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Chapter 484 – Gwaeseon (怪仙).

After seeking permission from the Tang Clan, I stepped outside with Woo Hyeok.

Honestly, I wanted to spend a bit more time with the kids, but I knew there was no time for that, so I focused on wrapping up the plans as quickly as possible.

No rest for the wicked.

What a damn miserable life this is.

“Ouch, it stings…”

While we were running for a while, Woo Hyeok let out a groan from beside me.

He was rubbing his neck with his hand, and I frowned at the sight.

“Well, who told you to be so reckless?”

“…I didn’t think I’d be treated like a dog. Did you think we were friends?”

“If you wanted to be treated like a person, you should act like one.”

You asked for the treatment, so what’s the complaint?

I couldn’t understand it.

[Well, to be fair, even you are not in your right mind.]

Shin Noya commented in disdain, but I ignored him.

I turned my head away from Woo Hyeok and stared straight ahead.

How long had we been passing through this dense forest?

If they said it was about a time point, it felt like it had been longer than that.

While my legs kept moving tirelessly, my mind raced with thoughts.

‘There are several tasks I set out to do… I wonder how they will turn out.’

Before leaving the Tang Clan, I had called for Nahi to take care of certain matters.

I was curious about how that would unfold.

Additionally,

‘I need to see what the Poison King has to say as well.’

I had to figure out how the Poison King would respond to what I had laid out.

Knowing that would help me determine the direction before dealing with the repercussions.

[You brat.]

‘Yes.’

[Are you really planning to wipe them all out?]

I slightly rolled my eyes at Shin Noya’s words.

After a brief moment of hesitation, I answered shortly.

‘Yes.’

There wasn’t really any need to think it over.

It was only sensible to dispose of anyone involved in this matter.

After all, this was a task I believed I ought to do in light of Tang Je-mun’s request.

‘Since I now know that it would become problematic later, I can’t just leave it be.’

[…]

This even pertains to matters related to Tang Soyeol.

I had always questioned how Tang Soyeol managed to reach Immunity to All Poisons.

Answers about this were beginning to form in my mind.

Thinking about it made my teeth clench involuntarily.

Immunity to All Poisons. A peak and cruel realm of mastery.

Was it truly possible for a martial artist to reach that state, leaving humanity behind?

It was something I hadn’t thought deeply about before.

But now, I couldn’t help but ponder it.

Achieving perfect resistance to ten thousand poisons almost certainly logically leads to mastering Poison Techniques, which essentially means attaining Immunity to All Poisons.

But did Tang Soyeol actually reach it through proper means?

‘At least…’

I didn’t think it was through normal methods.

I felt sorry for Tang Soyeol, but objectively speaking, he wasn’t a genius.

Even the Sleeping Dragon racing beside me, or Wi Seol-Ah and Nangong Bi-ah by my side.

Furthermore, Yeongpung, known as Hwasan’s Leading Talent, and Peng Woojin of the Peng Family.

And then,

‘… someone monstrous would emerge in a few years.’

Compared to the next generation known as the Miracle of Shaolin, called Shin Ryong.

Tang Soyeol appeared to have a strikingly low presence.

To be kind, he’s a lineage of a Great House. Just that level.

To be unkind, it might be tough to even call him extraordinary.

That was my assessment of Tang Soyeol.

No matter how I looked at it, he clearly lacked the talent to reach the end of Poison Techniques, Immunity to All Poisons.

But ultimately, she ended up reaching Immunity to All Poisons and became known as the Poison Empress. I harbored some doubts about this.

Questions lingered regarding whether the heavenly birth plan of the Heavenly Martial Body, which I heard had been stalled before, was still ongoing.

Moreover, the warning from Tang Je-mun hinted that Tang Soyeol would likely be involved in this matter.

Considering this,

I thought something must have occurred during Tang Soyeol’s ascent to Immunity to All Poisons.

Honestly, I didn’t care about that much.

If I were a martial artist strictly pursuing the proper path of growth by consulting and seeking righteousness, that would be one thing.

But I was someone who utilized every trick in the book to grow stronger, dismissing morals and righteousness altogether.

If Tang Soyeol had advanced through undesirable means, I wouldn’t criticize or look down on her.

What mattered most to me was just one thing.

Did she truly want that process?

What I find crucial now is simply that.

Did she genuinely wish for it?

If it was indeed her desire driving those actions, then I would honestly be able to turn a blind eye.

What mattered to me wasn’t Tang Je-mun’s request or some meager clan.

It revolved solely around Tang Soyeol’s will.

‘But. If that wasn’t the case…’

Then I would just as readily tear it apart, burn it down—whatever it took.

If necessary, I was inclined to incinerate the entire Tang Clan.

How hard could that be?

‘I used to think that was a bit of a stretch.’

