The underground prison was designed like a brain cell.

Each prisoner was locked alone in a solitary cell. Since Geom Mugeuk was with Duke Dok, he was assigned the cell opposite Duke Dok’s.

“You’ve surely seen what happens to troublemakers.”

After giving that warning, the guards left.

The only small mercy was that the iron doors had palm-sized windows to look inside, so prisoners could see each other’s faces and even talk.

“Damn it! We escaped the brain prison only to be locked in another one!”

“This place is filthier than where we were.”

“I overheard the guards saying they take prisoners out for secret experiments.”

“Damn! This is a death sentence!”

“We have to find a way out, no matter what!”

The prisoners cursed one another, each voicing their frustration.

Geom Mugeuk sent a telepathic message to Duke Dok across the window.

– Have you ever been locked in a brain prison?

– No.

– Sorry. I’m sorry you have to suffer this.

– It’s fine. When else would I get such an experience? Don’t worry about me.

Duke Dok spoke as if it was nothing serious. In a way, he seemed like someone who would hate this kind of treatment, but his calm face now made it seem he might endure this better than any Majon.

– I saw that third-rate poison user’s subordinate had decent poison skills.

For the first time, Duke Dok praised True Poison Master. There was probably something visible only to Duke Dok’s eyes.

– After all, he is the heretic world’s top poison master, isn’t he?

– That’s why I’m more upset. With such skill, he should have made a proper antidote.

About an hour later, a meal was served.

It was a feast fit for those facing death.

Everyone hastily began eating. Some had purposely fasted on the way, and even if full, the food was excellent enough to make them reach for their chopsticks. The reason for serving such delicious food was simple.

– The food contains frenzy medicine.

– Already dosing frenzy?

– Not just frenzy, but all kinds of medicines mixed in.

– Seeing them start right away, it seems Yalyulhan or Aecha ordered to hasten the process.

It was evident from bringing prisoners from a 21-day journey in just ten days.

– This is actually good for us. We’ll leave this suffocating place sooner.

– If you take the antidote I gave you earlier, the frenzy will detoxify immediately.

– Understood.

Of course, even without taking it, they couldn’t have been poisoned from the start. Intangible poison wouldn’t work; these random medicines wouldn’t either.

They ate only the food given here, as if they were being bred.

Those who complained until the first meal now quietly awaited the next. Excellent dishes and wine, only seen in the finest inns, were served. Having eaten garbage in the brain prison, they ate and drank with frenzy.

– The plan is definitely set, right?

– Didn’t you say you’d leave everything to me?

– You seem too carefree. Training martial arts here?

I had taken every chance to sit cross-legged in the brain prison and hone the Cheonma Ho Shin Gong.

Opportunities to be undisturbed all day were rare. Since Cheonma Ho Shin Gong was still incomplete, I concentrated on training whenever possible.

Duke Dok seemed curious about me.

– What martial art are you practicing?

I couldn’t honestly say I was training Cheonma Ho Shin Gong.

– I’m training my mind.

– Why train so hard?

– Because I believe I must be strong to be free.

– Aren’t you strong enough now?

– Not enough to enjoy the freedom I want.

– What freedom do you want?

After a pause, I said,

– A life where I can stop walking wherever I want.

It was an unexpected answer, so Duke Dok said nothing for a moment. It sounded like something anyone could say, but he knew well it was not easy.

– The path you’re on... is one where you cannot stop at your will.

– That’s why I’m trying. I want to stop when I want and look up at the sky.

There were close comrades who shared life and death with me, but that was why I wanted a life where we did not bind each other. That was the freedom Geom Mugeuk desired.

Duke Dok stared silently at me.

Then I asked,

– Duke Dok, do you have a dream?

What kind of dream did Duke Dok have now?

– At this age, what dream?

He seemed reluctant to answer and hid his face from the small window.

‘Duke Dok, if you hadn’t met me, I wouldn’t know. But now that we have met, I won’t let you live your old fate.’

So I inscribed “Dokjon” on the gloves.

So his dream wouldn’t become a dark desire. So he would think about the true “Solely I Am the Poison Lord” in the light.

I sat down and began to train Cheonma Ho Shin Gong.

“Meal time!”

Seodaeryong entered Geugak Soma’s room carrying a tray with several neat dishes. Some were store-bought, others homemade.

Had he ever been this nervous since birth? He probably wasn’t this nervous even at the finals of the Sorongjeon.

“Thank you.”

His voice was low but gentle. His goodwill toward Geugak Soma extended even to Seodaeryong.

“If you need anything, please say so!”

Seodaeryong bowed deeply.

Then Geugak Soma said,

“No need for such formality. You’re going to be a Majon someday.”

The word “Majon” made Seodaeryong’s heart race again. Could he really become a Majon on par with the fearsome Geugak Soma? Could he really?

Just as he was about to leave, Seodaeryong couldn’t contain his swelling emotions and spoke.

“I don’t know if I’m worthy.”

His reason screamed.

Hey, what are you doing? Shut your mouth!

His head urgently tried to stop him, but words poured out from the mouth controlled by his heart.

“Though I became the master’s disciple by chance, I don’t know if it’s because of my ability or because of Master Lee. Is this fate right? Am I going to die with my legs split like a fool? Right now, I just feel like I’m being pushed along. Can I really become a Majon? Can I become Soma?”

After speaking, Seodaeryong felt as if he was flying in the air. What have I done?

‘Ah! He’s causing trouble again. Of all people, he chooses to complain to the terrifying Geugak Soma? Asking if he can become Soma? Is that a challenge?’

Seodaeryong hurriedly bowed.

“I’m sorry. I must have lost my mind suddenly.”

As he hurried away, Geugak Soma said,

“The disciple likes you a lot.”

