The Return of the Sw Chapter 92 : Using Poison to Control Poison. -03

Chapter 92: Using Poison to Control Poison. -03

“Wouldn’t the past be sothing that doesn’t fade?”

“What matters is the present and the future more than the past, is it not? And relationships are things that can change as much as one wishes. At the very least, the Sect Leader thinks so. We rely wish to secure the materials we want and travel the Central Plains peacefully. Without being bound by past blood debts.”

“It’s hard to believe just from those words.”

“That is only natural. As the saying goes, put yourself in another’s shoes—had we been in the opposite position, we would have felt the sa. That is why we are taking things step by step like this. To show our sincerity. And we believe that rather than the eldest young lord, the Second Young Lord suits the position of the Sichuan Tang Family Head better. To be honest, aside from being the firstborn, is there anything in which the eldest surpasses the Second Young Lord?”

The man subtly praised Tang Seogon.

And yet, those words did not feel unpleasant.

No, rather, they felt refreshingly satisfying, like scratching an itchy spot.

Because of that, Tang Seogon failed to notice the man’s expression.

“Ahem! Thank you.”

“The Sect Leader places great trust in the Second Young Lord. You may not know this, but the Sect Leader’s discernnt is truly remarkable. He is soone who can see a thousand li while sitting still.”

“I would like to et him soti.”

“I believe that ti is not far off. With that in mind, I look forward to working with you.”

“I’ll give your suggestion so thought.”

Tang Seogon replied as if yielding reluctantly.

It was not brilliant enough to be called an inspired idea, but neither was it a bad one.

And considering his future standing, it was sothing he needed to so extent.

There was no harm in having many talented people and true friends.

‘In the past, the Four Dragons would have been perfect, but now things are different.’

Ban Hojin, who had maintained an indifferent expression throughout his stay at the Sichuan Tang Family, surfaced in Tang Seogon’s mind.

Rumors circulated that he was arrogant, but the Ban Hojin Tang Seogon had personally experienced was not so much arrogant as overflowing with confidence.

And in truth, he possessed the skill to back it up.

Though he had never once displayed his true ability, Tang Seogon could roughly gauge his level through those accompanying him.

‘If that man were to support .’

Tang Seogon’s eyes flashed.

He knew that both his father and grandfather held deep interest in Ban Hojin.

As a potential match for his elder sister, Tang Seorin.

If the two were to be bound together, and if Ban Hojin were to support him rather than Tang Seogeon, the situation could change dramatically.

‘Even if they are bound, he is an outsider anyway. He cannot inherit the family.’

For generations, the Sichuan Tang Family Head position had always gone to a son.

There had been other martial families where a woman beca the leader, but never once in the Sichuan Tang Family.

And if he were to beco the family head, there would be plenty of ways to drive Ban Hojin out.

“It seems you have thought of a good idea.”

“One might call it a decent stratagem.”

“If you ever need my assistance, please feel free to say so. I cannot provide large funds, but I can help to a certain extent within my ans.”

“I understand.”

Though Tang Seogon, who was only seventeen years old, spoke condescendingly from start to finish, the man did not so much as twitch an eyebrow.

The more Tang Seogon underestimated him, the more he believed the situation was flowing according to his own will, the more it benefited the Nine Heavens Gate.

Since Tang Seogon was unknowingly sinking into a quagmire, the man sneered inwardly.

‘To think I’d hook such an unexpected big catch.’

He had anticipated that there would be sothing, but he had not expected a prize of this magnitude, and so Ban Hojin let out a hollow laugh.

However, Ban Hojin’s expression soon turned serious.

Since he had fortuitously witnessed a secret eting, he had to make the most of it.

Preferably, in a way that would benefit the Central Plains Murim.

‘Informing them directly would be the worst move. No matter how much my standing has risen, I am still an outsider. In the end, blood ties bend inward. And I could also commit the folly of striking the grass and startling the snake.’

Ban Hojin furrowed his brow.

Because he had to guide the situation in the most advantageous direction possible, his thoughts grew complicated.

