Chapter 84
Chapter 84
Judgment (3)
Even before his regression, Baekyacha Heo So-chang had been the weakest among the Ten Great Elders due to his lack of experience and seniority.
The Ganggi (Strong Qi) he unleashed was noticeably more incomplete and unstable compared to that of other martial artists who had fully mastered the Transcendent Realm (Flower Realm).
But Ganggi was still Ganggi.
Under normal circumstances, Se-woon would never have been able to defeat Heo So-chang.
With his Reverse Heaven Energy still stalled at the Three Stars stage, Se-woon had no means to counter his opponent's Ganggi—not even with the power of the Golden Threads of Heavenly Net.
'Reverse Heaven Energy must reach the Four Stars stage before Ganggi can be utilized.'
But Se-woon wasn't worried about that in the first place.
First, he had no intention of facing Heo So-chang head-on.
Second, he had predicted that the moment his opponent unleashed Ganggi, a new weakness would be exposed—just like now.
The Black Heaven Yacha Art of the Yacha Sect Leader was a martial art that strengthened the body beyond its limits.
And as mentioned before, its power fiercely resisted all factors that hindered combat.
Before his regression, in every war waged by the Blood Cult, Baekyacha had always charged at the forefront as the vanguard.
Even as arrows and hidden weapons poured down like torrential rain from the sky.
Even as bizarre formations and sorcery unfolded before him.
He could deflect and pierce through them all, carving a path for his allies to follow.
And—
'That resistance includes poison.'
Indeed. When the Black Heaven Yacha Art was fully activated, it granted immunity to a thousand poisons (Deadly Poison Bulchim).
That was precisely why the effects of his sister's Mountain Hollow Poison had vanished.
Angsinru, infused into the Divine Poison Energy in his lower dantian, was a poison that grew and strengthened in toxicity (Dokseong) based on its master's cultivation and achievements.
However, at this stage, it wasn't potent enough to breach Heo So-chang's immunity.
Though Se-woon's Reverse Heaven Energy and Golden Threads were a perfect counter to him, the man still had his own trump card.
But now, unaware of his own mistake, he had willingly walked into the trap—something Se-woon could only be grateful for.
If Heo So-chang forcibly activated his incomplete Ganggi—
'A flaw will inevitably appear in his Black Heaven Yacha Art.'
With all his energy focused on forcibly manifesting unstable Ganggi, the body-strengthening effects would plummet endlessly.
"When fighting that cockroach bastard, provoke him into unleashing Ganggi."
"Kihihi, with a tongue like yours, it shouldn't be too difficult."
Se-woon had learned of this weakness beforehand from this very conversation with Dokma before his regression.
The moment he confirmed the fracture in Heo So-chang's Black Heaven Yacha Art as the man charged at him, he had secretly mixed Angsinru into his energy and dispersed it around them.
"Kkh— Grrgh!!"
Collapsed on the ground, Heo So-chang trembled violently in agony, his eyes rolling back until only the whites remained.
Fwip!
In that instant, Se-woon lunged toward him.
A martial artist who walked the path of righteousness would never attack an unconscious enemy—
Schlick!
But Se-woon didn't hesitate for even a moment as he swung his dagger with full force.
BOOM!
CRASH!
A deafening explosion erupted like a drum bursting apart, and Heo So-chang's abdomen was shattered once more.
His body flew backward, crashing through the pavilion before rolling onto the central deck.
Peng Dae-ho and the other warriors of the Houjisu (Later Generation) instinctively raised their weapons, forming a protective circle around Se-rin, who still hadn't regained consciousness—
"Kkh— Grgh!"
"!?"
But they quickly realized it was unnecessary.
The enemy who had reappeared was in an even more wretched and gruesome state than before.
'Huh? He's completely unconscious?'
'How... How did he push a Transcendent Realm master to this state?'
'......Just how?'
Swish!
Thud!
At that moment, the silk thread tied to the mast reeled back, and Se-woon landed lightly on the deck.
Unlike his opponent, Se-woon bore not a single trace of battle—his appearance pristine.
Hiss...
As the Houjisu warriors stared blankly at him, they belatedly noticed the vicious poison energy (Dokgi) radiating from his figure.
Only then did they understand how Se-woon had brought his enemy down.
'Lord Se-woon must have the Divine Immortal Collapse in his possession!'
'He cornered his opponent this far with poison arts!'
Peng So-hye and Nam Mu-jin thought as much—
'......But the Divine Immortal Collapse is Mountain Hollow Poison. The poison emanating from the enemy is entirely different. To reduce a Transcendent Realm master to such a horrific state... That means he possesses another poison on par with the Divine Immortal Collapse.'
Meanwhile, Peng Dae-ho shuddered as he realized the existence of yet another unknown poison.
He was certain.
Once this battle ended, the name of the Sichuan Tang Clan—
No, the name Tang Se-woon—would shake the entire martial world.
Step. Step.
At that moment, Se-woon slowly approached his enemy once more.
"Kkh... Ugh."
The man still hadn't regained his senses from the excruciating pain inflicted by Angsinru.
In the meantime, his appearance had also been affected.
His hair had thinned unevenly, patches of it falling out, while his face was now a grotesque mess of bubbling blisters.
Then, Se-woon flicked his wrist downward.
Swish!
The golden threads connected to his hand surged like waves, dancing through the air—
Schlick!
Splurt!
