Chapter 138. If the Heavenly Poison Sect Doesn't Use Poison, What the Hell Do They Fight With?
“Poison!”
Gok Sang cried out in shock, holding his breath and scrambling to retreat, but it was too late—he'd already inhaled the acid powder. Ju Gwan-in fared no better. Both men's hearts sank like lead.
Won Seung's mind held the five volumes that Dok Sabu had compiled over a lifetime. They were divided into poison crafting, poison usage techniques, and poison arts: the first three covered the creation and antidotes for mineral, plant, and animal poisons; the fourth delved into wielding those poisons; and the final one taught how to cultivate them within one's own body.
Dok Sabu had warned him to build tolerance to poisons first and only attempt the usage techniques or arts after acquiring a full cycle of internal energy. Otherwise, he risked poisoning himself. That's why Won Seung had focused mainly on crafting and antidotes, steadily building his resistance by consuming poisons over time.
There was a reason he'd devoted himself to the yin-yang corresponding acupoints training. Recently, mastering all twenty-two pairs had unlocked a full cycle of internal energy, allowing him to finally delve into poison usage techniques.
The first one he'd learned: detonating acid powder. Compressing it with inner force into a pellet, then flinging it to burst with a shockwave—like an exploding fireball, engulfing a radius of one and a half zhang. This was a masterful technique, something only experts from the Dang Clan could pull off. It was a rare sight in the jianghu.
Gok Sang and Ju Gwan-in never dreamed a lay disciple from a prestigious orthodox sect like the Great Joint Sect would resort to poison. And they certainly couldn't imagine a young-looking guy like Won Seung wielding such an advanced technique. That's how they got caught off guard so easily.
As the two reeled in panic—
Shh-shh-snap!
Won Seung dropped silently from the ceiling, sword flashing out. Gok Sang and Ju Gwan-in thrust their blades up desperately, blocking and staggering back.
Clang!
Won Seung's sword seemed light, but it carried a full cycle's worth of internal energy. They barely parried, but the impact tore at their grips, leaving them stumbling.
Ju Gwan-in bellowed.
“You vile bastard! Using poison?!”
“Coming from guys who swat people like flies? You've got some nerve.”
I'm the 18th sect leader of the Heavenly Poison Sect, you idiots. If we don't use poison, what the hell are we supposed to fight with?
If you're that pissed... fine. I'll humor you with the sword.
Won Seung lunged forward, unleashing the Tae-eul Sword Art.
Change and illusion.
Watching Gi Seung-gyo's Bi Sword Sect Horizontal World Sword Art had given him insights. The change and illusion forms of the Tae-eul Sword Art were the most similar.
Now infused with the Bi Sword Sect's sword intent.
Pa-pa-pat!
Gok Sang and Ju Gwan-in retreated nonstop under the ferocious onslaught of Won Seung's swordplay.
What the hell kind of sword art is this?
As masters from Ten Thousand Sword Mountain, who prided themselves on swordsmanship, they knew the basics of major sects' styles. The Fuhuo Sword Art was sharp enough, but this Tae-eul variant laced with Horizontal World sword intent was downright savage. It didn't even feel like a Daoist art, so they never guessed it was Tae-eul.
Gok Sang and Ju Gwan-in had to link up, combining their efforts just to fend off Won Seung's assault.
What the fuck is this kid?
Four of them had jumped Gi Seung-gyo and one died. Fine, Bi Sword Sect made sense. But this nobody? Getting pushed around by some unheard-of punk was humiliating for Peak experts.
The acid powder Won Seung deployed was brutally potent. They tried suppressing the toxin with their inner energy, but it steadily wore them down.
In a life-or-death clash, with back-to-back curveballs and mounting damage, falling back was inevitable.
Suddenly, Ju Gwan-in gritted his teeth and slammed his sword down.
Boom!
A massive shockwave erupted, forcing Won Seung to leap back. Ju Gwan-in shouted.
“Gok Sang, circulate your qi and expel the poison!”
He leveled his sword at Won Seung.
If it was something you could circulate out, I wouldn't have bothered.
Won Seung assessed them. Poisoning both was a solid win. He'd hoped to drop one, but two Peak experts linking defenses left no openings.
Won Seung valued lives, but not those trying to kill him. And no one could know what went down here. They all had to die.
Including that Sado Gongja over there.
That's why he'd gone for the poison kill. But damn, Ten Thousand Sword Mountain masters were tough.
“You bastard!”
Ju Gwan-in roared and charged, sword leading.
Won Seung fell back, calmly countering with the Heavenly Middle Sword Art.
Kang!
Blades clashed with a heavy ring. Won Seung had drawn it into a heavy sword duel. That ramped up Ju Gwan-in's energy drain.
Won Seung retained a full sixty years of cultivated energy. Right now, he was matching with his base twenty years plus ten pairs of yin-yang points—thirty total. Seeing Won Seung treat his blade like a heavy sword darkened Ju Gwan-in's face further.
The longer it dragged, the worse for Ju Gwan-in.
Then the room shifted again.
Boom!
Like thunder cracking, Gi Seung-gyo and Sado Gongja both reeled back. Won Seung glanced over—Gi Seung-gyo looked paler, a bit worse off. The Horizontal World Sword Art guzzled massive energy, firing endless sword qi. After tangling with four Ten Thousand Sword Mountain elites, now facing a powerhouse like Sado Gongja, he was showing signs of strain.
