Chapter 426: It’s been a long time.

The answer to the request I made to the Poison King was, thankfully, permission.

It wasn’t anything material, just a request to see their famous lake, so there wasn’t really any justification to refuse.

The Poison King wore a puzzled expression as to why I’d make such a request, but ultimately granted permission.

However, since the lake itself was treated as a precious item by the Tang Clan…

…and the lake itself was composed of poison, it could be quite dangerous, so he added that he’d assign a servant.

‘Danger my ass, it’s just for surveillance.’

This was all within my expectations.

Having surveillance attached would be a bit bothersome, but this too was anticipated.

Screech.

As I approached, Dangdeok, who had been sitting by the wall, got up.

It was because of the order to not do anything foolish and just stay put.

“Sit.”

“…”

Having received the order, Dangdeok slid back down to sit against the wall.

“Anything unusual happen?”

“-…No.”

“Did you see any demonic beasts?”

“-No.”

Hearing Dangdeok’s short replies, I let out a small puff of air.

To think that the demonic beasts that were so abundant during the day were nowhere to be found at night.

‘So it seems that earlier was indeed an unusual situation.’

Why did such a situation occur?

I still couldn’t figure it out.

If I had to guess…

‘Was it because of that crimson demonic beast, perhaps?’

The water serpent that was there then. The probability that it was because of that bastard was high.

“Hmm…”

Honestly, nothing ever goes smoothly whenever I try to do something.

This sucks, really.

I tried to suppress my irritation and looked at Dangdeok.

His eyes were still filled with rage.

Even after becoming a demon and falling into servitude as my slave, it seemed his temper hadn’t died.

Of course, it might be because he was a martial artist of the Hua Jing realm, so his corruption wasn’t complete.

I remembered that when Dangdeok was the Green King, he couldn’t even move against the Heavenly Demon.

I stared into his eyes for a moment, then chuckled.

“You seem pretty resentful.”

“…”

“I know, right? You should’ve just lived a good life.”

Grind.

Hearing my words, Dangdeok ground his teeth and bristled, but the control force that surged through his body at that moment suppressed him.

“Grrr…”

The pain felt in his heart seemed considerable, as Dangdeok let out a groan.

Watching him, I thought to myself.

‘In the end, he doesn’t choose death.’

Even while enduring these harsh trials, Dangdeok ultimately hadn’t chosen death.

Does he desire revenge that much?

Or perhaps, is he afraid of death?

Either way, it’s not a bad thing for me.

If he had truly wanted to die, I would have let him go.

Ah, letting him go means leaving him to die.

While Dangdeok is indeed a potentially useful asset for the future…

…I wouldn’t have bothered stopping him if he’d gone that far.

However, seeing him now, it seems he has no intention of dying easily.

He’s probably constantly looking for an opportunity to escape from me.

Judging by this, he’s quite a determined fellow.

‘This guy is one thing… but I need to take care of one more thing before arriving at the Tang Clan.’

The eyes and ears Dangdeok had sent to the Tang Clan.

I was just contemplating when to deal with them…

As I thought of that, a useful idea just occurred to me.

A good method just came to mind.

---

Four days have passed since we started crossing the river.

It was a distance we should have covered in two days, but due to the incident with the demonic beast and taking detours for safe transport, it took longer than expected.

If not for this, we would have already arrived at the Tang Clan with time to spare…

Upon reaching land, I boarded a carriage that the Tang Clan had prepared in advance.

From here on, our family’s carriage wasn’t separately prepared, so the Tang Clan and the Pei Clan provided carriage support.

Perhaps it was because we had properly arrived in Sichuan territory, specifically within the Tang Clan’s sphere of influence.

The carriage felt significantly larger.

It probably means we’ve entered a safe zone. That wasn’t a bad thing.

“About five more days left, perhaps?”

Moyong Hi-ah, who was in the same carriage, said while gently fanning herself.

“Around that time, I’d guess. If we hurry, maybe three days.”

“…You seem familiar with this?”

“It’s instinct. What else?”

I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes.

Having traveled so much everywhere in my past life, I had a rough idea of the geography.

