Episode 39: The Poison Pill

“So, I just swallow this, right?”

“That’s right.”

With a decisive nod, Dang Mujin swallowed the poison pouch from Chilbosan.

His quick decision wasn’t without reason. Once he left the Namgung family, he’d likely have to sleep rough most nights. It was safer and more comfortable to create the poison pill here, within the secure confines of the Namgung estate, rather than out on the road, exposed to the elements and biting insects.

But as soon as Dang Mujin swallowed the pill, Gwiui started speaking in a suspiciously ominous tone.

“That’s quite a swift and resolute decision for you. Now, let’s do our best to survive.”

“What? Survive what?”

“Why are you just standing there? Move while you still can.”

Gwiui hurriedly walked into the inner chamber, and Dang Mujin followed, assuming it was all a joke. He watched Gwiui’s expression closely.

Gwiui wore a strangely excited look. It reminded Dang Mujin of a time in his childhood when he had insisted on climbing a three-tiered human pyramid and ended up spraining his back. His friends had looked at him with the same expression as he lay groaning on the ground.

Yes, it was the kind of smile people have when they’re watching someone make a fool of themselves, not when they’re genuinely happy.

This was not a good sign.

“Is it true that I could die from this?”

“You know as well as I do that the poison from Chilbosan is dangerous. It’s better than it spreading through your bloodstream, but it’s still risky even in your stomach.”

“But last time with the black peony, you said it would hurt but wasn’t dangerous.”

“That was then. This is different. But don’t worry, with me here, your chances of survival are higher.”

The thought crossed his mind that when it comes to life and death, there shouldn’t be any mention of ‘chances.’

“You should’ve told me this before I took it!”

“Knowing you, you’d just drag it out and end up taking it anyway. Besides, it’s safer to make the poison pill now while the energy of the black peony is still strong, rather than waiting five years.”

Unlike Gwiui, Dang Mujin was still young. Even in five years, he’d only be in his mid-twenties.

If Gwiui had just told him to wait five years, he would have nodded in agreement.

”…I might end up going fifty years early instead of five.”

“Did you think the path of a martial artist was easy? You have to be ready to go fifty years early to shave off five.”

Just a moment ago, Gwiui was sweet-talking him about being the divine doctor of Sichuan, and now he was suddenly talking about martial arts.

Dang Mujin was about to retort when he felt something boiling up inside his stomach.

As his expression changed, Gwiui chuckled.

“Feeling it now? The poison of Chilbosan is no joke. It’s not the deadliest poison, but it’s far beyond the level of minor toxins or poisonous plants.”

There was no time to respond. Dang Mujin immediately sat down and crossed his legs.

He felt the sensation of two palms on his back. Gwiui was channeling his energy into Dang Mujin, examining his internal state.

Judging by the meager amount of energy, it seemed Gwiui intended to offer guidance rather than direct intervention.

Dang Mujin took a deep breath. The energy in the air stirred lightly in his lungs.

‘This is just the beginning.’

The poison pouch in his stomach began to dissolve, releasing its toxic energy throughout his body. It was thick and viscous, almost tangible.

He recalled the time he consumed the black peony.

The energy from the black peony was abundant and dense, yet gentle. It filled his meridians, causing pain but not harm.

But the poison from Chilbosan was different.

It wasn’t immediately painful, but it was undeniably dangerous. It felt like watching a madman with a knife roaming the streets.

Unlike the black peony’s energy, which simply filled his meridians, the poison was desperate to spread and cause harm. It seemed ready to burst through his stomach and mix with his blood at any moment.

How many people could this single poison pouch kill?

As Dang Mujin tried to suppress the poison with his internal energy, Gwiui intervened.

“Don’t suppress it. Let it run wild for a bit. Once it tastes blood, it’ll start moving properly.”

“You’re joking, right?”

“No. The poison needs to be strong to form a stable and potent poison pill. We started with Chilbosan’s poison pouch because we needed a powerful toxin.”

Having already committed, Dang Mujin had no choice but to follow Gwiui’s instructions.

He closed his eyes and observed the poison within. It sluggishly seeped beyond his stomach, releasing its toxic energy until it touched a small blood vessel.

At that moment, the poison rampaged like a wild beast.

Yet Gwiui remained unfazed.

“Wait. Let it build up a bit more.”

“And now?”

“Just a little longer… There. Now, suppress it with your internal energy.”

The poison, having tasted blood, raged like a furious beast.

To make matters worse, when Dang Mujin tried to envelop it with his internal energy, it became even more violent.

He coughed up something from deep within, noticing the blood was darker than usual.

“Focus.”

Dang Mujin calmed himself and observed his inner state.

His internal energy was considerable, especially compared to his understanding of martial arts. It was incomparable to when he first started cultivating.

His energy spread wide, slowly encircling the poison.

