Chapter 159
Chapter 159
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors
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When I returned to where Dongbang Invincible had been, the duel was in full swing. Dongbang Invincible was unleashing massive palm strikes dozens of zhang in range without pause, as if he possessed bottomless inner energy. The sight made it seem less like human martial arts and more like something divine.
Kuooh!
Jin So-cheong countered the onslaught by deploying the Annihilation Soul Step, calmly biding his time for an opening. Not a single attack had landed properly on him yet, and I could sense his hawk-like eyes scanning for weaknesses. Realizing this, Dongbang Invincible briefly withdrew his palm force and glared at Jin So-cheong.
"You bastard... what kind of movement technique is that...!!"
Jin So-cheong landed on the ground.
"Done already? Or can't you continue?"
"......"
As Jin So-cheong responded leisurely, Dongbang Invincible clamped his mouth shut. Seeing this, I could gauge the current situation.
'His inner energy has depleted significantly.'
Any ordinary expert would have been overwhelmed by shock and fear from those massive palm strikes alone and met their end. Entering that range made evasion or defense nearly impossible. But with Jin So-cheong dodging everything via the Annihilation Soul Step, Dongbang Invincible was just burning through his own inner energy.
"Hmm!"
Even so, I let out a groan of surprise at Jin So-cheong's attainment in the Annihilation Soul Step. Though all Thunder God Style experts learned it, I doubted if I could evade Dongbang Invincible's attacks for over an incense stick's time as Jin So-cheong had. His proficiency had advanced tremendously in just a few months.
Tadadak.
Geuk-ho had already arrived in the arena before I knew it. He was drenched in sweat, suggesting a fierce battle. Grinning, Geuk-ho said.
"What's this? We're the last to arrive? How embarrassing, Jin So-cheong."
"Shameful, senior brother. But that man's inner energy is truly vast."
Geuk-ho glanced at the traces of palm force scattered everywhere.
"Seems like it. So he's the leader."
"What shall we do?"
"What else? Gang up on him."
Sususu.
As soon as Geuk-ho spoke, the three of us formed the Three Talents Formation, surrounding Dongbang Invincible. He looked around at us in bewilderment, particularly eyeing me as he said in disbelief.
"Kid. You're the one who supposedly beat the White Origin Twin Fiends?"
"Of course. Otherwise, would he have let me go?"
"Gr... what the..."
Dongbang Invincible's face twisted in shock. It seemed he hadn't even considered the possibility of the Twin Fiends losing. Each of them was a transcendent sword expert, after all—how could he imagine such a thing? Let alone to a young punk like me in a one-on-one.
I pointed my sword at him and said.
"I'm not here to kill you. I clearly said we could help each other. If you don't surrender quietly, I can't guarantee your life."
"......"
Dongbang Invincible glanced sideways at the encirclement. The Three Talents Formation simply sealed the three directions, but with Thunder God Style experts as its members, it became an impregnable siege. Even if he exploded his inner energy to break free, none of us would yield, so he would inevitably fall.
Dongbang Invincible looked at Jin So-cheong and said.
"Is it true? You're really here because of the Young Leader of the White Lotus Cult's strange illness?"
"Yes."
"Ugh... If you guarantee my life, I'll surrender."
"Of course."
Sususu.
Dongbang Invincible promptly lowered his aura. Geuk-ho slowly approached and bound him with ropes. Of course, with his level of martial arts, such ropes could be snapped with a surge of inner energy, so Geuk-ho didn't forget to seal his inner energy using Thunder God Style techniques.
"Kuhng."
Dongbang Invincible groaned as he was instantly reduced to a second-rate warrior or below. But since all three of us had suffered at his hands earlier, we showed no mercy. Geuk-ho looked at me and said.
"Kid. You question him."
Geuk-ho seemed to think that since I had led this operation, I should handle the interrogation. I nodded and approached Dongbang Invincible.