‘If it’s going to explode anyway, now is better.’

Ban Hojin’s mind cleared.

He had made his decision.

He considered many possible scenarios, but there was only one optimal choice.

Pipipiping!

Ban Hojin snapped his fingers.

He sent Wind Blades toward the underlings positioned in the east, west, south, and north.

Soon, four strands of Wind Blades that had been quietly released struck precisely the backs of the heads of the four who had been hiding.

They lost consciousness without even realizing they were being attacked.

Pupupupuk!

But Ban Hojin did not stop there.

True to his perfectionist nature, when the four collapsed unconscious, he sent another round of Wind Blades, this ti sealing their Paralysis Acupoints and Mute Acupoints.

At the sa ti, he raised an energy barrier to block even the sound of their bodies hitting the ground.

Piiing! Ping!

Next were the two inside the Guandi Shrine.

Though Tang Seogon was considered a fairly capable figure among the rising juniors, he was still a martial artist who had not surpassed the wall of the peak realm, and while the man possessed considerable skill despite appearances, it was not enough to evade Ban Hojin’s Wind Blades.

Thus, just like the four who had fallen earlier, the two were subdued without feeling anything.

Hwiik!

After ticulously sealing the Mute and Paralysis Acupoints of the two as well, Ban Hojin kicked off the roof.

He was searching for the nearest mber of the Beggars’ Sect.

“Ghk, ghk, ghk!”

Oh Jung-geon, who had been idling away his ti by feasting daily in the inner grounds of the Sichuan Tang Family, hurried over at full speed upon receiving the urgent ssage sent by Ban Hojin.

Though it was only a single sentence, the three words contained within it were enough to make him rush.

Thus, Oh Jung-geon ran alone at top speed toward the place Ban Hojin had summoned him to.

“Oh, Great Hero.”

“Ghk! W-what is all this about?”

“I was out on a walk when I noticed so suspicious individuals. The energy they carried was unfamiliar. Their disposition was different from the wandering warriors one usually encounters. Setting that aside, people who hide themselves and move about generally have reasons for doing so, do they not? So since I ran into them, I followed them, and then……”

“Eugh!”

As Oh Jung-geon listened to Ban Hojin’s words and stepped into the shrine, he let out a cry of shock.

He was startled upon seeing the face of one of the two unconscious n.

At the appearance of soone he had never imagined encountering here, Oh Jung-geon swallowed hard without realizing it.

“The Second Young Lord’s presence may be surprising, but the truly important one is the man in front.”

“……He’s not from the Central Plains, is he? Just a mont. Sniff, sniff, sniff!”

After giving Tang Seogon a brief glance, Oh Jung-geon wrinkled his nose deeply.

Then, he cautiously approached the unconscious man and slled him.

“Please be careful.”

“It’s fine. This is my area of expertise, is it not? That’s why you called for .”

“That is correct.”

“Just as I thought, he was cultivating poison arts.”

Oh Jung-geon, who was carefully searching the man’s robes, muttered with a grave expression.

He had guessed it from the scent, but even so, it was shocking.

Moreover, the man was no ordinary poison practitioner.

A foreign appearance unlike that of a Central Plains native, combined with poison arts—there was only one possible conclusion.

“It seems my suspicion was correct.”

“Ha… Even seeing this, it’s hard to believe. But with evidence right in front of , I can’t deny it either. And this matter has crossed my line.”

“I think so as well.”

Ban Hojin had not knocked them unconscious without reason.

It was shocking enough that a disciple of the Nine Heavens Gate had appeared in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, but the crucial issue was the existence of Tang Seogon.

That he had been together with a Nine Heavens Gate mber—an enemy that could be called the Sichuan Tang Family’s nesis—made the situation grave.

Since there was no way Tang Seogon could be with a Nine Heavens Gate mber without reason, Oh Jung-geon looked at Ban Hojin with a heavy expression.

“What do you think is the best course of action, Young Hero Ban?”

