Chapter 290 – Bonds Come at Unexpected Moments (3)

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Eum Yu-kyung and Gi Ye-hwa exchanged a tremendous amount of information over a truly long period of time.

One was the Holy Maiden of the Demon Cult, and the other was the vice sect master of the Hao Sect, which possessed the most extensive information in the Central Plains.

Eum Yu-kyung thirsted for information, and Gi Ye-hwa desperately needed information from within the Demon Cult. Since the interests of these two people aligned, their conversation inevitably became lengthy.

The conversation between the two women extended from the political situation of the Central Plains and the movements of the Demon Cult to even the Heavenly Evil Sect.

The Heavenly Evil Sect was a mysterious religious organization in many ways.

Though their name was mentioned through various documents, there were virtually no people who knew about their actual substance.

An extremely small number of martial artists, including Geom Yul-cheon, were running around trying to grasp their true nature, but so far they hadn’t properly discovered anything.

“As you can tell from the name Heavenly Evil Sect, they are skilled in all kinds of sorcery and illusion arts. If someone has weak mental strength, they could fall for their illusion arts without even knowing it, so you must be especially careful. Miss Gi also seems to have become their target, so you’ll need to strengthen your defenses.”

At Eum Yu-kyung’s earnest entreaty, Gi Ye-hwa nodded and said:

“Muli is a very beautiful place. If a place called Peach Blossom Land really exists, Muli has the highest possibility of being it. But the road to get there won’t be easy at all.”

Having learned from Gi Ye-hwa that Muli was an actual place name, Eum Yu-kyung left Dujiangyan with Dam-ho.

Throughout their journey, her expression was dark beyond measure.

‘The Heavenly Evil Sect, which had been operating secretly, has begun to openly reveal itself. Was there some internal change? Or did they judge that they had accumulated enough power to reveal themselves?’

Either way, it wasn’t particularly good news for her and Geom Yul-cheon.

“Sigh!”

Eum Yu-kyung, who had been thinking over and over, let out a sigh.

Her head hurt as if it would burst.

Eventually, she stopped thinking and looked at Dam-ho.

Dam-ho hadn’t said a single word since leaving Dujiangyan. Entrusting his body to Black Ghost, he too was deep in thought.

Just as Eum Yu-kyung was worrying, he was certainly thinking about many things as well.

‘Is it fortunate though? That he’s not hostile.’

She knew best how formidable Dam-ho’s martial power was.

Dam-ho had boasted tremendous martial power three years ago as well. She couldn’t easily imagine how much he had developed during those three years.

‘Perhaps he’s even surpassed Yul-cheon…’

Eum Yu-kyung quickly shook her head. She thought it was an absurd imagination. The very fact that she had such an imagination was disrespectful to Geom Yul-cheon.

They had left Dujiangyan in the morning, but before they knew it, evening had come. Since the sun was setting over the western mountains, they had no choice but to camp outdoors.

While the two were skillfully preparing to camp, the sun completely set and thick darkness fell over the surroundings.

Piiiii!

At that moment, suddenly a sharp whistle sound echoed through the night sky.

Dam-ho and Eum Yu-kyung’s gazes simultaneously turned toward the sky.

Boom!

An arrow fitted with a whistle suddenly exploded high in the sky, creating brilliant fireworks.

“That is?”

Eum Yu-kyung quickly got up.

The fireworks disappeared quickly, but they seemed to still remain on her retina.

Dam-ho asked:

“What is it?”

“It’s our sect’s emergency signal.”

Eum Yu-kyung’s complexion hardened like stone.

***

“Huff! Huff!”

Shin Moo-wol exhaled rough breaths.

Blood was flowing from the hand holding his side. The wound that had been cauterized with a heated dagger had torn open again.

“Damn it!”

Shin Moo-wol’s pupils shook greatly.

The wounds weren’t just on his side. Countless small wounds had formed all over his body.

The Blood Mist Squad led by Cho Moo-yang was truly vicious.

Though they too were human, they attacked without regard for their lives. Under their wave attacks that came endlessly like mayflies, Shin Moo-wol had suffered numerous wounds. As a result, his stamina was now exhausted and it was difficult to take even one step.

The Blood Mist Squad were skilled hunters. They knew well how to efficiently hunt absolute masters.

