Hundred Poison Immunity
The antidotes of the Sichuan Tang Family could, in a way, be considered similar to elixirs.
Rare poisonous herbs were as scarce as spiritual medicines, and diluting those herbs required elixirs in the first place. Though only in small amounts, the Tang family's antidotes contained dissolved elixirs within them.
When Jang Muhwi circulated the Muyoung Simbeop, he absorbed every trace of that elixir energy. As a result, Dang Jihwa's antidote could never fully neutralize the poison remaining in his body.
Even Dang Jihwa, hailed as a prodigy of the Sichuan Tang Family, could not detect the subtle changes occurring inside Jang Muhwi. She could only conclude that her antidote had failed to take effect.
It was only natural that she would attempt to detoxify him with a stronger antidote. Yet Jang Muhwi absorbed the energy of that additional dose as well, directing it straight into his dantian before letting it flow through his blood vessels.
His meridians, nourished by the elixir energy, grew steadily stronger. The process repeated without pause. Though unintentional, he was draining the Tang family's stock of antidotes completely dry.
The interesting part was that, despite the poison still lingering in his body, it caused him no harm whatsoever. This was the result of the Tang family's secret antidotes—passed down for centuries—accumulating inside him. His blood vessels, having absorbed their energy, were adapting to the toxins.
Jang Muhwi's mind grew clearer. He needed to operate the Muyoung Simbeop with even greater precision. If left unchecked, the surging energy from his dantian might become uncontrollable.
At this point, he faced a choice. Rise now, or scrape the Tang family's resources down to the very last drop?
The answer was obvious.
Jang Muhwi absorbed every last trace of the antidote energy that had entered his body. In truth, he had always hungered for elixirs. Unlike the disciples of great clans who chewed them like daily meals, he had never even caught their scent—until recently.
Thanks to the elixir taken from Wi Gunak and the Muyoung Simbeop, he had laid a basic foundation, yet he remained perpetually famished. No matter what elixir was offered, he was ready to consume it. He would never let an opportunity like this slip away.
Giyan favored the desperate. Jang Muhwi feigned unconsciousness and accepted every wave of energy that flowed into his mouth.
That was when noise reached his ears.
Upon seeing the fallen Jang Muhwi, the late-stage examinees each raised their weapons and struck their chests with them.
Thud. Thud.
It was their way of demanding he be saved.
The examiners gradually approached Dang Jihwa as well. Even the renowned Dang Jihwa could not help but feel the pressure. She no longer had the strength to tell them to back off.
She quietly produced a gourd marked with the character for "ten thousand." Only the Man Yak Dan remained.
Suppressing the curses that threatened to escape, Dang Jihwa opened the lid. A pure, refreshing fragrance wafted out and instantly filled the hall.
The examiners finally relaxed, exchanging glances. This was clearly no ordinary antidote. Its scent alone suggested it was closer to an elixir. They could sense the mystical aura typical of Daoist elixirs.
When Dang Jihwa poured the Man Yak Dan into Jang Muhwi's mouth, everyone held their breath. Even Jang Muhwi nearly opened his eyes as the energy slid down his throat. The fragrance rivaled the Soryunhwan he had consumed before.
He screamed inwardly. This was the greatest windfall imaginable. Carefully, he absorbed the energy—neither too quickly nor too slowly.
After taking in every last bit, he fell into brief contemplation. Dang Jihwa still held his wrist. He could not leave the poison as it was. If he simply diluted it, she would notice.
He had already reached the state of Baekdokbulchim, thanks to Dang Jihwa's Chilsaekjidok. A stronger poison might have allowed him to achieve Cheondokbulchim, but he felt no regret. The antidotes she had used had made his meridians several times sturdier than before—stronger even than those of pampered heirs from prestigious clans who received constant care.
He had taken what he could. Now it was time to end things gracefully. His final plan had been added after observing Dang Jihwa's venomous behavior.
Jang Muhwi deliberately reversed his qi flow and gathered some of the poison within his meridians. His body trembled faintly. All eyes turned to him. As he convulsed, a mouthful of blood burst from his throat.
"Cough!"
Black blood stained the floor. Jang Muhwi finally opened his eyes. He rose slowly, as though he understood nothing, and looked around. Fresh blood trickled from his lips once more. Everyone stared in shock, mouths agape.
He had awakened, yet it was obvious he had not been perfectly detoxified. Wang Jimak approached Dang Jihwa.
"What is the meaning of this?"
"…"
Dang Jihwa had nothing to say. Even after using the Man Yak Dan, the detoxification was incomplete. This was a disgrace to the Sichuan Tang Family—and that was not all. The losses incurred were incalculable. The greatest damage was to their reputation. Failing to retrieve the poison they had administered was deeply shameful.
While she stood flustered, Wang Jimak brushed past her and walked toward Jang Muhwi.
"Step aside."
He took Jang Muhwi's wrist and swallowed a groan.
