The bitch who ruined the family!
This is a term referring to a woman who was once called Dokbong in Sacheon.
The family known as the Sega family has fallen into ruin.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't the woman's fault. The fact that Dokbong Dang Jihye caught Yeon Junghyeok's eye was... yes, something like a natural disaster. Even if it wasn't for her pride as one of the five most powerful martial arts in the world, Dang Jihye had a fiancé. It was a situation where she couldn't have chosen to marry Dokbong to Yeon Junghyeok.
It was clear that the decision to confront Magwangcheon was made after gathering consensus within the family.
But is this just human nature? As time went by, the family members began to look for reasons other than their own weaknesses for the downfall of their family.
The atmosphere quickly became strange. Some people began to speak as if Dang Ji-hye had sacrificed herself to preserve the family's prestige, putting aside their hostility toward Ma Gwang-cheon. Hostility toward Ma Gwang-cheon degenerated into resentment and criticism toward Dok-bong.
Dang Ji-hye.
The promising Dangga's later index, which was even called Dokbong, quickly lost its luster. Even after getting married, she could not be happy. This was because countless family members had died or been injured due to the fight with Ma Gwangcheon. She had already been blaming herself for the friction with Ma Gwangcheon, and instead of denying the family members' resentment and criticism, she simply accepted them.
'It's not Hye-mae's fault.'
'It's okay, my lord. If this will put the families' minds at ease, then that's enough for me.'
'but….'
Among the many, only one person took Dang Ji-hye's side. It was Dang Wi-ryong, who had made a hundred-year promise with her. He was originally Ha-woo-ryong, a scholar with no connection to the martial arts world. The two developed a love through a small connection and eventually got engaged. After the marriage, Ha-woo-ryong changed his last name to Dang and lived in the Dang family, according to the tradition of a son-in-law.
Although he was a simple-minded scholar who knew nothing about martial arts, Dang Wi-ryong did not spare himself in defending his wife. Whenever he heard that she was a woman who ruined his family, he would run to fight with whoever it was.
'What on earth did she do wrong? Isn't it too petty to blame a mere woman for the weakening of the family's prestige?'
'Hmm. That's not entirely wrong, is it? If only she had made a little sacrifice and not married you... .'
'Is this really so…! You should be ashamed! Isn't it because there are so many people who think like you that your family continues to decline?'
Dang Wi-ryong's words hurt many people's feelings. Although it was said to have fallen, the Dang family was a family that was revered as the one who controlled poison and secret weapons. There were plenty of ways to secretly kill a person. Many people watched Dang Wi-ryong denouncing his family members with gloomy eyes.
Less than a few months later, Dang Wi-ryong died for unknown reasons.
'How, how could this happen… .'
When Dang Ji-hye heard the news, she fainted. When she came to her senses a day later, all the procedures, including the funeral, had already been completed quickly. It was an unusually fast process.
The thought that it was definitely poisoning crossed Dang Ji-hye's mind, but it was only a suspicion. It was already too late to investigate the cause of death.
She was already being looked down on within her family. But if she brought up the idea that someone in the family might be involved in her husband's death, the atmosphere within the family would become even more hostile. It was also wrong to suspect people who were like family to her.
In this way, Dang Ji-hye gradually became thinner. The doctor examined her several times, but there was nothing wrong with her body. She was simply mentally ill. She continued to feel guilty, and her family members criticized her. Dang Wi-ryong died. Dang Ji-hye had thought about just dying several times.
However, the lawmaker who examined Dang Ji-hye's body told her one thing.
'Madam, you are pregnant.'
'Are you saying that I am pregnant?'
'Yes, so please find some stability and cheer up soon.'
'His child….'
It was from that moment that Dang Ji-hye's gaze changed. She had a reason to live. She made up her mind and began to focus on her health.
And after several months, she finally gave birth to a son.
Whew-
She was a small, delicate child. It seemed as if she had not grown enough inside her body.
Even the sound of crying was faint, but Tang Ji-hye felt her heart break once again as she felt it was her fault for not taking care of herself.
But no tears were shed.
Now she was not a woman, but a mother of a child.
****
One day, the boy, Dang-myung's words and actions changed a little. He became a little rough. However, his words and gestures were relaxed. It was a clear change from his previous appearance, which was originally weak and timid.
Of course, no one has noticed this change yet.
'It's life extension.'
The boy thought about his own name in vain. It was the name his mother had given him, meaning that he would somehow survive and live tenaciously. He still had no particular feelings about it.
The boy, no, the swordsman and swordsman who had reached the level of a swordsman, was now accepting new memories. Until a few days ago, he was clearly a boy named Dang-yun-myeong. However, when he awakened to his previous life as a sword-crazy ghost, a completely different self was born.
Naturally, the name and the swordsman.
The two seemed to be one, but they were not. Their souls were one, but their egos based on their memories were completely different.
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Compared to the ego of the swordsman, the ego of the boy, Yu Myeong-myeong, was extremely weak. There was a huge gap between them even in the years they had spent together…
The ego of the swordsman naturally began to absorb the ego of the boy. Memories of a little over ten years ago, resentment toward his family, longing for a father he had never seen, love for his mother, sorrow, and helplessness all flowed into the swordsman.
In an instant, the swordsman realized that he could only extract and absorb the boy's memories, discarding the remaining trivial remnants of emotions.
But the swordsman didn't do that.
Accept everything about the boy without any filter. I decided that it was necessary to act as a complete natural person.
'… Since I've decided to live an ordinary life anyway.'
The swordsman remembered his regrets from his past life. And his vows as well.
In that way, the boy's nickname became Geomgwi.
And the words came out naturally as soon as the situation was figured out.
"It's a mess."
Dang-myeong muttered while rubbing his swollen eyes with an egg.
Sacheondangmun or Sacheondangga.
A famous martial arts family from Sacheon that once enjoyed great power through poison and magic.
The place where Deungmyung was born, raised, and belongs.
'What kind of corner of the house is this?'
Given the circumstances, it was almost certain that his father, Dang Wi-ryong, had been poisoned. Even if he was a son-in-law of foreign descent, it was hard to believe that he would do anything to a person who was now a family member.
He was also furious at the accusations against his mother, Dang Ji-hye, for ruining the family. After he had completely recovered his memories, Yu Sang-myeong began to feel that she was his real mother. No, she really was his real mother, but… it was a feeling he had never experienced in his previous life when he had grown up as an orphan.
In any case, in Dang Yuanming's opinion, it was not the fault of his mother, Dang Jihye. If it was a fault, shouldn't it be considered that the Dang family's military power was weaker than Ma Gwangcheon's?
It must also be the fault of Yeon Joong-hyuk, the Heavenly Lord of Magwang, who is committing the most debaucherous acts in the world.
'… How strong is he?'
Suddenly, the thought occurred to him. It wasn't a matter of pride. He was proud that he had already seen the tip of the sword in his previous life. He was just curious. Would someone as good as the Magwangcheonju be able to receive his sword?
But soon he shook his head.
'It's pointless. Let's live normally. Normally.'
The determination of Dang-myung was firm. The life that was given to him again was precious. He intended to live quietly and without being noticed as much as possible. However, he intended to secure at least a minimum amount of force.
If he had been born into an ordinary family, it would have been different, but he was born into the Tang family, a famous military family in Sacheon. According to Dang-Myeong-Myeong's new memories, Sacheon was truly a paradise. Starting with the Heuk-Sa-Ryeon who destroyed the Cheongseong faction and took its place, there were many factions under it.
It was said that Yu Gil-jun, the master of the Black Lotus, possessed the qualities of a great master. He could create new martial arts as easily as breathing, and he secured their loyalty by passing on the martial arts he created to his subordinate schools.
Originally, the Sacheon Sasas were strong in terms of numbers. However, they were unable to spread their power because the three old factions and the Sacheon Dangga, a part of the Five Great Families, were in power. However, with the destruction of Cheongseong and Amis and the fall of the Dangga, the Sasas forces had no choice but to become relatively stronger. Furthermore, it is said that some Sasas leaders, having learned the martial arts bestowed by Yu Giljun, became strong enough to fight even the elders of the Kunlun faction.
Sacheon could truly be called the world of the four heavens…!
In this situation, the reason that the Tang family was able to survive was because of their ambiguous position. In Sacheon, there was no one who did not know about the affairs of Ma Gwang-cheon and the Tang family. Since Ma Gwang-cheon did not do anything, there was no force that would dare to attack the Tang family. They could have easily been seen as provoking Ma Gwang-cheon's prey.
Moreover, the Black Lotus left Tangga alone, because Tangga's medical skills were quite useful.
The wealth of the Sapa Murim people is ultimately obtained by squeezing the common people. In the end, if the common people in the base area continue to suffer greatly, the neighboring sects will inevitably decline. That is why, even though they are Sapa, they rarely exploit the common people to an extreme degree. Of course, in situations where their livelihood or pride is at stake, they do not show such leniency.
Poison and medicine are only a hair's breadth apart. The Tang masters who study poison naturally have knowledge of pharmacy and medicine, and for the Black Lotus, the largest sect in Sacheon, it was a happy thing that they continued to treat injured people and prescribe medicine.
There was also a reason why the Tang family remained quiet and had no interest in expanding their power.
However, it was obvious that this peace could be broken at any time.
I had to have the strength to protect myself.
To live a truly normal life, a minimum level of strength was required.
It was the same even then.
