Absolute Regression

Chapter 640: Are We the Villains Here?

“Who are those three people?”

To Geom Mugeuk's question, So Jeongrak responded not with words but with a suspicious look.

“That poison isn't something you can be afflicted by so easily, even if you wanted to.”

He stared intently at Geom Mugeuk and asked,

“Who are you people?”

So Jeongrak truly looked like someone who didn’t know Geom Mugeuk’s identity.

Was it genuine ignorance? Or was he pretending not to know?

Based on appearance alone, it was impossible to tell who he really was.

Geom Mugeuk had already said this to Jin Hagun. He had warned that the enemy likely knew even about his meeting with the Alliance Leader.

He also believed that So Jeongrak might already know who he was. And if he didn’t, even that could be part of the scheme orchestrated by the ones behind it all.

That was how much Geom Mugeuk was not underestimating this opponent.

“I’m Geom Yeon from the Seodo Sect in Gansu. And this is my older brother.”

As always, Geom Mugeuk revealed his usual false name and sect for disguise.

“Did he get poisoned by accident?”

Geom Mugeuk answered honestly.

“We were having tea across the street at a tea house when my brother suddenly cried out in pain and collapsed.”

Someone must have seen him running out carrying his brother, so it would be easy to confirm the story.

“But can you really afford to waste time like this? My brother is dying!”

Even at that moment, Geom Muyang was gritting his teeth and enduring the pain.

Yet, despite seeing that, So Jeongrak didn’t seem particularly rushed. As if he already knew that it wasn’t a poison that would kill immediately. Then came the decisive words.

“Endure it. The more it hurts, the better it will be for you.”

That was enough to tell Geom Mugeuk that this man knew exactly what kind of poison it was.

“Oh! To see this poison here. I’ve never heard of it being used in our time, so I thought it was lost.”

Geom Mugeuk saw uncontainable excitement flash across So Jeongrak’s face.

So Jeongrak then explained to the physicians who had followed him.

“The poison afflicting this man is called Omang Body Poison. It’s made by grinding down a Pal-Color Centipede and mixing it with the inner core of a Blood Python of the Greater Yin.”

The Pal-Color Centipede was a venomous creature with eight colors, said to grow as long as a grown man’s height, and the Blood Python of the Greater Yin was a spiritual serpent that only lived in regions of extreme yin energy.

In other words, this Omang Body Poison was made by combining two spiritual beasts that were nearly impossible to see even once in a lifetime.

Hearing the explanation, Geom Muyang was quietly moved.

‘The Poison King really gave me a precious poison.’

The pain had made him forget what the Poison King had said—that once the treatment was complete, he would gain a strong resistance to poisons. Such a rare poison must indeed have such an effect.

Of course, Geom Muyang knew. He hadn’t willingly subjected him to this poison. It must have been because of his relationship with his younger brother.

So Jeongrak’s explanation continued.

“Once afflicted with Omang Body Poison, the victim suffers searing pain as if being burned for seven days, and on the seventh day, the blood vessels across the entire body freeze, bringing death through excruciating agony.”

While explaining to the physicians, So Jeongrak turned his head and looked at Geom Mugeuk.

“This is a supreme poison that no known antidote in existence can counter.”

Geom Mugeuk immediately bowed down, grasped So Jeongrak’s leg, and pleaded.

“Please, save my brother! He’s the only brother I have. Please, tell me that you are one of those three!”

At that, So Jeongrak lifted Geom Mugeuk up.

“Yes. I am one of the three.”

Geom Mugeuk rejoiced and grabbed his hand.

“Thank goodness! Physician! Thank you. Thank you so much.”

Even when Geom Mugeuk reached out to touch him, So Jeongrak didn’t resist at all. On the contrary, he gripped Geom Mugeuk’s hand firmly and said,

“In that sense, your brother is truly a lucky man. Only three people in the Central Plains can detoxify this poison, and he happened to be poisoned near one of them.”

Hearing that, Geom Mugeuk let go of his hand and took a step back.

“Then it must have been you who poisoned my brother, Physician.”

“What? What kind of nonsense is that?”

