Chapter 321 – Human Greed Never Has an End (3)

"Kreuk!"

The Tang Clan martial artist who had been providing power transmission to the Soul-less Warrior screamed and was flung away.

Swoosh!

His body, separated from the formation, was swept up by poison energy and instantly dissolved. The sight of a perfectly fine person turning into a handful of poison water in an instant was so horrible it was hard to watch.

Even the Tang Clan martial artists deploying the Thousand Poison Soul Annihilation Formation showed expressions of terror. But they gritted their teeth and attacked Dam Ho.

If they killed Dam Ho, the Tang Clan would soar high. Conversely, if they failed to kill Dam Ho, the Tang Clan would fall. This life-or-death proposition made the Tang Clan martial artists desperate.

"Hiyaa!"

"Die!"

They attacked Dam Ho with all their might.

No matter how much one had reached the realm of absolute mastery, if trapped in the Thousand Poison Soul Annihilation Formation, they should have died instantly. The Thousand Poison Soul Annihilation Formation certainly had such power. Yet Dam Ho had already been enduring inside the Thousand Poison Soul Annihilation Formation for two hours.

Even while bleeding from his nose and mouth. Rather, he was avoiding the Soul-less Warriors and attacking the Tang Clan martial artists. Because of this, the Tang Clan's casualties were increasing exponentially.

'Why?'

'Why won't he die?'

These were the thoughts that commonly arose in their minds at that moment.

Until they deployed the Thousand Poison Soul Annihilation Formation, they had been confident. No matter how much he was called the world's Fist Demon, he would melt into a handful of poison water. Yet even after being covered with a thousand types of poison energy, Dam Ho was still moving.

Crack! Crackle!

If you looked closely, flames were constantly arising around Dam Ho's body. The Violent Demon Energy was swirling and burning most of the poison energy. Thanks to this, Dam Ho could endure until now even in the mist of over a thousand poisons.

However, Dam Ho knew. That the time he could endure like this wasn't very long.

Dam Ho's gaze sank deeply.

He also knew. That the Thousand Poison Soul Annihilation Formation couldn't be broken by ordinary methods. That the longer the fight continued, the more disadvantageous it would be for him.

He drew up the Dark Soul Cultivation Technique.

The Dark Soul Cultivation Technique was created by grafting various Demon Cult Cultivation Techniques onto the Middle Heaven Cultivation Formula, an old martial art of Mount Hua Sect. In terms of destructive power alone, it was a Cultivation Technique that could compete for the top in the world.

Rumble!

When he drew up the Dark Soul Cultivation Technique, the Violent Demon Energy displayed even more power. Violent energy swirled fiercely around Dam Ho's body.

In that state, Dam Ho threw his body toward the air.

Dam Ho's expression naturally contorted from the tremendous pressure crushing his entire body. He felt enormous pressure as if he had entered the deep sea.

His bones and muscles contracted, and blood vessels bulged as if they would burst at any moment. Still, Dam Ho's form didn't stop and shot up into the air.

The Soul-less Warriors came running belatedly, but by then Dam Ho's form had already shot up high.

Hiss!

His hair broke apart from the poison energy. Blisters formed on his skin and pus immediately flowed out. Still, Dam Ho never stopped.

Whoosh!

Finally, his body pierced through the sea of poison energy and shot up high into the air. A green sea spread out below his feet. Though invisible to the naked eye, about four hundred Tang Clan martial artists existed within it.

"Th-that?"

Tang Sa-il, who saw that sight, opened his eyes wide.

He hadn't known that the Thousand Poison Soul Annihilation Formation he thought was perfect had such a weakness.

Dam Ho's body was battered from breaking through the sea of poison energy. The invisible wounds were much more serious than the visible ones. Even if he somehow survived, it was hard to predict how far the aftereffects would reach. But Dam Ho didn't worry about such things.

Long ago, when he was trapped alone in the Heavenly Gold Demon Prison, he made an oath.

Not to think about what comes after.

To do his best only in this moment.

Rumble!

The violent energy swirling around his body became even fiercer. It was as if a small storm was swirling around his body.

