162

Chapter 162 - Inevitability - 6

No matter how trying the night, morning always comes.

Traps set by thieves, the emergence of Danggeoho, the intrusion of the Demon Cultists, even combat itself. It had been an exhausting night, but fortunately, we were blessed with the chance to see the morning sunlight.

Of course, there was no need to even say that Hwarin was the four-leaf clover who had brought us this luck.

"Antidote! We need an antidote."

"Come out."

Was it the potency of her toxin skills? Hwarin, after touching those poisoned a few times, drew out the venom from within their bodies as effortlessly as a mutant who could manipulate any metal object at will.

"Incredible..."

"So she really is a Poison Master."

"She's not just a legend, then."

Even someone like me, who knew little about the art of poison, found it astounding, so I could only imagine how those adept in handling toxins must feel.

The people of Uigak stared at Hwarin with expressions of disbelief and astonishment, like a group of friends shocked to see the one guy they had pegged as a perpetual bachelor turning up with a stunningly beautiful girlfriend.

"Here! We need bandages."

"Yes, I'm on it!"

I snapped out of my trance watching Hwarin's prodigious feat and busied myself amongst the injured.

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"We'll take care of the rest. You should rest."

As I hurriedly attended to the people of Uigak, those who had collected themselves began to tend to their comrades in more dire straits.

"I'll help more if needed."

I touched the area a man had treated and spoke with a guilty face.

"The light cases have been handled. From here on, it's better for those skilled in healing arts to work together. You must be tired from the night's exertions, so please take a moment to rest."

So these are the people of Uigak, capable of self-healing, huh? After all, offering my help in medicine among them is like a layperson wandering into an operating theatre, I guess.

"Yes. But please call me again if needed."

I chose a spot a little distance away to not disturb the healers of Uigak but close enough to leap back into action if called upon.

"Were you taking a break?"

While I idly watched the Uigak people, Hwarin appeared before me. Perhaps she had finished her tasks.

"Yeah."

"I should rest too."

With her words, Hwarin sat down beside me.

There are plenty of places to sit, so why next to me? I considered asking her to scoot over, but decided against it, sparing Hwarin—who must be emotionally and physically exhausted—from unnecessary agitation.

We silently observed the bustling Uigak people. The quietude was awkward. I felt I should say something.

"Did you become a Poison Master?"

I stated what everyone had already noticed, as if casually breaking the ice to comment on the clear morning weather.

"Yes."

Hwarin looked at me and gave a small nod.

"Is your skin okay? When my friend became a Poison master, their skin dissolved and disintegrated."

Thinking of the original Hwarin in the novel, I looked at her with concern.

"It had its problems to begin with."

With slightly protruding lips, Hwarin replied as though harboring some dissatisfaction.

"No, I mean..."

It dawned on me that the topic of skin is not as innocent as the day's weather. But my worries persisted.

"If you want to check, then check."

Hwarin suggested, glancing at her chest, which she could easily see by tilting her head even slightly. What's this about? Surely she isn't saying to unbutton her shirt to check. 

A logical person would assume she meant just to check her skin. Anyway, the issue here is this lump of insinuation; even a sidelong glance clouds clear thoughts.

"It seems fine."

I glanced at the skin revealed under Hwarin's rolled-up sleeve and spoke.

"Sigh."

Hwarin exhaled a sigh, looking at me and the skin my hand had exposed, with a complex and ambivalent expression.

"Your face seems to have improved as well."

Up close, there definitely was a change. Of course, the patches on her face had not disappeared, but her complexion was clearly better than before we set out.

"Really?"

My words brought a noticeable bloom of color to Hwarin's face.

"Now, a touch of makeup and you might have suitors lining up."

I thought that even with a bit of effort at the makeup table, I could guarantee it. I once unexpectedly saw the bare face of a younger female classmate in my college days; beneath a pretty face lay a minefield of acne scars. 

This brings back a bittersweet memory. She was nonchalant about showing me her bare face, and I thought she was even being frank with me. Could this be a green light? And there I was, mistakenly happy. 

