Chapter 393
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 393
Chapter Title: Battle with the Dark Iron Corpse
Yu Gwi-gwang shot to his feet from his spot.
And followed behind Ha Mu-baek.
The place they headed was right in front of Pyeong Deok-jo.
"Get up and follow me."
At Ha Mu-baek's words, Pyeong Deok-jo opened his eyes.
He marveled at how Ha Mu-baek knew his meditation was coming to an end.
But shoving the question aside, Pyeong Deok-jo rose to his feet and trailed after Ha Mu-baek.
On the opposite side of the forest from where Gwan Ha-kyeong was diligently swinging her blade.
There wasn't even a small clearing.
Just thickly packed trees.
Ha Mu-baek glanced at Yu Gwi-gwang.
"Watch closely. The choice is yours to make."
Then he turned to Pyeong Deok-jo.
Pyeong Deok-jo stared back at him with utter confusion on his face.
"You don't have a choice."
"What do you mean?"
Pyeong Deok-jo asked.
Ha Mu-baek pulled a small pill wrapped in oiled paper from his bosom.
It was pitch-black.
The very shape of it looked ominous.
"Th-this is..."
Pyeong Deok-jo gazed up at Ha Mu-baek with trembling eyes.
"Eat it."
Ha Mu-baek's voice was flat and emotionless.
"What the hell is it...?"
Pyeong Deok-jo's voice quivered with unease.
"Something good for the body."
Those words slipped from Ha Mu-baek's mouth—an answer impossible to decipher.
Good for the body?
What did that even mean?
Good for his health? Good for injuries? Good for poison?
The possibilities were endless.
Ha Mu-baek placed the pill on his palm and stared silently at Pyeong Deok-jo.
Pyeong Deok-jo extended a shaking hand and picked it up.
Considering everything Ha Mu-baek had done for him up to now, this couldn't possibly be anything bad.
But that ominous appearance was too much.
He slowly brought the pill to his lips.
The instant it touched his tongue and he chewed once...
"Urk."
Pyeong Deok-jo's eyes nearly bulged out of his skull.
"Don't spit it out."
Ha Mu-baek's voice cut through like a chill wind.
Pyeong Deok-jo clamped both hands over his mouth on instinct.
And then...
He chewed. Truly forced it. Desperately.
A grotesque taste flooded his mouth.
How could the mere flavor of a pill inflict such agony on a person?
Yet...
Pyeong Deok-jo forced it down, gulp by painful gulp.
His entire body was soaked in cold sweat.
"Kuhuk."
He crumpled to the ground, still groaning.
His body wouldn't stop shaking.
"Don't throw it up either."
At Ha Mu-baek's command, Pyeong Deok-jo nodded through his agonized expression.
Ha Mu-baek's gaze shifted to Yu Gwi-gwang.
"Brought an extra just in case. What do you think?"
Ha Mu-baek asked.
Only then did Yu Gwi-gwang grasp the meaning behind Ha Mu-baek's earlier words.
No matter the price.
He was witnessing it right now.
Still witnessing it.
Pyeong Deok-jo's twisted face as he fought the pain and torment.
His whole body shuddering uncontrollably.
'Poison?'
The thought flashed through his mind.
Even the comrades poisoned during the operation in the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest hadn't suffered like this.
Hesitation crept in.
He might never make it back to his family unscathed.
But...
When Ha Mu-baek had said "good,"
That clearly meant he could return to his family safely.
"I-I'll take it too."
The burning desire to grow stronger overpowered his fear of the unknown.
Yu Gwi-gwang accepted the pill and popped it into his mouth.
"Kuhk."
He clenched his teeth and clutched his throat with both hands.
That grotesque, excruciating taste scorched his way down.
Unlike with Pyeong Deok-jo, Ha Mu-baek said nothing to him.
This was his choice.
Whether he endured the torment and swallowed...
Or spat it out, unable to bear it.
It was different from Pyeong Deok-jo's situation.
He had to take the Muryanghwan because Ha Mu-baek had plans for him.
Yu Gwi-gwang collapsed to the ground as well, trembling violently.
