Chapter 100
Chapter 100
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: Rite of Passage
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Mu-heun unleashed the Heavenly Demonic energy he had honed to its absolute peak, revealing it without restraint.
A dense demonic aura billowed out menacingly, and Dang Baek-ho couldn't hide his bewilderment.
Before Mu-heun tore off the sealing paper, not an ounce of internal energy could be felt from him. But now, the power he sensed was at least that of a mid-level Transcendent master.
“So, you've gained power, Divine Doctor, and orchestrated this whole situation to kill me. But a man who claims to save lives comes here having learned demonic arts? You're no longer a physician. You're nothing but a demon!”
“No matter what you say, I am still a physician.”
With that single declaration—that he was still a physician—Mu-heun rose to his feet.
He drew the Sun and Moon Sword as a physician would draw a needle.
He looked down upon Dang Baek-ho as a physician would examine a patient's condition...
And as if stating a diagnosis, he declared.
“I am simply prescribing you death.”
Hearing Mu-heun's declaration, a vein throbbed on Dang Baek-ho's forehead. The source of all the recent disasters he had been briefed on was standing right before him.
“...Death is a prescription I'll be giving to you.”
“By all means.”
And so, the Poison King of the Sichuan Tang Clan and the Dragon Demon of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult clashed.
* * *
- Before Mu-heun entered Dang Baek-ho's office.
Mu-heun had set up a formation using various layered incenses. It was a formation he had spent days and nights designing specifically for Dang Baek-ho's office.
Though made of fragrance, it was more powerful than any mechanical array. Those outside could not hear what was happening inside, and vice versa.
The activation condition was to fill the office with a distinct, potent fragrance that anyone would recognize.
To this end, Mu-heun would claim to have mastered the Myriad Fragrance Blood Jade Tree and burn the incense as proof. Dang Baek-ho, blinded by the Myriad Fragrance, would be unable to assess the situation calmly.
And so, Mu-heun filled the room.
As a result, all sound was blocked. Furthermore, Mu-heun could seal off all entry and exit at will.
Realizing the situation, Cheon-hyang immediately used ultrasonic waves to send a message to their companions.
The war had begun.
That's right.
The moment Mu-heun stepped into Dang Baek-ho's office,
the war had already started.
Meanwhile, Gam Pa-pa headed to a research lab quite far from the Sichuan Tang Clan's main building to find the Sichuan Divine Doctor's disciples.
They would be guaranteed safety through the Martial Alliance.
* * *
Pa-sun, Un-pyo, Ha-ryeong, Yang-baek, and Pae-seon began to infiltrate through different routes. With a significant portion of the Tang Clan's forces already dispatched, penetrating their now-vulnerable territory was not difficult.
Soon, they launched their offensive...
Dang Cheong-cheon, known as the second-in-command of the Tang Clan and Dang Baek-ho's right-hand man, was an orphan, like most martial artists. It was an era where people died for the most common of reasons—struck by a stray blade, tormented by thugs, or unable to afford treatment for an illness.
An orphan created by the times.
The one who took him in was the previous Tang Clan Head, Dang Ha-seong.
After pledging his loyalty to the Tang Clan, Dang Cheong-cheon began to erase his emotions. He was the kind of person who spent most of his time expressionless, smiling only on rare occasions.
He deliberately took on difficult tasks that were hard to handle publicly. Had Golden Fang Poison Claw and the other three hidden weapons not appeared, the task of killing the Sichuan Divine Doctor, Baek Jung-hyeok, would have fallen to him.
He was a master, a powerful warrior, and an assassin who had honed his skills by crossing the line between life and death in countless battles.
The reason Dang Baek-ho valued such a skilled man and used him as his right hand was simple: he obeyed Dang Baek-ho unconditionally.
It was said that the former clan head, Dang Ha-seong, had left a final will just before his death, instructing him to follow Dang Baek-ho well. That will had bound Dang Cheong-cheon.
Dang Baek-ho was extremely pleased with Dang Cheong-cheon's attitude and, at some point, began calling him the clan's second-in-command.
And now, Gu Pae-seon appeared before this very Dang Cheong-cheon, his sword drawn.
“What is the meaning of this? I heard you were in seclusion on Kunlun Mountain. Why have you, the Cloud Dragon, the one called the Light-Splitting Immortal, come to the Tang Clan and drawn your sword?”
