Chapter 137
Jaseong called for Hyang again.
"Hyang."
"Yes, hall lord."
"Have you reported to Hao Sect upper management?"
"I've already sent a carrier pigeon. The situation is serious, so we'll get instructions soon."
Next, Jaseong looked into the darkness.
"Gu Janghu."
"Speak, corps leader."
Gu Janghu walked out from the shadows.
His hands were already caressing the hilts of his twin swords.
"Round up every medicine seller in Ansun. Don't let a single rat escape."
"Understood."
"And Lee Rin."
"Yes, great hero."
"Can you make an antidote?"
Lee Rin pressed her lips together and nodded.
"There's a prescription for similar symptoms in my master's medical manual. It won't be easy... but I'll try to make one."
"I'm counting on you."
At Jaseong's words, Lee Rin nodded firmly and left the inner chamber.
After she departed, Jaseong looked out the window again, down at Ansun's streets.
Far off, he could see the red lanterns of the Red Light District.
Lights that should've sparkled as always, tonight looked precarious and faint—
Like the eyes of a sick patient.
* * *
That night.
Third floor of Drunken Immortal Pavilion, by the window of Jaseong's office— a black shadow flew in.
It was a carrier pigeon in charge of contact with Hao Sect's upper management.
Flap, flap—
With practiced hands, Jaseong untied the canister from the hawk's leg.
Inside was a letter bearing the penmanship of Right Protector Gal Seo-ryeong.
[The upper management has already confirmed the distribution of Soul-Bewildering Powder spreading in the Central Plains' Red Light District. I, the Right Protector, and upper management's experts are conducting our own investigation. The current prime suspects are the Sichuan Tang Clan and Poison Valley. Once we identify the culprit, you'll receive the next orders.]
Hao Sect's upper management was moving swiftly as well.
As they should.
The strength of Hao Sect lies in information.
And the heart of that information comes from the Red Light District.
The drunken babbling of loosened tongues, secrets merchants spill in the arms of courtesans, rumors drifting through back alleys by wanderers—
All these merge to become Hao Sect's ears and eyes.
But now, the Red Light District was at risk of being paralyzed by an unidentified drug.
There was no way upper management would sit back.
So three days passed.
On an early morning with Jaseong cultivating the Heaven Evading Celestial Formula, Hyang came to find him.
Gu Janghu stood at her side.
"Hall lord. As you ordered, we rounded up and interrogated all the medicine sellers in Ansun."
Gu Janghu's black martial robes reeked with the tang of blood.
Next, Hyang opened her mouth.
"Hall lord, protector Gu has gathered information from interrogating the medicine sellers and combined it with what Hao Sect's network provided. We've traced Soul-Bewildering Powder's distribution route in reverse."
"So, where did it originate?"
Hyang fell silent for a moment, then spoke heavily.
"Gansu Province... It is assumed to have come from Poison Valley."
Jaseong's eyebrows twitched.
"Poison Valley?"
"Yes. The term 'western valley' came up again and again from the intermediaries distributing the drug. Also, the origin point for Soul-Bewildering Powder was noted as Huaining County in Gansu Province. That area is clearly Poison Valley's domain."
As he listened, Jaseong recalled past memories.
During the recent Tianxia Association takeover, he had encountered three rising stars said to be unorthodox sects' next overlords.
Black Star Sect's senior disciple, Heuk Muguk, inheritor of the Sword Demon and infamous as a perverted bastard throughout the martial world.
Kang Ryong, third son of Twin Dragon Clan and a strong candidate for young head.
Dokgo Yeon, with a body immune to all poisons and the youngest beloved daughter of the Poison Valley lord.
At that time, Jaseong had made a secret deal with Dokgo Yeon.
—I have three half-siblings. All of them hold higher seniority than me.
Though my talent is recognized by our clan head, my siblings are wary of me.
Each of them desires the position of young head.
If I mess up the very first mission I've just been given? Everyone will be eager to denounce me.
Dokgo Yeon's first mission after emerging in the martial world was to take over the Tianxia Association.
But, because of Jaseong, she failed without a fight.
