Chapter 331

Jin Ja-gang held a needle between the index and middle fingers of his right hand and brought it close to his face.

Yeong Hyeon-sa was reaching toward Woon-jeong when he raised his eyes to glare at Jin Ja-gang. Yeong Hyeon-sa breathed heavily and said.

“Huff, huff, before you can do anything to me with one poison needle, this Taoist dies. And I will destroy the life-lock to make you and your wife die at Shaolin Temple’s hands.”

Jin Ja-gang aimed the needle at Yeong Hyeon-sa and spoke slowly.

“Taoist Woon-jeong. Give him the life-lock.”

“What?”

Both Woon-jeong and Yeong Hyeon-sa were surprised.

Yeong Hyeon-sa looked suspicious.

“Are you asking to spare only this Taoist?”

Jin Ja-gang didn’t answer his question and urged Woon-jeong.

“Give it to him quickly.”

“B-but…”

Woon-jeong looked at Jin Ja-gang, then lifted the life-lock with trembling hands. Yeong Hyeon-sa looked back and forth between Jin Ja-gang and the life-lock in Woon-jeong’s hands with distrust.

At that moment, Jin Ja-gang pulled his arm back to his opposite shoulder then stretched his right hand straight forward.

Using Flash Severance technique, the needle flew at an almost invisible speed through the night. Only a brief glint was visible in the moonlight.

Yeong Hyeon-sa bent his upper body backward and took a defensive stance with his left hand as if he had expected this. But Jin Ja-gang’s needle hit Woon-jeong’s hand, not Yeong Hyeon-sa.

“Ouch!”

The needle pierced Woon-jeong’s wrist and he dropped the life-lock.

It missed!

The life-lock rose from Woon-jeong’s hand. Naturally, Yeong Hyeon-sa’s eyes followed the rising life-lock.

Yeong Hyeon-sa thought the needle had missed due to the darkness and chuckled, then unconsciously tensed up.

He realized the life-lock was blocking his view.

Yeong Hyeon-sa sharpened his eyesight while watching the front. The life-lock was precisely blocking the front so he couldn’t see Jin Ja-gang’s torso and face. He could barely confirm Jin Ja-gang’s left hand extended forward.

The needle thrown earlier was with his right hand!

He must have thrown another needle in the meantime!

‘Where is it!’

Yeong Hyeon-sa used Wide Eye technique, curving his entire field of vision into a circle to capture as much scenery simultaneously as possible. At the same time, he maximized his eyesight to not miss even small movements.

Indeed, it was as Yeong Hyeon-sa thought.

He could see a needle flying in a wide curve toward his right side, not straight ahead. It was a needle flying in such an extreme parabolic arc that it completely left his field of vision. If he hadn’t used Wide Eye technique, he would have missed it.

Yeong Hyeon-sa tried to catch the needle with his right arm, then suddenly realized his right arm was severed and gone, so he twisted his body and extended his left hand. Jin Ja-gang’s thrown needle hit his finger bone and bounced away.

But Yeong Hyeon-sa’s body froze for an instant.

It was because Jin Ja-gang’s figure who had thrown the needle became blurry.

‘An afterimage?’

His spine grew cold. He had turned his body to the right to deflect the poison needle. His back was exposed. Rather, a blind spot had formed to his left from his original standing direction.

Yeong Hyeon-sa opened his eyes wide again.

He could see it.

Jin Ja-gang’s figure charging to the left was clearly visible.

Yeong Hyeon-sa bulged his eyes and turned his body back to the original direction while swinging his left hand widely to scratch. Pale green flames created by the combination of poison and phosphorus tore through the air as a fierce wind swept.

Whoosh!

Yeong Hyeon-sa’s left arm passed over Woon-jeong’s head. Five green cracks also appeared on Jin Ja-gang’s body floating in the air.

However, Yeong Hyeon-sa’s fingers couldn’t advance further and stopped in midair.

Ting!

His finger bones caught on threads barely visible to the eye. Several threads were crossing through the air, wrapping around Yeong Hyeon-sa.

Yeong Hyeon-sa’s eyes widened.

