Chapter 220
220
“Ah……”
I reached out towards the empty air as if possessed.
I want to reach it.
I want to reach that realm.
The flawless trajectory stirred both longing and greed.
I was seized by a burning desire to read every single Fighting Style without missing a single one, and to imitate them perfectly.
My excitement didn't subside until the flames that had covered the sky disappeared and the sounds of insects filled the air.
Grandfather, who had been quietly watching me savor the afterimage, retrieved the scattered Hidden Weapons with a wave of his hand.
Only then did I come to my senses, steady my breathing, and meet Grandfather's eyes.
Grandfather asked calmly.
“Did you see it?”
“Yes.”
“Can you reach it?”
I can't say for sure. But I want to reach it.
After a moment of hesitation, I answered.
“……I want to reach it.”
“I see.”
As if that was enough, Grandfather nodded and continued.
“As your master, I have no choice but to stand in your way.”
“Yes.”
“But as your master, I will teach you.”
“……Yes?”
“So-hye, you may be this old man's disciple, but you haven't properly learned anything except for the Mind Arts. You'll have to start all over again to even qualify as a Martial Artist.”
Was it because of his calm voice? Or was it because of the breeze tickling my cheek?
I couldn't quite grasp Grandfather's words. Everything felt dreamlike and hazy.
“You said you would die as a Martial Artist, so prove that you are one. At the very least, you should win the Martial Arts Tournament.”
I stood there blankly, then bit my lip hard.
Grandfather was trying to send me away while swallowing tears of blood.
“Grandfather……”
“Don't say anything. I haven't given you permission. And don't even think about stirring up Seongdo by chasing after the Lowborn Sect. No going out at night.”
Grandfather retorted gruffly, wearing a stern expression.
But only for a moment. He sighed, came over, and unwound the cotton cloth wrapped around my finger.
Grandfather silently looked at my fingertips, then gently patted the back of my hand.
I also quietly looked down at my hands.
New flesh was filling the sunken wounds.
\ \ \
Number 56 tapped the desk with an unpleasant look.
His blood-red eyes reflected the empty chair.
More than half an hour had passed since the monthly meeting began. Yet he still hadn't shown his face.
The arrogant brat's attitude was starting to irritate him.
'Why did Bishop bring in such a thing?'
He calmed his anger by imagining beheading the arrogant Tang Clan trash.
A weirdo who came on his own, claiming to want the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect's Poison.
A fiend who routinely experimented on turning kidnapped commoners into Poison Humans, hiding from the family's eyes.
A madman who was excited by the pain of others.
He didn't like a single thing about the bastard, but he was definitely useful.
As a direct descendant of a Martial Sect that controlled the land of Sichuan, he handled matters that made the believers tremble with ease.
But he was presumptuous.
The wealth he offered as if doing a favor, and his arrogant attitude as if he were on a different level, were unbearable.
As he gnashed his teeth, he heard footsteps walking down the hallway, humming a tune.
'That arrogant…….'
He swallowed the curse that had risen to his throat and gestured to the guard.
“Open it.”
At Number 56's command, the Martial Artist guarding the door opened it.
At the same time, a man wearing a black Veil hat walked in, joking.
“Oh, I'm a little late. It's not easy to climb over the walls these days. Especially since my famous sister has returned.”
Unlike his softly curved lips, the chilling glint in his eyes visible through the Veil hat made him look like a madman.
A strong smell of blood emanated from his body. Judging by his appearance, he must have been through a lot.
It was best not to provoke him on days like this. He didn't want to get caught in the crossfire.
Making a quick decision, Number 56 replied curtly.
“Sit down.”
The man shrugged, walked to the empty chair, and sat down with his legs crossed. Then, he tilted his chin as if telling him to speak.
He was annoyed by the attitude of acting like a superior receiving a report, but Number 56 didn't show it and repeated the story he had already told.
However, the man clicked his tongue as if he didn't like the information he heard.
“Oh dear, oh dear. How can I dream of a great undertaking with you if your work is so sloppy? Do you know how much effort I put into covering the eyes and ears of my family?”
“It's a pity that the Immunity to all poisons didn't fall into your hands. But didn't you say that you would take care of the matters within the Tang Clan? This matter is more your fault.”
“You should also consider that the Poison King's seclusion ended much sooner than expected. If I had just one year, no, even half a year more, I could have taken care of it without a trace.”
“That's not credible.”
“My skills were excellent. Everyone thought that the disgraced illegitimate child was selling his master's name in order to return to the family by disguising his prestige as a false name.”
The man grumbled, then smiled languidly and rested his chin on his hand.
“It's fortunate that the Grand Elder took all the blame. I was hoping he would draw attention until the Immunity to all poisons fell into my hands…… But what's done is done.”