Dam Ho's body, which had been floating in the air for a moment, soon fell with fierce momentum like a meteor. The violent energy caused friction with the air and dyed Dam Ho's body red.

Dam Ho, burning like a flame, struck the Thousand Poison Soul Annihilation Formation directly.

CRASH!

Like dozens of thunder bombs exploding at once, the ground turned over, and fierce energy waves and wind swept in all directions. And countless people were flung in all directions like broken dolls.

Around where Dam Ho had fallen, an area of over ten zhang radius was greatly hollowed out. And countless martial artists were scattered around it.

Over fifty martial artists had lost their lives in a single strike.

"Kreuu!"

"Hureuk!"

And many were injured and had fallen.

"Uuu!"

"How?"

The martial artists who had barely saved their lives opened their eyes wide at the unbelievable scene spread before them.

It had happened in just one moment.

They hadn't known that the Thousand Poison Soul Annihilation Formation, which had seemed like an iron fortress, would be broken so quickly. They hadn't realized that the Thousand Poison Soul Annihilation Formation, which had strong resistance to internal rebellion, was so vulnerable to external impact.

Three hundred Tang Clan martial artists still remained. The five Soul-less Warriors were still intact. But their faces showed undeniable fear. They hadn't expected Dam Ho to break the Thousand Poison Soul Annihilation Formation in such a radical way.

Hiss!

Dam Ho's body was swaying in the center of the huge pit.

He was bearing the full recoil from breaking the Thousand Poison Soul Annihilation Formation with his body. His joints felt like they would crumble, and his muscles felt like they were being torn apart. His internal organs rang, and his head was so shaken that objects appeared to overlap in threes or fours.

Fresh blood flowed through his lips. His appearance, with his entire body broken and torn, bleeding fresh blood and even oozing pus, was so horrible it was frightening to see even in dreams.

What was even more frightening was that Dam Ho still wasn't collapsing despite all this.

No matter how much they tried to imagine it, they couldn't picture Dam Ho collapsing. Dam Ho's impression was that intense and solid.

The Tang Clan martial artists who had deployed the Thousand Poison Soul Annihilation Formation looked at each other's faces. No one moved first.

Dam Ho's lingering impression was pressing down on them that intensely.

Then Tang Sa-il, who had been watching from far away, shouted:

"What are you doing? He's human too. Look! Doesn't he have no strength left to move? Quickly attack him and cut off his breath."

Only at his command did the Tang Clan martial artists finally break free from the lingering impression and start moving. But they hadn't yet realized.

The fact that the over a thousand types of poison they had spread while deploying the Thousand Poison Soul Annihilation Formation were no longer visible. The poison mist that had been scattered high into the sky from the impact when Dam Ho struck them was slowly settling down.

"Kreup!"

"Kek!"

The Tang Clan martial artists exposed to the poison mist clutched their throats and collapsed. The absurd situation of Tang Clan martial artists, who handled poison, being poisoned had occurred.

The Tang Clan martial artists had built resistance to ordinary poisons. But the poisons they had spread while deploying the Thousand Poison Soul Annihilation Formation were the most vicious in the world. Moreover, the new poisons created by mixing over a thousand types were completely destroying even their resistance.

The only ones free from the poison mist were the Soul-less Warriors who had lost their reason. The Soul-less Warriors rather absorbed the poison energy and overflowed with even more vitality.

The Soul-less Warriors rushed toward Dam Ho like madmen.

At that moment, Dam Ho's swaying stopped.

Tang Sa-il, seeing this, shuddered with an unknowable eerie feeling. The ominous premonition soon became reality.

Dam Ho advanced.

His charging technique was deployed.

A movement technique like a battering ram that advanced only forward without branches.

Whirrrr!

Then his Explosive Star Strike was deployed.

These were the two ultimate techniques that could now be called Dam Ho's symbols. Martial arts that everyone in the martial world knew well.

They were so simple that they created the illusion that they could be blocked if one prepared for them. But Tang Sa-il, who had already experienced them, knew how illusory such thoughts were.

A strange attractive force occurred from Dam Ho's entire body as he deployed charging technique and Explosive Star Strike. The Soul-less Warriors swept up by the attractive force were drawn to Dam Ho.

