Chapter 50

Chapter 50

“……You know me.”

The Poison Demon did not deny it. Though slightly flustered, he maintained his composure as always and spoke.

“Do you know my name as well?”

“Yeonhui.”

“So you do know.”

The killing intent flowing from Yeonhui’s body began to grow even denser. Under that killing intent, Muyeon felt her knees tremble.

If Youngho had not shielded her with his own energy, she would have fainted long ago from that oppressive aura alone.

But Youngho simply flicked his hand once, as if the killing intent were nothing more than a nuisance.

Whoosh!

The moment his hand moved casually through the air, the killing intent Yeonhui had been releasing began to shrink back.

‘What!’

Yeonhui could not hide his astonishment.

‘He dispersed my killing intent so easily?’

Even a master of the Transformation Realm could not accomplish such a feat without difficulty.

‘Just how…?’

“Are you flustered?”

Youngho’s words, flying toward him like a Throwing Knife of the Tang Clan, carried an indescribable weight.

“How old are you?”

“Older than you.”

“…….”

He could not tell whether it was truth or lie. But one fact remained unchanged. The being before him would one day become the one to ruin the grand design of the Demonic Cult.

“How did you come here?”

“Do I have to tell you that?”

“No, there is no need. I can guess. The Gold-Blood Hall Master?”

“Who knows. Perhaps a passing hero simply decided to carry out a heroic deed.”

“Nonsense.”

“Is it?”

When Yeonhui fell silent for a moment, Youngho instead asked what seemed to be his own curiosity.

“By the way, is this the only place where Jiangshi are made?”

“Do you think I would tell you that?”

“No, I just asked in case. One of your comrades nearby might come. Though judging by the situation, that does not seem likely.”

“Hmm? That is quite intriguing. Whether there truly is no one to aid me… and whether you can remain so relaxed even after being poisoned.”

“What are you talking about? I took an antidote.”

“Did you think the poison of a mere Poison Jiangshi could be compared to mine?”

“It would not compare. You are the Poison Demon of the world, after all.”

At that moment, Youngho felt his body refuse to move.

He quickly realized that the Poison Demon had released poison without his notice.

‘Not bad.’

Ordinary Martial Artists would panic if their bodies stiffened before battle.

For a Martial Artist, a fleeting instant was enough time to die dozens of times. Even if one’s body froze for the briefest fraction of a moment, panic would naturally follow. Yet Youngho merely smiled faintly.

Apparently displeased by that sight, Yeonhui frowned and said,

“Why are you smiling? Those poisoned by me cannot survive, even if they are masters of the Transformation Realm. I spread the poison carefully, so only you were afflicted—but you cannot possibly remain so composed.”

“You kept talking to buy time to poison me?”

“I have no hobby of speaking further to a man who is about to die.”

“Fine. Then let me tell you one thing.”

“I have no need to hear it.”

“I was buying time as well.”

“What nonsense—!”

“Horyeung. Do you see that slightly protruding section of the wall beyond the Poison Demon? There is someone there controlling the Jiangshi.”

“Can it be broken with a fist?”

“Probably. If not, leave it to that mad bitch. And Hosan, Chowon. You two handle the Jiangshi.”

“Yes!”

As the group instantly formed their formation at Youngho’s command, Yeonhui let out a hollow chuckle, as though finding it absurd.

“And who will face me? If not you—the one who blocked my sword—there is no one here capable of standing against me.”

In answer, Youngho’s round eyes curved like crescent moons.

“Of course it is me.”

Fwoosh!

Flames suddenly surged up from Youngho’s body, causing not only Yeonhui but even his own companions to widen their eyes in shock.

But it lasted only an instant before the flames that had engulfed him receded.

As the fire cleared, Youngho bared his white teeth and grinned as though nothing had happened.

“You just burn poison away.”

“Wh-what…!”

It was a horrifying sight. He had erased the poison with mere Samadhi True Fire—moreover, the poison that had already spread throughout his body.

It was an absurd method of Internal Energy control.

‘Is he truly a master of the Transformation Realm?’

If so, matters could grow complicated.

