Chapter 84
Chapter 84
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: Worst Matchup
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Even setting aside whether he could win in a fight, the Poison Blood Demon Fiend was the absolute worst opponent for Wi Seong-cheon.
A major part of Wi Seong-cheon's martial arts, the Qi Explosion Point, required direct contact with the enemy's qi and body. Without that, he couldn't read the flow of their qi to find the spot to detonate.
And that wasn't all. Huiryu, a variant of the Energy Absorption Method, drew in the opponent's qi, cycled it through Wi Seong-cheon's bloodstream, and spat it back as a counterattack.
The Poison Blood Demon Fiend's qi was poison in its purest form. He couldn't use Qi Explosion Point, nor Huiryu. Well, he could try, but... he had no idea what kind of burden it would bring to his body.
"You know that already, don't you?"
Mu Yeon-jun said, seeing the stiff expression on Wi Seong-cheon's face.
Rumble!
The tangled poison qi scattered.
Blood trickled from Dang Seona's tightly clenched lips.
"Why don't you run?"
"No, I can't do that."
Mu Yeon-jun replied.
"Right now, you could escape if you wanted to."
"Maybe. But if I run... the Poison Blood Demon Fiend might kill everyone here. I can't let that happen."
His reasoning had nothing to do with worrying about the students' safety.
"I can't let the future of the righteous martial world be lost in a place like this."
That was all. The Heavenly Academy was full of promising talents. But how many among them could match the exceptional students here right now?
If these students were replaceable, Mu Yeon-jun would have abandoned them without a second thought. But they weren't—they were irreplaceable.
"The Poison Blood Demon Fiend can't kill us. The Heavenly Demon is waiting for that. Especially... I won't die. So there's only one thing left to do."
If possible, Mu Yeon-jun would kill the Poison Blood Demon Fiend himself. If not, he'd hold out until the Taiji Sword Lord arrived.
If he could wear the Poison Blood Demon Fiend down in the meantime, they might be able to team up with the Taiji Sword Lord and take him down. Maybe even the Sword Demon blocking him.
"Sister!"
Dang Heeran screamed.
The Poison Blood Demon Fiend's hand gripped Dang Seona's throat. Dang Seona gasped raggedly for breath while glaring at him. The Poison Blood Demon Fiend stared at her face and grinned.
"You can be proud, little one. To think you'd force this seat to use Demonic Blood Poison Strength."
Crack, crack.
Veins bulged on the back of the Poison Blood Demon Fiend's hand. Dang Seona's legs kicked wildly against the crushing grip.
Blood poured from Dang Seona's nose.
"His Supremacy said not to kill anyone unless they're weak. You weren't weak. So I won't kill you... but I'm torn. Should I really not kill you?"
"Urgh..."
"His Supremacy's will is beyond my understanding... Why spare these little ones who'll just become future threats...? Ah! That's it. I'll take you to the Demonic Cult."
Why hadn't he thought of that before? The Poison Blood Demon Fiend beamed at his own brilliant idea. Stealing the prized disciple of his longtime rival, the Poison Witch? What a delight.
"No!"
Dang Heeran shrieked. She'd heard him say he was taking Dang Seona to the Demonic Cult. Those words snapped her reason in two. No matter how scary and strict her sister was, the thought of her vanishing forever was unbearable.
Dang Heeran kicked off the ground and charged. Poison wouldn't work—she'd seen that clearly. If Dang Seona's poison qi couldn't faze him, hers had no chance.
But the Tang Clan's arts weren't all poison.
From childhood, Dang Seona had outshone Dang Heeran in every way. She didn't deny it.
When Dang Seona became the Poison Witch's disciple and began her training, the gap in skill became impossible to close.
Dang Heeran had long realized she could never surpass her sister with poison alone.
Instead, Dang Heeran's hands moved like lightning.
Whoosh!
Hidden weapons poured toward the Poison Blood Demon Fiend in an instant. He smirked, pulling Dang Seona behind him as he thrust out his other hand.
