Baekta's mission was to grasp the intention of the Five Poisons Gate, the ruler of northern Yunnan, in moving its branch to the border with the Central Plains.

The land of the outer world.

He didn't know when or where what kind of danger would befall him.

So it was only natural to disguise himself as a porter who engaged in small-scale trade, and it was not good to attract the attention of others.

At least this place was on the border, so many cultural aspects were mixed, and people from the Central Plains were occasionally seen, but.

"Whoa! What is this?"

"With pincers on its front legs and a stinger on its tail... I've seen this in a picture book! It's a scorpion, a scorpion!"

"A scorpion? This is a scorpion?"

"Yeah! Among the books the Family Head was looking at, there was one with poisonous beasts written in it, and it looked exactly like this punk."

"Then it's really a scorpion? Wow! I've only heard about it, but this is the first time I've seen one."

They were making an excessive fuss.

Those damn things...

They were squatting in front of a merchant who was selling wild poisons on a stall and watching.

And how loud their voices were.

Did you come to see the sights?

Did you come to see the sights?

This is a mission! It's not good to attract the attention of the people of Yunnan!

"S-Sanghui! Look at that poisonous snake. It's holding its head up stiffly and glaring at us."

"Oh my! How gross!"

Sanghui, feigning excessive surprise, suddenly hugs Yongcheon's arm.

That punk... that's intentional. A snake is scary to a punk who has the reputation of being an asura?

Nonsense.

With the coldness she emits from her eyes every time she glares at him, even a snake would lower its eyes.

These days, whenever Sanghui glares, it seems he hears a hallucination of 'hiss, hiss' from somewhere.

It was clear that she was trying to remind him that she was a woman and at the same time cling to Yongcheon's arm.

This won't do. I have to stop them before they attract more attention.

But he couldn't say it directly. Wasn't he already on her bad side?

Since it was not good to attract people's attention, he would leave it to the person who could control them.

"Hey, Tang... huh?"

Just as Baekta was about to turn his head to ask for help, Cheonyeong brushes past him and approaches the two.

As expected of a friend. Didn't it seem as if he had read his mind?

Go! Family Head Tang.

Bring those clueless things here right now and give them a good scolding!

Furthermore, you must tell them how much secrecy this mission requires...

"Don't get too close."

"Huh?"

"You see the white line-like stripes on its body?"

"Yeah!"

"It's a punk called a banded krait."

"A banded krait?"

"Yes. It's a punk with a deadly poison. It's mainly active at night... if you get bitten, you'll die without even being able to breathe. It's also difficult to get an antidote."

"Eek!"

Yongcheon and Sanghui flinch and step back at Cheonyeong's words. Of course, Baekta, who was watching, was just dumbfounded.

Was he trying to explain?

Kindly?

Now is not the time for that...

"That's a black-clawed scorpion, and that punk is..."

And he even explains in detail about the scorpions and poisonous insects that the merchant is selling.

"As expected, you're amazing! How on earth do you know all that?"

"He's a genius. A genius."

"That's true."

Yongcheon, who couldn't hide his admiration, nodded his head in agreement at Sanghui's words.

"Remember the shapes well. Think of it as studying."

"Okay!"

Yongcheon and Sanghui's eyes sparkle at Cheonyeong's words, and they stare at them.

"Heh heh, for a man from the Central Plains, you're quite something. You seem to know a lot about poisons."

The merchant praised Cheonyeong's extensive knowledge with a gaze full of caution.

"From the looks of it, you seem to be merchants from the Central Plains..."

"Yes. We are people from a place called the Tang Family's estate in Ganyang, Sicheon."

Cheonyeong said, holding out his identification tag from his pocket. Baekta's eyes widened at the sight.

That damn punk!

It has to be secret! Did you forget that you're disguised as a porter?

If you're going to show your identification tag to someone you've just met, why did you disguise yourself in the first place?

Baekta frowned, thinking that it was ruined from the start because of the damn Tang Family's estate punks... but the situation was flowing strangely.

