The Martial God with Psychic Powers

At Tang Baek’s words, Yeon Woo Jin asked,
“Weren’t you just scared of this place a moment ago?”
“It’s scary… but it doesn’t hurt here.”
“I’ll make it so it won’t hurt anymore.”
“You will?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“I came with permission. They promised never to hurt you again.”
“That’s a lie.”
“It’s true. And if you don’t come out… the monster that locked you in here will eat your grandfather, your father, and your entire family. Is that really okay with you?”
“E-Everyone? Even my big brother and my mom?”
“Yes, everyone. Not just your family—everyone in Chengdu will be devoured. Is that really okay with you?”
At Yeon Woo Jin’s question, Tang Baek shook his head.
Then he shot to his feet and said,
“Then I’ll go.”
“Good.”
“But… to get out, I need to get rid of that monster hiding in the darkness.”
“In the darkness?”
Yeon Woo Jin turned his head and saw a writhing, shadowy mass.
It seemed to be the very thing using Tang Baek’s body to emit poison miasma.
Yeon Woo Jin reached out to touch it—but the moment his hand got close, the mass instantly unfurled and engulfed him.
Tang Baek gasped and recoiled, curling up again in fear.
The one who had come to save him had been taken in an instant—terror surged back over him.
No one could beat that monster… or ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) so he thought, trembling.
Bang—!
Whoosh—!
With a thunderous explosion, the dark shroud burst apart in every direction.
From within, Yeon Woo Jin walked out unruffled.
“What’s this? Back to shivering in a corner again? If you’re a man, you should face it head-on.”
“Hyung! A-Are you okay?”
“Me? Something like this can’t do anything to me. I’m the strongest in the world.”
“Stronger than my grandpa?”
“I told you—I’m the strongest in the world.”
“Can I become strong like you too?”
“Of course.”
“Without pain?”
“There might be some pain during training… but not the kind where it feels like your body is being torn apart every day.”
Tang Baek thought for a moment, then nodded.
“Okay. I want to go back.”
“Good choice. Without your will, even if you absorb the poison, it’s meaningless.”
“Huh?”
“From now on, I’m going to make you into a Poison Saint Physique.”
“Poison Saint Physique?”
“Yes. It’s the perfect body every poison martial artist dreams of. From now on, no poison in the world will be able to harm you. And any poison you use will become twice as powerful.”
“Whoa! That’s amazing! I’m really going to become that Poison Saint Physique?”
“Yes.”
“Please do it!”
“Alright. Then focus your mind.”
“What should I do?”
“Concentrate and push through that black shroud using your own strength.”
“Huh?”
“That’s your own energy. Are you really going to lose to your own energy? Go show it who the master is.”
At Yeon Woo Jin’s words, Tang Baek hesitated for a moment, then made up his mind and began walking boldly toward the undulating shroud.
As he approached, the shroud rippled menacingly.
It was terrifying—but he grit his teeth and kept moving forward.
At last, he touched it—and the pain surged through him.
It was the very agony he’d feared most.
But he endured it.
For his grandfather.
For his father.
For his family.
And for all the innocent people.
This is my body!
Clenching his jaw, Tang Baek began to absorb the poison energy swirling within the shroud.
Urgh…!
A soul-rending pain struck him like a blade.
Before, he would’ve fled.
But not this time.
I’ll never… give up!
Tang Baek clenched his fists and began absorbing the rampaging poison.
The poison thrashed, resisting absorption.
It was far too powerful for a child like Tang Baek to handle.
It began to consume him instead—
Until Yeon Woo Jin’s energy enveloped him.
As it wrapped around him, the poison began to purify and was absorbed into Tang Baek’s body.
The boy who had been writhing in pain now wore a peaceful expression, absorbing the purified poison at incredible speed.

 
****
Tang Mugun and Tang Gihwan grew anxious as Yeon Woo Jin simply stood still, holding onto Tang Baek.
If something happens to Yeon Woo Jin, it really will be too late…
Then it happened.
Tang Baek stirred and sat in a lotus position on the floor.
At the same time, the black miasma that had filled the room began flowing rapidly into his body.
Once all the black poison was absorbed, Tang Baek’s body turned pitch black.
Just as they feared something might have gone wrong—
Hoooh—
Tang Baek took a deep breath and began circulating his inner energy.
“F-Father, is that…?”
“Yes… that’s internal breathing. Baek must’ve regained his mind.”
As he began his breathing, Tang Baek’s blackened skin slowly returned to its original apricot tone.
As the healthy color returned, Tang Baek’s body floated into the air.
At that moment, Yeon Woo Jin opened his eyes and let go of Tang Baek.
Then he walked over to Tang Mugun and Tang Gihwan.
“W-What happened?”
“I-Is our Baek alright?”
“Yes. Young Master Tang Baek has fully taken the poison into himself.”
“I-Is that really true?”
“Yes. Young Master Tang Baek is now a Poison Saint Physique.”
“W-What?”
The two men turned their eyes back to Tang Baek in shock.
His hair had turned completely white.
It was a reaction to the immense toxicity.
“F-Father… that’s the White Hair Phenomenon.”
“Yes… I see it too.”
As his hair turned completely white, a powerful force began to swirl around Tang Baek’s body.
Whooosh—
Snap—snap—
His clothes shredded away, leaving him bare.
Then his skin cracked, like ice breaking apart, and was replaced with new, smooth flesh.
From now on, no poison in the world would ever harm Tang Baek’s body.
“Even the White Skin Rebirth? Then… Baek really has become a Poison Saint Physique.”
Tang Mugun watched the transformation with deep emotion.
 
