Chapter 146: Poison Master (3)
Drip! Drip!
The thick blood droplets falling from Mok Gyeong-un's palm.
The Annihilating Poison King Baek Sa-ha, who had been staring at it with unbelieving eyes, finally opened his mouth,
"Young lad, do you know what you just said?"
"Well."
"You saying that your blood is poison means that you have reached a realm that even I haven't ascended to. Does that make sense to you?"
He was only 17 years old.
An age too young to even be called a youth.
Was he saying that he had reached a realm that even he, who had cultivated poison arts all his life, had not attained?
It was something he absolutely could not accept.
To that, Mok Gyeong-un smiled and said,
"For someone who claims to be the top expert in poison arts, is it that difficult for you to simply taste my blood? Seeing how you're denying it so elaborately."
"What? You, right now, to whom…"
"Then taste it. It's not that difficult."
At Mok Gyeong-un's words, the Annihilating Poison King Baek Sa-ha's eyes narrowed.
If the kid's blood was truly poison itself, it would be a genuine shock to him.
After hesitating for a moment, Baek Sa-ha finally extended his hand.
And he grabbed Mok Gyeong-un's wrist, pulled it, and let the blood flowing from his palm drip into his mouth.
-Drip drip drip!
Mok Gyeong-un's blood wetting his tongue.
The moment it touched his tongue, the Annihilating Poison King Baek Sa-ha's eyes widened.
'!?'
He had lived his entire life with poison.
The moment he tasted the blood, he could instinctively realize it.
'This is…'
It was undoubtedly poison.
The burning sensation as it touched his tongue and the complex taste spreading out.
This flavor, which was one yet could be felt as numerous changes, was a kind of poison he had never experienced before.
'What on earth…'
Baek Sa-ha's ability to identify poisons was at the highest level, to say the least.
Yet, he couldn't identify what kind of poison it was.
That meant it was proof that the blood itself had become poison, not formed through poisoning.
"Hah…"
A gasp escaped from Baek Sa-ha's mouth.
Even he, who had preserved poison within his body through the Wave Demon Poison Scripture, couldn't have his blood itself become poison.
However, Mok Gyeong-un's blood was truly poison itself.
If that was the case,
"… Poison Master."
Mok Gyeong-un had truly reached the realm of a Poison Master.
Baek Sa-ha stared at Mok Gyeong-un's face with shocked eyes.
What the hell was this kid?
How did such a young lad reach the realm of a Poison Master that even he, who had cultivated poison arts for decades, had not achieved?
It went beyond the realm of understanding, so he was filled with questions.
After being at a loss for words for a while, Baek Sa-ha finally managed to part his lips.
"How… How did you ascend to the realm of a Poison Master?"
"What even is a Poison Master?"
"… You're asking what a Poison Master is?"
"Yes."
At Mok Gyeong-un's question, Baek Sa-ha's head ached.
This kid didn't even know what realm he had reached.
It was utterly absurd.
"Are you trying to mock me?"
"It's not mockery. I'm asking because I truly don't know."
"Hah…"
"Is it because my blood is poison?"
At Mok Gyeong-un's question, Baek Sa-ha clicked his tongue and answered,
"Yes. The person themselves becoming poison. That is the realm of a Poison Master."
"Ah. Is that so?"
Baek Sa-ha felt inwardly dumbfounded yet envious at Mok Gyeong-un's attitude of answering as if it was nothing.
He had struggled to the point of death but failed to achieve what this young lad had accomplished so easily.
'It's utterly disheartening.'
A young lad who hadn't even cultivated poison arts, no, who couldn't even properly utilize poison, had ascended to the realm of a Poison Master.
It was enough to make his efforts feel meaningless.
It was like discovering a pig with a pearl necklace around its neck.
"… Fine. Let me change the question. How did you get poison to permeate your blood? You should know the answer to this yourself."
"Well, I suppose."
"Then tell me."
"Are you referring to the method?"
"Yes."
At his answer, Mok Gyeong-un scratched his head and let out a groan of contemplation.
"Hmm."
"Do you not want to tell me?"
"It seems like you really want it."
"Want it? It's more than that. This is a long-cherished wish for me."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. So tell me what you know. If you do that, I will properly teach you poison arts so that you can utilize that poison qi of yours."
"Not a bad condition."
"Ha! Not a bad condition? You fool. If you learn poison arts from me, you will undoubtedly be called the best among the younger generation."
"Is it to that extent?"
"Indeed."
Mok Gyeong-un had already reached the realm of a Poison Master.
If taught, he had sufficient talent to even ascend to the eighth layer of the Wave Demon Poison Scripture.
However, completely unexpected words flowed out of Mok Gyeong-un's mouth.
"Can I change the condition a bit?"
"What?"
"It's not that difficult."
At Mok Gyeong-un's words, Baek Sa-ha clicked his tongue again.
Sensing that he was in a disadvantageous position, the kid was now trying to make a deal with him. He was truly a brazen fellow.
"… What do you want?"
"It's not very difficult. I just want you to tell me what I want to know…"
It was at that very moment.
"Ugh."
Baek Sa-ha suddenly clutched his chest.
Then, his eyes became bloodshot, and he looked at Mok Gyeong-un with a perplexed expression.
'This… What the…'
The reason for Baek Sa-ha's bewilderment was simple.
It was because he felt a burning pain starting from his chest.
Baek Sa-ha could instantly identify the cause of this pain.
'Impossible.'
This was a phenomenon that occurred when being poisoned.
Baek Sa-ha was dumbfounded.
As someone who had reached a high realm through poison arts, he possessed the ability to neutralize other poisons invading his body with the hundreds of poisons he carried within him.
However,
"Cough… Cough…"
Dark red blood flowed from his mouth.
Baek Sa-ha's eyes trembled violently.
"How can this be…"
It was absurd enough to be preposterous.
Did it make sense for a poison to exist that he, known as the Annihilating Poison King, couldn't neutralize?
[Deadly? This?]
Suddenly, Mok Gyeong-un's words from earlier came to mind.
He had spoken as if Baek Sa-ha's wave poison was nothing, causing him displeasure.
However, with the rapidly spreading poison qi, Baek Sa-ha realized.
'This kid… Was he serious?'
It wasn't bravado to provoke him.
Baek Sa-ha hurriedly circulated the Wave Demon Poison Scripture, trying to neutralize Mok Gyeong-un's poison that was penetrating and spreading further into his internal organs.
-Sizzle!
Dark red vapor flowed from his shoulders.
It was a phenomenon that occurred while dissolving the poison.
With his profound internal energy, he was somehow expelling the poison, albeit belatedly.
However, the problem lay elsewhere.
-Crack!
"Ugh!"
Baek Sa-ha, who had been circulating his energy, grabbed the back of his neck.
"Elder?"
"Argh."
Mok Gyeong-un looked at him with a puzzled expression.
He had been watching, thinking that as a master of poison arts, Baek Sa-ha would be able to dissolve the poison on his own, but something seemed strange.
The eyes of Baek Sa-ha, who was holding the back of his neck, were becoming clouded.
Something seemed to have gone wrong.
'Hmm.'
So, Mok Gyeong-un tried to lay Baek Sa-ha down to check his condition.
However,
-Thud!
'Huh?'
The legs that were crossed in a sitting position wouldn't straighten.
No, it wasn't just that they wouldn't straighten, but it seemed that this posture had been fixed for a long time, and the bones and muscles of his lower body had significantly weakened.
Mok Gyeong-un placed his hand on the acupuncture points there.
'… Is this why he kept sitting?'
As he touched the acupuncture points, Mok Gyeong-un discovered Baek Sa-ha's secret.
It seemed that the flow of the acupuncture points in his lower body had become blocked due to the clashing of the reversing poison qi and his internal true energy, causing paralysis.
'Was he continuously using his true energy to block the reversing poison qi?'
That seemed to be the reason why he had been sitting all the time.
Mok Gyeong-un slowly traced Baek Sa-ha's acupuncture points upward.
The poison seemed to have finally reached his brain as it reversed along the path where the true energy moved through the main acupuncture points.
The cause was probably,
'My blood?'
In order to dissolve Mok Gyeong-un's blood, or rather, the new poison, Baek Sa-ha had further dispersed his internal true energy and failed to block the reversing poison qi.
'What should I do about this?'
If left alone, Baek Sa-ha would either become a vegetable or die, one of the two.
If true energy was injected at this point to help block the reversing poison qi, there might be some hope, but the problem was,
'Will death energy work?'
His death energy would rather scatter the true energy.
It could even have the opposite effect.
As he was pondering what to do, Cheong-ryeong's voice reached his ears.
-Do you have the Moonlight Pill?
-Pardon?
-The one you called the Heavenly Earth Pill.
-Ah, that? I'm carrying it with me.
Since he hadn't cultivated the energy of nourishing life, Mok Gyeong-un couldn't see any effect even if he took it, so he was just carrying it in his pocket.
-Yes. Put the Moonlight Pill in that old man's mouth and try to block the poison qi that has risen to his brain.
-The poison qi that has risen to his brain?
Mok Gyeong-un looked at the back of Baek Sa-ha's neck.
Then, he removed the hand that was holding the back of his neck and placed his fingers on the acupuncture point connected to the brain.
-Swish!
And then he unleashed the Ritual of Binding.
