Rebirth of the Thunder God

"Keuk!"

As soon as Namgung Hui heard the groan followed by Tang Soso's flustered voice, he realized the situation was not good.

"Namgung Hui! Help me!"

Finally, as Tang Soso even called for help, Namgung Hui immediately opened the door and entered.

"What's wrong?"

"This isn't a drug! It's poison! But it's completely different from any kind of poison I know. For now, try to suppress the poison ki!"

Namgung Hui was suddenly reminded of the Ice Soul Poison, but what was currently covering Yewol's body was not the Ice Soul Poison.

First, Namgung Hui approached Yewol and checked her condition.

Although she was practically naked, nothing else caught his eye.

Only the traces of poison spreading like a spiderweb all over her body.

At that sight, Namgung Hui was suddenly reminded of the poison that the Poison King had enjoyed using in his past life.

'Hehe! Even if you are the great Thunder God, I believe you won't be able to detoxify the poison of the Human-Faced Spider! Now, take this!'

He didn't know if he should call it a spirit beast, but the Human-Faced Spider was a spider spirit beast with a human face.

In fact, its appearance was closer to that of a monster than a spirit beast, but it also had an inner core and didn't cause any harm unless one entered its territory, so it seemed to be classified as a spirit beast.

Anyway. The poison possessed by such a spirit beast boasted a terrifying power.

Since it was a poison purely created by the Human-Faced Spider, it was absurd to include it in the Ten Great Poisons of the Tang Family, but as the Poison King enjoyed using it, it was often mentioned as one of the Ten Great Poisons of the Tang Family.

'The name was Human-Faced Spider Poison, I think.'

Still, the Poison King had some conscience, so instead of giving it a completely new name.

He borrowed the name of the Human-Faced Spider as it was.

In fact, the Poison King had never claimed it to be one of the Ten Great Poisons of the Tang Family himself.

However, because he used it so often, the gossips had classified the Human-Faced Spider Poison as one of the Ten Great Poisons of the Tang Family.

Its performance was beyond doubt.

Because Yewol, right in front of him, was also suffering greatly from the Human-Faced Spider Poison.

'But this is strange. The Human-Faced Spider Poison did cause hallucinations, but this is the first time I've heard that it's addictive.'

To be mistaken for a drug, it must have not only hallucinogenic effects but also addictive properties.

Well, Namgung Hui was well aware that the Human-Faced Spider Poison had hallucinogenic effects, but he knew that it was not addictive at all.

Namgung Hui flowed his thunder ki into Yewol's body and asked Tang Soso.

"Tang Soso. Do you know what this poison is?"

"If I knew, would I have called you? I would have detoxified it myself."

'So it wasn't just the Rain of Ten Thousand Flowers that was lost, but also the detoxification method for the Human-Faced Spider Poison.'

And for good reason. The Human-Faced Spider didn't live in one place its whole life.

And catching it to collect its poison was an extremely dangerous task, so it would be nearly impossible unless one was an absolute master like the Poison King.

Even if he knew the identity of the poison, this in itself was a problem.

Could the poison created by the Human-Faced Spider be easily detoxified?

Perhaps the reason the Poison King didn't leave behind a detoxification method was because the method of obtaining the poison was so difficult, and the detoxification method was extremely tricky.

'To detoxify the poison of a spirit beast, you need a spirit beast of equal standing.'

The Ten-Thousand-Year Golden Turtle.

A turtle spirit beast that has lived for ten thousand years.

It has a golden hue and is dazzling just to look at.

Such a golden turtle was popular not only for its inner core but also for its hard and golden-glowing shell, even among ordinary people.

In particular, he had heard that the imperial palace made armor from the golden turtle's shell.

The Ten-Thousand-Year Golden Turtle was a symbol of longevity, and its practicality was beyond question.

As the poison ki stabilized somewhat due to the thunder ki, Yewol, who had regained her senses, picked up her clothes and said.

"Does this mean I'm not addicted to a drug?"

"That's right. It's a poison I've never seen before, but it's definitely not a drug. Well, the distinction between poison and drug isn't clear, but if it's such a potent drug, it's safe to classify it as a poison."

