So? Did Someone Force You to Become the Heavenly Demon?

Chapter 55: Foundation (5)

The crazed physician’s eyes sparkled with excitement, clearly misunderstanding Il-mok’s point.

“A Demonic Drug (魔藥)… If we interpret it as utilizing something evil (惡) to paradoxically mend the mind, it seems a truly fitting name for our Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, Deputy Master!”

Il-mok felt a headache coming on.

Upon reflection, he realized that in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, the character evil (Ma, 魔) didn’t carry a negative connotation.

“That’s not what I meant. It means a drug that is also harmful to the mind. Those who come to the Pure Mind Hall are already mentally unwell—how can we give them something that further damages their minds?”

At Il-mok’s rebuttal, the Demonic Physician himself frowned, siding with the young physician.

“Deputy Master, there is a saying within the Jianghu, fighting poison with poison. Furthermore, didn’t you acknowledge that what is poison to one may be medicine to another? Couldn’t this ‘Demonic Drug’ you speak of be medicine for some?”

With even the Demonic Physician opposing him, Il-mok felt a chill.

‘If I don’t nip this in the bud right now, it’s going to be a catastrophic disaster.’

These individuals were already prone to superstition and fanaticism. What would happen if they started dabbling in drugs?

It was impossible even to fathom what kind of disaster might unfold.

And most terrifying was the possibility that he himself could be at risk.

He feared that one day, while battling the side effects of the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword, these fucking lunatics might prescribe him the very narcotics he was trying to forbid.

As Il-mok grappled with how to persuade them, a memory from his past life in the modern world surfaced.

“Summon Warrior Kwan immediately!”

At Il-mok’s command, a physician hurried off and swiftly returned with Kwan Mu-yeol.

“I greet the Deputy Master,” Kwan Mu-yeol greeted with clasped hands.

Il-mok acknowledged the greeting briefly before cutting straight to the point.

“Warrior Kwan, I have questions about those poisonous mushrooms you used previously.”

A visible flinch betrayed Kwan Mu-yeol’s discomfort at the mention of this sensitive topic. But he steadied himself.

“Please ask, I am at your service.”

“You mentioned that after consuming a small amount of those poisonous mushrooms, you experienced hallucinations and a sense of peace. Is that correct?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“And afterward? What happened then?”

“…I’m not quite sure what you’re asking.”

“After returning to your normal life, did you constantly think about those mushrooms?”

“…Yes, I did.”

Il-mok nodded at Kwan Mu-yeol’s answer, then turned to address the physicians.

“This is precisely the greatest danger of drugs. It’s a monstrous entity that, once indulged in, becomes impossible to resist. That’s why they’re called Demonic Drugs (魔藥).”

This wasn’t just about chemical addiction. During his time as Seo Jihoon, he had accidentally stumbled upon an online testimony from a drug addict.

The testimony described how the pleasure from drugs was an extraordinary ecstasy impossible to experience in ordinary life. Yet, that very pleasure was the devil’s trap.

A brain steeped even once in unprecedented pleasure becomes unable to return to normal life.

Il-mok directed his question to the physician who had discovered the narcotic.

“Physician Seo, when was the happiest moment of your life?”

The physician glanced briefly at the Demon Physician before returning his gaze to Il-mok.

“…It was the day Elder Demonic Physician first acknowledged me as a true physician.”

“Now imagine finding a single coin on the ground. Could you compare that to the happiness of that day?”

“Absolutely not. The joy of that day would render a coin meaningless.”

“That’s exactly why drugs are demonic. The moment you consume drugs, even your happiest memory will become less meaningful than finding a mere coin.”

“!?”

Seeing the physicians’ disbelief, Il-mok turned to Kwan Mu-yeol.

“The peace you found through those mushrooms—could you ever find greater peace in your everyday life after that?”

“…No. That’s why they kept coming to mind.”

Nodding at Kwan Mu-yeol’s answer, Il-mok addressed the physicians again.

“The countless joys of everyday life—achieving dreams through hard work, attaining success, sharing love with a partner, bonding with children, discovering truth in doctrine—a brain that’s tasted drugs can no longer feel these everyday joys. Why? Because it’s already tasted something incomparably greater, rendering all else insignificant by comparison.”

