Ding.
System
Chain Quest, Myriad-Poison Ring, has been generated!
There is something you must accomplish. You cannot refuse!
I stared at the holographic window that filled my vision along with the System notification.
System
Quest
Myriad-Poison Ring
The Myriad-Poison Ring, said to absorb any poison under heaven, is a sacred artifact of the Sichuan Tang Clan and one of the legends passed down through the Murim.
Its owner and even its existence are uncertain, but for now, it is the only possible solution!
Grade: Peak
Restriction: Jin Taekyung
Mission: Acquire the Myriad-Poison Ring — Incomplete
Reward: A large amount of EXP
Failure: Jeok Cheongang’s death
“A sacred artifact said to absorb any poison.”
Mungyeong nodded at my mutter.
“That is the Myriad-Poison Ring’s ability. However, there is one problem…”
“Its owner and even its existence are uncertain.”
“Yes. The Sichuan Tang Clan has even denied the existence of the Myriad-Poison Ring several times.”
The Divine Physician added in a heavy voice, “That is why it is a legend. It is so old that it has been passed down only through people’s mouths.”
After thinking for a moment, I suddenly opened my mouth.
“No. It exists.”
“Hmm?”
“The Myriad-Poison Ring definitely exists. It’s just being kept hidden.”
“How can you be so certain?”
Both the Divine Physician and Mungyeong, who had first brought up the Myriad-Poison Ring, stared at me with wide eyes.
“Obviously because…”
Because of the System.
This was a Chain Quest to treat Jeok Cheongang.
If the Myriad-Poison Ring truly did not exist, a Quest like this would never have been generated.
Of course, if I said that out loud, they would definitely think I was insane.
I naturally continued, “If such a sacred artifact existed, would people really leave it alone? The Sichuan Tang Clan is famous throughout the Murim for being stubbornly reclusive. Naturally, they would want to avoid any unnecessary trouble.”
This was a world where people killed one another over a single coin or a dumpling. If the treasure in question were something like the Myriad-Poison Ring, just imagine how many flies would swarm around it.
It was a hastily improvised explanation, but it was convincing enough that everyone nodded.
“That makes sense. In fact, after conducting an extensive investigation into whether the Myriad-Poison Ring truly exists, even our sect—”
I looked at Gung Gibang, who had opened his mouth as if he had been waiting for this moment.
“Forget it. Stay here and tell Mujin the rest.”
“Huh? Stay? You want me to stay here with Hyuk Mujin?”
“Captain, what do you mean?”
“What do you think I mean? Exactly what you heard.”
I pointed at the two bewildered men in turn.
“Hyuk Mujin and Gung Gibang are staying here.”
“Why? Why me?”
“I want to go with you too! Please, don’t leave this vicious beggar and me behind!”
“What? You worthless bastard!”
Smack! Smack!
Sometimes, a good beating was the best medicine. I shook my fists at the two men, who were clutching the tops of their heads.
“Stop talking nonsense and stay here to guard Venerable Myoryeong. If anything happens, Gung Gibang, you contact me immediately.”
“Contact you? Is there a messenger pigeon here that can fly to the Sichuan Tang Clan?”
“What kind of beggar’s-foot-rag nonsense is that? If something happens, you need to come running after us so fast your feet catch fire.”
“What do you mean?”
“If you don’t like that, tame one. There were plenty of butterflies in the flower garden.”
It was a conclusion I had reached after a cold analysis, brief though it had been.
Hyuk Mujin’s martial arts were the weakest among us, especially his movement technique, so I would leave him behind and keep Gung Gibang with him as a precaution against any unexpected situation.
Gung Gibang was a reasonably capable Peak master, and his feet were as quick as his wits. He would be able to handle any unforeseen crisis.
“Anyone dissatisfied with my decision or curious about something, raise your hand immediately.”
“Put that fist down before you ask.”
“I’ll just stay here.”
At that moment, one person’s arm shot into the air. Cheongpung asked with an innocent expression, “What about me, Benefactor?”
“You’re coming with me to the Sichuan Tang Clan, Young Hero Cheongpung.”
