Chapter 222: Why Do I Feel So Bad When I Look at You?

TL: FoodieMonster007

The underground was set up like a prison.

The prisoners were each locked in solitary cells. Since Geom Mugeuk had been next to the Poison King, he was assigned the cell across from him.

"You all saw what happens to those who cause trouble," one of the martial artists threatened before they left the area.

A palm-sized window on the iron door provided a small relief. It allowed the prisoners to see into the cells, look at each other's faces, and even talk.

"Damn it! To get out of one prison just to be locked up in another!"

"This place is even filthier than where we were before."

"I heard the guards talking. They said prisoners are taken out and sent to a place for secret experiments."

"Damn it! We're all going to die like dogs at this rate!"

"We have to get out of here, no matter what!"

The prisoners cursed, each one adding their own complaints.

Geom Mugeuk sent a telepathic message to the Poison King, whose face was visible in the window across from him.

[Have you ever been locked in a prison before?]

[Never.]

[I'm sorry for making you go through such an ordeal.]

[It's fine. When else would I get to have an experience like this? Don't worry about me.]

The Poison King truly sounded as if it were no big deal. He seemed like the type of person who would hate this kind of situation, but his calm face now suggested he could endure it better than any Demon Supreme.

[I saw earlier that the third-rate poison monger's poisoning skills were quite impressive.]

It was the first time Geom Mugeuk had praised the True Venom Sage. There must have been something only the Poison King could see.

[Well, he is the top poison arts master of the unorthodox sects, isn't he?]

[That's what makes me even angrier. With skills like that, he should have been making proper medicine.]

About two hours later, a meal was served. It was a splendid meal, like a last supper for those condemned to die.

Everyone began to eat ravenously. They had been intentionally starved on the way here, and the food was so excellent that one's chopsticks would move even on a full stomach. The reason for providing such delicious food was simple.

[The food contains Gwangpok.]

[They're already feeding us Gwangpok?]

[It's not just Gwangpok. They've thrown in all sorts of other drugs.]

[Seeing as they're starting the moment we arrived, it seems Yayul Han or Aecha ordered them to proceed quickly.]

That much was clear just from the fact that they had brought prisoners from twenty days away here in only ten days.

[This is actually better for us. It means we can escape this suffocating place a day sooner.]

[If you take the medicine I gave you beforehand, the Gwangpok will be neutralized immediately.]

Of course, even without it, they could not have poisoned him in the first place. If even an imperceptible poison did not work on him, there was no way these miscellaneous drugs would.

Like livestock being fattened, they ate only the food provided.

Those who had been spewing complaints before the first meal now found themselves subtly looking forward to the next. With excellent dishes and even alcohol one would only see at a top-class inn, the prisoners, who were used to eating garbage, ate and drank with wild abandon.

[You do have a solid plan, right?]

[Didn't you say you would leave everything to me?]

[It's because you look too carefree. Training your martial arts in a place like this?]

Whenever I had a spare moment, I would sit cross-legged in the middle of the prison and cultivate the Heavenly Demon Defense Art.

Opportunities to be left undisturbed all day like this were rare. Since I had not yet achieved complete mastery of the Heavenly Demon Defense Art, I focused on cultivating it whenever the chance arose.

The Poison King seemed curious about my actions.

[What martial arts are you cultivating?]

I could not honestly tell him that I was practicing the Heavenly Demon Defense Art.

[I'm cultivating my internal arts.]

[Why are you training so diligently?]

[Because I believe one must be strong to be free.]

[Aren't you strong enough already?]

[Not enough to enjoy the freedom I desire.]

[And what is the freedom you desire?]

After a brief pause, I told him.

[A life where I can stop my steps wherever I wish.]

Perhaps it was an unexpected answer, as the Poison King said nothing for a moment. It sounded like something anyone could do, but he knew well that it was something no one could do easily.

[The path you walk… is not one where you can stop your steps as you please.]

[That's why I'm trying. So I can stop my steps when I want to and look up at the sky.]

A life where, despite having close companions who have shared life and death, they do not bind each other. That was the freedom Geom Mugeuk desired.

The Poison King stared at Geom Mugeuk without a word.

This time, Geom Mugeuk asked.

[Do you have a dream, Poison King?]

What kind of dream did the Poison King have now?

[A dream, at my age? Don't be ridiculous.]

As if he did not want to answer, the Poison King disappeared from the small window.

