25 – 02# After the Rain, Ground Solidifies (8)

In the tales of martial heroes, a dying protagonist saved by their master, channeling inner energy to neutralize poison or pull them from the brink of demonic possession, was a scene so common it was almost cliché.

Yet, Muyeong, having rushed to Seolhwa’s aid, only knew of such things as novelistic depictions. When faced with doing it himself, he hadn’t the faintest idea where to begin.

And how could he? Muyeong had never been taught about the body’s meridians by the old man, nor had he read any martial arts novels that described them in exhaustive detail.

‘If I were to interfere incorrectly while she’s in a state of meditative breathing, her inner energy could backfire and run wild, leading to demonic possession. Is it truly right for me to intervene here?’

Perhaps it would be better to trust Seolhwa and simply stand aside. Indeed, Seolhwa was beginning to regain some stability as the poison was lessened through the Sword and Blade Mind Technique.

But that wasn’t the end of it. Meditative breathing, or *Un-gi-jo-sik*, involved sitting cross-legged, circulating internal power through the mysteries of the mind technique, and, in the process, accumulating inner energy, however slight.

But this was no ordinary *Un-gi-jo-sik*. Seolhwa was currently suppressing her own venom, reacting to the Spirit Poison, and naturally, the venom was fighting back.

Even in modern times, there was the saying that studying ultimately came down to physical strength. How much more so, then, would *Un-gi-jo-sik* aimed at suppressing poison demand an even greater expenditure of stamina?

‘Just looking at her, I can see her stamina gradually draining away. If Seolhwa completely collapses from exhaustion and faints… then it’s truly over.’

The problem would be lessened if Seolhwa were a proper martial artist. But Seolhwa was at a level barely worthy of being called a martial artist, having only learned martial arts for a month.

“Keu-heuk!”

As her stamina waned, her concentration began to waver. Conversely, the poison, seizing the advantage, began to suppress Seolhwa’s Sword and Blade Mind Technique. His worry was becoming reality.

‘Fine, I don’t care anymore.’

Muyeong, in the end, chose to risk it and place his hand on Seolhwa’s back. He decided it was better to do something, anything, than to just stand by and watch.

But the moment Muyeong’s hand touched Seolhwa’s back, his inner energy, astonishingly, began to move without his conscious command. Or rather, it was a sensation his body remembered.

As if he had experienced this situation firsthand. The moment Muyeong was taken aback by that, suddenly his vision was washed over by a pure white color. And at the same time, a familiar voice began to echo in his ear.

[There’s no time, so listen carefully.]

[I will transmit everything I have accumulated in my entire life to you.]

[But I cannot dare to be certain if you will walk the correct path.]

[The moment you risk your life to help others…]

Movement akin to instinct guided his body. But it wasn’t the feeling of being forcibly dragged like a puppet. Rather, it was as though memories etched into his body were filling in the gaps in his knowledge.

Thanks to that, Muyeong was able to naturally guide the poison lurking in Seolhwa’s *dantian*, like a river flowing from the highlands. He divided and absorbed all the poison that Seolhwa could not handle.

If he expelled it outside, Sua and the villagers could be poisoned. In the process, Muyeong also suffered internal injuries from the poison, but he burned it all away with the Sword and Blade Mind Technique.

‘It feels like my inner energy is accumulating at an unbelievable speed. Furthermore, my inner energy and body are starting to adapt to the Black Underworld Sect’s poison to some extent.’

But he was more than willing to endure that level of internal injury, as the gains far outweighed the cost. First of all, setting aside the inner energy gained from burning away the poison… he was actually beginning to gain resistance.

The Poison of Endurance, which the Black Underworld Sect had painstakingly crafted over the past ten years, was certainly on par with, or even surpassed, that of the Sichuan Tang Clan, but that had become a benefit for him in reverse.

Before long, even the Spirit Poison that had reacted to the venom was completely burned away by the Sword and Blade Mind Technique. Seolhwa’s body, having exhausted all its stamina and spirit, collapsed forward.

Fortunately, Sua, who had been protecting them both from the front, managed to catch Seolhwa’s body, preventing her from tumbling onto the dirt ground. Sua looked at Muyeong and shouted.

“Master! Are you alright?!”

“Yes, no problem at all.”

“That’s… fortunate.”

The sincerity in her own voice startled Soo-ah. She had said it without thinking, a genuine reaction. At first, Seolhwa had been a thorn in her side, someone she simply wished would disappear.

