Chapter 415
Chapter 415
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 415
Chapter Title: The Borrowed Knife
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The next day.
A massive crowd had gathered at the grand martial arts stage set up in the center of the Dang Family’s outer courtyard.
Three men stood upon the stage.
Jang Song and Hyeong Geuk. And facing them, their opponent, Dang Gon.
“No need to drag this out.”
Dang Gon looked at Jang Song and Hyeong Geuk, holding out a hand.
“Hall Master Jang, Hall Master Hyeong. Come at me together.”
Jang Song and Hyeong Geuk glanced at each other for a moment, then smirked.
Of course, the current family lord, Dang Pae, could probably defeat not just the two of them, but all three Hall Masters of the Three Poisons Sect at once.
But Dang Gon was not Dang Pae.
Besides, the martial arts of the Three Poisons Sect were a world apart from what they used to be.
Thanks to the support of a powerful faction, they had been supplied with elixirs that enhanced their internal energy, as well as superior poison arts.
From their perspective, Dang Gon was just a fledgling who hadn't even shed his downy feathers.
“Your bravado is certainly on par with the Lord’s.”
Jang Song nodded, a smirk still on his face.
“Very well. If my skills prove insufficient, I will accept his help.”
“As you wish.”
As Dang Gon gestured with his hand, Jang Song immediately began to draw upon his internal energy.
*Vwoom.*
A black mist began to rise from his entire body.
Jang Song was known as a master of hidden weapons, yet instead of launching any, he was channeling his poison arts.
*Vwoooom.*
As he summoned his poison arts, the stage was enveloped in a crimson-black mist.
‘The Heavenly Poison Blood Mist Arts?’
Dang Gon’s eyebrows shot up as he watched the mist spread from Jang Song’s body.
The poison art Jang Song was using was the Heavenly Poison Blood Mist Arts, the unique technique of the Divine Lord of a Thousand Poisons, who had once plunged the martial world into terror.
It was thought to have been lost long ago. How could Jang Song have mastered it?
*Slither.*
The spreading crimson-black mist wrapped around Dang Gon’s body like a living creature.
*C-crack.*
The crimson-black poison mist not only clogged Dang Gon’s lungs, making it difficult to breathe, but parts of it solidified into the shape of tough ropes, binding his body.
‘To think he’s mastered the Heavenly Poison Blood Mist Arts to its highest level.’
Dang Gon was greatly surprised.
It was said that the Divine Lord of a Thousand Poisons had mastered the Heavenly Poison Blood Mist Arts to its peak, allowing him to wield the poison mist like a weapon and change its properties at will.
But for Jang Song, a master of hidden weapons, to have cultivated his poison arts to such a level?
“Hehehe. For all your confidence, you’re not much to look at.”
Jang Song let out a relaxed laugh. Just as he was about to manipulate the poison mist to constrict Dang Gon’s body in an instant,
*Vzzzt.*
A single ray of light shot up from within the poison mist and began to extinguish the Heavenly Poison Blood Mist Arts.
The Poison Spirit Devouring Qi.
One of the Dang Family’s eight secret arts, capable of absorbing poison qi and converting it into internal energy, was now unfolding in Dang Gon’s hands.
*Fwoooosh!*
As the light flowing from Dang Gon’s hands intensified, the poison mist that had enveloped his body was nearly dissipated.
“Just as I expected.”
Despite Dang Gon dispelling the poison mist, Jang Song actually smiled.
“But even the Poison Spirit Devouring Qi has its weaknesses.”
Jang Song spread his palms and swept them upward from below.
*Fwoooosh!*
At that, another cloud of poison mist erupted from beneath Dang Gon’s feet, wrapping around his body.
*Vzzzt!*
Simultaneously, the power of the Poison Spirit Devouring Qi swirling in Dang Gon’s hands grew fiercer.
This was exactly what Jang Song had wanted.
“Ugh.”
A low groan escaped Dang Gon’s lips as he unleashed the Poison Spirit Devouring Qi.
This time, the poison mist unleashed by Jang Song contained a tangible form of internal energy.
In other words, Jang Song had feigned an attack with the Heavenly Poison Blood Mist Arts to lure Dang Gon into a contest of internal energy.
‘Alright!’
The spreading poison mist was pouring out immense internal energy, as if it were an extension of Jang Song’s arms.
As the sharp internal energy pierced his meridians, Dang Gon also unleashed his full power.
No matter how much Jang Song’s martial prowess had grown, he was still the Young Lord of the Dang Family.
He had consumed countless elixirs to enhance his internal energy since childhood and had also mastered various poison arts.
