TPM 38

Baekjunobang guesthouse.

The doctor who had checked the warriors’ pulses thought for a long moment, then said, “It’s poisoning. To treat it, we need to know what toxin they ingested.”

Startled, Songmu asked urgently, “Then what happens? Do they die?”

“It’s not a poison that will take their lives. But—”

“But what?”

“If we don’t know the exact poison, we can only use a general antidote, and that will take a long time to treat. In the worst case, it might never fully be cured.”

“Do they die?”

“They won’t die, but they won’t be able to do physically demanding work.”

“What about Sanghaeng?”

“His body won’t be able to handle it.”

Songmu stood there in a daze; the doctor wrote a prescription and left.

The annex of Baekjunobang.

Even after Housemaster Dam Ok-yeon had left, Captain Baek Jin-gang, Dan Bulwi, and Dan Yeop sat for a while without saying a word. They couldn’t understand how the space where Seol Gyeongmun’s group had stayed could be so completely clean.

Just then Songmu, who had been at the guesthouse, came running in urgently. “Captain, the doctor has been—he says the warriors are poisoned.”

“What? Poisoned? Damn it! It must be the work of Odok Biho! What did he say? Can they be cured?”

“He said that to treat them properly, we need to know what kind of poison it is. Right now all we can use is a general antidote, but with that they said complete recovery may be impossible—”

“What happens if it’s impossible?”

“They said they won’t be able to do physically demanding work like Sanghaeng.”

“So we have to get an antidote from Odok Biho.”

“It looks like that’s the only way.”

Captain Baek Jin-gang looked at Songmu in alarm.

In truth, he didn’t want to meet Odok Biho Myojin again. There was no guarantee they would give an antidote — why meet them? They might try to kill him the moment they saw him. In Baekwol State, weakness is a fault. Even though he hadn’t done anything wrong earlier that day, he hadn’t received an apology. Someone who had used poison would be the sort to not spare mercy — it would be odd if they didn’t try to kill him.

Songmu just rolled his eyes at Baek Jin-gang’s silence. He too was afraid of Odok Biho.

While the two men sized each other up, Dan Bulwi spoke. “I will go meet Odok Biho.”

At that, Baek Jin-gang’s face brightened. “Brother Dan, are you serious? If you do that—”

“First, we should investigate the place where Seol Haengsu and his party had stayed. Have Housemaster Dam find out where that is.”

“All right. I’ll find out right away.”

Baek Jin-gang hurried out with Songmu so that Dan Bulwi might not change his mind.

Left alone, Dan Yeop asked, “You’ll really meet Odok Biho?”

“If my guess is right, we have to meet him anyway.”

“Do you think he had something to do with Seol Haengsu’s disappearance?”

“We’ll know when we see where Seol Haengmun’s party last stayed.”

“Hmm. Are you prepared against poison?”

“Poison is often used even in the Amun. Don’t eat anything, and avoid blades or traps and you should be fine.”

“…”

Frankly, Dan Yeop was more afraid of invisible poisons than of sword slashes. Anyone would be — seeing people who had been eating right beside you suddenly clutch their stomachs and roll on the floor is terrifying.

A little later, Baek Jin-gang and Songmu returned after meeting Housemaster Dam Ok-yeon. Baek Jin-gang pointed at Songmu and said, “Songmu will take Brother Dan to that place.”

Suyang Mansion, Mongtaek.

As he entered the estate with the signboard reading Mongtaek, Songmu said, “This is the estate of the Mong family which the Taehwa Guild rented. It’s where Seol Haengsu’s party stayed until the end.”

Dan Bulwi nodded and scanned the interior and exterior of the estate.

Indeed — as Housemaster Dam Ok-yeon had said, there were no signs of fighting. After looking carefully for about half a market’s distance, Dan Bulwi told Songmu, “I see. Let’s go meet Odok Biho.”

“Uh, Brother Dan, I don’t know where Odok Biho is.”