A mind with its threshold for happiness and pleasure drastically elevated can no longer find satisfaction in anything but narcotics.

The final lines of the online confession Seo Ji-hoon had read echoed in his mind.

Watching drug users in movies or dramas might spark curiosity. Some people might think, ‘If I try it just once and quit, I won’t get addicted.’

But the author of the confession had a stark reply.

—That single instance would extinguish all the joys of everyday life, plunging the user into a hell from which there is no escape.

That’s why it was necessary to absolutely prohibit it from the start.

However, the Demonic Physician objected.

“But this is the Pure Mind Hall. For those who come here plagued by depression or despair, there might be no better medicine than this. Didn’t Warrior Kwan consume those mushrooms for that very reason?”

Though it sounded reasonable at first glance, Il-mok shook his head.

“Consider it from the opposite perspective. The moment ordinary individuals succumb to drugs, their daily lives become tedious, dull, and depressing. Then what happens to our patients when the drugs wear off?”

“!!!”

“Everyday life would feel like living hell. They would see only two options: death or taking the drug again. Yes, this is the Pure Mind Hall, and that’s exactly why these substances must be absolutely forbidden.”

Amidst the silence, the young physician, perhaps still reluctant to abandon the idea, asked, “Then what if we prescribe it only until side effects fade—”

“Nonsense! We’re talking about substances that forcibly induce euphoria, hallucinations, and delusions. Do you truly believe they won’t have side effects on the human brain and body?”

Thus, thanks to Il-mok’s vehement opposition, the discussion about drugs in the Pure Mind Hall was more or less concluded.

It was agreed that any medicinal herbs or ingredients discovered through research or folk remedies that forcibly induced pleasure, hallucinations, or delusions would be strictly prohibited.

“Thank you for sharing your experience, Warrior Kwan.”

“It’s nothing, Deputy Master.”

Il-mok patted the seemingly despondent Kwan Mu-yeol on the shoulder, offering words of comfort.

“It’s fortunate that your willpower is so strong, Warrior Kwan. You endured precisely because you only consumed small amounts and avoided its use whenever possible, did you not? I have faith that you will overcome this and rise again.”

“I will strive to live up to your expectations, Deputy Master.”

After Kwan Mu-yeol departed with a respectful bow, Il-mok requested a private meeting with the Demonic Physician.

There was still an unfinished conversation.

“I couldn’t speak freely with the other physicians present, but there is exactly one case where drugs could be utilized.”

“!?”

Facing the Demonic Physician’s dumbfounded expression, Il-mok continued.

“However, it should be employed in the Medical Hall, not here.”

“In Medical Hall, you say?”

“Yes. For patients in excruciating pain, on the verge of death, or undergoing procedures that involve unbearable agony—this substance can be used as a type of painkiller.”

Even in the modern world, this was the sole legitimate use of narcotics: as analgesics in hospitals or on battlefields for those suffering from horrific illnesses or injuries.

“But as I mentioned earlier, drugs are extremely dangerous. In my opinion, even in the Medical Hall, only the Head Physician should have the authority to prescribe it, and their use must be strictly prohibited unless a life is truly hanging in the balance.”

“That explains why you waited until the other physicians were gone to tell me this.”

The Demonic Physician nodded in understanding, then muttered almost to himself, “Pain-relieving effects…”

Suddenly, as if struck by a realization, he looked at Il-mok and exclaimed, “Perhaps when Hua Tuo removed the arrow from Guan Yu’s shoulder, he used what we’re calling drugs!”

(TL Note: Guan Yu, surnamed Guan, courtesy name Yunchang. One of the famous generals of the Three Kingdoms Era. Hua Tuo, a renowned physician from the same era as Guan Yu. He is famous for his advanced medical knowledge that surpasses his era and for his entanglement with Cao Cao, another warlord of that era, which resulted in his execution.)

True to his nature as a physician consumed by his craft, the old man’s mind raced with possibilities.

“Hahaha! This could potentially pave the way for various treatments that were previously deemed too agonizing to attempt!”

Seeing the Demonic Physician’s excitement, Il-mok sighed and reminded him, “I trust I made it clear that utmost caution must be exercised in its use.”

“Worry not. I’ll only use it for those already at death’s door. No need for risky treatments otherwise!”

Still feeling uneasy, Il-mok visited the Heavenly Demon that night.

