NOVEL NEXT chapter 217
At Namgoong Hwan’s words, Tang Gihwan waved his hand and said,
“Help? That won’t be necessary. You’re our guest, after all. Your concern alone is enough. It’s dangerous right now, so please leave your escort goods over there and get going.”
At Tang Gihwan’s words, Namgoong Hwan looked toward Yeon Woo Jin.
Then, Yeon Woo Jin stepped forward.
Tang Gihwan tilted his head slightly as he saw the unfamiliar man approaching him and Namgoong Hwan.
Who’s this?
Just as he was thinking that, something surprising happened.
“What should we do in a situation like this?”
Namgoong Hwan’s posture toward Yeon Woo Jin was that of a subordinate speaking to a superior.
Tang Gihwan looked back and forth between Namgoong Hwan and Yeon Woo Jin with a stunned expression.
To the confused Tang Gihwan, Yeon Woo Jin cupped his fists and spoke.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Yeon Woo Jin, the Head of Shincheon Escort Bureau.”
“Ah, a pleasure. I am Tang Gihwan, Head of the Tang Clan.”
“There’s something I need to discuss with you, Clan Head. But to do that, I’ll first need to resolve the situation at hand.”
“With me?”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry, but unless it’s urgent, could you come another time? As you can see, this isn’t the right moment.”
“It is urgent. It’s also a matter of great importance to the Tang Clan.”
“Important to us? And what might that be?”
“There are too many ears here. I can’t speak freely.”
Something that can’t be spoken of because there are too many ears?
That only made him more curious.
But now wasn’t the time to entertain curiosity.
What if, while he stepped away, the poison miasma leaked out?
It would result in a catastrophe.
“I’m sorry. It simply can’t be helped right now.”
“If the source of the miasma is underground, I might be able to take care of it.”
“You… can handle poison?”
“A bit.”
“A bit won’t be enough.”
At Tang Gihwan’s remark, Yeon Woo Jin sniffed the air and spoke.
“This is a compound poison made from a failed mix of dozens of toxins. It’s called Myriad Rot-Blood Poison (Manbu Hyeolhon Poison).”
Tang Gihwan tilted his head at the name.
He had never heard of such a poison before.
“I’ve never heard of anything like that. You didn’t just make that name up on the spot, did you?”
“No. This poison requires a host. There’s likely a host underground who’s spreading the toxin. Eliminate the host, and the poison will naturally disappear. But there must be a reason you haven’t been able to.”
Tang Gihwan’s expression changed to one of shock.
Wasn’t that explanation too fitting for their current situation?
Then he straightened his expression and asked Yeon Woo Jin with desperate eyes,
“Th-then… do you also know how to detoxify this poison?”
Yeon Woo Jin nodded.
Tang Gihwan’s gaze wavered.
Should he believe this or not?
Wasn’t there a saying that a drowning man will clutch at straws?
In the end, Tang Gihwan confessed everything.
“In truth… the source of the miasma is my own son.”
Tang Gihwan confessed everything that had happened to his son.
It had all begun while trying to strengthen his son’s poison resistance due to his innate weakness to toxins.
“That’s how a Poison Man is made.”
“This poison is vicious. I’ve never encountered anything like it in my life.”
“Would it be alright if I took a look?”
At Yeon Woo Jin’s request, Tang Gihwan hesitated for a moment.
“One wrong move and you could die.”
“It’s fine. That won’t happen. There’s no need to worry.”
“You really… know this poison?”
“Yes.”
After hearing his answer, Tang Gihwan looked at Namgoong Hwan.
His expression asked, Can I really trust this man?
Namgoong Hwan gave a firm nod.
“If he’s ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) cured… will my son return to his original state?”
“Yes.”
“Then… I beg you. Please. I’m begging you, please save my son!”
As Tang Gihwan bowed his head in desperate plea, Yeon Woo Jin responded,
“Yes. I’ll make sure to return him to how he was.”
