Chapter 125
“What do you think of my proposal to become a member of the Dang clan?”
“Of course, I refuse.”
Yerin shot back with disbelief in her voice.
How could Dang So-cheol even suggest joining the Dang clan after showing her that sight? She wondered if he had lost his mind.
But it seemed Dang So-cheol was being serious.
“Oh dear, you know I’m your father, right?”
The way he drooped his shoulders in a mock display of disappointment confirmed it.
Dang So-cheol pressed Yerin again.
“Have you completely thrown away even the slightest respect for your father?”
“Respect? How can I respect a father who shows such a disgraceful sight?”
Yerin glared at Dang So-cheol with cold eyes.
“Since when did you join hands with the Blood Cult?”
Seeing that horrific object made it clear to her that Dang So-cheol had indeed allied with the Blood Cult.
‘The key point is how deeply the Blood Cult has infiltrated the Dang Clan…’
Yerin gritted her teeth.
However, the Dang Clan was fundamentally a clan centered on blood ties, especially with the current grand chief, Dang So-cheol, who was extremely closed-minded.
So only Dang So-cheol might have colluded with them.
‘Dang So-cheol is a person who clings desperately to power.’
He likely couldn’t bear the thought of his authority being diluted by revealing his connections to the Blood Cult and the other bloodlines.
Of course, one must also consider that engaging with the Blood Cult would be a perfect way to be designated as a public enemy in the martial world.
Meanwhile, Dang So-cheol pondered Yerin’s words with dissatisfaction.
“Joined hands… you say.”
He shrugged his shoulders.
“That statement is erroneous.”
“Erroneous?”
“Yes. The Blood Cult merely provided us with the stepping stones we needed to dominate the world.”
Dang So-cheol stroked his beard and continued.
“Now that the new vision is complete, there’s no reason to tolerate those arrogant cultists any longer.”
“…What did you say?”
“Oh, but they were quite helpful in supplying materials easily. For that, I am grateful.”
At that moment, Yerin’s eyes widened in shock.
“You easily obtained the materials…?”
Materials.
That word echoed ominously in her ears.
Yerin gritted her teeth and pressed Dang So-cheol again.
“What do you mean by materials?!”
Dang So-cheol looked at Yerin with a condescending gaze as she screamed in outrage.
“Of course, for creating the new vision of the Dang Clan, I couldn’t have used ordinary materials.”
Lies.
Yerin’s heart sank.
The countless people who had gone missing in Sicheondang and the fact that the Dang Clan had conducted no minimal investigation into their whereabouts flashed before her eyes.
She recalled the image of a woman weeping, begging for her husband to be found, her voice trembling with sorrow.
But eventually, that woman had also disappeared.
All they had found was a tattered piece of clothing that the woman had sewn together.
‘…They were just ordinary people trying to live their lives.’
Yerin felt a blaze of anger ignite in her eyes.
People who lived each day faithfully, striving hard.
They were truly ordinary individuals.
Yet, Dang So-cheol had pushed such people into the realm of poisonous insects and venomous beasts.
All for the empty dream of being the greatest in the world!
‘They shouldn’t have to be sacrificed for such horrific deeds!!’
Yerin clenched her fists tightly.
Her nails dug painfully into her palm, but the rising anger numbed her to the pain.
“You, about those people who went missing in Sicheondang… did you really pretend not to know?”
“The best materials for raising the poisonous insects that are the ingredients of gu-poison are humans.”
Dang So-cheol replied as if he were imparting some great wisdom.
“Those insects that have fed on humans will, in the end, kill each other and, through that process….”
Perhaps due to an overwhelming sense of satisfaction, his voice trembled lightly.
“Become a potent poison that no one can cure.”
Finally, Dang So-cheol concluded his words with an ecstatic expression.
Yerin spat back without hesitation.
“Shut up.”
“Oh, I thought you were clever. Isn’t it inevitable to have this level of sacrifice to reign over the world?”
With a click of his tongue, Dang So-cheol posed the question again.
“Are you truly not considering changing your mind?”
“Of course not.”
Yerin tightened her grip on the sword.
Dang So-cheol stroked his beard with a look of disappointment.
“Well, if that’s the case… it’s truly regrettable, but there’s nothing we can do.”
As he spoke, Dang So-cheol looked Yerin up and down.
His gaze was less that of a father looking at his daughter and more like a merchant inspecting the condition of a product to determine its value.
Afterward, Dang So-cheol nodded in satisfaction.
“It’s fine. You’re quite a talented child; you’ll serve as sufficient material.”
“Material?”
