Chapter 374 : Sell it for travel expenses, at least

Translator: FenrirTL

Editor/Quality Checker: Saphartlantis

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Chapter 374: Sell it for travel expenses, at least

Everyone’s eyes turned to the Poison King.

In the martial world, the Poison King was a mysterious figure shrouded in all kinds of rumors.

They said if you crossed the Poison King, you’d die without even realizing you'd been poisoned.

They said if your eyes met his, you'd go blind on the spot.

They said he once poisoned hundreds of people with a single drop of venom.

They said he even slept submerged in a vat of poisonous liquid.

They said he looked like a hunchbacked old man—or that he wasn’t even a man, but a middle-aged woman. 1

Truly, he was the subject of all kinds of misunderstanding and misinformation.

And today, the martial artists from the Thirteen Wolves of the Unorthodox Alliance and the Extreme Forces Brigade were seeing the Poison King with their very own eyes. They were astonished. They had never imagined the Poison King would look like such a young and beautiful boy.

Even as countless stares poured in his direction, the Poison King remained composed and dignified. 2

The Poison King’s gaze turned toward Geom Mugeuk. The look in his eyes as he stared for a moment ran deep.

“I greet the Young Cult Leader.”

Ordinarily, he would’ve skipped the greetings entirely and gone off under a tree somewhere to dig up poison herbs. But today, for Geom Mugeuk, he showed a side of himself completely unlike usual.

“I greet the Poison King.”

Geom Mugeuk also clasped his fist politely and bowed.

The Poison King, with a heavy and commanding presence that overwhelmed the surroundings—it was unfamiliar, yet refreshing.

The Poison King tended to Geom Mugeuk first, and then extended proper courtesy to the Unorthodox Alliance Leader.

“It is an honor to meet such a distinguished figure.”

“I’ve long heard of the Demon Supreme’s fame. A pleasure to meet you.”

The Poison King also exchanged calm greetings with Baek Jagang.

Though usually confined to a world of his own, in this moment, the Poison King stood at the boundary between his world and the outside one.

Baek Jagang was more tense than when he fought the Battle King. He believed he could survive the Battle King, but he had no such certainty when it came to the Poison King.

He might be able to kill the Poison King—but it felt certain he would die in the process. The Poison King was a being who inspired such fear.

Yet today, instead of wariness, Baek Jagang expressed gratitude toward him.

He owed him greatly. Even without asking, he knew who had neutralized the Netherbane.

“There will come a day when I repay the debt I owe you today.”

“It was for our Young Cult Leader, so please think nothing of it.”

Was it truly for me?

Geom Mugeuk was certain it wasn’t. The Poison King already knew that he was immune to all poisons.

So, the one who had detoxified the Netherbane hadn’t done so for him, but for the sake of saving the others. Or maybe for the children.

The Poison King before regression and the Poison King now were the same person. Yet he was living a completely different fate.

Geom Mugeuk understood. We are all standing on a boundary line. Just as the Sword Supreme before regression who became a tyrant and the one now focused on martial arts training were not two different people, changing fate didn’t require a grand event.

There were others who had come with the Poison King. Alongside him appeared Sangseon, who served him, and five Poison Fangs.

Sangseon carried nine poison pouches, and the rest of the Poison Fangs each had at least seven. They were truly peerless masters of the Heavenly Poison Forest.

“How did you come all the way here?”

It was Sangseon who answered in his place.

“We received classified intel that a massive quantity of Netherbane, a large-scale weaponized poison banned in the martial world, was being moved toward the Unorthodox Alliance. Strategist Go requested an investigation.”

They had come at Gowol’s request. Gowol was likely only concerned with his safety and must have regarded the Netherbane as a major threat.

Of course, the Poison King didn’t have to step in personally. Gowol wasn’t a member of the Heavenly Communication Pavilion, and he was merely a private strategist under Geom Mugeuk. He could’ve just sent subordinates to investigate the Netherbane.

Yet he had come in person for Geom Mugeuk’s sake. He must have hated to come, truly.

‘Thank you, Poison King.’

Geom Mugeuk’s gaze turned to the Poison King.

The Poison King was walking toward the children whose Devil's Hole had been subdued.

Even though several people stood beside him, the Poison King walked deliberately toward the child standing closest to the Battle King.

