The Four Heavens, Part 6
"You have realized it."
Looking at the sword in Lee Jin-hyuk's hand, Dang Gun-san smiled.
"Come."
Whether his opponent was in his right mind or not, Dang Gun-san looked absolutely delighted as he materialized poison in his hands.
Soon, Jin-hyuk began to swing his sword like a madman.
With every swing of his blade, everything in the vicinity was ruthlessly torn apart and sliced to pieces.
It was a barrage of countless slashes, as if hundreds, thousands of ghosts were rushing forward to tear flesh.
Slicing and slicing again, with each strike, the opponent's energy was absorbed, only to explode outward once more.
The more he slashed, the more his cutting power grew, each strike faster and heavier than the last.
Like a living blade, Jin-hyuk's slashes endlessly absorbed and grew.
"Amusing."
But Dang Gun-san was still Dang Gun-san.
As the Poison Dark Emperor and the 9th ranked player, there was no reason he couldn't withstand the strikes of a master who had only just attained enlightenment.
Screeech!
He materialized poison into countless hidden weapons, blocking or parrying Jin-hyuk's sword path.
Jin-hyuk's new Star Destruction Sword Technique was blocked one by one.
But the truly terrifying thing about this technique wasn't just that it was an infinite chain of slashes.
"No way."
Dang Gun-san scanned his surroundings.
His poison was being absorbed, using Jin-hyuk's sword as a medium.
"Are you absorbing the surrounding energy every time you use that sword technique?"
"As expected, you saw right through it."
"Ha."
Dang Gun-san was dumbfounded.
Even if he had helped a little, to think the boy had created a sword technique that absorbed the opponent's energy to strengthen his own blade and slash wildly.
"What, do you plan to slice down the stars floating up there or something?"
"..."
Hit right where it hurt unintentionally, Jin-hyuk flinched for a moment.
"An opening."
Dang Gun-san smirked, not missing the opening as he threw a hidden weapon.
Clang!
Though Jin-hyuk sliced the poison-formed hidden weapon with Holy Annihilation, the weapon split apart and rained down on him like tiny needles.
"...!"
Jin-hyuk was startled by the magic-like display rather than martial arts, but he quickly deflected the rest.
But even this was merely a distraction by Dang Gun-san.
Whoosh!
With footwork so fast it would have been invisible if not for the Truth-Seeking Eye, Dang Gun-san slipped behind Jin-hyuk.
"That's enough for today."
Thud!
He then channeled palm force and struck the back of Jin-hyuk's head.
"...!"
Hit by the blow, Jin-hyuk's body crashed ungracefully onto the ground.
"Sigh..."
Sprawled out pathetically on the ground, Jin-hyuk rolled over and lay spread-eagled.
Even though he had unleashed his full power, to think he would be defeated so easily.
'Even though I realized a new power capable of destroying even a Constellation, and no poison works on me thanks to my unique constitution...'
Chuckles.
'It's been a really long time since I've suffered a defeat like this from a player, not a Constellation.'
For Jin-hyuk, who had fought countless powerhouses to climb from the very bottom, this was a defeat he hadn't felt in ages.
"Are you laughing? Even after losing?"
Seeing Jin-hyuk looking amused despite being knocked down, Dang Gun-san grumbled.
That look meant only one thing.
Though the technique had failed, what he had learned from it was crystal clear.
"It is simply an honor to receive guidance from a master like you, Lord Dang."
"Drop the disgusting tone."
Dang Gun-san grumbled as he walked over and extended a hand to Jin-hyuk.
"We can understand each other by clashing blades. I can tell what kind of personality you have, at least roughly."
"..."
"What is your goal that makes you want to become so strong?"
To Dang Gun-san, Jin-hyuk looked desperate.
Despite already being so powerful, he endlessly pursued more strength.
It was hard to understand why he looked as if he were being chased by something.
"My goal is just incredibly high."
"Tsk."
Snap!
Confirming that there was nothing wrong with Jin-hyuk's body, Dang Gun-san clicked his tongue.
"What a monster."
"Hahaha..."
Snap!
As Dang Gun-san snapped his fingers, the storm of poison in the area vanished completely.
"..."
Watching Jin-hyuk take Dang Gun-san's hand and stand up, the Fist Emperor Myeonghyeon's eyes began to twitch.
'Oh no.'
The Lord of the Dang Clan and the Overwhelmer becoming close through a spar.
It was the worst-case scenario he could imagine.
'If this continues, we will lose the justification to draw the Overwhelmer to our Martial Alliance.'
"Ha. You damn monk."
Did he notice Myeonghyeon's intentions?
Dang Gun-san clicked his tongue and glared at Myeonghyeon.
"It's too obvious what you're plotting behind those rolling eyes of yours."
Dang Gun-san had known for a very long time.