Not only So Jeongrak, but even the physicians behind him froze, their expressions stiffening. Their faces clearly said: How dare you speak like that to So Jeongrak?

But Geom Mugeuk raised his voice even louder.

“No matter how foul-tempered my brother is or how many enemies he has, how likely is it that he’d be poisoned by such a rare toxin right in front of Clearheart Clinic? This is clearly someone challenging you, Physician. They’re asking—can you cure this? Am I wrong?”

As Geom Mugeuk pressed further, So Jeongrak couldn’t come up with a rebuttal.

“Take responsibility. Save my brother! If he dies, I’ll make sure the entire world knows it! That Physician So Jeongrak let my brother die!”

Even in his agonizing pain, Geom Muyang shook his head from where he lay. They were on the same side, but how could his younger brother be this shameless?

“Save my brother!”

So Jeongrak was flustered. It was a situation where he could’ve rightfully shouted in anger and thrown them out.

“I understand. I’ll administer the antidote.”

So Jeongrak ordered the physicians who had come with him to bring medicine, herbs, and treatment tools.

At that moment, he seemed like someone who had spent his entire life earnestly studying medicine—a pure and innocent man.

Even as he acted outrageously and threw tantrums, Geom Mugeuk didn’t miss a single flicker in So Jeongrak’s gaze or a single word he said. He watched closely how the man reacted and spoke.

Even when his leg and hand were grabbed, he didn’t show the slightest discomfort—where did such confidence come from? Was he truly just an ordinary physician?

A short while later, the physicians returned with the medicine, herbs, and medicinal bottles he had asked for.

“For this treatment, luck needs to be on our side. The antidote is extremely difficult to make—if even a small detail in the mixture is off, it will fail.”

So Jeongrak closed his eyes for a moment, organizing his thoughts.

Naturally, Geom Mugeuk had expected the antidote to be prepared in private, perhaps behind closed doors or after clearing the area.

“Alright, listen carefully from now on.”

So Jeongrak began to explain the process as he prepared the antidote.

Seeing this, Geom Mugeuk and Geom Muyang looked at each other. Even in his pain, the elder brother seemed genuinely surprised by what he was seeing and wore a stunned expression.

“You said only three people in the world could make this antidote. Are you really just going to share it openly like this?”

Not only the physicians, but even he and his brother were listening in. Other patients nearby could hear as well.

So Jeongrak’s reason for doing so was even more unexpected.

“It’s not a secret formula for making poison. Why would I keep the antidote secret? What’s there to boast about in being the only one who knows how to make it?”

Then he spoke to the physicians.

“When it comes to saving lives, don’t hoard secret techniques. Spread them widely, and save even one more person who doesn’t have to die.”

“We will remember this!”

Respect filled the faces of the physicians.

He mixed the ingredients with great care. Of course, the process had its challenges. When the mixture didn’t turn out as he intended, he spent a long time pondering.

Geom Mugeuk truly hadn’t expected to witness him preparing an antidote like this—not to mention while passing the knowledge along to others.

If the measurements were even slightly off, he started over. If an ingredient wasn’t fresh enough, he had it brought anew. If the color didn’t match what he envisioned, he adjusted the mixture again.

So intensely focused was he that his whole body was soon drenched in sweat. Perhaps because of his large frame, he sweated even more.

After two full hours of painstaking effort, the antidote was finally completed.

With a deep breath, So Jeongrak administered the antidote to Geom Muyang.

As everyone watched in tense silence—

Relief began to show on Geom Muyang’s face as the pain subsided.

“It worked.”

At that, all the other patients present cheered and applauded.

“This antidote must be taken three times over the next three days. I’ll return tomorrow morning.”

So Jeongrak, completely drained, staggered as he walked. The physicians supported him by both arms as they helped him out.

Watching him leave, Geom Mugeuk looked down at Geom Muyang and said,

“Why do I feel like we’re the villains here?”

With a face that finally looked like he could breathe again, Geom Muyang spoke in a drained voice.

“We really are the villains.”

999

The next day, So Jeongrak once again devoted himself to preparing the antidote.

It actually took even longer than the first day.

