Chapter 304 – Truth Always Comes Heavy (1)

CRASH!

The plum blossoms that bloomed magnificently exploded before Dam Ho's eyes, creating tremendous aftershock winds. Blade winds swept around and walls cracked loudly.

Dam Ho threw his body toward the storm of sword energy.

Dam Ho's eyes gleamed fiercely as he threw his body without a moment's hesitation.

CRACK!

The Single Strike Wall was deployed.

As shock was applied to the grain of the air, the energy waves that had been surging so fiercely instantly subsided.

Dam Ho threw his fist toward the center of the dissipating energy waves.

It was a short and fast strike. But its power was by no means light.

WHOOSH!

In an instant, the air inside the cave seemed to be sucked toward the single point of Dam Ho's fist, then caused an intense explosion.

CRASH!

The cave shook greatly as if it would collapse at any moment. Cracks appeared on the walls and spread like spider webs, and piles of stones poured down, blocking the view.

Dam Ho stood in the middle of the cave, not moving. Even in the dust, his eyes gleamed fiercely.

When the dust cleared and the scene was revealed, the masked person was not there. Only the mask he was presumed to have worn and drops of blood were fallen on the ground.

In that fleeting moment, the masked person had slipped through Dam Ho's gap and escaped outside the cave.

It was because of the Twenty-Four Step Plum Blossom Sword.

The Mount Hua Sect's supreme technique deployed by the masked person had momentarily created a weakness for Dam Ho.

Dam Ho picked up the mask that had fallen on the ground.

The half-torn mask had drops of blood spotted on it. Dam Ho gripped the mask forcefully.

Mount Hua's history was very long.

During that time, countless people had learned Mount Hua's martial arts, and an uncountable number of lay disciples had been produced.

Among them were some with exceptional talent who received transmission of supreme techniques that only main mountain disciples could learn. Mount Hua Sect was not stingy in raising outer disciples.

If they thought someone was a talent capable of learning and protecting it, they transmitted the supreme techniques. But there was also a line that existed.

Supreme techniques that could be transmitted and supreme techniques that absolutely could not be transmitted.

The Twenty-Four Step Plum Blossom Sword belonged to the latter.

It was a supreme technique among supreme techniques that only the chosen ones among Mount Hua Sect's main mountain disciples, the Plum Blossom Sword Masters, could learn.

The number of people who could learn the Twenty-Four Step Plum Blossom Sword in one era was only about thirty-six. It was an extremely small number. Mount Hua Sect managed the Twenty-Four Hand Plum Blossom Sword that strictly. Therefore, the probability of the Twenty-Four Step Plum Blossom Sword leaking to the outside was extremely low.

Dam Ho stood blankly and looked at the cave the masked person had escaped through for a long time. A light of suspicion had appeared on his face, which rarely showed emotions.

It was definitely a proper Twenty-Four Step Plum Blossom Sword.

Since he had sparred with Plum Blossom Sword Masters every day while at Mount Hua, Dam Ho could be certain. The fact that what the masked person had deployed was the real Twenty-Four Step Plum Blossom Sword.

Dam Ho instinctively knew that there was some mastermind he didn't know about. He moved his steps toward the inside of the cave where the masked person had come out from. Thinking that there would be something approaching the truth there.

When he entered where the masked person had come out from, an underground cavity appeared. A massive space reminiscent of the Heavenly Gold Demon Palace.

Three people were entangled there, fighting.

One was the Wind Moon Emperor Dan Gong-wol, and the other two were the Iron King of the North Seok Mu-gang and the Demon Mother Dan Woon-hyang.

Seok Mu-gang bent his body back greatly. His back curved like a bow and tremendous energy condensed in his fist. Energy of a different dimension from before.

The same was true for Dan Woon-hyang. She too drew up her power and prepared to deliver the final blow.

"Phew!"

Dan Gong-wol divided the chains between his two hands and let out rough breathing sounds.

His whole body felt like it would break apart. His body had reached its limit, and his power had hit rock bottom. But the most fatal thing was the wound he had just received.

When he entered this place, he had been ambushed by some masked person. He had let his guard down because he didn't think someone would be hiding inside the cave. So he had allowed the person's strike to his side.