"Dongbang Invincible of the Heavenly Stranger Demon. I am Baek Woong, disciple of the Thunder God Style and a collateral blood relative who inherited the Hwa family medical arts. The reason I sought you is to uncover the secrets tied to the Five Great Physicians of the World and the White Lotus Cult Young Leader's strange illness."
"......!!"
Dongbang Invincible's eyebrows twitched.
"The Hwa clan? Did you hear about me from Hwa Seo-myeong, the Radiant God?"
"Yes. I know that you five were forcibly summoned to the White Lotus Cult, and I've heard about what happened then."
"......"
"And I suspected you alone might have guessed the true nature of the strange illness. It seems you view it as a kind of curse."
Dongbang Invincible relaxed his upper body slightly. Leaning against a tree, he sighed.
"You don't seem like an ordinary thug. Did you really seek me out just to learn about that?"
I stared at him coldly.
"The other Five Great Physicians have all gone into hiding in the jianghu to save their own skins. Yet you alone ventured as far as the Southern Barbarians and Yue Country, even risking clashes with the Sichuan Tang Clan. It can only mean you have a strong will to cure the strange illness."
"Hmm..."
"The Thunder God Style must learn what you're after and how much you've uncovered about the strange illness."
At that, Dongbang Invincible chuckled dryly. It wasn't mockery but a hollow laugh.
"Heh heh... Thunder God Style. It makes sense you'd come for me. Exiled from the White Lotus Cult, you'd want to know their weaknesses, no matter how small."
"We have you bound now, but I believe there will be ways we can help each other going forward."
"......"
Dongbang Invincible pondered deeply. After a long moment, he said.
"Untie the ropes. Otherwise, I won't talk."
I glanced at Geuk-ho and Jin So-cheong. They nodded. The ropes were just a precaution; the real binding was the inner energy seal. As I untied him, he stood and said.
"I have one proposal."
"What is it?"
"There's something I desperately want from the White Lotus Cult. Can you help me obtain it?"
"Hmm."
It was unexpected. Geuk-ho, who had been listening, stated firmly.
"That's for our master to decide. But depending on the story, we might accept."
As the eldest leading us, Geuk-ho quickly brought it to a close. Dongbang Invincible narrowed his eyes, gauging our relationship from the response, then nodded.
"Fine... I'll make the offer upfront and hear your answer later."
"Do as you like."
"To the point: As you guessed, the White Lotus Cult Young Leader's strange illness is caused by a curse. As you thought, I've been wandering the world to break it."
I thought for a moment and asked.
"Were you trying to learn the Sichuan Tang Clan's poison arts to dispel the curse with the Formless Finger Poison?"
"You dug that deep? You're really invested in my affairs."
Clicking his tongue in admiration, Dongbang Invincible continued.
"Yes. But the Formless Finger Poison seems like something that only emerges after centuries. So I gave up on poison for now and headed to the Southern Barbarians."
"Why the Southern Barbarians?"
"More precisely, I planned to go beyond to Tianzhu. They're versed in mystical sorcery and have deep knowledge of myths and curses throughout their long history."
What did you obtain?
As we stared at him curiously, Dongbang Invincible cracked his knuckles and continued.
"As you guessed, I found something worthwhile in the Southern Barbarians, so I returned to the Central Plains without going to Tianzhu."
"What did you obtain?"
"......"
Dongbang Invincible smirked and said.
"Not here. I need to speak to your leader."
"Why?"
"Because it's too unbelievable. If it's not conveyed properly, I'll regret it."
We exchanged glances. Geuk-ho said.
"Don't act all mysterious. We can force it out of you right now."
Sususus.
Energy gathered in Geuk-ho's hand—the form that appeared when using the Eight Trigrams Seal, the Thunder God Style's interrogation art. He knew the secrets too. But Dongbang Invincible didn't flinch and said.
"Do as you please. But you know information extracted under torture isn't reliable, right? I believe my intel is worth its weight in gold. Are you fine ruining it with rash actions?"
"......"
