< Episode 41: King of Poisonous Poison (3) >
Inside the manor of King Baek Sa-ha, one of the Five Kings.
This place, also known as the Manor of the Baek Family, was crowded with relatives of the Baek Family for the first birthday party.
Even if we did not receive guests from outside, there were dozens of relatives alone.
In the garden, guests were cooking in a temporary outdoor kitchen for a long party, and relatives were sitting at a table drinking and celebrating their first birthday.
While the feast was going on for a while, Baek Sa-ha’s wife, Lady Jang, got up from her seat and headed somewhere when she received an urgent message.
Mrs. Jang clicked her tongue and said as she walked down the street.
“You came here at last.”
“yes. “Because he was in mourning for three years, today would have been the only good reason to come.”
The man with slitted eyes who appeared to be in his early thirties who answered her question was Baek So-gang, the second son of King Baek Sa-ha of the Islands and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The reason they moved the location so quickly was because of sudden guests.
“Did you say the second Confucius and the third lady?”
“yes. “Everyone brought their henchmen with them.”
“Whew. “It looks like you made a plan.”
“What should I do? “I came because I wanted to receive support from my father.”
“I guess so.”
In the current Cheonjihoe, the succession battle was becoming increasingly fierce.
Due to rumors that Hoeju’s illness had deepened, the movements of his successors became more agile.
Meanwhile, none of Hoeju’s disciples supported Baeksaha, the king of Seomdok.
That’s why they will try to get some kind of confirmation today.
“This is really troublesome.”
“That’s right. “But wasn’t this a problem that would come sooner or later?”
“Even so, don’t you know your father’s disposition?”
“That’s right… Phew.”
Baek Sa-he’s second son, Foreign Minister Baek Shao-gang, sighed.
As my mother said, my father never repeats the words he once said.
So I became concerned.
I wonder if four months will happen for no reason.
“Did you share a room?”
Baek Sogang, the second son, nodded in response to Mrs. Jang’s question.
It was inevitable that there would be no way to know what would happen if the two successors were placed in the same reception room.
Then she said.
“When you arrive, please join us in one room.”
“yes? But if you do that…”
“If you do it separately, it becomes more difficult to refuse.”
“ah······.”
“It would be better to show that you don’t choose anyone when you’re together, then he’ll go away.”
“Mom, what you said is correct.”
The second son, Baek So-gang, seemed to be convinced and nodded his head in response.
It was just as they were trying to climb over the edge of the separate building where the reception room was located.
“Please wait a moment!”
At that time, someone hurriedly ran towards them.
He was none other than one of the warriors guarding the entrance to the manor.
“Ma’am, Goddess.”
Madam Zhang asked in confusion.
“What’s going on?”
“Well, one more customer has arrived now.”
“customer? “Didn’t they tell you to ask for understanding and send them back unless they were relatives or people you had decided in advance?”
“yes. That’s right…”
I gave you instructions in advance, so why did you come here?
She said, shaking her head.
“If you do, send it back.”
“Look at this.”
With those words, the warrior guarding the entrance to the manor took something out of his chest.
It is none other than,
“no. that?”
It was the senior plaque at the gate of Sihyeolgok.
And not just one, but three senior trophies.
A wrinkle appeared between Mrs. Zhang’s eyebrows as she knew what this meant.
* * *
Jang Neung-ak, Hoeju’s second disciple, and Wi So-yeon, his third disciple, gathered in one reception room.
And behind them were their respective henchmen.
“Whoa.”
Jang Neungak sighed as if he was annoyed.
Since he entered the manor first, he naturally thought that he would be able to meet King Baek Sa-ha faster than Wei So-yeon.
But they made me wait in the reception room, and now they call me into the same room.
Thanks to this, he felt very uncomfortable.
‘······I don’t know if I should say it’s fortunate or not.’
——————
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The uncomfortable thing was the same for Wi So-yeon.
