144 – The Tang in the Tang Clan Refers to Sugar Tang #4
“Prevents Hydra poison, you say…? I’ve never heard of such a thing existing…! If that’s true, it would be absolutely incredible…!”
Illinois exclaimed in great amazement at the claim that Hydra poison could be prevented.
The Nymph of Poisons, Tairrenol, was also amazed.
“Hydra poison is something even gods and heroes cannot deal with…! If a Nymph of ditch water can purify or prevent such poison, that is truly remarkable…!”
It was said that all Nymphs evolve from ditch water Nymphs.
Nymphs of medicine, icy water, poisons, animals, and many others—.
While the Nymph of ditch water was said to possess infinite potential, it was also considered the weakest of all Nymphs.
However, Inoi, the ditch water Nymph, knew a great deal and was skilled in a great many things.
And Inoi said,
“This Inoi needs your help…! Bring all the herbs and clean water available immediately…! Hurry, this must be done quickly…!”
There was a Nymph-friendly swimming pool at this villa because Nymphs loved to splash around in water.
However, the water in the pool was contaminated with poison and it seemed that refilling it would take a considerable amount of time.
Splash-!
Right then, Inoi jumped into the poisoned swimming pool.
“Nymphs, splash wildly…!”
Splash, Splash-!
And as Inoi splashed around with arms and legs, causing water sprays, Illinois and Tairrenol, upon witnessing this, seemed to have gained a great revelation and jumped into the pool together, splashing wildly with their hands and feet.
Splash, Splash-!
It seemed as if the pool water gradually took on a bright glow, then became crystal clear, shimmering brilliantly.
Seizing the moment, Inoi cried out,
“Now the Cores must dump all the herbs into the swimming pool…! Do not forget to warm it to the appropriate temperature…!”
At the villa in the Linfu Forest of Sichuan, there were all kinds of herbs in abundance.
Tang So-hae and Xiao Xiao threw everything they had, without hesitation, into the swimming pool with splash after splash.
“Hey, that’s my hundred-year-old ginseng I was saving! Honey-preserved hundred-year-old ginseng! And you’re throwing it into the pool, Xiao Xiao! You! This mischievous girl!”
“Is now really the time to argue about that?”
“I’ve never liked you since the old days! If it weren’t for this situation, I wouldn’t have cooperated with you! Once this is over, we’ll settle the score we’ve been postponing!”
Despite grumbling at Xiao Xiao, Tang So-hae still cooperatively added a plethora of herbs to the pool.
And Seo Ye-rim dipped her fingers into the pool, gradually heating the water.
Bubble, bubble, bubble-.
The pool, heating up like a hot spring, was likened by Inoi to a giant decoction.
“To splash now is the next task! The Cores must bring large sticks to stir the pool water together…! Hurry, it must be done quickly…!”
Splash, Splash-. Splash-.
As the Nymphs splashed wildly, Xiao Xiao and Tang So-hae brought oar-like objects to vigorously stir the pool water in all directions.
Then, something amazing happened.
The vigorously boiling pool water began to evaporate and decrease in volume.
Eventually, the water level shrank to ankle-height for the Nymphs and finally reduced to the size of a puddle emitting rainbow colors.
At this sight, Tairrenol exclaimed in great surprise.
“This is the very ‘Legendary Ditch Water’ itself…! The ‘Legendary Ditch Water’ that only ‘Legendary Ditch Water Nymphs’ can create…!”
The Legendary Ditch Water.
It was genuine blue jade oil.
Drinking it would unblock one’s vital energy pathways, causing mana to grow and bestowing a far greater power, didn’t it?
Not the fake blue jade oil I had obtained from winning the martial arts competition, but the real one.
The women and the Nymphs made it together with their combined strength.
“This Inoi didn’t think it could actually be achieved…! According to my teacher, creating an antidote to prevent Hydra poison requires the affection of the Cores, the sincerity of the Nymphs, and an immense amount of herbs…!”
Inoi was greatly surprised by this outcome.
Swoosh-.
Inoi carefully scooped some of the ditch water with their hand and poured it into a cup.
“Drinking this will surely help to some extent in preventing Hydra poison…! But it’s certainly not perfect, so the master of the house must still be cautious…!”
It was necessary to ensure that poisonous vapors don’t touch bare skin.
The antidote could only block poison entering through the respiratory system.
“Thrilling. Haven’t felt this way in a long time.”
Nod.
I nodded solemnly. Then, I handed over Kkungkkungi and Bang Bang, who were clinging to my shoulder, to the Nymphs.
“You all stay here. Not the Haldo of squirrel beasts, honey ants, or ghost spiders—but now it’s the human Haldo’s time to take action.”
The place we were heading to was very dangerous; it was a fatal locale for animals with heightened senses. At that moment, Seo Ye-rim grabbed my arm.
“I’ll go. Haldo, my resistance to the poison might be higher than yours.”
“No, if anything happens to you, the safety gap that people would experience would be too immense. I’m only B Rank. There are plenty of people who could replace me.”
