Chapter 107
Chapter 107
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 30
>Chapter Title: Master of the Death Sea (3)
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The red line drawn on the floor inside the cavern.
Mok Kyung-un glanced at it briefly before speaking to the white-haired middle-aged man.
"By any chance, is that proposal from earlier still valid?"
-Proposal?
"Yeah. In a way, you got out of there thanks to me."
The white-haired middle-aged man twitched his lips at Mok Kyung-un's words, then let out a savage laugh.
-Hahahahaha! Thanks to you, I got out?
"Result-wise, yeah."
-What a ridiculous punk. How could filling your human greed be considered a favor?
"You've been trapped for thousands of years and finally got free. Can't a senior like you who's lived that long just let it slide with a good mood?"
The white-haired middle-aged man snorted at Mok Kyung-un's words.
To him, Mok Kyung-un was no more than a worm crawling on the ground.
Just as humans don't feel emotions or pay special attention to worms, he felt no particular reaction to Mok Kyung-un's words.
But there was one intriguing thing.
-Truly a peculiar one.
"Pardon?"
-Why do you feel no fear?
"Fear?"
That was the white-haired middle-aged man's question.
Earlier too, even in this isolated situation, Mok Kyung-un showed no fear toward him at all.
Despite being in a scenario that could bring terror of imminent death.
His eyes narrowing, the white-haired middle-aged man approached and said,
-Do you not fear death? Or do you delusionally think you won't die even in this situation?
"Well, I can say it's not the latter."
-Not the latter?
"Yeah."
-You don't fear death?
"Everything that lives decays anyway. What's the point in fearing that?"
The white-haired middle-aged man found Mok Kyung-un's words peculiar.
Even beings like himself, who lived eternally, feared annihilation.
Yet this mortal claimed not to fear death.
With that, the white-haired middle-aged man extended his hand and said,
-Is that so? Then I suppose I should test if you truly fear no death.
-Whoosh!
He lightly swung his hand.
In that instant, Mok Kyung-un's left arm, floating mid-air in his running posture, snapped backward.
-Crack!
The arm bent completely beyond its range of motion.
It was horrific just to look at.
-M-Master!
Gyu So-ha cried out at the sight of Mok Kyung-un's bent arm.
But the one directly affected, Mok Kyung-un, merely let out slightly ragged breaths without any particular change in expression.
One of the white-haired middle-aged man's eyebrows arched up.
'He endured that?'
He had expected even the strongest-willed to let out at least a groan.
This was completely unexpected.
Meanwhile, Yang Mu-won, the Report Hall Keeper and unit leader watching the scene, hurriedly tried to run somewhere.
-Array mechanism... Array mechanism...
Yang Mu-won muttered.
He intended to activate the array mechanism installed in the Report Hall.
'I need to activate the array mechanism and quickly send a signal for aid from the main sect.'
He couldn't handle a transcendent master like that on his own.
But the array mechanism in this Report Hall was designed to deal with hundreds of intruders and even peak experts.
As he headed for the activation device,
-Swish!
"Huh!"
A chill ran down his spine, and he felt something seeping into his body.
As a near-peak expert, he had sensed an invisible chill lurking nearby since earlier.
But what was this unpleasant sensation?
-Thud! Thud!
"Gah!"
Yang Mu-won convulsed wildly as if seized by spasms.
Then his eyes rolled back.
Veins bulged black on his face.
Red blood seeped into his rolled-back eyes, and soon his face returned to normal.
'That was close.'
The one who had taken over his body was none other than Cheong-ryeong.
She had possessed him upon hearing his mutterings, realizing the danger.
She knew about the array mechanism in the sect's Report Hall.
If it was the same or stronger than what she knew, activating it could endanger the captured Mok Kyung-un.
"Haa... haa..."
As Mok Kyung-un steadied his breath, the white-haired middle-aged man said,
-You endure this easily, so breaking might be less effective than ripping off. This time, a leg...
"Ripping is your prerogative, but how will you get out if I die?"
-Out?
"Yeah. It seems even someone as strong as you can't cross that red line."
At Mok Kyung-un's words, the white-haired middle-aged man silently stared at the red line on the floor.
Then he spoke again.
-You're talking as if you'll open that for me.
"...If we negotiate well, yeah."
-Negotiate? It sounds like you'll remove it if I spare your life.
"Let's say that."
In a position of superiority, he might push for more benefits, but the opponent was a spirit beast-rank fierce ghost who could kill him anytime.
Knowing provocation would yield nothing good, Mok Kyung-un aimed only for the minimum price to preserve his life.
Then the white-haired middle-aged man chuckled and said,
-A guy who claims not to fear death, yet you demand survival as payment?
"...I have things to do."
-Things to do?
"Someone I need to kill."