They endlessly cornered Shin Moo-wol.

“This won’t do.”

Shin Moo-wol gritted his teeth.

He had already bled beyond his limits, making his mind dizzy. If this continued, there was a high probability he would collapse without being able to fight properly.

“Whether I live or die, I’ll settle this here.”

Shin Moo-wol looked around.

It was a dead-end valley surrounded by smooth cliffs like a gourd. The back was blocked by a huge waterfall, and the terrain made it difficult to climb up the cliffs.

Shin Moo-wol drew two swords with the waterfall behind him. His appearance with swords divided between both hands was tragic beyond measure.

Piiik!

At that moment, a sharp whistle sound echoed through the night sky again. The fireworks that exploded afterward made the surroundings bright as day for an instant.

The light faded quickly and darkness came again, but one thing was certain.

‘They’ve chased me right to my nose.’

It had already been several days since he’d been engaged in a chase with the Blood Mist Squad.

He had killed many of them too. That should have been enough to make them feel fear, but the Blood Mist Squad had endlessly pursued Shin Moo-wol like beings without emotions.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, the sound of cutting through air echoed from the darkness.

“Kuh!”

Shin Moo-wol ducked his head almost instinctively. Then an arrow grazed past his hair.

Pip pip pip ping!

Arrows were shot consecutively from the darkness. They were arrows shot after calculating even the direction Shin Moo-wol would dodge. The more he dodged, the more he would inevitably be cornered.

‘Like hell I will!’

Shin Moo-wol no longer dodged. Instead, he swung the swords in both hands to block all attacks.

The arrows flying with sparks were blocked by his swords and fell. Then they revealed themselves from the darkness.

The men wearing blood-red martial robes like burning flames were the Blood Mist Squad.

“Huh!”

Shin Moo-wol let out a quiet sigh as he looked at them.

Just what he could see roughly numbered over dozens. He couldn’t even guess how many more Blood Mist Squad members were hiding in the darkness.

Then a middle-aged man walked out from the darkness. The middle-aged man’s slit eyes emitted an eerie light even in the darkness.

“We finally meet.”

“Cho Moo-yang!”

“You rat b*st*rd!”

The middle-aged man was Cho Moo-yang, the Blood Mist Squad leader.

Cho Moo-yang’s eyes looking at Shin Moo-wol were filled with killing intent.

It couldn’t be helped. The number of Blood Mist Squad members who had died to Shin Moo-wol exceeded nearly seventy. Though Shin Moo-wol had also suffered serious injuries as the price, that didn’t cool Cho Moo-yang’s anger.

“You b*st*rd! Don’t think you’ll die easily. I’ll make you feel the maximum pain.”

“How ridiculous. Khaak! Ptui!”

Shin Moo-wol spat on the ground. His spit was mixed with red blood. It was proof that he had suffered serious injuries.

The corners of Cho Moo-yang’s mouth curled up.

“Let’s see how long you can remain so arrogant.”

“Hmph!”

“Attack!”

The Blood Mist Squad moved.

Swoosh!

Their swords flew through the darkness. Shin Moo-wol gritted his teeth and swung his swords.

Clang clang clang!

Swords clashed with swords and sparks flew.

“Chaat!”

Shin Moo-wol threw the swords in his hands with a battle cry. It was his signature flying sword technique.

Two swords rotated at terrifying speed and attacked the Blood Mist Squad. For a moment, the Blood Mist Squad’s attention was stolen by the two swords.

Shin Moo-wol didn’t miss that gap and charged toward the Blood Mist Squad. In his hands were already two swords again. He had drawn them from the Peacock Sword Sheath.

Swoosh!

“Kuk!”

“Kek!”

Darkness was split and blood splattered.

Shin Moo-wol’s swords pierced through the chests and necks of the Blood Mist Squad martial artists. The Blood Mist Squad grabbed Shin Moo-wol’s swords with both hands as they died.

“Hehe!”

“Got you.”

Those who were dying grabbed Shin Moo-wol’s swords with amazing strength. Even until the moment their breath stopped, sealing Shin Moo-wol’s swords was their mission, and they performed it admirably.

What could Shin Moo-wol do without weapons? They were mocking him like that.

“Hmph!”

At that moment, Shin Moo-wol snorted, released his swords, and stepped back.

