Chapter 342: Growth (2)

Jjeo-eong!

When the woman’s sword clashed against him, Elder Man’s eyes widened and he drew in a breath.

“Hup!”

The vibration that traveled up his wrist told him the woman was by no means of a low level.

“Step back!”

Taking this chance to see Lee Myeongja escaping, Elder Man shouted, and a young man responded.

“So, the Demonic Cult’s lot now draws blades even in broad daylight.”

The young man seemed to have caught on to Elder Man’s martial arts.

“How do you know whether we are of the Demonic Path or not? Have you considered that this woman might be lying?”

The young man retorted.

“If one has mastered the Asura Demon Sword, then what else could they be but of the Demonic Cult?”

At those words, Sanbi’s eyes lit up.

He recognizes the Asura Demon Sword? At that young age, it’s unlikely he’d have such knowledge of demonic martial arts unless… he too is from the Demonic Path.

Sanbi immediately assessed the young man’s internal energy.

“At such a young age, to recognize the Asura Demon Sword… you must be from the Demonic Path, right?”

Elder Man had the same thought and asked likewise.

The young man smiled faintly.

“You could say that.”

Elder Man asked.

“If you can recognize the Asura Demon Sword, you’re surely no nameless figure. State your alias and name.”

The young man answered without the slightest sign of shrinking back.

“I am Jong Seok. Recently, they’ve been calling me the Heavenly Central Poison Dragon.”

Sanbi and Elder Man, who were heading toward the Shaolin Temple, had heard of that alias before.

It was the same alias and name they had heard martial artists gossiping about at an inn.

Sanbi stepped forward and asked.

“Then, would that young lady beside you be the Single Blossom of the Dragon?”

Mo Biyoung nodded.

“That’s right.”

Her very first words being in informal speech made Elder Man bristle.

“How dare you spit out informalities, you wench!”

“You asked me informally, so I answered you informally. Is that a problem? If you want me to speak respectfully, then ask respectfully.”

“You damnable wench!”

As Elder Man raised his sword to strike, Sanbi stopped him.

“Hold yourself for a moment, Elder Man.”

Sanbi held him back and spoke politely to Mo Biyoung.

“Hahaha, my apologies. I wasn’t intending to be disrespectful—while asking, I must have slipped into it without realizing.”

When Sanbi addressed her respectfully as she demanded, Elder Man frowned.

He had never once seen the Young Cult Leader use honorifics with women of their age.

“I have heard much of the fame of the Single Blossom of the Dragon and the Heavenly Central Poison Dragon. However, you are mistaken. We did not attack the woman—she attacked us first.”

Jong Seok shot back.

“The words of a Demonic Cultist cannot be trusted!”

The Hidden Saint Cult had not been destroyed by the orthodox sects, but by the alliance of the Three Demonic Heavens.

Because of that, Jong Seok’s resentment toward the Three Demonic Heavens was etched into his very bones.

So upon seeing martial artists of the Sacred Heaven Cult, his killing intent surged.

Sanbi’s eyes turned cold.

“If you can’t trust us, then so be it.”

Sanbi had no intention of forcing persuasion.

It already appeared the other side’s hatred toward the Sacred Heaven Cult ran deep.

Since the Sacred Heaven Cult was part of the Three Demonic Heavens, Mo Biyoung too did not view the two of them favorably.

Being attacked by the Blood Demon Castle, she could not see the appearance of the Sacred Heaven Cult as mere coincidence.

Though Mo Biyoung had not been attacked by them, she regarded the Sacred Heaven Cult as no different from the Blood Demon Castle.

Mo Biyoung asked.

“When you say Young Cult Leader, do you mean the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult?”

Sanbi smirked.

“That’s right.”

“Tell me where you’re going and why.”

Sanbi’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“And why should I?”

“Because you are part of the Three Demonic Heavens, and you are the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult. Your intentions are surely not good.”

“Even if they aren’t, I don’t feel like telling you.”

Mo Biyoung had no thought of letting them go.

But she hesitated briefly.

They were not just mere cult members, but the successor—the Young Cult Leader—of the Demonic Cult.

Touching such a figure could mean turning the entire Demonic Cult into an enemy, so she had to tread carefully.

“Instructor Mo, we can capture them and find out.”

While Mo Biyoung hesitated, Jong Seok turned the tense standoff into a battle.

“Gained a bit of fame, and now you’re arrogant, aren’t you? Brat.”