It couldn't have been normal for him to be beaten by his peers in the family. If he had been more powerful than average, he wouldn't have been beaten so easily. It seems that the awakening to his past life was also triggered by the great shock he received at that time.
After all, in order to live a normal life, I had to become strong.
'Let's think about the family later. First, let's fix those damn brats' bad habits.'
widely.
Dang-myeong's eyes lit up as he gently broke the egg he was rubbing with his front teeth and sucked up its contents. A night when everyone is asleep.
'It's a total mess.'
Returning to the room, Yuan Ming carefully observed the inside of the boy's body and thought, "This is a body condition that makes me sigh."
In his previous life, he was born with the Dragon Power Body. Those born with the Dragon Power Body were not well known to the world because they did not have any distinctive features on the outside. They were not born with great divine powers, nor did they show any special talent in martial arts like the Heavenly Martial Arts Body.
However, those born with the ability to delay aging tend to age very slowly and live long lives, even without taking any special elixirs.
'It's because your blood vessels are strong by nature. They don't easily fail. The blood vessels are connected to the energy vessels. That's why you're the only one who can learn my breathing method properly.'
These were the words of someone who had been his master in his previous life. The breathing technique he had learned was called the Paeliksim method, which allowed him to quickly build up the internal energy of the Paelikjinki, which had tremendous power, but there was a price to pay.
Damage to blood vessels and shortened life span.
The power of the power of the spirit was a rough energy. Every time it ran through the meridians of the body, it caused damage to the blood vessels, big and small. In other words, internal injuries accumulated every moment. This was the reason why the prime of life of those who had mastered the power of the spirit was bound to be short.
However, those who were born with the ability to delay their power were able to learn the power of the mind without difficulty due to the innate strength of their bloodline. They only took in the full power and suffered from almost no side effects.
It was his natural name in his previous life, and his master was like that. He was able to complete his qigong very quickly, and based on his long lifespan, he was able to devote himself to perfecting his swordsmanship.
But now, the boy's body was extremely ordinary.
No, to be exact, it was 'below average'.
Whether it was because of her birth, her frame was as delicate as a girl's, and her strength was lacking. In addition, because she was often beaten by children her age, her meridians throughout her body were subtly distorted. It seemed as if if she were to learn a method with even a slightly violent nature, she would immediately enter a state of possession.
'If you learn the power of the mind now, you will surely die young.'
I know the strongest method, but I couldn't learn it. It's because my bones and constitution don't support it. More than anyone else, Dang-myung knew about the power of ...
'I guess there's nothing I can do.'
Naturally, it was decided to take the alternative.
The poison-requesting method of the mind
This is the Sacheondangga's Gajeonsim method. The core principles were missing, but the basic rules and the true path were in the boy's head. The reason he didn't learn it was because of his mother, Dang Jihye's request.
Dang Ji-hye was also once one of the best martial artists in Sacheon, so she had guessed the state of her son, Dang Yu-myeong's health. She also knew that if she learned martial arts without any reason, she might end up crossing a river from which there was no return. That was why she strongly advised her. She told her not to learn martial arts.
However, this statement did not apply to the current obvious name.
Sup─
Dang-myung began to take a deep breath. He carried with him the intention of sucking in some energy that existed in the universe and confining it within his body.
Inhale deeply, exhale shallowly.
As he breathed artificially, a faint energy began to linger in his body. It wasn't much, but it was enough. Dang-myung soon began to guide the mass of true energy along the lines of the knot.
The reason why I chose the Dokyo-Choong-Gwangsim-Beop instead of the Paeliksim-Beop was simple. It was because it required a more meticulous Jin-Gi-Do-Man than any other mind method that Dang-Myeong knew. In order to be able to meticulously practice Jin-Gi-Do-Man, the basic mind method's energy had to be calm and steady. That kind of energy was less powerful, but it was very stable and easy to handle.
Of course, even so, it was a technique that was difficult for Dang-myung's current body to handle.
However, it is a natural name that has awakened from a previous life that has reached the realm of the swordsman. In other words, it means that my studies have also reached the extreme.
The name of the place was obvious, and he guided the energy with caution. There was a distorted blood vessel from repeated beatings. Every time he passed by such a place, he felt considerable pain.
'You're saying that you beat up a kid who hasn't even learned martial arts to this extent…?'
Dang-myeong pushed aside the thoughts that suddenly came to his mind and maintained his concentration. After the energy slowly circulated through his entire body, it finally began to take on a certain attribute. It was the energy of the Dokyo-Cheong-Gwangsim method.
The Dokyo Request Madness naturally settled in the navel area of Deungmyungmyeong and formed the Dantian. Now, the foundation of Naegigong has been established.
Although the first hurdle was passed safely, Yuan Ming had no intention of stopping just like that.
'Let's first resolve the twisted meridians.'
Even with a Danjeon smaller than a bean that had just formed, I could overcome most crises, but it would be difficult if I felt this much pain every time I did the Daejucheon and Sojucheon in the future.
Closing his eyes, he tried to move the Dokyo Requesting Light. It was a gentle spirit that moved obediently according to its master's will. Its temperament was completely different from the violent spirit he had learned in his previous life.
'It might be possible.'
Sending a poisonous request to the twisted meridian. The plan was to intentionally stimulate one side of the meridian and have it find its place. Of course, it wasn't as easy as it sounds. Every time I stimulated the meridian, a tingling pain would repeat. Even though it was a very weak energy. I didn't know how long it would take. It was a task that required patience and persistence.
Two hours? Three hours? How much time has passed?
Phew─
With a long exhale, Dang-myeong opened his eyes. His entire body was soaked, and his wet clothes gave off a terrible stench reminiscent of animal excrement. He wanted to throw them away right away.
But Dang-myung's expression was incredibly bright.
'I never thought there would be a harvest like this.'
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In the process of stimulating the meridians for a long time, all kinds of waste accumulated in the meridians were discharged. Originally, from the moment humans were born, turbid energy began to accumulate in the meridians including the twelve meridians. It was a kind of dregs, and this is where the difference between those who learned the mind method from a young age and those who did not arise. The clearer the qi and blood, the greater the power that could be produced with the same true energy. This means that it was more efficient. In a way, it was natural.
Anyway, it wasn't easy to remove such turbidity. Especially the blood vessels. However, after stimulating the blood vessels for a long time, such amazing results were achieved. It was a small coincidence.
'I guess I'll have to stimulate myself like this more often.'
Thinking like that, Dang-myeong stood up. He had planned to stop here for today. He had also expended a lot of mental energy, but more than anything, he was still in the growth stage. He needed to get enough sleep.
Of course, I couldn't just lie down on the bed like this. My whole body felt uncomfortable because of the sticky waste. And if I delayed any longer, the stench would get on my body.
'Let's wash up quickly.'
Knock knock.
As I quietly opened the door and stepped outside, the fresh air immediately entered my nostrils. I also felt as if the inside of my chest was being washed clean. The moon floating alone in the cloudless night sky was very bright and clear.
It felt like being born again—no, it was actually like being born again… Anyway, Deungryungmyeong walked forward, thinking that he finally felt a new sense of emotion.
It was the day that the first step toward a naturally 'normal' life was taken.
****
Small space.
A woman in her thirties and a small boy were sitting across from each other eating. The boy was eating various foods at a tremendous speed that was not suitable for his size, and the woman was looking at him with warm eyes.
"Son. How does it taste?"
"… Good. Mom, please eat quickly too."
"Thank goodness. I don't know what happened to you, who used to skip breakfast every morning, saying you had no appetite… but as long as you keep eating well and growing well like these days, I, as a mother, would like nothing more."
"… … ."
The boy, who was playing with the spoon, made a strange expression for a moment before putting the food in his mouth again.
The woman in front of him was Dang Ji-hye, once known as Dok-bong, his mother. The food on the table was not fancy, but it was very neat and well-seasoned.
The food was all made by Dang Ji-hye. She was once the jewel of the Dang family, but even now, she was known as a woman who ruined the family. She had to take care of things like meals herself.
Hana Dang-myeong guessed that the reason why her mother cooks for herself was not because of such superficial reasons, but because she had already lost her husband. Although it was only a guess, it was almost certain that her husband Dang Wi-ryong had been poisoned. She would cook for herself every time for fear of losing her son as well.
The first one to notice that the official name had changed slightly was Dang Ji-hye.
Not only did his appetite improve, but the child who always called him 'Mom' suddenly started calling him 'Mother.' Of course, he knew that the boy originally called his mother that way…
However, he vaguely remembered his past life - over a hundred years ago - and his pride would not allow him to call Dang Ji-hye by any title other than mother.
Also, I couldn't get used to the gazes that looked at me affectionately every meal. It was strange and strange that she could give me such unconditional love just because she gave birth to me. Was it maternal love? Sometimes, it was confusing. There were many times when I almost choked on my food.
But I didn't hate it.
It's maternal love that I've never experienced in my past life. It's something warm and thankful.
Dang-myung suddenly thought to himself, "I want to protect my mother."
"son."
Madam Mi, Dang Ji-hye opened her mouth.
"Yes, Mother."
"Do your friends still bully you these days? You got a bruise just a while ago. What if you get a scar on your handsome face?"
"No. We were just playing around and I got hit. I guess they're trained in martial arts so it wasn't easy for them to control their strength. I told them to be careful next time so you shouldn't get seriously hurt."
Dang-myung said calmly.
