The person Father wanted was Dokwang—the Poison King.

At the mention of Dokwang’s name, the Ma Jons’ expressions stiffened slightly as they glanced at one another. Blood Heaven Butcher sighed quietly so only I could hear. That much indicated how difficult this matter truly was.

Father seemed certain, just as the Ma Jons reacted, that Dokwang would absolutely never come forward willingly.

“Can you do it?”

“I will try.”

Father’s gaze fixed on me was provocative.

“Can you really accomplish this? If you do, I will acknowledge it.”

His eyes then shifted to the Ma Jons.

Though devoid of any emotion, I detected subtle differences in those indifferent eyes.

The look he gave Kwonma was different ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) from the one for Blood Heaven Butcher, and yet again different when looking at Geukak Soma.

If he knew how much I respected him, how wonderful it would be if he showed even a fraction of that warmth in his eyes toward Ilhwa Sword Immortal.

The last gaze lingered on Great Drunken Demon. Calm as ever, he accepted Father’s gaze.

After exchanging silent eye contact with the Ma Jons, Father turned and walked toward Cheonma Hall.

We bowed our heads respectfully.

What was Father thinking now? Would there come a day when I could sit with him and hear him honestly share feelings and thoughts about this moment?

After Father left, I bowed my head to the Ma Jons.

“Thank you all so much.”

Ilhwa Sword Immortal spoke with an embarrassed face.

“You don’t need to thank me. I was dragged here by Drunken Demon.”

“That was a great help.”

“What do you mean?”

“If all five of you had pushed, Father might have been too angry. But Drunken Demon hyung and Ilhwa Sunbae acted as buffers to soften his heart.”

Drunken Demon made a silly remark.

“I’m ruined. Getting drunk in front of the Sect Leader!”

Ilhwa Sword Immortal snatched the bottle hanging from Drunken Demon’s waist and gulped down the liquor.

“I’m the one who said too much nonsense in front of the Sect Leader.”

Drunken Demon took back the bottle and drank.

“Because of this useless friend of mine.”

“Now I understand.”

I interrupted their conversation.

“No, it’s because you all gathered for me. It’s all because of me.”

Once again, I bowed politely to the Ma Jons.

“I will repay today’s favor someday. You have no idea how reassured I feel with all five of you here. Thank you truly. Since we’re all here, I’d like to say just one thing... Oh, wait! I’ll keep it short. I’m not usually this talkative. We should gather together to plan a strategy to recruit the Poison King...”

Without looking back, the five Ma Jons left in five different directions.

“You’re all too much!”

Since I wasn’t five people, I dashed after one of them.

The one I chased among the five was Blood Heaven Butcher.

Though he was pleased I followed, he feigned grumpiness.

“Why aren’t you chasing Geukak Soma?”

“To me, the elder is always the best.”

“But Geukak is the best to you.”

Blood Heaven Butcher recounted what had happened earlier.

“Geukak Soma put everything on the line. You, me, and Kwonma too. None of us expected him to go that far.”

I hadn’t known Soma would come out so strongly. Soma-nim, you received that response well.

“I should have been there.”

“That’s what made it greater. He did it even without you. You can’t do that unless you really care.”

Blood Heaven Butcher at this moment was remarkable. He might have been jealous of my relationship with Soma, but he told me everything honestly, praising Soma again and again. How could I dislike such a person?

“When did you two get this close?”

“I don’t really know either. Somehow we just became friends.”

“Friends? How much age difference is there?”

Exactly. I’ve lived far longer than him, even longer than you, elder.

“There is such a thing as friendship beyond age.”

“That great friendship makes me thirsty. Go get some tea.”

I brought the teapot from the bedside table and poured tea for Blood Heaven Butcher. Seeing his still thin arm made me ache inside.

“Have you been eating well these days?”

“Why all of a sudden are you talking about meals?”

“To me, your health is the most important thing. What’s important about the Poison King or that permission?”

“That’s not what I really think.”

Still, Blood Heaven Butcher smiled faintly and drank his tea.

“You went to Father first today, didn’t you?”