Drool leaked from the corner of his mouth, but he neither spat nor vomited.
His desperate craving to grow stronger.
That alone made it possible.
About an hour passed.
The two finally recovered somewhat from the shock.
Pyeong Deok-jo and Yu Gwi-gwang, barely coming back to their senses.
"Wh-what is this thing?"
Pyeong Deok-jo asked, his face utterly vacant.
"Something good for the body."
Ha Mu-baek gave the same answer again.
"Can this make us stronger?"
Yu Gwi-gwang asked.
He had said to follow if they wanted to grow strong.
Pyeong Deok-jo glanced at him at the question.
Ha Mu-baek nodded.
"Start circulating your energy right now."
At his words, the two assumed the cross-legged position.
Pyeong Deok-jo began operating the Gale Heart Method, while Yu Gwi-gwang naturally ran the Dragon Training Heart Method.
Ha Mu-baek pressed his palm to Yu Gwi-gwang's Mingmen acupoint.
Yu Gwi-gwang flinched at the sensation.
"Keep your focus."
Ha Mu-baek infused his internal energy.
And guided Yu Gwi-gwang's along with it.
"Memorize it well."
Ha Mu-baek led his true energy along the path of the Three Talents Heart Method.
Restoring the altered version from the Dragon Training Pavilion to its original form.
Repairing what had been corrupted in its travels through the world.
The true Three Talents Heart Method.
The very one he'd taught to the seven squads of the Fierce Dragon Corps.
Yu Gwi-gwang etched the guided path firmly in his mind.
Similar to the Dragon Training Heart Method, yet different.
He hadn't dared hope for some earth-shattering technique.
Even just a slight improvement over the Dragon Training Heart Method would be blessing enough.
As that faint disappointment settled in his chest...
"The world doesn't know the Three Talents Heart Method's true form—or its power. Practice it diligently, gain your own insights, and you'll grow strong. The path I just showed you is the genuine article, uncorrupted as it circulated the world."
Yu Gwi-gwang cast aside his disappointment at Ha Mu-baek's words and focused on his circulation.
In doing so, he sensed something extraordinary.
Had his internal energy always held this kind of power?
The quantity hadn't changed.
But the quality felt transformed.
Thanks to the purified Three Talents Heart Method without attribute formulas and the Muryanghwan's effects—but Yu Gwi-gwang had no way of knowing that.
Two hours later, the pair opened their eyes.
"It's a spirit pill called Muryanghwan. A long-acting elixir that will steadily build your internal energy over the next few months. Keep up with the heart method practice."
Ha Mu-baek spoke matter-of-factly.
But the two were stunned by what they heard.
An elixir that boosted internal energy.
He'd given that to them?
Why?
Gratitude welled up alongside the question.
"Don't you want to get stronger?"
Ha Mu-baek directed the query at Yu Gwi-gwang.
"Y-yes, but..."
His voice shook.
"To return to your family and protect them? That alone won't cut it. Train like your life depends on it. I've taught you everything I can."
Yu Gwi-gwang bowed deeply at Ha Mu-baek's words.
With a nod from Ha Mu-baek, he returned to his bedroll.
Now only Pyeong Deok-jo remained.
His eyes questioned Ha Mu-baek.
Why all this favor toward me?
Dragging him out of nowhere for training, live combat drills, and now even an elixir.
"It's for my own needs. I've got a use for you."
Ha Mu-baek chuckled.
"Not for anything shady. No need to worry."
With that, he headed back to the sleeping area.
Pyeong Deok-jo followed, face etched with complexity.
Morning light broke.
The final day.
"Alright, let's take care of that bastard and head out."
Ha Mu-baek grinned.
That bastard.
The Dark Iron Corpse he'd mentioned three days prior.
He'd already pinpointed its location.
Tension etched the faces of the Demon-Sealing Corps and Fierce Dragon Corps members.
Their previous clash had been a deadlock.
But could they take it down?
The doubt lingered.
Even if Gwan Ha-kyeong had reached the peak realm and could wield sword aura now.
It was only yesterday.
"Let's move."
