Chapter 217 - It's Not a Matter That Ends with Killing
The first strike belonged to Hwangtae.
Kwang!
The black sword shattered without mercy after a few clashes.
A lesser warrior could have channeled internal energy into the blade to endure, but Hwangtae was far beyond that level.
'Stronger than Garak.'
In truth, Yeon-hoo had drawn the iron sword first to gauge Hwangtae's prowess.
Clink! Clink!
The demonic weapon Moon Fang revealed itself.
Hwangtae's eyes flickered with a strange glint for an instant.
But it soon reverted to its innate killing intent.
"You think Moon Fang can handle me?"
'He knows of Moon Fang, as expected.'
Yeon-hoo recalled Garak's shock upon seeing it.
'This will make it impossible not to suspect ties between the Blood Family and the Blood Prison...'
Both Hwangtae and Garak were from the Blood Family, so it was a natural suspicion.
But that alone didn't satisfy him.
The woman he'd met in the Blood Prison hadn't mentioned the Blood Family even once.
Then Hwangtae uttered something even more shocking.
"Neither Moon Fang nor the Blood Demon Chain will work on me. If you want a real fight, draw the Mad Demon Sword, Yeon-hoo."
"...!"
Even Yeon-hoo couldn't hide his surprise any longer.
Moon Fang and the Blood Demon Chain were known through legends passed down, so knowing their names wasn't impossible.
But the Mad Demon Sword was different.
Unlike other demonic weapons, the Mad Demon Sword was an ancient one unknown in the jianghu, known only to those who had entered the Blood Prison.
Yet there couldn't have been anyone before him who had entered the Blood Prison.
If someone had broken through it ahead of him, they wouldn't have left the demonic weapon behind.
In that instant, Seorung's face flashed in Yeon-hoo's mind.
'Given all the circumstances, she's definitely out in the world. Did she go to the Blood Family and tell them about the demonic weapon?'
If not, this was utterly impossible.
Having revealed his inner shock through his expression, Yeon-hoo quickly regained his usual impassive gaze.
"Does everyone in the Blood Family know of the demonic weapons?"
"Too many questions, Yeon-hoo."
"Capturing you alive seems difficult."
"You think you need to know everything before you die? Hahaha. Fine. Consider it my final act of charity to a man about to perish—I'll tell you everything."
Hwangtae sneered coldly before continuing.
"Only Jeokhon and his closest aides know of the demonic weapons."
"Did you perhaps meet a woman connected to the Blood Prison?"
"Sounds like it hits close to home. Yes. A woman who claimed to have seen you there visited the Blood Family."
Everything finally clicked into place.
'So she tried to use the Blood Family for revenge against me.'
Yeon-hoo shook off his complicated feelings with a quiet sigh and channeled internal energy into Moon Fang.
A dazzling white light writhed like a living serpent.
Chirrrk.
"At least that's a relief."
"What?"
"If the entire Blood Family knew of the demonic weapons, there'd be too many to kill."
Yeon-hoo grinned.
Hwangtae sneered coldly once more.
"That arrogance of yours will soon turn to bloody tears. Draw the Mad Demon Sword now, Yeon-hoo."
"I don't sense you're strong enough to force that out of me. Hahaha."
"Then I'll show you."
Kwaaah!
A terrifying power erupted from Hwangtae's entire body.
A storm of qi raged around them, whipping up dust and pebbles into a vortex that completely obscured their vision.
But to them, it was no hindrance at all.
Yeon-hoo was already certain Hwangtae was stronger than anyone he'd faced before.
His blood boiled.
From the depths of his soul, the martial spirit of a true warrior—that which had surged within him at the White Night Cartel's gathering of the Eight Great Families, upon seeing their leaders—now reared its head.
In this moment, Yeon-hoo wished to fight not as the head of the Iron Blood Family or the lord of the North, but as a single warrior.
Flash!
This time too, the first strike was Hwangtae's.
A streak of light cleaved through the dust, its qi beam targeting Yeon-hoo's abdomen.
Yeon-hoo didn't dodge; he swatted it away with Moon Fang.
Bang!
The blocked qi veered off, punching a massive hole in the rock behind him before vanishing.
Flash!
Another beam shot in.
This time, he used footwork to deflect it aside.
Thud!
The rock that had been holed split cleanly in two.
'As expected...'
He'd swatted the first to test destructive power, dodged the second to gauge speed.
Both exceeded his expectations, surpassing Wi Yeon Gwang and Garak by a level.
'This isn't enough to handle me. Unless... that's not his best.'
Then it came.
Shwak!
The third attack.
This time, not qi but Hwangtae himself burst through the dust.
His sword left dozens of afterimages in a flashy transformation.
Yeon-hoo flinched when the sword suddenly doubled in length mid-change, thrusting toward his chest.
Bang!
Yeon-hoo twisted his waist, slapping it away with Moon Fang and retreating.
Flutter...
His eyes trembled.
His face stiffened.
Seeing this, Hwangtae sneered coldly.
"Can't be surprised already. Hahaha."
Yeon-hoo's eyes still quivered.
Hwangtae's laughter didn't even register.
'How does that bastard know Blood Prison martial arts...?'
That was the reason for his shock.
Hwangtae's previous move was unmistakably a Blood Prison technique.
One of the pinnacle demonic arts, no less.
It was a massive blow to Yeon-hoo.
Hwangtae knowing not just the Mad Demon Sword but Blood Prison demonic arts too.
Whoosh!
A blade wind swept over them both.
