Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Subduing Demon Hall
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During my time living on Yellow Mountain, I learned that three kinds of venomous snakes inhabited this region. There were probably more in reality, but these were the only three whose habitats I knew for certain and whose features I remembered well. In my fifth reincarnation, when I told Mang Ryang about them, he said:
[Those are the Black-Headed Snake, Blue Snake, and Burrowing Fat Snake. In that case, catch as many Black-Headed Snakes as you can.]
[Why?]
[The Blue Snake is practically a water snake with almost no venom, and while the Burrowing Fat Snake has potent poison, its toxicity is limited, so it can't be made water-soluble.]
Mang Ryang and I were discussing nerve poison at the time. To suppress the mad cultists overflowing in the village, we had devised a plan to poison the well, and for that, I had learned how to make nerve poison from him.
And as a bonus, Mang Ryang had added:
[The Black-Headed Snake's venom is a suitable fierce poison and nerve toxin. Mix it with flame poison generated in enclosed spaces, and you'll get an incomparably potent nerve poison. If you can dissolve it in water over the course of a day and night, you'll produce a water-soluble nerve poison.]
[Flame poison? What's that?]
[Poison isn't just nerve toxin—there are many kinds. There are tiny microbes invisible to the human eye, and among them, bacteria have properties utterly different from animal venoms.
Certain bacteria hate the air we breathe. That's called corruption poison. It has incredibly potent toxicity that easily surpasses most animal venoms.]
[You mean corpse poison?]
[Not much different. The difference is that unlike poison from corpses, this can be artificially harvested—from rotting food or animal dung. Scholars collectively call them flame poisons. Calling it corpse poison is just something martial artists do.]
Mang Ryang continued his explanation there.
[The venom from a dozen or so Black-Headed Snakes should be enough to paralyze around two hundred people. If you want to strengthen the nerve poison further, collect it and bring it to me. In my workshop, I can mix it with corruption poison and quickly produce an enhanced water-soluble nerve toxin.]
[How potent will the finished product be?]
[Extremely so. It can knock out the nerves themselves, to the point where Daoists sometimes use it in their 青化 rites. Used well, it can even slow skin aging, so you can imagine its power without me saying.]
Mang Ryang let out a wry chuckle.
[Can you guess why they named it flame poison? It's because its toxicity is strong enough to burn a human soul.]
I absolutely had to catch at least ten Black-Headed Snakes and extract their venom into a gourd bottle. Because now, I had resolved to stop the human sacrifice. Besides, I had to visit Mang Ryang no matter what. Even if I had the knowledge to make nerve poison on my own, I needed his workshop to enhance it.
Preserving anaerobic bacteria with ordinary natural methods was difficult. Mang Ryang, with his keen interest in poison arts, had set up a special workshop behind his hut where he produced all sorts of poisons. Borrowing those facilities would let me easily complete the mixed nerve poison.
Shhh-shhh-shk!
I circulated my qi and swiftly scanned the peaks of Yellow Mountain. I headed to the habitats I knew for Black-Headed Snakes and slowly searched under rocks and near valleys. Since they sometimes hid in grass, I checked meticulously.
'There it is!'
I spotted a Black-Headed Snake raising its pitch-black head, wary of me. I kicked up a small pebble from the ground and knocked it out.
Pak!
Then I familiarly stuffed the stunned snake into my bag. This was possible because, during my solitary days on Yellow Mountain, I had learned various tricks from a snake hunter. I wasn't a professional, but I could handle my share.
That whole day, I roamed Yellow Mountain hunting Black-Headed Snakes. I caught a total of six, and carefully examined the captured snakes, checking their venom sacs. When I saw the sacs, I sliced them open and extracted the venom. Black-Headed Snakes could apparently survive even after having their venom sacs cut, as the sacs weren't directly tied to their vital organs. After squeezing out all the venom, I released the snakes.
Watching the Black-Headed Snakes slither away in fright, I gave a wry smile. Snake meat was tasty, so I used to grill it occasionally, but according to Mang Ryang, snakes were parasite-ridden and not fit to eat casually. Fortunately, my profound inner energy burned away the parasites, but wild boar was far better anyway.
Extracting the venom from the Black-Headed Snakes took until the afternoon of the next day. Including the previous day, I had squeezed venom from a total of fifteen into the gourd bottle. The amount wasn't huge—less than half the bottle—but I figured it was enough.
