Myst, Might, Mayhem

Chapter 321 – Fragments of Truth (3)

[If you don’t want to be infected with the Formless Poison, it’s best not to come close.]

‘Formless Poison?’

At Medicine Immortal Hae Yeong Mun-no’s warning, Lee Gwang stopped in his tracks.

Even those unfamiliar with poisons have likely heard of one notorious poison at least once.

That was none other than the Formless Poison.

The Formless Poison, as the name suggests, is a poison without form—colorless, odorless, and tasteless—making it impossible to detect any distinguishing features, thus earning it the title of the king of poisons.

The more potent a poison, the fewer characteristics it possesses, so one may not even realize they have been poisoned until it’s too late, and the Formless Poison is the pinnacle of such poisons.

[…Formless Poison? What do you mean by that?]

Lee Gwang asked, puzzled.

After all, the only one known as the Formless Poison throughout the Central Plains was the Emperor’s Primal Poison, also called the Ultimate Poison, of the Sichuan Tang Clan.

The Emperor’s Primal Poison was created by Tang Hyeong-won, the patriarch considered as the founder of the Tang Clan.

As the king of poisons who had reached the realm of the Ten Thousand Poisons Body, his poison-crafting techniques were unparalleled and innate. On his deathbed, he had condensed all the poison energy he had accumulated throughout his life to create this Emperor’s Primal Poison.

This poison, called perfection itself, was a legendary poison that even the Tang Clan’s generations of poison masters could not analyze or recreate, no matter how hard they tried.

Nowadays, only a tiny amount of this poison remains, and the people of the Central Plains refer to it as the Formless Poison. Due to its extremely dangerous nature, it has been designated as an absolute taboo through the Righteous Sects’ Great Assembly.

[Surely you’re not talking about the Formless Poison you know?]

[Cough, cough… Is there any other Formless Poison?]

‘!?’

What is this nonsense?

Then does that mean Medicine Immortal Hae Yeong Mun-no has been poisoned by the Formless Poison?

In a brief moment, several assumptions formed in Lee Gwang’s mind.

However, among those assumptions, one that was particularly incomprehensible was that Ghost Blade couldn’t possibly use poison techniques.

‘That can’t be.’

Ghost Blade takes immense pride in his own swordsmanship.

Thus, he would never use any weapon or martial art other than his sword.

Lee Gwang’s gaze turned to the traces around him.

He had found it strange that there were no sword marks at all.

This meant…

‘…He didn’t fight Ghost Blade.’

These were traces of a fight with someone else.

Then why did Ghost Blade hurriedly leave this place?

Unusually for him, he had rushed away without even surveying his surroundings, as if being chased… No, that’s not it.

‘He wasn’t being chased, but trying to chase someone?’

That’s right.

That’s it.

Ghost Blade had hastened as if pursuing someone’s tracks.

The one he was chasing was none other than the person who had gravely injured Medicine Immortal Hae Yeong Mun-no to the point where he could barely stand.

Having confirmed all the circumstances, Lee Gwang spoke as if finding it ironic:

[Mun-no. Who exactly did you fight?]

[…]

Despite his question, Medicine Immortal Hae Yeong Mun-no gave no answer.

Instead, he was silently regulating his breathing.

With each exhale, beads of sweat trickled down, and faint wisps of haze rose above his shoulders.

[Huff… huff… Cough, cough.]

He looked to be in immense difficulty.

The Mun-no known to the world, along with Medicine King Hua Tuo, was said to possess the greatest medicinal knowledge and medical expertise of the era, earning him the title of Medicine Immortal.

However, his hidden side was that of a supreme master who had reached a level of poison arts on par with the renowned poison clans—the Tang Clan, the Guyang Clan, and the Baek Clan.

His prowess was such that he had even defeated the First Realm’s Ghost Blade in the past.

Who could have appeared and defeated him?

-Ssssss!

The haze escaping from his body…

No matter how one looked at it, it seemed to be dispelling the poison energy.

Two names came to Lee Gwang’s mind.