“Why?”
“Who knows what kind of trouble you’ll cause if I leave you behind? Don’t leave my sight even for a moment. Got it?”
“Yeees…”
At Cheongpung’s dejected reply, the Divine Physician spoke with pity in his eyes.
“Do not scold him too harshly. He seems like an innocent young man.”
“He is innocent. Innocent enough to start a forest fire and burn this whole place to the ground.”
“Hoho, surely he would not go that far.”
“Within a few days, he’ll burn this whole place down and leave Old Man Dong homeless—and I’ll bet Mujin’s left wrist the old man ends up joining the Beggars’ Sect.”
“……!”
The Divine Physician studied Cheongpung with a wary expression before answering.
“It would be best if he came with us.”
“A wise choice.”
“Gyeong, what will you do?”
Mungyeong thought deeply for a moment, then nodded as if he had made his decision.
“I will follow my Master as well. The Emei nun should have no trouble as long as she gets some rest.”
“I would appreciate that.”
The person I needed most right now was actually the Divine Physician. But having Mungyeong with us would be even better. He was always at his Master’s side, serving as a capable assistant.
Besides, he was the one who had first brought up the Myriad-Poison Ring.
The only thing left is figuring out how to obtain it.
Myriad-Poison Asura Tang Sadok. If I met him, the head of the Sichuan Tang Clan, I would know for certain.
Once I had finished thinking, I turned to Cheongpung.
“Young Hero Cheongpung, grab two A-frame carriers and two ropes. Make them big and sturdy.”
“Benefactor, why do we need the carriers and ropes?”
“We need to get there as fast as possible. It’d be a disaster if we dropped you along the way, so we’ll tie you both down tight with the ropes.”
The Divine Physician’s and Mungyeong’s faces turned deathly pale.
The dark main hall was silent. Even after the middle-aged man entered, it was a long while before the old man finally opened his mouth.
“Some fifty years ago, before you were even born, our family suffered a great humiliation. Do you know about it?”
At the Myriad-Poison Asura Tang Sadok’s words, the middle-aged man lowered his head.
“How could I not?”
“This old man was barely twenty at the time, and I witnessed it all with my own eyes. Our people died all around us, the armory burned, and the pavilions collapsed. We were defeated and forced to withdraw from Sichuan.”
The great war that lasted ten long years ended with the orthodox faction’s victory. The Tang Clan returned to Sichuan and rebuilt its family, but the scars from that time had been carved deeply into everyone’s hearts.
“And yet—how? How could we suffer such humiliation again?”
The instant green light flashed in Tang Sadok’s eyes, the middle-aged man held his breath as poisonous energy poured from Tang Sadok’s entire body.
“Hngh.”
“How dare they make us suffer this kind of humiliation again!”
Sssssss!
Tang Sadok’s wrinkled hand pressed down on the table—or rather, melted it.
Not only the wood but even the iron fittings along the corners liquefied into black poison and flowed across the floor. The middle-aged man immediately prostrated himself.
“Please calm yourself, Family Head!”
Despite the middle-aged man’s pleas, Tang Sadok’s anger did not easily subside.
His fury was only natural. Instead of finding the culprit who had harmed his father, Poison King Tang Taesang, he had returned after chasing false leads and receiving an urgent message from the Qingcheng Sect.
“How dare they…!”
The message sent by the Qingcheng Sect had been brief. It had also been as shocking as the Poison King’s death.
He killed Heaven-Shaking Venerable Nun and three Emei Elders all by himself.
And it had not been an assassination targeting a single person. It was said to have been a head-on fight.
Heaven-Shaking Venerable Nun was a Supreme Peak master who could have aimed for even the lowest position among the Ten Kings. The three Elders who had been with her were also experienced Peak masters.
The killer had single-handedly brought down the leadership of an entire sect, then vanished like a ghost.
There can’t be two masters of that level. It must have been the same bastard who harmed Father.
As his anger slowly subsided, wariness took its place.
He had decided to return not as a son but as the Family Head of the Sichuan Tang Clan. At the same time, he had not forgotten to pursue the culprit.
