Chapter 439: Could Even Father Be a Gatherer?
Chapter 439: Could Even Father Be a Gatherer?
Father was here?
The Poison King played the most vital role in Father’s plan for the Unification of the Murim. It seemed Father had come to meet him one step ahead of me.
Despite that, I felt a pleasant sense of tension rather than worry.
It felt different from before. If he had been testing me until now, I could feel that this time, he intended to truly compete with me. It was a sign that he finally acknowledged me as a worthy rival.
In that case, I should enjoy this contest.
This entire process was a memory with my father and a part of my life. As I always reminded myself, I will not live a life solely for the sake of revenge. One such life was enough. In this life, I will enjoy myself—even this competition with Father.
I spoke loudly so my voice would carry inside the building.
“Father, your son is here! Please allow me to enter as well.”
Sangseon looked flustered. I was likely the only person in the world who would shout like that at the Heavenly Demon. The Young Cult Leader truly is irrepressible—as I watched that expression cross Sangseon’s face, Father’s voice drifted out from within.
“Come in.”
It was a strange situation.
Normally, the Poison King should have been the one to speak. He should have said, ‘Bring the Young Cult Leader inside,’ on Father’s behalf. Yet Father himself had told me to enter.
When I opened the door and stepped inside, an unexpected sight unfolded before me. Looking at it, I understood why Father had answered instead of the Poison King.
The Poison King was brewing poison, and Father was assisting him. It was a scene I truly hadn't imagined; I could only watch blankly.
In front of the Poison King sat the vat he used for brewing. Floating around it were a dozen or so bottles.
The person keeping those bottles suspended in the air was Father. He was assisting in the poison’s creation from a distance, standing well outside the poison’s range of effect using Telekinesis. He was as far away as I was, standing at the entrance.
“Black! A little more!”
Trickle.
“Green, stop!”
Following the commands, liquid poured from a bottle labeled with black paper, while the one with green paper ceased its flow.
“Now, pour Blue, Red, and Purple simultaneously.”
At that, the blue, red, and purple bottles floating in the air tilted at once, pouring their contents.
Sssssss!
Acrid smoke rose from the blended poisonous liquid.
Even as he spoke, the Poison King’s hands moved busily. Amidst the rising toxic mist, he stirred the liquid with a wooden rod, adding other substances.
It was truly a spectacle. To a casual observer, it might look like nothing special, but both Father and the Poison King were exerting the highest levels of secret technique and concentration.
“Blue, pause! Brown instead.”
Again, per the Poison King’s order, the blue bottle stopped and the brown one moved.
The level of precision and accuracy with which Father manipulated the objects through Telekinesis was staggering. It felt as if he had breathed life and will into the bottles.
The Poison King watched the falling liquid intently, mixing in powders to match the flow.
Only the Poison King could withstand the toxins generated during this process. That was why he usually performed this task alone.
Pouring this, mixing that. Just as the dangerous and complex process reached its peak—
“Stop everything!”
At the Poison King’s shout, the bottles floating in the air halted instantly.
A single drop that shouldn't have gone in splashed and began to fall toward the vat.
In the next instant, that single drop stopped in mid-air.
Father had caught it with Telekinesis.
Silence fell.
As that single drop of liquid hung in the air, it felt as if time itself had stopped. Then, it flew through the air and returned to its original bottle.
Only then was the Poison King’s brewing complete.
The Poison King’s face was flushed. He hadn't even realized I had entered; his focus had been entirely on the poison.
Rather than the fact that he was brewing poison with the Heavenly Demon, his desire to complete the concoction had taken priority. I knew well that he never had any intention of working with the Cult Leader out of mere ‘politeness.’
The Poison King took out the blended poison, smelled it, and performed several tests.
Was the Poison King currently in his own world, or was he in reality? I could usually guess where he stood, but now, I found myself unsure.
After finishing several checks, the Poison King’s expression brightened significantly, and he spoke with a face full of joy.
“It’s a success.”
The Poison King was truly, sincerely happy.
“It was blended perfectly this time. I kept failing on my own, but thanks to your help, Cult Leader, I succeeded.”
I believe this is the Poison King’s greatest strength. For the sake of his poisons, he readily accepts help from others—whether it was asking the Demon Buddha to gather herbs or receiving Father’s help today.
