Chapter 63

Yang Nosa spoke in a calm tone until the very end.

“Your Highness, I came only to guide you to the location of the elixir. The Small Star Sect? What a misunderstanding this is.”

“A misunderstanding?”

“Yes.”

The head of the Soseonpa faction was the one who schemed with Duke Gwangyang and was killed by Danwooseong at the Sihwa Pyeong estate, thanks to the tip-off from Zhu Ziliang, the failed scholar.

That’s why he thought of the courtesan Sulan.

Dan Woosung found those harboring grudges with relative ease because there were so few incidents connected to the Eunha Trading Guild. Back when he was called the King of Power, he had too many enemies to make such deductions.

In any case, since he had killed the head of the Xiao Sect, he intended to thoroughly clean up the aftermath.

Danwooseong looked at the two labor and management representatives.

He knew of the Small Sword Sect, but it seemed he had no direct connection to them. His gaze wasn’t one of hatred; he was slowly becoming frightened. If that was the case, Dan Woo-sung thought this man’s role was to lure him out and guide him to Yonggoksan.

Dan Woo-sung asked in a subdued tone.

“Old Master Yang, do you know how to consume the Moon Dan Flower? If you don’t know the method, you’ll die too.”

Dan Wooseong was well-versed in the Moon Dan Flower.

It would have been laughable for the King of Swords to be ignorant of the elixir’s details in the martial world. He simply hadn’t shown it in front of the Medicine Master.

The elder, his expression stripped of any trace of a smile, asked.

“And does the young master know this well?”

“Since you know, recite it.”

Master Yang’s hands, resting on the table, began to tremble slightly as he spoke.

“As I said, you must not break it. Though the posture looks rather ridiculous, you must bow your head and swallow only the petals. Does that answer your question?”

Dan Woo-sung stated the precise method.

If touched, it withers instantly while holding poison within. Its form resembles that of a woman, and it grows only in damp places where moonlight regularly seeps in. Thus, unless one is a highly skilled swordsman, one will consume the poisonous flower instead of the moon flower. The moon flower is a bizarre elixir that must be consumed instantly by severing its stem with a sword

and consumed instantly.”

Master Yang’s jaw clenched once before he continued.

“What I said…”

Dan Wooseong raised his wine cup and splashed it onto the faces of the two elders. As they jumped up in shock, Dan Wooseong grabbed them by the collars, pulled them forward, and poured the wine from the table over them. Then, pressing down on their heads with both hands as if to crush them, he forced the wine down their throats as they screamed.

.

Gulp······.

“Gulp······.”

Yang Nosa grabbed his throat with both hands, trying to say something, but collapsed right there.

Thud.

His face, poisoned by the venom, turned black in an instant, and his entire body stiffened rigidly.

If these symptoms arise from exposure to a colorless, odorless, and tasteless poison, it is known as the Three-Free Hardening Toxin—a highly prized venom traded at exorbitant prices. And in that era, its sole source was the Valley of Five Poisons.

“The Five Poisons Valley?”

When Dan Woo-seong turned to look at the shopkeeper, the shopkeeper raised his hand and said urgently.

“I know nothing about it.”

“Who do you think you’re fooling…”

As Jemso-i tried to flee into the kitchen, Danwooseong grabbed a wine bottle and hurled it.

Thud!

It must be someone disguised as Jomsoi, not Jomsoi herself.

Danwooseong walked straight ahead and stepped on the shopkeeper’s neck, snapping it. The inn fell silent in an instant, but outside, it was not so. Amidst the sound of the wind, the crackling of falling leaves could be heard from all directions.

There were many of them.

“Young Master, come out.”

Dan Woo-seong donned his gauntlets first, then retrieved every single token from the bodies of the two old men. Stepping outside the inn, he saw a medicine peddler dressed similarly to the two old men approaching with his hands behind his back.

“Your Highness, it seems you followed me on purpose. Hahahaha…”

Before long, the black-clad figures gathered around the inn were also glaring at Danwooseong. As if preparing for the battle about to erupt in the darkness, they pulled up the black hoods wrapped around their necks to cover their mouths. The swords they held were entirely jet-black.

Danwooseong asked the newly arrived herbalist.

“Is this the Odu Valley?”

The medicine peddler tilted his head and replied.

“But how did you know? That we’re the Five Poison Valley. You’re a genius, a genius.”