“Yes, you will be the foundation for creating an even stronger vision for the clan…”
Dang So-cheol’s smile deepened.
“Consider it an honor.”
But before he could finish that statement.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, an unexpected dagger flew through the air.
The dagger aimed directly at a jar placed right in front of Dang So-cheol.
Dang So-cheol’s eyes widened in shock.
“Oh, no!”
Clang!
The loud sound of metal clashing echoed as Dang So-cheol drew his sword and deflected the dagger.
The dagger rolled across the ground.
Yerin noticed that the ground where the dagger had landed began to freeze white.
‘Ice energy?’
Yerin’s eyes widened.
At the same time, Dang So-cheol raised his voice in alarm.
“What in the world are you doing?!”
Gone was his previous composure; Dang So-cheol was now entirely on edge.
Regardless, Doyul leisurely turned to Yerin.
In his hand was a new dagger.
“Madam, why are you still listening to such nonsense?”
“Doyul.”
“If what Dang So-cheol cherishes more than his life are those jars….”
Doyul curled his lips into a smirk.
“Then we can simply destroy them all.”
With those words, Doyul swung his hand, sending the dagger flying toward the jars.
Swoosh!
The dagger flew with a fierce chill.
Clang!
As he watched Dang So-cheol deflect the dagger, Doyul’s smile grew even wider.
“Isn’t that right?”
In that instant, something peculiar flickered in Yerin’s eyes.
He was right.
Yerin hadn’t been able to attack Dang So-cheol properly because of his strength and because she worried about hitting those jars.
Given the already contaminated ground, touching them carelessly could lead to poison spilling out, creating a huge disaster.
‘But if I use ice energy to freeze the jars themselves…’
Yerin smiled mischievously as she pulled out a dagger from her possession.
‘That works too.’
Moreover, even if she failed to attack the jars, she could still exhaust Dang So-cheol’s energy from this side.
Dang So-cheol, having sensed Yerin’s intentions, turned pale.
“What kind of insane act is this?!”
“Is that something you should be saying?”
Yerin shrugged and threw her dagger.
Dang So-cheol gritted his teeth and raised his sword.
Clang!
Thus, a series of exchanges followed.
However, neither side was completely overwhelmed.
Both Yerin and Doyul’s daggers had their limits, and Dang So-cheol was desperately blocking them.
The ground surrounding Dang So-cheol was now completely frozen white.
“Oh dear, this isn’t going well.”
Yerin clicked her tongue and pulled out her last dagger.
“Hang in there, Dang So-cheol.”
“You vile girl…!”
“When all the daggers fall, you will have to face both Doyul and me at the same time,”
Yerin said with a wicked glint in her eyes as she tossed the dagger lightly.
“Shouldn’t you be saving your energy for that?”
But just then.
‘Huh?’
Yerin felt a presence behind her.
At the same time, a mocking voice echoed.
“What’s this? Are you still treating those jars like sacred vessels?”
In the distance, a man dressed in a red robe strolled over casually.
He appeared as if he were simply out for a walk.
Yerin eyed the man warily.
‘Who is that guy?’
At first glance, he looked like a handsome dandy, but there was an unsettling aura about him.
Simultaneously, Dang So-cheol’s shocked voice rang out.
“Vice Leader?!”
Vice Leader?
Surprise flickered on Doyul and Yerin’s faces as well.
The Vice Leader was the second-in-command of the Blood Cult.
However, with the Blood Master position currently vacant, the Vice Leader was effectively the leader of the Blood Cult.
As tension hung heavily in the air.
The man smiled, his eyes glinting.
“Everyone’s looking at me with such intense gazes; it’s a bit overwhelming.”
“…”
Although the Vice Leader maintained a playful demeanor, Yerin did not ease her guard.
This was due to the strangeness of the current situation.
Yerin, Doyul, and even Dang So-cheol were all masters who wouldn’t fall short anywhere in the martial world.
‘The Vice Leader hasn’t concealed his presence at all.’
That meant he was confident in controlling the situation.
Whether through his strength or by employing his subordinates.
And Yerin was certain that the Vice Leader would mobilize all his means.
Just then, Dang So-cheol glared at the Vice Leader through clenched teeth.
“Vice Leader, what brings you here…?”
“What brings me here, you ask?”
The Vice Leader shook his head as if he had heard something absurd.
“I felt that our friendship was in jeopardy, so I thought I’d come and pay you a visit.”
Upon hearing this, Dang So-cheol tensed his shoulders.
Along with that, the Vice Leader exaggeratedly looked around.
“Seems like things are getting interesting, doesn’t it?”
