A short while later.
A letter arrived for the Black Slaughter Sect master, Go Gu.
As he unfolded and read it, his face flushed crimson and he crumpled the paper in his fist.
"That foolish boy! I told him not to act rashly! And yet he goes and causes this disaster!"
The contents of Un-hyeok's letter were as follows.
Your son attacked my siblings and got himself captured instead.
If you want him back alive, come alone to the Jade Guest Pavilion.
'The nerve......!'
Go Gu's cheeks trembled.
Some brat still wet behind the ears.
What?
Daring to order him around?
"Someone! Summon General Manager Heo at once!"
"Y-yes, sir!"
A short while later.
A slender, wiry middle-aged man — General Manager Heo — appeared.
"You called, Sect Master?"
"Read this."
General Manager Heo smoothed out the crumpled ball of paper and read it.
His expression hardened by the second.
"This is......"
"It seems the situation has escalated beyond expectations."
One wrong move and this could spiral into all-out war with the Poison Demon Sect.
Go Gu's voice sharpened.
"There must have been signs. Have you heard anything about Black Slaughter Sect warriors who were unaccounted for today?"
"W-well......"
General Manager Heo answered haltingly.
"Actually, the Black Slaughter Captain reported this morning that four or five warriors had personal matters and would miss training......"
WHACK—!
"Ugh—!"
A kick to the shin sent General Manager Heo hopping on one foot as Go Gu roared.
"You imbecile! If you knew that, you should have stopped Eo-ryeong!"
"F-forgive me. I never imagined the young master would do something like this......"
Right — he could not have predicted it.
Go Gu himself had not foreseen that the son he considered sharp and clever would do something this reckless.
So he could not berate the man further.
"......Tch. Useless boy."
If he was going to do it, he should have done it properly.
Failing like this.
"If he was going to pull something like this, he should have at least told his father first — or, failing that, made absolutely sure to clean up after himself!"
So that no one could ever learn the truth.
Eo-ryeong should have killed everyone at the scene by any means necessary.
"To let things get this far."
Go Gu pressed his throbbing temples.
Yes, blaming his son now served no purpose.
The water was already spilled.
At least one thing was now confirmed.
'Dok Un-hyeok — as I suspected, he was hiding his abilities after all.'
Then why had he chosen now to reveal them?
The answer was obvious.
"......He's about to enter the Demon Cultivation Grotto."
"Pardon? What do you mean?"
"You've heard about the match between Dok Un-hyeok and Neung Ja-pil at the Poison Demon Sect. And you know Dok Un-hyeok is entering the Demon Cultivation Grotto on the sect's behalf."
"Yes."
"His angle is plain. He must have seen it through Eo-ryeong — that everyone in the Cult looks down on him as a mere cripple from the Poison Demon Sect."
"What are you saying......?"
"They'll all let their guard down. They'll dismiss Dok Un-hyeok, the Poison Demon Sect's disgrace, as beneath them. Then they'll be blindsided. Exactly like Eo-ryeong."
A bitter taste in his mouth.
To think even the son he had placed his faith in had fallen for Dok Un-hyeok's machinations.
General Manager Heo narrowed his brow.
"Truly...... a cunning wretch."
"No. The one who got taken in is the fool."
"......Sir?"
"Perhaps it's for the best. This taught Eo-ryeong a lesson he'll never forget — that complacency has a price."
The Demon Cultivation Grotto was a place where every underhanded trick imaginable ran rampant.
Considering it a vaccination of sorts, Go Gu thought it a well-earned lesson.
"Especially Dok Un-hyeok."
The image of Un-hyeok — chin raised, insolent, talking back without a shred of deference — was still burned into Go Gu's memory.
"He is absolutely not an opponent to be underestimated."
Learning always demanded pain.
Surely Eo-ryeong, having been burned this badly, would emerge stronger for it.
'He won't fall for it a second time.'
Because Go Gu believed in his son's potential.
He was certain Eo-ryeong would surpass Dok Un-hyeok in the Demon Cultivation Grotto.