-Revenge, something like that?
"..."
No answer, but clearly affirmative.
At Mok Kyung-un's words, the white-haired middle-aged man approached, grabbed his chin, and lightly lifted it.
-In other words, you want to prolong your life even a bit for revenge.
"Of course, it all depends on your choice. Kill me if you want, and if you accept my deal, you can leave this cavern."
-Leave here...
The white-haired middle-aged man stared intently at Mok Kyung-un.
In truth, his mood was near its peak.
After all, he had been sealed in that scroll for thousands of years.
And now, he had escaped it.
He had gained freedom.
If he could just break that red seal too...
-It's tempting. Is all you want your life spared?
"...Yeah. Doesn't seem like I can ask for more."
-You know your place well. Good.
-Swish!
The white-haired middle-aged man lightly lowered his head.
Mok Kyung-un's floating body dropped to the floor.
-Thud!
"Hoo... hoo..."
Mok Kyung-un, fallen to the floor, clutched his reversed left elbow.
No matter how tolerant of pain, having a healthy arm twisted backward hurt.
'For now...'
-Crack!
Mok Kyung-un twisted his reversed arm back to normal.
His face flushed slightly, but he showed no sign of pain.
'It'll take time to heal.'
The bones near the elbow cartilage had cracked and shattered from the bend, making proper movement impossible.
Mok Kyung-un glanced at the line on the floor.
'Once.'
The chance was only once.
He had proposed the deal, but had no intention of truly freeing the beast.
If that red barrier—looking like a seal—was lifted, who knew what this savage spirit beast would do.
Thus, Mok Kyung-un inwardly recited the First Form of the Four Demon Claw Technique.
Even a split-second gap would do...
-Whirl!
In that instant, Mok Kyung-un's arm shot up uncontrollably.
'!?'
Then his body began moving on its own.
Frowning, Mok Kyung-un said,
"What's this?"
-But you see, human. Does this lord really need to make such a deal with you?
"..."
-I can just make your body move like this.
-Swish swish!
As the white-haired middle-aged man waved his hand, Mok Kyung-un's body jerked like a puppet.
'Trouble.'
Mok Kyung-un let out a faint sigh.
He didn't trust others easily himself, and this spirit beast was the same.
Moreover, it hadn't survived thousands of years without giving even a hint of an opening.
He might have to prepare for the worst this time.
'Grandfather.'
Perhaps he couldn't achieve revenge after all...
Then he spotted Cheong-ryeong emerging from Yang Mu-won's body.
Seeing that,
-Grit!
Mok Kyung-un's eyes turned icy.
Why had he thought for a moment he couldn't avenge his grandfather?
Did dying mean he couldn't seek revenge?
There was Cheong-ryeong, who became a vengeful spirit to avenge even in death, and the soul spirit Gyu So-ha.
Was his grudge against grandfather's killer only this much?
"Ha..."
Anger and scorn at himself.
As it swelled, Mok Kyung-un's eyes blazed fiercely.
"Hoo."
Mok Kyung-un drew up the death energy within his body.
It was mere a drop compared to the white-haired middle-aged man's vast demonic energy, but what if concentrated in one spot?
Like death energy condensed in the dantian.
-Roooar!
Energy from his lower and middle dantian focused solely into his right hand.
As all death energy converged,
'What is this guy doing?'
The white-haired middle-aged man frowned at Mok Kyung-un's right hand.
It had turned pitch black like ink.
'More... more...'
The death energy, concentrated and materialized.
It took on a form utterly different from sword aura.
Cheong-ryeong's eyes widened at the sight.
'Death energy more condensed and focused than sword aura.'
It was none other than gang qi.
She couldn't hide her shock.
Though he had gained enlightenment in qi in the Report Hall, Mok Kyung-un was still at the peak realm.
Yet he had formed gang qi, possible only in the transcendent realm.
How was this possible?
'And that color?'
Typically, gang qi shone blue like the Big Dipper stars.
But the energy in Mok Kyung-un's hand held a black glow that seemed to suck everything in.
A phenomenon from condensing death energy?
-Kabooom!
In that instant, his hand freed from the demonic energy binding.
Simultaneously, as Mok Kyung-un slammed his blackened hand toward the floor, a massive boom rang out, fragments flying everywhere.
-Babababang!
But the fragments didn't reach the white-haired middle-aged man.
They halted as if blocked by an invisible barrier, oxidizing away.
-Swish!
In a flash, the white-haired middle-aged man vanished, reappearing at the cavern entrance marked by the red line.
-Swish!
He extended his hand forward.
From the debris dust, Mok Kyung-un charging spear-like with his black hand was flung backward.
-Bang!
"Kuh!"
Mok Kyung-un crashed into a bookshelf, kneeling on one knee.
