Chapter 142

“If anyone has even the slightest interest in medicinal herbs or poisonous plants, they can easily guess it. I don’t understand why you’re reacting like this.”

‘!?’

Anyone can do it?

“…”

Was he trying to mock them now?

Or was he just unable to show humility?

Madam Jang, who had been staring at Mok Gyeong-un with a somewhat dumbfounded expression, finally clicked her tongue and said,

“I didn’t know the disciple of the Shadow Clan Master had such profound knowledge of poisons.”

“I’m also surprised.”

Baek So-gang, the second son of the Annihilating Poison King Baek Sa-ha, also agreed with his mother’s words.

Most martial artists, unless they were exceptionally cautious, considered poison arts to be cowardly or unworthy of martial artists and didn’t even show interest in them.

However, Mok Gyeong-un’s extensive knowledge was at a level that would be difficult to know without properly studying poisons or medicinal herbs.

‘What’s even more surprising is that unbelievable level of identification.’

The Annihilating Poison King always told his sons.

He said that the most important thing for those who practice poison arts to never neglect training was the cultivation of their sense of taste and smell to identify poisons.

Smell aside, training the sense of taste was not easy.

Poisons are very dangerous to handle and can directly lead to death if mishandled, so rather than tasting a large amount, one tastes an extremely small amount.

After doing so, one gradually builds up resistance through training.

Since it takes a long time to fully grasp the taste of a single poison, it is inevitable that the training of the sense of taste would be slow.

‘… Is it innate?’

From Baek So-gang’s perspective, that was the only way he could view it.

The fact that Mok Gyeong-un, who was only 17 years old and didn’t primarily practice poison arts, had such a sharp tongue could only be explained as a natural talent.

‘Oh my.’

Baek So-gang suddenly felt regret.

Come to think of it, he would have become a disciple of the Shadow Clan Master through the Corpse Blood Valley entrance.

If his father had participated in the disciple selection ceremony this time, he could have brought this child with such remarkable talent.

Even if his father had seen him, he would have coveted him enough.

‘If we had brought him, the main family’s… Ah!’

Baek So-gang’s eyes widened.

Upon reflection, he had been wondering why this person sought his father’s guidance with three first-place tokens, but now he understood.

“I now understand why Young Master Mok wanted to seek guidance from my father.”

“Ah… I see.”

Madam Jang also nodded at the words of her second son, Baek So-gang.

If someone had such profound knowledge and interest in poisons, they would naturally want to receive the Annihilating Poison King’s teachings.

Now his visit made sense.

‘I thought it was a waste of time, but I guess not. Even if he can’t become a formal disciple, if he receives my husband’s teachings, the Shadow Clan and our Baek family might form a good connection.’

However, the problem was whether her husband would be willing to teach this child.

Although it was established by the sect’s rules, her husband was someone who had his own stubbornness.

He never went back on something he had already decided.

It was at that moment.

-Whoosh!

“Hah.”

Wi So-yeon, the third disciple of the Society Leader, had completely dissolved the poison, exhaling white vapor instead of purple.

Seeing this, Baek So-gang, the second son of the Baek family, couldn’t hide his astonishment.

To dissolve the poison in less than half an hour.

‘Her internal energy is truly deep.’

It was just as the rumors said.

Soon, Jang Neung-ak, the second disciple of the Society Leader, also succeeded in completely dissolving the poison.

Although he was a hair’s breadth slower than Wi So-yeon, he was also fast.

Seeing them, Madam Jang clasped her hands together and said,

“The internal energy of you two is extraordinary. I didn’t expect you to dissolve the poison in such a short time.”

At her praise, Wi So-yeon waved her hand and expressed humility.

“The poison of the Baek family is truly remarkable. If my concentration had wavered even slightly, it would have been difficult.”

“How could that be? You must have overcome it sufficiently.”

“…”

On the other hand, Jang Neung-ak silently glared at Wi So-yeon.

His reputation had become unspeakable.

He had wanted to show himself dissolving the poison first, but he was beaten by a hair’s breadth due to Wi So-yeon’s monstrous internal energy.

-Creak!

He couldn’t help but feel his pride hurt.

It was because he had been surpassed in front of his subordinates.

Jang Neung-ak, who had been glaring at her with a displeased gaze, finally shifted his gaze and looked at Mok Gyeong-un.

‘… Did this kid have such skills?’

He had heard the vague conversation.

It seemed that he had dissolved the poison in a different way from himself and Wi So-yeon.

According to Madam Jang’s words, he seemed to know a lot about poisons.

