How should I handle this situation?

That was the thought that came to mind as I stared at the snake that was quietly watching me.

Even setting aside its yellow eyes, the red scales alone told me what I needed to know.

This thing…

‘It seems like the same one I killed earlier.’

No matter how I looked at it, that was the conclusion I reached. Of course, this wasn’t particularly strange.

The red monster that appeared in the river was called Jeoksusa —a Red Water Snake monster.

The Jeoksusa is a monster that appears in any body of water, be it a river or the sea. While it’s quite large compared to other red-class monsters, it isn’t particularly difficult to deal with due to its sluggish movements.

The only real issue is that it lives in the water.

And also...

‘If I remember correctly, it was supposed to use poison.’

Its fangs were supposed to be filled with potent venom, and I recall it being a monster that exhaled poisonous miasma as well.

Yet, I didn’t sense that when I fought this one.

There might be some that don’t use poison, but...

‘This is strange.’

Even calling me something like "the great one" was odd.

It felt as if it was intentionally avoiding attacking me.

Why is that? Why me?

It was strange enough that a monster spoke to me, but the fact that it showed me some sort of kindness was even more puzzling.

‘And this one too.’

I shifted my gaze to the smaller Jeoksusa, which was staring blankly at me.

Right now, this little one was my biggest dilemma.

What’s its deal?

As I locked eyes with the Jeoksusa, I scowled.

‘I almost died because of this thing.’

Right after extracting the monster core, I sensed something unusual and inspected the core.

At that moment, I instinctively knew.

I could feel something stirring within it.

A stir... from a core? It’s not like it’s an egg, so what kind of nonsense is this?

I was so shocked I almost inhaled a mouthful of river water.

But what surprised me even more...

...was that as soon as I noticed it, I instinctively knew how to hatch it.

Hatching.

Yes, I could hatch this monster core. I wasn’t sure what would come out of it, but one thing was certain.

So, what should I do?

There was no time to think. Before I knew it, I was already “feeding” it my energy as if under a spell.

‘This….’

The method to hatch it was simple.

Instead of absorbing the dark energy from the core with my Mado Cheonheup Gong, I had to inject my own energy into it.

It was like corrupting someone into a demon by infusing them with dark energy. The same principle applied to the core.

How did I know this? It felt as if someone had told me how to do it.

If there was one problem...

‘Why is it consuming so much energy…!’

The core was greedily devouring my energy.

I expected it to take some, but this was too much.

Even though I possessed a vast amount of internal energy from devouring various martial arts and opportunities, it was consuming an absurd amount.

‘It’s already taken about half.’

I hadn’t used much energy in the battle, so I thought I had plenty left, but this rate of consumption was alarming.

Moreover, I couldn’t stop feeding it.

‘You crazy bastard…’

At first, I was willingly infusing it with my energy.

But at some point, the core began absorbing my energy on its own.

Usually, I could cut off the flow of energy whenever I wanted, but this time was different.

I could feel it in the way it was absorbing my energy. If I forcibly cut it off, my energy channels would twist, and I’d end up in a state of Qi Deviation (Juhoimmal).

Being underwater, unable to struggle properly, while having my energy drained... It was unbearable.

If I let it take everything, I might really die.

As I desperately fought to maintain my composure, one thought was clear: I couldn’t die here in such a pathetic place.

Even though my resolve was firm, I couldn’t think of any way to stop it.

My energy was running out fast.

‘Damn it.’

At this rate, it felt like it would suck every last drop of energy from me.

What should I do?

Just as I felt like I had reached a critical moment where I needed to take drastic action—

Thud!

The energy drain finally stopped.

‘...Hah.’

I immediately checked my body.

Most of my energy had been drained, with only a small amount left.

Had it continued any longer, I would have been done for.

Just as the relief of not dying washed over me—

Crack!

I felt something shift in my hand. The core had cracked.

And then, suddenly, something touched my hand.

Frowning, I looked down to see a small red snake coiled around my arm.

I should have been shocked at the sight, but at that moment, getting out of the water was my priority.

With my energy depleted, my breathing was becoming labored. I had to get out first, snake or no snake.

After some time passed, I found myself facing off with the snake that had emerged from the core.

‘Did a monster really hatch from a core?’

That didn’t seem right. I had never heard of such a thing.

I’d never researched or cared much about monsters’ reproduction, but I knew enough to say that monsters don’t hatch from cores.

