Chapter 190

Chapter 190: Grudges Accumulate Unknowingly (3)

Dam Ho rose from his seat.

His face was noticeably gaunt, but his complexion had actually improved.

He asked Jong Ri-yeon.

"How long has it been?"

"You have been circulating your energy for over three hours."

"Truly?"

"The sun has already set."

At Jong Ri-yeon's answer, Dam Ho looked around.

True to her words, darkness had descended upon the world.

"Have you determined the nature of the poison?"

"No. It is a poison I have never seen before. It appears to be a type of corrosive toxin, but it is so potent that finding an antidote will be difficult."

"You mean you cannot neutralize it?"

"I said it would be difficult. First, I need to identify the poison's components, but the corpses have already decayed, and I cannot obtain a proper sample. I would need a pure sample of the poison before I could even attempt to create an antidote."

"Difficult, then."

"Creating such a supreme toxin is no easy feat. Someone skilled in poisons must have arrived at it through countless combinations. It may even be the work of a Poison Master."

"A Poison Master?"

"Yes. A martial artist who has cultivated the Way of Poison. Through a special heart method and the long-term consumption of specifically compounded toxins, they develop their internal energy. Their blood, organs, and internal energy come to contain lethal poison. They become a living Poison Master."

At Jong Ri-yeon's explanation, Dam Ho's gaze turned even colder.

'A Poison Master, you say.'

He could not know whether this was simply the use of poison or the appearance of a true Poison Master. Either way, it would be a great catastrophe for the world.

"I will research whether I can create an antidote, but for that I will need fresh poison."

Jong Ri-yeon bit her lip.

Martial artists fighting each other with swords and sabers was one thing. In the end, they were only killing each other. But poison was different.

Poison killed not only those who fought directly, but countless others as well. A misused poison could claim the lives of hundreds of innocents. That was what made it truly terrifying.

Needless to say, Jong Ri-yeon despised poison. Both as a physician and as an ordinary person.

If left unchecked, even passersby in the area could be poisoned. Dam Ho gathered branches and burned the corpses.

Leaving the burning bodies behind, the two set off.

Since it was already deep into the night, they found a suitable spot and camped out.

Throughout the night, neither spoke.

Jong Ri-yeon was thinking about the poison in her own way, while Dam Ho assessed his condition.

Dam Ho felt that his meridians had widened and become more resilient. Where before they had been the size of a stream, now they flowed like a river.

There were no blockages, no detours. His internal energy circulated exactly as he willed. Above all, he had developed an immunity to poison.

This, too, could be called a blessing of fate.

Dam Ho closed his eyes.

The next day, the moment the sun rose, Dam Ho and Jong Ri-yeon set out.

Jong Ri-yeon had worried about encountering more corpses, but fortunately, no more appeared along the road.

She was relieved.

In truth, she had not slept at all during the night. Lost in thoughts about the poison, she had stayed up until dawn. Her eyes were red and swollen.

Even now, her mind was consumed entirely by thoughts of the poison. What kind of toxin could produce such symptoms, and how could it be neutralized—her head ached from the effort.

By the time Jong Ri-yeon, so absorbed in the poison, came to her senses, evening had already fallen. Fortunately, a small village lay just ahead, so they would not have to camp out again.

"We will stay here tonight."

Dam Ho's words sounded as sweet as rain falling on a parched field. But the moment they entered the village, Jong Ri-yeon was disappointed. The village was too small to have a proper inn.

In the end, they had no choice but to knock on the door of one of the larger houses.

"Who is it?"

The door opened a crack, and the face of a man in his late seventies peered through. He regarded the strangers with obvious suspicion.

The rich scent of medicinal herbs wafted through the gap. At the familiar smell, Jong Ri-yeon smiled warmly.

"We are travelers. The sun has set and we have nowhere to stay, so we wished to ask if we might impose upon you for the night."

"That is…"

The old man trailed off.

Though he did not say it, his reluctance to admit them was plain. Especially his eyes, which were filled with wariness as he looked at Dam Ho.

"Sir, we are not bad people. We will pay generously and cause you no trouble."

"Grandfather, who is it?"

At that moment, a child's voice came from inside. Then a boy peeked through the gap in the door.

Jong Ri-yeon and the boy's eyes met in midair. The boy's face instantly broke into a smile.

"Ah! The physician!"

"You are?"

Jong Ri-yeon's eyes went wide. The boy peering through the door was the son of the man she had treated on the Cloud Steed Crossing the River ferry.

In response to his grandson's reaction, the old man asked.

"Do you know them?"

"Of course! She is the physician who treated Father and prescribed medicine for him."

"Ah!"

The old man let out an involuntary exclamation. The wariness on his face vanished. He threw the door wide open.

"You are the benefactor of my son. Please, come inside. I have heard much about you from my son and grandson."

The old man took Dam Ho and Jong Ri-yeon by the hand and pulled them in.

"Leave the horses to me. I will put them in our stable. Hehe!"

The boy took the reins from Dam Ho and Jong Ri-yeon.

Following the old man into the house, they encountered the father, who had come out upon hearing the conversation. He greeted them with a broad smile.

"Welcome, physician. I never imagined we would meet again so soon."

"Mister!"

At the unexpected reunion, Jong Ri-yeon's face lit up.

The father's name was Im Ui-cheong.

This was the village where Im Ui-cheong had lived for a long time. He was, in fact, the village elder.

Im Ui-cheong's house was the largest in the village, with rooms to spare. Particularly, its northern-style courtyard structure meant that the interior could never be seen from outside.

Im Ui-cheong treated Dam Ho and Jong Ri-yeon with great hospitality.

He brought out food and wine. And he made arrangements so that Jong Ri-yeon could bathe.

