***
“It was surprising that such a space existed inside the Poisonous Forest,” the Blood-Seeking Demon Lord Ji Gwang-ok muttered as he looked around, stepping onto the solid ground that existed like an island deep within the swampy Poisonous Forest.
Except for the narrow path at the entrance and the space where the hut and courtyard stood, the entire surrounding area was a swamp. Furthermore, even though there were no walls, the fact that the snakes and insects filling the area did not enter suggested that a scent disliked by poisonous creatures had been spread throughout the space.
“This was the work of someone who knows both poisons and medicinal herbs well.”
Ji Gwang-ok felt he knew who the paralyzed old man mentioned by the soul-possessed Miao child was. He muttered with a ferocious smile, “We finally meet again, Elder Seok.”
However, when they finally reached the hut, the ones who opened the door and stepped out were an unexpected young man and woman. The man clasped his hands first and spoke.
“I am Seol Poong, the leader of the 7th Squad of the 13th Flying Dragon Unit. From where has a senior such as yourself come?”
“Ho, the Flying Dragon Unit?” A ferocious smile hung on Ji Gwang-ok’s lips.
His subordinates behind him were already in an uproar upon seeing Hae Cheong-yeon standing beside Seol Poong.
“It’s a woman! A young wench!”
“Ehehehe! Her figure is quite exquisite.”
“Her face looks like it would be killer too, so why is it covered?”
“What are you worried about? We can just strip it off for her, khu-huhu!”
Ji Gwang-ok first answered Seol Poong’s words. “I am Ji Gwang-ok of the Blood Cult. I came because I have business with the old man staying here. Do you intend to block me?”
Seol Poong politely clasped his hands again and spoke. “So you are the Senior Blood-Seeking Demon Lord, Ji Gwang-ok. I have heard much of your reputation. How could I dare to block you, Senior? However, this place is a safe house where we, the members of the Flying Dragon Unit, occasionally stay. Unless you intend to ignore the non-aggression pact personally established by the Murim Alliance Leader and the Blood Demon, would you please consider withdrawing?”
Ji Gwang-ok’s eyes twitched at the mention of the Blood Demon’s name. Known for his strong loyalty to the Blood Demon, he could not ignore that name. It was exactly as Seol Poong had anticipated. The smile vanished from Ji Gwang-ok’s face, and he spoke with a growl.
“You claim this is a safe house of the Flying Dragon Unit? I do not think so.”
Then Seol Poong spoke hurriedly. “That is not true! Is there not a mark of the Flying Dragon Unit over there?”
“Hmm?”
It was the moment Ji Gwang-ok turned his gaze toward the direction Seol Poong urgently pointed with his finger. Seol Poong’s form shot toward Ji Gwang-ok like a ray of light.
Flash!
It was obvious that they would end up fighting anyway. Thinking so, Seol Poong had induced the opponent’s carelessness by appearing as polite and intimidated as possible. Furthermore, believing this could be the first and last opportunity, Seol Poong even drew out his hidden secret technique. Between his tightly closed eyes, a red glow flickered.
He struck the back of Ji Gwang-ok’s head with a Tiger Claw Hand strike delivered with all his might. It was his true ultimate technique, the Beast Fist, which he had hidden from his comrades under the name of the Fierce Leopard Fist.
Kwa-a-a-ang!
“Eek!”
Seol Poong gritted his teeth. At the final moment, Ji Gwang-ok had looked back at him and raised his arm to block the attack. However, Seol Poong began to pour out a barrage of strikes toward Ji Gwang-ok, who was staggering from failing to completely dissipate the impact. It was a fierce offensive, striking with both arms like a beast and spinning his body like a whirlwind to pour out kicking techniques.
The time Seol Poong could maintain his current martial prowess was only about fifteen minutes at most. Therefore, he had to reach a conclusion within that time somehow.
Hae Cheong-yeon had also vaulted her body at the same time Seol Poong launched the surprise attack. It was toward the subordinates standing behind Ji Gwang-ok, as they had agreed beforehand. Her form, which had followed behind Seol Poong like a shadow, suddenly appeared in the sight of the Blood Cultists.
“Ha-a-a-ap!”
Shu-hak!