The masked person's sword had penetrated through his side and come out the other side, leaving such a large wound. It was the kind of wound that even if the Great Physician of Luo came, he couldn't save him.

The reason Dan Gong-wol was still standing was due to his superhuman will and tremendous internal energy. But now that his internal energy was depleted, he was feeling his limits.

A deep shadow fell over his face.

"Disappear to the other side of the ages! Old monster!"

"Die!"

Seok Mu-gang and Dan Woon-hyang deployed their footwork toward him.

Dan Gong-wol tried to counterattack against them. But his hands holding the chains had no strength.

If he squeezed out what little power remained, he could move once. Yet Dan Gong-wol didn't do so. No, he couldn't.

'I'm tired.'

The moment he saw the masked person, he had grasped all the truth.

The person probably wore a mask thinking he was hiding his identity, but Dan Gong-wol had recognized his identity at a glance.

How could he not recognize those eyes, that breathing, those techniques?

No matter how much he disguised his gaze and changed his techniques, it was useless. Dan Gong-wol knew his real face hidden behind the mask. That's why he was more dejected.

A face that seemed to have aged decades in an instant, eyes that had lost their spirit, and both hands that drooped down.

Dan Gong-wol could no longer find meaning to live. He was afraid to approach the truth any further. So he gave up on everything.

'It would be comfortable if I died.'

He closed his eyes.

CRASH!

With an explosive sound, his body flew backward and crashed into the cavity wall. The terrible pain didn't even produce a scream. But his breath wasn't cut off.

Dan Gong-wol barely raised his head while crashed against the wall. The whole world looked only red. This was because all the blood vessels in both eyes had burst from the tremendous shock.

In such eyes, someone's back figure was dimly visible.

It was a man standing with disheveled black hair and torn black windbreaker robe fluttering in the wind.

'Who?'

His voice couldn't flow out of his mouth.

The man who had suddenly intruded had neutralized most of Seok Mu-gang and Dan Woon-hyang's attacks, but part of it had struck his body.

Although his breath wasn't cut off, it was no different from being in a dying state.

"Who are you?"

"How dare you interfere."

Beyond his fading consciousness, the angry voices of Seok Mu-gang and Dan Woon-hyang could be heard. Following that, the man's answer was heard.

"My name is Dam Ho."

It was a cold voice containing no emotion whatsoever. But the response to it was unbelievably great.

"The Fist Demon?"

"How are you here?" The surprised voices of Seok Mu-gang and Dan Woon-hyang made Dan Gong-wol grab hold of his fading thread of consciousness again.

'The Fist Demon?'

It was the nickname he had heard most often since returning to the martial world.

The demon that Mount Hua had produced.

The devil who used fists.

A villain without blood or tears.

There were countless other expressions referring to him. But the common point was that he was frightening.

Even the mighty Demon Cult had left Mount Hua under the influence of that one person.

The absolute martial artist who had achieved the most brilliant reputation since the Four Divine Emperors disappeared into legend. That's why interest was piqued. But since he had no connection with him, he hadn't been able to meet him until now.

'Mount Hua Fist Demon, Mount Hua Sect. If it's him?'

Dan Gong-wol suddenly bit his lips. His lips tore and blood flowed out.

It hurt. But thanks to that, his dimming consciousness became somewhat clearer. Even so, it was nothing more than barely maintaining a dying flame, but still he forcefully raised both eyes and watched Dam Ho's fight.

WHOOSH!

A black storm swept through the huge underground cavity. A storm named Dam Ho.

Its first target was Seok Mu-gang.

The young master of Rock Cliff Stream.

The competitive spirit of a young martial artist who had never been defeated even once was triggered.

The appearance of a young martial artist of similar age, or perhaps even younger, made his blood boil with jealousy and excitement.

The Fist Demon was already a legend.

Among the Demon Cult's martial artists, there were those who trembled just hearing his name.

Everyone said so.

That among young martial artists, the Fist Demon was naturally the best.

Perhaps even including older martial artists, he might be the best.

Seok Mu-gang absolutely could not accept this fact.

'It's because I haven't been active that the Fist Demon gained such false reputation. Now that I've appeared, it's impossible. The title of the world's best is meant for me.'

