Chapter 9
Chapter 9
9.
Episode 9: Cutting Ma Su at the Neck (1)
Meanwhile, Dok Un-hyeok slowly opened his eyes.
Along with the sound of birds chirping, sunlight streamed through the window and onto his face.
"Ugh..."
After struggling to sit up, Un-hyeok let out a sigh of relief.
"Hah, I almost died."
It was because he had tasted the Ten Thousand Streams Return to Poison Divine Art in the Dark Writing Pavilion that he was barely able to hold onto his sanity.
If he hadn't had that experience, Un-hyeok would have been the one on the receiving end.
'...By the way, Sacred Fire.'
Sacred Fire was the god of the Demonic God Church.
It was said to be a sacred fire that only the Demonic God could wield.
He could only use that power after ascending to the position of the Demonic God and being chosen through the Sacred Maiden's ritual.
'They hid that in the Water Demon Cave?'
"Hmm..."
It would be good to get it if he could.
But could he really trust those words?
'...I don't know what's what.'
Sin-gong's gaze at the end was so warm.
Un-hyeok, who had been pondering for a while, ruffled his hair.
"Damn it, there's no problem with an answer."
Things he didn't know yet.
Un-hyeok wasn't the type to foolishly cling to them day and night.
He was going to enter the Water Demon Cave anyway, and he thought he would naturally find out as he went through the trials.
"More than that, there's something to check first."
Un-hyeok jumped up from his seat.
He cracked his neck from side to side, making a snapping sound as he loosened his body.
"Let's check how much my body has changed."
Swish-! Bang-!
As he swung his fist and kicked out, the air exploded.
The overall movement of his body had also become smoother.
"Good."
Compared to before, it was to the extent that he could be said to have been completely reborn.
'The external aspects are about enough.'
Next.
Un-hyeok focused his consciousness on his index finger.
Tss tss tss-!
Black beads of sweat instantly formed.
A small smile appeared on Un-hyeok's lips.
"Oh."
When Un-hyeok flicked his finger, the sweat droplets shot towards the pillar like throwing knives.
Cheee-!
The part where the sweat droplets touched was gouged out.
When he learned the Nameless Art, he needed to be at least at the fifth level to draw out the poison from his body.
Even if it was just miscellaneous poison, it could be said that he had achieved quite a great result.
"Ten Thousand Streams Return to Poison Divine Art, the effect is definitely certain."
With this, he could start from a starting line further ahead than in the past.
Un-hyeok clenched his fist.
'I can become stronger.'
In order to face the Sichuan Tang Clan.
And to confront the Central Plains and the Heavenly Justice League.
Un-hyeok had to become much stronger than his past self.
"Now it begins."
Un-hyeok looked out the window.
The sun was high in the sky, indicating that there was still a lot of time left before the day was over.
"Shall I go to the training grounds?"
It wasn't the end just because his body had changed.
Constant effort was needed to get used to it.
But, before that.
Sniff- Sniff-!
"Ugh- What's that smell?"
It was because the waste products that hadn't been absorbed into the Poison Pouch were being discharged from his body.
"Let's wash up first."
The day was still long.
Un-hyeok's journey was just beginning.
A little later.
As Un-hyeok was almost at the training grounds, he was able to meet a familiar face.
"Brother...?"
Mu-won rubbed his calf-like eyes.
As Un-hyeok, with his hands behind his back, approached him, Mu-won's sweat-soaked training clothes caught his eye.
"Looks like you were training."
"Yes, yes. I was, but... what brings you here, Brother?"
"Is there any other reason to come to the training grounds? Of course, I came to train in martial arts."
"Yes?!"
"...What? What's with that reaction?"
After his mother passed away, Un-hyeok had lived like a complete wreck.
It was already fortunate that he had quit drinking and womanizing, but now he was even trying to train in martial arts.
It was only natural that Mu-won was taken aback.
"...It's just sudden that you're training in martial arts, Brother."
"Sudden? It's actually late."
"Yes?"
"I'm also a child of a martial family."
The descendants of martial families hone their martial skills from a young age.
Especially the children of prestigious families, who undergo cleansing rituals from birth.
They spend their entire lives with martial arts.
In contrast, Un-hyeok was far behind.
"I had a long period of wandering. So, if I don't want to fall behind, I have to work hard, right?"
"Ah..."
I've felt it since last time, but Brother has really changed!