“I trust you won't make a mistake this time.”
“Likewise. Don't make a mistake. If the Immunity to all poisons doesn't fall into my hands this time…… I will ask Bishop to turn you into a Poison Human.”
Number 56's neck veins bulged at the blatant threat to use him as an experimental subject.
“You dare……!”
“It will be fun. Not many in the Tang Clan enjoy using Poison for torture as much as I do.”
The corner of his mouth, revealed as the Veil hat's fabric fluttered, turned up in a chilling smile.
Number 56 glared at Sichuan's collaborator with murderous eyes.
He wanted to tear him to pieces right away, but as long as Bishop needed him, he couldn't lay a hand on the man first.
Barely suppressing his anger, Number 56 opened his mouth in a rough voice.
“Let's end today's monthly meeting here.”
Number 56 stood up, kicking the chair as if throwing it away, and turned his back roughly.
He gritted his teeth and vowed.
Someday, he would make that insolent thing kneel at his feet and beg for his life.
He would chew up the reckless fool who didn't know his place, bones and all.
The murderous intent he barely suppressed spread around Number 56.
Baekya twisted his body anxiously, his face uneasy at the murderous intent seeping from inside.
“Number 88. Stay still.”
Someone scolded him, but Baekya ignored him and paced back and forth in front of the door, groaning.
Unlike the others around him who couldn't hear anything, Baekya could hear every word of the conversation inside.
He couldn't understand the exact meaning, but ominous conversations pierced his ears.
'It's a pity that the Immunity to all poisons didn't fall into your hands…….'
'In the great undertaking…….'
Hyung-nim's sister is in danger.
I have to protect her.
Hyung-nim asked me to.
'Baekya. You have to protect her for me. Can you do it?'
Remembering Yeon-ryang's face as he earnestly pleaded, he couldn't stay still.
One of the Demons, watching Baekya fidgeting and alternately grabbing and releasing his sword, cursed.
“How long do we have to keep that idiot around?”
“Just leave him alone. He's good with a sword. Bishop expects him to reach the realm of Demonic Cleansing.”
“Demonic Cleansing or whatever, he needs to be able to talk. What good is a guy with a broken brain who's just good with a sword? He's not even a dog that follows his master, geez. He doesn't listen to anyone but Mang-ryang.”
“I guess animals can communicate with each other.”
Someone sneered and shrugged, opening the tightly closed iron door.
“Hey, Number 88. You're making me nervous, so go out and get some air…… What? Did he already leave?”
Ignoring the Demon's call, Baekya soared into the air.
He might not be able to enter deep into Seongdo, but if he waited nearby, the black Dambi he had seen last time might come looking for him.
The Dambi, which had once chased him near Seoan, had smelled Yeon-ryang on him and guided him.
If he was lucky, it would happen again this time.
Baekya started running, thinking of the girl with the same eyes as his Hyung-nim.
\ \ \
As threatened, Grandfather retaught me everything from scratch so that I could qualify as a Martial Artist.
“Do it again.”
“……”
“Again.”
Not a single step or breath was overlooked, and he demanded movements that were as precise as an obsession.
But I was pleased with his unrelenting attitude.
I could feel Grandfather's will to raise me as a true successor, not just glossing over things as before.
I knew what kind of heart he was teaching me with, so I followed him to the best of my ability, but it was difficult to overcome the physical fatigue.
As soon as the sun set, I would pass out as if fainting.
'Look. To break the harmony of Yin and Yang with the Poison Palm…….'
Even in my dreams, I groped for Grandfather's teachings and pondered them, when something tapped on the bed frame.
I groggily opened my eyes and lifted Ju-ryeong by the scruff of his neck.
“Ju-ryeong. I'm sleeping……”
“Kiiit.”
“Where do you want to go in the middle of the night?”
“Ki!”
“No, Ju-ryeong. He told me not to go out at night anymore. I'll get scolded……”
Despite my refusal, Ju-ryeong jumped around on the blanket, waking me up.
I was puzzled by his unusual fussiness, but then I remembered what happened at the hideout and jumped up.
Could it be that he smelled Yeon-ryang?
Or did that kid come?
My mouth went dry with a strange anticipation.
If my guess was correct, Yeon-ryang's sword might be able to return to its owner's hands.
I quietly listened.
Judging by the snoring coming from the next room, it didn't seem like Songji would hear me.
I hurriedly changed my clothes and tied the Cloud Iron Sword, which I had hidden under the bed, around my waist.
Ju-ryeong, who had been waiting quietly, jumped out the window as soon as I finished preparing, as if telling me to follow him.
I'm sorry, Grandfather. I'll just go out one more time.
I swallowed hard and slipped over the wall.
