The Martial God with Psychic Powers

Chengdu, Sichuan Tang Clan.
Two men who looked to be of high status were in the middle of a heated argument.
“If this continues, the second son could die!”
“He must endure. Only by overcoming this can he become Immune to a Hundred Poisons.”
“But this is too severe. Baek was never resistant to poison to begin with—not since birth. Father, this is enough. Look at Baek’s skin—he’s already showing signs of chronic poisoning.”
“You fool, you know this just as well as I do. This is a natural reaction. My heart aches, too. But once this is over, Baek will never be poisoned again. In a clan that handles poisons, one must have resistance to poison to survive.”
The two men arguing were Tang Mugun, the Grand Elder of the Sichuan Tang Clan, and Tang Gihwan, the current Clan Head.
And the reason for their argument was none other than the second son, Tang Baek.
Born with an extremely weak resistance to poison, Tang Baek would collapse into convulsions the moment he began training.
A body weak to poison, in a clan that specializes in poison.
The two had tried every method imaginable to cultivate resistance in his body.
But nothing worked.
No matter what they did, his resistance never improved.
In the end, they resorted to their final method—the Hundred Poison Bath Method (百毒水浴法).
As the name implied, this method involved submerging the body in a hundred different poisons to forcibly induce resistance.
They had started with weak poisons and gradually increased the strength.
Right now, Tang Baek was inside a jar filled with the seventieth poison mixture.
His face had already turned completely black.
He was gasping for air like he could die at any moment.
“Look at him! He really will die at this rate!”
“Silence! Do you not trust me?”
“Father! Even monkeys who climb trees fall sometimes. This time, you've made a mistake!”
“I do not make mistakes!”
“Please, Father, I beg you—stop now and neutralize the poison. He’s going to die.”
The two continued to argue in circles.
“Enough from you!”
Whooom—
As Tang Mugun flared up, his qi burst outward, stirring up a whirlwind.
At the same time, the poison jars being administered gradually tipped and spilled into the vat all at once.
“Gasp!”
“No—!”
Both men cried out in shock as they hurried to remove the jars.
But it was already too late.
A large volume of undiluted poison had entered the jar.
Tang Mugun immediately shattered the jar.
Smash—
Ssshhh—
The poison splashed onto their bodies, but ignoring it, Tang Mugun rushed to Tang Baek’s side.
The poison had been meant to be added slowly—but a massive dose had just entered his body all at once.
Pop-pop— pop-pop—
Tang Mugun quickly pressed acupuncture points on Tang Baek’s body to stop the poison from circulating.
“Ggghrrk—”
With nowhere else to go, the poison spewed from Tang Baek’s mouth and began spreading outward.
“Hold your breath!”
The unrefined poison spread quickly, and both Tang Mugun and Tang Gihwan covered their noses with their sleeves.
—I’ll get the Anti-Poison Masks.
—Understood.
Anti-Poison Masks were worn to prevent toxins from entering through the respiratory tract.
Tang Gihwan rushed out of the room while Tang Mugun checked Tang Baek’s condition.
It wasn’t good.
A substantial amount of poison had already been absorbed into Tang Baek’s body.
He felt despair.
How was he supposed to detoxify this?
Only now did regret sink in.
Because of his own misguided ambition, he might lose his innocent grandson.
Clenching his fist, Tang Mugun looked at Tang Baek’s gaping mouth and lifeless expression.
Forgive me! This foolish grandfather is truly sorry! But don’t worry—I will save you, no matter what!
 
****
Word of what happened to Tang Baek spread throughout the entire Tang Clan.
They couldn’t hide it, even if they tried.
To find a cure by any means necessary, they had to mobilize the full resources of the clan.
Thanks to that, the entire clan was on emergency footing.
Everyone scrambled in all directions to locate detoxifying herbs, and the Tang Clan’s medicine division worked around the clock producing antidotes.
They spared no effort—every single trace of poison in Tang Baek’s body had to be detoxified.
At first, it worked to some extent.
Tang Baek’s complexion started to improve.
So everyone held on to hope.
But that hope didn’t last.

