Chapter 642: Soul Transfer Technique
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 642: Soul Transfer Technique
"Heh heh heh... You idiot."
Prisoner 4885, Salhon, let out a repulsive laugh as he spoke.
He couldn't help but chuckle at Tang So’s utter stupidity.
He was a fool.
A complete and total fool.
What kind of person takes a prisoner's word at face value?
For a warrior of the Tang Clan, the man was incredibly naive.
Salhon looked down at his new physique.
A sturdy frame came into view. Though it was a minor post, the body seemed well-trained, befitting a martial artist of the Tang Clan.
Vrooooom.
Next, he examined his internal state.
As expected of a low-ranking warrior, he could feel a meager amount of internal energy.
'Heh heh heh... Not bad.'
It wasn't bad at all.
In fact, it was better this way. It was much easier to hijack the body of a low-level warrior who only had a basic foundation than that of a master with a distinct martial style.
It meant he could easily overwrite the existing foundation with his own assassination arts.
'Now, let's see.'
Salhon reached into his robe.
Fumble, fumble.
He began searching for something.
Slide.
Soon, he pulled a ring of keys from his pocket.
'Heh heh... Here they are.'
Salhon turned around.
Clink, clink.
He began poking the keys into the lock of the iron door where his original body was imprisoned.
Clink, clink.
He tried them one by one until he found the right one.
After a short while...
Click.
Creeeeeak.
The mechanism engaged, and the iron door slowly swung open.
'There we go.'
Once the door was fully open, the interior of the cell came into view.
And there it was.
His original body, bound in a gruesome state.
His eyes were covered by a thick black blindfold, a large gag was stuffed into his mouth, and his arms and legs were shackled with heavy iron chains.
The word "pitiful" didn't even begin to describe it.
"Tsk."
Salhon clicked his tongue at the sight.
It seemed he would have to leave that body behind.
Step, step.
Salhon walked slowly toward his original body.
Then, he reached out and removed the black blindfold and the gag.
"Pffft... Cough, cough, cough, cough!"
A violent fit of coughing erupted from the original body. It seemed the lungs were shocked by the sudden influx of oxygen.
Salhon watched the scene with a cold, indifferent gaze.
He waited until the coughing subsided.
"Cough... Hack..."
After a few moments, the coughing gradually slowed and then stopped altogether.
The body seemed to have adjusted to the air.
The man in the original body slowly looked up.
Then, his eyes widened in horror.
"Th-That... Is that me?"
Tang So’s eyes bulged. It was as if he were looking into a mirror, staring back at himself.
"Heh heh heh. At least your eyes still work."
Salhon, now inhabiting Tang So’s body, spoke with a sinister grin.
"What... What on earth is... this..."
The real Tang So, now trapped in the prisoner's body, trailed off, his expression one of utter bewilderment. He was paralyzed by the sheer bizarreness of the situation.
"Didn't I tell you? You have to be calm when you lie."
Salhon mocked him openly, letting out a delighted laugh.
"You... You... You bastard! You tricked me!"
Realizing he had been played, Tang So’s temper flared, and his voice rose.
"Haven't you heard? The one who gets tricked is the real idiot."
"Wh-What?!"
"Think about it. Why would any sane person pass down a peerless martial art to a nobody like you—someone with no talent and no drive? Have you been reading too many of those heroic biographies they sell on the streets?"
Salhon began to ridicule him with a mocking, playful expression.
"When a talentless hack gets too greedy, they end up like you. Remember that well."
"Grrrgh!"
Tang So gnashed his teeth in fury.
However, he couldn't find the words to argue.
Everything the man said was true.
"Heh heh heh. You can't even find a comeback. How pathetic."
Salhon laughed heartily as he looked at Tang So.
Seeing Tang So in such a miserable, unsightly state filled him with joy.
"Untie me this instant!"
Tang So shouted at the laughing Salhon, demanding to be released.
"And why should I do that?"
Salhon tilted his head, acting as if he truly didn't understand the question.
