I frowned, thinking I had heard something strange.
‘…Did I mishear?’
That gentleman who, just moments ago, had spoken with razor-sharp formalities as if trying to keep his distance had suddenly called me his son-in-law. His words dripping with desire were absurd.
Or perhaps not. Should I say it’s good that he’s being honest?
‘I understand, but.’
The hope dwelling in the Poison King’s eyes. Feeling this, I let out a slight sigh. Because it wasn’t as though I couldn’t understand why he was so fond of it.
His hand fidgeted, not knowing what to do. After watching it quietly for a moment, I turned my gaze.
Hwaaaah—!!
I saw the dough still glowing.
Not just light—the power felt from the dough was truly a tremendous energy.
It was a difference incomparable to what had been felt before adding the demonic stone. I could tell the moment I saw it.
‘It succeeded.’
So this was what it was supposed to be. It was so brilliant that I couldn’t not know.
‘My prediction was right.’
That was a relief.
I had worried about what would happen if I was wrong. Such worries were laughable in the face of how perfectly my prediction had matched.
When the Poison King came to me and said the demonic stone was the problem, this was what had immediately come to mind.
The demonic energy of the demonic stone was the problem. So I extracted the energy and inserted it, but there was no reaction.
Then, since he had said the demonic stone was absolutely necessary, there was only one conclusion I could think of.
‘Energy other than demonic energy had to be put into the demonic stone.’
It was a demonic stone precisely because it was a stone filled with demonic energy, so it seemed a contradictory statement, but since the result was what it was, it was the correct answer.
The problem was.
‘Why a red demonic stone of all things?’
Why was it a red demonic stone among so many demonic stones? When I pondered the question, it was the first thought that came to mind. Why? Though I wondered, now I felt I somewhat understood.
‘I see.’
If I had to say, it wouldn’t have been possible simply because it was a red demonic stone.
To be precise with the wording, it would be right to say it was possible starting from ‘red.’
‘The reason I was told to use red was because it’s the minimum condition.’
I would have to test further to know for sure, but it was probably correct.
‘Green and blue aren’t enough.’
The amount of energy a demonic stone could hold differed with each grade. From that perspective, the reason it was specifically expressed as red was, quite literally, because of the quantity of energy.
‘You have to insert at least as much energy as a red one to use it.’
The amount of energy a red demonic stone could hold.
Perhaps that much had to go in for it to be usable.
That was my immediate prediction. Because there wasn’t enough information to be certain.
‘Especially.’
I turned around. The demonic stone used to make the dough.
A stone made by absorbing all the energy and inserting my own energy into the empty space. It had been an ingredient made to create the current dough.
However.
‘It shattered the moment it left my hand.’
Before I could even grind all of the demonic stone, it had shattered into pieces the moment it fell from my hand.
‘I wonder, did it break because it was ground, or because it fell from my hand?’
This too was something that needed to be checked.
‘Anyway, we’ve confirmed that this is correct up to this point.’
I had succeeded in concocting the Heavenly Poison Pill. For now, this was the only thing that mattered.
Having succeeded at something I had prepared for several years, what could be more important than this?
“Patriarch Dang.”
“Yes, son-in-law. Do you have something to say?”
“No… ah….”
His attitude had changed so drastically that I was flustered for a moment, but I glossed over it somehow.
“…I don’t know how to roll the pills, though. Could you do it for me?”
“Ah-!”
Only then did the Poison King seem to come to his senses, approaching and taking hold of the dough.
I watched it closely.
‘There’s no problem when it leaves my hands.’
The dough that left for the Poison King’s embrace showed no change. It still held its light, and maybe its energy was even gradually growing stronger.
‘Is it really okay?’
I wouldn’t know if I could rest easy until the results came out, but.
‘I think it’ll be fine.’
Looking at it, it didn’t seem like there would be any major problems.
If it was that level of energy, at least a mediocre Spirit Pill wouldn’t be born upon completion.
However, if it were to fail.
‘…That would be quite a headache.’
The thought alone made my head hurt because it meant I would have to find another method, but.
Fortunately, not long after the Poison King worked the dough.
Time passed, and I was able to nod my head while looking at the three Spirit Pills before my eyes.
“It truly succeeded….”
Words the Poison King spilled, seemingly deeply moved.
“Truly….”
As if he couldn’t even bring himself to touch them, the Poison King gazed at the Spirit Pills with longing.
It was the first time I had seen such an expression.
‘…Hmm.’
It was understandable that he was moved. I understood that too.
“Patriarch Dang.”
“Speak, son-i….”
“Then, could you stop with that damn ‘son-in-law’ first?”
“…”
The Poison King nodded quietly. Seeing him make a disappointed expression even then was truly absurd.
