Chapter 293
Chapter 293
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 293
Chapter Title: Sacheon Tang Family (3)
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Ami Sect's Wave-Returning Swordsmen and Cheongseong Sect's Azure Cloud Swordsmen.
Assume the disciples of these two sects have the upper hand in a spar against Tang Ho-tae, who refrains from using poison arts.
They'd likely claim victory seven or eight times out of ten.
However, in the battle against Do-ol Moon Horse, the Ami and Cheongseong disciples were failing to cover for Tang Ho-tae's absence.
"Aaagh!"
"Ok-yeo!"
"I-I'm fine, Sect Leader."
"...Yes. You'll be alright. Hye-jeong!"
"S-Sect Leader... an accident?!"
"What are you standing around for?! Instead of flapping your gums, get her to Tang So-jeo right now!"
Facing an overwhelming display of martial prowess and murderous intent for the first time in their lives, their spirits crumbled, leaving their hands and feet in disarray.
"Get a grip! How can disciples of Cheongseong show fear before a demon?!"
As fellow disciples who had shared joys and sorrows lay drenched in blood and were dragged away, terror gripped them, freezing their legs in place.
Clang! Clang!!!
The central clash was tilting further toward Do-ol Moon Horse.
In response, he swatted away Ami and Cheongseong disciples like flies and fixed his gaze on me and my Eon little brothers.
"Eon Yong-un. They call the guys you hang around with your Eon little brothers, right?"
We deployed the Thorn Bush Formation to counter him, but...
Kaaang!!!
The gap in our levels was clear; excluding Tang Ok-gi, the rest of us barely escaped with our lives by clinging desperately.
"Hoo. You know quite a bit."
But I didn't back down, opening my mouth to buy even the slightest opening.
"Why not pour that attention into Man-u instead? Then maybe he wouldn't have died young. Poor guy."
It wasn't meaningless banter.
Each time I scratched at his nerves, Do-ol Moon Horse's rage toward me grew.
"Rumors say your tongue is long, and indeed, you're skilled at stoking fury."
"You're too kind."
"Eon Family, Tang Family, Wudang, Nangong Family, Silver Radiance Merchant Group—you're all mixed in there. If I lop off your heads and string them up side by side, it'd make a fine example of what happens to those who block our cult's path."
His fixation on me was becoming the key to unraveling the fight.
Sssaaaek!!
Of course, a key didn't guarantee victory.
While Do-ol Moon Horse focused on me, Ami, Cheongseong, and the Sacheon Twin Evils caught their breath or launched attacks, maintaining a bare minimum balance.
"These senile Tang poison freaks are such a pain."
This time, the Twin Evils charged in, wedging their swords against Do-ol Moon Horse's swinging axe.
Clang!!!
Kaaang!!!
But the Poison Evils failed to properly deflect his strike.
He took it head-on and was flung toward me, spewing blood.
"Puh."
I glanced at Do-ol Moon Horse's position.
Ching! Ching!
Cha-ching! Chaaeing!
Ami and Cheongseong disciples had reorganized and joined in, giving us a moment to breathe.
I supported the Poison Evil and spoke.
"Elder! Are you alright?"
"Old man!"
Meanwhile, Tang Ok-gi—who had finished emergency treatment on an Ami disciple—rushed over with wide eyes.
The Poison Evil brushed off our worries with a forced grin.
"What's with the fuss? The chicken from lunch was stuck; it just came up."
He regulated his breathing while staring down Do-ol Moon Horse, then muttered unwittingly.
"That old demon's covered in wounds too... If only I could use poison arts, the tide might turn."
At that moment.
A flash of insight struck my mind.
I spoke lowly, as if ventriloquizing.
"...Use it. Poison arts."
Tang Ok-gi gaped as if I'd lost my mind.
"What're you saying?"
I pressed a finger to my lips, and he lowered his voice to hear the rest.
"...Using poison here would kill all the Ami and Cheongseong disciples."
The Poison Evil chimed in softly too.
"...Ok-gi's right. It's not like the Family Head or we avoided it for nothing. Those nuns and Taoists would drop dead."
He gestured at me and my Eon little brothers as he continued.
"You lot are at risk too. To faze that monster, we'd need the deadliest of poisons. I know you've taken my Heavenly Poison Pill, Yong-un, and the others Ok-gi's Hundred Poison Pill... but even that would overwhelm you."
"Probably."
"Probably? Then why suggest poison arts? I thought you were smart. Head not working from exhaustion?"
I shook my head.
"Not here."
"Then?"
"Jeongbin Pavilion's secret passage. We used it to get the permit; there were holes in the walls. For releasing poison, right?"
"You noticed those decorative holes? They're emergency passages prepared for when the main house is attacked, so yes, there are mechanisms."
"What if we use that? Lure Do-ol Moon Horse in one side while the other activates the mechanism at the exit."
* * *
Nangong Yun furrowed his brow at my suggestion.
"Is that necessary? Waiting for the Tang Family Head is the proper course."
"What's proper in a mess like this?"
I beckoned down Yong-i from above.
Huluk!
"How's the rear?"
Yong-i shook his head and croaked endlessly.
Huluk.
That was the answer.
No end to the croaks meant a deadlock, evenly matched.
"......"
"......"
"......"
My Eon little brothers, having lived with him, grasped it too.
I spoke again.
"Langzhong Demon Army isn't a pushover. No worries with the Grand Marshal and Family Head there, but no guarantee we hold until the Family Head finishes and returns. We decide now. Poison Elder thinks so too, right?"
"The idea sounds plausible, but..."
"I'll take that as permission. But can we lure Do-ol Moon Horse to Tangga Tower? What's the status there?"
