Chapter 120
“…I see.”
If Yerin pressed further, it might arouse suspicion. Deciding it was best to retreat for now, she took a step back.
“Oh dear, it seems I’ve kept you up far too late,” the Clan Leader said, glancing at the water clock, pretending to show concern for Yerin.
“It’s late. Go and rest now.”
“Yes, you should rest as well.”
With a polite smile, Yerin left the study.
Outside, a servant was waiting and bowed deeply to her.
“I’ll escort you to your chambers.”
“No need. I’d like to walk alone,” Yerin said, raising her hand to stop the servant from following.
She needed time to process the conversation and organize her thoughts.
Luckily, the servant didn’t insist on following her.
“As you wish… understood.”
Yerin left the main hall by herself. As soon as she was outside, the smile that had been on her face vanished completely.
“A flawless poison that covers the original weaknesses… and the ‘special ingredient’ required to create it…”
She still didn’t know what the special ingredient was.
But…
‘It’s Dangerous.’
Yerin’s instincts whispered.
The Clan Leader was on the verge of crossing the final line that should never be crossed by any human being.
“And once he crosses it, something irreversible will happen.”
Yerin glanced back over her shoulder.
The ominous shadow of the main hall loomed in the darkness, looking like a monstrous creature lying in wait.
Her gaze grew cold.
“I have to stop him somehow.”
She quickened her pace.
* * *
At the same time, Doyul and Somi were quietly making their way towards the rear garden, keeping their presence as low as possible.
– ‘This place…’
As they got closer to the garden, Somi tensed up, lowering his ears.
– ‘I don’t know why the ley lines are shaped like this.’
“You can feel it, too?”
– ‘Of course, only a fool wouldn’t notice these twisted ley lines.’
Having just called all the martial artists of the Dang Clan fools, Somi stretched his neck to peek deeper into the garden.
The darkness was so thick that it was difficult to discern anything clearly.
Doyul spread out his senses, trying to detect any signs of life.
“There’s no one here.”
To be more precise, the signs of life in the garden were faint. Only the trees rooted in the ground remained, with no signs of insects or birds.
Somi spoke up again.
– ‘Let’s head inside.’
“Right.”
Nodding, Doyul cautiously stepped into the garden, and Somi quickly followed by his side.
The surroundings were eerily quiet. The thick darkness clung to them, almost sticky.
Despite the summer heat, the air against their skin was icy, like being submerged in freezing water. Every movement felt as though it encountered resistance.
– ‘The deeper we go, the stronger this sinister energy gets.’
Somi said, his steps quickening as she became increasingly uncomfortable.
– ‘Even the air here feels unpleasant. Ordinary people would instinctively avoid this place.’
Suddenly, Somi narrowed his eyes.
– ‘…What’s this?’
He sniffed the air before darting deeper into the garden.
– ‘Follow me, young palace lord!’
After running for a while, Doyul and Somi stopped in front of a small pavilion.
At first glance, it looked quite ordinary. The only noteworthy aspect was its secluded location—it was almost hidden from view.
But…
– ‘This is the place.’
Somi fluffed up her fur and glared at the pavilion.
– ‘I can sense the source of that sinister energy coming from here.’
“I see. You’re actually doing your job for once.”
– ‘What did you say?!’
Somi snapped, but Doyul’s eyes remained sharp, fixed on the pavilion.
It was clear that the space around the pavilion was distorted.
After grumbling for a while, Somi cautiously asked Doyul a question.
– ‘…young palace lord, do you plan on investigating the pavilion further?’
Why?
Doyul’s glance at Somi seemed to ask the question for him.
– ‘If you move recklessly and get hurt, my contractor will be furious.’
Somi huffed and turned his head away with a pout.
– ‘I’m not worried about you, just concerned that my contractor might be upset…’
“Yeah, yeah, I get it. You don’t need to explain.”
– ‘It’s not an excuse!’
Somi was hopping around furiously.
Doyul chuckled, shrugging his shoulders.
“Well, I’d love to investigate this place right away.”
But then he remembered Yerin’s voice, sternly reminding him:
‘Don’t go in by yourself. Make sure to consult with me first before you act.’
In the end, Doyul stepped back a couple of paces.
“I’ve always told her not to worry, so I suppose I should keep my word.”
