Chapter 91
Bu Eun-seol, now traveling with Tang Gon, had arrived near Chengdu in Sichuan before he knew it.
If they pushed their Movement Techniques to the limit, they could reach the Tang family estate within a single day.
Deep within a forest near Ziyang.
Clack.
Bu Eun-seol sheathed the Ink Sword he'd been gripping. Beside him, Tang Gon also raised his hand skyward.
Whirr— Thud.
A circular hidden weapon descended from the distant heavens in a wide arc before landing in his palm. It was the Blood Edged Disc, one of the Tang Clan's Eight Great Hidden Weapons.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
Crimson liquid like paint streamed down Bu Eun-seol and Tang Gon's cheeks and foreheads.
They had just fought a bloody battle against the Poison Forest Party's elite fighters.
"Haaah..."
Tang Gon exhaled deeply before speaking in a low voice.
"I've lost count of how many times this makes."
The journey from Geumjeong Mountain back to Chengdu in Sichuan had been nothing short of a path of blood.
At every pass along the way, elite martial artists sent by the Sichuan Tang Clan's second son, Tang Bi, lay in ambush. Even assassins from the Blood Hand Sect had poured forth in waves.
Though they'd deliberately taken remote, less-traveled paths, there was nowhere they could escape their pursuers.
"I'm truly ashamed."
Tang Gon wore an awkward expression as he looked at Bu Eun-seol, drenched in blood.
"Had you not protected me with your unfathomable sword techniques, I would have surely lost my life to the Blood Hand Sect's killers this time."
The Blood Hand Sect.
They were among the most vicious assassin sects in the world, notorious for planting explosives or hidden weapons on their own bodies without hesitation.
With such ruthless Blood Hand Sect killers hired en masse... under normal circumstances, there would have been no hope of survival.
Yet Bu Eun-seol had not only sensed the assassins' attacks in advance but had also used the Fluorescent Sword Control to block every single strike aimed at Tang Gon.
"It was part of our agreement. Don't dwell on it."
When Bu Eun-seol turned away indifferently, Tang Gon forced a bitter smile.
"By the way, I still can't discern the origins of your sword techniques. Could they be the sword art you inherited at the Thousand Swords Society gathering?"
"That's correct."
"What a pity. Had I known I'd be giving up my position as successor, I should've taken the oath and learned those techniques myself."
Just as Tang Gon began grumbling in regret—
Whoosh!
A shadow soared through the distant sky like a great roc, accompanied by the sound of splitting air. It was Heuk-pyo.
Thud.
Upon landing, Heuk-pyo cautiously studied Bu Eun-seol and Tang Gon, both soaked in blood, before asking carefully:
"Are you both alright?"
"Don't concern yourself."
Bu Eun-seol waved a hand dismissively.
"What of the Tang Clan's movements?"
Using their Movement Techniques, they could reach the Tang estate directly.
But pursuers always laid their traps more meticulously the closer one got to their destination.
Bu Eun-seol had sent Heuk-pyo ahead to scout the Tang Clan's situation.
"Well..."
Heuk-pyo hesitated, glancing at Tang Gon before continuing.
"The main road is swarming with warriors clad in blue-green uniforms. But the Tang Clan is pretending not to notice."
"If they're wearing blue-green, they must be elite fighters from the Absolute Poison Corps under my second brother's direct command."
Noticing Tang Gon's expression darkening instantly, Heuk-pyo asked:
"Are they strong?"
"Strength aside... if the Absolute Poison Corps has appeared, it means my second brother is there as well."
Only then did Heuk-pyo realize one critical fact and gaped.
The Family Head's second son, Tang Bi, was guarding the main gate with his elite forces?
That meant to enter the Tang estate, they would have to confront Tang Bi—a direct blood descendant—standing in their way.
But such a thing could never be allowed to happen on Sichuan soil. It must not happen.
"So we cannot kill or injure him."
"Precisely."
Tang Gon stole a glance at Bu Eun-seol.
Bu Eun-seol had reached such an unfathomable realm that even Tang Gon couldn't gauge his limits.
But could he possibly pass through without harming Tang Bi, who had inherited the Tang Clan's secret arts? It seemed impossible.
"This should be interesting."
When Bu Eun-seol smiled faintly, Heuk-pyo's expression changed.
"Young Master. He is the Second Young Master of the Tang Clan. If you harm him, we must abandon entering the estate entirely."
"I'll handle it my way."
Bu Eun-seol wore a faint smile at the corners of his lips.
