Chapter 24
When I accepted the wager, the Haomun Leader smiled and poured liquor into a cup.
“This is Erguotou. What poison I mixed into it is a secret. Please understand.”
“Alright, just give it to me.”
The Haomun Leader handed the full cup of liquor to a Courtesan, who then passed it to me.
Thud.
From the cup placed before me, the subtle aroma of Erguotou wafted up.
Sniff—.
...No, upon a proper sniff, it wasn’t subtle at all. A potent aroma stung my nose.
Normally, Erguotou has a fruity scent, like apples, but this... this smelled more like fermented apples, perhaps?
It was impossible to guess what poison was mixed in... The appearance and aroma were enough to make even a poisonous liquor connoisseur hesitate for a moment, but...
Gulp—.
I lifted the cup and poured its contents into my mouth.
“Mmm~.”
When it first entered my mouth, it was definitely numbing. My mouth and tongue felt like they were burning.
But that’s how liquor is meant to be enjoyed. I savored the burning sensation on my tongue before slowly letting it slide down my throat.
As it went down, an aftertaste lingered in my mouth. It felt as if 100 apples had been concentrated and poured into my mouth all at once.
Simultaneously, the energies within my body automatically circulated to detoxify the liquor I had just consumed.
The feeling of intoxication was rising from just one cup. This liquor was truly a masterpiece.
“It’s delicious, though?”
`
“...Is that so?”
When I gave my honest assessment, the Haomun Leader’s expression turned awkward.
No, she even looked a little flustered.
Of course she would. She must have been so confident, but I drank it with such relish.
“Well, who told her to challenge me to a drinking contest with poisonous liquor?”
I chuckled inwardly and said to her,
“I’ve finished the cup. I seem to be perfectly fine, but would you like to check for yourself?”
“...No. At a glance, you appear perfectly well, Sir. The first round is your victory. As promised, please ask one question you are curious about.”
“Alright, then for the first question.”
It was obvious I would win all three rounds, but just in case, I decided to ask the question I was most curious about.
“That High-tier Information about the Heavenly Demon Cult you mentioned earlier... Tell me what it is.”
This was information about the Heavenly Demon Cult. In truth, I had agreed to this drinking wager precisely to hear it.
The Haomun Leader, as if she knew I would ask this first, opened her mouth without much reaction.
And the information she imparted to me was...
“It appears that Executives of the Heavenly Demon Cult have left the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains and infiltrated the Central Plains.”
“...What?”
...It was quite shocking.
I was serious now. That was why I had no choice but to ask again.
...Is that truly real? Without a single lie?”
“Not speaking falsehoods when selling information is a tradition and pride of our Haomun. Our Spies definitely witnessed Martial Artists bearing the mark of an Elder leaving the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.”
“...”
...Right, the Haomun aren’t the kind of people to lie about something like this.
Knowing that, I became even more confused.
...Why? Why on earth...?
Why has the novel’s plot changed?
There might be a future that has subtly changed since I transmigrated into this world. But are my actions affecting the movements of those Demonic Cult bastards?
My head was already aching, but the Haomun Leader’s next words hit me with a double blow.
“It is believed that the Deputy Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult was among them.”
“...That hikikomori-like woman came out of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains?”
“Hikiko... I don’t know what that means, but... Sir, do you have a connection with the Heavenly Demon Cult’s Deputy Cult Leader?”
“...”
Naturally, I didn’t answer that question.
When I remained silent, the Haomun Leader observed my reaction and continued her questioning.
“...You are trembling, if only slightly.”
“...”
“I saw that you possess exceptional martial prowess, Sir. Yet, why do you tremble at mere Heretics from the North?”
The Haomun Leader asked, genuinely curious.
Just Heretic Martial Artists who merely cause a little chaos in the North.
That was the common perception of the Heavenly Demon Cult among the public.
Of course, it was understandable to view them as such. In reality, they had been holed up in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains for hundreds of years since the first Heavenly Demon, showing no significant activity.
But that didn’t mean they were weak.
“How annoying... Killing them is a bother, so why don”t they just die on their own?’
They were merely waiting for the opportune moment, hiding their claws meticulously.
Mere Heretics from the North?
Now, the person holding the most information in the world was spouting such nonsense.