She knew it. Since he'd declared he'd take her to the Demonic Cult unharmed, he wouldn't risk hurting her. The thrown weapons dissolved into his Poison Strength.
Dang Heeran hugged the ground and dashed low. Just leaping over the poison-soaked earth made her soles burn like fire.
Thunderbolt Iron Splitter.
Light burst from beneath Dang Heeran's sleeves. The protruding iron clump split into five daggers.
Whoosh!
The daggers flew one after another, aiming for the Poison Blood Demon Fiend's throat. Dang Heeran didn't stop, closing the distance while swinging both hands.
Silent Seven Kills, White Heat Blaze, Whirlwind Return.
A barrage of hidden weapons unfolded under the Tang Clan's secret Heavenly Death Hidden Scheme.
The ferocity made the Poison Blood Demon Fiend's eyes widen in surprise. Dang Heeran, Dang Seona's little sister. He'd had zero expectations for her, but her hidden weapon mastery far exceeded what he'd imagined.
"Huh!"
Dang Heeran, now right in his face, leaped high.
The Poison Blood Demon Fiend's eyes bulged as he watched her hands trace afterimages in a circle. He knew better than anyone what that unique gesture meant.
Heavenly Flower Rain.
The Tang Clan's ultimate hidden weapon technique that had nearly killed him half a century ago unfolded. It wasn't on the level of the Poison Witch's version, but it wasn't something to scoff at either.
He had to dodge. Even as he thought that, the Poison Blood Demon Fiend didn't. Fleeing from a Heavenly Flower Rain that wasn't even from the Poison Witch? His pride wouldn't allow it.
The Poison Blood Demon Fiend yanked the hand holding Dang Seona backward and twisted his body. Demonic Blood Poison Strength coiled around his right hand like black flames.
Boom!
Demonic Blood Poison Strength engulfed the entire Heavenly Flower Rain. Dang Heeran's figure vanished.
The Poison Blood Demon Fiend startled and looked down. While Heavenly Flower Rain distracted him, Dang Heeran had landed and leaped straight into his embrace.
Her face was pale from poison invasion, but her feet didn't stop.
Slash!
The weapon Dang Heeran swung grazed the Poison Blood Demon Fiend's left wrist.
In that instant, Dang Seona thrashed free from his grasp. The Poison Blood Demon Fiend's reason snapped. No time for thoughts of killing or sparing.
Blood.
That pathetic little brat had drawn his blood.
"You insolent whelp!"
The Poison Blood Demon Fiend bellowed.
Dang Heeran caught Dang Seona's collapsing body. She tried to flee, but the Poison Blood Demon Fiend wasn't about to let them go. His eyes bloodshot, he thrust a palm strike toward the sisters.
Perfect timing. Wi Seong-cheon, moving faster than expected, shoved Dang Heeran and Dang Seona aside.
Crash!
Demonic Blood Poison Strength's palm clashed with Wi Seong-cheon's fist.
'Heavenly Harmony Sect?'
Wi Seong-cheon's fist was pushed back. He didn't resist by force. Instead, he twisted his torso sideways and whipped his other hand like a lash. The Poison Blood Demon Fiend dodged the backhand aimed at his jaw and retreated.
'Whirlwind Blaze!'
The Poison Blood Demon Fiend spun and kicked off the ground. Whirlwind Blaze's arc sliced through the spot a hair's breadth too late. He glared down at Whirlwind Blaze and Wi Seong-cheon.
'What was that just now...?'
Normally, Demonic Blood Poison Strength should have devoured Wi Seong-cheon. But it hadn't. Instead, it felt like he was the one being devoured. And that Whirlwind Blaze...
Irritation flashed in the Poison Blood Demon Fiend's eyes.
"Your big brother told me."
Paeng Yeon-hwa's expression changed.
"Not to touch you. What a baffling guy..."
Paeng Yeon-hwa's tail bristled. The Poison Blood Demon Fiend opened his mouth to mock her further, but before he could speak, a chilling sword intent swept over his back.
