The Poisoned Path
The sight of Handan with his face turned pitch black and blood pouring endlessly from his nose was enough to tell even Seong-il, who had zero medical knowledge, that the man was in critical condition.
“Senior brother! Are you alright?!”
“I’m fine. I can endure it. By the way, Master… who the hell are these bastards?”
At that, Cheongmyeong Jin’in, also poisoned, spoke with great difficulty.
“They’re from the Demon Sect.”
“The Demon Sect?”
“Yes. It seems those scoundrels tampered with the wine and laced it with poison. Since my friendship with Abbot Wongang began over drinks in our youth, I thought we’d share a cup to reminisce about old times. It must have been in that wine.”
Hearing this, Handan made a stunned face before hanging his head in shame.
“And you! Why does your face look like that?! Don’t tell me you stole and drank my wine?!”
“I’m sorry, Master.”
Seeing Handan’s attitude, Cheongmyeong Jin’in first wore an angry expression, but soon changed it to one of resignation and continued.
“Enough. Since things have come to this, we must escape this place quickly.”
“Yes, Master!”
When both Seong-il and Handan answered, Cheongmyeong Jin’in clutched his chest, coughed up a bowlful of blood, and spoke again.
“Haa… haa… This master has grown old. In the worst case, I may not be able to escape with you two.”
“What are you saying, Master?! We will definitely carry you out with us! Please don’t say such things!”
At Handan’s words, Cheongmyeong Jin’in smiled gently and continued.
“Of course you should. But if only the world would always flow as we wish… it doesn’t always work that way, so we must prepare for the worst. I will tell you two a secret to prepare for the worst-case scenario.”
And so Cheongmyeong Jin’in began recounting the secret conversation he had shared with Abbot Wongang to his two disciples.
“This time, I received a wooden box from Abbot Wongang. Inside that box is a key capable of releasing the seal on an ancient evil god.”
He began his tale by revealing the secret from twenty years ago.
“You know that the righteous sects, the Demon Sect, and the evil cults once formed an alliance, yes? They tried to resurrect the Blood God by breaking the evil god’s seal. That’s why the righteous and demonic alliance killed the leader of the Blood Cult, destroyed the Blood Cult, seized the key, and tried to maintain the seal.”
“...”
“However, after destroying the Blood Cult, the alliance split over ownership of the key. Not long after that split, a fierce war broke out between the righteous alliance and the evil cult-Demon Sect alliance.”
“...”
“Because of that war, the Demon Sect was destroyed and the righteous sects won, but the crucial key was lost in the process…”
“...”
“Abbot Wongang recently discovered that key by chance in the hands of an evil practitioner from the evil cults. He subdued the man, took the key, and tried to destroy it.”
“...”
“The problem was that no matter what he did, the key wouldn’t break. It didn’t even get a scratch.”
“...”
“That’s why he called me as a last resort to seal the key instead.”
“...”
“After all, when it comes to demon-sealing rituals, Taoism has a greater reputation than Buddhism. He probably wanted to entrust this task to a Taoist expert in demon sealing.”
After finishing his explanation, Cheongmyeong Jin’in handed the wooden box to Seong-il.
“Muhak. You will carry this box.”
Internally shocked, Seong-il protested.
“M-Master, I’ve only been a disciple for three months. I don’t have the ability to protect this item. Please take it back.”
“No. That is precisely why I am entrusting it to you. Compared to me or Handan, you clearly possess no power. But because of that, the Demon Sect bastards will surely underestimate you. They would never imagine I would entrust something so important to a young disciple who can’t even protect a single object.”
Still deeply worried, Seong-il asked again.
“In that case, wouldn’t senior brother Handan be better?”
Cheongmyeong Jin’in sighed and replied.
“I considered that too. But looking at that fool’s poisoned state, I can’t trust him at all! At least you haven’t been poisoned. From the moment you arrived at Pokso Temple, you didn’t get swept up by your senior brother and kept your cool. Sometimes that kind of cold judgment is more important than personal martial skill. This master believes in that quality of yours!”
With those words, Cheongmyeong Jin’in pulled a book from his robes and handed it over.
“Take it. Since Handan has trained by my side for a long time, he won’t have any problems even without this manual. But without me or Handan, you won’t be able to learn the martial arts of our Sodang Sect. So take this book. Even if something happens to me or Handan, you must carry on the Sodang Sect’s techniques.”
