Chapter 146
Chapter 146
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 42
>Chapter Title: Poison Person (2)
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“Poisonous, you say? This?”
‘!?’
A tone as if he couldn’t comprehend it at all.
At Mok Kyung-un’s words, Isle Poison King Baek Sa-ha furrowed his brow.
The remark might have sounded extremely arrogant, but given Mok Kyung-un’s current state, it truly seemed like he wasn’t affected by the poison at all.
‘Good heavens.’
It was truly an astonishing sight.
The poison mist of the Wave Poison, which could only be unleashed upon reaching the seventh layer of the Wave Demon Poison Scripture, was so vicious that even supreme masters had to maintain a safe distance or risk instant poisoning.
And wasn’t a perfect example right here?
“Hoo... Hoo...”
“Haa.”
Even Jang Neung-ak and Wi So-yeon, the two disciples of the Assembly Leader, had let their guard down and been exposed to the Wave Poison mist, and now they were completely focused on neutralizing it.
Nothing would reach their ears right now.
The poison was that potent, yet Mok Kyung-un reacted to it as if it were nothing. It felt utterly bizarre.
“You said you’re a disciple of the Dark Clan Leader?”
At Isle Poison King Baek Sa-ha’s question, his second son Baek So-gang, who had been wearing an incredulous expression, hurriedly replied.
“Y-Yes! That’s right.”
“Quite the intriguing fellow. You’re not wearing any poison-repelling salve, nor do you have profound inner energy. I’m curious how you withstood this old man’s Wave Poison unscathed.”
At these words, Mok Kyung-un politely bowed his head and said,
“It’s a matter of my constitution, so please don’t take it to heart.”
“Your constitution?”
“Yes.”
“Ha!”
Isle Poison King Baek Sa-ha clicked his tongue in disbelief.
There were occasionally those with a natural resistance to poison due to their constitution.
But even those rare cases could only endure or self-neutralize ordinary poisons—they couldn’t handle the poisons of the Wave Demon Poison Scripture.
This ultimate venom, cultivated through hundreds of different toxins, was in a league of its own compared to common poisons.
To withstand such an extreme poison with mere constitution was impossible.
“Are you toying with me?”
“How could I dare? I’ve merely spoken the truth.”
“The truth... Heh heh, very well. Then this old man will have to uncover your secret myself.”
“My secret?”
“Indeed. Come closer.”
-Pa-pak!
Isle Poison King Baek Sa-ha extended his hand forward and then pulled it back in a grabbing motion.
The surrounding qi surged wildly, and Mok Kyung-un’s body began to be drawn toward it.
‘Oh?’
Was this the true Void Grasping technique?
Mok Kyung-un instinctively realized that Baek Sa-ha was pulling him with qi.
Baek Sa-ha’s qi was undoubtedly on another level.
The Dark Clan Leader was powerful too, but this was far more vast.
-Grrrrk!
Mok Kyung-un’s feet dragged across the wooden floor.
Yet he only moved about two paces.
Seeing that he wasn’t being pulled as expected, a glint appeared in Isle Poison King Baek Sa-ha’s eyes.
‘Well, well.’
In terms of energy sense, he seemed to possess only entry-level pinnacle realm cultivation.
Yet he was withstanding his qi.
That was something only achievable at the supreme realm.
‘He’s learned a technique to conceal his inner energy even from superiors. However, this old man’s inner energy...’
-Pa-pak!
Baek Sa-ha extended his hand and pulled again.
This time, qi incomparably stronger than before enveloped Mok Kyung-un’s body.
It was nearly double the previous amount.
‘This is...’
Mok Kyung-un let out a shallow breath and then surrendered to the qi.
Resisting it would require unsealing the death qi in his middle dantian as well, but there was no need to reveal that power.
-Paak!
Mok Kyung-un’s body floated up with a whoosh and flew right up to Baek Sa-ha.
In that state, Baek Sa-ha softly traced the trajectory of a palm technique with his hand, causing Mok Kyung-un’s body to spin around before being forcibly seated on the floor.
‘He wields qi as naturally as breathing.’
The title of one of the Five Kings was well-deserved.
If a near-Transformation Realm master was this strong, it was impossible to even imagine the power of those who had truly transcended the wall.
At that moment, Baek Sa-ha spoke.