Explosive Star Strike struck the Soul-less Warrior who had lost his center and was staggering.

BANG!

The fist hit the chest, but the back exploded out.

Muscles burst out, and broken bone fragments flew. And green blood poured like a waterfall.

Dam Ho advanced.

Charging technique and Explosive Star Strike were deployed again.

CRASH!

Without fail, another Soul-less Warrior's back exploded out. Poison blood and bone fragments scattered, and Dam Ho moved to find another victim.

"Th-that?"

Tang Sa-il's eyes narrowed as if they would tear at any moment. His pupils were shaking violently.

"He's forming a line."

Dam Ho was advancing while forming a single line.

Everything caught in that line was being destroyed. The Soul-less Warriors whose abilities had reached their peak by absorbing poison were being shattered. And Tang Sa-il's dream was crumbling.

CRASH!

The moment a particularly strong roar burst forth, Tang Sa-il finally closed his eyes tightly.

Only after the atmosphere, which had been shaking as if a typhoon was sweeping through, found stability could Tang Sa-il open his eyes. The first thing he saw when he opened his eyes was a Soul-less Warrior crushed beyond recognition lying on the ground. And Dam Ho standing tall in front of it.

Dam Ho's shoulders were heaving. The intense heat rising like a mirage showed how much energy and stamina he had consumed.

To Tang Sa-il, Dam Ho didn't seem like a fellow human at all.

Though he was bold enough to make deals with the Demon Cult, at this moment he was completely overwhelmed by the human called Dam Ho.

Tang Sa-il looked around.

Hell on earth was spread before his eyes.

Over a hundred Tang Clan martial artists mobilized to deploy the Thousand Poison Soul Annihilation Formation were dead or injured, and the remaining martial artists were also poisoned and wandering between life and death. They were each taking the Tang Clan's secret antidotes and circulating energy, but the situation didn't look very good.

He never knew that the poisons prepared to catch Dam Ho would rather drive the Tang Clan to the brink of annihilation. If he had the leisure, he would have wanted to sit on the ground and cry. But instead of grieving, Tang Sa-il burned with anger.

"You bastard! Fist Demon."

He moved his steps toward Dam Ho.

Cracks had appeared on his face, which had always been only cold, and emotions of anger and bewilderment were showing through them. But the anger was so great that it was suppressing other emotions.

Dam Ho was injured and exhausted to the point where he could no longer move. In fact, the mere fact that he could still stand after facing the Thousand Poison Soul Annihilation Formation and Soul-less Warriors was itself a miracle.

Actually, Dam Ho was now in a state where it was hard to move even a finger. His breath was barely hanging on, and his mind was becoming dizzy from the poison energy that had invaded his entire body. Yet the reason Dam Ho wasn't collapsing was because of the Dark Soul Cultivation Technique and the enemy standing intact before his eyes.

Swish!

Suddenly Dam Ho raised his head to look at Tang Sa-il. Then Tang Sa-il's movement, which had been approaching without hesitation, stopped completely.

Tang Sa-il was certain that Dam Ho no longer had the strength to move. But the moment he saw Dam Ho's gaze, an unfamiliar emotion called fear raised its head from deep in his heart and made him shrink.

'It's a bluff. He no longer has the strength to move.'

Tang Sa-il bit his lips firmly.

He had spent his entire life as the Tang Clan's absolute ruler.

With one word from him, thousands of Tang Clan martial artists would risk their lives and move in perfect unison. Therefore, he had never directly moved to solve any problem in his entire life.

When he could accomplish many things with just a flick of his finger, there was no need for him to move personally. Especially after completing the Tang Clan's hidden weapon techniques and internal energy, it was even more so. So it had been so long since he had moved directly like this that he couldn't even remember when.

Tang Sa-il's entire body had countless hidden weapons concealed. He was ready to deploy the Tang Clan's greatest hidden weapon technique called Myriad Heavens Flower Rain at any time. The moment he spread both hands wide, a rain of hidden weapons would pour toward Dam Ho. Yet he was hesitating to deploy Myriad Heavens Flower Rain.

It was because of suspicion that it might be a trap.

