Chapter 434: Please Deliver This Message

The Heavenly Poison, Tang Jaemoon.

He was one of the five heroes that stopped the Blood Demon War in the past.

He was also responsible for turning the Tang Clan into the Orthodox Faction when people treated them as the Unorthodox Faction at the time, and he helped in the creation of the Murim Alliance.

I’ve heard about him from Elder Shin.

According to him, Tang Jaemoon was one crazy guy.

…But that’s no guy, you old man.

I looked at Tang Jaemoon’s figure with a shocked expression.

She had long hair that went all the way down to her waist.

It was a beautiful light green color that couldn’t be compared to Tang Soyeol and the Poison King.

At first, I wondered where I had seen that color before.

And it’s similar to the lake’s color.

It almost felt as if her hair was glowing.

Her eyes had a slightly dreamy aura and her pupils shined like jewels.

She looked somewhat similar to Tang Soyeol, but much more feminine and mature.

Her breasts, especially, are-

…

It didn’t look as bad as Namgung Bi-ah, but it looked like it would be very uncomfortable to use martial arts with such a body.

Was she really Tang Jaemoon?

Perhaps, she was either Tang Jaemoon’s little or older sister?

If that’s not the case…

Tang Jaemoon was seriously a woman?

It felt a bit strange that one of the five heroes was a woman, and how did a woman like her have such a name…?

When I continued to stare at Tang Jaemoon with a shocked expression, he- …No, she started coming closer.

Shaaaa-!

The Red Water Snake showed hostility towards her.

What’s up with this bastard now?

After seeing the Red Water Snake, Tang Jaemoon spoke after tilting her head.

[How fascinating. You have a spirit with you.]

“Spirit… you say.”

I felt like I’ve heard of that term before, but I couldn’t remember.

[Who are you?]

“…”

[It definitely isn’t Shincheol… but I feel Shincheol’s aura from you.]

I smiled bitterly after hearing Tang Jaemoon.

I felt like I understood what this place was after hearing her.

This place too.

It was also prepared for Elder Shin.

The Light of Might told me about it, and Yeon Il-Cheon gave me the confirmation.

Tang Clan’s Lake of Poison was also a place prepared for Elder Shin huh?

That had to be the case if Tang Jaemoon was here.

“Elder Sh- …No, I had a little history with Taoist Shincheol.”

[Are you Shincheol’s disciple?]

Disciple, huh?

I wondered if it was right for me to lie and dare say that I was a disciple of Mount Hua,

“Yes.”

But I knew.

If I hesitated here, I would be scolded by Elder Shin later.

He would be mad at me if I didn’t admit that he taught me a few things.

“I am his disciple.”

Because of that, I didn’t hesitate anymore.

[…]

Tang Jaemoon’s expression worsened a bit when I responded to her.

Why was she making such an expression?

[…So that means Shincheol didn’t resurrect in the end.]

“Ah.”

So that’s what she was disappointed about.

Every time I met heroes of the past like this, they were all disappointed about the same thing.

The fact that Elder Shin didn’t resurrect.

That was the most important thing to them.

[I’d like to ask his disciple a question.]

“Do you believe me when I say I’m his disciple?”

I was actually surprised by the fact that she called me his disciple without doubting me.

After hearing my question, Tang Jaemoon asked me with a curious tone.

[Are you not?]

“No… I am… but,”

Swish.

When I hesitated, Tang Jaemoon instantly came up close to me and pointed to my chest using her finger.

[You are unstable.]

“…”

I gasped after hearing her sudden remark.

Furthermore, I felt a cold sensation pass by my neck.

I was reminded of what Yeon Il-Cheon said to me in the past back when I went to the Heavenly Dragon Academy’s secret vault.

-You are a calamity.

That’s what he said to me back then, and I was worried that she would say the same thing.

[I feel too many mysterious presences from you, and you seem to be having a difficult time with your instability.]

“…”

[However.]

Tang Jaemoon’s finger came gradually close, and it poked my chest in the end.

However, I didn’t actually feel any contact.

[I do feel Shincheol inside you.]

“…!”

[That much is satisfactory for me. You are indeed his disciple.]

“But it’s possible that… I got his spirit inside of me with bad intent.”

[He would’ve yelled at you if you did. That’s who Shincheol is.]

She had great trust in him.

I looked into her eyes.

Inside her beautiful green pupils, I was able to feel deep emotions from it.

Those emotions were so clear and deep, that I was clearly able to understand how Tang Jaemoon saw Elder Shin.

And this old man said he never got to date anyone.

He did all that complaining back then, so I couldn’t understand this situation.

I swear once he wakes up, I’m going to be asking him every single question.

As I had that thought, Tang Jaemoon called out to me again.

[Shincheol’s disciple.]

“Yes, Senior.”

[…Have you ever seen Shincheol?]

“…”

She spoke in a careful tone for some reason.

In her tone, I was able to notice both nervousness and hopefulness from it.

“I have.”

Tang Jaemoon slightly opened her eyes wider than before.

“…And he is still with me.”

[That’s…?]

Tang Jaemoon had the brightest expression I’d seen from her up until now, but I also felt a mysterious sense of guilt after seeing the sight.

You are still not going to wake up?

I felt resentment towards Elder Shin.

He at least woke up when I met Yeon Il-Cheon back then, so why was he being so silent this time?

While staring at Tang Jaemoon who showed a hopeful expression, I started to explain my experience with Elder Shin after letting out a sigh.

[…]

When my explanation came to an end, only disappointment filled Tang Jaemoon’s eyes.

I absorbed Elder Shin along with the energy that was kept inside a treasure, and I spent a few years with him inside my body already.

She seemed happy at the fact that Elder Shin still existed, but she showed big disappointment when she learned that he hadn’t been waking up for almost a year now.

