Chapter 211
Ok Ho-bang spoke with an extremely grave expression.
"Originally, sending over a hundred of our Eastern Drifters, Western Wanderers' high-level wanderers should have made sweeping away the Wind Tiger Gang an easy task. But as if they anticipated this, the Wind Tiger Gang also recruited outstanding masters."
"Masters?"
"That's correct. We couldn't obtain precise information, but we believe they're not unrelated to Hell Blood Citadel."
In an instant, Bu Eun-seol's eyes flashed.
Hell Blood Citadel. Why would one of the Demonic Path Ten Gates involve themselves in such a matter?
Reading Bu Eun-seol's expression, Ok Ho-bang lowered his head with an awkward look.
"They consider our Eastern Drifters, Western Wanderers, based in Guizhou, a thorn in their side. Moreover, there was that incident before..."
He had schemed to offer the Spirit Divine Sword as the tournament prize for the Martial Arts Tournament while secretly planning to present it to the Lord of the Hell Blood Citadel.
But because Bu Eun-seol participated in the tournament and caused that plan to fail, their relationship with Hell Blood Citadel had soured.
'Considering Hell Blood Citadel's actions until now, this is certainly possible.'
Hell Blood Citadel was not only highly sensitive to benefits but also generally uninvolved in the movements of Hall Master-ranked figures.
Having finished his thoughts, Bu Eun-seol asked, "Do you have proof that these reinforcements are masters from Hell Blood Citadel?"
"We haven't received any reports of them using Poison Art yet... but it's said the masters brought by the Wind Tiger Gang have suddenly begun employing bizarre poisons and hidden weapons. Even ordinary antidotes are ineffective against them."
"Hmm."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes narrowed to slits.
In large-scale faction battles where numerous combat powers clash, poisons and hidden weapons become exceptionally effective weapons.
Moreover, Hell Blood Citadel was the grandmaster of Poison Art.
If they were truly using Hell Blood Citadel's poisons and hidden weapons, the tide of battle could turn in an instant.
"But Heuk-pyo and the rest of the Wanderer Corps continue to fight without giving up."
Bu Eun-seol nodded lightly.
"Good."
"Pardon?"
"I'll register as a wanderer of the Eastern Drifters, Western Wanderers too."
Realizing Bu Eun-seol's intention, Ok Ho-bang shook his head with a stern expression.
"That's absolutely impossible."
"What's the problem?"
"Young Master, you currently hold the position of the Demon Hall's Great Lord, do you not? If they truly are masters from Hell Blood Citadel and the Death Shadow Squad gets involved in the battle..."
Ok Ho-bang couldn't bring himself to finish.
Bu Eun-seol's current status was the Demon Hall's Great Lord. If he used the Death Shadow Squad's power to aid the Eastern Drifters, Western Wanderers...
It might backfire terribly.
"Don't worry."
Bu Eun-seol replied indifferently.
"I won't use the Death Shadow Squad."
Around noon the next day,
A carriage waiting in front of the Cloud Immortal Inn slowly departed.
Inside the carriage sat Bu Eun-seol, along with Myo Cheon-u and Yu Un-ryong.
"A wanderer?"
After listening to Bu Eun-seol's explanation for a while, Myo Cheon-u tilted his head in confusion.
"So you're saying you're taking on a wanderer unit job to quickly retrieve that wanderer boy you've been keeping?"
"Correct."
"If it's a job suited for wanderers, why not just send some unit members instead?"
Bu Eun-seol answered firmly.
"That's unacceptable. There's a possibility Hell Blood Citadel is involved behind the scenes."
"Hell Blood Citadel?"
At this, Yu Un-ryong, who had remained silent until now, suddenly brightened.
"That sounds interesting."
His voice carried deep resentment and bitterness.
Among the Ten Demonic Heirs, Yu Un-ryong had received the most wretched treatment.
Because of this, not only White Horse Monastery but any mention of the Demonic Path Ten Gates made him gnash his teeth.
"You've arrived."
Upon reaching the Lantern Pavilion, Ok Ho-bang, who had been waiting, bowed his head.
He then had his subordinates swiftly register Bu Eun-seol, Myo Cheon-u, and the others as wanderers of the Eastern Drifters, Western Wanderers.
"It's done."
Ok Ho-bang distributed a piece of tough, jet-black cloth to Bu Eun-seol and his party.
"This is the Black Sleeve, symbolizing our Eastern Drifters, Western Wanderers' special-grade wanderers. You can attach it to your weapon or wear it around your waist."
As Bu Eun-seol accepted it, Ok Ho-bang spoke with utmost seriousness.
"Please, take care of that boy."
Not only had meeting Bu Eun-seol changed his heart, but he also felt guilt and affection toward Heuk-pyo, who had grown up fatherless and alone.
Bu Eun-seol silently gazed at him before nodding lightly.
"Understood."
Heavenly Grace Forest.
This was a medical household located near Fanjing Mountain in Guizhou.