No matter how much progress Jang Song had made in a short time, he was confident he could block it.
*C-crack.*
Veins bulged on Dang Gon’s forehead.
On the surface, it was a clash between the Poison Spirit Devouring Qi and the Heavenly Poison Blood Mist Arts.
But in reality, they had entered a contest of internal energy—the most perilous form of confrontation.
However, something strange was happening.
Even though Dang Gon was pouring out his internal energy with all his might, Jang Song was receiving it with ease.
‘Even for the top Hall Master, for his internal energy to be this profound…’
Dang Gon’s internal energy was just shy of a full one hundred and eighty years.
But the internal energy pouring from Jang Song was approaching that very level.
That was an excessive amount of power, not for a Hall Master of the Three Poisons Sect, but for its very Leader.
‘So this is why he lured me into a contest of internal energy.’
The light of the Poison Spirit Devouring Qi flowing from Dang Gon’s hands was gradually dimming.
The danger of an internal energy contest was that it was like two people pushing their energy into a long tube from opposite ends.
If the balance of power shattered and the force shifted to one side?
Not only the opponent’s internal energy but also one’s own would come rushing back, inflicting a fatal injury.
“You’re holding up quite well, but…”
Jang Song’s sinister voice flowed out as he simultaneously poured out his Heavenly Poison Blood Mist Arts and internal energy.
“You’ve picked the wrong opponent.”
Dang Gon noticed a thick, black light flowing from Jang Song’s eyes.
‘To cultivate such outstanding poison arts in such a short time.’
The light emanating from his eyes was the Black Poison Spirit Qi, which only appeared in poison masters who had cultivated their arts to the absolute peak.
It was an aura that a Hall Master of the Three Poisons Sect should never be able to produce.
*C-crack.*
A cracking sound came from Dang Gon’s body as one of his knees slowly began to buckle.
The pressure from not only the poison qi of the Heavenly Poison Blood Mist Arts but also the gap in their internal energy was crushing his body.
—What?
The Dang Family members watching the scene gasped.
A Hall Master of the Three Poisons Sect surpassing the internal energy level of the Dang Family’s Young Lord?
*Swish.*
As Dang Gon’s defeat seemed imminent, Dang Seong, who was watching the duel, clenched his fists with a desperate expression.
‘He must not lose this fight.’
Only by winning this duel could they blunt the edge of the Three Poisons Sect, which coveted the Dang Family.
Dang Gon absolutely could not be defeated.
‘Could it be that he already knew the Young Lord would lose?’
Dang Seong gnashed his teeth as he looked at an empty spectator seat not far from his own.
Apex Platoon Leader Seon-u Jin.
Though he was merely a third-rate platoon leader in the Martial Alliance, he held the status of a special envoy.
They had even set up a special viewing seat for him at the stage.
But as soon as Jang Song and Hyeong Geuk stepped onto the stage, he had abruptly risen from his seat.
He huddled with the Apex Platoon members waiting near the stage, whispering for a long while.
Then, he and his members suddenly exited the training grounds.
‘What a pathetic worm!’
One moment he was fawning over Dang Gon as if he’d give him his own liver, and challenging the Hall Masters of the Three Poisons Sect.
The next, seeing the Hall Masters’ formidable power and the first sign of Dang Gon’s impending defeat, he immediately pulls out and leaves?
“Kuh.”
Meanwhile, a low groan echoed from the dueling stage.
Unable to withstand the difference in their power, the poison qi of the Heavenly Poison Blood Mist Arts was being injected into Dang Gon’s body.
‘Hang in there! You must not lose this fight!’
Dang Seong stared at Dang Gon, his fists clenched tight.
But whether he knew his feelings or not, Dang Gon could only stand there helplessly, unable to block the poison qi of the Heavenly Poison Blood Mist Arts.
***
‘This will be a difficult fight.’
Meanwhile, Bu Eun-seol, who had left the Dang Family estate before the duel began, wore a grave expression.
‘An artificial inner core, as expected.’
Jang Song and Hyeong Geuk had appeared on the stage.
Not only did their bodies emit powerful waves of true qi, but their eyes also poured out the Black Poison Spirit Qi, an aura only masters who had perfected their poison arts to the extreme could manifest.
It was an aura that someone of a Three Poisons Sect Hall Master’s level should never be able to produce.
Moreover, he hadn’t been able to sense it when he first saw them in the Phoenix Perch Pavilion’s meeting room… The Hall Masters of the Three Poisons Sect had been deliberately concealing their skills and presence.