And that was when I left Yellow Mountain to visit Mang Ryang and headed toward the village below.
Shh-shh-shk!
"Wait!"
"......"
Descending from the peak to the path leading to the village below, I spotted a large group of warriors in yellow robes crowding the area. They were all armed with swords and eyed me warily. Leading them were four figures with exceptional martial prowess.
Among those four, I immediately recognized Gong Jae's face—the Cold Heaven Sword—and grasped the situation.
'Damn... Yellow Mountain Sect experts.'
These were four Yellow Mountain Sect elders, with all their inner disciples mobilized! By the numbers, over seventy percent of the sect's forces were gathered here.
Rather than combing all seventy-two peaks of Yellow Mountain to find me, they had set up an ambush at the village below where people lived. I hadn't expected them to wait, so I had walked right into it defenselessly. Pretending otherwise, I sent a transmission to the one at the forefront.
[What's this about? I'm just trying to leave after touring Yellow Mountain Sect.]
"We've heard the White Lotus Cult has three Dharma Protectors. If you don't mind, may we know your title and name?"
[......]
I realized things had gone awry. There was no way they had seen through my bluff about being a White Lotus Cult Dharma Protector, but questioning my identity so boldly wasn't good. Because it meant they thought I was one—and still came seeking a fight.
What did I care about White Lotus Cult Dharma Protector titles? Feigning displeasure, I sent a loud transmission.
[How ridiculous! Are you bullying a wandering martial artist like this?]
Kurrrung!
A sound transmission converts low voice into qi to reach a specific target. But this time, I amplified my qi even more to make it heard by everyone present. It consumed tremendous inner energy, but as a result, a fierce gale swept through the area, staggering the Yellow Mountain Sect disciples.
"Ugh!"
"Wh-what tremendous inner strength..."
The Yellow Mountain Sect disciples staggered, showing fear toward me. One of the elders, looking at them disapprovingly, stepped forward and cupped his hands.
"I am Ma Lei, elder of Yellow Mountain Sect, known as the Upright Sword. Our discourtesy in asking your identity stems from our sect leader's desire to meet you personally."
[Personally? Nonsense! I have no business with Yellow Mountain Sect.]
"Urgh..."
That was when it happened. The elder called Upright Sword Ma Lei glanced around cautiously before secretly sending me a transmission.
[You mentioned wanting to discuss the Wind God Style. I beg you.]
"......?!"
I was startled. An unexpected word had popped up out of nowhere.
'Wind God Style?'
Wind God Style!
Unlike the Thunder God Style, which developed techniques based on thunder qi, this was a martial art developed using the power of wind and clouds. Among the various schools in the White Lotus Cult, it had rivaled the Thunder God Style outright—a supreme art without doubt.
But unlike Thunder God Style, it had stood by the cult leader to the end and even participated in purging Thunder God Style. That was why Triple Excellence Yi Gwang always said he wouldn't let anyone from Wind God Style live.
Why would a Yellow Mountain Sect elder suddenly mention Wind God Style?
From the situation, though, he seemed to think any White Lotus Cult Dharma Protector would [naturally] know of Wind God Style. And that bringing it up would make me [naturally] hear them out. This meant there was definitely some connection between Yellow Mountain Sect, White Lotus Cult, and Wind God Style.
As I stayed silent, Upright Sword Ma Lei grew urgent and sent another transmission.
[We've heard one of the Dharma Protectors is a Wind God Style master. If it's you, the cult leader said he especially wishes to meet you. There's a deep connection, isn't there?]
I realized things were getting interesting.
'In other words, Yellow Mountain Sect's leader has a close relationship with a White Lotus Cult Dharma Protector who practices Wind God Style. Close enough that he'd expect an invitation to be accepted... So this force isn't here to attack me, but to escort me as respectfully as possible?'
I wondered if I should just go with them. I could escape anytime if needed, and I was curious about the link between Wind God Style, White Lotus Cult, and Yellow Mountain Sect. But suppressing the urge with restraint, I said:
[Sorry, but I have business and no time to meet him idly. Once my affairs are done, I'll consider it—so wait.]
[When might you come?]
