“If you can make the antidote, I’ll pay as much as needed.”
You can create the antidote, but it requires time and manpower. So bear the cost. In response to the Tang Family’s request, Murong Seob, the representative of Murong Family’s delegation, readily agreed.
“Alright. Let’s start making the antidote right away.”
Lady Tang returned to the secret garden and told the Guard Unit and the Poison Master.
“There’s no need to rush. I’ve already told the Murong Family that it’ll take a few months to make the antidote.”
The Guard Unit, wanting to finish quickly, calmed the eager Lady Tang.
“It won’t take long.”
“I have the research materials from Tang Geoh. The problem is that the poison used on the Deputy Head of Family wasn’t designed with an antidote in mind. It won’t be easy.”
The poison created by Tang Geoh to consume the Tang Family was never meant to have an antidote. Even with the materials at hand, finding one would be a challenge.
“Usually, that would be the case.”
“Cough cough. But the antidote already exists.”
Lady Tang replied with a smirk.
“What do you mean?! … Your hands?”
The Guard Unit glanced at the white and green energy shimmering between Lady Tang’s forefinger and thumb. The two energies made contact and soon transformed into harmless smoke.
“I learned how to neutralize absorbed poison after practicing the Poison Technique. Of course, creating this energy into medicinal ingredients is a different story.”
“…”
The Guard Unit, Tang Mu-ki, was dumbfounded by the sight before him.
“The required medicinal ingredients should be Huang Bai, Ma Huang, Ba Dou, Yu Sheng Cao, and Chao Wu? I don’t have enough knowledge about medicinal ingredients, but this should be a good starting point.”
“Wow… You can even identify the necessary ingredients?”
“Yes. Once the antidote is made, please give it to me. I’ll taste it to see if it works.”
Creating medicine to counteract a special poison requires numerous animal and human experiments. But Lady Tang, being a complete Poison User, could achieve what would normally take a long time to accomplish in an instant.
“That’s sufficient. The Guard Unit and I will handle the mixing of medicines and poisons, so focus on your training.”
“Sure. I’ll be at the training grounds.”
Nodding to her master’s words, Lady Tang vanished to continue her training.
——–
“I knew I could manipulate the poison within my body, but I’ve never realized I could produce an antidote on the spot.”
Having the poison from Tang Geoh within her and understanding the complete antidote was a feat. By consuming the antidote, she could assess its effects and determine what might be lacking, unaffected by the poison. The claim that it wouldn’t take long to find an antidote was not merely boasting.
The Guard Unit couldn’t help but admire Lady Tang.
“Teaching the Poison Technique allowed her to grasp it quickly. I never expected a complete Poison User would gain such abilities from mastering the Poison Technique.”
The Poison Master smiled, praising his disciple’s exceptional talent.
“Anyone who has studied poison and medicine for decades in Sichuan Tang Family would be speechless.”
“Sometimes I’m even perplexed myself. There are parts that took me ages to learn, while she grasps other aspects in the blink of an eye. It baffles me why she struggles with parts I found easy.”
Though the Poison Master was also a semi-Poison User, witnessing the unexpected abilities of a complete Poison User left him stunned.
“A complete Poison User… Perhaps the next generation of Tang Family might produce a martial artist who could be counted among the best in the world.”
As a member of the Martial Arts World, one should not casually discuss the strongest in the world. But with Lady Tang’s current capabilities, she could indeed become one of the renowned experts.
Tang Mu-ki spoke candidly, unable to conceal his expectations as a martial artist of Tang Family.
“That girl will likely want to have her first child by her twenties rather than becoming the best in the world.”
“Hahaha. We won’t have to worry about their children’s puberty.”
“That’s true.”
Both the Poison Master and the Guard Unit exchanged warm smiles as they headed towards the training grounds.
“Hey you guys! Have you read Volume 3 of ‘The Rise of the Tang Family’?”
While quietly developing the antidote in the secret garden, the Sichuan Tang Family buzzed with excitement about Volume 3 of ‘The Rise of the Tang Family.’
“I did! Thanks to Tang Jung, I couldn’t sleep last night from the excitement!”
“Why is it so thrilling to see two women fighting over Tang Jung?”
“At the Tea Bookstore, they call that a Cat Fight.”
One of the guards who had just returned from the Tea Bookstore added.
“Cat Fight? The term for a cat fight! I don’t know who came up with it, but what a clever term.”
