Chapter 65

The stare is terrifying.

Under the murderous gaze I felt my body lock by itself.

Crazy. What is that.

I held my expression together with everything I had.

The way it raked over me felt packed with yin energy.

So intense the whole room seemed about to turn cold.

This is going to drive me nuts.

The feeling is bad from the start. I couldn’t study it closely, but it was a ghost.

And—

...It’s quite strong.

Not some middling ghost—its presence was overwhelming.

Its body was relatively distinct, and the yin pouring off it was the same.

The one mercy was that it didn’t seem to be a wicked—

[Is it this bastard? Yoo Cheongil’s dogshit disciple?]

Maybe not. Looked like it was a wicked ghost after all.

Damn it...

Forcing down the cold sweat, I swallowed dry.

Then gazes from both sides fixed on me.

Do Hyeong and Cheon Eujin were looking my way. What? Why are they—ah. Right.

Tang Gyeongak had asked who the Sword Saint’s successor was.

“...”

I hesitated for a long beat. I should answer without a second thought, but I couldn’t.

[Yoo Cheongil, that dogshit bastard.]

How am I supposed to speak up when that wicked ghost is glaring around like that.

...What the hell did he do?

What on earth did that damned old man do? What did he do to make a ghost snarl like that?

A dozen questions flashed through me but—

“It’s me.”

That didn’t mean I could stand there doing nothing.

As I spoke and stepped forward, I felt the focus of one man and one ghost swing toward me.

Tang Gyeongak looked at me as if to say, So, you.

And the ghost behind him—

[So it’s you.]

It came right up and shoved its face at mine.

Wow, fuck, that’s filthy scary.

With it suddenly closing in, I nearly screamed without meaning to.

But—

[...This one?]

The ghost looked me up and down and let doubt into its voice.

It couldn’t make sense of it, plain as day.

Somehow I felt oddly insulted.

“You were Bang Sungyeon, yes?”

“Yes.”

I nodded at Tang Gyeongak’s words.

“You say you are Elder Yoo’s successor?”

“I am.”

“Mm.”

As the ghost had, Tang Gyeongak also looked me over here and there.

A heartbeat later, he rose from where he sat.

“Tang Gyeongak of the Tang Clan greets the Sword Saint’s successor.”

“...!”

He offered me courtesy. A King Under Heaven bowed his head to me.

I stiffened on reflex for a moment.

I hadn’t expected the Poison King to show me such courtesy. From the looks on their faces, Do Hyeong and Cheon Eujin also found it extraordinary.

Same as before—this wasn’t a time to freeze.

I hurried to return the courtesy.

“...I am Bang Sungyeon of the Bang Family of Liaoning. It is an honor to meet the Clan Head.”

Earlier I’d said Bang Sungyeon of the Blue Moon Sect, but this time I named the Bang Family of Liaoning.

Purely because I was meeting the Clan Head as the Sword Saint’s successor.

Tang Gyeongak’s stance was the same.

He was treating me not as Bang Sungyeon of the Blue Moon Sect, but as the Sword Saint’s successor, and thus he paid courtesy.

[Hmmm... mmm...]

Even so, the ghost clinging behind him still wore a look like something just didn’t sit right.

Naturally, that I had to ignore.

After the bows, I showed Tang Gyeongak the wooden case I was holding.

“...This is my master’s item that we mentioned by letter.”

“This is...”

When I lifted the case holding Full Moon, Tang Gyeongak slowly reached out a hand.

As if he meant to touch it, I reached and drew the case back.

“...?”

“Ah.”

The two impressive men on either side flinched at what I did.

Their faces said: What are you doing to the Poison King.

I understand. If I were watching, I’d also ask what kind of madness this was.

But the reason was clear.

Looking to Tang Gyeongak, I spoke.

“Clan Head. You have not yet affixed your seals.”

“...”

At that, his eyes narrowed a fraction.

I worried he might take the correction poorly, but it had to be said.

“My apologies.”

Thankfully, he began with an apology.

“I ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ was excited at thinking it was Elder Yoo’s item and committed a great discourtesy. I beg pardon.”

“Think nothing of it. I can see how that might happen.”

No sooner had I finished speaking than he took out a letter from the table. It bore the formal sigil of the Tang Clan.

Seeing that, I nudged Do Hyeong in the ribs beside me.

Only then did he also take out a letter from his breast.

This one bore the sigil of the Blue Moon Sect.

We exchanged them.

“As master of the Tang Clan, I accept the Blue Moon Sect’s commission.”

“As proxy for the Sect Master of the Blue Moon Sect, I confirm the Tang Clan’s acceptance.”

Speaking thus, both sides pressed seals into their letters.

At that moment the commission’s acceptance became official.

Only after I watched them tuck the letters away did I hand the wooden case to Tang Gyeongak.

He received it and cracked it open.

“...”

He checked it in silence.

“I have confirmed the item. I will issue orders to Iron River as set out in the commission.”

Closing the case again, he spoke to us.

Only then did everyone nod, relieved.

Iron River...

As I understood it, that was the Tang Clan’s ironworking quarter.

Their famed arms and gear—the ones you can’t procure even with money—were said to come from there.

“It must have been a long journey, so I expect you are weary. I would have you rest well today and meet again tomorrow, but...?”

“Your consideration is appreciated.”

Do Hyeong added nothing more and returned the courtesy.

If he could rest, he would want to.

Same for me.