But now, it didn’t seem that difficult at all.

Strangely enough.

Was it because my true strength was growing stronger?

‘I’m still too weak to be arrogant, though.’

I had merely moved from being in an incomplete Transformation Realm to a complete one.

With this level, it would be tough to wipe out a clan.

Yet oddly, I was flooded with confidence.

This was undeniably an unsettling aspect.

‘Something changed.’

Aside from physically or the center of my lower Dantian which had shifted to my heart.

A change had undeniably arisen in my emotional state.

Would this also be an anomaly brought on by the reconstruction of my vessel?

‘I really need to take some time to figure this out. Tsk.’

The fact that I didn’t even have time for that was utterly frustrating.

While holding in my irritation, I glanced at Woo Hyeok.

“How much longer do we have to go? It’s been over a time point already.”

At my question, Woo Hyeok made an awkward face and replied.

“Uh… well, they said to go this way roughly?”

“…?”

I furrowed my brow at Woo Hyeok’s vague response.

“Hey.”

“Yeah?”

“Are you seriously unsure of the way?”

“Haha. What nonsense are you talking about?”

Woo Hyeok laughed incredulously at my question while gesturing dismissively.

Right? He wouldn’t just be wandering aimlessly like this without knowing the way.

Sighing in relief, I was about to speed up when he dropped a bomb.

“When have I ever been to Sichuan that I could know the way? Of course, I don’t know.”

“What the hell, man?”

Surprised by Woo Hyeok’s bold declaration, I nearly sprained my ankle.

He doesn’t know the way?

“This crazy idiot! Then why the hell are you leading the way with such confidence!”

“No, I just thought I could head this way and it would work.”

“Where’s the map? Show it to me quickly.”

As Woo Hyeok fumbled around pulling out a map, I snatched it away and scrutinized the path.

I scanned around, checking the map, and then smacked Woo Hyeok on the head.

Smack-!

“Ugh!”

Suddenly hit, Woo Hyeok looked at me resentfully, but my anger was boiling over.

“Hey, you moron! We went the wrong way!”

“Oh… really? I didn’t know that.”

“‘Oh’? What the hell… it’s my fault for trusting you.”

As soon as I spat that out, I turned on my heel and dashed back.

Clutching his collar as I did so.

“Ugh…! Why…!”

“Shut up. We’ll move faster since we’re behind schedule.”

With that, I focused my strength into my feet.

Hooomph-! I pulled my energy up with all I had.

“…!”

Woo Hyeok’s eyes widened in surprise at what he saw.

Ignoring Woo Hyeok’s reaction, I looked straight ahead.

Ah, but I did give him a kind warning.

“Just hold on. You can handle this, right?”

“Wait, wait!”

Of course, I didn’t listen to his answer.

Flame Burst-!

Blue flames enveloped my body.

Kaboom-!

I leaped forward as if exploding.

The scenery flickered rapidly before my eyes.

In comparison to the speed I had been running until now, it felt multiple times faster.

“Ohhhh….”

Woo Hyeok was trying to utter something in surprise at the unexpected pace.

But I lightly disregarded his words and kept running.

Who would have thought that Woo Hyeok was as directionally challenged as Nangong Bi-ah?

“Why is this random guy so useless at a critical moment, despite looking fine…?”

When he held a sword, he became someone else entirely; without the sword, he was no different from a fool.

Actually, I feel like most so-called geniuses were like this.

If living like this, it’d be nice if he just allowed me to have his looks and height. Damn.

Whoosh-!

How long had I been running like this?

At least after running for another half a time point.

Compared to what was indicated on the map, I was roughly at this point.

‘I should have come here much earlier.’

I found it ridiculous even to think about it.

Honestly, I was so aggravated that I used all my strength to run, but I hadn’t expected I would move this quickly.

If we’re talking speed alone, I was at least twice as fast compared to before shedding my outer skin.

‘This means I need to take a closer look at it.’

Upon quick judgment, it felt like I’d risen about halfway more.

But directly using my powers felt different in essence.

At this point, I figured I ought to meet the Pejon to ask for a favor.

‘To request a sparring match.’

The only suitable person to ask around here was the Pejon.

Since asking the King of Demons wouldn’t end well for me.

After slightly lowering my speed, I asked Woo Hyeok.

“Hey. Which way should we go from here?”

“Uh…?”

“Get a grip. The map only marks this far.”

It only showed the name of the mountain range and simple location, so I couldn’t know the detailed spots.

It seemed I had made it right, but looking around, it was still just trees and rocks.

Woo Hyeok, with a dazed face, scrambled to regain his composure before speaking to me.

“Wait… just let me down for a moment… I feel like I’m going to die.”

“No, you need to find out where your master is…”

In this thicket, it was unlikely to meet him.

Surely there must be a hideout or something somewhere.

