“It is a good plan.”
Tang Gon nodded firmly.
“If we deal with only those who manage the poisons, their courage will cool, and they will not dare invade the Tang Clan’s territory again.”
“Exactly.”
Nodding, Bu Eunseol spoke again.
“And entrust their command to Black Leopard.”
“To Black Leopard? Ah, I see.” Grasping Bu Eunseol’s deep intention, Tang Gon addressed the youths of the Poison Arrow Hall.
“You will follow Black Leopard and set fire to the major buildings of the Blood Poison Valley.”
“You mean we should follow the command of that young boy?”
As the youth standing at the very front wore a dissatisfied expression, Tang Gon smiled faintly.
“Does the main house’s training curriculum include surprise attacks and diversionary tactics?”
“Pardon?”
Tang Gon pointed to Black Leopard standing beside Bu Eunseol.
“Black Leopard is young, but he is a former information wandering vagrant of the East Drifter, West Wanderer. He is more skilled in surprise attacks and diversionary operations than any of you.”
Tang Gon’s instructions were smooth. He had instantly understood why Bu Eunseol entrusted the command of the Poison Arrow Hall to Black Leopard.
“If you disobey Black Leopard’s orders, it is the same as disobeying mine. Do you understand?”
“Understood.”
The youths of the Poison Arrow Hall had no choice but to bow their heads.
Tang Gon lightly patted the shoulder of Black Leopard, who still looked youthful.
“I leave it to you.”
“Don’t worry, Third Young Master.” Black Leopard looked up and grinned, “I’m accustomed to this kind of work.” Then, addressing the youths of the Poison Arrow Hall, he instructed, “After infiltrating the Blood Poison Valley, you must follow me and set fire to the major buildings.”
Black Leopard surveyed them with eyes like a seasoned veteran, unlike a young boy.
“And you must absolutely not engage in combat. Interfere only with those attempting to extinguish the fire, but stall for time with hit-and-run tactics.”
Turning back, Black Leopard spoke briefly.
“That’s all. Follow me now.”
Sssss.
As Black Leopard unleashed his lightness skill, the youths of the Poison Arrow Hall looked at each other, then reluctantly followed behind.
“……!”
However, the expressions of the youths executing their lightness skills stiffened. No matter how much they increased their speed, they could not catch up to Black Leopard.
‘Indeed, it is true.’
In truth, they had been inwardly dissatisfied that a young boy like Black Leopard was commanding them. But only now did they realize that Black Leopard was not only a considerable master of lightness skills but also an expert who had experienced all sorts of hardships.
“They say there are no weak soldiers under a brave general; to think that child’s lightness skill has reached such a level.”
Watching Black Leopard shoot forward secretly, Tang Gon sighed, “By the way, I simply cannot understand.”
“Understand what?”
“The Blood Poison Valley. Just ten years ago, they were merely a third-rate sect stuck in Mount Guangzhong. But suddenly, their power has grown enough to threaten the main house.”
“Hmm.”
“Seeing that they are even producing things to counter the main house’s poisons and hidden weapons… it feels as if there is definitely a force behind them.”
“That could be possible.”
Nodding, Bu Eunseol inwardly narrowed his eyes.
‘Surely it isn’t the Demonic Palace.’
The Demonic Palace had been waging a silent war against the Martial Righteous Alliance, or rather the Orthodox Faction, for a long time. Perhaps they were secretly supporting the Blood Poison Valley to weaken the power of the Eight Great Families.
‘Well, it doesn’t matter.’
This matter would be handled by the Sichuan Tang Clan. Or rather, by the successor of the Tang Clan, Tang Gon.
Boom! Fwoosh!
At that moment, along with the sound of explosions, fires began to blaze in various places inside the Blood Poison Valley.
—Fire!
—Put out the fire, quickly!
As loud screams and shouts erupted mixed together within the Blood Poison Valley, Tang Gon inhaled deeply.
“It seems we should get going now.”
Rolling up his sleeves, he grinned at Bu Eunseol.
“Let’s see just how quick the hands of the Blood Poison Valley figures are.”
“Discard such half-hearted thoughts now.”
“What do you mean suddenly? Half-hearted?”
Bu Eunseol, with a cold gaze, observed Tang Gon’s gentle eyes and spoke in a chilling tone, “Have a poisonous heart. We are not attending a martial arts tournament; our purpose is to crush them so they can never challenge the Tang Clan again.”
“T-That is indeed true.”
“If you continue to harbor such a leisurely and gentle heart, your prospects of advancement are bleak.”