The boy's memories were accepted by the obvious. There were some particularly vicious little guys. The boy tried not to face them, but they cleverly used the boy's mother as a trigger. They threatened to banish the boy's mother from the family if the boy did not come out. Since the fathers or grandfathers of these guys were influential figures in the family, it was actually possible.
The boy, who had matured earlier than his peers, knew his mother's circumstances to some extent. There was a reason why he had to stay within the confines of the family even though he was being severely persecuted. If he went outside the family, he would immediately have to worry about Ma Gwang-cheon.
Tang Zhihui was one of the two women that Magwangcheonju Yeon Junghyuk could not take as he wished. There were many people who thought that her very existence was a threat to Yeon Junghyuk's authority. If Tang Zhihui was banished from the Tang family, it was obvious what would happen. She would either die or be offered to Yeon Junghyuk.
So the boy went to meet them, knowing he would get beaten. He protected his mother in his own way. With his weak body.
"…Okay. If there are any bullies, tell me right away. Even though this mother is like this, when she was little… ."
"You were called Dokbong."
widely.
After finishing his meal, Dang-myeong put down his spoon and spoke.
"There's no way Dokbong's son would get hit, right?"
"…then."
Dokbong and Dang Jihye nodded with bewildered expressions. Their son, who had been showing off his confident expressions frequently lately, was not used to it at all. It was nice to see him, though.
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"Don't worry, Mother. What you're worried about will 'absolutely' never happen."
Her son, Dang-myeong, stood up with a grin.
Today is the day I plan to meet my friends.
The evil spirits that have been tormenting the boy while hiding behind the name of friends.
This kid. Isn't he going to come out today?"
A boy with a poisonous look in his eyes muttered.
Then the big boy next to him yawned and said.
"Well, I did beat him up a bit that time, but… If he wants to save his mother, wouldn't he come out? But he still has guts, doesn't he?"
"What about guts?"
The boy with the venomous eyes, Tang Moon-chan, chuckled. Although he was laughing, the boy they were waiting for, Dang-myeon-myeong, certainly had guts as his name suggests. He was a weakling who had not learned a single martial art, but he was able to withstand their punches with their internal energy quite well.
It was one-sided violence, but I didn't run away or complain to adults. I just silently endured it as if I was doing what I had to do.
Tang Moon-chan felt resentful at Dang Yu-myeong's attitude. He wanted to see Dang Yu-myeong kneel down and beg. At some point, he started adding internal energy to his fists.
As I did that, I got to know the pleasure of beating people. It was a different kind of fun than martial arts training where you just wave your hands in the air. It also felt like the frustration that had built up from training was being released.
It was all good now. If it came out as a given, I was going to beat him up, and if it didn't come out, I was going to laugh at him with my friends. In the end, that was all he was capable of.
Of course, in that case, as I had warned Dang Jeong-il, I was going to tell my father about the banishment of the boy's mother, Dokbong Dang Ji-hye. My father was a major in charge of one of the armed forces within the Dang family, so he had a lot of say. The father of the big boy, Dang Jeong-il, was also the vice-chief of the family.
"There he is."
"really!"
At the end of the day, there was a girl jumping from a tree. Dang Yeong-ryeong, at first glance, was a cute girl, but…
"Hey. Yeonmyeong-ah! Over here, over here! Come quickly!"
Dang Yeong-ryeong waved and shouted at Dang Sang-myeong, who was walking towards her from afar. If someone who didn't know saw this, they would have thought that the two boys and girls were very close friends.
Looking at that Dang Yeong-ryeong, Dang Moon-chan thought.
'Crazy bitch.'
Tang Moon-chan knew why she welcomed Dang-myeong. She must have wanted to test out the newly developed poison.
Dang Yeong-ryeong did not wield violence openly like Dang Moon-chan and Dang Jeong-il. With a grandfather who was a master of the dragon poison technique, her interest was only in poison. One day, she witnessed Dang Moon-chan and Dang Jeong-il beating Yu Sang-myeong, and asked to join in. Then, she began testing the poisons of the family one by one on Yu Sang-myeong's body.
He poisoned Yuanming with poison, saying that he wanted to see the progress with his own eyes, even though its effects were already well known. Of course, he did detoxify it before it became dangerous, but as a young Yuanming, he must have been more afraid of Dang Yeongryung than Dang Moonchan and Dang Jeongil. If the detoxification had been delayed, he could have lost his life.
However, he could not stand up to her. Dang Yeong-ryeong's poison technique was unusual for her age, and her maternal grandfather was the third elder, the real power in the Presbyterian Church.
Currently, the position of the head of the family is vacant.
Ten years ago, during a fierce battle with Magwangcheon, the head of the household died violently, and the person who was supposed to be the next head of the household was none other than Dokbong Dang Ji-hye, so Jang Ro-won stepped in and seized power.
Dang Ji-hye was naturally deprived of her position as the head of the household, and the household began to be controlled by the elders. The elders consisted of five elders, and among them, the third elder, Dang Seok-hyeong, who was the most outstanding in martial arts, was the real power.
In fact, it means that the party is running according to Dang Seok-hyung's wishes. So, of course, not only Dang Yeong-ryeong, but also none of the children of the same age could say anything bad to Dang Yeong-ryeong. Dang Moon-chan and Dang Jeong-il felt uncomfortable, but they had no choice but to go with her.
"Why does Shinsoo look so bright?"
Tang Moon-chan spoke to the approaching Dang Sang-myeong. It wasn't an empty remark; Dang Sang-myeong really looked flushed. Was the beating he received a few days ago a waste of time? Tang Moon-chan smiled at Dang Sang-myeong, who was thinking such nonsense.
"Nice to meet you. You're Moon-chan."
"…?"
A question crossed Tangmunchan's face. Nice to meet you? What did this kid eat wrong?
Not only was it strange that he was calling his own name affectionately, but he also felt strange seeing Dang-myeong's confident expression for the first time. Tang-mun-chan felt a sense of discomfort for a moment, but he did not think much about it.
"You look happy? I'm feeling gloomy. Should we start with a light steaming? Jeong-il."
fillet.
At Dang Moon-chan's words, Dang Jeong-il tilted his head to the side and approached in a threatening manner. Dang Jeong-il, who boasted an overwhelmingly high level of development among his peers, had great natural strength. Even without using his internal energy, he could easily break Dang Jeong-myeong's delicate arms and legs.
Dangjeongil also had a lot of hard work to do recently. It was because there was going to be a competition for the head of the household. Since the position of the head of the household was vacant, becoming the head of the household meant that he would practically become the next head of the household. His father had high expectations.
"You wouldn't know."
Dang Jeong-il looked down at the small boy and said.
"I'm talking about the pressure we feel as we have to compete in the Sogaju competition. I don't know how I would know since I can't even learn martial arts. But even a snail can roll around, so I guess you have a pretty good stamina? To be honest, I thought it was a bit too much a few days ago."
"You are Jeong-il."
Dang Jeong-il was still twitching and ignored Dang Jeong-il's words, only confirming the name. It was as if he was confirming the name of someone he was meeting for the first time.
"Yeonmyeong-i seems a little strange? I've never used any poison that affects the head…."
"You must be a spirit."
At the cute muttering of the girl who tilted her head, Dang Yeong-ryeong naturally put her name in his mouth. Yes, that's right. ⎯ Dang Yeong-ryeong agreed.
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Dang Moon-chan, Dang Jeong-il, and Dang Yeong-ryeong.
They were the evil spirits that had terribly tormented the boy, Yu Sangmyung, before he awakened to his previous life. Yu Sangmyung, who had accepted the boy's memories in their entirety, 'remembered' better than anyone else how much he had suffered in the past.
If left alone, they would continue to disrupt his normal life. There was also the potential for them to harm his mother.
I had their faces in my memory, but that was why I checked their names. I didn't want to get them confused with someone else.
today.
Because I wanted to instill fear and despair deep in their bones.
Everything was for a normal life.
Dang Jeong-myeong said to Dang Jeong-il.
"What are you doing? Come at me."
"… You've lost your mind."
Pounce was something that was only possible against a somewhat equal opponent. Dang Jeong-il made a face of bewilderment and threw a punch at Dang Yuan-myeong's face. He was planning to fix his squinting face first.
Boo Woong⎯
It was so strong that you could hear the wind blowing. You could tell that Dangjeongil was quite angry.
However, Dang Jeong-il's fist simply cut through the air.
That was because Dang Jeong-il slightly tilted his head to the side to avoid the punch. Dang Jeong-il's eyes opened wide.
"Damage? This?"
"It's a fist that explodes so slowly that it's hard to even hit it on purpose."
Dang-myung muttered with an expression that it was nothing. He hadn't learned the technique yet, so he couldn't see Dang-jeong-il's fist properly, but it wasn't hard to dodge it. No matter how fast he threw his punch, it was always a straight line. If he had just identified where the initial punch was going, he could have easily dodge it like he did now.
"Wow, what is it? Yeonmyeong, you. You seem like a completely different person. You look like a martial arts master."
"… It's Dangjeongil. What are you doing? You're annoying."
Dang Yeong-ryeong and Dang Moon-chan spoke a beat later. They also did not expect Dang Jeong-il's punch to miss. However, unlike Dang Yeong-ryeong, who simply expressed her surprise, Dang Moon-chan scolded Dang Jeong-il.
"What a coincidence!"
The face of Dang Jeong-il, who shouted like that, quickly turned red and blue. His pride was greatly hurt. First of all, his appearance was ruined. It was no different from waving his hand in the air.