‘Then he’s even more desirable.’

He had already lost Wi Maeng-cheon, his left-hand man and the second-ranked member of the Five Mountains Alliance.

If this kid was versatile in many aspects, he seemed capable of filling the void left by Wi Maeng-cheon.

Wi So-yeon also felt the same way.

‘Did he also have expertise in poisons?’

She had wanted to find out Mok Gyeong-un’s true internal energy level this time, but it seemed he had detoxified the poison in a different way.

So she felt like she had seen an unexpected side of him.

Perhaps Mok Gyeong-un’s true value lay in these diverse talents.

‘… I might have to make him my person no matter what.’

She had been slightly hesitant because of his background as a hostage of the righteous faction, but if she was going to lose him to her second martial brother, it seemed worthwhile to bring him over somehow.

It was at that moment.

“Then, may we go in? Madam.”

Jang Neung-ak, the second disciple of the Society Leader, took the lead and asked Madam Jang.

Although it was a hair’s breadth, he was slower than Wi So-yeon in detoxification, but what mattered now was not that.

It was about who would have a private meeting with the Annihilating Poison King first.

At his question, Madam Jang looked at her second son, Baek So-gang.

Then,

“For now, the Family Head said that if you have dissolved the poison, you can come inside together.”

“Together?”

“Yes. I apologize, but that was the Family Head’s intention.”

At his words, Wi So-yeon inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

If she lost the lead in a situation where she needed to request support, it could become somewhat disadvantageous.

Of course, going in together wasn’t a particularly good thing either, but at least it was better than letting him have a private meeting first.

‘Tsk.’

Jang Neung-ak clicked his tongue.

He had tried to have a private meeting first, but if it turned out like this, it would be quite annoying.

Wi So-yeon was sure to try to interfere with him.

However, he had no choice but to respect the Annihilating Poison King’s intention if he wanted to meet him.

“… Understood.”

“Thank you for your understanding.”

With that, Baek So-gang took the lead.

Standing at the entrance of the detached building, he gave a warning in advance.

“As I mentioned earlier, the inside is filled with poison qi. Please adjust your breathing with a circulation technique to block the poison qi from entering your body.”

“Got it.”

“Yes.”

“Young Master Mok…”

“You don’t need to worry about me.”

“… Alright. But unlike drinking a single cup, the poison qi completely fills the inside of the detached building, so if you find it difficult to endure, you must come out.”

“Yes.”

Jang Neung-ak raised the corner of his mouth and spoke to the responding Mok Gyeong-un.

“If you’re struggling, let me know. I’ll move you outside.”

He was being hospitable towards Mok Gyeong-un.

At this, Wi So-yeon was about to say that she would also help him, but she closed her mouth.

She didn’t want to argue with her second senior apprentice brother over such a thing.

“Then, please follow me, you three.”

-Creak!

As the door opened, the three of them followed Baek So-gang, the second son of the Baek family, inside.

Entering the separate residence, there was another entrance inside, and faint poisonous energy lingered around it like fog.

Charcoal-filled straw bags were hanging all over the walls.

“The straw bags contain charcoal and various medicinal ingredients that have detoxifying effects. If we don’t do this, the poisonous energy will leak out.”

Baek So-gang kindly explained this.

Then, pointing to the door that looked like a wall, he said,

“If you follow the corridor, you’ll find the family head in the central inner room. The poisonous energy grows thicker as you go, so please maintain your qi circulation.”

-Creak!

Baek So-gang opened the door.

Then, the front was obscured by a hazy purple fog, blocking the view.

Seeing this, Jang Neung-ak and Wi So-yeon’s eyes flickered with interest.

‘What in the world is he doing inside to…?’

‘The poisonous energy is tremendous.’

Although they had been warned in advance and knew about it, they had never expected the poisonous energy to be this dense inside.

Could they even have a proper conversation like this?

Even if they protected their body’s exterior and interior with qi circulation, if they breathed incorrectly while speaking, they would be too busy neutralizing the poisonous energy entering their lungs.

“Follow me.”

Baek So-gang took the lead and went inside.

Then, Jang Neung-ak and Wi So-yeon followed with somewhat tense expressions.

On the other hand, Mok Gyeong-un seemed indifferent.

-Hey, are you really okay? The poisonous energy seems too severe.

Cheongnyeong was so worried that he had to ask.

In response, Mok Gyeong-un shrugged his shoulders as if it was no big deal.

Poison had no meaning to him.

After all, the blood flowing through his veins was extremely poisonous in the first place.