“The answer is already clear, isn’t it? This is not a problem that either you or I can resolve.”

“I will send word to the Tang Family Head imdiately.”

“I will stand guard.”

“I ask you to do so.”

Given the gravity of the matter, Oh Jung-geon bowed deeply toward Ban Hojin.

He knew well that this decision had taken into account the positions of both the Sichuan Tang Family and the Beggars’ Sect.

Thus, no sooner had he conveyed his gratitude than he departed.

Since Chengdu could be considered the front courtyard of the Sichuan Tang Family, the likelihood of more Nine Heavens Gate poison practitioners appearing was slim, but just in case, Oh Jung-geon hurried.

“It would be better if more showed up.”

Oh Jung-geon worried about contingencies, but Ban Hojin felt differently.

Now that he had properly caught the tail, he rather hoped more would appear.

After all, he had already achieved immunity to a hundred poisons.

Still, absolute poisons remained dangerous.

“Poison is dangerous, but if you don’t die, you build resistance. I need to get used to it as much as possible before an all-out clash breaks out.”

Growing bored while waiting, Ban Hojin searched the man’s belongings.

Oh Jung-geon had already searched once, but since he had taken nothing, Ban Hojin pulled out everything the man carried.

He stripped him of all his clothes, leaving only his undergarnts.

“Nothing but empty-handed results.”

Afterward, he stripped the clothes from the underlings he had subdued earlier as well, but there was nothing worth taking.

It seed they had prepared for the worst from the start, as no one besides the man carried any personal items at all.

He wanted to check their mouths as well, but since poison practitioners even carried poison in their bodily fluids, Ban Hojin refrained from taking such a risk.

“With the Second Young Lord entangled in this, a full confrontation with the Nine Heavens Gate is inevitable.”

Ban Hojin muttered as he laid the four middle-aged n side by side at the feet of the still-unconscious man.

Yet his sensory perception remained keenly focused on the surroundings.

He had not seen any suspicious figures on the way here, but he could not be certain.

In case asures had been taken for situations where contact was suddenly cut off, Ban Hojin did not let down his guard.

Part of him even hoped others would appear.

If the Nine Heavens Gate’s strength were weakened, it would be nothing but beneficial to him.

“They won’t stay still after seeing this.”

Ban Hojin’s gaze shifted to the unconscious Tang Seogon.

The Sichuan Tang Family was famous for poison, but there was sothing even more renowned.

That was their thorough retaliation.

If they suffered harm, they would ?????? repay it with interest.

No matter how strong the opponent, the Sichuan Tang Family never gave up.

And even if one fled to hell, the Sichuan Tang Family would pursue.

“They’ve arrived.”

As he recalled the Tang Family’s ruthless nature, a ferocious presence was felt from afar.

At the terrifying montum rushing in as if a volcano were erupting, Ban Hojin turned his head.

Kwoong!

Monts later, with a heavy vibration, a single figure landed on the ground.

It was Tang Woo-hyeok, the current head of the Sichuan Tang Family and the father of the unconscious Tang Seogon.

Imdiately after, Oh Jung-geon arrived, panting heavily.

“You’ve co.”

“I heard you discovered them.”

“Yes. I happened to notice so suspicious individuals and followed them.”

“By chance?”

Tang Woo-hyeok stared hard at Ban Hojin with bulging eyes.

But Ban Hojin was not soone who would be cowed by such a gaze.

“Yes. You may have heard from Great Hero Oh, but I was out on a walk. The elder applied so pressure yesterday.”

“Hah!”

Tang Woo-hyeok made a dumbfounded expression.

He imdiately understood who was ant by ‘the elder.’

But that was not the important point.

Tang Woo-hyeok’s gaze moved to Tang Seogon, who lay motionless like a corpse.

“He is only unconscious. There are no other external injuries.”

As Tang Woo-hyeok’s eyes turned to Tang Seogon, Oh Jung-geon, who had barely steadied his breathing, spoke cautiously.

He was worried Tang Woo-hyeok might misunderstand.

“I can see that myself.”