The sword hummed. It was Sang I-rin's linked sword. She'd joined the assault.
'The Heavenly Person?'
Up high.
Boom!
Blue energy struck like lightning.
The Poison Blood Demon Fiend leaped back, feeling a chill. The unannounced strike packed astonishing power. As expected—even young, a Heavenly Person was something else.
He looked up at the sky. Mu Yeon-jun, wreathed in blue light, looked like a thunder god, not a man. Mu Yeon-jun extended his hand, pointing at the Poison Blood Demon Fiend.
Moonlight Thunder Wall.
Rumble!
Energy burst from Mu Yeon-jun's hand, splitting like lightning to engulf the Poison Blood Demon Fiend.
"Moonlight Divine Bright Martial Arts! Kahaha!"
The Poison Blood Demon Fiend burst into laughter. Demonic Blood Poison Strength tangled with Moonlight Thunder Wall and exploded. The power was lacking, but Mu Yeon-jun was executing Moonlight Divine Bright Martial Arts, the art of the Ten Heroes' Moon Shadow Immortal Baek Cheong-ha.
'The Green Forest bitch couldn't even do it... Heh!'
Cheong U-bin was called the Green Forest successor. Yet even she couldn't perform Baek Cheong-ha's Moonlight Divine Bright Martial Arts.
Mu Yeon-jun charged straight in, pushing through Demonic Blood Poison Strength. As he closed in, he flipped his palm.
'Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms...? No, Demon-Breaking Six Harmonies Palm!'
The Poison Blood Demon Fiend's hands moved swiftly. A chill ran down his spine. This kid, barely past thirty, was wielding the Ten Heroes Moon Shadow Immortal's Moonlight Divine Bright Martial Arts and the Eccentric Beggar's Demon-Breaking Six Harmonies Palm.
'The Poison Witch wouldn't have taught him poison arts. Could it be...? That damned hag!'
Demonic Blood Poison Strength poisoned on mere contact, yet Mu Yeon-jun faced it unfazed.
Everyone knew the Heavenly Person Mu Yeon-jun had received personal instruction from four of the Ten Heroes. The Poison Blood Demon Fiend realized what the Poison Witch had done.
She couldn't teach him poison arts. No matter the greater good, the Poison Witch wouldn't pass the Tang Clan's secret poison arts to Mu Yeon-jun, untainted by even a drop of her blood.
Instead, the Poison Witch had made Mu Yeon-jun impervious to all poisons.
'True immunity to all poisons doesn't exist. It's just enduring... How long can you last?'
But he couldn't focus solely on Mu Yeon-jun. Sang I-rin's linked sword strikes, coming at irregular intervals, were infuriating.
The Poison Blood Demon Fiend thrust his hand to grab Sang I-rin's linked sword. But the flexible, humming blade slipped from his grasp and coiled around his forearm.
"Got you!"
Just as planned. The Poison Blood Demon Fiend yanked his arm. The linked sword's edge strained to cut, but his arm held firm. Instead, the blade melted into black poison qi.
"Get lost!"
The Poison Blood Demon Fiend roared and unleashed a palm at Sang I-rin. Her eyes widened. Instinctively, she looked to Mu Yeon-jun, their gazes meeting.
Mu Yeon-jun reached out to save her, but Sang I-rin knew it was too late.
'Ah...'
Her vision flipped.
Thud!
Sang I-rin landed on her butt. She couldn't grasp what had happened. Suddenly, Wi Seong-cheon's back was in front of her. He'd pulled her back and blocked the Poison Blood Demon Fiend.
'Again?'
The Poison Blood Demon Fiend's face twisted. It was the same as before. That Heavenly Harmony Sect punk had taken Demonic Blood Poison Strength head-on.
No, deflected it? Even the Poison Blood Demon Fiend couldn't be sure how Wi Seong-cheon had done it. Just that the guy was bizarre.