-Thud, thud!

Following the long corridor, it didn’t take long before the place called the central inner room came into view.

However, it was blocked not by a wooden panel but by a stone that seemed to be made of a special material.

Seeing this, Jang Neung-ak looked at Baek So-gang with curious eyes.

Then, Baek So-gang answered,

“This place is a special training room built to withstand our family’s poison techniques.”

“Training room?”

“Yes. Once you reach the sixth level or higher of our family’s true supreme art, the Wave Demon Poison Scripture, you can even melt the surroundings with poisonous energy, so to endure this, you need stones of the same material as the spirit-restraining stone here.”

In other words, ordinary stones or wood-like materials would easily melt in the poison.

Indeed, the Baek family’s poison techniques went beyond the ordinary level.

‘Remarkable.’

It made sense why the Society Leader, his master, had said that in a certain sense, the Poison King Baek Sa-ha was more dangerous than the two Kings who received the title of the Eight Stars.

The poison of the Poison King Baek Sa-ha possessed the power to annihilate hundreds of martial artists in a short time.

No, it could be even more than that.

At that moment,

“Father, no, Family Head. I have brought Young Master Jang Neung-ak, Lady Wi So-yeon, and a disciple of Shadow Clan.”

Baek So-gang tapped on the wall that looked like a door and spoke.

Then, Jang Neung-ak and Wi So-yeon stared intently at the door.

They had to persuade him at this place and somehow gain his support no matter what.

This was their common thought.

While they were doing so, a voice was heard from inside.

“All three have entered?”

Although it was hoarse, the energy felt from the voice was tremendous.

Indeed, he was worthy of being one of the Five Kings, known as the top experts of the Heaven and Earth Society.

Then, Jang Neung-ak adjusted his breathing with qi circulation and opened his mouth.

“Venerable Poison King. I am Jang Neung-ak, the second disciple of the Society Leader. To congratulate your grandson’s first birthday and pay my respects…”

“Kekeke, it’s not to pay respects but because you’re more interested in the position of the successor, right?”

“Pardon?”

“You’re here because you need this old man’s support in the successor’s rivalry, aren’t you?”

‘!?’

Jang Neung-ak was momentarily at a loss for words at the voice that abruptly hit the nail on the head.

Although he had never had a conversation with him unlike the other Demon Kings, he hadn’t expected him to have such a straightforward way of speaking.

However, Jang Neung-ak was not one to be greatly flustered by this.

“Hohoho. As expected of you, Elder. Why bother with flowery words? You’re right.”

“It’s good that you’re honest.”

At the voice coming from inside, Wi So-yeon also hurriedly opened her mouth.

“Elder Baek Sa-ha. It’s me, Wi So-yeon. Do you remember me?”

“How could I forget?”

“I really wanted to see you, Elder.”

“Kekeke, you must have come for the same reason, so of course you did.”

“I won’t deny it.”

She also answered honestly.

Looking at the way Baek Sa-ha spoke now, it seemed that if she tried to say flattering words, she would only incur dislike.

“Elder…….”

As Wi So-yeon was about to say something,

Jang Neung-ak cut her off and spoke first.

“Elder. I’ll get straight to the point. Please help me.”

‘He’s making a move like this, I see.’

Wi So-yeon bit her lower lip and was about to raise her voice to intervene.

“Elder!”

“Enough!”

A short rebuke erupted from inside the door.

At the sound that rang in their ears, the two of them immediately closed their mouths.

Soon, Baek Sa-ha’s voice was heard again.

“You want to be the successor, but your words come before your actions.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You want to receive this old man’s support?”

Wasn’t that obvious?

That’s why they had come here using the birthday celebration as an excuse.

The two of them nodded and replied,

“I need your support, Elder.”

“That’s right.”

“Kekeke, if you want this old man’s recognition that badly, show your actions before your words.”

“………What do you mean by that?”

“It’s meaningless to tell this old man your story in detail. A martial artist proves themselves through strength. If you want to be the Society Leader, come inside and make this old man get up from his seat.”

At these words from Baek Sa-ha, Jang Neung-ak and Wi So-yeon’s expressions hardened.

Since they had already fulfilled the conditions for entering, they thought that from now on, it would be a matter of persuading him through conversation.

However, they hadn’t expected another test to be waiting for them.

They knew that Baek Sa-ha had an eccentric and stubborn personality, but this was unexpected.

‘Is he testing our martial arts?’

However, it seemed that he was looking down on them too much.