“I thought I was done for after getting poisoned by the Color Demon! Who knew it would turn into a story about Qing Hong and Hwa Lang? I couldn’t help but be amazed by writer Ho Pil’s plot.”
“I was blown away when the moving Poison Kill Space appeared!”
“Exactly! If that Color Demon weren’t also from the Demonic Cult, that would’ve been the end of the story!”
“Those damn Demonic Cult members!”
It was good to have waited in anticipation. After all, it was indeed writer Ho Pil.
Be they insiders of the Tang Family or outsiders, family members or guests, everyone gathered and chattered about ‘The Rise of the Tang Family.’
“Volume 3 was enjoyable, but don’t you think the idea of a moving Poison Kill Space is a bit far-fetched?”
Amid the chatter, someone started criticizing cautiously.
“What? Are you doubting writer Ho Pil?”
“No! Just listen. What is a Poison Kill Space? It’s a type of formation that merges poison and darkness. But even if Tang Jung can move, the formation itself shouldn’t.”
“Wasn’t it mentioned that Qing Hong’s and Tang Jung’s intimacy led to a level-up?”
“Even if his level has risen, there’s still a disparity with the Color Demon and Tang Jung. Don’t you think that’s a bit far-fetched? I’ve only read ‘The Rise of the Tang Family’ five times, but I have to point out what’s wrong!”
“Well, that’s…”
Is it really a verification error by writer Ho Pil? Other avid readers of the Tang Family began to waver at the martial artist’s critique.
“Tsk tsk. These fellows haven’t seen the Poison Kill Space.”
Someone huffed and came forward, looking scornfully at the person who made the critique.
“What are you talking about?”
The sudden appearance of the guards was revealed.
“These fellows haven’t seen a moving Poison Kill Space?”
“They probably haven’t. Only we could boast of witnessing it firsthand against those Demonic Cult members.”
The guards from the Guard Unit looked down upon the other martial artists and shook their heads.
“What on earth is up with the guards? The Tang Family’s martial artists looked bewildered, and someone suddenly had a lightbulb moment.
“Wait a minute! You were with writer Ho Pil, weren’t you?!”
“What?! Does that mean the Poison Kill Space actually exists? And a moving Poison Kill Space?! Do you know something?!”
“That’s why we shouldn’t even bother talking with fake readers who haven’t traveled with writer Ho Pil.”
“Exactly! Nowadays, even those kinds of people are treated as readers. As a member of the Tea and Book Club, I can’t hold back my despair!”
The guards exchanged shoulder shrugs and laughed.
“Please, just say something! I’m dying to know!”
The avid readers of ‘The Rise of the Tang Family’ begged for answers, but none of the guards provided them.
What on earth was going on? What kind of reality was this, regarding the Poison Kill Space? And what did it have to do with writer Ho Pil?
The avid readers gazed at the guards with eager curiosity, and finally, the Tang Family’s elite stepped forward with a triumphant smile.
“The Poison Kill Space is real.”
“What?!”
“It’s a martial art created by writer Ho Pil and Lady Tang. You should’ve seen how the Demonic Cult members melted away in the Poison Kill Space.”
“Oh my. Is this true, Tang Pae?”
Everyone’s astonished expressions turned toward Tang Pae.
Tang Pae reveled in the attention. He was ready to enjoy the spotlight a little more by imitating the bravado of a certain woman in front of the Demonic Cult, exclaiming dramatically.
“That’s right! Lady Hwa Rin shouted in front of the Demonic Cult, ‘I am the butterfly that dances in the dark. Come here, to my Poison Kill Space!’ Ohhh!”
Now everyone should be bombarding him with questions. Tang Pae was ready to recreate that moment but ended up faced with utter silence.
‘Why is it so quiet?’
It felt eerily cold. Especially from behind. He felt he might have experienced something like this before. Tang Pae unsuccessfully tried to ignore the chill creeping up his neck and turned his head back.
“Hey. Tang Pae. When did I ever say that?”
The owner of the Poison Kill Space stood there with a frosty smile.
“H-Hwa Rin?! What are you doing here?”
“I was on my way to get medicinal ingredients.”
“Hahaha…”
Crap. Tang Pae silently cursed his own loose tongue along with the atmosphere.
“Lady Hwa Rin, can you really use the Poison Kill Space?”
“Come on, show us!”
