“A fine plan,” Tang Gon said, nodding firmly. “If we take out those managing their poisons, they’ll be too terrified to ever encroach on Tang Family territory again.”
“Exactly,” Bu Eunseol replied, nodding. “And let Black Leopard lead them.”
“Black Leopard? Oh, I see,” Tang Gon said, grasping Bu Eunseol’s deeper intent. He turned to the Poison Battle Clan recruits. “Follow Black Leopard and set fire to Blood Poison Valley’s key buildings.”
“You want us to follow that boy’s command?” the lead recruit asked, his face showing discontent.
Tang Gon gave a faint smile. “Is surprise and diversion part of the family’s training?”
“Sir?”
Pointing to Black Leopard beside Bu Eunseol, Tang Gon said, “He’s young, but he’s a former intelligence operative from Dongpyoseorang. He’s more skilled in surprise and disruption than any of you.”
Tang Gon’s orders were smooth, instantly understanding why Bu Eunseol entrusted Black Leopard with leading the Poison Battle Clan.
“If you disobey Black Leopard, it’s the same as disobeying me. Understood?”
“Yes, sir,” the recruits replied reluctantly, bowing their heads.
Tang Gon lightly patted Black Leopard’s youthful shoulder. “I’m counting on you.”
“Don’t worry, Third Young Master,” Black Leopard said, grinning as he raised his head. “I’m seasoned at this.”
Turning to the recruits, he said, “Once we infiltrate Blood Poison Valley, follow me and set fire to the key buildings.” Despite his boyish appearance, Black Leopard scanned them with the eyes of a battle-hardened veteran. “And absolutely no engaging in combat. Disrupt those trying to extinguish the fires, but hit and run to buy time.”
With a curt, “That’s all. Follow me,” he turned and moved.
Swish.
As Black Leopard employed his movement technique, the recruits exchanged glances and reluctantly followed.
“...!” But their expressions hardened as they moved.
No matter how fast they pushed their techniques, they couldn’t keep up with Black Leopard.
No wonder. The recruits had initially resented being led by a boy like Black Leopard.
But now they realized he was not only a master of movement techniques but also a seasoned expert who had seen countless battles.
“No strong general has weak soldiers. Who knew that boy’s movement technique was at such a level?” Tang Gon sighed, watching Black Leopard’s stealthy advance. “By the way, something doesn’t add up,” he said.
“What’s that?” Bu Eunseol asked.
“Blood Poison Valley. Ten years ago, it was just a third-rate faction holed up in Guangzhong Mountain. But suddenly, it’s grown enough to threaten the family.”
“Hm.”
“They’re even developing counters to our poisons and hidden weapons. It feels like someone’s backing them.”
“That could be,” Bu Eunseol said, nodding, though his eyes narrowed inwardly.
Surely not Majeon.
Majeon had been waging a silent war against the Martial Alliance—nay, the righteous factions—for years. It wasn’t impossible they were secretly supporting Blood Poison Valley to weaken the Eight Great Families.
No matter.
This would be credited to the Sichuan Tang Family—or rather, to Tang Gon, the heir.
Boom! Roar!
Explosions rang out as parts of Blood Poison Valley burst into flames.
“Fire!”
“Put it out!” Screams and shouts erupted within the valley as Tang Gon took a deep breath.
“Time to move.” Rolling up his sleeves, he grinned at Bu Eunseol. “Let’s see how quick Blood Poison Valley’s fighters are.”
“Drop that half-hearted mindset,” Bu Eunseol said coldly, staring into Tang Gon’s gentle eyes. “Have a venomous heart. We’re not here for a sparring match but to crush them so they’ll never dare challenge the Tang Family again.”
“Y-Yes, you’re right,” Tang Gon stammered.
“If you keep that soft, leisurely attitude, you’ll never rise higher.” A venomous heart—something Tang Pae had once told him.
It was what the kind-hearted Tang Gon lacked but was essential to become the Tang Family patriarch.
Bu Eunseol, his eyes glinting with bloodlust, spoke deliberately. “Crush them ruthlessly so they can never rise again.”
“…” After a moment’s silence, Tang Gon pulled a dark gauntlet from his robes.
It was the Black Silk Battle Armor, a secret Tang Family weapon that amplified the Poison Spirit Dissolving Technique.
“I’ll show you,” Tang Gon said, his eyes flashing with a bloodlust akin to Bu Eunseol’s.
“The completely changed me.”
* * *
No-Return Cave
This was where Blood Poison Valley stored its secret poisons, along with rare creatures like the Three-Eyed Blood Snake and the Golden Toad Poison.
Clang! Clang!
Bells rang through the valley’s core, but in the distant No-Return Cave, only faint metallic echoes could be heard.
“Who are you?” At the cave’s deepest center, amidst rows of jars, stood an old man with pitch-black eyes and corpse-blue skin, baring his fangs.
It was Shim Dok, the Black Killing Ghost Spirit, deputy leader of Blood Poison Valley.
Damn.
Tang Gon swallowed hard, staring at Shim Dok. He’d expected a few mid-level leaders to rush in, but to face the fearsome deputy leader himself?
“You’re unlucky,” Shim Dok said, closing the lid on a jar holding a Golden Toad Poison, his serpentine eyes glinting. “To crawl into a place guarded by me.”
Shim Dok’s oppressive aura made it hard for Tang Gon to breathe.
But he forced a scoff, patting his waist. “You’re the unlucky one. Tomorrow will be your memorial day.”
