The Small Park Behind the Tang Clan's Gate.
A space meticulously designed by the former patriarch, Dokgun, at a considerable expense.
The park was strikingly beautiful, an unusual sight for the Tang Clan’s grounds. There were no poisonous plants here; instead, it was a sanctuary of blooming flowers and flowing water, designed as a true place of rest.
Through this peaceful space, the Poison King walked, his brows furrowed in deep contemplation.
As he passed along the flower-lined path, numerous warriors followed in his wake.
Despite the serene scenery, their expressions were grim, no different from the troubled look on the Poison King’s face.
“It’s done. Come.”
The voice had reached the Poison King’s ears while he was in his quarters. A simple message, yet it had made him rise immediately.
Sweat dampened his back.
‘It’s only been a day.’
Only a day had passed since Gu Cheolwoon arrived.
After hearing the circumstances, Gu Cheolwoon had said he would listen to the rest once the matter was settled. And then, in just a single day, it was done.
The Poison King found himself at a loss. Could such a situation really be resolved so quickly?
‘It doesn’t make sense.’
How had he managed it? Even though he was the one who had called him here, the Poison King couldn’t comprehend it.
Looking up, he gazed at the sky.
In the heart of the night sky, a bright sphere glowed with a blue light, illuminating the surroundings as if it had created this mystical view.
The sight was overwhelming, causing him to break out in a cold sweat.
‘Terrifying…’
For a man like the Poison King, head of one of the Four Great Clans, to feel such fear—it was a truly dreadful power.
And it wasn’t just him. Even the warriors within the Tang Clan walls were gripped by fear as they beheld the ominous scene.
One person had brought this entire clan to its knees. The realization made the Poison King chuckle despite himself.
“Ha…”
“Master…?”
At the sound of his laughter, one of the warriors behind him looked on in worry, prompting the Poison King to wave his hand dismissively.
“It’s nothing. Just a fleeting thought…”
Yes, it was a strange thought indeed.
How could it not be amusing?
Before he was a clan master, he was a warrior. He knew this—he had just forgotten, if only for a moment.
This was Zhongyuan, after all.
‘A world where strength is everything.’
In a place filled with those who honed themselves in the pursuit of martial excellence.
When he thought of what separated Gu Cheolwoon from himself, the answer was painfully simple.
‘He is stronger than I am.’
One cannot solve everything with force. That’s the nature of the world.
But most things can be resolved with it, and when something cannot be, it is usually because of one simple reason:
‘A lack of strength.’
When you lack the power to handle a situation, only then do you turn to other means.
He had been no different.
It was simply that.
He had called someone stronger because he lacked the strength.
Gu Cheolwoon possessed enough power to turn an entire clan upside down and handle the aftermath.
That was the only difference.
‘I don’t have that kind of power…’
That was the sole difference between them.
And it stung—hot and sharp, like a wound pressed against fire.
Though he had never considered himself incompetent, he felt hollow now, lost in thought.
In this state, the Poison King clenched his teeth, trying to regain his composure.
He had to. If he faltered now, the Tang Clan would crumble.
That cruel reality forced him to stand firm.
‘Damn it.’
He continued to walk.
Now was the time to endure. That’s what it meant to be the clan master.
He hadn’t been told precisely where Gu Cheolwoon was waiting, but finding the place wasn’t difficult.
‘It’s hot…’
The closer he got, the more he felt an unusually intense heat.
From the moment he had left his quarters, he could sense that this aura belonged to Gu Cheolwoon.
He was guiding him here, as if extending a courteous invitation.
Even though this park was within the Tang Clan’s grounds, the distance was considerable, yet Gu Cheolwoon had not only sent a message but unleashed his aura to mark the path.
It was absurd.
‘With every passing moment, you continue to astonish me.’
When everyone else stood still, Gu Cheolwoon changed.
It had always been that way.
Even when the Poison King was known as the "Poison Dragon," Gu Cheolwoon lived in a different realm, one he couldn’t dare to reach.
The Poison King felt he had no right to feel resentment or envy. The gap was simply too vast.
As he recalled this forgotten reality, his steps grew heavy, burdened by the weight of his emotions.