Likewise, Xiao Xiao, China’s sole S Rank Awakened, was an exception.
S-Class Awakened individuals are symbols of people’s hope.
If they were injured or fell, how many people would tremble in fear?
I was always saddened every time I viewed news articles about the security gaps Korea was enduring after Lee Joon-Hun fell into decline.
“It’s fine. I’ve done such dangerous missions many times.”
Recalling the incident seven years ago when a meltdown was about to happen due to a fissure at a nuclear power plant, the situation then was even more severe than now.
This was a story undisclosed to anyone other than high-ranking officials and participating Awakened individuals, out of concern that the public would panic.
Kang Cheol-Min lost an arm then. It was said that he had inserted his hand into a hot control apparatus like a fiery crucible and pulled the lever.
“I’ll go. Seo Ye-rim, because you are an Enflame Ability user, there are too many variables. If you get excited and accidentally cause an explosion inside, it would be the end.”
“…”
Seo Ye-rim responded with a slight smile instead of words.
Then she extended her fist toward me.
“Haldo, I highly respect your ambition. I know you’re not the type to collapse in places like this, but you mustn’t collapse.”
Frrrr-.
I swallowed the cup of rainbow-colored liquid first.
It tasted like an isotonic drink.
“It’s tastier than I expected.”
A cooling sensation spread through my whole body while warmth simultaneously enveloped me.
It felt like lying under a blanket with the air conditioner fully on, and it felt quite good.
“Alright. I think I can handle it now.”
Trusting in the preventive medicine created by everyone and the suit made from ant leather, I took a step toward the basement filled with toxic gas.
# # #
Creeeeeak-.
As I stepped forward, a sound akin to frying pork belly on a hot griddle emanated from my leather suit.
The powerful poison was corroding the suit.
I guessed the suit would hold up for about 5 minutes.
“…”
5 minutes.
There were plenty of things I could accomplish in 5 minutes, so it was enough for me.
But there was a problem.
Whirrrr~.
The poison had risen past my waist, reaching my chest, obscuring everything.
Pfft-.
At that moment, something leaped toward my back.
─Meoww…!
“You’ve come along, Miong!”
─Kwangg…!
Miong was a super-spider with a body made of special alloy. Its durability far exceeded that of my suit.
Thanks to its steel-like nerves, it had a certain degree of complete resistance to poison, and it seemed unaffected even in this basement filled with toxic fumes.
“Good, let’s go together.”
─Kwangg…!
Sshh-.
Miong darted around on the toxic-fume-covered floor. I slowly moved forward by watching the view connected to Miong’s sight through my phone screen.
“I’ve heard about the ventilation system’s design.”
Control Zone C.
They said there’s a lever-like object there to pull. Doing so would activate the fans, which would then send the poison deeper underground to the disposal facility.
Following that direction, I saw the lever on my safety goggles inside the control area. I grabbed it forcefully, only to have it crumble with a crackling sound.
“Damn, tsk!”
It must have corroded and worn out due to prolonged exposure to the strong poison!
I anticipated the presence of variables, so I kept calm, focusing on maintaining my breathing. Yet, my throat itched in various ways, and my eyes stung so badly they were streaming with tears.
─Meoww…!
Miong tugged at the hem of my pants. Was it warning me that my suit might dissolve if I stayed too long? I could also lose consciousness before that.
It was dizzier than I’d anticipated.
It felt like sitting inside a scorching crucible after splashing hot oil into it. The sensation in my hands and feet was gradually numbing. Was it just an illusion?
─Meowwwwwwwwwwwww….
Miong’s cry sounded like a worn-out cassette tape from long ago, stretching endlessly. I needed to calm down and think clearly.
If I don’t figure out something here now, I might miss the golden opportunity.
─Kwangg…!
Suddenly, Miong cried out. Miong then climbed to my shoulder and stretched its legs to transform into a long rod-like shape.
Looking at it, I understood Miong’s intention.
“You’re volunteering to act as the lever?”
─Meoww…!
It was a good idea.
I placed Miong’s legs precisely where the broken lever was.
Chk-!
I felt Miong’s legs gripping firmly onto the broken lever. I pulled it with all my might.
“Hnngh!”
Chk, snap-! Creak-! Whoosh!
The sound of something being activated rang out.
Hoooooooom-.
The poison started to clear.
My breath began to become lighter soon after. This went on for about 5 minutes, perhaps.
“Haldo! Are you okay!?”
Someone came down into the basement.
It was Seo Ye-rim with a gas mask on her face along with several Nymphs.
“Haldo, your hands and legs…!”
Seo Ye-rim exclaimed in alarm, pointing at my hands and legs. Looking down, I saw that the suit covering those parts had melted away, revealing the bare flesh.
“Uh…”
That was the last thing I remembered.
I collapsed as my vision began to flicker. I was only vaguely aware of collapsing, while everything else slipped into deep unconsciousness.