There was clearly an afterimage in front, so why was Soul Seizing Thread flying from behind to bind him?

Jin Ja-gang’s afterimage scattered and dissolved in the air.

Reverse Afterimage Soul Deception technique.

The cracks Yeong Hyeon-sa had created also scattered like Jin Ja-gang’s afterimage, glowing pointlessly before dispersing.

Yeong Hyeon-sa’s hair fluttered in the wind.

“…”

Soul Seizing Thread was wrapped around Yeong Hyeon-sa’s finger bones, chest, and shoulders.

Yeong Hyeon-sa felt a presence behind him. He could feel breathing, body heat, and heartbeat.

Yeong Hyeon-sa couldn’t move while extending his left hand. He realized that the moment he moved, his body would be cut into pieces by Soul Seizing Thread and he would die.

At this point, even Yeong Hyeon-sa had to admire it.

Just how many layers of schemes had been laid?

He was certain that anyone would have fallen for this scheme.

Jin Ja-gang quietly asked from behind Yeong Hyeon-sa.

“What are the poison sects aiming for? What evil plot are you hatching that you could even antagonize Shaolin Temple?”

Yeong Hyeon-sa smiled bitterly.

“Evil plot… Creating a world for poison sects. Having poison sects rule over the martial world. It’s what anyone born in the martial world thinks about. Is thinking that a sin?”

Jin Ja-gang slightly frowned.

As expected, the poison sects weren’t the “them” that Taoist Haewol was looking for. They might have some relationship with them, but couldn’t be called the masterminds.

The poison sects’ purpose was too obvious and clear, wasn’t it?

However, there were unusual currents in it.

The Righteous Alliance had been established.

Shaolin Temple’s Breaking Sect had stepped forward.

The poison sects were moving.

The Northern Heaven Unorthodox Sects had also secretly moved south.

With Taoist Haewol’s attack as a turning point, while the strong were stirring to seize control of the martial world, something was happening.

The path Jin Ja-gang had to take was also in the midst of it.

Those who had made Hundred Flower Valley and the medicine sects like this would also be in that gap.

He would never let them escape.

After a brief moment of silence, Yeong Hyeon-sa asked.

“What will you do now?”

“I…”

Jin Ja-gang paused briefly then asked back instead.

“Tell me. Does Funeral Parlor still intend to chase me?”

“You’re stating the obvious. Even if Leper Mound gave up, we at Funeral Parlor won’t give up.”

“Then I’ll eliminate Funeral Parlor.”

“I won’t submit.”

“I’ll respect that. I’m from Hundred Flower Valley and a descendant of the medicine sects. If you think my revenge is unjust, speak now.”

A vicious light appeared in Yeong Hyeon-sa’s eyes.

“Poison sects don’t break! Funeral Parlor is the same!”

“Then, wait in hell.”

“You bastard!”

Yeong Hyeon-sa twisted his waist and used that force to push hard with his finger bones caught in Soul Seizing Thread. He intended to break Soul Seizing Thread.

Jin Ja-gang gripped Soul Seizing Thread tightly and pulled while using Inch Force with his right hand.

Thump!

Inch Force exploded on Yeong Hyeon-sa’s back. Yeong Hyeon-sa’s body was pushed forward violently. His back curved greatly like a bow. Soul Seizing Thread dug into Yeong Hyeon-sa’s chest and shoulders about one or two finger joints deep.

But Soul Seizing Thread was still pulled taut. It hadn’t completely cut through Yeong Hyeon-sa.

One strand caught on his finger bones was preventing further advance.

Yeong Hyeon-sa pushed his hand with all his might with bloodshot eyes. Dense phosphorus flames glowed vividly at the tips of his finger bones.

“Groooooh!”

Jin Ja-gang also pulled Soul Seizing Thread with all his might while releasing energy once more.

Thump!

Simultaneously, a sharp sound that tore the ears rang out like a zither string snapping.

Twang!

Yeong Hyeon-sa’s upper body and shoulders were severed and flew forward. Two fingers were also cut off.

Instead, Soul Seizing Thread broke together.

Yeong Hyeon-sa’s severed upper body spun as it flew through the air, still glaring at Jin Ja-gang with bulging eyes.

