Chapter 331: Did You Dig Up the Poisonous Herbs?
Chapter 331: Did You Dig Up the Poisonous Herbs?
A swirling palm force slammed into the upright great blade.
Despite the explosive roar and the sheer weight of the impact, the blade did not break.
"Do not be afraid! The moment you feel fear, you die!"
The one shouting was the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. The one bracing the great blade like a shield to block the palm force was Seo Dae-ryong. The weapon he held was the very gift the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had given him—the same great blade his master had wielded in his youth.
"Now, here I come again!"
An even more devastating palm force erupted from the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s hand.
Seo Dae-ryong flooded the blade with his internal energy and braced himself once more.
Boom!
The force was greater than before, but he held his ground.
Behind the steel, Seo Dae-ryong was trembling. This single attack felt like it would tear the arms from his sockets. He feared that if an even stronger strike came, he might actually die. Is Master overestimating me? Should I tell him right now that I can't take any more?
Just then, the characters engraved on the blade caught his eye.
Peerless (無雙).
These were the characters the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had carved during his own youth. In that moment, Dae-ryong felt the mindset his master had held while training all those years ago. The indomitable will to never lose to anyone was etched into those two characters.
Right, I’ll endure! Even if my arms shatter, I’ll hold on!
The moment he gritted his teeth and channeled his energy, an even more powerful palm force shrieked toward him.
Swoooooosh!
The ruthless force struck with overwhelming might, colliding with Seo Dae-ryong’s resolve.
A moment later.
Tap, tap.
At the sound of someone tapping on the blade, Seo Dae-ryong snapped back to his senses and looked up. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon was standing beside the weapon, watching him. Did I lose consciousness while standing?
"Are you alive?"
"I... I believe so."
Seo Dae-ryong’s face was deathly pale, and his arms shook uncontrollably.
"Did I... did I block it?"
"Yes."
Overjoyed, he tried to throw his hands up in celebration but ended up screaming in agony. His arms, and indeed his entire body, ached so fiercely he could barely move. It felt as though the pain itself might kill him.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon pressed down on the handle of the blade that had been shielding his disciple. With a heavy thud, the great blade sank into the ground.
He leaned Seo Dae-ryong against the blade and injected internal energy into his chest to stabilize his injuries. If the young man had tried to block one more time, he truly would have died.
"Were you afraid the blade would break?"
"Yes," Seo Dae-ryong answered honestly.
"It is only natural to be afraid. However, you must have faith. You must believe that your blade can block any attack. The Heaven Extermination Demonic Blade Form is a martial art that begins and ends with that faith."
"I will keep that in mind, Master."
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon pulled a pill from his robes and held it out.
"Take this."
"What is it?"
"A Demon Essence Pill."
Seo Dae-ryong gasped. The Demon Essence Pill was one of the signature elixirs of the Demonic Cult. It was the very same treasure Geom Mu-geuk had obtained from the Small Heaven Cave.
"I asked the Cult Leader specifically to obtain one for you."
"Something so precious! I cannot possibly accept this."
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon glared at him, his voice turning cold.
"Is my top disciple not precious, then?"
Seo Dae-ryong flinched.
"No, that's not it!"
"Then take it."
Startled and flustered, Seo Dae-ryong could no longer refuse. He swallowed the Demon Essence Pill and immediately began operating his mental method to dissolve the medicinal effects.
The energy of the Demon Essence Pill surged through his blood vessels, transforming into a massive tide of internal energy that settled into his dantian.
When Seo Dae-ryong slowly opened his eyes, his gaze had deepened. A profound internal energy, incomparable to anything he had felt before, surged within him. He was so moved he wondered if he was dreaming. He had never imagined he would consume an elixir as legendary as the Demon Essence Pill in his entire life.
Seo Dae-ryong stood up and performed a deep, formal bow to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
"I will never forget the grace you have shown me until the day I die."
His master had given him the blade of his youth, and now a Demon Essence Pill. He was truly being treated as the successor. This was the result of that night he had drunkenly clung to his master's pant legs at the Pungryu Tavern. He vowed never to let go of that hand.
"You need at least this much internal energy to handle the later forms of the Heaven Extermination Demonic Blade Form. The training ahead will be much harder."
"I will surely succeed."
Knowing his disciple was someone who worked tirelessly—even cutting back on his sleep and his duties as the Huangquan Pavilion Master—the Blood Heaven Blade Demon nodded with pride. Once he crossed this hurdle, Seo Dae-ryong would truly enter the ranks of the absolute masters.
The two of them left the training ground.
As they walked side by side with their great blades strapped to their backs, they exuded an overwhelming aura.
"Is there still no word from the Young Cult Leader?"
"I received word that he is on his way back, but I don't know exactly when he will arrive."
Seo Dae-ryong missed Geom Mu-geuk dearly. He missed him so much that the Young Cult Leader had even appeared in his dreams a few days ago. He wanted to meet him quickly and brag about his master granting him the Demon Essence Pill.
Just then, a Blade Ghost from the Southern Blade Sect arrived and reported to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
"The Young Cult Leader has arrived."