I deliberately avoided his gaze and asked while looking at the Spirit Pills.
“Are the Spirit Pills going to the storage room now?”
“I do have a space prepared.”
“Then that means we have to wait about half a year.”
“If the concoction method is correct, that is.”
The last step of the Heavenly Poison Pill’s concoction method.
If we succeeded in the concoction after adding the demonic stone, it was said that it had to be left in an underground place maintaining a cool temperature for half a year.
This was something other Spirit Pills went through as well, including Shaolin’s Great Reversal Pill.
It was said that though the time and location varied, they usually went through an aging process of several months.
Only after finishing such time.
‘Does it mean we can finally obtain the Heavenly Poison Pill?’
It was a shame we had to wait several months, but as long as it was completed, it didn’t matter.
‘With this.’
The matter that had been planned with the Heavenly Poison Pill from the beginning.
The commercialization of the Heavenly Poison Pill. I could now set my sights on that.
It was a satisfying result. The Poison King also seemed relieved, as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, so things had turned out quite well.
Honestly, even I hadn’t known I would succeed this quickly.
‘I thought it would take at least two days.’
I had come here thinking that if it didn’t work after a few trials and errors, I would have to invest a bit more time in the Dang Clan.
‘Good.’
Since it had become quite a proud accomplishment, I didn’t feel bad. I was certainly thinking that, but….
“Hmm.”
Unlike the Poison King, who was simply delighted, my eyes looking at the Heavenly Poison Pill held a slight sense of unease.
It was clearly a Spirit Pill.
Both the energy and the feeling were similar to the Heavenly Poison Pill kept in storage by the Dang Clan and myself. There was a slightly unstable sensation, but I thought this might be resolved during the storage process over time.
If so, it was ultimately something that had ended well. Was there any need to look at it so uneasily?
Even while thinking that, doubts arose.
The reason I was thinking this was none other than.
“Patriarch Dang.”
“Speak.”
“But that…. Can we really call it the Heavenly Poison Pill?”
To think I had made the Heavenly Poison Pill and was asking if it was the Heavenly Poison Pill. Even I thought it was a strange thing to say, but.
“…”
Surprisingly, even the Poison King couldn’t answer easily.
It was because he, too, knew the problem with this Heavenly Poison Pill.
Everything about it was good.
‘The condensed energy is good, and the condition is fine too.’
Something that wouldn’t lose even when compared to the Great Reversal Pill. The Spirit Pill before my eyes was indeed that, but.
‘…Isn’t it a bit strange to call this the Heavenly Poison Pill?’
There was one big problem there. Namely.
‘There’s no poison qi.’
It meant that poison qi couldn’t be felt from the Spirit Pill. It possessed a brilliant, profound energy and the sacredness unique to Spirit Pills. However, it lacked the most important part that made it the Heavenly Poison Pill.
The reason the Heavenly Poison Pill was valued slightly above the Great Reversal Pill when comparing the two was precisely its poison qi.
Merely consuming the Heavenly Poison Pill granted a considerable amount of internal energy, and because it even raised one’s resistance to poison, which was difficult to improve, it was evaluated highly.
‘I can’t feel it.’
The successful product of the Heavenly Poison Pill I had made did not have its unique poison qi. Even.
‘I feel something other than poison qi….’
Another energy had taken the place where poison qi should rightfully have been.
It was an energy I couldn’t not know.
‘Fire qi.’
Fire qi (火气).
Those who had mastered the fire arts.
Or an energy that dwelled in the bodies of those who had spent very long years before flames.
Becoming intimate with flames and embracing flames in one’s bosom.
That was fire qi.
‘Why am I suddenly feeling fire qi from the Heavenly Poison Pill?’
The Heavenly Poison Pill was made by madly mixing poison herbs and spirit herbs. Fire qi popping out of that?
Wondering if I was the only one who realized this strange point, I saw the Poison King’s expression also growing subtle.
‘…What was the problem?’
Where had the problem occurred? The Spirit Pill had clearly been completed properly, so just what had gone wrong….
‘Huh?’
While thinking, a thought suddenly flashed through my mind.
The reason fire qi rather than poison qi was contained in the Heavenly Poison Pill.
“No way.”
Rolling my eyes, I looked at my hand.
‘Because I put my energy in it?’
I had infused my energy into the demonic stone and ground it in. Perhaps that had been the cause?
‘I think this is it.’
I tried to find another reason, but there was nothing else.
If it wasn’t this, there was no reason fire qi would be contained so abruptly.
‘I put the power of the Nine-Flame Fire Wheel Art into the dough.’
In response, fire qi had seeped into the Spirit Pill. If so?
“Patriarch Dang. Please try eating just one.”
“What?”
“Just quickly eat one.”
“What nonsense is this. How could I treat such a precious—! Kuop!”
