At the same time, in Chengdu, Sichuan Province.
Dan Seol-young, Namgung Myung, and Hong Geol-gae were deep in thought.
There had been no issues blending in with the Wudang sect members on their way back to Sichuan. However, when they sought help to rescue Dang Moo-jin, the responses they received were far from satisfactory.
First, the Emei Sect.
“Hmm. Dang Moo-jin, you say? Understood. I’ll pass the message along.”
In truth, the Emei Sect owed nothing to Dang Moo-jin. Most of the nuns didn’t even know him, and those who did only recognized him as a young man acquainted with Hwa Yeon-shin. Given that his only notable act at Emei was causing a ruckus with Hwa Yeon-shin, it was a relief they weren’t openly hostile.
Next, the trio approached the Huangling Elder of the Qingcheng Sect’s Chengdu branch.
“I’ll inform the main sect immediately. But I can’t guarantee their response.”
The Huangling Elder was more proactive, yet to the main Qingcheng Sect, Dang Moo-jin was merely a young physician. Despite his exceptional skills as a blacksmith, that was all. Opposing the Demonic Cult and the Three-Eyed Buddha for his sake was a daunting prospect.
As they trudged back, Hong Geol-gae spoke up.
“Maybe we should’ve asked Shaolin for help?”
“Not sure they’d be any more willing.”
Shaolin held a favorable view of Dang Moo-jin. However, whether they’d readily involve themselves in this situation was another matter. Like Emei, Shaolin was cautious about external affairs, focusing on strengthening themselves for future calamities.
Both Hong Geol-gae and Dan Seol-young turned their eyes to Namgung Myung, who shook his head immediately.
“My father won’t get involved.”
Dan Seol-young grumbled at the curt response.
“Are you giving up too easily just because you have a rocky relationship with him?”
“It’s not about that. My father’s decisions are based on the family’s interests. He knows there’s no benefit in clashing with the Demonic Cult. But he might send my uncle or a few other warriors.”
For now, there was no clear solution. Dan Seol-young found the situation unbearably frustrating. They knew who had taken Dang Moo-jin and where he might be, yet they had no means to retrieve him. It was maddening.
Namgung Myung reassured her.
“Don’t worry too much. If the Three-Eyed Buddha intended to harm him, they would’ve done so on the spot.”
“But they have tried to kill Moo-jin before.”
“The situation must have changed. They must need him for something.”
Hong Geol-gae interjected.
“There’s talk that the Demonic Doctor is dead. Maybe they took Moo-jin to replace him?”
Namgung Myung and Dan Seol-young found this theory plausible. Otherwise, there was no reason to take only Dang Moo-jin.
“If not that, they might want him as their personal blacksmith. Either way, he won’t be killed. He’s too talented.”
Yet Dan Seol-young’s anxiety lingered.
“Even if his life isn’t in danger, I have a bad feeling. What if someone in the Demonic Cult, skilled in seduction or manipulation, targets Moo-jin?”
People were well aware of such techniques, even if they hadn’t learned martial arts. Dan Seol-young was no exception.
“If that was their goal, they wouldn’t have taken Moo-jin. They’d have chosen someone more robust and masculine.”
“Are you belittling Moo-jin now?”
“No, that’s not what I meant. I’m just saying don’t worry too much.”
Dan Seol-young sighed deeply. Seeing her troubled expression, Namgung Myung and Hong Geol-gae couldn’t leave the conversation there.
“Let’s gather information on the Demonic Cult. If things go south, we might have to infiltrate them ourselves.”
With that, Namgung Myung left to find someone knowledgeable about the Demonic Cult. However, Dan Seol-young couldn’t shake off her uneasy feeling.
Meanwhile, the Demonic Doctor’s apprentice stared at Dang Moo-jin, then turned back to his work, seemingly uninterested. Dang Moo-jin was taken aback by the indifference.
‘At least a thank you would have been nice.’
Perhaps his earlier arrogance had been off-putting. Dang Moo-jin sat back down, observing the apprentice’s meticulous work. It seemed he was trying to neutralize the poison of a venomous creature by mixing herbs and toxins.
Watching more closely, Dang Moo-jin noticed several mistakes. He couldn’t help but comment sarcastically.
“Using a container that held another poison without cleaning it? If you’re making a poison stew, that’s a bold move… Well, who knows, you might stumble upon something great.”
“Trying to clean porcelain with water? If the poison dissolves in oil, you should scrub it with an oil-soaked cloth. Or is there a cleaning method I don’t know about?”
“That finely chopped herb, it’s Angelica, right? Are you sure it’s okay to mix it with Ligusticum? Once mixed, it might be hard to separate… Well, if you have time, you could sort it out later.”
Dang Moo-jin’s occasional jabs were met with silence. The apprentice would glance back, then return to his work, seemingly unfazed.
Yet, whenever Dang Moo-jin looked away, the apprentice discreetly corrected the mistakes pointed out. He’d wipe the porcelain with an oil-soaked cloth and separate the herbs into different containers.
Of course, none of this escaped Dang Moo-jin’s notice.
The apprentice’s work was clumsy, as if he was both knowledgeable and inexperienced. After a while, he retrieved a square wooden box from a cupboard, filled with dark brown pills—fasting pills.
‘He’s not a recluse or a Taoist avoiding fire energy, so why rely on fasting pills for meals?’
The apprentice took three pills for himself and offered the box to Dang Moo-jin, showing at least a basic sense of hospitality.