Seok Mu-gang rather thought it was good.

If he killed Dam Ho on this opportunity, all future glory would become his.

Seok Mu-gang shouted loudly.

"Remember. My name is Seok Mu-gang. The noble body that will kill you… Kek!"

CRASH!

At that moment, thunder rang out and Seok Mu-gang's body was flung backward. Dam Ho had launched the Explosive Star Strike.

Fortunately, since he had wrapped himself in protective energy, he didn't suffer a fatal wound. But it was enough to make his heart cold.

"This crazy bastard! Attacking out of nowhere. It seems you ate your manners with rice."

He burst into angry shouts.

Even in that moment, Dam Ho was charging toward him. He looked exactly like a tiger hungry for blood.

Dam Ho had no interest in Seok Mu-gang's identity or name.

Since he was an enemy who had to be killed anyway, what was the point of knowing his name?

WHOOSH!

He deployed the Explosive Star Strike.

It was a blow that could instantly destroy even solid castle walls made of granite. Seok Mu-gang deployed Rock Cliff Stream's supreme technique to block his attack.

CRASH!

"Kreup!"

Along with the explosive sound, a stifled groan echoed.

It was Seok Mu-gang's groan. His face clearly showed bewilderment.

The palm that had blocked Dam Ho's strike was tingling. The shock was considerable. If he hadn't stepped back and let the shock flow away, his shoulder would have almost been dislocated.

Still, since he had overcome the crisis, Seok Mu-gang tried to reorganize his stance and counterattack. But the next moment, his eyes opened wide.

Huff!

Dam Ho's rough breath was felt right in front of his nose.

Seok Mu-gang thought he had created some distance by stepping back, but the distance from Dam Ho hadn't increased at all. This was because Dam Ho had approached by that much.

The speed of charging forward is twice as fast as the speed of stepping backward. Naturally, Dam Ho's charging speed was several times faster than Seok Mu-gang stepping backward.

"Stop!"

Dan Woon-hyang chased from right behind and shouted, but couldn't make Dam Ho stop. There was considerable distance between her and Dam Ho, and Dam Ho didn't care about her at all.

In his eyes, only one person was visible: Seok Mu-gang.

Dam Ho deployed the Explosive Star Strike once more.

CRASH!

"Kreuk!"

Once again, a stifled groan flowed from Seok Mu-gang's mouth.

Although he had deployed his supreme technique to defend, the shock he received was considerable.

His body was pushed backward again. Deep furrows formed where he had planted his feet.

Seok Mu-gang gritted his teeth.

"Damn! How dare you!"

He was enraged.

This was the first time he had been pushed back so one-sidedly. Moreover, the fact that he wasn't even being pushed back after a proper fight but was being helplessly pushed back after having his initiative seized in the beginning made him angry.

Dam Ho was charging again. A clenched fist was flying toward him.

It was still the same martial art, the Explosive Star Strike.

Seok Mu-gang thought Dam Ho was mocking him.

"You bastard! I won't forgive you."

WHOOSH!

Instantly, a translucent barrier formed around his body. It was the repelling energy that only absolute masters could create.

His idea was to block Dam Ho's attack with the repelling energy and then counterattack.

Until that point, Seok Mu-gang didn't doubt his victory for a moment. Although he had shown a fierce appearance after having his initiative seized, he was still confident he could counterattack and rather subdue his opponent.

But the next moment, when he saw a stream of energy swirling around Dam Ho's entire body, he instinctively knew something was wrong.

WHOOOOSH!

Dam Ho, wrapped in the Violent Demon Energy, directly collided with Seok Mu-gang's repelling energy.

CRASH!

Instantly, a massive explosion occurred.

"Kyaaah!"

Dan Woon-hyang, who had been chasing Dam Ho by a hair's breadth, was swept up in the explosion and flung backward. Fortunately, she was able to save her life by quickly deploying protective energy, but her face clearly showed disbelief.

"What?"

Her lips automatically gaped open.

The blood poison generated from Jin Ja-gang’s blood had combined with the Flower Essence Pure Heart Pill and remained in his meridians and energy channels.

That was the essence of the turbid energy that had been filling his meridians and energy channels.

