Get Out of The Way, I'll be Performing
I finished the decoction and carefully divided it among several thermos bottles.
Not stainless steel thermoses.
Ceramic ones.
Bought from Daiso.
A whopping 3,000 won each.
There were ones with flower patterns for 5,000 won too, but paying 2,000 won just for a pattern? Unacceptable.
Even with over 2 billion won in his account, Kim Tae-yang's body still hadn't forgotten poverty.
"We've arrived, Senior."
A call from the Choi brothers.
Let's head outside.
Thud, thud, thud, thud.
A boxy, top-of-the-line SUV, pumping out a magnificent exhaust note.
White, naturally.
The company name is Baekgyeong—White Whale—after all.
Is that why it's white?
Clack.
Choi Jae-hwa opened the rear door for me.
I got in.
The elder brother, Choi Jae-jun, asked.
"We gifted you a Porsche—why don't you drive it?"
That Porsche parked in the public lot near my place.
Why, you ask?
……Kim Tae-yang doesn't have a driver's license.
Embarrassing, so let's keep that to ourselves.
"Let's go. Before the medicine cools."
Vroooom.
The SUV tore down the road.
On the way, the Choi brothers kept glancing at me nervously. Why?
Choi Jae-hwa spoke cautiously from behind the wheel.
"Um…… Senior. We're sorry."
"Sorry about what?"
"Well…… About your treasure being broken……"
He was referring to the Storm Soul-Crushing Needle Tube.
It's fine. That thing was disposable to begin with.
‘It almost felt like the Tower had prepared it just to give to them.’
Choi Jae-jun spoke.
"We'll make it up to you, no matter what."
"Let's meet your father first."
There was no need to tell him not to bother with compensation.
There's a saying that silence is golden, isn't there.
And they'd even gone out of their way to emphasize 'treasure'.
……Heh heh heh.
We arrived at the VIP ward of a hospital.
"This way."
We opened the door and stepped into the room.
Whoosh!
Despite it being winter, the temperature was like midsummer.
It was as if every single heater had been cranked to maximum.
Chairman Choi lay unconscious in the hospital bed.
His body was buried under a mountain of heat packs.
And there was an unfamiliar man there.
Someone who looked considerably older than the Choi brothers—a man in his mid-to-late thirties.
His build was also far larger than the brothers'.
"He's our eldest brother."
Oh? So it wasn't just the two of them?
He extended a hand toward me.
"I'm Choi Jun-pyo. Pleased to meet you."
Choi Jun-pyo, Choi Jae-jun, Choi Jae-hwa.
The Jun-pyo-jun-hwa brothers.
I was laughing on the inside.
Squeeze.
The eldest, Choi Jun-pyo, took my hand and applied pressure. I felt the force.
Oh-ho.
I could tell at a glance.
This man.
……Doesn't like me.
Should I crush it?
The urge to do something violent flared up for a moment, then subsided.
Patience.
Right now, I'm in 'Poison Demon concealing his strength' mode.
I found out later that this chaebol family had a rather complicated history.
The eldest son, Choi Jun-pyo.
He and the Choi brothers were half-brothers.
Jun-pyo's birth mother had passed away, and after some time Chairman Choi remarried and had Choi Jae-jun and Choi Jae-hwa.
Of course.
There was a reason the chaebol heirs had risked their lives to climb the Tower.
The first was Jun-pyo; the second and third were Jae-jun and Jae-hwa.
It was clearly intentional—Chairman Choi had used different middle characters in their names.
……The successor has been chosen; don't even think about it.
Having been destined from birth, it made sense that the Jae-jun and Jae-hwa brothers would want to achieve something of their own to prove themselves, just like their father.
Mystery solved!
"I'll take your pulse first."
I reached for Chairman Choi's wrist to check his pulse.
Slap!
Choi Jun-pyo grabbed my shoulder.
"Wouldn't it be better to leave this to the doctors?"
I could see the distrust lingering in Choi Jun-pyo's eyes.
He was speaking to me through his gaze.
'You're not a licensed physician or herbalist.'
I understand.
To him, I was just some mid-twenties kid who'd rolled in from who knows where.
But then the Choi brothers stepped in to block him.
"Jun-pyo, why are you doing this? We explained everything."
"This person is our benefactor. We obtained the Onon Grass because of him, and he even brewed the decoction himself."
Choi Jun-pyo said.