Guyang Sa-oh, the Clan Leader of the Guyang Clan who had reached the pinnacle of poison arts, known as the Eight Poison Snake Staff, and Tang In-hae, the Clan Leader of the Sichuan Tang Clan, one of the Seven Great Clans, known as the Thousand Poison Hand.

‘If that really is the Formless Poison…’

Then the one who fought him was a master of the Sichuan Tang Clan.

And that person even had the authority to boldly use the Formless Poison, which the righteous martial world had designated as an absolute taboo.

In the Sichuan Tang Clan, the one capable of such a thing was…

‘The Thousand Poison Hand?’

Lee Gwang couldn’t help but feel doubtful.

Although he couldn’t be certain it was definitely him, the probability of it being Tang In-hae, the Thousand Poison Hand, was currently the highest.

But why did Tang In-hae come all the way here to confront Mun-no?

No, it was hard to even consider it a confrontation.

From the moment he used the Formless Poison, it was clear he had desperately tried to kill his opponent.

However, it didn’t make sense.

‘Why? The Sichuan Tang Clan has no reason to hold a grudge against Mun-no.’

No matter how much he thought about it, that was the case.

Mun-no’s identity known to the world was that of a Medicine Immortal who was highly respected by all.

Unless his hidden identity was revealed…

‘Ah!’

Lee Gwang spoke as if he finally understood.

[The Sichuan Tang Clan found out that you are a member of the Fire Faith Order?]

Otherwise, there would be no reason for them to come and kill him while he was in seclusion.

Despite his confident question, Mun-no remained silent, spending time dispelling the poison and recovering.

At this…

-Swish!

Lee Gwang drew the black sword he had sheathed at his waist.

Since he kept avoiding conversation, it seemed he had no choice but to resort to force.

However, if he was truly poisoned by the Formless Poison, approaching him closely should be avoided.

Even though he could control his true energy as if breathing after surpassing the barrier, he had to be cautious of the Formless Poison, known as the king of poisons, as it followed a different path.

-Woong!

Unleashing his sword energy, Lee Gwang aimed it at Mun-no and spoke:

[If you continue to keep your mouth shut about what happened, I won’t ask any further. However, I must know where you hid that thing from the prophecy.]

[…]

[In your current state, unable to even properly dispel the poison, I can easily kill you with mere sword techniques. So speak.]

Lee Gwang threatened him, urging him to talk.

Then, Mun-no, who had been silently focusing on circulating his energy, opened his mouth:

[Haa… haa… You people know nothing.]

[…What nonsense are you spouting? Do you think I can’t kill you? The order has already been given to end your life if it comes to this.]

[That’s not important. Cough, cough. But you people must know the truth.]

[You’re not making any sense. If you continue like this…]

[The prophecy was wrong.]

‘!?’

Lee Gwang, who was about to take action, paused for a moment.

What is this old man saying now?

The prophecy was wrong?

He had already found it strange when he heard the news that Mun-no had suddenly disappeared with that thing from the prophecy 17 years ago.

[…What are you talking about?]

Does this old man know something about the prophecy?

If that’s the case, he needed to hear him out first.

[Mun-no. If you want to survive, speak clearly.]

[The sacred flame… shall be tainted by black evil… Beware the incarnation of Ahriman who will appear in this world.]

That’s right.

That prophecy.

The moment the Holy Fire Priestess made that prophecy and Medicine Immortal Hae Yeong Mun-no betrayed them and fled 17 years ago, the relationship between the organization and Fire Faith Order had reached a catastrophic point.

[As a Guardian, you were right by her side when she made that prophecy, so why did you do such a thing? Your brothers and sisters paid the price for the sin you committed.]

[That was not my sin. Haa… haa… Her interpretation lost its direction.]

[Direction?]

What does he mean by her interpretation losing direction?

Is he referring to the Holy Fire Priestess?

As he pondered this, Mun-no continued:

[That is not an incarnation to be wary of, as she interpreted it.]

[What nonsense are you…]

[Cough, cough… The coins of the Western Regions have different patterns on the front and back, but whichever side you look at, it is ultimately one.]

Lee Gwang clicked his tongue.

He couldn’t comprehend what Mun-no was saying at all.

