Chapter 142
Chapter 142
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 142
Chapter Title: Demonic Cult
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Several people glanced at Dang Mujin. It wasn't because they thought he had accomplished something. They were simply intrigued by his corpse-like stance while still on his feet.
Before long, Dang Mujin's body swayed unsteadily and pitched forward. His chest no longer rose or fell, as if even his breathing had stopped.
Namgung Myeong's sword dulled at the sight, and Hong Geolgae sighed as he let his staff drop. They had lost their reason for coming to Heavenly Mountain.
Yet moments later, Dang Mujin staggered to his feet.
The amusing fact was that everyone inwardly rejoiced at the sight.
The fugitives, led by Three-Eyed Buddha, were relieved that the young junior had not yet died, while the pursuers were glad they could now take Dang Mujin back to the Demonic Cult headquarters.
The Demonic Cult was always short on physicians, so capturing a skilled one alive would be a fairly significant achievement.
From another perspective, it meant no one thought Dang Mujin could overturn the course of the battle.
Right Enforcer watched the approaching Dang Mujin with a furrowed brow.
'Something's different. Did he break through the wall in that time? No. It's too sloppy for that. He made some progress, but not enough... I've never seen anything like it.'
Martial artists who surpass the Absolute Realm wall undergo distinctive changes.
Steady breathing that rarely falters, balanced steps, efficient movements without excess, natural control of internal energy, and even deeper, more profound eyes, to put it vaguely.
All these combine to create a gap that inferiors cannot bridge.
But to Right Enforcer, Dang Mujin's state was subtle.
He had advanced too far for a first-rate, yet was clearly immature for an Absolute Realm expert.
'He doesn't seem like a threat.'
Right Enforcer judged thus and glared at Three-Eyed Buddha once more.
Three-Eyed Buddha looked at Dang Mujin as well. But his impression differed from Right Enforcer's.
'Unfamiliar.'
The way Dang Mujin walked felt somehow off, leading Three-Eyed Buddha to see potential instead.
Dang Mujin had undoubtedly taken a step forward. But he hadn't advanced in the same direction as others.
He had veered into a twisted path, forging his own way into territory no one had preceded him. That was what mattered.
Even adding a well-honed Absolute Realm expert wouldn't reverse this battle's tide.
But if an extraordinary person intervened, it could become an unpredictable variable.
Of course, that possibility was extremely slim. But with no other options, one had to cling even to the faintest hope.
'What confidence do you have to approach like this?'
Three-Eyed Buddha thought as he blocked Right Enforcer's sword.
*
Dang Mujin contemplated his inner self with clearer consciousness than ever.
The poison-laced internal energy swirled through the Ren and Du meridians before spreading to the Eight Extraordinary Meridians.
People said that upon breaching the Absolute Realm wall, long-accumulated pure internal energy gently cleanses the body's meridians.
But Dang Mujin felt the exact opposite.
Not pure internal energy, but the densest, most unadulterated poison ravaged his body roughly, tearing it apart and aggressively burning away impurities lodged in his acupoints.
That sensation aligned with his experience of crossing the Absolute Realm wall.
The process differed from others, but the undeniable results made it so.
'Something's changed.'
He couldn't explain precisely what.
Yet though inexplicable, Dang Mujin could vaguely gauge his own achievement.
The path of martial arts is arduous. But those who walk it can sense their own progress.
Dang Mujin rose and walked.
Each step made his broken ribs throb. But he could endure the pain and move carefully.
With every step, poison seeped from his pores. A faint haze rose around Dang Mujin.
Of course, it wasn't intentional. His body simply held too much poison.
The venom bird's poison sac contained an amount even Dang Mujin couldn't contain after breaching the wall.
Right now, he was expelling the excess poison through his entire body. This was only possible because he was suppressing its release.
'I need to hold out a bit longer.'
Feeling as if his body might burst, Dang Mujin stood beside Three-Eyed Buddha.
Three-Eyed Buddha spoke.
"You've made a breakthrough."
Dang Mujin didn't reply. He clenched his teeth and drew his sword.
Even controlling the poison leaking unconsciously to avoid spreading toward allies was no easy task.
"But your condition doesn't look good."
At a glance, Three-Eyed Buddha's state seemed far worse. Covered in blood as a baseline, his forearms revealed glimpses of bone from blocking Right Enforcer's sword. But in truth, Dang Mujin was the more precarious.
Dang Mujin broke his silence.
"It's urgent."
Short words. But Three-Eyed Buddha sensed the poison infused in Dang Mujin's voice.
Not metaphorically. The breath accompanying those brief words carried dense, vivid poison—poison that could truly kill.
Dang Mujin looked at Three-Eyed Buddha. Without further explanation, Three-Eyed Buddha understood his intent.
"Hang on and follow me."
Three-Eyed Buddha lowered his stance, gathered all his remaining strength, and lunged at Right Enforcer.
One doesn't need sharp metal to kill.
Right Enforcer reflexively twisted away, dodging Three-Eyed Buddha's boulder-like charge.