At this distance, we shouldn’t have many days left.

We might arrive earlier if we rushed, but we probably wouldn’t.

Given the Poison King’s personality, no matter how urgent the matter, he seemed to prefer it handled properly.

Since we were using unscheduled spare time anyway, I wasn’t particularly rushed either, so it was fine.

‘…No, honestly, I am short on time. But what can I do?’

I had to at least pretend to be relaxed.

As I closed my eyes, thinking I’d rest a bit, Moyong Hi-ah’s voice kept reaching me.

“Young Master.”

“Hm?”

“What do you think will happen from now on?”

“Hmm…”

At her words, I opened my eyes slightly and looked at Moyong Hi-ah.

Moyong Hi-ah occasionally asked me things like this.

The reason is, if I asked anyone else…

…’I don’t know.’

‘Who knows?’

‘I have no idea!’

It was obvious they’d give the same answers. Only Cheol Ji-seon, being the smartest, could have a conversation on par with Moyong Hi-ah, but…

Moyong Hi-ah seemed to keep Cheol Ji-seon at a bit of a distance.

When I asked her why she kept her distance from him, pitying him…

She replied with a rather cold expression.

-I generally don’t like pathetic people.

“…”

Her blunt words made me feel hurt too.

Cheol Ji-seon wasn’t nearby when she said this, but I felt inexplicably sorry for him, so I found him later and gave him something sweet.

When I suddenly offered him food, Cheol Ji-seon made a disgusted face…

-Why…? Where are you trying to throw me off to this time!?

He spat out those words and promptly ran away.

After I went out of my way to find him and give him something, this bastard…

‘I should tell Pae Woo-cheol to torment him a bit more.’

It seems he’s been enjoying life lately because I haven’t been bothering him.

This calls for establishing some discipline.

Huh? Isn’t he my friend?

Friends naturally fight and get along.

‘It’s just that I’m the one doing the hitting unilaterally.’

Let’s move past trivial matters.

Anyway, Moyong Hi-ah only had me left among those around her to have conversations like this, which is why she occasionally brings them up.

Of course…

‘…It’s not easy for me to have these conversations either.’

Moyong Hi-ah is a smart woman.

Even if not quite on the level of Cheon Yu-rang-a, the ‘brain’ of the Demonic Cult, she had recognized talent in this area.

Conversing with someone like her is somewhat difficult for me.

‘Without my past life experiences, I wouldn’t have anything to discuss.’

I don’t consider myself ignorant, but my brain wasn’t quite equipped for progressive conversations with such intelligent people.

Despite that, the reason I don’t refuse or try to stop her as much as possible is…

‘How can I stop her when she looks so happy doing it?’

The problem was that Moyong Hi-ah looked unusually excited whenever she talked about these things.

“From now on?”

“Yes.”

“…What?”

“A crimson demonic beast appeared, didn’t it? So, what do you think will happen from now on?”

Moyong Hi-ah asked me, her eyes filled with interest.

The appearance of a crimson-grade demonic beast.

Moreover, it was at a time when the Poison King had sent a letter about it to the Murim Alliance.

“Hmm…”

What do you think will happen then?

“It’ll be chaos.”

It’s the natural course of events.

Unlike blue-grade ones, crimson-grade demonic beasts are tricky to hunt.

Furthermore, one must be at the peak of mastery, the ‘Jeongyeol’ level, to even contend with their speed and strength.

Of course, skilled individuals could hunt them by combining the strength of multiple top-tier martial artists, but…

…that’s something only those extremely trained for hunting demonic beasts can do.

Usually, having several Jeongyeol martial artists hunt them was the standard.

‘That’s precisely the problem.’

From the Jeongyeol level onwards, they are commonly called ‘masters’ (Gosu).

While there are quite a number of them, they aren’t exactly common.

In fact, unless it’s a place like Henan, the appearance of a Jeongyeol martial artist in a county would draw crowds who come from afar just to watch.

And it requires multiple such individuals to gather just to hunt them?

It’s likely that the currently established hunting methods will undergo significant changes.

This is akin to the reorganization of the Sword Brigade.