Seo Dae-ryong’s expression brightened instantly.
"Go on," his master said.
"Yes, Master!"
Wanting to see his friend's face even before he entered the Heavenly Demon Hall, Seo Dae-ryong dashed off like the wind.
In his haste, he failed to notice that a look of welcome, no less than his own, had blossomed on the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s face as well.
Right now, his only thought was to see Geom Mu-geuk.
*
"Why this sudden late-blooming passion?"
In response to the Drunken Demon’s question, the One Flower Sword Venerable emptied her cup instead of answering.
"It’s good to drink after a long time," she remarked.
The two were drinking at the Drunken Dream Pavilion in the Great Drunken Forest.
"I’m asking about the martial arts training. Is the Murim Alliance invading? Or do you have some swordsman you’re trying to impress?"
Even without the rumors that the One Flower Sword Venerable had become obsessed with her training, it was evident from her appearance—something that would have been unimaginable in the past.
She sat before the Drunken Demon without a speck of makeup. Instead of her usual pristine white martial robes, she wore grey ones stained with dirt. She had come here straight from the training grounds.
"I am a Sword Venerable by title; I should see my path through to the end with the sword."
"But why? Why all of a sudden?"
The One Flower Sword Venerable poured more wine.
"What’s the big deal about a martial artist practicing their craft?"
The words 'Because I was ashamed' rose to her throat, but she couldn't bring herself to say them. The Drunken Demon would pry into every little detail, and she wasn't ready to give him that answer.
She was ashamed of the incident involving Sa U-jong, and she was ashamed of how much she had obsessed over her appearance. Looking back, her past conflicts with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon felt the same—petty and hollow.
"Still, it’s good to see," the Drunken Demon commented, his voice softening.
"I heard you’ve been cutting back on the booze and training lately, too?"
The Drunken Demon was no longer just a common drunkard. The look in his eyes, now that he had started controlling his drinking, was sharper. He wasn't the type to just sit around drinking alone while everyone else was evolving.
"This is all because of the Young Cult Leader."
The One Flower Sword Venerable smiled faintly. It was true. The reason she and the other Demon Lords had changed was because of him.
"He should be arriving soon, right?"
"He’ll be here when he gets here."
The One Flower Sword Venerable could guess why the Drunken Demon was being cranky.
When Geom Mu-geuk left the Cult this time, he had taken the Demon Buddha with him. The Drunken Demon had likely hoped, deep down, that he would be asked to go along. After all, the Demon Buddha was someone who used to support the First Young Master. She could see the disappointment dripping into his wine cup. He was someone who talked a lot of nonsense when drunk, but he wasn't usually one to show his emotions so openly.
Young Cult Leader, it really is because of you.
The One Flower Sword Venerable emptied her last cup and stood up.
"Why? Leaving already?"
"I have to train."
"No! You haven't visited in ages, stay and play a bit longer."
"Next time. Today’s training is important."
At those words, the Drunken Demon emptied another cup.
"The Young Cult Leader abandoned me, and now my friend is abandoning me too. Fine, my only friend is the bottle."
The One Flower Sword Venerable looked toward Yeo-bin, one of the Three Drunken Guests, who was walking toward them.
"Is that really so?"
The Drunken Demon knew what she meant, but he didn't look away from his cup.
Yeo-bin approached them and reported politely.
"The Young Cult Leader has returned."
The Drunken Demon bolted upright.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"My younger brother has returned from the Outer Regions; I have to go see him."
To the One Flower Sword Venerable, those words sounded like: 'I'm going to see how well he did without me!'
"Don't go over there and act like a drunk!"
"I'm not a child. Why would I act like a drunk there?"
The Drunken Demon leaped into the air, crossing the lake with an elegant water-walking technique.
Right, everyone else has taken turns leaving the Cult with Geom Mu-geuk. Even though they called each other brothers, the Drunken Demon hadn't been out once, so it was understandable he felt slighted.
The One Flower Sword Venerable boarded a ferry with Yeo-bin.
"He’s a handful, isn't he?"
Knowing she was talking about the Drunken Demon, Yeo-bin, who was rowing, gave a faint smile.
The One Flower Sword Venerable usually didn't say much to her, but today there was something she wanted to say—as a fellow woman, and out of her affection for the Drunken Demon.
"I regret the person I was in the past. I hope you don't end up the same."
Though much was left unsaid, Yeo-bin understood perfectly.
The boat carrying the One Flower Sword Venerable quietly crossed the misty lake.
*
Poisonous mist rose from various parts of the Thousand Poison Forest.
Today was the day for the special training of the Thousand Poison Gate's poison humans. Most of those participating wore between one and three poison pouches at their waists.
Due to the nature of poison arts, training that involved spraying toxins outdoors was rare and dangerous. There was nothing more lethal than a poison human with mediocre skills. Therefore, when they did train, it was under the strict control of their seniors.
When they administered poison, seniors with at least five poison pouches would immediately neutralize it. If the poison mist were to be carried outside by the wind, it would be a catastrophe. Neutralizing poison was always more difficult than administering it.
