Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: The Qi Harvester
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"Hey."
"Guh, kek!"
The merchant dangled in mid-air, unable to even breathe as he struggled.
And Jinmu's gleaming eyes.
"What's this?"
"Keh... wha?"
The merchant, throat gripped tight, couldn't muster a proper answer, couldn't even breathe right.
Thud.
Jinmu tossed the merchant to the ground and spoke with a cold expression.
"I'm asking what this is."
"Wh-what do you mean, sir?"
He was terrified.
No, he had every reason to be.
The sword at his waist, that piercing gaze, the grip strength to hoist a man in an instant.
A martial artist.
They were outlaws, wielders of power.
Besides, the aura in his eyes was beyond what any ordinary man could withstand, no matter their brute strength.
"Who did this to it?"
"I-I don't really kn... "
The merchant averted his eyes as he answered.
"You don't know?"
"...Yes. It was fine until yesterday, but when I came this morning..."
"..."
Jinmu's brow furrowed sharply.
The identity of what turned the black ox into a corpse.
Qi Harvesting Method.
A martial art he knew better than anyone.
A technique that stole another's qi and converted it into one's own inner power.
The most infamous among them was the Star Absorption Demonic Art, passed down in the Demonic Cult, with offshoots like the Yin Essence Nourishment Art and Yang Qi Replenishment Art.
All of them were top-tier forbidden demonic arts in the martial world. The moment one learned them, they became a public enemy, hunted by all jianghu.
That was why only Demonic Cultists practiced them.
But what lingered on the black ox's corpse was different from those offshoots.
It was a more primal art—the original form of the foundational technique, Qi Harvesting Method.
Unknown to anyone else, it was the basis of Jinmu's—no, Hyeokryeon Mugang's—unique art, the Ink Dragon Chaos Origin Art.
'Which bastard... dares.'
Jinmu's brow twisted further.
As far as he knew, no one in the current martial world should know the Qi Harvesting Method.
He was its last inheritor.
Misused, it branded one a demonic fiend, but in his hands, it laid the foundation for him to become the Lord of Evil Hegemony Heaven, reigning as an absolute name in the Central Plains martial world.
Yet there was one absolute rule for those who practiced the Qi Harvesting Method.
Never kill the harvesting target.
It was his master's dying edict, the ultimate taboo, and the proper way to use the art.
The instant one drove a target to death with it, death qi would accumulate in the body, bringing severe side effects with each layer.
The so-called thirst and dissolution.
Once death qi—the energy of demise—built up beyond a threshold, one fell to demonic possession. Unable to suppress the murderous impulses stirred by the Qi Harvesting Method.
And no sane mind could endure it. Only by drowning in liquor or drugs until consciousness blurred could one barely hold on.
All the while, the body withered away, eventually shriveling like a dried gourd until everything ceased. It was only natural, given the inner power was forcibly stolen.
Yet here was the ox corpse before him.
Killed.
Killed with the Qi Harvesting Method, so the culprit must be suffering the side effects.
Which meant...
'An assassin. No profession better suited for killing unseen. And likely a hopeless drunkard.'
Jinmu's face hardened coldly.
"One question."
"Yes?"
"How many times?"
"...What do you mean?"
"How many beasts ended up like this."
"Uh... about ten times?"
"How often?"
"No set schedule, sir."
"..."
Jinmu's brow twitched slightly.
The merchant had hired guards once, but it was pointless, he said. Protecting all those pens would take who knows how many men, and he couldn't afford it.
But that was the merchant's problem.
What mattered to Jinmu was that it had happened repeatedly.
Meaning the Qi Harvesting user was nearby.
And that one was surely connected to him—or his master.
And had broken the taboo.
'So that's how it is.'
Cold killing intent began to bloom in Jinmu's eyes.
Thud!
Uchil-i dropped off the money pouch and left.
Baekpyo stared at it blankly. Only two days had passed since his last kill.
"...?"
Commissions didn't come often to Baekpyo.
The targets were always skilled martial artists.
No matter.
He wasn't in it for the money. He was purely addicted to the act of killing itself.
The thrill the moment a life ended. That was what he craved.
The scent of blood always stimulated his nerves.
"Heh heh heh."
Baekpyo chuckled oddly at the thought of tasting blood again, waiting for nightfall.
That night.
Baekpyo headed to the ox market for his killing spree. Same as always.
To draw out just enough qi as needed for one session.
Not too much. It could cause a stir.
If attention focused, he'd have to flee Dongting Lake.
Who knew when his pursuers might catch up.
Step, slide. Step, slide.
The beasts fell silent amid the quiet, and Baekpyo approached the pens slowly.
Crack.
The sound of livestock joints popping as he sucked their qi was always fascinating.
Up to here, it was just another day for everyone.
But then.
"Hey!"
"...?"
Someone called him.
Strange. First time anyone was here at this hour.
In the direction of his gaze stood a man in black martial robes, arms crossed.
"Huh? You saw?"
"..."
"Hmph, guess you did."
Baekpyo grinned as he drew qi from his second beast, his loose clothes tightening to fit.
"Then you die."
The smile vanished, and Baekpyo's foot shot out lightly.
Bam!
A clean, slashing strike.
Thud!
"...!"
A deep furrow creased Baekpyo's brow.
Everything had changed. From what was just another ordinary routine.