Through the Ritual of Binding focused on a single finger, the rising poison qi concentrated into one point and then entered Mok Gyeong-un's finger.
"Cough."
At that moment, Baek Sa-ha, who had lost consciousness, regained his senses.
"Have you regained consciousness?"
"You… How did you…?"
To him, who was clueless about what was going on, Mok Gyeong-un said,
"Rather than directly helping you, it seems difficult, so try doing something with this."
"What?"
-Plop!
Mok Gyeong-un then put the Heavenly Earth Pill into Baek Sa-ha's mouth.
'This is?'
Baek Sa-ha, who had the pill in his mouth, instinctively realized that it was a spiritual medicine.
In the current situation where the flow of his true energy was disrupted while dissolving Mok Gyeong-un's poison, he couldn't block the reversing poison qi.
So, Baek Sa-ha, who was in no position to be picky,
-Gulp!
He swallowed the Heavenly Earth Pill as it was.
Indeed, as befitting the spiritual medicine boasted by the Heaven and Earth Society, the moment he swallowed it, he felt a hot energy gradually spreading as it went down his esophagus.
Normally, he should have used it to make it his own, but,
'Push it out.'
Baek Sa-ha had to utilize the energy of the spiritual medicine to push out the reversing poison qi again.
If he didn't, not only would his lower body become paralyzed, but his entire body would become paralyzed, and he might become a vegetable.
-Sizzle!
As Baek Sa-ha was exerting all his strength with the energy of the spiritual medicine,
Mok Gyeong-un muttered while watching him,
"It's strange. I don't understand why you're fighting the poison. You could just accept it."
'!?'
At that moment, Baek Sa-ha's eyes trembled strongly.
***
50 years ago.
A young Baek Sa-ha, kneeling, asked a middle-aged man who was lighting incense,
[How can I ascend to the eighth layer of the Wave Demon Poison Scripture?]
[…]
[Are you not going to answer me? Father.]
The middle-aged man was none other than Baek Sa-ha's father, Baek Yu, who could be called the patriarch of the Baek family and the Myriad Poisons Master.
He was the man who overturned the martial world's conventional wisdom that the Four Seasons Tang Clan and the Guyang Clan couldn't be defeated with poison.
With the death of the Tang Clan's patriarch, Tang Yeon-jong, known as the Thousand Flower Poison Hand, at his hands, the martial world of the Central Plains acknowledged Baek Yu as the new supreme master of poison arts.
The Wave Demon Poison Scripture was a poison art created by Baek Yu, the patriarch of the Baek family, and it became a supreme technique that rivaled the fame of the Tang Clan's Myriad Heavenly Flower Poison Art and the Guyang Clan's Clam and Horse Technique.
However, the process of mastering this Wave Demon Poison Scripture was not easy, and as one ascended each layer, it became more difficult to gain enlightenment. Apart from Baek Yu, the creator, none of his sons had reached the eighth layer, known as the ultimate realm.
The same was true for Baek Sa-ha, who was originally the second son but became the eldest.
[Is the eighth layer of the Wave Demon Poison Scripture impossible for anyone other than you, Father?]
[…]
Baek Yu remained silent.
The reason he was acting this way was that this place was the ancestral shrine where the spirit tablet of the eldest son was placed.
Baek Seong-ha, the eldest son who was cultivating the eighth layer of the Wave Demon Poison Scripture, had died due to the phenomenon of poison reversing, causing his brain's blood flow to be blocked, resulting in paralysis of his entire body.
[Please tell me, Father.]
[…]
[Will I also lose my life like my elder brother if I try to master the eighth layer like this?]
After losing his elder brother, the young Baek Sa-ha began to have doubts about cultivating the Wave Demon Poison Scripture.
The eldest son had lost his life, and the third younger brother had become paralyzed from the waist down.
The only one who was still intact was himself, but no matter how much he thought about it, this Wave Demon Poison Scripture seemed to be a martial art that no one could master except for his father, the creator.
[The Wave Demon Poison Scripture is the path to becoming a Poison Master.]
[That again?]
[The ultimate realm of poison arts is to become poison oneself.]
[How? From the moment one cultivates poison arts, one has to live in constant tension, unable to sleep properly. How can a person become poison?]
[Just adapt to it.]
[… What exactly is this adaptation?]
[You can't understand it now, and I know you have many grievances against this father. But it's something you have to realize on your own.]
[…]
'Adaptation… Adaptation… That damn adaptation…'
Such vague advice even to his son.
Because of that, one son died, and another son became crippled. Is this how it is?
From that day on, Baek Sa-ha made a resolution.
Rather than recklessly following his father's shadow, he decided to forge his own path.
33 years later.
[Hah… Hah…]
Baek Sa-ha, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, was exhaling rough breaths.
It was the first time in nearly a decade that he had been injured in a one-on-one match against someone, and he couldn't hide his shock.
He had never faced the Society Leader, known as the supreme master of the Heaven and Earth Society, in the first place.
However, he had once directly sparred in a friendly match with Ho Tae-gang, one of the Five Kings who held the title of Eight Stars and had surpassed the wall.
Even then, although he felt a certain gap, he had never experienced such a sense of powerlessness.
'How can this be possible?'
Even Ho Tae-gang, who had surpassed the wall, couldn't directly withstand his poison qi.
That's how much he knew the danger of the power called poison.
However, that person had directly clashed with him and deflected all the indiscriminately unleashed fog of poison.
The poison that didn't touch him had no effect on him.
'The high-level technique of transferring flowers and grafting trees, capable of lightly deflecting even poison qi.'
It was something that could only be possible by handling true energy as if breathing.
'Ghost Blade…'
That bastard was truly a monster.
He felt a sense of self-loathing.
However, through this confrontation, Baek Sa-ha realized his shortcomings.
If he couldn't handle true energy as delicately as that person, he could no longer advance upward.
So he honed himself once again.
If he could handle true energy delicately and move it freely as if breathing, he might be able to succeed in the eighth layer of the Wave Demon Poison Scripture that he had given up on.
However, his judgment was half right and half wrong.
Baek Sa-ha, who was confident that he could handle true energy as delicately as breathing, challenged the eighth layer of the Wave Demon Poison Scripture.
The eighth layer realm that only his patriarch and father, Baek Yu, had succeeded in.
This time, he was confident that he would succeed.
However,
[Argh…]
Baek Sa-ha failed to ascend to the eighth layer.
Since he could handle true energy delicately, he tried to achieve harmony with the poison qi.
However, due to the phenomenon of the poison qi reversing, his lower body became paralyzed instead.
He had become the same as his third younger brother.
'… Is the ultimate realm of the Wave Demon Poison Scripture truly impossible?'
Perhaps the realm of a Poison Master was an impossible domain for anyone other than his father, the supreme master.
With his lower body paralyzed, Baek Sa-ha went into seclusion under the pretext of a three-year mourning period.
His goal was not to achieve the eighth layer of the Wave Demon Poison Scripture.
He simply hoped to suppress the reversing poison qi and restore his paralyzed lower body to its original state.
However, even now, he was still at square one.
'Do I have to live like this, half-crippled?'
He was gradually becoming exhausted.
However,
[It's strange. I don't understand why you're fighting the poison. You could just accept it.]
The moment he heard those words from Mok Gyeong-un, he suddenly recalled what his father, Baek Yu, had said.
[Just adapt to it.]
'Adapt?'
It was at that very instant when he recalled those words.
Baek Sa-ha released the poison qi that had been reversing and the true energy that had been blocking it.
And he discarded all the thoughts of separating them.
Then,
-Rumble!
Baek Sa-ha's true energy and poison qi, which had been unable to mix like water and oil, began to harmonize with each other.
And then,
-Crack! Crackle!
Cracks appeared on Baek Sa-ha's skin.
That phenomenon was none other than,
-That old man is lucky. To undergo a transformation.
It was just as Cheong-ryeong had said.
Transformation.
His body was mutating anew to match his enlightenment.
Into a body befitting the eighth layer of the Wave Demon Poison Scripture that he had longed for.
It didn't take very long.
Baek Sa-ha's body was already sufficiently prepared.
He had just been forcibly suppressing it.
148: Chapter 147: Repayment (1)
Fssst! Crack! Crunch!
As cracks formed, his skin peeled off like a shell, and his muscles twisted and contorted.
Upon witnessing his transformation, Cheong-ryeong clicked her tongue and remarked:
-Why did you give him a clue to enlightenment?
Her desire was for the current Heaven and Earth Society to crumble.
However, thanks to the words Mok Gyeong-un had spoken, the Poison King Baek Sa-ha had gained some sort of enlightenment.
As a result, he was now able to break through his bottleneck.
This also meant that he would become significantly stronger than he was now.
-You did something unnecessary. Tsk, tsk.
Cheong-ryeong was not pleased with this.
Yet, there was no response from Mok Gyeong-un.
He was someone who had mastered telepathy and would always provide answers unless it was a special case. Why wasn't he responding now?
Puzzled, she looked at Mok Gyeong-un's face.
"..."
'This guy?'
Mok Gyeong-un was intently staring at Baek Sa-ha, who was undergoing a complete metamorphosis.
It wasn't an expression of amazement or awe.
He was observing as if studying him.
Cheong-ryeong grew curious about what thoughts were going through his mind as he watched this.
