A conversation from not too long ago came to Wei Jeong-han's mind.
"About your son."
"...Yes?"
Wei Jeong-han's face was somewhat blunt.
He had no choice but to be.
Although the situation had been somewhat resolved, the man before him was someone who had targeted his son's life. And if he had succeeded, he would have surely targeted Wei Jeong-han's life as well.
Wei Jeong-han wasn't generous enough to greet such a person with a smiling face.
The reason he was still speaking respectfully and engaging in conversation was because the man before him was a martial artist worthy of respect.
The Poison King Dang Cheon-gun certainly had such worth.
"He's excessively strong."
"I know."
That's something I've known since our son beat you like a dog, so you don't need to tell me that again.
"It's not simply that his martial prowess is strong..."
The Poison King frowned.
"Huu..."
Dang Cheon-gun let out a deep sigh and opened his mouth.
"Do you know what it means that my poison doesn't work on him?"
"...That he's strong, I suppose?"
"Hmm."
The Poison King's face contorted.
"Though I may have been beaten by your son like a dog on a hot summer day, that doesn't mean I've become weak. I guarantee that no one in the world can handle poison more deadly than mine."
"Mm... I suppose so."
"Think about what that means. In other words, your son won't be poisoned by any poison in the world."
Wei Jeong-han's eyes widened slightly.
"You mean?"
"That's right. Complete Immunity to Ten Thousand Poisons."
"Damn..."
When he put it that way, it felt more real. But Complete Immunity to Ten Thousand Poisons was supposed to be a legendary realm, wasn't it?
"Wasn't that just a concept?"
"It's not."
"Besides..."
Wei Jeong-han, who had been thinking quietly, waved his hand.
"No. Now that I think about it, that kid... he was poisoned and in tremendous pain. He was rolling around clutching his stomach."
The Poison King looked at Wei Jeong-han with a blank expression and said:
"Did you think Complete Immunity to Ten Thousand Poisons meant that poison would just run away on its own?"
"Huh?"
"Is Diamond Body invulnerable because it doesn't get hit by swords? It's Diamond Body if it doesn't get hurt even when hit by swords."
That was certainly true.
"Complete Immunity to Ten Thousand Poisons isn't such a great realm. It simply means being able to detoxify all poisons currently usable in the world."
"Hmm..."
Wei Jeong-han nodded. When it came to poison, he couldn't dare open his mouth in front of the Poison King. So he couldn't argue either.
"What's more troublesome is that when the family child used poison on him, he at least showed signs of pain. He suffered more than when I used poison on him, didn't he?"
"...Yes."
Wei Jeong-han's head turned slightly.
Now that I think about it, that's strange.
The guy who rolled around saying he was dying from the poison used by the Tang Family child wasn't greatly affected by the poison used by the Poison King. Does this really make sense?
"He adapted in the meantime. His body learned how to detoxify poison and moves on its own. Even without deliberately circulating his energy, his energy moves by itself."
"Is that possible?"
"When you digest food, do you think about how to digest it and move your organs?"
"No."
"It's the same thing."
Hearing it that way, it seemed to make sense somehow...
Wei Jeong-han scratched his head vigorously.
"But why are you telling me this?"
"To get to the point..."
The Poison King's eyes trembled slightly.
How should I put it, he looked like he was desperately holding back a sense of injustice.
"Complete Immunity to Ten Thousand Poisons is a dream realm for the Tang Family. But conversely, it's also the most terrifying thing in the world. If we reach the realm of Complete Immunity to Ten Thousand Poisons, we could use any poison without worry of poisoning ourselves and reach nearly invincible status, so it would be a blessing and great fortune. But if others reach that realm, no poison would work on them..."
"It would be a disaster."
"Exactly."
The Poison King nodded vigorously.
"But of all things, we've made an enemy of someone with Complete Immunity to Ten Thousand Poisons, and that person is even young."
"A great disaster."
"Exactly."
The Poison King said, trembling with his whole body.
"And of all things! Of aaall things, that bastard's personality!"
"...Let's stop there."
Wei Jeong-han had to forcibly suppress the laughter that was about to burst out as he looked at the Poison King's drooping shoulders. It wasn't hard to imagine what the Poison King's feelings must be like right now.
"So please look after us kindly. I know well that we made a great mistake. But as you know, such things aren't uncommon in the martial world."
"Just because something isn't uncommon doesn't mean it ends easily."
The moment he saw Wei Jeong-han's face become as stern as a blade, the Poison King sighed.
"Medicinal herbs and elixirs, and gold."
"What?"
"I'll give them."
Wei Jeong-han looked at the Poison King with a resolute face. Where in the world would there be a father who could accept such things from an enemy who had targeted his son?
"I have always respected Elder Poison King."
Here he is!
Wei Jeong-han extended both hands and firmly grasped the Poison King's hands. For a member of the Tang Family to hold someone's hands meant trusting that person completely.
"Please take good care of us, please."
Wei Jeong-han chuckled softly.
He didn't really care about elixirs or gold. The problem was that if he didn't accept the Poison King's proposal here, the Tang Family and Wei Yan-ho would end up in an irreparable relationship.
The Tang Family alone was now at a level that Wei Yan-ho could destroy by himself, but...
Would that guy only cause trouble for the Tang Family?