He asked the physicians questions, and at times, had them mix the medicine directly. He was sincerely committed to educating his junior physicians.

“You should be making it yourself! What do those people even know?”

Even when Geom Mugeuk shouted, it was of no use.

“They’re doing exactly as I instruct. It’s fine.”

“Fine? What’s fine about it? Can’t you see their hands shaking?”

Despite Geom Mugeuk’s protest, he didn’t stop having the junior physicians assist him.

“Who are the other two people who said they could make the antidote?”

At that, So Jeongrak paused the preparation for a moment and looked at Geom Mugeuk.

“You’re obviously going to mention the Martial Alliance’s Divine Doctor, right?”

Even though he knew the answer was no, he brought up the name just to test him. So Jeongrak shook his head.

“When it comes to medicine alone, neither the Divine Doctor of the Clearheart Clinic nor the Demon Doctor of the Demonic Cult has any rivals. But being the best physician doesn’t necessarily mean you’re also the best at detoxifying poisons. That’s a different matter entirely.”

Then, a name came out that Geom Mugeuk was truly glad to hear.

“There is someone called the Insect Doctor. She treats illnesses using venomous creatures. If it’s her, she could surely handle this poison.”

Of course. She was the one who had made him immune to all poisons—how could she not be mentioned?

If his brother were in a truly critical condition from such a deadly poison, he would’ve carried him on his back and dashed to her using Star Light Step.

‘Insect Doctor! I hope you’re doing well.’

He wondered if Pyo Gigwang, who had entered as her disciple, was still massaging her shoulders properly.

“Who is the other person?”

After a brief pause, So Jeongrak spoke again—far more cautiously than when he mentioned the Insect Doctor.

“It’s the Poison King of the Demonic Cult.”

Geom Mugeuk carefully studied his face and tone as he said the Poison King’s name.

“You know of the Poison King?”

“I’ve never met him. But I’ve heard of his reputation.”

“What kind of person is he?”

As if he didn’t even want to think about it, So Jeongrak turned back to the physicians and resumed giving them instructions for mixing.

“If you keep this up, I’ll carry my brother straight to the Insect Doctor. Where does she live? You think I can’t find the Demonic Cult?”

It was still no use.

Thus, the second day’s antidote, made together with the junior physicians, was completed.

Confidently, So Jeongrak administered the antidote to Geom Muyang.

This time, his complexion recovered even more than the day before.

“It worked.”

Geom Mugeuk let out a sigh of relief.

“I’m sorry for yelling earlier.”

“It’s alright.”

“I’ll help make the antidote tomorrow. Together with that patient with the broken arm over there.”

At that joke, So Jeongrak burst into a bright smile. With that smile added, he truly seemed like a good-natured man. So much so that Geom Mugeuk felt sorry for ever having doubted him.

“As I said before, your brother is truly a fortunate man.”

Geom Mugeuk’s gaze shifted toward his brother.

“I always thought he was terribly unlucky.”

How could someone who was pushed out of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's successor position because of his younger brother possibly be considered lucky?

At that moment, Geom Muyang quietly spoke.

“I think I’m lucky too.”

Others might assume he said that because he had met So Jeongrak.

But Geom Muyang’s words held a deeper meaning.

‘Having a younger brother like you… that’s luck too.’

Even after losing the succession fight, he had not died and was still alive like this.

With his temperament, surviving might not have felt like living at all, but because he had lost to such a formidable opponent, he didn’t feel particularly bitter about it.

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow for the final treatment.”

That day, Geom Mugeuk walked around the Clearheart Clinic, observing everything.

The patients were too overwhelmed by pain to think clearly, and the physicians were too busy to pay attention to anything else. So Jeongrak was busy. The other physicians were busy. Patients kept flooding in endlessly. On the brink of life and death, there was no room for suspicion to creep in.

He looked around thoroughly, but nothing suspicious stood out. The only suspicious person inside the Clearheart Clinic… was himself.

“Is your body alright?”

At Geom Mugeuk’s question, Geom Muyang nodded. The pain that had felt like his entire body was being burned had completely vanished. After taking the third and final dose of the antidote, he was fully recovered.

