Chapter 198 – A Man’s Lower Body

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Translated by Heavenly Cat
Edited by Celestial Knight

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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‘Hit!’

Ju-seong silently cheered inside.

The poison fog he’d laid down was definitely proving worthwhile.

The long needle Ju-seong had thrown had described a wide arc of fully twenty zhang.

This was only possible because his advancement in realm had brought his internal energy emission and retrieval to an incomparable level.

‘But I didn’t think it was a technique refined enough to deceive the eyes and ears of a master at the same level.’

The thick red poison fog around him had masked the needle’s presence.

The result.

“Mmph!”

Gongsun Su grimaced slightly.

The Purple Gold Centipede’s paralysis poison that Ju-seong had embedded bored into his lower back.

Thanks to this, his lower body felt somewhat numb… but Gongsun Su was the Blood Flower Crone’s legitimate heir.

His skill in handling internal energy was superior to most martial artists.

He circulated internal energy through his meridians to gather the poison and expelled it through his index finger.

-TU-DU-DUK!

Silvery-gray poison sprayed onto the ground.

“A martial artist who has achieved Three Flowers Gathering can’t be dealt with through such petty tricks… as you well know, Young Hero?”

Gongsun Su raised one eyebrow as he plucked out the needle lodged in his back with a flick.

Ju-seong responded insolently.

“Should I even acknowledge someone like you as a Three Flowers master?”

Gongsun Su narrowed his eyes, then fiercely lashed his soft sword, clad in dark crimson Sword Aura.

-SHWI-KA-AK!

Ju-seong didn’t blink, simply retreating exactly two steps.

The Sword-Energy-laden blade extended precisely to Ju-seong’s bridge of nose before being withdrawn.

Gauging the interval. Ju-seong deliberately acted as if to show that his opponent’s reach was already in the palm of his hand.

Gongsun Su twisted his lips and took a great stride forward…

“Attack, my siblings!”

While he gathered his soft sword like a whipping motion, the siblings waiting in the poison fog burst forth.

Most wielded chain weapons, but some also clutched exotic weapons like steel claws or sharpened rings.

Those with short-range weapons charged in, while those with chain weapons harassed from a distance.

The one requiring most attention was Gongsun Su, who was whipping his Sword-Energy-infused soft sword about.

-SHYU… PUNG!

A brief whistling followed by the sound of earth bursting open.

Had Ju-seong been even slightly slower to move, his ankle would have been shredded.

The soft sword that had gouged the innocent ground undulated strangely, then twisted to target Ju-seong’s groin.

Meanwhile, a martial artist wielding steel claws was charging with tiger-fierce movements.

Two chain sickles and a whip targeted various parts of Ju-seong’s upper body.

A crooked smile curled at Ju-seong’s lips.

“So this is the taste of the evil path.”

Just because he’d gotten somewhat close with the Crimson Spider Sect didn’t mean he’d forget their roots.

These were in a sense more authentic jianghu people than the righteous sects of the north.

After all, any proper martial man of jianghu should have “gang up on one target” as a basic technique.

Ju-seong struck one decisive palm blow to knock away the steel-clawed martial artist.

The claws and both arms holding them shattered to pieces.

Then he twisted his waist and pelvis to deflect the filthy attack aimed at his groin.

The soft sword slid past with a chilling sound, grazing Ju-seong’s front.

Then came the chain sickles and whips from a distance.

“Trying chain weapons against someone with higher internal energy…”

Ju-seong murmured quietly, bringing both palms together.

-KA-RA-RA-RAK!

Two chain sickles and one whip were entangled together as if drawn by a strange attraction.

Pulled in by the Crimson Lotus Palm Ju-seong had spread, their chain weapons were helplessly whipped around.

Chain weapons had the advantage of unpredictability, plus the ability to generate massive power with just a short flick of the wrist.

With a small motion, one could deliver a blow comparable to a sword or saber slash.

But at the same time, their weaknesses were clear.

“Having no fixed form means they’re easily whipped around by someone with superior internal energy.”

Ju-seong said this while forcefully yanking the three chain weapons in his grasp.

Two of them had the quick wits to release their weapons, but one with a chain sickle was helplessly dragged along.

Looking at him, the face was familiar.

It was the short man who had tailed Ju-seong before.

“I won’t let you off this time.”

Ju-seong muttered, then smashed a palm strike right into the short man’s forehead.

-DEONG!

Perhaps he’d trained in some iron-head technique… it rang like a bell.

Ju-seong had intended to kill him instantly, but the fellow rolled his eyes back and foamed at the mouth, staggering.

“Mm.”