Fortunately, the second brother was able to avoid meeting King Seomdog first, but persuasion could have been difficult if they faced each other like this.
This is because it could have been a situation where they had to keep each other in check, and if they blatantly put each other down, it could easily lead to an all-out war.
-Drur!
At that time, the door opened and a gray-haired woman who appeared to be in her late fifties appeared in the heavily sunken guest room.
Seeing her with a sense of elegance, the second disciple, Jang Neung-ak, and the third disciple, Wi So-yeon, stood up at the same time and bowed with their hands together.
“I meet the great lady of the Baek family.”
“It’s been a while, goddamn.”
Since they were both disciples of Huaiju, they were already familiar with her.
Wi So-yeon also took off her bamboo ribs and white cotton thread out of respect for Lady Jang, the wife of King Seomdok and the godmother of the Baek family.
She struck first.
“Congratulations on your grandchild’s first birthday.”
‘This bitch.’
Jang Neungak frowned slightly, then forced a smile and said.
“It’s truly a blessing.”
‘Ahhh.’
Mrs. Jang clicked her tongue inwardly at the congratulations of these two people.
I don’t know how they can give me congratulatory greetings but still have such a subtle war of nerves.
It was very visible that they were conscious of each other.
Of course, I understood it because it was a competitive relationship.
-Sigh!
“thank you. “I am humbled that two of Hoeju’s disciples came to such a shabby place and congratulated me on my grandson’s safety.”
“Of course it is something that should be congratulated. But what about King Seomdog and Lord Soga?”
Jang Nung-ak looked at her second son, Baek So-gang, the foreign minister next to her, and asked carefully.
Of course, Mrs. Jang, who is the godwife, can also be said to be the adult of this family, but I was wondering why even Sogaju, who could be said to be the true protagonist of the first birthday party, did not show up when the successors who could become the heads of the Cheonjihoe in the future came.
This answer was given by the second son, Baek So-gang.
“I’m sorry. “We are currently having a first birthday party, and my brother has to attend to his relatives, so I couldn’t leave in time, so my mother and I ended up welcoming him.”
“iced coffee. is that so?”
“yes. “Please understand.”
“Is there any reason to understand and go to sleep? “I came while a party was in progress, so it’s natural for me to be busy.”
Wei Xiaoyeon spoke softly with a smile.
Jang Neung-ak also lost to this.
“You don’t have to worry. I am not that shameless person. “Hehehe.”
It was a truly amusing sight.
Jang Neungak’s arrogant attitude must have been quite famous within the Cheonjihoe, but it felt strange to see him trying to please others like this.
‘I guess that means I need my father’s support that much.’
At that time, Jang Neungak pointed to the gift box placed next to him and said.
“But now that I’m here, it’s been a while since I’ve been here, so I’d like to see the King of Island Poisons, even if it’s just out of courtesy.”
Seeing Jang Neung-ak rhyming first, Wi So-yeon spoke as if in agreement.
“I think he had the same thoughts about the death penalty as I did. “I also wanted to meet the king of islands in person for the first time in a long time, congratulate him, and talk about various things.”
Hearing her words, Jang Neungak let out a light breath.
I don’t like the idea of interfering in any way.
It looks like he’s trying to interfere with his work, but do you think he can get away with it so easily?
-Wow!
Jang Neung-ak spread out his fan and fanned himself and said.
“I don’t know if it’s really necessary for Samae to be here. “I’m going to meet the king of islands as a representative, so why don’t you go back?”
“Is that possible? “This is a place where I can see someone who is like my uncle for the first time in a long time, so it would be rude to leave without even seeing his face.”
“Is there any reason to think it’s rude? “Don’t worry, I’ll tell you well.”
“no. it’s okay.”
Wi So-yeon refuses outright.
Jang Neungak glared at her fiercely.
Mrs. Jang clicked her tongue as she looked at the two successors who were now openly showing hostility towards each other.
