The Next Day
A massive crowd had gathered around the grand stage set up in the center of the Tang Clan's outer courtyard.
On the combat platform stood three figures: Jang Song, Hyeong Geuk, and their opponent, Tang Gon.
"There's no need to drag this out," Tang Gon said, extending a hand toward Jang Song and Hyeong Geuk. "Clan Leader Jang, Clan Leader Hyeong. Come at me together."
Jang Song and Hyeong Geuk exchanged a glance, their lips curling into mocking smiles.
Of course, if it were the current Tang Clan Leader, Tang Pae, he could likely defeat not only the two of them but all three of the Three Poison Sect leaders simultaneously. But Tang Gon was no Tang Pae.
Moreover, the martial prowess of the Three Poison Sect had advanced to an entirely different level compared to the past. Thanks to the backing of a formidable force, they had been provided with miraculous elixirs to enhance their inner energy and had been taught exceptional poison techniques.
To them, Tang Gon was nothing more than a greenhorn, still wet behind the ears.
"You've got the boldness of a clan leader, at least," Jang Song said, nodding with a sneer. "Very well. If my abilities fall short of yours, I'll accept your help."
"Do as you please," Tang Gon replied, extending his hand again.
Jang Song immediately began channeling his inner energy. A low hum reverberated as dark mist rose from his body. Known as a master of hidden weapons, Jang Song was now summoning poison techniques instead of launching projectiles.
Wooong.
As he unleashed his poison arts, the combat platform was enveloped in a dark crimson mist.
'Heavenly Poison Blood Mist Technique?' Tang Gon's eyebrows shot up as he observed the mist spreading from Jang Song's body.
The poison technique Jang Song was using was the Heavenly Poison Blood Mist Technique, a legendary skill of the Thousand Poison Divine Lord, a figure who had once struck terror into the martial world. It was believed to have been lost long ago.
How had Jang Song mastered it?
Swish.
The dark crimson mist, as if alive, coiled around Tang Gon's body. It clogged his lungs, making breathing difficult, and parts of it transformed into tough, rope-like tendrils that bound him.
'To think he’s mastered the Heavenly Poison Blood Mist Technique to its peak!' Tang Gon was astonished.
It was said that the Thousand Poison Divine Lord, at the height of his power, could wield the poison mist like a weapon, freely altering its properties. For Jang Song, a master of hidden weapons, to have reached such a level in poison arts was unthinkable.
"Heh heh heh. For someone so confident, you're rather underwhelming," Jang Song said, chuckling as he manipulated the mist to constrict Tang Gon's body.
But at that moment—
Zing.
A beam of light erupted from within the mist, beginning to dissolve the Heavenly Poison Blood Mist Technique.
It was the Poison Spirit Absorption Technique, one of the Tang Clan's Eight Great Secret Arts, unleashed by Tang Gon’s hands. This skill could absorb poisonous energy and convert it into inner energy.
Shwooosh!
As the light from Tang Gon's hands intensified, the poisonous mist surrounding him began to dissipate almost entirely.
"Impressive, as expected," Jang Song said, his smile widening despite Tang Gon neutralizing the mist. "But even the Poison Spirit Absorption Technique has its weaknesses."
Jang Song spread both arms, sweeping them upward.
Whoosh!
A fresh wave of poisonous mist surged from beneath Tang Gon’s feet, enveloping him once more.
Zing!
At the same time, the power of Tang Gon’s Poison Spirit Absorption Technique grew fiercer. This was exactly what Jang Song had anticipated.
"Ugh," Tang Gon groaned softly as he unleashed the technique.
The new wave of poisonous mist carried tangible inner energy. In other words, Jang Song had feigned using the Heavenly Poison Blood Mist Technique to lure Tang Gon into a contest of inner energy.
'Well played!'
The spreading mist, as if it were Jang Song’s own limbs, poured out immense inner energy. As Jang Song’s sharp energy pierced Tang Gon’s meridians, he countered by unleashing his full inner strength.
