Episode 335: The Poisonous Emperor
The Poisonous Emperor and the Bright Lotus Sage didn’t even bother entering the Tang family estate; they simply turned away. Yet, the mere mention of the impending war between the righteous and demonic sects left Tang Mujin feeling uneasy.
Of course, as the Poisonous Emperor had mentioned, the war wouldn’t break out immediately.
Even though the righteous sects were in turmoil, it would take at least a few months to convene a meeting to discuss future strategies.
And that would only be the beginning. Even if the meeting concluded swiftly, it would take several more months to inform each sect and family, gather their members, and prepare for action.
By the time all the preparations were complete, a year would have easily passed before they could confront the demonic sects.
“A year…”
A year might sound like a generous amount of time, but Tang Mujin knew better. He had experienced how quickly a year could slip by while dealing with various matters with his friends, only to return home to subtle reproaches.
“There’s not much time. I need to prepare and not dawdle.”
With a restless heart and a furrowed brow, Tang Mujin wandered through the Tang estate.
Soon, someone approached him hesitantly. It was Jang Il-nam.
Jang Il-nam spoke cautiously.
“Are you… still upset?”
“What?”
Tang Mujin asked, puzzled, and Jang Il-nam continued awkwardly.
“I might have been too harsh earlier. There’s no set way for a father to play with his daughter. Besides, with you around, it wasn’t really dangerous to handle the flying wheels. I was thoughtless. I’m sorry.”
It seemed that Jang Il-nam had been bothered by their earlier conversation. Tang Mujin waved it off.
“No, it’s fine. The flying wheels aren’t exactly safe. You were right to caution me. I’m not upset about that.”
Despite Tang Mujin’s reassurances, Jang Il-nam still seemed uneasy.
“If you were hurt, you can say so. It was my fault, after all…”
“Really, it’s not that.”
“But you look troubled…”
Only then did Tang Mujin realize he had been frowning the whole time. He relaxed his expression and explained.
“It’s not because of that. I just had a bit of a troubling conversation with the Poisonous Emperor and the Bright Lotus Sage.”
“The Poisonous Emperor? If he came to see you personally, it must have been serious.”
From experience, Tang Mujin knew it was better to share his burdens with someone trustworthy rather than brooding alone.
And with the Three-Eyed Buddha not around, Jang Il-nam was the best person to seek advice from on such matters.
“Yes. Actually…”
Tang Mujin relayed the brief conversation he had outside the gate to Jang Il-nam.
He expected Jang Il-nam to offer advice on how to prepare for the upcoming war.
But Jang Il-nam’s response was unexpected.
“Do you really have to participate in this war?”
“What?”
“Haven’t you done enough already?”
Tang Mujin didn’t immediately grasp the meaning behind Jang Il-nam’s words, so Jang Il-nam elaborated.
“You’ve just returned after wandering all over the central plains. Even if you step back this time, who would dare criticize you?”
Jang Il-nam’s question was laden with complex emotions.
He cared deeply for Tang Mujin, who had been a benefactor to him.
He felt for the three children who would miss their father.
He worried for Dan Seol-young and Mok Wan-ah, who would be anxious with their husbands in danger.
He was concerned for Tang Je-seon, who would lose sleep over his son’s safety.
Jang Il-nam wasn’t a harsh man. Unlike other martial artists who never shied away from a fight, he believed in avoiding unnecessary battles and retreating when possible.
Advising Tang Mujin to avoid the war was, in a way, the most Jang Il-nam-like advice he could give. He never cared much for glory or fame.
“I heard about your journey from Hyun-gong.”
“Did you?”
“Do you know the difference between you and the others who fought in the righteous-demonic war?”
“What do you mean?”
“The others fought because their sects and families were in danger. But the Tang family wasn’t really at risk. There was no vested interest. Yet, you stepped up for those in greater peril.”
It seemed Hyun-gong had boasted about Tang Mujin’s deeds, but as usual, he hadn’t strayed far from the truth.
Jang Il-nam continued slowly.
“You didn’t just fight once. You fought alongside the Taoists from the Gongdong and Zhongnan sects, and with the monks from Shaolin and the beggars from the Beggars’ Sect.”
“That’s true.”
“It must have been a life-threatening battle. No matter how talented you and your friends are, you couldn’t have reached the pinnacle of martial arts without hardship.”