To that extent, the current Murim is complacent. That complacency will drag the Murim into hell. That was the future I had clearly seen in the novel.
But those who would bring about that disaster were moving faster than anticipated.
...It’s complicated.
I felt so conflicted that I craved a drink.
“...Hey, I’m done with my question, so hurry up and pour the next drink.”
...You speak as if you’re ordering white liquor at an inn.”
The Haomun Leader, though wearing a bewildered expression, reached for the next bottle of liquor.
Hwaaaah—.
The moment she opened the lid, I knew.
This one was much stronger than the last.
She poured the liquor into the cup with a gurgle and began to explain.
“This time, it’s Jukyeopcheong.”
“Jukyeopcheong? I was hoping for something a bit more fiery and luxurious...”
As I complained, the Haomun Leader chuckled and handed the poured liquor to a Courtesan.
“This is a high-grade Jukyeopcheong, directly made in Sichuan, its origin. It will be on a completely different level from the cheap stuff found in inns. Naturally, what poison is mixed in is a secret.”
“...Fine. I want to get drunk, so hurry up and give it to me.”
I took the liquor from the Courtesan and inhaled its aroma first.
The sweet yet uniquely refreshing scent of Jukyeopcheong wafted strongly. I immediately swallowed the Jukyeopcheong.
Gulp—.
“Mmm.”
Not bad.
As the Haomun Leader said, its taste and depth were different from the cheap Jukyeopcheong found in Inns. Of course, with poison mixed in, it was quite numbing.
“She certainly seems to have prepared a lot.”
Even an ordinary Master would have been knocked out cold after drinking this poisonous liquor. But no matter how potent, poisonous liquor is just delicious alcohol to me.
“I’ve finished it now. Can I ask my question?”
“...You seem perfectly fine this time as well, so please do.”
Tsk, tsk.
Poor thing.
The Haomun Leader must have her pride, but it’s being thoroughly trampled by me right now.
“She should have picked her opponent more carefully before making a wager.”
I clicked my tongue inwardly and casually continued with my question.
“Uh... what was it. How did you know I was so interested in the Heavenly Demon Cult?”
“I just received a report with all the information about the Shanxi Yu Clan. It turns out their Elder, Wi Yongmyeong, was actually a Demonic Cultist. I was able to deduce it from that to some extent.”
“Well... just as I expected.”
I had roughly anticipated that she would find out through that, as there was no other way for the information to leak.
Even after receiving the answer to my question, I felt quite unenthusiastic.
That was because, apart from the first question, there wasn’t much else I was curious about.
My main concern now was solely the Heavenly Demon Cult, which was acting differently from the novel.
“Damn it... I originally planned to just ignore them and live my life...”
I had intended to live happily, thinking that neither the Heavenly Demon Cult nor the Righteous Faction was my business. But now, my attention kept being drawn to them.
It felt like watching a child playing with fire in front of an oil drum.
It’ll be fine, right? Even if the details change a bit, the overall flow will be the same as the novel, won’t it?
In the novel, even though the world turned to ashes, the Murim Alliance ultimately won. I hadn’t seen the very end, but they had definitely seized victory.
“It”s fine. It’ll be fine. Don’t even think about getting involved. Just as I decided a year ago...’
I suppressed my anxious feelings and tried to compose myself. In the meantime, the third liquor was prepared.
The Haomun Leader opened the lid of the final liquor and explained, just as before.
“For the last one, everything is a secret.”
“Oh, really...?”
Gurgle—.
This one, unlike the previous ones, didn’t emit a fiery or numbing aroma as it was poured.
But it was like <F1>Return to Original Purity</F1>. As it was the final liquor, it must be the strongest, even if it appeared ordinary.
*“Should I... be a little nervous?”*
From the moment I received the cup from the Courtesan, I swallowed it with a slightly different mindset than before.
But then...
“?”
This is truly strange.
Why is the liquor... sweet?
“Is something amiss?”
As I made a peculiar expression, the Haomun Leader spoke up.
Her expression was remarkably serene, as if she had given up everything. Curious, I asked,
“The liquor... it’s sweet?”
“The liquor... you mean it’s sweet...?”
“Yeah. Did you give up, perhaps, thinking I was unaffected... <F1>Gasp!</F1>”
It was then.
Ugh—.
As nausea rose from my stomach, the intoxication in my head disrupted my concentration.