Realizing this fact was a very significant discovery for Jin Ja-gang.

Jin Ja-gang’s mind brightened as if he had achieved great enlightenment.

He came to understand why it had been difficult to predict the effects of the poison despite the turbid energy containing powerful toxins.

It was because of the Flower Essence Pure Heart Pill.

The Flower Essence Pure Heart Pill had bound with the poison energy to protect his body, but because of this, the poison energy couldn’t produce proper effects.

The blood poison had been hindered by the medicinal effects of the Flower Essence Pure Heart Pill.

If he could separate the medicinal power of the Flower Essence Pure Heart Pill from the blood poison that had become turbid energy, Jin Ja-gang would be able to extract pure, original blood poison as it truly was!

Moreover, the method for this also had clues in Piercing Ghost’s actions.

Piercing Ghost had pressed the spine area of the poisoned villager to inject internal energy and then collected blood poison.

The area Piercing Ghost pressed was the Suspended Pivot Point above the Gate of Life Point.

The Suspended Pivot Point has Triple Burner Points on both left and right sides, which together with the Suspended Pivot Point govern the flow of energy.

Jin Ja-gang immediately guided the turbid energy to the Suspended Pivot Point.

Due to its characteristically sticky and heavy nature, the turbid energy slowly arrived at the Suspended Pivot Point and suddenly began dividing into several branches as if bouncing off. Jin Ja-gang sent the internal energy of the Jade Void Nine Lights Five Thunder Toad Art to the Triple Burner Points on both sides of the Suspended Pivot Point. By firmly blocking the Triple Burner Points, he could control the turbid energy raging at the Suspended Pivot Point from escaping elsewhere.

Jin Ja-gang suppressed the turbid energy with powerful force and separated only the energy of the Flower Essence Pure Heart Pill at the Suspended Pivot Point.

Only pure poison energies remained in the turbid energy from which the Flower Essence Pure Heart Pill had been separated. The poison energies gradually clumped together and differentiated into one mass. They fully revealed the malicious properties that had been suppressed by the Flower Essence Pure Heart Pill.

Piercing Ghost had probably also filtered out impurities through this process, leaving only pure blood poison!

However, moving this directly through the meridians would burden the meridians and energy channels. Like when using Mad Blood Heaven Piercing, the meridians would be damaged and destroyed.

Jin Ja-gang wrapped the blood poison again with the energy of the Flower Essence Pure Heart Pill and sent it up toward the collarbone.

The poison energy of the blood poison that had risen to the Bone Gap Point of the collarbone slowly seeped into his blood.

Sending that blood to his fingertips… to his fingertips, finally creating one drop of blood poison.

When the blood poison flowed out, it appeared as dark essence, but after emerging from his body, the energy of the Flower Essence Pure Heart Pill that had been wrapping the poison energy flew away, leaving only brilliant and transparent red jade-colored liquid.

Pure and complete blood poison.

Jin Ja-gang’s own.

* * *

Sweet and refreshing fragrance.

The energy of the Flower Essence Pure Heart Pill made from boiling a thousand types of medicinal herbs spread through the air, diffusing a subtle floral scent.

Piercing Ghost looked at the blood tea placed before him and slowly opened his mouth.

“Is this… the poison that made Indestructible Heavenly Sword kneel?”

“It should be better than that.”

Piercing Ghost picked up the teacup with a hardened face.

Jin Ja-gang spoke. He said he was grateful, that thanks to Piercing Ghost he had learned the essence of poison.

“So it was blood poison.”

Piercing Ghost had learned the source of the poison Jin Ja-gang possessed.

Moreover, this was poison much more refined and advanced than when used against Indestructible Heavenly Sword.

“Will you drink, or will you die?”

Piercing Ghost twisted his lips in a smile and drank the tea in one gulp.

Before long, Piercing Ghost’s body twitched. Piercing Ghost’s eyes changed. He was constantly fighting Jin Ja-gang’s blood poison internally.

Bloody sweat flowed from Piercing Ghost’s forehead. Blood gradually stained his eyes. Heat emanated from Piercing Ghost’s body.

Piercing Ghost threw off his upper robe. Hot steam whooshed up.

