Chapter 641: Or a Way Not to Die

TL: FoodieMonster007

"What poison is it?"

Geom Muyang's heart sank. He had never imagined that So Cheongrak would poison his younger brother.

The opponent was the same man who had detoxified the Scorpion Python Poison administered by the Poison King. How could a poison given by such a person be ordinary?

"Hurry up and tell me! What kind of poison is it?"

Geom Mugeuk had never seen his brother so agitated. Geom Muyang hadn't even been this worked up when he lost the position of successor.

"Seeing you so worked up is surprisingly touching."

"You brat! Stop messing around!"

Geom Muyang was genuinely angry. Staring at his brother's surprised, agitated, and angry face, Geom Mugeuk spoke calmly.

"Hyung, I'm fine."

Geom Mugeuk's gaze was calm. His posture and the aura he exuded didn't make him seem like someone who was sick.

"You were poisoned, so how can you be fine?"

"To me, poison liquid is just water, and poison smoke is like campfire smoke. No, it's even less than that. It doesn't even sting my eyes."

"Stop talking nonsense!"

"I have Myriad Poison Immunity."

"Right, you have Myriad Poison Immunity… what? What did you just say?"

Geom Muyang's eyes widened as he stared at Geom Mugeuk. What did I just hear?

Seeing his brother's expression, Geom Mugeuk repeated himself.

"I said, I have Myriad Poison Immunity."

For a moment, Geom Muyang was speechless. He knew better than anyone how strong his younger brother was, what a natural martial talent he possessed, and how special he was.

But Myriad Poison Immunity?

Myriad Poison Immunity was a completely different story from the talents he had just considered.

Throughout all of murim history, the number of martial artists who had achieved Myriad Poison Immunity could be counted on one hand. That was how difficult it was to attain.

It was a state that could only be reached through a miraculous encounter bestowed by the heavens. That was what Geom Muyang thought of Myriad Poison Immunity.

That was why he suspected it was his brother's prank until the very end. However, he could tell from Geom Mugeuk's utterly serious gaze.

That he truly had Myriad Poison Immunity. Words that proved it followed.

"If I didn't have Myriad Poison Immunity, I wouldn't have taken on this job no matter what. I wouldn't have entrusted such a dangerous task to you, Hyung."

No wonder he had so stubbornly made him play the role of the patient.

Geom Mugeuk smiled and added a joke.

"Even if you wanted to kill me, you can't do it with poison."

Geom Muyang felt no jealousy. Instead, he felt good. It meant he had lost the fight for succession to a younger brother with such an incredible destiny.

"How did it happen?"

"I was lucky enough to have a miraculous encounter while rescuing Director Seo of the Sanzu River Hall."

He thought that perhaps this was the reason the heavens were helping his younger brother.

The Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was living a life of saving others, not killing them. How could the heavens not take notice? Perhaps pieces of a miraculous encounter were gathering for his brother every time he prevented a tavern table from being broken or ran to save someone.

"What does it mean that So Cheongrak poisoned you?"

"It means he's a user of poison arts."

At the same time, it also meant that the one backing the Heaven's Edge Hermit was definitely a renowned physician.

Geom Muyang thought of So Cheongrak. He recalled his dedicated appearance while caring for patients and remembered how enthusiastically he taught his junior physicians.

"Was that all just an act?"

At Geom Muyang's doubt, Geom Mugeuk's gaze deepened. He wished it had all been a pretense and an act.

"Or perhaps, while acting, it became his real life."

He could feel that dealing with this So Cheongrak would be just as difficult as dealing with the Heaven's Edge Hermit, Hwa Yulcheong. After all, they had to take care of a man who lived such a respected life right in front of the Murim Alliance Headquarters.

"Let's go back for now. We need to discuss this with the Poison King and the Demonic Buddha."

When the two entered the manor, Geom Mugeuk burst out laughing at the scene before him.

The courtyard was filled with drying medicinal herbs. He didn't need to see it to know. He could tell just how much their Demonic Buddha had been exploited for labor during the three days they were at the physician's.

"We're back."

As Geom Mugeuk announced loudly, the Demonic Buddha was the first to emerge from the building.

"You've returned?"

The Demonic Buddha was relieved to see that Geom Muyang was safe.

Geom Mugeuk wasn't one to let that slide.

"I'm here too! The Acting Cult Leader who faithfully performed his duty as the patient's guardian is also here."

Regardless, the Demonic Buddha was just about to turn and go back inside.

"The Acting Cult Leader who even got poisoned."

The Demonic Buddha flinched in surprise and turned back. He looked at Geom Muyang instead of Geom Mugeuk.

Instead of a reaction telling his brother not to play such pranks, Geom Muyang gave a slight nod. At that sight, a golden radiance burst from the Demonic Buddha's body.

"Poison King, please come out for a moment."

He called for the Poison King first.

"That's too much. You're judging based on my brother's reaction rather than my words!"

Ignoring Geom Mugeuk's words, the Demonic Buddha shouted once more.

"Come out at once!"

Then, the Poison King came outside.

"The Acting Cult Leader has been poisoned."

