Gujijayeop Herb
An Jaeseong, known online as Bangbaedong Gourmet, forced his wavering vision to focus and typed a post on the Gold Lounge.
Username: [BangbaedongGourmet(SS)]
Title: I need help… Something’s wrong with me.
Content: This is Bangbaedong Gourmet… I’m in Shanghai right now… at the Asia Master Chef Cooking Competition… about to enter the finals… but my body… feels strange…
I can’t… breathe properly… haa… my vision is blurring… I’m dizzy… and it feels like something is circling above my head… My body feels like it’s floating… things in front of me keep moving closer and farther away…
At first I thought it was poison… but this feels more like… hallucinations… like I’ve been drugged…
I have to compete in the finals… but in this state… I don’t think I can stay sane… If anyone knows a way to ease this even temporarily… (continued)…
This was China, far from any familiar support.
The only place An Jaeseong could rely on right now was the Superhuman Net’s Gold Lounge.
“It’s not poison… which makes it trickier.”
If it had been poison, the odds of this happening would have been far lower.
An Jaeseong was level 70.
His poison resistance was quite high.
Ordinary toxins had no effect on him.
Even a powerful poison capable of affecting him would have been noticed the moment it touched his tongue.
But this…
“This is a hallucinogenic… drug.”
And an extremely potent one, strong enough to work on a high-level superhuman.
The kind people called narcotics.
How had they even obtained something like this?
He had never heard of a drug that could affect someone of An Jaeseong’s level.
Yet the truth was undeniable: he was intoxicated.
In this disoriented state, he could never properly compete in the finals.
It probably wouldn’t threaten his life, but the malicious intent to sabotage his performance was unmistakable.
An Jaeseong’s post quickly drew attention.
Yet no superhuman offered a solution.
Everyone stomped their feet in frustration.
Then someone mentioned Madoje.
In an instant, superhumans flooded the comments under Madoje’s old post.
They explained An Jaeseong’s current situation.
Dozens of comments appeared within moments.
“Ah.”
Eventually, the superhumans’ efforts reached Seojun.
“Hah, they’re pulling dirty tricks like this in a cooking competition?”
It was no different from match-fixing—maybe even worse.
Seojun clicked his tongue at the sheer malice.
“Could Popo’s bodily fluid cure this?”
It somehow felt like it might work.
Seojun stroked his chin, then looked at the leaf of Gujijayeop Herb in his hand.
◈ A great aura resides within.
◈ Upon consumption, Detoxification Power and Physical Recovery Rate surge explosively for 60 minutes.
◈ Permanently increases detoxification and recovery slightly afterward.
◈ Slightly accelerates toxin removal from the body.
◈ Continuous use leads to Mandokbulchim (Immunity to All Poisons).
“Maybe the Gujijayeop Herb would work too?”
A powerful intuition told him it would.
He immediately initiated a trade with Bangbaedong Gourmet.
But an unexpected obstacle appeared.
Bangbaedong Gourmet had to accept the trade before Seojun could send the item.
Would he even be able to accept it while suffering hallucinations?
“……”
His fear became reality.
The trade was not accepted.
Without acceptance, Seojun had no way to help Bangbaedong Gourmet.
“Please accept it, Bangmi.”
Seojun refused to give up and sent another trade request.
The second attempt also failed.
“Bangmi!”
After countless attempts, calling Bangbaedong Gourmet’s name in his heart each time—
The other party has accepted the trade.
“……!”
It worked!
A short while earlier.
When Dania hatched from her egg, the five-colored radiance that spread from her body had reached beyond the lair.
『This is… this is…』
『Ah… ah!』
『The blessing… of a great being…』
『The land… is becoming… even more fertile…』
『We offer… our reverence… to the great being…』
The five-colored light further invigorated the earth where the Elatria had taken root.
It even performed a miracle, instantly restoring the vitality of withered, aging Elatria.
『Ah… ah…』
Among them was the oldest Elatria, a withered ancient tree that had been waiting only for death.
『The great elder… has regained… his strength…』
『Ah… ah… what a… wondrous miracle…』
『We offer… our worship… to the great being…』
『Great elder… it has been… a long time…』
The Elatria all shook their branches at once.
A green wave spread like a tide across all of Elatrium.
『A clear… mind… it has been… so long…』
The oldest and most frail Elatria.
Yet his voice carried a firmer strength than any other.
『We have received… a great… kindness… from the great being… We must… repay… the favor…』
With those words, green light gathered before him.
Fwoooosh—!
It became a seed the size of a human fist.
Compared to the Elatria’s massive bodies, it was tiny.