"Hmm. His qi and blood are still turbulent. I may not match the Tang Family in matters of poison, but the toxin is clearly still present."
Wang Jimak quickly supported Jang Muhwi. Gudo Mosang, who had been watching, rushed over as well.
"Are you all right?"
As everyone looked on with concern, Jang Muhwi's lips trembled.
"I…"
All eyes focused on his mouth. Dang Jihwa's eyebrows twitched as though struck by wind. For an instant, their gazes met in the air. While hers was hollow, his remained calm—like the still waters of Qinghai Lake.
Jang Muhwi's calculations were already complete. Only execution remained. In every relationship, the key was "moderation." Now was the time to take a small step back. At the same time, he needed to preserve her dignity. After all, she currently bore the stigma of failing to neutralize the poison even with the Tang family's antidotes.
Of course, the Tang Family had done nothing wrong. Everything had been his own setup from the beginning. Rather than making an enemy, he chose to place her in his debt.
Jang Muhwi reversed his qi flow again and spat out more black blood.
"Cough."
Then, with a pale face, he spoke in a low voice.
"I am fine. Blocking the poisoned hidden weapon was my own choice. Poison Flower Senior bears no fault. Without her consideration, I would no longer be of this world. I am grateful for the life-saving grace."
He bowed his head slightly toward Dang Jihwa. The other examiners merely glanced at one another, saying nothing. Though Jang Muhwi clearly had not been fully detoxified, he was still protecting her reputation—protecting even the dignity of the very person who had poisoned him. Since the victim himself claimed to be unharmed, no one else could intervene.
Dang Jihwa felt equally awkward. The Tang Family's honor had been scattered like autumn leaves because of a single late-stage disciple. No matter how she thought about it, she could not understand the situation. What kind of constitution did he possess that even her antidotes could not cure?
She quietly looked at the bundle that had held the antidotes. Only empty gourds remained inside. For a moment, her mind went blank. Those had been the antidotes she had cherished so dearly.
The Sichuan Tang Family, often seen as vicious by outsiders, moved with cold calculation. They never used poisons that could not be cured, never deployed them without profit, and never allowed an opponent to gain the upper hand once poison was used. These three principles were the virtues the direct line of the Tang Family upheld when employing toxins. She had broken every single one—and on top of that, both the family's and her own reputation had been damaged. Yet thanks to Jang Muhwi, at least their dignity could be salvaged.
She looked at him quietly. The pale-faced young man who seemed ready to collapse at any moment was cupping his fists toward her. Behind him, the examiners' sharp gazes bore down on her. Dang Jihwa slowly nodded.
"I appreciate you thinking that way. If you come to the Sichuan Tang Family later, I will finish detoxifying you."
The moment she finished speaking, Jang Muhwi coughed up more blood.
"Cough."
Wiping his mouth with his sleeve, he bowed his head in silence. Forcing blood through reversed qi flow had reached its limit. His body was perfectly normal now. Any further exaggeration would only invite suspicion.
Many were affected by his precarious appearance. The late-stage examinees' eyes grew moist at the sight of black blood staining the floor of the Heroes' Hall. Mu Ilho, standing at the front, clenched his fists and chewed his lips in frustration at being unable to help. The others were no different. Their lips trembled with regret. Naturally, their gazes eventually turned to Dang Jihwa. Under their stares, she quietly turned away.
Once she was gone, the examinees began to speak one by one. They gathered around Jang Muhwi. Though his appearance was far from presentable, their eyes shone brighter than ever. He met their gazes. They burned hotter than he had expected.
In truth, Jang Muhwi could not understand their reaction. All he had done was greedily accept hidden weapons to complete his Baekdokbulchim. Yet they looked at him like this! Even he had not anticipated such a response.
Then he shrugged lightly. Mu Ilho asked urgently, "Are you all right, friend?"
"I am fine. It's just… I feel somewhat uneasy."
"It must be because some toxin remains in your body."
"Perhaps…"
Jang Muhwi quietly gazed in the direction Dang Jihwa had disappeared. He had the distinct feeling he had overlooked something important.
─┼
At the same time, Dang Jihwa, who had left the hall, stopped while walking toward the exit of the Qinghai Branch. She slowly turned around. Her eyes were fixed on the distant Heroes' Hall. Her head tilted slightly.
Her subordinate, seeing the doubt-filled expression, asked, "My lady, what is the matter?"
"Did you not notice anything strange?"
"What do you mean?"
"That fellow."
"Whom are you referring to?"
"Jang Muhwi."
"…"
The subordinate shook his head without a word. No matter how hard he thought, he could not grasp Dang Jihwa's meaning. After staring at him for a moment, she spoke.
"It is strange that he can remain so composed even after being poisoned by the Tang family's toxin."
"Composed? At a glance, that friend was clearly not in good shape… No, to be precise, he was on the verge of death, my lady."
"Death? What death? What do you observe after a fight ends?"
"Well… the enemy's momentum, of course."
Dang Jihwa nodded at her subordinate's answer.