Someone who easily gets lost in their own world might let petty pride or stubbornness get in the way. Surprisingly, he lacked such an ego.
That is why I find the Poison King terrifying. Because he is a man who cannot be easily defined.
“Oh? When did you get here?”
The Poison King finally noticed me. He wasn't pretending; he had truly been focused on the poison to a frightening degree.
“I arrived a while ago.”
“I succeeded in brewing the Ten Thousand Deaths Absolute Poison.”
“Congratulations.”
The Ten Thousand Deaths Absolute Poison was a new poison created by the Poison King, one he had failed to brew dozens of times before. Although Sangseon had helped him previously, the blending process was so delicate and difficult that success had eluded him—until he achieved it today with Father.
“What a shame! I should have been the one to help you succeed.”
“Then I would have failed again today.”
That was the Poison King’s way of thanking Father.
I belatedly offered my greetings to Father.
“My greetings are late, as you seemed to be occupied with something important.”
I mustn't forget. Father was the one who allowed me to enter. He wanted to show me the sight of him blending poison with the Poison King.
“I didn't know you were here.”
“I was just passing by.”
Father, do you realize that every time you ‘pass by,’ everyone’s fate changes drastically? Please, whatever you do, don't say you're planning to ‘pass by’ the Murim Alliance!
I imagined a scene of Father and me standing on a massive Go board. In this match involving the Poison King, the move Father had just played was the ‘Poison Brewing Move.’
What kind of conversation had Father and the Poison King shared before I arrived? Had he asked him to look after me again? Or had he intended to firmly cement the Poison King as his man?
“I have returned safely from the North Sea.”
“Is that so?”
Even at my greeting, the Poison King answered distractedly. He was staring at his completed poison with wonder, intoxicated by it. He only answered and asked questions because Father was present.
“Did you find the poisonous herbs that only grow in the North Sea?”
“Well, I tried, but...”
I had actually looked for poisonous herbs whenever I had a spare moment on the way back. However, I hadn't found any worth bringing as a gift.
“It seems the herbs are too shy to show themselves when they see me. It’s all Father’s fault. I’m too handsome because I take after you.”
A smirk played on Father’s lips. Seeing that familiar derisive smile made me feel good. Father, please smile like that more often. For now, keep throwing tests at me rather than a final showdown.
“Father, next time, let’s go herb gathering with the Poison King. Surely he won't be able to use even you as a gatherer.”
I said it as a joke, intending to follow up with how I’d used a bet to turn the Demon Buddha into a gatherer, but Father asked the Poison King an unexpected question.
“When was it?”
At the sudden question, the Poison King thought back for a moment.
“It was four years and seven months ago.”
“Has it been that long already?”
I looked back and forth between the two of them, a sense of dread rising.
“Surely... that four years and seven months ago wasn't the day you two went herb gathering together?”
I could tell by the expressions they exchanged. My dread was reality.
Father often surprises me, but this time, I was truly shocked. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't easily picture Father and the Poison King gathering herbs together.
Furthermore, the Poison King remembered the exact date of that last time. It meant it was a precious moment for him as well. It was also a moment that made me realize making the Poison King my ally would be anything but easy.
Suddenly, the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon’s words came to mind.
— It will likely be just as difficult to persuade the Cult Leader.
Somehow, I think it’ll be even harder for me.
Then, Father bid his farewell.
“I shall take my leave now.”
The Poison King bowed respectfully. He didn't repeat his thanks for the help with the poison. However, I had a feeling that if Father ever asked, ‘When was that?’ the Poison King would remember this moment today and answer with precision.
Before leaving, Father looked at me. His gaze seemed to say:
My move is over. Now it is your turn.
I could feel Father’s confidence. In Father’s way—devoid of interference or coercion—I realized once again that true composure comes from strength.
As soon as Father left the residence, I asked the Poison King.
“Did you ask him to help with the poison first? Is that why Father came?”
“I wouldn't dare. I was about to brew the poison when the Cult Leader arrived unannounced. I was going to postpone it, but he said he would help.”
He wouldn't have exerted that kind of concentration from the very beginning of the preparation. They must have shared various conversations during the setup.
“May I ask what you and Father talked about today?”
Then, a surprising answer came.
“We didn't say a word.”
“You mean he didn't say a single thing?”
The Poison King nodded. He had come, helped brew the poison, and left just like that.
I could feel that this was a more powerful blow than if he had persuaded the Poison King with all sorts of words.
