Total Eradication
Just as Bukjin had suspected, he found a pouch tucked inside the inner lining of the Ten Thousand Poison Ancestor's robes. The pouch contained dozens of glass vials and various trinkets, but one item in particular caught Bukjin’s eye: a secret manual titled Detailed Explanation of Ten Thousand Poisons.
"This old geezer was called the Ten Thousand Poison Ancestor, and his hideout is the Cave of Ten Thousand Poisons. This manual must be the source of his legacy," Bukjin muttered.
He carefully began to flip through the manual. The book felt as though it were bound in ancient, weathered leather, its cover stained a dull, faded black. The text inside appeared to have been written in blood. Judging by how smooth and polished the cover was, it was clear that someone had kept it close, handling it constantly. It was about two inches thick and consisted of twenty pages in total.
Bukjin opened the Detailed Explanation of Ten Thousand Poisons and gave it a quick scan. The pages were densely packed with spindly, cramped handwriting, detailing the manufacturing processes for various toxins. It also contained exhaustive information on poisonous plants and creatures, refining methods, toxicity levels, and their specific effects on the human body.
'Shinshin, scan this manual and turn it into an app,' Bukjin commanded mentally.
Understood, Master. Initiating scan.
The smartphone began scanning the manual. A moment later, a new icon appeared in the App Store: [Detailed Explanation of Ten Thousand Poisons]. Bukjin spent 2GB of data to download and launch the app. Using the newly created app's scan function, he began identifying the glass vials he had looted from the Ancestor's pouch.
Immediately, the names, purposes, and instructions for the substances inside the vials popped up on the screen.
"Jackpot!" Bukjin rejoiced. "Thank god for this smartphone!"
With the Detailed Explanation of Ten Thousand Poisons app, he no longer had to fear any of the toxins within the Cave of Ten Thousand Poisons. He used the app to scan the garden and every room in the house, yielding even more loot. He managed to secure a significant supply of Heavenly Fragrance Triple Smile Powder and Dragon Blood Injection, storing them all in his [Storage] app.
Just then, a knock sounded on the iron gate at the garden entrance.
"Master?" a thin, raspy voice called out.
It was the head disciple of the Ten Thousand Poison Ancestor, the one Bukjin had encountered in the tunnels on his way in. Tension coiled in Bukjin's chest.
Creeeeeak!
The iron gate swung open. The head disciple entered the garden and saw his master standing still, seemingly lost in deep thought. The other senior disciples were nowhere to be seen. Bukjin, who had claimed to be an envoy from the Great Alliance Leader, was standing beside the master, whispering something while the master appeared to listen intently.
'What's going on?' the disciple wondered, confusion flickering in his eyes.
At that moment, Bukjin turned around and approached him. "The Alliance Leader has commanded that you gather all the disciples within the Cave of Ten Thousand Poisons here immediately. He has instructions to give."
"That is..." The head disciple glanced toward his master. The Ten Thousand Poison Ancestor remained with his back turned toward the house, merely waving a hand dismissively in their direction.
Not daring to utter another word, the disciple quickly agreed to bring the others. The Ancestor was a tyrant who thought nothing of beating a disciple to death or poisoning them for the slightest disobedience. He was known to dissect the corpses of his own students before tossing them into the Pit of Ten Thousand Snakes as feed. The head disciple turned and hurried off to gather the rest.
Once he was gone, a cold, murderous glint appeared in Bukjin's eyes.
A short while later, all twenty-one disciples of the cave were assembled in the garden. They stood with grim expressions, heads bowed, none of them daring to step forward. The head disciple stood at the front, cupping his hands in a respectful salute.
"Master, I have brought all my junior brothers. What are your orders?"
The Ten Thousand Poison Ancestor remained standing in the distance, his back still turned to them as if contemplating a grave matter. Suddenly, the Ancestor turned slightly and beckoned the head disciple toward him. Startled, the disciple hurried forward.