An ultra-high-speed thrust erupted from the tip of her sword. It was the ultimate technique her father had guaranteed was not inferior to the Jeomchang Sect’s Shooting the Sun Sword Style: Comet Slicing the Darkness. It took only a split second for the sword, shot like a comet cutting through the darkness, to pierce the chest of one Blood Cultist.
Puuuu-uk!
“Ke-heok!”
Now there were four. Hae Cheong-yeon’s gaze coldly scanned the remaining men. However, the Blood Cultists, who had retreated in surprise, had already solidified their defensive stances. It seemed the effect of the surprise attack ended there. From now on, she had to somehow win against four first-class top-tier warriors who appeared to be in the same rank as herself.
The enraged Blood Cultists lunged at her all at once.
“How dare this wench!”
“Pounce on her!”
“Hey, hey! Do not kill her! We have to eat her while her limbs are intact!”
“Don’t even leave a scar on her face! I like licking a flawless face!”
It was harassment that would have made any ordinary woman of the martial world fall into a rage. However, hearing those words, Hae Cheong-yeon actually smiled. Limbs intact, face intact. With such a mindset, she was actually grateful.
While Hae Cheong-yeon was feeling grateful toward her enemies, Seol Poong’s situation was not going very well. Ji Gwang-ok, who had been pushed back by the surprise attack, was gradually beginning to recover his momentum. His ability to maintain a defensive posture and recover his body even in an urgent situation was truly worthy of a veteran of a hundred battles.
Ji Gwang-ok barely endured the crisis and let out a sigh of relief inwardly. He had paid a harsh price for his carelessness. It was surprising that a brat who looked to be in his twenties—a brat he had initially estimated to have at most eighty years of internal energy regardless of his realm—was displaying martial prowess nearly at the Transcendent level. It seemed to be related to the fact that the fellow kept his eyes closed.
However, now that he had blocked the surprise attack, it was merely a surprising fact. That fellow had failed to seize his first and last chance, and now he, a true Transcendent warrior, had gained some breathing room.
With a beast-like laugh, Ji Gwang-ok began to transition from defense to offense.
Rumble!
Along with a sound like thunder, Ji Gwang-ok’s palm struck toward Seol Poong. It was the secret technique of the Blood Cult: Explosive Thunder Blood Palm.
Pe-ong!
“K-ugh!”
Seol Poong blocked by crossing his arms, but he was forced to bounce backward by the immense force. In the eyes of Seol Poong, who barely managed to regain his balance and land, the figure of Ji Gwang-ok pouncing like a fierce tiger was visible.
“Khahahahaha!”
His twin palms, surrounded by red palm-light, struck Seol Poong like a massive boulder.
Peo-eo-eong!
“Ho?”
Ji Gwang-ok, who thought it was the end, let out a small exclamation of admiration. This was because Seol Poong’s response was remarkable. By curling his body as small as possible and rotating fiercely, his form had slightly deflected Ji Gwang-ok’s powerful strike. It was truly a beast-like movement. Then, utilizing the momentum of the rotation, Seol Poong’s kick struck toward Ji Gwang-ok’s head.
Sha-a-ak!
The two retreated and paused their offensive for a moment. Blood was flowing from Ji Gwang-ok’s torn cheek. It was the result of Seol Poong’s blade-like kick grazing him. Ji Gwang-ok wiped his blood with his hand, licked it with his tongue, and laughed lowly.
“Ehehehehe! You truly are an amazing fellow. To think there was a fellow like this among the youngsters of the Flying Dragon Unit. It is a relief that I can kill you before you grow any further.”
Then he shot forward like a fierce tiger once more.
“Khahahahaha!”
Watching Ji Gwang-ok pounce on him like a massive demonic beast, Seol Poong had to grit his teeth hard.
Inside the hut, the old man Seok Gyeong-dal had not yet fled. After giving the books recording his research until now to Dakam, he gave an urgent instruction.
“Take your siblings and go hide in that place. You know where, right? You must never come out until at least six months have passed.”
Dakam asked with tears in his eyes, “Poison Elder! You must come with us too!”
However, Seok Gyeong-dal shook his head with a satisfied smile. “I am going to die soon anyway. If my life is forfeit regardless, should I not use it more worthily?”
