A short while later.
Having returned to his quarters, Un-hyeok wasted not a moment and seated himself in the center of the room.
'First, I build the foundation.'
Those who practiced poison arts had a fundamentally different qi center from ordinary martial artists.
Through the verses of the Myriad Streams Return to Poison Divine Art.
The first priority was to create the poison core — the poison reservoir.
And for that, he needed poison.
But due to the Poison Demon Sect's current financial troubles, not a single poison herb or toxin could be found.
'A stroke of fortune in misfortune.'
Un-hyeok crossed his legs and closed his eyes.
Turning his awareness inward, his body was brimming with every manner of toxin.
'He lived with absolutely no restraint. It's a miracle this body survived at all.'
Alcohol had swollen the liver to an alarming size.
Tobacco had blackened the lungs beyond recognition.
The meridians, too, were choked with toxins of every kind.
"Hsssp...... hoo......"
Breathing in and out, he chanted the verses of the Myriad Streams Return to Poison Divine Art.
A faint green haze began rising from Un-hyeok's body.
The toxins throughout his system began converging toward the lower qi center in accordance with his will.
"Nnngh......!"
A searing pain as if his meridians were being set ablaze.
Un-hyeok broke into a cold sweat and clenched his teeth.
'I've walked this road before. I can endure it.'
Gradually, the room filled with the green poison mist Un-hyeok exhaled.
In that moment.
A voice reached his ears.
「Welcome.」
Un-hyeok's vision inverted.
「O Fated One who defied the laws of heaven.」
CAW—!
CAW—!
A blood-red sky.
Corpses beyond counting formed mountains, and the blood they had spilled flowed like rivers.
"Where is this......?"
Then someone appeared, drifting into view.
Un-hyeok narrowed his brow.
"That appearance......"
Tang Un-hyeok.
The figure that emerged bore the exact likeness of Un-hyeok in his final moments before death in his past life. It introduced itself.
「Welcome to my domain, Fated One.」
"The Myriad Streams Return to Poison Divine Art."
「How do you find it? I arranged all this knowing you would come. I do hope it is to your liking.」
"You think this is enough to bewitch me?"
「Of course, this is not all I have prepared.」
SNAP—!
The Divine Art flicked its fingers.
The screams of countless vengeful spirits, their vicious hatred and killing intent hammered against his skull.
「Did you not desire revenge? I shall lend you my power. Destroy everything that draws breath.」
"Tch, shut...... up!"
Even with both ears covered, maintaining his sanity was almost more than he could bear.
Un-hyeok dropped to one knee.
「Do not overthink it.」
The Divine Art extended a hand toward Un-hyeok.
「Simply take this hand, and you can achieve everything you desire.」
The seductive whisper of an absolute divine art.
As the demonic energy steadily seized control of his mind, Un-hyeok's eyes reddened with bloodshot veins.
"Grrr......"
Without meaning to, Un-hyeok reached for the Divine Art's hand.
A smile settled on the Divine Art's lips.
'He has crossed beyond the point of rescue.'
「Yes. Why take the hard road when an easy one lies before you? Stop thinking and simply surrender your body to m—?」
Just before grasping the Divine Art's hand — his hand stopped.
「......?」
Un-hyeok clenched that hand into a fist and struck himself in the face with everything he had.
「......!」
"......There. That cleared my head."
「How on earth—!」
Un-hyeok managed a strained grin.
"I fell for it once already. Falling for it twice would make me an idiot."
The Divine Art's expression twisted in disbelief.
「......In all my centuries of existence, I have never seen the likes of you. To think you would break free of the temptation by your own strength.」
"Look who's talking."
So this was what a divine art truly was.
They said those who transcended the limits of man could embed their will into a manual.
Learning the Myriad Streams Return to Poison Divine Art was fundamentally different from studying an ordinary manual.
'I subdue it.'
But the Divine Art was no easy opponent.
「If persuasion will not work, then I shall simply force the matter.」
SNAP—!
The Divine Art flicked its fingers again, and the toxins Un-hyeok had been gathering in his qi center for the poison core began to reverse their flow.
"GAAAAH—!"
At this rate, his body would rupture from the rampaging toxins.
「If I so wished, killing you this instant would be nothing. So choose.」
The Divine Art gazed down at Un-hyeok with cold eyes.
「Will you die a dog's death, unable to take your revenge? Or will you obey me quietly?」
Un-hyeok clenched his molars until they threatened to crack, then raised his head and glared at the Divine Art.
"Kill me...... instead."
「What......?」
The hunting hound of the Sichuan Tang Clan, Tang Un-hyeok.