He suspected that the exhausted appearance and injured appearance might all be traps to lure him in, so he couldn't carelessly move his steps or deploy hidden weapon techniques.

Then Dam Ho's tightly closed lips opened.

"You…"

It was a murky voice with unclear pronunciation as phlegm boiled and blood foam flowed out. Yet it was strangely clearly audible.

Tang Sa-il assumed and said:

"Don't tell me you're trying to beg for your life? Fist Demon. If so, that's disappointing."

"Cow… ard."

"What nonsense are you talking?"

"You've never fought directly even once, have you?"

For a moment, Tang Sa-il's face crumpled like paper. Just as he was about to make excuses, Dam Ho's words continued.

"Life-or-death battles aren't fought with martial arts."

"……"

"They're fought with the heart. What's important is who has a stronger heart, greater boldness."

It was a strangely resonant statement.

THUMP!

Tang Sa-il's heart pounded greatly.

"The sound of your heart being afraid can be heard all the way here."

Jin Ja-gang and Woon-jeong waited for a ship while staying near the ferry for several days.

Since markets were always set up at large ferries where ships came and went, whenever Woon-jeong got bored, he would come out and wander around the marketplace with Jin Ja-gang.

But while looking at goods, Woon-jeong tilted his head.

“Poison Dragon. Something seems strange.”

“What’s wrong?”

Woon-jeong looked around and said.

“I feel like several people keep staring at us.”

Jin Ja-gang answered nonchalantly.

“Ah, those are watchers.”

“What? Watchers? Are we already being watched?”

“I asked Master Bok-cheon to secretly spread rumors.”

Woon-jeong looked puzzled.

“Didn’t Poison Dragon need to secretly go to Zhejiang?”

“I’m trying to make it look like I’m going secretly.”

Woon-jeong was dumbfounded.

“But if you spread all the rumors, you’re not going secretly.”

Not only could he not go secretly, but Jin Ja-gang already had many targeting him. All sorts of people would chase after him. Since he was traveling by ship, there was nowhere to run.

“No, what if we can’t reach Zhejiang? It’s a journey that takes more than a month.”

“It’s fine. That’s why I spread the rumors.”

Jin Ja-gang’s movements were already known by Zhongnan Sect. There was no telling where that information might leak. Moreover, because he had openly caused trouble in Chongqing, with just a little investigation, anyone could figure out why Jin Ja-gang was going to Zhejiang.

If that news eventually reached Yeongpa Merchants’ ears, they could eliminate evidence. Then Jin Ja-gang would gain nothing despite traveling all the way to distant Zhejiang.

Therefore, after much deliberation, Jin Ja-gang decided to completely reveal his whereabouts.

It was a bold move typical of Jin Ja-gang.

Woon-jeong extended his senses to confirm the eyes watching them.

“Still, this is too much. It’s not just one or two. How many people are there?”

“Probably Zhongnan Sect, Shaolin Temple, Zhuge family, Tang family, Northern Heaven… something like that.”

Woon-jeong’s eyes became hollow.

“…Are we going to die? Why did Master send me to die?”

Jin Ja-gang laughed.

“You can run away if you think it’s dangerous.”

Realizing this wasn’t a trip to meet So-so, Woon-jeong said in a deflated voice.

“Still, I can’t abandon Poison Dragon and leave. If I did that, Master would scold me terribly. At least I’ll stand guard when you’re circulating your energy.”

Woon-jeong’s attitude gave Jin Ja-gang small comfort. He could understand why Master Bok-cheon told him to entrust his back to him. At least for Woon-jeong, the standard for action wasn’t profit and loss but his master’s orders and loyalty.

“But don’t overdo it, and avoid opponents you can’t handle.”

Woon-jeong pouted.

“They say a frog doesn’t remember being a tadpole. Just last year, I was stronger than Poison Dragon, you know?”

“Haha, is that so.”

“Wow. Look at you pretending otherwise. I didn’t expect this from Poison Dragon. That’s too much.”

Woon-jeong grumbled and walked ahead.

Jin Ja-gang bought candied hawthorn berries made from wild berries for Woon-jeong.