“It wasn’t an easy fight, but—”
As Tang Mujin began to speak, Jang Il-nam gently shook his head, cutting him off.
“Think back to the past. You were the first to alert us to the demonic sect’s movements, and you discovered their involvement in the recent war. You’ve already fulfilled your role. Even after the war, no one will have contributed more than you.”
Jang Il-nam seemed to think Tang Mujin had taken on these risks out of a sense of duty.
But Tang Mujin hadn’t acted with any particular sense of justice. He had simply responded to situations as they arose.
Of course, he didn’t feel the need to correct Jang Il-nam. Sometimes, it’s best to let things be.
In truth, he felt a bit pleased. It was nice to be recognized for past deeds.
As Tang Mujin remained silent, Jang Il-nam raised his voice slightly.
“But what have those you’ve helped done for you? At most, they’ve offered a few words of thanks. It’s time you looked after your own interests. Or better yet, step back safely without worrying about gain.”
“How could I do that? I’ve formed bonds with these people. Besides, I’m still young.”
“No, you should. You need to take care of your family and yourself. I assure you, no one has the right to speak ill of you. If anyone does, I’ll set them straight. I mean it.”
It was an embarrassing yet valid point.
But Tang Mujin was certain of one thing: the upcoming war wouldn’t end easily.
He was also sure that the Tang family wouldn’t be spared from its aftermath.
Even if he stepped back as Jang Il-nam wished, the Tang family and Tang Mujin wouldn’t escape the storm. They were too deeply entangled in the affairs of the martial world.
In the end, Tang Mujin’s conclusion was clear.
He had to prepare for the impending war.
He said, “It would be nice if I could. But calamities are called such because they’re not easily avoided.”
It seemed like he had a choice, but in reality, it was beyond his control. Just like many things he had faced before.
Jang Il-nam couldn’t hide his regret.
As Tang Mujin talked with Jang Il-nam, his thoughts began to organize themselves, and he realized there were several things he needed to do.
First and foremost, he needed to teach the physicians the art of poison handling.
“For those who can learn poison techniques, I’ll teach them. For those who can’t or are too old, I’ll show them how to handle poisons safely.”
While he needed to consider the physicians of the Tang family, there was also much he needed to do for himself.
Tang Mujin wasn’t pleased with being slightly behind his friends in martial prowess.
“I need to break through to the pinnacle of martial arts soon. Only then can I stop them from boasting one after another.”
Tang Mujin had two paths: hidden weapons and poison techniques.
He was steadily improving his hidden weapon skills and could handle four flying wheels, so there was no rush there. His focus now had to be on poison techniques.
The power of poison techniques depended on the quality of the poisons used.
Tang Mujin approached Dan Seol-young.
“Seol-young, I need to gather some rare poisons. How much spare money do we have?”
He felt like a husband asking his wife for money.
Dan Seol-young replied, “Poisons? Have you checked with Wan-ah?”
“Why Wan-ah?”
“Wan-ah has collected a lot of poisons.”
“But I need something more than just common herbs. I’m looking for something special.”
Dan Seol-young mentioned something Tang Mujin hadn’t considered.
“That’s why you should see Wan-ah. She has many poisons from the Western regions.”
“Poisons from the West? How did she get those?”
“Western merchants have been coming to the Tang estate to sell poisons. Didn’t you know?”
Tang Mujin recalled seeing several Western merchants on his way into the city. In hindsight, it was a bit unusual.
Western merchants typically followed the same routes nine times out of ten.
The traders from the West would enter the central plains through the northern regions or near the Tianshan Mountains, passing through Luoyang and Chang’an, and finally settle their goods in Wuchang. On their return journey, they would procure most of their items from Wuchang.
However, a few diligent merchants would take a boat from Wuchang to Sichuan Province to acquire silk. The silk from Sichuan, known as Shu brocade, was renowned for its superior quality throughout the central plains.
Of course, the Tang family did not produce silk, so they had little interaction with the Western traders.
Moreover, it was puzzling why these traders would bring and sell poisonous items to the Tang family.
Seeing Tang Mujin’s confused expression, Dan Seol-young continued to explain.
“Did you know that the porters from the West often pick up simple medicinal herbs or curious plants on their way to make some extra money?”
Naturally, Tang Mujin had never heard of this.
“Medicinal herbs, I get. But why plants?”
