Chapter 95: Displaying Divine Might-1
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 95: Displaying Divine Might-1
How long had he been running?
Before he knew it, Sun-woo had reached the main gate of the Sichuan Tang Clan.
The first things to greet him were the gate guards, now nothing more than cold corpses.
They’ve already broken in!
Sun-woo cursed under his breath. The thought that he might be too late weighed heavily on him.
He quickly vaulted over the gate and sprinted forward. From this point on, it was a race against time. Any further delay could lead to an irreversible catastrophe.
Sun-woo ran and ran.
The estate was littered with bodies. As he took in the carnage, a wave of anxiety washed over him. Surely, they aren't among these corpses, he thought.
However, he quickly regained his composure and pressed on. It couldn't be. Although the Great Matriarch had retired, she was still a master of the Peak Realm. She wasn't a woman who would fall easily.
As for Tang Seo-yoon, there was even less reason to worry. Despite the Tang Clan’s male-dominated traditions, she was a supreme master who had reached the exalted heights of the Super-Peak Upper Stage.
As Sun-woo ran, trying to calm his racing heart, a voice spoke up.
"I smell blood from over there."
The Human-Faced Spider in his arms pointed in a specific direction. She had likely caught the thick scent of blood wafting through the air.
Sun-woo pivoted and sprinted toward where she pointed. Before long, the sharp, metallic ring of clashing blades reached his ears.
There!
Sun-woo felt a surge of relief. He had finally found the battlefield.
The fighting was concentrated inside a grand hall. Without a moment's hesitation, Sun-woo charged inside.
Upon entering, he finally saw it.
A sea of warriors was locked in combat amidst a mountain of corpses. Those dressed in green were the Tang Clan’s martial artists, while those wearing ghost masks were the Demonic Cult Strike Force. They were locked in a fierce, life-and-death struggle.
In the distance, he spotted Tang Seo-yoon. Fortunately, she seemed unharmed, unleashing a terrifying amount of poisonous Qi as she swept through the ranks of the ghost-masked men.
Seeing her safe, Sun-woo breathed a sigh of relief. He wanted to join the fray immediately, but the Human-Faced Spider in his arms was a problem. He couldn't exactly fight while holding a naked woman.
He decided to drop her off at Tang Se-gi’s quarters first. It would be a headache if her presence was suddenly discovered by others.
"Where are we going?"
As Sun-woo changed direction, the Human-Faced Spider asked in confusion. Weren't they looking for the battlefield? Why was he suddenly leaving?
"I'm leaving you behind for a bit."
At Sun-woo’s words, tears welled up in her eyes. She was currently weaker than anyone. Where was he going, leaving her in such a state?
"If I'm abandoned, I'll die..." she whimpered, looking up at him.
Sun-woo let out a short laugh. She certainly knew how to look out for her own survival.
"I'm taking you to a safe place, so stop crying."
Sun-woo offered a half-hearted consolation and picked up his pace. He needed to drop her off quickly.
*
After running for a while, Tang Se-gi’s residence, located on the outermost edge of the estate, came into view. If he left the Human-Faced Spider there, she wouldn't be easily found.
Sun-woo smiled with satisfaction and accelerated. Upon reaching the residence, he threw the door open.
Hmm?
Something was wrong. Tang Se-gi’s door, which was usually left unlocked, was bolted shut.
Rattle, rattle.
No matter how hard he pulled the handle, it wouldn't budge.
Did someone lock it?
Sun-woo felt a flicker of doubt, but he didn't have time to waste. He focused his internal energy and yanked the handle with all his might.
CRASH!
Screeeech—
The lock shattered, and the door swung open. Just as Sun-woo was about to step inside—
"Die!"
A blade lunged at him from the darkness.
Clang!
Startled, Sun-woo quickly manifested his Protective Qi and deflected the sword.
"Who is it?"
Sun-woo was stunned when he saw the identity of his sudden attacker.
"M-Mother?"
"Gia!?"
The attacker was none other than the Great Matriarch. Behind her stood the Third Madam, Geum Jeok-hwa.
Sun-woo immediately realized what was happening. The Great Matriarch and Geum Jeok-hwa were hiding in his quarters.
"Gia... Is it really you, Gia?"
The Great Matriarch’s eyes filled with tears as she welcomed him. How could she not be overjoyed to see her son return alive from the Godok Hall, where his fate had been so uncertain?
Sun-woo, however, was celebrating for a different reason. He had found someone to look after the Human-Faced Spider.
He unceremoniously dumped the spider onto the floor.
Thud!
"Ow!"
The Human-Faced Spider let out a sharp cry as she hit the ground.
"You! You...!"
She glared at Sun-woo with resentment. He could have set her down gently, so why was he being so rough?
"Mother, please look after this girl until the situation is settled."
Sun-woo ignored her resentful gaze and spoke directly to the Great Matriarch.
"W-What? Who is this child?"
The Great Matriarch’s eyes widened in shock as she looked at the woman Sun-woo had dropped. She had always thought Tang Seo-yoon was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen, but it seemed she would have to add another to that list. A woman of peerless beauty was sprawled naked on the floor.
"I'll explain the details later. Just keep her safe for now."
Sun-woo finished what he had to say and turned his head toward the Human-Faced Spider.
[If you lay a single finger on anyone here, I will hunt you down to the ends of hell and kill you.]
He threatened her via Secret Voice Transmission.
Nod, nod, nod.
The Human-Faced Spider nodded her head frantically, her face pale. She was terrified because she knew this crazy human would actually follow through on his threat.
