Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Heart of Poison
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“A fine plan.”
Dang Gon nodded firmly.
“If we just take care of the ones managing the poisons, they'll be terrified enough to never trespass on the Dang Clan's territory again.”
“Precisely.”
Bu Eun-seol nodded and spoke again.
“And leave their command to Heuk-pyo.”
“To Heuk-pyo? Ah, I see.”
Understanding Bu Eun-seol's deeper meaning, Dang Gon addressed the young men of the Poison Enforcement Hall.
“You will follow Heuk-pyo and set fire to the main buildings of Blood Poison Valley.”
“You want us to follow the orders of that young boy?”
The young man at the front wore a disgruntled expression, and Dang Gon offered a faint smile.
“Does the main family's training include surprise attacks and creating diversions?”
“Pardon?”
Dang Gon gestured to Heuk-pyo, who stood beside Bu Eun-seol.
“Heuk-pyo may be young, but he was formerly an intelligence operative for the Dong-pyo-seo-rang. He's more skilled in surprise attacks and diversionary tactics than you are.”
Dang Gon's instructions were seamless.
He had instantly grasped why Bu Eun-seol had entrusted command of the Poison Enforcement Hall to Heuk-pyo.
“If you disobey Heuk-pyo's orders, it is the same as disobeying mine. Do you understand?”
“We understand.”
The young men of the Poison Enforcement Hall reluctantly bowed their heads.
Dang Gon lightly patted the shoulder of the still youthful-looking Heuk-pyo.
“I'm counting on you.”
“Don't worry, Third Master.”
Heuk-pyo lifted his head and grinned.
“I'm used to this kind of work.”
Then he turned to the young men of the Poison Enforcement Hall.
“Once we infiltrate Blood Poison Valley, you must follow me and set fire to the key buildings.”
Heuk-pyo swept his gaze over them, his eyes holding the look of a seasoned veteran, belying his youth.
“And you must not engage in direct combat. Only interfere with those trying to extinguish the flames, using hit-and-run tactics to stall for time.”
Turning back, Heuk-pyo spoke curtly.
“That is all. Now, follow me.”
*Swish.*
As Heuk-pyo executed his movement technique, the young men of the Poison Enforcement Hall glanced at each other before reluctantly following.
“...!”
But the expressions of the young men hardened as they began to move.
No matter how much they pushed their movement techniques, they couldn't catch up to Heuk-pyo.
*'So it's true.'*
In truth, they had been inwardly disgruntled at the thought of a young boy like Heuk-pyo commanding them.
But now they realized that Heuk-pyo was not only a master of movement techniques but also a seasoned expert who had been through countless battles.
“They say there are no weak soldiers under a great general. I never imagined that boy's movement technique would have reached such a level.”
Dang Gon sighed as he watched Heuk-pyo dart away stealthily.
“Still, there's something I just don't understand.”
“What is it?”
“Blood Poison Valley. Just ten years ago, they were a mediocre third-rate sect holed up in Mount Gwangjung. Suddenly, they've grown powerful enough to threaten our main family.”
“Hmm.”
“And seeing as they're even creating countermeasures to our family's poisons and hidden weapons... it seems like there must be a power backing them.”
“That could be the case.”
Bu Eun-seol nodded, his eyes narrowing inwardly.
*'It couldn't be the Demonic Sanctum, could it?'*
The Demonic Sanctum has long been waging a silent war against the Murim Alliance—or rather, the Orthodox Faction.
It was possible they were secretly supporting Blood Poison Valley to weaken the Eight Great Families.
*'Well, it doesn't matter.'*
This affair will be handled by the Sichuan Dang Clan. No, by Dang Gon, the heir of the Dang Clan.
*BOOM! Fwoosh!*
Just then, with a loud explosion, fires began to erupt throughout Blood Poison Valley.
"Fire!"
"Put out the fire!"
As a mixture of loud screams and shouts erupted from within Blood Poison Valley, Dang Gon took a deep breath.
“It's about time we went.”
He rolled up his sleeves and grinned at Bu Eun-seol.
“Let's see just how quick the people of Blood Poison Valley are.”
“It's time to abandon such a naive mindset.”
“What are you talking about? Naive?”
Bu Eun-seol looked at Dang Gon's gentle eyes and spoke coldly.
“You must possess a heart of poison. We are not going to a martial arts tournament; we are going to crush them so thoroughly they can never defy the Dang Clan again.”
“W-well, of course.”
“If you always maintain such a relaxed and gentle heart, you will never be able to rise any higher.”