They were picked in autumn, seeds removed, preserved in honey, and eaten throughout winter. They had a sweet and sour taste that women and children especially enjoyed.

Sure enough, as soon as Woon-jeong put the candied hawthorn in his mouth, his anger immediately melted away.

* * *

The ship that Jin Ja-gang and Woon-jeong would board arrived.

The two boarded the ship together.

It was a large ship with cabins built like placing an entire house with a roof directly on the deck, allowing people to stay inside.

About thirty merchants boarded, and the bottom of the ship was loaded with goods.

Once all the cargo was loaded, the ship departed.

Perhaps because it was a large ship, it swayed less than a ferry.

Jin Ja-gang habitually walked around the ship to familiarize himself with its structure, then leaned against the railing.

Now Jin Ja-gang had nothing to do. For the next four or five days, he would only stay on this ship.

So as he quietly watched the rapids of the river water, he felt strange. Since he didn’t need to constantly keep his surroundings in his head and stay alert, he could indulge in thought to his heart’s content.

Flutter…

When the wind blew, yellow flower petals danced in the air.

Jin Ja-gang looked up.

Before he knew it, the riverbank and fields were full of canola flowers.

Tang Ha-ran came to mind.

He wondered if she was doing well at the Tang family, if nothing had happened to the child and Tang Ha-ran.

He missed her and wanted to run to see her right away.

But he couldn’t go yet.

‘Tang family…’

Jin Ja-gang’s thoughts about the Tang family had changed a lot since meeting Taoist Haewol.

He had briefly thought that the Tang family might be the mastermind that Taoist Haewol spoke of.

However, considering how the Tang family handled things, there were aspects that didn’t fit as the mastermind.

Those that Taoist Haewol was looking for were very secretive. They didn’t reveal themselves to the point where even Taoist Haewol couldn’t identify them for decades.

In contrast, the Tang family directly moved poison sects to cause bloodshed with medicine sects.

They were the masterminds of the medicine sect bloodshed, but not the masterminds who made the martial world this way.

What if the Tang family was also being used?

What if the conflict between medicine and poison sects was caused by them?

Jin Ja-gang would be fighting a much deeper and bigger battle than he thought.

As Jin Ja-gang was lost in various thoughts and entered the cabin, he saw several merchants gathered on the second floor of the house, talking noisily.

They had opened the windows wide and were drinking alcohol with food laid out like people who had come out for a boat trip.

A merchant from upstairs saw Jin Ja-gang and gestured.

“Hey, young friend there. Come up here and have a drink. Let’s get acquainted.”

Jin Ja-gang was about to refuse when he heard a familiar voice. Looking, he saw that Woon-jeong had already joined the merchants. His face was red, suggesting he had already drunk several cups.

Though he had grumbled about it being a dangerous path, his guard had apparently relaxed in the meantime, and he was accepting whatever drinks were offered.

As Master Bok-cheon worried, it really seemed like he might get into big trouble someday.

Jin Ja-gang went upstairs, worried about Woon-jeong.

Among them, a young man who appeared to be in his late twenties sat in the most honored seat with an arrogant attitude, holding a wine bottle.

“Take it.”

Although there were merchants who looked over fifty at the table, they were all obedient to the young man. The merchants gestured for Jin Ja-gang to accept the drink.

“This is Hero Jeong who will protect this ship on our way to Wuhan.”

The young man called Hero Jeong laughed heartily.

“Hahaha, a hero? My face is turning all red from embarrassment.”

Though he called himself a youngster, he carried a wide and heavy ghost-head sword on his back, revealing that he was born a martial artist.

The merchants cupped their fists and flattered him.

“No, no. Because Hero Jeong, a hero of the Yangtze River, is here, we can comfortably do business and earn money along the Yangtze River.”

The young man called Hero Jeong said pompously.

“Well, that’s true. Without me, the people on this ship would become fish food by vicious brothers before reaching Wuhan.”

His manner of speaking and behavior didn’t really seem like a guard.

Drunk Woon-jeong hiccupped and said.

“Hero Jeong Dae-su was originally a Yangtze River bandit, but now he’s protecting this ship! He’s really doing good work, right?”