Having finished his business, Sun-woo turned and sprinted back outside. He had to go help Tang Seo-yoon immediately.
*
Leaving the residence, Sun-woo ran as fast as he could. Even though he had seen that Tang Seo-yoon was holding her own, a sense of foreboding gnawed at him.
He pushed his Wind-Dust Step to its limit, further increasing his speed. Soon, the entrance to the grand hall appeared in the distance.
Sun-woo reached the entrance in a flash and surveyed the battlefield from over the wall. The tide of battle seemed to be turning against the Tang Clan.
Archers wearing red ghost masks—the Blood Bow Unit—were sniping the Tang warriors from a distance. Meanwhile, swordsmen in black ghost masks were cutting them down in close quarters. It was a well-coordinated assault, and the Tang warriors were being overwhelmed.
Tang Seo-yoon was facing off against the leader in the red mask, constantly hurling hidden weapons. She still seemed to have some leeway.
Sun-woo hesitated. His instinct was to just grab Tang Seo-yoon and get out, but he knew she would never leave the other Tang warriors behind. He had to ensure the Tang Clan won this battle.
What can I do right now?
Sun-woo fell into deep thought. What they needed was morale. A battle cannot be won once the spirit is broken. The best way to boost the Tang warriors' morale was the appearance of an ally—a powerful one.
It was the same logic as having a strong older brother to back you up in a fight. The appearance of a reliable ally would feel like gaining ten thousand reinforcements.
But Sun-woo faced a problem. He couldn't appear before them as he was. What they needed was a peerless master who could turn the tide of battle. If he tried to help them as Tang Se-gi, they would likely suspect a trap. The idea of the profligate young master from the Godok Hall suddenly displaying peerless martial arts to save the clan was something out of a hero’s legend, not reality.
So, Sun-woo pondered. What should he do?
Then, a smile spread across his lips. He had found a way. He would provide them with an ally so powerful that every Tang warrior would recognize him.
Sun-woo slowly began to circulate the Zhu-Rong Art. He hadn't used it in nearly a month, so it felt a bit awkward at first, but soon it became as natural as breathing.
He began to slowly rearrange his bone structure and skin. In truth, he didn't need to change much. Tang Se-gi was the son who resembled him more than anyone else.
He added a few more wrinkles and expanded his frame to reflect the physique of a seasoned warrior. He increased the size of his hands and added a bit more to his overall height.
Before long, Sun-woo had achieved the form he desired.
It was the Poison King, Tang Jin-cheol.
The appearance of the Poison King would be the spark that sent the Tang warriors' morale soaring to the heavens.
Sun-woo looked over the wall again to check the state of the battle, waiting for the perfect moment to intervene.
It was then.
He saw an arrow pierce Tang Seo-yoon’s shoulder in the distance.
Sun-woo felt his blood boil. Who dared to wound her?
There was no time to think. He launched himself forward like a bolt of lightning, using the Wind-Dust Step. His mind was filled with a single thought: protect her.
Tang Seo-yoon had just pierced the forehead of the enemy leader with a hidden weapon. However, hundreds of archers were already drawing their bows, aiming directly at her.
She was in mortal danger. Moreover, she had closed her eyes as if she had given up.
That crazy woman! Who said you could die?!
Seeing her like that, Sun-woo felt a surge of fury. Who gave her permission to die? She had made a promise to him—that she would help him until he stole the Poison Essence. He hadn't stolen it yet, so dying now was cheating.
He had to save her. He had to save her no matter what.
He was pushing the Wind-Dust Step to its absolute limit, but even this speed wasn't enough. He needed to be faster.
Sun-woo began to circulate the Yin-Yang Harmony Divine Art at its peak, accelerating his blood flow. His blood surged, and the supply of oxygen to his body increased transcendentally. His heart hammered against his ribs like a drum, but he didn't care. His entire body began to glow a dull red.
It was just the right amount.
Once the awakening was complete, Sun-woo leaned his body back and then snapped forward, using the recoil to propel himself.
His figure vanished in an instant.
When he reappeared, he was standing directly in front of the eyes-closed Tang Seo-yoon.
"I'm sorry, Jang Sun-woo."
As he reached her, he heard her voice. Hearing those words, Sun-woo let out a small chuckle. Why was she apologizing when she was about to die? Still, the fact that she had thought of him in her final moments didn't feel too bad.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
A volley of arrows rained down on them. Sun-woo poured his internal energy into the Black Dragon Robe. As the energy surged through it, the hem of the robe expanded, sweeping away the barrage of arrows coming from behind.
Clatter, clatter, clatter.
The only sound that remained was the noise of arrows hitting the ground.
Sun-woo grinned and asked the woman who still had her eyes shut, "What exactly are you sorry for?"
At the sound of his voice, her eyes snapped open. She recognized that voice.
"Clan Head!?"
She looked at him in bewilderment. The first question had clearly been in Sun-woo’s voice.
As if sensing her confusion, Sun-woo placed a finger to his lips.
"Shh."
At his gesture, she clamped her mouth shut. Sun-woo smiled, satisfied. She always understood him so well.
Sun-woo turned around. He cleared his throat and roared at the Blood Bow Unit.
"WHO DARES COVET THE TANG CLAN?!"
His thunderous shout shook the entire hall.
The eyes of everyone in the hall filled with shock at the sound of that voice. It was the unmistakable roar of the Poison King, Tang Jin-cheol.
The leader of the Sichuan Tang Clan and the world's greatest master of poison, the Poison King, had arrived.
A light of hope began to shine on the faces of the Tang warriors.