Chapter 256: Murim Will Grow Tense

TL: FoodieMonster007

Miracle herbs lay on a long table.

It looked like a shop that sold miracle herbs. Each one had a distinct fragrance, and they all mingled into a unique aroma.

At a nearby table, the Poison King was completely engrossed in compounding medicines.

I examined the miracle herbs on the table while I waited for the Poison King to finish his work.

I recognized some of the herbs, but most were unfamiliar. The quantity far exceeded my expectations.

Presently, the Poison King finished compounding the medicine and placed it on the table.

"You're here?"

"What were you doing?"

"I mixed the ones that are more effective when combined."

Combining these highly toxic miracle herbs to enhance their effects? That's a statement only the Poison King could make.

"I heard you went to the Central Plains yourself?"

"If I didn't? How else could I have gotten these items in twenty days? I mobilized my entire network for the first time in a long while."

The word 'network' sounded awkward coming from the Poison King, who lived as a recluse in the Thousand Poisons Forest. His connections must be precious and reliable. Mobilizing his network meant he was now indebted to someone.

"I'm greatly indebted to you."

The Poison King approached me, his eyes twinkling. His look seemed to ask, So, how are you going to repay me?

"Whenever you need my help, please don't hesitate to call on me."

"It won't end with just once or twice."

"I'd be happy to see the Poison King often."

The Poison King went to the end of the table. He picked up the first miracle herb and handed it to me.

"Here, take these in order, starting with this one."

It seems he even decided the order I should take them in.

"What would happen if I took them all at once?"

"With your Myriad Poison Immunity, you won't die, but all hell will break loose inside you. Just take them as I give them to you."

Before taking it, I asked the Poison King a question.

"Please tell me how much each of these costs."

"Why? Don't you trust me?"

"If I didn't trust you, I wouldn't be asking."

For someone who would never deceive you, asking like this is a form of courtesy.

The Poison King told me the price of each miracle herb. When I added up the total, I was surprised.

"This is more than the money I gave you."

"The last miracle herb was too good to pass up, so I chipped in a bit."

"More than 'a bit.' It looks like you sold off one of the pillars of the Thousand Poisons Forest."

"Do you even know how many pillars the Thousand Poisons Forest has? Now hurry up and eat."

He hates going out more than anything, yet he went himself and even added a large sum of his own money. How could I not be fond of the Poison King?

"Then I'll take it gratefully."

"The first one is the Black Ocean Pill. Take it and circulate your qi for one full cycle."

The moment the Black Ocean Pill entered my mouth, my face contorted.

"Ugh! It's so bitter. Why is it this bitter?"

"It's poison. Did you expect it to be sweet?"

I began to dissolve the Black Ocean Pill's medicinal effects with the heart technique of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art. Since my Yang Do was large for accumulating inner arts, I could absorb a great amount of the medicinal effect.

"Next is the One Myrtle Poison. It's highly compatible with the Black Ocean Pill, so your internal energy won't clash."

He isn't giving them to me from least potent to most. He's giving them according to the compatibility and properties of each miracle herb.

"Next, take the Soul Stealing Pill."

Just when I thought it had gotten a bit better with the One Myrtle Poison.

"No matter what, this is just wrong. Ugh."

I tried to spit out what was in my mouth, but the Poison King covered my mouth to stop me.

After forcing it down, I spoke to him.

"You're getting revenge on me now because I asked you to buy miracle herbs, aren't you?"

"To fill your qi with subtle and fragrant miracle herbs, you'd have to pay several times more."

It was also a privilege only someone with Myriad Poison Immunity could enjoy.

"And the truly bitter medicine hasn't even come out yet."

I shot up, made a clasped hands greeting, and bid him farewell.

"A true master fights well even without inner arts."

I tried to run away, but the Poison King forced me back down.

I was half-joking and half-serious. With a little exaggeration, it felt like my tongue and intestines were melting away.

Each time a miracle herb dissolved in my body and its medicinal effects spread through my circulatory system, I would take a new one.

"I figured as much, so this time I prepared something a bit sweet. Drink up."

To think that the Myraid Blood Poison Extract was considered one of the sweet ones!

Even after that, I continued to take the miracle herbs.

The Demonic Soul Divine Pill, the Hundred Soul Purification Powder, the Thousand Scorpions Blood Essence, the Dark Yin Pill, the Yin Yang Two Poisons Grass, the Celestial Nirvana Fragrance……

They were truly miracle herbs that I had only heard of by name, or had never even heard of at all. There were multiple doses of some, and only a single dose of others.

This was the first time I had ever taken such a wide variety of miracle herbs in succession. Not just me, but likely no one in the entire jianghu had ever done so.

"It's really okay to take all of these, right?"

"I don't know either. This is a first for me too."

The Poison King looked thrilled. He too had likely never seen someone dissolve so many poisons at once. In fact, he was even more excited than I was.

Someday, in the book he will have completed, this very moment will be recorded. What would the title be?

The Correlation Between Myriad Poison Immunity and Toxic miracle herbs?

No. The title would be something like this.

How the Poison King Tormented Someone with Myriad Poison Immunity?

