Chapter 130
Chapter 130
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: The Charm of Buffs
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Originally, Han Ibi had been dragging things out, pretending to be as nonchalant as possible while striking up conversation. It was a calculated strategy.
People of that type despised those who appeared weak.
That was why Han Ibi had squeezed out every ounce of effort to act calm and composed.
He had bought as much time as he could.
After all, activating the Hongmong Great Law's Self Acupoint Release Technique required time.
And right now.
"This is my little secret."
Han Ibi sprang to his feet.
Heo Son-dam recoiled in surprise.
"No... I hit your major acupoint precisely. How...?"
Han Ibi replied,
"Strange things happen in this world. Don't be a know-it-all trying to explain everything."
Those eerie eyes.
Eyes like eternal darkness stared straight into Heo Son-dam's pupils.
He felt the hairs on his body stand on end without realizing it.
But as a seasoned veteran of the martial world, Heo Son-dam judged that dragging this out would only disadvantage him.
The moment the thought crossed his mind, he drew his left-hand sword upward, slashing at Han Ibi's throat.
At that instant, Han Ibi, who had been sitting on the ground, suddenly pushed off the floor with his right hand.
His body soared into the air.
Then, spinning in a full aerial turn, he whipped his leg around in a kick.
Crack!
A sharp sound rang out, and Heo Son-dam's head snapped to the side.
At the same time, still in mid-flip, Han Ibi snatched the fallen Hanjo Sword from the ground.
Click.
Han Ibi landed cleanly.
The moment he gripped the Hanjo Sword, a surge of swiftness flooded his entire body.
The Hongmong Great Law amplified his five senses dozens of times over.
This sensation.
This refreshingly bizarre, unpleasant feeling.
The dark energy churning and boiling within.
"Raaargh!"
Unable to hold back, like a erupting volcano, Han Ibi let out a mighty roar.
His resounding bellow filled the erosion cave.
Heo Son-dam, his face swollen red, steadied himself into a defensive stance and muttered,
"What... what is this?"
Han Ibi grinned wickedly.
In that moment, he looked even more like a sinister monster.
"You said it yourself earlier. Everyone has secrets."
With that, Han Ibi lunged at Heo Son-dam, his steps weaving through the sixty-four directional trigrams in a dazzling display.
But his speed was so blinding that his movements blurred into afterimages.
Impossible to block, impossible to counter.
Retreat? But he's too fast!
Heo Son-dam floundered, his eyes darting wildly to follow Han Ibi's movements.
In his desperation, he thought,
'Don't lose sight of the blade. Focus in an instant and strike a vital point.'
Heo Son-dam strained with all his might, concentrating on Han Ibi's sword path.
That was when it happened.
Boom!
A loud explosion echoed as Heo Son-dam's body flew backward, crashing into the cave wall and crumbling down amid falling debris.
Rocks tumbled down...
Han Ibi walked over slowly and said,
"Hey, Instructor Heo. This is your signature move, right? Distract with the sword, strike with the palm. I learned something good today."
Han Ibi frowned slightly and said,
"Not enough time to play around. What a shame."
He slowly approached the fallen Heo Son-dam.
That was when it happened.
Heo Son-dam suddenly reached into his robes and pulled something out.
Han Ibi glanced at it—a device shaped like a brush holder.
One of his eyebrows shot up.
At the same time, Heo Son-dam aimed the protruding part at Han Ibi and pressed it.
With a ping, five large needles shot out.
It was an assassination device designed to fire using a spring mechanism.
'He bragged about being an assassin, and sure enough, he carries crap like this. Thinks he's some big-shot killer.'
Han Ibi instantly activated his Dark Muscle Binding Art.
His muscle cells underwent minute realignments.
They intertwined, forming a sticky, unbreakable defensive formation.
A bond as tough and resilient as steel!
To onlookers, his body seemed shrouded in ashen darkness.
Like a human turning to stone in legends.
Ting, ting, ting.
The hidden weapons aimed at his dantian and chest were deflected by his rock-hard flesh, their paths blocked.
Han Ibi marveled inwardly,
'Wow. So this is the true power of the Dark Muscle Binding Art that I've only ever used in tiny bursts. What an embarrassingly half-assed way I've been employing it.'
An utterly unbelievable sight.
Heo Son-dam gaped in shock.
"How... how is this possible?"
The Hongmong Great Law's amplification effect was far more valuable than expected.
To think his arsenal held such tremendous potential!
Delighted, Han Ibi felt an urge to experiment further.
'Brother Cha Du-haeng said the Dark Muscle Binding Art can be used offensively too. I've only ever used it to crack bear skulls so far... Let's give it a try.'
His strength and defense had surged beyond imagination, making his body feel somewhat heavier.
Compared to normal, his movements were ponderously sluggish.
Still, Han Ibi steadfastly launched himself at Heo Son-dam.
But Heo Son-dam, frozen in terror and tension, couldn't even think to dodge and stood rooted.
Han Ibi tossed the Hanjo Sword aside and concentrated the Dark Muscle Binding Art into his right arm.
His right arm swelled grotesquely, as if about to burst!
Heo Son-dam crossed both arms in front to block.
The moment flesh and bone collided without mercy!
Splat, crunch.
A nauseating sound assaulted the ears.
The grinding of meat and bone shattering together was horrific even to Han Ibi.
Heo Son-dam's scream echoed simultaneously.