Seodaeryong turned, startled.

Geugak Soma’s eyes stared straight at him.

“Yes, I know!”

After saying this, Seodaeryong realized his mistake.

‘“I know” what? What do I know? I should have said thank you for telling me.’

His nervousness made him babble nonsense.

“No, what I meant earlier was...”

Then Geugak Soma said,

“I know too.”

It was as if he knew exactly how Seodaeryong felt.

Our eyes met. His eyes were smiling. It was the first time Seodaeryong saw Soma’s smile. Seeing those smiling eyes scared him.

“I made many mistakes today. I’m truly sorry.”

Geugak Soma said calmly.

“If you never make mistakes in front of me, that would be the real mistake.”

Seodaeryong sighed as he left the room. He couldn’t think about what just happened. Did he even say goodbye? It felt like a dream. To have such a long conversation alone with the world’s most fearsome Geugak Soma! It was thrilling and terrifying.

“Master Lee! Please come back soon! Your precious right hand is about to cause trouble!”

Three days after being locked in the brain prison.

One prisoner began to show symptoms.

“Ughhhhh!”

He screamed and beat on the door, but since it was an iron door, it did not break. His face was visible through a small window. He bled from his eyes and nose, losing his mind and going mad.

The prisoners didn’t know the reason they were taken was because of frenzy medicine; they thought he was just going mad from the suffocation.

“Crazy bastard! Stop it!”

“Shut up! Do you want to die?”

But he raged even more.

Seeing this, Duke Dok became angry.

– That third-rate poison user sold such medicine for money?

Unable to behave like a gentleman, True Poison Master arrived and watched the madman through the small window. The man ran and smashed his face against the window. His murderous intent was exploding.

Bang! Bang!

He rammed his head against the iron door.

The bleeding from his eyes, nose, and forehead was gruesome, but True Poison Master’s gaze was cold.

Eventually, the prisoner died by banging his head against the wall.

The subordinates, as if this happened often, expertly removed the corpse.

True Poison Master inspected other cells and checked on the prisoners one by one.

He looked at the room where Geom Mugeuk was. Geom Mugeuk sat leaning against the wall, head bowed, showing no special aura.

Next, he looked into Duke Dok’s room.

Duke Dok was sitting in the middle of the room and glanced at the window.

When their eyes met, True Poison Master felt something different.

‘Mocking?’

Impossible, but the gaze displeased him.

Duke Dok lowered his head and averted his eyes. True Poison Master continued inspecting the other cells.

After seeing all the rooms, True Poison Master looked once more at Duke Dok’s cell. This time Duke Dok sat with his back turned, lost in thought.

True Poison Master left with his subordinates and soon Geom Mugeuk sent a telepathic message to Duke Dok.

– How did it go?

– What do you mean? Of course, it was a success.

– As expected! You’re amazing.

In that brief encounter, Duke Dok subtly poisoned True Poison Master with frenzy medicine. Later, when the Satan Alliance conducted an autopsy, they would discover that he was intoxicated by frenzy. This was one of the main reasons we infiltrated here.

– Poisoning the heretic world’s top poison master while looking him in the eye! Who else in the martial world could succeed? Truly the Poison Lord!

– Only a subtle amount was given for now. I’ll increase it gradually.

Though humble in words, Duke Dok’s expression said, ‘This is nothing.’

Feeling his desire to boast, Geom Mugeuk added praise.

– Even inside the brain prison, poisoning someone outside. When I return, I will boast to everyone! I will tell my father about this wonderful sight. Duke Dok’s poison skills were art, father!

– Don’t tell the sect leader as well.

Hearing mention of his father, Duke Dok looked shy but also somewhat expectant.

Maybe that’s why he was so confident and proud.

– Every time he comes down, I’ll poison him a little more.

True Poison Master might think he was experimenting, but the real subject was himself.

When the second and third victims appeared in succession, prisoners realized something was put in their food.

Only then did the prisoners stop eating.

True Poison Master appeared again, slowly walking the corridors of the brain prison.

“I hear some aren’t eating?”

When he came down, curses flew threatening to tear him apart, but now no one dared stand up. The memory of the Blood Snake melting into blood was too shocking.

“If you waste food, you’ll die from my poison. Even if you beg to be killed, I won’t show mercy.”

After delivering this ruthless warning, he threw a rotten carrot.

“If you survive here, I won’t send you back to the brain prison but set you free. Maybe one or two will live.”

No one believed him.

But the words had effect. In growing despair, that rotten carrot was the only comfort.

True Poison Master stopped in front of Duke Dok’s cell, looked inside through the small door, and said to his subordinate,

“Open the door here.”

The subordinate opened the iron door of Duke Dok’s cell.

“Come out.”

Duke Dok walked out of the cell. It was an unexpected development for both Geom Mugeuk and Duke Dok.

True Poison Master looked at Duke Dok.

“Why do you make me so uneasy when I look at you?”

He was also an absolute master of the heretic world. It seemed he sensed some ominous fate in meeting Duke Dok.

True Poison Master poked Duke Dok’s chin unpleasantly with a finger.

“Strangely, I don’t like your gaze.”

At that very moment, Duke Dok showed no sign of fear.

Even if Geom Mugeuk sent a telepathic message urging Duke Dok to show fear, he would never do it. Especially now, when the mood was already bad.

True Poison Master slowly raised his hand to slap Duke Dok’s cheek. Duke Dok’s lips moved as if to say, Don’t, if you want to live. It was a tense moment ready to explode!

Geom Mugeuk shouted through the small window.

“You two look alike.”

Duke Dok and True Poison Master simultaneously looked toward Geom °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° Mugeuk. One spoke calmly, the other with a fierce expression.

“What? You say we look alike?”