In fact, drugs, as their name suggests, were a type of medicine.

Opium was also used as a type of anesthetic, and when used in excess, it became a drug.

That was why Tang Soso had classified the Human-Faced Spider Poison before her as a poison, not a drug.

Because the Human-Faced Spider Poison could never be a medicine, even if used in extremely small amounts.

"Soso. Would you believe me if I said I know the identity of this poison?"

Tang Soso silently stared into Namgung Hui's eyes.

Then, after a moment, she shook her head and said.

"How can a man's eyes be so clear? Yes. If you say so, I have to believe you. You even restored our family's secret wish, so what's there not to believe now? So what is the identity of this poison?"

Not only Tang Soso, but also Yewol's eyes were fixed on Namgung Hui's mouth.

Namgung Hui, feeling their intense gazes, calmly opened his mouth.

"The poison of the Human-Faced Spider. It's the Human-Faced Spider Poison. To put it simply, it's the poison of a spider spirit beast called the Human-Faced Spider."

"Human-Faced Spider... Ah! Come to think of it, I've seen it in the family's spirit beast encyclopedia. Was that a real spirit beast? A spider with a human face? Ugh..."

Tang Soso wrapped her arms around herself and shuddered, as if imagining a horrifying sight.

Yewol's complexion was also not good, and the reason seemed to be that she was thinking something similar to Namgung Hui.

"If it's the poison of a spirit beast, it must be quite difficult to detoxify. Then the things they've been feeding me all this time weren't drugs or antidotes, but just sedatives."

"Probably so. The poison of the Human-Faced Spider is not easy to detoxify."

Of course, he could try to detoxify it with his purple thunder ki.

But as it was the poison of a spirit beast, it would require a massive amount of thunder ki, and if that were injected into Yewol, she would either become an idiot or die.

That was why there was no way to cure her other than with the inner core of the Ten-Thousand-Year Golden Turtle.

Yewol, sensing the seriousness of the situation, continued to speak with a dark expression.

"They had no intention of detoxifying me from the beginning. They probably planned to suck out information for my whole life and then discard me. In fact, I wasn't unaware that it would turn out like this..."

Tears formed in the eyes of Yewol, who had always seemed so strong, and fell.

Namgung Hui, feeling awkward, hastily opened his mouth and told her the detoxification method.

"The Ten-Thousand-Year Golden Turtle. If we just have its inner core, we can detoxify it."

"Ten-Thousand-Year Golden Turtle? From the name, it sounds like that's also a spirit beast."

"Namgung Hui. If that's the Ten-Thousand-Year Golden Turtle I know, isn't that also a legendary spirit beast?"

"...Was that what you were trying to say to comfort me? You really don't know a woman's heart."

Namgung Hui shook his head at Yewol, who was misunderstanding him, and said.

"It is a legendary spirit beast, but it's not impossible to obtain its inner core. That inner core is already in the imperial palace's secret vault."

"The imperial palace's secret vault...? How do you know that?"

"Well... Anyway. There's something like that."

The Shadowless Divine Thief had said he saw it in the imperial palace's secret vault in his past life.

He had said that the dazzling golden turtle armor was so brilliant that it even stopped the Shadowless Divine Thief in his tracks.

And since the emperor had never consumed the golden turtle's inner core, if Namgung Hui's guess was correct, it should still be sleeping in the imperial palace's secret vault.

"You brat. Do you think the imperial palace's secret vault is a place you can just walk into like a marketplace? You might as well just tell me to humbly accept death. Stop giving me false hope."

Namgung Hui looked at the despairing Yewol and calmly continued.

"What will you do if I get it for you?"

"Hmph! You think you'd give me something so precious instead of eating it yourself? If you really get it and cure me, I'll serve you for the rest of my life."

"Alright. I'll definitely get you the golden turtle's inner core. But it's difficult right now, so I'll get it for you when I have time in the future. Until then, let's find a way to endure."

Tang Soso, who had been listening to the conversation silently, said.

"If it's just enduring, I think it's possible. If what you say is true, that this is the poison of the Human-Faced Spider."

"You don't believe me. Yewol. Can I check your pulse for a moment?"

