Chapter 107: Uninvited Guests Always Crash the Banquet (1)

People often called the Peng Family the Clan of Tigers.

An unusually high number of males were born into the family, and the boys raised within the Peng Family's walls were exceptionally belligerent. These young tigers, who knew no fear of battle, grew into the sturdy pillars of the clan, and so the Peng Family had flourished for centuries.

Their signature technique, the Five Tiger Severing Gate Saber, best embodied the Peng Family's aggressive nature.

Peng Mu-hyeong was the Grand Elder of the Peng Family. He was a master of the Five Tiger Severing Gate Saber and renowned within the Peng Family for his fiery temperament.

Once he became excited, he would charge forward without a thought for the consequences. There was almost no one within the Peng Family who could rein him in—not even the clan's patriarch, Peng Cheon-wol.

Peng Mu-hyeong was heading to Dongting Lake as the representative of the Peng Family. Surrounding him were over thirty young warriors of the Peng Family. They belonged to the Tiger Corps, one of the Peng Family's core fighting units.

Only those who were prepared to throw away their lives like straw for the sake of the Peng Family were permitted to enter the Tiger Corps. Their loyalty to the Peng Family was nothing short of blind.

Riding at Peng Mu-hyeong's side was the deputy commander of the Tiger Corps, Peng Gwan-yeong. Peng Gwan-yeong was a man in his early thirties. As though to prove he carried the Peng Family's blood, his fierce countenance and sturdy build stood out.

After riding for some time, Peng Gwan-yeong spoke.

"We are not far from Dongting Lake now. Should we not slow the horses, Grand Elder?"

"You look tired."

"Not at all."

"Don't be modest. I'm tired, too. Very well—the horses seem weary as well. Let us reduce our speed."

Peng Mu-hyeong was the first to pull on the reins. The galloping horse immediately slowed.

"Hah!"

Only then did the Tiger Corps warriors riding behind Peng Mu-hyeong release a collective sigh.

Because Peng Mu-hyeong had been riding without pause, they too had been forced to ride all day. They were accustomed to horseback riding, but the numbness in their backsides was unavoidable.

While driving his horse at an easy pace, Peng Mu-hyeong suddenly spoke.

"I wonder if Man-yeong arrived safely."

"He did not go alone, did he? He should have arrived safely and be resting by now."

"I imagine so."

At Peng Gwan-yeong's answer, Peng Mu-hyeong nodded.

White whiskers covered Peng Mu-hyeong's face, a testament to the passing of years. But the fierce light in his eyes was more intense than it had been in his youth.

He looked at Peng Gwan-yeong and spoke.

"This gathering at Dongting Lake is extremely important. One must establish a strong position in the early stages, or else one will be pushed aside."

"I understand."

"When we arrive at Dongting Lake, the battle of wills will be intense. We must not allow ourselves to be pushed out."

"We are the Tiger Corps of the Peng Family. There is no need to worry."

"Hmph! The older I get, the more worried I become. I am sure you will handle it well."

Peng Mu-hyeong wrinkled his nose. Peng Gwan-yeong smiled subtly.

To others, Peng Mu-hyeong was as fearsome as a tiger. But to those who knew him well, like Peng Gwan-yeong, he could appear somewhat endearing.

"Hmm!"

At that moment, Peng Mu-hyeong's expression hardened.

A man stood on the opposite side of the road they were traveling.

Peng Mu-hyeong's pupils contracted in an instant.

From the man, who was draped in a rare golden robe, a formidable aura emanated.

The man in the golden robe had his face concealed behind a golden mask. To a stranger, he might have seemed excessively fond of gold.

But none of the Peng Family warriors thought so. No—they could not. They too sensed that the man behind the golden mask was no ordinary figure.

Peng Mu-hyeong slowly rode his horse toward the man in the golden mask.

"This is a public road used by everyone. If you block it like this, others cannot pass."

"There is no one else coming through anyway. What does it matter?"

Perhaps it was because the golden mask covered his entire face, but the man's voice resonated heavily, like the tolling of a bell. That was why it felt so sinister.

Peng Mu-hyeong furrowed his brow.

