The Qi Arts Master Chapter 52
Song Sogeol staggered off in search of an outhouse, heading to a deserted spot. At that moment, the black-masked man watching him from the shadows narrowed his eyes with a glint.
Shiiik—!
“Ugh!”
In the pitch-black darkness where nothing was visible without moonlight, a black dart flew silently. Song Sogeol collapsed upon taking the hit.
Piiik—
Seeing Song Sogeol fall, the masked man blew a small, thin flute.
“Argh!”
“Enemies!”
The camp erupted in chaos at the sound of the flute. Sensing screams and flames breaking out everywhere, the masked man approached Song Sogeol for the killing blow.
There was no doubt in the masked man's eyes. He was certain his perfect dart technique in the darkness couldn't have missed.
“Ugh……”
Then, the fallen Song Sogeol groaned and rose. The masked man was startled. How could he survive a dart infused with inner energy? He'd clearly seen it strike the heart. No matter how dark, it was as clear as day to him, trained specially for such conditions.
Song Sogeol's eyes met the masked man's.
“Fuck…… that hurts. Who the hell are you?!”
The masked man faltered at Song Sogeol speaking as if unscathed. Grimacing in pain, Song Sogeol looked down at his chest. Between the hole in his torn clothes, something glimmering in the moonlight caught the eye.
“I'd be dead if I hadn't worn the Thousand Silk Dragonscale Armor.”
Confirming Song Sogeol unharmed, the masked man swung his hand without hesitation. Countless darts shot from his sleeve.
Whirrlik!
The darts flew not at uniform speed but each at its own, like living bees.
“Whoa!”
Song Sogeol urgently leaped back to dodge the incoming darts.
Papapap!
Several darts slammed powerfully into where he'd stood. With a light gesture from the masked man, the embedded darts pulled free and attacked again.
“Flying Ghost Darts?”
Startled, Song Sogeol reached for his sword at his waist.
'Ah… left my sword behind.'
In that moment of distraction, one dart grazed his arm.
“Ugh.”
Using evasion steps, Song Sogeol diligently dodged the persistent, artfully pursuing darts, but he couldn't avoid them perfectly. He managed to protect vitals, but wounds accumulated over time.
“You're different from the rumors.”
The masked man spoke for the first time.
“Who are you? Using Flying Ghost Darts with such skill.”
Song Sogeol tried to buy time with conversation.
The masked man sneered.
“Think stalling will bring rescuers? You believe I was that sloppy?”
Song Sogeol's expression hardened. This was no mere assassin; his skills were exceptional. Distant screams and encroaching flames lit the dark night. His own drunken body barely obeyed.
Song Sogeol's face grew grave, then he burst into laughter.
“Ah~ So-hee, what are you doing? Since when did you start overthinking?”
“What?”
The masked man scowled at the nonsense.
“What bullshit is that? Die now!”
The masked man wanted to kill Song Sogeol quickly and find the young sect leader. Demonic qi surged from his body.
“Hoo~ So it was the Demonic Cult after all? Makes sense for a force with this level of skill to pull this off.”
Song Sogeol glanced at the moon while speaking.
“Nice night. Tsk.”
Suddenly, Song Sogeol's clothes evaporated into the air as if torn.
Plip. Plip. Plip-plip-plip!
A massive burst of inner energy had shredded them in an instant. The masked man, gathering demonic qi, was shocked by the change. An unimaginable aura was rising from Song Sogeol's body. His upper garments shredded away, leaving only a form-fitting thin armor. Then, Song Sogeol's chest swelled into soft curves.
“……”
A cold smile reflected in the masked man's stunned eyes.
“It's been so long since my true form…… This disguise technique is effective, but the inner energy drain is immense.”
Song Sogeol's voice thinned to a woman's.
One name flashed in the masked man's mind.
“What relation do you have to the Thousand Faces Asura?”
Song So-hee fell into reminiscence at the long-unheard name.
“He's my dad.”
The masked man grunted. Unlike the title, the Thousand Faces Asura wasn't Demonic Cult. A master of disguise with a thousand faces, no one knew his true face. His profound inner energy and martial arts made capture impossible. The "Asura" came from his ruthless hands. Even the Demonic Cult suffered greatly—treasures stolen, secrets pilfered like cutting off a nose in plain sight. Subordinates felt wronged when he infiltrated as a high officer. He was a genius in disguise.
Then, the Thousand Faces Asura vanished from the martial world. With no known face, he couldn't be found. Suspicion arose when the Haomen rapidly grew in his absence, but no proof.
“I see. Then I'll have to stake my life.”
The masked man chuckled inwardly. He'd come prepared to die. To force the young sect leader's return, this was their final order after failing a key mission. No refusal possible. Just gratitude to become fertilizer for demonic conquest.
His eyes grew icier.
Song So-hee savored the long-forgotten surge of energy filling her body. Maintaining disguise had restricted and drained her, leading to sluggish moves.