“Are you telling me to go find him by myself? Aren’t you the ones who need the antidote?”

“W-well…”

Songmu hesitated, then reluctantly nodded. “All right. But I’ll only tell you where to find Odok Biho and then bow out. If that’s acceptable, I’ll guide you.”

“Fine.”

Dan Bulwi agreed readily. A coward like Songmu wouldn’t be much help even if they had a hundred of him.

A short while later, they stopped in front of a flashy tavern. “He’s drinking in here,” Songmu said.

Dan Bulwi looked up at the signboard above the door: the characters read Yeongunju (Ridge Cloud Tavern).

“All right, then I’ll—” Songmu left without looking back, as if someone might grab him.

Dan Bulwi, looking at Songmu with contempt, said to Dan Yeop, “Don’t put anything in your mouth. And if you feel anything wrong with your body—”

Nervous, Dan Yeop waited quietly for the rest of the instruction.

“Whatever it takes, subdue Odok Biho and steal the antidote. If he doesn’t give it up willingly, cut him little by little from the fingertips up.”

“C-cut him up?”

“Yes. If you want to survive, cut him. Keep cutting until he gives the antidote. When dealing with people like him, if you’re not cruel, you will be the one who dies.”

Dan Yeop swallowed hard instead of answering. He had heard the words about the ruthless rivers and the fallen sword forests, but he hadn’t expected it to be like this.

Dan Bulwi strode into Yeongunju; Dan Yeop followed, pressing his pounding heart down.

The inside of Yeongunju was quiet. The famous Odok Biho Myojin of Baeksa Valley had their party there, so that made sense.

As Dan Bulwi entered, the six men and one woman of Baeksa Valley looked at him with curious eyes. Dan Bulwi walked calmly toward the Baeksa Valley experts.

The man who had threatened Baek Jin-gang earlier that day — Nachalang Jeonho — barked sharply, “Who are you?”

“I am Dan Bulwi. I have come to meet the Odok Biho Myojin.”

“What business do you have with our boss?”

“Two months ago, people from the Taehwa Guild went missing in Mongtaek. I have questions for Myojin about that.”

“Get out! Our boss—”

“Enough. I want to hear what you have to say,” Myojin interrupted Jeonho’s words.

Jeonho, who had been growling like a beast, suddenly quieted as if by command. Dan Bulwi looked Myojin in the eye and said, “I looked around Mongtaek. About twenty people — merchants and guards included — disappeared, yet the place was spotless with not a single thing broken. This afternoon, Baeksa Valley used poison on the Taehwa Guild’s warriors. There must be some twist to it. I don’t believe in coincidence. So I suspect that just as Baeksa Valley used poison on the Taehwa Guild, poison was used in Mongtaek too. I don’t care why Baeksa Valley suddenly turned hostile toward the Taehwa Guild. But I must know the life or death of Seol Gyeongmun.”

Myojin regarded Dan Bulwi with interest. “So you’re from Nogangho. Why are you so curious about Seol Gyeongmun’s fate?”

“Because he’s my close friend.”

“Oh-ho! You came all the way to Baekwol State for a friend? That’s some loyalty.”

“Is he alive or dead?”

“And if he’s dead?”

“I’ll kill all of you and annihilate Baeksa Valley.”

“Ha! Has the old man taken leave of his senses? Do you really think that’s possible?”

“Of course I alone cannot do it. But my disciple can.”

“Is that the person hiding behind you right now?”

“Yes.”

A laugh burst out from among the Baeksa Valley experts.

Myojin wondered what the old man could possibly know to be so bold. “Huh! Do you even know who we are?”

“I do. Aren’t you the Eight Heroes of Baeksa Valley — the Baeksa Eight Kings?”

Myojin’s expression changed slightly. Of course the name Baeksa Valley was known in Jang’an City. But it was surprising that someone would know the “Baeksa Eight Kings.” Even within Baekwol State, more people didn’t know that title than did.