I heard from Father that he had cleanly resolved the matter involving the Dragon Brocade Hall.
Now he's even trying to learn martial arts.
Mu-won's eyes sparkled.
"Then, Brother, would you like to train with me?"
"With you?"
"Yes!"
Mu-won liked his brother more than anyone else.
One of his wishes was to train with Un-hyeok.
He couldn't even dream of it when Un-hyeok was wandering, but today he felt that he might be able to achieve it.
'Brother is training for the first time, so there will be a bit of a difference in skill, but I'll guide him well from the side.'
Even Neung Ja-pil, the only warrior he had ever worked with, was leaving.
If Un-hyeok would train with him, he couldn't ask for anything more.
But, before that.
'First, let's gauge Brother's level.'
Mu-won scanned Un-hyeok's energy, but something was strange.
'Huh? Was Brother's body always this well-balanced?'
Come to think of it.
His complexion, which had been so dark that it wouldn't have been strange if he had died at any moment, had also brightened.
'What is this... In just a week, he's changed as if he's a completely different person.'
As Mu-won tilted his head, Un-hyeok replied.
"Yeah, sure. Why not."
"...Oh, yes?"
"Let's train together. It's not difficult, what's the big deal."
In that instant, Mu-won dispelled the doubts in his head, overcome with joy.
"Really?! You can't give up because it's too hard!"
"Don't worry, that won't happen."
"Hehehe. Okay, then we'll start training from today, right?"
"Yeah."
"Then, let's go to the training grounds together. I was just about to start training again after resting."
As the two entered the entrance of the training grounds.
Un-hyeok frowned as he looked inside.
"Ha, look at this?"
It was only early afternoon, but all the warriors inside the training grounds were slacking off.
Some were lying in the shade, taking a lazy nap.
Some were gambling in one corner.
Some were gathered in groups of three or five, chatting.
In a word.
"It's a mess."
Un-hyeok asked.
"Mu-won, why aren't those guys training?"
"Well, that's..."
"Okay, the reason is obvious."
Un-hyeok's eyes sharpened.
"Do they think the Poison Demon Sect is a joke?"
Mu-won couldn't say anything.
In fact, he knew very well that there was a problem with the warriors, but he didn't know what to do.
Mu-won was only twelve years old.
He thought that his voice wouldn't reach the warriors, who were much older than him.
"Even if dirt gets in my eyes, I can't stand this mess."
The original Dok Un-hyeok may have neglected his duties as Young Sect Leader, but Un-hyeok was not.
'Judging from Dok Ryeon-hwi's personality, he probably didn't give the warriors much of a monthly stipend, so he couldn't say anything.'
Mu-won, who would later be known as the Iron-Blooded Poison Lord, was still just a child.
In the end, there was only one person who could resolve this situation.
"Leave this to me."
"Bro, Brother. What are you going to do?"
In order to take revenge, the power of the Poison Demon Sect was essential.
In order to take control of the Demonic God Church in the future, he would need a backing.
But with this kind of mindset, it was obvious that nothing would be accomplished.
'Today, I will establish discipline among the warriors.'
"Assemble."
Un-hyeok's voice was drowned out by the warriors' chatter.
Veins popped out on his head, and he screamed.
"Everyone, assemble!!"
Only then did the warriors stop giggling and look at Un-hyeok.
"What are you doing? Come here right now!"
But the warriors just stared blankly at Un-hyeok, and then started talking among themselves again.
Un-hyeok's cheeks twitched.
'Ha, look at these guys? They're ignoring me, is that it?'
Alright, you're all dead!
As Un-hyeok rolled up his sleeves and strode towards the warriors.
Someone suddenly blocked his path.
"What kind of rampage is this?"
A man so tall that Un-hyeok had to look up.
Un-hyeok asked.
"...Who are you?"
"Ink Shadow Squad Leader, Neung Ja-pil."
Ha, look at this guy?
Even though Un-hyeok was the superior, he was stiff-necked.
Not only that, but he even looked at him with arrogant eyes.
"If you're the Squad Leader, then you're the highest-ranking person among them."
"That's right."
"Then explain."
Un-hyeok pointed to the warriors behind Neung Ja-pil.
"The sun is high in the sky, so why aren't the warriors training?"
"They were training until just now."
"Don't lie!"
Un-hyeok's roar echoed through the training grounds.
"There's not a single drop of sweat on the warriors' faces. Are you trying to fool me?"