A long sword wound etched along Three-Eyed Buddha's side. But the wound wasn't what mattered. Right Enforcer had dodged, opening a path to the center of their formation. That was key.
The fugitives still able to fight, along with Namgung Myeong, charged into the pursuers surrounding Dang Mujin. Each unleashed a full-force strike to block the enemies' assaults.
That gap was enough. Dang Mujin muttered softly.
"Hold your breath."
He didn't know exactly why.
But the fugitives faithfully obeyed.
The next instant, poison erupted from Dang Mujin's entire body. It was less poison than aura—strong enough to ruffle hair and clothes.
The pursuers, including Right Enforcer, inhaled it without proper reaction. They instantly understood the fugitives' plight until now.
After the first breath, internal energy clung stickily, blocking meridians. After the second, unsettled energy scattered wildly.
Martial artists were accustomed to inhaling ambient qi through breath to gather energy.
The opposite—energy dispersing with every breath—was utterly alien.
Like a fish drowning in water.
The pursuers' faces paled. This was dangerous.
"What have you done?!"
Until now, only the fugitives fought at a disadvantage. Now, everyone faced equally unfavorable, unfamiliar conditions.
And the fugitives held the immediate edge. They had slightly more numbers and were marginally accustomed to their sluggish internal energy.
"Kill them all!"
Flesh tore and blood sprayed here and there.
The most desperate was Right Enforcer. Others faced somewhat equal foes, but before him stood Three-Eyed Buddha.
With internal energy control impaired, pure physical prowess became crucial.
And across the vast Central Plains, few possessed a body to match Three-Eyed Buddha's.
Three-Eyed Buddha said lowly.
"I called you arrogant."
Without waiting for a reply, he swung a fist like a sledgehammer.
Right Enforcer responded impeccably after decades of training, angling his sword to block.
It was the cleanest counter—but a fatal mistake. Defense ignoring unstable internal energy.
The blade touching Three-Eyed Buddha's fist yielded powerlessly, losing balance. The fist then smashed into Right Enforcer's temple.
Crack. Three-Eyed Buddha felt bones shatter through his knuckles. Instant death, no need for further judgment.
One of the scant dozen transcendent experts across the Central Plains met his end here.
'The most refreshing punch of my life.'
Three-Eyed Buddha smiled contentedly and plunged back into battle.
He resembled not a man but a massive bear— a gray bear ripping only pursuers apart.
Three-Eyed Buddha rampaged wildly amid the fray. The fight didn't last long.
*
"Whew."
With all pursuers dead, the fugitives could finally sit and take a brief rest.
More pursuers might come. But rest was needed to move diligently.
Meanwhile, Dang Mujin didn't sit. He bustled about.
Until now, he'd thought there was no way to remove the venom bird's poison clinging to internal energy. But it was merely a matter of achievement.
'Certain. Now, regarding poison, I've surpassed Master.'
Dang Mujin first extracted poison from Mok Wan-ah, still unconscious.
With excess poison gone, her complexion eased.
Next, Namgung Myeong and Hong Geolgae.
Hong Geolgae hadn't recovered from the shock of Dang Mujin's feat.
"What was that just now? How did you do it?"
"It's complicated to explain."
Dang Mujin's vague answer drew a highly satisfied grin from Namgung Myeong.
"Naturally complex for a first-rate to grasp. That's what Absolute Realm martial arts are, right?"
As Namgung Myeong subtly elevated him, Dang Mujin naturally played along.
"Ah, of course. How could a mere three-inch tongue convey such profound insight?"
To feel one's lead, look to the laggards.
Dang Mujin savored petty, insidious pleasure gazing at Hong Geolgae. He had earned it now.
Naturally, as Dang Mujin's glee grew, Hong Geolgae's face soured.
"Life really..."
"First-rate life, you mean?"
"Man. Hard to even imagine the hardship."
Teamed up, Dang Mujin and Namgung Myeong mocked. Hong Geolgae grumbled and turned away sharply. Clearly sulking.
But men don't soothe sulks.
Unlike Namgung Myeong, Hong Geolgae wasn't petty, so he'd forget soon.
Then Dang Mujin approached Three-Eyed Buddha.
Three-Eyed Buddha, with a wondrous expression, savored the poison leaving his body.
Rising, he said,
"Young Master Dang. One question. Can you still emit poison like before?"
"I could mimic it, but the power would be laughably weaker. I can't hold that much poison."
Three-Eyed Buddha grasped instantly.
"You need to swallow a venom bird's poison sac for that potency."
"Not certain. No guarantee I'd survive swallowing another."
"I see."
Three-Eyed Buddha felt regret mingled with relief.
Dang Mujin's feat, tense even for ally Three-Eyed Buddha, was overwhelmingly potent.
Capturing foes' internal energy? A skill to rewrite martial history.
As Dang Mujin absorbed all of Three-Eyed Buddha's poison and moved to expel others', Three-Eyed Buddha stopped him.
"Wait a moment."
