Chapter 115
Chapter 115
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 115
Chapter Title: Tit for Tat
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Han Ibi was so startled his eyes nearly bulged out as he spoke.
"Sect Leader Dang. What are you saying?"
Dang Ho-yeon replied,
"The poison of the Scarred Lineage spreads through the body at an alarming speed... If we delay any longer, it will be impossible to save your life. I'm not afraid to die myself, but we must hold out until the others arrive somehow. Come now, there's no time. Slice just above the elbow. Hurry..."
With that, Dang Ho-yeon closed his eyes and extended his arm.
Judging by the way it trembled uncontrollably, the poison's aftereffects were clearly causing him immense pain.
Han Ibi hesitated for a moment but soon gritted his teeth, raising the Hanjo Sword high before slashing straight down.
Blood sprayed out in an instant.
Yet Dang Ho-yeon didn't so much as groan.
It was the epitome of a hero from a prestigious clan.
Han Ibi quickly tore a long strip from his own sleeve and tied it tightly around Dang Ho-yeon's elbow to staunch the bleeding.
Just then, a groan came from Mun Won-bi.
Han Ibi whipped around in alarm. Baek Mi-hu and Mun Won-bi were in terrible shape.
Their already tattered armor and ripped sleeves were plain to see.
Fortunately, they didn't seem to have any direct wounds yet.
'I need to turn this situation around. But... how?'
He frantically scanned his surroundings before thinking,
'I have no idea. I'll just do something.'
Han Ibi dashed toward the cluster of venomous snakes and sliced open their wooden cage.
From the markings on their heads, they appeared to be cobras, the kind he'd only heard about.
'The scariest-looking ones must have strong venom and power too. Ugh... I really hate handling snakes.'
Thank goodness he was wearing safety gloves at a time like this.
He reached in to grab a cobra.
But the creature's behavior was odd.
Far from lunging first, it was desperately trying to burrow deeper into the cage, away from Han Ibi.
Even in his urgency, Han Ibi found it strange as he yanked it out like pulling a rope.
The cobra looked truly desperate.
If it had vocal cords, it would have wailed in agony.
Han Ibi slowly whirled the cobra around before hurling it toward the Scarred Lineage beast.
Startled, the beast halted its assault on Mun Won-bi and Baek Mi-hu, standing frozen.
Baek Mi-hu, her tension easing, dropped to one knee.
Mun Won-bi supported her.
Before them lay the dazed cobra.
Then, its eyes met the Scarred Lineage beast's.
The cobra flicked its tongue, silently screaming...
The moment it recognized the beast, it thrashed to escape.
But...
It pinned the cobra's body underfoot.
Then, shockingly, it bit off the head, crunching it before swallowing it whole.
Was it after the venom sac...?
Watching this, Han Ibi felt like vomiting.
Without pause, he smashed open more cages—rattlesnakes, adders, and others—hurling them at the beast.
But that was all...
The Scarred Lineage beast subdued each one without letting them escape, devouring them headfirst, one by one.
'That thing really loves its picky eating.'
Pulling out other poisons now would likely be pointless.
'Looks like it especially hates me...'
With that thought, Han Ibi bolted for the exit.
The beast, mid-feast, instantly abandoned its prey and sprang after him.
Mun Won-bi's voice rang out.
"Young Master Jong! Be careful!"
As Han Ibi entered the previous room, shelves of porcelain and glass vessels caught his eye.
Yes.
The inorganic-type poisons he'd seen before.
The Scarred Lineage beast pursued like lightning.
Without a glance, he snatched up jars and bottles.
'Dart Technique!'
A crosshair sight appeared before him.
In this chaos, such a thing was useless.
Wasting the precious skill, he flung the containers wildly.
His frantic barrage filled the room with thick white smoke.
Likely powdered poison dispersing.
At the same time, strongly acidic liquids pooled on the floor, forming streams that hissed, spewing yellow fumes.
'This should keep it from crossing.'
To guard against poison, he covered his mouth and nose with his sleeve, watching.
As nothing happened for a moment, hope swelled.
'Did I actually repel it?!'
Then.
Kyarung, ssieak!
Incredibly, the Scarred Lineage beast appeared—in an instant.
On the ceiling, no less.
'What a creepy bastard.'
The weasel-like creature raced across the ceiling toward him.
Han Ibi jolted in shock.
'Damn it. Fall back one more. But...'
Yes.
Dang Ho-yeon had said it clearly: lock the door from outside.
An emergency measure to prevent further spread.
But now...
'Argh! Who cares! I need to set up the Thirty-Six Stratagems first!'
Thus, Han Ibi and his group's lives now hung on Wang Cheong-rin.