Dan Wooseong suddenly frowned. He had intended to chase them down and kill them all, but now he felt uneasy and asked.

“You wouldn’t be the Eunha Trading Guild…”

Yakdosang smiled.

“Why? Worried? That we might have released snakes? Well, it’s not just snakes. We won’t kill many people. What else could our interest be besides money?”

Danwooseong grabbed the two sickles lying beside the table in both hands and dashed into the darkness. From the shadows, flying daggers bounced off moonlight, pouring down like starlight.

Enemies were everywhere anyway.

He didn’t care who died. Soaring into the air, Dan Wooseong scattered the deadly energy coiled around his sickles in all directions.

Crackle!

From the start, he unleashed maximum force while paring down his moves. His attacks consisted of only two motions: downward strikes and horizontal slashes. Instead, his body twisted sharply in direction as he moved, driven by his martial arts techniques. In an instant, dozens lay convulsing on the ground. Amidst this, Danwooseong moved by stepping on heads and

while cutting only the legs of the Odokgok warriors with his sickle.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

Bending low, he executed horizontal slashes, dodging incoming straight strikes while swinging down with stabs and cuts. Repeating this cycle, the energy of the Ten Thousand Battles Ten Thousand Victories technique suddenly became entangled with Dan Woo-sung’s raw temperament, surging through his entire body like a runaway beast.

“Damn it…” As the extreme yang energy flowed out uncontrollably, Dan Woosung hurled both sickles.

Thud! Thud!

With thunder energy coiled around both hands, Dan Woosung clashed his twin blades. The moment he unleashed the Thunderclap Lightning Strike technique, he soared into the air and slammed it down onto the ground.

CRASH!

Danwooseong flew through the air as if propelled by that rebound force, while the bodies of the black-clad figures at the spot where the Thunderclap Strike had landed were torn apart in all directions. It was a technique one might expect to use only against opponents bearing the titles of kings or emperors.

.

.

.

Had Dan Woo-seong made a mistake? Or was such a mistake permissible?

Half of the Odu Valley’s disciples stood lined up before the Galaxy Merchant Guild, waiting. They weren’t a faction with particularly close ties to the head of the Small Star Sect.

However, Yeom Jisang, the leader of the Small Sword Sect, had secured testimony from a courtesan that the head of the merchant guild had been killed. He then used this as a pretext to seek revenge. Of course, revenge wasn’t his true goal; his real intention was to destroy the guild and simply take the money.

However, his path to achieving that goal was abruptly blocked by a strange sight.

Baekyak, who had come to the main gate of the Eunha Trading Company seeking Danwooseong and then left, now stood alone with his hands behind his back, facing off against Odokgok.

Moreover, he was wearing a white dobok…

Baekyak tilted his head toward Odokgok, who refused to yield the path.

“How come… I haven’t even spoken to them, yet they all look like villains? That’s weird. Ran, why is that? Is it just my imagination?”

Baekran, who had been waiting near the Eunha Trading Guild, revealed herself and approached Baekyak while glaring at the rather large group of Odoogok.

“I don’t think it’s your imagination. Judging by their menacing aura, they are indeed Samagweodo.”

It wasn’t just Baekran. Baekyak’s guards, looking as if boredom had nearly driven them mad, swarmed over and lined up in a row, practically occupying the main gate of the Eunhasa Trading Company.

Chief Officer Yi Hwa-eon rushed out looking haggard, then clutched the gate while watching Oduk-gok.

Baekyak asked.

“You don’t know these people, do you?”

“I don’t know!”

“Then please go inside.”

“Ah, understood.”

As Lee Hwa-eon swallowed hard and stepped inside, Danju Han Yeop and the Ssangbo brothers exited in turn, as if switching places. The Ssangbo brothers were determined to hold their ground and fight at the door until Dan Woo-sung arrived. The escort unit, having just finished their qigong exercises, was also pouring out.

Baekran raised her hand as if to stop them from joining in.

“Merchant caravan members, it’s fine. Please go inside. He’s somewhat embarrassed to display his martial arts. Go inside.”

Han Yeop, the leader of the group, let out a sigh.

“But still, this concerns our merchant group…”

“It’s fine. You felt uncomfortable just eating our meals. We’ll handle it ourselves.”

Baekran sent Han Yeop and the Ssangbo brothers back to the Eunhwasangdan as if stuffing them back in.