"chance?"
Naturally, he laughed. He was evil by nature, but he was still a child. There is no coincidence in the battles between those who have learned martial arts. There is only a clear gap in skill.
"Do it again properly. I'll give you the lead."
"… Are you crazy? You're making a fuss about something you just happened to avoid once by some luck."
You died today. As he muttered that, Dang Jeong-il put the energy of the Dokyo Request Light Mind Method into both his fists. Then, Dang Jeong-il's momentum changed in an instant. Perhaps because Dang Jeong-il was already large, a sense of oppression began to flow through his entire body.
Of course, only Dang Moon-chan and Dang Yeong-ryeong felt that way.
'Is this the normal level?'
Dang Jeong-il was not at all intimidated and was looking at Dang Jeong-il's achievements with a cool gaze. The reason he had provoked Dang Jeong-il to show off his skills was to find out the level of his peers.
My natural goal in this life is to simply live an ordinary life.
I was determined to build up enough strength, but I wasn't going to show off too much in front of the adults. I was only going to show a level of inaction that was acceptable.
Pot!
At one point, Dangjeongil kicked the ground and quickly closed the distance. This was thanks to his ability to instantly improve by leaps and bounds using his internal energy and poisonous spirit. If it were an ordinary child of his age who had not yet learned the breathing technique, he would not even be able to react properly and would be defeated at such a speed.
'I'll break both your arms!'
A vicious light flashed in Dang Jeong-il's eyes for a moment. He aimed for Dang Sang-myeong's shoulders with both fists, which had been accelerated and had increased rotational power. If he had just hit, his bones would have been completely crushed. He might have even been disabled for life. But it didn't matter. That bastard, Dang Sang-myeong, was the son of a woman who had ruined his family. No one would blame him, the son of the vice-president. He was also a participant in the Sogaju competition.
'It would have been better if you hadn't started it in the first place.'
With that thought in mind, Dang Jeong-il slammed his fist down. While anticipating the scream of Deung-myeong that would soon burst out.
But the next moment.
Dang Jeong-il was faced with an unexpected situation. His two fists were blocked by the hands of Dang Jeong-myeong, who treated him like a worm.
"you…?"
Dang Jeong-il couldn't speak properly and only expressed his doubts. The poisonous spirit in the fist was not something that the criminal could block with his bare body. If he had grabbed the fist, it would have been normal for Deung-myeong's hand and wrist to have been crushed.
In other words, the fact that he was able to block his fist meant that Dang-myung could also use the same energy. As expected, he soon felt a familiar energy. Dokyo-cheong-gwang-gi⎯ Dang-jeong-il, who noticed that Dang-myung had also learned the Dokyo-cheong-gwang-sim method, tried to pull out the fist that was caught.
'… It doesn't fall off?'
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Dang Jeong-il began to panic. Even though he used considerable, if not maximum, strength, his fist did not budge. Only then could Dang Jeong-il see the eyes of Dang Jeong-il looking at him.
'What kind of gaze is that…?'
A gaze that looks down on something insignificant.
It was strange. The kidney was clearly bigger on this side, but Dang Jeong-il felt as if he had become infinitely smaller. It was as if he had become prey in front of a predator.
After a while, Dang-Myeong moved his lips.
"The player who gave in is finished?" what?"
It was when Dang Jeong-il asked back with a stupid expression.
Wood crack!
A strange sound came from Dang Jeong-il's fist that Dang Jeong-il had clenched. The joints of his fingers were shattered. Dang Jeong-il did not realize what had happened to him for a moment. If it had not been for the terrible pain that followed, he might have thought it was just a dream.
Aaaah!
A scream erupted immediately.
"fizzle."
Dang-myung still spoke with a calm expression. It didn't seem like he had exerted much force.
"If you don't stop, I won't let you go. Or should I just break your hand completely? So you can't use it anymore."
It was a voice telling him to be quiet and shut up. Dang Jeong-il barely managed to suppress his scream with a fearful look in his eyes, making a sound like "huuuu". His fist was still caught in Yu Sang-myeong's grip. He couldn't get out even when his fist was fine. Now that his knuckles were broken, he couldn't get out even more. Putting aside the unbelievable situation, the thought that he had to obey Yu Sang-myeong's words dominated his mind.
"…good."
Dang-myung nodded slightly. There were occasional groans, but this was okay. He didn't want to cause a commotion. He wasn't fully equipped yet. If adults intervened, he wouldn't be able to lead the situation as he wanted. Dang-myung was wary of variables arising.
'Jin-ki's efficiency is better than I thought.'
Yu Myeong-myeong thought about what had happened earlier. In fact, there were many reasons why Dang Jeong-il had collapsed so easily. Even if Dang Jeong-il had protected his fist with the Dokyocheong Gwanggi, Yu Myeong-myeong had already reached the peak of his internal study in his previous life. Furthermore, he knew the secret of the Dokyocheong Gwanggi, so it was not a problem to reverse the true energy structure and disperse the energy protecting Dang Jeong-il's fist. Since he had learned the same type of internal energy, it was even easier.
And the work of removing impurities from the veins.
It was well known that the cleaner the meridians and blood vessels that were originally the passages of true energy, the less power was lost, and even a small amount of true energy could produce great power. However, it seemed that the power of the Dokyocheong Gwanggi was stronger than Deungmyung expected. He thought he would just break his wrist, but he didn't expect his fist to break.
'It's better this way.'
Anyway, I was planning to make sure that these little demons wouldn't crawl back. It would be better to crush them than to step on them carelessly. I briefly thought about killing them, but I couldn't do that yet. Dang Ji-hye and Dang Myeong-myeong, the two mothers, needed the fence of the Dang family.
At that moment, Dang Jeong-il shuddered at the murderous intent he felt. Dang Jeong-il's expression looked confused. Pain, anger, doubt, humiliation, and fear were all mixed together.
Looking at Dang Jeong-il's face, Dang Jeong-myeong opens his mouth.
"Kneel down."
"…what?"
Dang Jeong-il asked again, but instead of answering, Yu Myeong-myeong tightened his grip. With a short scream of "Aaak," Dang Jeong-il quickly knelt down. Now, it seemed like Dang Jeong-il was looking up at Yu Myeong-myeong.
"Don't make me say it twice."
"Uh, yeah!"
Dang Jeong-il answered urgently with a red face. It was humiliating to kneel before the guy I had considered a toy, but what could I do? I could become crippled in both my hands at any moment.
"I mean."
Dang-myung said in a soft voice.
"I wanted to live a normal life."
"…?"
Dang Moon-chan, who was secretly closing the distance little by little, and Dang Yeong-ryeong, who was watching the situation with an interested look, had a question on their faces. Did you want to live an ordinary life? Then, did you mean that you had been hiding your skills on purpose all this time? While getting beaten up like that?
It was a difficult statement to accept, but there was no way not to believe it. Didn't he bring the powerful Dang Jeong-il to his knees right before his eyes without any tricks?
"But you guys wouldn't leave me alone. I've been holding back because of my mother's request… but it never ends. I realized it a few days ago. Holding back isn't the answer… In order for my mother and I to live a normal life, we need to change."
Sigh.
The momentum of the continuous speaking of the obvious began to change. It wasn't just because he had raised the level of the request for reading.
Highly refined killing spirit.
It is a natural name that has reached the realm of the sword in a previous life. Although he is a small evil spirit, it is not difficult for him to exude a killing aura that can scare young children. It is different from the killing aura that is spewed out carelessly. Refined killing aura directly affects a person's heart and soul.
It was also a mental study that only a very small number of kendo masters could implement.
Since it was a manifestation that had not yet fully accumulated internal energy, the area of life was only about three chapters, but it was enough. The guys were probably feeling the fear they had never experienced before. They might die…!
In particular, Dang Jeong-il's face, which had been exposed to the murderous intent of Dang Sang-myeong right in front of him, had turned completely pale. He had been hit hard in the heart. For a while, he would probably be aroused just by seeing Dang Sang-myeong's face.
"I warn you."
Only then did Dang Jeong-il let go of his fist and spoke to Dang Jeong-myeong.
"Don't touch me again. Next time, it won't end like this. I owe you money, but let's end it here. I don't want to cause any trouble. By the way, don't let the kids curse our mother. If I hear anything like that, I'll come looking for you."
"Okay, Yeonmyeong-ah."
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Dang Yeong-ryeong nodded with a slightly fearful look in her eyes. But a little later, her eyes turned sly.
"… But what should I do? I've already read it."
Hadok (下毒). It means to secretly spread poison. It certainly seemed right that her grandfather was a master of the dragon poison technique. Dang-myung had not noticed at all that she was spreading poison. His senses were not fully developed yet, so his senses were blind.
"This is Chilbosan (七步散) that I made. I improved on the shortcomings of Sangongdok. I didn't plan on using it today, but it was good that I brought it."
The disadvantage of the poison was obvious. It took quite a while for it to take effect. It was of little use to those with particularly deep internal energy. The poison had no room to do anything to the internal energy that had been built up.
However, when dealing with martial artists below a certain level, there was nothing as effective as Sangongdok. Sangongdok was basically colorless and odorless, and it was easy to poison them because it was stealthy. That was because it took quite a while for the poison to take effect.
Chilbosan was an improvement on the aspects of San-gong-dok. Since it is not effective for experts anyway, the degree of San-gong is weakened and the time for the effect to appear is brought forward.
'Can we really cope?'
