It was just as I was nodding—thinking that Cheong-yu’s idea was actually a pretty solid one—when I felt everyone’s eyes on me.

I turned my head. No wonder—all attention was on me and Lady Cheong-yu now, probably because she had not only suggested releasing the prisoners but also using them as spies.

Spy work. Releasing prisoners.

Naturally, topics like that would draw everyone’s attention.

Before we decided on any specific method, I figured we’d need to hear more from Lady Cheong-yu—but I was the only one who could understand her. So I decided to explain everything to the rest of the group first.

Judging from their faces, the questions were already about to start spilling out anyway.

Everyone’s mouths were half open already.

“It seems everyone’s curious about what Lady Cheong-yu and I are discussing. She’s proposing we release the prisoners and use them as spies.”

“Release them... and use them as spies?”

“Do you really think that’s possible?”

“They don’t exactly seem like the disloyal type, those Five Venoms bastards...”

Just as expected—concerns were voiced immediately.

After all, many Five Venoms warriors, especially those not absorbed from the Blood Cult, were notoriously loyal. Not to mention, most carried deadly curses within their cores.

But based on what Lady Cheong-yu had said, it seemed like some of them might be susceptible—depending on the circumstances.

She had mentioned that many of them came from different backgrounds or had only recently joined the clan.

I shared that with the others as well.

“Well, listening to Lady Cheong-yu made me think it is possible—depending on the case. You all know by now that there are two types of captives among them, right?”

“Yes, Lady Cheong-yu already mentioned that to us.”

“So-ryong, didn’t you say the ones who aren’t from the Black Venom Unit are more like poison-makers—sort of like the Tang Clan’s alchemists?”

“Yes, exactly, Hwa-eun. And according to Lady Cheong-yu, those poison-makers only joined the Five Venoms Clan recently.

Most of them weren’t born and raised in the clan—they were recruited with favors, debts, or some emotional manipulation. So they were apparently pretty shaken by what happened to her.

She’s suggesting we take advantage of that.”

As I finished, all eyes turned to Ji-ryong.

He was our strategist, so everyone wanted to know what he thought of Lady Cheong-yu’s proposal.

“Hm...”

Ji-ryong rubbed his chin and pondered for a moment, before giving a cautiously optimistic answer.

“Hm... If that’s really their situation, it could work. But the thing is—if we’re going to use them as spies, they’d need to stay in contact. And we don’t have carrier pigeons or anything like that. Do we have a method for communication?”

He had a point.

Everyone’s gaze shifted again—back to Lady Cheong-yu.

As if she had been waiting for this question, she responded immediately.

Shiaa. 『No, I don’t plan to maintain any communication.』

“What? No communication?”

“?”

Her answer came as a complete surprise.

My shocked reaction must’ve shown, because everyone’s faces twisted into question marks.

“Ah, Lady Cheong-yu says she doesn’t plan on exchanging messages with them at all.”

“What’s the point of having spies if they don’t report back?”

“No communication at all?”

As soon as I relayed her words, the next wave of questions came—understandably. What kind of spy doesn’t communicate?

When I passed that concern on, Lady Cheong-yu nodded and explained further.

Sshhhh. 『Yes. Ji-ryong may be fine with it, but that’s probably because he doesn’t really understand how the Five Venoms Clan operates.

Even those who joined recently—they’re not exactly loyal to me. I doubt they’d risk their lives betraying the clan just because of me.

You see, the Five Venoms are very generous when they recruit someone. They make sure you owe them.』

“Then... what’s the alternative?”

Shiaa. 『Oh, I’ve thought of that too.』

“What is it?”

Shiaa. 『They’re already shaken by what happened to me. So when we release them, I plan to ask for just one thing: that, if I ever need help in the future, they return the favor just once.

I think they’d be willing to honor that much.』

In other words, Cheong-yu wanted to tell the released warriors to repay the favor of sparing their lives—not with betrayal or regular reports, but by helping her once, if she ever called on them in the future.

