Chapter 65: Full of Bait
Although the disciples of the Qingcheng Sect had detoxified the poison by consuming the decoction, their bodies were not completely recovered.
They had regained consciousness, but they were far from normal.
If the members of the unorthodox sects lingering nearby found out about this, there was a high probability that another attack like the one before would occur.
In the end, because they needed to be looked after until their bodies recovered to some extent, we decided to travel together for a while.
It was a win-win for both sides.
Baek Mu-ho was not well-versed in Sichuan’s geography or its current state either. It was to the extent that he did not even know our destination was an unorthodox sect territory.
Fortunately, our directions were the same.
Traveling together like that, we shared various stories. Among them was also the story of how they were able to be detoxified.
“The Classic of the Green Bag… you mean? That legendary medical book?”
“Well, there was mention of it being a book written by Master Hua Tuo, but the cover was damaged, so I do not know if it is indeed the Classic of the Green Bag.”
To Yi Do-cheon, who could not hide his astonishment, I calmly spoke the story I had prepared in advance.
In fact, there was a need to mention this part.
Master Hua Tuo had already requested that he wanted to test something with the herbs on earth. Since it was certain that there would be a situation where I would have to grant that request in the future, it was better to lay the groundwork now that I possessed knowledge of medicine.
At any rate, since I had the means to borrow and use Master Hua Tuo’s medical knowledge, it was not an entirely false statement either.
“Even so, if it is Master Hua Tuo’s medical book, it must certainly be a precious treasure…”
“My grandfather somehow managed to establish a connection with it.”
“I see.”
I deliberately did not mention my grandfather’s name.
Grandfather had told me to quietly deliver the letter to Teacher Emerald Bamboo. In other words, it was concluded that nothing good would come from the outside world knowing that exchanges were continuing between the two.
In reality, Grandfather was quite renowned in Martial World.
It was for that reason that I was able to enter the Wudang Sect.
The Qingcheng Sect, being part of the same Nine Sects, was also highly likely to know about my grandfather.
“Your grandfather must be an extremely noble and renowned person.”
Seeing that I did not hastily bring up talk about my grandfather, Yi Do-cheon also did not pry recklessly.
Because Martial World was entangled with countless grudges and debts of gratitude, attempting to dig into the other party’s background was considered a great rudeness.
I replied to Yi Do-cheon’s words and actions, which kept the boundary despite being curious, by giving a light smile.
Unlike Yi Do-cheon, who treated me respectfully and conversed with me, the other two from the Qingcheng Sect behaved somewhat awkwardly towards me.
“Kku-ang! To think I’m older. That I’m the older one…”
Here was the Qingcheng Sect’s young lady, muttering to herself, unable to easily start a conversation while stealing glances at me as I conversed with Yi Do-cheon.
‘She seems to be muttering to herself, but I can hear everything.’
Her name was Yi Cheong-ryeo. She was said to be the biological younger sister of Yi Do-cheon, who was exceedingly polite.
Actually, it was not this awkward from the beginning.
Should I call it a smart yet unburdened, bright personality? Yi Cheong-ryeo was that kind of person. Perhaps because of her bright interpersonal relationships, there was no introverted appearance at all. In fact, in the beginning, she had even spoken to me without any sense of distance.
Although the look of admiration contained in both of her eyes was a bit burdensome.
‘It changed after she heard that my age has not yet reached twenty.’
The face of Yi Cheong-ryeo upon hearing my age was confusion itself.
She seemed to have taken me as a senior and brotherly figure of Martial World whom she admired, but hearing that I was actually younger, she appeared to feel a severe discrepancy.
Uh? Does that mean I look old for my age?
“Sigh, you child.”
Perhaps I was not the only one who heard his younger sister’s muttering, as Yi Do-cheon, who was beside her, approached Yi Cheong-ryeo and whispered something.
“Kku-ang!”
It seemed he had exposed that her muttering was heard by everyone.
Her screaming voice was filled with embarrassment.
[I thought things like cute younger sisters were fictional… Hmph!]
“According to Mu-ho’s claim, siblings of different genders have an instinct to want to kill each other.”
While I barely held back my laughter at Master Bodhidharma’s words, Yi Cheong-ryeo approached cautiously.
“Cheong-un… younger brother?”
“Yes.”
“Kku-ang! This is somewhat strange! It’s strange!”
It seemed the confusion had not entirely subsided.
She seemed to want to run away, but Yi Do-cheon blocked Yi Cheong-ryeo’s movement.
Only after hesitating a few more times did Yi Cheong-ryeo speak again.
“Excuse me… can I just call you Young Hero?”
“Do as you please.”
“Yes! Young Hero Cheong-un!”
She has a truly unburdened personality.
