Chapter 125
Chapter 125
Hybrid Jiangshi
Deep Fog Valley, located in the most remote part of Thunderous Love Mountain.
True to its name, it was infamous for its thick, abyssal fog that obscured vision entirely.
The terrifying mist, laced with poison, had long been a place tribal chiefs warned their young warriors against entering.
Recently, the Beast Palace Lord had even declared it forbidden territory.
The reason was simple.
Over the past year, too many had been found dead or gone missing near Deep Fog Valley.
The Beast Palace disciples whispered that the valley was haunted, but the truth was far worse.
This was no playground for ghosts or evil spirits.
"So, what happened at the Murim Hall?"
Jiangshi Sect's Seventh, who had been monitoring Se-woon at Murim Hall, was reporting to the Vice Sect Leader, Um Jimyeong.
Indeed, the reason for the many casualties in Deep Fog Valley was simple—it was the secret stronghold of the Blood Cult's Jiangshi Sect, led by Qilian Demon.
"Y-yes! A sudden explosion startled them, and they fled, thinking it was volcanic activity!"
"I see. And Pa Taewoon was among them?"
"Yes, confirmed! I watched until the end, but he never returned to the hall."
At Seventh's words, Um Jimyeong twisted his lips as if he had expected as much.
"Keuk-keuk, listening to Tasadon's boasting after the battle with the Diancang Sect, you'd think some divine general had descended from the heavens. Turns out he was just another nobody."
"Yes, Vice Sect Leader. It seems exactly as you say."
Seventh grinned obsequiously, flattering his superior.
Enjoying the display, Um Jimyeong continued,
"Hmm, he wasted his first day observing the useless martial arts of the first Beast Palace Lord. And now, with tomorrow being the last day, if he hasn't returned, we need not concern ourselves with him further."
"Yes, that seems right!"
"Then let us proceed to the experiment site."
"Yes."
Guided by Seventh, they ventured deeper.
At the valley's heart lay a cave leading underground.
As the two descended, a horrifying scene unfolded—one that made Par Eumbima's poison lab seem tame in comparison.
A hundred or more martial artists of the Beast Palace lay collapsed on stone altars.
Their blue-tinged, bloodless skin and the overwhelming stench of decay confirmed they were already dead.
Yet, strangely, their bodies showed no signs of decomposition.
Instead, demonic energy surged from their corpses, replacing their life force entirely.
"Excellent. The Hybrid Jiangshi are stabilizing well. By the time the Heavenly Battle Ceremony concludes, they should all be complete."
"Yes, Vice Sect Leader. Securing the Beast Blood from the Palace Lord was crucial."
Beast Blood—a symbol of the Beast Palace Lord, known among them as the "blood of beasts."
Legend said the first Beast Palace Lord, Chuk Yeo-un, had slain Taotie, one of the Four Fiends, and collected its blood in a gourd.
Each successive Palace Lord drank a sip to inherit its power.
But the Blood Cult had discovered a hidden use for it.
While drinking it awakened a martial artist's potential...
"Who would've thought? Pouring it into corpses makes it the key ingredient for Hybrid Jiangshi."
They had schemed relentlessly to obtain it, but even after poisoning Umun Gol with Gu poison, he resisted.
The one who finally broke him was none other than Um Jimyeong.
"Keuk-keuk, that bastard was impressive. To think he hid his affection for his younger brother so thoroughly, even from his own people."
Umun Tak, Umun Gol's younger brother, was known as the "Shame of the Beast Palace."
Born with frail bones, he could never train in external martial arts—a half-wit in their eyes.
Publicly, Umun Gol treated him with the same disdain as others.
But it was all an act.
Overt care would only invite more suffering, so he secretly looked after him in the shadows.
Until Um Jimyeong uncovered the truth.
That very day, he poisoned Umun Tak with the Male-Female Gu poison.
And Umun Gol handed over the Beast Blood.
"But what a shame. If we'd obtained the Wildfire too, these Hybrid Jiangshi could've reached an even higher level."
"Umun Gol insists he knows nothing about it. But it's fine. The Cult has already half-given up on the Wildfire. The higher-ups are satisfied with just the Beast Blood."
"Ah, I see. I had no idea. As expected, Vice Sect Leader, you truly have the trust of the upper echelons."
"Heh-heh, you could say that."
Um Jimyeong ran his hand over a Hybrid Jiangshi, eyes gleaming.
"Jiangshi infused with their master's soul fragments. What a genius idea—almost too brilliant for that bastard."
Normally, Jiangshi required their puppeteer to remain nearby.
That's why the best counter was always to kill the puppeteer.
But Qilian Demon's Hybrid Jiangshi eliminated that weakness.
By embedding fragments of the master's soul into the Jiangshi, they could be controlled from miles away—the ultimate undead warriors.
Then, with eyes full of ambition, Um Jimyeong turned to Seventh.
"When these Jiangshi awaken, I'll prove to the Blood Demon that it was I, not Qilian Demon, who played the greatest role in their creation!"
"...Is that so?"
"Heh-heh, and when that happens, that fool Qilian Demon will be stripped of his position as Sect Leader. Who do you think will take his place?"
"......"
Hmm?
Just then, Um Jimyeong sensed something amiss.
Seventh's flattering response never came.