He relayed everything about the drug debate and his own opinions.

The next morning, a solemn edict from the Heavenly Demon was issued throughout the Divine Cult:

—The use, research, and prescription of Demonic Drug, or any suspected Demonic Drug substances or ingredients, is permitted solely for the Master of the Pure Mind Hall and the Head Physician of the Medical Hall.

—Should either the Head of the Pure Mind Hall or the Head of the Medical Hall show any inclination towards excessive prescription, use, or research of said substances, they shall face extreme punishment.

***

Time continued its relentless march even after the commotion surrounding narcotics settled.

At the Pure Mind Hall, research commenced into medicinal herbs and ingredients—excluding the prohibited substances—to identify those affecting mental conditions.

They made some discoveries.

The young physician who had initially proposed using drugs to Il-mok achieved a small breakthrough in his research.

Drawing from the idea that people become more depressed after coming down from drug effects, he experimented with substances that enhanced mood.

The results revealed that foods high in sugar, including candy, actually tend to amplify feelings of depression and anxiety.

While consuming sweet foods provided an immediate mood boost, it was followed by a deeper sense of depression and unease.

Although limited by the lack of advanced scientific knowledge, this discovery—even without a full understanding of the biological and chemical mechanisms involved—was a significant step forward.

Additionally, as an aftereffect of the incident with the Black Bean Demon Tea, numerous experiments were conducted on various teas and fruit preserves.

This led to the disposal of a considerable portion of the teas stocked in the tea room and the identification of several unique blends that calmed the mind and improved mental well-being.

Il-mok himself became a regular consumer of these teas.

‘This smells similar to the tea Lee Ji-yeon used to drink.’

With this thought, whether it was psychological or not, he felt his compulsive symptoms had somewhat eased since avoiding sugary foods and drinking these teas.

Meanwhile, the remaining two months passed quickly.

“Ha ha ha! Excellent, truly excellent.”

The Heavenly Demon stroked his beard and laughed heartily as he watched Il-mok perform the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword.

Although Il-mok had managed to touch upon the realm of manifesting sword qi thanks to Jang Hwi’s attack, his mastery was initially incomplete. He couldn’t manifest it freely at will, only managing to generate sword qi when executing the Soul-Departing Sword, the First Form of the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword, and the one most familiar to him.

But now, half a year later, he could now generate and maintain sword qi throughout all fourteen stances of the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword.

Provided he had sufficient internal energy, that is.

Ironically, despite consuming the Explosive Demonic Pill, his internal energy cultivation lagged behind his swordsmanship. Consequently, while he could now wield sword qi freely, his insufficient internal energy made it difficult for Il-mok to sustain it for extended periods.

Seeing this potential, the Heavenly Demon, driven by a desire to accelerate his progress, even made a suggestion to Il-mok.

“How about consuming another Explosive Demonic Pill?”

Il-mok vehemently rejected the suggestion, practically convulsing at the thought.

“That would be unfair, Master. As the revered Lord of Ten Thousand Demons, you must be a paragon of virtue. I, too, as your disciple must set an example.”

Too pleased by his disciple’s response, he was completely oblivious to Il-mok’s true thought.

‘I’m already half insane from consuming one pill. If I take another, I might end up enrolling in the Pure Mind Hall instead of the Hall of the Demonic Way.’

“Haha, your skills are comparable to your Eldest Brother when he enrolled in the Hall of the Demonic Way. To achieve this in just one year is a testament to how talented you are.”

“You flatter me, Master.”

“I’m pleased to see your lack of arrogance. Since you’ve only mastered the first fourteen forms, I shall now impart the latter eight secret techniques. Learn the forms and their principles now, then perfect the latter eight techniques in your time within the Hall of the Demonic Way.”

Il-mok sighed inwardly.

‘Has the time already come?’

In a few days, the entrance exams for the Hall of the Demonic Way will be held.

This was a threat that had been looming ever since he was first brought to this damned cult.

Back then, he had doubted whether he could even pass the exam, but now, everyone seemed to take his success in the assessment as a foregone conclusion.

‘The Hall of the Demonic Way…’

Having gained a deeper understanding of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, Il-mok used a different name for the Hall of the Demonic Way in his journal.

‘Holding Facility for Prospective Mental Patients.’