As his martial world journey continued, there would be more and more sects that would be fed up because of Wei Yan-ho. From Wei Jeong-han's perspective, who wanted Wei Yan-ho to travel the martial world a bit more, he needed to mend those wounds from behind.
"I'll try my best, but Yan-ho's personality being what it is, there are limits to what I as his father can control."
"I suppose so. Then please at least mediate so that the Tang Family and the Guangdong Wei Family don't become hostile."
"I promise you that much."
"Thank you."
The Poison King bowed his head toward Wei Jeong-han.
Then Wei Jeong-han bowed his waist deeper than the Poison King.
"What's this?"
"No matter what right and wrong there may be, I cannot receive such courtesy from a great senior of the martial world. The martial world is like that. Sometimes friends become enemies, and enemies become friends... It looks dirty but is clean, clean but dirty."
Wei Jeong-han smiled broadly.
"Where in a place where people live would there be no fighting, no disputes? The martial world is just a bit more intense about it."
At Wei Jeong-han's words, the Poison King nodded quietly with a slightly surprised face.
"You... have really become much gentler."
"Raising a child..."
"That's right. That's how it happens."
The Poison King laughed heartily.
Those who have lived a life where they weren't the priority inevitably change. The young Wei Jeong-han, who had no family or anyone to protect, was endlessly sharp like a sword, but he seemed to have become much gentler while raising children and learning about the world.
"Still, you must be happy that your children are all dragons and tigers."
"The tiger is fine, but… the dragon keeps flying around wildly and crashing into things…"
"...At least it's not an evil dragon."
"That's fortunate enough."
The Poison King asked as if curious.
"By the way, what exactly did your son learn? No matter how I look at it, it doesn't seem to be hereditary martial arts."
"I don't really know either. He picked up and learned something strange somewhere."
"...It seems necessary to look into it once."
"Huh?"
The Poison King said with a serious face.
"Don't misunderstand what I'm about to say."
"Yes."
"I've seen this kind of case exactly once in my life. Someone who instantly adapts to poison absorbed into the body and immediately detoxifies it on their own."
"..."
"Moreover, if you use the same technique next time, they build such perfect resistance that they don't even recognize they were poisoned in the first place. I don't know if this is due to martial arts or if it's constitutional. However... if it's due to martial arts, those martial arts would be related, and if it's due to constitution..."
"Stop there."
Wei Jeong-han cut off the Poison King's words.
"So are you saying that 'the martial arts Wei Yan-ho learned are demonic arts'?"
"No, that's not it. My eyes aren't knotholes, and if I saw that and still called it demonic arts, I'd have to abandon even my false reputation as the Poison King. That's definitely not demonic arts."
"Then?"
Wei Jeong-han slightly bared his teeth.
"Are you saying Wei Yan-ho isn't my child?"
"My goodness, why are you being so aggressive?"
"Who's the one making nonsensical statements and toying with people?"
"What I mean is! Though the martial arts Wei Yan-ho learned aren't demonic arts, there might be parts in the principles of those martial arts that produce similar effects!"
"..."
"So I'm asking if you could let us research that when there's a chance later."
"That's not worth listening to."
"I see... I know it's an unreasonable request. It's just... sigh, never mind. I was being too hasty and greedy."
"I'll mention it to Yan-ho later."
"Y-you will?"
"It's not a difficult matter."
"Thank you, really thank you."
The Poison King kept nodding toward Wei Jeong-han, but Wei Jeong-han's expression still wasn't bright. Actually, it was getting even darker.
"...Why is your expression like that while we're talking?"
"Oh, sorry. I was thinking about something else."
Wei Jeong-han returned to reality and shook his head vigorously. Now wasn't the time to be having such thoughts.
"Just absorb it without filtering or anything."
"What?"
"Elder Poison King said that you're already at the realm of Complete Immunity to Ten Thousand Poisons. So even if poison enters your body, it shouldn't be a big problem."
"Ah!"
Wei Yan-ho smiled brightly as if he understood.
Then he turned to look at Jin So-ah.
"So-ah."
"Yes, Young Master Wei."
"You said your skills have improved recently?"
"That's right. Now I can proudly say I'm the head of Sacred Hand Hall anywhere I go. I can't say I've reached my late father's level of skill, but I'm confident that if my late father were to return alive and see my current skills, he would be pleased."
"Good."
Wei Yan-ho smiled brightly and pointed at Wei Jeong-han.
"Give him a medical examination."
"What?"
"It seems like he might be getting dementia."
"...What?"
"Does it make sense for a father to tell his child to eat poison because he needs to treat someone else?"
"..."
Jin So-ah looked at Wei Jeong-han with suspicious eyes.
"N-no, wait. It's not like that."
That brat, he has Complete Immunity to Ten Thousand Poisons! It's fine even if he eats some!
"He's getting old now, so it can't be helped. Let's try treatment before it gets worse."
"...No, you punk."
"It's okay, Father."
Wei Yan-ho smiled brightly.
"Illness isn't shameful. Let's get treatment quickly."
"Damn it! You rotten brat!"
Wei Jeong-han's fist slammed into Wei Yan-ho's head.
"Why are you hitting me!"
"Is that something to say to your father!"
"Is telling your child to eat poison something a father should say!"
"That's a different case!"
"What's different! What!"
Jin So-ah smiled brightly watching the father and son bickering.
'It's a scene that makes me not regret growing up without a father.'
It was becoming heartwarming in a strange way.