She is clearly an older sister who is several years older than me, but her actions are like a younger sister.
“Ehe.”
Perhaps she had finally sorted out the situation, as the bright appearance from when we first met began to show.
“Tch.”
On the other hand, the unlucky, unpleasant fellow from start to finish.
It was a fellow named Sagong Pae.
Beom-gak was arrogant due to his pride in being a Shaolin disciple, but his foundation was not bad, whereas this guy was just rotten to the core.
Perhaps he felt that if he messed around he would get a harsh taste, yet acknowledging it hurt his pride, so he continued to respond with complete disregard.
From my perspective, it was rather better. Let us just ignore each other like a dog and chicken until we part ways.
“Could I learn a bit more about Go County?”
I asked Yi Do-cheon about the place where Teacher Emerald Bamboo was holding office.
Because it was said to be an unorthodox sect territory, I thought there might be things to know in advance.
Since only by grasping the general situation of how things ran in that neighborhood could I make a decision to either avoid it or fight when an event occurred.
Yi Do-cheon, who sorted his thoughts for a moment, raised a finger and spoke.
“If there are names to be known near Go County, there are two. They are Ghost Hand Baek Pung-rip and Evil-Deed Gambling King Gwak Dae-pyeong.”
“Gambling King?”
It meant he was not a Blade King using the character for blade, but rather the king of gambling since it used the character for gambling.
On top of that, since “evil deeds” referring to wicked acts was attached, his inclination could be guessed just by hearing his moniker.
‘By the way, Ghost Hand Baek Pung-rip? It is a name I have heard somewhere before. Where was it?’
One of the two individuals mentioned by Yi Do-cheon was a name heard from somewhere.
“When you go to Go County… you had better be careful of that Evil-Deed Gambling King.”
Yi Do-cheon especially emphasized the Evil-Deed Gambling King.
Evil-Deed Gambling King Gwak Dae-pyeong. It seemed to be a name to remember.
***
Although I worried that a sneak attack might occur since the news of the Qingcheng Sect disciples being afflicted by poison and physically damaged had spread, unexpectedly, no one pursued them.
Perhaps even if they had the intention to attack, there was no one equipped with sufficient skill. No matter how weakened they had become, they were not a target that riffraff could aim for.
Thanks to that, they traveled together for about three days without any trouble.
“This is as far as we go.”
Although there was still a distance left to Go County, Yi Do-cheon announced the end of their accompaniment with regret.
“If possible, I would like to pay back the favor received from the Young Hero by going together to Go County and offering help, but…”
“That would not work, right?”
The disciples of the Qingcheng Sect stood out too much.
As for me, although I had the embarrassing moniker of Young Heavenly Dragon, not much else was known.
It was safe to say that as long as I was careful, there were almost no people who would recognize me as the Young Heavenly Dragon.
“Yes. It will not work. That is why it is regrettable.”
Despite hearing that I was younger than him, Yi Do-cheon maintained his politeness to the very end.
Because I could feel that what was contained within was respect, I also politely clasped my hands together in a fist salute.
“Thank you for everything during this time.”
“That is what we should say.”
Returning the fist salute, Yi Do-cheon stepped back.
“Young Hero Cheong-un. You must not forget my name. Understood?”
Yi Cheong-ryeo was extremely regretful about parting ways.
‘An older person who is cute like a younger sister.’
She is indeed a unique type.
“I will not forget. Sister Cheong-ryeo.”
“Kku-ang!”
At the words spoken with playfulness, Yi Cheong-ryeo let out her characteristic groan. It seemed she was still not used to receiving treatment as an older person from me.
Lastly, Sagong Pae.
“…I received your favor.”
At least he felt like he had come to greet me.
Though it was still not a good impression.
Well, to be honest, since I also had no desire to get that close to him, this might actually be better.
With the farewell greetings finished, they parted ways cleanly with the disciples of the Qingcheng Sect.
“Hmm.”
However, immediately after parting from them, Baek Mu-ho stroked his neck in an odd manner.
Although the reason was unknown, over the past few days, I seemed to have frequently seen Baek Mu-ho touching and feeling his neck.
Is his neck bad? Did he get a stiff neck because his bedding was not good?
“What are you doing?”
“None of your business.”
Baek Mu-ho replied bluntly.
Even when they were with the Qingcheng Sect disciples, he had a look of being heavily on guard.
“Well, seeing as you threw such a question to me in this situation, it must mean you have not opened your eyes in that direction, so I suppose it is a relief, if anything.”
“What are you saying?”
This was none other than Baek Mu-ho speaking. For words that seemed incomprehensible, it was better not to bother trying to interpret them.
A person who looks into the abyss always has to pay a corresponding price.
“Let’s keep our senses sharp. It could get dangerous from here on.”