‘Poisonous heart,’ Tang Gon had heard this as well from Tang Pae. It was something Tang Gon, a kind-hearted individual, lacked. To become the Patriarch of the Tang Clan, it was an absolute necessity.
With a crimson glint flashing in his eyes, Bu Eunseol articulated each word clearly to Tang Gon. “You must inflict cruel punishment upon them so that they never rise again.”
“…….”
After a moment of silence, Tang Gon retrieved a pair of pitch-black gloves from his bosom. These were the Tang Clan’s secret weapon, the Black Silk Battle Gauntlets, which could significantly enhance the Poison Spirit Dissipating Skill he had acquired in the Secret Cave.
“I will demonstrate this to you.”
A similar crimson glint emerged in Tang Gon’s eyes as well.
“My transformed self.”
***
Cave of No Return.
This was the place where not only the secret poisons created by the Blood Poison Valley but also spiritual creatures like the Three-Eyed Blood Snake and the Golden Silkworm Poison Toad were stored.
Clang, clang, clang, clang!
Although bells were ringing in the center of the Blood Poison Valley, only a very faint metallic sound could be heard in this Cave of No Return, far removed from there.
“What are you bastards?”
***
Deep in the center of the Cave of No Return.
In front of densely displayed jars, an old man with eyes completely dyed black and skin blue like a corpse bared his fangs. It was the Deputy Valley Master of the Blood Poison Valley, Dark Slaughtering Ghost Spirit Sim Dok.
‘Damn it.’
Tang Gon swallowed hard as he looked at Sim Dok.
He had said leadership, but he expected a few decent Hall Masters to come running. But of all people, the terrifying Deputy Valley Master of the Blood Poison Valley, Sim Dok, was guarding this place?
“You bastards are out of luck.”
Sim Dok, closing the lid of the jar where the Golden Silkworm Poison Toad was kept, flashed eyes like a venomous snake.
“To crawl into the place where this old man is on your own.”
Tang Gon found it difficult even to breathe under Sim Dok’s aura spreading in all directions. But he deliberately scoffed and tapped his waist.
“You’re the one out of luck. Next year, today will be the anniversary of your death.”
“Hmph, just Tang Clan riffraff.”
Sim Dok bared his fangs upon seeing the leather pouch tied to Tang Gon’s waist.
“You’ve got some nerve. Not content with setting fire to the main valley with just a few riffraff, you even enter the Cave of No Return?”
Tang Gon gripped the Black Silk Battle Gauntlets with a tense expression.
Sim Dok’s martial arts realm had surpassed the Peak long ago. Even if he fought together with Bu Eunseol, the probability of winning was extremely slim.
“Watch for an opportunity and…”
Just as Tang Gon glanced at Bu Eunseol and was about to speak—
Flash!
A blinding flash of light sparked within the cave. Before anyone knew it, Bu Eunseol had drawn his Dark Sword and was slashing at Sim Dok’s neck.
Clang!
But matching him, Sim Dok turned his body to the side and deflected the sharp blade of the Dark Sword with his long, black fingernails. having mastered the Dark Soul Residual Blood Claw, his fingernails were as hard as iron.
“With mere skill like this…”
Sim Dok’s words did not continue. Because although he had clearly deflected the sword, Bu Eunseol’s Dark Sword was still thrusting at his neck.
“You use a strange sword art!”
Greatly surprised, Sim Dok quickly retreated and drew up his poison arts.
“I won’t leave even your bones behind!”
Rumble!
Sim Dok drew up the Asura Ghost Blood Poison Art and poured poison qi in all directions.
“Move aside!”
As poison qi poured out everywhere, Tang Gon stepped forward and unfolded his double palms.
Hwa-aak!
Then, his double palms shone like transparent glass and began to absorb the black poison qi.
Poison Spirit Dissipating Skill.
He had unfolded the secret art capable of not only absorbing all the Tang Clan’s poisons but also storing poison arts as internal energy.
Whoosh!
As the Poison Spirit Dissipating Skill extended in all directions, Sim Dok’s poison art that had filled the Cave of No Return vanished completely.
“The Tang Clan Secret Art, Poison Spirit Dissipating Skill.”
Sim Dok, well aware of the Tang Clan’s martial arts, recognized the technique at once.
“What do you intend to do with a martial art that merely absorbs poison arts?”
Just as Sim Dok scoffed and was about to unleash another supreme poison art, the Residual Blood Black Sand Palm—
“Slow.”
Before anyone knew it, Bu Eunseol stepped forward again and stabbed at Sim Dok’s Adam’s apple.
“Ugh!”
Barely tilting his neck back, Sim Dok quickly retreated three jang.