One of the antidotes was poorly mixed—and that was the trigger.
The badly compounded antidote caused all the different poisons inside Tang Baek’s body to merge.
Dozens of toxins fused together and created a new poison—one never before seen.
A poison that could never be detoxified.
The problem was, that transformation turned Tang Baek into a complete monster.
“KYAAAAAARGH!”
The poison spewing from Tang Baek’s mouth instantly melted the Tang Clan members it touched.
Witnessing this, people screamed in horror.
“It’s lethal!”
“To melt people instantly…!”
Everyone scrambled to distance themselves, not daring to approach Tang Baek.
Then Tang Mugun stepped forward.
They had to subdue him first.
He used Qinggong to approach and struck Tang Baek’s pressure points.
But it didn’t work.
“Gasp!”
It was true—pressure point techniques had no effect once a person became a Complete Poison Man.
Tang Baek had become exactly that.
The problem was, he had no rationality to control it.
He was nothing more than a soulless monster.
But Tang Mugun would never abandon his grandson.
He had to come up with a solution.
What to do?
In the midst of his thoughts, an idea hit him.
Tang Mugun shouted:
“Bring the Heavenly Net Binding Web! Hurry!”
“Yes, sir!”
A net made from hundreds of strands of Hundred-Forged Golden Thread, as thin as hair—capable of binding anything that was caught in it. That was the Heavenly Net Binding Web (天羅禁碎網).
It couldn’t be cut by internal force, nor melted by anything.
Tang Mugun blocked Tang Baek’s movements until the net arrived.
But Tang Baek’s movements began evolving.
He started mimicking Tang Mugun’s techniques.
“You—are you copying my movements?!”
Unbelievable.
To test it, he switched to a different footwork technique.
Tang ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) Baek copied that, too.
He was clumsy, but it was definitely the same technique.
Under other circumstances, it would’ve been praiseworthy—enough to celebrate.
But not now.
If he got any stronger here, it would be a disaster.
“Damn it.”
The more he dodged, the more refined Tang Baek’s attacks became.
That’s when Tang Gihwan returned with the Heavenly Net Binding Web.
“Father! Here!”
“I’ll draw him in—you throw it!”
“Yes!”
Tang Mugun moved faster.
He tried to lure Tang Baek into a good position to be trapped.
But Tang Baek didn’t fall for it easily.
Though mindless, he had an animal-like instinct for danger.
In the end, Tang Mugun had to take the risk to lure him in.
Hoo… there's no other way.
He took a deep breath and activated the Ten Thousand Streams Return to Origin Divine Art (萬流歸元神功), reshaping his body to resist poison.
Whether it would work against the poison Tang Baek was emitting was anyone’s guess.
But he had to try.
Seeing this, Tang Gihwan cried out.
“Father! What are you doing?!”
“Quiet, boy.”
“Father! It’s too dangerous!”
“It’s fine. What’s the harm in holding my own grandson?”
“Father!”
Tang Mugun embraced Tang Baek directly.
Then he dragged him into position for the net.
“Now! Throw it!”
At his shout, Tang Gihwan hurled the Heavenly Net Binding Web.
Ssshhaa—
“SKREEEEEE!”
Caught in the net, Tang Baek began thrashing violently.
Seeing him captured, Tang Gihwan sighed in relief and turned toward Tang Mugun.
“Father, that was really too close—”
He didn’t finish the sentence.
Tang Mugun’s left arm was melting.
“F-Father?!”
“Hoho… That boy. Incredible. He emitted a poison even my Ten Thousand Streams Return to Origin Divine Art couldn’t resist.”
“Father!”
“It’s fine… I’m fine. This is the price I pay for turning my grandson into that.”
Tang Mugun drew his sword and severed the melting arm.
To prevent the poison from spreading further.
The arm landed on the ground and left a scorched trail as it dissolved.
Tang Gihwan rushed over to stop the bleeding, sobbing.
“Ugh… Father!”
“I’m alright. For now… let’s imprison Baek in the underground chamber.”
“…Yes, understood.”
 
****
The Shincheon Escort Bureau arrived in Chengdu, Sichuan.
“So this is Chengdu?”
“Yes.”
“And this whole massive city is under the Tang Clan’s influence?”
“That’s right. A large number of Chengdu’s residents carry the Tang surname.”
“I see.”
After pushing through a treacherous mountain path, the city looked even larger and more beautiful.
Namgoong Hwan pointed toward a distant area.
“Those massive halls over there—that’s the Sichuan Tang Clan.”
Even from afar, the grand structures were clearly visible.
“Some people travel all the way here just to glimpse the Tang Clan with their own eyes.”
“Impressive. Let’s go.”
“Yes, sir.”
The Shincheon Escort Bureau moved quickly to the Tang Clan’s main gate.
But something seemed off around the compound.
Rope barriers had been put up, and Tang Clan warriors were strictly restricting entry.
Namgoong Hwan approached a guard and asked,
“What’s going on?”
“There’s been a poison leak. We’re doing this to prevent any accidental exposure. We ask for your understanding.”
“Ah. We’re from the Shincheon Escort Bureau, here to deliver a secured consignment to the Tang Clan.”
“Shincheon Escort Bureau? I’ve never heard of it.”
“Perhaps not, but you must’ve heard of me—Namgoong Hwan.”
“Namgoong Hwan? Aren’t you the head of the Changcheon Merchant Guild?”
“That’s me. I’ve come personally—not to any other place, but to the Tang Clan itself. I thought I should pay my respects.”
“I see… but I can’t let you pass on my own. Please wait a moment while I send word inside.”
“Very well.”
As the guard ran inside, Namgoong Hwan turned to Yeon Woo Jin and said,
“It seems something serious is going on inside the Tang Clan.”
Yeon Woo Jin scanned the area and replied,
“There is a faint poison presence, that’s for sure.”
“Really?”
“Yes. It’s only enough to make warriors feel slightly dizzy. But for normal people, it could cause vomiting and diarrhea.”
“Hm. In that case, the Tang Clan’s strict measures make sense. Still, how did the poison leak out? They’re known for their meticulous handling.”
While they spoke, the guard returned and moved the barrier.
“The Clan Head has given permission. Please come in.”
“Thank you.”
“And… please take these.”
The guard handed over a pouch.
“What’s this?”
“Antidote pills. Please distribute them to all those traveling with you.”
“Much appreciated.”
 
****
Once inside, the smell of sour toxins was noticeably stronger.
Namgoong Hwan instinctively rubbed his nose.
At that moment, Clan Head Tang Gihwan appeared.
“Guild Master Namgoong! You came without notice!”
“It’s been too long since I paid my respects to the Tang Clan. I thought I should come myself.”
“Thank you. But as you can see, things are a bit… difficult right now. I’m sorry I can’t treat you properly.”
“Did something happen?”
“…Yes, something did. Please understand that I cannot go into detail—it’s an internal family matter.”
“Of course. I shouldn’t have asked.”
“My apologies, but please just deliver the item and leave quickly. We don’t know when another poison leak may occur.”
“Isn’t there a way to contain it?”
“We’ve tried… but it keeps leaking through the ventilation system.”
“The entire underground area is poisoned?”
Tang Gihwan looked troubled, unable to answer.
Namgoong Hwan nodded, seeming to understand.
“I think I get the general idea. Is there anything we can do to help?”