"That's my body!"
"Wrong. This body is mine now."
Salhon continued, a thick smile spreading across his lips.
"Your body is right there, isn't it?"
Salhon gestured with his chin toward the bound Tang So.
"This isn't my body!"
"Heh heh. Deny it all you want, it won't change anything. Your soul has already perfectly assimilated with that frame."
Salhon continued, looking amused.
"Try to live a good life. Well, you'll be locked up for the rest of it, though."
"...The rest of my life?!"
"Heh heh heh... That body of yours is marked as a person of interest. You'll likely spend the rest of your days bound, unable to speak or write."
"No... No!"
Tang So spoke with a look of pure despair.
To live the rest of his life bound and restricted—how could anyone endure such an existence?
"You might hate it, but what can you do? That's just how things turned out. Since it's come to this, try to be happy. Or maybe you should pray fervently? Who knows? Maybe the energy of the universe will help you get what you want."
Salhon spoke as he looked at the despairing Tang So.
Then, he slowly reached out.
He covered Tang So’s eyes with the thick black blindfold.
"Wait... Wait!"
Next, he forced Tang So’s mouth open and shoved the large gag back in.
"Mmph... Mmmph!"
Thud.
Tang So’s mouth was completely blocked. His jaw was forced wide, making it impossible to utter a single coherent sound.
"Finally, some peace and quiet."
Salhon smiled with satisfaction at the sight.
Vrooooom.
Salhon began to circulate his internal energy using his signature technique, the Dark Blood Residual Demonic Art.
Immediately, an ominous black current began to seep out from the bound Tang So.
Vrooooom.
The black currents were then absorbed directly into Salhon’s new body.
Every last drop.
After some time had passed...
"Dammit, it's not enough."
Salhon frowned slightly.
He had drained as much demonic energy as possible from his original body, but it wasn't nearly enough.
It seemed too much of the Dark Blood Residual Demonic Qi had been lost during the transfer process.
'I can't use the Great Soul Transfer Method with this little.'
Salhon’s frown deepened.
He had intended to return to a pre-prepared body as soon as he swapped into this one, but in his current state, that was impossible.
'I have no choice. I'll have to use this body for a while...'
Swish.
Having made his decision, Salhon turned away without a hint of regret. He felt he had sucked out all the internal energy he could.
"Heh heh heh. Enjoy the rest of your life in chains."
He threw one last mocking remark at the bound Tang So.
Step, step.
Before long, Tang So’s figure—or rather, Salhon in his body—completely vanished from the torture chamber.
Inside the room, only the real Tang So remained, pathetically bound in a body that was no longer his.
*
Step, step.
Emerging from the torture chamber, Salhon waited by the door.
He maintained a perfectly calm expression, as if nothing were wrong.
After a while...
Step, step, step.
The sound of footsteps echoed from somewhere.
Salhon slowly raised his head and looked toward the source of the sound.
A man came into view. It was Tang Pyeong, Tang So’s relief.
"Why are you so late?!"
Salhon barked, his face contorted in a scowl.
"My apologies. I'm a bit late."
Tang Pyeong spoke with a sheepish expression. He felt guilty for arriving so far behind schedule.
"A bit? You call this 'a bit'? Is one gak just 'a bit' to you?"
"My stomach suddenly felt upset, so I had to take care of some business in a hurry..."
"That's none of my business! You should have emptied your gut beforehand!"
"I'm sorry..."
"Fine! Just so you know, I'm going to be two gak late for your next shift!"
"Wait, how does that make sense? I was only one gak late, so why are you going to be two gak late?"
Tang Pyeong asked, looking confused.
"You were nearly one gak late last time, too. I'm adding them up."
Salhon replied in a flat tone.
"Hey, there's no such rule!"
Tang Pyeong spoke, looking flabbergasted.
"There is now! Right here!"
Salhon shouted back.
"Considering all the little times you've been late before, two gak is actually generous!"
Salhon glared at Tang Pyeong with an air of absolute confidence.