The old man, having pushed Dakam and the siblings into the secret passage, stood up. His arms and legs, which he had been unable to move for several years, were regaining sensation for the first time in a long while.
In truth, his paralysis had been a measure he took to seal his own demonic arts. It was a measure taken to prevent himself from becoming like his friend Jeon Mu-gwang, whose mind was being increasingly eroded by demonic energy. Because of this, he had been able to maintain his sanity from the Blood Cult’s insane demonic arts, which destroyed the caster’s body if the power was not continuously strengthened.
After a long time, the demonic energy swirling through his entire body was heating his heart violently. It meant the demonic energy was beginning to erode his brain, but it was fine for a short while. He wasn't going to use it for long anyway.
Just as he was about to rush out the door with a wild smile, someone suddenly grabbed his shoulder. The old man, frowning deeply, looked back and shouted.
“Dakam! You rascal, still...?!”
Hae Cheong-yeon was still holding out while surrounded by four first-class top-tier warriors of the same rank as herself. However, this was more the choice of the Blood Cultists than Hae Cheong-yeon’s.
“Oh! Nice!”
“Kihahaha! The skin on her thighs is quite tender!”
“Let’s aim for the chest next!”
“Whoa, that’s going to be a bit high in difficulty, isn't it?”
The Blood Cultists were currently harassing Hae Cheong-yeon by slightly slicing only her clothes. They were enjoying themselves by making cuts only on the clothes of her upper arms, thighs, and calves to reveal her skin.
While any woman of the martial world would have trembled with humiliation, Hae Cheong-yeon was essentially leaving this situation be. In the fight between Seol Poong and Ji Gwang-ok happening right next to her, Seol Poong’s situation was not good. In the face of Ji Gwang-ok’s one-sidedly pushing offensive, Seol Poong was truly just barely holding on; the fact that he hadn't collapsed yet was enough to earn him praise.
Hae Cheong-yeon judged that it was meaningless for her to exert excessive strength in this situation. It would be difficult to win against these four alone anyway, and if she were captured while aggressively attacking, Squad Leader Seol Poong would be finished. So she had been inducing their carelessness by appearing to be dragged along by the enemies.
But then, Hae Cheong-yeon’s ears perked up. Beneath the hair that came down to her nose, her mouth formed a faint arc.
“Now, it’s my turn!”
One excited Blood Cultist lunged at Hae Cheong-yeon with a greedy laugh. However, just as his saber was about to graze Hae Cheong-yeon’s chest area, her sword suddenly accelerated.
Shu-ha-a-ak!
Misty Sword Qi spread out like the Milky Way in an instant. It was the ultimate technique of the Star Array Sword Style: Star Cloud Covering the Heaven.
“Wha-what?!”
The startled Blood Cultist hurriedly tried to defend, but it was already too late.
Chae-chae-chae-cheng! Pyu-shu-shu-shuk!
“Ua-a-a-a-ak!”
As the countless intertwined streaks of Sword Qi passed through his defense and grazed his body, his skin began to crack open like a spiderweb. It was in the next moment that blood sprayed from his entire body like a fountain.
Puh-a-a-a-ak!
“Kru-a-a-a-ak!”
Only after seeing their comrade’s miserable death did the Blood Cultists realize she had intentionally hidden her skill to induce carelessness. Their gazes turned vicious.
“How dare this wench!”
“Pounce on her all at once!”
“It doesn't matter if we take off an arm! Just subdue her first!”
The remaining three lunged together. Three first-class top-tier warriors attacking in earnest was an opponent difficult for Hae Cheong-yeon to handle. However, for some reason, from behind the smiling Hae Cheong-yeon, two figures shot out like rays of light.
“You worked hard, Young Lady!”
“Die, you bastards!”
It was Sunwoo Jin and Bi Sa-yeong, who had finally woken up from their meditation.
Strength was boiling throughout my entire body. Finally, my senses felt as if they were aligned with the memories of my past life. My internal energy was nearly reaching one full cycle. To think I obtained over thirty years of internal energy after eating only half of the medicinal pill—the old man’s words that it would be similar to a Small Restoration Pill were far too humble.
A tremendous sense of speed supported by one cycle of internal energy. The face of the flustered Blood Cultist was rapidly expanding in my sight.
“Ha-a-a-ap!”
Shu-ha-a-a-ak!