No matter how much Jang Song’s skills had advanced, Tang Gon was the young master of the Tang Clan. He had consumed countless elixirs to enhance his inner energy since childhood and had mastered various poison techniques. Even if Jang Song had made remarkable progress in a short time, Tang Gon was confident he could hold his own.
Crack.
Veins bulged on Tang Gon’s forehead.
On the surface, it appeared to be a clash between the Poison Spirit Absorption Technique and the Heavenly Poison Blood Mist Technique. But in reality, they had entered the most perilous form of combat: a direct contest of inner energy.
Yet something strange happened. Despite Tang Gon pouring every ounce of his strength into the fight, Jang Song was countering with ease.
'Even for a supreme clan leader, to have such immense inner energy...'
Tang Gon’s inner energy was just shy of three cycles (180 years). Yet Jang Song’s energy was nearing that same level—a feat more suited to a sect leader than a mere clan leader of the Three Poison Sect.
'So that’s why he lured me into a contest of inner energy.'
The light of the Poison Spirit Absorption Technique emanating from Tang Gon’s hands began to fade.
A contest of inner energy was like pouring power into a long tube, pushing against each other. If the balance of power tipped to one side, not only would the opponent’s energy overwhelm them, but their own energy would rebound, causing catastrophic injury.
"You’re holding up better than expected," Jang Song said, his voice dripping with malice as he unleashed both the Heavenly Poison Blood Mist Technique and his inner energy. "But you’ve chosen the wrong opponent."
Tang Gon noticed a thick, black gleam in Jang Song’s eyes.
'To have mastered such an advanced poison technique in so short a time...'
The gleam in Jang Song’s eyes was the Black Poison Spirit Aura, a phenomenon seen only in poison masters who had reached the pinnacle of their art. It was not something a mere clan leader of the Three Poison Sect could produce.
Crack.
The sound of bones creaking came from Tang Gon’s body as one of his knees began to buckle under the pressure of the poisonous energy and the disparity in inner strength.
"No way!" The Tang Clan members watching the fight gasped in shock.
How could a clan leader of the Three Poison Sect surpass the young master of the Tang Clan in inner energy?
Swish.
As Tang Gon’s defeat seemed imminent, Tang Seong, watching from the sidelines, clenched his fists with a desperate expression.
'You must not lose this fight.'
Victory in this duel was crucial to breaking the momentum of the Three Poison Sect, which had been eyeing the Tang Clan with predatory intent. Tang Gon could not afford to lose.
'Could it be... Did he already know Tang Gon would lose?'
Tang Seong gritted his teeth, glancing at the empty spectator seats nearby.
Seon Woojin, a mere third-rank leader of the Martial Alliance, held the title of special envoy. A special seat had been prepared for him, yet he had abruptly left when Jang Song and Hyeong Geuk stepped onto the platform. After conferring with his elite team near the stage, he and his men had swiftly exited the training grounds.
'That cowardly rat!'
Seon Woojin had fawned over Tang Gon as if he’d offer his own liver, only to turn on the Three Poison Sect leaders. Yet, the moment their strength became apparent and Tang Gon showed signs of defeat, he fled without hesitation.
"Urgh!" A low groan echoed from the combat platform.
Tang Gon’s body, unable to withstand the disparity in inner energy, was being infused with the poison of the Heavenly Poison Blood Mist Technique.
'Hold on! You must not lose this fight!' Tang Seong clenched his fists, staring at Tang Gon.
But whether Tang Gon sensed his desperation or not, he stood helplessly, unable to counter the poisonous energy.
***
'This will be a tough fight.'
Meanwhile, before the duel began, Bu Eunseol’s expression grew grave as he stepped outside the Tang Clan grounds.
'As expected, artificial inner elixirs.'
Jang Song and Hyeong Geuk, who had appeared on the training grounds, exuded powerful waves of true energy and the Black Poison Spirit Aura, a hallmark of masters who had perfected their poison arts. This was not a level of power that mere clan leaders of the Three Poison Sect could achieve.
