Chapter 64: Star-Absorbing Great Art (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 64: Star-Absorbing Great Art (2)
The inner core of a giant snake.
Perhaps because the creature had been on the verge of starvation, the core was a bit meager. Still, it belonged to a demonic beast that boasted a presence comparable to the Super Peak Realm.
A significant amount of energy was condensed within the core; if absorbed properly, it would serve as a rather decent spirit herb.
"Hmm."
However, Chun-bong couldn't consume the inner cores of demonic beasts. The only one here who could was Seo-jun, but frankly, spirit herbs didn't mean much to him.
Should I just save it for later?
Seo-jun tucked the inner core into his robes.
Later, if he found a way to pass on the energy of spirit herbs—perhaps through the Energy Transfer Technique or some other method—he could give it to Chun-bong.
"Doesn't look like there's anything else worth taking, right?"
"Yes. The snake's skin doesn't seem very useful either, probably because it was so malnourished."
"Aish."
Shaking his head, Seo-jun impulsively absorbed the surrounding Death Qi.
"Pah."
It tasted terrible.
Seo-jun immediately spat it out, his face contorting into a grimace.
"Shall we head back to the inn for now? It looks like it'll be dark soon."
"That sounds like a good idea."
"You heard her, right? Let's go, Chun-bong."
Seo-jun scooped up Chun-bong, who had been poking at the snake's carcass, and held her in his arms.
"I can walk on my own...!"
"Aing."
"What do you mean, 'aing'?"
"You usually let me carry you without a fuss. I want to hold you, so just stay still, Geum Chun-bong."
"Sigh."
Chun-bong let out a long sigh, then curled the corners of her mouth upward as she looked at Namgung Su-ah. It was a smug, confident smile that seemed to say, See that?
Namgung Su-ah's eyes widened at the sight, and then she let out a little giggle.
"Hmph."
Pouting her lips, Chun-bong familiarly leaned her body against Seo-jun's chest.
Holding Chun-bong, Seo-jun began to retrace his steps.
Since they were walking a path they had already traveled, they moved without hesitation and soon arrived at the spot where the boulder had been.
"Huh?"
Looking closer, he saw something amidst the shattered fragments of rock.
Seo-jun picked it up and examined it.
"Is this... a talisman?"
It was only a corner fragment, but something was written in what looked like red cinnabar on a yellow background.
Perhaps the boulder itself hadn't been absorbing internal energy, but rather had been borrowing the power of this talisman.
Truthfully, if the boulder hadn't broken, he had been planning to just smash through the walls. But if the talisman was the cause, the walls likely would have possessed similar properties to the boulder.
Well, maybe not.
Chun-bong, still in his arms, nodded.
"Could be. But you brat, if you'd smashed the walls and the whole place collapsed, burying us alive, what were you going to do then?"
"Ah, is that so? Now that you mention it, I guess you're right."
"Seriously...! I told you to think before you act!"
"Hehe."
As he was being nagged by Chun-bong, Namgung Su-ah called out to the group, having discovered something.
"Everyone, look over here."
Following where she pointed, they saw characters faintly etched into the cave wall.
"Hmm... I have no idea what that says."
Giving up instantly, Seo-jun held Chun-bong forward to use her as a translator.
Chun-bong leaned her head back and forth, squinting her eyes as she deciphered the faint writing, then translated it aloud.
"Caution... Danger... ous, so... do not touch...."
"Oops."
Seo-jun scratched his head and stole a glance back toward the depths of the cave.
"Well, everything worked out fine, so it doesn't really matter, right?"
"True. Even if you'd seen this before going in, you would've gone in anyway."
"As expected of Geum Chun-bong. You know me well."
"What are you talking about? It's obvious."
Hmph. With a confident smirk, he carried Chun-bong out of the cave.
By the time they stepped outside, the sun was beginning to set.
"It'll be almost morning by the time we reach the inn."
"Better than sleeping outdoors."
"That's true."
Since Chun-bong was in her growth phase, he could just let her sleep while he carried her.
Seo-jun was confident he could be a perfect, vibration-free mode of transport.
"Shall we go-yong?"
"Yes, Young Hero," Namgung Su-ah said, sliding closer to him. As she walked so closely that their shoulders almost brushed, a sweet scent wafted from her, accompanied by a beaming smile.
I'm scared...!
He felt like he'd need to lock his door very securely once they reached the inn.
* * *
"This is bad..."
Hye-un gritted his teeth as he looked at the vanished trail of the demonic villain.
By whatever means, that wicked demon had managed to shake off Shaolin's pursuit and disappear into thin air.
Taking a deep breath to calm his inner turmoil, Hye-un looked toward Jiam.
"Sasuk, what should we do?"
"First, we must head toward where the trail leads."
Jiam spoke while staring intently at the footprints left on the ground.
"We will split into three-man cells to hunt the demon. His stealth techniques are extraordinary, so remain vigilant at all times. If you discover anything suspicious, signal immediately."
"Yes, Master!"
The Shaolin disciples split into their respective groups and scattered.
Unlike the other groups, Jiam, who was paired only with Hye-un, let out a low hum and stroked his beard.
"Hye-un, if my memory serves me correctly, that demon is likely the one known as the Soul-Stealing Demon."
"The Soul-Stealing Demon...? You mean the one who fled from the Demonic Cult?"
"Indeed. Though he fled after losing a life-and-death duel, he is not an opponent to be underestimated."
The Soul-Stealing Demon's specialties were palm techniques and Qi arts unleashed using his massive internal energy.
Though his internal energy was said to be turbid because he practiced the Star-Absorbing Great Art, he was still a demon who had reached the Super Peak Realm. They had to be cautious.
