Chapter 464 – It's Not Over Yet (2)

Dam Ho's entire body was soaked in blood.

He didn't know how many he'd killed, but a terrible blood stench wafted out making one's mind hazy. Still, Cho Yeon-woon didn't erase his smile.

His only friend in the world. Just the warmth felt from their clasped hands filled his heart.

Cho Yeon-woon opened his mouth.

"You're late."

"Sorry."

"No. Since you came now, it's fine."

At Dam Ho's words, Cho Yeon-woon shook his head. Then Bang Jin-bo stuck his head out from behind Dam Ho.

"I came too."

It was precisely Bang Jin-bo.

Instantly a bright smile spread across Cho Yeon-woon's lips.

"Haha!"

Though wounded and exhausted, strangely laughter came. And he felt relieved.

Instantly his legs gave out and his body staggered. Then Bang Jin-bo quickly supported him.

Bang Jin-bo hadn't come alone. Gi San-wol was watching that scene while protecting the Namgung brothers.

"My lord's friendship with him is truly remarkable."

Just from watching once, one could tell how much they could trust each other.

Suddenly envious thoughts arose.

Dam Ho's body condition wasn't normal now either. The fight with Lee Gwan had inflicted great wounds on Dam Ho too. Despite suffering serious wounds making movement difficult, he'd gladly rushed to Cho Yeon-woon.

He himself had no friend to share such friendship with. So he felt regretful and also envious.

That was when.

"How dare you act arrogant."

Gang Wi, ignored by Dam Ho, angrily threw his body forward.

Shugaak!

His sword flew toward Dam Ho's back.

"Danger…"

Cho Yeon-woon saw that scene and tried to shout. But Dam Ho's movement was faster.

His right hand back shot out like a viper. It was Single Yang Strike.

Zzering!

The hand back and Gang Wi's sword clashed. A metallic sound burst out. But Gang Wi wasn't surprised. Because a master who'd reached Dam Ho's level could easily exert power comparable to bladed weapons with bare hands.

Gang Wi's sword consecutively released second and third forms. Like his alias Lightning Demon Blade, sword techniques with lightning speed and power covered Dam Ho repeatedly.

Instantly Dam Ho's palm gave shock to air's grain exploding it. A phenomenon occurring when deploying Single Air Wall.

Kwakwang!

The sword techniques Gang Wi deployed hesitated blocked by Single Air Wall.

That moment Dam Ho's form shot forward. He'd deployed Charging Step.

Kwang!

Shattering Star Strike exploded.

"Kreuk!"

Gang Wi's body helplessly pushed backward.

Just before being hit directly by Shattering Star Strike, by a hair's breadth he raised his sword blocking. Thanks to that he avoided direct physical impact, but couldn't completely dissipate the shock.

Kung! Kung!

Though retreating five steps, the shock didn't dissipate. Helplessly he had to retreat over ten more steps. Only then did the shock somewhat subside.

Blood surged up his throat. He'd suffered internal injury. But he had no leisure to treat internal injury. Because Dam Ho was rushing like an evil spirit.

Blood-caked hair flew wildly. Between it showed a blood-covered face. Whatever wound it was didn't look light. Yet those eyes shone eerily.

Dam Ho's eyes were scary enough to make even absolute master Gang Wi gasp.

Kwang!

Once again Shattering Star Strike exploded.

This time too he blocked the attack with his sword. The sword that blocked Dam Ho's fist bent like a bow.

Zzerjerk!

Instantly spiderweb-like cracks spread across his sword. Unable to withstand continuous shocks, durability reached its limit.

Gang Wi's pupils shook.

The sword he held was renowned even within the Demon Cult as a divine weapon. Its hardness and sharpness were tremendous enough to count under heaven. The fact that such demon weapon was being destroyed by Dam Ho's few punches made him absurd to the point of fear.

As if shaking off fear, he roared.

"This guy!"

Chuhwahak!

Instantly round rings spewed from his sword.

Shining bead-like rings were precisely Sword Pills with condensed sword energy. As sword energy was condensed, destructive power was also far superior. Not just one or two but five whole ones.

Sword Pills were precisely Gang Wi's trump card.

Puseok!

Though the sword crumbled like sand as price for releasing Sword Pills, it didn't matter.

Shishishik!

Five Sword Pills flew toward Dam Ho like living creatures in different directions and trajectories.

"It's over."

Gang Wi shouted.

Everyone watching their fight thought so.