Moreover, Bu Eunseol hadn’t sensed this during their first meeting at the conference hall. The leaders of the Three Poison Sect had deliberately concealed their true strength and aura.
'This could be a good opportunity.'
Though Jang Song and Hyeong Geuk’s abilities far exceeded expectations, Bu Eunseol wasn’t particularly worried. Tang Gon would surely defeat them and rise to his rightful place.
His only concern was the intentions of the Three Realms.
'The Three Realms...' Bu Eunseol’s gaze deepened.
The secretive forces of the Three Realms held sway over the martial world, capable of destroying or rebuilding sects in a short time. They even had the power to transform ordinary individuals into exceptional masters—a force that could be considered the supreme ruler of the martial world.
'Since I’ve cut off contact with the Three Realms, they’re likely aiming for a two-pronged strategy through this duel.'
Bu Eunseol had already seen through Jang Song and Hyeong Geuk’s plans.
The two clan leaders had boldly requested this duel because their connection to the Three Realms had been severed. Their goal was to defeat Tang Gon, weakening the Tang Clan’s momentum, while simultaneously using the distraction of the duel to mobilize an assassination squad.
After all, the two had reached a level where they no longer feared the Tang Clan’s martial arts.
'They’ve stationed an assassination squad near the Tang Clan.'
A smile, reminiscent of the Grim Reaper, curled at the corners of Bu Eunseol’s lips.
Before the duel began, he intended to locate and eliminate the assassination squad entirely.
"Deputy Leader Tae," Bu Eunseol said, handing his official badge to Tae Muryong as they reached the Tang Clan’s main gate. "Show this badge to the guards and wait at the entrance to the inner courtyard. If anyone asks why, tell them it’s an order from the Martial Alliance’s special envoy."
"Understood," Tae Muryong replied, accepting the badge without question and heading toward the inner courtyard.
Tae Muryong, with his wisdom and insight, had already gauged Bu Eunseol’s capabilities and placed unwavering trust in him. He knew Bu Eunseol always had a plan.
"Where are you going?" a Tang Clan guard asked, bowing as Bu Eunseol approached the gate.
"Just taking a look around the Tang Clan’s perimeter," Bu Eunseol replied.
"Understood."
The guards, aware of his status as a Martial Alliance special envoy, opened the gate without further questions.
'It’s fortunate the Tang Clan hasn’t been infiltrated by spies.'
The Three Realms often planted spies in the sects they targeted, but they had failed to do so in the Tang Clan. This was likely due to the Tang Clan’s unique structure, where all authority was centralized under the clan leader, leaving even elders powerless without the leader’s approval.
'Since planting spies was difficult, they resorted to stationing an assassination squad. That makes sense, but...'
Bu Eunseol shook his head.
The Three Realms’ plans, despite the effort invested, were embarrassingly flawed—sloppy enough to be exposed the moment someone intervened.
'I don’t know why they devised such a clumsy plan.'
A glint flashed in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
'But I’ll crush it in one fell swoop.'
Zing!
Channeling his Supreme Heavenly Command Technique, Bu Eunseol soared into the air, intent on locating the assassination squad hiding near the Tang Clan.
Zzt zzt zzt!
Like a streak of lightning, Bu Eunseol swiftly scoured the surroundings. His gaze finally settled on a location about twenty li from the Tang Clan: the Bixia Manor.
The manor appeared relatively new, its walls pristine and the surrounding grounds meticulously maintained.
Thud thud thud.
Bu Eunseol approached the manor’s gate and knocked.
After a moment, an elderly servant with narrow, squinting eyes emerged.
"What brings you here?" the old man asked.
"I’m here to see the manor lord," Bu Eunseol replied.
"The lord is away at the moment."
"I see. May I take a look inside?"
The old man hesitated, but Bu Eunseol clasped his hands respectfully and said, "I’m from the Martial Alliance. I have some matters to investigate."