Dang Moo-jin took only two pills, his appetite waning at the sight of them. Chewing the fasting pills felt like biting into dry, tasteless clay.
As the uncomfortable meal drew to a close, Dang Moo-jin initiated conversation. They’d be spending time together, and he didn’t want to maintain this awkward dynamic.
“What’s your name?”
“Mok Wan-ah. And you?”
The response came swiftly, as if Mok Wan-ah had been waiting for it, indicating a curiosity about Dang Moo-jin.
“Dang Moo-jin.”
A brief silence followed before Mok Wan-ah asked another question.
“Did you make the poison pill?”
When Dang Moo-jin nodded, Mok Wan-ah pressed further.
“I heard you need high-quality elixirs to make a poison pill.”
“Elixirs are just things you take.”
In terms of quantity, many had consumed more elixirs than Dang Moo-jin. But in terms of quality, few could compare. The Black Peony was one thing, but the Great Elixir was coveted even by the Shaolin abbot. Mok Wan-ah grumbled.
“I’m a disciple of one of the Three Great Physicians, but I’ve never had such elixirs.”
Dang Moo-jin almost remarked that the Eccentric Master was more generous than the Demonic Doctor but held back. Given the circumstances, it was clear the Eccentric Master had killed the Demonic Doctor, and mentioning him in front of the apprentice would be foolish.
“Well, there are countless elixirs in the world. You take them when you get the chance.”
Dang Moo-jin’s evasive answer made Mok Wan-ah frown.
“It’s not just about taking elixirs. You need someone to guide you to make a poison pill. You seem suspicious.”
“What’s suspicious?”
“Having a poison pill at your age and knowing so much about herbs and toxins. My master said there aren’t many who handle both medicine and poison. Except for him and the Eccentric Master, the rest are amateurs. Are you connected to the Eccentric Master?”
A sharp observation. But if Dang Moo-jin intended to admit the truth, he wouldn’t have been evasive.
“The Eccentric Master? You and your master must have limited experience, stuck in the mountains. Have you ever been outside the Demonic Cult?”
Mok Wan-ah flinched. It was a shot in the dark, but it hit the mark.
“Limited experience? I’ll go out once this is over.”
He inadvertently admitted he’d never been outside, yet claimed not to be inexperienced. His words contradicted themselves.
Dang Moo-jin was convinced. Unlike the sharp and perceptive Dan Seol-young, Mok Wan-ah seemed naive and easy to handle.
Mok Wana asked again, her curiosity piqued.
“Anyway, if it’s not some mysterious technique, who taught you the poison arts?”
Dang Mujin decided to spin a tale. If he couldn’t tell the truth, the best course was to say whatever came to mind without hesitation.
“I learned it from my family.”
“Your family?”
“Yes. In Sichuan, there’s a family renowned for their mastery of medicine and poison. It’s called the Sichuan Tang Clan. People interested in such arts gather around the Tang family, forming a powerful faction.”
Dang Mujin let his imagination run wild, weaving a story on the spot. Once he left the cult, he wouldn’t have to worry about running into these people again, so there was no need to fret about the consequences.
Naturally, Mok Wana wasn’t entirely convinced.
“Sichuan Tang Clan? Never heard of it.”
“I can show you proof… Ah, here it is.”
Dang Mujin pulled a needle from his sleeve. Mok Wana, familiar with medicine and poison, would recognize how rare and valuable such a fine, sharp needle was.
As expected, Mok Wana’s mouth fell open in surprise.
“The Sichuan Tang Clan is as skilled in hidden weapons as they are in poison. They even have a dedicated forge for crafting them.”
“It’s an impressive needle, but it’s not exactly a hidden weapon.”
“A needle can be a formidable hidden weapon. But if that’s not enough to convince you, I can show you something else.”
Dang Mujin retrieved a small case from his robe and opened it, revealing tiny metal pieces and needles inside.
When Mok Wana instinctively reached out, Dang Mujin slapped her hand away.
“Don’t touch it carelessly. One wrong move, and you could end up full of holes.”
“Is it that dangerous?”
“Of course. Many have underestimated this Heavenly Needle Case and ended up in the afterlife.”
After securing the case back in his robe, Mok Wana asked again.
“Where do you get your poisons? My master said it’s no easy task to find them outside the cult.”
“To the northeast of the Sichuan Tang Clan is a mountain called Nogunsan. You might have heard of it.”
“I know it. It’s where the legendary Shennong is said to have resided.”
Whether it was the natural flow of his response or the sight of the Heavenly Needle Case, Mok Wana’s voice was now filled with curiosity rather than doubt.
“Exactly. Our family has people in Nogunsan. They scour the vast mountain, gathering poisonous materials solely for the Sichuan Tang Clan.”
Lies are difficult to start, but once you begin, they spread uncontrollably. Dang Mujin realized for the first time that he had a knack for lying. By layering a bit of fiction over the truth, he could craft a convincing story.
“Does everyone in the Sichuan Tang Clan have a poison pill?”
“Not everyone. You have to be at my level to make one.”
“So, you have quite a say in your family?”
“Naturally. My father, Tang Jeseon, is the head of the Sichuan Tang Clan.”
Dang Mujin thought of his father, a man who had never handled poison in his life.
Mok Wana looked genuinely surprised.
“Then, you’re the heir to the family?”
“Of course. There’s no one who can challenge my position as the next head.”
Dang Mujin nodded confidently. This was the unvarnished truth.
Who in the world would want to take over the Tang family clinic instead of him?
A clear admiration flickered in Mok Wana’s eyes.