Chapter 153
There was no need to guess—the culprit was undoubtedly Seok U-haeng's handiwork.
The guests, composed of righteous faction masters, could become a formidable force capable of aiding Longsword Mountain Manor at any moment.
He had secretly laced the air with Energy-Dispersing Poison, poisoning the manor's guests.
"It's mixed with a nauseating plague stench, but it's definitely Energy-Dispersing Poison!"
One of the guests, knowledgeable in medical arts, shouted.
The only saving grace was that the poison wasn't life-threatening, and most of the martial artists gathered here were skilled enough to expel the toxin using their internal energy.
"We'll leave the defense to you!"
The fallen martial artists assumed the lotus position and began channeling all their strength to purge the poison.
This left the remaining warriors of Longsword Mountain Manor in a panic. Far from lending a hand, they now had to protect the incapacitated guests.
'It'll be over soon.'
Myo Cheon-u, who had been unleashing his Annihilation Palm, allowed a triumphant smile to creep onto his face.
Seok U-haeng's plan was meticulous—he alone had thrown the manor's warriors into disarray and subdued the Taoists of the Zhongnan and Kongtong Sects.
Now, all that remained was for him to take Han Seong's head, and everything would be over.
Chiiing!
But suddenly, a clear Sword Resonance reverberated through the sky.
"...!"
At the same time, a storm of white Sword Qi cascaded down toward Myo Cheon-u's head.
"What—?"
Myo Cheon-u swiftly attempted to evade the descending Sword Qi.
Whoosh!
Yet, the torrent of Sword Qi abruptly vanished before his eyes—only to pierce into his back.
"The Whistling Cloud-Severing Sword?"
The technique was identical to Han Seong's signature Whistling Cloud-Severing Sword.
But its precision and cunning surpassed Han Seong's, striking from an angle that made evasion impossible.
"Tch!"
In the end, Myo Cheon-u spun his body like a top, releasing a surge of Palm Energy.
It was the Annihilation Palm's Life-Saving Ultimate Technique—Annihilation Heaven Overturning Transformation.
Fwooosh!
Concentric waves of Palm Energy coiled around his entire body.
Yet, despite activating his life-saving move, the Sword Qi slipped through the gaps, leaving a deep gash on his forearm.
'Damn it!'
Struck on his left forearm, Myo Cheon-u was utterly stunned.
The wound itself wasn't severe, but the internal energy imbued in the Sword Qi had blocked the meridians in his left arm.
Thud.
At the same time, a slender shadow descended beside Han Seong.
"Cheong-mae?"
Han Seong's jaw slackened as he recognized the woman who had landed next to him.
Clad in white garments, she held a gleaming treasured sword in one hand—none other than Cheong Cho-hyeon, a Great Righteous Expert from the Emei Sect.
"What brings you here?"
Just as Han Seong called out in surprise—
Whooosh!
A low Sword Resonance hummed, followed by the sharp Sound of Breaking Air erupting above Seok U-haeng, who was still engaged with the Zhongnan and Kongtong Taoists.
Crack!
The sound abruptly tore through the air like an explosion, driving straight for Seok U-haeng's head.
Seok U-haeng tried to dodge, but Kang Jung-ryang and Du Ak, sensing his intent, desperately blocked his escape route.
Splat!
In the end, the razor-sharp Sword Qi struck, sending a spray of blood bursting from Seok U-haeng's side.
Thud.
Simultaneously, a large shadow landed before the Zhongnan and Kongtong Taoists.
The figure was a man clad in dark blue martial robes.
His eyes brimmed with vitality, and an intense energy radiated from his entire body.
Moreover, a uniquely longsword—its tip elongated like an arrow—hung at his waist.
"Diancang Sect?"
Seok U-haeng's eyes flashed as he recognized the sword wielded by Diancang Sect warriors.
"...A Great Righteous Expert."
The man grinned and nodded.
"Gwan Seok-cheon of Diancang."
The Diancang Sect had produced two Great Righteous Experts. One was Yeong Ji-wi, who had joined Diancang late. The other was Gwan Seok-cheon, one of their first-generation disciples.
—Why has a Great Righteous Expert from Diancang appeared here?
Murmurs spread among the observing martial artists as the unexpected turn of events unfolded.
"Seok-cheon. What brings you here?"
At Han Seong's question, Gwan Seok-cheon approached and replied playfully.
"Long time no see, Young Estate Master Han."
Han Seong's face flushed red.