Unfurling Zhongli Swift Leopard Step, Han Ibi fled, the beast sliding after him like melting ice.
He flung open the door and slammed it shut.
Thud!
A heavy impact, then a crash to the floor.
'Take that.'
Han Ibi rejoiced, staying vigilant.
Silence fell briefly.
But soon...
The wooden door splintered as the Scarred Lineage beast burst through.
'Whoa. That brute. Nothing like its cunning nature.'
Its bloodshot eyes glared at Han Ibi.
He shifted toward the exit.
The beast followed, maintaining distance.
Considering Han Ibi's antics so far, it was surely plotting a one-shot kill.
Undeniably clever.
'Thank heavens it wasn't born human... So, only one way.'
Han Ibi summoned his status window via the system.
He planned to use the Hongmong Great Law's power.
A rustling sound.
Mun Won-bi and Baek Mi-hu entered, hands over mouths and noses.
Han Ibi frowned.
"Why'd you follow? I told you to stay put."
Mun Won-bi replied with resolute expression.
"How could we let Brother Jong face this alone?"
Not taking his eyes off the beast, Han Ibi sighed.
"Sigh... Didn't it occur to you that you might get in the way?"
"G-get in the way?"
The Scarred Lineage beast lunged ferociously.
No runway needed for such speed...
Undoubtedly the ultimate cheater among poison beasts.
Han Ibi swung the Hanjo Sword, rolling across the floor to barely evade.
But he couldn't keep fighting like this.
'In the end... to survive, must I use Hongmong Great Law and flee the Murim Alliance?'
The beast slashed with its claws again.
Then.
A flash of insight struck Han Ibi.
He opened the status window and selected the Hanjo Sword's sub-skill.
He thought,
'Random Reversal Acceleration is highly effective but devours massive inner energy. One chance only. Miss it, and it's all over.'
Still, he had to decide.
'Activate Random Reversal Acceleration!'
Sudden silence descended.
An eerie stillness, as if stepping into eternity.
All things moved in slow motion.
Even that ferocious Scarred Lineage beast...
Han Ibi moved to stab it with the Hanjo Sword but recalled Dang Ho-yeon's words.
[Its skin has a resilient elasticity like pine resin...]
A piercing strike might be deflected.
Time delay weakened Random Reversal Acceleration exponentially.
Already, the beast approached at noticeable speed.
Han Ibi glanced around and resolved.
Retracting the blade, he swung it like a club.
'One shot. One bet for a home run!'
Thwack!
The beast's body shuddered with the impact.
Its trajectory altered.
It veered off course.
The skill's effect faded smoothly.
"Ah!"
Mun Won-bi and Baek Mi-hu's startled cries.
The beast hurtled straight into the massive tray-like leaf of a snake-catcher plant.
A giant pitcher plant!
Inadvertently, it brushed the plant's tendril-like appendages.
Snap!
The plant's reaction was lightning-fast.
Small wonder it survived as a carnivorous flora.
Thus, the Scarred Lineage beast was sucked into the giant leaf.
But could plant flesh withstand animal strength?
Han Ibi rushed over, gripping the closed leaf with all his might.
As expected.
Inside, the beast thrashed wildly.
Yet the leaf, built to trap powerful snakes, held firm.
Combined with Han Ibi's strength, it exerted immense pressure.
Feeling smug about his ingenuity, Han Ibi boasted,
"How dare a mere plant challenge a human? Serves you right."
But the Poison Insect Emperor's power was no joke.
It writhed desperately to escape the leaf.
Each time, Han Ibi pressed harder to keep it shut.
Nearly a quarter-hour passed.
Grinning at nearby Baek Mi-hu, Han Ibi said,
"It's gone quiet. Digestion must be going well."
But Baek Mi-hu, who'd been watching silently, suddenly shouted,
"Ah! Young Master Jong! Watch out!"
Yes.
Yellow smoke billowed from part of the massive leaf.
The beast was spraying acidic saliva.
Before flustered Han Ibi could react.
Riiip!
The leaf tore open.
Revealed was the beast's horrific head.
Its face, melted in spots by the plant's digestive juices, was gruesome to behold.
As Han Ibi hesitated on what to do.
The Scarred Lineage beast reared up and sank its teeth into the back of his gripping hand.
"Argh!"
Han Ibi's scream echoed through the room.
It hurt.
Excruciatingly so.
Dang Ho-yeon's plea to cut off his arm flashed in his mind.
Shaking his head, he yelled,
"Damn it! I'd rather die right now than end up like that. You die, I die!"
And astonishingly...
Han Ibi clamped his teeth onto the nape of the Scarred Lineage beast still biting his hand.
(To be continued)