Black blood trickled from his mouth; he had taken internal injuries.
Concentrating all death energy in one hand boosted destructive power but left little to protect his body.
'I can't bridge the gap at all.'
Mok Kyung-un clicked his tongue at the white-haired middle-aged man blocking the entrance.
He had thought it possible for a moment, but it failed.
Then the white-haired middle-aged man looked at him with interest and said,
-Truly bizarre. How does a living being possess the energy of the dead?
He hadn't sensed it when circulating internally.
But as it materialized in the hand, he realized it was unrelated to the pure qi trained by Taoists or immortals through nurturing methods.
-Bizarre. Most bizarre. This lord must examine your body.
-Swish!
The white-haired middle-aged man gestured, pulling Mok Kyung-un toward him.
Vast demonic energy formed a giant hand reaching to grasp him, visible to Mok Kyung-un's eyes.
It was right then.
-Shaaa!
-Squirm!
In a split second, the entire room was covered in blood.
Mok Kyung-un's pupils shook at the sight.
'Ghost Domain?'
The space of blood.
It was Cheong-ryeong's Ghost Domain, the Blood Realm.
-Shrash!
The moment he recognized it, the blood swirled like a rising tide, instantly trapping the white-haired middle-aged man.
Behind the blood vortex, Cheong-ryeong appeared.
'Why?'
Mok Kyung-un looked at her in confusion.
Why enter here on purpose?
Even at her level, she couldn't match a spirit beast-rank fierce ghost.
So why?
Then she shouted at him.
-Run!
-Pat!
Without time to think, Mok Kyung-un launched toward the entrance.
He couldn't miss the chance she created.
Right then.
-Shaaa!
The blood vortex burst outward, dissipating like oxidation.
The white-haired middle-aged man sneered disdainfully.
-Foolish act. Grab...
-Slither!
-Don't underestimate this lord, spirit beast.
Cheong-ryeong's entire body covered in blood, forming a human shape of blood itself.
Her emanating ghostly energy was incomparably stronger than when unfolding the Blood Realm.
It far surpassed Cheong-ryeong's level.
Gyu So-ha muttered in shock.
-Hi... hierarchy?
-Bababa-bang!
Blood droplets floating nearby surged toward the white-haired middle-aged man.
The blood-incarnate Cheong-ryeong embraced him from behind, binding him in place.
However,
-Swish!
Even bound, he lightly moved his hand,
-Whirrr!
The incoming blood droplets halted midway.
Then fell powerless to the floor.
'To this extent...'
Cheong-ryeong's blood-like eyes shook.
She had unleashed all her ghostly energy to briefly reach near blue spirit level power, yet it didn't faze this spirit beast.
Then the white-haired middle-aged man said appraisingly,
-I thought you a mere stray ghost, but your power exceeds most high-rank fierce ghosts. Absorbing your energy should sate my hunger somewhat.
With that, he inhaled deeply.
Cheong-ryeong, embracing him, writhed in agony.
-Shoooo!
-Ahk!
Her ghostly energy was sucked away at tremendous speed.
Despite the pain, Cheong-ryeong mouthed,
-I... go... fi... rst...
Mok Kyung-un's eyes narrowed watching.
'Why?'
Even as a familiar spirit, why sacrifice for him?
What reason to save him this far, when he didn't even heed her will?
Once she dissipated, it would all be meaningless. He couldn't understand.
Did she believe if he survived, he'd avenge her to the end?
Unlikely.
So why go this far?
His eyes met hers, reverting to human form, losing power.
Her eyes held complex emotions.
Why did the gaze of one sacrificing for another bother him so?
'...What a nuisance.'
Lips twitching in a smirk, Mok Kyung-un shouted.
"You'd be better off staying trapped here forever."
-Stab!
With the shout, he plunged his hand into his own chest.
-!!!!!!
The white-haired middle-aged man couldn't hide his shock.
-You bastard!
He never expected Mok Kyung-un to suddenly self-destruct like this.
Thus,
-Thud!
He shook off the weakened Cheong-ryeong embracing him and charged at Mok Kyung-un.
"Cough!"
-Thud!
Mok Kyung-un spewed blood and collapsed backward.
-You mad human bastard!
He needed this punk alive to remove the red line and escape.
Vengeful spirits couldn't undo it.
The white-haired middle-aged man grew urgent.
-Thud!
Kneeling low, he approached Mok Kyung-un and grabbed his right hand to pull out the one embedded in his chest.
Right then.
-Shoooo!
-What?
The grasped palm stuck like suction, demonic energy draining at massive speed.
Mok Kyung-un, mouth bloodied, grinned sinisterly and muttered.
"Cough cough... You're surprisingly hard to grab hands with."
[Chapter 30: Master of the Death Sea (3)] End