Karmic Debt is a stubborn and tangled thing.
Blinded by vengeance, one drenches themselves in blood; maddened by martial arts, one abandons all reason; and sometimes, chasing profit, one forges new debts of enmity and gratitude.
And so all manner of people are thrown together, living lives reeking of blood, consoling themselves that amidst the dung heap there must be something of value.
"The martial world is a forest that feeds on blood."
"The Sword Demon truly lacks tact. Must you bring that up at a time like this?"
"…Shall I congratulate you on defeating the Poison Demon and reaching the Harmony Realm?"
"Too late. But I shall forgive you. After all, today is a good day."
Tang So-wol let out a soft laugh and took the seat beside me. I shifted slightly to make room, and we each fixed our gaze on different things.
I watched the camellia flowers beginning to bloom as the weather turned cold.
Tang So-wol watched the full moon, brighter than usual tonight.
At some point, we had begun gathering at this spot every night. Without any prior arrangement—it simply happened naturally.
In truth, this was perhaps inevitable. After all, we were the Righteous-Unorthodox Alliance, pushed and pushed by the Heavenly Demon until we had been driven all the way to Hebei Province.
There were few places left where one could rest easy, and among those, how many had camellia trees planted, or a clear view of the moon?
This place, by chance, satisfied both conditions.
Neither of us knew the other's circumstances, but we weren't heartless enough to drive someone out of one of the few sanctuaries that remained.
And this is the result of that.
Right now, only buds have just begun to form, but in a few months, red camellia flowers will be in full bloom.
Just imagining it made the Simma that always seethed within me feel like it had calmed down a little, and I was blankly staring at the tips of the branches.
It was then that Tang So-wol's low voice reached me.
"So?"
"Hm?"
Except for when we exchanged greetings, she would quietly keep her seat and then leave, so it was quite rare for her to initiate a conversation like this, and I was surprised.
"So, what did you mean by what you said earlier? That the martial world is a forest that feeds on blood."
"It's nothing much. I just mean that every martial artist is broken somewhere."
"I was already aware of that, but hearing it from the Sword Demon himself really drives home what a negative person you are."
"But it's the truth. Isn't it the same for everyone, Tang So-wol?"
"Heh heh. I'm not trying to scold you for being wrong, nor am I criticizing you for being negative. I was just saying I'm relieved that you're so consistent."
Saying that, Tang So-wol tore her gaze away from the moon and let out a short giggle.
Her snow-white hair swayed, and between the strands, the melted half of her face was briefly visible. She was clearly smiling, yet a faint murderous intent could be felt.
It wasn't murderous intent directed at me. It was simply something that naturally overflowed.
It was a level of twistedness hard to believe from a precious jewel of the Sichuan Tang Clan, who must have grown up in a good home, eating only good things, and seeing only good things.
However, anyone who learned of her circumstances would understand the current sense of dissonance.
How many people could keep their sanity after watching their family, and the retainers who were like family, die so horribly before their very eyes?
Tang So-wol was no longer someone who could be called a martial artist of the Orthodox Sects.
Though one might wonder what difference the distinction between Orthodox and Unorthodox Sects even made now.
Tang So-wol, who had been quietly watching me, turned her gaze back to the night sky and spoke in a low voice.
"You suddenly bring up such a story. It seems the Sword Demon, too, becomes a sentimental person when night falls."
"Sentimental—that's the first time I've heard that word in my life. …But well. For today, at least, that word seems fitting."
"Yes?"
"To be honest, I must say I wasn't certain you could properly carry out this mission, Tang So-wol."
"…Please, speak more plainly."
Tang So-wol, who hid one eye behind her bangs, sent a glare sharp enough to cut through bone.
I continued in a calm voice, facing her.
"The martial world is a forest that feeds on blood. But that forest is currently being burned to the ground by the hand of a giant called the Heavenly Demon."
"What I faced this time was not the Heavenly Demon, but the Poison Demon."
"And yet, you are also the last remaining blood relative of the Tang Clan."
Officially, every one of the Tang Clan's bloodline—whether of the direct line or the collateral branches—had been wiped out.