"No one coming through? I suppose we are invisible, then."

"Did I not say? You will not be passing through regardless."

"You know that we are warriors of the Peng Family, and yet you make such an absurd statement?"

"It is precisely because you are the Peng Family."

"Hmm! Because we are the Peng Family? So we were your targets from the beginning."

Peng Mu-hyeong's voice grew cold.

There was no such thing as coincidence in the Murim. If someone blocked a road, there had to be a reason that justified it.

"Does the Peng Family have a grudge with you?"

"No."

"Then why?"

"There is no more suitable target than the Peng Family."

"What?"

"I mean you are suitable as sacrifices."

Peng Mu-hyeong's face hardened. The same was true for the Tiger Corps warriors.

"I cannot allow such words to go unanswered. To dare spout such nonsense at the warriors of the Peng Family? Kneel!"

One of the Tiger Corps warriors suddenly lunged at the man in the golden mask. A wolf-fang saber was already in his hand.

Swoosh!

"Stop!"

Peng Mu-hyeong shouted too late. The Tiger Corps warrior's saber had already reached the vicinity of the golden-masked man's chest.

In that instant, the golden-masked man's shoulder twitched.

Boom!

"Guh!"

The Tiger Corps warrior's scream erupted. The saber in his hand went flying, and his head was twisted to the side, slamming into the ground.

"Y-young-yeong!"

The other Tiger Corps warriors checked on the warrior on the ground. Anger quickly surfaced on their faces.

"Young-yeong is de… dead."

The chest of the Tiger Corps warrior who had attacked was caved in. His broken ribs jutted through the skin.

In a single blow, the man had killed Peng Yu-yeong. The power was truly terrifying.

Rage blazed in Peng Mu-hyeong's eyes.

He stepped toward the golden-masked man.

"How dare you kill a warrior of the Peng Family. Are you prepared to face the wrath of the Peng Family?"

"If I were not, I would not have begun."

"What is your name?"

"I have no name worth telling the Peng Family. If you insist on calling me something, then call me the Demon Suppressor."

"The Demon Suppressor… I will cut off your limbs and rip out your heart."

Peng Mu-hyeong drew the saber at his waist.

It was a saber nearly twice the size of a conventional one.

Although he was advanced in years, Peng Mu-hyeong's physical strength far surpassed that of the other Peng Family warriors. This saber had been specially forged for him.

The saber, made of mysterious iron, was three or four times heavier than an ordinary blade. Its destructive power was correspondingly immense.

"Ha!"

Peng Mu-hyeong swung the mysterious iron saber and charged at the Demon Suppressor.

Swoosh!

Blade energy exploded from the mysterious iron saber like fireworks. Peng Mu-hyeong had unleashed his full power from the very first strike.

Beneath the golden mask, a smile appeared.

"Now that is more like it."

Whoosh!

As though pulled by an invisible string, the Demon Suppressor's body shifted sideways as silently as a ghost.

Boom!

Peng Mu-hyeong's attack left only a massive crater in the ground.

"Hah!"

Having expended his attack in vain, Peng Mu-hyeong turned his head to track the Demon Suppressor's movements.

In that instant, the Demon Suppressor was attacking the Tiger Corps warriors.

Crash!

The robe worn by the Demon Suppressor stood up like a blade. He had infused it with internal energy, making it harder than a steel plate.

Swoosh!

The blade-like sleeve swept through the Tiger Corps warriors like a storm.

Only a handful had raised their sabers to defend. Most of the Tiger Corps warriors stood rooted in place, unable even to react.

Peng Gwan-yeong shouted.

"Is everyone all right?"

"D-deputy Commander!"

"Guh!"

But the answers that came back were closer to wailing.

"What?"

Peng Gwan-yeong hastily turned around. He saw over a dozen Tiger Corps warriors clutching their throats.

Their throats, grasped with both hands, were stained crimson with blood. Blood seeped through the gaps between their fingers.

They tried desperately to stop the bleeding, but it was no use. Soon their strength gave out and their bodies crumpled to the ground.

In the blink of an eye, over a dozen Tiger Corps warriors had lost their lives. Peng Gwan-yeong's face turned deathly pale.