“What?! You’re really going to say that line? Everyone gather!! Come together!!”
“““Come here, to my Poison Kill Space!”””
Although the avid readers felt the temperature drop, they couldn’t suppress their curiosity.
“Kyaaaaaah! Tang Pae! You’re dead!!!”
“Please spare me!!!”
“Finally completed!”
“Thank you for all your hard work.”
As the warm spring breeze faded and the heat of Sichuan began to set in, the completed antidote was placed before the Poison Master.
“I had no idea the last ingredient would be ginseng.”
Lady Tang looked at the antidote with a resigned expression. It wasn’t difficult for the three of them to combine ingredients to create medicine.
The challenge was how to revive someone poisoned for an extended period. In the end, they spent more time deliberating how to combine antidote and treatment than initially expected.
“Isn’t there a saying that a physician without skill hears the words of a great physician by carrying Korean ginseng?”
Ultimately, after much thought, they made use of the high-quality ginseng gifted from the Murong Family.
“It’s an absurd elixir. With this, doesn’t Korean ginseng grow like gold nuggets in your fields?”
Lady Tang suddenly became curious about her fiancé’s hometown.
“If there are so many people in need of Korean ginseng, wouldn’t it be difficult for the Tang Family to obtain proper ginseng?”
Korean ginseng is extremely valuable. Once you transport it from the rising sun, Joseon, to the setting sun in Sichuan, you’ll have to pay a hefty price.
“I too was surprised. I already knew about ginseng’s effects, but I didn’t expect the special quality of Korean ginseng to have such efficacy….”
The Guard Unit began listing the required materials for the completed antidote one by one.
On the paper, among the multifunctional elixirs brought from the Murong Family, one could see details about their properties including “Detoxification and Healing,” “Vitality Recovery,” and “Blood Replenishment.” It was noted that they all needed to be included.
“Looks like the Murong Family is lucky. They can use such precious ginseng so freely.”
Lady Tang said with a tone of disbelief.
“If I were to say that I had to take a long-term antidote using Korean ginseng here in Sichuan, it would mean pulling up the pillars of my family, but with the Murong Family, they could pull it off.”
“I hear they control all the ginseng trade routes. So how much do they make?”
Even just the ginseng for experiments made it hard to assess how many “The Rise of the Tang Family” and Yoon Ho must be sold to make that kind of money.
Lady Tang tried to count the income of Murong Sang-a with a finger, but gave up as the amounts became incomprehensible.
“Hmm… Now that it’s all made, I need to meet the people from Murong Family. Hwa Rin, what are you getting up for?”
The Poison Master asked, puzzled as he saw his enthusiastic disciple getting up.
“I need to go and get some big payback!”
Lady Tang clenched her hands into fists, ready to storm towards the Murong Family’s location.
The Poison Master sighed softly at his disciple’s excitement, then furrowed his brows and spoke.
“I understand that you’ve gone through a lot during your precious time, but don’t demand too much. If you start eyeing profits from someone in trouble, how are you any different from those followers?”
“But she’s the one who profited from having her husband killed. Isn’t that fine?”
Lady Tang retorted bluntly.
“Hwa Rin.”
Why was her attitude so prickly? The Poison Master quietly chastised her.
“I don’t know. That woman, Murong Sang-a, for some reason, the more I think about her, the more annoyed and displeased I feel.”
Lady Tang furrowed her brows and replied.
She herself didn’t understand why. The Demonic Cult’s schemes or being a victim just like Tang Geoh. She had made medicine out of sympathy for them.
Yet somehow, every time she thinks of Murong Sang-a, a strange animosity bubbles up. Why was that?
Lady Tang couldn’t make sense of it.
“Hmmm…”
“It must be because both you and the Poison Master are Joseon men.”
The Guard Unit interrupted as if understanding Lady Tang, stopping the words of the Poison Master.
“But still, why take such a big risk? The family provides for every need. What are you planning to do with the large sum from the Murong Family?”
The Poison Master still found it strange.
Lady Tang had no reason to crave wealth. As a complete Poison User enjoying direct benefits from her lineage, the Tang Family served all her needs.
Not just for necessities; if she desires something, it’s provided by the Tang Family. There was no need for a large amount of money in the first place.
What was her intention to seek the Murong Family’s riches? The Poison Master asked to understand his disciple’s mind.
Lady Tang then replied proudly.
“Of course, it’s for Yoon Ho.”