In that split second, Bukjin, who had been standing to the side, suddenly drew his sword and lunged. The head disciple never imagined anyone would dare to attack him within the Cave of Ten Thousand Poisons. His cultivation was only at the 9th-grade Warrior Rank, and even that was mostly focused on poison arts. He had no chance of dodging a blade aimed at his throat.
Bukjin's sword pierced straight through the disciple's neck.
"Guh...!" The disciple’s eyes bulged. Bukjin ripped the sword out and continued his assault without pause.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Six silver arrows whistled through the air, piercing the throats of the six disciples standing directly behind the leader. The rest finally realized what was happening.
"Master...!"
"He killed the Eldest Senior Brother!"
"Is Master trying to kill us all?!"
"R-Run!"
Chaos erupted. But as they turned to flee, they found their bodies refusing to obey. Their strength vanished, and their joints grew numb. One by one, they collapsed where they stood.
"It's... it's the Heavenly Fragrance Triple Smile Powder!"
"No... please..."
The disciples screamed in terror. Bukjin stepped forward, stabbing the head disciple through the heart once more to be sure, then walked toward the others. They begged for mercy, but Bukjin didn't even blink. He took their lives with cold, efficient strikes. To ensure none would survive, he systematically stabbed every single one of them through the heart.
He then used the Corpse Melting Powder he had found in the house. The bodies dissolved into a yellowish liquid, which he washed away into the pond. Within minutes, the garden was spotless.
"Don't blame me," Bukjin whispered. "This is the price for the atrocities you've committed."
Having finished his grim task, Bukjin exited the garden and firmly locked the iron gate. He posted a warning sign on the door that read: [CLOSED-DOOR CULTIVATION].
As he made his way out of the cave through the narrow tunnels, he released all the venomous snakes from the Pit of Ten Thousand Snakes. Using the Detailed Explanation of Ten Thousand Poisons app, he activated every trap and mechanism installed in the tunnels. Still not satisfied, he smeared extreme toxins on the walls and floors of the passageways. With these defenses in place, the Cave of Ten Thousand Poisons had become an impregnable fortress. It was now safe enough to leave Cho Heun inside to recover.
By the time Bukjin emerged from the cave, the first light of dawn was touching the horizon. He opened his [Map] app and located the various water sources flowing through the city. He began dumping Dragon Blood Injection into the reservoirs.
When he reached the stream in the center of the city, he found several adventurer guards protecting the well.
"Who goes there?!" one of the guards barked as Bukjin approached.
"Your grandfather," Bukjin replied, closing the distance with a burst of speed. His sword flashed.
Thwack! Thwack!
The two guards at the well collapsed, their throats pierced.
"Y-You bastard...!"
"Get him!"
The other guards rushed toward him. Bukjin activated Fragrance-Stealing Jade-Breaking Steps, moving like a ghost. He cut them down one by one, a single strike for every man. He tossed the bodies into the well and sprinkled Corpse Melting Powder over them. A moment later, the bodies dissolved into a yellow sludge, mixing with the stream water.
After erasing the bloodstains and signs of battle from the ground, Bukjin poured the remaining Dragon Blood Injection, Solitary Love Aphrodisiac, and Heavenly Fragrance Triple Smile Powder into the well.
"This filthy, wretched place needs to vanish from this world," Bukjin said, his eyes burning with resolve. "Today, I'm going to tear this nest of vermin apart."
His work finished, Bukjin turned to leave. Dawn was breaking over the horizon, covering the land in a pale, morning light. He raised his hand and cast a Water Ring over himself to clean off any residue. He then began walking through the city as if nothing had happened, poisoning every water source he passed.
As morning arrived, the number of adventurers roaming the streets began to grow. Bukjin strolled leisurely among them. He was passing in front of a large building when a sharp scream suddenly pierced the air. It was followed by a sound like a growling beast and a loud CRASH! The wooden front doors of the building shattered, and a tall woman came stumbling out, reeling on her feet.
"Catch that bitch!"
"Don't let her get away!"
A moment later, half a dozen adventurers swarmed her, throwing shackles and nets to subdue the tall woman. They laughed crudely as they began dragging her back into the building.