That much, Sword Pills' power was absolute and also blocked all directions Dam Ho could dodge.

"Dodge!"

"No!"

Several martial artists seeing that scene shouted until their throats bled. But Dam Ho didn't dodge and rather increased speed.

Kuuuu!

Instantly storm-like airflow swirled around his entire body.

Violent Demon Force had activated.

In that state Dam Ho collided with the Sword Pills.

Kwakwakwakwang!

An earth-shaking explosion occurred.

Blade-like energy waves whipped in all directions and tremendous shockwave generated. Because of that, all people within twenty-some zhang radius tumbled backward.

Everyone thought it was the end.

No matter how strong Dam Ho was, surviving in such explosion was impossible. That was people's thought.

That was when.

Shuuuu!

Breaking through the explosion, Dam Ho appeared.

His appearance was pitiful. On his already wound-covered body, new wounds had formed. Wounds severe enough to expose bone. Despite newly sustaining wounds that would have instantly killed ordinary people, he was charging toward Gang Wi.

Instantly Gang Wi realized for the first time what fear felt like.

Scary.

Scary enough to make flesh tremble.

That was the emotion Gang Wi felt at that moment.

He'd never once fought such a fight.

Until now, opponents he fought all became intimidated seeing just one or two of his excellent sword forms, self-destructing or giving up prematurely. Thanks to that, he could achieve easy victories.

Even fighting opponents known as his equals was no different. They were intimidated by Gang Wi's reputation and overwhelmed by his fierce temperament, surrendering.

No one dared charge at him with eyes like Dam Ho's.

Those weren't challenger's eyes.

It was the resolve of one determined to definitely kill the opponent.

With such resolve Dam Ho was charging at him.

Chuhwahak!

Terrifying attraction generated centered on Dam Ho pulling Gang Wi's body. Gang Wi's body helplessly got pulled toward Dam Ho. And Shattering Star Strike exploded.

Kwang!

Gang Wi's body bounced backward several times faster than the speed it was pulled.

Dam Ho followed such Gang Wi.

Gripping his neck and pressing his body close to Gang Wi, then soon soaring toward the sky.

Dam Ho became a dragon whirlwind swallowing Gang Wi.

Earth Heaven Strike had deployed.

Gang Wi felt dizzying floating sensation opening his eyes wide. In such eyes, the earth rapidly expanded.

"N-no!"

Kwang!

Instantly his head crashed into the earth.

"…"

Silence came.

Everyone's gaze concentrated on Gang Wi planted upside down in the earth.

Gang Wi didn't move. Because one with burst head couldn't move.

An unrealistic scene.

The opponent was Gang Wi.

Lightning Demon Blade Gang Wi.

One member of Four Great Commanders the Demon Cult boasted.

That absolute master said to encompass heaven with martial prowess alone was a cold corpse.

Gang Wi was someone who shouldn't have died like that. Absolutely not!

That unrealistic scene brought joy to Shaolin Temple and Martial Alliance martial artists, despair to Demon Cult martial artists.

Dam Ho straightened his back rising. When he swept hair with his hand, his blood-dyed face revealed as is.

He looked as if he'd bathed in blood. How many people must be killed to become dyed in blood like that, one couldn't even guess.

"Demon… Immortal."

One Demon Cult martial artist watching such Dam Ho's appearance unconsciously muttered. Though words spoken without thought, destructive power was terrifying.

The word "Demon Immortal" spread like plague throughout the Demon Cult camp instantly.

Demon Immortal.

Nemesis appearing in the Divine Cult's legend.

The fictitious existence Blood Elder created had materialized revealing its form before them.

"Hmm!"

Jang Mu-gyeong let out a groan.

Hae So-wol and So-cheon who'd fought fiercely with him had already withdrawn backward. Though fighting a bit more could take their lives, they were already outside Jang Mu-gyeong's interest.

Jang Mu-gyeong's gaze and nerves entirely focused on Dam Ho. His intense presence and afterimage dominating the battlefield made Jang Mu-gyeong unable to take his eyes away.

A man who appeared out of nowhere instantly killing Lightning Demon Blade Gang Wi.

His terrifying martial prowess made everyone present tremble.

Whatever happened before coming here, Dam Ho clearly bore serious wounds. Wounds scattered across his body were all lethal ones where even absolute masters dying wouldn't be strange. Yet he stood upright, and Demon Cult martial artists overwhelmed by such Dam Ho's presence couldn't even open their mouths.