It was precisely because the Tang Clan valued family bonds that no one tried to flee, but instead fought the Heavenly Demon to the very end.
With the sole exception of Tang So-wol.
I do not know what circumstances drove her to flee. She never told anyone.
However, judging by the demeanor she has shown over the past few months, I doubt she ran out of fear of death.
She must have received an order—that at least one must survive to ensure the Tang Clan's bloodline would not be severed.
Tang So-wol was the one born with the clan's greatest talent. The judgment of the late Poison King must have been correct.
There is but one thing, however: he failed to consider the heart of Tang So-wol, who had to abandon her dying family and run.
"Even that vicious Karmic Debt has now faded. The Orthodox and Unorthodox Sects have forgotten the past and joined hands, and the rule of official inviolability has long since been broken, has it not?"
"So you're saying I might hesitate to fight the Poison Demon because I'm blinded by blood relations."
"In the worst case, I even considered the possibility that you might defect to the Poison Demon's side."
"Hmm."
Tang So-wol let out a nasal sound and rested her chin on her hand. She was still looking at me as she asked.
"If that had been the case, what would you have done?"
"What else could I do? As I said earlier, I'd just be using this place alone from now on."
"Is that truly all?"
"…"
Tang So-wol shrugged at my inability to answer.
"My question was a bit mischievous. I understand what the Sword Demon wishes to say. However, there is one thing you seem not to know, so allow me to explain."
"What is it?"
"The Poison Demon is also my mother's enemy."
"Oh?"
To my surprise, Tang So-wol told me of the time when she was still a newborn infant. After finishing her story, she quietly looked up at the sky and continued.
"The reason I volunteered for this mission is not to rule out any unforeseen danger, nor to eliminate those desperate to capture and cut me open for my own safety, nor, as the Sword Demon feared, to meet the last remaining blood relative of the Tang Clan. It was to avenge my mother."
"It seems I worried for nothing."
In an age where revenge and survival had become greater values than righteousness or justice, what words could be more trustworthy than these?
However, Tang So-wol reacted in a way I had not quite expected.
"Worried? Did you just say you were worried?"
"…I suppose I did."
"You may say that, but I imagine you find it lonely to face the cold wind alone at night."
"I didn't say that much."
"Then, what was the reason the Sword Demon volunteered for the task of holding off the Demonic Cultists who would strike from behind while I fought the Poison Demon?"
"…"
"Be a little more honest."
"As I always think, Tang So-wol, you are sometimes a truly troublesome woman."
"A man who is negative about everything is just as troublesome."
At Tang So-wol's words, which conceded not a single point, I let out a small sigh and opened my mouth.
"Because I thought it was a close call."
"What do you mean?"
"The possibility that you, Tang So-wol, could defeat the Poison Demon."
"Surely not…"
"I was planning to go help you if things went south. Well, I never imagined you'd absorb the Poison Demon's poison and reach the Harmony Realm on your own."
"Oh my."
Tang So-wol drew out her words in a satisfied tone. An awkward silence hung in the air for a while before she spoke again, carefully.
"I heard you suffered a serious internal injury in that fight."
"It's not enough to kill me."
"How long will you need to recuperate?"
"…Maybe I won't be able to fight properly for half a year."
"In times like these, half a year is practically a death sentence! With your skill, Sword Demon, you shouldn't have been hurt that badly… What happened?"
"It's nothing much. It's just that that wretched Sword Demon came looking for me again. And there were more Demonic Cultists swarming in than I expected."
"Even so, I can't quite understand…"
"Fear got the better of them, and about half ran off."
"Ah."
Tang So-wol nodded, as if she finally understood.
In this era, revenge and survival were the only things that held value. Those who stayed and fought alongside me chose revenge; those who turned their backs and fled chose survival.
"…Why did the Sword Demon stay until the very end?"
"As I said before, I intended to come to your aid if things went south. Nothing on the battlefield is as dependable as your poison, Tang So-wol."
"Is that a reason worth risking your life for?"
"Well…"
Why did I risk my life and stand firm until the very end?