After three fruitless attacks, Hwangtae paused to catch his breath, while Yeon-hoo sorted his rattled mind amid the lingering shock.
"You seem quite shocked that I know Blood Prison demonic arts."
"How do you know them?"
"No more questions, Yeon-hoo."
Hummm!
Hwangtae's sword resonated again.
Clink! Clink!
Moon Fang let out metallic shrieks as it transformed.
Its length extended, dozens of fangs gleaming menacingly on both sides.
This was Moon Fang's final form.
There were two intermediate stages, but Yeon-hoo deemed them pointless and went straight to the end.
Hwangtae was that strong.
'I have to end him alive, even if I have to sever his limbs.'
If he knew the Mad Demon Sword and Blood Prison arts, simply killing him wouldn't suffice.
Whoosh!
As another blade wind tousled Yeon-hoo's hair, Hwangtae moved again.
Kwaang! Kwang!
A storm of relentless attacks.
But Yeon-hoo's defense was an iron wall.
Every assault was blocked by Moon Fang.
Yet Hwangtae held the offensive.
Through dozens of exchanges, Yeon-hoo focused solely on defense, finding no opening to counter.
Tears appeared in Yeon-hoo's robe here and there.
Hwangtae's sleeves blackened and charred.
Still, the attack belonged to Hwangtae; Yeon-hoo was merely fending him off.
After over fifty clashes, Hwangtae halted and retreated.
Hot breath escaped his slightly parted lips, mingling with the cold air to form white vapor that dispersed.
Yeon-hoo glanced at Moon Fang.
Its edges were scorched black, still radiating heat with tips glowing red, yet not a single damaged spot.
Hwangtae sneered coldly at him.
"Disappointing. To conquer the millennium gateway of the Blood Prison and amount to only this."
Yeon-hoo stared silently at Hwangtae.
Seeing no disruption in his demeanor, Hwangtae's eyes narrowed slyly.
"I'll grant your internal energy that much. But even your profound reserves won't block this."
Shaaa...
The air around Hwangtae suddenly shifted.
Until now, it had been a bone-chilling cold; now it was scorching hot enough to turn frost to steam.
Yeon-hoo spread his stance into a defensive posture.
And the clashes resumed.
Kwaang! Kwajik!
Deep, narrow furrows gouged the once-flat stone ground; nearby rocks and trees shattered and sliced apart. It was no longer surprising.
After another fifty exchanges, they distanced themselves once more.
"Hoo!"
Rough breaths burst from Hwangtae's lips.
Yeon-hoo's lips parted slightly too.
But their eyes remained unchanged from the start.
"How long do you plan to just dodge?"
"You have to give me an opening to counter."
"If you're thinking of outlasting me with internal energy, wake up."
"Not a bad idea."
"Is it?"
Hwangtae's lips curled, and his eyes suddenly flashed red.
Following a surge of demonic qi, his ragged breathing calmed to stillness.
He looked as if he'd returned to his pristine state before the clash began.
An unbelievable sight, even seeing it.
Yeon-hoo grinned.
"Draw the Mad Demon Sword now. Wouldn't want to die without trying it—might not even close your eyes in regret. Hahaha."
Yeon-hoo showed no reaction.
Then Hwangtae's eyes gleamed.
He furrowed his brow suspiciously.
"Could it be... you can't use the Mad Demon Sword?"
"Enough about the Mad Demon Sword. Let's start again."
"Tell me. Did you fail to obtain it? Or lack the ability to wield it?"
"Why does it matter? Kill me and avenge your brother—that's all, isn't it?"
Kwaaa.
A qi storm swirled around Hwangtae again.
Yeon-hoo met his blood-reddening eyes calmly, settling into another optimized defensive stance.
"I'll sever your limbs and make you talk."
Flash! Flash!
Two blood lights erupted simultaneously.
Bang!
One was blocked by Moon Fang and dissipated; the other tore Yeon-hoo's robe and shattered the rock behind before vanishing.
Thud!
Faster and more destructive than any prior attack.
But it didn't fell Yeon-hoo.
Flash!
Hwangtae's sword birthed dozens of illusions.
They poured down like a thousand raindrops exploding over Yeon-hoo's head.
Impossible to block without knowing the true blade.
Yeon-hoo slid back with footwork, erecting the Golden Diamond Wall for any contingency.
Kwakwakwakwa!
Stone dust erupted where the swords fell.
But that wasn't all.
A sinister energy streaked toward his right leg.
Hwangtae's lips curled.
The rest were feints; this was real.
He was certain Yeon-hoo couldn't evade.
However.
Bang!
Space warped before Yeon-hoo's body.
"...!"
Hwangtae widened his eyes and poured energy into his sword grip.
His body slid back like a rebound.
Kwakwak!
Furrows formed where his feet passed.
Ziiing.
Hwangtae grimaced at the powerful shock climbing his wrist.
He glared at Yeon-hoo with twisted eyes.
Disheveled hair, robe torn and exposing pale skin in places—but Yeon-hoo's gaze was unchanged.
Flutter...
'This bastard... hasn't been going all out until now!'
As Hwangtae finally sensed the anomaly, Yeon-hoo's impassive voice slipped through his lips.
"I wanted to check how much you knew of Blood Prison demonic arts. So I focused on defense, and you kindly showed me everything."
"...!"
"I'm very curious why you know Blood Prison demonic arts so intimately."
Hummm.
Distortion rippled around Yeon-hoo.
"If that's all you have, you'd better be careful. From now on, I'll attack you with the Iron Blood Family's martial arts."