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### Desperate Wish
With this, the number of diamonds he possessed exceeded one thousand.
Seoyoon quickly checked the Multi-Store.
The list for eleven consecutive draws was shining brightly.
Ignoring the urge to draw quickly, Dang Yuhwa walked over to Seoyoon.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes?"
Seoyoon, who had just exited the Multi-Store, tilted his head in confusion.
Dang Yuhwa pointed at his hand.
Sah Yoon-young's blood had stained his hand red.
"Oh, it's nothing much."
"Use this to wipe it off."
"Thank you."
After wiping his hands with the towel she handed him, Seoyoon tilted his head again as he saw Dang Yuhwa smiling.
"Why are you smiling?"
"I was curious about something that guy said earlier. Are you really that close with your sister? Are you perhaps aiming to become a son-in-law?"
"That's impossible. It's all nonsense."
"Don't lie. Becoming a first-rate martial artist is no easy task. It requires mental training as well; do you think I'd be fooled by a few lies?"
"It seems I was fooled."
Seoyoon also felt half in doubt.
To be honest, he had a lot of anxiety about this plan.
If Sah Yoon-young lost his sanity, the plan would be worthless.
Seoyoon shrugged his shoulders, not expecting this gamble to succeed when Lord Poison King approached them.
"You may not know this, but Sah Yoon-young has always been like this."
"Really?"
"The reason he could rise to first-rate status was due to his strong physique and because he obtained first-rate martial arts techniques. He managed to control his emotions with that flimsy support. Do you not know about Heukgong Gwi-ma?"
Dang Yuhwa nodded, but Seoyoon was unaware.
He tucked the blood-stained towel into his robe and asked Lord Poison King, "Who is Heukgong Gwi-ma?"
"He was once the best disciple of the now-extinct Kunlun Sect—a figure who bore everyone's expectations... Unable to withstand that pressure and craving power, he ultimately resorted to using forbidden martial arts stored within Kunlun Sect. That martial art is known as Heuksung Daebop."
"What is Heuksung Daebop?"
When Seoyoon asked with curiosity, Dang Yuhwa smiled bitterly.
For the righteous martial world, it was a disgraceful matter—something they tried to hush up at all costs.
A promising disciple of the righteous faction had become tainted by forbidden martial arts.
It was certainly not good news.
However, Lord Poison King spoke indifferently as if he didn't care either way.
"Heuksung Daebop is a dark art that absorbs life force and converts it into internal energy. It's a powerful technique but... it's brutal and views life merely as a stepping stone for its power."
"Huh... I can't believe such a terrifying dark art exists."
"In the end, Heukgong Gwi-ma brought ruin upon Kunlun Sect himself and met his demise caught in the web of alliances between righteous and evil factions known as Cheonra Jiwang. His Heuksung Daebop is said to be hidden deep within Cheonman Daesan now."
This was the first time Seoyoon had heard such a story.
As he looked at Lord Poison King, he continued apathetically,
"Everyone tries to hide this without realizing it could serve as a stepping stone for others... Tsk. There are plenty of such cases. Those who are weak-hearted feel fear and those who waver will eventually cause major problems; that's why Sah Yoon-young wasn't accepted into our faction."
"Is that so...? But if it's just flimsy support..."
"It's affection for Yu-ji. That guy has liked Yu-ji for a long time; that's why he tried to enter our faction even if it meant becoming a son-in-law. That's how he became strong."
As Seoyoon looked on, Dang Yuhwa shook her head.
She too was hearing this for the first time.
"To give away the Dang family name is not something that can be decided easily like taking in servants or outsiders; it requires approval from the elders of our faction. And there, Sah Yoon-young was unanimously rejected."
Seoyoon looked down at Sah Yoon-young's corpse with disdain.
How pathetic.
He crumbled due to mere infatuation with a woman?
This is precisely why those who possess more tend to act worse.
"Well, I suppose that makes sense. He's someone who can be easily deceived by such trivial provocations. Well done."
When Seoyoon said this casually, Lord Poison King stared at him intently.
"What's wrong?"
"You seem to like him."
"...Cough."
As Lord Poison King's hand touched his head, internal energy stirred within him.
Seoyoon broke out in cold sweat from the pain as Lord Poison King glared at him with burning eyes before slowly withdrawing his hand.
