Chapter 313: The Importance of Trust (1)

I sensed that those who had taken the antidote were slowly recovering, and that it was finally time to act.

That was when Tang Cheolgi approached.

“Our side has recovered a fair amount of internal energy.”

“That’s a relief.”

“But I’m the problem. If I had a potent enough poison, I could use the Poison Blade, but all the poisons I had were taken by the bastards. Can’t you have Wi Oh retrieve them from him using the Soul Capturing Art?”

Tang Cheolgi knew that to rise to prominence as a hero, he needed to accomplish something more outstanding than others—but he lacked the opportunity to do so.

“You said Poison Blade? Isn’t that what the Tang Clan gave to the Namgung Clan?”

“Ah, that was something made before our clan perfected the martial art called the Poison Blade.”

“Then, you’re saying the Tang Clan’s Poison Blade isn’t a weapon but a martial art?”

“Haha, I’ve ended up revealing my clan’s secret without meaning to.”

Despite his words, his face brimmed with pride.

“I didn’t know the Poison Blade was a martial art, not a weapon.”

“It was only recently perfected by my clan. One channels poisonous energy into the body, then flows that energy into the sword and uses it in combat.”

I thought that if such a martial art existed, it would be truly remarkable. I realized that Tang Cheolgi hadn’t become the Young Master of the Tang Clan for nothing.

That’s when I remembered the Madok Petrification Leaf I had.

Since the incident with Jong Seok, I hadn’t found an occasion to use that poison.

“Would the Madok Petrification Leaf be sufficient?”

“Madok Petrification Leaf? That’s a legendary poison. If I had that, my Poison Blade would become truly invincible. But where would one even find such a thing?”

“What I’m asking is—could you survive consuming that poison?”

Tang Cheolgi smirked.

“The Poison Blade Art allows one to envelop poisons with qi, causing no harm to the body. No matter how potent the toxin, the Poison Blade Art nullifies its effects. That’s why my clan has invested generations of research and sacrifice.”

I felt like I had gained a thousand troops.

“Young Master Tang, I have the Madok Petrification Leaf.”

“What? Are you serious?”

“Wait a moment. I’ll have Wi Oh bring it here.”

I bit my pinky and wrote a message on a torn piece of cloth. It was a note to Deuksang instructing him to hand the Madok Petrification Leaf over to Wi Oh.

I approached Wi Oh and spoke casually.

“Wi Oh, go find someone about a hundred jang from here and deliver this letter. Retrieve the item and come back. No one must know.”

After giving the command, I walked away.

Wi Oh also vanished from the spot shortly after.

I had entrusted the White Tiger Demon-Subduing Sword and my belongings to Deuksang. Among them was the Madok Petrification Leaf, which I always kept on me.

Though I hadn’t used it recently, it was a significant item, so I kept it on my person—and now, I had found a reason to use it.

Soon after, Wi Oh passed by me and dropped a leather pouch.

Aside from Lightning-Faced Madman, Wi Oh held the highest rank, so others didn’t pay much attention to his actions—which was fortunate.

The reason I had used the Soul Capturing Art on Wi Oh was precisely for moments like this.

I glanced at Tang Cheolgi and smiled faintly.

‘If not for Tang Cheolgi, I wouldn’t have been able to lull Wi Oh into lowering his guard. If this works, he deserves a great deal of the credit.’

Despite his flippant and immature manner, I couldn’t understand how Tang Cheolgi had earned the nickname ‘Poison-Hearted Dragon.’

I showed him a leaf of the Madok Petrification Leaf.

Tang Cheolgi glanced around before speaking quietly.

“I never imagined I’d see this poison in my lifetime. As far as I know, the Madok Petrification Leaf was taken by the Small Sect Leader of the Four Dragons Sect long ago. How did it come into your hands, Young Master Yong?”

Many still believed that Gocheok, the Small Sect Leader of the Four Dragons Sect, had obtained the Madok Petrification Leaf. Tang Cheolgi had joined the scramble for it himself and knew well about the poison.

“If you make me one promise, I’ll give it to you.”

Tang Cheolgi’s lips twitched.

He barely restrained himself from blurting out that he would do anything if I gave him the leaf.

I knew full well how obsessive and possessive the Tang Clan could be when it came to rare poisons.

“Speak. If it’s reasonable, I’ll promise.”

He tried to maintain his composure, but his eyes glimmered with desire for the Madok Petrification Leaf.

“If I ever ask for your help, Young Master Tang, you must comply unconditionally.”

Tang Cheolgi changed the mood with a jest.

“What? Is the Heavenly Central Sect planning to go to war?”

I responded with a serious tone.

“Exactly. Lately, there’s been no shortage of hostile forces against our sect. One day, someone will surely launch an attack. When that time comes, I’ll ask for your help. So think carefully before you make this promise.”

Tang Cheolgi hadn’t expected to be forced into such an important vow in a place like this, and hesitated.

But watching me until now, he had come to understand one thing.

And so, he was certain.

‘Yong Hwarin is the most loyal man I’ve ever met. He risks his life for his friends and even tries to save those with no connection to him. A man like that doesn’t betray his comrades. Someone like him is worth fighting beside.’

Though he acted frivolous and immature, Tang Cheolgi’s mind was anything but childish.

That was simply his personality—his mind was sharper than most.

“If I become the Clan Head, my entire clan will support you. And if I don’t, I’ll help you on my own.”

I smiled with satisfaction as I watched Tang Cheolgi make a solemn vow.

‘If someone like Tang Cheolgi joins our side, it’ll be like gaining an entire army.’

He was the Young Master of the Tang Clan, unrivaled in poisons and hidden weapons.