‘Then what is this?’

That’s what made it so strange.

Not only had a monster emerged from the core after draining my energy, but its behavior was odd as well.

The Jeoksusa flicked its tongue and licked my fingers.

At least it wasn’t showing any hostility.

How ridiculous.

Monsters are supposed to be creatures that don’t show affection to humans, so why was this one acting like this?

This was no small matter.

The Murim Alliance had spent hundreds of years trying to tame monsters, only to conclude that it was impossible and gave up.

Monsters, by nature, are savage beasts, driven by greed and hunger. They can never be tamed and must be hunted for peace.

That was the conclusion the Murim Alliance had reached through years of experience.

‘What a ridiculous creature.’

The Jeoksusa kept licking my arm, as if showing affection.

I stared at it, dumbfounded.

“Speak up. What are you?”

I kept asking the creature, but the Jeoksusa remained silent.

It was foolish to expect a monster to talk, but considering what had happened earlier, it wasn’t entirely out of the question.

After all, the other one had spoken to me.

“Are you a different one from the Jeoksusa I killed earlier?”

I asked, wondering if it was the same one, but the snake only looked back at me, flicking its tongue as if it didn’t understand.

“Hey, you were talking just fine earlier. Why are you quiet now? Speak up.”

Shaah?

The snake tilted its head as if confused.

“Hah…”

Frustration started to build, and I felt heat rising in my head. I couldn’t believe I was having this kind of conversation with a snake in the middle of the night.

As if I wasn’t already overwhelmed… This was really irritating.

Snap!

Shaak!

Unable to hold back my anger, I grabbed the snake by its neck.

“I gave you so much of my energy, and this is how you repay me?”

Shaaaak!

The Jeoksusa squirmed in my grip, struggling as if it couldn’t breathe.

“You’d better answer me, or I’ll kill you right now. So, make it clear.”

I was at a loss.

Not only had I wasted a valuable red-class monster core on this thing, but I had poured so much precious energy into it.

And in my current state, where I desperately needed every bit of strength, this was infuriating.

Shaaa... Shaaaak...

“You’ve got a core, right? Since you’re red-class, you should have one.”

Though it didn’t look like it had much power or size, it still had to have something inside.

I had to devour it.

Otherwise, I’d feel too cheated.

Thinking that, I glared at the snake, tightening my grip.

Shaak...

It still didn’t respond, just squirmed around, licking my hand as if showing affection.

Why was this monster acting like this?

The fact that a red-class monster had suddenly appeared, and now this newly hatched snake, was all too much.

“...Hah.”

Letting out a deep sigh, I released my grip, and the Jeoksusa fell to the floor with a thud.

Thud!

Shaaa...

As soon as it hit the ground, the snake quickly crawled back up my arm and coiled around my hand again.

Why is it so persistent? Does it think I’m its parent or something?

‘A monster’s parent? What kind of nonsense is that?’

The idea that a creature imprints on the first thing it sees as its parent is common in stories, but it doesn’t apply to monsters.

Which means…

Either this Jeoksusa is different from other monsters, or...

‘Something has changed within me.’

During our journey, we’d been attacked by monsters several times, and I’d hunted them without issue. But this has never happened before.

‘What could it be?’

The appearance of the red-class monster, the newly hatched Jeoksusa…

It was all too much to handle at once.

“Hah…”

A sigh escaped me once more.

Shaah?

The Jeoksusa, hearing my sigh, poked its head out as if wondering what was wrong.

Frowning slightly, I said, “I’m going outside. Go back in.”

As if understanding my words, the snake slid back into my sleeve and disappeared from view.

This snake… It seems to understand what I’m saying, doesn’t it?

‘Is it really different from the others?’

For now, I couldn’t be sure.

Whether this was the offspring of the monster I killed or the same one, I had no way of knowing.

At this point, killing it would be the easiest solution.

But for some reason, I felt uneasy about doing that, so I held off.

‘I’ll keep an eye on it for now.’

It seemed to understand me, and it didn’t appear to be a threat at the moment. So, for now, I would observe it.

For now.

After opening the door and stepping outside, I climbed the stairs and arrived on the deck.

It was nighttime, and the air was filled with the distinct smell of river water.

As I stepped onto the deck, I noticed several people were already there, most of them on night watch.

