The Poison Doctor Tang was drenched in poison.
To restore the Poison Clan, the Poison People were working diligently to reverse the poisoned soil.
And at the forefront stood the Poison Doctor Tang.
Ssssssss!
Navigating through the deadly poison that even a typical Poison Person couldn’t handle, the Doctor held a clump of poison that had consumed the Poison Clan’s soil.
“Huuh.”
As the Doctor pushed the poison into a small bottle, they shouted to the Poison People who were spraying neutralizers while wearing gas masks.
“That’s enough for today.”
“Yes, Elder.”
The Poison People finished their work by shaking off all the neutralizers.
The Doctor patted their waist and headed towards the shelter where the clan members were staying.
However, it seemed that the shelter was in an uproar.
The Doctor quickened their pace.
“What’s the commotion?”
“Oh, Elder.”
Tang Do-gyeong presented himself to the Doctor. Seeing the turbulence in Tang Do-gyeong’s eyes, the Doctor sensed something significant had occurred.
“You must have heard about Senior Ho’s news?”
“Of course.”
Standing before Jeong Cheol, Ho Cheon-an had declared himself to be Jeong Cheol’s opponent.
Anyone from the Poison Clan would certainly be interested in what was happening with Ho Cheon-an.
Not only that—
Ho Cheon-an was traveling with the bizarre Tang So-yeol, whom no one from the Poison Clan could handle, and the cart-obsessed Tang Do-yeon.
Thus, the members of the Tang Clan were casting friendly glances at Ho Cheon-an while simultaneously expressing joy at the Brain Knife Outcast’s exploits.
“I already know what happened in the Moyong Clan. Is there a new rumor?”
“It’s similar but different.”
Without delaying further, Tang Do-gyeong opened his mouth.
“Jeong Cheol has publicly challenged Senior Ho to a duel. The loser must break the black rib, symbolizing the Sacheon Outcast, and return as an outcast, abandoning all the fame and resentment they’ve built up until now.”
“That’s quite the joke.”
The Doctor snorted derisively. After causing havoc in the Poison Clan and disappearing while spreading nonsense about being poisoned, now he wants to settle all grievances with a duel against Ho Cheon-an?
From the Clan’s perspective, it was absurd.
The Doctor sighed. While the idea of grinding Jeong Cheol into paste was tempting, his proposal couldn’t be ignored.
Though the Sadoryeon had collapsed and Jeong Cheol had vanished, for the past several years, countless Outcast Faction forces had flowed into Sacheon. While the big Righteous Factions in Sacheon hadn’t mobilized, Outcast forces that hadn’t existed in Sacheon were now firmly established.
Though the Brain Knife Outcast had significantly shaken the momentum of the infiltrating Outcast forces by subduing the city, it wasn’t a fundamental solution.
The Yunnan Outcasts that formed Sadoryeon had become disorganized, and while the major branches of the Outcast forces in Sacheon had retreated, the fact remained that as long as Jeong Cheol’s justification lived, Outcast forces could use it to justify invading Sacheon at any time.
Right now, it might seem manageable, but who knows what Outcast forces might invade Sacheon ten or twenty years from now.
“Unless I completely crush that bastard Jeong Cheol’s justification, Outcast forces will continue to flow into Sacheon.”
Jeong Cheol knew this well, which is why he proposed such conditions.
To shed the black rib and abandon all resentment naturally meant nullifying all the grievances Jeong Cheol had claimed so far.
However, the Doctor promptly erased such calculations from their mind.
A duel between Jeong Cheol and Ho Cheon-an.
It was a lopsided match that couldn’t possibly happen.
A competition between Jeong Cheol, who had been in Hwa-gyeong for quite some time, and Ho Cheon-an, who had reached the peak stage—just asking for a duel between a martial artist of Hwa-gyeong and one at the peak was preposterous.
“Looks like that son of a bitch Jeong Cheol is cooking up some scheme again.”
“I thought the same.”
The Doctor looked at Tang Do-gyeong with surprise. He thought so…?
Then the Doctor began to question why Tang Do-gyeong had such an impassioned gaze.
“Do you know who informed us about Jeong Cheol’s duel challenge? It was Tang Do-yeon. The message contained a letter from Senior Ho. The letter clearly stated—”
As Tang Do-gyeong continued, the Doctor’s eyes widened in astonishment.
“He wants to accept the duel because he believes he can win against Jeong Cheol. However, as it’s a matter he can’t decide on alone, he wishes to consult with the sects in Sacheon before accepting the duel.”
“…What?”
The Doctor was taken aback.
To confidently predict a victory against an expert from Hwa-gyeong?
What did this imply?
“Hwa-gyeong has… been conquered?”
“I believe so.”
Only then did the Doctor understand Tang Do-gyeong’s trembling. When they left the Poison Clan, Ho Cheon-an was merely a peak martial artist. And now, within a few years, he’d progressed beyond that to reach Hwa-gyeong?
“Unbelievable…”
“Yes. However, we should be able to confirm it soon.”
Tang Do-gyeong smiled brightly.
“Senior Ho designated this shelter as the venue for the meeting of Sacheon’s sects.”
