Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Firm Ground After Rain (8)
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In martial arts tales, it was a common sight for a dying protagonist to be saved by their master using internal energy to neutralize poison or pull them back from the brink of qi deviation.
However, Nameless, who had rushed over in a single bound to help Seolhwa, knew it only as a novelistic description. Trying to do it himself, he had no clue where to begin.
It was only natural. He had never learned about meridians from the old man, nor had he read any wuxia novel that explained them in detail.
'If I tamper with her while she's circulating her qi, my intervention could cause her internal energy to run amok and plunge her into qi deviation. But is stepping in here truly the right thing to do?'
Trusting Seolhwa and staying out of it was an option too. In fact, through the Azure Sword Heart Method, her poison qi was diminishing, and she was starting to stabilize somewhat.
But the problem didn't end there. Circulating qi involved sitting cross-legged, channeling internal energy according to the heart method's principles, and even building a bit of internal energy in the process.
Yet this wasn't ordinary circulation. Seolhwa was suppressing the poison qi reacting to the spirit poison within her, and naturally, the poison was fighting back in a battle of wills.
Even by modern standards, studying required stamina. Suppressing poison qi demanded far more.
'I can see her stamina draining bit by bit. If she exhausts herself completely and collapses... it'll really be over then.'
If Seolhwa were a proper martial artist, it might not be so bad. But she had only been training for a month—barely enough to call her one.
"Kuhk!!"
As her stamina waned, her focus scattered. The poison seized the momentum and began overpowering the Azure Sword Heart Method. His fears were becoming reality.
'Damn it, I don't know anymore.'
Nameless decided to take the risk and placed his hand on Seolhwa's back. Better to do something than stand by idly.
But the instant his hand touched her back, astonishingly, his internal energy began to move on its own, independent of his will. No—more precisely, it was a sensation his body remembered.
As if he had experienced this exact situation before. In his moment of bewilderment, his vision suddenly flooded with pure white. And with it, a familiar voice echoed in his ears.
A near-instinctive movement guided his body. Not like being dragged like a puppet, but as if ingrained memories were filling in the gaps of his knowledge.
Thanks to that, Nameless smoothly guided the poison qi lodged in Seolhwa's dantian, like a river flowing downstream. He took on the excess she couldn't handle, absorbing it all.
Expelling it outward risked poisoning Sua or the villagers. In the process, he suffered some internal injuries from the poison qi, but he burned them all away with the Azure Sword Heart Method.
'I can feel my internal energy building at an absurd rate. On top of that, my energy and body are starting to adapt to the Black Epidemic Sect's poisons.'
But such minor injuries were a small price for the overwhelming gains. The internal energy from burning the poison was secondary—the real boon was the growing resistance.
The Human Gu poison, crafted by the Black Epidemic Sect after a decade of grueling effort, rivaled or surpassed the Sichuan Tang Clan. And now, it was working in his favor.
Soon, even the spirit poison reacted and was utterly incinerated by the Azure Sword Heart Method. Seolhwa, drained of all stamina and spirit, collapsed forward.
Fortunately, Sua, guarding them from the front, caught her body. Seolhwa avoided tumbling into the dirt. Sua shouted up at Nameless.
"Master! Are you all right?!"
"Yes, no problems here."
"That's a relief..."
The genuine concern in her own voice startled Sua. At first, he had been an eyesore she wished gone.
But had some affection grown despite that? When death loomed, she found herself hoping not for Seolhwa's death, but her survival. Which feeling was true?
She no longer knew. Reading her conflicted expression, Nameless chuckled and placed a hand on her head. What an adorably turbulent adolescence...
"Master?"
"Even in families, conflicts arise. Blood kin quarrel plenty."
"That's... true."
"But after rain comes firm ground. Quarrels vent pent-up resentment, and sincere reconciliation strengthens bonds anew."
Sua was deeply moved by his words, drawn from experience, and etched them into her young heart. Unfortunately, it wasn't over yet.
Nameless reacted first. To shield Sua and Seolhwa, he thrust his body forward like a shield. Sua witnessed it with her own eyes.
"Master!!!"
A hidden weapon from behind lodged in her master's arm—a gruesome sight. Blood flowed with the impact. Then, laughter bordering on madness echoed.
"With the Black Death Squad's leader Won Gi still alive, did you think it was all over?"
"..."
"I don't know how you neutralized the Human Gu poison... but that must've been your only way! Now, if I just deal with you...!!"
"Just as I expected."
"...What?"
Nameless casually yanked the hidden weapon from his arm and tossed it to the ground. Only then did Won Gi realize something was wrong. The weapon was coated in Black Epidemic Corpse Phosphor.
Touch alone rotted skin, and the agony—even peak masters couldn't endure without flinching. Yet...
His foe moved unscathed? In that instant, Won Gi's vast experience yielded an unwelcome truth.
No way. Impossible.
It can't be.
Such an expert in this backwater...!!
But denial changed nothing. The elder drew his sword, advancing with murderous eyes. Nothing else explained it.
A one-armed man raced desperately through the darkened mountains. His movement, barely qualifying as lightness skill, was an ugly flight. But it didn't matter.
He had to survive, no matter what. He must relay this to the Black Epidemic Sect and their allies. The Murim Alliance was irrelevant now.
"The real enemy to watch is elsewhere. If I don't warn them... Kraaak!!"
Searing pain from his ankle sent Won Gi tumbling. His severed foot landed before his eyes. Only one person could do this.
In the darkness, only the elder's rage-filled eyes glowed. Approaching slowly like the reaper, he swung his sword.
Slice.
"Kraaaak!!"
As fingers severed, agony surged. But the elder gazing down showed no pity.
"Why do you think I didn't catch you back in the village despite your wound?"
"Kuhk, who cares. If you're gonna kill me, do it quick...!!"
Stab.
"Aaaak!!"
"Torturing in front of the kids felt off. We have plenty to discuss yet."
This was why Nameless had pursued to the end. For solid intel. Won Gi sneered through bloodied lips.
"Think I'll talk?"
"Ah, no misunderstanding—we're fine either way."
Stab!
"Kraaaaak!!!"
"From what I see, Seolhwa, the villagers... we've owed you and your men quite a bit."
He'd been stabbing non-lethally. Won Gi knew the intent—he'd done the same.
"If you say nothing... you'll live through this long night."
I promise.