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Chapter 515 – Just Give It to Me Once

In a small park behind the Tang Clan.

The place was painstakingly decorated by the former clan leader, the Poison King.

It was so beautifully designed that it felt alien for it to be a park belonging to the Tang Clan.

There wasn’t a trace of poisonous plants, and it truly served as a retreat with beautiful flowers blooming in each season and flowing water.

The Poison King walked with a furrowed brow through the flower-laden pathways, followed by countless martial artists behind him.

Despite the beautiful scenery, their expressions were grim.

The lead, the Poison King, wore a face that matched their grimness.

– It’s done. Come here.

The moment he was in his residence, a voice whispered into the Poison King’s ear.

At those simple words, the Poison King immediately stood up.

His back was already drenched in sweat.

‘It’s only been a day.’

It had barely been a day since Gu Cheolun’s arrival.

After hearing the circumstances, Gu Cheolun had said he would listen to the remaining stories after finishing his business.

And just like that, a single day passed.

The Poison King couldn’t grasp what was truly happening.

Could it mean that everything was finished in just a single day?

‘It doesn’t make sense.’

How on earth did this happen?

Even though it was a mess he called upon, the Poison King couldn’t understand how things turned out this way.

Lost in thought, he looked up to the sky.

A blue hue spread across the night sky.

A bright, shining sphere floating as if summoned.

It was an intimidating sight; just looking at it made cold sweat run down his back.

‘How terrifying…’

It was a power sufficient to instill fear in the Poison King, leader of the Four Great Clans.

It didn’t stop there.

The martial artists already inside the Tang Clan were paralyzed with fear upon witnessing that bizarre situation.

What was created by just one person? Even so, the entire clan was under pressure.

Confirming this, the Poison King involuntarily burst into laughter.

“Haha…”

“Clan Leader…?”

The martial artist behind him reacted with concern to the Poison King’s laughter, prompting him to gesticulate.

“Nothing to worry about. Just had a silly thought….”

Indeed, it was a silly thought.

How could it not be funny?

Before being a clan leader, the Poison King was a martial artist.

He surely knew the nature of things, yet he momentarily forgot.

This was no other place but the Central Plains.

‘A world where might is everything.’

A world filled with those who revered power and honed themselves.

When he pondered what made Gu Cheolun different from him, the answer was utterly simple.

‘… He’s stronger than me.’

Not everything could be resolved with power. That was the way of the world.

First, the majority of issues could be resolved, and the reasons why certain situations remained unaddressed were manifold.

‘When power is lacking.’

It was when one didn’t have enough strength to shoulder the task.

Only then did people seek power apart from physicality.

He was no exception.

It was solely that.

He lacked power, so he called forth someone stronger.

Because Gu Cheolun possessed such strength, he could easily wrap up the matters at hand.

Strength sufficient to upend a clan.

That was all there was to it.

‘I have no such strength….’

Only that difference.

It was incredibly bitter and hot.

As if searing wounds with flames, it sharpened painfully.

He had never considered himself incompetent throughout his life, yet at this moment, he could only feel dazed.

In this state, the Poison King bit down on his lip to regain his focus.

He needed to clear his head.

If he crumbled here, the clan would crumble.

That damned reality was forcing the Poison King to stand tall.

‘Damn it.’

He simply walked.

It was time to endure. As always, that’s what a clan leader was for.

Though Gu Cheolun’s summoning might obscure his location, finding the destination wasn’t that hard.

‘It’s hot.’

The more he walked, the more he felt an unusual heat.

From the moment the Poison King left his residence, he could tell that this energy was emanating from Gu Cheolun.

He was signaling him.

Friendly enough to say, “Come here.”

It was a park within the Tang Clan, yet the distance felt considerable; on top of sending the signal, he was radiating energy to highlight the path.

It was utterly ridiculous.

‘As time flows, you become more astonishing.’

While others stood still.

Only Gu Cheolun was changing.

It had always been like this.

Even during the Poison King’s late-stage talent days, when he was called the Poison Dragon.

Gu Cheolun was a being living in a different world.

He couldn’t even look up, nor could he dare feel a sense of inferiority.

It wasn’t an easy distance to feel envious of.

Just before Gu Cheolun was about to show up, he narrowly recalled a fact long forgotten.

He moved his increasingly heavy feet, bound by emotion.

Flowers and trees gradually lost their allure.

After walking for some time longer.

Hoo-!

“… Hah….”