When Jong Ri-yeon protested that it was too much, he said.

"Thanks to you, my stomach trouble has improved greatly. Last night, for the first time in years, I slept soundly. This is the least I can do."

"I am glad. It is good to hear you have improved."

"But what brings you here at this hour? You should have departed around the same time as we did."

"It just worked out that way."

"It seems you have your reasons. In any case, please rest easy while you are here. If possible, leave early tomorrow."

"Is there a reason?"

Jong Ri-yeon wore a puzzled expression. At that, Im Ui-cheong's voice dropped.

"There are martial artists in the village right now."

"Martial artists?"

"Yes. They arrived last night and are staying at the village chief's house. Because of this, the atmosphere in the village is quite tense. So please, do not wander about at night."

Im Ui-cheong spoke with great earnestness.

From his demeanor, it seemed the villagers had been greatly troubled by the martial artists.

"I understand. We will stay quietly and leave. Please do not worry."

"Thank you, physician."

After that, Im Ui-cheong continued conversing with Jong Ri-yeon at length. Im Ui-cheong's son, after settling the horses in the stable, also joined the conversation.

While they talked, Dam Ho drank in silence.

***

Yu Jin-mun was the Second Squad Leader of the Gold Martial Division within the Five Elements Division of the Murim Alliance.

The Five Elements Division was the Alliance's actual fighting force, divided, as its name suggested, into five organizations based on fire, water, wood, metal, and earth.

The Fire Dragon Division, the Water King Division, the Wood Spirit Division, the Gold Martial Division, and the Earth Labor Division.

Each division was assigned tasks suited to its characteristics, and the Gold Martial Division served as a kind of advance guard.

The Gold Martial Division was composed of over a dozen squads, scattered across the Central Plains to gather intelligence and cut off enemy scouts.

Yu Jin-mun, as the Second Squad Leader of the Gold Martial Division, was stationed at the border between Shanxi and Henan provinces, monitoring the movements of the Demonic Cult.

"Damn it!"

Yu Jin-mun rubbed his left shoulder. A fresh scar was still visible there—a wound sustained the day before.

The Second Squad of the Gold Martial Division that he led had been ambushed by unidentified enemies the day before. The sudden attack had cost him twenty of his forty-odd men, forcing a hasty retreat.

"If not for the poison…"

The poison the enemy had used was the problem.

It was so potent that his men had died the instant they were exposed. Yu Jin-mun had no choice but to order a retreat.

Though he had managed to escape the battlefield and flee, too many of his men were wounded. That was how they had ended up in this village.

He had gone to the village chief's house and demanded shelter. A simple village chief could hardly withstand the murderous aura of martial warriors.

In the end, the chief had been cowed into surrendering his home. The Gold Martial Division fighters now used the chief's house as their own.

"I must inform the Alliance immediately that the enemy is using poison."

He wanted to go to the nearest Murim Alliance branch posthaste, but his wounded men were the problem.

Among the twenty-odd survivors, seven had sword wounds. With his messenger hawk lost, he could not leave them here and move on.

As Yu Jin-mun ground his teeth in frustration…

"Squad Leader!"

A subordinate threw open the door and burst in.

"What is it?"

Yu Jin-mun's voice rose. His nerves, already frayed, were further irritated.

Though the subordinate had every reason to be intimidated, he answered without changing expression.

"Strangers have entered the village."

"Strangers?"

"Yes. Should we not verify their identities? They could be a Demonic Cult pursuit squad."

"Hmm!"

At the subordinate's words, Yu Jin-mun's face hardened.

He had already been unsettled from his defeat and retreat at the hands of the Demonic Cult fighters. At the mention of the Demonic Cult, his skin crawled.

"Tell everyone who can fight—except those groaning from their wounds—to assemble."

"They are already waiting outside."

"Let us go."

Yu Jin-mun led his men toward Im Ui-cheong's house.

Murderous intent radiated from their entire bodies.

Bang! Bang!

They pounded on the front gate of Im Ui-cheong's house.

"What is the matter?"

Im Ui-cheong opened the door slightly and peered out. Yu Jin-mun raised his voice.

"I heard there are outsiders here. I must see their faces for myself."

"What?"

Im Ui-cheong tilted his head, unsure if he had heard correctly. Yu Jin-mun's face twisted slightly.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"Well… I do not quite understand. They are my guests. Why would you gentlemen wish to see them?"

Im Ui-cheong asked cautiously. Yu Jin-mun's face darkened with anger.

"We are the Gold Martial Division of the Murim Alliance. It is our duty to identify those who may be connected to the Demonic Cult."

"My guests have nothing to do with the Demonic Cult."

"That is for us to judge. If they are truly not members of the Cult, they have nothing to fear, do they? If they come out openly and reveal their identities, that will be the end of it. Surely you do not think we accuse just anyone of being a Cult member?"

"That is not the case. How could I…"

Im Ui-cheong hastily waved his hands.

In his position, he simply did not wish to trouble his honored guests, but he certainly did not have the courage to offend the Murim Alliance.

"Stop talking and have your guests come out."

"That is…"

"Do you dare ignore the Murim Alliance?"

When he still hesitated, killing intent surfaced in Yu Jin-mun's voice.

It was then.

"Mister, I will come out."

From behind Im Ui-cheong, Jong Ri-yeon's voice was heard.

"Ph-physician?"

"It is fine. There is no need for you to be troubled on our account."

"But…"

Jong Ri-yeon pushed past Im Ui-cheong and stepped outside.

Yu Jin-mun and the Gold Martial Division fighters looked surprised. The person who had come out against all expectations was a woman of delicate beauty—and extraordinarily beautiful at that.

Jong Ri-yeon surveyed the Gold Martial Division fighters and spoke.

"You asked to see me, did you not?"