As he said, we’d handed over Full Moon, so now we could rest a bit.

I was thinking just that, about to step out the door—

“Ah, might I speak with Bang for a moment?”

“Pardon?”

At Tang Gyeongak’s words I faltered.

Me...? With that ghost in back already glaring daggers at me, I felt burdened to death—he wants to detain me?

With a heart that absolutely didn’t want this, I looked at Tang Gyeongak, but—

“It concerns the commission.”

“...”

He put forth a reason I couldn’t refuse.

Hearing that, I turned to the two of them with a face like I was halfway to dead.

“...See you later.”

It felt like being led to the slaughterhouse.

****

With Do Hyeong and Cheon Eujin gone, only Tang Gyeongak and I remained in the room.

I was gulping dryly, feeling like I could get indigestion any second, when—

“Forgive me for keeping you when you must be tired.”

Tang Gyeongak spoke.

“Not at all. A private audience with the Clan Head of the Tang Clan—this is an invaluable experience one doesn’t get just anywhere. Think nothing of it.”

Right. Where would you ever try this.

I’d never imagined in my life that I’d have an interview with the Tang Clan’s Clan Head.

And I’d have preferred never to know it.

Especially—

[No matter how I look at it, it’s strange.]

Because of the ghost that had been sticking its face in mine since a moment ago.

[This kid is that guy’s disciple?]

It was maddening. I wished it would stop circling me.

[No way... There’s no way one of his disciples would be this intact. There’s no way that lunatic would have a disciple this normal.]

Tremendous certainty. I even sympathized.

What is this ghost? Why do I suddenly relate?

Is it actually a decent ghost? No. It’s a bit much to think that just from—

[He’s even handsome. Unlike that guy.]

Confirmed. This ghost was a good ghost.

“Bang.”

“...Ah. Yes, Clan Head.”

I hauled my drifting mind back in.

“Do you know why I detained you like this?”

Do I know the reason?

Well...

“As you said yourself—because of Full Moon, I imagine.”

“Correct.”

Creak. He opened the case again in front of me. Then he took out Full Moon.

[...Hah... damn it.]

The ghost snapped the instant it saw it.

[How the hell did that dogshit bastard use it to make it look like this.]

It must have been furious; I could see it bare its teeth as it came up on Full Moon.

What had it so angry?

[We went to the trouble to make it, and this is how he treats it? I ought to tear him apart—it wouldn’t even be enough!]

“...!”

At that I froze my body by force. Otherwise I was going to jolt to my feet in shock.

Made it?

Made Full Moon?

That ghost...?

An unforeseen bit of information.

Come to think—

Didn’t they say the old man’s “snack pantry” built in the Blue Moon Sect was also made by the Tang Clan?

I’m sure they did.

Is this coincidence...? However I looked at it, it wasn’t.

If I knew it would be like this, I should’ve asked him to come along.

Yoo Cheongil wasn’t at my side now. The moment we arrived in Sichuan he said he’d be back after stepping out for a bit and vanished.

What kind of ghost is that free-spirited.

If you go wherever you want, how is that a ghost.

Or not. Maybe it’s better he didn’t come, right now?

Who could have guessed a ghost would be stuck to the Poison King.

In a situation like this, maybe that was for the best.

Anyway—

I set that aside for now and focused on the Poison King before me.

“When we agreed to take on repairs of this saber, do you remember the condition the Tang Clan set for the Blue Moon Sect?”

“...I remember.”

I came because of that condition, so of course I remember.

“That the Sword Saint’s successor will personally bring Full Moon. That was it.”

“Correct.”

Because of that damned line I came all the way to Sichuan—how could I forget.

But why bring this up now? When I looked at him with the question in my eyes—

“The reason the Tang Clan insisted on seeing you in person was the former Clan Head’s last will.”

As if he’d been waiting, he laid it out.

“His last will?”

“He wished to see Full Moon again—the greatest work of his life. And I hear he made a pledge with Elder Yoo.”

Hearing that, a bad feeling crept in.

The former Clan Head made Full Moon. Strange enough—yet we have the one who made Full Moon right here in front of us.

“May I ask what the will was...?”

“That if someday the two of them each took a disciple, they would have those disciples fight a duel to see whose was stronger.”

“...Well then.”

What a spectacularly shitty promise. Absolutely, magnificently damned.

“Don’t tell me... that’s why you called me...?”

“Both have already passed on, so there’s no need to force anything... but as it was a last will, I feel we should honor it if possible. What do you think?”

“...”

Come all the way to Sichuan to duel someone I don’t even know because of a will?

And... in the Tang Clan?

Hmm.

The thought alone gave me chills.

I hated it—hated it thoroughly. Naturally I wanted no part of it, so I had to refuse...

How to refuse.

After a short struggle, I spoke to Tang Gyeongak.

“...I can do it, but I have one condition.”

“Hmm?”

His expression creased at my words.

A condition? Laying down a condition out of the blue?

“Bang, what do you—”

He wore an awkward look as he spoke.

They’d invited me in good faith to repair Full Moon; this wasn’t a situation where I had any business laying down terms.

But at what I said next, Tang Gyeongak had to take it differently.

“I won’t be able to lend you Full Moon.”

“...What?”

“That’s what you need right now, isn’t it? Full Moon.”

“...”

[Heh.]

At my flat words, the ghost that had been still reacted.

[What is this kid?]

Ssshhhh—!!

With the words, a stale cold surged through the room.