The world was far away.
Shadows came and went. Distant voices. Muffled screams.
Then… silence.
I opened my eyes with difficulty. The ceiling of the medical wing spun slowly, as if mocking my awareness. The scent of medicine was strong. Every part of my body burned with pain.
A servant, seated nearby, jumped up when he saw me awaken.
— He's awake! Call the guards!
Soon after, one of the trusted officers of the personal guard entered. He had deep eye bags and a tense look.
— Finally. — He bowed slightly. — We were starting to fear the worst.
— How long...? — my voice came out weak.
— Two days. — He took a deep breath. — And there's… important news.
I waited in silence.
— We survived. The Jaegal Clan endured. Gwan Taejin is dead. — He paused for a moment, as if weighing the weight of those words. — It was a brutal fight. The losses were heavy... but your victory turned the tide. When you slit his throat, our warriors regained their spirit. The momentum shifted there.
He took another breath before continuing:
— As for Ma Yung… he tried to flee amid the chaos, but a spear struck his leg. He was captured. He's locked in the central dungeon, awaiting trial.
I closed my eyes for a moment. The pain still pulsed, but it no longer mattered.
— And there's more. — His voice dropped to a whisper. — Your father... announced his retirement. In two weeks, he will choose which of his sons will inherit the clan.
Inside, I felt satisfaction spread like sweet poison.
— And… — the officer hesitated, glancing around — a clan allied with the Tang Clan attacked Gwan territory on the same day as the invasion. A small, almost forgotten clan… but among the old names, known for their poisons. They're called the Mingxu Clan.
I smiled faintly.
They had fulfilled their part.
During the month I claimed to be seeking enlightenment, I went to the Mingxu Clan with a clear proposal:
A special poison — not to kill, but to block the gathering of qi. A slow-working toxin, dulling reflexes and draining strength without raising suspicion.
And on the day of the attack, they would strike at the heart of the Gwan Clan while Taejin was occupied at our gates.
In return, they asked for three things:
Fame.
Wealth.
And an alliance with the Jaegal Clan… should I become the new patriarch.
Now, Taejin was dead.
Ma Yung, in chains.
The Gwan Clan, in ruins.
And my father… tired. Ready to pass the burden on.
Everything went according to plan.
The poison I gave Taejin was not the real blow.
The true toxin… had been planted long before.
It grew in silence, rooted deep within the heart of the Jaegal Clan itself.
And I was the one who nurtured it.