"Non-combatants and guests evacuated safely. Young Lord, Jun-gi, and about a hundred fighters are holding it."
Yin Ha-seong spoke up then.
"Brother Yong-un. Sorry to interrupt, but who's doing the luring? Sounds like you're volunteering solo."
"Right. Me."
Tang Ok-gi started to shout.
"You're insane..."
I clamped his mouth and cut in.
"Do-ol Moon Horse isn't stupid. Amateur bait won't work. Current mood, I have to step up. He sees me as insignificant, so he'll want me dead bad."
As I finished,
Tang Ok-gi shoved my hand away, eyes narrowed.
"I just hate that."
Jeong-hyeon added.
"Yes. Poor Nun agrees with Tang So-jeo. If you must go, take me or anyone."
The others nodded in unison—take us along.
But I shook my head.
"Why act like I'm off to die? You're all too slow."
"I'm not slow."
"So-neung, you're too scared. I won't die. Promise. I'll drag that demon into the passage somehow. When have I ever broken a promise?"
Dismissing their protests, I continued.
"Relay this to the elders, prep thoroughly, and head to the opposite side. And Tang Ok-gi."
"No."
"I'll count to three. Shout that I'm heading to Tangga Tower to fetch the brothers."
"I said no."
"Two."
"Why're you like this?"
"One."
"...If you die, I'll kill you."
* * *
Ching! Ching!
Cha-ching!
Even as he busily parried the swarm of Ami nuns and Cheongseong Taoists,
one part of Do-ol Moon Horse's attention was on Eon Yong-un.
'That's too long fussing over an old poisoner.'
The thought crossed his mind.
Then,
the Tang Family's precious flower shrieked and shoved Eon Yong-un.
"No way! Tell the brothers Eon Yong-un needs to guard Tangga Tower now!"
Eon Yong-un bolted toward the west gate, where Tangga Tower lay.
'Calling reinforcements?'
Tangga Tower or not, Eon Yong-un was said to be cunning.
If he fetched distant aid instead, it was as good as fleeing.
'Can't let that happen.'
Eon Yong-un.
He had to die here.
Avenging Man-u and upholding Moon King's prestige mattered,
but watching him, this blood-clot kid commanded higher-ranked folk as a focal point.
'Demon Prison Lord... wasn't entirely wrong.'
It might be bait, but
Tang Ho-tae, Sacheon Poison Path's thorniest figure, was pinned by Langzhong Demon Army anyway.
Whatever, he'd play along.
Decision made, Do-ol Moon Horse swung his twin axes, hurling back the charging nuns and Taoists grandly.
Kaaaang!!!!!!!!!
He stared toward Eon Yong-un's escape.
"Excuse me, seniors! I must hurry to Tangga Tower!"
'If he goes there.'
Despite his bulk, Do-ol Moon Horse was adept in lightness skill.
Dark swirls wrapped his legs as he locked direction.
'This way!'
A massive leap landed him atop a nearby roof.
Tak! Tak! Tak! Tak! Tak!
Crossing roofs briefly,
he dropped to ground as he nearly caught up.
Kwang!!!!
About thirty paces away, Eon Yong-un fled.
He stomped and hurled an axe at his back.
Sssaaaek!
But Eon Yong-un dodged as if eyed behind.
"Right!"
Taunting the direction.
Sssaeek!
"Left!"
Do-ol Moon Horse gnashed, retrieving his axe.
"...You rat!"
He chased the now-distant Eon Yong-un.
Twenty-five paces.
Twenty.
Eighteen.
Closing in, they entered the black bamboo grove near Tangga Tower.
Ojukrim.
Suddenly,
the fleeing Eon Yong-un halted.
Blood dripping from his off-hand onto his sword, he struck a ready stance.
Do-ol Moon Horse scoffed.
"What? Think you're caught?"
But his smirk faded fast.
"Nah. Man-u's screaming in my ear to send his master to the afterlife quick. Hold up, bastard. Sending you now."
It scratched his nerves,
but mainly because
"You've lost your mind from fear..."
Eon Yong-un's eyes flashed red, moving utterly unlike on the main street.
Ssaek! Ssaek!
Ssaek! Ssaek! Ssaek!
Closing distance instantly, he thrust like machine-gun strikes.
Each sword demanded Do-ol Moon Horse twist defensively— that fast.
Bamboo thickets fouled his axe's arc.
Thungk! Thungk! Thungk!
Clang!!
The world's Do-ol Moon Horse was forced defensive by a Murim pup.
Ssuk! Ssuk! Ssuk! Ssuk!
Over ten exchanges in a blink.
From the changed Eon Yong-un, Do-ol Moon Horse recalled a Ten Demon Hall pillar: Sky-Shaking Blood Demon's arts.
'...Sky-Shaking Blood Demon's Reverse Blood Asura Law? Why him?'
As Do-ol Moon Horse's mind tangled,
Eon Yong-un released his stance for some reason, widened distance, and spoke.
"Tried just in case, but no dice. Still a ways off."
Do-ol Moon Horse lowered his axe.
"That was just like Sky-Shaking Blood Demon's... You. What's your link to the Blood Demon?"
"Ah, this?"
Eon Yong-un started as if to explain,
then spun and fled again.
"...That bastard to the end!"
Fuming, Do-ol Moon Horse smashed all obstacles pursuing.
Kwang!
Eon Yong-un vaulted Tangga Tower's compound wall into a hall,
ku-gung—
activated a mechanism, and slipped into the revealed secret passage.
Do-ol Moon Horse followed hastily inside.
As exit light seeped in, Eon Yong-un turned, pounded the wall, and shouted.
"Welcome to the Sacheon Tang Family."