“Hohoho~ What a fine night~.”
Song So-hee laughed delightedly and launched forward.
Tat.
With a small foot stamp, her figure vanished. The masked man flung darts everywhere without seeing her. More numerous than before, they filled the world.
Tang-tang-tang!
Drawing his waist sword toward the clanging deflections, he slashed.
Shk!
A sharp whoosh rang out.
“Not a chance!”
Song So-hee kicked the oncoming blade mid-air. Twisting back, she landed. The masked man saw pebbles flying at her landing.
Kwang!
Channeling demonic qi to the max, he pulverized them to dust. He manipulated fallen darts with a wave.
He needed a quick decisive blow. The Thousand Faces Asura was famed for vast inner energy. If this woman was his daughter, dragging it out favored her.
Song So-hee scoffed at the repeated dart barrage. Such trifles posed no threat. She casually swatted them with both hands.
But the moment she did, a shocking aura widened her eyes. The masked man had ingested something, multiplying his demonic qi manifold.
“Deep Frenzy Pill?”
Silent, he charged. Song So-hee unleashed Flying Dragon Kick, kicking upward. He lightly pressed her foot with his hand. Surprised he'd blocked her full-powered kick, she followed with Coiling Dragon Kick, a spinning heel.
The seamless kick flowed naturally, as if in sync. He raised an arm to block casually. Pure strength. Her body screamed to burst, yet no pain registered.
Using the blocked kick as leverage, Song So-hee spun higher. Whirling mid-air, she smashed down with Facing Dragon Kick.
Kwajik!
A crack split the masked man's arm bone blocking her descent.
“……”
He was awed her inner energy pierced his mighty protective aura.
Not losing momentum, Song So-hee spun again mid-air for another Facing Dragon Kick. Wary, he thrust his sword at her foot. No matter her power, she'd not risk a foot against an energy-infused blade.
But defying expectation, she stomped down undeterred.
Kang!
Foot met sword in a deafening metallic clang. His blade was cracked, on the verge of shattering.
'No wonder they couldn't catch Thousand Faces Asura easily. Even his young child wields such brute inner energy.'
He poured more into the sword, meeting her force with force. Overloaded, it shattered, fragments exploding outward—intentionally propelled at her.
Song So-hee extended both hands in bizarre motions. Vast energy flowed from them: Vajra Dragon, one of Thousand Faces Asura's ultimate techniques. Absolute defense.
Debates once raged comparing it to Shaolin's Vajra Indestructible during his heyday.
Krgrit! Krgrgrgrg—!
Countless shards halted against her Vajra Dragon. Calmly, the masked man swallowed a pill. Song So-hee noted it amid her technique but dismissed. Even with Deep Frenzy Pill, he couldn't match her; what more could he do?
Frowning fiercely, he charged bare-handed—pure body assault, no darts.
Song So-hee eyed him puzzled. Charging her ongoing Vajra Dragon would maim any martial artist.
“Argh!”
As expected, he screamed colliding with it. Demonic qi roiled from him. Then his body swelled abruptly.
Song So-hee panicked. It looked ready to explode.
“Wh-what?!”
Puuung!
Before she could react, the swelling body detonated with a roar.
“Kyaaak!”
His explosion shattered her Vajra Dragon. Unknown smoke billowed rapidly from the blast.
Song So-hee held her breath desperately, but she'd inhaled too much. Strength drained from her limbs. A mocking smile lingered on the masked man's face as his body tumbled away.
Song So-hee fled the smoke. Though escaped, something was wrong. Not just stamina—her inner energy leaked too. No manipulation stopped it.
Thud.
She dropped to her knees. Tremors wracked her. As abundant inner energy fled against her will, unimaginable lethargy overwhelmed her.
Tears streamed as she propped on hands. Even straightening her back failed. Arms gave out; she collapsed forward.
As she fell, distant voices called her name.
* * *
Tian Ailang headed to a suitable empty lot with Elder Go.
Suddenly, Tian Ailang turned.
“What's wrong?”
Elder Go asked curiously.
“……Don't you sense this energy?”
“What……?”
Elder Go focused, expanding his senses.
“Eh?!”
Finally sensing it, he startled. Tian Ailang nodded gravely.
“Demonic qi, right?”
Elder Go stared in confusion.
“Seems so, but……”
His face showed incomprehension. Tian Ailang's expression darkened.
“Something's gone wrong. No reason for demonic qi at the camp.”
“Quite right.”
“Let's hurry. Bad feeling.”
“Indeed.”
Tian Ailang instantly used Earth Shrinking Technique, racing to camp. Elder Go followed with lightness skill.
Anxiety surging, Tian Ailang called without looking back.
“Bad vibes—going ahead!”
Puuung—!
A soft air burst, and Tian Ailang vanished in a blink.
'Such absurd speed!'
Elder Go gaped at Tian Ailang's effortless pace surging ahead.