The Battle King glared coldly, but the Poison King wasn’t even remotely intimidated. He didn’t care in the slightest. It was as if he were daring him—go ahead and try to kill me, no, please try.

The Poison King rolled the child’s eyelids back and examined his tongue.

“He didn’t use solitude poison. Looks like he implanted suggestions in the children using another method.”

After that, he checked the bursted pouches hanging on their chests.

“What a strange thing they’ve made. Sangseon, take one of these. Bring it back and study it. Though, isn’t this bag a bit too big for the kids to carry?”

That remark carried criticism toward those who had made the children do such things.

Geom Mugeuk understood. The Poison King despised those who recklessly used mass-murder poisons. He cherished and loved poisons more than anyone else, and therefore abhorred those who used them carelessly. And now they had even dared to sacrifice children.

The Poison King was likely burning with the desire to kill the Battle King. If this hadn’t been the Unorthodox Alliance’s affair, the Battle King would already be dead, or more likely, wishing to be.

As the Poison King deliberately passed in front of the Battle King, he muttered as if to himself.

“I heard earlier that you were even framing innocent people.”

To say such a thing while walking past was both an insult and a provocation.

Even though the Battle King had already been pushed to the brink, he still couldn’t bring himself to attack the Poison King. One could feel his inner conflict—whether or not to strike the Poison King who had ruined everything for him.

But in the end, he couldn’t do it.

Because he knew better than anyone how terrifying the man behind that youthful appearance truly was. Even the Poison Overlord had feared the Poison King. No matter how brave he was, he wanted to avoid dying with his organs melting away.

Geom Mugeuk once again realized why the Poison King was the most feared figure in the martial world. Why the Poison King held the greatest deterrent power of all.

This time, the Battle King’s gaze turned to Baek Jagang and Bih Sa-in.

He regretted it. If he had killed those two, the Unorthodox Alliance would’ve fallen into his hands.

Losing the fight, and losing everything because of that defeat—it filled him with bitter regret.

In the end, he turned his eyes and blame toward Geom Mugeuk.

‘It’s that bastard’s fault.’

The Poison King wouldn’t have come if not for that Young Cult Leader.

From the very beginning, everything had gone wrong because of that demonic cult's Young Cult Leader. Even if he died, he wanted to kill that bastard before he went. A burning hatred flared inside him.

“I have one last request. Let me fight the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult.” 3

Baek Jagang flatly refused.

“Not a chance.”

The Battle King tried to provoke Geom Mugeuk next.

“Are you going to remain a cowardly Young Cult Leader?”

Geom Mugeuk looked at him and smiled. When Bih Sa-in, who stood beside him, smiled as well, Geom Mugeuk asked,

“Why are you laughing?”

“I laughed because that man knows so little about you. Ah, if only you were the kind of person who fell for such a cheap ruse.”

Would it really be so good? Bih Sa-in’s mind asked, and his heart answered. No.

“How shameless. After what you did to those children, you still dare to speak of cowardice?”

Even as Bih Sa-in mocked him, the Battle King kept trying to provoke Geom Mugeuk alone.

“Geom Mugeuk, fight me!”

Everyone turned to look at Geom Mugeuk. With a calm and clear gaze, he slowly shook his head.

“I can’t do that, because the Poison King here wouldn’t just sit still if I got hurt. Dying by the Alliance Leader’s blade would hurt less. If the Poison King struck you with poison, you’d die feeling your entire body melt away. Isn’t that right, Poison King?”

When Geom Mugeuk turned to look at the Poison King, he was no longer there.

He was crouched some distance away, in front of a martial artist from the Extreme Forces Brigade.

“Could you move your foot, please?”

The startled martial artist stepped aside, and behind him was some grass.

“Ah, I was right.”

The Poison King carefully began digging up a poison herb.

Seeing the Poison King return to his own world, Geom Mugeuk let out a faint smile. Everyone probably thought the Poison King’s actions carried some hidden meaning, but no one knew the truth. He was simply, genuinely absorbed in collecting poisonous herbs.

At that moment, the Battle King launched a surprise attack, releasing a burst of energy.

A thunderous boom rang out.

His target was Geom Mugeuk.

With one hand, Geom Mugeuk nonchalantly deflected the Battle King’s energy to the sky, all while still looking at the Poison King.

The Poison King was still gathering herbs. And Geom Mugeuk continued to watch him.

The two of them completely ignored the Battle King.

“You bastard! I’ll kill you no matter what!”

The Battle King lost his composure.

He threw the dagger strapped to his side. It was an incredible display of throwing technique, but the blade never reached its mark.

The one who deflected the dagger was Baek Jagang. He no longer had any intention of watching the Battle King throw another fit.

“Look around. Do you see any trace of that so-called immortality you believed in? There’s nothing but greed and regret.”

With the Poison King present, he had no intention of dragging this fight out.

Baek Jagang launched his assault without hesitation.

Swaeeeng!

Boom!

The Battle King, his arm slashed open, couldn’t withstand Baek Jagang’s assault and was helplessly driven backward. With fierce blows, Baek Jagang relentlessly disrupted his energy flow.

Tyrant’s Heaven-Shaking Sword Art – Fifth Form: Ring of Annihilation.

The sword energy flying from Baek Jagang split into dozens of blades, surrounding the Battle King from every direction. There was nowhere to escape.

And just as the final strike was about to pierce through him—

Shooooom.

A black hole appeared under the Battle King’s feet. And in an instant, he was sucked into it and vanished.

Everyone was stunned by the sudden turn of events.

All that remained on the ground were the shredded Immortal Divine Robe he had been wearing, the tattered protective gear, blood-soaked clothing, and the pair of gloves known as the War God. Everything he had worn was left behind, while his body disappeared completely. 4

‘Someone took him!’

Baek Jagang raised his energy and scanned the area. But no matter how hard he searched, he couldn’t detect any unfamiliar presence. Someone had used an astonishing sorcery to extract him.

Baek Jagang looked toward Geom Mugeuk. His gaze asked if he sensed anything, but Geom Mugeuk shook his head.

“The technique used to retrieve him was no ordinary one.”

None of the Twelve Zodiac Kings had such an ability. Unless the Phantom King was still alive… 5

‘Then who in the world was it?’

At least one thing was certain: someone had been closely watching the Battle King. That fact alone was undeniable. After all, the Demonic Cult, the Martial Alliance, and even the Heavenly Wind Cult operations had all failed previously.

‘Whoever it was, they knew the Battle King’s personality. They waited and retrieved him at the very last moment.’

But they couldn’t tell who it was. No one could guess what situation those people were in during this chaotic time.

Despite the fact that the Battle King had escaped mid-battle—something that could have left him rattled—Baek Jagang showed not a trace of hesitation. The look on his face said it all: If he shows up again, I’ll just kill him then.

“He bears a deep grudge against you. Stay alert.”

“He must’ve been fated to die by my hand.”

Just then, the Poison King sent Geom Mugeuk a voice transmission.

—That won’t happen.

—What?

—Wherever that hole led, he’d have been better off dying here.

Geom Mugeuk understood clearly now. The Poison King had already poisoned him—something horrific and terrifying.

—Figured he’d die at the hands of the Alliance Leader before the poison spread.

The Poison King must have been utterly incapable of forgiving the Battle King. He had imposed a symbolic punishment upon the man who used poison through children, but in the end, it had become a very real punishment.

If the Poison King intended for him to die, then he would certainly die. Geom Mugeuk trusted the Poison King’s skill. He also believed in retribution for the crime of using forbidden poison in a forbidden way. 6

—As expected! Our Poison King is a man of foresight.

Just then, someone shouted from the side.

“Come at me! I’ll kill at least one of you before I die!”

Sahon, panicked after his master vanished, lashed out with his sword in a final frenzy.

That was when it happened.

Without a sound, someone appeared behind him and softly wrapped an arm around his neck.

Crack.

Before he could even resist, Sahon’s neck was snapped.

As he collapsed like a sack of straw, the one who revealed himself from behind was Monster Evil. He had arrived late, after recovering from his wounds through breathing exercises at the original battle site.

“Are you all right?”

Bih Sa-in asked with concern, and Monster Evil gave a nod.

“I’m fine.”

“That’s a relief.”

Bih Sa-in looked at him with sincere gratitude. He would no longer look at people and casually judge them as he had in the past.

He had longed for this moment. Now that the crisis was over, he resolved to build better, deeper relationships. He wouldn’t give in to laziness or indifference when it mattered most. From now on, he would follow Geom Mugeuk’s example, even if only half as much.