'What are you so deeply pondering?'
And those thoughts held quite an unexpected aspect.
Rather than focusing on the external process of Baek Sa-ha's body being reconstructed, Mok Gyeong-un was keenly observing how the internal energy was transforming.
'Was it like this?'
After staring for a while, the corners of Mok Gyeong-un's lips twitched.
***
For martial artists, a complete metamorphosis[1] was a realm that existed only in dreams.
It was a phenomenon where, upon breaking through a bottleneck, one's body would be reconstructed according to their increased cultivation level, resulting in a physique that could be considered the most ideal form for oneself.
"Ha..."
A gasp escaped from Baek Sa-ha's mouth.
Unlike a typical transformation, his clothes had almost entirely melted away, leaving him nearly naked, as he had become a complete Poison Master.
The corners of Baek Sa-ha's lips curled upward.
The reason was simple.
'I thought I might never be able to stand again.'
He stood up on his own two feet.
How long had it been since he last experienced this sensation?
He was so excited and moved that his heart pounded.
Amidst his emotions, Mok Gyeong-un's voice reached his ears.
"Congratulations."
At this, Baek Sa-ha turned his head to look at Mok Gyeong-un.
"You…"
"I was worried you might go back to drinking my blood, but instead, you even underwent a complete metamorphosis."
Upon hearing Mok Gyeong-un's words, Baek Sa-ha once again realized the significance of what had happened to him.
He himself was aware that he had undergone a metamorphosis.
However, hearing it from someone else felt quite different.
"Kekeke."
"That laughter doesn't suit you right now."
"It doesn't suit me?"
"Yes. At a glance, you appear to be in your late forties? No, mid-forties. You've rejuvenated."
At Mok Gyeong-un's remark, a glint appeared in Baek Sa-ha's eyes.
Rejuvenated?
Baek Sa-ha unconsciously touched his face.
The wrinkles that had felt dense on his face had nearly disappeared, and his skin was elastic.
"Oh my..."
There was no mirror in the meditation room to confirm in detail, but judging from the significantly reduced wrinkles on his hands, he truly felt as if he had become much younger.
Come to think of it, the two individuals among the Five Kings who had received the title of "Eight Stars" also appeared much younger than their actual age.
'I merely wished to walk again.'
Not only had he become a Poison Master, but he had also broken through his bottleneck.
Now, he could genuinely say that he had reached the realm of the Eight Stars.
Unable to contain his emotions, Mok Gyeong-un spoke to him.
"It seems you have achieved the results you desired. With this, the proposal I made earlier is practically nullified."
"Proposal?"
"Yes. You have already become a Poison Master, haven't you?"
At Mok Gyeong-un's words, the corners of Baek Sa-ha's mouth rose.
"Kekeke. Are you disappointed?"
"I thought I might be able to hear that story from you more easily, but it appears you have obtained what you wanted through your own efforts."
"Through my own efforts... Do you think I am someone with such little shame?"
"What do you mean by that?"
Baek Sa-ha placed his hands behind his back, an old habit, and said:
"If it weren't for you, young man, I would have either lost my life today or spent the rest of my days as a paraplegic, unable to even open my eyes."
"Thank you for saying it directly."
At Mok Gyeong-un's response, one of Baek Sa-ha's eyebrows arched upward.
As expected, this fellow was saying things he didn't truly mean.
He believed that thanks to him, Baek Sa-ha had gained enlightenment and undergone a complete metamorphosis.
Of course, those words weren't entirely wrong.
"You're quite an impudent fellow."
"If that's how you feel, I apologize."
"Don't say things you don't mean. I am well aware that I owe you a debt I could never repay in my lifetime."
"Then you should be able to grant my request."
"Of course."
Baek Sa-ha readily agreed.
This young man had allowed him to walk on his own two feet again and had helped him reach the 8th level of the Wave Demon Poison Scripture, becoming a Poison Master, something he had longed for.
He was no different from a benefactor to Baek Sa-ha, so what couldn't he do for him?
"What are you curious about?"
"First, promise me that you will answer unconditionally."
"A promise? I have already said with my own mouth that I will agree, do you think I would go back on my word?"
"I'm just saying this as a precaution."
At Mok Gyeong-un's words, Baek Sa-ha shook his head and said:
"I promise. I will answer any question you have."
"Thank you."
"What are you curious about?"
"The Ghost Blade."
'!?'
At Mok Gyeong-un's unexpected words, Baek Sa-ha momentarily furrowed his brows.
He wondered what the young man wanted to ask that required a promise, but an unexpected question had emerged.
"…Why are you asking about that?"
"I can't tell you the reason, but let's just say I'm curious about who the Ghost Blade is."
"You're curious?"
"Yes."
"Oh my..."
"To cut to the chase, I heard you had crossed blades with the Ghost Blade. Is that true?"
"…It is."
It was a well-known anecdote that everyone was aware of.
However, while many had asked about this matter, Baek Sa-ha had never given a proper answer.
There were two reasons for this.
The first was,
'It couldn't even be called a duel.'
Using his vast experience and the unique methods of his poison-based martial arts, he had merely endured for a short while. If the duel had been prolonged, he would have eventually been the one to lose.
Baek Sa-ha opened his mouth.
"Why are you curious about the Ghost Blade?"
"I already told you."
"Are you saying you can't reveal the reason?"
"Yes."
At Mok Gyeong-un's answer, Baek Sa-ha's eyes narrowed.
He was conflicted.
He was concerned about what intentions this child had for being curious about the Ghost Blade.
If that intention stemmed from pure curiosity, it would be fine, but he worried if it might be driven by negative emotions.
However, a promise was a promise.
"…Since I said I would tell you, I will do so regardless of the reason. However, I also have a request for you."
"A request?"
"Yes. It's not a difficult one."
"May I ask what it is?"
"Do not reveal what you hear from me in this place."
"Do not reveal it?"
"Yes. As a member of the Heaven and Earth Society, you will soon understand why I am saying this."
"…I understand."
After Mok Gyeong-un agreed, Baek Sa-ha answered the question.
"First, regarding the question of whether I know who the Ghost Blade is, I cannot answer because I don't know either."
"What?"
What did he mean by that?
Since they had fought directly, wouldn't he know the Ghost Blade's face?
Puzzled, Mok Gyeong-un listened as Baek Sa-ha continued.
"It is true that I crossed blades with the Ghost Blade, but his face was covered with a black mask, so there was no way to confirm his identity."
"His face was covered? Then what about the story of the Ghost Blade stopping the fight midway?"
"That is true."
"So, are you saying that during the fight, the Ghost Blade suggested stopping, and you agreed?"
If that was all there was to it, it would be quite a waste of effort.
Just as he was about to feel let down, Baek Sa-ha shook his head and said:
"Does that make sense? Even if I was clearly losing against him, I am still a martial artist. I wouldn't accept such a proposal to save my life in the middle of a fight."
'Losing... Was he being overpowered?'
Baek Sa-ha casually revealed the fact that he had been at a disadvantage.
Considering he had never disclosed this until now, it seemed he had a strong sense of pride. Had he become more composed after gaining enlightenment?
Although curious, that wasn't the main question.
"…Then is that rumor also true?"
"Rumor?"
"The rumor that the Ghost Blade might be one of the Society Leader's personal guards."
"Haa."
At Mok Gyeong-un's words, Baek Sa-ha clicked his tongue.
A considerable amount of time had passed since this incident, and it was slowly fading from many people's memories. Younger disciples might not even be aware of it, so where had he heard this story from?
No. Since he was a disciple of the Shadow Clan, had he heard it from the Shadow Clan Master?
"You know quite a bit."
"Is it true?"
"I don't know."
"What?"
"I also don't know whether he is one of the personal guards or not."
"What do you mean by that?"
At Mok Gyeong-un's question, Baek Sa-ha recalled the events from 17 years ago.
***
The Ghost Blade, who had displayed an astonishing divine technique that drained away all of his poison techniques, suddenly distanced himself and requested to stop the duel.
[What are you doing? Don't tell me you're going to show mercy in a life-or-death duel?]
On the contrary, it was a humiliation for a martial artist.
They were engaged in a duel where their lives were at stake, yet even though he had the upper hand, what kind of nonsense was this?
However,
[Poison King. Do you want to fight against an injured person?]
[Injured?]
As Baek Sa-ha asked in return, the Ghost Blade opened his upper garment and revealed his chest.
Surprisingly, there was a palm-sized mark on his chest that appeared to be a scar. The affected area had turned black and sunken in.
Moreover, judging from the black veins protruding from the wound, it looked as if,
'Poison scar?'
It seemed as if he had been struck by a poisonous hand technique.
Could it be that he had fought against a master from the Four Heavens Tang Clan or the Guyang Clan?
However, what was even more absurd was,
'…He fought against me in this condition?'
Baek Sa-ha found it utterly ridiculous.
The Ghost Blade's condition was truly severe, to the point where it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a serious injury.
Yet, he had displayed martial prowess that almost overwhelmed him, draining away all of his poison techniques, while in such a state?
It was even more humiliating.
His desire to settle things with the Ghost Blade had vanished.
At this, Baek Sa-ha asked:
[…Who did you fight against to end up like this? The Guyang Clan? The Sichuan Tang Clan?]
He didn't expect an answer when he asked.