Though the flowers and trees were rich and vivid, they no longer registered in his vision.
After walking for quite some time—
Phew—!
“…Ha…”
The Poison King exhaled, releasing the breath he’d been holding back.
He felt the oppressive heat dissipate.
As his senses returned, he carefully surveyed his surroundings.
“…!”
He widened his eyes as he took in the scene.
“This place…?”
It was different.
The beauty of the park he had been walking through was gone, replaced by parched ground and withered plants.
The Poison King immediately recognized it.
This land was tainted by poison.
The dry, decayed landscape was a clear result of that.
‘A place like this existed within the Tang Clan?’
The Tang Clan, known for its poisons, kept a tight grip on its public image. He’d assumed everything was meticulously managed.
To find such a hidden place within his own clan…
The Poison King scowled, examining the area.
“An array…?”
A faint trace of energy lingered, revealing a sophisticated formation designed to conceal this landscape.
Feeling it, he clenched his fist tightly.
“…What were you doing, Grandfather?”
Dokgun.
What on earth had his grandfather been doing?
This was a glimpse into his dark legacy.
As he scanned his surroundings, his gaze stopped at a specific spot.
It was the entrance they had come through.
“That…?”
He wondered how they had managed to penetrate such a dense formation.
But near the entrance, he found his answer.
The entrance had been torn open.
A gap had been forcibly created, breaching the formation designed to isolate this place from the outside world.
Formations were not to be tampered with lightly.
Forcing one’s way through required shouldering the backlash embedded in the formation’s defenses.
Knowing this, warriors often carefully dismantled the structure rather than destroy it.
But here, it had been ripped apart with brute force?
“Heh.”
He didn’t need to wonder who had done it.
After all…
“You’re late.”
The culprit was already here, waiting.
Hearing the voice from behind him, the Poison King turned his gaze.
Standing there was someone he respected, yet found challenging to face.
“…Gu Clan Leader.”
Gu Cheolwoon, his hair tinged red, stood in the distance, watching him.
The Poison King flinched as he met his gaze.
There was nothing there—no discernible energy.
Even though he knew how powerful Gu Cheolwoon was, he felt less pressure now than when Gu Cheolwoon had gripped his neck the previous night.
The mere sensation sent shivers down his spine.
The Poison King was no fool.
He knew all too well what it meant to sense absolutely nothing.
‘So, the gap is this wide.’
This phenomenon occurred when there was a vast difference in strength between two individuals.
The Poison King could experience it when looking at a newly achieved martial artist or confronting elite fighters.
But in the reverse situation…
How could he possibly describe it?
He held back the words that came to mind.
“…Is that… what you found?”
Changing the subject, he pointed behind Gu Cheolwoon to what appeared to be an entrance descending underground.
To think there was such a space and entrance in the Tang Clan—he hadn’t known at all.
Slowly approaching the entrance, he offered a cautious word of thanks to Gu Cheolwoon.
“…I am truly grateful, Gu Clan Leader.”
After a slight bow, he prepared to descend.
Grip—!
“…!”
But Gu Cheolwoon’s grip stopped him in his tracks.
The overwhelming pressure on his arm made the Poison King swallow hard.
“…Gu Clan Leader?”
“This is the last time, Dokgun.”
The voice resonated within his mind, seeping into his body, reverberating through every fiber of his being.
He nearly collapsed, nausea rising within him.
“I respected that, compared to others, you lived somewhat humanly. But if you ever use my child as an excuse again…”
The killing intent in Gu Cheolwoon’s voice made the Poison King feel as if his legs might give out.
But he didn’t fall.
Even that was under Gu Cheolwoon’s control. Without his permission, he could not move, let alone collapse.
This was his way of demonstrating his power.
“There won’t be a next time.”
“…I…understand. I will keep that in mind…”
When the Poison King finally managed to respond, Gu Cheolwoon released his grip.
The suffocating pressure that had been bearing down on him disappeared instantly.
Stumble.
As he staggered, the warriors behind him instinctively reached for their swords.
“Stop!”
The Poison King roared at them as he regained his footing.
“Withdraw your hands from your swords immediately. This man is a valued guest of the Tang Clan.”
With force behind his words, the warriors reluctantly lowered their hands.