From the 10th form of the Thirteen Swords of Sunwoo onward, internal energy of the first-class level or higher was required. That was why I had never performed them until now. Because I didn't know them in my past life, and because I lacked internal energy in this life.
The 11th form of the Thirteen Swords of Sunwoo, performed for the first time: Great Roc Traveling Ten Thousand Miles. That brilliant Sword Qi spread massive wings and swarmed over the fellow’s entire body. Startled by the illusion of misty wings surrounding him, the Blood Cultist screamed and swung his saber frantically.
“Ua-a-a-a-ap!”
But the wings were merely an illusion sword. A single streak of light protruding from the center grazed his neck lightly, and his movements came to a dead halt.
Puh-a-a-a-ak!
Blood sprayed like a fountain from his half-severed neck just as I was already pouncing on the Blood Cultist who was clashing sabers with Young Lady Cheong-yeon. Young Lady Cheong-yeon appeared to be parrying the fellow’s saber without overexerting herself, as if she knew I would finish quickly and come to her.
The eyes of the Blood Cultist, who discovered me pouncing like a jade bird from behind, widened significantly. And the moment the fellow’s gaze turned toward me, Young Lady Cheong-yeon’s sword drew a sharp line as if she had never been pushed back.
Pyu-shuk!
My sword and Young Lady Cheong-yeon’s sword grazed the fellow’s body simultaneously. The fellow, whose chest and neck were split wide open, collapsed while spraying blood.
With a smirk, I asked her, “I hope I didn't interfere unnecessarily?”
Then she replied with a rare smile, “It was a good interference.”
The smile on her small, crimson lips beneath her hair, which I hadn't seen in a while, was still beautiful.
At that moment, Bi Sa-yeong shouted like a scream, “What are you doing?! You should help me too!”
Bi Sa-yeong was being pushed back against the one remaining Blood Cultist. For Bi Sa-yeong, whose internal energy was now nearly forty years but who had not yet reached the first-class realm, it seemed it was too much to handle a first-class top-tier Blood Cultist. However, it was only that facing him directly was difficult; the situation did not look that dangerous. He was lightly dodging the opponent’s attacks with the Bi-jong Sect’s Heavenly Wind Footwork, which said one becomes a handful of air to let enemy attacks pass through at its peak.
I replied with a laugh as I vaulted my body. “You’re making a fuss when you’re not even in that much danger!”
“What do you mean 'making a fuss'!”
The sense of speed of the footwork performed with one cycle of internal energy was certainly amazing. My sword, which lunged in an instant, divided into five streaks and swarmed over the Blood Cultist.
“Uugh!”
Cha-cha-cha-cha-chang!
I saw the fellow gritting his teeth and blocking my sword. He seemed to be the most outstanding among the remaining ones. He even managed to somehow block the strike I delivered with full force over his defense, which had been disrupted by the illusion sword.
“Ha-ap!”
Chang!
He was quite something. I felt an impulse to keep going and see how long he could hold out, but unfortunately, there was no time for that. The moment the fellow barely blocked my sword, I gave a smirk and simply let go of the sword. Startled by the suddenly vanished pressure, the fellow voiced his confusion.
“Wha-what?!”
At that exact moment, having entered the fellow’s reach, I headbutted his face with all my might.
Crack!
“Kru-a-a-ak!”
My head, which I had trained diligently through external arts, was in no way inferior to a stone. Thus, the face of the fellow, who had his face struck by a stone out of nowhere, was completely caved in. At that moment, I lightly caught the sword that was still in the air and slit the fellow’s throat.
Sha-ak!
By the time blood sprayed from the fellow’s throat, I had already leaped back and retreated. A thrilling sensation coursed through my entire body, and a laugh escaped me involuntarily. I had finally almost caught up to the martial prowess of my past life, which was my primary goal.
Smoothing back my hair, which had been ruffled from the headbutt, I muttered, “Hmph, you’re no match for me.”
Then Bi Sa-yeong, who had been watching my headbutt with a look of disbelief, shouted, “Don’t act cool, you primitive bastard!”
Well, he probably didn't realize that his own body was similar to mine.
And as I turned my gaze, the battle with Ji Gwang-ok, which the old man Seok Gyeong-dal had now joined, was entering a new phase.