‘The situation I was worried about may happen.’
Mrs. Jang finally tried to intervene, as if she thought it wouldn’t work.
“Two minutes…”
At that time, a voice was heard from outside the reception room.
“Ma’am, Goddess. A disciple of Amjongju has arrived.”
‘!?’
Hearing this, Jang Neungak and Wei Soyeon frowned at the same time.
What is this sound?
‘How can he?’
‘He came in?’
The two naturally assumed that Mok Gyeong-un would have returned after only delivering the gift.
But I had no idea how he got into the manor.
Then, Mrs. Jang put her hands together towards the two people, bowed her head slightly, and opened her mouth.
“I’m sorry, but would it be okay if I also invited the female sect master’s disciple here for a while?”
“What about a disciple of the Lord Amjong?”
“I think I should ask for the same understanding from the two of you and from Amjongju’s disciple.”
“Same understanding?”
Jang Neung-ak and Wi So-yeon could not hide their surprise at Mrs. Jang’s words.
What on earth are you trying to say?
However, they were in a disappointing situation right now, and it was difficult to refuse her understanding in order to make themselves look good.
“······That’s right.”
“I’m fine too.”
Eventually, the door opened and Mok Gyeong-un appeared.
Mok Gyeong-un bowed his head and bowed to everyone.
“This is Mok Gyeong-un, a disciple of Lord Amjong.”
‘······It’s not the usual off-white color.’
Madam Jang, who saw Mo Qingyun’s face, couldn’t help but be impressed.
For the first time, I see the face of a man who makes me feel more beautiful than tall.
But that was only for a moment,
“You were a disciple of the Lord Amjong. “I am Baek Sa-ha’s wife.”
“iced coffee. “It was Madam, your godwife.”
Mok Kyung-un bowed lightly again with his hands together.
Then, she was about to introduce Jang Neung-ak and Wi So-yeon, but Jang Neung-ak waved his hand and said,
“We already said hello outside. ma’am.”
“Oh, is that so?”
“yes. “I said hello to both of you.”
In response to Mok Kyung-un’s answer, Mrs. Jang pointed to an empty chair and said,
“If you do, please sit down.”
“yes. thank you.”
Mok Kyung-un went there, glanced at everyone, and then sat down.
There was Wi So-yeon next to him,
“How did you get in?”
She whispered softly to Mok Kyung-un.
Mok Kyung-un smiled and answered her question.
“I have some business to run.”
“I’m not asking that right now…”
It was before Wi Soyeon’s words had even finished.
Mrs. Jang said, bowing her head with her hands folded towards all the guests.
“I feel like I have to apologize to the guests who have gathered like this and ask for their understanding. As you know, our nobleman is currently completing his third year of mourning. So even now, we are all wearing mourning clothes.”
Of course, no one knew this.
She continued speaking.
“Thank you for coming here. “I think it will be difficult for my husband to meet anyone right now.”
“······What do you mean by that?”
Jang Neungak asked with narrowed eyes.
Mrs. Jang answered his question.
“That’s literally it. My husband is disconnected from the outside world. “That’s why I have no choice but to ask for your understanding.”
“Haonde, aren’t you having a first birthday party right now?”
“He didn’t even come to the first birthday party.”
At Mrs. Jang’s words, both Jang Nung-ak and Wi So-yeon became speechless.
I took today as an opportunity to come and visit, but who would have expected that I would come into the house and be told that I couldn’t meet him.
No matter how much he was a member of the Five Kings, it was difficult to understand that he was sent away without even showing his face when he was visited by not only other people but also successors competing for the position of the next leader.
As both of them were feeling uncomfortable due to unexpected variables and were unable to readily answer that they understood, Mrs. Jang said to Mok Gyeong-un.
“Similarly, Amjongju’s disciple also just walked away this time…”
“That seems difficult.”
‘!?’
The intention to refuse comes out before the words are even finished.