Baekyak walked with his hands behind his back and said,

“Well, at least today’s meal is paid for.”

Baekyak, approaching from Odokgok, said.

“…If you come, you die. Unless you’re with the merchant guild, don’t get involved.”

A warrior from Odokgok approached carrying a sack. He hurled it whole at Baekyak as he walked. The sack flapped open mid-air, releasing hundreds of writhing snakes that flew toward Baekyak.

This was Baekyak, who had feared Cheolmyeongho, mistaking him for a ghost.

He reached out toward the flying snakes…

A white whirlwind erupted from Baekyak’s hands. It was the White Flower Divine Art, unfurled in the Central Plains for the first time in ages.

Serpents frozen solid in midair plummeted to the ground.

“……”

Wudugu stared blankly at the snakes that had turned white, speechless.

Baekyak addressed Odokgok.

“Baek Moo-jin says, die or freeze.”

Baekyak’s figure shot up diagonally, halted above Odokgok, then plummeted vertically. A white chill spread out around Odokgok.

In that instant, those who had been moving in various motions froze solid, unable to move.

Baekyak stepped out from among the frozen dolls and addressed his subordinates.

“Kill them all.”

Only then did Baekyak’s guards draw their swords and advance.

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.

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Dan Woo-sung, who had returned to the Eunha Trading Company at incredible speed using lightness skills, frowned and flung open the main gate.

The once bustling guild fell silent in an instant.

Dan Wooseong blinked and looked around.

Chief Manager Yi Hwa-eon greeted his elder brother with a bright expression.

“Brother, you’re back?”

“Uh-huh.”

He saw Baekyak first. He understood that all her guards were present at the merchant guild, but this was a banquet held to entertain a distinguished guest. Not only the guard unit, but even the Ssangbo brothers were present.

Embarrassment made Danwooseong’s face turn bright red.

“Is everything alright?”

Chief Officer Lee Hwa-eon glanced at Baek Yak, then cleared his throat before answering.

“Nothing happened, did it?”

“Really?”

“Yes. Did you trade the elixir?”

“No.”

“Somehow, I sensed a bit of a con artist vibe. Come in. Brother… What are you doing? Standing there.” Danwooseong took a moment to steady his breathing before scanning the people around him. He checked again to see if anyone was missing, then asked.

“Where’s Father?”

“He doesn’t drink. He said a few words, then went inside saying it was cold.”

“Right. He doesn’t drink.”

Ewha-eon wiped the beads of sweat from her brother’s forehead with her sleeve, then gently nudged him toward Baekyak.

“Why did you rush over so urgently?”

Danwooseong finally approached Baekyak.

“Miss Baek, are you all right?”

Baekyak replied.

“Yes. I mentioned I was hungry, and suddenly you prepared a feast for me. I was shamelessly eating with my subordinates.”

Baekyak poured a cup of tea from the table and offered it to Danwooseong.

“Have some. Take your time.”

Dan Woosung gazed at Baekyak before taking a sip of tea. He couldn’t tell if it was tea or honey sliding down his throat. Odokgok’s tactics were indeed cunning. His target wasn’t the Crown Prince, but the Eunha Trading Guild. Of course, having returned at incredible speed, Dan Woosung could have dealt with Odokgok

. But there were undoubtedly those bitten by snakes and poisoned right now. If that happened, it would have been his first mistake since his rebirth.

As Dan Wooseong sat down in the chair, Baek Yakdo quietly sat across from him.

It seemed like there was much to be said, but only the chatter of the mixed crowd of bodyguards and Baekyak’s men echoed through the air. People deliberately avoided coming near Baekyak and Danwooseong.

Danwooseong asked Baekyak.

“Do you know how to drink?”

“I can drink moderately.”

Dan Wooseong looked around for the liquor, then stood up, brought the bottle, and poured into Baekyak’s cup and his own.

Holding his cup, Dan Wooseong asked.

“I suppose I’m the one who owes you a debt.”

Baekyak raised his cup and replied.

“Not exactly a debt—just covering the cost of the meal.”

Baek Yakdo stared intently at Dan Wooseong. That man, who had always been so calm, now bore the marks of having run for his life all over his body, yet he didn’t look so bad.

Danwooseong bowed his head to Baekyak and said.

“Miss Baek, thank you.”

Baekyak smiled faintly with her lips pressed together, a dimple appearing on one cheek.