Chapter 294

From within the shattered device, poisoned needles that had not yet fired spilled out. These were Cheonrim throwing weapons called Heaven-Poison Soul-Melting Needles, and no fewer than four poisons were smeared on them at once: Linked-Serpent Blood Poison that coagulates the blood; Thousand-Year Paralysis Poison that numb-paralyzes the nerves; Resonant Hallucination Poison that confuses the mind; and Hansa Corrosion Poison that melts flesh and bone.

These four poisons usually cannot coexist.

Even when they can, managing two together is about the limit, but Cheonrim had conducted research to bind all four of these extreme toxins into one, and the Hall Lord of Viper Hall, now deceased, completed it.

If this toxin entered the body all at once, even a Heaven-Earth Apex master would struggle to last a single double-hour.

“Heavenly Arbiter...”

In a trembling voice, Ya Mukcheon slid his gaze toward Sa Seollan.

“This is... the Cheonrim Five Poisons Array. But for it to be set up here means...”

“...What? Why are you looking at me while you say that?”

“Because it isn’t me.”

“Well, well... our Mukcheon’s all grown up. Because I kept quiet, I look like some simpleton to you? Even if I am the Killing Lord, bringing in something like the Cheonrim Five Poisons Array isn’t easy. If anything, not me—you, the Shadow Lord who handles the research side, would have had an easier time bringing it in.”

“Don’t be absurd. Though the research on the Five Poisons Array did happen on our side, this is a perfect Cheonrim Five Poisons Array. As I recall, five completed units exist: one is with the Forest Lord Yeon Songbaek, one with the Preceptor, and another at Cheonrim’s Yesong branch.”

“...”

“And the remaining two were sold on the black market.”

Sa Seollan let out a thin laugh.

“So, of the two that were sold, I bought one?”

“It’s not impossible. Even taking the fastest route, we changed from the usual path as we moved—of those who know this route, it’s you, Sa Seollan.”

“Did this bastard sneak some pills in the middle of the night? And why are you excluded?”

“Because it isn’t me.”

“It isn’t me either, so that makes it you.”

Sa Seollan drew a dagger from the opposite side of her belt, face gone cold, and in answer Ya Mukcheon pulled the sword at his hip.

What broke apart the standoff—about to explode at any moment—was Unhwi’s calm voice.

“Mu Cheoru set it.”

Both turned to Unhwi.

“Even if the timing feels off, at the level of a Cheonrim Guardian God it’s no trouble to trace our path—more so when this is the Poison Lord’s territory. That’s the more reasonable conclusion.”

Even at Unhwi’s words, Ya Mukcheon and Sa Seollan’s expressions stayed complex.

Both knew: the likelihood was slim.

So why was Unhwi saying that?

In a situation where it was growing more and more certain there was a traitor among them, did he have something prepared separately?

Or did he already know something?

Unhwi quietly mounted.

Given the level of the needles, the pond wouldn’t be contaminated until launch.

Because this was a device, not a martial technique, even a Mythic-Stage warrior would not have anticipated it.

Since Unhwi had stated clearly it was not the two’s betrayal, it was right to move on.

“Enough. Mount up—we’re leaving.”

Even at Unhwi’s words, the two hesitated a moment.

Unhwi sighed.

“Are you planning to decide life and death here? The loser is the traitor and the winner the one who rooted them out—is that what you want?”

“...”

“A crack has already started between you two.”

At that, both pairs of eyes flashed.

“Seo Hyo would be delighted to hear that.”

“...I’m sorry.”

That was Ya Mukcheon.

“I’ll restrain myself.”

That was Sa Seollan.

“Then mount. We leave at once.”

“Understood.”

***

Pushing their speed higher, the three reached Cheongpung City within one double-hour. Cheongpung was, as rumor had it, bustling. All manner of merchants hawked wares in the streets, and the smells of spices and medicinal herbs filled the air.

“Where is Mu Cheoru?”

“At the Heavenly Poison Consortium in the middle of the market. As its Guildmaster, Mu Cheoru is the ruler who dominates the Cheongpung area.”

“Ruler?”

“Yes. Even the Magistrate of the Heavenly Poison Market here doesn’t defy Mu Cheoru. To be explicit, this Heavenly Poison Market is Mu Cheoru’s domain—his alone.”

Unhwi gave a faint laugh.

“For that, we entered without much trouble.”

That puzzled Ya Mukcheon and Sa Seollan as well.

Who had mounted the continuing ambushes?

If it wasn’t one of them, it had to have been Mu Cheoru; if so, why let them in this easily?

They had even walked right up to the entrance of the Heavenly Poison Consortium, and there had been no checks on their way in past this point.

As if inviting them in, the way lay wide open.

It was truly strange.

Then it wasn’t Mu Cheoru?

Ya Mukcheon and Sa Seollan looked at each other at the same time.

Thinking it over—

...She’s sly, but not someone who’d pull a trick so obvious it’d be caught at once.

That was Ya Mukcheon’s thought.

This bastard’s deranged, but he doesn’t handle work like a moron.

That was Sa Seollan’s.

Which left Mu Cheoru after all.

It made no sense.

Was that truly his level?

He planned the ambushes, and even set the Cheonrim Five Poisons Array at the pond where they’d paused after repeatedly shifting their route?

Ya Mukcheon and Sa Seollan had lived in the martial world since before they ever entered Cheonrim. They’d seen every kind of sight there was to see and more; their instincts were on a different plane from ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) an ordinary Mythic-Stage warrior’s.