Truly insane presence and control.

That Demon Cult martial artists who annihilated Shaolin Temple and Martial Alliance were cowed by one person's majesty with tails between legs. Even seeing directly with both eyes, a scene hard to believe.

Though wanting to deny, it was reality squarely faced.

Jang Mu-gyeong realized further fighting was meaningless.

Fighting spirit had broken.

In this state now, they'd lose even to Martial Alliance and Shaolin Temple's remnants, let alone Dam Ho.

Jang Mu-gyeong ground his teeth.

Just before achieving the objective, the current situation where everything got frustrated by Dam Ho alone was hard to accept easily.

"It's bluffing. Killing Gang Wi was squeezing out that guy's last strength. That guy has no more strength to move."

He knew in his head. But even he himself couldn't readily step toward Dam Ho. His body refused.

Though unwilling to admit, he too was truly intimidated by Dam Ho's existence. Once intimidated, taking risks wasn't easy.

Jang Mu-gyeong glared at Dam Ho with frightening eyes.

He captured everything about him in his eyes. And engraved it deep in his mind. His resolve to never forget today's humiliation.

Finally having engraved everything about Dam Ho, he turned around shouting.

"Everyone return."

"…"

No answer existed. But everyone followed Jang Mu-gyeong's order as if waiting. That appearance made Jang Mu-gyeong even more miserable.

Demon Cult martial artists collected comrades' corpses withdrawing, and Martial Alliance and Shaolin Temple's young martial artists silently watched them.

Though wanting to use this opportunity sweeping them all away, they knew well how vain such thought was. Now was time to be grateful just for surviving.

Dam Ho silently watched them withdraw.

Like Jang Mu-gyeong's thought, his body condition now was truly worst. Because of serious wounds from fighting Iron Blood Martial God Lee Gwan.

He absolutely needed time to heal wounds. Yet forcing himself to rush here was because Cho Yeon-woon was here.

Cho Yeon-woon approached Dam Ho.

"Let's go! Who knows when they might change minds returning again."

Worthy of a friend sharing long years together, he saw through Dam Ho's body condition.

Dam Ho nodded turning around.

"Waaaah!"

Instantly tremendous cheers burst out.

Cheers martial artists who'd risked lives for comrades burst out. Their eyes looking at Dam Ho were full of awe.

Gi San-wol thought it a miracle watching that scene.

A great miracle one single person created.

“Think quickly. Even at this moment, the Hungry Ghost King is strengthening his grip on the martial world. Through actions we can’t understand.”

Jin Ja-gang fell into thought.

Tang Qing urged him.

“You must figure it out so I can get close to the Hungry Ghost King. Do you know why I’m still angry? I’ve never once seen that bastard’s face. He arrogantly never showed himself and used me, King of Hell. That’s a crime death can’t repay.”

Jin Ja-gang quietly looked at Tang Qing.

“What are you saying? The person saying that also annihilated our sect without ever showing their face.”

Tang Qing also frowned.

“I won’t make excuses, but honestly speaking, I don’t individually pay attention to or give orders to small sects like Hundred Flower Valley. Do you know how many poison sect branches there are just in Yunnan?”

“So I went to find those who directly acted, and they excused themselves saying they only did as told. So I went up and up to find who ordered them, and those in the middle said they had no choice, and then the one at the top now makes excuses that it wasn’t their order.”

Tang Qing contorted his face.

“Who made excuses! The responsibility lies with me. I don’t deny that. The middle managers under me move according to policies I decided. Even if I don’t give direct orders, I take responsibility for determining the final direction!”

Jin Ja-gang sharply threw out words.

“By that logic, the final responsibility isn’t with King of Hell.”

“What?”

“In the end, King of Hell also moved while being played by the Hungry Ghost King’s hands. Then since the Hungry Ghost King decided the policy, the final responsibility lies with the Hungry Ghost King. Of course, King of Hell also can’t be free from basic responsibility.”

Crunch, Tang Qing ground his teeth.

“This bastard is making me into a mere lackey. There’s one more reason to catch and kill the Hungry Ghost King. And you bastard, you keep calling me King of Hell instead of Grandfather from earlier, you’ll regret it later. Wicked fellow.”

For father-in-law and grandson-in-law, they weren’t bound by ordinary grudges.

They were in a relationship where it wouldn’t be strange if they killed each other right now.