Hearing Mo Qingyun’s words like this, Madam Jang frowned and looked at Mo Qingyun.
As Baek Sa-ha’s wife, she earnestly asks for understanding. What kind of speech habit is this?
“I definitely said I would ask for your understanding…”
“I’m sorry, but as far as I know, the benefit of three senior plaques is determined by conference rules, so no one can refuse it.”
“······.”
At these words, the great lady bit her lower lip.
Mo Gyeong-un’s words were accurate.
Anyone who holds the three chief tablets of the Sihyeolgok Gate can ask for guidance from any official.
And the executive cannot refuse this.
Since it was established as a meeting rule, everyone had to accept it.
But the problem was that Baeksaha, the king of island poisons, was now in a state where no one could meet him.
That’s why she deliberately asked for understanding in a euphemistic way in front of all of Hoeju’s disciples.
They thought that by doing so, Mok Gyeong-un would take notice of them and not ask for further instruction.
But that expectation was different.
‘This kid is really…’
Are you clueless? Are you stubborn?
Whatever it was, it was really difficult.
Here, if Mo Qingyun was allowed to meet as an exception due to the rules of the meeting, what would be the position of the successors?
It could literally be said to be a dilemma.
In fact, Jang Neungak and Wi Soyeon were concentrating on what answer she would give.
The atmosphere was such that if they tried to let only Mok Gyeong-un in, saying it was because of meeting rules, there would be resistance.
-Sigh!
At that time, Baek Sogang, her second son, who was next to Mrs. Jang, grabbed her arm and shook his head.
At this, Mrs. Jang let out a long sigh.
‘There’s nothing I can do.’
I tried to reject it and let it go, but it seemed difficult.
It might have been better to experience it myself.
* * *
Everyone followed Madam Zhang and her second son Baek Xiaogang to the innermost part of the manor.
At the back of the main temple, there was a shrine dedicated to ancestors, and next to it was what looked like a small outbuilding.
When they arrived in front of this place, the second son, Baek So-gang, asked for their understanding.
“Please wait here for a moment.”
Baek Sogang entered the annex building.
I went inside and came out again after about half an hour.
A light vapor-like thing was rising from his shoulder.
I’m wondering why it’s like that,
-Sigh!
The second son, Baek So-gang, bowed his head several times to everyone and said,
“Thank you for waiting. “I told my father about Confucius, the young lady, and the disciple of Amjongju who came to ask for teachings.”
“Are you saying you’ll meet me?”
Jang Neungak asked.
The second son, Baek So-gang, looked troubled and then opened his mouth.
“······He said he would meet me.”
“oh! “If that’s the case, I’ll go first…”
“There is a condition.”
“what?”
At Baek Sogang’s words, Jang Neungak’s voice rose slightly.
Even though they could have met because of Mok Gyeong-un, he felt uncomfortable because he thought they were just trying to send them away.
But when he said what the conditions were, it was difficult to hide my displeasure, no matter how much I came to get his support.
On the other hand,
“May I ask what the conditions are?”
Wei Xiaoyeon calmly asked that.
In any case, in the current situation, it was thought that it was right for the one who was disappointed to bow down and go in.
In response to her question, Baek So-gang went into the annex and took out something again.
It was a small table with a teapot and several teacups on it.
“This······.”
“You can relieve yourself by drinking the tea we provide, or you can go in if you decide you can endure more than a bit.”
‘!?’
Everyone could not hide their surprise at his words.
What is this sound?
What does it mean to drink tea and go in if you can handle it?
Meanwhile, Wei So-yeon frowned and spoke.
“Is there poison in the teapot?”
“That’s right.”
‘what?’
Everyone was agitated by the answer of the second son, Baek So-gang.
I was wondering what the conditions were for going inside and meeting them, but this was completely unexpected.
Who would have thought they would hand out a glass of poison?
Jang Neungak said as if it was absurd.