And the black-robed man who had deflected Baekpyo's blade—Jinmu—spoke coldly.
"Who the hell are you?"
"..."
He should have beheaded him.
Like always.
Ting.
The rectangular kitchen knife trembled in his grip without stopping. Baekpyo tore his gaze from it and glared at Jinmu.
The man hadn't moved an inch. Still standing right there from the start. Sword at his waist undrawn, arms still crossed.
How did he block it?
Baekpyo shook his head as he glared at Jinmu.
'Just luck.'
Baekpyo spun the rectangular blade in his hand and gripped it tight, tremors gone.
Then he glared sharply at Jinmu.
No such thing as twice lucky.
No one like that till now.
Meaning... he dies.
Bam!
His step hit harder than before, infused with greater power.
Before the dirt could settle, Baekpyo's form skimmed the ground toward him.
Whoosh!
Cold air couldn't keep up with his speed, slamming into his face as his hair stood straight back.
Clang! Bang!
The moment his blade bounced, Baekpyo saw it clearly.
Not a sword.
A hand swung like swatting a fly. An expression as if unworthy of proper engagement.
But what was this killing intent?
The massive aura cloaking Jinmu stabbed at him like needles.
Death? Any closer, and he dies.
Baekpyo twisted direction instantly, grazing past Jinmu and leaping back.
"You... what are you?"
This had never happened before.
Jinmu stared blankly at Baekpyo, eyes wide and blinking warily, knife reversed in his grip.
"That's what I want to ask. Who are you? How do you know the Qi Harvesting Method?"
"Qi... Harvesting Method?"
A flicker of confusion crossed Baekpyo's bloodlust-filled eyes.
He didn't know what that was.
All he knew was he had to kill the man before him who learned his secret.
Slide.
Baekpyo's aura sharpened fiercely.
This foe wasn't for head-on clashes.
Assassins' ways weren't suited for direct fights. Focused on exploiting openings for instant kills, they were simple and swift.
"Heh heh heh, you're pretty fun."
"..."
Baekpyo licked his lips with a cold smile.
"Now, I'll kill you."
"..."
Jinmu watched Baekpyo assume his stance impassively.
Inferior fool.
He seemed to grasp how sharp the knife was.
But after two clashes, he should have realized. He hadn't fathomed Jinmu's skill yet.
Unable to gauge the opponent's level.
Side effect of abusing the Qi Harvesting Method. Death qi had climbed to his brain, driving him mad.
He was slowly turning demonic.
Soon, he'd lose all reason to slaughter, craving blood day and night without end.
Eventually, like demonic warriors, sucking human qi indiscriminately.
Blind to his own demise.
Bam!
Baekpyo kicked off the ground, launching at Jinmu.
Swoosh! Swish swish!
"Kyahahaha! Die! Die!"
Jinmu didn't attack against Baekpyo's mad blade swings, eyes wild with frenzy.
He just dodged.
Minimal movements within the knife's space, barely evading.
The blade's keen edge sliced his clothes, but Jinmu didn't pull away.
Instead, he stepped closer, pressing in.
To observe.
Baekpyo's knife art was exceptional. Slightly longer than a dagger. He'd never seen anyone handle one so adeptly.
Pure technique aside from inner power outstripped even Cheongsang by far.
Every target a lethal strike, perfect for ending lives in one blow.
'Aiming for the arteries?'
Where Baekpyo's blade struck.
It sliced air, forcing Jinmu to dodge and arch back as it passed his chest.
Outstanding.
Despite its blunt shape, his knife was sharper than any.
Swish.
Riding air currents, no less. Swift, seamless offense to defense.
Undoubtedly honed through immense training.
No great art made a blade flow like that easily.
His knife work alone was too good for mere assassination.
Jinmu pondered.
What to do? Kill him?
But he needed to know how he learned the Qi Harvesting Method.
That's why no attacks.
If he'd meant to kill, it would've ended at the start.
"Kyahahaha!"
The longer the forms continued, the thicker Baekpyo's madness grew.
Dangerous.
At least ten more times ahead. If he kept harvesting and accumulating death qi, he'd go irreversibly insane within that span.
From man to blood-mad beast.
Slash!
Was it the worries filling his head? Hesitation crept into Jinmu's movements, and Baekpyo seized the gap, slashing.
Clang!
"...!"
Definitely hit true.
Yet a harsh metallic ring, and the blade halted.
Jinmu's right hand gripped the knife edge.
"Damn, curiosity won."
"...?"
Baekpyo's eyes reflected Jinmu's smirking smile.
Crack!
The blade shattered. Unable to withstand the power in Jinmu's grip, it crumbled.
"You... I'll spare you for now. Until I figure out exactly who you are."
"...!"
As Jinmu's smile deepened.
Thwack!
Jinmu's left fist plunged into Baekpyo's gut.
"Guh...!"
Eyes bulging as if to pop.
One punch bent Baekpyo like a shrimp.
Then the right fist that crushed the knife swung horizontally in a twist.
The gut impact was so immense, Baekpyo saw it coming but couldn't dodge.
Crack!
The fist smashed his jaw.
His head snapped sideways, and consciousness fled—what remained of it.
Thud.
Baekpyo collapsed.
Jinmu, staring down impassively, grabbed his nape.
"Guess I'll have to stick around Dongting Lake a bit longer."