425 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Chapter 426: It's Been a While Fortunately, the response to my request to the Poison King was approval. It wasn't a material request; I merely asked to see the famous lake at his estate, so there was little reason for refusal. Though the Poison King looked puzzled as to why I made such a request, he ultimately granted me permission. However, since the lake itself is considered a rare treasure of the Tang family and is composed of poisonous substances, he added that he would send an attendant for safety reasons. "Pfh, more like someone to keep an eye on me," I thought. This was something I had anticipated. Having someone watching over me could be a bit bothersome, but it was all within my expectations. As I approached, Tang De rose from where he sat against the wall. It was due to the order to stay put and not cause trouble. "Sit." "..." At my order, Tang De quietly sat back against the wall. "Nothing unusual happened?" “-…There wasn't.” “Did you see any demonic creatures?” “-None at all.” I let out a small breath as I listened to Tang De's brief responses. During the day, there were so many demonic creatures, yet none appeared at night. ‘It seems like earlier was an unusual situation.’ Why had such a situation occurred? I still couldn't grasp it. If I had to guess... ‘It must be because of that red creature.’ The red demon in the water at that time. It was probably because of that thing. “Hm...” Nothing I attempt seems to go smoothly. Such a nuisance. I looked at Tang De with an effort to calm my irritable nerves. His eyes still burned with anger. Even as a demon enslaved by me, it seemed his fiery temper hadn't died. Of course, being a martial artist of the Flaming Realm, he might not have fully fallen yet. I recalled how, as the Poison King, he couldn't lift a finger against the demon lord. I quietly observed him and then smirked. "You seem quite wronged." "..." "If only you'd lived a bit more uprightly." Tang De gritted his teeth in frustration, but at that moment, the control I had over him suppressed his defiance. “Ugh...” He was evidently experiencing considerable pain from his heart. Tang De let out a groan. Watching him, I reflected inwardly. ‘Ultimately, he doesn't choose death.’ Despite enduring such harsh treatment, Tang De didn't choose to die. Does he desire revenge that strongly? Or is he simply afraid of death? Either way, it doesn't harm me. Had he chosen death, I would have let him go. Ah, 'let him go' meant leaving him to die, of course. Even if Tang De was a potentially useful asset for the future. If he was intent on dying, I wasn't inclined to stop him. But seeing him now, it seems dying easily isn’t in his plans. He is probably watching for an opportunity to escape from me at any moment. This showed a certain tenacity on his part. ‘This one's persistent, and... there's another matter to take care of before reaching the Tang estate.’ The eyes and ears that Tang De had watching the Tang estate. I had been pondering when to deal with them... As I thought of him, a useful idea suddenly struck me. A perfectly timed solution had just come to mind. ****************** Four days had passed since we began crossing the river. Had it been under normal circumstances, we would have arrived in two days, but due to the demonic incidents and detours for safety, it took longer than expected. If not for these events, we would have reached the Tang estate with time to spare... Upon reaching land, I boarded a prepared carriage from the Tang estate. From here, no separate vehicles from the families were prepared, so the Tang and Pae families supported with carriages. Perhaps it's because we have properly arrived in Sichuan territory, under the influence of the Tang family. The carriage seemed significantly larger. This likely meant we were in a zone of stability, not a bad thing at all. "How about five more days from here?" Mo Yong-hui, sitting in the same carriage, lightly fanned herself as she spoke. "About that. If we're quick, three days should suffice." “…You seem familiar with this?” "It's just my intuition." I leaned back in the seat and closed my eyes. In my past life, I'd traveled around so much that I roughly knew the geography. At this distance, it couldn't be more than a few days. If we hurried, we might arrive sooner, but I doubted that would happen. Given the Poison King's personality, even if it were urgent, he'd prefer things done properly. Since I was using unplanned leisure time, there was no reason for me to rush. ‘…Honestly, I don't have much time, but what can I do.’ I had to at least pretend I had all the time in the world. I closed my eyes, hoping for a bit of rest, but Mo Yong-hui's voice continued. "Sir." "Hm?" "What do you think will happen next?" "Well..." At her question, I slightly opened my eyes to look at Mo Yong-hui. From time to time, Mo Yong-hui would ask me such things. The reason, if asked of others... …Who knows? I don't know? I'm not sure! I was bound to receive similar answers, and only the sharp Cheol Ji-sun could hold a conversation at Mo Yong-hui's level. However, Mo Yong-hui seemed to be distancing herself from Cheol Ji-sun. When I asked her why she kept her distance, feeling a bit sorry for him, she responded with a somewhat cold expression. -I usually don't like such pathetic people. “...” Her firm words were almost hurtful to me, too. Though Cheol Ji-sun wasn’t nearby when I heard this, I couldn't help but feel sorry and later gave him something sweet as a gesture. When I suddenly offered him snacks, Cheol Ji-sun looked disgusted and said, -Why...? Are you planning to throw me somewhere again!? With that, he ran off. After making the effort to give him something, the ungrateful jerk... ‘I'll have to have Pae Woo-cheol give him more hell.’ Lately, he seemed to be enjoying life too much since I stopped tormenting him. It seemed necessary to re-establish some discipline. Oh? Aren't we friends? Fights are part of friendships, right? ‘It’s just that I'm the one doing all the hitting.’ But let's not dwell on the trivial. In any case, among the people around her, I was practically the only one left that Mo Yong-hui could have such conversations with, which is why she occasionally brought up such topics. Of course... ‘…Not that these conversations are easy for me, either.’ Mo Yong-hui is a smart woman. While perhaps not on the same level as the renowned intellect of Cheon Yu-rang from the demonic sect, she possessed a notable talent in this area. Talking with her was slightly challenging for me. ‘If not for my past life experiences, I might not have much to say.’ I don't consider myself ignorant, but my mind wasn’t quite sharp enough for intellectually stimulating conversations with such intellectuals. Still, I couldn’t bring myself to discourage her. ‘How can I stop her when she enjoys it so much?’ Whenever Mo Yong-hui engaged in such discussions, she seemed genuinely thrilled, which was rare for her. "The future?" "Yes." "About what?" "The appearance of the red demon, of course. What do you think will happen next?" With curious eyes, Mo Yong-hui initiated the conversation. The appearance of a red-grade demon— And the Poison King had already sent word about it to the Martial Alliance. "Hmm..." What do I think will happen? “Chaos will ensue.” It's the logical next step. Unlike blue-grade demons, red-grade demons are challenging to hunt. Their strength demands seasoned masters just to match their speed and power. Of course, if exceptionally trained individuals were involved, multiple first-rate martial artists could team up to hunt such a demon. But that is only feasible for those extremely trained for demon hunting. Ordinarily, it took several seasoned masters to properly handle one. ‘That's precisely the issue.’ From the rank of seasoned master, people are referred to as experts. Though they are numerous, they’re not common. In places other than the likes of Hanam, when a seasoned master appears, people flock from afar just to watch. Multiple such experts need to gather for a successful hunt? There will likely be significant shifts in the current hunting methods. This is akin to an overhaul of the command. With an increased demand for martial artists, especially experts, their perceived value will change. A shift in the structure of the Central Plains that has been stable for hundreds of years implies— “A storm is coming.” This implies upheaval. From what I saw in my previous life, I could anticipate substantial disruptions were impending. Mo Yong-hui slightly nodded at my response. “…So you expected as much too, sir?” “…Uh, yeah.” More than expecting, it was something I had witnessed firsthand. But let’s leave it as it is for peace’s sake. “You must be busy then.” “Sorry?” “I assume the Mo Yong family has already been informed.” “...” Mo Yong-hui's eyes widened momentarily before she flashed a mischievous smile. Her eyes were still captivating. “How did you know?” “What’s there not to know?” It’s also a foregone conclusion. People, after all, seek their interests. Be it merchants or martial artists, it didn’t matter. Everyone follows that principle. With the appearance of a red demon signaling crisis, there would inevitably be those seeking to identify the advantages it could bring them. Especially those in higher positions would do so. ‘Take the Poison King, for instance.’ The Poison King claimed to have sent a letter to the Martial Alliance. Do you think it will arrive early? I doubt it would be delayed. The Poison King wouldn’t want the world in turmoil either. Only— ‘It will arrive later than it did within his own circles, surely.’ This is information. Learning about the emergence of a red demon before others like the Beggars' Sect or Hao Moon was of immense value. It would allow for early response to situations. Enabling one to gain advantages from the surrounding circumstances. Could it be purely the Poison King acting this way? Mo Yong-hui must be on this train as well, as would the Pae family. I don’t believe it’s inherently bad. Isn’t that simply how human society operates? As I thought about it, I suddenly recalled something I had forgotten. ‘Ah, I should have sent a letter too.’ I knew everyone would do this, but I didn’t send one myself. It's already late to send it now... What should I do? I don’t think Father would be angry. “Hmm…” Just as I was about to furrow my brows feeling a slight dilemma, Mo Yong-hui brought it up. “Sir, didn't you send any letters?” “…How did you know?” “Inadvertently found out, I guess.” “...” Looking at her with disbelief, Mo Yong-hui simply smiled at me, feigning innocence. What nonsense is she spouting? She's as formidable as ever, isn’t she? How did she know I didn’t send any letter? As I continued to stare incredulously, Mo Yong-hui said with a smile, “So I sent it on your behalf.” “Uh? What?” "I sent it under my name to Lady Mi. Is that alright? It seemed the fastest way.” “Huh?” I was baffled. …Sent the information on my behalf? “Your mother... I mean, Lady Mi, mentioned last time...” “Wait, what did you just call her?” “She suggested that I notify her if something happened to you, sir. So I used that network to send a letter.” “What did you call her?” Curious about the odd title I thought I heard, I kept asking, but Mo Yong-hui continued speaking as if she hadn’t heard me. It would just tire me out to pursue further, so I sighed and leaned against the seat again, closing my eyes. Whatever the situation, her gesture was appreciated, so it should be fine. It’s unlikely Mo Yong-hui would have written anything inappropriate in the letter. “...” “...” I abruptly sat up, looking at Mo Yong-hui. “…You didn’t include anything strange in the letter, did you?” Her response startled Mo Yong-hui. What was that reaction? Why are you making me uneasy? "You…" “Oh dear, you must be tired, sir. Shall I lend you my lap?” “...” As she concealed her mouth with her fan and laughed softly, a chill ran down my spine. …Surely, she didn't do anything strange, did she? I could only hope for the best. ****************** Flap, flap. A bird flew across the sky, its wings gracefully cutting through the air. Lowering its altitude as if gliding through the sky, the bird approached a young man standing quietly in the sunlight. As the young man stretched out his hand, the bird perched on it with ease. With practiced movements, the young man untied the paper attached to the bird's leg. Rustle. Unfolding the carefully folded message, the young man began to read the lines of text. At most, only six or seven lines adorned the paper. The content was enough to surprise the young man. After reading through the text slowly, “Haha.” He couldn't help but laugh aloud. His eyes turned into crescent moons, smiling wide, and his previously cold red eyes were momentarily hidden. “The tides have truly turned.” The Blood Demon chuckled merrily. A crack he could not have wished for more had finally appeared; how could he possibly be displeased with this? What had transpired? As this thought crossed the Blood Demon's mind, a young man's face flashed in his memory. There was only one person it could possibly be. Ah, and he couldn't even call him human anymore. He clicked his tongue in amusement at the silly thought, a smile lingering on his lips. “Is it thanks to you? Or because of you?” Is it a blessing? Or a curse? The Blood Demon didn't care which it was; either way, it was favorable. “I have high expectations for you.” He hoped that the chaos would further swell, drawing the eyes of the heavens his way. The Blood Demon deeply desired it to be so. Only in that way would everything finally... “Sorry to keep you waiting.” At the sound of a presence, the Blood Demon folded the letter and tucked it into his garment. He gently adjusted his clothes and turned around. When he turned, the red in his eyes vanished, replaced by deep black pupils. "It's an honor to meet you." “...” At the Blood Demon's words, the old man exhibited a slightly wary gaze. “I wish to get to the point of why you wanted to see me, Shinsung.” The old man, one of the sword masters representing the martial world and the leader of Wudang, looked at Jang Seon-yeon and asked. Jang Seon-yeon responded with a soft smile. “I came here with a matter I dare to suggest to you, Grandmaster.” "To me? You?" The Sword Saint of Wudang scoffed lightly. The once-glorious Shinsung star had begun to dim, and Jang Seon-yeon was merely the son of the former leader, Jegal. What business could he possibly have to suggest? It was less than intriguing to the Sword Saint, especially when the affairs with the Hidden Dragon were already giving him enough trouble. “Pardon me, but…” Feeling he had wasted his time, he prepared to turn away. “I understand you're interested in the position of alliance leader.” “...” With Jang Seon-yeon's words, the Sword Saint halted his movement. Noticing his reaction, Jang Seon-yeon’s smile deepened. “I believe I might be able to assist with that... Would you care to listen for a moment?” The Sword Saint’s eyes flickered at Jang Seon-yeon’s offer. The method of how Jang knew wasn't of importance. Many people subtly knew the Sword Saint harbored ambitions for the alliance leader position. “Shinsung… Are you mocking an old man?” There was a hint of irritation in the Sword Saint's voice. At best, he was a fledgling barely of age. Moreover, he was the blood of Jegal, who once occupied the alliance leader’s seat. Such a person suggesting something like this was incomprehensible. Though the Sword Saint displayed vexation, Shinsung continued to smile as he had from the start. "At least hear me out first. I'm sure you can decide to punish me afterwards if it serves no purpose." “...” The Sword Saint considered Jang Seon-yeon for a while. What should he do? The deliberation wasn't lengthy. Listening to what he had to say wouldn’t cost much. Moreover, if it proved to be nonsense, he could hold Jang accountable as suggested. With that thought, the Sword Saint turned his unfinished step back to where he originally stood, signaling his willingness to listen. For a fleeting moment, a slight red hue flickered in Jang Seon-yeon's eyes, but the Sword Saint did not notice.