Bloody sweat had formed all over his exposed upper body. And suddenly red spots appeared on the inside of his chest.

Piercing Ghost looked at the spots that had formed on his chest. They were spots that looked like five layered petals blooming fully.

“This is like…”

Piercing Ghost spoke while exhaling labored breaths.

“The Nirvana Flower.”

The three people who had been groaning and rolling on the ground, Yeong-woon, Pyo Sang-guk, and So-min, opened their eyes wide.

“Nirvana Flower!”

Piercing Ghost said.

“In the world of asuras where fighting never ceases, the only way to end fighting is… to obtain the Nirvana Flower. The moment one obtains the Nirvana Flower, all asuras within eighteen thousand yojanas die in nirvana, and only one asura who obtained the Nirvana Flower survives…”

Piercing Ghost looked at Jin Ja-gang with eyes filled with blood. Then he asked with difficulty in a distorted voice.

“Are you prepared?”

Jin Ja-gang answered without hesitation.

“I am already fighting against the martial world.”

Piercing Ghost made a hollow expression.

“I see… you were already an asura who possessed the Nirvana Flower.”

Jin Ja-gang shook his wrist.

Click.

The Soul Seizing Thread was released from Piercing Ghost’s body and recovered.

Piercing Ghost said with difficulty.

“What I… said…”

“I will keep it. As long as Leper Mound doesn’t touch me first, Leper Mound will be safe.”

“Thank you…”

Piercing Ghost opened his sleeve and placed a pouch on the table. However, his finger with only the middle finger remaining had no strength and he dropped it. The pouch rolled across the table as bottles and pills that appeared to be antidotes spilled from the opening.

“This is my repayment…”

Nirvana Flowers began appearing one by one on Piercing Ghost’s upper body.

Piercing Ghost’s eyes were already stained with blood, looking like red clots, and blood began slowly flowing from the gaping holes of his nose.

In such a state, Piercing Ghost smiled.

“I’ll go first and wait in hell.”

With those as his last words, Piercing Ghost’s body shook greatly then became still. Blood poured out from Piercing Ghost’s seven orifices like bursting.

Thud!

Piercing Ghost slammed his head into the table. The table instantly became soaked with blood.

A Nirvana Flower also bloomed on the nape of Piercing Ghost’s neck where his head had struck.

In the end, he had been defeated by Jin Ja-gang’s blood poison.

Yeong-woon, Pyo Sang-guk, and So-min were horrified.

“A body impervious to ten thousand poisons…!”

An asura’s poison that killed even a body impervious to ten thousand poisons.

And this despite being fully prepared and defending with internal energy.

The three had no choice but to recall again the words Piercing Ghost had left behind.

“The blood of an asura who possesses poison…”

Asura Blood!

That was the poison possessed by Jin Ja-gang, Poison Dragon.

Jin Ja-gang watched the appearance of dead Piercing Ghost for a while, then collected the Infinite Ghost Poison and antidotes Piercing Ghost had left behind and stood up.

Pyo Sang-guk shouted.

“Br, Brother Jin! Quickly the antidote! Kugh, at, at this rate we’ll die!”

Yeong-woon and So-min also looked at Jin Ja-gang with the same feelings as Pyo Sang-guk.

Jin Ja-gang looked at the three for a moment then answered.

“You won’t die.”

“…What?”

The three made faces as if they’d been struck.

“Brother Jin! I’m dying of pain! Ahhhhh, kugh.”

“Endure it. You won’t die. This poison is not lethal.”

“Bu, but!”

“The amount seems insufficient. The villagers come first.”

“…”

The three felt their vision go dark. Of course it wasn’t wrong, but wasn’t this too much!

With pain like their whole bodies being minced with knives, their internal organs felt like being stabbed with awls. Cold sweat poured from their entire bodies and they were dying.

The three felt their pain somehow becoming worse. Even Yeong-woon, who had strong patience, clutched his belly and rolled around on the ground.

“Kughhhh.”

“Oh my!”

“Young Master Jin! Please save us! Ahhhhh!”

Jin Ja-gang went around to the villagers without even looking back once, distributing antidotes.

Only after distributing antidotes to all the people, about fifty in total, did he come before the three.