Worse, the Jiangshi Sect subordinates bustling around had all stopped to stare at him.
"Ho-hong, so you were plotting treason after all."
"...?!"
A grotesque laugh sent chills down Um Jimyeong's spine.
Terror, like a mouse before a snake, froze him solid.
Crunch!
Squelch!
Amid horrific sounds, Seventh's face crumpled like clay, leaving only a lizard-like tongue flickering within.
"Go on, keep talking. What exactly were you planning to do to the Blood Demon?"
Qilian Demon—who didn't need a Human-Skin Mask to mimic anyone's appearance, thanks to his Thousand Evil Bone Shrinking Technique—smirked viciously.
"S-Sect Leader! Th-that's not—I didn't mean—!"
"Shh. It's fine."
—Ghk!
Splat!
Contrary to his soothing tone, Qilian Demon's arm stretched like rubber, seizing Um Jimyeong's throat.
"Ghk! G-guhk!"
Choking, Um Jimyeong flailed helplessly.
Qilian Demon watched with maddened glee.
"Death solves everything."
With those words—
Snap!
Um Jimyeong's neck broke.
Without hesitation, Qilian Demon discarded the traitor's corpse onto a stone altar.
Fresh material for a Hybrid Jiangshi.
Those who died by his hand would find no rest, even in death.
"Ho-hong, I look forward to the Heavenly Battle Ceremony."
Thud!
Crunch!
Qilian Demon's face twisted into another grotesque form.
Same time.
"Wh-what do you mean?"
Umun Tak stared at Se-woon in shock.
They had moved to the Hall of Righteousness for tea when Se-woon dropped a bombshell.
"You must have misheard. I said I know about the Gu poison in the Palace Lord and the Hall Master's bodies."
"...!!"
Umun Tak's jaw dropped.
...How does he know?
But he quickly covered his mouth with both hands.
"G-Gu poison? What's that? I-I don't... N-no, the Palace Lord has nothing like that!"
He denied it with all his might.
The moment the Gu poison was mentioned aloud—
He had no idea what those demons would do to his brother.
But Se-woon met his panic with calm eyes.
"There's no need to hide it from me."
"...!!"
"I came here to save both of you."
...Is it true?
Can I trust him?
What if he's a spy sent by them?
Se-woon could see Umun Tak's internal struggle.
'It's understandable.'
Because of him, Umun Gol—both his brother and the Beast Palace Lord—had become the Blood Cult's puppet.
For a Beast Palace disciple, whose entire life revolved around martial honor, the shame and humiliation were unbearable.
"...Hngk."
Finally, Umun Tak broke into tears.
Se-woon watched him solemnly.
Though Umun Tak seemed foolish and naive, he was far from pathetic.
In the past timeline, unable to bear his brother's suffering, Umun Tak had taken his own life—freeing Umun Gol at the cost of his own.
The truth had rallied the entire Beast Palace against the Blood Cult in a brutal war.
Until betrayal by Maeng Yong led to tragedy.
Then, Umun Tak grabbed Se-woon's wrist, pleading desperately.
"P-please... save my brother."
"Of course, Hall Master. First, let's remove the Male-Female Gu poison."
Umun Tak nodded.
Se-woon had him sit cross-legged, then placed his hands on Umun Tak's back.
"We're short on time, so we'll begin immediately."
"...Ghk!"
Whoosh!
Without warning, Se-woon channeled Reverse Heaven Energy into Umun Tak's body.
The savage energy made Umun Tak shudder in shock.
But the process ended in an instant.
Reverse Heaven Energy—the ruler of all corrupt forces.
'Come out.'
At Se-woon's will—
Pop!
A fingernail-sized Male-Female Gu poison burst from Umun Tak's thigh.
Normally, the poison would nest in the heart, but Se-woon had guided it to the least harmful exit.
Screech!
Hiss!
The Gu poison writhed, seeking a new host—until Se-woon's Reverse Heaven Energy paralyzed it instantly.
Se-woon collected the subdued poison.
After withdrawing his energy, he healed Umun Tak's wound with Golden Completion Energy.
When Umun Tak opened his eyes, they widened in disbelief.
"I-it's really gone...?!"
"Didn't I tell you? I came to help you both."
"Pa Taewoon... who are you?"
"That's not important right now."
"R-right."
"Hall Master."
"Y-yes?"
"You want to help the Palace Lord, don't you?"
"...!!"
"And you'd like to pay those who did this back in kind."
"!!"
Umun Tak's eyes trembled as if an earthquake had struck.
But only for a moment.
"Yes. I want to help my brother."
Without stuttering.
Umun Tak spoke with resolve.
"Good. Then follow my lead."
Se-woon began explaining the plan.
There was something only Umun Tak could do.
In truth, Umun Tak harbored an incredible secret.
In the past timeline, the Blood Cult had regretted losing more than just the Silent Blood.
'Now that I have the Silent Blood, I can see it clearly.'
At this moment, Se-woon's vision pierced through Umun Tak's body.
Whoosh!
Golden flames burned within him.
Wildfire!
The Wildfire Se-woon had come to find wasn't an object—it was inside Umun Tak all along.
A glint flashed in Se-woon's eyes.
Soon, those flames would consume the Blood Cult.
126
The Four Rivers' Tyrant