Having his support would double our strength.

Winning Tang Cheolgi’s trust with just the Madok Petrification Leaf was the greatest gain.

I handed the leaf over to Tang Cheolgi.

He received it as if it were a priceless treasure.

Then, making sure no one was looking, he quickly put it in his mouth.

“I need time to slowly assimilate the poison with my qi. Soon, you’ll witness what the true Poison Blade of the Tang Clan is.”

Seeing Tang Cheolgi so full of confidence, I nodded.

“I’m counting on you, Young Master Tang.”

Hearing that someone like me trusted him, Tang Cheolgi stood a bit taller.

Then I recalled what my disciple Ha Cheollyeong had said before I left.

“The way to control Young Master Tang is simple. He loves compliments. Don’t think of it as flattery—just say things that suit his taste.”

I didn’t know how my young disciple had figured out Tang Cheolgi’s weak point, but his advice worked perfectly.

“Don’t worry. As long as Tang Cheolgi is here, our plan will not fail.”

Tang Cheolgi turned away, full of pride.

‘If he can infuse the poison energy he absorbs into his sword like sword qi, the Tang Clan has truly created an extraordinary martial art. I now realize that the Poison Blade currently held by Namgung Yoo was merely a prototype tested during the creation of Poison Blade Art. The blade alone had immense power, but if he unleashes the full technique…’

I could understand now why Tang Cheolgi was brimming with confidence.

‘He’ll be a tremendous help during the hostage rescue.’

Yong Hwarin watched Tang Cheolgi quietly circulate his qi in secret, then walked toward where Jeong Minji was.

But things never went exactly as planned.

Tang Cheolgi and Jeong Minji had handed out the antidote to those they deemed trustworthy, but their response was unexpected.

“Why should we risk our lives when we don’t even know what we might die for? If we negotiate with Blood Demon Castle, we’ll be released safely. Why risk everything to escape?”

Jeong Minji was flustered by Hwangbo Mak’s unexpected reply.

Her response faltered.

“But surely they’ll do something to prevent us from joining Three Righteous Heavens. Are you saying you’ll accept that?”

“What other choice do we have right now?”

“I must have misjudged you, Young Master Hwangbo.”

At those words, Hwangbo Jooyang responded with a cold tone.

“It seems it’s you, Miss Jeong, who doesn’t understand reality. We’ve taken the antidote, yes, but that only affects the poison. The Seven-Day San Gong Poison still hasn’t been neutralized. To fight them in this condition would be suicide. The Dragon-Slaying Blood Sword Unit monitoring us numbers nearly a hundred. How do you expect us to defeat them without any internal energy? And is there anyone here we can truly trust and rely on? Unless there’s a master strong enough to subdue Lightning-Faced Madman, I can’t even consider such a reckless idea. Aside from my Orabeoni, I don’t see anyone here we could even call a master.”

The only heirs of prestigious families here were Hwangbo Mak of the Hwangbo Clan, Seomun Yuwon of the Seomun Clan, and Tang Cheolgi of the Tang Clan.

Trusting them with one’s life was too much.

Jeong Minji was at a loss for words at Hwangbo Jooyang’s pointed remarks.

She wasn’t entirely wrong.

‘They’re speaking this way only because they don’t know who he is. If they knew his identity, would it change anything?’

Jeong Minji glanced subtly toward Yong Hwarin, lost in thought. Tang Cheolgi was the same.

Neither Seomun Yuwon, Wi Ji-man, nor Han Gwiok could place their lives on the line trusting Tang Cheolgi.

In fact, Seomun Yuwon was actively trying to dissuade Tang Cheolgi from doing anything reckless.

“Young Master Tang, if you stir up unnecessary trouble, you might incur Lightning-Faced Madman’s wrath and not live to see tomorrow. Watching quietly may be the wisest course.”

Seomun Yuwon and Wi Ji-man, both devoid of internal energy, were in a state of helplessness.

Tang Cheolgi looked frustrated as he spoke.

“Didn’t I say I had a way? Trust me.”

But his words fell flat.

“Honestly, since it’s coming from you, Young Master Tang, I can’t trust it.”

Only then did Tang Cheolgi realize how people truly saw him.

‘Ah, I’ve lived basking in my own brilliance, but now I see—even my friends never truly trusted me.’

He thought quietly to himself.

‘Even if someone here had said what I did, I wouldn’t have followed them either. The only reason I’m doing something so reckless is because I believe in someone. I followed him this far because I knew, no matter what, there was someone who would protect and save me.’

He thought it had taken him far too long to realize this.

‘I’m doing this crazy thing because I believe in Yong Hwarin. I believed that if it was Yong Hwarin, he could rescue the hostages, and just as he said, I could become a hero. If someone else had said the same, would I have followed?’

Tang Cheolgi shook his head.

‘No, I would’ve never joined in such madness. Just like how these people are looking at me now.’

Tang Cheolgi realized how vital it was to be someone others could trust.

“Why do you think I’m saying this? It’s because there’s someone I believe in.”

When Tang Cheolgi spoke with such sincerity in his eyes, Seomun Yuwon finally paid attention to his words.

“If it’s someone Young Master Tang trusts, they must be quite the figure. Who is it?”

Seomun Yuwon asked with subtle curiosity.

In contrast, Wi Ji-man showed no interest at all, as if anyone Tang Cheolgi knew wasn’t worth caring about.

Seomun Seoseol and Han Gwiok, however, looked at Tang Cheolgi with a glimmer of hope.

Having reached this point, Tang Cheolgi decided it was time to reveal Yong Hwarin’s identity.

“He is Yong Hwarin, the Heavenly Sword Hero of the Heavenly Central Sect.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep