Chapter 258
Chapter 258
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 258
Chapter Title: The Crimson Crane's Final Struggle
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Tang Ui-cheon gazed at the Poison King Squad and the Sichuan Tang Clan warriors collapsed on the cliffside, his face grave.
Exhausted and weary from the battle with the Five Poisons Sect, they all looked battered.
Tang Cheon-u approached quietly after tending to the wounded and cleaning up the area.
"The damage isn't as bad as we thought. Excluding the final fight, we actually overwhelmed the Five Poisons Sect."
"Hmm!"
It was thanks to the internal energy cultivation method from Nangong Hyuk's secret technique.
In a fight between poison users, nullifying poison meant losing their greatest weapon.
On top of that, the Sichuan Tang Clan's martial arts were a cut above.
From their perspective, expecting a stalemate and bracing for heavier losses, this was a truly dramatic outcome.
Had it not been for that last battle on the cliff, the casualties would have been even lighter.
But lighter losses didn't ease Tang Ui-cheon's heavy heart.
As the family head leading the clan, he couldn't help feeling sorrow and regret for his clansmen's suffering.
Yet it wasn't just heaviness weighing on him.
"Our main house will only grow stronger from today onward."
With Nangong Hyuk's internal energy method and research into the Five Poisons Sect's poisons, venomous insects, and supreme poisons, the Sichuan Tang Clan would leap even further ahead.
Tang Ui-cheon looked at Nangong Hyuk sitting at the cliff's edge with eyes full of awe.
'To reach such a realm at that young age.'
Even he felt shock turning to reverence for Nangong Hyuk's martial prowess in defeating Ma Young, whom even he had struggled against.
His profound knowledge of poisons, judgment, and seasoned skill were impossible to believe from someone just past twenty.
"We owe the Nangong family a great debt."
"Yes."
"Let's finish cleaning up and head back for now."
"Yes, Family Head."
Whether the Nangong family had targeted the Thousand-Year Crimson Crane from the start or not, their massive aid to the Sichuan Tang Clan was undeniable.
'We might even claim the Thousand-Year Crimson Crane's poison.'
Though much of the venom had dissipated, it was still worthy of study.
Tang Ui-cheon steadied his breath and glanced at Ma Young's corpse on the side.
'Just who the hell was that guy?'
A deep question arose.
Who could possibly command the Five Poisons Sect, hegemons of the Southern Frontier, to pull off something like this?
'Did they really stir all this up just for the Thousand-Year Crimson Crane?'
The idea that they mobilized the entire sect solely for the crane was absurd and ridiculous.
At the same time, a strange fear crept in.
Martial artists were beings who staked their lives on spirit pills, divine arts, and divine weapons.
But this was different.
The fact that a force existed capable of moving the Five Poisons Sect for a Thousand-Year Crimson Crane—and willing to risk escalating into a massive war—left him bewildered.
Who in the current martial world could orchestrate such a thing?
'The Four Way Alliance couldn't either.'
The Four Way Alliance, which had maintained balance in the Sichuan martial world until now, wouldn't have diverted everything for a Thousand-Year Crimson Crane.
They wouldn't even start something like this.
And crucially, obtaining it wouldn't strengthen the entire alliance, so they lacked justification.
'Who the hell...'
The questions deepened, only amplifying his frustration.
Tang Ui-cheon shook his head and turned to oversee the cleanup.
* * *
As the site was nearly cleared, Little Beggar limped over to the Thousand-Year Crimson Crane, massaging his trembling legs.
"Whoa, damn. It's so white."
Did someone wash it like laundry?
The Thousand-Year Crimson Crane, wrapped in auspicious light and floating in the air, had been blacker than a crow.
"That's why they call it a spirit beast."
Though feathers were missing and blood stained it here and there, making it gruesome, it emanated the clear, mystical aura unique to spirit beasts.
Tap tap.
"A beggar like me gets to see a Thousand-Year Crimson Crane. Spirit beasts really exist."
That thing's plump as hell.
What is it, an ox?
It was as big as a decent cow, with a glossy sheen.
Slurp slurp.