On top of that, there was Unhwi—so this man had evaded all three sets of senses, and on top of it predicted them and dug a trap? If the Poison Lord were truly capable of that, he’d not only be Forest Lord of Cheonrim—he’d be contending for hegemony over the Central Plains.

In the martial world, cultivation is absolute—but more absolute than that is the mind.

A stupid warrior will never seize hegemony.

Not even at Solitary Dominion.

Before long, a man approached the three.

“Guildmaster Jin awaits you. I’ll guide you.”

He led the way.

The place they arrived was a vast outer villa attached to the Heavenly Poison Consortium.

There, a man in a great robe-cloak that more than covered his whole body awaited them with a cup in one hand.

He looked to be in his early forties, with a pallid face and a thin frame that left an impression. But his eyes were cold as a viper’s.

The man spoke.

“I’ve been waiting.”

His gaze shifted to Unhwi.

“Heavenly Arbiter Seol Unhwi of the Heavenly Alliance, and...”

He looked, in turn, at the other two.

“Shadow Lord Ya Mukcheon. Killing Lord Sa Seollan.”

He cocked his head.

“What brings you two here?”

The pair did not answer. Shrugging, the man addressed Unhwi.

“A pleasure. I am Mu Cheoru, Poison Lord of Cheonrim.”

“So, Mu Cheoru. You’re surprisingly forthright.”

“...Putting aside your informality—well, have I any reason not to be forthright?”

Frowning as if annoyed, Mu Cheoru let a sneer curl his lips.

“Absorbing Cheonrim’s forces into the Heavenly Alliance... not necessarily bad, but shouldn’t it be the other way around?”

“The other way around?”

“I think it more ideal for Cheonrim to absorb the Heavenly Alliance.”

“Is that so.”

“Well, the Five Sword Sects and the Outer Demonic Sects have joined; at your level you must know—the Martial Alliance will start moving soon.”

Unhwi smiled faintly.

“Your insight is better than I expected. Then let me ask: do you know why I came?”

“Of course. To persuade me to enter the Heavenly Alliance. If you wish it, I’ll oblige.”

Unhwi’s brow twitched.

The way Mu Cheoru spoke, as if doing him a favor, almost made him laugh out loud, but he held his tongue.

Mu Cheoru continued.

“First, assign me one strike unit of the Heavenly Alliance. Second, Cheongpung City will be solely under my jurisdiction—I’ll take no interference from anyone but the Alliance Lord or a Vice Alliance Lord. Third, every half-year, a fixed subsidy from the Alliance—”

“I can’t grant that.”

“...What?”

“There are limits to not knowing your place. You want too much.”

Mu Cheoru’s brows drew tight.

“...You didn’t come to persuade me?”

“Everyone keeps saying the same thing.”

“...Pardon?”

“I never intended to persuade you, so whatever you demand isn’t worth hearing.”

Unhwi began to walk forward.

“I made an offer through Seo Hyo, and you refused it.”

Sensing the shift, the Poison Lord slowly rose.

“My trust in Seo Hyo is absolute. You aren’t someone who gets to weigh that Seo Hyo on a scale—so I am left with only one correct course of action.”

Unhwi’s foot sank the earth.

A flash.

Just as Mu Cheoru moved to scatter the bundles of poisons at his waist—

Kraaang—!!

The entire area froze.

Mu Cheoru could do nothing further.

Thunk.

Unhwi’s hand closed around his throat.

From Unhwi’s eyes, gone pure white, Mu Cheoru read only one thing.

Killing intent.

“W-wait... perhaps we should have a talk—”

“I have one question.”

“S-speak...”

“Do you have a Cheonrim Five Poisons Array?”

“Of course... of course! Beneath my sleeping chamber!”

“I see.”

“You’ll... spare me?”

“As if.”

Crack—

Mu Cheoru’s neck snapped where he stood.

The whole scene could be summarized by the round-eyed stares of Ya Mukcheon and Sa Seollan.

So he hadn’t come to persuade at all—he’d come to do this.

Unhwi turned his head.

He seemed intent on making one thing clear here.

“I’ll say it again: you two did not set the Cheonrim Five Poisons Array.”

“...But if Mu Cheoru had one, wouldn’t that mean it wasn’t him either? Then who on earth—”

“No.”

Unhwi’s eyes were firm.

“Mu Cheoru had two Cheonrim Five Poisons Arrays.”

“...What?”

“He used one of them. Keep it at that.”

Not once had Mu Cheoru said he possessed two Five Poisons Arrays.

He hadn’t said he laid the trap, either.

And yet this was the conclusion.

“...So—you already know who devised the stratagem?”

Unhwi smiled slightly.

“I already told you. Mu Cheoru did.”

“...”

“Would putting one more thing on a corpse’s cart change anything?”

“...But...”

“Just remember this: I trust Seo Hyo, and I trust you whom Seo Hyo trusts. That should be enough.”

The pair looked at Unhwi with complex expressions.

He was surely a man who could shake the martial world.

The air about him was unmistakably that of a sovereign.

He trusts his people, without fail.

There was nothing to say.

It exceeded the rumors.

“I think I’ve shown my trust enough...”

Unhwi shifted his gaze.

Warriors of the Heavenly Poison Consortium were rushing out.

“Now I want to see your ability.”

The man and woman nodded.