Chapter 250: Poison

Tang Wulin suppressed his surprise and kept reading.

It was unexpected yet reasonable: the book covered knowledge about medicinal herbs, but it also included knowledge about poisons.

The more Tang Wulin read, the more complicated his mood became; after a quick skim, he set the book down and sighed.

Huo Yutong saw that his mood seemed off and asked in surprise:

"What's wrong, Wulin? I think the knowledge in this book is quite useful,"

Tang Wulin shook his head lightly.

"I don't think it's unusable; it's precisely because it's so useful that I feel it's unworthy for Teacher Xiao Ya."

"Teacher Xiao Ya?" Huo Yutong thought for a moment, then realized, "Oh, you mean if this book existed, Teacher Xiao Ya wouldn't have suffered so many misfortunes, right?"

"Exactly," Tang Wulin confirmed Huo Yutong's speculation with a complicated look. "If the Medicine Scripture and Poison Scripture hadn't been hidden and had remained in the Tang Sect from the start, even with the impact of Soul Guide Device technology, the Tang Sect probably wouldn't have declined so far, and Teacher Xiao Ya and others wouldn't have had to work so hard."

Based on what he just saw in the book, if it were to be passed down, the Tang Sect might not retain the continent's top sect status as it did ten thousand years ago, but it could still be a premier pharmaceutical sect.

At least it wouldn't have fallen to the tragic fate of annihilation as it has now; without Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong joining, perhaps even now there would still be only two of them.

Hearing him say that, Youyou interjected:

"Alas, Natural Son, that statement is off. As the book says, when poison is used well its lethality is extreme; it's a method of demonic outsiders. If it falls into the hands of a malicious person, it could scorch all living beings, even though that person claims to act for the sake of the world's people."

Tang Wulin was stunned for a moment, his expression speechless.

"What are you talking about, when did killing methods become a matter of good or evil? Ordinary weapons kill, poison kills; you say poison is more lethal, does that mean a Level‑9 fixed-configuration Soul Guide cannonball isn't as lethal? I haven't seen the Sun-Moon Empire seal the technology of fixed-configuration Soul Guide cannonballs."

"Umm… fixed-configuration Soul Guide cannonball? Sun-Moon Empire?"

Youyou was confused.

The great array of the Bilin Seven-Absolute Flower outside the Ice and Fire Dual-Aspect Eye has grown stronger over time; the last visitors were thousands of years ago. As the poison array's power increased, no one has come here since, at least not after the Sun-Moon Empire collided with the Douluo Continent.

Therefore she couldn't understand any discussion about Soul Guide Devices or the Sun-Moon Empire.

Seeing that she didn't understand, Tang Wulin sighed and said, "Killing methods aren't classified as good or evil; no matter how noble a justification you give, weapons are created for killing. From that perspective, poison, which can also advance medicine, is even slightly more benign than other ways of killing."

"How could that be? How can poison be more gentle than other ways of killing?"

Youyou subconsciously retorted.

She didn't grasp the Sun-Moon Empire or Soul Guide Device topics, but she firmly believed poison was not gentle at all, because dying from poison is very painful.

Tang Wulin twitched the corner of his mouth.

The great flower was a bit foolish. "Didn't I say I'm looking at it solely from this angle? Killing or torturing can be done by other means, whereas based on what I just read, poison used correctly can save lives, whereas if you swing a sword, can you keep the person alive?"

"Th‑th‑that…"

Youyou was speechless.

Tang Wulin, not wanting to hear any more of her chatter, summarized, "In short, poison is ultimately just a weapon, and any weapon is neither good nor evil; they have no will of their own, it all depends on the wielder's intent. One cannot discard a weapon merely because it's dangerous—that would be like covering one's ears while ringing a bell, and it would hinder societal progress."

"……"

Youyou was completely at a loss for words.

Seeing Youyou fall silent, Tang Wulin looked at the colorful poison mist in the sky and continued, "What also frustrates me is that Ancestor Tang San never considered revealing this place's information to the Tang Sect. If Teacher Xiao Ya found out, I don't know what she would think."

Youyou, who had been quiet, suddenly perked up again.

"This time you really misunderstood that person. He explicitly stressed that this book can only be given to descendants of the Tang Sect. If the recipient isn't a Tang Sect descendant and also refuses to join the Tang Sect, then even if they pass the test they still can't be shown the book."

Tang Wulin stared at her in astonishment.

"And that too? Then why didn't you stop me from reading earlier? You didn't know I was a member of the Tang Sect, did you?"

"Well… heh heh heh, isn't this because you're the Natural Son…"

Youyou laughed shyly.

The other plants had shown their abilities, and she also had to demonstrate more to leave a good impression on Tang Wulin.

She only learned later, when Tang Wulin himself asked, that she was a Tang Sect disciple.

Learning of her little thought, Tang Wulin was left speechless.

"Don't worry, I'll take you away. And regarding what you just said, don't you find the logic odd? Since he stipulated that only Tang Sect disciples who pass the test can read it, why didn't he just keep it in the Tang Sect from the start? Isn't that just a needless extra step?"

Tang San's reluctance to let other factions see the Medicine Scripture and Poison Scripture is understandable to Tang Wulin; after all, they're core secrets of the Tang Sect, so his unwillingness to share them is normal.

But keeping even the Tang Sect members in the dark is absurd, right?

It was by chance that Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong arrived here, but what if they hadn't? As time passes, the external Bilin Seven-Absolute Flower poison array will eventually evolve into a complete life‑prohibited zone; by then, no one would ever discover the Ice and Fire Dual-Aspect Eye, and the Tang Sect's Medicine Scripture and Poison Scripture would be lost forever.

Since he's willing to let qualified Tang Sect disciples read it, that shows he doesn't think the material should be completely hidden. So why the extra steps? Couldn't he just have the Tang Sect conduct the assessment internally? If he doubts the Tang Sect descendants, fearing nepotism, then from what Tang Wulin has seen, these celestial herbs aren't exactly good. Once his Natural Son status is revealed, these guys scramble to help him cheat, fearing they'll leave a bad impression and that he'll leave without them.

Logically speaking, Tang Wulin truly can't fathom Tang San's motives; after much contemplation, he can only conclude that the founder of the Tang Sect from ten thousand years ago, Tang San, might have a bit of a problem in his head.

Off‑topic, poison is essentially similar to necromantic magic; it's truly intimidating, and in the wrong hands it's indeed terrible, but that doesn't mean its existence lacks purpose or that it's inherently evil.

(End of Chapter)