Though surrounded by barren mountains, because numerous spiritual herbs grew near Fanjing Mountain, they had gained renown as medical practitioners.
Despite having saved countless people with their medical arts, the atmosphere within Heavenly Grace Forest, which should have been peaceful, was now chaotic.
Shing! Clang!
At the center of the vast manor, over two hundred martial artists were tangled in battle.
'What in the world is happening?!'
A middle-aged man gritted his teeth as he swung his sword against the endless onslaught of martial artists.
He was Im Hwan, the leader of the Wanderer Corps hired by the Heavenly Grace Forest.
'Could it be that all the wanderers guarding the Wind Tiger Gang's path have been slaughtered?'
The wandering mercenaries from the Wandering Drifters had built earthen fortifications near the mountain passes of Fanjing Mountain, using them as bases to battle the Wind Tiger Gang.
Yet now, the Wind Tiger Gang's masters had descended from Fanjing Mountain and reached the Heavenly Grace Forest itself.
Didn't that mean the wanderers defending the fortifications had been completely annihilated?
"Argh!"
Even now, the screams of the wanderers echoed in all directions.
Those who had stormed the Heavenly Grace Forest were not only exceptionally skilled in martial arts but also wielded poisoned weapons and bizarre hidden projectiles.
Im Hwan and the other masters of the Wanderer Corps were fighting desperately to hold back the tide of disciples, but it was a losing battle.
Swish!
Just then, a razor-sharp sickle grazed past his back.
In that instant, his entire body went numb as if paralyzed, and darkness swallowed his vision.
'Poison!'
Barely blocking the onslaught, he staggered back and hastily swallowed an antidote pill from his pocket.
Though the paralysis faded, the encroaching darkness in his vision barely improved.
"Haahp!"
Forcing his Internal Power to surge, he swung his sword—but his movements grew sluggish, and fresh wounds multiplied across his body.
"Guh..."
Im Hwan bit his lip until it bled.
No matter how he circulated his energy or swallowed antidotes, the venomous energy refused to relent.
Worse, the attackers' martial prowess surpassed even that of the Wind Tiger Gang's elite.
"Is this the end...?"
Strength drained from his sword hand. No tactic could overcome these foes.
A life sold for coin...
A warrior lives by the blade's edge. Having survived countless battles, dying on the battlefield held no regret.
Only the shame of falling to these mongrels' steel gnawed at him.
As resignation bloomed in Im Hwan's unfocused eyes—
Piiing! Crack-crack-crack!
A sudden Sound of Breaking Air split the sky, followed by a silvery flash descending from above.
Razor-thin throwing daggers.
"Who's there?!"
The Wind Tiger Gang disciples swung their weapons, attempting to deflect the daggers midair.
Yet unlike the piercing Sound of Breaking Air, the daggers arced down slowly, almost lazily.
Their purpose wasn't slaughter—but to halt the attacks on the wanderers through cunning precision.
Thud.
Simultaneously, a Black Shadow dropped from the sky and unleashed a storm of razor-sharp Sword Qi.
"Aaaagh!"
Screams erupted as the frontline Wind Tiger Gang disciples fell like autumn leaves.
"You...!"
Im Hwan's jaw slackened.
The Black Shadow who'd appeared to save them was none other than Heuk-pyo.
"How is he...?"
Im Hwan rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
Heuk-pyo, fighting with a dagger, was drenched in blood and riddled with wounds both large and small.
"Heuk-pyo, what happened?"
"An ambush. Not by the Wind Tiger Gang—but masters wielding strange hidden weapons..."
Heuk-pyo couldn't finish, too busy deflecting the renewed onslaught.
Yet Im Hwan understood instantly.
'The Wind Tiger Gang summoned masters to exterminate our wanderers at the fortifications.'
They'd called upon unknown elites to effortlessly crush the Wanderer Corps.
And Heuk-pyo alone had survived that hellish battle.
Flash!
Then Heuk-pyo's swordplay shifted again.
With each flicker of light from his twin daggers, Wind Tiger Gang disciples fell bleeding.
In moments, he'd cleaved through the entire vanguard and reached Im Hwan's side.
"I'll open a path. Retreat with the survivors."
Hiss—
Three Great Blades suddenly stabbed toward Heuk-pyo's vital points.
The Wind Tiger Gang's masters, having regrouped, targeted him.
Hum!
Heuk-pyo's dagger gleamed faintly.
Clang!
The Great Blades meant to impale him tangled midair instead—his dagger had redirected their trajectories using the Sword Pinnacle Stance.
Flash!
Simultaneously, Sword Qi erupted from Heuk-pyo's blade like a storm.
"Gaaah!"
Three Wind Tiger Gang disciples fell headless as Heuk-pyo unleashed another flurry of Sword Qi.
Wherever the slashes landed, crimson blossoms unfurled from throats.
Unshackled by the dagger's limitations, Heuk-pyo wielded his techniques with terrifying freedom.
