The Dullness Formula
The Shadow Snake Sword Art was, quite literally, the sword of a shadow viper.
It lacked profundity, yet its practicality and synergy with hidden weapons were excellent. It was a sword art that dismantled opponents through surprise attacks, shifting forms, and disruption.
Tang Jo’s blade was no different. It boasted deceptive changes and blistering speed. Yet to Tang Cheonwi’s eyes it merely looked slow. There was nothing particularly remarkable about it.
Still, I have to give him credit for reaching first-class with that lower-grade sword art.
At best it was second-class. No wonder it was a side-branch technique of no repute.
How are you going to handle him? You’re not really going to show your true skills, are you?
Hwancheonjihwan asked, curious.
The moment you circulate Tyrant Blood Poison Qi, that guy will melt into a puddle of poison and vanish.
It was wondering how Tang Cheonwi—now a poison body of the third and ultimate stage, the Ten Thousand Poison Ghost—would deal with Tang Jo.
I’ve already been circulating Tyrant Blood Poison Qi.
What!?
Hwancheonjihwan jolted in pure shock.
A poison body’s toxin was on an entirely different plane from ordinary poison qi. It was dense enough to poison a man with nothing more than a breath. And if one used Tyrant Blood Poison Qi, the absolute pinnacle of poison arts… the victim would melt down to the bone.
This is strange… If you used Tyrant Blood Poison Qi, not just him but everyone here should already be poisoned… Wait—!
Tang Jo was still moving his sword. The only difference was its speed—it had slowed dramatically. He himself seemed completely unaware of the change.
You catch on late. Are you really the greatest of the Three Great Treasures of Wulin?
D-don’t tell me you used the Dullness Formula of Tyrant Blood Poison Qi?
Why so shocked?
How am I supposed to stay calm!? The Dullness Formula of Tyrant Blood Poison Qi can only be used once you reach the Four-Star level!
A technique that seizes control of an opponent’s movements through poison qi. One must fully grasp the enemy’s energy, then complete its analysis and dismantling, or it ends as nothing more than ordinary poison.
I don’t understand…
Hwancheonjihwan essentially surrendered. It was the sort of creature that was fun to tease.
In that brief span, Tang Jo’s sword was caught between Tang Cheonwi’s two fingers.
“Since when has the Tang Clan used swords, tch. This is the only thing you lot can learn that’s even remotely passable.”
Bang!
He drove a single burst of energy into Tang Jo’s abdomen.
“Keugh!”
Tang Jo flew as though a string had been cut and smashed into the ground.
“Urgh…”
He could not rise. He clutched his trembling legs. Pain racked his entire body. In the end Tang Jo collapsed.
Those watching were stunned.
“Secret Document Palm?”
“That’s the palm technique we all know, right?”
“How can he send Tang Jo flying with one hit of Secret Document Palm?”
The result was impossible to believe. Secret Document Palm was the ordinary martial art every warrior in the clan learned. With that, he had blasted away Tang Jo—the strongest among them—in a single blow.
“Wasn’t the Young Master’s skill supposed to be third-class?”
“That’s what I heard too.”
“Not even close. How is that third-class realm?”
Whispers rippled through the onlookers. Toppling Tang Jo with nothing but Secret Document Palm had left them reeling.
“Maybe he’s been hiding his strength all this time?”
“Right! There’s a reason the Tang Clan insists on the direct line.”
“I thought the Young Master was the exception… but I was wrong!”
Attitudes shifted in an instant. Meanwhile Tang Cheonwi stood over Tang Jo.
“Feels hollow, doesn’t it?”
“Urgh… How is this possible?”
“What?”
“At the start. I was certain my sword had reached the Young Master’s neck.”
“Ah, that. You only felt that way because of my poison qi.”
“Poison qi? What kind of energy is that…?”
Tang Cheonwi merely curled one corner of his mouth. He did not give the answer Tang Jo wanted. Instead—
“If you want to know, come under me and find out for yourself.”