Dang Yeong-ryeong looked at Dang Sang-myeong with interest. The boy who had suddenly become a different person was both scary and fascinating, but that was why she thought. What if she could subdue the boy without anyone knowing using the poison she had made?
It was a very thrilling temptation.
The charm of the dragon poison technique has always been in the ability to defeat someone stronger than oneself through stealth. Dang Yeong-ryeong overcame his fear and attempted to poison him. This was right before the boy formed a zone of life.
The result of the poisoning was a success. It seemed that the name didn't notice it at all. You could tell by looking at the way he raised his internal energy. Then the poisoning effect would come faster. It was like strangling my own neck.
Dang Yeong-ryeong nodded to Dang Moon-chan. I guess I can finish it. At this level, it's almost like feeding him rice with a spoon.
"… You must be really addicted, right?"
Tang Moon-chan felt the girl's gaze and spoke doubtfully. The remnants of the fear he had felt a moment ago were still vivid.
"Look at that. The momentum is fading. It's the effect of Chilbosan."
It was certainly as Dang Yeong-ryeong said.
From Dangsangmyeong, who was standing there with a dreary look in his eyes, the momentum from before was no longer felt.
Tang Moon-chan, who had gained a little more confidence, took a step forward and said.
"Hey, of course. You were talking so well earlier…?"
"… … ."
"I guess you got hit hard since you're not saying anything. Huh?"
Tang Moon-chan was certain. The bastard was addicted to Chilbosan and could no longer use his internal energy. He didn't seem to have the presence of mind to answer.
Tang Moon-chan, who suddenly became proud, spit out curses and kicked the floor.
"You're screwed now, kid…!"
one side.
Yu Myeong-myeong was in a strange state, not paying any attention to Dang Moon-chan's words. It was a state that the martial artists commonly called "losing oneself." The reality and the flow of time were completely different. Yu Myeong-myeong slowly fell into thought.
'It's poison.'
In my previous life, I had no need to worry about poison. I had reached a state of study where my body was completely transformed and was even impervious to poison.
However, the current weak body was vulnerable to this type of attack. Of course, it was not that the opponent did not consider the possibility of using poison, but in order to deal with a colorless and odorless poison like Chilbosan, he had to sharpen his senses a bit more.
In any case, the addiction had already progressed. The Chilbosan that had spread throughout his body was dispersing the poisonous request madness of Deungmyung every moment. This was possible because his internal energy achievement was still low. The density of the poisonous request madness was so thin that it was overshadowed by the poisonousness.
In such cases, there was only one common way to deal with it. Push the poison into one spot, for example, with one or two fingers, and close the blood vessels. In fact, this was not an easy task. The enemy would not wait for the poison circulating throughout the body to be concentrated in one spot, and it required delicate Jin-gi Taoist abilities.
Of course, it wasn't that difficult for Yuan Myeong. In my previous life, when I was crazy about swords, I had also seen extremes in studying. If I wanted to, I could immediately put the energy of San Gong Dok into a single finger.
Contrary to what Tang Moon-chan and Tang Yeong-ryeong thought, it was not a crisis at all.
However, while contemplating his inner self, Dang-Myeong suddenly thought of a topic.
'Does it make sense for the poison request madness to be scattered in the mountains and mountains?'
Sacheondangga.
A prestigious school in Sacheon that was once revered for its control of poison and secret weapons.
The Dokyocheong Gwangsim method is a method of the same kind of household appliances.
In other words, it would be a breathing technique that builds up energy that can handle poison and dark energy well. The nature that allows for detailed operation seemed to be suitable for handling dark energy.
What about poison then?
The poison-requesting method of the mind
The names of martial arts are often derived from the imagery that leads to the core essence. In recent times, they have been named with various embellishments, but that is what Deungmyung remembers from his previous life.
Poisonous Essentials⎯
Save the poison.
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I want poison.
I want poison.
After pondering the meaning behind the name, I realized that it was a natural name. The word 'Dokyo' itself was the core essence of the mind method. Should I call it a blessing in disguise? Since I had not yet acquired the proper strength, being attacked by Sangongdok and Chilbosan was actually a coincidence.
Flash!
For a split second, a sky-blue lightning flashed from the depths of Dang-myeong's eyes. This is a phenomenon that occurs when a person who has reached a state of enlightenment gains some kind of enlightenment. However, because the light appeared and disappeared so quickly, Tang Moon-chan and Tang Yeong-ryeong were unable to properly perceive it even after seeing it.
'It was a great success.'
Dang-myung naturally realized that at this very moment, he had completely mastered the Dokyo-Choong Gwangsim method.
As soon as he realized it, the nature of the poisonous request madness began to change. The poisonous request madness that had been scattered by Chilbosan gathered again with a sticky feeling and began to suck up the poison. It looked like it was eating someone. It was a complete reversal of the situation. The poisonous request madness of the natural name grew in size in an instant. It seemed to be bigger and stronger than before it was scattered by Chilbosan.
The energy that grows by eating poison.
That was the true nature of the poisonous request madness. When Dang-Myeong came out of the trance, Dang-Mun-Chan was almost right in front of him.
Tang Moon-chan was holding a sharp shuriken in his hand, and it seemed as if he was aiming for Dang-myeong's left upper arm. Even though he had been poisoned by the mountain spirit, he clearly showed his determination to incapacitate the arm first. It was a venom and precision that did not seem to be expected of a child who was barely over ten years old.
'You're not trying to take my life.'
Dang Myeong-myeong thought as he looked at the shuriken that was stabbing him with an indifferent look. If it had aimed for a vital point or a vital point, he would have killed Dang Moon-chan without any consideration for the child or the future. Even if it was a little difficult, it was better than leaving an ambiguous aftermath.
In any case, it didn't seem necessary to do that. Dang-myung made his decision while feeling a mixture of relief and regret. Let's not kill them, but punish them 'appropriately.'
It was a very fortunate thing for Tang Moon-chan, even though he may not have realized it.
Swish.
Only when the shuriken almost touched his skin did Dan-myung start to move. It was only short, but a shuriken was still a sword. He had already figured out the way of the shuriken that Tang-mun-chan swung at first glance. For him, who had awakened to his previous life, dodging a sword whose way he had already figured out was as easy as turning over his hand.
That wasn't all.
Instead of simply dodging, Yu Myeong-myeong struck Tang Moon-chan's wrist with his elbow, causing him to drop the shuriken. Tang Moon-chan was holding on to his sword quite strongly, but he couldn't resist being struck by Tang Moon-myeong's elbow, which was imbued with the power of the poisonous request.
Dangmunmyeong caught the shuriken that Dangmunchan had missed out on from the air.
All the movements in the series were as natural as the flow of water. It felt like it happened in an instant. Only after the shuriken was taken away did Tang Moon-chan's eyes fill with shock.
"you…!"
How could he be okay after being attacked by Chilbosan? There were clear signs of a mountain attack, but was that also a deception? Tang Moon-chan, unable to express such thoughts in words, just sighed.
Dang Mun-chan, who had a face like a carp, didn't pay any attention to him and swung his shuriken around wildly. The centrifugal force was added naturally. And he threw it!
Wedge⎯
Whoa!
The shuriken flew through the wind very quickly and was deeply embedded in the girl's right thigh. The shuriken hit so deeply that only the handle was visible. Tang Yeong-ryeong screamed in unfamiliar pain and fell to her buttocks.
Looking at that sight, Dang-myeong said,
"Did you think you'd fall for that trick again?"
As soon as Dang Yeong-ryeong saw Dang Moon-chan being attacked, she quickly judged and took out another poison. However, the moment she tried to poison him, a shuriken was stuck in her thigh. Dang Yeong-myeong, who noticed her poison, ignored Dang Moon-chan and subdued her first.
'It wouldn't have mattered even if I had been poisoned.'
The obvious thought was to himself. After all, at the point where he had achieved the great success of the Dokyo Request Light Mind Method, poison was no longer a threat to him. Rather, it was just prey. Unless it was an extremely deadly poison.
In any case, the reason I threw the shuriken and subdued Dang Yeong-ryeong first was to block his escape and show my clear superiority.
Did it work?
Tang Moon-chan was looking at Dang-myeong with eyes that looked like a monster. He didn't even have to use the mountain air poison, and he seemed to be skilled in close combat and throwing techniques. When on earth did he acquire such skills?
As far as Tang Moon-chan knew, there was no one in his family with this level of skill. Except for 'that one guy'.
Still with an indifferent look, Dang-myeong said.
"What did you say earlier?"
"Uh, huh? Hmm… ."
"Surely you said it was over now?"
"No, that's… . Yeah, I lost my mind for a moment… ."
Tang Moon-chan stuttered and rambling. The pain still lingering on the inside of his wrist was telling him that he couldn't win against Dang Yuan-myeong. And the eerie aura he had felt a moment ago was once again taking over his mind. There was no way he wouldn't end up like Tang Jeong-il, kneeling with both of his hands broken.
I felt a sense of crisis for the first time in my life, and as if it were a lie, a cold sweat formed on my forehead.
"Kill. Don't say you're going to kill lightly. You never know when it might come back to you."
Saying that, Dang Mun-chan aroused his spirit. The extremely refined spirit poured out to Dang Mun-chan. Then, Dang Mun-chan suddenly began to tremble. As if he was feeling chills.
It wasn't because he was cold that he was shivering. Tang Moon-chan, who was facing the life-threatening situation of Dang Yuanming up close, felt fear that he might really die. There was also something Dang Yuanming had said just before.