“This bastard!”
Discovering blood flowing from his neck, Sim Dok ground his teeth.
Due to cultivating the Asura Ghost Blood Poison Art, the area within three jang of Sim Dok’s body was always filled with terrible poison qi. Because of this, it was impossible for even decent masters to attempt close combat with him.
But every time, Tang Gon absorbed the poison with the Poison Spirit Dissipating Skill, and Bu Eunseol did not miss that opportunity to unleash sharp sword techniques. Because of this, Sim Dok found it difficult to utilize his specialty, poison arts, and was forced to retreat repeatedly.
“You brats! Fine.” Enraged, Sim Dok raised the corners of his mouth. “I’ll conjure up poison qi so potent that you won’t even be able to use the Poison Spirit Dissipating Skill.”
Woo-woong.
At the same time, as pitch-black poison mist began to bloom from his body like hundreds of strands of flame—
“Over there!”
“There are intruders in the Cave of No Return!”
From the entrance, dozens of Poison Men were pouring in.
‘What are those?’
Watching the Poison Men pouring into the Cave of No Return, Tang Gon dropped his jaw.
‘It’s hard enough to block Sim Dok’s poison arts in front…’
Furthermore, the charging Poison Men each held a steel shield the size of an adult, densely studded with thick long needles on the surface. Judging by the heavy sound whenever they moved, the weight seemed immense as well.
Swish!
At that moment, Bu Eunseol, drawing his divine sword, slashed at the charging Poison Men with all his might.
Wooong!
The Dark Sword could slice through iron like tofu.
However, because the iron shields the Poison Men held were so thick, he had only cut down two of them.
“Where are you looking!”
At that moment, Sim Dok on the other side unleashed the Asura Ghost Blood Poison Art at the twelfth level with a shout.
Hwa-aaak!
Intense poison qi became a massive tsunami, engulfing the bodies of Bu Eunseol and Tang Gon.
“Ugh.”
It had been only three days since Tang Gon entered the Secret Cave. Because it hadn’t been long since he learned the Poison Spirit Dissipating Skill, he couldn’t perfectly block Sim Dok’s Asura Ghost Blood Poison Art.
Slash!
Bu Eunseol cut down a few more Poison Men, but they kept pouring in endlessly from the entrance.
‘This is big trouble.’
Tang Gon’s expression became urgent.
From the entrance, the Blood Poison Valley’s Poison Men kept swarming in. And from inside, Sim Dok was pouring out intense poison arts. It was truly a dilemma with no way out.
“No choice.”
Watching the swarming Poison Men, Bu Eunseol shouted to Tang Gon.
“How long can you hold out against Sim Dok?”
Tang Gon, pouring out the Poison Spirit Dissipating Skill with all his might, shouted with veins popping on his forehead.
“About a half-gak (approx. 1 min 30 sec)!”
“Good.”
Bu Eunseol looked at the swarming Poison Men and sheathed his Dark Sword.
“Hold on just a moment.”
And he drew up his internal energy to full power.
Thud!
Blue energy swirled from Bu Eunseol’s body, and a round sword energy began to slowly condense at the tip of his sword.
‘T-that is…’
Watching that, Tang Gon’s eyes widened. Because materializing sword energy was only possible when one’s martial arts entered the Transcendent Realm and internal energy exceeded two sixty-year cycles.
Shooting up!
As the pitch-black sword energy of the Dark Sword soared more than six inches, Bu Eunseol unfolded his sword technique.
Ts-ts-ts-ts!
However, the sword energy Bu Eunseol unleashed did not shoot at the Poison Men, but soared into the air above their heads.
‘A failure?’
Just as Tang Gon, who had been watching continuously, was about to widen his eyes—
Clack! Pa-at!
The sword energy that soared into the air suddenly exploded like fireworks, becoming hundreds of sharp lines and beginning to descend to the ground.
Unbound by sword stances, capable of moving sword energy freely—the Supreme Heavenly Flow, Fourth Form: Caged Bird Longing for Clouds unfolded.
Clang!
Along with the sound of sticky liquid hitting the walls, the heads of the Poison Men began to split vertically into two pieces.
The sharp sword energy pouring from the air had slammed into the ground like a descending dragon.
Thud-thud-thud.
As the Poison Men crowded at the entrance fell like autumn leaves, silence engulfed the interior of the Cave of No Return.
“Y-you bastard…”
Sim Dok, who had been pouring out poison arts, stopped his movements with a face drained of color. Only now did he realize that Bu Eunseol was an expert on par with himself—no, one capable of cutting him down.