One More Antidote Added (2)
Kim Taeju's current attainment could be seen as somewhere between a second-rate and a first-rate martial artist in the Kangho world.
He was still weak.
Far too ashamed to attach the title Absolute Poison Demon in front of it.
I need to take it step by step. Hasty gains crumble easily.
He had laid the foundation for reaching the 4th stage.
Thanks to his stabilized poison core, he could now take in stronger poisons in greater quantities.
In truth, it was an astonishing speed.
Earth's Kim Taeju and Kangho's Dang Gunak.
Though both cultivated the same Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong, their approaches were polar opposites, leading to this phenomenon.
Dang Gunak had grown his poison core while gaining enlightenment, but Taeju gained enlightenment first and then built his core.
Honestly, for Taeju, the Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong was like review.
It was outright cheating.
Martial arts were the same.
He started with full comprehension of everything.
That made the monsters in Jirisan's dense forest little more than a well-prepared feast.
Pfip!
Leaf-shaped flying needles infused with poison qi.
One shot into each, then dodging here and there with Phantom Bewilderment Step to buy time.
They'd start trembling violently.
Thud, thud, thud...
The monsters collapsing one by one.
The poison qi from a 3rd-stage Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong poison core was at a level even peak martial artists couldn't underestimate.
This was why poison arts were so great.
It was practically a cheat key.
Where the hell is that spore poison camel goral?
This one had a natural predator too.
The ferocious monster that ruled Jirisan's forest: the Giant Moon Bear.
Ordinary poisons were useless against a Giant Moon Bear.
Its powerful bile instantly neutralized external toxins.
Bile was incredibly hard to harvest and fetched high prices as an ingredient for spirit medicines and universal antidotes.
In that instant!
Rustle!
A monster poked its head densely through the thick forest underbrush.
Found it.
The Spore Poison Camel Goral.
Named for the two humps on its back like a Bactrian camel.
It stared blankly at him.
Learning effect, no doubt.
Most humans just passed by without noticing it.
Taeju pretended to pass by without spotting it too...
Whoosh!
Phantom Bewilderment Step.
He closed in right next to it in an instant.
Kwak!
Both hands gripping two Soul-Stealing Needles, stabbing mercilessly into the nape of its neck.
"Eua, euwaaa, euwaaak!!!"
A scream eerily like a human's shriek from the goral.
At the same time!
Pong!
Countless spores erupted from one of the camel goral's humps.
Pong!
From the other one too.
Dust-like particles scattered everywhere.
Tiny spores carrying deadly poison.
Exposed to air for an hour, the poison dissipated.
But just let this precious poison go to waste?
Taeju immediately unleashed Blood Seal Poison Palm.
Radiating poison qi, drawing the spores to himself with his inner power.
Sssip, ssss...
The spore dust clumping into a ball at his gesture.
With Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong at the 3rd stage, he could now absorb poison qi through his palm.
Not as efficient as swallowing directly, but slower absorption was actually better.
Way stronger than that mutant Seven-Spotted Spider poison.
How much he'd struggled back when forming his poison core?
But now was different.
The spores' poison slowly absorbed under the control of Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong.
Stray spores scattered everywhere, untouched.
Red spots bloomed on his skin where they touched, then vanished.
Thanks to his poison arts training—but even an awakener touching them would be in danger. They could melt gas mask filters.
Time for 4th stage?
A bit early, but fine.
Opportunity had come.
The spore ball shrank smaller and smaller.
Then draw more in,
Sssip! Sss...
Poison qi swirled into a vortex.
His fox leather coat fluttered in the wind.
The spore poison surged toward Taeju's bloodstream.
Once it hit the Sea of Qi acupoint, his poison core slurped it up greedily.
Simultaneously, the spores' DNA imprinted itself.
His poison core was growing.
And now, his fully matured Blood Seal Poison Palm.
A swipe through the air sucked in the spores, converting them to poison qi inside him.
Not a single speck escaped.
He'd absorbed a full load of spore poison, but
Still a bit short?
Taeju pulled out a pre-harvested poison gland from a venom-clawed civet.
Dumped it straight into his mouth,
And after a long breath,
"Huu..."
Taeju finally ascended to the 4th stage of Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong.
The difference of one stage was huge.
Now he could confidently call himself a first-rate martial artist.
To grow poison arts, eating more of the same old poisons was useless.
New, unexperienced poisons were needed.
Reaching 4th stage this time was thanks to the spore poison and civet gland.
There must be plenty more monsters with poisons besides this one?
What if he found some 300-year-old poison ginseng?
Mid-term goal: 7th stage.
The 7th stage of Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong was the poison master realm.
A state where he could concoct any poison from absorbed ones—probably even masters could do it with a handful of poison ingredients.
The goral, having expelled all its spore poison, lay dead with half its neck severed.
Just leave it?
Butcher it and take it.
Butchering was Dang Gunak's specialty.
When the Demonic Cult chased them, nearly wiping out the clan, forcing them to flee—he'd done it countless times, catching wild game to survive.
Taeju approached the goral with his Soul-Stealing Needles in hand.
These were throwing weapons, but sizable needles.
Slice, slice, slice.
Taeju deftly skinned it, separating meat from bone.
Not just meat—he took bones and organs too.
Especially the guts, filled with the plants it favored.
They'd be clues for antidote development.
Perfect, I'm starving anyway...
He built a fire right there.
Skewered a sirloin cut.
Sizzle, sizzle—roasting golden brown.
Taeju blew on it to cool, took a bite.
Juices flowing between his teeth.
...What? This flavor?
No salt or pepper, yet this good?
"Whoa! Insane, absolutely insane."
Now he got why it was top-tier.
No wonder even the Samhan Empire's emperor went mad for it.