“Now that I think of it, you said you wanted instruction from this old man?”
“Yes.”
“Then explain how you withstood this old man’s poison. Depending on your answer, I’ll decide whether to instruct you or not.”
“That’s strange.”
“What’s so strange?”
“According to the assembly’s rules, you can’t refuse, yet you’re speaking as if you could reject me at your whim.”
“Heh heh heh, true, we must follow the assembly’s rules.”
“But...”
“But what if this old man only teaches you how to peel corn husks and sends you on your way? That would still count as instruction.”
“Peeling corn husks isn’t a martial art.”
“It’s an example of teaching something useless.”
At Baek Sa-ha’s words, Mok Kyung-un chuckled inwardly.
As the Dark Clan Leader had said, he was indeed eccentric and stubborn in his own way.
In response, Mok Kyung-un said,
“Since you put it that way, I suppose I should explain properly.”
“Heh heh heh. You’ve come to your senses. So, how did you withstand this old man’s Wave Poison?”
“My constitution.”
“......”
Isle Poison King Baek Sa-ha’s eyebrow twitched upward.
His already purple-tinged face looked fierce and eerie, and now his expression twisted like a demon’s.
“I was going to go easy on you for your master’s sake, but you don’t want that, do you?”
“I’ve spoken honestly.”
“Honestly? Fine. If it’s your constitution as you claim, let’s see if you can endure this too.”
“Pardon?”
-Hwaaaaa!
The moment he questioned it, Isle Poison King Baek Sa-ha’s hand turned a deep purple.
It was more condensed than the mist form, surpassing the previous poison by far.
Isle Poison King Baek Sa-ha grinned menacingly and said,
“Try withstanding this old man’s Wave Demon Palm Technique as well.”
-Paaaang!
Baek Sa-ha’s palm struck Mok Kyung-un’s chest.
At that instant, the back of his clothes tore, and poison qi burst out through his back.
It was a phenomenon caused by the subtleties of the External Discharge technique.
Isle Poison King Baek Sa-ha curled his lips smugly.
‘The poison qi penetrated, striking his internal organs. He went on about his constitution, but now I’ve injected it directly inside. If he can, let’s see him neutralize it.’
He was curious how he’d dispel the poison.
It was certain he hadn’t cultivated poison arts, so he’d have no choice but to reveal his secret.
Or so he thought.
“How long do I need to endure it?”
“......You’re saying you’re fine?”
“Yes. If you were just testing whether the poison works on me, it’s pointless given my constitution.”
“You brat, what...?”
Isle Poison King Baek Sa-ha was dumbfounded.
The poison qi in that palm strike was potent enough to kill even seasoned masters if they took it properly—they wouldn’t even be able to breathe properly before perishing.
Yet this punk was blabbering away.
-Pak!
Baek Sa-ha grabbed Mok Kyung-un by the collar and yanked him close.
“What did you do? You didn’t even circulate your qi—how did you withstand this old man’s poison?”
“You’re asking the same question. My answer’s the same.”
“Nonsense!”
“It’s true.”
“Are you toying with me? That poison just now could melt stone. You think you can withstand that with just your constitution?”
“Hmm. You don’t believe me, do you?”
“Would you believe it if you were me?”
“Are you really that curious?”
“......Do you truly have a death wish?”
-Hwaaaaa!
In an instant, fury surged through Baek Sa-ha, and intense poison qi along with killing intent erupted from his entire body.
The aura was so overwhelming that his second son, Baek So-gang, involuntarily stepped back in tension.
‘What is he planning, provoking Father like this?’
He couldn’t fathom Mok Kyung-un’s intentions.
He didn’t need to reveal the exact secret—just how he withstood the poison would suffice—yet he kept provoking Isle Poison King Baek Sa-ha.
At that moment, Mok Kyung-un spoke.
“In truth, there’s a simple reason I could endure your poison, sir.”
“Speak. If you’re toying with me again, disciple of the Dark Clan Leader or not, prepare yourself.”
“Understood. Seeing how upset you are, there’s no reason not to tell you.”
“Hmph. No need to beat around the bush about not wanting to die.”
“Let’s say that’s it.”
“Ha...”
Baek Sa-ha stuck out his tongue in exasperation.
Even as he showed such rage, this punk didn’t blink, just saying what he wanted.