He offered Tang Jo a chance. A chance to discover it on his own.
“You were concealing your strength, then?”
“Yeah. Ah… something’s been bothering me.”
A presence snagged on Tang Cheonwi’s senses. A gaze spying on the training ground.
“Bring them.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Choeun vanished in an instant—movement that had reached the Peak realm. Not long after, a man dangled from her grip.
“I clearly warned that anyone who spies on Poison Dragon Pavilion will die.”
The captured man’s eyes darted. He was already spinning schemes. But Tang Cheonwi was faster.
Slash!
An empty-handed chop. The spy’s head dropped to the ground.
“Hah!”
“H-he killed him?”
“Without a moment’s hesitation…”
The decision had been instantaneous. He had the spy dragged in and killed him without asking a single question. He treated human life like that of a fly.
“Judging by the clothes, he’s from Yuhongak.”
“Is it all right to do that to someone from Yuhongak?”
“Poison Flower Rain won’t stand for it.”
Poison Flower Rain was the moniker of Tang Cheong, head of Yuhongak—named for the way her poison scattered like a rain of petals. She was a true master of Poison Use Technique, a figure every member of the Sichuan Tang Clan feared.
Even so—
“Clean it up.”
As if the eyesore irritated him, Tang Cheonwi ordered Choeun.
“Yes.”
Choeun dissolved the corpse with Bone-Dissolving Powder, leaving nothing behind.
He’s a tyrant, all right—but a completely different kind of tyrant!
I think we just saw the Young Master’s true face.
To think his nature was this cruel… He’s the spitting image of the Clan Lord.
They had to swallow hard.
I think I came to the wrong place…
Will I even walk out of here alive?
I’m shaking so hard I might die.
An inexplicable chill crawled over them. Then Tang Cheonwi’s voice reached their ears.
“Now that the annoyance is gone, shall we continue our talk?”
They straightened their postures without thinking.
Bang!
A woman slammed her fist onto the table in Black Dragon Hall.
“We’ve already received reports of two incidents. One dead, three crippled.”
The enraged woman was Tang Cheong, youngest sister of Clan Lord Tang Baek.
“I’ve barely managed to keep the side branch’s discontent over the Young Master from boiling over.”
She spoke in an irritated tone. Even before her elder brother the Clan Lord, she was arrogant and insolent. Tang Baek did not correct her.
“Because you keep covering for him, Clan Lord Brother, the Young Master never comes to his senses.”
Her elder sister Tang Seon chimed in from the side.
“Clan Lord, please give up on the Young Master already. It’s unfortunate, but he simply lacks the strength to be the Tang Clan’s direct heir.”
Tang Ho, who had been listening, finally spoke.
“Let’s get the facts straight. That Pyeongchil fellow was assigned to Poison Dragon Pavilion, yet he reported every single one of Cheonwi’s movements to another pavilion. Would either of you have spared him?”
Tang Ho smirked at Tang Seon and Tang Cheong.
“You two wouldn’t have cut his throat cleanly the way Cheonwi did. You’d have made him suffer as much as possible first—calling him a dog that betrayed its master.”
He had already known they were trying to slip the servant’s death into the list of crimes.
“Even so, what about turning the side-branch boys into complete cripples?”
“Little sister, if you want to drag Cheonwi down, bring a proper reason. Twisting things without even grasping the truth isn’t right.”
“What did you say?”
“Cheonwi’s dantian was destroyed at the Poison Blood Pond. The side branch took that chance and attacked to shatter his authority. You already know how that ended.”
Tang Cheong’s face twisted.
“Tell me yourself what happens in the Tang Clan when someone tries to destroy the authority of the direct line.”
“…Summary execution.”
“Just by letting those side-branch boys live, Cheonwi has already shown them great mercy.”