*
Thud, thud, thud, thud!!!
The Bicheongmacha is fast.
It’s no exaggeration to say that the Bicheongmacha boasts the fastest speed in the world. No matter how luxurious a cart may be, it could never match half the speed of the Bicheongmacha.
Although the Bicheongmacha was fast, it wasn’t truly unfathomable speed.
But why is riding the Bicheongmacha terrifying?
Because one truly understands how easily a cart can topple over.
Rushing wildly along a rugged road, the shaking cart constantly suggests that it could topple at any moment, which unavoidably causes a significant threat to anyone on board.
On a highway, one might feel stable at speeds of one hundred or two hundred, but who feels stable racing on a mountain bike along a wild mountain path?
Thud, thud, thud, thud!!!
If you leap from that mountain path, you’d definitely be blown away.
With a tail entwined around the trustworthy person, Seo Gong’s body flew up, clinging to Tang So-yeol’s arm.
“Wham!”
Then there was a heavy landing.
Familiar to the group.
Well… familiar, although everyone had pale faces, holding onto the safety bar without saying a word—it was a fact they had grown accustomed to.
When they jumped, everyone was so tense their hands turned white; it clearly showed they had gotten used to such moments.
Ski-iiik!
…In the beginning, they’d scream like Seo Gong did now when confused.
Tang Do-yeon, having heard the cries, glanced back and laughed.
“Hahaha! Seo Gong has to get used to the cart!”
Squeak, squeak, squeak!
“Hahaha!”
Ski-iiik!
…And so, we were heading back to Sacheon.
*
It was already noisy before entering the Poison Clan’s shelter.
– “It’s the Bicheongmacha!”
– “The Bicheongmacha and the Brain Knife Outcast have appeared!”
By the time the Bicheongmacha stopped in front of the guest house, many Tang Clan members had already gathered, watching the cart.
To be precise, they were focused on me.
As I pondered whether to show them a demonstration of martial arts or not, someone came pushing through the crowd—Tang Do-gyeong.
“Senior Ho!”
“Tang Hyung!”
“It’s truly been a while! I was so glad to hear about the news shaking the world every time!”
“You flatter me.”
Tang Do-gyeong, grinning broadly while patting my shoulder, had a rather cheerful aura. It was evident that he was good at handling strong pressure, and as I observed him, it seemed he had significantly progressed in his hidden weapons technique, as indicated by the subtle movements of his fingertips.
Had he been scrutinizing me as I did him?
A glow of admiration lit up in Tang Do-gyeong’s eyes.
“I had thought I was giving my all to sharpen my martial arts, but compared to Senior Ho’s achievements, I feel like dust.”
“You flatter me.”
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Tang Do-gyeong’s face turned serious.
“Senior Ho, I’d like to ask you something.”
“What is it?”
“I received a letter, but do you truly believe you have a chance against Jeong Cheol?”
The surrounding Tang Clan members, who had been murmuring among themselves, suddenly fell silent.
Ah, I see.
I looked at Tang Do-gyeong, then turned to the Tang Clan members. The Ho Cheon-an they remembered was the peak martial artist who couldn’t even unleash his sword energy and was receiving special training from Tang So-yeol.
Even if they heard rumors about me, it was mere whispers of an expert at the peak stage.
Yet, was it really believable that this Sacheon Outcast was going to face off against the Hwa-gyeong expert Jeong Cheol one-on-one?
It was hard to swallow.
No, saying it was hard to believe was a precise description.
For the Tang Clan, my duel against Jeong Cheol wasn’t just a trivial matter.
Who held the deepest grudge against Jeong Cheol?
It would be those Tang Clan members in front of me.
The ones who lost their home, the ones disguised by the cowardly act of using poison to frame Jeong Cheol.
The duel between Jeong Cheol and me, which held the fates of deep-seated resentments, was indeed an immensely important affair for the Tang Clan.
Even Tang Do-gyeong, who considered me a friend, boldly asked such pointed questions the moment he laid eyes on me.
To challenge Jeong Cheol with all the resentment built up over the martial world was something I should obtain understanding for from the Tang Clan.
Thus, rather than answer, I reached down to the ground.
Zzzzzzzzz!!!
The energy began to whirl, taking control of the surrounding Qi. Though not entirely natural, the powers of Qi began to unfurl.
Slowly.
A stone that had been on the ground began to levitate.
“My goodness!”
“Floating in thin air!”
“Has he truly advanced again in such a short time?”
“It’s amazing! Truly amazing!”
I sent the stone over to Tang Do-gyeong. He raised a hand toward the stone that floated in front of him.
Thud.
The stone landed precisely in Tang Do-gyeong’s hand.
I gazed at him with eager eyes as he stared at the stone.
“So, has that answered your question?”
The moment my words reached him, Tang Do-gyeong burst into laughter.
“Hahaha! It’s overflowing!”
He embraced me warmly.
“Welcome to the Poison Clan shelter, Senior Ho!”
As I swayed with his movements, I thought to myself.
The long-standing grudge with Jeong Cheol.
It was only a single step away until that grudge will be resolved.