A fool who had spent his entire life chained by a leash.
There were some offers in this world that were unacceptable even in death.
"I won't be jerked around by the likes of you. Even if I have my revenge, it will not be by your will."
Un-hyeok's gaze blazed.
"It will be mine."
RUMMMBLE—!
The Divine Art's eyes trembled.
「Y-you lunatic! You're adding force to the toxin reversal?! Are you not afraid of death?!」
"I already died once and came back. You think I'm scared of dying?"
「You......!」
"It's you who should be afraid. I'm the only person alive who knows your verses. If I die, you'll be nothing more than one of countless lost martial arts."
Un-hyeok's death would mean the extinction of the Divine Art's very existence.
"Like it or not, you and I are bound together."
Struck at the core, the Divine Art showed its first sign of panic.
「Tch......!」
"Then let me ask you instead. Die here with me? Or do as I say?"
Un-hyeok coughed blood as he screamed.
"Choose! Myriad Streams Return to Poison Divine Art!"
A gamble with his life on the line.
After a moment.
The Divine Art closed its eyes, as if surrendering something.
「Checkmate, is it.」
Then suddenly it burst into booming laughter.
「Kahahaha! Amusing. Truly amusing. Very well, I concede. O Fated One who defies the heavens.」
The moment the Divine Art wiped the tears brimming at the corners of its eyes.
For reasons unknown, the space surrounding Un-hyeok reverted to pure white.
Before he knew it, the Divine Art's face had transformed into an expression of boundless benevolence.
「Congratulations, Fated One. To have passed my trial — I can entrust myself to you with confidence.」
"What do you......"
「I wish I could explain in detail, but time is short.」
The Divine Art's form was growing fainter by the moment.
「The Sacred Fire.」
WHOOSH—!
A noble flame ignited on its palm, shifting through colors as it burned.
「Find the ember of the Sacred Fire.」
"What are you—?!"
「I have hidden my martial arts and the Sacred Fire within the Demon Cultivation Grotto. Enter it and undergo its trials, and in time, you shall obtain them.」
Even as they spoke.
The Divine Art had already become nearly transparent.
Un-hyeok desperately tried to seize it.
"W-wait! At least explain properly before you go!"
「I wish you fortune in battle, my successor.」
Those were its last words.
The white space crumbled, and Un-hyeok's consciousness was pulled back to reality.
The toxins within his body were still rampaging, having lost their way.
'I'll think about the details later. Right now, finishing the poison core with what I've learned of the Myriad Streams Return to Poison Divine Art is more important.'
When he chanted the verses again, the toxins obeyed his control far more readily than before.
And so, half a double-hour later.
POP—!
A sound from the bridge of his nose, accompanied by a trickle of red blood.
Proof that even the toxins concentrated in his head — where countless acupoints converged — had all been drawn into the qi center.
'That cleans out the interior. Now, to finish up......'
"Hup!"
The moment he inhaled sharply, the poison mist filling the room was sucked into Un-hyeok's poison core.
Un-hyeok circulated the poison energy through the Small Heavenly Circuit, then onward through the Grand Heavenly Circuit.
One revolution.
Two revolutions.
Three revolutions.
FLASH—!
Un-hyeok's eyes snapped open.
A faint green sheen in his pupils.
But it quickly receded, and his eyes darkened to black once more.
"Phew. That was absurdly hard."
THUD—!
With those brief words, Un-hyeok collapsed from sheer exhaustion.
***
Meanwhile, in Ryeon-hwi's study.
Ryeon-hwi received an unexpected report from Seok In-gu.
"Hyeok hasn't come out of the Dark Archive in seven days?"
"Yes. According to Archivist Song, after the Young Sect Leader saw the fragments of the Myriad Streams Return to Poison Divine Art, he read through every secret manual in the Dark Archive."
"Hmm......"
Indeed, Ryeon-hwi had been wondering why his firstborn had not shown his face for several days.
'Suddenly reading secret manuals. Has he developed an interest in martial arts?'
Whatever the reason, it was a welcome change.
His eldest son's transformation did not seem like a fleeting whim.
"That aside, Sect Leader. The master of the Black Slaughter Sect, Go Gu, says he wishes to visit the Poison Demon Sect. What should we do?"
Ryeon-hwi's brow furrowed.
"Unbelievable. He eyes the Poison Demon Sect at every turn, yet he wants to pay a courtesy call?"
The Black Slaughter Sect had originally been one of the subordinate sects under the Poison Demon Sect.
But once the Poison Demon Sect's fortunes faltered, they had bared the ambitions they had long concealed.
"No doubt he's come to gloat about poaching another of our warriors."