"It's none of your business what the warriors do."
"...What?"
"You've been indulging in alcohol and women all this time. Why are you interfering now?"
This bastard, he looks familiar.
After pondering for a moment, Un-hyeok remembered who Ja-pil was.
'That's right, I remember. This guy. He's the one who protected Dok Mu-won until the end when they went to attack the Poison Demon Sect.'
When Un-hyeok drove him into a crisis in the life-or-death duel with Mu-won, he sacrificed himself to give Mu-won a chance.
'Even though he was an enemy, his loyalty was impressive. But he looked like this when he was young.'
Un-hyeok could see his sincerity in Ja-pil's eyes.
'Resentment.'
The information that So-ye had given him included the personal details of various people.
Ja-pil's was among them.
The Poison Demon Sect was everything to Ja-pil.
It was only natural that he would show hostility, since the person who had ruined it was right in front of him.
"Just live as you always have. It's bad luck. This isn't a place for a good-for-nothing like you."
Kaak-! Ptoo!
The phlegm that Ja-pil spat landed on Un-hyeok's training clothes.
Mu-won, who saw this, was flustered and tried to mediate between the two.
"Bro, Brother! J, just a moment!"
"Mu-won, come out."
"Please calm down for a moment and listen to me first! Squad Leader Neung is the only one who has helped me with my training. Something must have happened today that made him..."
"I said, come out!!"
"Ugh!"
Un-hyeok's eyes were endlessly cold.
'This won't do.'
Mu-won eventually changed his goal.
He shouted at Neung Ja-pil.
"Squad Leader Neung! Wh, what kind of rudeness is this! Apologize to Brother right now!"
"I'm sorry, Young Master. I can't do that."
"Wh, what did you say...?"
"Honestly, I don't understand. Why is the Poison Demon Sect coddling that good-for-nothing as family?"
"Squad Leader Neung! What kind of language is that!"
"Isn't that right? Originally, the Young Sect Leader should be the one to enter the Water Demon Cave. But that idiot can't even take responsibility for what he should be doing, and he's just wasting the Poison Demon Sect's assets like a parasite!"
"Squad Leader Neung...!"
Ja-pil shouted at Un-hyeok.
"Hey, you bastard, you should be ashamed!"
"......"
"The Young Sect Leader of the Poison Demon Sect is afraid of the Water Demon Cave, so he's hiding behind his brother! Do you want to live so pathetically?!"
"Squad Leader Neung!!"
But Ja-pil's mouth, once opened, showed no signs of stopping.
"Young Master Mu-won. I will become a warrior of the Black Kill Sect from tomorrow. I'm leaving anyway. Now that it's come to this, I'm going to tell that guy everything I've been holding back."
How did it come to this?
In a situation where two people he liked were exchanging insults with each other.
When Mu-won didn't know what to do.
"So, have you said everything you wanted to say?"
Ja-pil was silent.
He thought he would be intimidated by now, but Un-hyeok was even more confident.
"Then it's my turn."
Un-hyeok did not avoid Ja-pil's gaze and logically pointed out his crimes.
"Neung Ja-pil! You will become a warrior of the Black Kill Sect tomorrow. Therefore, you are still a warrior of the Poison Demon Sect. However, you have not only opposed me, the Young Sect Leader, but also committed rudeness. This is a matter that must be severely punished!"
Ja-pil snorted in disbelief.
"Punishment? How are you going to punish me? Surely, you don't think you can discipline me with your skills?"
"Of course."
"Your arrogance is sky-high."
"If you don't like it, let's have a duel."
This was a good opportunity.
At a glance, Ja-pil was an accomplished master.
'This guy is the leader here.'
In other words, if he caught Ja-pil, it would be easy to control the warriors.
'I can also see the results of my training, this is a complete win-win.'
But Ja-pil just scoffed.
"Get lost while I'm being nice. This is the only warning I'm giving you."
"It's a good opportunity for you too."
"What?"
"You have a lot of complaints against me, don't you? But are you going to leave like this? Are you really okay with that?"
"......"
"If you're not scared, let's fight."
Un-hyeok grinned.
"Neung Ja-pil."
Ja-pil glared at Un-hyeok and slowly opened his mouth.
"...Prepare yourself."
He grabbed the hilt of the sword hanging from his belt.
"I'll engrave on your body exactly what happens when you run wild like a thunderbolt."