Toxin Chapter 6

Boom!

The harsh explosion echoed through the forest, startling birds that were drinking from the stream into a frenzied flight. Hearing the metallic click from behind, signaling the loading of a firearm, I kicked off the ground, propelling myself towards the nearby thicket.

“Haa…! Haa…!”

The power of Jincheon Ryei, rumored only in whispers, exceeded my imagination. In that short time, the stories of it annihilating entire tribes didn’t seem entirely impossible. Except for the chief, me, and two already deceased tribesmen, only five remained. He mentioned Jincheon Ryei’s effective range was around 2 li li. Roughly estimating, the area covered by his support seemed greater. If that’s the case, the only solution is to get out of his range as much as possible. The silhouette of a giant figure with two horns pierced through my mind. The shadow of a tribesman hiding first became visible.

Boom!

“Uwaaaah…!”

The tribesman, showing himself by gripping his neck, desperately tried to live while pouring his strength into the ground. However, consecutive bullets flew, shattering his head. Boom! Once again, the sharp sound reverberated through the forest, and a tribesman hidden behind a rock clutched his chest and slumped down, blood spurting out. The bullets rained down relentlessly, severing the lifelines of hidden tribesmen, leaving holes in their skulls. Every shot hit with precision. On top of the mountain, our every move was seen as if through a magnifying glass, and not a single shot missed.

From somewhere, light and brisk footsteps echoed. My heart pounded fiercely, and in this isolated space surrounded by thickets, I faced an unseen monster in a fight for survival. I secured a suitable path and threw a twig in the opposite direction.

Boom!

Unfailingly, the explosive sound shattered the twig mid-air. Seizing the opportunity, I lowered my body and hurriedly dashed behind a nearby tree.

Boom!

Without a time gap, the flying bullet plunged into the air near my ear, embedding itself deeply into the wooden pillar. The thick wooden pillar emitted gray smoke as it resembled blood splattering from my head’s height. I was momentarily in a state of deafness as if my eardrums had burst. In the scorching heat, an intense chill was felt. The author did not see with his eyes. He aimed at the target solely with senses and instincts. Once again, I threw my body behind a rock on the opposite side.

Boom!

Without any time to spare, the flying shot exploded, scattering the debris of the tree into the air. The sound of shattering rocks echoed in the forest. It felt as if my eardrums were tearing apart, and amidst the scorching heat, a profound chill was felt. The author didn’t rely on sight but solely on senses and instincts to aim at the target. Swiftly throwing myself behind the rock, I sighed in relief.

“Haa… Haa…”

Despite not running for long, I was already out of breath. Unfortunately, he dealt with the remaining prey one by one, leaving only me. As if saving a special dish for later. How many were left now? Soon, it would be my turn… Even if heaven were to help me survive, there was no guarantee the Black Immortal King would keep his promise regarding Ojin. Even if he did, there was always the uncertainty of when my life would be threatened again. Above all, for now, I had to focus on surviving this gruesome encounter. Gritting my teeth, I ran towards the rocks visible across from me. Trying to swiftly take cover, I ended up intertwining with the tribesman who had already claimed the spot.

“What, what is it! Go away!”

The tribesman cowered inside, his demeanor completely at odds with his rugged appearance, showing a complete surrender to fear. No matter how large the rock was, if two people were hiding like this, it was only a matter of time before they were exposed. The tribesman, unable to open his eyes, tried to shift to another tree. At that moment, agile footsteps echoed, causing both the tribesman and me to abruptly hold our breath.

“Your Majesty! Occasionally, an Oryong might appear, so please preserve your divine body! If a blemish were to appear on that handsome face, my conscience would never find peace!”

“As long as it’s not you, it should be more enjoyable.”

“Oh my~! My conscience has shamelessly intruded! I’ll keep my mouth shut from now on!”

“Don’t follow.”

“Haha, understood! If a flaw were to appear on your esteemed body…”

“Just don’t come.”