Yet the mystical and vivid life force within it was so dense that it overwhelmed the energy of every Elatria present.
『This is… this is…』
『Ah… ah…! The Mother’s… seed…!』
The Elatria cried out in astonishment.
This was none other than the great seed forgotten since ancient times.
Personal trade completed.
“Ah…”
An Jaeseong, still half-dazed, somehow managed to accept the trade Madoje had sent.
“What… is this…?”
Through his shaking vision, he saw a leaf mixing pale green and brown.
A medicinal herb with nine leaves in total.
A faint yet fresh green-tea aroma reached him.
A natural bitterness mingled with a refreshing scent that purified the surrounding air, deeply permeating his nose.
“Ah!”
In that instant, An Jaeseong’s mind cleared slightly.
He still felt dreamy, as if floating on clouds, but his thoughts were far sharper than before.
“This… is…”
An Jaeseong stared intently at the herb in his hand.
Gujijayeop Herb, Lv ???
A familiar name.
One of the countless spirit herbs stored in his memory surfaced.
“A legendary… antidote!”
Focus returned to An Jaeseong’s eyes.
Madoje had sent him this precious spirit herb.
He must have seen the post and responded.
An Jaeseong’s body trembled violently with overwhelming emotion.
Gujijayeop Herb.
He didn’t know the details, but he knew it was an extremely expensive spirit herb.
Yet Madoje had sent it without hesitation after hearing his situation.
“Aah… Madoje… Just what kind of person are you…”
Tears welled in his eyes as he felt Madoje’s kindness.
“Thank you.”
Choked with emotion, he immediately bit into a leaf of the Gujijayeop Herb.
Crunch!
The moment it entered his mouth, it felt crisp, like dry bark.
But as it touched his tongue, it absorbed moisture and softened.
Shhh—
A slight bitterness spread across his tongue.
Then a faint grassy aroma followed, leaving a rich aftertaste.
It was like chewing green tea leaves—calm and deep.
The bitterness was not overwhelming; it settled gently, leaving an exceptionally clean finish in his mouth.
“Ah!”
A refreshing sensation traveled down his throat, followed by a subtle sweetness that spread throughout.
At the same time, the haze clouding his mind rapidly faded.
Crunch!
Crunch, crunch!
With every leaf that disappeared into his mouth, his mind grew clearer.
It felt as though clouds had parted to reveal a bright sky.
The dizziness subsided, and his blurred vision sharpened completely.
Objects that had wavered between near and far settled into place, restoring stability.
The world before him grew clear, as if seen through a dust-free window.
“Huuu.”
With his exhale, the floating sensation that had weighed on his body slowly sank away.
“It worked.”
The Gujijayeop Herb’s effect was tremendous.
It had instantly detoxified every trace of the drug.
“It really worked.”
Clench.
An Jaeseong tightly clenched both fists, overcome with emotion.
The feeling of crawling out of the pit of despair was beyond words.
Knock, knock.
“Chef An Jaeseong. The finals are about to begin.”
A voice came from outside.
Bang!
He flung the door open and stepped out.
The Chinese guide stood there.
Startled!
The man flinched upon seeing An Jaeseong perfectly fine.
An Jaeseong noted the reaction and thought to himself.
“So it wasn’t just that one chef acting alone.”
A foul stench seemed to permeate the entire competition venue.
“I won’t let this slide.”
A sharp glint flashed in An Jaeseong’s eyes.
But first—
“Please guide me.”
He would show them by proudly lifting the championship trophy despite their scheme.
An Jaeseong’s steps, filled with quiet fury, began moving toward the finals stage.
At that same moment.
“Chuchu!”
“Huh? What’s this now?”
Seojun blinked at the fist-sized seed Chuchu had pulled from his belly pouch.
“Chuchu! Chuchu-chu!”
Chuchu gestured animatedly while explaining.
“The Elatria outside… gave it to you?”
“Chu!!”
“Oh. Really?”
Seojun accepted the seed with curiosity.
At first glance, it looked like an ordinary seed with a dark brown shell.
But the moment he held it—
Thump—!
He felt the tremendous life force surging within.
“……!”
Seojun stared at the seed in shock.
Elixir Master (SSS) has activated.
Dania, who had been eating Natagara meat, turned her head toward him.
『Kkyu! Seojun, what’s that? I can feel an incredible life force!』
Popo, who had been nibbling on Gujijayeop Herb leaves, also hopped over with a curious expression.
But Seojun couldn’t say a word to either of them.
In fact, he couldn’t.
Because the information about the seed now displayed before his eyes was beyond anything he had imagined.