to find a way again.”

“……”

I was dumbfounded. He said it as if he’d been waiting for this. He subtly took something out of his pocket and handed it to me.

“Hm?”

It was some kind of shiny scroll. What is this now? I accepted the scroll, puzzled.

“Are you telling me to read it?”

“Of course, go ahead and open it.”

I asked for permission and opened the scroll. What could this possibly be? As I checked the scroll, puzzled.

“……Hm?”

I narrowed my eyes sharply. Seeing what was written on the scroll, I couldn’t help but react.

Sword Dragon Tournament Application.

Seeing that first line imprinted there, I looked straight at the Grand Elder.

“……What is this?”

“It just so happens that something perfect for getting away came along.”

The Grand Elder smiled brightly. That smile was incredibly unsettling.

“Perhaps because of the Iron Blood Fan and the Sword Empress’s visit this time, the Sword Dragon Tournament scheduled for a couple of months later has been moved up. How about it? Doesn’t it pique your interest a bit-.”

Crackle.

I crumpled the scroll I was given.

“I’m not participating.”

“Aaaah, why!”

The Grand Elder cried out seeing that.

“If you participate, I promise they’ll just overlook the punishment they were going to give you! I swear.”

“I don’t need it. I told you I’ll accept the punishment?”

It looked incredibly bothersome. A Sword Dragon Tournament? I had neither the time nor the reason to participate in something like that.

“Just gooo!”

Seeing me like this, the Grand Elder wailed. He said, mixing in a sigh.

“Why don’t you, the Grand Elder, participate?”

“The Grand Elder cannot participate. If I could, I would have already gone and smashed everything.”

“……”

It was a statement full of confidence. Then again. He is the kind of man who would say such things.

‘Because he’s strong.’

Among the Grand Elders I’d seen, he was among the strongest.

“What could I possibly do if I participated? I’d rather just stay put.”

“Ah, please……!”

“……”

Is there a reason to be so desperate? As I looked at him, unable to understand.

“They said the guys from the Divine Dragon Squad are participating this time too.”

“……Hm?”

The Divine Dragon Squad.

At those words, I paused. The Divine Dragon Squad?

‘Hmm.’

My interest was suddenly piqued. The Divine Dragon Squad?

Did the Grand Elder notice my interest stirring? He spoke to me, as if not wanting to miss the opportunity.

“If you participate, I’ll grant you any one request.”

“Anything?”

“Yes, anything.”

At the Grand Elder’s words, I nodded.

‘This isn’t bad?’

My mind was swayed. Because I already had something I wanted to ask of him.

“Fine.”

“Oh.”

“But.”

I said to the Grand Elder with a smile.

“I have conditions too.”

I can’t just do it for nothing. As always, I had to secure the maximum benefit.