Pressed by Tang Ho’s words, Tang Cheong was about to start scheming again when Tang Seon spoke carefully.
“The Young Master only enjoys the privileges of the direct line. He has yet to fulfill a single one of its duties. What do you think of that, Elder Brother Ho?”
“That can wait until his dantian recovers—”
Their younger brother Tang Gang shook his head and cut in.
“It violates fairness. The children of the Tang Clan compete on equal footing. If we favor only the direct line, their will to strive will break under the limits of birth.”
Tang Ho was about to rebut once more when Tang Baek spoke first.
“He is right. I will summon Cheonwi at once and make him fulfill the duty of the direct line. You lot soothe the household.”
“Elder Brother!”
The duty of the direct line: to eliminate a first-class villain. For Tang Cheonwi, whose dantian was shattered, it was an utterly impossible obligation. Yet it was something the direct heir of the Tang Clan had to do.
“No more arguing. Guests have arrived outside. All of you withdraw.”
Tang Baek immediately dismissed them, then called toward the door.
“Show the guests in.”
Once Tang Ho and the other senior figures had left, Jegal Gyeong’s party entered.
“Jegal Gyeong greets the Clan Lord of the Sichuan Tang Clan.”
“Welcome.”
Tang Baek’s gaze shifted to the boy and girl.
“It has been a long time.”
Jegal Gwang and Jegal Rin bowed their heads.
“Jegal Gwang greets the Clan Lord of the Tang Clan.”
“Jegal Rin greets the Clan Lord of the Tang Clan.”
Where Jegal Gwang observed solemn etiquette, Jegal Rin kept her eyes fixed on Tang Baek even as she greeted him.
“Is there something on my face?”
“No. I was just thinking that one of the Ten Great Masters of the World truly is different.”
Her uncle Jegal Gyeong grew flustered at Jegal Rin’s bold remark.
“You little rascal, show proper manners before the Tang Clan Lord.”
“Haha, it is fine.”
“My apologies. Rin is simply far too free-spirited.”
Jegal Gyeong was extremely careful before Tang Baek. Black Dragon Emperor Tang Baek—one of the Ten Great Masters of the World and the greatest under heaven. His cruel nature was infamous throughout the murim. That smiling face was a mask; one must never be deceived by it. Yet Jegal Rin could not wait even a moment before causing trouble.
“Clan Lord of the Tang Clan, forgive me, but I have one question.”
“Speak.”
“Your energy is wavering. Are you all right?”
Jegal Gyeong was horrified. His niece tossed out dangerous remarks without the slightest hesitation.
“R-Rin!”
Jegal Gyeong broke into a cold sweat as he watched Tang Baek smile.
“So you saw through my condition at once.”
“Please don’t worry too much. Other than me, no one will notice the Clan Lord’s state.”
She was truly audacious. Who else would dare speak such words before Tang Baek?
“I find myself coveting you. Rin, was it?”
“Yes, Jegal Rin.”
“Have you any interest in becoming my daughter-in-law?”
Tang Baek asked Jegal Rin with clear satisfaction.
“We will take our leave, Young Master.”
The side-branch warriors had polished off every last drop of wine and every scrap of food laid out on the floor. Only Tang Jo still clung to consciousness.
“I’ll come find you when I have the news you want.”
“I will be waiting.”
Tang Jo clasped his fists in salute and left Poison Dragon Pavilion with his companions.
The floor was littered with empty dishes and wine bottles. Tang Cheonwi turned to Choeun.
“Can you clean this up?”
“I think I need to have maids reassigned.”
“Handle it yourself.”
As he moved to step outside—
“Where are you going?”
“To Father.”
“Pardon?”
“If I want to form a unit, I need permission.”
“Even for the Young Master, founding a unit requires merit, doesn’t it?”
“Who said I was going to form one empty-handed?”
“What!?”
Choeun tilted her head. Did he already have a plan?
“As it happens, there’s something that will earn me exactly that merit.”