“Are you farming now? “If you drink poison and can endure it, then you come in…”
“I’m sorry. However, if you cannot do this, you may end up in trouble if you go in.”
“failure?”
“That’s right. I am revealing this because my father, or rather the matriarch, said it was okay for me to tell him. “Right now, the inside of this annex is full of poisonous air.”
‘!?’
Hearing his words, Jang Neungak frowned and looked at the outbuilding.
That place is full of poison?
To him who was puzzled, Lady Jang, the first wife of Baek So-gang, the second son, spoke to him.
“That is why I asked for your understanding. “I did this because I was afraid that if I went in there, it would actually cause harm.”
“under······.”
“There are only about four people in the house who can go in here, including this child. “The inside of the annex was filled with a strong poison that even Baekga people who had learned poison from a young age could not bear, so we had no choice but to ask for their understanding.”
“······.”
“Do you still want to go in here?”
Jang Neung-ak and Wi So-yeon hesitated for a moment at her words.
It was difficult to understand why the inside was full of poison or why Baek Sa-ha, the king of island poisons, did not come out of there.
However, based on what he said just now, it seemed like there would be no chance of meeting him unless he went in there.
‘······It’s poison.’
The only problem was the poison.
Judging from what Mrs. Jang and her second son, Baek So-gang, said, it didn’t seem like it was an ordinary poison.
It was a truly absurd situation.
Do I have to go this far to meet the King of Island Poisons?
‘Damn it.’
Jang Neungak shook his head.
I was getting irritated, but there was nothing I could do in the current situation.
If he gets the support of King Seomdog, he will be able to definitely push Wei So-yeon out of the competition, and furthermore, he will be able to compete with Dae-dae-hyeong to some extent.
No matter how uncomfortable or unpleasant it was, there was no reason to hesitate.
The only thing I’m worried about is
‘Poison of Baekga.’
I knew that the Baek family, led by Baek Sa-ha, the King of Island Poisons, was one of the top three poisoners in the entire central plains.
I heard that it was a poisonous spell so vicious that it would not be easy to decipher except from the Sacheondang family or the Western Guyang family, but I doubted whether I could easily withstand it.
‘Dara endured every corner…’
It might have been difficult if I didn’t protect my five internal organs from the beginning.
Jang Nengye glanced at Wei Xiaoyeon.
She seemed to hesitate, as if she were just as concerned about it as he was.
‘Whoa.’
okay.
In any case, if everyone was on equal terms, the answer was to step forward first.
That way, you can save some face.
It was the moment when Jang Neung-ak, who had made up his mind, was about to step forward.
-Rurg!
‘!?’
At that time, I saw someone filling a glass in front of me first.
He was none other than Mok Gyeong-un.
He was someone who did not expect that he would suddenly take the initiative.
Meanwhile, Baek Sogang, the second son of the Baek family, said with a somewhat worried expression.
“Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
This poison was no ordinary poison.
The poisonous energy inside the annex was condensed and mixed with water, making it difficult for even a decent poison expert to withstand it.
‘The level of internal energy seems to be shallow, but if you drink it for no reason, it will last four months before it can be detoxified…’
That was the Baeksogang of concern.
In terms of feeling, what Mok Kyung-un felt was at best just the beginning of the climax.
With this level of resistance, there was a high probability that he would not be able to withstand the poison and suffer failure.
Baek Sogang spoke in a whispering voice.
“Confucius Wood. Let me be honest. Don’t overdo it. “I haven’t studied the inner skills of a woodworker yet…”
-gulp!
At that time, Mok Gyeong-un poured the glass in one go.
‘this?’
Baek Xiaogang looked embarrassed.
I tried to give myself enough time to build up my strength, but you just let me get over that extremely poisonous car in one go?
But what he said next was shocking.
“It’s sweet.”
‘!?’
< Episode 41: King of Poisonous Poison (3) > End
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