"So, Sect Master. What is your plan?"
"Love him or hate him, he's my flesh and blood. First, I save Eo-ryeong."
The letter said Un-hyeok would be waiting "alone" at the designated location.
Go Gu sneered.
"The brat can scheme all he likes — he's still a child. To think he can face me alone."
The intent was transparent.
Having declared he would restore the Poison Demon Sect, Un-hyeok was eager to produce results.
To prove he was capable of this much.
But that was precisely why Un-hyeok should not have tried to handle this alone.
"Capturing Eo-ryeong and thinking he holds the upper hand in negotiations — how naive."
But leverage like that?
Go Gu was confident he could snatch it back at any time.
"Still, best to be prepared. Relay my orders to the Black Slaughter Captain."
"What shall I say?"
"Have him ready the best warriors from the Black Slaughter Unit."
Better to be thorough.
"As you command."
General Manager Heo bowed and left.
Go Gu threw a long coat over his shoulders as he prepared to depart.
"Well then, shall I go?"
The eyes of a father whose son had been taken hostage glinted fiercely.
"To see that damned face."
***
Meanwhile.
The Jade Guest Pavilion, operated by the Golden Dragon Chamber.
Eo-ryeong was bound to a pillar.
His complexion was deathly pale, as if he could expire at any moment.
So-ye asked with concern.
"Poison Young Master, is this really all right? What if he dies?"
"He's fine. I dosed him with just enough to keep him alive."
......Pardon?
His condition looked far too severe for that.
Un-hyeok barked at Eo-ryeong.
"Hey, quit the dramatics already."
"S-sorry. I won't act out again...... hiii......! Wh-where am I? I can't hear any...... grrkkkk......"
Eo-ryeong babbled incoherently and passed out again.
How much pain he was in was of no concern to Un-hyeok.
His eyes were fixed solely on the scroll So-ye had brought.
"That aside, Poison Young Master."
"......?"
"You really can kill U Mun-so during the Demon Cultivation Grotto period?"
"Yes."
After capturing Eo-ryeong, Un-hyeok had shared his plan with So-ye.
'To become the Heavenly Demon's disciple, I need an overwhelming achievement.'
The head of the Underworld Gate's master.
That would be worth incomparably more than what any other candidate could bring.
So-ye accepted it without argument.
"......All right. If you say so, I'll trust you."
"Quite different from when we first met."
"You've given me reasons to believe. And I doubt you'd tell me the details no matter how much I ask."
"You know me well."
Un-hyeok finished reading the scroll and rolled it back up. So-ye asked.
"By the way, have you decided what to take from the Black Slaughter Sect?"
The scroll Un-hyeok had been reading.
It contained every piece of intelligence So-ye had gathered on the Black Slaughter Sect.
TAP, TAP—!
Un-hyeok drummed the armrest with his index finger.
"More or less."
"Oh......?"
So-ye's eyes lit up.
She had recently learned the Black Slaughter Sect had obtained Black Spirit Stone Iron.
'They said they seized it from a shipment the Underworld Gate was smuggling from beyond the Heavenly Mountains. What could U Mun-so be scheming this time......'
Black Spirit Stone Iron — the mineral once used to forge the Cosmos Poison Demon's weapon.
Its worth was beyond measure.
So-ye assumed Un-hyeok would obviously demand that.
But her prediction missed the mark entirely.
"The Black Spirit Stone Iron, and people. I'm taking both from the Black Slaughter Sect."
"What? People?"
"I'm planning to reopen the Poison Demon Sect's forge soon. And what a coincidence — the Black Slaughter Sect's main revenue comes from a forge too?"
"You can't mean...... you're going to poach the Black Slaughter Sect's smiths?"
"Correct."
During his days as Tang Un-hyeok.
The Sichuan Tang Clan's forge had been famed as the finest in the realm.
The reason: their astonishing production speed.
Un-hyeok planned to apply the core techniques from the Tang Family forge to the Poison Demon Sect.
