From the next day Namgung Sanyoung began to gradually extend his reach.
"Your mother sent you this?"
"Yes that's right."
Hyungsam couldn't even look me in the eye and trembled as he handed me what was on the tray.
A bowl containing herbal medicine.
My face was so dark and sullen that it was completely visible.
"Little Leader!"
'I know me too.'
Do these people really have no brains?
How can you expect me to drink the herbal medicine with such blatant and suspicious intentions?
It was so difficult to even play the janggu together.
This herbal medicine was a poison that most likely caused madness.
So that I can cause a huge accident during the visit to Gaju
"We must punish them immediately! How dare they offer such poison to the Young Leader! Just give the order! I will burn it in the food along with these children!"
What the heck?
You're very loyal aren't you?
When I looked at it with a look of bewilderment the giant spider also seemed to be taken aback and slowly turned its head to the side.
If you continued to act shamelessly I was going to turn you into a ghost.
Maybe it was because I had already been there once but I was really amazed at how quick-witted he was.
By the way what was that elder's name?
I've been calling it "Spider Spider" for the past few months so I have no idea what it is.
It doesn't matter. From now on I will only call him 'the one who was an elder' or 'the one who was a ghost.'
If you're frustrated you'll tell me your name. I don't think you'll remember it though. Hehe.
"The great lady sent this herbal medicine to the Duke saying that he must have repented enough for his sins so she sent it to him to replenish his energy. She told him to focus on taking care of his body until the visit of the great lord…"
In short it means that you should not even think about lowering the score of the dark zone by making a fuss.
"And he strongly urged me not to skip any of the specially designed nutritious meals that he would send me for every meal from now on."
He kindly explained that he would feed her poison three meals a day without fail.
I held back a laughter that was about to break out of me and waved my hand.
"Okay. I'll go now."
"That's it-"
"Why? Do you still have something to say?"
"Make sure you eat everything before you come-"
I'm really trying.
I grabbed the bowl without hesitation and drank all the medicine.
Ugh. This is tasteless.
"Okay?"
"Yes? Yes! That's right. Then I will step down."
It was only after Hyungsam left that I was able to finally laugh.
The bitter taste of the herbal medicine still lingered on my lips.
Let's see. The ingredients are Baeksancho mixed with Hwajeong and a little bit of Gwanggidok. What the heck? You even added Oh Jeonghwan? That precious thing?
Beyond drugs at this level it was a magic drug.
When you just have a drink or two it doesn't really show on the outside.
Rather it is closer to an elixir. It not only restores vitality but also increases the internal energy of the danjeon.
You must have heard that I've been diligently practicing martial arts before visiting the Dark Zone recently so you must be pretending to help me.
You'll also have to demonstrate some decent martial arts skills in front of the Dark Lord.
However if you take this medicine consistently the toxicity builds up and damages the brain.
and.
"This even has a brainwashing effect."
"Huh? What do you mean-"
"There is red sand poison."
"Ouch! If it's poison!"
"You dare to cast a spell on me. Phew!"
Injection is a material commonly used by magicians when writing talismans.
Because it was the easiest medium to infuse alcohol power into.
So if you trim it appropriately it will be easier to cast certain spells.
I think he was trying to manipulate me like a puppet while I was driven mad by the toxicity.
The problem is that the target is 'me' right?
Hehehe. How dare you challenge me to a fight using witchcraft. It's so funny… no it's so exciting that it seems fun.
"There seems to be a sorcerer attached to Namgung Sanyoung. Go look for him."
"I couldn't sense anything like that while I was watching you all this time… So you're saying that there's a way to hide it and secretly contact the Guryong branch. Got it. Just leave it to me Hwan Mo!"
The giant spider beat its chest with its forelegs and then disappeared down the wall with its baby spiders.
I sat cross-legged and used the Dokryongsimgyeol again.
If there was something Namgung Sanyoung didn't know it was that no matter how strong the poison was it wouldn't reach me right away.
Whatever it is it won't be of any use to the ghost.
Kkaaaah!
Before I knew it the ghostly energy that had completely merged with my internal energy began to melt away the poison in the herbal medicine using the ghostly energy as a lullaby.
Whistle whistle whistle…!
* * *
Namgung Sanyoung's second evil spirit soon arrived.
"Musabou?"
"Yes. I will be in charge of Lee Gong Ja's martial arts training for the next four days. I ask for your help in the future."
Contrary to his words of asking for favor his face was filled with a bored expression as if he was saying 'I should just kill some time and go' and he didn't seem to have much motivation.
Well I was used to that kind of gaze so I didn't really mind.
"Isn't Jeongpunggak very busy these days? Is it okay for you to come to a place like this?"
The identity of this person who came claiming to be Musaboo was a bit unexpected.
Danggon the fierce wind knight.
He was one of the core members of the Gwangpungdae led by Danghosan in the past and is currently one of the top ten masters in the Guryong branch.
The only thing that is special is that it is not Namgung Sanyoung's faction.