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

Shiver—!

Youngho was suddenly right before Yeonhui’s nose, speaking with a chilling smile.

“You drug-addicted bastard.”

As though the word had touched a reverse scale, Yeonhui roared savagely.

“I will turn you into a handful of blood!”

“That sounds rather brutal.”

Boom!

The two collided, and a tremendous roar resounded. At the same time, Youngho’s group moved.

A massive shock rippled through the passage, enough to shake it briefly, and the Jiangshi charged ferociously toward Kang Hosan and Kang Chowon.

The two instantly deployed their combined formation to face the Jiangshi. Their coordination was beyond perfection—it was completion itself.

The siblings’ individual Martial Might was already outstanding. Yet the reason they had practiced combined formations lay entirely in Youngho’s will.

Youngho had said that in battle, it was more important not to become a liability than to simply possess strength.

He had also said that the hardest thing was ensuring one’s attacks did not reach an ally. At first, they had not fully understood his meaning.

But after practicing coordinated attacks, the siblings gradually began to comprehend Youngho’s words. That was why they had reduced even their sleep to train both individually and together.

And now, they realized their training had not been in vain.

Clang! Krrrkk!

‘This is different from when we faced the Water Bandits!’

Back then, they had Horyeung’s assistance, which made executing their coordination easier. But now, not only was Horyeung gone, even Muyeon had followed him.

The time had come for Kang Hosan and Kang Chowon to survive by their own strength alone.

“Ugh!”

At first, they were pushed back by the Jiangshi. After all, for merely two people to face dozens was an extremely difficult task. But once they adapted, the situation changed.

Slash!

The moment Kang Chowon withdrew her body backward, Kang Hosan’s sword flew in from a blind spot the Jiangshi could not see.

In truth, Jiangshi of this level could be handled lightly if there were two Master Level experts present. However, although Kang Hosan and Kang Chowon were close to that realm, they were still First Rate Martial Artists.

By their own strength alone, dealing with this many Jiangshi was exceedingly difficult. Even so, they continued to move.

Because they trusted Youngho and Horyeung—because they knew those two would never entrust them with the impossible—they simply did their utmost.

Youngho, briefly taking in their figures, grinned.

‘They’re growing.’

Their coordinated attack was flawless. By now, the siblings might even believe their combined technique had reached completion.

‘Of course, it would look that way to those brats. They still have near-limitless room to grow.’

Youngho briefly considered how he would train Kang Hosan and Kang Chowon going forward, then shook his head.

‘That’s for later!’

Clang!

Youngho’s Black Flames tore viciously through Yeonhui’s poisonous energy, shooting forward as if ready to devour him at any moment.

“Ugh!”

Watching Yeonhui be driven back helplessly, Youngho spoke.

“What’s this? Not going to release your Demonic Energy?”

“You…!”

He was strong. No—purely in terms of Martial Might, he was likely similar to himself.

And yet he could not reach him. Not with sword, not with fist, not with kick.

None of his attacks touched Youngho. As Yeonhui failed to hide his agitation, Youngho smiled inwardly.

‘See? Who told you to rely only on poison?’

Yeonhui was certainly a Transcendent Peak Master. And fated to remain nothing more than that for the rest of his life.

‘There are too many fools in this world, like those of the Tang Clan, who think poison is everything.’

Poison was indeed formidable. Even a slight poisoning could secure an easy victory and make one believe oneself equal to the opponent.

And those who gained victory through poison often fell into arrogance, believing themselves to be warriors on par with their foe.

But think about it—considering an opponent weakened by poison to be one’s equal, how laughable was that? Yet those who used poison usually thought exactly so.

Poison was also one’s skill. That was true.

‘A damn good excuse.’

Boom!

Youngho stomped firmly and thrust out his fist. Seeing the Fist Strike rushing toward him like an arrow, Yeonhui hurriedly tried to block it with his hand, but—

Bang—!

“Cough!”

Youngho’s arm twisted at a grotesque angle and ultimately drove his fist into Yeonhui’s abdomen. His internal organs must have been violently contorted.