As the need for martial artists, especially masters, increases, their perceived value will change.

A change in the framework of the Central Plains, maintained for hundreds of years, signifies…

“Turmoil.”

Looking back at my past life, I could predict that no small number of incidents would occur.

Hearing my answer, Moyong Hi-ah nodded slightly.

“…As expected, Young Master also seems to have predicted this.”

“…Uh, yeah.”

It’s less of a prediction and more of something I’ve witnessed firsthand, but…

Well, good is good, so…

“You must be busy too.”

“Hm?”

“You must have already sent word to your Moyong family, right?”

“…”

Hearing my words, Moyong Hi-ah’s eyes widened briefly, then she quickly gave a knowing smile.

Her eyes were still captivating.

“How did you know?”

“Is there anything not to know?”

This too is only natural.

Humans pursue profit.

It doesn’t matter if they’re merchants or martial artists.

It means everyone is like that.

Even if a crisis has arrived with the appearance of a crimson demonic beast, there will always be those who first look for what benefits can be gained from it.

This is especially true for those in high positions.

‘Just look at the Poison King.’

The Poison King who sent a letter to the Murim Alliance.

Will it arrive promptly?

It probably won’t be late.

The Poison King likely doesn’t wish for the world to descend into chaos either.

However.

‘It’ll be later than sending one to his own clan.’

This is information.

The tremendous information that a crimson demonic beast appeared.

Discovering this information before the Kaebang or the Hao Moon held truly immense value.

They can respond first even if a situation erupts.

And consequently, they can profit from the surrounding circumstances.

Did the Poison King really do this alone?

Moyong Hi-ah, and the Pei Clan as well, must have done the same.

I don’t think it’s bad.

Isn’t that just how the world works?

As I thought that, I suddenly remembered something I had forgotten.

‘Ah, I should have sent one too.’

I knew everyone would do this, yet I didn’t send one myself.

It’s too late to send one now… What should I do?

My father probably wouldn’t get angry…

“Hmm…”

Just as I was about to frown, feeling slightly troubled…

“It seems you didn’t send one, Young Master. Is that correct?”

Moyong Hi-ah chose precisely that moment to bring it up.

“…How did you know?”

“I just found out somehow.”

“…”

At Moyong Hi-ah’s answer, I glared at her like a flounder. ‘Somehow?’

She couldn’t even be bothered to lie properly, what is this?

In any case, she was still a terrifying woman.

And how did she know I hadn’t sent a letter?

As I stared blankly at Moyong Hi-ah, she smiled knowingly and said to me,

“So, I sent one on your behalf.”

“Huh? What?”

“Ah, I sent it to Madam Mi under my name. Is that alright? It seemed like the fastest way.”

“Eh?”

I wondered what she was talking about.

…She sent the information in my stead?

“Last time, Mother… no, Madam Mi…”

“Hey, what was that title just now?”

“She told me to contact her separately if anything happened to you, Young Master. So I used that contact network to send it separately.”

“I asked what that title was!”

Though I kept asking because I thought I heard something strange in the middle…

Moyong Hi-ah continued speaking as if she couldn’t hear me.

It would only be a waste of breath to keep talking, so I let out a small sigh and leaned back in the seat, closing my eyes again.

Whatever the situation, it’s a kind act, so it should be fine.

There’s no way Moyong Hi-ah would have written anything strange in the letter.

“…”

“…”

I suddenly stood up and asked Moyong Hi-ah,

“…You didn’t write anything strange besides the information in the letter, right?”

At my abrupt question, Moyong Hi-ah flinched for a moment.

What’s with that reaction? What are you up to? Why are you making me nervous?

“You…”

“Oh my, Young Master seems sleepy. You should get some rest quickly.”

“No, that’s not the important thing right now…”

“The chair must be quite hard, right? Shall I lend you my lap?”

“…”

Hohoho.

Seeing Moyong Hi-ah trying to brush it off with a laugh behind her fan sent a shiver down my spine.

…She didn’t do anything strange again, did she?

I really hoped she hadn’t.

---

Flutter flutter.

A bird showed its flapping wings in the sky.