If she returned home like that, the consequences from the clan head would be severe—so Dokgo Yeon made this suggestion:
—In the future, when I become the valley lord of Poison Valley, I'll become your reliable supporter.
Instead, please remit a portion of the money coming from the pleasure district under the Tianxia Association to the Poison Valley as tribute.
That way, I can save face when I return to my family...
And I can get a leg up in the contest for young head against my siblings.
Jaseong accepted the proposal.
For a simple reason.
When the time came for him to take the Evil Path Association's Seal and seize the Evil Path Association, it would be much easier with Poison Valley supporting him.
So, at that time, he fed Dokgo Yeon the Hao Sect's gu poison, turning her into his slave.
Now she could only survive by receiving an antidote from Jaseong once a month.
In return, Dokgo Yeon sent Jaseong a carrier pigeon every month, conveying internal updates from Poison Valley and the activities of the unorthodox sects.
Jaseong sent a month's supply of antidote for the gu poison in exchange.
Even during the time Jaseong was away being treated by the Eternal Divine Physician, Hyang had handled this matter in his stead.
"Hyang."
"Yes, hall lord."
"In the recent carrier pigeons from Dokgo Yeon, was there anything about Poison Valley producing drugs?"
"... There was nothing. In fact, the only report was that infighting over the young head position within Poison Valley has gotten more intense."
Jaseong rested his chin on his hand, deep in thought.
"In that case, there are two possible scenarios."
Jaseong held up two fingers.
"First, Poison Valley really made Soul-Bewildering Powder, and Dokgo Yeon hid this from me—in other words, betrayal."
"......"
"Second, someone started distributing Soul-Bewildering Powder in Poison Valley's territory to frame it. That way, their real identity could remain completely hidden."
Hyang offered her thoughts cautiously.
"Isn't the first more likely?"
"Reason?"
"Poison Valley is a sect specializing in poison. Even if the gu poison from Hao Sect has grown stronger, Poison Valley could surely find a detoxification method. Then they'd have no further reason to be bound to you, hall lord."
"......"
"On the other hand, if someone has impersonated Poison Valley, they wouldn't be ordinary either. To start distributing Soul-Bewildering Powder in Poison Valley's territory without their knowledge—the power behind that must also be formidable."
Either way, it was not something that could be left alone.
After thinking briefly, Jaseong got to his feet.
"I'll have to confirm it myself."
"Then..."
"We're going to Poison Valley."
At Jaseong's decision, Hyang's face stiffened.
Poison Valley is one of the leading unorthodox sects.
Entering it on one's own initiative was no different from stepping into a tiger's den.
At that moment—
"Kiruruk!"
Mansul poked its head from Jaseong's robe, crying out.
The little guy tugged at Jaseong's sleeve with its mouth and wagged its tail, as if insisting on coming along.
Jaseong gave a wry smile and stroked Mansul's head.
"Alright, you want to come too?"
"Kkiing!"
Mansul yipped in response.
As a spirit beast descended from the Celestial Realm, its senses were extraordinary.
Perhaps, Mansul's abilities would be needed on this journey.
"Get ready. We depart at dawn."
The instant Jaseong spoke, Gu Janghu began assembling the assassins outside.
Lee Rin, upon hearing the news, began packing with the Northern Sea's law enforcers.
Hyang sent carrier pigeons to the Tianxia Association and Guangxi Province's Dark Path for support.
Thus, the prodigy of the Red Light District was preparing once again to step into the eye of the martial world's storm.
* * *
The next day.
Before dawn's gray dissipated.
Jaseong, Gu Janghu, Lee Rin, and law enforcers of the Northern Sea departed the Red Light District.
Behind them, a hundred men in black martial robes lined up like shadows.
They were the elite Shadow Division of Scarlet Lotus Hall, personally trained by Gu Janghu.
"Move out."
At Jaseong's soft command, the group began to move like the wind.
It was the first major movement since seizing the Tianxia Association.
Fwiish! Fwiish! Fwiish!
Assassins in black clothes sliced through the darkness, swiftly crossing the forest.
Not a single footstep sounded, not a single leaf shook.