But perhaps a strange sort of fondness had bloomed in the interim? Now, at the mere mention of death, Soo-ah found herself hoping Seolhwa would live, not die. What was her true feeling, after all?

Even I no longer know. Perhaps sensing Soo-ah’s troubled expression, Mu-myung chuckled softly and placed a hand on her head. Truly, a charming adolescence…

“Master?”

“Tell me, can a family-like relationship exist without any discord? Even blood relatives often find themselves at odds.”

“That is… true.”

“But the ground hardens after the rain. Through disagreements, pent-up frustrations are released, and genuine reconciliation strengthens the bonds between us once more.”

Soo-ah was deeply moved by her master’s words, born from experience, and she etched them into her young heart. Alas, the moment of peace would not last.

Mu-myung was the first to react. Like a shield, he thrust himself forward to protect Soo-ah and Seolhwa. It was because of this that Soo-ah was forced to witness it.

“Master!”

The horrific sight of a hidden dart lodging itself in her master’s arm. The sound of the dart embedding itself mingled with the slick sound of blood. And then, a laugh, bordering on madness, echoed through the air.

“So, you all thought it was over just because I, Won-gi, the head of the Black Serpent Brigade, am still alive?”

“…”

“I don’t know how you managed to nullify the Venom of Perseverance… but I imagine that’s your only trick! Now, if I eliminate you here…”

“As expected.”

“…What?”

Looking completely unaffected, Mu-myung nonchalantly plucked the dart from his arm and tossed it to the ground. Only then did Won-gi realize the gravity of the situation. The poison coating the dart was Heuk-yeon Si-nok-rin.

With but a touch, it caused flesh to rot, and the pain it inflicted was so severe that even a master of the highest caliber could not remain stoic. Yet despite using such a virulent toxin…

The old man stood there, moving as if nothing had happened? And in that instant, Won-gi’s experience and knowledge, forged in the crucible of countless battles, arrived at a single, unavoidable conclusion.

Could it be? Impossible.

It couldn’t be.

There’s no way such a master exists in this backwater village…!!

But no matter how desperately he tried to deny it, the old man, not only unharmed but drawing his sword, his eyes filled with killing intent as he approached, could not be explained any other way.

A realm where no poison had any effect.

A level of mastery that could not even be touched.

Among the elite masters, both righteous and demonic, already few in number. Reached by barely a handful of them, the transcendent title that ordinary mortals could not even dare to aspire to.

萬毒不侵

Man-dok Bul-chim

(Impervious to All Poisons)

◇

Through the darkening mountains, a man, robbed of an arm, ran with a desperate fervor. It was not quite the art of swift strides, more akin to a pathetic, ugly escape. But it mattered not.

He had a reason to cling to life, a truth that *must* reach the Black Inferno Gate, as well as their collaborators. The Martial Alliance was of no consequence now.

“The enemy we must truly fear…was another entirely. If this truth is not known… Graaagh!!”

A searing pain in his ankle sent Won-gi sprawling. His severed foot tumbled before his eyes. Only one man was capable of such a thing.

The only light in the encroaching dark emanated from the enraged, aged eyes of the figure. Like a death god, he approached Won-gi, drawing his sword.

*Shwik.*

“Kaaagh!!”

Fingers, sliced clean, and a torrent of pain followed. But the old man’s gaze, fixed upon the writhing Won-gi, revealed no hint of emotion.

“Do you know why I did not seize you in the village, crippled as you were?”

“Kuh, how should I know? Just kill me quickly…!!”

*Thuk.*

“aaagh!!”

“Is it not a bit…unseemly, to torture you before the children? We still have so many stories to share, wouldn’t you say?”

This was why Mu-myung had pursued Won-gi so relentlessly. To extract genuine information. At Mu-myung’s words, Won-gi spat blood, a chilling smile twisting his lips.

“You think I’ll talk?”

“Ah, do not misunderstand. I have little need for your words, really.”

*Thuk!*

“Kaaagh!!!”

“From what I have gathered, not only our Seol-hwa, but the villagers as well, seem to have incurred quite a debt to you and your subordinates, wouldn’t you agree?”

Each strike, carefully placed, only grazing non-lethal areas. To preserve life. It was a tactic Won-gi knew all too well. He had, after all, dealt in such cruelties himself.

“If you remain silent…you will live to see this night surrender to the dawn.”

I give you my word.