The Poison King exhaled the breath he had been holding.

He could feel the heat that had begun to suffocate him regain its ease.

As his blurred senses reactivated, he cautiously surveyed his surroundings.

“…!”

His eyes widened as he surveyed the area.

“Where is this…?”

It was different.

This was no longer the scenery of the park he had just walked through.

The beauty of blooming flowers and lush trees had vanished, replaced by dried earth and decaying grass everywhere.

The Poison King immediately realized.

This land was a terrain altered by poison.

The dryness and rot were likely the reasons.

‘Did such a place exist within the Tang Clan?’

Being a clan that dealt with poison, he had thought they would thoroughly manage their external appearance.

How could such a spot hide within his own clan?

With a furrowed brow, the Poison King inspected the surroundings.

“A formation….”

He felt a subtle energy.

There were traces of a high-level formation set up to obscure this terrain.

Clenching his fists in response, he murmured.

“… What on earth were you doing?”

The Poison King.

What on earth had his grandfather been up to?

This was part of that ugly façade.

As the Poison King examined the area, his gaze halted at a certain point.

It was the path they had taken to arrive here.

“What’s that…?”

Wondering how they had burrowed through such a thick formation.

The reason became apparent near the entrance where they had entered.

The entrance was wide open.

A gap made for disconnection from the outside world had been forcibly torn apart by someone, damaging the formation.

Originally, formations were not to be meddled with carelessly.

If one attempted to forcefully break through, they would have to bear the recoil contained within the formation.

Knowing this, martial artists would rather take their time attempting to dismantle the formation.

But someone had recklessly ripped it apart?

“Heh.”

There was no need to search far to guess who had done this.

After all….

“It’s too late.”

The culprit was already waiting right here.

At the voice coming from behind, the Poison King turned his gaze.

There stood Gu Cheolun, the one who troubled him.

“… Gu Gongja.”

Gu Cheolun, his hair dyed a striking red.

Seeing him standing at a distance, the Poison King flinched.

He felt nothing at all.

Despite Gu Cheolun’s overwhelming presence, it seemed shallower than when he had clutched the Poison King’s neck the night before.

That eerie sensation made the Poison King shudder.

The Poison King was no fool.

He understood fully what it meant to feel so utterly nothing.

‘Is the degree of disparity this vast?’

When there was a gulf in strength between him and his opponent, such phenomena would often manifest.

He could experience this when facing newly ascended martial artists or elite martial artists, yet if the opposite were true, how could he explain this?

The Poison King bit back the rising words.

“… Is that what you found?”

He pointed to what seemed to be an entrance leading underground behind Gu Cheolun.

He had never known there were spaces like this and such entrances within the Tang Clan.

Slowly approaching the entrance, the Poison King cautiously expressed his gratitude to Gu Cheolun.

“… Thank you, Gu Gongja.”

“…”

Just after assuming a light Pogo, he was about to head down when—

Creak-!

“…!”

Gu Cheolun grabbed the Poison King’s arm, halting his steps.

With an immense pressure emanating from Gu Cheolun’s grip, the Poison King swallowed hard.

“… Gu Gongja?”

– This is the last time. Tang Cheon-gi.

“…”

– You called me to clear your clan’s sins, and I’ll let it slide this time. But know this clearly.

The energy contained in the voice ringing through his mind infiltrated the Poison King’s body, reverberating all around.

He almost doubled over to vomit.

– Out of respect for you, who had lived conscientiously amongst others, I decided to act.

Gu Cheolun’s red-eyed gaze directed at the Poison King.

– If you ever try to use my child as an excuse to deal with matters again.

The killing intent in his voice made the Poison King feel like his legs could give way at any moment.

Yet they did not.

Gu Cheolun was suppressing even that.

Without his permission, the Poison King could not fall.

This was manifesting before him.

– There will be no next time.

“… I understand… I will keep it in mind….”

Barely managing to utter the words, Gu Cheolun loosened his grip.

Suddenly, the ghost-like pressure that had wrapped around him vanished.

He staggered.

As the Poison King stumbled, the martial artists positioned behind him immediately reached for their sword sheaths.

“… Stop!”

Seeing that, the Poison King roared.

“Immediately, take your hands off your swords! This person is an esteemed guest of the Tang Clan!”

Shouting decisively, the martial artists cautiously settled down.

The Poison King understood.

Gu Cheolun’s prior warning via mental signal was ultimately meant to preserve the Poison King’s honor before the many martial artists present.