The voice of the Black Immortal King from beyond the bushes had an uncommon energy. He was enjoying this. It was a voice filled with excitement. The sound of footsteps tearing through the thicket gradually tightened the noose. My heartbeat skyrocketed. Perhaps he hadn’t identified our position yet, as the footsteps circled around, avoiding us entirely. We hid like dead mice, waiting only for the merciless pursuer to pass by. Just a little more, just a little more, and… I closed my eyes, praying to the heavens, doubting and pleading.

In that moment, a black creature, the length of a human torso, slipped silently through the pile of bushes. It was an Oryong, a creature that looked like an ordinary snake but had wings, legs, and carried a venom that made it a terrifying entity.

“Darn it…”

The tribesman cursed, his voice trembling. With no place to retreat, he was truly cornered, like a mouse driven into a corner. The movement of the Oryong tearing through the bushes made the Black Immortal King’s steps abruptly come to a halt. There was the sound of lifting arms, rustling fabric, and clinking metal. The tribesman and I simultaneously held our breath. Then it happened. The tribesman unexpectedly pushed me, and I was thrown out from behind the rock.

Boom!

It happened terrifyingly fast as the bullet tore through the fabric.

“Ugh…!”

It was a painful experience to have my flesh torn by an animal with fierce teeth. Fortunately, it seemed to be just a graze, as the flesh tore in a straight line, oozing fresh blood. The tribesman who had thrown me as bait hid deeply. Life seemed to burst out from him. Before the next move, a black shadow engulfed us.

“You held up quite well, better than I expected. Once we deal with you and the remaining one, will the Ime tribe truly face complete annihilation?”

As a metallic sound as chilling as the voice pressed against my forehead, a variety of colors burst out with each gasp. Time felt oppressive, like an eternity. We were in a situation where we couldn’t even get close to the target, facing the prospect of a gruesome death. Was I destined to meet a pathetic end, just like my mother? Is this the end…? I refused. I didn’t want to end my life so wretchedly. At least, I couldn’t allow myself to fall victim to such a despicable perpetrator…! To a murderer like this…! I rolled my eyes, seeking a way to thrust the horns into his heart, revealing my presence. In a hurry, I reached for my trembling hand in the pocket.

Click!

The finger caught on the trigger twitched a moment too late. Hair tousled, and the heart abruptly stopped. In that moment, with closed eyes, I thought everything had ended.

“Squeak…! Go away!”

Suddenly, the tribesman, who had been hiding, sprang up and forcefully separated the Oryong clinging to his arm. It was what I had seen before. The ferocious creature bit into the tribesman’s forearm and leaped vertically. It all happened in the blink of an eye. Emitting a purple light, the JIncheon Ryei recognized the Oryong as an enemy and rushed towards the Black Immortal King.

“Your Majesty! Behind you…!”

The Black Immortal King promptly fired the JIncheon Ryei. The Oryong swiftly evaded, then mercilessly tore into his inner thigh with its fearsome fangs. A glint of life appeared in the Black Immortal King’s eyes. He agilely grabbed the Oryong’s tail, swung it into the air, and aimed directly at JIncheon Ryei.

Boom! Boom!

The sky echoed with a thunderous roar. Without a scream, the Oryong’s body exploded in mid-air like fireworks. As the lifeless remains fell to the ground, it convulsed violently before finally succumbing to death. The Black Immortal King leaned against a nearby tree, looking down at his torn trousers. As blood quickly soaked through the fabric, he frowned. Swiftly, his subordinates rushed towards him.

“Oh, Your Majesty! Are you okay?! Look! Is there anyone there?! Our Majesty has defeated the Oryong…!”

Upon hearing the commotion, the belated guards rushed over, checking the condition of the Black Immortal King and falling silent in unison.

“Your Majesty subdued the Oryong! Oh, our Majesty’s noble achievement…! To suffer such a rebellion before seeing the royal son…! I will avenge this Oryong’s seed on my honor!”

Gazing earnestly at the center of the Black Immortal King, the subordinate flattered him. Unlike the chaos caused by the subordinates, the injured area was on the inner thigh. The guards breathed a sigh of relief and spoke to the Black Immortal King.

“So, didn’t you ask us to accompany you?”