Looks tasty.
'Whether it's the inner core or the crimson crest, Nangong Hyuk will hog it all. Wonder if the meat or bones have any power? Slurp.'
Little Beggar smacked his lips.
When else would he get to eat Thousand-Year Crimson Crane meat?
Even ox bones simmered for broth invigorated the body—what about a crane's?
'Ah, if only the poison issue was solved. It's all drained out, right?'
As Little Beggar drooled, the Thousand-Year Crimson Crane—which had been lying dead with its tongue lolling—suddenly opened its eyes.
Flash!
Little Beggar flinched at the burst of golden light from its eyes.
"Huh?"
Flap flap flap! Flap flap flap!
The Thousand-Year Crimson Crane thrashed, flapping its massive wings.
Little Beggar panicked.
"Wha—what! I-it's alive?!"
Flap flap flap!
Its wingbeats grew even more frantic.
Dust clouds billowed with every movement from the ox-sized beast.
A sudden gust whipped up, startling those nearby.
People gasped in horror at the convulsing Thousand-Year Crimson Crane.
Visions flashed of it taking flight and turning the area into a poison zone.
They had witnessed firsthand that its poison ignored any immunity!
"Gasp! Back up, back up!"
"It's going berserk!"
"No, run! Run!"
"Argh! Save this beggar!"
Those around the crane hurriedly retreated.
"Why's it suddenly freaking out?!"
"That Beggars' Sect beggar poked the Thousand-Year Crimson Crane earlier!"
"What? That crazy beggar!"
"Th-thought it was dead! Tongue was out! And I just drooled!"
Little Beggar turned to the crowd with the most wronged expression in the world.
But the Thunder Dragon Squad and So Hye-yeon just shot him cold glares.
Nangong Hyuk clicked his tongue at the panicking bunch.
"Sigh. It's spazzing out again."
"Pardon? Y-Young Master?"
"Why?"
"D-dangerous! There might still be poison!"
Nangong Hyuk let out a hollow laugh.
"Dangerous? For me? I'd have been poisoned carrying the damn thing up."
Oh, right.
"S-so what do we do?"
"What else? Knock it out."
"Not kill it?"
"It rots if dead. You wanna eat rotten meat? Tch, such a hassle."
Whoa, our young master had a plan.
Nangong Hyuk scanned the surroundings.
"But why do you keep backing away?"
"......"
"Huh?"
Oh, everyone's wiped out.
Geon Cheon-hwi with his broken arm splinted, Paeng Jung-hyuk, and the others were at least exhausted.
"I did the fighting. Why are you all worse off?"
"W-we fought too..."
"Forget it. I'll handle mine. Sigh, karma."
Nangong Hyuk leaped up and smashed the back of the thrashing crane's head.
Bam!
Squeeeeal!
With a pig-slaughtering screech, the spirit beast radiating mystical energy flopped down.
Twitch twitch!
Its slender legs quivered pitifully.
The Thunder Dragon Squad and others gaped.
Flap flap, foaming at the mouth in its death throes, the crane somehow resembled them.
Little Beggar read resentment toward Nangong Hyuk in the crane's eyes.
A spirit beast glaring with grudge?
Nangong Hyuk dragged the crane by its leg and bound it tight with heavenly silkworm thread.
Some spirit beast treatment.
As Little Beggar pitied the crane dumped on the ground, his eyes bulged.
"Where's its crest?"
The crest...
The crimson crest infused with a millennium's essence was gone.
Where the hell...
"Buuuurp!"
Nangong Hyuk rubbed his belly contentedly after a satisfying belch.
"Where else? I ate it."
"Pardon?"
"What else? That was the only way to subdue it."
Oh, he ate the crimson crest.
While falling from the cliff...
"Ah, that's why you shouldn't eat raw. Hard to digest."
Ah, so that's why he looks not just fine but bursting with energy!
Insane survival instinct and judgment.
Jumping into a storm of venom to capture the Thousand-Year Crimson Crane and pluck out its crest to eat.
'Why does it seem so natural when he does it?'
Everyone nodded, sharing the thought.