Perhaps due to the events of the day, the security seemed to have been tightened considerably.

I glanced around and walked forward, looking for someone.

At the very front of the ship, I spotted a figure sitting at the edge.

Slowly, I approached.

Sensing my presence, the person turned their head toward me.

Maybe it was the night, but his green eyes seemed to shine brightly.

After greeting him, I spoke.

“Why are you out here, Tang Patriarch?”

“Gu Gongja.”

It was the Tang Patriarch, Dokwang, the Poison King.

“It’s late. You must be tired, yet you’re out here. What’s the reason?”

“…It’s just one of those nights when sleep won’t come.”

“I see.”

Judging by his expression, it seemed like he had a lot on his mind.

Well, the appearance of a red-class monster wasn’t just a trivial matter for a clan patriarch.

After all, these individuals, who held massive sponsorship and prestige under the pretense of ensuring regional peace and safety, would be most sensitive to unexpected events like this.

Especially the patriarchs of prestigious families like the Four Great Families, who sat at the top.

‘But that’s not the only problem.’

There seemed to be another issue, but it wasn’t something I was in a position to ask about. Even if I did, it wasn’t likely he would answer.

After exchanging brief pleasantries, Dokwang and I stood in silence, simply watching each other.

After a few seconds of silence, it was surprisingly Dokwang who spoke first.

“…What is it?”

There was a subtle tension in his voice. Why was he suddenly being so cautious with me?

He hadn’t seemed particularly wary before.

“It’s not like I came here with any particular agenda. I was just taking a walk, and I happened to see you.”

“I know you approached me with intent.”

“...!”

I swallowed at his words.

How did he know? We hadn’t even exchanged much conversation, yet he had already noticed.

‘This guy’s sharp.’

It was no wonder he was the most formidable of the Four Great Family patriarchs.

While I thought that to myself, outwardly, I feigned ignorance.

“Intent? I’m not sure what you mean.”

“I know you’re not someone who approaches others without a purpose.”

“…”

Hah.

I let out a short laugh at his words.

With that, I dropped the polite pretense and restored my usual expression.

Since he had already figured me out, there was no point in keeping up the charade.

Noticing the change in my expression, Dokwang narrowed his eyes and asked.

“What is it that you want?”

There was no need for further explanation. Dokwang clearly already understood what I had come for.

The assistance I had provided in slaying the red-class monster.

In truth, I hadn’t expected to ask for anything in return for this.

The red-class monster would have been defeated even if I hadn’t stepped in.

But had I not intervened, there would have likely been more casualties due to the Jeoksusa’s rampage.

It could have easily been brushed off with a simple “thank you for saving us,” but as the person responsible for the current transport, and as the patriarch of the Tang Clan, Dokwang couldn’t just let it go.

That’s just how relationships work.

And as a patriarch, there were responsibilities he had to bear.

Furthermore...

‘He’s wary of me, but he doesn’t seem to want to ruin our relationship.’

Dokwang hadn’t yet given up on the value or potential he saw in me.

That’s why he was asking what I wanted.

Sensing that, I slightly curled the corners of my lips.

“I’m not asking for anything major.”

Dokwang’s brow furrowed at my words. Even though I said it wasn’t a big deal, the fact that I was asking for something clearly bothered him.

However, the fact that he didn’t outright refuse meant he was at least willing to listen.

“It’s really not anything major. Just…”

“Before that.”

Just as I was about to make my request, Dokwang interrupted me.

What now?

“There’s something I’d like to ask you.”

“What is it?”

There was something he wanted to ask me?

Curious, I looked at him as he met my gaze and asked.

“The weakness of the red-class monster. How did you know about it?”

“Hm.”

Ah.

Hearing that question, I realized why he had been so wary of me.

The sudden appearance of the red-class monster, a classification that hadn’t been seen in hundreds of years, was already shocking.

But the fact that I had casually hunted it down only made me seem more suspicious.

While he likely didn’t think I had orchestrated the monster’s appearance, he certainly found my actions strange.

Hah.

‘Unbelievable.’

I went through the trouble of saving them, and now I’m the one being suspected?

What a guy.

I understood his reasoning, but it didn’t change the fact that it left a bad taste in my mouth.

‘I was even planning to help with the ambush.’

Had things gone according to plan and I saved them from Tang Deok’s ambush, this conversation wouldn’t be happening.