However, unexpected words escaped from the Ghost Blade's mouth.
[Hae Yeong, the Medicine Immortal.]
'!?'
What did he just say?
Hae Yeong, the Medicine Immortal, was known as one of the greatest pharmacists of the era, alongside Wailing Doctor Hoe Ta.
He was a pharmacist, not a martial artist.
[What are you saying…]
As he asked in confusion, the Ghost Blade threw something to him.
It was none other than,
[This is?]
[Now you should understand that we have no reason to fight anymore.]
[…How did you get this?]
[Deliver that to him. Inform him of my injury and tell him I was interrupted.]
[What do you mean by that?]
[Just tell him that much.]
With those words, the Ghost Blade swiftly moved and disappeared from sight.
Baek Sa-ha tried to chase after him, but he vanished with such incredible lightness skill that it was hard to believe he was seriously injured, making it impossible to catch up to him.
***
"…So you really don't know who he is."
"Yes. What I learned from fighting against him is…"
"That he was seriously injured by the individual known as the greatest pharmacist of the era, Medicine Immortal Hae Yeong. That's all you know?"
"…At first, I couldn't believe it. No one had ever heard of Medicine Immortal Hae Yeong cultivating martial arts until then. He was a pharmacist, after all."
"Well, he could have kept it hidden."
"Yes. That could be possible. However, one thing is certain: if Medicine Immortal Hae Yeong truly inflicted serious injuries on the Ghost Blade, then his poison techniques far surpass mine."
That made the duel even more humiliating for Baek Sa-ha.
It meant that an old pharmacist, who was renowned for his medical skills, had overwhelmed the Ghost Blade, one of the Eight Stars, with superior poison techniques compared to him, who had devoted his entire life to refining poison arts.
'I see.'
Now Mok Gyeong-un understood why Baek Sa-ha had glossed over the matter and kept it hidden from everyone back then.
Perhaps it was also a matter of pride as a master of poison techniques.
Mok Gyeong-un asked him:
"But what exactly was the item the Ghost Blade gave you?"
He had mentioned that by giving that item, there was no longer a reason for them to fight.
What did he give him?
149: Chapter 148: Repayment (2)
"But what exactly was the item the Ghost Blade gave you?"
The Ghost Blade had given it to Baek Sa-ha, saying there was no longer a reason for them to fight.
What did he give him?
At Mok Gyeong-un's question, Baek Sa-ha let out a soft sigh and answered:
"Whew. It was the Society Leader's token."
'!?'
The Society Leader's token?
Upon hearing this, Mok Gyeong-un furrowed his brows.
Based on Baek Sa-ha's words, he had thought that the Ghost Blade might not be related to the Heaven and Earth Society, but if that was the case, the story changed.
"…If he gave you the Society Leader's token, does that mean the Ghost Blade is connected to the Society Leader?"
"I don't know for certain either."
"What do you mean by not knowing for certain?"
"It means there's no way to tell what kind of connection he has with the Society Leader or what instructions he received from the Society Leader."
It was a somewhat ambiguous answer.
At this, Mok Gyeong-un asked:
"Then did you deliver the token to the Society Leader as the Ghost Blade requested?"
"Yes, I did."
"May I ask what the Society Leader said?"
"He said nothing."
"What?"
Did he mean there was no reaction after delivering it?
As he was puzzled, Baek Sa-ha lightly placed his hand on Mok Gyeong-un's shoulder and said:
"The only thing the Society Leader said was this."
"What is it?"
"He ordered me not to reveal anything I learned while fighting the Ghost Blade to anyone. Of course, that includes the token as well."
"…"
"Do you now understand why I told you not to let what you hear from me in this place leak out?"
It was all by the Society Leader's order.
In the first place, the duel with the Ghost Blade was a humiliating incident for Baek Sa-ha as well, so their interests aligned, and it had been well-kept as a secret until now.
'Society Leader…'
Mok Gyeong-un's gaze grew somewhat heavy.
He had tried to learn the Ghost Blade's identity through Baek Sa-ha, but instead, he only found out that there was a close connection between him and the Heaven and Earth Society's Society Leader.
Cheong-ryeong, who had been listening to this conversation, inwardly felt relieved.
'It's unfortunate, but I should say it's fortunate for me.'
She had been worried that Mok Gyeong-un might leave this place if the connection between the Ghost Blade and the Heaven and Earth Society disappeared.
However, coincidentally, as it turned out to be related to the Society Leader, the reason for him to stay here became even more clear.
It could be said to be a fortunate turn of events for Cheong-ryeong.
-In the end, it seems that your purpose and mine align to some extent, you despicable being.
-…It seems so.
Mok Gyeong-un's gaze turned cold.
The situation had become a bit more complicated.
He had hoped for a more straightforward clue about the culprit, but he only found out that the Society Leader might also be involved in this matter.
'The Society Leader is a clue.'
He was related to the Ghost Blade, who might have killed his grandfather.
Since it was an incident from 17 years ago, he couldn't determine a direct connection, but one thing was certain: the Society Leader knew about the Ghost Blade.
That meant he needed a way to contact the Society Leader.
However, the problem was that meeting the Society Leader was incomparably more difficult than meeting Baek Sa-ha.
He was the leader of the Heaven and Earth Society and one of the Six Heavens, known as the pinnacle of the current martial arts world.
'…I need a way to make contact.'
No method came to mind at the moment.
Baek Sa-ha had the justification of the three Society Leader disciple tokens, but the Society Leader was different.
There was no natural way to get close to him.
'Hmm.'
While his mind was filled with those thoughts, Baek Sa-ha spoke.
"Why aren't you answering?"
"Pardon?"
"Didn't I tell you that as a member of the association, you shouldn't reveal it either?"
"Ah, ah, yes. Of course."
At Mok Gyeong-un's answer, Baek Sa-ha looked at him with suspicious eyes.
He had told him despite it being the Society Leader's order because of the promise, but judging from Mok Gyeong-un's reaction, it seemed he had some connection to the Ghost Blade in one way or another.
At this, Baek Sa-ha spoke as if advising him.
"Although I told you because it was a promise, it would be better for your well-being not to dig too deeply into matters regarding the Ghost Blade."
"…"
"Besides, he disappeared 17 years ago. Whether it's a good connection or a bad one, it's best to forget about it now."
Disappeared?
That was yet to be known.
The mark left on his late grandfather's wound was related to the Ghost Blade.
Anyway, in response to Baek Sa-ha's advice, Mok Gyeong-un politely brought his hands together and replied:
"I will keep that in mind."
"I hope you do, even if it's just lip service."
"How could I give lip service to the advice you give me?"
"Kekeke. You're good with words."
"Thanks to you, my curiosity has been satisfied, and you have obtained what you wanted. I shall return to the Shadow Clan now."
Mok Gyeong-un had no more business with Baek Sa-ha.
'What?'
At his words, a glint appeared in Baek Sa-ha's eyes.
Although he had told him, going against the Society Leader's order to keep it a secret, it wasn't something that could be considered a proper repayment.
Yet, he was just going to leave?
"You're quite a peculiar fellow."
"Pardon?"
"Did you come all the way here just to satisfy that curiosity of yours?"
"Ah, that's…"
"You didn't come to seek my teachings."
"…"
"Kahahahaha! What kind of fellow is this? Using the benefit of the Society Leader disciple tokens just as a pretext to meet me."
Baek Sa-ha burst into laughter, holding his stomach.
As the holder of the Society Leader disciple tokens of the Corpse Blood Valley, Mok Gyeong-un had the privilege of receiving teachings from him.
But he was saying he would leave without even receiving that benefit, so how impudent was that?
It meant he had no intention of learning from the beginning.
'I've been caught.'
Mok Gyeong-un scratched his head, wondering what to do about this.
While he was doing so, Baek Sa-ha, who had been laughing for a while, stopped and said:
"You made me laugh for the first time in a long while."
"I apologize."
"What do you have to apologize for? But listen. Since you brought the three Society Leader disciple tokens of the Corpse Blood Valley, I can't just let you go."
"What do you mean by not being able to let me go?"
"Of course, I will pass on martial arts to you."
"Martial arts?"
"Kekeke. Yes."
"…Then may I ask what you will teach me?"
At Mok Gyeong-un's question, Baek Sa-ha stroked his beard and replied:
"I will teach you poison techniques."
"Poison techniques?"
"It seems that even though you have become a Poison Master, you don't know how to use poison techniques at all. Who taught you about poisons?"
"…I just learned bits and pieces from physicians or pharmacists."
At Mok Gyeong-un's words, Baek Sa-ha snorted.
What did this fellow take him for to say such a thing?
Even if one devoted their entire life to refining poison techniques, it would be uncertain whether they could reach the level of a Poison Master. Yet, he claimed to have reached that level with shallow knowledge learned from physicians and pharmacists?
"Hmph! Learned bits and pieces? Don't talk nonsense."
"Even if you don't believe it, it's the truth."
"Do you think I'm going to capture and eat the one who taught you poison if I find out?"
"Well, that's not it."
"Then why aren't you revealing it? Do you have a reason to hide it?"
'Phew.'
At his question, Mok Gyeong-un felt annoyed inwardly.
If he didn't give an appropriate answer, it seemed Baek Sa-ha would keep probing.