Seeing how delighted he looked today, he was more than capable of coming up with such a title.

Taking all the prepared miracle herbs took a long time. I would take one, circulate my qi for a full cycle, then take another and circulate my qi again. I diligently dissolved the medicinal effects. By dissolving the medicines with the heart technique of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art, I absorbed a far greater amount of their effects than before.

There were a few ordeals in the middle where the bitterness and toxicity were so intense I felt like I was going to die. After all, even with the same poison, being poisoned by it was a completely different matter from consuming it directly.

"Here, this is the last one, the Myraid Poisons Divine Pill."

This was the very medicine the Poison King had bought by adding a large sum of his own money. Of all the poisons I had consumed so far, it boasted the most powerful effect.

I dissolved the medicinal effects of the Myraid Poisons Divine Pill with the heart technique of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art.

The medicinal effects raged through my entire circulatory system. Then, like water from a valley flowing into a river and eventually into the sea, the effects became inner arts and gathered in my qi center.

Even after taking all the miracle herbs, I circulated my energy several more times to control the inner arts within my body.

Only after confirming that all the medicinal effects had become pure inner arts did I slowly open my eyes. A tremendous amount of inner arts had been added to my qi center.

If it hadn't been for the Poison King, I wouldn't have been able to gain even a quarter of this inner arts with that money. He must have bought high-quality medicines cheaply, and the order of consumption was perfect.

Now, in terms of inner arts, I'm more confident than anyone in the murim. It isn't just because the quantity increased. The purity of my inner arts has also deepened to an incomparable degree. Getting stronger is one thing, but this will be a great help in my training of the Heavenly Space Secret Art.

I could tell from the Poison King's expression how much deeper my gaze had become. The next moment, the Poison King was even more surprised. With Origin Reversal, that deep gaze had suddenly become an ordinary one.

"How much stronger are you going to get?"

I answered calmly.

"I will become strong enough to protect everyone."

As I rose from my seat, the Poison King said to me.

"We are the ones protecting you. The Demon Supreme protects the Young Cult Leader."

I stared intently at the Poison King before speaking abruptly.

"The Poison King."

For a moment, the Poison King flinched. I was not displaying my usual polite demeanor, but a heavy, imposing dignity.

"Then become stronger!"

"!"

After saying that, I strode out of the room.

As soon as I left, I poked my head back through the open door. The Poison King was still staring in my direction with a dazed expression.

"You're not mad, are you?"

"Acting like the Heavenly Demon already?"

"Who else would I play this prank on if not the Poison King?"

"There are plenty of others, aren't there? The Smiling Demon, the Blade Demon, the Drunken Demon!"

I lowered my voice again, making it stern.

"The one this lord wished to play this prank on was the Poison King."

At the end of that banter, I added my sincere feelings.

"The Poison King, I will never forget the favor you've done for me today."

Long after Geom Mugeuk had left, the Poison King remained lost in thought.

"You called for me?"

To Sangseon, who had arrived after being summoned, the Poison King said something unexpected.

"Report to the Heavenly Demon Hall that we are doubling the poison production of the Thousand Poisons Forest."

Sangseon was startled. That wasn't all.

"Increase the training intensity for the poisoners, and while you're teaching the kids, you should train as well."

"If we do that, the murim will grow tense."

The Murim Alliance, in particular, might go on high alert. Everyone was on edge regarding the poisons entering the Thousand Poisons Forest. The fact that we had gathered highly toxic miracle herbs this time might have already been reported to the Murim Alliance or the Evil Alliance. They were that sensitive when it came to poison.

The Poison King rose from his seat. A black energy began to rise around his body like a heat haze. It was the Heaven Destroying Poison Gas, which the Poison King emitted whenever he revealed his presence.

Enveloped in the black mist, the Poison King muttered.

"Let them be tense."

On the day of the Sanzu Hall Director inauguration ceremony, investigators and enforcement martial artists from the Sanzu River Hall came to Seo Daeryong's residence to bodyguard him.

In the past, on the day Geom Mugeuk was inaugurated, Seo Daeryong had visited with the enforcement martial artists, but now the tables had turned. The investigator who came today was the most senior one, the Special Investigator Gong Myeong.

"Director, let us go."

He must not feel good, since a man so much his junior has become the Director.

"Investigator Gong, I'll be in your care from now on."

"I will serve you with all my loyalty."

"After joining the Sanzu River Hall, I learned a lot from you, Senior. I will start putting what I learned from you to use now."

Seeing Gong Myeong's pleasant smile, Seo Daeryong suddenly had a thought.

I wasn't this kind of person before.

I was someone who couldn't even make eye contact properly. Someone who always jumped to negative conclusions. In the past, I would have immediately thought, He's probably cursing me on the inside even while he's smiling, right?

However, now I was trying to convey my sincerity. I was trying to understand the other person's feelings.

Under the guard of Gong Myeong and the enforcement martial artists, Seo Daeryong arrived at the Sanzu River Hall. He found the investigators and enforcement martial artists lined up in rows.

"We greet the Director!"