“I'd like to ask you the same question. Why did you make such a choice?”
Pae-seon did not draw his sword lightly. The fact that he had done so meant he knew Dang Cheong-cheon well.
“What are you talking about?”
“The current Clan Head is making choices the former Clan Head never would have. He doesn't hesitate to kill a Divine Doctor, let alone uphold justice and chivalry. He joins hands with the Demonic Cult and even uses children as test subjects. You know this as well, don't you?”
“...”
“You're not a fool. So why are you standing by and watching the Tang Clan rot? That's what I'm asking.”
“...I am merely carrying out my orders as a hidden weapon of the Tang Clan.”
Dang Cheong-cheon's answer was simple, yet it held many meanings. The atrocities Pae-seon mentioned—the unforgivable acts and sins for an Orthodox Sect—his words acknowledged them all.
But it also meant that none of it mattered to him.
It was as if he had long since forgotten his own thoughts, beliefs, standards, and sense of justice. He was simply the Tang Clan's sword, its poison, its hidden weapon.
He was no different from a tool, its purpose defined by its wielder.
Pae-seon clicked his tongue briefly.
“Tsk.”
Dang Cheong-cheon raised his internal energy.
He had decided to eliminate Pae-seon, who had come to the Tang Clan knowing everything, regardless of good or evil.
Pae-seon, too, raised his sword with a clear mind.
“Right, that's the kind of man you were. There's no need for further argument.”
“Forgive my impudence.”
“Come at me with all you have.”
The veteran Cloud Dragon of the martial world and the hidden weapon of the Tang Clan clashed.
The air filled with the roar of displaced air.
Deadly poison and supreme techniques that cut through it flew wildly.
No one who had not reached the Transcendent Realm could intervene in the fight. The Tang Clan warriors could only watch as if they knew nothing of martial arts.
Thousands of hidden weapons poured out, and a sword of light, split into a thousand streams, tore them apart. But the weapons that fell to the ground took flight once more, carried by a formless energy.
Earth-shaking roars and destruction filled with killing intent unfolded. Yet, in Dang Baek-ho's office, nothing was heard, and nothing was felt.
Only Dang Baek-ho's servant, who had left the room to see what was happening, could return and report what he had witnessed.
Seeing Dang Baek-ho receive a report on the outside situation from his servant, Mu-heun immediately adjusted the formation to completely block anyone from entering or leaving.
Sealing the Gate.
Now, they would see this to the end.
* * *
Pa-sun and Un-pyo boasted a strength completely different from before. They didn't even blink at attacks that would have once made them sense their own death.
Instead, they attacked relentlessly. A fluid, illusory spear based on speed and unpredictability pierced through peak masters, while a domineering saber, embodying absolute severance through strength and flow, cut down the Tang Clan's masters.
Mu-heun had assigned Pa-sun, Un-pyo, Seol Ha-ryeong, and Gu Yang-baek to deal with the Tang Clan's three hidden weapons, deliberately arranging different infiltration routes so they would each face their designated opponent.
Thus, they encountered the supreme master, Bi-yu of the Poison Iron Sword. Their opponent was a man who had completely conquered the supreme realm and reached its pinnacle.
Bi-yu of the Poison Iron Sword was confused whether Pa-sun's and Un-pyo's martial arts belonged to the Orthodox Sects or the Demonic Cult. They were as refined and disciplined as orthodox arts, yet their domineering aspects resembled those of the Demonic Cult, which felt strange.
“Well, well, you're not just some young punks...”
Un-pyo, standing in front, answered with vigor.
“I've come for your head.”
‘So the Red Demon Pavilion Lord, Hwang Cheol-ung, didn't come down alone.’
Bi-yu of the Poison Iron Sword couldn't understand the current situation, but one thing was clear.
“Hah... This is why I hate you Demonic Cult bastards... You don't say 'I've come to learn from you,' or 'I will not show mercy.' You just cut straight to the chase, don't you?”
“Cut the pleasantries.”
“Kekekeke! To be honest, I prefer it that way. Alright. Let's have a sword dance under the moonlight!”
“No more talk!”
Pa-sun and Un-pyo charged into battle.
At the same time.
Seol Ha-ryeong met Bang Sa-sa of the Deadly Poison Dance.
Beneath the moonlight, they began a dance where poison melted and cold ice froze.
