Chapter 484: Monster (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 484: Monster (2)
With the Tang Clan’s approval secured, Woo Hyuk and I finally stepped outside.
I would have preferred to stay with the girls longer, but time was a luxury I couldn’t afford. There was too much to do, and I needed to move quickly. My life truly was a relentless grind.
“Ugh, my neck…”
Woo Hyuk suddenly groaned as we walked, rubbing his neck with a pained expression. I frowned at the sight.
“You shouldn’t have said what you did back then.”
“…I didn’t actually think you’d bite me. What are you, a dog?”
“If you treat me like one, I’ll act like one.”
He’d started it—what was there to complain about? I didn’t get it.
[Still, actually biting him was a bit much.]
Elder Shin spoke in a tone of mild disappointment, but I ignored him and turned my gaze forward.
We had been trekking through this dense, tree-packed forest for what felt like ages. Woo Hyuk had said it would take a couple of hours on foot, but it already felt longer.
My mind wandered as I ran without pause.
I gave Nahee a few orders before leaving… I wonder how they’ll turn out.
I was curious about the results. More than that, I needed to know what answer the Poison King would give. That would determine my next move.
[Child.]
Yes?
[Are you truly planning to kill every last one of them?]
I didn’t need to think about it.
Yes.
Honestly, it wasn’t even a question. Anyone involved in this deserved to be erased. Even if Tang Jaemoon hadn’t asked, I would have done it myself.
Since I know they’ll become a problem later, I can’t just leave them be.
[…]
Besides, this was about Tang Soyeol.
I’d always wondered how she managed to achieve Ten Thousand Poisons Immunity. Now, the pieces were slowly falling into place, and the more I learned, the angrier I became. I gritted my teeth.
Ten Thousand Poisons Immunity—a state achieved only by those who have truly mastered the Poison Arts. How could Tang Soyeol have reached such a level? For most skilled martial artists, it was nearly impossible, let alone for an ordinary person. I hadn’t dwelled on it before, but now it was all I could think about.
Had she achieved it through honest means?
Probably not.
I felt sorry for her, but objectively, Tang Soyeol was no genius. She was surrounded by actual prodigies: the Sleeping Dragon, Wi Seol-Ah, Namgung Bi-ah, Yung Pung of Mount Hua, Peng Woojin of the Peng Clan… and that monstrous bastard who would appear in a few years.
Compared to them—or even to Shaolin’s miracle, the next Heavenly Dragon—Tang Soyeol barely registered. At best, she was just a noble’s relative. At worst, she wasn’t even a real talent. There was no way she could have reached Ten Thousand Poisons Immunity on her own merit.
Yet she had become the Poison Queen. It had been a mystery to me, but now, with the Celestial Martial Body Plan still suspected to be active and Tang Jaemoon’s warning, it was clear she had undergone something unnatural to get there.
Honestly, the method itself didn’t matter much to me. I wasn’t some righteous martial artist who cared about fairness. I’d take any path to power, no matter how dark. So even if Tang Soyeol had chosen an unethical way, I wouldn’t judge her for it.
But one thing did matter:
Did she want it?
That was the only question. If she had chosen it willingly, I’d let her be. It wasn’t about the Tang Clan or Tang Jaemoon’s request—only her will.
But if not…
I would tear everything down. I’d burn it all to ash, even the entire Tang Clan if I had to.
Was that difficult?
Maybe before.
But not anymore. It was strange. Had I grown stronger? Arrogance didn’t suit me—I was still only at the perfected Fusion Realm. Taking on a clan alone should still be beyond me.
Yet, confidence surged through me. This wasn’t like me. Something had changed. My body, my dantian… even my mindset felt different. Was it because my vessel had shattered?
I need to examine myself when I have time. Tsk.
Annoying, how I didn’t even have time for that.
Suppressing my irritation, I glanced at Woo Hyuk. “How much longer? It’s been over two hours.”
He responded with an awkward expression. “Um… well. I was told to just go this way.”
“…?”
I scowled. “Hey.”
“Hm?”
“You don’t actually know the way, do you?”
“Haha, what kind of question is that?” Woo Hyuk waved a hand, laughing.
Right. Surely he wouldn’t lead without knowing. Just as I relaxed,
“Why would I know? I don’t live in Sichuan. Of course I don’t.”
“What did you just say?”
I nearly tripped. He doesn’t know?
“You bastard! Then why are you leading!?”
“I just thought we should go this way.”
“The map. Give it to me. Now.”
He sluggishly pulled out the map. I snatched it, checked it, and smacked his head.
Thwack!
“Agh!”
Woo Hyuk shot me a resentful look, but I was furious. “You idiot! We’ve been going the wrong way!”
“Oh… really? I had no idea.”
“‘Oh’ my ass… I’m the fool for trusting you.” I turned around and grabbed his collar.