“Oh, our Majesty…! Come inside quickly! No, if you move, the blood will circulate, and the poison will spread quickly! Call the physician! Pungbaek! Wunsa! Uusa! What are you all just standing there for?! Hurry and suck out the poison…!!”

As the subordinate expressed frustration, three guards hesitated as if they had an agreement. The handsome guard with a wound on his tongue spoke up.

“I bit my tongue while eating porridge earlier, so now I’m a bit…”

The man from Honam next to him spoke seriously.

“We are guards. That’s the doctor’s job.”

The mute guard, who had been silent the whole time, finally spoke.

“I will rush to bring the doctor.”

Then, he quickly ran off somewhere.

“S-such pitiful individuals are called guards…!! Oh, our Majesty…!”

Despite foaming at the mouth, the Black Immortal King seemed indifferent and only tore his dragon robe to bind the wounded area. I still hadn’t recovered from my near-death state. The poison wasn’t deadly, but it could be paralyzing. Unconsciously drawn to it, I approached the Black Immortal King and placed my hand on his waistband. Instantly, the JIncheon Ryei pointed at my forehead.

Click…! He promptly pulled the trigger. Fear surged through my spine, but the anticipated gunshot never came.

“Haah… Haah…”

I must have held my breath for a long time; now my stifled breathing erupted. Luckily, it seemed the bullet had misfired. Slowly lifting my head, the JIncheon Ryei on my forehead moved with it. The man beneath the blood-red sky gazed down with eyes full of disdain.

“Lucky you. I wanted to witness the spectacular moment of your brain exploding.”

“It’s dangerous if we don’t extract the poison quickly.”

“Get lost.”

“Even if it disgusts you, please endure a bit. It’s better than losing a leg.”

Without waiting for a response, the openings torn by the teeth of the Wyvern in the blood-soaked fabric were widened on both sides to create space. The pants were already soaked in blood due to considerable bleeding. After untying the strap that was bound in the hair, the area above the wound was tightly squeezed. Only then did the attendants, who had just realized my intention, widen their surprised eyes. The expression on the Black Immortal King’s face couldn’t be discerned. The injured area was on the left thigh, close enough for the attendants to be mistaken. Clear marks of the animal’s teeth were vividly imprinted on the firm flesh. The JIncheon Ryei was still aimed at my throat.

Approaching carefully, as if calming an injured wild animal, he turned his head slightly and covered the wounded area with his lips. The bones of the deeply grooved wound were caught on the tip of his tongue when he covered it with his lips. He promptly began sucking out the poison. With a strong suction force, the bitter blood flowed into his mouth. Spitting out the blood on the ground, he leaned in again, pulling my hair close. As he pulled away his lips, every drop of blood he had sucked in was spit out.

This time, he opened his lips wider, encompassing the thigh flesh broadly and deeply to prevent the poison from spreading through the blood. Quickly, forcefully, but with all his might to avoid pain, he exerted his full strength. When his tongue touched his thigh, it gradually stiffened like stone. From above, the gaze of someone piercing through caused the back of my neck to involuntarily stiffen. Sometime during this, the JIncheon Ryei had descended.

Thus, repeatedly extracting the poison, spitting out the poisonous blood in the mouth, and doing this several times. Although a simple action, after multiple repetitions, my jaw twitched, and my tongue tingled to the point of numbness. The last remaining poison was sucked out, and when his lips touched the thigh, the Black Immortal King twisted my hair and pulled it back. The pain of the scalp being peeled off caused my eyebrows to furrow. Immediately, a chilling voice settled in.

“If I continue like this, the blood in my body will run out. Is this a new assassination technique?”

The ground, absorbing the heat of the hot temperature from the sun, radiated its warmth, making everything shimmer in my vision. I struggled to take a breath, and sweat poured down my forehead, neck, and the rest of my body. The Black Immortal King, with a detached gaze, discovered his hand entwined in my hair and wiped it away as if it were dirt. When the Black Immortal King turned back with an expressionless face, the guard members flinched.

“With this, your loyalty, thinner than paper, has been proven.”