"Go Eo-ryeong."
Un-hyeok pinched Eo-ryeong's cheek as if finding him adorable.
"You're a real blessing that fell right into my lap. Thanks to you, things are going to work out nicely."
Obtaining the Black Spirit Stone Iron would also complete the bait needed to lure the Mad Forge Artisan to the Poison Demon Sect.
Un-hyeok turned to So-ye.
"Before any of that — I'll need to borrow some money and a forge from the Golden Dragon Chamber to bring the smiths in."
"Don't worry about that. But will Go Gu really hand over the Black Spirit Stone Iron so easily? He certainly won't come alone."
Un-hyeok had anticipated as much.
"That's why I took out a little insurance of my own."
Un-hyeok glanced idly out the window.
"He should be arriving about now......"
And speak of the devil.
At that very moment.
A booming voice thundered from below the Jade Guest Pavilion.
"Dok Un-hyeok! Where are you?!"
All guests had been cleared from the Jade Guest Pavilion to receive this particular visitor.
There was only one person who would come.
"I, Go Gu, master of the Black Slaughter Sect, have come!"
"Making quite the entrance."
Un-hyeok smirked.
"With a whole crowd in tow, no less."
His qi sense picked up dozens of people.
They had surrounded the Jade Guest Pavilion in a tight cordon.
A moment later.
Escorted by the general manager, Go Gu appeared at the top of the stairs.
"You......!"
"Well, things being what they are, no need for pleasantries. Not like we're happy to see each other. We meet too often, Black Slaughter Sect Master."
Go Gu's face hardened.
From the instant he entered the room, his eyes had been fixed on one thing alone.
His son — unconscious, drooling, slumped against the pillar.
Only Eo-ryeong.
"Sit down first. Let's discuss calmly what you can offer as compensation for the attack on us......"
In that instant!
CRASH—!
Too fast to react.
Go Gu seized Un-hyeok's jaw and hoisted him into the air.
"You damned bastard! You dare do this to my son?!"
"Mmph—!"
"Poison Young Master!"
The grip was crushing — Un-hyeok flailed helplessly in mid-air.
Go Gu's cheek twitched.
"Insolent brat. Forget compensation — you will not leave this place alive."
The pressure of his fingers intensified, slowly crushing Un-hyeok's face.
In the chaos, So-ye called out the Golden Dragon Chamber members she had on standby.
But at that same moment, the Black Slaughter Sect warriors who had been hiding revealed themselves.
"Foolish girl. Surely you did not think I came here truly alone?"
"Tch......!"
The Golden Dragon Chamber members specialized in intelligence gathering.
In raw martial prowess, the Black Slaughter Sect warriors held an overwhelming advantage.
"Stay where you are."
Seeing her attempt to help Un-hyeok, Go Gu realized the woman was his ally.
"You too will pay the price soon enough."
They were trapped.
At this rate, they would be helpless.
But then.
'What......?'
Un-hyeok's eyes were curved in a smile.
At that very moment!
THWACK—! CRACK—! CRACK—!
CRASH, BANG—!
Sounds erupted from below.
"GAAAH! P-please, spare me!"
"BLEEEGH! This is...... p-poison arts?!"
"Why...... why are you here......?! We weren't told about this......!"
CRUNCH—!
The sound of a neck snapping.
Then silence engulfed the Jade Guest Pavilion.
"What on earth......?!"
Go Gu, too, seemed rattled.
What had just happened downstairs?
So-ye swallowed hard.
Then — the sound of someone ascending the stairs.
STEP—!
STEP—!
The man who finally appeared.
Hair tied back, streaked with white. A face colder than a winter gale.
Emerging through the green poison mist — the moment Go Gu saw him, the color drained from his face.
"Y-you......?!"
"I believe I told you before."
The Peerless Poison Ghost King, Dok Ryeon-hwi.
One of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's most formidable masters spoke in an ice-cold voice.
"Do not cross the line."
At last — the person Un-hyeok had been waiting for had arrived.