She didn’t expect them to defect or maintain contact. But in the martial world, a debt of life is sacred—and if we ever cross paths again, she’d collect.

A single card, played at a critical moment.

That actually feels a lot more realistic.

Trying to force regular communication or betrayals could easily backfire or get exposed.

Not to mention the psychological pressure it would put on them.

But asking for one favor, at a key moment—that was a gamble with far better odds.

I nodded and turned to explain it to the others, who were now all looking at me with eager curiosity.

“So, what Lady Cheong-yu is suggesting is...”

As I translated her full plan, Ji-ryong and the others started nodding—clearly seeing the merit in it.

“Yeah, if that’s the reason, then I’m on board.”

“I agree. It’s a clever idea.”

“Makes sense. If we ever attack the Five Venoms Clan, or end up in a similar crisis, we could use that promise.”

“I like it too, So-ryong.”

My older brother, my sister-in-law, Hwa-eun, and Ji-ryong—they all gave their approval. Then, a sharp voice cut through.

“But what about... the others?”

It was Gungbong.

Who would've thought he would be the one to ask that?

Everyone turned toward him, surprised. Just then, the sound of fluttering wings echoed beside us.

Chwarrrrk.

Everyone turned in the direction of the sound. It was Changcheon, shaking his head slowly.

That could only mean one thing—he agreed to Lady Cheong-yu’s plan to an extent... but not for them.

Shiaa. 『He says he won’t forgive those ones.』

Lady Cheong-yu’s translation matched our assumption. Even those who couldn’t hear her still seemed to pick up on it, because everyone stared at Changcheon, then nodded.

“Yeah... even he deserves the right to revenge.”

“He may be a creature, but he saw them as kin.”

“Don’t worry. We weren’t planning to let them go either.”

And so, the Black Venom Unit bastards met their fate—reborn as mushrooms.

The rest would be set free.

***

“Alright, all of you—out!”

At my older brother’s shout, the Five Venoms warriors, who had been huddled in the corner of the cave, slowly rose and began to shuffle outside.

Every face was steeped in fear.

Clearly, they thought they were about to be executed.

A scream had echoed from deeper inside the cave not long ago, after all.

Did they bury themselves alive or something? It’s awfully quiet now...

Yesterday, we had split the prisoners into two groups and moved everyone except the Black Venom Unit out of the dungeon.

Changcheon had gone to the dungeon entrance and scattered his spores there. The Black Venom bastards started screaming right away, which freaked out the others during that first wave.

But since Changcheon’s spores don’t act immediately, the chaos died down rather quickly.

Still, by morning, it was different—gut-wrenching screams rang out again, this time because they couldn’t move their bodies properly. That renewed their terror.

“Move it! Faster!”

We brought them to the cliffside entrance of the cave. The bright light outside made them squint, and before their eyes could even adjust, we led them right to the edge of the precipice.

After all, if you’re going to spare someone, you’ve got to do it dramatically.

And sure enough, once they reached the cliff and looked down, their expressions turned grim and determined.

They clearly thought we were going to execute them by throwing them over the edge.

That was right when my older brother slung his broadsword onto his shoulder like a butcher preparing to kill.

Silently, the Golden-Crowned Death King Cheong-yu crept up beside me.

Shiaa. 『So-ryong, what do we do now?』

“...Hah. So this really is Lady Cheong-yu’s will?”

Answering with a question.

I furrowed my brows, pretending as if Cheong-yu had just told me something painfully serious, and then, after a long moment, turned to my brother and said,

“Brother. Your sword...”

“Hm. Got it.”

He put on a terrifying expression, like he was about to behead someone right then and there.

“Sniff... I... I don’t want to die...”

One of the Five Venoms warriors began to sob.

Right then, I released the blood-sealing pressure point on one of the prisoners and said:

“Go. You’re free.”

“...What? Wh-Why?”

“Lady Cheong-yu wishes to spare you.”

“L-Lady Cheong-yu...?”

“Lady Cheong-yu...?”