From the beginning this person had no interest in the succession dispute.
No it would be more correct to say that I am just not interested in worldly affairs.
He always liked to lie around and would dine out whenever he got the chance which made Jeongpunggakju very angry more than once.
There was even talk that if it weren't for the favor of saving Danghosan's life when he was young he might have been kicked out of the branch family long ago.
So it's strange that you came to 'survey' me under Namgung Sanyoung's orders-
"What are you talking about? Of course I'm busy so I came here."
Huh?
"Just once from now! I will show you the movement just once. Practice on your own."
An attitude that is incredibly shameless.
I couldn't help but laugh out loud.
It was because Namgung Sanyoung's plan had only just been realized.
She could gain three major benefits by sticking a danggon on me.
First it can give me clues about my martial arts level and any possible background.
Second by keeping an eye on me I can prepare for any unexpected actions I might take during my visit to the dark zone.
But the third was the most important.
That he had helped me train in martial arts by giving me a 'real' master who was not from his own faction.
Didn't you give him elixir before to replenish his vitality?
Even if the plan goes awry and suspicion arises in the future it creates a way to escape from the line of suspicion.
When he just blatantly offered me the herbal medicine to drink I wondered how I could become the hostess with such an idiotic mind.
Still it seemed like there was a bit of a dragon-led side to it.
The problem is that all of those intentions were read into me.
Hmm should I play a joke?
If you do well you might get a chance to go outside the garden.
"The martial art I'm about to show you is called Amyeongbo (暗影步). I believe you've heard of it at least once."
What the heck?
"It's definitely the season of Tang Yuchang-"
"Yes. It was the Dark Shadow Machine. It is a qi technique compatible with the Dark Shadow Treasure allowing for stealthy yet fast internal energy acquisition making it very useful for dark techniques or poison techniques. The Dark Shadow Treasure is the same. The great lady insisted that I teach this… Well I didn't have the authority to decide."
Would you humiliate me by comparing me to your own son in front of the dark world?
"Then let's begin."
Pot papapapat-
Danggon slowly walked while holding onto his backpack.
A leisurely pace. But the movements were anything but.
Along the not-so-small yard of the Baeksangjeon the new form of Danggon appeared and disappeared repeatedly.
Even though it was moving so quickly there should have been some kind of wind blowing it was very stealthy as if a dark shadow was moving.
This is an outstanding technique that even 'Dang Yun-hwi' who had only properly learned the Tangmun style of martial arts could never imitate.
"It ends here."
Danggon spread dozens of shadows across the yard and then quietly appeared in front of me again.
It was still a leisurely pace as if he had gone for a walk.
"I've left footprints on the floor so you can just practice as is. If you have any questions please go to Master Jeongpung instead of me-"
"I'm all done."
"-You can just ask… Yes?"
Dang-gon's languid face cracked slightly at my shameless answer.
"I said I cooked it all."
"…Are you saying that you have mastered all of the Shadow Scrolls?"
"uh."
"You just looked at it?"
"Oh. It was nothing special."
"…."
Danggon's face was now distorted in a grotesque way.
He seemed to be holding back his anger a little.
"…Even I who was called a genius when I was young took at least five days to learn the form. It took the other members of the Gwangpungdae at least ten days. It took an average of three months to delve into the meaning of the first meal."
He calls himself a genius. This guy really has thick skin.
"But if you say something like that-"
"Want to bet?"
"…If it's a bet?"
"If I could properly learn the secret book I would be given thirty nyang in silver."
"…."
"Jeongpunggak's monthly salary is around ten nyang? It would take three months' salary to make a bet. Right?"
Danggon now had an expression on his face that said he could see any crazy person.
Then he came to his senses belatedly and coughed lightly.
"Ahem! Martial arts are very sacred. The value of the dark treasure containing the soul of the Tang family is even greater. Why should I get involved in such gambling-"
"Shocked?"
"…."
"I was scared. I was scared."
"…."
"The Gwangpungdaewon who was the main character of Cheongseonghyeolsa the best Jeongpunggak in the world was scared. Even if he's a Maengpung Knight or something he's nothing special. That's enough. That's enough. I'll train alone."
Crackle! Crackle!
Every time I scratched at his insides blood vessels would appear on Dang-gon's languid face.
As I turned around to leave a powerful force swept over me.
Gooooo!
"Now… you must carry out those words properly."
Got it!
I smiled that vulgar smile I used to make when I was urging a gambler to gamble away at a gamble.
"Bring me the money."
"…Whew! You are really good at making people angry with every word you say. Then let's get started-"
It was at that moment that Danggon was about to say something.
Pot!
My new one is dented.
Dang-gon opened his eyes wide and at that moment a secret breeze brushed past Dang-gon's waist.
Danggon was startled and looked back.
His hands found his waistband.
Apparently the pouch he had taken with him when he left Jeongpunggak was gone.
"Find this?"
The sac was in my hand.
Every time he threw the sword up and down while laughing playfully Dang-gon's two pupils shook like crazy.