However, on the one hand, to Jin Ja-gang he was his new family’s elder, and to Tang Qing he was the son-in-law of the family that would achieve his dream…

It couldn’t be anything but a bizarre connection.

“Thinking about it, it’s unfair.”

“What is.”

Jin Ja-gang looked at Tang Qing briefly then threw out words.

“A great-granddaughter was born, yet you don’t look at her face once, don’t give her a name, give no gifts… and then insist on being called Grandfather, isn’t that too much?”

Even Tang Qing had nothing particular to say to that.

“Instead… I gave you the Tang Family Main Estate.”

“That wasn’t taken by me but by King of Hell’s granddaughter. And I’m talking about Poison Heaven, not me.”

“…”

Tang Qing’s eyes, which had been glaring at Jin Ja-gang, suddenly gleamed with interest.

“You seem to have found something! Is that why you’re pestering me? Ehihihihi! I knew it, I knew you could find…”

Jin Ja-gang cut him off.

“No.”

“…”

“Since you brought up family relations first, I said it to mean you should fulfill your duties first.”

Tang Qing glared at Jin Ja-gang with an expression like chewing a sour persimmon.

“This bastard, now he’s going too far…”

However, Tang Qing’s eyes glanced toward Poison Heaven, and his expression softened somewhat.

“What does the child like?”

“She likes poison. Eats it well.”

“She’s given birth to one exactly like herself.”

“Probably ‘Grandfather’s’ blood is mixed in too.”

Tang Qing bristled.

In any case, Jin Ja-gang was hard to beat in verbal fights. If you weren’t careful while speaking, you’d fall into a trap and get annoyed.

“You’ve already sucked my bone marrow dry, so I have nothing more to give even if you ask!”

“Instead, I saved your life. So there’s no need to mention that further.”

Jin Ja-gang saved Tang Qing using the method Divine Doctor An Yul-jin taught him. If he’d done nothing, Tang Qing would have died.

“Why did you save me?”

“To reveal the Hungry Ghost King’s identity.”

“If you’d known I didn’t know, would you not have saved me?”

“That’s right.”

“Ha, this bastard to kill. Look how shamelessly he answers.”

But then, murmuring sounds were heard.

“What’s that?”

“There are many gathered over there?”

“Are those the suspicious people?”

Jin Ja-gang and Tang Qing met late at night, and the location was also a secluded path. Yet over ten martial artists who had no reason to appear there showed up.

Tang Qing heard their sounds and smiled, raising one corner of his mouth.

“Look at that. Those are people the Hungry Ghost King sent.”

“We defeated Northern Heaven’s Evil Faction and the Zoroastrian Cult. Yet there are still people working under the Hungry Ghost King?”

Tang Qing answered.

“They’re from ordinary nearby martial halls.”

“Not major sects but ordinary martial halls?”

“Usually large sects verify the reporter’s identity before moving. But those bastards probably rushed over thinking they’d make a name for themselves when someone said suspicious people were wandering around.”

“Is there a particular problem?”

“It becomes a problem if my presence is revealed. My movements will be exposed, what I’m doing will become known, and what I’ve done will be revealed too. Every one of them is a lay disciple of some sect, and a lay disciple of lay disciples, connected all the way to giant sects. So if I kill them all whenever we meet because they’re annoying, eventually even giant sects will step forward.”

Tang Qing laughed long.

“This is what the Hungry Ghost King does. He’s a bastard who tightens the noose as viciously as you.”

The martial hall warriors who had approached closely were confronting the scholars blocking the path.

They craned their necks trying to see Jin Ja-gang and Tang Qing behind them between the scholars’ shoulders.

“Who are you people? Why are you blocking the way!”

“We haven’t seen them here before?”

“If you don’t reveal your origins…!”

Tang Qing suddenly untied his bound hair and plucked out strands of hair.

“Right. I thought of a gift for you.”

Jin Ja-gang looked at Tang Qing with strange eyes, seeing the hairs held in Tang Qing’s hand.

“It’s not needed.”

“You’ll need it.”

Tang Qing smiled confidently.

“I caught Invincible One Hui-neng’s disciple with these hairs.”

Subduing a Shaolin Temple Breaking Sect expert with hairs?

Jin Ja-gang had also faced Shaolin experts but they were very troublesome. Especially the Iron Cloth lineage’s protective energy had the effect of deflecting hidden weapons and preventing poisoning by blades.

When Tang Qing infused internal energy, the hairs began standing stiffly.