"That's why…… That decoction—honestly, even its effectiveness…… I still can't trust it."
"Brother!"
"I made a special request to an American pharmaceutical company. I told them I'd pay double and asked for four more doses."
"That didn't make any difference!"
"But Father held on all this time because of that medicine! It was just a shortage. A few more doses and I think he'll—just trust your brother and—"
"Every second counts right now!"
The half-brothers arguing.
I walked over and spoke to Choi Jun-pyo.
"I understand you don't trust me, but we need to administer the decoction before its potency fades."
"……"
"I'll take his pulse first. That much is fine, isn't it."
I took Chairman Choi's wrist.
Even Choi Jun-pyo couldn't stop me for that.
Chairman Choi, lying in the hospital bed, had already had his left hand and right foot amputated from frostbite.
His right hand and left foot were also in very poor condition.
I finished reading his pulse.
"How is he? Senior."
I answered with a grave expression.
"This is serious. The Chairman's energy channels are completely blocked."
"What? The Oriental doctor said his condition was fine……"
I shook my head.
"This isn't a simple case of Ice Energy exposure. The excessive treatment…… Most likely, that medicine from the American pharmaceutical company is blocking the Chairman's energy channels."
And so it was.
Because of that outrageously expensive medicine, Chairman Choi's body had deteriorated even further.
"Then?"
"Even if he takes my decoction in this state, I cannot guarantee recovery."
"Haaa……"
The Choi brothers slumped.
"Father……"
Their despair must have been enormous.
The Onon Grass they'd staked their lives to obtain. To think it had all come to nothing.
Even Choi Jun-pyo pressed his forehead with his hand, then spoke.
"Then I suppose we have no choice but to wait for the medicine I ordered. Thank you for your trouble."
His tone was polite, but the meaning was clearly: now get lost, right?
His eyes were speaking to me again.
'Quack. Fraud.'
He's really looking down on me just because I said the multi-billion-won medicine is blocking the Chairman's energy channels, huh.
Choi Jun-pyo said to the brothers.
"You heard him. There's no way. Let's wait."
"Damn it……"
"Father!"
I asked them.
"When will that medicine arrive?"
"Pardon?"
Choi Jun-pyo turned to look at me.
"That medicine made in America—when can you obtain it?"
"About two months, give or take."
"Then the Chairman will die."
"……!"
The brothers' expressions changed.
Choi Jun-pyo looked like he'd been struck.
"The doctors said he was still okay."
I smirked.
"He may look fine on the surface. But the Ice Energy is reaching his heart."
"That can't be!"
"The doctors don't know. The Oriental doctors won't know either. But I can see it."
I pointed to Chairman Choi.
"It won't be a matter of simply cold hands and feet and body. There should be blue lines on Chairman Choi's back, shouldn't there. And those lines are gradually moving closer to his heart."
"……!"
All three brothers were visibly shocked.
This was information I couldn't possibly know without flipping Chairman Choi over to look.
The second brother, Choi Jae-jun, took my hand.
"Then…… Is there another way?"
I looked into his eyes and nodded.
"There is?! Understood! Please, do it! Whatever it takes!"
But.
"My method of treatment is one you brothers will despise."
"What…… Do you mean?"
"I'll need to use Poison."
"……!"
Choi Jun-pyo asked, his words stumbling.
"D-did you say poison?"
"Yes."
My gaze, unwavering.
"Ha! Unbelievable. Poison? You're saying you'll kill our father with that?"
"Brother Jun-pyo!"
"What is it you want from us? No—who sent you? Miraejegwa? How much did they promise you to kill our father!"
He erupted.
I understand.
Telling him to use poison on his father—it must have sounded like madness.
But I know.
There is no other way but to use poison to dissolve the energy blocking Chairman Choi's channels.
"If we had time, I'd look for another method. But the Chairman has no time. What remains is barely……"
Slowly.
I held up three fingers.
"Three days."
Choi Jun-pyo's face cycled between red and blue as he unleashed a torrent of curses.
"What the hell is wrong with you, going on about three days! Hey! You damn quack!"
I ignored him and spoke in a loud, clear voice.
"Tonight, the Chairman's body will tremble like an aspen tree. By tomorrow, his face and body will turn blue. And by the morning of the day after……"
I fixed my gaze on Choi Jun-pyo and finished.
"He will die."
I turned around.