Furthermore, even if they had come at him with murderous intent, he was convinced they would not win.

Just looking at the recent pressure was enough to prove that.

“I apologize….”

“Let’s leave.”

In response to the Poison King’s apology, Gu Cheolun nodded slightly and first stepped downwards.

The Poison King then followed behind him.

As they descended underground, the Poison King found himself at a loss for words.

From what he could observe while going down, it seemed connected to the Tang Clan’s torture chamber.

Yet, everything was clandestinely managed, intertwined with techniques, formations, and devices.

It was an intricate combination that could not be measured by any means.

As a result, even the clan leader of the Tang Clan would likely be unaware….

“… This is absurd….”

The time spent descending underground exceeded that of the time taken to walk from the residence to the park.

It meant that it was incredibly deep.

Soon, they arrived at the sight before them.

“… A hellscape.”

Even calling it hell would be an understatement.

The bloodstains felt from halfway down the stairs and the overwhelming scent of blood filled the air.

The very air was dense with poison.

Most of it was the blood of demon beasts.

At the very end lay the corpses of demon beasts stacked here and there.

From the lowest to the highest ranks, nothing was spared.

Upon inspecting, all were the demon beasts known to use poison.

Whether being dismantled had left their hides and internal organs separated or their bones assembled together.

There were even visible traces showing that only their blood had been drained.

What were they planning to do with this?

The Poison King had to shut his eyes tight.

As he stood there, Gu Cheolun inquired.

“Are you scared?”

Scared? The Poison King nodded.

“… A lot.”

How could he not be?

He had put in such effort to rid himself of all shadows in order to be recognized as part of the Righteous Faction.

Yet, it appeared he had barely cleared any at all.

On the contrary, things might have become markedly worse.

The thought terrified the Poison King.

In response, Gu Cheolun simply stated.

“Then endure.”

His words were flat.

There seemed to be no other way.

“If this is enough to shake you, then I certainly wouldn’t witness it.”

“…”

If the sight of demon beast corpses was enough to rattle him, he would not be able to endure it.

Hearing Gu Cheolun’s words, the Poison King bit his lip.

He already knew that within the vile pool of demon beast blood, there was certainly an equal mix of human blood as well. A considerable amount, no less.

It implied that not only demon beasts but a significant number of humans had met their demise here. That was the meaning.

Even the clan leader was not privy to this hidden reality.

“I’m curious.”

Looking at this, Gu Cheolun spoke.

“Is this still considered Righteous Faction to you?”

“…”

It was truly a simple curiosity.

Was it truly possible to still be considered Righteous Faction after conducting such atrocities?

There was neither derision nor mockery in his tone.

It was evident that he was sincerely curious, which made it hurt even more.

The space seemed endless.

They had only reached the entrance after such a long journey.

The Poison King consoled his weary mind and continued to walk.

After a few more steps, as they finally arrived at the seemingly spacious center.

“You’ve arrived?”

There was someone waiting within. The Poison King widened his eyes upon seeing him.

“… Gu Gongja?”

A face strikingly similar to Gu Cheolun’s, yet slightly lacking.

A young man with a fierce face and a smaller stature than most martial artists.

Gu Yangcheong awaited the Poison King.

“How did you get here….”

As the Poison King pondered how this young one had ended up here, he caught sight of someone in front of Gu Yangcheong.

A frail figure lay prostrate on the ground, shivering.

The Poison King could surmise who it was based on his clothes and atmosphere.

Could it be that…?

“… Elder Lee…?”

Thud-!

Just as the Poison King was about to call out to him, the old man suddenly began banging his head on the floor.

Then he declared,

“I’m sorry…. I’m sorry! I’m… the trash of the world!…. I’m sorry! Please forgive me… I’m so sorry!”

“…”

Thud-! Thud-!

He began to demonstrate his guilt outrageously.

What on earth was happening?

Not only the Poison King and the martial artists behind him were stumped.

“…”

Even Gu Cheolun looked slightly unsettled at the situation.

“Ah, you see….”

Gu Yangcheong wore an awkward expression as he spoke.

“I got a bit bored waiting…. So I thought I’d get a confession….”

As he spoke, his gaze wandered elsewhere.

“It seems the process got a little intense. Haha! It’s funny, isn’t it?”

Gu Yangcheong tried to force a smile, but unsurprisingly, no one joined in his laughter.

 

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