You just do that and leave? How am I supposed to win?
Trying to tell the Poison King something contrary to Father’s wishes now would only backfire. My hundred words of flattery couldn't beat Father’s heavy, silent blow of helping with the poison without a single word.
“I’ll be going as well today. I’m in the middle of a strategic retreat.”
Still, I couldn't just leave, so I let it slip that my reason for coming today wasn't just to say hello. It must have sounded a bit random, but the Poison King didn't ask what I meant. Father coming, then me coming—he must have sensed that something was definitely happening.
For some reason, the Poison King stopped me.
“Since you’re here, help me with some work before you go.”
“Just say the word.”
“Let’s bottle this poison first.”
The Poison King brought a box. It contained a dozen or so bottles, and the box was structured to keep them from breaking. These specially made bottles were designed to be perfectly sealed so that no poison could leak out.
“I’ll do it. You rest.”
The Poison King sat on a desk a short distance away and watched me silently.
I divided the Ten Thousand Deaths Absolute Poison into the bottles. It filled exactly ten bottles. It was clear he had intended to brew exactly one box’s worth from the start. If the brewing hadn't been successful, it would have been too little or too much.
How many people could be killed with this poison? Hundreds? Thousands?
“Take that and follow me.”
I put the bottles back into the box. Carrying the box, I followed the Poison King.
The Poison King headed deep into the Thousand Poison Forest. I had searched for poisonous herbs with him here before, but the place he took me today was somewhere I had never been.
The Poison King forged a path where none existed, heading deep into the woods.
There was a place like this in the Thousand Poison Forest?
As if entering a new sector within the forest, there were all sorts of venomous creatures with toxins more potent and dangerous than those outside. Furthermore, the area we were walking through was a swampland. It wasn't an ordinary swamp; it was a swamp of death that no one could ever escape from if they fell in.
Even the mist sprayed over the swamp like a cloud was laced with poison. Truly, this place needed no guards or formations. It was a place where no one could enter unless they were Immune to All Poisons or the Poison King himself.
I crossed the swamp by stepping on the same stones and branches the Poison King used.
Sssssss!
Strange sounds echoed from all directions. As we walked, the Poison King would occasionally stop to check on the condition of the venomous creatures. With a boyish face, he explained to me what kind of creature it was and its current state. He could see things an ordinary person couldn't—like how one was angry because it couldn't find a mate, or how another was sick.
Past the swamp, there was a cave.
The cave was also filled with venomous creatures. If not for the two of us, even an average master wouldn't have been able to take a single step into this cave. At the end of the cave was a heavy iron door. When the Poison King unlocked it and entered, it revealed a massive warehouse.
The moment I stepped inside, I was overwhelmed by the sight.
The vast space was filled with bottles. There were hundreds of display stands, each lined with bottles. I knew instantly. Everything in these bottles was poison. It was a staggering amount, numbering in the thousands.
“All of the Cult’s poisons are stored here.”
This was the secret warehouse where the extreme poisons of the Thousand Poison Forest were kept. These were the poisons that would be unleashed upon the world if war broke out.
Why had the Poison King brought me here?
“Put the poison you brought at the end over there.”
I placed the Ten Thousand Deaths Absolute Poison in a row where the Poison King pointed. The Poison King wrote the name of the poison on the bottles. The bottles standing next to them also had their respective names written on them.
Serpent Poison, Madness Poison, Blood Poison, Gut-Wrenching Poison, Slashing Poison, Soul Severing Poison, Extinction Poison, Yin-Yang Poison, Shadowless Poison, Corpse Poison, Gu Poison, Soul-Losing Poison...
There were all sorts of poisons, too many to count. Every terrifying poison that existed in the world was here.
Strangely, the arrangement of the poisons was completely different from what I had expected. I thought the more powerful poisons would be deeper inside, but bottles of Formless Poison were displayed right next to the entrance. It was an arrangement that felt as if the more powerful they were, the more quickly they should be taken out and used.
“What happens if all the poisons here are released into the world?”
The Poison King answered from behind me.
“Everyone will die.”
It was an answer that wasn't a mere exaggeration.
I was curious about the Poison King’s thoughts. So, before weighing whether he was on Father’s side or mine, I asked this first. It was the first time I had asked him this since meeting him.
“Poison King, why do you make poisons?”