Belying his urgent words, the Poison King was nonchalant. Instead of examining Geom Mugeuk, the Poison King crouched down, inspected the poison herbs laid out in the yard, and said.

"He must have done something to deserve it."

Just as the Demonic Buddha was feeling puzzled by that reaction, Geom Mugeuk spoke from behind him.

"Demonic Buddha, I have Myriad Poison Immunity."

The Demonic Buddha turned towards Geom Mugeuk. Although Geom Mugeuk looked at him with a serious gaze, the Demonic Buddha once again tried to ascertain the truth through Geom Muyang.

Geom Muyang nodded. There was no clearer answer than that reaction.

How truly surprising and amazing!

Now, the Demonic Buddha could understand the Poison King's reaction.

"So the Poison King already knew."

The Poison King nodded. Previously, when Geom Mugeuk took the Heavenly Qi Pill, the Poison King had revealed it then. He had said he already knew Geom Mugeuk had Myriad Poison Immunity.

Geom Mugeuk didn't bother to hide the secret from these two.

"Now two more people know the secret. Ah, Director Seo also knows. He was with me when I had the miraculous encounter for Myriad Poison Immunity."

He had no intention of deliberately bragging about it. But in a situation where he had to face poison arts, he had no thought of deceiving his brother and the Demonic Buddha.

The Demonic Buddha wasn't pleased to be told the secret. Instead, with a serious expression, he urged Geom Mugeuk.

"Do not tell this fact to anyone else from now on. Don't think that just because you told me, you have to tell the other Demon Supremes for the sake of fairness. As of today, this matter becomes an eternal secret. Promise me."

How could Geom Mugeuk not know what he meant by this? He was trying to ensure the secret wouldn't leak any further, using the promise to him as a binding reason. The fewer people who knew, the safer it was.

"I promise you, Demonic Buddha."

Geom Mugeuk bowed his head respectfully. This was the reason Geom Mugeuk liked and highly regarded the Demonic Buddha.

He had every right to hate him, since his dream had been crushed because of him. Yet he was genuinely worried about him like this. Though he was short, the Demonic Buddha had a bigger heart than anyone.

Geom Muyang was just as grateful to the Demonic Buddha. When he heard from his brother about the Myriad Poison Immunity, he hadn't thought this far. He still had much to learn from the Demonic Buddha.

Geom Mugeuk reported to the two Demon Supremes.

"The fact that he poisoned me means he knows my and my brother's identities."

Geom Muyang tilted his head.

"Then why did he only poison you? If he wanted to kill, he would have tried to kill me too."

Moreover, hadn't So Cheongrak detoxified his poison? Detoxifying him but poisoning his brother. There was some inconsistency.

Geom Mugeuk looked at the person who could give him the answer. It was the Poison King. He was still moving about, inspecting the poison herbs scattered in the yard.

"Normally, when poison enters my body, my body eliminates the toxicity on its own. But this time, I left the poison inside and brought it with me."

At the words that he had brought the poison back, the Poison King rose from his spot. He made the Demonic Buddha and Geom Muyang step back and approached Geom Mugeuk.

"Let's see what poison it is."

Geom Mugeuk held out his hand.

"……"

A tiny droplet formed at the tip of Geom Mugeuk's finger. He had expelled the poison he had kept in his body. Having reached the pinnacle of martial arts, Geom Mugeuk could display such a level of skill.

The Poison King fanned his hand to smell it and immediately identified the poison.

"It's the Three Days Poison."

The Three Days Poison was a poison that Geom Mugeuk also knew.

Geom Mugeuk had once helped the Poison King in the Thousand Poisons Forest. He learned a lot about poisons then, and the Three Days Poison was one he had learned about at that time.

FWOOSH.

The Three Days Poison on his fingertip burned away from his heat-yang energy.

"He wasn't trying to kill me."

The Three Days Poison was a terrifyingly potent poison that would kill the victim on the fourth day if an antidote wasn't taken within three days of being poisoned.

That's why it was called the Three Days Poison, because one could only live for three days.

"If he simply wanted to kill me, he would have used a poison that kills on the spot. No, since he has to avoid attention, he would have used a poison that kills tonight or tomorrow morning. But the fact that he used a poison that kills after three whole days means…?"

Geom Mugeuk's gaze turned to the Poison King.

"It seems So Cheongrak knows that the person who poisoned my brother was the Poison King."

His gaze, which had been on the Poison King, now turned to his brother.

"You asked why he poisoned only me and not you, Hyung? That man wanted to say this to the Poison King."

His gaze returned to the Poison King as he conveyed what he believed So Cheongrak's intention was.

"I detoxified your poison, so now you try to detoxify mine."

For a moment, the Poison King laughed as if it were ridiculous.

"So he was testing me."

The Three Days Poison was one of the most difficult poisons to detect. It was the most suitable poison to use for a test.

"What if you hadn't discovered that I was poisoned within three days? The Poison King would have been held responsible for failing to prevent our Cult's successor from being poisoned right under his nose."

Even if his father forgave him, it was something the Poison King would not be able to bear.

For a fleeting moment, a cold chill formed in the Poison King's eyes before disappearing.