Having given his badge to Tae Muryong, Bu Eunseol showed the embroidery on his sleeve. The old man studied it for a moment before reluctantly opening the gate.
"Come in."
Inside, the manor buzzed with activity as numerous servants and maids moved about. As Bu Eunseol stood observing them, the old man asked with a troubled expression, "What business does a Martial Alliance warrior have in our manor?"
"What does the lord of Bixia Manor do?" Bu Eunseol asked.
"How would an old servant like me know such things? I only know he conducts large-scale trade overseas."
"I see." As Bu Eunseol passed through the front courtyard and began inspecting the manor’s buildings, a faint smile crossed his lips.
"For an assassination squad, they’ve invested quite a bit of time and money."
"Pardon?" the old man asked.
"This manor is quite an impressive base," Bu Eunseol said, his smile unwavering as he stared at the old man. "The layout and formations of the buildings aren’t designed to keep enemies out but to trap them inside."
Before the old man could respond, Bu Eunseol pointed to a large dining hall across the courtyard.
"And for a merchant who’s frequently away, building a dining hall that can accommodate two or three hundred people? That’s absurd, isn’t it?"
The moment he finished speaking, the old man and the bustling servants and maids froze in place.
Swish.
Dozens of pairs of eyes turned to glare at Bu Eunseol, their gazes filled with murderous intent. The eerie sight of so many people halting simultaneously, radiating killing intent, was both grotesque and terrifying.
"Strange. I was told the Martial Alliance sent a useless nobody," the old man said, straightening his hunched back. A sharp glint flashed in his narrow eyes.
He was no mere servant but the leader of the assassins stationed at the manor.
"So," the old man said, his piercing gaze fixed on Bu Eunseol, "what does it change if a third-rank Martial Alliance leader figures this out?"
Swish.
From the shadows between the buildings, black-clad figures emerged, each wielding a dark poison sword. Their eyes, devoid of whites, were entirely black—likely due to being steeped in special drugs to enhance their combat prowess.
"They’ve prepared quite a number," Bu Eunseol said, shaking his head as he surveyed the assassins surrounding him. "But this level of force wouldn’t even make it to the Tang Clan’s inner courtyard."
"Feigning confidence, are we?" the old man sneered.
"I know your martial skills are impressive—on par with the great master Cheon Hwain," he said, licking his lips with a sinister grin. "People like you always overestimate themselves, thinking they’re special and can escape any danger."
"Judging by the fish-like eyes of these assassins, it seems the Blood Fiend Sect, lurking in Namsagok, has relocated its entire nest," Bu Eunseol remarked.
Every person in the manor belonged to the Blood Fiend Sect, a group of assassins based in Namsagok.
"Hmph," the old man—revealed to be Jo Baeksan, the Blood Fiend Lord, also known as the Phantom Elder—frowned. 'To remain so calm despite knowing who we are? What’s the source of his confidence?'
Jo Baeksan couldn’t comprehend it. This young man had come alone, yet he was casually taunting the Blood Fiend Sect, a name that could silence even a crying child.
"You must be relying on the Martial Alliance," Jo Baeksan said, smirking as if he’d figured it out. "Unfortunately, once you’ve entered this place, not even the Tang Clan leader could save—"
"Your mouth runs too long," Bu Eunseol interrupted, his expression bored. "If you’ve gathered all your assassins, shouldn’t you attack already? Or have you been hiding in this manor so long that you’re desperate for conversation?"
Crack.
Veins bulged on Jo Baeksan’s forehead.
"You’ve got some nerve," he snarled.
Whoosh!
Jo Baeksan’s silver hair shot upward as he unleashed his inner energy, his eyes turning darker than the abyss.
"Kill."
No further words were needed.
Shaaa!
A strange slicing sound echoed as the blue sky turned black. Every assassin in the manor unleashed the Blood Fiend Sect’s signature formation, the Black Sky Phantom Array, targeting Bu Eunseol.