So,
"I understand. There's no reason to hide this, so I'll tell you. The mentor who taught me about medicinal herbs and poisonous plants has already passed away."
"What?"
"He passed away."
"…He's deceased?"
"Yes."
"Oh my."
Baek Sa-ha let out a small sigh.
He was genuinely curious about who had turned Mok Gyeong-un into a Poison Master.
But judging from Mok Gyeong-un's tone and the faint sense of loss in his eyes, it seemed it wasn't a lie.
'…I suppose it's true.'
"Ahem. I don't know who he was, but if he was skilled enough in poisons to turn you into a Poison Master without even passing on poison techniques, he must have been no ordinary person. Even the Four Heavens Tang Clan or the Guyang Clan…"
At that moment, a certain nickname flashed through Baek Sa-ha's mind.
'Medicine Immortal Hae Yeong, the Medicine Immortal?'
Until now, he had believed that only his Baek Clan, the Four Heavens Tang Clan, and the Guyang Clan were the supreme masters of poison techniques in the Central Plains.
But 17 years ago, the one who had inflicted a serious injury on the Ghost Blade with a poison scar.
He had said it was Medicine Immortal Hae Yeong.
When one became proficient and reached the pinnacle in a particular field, they naturally became knowledgeable in the opposite nature as well.
Wasn't Baek Sa-ha himself also a master in pharmacology?
Poison techniques might be like that for Medicine Immortal Hae Yeong.
'Hmm.'
Baek Sa-ha stared intently at Mok Gyeong-un's face.
But soon, he shook his head.
'Yes. That can't be.'
No matter how he thought about it, the connection between this fellow and Medicine Immortal Hae Yeong was too far-fetched.
Then what exactly was the identity of that person?
But it seemed unlikely that this stubborn fellow would reveal it at the moment.
'Let's find out gradually.'
Hiding his inner thoughts, Baek Sa-ha said:
"Kekeke, anyway, if you learn poison techniques from me, you'll be able to fully utilize the poison within you."
"Fully utilize the poison…"
"Yes. Do you want to learn properly?"
At his question, Mok Gyeong-un brought his hands together in a salute and said:
"How could I refuse your consideration? If you bestow your teachings upon me, I will do my best to learn."
There was no reason to refuse.
There was no harm in learning poison techniques.
At that moment, Baek Sa-ha suddenly asked Mok Gyeong-un a question.
"By the way, what was that thing you fed me earlier? Could it be a divine medicine?"
"Are you referring to the Heavenly Earth Pill?"
"Ah, yes. I thought so."
Baek Sa-ha clicked his tongue, looking at Mok Gyeong-un.
Divine medicines were no different from treasures to martial artists, even if it was to save his life.
Yet, he had used it on him without any hesitation, even though he might have died.
If he had really died, it would have been a wasted effort.
It was truly difficult to discern what type of person this fellow was.
"I owe you a great debt."
"You don't need to think of it as a debt."
"No, it is a debt."
"…Well, if you think that way, I can't help it. Then will you repay it?"
"Of course. I have a temperament that can't stand being in debt."
"Is that so? Then how do you intend to repay it?"
"As it was an equivalent exchange, I will give you a special divine medicine made by our clan."
"A divine medicine?"
Repaying a divine medicine with a divine medicine.
It made sense.
"If you give it to me, I will gratefully accept it."
"However, there is a condition."
"…You sure have a lot of conditions."
"It's not a bad condition at all. If you promise not to reveal anything about this divine medicine to others, I will give you two of them."
"Two?"
"Yes. Isn't that good?"
At these words, Mok Gyeong-un didn't hide his puzzlement.
He had only used one divine medicine, yet he was offering to give him two in exchange for not revealing it. Why would he refuse?
"It's not bad for me, but are you sure?"
"Kekeke. If it wasn't okay, would you not accept it?"
"Of course not."
"Naturally. The divine medicine I will give you is called the Ascending Dragon Pill[1], created by my father, who was also the founder of our clan, Lord Baek Yu. In some ways, it's far superior to the Heavenly Earth Pill."
"Far superior?"
"Yes. If the Heavenly Earth Pill grants ten to a maximum of fifteen years' worth of internal energy, our clan's Ascending Dragon Pill, if absorbed efficiently, can grant up to twenty years' worth of internal energy."
'!?'
At his words, a glint appeared in Mok Gyeong-un's eyes.
If what Baek Sa-ha said was true, it was a divine medicine far better than the Heavenly Earth Pill.
"…I can definitely understand the reason for not revealing it."
"Yes. However, it's not unconditionally good."
"Why?"
"In the case of the Ascending Dragon Pill, its side effects are much stronger than the Heavenly Earth Pill. After consuming one pill, the effects drastically decrease from the second pill onward."
"Ah…"
"Kekeke, don't be disappointed. Still, if I assist you with the Pushing Palace and Passing Acupoints[2] technique, you can gain close to ten years' worth of internal energy even with the second pill."
'Ten years.'
If what he said was true, even with the assistance of an internal energy master in absorbing the pill, the efficiency would drop by almost half.
Then, if one were to absorb the pill alone, the efficiency would be even lower, so he understood why Baek Sa-ha said it wasn't unconditionally good.
However,
'It won't be of any use to me anyway.'
For Mok Gyeong-un, who used the Death Qi, divine medicines held no meaning or effect.
But if a situation like this arose, it would be useful, just like this time.
***
'Damn it.'
Jang Neung-ak, the second disciple of the Society Leader who had barely dispelled the poison qi, couldn't hide his anger.
What kind of disgrace was this?
He hadn't expected to kneel down, unable to endure the Poison King's poison qi even for a moment.
Fortunately, it seemed that Wi So-yeon, the third disciple, was also circulating her energy due to the poison qi.
But what was annoying was that she seemed to have dispelled the poison qi even before him.
In terms of internal energy, she was far ahead of him.
'F*cking wench.'
How was it that the gap between them kept widening?
He was worried that she might reach a level that would be truly difficult to deal with.
Perhaps he needed to take action before that happened.
But there was something else that took priority.
"Is the Poison King elder still inside?"
Jang Neung-ak asked Baek So-gang, the second son of Baek Sa-ha.
In response, Baek So-gang nodded and replied:
"Yes, he is."
"…I need to have another conversation with him."
"You'll have to wait for now."
"Wait? What do you mean?"
"My father is currently engaged in a conversation with the Shadow Clan Master's disciple."
"What?"
Jang Neung-ak furrowed his brows and looked at the entrance made of stone walls.
That meant Mok Gyeong-un had endured that incredible poison qi and went inside.
What was going on?
No matter how proficient he was with poisons, how was he enduring the poison emitted by a master of poison techniques like the Poison King?
He wasn't the only one puzzled by this.
'Mok Gyeong-un.'
Wi So-yeon, who had dispelled the poison before him, was also unable to hide her surprise upon hearing that Mok Gyeong-un was inside the meditation room.
His internal energy and martial arts level should be several ranks below theirs, so how was this possible?
At that moment,
-Rumble!
The tightly closed stone door opened, revealing someone's figure.
Wi So-yeon, who noticed the person emerging from the entrance, momentarily turned her head to the side in embarrassment.
'Wh-why?'
It was because Poison King Baek Sa-ha's clothes had almost entirely melted away, leaving him nearly naked.
"Father!"
Seeing Baek Sa-ha like this, his second son, Baek So-gang, approached him with wide eyes and asked in a trembling voice:
"A-are your legs all right?"
"Kekeke, can't you tell by looking?"
Baek So-gang couldn't contain his emotions upon seeing his father, Baek Sa-ha, standing firmly on his two legs.
Hadn't he been paralyzed from the waist down, unable to walk, as a side effect of not reaching the 8th level of the Wave Demon Poison Scripture?
Suddenly, he noticed a change in his father's appearance.
"Huh? F-father… Could it be… Did you undergo a complete metamorphosis?"
"Complete metamorphosis!?"
At those words, Jang Neung-ak also stared at Baek Sa-ha with widened eyes.
His face, which looked as if he had rejuvenated by nearly thirty years, was completely different from before.
Not only were his clothes melted, but it seemed he had truly undergone a complete metamorphosis.
That meant,
'He broke through his bottleneck?'
It signified the birth of a new master of the Transformation Realm within the Heaven and Earth Society.
At that moment, Wi So-yeon, who had been sneaking glances at the nearly naked Baek Sa-ha, hurriedly brought her hands together and said:
"Congratulations on achieving a great accomplishment!"
"C-congratulations on achieving a great accomplishment, Elder."
Jang Neung-ak, who had been too shocked to speak, also congratulated Poison King Baek Sa-ha.
His mind became extremely complicated.
With this, he couldn't afford to lose Poison King Baek Sa-ha's support even more.
Not only was he already a master of poison techniques, but he had even reached the Transformation Realm on top of that. He needed to bring him to his side by any means necessary.
However,
"Kekekeke, I merely obtained a small achievement, but I'm grateful for your congratulations."
"How can that be considered a small achievement? Father, I sincerely congratulate you on achieving a great accomplishment!"
"Thank you. But with my clothes like this, it's truly embarrassing."
"Ah!"
At Baek Sa-ha's words, his second son, Baek So-gang, hurriedly took off his outer robe and handed it to his father.
Baek Sa-ha took the outer robe and quickly tied the sleeves around his waist to cover his important parts.