In reality, as soon as a somewhat handsome friend appeared, she turned red, averted her gaze, and ran off. I wasn't a green light in her life; I was simply an existence undetected on her radar.

"You too?"

As I reminisced the sad memory, Hwarin looked up at me and asked.

"Huh?"

"You too?"

"Oh? Yeah, yeah."

I fumbled my response, flustered.

"What's that vague reaction?"

It's a reaction of confusion. Why is she suddenly like this?

My discernment, fine-tuned from detecting potential green lights with women, buzzed for the first time in a while. Of course, to date when a green light appeared, my success rate was zero percent.

Perhaps it's the fatigue of body and mind after so many tumultuous events in one night.

"We never know when the enemy may strike again! Move quickly!"

As I mulled over how to respond, the shout from the chief of Uigak rang out. It's a wonder he's alive with those injuries, yet here he is, still commanding.

"Miss Hwarin. It seems we won't be able to take your mother's body with us given the circumstances."

As Hwarin and I looked over at the chief, a member of the clan approached us and regretfully informed us about the handling of Hwarin's mother's remains.

"Please take care of her with the others."

"Understood. Then we'll proceed with the cremation as with the other members of Uigak."

After a nod, the member returned to his duties.

"Will you be alright?"

I asked Hwarin, who watched the retreating member with a silent gaze.

"... I can't be a burden."

Hwarin muttered with a bleak undertone.

I have nothing to console her with. No matter the state of their relationship, witnessing a mother's death would be a shock. Offering consolation hastily might only serve to deepen the wound.

As I wondered how to comfort her, I felt a weight on my shoulder. Instinctively, as one might shrug off the head of a drunken man who's slumped next to you on the subway, I shrugged my shoulder gently.

Hwarin then gave me an electric glare. Sorry. It's just that I've never experienced anything like this before. I shifted slightly to offer Hwarin a perch for her head on my shoulder.

She leaned her head against my unguarded shoulder once more.

"Stay strong."

"I'm not sad, but I feel strange. Life turned to crap because of those damn people."

"From now on, only good things will happen."

Should I pat her back? I tentatively reached out and wrapped my arm around Hwarin's opposite shoulder. She seemed a bit startled by the gesture, her shoulder trembling slightly, but thankfully she did not pull away.

"Cough."

"Such youth."

"This is what sorrow drives one to."

Uigak members cough awkwardly, sneaking glances over at us.

It's embarrassing to think they heard our entire conversation. Hwarin also seems startled by the sound, creating a little distance between us.

"Hwarin."

To clear the heavy and embarrassing air, I decided to ask her something I was really curious about.

"Uh-huh?"

"About that poison murder technique earlier."

"Aaaaack!"

Upon hearing my words, Hwarin screamed like a pterosaur and leapt up.

"Kukuk!"

I couldn't hold back the laughter. I just couldn't contain myself seeing Hwarin's face turn crimson.

"Do, don't laugh!"

"Kukukuku!"

Dear readers, Hwarin, you see, had employed the poison murder technique.

"Aaahhh, stop laughing!"

Hwarin grabbed my shoulder and began to shake it vigorously. I laughed helplessly, my head bobbing like a dancing inflatable tubeman outside a newly opened store.

"Really. I might as well just die."

When Hwarin saw I wasn't stopping my laughter, she muttered dejectedly like a soul had left her body. How can one simply die who has survived so much?

I tried to regain my composure and opened my mouth to speak to Hwarin.

"Hwarin, you were really awesome. The martial art you displayed was far more impressive than the one I had imagined."

"Really? Was it cool?"

The corners of Hwarin's mouth lifted in a smirk. Yes, anyone would say it was a cool moment. Hwarin must secretly be proud of showing off her martial skill.

"But I didn't expect you to say the lines too."

"Uuuuuh!"

Hwarin's face reddened even further. She was adorably embarrassed at the mention of her dark history, tempting me to tease her a little more.

"It was too far away to hear it properly. Would you mind repeating that line in front of me?"

"Yoonho, do you really want to die?"

"With the poison murder technique?"

"Aaaaaah!"