Gu Yang-baek met Hwang Ja-hang, the Shadow Ghost, and began a race to throw hidden weapons and plant daggers in the darkness.
Hyeok, the Heavenly Demonic Corpse who was once the Golden Fang Poison Claw, faced the remaining Tang Clan warriors, while Cheon-hyang provided support from the rear with her powerful ice arts.
The ten days Mu-heun had spoken of to Ga Se-pyeong while disguised as the Red Demon Pavilion Lord, Hwang Cheol-ung.
On the day that was one short of those ten.
All of this happened on that day, under a waxing moon not yet full.
* * *
Pa-sun's spear grazed past the side of Bi-yu's head. It missed by a handspan. Had the Poison Iron Sword not tilted his head to dodge, the spear would have passed through his head, not empty air.
At the same time, Un-pyo's greatsword clashed with the Poison Iron Sword's blade. The collision of the longsword and the greatsword produced a metallic clang.
The clang of steel echoed through the alleyways formed by the red walls between the Tang Clan's buildings.
Un-pyo unleashed a wave of blade energy from his weapon, the greatsword Black Cloud, maximizing its destructive power. Had it connected, it would have split his opponent's torso diagonally.
But the Poison Iron Sword would not be hit. It was a telegraphed attack, launched with the assumption that he would dodge.
It was less an attack meant to fell his opponent and more a move to predict his movements—a foundation to preempt the possible paths he might take to evade.
Un-pyo attacked boldly because he had Pa-sun, who could react in sync with him should anything unexpected occur.
It was the first move, the first step, where Un-pyo trusted in Pa-sun's unpredictable spear. As expected, the Poison Iron Sword ducked to avoid the blade energy.
As the Poison Iron Sword dodged the energy, Un-pyo lunged at him like a fierce leopard. However, the Poison Iron Sword welcomed his approach.
‘If I can just land one poisoned strike...’
Un-pyo's Black Sword scraped the ground in a low, destructive upward arc. Bi-yu once again thought it was a predictable attack. However, the blade, which seemed to be aiming for his left waist, suddenly changed direction and shot toward his neck.
‘Huh?’
*Clang!*
He barely managed to block it.
“Kugh!”
Un-pyo, who used his head more than his appearance suggested, was making full use of the profound principles of a destructive yet fluid sword style.
The Poison Iron Sword was momentarily flustered, but he too was a master who had crossed the line of death countless times. He immediately blocked the greatsword aiming for his neck and spat a poison-laced needle from his mouth.
*Fwoosh*
The poison needle shot from the Poison Iron Sword's mouth toward Un-pyo's head. No one could fight properly after being hit in the head by a Tang Clan poison needle. No, he might even die on the spot. But...
Un-pyo's expression remained unchanged. In fact, he gripped Black Cloud even tighter and gathered his internal energy for the next attack.
The Poison Iron Sword was momentarily puzzled, but then he understood. He realized why Un-pyo was so composed.
Pa-sun's spear came spiraling in from beside Un-pyo's head.
*Ting!*
After deflecting the poison needle, Pa-sun's spear flew toward the Poison Iron Sword's head. The spear tip bent as it spiraled, its path unpredictable and difficult to read and evade.
‘Don't follow it with my eyes. Feel the wind.’
The Poison Iron Sword gave up on trying to read the wavering spear tip and instead felt the wind. At the same time, he focused his internal energy into his longsword.
Pa-sun's incoming spear headed for his right eye, but when it was just a finger's length away, it suddenly bent and aimed for his neck.
‘Now!’
The Poison Iron Sword twisted his body and spun. He had narrowly dodged Pa-sun's spear. Simultaneously, he swung his longsword, which had gained speed from the rotation, in a long arc.
*Kaaang!*
The greatsword swung by Un-pyo and the Poison Iron Sword's longsword met, creating a massive roar. As the ultimate internal energies of supreme masters collided, a huge gust of wind erupted.
The metallic clang that filled the alley quickly faded, and a powerful second wave of wind pressure swept through the alley.
*Kagagak!*
Both Un-pyo and the Poison Iron Sword were pushed back, their greatsword and longsword digging into the ground. But Pa-sun did not miss the opening.
He was already pouring attacks on the Poison Iron Sword.
“Thunderstorm Lightning Spear.”
The very same lightning spear he had learned from Jin Guk of the Azure Dragon Unit.