In that instant, the Demon Suppressor changed direction and advanced toward him, deploying that ghostly footwork once more.

Swoosh!

The blade-like sleeve flew toward his throat.

He could neither dodge nor retreat. Behind him stood the Tiger Corps warriors who were like brothers to him.

Peng Gwan-yeong hastily raised his saber to protect his front.

In that instant, the Demon Suppressor's sleeve struck his saber head-on.

Crack!

"Guh!"

An enormous impact rocked his body, and a stifled groan escaped him. It was as though he had been struck by a massive boulder—his entire body trembled.

He did not even think of counterattacking. His tiger-skin glove had been torn, and he had nearly lost his grip on the saber.

At that moment, the Demon Suppressor's voice came.

"Hmph! Not bad."

It was a voice filled with mockery. But Peng Gwan-yeong could not even offer a rebuttal.

Swoosh!

The Demon Suppressor passed by Peng Gwan-yeong and continued attacking the other Tiger Corps warriors.

"You! Stop this at once!"

Peng Mu-hyeong pursued the Demon Suppressor with all his might. But though he pushed his footwork to the maximum, the distance between them did not close in the slightest.

With Peng Mu-hyeong behind him, the Demon Suppressor did not cease his massacre.

"Aaaargh!"

"Guh!"

Wherever he passed, Tiger Corps warriors screamed and fell. Their throats and chests were split open as though slashed by a sharp weapon.

"You!"

Bloodshot eyes blazed in Peng Mu-hyeong's gaze.

The Demon Suppressor could have shaken off Peng Mu-hyeong's pursuit at any time, but he chose not to. Instead, he trailed behind, savoring the chase while slaughtering the Peng Family's warriors.

The Demon Suppressor was toying with him.

"I'll kill you! You!"

Peng Mu-hyeong swung his saber in a wide arc. The blade energy that had gathered upon it flew toward the Demon Suppressor.

The saber energy shot forward in a straight line, as though it would pierce the Demon Suppressor's back at any moment. In that instant, the Demon Suppressor's body soared into the air.

Boom!

"Argh!"

The saber energy Peng Mu-hyeong had unleashed struck the innocent Peng Family warriors instead. Three disciples lost their lives to their own Grand Elder's blade energy.

"Aaaargh! I'll kill you!"

Having inadvertently killed his own family members, Peng Mu-hyeong let out a roar of anguish.

The reason in his mind had already vanished, ceasing to exist.

He deployed one of the Peng Family's secret ultimate techniques, the Iron Blood Red Star Saber.

Whoosh!

Crimson blade energy spread out like a folding fan.

Peng Mu-hyeong had anticipated that the Demon Suppressor would dodge, and prepared his follow-up technique.

But the Demon Suppressor, as though mocking Peng Mu-hyeong's expectations, came to a sudden stop and then rotated at terrifying speed.

Swoosh!

From the spinning body of the Demon Suppressor, something sharp was unleashed.

It was a long, thin beam of light, like the crack of a whip.

The beam of light swept through Peng Mu-hyeong and the Tiger Corps warriors.

Peng Mu-hyeong's eyes went wide.

"G-Gang energy?"

He stared at his own chest in disbelief. A crimson line had been drawn across it, as though someone had taken a ruler and traced a line.

It was the mark left by the gang energy that had grazed his body.

Drip, drip.

Like ink falling into a basin full of water, the crimson line across Peng Mu-hyeong's chest began to spread.

It was not only Peng Mu-hyeong. A crimson line had been drawn across the chests of every Tiger Corps warrior.

"G-grand… Elder."

Peng Gwan-yeong cried out.

In that instant, the bodies of Peng Mu-hyeong and the Tiger Corps warriors were cleaved in two and crumbled to the ground.

The innards and blood that poured from their bodies drenched the earth. In the midst of it all, the Demon Suppressor stood alone.

Though he had slain so many, not a single drop of blood stained his golden robe.

"You are the first sacrifices for the resurrection of our sect. Consider it an honor."

The Demon Suppressor left only those cold words behind before launching himself into the air and vanishing.