Was he fearless, or just brazen? He couldn’t tell.
But one thing was clear: looking at his unshaken eyes, it wasn’t the former.
“Speak.”
“I’ll have to tell you alone, so forgive the momentary impropriety.”
“What?”
As he questioned it, Mok Kyung-un leaned in close and whispered in his ear.
“You asked how I withstood it?”
“Indeed.”
“Have you ever been poisoned by mayang grass toxin, sir?”
“Mayang grass poison? Why would this old man be poisoned by such a weak toxin that only causes a rash at worst?”
“That’s it.”
“What?”
“That’s the reason your poison has no effect on me.”
‘!?’
In an instant, Baek Sa-ha’s expression twisted ferociously.
He’d said it indirectly, but Mok Kyung-un’s words had scratched his pride.
To put it bluntly, Mok Kyung-un had essentially said this:
[Your poison is too weak to affect me.]
-Grit!
Baek Sa-ha ground his teeth hard.
His poison—one of the top three in the entire Central Plains—was weak?
Was this punk truly suicidal?
He was digging his own grave.
“Heh heh heh. So my poison feels that weak to you. Then this old man will show you what real poison is.”
‘Huh?’
At Isle Poison King Baek Sa-ha’s words, second son Baek So-gang’s eyes widened.
He knew exactly what poison his father was about to reveal.
Those who cultivated poison naturally had ultimate secret techniques.
For example, the Sichuan Tang Clan’s Formless Poison, the Nine Yang Clan’s Clam Scripture Serpent Venom, and the Wave Demon Poison created by Baek Yu-gong, the founder of the Baek Clan and his grandfather.
“Father!”
The startled Baek So-gang called out to him.
But Baek Sa-ha didn’t even glance his way.
He was truly furious.
‘No.’
Baek So-gang thought this absolutely couldn’t happen.
The Wave Demon Poison was the Baek Clan’s secret art, known as Ten Steps Instant Death—fatal within ten paces, the worst ultimate poison.
“Fath...”
The moment Baek So-gang tried to approach to dissuade his father,
Isle Poison King Baek Sa-ha casually extended his hand.
Then,
-Kuuuung!
The stone door, half-open at the entrance, slammed shut.
Baek So-gang’s face grew grave at the sealed entrance.
It seemed he wanted no interruptions.
‘This is bad.’
His father might really use the Wave Demon Poison and kill Mok Kyung-un.
The problem was that this stone door was designed to be locked and unlocked from inside the training chamber, making it hard to break through once sealed.
-Thud thud!
“Father! Father!”
Ignoring the faint calls and knocks from outside, Baek Sa-ha said,
“You call that weak, so this old man will show you proper poison...”
“The soundproofing isn’t perfect, it seems.”
“What?”
“But it should be quiet enough for just the two of us to talk.”
At Mok Kyung-un’s words, Baek Sa-ha furrowed his brows.
Had this punk deliberately provoked him into closing the door?
Baek Sa-ha said in a dumbfounded tone,
“What game are you playing?”
“It’s no game. It’s just that my constitution becoming widely known wouldn’t be beneficial.”
“Your constitution?”
Was he still on about that?
As he thought this, suddenly sharp sword energy flowed from Mok Kyung-un’s index and middle fingers formed into a sword seal.
“What are you doing right...”
-Snikt!
In that instant, Mok Kyung-un lightly slashed his own palm.
Blood began to drip from the wound onto the floor.
-Drip drip!
Baek Sa-ha furrowed his brow at the falling blood droplets and asked,
“What are you doing?”
“I figured I should show you the poison I possess as well, sir.”
“Poison? You don’t mean...”
Baek Sa-ha looked at the blood flowing from Mok Kyung-un’s palm in shock.
What he was saying now was,
“......That your blood contains poison qi?”
“Yes. Care to taste it?”
Mok Kyung-un extended his bloodied hand with a smile.
‘!!!!’
At this action, Baek Sa-ha’s expression turned to utter disbelief.
Those who delved deeply into poison and cultivated poison arts had an ultimate goal.
It was to become a Poison Person, where flesh, blood, everything became poison.
Becoming poison itself—that was the pinnacle they pursued.
‘......Are you claiming, you young punk, that you’ve reached the Poison Person realm?’
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