From Yeon Woo Jin’s confident demeanor, Tang Gihwan saw a glimmer of hope.
****
Tang Gihwan led Yeon Woo Jin down into the underground facility.
Even while wearing an anti-poison mask, the acrid stench still permeated through.
The toxin had grown so potent that it was now seeping past the protection of the mask.
He began to feel slightly dizzy.
Even someone like me, with high poison resistance, is reacting this way—can Yeon Woo Jin really endure it?
With that thought, he turned around to check.
But Yeon Woo Jin was calmly looking around, following him without the slightest discomfort.
Tang Gihwan asked,
“Hmm? Oh, yes. I’m fine. Why?”
“The miasma is so strong, even the poison mask isn’t filtering it out properly. If this keeps accumulating in your body, you could be poisoned.”
“Oh, really?”
What?
That expression—he really didn’t know?
Is he not sensing the smell?
“Can you not smell it?”
“Smell? Oh, I can smell it just fine.”
“Then don’t you smell the sour stench right now?”
“No. There shouldn’t be a sour stench. That means you’re being poisoned.”
So he did know.
“You’re saying you smell the stench right now?”
“Yes.”
“Then that’s no good.”
Yeon Woo Jin waved his hand toward Tang Gihwan.
What was he doing?
At that moment—
Something unbelievable happened.
The miasma began to recede from around Tang Gihwan.
And at the same time, the sour stench completely disappeared.
Startled, Tang Gihwan turned to Yeon Woo Jin.
“Wh-What did you just do?”
“I blocked the miasma from approaching your body.”
“How?”
“I erected a Qi Barrier to keep it out.”
“A Qi Barrier can’t block miasma.”
“True. But this one can. It also purifies as it blocks.”
Where in the world did such a Qi Barrier exist?
But there it was—he was experiencing it himself.
It was incredible.
At this point, he couldn’t help but wonder—
Just who exactly is Yeon Woo Jin?
Thinking about it, even Namgoong Hwan of the Changcheon Guild was treating him with deference.
What kind of existence would command that kind of respect?
One thing was certain—
His earlier doubts were turning into conviction.
A growing belief that Tang Baek really might be saved.
****
In front of a massive iron door.
Tang Mugun stood guarding it.
“What is this? You’re bringing someone here now?”
He was referring to Yeon Woo Jin, standing beside Tang Gihwan.
“I’ve brought someone who can save Tang Baek.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“This man says he can save him.”
“Nonsense! There’s only one way to save Tang Baek now that he’s become a Poison Man. You have to wait until the miasma drains out and strike then.”
At Tang Mugun’s words, Yeon Woo Jin stepped forward.
“The miasma won’t drain. It’s being released to draw in external energy. If anything, he’ll only grow stronger, not weaker.”
“You bastard! What do you know to speak such nonsense? Who are you?”
“I’m Yeon Woo Jin, Head of the Shincheon Escort Bureau.”
“Shincheon Escort Bureau? Is that even a real bureau?”
“It was newly established.”
“And a bureau master from some upstart escort bureau dares to disrespect our Tang Clan?”
Tang Mugun growled, and Tang Gihwan quickly interjected.
“Father, please don’t. This man truly can save our Tang Baek.”
“What?”
“I believe in him.”
What’s going on?
Tang Mugun stood dazed, unable to grasp the situation.
“What’s gotten into you? What did that man say to you?”
Tang Gihwan struggled to explain.
At that moment, Yeon Woo Jin slowly approached the iron door.
“Stop! If you take another step, I won’t let it slide!”
But Yeon Woo Jin paid no mind and continued walking.
“If we wait any longer, it’ll be too late. We need to neutralize the poison immediately.”
“What?”
“If he crosses into the Rotting Corpse Poison Man stage, he’ll truly be dead. After that... you’ll never see your grandson again.”
A Rotting Corpse Poison Man was someone whose body had been completely consumed by poison—no longer a living being.
At that point, they became a walking calamity.