"S, save me. I, y, was wrong…"
Tang Moon-chan barely managed to squeeze out his voice and beg for his life. It was an instinctive plea. It must have been too much of a shock for a boy who was barely ten years old to handle.
At that moment, a small sloshing sound was heard from under Tangmunchan, and his pants began to get wet. It seemed that he had lost the ability to control his bladder due to extreme fear. Yes, Tangmunchan had been overcome by the murderous intent of Dangdangmyeong.
'Is this enough?'
Dang Myeong-myeong slowly took his life. Since he had dealt a blow to his soul, it was unlikely that Tang Mun-chan would ever think of opposing him in the future.
But it didn't end there. Instilling fear and punishing are two different things.
"You were after my arm."
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Dang-myeong opened his mouth, raising his hand.
"You too had to be prepared to lose an arm."
Keep that in mind in the future. As he said that, Dang Mun-chan lightly struck Dang Mun-chan's left upper arm. That was the area Dang Mun-chan had been aiming for with his shuriken.
It was just a passing remark, but the aftermath was not light.
Thud!
There was a sound of something breaking in Tangmunchan's arm. It wasn't just a bone breaking. The moment they touched, Dangmunmyeong poured his poisonous spirit into Tangmunchan's body. Using the magic of breaking.
Because he had mastered the Dokyocheong Gwangsim method, his Dokyocheong Gwanggi had become so powerful that he could embody the mystical principles of the Martial Arts.
The Dokyocheong Gwanggi, which contained the secret of breaking, thoroughly tore apart Tangmunchan's arm. Not only did it break his bones, but it also completely destroyed his blood vessels and veins. It wasn't just a problem of not being able to use his left arm, but it also affected his energy path. The speed at which he built up his internal energy also slowed down, and the power of his true energy was bound to drop significantly. Tangmunchan now had great limitations as a warrior.
'The reason my body's meridians were out of alignment was because of that bastard's beating.'
Of course, it was to the extent that it fit the expression that Dang Myeong-myeong's body was weak, but the direct cause was the continuous beatings by Dang Moon-chan and Dang Jeong-il. According to the boy's memory, Dang Jeong-il was able to control his strength, but Dang Moon-chan was so strong that he was seriously ill. The young man's nature was extremely vicious.
'You will never reach the heights of ascension.'
Dang Mun-chan thought as he glanced at Dang Mun-chan's left arm with cold eyes. Even if he didn't know about the bones, it would be impossible to repair the veins damaged by the poisonous request. It would be possible to be reborn, but there was not even a speck of chance for Dang Mun-chan to experience such a thing.
"…!"
Only then did Dang Moon-chan start to scream.
Dang Mun-chan knocked him unconscious by hitting the back of his neck with his sword, then roughly threw him to where Dang Jeong-il was. There was some distance, but it wasn't difficult because Dokyo-Chang-Gwang-Gi was supporting his brute force. Dang Mun-chan fell down helplessly.
After seeing him for a moment, Dang-myung turned to his next target.
Thud thud.
"Oh, don't come!"
The girl with the shuriken stuck in her thigh, Tang Yeong-ryeong, crouched down and stepped back, screaming. Her expression was distorted with pain and shock, and she looked at the approaching Yu Myeong-myeong as if she was looking at something incomprehensible.
"You… There's no way you could be a life-long survivor! Be honest. Who are you? How can a person change like this?"
"Does it matter whether I am the one you knew for sure or not?"
Suddenly, the boy's speech changed. His voice became eerily eerie. And because his voice was still young, it felt even more eerie.
"You tried to poison me twice. You know the rules of the Tang family."
"… … ."
There is no way that the Dangyeongryung would not know what the name means.
The Tang family's rule is that kindness is repaid twice, and resentment is repaid tenfold!
Dang Yeong-ryeong, who was trembling with surprise, spoke decisively to Dang Yeong-ryeong.
"I don't intend to look at you as a woman."
"Wait a minute! Who is my maternal grandfather…?"
match!
With a snapping sound, the girl's head turned to one side. Dang Yeong-ryeong suddenly thought that a lightning bolt had flashed before his eyes. It was because he had swung his hand so quickly that he couldn't even see her face, and had struck her in the face.
"I want to die… ."
Dang Yeong-ryeong turned her head again and tried to spit out a venomous threat, but Dang Yeong-myeong had no intention of listening to her.
"Yes, Grandpa, whoever he is, isn't scared of anything like that."
He spoke one word at a time, and kept stretching his hands left and right. With each squeak, squeak sound, Dang Yeong-ryeong's eyes gradually lost their light. His cheeks swelled, and saliva and blood came out of his mouth. His once cute face was so messed up that it was hard to look at it anymore.
When had she ever been treated like this, with her maternal grandfather being the elder and the real power in the family?
Tang Yeong-ryeong's spirit quickly collapsed in the face of one-sided violence.
Only after the venom in her eyes disappeared did Dang Yeong-ryung stop his handcuffs. Dang Yeong-ryung burst into tears. They were tears of relief that it was over, but Dang Yeong-ryung had no intention of ending it like this.
When Yu Myeong-myeong, who had awakened from his previous life, found himself in this damned family, there were only two things he liked: the existence of his mother, Dang Ji-hye, and the Dang family rule that he had to make sure that his favor was paid back.
'The resentment is tenfold.'
I don't think I could avenge him with just a few slaps. Dang Yeong-ryeong was standing there blankly, so Dang Yeong-ryeong pushed aside his clothes and groped around here and there.
Soon, the startled Dang Yeong-ryeong blushed and shouted.
"What, what are you doing, now!"
"Don't get me wrong. I'm not interested in your immature body."
Yu Myeong-myeong still spoke coldly with a cold gaze. Dang Yeong-ryeong soon realized that she had made a ridiculous mistake. Yu Myeong-myeong was finding the poison and antidote that she had carried around in her body one by one.
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Before he knew it, he was holding several small bottles in his hands, each neatly wrapped in paper.
"I think this is it."
"What are you going to do with that…?"
"I don't know what the poison is and what the antidote is. It doesn't matter."
Dang Yeong-ryeong didn't even think about answering Dang Yeong-ryeong's question, but muttered and pulled out the cork of a small bottle. Inside was a dark green liquid of unknown identity, but no matter how you looked at it, it didn't seem to be an antidote. You could tell just by looking at Dang Yeong-ryeong's pale expression.
"I don't know what kind of poison you were trying to use on me. I don't think you'd tell me easily. But it must be more lethal than Chilbosan."
"… … ."
"I hope it's not so poisonous that it takes your life."
Feeding him would be the most certain thing, but if he did, he might really die. Saying so, Dang Yeong-myeong turned the vial upside down and poured it directly onto Dang Yeong-ryeong's head. With a hissing sound, Tang Yeong-ryeong's hair began to break off one by one. It seemed to be a fairly strong poison. Tang Yeong-ryeong tried to scream, but Tang Yuanming was one step ahead of her and grabbed her acupoint.
"…!"
Dang Yeong-ryeong was flustered when suddenly no sound came out. It seemed like it was the first time he had felt the blood. Yu Myeong-myeong opened the next bottle without paying attention. It was a clear liquid with a slightly refreshing scent.
Dang Yeong-myeong did not miss the glimmer of conversion in Dang Yeong-ryeong's eyes.
"… Throw this away."
The clear liquid that flows out seeps into the dirt floor.
"…!"
Dang Yeong-ryeong was embarrassed. The poison she had just swallowed was called Bupi-dok (腐皮毒). Although it had the characteristic of removing hair and animal fur, it was not as dangerous as it looked. The only effect of the poison was a mild itching sensation accompanied by a rash. If she took the antidote within a few minutes, she could completely detoxify.
The problem is that the cancellation just disappeared. Into the dirt.
Dang Yeong-ryeong's eyes shook without mercy. It hadn't even been a few breaths, let alone a moment, but she already felt like hives were rising on her face. She quickly wiped them off with her sleeve, but she knew it was too late. Bupi-toxin seeped into the skin the moment it touched it. She had to go to the medicine king and take some medicine right away. It might have been okay before the rash appeared, but once it did, it was hard to get rid of it. Even if it did, there was a high chance that small scars would remain. Since Bupi-toxin had gotten on her face, it was natural for Dang Yeong-ryeong, as a girl, to be anxious.
"…!"
Even though he wanted to plead, his voice wouldn't come out. Dang Yeong-ryeong looked at the boy with pitiful eyes. Since ancient times, men have been weak to women's tears. Although it was clumsy, he wanted to ask for mercy.
However, Dang Yeong-ryeong pulled the cork of the next vial without hesitation. Although Dang Yeong-ryeong had a pretty face, his mind was that of a mature adult. He would not have the heart to look after a girl just because she looked a little cute. Besides, who was his mother now? She was Dang Ji-hye, a woman with such outstanding beauty that Ma Gwang-cheon-ju had once been attracted to her. She was a little older, but she was still beautiful. It was natural that the boy's aesthetic sense would be so high, having been exposed to such beauty on a daily basis since birth.
This time, Dang Yeong-myeong sprayed poison over the girl's head. It looked like an ordinary liquid, but Dang Yeong-ryeong knew that it was poison.
Swelling poison
It was commonly mixed into food, and although it was slightly sour, it was less likely to be detected if added to spicy or salty foods. It was even more so because the poison caused mild stomachache and diarrhea. However, it was quite a dangerous poison if poisoned multiple times. This is because the poison remained in the body even after the stomachache stopped. The abdominal pain gradually became more intense, and eventually it felt like the intestines were being turned over.