Dozens of masters unleashing their Poison Arts and hidden weapons. He only needed to block them—counterattacking was forbidden.
This meant it was the perfect opportunity to push the Formless Heavenly Flow's "Return to the Original Owner" and the Fluorescent Sword Control to their absolute limits.
"Until now, the assassins who came at me used such predictable killing moves that it was downright boring."
Baring his white teeth, Bu Eun-seol muttered with a pleased expression.
"Now, I can finally test them properly."
With that faint smile still lingering, he spoke in a low voice to Heuk-pyo.
"I'll break through there. You follow slowly with him."
Thud! Whoosh!
Bu Eun-seol shot into the sky, unfurling his movement technique, and soared like the wind toward the main road where the Tang Clan resided.
"..."
Watching this, Heuk-pyo and Tang Gon exchanged glances, their faces stiff with terror.
—We have to stop him!
The same thought flashed through both their minds.
Swish! Crash!
Tang Gon and Heuk-pyo simultaneously activated their movement techniques and began chasing after Bu Eun-seol.
"Stop!"
"Young Master!"
They poured all their combat power into their movement techniques, yet they couldn't even catch a glimpse of Bu Eun-seol's retreating figure.
'He's doing something reckless because of me!'
Tang Gon was gravely mistaken.
He had misconstrued that Bu Eun-seol was charging alone into the battlefield to prevent a fratricidal bloodbath.
"Wait!"
Crash!
Tang Gon pushed his movement technique to the limit, expending every last drop of his internal energy.
Finally, he passed the main road, and the massive gates of the Sichuan Tang Clan came into view.
Before the great gate stood several dozen masters clad in lizard-like green armor—the Absolute Poison Corps.
And in front of them, Bu Eun-seol stood with a sword slung diagonally, slowly lowering his stance.
"Stop!"
Tang Gon landed beside Bu Eun-seol with a roar like a Lion's Roar.
"Don't trouble yourself. Let's... let's fight together!"
Seeing Tang Gon panting heavily, Bu Eun-seol frowned.
"I'll handle this alone."
"Heh-heh-heh, so you've finally come."
At that moment, the ranks of the Absolute Poison Corps split apart, and a large-framed man strode forward with an arrogant smirk.
His thin lips and dark under-eyes gave him a sinister, cruel impression.
The second son of the current Sichuan Tang Clan's Family Head—Tang Bi.
"But you will never set foot in the main house."
"I must see the Family Head!"
"Young Master!"
Heuk-pyo arrived just then, standing beside Bu Eun-seol.
"You absolutely must not kill them."
"Stay out of this."
Bu Eun-seol frowned as Tang Gon and Heuk-pyo interfered chaotically, then took a step forward.
He was curious—what techniques would the Absolute Poison Corps use against him? And how far could his "Return to the Original Owner" and Fluorescent Sword Control hold up against the Tang Clan's elite forces?
"You can't go alone."
Tang Gon hastily stepped forward to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Bu Eun-seol.
"And even if I die, I won't let you be harmed!"
It was a declaration that he would rather die together than let Bu Eun-seol fight alone—but Bu Eun-seol's eyes only filled with deep disappointment.
"Do you really have to interfere?"
"What... what do you mean?"
"If you join, won't their attacks split into two directions?"
At this absurd reply, Tang Gon stammered.
"You're saying... you want to fight alone because you don't want their attacks divided?"
"Exactly. I want to see them come at me with their full might."
Tang Gon's eyes widened as if he'd been struck on the back of the head.
Now he realized—Bu Eun-seol was a battle maniac who relished life-or-death duels.
"Even so, you can't possibly—"
At that moment, a profound disappointment flickered in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
Seeing this, Tang Gon had no choice but to slump his shoulders.
"...Fine. Do as you wish."
But then he spoke with renewed determination.
"But if things go wrong, I'll cut down every last master of the main house if I must to save you."
Though it was a moving declaration, Bu Eun-seol merely shook his head indifferently.
"That won't be necessary."
Drawing the Ink Sword, Bu Eun-seol stepped forward with unshakable confidence.
At last, the moment had come—Bu Eun-seol was about to clash with the Absolute Poison Corps, one of the Tang Clan's most elite armed brigades.
"Wait."
At that moment, a man standing beside Tang Bi stepped forward and clasped his hands toward Bu Eun-seol.
"I am the leader of the Absolute Poison Corps, Tang Sa-un."
Tang Sa-un. He was the son of Tang Seong, the third of the five brothers of the current Sichuan Tang Clan's Family Head, Tang Pae.