“I’m impatient. Don’t put meaning into who went first.”

“I will. The elder who ran first for me!”

“Honestly, I wanted to boast about going first, but today I was completely defeated by the masked one.”

It seemed the masked one had moved Blood Heaven Butcher’s heart today.

“Still, it feels like everyone wasted their effort.”

He sighed as Dokwang was mentioned. The other Ma Jons’ expressions seemed similar.

“Is it that hard to get that man?”

“It would have been easier if Father said ‘Bring all five Ma Jons.’ If they held a political meeting and pushed to act together, it might have been handled. But naming Dokwang and telling me to bring him was to prevent that beforehand. Father is sly.”

“Do you know anything about Dokwang?”

“I don’t have a personal connection. From what I’ve seen, he’s someone with a firm world of his own, proud, obsessed with poison. That’s all I know.”

Blood Heaven Butcher’s worry was not about personality, but this:

“Can you be yourself in front of Dokwang’s poison?”

Can I remain myself in front of Dokwang’s poison?

I understood his concern. There is a fundamental fear poison brings. Dokwang was one of the most dreaded Ma Jons in the martial world, alongside the dead Seophon Ma Jon, because you might die without a proper fight.

“No matter how good your words or flattery, can you really be fearless in front of the Poison King who uses poison? He might poison you subtly so you get sick years later and die.”

Actually, I could be fearless. As long as poison doesn’t affect me, he was the weakest among the Five Ma Jons.

That’s why I worry.

If I offend his pride, bringing him before Father will become impossible forever.

Before regression, when I returned to the main sect to gather ingredients for the great law, Dokwang was already dead, and the next Poison King had taken the Ma Jon seat.

I know how he died, and how many he took with him.

Lost in thought, Blood Heaven Butcher stared at me.

“Do you have a plan?”

“Yes. I must learn whatever secret there is to turn the Poison King to my side.”

“If you use the methods inside me, you’ll alienate even your closest people.”

Blood Heaven Butcher looked me straight in the eye.

“If I were to advise you, do what you do best.”

“What is that?”

“Father calls it a cheap sentimentality perfect for dying over.”

I laughed at that. I was amazed Father and Blood Heaven Butcher had that kind of conversation. Saying that to someone else meant our relationship had grown closer.

“Use it as you did with me and the other Ma Jons.”

Look your opponent squarely, and say what you must without delay.

I treat people with these two beliefs. Whether it will work on Dokwang is uncertain.

“I understand, elder.”

Blood Heaven Butcher took something out of his pouch and handed it to me. It was the highest-grade Pitokju liquor I gave him as a birthday gift before.

“Take this too. It’s been thoroughly purified, so don’t say it’s dirty.”

I silently looked at the Pitokju. This was Blood Heaven Butcher’s heart. That heart has been shaking even mine lately.

I took out two bottles of Pitokju from my pouch and stuffed them into my cheeks like a squirrel.

“I’ll carry it like a squirrel! Keep this with you, and if I get poisoned by the Poison King, bring it back and save me.”

“No way! I’m never going to that filthy poison pit.”

Knowing he’d be the first to come running, I wouldn’t let that happen.

“Rest well. I’ll be going now.”

“Don’t overdo it. This seems like a grand fate hanging over you now... but later, it won’t seem so serious.”

“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”

When I left Blood Heaven Butcher’s place, it was already dark.

When everyone watches me and waits to see what path I take, the pressure to succeed sometimes overwhelms me.

At such times, there’s always someone who comes to mind. Forgetting the Poison King, forgetting Father’s permission, following the instinct for rest, I took slow steps forward.

Ian was once again pouring effort into time.

I could feel the mature skill forged through hard effort in her unfolding Nine Heavens Sword Technique.

Chwarak.

The sword energy before her chest split into two. I lacked internal energy to split more, but she succeeded in wielding the Yucheon form exactly.

Shwiik, shwiik!

Two sword energies flew through the air like arrows and struck my face on both sides. Her sword was on the left, and the sword-shaped energy on the right.

She had been so focused on training she hadn’t noticed me coming, but now she unleashed Yucheon on me.