Elder Man, unable to hold back his rage, finally struck at Mo Biyoung.

Damn!

Sanbi shot a displeased look at Elder Man, who sometimes acted without his instruction.

But now was the time to subdue the opponents first and think later.

Sanbi drew the Nine Serpents Flying Sword and approached Jong Seok.

“You seem to be of the Demonic Path—so why do you bear hostility toward me?”

Jong Seok smirked.

“That’s none of your business. Just know that letting you live leaves me seething.”

As Jong Seok brought forth the Black Death God Light Poison Technique, his hands turned black.

“Hoh, poison arts.”

Before Sanbi even finished speaking, Jong Seok lunged.

Twisting his hands at strange angles toward vital points, Jong Seok aimed, but Sanbi knocked them aside with his Nine Serpents Flying Sword.

Ttaeng! Ttang! Chaeng!

The Nine Serpents Flying Sword rang out like clashing with an iron blade.

It was the first time Sanbi had faced someone whose bare hands could withstand it.

Just what kind of poison art can endure the Nine Serpents Flying Sword?

Surprised, Sanbi realized the Heavenly Central Poison Dragon was no easy foe.

But if I falter against someone like you, my five years of isolated training will have been for nothing.

As Sanbi and Jong Seok fought, unleashing only killing moves, the scene turned utterly savage.

Mo Biyoung, thinking it advantageous to quickly subdue the young man’s guard, unleashed the absolute techniques of the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword.

However, Elder Man exposed no openings, making him a difficult target to exploit.

The more Elder Man fought against Mo Biyoung, the more he marveled inside.

So it’s true she defeated a guardian of the Blood Demon Castle. How can such a young woman be this strong?

Against an opponent maintaining a flawless balance between attack and defense, victory would not come easily.

Growth (2)

Jjeoong!

When my sword clashed against the woman’s, Elder Man’s eyes widened, and he drew in a sharp breath.

“Huup!”

The vibration that traveled up my wrist told me this woman was by no means a lower-class martial artist.

“Stand down!”

Taking advantage of the moment, Elder Man shouted when he saw Lee Myeongja attempting to escape. A young man responded.

“So the Demonic Cult’s lot have now taken to brandishing blades even in broad daylight.”

The young man seemed to faintly recognize Elder Man’s martial arts.

“How do you know we’re from the Demonic Path? Don’t you think that woman could be lying?”

The young man retorted.

“If one who has mastered the Shura Demon Sword isn’t from the Demonic Cult, then who is?”

At those words, a light flashed in Sanbi’s eyes.

‘He recognized the Shura Demon Sword? At such a young age, it’s unlikely he’s well-versed in demonic martial arts… perhaps he’s from the Demonic Path as well.’

Sanbi immediately discerned the young man’s background.

“At your age, there’s no way you’d recognize the Shura Demon Sword. Are you from the Demonic Path?”

Elder Man shared the same thought and asked likewise.

The young man smiled faintly.

“You could say that.”

Elder Man questioned further.

“If you can recognize the Shura Demon Sword, you’re no nameless wanderer. State your alias and name.”

Without any sign of intimidation, the young man replied.

“I am Jong Seok. Recently, people have taken to calling me the Poison Dragon of the Heavenly Central Sect.”

Sanbi and Elder Man had heard that alias before on their way toward Shaolin Temple.

It was the name and alias they’d overheard martial artists talking about at an inn.

Sanbi stepped forward and asked.

“In that case, is the young lady beside you the Lone Flower of the Dragon?”

Mo Biyoung nodded.

“That’s right.”

The moment she answered in an informal tone, Elder Man bristled.

“Where does a wench like you get off speaking so rudely?”

“You asked rudely, so I answered rudely. Is that a problem? If you want polite speech from me, then ask politely.”

“You damnable wench!”

When Elder Man tried to raise his sword and rush her, Sanbi blocked him.

“Hold for a moment, Elder Man.”

After restraining Elder Man, Sanbi turned to Mo Biyoung and spoke politely.

“Hahaha, my apologies. I didn’t mean to speak down to you—it just slipped out as I was asking a question.”

When Sanbi addressed her politely, just as she’d said, Elder Man frowned.

He had never before seen the Young Cult Leader speak politely to women of his own age.

“I’ve heard much of the reputations of the Lone Flower of the Dragon and the Poison Dragon of the Heavenly Central Sect. But you’ve made a mistake—we didn’t attack the lady. She attacked us first.”