Then he threw the hairs toward the backs of the scholars blocking the warriors.

Whirl!

The hairs passed through the scholars’ bodies as if permeating them.

The scholars flinched and trembled.

“Ouch, that stings!”

Even the warriors in front of the scholars suddenly made a fuss and twisted their bodies.

“What, this! What is it that stings?”

“I don’t know. Did a bee sting?”

“It’s not a bee. Something pierced through my body.”

“It seems like there’s a little blood too?”

The hairs Tang Qing threw pierced through the scholars’ bodies and even passed through the warriors they were blocking.

The warriors drew their swords with clanging sounds.

“These bastards are pulling strange tricks!”

“Move aside! What are you blocking!”

“We’ll find out what’s behind that you’re hiding!”

The scholars blocked the warriors with their bodies.

Jin Ja-gang watched with puzzled eyes.

“I don’t quite understand.”

“You can’t know just by watching.”

Tang Qing flicked his finger.

Crack! A strong air-splitting sound created ripples in the air.

Then the scholars all simultaneously let out bizarre sounds.

“Uuooerrrr!”

“Aheoouuuu!”

“Uuuuuuu!”

Even mutes, unless they’re congenital mutes, can make sounds. They’re just hard to understand. They were making such sounds wildly.

The warriors were startled and stepped back.

“Wh-what? These guys!”

“S-stop it, won’t you?”

“These bastards give me the creeps!”

Uuuuuuu!

The sustained noise hummed and echoed through the dark night sky.

Soon Tang Qing plucked a single hair.

“If I properly infuse internal energy.”

Pluck. Tang Qing plucked a single hair.

Then slowly threw it toward Jin Ja-gang.

Jin Ja-gang didn’t dodge but turned his body so Poison Heaven wouldn’t be hit, then blocked with his splinted shoulder. He infused internal energy to harden the splint. The hair embedded in the splint.

Without any sound, without any resistance, it permeated the splint. However, Jin Ja-gang received a shock from the splint as if cracks were forming and his entire body was shattering.

Crrrack!

The internal energy that had been flowing like a great river instantly all froze and felt like it shattered into pieces.

Tang Qing’s hair even pierced Jin Ja-gang’s shoulder bone. It penetrated straight through his body and flew backward.

Jin Ja-gang’s head spun for a moment and he nearly let out a groan.

Ehihihihi!

Tang Qing laughed with just his mouth shape.

Anti-Shaolin protective energy destruction technique.

Piercing Flash Severance.

Energy destruction technique using severance!

It delivers a lethal blow in one strike to opponents relying on protective energy.

It truly could be called a secret technique among secret techniques.

“Shaolin monks’ external martial arts are too solid to pierce. But when pierced, they really scream in pain.”

“Good. It was extremely painful.”

“If you don’t block with internal energy, Piercing Flash Severance doesn’t hurt even when it penetrates. It hurts because internal energy clashes.”

“Ah.”

Tang Qing’s casually thrown words contained the principle of Piercing Flash Severance.

The purpose isn’t to pierce protective energy, but to clash with protective energy to cause pain. When the mind scatters from pain, protective energy disappears and allows penetration.

And the poison imbued in the hair pierces through protective energy and infiltrates poison into bare skin, blood vessels, muscles and bones.

“Shaolin monks have resumed their righteous practices. In searching for the Hungry Ghost King, you can’t avoid them. It will surely be useful.”

Uuuuuu…!

While the scholars screamed, Tang Qing taught Jin Ja-gang the incantation for Piercing Flash Severance through telepathy.

“You’ve memorized it all.”

Jin Ja-gang nodded.

“Yes.”

Tang Qing briefly looked at Poison Heaven as if glancing past, then turned his head.

“I’m leaving.”

“You won’t look at the child’s face up close before going?”

“With what face?”

“You’re fully qualified.”

Jin Ja-gang slowly handed Poison Heaven to Tang Qing.

Poison Heaven, who woke from sleep, looked at Tang Qing then began crying loudly.

Tang Qing’s mouth slowly opened. Tang Qing’s eyes held a smile.

“You said she likes poison? Anything?”

“Even Extinction Essence.”

Tang Qing formed poison liquid at the center of his palm and applied it to Poison Heaven’s lips.

Poison Heaven smacked her lips then began smiling brightly. Tang Qing also smiled more radiantly. His long torn mouth was hideous, but his smile this time was genuine.

“Pretty. So pretty.”