Wi Seong-cheon steadied his tumbling body. Twice now, and not even clean blocks—he was already internally injured. As expected, poison was a terrible matchup. He gritted his teeth.
'My life...'
No intention of throwing it away. Fortunately, Wi Seong-cheon knew exactly where that 'line' was. Thanks to his father's excellent upbringing since childhood.
The boundary of the death line...
He knew it. No thought of crossing it. Like hell he'd die here.
Wi Seong-cheon glanced at Mu Yeon-jun and Paeng Yeon-hwa. Both wore reluctant expressions. What could be done? With that thought, Wi Seong-cheon charged.
If it worked, great. If not, oh well. He relaxed his mind. He wanted to. In this damned situation, what good was despair alone?
'Keep the mind at ease, at least.'
Heavenly Harmony Chain Skill, Reversal Flow.
Body Opening Stance.
Qi raced through his reversed meridians. Wi Seong-cheon fearlessly spread his arms wide and leaped at the Poison Blood Demon Fiend. At his audacity, the Demon Fiend let out a hollow laugh.
"You must want to die!"
The Poison Blood Demon Fiend cut off his laugh and bellowed. A palm wrapped in Demonic Blood Poison Strength shot toward Wi Seong-cheon.
One chance only. No time to methodically search for Qi Explosion Points like against Jin Bae. That would be even riskier.
'No... both are dangerous.'
What he was about to try was plenty dangerous too. Still, better one big hit than several small ones, right? Wi Seong-cheon extended his left hand with hopeful thoughts.
'Reversal Flow.'
Again.
He clearly felt the disgust every time they touched. The bastard wasn't deflecting or resisting Demonic Blood Poison Strength. He was 'swallowing' it. Energy Absorption Method? What kind of Energy Absorption Method was this? Didn't matter. Absorbing poison qi was just stupid suicide.
'This...'
What?
Shock filled the Poison Blood Demon Fiend's eyes.
Wi Seong-cheon's hand, halted within Demonic Blood Poison Strength, clenched into a fist.
Different from Dark Mirror.
Dark Mirror used Wi Seong-cheon's accelerated 'qi' via Reversal Flow. That extended Dark Mirror shattered the opponent's energy.
Blunt and direct, unlike Dark Mirror.
Shatter Strike.
Wi Seong-cheon's fist slammed into the Poison Blood Demon Fiend's palm.
He couldn't block it. He had no idea what had happened. The qi reversing through his palm was his own Demonic Blood Poison Strength.
Against Jin Bae, he'd only used Reversal Flow. But now, he'd mixed in Shatter Strike.
Shatter Strike actively exploited Reversal Flow. Instead of immediately expelling the Demonic Blood Poison Strength that flowed into his body, he cycled it through his meridians and 'refined' it.
Layered with Wi Seong-cheon's internal energy, it shot back at the Poison Blood Demon Fiend. This... couldn't be blocked.
"Urk...!"
The Poison Blood Demon Fiend's mouth gaped. Wi Seong-cheon gritted his teeth.
The Demon Fiend hurriedly tried to pull his arm back, but his stinging arm wouldn't release Wi Seong-cheon's fist. And not just that.
It felt like it was being sucked in from the point of contact. A portion of his internal energy slipped his control and moved.
Wi Seong-cheon's body trembled. Black blood streamed from his clenched mouth. He 'forced' himself to suck in the Poison Blood Demon Fiend's internal energy.
The energy already pulled once via Reversal Flow returned to Wi Seong-cheon against the Demon Fiend's will.
'Not yet...!'
The death line boundary hadn't come. He could do it once more.
Shatter Strike didn't end after one hit. If it did, what set it apart from Reversal Flow? Shatter Strike was Shatter Strike because it struck and shattered.
Wi Seong-cheon raised his right fist. The returning Poison Blood Demon Fiend's qi felt like it was tearing and burning his meridians. He forced it along the Heavenly Harmony Chain Skill's formula.
His trembling right fist touched the Poison Blood Demon Fiend's chest.
Boom!
A deep drum-like thud echoed.