"Argh!"
Yes.
Both of Heo Son-dam's arms were pulverized, losing all shape.
'Time to finish this.'
Han Ibi grabbed Heo Son-dam by the scruff of the neck amid his agonized screams and hauled him up.
"Urk... ugh."
Groaning, Heo Son-dam.
Han Ibi thrust his pitch-black eyes close and said,
"You started this, so don't blame me. You tried to kill me, so I have no choice but to kill you."
With that, he yanked the neck and shot forward at blinding speed.
Heo Son-dam's legs dangled limply with the motion.
Yes.
With the remaining time, Han Ibi intended to end it.
He aimed to smash Heo Son-dam's head against the cave wall to conclude the fight.
That was when it happened.
"Ah! Young Master Zhongli! Wh-what are you doing right now?"
Han Ibi startled.
Baek Mi-hu had awakened unnoticed and was watching him in horror.
Flustered, Han Ibi missed the perfect timing and hesitated.
As a result, Heo Son-dam's head glanced off the cave wall instead of smashing head-on.
Heo Son-dam sprawled on the ground.
Blood trickled from his forehead, pooling on the floor.
But it seemed he had avoided a fatal wound, as he was still breathing.
Han Ibi awkwardly glanced back at Baek Mi-hu.
Then...
"Ah!"
Baek Mi-hu cried out in shock and backed away.
"Y-your eyes... why...?"
Han Ibi said,
"My eyesight's been a bit blurry lately. Maybe that's why. Know any good eye doctors?"
I get it. I got it. Shut up.
Hongmong, time to go back now.
'Deactivate Hongmong Great Law.'
At once, he felt his energy ebb away like a receding tide.
The Hongmong Great Law's black internal energy vanished tracelessly into his dantian, as if it had never been.
The wise man time returned.
Han Ibi felt his strength drain from his body.
Then he collapsed onto the ground with a thud.
His darkened complexion began fading cleanly.
An awkward silence fell for a moment.
Baek Mi-hu soon approached the fallen Heo Son-dam, checked his condition, and attempted emergency hemostasis.
Han Ibi started to say something to her but stopped.
After finishing first aid, Baek Mi-hu turned to Han Ibi and spoke.
"Are you from the Demonic Cult?"
"Pardon?"
"A Demonic Cult spy?"
What the hell?
Veteran spy? This old man?
As Han Ibi stood speechless in confusion, she added,
"You going to kill me too?"
Baek Mi-hu raised her arms gripping the strapped sword.
"What are you talking about? Who's killing who?"
But it was understandable why she'd misunderstand.
Why'd she have to wake up right now and cause this mess?
Shouldn't have infused her with qi...
Han Ibi sighed deeply and said,
"I can guess what you're thinking, but it's absolutely not that. No, saying 'not that' sounds weird too."
Baek Mi-hu said with resolute expression,
"I thought it was suspicious from the mechanism and formation array onward. But looking back, there's nothing odd at all. Of course a Demonic Cult disciple would know Demonic Cult formations well."
Why is the conversation going this way...
Han Ibi took a slow step toward her and said,
"Ah... Miss Baek... let's talk this out calmly. I know there's room for misunderstanding."
Baek Mi-hu said,
"I won't beg for my life. I'll fight and die like a proud disciple of the Emei Sect."
She crouched low into her signature leopard stance.
Even with ribs likely cracked from Heo Son-dam's palm strikes.
Han Ibi said,
"Miss Baek. Let's settle this with words. Words. Buddha or the Supreme Old Lord would approve."
But Baek Mi-hu advanced without hesitation.
Her face showed a mix of grim determination and tension.
But...
'I can't use any strength right now.'
Yes.
After using the Hongmong Great Law, long-term recovery was inevitable.
"Please! Miss Baek!"
The moment she raised one hand of the strapped sword.
"Hold on."
Surprisingly, a voice rang out.
He was hanging from a stalactite-like rock high in the cave.
His attire matched the Salt Society instructors exactly.
Black uniform and mask.
He said,
"Heh heh. How can such a lovely maiden let her hands move before her words?"
Then he released his grip and descended the cave wall effortlessly.
Gliding down the smooth surface as if it were nothing!
Suspicion flashing, Han Ibi activated his Eagle's Eye Technique: Heavenly Insight to analyze the man's movements.
He couldn't muster martial power, but a sliver of internal energy remained.
Yet Han Ibi found no similarities between this mysterious man and the instructors.
'Feels familiar somehow... but definitely not one of the instructors I've trained with.'
The man soon reached the ground.
Truly ghostly lightness skill, befitting a monster.
'Who the hell is he?'
The masked man immediately checked the unconscious Heo Son-dam.
"Tsk tsk tsk. You turned him into mush. Absolute mush. Amazing he's still breathing."
Unable to hold back, Han Ibi said,
"Who are you?"
But the man ignored him, continuing on.
"Heh heh heh. So meticulous, so thorough, and yet to think he'd fall to some novice today, all his efforts down the drain. Who could've imagined?"
'That voice... I've heard it before.'
Han Ibi furrowed his brow, racking his memory.
Then Baek Mi-hu couldn't hold back either and said,
"Who are you? Reveal yourself."
The man chuckled loudly and said,
"Ha-. Look at these feisty little brats. Coming at me together... Fine!"
With that, he whipped off his mask.
(Continued in the next chapter)