THBVD 12

Chapter 12

The Divine Physician Became a Demon 

Final Gate (3)

In the urgent situation, So Baek chose the method of using poison against poison.

Its effect was far more astonishing than expected.

‘How can this be!’

So Baek felt his pulse stabilize and even the earlier weakness gradually fade. He couldn’t help but smile faintly.

Most notably, his senses were rapidly returning to normal, bringing him a strong sense of relief.

Although he was not yet in perfect condition, at the very least, he was now ready to strike when his opponent lowered his guard.

“Number Thirty… or should I call you Number One now?”

Jang Chil, after beating Gwak Hui unconscious, slowly approached So Baek.

Fortunately, there was a considerable distance between them.

This was because So Baek had an earlier number, while Jang Chil was one of the later ones.

The gap between them was wide enough to buy So Baek time for the detoxifying effects of Gae Danggui’s poison to circulate and restore his vitality.

“Haa… haa…”

So Baek skillfully avoided drawing suspicion.

Instead, he continued pretending to be weak and exhausted so that Jang Chil would let his guard down.

This was, of course, to create an opening for a decisive strike when the moment came.

“Hahaha! Even you can’t handle that poison needle, huh? In the end, both you and Number One are inferior to me.”

Unknowingly, Jang Chil was becoming increasingly intoxicated by the poison.

Seeing both Gwak Hui and So Baek struggle against the poison needles filled him with joy.

In reality, however, they were not struggling—they were adapting, building resistance—while he himself was the one truly being overwhelmed by the poison.

“That master of yours—or rather, the guy who acted like one—do you know what happened to him? I beat him! I killed him!”

Having lived his entire life bowing to others, Jang Chil was now intoxicated by a sense of liberation.

He wished this moment would last forever.

“Next is your turn, Number Thirty!”

To Jang Chil, So Baek would always remain “Number Thirty.”

Clenching his teeth, Jang Chil growled in rage, determined to take revenge for the earlier horseback combat incident.

Just as Jang Chil raised his fist to strike So Baek’s face—

‘Now!’

So Baek, who had been pretending to be weak with his head lowered due to poison effects, suddenly gathered his strength and moved.

Whoosh!

He narrowly dodged Jang Chil’s punch and immediately counterattacked.

Thud!

So Baek’s fist struck Jang Chil’s abdomen perfectly.

The timing was flawless.

‘Got him!’

So Baek, thinking victory was within reach, smiled in triumph.

But unbelievably, Jang Chil showed no sign of pain.

Instead of clutching his stomach, he grinned sinisterly.

“What was that pathetic punch supposed to be?”

So Baek’s strength had not fully returned. While the antidote had restored his senses, his physical strength was still lacking.

Even so, his strike had been decent—but Jang Chil, drunk on poison and adrenaline, barely felt it.

“You really thought you could knock me down like before? Not happening!”

Grinding his teeth, Jang Chil picked up a boulder the size of a human head.

“Heh… I’ll give you special treatment. I’ll finish you with this rock.”

His eyes were completely unhinged.

In truth, he had been shaken when So Baek counterattacked earlier, though he hid it well.

‘Are you trying to trick me again?!’

The poison had already begun driving him mad.

“Haah… haa…”

So Baek could only watch helplessly as Jang Chil lifted the massive stone.

His strength still hadn’t fully returned.

‘Damn it! If only I had more time!’

The detoxification had not had enough time to fully restore his body.

Just then—

“Die.”

Jang Chil swung the rock downward—

But it did not strike So Baek.

Crash!

The stone missed because someone had shoved Jang Chil at the last moment.

The impact caused Jang Chil to lose control and drop the rock onto his own head.

“Aaaagh! Who? Who did this?!”

Blood streaming down his face, Jang Chil turned around in rage.

But his vision was blurred.

The one who had pushed him was none other than Wang Shan (Sam Ho).

Despite his large build and tremendous strength, Wang Shan had a kind heart. Seeing So Baek in danger, he rushed in without hesitation—even while weakened by poison needles.

A simple shove was enough.

And so, Jang Chil ended up crushing his own head with the stone.

“Ugh… ughhh…”

Having already beaten Gwak Hui, Jang Chil was now defeated by karma itself.

As he lost consciousness—

“I… I…”

Wang Shan trembled violently.

A poor eldest son from a common household, he had been tricked into slavery by traffickers.

He had only tried to save his only friend here—So Baek—but never expected to nearly kill someone.

“It’s okay.”

So Baek, now recovering thanks to Wang Shan, calmly reassured him.

“It’s not your fault. If you hadn’t helped me, I would have died.”

“I… I1!”

Wang Shan finally exhaled in relief.

So Baek immediately checked Jang Chil’s pulse.

“He’s not dead.”

However, if left untreated, he would die.

In fact, he would not survive even a day.

The former Divine Physician would have tried to save him, but his values had changed.

‘Those with human faces but beastly hearts—I will not heal them.’

Just like when he dealt with the Martial Alliance leader, Zheng Tianxie Sword Yu Zhongtian.

Even if he had not known the truth then, healing known evildoers would be foolish.

So Baek decided not to treat Jang Chil or Gwak Hui.

Those who needed saving were elsewhere.

“Number One! Number Two is in danger!”

Wang Shan remembered Number Two, who had been struck by the poison needle.

Unlike himself, who had built some resistance, Number Two had reacted violently and was in critical condition.

“Let’s go!”

With some strength restored from the detoxification, So Baek rushed over.

He did not even glance at the bleeding Jang Chil.

That was the correct decision.

Number Two was in a life-or-death situation.

“Grrk… gurgle…”

His body was covered in red rashes and fevered blotches.

His breathing was shallow—he was on the verge of death.

“Number Two!”

Wang Shan looked ready to cry.

“Number Three, are you okay?”

So Baek first checked Wang Shan.

“I’m… getting better.”

Wang Shan surprisingly had strong poison resistance.

‘He has a naturally strong constitution.’

So Baek judged he would have made an excellent general if born into a military family.

“Then protect us. I’ll save Number Two.”

“Don’t worry.”

Wang Shan stood firmly.

So Baek immediately checked Number Two.

As expected—

‘No poison resistance. No—this is extreme hypersensitivity.’

Unlike others, he reacted violently even to small amounts of poison.

His airways were swollen shut.

‘We don’t have time.’

There were no proper herbs or medicine available.

Only one option remained.

Acupuncture.

So Baek swiftly began treatment, targeting the thigh muscles—an effective method for poison-induced respiratory distress.

He also crushed nearby dandelions.

“Wang Shan! Do you see any dandelions?”

“Yes!”

“Gather all of them—roots, stems, flowers—everything!”

“Got it!”

Using his massive hands like a shovel, Wang Shan quickly gathered all the dandelions.

‘Dandelions are useful medicinal herbs.’

They helped with detoxification, inflammation, and liver support.

Perfect for this situation.

“Crush them into juice!”

Wang Shan smashed them with stones.

So Baek wrapped them in torn cloth, creating a makeshift filter.

“Squeeze it into his mouth!”

Wang Shan complied.

Then So Baek applied acupuncture and massaged Number Two’s body vigorously.

Time passed—

“Ugh… ughhh…”

Finally, their efforts bore fruit.

Number Two opened his eyes and regained consciousness.