"Whew."
Tang Pyeong let out a deep sigh. It seemed Tang So was determined to be difficult today.
"......Fine... Fine. I'll accept you being two gak late next time."
Tang Pyeong spoke with a resigned expression.
"Don't act like you're doing me a favor. It's only fair!"
Salhon replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Alright, alright... Good grief... You're extra sensitive today."
Tang Pyeong grumbled. He knew Tang So was usually prickly, but today he seemed even worse.
"Before you blame me, blame your habit of being late."
Salhon shot him a sharp, piercing glare.
Step, step.
Then, he began walking toward the exit, as if Tang Pyeong weren't even worth talking to anymore.
Tang Pyeong simply watched his retreating back until he completely disappeared from sight.
*
Step, step, step.
Smirk.
Once he was out of Tang Pyeong’s sight, Salhon let out a smirk.
He felt he had fooled the man perfectly.
'The Tang Clan is full of idiots.'
A deep smile spread across his face. He felt exhilarated.
This place was supposed to be the greatest family in Sichuan, yet not a single person here seemed competent.
They were all dull and foolish, easily deceived by his lies.
'Let's get out of here as quickly as possible.'
Step, step, step.
Salhon quickened his pace. He wanted to leave the Tang Clan estate immediately.
After walking for a while...
A large iron door appeared before him.
'That's it!'
Salhon knew instinctively. That door led to the freedom he so desperately craved.
Step, step, step.
Salhon’s pace became even faster until he reached the door.
He slowly reached out his hand, intending to push it open.
Click.
At that moment, the sound of someone grabbing the handle from the other side echoed through the air.
'Wh-What?!'
Salhon’s expression froze in panic.
Who could it be?
Currently, access to the underground torture chamber was strictly forbidden to anyone other than the guards on duty.
So who would be visiting this place, and for what purpose?
He couldn't understand it.
Creeeeeak.
The door slowly began to open toward Salhon.
He watched the opening door with a tense expression, unsure of who was about to emerge.
Creeeeeak.
Thud.
The door opened fully, revealing the person on the other side.
Salhon’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.
A man he knew all too well—no, a man he hated enough to kill, his sworn enemy—stood before him.
Salhon stood there, dazed.
Why did he have to appear before him now, of all times?
"I see you're changing shifts."
The enemy, Jang Sun-woo, spoke slowly.
"Th-That is correct."
Salhon replied politely to Sun-woo’s question.
"You're working hard."
"...Haha... It's nothing. Just doing my duty."
Salhon continued in a calm tone.
"No, it's not nothing. You're working in a place where not a single ray of sunlight reaches, not even knowing if it's day or night. You're certainly working hard."
Sun-woo shook his head as he spoke.
"Hahaha... I'm flattered you'd say that."
Salhon let out an awkward laugh.
"............"
"............"
Once his laughter died down, an awkward silence filled the air.
Neither of them spoke.
'If you have nothing to say, then get lost. Why aren't you moving?'
Salhon cursed inwardly.
If the conversation was over, he should move aside, but the man was standing right there, blocking the exit.
"Shall I move out of your way?"
Unable to take it any longer, Salhon finally spoke.
"Ah, yes. Thank you."
Sun-woo nodded slightly.
Salhon slowly pressed his body against the wall to let Jang Sun-woo pass.
Step, step.
Jang Sun-woo began to walk past him.
Salhon waited quietly, his nerves on edge, for the man to pass completely.
Step, step.
After a tense moment, Jang Sun-woo had fully passed him.
'Whew.'
Salhon let out a silent sigh of relief. It seemed he had somehow navigated the crisis.
Stop.
Suddenly, Sun-woo stopped in his tracks.
He slowly turned around and looked at Salhon, who was still pressed against the wall.
"Guard."
"......Yes, please speak."
"It's a lonely walk down there. Would you mind coming with me so we can chat?"
Sun-woo asked with a bright, innocent smile.
At those words, Salhon’s face twisted into a fierce scowl.