“Because if they stumble upon a rare elixir, they could earn enough to live comfortably for the rest of their lives. The Western traders and porters can’t tell the difference, so they just grab anything that looks unusual or different.”
“If I were a trader, I wouldn’t let the porters collect random stuff. It would just get in the way.”
“Apparently, if they allow it, they can pay the porters a little less. Since it’s not bulky or heavy, they turn a blind eye to it.”
It was quite an intriguing story. Dan Seol-young continued.
“Anyway, they sell the decent herbs and plants in Wuchang, and just discard the unsellable ones. But some porters, stubbornly holding onto their scraps, make it all the way to Chengdu.
After Mo Wan-ah bought a few of these supposedly interesting poisonous plants, more people started bringing them to Chengdu. There are even people who travel back and forth between Wuchang and Chengdu just for this.”
Poisonous plants are rarely sought after. Even the herbalists in Wuchang would buy herbs and medicinal plants, but not poisonous ones.
However, Mo Wan-ah was one of the few interested in poisons.
When the Western traders came to Sichuan for silk, it was only natural for the porters to think they had nothing to lose by visiting the Tang family.
Tang Mujin felt a subtle thrill of anticipation.
Mo Wan-ah had a keener sense and resistance to poisons than Tang Mujin. If Mo Wan-ah had selected these poisons, they were bound to be extraordinary.
Tang Mujin went straight to Mo Wan-ah.
“Wan-ah, I heard you collected some poisons from the West. Can I take a look?”
“Of course!”
Mo Wan-ah led Tang Mujin to a small storage room attached to the annex.
The amount of poisonous plants stored there wasn’t particularly large, but everything was unfamiliar to Tang Mujin. With poisons and herbs, quality and rarity mattered more than quantity.
Mo Wan-ah, like a child showing off a precious treasure, excitedly explained each item.
“This plant has a pretty strong poison in its roots. It causes stiffness and shortness of breath. If you plant its seeds, it blooms in summer, and if you leave the flowers alone until winter begins, the petals turn black and dry up. The dried petals are said to be much more potent than the roots. I’m planning to plant it in spring.”
“The seeds of this fruit have a property that allows incompatible poisons to work together. It slightly weakens the toxicity, but if handled well, it could yield good results.”
“This frog has poison in its mucus. In India, they use this frog’s poison on arrows for hunting.”
Tang Mujin touched, sniffed, and occasionally tasted the poisons as Mo Wan-ah explained them. Mo Wan-ah didn’t find Tang Mujin’s actions strange at all.
After Mo Wan-ah had explained nearly twenty different poisons, something caught Tang Mujin’s eye.
In the corner of the storage room lay an object resembling a pig’s bladder.
But it was less than half the size of a pig’s bladder, its surface blackened and dried. It was also the only item Mo Wan-ah hadn’t explained.
Tang Mujin pointed at the pig bladder-like object.
“What’s that?”
“A porter from the West said he saw a spider larger than a person while crossing the Parsa region. It supposedly had a face like a human… Anyway, thinking it might be valuable, he tore this off the spider’s corpse.”
Tang Mujin was no stranger to venomous spiders. But he couldn’t recall anything like that inside a spider.
However, after some thought, something resembling a pig’s bladder came to mind.
“Is that… a venom sac?”
“Seems like it. But the poison is so potent, I haven’t dared to touch it.”
Even a large spider’s venom sac would be no bigger than a fingernail. But this sac was dozens, if not hundreds, of times larger. The story of a spider larger than a person wasn’t just a tall tale.
“Must have been expensive.”
“Not as much as you’d think. The merchant leader hated it so much he threatened to kick the porter out of the caravan if he didn’t get rid of it.”
“Hmm.”
It was a tantalizing story.
A spider larger than a person, with a human-like face. It had to be some kind of mystical creature.
As Tang Mujin approached the spider’s venom sac, Mo Wan-ah grabbed his sleeve in alarm.
“Touching that is dangerous!”
“It’s fine. You know I’m used to poisons.”
Tang Mujin touched the surface of the venom sac. As expected, he didn’t sense any poison from the outside.
Then, Tang Mujin untied the string tightly securing the sac’s opening. Mo Wan-ah murmured anxiously.
“It’s really dangerous…”
“I told you, it’s fine. You know who I am, right? I’m Tang Mujin.”
With a confident reply, Tang Mujin brought the sac’s opening close to his nose and took a slight breath.
And it was two days before he regained consciousness.