Since he was going on at length, I just shoved it into his mouth. Forcing it in and making him chew caused the Poison King to flail for a moment.
But what was already in was in. Now that it had burrowed into his mouth, it was too late.
For a moment the Poison King looked at me resentfully, but there was nothing he could do.
Thud—!
The Poison King abruptly sat down in a meditative position right where he was. It was an action taken immediately after eating. It was also a struggle to survive.
I too immediately went behind him and placed my hand on his back.
No conversation was necessary. It was natural since the Poison King couldn’t speak while circulating qi.
Huuuung—!!
I felt the flow of energy through his back.
‘It’s certain.’
The moment the Spirit Pill was consumed, energy began distributing inside.
It was the same situation as when eating the Heavenly Poison Pill.
Only.
‘As expected, fire qi is mixed in.’
It just lacked poison qi.
‘Is there no problem with the energy?’
To check this as well, I increased the speed at which the energy moved.
Suuuuuu—!!!
“Kup!?”
Whether he felt the shock of the suddenly quickened recoil, the Poison King flinched.
“Concentrate.”
“…”
In an instant, I spread the energy throughout his entire body.
At the same time, I gathered the turbid qi that had accumulated unknowingly and burned it away with my left hand.
“…!!”
The Poison King showed a colorful variety of reactions every time something happened.
…What was with this old man?
‘If his meridians get tangled like this, he’ll die. Is he fearless?’
It wasn’t as if he had never experienced this before.
‘The energy circulates easily. It’s definitely good.’
Since it had just been made, it was unstable, but looking at its condition, it was clean and good.
I could hold down any slight wavering while spreading it, so at this level it was acceptable.
Thus step by step. I circulated the energy throughout the Poison King’s entire body, then gathered it and placed it into his dantian.
“Kk… uuuuk.”
Perhaps because the amount of energy was immense, the Poison King let out a pained groan.
Truthfully, I could have inserted the energy painlessly, but I didn’t.
‘Because it would be too much of a hassle.’
Ah, well, he’s the Poison King. He should be able to endure this much. I had only thought that far.
Only after shoving it in like that for a long while.
“Keoheok…!!”
The Poison King bent over and retched.
Tudududuk—!!
Black blood flowed in a stream from his mouth.
“Heok… heok.”
It was the turbid qi remaining after being sorted out. Though it looked painful, it was strictly a luxury.
“Congratulations.”
I calmly offered congratulations while looking at the Poison King regulating his breathing.
His realm had risen slightly from what had just happened. Even I, who had been manipulating the energy, could tell; the Poison King, the master of his own body, would know even better.
“Keolruk… huu… huk….”
Having barely caught his breath, the Poison King finally looked this way.
Various emotions were clinging to his eyes.
“You… just now.”
“You don’t need to thank me.”
“No, it’s not that I’m thankful—!! I’m asking what you are doing without permission.”
“So fire qi really does appear…. Is it just immunity, or can it be mixed? Since I’ve seen that it has an effect… if this is the case….”
“No matter that you are my benefactor, this is something for which you should be scolded… wait a moment… what are you doing now?”
The Poison King worked himself up as though he were about to give me a good scolding, but he didn’t get the chance.
Because just as I had fed him, I took one of the completed Heavenly Poison Pills(?) and shoved it into my mouth.
‘I’ve experimented with the Poison King’s body, so this time I’ll check directly myself.’
If it was truly a Spirit Pill made with my energy, what changes would occur when I ate it directly?
Curious about this, I tried it immediately.
A spicy, tingling fragrance and taste entered my mouth. Feeling this, I chewed and swallowed it just like that.
Gulp.
The Spirit Pill passed down my throat and dug deep into my body. Right as I was regulating my breathing, preparing for the energy that would slowly spread.
“Y-you—!”
The Poison King reacted as if in shock.
Since his reaction was quite large, seeing that, I spoke as if disappointed.
“Anyway, it’s not like we don’t have the Heavenly Poison Pill. I went out of my way to solve your problem, too. Can’t I eat just this much?”
I was even the one who had brought the concoction method. After everything else I had done, if he was going to come at me like that just for eating a bit of this, I’d really have nothing to say.
Then.
“It’s not like we can’t just make more….”
“Are you alright? I say, Guk Gongja!”
“Yes?”
The Poison King’s reaction was somehow strange.
‘“Are you alright?” What did that mean?’
The moment I was about to speak to the Poison King, unable to understand.
“No, of course I’m fi… huh?”
Only then could I realize.
“…What?”
My position had changed.
“Patriarch?”
A space where not even a trace of human presence could be felt, let alone the Poison King who had been beside me.
I narrowed my eyes at the sudden phenomenon.
What the hell is going on now…?