155

Chapter 155 - Journey to Sacheon - 3

Dang Geo-ho revealed his face before us with the expression of a man who had, as if he were Prince Suyang, successfully staged a rebellion.

On the other hand, the masked figures, who seemed to have plenty of reasons to grumble, began to encircle us quietly, like extras from a tokusatsu show stripped of their language patches.

It would be nice if their abilities matched those of mere extras. Judging by the confident look on Dang Geo-ho's face and the ominous presence of the masked figures, they seemed far from being trivial adversaries.

'Were they aiming for a war of attrition?'

For a case that seemed large in scale, there seemed to be fewer casualties than expected.

The warriors of the Sacheon Dang Family were fundamentally cash-type martial artists. Their confidence fluctuated with the balance in their 'accounts'—similar to office workers whose bank balances represented their HP—dependent on the poisons and hidden weapons at their disposal.

As for the quality of the bandits pushed to their limits by these people, I didn't know, but certainly, the warriors must have used a good number of poisons and hidden weapons given the large quantity they had dealt with.

'The number of hidden weapons in stock is not... adequate, I suppose.'

Indeed, as I had suspected, looking at the members of the Yiak, several among them alternated their gaze between their empty hidden weapon pouches and the masked men, unable to hide their dismay.

Products should be valued and used sparingly. They were recklessly spent, not like they were coming out of their own pockets.

One of these days, I'll make sure these Dang Family warriors experience what it's like in a small to medium enterprise, no—a smaller clan.

Then, every time a battle occurs, they'll hear something like this:

- "I see you used high-cost hidden weapons in the last battle. Wouldn't low-cost ones have sufficed against mere bandits?"

- "I apologize."

- "No, that's fine. If you use high-cost weapons, we'll make do with recycled ones. We'll continue to support you. Now's the chance for our clan to really strip down to our roots."

A culture that exchanges such heartfelt praise should exist.

While I was considering the need to introduce a system to instill discipline into the lax Dang Family, Dang Geo-ho slowly approached us.

"Hwarin. Have you been well?"

Dang Geo-ho spoke to Hwarin with a smile like that of a snake's.

"Stand back. The sinner has the nerve to show up unabashedly."

"I came to welcome familiar faces after such a long time. Your reception is rather disappointing."

Does this guy lack situational awareness? No one here is pleased to see you. His shamelessness is akin to someone reappearing at a friends gathering after three years only to happily hand out wedding invitations as if nothing happened.

"Nowadays, do you greet people wearing masks? I can guess who some of you are just by looking at your eyes. Why hide yourselves so tightly?"

When the gaze of the Yiak leader lingered on a few masked individuals with purple hair poking through, their shoulders twitched.

"Ha-ha. Understand that they're just shy friends. Nevertheless, they have come to help with my affairs. I wish you wouldn't look at them with such frightening eyes."

"Do you need to gather up all the problematic heirs of your affiliated families just to cover up your crimes?"

Maybe he's rounded up all the 'Toxic Club' kids. Seems like it's not just the ones with purple hair.

"Crimes? What crimes have I committed?"

There are plenty to list: child abuse, fraud, attempted contract killing, violation of the poison management law, banned human experimentation...

"You're exceeding the limits of brazenness."

The Yiak leader, apparently also out of patience, glared at Dang Geo-ho with unveiled hostility. In response, Dang Geo-ho scoffed at him.

"Did my experiments kill Hwarin? No. On the contrary, she is on the verge of becoming the ultimate poison user. All that is left for Hwarin now is the final stage. After one more step, she will be able to proudly show the completed poison arts to the family. So, step aside."

What an absurd fellow. Is Hwarin some sort of graduation project left in their care?

"I've long been aware of your cunning, rivaling that of a viper's heart, but now you do not even bother to conceal your malevolence!"

"You're speaking nonsense. Hwarin, you must have had a hard time dealing with this senseless man. Come with me, and I will make you a complete poison user."

Dang Geo-ho, tired of listening to the Yiak leader, sneered at him once more and then turned to speak kindly to Hwarin.

"What are you babbling about, you scammer."

Well done, Hwarin. As she glared back at Dang Geo-ho with a look of disbelief, he appeared slightly taken aback.

"Ha-ha. Hwarin's tongue has grown quite sharp during the time we haven't seen each other."

As far as I know, she's always been sharp.

"Just stop with the revolting masked charades. It's going to make me vomit."