Where the hell could it be? Surely I wasn’t lost too? I couldn’t be that directionally challenged.

While I pondered this, considering raising my Qi perception.

“…!”

I quickly turned my body.

“Ugh!”

As I turned, Woo Hyeok wobbled and made a noise, but this was more pressing.

Swoosh-!

As I turned, something zipped through the vacant space I had just vacated.

It was Sword Energy.

Swish-!

The Sword Energy cleaved the air and struck the ground, splitting a boulder in half.

Boom-!

The boulder cracked in half and tumbled down with a thud.

I landed abruptly on the ground, spreading out my Qi perception.

“Ugh!”

In the rush, I couldn’t pay attention to Woo Hyeok, who landed face-first onto the ground.

“… Oh no… I’m going to die…!”

“Draw your sword.”

I commanded Woo Hyeok, who was groaning as he started to get up.

He needed to draw his sword, immediately.

“… What sword?”

But the guy wasn’t grasping the situation and retorted back.

What’s going on? Was Woo Hyeok really this oblivious?

Rustle.

Just then, someone emerged from beyond the trees.

It was clearly the person who had shot the Sword Energy in this direction.

I squinted, examining the figure.

‘Beggar…?’

The newcomer had a scruffy white hair covering his face and was clothed in tattered martial robe, which looked like a rag.

He walked lazily toward us, barefoot and covered in dust.

I needed to sharpen my instincts at the sight of such an individual.

Because that person—

‘His sword is ridiculously pristine.’

The single sword he held looked impeccably maintained.

Moreover, the Qi he radiated from his back was by no means ordinary.

Who is he?

As I was calming my racing heart and observing the figure.

“Yawn.”

The man let out a large yawn, then started to scratch his ear with his hand.

After that, he finally noticed Woo Hyeok, who was barely managing to rise, and he sniffed.

“Who was charging in so roughly… after several years, what a sight to behold, huh?”

Woo Hyeok coughed awkwardly and forced a smile at the man’s words.

“Haha. I hope you’ve been well.”

“Do you think I look well like this?”

“Seeing you in good spirits eases my mind.”

“Haha, you rotten disciple. Your tongue is still as sharp as ever.”

“…”

I widened my eyes as I listened to their conversation.

I finally recognized the man’s identity.

‘Is that him?’

As Woo Hyeok referred to him as his teacher, there was no doubt.

That beggar wielding a sword is the Master of Wudang.

But then,

‘Why…?’

I still couldn’t wrap my mind around it.

Just from their dialogue, it seemed quite clear.

But the reason I continued to ponder was different.

‘The aura…’

The energy I felt from the man—that was the issue.

Master of Wudang, unusual titles aside, was undeniably a martial master of the Wudang Sect.

Especially since he was Woo Hyeok’s teacher, it had to be an undeniable fact.

‘Why is he so fierce?’

The energy I sensed from the Master of Wudang was too sharp for a sage yet too rough to be a Wudang person.

That was why I had difficulty asserting him as the Master of Wudang.

“Hmmm.”

At that moment.

As the Master of Wudang turned his gaze from Woo Hyeok to me.

His face was mostly hidden by his disheveled bangs, so I could not see his eyes, yet I knew he was looking at me.

“What a fuss you’re making… but you don’t seem to be an enemy.”

“It’s my friend.”

Woo Hyeok raised his hand brightly as he spoke, causing the Master of Wudang to tilt his head.

“He’s a disciple.”

“Yes.”

“… You had a friend?”

“I got to know him once. Not a bad guy at all.”

Despite Woo Hyeok’s comments, the Master’s attention remained firmly on me.

Finally, I loosened my body slightly, preparing for a Pogo stance.

“So this is the first friend you brought… a plain monster, huh? What kind of a guy is this?”

As he spoke, the Master of Wudang lifted his grimy hair.

Only then could I see his face.

‘Huh?’

I swallowed my surprise.

He looked far more handsome than I had anticipated, a strikingly refined middle-aged man, but more alarmingly—

His eyes sparkled with a blue hue.

Adding to that, his hair was white…?

In the entire Central Plains, there would undeniably be only one lineage with those particular traits…?

While I was mentally scrutinizing the Master’s appearance,

[… Huh?]

Shin Noya also seemed surprised by the Master.

What’s with this old man now?

‘Noya. What’s happening?’

[No, why….]

Noya’s response seemed to carry something unusual.

What’s the deal? Is there something more to this?

Waiting attentively for several seconds.

Noya spoke to me with a voice full of disbelief.

[That guy, why does he look exactly like that guy?]

‘… Huh?’

At that statement, I glared at the Master of Wudang.

The guy Noya was referring to could only be—

It must refer to Nangong Ming, the owner of the Thunder Heaven Sword, right?

 

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