But it wasn’t safe. The poison, having tasted blood, thrashed as if it would tear through the barrier of his energy at any moment. A precarious balance.

“What do I do now?”

“Move the poison to your dantian. Your internal energy should be enveloping the black peony’s energy, right? Push the poison into the energy and seal it. Encase the poison in two layers.”

Sweating profusely, Dang Mujin maneuvered the poison.

Despite his urgency, the poison moved at an agonizingly slow pace. Was it even moving?

“Be careful not to let the poison leak out. If it mixes with your blood, you’re dead. If you can contain it in your dantian, you’ll survive.”

“One mistake and I’m dead? Isn’t there another way?”

“There is. If the poison leaks into your blood, channel it into one of your legs.”

“My leg?”

“Yes. Then you can cut off the leg and survive.”

Gwiui casually touched the short sword at his waist. It wasn’t meant for this purpose.

“Suddenly, I’m wondering, if I manage to make the poison pill…”

“Yes?”

“What if my dantian shatters?”

“Then the poison will spread from your dantian throughout your body, and you’ll die. But don’t worry. Just be careful not to let your dantian break.”

“That’s not very reassuring…”

“Stop talking and just listen. Focus on your internal energy and the poison.”

Dang Mujin closed his eyes and began to move his energy.

“Good. Move it like that. You’re not going straight to the dantian. Pass through the water point, the middle point, and the great gate, then move down again. Be careful not to let the poison rise to the pigeon tail point. If it leaks there, you’re done for.”

Dang Mujin was familiar with the meridian points. But Gwiui guided his energy slowly, showing him the path.

“Now, move carefully.”

He drew the poison up to just below his chest, then guided it back down.

It was an excruciatingly slow process. He had never concentrated so intensely on anything in his life. One slip, and the poison would spread through his body, killing him.

With no external threats, he didn’t need his senses.

Dang Mujin shut off all his senses, focusing solely on the poison and his internal energy. At some point, Gwiui’s voice faded away. But it didn’t matter. He knew the path he had to take.

He lost track of time. It felt like only a couple of hours had passed, or perhaps ten days.

Finally, when his energy reached his dantian, Dang Mujin used all his accumulated energy to open the path. Amidst the bluish energy, the white energy of the black peony appeared.

Carefully, he opened the black peony’s energy and guided the poison inside.

The poison thrashed even more violently, as if aware it would never escape once trapped. But Dang Mujin didn’t lose focus.

He didn’t rush. Both the poison and he moved so slowly that neither could perceive the movement.

At last, he pushed the poison in and closed the path. Inside his dantian, the poison raged.

But the thick energy of the black peony and Dang Mujin’s internal energy pressed down, preventing it from spreading.

The poison pill thrashed, then gradually slowed.

It formed a small, flat sphere, like a drop of water in his mind, and finally settled.

Dang Mujin realized he had successfully formed the poison pill.

‘Success.’

After what felt like an eternity, Dang Mujin contained the poison and opened his eyes.

The first thing he saw was the back of Hong Geolgae’s head. He looked a bit more disheveled than when they parted in Anhui, but he seemed content with his life on the streets, humming a tune.

As Dang Mujin exhaled deeply, Hong Geolgae turned around.

“Oh, you’re awake?”

“Yeah. When did you get here?”

“I was outside when the Elder called for me. He asked me to stand guard in his place.”

If they had to find someone to take over, it must have been quite a while. At least half a day, if not more.

“How long have I been meditating?”

“Today marks the fifth day.”

No wonder I felt so hungry. Has it really been that long?

It’s a strange feeling. Even without wielding a sword, it seems my martial skills have improved.

Well, I’ve never focused this intensely on channeling my inner energy before.

Hong Geolgae adjusted his posture and looked at Dang Mujin.

“I heard you were doing some kind of training. What exactly were you up to?”

“Want me to show you?”

Dang Mujin extended his thumb and touched it to the ground.

Recalling the technique the Elder had shown him, he began to draw up his inner energy.

His energy embraced a trace of the poison from Chilbosan, moving from his core, up to his shoulder, and then through the Yunmen, Chize, Jingqu, and Shaoshang points.

It took quite some time. How much practice would it take to handle the poison as naturally as the Elder and use it effectively in combat?

But he wasn’t in a hurry. What did it matter if it was slow? The foundation was solid, and he could demonstrate his progress.

Dang Mujin lifted his thumb from the ground. A dark, viscous poison stained the floor, filling the room with the sharp, acrid smell unique to Chilbosan’s poison.

Dang Mujin smiled with satisfaction.

“What do you think?”

Hong Geolgae’s expression changed dramatically.

“This is…”

“Impressive, right?”

Hong Geolgae took a step back and said, “So, you can poop with your finger now?”

Dang Mujin kicked Hong Geolgae.