****
Moments later.
Tang Baek’s eyes shot open.
Crimson pupils, symbolizing toxicity, gleamed brightly.
He turned his head toward Tang Mugun and Tang Gihwan.
Then slowly began walking toward them.
Seeing that, Tang Mugun collapsed to the floor and wept.
“Th-Thank you! Thank you so much! Thank you for bringing my grandson back!”
He kept bowing and offering his thanks.
Tang Gihwan ran to Tang Baek and hugged him tightly.
“I’m sorry! My son! I was wrong!”
Tang Baek smiled and replied,
“No, it’s okay. You only did it for me.”
At those words, Tang Gihwan began to cry.
He had thought he’d never hear that voice again.
Hearing it now overwhelmed him with emotion.
That was when Tang Baek noticed Tang Mugun’s missing arm.
“Grandpa? Y-Your arm…?”
“This? Don’t worry about it.”
“W-Was it… because of me?”
“Haha. No, you brat.”
“Grandpa…”
“I told you, it’s really not. Just thank you for coming back safe.”
“Grandpa…”
Tang Baek had resented his grandfather.
He hadn’t understood why he was thrown into such agony.
But now, looking at him, he realized it had all been for his sake.
“I’m sorry. I put you through so much, Grandpa.”
“No, my boy. You’ve suffered enough. And now I’ve even lost an arm because of you…”
As Tang Baek’s voice trembled, Tang Mugun quickly waved his remaining hand.
“You brat! I said it’s really not your fault.”
Just then, as Tang Mugun repeated himself, Yeon Woo Jin spoke.
“May I take a look at that arm?”
Tang Mugun didn’t know why he wanted to inspect it, but nodded without hesitation.
After all, he was the one who saved his grandson.
Even if Yeon Woo Jin had wanted to see him dance naked, he would’ve done it gladly.
What’s a lost arm in comparison?
“Go ahead, take a look.”
Yeon Woo Jin examined Tang Mugun’s shoulder carefully and began unwrapping the bandages.
Startled by the sudden action, Tang Mugun asked nothing and simply watched in silence, not sensing any ill intent.
Yeon Woo Jin stared at the stump thoughtfully.
Let’s see if this works…
He imagined an arm growing back from Tang Mugun’s shoulder.
Tang Mugun’s body suddenly twitched.
“Urgh!”
“Father? What’s wrong?”
“A sudden pain in the wound…”
At that, Tang Gihwan urgently said,
“Benefactor! P-Please stop! My father’s in pain!”
Yeon Woo Jin stopped imagining and replied,
“If we’re lucky… his arm might regrow.”
“What?”
Was he joking?
Even for a benefactor, this was too much.
Tang Mugun looked at Yeon Woo Jin in disbelief.
“Benefactor… you jest too far.”
“I’m not joking. The pain you just felt…”
“Yes?”
“It was part of the regeneration process.”
“Come now. Do you really believe such a thing is possible?”
“I happen to have some rather special abilities.”
“Special abilities?”
“Yes. With them, I might be able to regrow your arm.”
Tang Mugun didn’t know whether to believe him or not.
“Well… I’ve got nothing to lose, do I?”
Yeon Woo Jin’s words made Tang Mugun chuckle.
“Alright! I’ll trust you.”
“Father! How can you believe such nonsense?!”
“Quiet! If the benefactor says it, then it’s true!”
“Huh?”
“Benefactor, I place my trust in you. I’ll leave it to you.”
“Yes. I’ll honor that trust.”
Tang Mugun chuckled softly and extended his injured shoulder again.
Though he said he believed, deep down he didn’t.
He knew Yeon Woo Jin was skilled in medicine.
But he assumed the “regrowth” talk was just an excuse for some kind of experiment.
Still, if it helped repay the favor, he was willing to endure the pain.
This time, Yeon Woo Jin began waving his hand through the air, lightly brushing the shoulder.
He imagined the arm regenerating.
He couldn’t be vague.
He had to vividly envision every structure that made up the arm.
Throb… Throb…
Pain flared in Tang Mugun’s shoulder.
He clenched his teeth and endured.
Then he heard Tang Gihwan gasp.
Even in pain, he was curious what had startled his son.
He looked toward him—
Tang Gihwan was staring at his father’s shoulder in disbelief.
What’s gotten into him?
Tang Mugun turned his head and looked at his own shoulder.
Something familiar was sticking out from it.
It was unmistakably a hand.
“Wh-What is this?!”
He was so shocked, he nearly collapsed.
The pain was completely forgotten.
Crack—snap—
“Urgh!”
The pain surged again.
But he endured it.
The arm that had vanished was visibly growing back.
It was a miracle.
And the one performing the miracle—was the same Yeon Woo Jin who had saved Tang Baek.
To those witnessing it, Yeon Woo Jin no longer looked human.
He looked like a divine guardian who had descended from the heavens to save the Tang Clan in their darkest hour.
Tears welled in Tang Gihwan’s eyes as he knelt before him.
Meanwhile, Tang Mugun’s arm continued regenerating.
Crack—snap—
Flex—
The muscles expanded, and the arm became whole again.
“Try moving it.”
At Yeon Woo Jin’s words, Tang Mugun focused strength into his left arm.
And he felt it.
His left arm.
His fingers moved. His muscles responded.
As he watched his arm move with his will, Tang Mugun stared in disbelief.
With trembling eyes, he looked at Yeon Woo Jin and asked,
“Y-You… who are you? Are you a god?”
“No. A human.”
There’s no way.
“Please… tell me the truth. Who are you?”
“My true identity is… Yeon Woo Jin, grandson of the Master of Martial Deity Heaven.”
“Martial Deity Heaven…!”