'There is no cancellation for that.'
Dang Yeong-ryeong felt herself growing impatient as she was hit by the pouring poison. She didn't carry around antidotes for all the poisons she carried. There was no need to bring antidotes for poisons that showed mild symptoms or that she herself would not take. There was also a medicinal king party within the family.
In fact, that wasn't the only problem. Changbok-dok was originally a poison that was diluted in small amounts and fed to food. If a large amount were simply applied to the skin like now, there was no way to know what kind of poison it would have. Furthermore, it could have mixed with the previously applied Bu-bi-dok and produced a new poison effect.
Even the so-called "Ten Poisons of the Tang Family" were often made by mixing together several poisons.
As expected.
Tang Yeong-ryeong suddenly realized that the area around her head was empty. It was accompanied by a feeling of bubbles bubbling and boiling on her scalp. An intuition flashed through her mind that something was wrong. It was clear that the Bupi-dok and Changbok-dok had some kind of interaction with each other.
But her thoughts only went so far.
It was obvious that the reason she had mentioned the blood transfusion was because for the first time, he showed a slightly embarrassed look in his eyes.
'Was it too much?'
At that moment, the appearance of Dang Yeong-ryeong was so miserable that I had that thought. In a semicircle the size of a fist centered around the crown of her head, her hair was falling out limply and in a few places, and a rash was constantly breaking out on her forehead, cheekbones, and nose. The face of the once cute girl had now turned hideous.
Of course, the boy had no intention of stopping just like that. Dang Yeong-ryeong poured all sorts of liquids and powders onto the unconscious Dang Yeong-ryeong's skin. Not all of them were poison. Some of them were antidotes, so various poisons appeared and disappeared repeatedly on Dang Yeong-ryeong's skin.
Tang Yeong-ryeong, who had lost consciousness and was in a deep sleep, was still breathing lightly. She was scratching her face, which was covered in rashes, with her fingernails, perhaps because she was itching while sleeping, and pus was flowing out. However, her life did not seem to be in danger. Fortunately, it seemed that there was no deadly poison in her hands.
Dang-myung pulled out the shuriken stuck in her thigh. He didn't forget to check the acupoints to stop the bleeding so that she wouldn't die from bleeding.
'I'm saying the cooking skills were pretty good.'
I liked it. I wiped the blood off the hem of Dangyeongryeong's clothes and put it in my bosom. I could tell when I threw it. It was a well-made object with a good center of gravity.
In my previous life, I only used long swords. I have never used a dagger that is close to a secret weapon like a shuriken. However, in my previous life, I had reached the realm of the swordsman. This means that I was in a state where I was not restricted by the length of the swordsman.
Come to think of it, instead of a conspicuous longsword, it might be a good idea to carry around something like a shuriken or a sword. You can use it like a sword without showing off your skills too much, if necessary. Above all, since you've decided to live as a member of the Tang family, wouldn't it be better to not have to carry a longsword as much as possible?
'It might be a good idea to stock up on spares.'
Thinking so, Dang-myung said,
"hey."
It was obvious who was calling. Two of the three little demons had lost consciousness. Dang Jeong-il, who was still kneeling, answered in surprise at the boy's call. He was watching with bated breath what Dang Yeong-ryeong was doing to Dang Yeong-ryeong.
"Uh, yeah!"
"You guys. Leave them alone, or take them and treat them. You're the one who's taking care of the rest. You're not in your right mind… but you're the only one with your eyes open. If we delay too long, it could get to a point where it's irreversible."
"Oh, I see!"
"also."
As Dangjeongil approached, he shot a quick shot of killing intent. Then Dangjeongil gasped and started hiccupping. It was as if he was staring at something extremely terrifying.
"That's stupid. Wouldn't it have been better if we had just lived quietly? Well. Anyway, let's finish today's work quietly. If you don't like it, then I can't help it…"
"Oh, no! I'll tell the adults! I won't bother you again…!"
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"You're not harassing me…?"
Deungmyung Lee, who had been laughing, said with a look of disbelief.
"Don't you get it yet? You can't do anything to me anymore. I'm not going to tolerate it anymore. I thought I'd let you off easy today. If you get on my nerves again next time… ."
Dang Jeong-il brought his head close to Dang Jeong-il's face and whispered in his ear.
"I will kill you without mercy."
Dangjeongil couldn't even breathe properly. Until Dangjeongmyeong's last breath faded away.
His mind was filled only with the desire to get out of this place immediately. He had no crazy thoughts of planning for the future and doing something to his destined name.
'It's a demon... Yes. It must be a little demon. Disguised as a lifeline.'
Now, the government thinks of Dangjeongil as a demon. The positions are completely reversed.
"Behave well. I'll be watching you."
Finally, leaving behind one eerie word, Dang-myeong turned his back and walked away.
Only after the sound of footsteps had grown quite distant was Dang Jeong-il finally able to catch his breath.
Just then, a wind blew from the direction where the destination was moving away, ruffling his hair. However, rather than feeling cool, he felt a chill running down his spine.
It was as if I had a gut feeling that Deungmyungmyeong would bring some kind of storm to the family.
****
Of course, he walked. In a different direction than the house where his mother was waiting.
Although he had left a verbal warning to those including Dang Jeong-il, he could not let his guard down with such a verbal measure. Dang Jeong-myeong was determined to take measures that would definitely guarantee his own safety.
In other words, it's not that I did it without a plan. I had thought about it in advance.
'Is it this way?'
Although the family was said to have declined, the family's internal structure was quite large and complex, as it had once been renowned. However, Deungmyeong, who had absorbed the boy's memories, found his way without much difficulty.
While walking along the road, I met many people. The family members of the Dang family. Some of them looked at Dang-myeong with sympathy, while others looked at him with disgust and contempt. There were even some who seemed to not know the boy at all. If he had been the original boy, I would have cowered for no reason, but not now.
'what.'
Instead, he confidently meets their eyes. As if he wants to remember all of their faces.
"What kind of look does that little kid have in his eyes…"
"Huh. So bloodlines can't be fooled. You've got some spirit."
"Dokbongdo had as much spirit as he did beauty in his youth."
"Oh, that kid…? He's been a recluse for so long that it's my first time seeing his face."
"Even so, that guy. He's said to be incapable of learning martial arts. He's no better than a useless person."
"Don't worry about it. There's nothing I can do even if I glare at my own eyes."
The children chattered happily among themselves, seemingly not caring whether the boy was listening or not.
Yu Myeong-myeong raised his head and passed through the middle of them. Those who had been talking loudly could not help but be speechless when the boy came very close. Yu Myeong-myeong, who had created such a natural silence, thought as he walked.
'As expected. You need strength.'
The family is a military family. In order to live an ordinary life, you have to be treated as a human being. It is easy to acquire personal power, but you need a more certain power. A power that people will be careful of without you having to show it. It is also a hassle to punish those who cross the line one by one. In simple terms, it is something like a clear status within the family.
'This is it.'
Dangmyeong stopped walking in front of a pavilion.
The Dark Poison King, Sichuan No. 1
The bold handwriting on the signboard catches the eye. It was once a pavilion used as a family hall. It was also called Amdokjeon (暗毒殿). It was originally the residence of the head of the family and a place where major and minor family matters were decided. However, since the position of the head of the family was vacant for a long time, it was not a place with much function. Most family matters were decided by the elders.
Then, recently, the dark poison war began to become more active. This information was also based on the boy's memories. The boy was weak, but he was very interested in his family's affairs.
Kkieii⎯
Dan-myung carefully opened the door, but there was an unpleasant sound, as if it wasn't well-oiled. Dozens of gazes were fixed on the door as soon as it was opened. They all seemed to be of considerable skill, and they were giving off a sharp air.
One of the men recognized the name and asked.
"Aren't you the son of Sister Dokbong? Your name is definitely…."
"It's life-sustaining."
"Yeah. That was the name. But why are you here…?"
In response to the look in his eyes that seemed to indicate that he knew what kind of place this was, Deungmyung spoke with a clear tone and emphasis.
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"I want to participate in the competition for the head of the household." what?"
The man who spoke to Dang Jeok-hwi, the king of the dark kingdom, thought that it was the most absurd thing he had heard in recent times and asked back. Did the boy in front of him really know what he was saying?
It was a bit of a laugh, but it was none other than a matter of succession to the family. Soon, Dang Jeok-hwi, who had been controlling his expression, opened his mouth.
"You clearly mentioned the cattle race."
"Yes, that's right."
"… Do you really know what that means? You might lose your life."
"I know."
Dang-myung nodded and answered.
The competition of small and medium-sized enterprises⎯
In simple terms, it meant gathering boys from the Tang family between the ages of ten and fifteen to compete. The competition lasted a total of four years, with the first three years being strictly training and giving each one time to accumulate martial arts, and the remaining year being designed to be a fierce competition for survival. Tang Jihui's warning that one could lose their life was not a lie.
This competition, which was known to have been led by the elders' council because the position of the head of the family had been vacant for a long time, concealed an ugly side of the family known only to those in the know.
The obvious answer was also something that came to mind when the boy recalled the Sogaju competition from his memories.
'It must be their greed. Why do they insist on deciding on the amount of cattle?'
That's right.