Some time after he had disappeared, someone struggled to rise from between the bisected corpses.

The blood-soaked figure who had managed to stand was none other than Peng Gwan-yeong. A crimson line had been drawn across his chest as well. But the wound was not deep.

Perhaps because the power of the gang energy had diminished, he alone had survived by a narrow margin.

"Guh! Grand Elder. Lads…"

Having lost his family in the blink of an eye, thick tears streamed from Peng Gwan-yeong's eyes.

"I must report this at once."

He bit his lip until it bled.

Peng Gwan-yeong did not know.

That the Peng Family was not the only sect that had been attacked.

Wei Zong asked again.

“The outer seed coat of the ginkgo tree only causes itching and redness. Scratching your arms and legs because of that wouldn’t be enough to draw blood.”

“That’s correct.”

Jin Ja-gang looked quietly at Wei Zong and asked.

“Are you curious?”

“I’m curious. You’re planning to kill us all anyway, aren’t you? Then you might as well tell me this much.”

“You understand well.”

Jin Ja-gang paused for a moment before answering.

“Ginkgo leaves.”

“…!”

At that moment, all of Wei Zong’s curiosity was resolved.

Ginkgo leaves are often used as medicine to improve blood circulation, but they also prevent blood from clotting easily. They make blood flow vigorously, causing bleeding even from small wounds.

So this poisonous rain falling from the ceiling contained three types of poison mixed together.

Poison extracted from ginkgo leaves, poison extracted from the outer seed coat of ginkgo fruit, and Four Emperor Divine Water – three types.

They were intricately interwoven in a meticulous interaction.

The poison from the ginkgo fruit’s outer seed coat made the skin itchy and weakened it. Blood accumulated under the weakened skin.

On top of that, the poison from ginkgo leaves made the blood vessels even more sensitive, making them prone to bleeding from even small stimulation.

This created a state of congestion.

When you scratch because it’s itchy, the weakened and congested blood vessels burst. At that moment, the Four Emperor Divine Water poison that had been on fingernails, skin, or rainwater penetrates.

So no matter what, the moment you scratch, you die.

Wei Zong was amazed.

He had been completely outmaneuvered. It was understandable to be defeated. If poison was used this meticulously, being defeated was not unreasonable.

However, Wei Zong didn’t show his feelings and glared at Jin Ja-gang.

Grind grind grind.

His teeth ground involuntarily.

“Vicious b*st*rd.”

Jin Ja-gang stared directly at Wei Zong.

But Jin Ja-gang’s eyebrows furrowed slightly as he looked at Wei Zong.

Wei Zong’s expression had changed. The eyes that had been suffering from despair and pain until just now were suddenly gleaming with vitality.

Jin Ja-gang realized why Wei Zong suddenly had vitality and was dumbfounded.

“I think the vicious one isn’t me but you.”

Wei Zong smiled… no, his mouth twisted so slightly it was hard to tell if he was smiling as he said.

“You’re really a clever b*st*rd. It would be a shame to kill you, but since you made my face like this, I can’t forgive you.”

“The one who should be asking for forgiveness isn’t me but you. But even if you ask for forgiveness, I won’t let you escape.”

Wei Zong smiled again. Indeed, he was a clever b*st*rd. He immediately realized that he was trying to escape.

“That won’t be possible. Because you’re going to die.”

In contrast, the poison sect members had no idea why he was having such a conversation with Jin Ja-gang.

Wei Zong lamented.

If only he had someone like this under him…

Anyway, what’s past is past. The limping man before his eyes was the greatest reaper of death and disaster that Wei Zong had ever encountered.

Meanwhile, the poison sect members’ patience had reached its limit.

“Ugh, ughhh.”

Knowing the cause didn’t make them feel better as expected.

Knowing made them feel even itchier. No, since they were continuously being hit by poison falling from the ceiling, the itching was actually getting worse.

Among them, one poison sect member who had gotten rainwater in his eyes and poison in them could no longer endure and rubbed his eyes. Once he started rubbing his eyes, he couldn’t stop.

Blood even flowed from his eyes.

“Aaaaah!”

A desperate scream.