The liquor’s effects were clearly taking hold.
Whoosh—.
At this, I quickly closed my eyes and sat in a lotus position. It was to directly circulate my Internal Energy to detoxify myself.
“What the hell...? Everything was going fine, so why suddenly...”
I couldn’t help but be flustered. I had been fine until now, so why suddenly...? Moreover, I was...
*“Hmph, lucky me. I”ll never be affected by ordinary poisons with my <F1>Ren Du Two Meridians</F1> opened by this. I’m probably close to <F1>Invulnerable to a Thousand Poisons</F1> now.’*
...But I clearly was!
It felt unfair, but there was no time for questions. I focused as much as possible and proceeded to detoxify my body.
The fortunate thing was that my detoxification speed was faster than the rate at which the poison spread through my body.
Rustle—.
But then, I sensed a presence before me, even with my eyes closed. The Haomun Leader had risen.
*“What is this woman trying to do...?”*
Not using force during a drinking wager is the most basic rule. That’s why I couldn’t help but be even more curious about why the Haomun Leader had risen.
“If she tries anything strange, I”ll forget about detoxifying and just punch her first.’
Thinking that, I continued my detoxification. At that moment, the Haomun Leader also spoke.
“You are truly arrogant, Sir. Until this very moment, with only you in my world, I have focused solely on you, all to defeat you. Yet, how can you be distracted with other thoughts even while we are in the midst of our wager?”
It seemed I had been too obvious with my distractions. Still, since I sensed no hostility in her tone, I quietly focused on my detoxification for now.
“<F1>Poison Blending</F1> doesn’t only happen externally. It can also occur within the body. Do you recall what liquors you consumed today, Sir?”
“Damn it, how am I supposed to remember all that? More importantly, poison blending can happen inside the body?”
Gurgle—.
No wonder new Poisonous Qi kept rising even as I continued to detoxify. Was this what she was talking about?
But it would be soon. Just a little more, and I could completely detoxify myself.
Even amidst this, the Haomun Leader continued speaking alone before me.
“The liquors you drank today contained poisons such as Haknyeongcho, Bingbaekdok, Hwawangdok, and Judokhwa. Of course, they were blended so as not to be life-threatening, and even when mixed, they wouldn’t become extreme poisons that would endanger Martial Artists, but...”
“...”
“When those poisons combine with certain spices from the snacks you consumed today, they form the <F1>Drunken Immortal Wine</F1>, which the <F1>Sichuan Tang Family</F1> <F1>Third Generation Family Head</F1>, who was <F1>Immune to All Poisons</F1>, was said to have enjoyed.”
“...!”
“A liquor enjoyed by someone <F1>Immune to All Poisons</F1>...? But I... I”m <F1>Invulnerable to a Thousand Poisons</F1>?’
I was momentarily flustered, but the detoxification was still progressing. I tried not to be swayed by the Haomun Leader’s words and focused on my task.
“Ah, but I made a slight mistake. The key to Drunken Immortal Wine is a strongly sour tangerine, and I almost forgot about it.”
“...What?”
Sensing that the Haomun Leader’s next words were ominous, I hastily opened my eyes.
But...
Thud.
Her soft hand had already covered my mouth, and something was already sliding down my throat.
Gulp.
It was a tangerine, from the taste that briefly touched my tongue.
I wondered what could possibly happen from eating a mere fruit like a tangerine, but...
Fizzle.
“...!”
The moment the tangerine touched the poisonous liquor in my stomach, it created a strange harmony, bringing on an unbearable intoxication.
“Ugh...”
My mind grew dizzy. An unbearable fatigue washed over my body, and my eyes threatened to close.
For the past few years, I hadn’t been able to get drunk. Even if I did, I couldn’t get deeply intoxicated.
But now, I was getting so drunk that my mind felt like it was hitting rock bottom.
This gave me a pleasure I hadn’t felt in a long time, but at the same time...
“This damn...”
...it also brought the frustration of losing the wager.
“...Just you wait until I get up, you damn bitch.”
“Yes, when you wake up, we shall meet again.”
With that, having looked at the Haomun Leader who was gazing down at me, I closed my eyes.
And when I opened my eyes again...
“Are you awake?”
“Ah...”
I found myself sleeping with my head resting on someone’s thigh.