Although it was said that the Poison King Baek Sa-ha’s poison techniques were in a different league compared to others, they were disciples of the Society Leader who could be considered the supreme of the Heaven and Earth Society.

They were confident that their martial arts could not be ignored even by the executives.

‘Just making him stand up.’

It wasn’t that difficult either.

At this, Jang Neung-ak stepped forward and said,

“Then I will try first. Elder.”

“It doesn’t matter who goes first. As long as you can come inside and make this old man stand up, I’ll support that person as much as you want.”

At his words implying that he didn’t care, Jang Neung-ak raised the corner of his mouth wryly.

First of all, this place was filled with poisonous energy, so the longer one stayed, the greater the consumption of internal energy.

Therefore, if one were to step up, it was advantageous to go first.

‘…….That’s what he’ll think?’

Wi So-yeon inwardly sneered.

Her thoughts were different.

In any case, she was confident in her internal energy, so she was also confident that she could last longer than Jang Neung-ak inside, and if she stepped up as the latter, she could grasp how the Poison King responded, so she considered that to be more advantageous.

“Then I will enter. Elder.”

“Kekeke. Go ahead and try.”

Jang Neung-ak placed his palm on the door made of stone walls and pushed.

The door was thicker than he thought, requiring him to use strength.

-Rumble!

As the door opened, the inside gradually came into view.

It was at that very moment.

-Hwaaaaah!

As the door opened halfway,

-Thud!

“Ugh.”

Jang Neung-ak, who was pushing the door, knelt on one knee on the floor and clutched his chest.

‘What is this?’

His insides churned, and he tasted blood in his mouth.

Even though the poisonous energy filling the inside of the separate residence was already tremendously strong, the poisonous energy that was incomparably more severe made it difficult to breathe.

“Cough.”

Black blood flowed from Jang Neung-ak’s mouth.

However, he wasn’t the only one exposed to this poisonous energy.

-Bam!

Wi So-yeon also sat cross-legged and entered qi circulation due to the severe poisonous energy suddenly pushed out.

This was incomparable to the poisonous energy that filled the corridor of the separate residence.

The poisonous energy was so strong that her hands and feet were trembling.

‘Ah. In the end……’

Baek So-gang, the second son of Baek Sa-ha who had been watching this, clicked his tongue inwardly.

His father had no intention of supporting any of them from the beginning.

That’s why he had presented a task that they could never overcome.

‘Wave Demon Poison Scripture, Seventh Level.’

The poisonous energy currently spewing out from the inside was the wave poison fog that could only be emitted by reaching the seventh level of the Wave Demon Poison Scripture.

This wasn’t the kind of poisonous energy that even a top expert at the peak could withstand.

The only thing that could guard against this was learning the same Wave Demon Poison Scripture like himself and adapting to the poisonous energy.

However,

“It’s interesting. Releasing poison in the form of fog from the body. Is this what poison arts are?”

‘!?’

At the voice he heard, Baek So-gang’s eyes widened.

There was one person he had forgotten about while observing these two.

It was none other than Mok Gyeong-un, the disciple of the Shadow Clan Master.

‘How can this be?’

For a moment, Baek So-gang doubted his own eyes.

No matter how proficient he was in poisons, he thought Mok Gyeong-un wouldn’t be able to endure it this time.

But Mok Gyeong-un was standing there, looking perfectly fine.

“Young Master Mok? How…”

At that moment, Baek Sa-ha’s voice came from inside the room filled with thick purple fog.

“… what the .... are you?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“How can you endure this poison qi?”

-Sizzle!

Soon, the fog obscuring the front dispersed, revealing the purple face of an old man sitting cross-legged on the floor, extending sharp fingernails.

He was none other than the Annihilating Poison King, Baek Sa-ha.

Baek Sa-ha had a gaze of utter incomprehension.

He had never expected to see someone standing so unaffected in the poison qi that even the Society Leader’s two disciples couldn’t endure.

Moreover,

‘That child… Isn’t he not even circulating his energy right now?’

If he had been circulating his energy, he would have sensed it from the beginning.

Yet, to endure like that in this place filled with poison qi without protecting his body with energy circulation?

If that was the case, it meant he had resistance to poison, but…

“… Don’t tell me you’ve cultivated poison arts?”

At his question, Mok Gyeong-un shook his head and replied,

“Ah, no, it’s not like that.”

“You say it’s not? Then how can you endure this deadly poison qi?”

At Baek Sa-ha’s question, Mok Gyeong-un tilted his head with an incomprehensible expression.

Then,

“Deadly? This?”

‘!?’