"That was my thought as well, so I looked into it...... but this time, it was someone none of us expected."
"Who?"
Seok In-gu answered cautiously.
"The Ink Shadow Captain is transferring his affiliation to the Black Slaughter Sect."
"I see...... so Captain Neung is leaving as well."
In-gu entreated.
"Sect Leader. Could you not persuade Captain Neung to stay?"
"How could I do such a thing?"
"I understand. I know the reason you haven't stopped any warrior from leaving — it was for their sake."
Un-hyeok's debauchery had driven the Poison Demon Sect's finances to rock bottom.
With no stipends to pay, Ryeon-hwi had not stopped those who wished to leave.
That was the most consideration he could offer.
"If you asked him to stay, Captain Neung would not leave. You know better than anyone how much he loves the Poison Demon Sect."
But Ryeon-hwi shook his head.
"You are mistaken, Steward."
"About what?"
"It is precisely because he loves the Poison Demon Sect that I must not hold him back."
Ryeon-hwi smiled bitterly.
"I must let him go."
"......"
"The sect as it stands is not worthy of him. So I should not shackle his feet when he could soar free."
"But, Sect Leader......"
"Enough."
Ryeon-hwi raised a hand, silencing In-gu.
"This discussion ends here. My mind will not change."
"......Yes."
"But I have no desire to hear it from the Black Slaughter Sect's master. Go and tell him: I've received his well-wishes, and there's no need for the visit."
Seok In-gu nodded.
"Understood. I will convey the message."
And so Ryeon-hwi thought he would be spared Go Gu's face.
Until the door to his study suddenly opened.
"Hahaha! Sect Leader, how have you been? It's been too long!"
"......The Black Slaughter Sect master?"
A slippery-looking man, Go Gu, offered Ryeon-hwi a clasped hands greeting.
"Hahaha! My sincerest apologies. I was just so eager to see you that I couldn't help myself. Shamelessly, I've come ahead."
"You......"
CLAP, CLAP—!
Go Gu clapped twice, and the handmaidens who had accompanied him entered.
They placed several chests before Dok Ryeon-hwi.
"You know that the Black Slaughter Sect's blacksmithing is renowned, don't you?"
As if he didn't.
That was yet another way the Black Slaughter Sect had been gnawing at the Poison Demon Sect — luring away their blacksmiths, a key source of revenue.
"These are top-grade weapons our Black Slaughter Sect has recently forged. I felt bad coming empty-handed, so I brought a few. Please accept them as an apology for my rudeness."
Go Gu dipped his head with a smirk.
Ryeon-hwi's insides churned.
'The nerve......'
This was precisely why Ryeon-hwi had not wanted to meet Go Gu.
The man operated like a fox.
'Even if I'm furious, rejecting a gift given as an apology makes me look petty. It would be the same as smearing my own face.'
Ryeon-hwi swallowed his anger down.
"......Have a seat."
"As expected of the Sect Leader! Your magnanimity is as vast as the sea. This humble Go is deeply moved."
"Spare me the flattery."
Despite Ryeon-hwi's frigid reception, Go Gu maintained his pleasant smile throughout.
And why wouldn't he? Getting under Ryeon-hwi's skin was the most enjoyable part.
"Steward Seok."
"Yes."
"Bring us some tea."
"Understood."
Seok In-gu left the study together with Go Gu's handmaidens.
With just the two of them.
Ryeon-hwi spoke first.
"I've heard you recruited Captain Neung."
"Haha, well...... word travels fast, doesn't it?"
"Indeed. And if you've come out of concern that I might try to hold Captain Neung back, you may leave. That will not happen."
His eagerness to send Go Gu away was plain, but Go Gu was not about to let this chance slip.
"Now, now, Sect Leader. So hasty. I haven't even been seated for a quarter-hour."
"I wouldn't begrudge a half-quarter-hour's wait for you."
Go Gu laughed.
"Sect Leader, you jest too harshly."
"I am not close enough with you to jest. Perhaps once, but not now."
In the past, when the Poison Demon Sect had been at its peak, Go Gu had acted as though he would hand over his liver and gallbladder for Ryeon-hwi.
In truth, Go Gu's real purpose today was not to discuss Neung Ja-pil.
"On another note, Sect Leader. The Demon Cultivation Grotto will begin soon. Have you decided which of your children will enter?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Our Black Slaughter Sect plans to send my eldest, Eo-ryeong."
Ryeon-hwi's face tightened subtly.
Go Gu pounced on the opening.
"Surely you too, Sect Leader......"
Go Gu's lips curled.
"Will be sending your firstborn, young master Un-hyeok?"