Seeing him like this, Jang Neung-ak thought it was a good opportunity and spoke up.
"Elder. How can we just let this day pass? Instead of this, we should go outside and celebrate your great accomplishment…"
"It's fine."
"Pardon? But…"
"I appreciate your congratulations on my achievement, but didn't we already conclude our business earlier?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Didn't we make a promise earlier? You said you would support me if I could stand up."
"…"
At Baek Sa-ha's words, Jang Neung-ak, the second disciple of the Society Leader, was at a loss for words.
He had tried not to miss this opportunity, thinking Baek Sa-ha would be in a good mood after achieving a great accomplishment.
But he hadn't expected him to draw the line with what happened earlier.
"But Elder…"
"A man's word is as good as gold. I don't go back on my word."
'Damn it. This stubborn old man…'
Jang Neung-ak was angry, but he couldn't express it.
That was because Baek Sa-ha's energy, which was already strong, had intensified to an incomparable level compared to before.
Now, it was difficult to even gauge the difference between them.
'…What should I do about this?'
Jang Neung-ak wasn't the only one troubled by Baek Sa-ha's resolute attitude of drawing the line.
The third disciple, Wi So-yeon, was also in a dilemma.
If they missed today, the opportunity to persuade him would become distant.
-Tap tap!
At that moment, Poison King Baek Sa-ha tapped the shoulder of his second son, Baek So-gang, and pointed to Mok Gyeong-un standing behind him with a nod, saying:
"From today onward, this child is my formal disciple and a new member of our clan. Treat him like your own younger brother."
'!?'
150: Chapter 149: Repayment (3)
"From today onward, this child is my formal disciple and a new member of our clan. Treat him like your own younger brother."
'!?'
Everyone was unable to hide their bewilderment at Poison King Baek Sa-ha's words.
'Formal disciple?'
In the case of his second son, Baek So-gang, he had never imagined his father, Baek Sa-ha, would make such a statement.
That was because the Baek Clan had always valued the bloodline of the family for generations and never accepted outsiders as disciples.
His father, Baek Sa-ha, had also maintained that tradition, so he hadn't expected him to suddenly accept an outsider as a disciple.
'What exactly happened inside?'
He had been continuously wondering what had occurred inside that led his father, Baek Sa-ha, to undergo a complete metamorphosis.
It was unlikely for his father to show such favor to this child without something happening.
Could it be that he had given him a clue to enlightenment?
At that moment, Baek Sa-ha spoke.
"Why aren't you answering?"
"Ah, I understand. I will do as you say."
In the Baek Clan, the orders of the clan head were absolute.
If Clan Head Baek Sa-ha had decided so, then that was how it would be.
At that point, Mok Gyeong-un intervened.
"Disciple, you say?"
"Kekeke, why are you so surprised? Since you'll be receiving my teachings, you're now my disciple."
At his words, Mok Gyeong-un replied with a troubled expression.
"Receiving teachings is just in exchange for the three Society Leader disciple tokens…"
"Oh, what should I do about this?"
"Pardon?"
"For a youngster like you who has a deep understanding of poisons, I need to pass on my poison scripture, the Wave Demon Poison Scripture, but that can't be done for outsiders."
"Wa… Wave Demon Poison Scripture? Father?"
At those words, his second son, Baek So-gang, asked in surprise.
That was because the Wave Demon Poison Scripture wasn't an ordinary martial art or poison technique of the Baek Clan, but a secret scripture.
The Wave Demon Poison Scripture was a transcendent poison technique that could only be learned by those of the main family's bloodline who were qualified to become the clan head, so it was bewildering to hear that he would pass it on.
"Even if it's a privilege of the Society Leader disciple tokens, that's…"
"Didn't I say I would accept him as a formal disciple? Are you questioning the order of this clan head?"
"N-no, that's not it."
Baek So-gang waved his hands in surprise.
The clan head and his father, Poison King Baek Sa-ha, never went back on his decisions once he made them.
Especially if he had decided something as an order from the clan head, anyone who tried to object would face severe consequences.
'Oh my.'
Mok Gyeong-un clicked his tongue inwardly at Baek Sa-ha's decision.
He had thought the level of repayment was greater than expected when Baek Sa-ha mentioned repaying the debt, but he hadn't expected this ulterior motive.
At this, Mok Gyeong-un brought his hands together in a salute and said:
"Elder. I am grateful for your consideration, but I am a disciple of the Shadow Clan Master. How can I, when I already have a master…"
"Is there a rule stating one can't have two masters?"
"…"
There was no such rule.
However, this wasn't a matter of rules.
"Even if there's no such rule, this is about the Shadow Clan Master…"
"I will personally go to the Shadow Clan Master and seek his understanding, so don't worry about that."
"…"
It seemed he was determined to accept him as a disciple no matter what he said.
At this, Mok Gyeong-un was inwardly annoyed, but since he had no proper reason to refuse, he refrained from further objections.
However, at some point, he noticed that the gazes of the Society Leader's second disciple, Jang Neung-ak, and the third disciple, Wi So-yeon, were directed at him rather than Poison King Baek Sa-ha.
Seeing their peculiar looks, Mok Gyeong-un licked his lips.
'…So that's what it was.'
He seemed to understand the reason why Baek Sa-ha publicly declared him as his disciple in front of them.
It was to divert the attention of those who had been pestering him for support away from himself.
It was a kind of ploy.
Due to Baek Sa-ha's declaration, regardless of his own will, Mok Gyeong-un had become a joint disciple of the Poison King, one of the Five Kings, and the Shadow Clan Master.
As a result, he had become an even more enticing prey for those seeking a successor.
***
It took nearly an hour of torment before Mok Gyeong-un could leave the Baek Clan's estate with his guard, Seok Jung.
Poison King Baek Sa-ha was not only stubborn but also had a very troublesome personality.
He made Mok Gyeong-un participate in his grandson's first birthday celebration and personally introduced him to the Baek Clan's blood relatives, making him acquainted with them one by one.
Mok Gyeong-un found this very annoying but played along without showing it.
The reason was that Baek Sa-ha was one of the Five Kings, a high-ranking executive.
'For now, the Poison King is the way to go.'
Considering Baek Sa-ha's position, there was a high possibility of contact with the Society Leader.
That was why, even when he said he would accept him as a disciple, despite finding it troublesome, Mok Gyeong-un had reluctantly agreed.
It remained to be seen how this would play out, but making contact with the Society Leader was currently Mok Gyeong-un's top priority.
As they moved away from the Baek Clan's estate, Cheong-ryeong's voice echoed in his ears.
-In the end, it seems your judgment was correct.
-Judgment?
-Yes. Someone like the Poison King is the best ally.
-Well, I don't know. He seems like an annoying old man to me.
-Didn't you gain the opportunity to learn the Wave Demon Poison Scripture, known as the supreme poison technique, thanks to helping that annoying old man?
-Well, that's true.
In front of the Baek Clan's blood relatives, Poison King Baek Sa-ha had publicly declared Mok Gyeong-un as his formal disciple and immediately took him to the clan head's hall to show him the verses of the Wave Demon Poison Scripture.
Despite accepting him as a disciple, Mok Gyeong-un had shown no particular reaction, so Baek Sa-ha wanted to demonstrate how extraordinary the Baek Clan's poison scripture, the Wave Demon Poison Scripture, was.
Thanks to that, Mok Gyeong-un had memorized all the verses of the Wave Demon Poison Scripture just by glancing at them once.
Of course, Poison King Baek Sa-ha was unaware of this fact.
-There's no martial art as unconventional as poison techniques. Moreover, it can be considered the best when dealing with multiple opponents.
-Multiple opponents… I suppose so.
-Anyway, it's not bad… Why are you doing that?
Cheong-ryeong asked Mok Gyeong-un, stopping mid-sentence.
The reason was that Mok Gyeong-un, who had been walking, stopped and stared at something.
His guard, Seok Jung, also asked in puzzlement.
"Young Master. Why are you doing that?"
"There's a guest waiting for you."
"Pardon?"
As he asked in return, someone walked out from the right corner.
The moment he saw that person, Seok Jung's eyes widened.
'W-Woo Ho-rang, Grand Clan Leader?'
He was none other than Woo Ho-rang, the Society Leader disciple of Bright Blade King Son Yun and the grandmaster of the Geo-gweol Clan.
He was also known as the right-hand man and the most trusted subordinate of Wi So-yeon, the Society Leader's third disciple, and was one of the Five Tigers, considered the top disciples within the Heaven and Earth Society.
Woo Ho-rang stared at Mok Gyeong-un with an expressionless gaze and opened his mouth.
"Despite your appearance, your perception is excellent."
"That's because you didn't particularly hide your energy."
"Hmph."
Woo Ho-rang snorted.
As Mok Gyeong-un said, he hadn't hidden his energy from the beginning.
Unless it was a special case, he considered the act of hiding oneself to be something only cowards and rats would do.
Woo Ho-rang lightly scanned Mok Gyeong-un from top to bottom.
'What a strange person. How did he do it?'
The energy emanating from Mok Gyeong-un was merely at the level of the early peak stage.
With such martial prowess, he absolutely couldn't have defeated his junior brother, Yeop Wi-seon, yet it was said that he had won against him.
And according to his lord, Wi So-yeon, this fellow's true martial prowess might have reached the transcendent realm.