But not everyone agreed.
Tang Ui-cheon, returning after overseeing cleanup, was stunned.
"You—you ate the crimson crest?"
Nangong Hyuk turned.
"Yeah, I did."
"Th-that thing, you ate it?"
"Yes. Ate it."
"B-but how are you alive?"
"Because I ate it."
"Who eats a crimson crest raw!"
"Can't you?"
"It's poison! You vomit blood from all seven orifices, your organs melt, and you writhe in agony..."
"Just tasted good."
Tang Ui-cheon stared blankly as Nangong Hyuk waved his arm dismissively.
In the world, chewing and swallowing a whole crimson crest and surviving?
'How the hell is that possible?'
The crimson crest was the Thousand-Year Crimson Crane's millennium of accumulated venom essence. The poison it used to blanket the area was mere dregs by comparison.
Yet he ate the whole thing and was fine!
'Did he reach the realm of immunity to all poisons at that age?'
No one in the Sichuan Tang Clan had achieved all-poisons immunity in nearly a century—and now a Nangong family warrior had?
He wasn't even coughing; his complexion and vigor looked better than before. No other conclusion fit.
Nangong Hyuk shrugged at the shocked Tang Ui-cheon.
"Anyway, I'm fine, right?"
"I-it's not that simple..."
"Luck."
It really was luck.
More precisely, circumstances aligned perfectly.
'My Heavenly Sky Bright King Art advanced.'
In the fight with Ma Young, it had broken through a wall and grown.
A miraculous event.
That breakthrough was the key to Nangong Hyuk surviving the crimson crest unscathed.
Had he not chewed it as a last resort or instinctively circulated his energy, who knows.
And luck chained together.
The crimson crest was the purest essence of poison from the crane's millennium of asceticism.
Lethally toxic, yet the cleanest energy poison.
Poison and medicine were separated by a hair's breadth.
The Heavenly Sky Bright King Art purged impurities from the crest's pure energy, absorbing its vast power into inner strength.
That inner strength then burst open a blocked meridian.
But unlike the previous two, the situation was worlds apart.
'Could've really died if anything went wrong.'
One misstep, or if the crane hadn't carried him flying, he'd be a pancake off the cliff by now.
"Ah, hold on."
Nangong Hyuk brushed past the dazed Tang Ui-cheon.
He approached Nangong Ryong sprawled on the ground.
He stared at his cousin's pale face.
Nangong Ryong looked up through hazy eyes and grinned faintly.
"...You okay?"
"Why smile? You're the one trying to die."
"You..."
"Shut up since I'm fine."
Swallowing his surging irritation, Nangong Hyuk extended a hand to Nangong Ryong.
His palm touched Nangong Ryong's throat.
Pure, transparent energy from the Heavenly Sky Bright King Art flowed directly into Nangong Ryong's throat.
The demonic energy devouring his body vanished in an instant.
Color returned to Nangong Ryong's pallid face.
Paeng Jung-hyuk and the others, who had been infusing him with inner strength, let out low exclamations.
The vicious demonic energy clinging so stubbornly had dissipated all too easily.
Confirming Nangong Ryong's energy stabilized, Nangong Hyuk straightened up.
Crack!
His muscles cried out pleasurably.
Grabbing the hind leg of the bound Thousand-Year Crimson Crane nearby, Nangong Hyuk eyed the stunned crowd.
"Not coming?"
"...Pardon?"
"Let's go. Time to eat."
"Oh..."
Damn, it's like a laborer calling it quits on shoveling to grab chow.
Nangong Hyuk's demeanor made all the chaos feel trivial, drawing hollow laughs.
'Well, he crushed the Black Dragon Sect too. What's the Five Poisons Sect?'
Same difference.
Both could've killed them if careless.
The Thunder Dragon Squad trudged after him.
Behind Tang Ui-cheon, Tang Myeong-ok and Tang Myeong-jin gaped.
"Just who are these guys..."
"Told you."
"What?"
"He's the weirdest."
"...Can't argue that."
Tang Myeong-jin subtly nodded at Tang Myeong-ok's words.