Perhaps I was tired of a life so hollow that no one remained by my side. Perhaps I felt a kinship with Tang So-wol, who was consumed by revenge.
What was certain, however, was that neither reason was quite convincing enough to stake a life I had barely managed to hold onto.
I had no choice but to answer as I did.
"There's no particular reason."
But it seemed that was an answer Tang So-wol simply could not accept.
"Not only is this person oblivious, but he's negative about everything and can't even be honest."
"I didn't expect you to pick a fight all of a sudden."
As I stood there dumbfounded, Tang So-wol suddenly climbed onto my lap.
A fitting weight. Her warm body heat chased the chill from my winter-cold frame, and before I knew it, the budding flowers and the bright full moon had vanished from my sight.
All that remained was Tang So-wol, gazing down at me with an odd expression.
Before I could even stammer a word in my fluster, she lowered her head and pressed her lips to mine.
Her tongue slipped past the soft contact, and a strange liquid flowed down my throat.
Then vitality began to surge through my body, which had been frail and ailing from internal injuries.
"What is this…?"
"Pfft! It's a very special poison I made by permanently consuming a portion of my internal energy."
"So you numbed the pain. No, actually, it seems my internal injuries are healing quickly…"
"Have you never heard the saying that medicine and poison are separated by a single thread?"
"I always took it to mean that even medicine can kill you if taken wrongly."
"It also means that poison, taken properly, can serve as medicine."
Having done the deed herself, Tang So-wol couldn't quite meet my eyes. She continued in a slightly flustered tone.
"Does the Sword Demon know the laws of the Tang Clan?"
"Favor is repaid twofold, and grudges tenfold. A famous saying, is it not?"
"Yes. Thanks to that, I was able to fight without any interference to the very end, and thus bring down the Poison Demon—so isn't this much only natural for me to do?"
"…"
Why was it, I wondered. Tang So-wol's words felt unsatisfying in that moment.
She had moved first out of her own frustration, then retreated late out of embarrassment—so this time, I decided to ask on my end.
I put strength into my arms and pulled Tang So-wol's waist firmly against me. Then I asked again.
"Is that all?"
"…Yes?"
"I asked if it was solely to repay a favor."
"…"
It had been half impulse, but only after the words left my mouth did I realize it.
Why I had thrust my head into such a dangerous affair. Why, even knowing I might die if I made one wrong move, I refused to leave Tang So-wol's side.
I carefully reached out and brushed aside the long white bangs that hung over Tang So-wol's face.
She flinched slightly, but she neither covered her face nor turned away.
There, on the right side of her face, was skin that had melted as if burned.
It was a sight one might call hideous, yet I felt no revulsion whatsoever.
No, if anything, the fact that she would expose to me, without any guard, the part she would be reluctant to show others, brought a hint of satisfaction rising within me.
There truly was no particular reason for it.
Just as a man born with nothing and a woman who had lost everything needed no special excuse to grow close.
I simply did not want to let Tang So-wol go either.
The scar I had believed would never heal had, before I knew it, become intertwined with Tang So-wol herself, and this time, I was determined not to let her slip away.
As I gently traced the right side of her face, Tang So-wol, her expression slightly flushed, jabbed my chest with her finger.
"This poison helps recover internal injuries quickly and protects the meridians, preventing future internal damage… but there is one problem."
"What is it?"
"Once you're poisoned, you'll have to take the poison periodically for the rest of your life."
"That means…"
"Tomorrow, the day after, the day after that, the day after that, and even ten years from now… you'll have to receive and swallow the poison from me."
Having said that much, Tang So-wol pursed her lips.
She smiled faintly. Unlike before, it was a pure smile with no trace of distortion.
"Sword Demon. You've been poisoned by me."
It was the most definitive answer to my question.
When I opened my eyes again, Tang So-wol was no longer by my side.
"Sama Yuryeon. I have one request."
I took out the Alliance Leader's Token I had received from the Lord of the Black Alliance.
Yes. Ever since that night before my regression, I had been poisoned by a toxin named Tang So-wol all along.
There is no antidote.