Swish.
As the sky darkened, the entire manor was shrouded in inky blackness. Jo Baeksan and the assassins vanished completely.
The Blood Fiend Sect’s fearsome reputation stemmed from their tactic of trapping their targets in the Black Sky Phantom Array, where they would mercilessly unleash their deadly techniques in the darkness.
But something unexpected happened.
The assassins within the array began to panic and flounder. Bu Eunseol, who had been standing there moments ago, had vanished without a trace.
[No wonder these assassins are so drugged up.]
Bu Eunseol’s voice, transmitted through his Six Harmonies Voice Technique, reverberated within the darkened formation.
"They’ve been practicing the Evil Prison Dark Blood Technique."
The mist within the Black Sky Phantom Array was a mix of the formation’s effects and the poisonous energy of the Evil Prison Dark Blood Technique unleashed by the assassins.
"There he is!" the assassins shouted, pinpointing Bu Eunseol’s location and firing a barrage of poisoned darts.
Pang pang pang
But the hundreds of darts sliced through nothing but air.
'How is this possible?' Jo Baeksan, hidden within the array, rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
Once trapped in the Black Sky Phantom Array, all senses were cut off, and the potent poison paralyzed the body. Moreover, assassins trained in the Evil Prison Dark Blood Technique could see clearly within the formation. Yet, no matter where they looked, there was no sign of anyone but themselves.
"Pour out more poison! Unless he’s a poison master, he’ll succumb eventually!" Jo Baeksan shouted.
The black poisonous mist within the array grew thicker, but it was futile. Bu Eunseol, having reached the realm of the Sixfold Golden Circle, had meridians overflowing with immense inner energy. The poison mist of the Evil Prison Dark Blood Technique couldn’t even penetrate his body and was expelled effortlessly.
Moreover, his movement technique, the pinnacle of Swift Beyond Shadow, allowed him to slip through the assassins undetected, leaving them standing cluelessly.
'A sect of poison-wielding assassins...' Bu Eunseol’s eyes narrowed as he observed the assassins within the array.
The Blood Fiend Sect’s assassins were all poison masters, making them potentially troublesome opponents for the Tang Clan, which specialized in poison and hidden weapons.
'But...'
Bu Eunseol shook his head.
Even if they had managed to infiltrate the Tang Clan’s inner courtyard by some stroke of luck, their chances of assassinating Tang Pae were slim. The Tang Clan, like their enemies, feared neither poison nor hidden weapons. And in an assassination scenario rather than a direct confrontation, the Blood Fiend Sect’s assassins were ill-suited to face the Tang Clan’s masters. Nine out of ten would have been slaughtered.
'Is this a strategy to use the enemy’s blade against them?'
Given the situation, it seemed the Three Realms’ scheme wasn’t to destroy the Tang Clan or kill Tang Pae but rather to utterly crush the Three Poison Sect.
Yet, a question lingered. If that was the case, why bother strengthening the Three Poison Sect’s forces and martial arts? Why orchestrate such a plan?
'Enough. I’m Seon Woojin right now.'
Bu Eunseol shook his head. Now wasn’t the time to dwell on such questions.
Swish swish!
Suddenly, a piercing sound, sharp enough to tear eardrums, echoed within the Black Sky Phantom Array.
"Urgh!" The assassins froze, eyes wide with pain and an eerie dread, as if the scythe of death itself had grazed their necks.
[You lot would slaughter even children for the right price, wouldn’t you?]
A low, ominous voice burrowed into the assassins’ ears.
[Since you’re vermin not worth sparing...]
Crack! Crack!
The piercing sound grew louder, and a pair of crimson eyes flashed in the darkness.
There was no longer a third-rank Martial Alliance leader within the Black Sky Phantom Array.
What stood before the assassins now was an unparalleled grandmaster, radiating the majesty of Majeon, wielding the thunderous might of Ten Thousand Lightning Bolts to annihilate the vile scum of the assassin sect.
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