At the entrance gate of Xi'an, a caravan from the Tang Clan was waiting for permission to enter. Xi'an's gateway was always crowded due to the city's population density and its status as the northern commercial hub.
The gate guards conducted cursory inspections, but thorough checks were impossible—the entrances were already suffering from severe traffic.
A man from Xi'an approached one of the guards:
"Where is the head guard?"
A green silk robe, a sword with a black hilt and scabbard, and a powerful presence—this man was from the Murim Alliance.
"He's a bit ahead, inspecting the Joseon merchant caravan."
"Thank you."
The guard glanced inside Xi'an and saw a small delegation from the Murim Alliance waiting.
"Head Guard."
"Young Master."
"What brings you here?"
"The Tang Clan caravan is a guest of the Alliance and must enter as quickly as possible."
"Is that possible?"
"Yes. I'll clear the path."
The Second Disciple of the Murim Alliance Leader has personally come to clear the way for the Tang Clan caravan.
So that means they've arrived at the Alliance's invitation.
The Second Disciple approached a carriage carved with patterns of snakes and horned dragons.
"Greetings to the Chief of the Sichuan Tang Clan."
The curtain parted, and a middle-aged man looked at the Second Disciple.
"You didn't need to come all this way."
"I was on my way to the Five-Tower Fortress myself."
"No, it's an honor to accompany you."
"I'll escort you until you meet your master."
"Do whatever you want."
Yujin Hak has invited the Chief of the Sichuan Tang Clan to treat the Murim Alliance Leader.
The Tang Clan specialized in poison-making, medicine, and blacksmithing, and were called the masters of venom martial arts. Their medical skills were famous, but what everyone wondered was: could someone with the combat prowess of the Alliance Leader even fall ill?
The Tang Clan Chief went directly to the Five-Tower Fortress and was escorted by the Second Disciple to the Alliance Leader's residence.
Only the Tang Clan Chief and the Second Disciple—alone in the mansion without guards—and someone came to greet them.
"Greetings to the Chief of the Sichuan Tang Clan."
"Yujin Hak."
"Is the Alliance Leader inside?"
"Yes."
"You may go. The Tang Clan Chief and I will enter together."
"How is the Master's condition?"
"I'm not his physician. Ask the Tang Clan Chief later."
Inside a large, luxurious room with a very high ceiling stood a dignified old man.
There was no sign of illness or ailment about him.
"Good that you've come."
"You crazy fool."
"Have you really thought about what you're doing?"
"Yujin Hak, why haven't you done anything?"
Yujin Hak maintained his calm demeanor even before the world's strongest poison master.
"Huf."
"First, let's sit and listen to each other."
The three men sat around a small table, waiting for the tea to steep. The Tang Clan Chief's gaze was deeply furrowed, as if waiting for one of them to begin.
"Aren't you going to explain?"
"Ingesting poison and changing leadership! Have you lost your minds?"
The Alliance Leader began pouring tea for them.
"I didn't say I wanted to commit suicide."
"This is a kind of retirement."
"In five days, the Alliance Elders' Council will convene, with the elders of five sects and seven clans in attendance."
Yujin Hak continued:
"And if the Alliance Leader's condition is poor, and one of the greatest physicians of Murim confirms it..."
"Then they'll begin voting for a new leader."
"That's your plan."
"Yes."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Deliberately creating chaos when everything is going well?"
"Almost all the non-orthodox sects have been weakened or destroyed."
"Security has been established on all routes."
Yujin Hak looked at the Tang Clan Chief with a sardonic gaze:
"Almost?"
"The Heavenly Demon Sect and the Blood Sect still remain—they're the main problem for the allied clans and sects."
"We won the battles, but ultimately lost the war."
"The daughters of the Namgung and Jeagal clans were taken captive, and the entire Shandong Province fell into the Heavenly Demon Sect's hands."
"Do you think losing an entire province is a small matter?"
"Stop playing dumb and get to the point."
"Among the clans and sects of the Alliance, and even in the Imperial Court, there are disputes."
"By changing the Alliance Leader, we can prevent them from finding excuses and delay pressure for any military action."
"We also need time to create division within the Heavenly Demon Sect."
"The poison you requested from me might kill him."
The Alliance Leader replied without hesitation:
"I have no problem with that."
"As a martial artist, how much time do I have left anyway?"
"Old age has made you foolish and cowardly."
"If you seek death, go fight the Blood Sect and die by the sword's blade."
"That's the goal. Once I step down from the position of Alliance Leader, I'll take up my sword again—perhaps even face Kang Long himself."
"And if you die?"
"Then that was my fate."
"Yujin Hak, was this your plan?"
"No. But I didn't oppose it."
"Ultimately, we all have faith in your skill."
"The Chief of the greatest poison clan can neutralize the poison at the appropriate time."
"This poison is meant to bring one of Murim's greatest masters to death's door—so there's no guarantee of neutralization."
"But you won't turn back from your decision."
"The successor will be the same one, correct?"
Yujin Hak turned to the Alliance Leader and sought permission to respond:
"It's fine—speak."
"Yes."
"But we didn't tell him about the plan."
"Then how do you know everything will proceed according to plan?"
"...!"
"We don't know."
"What?"
"The pieces are set. We'll do our utmost, but the future is uncertain."
"Huf."
"I'll do my best to keep you alive, but I repeat: I guarantee nothing."
"That's a comfort."
The Tang Clan Chief left the Alliance Leader's mansion alone after this conversation and said nothing until he reached his accommodation.
---
At the Fourth Lady's Villa, Lan and Zhan's learning speed was remarkable. Although they themselves wanted to act like ordinary children, Jeagal Seon was no ordinary teacher, and she did not slow her pace.
"In just a few months, your progress in reading and writing has been excellent, but in poetry and humanities, you're truly disappointing, Young Masters."
Chwi, who was present, could no longer understand their conversations. Is learning to read and write in just a few months even natural?
Why are they acting as if I'm the only abnormal one here!
Lan, who was getting a headache from learning Chinese philosophy, needed to change the subject.
(He raised his hand as high as he could.)
"Do you have a question?"
"Yes."
"Tell us about our own sect."
"Why don't we ever see our father?"
"...!"
Midwife Chwi's face drained of color, her body frozen. She looked at Seon, wanting her to answer.
"Huf."
"Currently, there are four factions."
"The Evil Faction, the Orthodox Faction, the Unorthodox Faction, and the Imperial Faction."
"The Unorthodox Faction currently consists of many clans and sects, but all of them are united under one name."
"Heavenly Demon."
Zhan raised his hand:
"Ask."
"What does this have to do with our situation?"
"I'll tell you in another session."
Jeagal Seon also has limits in what she can answer. A member of the Orthodox Murim Alliance is raised to be inherently distrustful of the Heavenly Demon Sect.