"This is how you operate Samyangsu's internal energy flow—make sure you fully master it. Learn techniques from Yu-hwa separately; once you've mastered secretary techniques up to five stars, then you can start training in earnest—before that, it would be meaningless."
"Huh!?"
"When I used Samyangsu earlier, I could see your desperation—didn't you want it?"
"Haha... Did you notice?"
It seemed he had been too obvious.
As Seoyoon scratched his cheek sheepishly, Lord Poison King turned away.
"Have you found the monster yet?"
"No."
"Then let's look next time."
Lord Poison King swiftly passed through the crowd of people and disappeared.
While Seoyoon and Dang Yuhwa watched him leave, Seon Jung-mo awkwardly approached with a smile.
"This is quite... Why did this happen? Lady Dang, what should we do about this situation?"
"Is there anything to discuss?"
Dang Yuhwa spoke in an emotionless tone toward the flustered Seon Jung-mo.
"It has been revealed by Lord Poison King that Sah Yoon-young of the Justice Alliance's Hanan branch has allied himself with Saheukryeon—isn't that enough?"
"But still..."
"This matter will be formally reported by our faction to the headquarters of Justice Alliance. How can they expect to manage their own people properly while harboring traitors? It will be interesting to see what happens to Hanan branch and its branch leader."
"Is it really necessary... Lady Dang? Please don't speak so harshly; calling them traitors is..."
"Please call me acting branch leader instead of Lady Dang; this incident has also harmed our faction. How about we publicize it through an alliance of factions?"
"Is there really any need to escalate it to an alliance? Don't think too hastily..."
Seon Jung-mo stammered nervously while Dang Yuhwa stood confidently.
Seoyoon smiled broadly as he watched them alternate glances at each other.
"Come now, Lady! Please don't be angry! This incident occurred because Sah Yoon-young couldn't control his own greed—what crime does Branch Leader have in this?"
"Y-yes! You seem quite knowledgeable! Exactly! Even if one knows ten paths through water..."
"But not one path through another's heart."
"This young man speaks well!"
"Hahaha!! I can articulate quite well!" Seon Jung-mo grinned brightly at Seoyoon while nodding repeatedly.
With a gesture towards him, Seoyoon pulled Dang Yuhwa aside.
"So then, Lady... can we have a quick chat..."
"What's there to talk about? What's needed? It's all over now; if Branch Leader falls..."
"Come now; let's not say that—let's just take it easy."
As Seoyoon soothed her gently, he gestured toward her again.
Seon Jung-mo sighed as if relieved by their conversation.
"I suppose I'll need some cleanup afterward... so leave this matter to me."
"Yes yes! After I discuss things properly with Lady Dang, I'll let you know how we'll proceed! Then!"
Seoyoon took hold of Dang Yuhwa's hand and led her outside.
Once they were out together, Dang Yuhwa chuckled softly.
"It seems we work well together."
"I thought you would say that! But are you really acting branch leader of the Dang family?"
"Yes! That's why it's hard for me to escape Jiwoo-hyeon's influence; if I were alone it would be fine but since I have duties as acting branch leader I can't move around freely like before. More importantly... if things go well here we might gain quite an advantage!"
Squeeze once and then release again—
There's nothing that could come from merely pestering someone like that!
Both Dang Yuhwa and Seoyoon were people who didn't hide their desires—
And because of that connection they could align perfectly!
"I think it might be better to reach out for help from Lord Poison King again this time—what do you think?"
"I'm not sure; my grandfather isn't someone who moves easily for anyone; since this matter involves our faction he might help but otherwise he'd likely tell us to handle it ourselves."
"If we can't get help from Lord Poison King then ultimately all we have left is our faction's name—and using it recklessly would be unwise."
"Right! If that happens we'll get entangled with Justice Alliance again…and that's not what our faction wants right now."
Dang Yuhwa understood well enough—
Even though Sah Yoon-young held the title of Great Master within Justice Alliance from their perspective he was merely one among many powerful factions' leaders!
There were plenty of individuals capable of replacing him!
If they publicized this matter then Justice Alliance would likely cut ties entirely and instead expose Sah Yoon-young as just another former servant!
That wouldn't reflect well on either their faction or on Dang Yuhwa herself!
"So what should we extract from this situation? If it's within reasonable limits..."
Seoyoon and Dang Yuhwa exchanged glances before bursting into laughter together.
"I guess money is king after all!"
"Of course!"
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