"If you don't believe me, I'll be on my way."
I walked out of the hospital room.
Sounds of Choi Jun-pyo cursing at me, followed by the noise of him arguing with Choi Jae-jun inside, rang out one after another.
Choi Jae-hwa followed me out and asked.
"Is it really true?"
"It is."
"……"
He said.
"I'll try to persuade my eldest brother."
"No need."
Pat.
I tapped his shoulder.
"He'll come looking for me anyway."
I found a spot with no one around and opened the door to my medicinal and poisonous herb field.
I selected the appropriate poisonous herbs and medicinal ingredients, put them into the decoction pot, and lit a new fire.
24 hours later, in front of a hospital bench.
Ring, ring, ring, ring! Ring, ring, ring, ring!
My phone went haywire.
"Hello?"
"Senior! Please help us! Please help us!"
An urgent voice. It was the Choi brothers.
"We've sent a car to your house. Please come right away."
"No need to send one."
"Pardon?"
"I'm in front of the hospital."
I headed straight to the ward.
Rattle, rattle, rattle, rattle.
The entire hospital bed shaking along with Chairman Choi.
His body was blue.
Exactly as I'd said.
Around Chairman Choi, four doctors were fighting desperately, jabbing him with all manner of syringes.
I quietly looked at Choi Jun-pyo.
He was a tear-soaked mess as he…
Thump.
Dropped to his knees.
A declaration of surrender.
A familiar sight.
Something I'd seen countless times, and ignored countless times.
No particular emotion was necessary.
I stepped forward and addressed the surrounding doctors.
"Everyone, please leave. It's easier if I work alone."
***
Six hours later.
"Phew……"
I wiped the sweat from my brow.
Was the treatment difficult, you ask?
No.
……It was just too hot.
Click.
I turned off the heaters.
These chaebol people have no idea electricity costs money.
I opened the windows wide too.
Ahh, fresh air.
Good.
The treatment itself wasn't difficult.
I could do it with my eyes closed.
First, I inserted needles all across his body.
The decoction I'd brewed had lost some of its potency after a full day, you see.
The needles: Storm Pear Blossom Needles.
Just as poison can become medicine, a throwing weapon can become a medical instrument too.
A true craftsman doesn't blame his tools.
I administered the poison decoction I'd prepared, and gently stimulated Chairman Choi's energy channels using the Tracing Energy Circulation Technique—
Then cleared the blockage caused by that useless medicine's energy residue.
Then I gave him the Onon Grass decoction.
Another round of the Tracing Energy Circulation Technique.
Actually easier than before.
Not the toxic energy from a past life—flowing through my body now was the pure, refined energy of the Ten Thousand Streams Return to Origin Divine Art.
Right then, time to deliver the results.
I looked in the mirror.
‘This level of exhaustion on my face should do, shouldn't it?’
I need to look like I poured everything into it.
Slide.
I unlocked the hospital room door and stepped out.
The three brothers, who had been sitting in the hallway, leapt to their feet.
"H-how is Father?"
The Choi brothers looked at my weary face and wore expressions of concern.
……Success.
"He's made a full recovery."
"I-is that really true?!"
Choi Jun-pyo tried to rush into the ward right then and there.
I extended a hand to stop him.
"He still needs rest."
"I-I need to see for myself!"
Now hold on! The drama's still going!
Choi Jun-pyo, with his large frame, tried to push past me by force, but—
I didn't budge.
He looked caught off guard.
"Trust me."
"But!"
The trace of distrust still lingering in Choi Jun-pyo's eyes.
He was wondering.
Whether his father might have—
……Died.
"Doctor!"
Choi Jun-pyo called me Doctor.
I'm not a doctor though.
I'm the Poison Demon.
"Please wait."
"Doctor!"
Just then.
"Doctor…… Don't give them a hard time."
A voice came from inside the ward.
Only one person was in there.
It was Chairman Choi.
"Father!"
Slowly.
I lowered the arm blocking the door.
The three brothers burst in!
"Father!"
"It feels like…… I had a very long dream."
Chairman Choi's quiet voice.
"F-father!"
"I'm hot—could you turn on the air conditioning."
"Fatheeeer!"
The three brothers embraced him, weeping.
I walked toward them.
Chairman Choi looked at me.
"Thank you……"
"It was your three sons who saved you, Chairman."