The merchant, who had confirmed the identification tag, was startled and showed respect, didn't he?

"Oh, you were the family head?"

"Yes."

"You look so young, I didn't know your noble status and committed a rudeness."

"I am young. And what's there to be rude about? What's so great about the title of family head... and it's not such a great family, so you can just think of it comfortably."

"Is that so?"

The merchant, who had been watching his expression at the words that seemed not to be bound by status, smiles brightly.

Baekta just blinked his eyes, bewildered.

Why is he smiling?

And the caution in the merchant's eyes, which had been full before, had disappeared, and now there was goodwill, wasn't there?

Although he was a Beggars' Sect member, and a candidate for the next leader, it was Baekta's first time in Yunnan.

So he couldn't understand the current change.

But it was a natural thing for a merchant.

The merchant, who had been doing business on the border with the Central Plains for a long time, had met quite a few people from the Central Plains.

There were no good memories.

Although the people of Yunnan did not particularly harm them, didn't they always guard against them, act arrogantly, and behave haughtily?

It was a feeling as if they were dealing with barbarians who were culturally far behind.

So, no matter how much they did business on the border of Yunnan and the Central Plains, the way the people of Yunnan looked at the people of the Central Plains could not be good.

But Cheonyeong and his party were different.

Didn't they approach with pure curiosity, marvel, wonder, speak first, and converse friendly?

Also, a family head was a noble status.

Those people from the Central Plains would hold their noses and frown as if their bodies smelled, and they would send their subordinates to bargain as if they didn't even want to deal with them.

But that person, despite his noble status, approached without hesitation and was even knowledgeable about the poisons that the people of the Central Plains considered insignificant. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

There was no reason for the merchant not to show goodwill.

Of course, Baekta, who had no way of knowing the reason for the change, just blinked his eyes with a bewildered expression.

He had heard that Yunnan was a dangerous place and that he should act carefully, but that sight... wasn't it no different from the sight of a customer and a shopkeeper who had visited a certain shop in the Central Plains?

"By the way, it seems you don't handle high-grade poisons."

"Ha ha, of course. Do you think I can sell such poisons on a stall?"

"Because it's dangerous?"

"Dangerous? No way. We have been with poisons since we were born."

"Then do you store them separately?"

"No."

"..."

"It seems this is your first time in Yunnan, Family Head?"

"Yes. It's my first time."

"Then it's understandable. Although Sicheon is on the border, if it's your first time in Yunnan, it's understandable that you're not familiar with the situation here."

"The situation?"

"Yes."

"What kind?"

Although Cheonyeong roughly knew, he tilted his head as if he didn't, and the merchant kindly explained.

Because it was much better to pretend not to know and listen than to pretend to know and create familiarity.

"This is the territory of the Five Poisons Gate. It's not ruled by the government like in the Central Plains, but by the tribal leaders."

"Well, ah!"

Cheonyeong smiled brightly at a sudden thought.

"I see. Since high-grade poisons are often sold at whatever price is called, you must get permission from the Five Poisons Gate, right?"

"That's right. Because high-grade poison accounts for the largest portion of the Five Poisons Gate's various sources of income."

"I see, I understand."

Cheonyeong nodded his head as if he understood.

He would have done the same. Because he couldn't let just anyone handle the main source of income of a sect.

"But are you looking for a particular poison?"

"Pardon?"

"If you wish, shall I introduce you? I know a place that handles goods with permission from the Five Poisons Gate. And your identity seems certain..."

Baekta's face flinched at those words.

A place with permission from the Five Poisons Gate?

If he could meet such a place, it would be a great thing.

There was no way they didn't know the situation of the Five Poisons Gate.

He wouldn't have to secretly gather information. If he went and had a small conversation and obtained a few pieces of information from it and added some inference?

He might be able to easily find out the reason why the Five Poisons Gate had advanced its branch to the north.

Where else could there be an easier way to finish his mission?

Let's do it. I'll pay for the poison.

Hurry, hurry and say let's do it, Family Head Tang!