“What became of the Green Shadow Squad?”
“They divided into ten groups of five and scattered from Chengdu toward Qingcheng, Emei, Yishan, and Sanhe to carry out their missions.”
Even within the Sichuan Tang Clan, the Green Shadow Squad were specialists in intelligence gathering and assassinating key targets.
They had been chiefly responsible for eliminating countless demon heads immediately after the Great Faction War, but Tang Sadok felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding.
“Do not let your guard down. Strengthen the defenses of the Gate Guard Pavilion, and do not allow anyone to enter.”
“Yes.”
“You may leave.”
As Tang Sadok watched the middle-aged man turn away cautiously, he suddenly spoke.
“Once this matter is over… hand the position of Master of the Gatekeeper Pavilion to someone else and move to the Inner Hall.”
“F-Family Head?”
“I’m saying this as your uncle, not as the Family Head. You’re nearly fifty. How long did you think I would leave my only nephew in the Gate Guard Pavilion?”
“Th-Thank you, Uncle.”
Tang Sadok answered by flicking his sleeve.
His nephew was not exceptional, but neither was there anything particularly lacking in him.
Tang Sadok had grown numb with time and lived for many years without thinking about it. Yet recently, he had begun remembering his elder brother, who had lost his life during the Great Faction War.
“I suppose I’m growing old too, Father.”
At Tang Sadok’s quiet monologue, spoken after he was left alone, his chest rose and fell. Then something slowly poked its head out.
Hiss. Hiss.
It had a body as white as snow, blue eyes, and a triangular head with two horns. It was a snake.
A spiritual creature known throughout the Murim as the Thousand-Year Poison Horned Snake, it was notorious for its ferocity. It stuck out its long tongue and licked Tang Sadok’s cheek.
“You little rascal…”
Tang Sadok’s stiff expression slowly softened.
He had a prickly personality and disliked meeting people, but he made an exception for this Thousand-Year Poison Horned Snake.
It was the first and last gift he had ever received from his father, the Poison King. Since Tang Sadok had no children of his own, the snake was more precious to him than anything.
“Hey, that tickles. You little thing.”
He was watching the snake play with a faint smile when the sound of someone’s approaching footsteps grew closer.
The white body hurriedly slipped inside Tang Sadok’s robes.
“What is it?”
“Family Head, it’s me.”
At the voice of his nephew, who had left only moments earlier, Tang Sadok deliberately furrowed his brow.
“Why have you come back?”
“Well, those people have come again.”
“Those people?”
“Sleeping Dragon of Shanxi Jin Taekyung and Huashan Divine Dragon Cheongpung.”
“I believe I explicitly ordered that no one be allowed inside. Denied.”
“But… one of them may be the Divine Physician.”
“What? The Divine Physician?”
For once, even Tang Sadok could not hide his surprise.
Who was the Divine Physician? A man who had reached the realm of the divine through his medical arts. An unknown figure who had not shown himself for many long years.
Why had that very Divine Physician come to our family?
His hesitation did not last long. A hoarse voice escaped between Tang Sadok’s lips.
“Let them in.”
“Are you the Divine Physician?”
Now that was some no-brakes macho-man talk.
Tang Sadok had asked the question out of nowhere without even pretending to look at us, and the Divine Physician let out a hearty laugh.
“This old man’s name is Dong Feng.”
“Then you are not the Divine Physician?”
“People have given this old man an undeserved name.”
“Seems they were right.”
“You believe me rather easily.”
“Unless someone has a death wish, no one tells lies in front of this old man.”
“……”
That was pretty damn convincing.
Tang Sadok slowly looked us over, his eyes filled with their usual green light.
“The Divine Physician… You, whom the whole world has searched for without catching even a glimpse of you, have come looking for me. And you have brought young prodigies of the Murim with you. Why?”
“May I answer that?”
I stepped forward, and Tang Sadok’s gaze collided with mine in midair.
“Go ahead. If you say something nonsensical, be prepared to become a handful of blood…”
“Please lend me the Myriad-Poison Ring.”
At my no-brakes macho-man approach, Tang Sadok’s pupils trembled.
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