He knew exactly what kind of thoughts lurked behind Myeonghyeon's benevolent smile and facade of a devout Buddhist.
"You're too sly. You can never purely immerse yourself in martial arts."
Chuckles.
"That's why, despite being a fellow Emperor, you're paralyzed by my poison and can't even move properly."
"...Lord Dang!"
Had he touched a sore spot?
Myeonghyeon stood up abruptly, his mandala flaring.
"I only stood by because the young man said he was fine and seemed to be gaining enlightenment!"
"Sure you did."
Snorting, Dang Gun-san walked back up to his throne.
He maintained his characteristic arrogant attitude, completely unconcerned with the other figures collapsed from the poison.
"Right. So, what brings you here?"
Grins.
"Why did you come straight to our Dang Clan the moment you emerged from closed-door cultivation?"
"..."
At those words, Myeonghyeon looked around.
The only ones fully conscious were the Overwhelmer, Lee Jin-hyuk, and himself.
Indeed.
Those were the only two who had passed Dang Gun-san's test.
"Grr..."
"You finally cross the line!"
"Hold on a moment."
Jin-hyuk stopped Myeonghyeon, who was on the verge of exploding his mana in anger.
"..."
Seeing Jin-hyuk now fully clad in his white armor, Myeonghyeon unconsciously calmed down.
Looking into his eyes, it seemed the young man had a plan.
"Don't we have a greater purpose?"
"A greater purpose?"
"The Demonic Sect and the Witch Coven."
Slide.
"We must eliminate them."
"..."
"Think of the greater good."
At Jin-hyuk's words, Myeonghyeon forced his trembling fists to unclench.
He was right.
'If not now... we might never get another chance to kill the Heavenly Demon and those witches.'
Like most players in the Tower, Myeonghyeon defined them as absolute evil.
Kidnapping innocent civilians to use in experiments was just the baseline.
They were constantly exerting a malevolent influence on the Tower.
"The Demonic Sect. Is that what you wanted?"
"To be precise, it's the Witch Coven."
"The Witch Coven?"
"Yes. I have a personal grudge against them. And by now, they probably hold a grudge against me too."
"Hmm. Are you talking about the Witch of Fall?"
"Yes."
Dang Gun-san's expression contorted.
Myeonghyeon perceived this as 'interest,' but Jin-hyuk, who could roughly grasp his opponent's intentions through the Truth-Seeking Eye, saw it differently.
'He's troubled?'
The emotion written on his face was clear.
Trouble, embarrassment, confusion.
Judging by his reaction to the name 'Witch Coven' rather than the Demonic Sect, there seemed to be something Jin-hyuk hadn't known even before his regression.
'...'
Having experienced so much, Jin-hyuk was quick-witted enough to catch Dang Gun-san's gaze momentarily shifting toward Dang So-wol.
'There's definitely something here.'
He didn't know the exact story, but he could roughly guess what was about to happen.
"What you two want is for the Dang Clan to join the Martial Alliance and strike the allied Demonic Sect and Witch Coven."
"...That is correct, Lord Dang."
"I refuse."
"Why...?"
Myeonghyeon stared wide-eyed.
"The Dang Clan, as one of the Five Great Families, is strictly a member of the Martial Alliance!"
"The Orthodox faction, the Righteous path, the Martial Alliance... Sure, the sentiment is nice. But you see..."
A thick, murderous intent emanated from Dang Gun-san's eyes.
"Have you people ever truly considered our Dang Clan as part of the Martial Alliance?"
"...That is..."
Was he speechless?
Myeonghyeon unconsciously closed his eyes and began chanting a Buddhist prayer in his mind.
Jin-hyuk sent a telepathic transmission to Myeonghyeon.
-I will help you.
-Sound Transmission? You know this technique even though you aren't from Murim?
Sound Transmission.
A technique used by players from Murim to secretly deliver their voice to a distant target.
Since it ensured no one else could overhear, it was frequently used to exchange confidential information.
For Myeonghyeon, it was shocking that Jin-hyuk, who wasn't even a native of Murim, could use such a technique.
Of course, Jin-hyuk only knew it thanks to his knowledge from before his regression.
-Even if it's not active intervention, I can make sure he helps us in a meaningful way.
-How?
-Just promise me one thing. That you will grant one of my requests. It won't be a bad deal for you either, Alliance Leader.
-...
-I'll let myself be used, so let me use you in return. It's not a losing trade.
After a brief hesitation, Myeonghyeon signaled his agreement.
-Very well. I promise.
"Lord Dang."
As soon as the brief deal with Myeonghyeon was concluded, Jin-hyuk stepped forward.
"Didn't we win the bet?"
When Myeonghyeon remained silent, Jin-hyuk spoke up boldly.
"We withstood the poison."