For three days straight, So Jeongrak had not made a single mistake.

“You’re truly a Divine Doctor!”

When Geom Mugeuk exclaimed in admiration, So Jeongrak smiled.

Geom Muyang also expressed his gratitude.

“Thank you very much. How can I ever repay this kindness?”

Then Geom Mugeuk interjected from the side.

“What do you mean how? With money, of course. How much do we owe you for the treatment?”

Considering the type of poison, he had assumed the price would be whatever the doctor demanded.

“Just go on your way. I’m the one who’s grateful to have been given the chance to detoxify such a rare poison.”

So Jeongrak patted Geom Mugeuk on the shoulder.

“I was sincerely moved by how much you cared for your brother. Take care from now on.”

After flashing a radiant smile, So Jeongrak turned and walked away.

On the first day, it had been a burly physician who walked in. But now, it looked like a transcendent sage walking off into the distance.

Geom Mugeuk and Geom Muyang left the Clearheart Clinic and began walking toward their lodging.

“We were wrong about So Jeongrak.”

He was truly a Divine Doctor sent from the heavens.

If it had been any other poison than Omang Body Poison, they might’ve spent three days in vain.

But thanks to the effects of the Omang Body Poison, Geom Muyang had now gained a strong resistance to poison.

At that moment, a completely unexpected remark slipped out of Geom Mugeuk’s mouth.

“He’s definitely someone who uses poison arts.”

Sensing that it wasn’t just a joke, Geom Muyang stopped walking.

On the first day, he had been in too much pain to think straight, but even then, he had observed So Jeongrak carefully—what he said, what he did.

In his judgment, there was nothing suspicious at all. And that very lack of suspicion was, ironically, suspicious.

But now, Geom Mugeuk was claiming with certainty that So Jeongrak used poison arts? On what grounds?

Geom Mugeuk calmly explained his reasoning.

“When he confirmed that the poison you were afflicted with was Omang Body Poison, he was genuinely delighted. That joy—it wasn’t the joy of a physician. It was the joy of a poison arts expert.”

Geom Muyang nodded, but still felt that alone wasn’t enough to call him a user of poison arts.

“Couldn’t he have been happy simply because he’s renowned for detoxification, and it was a rare poison?”

As Geom Muyang cautiously offered that possibility, Geom Mugeuk presented another piece of evidence.

“Do you remember what he said on the first day? He said he thought the Omang Body Poison had been lost because it hadn’t appeared in our generation. Only those who practice poison arts speak of poisons being ‘lost.’”

Geom Muyang tilted his head slightly.

“He might’ve just said that out of deep interest in poisons.”

But that wasn’t the only thing that made Geom Mugeuk suspicious.

“He explained the poison in such detail—so why didn’t he mention that part?”

“What part?”

“The part about who could willingly cultivate and administrate this poison. If he said there are only three people who can detoxify it, he could’ve just as easily said there are only so many who could administrate it too.”

This time, Geom Muyang nodded.

“He didn’t say it because he already knows who it is?”

The theory sounded plausible. But all three points were circumstantial—no definitive proof.

“Are you sure you’re not just assuming he’s the one behind it and making him look more suspicious than he is?”

“No. It’s him. I’m certain.”

For the first time, Geom Muyang felt like he was seeing a flaw in his younger brother. It felt like he was forcing the pieces to fit his conclusion, determined to push his own theory through.

‘So you have a side like this too.’

He didn’t dislike it. Until now, his younger brother had been flawlessly calculated to the point of suffocation. Right—this kind of vulnerability is what allows me to support you.

As they continued walking, Geom Mugeuk suddenly spoke as if he had just remembered something.

“Ah, there’s one more thing.”

“What is it?”

You don’t have to act so perfect with me, you know.

“When we were parting earlier, as he patted my shoulder...”

He assumed it would just be another vague suspicion.

But then, something shocking came out of Geom Mugeuk’s mouth.

“He poisoned me.”

“!”

Geom Muyang stood frozen for a moment before shouting,

“That’s the first thing you should’ve told me!”