The elegant guard touched his chest, bent his waist, and calmly spoke to the Black Immortal King.

“Indeed, Your Majesty. Compared to when you abandoned us, nearly becoming skewered by the Gollaru Tribe last time, and escaped alone, this is like a mild remedy.”

The man from Honam, standing nearby, also spoke in the same manner.

“During the last battle as well, Your Majesty avoided the crisis and threw us to the Nati Tribe to save yourself, nearly getting our heads pulled off. Compared to that, this is like a mild remedy.”

The Black Immortal King stared at them impassively. At that moment, the silent guard suddenly rushed forward, carrying me on his shoulder like a shield. The coarse guard wiped the dirt off me.

“Quickly, examine His Majesty’s body! Quickly…!!”

The Black Immortal King just passed by me, but then suddenly, as if he had forgotten something, he turned his body. It was the moment he stopped his steps again in front of me. The Black Immortal King pushed the JIncheon Ryei deep into my throat, causing me to groan with pain. With a blank expression, he opened his lips and flicked his tongue.

“Bang.”

I unconsciously stopped breathing. The Black Immortal King pulled out the JIncheon Ryei from his mouth and disappeared into the forest. The guard members and attendants followed him. Suddenly, the elegant guard gave me a strange smile. As the crowd dispersed, I was left alone in the tumultuous aftermath, feeling dazed as if I had just experienced a chaotic nightmare. The notorious Black Immortal King and his brave guards were quite different from what I had heard. There was nothing ordinary about them. My whole body was soaked in sweat, and my hands were trembling uncontrollably. After sitting in the silent space for a while, I stood up.

“Ugh…!”

I felt a burning pain on my arm. It was where the bullet grazed earlier. I instinctively went to lick the area but remembered that I had just sucked poison and simply wrapped it with my hand. The taste of his blood still lingered in my mouth. I wished there was poison in his saliva, like the Wyvern’s, but the Ime’s poison was useless unless mixed with the body.

As soon as I stood up, a tribal member, who had been hiding somewhere, grabbed my burned chest and revealed himself. When we returned to the shelter, the chieftain was still clutching the shattered Baekgak, in agony. I supported the chieftain first. The survivors were the chieftain, me, and only one tribal member.

Soldiers dragged our group somewhere. We arrived at the livestock pen.

“Stay here from now on. His Majesty took special care of you, so consider it an honor! After such a long journey, your stomach must be empty, so fill it up with this.”

The soldier chuckled and pushed the pig’s intestines with his foot before disappearing. It was to the point where the foul smell made my stomach churn. The chieftain calmly stared at the livestock pen, but his face was dark. I was also injured, and the remaining tribal member was almost unconscious after being bitten by the Wyvern. Even though I couldn’t sleep, medicine was desperately needed. I went outside without any plan.

It was when I was struggling under the watchful eyes of the guards stationed around the castle. Suddenly, a hand wrapped around my arm and roughly turned me around. Among the dulled senses, the first to react was my sense of smell. At the moment when the refreshing scent of the forest permeated, an unexpected figure intervened.

“Why… why were you still alive…!”

Raonhilljo had an angry expression on his face as he caught his rough breath. And he was filled with unexpected surprise. I was equally astonished by the unexpected encounter. I was about to ask why and how he was here when I recalled that he was a messenger from the Delivery Bureau and decided to keep my mouth shut. Raonhilljo, now noticing our battered state, gathered his wits.

Without listening to the details, he took us to the Taeui Medical Office. The chieftain received treatment and quickly recovered, and thanks to the swift detoxification, the tribal member also safely overcame the crisis.

After Raonhilljo finished treating me, he dragged me somewhere.

“Thank you. Thanks to you, we narrowly escaped…”

“You, just what…!”

As soon as we came out, Raonhilljo grabbed my arms on both sides and palpated something. Whether he found anything or not, he sighed.

“At first, I thought I was mistaken. When I heard that you were hunting the Ime tribe, I ran over just in case.”

“…”

“That day, I searched the entire village. I even thought about digging up graves because there was no sign even in the corpse piles.”