– ‘Lord, does that mean…?’
“Let’s return here after I discuss it with my wife.”
– ‘Good, that’s the right choice!’
Somi let out a sigh of relief, wagging his tail.
Just then, a familiar voice rang out.
“Yes, that was a wise decision.”
It was Yerin.
“Wife?”
Doyul’s eyes widened in surprise as he turned to face her.
“Did you meet with the Clan Leader?”
“Yes. I went back to my quarters but couldn’t find either of you, so I came here…”
Yerin glanced at the pavilion before them, her eyes narrowing.
“This is the place, isn’t it? The center where the ley lines are disrupted.”
What kind of formation had been set around the pavilion to create such an oppressive atmosphere?
Yerin clicked her tongue softly.
“It certainly feels ominous.”
– ‘Contractor! I’m the one who found this place!’
Somi jumped up and burrowed into Yerin’s arms.
Doyul found the scene a bit irritating, but since it was true that Somi had discovered the pavilion, he let it slide.
“You did well,” Yerin said, stroking Somi’s fluffy back before turning to Doyul.
“Well, I have good news and bad news. Which would you like to hear first?”
“As they say, it’s better to get the bad news over with. Let’s start with that.”
“In that case…”
Yerin took a breath before continuing.
“The Clan Leader is trying to create a new formula using ‘Gu poison.’”
“Gu poison?!”
Doyul’s voice involuntarily rose in shock.
Gu poison—the poison that was so feared and forbidden due to the cruel method of its creation and the unbearable agony it caused once one was addicted.
“However, the formula isn’t complete yet,” Yerin continued calmly.
“He mentioned that he still needs some kind of ‘special ingredient’ to finish it.”
“A special ingredient…”
“I don’t know what it is.”
Yerin shrugged lightly.
“But if the Clan Leader says it’s something special, whatever it is, it’s bound to be extraordinary.”
“…”
Doyul bit his lip, a sense of dread creeping in.
‘A special ingredient… What on earth could it be?’
It felt as though a block of ice had settled deep within his chest, chilling him to the core.
Yerin, sensing Doyul’s unease, gently changed the subject.
“Now that you’ve heard the bad news, it’s time for the good news.”
“Oh, right.”
Doyul forced himself to focus, looking at Yerin.
“So, what’s the good news?”
“The Clan Leader will be leaving the Dang Clan grounds starting tomorrow.”
“Huh?”
Doyul blinked, asking in a doubtful tone.
“Even though you’re still here, he’s going to leave?”
He knew how much effort the Clan Leader was putting into persuading Yerin. So for him to leave while she was still here…
“I don’t know what business he has, but this gives us an opportunity.”
“…You’re right.”
For a moment, Doyul’s gaze grew icy.
This was a chance to inspect the pavilion without the Clan Leader watching over them.
“It’s probably best to warn Hyuk Min-woo about this too, just in case,” Yerin added cautiously.
“It would be ideal if we can investigate unnoticed, but if we do get caught…”
“The situation could escalate quite a bit.”
Doyul nodded, his expression calm but resolved.
At the same time, Yerin cast a careful glance at him.
“…Are you sure about this? This could provoke a confrontation between Northern Sea Ice Palace and the Dang Clan.”
“If I were going to back down, I wouldn’t have started this in the first place.”
Doyul’s voice was firm.
“If you say so, then alright.”
Yerin nodded, casting another glance at the pavilion.
“Whatever’s hidden inside that pavilion, it’s clearly dangerous if it requires such a complex formation, one that even those from demonic sects would use.”
Her voice grew firmer.
“The most important thing is everyone’s safety. Understood?”
“Well, isn’t this a twist?”
Doyul smirked, shrugging his shoulders.
“It’s surprising to hear you say what I usually do.”
“Honestly, Doyul, is now really the time to be joking like that?”
Yerin glared at him before turning her attention to Somi, who was still nestled in her arms.
“And you, little one.”
– ‘What is it?’
Somi looked up at Yerin, his ears twitching.
Yerin smiled softly.
“I’ll write a letter. Can you deliver it to Hyuk Min-woo?”
– ‘Again?’
Somi pouted in displeasure.
“Yes. And this time, don’t come back. Stay there.”
At that answer, Somi could not hide his shocked face.