And blood foam filling his mouth.

The deadly poison of Four Emperor Divine Water was instantly driving the poison sect member to death.

The poison sect members clearly saw this sight.

If they couldn’t endure the itching and scratched, they would end up like that!

At that moment, Wei Zong moved.

“Everyone get out of the main hall! Kill anything that gets in the way!”

As if they had been waiting, the poison sect members began abandoning Jin Ja-gang and running away.

“Waaaah!”

They ran out of the main hall avoiding Jin Ja-gang as if he were a reef.

Yes. It was better to die fighting the righteous faction b*st*rds outside the main hall!

In the midst of the chaos, Wei Zong slowly walked toward Jin Ja-gang.

Jin Ja-gang also glared at Wei Zong with full vigilance.

Wei Zong put his hand in his sleeve.

In his sleeve were three types of hidden weapons, twelve kinds of poison powder, and three types of poison water.

Enough to massacre all the righteous faction people outside and still have some left over.

Even though his face was in this state, his internal energy and poison remained intact. There was no hindrance to using poison techniques.

Wei Zong twisted his melted lips and spewed curses.

“Die. Miserably. While screaming.”

Wei Zong leaped up.

Wei Zong’s arms continuously crossed left and right. His sleeves fluttered, completely hiding Wei Zong’s hand movements.

Swoosh!

The moment Wei Zong spread his arms completely like a bird.

Wei Zong’s hidden sleeves opened completely. The sleeves, much wider and longer than ordinary clothing, were divided into three parts.

Great Roc Spreads Wings.

The legendary roc spreads its giant wings.

Wei Zong flew over Jin Ja-gang’s head like he had become a great roc, pouring down all kinds of poison.

He scattered four types of poison powder, threw four poison needles, and poured out one bottle of poison water.

This all happened in the blink of an eye. Poison covered all directions, making it impossible to avoid even by rolling.

Jin Ja-gang took a deep breath.

Inhale.

He created internal energy with one breath and bet everything on one move.

He held a poison needle between his index and middle fingers and concentrated internal energy at his fingertips.

Without even blinking at the pouring poison, he threw the needle straight ahead.

Flying Thread Twelve Branches with all his might.

But Wei Zong had already read the hidden move from Jin Ja-gang’s eyes. He saw him take the needle from his sleeve. He confirmed the direction of his gaze and the movements of his shoulders and wrists.

If Wei Zong hadn’t held back three parts of his strength in his attack, he might have thrown himself at the hidden weapon Jin Ja-gang threw and gotten hit himself.

However, Wei Zong wasn’t that foolish. When facing a lower-level opponent, leaving three parts of leeway during an attack was to prevent any unforeseen accidents.

There was no reason to accept a mutual destruction attempt from a lower-level opponent risking his life. A lower-level opponent’s life was less valuable than one of his own arms or fingers.

Wei Zong used the three parts of strength he had saved to twist his body in mid-air.

Whizz!

The poison needle infused with internal energy barely missed Wei Zong’s nape, pierced through his collar, and flew into the sky.

The timing of throwing the hidden weapon was very appropriate, but it wasn’t precise enough to hit Wei Zong… However, all the poison Wei Zong poured out fell on Jin Ja-gang. The poison needles Wei Zong threw all hit four vital points on Jin Ja-gang.

Not only that, but Wei Zong did three somersaults in the air while unleashing palm force.

Thwack thwack thwack!

Thwack!

Jin Ja-gang’s body was battered by the impacts and shook. The palm force carried poison and penetrated into Jin Ja-gang’s body.

When Wei Zong landed beyond Jin Ja-gang, Jin Ja-gang was completely covered in poison powder and poison water, spitting up bloody water from his mouth.

Heart-Splitting Poison that tears the heart to kill, Lung-Dissolving Poison that shrinks the lungs to stop breathing, Brain-Mashing Poison that turns the brain to mush – all these poisons had entered him.

And Wei Zong’s hidden trump card as well.

Jin Ja-gang turned to look back.

With blood-stained eyes, Jin Ja-gang stared directly at Wei Zong.

Moving his lips full of blood, he swore.