"Hahahahaha!"

"Cough."

Just when Hwarin's shaking made my neck feel like it was about to launch into orbit, Uigak members approached us.

"What's going on?"

"Miss Hwarin. Was the martial art you just used one of our Tang family's?"

One of the members asked Hwarin to speak on behalf of the group.

"Yoonho and I created the technique together."

"So you really used the Tang family's infamous 'Poison Murder Technique'?"

"Uh... Yes."

Hwarin confirmed with a nod, albeit a little embarrassed, stirring a buzz among those nearby.

"I knew I heard right! It was indeed possible!"

"Miss Hwarin! The moment you shouted 'Poison! Murder! Technique!' I felt victory was assured."

"You truly embody Tang Zheng of our present age."

"If the Poison Murder Technique is part of the repertoire you've prepared, then is the final move something saved for the third volume?"

"No, that's not..."

Overwhelmed by the enthusiasm, Hwarin looked confused and out of her element.

Regardless of Hwarin's reaction, the members of Uigak exclaimed in ecstatic joy.

"Those words you so boldly declared before the Demon Cultists! One more time, could you let us hear that line from Tang Zheng himself?"

"I almost cried hearing that line. Please, once more."

"Uh..."

Though she could simply refuse, Hwarin seemed unaccustomed to receiving such positive attention in front of so many people.

"Come, come. To my poison murder space."

And like that, she updated her embarrassing history right on the spot.

"Ooooooh!"

"Poison! Murder! Technique!"

"Hwarin! I'm a butterfly that flits through darkness. Come, come. To my poison murder space! Say it!"

Hwarin. If you're going to update your dark history, might as well upgrade it while you're at it.

"Oh, that line is so cool! Did Author Ho-Pil write that specifically for Miss Tang Hwarin?"

"Yes, that line really suits Hwarin!"

"Even I think so!"

"Tang family's wind and clouds! Tang family's wind and clouds!"

"Poison Murder Technique!"

"Poison! Murder! Technique!"

"You're all really asking for death!"

Unable to bear it any longer, Hwarin exploded.

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As the aftermath settled, the chief of Uigak approached Hwarin.

"May I examine you?"

The chief asked if he could check on Hwarin, now a Poison master.

"Yes."

When Hwarin extended her wrist, the chief palpated her pulse.

After a brief moment, the chief's face suddenly turned serious from the brief examination.

"Get those medicinal herbs over there at once!"

"What happened?"

What's going on? I immediately asked the chief.

"Child. Sit cross-legged quickly and observe your inner state."

Without paying any mind to my question, the chief urgently instructed Hwarin in an agitated tone.

"What? Alright."

Hwarin, clearly bewildered by the situation, quickly sat cross-legged and closed her eyes.

"Everybody move back 50 paces right now!"

At the chief's command, all the surrounding members retreated, creating distance rapidly. Is something wrong?

"Huh?"

As if having realized something, Hwarin opened her eyes wide while still seated, and looked up at the chief.

"Now is not the time to be startled! Child! Draw out the poison to one side!"

"I can't!"

Hwarin protested with a panicked voice.

"Is it impossible? If the poison does not move due to the gravitational pull of the toxic core, then bind the poison as much as possible to the core! Hurry!"

"Yes!"

Hwarin, still seated in a cross-legged position, closed her eyes once again.

Could there be an issue related to the poison? Had she not become a fully-fledged Poison Master?

A heavy silence oppressed the space around Hwarin. How much time had passed? With a sorrowful expression, Hwarin opened her eyes and seemed to look for someone.

Spotting me among the people, she gave me a sad smile.

"Yoonho... I'm sorry. It seems I've failed too."

Shortly thereafter, Hwarin collapsed.

"Hwarin!"

"It's still dangerous! Do not come any closer!"

"What on earth is happening!"

She was fine just a moment ago. Why did she collapse! I barely restrained myself from rushing to Hwarin and shouted at the chief of Uigak.

The chief, with a somber face, looked at me and then at Hwarin before he spoke.

"Right now. We must take this child to Sacheon Tang Family to save her."