Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Episode 18. The Price of Life (3)
Un-hyeok sent a letter to Go-gu, and at the same time, sent one to Lyun Hui.
Un-hyeok also knew.
That Go-gu was a formidable opponent he couldn't handle on his own at the moment.
Therefore, Un-hyeok had summoned someone to fight Go-gu in his stead.
“O-oh, you’ve arrived… Father….”
Even though he looked like he was about to suffocate to death, Un-hyeok managed a wide smile.
Fwip-fwip-!
Lyun Hui’s figure vanished in the blink of an eye, and he grabbed Go-gu’s arm.
“Black Kill Sect Leader, you’d best let go of that hand immediately.”
“Poison Demon Sect Leader! Your son has turned my child into half a cripple. Would you let go if you were me?”
“I believe you’re mistaken about something.”
A green mist shimmered from Lyun Hui’s body.
“Do I look like I’m asking you for a favor?”
The poison that entered Go-gu’s bloodstream through Lyun Hui’s hand burrowed into his veins mercilessly.
“Kch…!”
Truly, the Absolute Poison Demon King!
The poison was so potent.
Purple veins popped out on Go-gu’s face.
“……”
“……”
Pah-!
Go-gu swung his left hand, which he had been using to play around, and thrust a palm towards Lyun Hui’s chest.
However, it didn’t affect Lyun Hui.
Wheee-!
It wrapped around his hand, and instead, Lyun Hui’s palm struck the very center of Go-gu’s chest.
“Gak-!”
Go-gu stumbled backward, pushed away.
Thanks to that, Un-hyeok was able to escape his grasp.
“Cough, cough….”
Whew, I almost died.
As Un-hyeok caught his breath, he felt a warm presence on his back.
“Hyeok-ah, are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?”
Lyun Hui checked Un-hyeok all over.
Fortunately, he didn’t seem to be seriously injured.
Un-hyeok offered a faint smile.
“Yes, Father. Thanks to you, I’m alive.”
“Hoo, that’s a relief.”
Just as he let out a sigh of relief.
Go-gu let out a roar.
“Poison Demon Sect Leader!”
Ptooey-!
Phlegm mixed with dark red blood.
Go-gu’s cheeks twitched, and he glared at Lyun Hui.
“Are you truly intent on waging war with us?!”
“If blood must be shed, I will gladly do so.”
“W-what?!”
“To be frank, I feel like tearing your limbs apart right now.”
Zzzzt- zzzzt-!
Lyun Hui’s rising killing intent made his skin prickle.
“But the reason I’m not doing so is…”
Swish-!
Un-hyeok walked out in front of Lyun Hui.
“Remember, it’s purely because of my son.”
Go-gu was momentarily puzzled.
‘Why is that brat…?’
“You endured well, Father. From now on, leave it to me.”
“Alright.”
Then, Lyun Hui stepped back, crossed his arms, and chose to watch.
‘I’m curious.’
In truth, Lyun Hui was surprised when he read the letter.
Hyeok-ah joining forces with the Dragon Brocade Hall.
The Dragon Brocade Hall, which had always maintained its independent path, how on earth had he managed to charm the Hall Master?
‘One thing is certain, Hyeok-ah’s resourcefulness is no ordinary thing.’
Therefore, he was curious.
What exactly was he aiming for that he asked to handle the negotiation?
“Now we can have a proper conversation.”
With a sly grin.
Go-gu gritted his teeth.
“You…! You said you’d come alone, yet you brought your father! How dare you lie to me?!”
“Hey, hey, why are you acting like this? We both know better.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Frankly, what reason do I have to wait for you alone? You didn’t come ‘alone’ either, did you?”
Go-gu was momentarily speechless.
In fact, he wasn’t unaware of it.
That the Black Kill Sect was the instigator of all this.
“Kch….”
No justification.
No power.
He was losing on all fronts to Dok Un-hyeok.
‘What should I do?’
If he retreated like this, his dignity as the Black Kill Sect Leader would be lost.
‘If only I could return to the Black Kill Sect right now….’
If he brought all his warriors and fought a total war, there might be a chance of victory.
Even Dok Lyun Hui would find it difficult to handle all of them.