Was he talking about the Ime village? Then, did he come looking for me? Why… I wanted to think about the answer, but my mind was so shaken that even standing here was exhausting. Raonhilljo still stared at me with an angry face. Was the day before the complete annihilation of the tribe the last time we met? At that moment, as I raised my head with one question in mind, my heart froze coldly. I stared straight into Raonhilljo’s eyes and spoke.

“Did you by any chance… know that Ime Village would turn out like that on that day?”

“If I knew, I would have at least told you. It was a completely unexpected development for me too.”

Raonhilljo didn’t go into detailed explanations, but there was an honest gaze digging deep. He didn’t say it or perhaps he did, but those eyes were trustworthy and carried a plain force that made you move. Just because he was from the Delivery Bureau, I couldn’t lump him together with the Black Immortal King in hatred. He knew better than anyone how futile and foolish such forced hatred was. Now, I realized that I hadn’t done anything to him yet.

“Have you been well all this time?”

Muttering about being fast, Raonhilljo led me to the back where the well was.

“By the way, how did you end up here? From what I heard vaguely, the leaders of the Daechuguk came to pay their respects.”

“The Ime tribe also had that intention. I plan to stay here for a while and draw portraits of His Majesty.”

If possible, of course. Raonhilljo widened his eyes.

“Garon’s portrait? As a gift?”

“Yes.”

Raonhilljo didn’t hesitate to mention the Black Immortal King’s name. It was a familiar tone, but he seemed oblivious to it, muttering with raised eyebrows.

“It must be quite a headache. Dealing with someone not easily appeased….”

“Do you know him well too?”

“Oh, we’ve known each other since we were young. But Majesty Garon and Ime…”

“I’m aware of your disdain. I experienced it quite vividly today…”

Raonhilljo’s gaze went to my bandaged arm and then back up to my eyes.

“How about leaving the castle tomorrow? Now that we’ve conveyed our surrender, there’s no need to push any further.”

“It’s fine. We probably won’t be allowed to leave just because we want to, and we have nowhere else to go anyway.”

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

“So, do we have to wait until His Majesty’s portrait is completed? We still have things to do.”

“Ah…”

Only then did the unfinished portrait come to mind. That day, the burning painting along with Ime Village…. Even though I hadn’t received Garon’s permission for Aujin yet, I couldn’t suddenly abandon everything else. There was no more retreat.

“It might be difficult immediately. You might have to wait for a while…”

“Has the art world suddenly become popular? It’s commendable that I caught you before you became famous. But I won’t raise the price of the painting anymore.”

Raonhilljo declared firmly with a laugh mixed into his voice. The breeze, laden with the dampness of summer, played with my hair. Perhaps the wind itself hadn’t ignited. I lowered my head.

“Yes… I don’t have such thoughts either.”

Suddenly, a refreshing gaze was felt. It was a facial expression that wanted to ask something, and I could guess what that question was, but neither of us brought it up. However, if the opportunity arose, I planned to talk about my mother someday. It felt like I could tell this person without hesitation. She gave comfort to my mother and gave me work…

After a casual conversation with Raonhilljo under the willow tree, we parted ways. Although the sight of the massacre from a little while ago was dizzying, my mind strangely remained calm. Even if today passed without incident, it was uncertain when the Black Immortal King would reveal his madness again. Also, there was concern that Raonhilljo’s intervention and treatment might bring unnecessary trouble upon us.

However, when I returned to my clinic, a situation arose where I didn’t have to worry about Raonhilljo anymore. Somehow, he knew, and the subordinate who rushed in earlier dragged us to another banquet. As soon as we entered the banquet, one of the tribal members grabbed my collar and vented his anger.

“You, you piece of trash! Why did you do something unnecessary?! If you had just left it alone, we could have at least taken away one of the Black Immortal King’s legs!”

He occupied a corner without confronting the guy. Just one leg was unacceptable. With just one leg, the Black Immortal King committed too great of a sin. However, I gained a substantial reward in exchange for one leg. Now, even if we survived just for another day, it was a significant achievement…