"Strictly speaking, you didn't withstand it. I helped you."
"...Well..."
To be even more precise, no poison could affect Jin-hyuk due to his unique constitution.
Dang Gun-san had merely helped him regulate his energy.
However, even that had been an immense help, so Jin-hyuk couldn't really argue.
Besides, he couldn't just reveal that he possessed a skill that made him immune to poison.
"Are you afraid of the Demonic Sect, Lord Dang? Or are you afraid of the witches?"
"...I"
The air around Dang Gun-san grew heavy.
"fear no one."
Despite the sudden shift in atmosphere, Jin-hyuk remained unfazed.
"They are just troublesome to deal with."
"..."
Dang Gun-san's silence was an affirmation.
"Then, how about this?"
Jin-hyuk proposed.
"Just remain here in Sichuan."
"Remain in Sichuan?"
"Yes. You'll crush anyone who tries to enter this place anyway, won't you?"
Dang Gun-san let out a chuckle at those words.
"Are you referring to the Wicked Alliance?"
"Yes."
The Green Forest, the Yangtze River Water Faction, the Hao Clan, and the Assassin Guild.
The Wicked Alliance, formed by the unorthodox factions, was watching with hawk-like eyes, waiting for an opportunity.
While the Martial Alliance and the Demonic Sect clashed, they might seize the chance to invade.
But with a colossal force like the Dang Clan—and a monstrous player ranked 9th—standing guard, they wouldn't dare breach this territory.
'And in the process, he'll also block the remnants of the Potala Palace and the Blood Sect from coming.'
If they wanted to march from the Hundred Thousand Mountains or Tibet, they would inevitably have to cross Sichuan.
Just holding this line would serve as an incredible shield.
"Fine. I will take responsibility for blocking the Wicked Alliance, as well as any bastards from the Demonic Sect and the Witch Coven who try to enter Sichuan."
"Thank you."
It would have been much easier if one of the strongest figures in Murim moved personally, but under the circumstances, this was still a massive achievement.
In the first place, Jin-hyuk hadn't even known that Dang Gun-san would emerge from closed-door cultivation at this exact time, so it didn't change his original plans.
After all, the 'Poison Dark Emperor' hadn't even been factored into his calculations.
"Hmm..."
Myeonghyeon, seemingly sharing the same thought, nodded at Jin-hyuk.
"Are we done here?"
"We are, Lord Dang."
"Good. It's not like we're close enough to share tea and laugh together, is it?"
Shaolin, representing the Martial Alliance.
And the Dang Clan, representing Sichuan.
The two had been bitter rivals since ancient times.
"Both of you, leave. I have to clean up this mess."
"Understood."
"I trust you will keep your word."
"Ah, and one more thing."
Dang Gun-san smiled faintly at Jin-hyuk.
"Once you're done talking with that monk, drop by to see me."
He might not have known the contents of the transmission, but he had clearly noticed they were communicating.
Indeed, to reign like an emperor over a vast territory like Sichuan within the Tower and Murim, one needed sharp wits in addition to overwhelming martial power.
"I will."
"Guard."
*Slide.*
"Escort our guests out."
At Dang Gun-san's command, numerous servants poured in from outside.
Though it had been a while, their movements were practiced and familiar, as if they had done this countless times.
Carrying away the collapsed elders, direct descendants, and guests on stretchers was clearly a routine they were well-acquainted with.
"..."
Watching the scene unfold, Jin-hyuk walked out of the Lord's Hall.
"Benefactor."
Someone rushed toward Jin-hyuk.
"Ah, Alliance Leader."
Fist Emperor Myeonghyeon.
A man ranked 54th, hailed as one of the emperors of Murim.
Even if he had seemed slightly pushed back by Dang Gun-san earlier, he was still one of the top powerhouses in the Tower, someone who could never be underestimated.
"...Let me thank you first. I didn't expect you to draw the Lord of the Dang Clan in like that."
"This is just the basics."
In truth, Myeonghyeon had prepared for the possibility of the Lord of the Dang Clan refusing to participate in the war entirely.
In the worst-case scenario, he feared they might ally with the unorthodox factions and invade the territories of the Orthodox Alliance.
But thanks to Jin-hyuk's persuasion, they had secured a sturdy shield.
It wasn't the best outcome, but it was far from the worst.
"Indeed. We both have urgent matters to attend to, so let's get straight to the point."
*Slide.*
"What is it you want?"
"It's nothing major. I just have someone I'd like to introduce to you."
"Jiiiiiiin!"
At the sudden booming voice and the massive silhouette, both of their heads turned.
"hyuuuuuuk!"
"Ah, he's coming right on cue."
"...An introduction?"
"Yes."
Grins.
"Please teach that guy. When it comes to fist techniques, isn't the Alliance Leader the absolute best?"