“Is Nogangho perhaps an elder of the Owak Sword Sect?” Myojin’s tone shifted.

Dan Bulwi had stood proudly in front of the Baeksa Eight Kings; Myojin had mistaken him for an elder of Owak Sword Sect.

“No. I’m… from Haomun.”

“Haomun? Why… ah, you said he’s your friend?”

“Yes.”

“The old man’s loyalty and courage are admirable… but this is irritating. How dare someone from Haomun tell the Baeksa Eight Kings what to do.”

Myojin’s displeasure showed, and Jeonho stepped forward. “Master, let me cut this old fool to pieces and feed him to the pigs. Allow me.”

“Finish before the drink loses its flavor.”

“Yes.” Jeonho drew his curved blade and charged at Dan Bulwi.

Dan Bulwi responded with a horizontal blade. The curved blade and the horizontal blade collided in the air, sending sparks flying.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang—!

Jeonho, who had strutted forward proudly, found himself backing away within five moves.

Though the Baeksa Eight Kings’ name was flashy, aside from Myojin the rest were mediocre. By contrast, Dan Bulwi’s internal skill had been fortified by fourteen years of training with the Bingmachong (buried-army) method, and his Dao methods had reached an advanced state thanks to the Jin Sam Dae (Three Greats) Way Training.

Within ten seconds, Jeonho was rolling backward miserably.

Bang!

Dan Bulwi did not press the attack, instead stepping back. A strange silence fell over the tavern.

Two of the seven onlookers leapt to their feet. “Stop.”

Myojin’s command made them sit again.

This time Myojin slowly rose. “You have the right to boast. But you struck at the Baeksa Eight Kings — atone for such an ignoble life.”

With the words, Myojin flicked his hand. With a thud! a yellow smoke enveloped Dan Bulwi.

Startled, Dan Bulwi reflexively held his breath, and at that moment Myojin’s curved blade darted toward him.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang—!

The speed of Myojin’s curved blade was much faster than Jeonho’s, and Dan Bulwi’s energy quickly drained. But Dan Bulwi did not go down without a fight. At the critical moment, he unleashed the Jin Chilsang Sword Technique’s fifth move: O-Sang Honli (Five Wounds Soul Departure) — a vicious slaying move meant to cut the soul free and send the spirit wandering.

Myojin desperately steadied his curved blade and used the horizontal sword to block the blow that threatened his throat.

Gaga-gak—! Chaeng—!

After a fierce struggle, Myojin’s curved blade broke. He then rolled with a technique called Neuryeo Tagon — an ignoble move for a warrior to show. Even so, in that chaotic instant Myojin didn’t forget to use poison.

Thud!

As if things couldn’t get worse, a brown smoke now covered Dan Bulwi. The Jin Chilsang Sword Technique is subtle but drains a lot of energy. In the end, Dan Bulwi took a single gulp of air.

“Cough!”

A hacking cough signaled the end of the fight. The smoke quickly cleared and Dan Bulwi’s condition was revealed.

His face flushed dark red, he trembled like a leaf. Crimson blood trickled from his nose.

Myojin, as if nothing had happened, wiped his hands and said, “Old man, the one who survives is the strong one.”

Dan Bulwi, who had been barely standing, turned his head slowly. “…I told you. If you want to survive, what did I say to do?”

Dan Yeop trembled as he replied, “Cut him…”

“Yes. That’s the kind of world it is…”

With those words, Dan Bulwi collapsed.

Silence hung for a moment.

Myojin smiled a cold, fishy smile and addressed the young man. “You saw your teacher, didn’t you? If you don’t know your place, this is what happens. Do you want to live? Then bark like a dog.”

“I, I—” Dan Yeop couldn’t even breathe properly in the presence of the malice Myojin exuded.

They had to subdue Odok Biho and steal the antidote to save Dan Bulwi… His heart pounded and his head went as blank as it had above the Bingmachong.

‘W-what should I do…’