ISS 40

chapter 40

The journey to the Martial Alliance went smoothly.

Many martial artists followed the main road, and aside from a few curious glances and minor commotions caused by those pretending to be martial artists, nothing of note occurred.

The Hyunryongdan group arrived in Uijang, a city on the border between Guangdong and Hunan provinces.

After traveling until late at night, they sought an inn, and fortunately, they managed to secure a room large enough for everyone.

“Unpack your things and come down. Prepare the meal,” said Uije-ung, the leader of the group, to Jeom So-i.

“What kind of meal shall I prepare…?”

“Fried pork, dumplings, and a vegetable salad. Prepare that.”

“Understood. I’ll have it ready shortly.”

As Jeom So-i headed to the kitchen, Uije-ung assigned rooms to everyone and then went up himself. The group stayed together in rooms with people they had used before.

Once everyone went upstairs, Gon Man-wook, who remained on the first floor, turned his head toward the kitchen.

Through a small opening, the chef peeked out. When Gon Man-wook nodded, the chef nodded in return and then disappeared.

“Let’s go upstairs and unpack, Elder Hyun,” one said.

“Agreed.”

For the first time in a long while, the inn was bustling. With around fifty people gathered in the dining hall, the liveliness was to be expected.

“That’s right.”

The warriors sat in small groups, discussing their interests, while Jeom So-i moved between them, attending to their needs. Aside from the kitchen staff, he was the only one serving and guiding the guests.

He hurriedly carried fried pork, vegetable salad, and dumplings from the kitchen.

“Yes, yes, please wait a moment,” he said with a bright smile, even if he inwardly grumbled about them. The warriors, seeing his cheerful face, smiled back.

“Busy, busy,” he muttered as he weaved between tables with plates full of food, looking like a martial arts master in motion.

“Tell the head chef to cook carefully, even if it takes a bit longer,” Uije-ung instructed.

“Yes, yes, understood. Please wait a moment,” Jeom So-i replied.

Since the dishes couldn’t all be served at once, some tables began eating as soon as their food arrived. Hyunryongdan members first checked the food with their personal silver spoons to detect any poison—a habitual precaution. Finding nothing, they began eating.

The three sitting with Geomryeong—Jeok Hwa-myeong, Uije-ung, and Eui Do-gi—shared the dishes. Geomryeong smiled faintly as he ate.

“Today, the food tastes exceptionally good,” he said.

Geomryeong’s body was impervious to poison. If poison tried to enter, his body reacted first.

“Is that so? I wouldn’t know,” Jeok Hwa-myeong replied, and the others nodded. No matter how good the cook, fried pork, vegetable salad, and dumplings tasted mostly the same everywhere.

“My taste is a bit sensitive…” Geomryeong trailed off, looking at Hyun Tae-ji and Gon Man-wook, sitting a little apart. They too were eating.

‘It seemed strange from the beginning… did they prepare this for me?’

On the surface, the inn looked ordinary, but there were oddities. Firstly, having a room that could accommodate fifty people late at night was unusual. Geomryeong smiled at Hyun Tae-ji and Gon Man-wook, but there was a chilling edge beneath his smile.

Near the end of the meal, Hyun Tae-ji stood and spoke to Uije-ung.

“I’d like to buy a drink for the hardworking warriors of Hyunryongdan. Would that be acceptable?”

“Alcohol, you mean?”

“Yes. Considering our work, one drink should be fine. That’s why I offer it.”

Uije-ung looked at the warriors, noting the eagerness on their faces. He deemed one drink acceptable and agreed.

“Jeom So-i! Bring three jars of alcohol and enough cups for everyone,” he ordered.

Jeom So-i delivered the drinks and cups. Hyun Tae-ji poured for each warrior. After everyone had a drink, the jars were empty.

“Personally, I bear feelings toward the author. But this matter… must prioritize peace and safety in the martial world over personal grudges,” Hyun Tae-ji said in a long prelude.

Geomryeong smiled faintly, holding his cup.

“Raise your cups,” he instructed. Hyun Tae-ji led the toast.

“To the peace and safety of the martial world,” they all drank, including Geomryeong.

“It feels nice going down the throat,” he remarked.

“Going down the throat?”

“No, nothing. I’ll explain later,” Geomryeong replied nonchalantly.

Though some were reluctant to finish, duty prevented them from drinking more. The meal lasted over an hour, after which everyone returned to their rooms.

Geomryeong addressed the three preparing for bed.

“Now, practice your energy circulation.”

“Energy circulation?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“The food was poisoned. Not extremely, but likely a type of Mountain Skill poison. Try circulating your energy to purge it.”

The three’s expressions shifted slightly. Jeok Hwa-myeong sat cross-legged and began.

“Ugh!” He opened his eyes, glaring at Geomryeong.

“My internal energy was scattered,” he said.

“Then it’s the Sinseon-Poison,” Geomryeong confirmed.

The other two tried and experienced the same.

“Use energy circulation to expel the poison,” Geomryeong instructed. Once you identify the poison, treatment becomes easier. Sinseon-Poison disrupts internal energy but can be neutralized if detected and managed.

The three immediately began energy circulation. Geomryeong stood guard, protecting them from interruptions.

“So it begins… someone was disguised as a guest,” he muttered, recalling what he saw. Possessing perfect memory for a single glance, he snapped his fingers.

A tiny energy particle pierced the ceiling like light, vanishing without a trace.

A faint thud echoed as something fell.

“This is a drastic measure…” he murmured, though he acted calmly.

Geomryeong moved forward, extending his right palm toward the window.

A surge of invisible energy shot out, smashing something behind the window.

Another thud signaled someone being struck and falling.

“Urgent,” he muttered, drawing his sword. Swiftly, he swung sideways.

A magnetic force on the sword attracted hidden hair-thin needles.

“I don’t enjoy doing this,” he said, slashing them away.

More thuds followed as objects fell.

“Moving stealthily… must be an assassin group,” he realized.

Geomryeong leaped, plunging the sword into the wall.

A scream echoed. Blood stained the sword as he withdrew it.

Chaos reigned, but Geomryeong’s movements remained precise. He defended the three while neutralizing the hidden assassins.

After the dust settled, Uije-ung awoke first.

“Thank you. Without you, we might have faced disaster,” he said, unaware of Geomryeong’s battle.

“I only did what was necessary,” Geomryeong replied.

“We should catch the chef and investigate,” Uije-ung said.

“No need. I already know who it is,” Geomryeong assured him, smiling.

“Hyun Tae-ji and Gon Man-wook?”

Geomryeong said nothing, only smiled.

“Just be aware of it. But first, inform the Hyunryongdan warriors of this situation,” Geomryeong advised.

Uije-ung nodded.

“They are likely circulating their energy by now,” Geomryeong added.

“Understood… If our group suffers from this, we won’t stand idly by,” Uije-ung warned.

“Then act accordingly,” Geomryeong said, unaffected.

When Uije-ung went to alert the warriors, Jeok Hwa-myeong awoke.

“Is it true?” he asked.

“They intended to kill me,” Geomryeong replied.

“But didn’t they also eat the food?”

“If they knew about the Sinseon-Poison, it wouldn’t matter,” Geomryeong explained.

Jeok Hwa-myeong narrowed his eyes.

“Don’t worry too much. Things are about to get busy. You must stay alert.”

“Alert… haven’t heard that in a while. I’ll guard, so expel the Sinseon-Poison,” he instructed.

“I’m fine. Remember I said poison cannot penetrate my body?” Geomryeong added.

“Are you really immune to all poisons?”

Geomryeong only responded with a faint smile.