Chapter 63: Suspicion
People were disappearing....
...The Shadow Corps.
That name surfaced in my mind almost reflexively.
Among those kidnapped by the Shadow Corps...
there had been martial artists too.
But they were treated differently from ordinary test subjects.
From the moment they were brought in, they were heavily dosed with Soul-Dissolving Pills.
They were kept isolated and managed separately, never mixed in with the normal test subjects.
Because I was a Special Test Subject...
there had been a few occasions when I happened to be placed near them.
Ordinary test subjects were injected with the Soul-Dissolving Pill at regular intervals.
Because of that...
there were moments when the drug's effect weakened.
During those brief gaps, they could sometimes regain their senses.
But the separately managed test subjects were given Soul-Dissolving Pills almost every day.
They remained without reason or self-awareness...
until the very end.
Only when they were close to death did the injections stop.
The only time they could become human again...
was in those final moments before dying.
Just remembering it made my stomach churn.
...Enough.
Stop thinking about it.
It'll only throw me off.
I steadied my breathing and cut off the memories.
Besides...
people disappearing in the dangerous martial world wasn't exactly rare.
I couldn't assume every disappearance was connected to the Shadow Corps.
I suppressed my emotions and continued listening to Tang Sogyeom.
“Of course, for now, it's only a rumor.”
He spoke carefully.
“Nothing has been definitively confirmed.”
But despite calling it only a rumor...
his expression suggested he believed there was something unusual about it.
“Still, don't you find it strange?”
His gaze sharpened slightly.
“It hasn't been long since the disappearances at Black Spirit Valley...”
“and now, coincidentally, rumors like this are spreading again.”
"..."
Tang Sogyeom continued.
“Of course, the Black Spirit Valley incident was concluded to be the work of the Thousand Poisons Old Demon...”
He hesitated.
“But something about it just feels strange to me.”
Then he glanced around and gave an awkward smile.
“Haha.”
“I've rambled on too long over nothing.”
He shook his head.
“Maybe the night is making me overthink things.”
“It's possible.”
I lightly agreed.
Then, partly to change the subject, I asked,
“By the way, Young Master Tang.”
“Are you also participating in the Dragon-Phoenix Awakening Tournament?”
Tang Sogyeom blinked once.
Then shook his head.
“No.”
“I'm only going to broaden my experience.”
“Experience?”
Tang Sogyeom smiled gently.
“Not every martial artist goes to the Dragon-Phoenix Awakening Tournament to compete.”
He explained,
“Some go simply to watch.”
“Some want to read the future balance of power in the martial world.”
“Others go to build connections.”
He paused briefly.
“So I'm in no particular hurry.”
“I'm traveling slowly.”
His gaze shifted toward the side.
“Making companions along the way, like this.”
He seemed to mean Jang Ho, Sim Doyun, and Gwak Munseok.
The three men he had introduced earlier.
“I also happened to meet these three along the road.”
Tang Sogyeom smiled.
“Isn't that what the martial world is like?”
“You walk the same road together for a while...”
“then eventually split off and follow your own paths.”
It was a perfectly natural answer.
And yet...
that was exactly what made it feel suspicious.
Going just to broaden his experience...?
His answer was too smooth.
Almost as though he had prepared it beforehand.
Then...
“Well, well.”
A familiar voice came from behind us.
“Look at you brats.”
“Already making connections in the martial world?”
“Kekeke.”
I instinctively turned my head.
Two familiar figures stood behind me.
Jin Gwangung.
And Yu Gwangcheol.
Yu Gwangcheol swept his gaze across the hall once.
Then looked at me.
“I heard there was a disturbance.”
“...My apologies.”
I lowered my head.
Jin Gwangung immediately smacked my shoulder lightly.
“Apologies for what?”
He snorted.
“A little trouble is part of traveling through the martial world.”
Then he grinned.
“You did well.”
“Bastards who get drunk and cause trouble in inns need to be stepped on properly.”
“Kekeke.”
Yu Gwangcheol frowned.
“Gwangung.”
“You shouldn't teach the children such things....”
“Here we go again.”
Jin Gwangung waved him off.
“What a stuffy old man.”
Tang Sogyeom and his group looked slightly startled at the sudden appearance of the two elders.
Noticing their reaction...
Jin Gwangung raised an eyebrow.
“Anyway...”
His gaze settled on the people at our table.
“Who are you lot?”
Tang Sogyeom immediately stood and gave a respectful martial salute.
“My name is Tang Sogyeom, from Sichuan.”
He gestured toward the others.
“These are my companions.”
Jin Gwangung's expression changed subtly.
“Tang Clan?”
“Yes.”
Tang Sogyeom nodded.
“I am from a branch family.”
Then he added,
“You must be First Elder Jin Gwangung and First Elder Yu Gwangcheol.”
Jin Gwangung's eyebrows shot upward.
“What?”
“How do you know us?”
Tang Sogyeom remained calm.
“I heard rumors that the two of you would also be attending the Dragon-Phoenix Awakening Tournament.”
Then he looked at Jin Gwangung.
“And Elder Gwangung...”
“I saw you once when I was very young.”
Jin Gwangung blinked.
“You saw this old man?”
“Where?”
“When you visited the main Tang Clan estate as a guest.”
Tang Sogyeom lowered his head slightly.
“I only greeted you from a distance...”
“but I still remember your appearance clearly.”
Jin Gwangung stroked his beard.
“When you were young?”
His gaze traveled up and down Tang Sogyeom.
Suspicion entered his eyes.
“I did visit the Tang Clan once....”
He frowned.
“Must've been more than ten years ago.”
Then he tilted his head.
“But that's strange.”
“Are you from the main family?”
“You just said you were from a branch.”
Tang Sogyeom smiled gently and lowered his head.
“I am from a branch family.”
“I simply happened to be staying at the main estate at the time.”
Jin Gwangung leaned his face slightly closer.
“Hm.”
“Strange.”
He squinted.
“I don't remember seeing a handsome little boy like you at the Tang Clan.”
Then he scratched his beard.
“What I do remember is one little girl.”
Yu Gwangcheol sighed beside him.
“Gwangung.”
“That story again?”
“What?”
Jin Gwangung shrugged.
“It was unusual enough to remember.”
He muttered,
“Tang Soyeon.”
At that moment...
