Dokjeolcheon (Poison Absolute Sky) Tang Jemoon.

One of the five heroes who stopped the Blood Calamity caused by the Blood Demon. She was also the one who transformed the Tang Clan, which was once considered part of the Unorthodox sect, into a Righteous sect and later helped establish the Martial Alliance.

I had heard of her from Shin Noya several times. He referred to her as one of the “crazy ones.”

‘…Except she isn’t a “he.” She’s an old lady.’

I stared at Tang Jemoon in shock.

Her long, flowing hair reached down to her waist. A soft, light green hue glowed from her hair, far more beautiful than anything Tang So-yeol or the Poison King could compare to.

It was then I realized where I had seen that color before.

‘It’s the same color as the lake.’

It was almost as if her hair shimmered like light. Her half-lidded, dreamy eyes shone like jewels, giving her an ethereal, otherworldly aura.

While she somewhat resembled Tang So-yeol, she exuded a much more feminine and mature presence.

Especially… her chest…

‘…’

Even though it wasn’t as large as Namgung Bi-ah’s, it looked large enough to be inconvenient for practicing martial arts.

Could this woman really be Tang Jemoon?

Maybe she was Tang Jemoon’s younger sister or older sibling?

If not…

‘Was Tang Jemoon really a woman all along?’

It wasn’t unheard of for there to be female heroes, but how could such a famous name…

As I looked at the woman who claimed to be Tang Jemoon with a puzzled expression, she approached me.

Shahhhh!

The Red Water Snake hissed violently at her, showing its hostility.

What’s wrong with this little guy now?

Tang Jemoon tilted her head at the snake’s behavior and spoke.

[Interesting. You’re carrying a spirit beast.]

“A spirit beast…?”

It sounded familiar, but I couldn’t quite place where I had heard it before.

[Who exactly are you?]

“…”

[You’re clearly not Shin-cheol, but I can feel his energy on you.]

Tang Jemoon’s words made me smile bitterly. Her statement gave me a better understanding of this place.

‘So this is also…’

Another arrangement for Shin Noya.

Just like Bulyeong had mentioned, and Yeon Ilcheon had confirmed.

The Tang Clan’s Dokri Lake was also an arrangement prepared for Shin Noya.

If Tang Jemoon was here, that confirmed it.

“I share a connection with Shin-cheol, or rather, Shin Noya.”

[Are you his disciple?]

His disciple?

Considering the disciples that currently existed in the Mount Hua Sect, I wasn’t sure I could claim such a title.

“Yes.”

I already knew.

If I hesitated now, Shin Noya would definitely scold me later.

He would probably berate me endlessly, saying something like, “I raised you, cleaned your dirty diapers, and now you ignore me?”

“I am his disciple.”

There was no hesitation now.

[…]

Tang Jemoon’s expression darkened at my response. I wondered why.

[So, Shin-cheol didn’t make it after all.]

“Ah.”

Was it regret?

Whenever I encountered past heroes, they all seemed to express disappointment or sorrow over the fact that Shin Noya hadn’t survived.

To them, it was a significant loss.

[As his disciple, I have something to ask you.]

“Do you believe that I’m truly his disciple?”

I was the one who was now feeling puzzled by how easily she accepted me as Shin Noya’s disciple.

Tang Jemoon, noticing my confusion, asked me with a curious expression.

[Aren’t you?]

“Well, I mean… yes, I am, but…”

Swoosh.

As I hesitated, Tang Jemoon suddenly closed the distance between us and pointed a finger at my chest.

[You are ominous.]

“…”

Her sudden words made me inhale sharply. At the same time, a cold sensation crept along my neck.

I recalled a similar statement from Yeon Ilcheon at the treasure vault of Shinryong-gwan in the past.

-You are a disaster.

That’s exactly what he had said to me.

And now, as time passed, I found myself silently wondering if he might be right.

[I feel an overwhelming amount of uncertain energy within you, and it is unstable in every sense.]

“…”

[However.]

Tang Jemoon’s finger moved closer until it lightly pressed against my chest. I couldn’t actually feel her touch.

[I can feel Shin-cheol inside of you.]

“…!”

[That’s enough for me. You are his disciple.]

“What if I obtained this power through nefarious means?”

[If that were the case, he would have been angry. Shin-cheol is not that kind of person.]

She spoke with absolute conviction.

I looked into her eyes.

Her brilliant green eyes held a deep emotion that was impossible to miss.

It was so clear and strong that I could almost understand how she viewed Shin Noya.

‘This old man… you really never experienced love, did you?’

I couldn’t help but think that after all the stubbornness he showed me, this was ironic.

Once he wakes up, I’ll have to make him explain every little thing.

As I was lost in my thoughts, Tang Jemoon called out to me again.

[Disciple.]

“Yes, senior.”

[Have you met Shin-cheol?]

“…”

Her voice was cautious, and I could sense the mix of anxiety and hope in her tone.

“I have.”

Tang Jemoon’s eyes flickered with joy.

“…And I am still with him now.”

[That… is?]

For the first time, I saw Tang Jemoon’s expression brighten completely, and for some reason, I felt a pang of guilt.

‘How can you not wake up now?’

I was a little resentful of Shin Noya.

He woke up, if only for a brief moment, when I met Yeon Ilcheon. So why was he staying silent now?

As I watched Tang Jemoon’s expression fill with expectation, I sighed and explained how I had met Shin Noya in the past.

[…]

After I finished my explanation, the only thing left in Tang Jemoon’s eyes was disappointment.

At first, when she heard that I had absorbed Shin Noya’s energy and had traveled with him for a few years, it seemed to lift her spirits.