Deliberately sounding irritated, I transmitted:
[Do I have to specify? Just wait!]
[Ah... Understood.]
Upright Sword Ma Lei looked resigned but accepting. He whispered with the other three elders, then shouted to the disciples.
"We're returning!"
The Yellow Mountain Sect members vanished into the darkness, torches flickering. Villagers watching from afar buzzed in confusion about what happened, but with no intention to linger, I swiftly launched my lightness skill.
Paat!
Gliding through the darkness like flight, I thought:
'Yellow Mountain Sect connected to Wind God Style? How should I take this?'
The sudden information muddled my head. But one thing was clear: I had a lead, so after stopping this human sacrifice, I could approach slowly. I considered sneaking into Yellow Mountain Sect later to see only the leader.
Or maybe there was another way.
"Aw, whatever."
Shaking my head, I accelerated my lightness skill over the peak. Right now, saving time to reach Mang Ryang was key. The more time I saved, the higher my plan's success rate. No room to divide focus when this matter demanded it all. Yellow Mountain Sect could wait.
Pushing without much sleep, I reached Zhenlang Valley—Mang Ryang's abode—in just a few days. I'd slept poorly, my mind foggy, so I rested at an inn in the valley, recovering stamina and energy. Going into important talks with a cloudy head would be a loss.
Early next morning, ascending to Mang Ryang's place, he was lying on the porch singing. With an empty meal tray nearby, he seemed leisurely post-breakfast.
"Yai~ Yaiya~ What to do~"
"......"
"Quietly~ Without them knowing~"
I revealed my presence abruptly.
"Mang Ryang."
"Heeeekwhaaatthhehellareyoudoinghere?!"
Mang Ryang startled like his heart would burst, making a bizarre noise. It took about half an incense stick for him to calm from his fit of panic. Face beet-red, pounding his chest and coughing, he finally regained composure and said:
[I am... the vessel of Great Earthly Warrior's divine power... Immortal Mang...]
"No need. I know all that."
"......"
Mang Ryang awkwardly dispelled his Dark Cloud Technique and Voice Alteration Technique.
'Hmm, now what...'
I considered speaking straightforwardly as before. But feeling it wouldn't advance things, I started differently.
"Mang Ryang. If something like this happened, what would you do?"
"What kind of thing?"
Pretending it wasn't my issue, I detailed the mad cultists and demonic beasts I'd encountered. After listening long, Mang Ryang offered a solution.
"If I were you, I'd poison the well."
"I figured you'd say that."
Then I handed him the gourd bottle with the venom.
"Here—venom from fifteen Black-Headed Snakes. You could mix this with flame poison to make water-soluble nerve toxin."
"......!!"
Mang Ryang was genuinely shocked. Taking the bottle, staring blankly, he said:
"Who the hell are you? You seem extremely versed in poison arts. How did you know to come find me?"
"That's not important. The tragedy I described will happen soon, and you and I can stop it. They're planning the same thing again."
"Hmm."
"If you help me, I'll give you all this."
Thud.
I set down the silver chest from the village chief's house. I'd used one ingot for travel expenses, but its value rivaled any treasure. Opening it to confirm the ingots, Mang Ryang said in disbelief, voice dazed:
"Hmm... Compensation's more than enough."
"How long will it take?"
"Probably a day... two at most, to be safe."
"Got it. I'll wait in the annex. I'll pay lodging separately."
"......"
Then Mang Ryang suddenly stopped me.
"Wait."
"What?"
"I'll go to that village with you."
His words carried firm resolve, startling me.
"No. It's extremely dangerous. I don't have the spare capacity to protect you, who hasn't learned any martial arts."
Mang Ryang shook his head.
"Hmm... I think it's the opposite."
"Opposite?"
Looking closely, Mang Ryang wore an expression like he'd found a fun toy. He was clearly deeply interested. Grinning, he said:
"Somehow, hearing your story, I feel I can uncover a [truth] you missed."
"What's that?"
"Just intuition."
Mang Ryang shrugged.
"For me, I could just take the money and stay safe here. Your choice."
I pondered.
Should I accept Mang Ryang's offer and bring him to the site of the tragedy?
After a moment, I nodded.
"Alright."
"Good. Looking forward to it."
Nothing to lose.
And an intangible trust that Mang Ryang would uncover something backed my choice.