If they were really worried about the vacancy of the head of the household, they would have wanted to decide on the head of the household, not the small head of the household. That would make sense. However, the council of elders wanted to decide on the 'small head of the household' through competition. Not the head of the household.
It is not known who will be chosen as the head of the household, but since he is still young, it will take quite some time for him to grow up and become the head of the household. In the meantime, the power to control the household will be held by the elders as it has been until now.
Moreover, the age limit for participation was limited to boys and girls between the ages of ten and fifteen, because the elders' blood relatives and disciples were of that age.
In other words, it was an event created by a combination of the desire to continue their rule for another ten years or so and the competition among the elders to become the next head of the family. The competition for the head of the family.
Even though King Amwang Daeju Dang Jeok-hwi was not unaware of this fact, he still had no choice. In a situation where the family was in a state of great decline, rebelling against the elders was no different from cutting one's own flesh. As the person in charge of the competition for the Sogaju, he simply wanted to conduct it as fairly as possible. And he hoped that the child chosen as the Sogaju would be someone who could truly revive the Dangga.
After the announcement of the Sogaju competition, there were some children who came like this. They didn't know the real situation of their family, so they applied for participation as if they were children. Most of these children were scared and backed out when warned that they could lose their lives.
But the guy who came today was different. He had a look in his eyes that made me expectant. Could he really be the son of Dokbong?
'I heard that you are a body that cannot learn martial arts.'
Dang Jeok-hwi looked at the boy closely. A year or two ago, when he had seen him from a distance, he had just looked small and dwarfed. Of course, he was still dwarfed, but there was a certain composure flowing from the boy. It felt familiar for some reason. Dang Jeok-hwi thought that it was similar to the temperament felt from peerless masters, but soon denied it. It couldn't be true. The boy in front of him seemed to be just over ten years old.
Dismissing the sudden sensation as an illusion, Dang Jeok-hwi opened his mouth.
"Sister Dokbong… No, does your mother know? That you are participating in the competition."
"I'll go back and tell you."
"Are you saying you decided on such an important matter on your own without even discussing it with your parents?"
"My decision has already been made, so it is just a matter of order."
"… … ."
At this point, the other people around him, the warriors of the Dark King's and the Dok King's, looked at the boy, Yuan Myeong, with interest. As the elite of the Tang family, they were more serious about the Sogaju competition than anyone else in the family. It was not just that they were in charge of running and supporting the competition, but because this competition was an event to select the one who would one day become their master.
It was natural for interest to arise, since the boy who wanted to participate in the competition was showing a strong determination. In addition, listening to the words of the Dark King's Dang Jeok-hwi, it seemed that he was not an ordinary boy. Although he had been looked down upon recently, the talent and skills of Dokbong Dang Ji-hye when he was young were real. Since the Dark King and Dokwang were members of the Dark King's Family, they knew her better than anyone else in the family. She was not a woman who had been designated as the next head of the family for nothing. If she had properly inherited even half of Dang Ji-hye's blood… .
Of course, only those who did not know much about the clan would make such an assumption. Anyone who paid even a little attention to the various rumors surrounding the family would know that Dokbong's son had a constitution that made it difficult for him to learn martial arts.
at that time.
"Hoo. I wondered what the commotion was about, so I came to check. Who is this? Isn't it Dokbong's son?"
Suddenly, a middle-aged man appeared. He had an impressive sharp gaze, and Dang-myeong felt that his gaze was very familiar. Did he have a familiar face?
'The King of Poisons, Dang Ji-hyeok.'
Soon, Yu Myeong-myeong found the identity of the other person in the boy's memory. He also knew why the eyes were familiar. He was Dang Moon-chan's father. He still seemed unaware of his son's affairs. It couldn't be otherwise. Yu Myeong-myeong had just come here after punishing the three evil spirits.
"This is the first time we've talked privately. You know Moon-chan, right? I'm his father."
"Hello, Lord Dokwang. This is my life extension."
Dang Ji-hyeok, who had been looking at him with a strange gaze, approached him and said.
"It seems a bit different from what I heard from Moonchan. There's a spirit in his eyes. He doesn't have an eye for people. So, what brings you here? Are you trying to participate in the Sogaju competition?"
"Yes, but."
"…okay?"
Unlike Dang Jeok-hwi, Dang Ji-hyeok was not that surprised and asked a simple question. He was quite quick-witted, and as soon as he heard Dang Yu-myeong's words, he concluded that from his perspective, it wasn't that bad.
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Unlike the Dark King, the Dokwang Daeju Dang Ji-hyeok was completely on the side of the Elders. It couldn't be otherwise, because his uncle was the Elder. The fact that he was able to take on the role of Dokwang Daeju in the first place was largely due to the influence of his uncle, the Elder Dang Myeong-shin.
'This might be an opportunity to bring down the Dokbong.'
Dang Ji-hyeok thought. From the perspective of the elders who had been pushing for the competition of the small family heads, there was one thing that was a thorn in their side. That was the existence of Dokbong Dang Ji-hye. She was the daughter of the previous head of the family and the former head of the small family. Although the elders unilaterally held her responsible and dragged her down, her legitimacy still remained. This was why the elders could not easily issue an expulsion order. If Dang Ji-hye had come forward with a justification, the competition of the small family heads would have quickly become a source of controversy. The elders unanimously agreed not to provoke her rashly. Dang Ji-hye was also staying in seclusion, so they decided to just keep quiet.
'But if this guy joins…'
If the only son of the legitimate Dokbong Dangjihye were to participate in the Sogaju competition, the competition itself would have the appearance of having legitimacy and authority.
What if Dokbong's son falls there?
It's just that I lack the skills.
He is not the type of person who will become the heir to the family line.
'It's like killing two birds with one stone.'
Besides, Dang Ji-hyeok knew. The boy with the calm expression was actually a closet who couldn't learn martial arts. Also, his son Dang Moon-chan was regularly bullying him, so he thought he might have a bone disease. Even if it was a child's fist, it would be too much for the criminal to handle since it contained internal energy.
Even if the boy entered the cattle race, it seemed absolutely impossible for him to achieve anything significant.
'I guess I should worry about surviving first.'
Even if they somehow managed to endure the three years of harsh training, it was hard to believe that they would be able to survive the final year of competition, the period when they would risk their lives for survival.
Dang Ji-hyeok said, thinking long and hard but making a quick decision.
"The Dark King."
"Go ahead."
The king of the dark kingdom, Dang Jeok-hwi, answered his call halfheartedly. The relationship between the two seemed strangely bad. After all, it was even stranger that Dang Jeok-hwi, who had a secret antipathy toward the presbytery, was so openly friendly with Dang Ji-hyeok, who was on the presbytery's side.
Dang Ji-hyeok also didn't seem to mind, as if this wasn't the first or second time this had happened.
"I will allow Dang-O-Myeong to participate in the Soga-Ju competition."
"What are you talking about? Is there anything you can do about the child? He is still a young boy. You can just tell him off and send him back…"
"He may be a boy, but he's a man. He may not be a brat, but he has a noble spirit."
"What nonsense are you talking about… This guy…!"
Dangjeok-hwi, who was about to say that he was a body that had not learned martial arts, suddenly felt something strange. When the door to the Dark King's Hall first opened, most of the warriors, including him, had shot out sharp auras. If it were an ordinary boy, no, even a boy who had learned martial arts, wouldn't he be able to naturally receive that kind of aura...?
Meanwhile, Dang Ji-hyeok continued his eloquence without missing the moment when Dang Jeok-hwi hesitated.
"It is a bud that has not yet bloomed. Only time will tell when the flower inside will bloom in full. Why are you crushing this boy's determination with a mere blow? This is a competition to select the talent to lead our party. If you have any kind of extraordinary talent and the will to do so, you should be encouraged to participate in the competition, not discouraged."
There were many people who nodded their heads at those words.
In an instant, the atmosphere shifted to Dang Ji-hyeok. Although Dang Ji-hyeok was evaluated as being slightly behind Dang Jeok-hwi in terms of his martial arts skills, he had excellent speaking skills. It wasn't just because he was the nephew of the elder Dang Myeong-sin that he treated him with respect. Dang Ji-hyeok had the talent to take advantage of both the cause and the actual situation.
one side.
Yu Sang-myeong listened to everything Dang Ji-hyeok said without missing a single word. If he had listened to him without any preconceptions about Dang Ji-hyeok, he might have thought of him as a very fair and upright person. However, Yu Sang-myeong knew the boy's memories, his insight from many years, and the nature of the guy called Dang Moon-chan. Children are the mirror of their parents.
'You're probably trying to get rid of me by using the competition. It's not going to be a favor.'
Whatever the intention, it didn't matter. The other person didn't know that he was shooting himself in the foot.
There was one more reason why Dang-myung wanted to compete in the Sogaju race. In fact, it could be said that that was his main purpose at the moment.
"I'll ask you again."
Dang Ji-hyeok speaks with a stern expression to the boy who came to the Dark King's Palace alone.
"Son of Dokbong, Yeonmyeong. Do you truly wish to participate in the Sogaju competition?"
Answer carefully, there is no turning back. As soon as the words of the Dark King, Dang Jeok-hwi, were spoken, the boy opened his mouth.
"Yes, I truly hope so."
The eyes of the man in the sunlight were filled with confidence. He looked confident for his age. The people in the room looked at the boy with various looks. Contempt, pity, concern, anticipation…
But none of them could see through the true nature of the promise.
Anyway.
In this way, Dang-myeong officially participated in the competition for the Sogaju of Sacheondangga.