But when I mentioned that he had fallen asleep and hadn’t woken up for nearly a year, her disappointment became palpable.

[So the reason you weren’t surprised to see me… is because of that.]

“…Yes.”

After meeting so many of these figures, I could more or less guess what was going on.

‘The most surprising thing is still that Tang Jemoon is a woman.’

And such a delicate, graceful one at that.

Tang Jemoon still seemed weighed down by her disappointment. I thought about leaving her alone for now, but I didn’t have the luxury of time.

I needed to ask what I had come to ask.

“Senior Gold Iron Fist King referred to me as a calamity.”

Tang Jemoon’s eyes flickered with interest at my words.

[Yeon Ilcheon said that?]

‘Huh.’

I could be mistaken, but it seemed like there was a flash of hostility in her eyes when she mentioned Yeon Ilcheon.

“Yes, he called me a calamity.”

And I nearly died.

Even now, just thinking about that moment made me break into a cold sweat. If it weren’t for Shin Noya’s intervention, I might have actually died back then.

“Do you share his opinion, senior?”

I had thought long and hard about whether to ask her this.

If she agreed with Yeon Ilcheon and tried to kill me, I’d be in trouble.

But I asked because I trusted the feelings she had for Shin Noya.

I figured she wouldn’t kill me if I was truly his disciple.

After hearing my question, Tang Jemoon responded.

[What did Shin-cheol say to that?]

What did Shin-cheol say?

I remembered the words Shin Noya had said to me back then…

He had definitely said…

“…He told me to believe in myself, not in what others say.”

That’s what he had said.

If a martial artist doesn’t believe in themselves, what’s the point?

Upon hearing that, Tang Jemoon smiled faintly.

[That’s just like him.]

It seemed she was pleased with my response.

[Yes… Shin-cheol would have said something like that.]

“And what do you think, senior?”

[Let’s see.]

Although Shin Noya had given his answer, I wanted to know what Tang Jemoon thought.

Tang Jemoon’s gaze grew cold as she stared at me. Then she spoke.

[If it were up to me, I would have given you the same answer as Yeon Ilcheon.]

“…!”

The cold energy in her voice made me flinch.

Although she was just a remnant spirit, how could both Yeon Ilcheon and Tang Jemoon possess such powerful auras?

I was about to look around cautiously when—

[But…]

Tang Jemoon quickly dispelled the coldness and continued.

[If Shin-cheol said that, then it must be true.]

Her words were comforting, but they also left me feeling conflicted.

Everything she said revolved around Shin Noya.

What kind of emotions must she have carried to speak like this?

“You seem to trust Shin Noya quite a lot.”

[…]

There was no response to that.

Tang Jemoon simply stared at my chest in silence.

Her gaze was as if she were searching for Shin Noya within me.

“Senior…?”

Without answering, Tang Jemoon turned and walked toward the darkness from which she had emerged.

The darkness had receded, revealing a small pedestal.

‘Is that…?’

On top of the pedestal sat a small, fist-sized stone.

A pure white stone that shimmered faintly with light.

I widened my eyes at the sight of it.

‘Baekmaseok.’

It was the Baekmaseok (White Demon Stone) that must have been inside a White-Rank demonic beast.

The item I had sought for so long was right there.

[As you might have guessed, I am just a lingering thought left behind by Tang Jemoon.]

As I stared at the Baekmaseok, Tang Jemoon began speaking slowly.

[I am one of the many arrangements left for Shin-cheol… a fragment of regret and longing.]

“Regret and longing…”

Hearing those words, a strange question surfaced in my mind.

Setting aside the regret and longing for now…

I knew this place was a treasure vault prepared by Tang Jemoon, but…

‘Why would she prepare the Baekmaseok for Shin Noya?’

The stone was essentially useless to ordinary people.

No matter how much energy was contained within it, it couldn’t be absorbed like a spiritual elixir or inner pill.

It was odd that Tang Jemoon had prepared the Baekmaseok for Shin Noya.

I was about to ask her about it when—

[Disciple.]

Tang Jemoon called out to me before I could.

“Yes.”

[To claim this Dokcheon Pill, you must pass a trial.]

“Pardon?”

[Though it was prepared for Shin-cheol… since you are his disciple…]

“Wait, hold on.”

Did I just hear her correctly?

“…Dokcheon Pill?”

That’s what she said—Dokcheon Pill.

Tang Jemoon tilted her head at my question.

[Yes. Weren’t you aware of it?]

Tang Jemoon pointed somewhere with her finger, and as I turned my head, I finally noticed it.

Next to the Baekmaseok was a bowl filled with perfectly round pills.

…Why am I only seeing this now?

‘Is that… all Dokcheon Pills?’

I swallowed nervously.

The Dokcheon Pill—one of the legendary pills of the Tang Clan, a pill that had been lost over time, and was said to be superior even to Shaolin’s renowned Daehwandan (Great Return Pill).

‘And there are so many of them…?’

There were at least ten of them sitting there.

Noticing my reaction, Tang Jemoon asked.

[Do you not need an inner pill, Disciple?]

“No, I absolutely do. That’s the very reason I’m here.”

[Is that so.]

Hearing my straightforward answer, Tang Jemoon nodded as if she had expected it.

Yes, I came here to get that.

Baekmaseok? What’s that? Is it edible?

“I’ll take the trial right now.”

I came here willing to risk my life for the Dokcheon Pill.

I wasn’t afraid of any trial.

Shaaa…

The Red Water Snake hissed at me, sensing danger, but I glared at it before stuffing it back into my sleeve.

 

 

TL Note: Another art for review)) Remember that this is not official, just my initiative. I hope you like it! Thank you for being with us! Peace to all!