If what she said was true, it meant this fellow had mastered a mysterious technique that could almost perfectly conceal his martial prowess.
'He's mastered a troublesome technique.'
But it was of no concern to him.
Regardless of what technique he had mastered, he just needed to cut him down.
Woo Ho-rang said to Mok Gyeong-un:
"Do you know why I was waiting for you?"
"Who knows."
"They say you're a clever fellow, but you can't even guess?"
"I have no way of knowing whether it's a personal matter or because of an order from your lord."
"What?"
"You seem to be looking at me with displeasure, so it doesn't seem like you're waiting for me just because of an order from your lord."
At Mok Gyeong-un's words, Woo Ho-rang chuckled.
Indeed, he wasn't entirely devoid of a cunning side, as his lord had said.
That made him even more displeased.
"You're right. I don't particularly like you. Starting from the fact that you're a hostage from the righteous faction, there are many reasons."
"Many reasons?"
"Yes. Many reasons."
"Hmm. Then it's just that you don't like me."
"I won't deny it."
"I see. I don't think I can do anything about those feelings, so may I ask what business you have with me?"
"The young lady told me to bring you to her."
"Me?"
"Yes. It's an order from the young lady, so you don't have the right to refuse, do you?"
At Woo Ho-rang's words, Mok Gyeong-un laughed inwardly.
It was indeed as he had expected.
Even though she hadn't achieved her goal at the Baek Clan's estate, the way she had retreated while giving him a meaningful look was in anticipation of this moment.
"…Of course. Then should I just follow you?"
"Yes. But listen."
"Yes."
"Before that, shouldn't we settle our score?"
"Settle our score?"
-Roar!
As soon as he finished speaking, Woo Ho-rang released a powerful aura.
The aura was so fierce that Seok Jung unknowingly took a step back.
Mok Gyeong-un opened his mouth with narrowed eyes.
"That seems to go against your lord's wishes. Are you okay with that?"
"This is purely a matter between you and me."
"A matter between you and me?"
"You showed off your martial prowess against my junior brother, Yeop Wi-seon, didn't you?"
"Ah, I see. So that's what this is about."
"Thanks to you, my junior brother is now imprisoned in a detention cell. Of course, it's partly his own mistake, but how can I just let it slide when he's facing execution?"
At his words, Mok Gyeong-un chuckled inwardly.
Was it really just about his junior brother?
No matter how he looked at it, it didn't seem to be solely about that.
It seemed to stem from a more personal sentiment.
The matter regarding his junior brother was merely a pretext.
So, Mok Gyeong-un smiled and spoke with a troubled expression.
"Ah. I see. But you see, do you know why the young lady is summoning me?"
"I know."
Of course he knew.
As Wi So-yeon's trusted subordinate, he knew her intentions better than anyone else.
If it were any other time, he would have suppressed his own feelings and done his best as a subordinate to fulfill her wishes.
But strangely, the thought that he shouldn't let this fellow get close to the young lady took precedence.
Even if he had to go against his emotions and make a mistake.
-Shing!
Woo Ho-rang drew his unique weapon, the Nine Harmony Blade[1], and said:
"You received a token from the young lady, didn't you?"
"Yes. But…"
"I also have a token."
"Ah, is that so?"
"Let's wager our tokens and duel. If you win, I will give you the token I received from my lord. But if you lose, I will take that token from you."
This was Woo Ho-rang's true objective.
To retrieve Wi So-yeon's token from Mok Gyeong-un.
At his words, Mok Gyeong-un suddenly burst into laughter.
"Haha."
"You… Did you just laugh?"
"Yes. I laughed."
-Roar!
At that moment, a strong murderous intent surged from Woo Ho-rang.
How dare a mere youngster ridicule him?
As he was doing so, Mok Gyeong-un lightly waved his hand and said:
"Ah. If I offended you, I apologize. I couldn't help but laugh because I could see through your true intentions."
"True intentions?"
"Yes."
"What nonsense are you spouting? How can you…"
"It seems you're not doing what your lord wants, but rather, you're desperate to make your lord yours. Am I wrong?"
'!?'
For a moment, Woo Ho-rang flinched.
Seeing his reaction, the corners of Mok Gyeong-un's lips curled up.
It seemed his prediction was correct.
-Swish!
Then, Woo Ho-rang's blade swiftly flew towards Mok Gyeong-un's neck, stopping at his skin.
However, whether it was due to the sharp blade or not, the skin was cut, and blood flowed down.
"Are you trying to mock me?"
At Woo Ho-rang's words, which revealed murderous intent in a low tone, Mok Gyeong-un shrugged his shoulders.
"How could I?"
"But…"
"I merely stated the truth, but if you're getting so agitated, I can't help but be more certain."
"You!"
-Pak!
At that moment, Mok Gyeong-un grabbed the blade of Woo Ho-rang's Nine Harmony Blade.
At this, Woo Ho-rang tried to shake it off.
However, surprisingly, even though he drew out his internal energy to nearly 6-star level, the blade didn't budge at all.
'This bastard's internal energy?'
It had far surpassed his expectations.
It seemed that his lord Wi So-yeon's words about him possibly reaching the transcendent realm were indeed true.
As he was astonished, Mok Gyeong-un said with a smile:
"Well, I can understand. Even if you want the person you admire to do well, if she truly becomes the successor, your relationship will become more fixed and distant. So, you wouldn't be fixated on her becoming the successor. That's why you tried to take the young lady's token from me, using your junior brother as a pretext."
'!!!!!!'
At Mok Gyeong-un's words, Woo Ho-rang's expression completely stiffened.
Even though they hadn't engaged in a long conversation, he had thoroughly seen through his true intentions.
What kind of fellow was this?
As he was thinking that,
"But you see. Do you think you can take it from me?"
-Creak creak creak!
The blade of the Nine Harmony Blade, gripped in Mok Gyeong-un's hand, gradually bent.
151: Chapter 150: Talent (1)
The estate located southwest of the inner city headquarters of the Heaven and Earth Society was the base of the Primal Killing Pavilion, which was in charge of providing consultation related to sorcery.
Diviner Jo Ui-gong was hastily heading towards the main hall of the estate, using his cane.
Although he tried his best not to show it, he couldn't help but feel nervous.
'…Senior Apprentice Brother.'
It was said that Senior Apprentice Brother Cho Tae-cheong was currently in the main hall.
He had heard that diviner had gone somewhere after receiving a secret order from the Society Leader, but he had come to visit without any prior notice as soon as he returned.
He couldn't help but feel uneasy.
'The preparations are solid.'
While his senior apprentice brother was away, he had quickly obtained the approval of the Society Leader through the vice-Society Leader.
In Seo-ok, the Primal Killing Pavilion leader who had become a living corpse ghost, due to Mok Gyeong-un's Six People Spirit Summoning Technique, had handed over his position to him.
Yun, the disciple in the Corpse Blood Valley, had also attended and agreed.
During the process, some senior diviners who supported his senior apprentice brother had objected, but what could they do?
It was an order from the leader.
Therefore, Jo Ui-gong was the leader of the Primal Killing Pavilion in both name and reality.
'He must have come as soon as he heard the news.'
He assumed that was probably the case.
His senior apprentice brother rarely left the headquarters where the Society Leader resided unless it was a special case.
So, the fact that he had come like this meant he must have heard the news that he had become the leader.
Fortunately, he had already arranged for the previous Primal Killing Pavilion leader, In Seo-ok, to be moved away.
He had sent him more than 50 ri away and erased his traces using sorcery, making it useless to track him down.
'As long as I prevent him from seeing it directly, there won't be a problem.'
It was no exaggeration to say that his senior apprentice brother's sorcery skills were on par with their master's.
Deceiving such a senior apprentice brother was by no means easy.
So, despite having made all the preparations, he couldn't help but feel nervous.
"Greetings!"
When the guards guarding the front of the main hall saw Jo Ui-gong, they bowed their heads in greeting.
At this, Jo Ui-gong asked:
"Where is Senior Apprentice Brother?"
"He said he would be waiting inside."
"I see. Understood."
As Jo Ui-gong was about to enter, one of the guards said:
"By the way, diviner Cho Tae-cheong entered carrying a large wooden box that looked like a coffin."
"A wooden box?"
What was that?
Could it be related to the Society Leader's secret order?
Puzzled, Jo Ui-gong eventually entered the main hall and headed towards the leader's office.
Following the corridor and opening the door,
-Creak!
'!?'
He saw someone sleeping with their head tilted back and their two legs propped up on the leader's desk.
Just by looking at the gray martial arts uniform with the yin-yang symbol, he could tell who it was.
It was his senior apprentice brother, diviner Cho Tae-cheong.
'…'
Jo Ui-gong's eyes narrowed.
There was a separate place for guests to sit, but he deliberately sat on the leader's chair and slept like that.
It was clearly meant to provoke him.
Thanks to that, he could guess his senior apprentice brother's current mood.
'…I mustn't get agitated.'
Regardless of the reason, he had taken away his senior apprentice brother's position.
His anger was justified, and it was bound to erupt in some way.
"Ahem."
Jo Ui-gong deliberately made a coughing sound as he entered.
Then,
"You're here?"
Cho Tae-cheong, who had been sleeping with his head tilted back, opened his eyes and spoke.