Youngho stared coldly at Yeonhui, who had been forced back, and said,

“That’s why you should’ve trained your swordsmanship too, not just poison.”

Yeonhui had relied too heavily on the convenience of poison and closed off his own path of growth.

If Yeonhui had shown interest not only in poison but also in sword training, the one standing here now would have been called the Poison Emperor.

‘Though in the future, he does overcome it to some extent…’

“For now, you’re weak.”

As if Youngho’s muttering had become a fuse, Yeonhui’s eyes widened.

“You bastard!”

“Well, from my standpoint, I have to kill you. You’ll become a major enemy in the future.”

“You think you can kill me?”

“Yeah. Even if you release your Demonic Energy, you’ll only get two or three times stronger… Honestly, this is too bland right now. Hurry up and release it properly and add some flavor. It’s too bland.”

Crack—!

“Your provocation is quite something.”

Youngho openly mocked Yeonhui, who was grinding his teeth.

“Provocation, my ass. Just call it taunting. Are you some Daoist priest?”

“I admit it—you are absurdly strong.”

“Stating the obvious doesn’t make me particularly happy.”

“Strangely enough, even my poison does not seem to affect you.”

“That’s because I’m immune to all poisons.”

“Nonsense. You merely possess a special constitution.”

“And if not?”

“It cannot be otherwise. If you had truly reached the realm of complete poison immunity, then I should already be dead.”

“So? Figure anything else out?”

“There is nothing more to say. What meaning is there in telling a man who is about to die?”

“I agree. I don’t want to keep chatting with someone who’s about to die either. But I need to know what the Demonic Cult is plotting.”

When Youngho’s gaze shifted toward the Jiangshi, Yeonhui sneered.

“Do you think these Jiangshi will truly aid the Demonic Cult?”

“Maybe not the real elites, but they’ll help the weaker ones.”

“No. This offers little help.”

“For something that offers little help, you put quite a bit of effort into it.”

“They are nothing more than meat shields. The petty schemes of the Orthodox and Unorthodox factions alike—let alone the grand design of the Demonic Cult—are all meaningless before the Master of Demons.”

“I know.”

“You do not know. The strength of that person… What?”

Yeonhui faltered at Youngho’s manner of speaking as though he knew everything.

“That’s right. He’s disgustingly strong. The best I managed was to drive a Greatsword into his leg.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Nothing. Just talking to myself. Or think of it as praise for the Heavenly Demon.”

“That person is beyond the measure of anyone.”

“I know. I couldn’t measure him properly either.”

“……I will tear apart that mouth of yours that keeps prattling as though you know everything.”

Rooooar!

As Yeonhui released his Demonic Energy, a viscous poisonous aura surged out, and a Poison Dragon seemed to ascend toward the heavens before settling beside him.

Youngho snorted disdainfully.

“At least I know far more than you. I’ll give you time to recover your internal injuries. So answer me.”

“…….”

With madness swirling in his eyes, Youngho fixed Yeonhui with a piercing stare and said,

“If you don’t come out right now, I’ll kill the one controlling the Jiangshi first.”

It was an abrupt statement. At present, the only one Youngho was facing was Yeonhui. Yet he was telling someone to come out. To whom was he speaking?

Though Yeonhui was momentarily flustered, he quickly regained his composure and said,

“If you leave your position, I’ll kill those youngsters first.”

As if gravely insulted, Youngho rebuked him in a cold voice.

“They’re Martial Artists who came here prepared to die.”

Realizing that Youngho spoke the truth, Yeonhui frowned.

“……It cannot be helped.”

At Yeonhui’s signal, his shadow suddenly began to writhe.

Rip!

With a tearing sound, an old man emerged from Yeonhui’s shadow and looked at Youngho with a solemn expression.

“How did you notice me?”

“I sensed your presence.”

“That is impossible.”

“No. It is possible.”

“……Then let us see how long you can endure against two Transcendent Peak Masters.”

Youngho gazed at Yeonhui and his companion with deeply sunken eyes and grinned.

“Small fry.”

Boom!

At the same time, the figures of the three vanished.