"Of course, I'm sure you would have noticed."

Geom Mugeuk believed it. No matter if the Poison King was looking elsewhere, no matter how distracted he was, the Poison King would have noticed.

He might not notice if his own arm was cut off while he was looking at poison herbs and insects, but there was no way he wouldn't notice that he was poisoned. Because it was a matter related to poison.

"Have you ever met So Cheongrak before?"

To Geom Mugeuk's question, the Poison King shook his head. He had only heard rumors that there was a physician in Wuhan who was excellent at detoxification.

"I don't know what his scheme is, but he has issued a challenge to the Poison King."

At the provocative word "challenge," he expected the Poison King to say he would go find him at once, but surprisingly, he was not swayed at all.

He crouched down again and began to wrap the well-dried poison herbs in paper.

This is just like the Poison King. That's right. If you react, you lose.

The Demonic Buddha crouched down with him and began to help. The Poison King showed him how to wrap the poison herbs.

The Demonic Buddha began to wrap the poison herbs as he was taught. His hand movements were so skillful and precise it was hard to believe he had only learned once.

"I plan to visit So Cheongrak again in three days. If I go there perfectly fine, he'll think the Poison King detoxified me. I intend to see what other poison he'll use and confirm their intentions through him," Geom Mugeuk said to the Poison King.

"Please take care of the finishing touches later, Poison King."

That would be what the Poison King wanted. Since the man had challenged him with poison like this, the Poison King would have to see it to the end.

The Demonic Buddha, on the contrary, grew tense at the Poison King's lack of reaction. Hadn't he experienced it several times in his life? When a person like this gets angry, it's truly frightening.

Just then, a martial artist from the All-Knowing Hall, who always delivered messages, arrived.

"It's an urgent messenger pigeon."

He handed the urgent messenger pigeon to Geom Muyang and retreated.

After checking the contents, Geom Muyang delivered the news with a surprised face.

"The Demonic Seal Mandate has been broken."

Everyone was startled by the news. Even the Poison King, who hadn't reacted much when challenged with poison, shot up from his seat. The Demonic Buddha had already stood up before him.

"Who broke it?"

To the Demonic Buddha's question, Geom Muyang answered.

"It's not just one person. It's the Demonic Fire Lord and the White Bone Spirit Demon."

They were demons of the previous and the generation before that, whose names alone could drive the murim into terror.

And the most important part was the last sentence of the messenger pigeon.

"They are coming here, to Wuhan."

A heavy silence fell for a moment.

In a situation where they had to deal with Hwa Yulcheong and So Cheongrak, individuals with the opposite kind of infamy were now coming.

"It's unknown which route they're taking or when they will arrive."

Their martial arts were so profound that they couldn't be tracked properly.

Geom Muyang asked the Demonic Buddha.

"I understand that those under the Demonic Seal Mandate have a restriction placed on them."

The Demonic Buddha nodded and replied.

"That's right. If they release their inner arts on their own, they will die within a few days. Seven days at the most."

A hint of anger crossed the Demonic Buddha's face.

"It seems those old fools intend to throw away their lives."

Breaking the Demonic Seal Mandate wasn't just a matter of breaking a cult rule. It was violating a direct order from the Cult Leader, which was strictly forbidden, making it the gravest of all serious crimes.

They were prepared to die?

Geom Mugeuk's thoughts were different. It would be better if they were just senile in their old age, or if they wanted to burn brightly one last time before dying.

"Or they have a way not to die."

Figures like the Demonic Fire Lord and the White Bone Spirit Demon were individuals who valued their own fame.

"If they were the type to break the Demonic Seal Mandate just to enjoy a mere seven days of freedom before dying, they would have done so long ago."

Therefore, there was only one reason they were moving.

"The masterminds behind this must have promised to release their restrictions."

The three who were listening nodded. Right, if it wasn't that, there was no way not just one, but two of them would move at the same time.

"Is it possible their restrictions have already been released?"

To Geom Muyang's question, Geom Mugeuk shook his head.

"If they want to use those old demons, they wouldn't have released them beforehand. Instead, they must have given them the conviction that the restrictions could be lifted."

What kind of belief did they instill to make these old demons move?

Geom Muyang said worriedly.

"The target must be you."

Geom Mugeuk shook his head.

"If that were the case, So Cheongrak would have used a poison that kills instantly on me."

"If you're not the target, then why are they luring them to Wuhan?"

There was clearly another purpose. The first reason that came to mind was this.

"First, it must be because the person who can release their restrictions is here."

They would have to fulfill the masterminds' demands and have their restrictions lifted within seven days. They didn't have much time.

"What if they come and kill the masters of Wuhan's orthodox sects? Then how will the orthodox sects' martial artists view this situation?"

He and his brother, the Poison King, and the Demonic Buddha were already in Wuhan.

If it became known that the infamous old demons from the previous and prior generations had joined them? Fear and hatred would move the orthodox sects' murim.

"I don't know exactly what their goal is."

Geom Mugeuk added calmly with a deepened gaze. The frightening thing about the two old demons coming here wasn't their terrifying martial arts.

"People with nowhere to return to are coming."