The bird, descending altitude as if gracefully swimming,

approached a young man standing still, looking at the sunlight.

When the young man reached out his hand, the bird landed on it.

Then, as if accustomed to it, the young man untied the paper bound to the bird’s leg.

Rustle.

He unfolded the neatly folded letter and began reading the words written on the paper.

A message of perhaps six or seven lines at most.

It contained several things that would surprise the young man.

Immediately after slowly reading the entire message.

“Haha.”

The young man couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

His eyes curved into crescent moons along with his smile.

His coolly shining red pupils were soon hidden.

“The flow has truly been reversed.”

Hyeolma (Blood Demon) laughed heartily.

A crack, which he had desired so much, had appeared like this; how could he not welcome it?

What could have happened?

As Hyeolma pondered this, the face of a young man flashed through his mind.

The only person he could possibly think of was that human.

Ah, perhaps I can no longer call him human.

Tsk tsk…

As Hyeolma entertained frivolous thoughts, he chuckled.

“Is it thanks to you? Or is it because of you?”

Is it a blessing?

Or a curse?

Hyeolma thought either way was fine.

“I have high expectations for you.”

I hope you’ll cause even more chaos.

Grow even larger in scale, so that the gaze from the heavens falls upon you.

Hyeolma truly wished for that to happen.

Only then will…

“My apologies for making you wait.”

Sensing someone’s presence, Hyeolma folded the letter he was holding and put it in his pocket.

He adjusted his clothes slightly and turned around.

When he turned, Hyeolma’s red eyes were gone, replaced by black pupils.

“Not at all. It is an honor to meet you.”

“…”

At Hyeolma’s words, the old man adopted a slightly wary gaze.

“I wish to hear the main point of why you wanted to see me. Sinseong (New Star).”

The old man, no.

The master of Mudang and one of the sword masters representing the Central Plains, the Mudang Geomseon, looked at Jang Seon-yeon before him and asked.

To that question, Jang Seon-yeon replied with a gentle smile.

“I have come here because there is something I would dare to suggest to you, Sect Leader.”

“From me, you say?”

At Jang Seon-yeon’s words, the Mudang Geomseon let out a hollow laugh.

Now, Nakgeom had stepped down from the position of Alliance Leader,

and Sinseong, which seemed like it would burn hotly, was showing signs of dimming.

Yet, not Nakgeom himself, but merely his son, has something to suggest to me?

For the Mudang Geomseon, it wasn’t something that particularly piqued his interest.

Especially since his mind was already troubled by the matter of the Sleeping Dragon.

“I’m sorry, but…”

Feeling like I’ve wasted time on something pointless, I was about to turn back when…

“I heard you desire the position of Alliance Leader.”

“…”

At Jang Seon-yeon’s words, the Mudang Geomseon had to pause the leg he was about to move.

Seeing that reaction, Jang Seon-yeon smiled a little deeper than before and continued,

“I believe I might be able to help you with that… Would you care to listen for a moment?”

At Jang Seon-yeon’s words, the Mudang Geomseon’s eyes wavered.

How he knew is unimportant.

It’s common knowledge that the Mudang Geomseon dreams of the Alliance Leader position.

“Sinseong… Are you mocking me?”

Anger laced the Mudang Geomseon’s voice.

A mere whelp who barely reached adulthood.

And moreover, the bloodline of Nakgeom, who once held the position of Alliance Leader.

And Jang Seon-yeon suggests such a thing?

It was difficult to comprehend.

The Mudang Geomseon expressed his anger, but Sinseong merely smiled as he had from the beginning.

“Please, just listen first. I believe you can punish me sufficiently afterward if need be, Sect Leader.”

“…”

The Mudang Geomseon looked at Jang Seon-yeon for a moment.

What should I do?

His deliberation wasn’t long.

Simply listening to the story was entirely possible.

Besides, if it was as trivial as Jang Seon-yeon claimed, he could simply hold him responsible afterward.

With that thought, the Mudang Geomseon answered by turning his steps back to their original position.

A faint reddish light flickered momentarily in Jang Seon-yeon’s eyes upon seeing this,

…but the Mudang Geomseon did not notice it.