"Are you still mocking me about that?"
Han Seong had once, during his grueling training days at the Martial Alliance, shouted in desperation, "I am the young estate master of Longsword Mountain Villa!"
Ever since that day, the Great Righteous Experts had taken to calling him "Young Estate Master Han."
"What brings you here? You didn't even send word—how did you end up in this place?"
As Han Seong's eyes widened in surprise, Gwan Seok-cheon smiled faintly.
"I heard rumors that Longsword Mountain Villa was preparing to capture the Ten Demonic Heir. So I came to lend a hand."
Though his words were casual, Han Seong's expression instantly stiffened.
The plan to trap the Ten Demonic Heir had been treated as top-secret even within Longsword Mountain Villa.
Yet, Gwan Seok-cheon had somehow caught wind of it and come to help? That could only mean one thing—there was a spy among the villa's high command, leaking information to outsiders.
Seeing Han Seong's expression, Gwan Seok-cheon let out a sigh.
"Don't worry. Did you really think I'd plant a spy in my close friend's home?"
His gaze lingered not on Han Seong, but on Han Yeong-baek.
"...Father?"
Gwan Seok-cheon nodded slightly and spoke in a low voice.
"The estate master secretly reached out to us. He asked if we could assist, just in case things went awry."
Han Seong lowered his head in shame.
In the end, his father hadn't trusted his son's abilities enough—he had sought help behind his back.
And from his closest friends, no less.
"Why didn't you tell me beforehand?"
"This matter had to be handled with utmost secrecy. If even you were kept in the dark, the others would be fooled as well."
Han Seong was displeased, but he couldn't argue.
Had these reinforcements not arrived, the plan would have failed completely—and he himself would have been killed.
The sudden appearance of the Great Righteous Experts from Diancang and Emei.
Watching their exchange with Han Seong, Myo Cheon-u let out a sigh and turned to Seok U-haeng.
"You didn't foresee this?"
Seok U-haeng's expression stiffened slightly.
As an assassin, he had always prided himself on anticipating unexpected situations and preparing for every contingency.
Yet this time, one unforeseen event after another had unfolded.
'Where did the information leak from?'
For the past month, Seok U-haeng had scoured every inch of Longsword Mountain Villa's surroundings, meticulously analyzing their trap in order to kill Han Seong.
But how had the Great Righteous Experts slipped past his notice? How had Han Yeong-baek secretly coordinated with them?
"So that's what happened."
After a moment of contemplation, the answer came to him swiftly.
"The main pavilion intended to eliminate me."
Since entering the martial world, Seok U-haeng had made a name for himself by consecutively eliminating Great Righteous Experts.
No doubt, the Ultimate Assassin Pavilion had found him troublesome.
They couldn't afford even the slightest chance of Seok U-haeng becoming the Heir of the Demon Hall.
"I should have built my own intelligence network."
Seok U-haeng muttered bitterly.
He had always relied on the Ultimate Assassin Pavilion's intelligence network—which meant the pavilion's forces had been privy to all his plans and movements.
And among them, someone must have secretly leaked information to the Righteous Faction to ensure his downfall.
"So that's how it was."
Understanding Seok U-haeng's predicament, Myo Cheon-u let out a hollow laugh.
"The main palace pulled the same trick on me. That's why, during my first battle with a Great Righteous Expert, I was the one ambushed instead."
Myo Cheon-u spoke flatly, as if he had already given up on everything.
"From the moment we set foot on Hell Island... no, from the moment we applied to become Ten Demonic Heirs, our fate was already sealed."
"No. I anticipated this too."
"What?"
"I never assumed I'd be able to assassinate Great Righteous Experts so easily every time."
Then, raising his sword with grim determination, he murmured:
"I will not die. I will survive—and become the Heir of the Demon Hall."
A fierce gust of wind erupted from Seok U-haeng's body.
As he channeled his full combat power, drawing upon his internal energy, the true qi within him began to rise like a heat haze.
"Hah. Quite the momentum."
Gwan Seok-cheon, watching the spectacle, let out an impressed exclamation.
"The Ten Demonic Heir... If we'd left them unchecked for a few more years, victory would no longer be guaranteed."
"But that won't happen."
Then Cheong Cho-hyeon coldly spoke as she drew her sword.
"After we deal with them, we will hunt down and eliminate the remaining Ten Demonic Heirs without fail."
At her words, Han Seong and Gwan Seok-cheon nodded and took their stances.