“Ugh—! What are you—!?”
“Shut up. We’re behind schedule. I’m speeding up.”
I channeled Qi into my feet.
Swoosh—!
“…!”
Woo Hyuk’s eyes widened. Ignoring him, I stared ahead, though I did offer a warning. “Do your best to hang on. You can manage that much, right?”
“W-Wait!”
I didn’t let him finish.
Blaze—!
Blue flames enveloped my body.
Boom—!
I leapt forward explosively. The scenery blurred as I accelerated to a speed I hadn’t known I could reach.
“Ugahhh…!” Woo Hyuk tried to speak as he was dragged along, but I paid no mind.
Who knew he was as directionally challenged as Namgung Bi-ah? “Why are you so useless when it counts… damn it…”
With a sword in hand, Woo Hyuk was a different beast. Without one, he was practically hopeless. Honestly, all these so-called geniuses were like this. If that’s all it took, I wanted those genes too. Damn it.
Swoosh—!
Barely an hour had passed when I slowed. According to the map, we were close. I should have done this from the start. I was almost shocked at my own speed—driven by anger, I’d moved twice as fast as before.
Why do I even need to check my body?
I’d thought I was only one and a half times stronger, but using this new power felt completely different. Maybe it was time to visit the Dishonored Venerable.
I’ll ask him for a spar.
He was the only one I could make such a request of. Asking the Dark King would undoubtedly end poorly.
As I slowed, I shook Woo Hyuk. “Hey, where now? The map only gets us this far.”
“Ough…?”
“Wake up. I need directions.”
The map showed the mountain and a rough description, but no precise location. We were surrounded by nothing but trees and boulders.
Woo Hyuk looked dizzy. “Put… me down… I think I’m dying.”
“I need to know where your master is…”
They couldn’t have planned to meet in the middle of nowhere. There had to be a building nearby. Had I come to the wrong place? I wasn’t usually bad with directions.
Just as I focused my senses—
Swish—!
I spun around instantly.
“Ugh!” Woo Hyuk cried out as I moved, but I had no choice.
A blade of Sword Qi shot past me.
Slash—!
It struck the ground, cleaving a boulder in two.
Thud—!
The halves crashed down. I landed safely, senses sharpened.
“Agh!” Woo Hyuk wasn’t so lucky—he face-planted into the dirt.
“…Ugh… I’m dying here…!”
“Draw your sword,” I ordered.
“…What sword?” He sounded genuinely confused.
Huh? Since when was he this slow to react?
Rustle.
A figure emerged from behind a tree—likely the one who had launched the Sword Qi. I narrowed my eyes.
A beggar?
That was my first impression. Long hair covered his face, and he wore dirty rags. He shuffled toward us barefoot.
I tensed. Despite his appearance…
His sword is pristine.
The blade in his hand gleamed, well cared for. Moreover, his Combat Qi pressed against me, sharp and unsettling.
Who was he?
As I watched, the man yawned loudly. “Haaam—” He dug a finger in his ear, then snorted at Woo Hyuk, who was struggling to his feet.
“I wondered what kind of bastard was moving so fast… What the hell happened to you these past few years?”
Woo Hyuk coughed and smiled awkwardly. “Haha. Have you been well?”
“Does it look like I have?”
“I’m glad to see you haven’t changed.”
“Haha, you little shit. That mouth of yours is the same, huh?”
“…”
My eyes widened. Now I knew who he was.
This man is…?
He’d called Woo Hyuk his disciple. This ragged swordsman was the Monster of Wudang.
But…
Why?
There was one thing I didn’t understand. His Qi—it was too fierce, too sharp for a Taoist, especially one from Wudang. That was why I hadn’t recognized him at first.
“Hmm.” The Monster of Wudang’s gaze shifted to me. Though his eyes were hidden, I felt him studying me.
“I wondered what flew this way… but you don’t seem like an enemy.”
“He’s a friend,” Woo Hyuk said brightly.
The Monster tilted his head. “Disciple.”
“Yes.”
“…You had a friend?”
“I made one. It wasn’t so bad.”
The Monster kept his eyes on me. I was about to clasp my hands in respect when he spoke again.
“This friend you brought… he’s a monster. Who is this brat?”
He brushed his dirty hair back with a hand, revealing his face.
Hmm?
I hid my shock. He was far more handsome than I’d expected, with piercing blue eyes.
And white hair…?
Only one clan had people who looked like that. As I frowned,
[…Huh?]
Elder Shin sounded surprised.
Elder Shin, what’s wrong?
[Wait, why does he…]
He seemed troubled. What was it?
After a pause, Elder Shin replied, his tone stunned.
[That bastard… why does he look exactly like Myung?]*
…What?
I stared at the Monster of Wudang. Elder Shin could only mean one person: Namgung Myung, the Thunderous Sword.