‘This will be a good opportunity.’
Although Jang Song and Hyeong Geuk’s skills far exceeded his expectations, Bu Eun-seol was not particularly worried.
Dang Gon would surely defeat them. And he would proudly ascend to where he was.
His only concern was the intention of the Three Realms.
‘The Three Realms… the Three Realms.’
Bu Eun-seol’s gaze deepened.
The secret forces of the Three Realms had control over various parts of the martial world, and they could destroy or rebuild a clan in a short period.
Furthermore, they even had the ability to transform an ordinary person into a supreme master… Their power could truly be called the greatest in the martial world.
‘Since I cut off their contact, they must be aiming to kill two birds with one stone with this duel.’
Bu Eun-seol had already seen through Jang Song and Hyeong Geuk’s plan.
The two Hall Masters of the Three Poisons Sect had boldly requested a duel.
It was because, with their line of communication to the Three Realms cut off, they intended to first defeat Dang Gon to break the Dang Family’s momentum, and at the same time…
Use the duel, with all eyes on it, as a diversion to move their assassination squad.
After all, the two of them had already reached a level where they no longer feared the Dang Family’s martial arts.
‘They said they’ve positioned an assassination squad near the Dang estate.’
A smile, like that of the Grim Reaper, formed on Bu Eun-seol’s lips.
He intended to find that assassination squad and wipe them all out before the duel even began.
“Vice Platoon Leader Tae.”
Exiting through the Dang Family’s main gate, Bu Eun-seol handed Tae Mu-ryong his token and spoke.
“Show this token to the guards and wait at the entrance to the inner courtyard. If they ask why, tell them it’s an order from me, the Martial Alliance’s special envoy.”
“Understood.”
Taking the token, Tae Mu-ryong immediately headed for the inner courtyard without asking for a reason.
Bu Eun-seol always had a plan.
Tae Mu-ryong, with his great wisdom and insight, had already gauged the capabilities of the man known as Bu Eun-seol and was showing him firm trust.
“Where are you going, sir?”
As Bu Eun-seol headed for the main gate, a Dang Family guard bowed his head and asked.
“I’m just going to take a brief look around the estate.”
“Understood.”
The guards, knowing Bu Eun-seol was a special envoy from the Martial Alliance, opened the gate without a word.
‘It’s fortunate there are no spies in the Dang Family, at least.’
The Three Realms planted spies in the factions they sought to control.
But they had not been able to do so with the Dang Family.
This was likely due to the unique nature of the Dang Family, where all power was concentrated in the hands of the Lord.
Not even an elder could act without the Lord’s permission.
‘It makes sense they’d deploy an assassination squad since infiltrating spies is difficult. But…’
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
These plans of the Three Realms, for all the effort put into them, were far too clumsy.
They were so flawed that the moment someone intervened, they were bound to be exposed.
‘I don’t know why they concocted such a naive plan.’
A glint appeared in Bu Eun-seol’s eyes.
‘I’ll shatter it. In one fell swoop.’
*Vzzzt!*
Activating his Mind’s All-Seeing Eye, Bu Eun-seol shot into the air.
He intended to find the assassination squad hiding near the Dang estate in an instant.
*Tssst!*
Bu Eun-seol, now a streak of light, was rapidly searching the area around the Dang estate when his gaze finally fixed on one spot.
It was the Azure Mist Manor, located about seven miles from the Dang estate.
The place seemed to have been built relatively recently; the walls were clean and the grounds around the manor were neatly kept.
*Knock. Knock. Knock.*
Bu Eun-seol walked up to the main gate of the Azure Mist Manor and knocked.
After a long while, an old servant with small, blinking eyes emerged.
“How may I help you, sir?”
The old man’s eyes were so narrow that his pupils were barely visible.
“I’ve come to see the lord of the manor.”
“The master is currently away, sir.”
“I see. May I have a look inside for a moment?”
When the old man hesitated, Bu Eun-seol cupped his hands and spoke politely.
“I’m from the Martial Alliance. I just need to investigate something briefly.”
Having given his token to Tae Mu-ryong, Bu Eun-seol showed the insignia on his sleeve.
The old man stared blankly at the embroidery on the sleeve for a moment, then reluctantly opened the gate.
“Please come in.”
Inside, the manor was bustling with numerous servants and maids moving about busily.
As Bu Eun-seol stood there motionlessly, watching them, the old man asked with a troubled expression.
“But… for what reason has a warrior from the Martial Alliance come to our manor?”
“What business is the lord of this Azure Mist Manor in?”