“You can send me to Central Plains with peace of mind now. Come down from the mountain, Ian. Don’t go killing too many people.”

“No, young master. I will stick right beside you and live like this comfortably forever. Ah! Though now that comfort is ending.”

“Congratulations.”

“Did you hear? Senior Cheongmyeon finally joined Guiyeongdae Iljojang.”

Her voice trembled. Besides matters related to me, this must be the biggest event in her life. The successor to become the next Geukak Soma became the head of the organization she leads.

“How do you feel?”

“Nervous.”

“The most important thing is I trust you. People can tell. Oh, that person can’t lead us. We’re doomed.”

Ian sighed.

“I trust you. I just worry whether my abilities will follow.”

“If you can’t trust yourself, trust your tail.”

Ian raised her head and smiled slyly.

“That’s somewhat believable.”

“Talk with Cheongmyeon and start building the organization in earnest. One principle: create the main sect’s best elite group. Check skill and character. Not just a group of skilled butchers, but a trustworthy elite corps. Fill it with people like Jang Ho or Inspector Seo. Got it?”

“Yes!”

“From now on, judging people is more important than techniques. That will save you.”

As a leader of an organization, Ian’s life begins now.

Talking with her eased my mind. The moon that looked mournful when I arrived now warmly illuminated the world through the window.

When parting, I didn’t forget one last joke. Having endured all the side effects and become pretty, training all the time, I had to say something.

“I thought you were the most beautiful in the world, but I guess not.”

Ian tensed at that.

“You look prettier than before you were expelled. If you were the most beautiful in the world, you shouldn’t get prettier.”

I left her blushing and exited. Ian, you’re not sleeping tonight.

The next day, I stopped by the healer’s on the way to meet the Poison King.

He looked surprised to find no patients and have free time.

“Lee Gongja, you’ve been here often lately.”

“I feel good watching Doctor Ui-seon save lives.”

The healer surely knew I had come for something else.

“Tell me quickly; you never know when patients will flood in.”

“I want to ask Doctor Ui-seon something.”

“Go ahead.”

“Do you have any relations with the Poison King?”

I asked pretending ignorance, but I knew the healer was the only person the Poison King communicated with. One of the few pieces of info I knew about Dokwang.

“One saves lives, and the other kills with poison, right? Opposites attract. Maybe they share a bond.”

“Why the Poison King?”

“I have a request of Father, and one condition was to persuade and bring the Poison King.”

The healer shook his head.

“So Father has no intention of losing this bet.”

The healer also didn’t believe the Poison King would be persuaded.

“Lee Gongja, I know you’re remarkable, but Dokwang won’t be easy.”

“Do you have any advice for me?”

The healer hesitated. He was pondering how much to tell me, balancing his friendship with Dokwang and his relationship with me.

“I’ve met many poison masters in my life, but never one so sincere about poison as the Poison King. His pride is strong. He believes only Father can’t kill him with his poison.”

That was why no one should reveal that he was immune to all poisons. Offending his pride and dignity would ruin everything.

“Wait a moment.”

The healer left briefly and returned with a small medicine bottle.

“This is the best antidote I have. I can’t promise it will cure all of the Poison King’s poison, but it will help.”

I handed the antidote back to him.

“Use this for something more useful.”

“Why?”

“The Poison King would use deadly poison only when risking his life in rebellion. At that time, no antidote will work.”

“You’re right.”

The healer nodded.

“I will visit again.”

I visited the healer because he would be the greatest help in persuading the Poison King.

“You will help me in the future. And this isn’t just my matter, but also yours.”

As I stood to leave, the healer spoke one last thing.

“Do you know the Poison King’s dream? It’s to compile all the poisons of this world into a book. Even now, he quietly researches poisons alone. Getting him out of his lab will be the key. He doesn’t care about the world.”

The Poison King even lied to his only confidant. His dream wasn’t to compile all poisons in the world.

He dreams of becoming the world’s greatest poison master who will bring the martial world to its knees with his poison.

After leaving the clinic, I headed southwest toward Cheondok Forest, where the Poison King lived.