Since Tang Seong supported Tang Bi—not the eldest—as the successor, his son Tang Sa-un had also become the leader of the Absolute Poison Corps under Tang Bi's command.
Click.
Bu Eun-seol sheathed the Ink Sword once more.
He couldn't ignore a formal greeting from a Tang Clan master.
"Bu Eun-seol."
"I know. You are the Wandering Drifters' Martial Refinement Tournament champion."
Tang Sa-un spoke courteously.
"But this is an internal matter of our main house. Wouldn't a third party interfering in a succession struggle violate the laws of the Murim?"
Bu Eun-seol's eyebrows shot up in an instant.
He hadn't expected Tang Sa-un to attempt persuasion rather than brute force to make him back down.
"I am no third party."
Bu Eun-seol, who had been staring straight at Tang Sa-un, spoke with unwavering resolve.
"I am Tang Gon's close friend."
"Close friend?"
"That's right. No one stands by and watches their friend die before their eyes."
At that moment, Tang Sa-un's expression shifted.
"So you would die for him?"
"I won't die."
Bu Eun-seol curled his lips coldly.
"I came to bring him into the Tang Clan, not to die."
"You've made your resolution, then. Good."
Tang Sa-un, observing Bu Eun-seol's unyielding stance, raised an arm without hesitation.
"Deploy the formation!"
The Absolute Poison Corps was one of the Tang Clan's most elite armed brigades.
Moreover, the Five Poisons Sand Fire Formation they employed was a boundary formation that unleashed the clan's most lethal poison arts—something no amount of martial strength alone could withstand.
"Halt!"
Just then, the Tang Clan's great gate swung open, and a warrior clad in black martial robes rushed out.
"Cease fighting! The order has been given to admit Tang Gon and his party into the main house!"
"What?!"
Tang Bi spun around, leaping up in shock.
"Who gave such an order?!"
"That's enough now!"
A sharp voice rang out as a gaunt man strode forward before the gate.
Though his complexion was deathly pale, his eyes were as clear as a lake, and his entire body exuded an austere yet transcendent dignity.
This was Tang Ryeong, the eldest son of the current Tang Family Head, Tang Pae.
"Let them in, Sa-un."
Under Tang Ryeong's solemn command, Tang Sa-un glanced at Tang Bi before speaking.
"My apologies, but I cannot obey that order. This is a legitimate—"
"Father has commanded their entry into the Tang Clan."
"The Family Head... said that?"
Tang Ryeong gave a firm nod.
"Indeed. Bring them in at once."
In that instant, Tang Bi's face hardened like ice.
Grind.
Clenching his teeth, he gave Tang Sa-un a slight nod.
At this, Tang Sa-un clasped his hands and bowed.
"I shall obey. Disband the formation!"
At his command, the Absolute Poison Corps, which had been poised in formation, withdrew in a wave.
"Hmph!"
Tang Bi snorted and strode inside, leaving the scene hollow. Tang Sa-un then turned to Tang Ryeong and pressed his hands together.
"I shall take my leave now."
"Very well."
Once Tang Sa-un and the Absolute Poison Corps had fully retreated, Tang Ryeong smiled at Tang Gon.
"You've returned safely."
"Eldest Brother."
As Tang Gon clasped his hands, Tang Ryeong patted his shoulder.
"You've suffered greatly. Your face looks quite haggard."
"It's nothing."
Tang Gon's voice choked as he bowed his head at the warm words.
Tang Ryeong gave his shoulder another pat before turning to Bu Eun-seol beside him and pressing his hands together.
"You must be Bu Eun-seol, Young Hero Bu."
Tang Ryeong's clear eyes met Bu Eun-seol's as he inclined his head slightly.
"I heard you risked your life to come here for our third brother. For such great kindness, I offer my gratitu—"
He stopped mid-sentence as he raised his head.
Bu Eun-seol was glaring at him with eyes so fierce they seemed to burn.
Shhk.
With an irritated motion, Bu Eun-seol sheathed his sword and turned away coldly.
"Save your gratitude. I did it for my own reasons."
Tang Ryeong hesitated, unprepared for such frosty treatment.
"Have I... done something to offend you?"
"No."
But Heuk-pyo, watching the exchange, could barely suppress his laughter.
Tang Ryeong had stopped the Five Poisons Sand Fire Formation to save Bu Eun-seol.
From Bu Eun-seol's perspective, it was like having a mouthwatering delicacy snatched away just before the first bite.
Yet Tang Ryeong, oblivious to this, stood frozen under Bu Eun-seol's murderous glare, utterly bewildered.