Not missing that gap, other Blood Mist Squad members charged. Their appearance of charging recklessly like demons was sufficiently terrifying.

“He has no weapons.”

“It’s our chance.”

For a martial artist to have no weapons was a fatal weakness.

Just as they charged like wild dogs targeting prey.

Snap!

Suddenly, two swords appeared like magic in Shin Moo-wol’s hands. Confused expressions appeared on the faces of the charging Blood Mist Squad martial artists. It was something they couldn’t understand with their common sense.

A cold light appeared on Shin Moo-wol’s face. The swords in his hands were the ones he had launched with his flying sword technique earlier. The swords that had made a large circle in the air had returned to his hands.

All of this had happened entirely according to his calculations.

Swoosh!

Shin Moo-wol consecutively swung the swords in both hands.

After instantly dispatching the charging Blood Mist Squad martial artists, he again inserted the two swords into the Peacock Sword Sheath. Then he drew out the swords that had been stuck in the chests and necks of those who had just died. Since their breath had stopped, this time they were recovered without any resistance.

It had happened in an instant. Though over ten martial artists had died at once, which should have been shocking, the Blood Mist Squad charged like mad dogs without showing any such sign. Their madness was enough to disgust even Shin Moo-wol.

Shin Moo-wol’s complexion, which had been breathing roughly, suddenly turned black as coal.

“Gasp!”

His pupils bulged, and the hands holding his swords trembled. Thick veins protruded all over his body, and his muscles stiffened.

“Kheuk!”

Shin Moo-wol suddenly vomited dark red blood.

Cho Moo-yang looked at such a Shin Moo-wol and smiled sinisterly.

“Got you.”

“How?”

A light of disbelief appeared on Shin Moo-wol’s face.

His throat swelled up instantly, and blood throughout his body stopped flowing. His eyes became bloodshot and he couldn’t see well, and tinnitus occurred in his ears, confusing his mind. These were typical symptoms of poisoning.

Shin Moo-wol couldn’t help but be flustered. Just in case, he had stopped breathing and protected his nose and ears with internal energy. He had completely blocked any possibility of being poisoned. Yet he had still been poisoned, so it was incomprehensible to his common sense.

Cho Moo-yang smiled and pointed with his chin at the fallen Blood Mist Squad martial artists.

“Their blood contains poison. Deadly poison. In other words, they are poison people.”

“That’s impossible…”

Shin Moo-wol showed an expression of disbelief.

Though he hadn’t learned poison arts, he had immunity to numerous poisons. While he wasn’t completely immune to a thousand poisons, he could still burn away about a hundred types of poison just by circulating his internal energy once. For such a person to be poisoned so easily – it was absolutely impossible according to his common sense.

“Keu!”

Shin Moo-wol staggered backward. He desperately tried to circulate his internal energy to drive out the poison. But the more he did so, the more viciously the poison spread throughout his body.

Clang!

Eventually, Shin Moo-wol dropped his swords and collapsed on the spot.

Swoosh!

Cho Moo-yang drew his sword and aimed it at Shin Moo-wol. For the first time, a triumphant expression appeared on his face.

“To catch our sect’s troublemaker with my own hands like this is an honor.”

“Keuuk!”

Shin Moo-wol bit his lips until they bled. He could feel a vicious poisonous scent in the blood.

Though he had dominated the world with martial arts, being poisoned by an unknown poison, he couldn’t exert any strength at all.

‘Is there no choice?’

It was the worst moment he had so desperately not wanted. In this situation, there was only one method he could choose.

Suicide.

Though most of his internal energy had scattered due to the poison, it was still possible to reverse its flow. In that case, his heart meridians would burst or break, causing instant death.

‘Damn it!’

He wasn’t afraid of death. But the fact that he couldn’t save Geom Yul-cheon, who was in danger because of him, made him despair.

Just as Shin Moo-wol was about to commit suicide.

“No!”

A sharp cry echoed through the night sky.

Swoosh!

Following that, a sharp sound cut through the air and Blood Mist Squad martial artists fell.

“What?”

Cho Moo-yang turned around in surprise.

A dazzlingly white shadow was moving in the darkness.

“Ho-Holy Maiden?”

Cho Moo-yang’s eyes widened greatly.