A short distance away, others were practicing a survival drill: entering a poisoned area, mixing various herbs to create an antidote, and escaping. It was a perilous exercise where a moment's delay could cost a life. This area was directly supervised by seniors with seven or more poison pouches.
In another area, training in throwing poison-coated hidden weapons was in full swing. Until one could use poison freely, mastering hidden weapons was a must. The senior instructing them was explaining the most common cause of death for their kind: being killed by their own poison.
Once the round of training ended, all the poison humans gathered.
The Poison King stepped forward.
"In actual combat, martial artists react in one of two ways when facing us: they either flee without looking back, or they charge at us ferociously. Their only thought is to kill us before we can spray our poison. Because they attack while holding their breath, most of us get taken down before we can even properly use our toxins. At best, it ends in mutual destruction."
Standing before his subordinates, the Poison King was completely different from his usual self. In this moment, he had stepped out of his own world to lead.
The fledglings didn't quite realize the significance of the twelve poison pouches at his waist. As the number of pouches they earned increased, so too would their respect for him.
"The most important martial art for a poison human is neither poisoning techniques nor hidden weapons. It is footwork and lightness skills. If they chase you, you must be able to flee while administering poison; if they flee, you must be able to pursue them even faster. You must evade an opponent who is swinging a sword while holding their breath. Your lives depend on that battle of time. Do you understand?"
A thunderous response erupted.
"Now, begin the training."
The senior poison humans stepped forward to begin the footwork drills. The Poison King stood silently, watching.
Just then, Sangseon arrived and reported.
"The Young Cult Leader has retur—"
Before he could even finish his sentence, the Poison King was gone. It was the moment everyone got to see exactly what the Poison King’s lightness skill was truly like.
*
I stood in place and took a deep breath.
The Main Cult has a unique scent. When I smell it after returning from a long trip, a sense of relief washes over me, telling me I’m finally home.
The first person to greet us was Seo Dae-ryong.
"Young Cult Leader!"
If it had been just the two of us, he probably would have rushed over and hugged me recklessly. Instead, he approached with a dignified expression and bowed.
"Have you returned safely?"
"Have you been well, Pavilion Master?"
His true feelings came through via Voice Transmission.
— I missed you! Please take me with you next time!
— And who would guard the Huangquan Pavilion?
— It runs just fine without me! I’m definitely coming along! I’m telling you right now!
— Sure, let's go. You can cross a room filled with Blood Poison Pythons and thousands of venomous snakes, and pass through a place where a giant evil ghost tries to stomp you into paste. You should also enjoy the tension of your own shadow jumping up to kill you.
— ...
— ...
— On second thought, I should probably guard the Huangquan Pavilion. I don't know what's wrong with the organization, but it just doesn't function without me.
How could I not know? He desperately wanted to go out with me. He missed the time we went to the Young Dragon Tournament together. So, hurry up and get stronger, my right hand!
If Seo Dae-ryong was the first to welcome me, the first to welcome the Demon Buddha was the Poison King.
He landed in front of us, having rushed there like the wind. He hurriedly asked the Demon Buddha, "My herbs! Did you dig up the poisonous herbs?"
I stepped in front of the Poison King and said, "I'm back. I safely returned from the Outer Regions where my life was on the line!"
The Poison King pushed me aside and looked only at the Demon Buddha.
The Demon Buddha’s eyes sparkled as he faced him. Hadn't he gone through all that trouble just for this moment?
"They are here."
The Demon Buddha set down the box he had been carrying. The Poison King crouched in front of it, and Seo Dae-ryong and I crouched down beside him to watch.
As he slowly opened the box, rows of poisonous herbs were revealed.
"Oh! You dug up this many? Cold Poison Herb and even Yeongbul Herb! This Small Poisonous Herb is incredibly difficult to find. Thank you. Truly, thank you."
The Poison King was overjoyed. It wasn't an act; he was genuinely, sincerely happy to have obtained the herbs. This was why the Demon Buddha couldn't possibly have been lax in his herb-gathering.
"You truly have a heaven-sent talent," the Poison King praised.
"I was just lucky."
Only then did the Poison King glance at me.
"And what did you dig up?"
With that look in his eyes that said he expected absolutely nothing, I wished I could have said I dug up even more. Instead, I pointed to one of the herbs the Poison King was holding.
"When we were digging that one up, I was the one who suggested we search that particular mountain. If it weren't for me..."
The Poison King didn't even listen to my pathetic excuse. He hurriedly packed up the box and said to the Demon Buddha, "Come over for dinner later!"
"I shall."
The gazes of the Poison King and the Demon Buddha locked in mid-air. I shouted between them.
"I'm coming too!"
But the Poison King left without even giving me an answer.
Looking at the Poison King’s retreating back, the exhaustion from the Demon Buddha’s labors seemed to vanish.
"I knew this would happen. I told you to just give him one root. How heartless of you, Demon Buddha!"
Just then, someone spoke from behind.
"Then next time, try going out with someone affectionate."
I turned around to see the Drunken Demon walking toward us.
The Demon Buddha looked at me with a meaningful glint in his eyes.
"Now it's your turn to take the credit."