The warriors all snapped their heads toward her, their eyes wide in disbelief.

In my heart, I sent a silent plea to Cheong-yu.

Cheong-yu, one more time.

Shiaa... ssii? 『Alright, So-ryong. Like this?』

She didn’t say much, but since the warriors couldn’t understand her, they likely believed she was pleading for their lives. Their expressions softened into ones of deep gratitude.

I seized that moment to speak again.

“Of course, this isn’t for free. She asks that, someday, if Lady Cheong-yu finds herself in need... that you repay this favor and offer your help. The Five Venoms Clan isn’t the sanctuary you think it is.”

“....”

“...”

A heavy silence settled in.

It wasn’t a decision they could make easily, but I’d thrown a stone into the still waters of their hearts. That much was enough.

“Now go. The venomous creatures you wronged are doing their best to hold back their instincts.”

Kids, now.

I gave the signal to the children hiding nearby.

As planned, they started chatting amongst themselves.

Tssrrrk. 『Is it our turn now?』

Kkuu. 『What are we supposed to say again?』

Tssrt. 『Dad said to say anything.』

Kyuit. 『Grampa, I honor thee.』

Tssrrt. 『Ah! Me too! I honor Dad! Wait... what does “honor” mean again?』

Kkuu. 『You forgot again? Auntie said it means loving someone so much you can’t love them any more.』

Tssrrtss. 『Oh, right! That thing!』

...Somehow, the kids had turned this into a love confession session. I didn’t know why—but they were all saying they loved me.

Without realizing it, I smiled.

And the Five Venoms warriors—seeing me grin—looked horrified, as if I were some little devil preparing to slaughter them all.

Snapping out of it, they turned and ran, throwing themselves down the mountain path while stealing glances upward.

***

With the prisoner situation resolved, everyone shifted their attention back to collecting food for the journey to Podarlap Palace.

I quietly pulled Yo-hwa into the forest.

I needed her permission for something.

Ki-sit?

After walking for a /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ while, Yo-hwa made a curious sound.

I looked around—we had ended up in a small clearing, surrounded by thick tropical vines. She tilted her head, asking with her eyes why I’d brought her here.

“Ah, what’s this about? Well... this place should be secluded enough.”

I scratched the ground with my heel, hesitating before finally speaking.

It was about the mental-link ritual.

That was why I’d brought her here.

“It’s nothing weird. I just... wanted to talk about the mental link. You know—the connection that lets us talk through thoughts.”

Ki-si?

“Remember how my brother said you were next in line?”

Ki-si.

She nodded, clearly remembering.

“Listen—don’t misunderstand, Yo-hwa. This isn’t anything personal.

My brother and I both agreed you’d be next. But now I’m... kind of concerned.”

Ki-si-si?

“Yeah. We’re heading to Podarlap Palace, right? That place is extremely dangerous for Central Plains martial artists.

So I thought—maybe I should mentally link a few more before we get there.

When we were searching for the locusts, it was really tough not being able to communicate telepathically with more of you.

So I want to register Yeondu, Orange, and the twin-headed ones—Hwanji and Hwana. It’s purely for safety. That’s all. I swear.”

Yo-hwa widened her eyes and stared into mine, unblinking.

As if she were seeing through every lie.

And I... was nervous as hell.

Because, yeah—I was lying.

Until recently, I’d fully intended for Yo-hwa to be next.

But after meeting Hwanji and Hwana... I couldn’t help myself. I was obsessed. I had to register them now.

A twin-headed serpent of that size? Of course I wanted it bonded ASAP.

Technically, registering spirit beasts with venom types was tricky and required Grandfather’s presence—but since Hwanji and Hwana were snake-type creatures like Cheong-yu, they wouldn’t even take up a venom slot.

I’d even considered doing it in secret... but that could blow up in my face.

So I brought Yo-hwa here to ask—beg—for her permission.

Please.

Please let this go smoothly.

Though a strange thought struck me:

Why does it feel like I’m always begging Yo-hwa for forgiveness...?