A heart of poison. He had heard those words from Dang Pae as well.
It was something the good-natured Dang Gon lacked. To become the Patriarch of the Dang Clan, it was absolutely necessary.
Bu Eun-seol's eyes flashed with a blood-red light as he enunciated each word to Dang Gon.
“You must deal with them cruelly, so they can never crawl back up again.”
“...”
After a moment of silence, Dang Gon took out a pair of black gloves from his robes.
They were the Black Silk Battle Gauntlets, a secret weapon of the Dang Clan that could greatly amplify the Poison Spirit Annihilation Art he had learned in the secret cave.
“I'll show you.”
A blood-red light, similar to the one in Bu Eun-seol's eyes, flickered in Dang Gon's.
“A completely different me.”
Cave of No Return.
This was where not only the secret poisons created by Blood Poison Valley were stored, but also spirit creatures like the Three-Eyed Blood Snake and the Golden Silkworm Poison Toad.
*Clang, clang, clang, clang!*
A bell was ringing in the center of Blood Poison Valley, but here in the Cave of No Return, far from the commotion, only a faint metallic sound could be heard.
“Who are you?”
In the deep center of the Cave of No Return.
In front of densely packed jars, an old man with completely black eyes and skin as blue as a corpse's bared his fangs.
He was the Vice-Lord of Blood Poison Valley, the Black Killing Ghost Spirit, Shim Dok.
*'Damn it.'*
Dang Gon swallowed hard as he looked at Shim Dok.
He had expected to face the leadership, but he thought it would be a few moderately skilled hall masters.
But of all people, the fearsome Vice-Lord of Blood Poison Valley, Shim Dok, was guarding this place?
“You lot are unlucky.”
Closing the lid of the jar containing the Golden Silkworm Poison Toad, Shim Dok's snake-like eyes flashed.
“To think you'd willingly crawl into the old man's den.”
The aura radiating from Shim Dok was so oppressive that Dang Gon found it hard to breathe.
But he deliberately scoffed and patted his waist.
“You're the one who's unlucky. Next year, this day will be the anniversary of your death.”
“Hmph, so you're dregs from the Dang Clan.”
Shim Dok bared his fangs upon seeing the leather pouch tied to Dang Gon's waist.
“You've got some nerve. Not only do you set fire to our valley with a few pathetic followers, but you dare enter the Cave of No Return?”
With a tense expression, Dang Gon gripped his Black Silk Battle Gauntlets tightly.
Shim Dok's martial prowess had long surpassed the peak level. Even if he and Bu Eun-seol fought together, their chances of winning were extremely slim.
“You should look for an opportunity to...”
Just as Dang Gon glanced at Bu Eun-seol and was about to speak,
*Flash!*
A brilliant flash of light filled the cave. In an instant, Bu Eun-seol had drawn his Ink Sword and was slashing at Shim Dok's neck.
*Clang!*
But Shim Dok twisted his body sideways in response, parrying the sharp blade of the Ink Sword with his long, black fingernails.
Having mastered the Ink Soul Remnant Blood Claw, his nails were as hard as iron.
“With just this level of skill...”
Shim Dok's words trailed off.
He had clearly parried the sword, yet Bu Eun-seol's Ink Sword was still thrusting toward his neck.
“What a strange sword art you use!”
Greatly surprised, Shim Dok quickly retreated and drew upon his poison arts.
“I'll make sure not even your bones remain!”
*Kwarreung!*
Shim Dok unleashed his Asura Ghost Blood Poison Art, spewing poisonous energy in all directions.
“Get back!”
As the poisonous energy flooded the area, Dang Gon stepped forward and thrust out both his palms.
*Fwoosh!*
His palms then began to shimmer like transparent glass and started absorbing the black poisonous energy.
The Poison Spirit Annihilation Art.
He had unleashed the secret art that could not only absorb all poisons but also convert poison energy into internal energy.
*Shuuuuu!*
As the Poison Spirit Annihilation Art spread out, all of Shim Dok's poison energy that had filled the Cave of No Return vanished.
“So it's the Dang Clan's secret Poison Spirit Art.”
Shim Dok, who was well-versed in the Dang Clan's martial arts, recognized the Poison Spirit Annihilation Art at once.
“What do you think you can do with a mere art that absorbs poison?”
Just as Shim Dok scoffed and prepared to unleash another of his ultimate poison arts, the Remnant Blood Black Sand Palm,
“Too slow.”
Bu Eun-seol had once again stepped forward, thrusting at Shim Dok's throat.
“Kugh!”