The merchants’ faces briefly stiffened. Jeong Dae-su frowned with an awkward expression.

He couldn’t get angry at what a young drunken Taoist said, but he also didn’t want to admit to being a bandit.

Jin Ja-gang caught on to the situation.

Jeong Dae-su had been a bandit of the Yangtze River Water Route.

Originally, Yangtze River Water Route was a bandit alliance that boasted tremendous influence across the entire Yangtze River. At one time, it was attacked as a target for elimination by the Martial Alliance and its power rapidly declined.

But this actually caused problems. When Yangtze River Water Route’s power weakened, numerous small bandits emerged and began attacking ships traveling the Yangtze River.

Because of this, the Martial Alliance couldn’t completely annihilate Yangtze River Water Route. The Yangtze River was too wide and long for the Martial Alliance’s limited personnel to handle.

Afterward, an implicit rule emerged. Yangtze River Water Route refrained from excessive plunder and killing, and dispatched their masters to guard medium-class and above merchant ships. They changed direction by receiving some money in the name of guard fees.

Of course, when small bandits touched ships guarded by Yangtze River Water Route, they thoroughly retaliated and made examples of them, so this method was very effective.

Now Jeong Dae-su also appeared as a neat scholar rather than a fierce bandit to avoid causing great aversion.

Jin Ja-gang greeted them while getting past the awkward atmosphere.

“So you’re a hero of the Yangtze River. I’m Jin from Yunnan. I’ve heard much of your reputation.”

He couldn’t have heard of it before. But at words that praised him, Jeong Dae-su slightly relaxed.

“This friend has good manners. Come, have a drink. Stop giving that young Taoist more alcohol. If you give him more, he’ll really cause trouble.”

The merchants laughed exaggeratedly to lighten the mood.

“Wahaha. Hero Jeong is right.”

“The Taoist here is very young, so please don’t take offense.”

Woon-jeong tilted his head as if he didn’t know what he had done wrong.

“The person who causes trouble is someone else.”

“Huh?”

But fortunately, one merchant stopped his words, thinking Woon-jeong was drunk.

“You’re very drunk, Taoist. It would be good to go rest.”

“I’m not drunk at all!”

“Oh my, your tongue is already twisted.”

Jin Ja-gang stepped forward.

“He’s with me. I apologize on his behalf for ruining the good atmosphere. We’ll go downstairs now.”

“Who ruined the atmosphere? Hey, that’s a lie. Then he wouldn’t still be alive…”

Jin Ja-gang grabbed Woon-jeong’s nape and lifted him up.

“Mmph mmph mmph.”

Woon-jeong struggled, unable to speak because his clothes caught his throat.

Jeong Dae-su waved his hand dismissively as if telling them to leave quickly.

“Hurry and go.”

As soon as Woon-jeong entered the cabin, he immediately collapsed and slept. He could have expelled the alcohol with internal energy, but he was probably too drunk to think of it.

“Mmnya.”

Woon-jeong talked in his sleep.

“Poison Dragon doesn’t get along with people, so I have to… find out information, mmnya… The hero kills people randomly…”

Jin Ja-gang chuckled slightly.

Woon-jeong hadn’t just mindlessly joined the merchants’ drinking party. He had infiltrated them in his own way to find out who they were and what they did for Jin Ja-gang’s sake, and in the process, he had even discovered and told him that Jeong Dae-su was a bandit.

Jin Ja-gang looked at Woon-jeong and fell into thought.

If Woon-jeong betrayed him like he had said, like Pyo Sang-guk…

Jin Ja-gang shook his head. He stopped thinking. It was a horrible thing even to imagine.

* * *

During the journey to Wuhan, the ship stopped several times. Because they repeatedly loaded and unloaded cargo and supplied food, the speed wasn’t particularly fast.

A few days later, the ship arrived at a very small ferry called Gongmin.

When the ship stopped there.

There were those newly boarding the ship.

Everyone on board stirred.

“What is that?”

“They’re loading such things? Are you kidding right now?”

The merchants began openly voicing complaints.

Coffins.

Twenty men in dark clothes and black hoods were carrying wooden coffins, two men per coffin, boarding the ship.