Seo Daeryong's appointment to the Director position was unconventional. While some among them were inwardly displeased, they were all of one mind on a single point. Because Seo Daeryong had worked so diligently, everyone acknowledged his competence.

At that moment, someone arrived to lend him support.

"Director, congratulations."

Turning at the voice from behind, he saw the Demonic Army General Jang Ho walking toward him. Seo Daeryong was surprised, as he hadn't expected him to be here.

"General! You've come in person."

"Of course I had to come."

They were the two who used to drink together at the Alluring Inn when Lee Ahn wasn't around. Now they stood facing each other as the Demonic Army General and the Sanzu Hall Director.

"Do you know? I've always wanted to be a martial artist like you, General Jang. That hasn't changed."

Jang Ho grinned his characteristic manly smile. Whenever Seo Daeryong looked at Jang Ho, he always thought of him as a man like a towering mountain. He vowed to become such a martial artist himself.

When the Demonic Army General came to congratulate him in person, the investigators and enforcement martial artists wore surprised expressions.

Then, another person appeared. Lee Ahn had come to congratulate him. Her beautiful appearance seemed to brighten the entire area. Moreover, as her martial arts skills had reached a master's realm, she had truly joined the ranks of experts. The enforcement martial artists present were stunned by her beauty, and then stunned again by her powerful aura.

"Congratulations, the Sanzu Hall Director."

"Thank you, Martial Artist Lee."

"I knew this day would come."

At Lee Ahn's words, Seo Daeryong whispered.

"But I didn't!"

Jang Ho and Lee Ahn laughed together.

Just then, another person arrived. Seeing the newcomer, the investigators and enforcement martial artists all bowed at the waist in unison, showing their respect.

"We greet the Young Cult Leader!"

Seo Daeryong, Jang Ho, and Lee Ahn also bowed respectfully.

Geom Mugeuk walked over and spoke respectfully.

"Congratulations, the Sanzu Hall Director."

"Thank you, Young Cult Leader."

Seo Daeryong looked at Geom Mugeuk, his eyes trembling with emotion.

To Seo Daeryong, who was so choked with emotion he didn't know what to say, Geom Mugeuk gave a single nod, his eyes full of trust. That was enough.

Gong Myeong came to Seo Daeryong and said.

"Everyone is gathered. Please say a few words."

With a trembling heart, Seo Daeryong stood before everyone. He had anticipated having to say a few words and had even practiced at home, but he was still incredibly nervous.

"The former Director was someone who surpassed human limits. Now, a mere human has finally taken charge of the Sanzu River Hall."

At his words, everyone burst into laughter.

"On the day the former Director was inaugurated, he said this in this very spot. 'I don't know if we will become happier or unhappier, but one thing is certain. Our hearts will beat faster than before.' The Director kept that promise. My heart is certainly beating faster than it used to, and I believe all of your hearts are as well."

Everyone wore expressions of agreement. Geom Mugeuk's the Sanzu River Hall was a completely different organization than it had been before. They had all received the gratitude of countless people who had been cleared of false accusations.

"I cannot make your hearts beat faster than the Young Cult Leader did. However, I am confident I can do this much. I will strive to keep our hearts, which have grown so warm thanks to the Young Cult Leader, from ever growing cold."

Applause and cheers erupted.

As he finished his speech and was about to go inside, the last person to arrive and offer congratulations appeared.

At his appearance, not only Seo Daeryong but also Geom Mugeuk, Lee Ahn, and Jang Ho were startled.

Surprisingly, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had appeared. He strode forward arrogantly, the Heaven Destroying Dao slung across his back. At the sight of his overwhelming presence, all the Sanzu River Hall martial artists tensed up.

"Master!"

Instead of offering words of congratulations, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon drew the giant dao he wore on his back alongside the Heaven Destroying Dao. Though it was a giant dao, it was slightly smaller than the Heaven Destroying Dao.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon gave it to Seo Daeryong.

"Use this from now on."

Even at a glance, it was no ordinary dao.

"It's the blade I used when I was young."

Seo Daeryong was stunned. A gift from his gruff Master? Moreover, if it was the blade he had used in his youth, it was a priceless gift of immeasurable value. Deeply moved, Seo Daeryong felt tears welling up in his eyes.

After giving him the dao, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon turned and walked away without another word.

Seo Daeryong performed a deep bow toward his departing Master, conveying his gratitude.

"Thank you, Master."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon left without looking back.

The investigators and enforcement martial artists watched this scene with astonished eyes. It was understandable that Geom Mugeuk would come, since he and Seo Daeryong were so close, but they had never expected the Blood Heaven Blade Demon to appear here.

No one looked down on Seo Daeryong. Even if they wanted to, they couldn't. With the Young Cult Leader, a Demon Supreme, the Demonic Army General, and the world number one beauty all coming to congratulate him, who would dare to disrespect him?

Seo Daeryong bowed politely to Geom Mugeuk, Jang Ho, and Lee Ahn before turning away.

Having turned, he slung the giant dao onto his back just like the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

Then, leading the investigators and enforcement martial artists, he entered the Sanzu River Hall.

In his retreating figure, walking confidently with the giant dao on his back, Geom Mugeuk saw the silhouette of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.