Poison King, if you hadn't met me, things might be different, but now that we've met, I won't let you live your previous destiny.

That was why Geom Mugeuk had carved the characters for 'Dokjon' onto his gloves. He wanted to prevent his dream from becoming a dark ambition and make him think about what it truly means to be supreme under the heavens, out in the light.

Geom Mugeuk sat down and began to cultivate the Heavenly Demon Defense Art.

"Please have your meal!"

Seo Daeryong entered the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's room. On the tray in his hands were several neatly arranged dishes. Some were bought, and some he had cooked himself.

Had he ever been this nervous in his life? He probably had not trembled this much even when he reached the final duel of the Young Dragon Tournament.

"Thank you."

The words were low but gentle. The favor the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon held for Geom Mugeuk was extending to Seo Daeryong.

"Please let me know if you need anything!" Seo Daeryong bowed so low his back nearly folded.

Just then, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon said, "There's no need for such excessive courtesy. You, too, are a man who will one day become a Demon Supreme."

At the words 'Demon Supreme', Seo Daeryong's heart began to pound again. Could I really become a Demon Supreme on the same level as this terrifying Extremely Evil Smiling Demon? Could I really?

He was about to just leave, but Seo Daeryong could not control the sudden surge of emotion and began to speak.

"I don't know if I'm worthy of that."

In that moment, his reason screamed at him. Hey, what are you doing? Shut that mouth!

His head urgently tried to stop him, but his mouth, won over by his heart, was already letting the words pour out.

"I became the Master's disciple by a stroke of luck, but I honestly don't know if it was because of my own abilities or because of the Director. I don't know if this is the right destiny for me, or if I'll end up tearing myself apart and dying by overreaching like this. Right now, I just feel like I'm being swept along. Can someone like me really become a Demon Supreme? Can I become like the Smiling Demon?"

After he finished speaking, Seo Daeryong felt as if he were floating in the air. What have I just done?

Ah! I've finally gone and done it. Of all the people in the world, why did I have to complain about my life to the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon? Asking if I can become like the Smiling Demon? Is that a challenge?

Seo Daeryong hurriedly bowed his head. "I'm sorry. I must have lost my mind for a moment."

As he hastily turned to leave, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon said, "The Second Young Lord seems to care for you a great deal."

Startled, Seo Daeryong turned back to look at him. The two eyes within the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's eye sockets were staring right at him.

"Yes, I know!"

After saying it, Seo Daeryong realized his mistake. 'I know!' What do I know? I should have said, 'Thank you for telling me.'

He was so nervous that words were just slipping out. "That's not what I meant, my words just now were…"

Then, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon said, "I know that, too."

It sounded as if he was saying he knew exactly what kind of state Seo Daeryong was in as he spoke.

He met the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's eyes. Those eyes were smiling. It was the first time Seo Daeryong had ever faced the Smiling Demon's smile. Seeing those smiling eyes filled him with fear.

"I made many mistakes today. I'm truly sorry."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon said calmly, "If you made no mistakes in front of me, wouldn't that be the real mistake?"

Leaving the room, Seo Daeryong let out a sigh. He could not think about what had just happened. Did I at least say goodbye? It felt like he had been in a dream. To have such a long, one-on-one conversation with the most terrifying person in the world, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, was both an honor and terrifying.

Director! Please come back soon! Your precious right-hand man is going to cause trouble at this rate!

Three days after being locked in the prison, one of the prisoners began to show symptoms.

"Uwaaaaaaack!"

He screamed and pounded on the door, but it was no ordinary iron door and did not break. His face was visible through the small window. Blood streamed from his eyes and nose. He had lost his sanity and was rampaging wildly.

The prisoners did not know they had been brought here because of Gwangpok, so they just thought he had gone mad from being unable to bear the confinement.

"You crazy bastard! Stop it!"

"Shut up! You want to die?"

However, he only rampaged more fiercely. Seeing this, the Poison King grew angry.

[That third-rate poison monger sold this kind of drug for money?]

Speak of the devil, the True Venom Sage soon arrived and watched the rampaging man through the small window. The man rushed forward and slammed his face against the window opening, his killing intent exploding.

KWANG! KWANG!

He slammed his head against the iron door. The sight of blood streaming from his eyes, nose, and forehead was gruesome, but the True Venom Sage's gaze remained cold as he watched.

In the end, the prisoner slammed his own head against the wall and collapsed, dying instantly.

His subordinates, who followed him, skillfully carried the corpse away as if this was not the first or second time they had witnessed such a thing.