"In that case, won't the others be in danger?"
"No. Shaolin's martial arts and the Soul-Stealing Demon's arts are polar opposites. Since he cannot steal our internal energy using the Star-Absorbing Great Art, he won't go out of his way to provoke Shaolin."
If he were to harm a Shaolin disciple, the Soul-Stealing Demon would find himself hunted by the entire Shaolin Sect.
As an old master with considerable experience in the Murim, he wouldn't make such a mistake.
"Therefore, our role is crucial. Once the disciples maintaining the perimeter drive him into a corner, we must strike all at once and subdue him."
That was why he had kept Hye-un by his side.
Among the disciples involved in the pursuit, Hye-un was on the younger side. Yet, regardless of his spiritual discipline, his martial prowess was exceptional.
He was skilled enough to be mentioned as a candidate for the future Abbot on martial merit alone.
Of course, that was a matter for the distant future. But if Hye-un could cleanse the turmoil in his heart, he would become one of the most likely candidates.
"I understand, Sasuk."
"Good. Let us depart as well."
If the demon headed this way, he would encounter a densely wooded forest.
Since it was an easy place to hide, the Soul-Stealing Demon would likely have headed there.
Jiam calmed his mind and set off.
* * *
"It's pitch black."
The forest, already dark due to the thick canopy, had turned into a lightless void once the sun went down.
Seo-jun walked while holding Chun-bong, using his free hand to conjure a flame to illuminate his field of vision.
"Young Hero, shall I tell you a scary story?"
"...No? Why would you?"
"Isn't it fun? Especially in an atmosphere like this."
Namgung Su-ah giggled and pointed at their surroundings.
Chirp, chirp. The cries of unknown insects and the rustling of busy wild animals filled the air.
With the occasional sound of something moving in the brush combined with the total darkness, it wouldn't have been surprising if a ghost suddenly popped out.
"I hate scary stories."
"Oh? That's unexpected. Why is that?"
"Why...? Because they're scary?"
At Seo-jun's words, Chun-bong, who had been resting quietly in his arms, snorted.
"And you call yourself a man."
"Hey, Miss Geum, do you want me to stop carrying you?"
"As if I'd let you."
Chun-bong wrapped her arms and legs around Seo-jun, clinging to him tightly.
She's cute, so I'll let it slide.
Seo-jun shook his head and asked, "Noona, do you like scary stories?"
"Hmm... I don't particularly like them, but I don't hate them either."
"Oh, you're a tough one."
"Fufu, if a ghost appears, I'll protect you."
"Wow, Noona!"
As Namgung Su-ah watched Seo-jun chuckling, she subtly clung to his arm.
"I suppose I should stay a little closer to protect our Young Hero, right?"
"Oh..."
She was being very proactive.
Feeling the soft sensation against his arm, Seo-jun's eyes darted around before he quickly accepted it and kept his legs moving mechanically.
Namgung Su-ah gave a coy smile at his reaction.
"It seems our Young Hero isn't very accustomed to women."
"I'm actually an expert, you know? Practically a doctor on the subject."
"Really? You don't seem like it."
"It's true. I've been in hundreds of relationships."
"What did you say, you punk?"
Chun-bong, who had been quiet, suddenly snapped her head up.
Seo-jun patted her back to calm her down and added, "I mean, I read about them in books. Anyway, isn't that basically a relationship? It's indirect experience."
"Aha... Usually, people don't count that as experience."
"Lies...!"
Seo-jun was horrified as he realized the cruel truth.
Namgung Su-ah leaned in even closer, standing on her tiptoes to whisper in his ear.
"In that case, Young Hero... oh?"
Seo-jun abruptly pulled Namgung Su-ah behind him and gently set Chun-bong on the ground, simultaneously throwing a punch into the empty air.
BOOM—!
A palm thrust from a rapidly approaching figure was blocked by his fist.
"You have sharp instincts!"
The old man smirked as he grabbed Seo-jun's fist, his internal energy surging.
It was the Soul-Stealing Demon, Hyeok Mu-gang.
Considering his own staggering amount of internal energy, he believed there was absolutely no chance he would lose a clash of power against such a young man.
In fact, he was overflowing with confidence that he could kill the women with his free hand while engaged in this struggle.
Furthermore, the Star-Absorbing Great Art he practiced allowed him to absorb his opponent's internal energy and even their Primordial True Qi.
It meant he could drain an opponent's power as if they were a living spirit herb.
"I shall gratefully make use of your internal energy!"
The Soul-Stealing Demon began to overwhelm his opponent with sheer power while activating the Star-Absorbing Great Art to snatch away his internal energy.
As his demonic qi invaded to sicken the boy, he anticipated an easy victory.
"Hehehe...! Such purity in this internal energy! This is a fateful encounter!"
"Ah, yes. Thank you?"
"What...! You! How can you still speak...?!"
"I mean... can't you speak? You're doing it just fine."
Seo-jun looked at the Soul-Stealing Demon and examined the demonic qi invading his body.
The way it was struggling and acting up inside him was about a fraction of a fraction of a fraction as cute as Chun-bong.
Moreover, as the energy of the Primordial Unity Divine Art that the Soul-Stealing Demon had absorbed raced through his body, Seo-jun grasped the exact path of the technique.
"Aha, like this?"
It was strangely easy. Much easier than usual.
Ignoring the Soul-Stealing Demon's resistance, Seo-jun instead began to powerfully pull in the man's demonic qi.
Behind Seo-jun's head, three hideous, twisted flowers bloomed.
It was a natural change occurring as his body accepted the demonic qi.
Having mastered the Star-Absorbing Great Art in an instant, Seo-jun gave a bright smile.
"Wow, thank you!"