Jong Seok snapped back.

“The words of Demonic Cultists can’t be trusted!”

The Hidden Saint Cult had not been destroyed by the Orthodox Sects but had fallen to the alliance of the Three Demonic Heavens.

Because of this, Jong Seok harbored a grudge against members of the Three Demonic Heavens deep into his bones.

The moment he saw martial artists of the Holy Heaven Cult, his killing intent surged.

Sanbi’s eyes turned cold.

“If you can’t trust us, then so be it.”

Sanbi had no intention of forcing persuasion.

The other party was clearly someone with deep resentment toward the Holy Heaven Cult.

Since the Holy Heaven Cult was a member of the Three Demonic Heavens, Mo Biyoung also didn’t see the two of them in a favorable light.

Given they’d been attacked by the Blood Demon Castle, the Holy Heaven Cult’s sudden appearance hardly seemed like coincidence.

Though Mo Biyoung hadn’t been attacked by them, she considered the Holy Heaven Cult no different from the Blood Demon Castle.

Mo Biyoung asked.

“When you say Young Cult Leader, do you mean the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult?”

Sanbi gave a faint smile.

“That’s right.”

“Tell me where you’re going and why.”

Sanbi’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“And why should I?”

“Because you’re members of the Three Demonic Heavens and the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult. Surely, your purpose can’t be a good one.”

“Even if it is, I don’t feel like telling you.”

Mo Biyoung had no intention of letting them go.

But she hesitated for a moment.

These weren’t just ordinary members of the Demonic Cult—they were the heir apparent, the Young Cult Leader.

Laying hands on people like that could make enemies of the entire Demonic Cult, so caution was necessary.

“Instructor Mo, we can capture them and find out.”

While Mo Biyoung was wavering, Jong Seok shifted the standoff into open battle.

“Where did a few scraps of fame make you so arrogant, you little brats.”

In the end, Elder Man could no longer hold back his fury and launched an attack on Mo Biyoung.

‘Damn it!’

Sanbi glanced at Elder Man with displeasure, irritated at his occasional habit of acting without orders.

But for now, it was a matter to think about after subduing the opponents first.

Sanbi drew the Nine-Serpent Sabre and stepped toward Jong Seok.

“You seem to be from the Demonic Path, so why do you show hostility toward me?”

Jong Seok grinned slyly.

“That’s none of your business. Just think of me as a man who can’t stand leaving the likes of you be without my blood boiling.”

When Jong Seok raised the Black Death God Light Poison Technique, both his hands turned black.

“Hmph, poison arts, is it.”

Even as Sanbi spoke, Jong Seok lunged.

Twisting his hands at strange angles to strike vital points, he was blocked when Sanbi swept them aside with the Nine-Serpent Sabre.

Ttaeng! Ttang! Chaeng!

The Nine-Serpent Sabre rang out with the sound of steel clashing against steel.

Sanbi had never before seen someone whose hands remained unharmed against the Nine-Serpent Sabre.

‘What kind of poison art can endure the Nine-Serpent Sabre?’

Startled, Sanbi realized the Poison Dragon of the Heavenly Central Sect was no easy opponent.

‘But if I get flustered against the likes of you, then my five years of isolated training will have been for nothing.’

As Sanbi and Jong Seok exchanged only lethal techniques, the scene became nothing short of murderous.

Mo Biyoung, thinking it advantageous to quickly subdue the young man’s guard, unleashed a lethal strike of the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword.

But Elder Man left no openings, making him difficult to attack.

The longer Elder Man fought Mo Biyoung, the more he was inwardly impressed.

‘They say she once defeated a Guardian of the Blood Demon Castle. That must be true. How can a young woman be this strong?’

One could never easily win against an opponent who maintained a perfect balance between offense and defense.

‘So I have to bare my trump card.’

He had to acknowledge that only the Three Ultimate Killing Strikes of the Shura Demon Sword could defeat her.

Woooong!

A strange sword cry rang from Elder Man’s blade as red energy surged from its body.

Mo Biyoung tensed completely.

The sword qi had taken form.

‘Qi Manifestation.’

Seeing the final stage of sword qi, she could not afford to be careless.

Acknowledging her opponent was a master still a rank above her, she drew upon all her inner power.

She had no intention of going down without a fight.

‘Vicious! She’s aiming for mutual destruction?’