The Poison King understood.
Gu Cheolwoon had used telepathy to warn him, out of consideration for his honor in front of these warriors.
Moreover, even if they had fought with all their might, there was no way they could have defeated Gu Cheolwoon.
The pressure he’d felt was proof enough.
“I apologize…”
“Let’s proceed.”
At his apology, Gu Cheolwoon nodded slightly and began walking down to the underground chamber.
The Poison King followed close behind.
******************
As they descended into the underground chamber, the Poison King found himself at a loss for words.
Though he noticed that it seemed connected to the Tang Clan's interrogation rooms, everything here was hidden beneath layers of formations, traps, and complex mechanisms. It was a delicate blend of techniques, one that had likely required a massive investment and remained hidden even from the clan’s head.
“…This is unbelievable…”
It had taken longer to reach this subterranean place than it had to walk from his quarters to the park. This depth was unfathomable. After a lengthy descent, the scene that greeted him was—
“…Hell itself.”
It could only be described as hell.
From midway down the staircase, the thick stench of blood filled the air, the smell so sharp it pierced his senses. Poisonous fumes lingered, clinging to every breath.
Most of it was the blood of magical beasts.
As they reached the bottom, the sight of scattered beast corpses met his gaze.
Corpses of beasts, both green and blue-ranked, were piled without discrimination.
Each corpse was of a beast known for its use of poison.
Some had been dismembered, with skin and internal organs separated, and piles of bones were collected nearby. In some places, only the blood had been drained.
What were they planning to do with all of this? The Poison King shut his eyes tightly.
Seeing this, Gu Cheolwoon spoke to him.
“Are you afraid?”
Afraid? The Poison King nodded, admitting it.
“…Yes, very much.”
How could he not be?
All his efforts to cleanse his clan’s reputation, striving to secure a place among the righteous factions, seemed to have been in vain.
He feared that the darkness surrounding them had only deepened.
To this, Gu Cheolwoon’s response was simple.
“Then endure.”
He spoke plainly. There was no other way.
“If this alone shakes you, then I wouldn’t bother watching.”
…
If he was rattled by a mere pile of beast corpses, he wouldn’t be able to bear what lay ahead.
The Poison King bit his lip at Gu Cheolwoon’s words.
He knew all too well that among the pools of beast blood here, there was—
It wasn’t only the blood of magical beasts.
There was human blood mixed in as well. A considerable amount, at that.
This wasn’t merely the end of beasts; many humans had also met their demise in this place.
And he, the clan master, had been completely unaware.
“I wonder…”
Gu Cheolwoon’s voice broke the silence.
“Are you still able to call yourselves a righteous clan?”
…
The question was sincere, free from mockery or sarcasm.
It was a straightforward question, but it pierced painfully deep.
The space stretched on. They were merely at the entrance.
Forcing himself to continue, the Poison King pushed through his weariness and kept walking.
After several more steps, they reached what appeared to be a larger central area.
“You’ve arrived?”
Someone was already there. The Poison King widened his eyes at the sight.
“…Gu Young Master?”
The young man, whose appearance bore traces of Gu Cheolwoon, stood with a fierce expression.
A youth with a smaller-than-average build for a martial artist, but with an intense presence—Gu Yangcheon was waiting for him.
“How did you…”
Just as the Poison King was about to question how he was here, he noticed someone lying prostrate in front of Gu Yangcheon, trembling violently.
The Poison King recognized the robes and aura of the person lying there. Was it…?
“…Elder Il?”
Thud—thud—
Just as he was about to call out, the elderly man began banging his head against the floor.
“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry. I am nothing but trash… Please, forgive me… I’m sorry…”
Thud—thud—
He started expressing his guilt with such intensity that the Poison King, his warriors, and even Gu Cheolwoon looked on in uncomfortable silence.
“Ah, well…”
Gu Yangcheon, looking slightly embarrassed, turned to explain.
“I got bored waiting, so… I thought I’d coax a confession out of him…”
He glanced away as he spoke.
“Maybe I was a bit too harsh. Ha… kind of funny, isn’t it?”
Though Gu Yangcheon attempted a strained smile, no one around him found any humor in it.