Splash.

His body parts fell into the river.

“…”

The water surface was quiet. Because no one remained in that place anymore.

“Is… is it over?”

Only then thinking he had escaped the threat, Woon-jeong collapsed to his knees.

His face was covered with tears.

Jin Ja-gang retrieved and wound up the broken Soul Seizing Thread while waiting for Woon-jeong to speak.

“Sniff. I’m really like a fool.”

“In what sense do you mean that?”

“I… am afraid of harming people. No matter how much I think Poison Dragon is foolish, I can’t do it. I hate swords.”

When Jin Ja-gang didn’t give any particular response, Woon-jeong looked at Jin Ja-gang with tearful eyes.

“Why, why aren’t you saying anything? Do you really think I’m a fool?”

“Sound techniques can also kill people.”

“Th-that’s a bit different! So swords are… the feeling in your hands… it’s like when you’re chewing chewy meat and then bite into crunchy soft fat, it gives you goosebumps…! Huh? No, so I usually don’t eat meat, but this somehow…”

Jin Ja-gang didn’t answer and was picking up the fallen life-lock.

Embarrassed, Woon-jeong puffed his cheeks and pouted.

“Well… Poison Dragon cuts people up like slicing radishes, so you wouldn’t understand my feelings.”

“Aren’t you scared of seeing dismembered corpses?”

“Maybe because I’ve seen so many people die because of Poison Dragon… that’s a bit… heh… heh.”

Woon-jeong laughed awkwardly.

When Jin Ja-gang handed over the life-lock he had picked up, Woon-jeong reflexively received it and closed his mouth.

“First, we need to find a way to cross the river.”

“If we put down wood pieces and jump across, we could probably get about halfway? The current is strong, but if we get halfway across, we could at least swim.”

“I can’t do that.”

“You’re only good at killing people… can’t even do movement techniques…”

Woon-jeong continued grumbling.

“It’s too dangerous to carry you on my back.”

“There will be a way.”

But this wasn’t the time to be leisurely. The broken stern they had climbed onto was continuously sinking, and the riverbank was too far for Jin Ja-gang to cross.

Then Woon-jeong suddenly saw something and raised his hand.

“Oh? Over there.”

Where Woon-jeong pointed, there was a small ferry with several people on it. It was at a considerable distance but seemed to be watching them.

“It’s the merchants who left earlier!”

Woon-jeong waved his hand.

“Here! Here! Please help us!”

But the merchants were hesitating to come close.

Woon-jeong poked Jin Ja-gang’s ribs.

“Poison Dragon, you say something too.”

Jin Ja-gang raised his voice and shouted.

“Please help us!”

Hearing Jin Ja-gang’s voice, one merchant stood up in the ferry and shouted loudly to ask.

“What happened to the other people?”

“They’re all dead. Only Taoist Woon-jeong and I remain.”

Then the merchants suddenly began rowing with all their might in the opposite direction to flee.

“Hm?”

Jin Ja-gang was also briefly flustered by the unexpected reaction.

Woon-jeong looked at Jin Ja-gang incredulously.

“Why are you chasing people away!”

“What?”

“If Poison Dragon says everyone’s dead, who would come to help!”

“I didn’t kill them.”

“So who would think that way! They’d think you killed them all.”

Woon-jeong grumbled and said.

“You might as well say you’ll kill all the merchants too, why don’t you?”

Jin Ja-gang answered.

“Should I do that?”

“Eek?”

Jin Ja-gang closed his eyes and opened them.

Instantly, his eyes filled with killing intent.

Jin Ja-gang spoke toward the ferry in a low voice, but with internal energy so it could be heard clearly.

“If you don’t turn the boat back right now, I’ll chase after you and kill you all.”

At that moment, the ferry that had been moving away stopped. No, the ferry continued floating, but the people rowing had stopped their movements.

After a moment, the ferry began returning in reverse.

Jin Ja-gang looked at Woon-jeong.

“It’s certainly effective.”

Woon-jeong opened his mouth and looked at Jin Ja-gang blankly. Then he sighed and shook his head.

Anyway, it was fortunate that they made the boat turn back.