Elder Man had never before seen a woman swing her sword with such deadly resolve.

Jong Seok, too, was driving toward the fight’s conclusion.

Sanbi swung down the Nine-Serpent Sabre.

It was a move so straightforward its intent was obvious.

Jong Seok countered with a straight punch, aiming to break the momentum.

The Nine-Serpent Sabre halted under Jong Seok’s punch.

“Sorry, but this was what I was aiming for.”

As Sanbi infused true qi into the blade, the Black Steel Snake coiled on it sprang forward and bit Jong Seok’s hand.

“The Nine-Serpent Sabre, is it.”

“You realized too late.”

As Sanbi sneered and stepped back, Jong Seok followed, speaking.

“You also realized too late.”

Jong Seok grabbed the Nine-Serpent Sabre and thrust his right fist toward Sanbi’s shoulder.

To avoid losing the Nine-Serpent Sabre, he would have to take the hit to the shoulder.

But at that moment, someone else took the blow for him.

Bbeo-eok!

Seeing the Young Cult Leader at a disadvantage, Elder Man had shoved Mo Biyoung away and blocked with his own body.

A shudder ran through Elder Man as pain like a shattered shoulder bone shot through him.

“If you’re bitten by the Black Steel Snake, you’re as good as dead.”

“My poison arts aren’t so weak as to die from such a creature.”

Though he said that, in truth, pain flared where the Black Steel Snake had bitten him.

‘If I hadn’t mastered the Black Death God Light Poison Technique to the eighth level, I would have died from the Black Steel Snake’s venom. At the eighth level, no matter how strong the poison, it’s destroyed by the Black Death God Light Poison Technique.’

Jong Seok’s confidence in facing the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult came solely from his confidence in his martial arts.

“Are you alright, Elder Man?”

“It’s just a slight ache in the shoulder.”

Jong Seok cut in on their conversation.

“Is that so?”

Something about the smirk on Jong Seok’s face stirred unease.

Even when they looked at the wound, there were no signs of poison.

“I will take care of him, Young Cult Leader.”

Elder Man, intent on ending it in a single move, drew upon his full inner power.

Then, all of a sudden, his body convulsed as if in a seizure, and he let out a groan.

“Uuuaaaagh!”

“What’s wrong, Elder Man?”

Elder Man’s face flushed red as he spoke.

“Get back, Young Cult Leader. It’s the Black Death God Light Poison Technique.”

“What! The Black Death God Light Poison Technique!”

Sanbi looked at Jong Seok in shock.

Then, gritting his teeth, he hurled himself forward.

The moment he leapt, Jong Seok shouted.

“Instructor Mo, fall back ten jang!”

Hearing the shout, Mo Biyoung quickly retreated backward.

Puh-eong!

Elder Man’s body burst apart into pieces, scattering in all directions.

Judging by the large crater in the ground, it wasn’t simply a matter of his body exploding.

Even the smell of gunpowder lingered in the place where Elder Man’s body had blown apart.

“What happened? Did you use explosives?”

At Mo Biyoung’s question, Jong Seok shook his head.

“No. He fell to my poison arts.”

“Even if poison arts could make a body explode, they wouldn’t have such powerful force as if gunpowder had gone off.”

It was the first she’d ever heard of such a martial art.

And she realized she still didn’t truly know the extent of Jong Seok’s martial arts despite fighting alongside him until now.

“Uahahahahaha!”

Sanbi, on the other hand, burst into wild laughter, shocked by Elder Man’s death.

“The Black Death God Light Poison Technique! Isn’t that the forbidden martial art of the Hidden Saint Cult! Are you a successor of the Hidden Saint Cult?”

Had it not been asked, Jong Seok wouldn’t have said it—but now, he couldn’t deny it.

“That’s right. I am Jong Seok, the last disciple of the Hidden Saint Cult!”

“Hahaha, so you’re the last disciple the Three Demonic Heavens were chasing. No wonder you recognized Elder Man’s martial arts at a glance.”

Sanbi had no intention of letting the two live.

Elder Man had been the one who’d looked after him for a long time.

Now that he’d been killed by these two, Sanbi thought he had to kill them to at least perform a memorial for him.

And since these two were his opponents, he thought it was a good opportunity to test the power of the martial arts he had honed during his five years of isolated training.

“This is a technique I’ve never fully unleashed since completing my isolated training. Watch and judge it well—if you survive, that is.”

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