“Hmph, a Tang Family stray,” Shim Dok sneered, spotting the leather pouch at Tang Gon’s waist. “Bold fool. You set fire to our valley with a handful of strays and dare enter No-Return Cave?”
Tang Gon, tense, gripped his Black Silk Battle Armor tightly. Shim Dok’s martial prowess had long surpassed the peak level. Even with Bu Eunseol’s help, their chances of winning were slim.
“Find an opening…” Tang Gon began, glancing at Bu Eunseol.
Flash!
A blinding light flared in the cave. Bu Eunseol had drawn his ink-black sword and was slashing at Shim Dok’s throat.
Clang!
Shim Dok twisted aside, deflecting the sharp blade with long, black nails as hard as iron, honed by the Ink Soul Residual Blood Claw technique.
“With such meager skill…” Shim Dok began, but his words faltered.
Though he’d parried the strike, Bu Eunseol’s sword still came for his throat.
“Freakish swordsmanship!” Shim Dok exclaimed, startled, retreating quickly and summoning his poison technique. “I’ll leave no bones behind!”
Boom!
Shim Dok unleashed the Asura Ghost Blood Poison Technique, spewing venomous energy in all directions.
“Get back!” Tang Gon shouted, stepping forward and spreading his palms.
Whoosh!
His palms gleamed like transparent glass, absorbing the black poison.
Poison Spirit Dissolving Technique.
It not only absorbed all Tang Family poisons but could store poison techniques as inner energy.
Shoo!
As the technique spread, Shim Dok’s poison filling the cave vanished entirely.
“The Tang Family’s secret Poison Spirit Dissolving Technique,” Shim Dok said, recognizing it instantly, familiar with Tang Family martial arts. “What can you do with a mere poison-absorbing technique?”
Sneering, Shim Dok prepared to unleash another deadly poison technique, the Residual Blood Black Sand Palm.
“Too slow,” Bu Eunseol said, darting forward again to stab at Shim Dok’s throat.
“Ugh!” Shim Dok barely tilted his head, retreating three yards. “You!” he growled, noticing blood trickling from his neck.
Having mastered the Asura Ghost Blood Poison Technique, Shim Dok’s three-yard radius was always filled with deadly poison, making close combat impossible for most masters. But Tang Gon kept absorbing the poison with his technique, and Bu Eunseol seized every opening to unleash sharp sword strikes. Unable to use his signature poison techniques, Shim Dok was forced to retreat repeatedly.
“You brats! Fine!” Shim Dok snarled, his lips curling. “I’ll unleash a poison so potent you can’t use your absorption technique!”
Hum.
As hundreds of black poison mist strands began to rise like flames from his body—
“There!”
“Intruders in No-Return Cave!” Dozens of poison-resistant warriors flooded in from the entrance.
What are those? Tang Gon’s jaw dropped as he saw them.
He was already struggling to counter Shim Dok’s poison, and now these warriors, each wielding a man-sized steel shield studded with thick spikes, were charging in, their movements heavy with weight.
Slash!
Bu Eunseol drew his sword and struck the oncoming warriors.
Clang!
His ink-black sword could slice iron like tofu, but the shields were so thick he only felled two warriors.
“Look where you’re swinging!” Shim Dok shouted from the opposite side, unleashing the full force of his Asura Ghost Blood Poison Technique.
Roar!
A massive wave of poison engulfed Bu Eunseol and Tang Gon.
“Ugh,” Tang Gon groaned.
Having only trained the Poison Spirit Dissolving Technique for three days, he couldn’t fully counter Shim Dok’s attack.
Slash!
Bu Eunseol cut down a few more warriors, but more kept pouring in from the entrance.
This is bad. Tang Gon’s expression grew dire.
Poison warriors kept flooding in, and Shim Dok’s relentless poison attacks came from within—a true dilemma.
“No choice,” Bu Eunseol said, eyeing the oncoming warriors and shouting to Tang Gon. “How long can you hold off Shim Dok?”
Pouring all his energy into the Poison Spirit Dissolving Technique, Tang Gon, veins bulging on his forehead, shouted, “About a minute and a half!”
“Good,” Bu Eunseol said, sheathing his sword as he faced the warriors. “Hold on for just a moment.”
He summoned his full inner energy.
Boom!
A blue aura swirled around him, and a spherical sword energy began forming at his blade’s tip.
That’s… Tang Gon’s eyes widened.
Manifesting sword energy required not only reaching the transcendent realm but also possessing inner energy exceeding two cycles (120 years).
Shing!
As the ink-black sword’s energy extended over six inches, Bu Eunseol unleashed his sword technique.
Crackle!
The sword energy didn’t target the warriors but shot upward, hovering above them.
Did he miss? Tang Gon thought, eyes wide.
Whoosh! Bang!
The airborne sword energy exploded like fireworks, splitting into hundreds of sharp threads descending toward the ground.
Unbound by sword forms, the fourth form of the Supreme Heavenly Flow, Caged Bird Yearning for Clouds, was unleashed.
Splatter!
With the sound of viscous liquid hitting walls, the warriors’ heads were sliced vertically in two.
The sharp sword energy had descended like a dragon from the heavens, striking the ground.
Thud.
As the warriors at the entrance fell like leaves, silence enveloped No-Return Cave.
“You… you…” Shim Dok, pale with shock, froze mid-attack.
Only now did he realize Bu Eunseol was not just his equal but capable of killing him.
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