He was right. Unless you were as proficient as Lee Gwang, using the Eight Trigrams Seal to inflict extreme pain was risky. It could shatter mental barriers to reveal secrets, but excessive agony might distort details. Repeated torture could also break the subject's mind first.
Jin So-cheong gazed at Dongbang Invincible with clear eyes and said.
"What's to guarantee your leader will believe such an unbelievable tale?"
"Nothing. It's my responsibility, so I'll bear it."
"If you put it that way, we'll let it pass for now..."
Jin So-cheong accepted, and neither I nor Geuk-ho could object strongly. It felt like we were yielding to his bravado, but we couldn't risk botching the greater plan.
I questioned him.
"Those two swordsmen were called the White Origin Twin Fiends. They seemed involved in the Sichuan Wu Temple's gambling den. How did they end up following you?"
"They were bodyguards I hired in my own way."
"Bodyguards?"
"You might not know, but the White Origin Twin Fiends were experts in the Moon Woman Sword. Top-tier in the unorthodox sects. The journey alone from Yunnan through the Southern Barbarians was risky, so I roped them in via the mahjong table."
"That's why you played mahjong at the Sichuan Wu Temple?"
"Yes. Wanted the thrill."
"......"
Realizing the situation, I was dumbfounded. Dongbang Invincible had played mahjong to recruit bodyguards! To ensure victory, he enlisted the Gambling King Wall Vision, leading the win, and the Twin Fiends, having lost the bet, accompanied him to the Southern Barbarians. But doing it just for thrills at the Wu Temple made me question his sanity.
"Then why return to the Central Plains via Henan?"
"I took the sea route from Zhejiang Province back from Yue Country, passed through Anhui, and ended up in Henan."
"You were heading somewhere. Where?"
"To Gansu."
Gansu Province.
Located in the northwest, it lay far north of Shaanxi. Also called the Western Regions, it was mostly barren land. Recalling his path on a mental map of the Central Plains, I said incredulously.
"Isn't it much faster to just go overland back through Sichuan straight to Gansu? Why go all the way to distant Zhejiang, cross the entire Central Plains by land to Gansu?"
"The White Origin Twin Fiends insisted on stopping by to manage their sect."
"Ah."
"They were sect leaders too, after all, dragged along after losing the bet."
Their sect base was probably in Zhejiang or Anhui. After traveling thousands of li to the Southern Barbarians and back, they'd naturally miss home. Gruffly answering, Dongbang Invincible continued.
"You're probably wondering why my group lingered in Henan Province. It was because I sensed someone tailing us."
"What?"
"So we laid bait and waited for them to bite."
Hearing this, Jin So-cheong sighed.
"So the Divine Woman Sect's pursuit was exposed."
Lee Gwang hiring the Divine Woman Sect of the Eight Demonic Sects for intel had worked, but Dongbang Invincible and the Twin Fiends, all transcendent experts, had noticed the tails. They'd feigned openings to lure and capture pursuers. With three transcendent experts, they feared nothing in the world. But the Thunder God Style's forces were one step superior—that was their miscalculation.
Dongbang Invincible said.
"But are you really prepared?"
"Prepared for what?"
"The moment you hear the secret of the strange illness from me, you'll be mired in inescapable depths."
"That's not for you to worry about."
"Keh heh heh..."
"Then let's move."
We decided to take Dongbang Invincible with us. Of course, trekking days with his inner energy sealed back to Shaanxi would be grueling, so I reluctantly pulled out the teleportation talisman.
"Junior brother, what is that?"
"A very good item."
I gave a vague answer and explained the teleportation talisman and wooden box. Shock spread across their faces. As for why I hadn't used it on the way there, I lied about never having been to Henan.
Moments later, after loading the three into the wooden box, I activated the talisman.
Paat!
Arriving in the Crouching Dragon Hall of the Azure Dragon Martial Hall, I released them from the box. Stunned by crossing thousands of li in an instant, they looked dazed.
Then a familiar voice rang out.
"What is it?"
Lee Gwang was walking toward us.
============================ Author's Note ============================
Slightly revised.