"To be so misunderstood when I hold such dear affection for you is truly disappointing. It must be that man who bewitched you with honeyed words. But remember, Hwarin, no matter what you've been told, you're already halfway a poison user. If you go back to the Dang Family with your current status, they will stop at nothing to dissect you for research."

"I already told you. I will protect her."

"Do you think yourself someone so formidable? Dang Family's miscreants will be desperate to slice open your belly."

"Child, do not be deceived by the serpent's tongue. I swear on my name that you will be protected."

The Yiak leader, blocking Dang Geo-ho's view of Hwarin with his body, spoke with a resolute voice.

"Hwarin. Didn't I promise you clearly? If you become a poison user, the Dang Family will surely treat you as a direct descendant. In fact, now that the Biwon is complete, you are Sacheon Dang, and Sacheon Dang is you."

"Don't listen to him."

"I didn't plan to listen, Dang Geo-ho. How could I believe a single word that comes from a scammer's mouth?"

Right. We mustn't trust the words of a scammer who spews nothing but lies every time he opens his mouth.

No, I should correct myself. We mustn't trust words from someone whose every utterance is a harmful lie.

"Tch... Yiak Leader! Hand over Dang Hwarin to me quietly. If you do, I will peacefully leave this place and take the completed subject to the Dang household."

Seeing that he couldn't deceive Hwarin as easily as before, Dang Geo-ho now attempted to negotiate with the Yiak leader.

"Are you asking me to believe you after you've drawn in outsiders?"

"I sought help because the situation turned dire, but I still belong to Sacheon Dang. All of this is for the sake of our family, so I ask you, Yiak Leader, to yield."

The vilest of excuses came out. Why do those who commit such repugnant wrongs always claim it was for some noble cause?

"For the sake of Sacheon Dang? If the world were to learn what you've done out of your disgusting greed, all martial artists would point fingers at you! How dare you say it's for Sacheon Dang with your filthy mouth!"

Dang Geo-ho grimaced at the Yiak leader's piercing indictment as if he had just heard the most unpleasant nagging and spoke out.

"The world will point fingers. The Dang clan must walk the righteous path. Aren't you tired of repeating the same words? Why, as the ruling family of Sacheon Province, must we be so concerned with others' views?"

"What?"

"Why should we care about those nauseating righteous clowns? When times are hard, they wag their tails for the Dang's poisons and hidden weapons, but in times of peace, they vilify us as dangerous. Doesn't that tire you too, Yiak Leader?"

"Such is the burden one must bear as part of the orthodox factions."

"Why should we bear it? If we can cultivate poison users, we no longer need to endure such humiliations. Our Sacheon Dang will live above the judgments of others as the supreme family under the heavens."

"Supreme family under the heavens, you say? You are dreaming a delusional dream."

"I did not seek your understanding, to begin with. Make your decision, Yiak Leader. If you hand over Dang Hwarin, there will be no need to see more corpses today."

Either hand over Dang Hwarin or face your demise.

The Yiak leader looked towards his subordinates and Dang Hwarin with a perplexed expression before his gaze came to rest on me.

Though he tried not to show it, his eyes were clearly filled with conflict as he looked at me.

'Is he seriously considering this because of me?'

Despite his stubborn refusal to recognize me as an illegitimate child to the very end, it seems he's starting to entertain the possibility.

We cannot be certain of their strength. What's sure is that we are short on both hidden weapons and poisons, and there's already a number of wounded. We might have to prepare for total annihilation.

Is he going to protect Dang Hwarin at risk of his own life, or will he choose to save the illegitimate child who could become the legitimate heir? He must be weighing his options, but there's something the Yiak leader doesn't know.

'Hwarin's poison user experiment will fail.'

Even with a body enhanced by the power of an anti-celestial, it's not perfect. The lingering stains on her skin attest to that. If Hwarin is sent away like this, she is bound to meet the same end as the original plotline, with only the severity differing.

Moreover, I am not the illegitimate child of the Dang clan head. The Yiak leader has been mistaken about where to place his bets from the start.

"Yiak Leader! For the sake of your family, bow your head today. Then, one day, you will become the head of the supreme family under the heavens, before whom all will bow."

Dang Geo-ho pressed for the Yiak leader's response. If Hwarin gets handed over to Dang Geo-ho now, I would be thrown alone into the tiger's den, and we would lose Hwarin, who has the potential to become the true heroine.

This would be the worst possible outcome for me.

What should be done now?

"Being a family before whom all bow doesn't make one the supreme family under the heavens."

Of course, it's up to me to eliminate one of the choices.