Ha Mu-baek took the lead.
He'd already locked onto its position.
His stride was unwavering.
How far had they gone?
Ha Mu-baek's brow furrowed faintly.
No one noticed.
What is it? Like a poison corpse, but... different.
He'd sensed unfamiliar gangsi presences approaching slowly from afar.
New ones staking out territory?
Or...
Coming for us?
Too soon to tell.
One thing was clear: no such activity until yesterday.
Observe for now.
They didn't feel like tough opponents.
Ha Mu-baek resolved to prioritize the Dark Iron Corpse.
They pressed through the dense trees.
"Kuooooh."
They made contact.
A cramped forest trail.
Terrain forcing a single-file line.
"Good luck, then."
Ha Mu-baek seized Pyeong Deok-jo by the nape and vaulted away.
The fight with the Dark Iron Corpse belonged entirely to the Demon-Sealing Corps and Fierce Dragon Corps.
This was Ha Mu-baek's final lesson—and exam—before departing the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest.
Yu Gwi-gwang led the way.
Shield thrust forward, he jabbed his sword at the Dark Iron Corpse.
A simple provocation.
"Kraaaah!"
The corpse fell for it easily.
Another Fierce Dragon Corps man joined Yu Gwi-gwang's side, blocking in tandem.
Bang!
The shield shuddered.
A blow mighty enough to shatter it at any moment.
Before, one hit would've done it.
If not for Ha Mu-baek's signature technique.
The shield art's deflection method.
By glancing the attack aside, diverting some eighty percent of its force.
Unlike before, they held.
The pair inched backward slowly.
The path barely wide enough for two.
"Kuooooh!"
Furious at the unyielding shield, the Dark Iron Corpse raged.
It remembered nothing of facing them three days ago.
It was a gangsi, after all.
Bang! Bang!
Just swinging its arms relentlessly.
As the two retreated bit by bit...
The Demon-Sealing Corps sprang into action.
Vanishing amid the trees, circling to its rear.
Clambering up trunks too.
They watched the gangsi in held breath.
The corpse, even more enraged, fixated solely on Yu Gwi-gwang and his comrade...
Two dropped from above. Two struck from behind.
Four blades pierced its back simultaneously.
Kakang! Kang!
Harsh rings echoed as swords rebounded.
Swords laced thick with sword energy—yet only shallow scratches before bouncing off.
The Dark Iron Corpse's arms froze.
Swish.
It whirled around.
Its black eyes blazed with fury.
"Kraaaaaack!!"
Roaring, it spun toward the Demon-Sealing Corps and charged.
Its back lay fully exposed.
Yu Gwi-gwang and his comrade flung their stances wide.
Gwan Ha-kyeong exploded through the gap.
Blue sword aura roiled along her blade.
Slash!
Her full-force downward stroke.
Cleaved the Dark Iron Corpse's back.
Crack!
The back split open.
But it didn't cleave the creature in two.
'Too shallow...'
Tension's fault?
She'd swung early, before it entered perfect range.
"Kaaaak!"
Roaring in mingled pain and wrath, the Dark Iron Corpse wheeled again.
Toward Gwan Ha-kyeong, talons raised high, it lunged.
Gwan Ha-kyeong darted back swiftly.
The pair who'd parted to create space sealed the path once more.
Kwang!
The shield boomed.
Its rage at its peak, the corpse poured even more power into its hands.
Impossible as it was, tendons seemed to bulge across its knuckles.
Kwachik!
The sound of claws gouging into Yu Gwi-gwang and his comrade's shields rang out.
In that instant.
Gwan Ha-kyeong scaled the nearby tree and launched skyward.
Perfectly timed.
Yu Gwi-gwang and the corpsman parted left and right.
Shields raised as they moved.
The corpse's arms, lodged in those shields, splayed apart.
Its arms were shackled by the shields instead.
They'd intentionally failed to fully deflect the strike.
Floating exposed in midair was risky.
But the arm-pinned Dark Iron Corpse was utterly defenseless.
Gwan Ha-kyeong's surging blue blade plummeted toward it.