Baekta, whose heart had suddenly become treacherous, sent a hot gaze from behind Cheonyeong.

But.

"No. I don't need it."

Cheonyeong shook his head with a refusal, and Baekta's expectations crumbled.

That damn punk!

It was going so well...

Just say you'll do it. Why on earth!

Tension, caution, bewilderment, surprise, the unexpected, expectation, and even disappointment...

Baekta, who had experienced various emotional changes in a short time, looked at Cheonyeong with a sullen expression.

"Ah! But just in case, can I get an antidote?"

"An antidote?"

"Yes."

"What kind?"

"I heard that there are many various poisons in Yunnan."

"Well..."

"I don't know what kind of poison I might be harmed by while wandering around carelessly, so it would be good to have an antidote that can neutralize the poison."

"Ah! There is! Of course there is. Please wait a moment."

"Yes."

The merchant nods his head at Cheonyeong's words and rushes into the shop.

In the meantime, Baekta approaches Cheonyeong's side and grumbles.

"Dammit, you should have said you'd take it. Why did you refuse?"

"Huh? What?"

"The introduction."

"The introduction?"

"Yes."

"Why? I don't need any poison."

"Who said it was because of the poison?"

"Then?"

Cheonyeong tilts his head with a puzzled expression.

I'd rather die than suffer. Why doesn't the punk who seems so smart know my heart?

"I'm saying it because it's a place related to the Five Poisons Gate."

Cheonyeong stares at Baekta, who is grumbling in a low voice.

This punk...

What he's thinking, what he was thinking. His gaze is readable, readable.

"Ah, I thought it was something else."

"You just missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

"Keuk, what once-in-a-lifetime."

"What?"

"You're right, but then we'd have to use an innocent merchant."

"Well..."

"And you call yourself Orthodox?"

"...Huh?"

"Let's say we used him as you said. Then what if that merchant's name gets into the Five Poisons Gate?"

"..."

"What if he gets into a difficult situation for giving information to a man from the Central Plains?"

Baekta shuts his mouth and frowns.

"Hey, Jang Myeongseon."

"Why."

"That person is not a martial artist. His domain is different from ours."

"That's true, but..."

Cheonyeong's words are right.

But how can he not feel regret?

"Listen carefully. The Tang family, you see, never forgets a grudge, but it also doesn't repay a favor with enmity."

"..."

"You know, right? I wanted to accompany you because I wanted to get to know Yunnan, not to be your assistant in your mission."

"..."

Baekta just wore a sullen expression and couldn't say anything.

His request to accompany him to Yunnan was not to help him, and he himself had not expected anything from him when he had agreed.

It was purely because their paths were the same, and to avoid being bored.

"If you're thinking of using me for your mission, let's split up now."

"Hah, I see what you mean. I made a mistake."

"..."

"But what's regrettable is regrettable. Dammit, a young friend is like an adult..."

Cheonyeong smirks at the sight of Baekta pouting and grumbling.

He is an adult. Although his appearance is like this, he is much older than you.

"Still, if it's a situation where you might die, I won't pretend not to know."

"Huh?"

"Because we're friends."

Baekta lets out a deep sigh at the sight of Cheonyeong speaking with a bright smile.

Damn punk, if only he couldn't talk...

"Here is the antidote."

Just then, the merchant who had gone inside came out with a heavy bundle.

It was an antidote that weakened the toxicity when bitten by a poisonous creature.

"Oh! There are so many?"

"But it's expensive. I'll serve you one for one nyang of silver."

"Pardon? Can you give me a discount? How about one nyang for two?"

"Ahem! Customer, what are you saying? Our antidote is the most effective in Yeongin."

"Then three for two nyang!"

"I'm not selling!"

"Aish, give me a discount."

A push-and-pull bargain began. But in the merchant's eyes, looking at Cheonyeong, there was no longer any caution.

They were just a merchant and a customer.

Baekta, who was watching the two, could realize one new thing.

That a natural appearance, rather than a fabricated one, might be the most secretive.

(End of Chapter)