But the appearance of the red-class monster had thrown things off.

And where were Tang Deok’s bandits, you ask?

‘They were all eaten.’

If they had been waiting nearby, they would have either fled at the sight of the monster or been devoured by it.

“Are you accusing me of intentionally trying to interfere with the transport?”

“I don’t believe you had that intent.”

“Then what?”

“I’m curious about your actions during the incident.”

My actions during the fight with the red-class monster.

The way I absorbed its energy in a seemingly impossible manner and methodically exploited its weaknesses—Dokwang couldn’t understand how I had done it.

“…How was it possible? I can’t wrap my head around it.”

“There’s no need for you to understand.”

“What?”

Dokwang’s face twisted at my response. Did he think I was mocking him?

“If you can’t understand it, then that’s just how it is.”

“What are you saying?”

“You’re asking how I did something that was obvious to me. How am I supposed to explain that to you?”

I had already prepared a response for this.

It wasn’t something that required much thought.

It was simple.

“You just know when you see it. I saw it, so I took care of it.”

“…!”

Dokwang’s expression changed at my blunt answer.

From a scowl to a look of disbelief.

The meaning behind my words was simple.

You see it, you do it.

It’s not my fault you couldn’t figure it out.

Had anyone else said it, he would have been furious, but...

What am I known as?

Not only the youngest peak-level martial artist but soon to be recognized as a Hwagyeong-level warrior once the rumors spread further.

Dokwang was already aware of that fact. Reaching Hwagyeong at such a young age meant one thing.

‘I’m an extraordinary genius.’

People in the Central Plains were already treating me as someone blessed by the heavens.

At first, it felt uncomfortable, like something that made me cringe, but I had since come to terms with it.

Now, I could use that reputation to my advantage.

Dokwang’s astonished expression was oddly satisfying.

“You mean to say…”

“If not, do you think I’ve fought red-class monsters before and figured out their weaknesses that way?”

Actually, yes, in a past life.

“I only wanted to help. I didn’t expect to be suspected for it… It’s a bit disheartening.”

It wasn’t disheartening at all. In fact, I was pleased to have found an opportunity to turn this to my advantage.

As I continued speaking, Dokwang’s expression wavered.

Claiming that I simply did it because I’m that good was always a winning argument.

As long as you have the reputation and strength to back it up, you can make it work.

Look at him now, left speechless, his lips moving without sound.

“…I apologize. That was my mistake.”

Though the suspicion in his eyes hadn’t completely disappeared, Dokwang apologized, realizing there wasn’t much else he could say.

Seeing that, I pretended to soften my expression.

“It’s fine… Thank you for the apology.”

In truth, this whole conversation was a nuisance, but not smoothing things over could cause bigger problems later.

Moreover, with Dokwang apologizing first, it made it easier for me to ask my favor.

“Tang Patriarch, if it’s alright, I’d like to make a small request.”

“…Go ahead.”

“There’s no need to be so apprehensive. It’s not a big deal.”

Did he think I was going to ask for something outrageous?

I wasn’t planning on anything like that.

‘It’s a big deal for me, but not so much for Dokwang.’

I wasn’t after material wealth or anything of that sort.

Dokwang seemed a bit nervous about what I would ask for, but what I wanted wasn’t anything grand.

I could have asked for a rare elixir or a legendary sword befitting the Tang Clan’s reputation.

But what I wanted was...

“I’ve heard there’s a lake in the Tang Clan.”

“Hm?”

Dokwang’s face showed confusion at my unexpected mention of a lake.

“They call it the Poison Lake (독리호수)…”

It was the legacy left behind by Dokjeolcheon, the ancestor of the Tang Clan and a hero who once stopped the Blood Demon.

The deep waters of the lake were entirely composed of lethal poison. Just getting close to it could kill an ordinary person through sheer toxicity.

The Tang Clan used the water from this lake as the base for many of their poisons.

No one knew where this poisonous water came from, so people considered it another one of the Tang Clan’s treasures.

“I’ve been curious about it since I was young. Would it be possible to see it?”

Smiling as I spoke, Dokwang’s expression remained unchanged.

He clearly didn’t understand why I wanted to see the lake.

‘Do you think I want to see it?’

What could possibly make me want to look at something so dangerous?

There was only one reason.

Baekmaseok (백마석).

The white demon stone I was after happened to be hidden at the bottom of that very lake.