“Mind your own business.”
Baek Mu-ho, snorting, completely ignored my words and walked ahead.
***
“I don’t like it.”
Sagong Pae frowned at the sight of Yi Do-cheon and Yi Cheong-ryeo chatting and talking about Yeon Cheong-un after parting with the two.
“Will we be able to see them again?”
“If fate permits, we might.”
Yi Do-cheon and Yi Cheong-ryeo seemed to want to meet Yeon Cheong-un and Baek Mu-ho once more.
‘Damn it.’
Sagong Pae, who had almost sworn unconsciously, bit his lip and barely managed to suppress the words trying to escape his mouth.
‘What is so good about seeing a guy like that again.’
In Sagong Pae’s mind, hostility toward Yeon Cheong-un grew even darker. And as that hostility deepened, Yeon Cheong-un became someone he absolutely wanted to screw over at least once.
‘But there is no way.’
The opponent was a rising star of the younger generation whose value had been soaring the most lately.
His personal skill was also formidable. Despite his young age, his martial arts were incomparably high.
If it were himself, let alone having a chance of victory, he did not even have the confidence to survive against the Black and White Double Demons.
If one behaved wisely, he was a figure with whom one should form a good relationship.
“Tch!”
However, the thought that he had to look good to Yeon Cheong-un vanished in an instant.
Whenever he saw the back of Yi Cheong-ryeo smiling while talking about Yeon Cheong-un, wise judgment disappeared in a flash.
He wanted to deal him a blow.
‘But the opponent is the Young Heavenly Dragon…’
If he touched him carelessly, the one who would bleed would be Sagong Pae himself. Not only that, but those two who had good feelings toward Yeon Cheong-un would also surely hate it.
A way to deal Yeon Cheong-un a blow, yet one that Yi Cheong-ryeo would not hate.
It was a fundamentally contradictory premise.
Sagong Pae, who was about to let out a hollow laugh at the nonsensical premise, suddenly thought of a way.
‘Didn’t they say that guy’s destination was unorthodox sect territory?’
The reason that rigid Yi Do-cheon could not accompany him to the end was that a disciple of the Qingcheng Sect stood out too much in unorthodox sect territory.
‘If I spread his fame, he will attract attention. Then he will stand out, right?’
A rising star of the orthodox faction attracting attention within unorthodox sect territory?
He would definitely fall into plight.
Besides, Yeon Cheong-un had established a grudge in Sichuan.
He had beaten to death none other than the Black and White Double Demons.
‘Thinking only of the outcome, Yi Cheong-ryeo wouldn’t like it either. But even if it is revealed later that I spread the rumors, I can just play dumb and say I didn’t think that far.’
This was certainly something Yi Cheong-ryeo would not dislike, yet it was a way to put Yeon Cheong-un into plight. Even in the worst-case scenario, it could leave room for excuses.
If it worked properly, he would be able to see both Yeon Cheong-un and that guy Baek Mu-ho get hit hard.
“‘Since we won’t even see each other again,’ it couldn’t be better.”
Imagining the troubles that would arise around Yeon Cheong-un, Sagong Pae let out a sly laugh under his breath.
***
Meanwhile, at that time.
At the Qingcheng Sect on Mount Qingcheng, an astonishing conversation was taking place.
“What did you say you need?”
“We need the Great Luo Divine Pill, the secret elixir of the Qingcheng Sect.”
“Haha! And the reason it is needed is to buy time until you find a way to detoxify the Head of the Tang Family, the Myriad Poison Divine Lord, who has been poisoned by an unknown poison?”
“You have heard correctly.”
“Hahahahaha! To think the Head of the Tang Family is poisoned and his life is in imminent danger. Had it not been you who spoke, I would have thought you were lying with the intention of stealing the Great Luo Divine Pill.”
The words of the Qingcheng Sect elder even contained a somewhat sarcastic tone.
The Chief Seneschal of the Sichuan Tang Clan, suppressing his pride that was higher than the sky, replied by slightly narrowing his brow instead.
The Qingcheng Sect elder, seeing the response of the other party who ultimately endured his words, intuitively felt that this was truly no joke.
“Whew… If we hand over the Great Luo Divine Pill, will you be able to find a way? If it is a poison of such degree that the Tang Clan, of all places, has to stretch out its hands to the outside like this, it must be no ordinary thing.”
“We have no choice but to try.”
The Chief Seneschal of the Sichuan Tang Clan let out a sigh even while saying those words.
It was not a hopeful response.
“If only someone whose medical skills reach the heavens would suddenly drop from the sky.”
Although they were words he spoke himself, perhaps thinking it was nonsense, a bitter smile hung on the lips of the Chief Seneschal of the Sichuan Tang Clan.