"Understood."
Three-Eyed Buddha rose and bellowed, gathering everyone.
"Come here!"
Of the forty-odd from Thunder Prison, a dozen had died, two dozen survived.
The survivors clustered, awaiting Dang Mujin. Eager to shed poison and move lightly.
But Three-Eyed Buddha scanned them closely, selecting seven. Among them: second-rates, first-rates, even one Absolute Realm.
Dang Mujin didn't know their commonality. But the seven seemed intuitively fearful.
Next instant, without explanation, Three-Eyed Buddha extended a massive palm, seizing one's head. Crunch. Skull shattered, dead.
"Wait, what are you doing?!"
Ignoring, Three-Eyed Buddha killed them one by one. Swinging fists, crushing and snapping bodies with palms. Slaughter.
Suddenly, Dang Mujin recalled meeting Three-Eyed Buddha amid Jeomchang Sect warriors. He, Namgung Myeong, and Hong Geolgae shuddered unwittingly.
The Absolute Realm one drew his sword in resistance. But he blocked only two exchanges. Seven deaths took less than a sip of water.
Silence fell around Three-Eyed Buddha's abrupt act. He shook blood from his hands and spoke.
"Traitors who surrendered to pursuers. Can't know when they'll waver again."
Dang Mujin asked,
"Even so, did you have to kill them?"
"Of course."
Three-Eyed Buddha replied curtly, then asked Dang Mujin,
"Young Master Dang. Your home is Sichuan Province?"
"Yes. Chengdu."
"That's fine. Not too far."
Three-Eyed Buddha shouted to survivors.
"You live in Sichuan now. Don't leave Chengdu without Young Master Dang's permission. Clear?"
They nodded. Not mere fear.
But Dang Mujin couldn't comprehend.
"Why? They fled the Demonic Cult to settle in Chengdu, not for this."
Three-Eyed Buddha looked down.
"If you were ordinary, I wouldn't command this."
"What do you mean?"
"We'll talk while moving. Everyone, follow!"
Three-Eyed Buddha led with Dang Mujin. Fugitives followed after tending wounds. Distance between.
Three-Eyed Buddha stared at the horizon. Sun had risen well past, now shifting south.
Breaking short silence, he said,
"Your ability is too unique, beyond common sense. You know that."
Dang Mujin nodded; Three-Eyed Buddha continued.
"Know how the powerful treat those with freakish talents like yours?"
"Build ties, grant favors, keep them close."
"At first. But eventually, they'll shun and kill you."
Dang Mujin looked at him.
"If you were ordinary, no worry. Ordinary breaching Absolute Realm? People gauge your limits. Can cope with issues."
"Am I not similar?"
"No. You've entered uncharted territory. No one knows your abilities or potential. The powerful hate unpredictable variables most. They'll eliminate risks."
"...Grateful for high regard, but isn't that jumping ahead?"
Three-Eyed Buddha stared, then grinned.
"You're the only one blind to your value."
Dang Mujin recalled those obeying Three-Eyed Buddha unquestioningly. Did they think the same?
"As I said, I can't always show that ability. Swallowed venom bird sac, risked death for one miracle. Even remaining poison—hard to say how long it'll last. Poison fades and vanishes."
Three-Eyed Buddha cut in.
"No. Doing it once proves possibility. Years, decades from now—no one knows your heights."
"Well, better than now. I know. But—"
"But? Too soon for that. Don't underestimate your potential. You're on unknown paths; no one—not I, not you—knows your limits. You're dangerous."
Three-Eyed Buddha glanced back.
"Stronger, more dangerous. To live, hide your power. Even Yi Chung, mere poison-handling swordsman in rags, faced countless threats."
Odd words. Wasn't Three-Eyed Buddha the one who'd commissioned Yi Chung's death?
How did it come to this advice? World complex, future beyond ordinary plans.
"No choice. Kill those who see your worth, or keep them close. Not just anyone. Avoid those ready to bend for self-preservation. Killed surrenderers for that."
Three-Eyed Buddha serious; Dang Mujin nodded.
"But tying them to Chengdu—too much?"
"You qualify. Without you, they'd be trapped or dead on Heavenly Mountain."
Dang Mujin grimaced; Three-Eyed Buddha nodded back.
"If bothers you, check for complaints."
Dang Mujin glanced. None dissatisfied.
How did this happen? Father and neighbors' reactions upon return with them?
Dang Mujin scratched head irritably.
"Better hurry. Don't know when pursuit resumes."
*
Two days later, Dang Mujin learned a worldly truth. Bad premonitions never fail.
Left Enforcer's pursuit squad awaited.
Left Enforcer drew sword left-handed, lightly raising right to greet Three-Eyed Buddha.
"Waited long. Why not come sooner?"
"Talk like that, but came alone too burdensome? Bringing Ghost King, no less."
"Haha. Just for company."
Three-Eyed Buddha frowned at man beside Left Enforcer.
Dang Mujin intuited: that man too had surpassed transcendent wall.