The moment Yeon Woo Jin touched the door—
Tang Mugun shouted,
“Stop!”
He moved to stop him—
“Urgh!”
—but his body wouldn’t move.
At the same time, a transparent barrier formed around him.
The moment the barrier formed, it became easier to breathe.
What kind of sorcery is this?
Creak—
While he was marveling at the phenomenon, the iron door began to open.
He turned his head in alarm.
Black miasma surged toward Yeon Woo Jin.
It was too late.
The black poison mist would reduce him to a puddle of blood.
Huh?
But something was wrong.
The poisonous mist that had rushed toward Yeon Woo Jin was now being pushed back.
Yeon Woo Jin’s form became visible again—completely unharmed and walking forward.
Come to think of it, isn’t he strong enough to immobilize me without even lifting a finger?
What reason would such a martial master have to lie?
Realizing that, a strange conviction settled in.
Maybe this man really can save Tang Baek.
The miasma was now being pushed entirely behind the iron door.
An invisible force was slowly sealing it off.
Then, it became completely confined around the area where Tang Baek was bound in the Heavenly Net Binding Web.
At that moment, the Qi Barriers around Tang Mugun and Tang Gihwan dissipated.
But even with the barriers gone, there was no trace of that sour stench.
Which meant—there was no poison left in the space at all.
“Graaaagh!”
Tang Baek’s roar echoed.
Tang Mugun and Tang Gihwan watched nervously.
Sssk—
Just then, the Heavenly Net Binding Web tore apart, and Tang Baek lunged at Yeon Woo Jin.
“Gasp! T-The Heavenly Net Binding Web is tearing?!”
“The poison must have grown strong enough to melt even that.”
“Damn it!”
If they had waited a moment longer, Tang Baek would have escaped, and no one would have been able to stop him.
If he escaped into the world—
Chengdu would become a city of death.
That thought sent chills down their spines.
They had nearly committed an unforgivable sin against the Central Plains.
He was a living catastrophe—yet, strangely, no one felt worried about Yeon Woo Jin.
Why was that?
The reason became clear shortly after.
“H-He’s...!”
The poison mist that Tang Baek unleashed began attacking Yeon Woo Jin like it had a will of its own.
But as it neared Yeon Woo Jin, the mist began thinning and soon turned transparent and disappeared.
Yeon Woo Jin walked slowly toward Tang Baek.
Tang Baek seemed to sense something.
He began stepping backward.
He was trying to avoid Yeon Woo Jin.
But in the narrow room, there was nowhere to go.
“Graaaagh!”
With a final roar, Tang Baek unleashed all the poison he possessed toward Yeon Woo Jin.
He intended to blind him and flee.
Whoosh—
But the poison was instantly purified and vanished.
Tap—
Yeon Woo Jin approached and grasped Tang Baek’s hand.
Tang Baek struggled, trying to shake him off.
To him, Yeon Woo Jin said,
“It must have been hard. Just hold on a little longer. I’ll make it better soon.”
Did he understand those words?
Tang Baek calmed down.
At that moment, a radiant light spread from Yeon Woo Jin’s hand, enveloping Tang Baek’s entire body.
****
Yeon Woo Jin had entered Tang Baek’s Mental World.
Deep within, he found Tang Baek curled up, trembling in fear.
As Yeon Woo Jin approached, Tang Baek screamed,
“D-Don’t come any closer! I don’t want to!”
He looked absolutely terrified.
“It’s okay.”
At Yeon Woo Jin’s gentle voice, Tang Baek slowly turned his face.
“You’re Tang Baek, right?”
“Yeah… who are you?”
“I came at the request of your grandfather and father. They asked me to bring you back.”
“Grandpa and Father?”
“That’s right.”
“I’m not going back!”
“What?”
“I’ll never go back!”
“Why not?”
“If I go back... they’ll put me in hell again.”
“Hell?”
“Yes. The hell where I live every day with the pain of my entire body being torn apart. But right now... at least there’s no pain.”