But these people wouldn’t just wait around for that.
“Hey.”
Go-gu’s thoughts were broken by Un-hyeok’s call.
“It’s good to rack your brain, but if you do that, your son.”
Go-gu’s gaze instantly shifted to Eo-ryeong.
In just a short while, Eo-ryeong’s complexion had worsened compared to before.
“Might die.”
A portion of the Ten Thousand Streams Return to Poison Divine Art’s energy left within Eo-ryeong’s body.
It was corroding Eo-ryeong in real-time.
“You…!”
He was forced to make a choice.
His son’s life, or his pride.
The answer was simple.
However, the words wouldn’t come out easily.
As Go-gu remained silent, Un-hyeok nudged Eo-ryeong with his foot.
“Tsk, poor thing. Even in this state, your father is still contemplating. It seems you’re destined to die here.”
“Kch… Alright, alright!”
Go-gu let out a short sigh.
“Speak. What do you want in exchange for releasing Eo-ryeong?”
Go-gu, perhaps displeased at losing to a brat much younger than him, trembled with his tightly clenched fists.
Un-hyeok shrugged.
“Why are you asking me that?”
“What?”
“When it comes to the price of life, the buyer knows. Does the seller?”
Indeed, in any transaction.
One must thoroughly hide what they desire to extract even a little more.
Especially since the one in a hurry was them.
‘The upper hand is with me.’
Un-hyeok looked at Go-gu.
“What I want? To know that, shouldn’t we first talk about what you can give me, Go-gu?”
“You…!”
“I’m curious. Just how far are you willing to go for your son, Go-gu?”
Un-hyeok’s grinning face.
It was so infuriating.
He felt like he’d give a thousand gold pieces if he could just wring Dok Un-hyeok’s neck right now.
‘Damn dog…!’
Who would have thought that the great Go-gu would have to ponder the desires of a greenhorn who hadn’t even dried behind the ears?
Go-gu, barely suppressing his surging anger, thought calmly.
What could that brat possibly want?
Money?
Elixirs?
The finest weapons crafted by the Black Kill Sect’s blacksmiths?
No, none of that.
If he offered something mediocre, it would likely be dismissed without a second glance.
‘Dok Un-hyeok, I hate to admit it, but he’s no ordinary fellow. There must be a reason he brought this up. Perhaps he’s already assessed the entire wealth of our Black Kill Sect.’
Go-gu, sighing, opened his mouth.
“…Black Spirit Stone Iron. I will give you that.”
Oh, he’s giving up the Black Spirit Stone Iron surprisingly easily.
He seemed like an unfeeling father, but perhaps he does care for his child?
However.
‘This isn’t enough.’
Un-hyeok remained silent.
When there was no reaction, Go-gu grew anxious.
‘Damn it… this bastard! He’s not satisfied even with Black Spirit Stone Iron?!’
Just then, Eo-ryeong suddenly began to convulse.
“Gck, gurgle…! F-father…!”
Foaming at the mouth, he vomited a basinful of blood!
As the situation escalated, Go-gu felt the gravity of it.
“E-Eo-ryeong…!”
“Decide quickly. There’s really no more time.”
Damn it!
If not Black Spirit Stone Iron, then what else could he possibly want!
At that moment, a thought flashed through Go-gu’s mind.
‘Could it be… he wants the blacksmiths we poached from the Poison Demon Sect too?!’
If that were the case.
This brat was no different from a common robber.
How much had they spent to recruit the Poison Demon Sect’s blacksmiths?
And now he expected them for free?
However, no matter how immense the loss, it wasn’t more precious than Eo-ryeong’s life.
Ultimately, Go-gu had no choice but to give in, albeit reluctantly.
“Fine, alright! We’ll return all the blacksmiths we recruited from the Poison Demon Sect! So, just save Eo-ryeong!”
Only then did Un-hyeok smile and open his mouth.
“Finally, you’ve given a satisfactory answer.”
Un-hyeok turned, approached Eo-ryeong, and placed a hand on his shoulder, asking.
“Then, I suppose I should receive what you’ve agreed to give right away.”
“That…!”