“I will… find you. No matter how many years it takes. And… I will kill you.”

Wei Zong spat.

“Save your nonsense for the afterlife, now just die already.”

As soon as Wei Zong finished speaking, Jin Ja-gang collapsed.

No matter how much Jin Ja-gang had poured poison on himself and charged at the poison sect members, he couldn’t withstand the poison and palm force that Wei Zong had brutally poured on him.

Covered in poison, he foamed blood from his mouth and trembled as if he had epilepsy.

Wei Zong exhaled briefly.

“Hah!”

If he hadn’t tried to capture him alive, he could have dealt with him this easily.

He was such an easy opponent.

But he had insisted on capturing him alive.

Because of this one b*st*rd.

The poison sect was ruined.

Grind grind grind.

His teeth ground.

He was a b*st*rd who wouldn’t be satisfied even if torn into a hundred or thousand pieces.

However.

Even so, it was meaningless.

What was important now wasn’t the already dead b*st*rd.

‘What’s important is that I survive!’

Wei Zong forcibly turned his attention away from Jin Ja-gang and looked elsewhere.

Outside the main hall, the Yunnan poison sect members and righteous faction martial artists were clashing.

Hidden weapons and poison flew in all directions, swords and blades were in chaos.

Screams were bursting out here and there, but they were drowned out by the sound of rain.

But this fight.

They couldn’t win.

Wei Zong predicted the outcome of the battle.

But if he just retreated, Wei Zong wouldn’t survive either.

So Wei Zong looked for the most crucial person.

Chu Hyo?

No. Chu Hyo was too busy taking care of himself. He was swinging his sword like a madman because his son had died, but that was nothing. Even if he showed greater spirit than usual, he was no match for Wei Zong.

Someone else.

Wei Zong’s melted eyes turned toward the middle of the battle.

There was someone who had been standing with arms crossed from earlier, doing nothing but watching.

He wore a large bamboo hat covering his entire face, and even though blood was spattering and poison-coated hidden weapons were flying right next to him, he didn’t budge.

An attitude as if the surrounding events had nothing to do with him.

‘That’s the one!’

Wei Zong immediately approached the bamboo hat wearer.

“You b*st*rd!”

Swoooosh.

Getting hit by the pouring rain, Wei Zong’s eyes blazed as he charged at the bamboo hat wearer.

Great Roc Spreads Wings!

Wei Zong flew into the air exactly as before, spreading all kinds of poison.

He shot poison needles at the conception vessel running down the center of the body and three major vital points, poured poison water left and right to restrict movement, and scattered poison powder overhead to block escape routes. He poured out all kinds of poison.

Yet the bamboo hat wearer still stood with arms crossed.

Several shadows surrounded the bamboo hat wearer. They were four martial artists who had been fighting near the bamboo hat wearer.

The four martial artists blocked Wei Zong and extended their palms.

Dozens of palm shadows created a wall in the air.

It was quite a spectacle to see even the raindrops of the heavy downpour bouncing off in all directions.

Thwack thwack thwack!

Wei Zong’s poison couldn’t penetrate the wall of palm shadows and bounced to the side.

“Waaaah!”

The poison sect and righteous faction martial artists nearby were innocently harmed by the deflected poison.

Wei Zong’s eyebrows, which had burned away leaving only traces, twisted. Not only the bamboo hat wearer, but the four martial artists who blocked his poison also seemed to have extraordinary martial arts.

As expected, they were suspicious!

However, Wei Zong didn’t hesitate.

From the moment the four martial artists appeared, from the moment he saw that they wore thin blue membrane-like gloves instead of leather gloves, he was already pulling back.

Wei Zong had planned to escape from this place from the beginning. There was no reason to fight head-on. So when the four martial artists had deflected all of Wei Zong’s poison in all directions, Wei Zong was already pulling back in the opposite direction.

The four martial artists snorted.

“Heh heh! Pathetic. To think that Hundred Fragrances, supposedly the greatest master of Yunnan’s poison sects, is only this much.”

“The way he’s running away with his tail between his legs… Hmm?”

The four martial artists’ words couldn’t continue.

One of them suddenly had a nosebleed.