“What would an old servant like myself know? I only know that he is a great merchant who trades far beyond the borders.”
“I see.”
Passing the front yard, Bu Eun-seol began to carefully inspect the buildings within the manor.
Then, his gaze fell on one spot, and he smiled faintly.
“You’ve invested quite a lot of time and money for an assassination squad.”
“What?”
Bu Eun-seol stared intently at the old man and smiled.
“To have established such a fine manor as your base of operations.”
“What are you suddenly talking about?”
“A merchant’s manor shouldn’t be built like this.”
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes glinted as he looked around at the surrounding buildings.
“The layout and arrangement of the buildings aren’t designed to defend against intruders from the outside, but to trap those within, are they not?”
And before the old man could say anything, he pointed to a large dining hall on the opposite side.
“Furthermore, for a merchant who is frequently away from home, to build a dining hall that can easily accommodate two or three hundred people.”
Bu Eun-seol bared his white teeth in a grin.
“Isn’t this a ridiculously absurd layout?”
*Freeze.*
As he finished speaking, not only the old man but also the busily moving maids and servants abruptly stopped in their tracks.
*Swish.*
They all turned their heads in unison to glare at Bu Eun-seol.
The sight of dozens of people simultaneously freezing and casting gazes filled with killing intent was both bizarre and terrifying.
“Strange. I was told the Martial Alliance sent a useless nobody.”
*C-crack.*
The old man, who had been stooped over, straightened his back, and a sharp glint shot out from his small eyes.
This old man, disguised as a servant, was the leader commanding the assassins of this manor.
“So.”
The old man’s narrow eyes, staring intently at Bu Eun-seol, seemed to be shooting out blades.
“What changes just because a third-rate platoon leader from the Martial Alliance figured it out?”
*Ssssk.*
At that, not only the servants but also black shadows emerged from between the buildings.
They all wore black poison swords, and the whites of their eyes were completely stained black.
It seemed they had been steeped in special drugs to enhance their combat abilities.
“You’ve prepared quite a lot.”
Bu Eun-seol shook his head as he looked at the assassins who had surrounded him completely.
“But with this level of force, you won’t even get a glimpse of the Dang Family’s inner courtyard.”
“Don’t put on such a pathetic show of confidence.”
The old man snorted.
“I know your martial arts are quite formidable. Enough to be on par with the Grand Master, Cheon Hwa-in.”
The old man smiled sinisterly and licked his lips.
“Fellows like you always make the same mistake. You think you’re special… that you have the ability to escape any crisis.”
“Seeing as how all the assassins’ eyes are like those of a dead pollack… it seems the Blood Pinnacle, which was said to be hunkered down in Southern Snake Valley like a toad, has moved its entire nest.”
All the people in the Azure Mist Manor.
They were the assassins of the Blood Pinnacle, which had its base in Southern Snake Valley.
“Hmm.”
The old man, no, the Lord of the Blood Pinnacle, the Phantom Elder Fiend, Jo Baek-san, frowned.
‘He knows who I am and yet he’s still acting so relaxed? What is this confidence?’
He couldn’t understand it.
This young man had clearly come here alone.
Yet, he was looking at the assassins of the Blood Pinnacle, a name so terrifying it could stop a crying child’s tears, and casually running his mouth?
“I see. You were counting on the Martial Alliance.”
Jo Baek-san chuckled as if he had finally grasped Bu Eun-seol’s thoughts.
“Unfortunately for you, now that you’ve entered this place, even if you were a hall master and not just a platoon leader, I can’t let you live…”
“You talk too much. If you’ve summoned all your assassins, you should attack already.”
Bu Eun-seol cut off Jo Baek-san’s words with a bored expression.
“Or have you been hiding in this manor for so long that you’re desperate for someone to talk to?”
*C-crack.*
A thick vein bulged on Jo Baek-san’s forehead.
“You’ve got a lot of nerve.”
*Fwoosh!*
As Jo Baek-san drew upon his internal energy, his silver hair shot up toward the sky.
Simultaneously, his pupils turned darker than the abyss.
“Kill.”
Further conversation was meaningless.
As the order for an all-out assault was given,
*Shaaaaa!*
A strange cutting sound echoed as the blue sky began to turn black.
All the assassins in the manor had unleashed the Blood Pinnacle’s unique killing formation, the Black Heaven Phantom Shadow, upon Bu Eun-seol.
*Swoosh.*
When the sky finally turned completely black, the entire manor was plunged into an inky darkness.
At the same time, the figures of Jo Baek-san and the assassins, who had been visible in the manor, completely vanished.