“Lee So-ye, draw up a contract regarding this matter and give it to the Black Kill Sect Leader.”
“Understood.”
So-ye quickly drafted the important terms of the contract and handed it to Go-gu.
Un-hyeok gestured with his chin.
“Now, read it over briefly and affix your blood seal. Then, I will spare Go Eo-ryeong’s life.”
“Must you go this far? I will absolutely keep my promise, so first, Eo-ryeong…”
“Haaahm~ If you want to watch your son die, keep talking like that. I’m in no hurry at all.”
“Kch…!”
He was flawless.
To affix a blood seal and record it.
This had completely eliminated the only chance to betray Un-hyeok.
Grind-!
Go-gu bit his thumb with his front teeth and pressed it firmly onto the contract So-ye had handed him, leaving a blood seal.
The pain was like tearing flesh.
As So-ye received the contract and put it away, Un-hyeok requested.
“Lee So-ye, go to the Black Kill Sect immediately and execute the contract. As you can see, I can’t leave this place right now.”
“Understood. Leave that to us.”
So-ye immediately left Jade Guest Pavilion with several swift disciples.
“There, I’ve done everything you wanted. So now, release Eo-ryeong!”
“As you wish.”
Wooooosh-!
A green aura flickered, and a portion of the Ten Thousand Streams Return to Poison Divine Art’s energy was withdrawn from Eo-ryeong’s body.
“The poison has all been retrieved.”
“Gasp, gasp….”
Un-hyeok threw Eo-ryeong, whose complexion had slightly improved, towards Go-gu.
Crash-bang-!
Eo-ryeong fell ungracefully.
“Eo-ryeong…!”
Go-gu rushed to Eo-ryeong’s side and embraced him.
“Are you alright? Your body… No, can you recognize who I am?”
“A-ah, Father….”
Go-gu examined Eo-ryeong’s condition.
Looking now, he had sword wounds on his abdomen, and his face was gaunt from how severely he had suffered.
“I-I’m sorry. I… caused trouble for the clan by doing something I shouldn’t have….”
“No. Don’t say that. As long as you’re alive, that’s… that’s all that matters.”
Although the loss was immense, the disaster that could have ended the Black Kill Sect’s lineage had been averted.
Watching the tearful reunion of father and son, Un-hyeok turned to Lyun Hui and said.
“Let’s go, Father.”
He had obtained what he wanted, and even Black Spirit Stone Iron on top of that.
There was no reason for Un-hyeok to remain here any longer.
However, Lyun Hui felt a pang of worry in his heart.
“Are you truly alright?”
“What do you mean?”
“Hyeok-ah, from this moment on, they will bear a grudge against you. Are you sure you don’t need to eliminate any future repercussions?”
Eo-ryeong was also one of the prospective disciples to enter Water Demon Cave.
If left like this, he would surely not forget today’s events and seek revenge.
“Water Demon Cave is a place where all sorts of schemes and stratagems unfold. No matter how capable you are, you won’t be able to evade all the traps they might set. I worry that you might fall victim to one, my son.”
“It’s alright. That won’t happen.”
He seemed so nonchalant.
What made him so confident?
Just then, Un-hyeok called out in a loud voice.
“Hey, Go Eo-ryeong.”
Eo-ryeong flinched momentarily.
Because Un-hyeok had turned his head to look at him.
“You’re entering Water Demon Cave too, aren’t you?”
Un-hyeok grinned.
“Then, we’ll be batchmates.”
That meant…
He would have to face that devilish brat again in Water Demon Cave!
The fear left by Un-hyeok’s poison was deeply etched into Eo-ryeong’s body.
Tremble- tremble-!
His shoulders shook, his teeth chattered, and he began to show signs of a seizure.
“Ugh…! N-no. I don’t want to! I don’t want to see you again!”
“Why, why are you like this, Eo-ryeong? Calm down.”
However, Eo-ryeong, already terrified, couldn’t calm down easily.
Un-hyeok watched him and chuckled.
“Today was quite amusing. For the remaining period, take good care of yourself…”
Having gotten what he came for.
Un-hyeok turned and waved.
“See you again in Water Demon Cave.”