The True Venom Sage looked into the other prison cells. He checked the condition of each prisoner one by one.

He glanced into the cell where Geom Mugeuk was. Geom Mugeuk sat against the wall with his head bowed low, revealing no particular energy.

After Geom Mugeuk, he peered into the Poison King's cell. The Poison King sat in the middle of the cell and glanced toward the window.

The moment their eyes met, the True Venom Sage felt something different from him compared to the other prisoners.

Is he sneering at me?

No, that could not be, but he did not like the look in his eyes.

The Poison King lowered his head, casting his eyes down, and the True Venom Sage moved on to inspect the next cell.

After checking all the cells, as the True Venom Sage was turning to leave, he glanced into the Poison King's cell one more time. This time, the Poison King was sitting with his back turned, lost in a daze.

The True Venom Sage watched him for a moment before leaving with his subordinates. As soon as he was gone, Geom Mugeuk sent a telepathic message to the Poison King.

[How did it go?]

[What are you asking? Of course, it was a success.]

[As expected! You're amazing.]

In that brief encounter, the Poison King had managed to poison the True Venom Sage with Gwangpok. This was necessary so that when the Evil Alliance later conducted an autopsy, they would discover that he had been poisoned by Gwangpok. It was one of the main reasons they had infiltrated this place.

[To poison the top poison arts master of the unorthodox sects while looking him in the eye! Who in the murim would dare attempt such a feat, let alone succeed? You are the true Dokjon!]

[I only administered a minuscule amount so it won't be noticeable yet. I'll have to increase the dose little by little.]

The Poison King's words were humble, but his expression said, 'This much is nothing'.

Sensing that he wanted to boast more, Geom Mugeuk added to the praise.

[And you did it to a target outside while you were inside a prison cell. I'm going to boast about this to everyone when I get back! I'll tell Father about this magnificent feat. The Poison King's poison art was a masterpiece, Father!]

[There's no need to tell the Cult Leader.]

Hearing that I would tell Father, the Poison King acted shy but seemed to be subtly looking forward to it.

Was that why? The Poison King seemed more confident and dignified.

[I'll poison him a little more each time that bastard comes down here.]

The True Venom Sage thought he was the one conducting the experiment, but in reality, he himself was the test subject.

When a second and then a third victim appeared in succession, the prisoners realized something was being put in their food. Only then did the prisoners stop eating.

Then, the True Venom Sage appeared again. He walked slowly down the prison corridor and said, "I heard some people aren't eating their meals?"

Though all sorts of curses had been thrown around about tearing him to pieces if he came down, no one dared to step forward now. The image of the Blood Demon melting into a pool of blood was too shockingly seared into their minds.

"If you leave any food, you will die by my poison. I will show no mercy, even if you beg me to kill you."

He cracked a merciless whip, then threw them a rotten carrot.

"If you survive this place, I won't send you back to prison. I'll just let you go. Maybe one or two of you will survive."

No one believed him. However, the words were clearly effective. In the despair of watching their numbers dwindle one by one, this rotten carrot would ultimately become their only solace.

Just then, the True Venom Sage stopped in front of the Poison King's prison cell. Peering inside through the small window, he spoke to his subordinate.

"Open this door."

The subordinate opened the iron door to the Poison King's prison cell.

"Come out."

The Poison King walked out of the prison. It was an unexpected development that neither Geom Mugeuk nor the Poison King had anticipated.

The True Venom Sage stared at the Poison King and said, "Why do I feel so bad when I look at you?"

He, too, was an absolute master of the unorthodox path. It seemed he sensed some ominous fate in his encounter with the Poison King.

The True Venom Sage used his fingers to unpleasantly tilt the Poison King's chin upward. "Strangely, I don't like the look in your eyes."

Even in this moment, the Poison King's expression showed no fear at all.

Even if I sent a telepathic message saying, Poison King, put on a scared face!, there was no way he could make an expression he had never made in his life. Especially not in a situation where his mood was already as foul as it could be.

The True Venom Sage slowly raised his hand to slap him across the cheek. The Poison King's lips twitched. Don't. Not if you want to live. It was a hair-trigger moment where such words seemed about to burst forth.

Geom Mugeuk shouted from his small window.

"It's because you two look alike."

The Poison King and the True Venom Sage simultaneously looked toward Geom Mugeuk. One spoke with words, the other with a fierce expression.

"What? We look alike?"