“Ugh, ughhhh.”

“Kughhhh.”

“Wahhhhh.”

So-min was even crying. But when Jin Ja-gang approached, only then did she make an expression of being saved and looked at Jin Ja-gang.

Jin Ja-gang said without changing expression.

“Only two antidote pills remain.”

“…”

The three made tearful faces and looked at each other.

* * *

“Huff huff. Ughhhh.”

Endless groaning sounds.

Listening to Yeong-woon’s groans, whose voice was completely hoarse and now seemed to lack even the energy to make sounds, just whimpering, Pyo Sang-guk and So-min were restless.

Yeong-woon was suffering alone, having yielded the antidote as the eldest brother.

All the two could do was wipe the sweat from Yeong-woon’s forehead. According to Jin Ja-gang, he would have to be like this for about two or three days.

Fortunately, the villagers who had regained some strength provided them with a warm, good house to stay in and even served food, but this didn’t make Pyo Sang-guk and So-min’s uncomfortable feelings disappear.

Pyo Sang-guk looked at Jin Ja-gang standing in one corner of the yard with sharp eyes.

So-min stopped Pyo Sang-guk who was glaring at the back of Jin Ja-gang’s head.

“Don’t do that.”

“Leave me be. I need to confront what needs confronting.”

But in fact, even if he confronted him, there wasn’t much to say. Jin Ja-gang had acted reasonably, and even if it felt slightly intentionally motivated, the result was ultimately right.

Jin Ja-gang turned his head to look at the commotion between the two.

“Do you have something to say to me?”

Despite So-min’s dissuasion, Pyo Sang-guk finally spoke.

“Brother Jin. Isn’t this really too much?”

“What do you mean?”

“Aren’t you deliberately treating us coldly because we didn’t listen to Brother Jin and acted selfishly!”

“You three have no relationship with me. It doesn’t matter how you act.”

Pyo Sang-guk was immediately speechless.

So-min stepped forward.

“That’s why we’re disappointed. That aspect you just mentioned.”

“Me?”

“Yes. Young Master Jin traveled with us, even if briefly. And we think Young Master Jin shared some friendship with us. But treating us like complete strangers makes us feel disappointed.”

Pondering So-min’s words, Jin Ja-gang realized they weren’t wrong.

“I didn’t think that far. You’re right. I seem to have been too cold.”

“So about that!”

So-min requested.

“Isn’t there a way to reduce Brother Yeong-woon’s pain? If it’s Young Master Jin, wouldn’t you know a method?”

Jin Ja-gang shook his head.

Pyo Sang-guk and So-min dejectedly dropped their shoulders and returned to Yeong-woon’s side.

Jin Ja-gang watched them, then took out a small bottle from his bosom.

Inside was the Infinite Ghost Poison that Piercing Ghost had collected over his lifetime.

What Piercing Ghost had given as repayment wasn’t the antidote but actually this Infinite Ghost Poison.

For Jin Ja-gang who used blood poison, Infinite Ghost Poison was like a miraculous medicine. If he absorbed the Infinite Ghost Poison, not only would Jin Ja-gang’s internal energy increase, but the power of his blood poison would also be greatly multiplied.

Thinking about it now, Mad Blood Heaven Cultivation must have also contributed to increasing the blood poison’s power. The terrible pain from Mad Blood Heaven Cultivation would have significantly affected the blood poison’s toxicity.

Jin Ja-gang opened the bottle and drank the Infinite Ghost Poison little by little like drinking tea.

The massive poison energy of Infinite Ghost Poison entered Jin Ja-gang’s body, creating hot heat. Though he was already accustomed and didn’t feel great pain, he could tell from feeling alone how strong the Infinite Ghost Poison’s toxic power was.

Jin Ja-gang waited for the poison energy to be absorbed and settle while looking up at the moon in the sky.

He couldn’t forget what Piercing Ghost had said.

The only way an asura could end fighting was to kill all opponents and survive alone.

Jin Ja-gang recalled the appearance of asuras depicted in Buddhist divine paintings.

Asuras living in the six realms had three faces and six arms, and the six arms each held the sun, moon, sword, hook, vajra, and rope, never ceasing to fight whether night or day…