Store the rest in the fridge to age.
But one wouldn't be enough.
Catch a few more?
To celebrate reaching 4th stage.
And recollect those unharvested spores too.
※ ※ ※
Only late evening did Taeju return to his newly purchased building.
No more hotel stays.
He descended to the shelter via the underground passage in the building.
A bunker built to evade monster waves—open the outer door, descend long stairs, another massive iron door awaited.
A paper lightly stuck above it.
Underground manufacturing room interior complete. Please inspect, change the password if satisfied, and use it.
Finished fast.
Digital lock.
He entered the known password,
Beep, bleep, beep, beep, beep, beep.
Pulled open the heavy door by hand.
And then.
"Whoa!"
Way bigger than expected.
Fresh paint smell, workbenches, lab equipment, walls lined with medicine storage.
"Nice and clean."
A space he'd prepared with his own money.
Especially focused on the storage.
Poison herbs and medicinal herbs were temperature-sensitive.
Some needed cool storage, others freezing.
Taeju opened his backpack, stashed the goral meat in the freezer.
After the first one, two more—total three.
Massive amounts of meat and bone.
His huge backpack was full; he'd tied it with vines and carried it by hand. Too much for one person.
Talk to Director Baek and share with the orphanage kids.
Have they even tasted goral meat?
Right then!
Ring ring!
Incoming call.
Caller ID: Baek Hongpyo.
Perfect timing.
Suggest a feast for staff and kids.
"Yes, Director Baek, it's me. ...Yes? What? Ah! Got it. Heading there now."
Taeju's face hardened instantly.
※ ※ ※
Baek's Drugstore.
Closed for business, but lights still on.
Baek Hongpyo with a grave expression.
As Taeju arrived, he forced a smile in welcome.
"Come in, Taeju."
"...Director Baek, you've had it rough."
"Nah, it's nothing."
But it was something.
Shelves and displays spotty with gaps.
Looked like a going-out-of-business blowout.
"What happened?"
"Pharma reps said no more supplies from now on, cleared out the stock."
"..."
Besides mosquito antidotes, there were essentials for awakeners, compatibles, workers.
Instant hemostatics for wounds, trauma ointments, gradual mana recovery potions, comprehensive antidotes to delay other poisons, mana painkillers, stimulants... and more.
Raid must-haves. Without them, lives were at risk.
Until now, selling mosquito antidotes bundled them, maximizing profits.
But suddenly no supply?
"Jo Hoonseok from YJ Drugstore?"
"His usual MO, so yeah, almost certain. And..."
Baek hesitated, then continued.
"...Autonomy Committee med approval dept called today."
"What'd they say?"
"Adverse reactions in multiple mosquito antidote users. Need to investigate—send the ingredient list."
Ha!
Too blatant.
"What if we don't?"
"Worst case, sales ban. That's the vibe they gave."
"Jo Hoonseok's on the committee?"
"Not permanent, just regular member."
"Heh, got it."
Honestly, Taeju planned exclusive sales at Baek's for a year, then supply all Gurye pharmacies.
Classic Gurye.
Free city or not, Empire didn't fully hands-off.
Permanent committee members dispatched from the Empire, right?
But if in cahoots?
Whatever, just sell antidotes.
Customers would flock anyway.
But this petty scheming pissed him off.
Just this prep?
Pressure from all sides incoming.
Actual sales ban possible,
Cut funding,
Or brute force.
They were Gurye's local powers.
Living in the castle, shaking the pharma market via connections.
No compromise.
Hate reacting after the hit.
Strike first.
"Director Baek."
"Yes!"
"Let's hit them first. Threats gotta threaten back."
"Huh? First?"
"Stop selling mosquito antidotes. Adverse reactions? Damn right! Close the shop tomorrow."
"Uh... th-then."
"They say side effects from the antidote? Then stop selling."
Baek Hongpyo caught on to Taeju's intent.
"Won't make money for a bit, but hang tight. I'll help with orphanage ops."
"Ah, no need. Got savings—orphange's fine. ...But how long?"
"Till Jo Hoonseok begs on his knees. Bastard's old tricks always worked, thinks it'll fly again. Time to wake him up, right?"
Baek nodded firmly, resolved.
"Yes, let's fight."
Taeju grinned reassuringly.
"It'll work. Trust me. Oh! Got great meat—how about a full orphanage feast tomorrow?"
"Hahaha! Perfect. I'll call staff and kids, prep it."
It'd end quick.
If folks hadn't tasted the antidote, maybe—but they had...
Hunting without?
Gonna suck hard.
※ ※ ※
Next day.
Grand feast underway.
Baek's Orphanage was sizable even in the Samhan Empire, not just Gurye—over 200 kids under care.
All lost parents in past monster waves.
Started with Baek sheltering friends' kids, now covered Gurye and beyond, like Sancheong, Hamyang.
Not just kids—even independent adults showed.
Meat shortage.
No choice.
Hang pots, boil bone broth with meat for steaming-hot gukbap.
Grilled was ideal, but boiled Spore Poison Camel Goral meat was insanely good too.
Heavenly flavor.
Worried they'd refuse other meats after tasting this.
"What meat is this?"
"Beef."
"Doesn't taste like it."
Kids went wild.
"So good!"
"Can I have seconds?"
"Pig! Stop eating!"
"You not eating?"
"Ah, no!"
Didn't say what it was.
They'd think premium hanwoo bone broth.
Not just gukbap—snacks, drinks, rice cakes, ice cream... went all out.
Taeju bonded with the kids too,
And post-feast, Baek kept the shop closed.
For a good while.
Then time passed,
And finally, Gurye Free City flipped out.
End of "One More Antidote Added (2)"