The moment Gu Janghu's rigorous training paid off.
"Kiruruk."
A small head poked out from Jaseong's chest.
It was Mansul.
Perhaps excited by Jaseong's incredible lightness skill, it rolled its bright eyes and looked around.
"Keep quiet. This isn't a pleasure trip."
"Kkiing."
While traveling with lightness skill through the forest, Jaseong pondered.
'This journey will be no easier than the last.'
The opponent was Poison Valley, one of the Four Great Clans and Seven Sects.
Skilled in poison and dark weapon techniques, they relied on sinister tricks and traps rather than fair battles.
Even with strong martial arts, they were dangerous opponents.
Of course, Scarlet Lotus Hall wasn't the only one targeting Poison Valley.
Hao Sect's upper management had also decided to send support.
'Right Protector Gal Seo-ryeong and other hall lords are said to be heading for Poison Valley as well.'
If the Hao Sect's experts joined, even Poison Valley would be manageable.
Besides, Jaseong now possessed the internal power of the 60-year cycle and the middle dantian—he was a top-tier martial world expert.
With the journey so far, rest was rare.
The group survived on dried jerky and vegetable porridge as they traveled.
"Phew... We've finally left Guizhou Province and reached the entrance to Gansu Province. Great hero, I'm tired of sleeping outdoors—how about resting in that village for today?"
On a mountainside, Lee Rin pointed out a fairly sizable village below.
After opening the map and confirming the location, Jaseong silently nodded.
"That village is under the influence of Hao Sect's Moonstar Hall. To recover from the fatigue, let's visit the branch leader there and send a carrier pigeon to upper management."
So, Jaseong's party entered the village at the foot of the mountain.
But the moment they entered, a bizarre and horrific sight stopped them in their tracks.
"Hall lord."
Gu Janghu raised a hand, halting the group.
Someone was collapsed at the village entrance.
"Uhh... Uhuuh..."
Jaseong approached and saw a young woman, just past coming of age.
Elegant but dirtied silk clothes, tangled hair.
Anyone could tell she was dressed as a courtesan.
Her unfocused eyes were clouded, foamy drool running down her lips.
She seemed utterly mindless.
"That's... is it Soul-Bewildering Powder?!"
Lee Rin dashed to the woman using lightness skill.
She grabbed the girl's wrist and checked her pulse, then grimaced and shook her head.
"As I thought, a severe case of Soul-Bewildering Powder poisoning... Her pulse is barely there."
Gu Janghu asked,
"She's still breathing, isn't she?"
"The poison's already invaded her brain. In this state, there's nothing we can do. Looks like someone forcefully fed her a massive dose of Soul-Bewildering Powder..."
Listening, Jaseong knelt by the fallen woman.
As he stared into her dying eyes, an old memory he'd forgotten flickered through his mind.
—Young master, did you know?
It was his sister-in-law's voice.
—No one becomes a courtesan because they want to. They were all either sold to avoid starving their families, or forced by sick parents, or for the sake of their siblings. So... please don't look down on them too much.
His sister-in-law always pitied the women in the Red Light District.
She herself had been a courtesan.
So she understood better than anyone the tears hidden behind their smiles.
The woman in front of him was probably the same.
Someone's daughter, someone's sister.
She had struggled to survive, only to fall into a vile trap and meet a miserable end.
'Sister-in-law...'
A hot surge welled up in Jaseong's chest.
It was sorrow, and at the same time, uncontrollable rage.
Soon, villagers gathered around Lee Rin.
"Are you a physician?"
"Please, save our Yeryeong!"
They seemed quite close to the courtesan.
One of them was even the pavilion mistress of the brothel she worked for.
At that moment, Jaseong took a pouch of silver from his chest.
He handed it to the trembling pavilion mistress.
"Please bury this woman somewhere sunny and peaceful."
"What...? Ah, yes, great hero!"
The pavilion mistress took the pouch, bowing repeatedly.
Jaseong walked on again, his gaze colder and sharper than before.
'Sister-in-law. I will find out who's behind this, and repay the pain this woman endured a thousandfold. I swear it.'