Handan chimed in as well.
“That’s right, junior brother. Master is correct. Of course our master and I won’t die, but we should prepare for the unexpected.”
At Handan’s words, Cheongmyeong Jin’in smiled bitterly.
“Only when you’re on death’s door do you finally come to your senses. You should have been like this from the start!”
At his master’s scolding, Handan lowered his head and couldn’t say a word.
“Enough! Reproaching the past will only become a shackle on our hearts as we face the coming calamity. Listen well! Whoever survives must protect that wooden box at all costs. The one who holds the box must head to the Martial Alliance! And if you have the box, trust no one and go straight to the Alliance Leader, Jin Cheon-hui! Understood?”
“Yes, Master!”
After Seong-il and Handan answered, Cheongmyeong Jin’in once again carried Seong-il on his back and began running silently using light footwork.
This is martial arts…!
Even in this moment, being carried like a piece of luggage, Seong-il felt an incredible thrill.
A human can run this fast? It feels faster than a horse running. This is seriously amazing…? If I could use this light footwork back in our world, people would call me a superhuman. I want it!!
It was a life-or-death crisis, yet the power of the martial arts Cheongmyeong Jin’in displayed was more than enough to ignite greed in Seong-il’s heart.
I will definitely survive! I will survive and learn martial arts no matter what!
The moment Seong-il made that vow in his heart—
“You rat bastards. So you were fleeing this way?”
A man wearing a black ghost mask with a twisted smile appeared before them, along with a large group that seemed to be his subordinates.
In this situation… that guy is from the Demon Sect! And he’s their leader, the Young Cult Leader!
“Who are you?!”
When Cheongmyeong Jin’in asked in a fierce voice, the masked man answered.
“So you are the renowned Taiji Sword, Cheongmyeong Jin’in…”
“That is correct. Are you the leader of these wicked bastards who committed this outrageous act?”
Though his face was hidden by the ghost mask, it seemed the Young Cult Leader was smiling behind it as he replied.
“Correct. This seat is the Young Cult Leader of the Demon Sect. I have come to repay old debts and retrieve an object that should rightfully be in our cult’s possession.”
“Shut your mouth! That object is an extremely evil thing that humans should never touch! After witnessing that massive bloodbath twenty years ago, you still covet it?! Have you no shame! You Demon Sect—”
At that moment, the massive man standing beside the Young Cult Leader cut off Cheongmyeong Jin’in and spoke to his leader.
“Young Cult Leader! There is no need to listen to that nonsense any longer. Please give the order! I will kill these enemies of our cult and retrieve the sacred object!”
“Very well…! Chief Guardian. Kill them and bring me the object!”
At the command, the Chief Guardian and the men in black drew their weapons and charged toward Cheongmyeong Jin’in.
Seeing this, Cheongmyeong Jin’in looked at Handan and ordered.
“Handan! Run away with Muhak! This master will hold them off for you!”
Did he sense his master’s resolute heart…? Handan’s expression was ambiguous—somewhere between rage and tears. He gave a short reply and began running into the forest with Seong-il.
“…Please take care of your honorable body, Master.”
Without hesitation, Handan turned his back, tied Seong-il to his waist, and began fleeing at high speed.
“Ah~ Running away? Chief Guardian! Take care of Cheongmyeong Jin’in. I will personally chase those two.”
“As you command!”
Enraged at the sight, Cheongmyeong Jin’in let out a roar and charged at the Demon Sect members.
“You bastards!!! As long as I live, not a single hair on my disciples’ heads will be touched!!”
Like a wounded tiger protecting its cubs, Cheongmyeong Jin’in began unleashing merciless attacks. In an instant, the heads of two or three Demon Sect members fell to his fierce strikes.
Of course, in the process the Demon Sect members stabbed and slashed at Cheongmyeong Jin’in’s arms and legs…
Watching his master die so miserably while hanging onto Handan, Seong-il could not shake off the sorrow and guilt.
Was it because of me…? Did I drive such an upright person to a dog’s death just to gain an advantage…? If I had told them the whole truth from the beginning… couldn’t we have had a mutually beneficial relationship where they lived and taught me martial arts…?
Thinking Seong-il’s anguish was due to grief for their master, Handan spoke to him.
“Junior brother. Do not be consumed by torment! Master sacrificed himself for us and for the greater cause.”