"Thank you……"
With his one remaining right hand, Chairman Choi stroked his three sons.
And now it was time for the lead actor's soul-baring performance.
Swaaaaay—
"D-Doctor!"
"Senior!"
Me, staggering and grabbing the bedpost.
"Aaah…… I used too much…… energy. I must have pushed myself too far……"
Thud.
"Doctor!"
"Senioooor!"
Heh heh.
A perfect drama, complete.
***
Drip—drip.
The IV was dropping steadily.
"Patient. Why do you keep speeding up the IV drip?"
The nurse scolded me as I lay there receiving the injection.
I told her.
"Could you add some more supplements? Amino acids, placenta, antioxidants, garlic, licorice, multivitamins—load me up. High-dose."
"They're all already in there."
Tap tap.
The nurse pointed to the IV.
Hanging like a cluster of grapes—all manner of supplements.
【Expensive supplements are being administered.】
【The Great Law of Reversal is applied. Medicine becomes poison.】
【Energy increases.】
What a wonderful world.
Pulling out only the core medicinal components and inputting them with perfect efficiency.
Truly, supplements paid for with someone else's money are the best.
I was indulging in supplements to my heart's content, following the triumph of my perfect drama.
The moment I pretended to have collapsed from overexertion—
They immediately sent me to a VIP ward and had me enjoying the finest hospitality, since to them I was the person they owed their lives to.
"The food is delicious too."
Nom nom nom.
"And the medicine is even more delicious."
Slurp.
And every day, the three brothers came to check on me.
"How are you feeling?"
Choi Jae-jun asked with a worried expression.
"A bit better now."
"Then shall we arrange discharge tomorrow?"
"Oh dear, I'm still a bit dizzy."
"Nurse! More supplements here please! Any new ones? The expensive kind!"
Most notable of all was the eldest, Choi Jun-pyo.
"I apologize, Doctor."
"What's there to apologize for?"
"I had needless doubts."
"Never mind that—how is your father doing?"
"Yes, his recovery speed is truly remarkable."
"That's a relief. It was worth pushing myself."
Of course.
With his energy channels cleared by my poison, Chairman Choi's circulation was no longer that of a man in his late sixties—it was practically on par with someone in their thirties.
He wasn't just doing well—he'd be flying around with energy to spare.
Live to a hundred, Chairman.
【Choi Jun-pyo deeply respects you. +2,000 Happiness】
"We'll have Father fitted with the most advanced prosthetic hand and foot available."
"That's wonderful to hear."
"I already had them purchased. They said he could get them as soon as tomorrow."
Before Choi Jun-pyo even finished speaking—
Fling.
The door burst open and—
"Ah, our dear Doctor. Have you eaten well?"
Chairman Choi Tae-seong walked in.
On his own two feet.
Tomorrow, he said—impatient old man.
Quite the personality.
"Ha ha ha! Look at this! Don't I look like Robocop?"
He laughed brightly, waving his prosthetic arm.
What a positive man.
He still had a slight limp, but once he adjusted, it seemed like he'd be perfectly comfortable soon enough.
The prosthetic arm, crafted with the aid of energy, became Chairman Choi's new hand alongside the body's own electrical signals.
He took my hand and patted it.
"Thank you, Dr. Kim."
"I'm not a doctor."
"You treated me, so you're a doctor."
I smiled without a word.
And so I was hospitalized for three more days.
My parents came too.
"Are you Dr. Kim's parents?"
"Ah…… Yes."
My parents, seeing a chaebol family for the first time.
They looked completely overwhelmed.
But—
"Our family has received an immense debt of gratitude from Dr. Kim!"
"Our…… Tae-yang did that?"
"Absolutely. A debt we could never repay in a lifetime."
Choi Jun-pyo, bowing a full ninety degrees.
【Your parents are proud of you. +5,000 Happiness】
Have you ever heard of such a thing?
Chaebol heirs who are devoted to me.
【Chairman Choi Tae-seong likes you very much. +3,000 Happiness】
I didn't know at the time.
That the outside world had erupted into absolute chaos.
'Two consecutive months of Tower conquest mythology—has it stopped here!'
'Forty days have passed, yet still no word!'
'Japanese Prime Minister cancels meeting with President!'
'White House considering tariffs on South Korea again!'
It had been precisely ten days since I'd fallen behind on climbing the Murim Tower, distracted by the Choi family.