[So that’s why… you weren’t surprised when you saw me.]

“…Yes.”

I briefly had an idea of who she would be because of my past experiences.

The most shocking thing was how Tang Jaemoon was a female all along.

Not only that, I didn’t expect her to have such a soft personality.

Tang Jaemoon still showed a very disappointed expression.

I wondered if I should give her some time at first, but I decided to ask her a question as I didn’t have much time to spare.

“The Golden Iron Fist called me a calamity after we met.”

Tang Jaemoon showed a reaction after hearing that name.

[Yeon Il-Cheon?]

Huh.

I didn’t know if I was mistaken, but it seemed as if Tang Jaemoon slightly showed hostility towards Yeon Il-Cheon’s name.

“Yes, he saw me and called me a calamity.”

I almost died after.

Even now, I feel horrified when I think about what happened back then. If it wasn’t for Elder Shin, I probably would have died.

“Do you perhaps think the same way, Senior?”

I had to think very hard before asking this question.

If Tang Jaemoon felt the same way as Yeon Il-Cheon and she wanted to kill me for it, that would be a huge problem.

However, I took the risk and asked her anyway because I trusted in the feelings she had towards Elder Shin.

I believed that she would let Elder Shin’s disciple live.

After hearing my question, Tang Jaemoon responded like this.

[And how did Shincheol respond to that question?]

How did Shincheol respond?

What did Elder Shin say to me back then…

“…He told me to believe in myself, instead of believing the words of others.”

That’s what he clearly told me.

He said a martial artist needed to believe in one’s self.

After hearing his words through my mouth, Tang Jaemoon smiled faintly.

[That’s what I expected from Shincheol.]

She seemed to be satisfied with the answer.

[Yes… he definitely would’ve said something like that.]

“How do you see me as, Senior?”

[I’m not sure.]

I asked how Tang Jaemoon felt about me even if that’s what Elder Shin said to me.

After hearing my question, Tang Jaemoon stared at me with a very cold gaze.

She then spoke.

[I would’ve probably given the same answer as Yeon Il-Cheon.]

“…!”

I couldn’t help but flinch when I felt the cold aura that was mixed inside her voice.

She was clearly only a spirit. It made me wonder once again how both Yeon Il-Cheon and Tang Jaemoon had these auras.

Right as I started to look around for possible escape routes worrying that something might happen,

[However…]

Tang Jaemoon put aside her coldness and continued to speak.

[If that’s the answer Shincheol gave, then so it may be.]

I felt relief after hearing her, but I also felt many other emotions.

She fully trusted Elder Shin.

How much did she love him for her to trust him that much?

“You must trust him a lot.”

[…]

No response came.

Tang Jaemoon only continued to stare at my chest.

It seemed as if she was looking for Elder Shin inside.

“Senior…?”

After hearing my call, Tang Jaemoon turned around and headed towards one direction.

She was headed back to the darkness she came from, but wherever that darkness went, a small podium was revealed in that spot now.

That’s…

I saw a stone sitting on top of the podium.

It was a stone that faintly glowed in white light.

I opened my eyes widely in shock after seeing it.

White Demonic Stone.

It was the White Demonic Stone that came from a White Demon.

The stone I was looking for, was in that spot.

[You must already know, but I am a spirit that was left by Tang Jaemoon.]

As I was distracted by the Demonic Stone, Tang Jaemoon slowly started to speak.

[This is one of the places that was prepared for Shincheol… The regret and lingering attachment that was left for him. That’s who I am.]

“Regret… and lingering attachment.”

I became curious about one thing after hearing her.

Her being regret and lingering attachment were one thing, but I understood that Tang Jaemoon was the one who built this secret vault.

But why did she leave a White Demonic Stone here?

Ordinary people had no use for Demonic Stones.

Even if the stone held lots of energy inside, it wasn’t something that could be consumed like herbs or medicines. It was rather strange that the White Demonic Stone was prepared for Elder Shin.

Right as I was about to ask Tang Jaemoon about it,

[Shincheol’s disciple.]

She spoke before I could.

“Yes.”

[You must pass a test if you want the Heavenly Poison Orb.]

“What?”

[This too was prepared for Shincheol… but if you are his disciple…]

“W-Wait a second.”

[Yes?]

I thought I heard something strange from Tang Jaemoon just now.

“…The Heavenly Poison Orb.?”

That’s what she clearly said. She called it the Heavenly Poison Orb.

Tang Jaemoon tilted her head after hearing my question.

[Yes. Weren’t you already aware of it?]

She used her finger to point in one direction. I turned my head towards it.

I then was able to see one thing.

There was a dish next to the White Demonic Stone, and there was a pile of balls sitting on top of it.

…How did I just notice?

Wait, are all of those things…

The Heavenly Poison Orbs?

Gulp…

I couldn’t help but gulp.

What is the Heavenly Poison Orb you ask?

They were the treasure elixirs of the Tang Clan that could no longer be produced as their recipe was lost.

Their effect was more impressive than the current Central Plain’s most famous elixir that came from Shaolin…

And there’s a whole pile of them right there…?

It wasn’t just one or two, and I saw more than ten of them sitting there.

Tang Jaemoon asked me a question as if she found my reaction strange.

[Perhaps, you don’t need those elixirs-]

“No, I need them all. I came here for those after all.”

[I see.]

When I answered her without hesitation, Tang Jaemoon nodded as if that was what she expected to hear.

Yes, I came here for those alright.

I definitely have to get those.

White Demonic Stone? What the hell is that?

Is that something to eat?

“Your test, it will begin now.”

I put my life on the line for those Heavenly Poison Orbs.

I wasn’t afraid of any test that would come my way.

Shaa…

The Red Water Snake cried out loud without reading the situation, but I glared at it and put it back inside my pocket.