Hyeok Sagun, now completely alone and discarded, could only think of biting his tongue to escape the pain of his upcoming retribution, but in the end, he never managed to bring himself to do it. He had desperately believed that the Battle King would come to save him. No—he had sensed since the start that he wouldn’t, but dying was still too frightening for him.

Bih Sa-in spoke coldly to him.

“You’ll pay the price for chasing a foolish dream.”

The martial artists from the Extreme Forces Brigade dragged the silent and dejected Hyeok Sagun away.

Thus, the long battle with the Battle King came to an end.

Baek Jagang said to Geom Mugeuk,

“Let’s head back to the Alliance together first. Even if we part ways later, we should at least share a farewell drink.”

They couldn’t let the man who had saved them all leave just like that. Geom Mugeuk readily agreed.

“Of course. Please serve me the best wine in the Unorthodox Alliance.”

Baek Jagang reached out his hand, and the War God gauntlets that had fallen to the ground flew into his grasp.

He handed War God to Geom Mugeuk.

“This is the only thing worth taking. You have it.” 7

He said it like it was nothing, but War God was the finest of gauntlets. A treasure so valuable it defied appraisal—a truly great gift.

He didn’t feel the slightest hesitation. If not for Geom Mugeuk, the outcome could have been horrifying.

“Why are you giving me this?”

“You came a long way—sell it for travel expenses, at least. What? You don’t want it?”

“Of course not!”

Geom Mugeuk quickly snatched the gloves.

“I’ll ride back in a golden carriage.”

This time, Baek Jagang turned to the Poison King.

“Demon Supreme, you should return to the Alliance with us.”

“I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave here.”

The Poison King bid farewell to Baek Jagang.

Baek Jagang didn’t press further. He wasn’t particularly eager for the Poison King and the Poison Fangs to enter the Unorthodox Alliance anyway.

Geom Mugeuk sent the Poison King a voice transmission.

—Please wait at the safe house! I’ll visit you soon. Don’t leave without me—let’s return together!

It would be best if he waited at the safe house where Jo Chunbae’s family was resting, and they could return together.

—Let’s gather some poison herbs on the way.

—Why didn’t you bring your full-time gatherer? You know, the precious person you even prepare special meals for—meals you wouldn’t bother to give to your own Young Cult Leader.

—That person’s been busy lately.

The Poison King departed with his followers. Watching his retreating figure, Geom Mugeuk felt an urge to go with him.

Just wait a little longer, please. I’ll be there soon, as soon as I finish up here.

Thus, after parting with the Poison King, Geom Mugeuk headed to the Unorthodox Alliance with Baek Jagang.

As they walked together, Baek Jagang suddenly remembered something and asked,

“You said you had a request for me after this was all over, didn’t you?”

He was curious—what kind of request could it be? Bih Sa-in, walking alongside them, was also wondering. After all, Geom Mugeuk had said he had a request for him too.

“Do you want a martial arts manual or some treasure stored in the Alliance archives? Or maybe an elixir?”

“No, that won’t be necessary. What I’d like is for you, Alliance Leader, to come somewhere with me.”

“To where?”

Then, from Geom Mugeuk’s mouth came words Baek Jagang would never have expected.

“I’d like to treat you to a drink at my favorite tavern in front of the Cult.” 8

1 : Are you going to say he walks on water and part the seas too ? XDXDXD

2 : Not everyone can be Mugeuk XDXDXD

3 : Nope. You didn’t show enough honor for your request to be granted.

4 : What a weird way to escape. So it turned his body immaterial ? At least we’ve got some loot.

5 : Back then, you only saw the public face of the corruption, Mugeuk.

6 : What an anticlimactic way to kill a boss though. Just dying off-screen…. Oh well, that’s karma for you indeed. And though not having an epic fight later is disappointing, it’s both realistic, and less headache-inducing for us later. I’ll still keep an eye open just in case. With such weird techniques, you never know.

7 : Yaaaayyyy !!! Finally, our sweet and delicious loot !!! It’s all ours, our precio-wait, NO. We said no Golluming. Bad.

8 : AH !!! I knew there would be a Martial World Summit at the Flowing Wind tavern !!! I just didn’t expect it to happen so soon ^^