That’s right. This is a game. It’s just a well-made game…!
Comforting himself like that, Seong-il regained some of his cool-headedness and began thinking strategically.
Next, the Young Cult Leader and Saekma will probably chase after Handan, who gets cornered at the cliff, right?
Saekma, enslaved to the Young Cult Leader through the Poison Gu, will want to win his favor and monopolize the credit, so he’ll shake off the other Demon Sect members and come alone with the Young Cult Leader…
The event where Handan, having subdued those two, takes the Young Cult Leader hostage and jumps off the cliff…!
Faced with a life-or-death situation, Seong-il unconsciously displayed superhuman focus as he searched for a way to survive.
How can I stay alive? Me, who can’t even use light footwork, trying to run? That’s impossible. Then the only way is to make sure they can’t attack me!
Therefore, the answer is a hostage play! Using the Black Ball on the Young Cult Leader to turn him into a hostage is the only way I can survive!
Once his mind was made up and the plan formed, the fear vanished and Seong-il’s head grew cold.
And at that moment—
“Cough… urgh…!”
Handan, who had been carrying Seong-il while using light footwork, suddenly stopped and began vomiting a mouthful of blood.
“Senior brother!!”
“Junior brother… I think this is as far as I go.”
Handan’s face had turned completely black. Now blood was streaming not only from his nose and mouth, but from his ears and eyes as well.
“Senior brother! Just a little further! If we go just a little more, we can survive! Don’t say such weak things…!”
Looking at Seong-il, Handan smiled faintly and said.
“No. I know my own body. This is the end for me. I can already feel the poison spreading through all my organs. I’m finished. I’ll hold them off. You run alone!”
When Seong-il hesitated, Handan drew his sword and shouted at him.
“Go now! Do you want to make our master’s and my sacrifice meaningless?! Don’t forget Master’s command! Your task is not over yet!”
Hearing those words, a sense of debt surged within Seong-il. He turned and began running for his life.
Before long, the sharp clash of weapons and pained groans reached Seong-il’s ears.
I have to live! I will live!
Whether this place was a game or not no longer mattered to Seong-il. His mind consumed by death and terror, he simply ran forward until his chest felt like it would burst.
Shaaaaa…!
When the sound of flowing water reached him, Seong-il had no choice but to stop.
It wasn’t because he was tired. He stopped because a cliff at least a hundred jang high stretched out before his eyes.
“Ah. It seems the little rat has nowhere left to run…?”
The Young Cult Leader…! And beside him is Saekma!
“Young Cult Leader! Please grant this lowly one the chance to capture that bastard!”
“Hmm… Saekma. You who always cowered like trash—what’s gotten into you today? You don’t have some other scheme in mind, do you?”
At the Young Cult Leader’s words, Saekma began making exaggerated gestures as he made excuses.
“Young Cult Leader! Thanks to the Poison Gu, I would die instantly if you gave the word! How could I possibly dare to harbor such thoughts! I simply wish to accomplish something and earn your trust!”
He wore an extremely servile expression as he flattered the Young Cult Leader.
Just as the Young Cult Leader smiled and was about to give permission with a wave of his hand—
“Young Cult Leader! The object you seek is with me! If you want it, fight me one-on-one. If not, I’ll throw this thing off the cliff!”
Startled, the Young Cult Leader looked at Seong-il and shouted.
“Ha. What a cute little bastard. You dare threaten this seat? Fine. I will personally tear you apart.”
Having finished speaking, the Young Cult Leader charged toward Seong-il.
I only have one chance.
The instant the Young Cult Leader rushed in to strike with his palm, Seong-il threw the Black Ball at him.
“Hmph. You dare use such a trivial object…”
The Young Cult Leader snorted and swatted the Black Ball away with one hand, but instead of flying off, the ball opened and emitted a black light toward him.
“Wh-What is this thing?!”
Before the Young Cult Leader could finish speaking, the light swallowed him. Seong-il quickly grabbed the ball and leaped off the cliff.
“N-Nooo!”
Watching Seong-il jump from the cliff, Saekma let out a horrified scream and clutched his chest.
“Ugh… the Poison Gu… the Poison Gu is acting up…! I have to get near the Young Cult Leader quickly…!!”
Saekma screamed desperately and leaped off the cliff in the same direction Seong-il had jumped.