"Aack!"
"Aaaaagh!"
Screams erupted in rapid succession as the bandits toppled like bundles of straw.
Simultaneously, the Wind Tiger Gang's offensive against the rogue warriors slackened. The tide of battle had shifted the moment Heuk-pyo joined the fray.
"Use hidden weapons!"
As Heuk-pyo carved through the battlefield alone, cutting down disciples left and right, the Wind Tiger Gang members unleashed a barrage of concealed projectiles.
But his movement technique was far too swift—each attempt failed.
Not only that, his cunning maneuvers redirected the hidden weapons, only increasing the damage dealt to the Wind Tiger Gang's own ranks.
Boom. Boom.
Every time light erupted from his dagger, enemies fell without fail.
Im Hwan, watching the scene unfold, gaped in disbelief.
"I never imagined his martial arts would reach such heights."
Just a few years ago, Heuk-pyo had been nothing more than a rogue informant with slightly faster footwork.
Yet now, he had become a Peak Realm Master, effortlessly felling first-rate experts.
"I'll fight too!"
Despite the path of retreat opening, Im Hwan refused to flee and instead rallied the rogue warriors.
"Support Heuk-pyo! Let's wipe them out!"
The battle raged on.
With Heuk-pyo at the forefront, cutting down the bandits, the tide of the conflict swiftly reversed.
Just as they were about to push the Wind Tiger Gang forces back toward the entrance of the Heavenly Grace Forest—
"Hoh. To think a rogue warrior could possess such skill."
A low voice rumbled through the air, followed by—
Shiiiiing.
A bizarre Sound of Breaking Air echoed as ten shadowy figures descended from the sky into the Wind Tiger Gang's ranks.
They wore strange martial uniforms that shimmered with a crimson sheen, their fingers dyed red like smoldering charcoal.
At their head stood a middle-aged man, his gaze fixed on Heuk-pyo as if he had stumbled upon an amusing toy.
Thud. Thud.
The moment they stepped forward, the battlefield fell silent—as if doused in icy water.
The very air shifted in an instant under their overwhelming momentum.
"Leave not a single ant alive. Wipe them all out."
At their leader's command, the martial artists lining up behind him surged into the battlefield in unison.
Swish!
One of the Blood-Clad Warriors closed the distance in a flash, slashing his claws toward Heuk-pyo at the front.
Clang-clang-clang!
Dagger and claws clashed in rapid succession, ringing out with a harsh metallic clamor.
As Heuk-pyo stood his ground, blocking the claw art, two more Blood-Clad Warriors joined in, surrounding him in a triangular formation.
Swish! Slash!
Blades and claws wove chaotic patterns through the air.
Small scratches began appearing on Heuk-pyo's body as he fought against the three Blood-Clad Warriors.
"Ugh!"
Meanwhile, screams erupted from all directions as the rogue warriors crumbled under the Blood-Clad Warriors' assault.
Clang!
Heuk-pyo unleashed a massive cross-shaped sword aura, breaking through the encirclement and rejoining the rogue warriors' ranks.
His ability to hold his own against three Blood-Clad Warriors allowed the remaining rogue warriors to barely withstand the onslaught.
"That one's the problem."
The leader immediately discerned that the rogue warriors' stubborn resistance hinged entirely on Heuk-pyo's presence.
Boom.
In a single leap, the leader soared into the air, extending his hand—and suddenly, the sky seemed to darken.
Crack!
At the same time, a pitch-black energy seeped from the leader's palm as he hovered mid-air.
Boom.
A deep, monstrous groan reverberated as an immense pressure coiled around Heuk-pyo's body.
"Ghk—!"
Heuk-pyo swung his dagger wildly, trying to break free from the crushing force.
But the pressure clung to him like a vengeful ghost, stubbornly following his every movement.
Bang! Thud!
Realizing he couldn't evade the relentless pressure, Heuk-pyo channeled his internal power into his dagger.
Huum.
A low vibration pulsed as an overwhelming force erupted around the blade—he was using the Heavy Sword Technique to repel the intangible pressure.
Flash!
The moment Heuk-pyo unleashed his full sword technique—
KABOOM!
A deafening shockwave exploded outward, scattering dust in all directions. As the haze cleared, Heuk-pyo's figure slowly came into view.
"Hah... Hah..."
Gripping his daggers crossed, Heuk-pyo gasped for breath.
He had neutralized the intangible pressure, but the backlash had left him with no small amount of internal injuries.
"Oh?"
The leader couldn't hide his astonishment.
His True Void technique had shattered the bodies of countless foes in an instant over decades—yet this young man, barely past his coming-of-age, had withstood it?
"At his age, to endure the Heaven-Heavy Myriad Poisons Qi..."
"Heaven-Heavy Myriad Poisons Qi..."
Only then did Heuk-pyo bite his lip, realizing the identity of the crimson-clad leader.
"Mount Tai Among Poisons... Dok Mu-jeong."