At this, Jo Ui-gong brought his hands together with his cane and carefully greeted Cho Tae-cheong.
"Senior Apprentice Brother, you've arrived?"
"Yes, I have."
"I heard you were away after receiving an order from the Society Leader."
"Seeing as you've heard that much, it seems you've definitely completed the handover."
'…'
At the strangely sharp voice, tension subtly crept into Diviner Jo Ui-gong's eyes.
His senior apprentice brother had been the front-runner, so he had already anticipated that he would object to this matter.
Jo Ui-gong calmly replied:
"Yes. Although I still have many shortcomings, I will gradually adapt."
"Gradually adapt…"
'…'
"Was that position so desirable to you?"
-Gulp!
At Cho Tae-cheong's direct question, Jo Ui-gong unknowingly swallowed his saliva.
No matter how well-prepared he was, he couldn't help but feel nervous knowing his senior apprentice brother's sorcery skills better than anyone else.
It was something he had to face eventually.
Jo Ui-gong spoke with a forceful voice:
"How can you say such hurtful words? I merely followed our master's orders."
"Master's orders?"
"Yes. I also declined, saying how could I inherit the position of leader when there is a senior apprentice brother like you."
"Decline…"
"Yes. However, our master said that you must guard the Society Leader's side, so he couldn't entrust you with the position of leader."
"…Did he really say that?"
"How could I lie to you, Senior Apprentice Brother? If you truly find it hard to believe, we can call Yun…"
"Are you telling me to play along with your false tune?"
"…It's not a lie. Are you denying our master's decision, Senior Apprentice Brother?"
"Deny? Ha!"
-Creak!
Cho Tae-cheong stood up from the leader's office chair.
Seeing his attitude, Jo Ui-gong gripped his cane and prepared to respond.
He had set up various defensive sorceries throughout the office in anticipation of this moment, so he could immediately activate the Four Pressure barrier.
At that moment, Cho Tae-cheong formed a hand seal by connecting his index and middle fingers.
Then,
-Clank!
The lid of the coffin-like wooden box on one side of the office opened by itself.
Then, something inside the wooden box straightened up and rose from its seat.
Seeing this, Jo Ui-gong's eyes widened as if they would tear.
It was none other than,
'M-Master?'
It was In Seo-ok, the former Primal Killing Pavilion leader who had become a living corpse ghost.
On the forehead of the pale-faced In Seo-ok, there was a talisman with the word "seal" (封, bong) written on it.
Seeing him like this, Jo Ui-gong couldn't hide his bewilderment.
He had taken measures to ensure that In Seo-ok couldn't come out by attaching heavy weights to him in the depths of a lake more than twenty li away from here.
But how did he find him?
'Damn it.'
He didn't know why, but his senior apprentice brother had found their master who had become a living corpse ghost.
That meant he had come here to remove him from this position.
At this, Jo Ui-gong hurriedly formed a simple hand seal with his left hand.
-Clap! Clap!
Gye (皆)! Jeon (前)! Yeol (裂)! Ja (者)!
This was the hand seal of the Nine Character Activation Technique to activate the Four Pressure barrier.
It was a technique he had already prepared, so he naturally thought it would be activated immediately, but,
'What?'
The barrier didn't activate.
Unable to understand why, Cho Tae-cheong clicked his tongue and said:
"You've prepared quite a lot. But did you think I would just leave it alone?"
-Clench!
At those words, Jo Ui-gong bit his lower lip tightly.
Did he mean that he had dismantled all those techniques while he was briefly away?
He had tried his best to make it unnoticeable, but as expected of his senior apprentice brother.
So, Jo Ui-gong hurriedly tried to unfold the spell engraved on his cane.
But before he could even chant the spell,
-Thud!
"Ugh!"
Something kicked Jo Ui-gong's back, causing him to fall forward.
-Thud!
Something stepped on Jo Ui-gong's back as he fell.
The weight was so heavy that the pressed area sank inward, making it extremely painful.
"Argh…"
Feeling the intense pain, Jo Ui-gong unconsciously turned his head,
-Shudder!
There, he saw a strange creature with a tall red horn and four huge legs pressing down on him with its front leg.
The moment he saw it, Jo Ui-gong instinctively realized what it was.
'Toru!'
The name of this monstrosity was Toru (Tulou).
It was a monster that lived in the Kunlun Mountains, known as the Separate Island of the Heavenly Emperor.
Unlike its goat-like appearance, it was a very ferocious and monstrous beast that preyed on humans who entered the misty valley of the Kunlun Mountains.
Also known as the Red Falling Star, it was his senior apprentice brother's proud spirit beast.
-Thud thud!
Diviner Cho Tae-cheong slowly walked over and said:
"Who is it?"
"W-What do you mean?"
"With your skills, it's impossible to make our master, who received the title of diviner, like that even if you die and wake up. Who helped you?"
'Damn it.'
Driven into a corner, Jo Ui-gong's expression darkened rapidly.
He thought he had made all the preparations, but it was far from enough.
No, how did his senior apprentice brother find their master in the first place?
Unable to understand, diviner Cho Tae-cheong approached and pressed down on Jo Ui-gong's right wrist, opening his mouth.
"The chains of the spell… As expected."
"T-This is…"
-Swish!
Cho Tae-cheong made a light gesture, and the monstrous beast Toru pressed down on his back even harder.
-Crunch!
"Aargh!"
Looking down at the suffering Jo Ui-gong with cold eyes, Cho Tae-cheong clicked his tongue and said:
"Tsk tsk. To be caught and dragged by such a thing. What a pathetic fellow."
"Ugh… Stop…"
"If you want me to stop, it's best to tell me right away. Who put the chains of the spell on you?"
Under the pressure of his senior apprentice brother Cho Tae-cheong, Jo Ui-gong's eyes gradually weakened.
***
-Creak creak creak!
The blade of the Nine Harmony Blade, gripped in Mok Gyeong-un's hand, gradually bent.
At this, the eyes of Woo Ho-rang, the trusted subordinate of Wi So-yeon, the Society Leader's third disciple, widened.
The Nine Harmony Blade was a precious sword made by a famous craftsman who was acquainted with his master, Bright Blade King Son Yun, and its hardness was different from ordinary swords.
Moreover, when his internal energy was added, the sword became even harder.
So, if the sword could bend to this extent, it meant that Mok Gyeong-un's martial power had reached not just the early stage, but a proper pinnacle level.
'He's not someone to go easy on.'
Only then did Woo Ho-rang become alert.
This fellow was an opponent he absolutely couldn't subdue without properly dealing with him.
At this, Woo Ho-rang drew out his martial power.
-Roar!
As he drew out his martial power from 6-star to 8-star in an instant, a repulsive force arose from the bending blade.
-Clang!
Along with it, Mok Gyeong-un's hand gripping the blade was bounced off.
Matching this, Woo Ho-rang tried to widen his stance and create distance, but,
-Bam!
At that moment, Mok Gyeong-un's palm heavily struck Woo Ho-rang's chest.
Having already drawn out his martial power up to 8-star level, Woo Ho-rang, who had endured it with his protective energy, also kicked Mok Gyeong-un's abdomen.
-Thud!
The two people who had simultaneously struck each other were pushed back.
Woo Ho-rang, who had been pushed back, instinctively checked the distance he had been pushed back and the distance Mok Gyeong-un had been pushed back.
'Four steps.'
He had been pushed back four steps, while Mok Gyeong-un had been pushed back five steps.
Then, in terms of martial power, he could say he had a slight advantage.
If it was to this extent, if he drew out his martial power to the extreme level, it seemed he could subdue the fellow without much trouble.
Confident of victory, Woo Ho-rang said to Mok Gyeong-un:
"You will regret misusing that mouth of yours… Cough!"
At that moment, Woo Ho-rang coughed as he felt a burning pain from inside.
Woo Ho-rang hurriedly wiped his lips with his sleeve, and,
'!?'
Black blood was smeared on his sleeve.
Seeing this, Woo Ho-rang frowned and looked at Mok Gyeong-un.
What the hell was going on?
He had indeed been hit by a palm strike, but he had endured it with his protective energy.
But what was this unpleasant pain?
-Rip!
Woo Ho-rang roughly tore open the upper part of his clothes.
Then, on his chest, there was a palm-shaped mark left, with blood vessels bulging out in a dark red color.
'Could it be…'
Woo Ho-rang muttered with widened eyes.
"Poison?"
Did this fellow possibly use a poison palm technique?
Woo Ho-rang's eyes trembled.
According to what he had heard from his lord Wi So-yeon, Mok Gyeong-un had been accepted as a disciple by the Poison King just about an hour ago.
'It can't be…'
It was impossible for him to learn poison techniques and freely use them in just an hour.
No matter how innately talented he was, that was impossible.
Moreover, poison techniques were fundamentally different from ordinary martial arts in the first place.
As he was bewildered, Mok Gyeong-un said with a smile:
"That's great. I wanted to test out what I had just learned anyway."
-Roar!
On Mok Gyeong-un's hands, a dark red poison energy was seeping out and rising like a haze.
'!!!!!'
Seeing this, Woo Ho-rang couldn't hide his shock.
It was none other than the Toad Poison Demon Palm[1] from the Poison King Baek Sa-ha's poison scripture, the Wave Demon Poison Scripture.
***