Barely managing to tilt his head back, Shim Dok quickly retreated three *zhang*.
“You bastard!”
Shim Dok gritted his teeth as he noticed the blood trickling from his neck.
Because he had mastered the Asura Ghost Blood Poison Art, the area within three *zhang* of his body was always filled with a deadly poisonous aura.
As a result, it was impossible for even skilled masters to attempt close-quarters combat with him.
But Dang Gon continuously absorbed the poison with his Poison Spirit Annihilation Art, and Bu Eun-seol seized every opportunity to unleash his sharp sword techniques.
This made it difficult for Shim Dok to utilize his specialty, poison arts, forcing him to constantly retreat.
“You brats! Fine.”
Enraged, Shim Dok's lips curled into a smirk.
“I'll create a poison so potent that your Poison Spirit Art will be useless against it.”
*Wooooong.*
Just as a black poison mist began to bloom from his body like hundreds of wisps of flame,
“Over there!”
“There are intruders in the Cave of No Return!”
Dozens of poison men were swarming in from the entrance.
*'What are those?'*
Dang Gon's mouth fell open as he watched the poison men pour into the Cave of No Return.
*'It's already hard enough to block Shim Dok's poison arts...'*
Moreover, the charging poison men each carried a steel shield the size of a full-grown man, its surface densely covered with thick, long needles.
The heavy sound they made with every movement suggested the shields were incredibly heavy.
*Shwaaaak!*
At that moment, Bu Eun-seol powerfully slashed at the charging poison men with his sword.
*Screech!*
The Ink Sword could slice through pig iron as if it were tofu.
But the steel shields the poison men carried were so thick that he only managed to cut down two of them.
“Where are you looking!”
Just then, Shim Dok on the other side let out a sharp cry and unleashed the full twelfth-level of his Asura Ghost Blood Poison Art.
*Fwooooosh!*
An intense wave of poisonous energy, like a great tidal wave, engulfed Bu Eun-seol and Dang Gon.
“Kuk.”
Dang Gon had only been in the secret cave for three days.
Having only recently learned the Poison Spirit Annihilation Art, he couldn't completely block Shim Dok's Asura Ghost Blood Poison Art.
*Swish!*
Bu Eun-seol cut down a few more poison men, but more of them poured in relentlessly from the entrance.
*'This is bad.'*
Dang Gon's expression grew urgent.
The relentless poison men of Blood Poison Valley pouring in from the entrance. And from within, Shim Dok unleashing his intense poison art.
It was truly a dire situation, with no way forward or back.
“There's no other way.”
Bu Eun-seol looked at the swarming poison men and shouted to Dang Gon.
“How long can you hold out against Shim Dok?”
Pushing his Poison Spirit Annihilation Art to its limits, veins popping on his forehead, Dang Gon yelled back.
“About a moment!”
“Good.”
Bu Eun-seol watched the advancing poison men and sheathed his Ink Sword.
“Hold on for just a moment.”
Then, he drew upon his internal energy with all his might.
*Paaang!*
A blue aura erupted from Bu Eun-seol's body, and a sphere of sword energy slowly began to condense around his sword.
*'Th-that is...'*
Dang Gon's eyes widened as he watched.
To give form to sword energy, one's martial arts must not only have reached the transcendent realm, but their internal energy must also exceed two cycles of sixty years.
*Zzzzzing!*
As the blackened sword energy of the Ink Sword surged more than six inches high, Bu Eun-seol unleashed his sword art.
*Tssst-tssst-tssst!*
But the sword energy Bu Eun-seol released didn't fly toward the poison men; instead, it shot up into the air above their heads.
*'Did it fail?'*
Just as Dang Gon's eyes widened while watching the scene unfold,
*Whirl! Paat!*
The sword energy that had shot into the air suddenly burst like a firework, transforming into hundreds of sharp threads that began to descend to the ground.
This was the Fourth Form of the Formless Heaven Style, Caged Bird Longs for the Clouds, an art that allowed one to move sword energy freely, unbound by the forms of a sword.
*Chwaaaaak!*
With the sound of a viscous liquid splattering against the walls, the heads of the poison men began to split vertically in two.
The sharp sword energy that rained down from above had plunged to the ground like a descending dragon.
*Thud, thud, thud.*
As the poison men crowded at the entrance fell like autumn leaves, a silence descended upon the Cave of No Return.
“Y-you are...”
Shim Dok, who had been unleashing his poison art, froze, his face pale.
He finally realized that Bu Eun-seol was not just his equal, but a master capable of cutting him down.