Kang Jung-ryang, Du Ak, and five Taoists apiece also moved to surround Seok U-haeng and Myo Cheon-u.
Myo Cheon-u gritted his teeth.
The meridians in his left arm were twisted and blocked, while Seok U-haeng bled from a long gash on his side.
Now, only death awaited them.
Flash!
The first strike came from Gwan Seok-cheon's Sun-Shooting Sword Art.
Following that, the pinnacle of cloud swordsmanship—the Whistling Cloud-Severing Sword—struck from both sides, while from the rear, Zhongnan's Emerald Rain Sword and Kongtong's Seven Injuries Palm rained down like a storm.
In response, Myo Cheon-u unleashed the Ultimate Annihilation Palm, one of the Three Great Palm Techniques of the Extinction Palace.
Meanwhile, Seok U-haeng wielded the Steel Chain Blood Demon Sword of the Ultimate Assassin Pavilion, hurling ten types of hidden weapons and five types of Extreme Poison.
But the Ultimate Annihilation Palm was intercepted by the relentless Whistling Cloud-Severing Sword, and Seok U-haeng's sword techniques and hidden weapons were blocked by Gwan Seok-cheon's Whirlwind Shooting Sun Form and the Taoists' sword shadows.
Huff... Huff...
Myo Cheon-u gasped for breath, one arm hanging limp, while Seok U-haeng glared at his enemies, his face smeared with blood.
"Truly, the mad dogs of the Demonic Path Ten Gates. Impressive."
Gwan Seok-cheon couldn't help but admire them as he looked down.
Even on the verge of collapse, they stubbornly blocked attacks, desperately searching for a way out.
When an unavoidable strike came, they twisted their bodies, offering their backs or hips to minimize the damage.
Had this been a one-on-one duel, victory would not have been so easily assured.
"But now, it's over."
Cheong Cho-hyeon raised her treasured sword, its white light blazing above her head.
Having discerned that they no longer had the strength to resist, she prepared to deliver the final strike—to sever their heads.
"Wait!"
Han Seong suddenly spoke up with an aggrieved expression.
"This is Longsword Mountain Manor. If Cheong-mae takes the final blow, what will become of my dignity?"
In truth, it wasn't about dignity—he wanted the fame of being the one to slay the Ten Demonic Heirs.
Cheong Cho-hyeon glanced at Gwan Seok-cheon, a faint smile playing on her lips, then nodded.
"Very well."
Were Cheong Cho-hyeon and Gwan Seok-cheon truly so indifferent to fame that they would willingly hand over the glory of killing the Ten Demonic Heirs to Han Seong?
Not a chance.
Three hundred guests had witnessed everything here.
Even if Han Seong delivered the final blow, no one could ignore the contributions of Gwan Seok-cheon and Cheong Cho-hyeon.
'No choice. This is the only way to preserve the manor's honor.'
Of course, Han Seong knew this too.
But since all his carefully laid plans at Longsword Mountain Manor had failed... this was the only way to maintain his standing as its young master.
"Thank you."
Han Seong drew his treasured sword and stepped forward.
"Ten Demonic Heirs. Unfortunately, you chose the wrong time!"
Just as his blade sliced through the air, aiming for their necks—Flash!
Suddenly, a meteor streaked across the sky.
"...!"
But this meteor wasn't just passing by—it was hurtling violently toward the ground where Han Seong stood.
"Brother!"
Cheong Cho-hyeon realized it was an overwhelming surge of sword qi and swiftly moved to shield Han Seong.
Clang-clang-clang!
A deafening metallic screech rang out as her treasured sword slashed through the incoming sword qi.
"Ugh!"
A choked groan escaped her lips.
The sword qi was so ferocious that she couldn't fully neutralize it in an instant.
"Haap!"
Finally, even Gwan Seok-cheon stepped in, deflecting the sword qi sideways.
Bang!
The redirected sword qi struck the ground beside Han Seong.
BOOM!
A deafening explosion followed, leaving behind a crater large enough to swallow an ox.
The onlookers stared in shock.
—Who in the world could unleash such sword qi?
Sssss...
At that moment, a ghostly figure wearing a mask suddenly rose from the ground before Seok U-haeng and Myo Cheon-u.
"You..."
Even facing death, Seok U-haeng's eyes sharpened like blades.
"Bu Eun-seol...!"
Though masked, the eyes alone were enough for him to recognize—it was Bu Eun-seol.