Had he gone mad while living in seclusion all this time?

Saying that the incarnation of evil should not be feared?

Is this why?

Perhaps this old man Mun-no had gone insane and become tainted by the incarnation of evil.

He may have been so deeply immersed in evil that he turned his back on everyone and fled.

The order from above to eliminate Medicine Immortal Mun-no if he didn’t reveal anything seemed to be because of this.

Either way, it seemed unlikely to extract any information from him in this state.

[You old man seems to have gone completely mad, tainted by evil, but I’ll give you a chance for old times’ sake.]

[…]

[That thing from the prophecy, no, where did you take the incarnation of Ahriman? Even if it’s not you, once we capture that old woman Holy Fire Priestess, we’ll find out soon enough.]

At his words, Mun-no chuckled.

[You’re laughing?]

[She has lost her qualification.]

[What are you saying?]

[What my words mean… Cough, cough… Your great master knows even better.]

The moment the word “master” was mentioned, Lee Gwang’s eyes changed.

To him, that person was his lord, whom his clan had served for generations, and a being to be worshipped like a god.

How dare he bring up that person?

[Are you, the sinner who stole the incarnation, trying to blaspheme against that person now?]

[It’s truly regrettable. Mok-gan, that man, is the one who blinded her eyes and caused all this…]

[Shut up!]

-Swish swish swish!

Before Mun-no could even finish his sentence…

Unable to contain his anger, Lee Gwang unleashed a barrage of his most powerful Bullet Sword Techniques along with a shout.

-Whoosh!

Although Mun-no couldn’t control his body due to the Formless Poison, he tried to move to avoid the attack.

However, it seemed his body was already too damaged to move as he wanted.

-Swish swish swish!

The first Bullet Sword Technique he had launched sliced through Mun-no’s waist as he leaped up, and the following techniques shredded his falling lower body into pieces.

-Thud thud thud!

Amidst the severed chunks of flesh that were once his lower body, Mun-no fell.

-Thump!

With only his upper body remaining and his organs spilling out, his appearance was utterly gruesome.

Although it was already difficult to survive in this state, Lee Gwang’s fury had not subsided, and he attempted to launch another sword technique at the fallen Mun-no to finish him off.

[You brought this upon yourself, old…]

It was at that very moment.

-Flinch!

‘What?’

A tremendous energy was felt, sending a chill down his spine.

It was an energy that could instantly put even someone like him, who had surpassed the barrier, on guard, forcing him to halt his attack.

‘Has Ghost Blade returned?’

If that’s the case, he needs to leave quickly.

He had to carry out the task discreetly, without Ghost Blade’s knowledge.

In any case, now that Mun-no, that old man, had been poisoned by the Formless Poison and lost his lower body, he would definitely not survive.

With this in mind, Lee Gwang didn’t hesitate and launched himself in the opposite direction.

***

“I… I did contribute to Mun-no’s demise in the end, but he was going to die from the Formless Poison anyway…”

-Squish! Squish! Crunch!

As Lee Gwang was recounting the events as if reminiscing, he couldn’t continue his words.

The reason was that the air was becoming so heavy with each word he spoke that it was difficult to breathe.

But that wasn’t the end of it.

The ground around him trembled violently and then cracked, and even…

-Whoooosh!

The pouring rain was flowing in reverse.

The rain flowing backward turned into water vapor as it evaporated, creating an extremely bizarre sight.

Lee Gwang couldn’t bring himself to look at Mok Gyeong-un’s face.

He had willingly confessed the events of that day in order to seek his own death, but this had brought about an outcome far worse than he had hoped for.

‘I… I can’t breathe.’

It was as if the area around him and the bastard had become a vacuum.

Just how intense must the killing intent be to materialize to this extent?

“Urk… urk…”

As he retched up blood from the agony, Mok Gyeong-un’s voice reached his ears:

“This wasn’t a matter to be settled with just you.”

What?

This bastard’s way of speaking suddenly changed.

With just a change in his manner of speech, the atmosphere had inexplicably shifted, and as Lee Gwang raised his head in bewilderment…

‘!!!!!’

He saw that Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes had turned as black as obsidian.