"As if you ever asked for my permission to touch my body. You pinned me down so well last time."

"Someone might misunderstand if they heard that. That was because we were enemies, and I was interrogating you. And didn't I apologize back then? You're so narrow-minded. Tsk, tsk. Anyway. I'll take that as permission and take a look."

Namgung Hui held Yewol's wrist and observed her insides.

As his thunder ki gently roamed through her body.

Chijijik.

The thunder ki reacted, revealing the presence of the poison.

'So it is the poison of the Human-Faced Spider. I should have realized it when I performed the Bone-Separating and Tendon-Grabbing technique last time.'

Perhaps because the Bone-Separating and Tendon-Grabbing technique involved injecting thunder ki into the joints, such a reaction did not occur.

This in itself might lead to a new application later on.

"Soso. It's the poison of the Human-Faced Spider. And if you're really suspicious, you can ask your family."

"If you say so, it must be true."

"It feels like you're being sarcastic."

"I'm not. Anyway. Then I can make a sedative. No matter how much of a spirit beast the Human-Faced Spider is, a spider is still a spider."

"Then I'll leave this part to you."

"But shouldn't I get something in return? It's a bit much to do it for free. It costs a lot of money to make a sedative."

Tang Soso's argument was reasonable.

The Tang family was a family that was thorough about silver and yuan.

Even if not to Namgung Hui, she had every right to demand something from Yewol.

"Then what can this humble one do for you?"

Tang Soso, as if sending a telepathic message, mumbled her lips, but Namgung Hui couldn't hear anything.

"Are you talking through telepathy, how cheap?"

"Why? Do you want to know the contents? It's a secret conversation between women."

"...Never mind. Then let's settle this for now. And Yewol. I have something to tell you."

"Speak."

Namgung Hui briefly explained the conversation he had with the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader and told her not to leak information to the Hoicheon Association in the future.

"I was going to do that even if you didn't ask. Now that they've tampered with the antidote, I have no reason to cooperate with the Association."

"And since it's come to this, why don't you start wrapping things up here? The Black Tortoise Troupe Leader is also under suspicion. And you could be in danger if you cooperate."

"I told you to stop worrying about me. Well, you don't have to worry about that, I'm already prepared. If it comes to it, it's no big deal for me to get myself out."

Namgung Hui decided to stop paying attention to her words and briefly mentioned his future schedule.

"As I said before, I have something busy to do after the martial arts tournament. I probably won't be reachable. So I'll briefly tell you my future schedule."

A moment later, after Namgung Hui's explanation was over, Yewol nodded and confirmed the contents.

"So you're saying I should coordinate with the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader to deceive the Hoicheon Association. And you want me to lure out the General?"

"Using the General will make it easier to enter the imperial palace's secret vault. After that, Yewol, you can hide in the place I told you."

"I understand. By then, I should be mostly done with cleaning up my surroundings. But will the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader readily agree?"

"It's actually a good thing for him too. If you betray them, he'll be the only one taking the fall, so the suspicion on the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader will disappear."

"So you're telling me to become the world's worst woman all by myself."

"Worst woman? You're a great woman just for landing a blow on the Association."

"Woman? You really don't know women at all. I'll have to set a day and educate you later. It'll be good for you and for the Young Palace Mistress."

Namgung Hui, feeling like he was only being teased the more he talked with her, shook his head and said to Tang Soso.

"Soso. Let's go."

"Alright. Yewol. I'll send you the sedative separately later. Until then, try to endure it well."

"I understand. Please go safely. You too, take care of yourself."

"Okay. I will."

And so, Tang Soso and Namgung Hui left the Full Moon Pavilion and moved to a quiet street.

Their matches were tomorrow, and there was still time until evening, so they had nothing particular to do.

In the midst of a somewhat awkward atmosphere, Namgung Hui, as if suddenly remembering something, took out an identification tag from his robes and said.

"Ah, right. I got this identification tag after defeating an elder of the Heretic Alliance a while ago. Take a look at this."

As Namgung Hui handed over the identification tag, Tang Soso's eyes widened, and she shouted.

(End of Chapter)