They glared murderously but held still. Instinct screamed that whoever moved first would die. Caution was their only play.
Ju Gwan-in halted as Won Seung kept retreating. With his energy eroding from the acid powder, he needed to conserve.
Ju Gwan-in eyed Won Seung with grim malice.
“Who the hell are you?”
The 18th sect leader of Heavenly Poison Sect!
“I'm a lay disciple of the Great Joint—”
“Bullshit. That's no Joint Sect sword art.”
“Guess you don't know how many sword styles the Great Joint has. Want a real one?”
Won Seung assumed the Fuhuo Sword Art's starting stance. After swapping techniques with Ju Neung and Mu Gong, he'd drilled it enough to make it convincing.
“I'll use Fuhuo. Too good for running dogs like you. Shame I don't have Fuhuo Sword Art.”
Ju Gwan-in flushed crimson. Won Seung had straight-up called him Sado Gongja's lapdog.
“You son of a bitch!”
Ju Gwan-in summoned his remaining power. A Peak expert at full throttle unleashed a chilling killing intent.
Won Seung raised his sword.
Then Sado Gongja, facing off with Gi Seung-gyo, suddenly yelled.
“Ju Gwan-in, fall back! He's luring you in! Gwak Gyo, kill that one first!”
Sado Gongja was sharp. Even while clashing with Gi Seung-gyo, he'd clocked Won Seung's abnormal energy. Seeing Ju Gwan-in—already poisoned—fall for the feint, he sent his bodyguard.
Quick on the uptake, huh?
Gwak Gyo launched at Won Seung; Ju Gwan-in tried retreating. Won Seung whipped three darts from his waist, hurling them in a flash.
One streaked at Ju Gwan-in's face; another skimmed low. Ju Gwan-in raised his sword for the fast one—but the low dart hit first. Dosanrim's master Daesan had fallen to this "first slow, then fast" dart trick.
Ju Gwan-in panicked, dodging, then spotted the face-shot dart and freaked.
Thud!
Gwak Gyo, just landing, slashed the side dart away. Ju Gwan-in realized he'd nearly met the afterlife.
“That guy's a pro. No ordinary dart work.”
Now Ju Gwan-in, Gok Sang, and Gwak Gyo dropped all underestimation. Ju Gwan-in and Gok Sang fled the hall to the gate, slumping against the wall to circulate qi.
Gwak Gyo glared at Won Seung, then closed in. Won Seung probed with his sword—then Gwak Gyo whipped his wrist wildly, battering like a storm.
Chaotic Sword?
Gwak Gyo was a Chaotic Sword master—the hardest to face in swordplay. No fixed form, no set targets. Just a whirlwind that overwhelmed. Mastering it was a nightmare.
Won Seung realized he'd met a true Peak expert.
* * *
Reports reached Tianhu Chief Inspector Jang Hak-ryang: Gu Yeom-jung and Ju Gyeong-cheon had led their men out the east gate. Gu Yeom-jung hadn't dared wake the Guard Captain, but his superior Jang Hak-ryang knew the gravity of this.
Midnight or not, he headed straight for the Guard Office. Hearing Jang Hak-ryang's report, Guard Captain Jeok In-ui set out into the night. He reached the Commander's residence, emerged shortly after, and raced on.
Jeok In-ui's destination: Seongwangbu.
“Who goes there?”
The gate guards snapped to alert.
“Southern Guard Captain of the Imperial Guard, Jeok In-ui.”
“Gasp!”
At his identity, the Seongwangbu gatekeepers paled in shock. An Imperial Guard captain didn't wander at night...
“Here to see the one in the Bamboo Grove Pavilion.”
“This way, sir.”
Jeok In-ui headed to the most secluded annex in Seongwangbu: the Bamboo Grove Pavilion. Reaching the dense bamboo, he bowed respectfully.
“I come at this late hour. Regarding the matter you tasked me with before.”
A light flickered deep in the grove. A tiled house stood there, light spilling from within.
A heavy voice rumbled from inside.
“Clear the area and come speak close.”
Jeok In-ui dismissed his escort guard, approached with utmost decorum, and stood in the courtyard. He repeated the report.
Six Ten Thousand Sword Mountain masters and a Bi Sword Sect expert had appeared at the Bang family ruins. Currently, two Imperial Guard Baihu with 160 subordinates had them surrounded. He added his own measures.
“To ensure no bandits escape, I've sent Tianhu with 300 guardsmen for backup.”
“Understood. Sorry to drag you out at this hour.”
“Not at all. We'll capture them for sure.”
“……”
Jeok In-ui bowed politely and withdrew.
* * *
Pa-pa-pat!
Gwak Gyo whipped his sword like a lash. Then suddenly closed in, stabbing madly. No room left in the hall, Won Seung leaped to the courtyard.
Gi Seung-gyo and Sado Gongja faced off there, locked in stalemate. They glared, waiting for the other to twitch first.
Won Seung landed—right beside Gi Seung-gyo. Sado Gongja sneered.
“Hmph! Knew you were in cahoots.”
Won Seung straightened gravely.
“Don't jump to conclusions. Sado Gongja, I'm no one's lackey. Lone wolf here.”
He thrust his waist straight, one hand behind, sword arm dangling. Gi Jangno of Jeokhyeolsan's style.
A stance he'd been dying to use.