The reason the Blood Pinnacle had become a synonym for terror.
They always trapped their targets in the Black Heaven Phantom Shadow Formation, relentlessly unleashing their cruel assassination techniques from within the pitch-black formation.
“…”
However, the assassins inside the Black Heaven Phantom Shadow Formation soon began to panic and stumble about in confusion.
Bu Eun-seol, who had been standing there perfectly fine, had also vanished without a trace.
[I was wondering why the assassins were so steeped in drugs.]
Bu Eun-seol’s Six Harmonies Voice Transmission echoed from within the darkness-shrouded formation.
[So you were cultivating the Evil Prison Dark Blood Arts.]
The mist flowing out of this Black Heaven Phantom Shadow Formation…
Was a mixture of the formation’s efficacy and the poison qi unleashed by the assassins’ Evil Prison Dark Blood Arts.
“Over there!”
The assassins, having pinpointed Bu Eun-seol’s location, began to unleash their poison-laced hidden weapons.
*Fwip! Fwip! Fwip! Fwip!*
But the hundreds of poison weapons merely cut through the empty air.
‘It can’t be.’
Jo Baek-san, who was hiding within the Black Heaven Phantom Shadow Formation, rubbed his eyes.
The moment one entered the Black Heaven Phantom Shadow Formation, all senses were cut off, and the body would become paralyzed by the powerful poison qi.
Not only that, but the assassins who had cultivated the Evil Prison Dark Blood Arts could see clearly within the formation.
But no matter how much he looked around, he could see no one but his own assassins.
“Release more poison qi! Unless that bastard is a poison man himself, he will surely be poisoned!”
At Jo Baek-san’s shout, the black poison qi within the formation grew even thicker.
But this was a completely useless act.
Bu Eun-seol’s meridians, having reached the state of the Six Harmonies Golden Origin, were overflowing with immense internal energy.
Therefore, the poison mist of the Evil Prison Dark Blood Arts couldn’t even penetrate his body and was being expelled as soon as it entered.
Furthermore, his movement technique was the Shadowless Speed, the pinnacle of concealment arts.
Even when he weaved through the assassins, they couldn’t sense him at all and just stood there blankly.
‘An assassination sect composed of poison men…’
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes narrowed as he observed the assassins within the Black Heaven Phantom Shadow Formation.
All the assassins of the Blood Pinnacle were poison men who had cultivated poison arts.
In other words, they could be tricky opponents for the Dang Family, which primarily used poison and hidden weapons.
‘But…’
Bu Eun-seol, who had been deep in thought, shook his head.
Even if they had been lucky enough to enter the Dang Family’s inner courtyard, the probability of them assassinating Dang Pae was slim.
The Dang Family was just as unafraid of poison and hidden weapons.
And if they were to choose the path of ‘assassination’ rather than a direct confrontation?
The assassins of the Blood Pinnacle were even more poorly matched against the masters of the Dang Family. If they had entered, nine out of ten would have been annihilated.
‘Is this the stratagem of killing with a borrowed knife?’
Judging by the situation so far, it was no exaggeration to say that the Three Realms’ scheme was not to destroy the Dang Family or kill Dang Pae, but rather…
To bring about a crushing defeat for the Three Poisons Sect.
But even here, a question remained.
If that was the case, there was no need to support the Three Poisons Sect and strengthen their forces and martial arts. So why did they proceed with such a plan?
‘Enough. Right now, I am Seon-u Jin.’
Bu Eun-seol soon shook his head.
Now was not the time to ponder such questions.
*Shhhriiiiek!*
Suddenly, within the Black Heaven Phantom Shadow Formation, a sharp, piercing sound that threatened to tear eardrums began to ring out.
—Keuk.
The assassins who heard the sound froze, their eyes wide.
They felt a pain as if their eardrums were being torn apart, and at the same time… a chilling fear, as if the unseen scythe of the Grim Reaper was at their necks.
[I hear you people will cut down even children for money.]
At the same time, an infinitely low and dark voice pierced the assassins’ eardrums.
[You are dregs with no value in being kept alive…]
*Swish! Swish!*
Simultaneously, the sharp, piercing sound that had been audible from before began to grow louder.
*Flash.*
At the same moment, a pair of red eyes flashed in the darkness.
Within the Black Heaven Phantom Shadow Formation, the third-rate platoon leader of the Martial Alliance was no more.
What existed before the assassins now…
Was a peerless grandmaster, unleashing the majesty of the Reigning Demonic Path, who had drawn upon the force of ten thousand thunderbolts to annihilate the dregs of a heinous assassination sect.