With a chilling slicing sound, Heo So-chang's left arm was completely severed from the shoulder.
Blood gushed from the wound.
Sizzle!
The severed arm melted instantly, emitting acrid smoke as it dissolved into a pool of blood—leaving behind a single Ghost King Gauntlet.
Just as Heo So-chang lost enough blood to endanger his life—
"Hrk—!!"
Suddenly, his eyes regained their clarity.
A significant amount of Angsinru's poison had been expelled along with the spilled blood.
Fwip!
Regaining his senses, Heo So-chang hastily rolled away, putting distance between himself and Se-woon.
'Dammit! What the hell—?!'
Blood poured ceaselessly from his missing left arm.
After frantically sealing his pressure points to stop the bleeding, he activated the Black Heaven Yacha Art at full power.
Hwoom!
Though the resistance effect manifested belatedly, it could only suppress the remaining poison—not fully neutralize it.
Having barely escaped death's door, Heo So-chang glared at Se-woon with wary eyes.
'......Why didn't he go for my neck?'
That was what confused him the most.
Instead of striking his defenseless neck, Se-woon had severed his arm.
And even now, he wasn't pressing the attack—merely watching as Heo So-chang tried to recover.
Swallowing dryly, Heo So-chang stared into Se-woon's eyes—
And belatedly realized his intent.
'This bastard...... is hunting me.'
Driving his prey into a corner with no escape.
Slowly driving them mad with terror while inflicting endless suffering.
This was not the way of thinking or acting for a righteous martial artist.
It was too methodical.
Too demonic.
A chill ran down Heo So-chang's spine.
'This bastard... really did defeat Dokma.'
Only now did he understand.
The martial prowess Se-woon possessed was never beneath his own.
And that he was a demonic practitioner with hands far more cruel than his.
'If this is how it is......!!'
Swish!
As Se-woon prepared his next attack, the golden threads writhed—
Fwip!
Heo So-chang frantically pulled something from his robes with his remaining arm.
"!!"
"A Return Pearl—!"
The Houjisu warriors exclaimed in shock as they realized his intention—
Whoosh!
The talisman activated, enveloping Heo So-chang's figure in a brilliant light.
By the time the glow faded, the enemy had vanished without a trace.
Fwip!
At the same moment, Se-woon dashed to the edge of the deck.
"Ah!"
"L-Lord Tang!"
Ignoring the Houjisu warriors calling out behind him—
Tap-tap-tap!
Se-woon sprinted madly across the silk threads stretched out like a horizon.
His Tracking Threads trembled faintly, pointing in the direction his prey had fled.
"Ugh... Grgh!"
Groaning in pain, Heo So-chang clenched his teeth and forced himself forward.
If he stopped here, he would die. That bastard was undoubtedly pursuing him.
He was certain of it.
'Those eyes... Those were not the eyes of someone who would let me go! They were the eyes of a demonic practitioner!!'
Heo So-chang pushed his movement technique to its limits, tearing through the mountain forest.
The safe house prepared by the main sect wasn't far now.
If he could just reach the concealment formation set up there, he would surely escape his pursuer.
'Damn it all! Shit!'
As he regained a sliver of composure, shame and self-loathing surged within him for fleeing so disgracefully.
His killing intent toward Se-woon burned like wildfire—
But he forced himself to calm down and reassess the situation coldly.
'......No. This might actually lead to a better outcome.'
His original mission had been to massacre the remnants of the former Nine Dragons Society and frame the unorthodox factions for it.
Though he had failed in that regard, Heo So-chang believed he had achieved something far more significant.
'The Sichuan Tang Clan is hiding a secret.'
Once a prestigious clan, it had declined over the years, reduced to the level of a minor faction in Sichuan.
Yet the mysterious power wielded by its sole heir held enough value to overshadow his mission's failure.
An unknown martial art and Divine Artifact capable of effortlessly subduing a Transcendent Realm master—alongside an extreme poison.
Moreover, though he wore the guise of righteousness, he walked the unmistakable path of demonic arts.
'There's a high chance he's connected to the legacy of the Demon Cult!'
The Demon Cult.
A shadowy organization that had vanished overnight four hundred years ago while attempting to unify the demonic paths—for reasons unknown to anyone.
But Heo So-chang concluded that Se-woon was undoubtedly linked to them.
Throughout history, every single individual who obtained the Demon Cult's legacy had bathed the martial world in blood. And that bastard reeked of the same thick stench of blood.
'Tang Se-woon. If I inform the Lord of the secrets he's hiding and the danger he poses......!'
His partial failure would be forgiven.
The terrifying poison still lingering in his body would serve as proof of Se-woon's threat.
'If that damn bastard Dokma had just leaked a little more information, this wouldn't—'
His thoughts were abruptly cut off.
Pew!
A sharp, piercing sound tore through the air—
Thud!
"GAAAH!!"
A searing, burning pain erupted in his ankle.
Crash!
Heo So-chang collapsed, tumbling across the ground.
A hole the size of a fingernail had been drilled clean through his ankle.
Fwip!
Dragging his useless foot, he barely managed to hide behind a massive boulder.
But even that offered no safety.
Pew! Pew-pew!
Thud! Thud-thud!
With each piercing sound, holes identical to the one in his ankle were carved into the boulder—large enough to fit a house.
'H-How is he already here!?'
Once again, Se-woon's hunt had begun.