Ju-seong was about to settle for just destroying the fellow’s dantian…

-SEU-KA-CHAK!

Piercing through the fellow’s chest, a white blade shot at Ju-seong like a viper.

“I knew you’d do this…”

Ju-seong grinned crookedly. He seized the soft sword with his Sword-Energy-clad hand.

The soft sword thrashed about as if it were a living viper.

-KA-GA-GA-GAK!

In a clash of Sword Aura against Sword Aura, the side with the actual weapon should have the advantage.

But Ju-seong had his Heavenly Silkworm gauntlets on top of his Sword Aura.

The Heavenly Silkworm Thread, being a treasure, contained Sword Aura without issue and only grew tougher.

Gongsun Su had pierced through his own brother’s body hoping to catch Ju-seong off guard, but instead his weapon ended up caught in Ju-seong’s hand.

Gongsun Su, who had been flicking only his soft sword from a distance for harassment, snarled.

“These idiots… Now’s the chance!”

The two siblings who had lost their chain weapons came charging, along with other siblings brandishing their weapons.

Six of them in total.

Four of them were at peak level.

Ju-seong was super-peak, so he could easily handle a dozen or so of such types, but…

‘This is…’

Dealing with those behind him while facing Gongsun Su would be difficult.

Ju-seong clicked his tongue as if disappointed.

‘Now is the perfect moment.’

It seemed he’d have to retreat and wait for another opportunity.

Just as Ju-seong was about to pull back…

“…Hm?”

-SHWIK!

A red line was drawn across the air.

-SHWI-SHWIK!

The red line split as if spawning offspring, quickly multiplying into dozens, then hundreds.

-CHWA-CHWA-CHWA-CHWOK!

Undulating thread, like hundreds of tentacles, ensnared the martial artists who had been about to attack Ju-seong.

“KRUUUK!”

“This is elder mother’s…!”

The martial artists hung wrapped in red thread in midair.

And then…

-KKI-RIK, KKI-RI-RIK.

The red fog was swept away as if brushed aside by someone’s hand.

What appeared was a decrepit figure sitting in a wheeled chair, and someone else pushing it.

Crimson threads extended from the figure in the wheeled cart, restraining the martial artists.

“Um, wait.”

Ju-seong murmured, taken aback.

Gongsun Su forgot he was facing Ju-seong, mouth agape at the sight.

Ju-seong gazed at the old woman in the wheeled chair, then asked Gongsun Su.

“Did you perhaps push the Sect Master off a cliff when committing your parricide?”

Gongsun Su, forgetting even to deny Ju-seong’s words, stammered.

“H-how did you…”

“Aish, you idiot.”

Ju-seong grinned.

“In jianghu, people who fall off cliffs always survive.”

A man who’d read a few adventure stories in his youth revealed one of jianghu’s secrets.

* * *

“I’ve known for a long time that mother intended to make that Silver Thread girl my successor.”

It was a night with a bright moon.

A mother and son were walking along a path carved into the Maling River gorge’s wall.

The Blood Flower Crone walked ahead with her hands clasped behind her back and replied.

“I’m sorry, Su.”

“Why? Our martial realms are similar. But when it comes to managing people and running the sect, what about that?”

“You are superior.”

“Then why!”

“Because the moment you seize the Crimson Spider Sect, except for the siblings who follow you, you plan to purge everyone else.”

“…”

He couldn’t deny it. Gongsun Su had intended to completely sweep away the neutral faction and Silver Thread Lady’s faction the moment he took the sect master’s seat.

But wasn’t that an unavoidable process?

“…Then is an emperor who purged his meritorious subjects to solidify his throne a man lacking virtue?”

Even the founder who opened this dynasty had conducted a massive purge.

The Blood Flower Crone chuckled.

“Su, the Crimson Spider Sect isn’t a nation. Nor is the sect master’s position a throne.”

“…Then what!”

“This place is your home and family, with you and your siblings.”

“…”

“Those who manage great nations may commit acts lacking virtue for great purposes. But I don’t know such things, Su.”

She was now and had always been a native of Guizhou, a mother who had lost her children, and a parent caring for her newly acquired children.

She had never discussed all under heaven, never coveted beyond the horizon.

“But this I know well. Siblings raised under one roof must never harm each other.”

“Idle talk. If Silver Thread takes the Crimson Spider Sect, it’s only a matter of time before we lose our position as Guizhou’s premier!”

Gongsun Su found himself raising his voice disrespectfully.

“Then you can stand beside Silver Thread and support her well.”

Had Ju-seong witnessed this scene, he would have been unable to close his gaping mouth at the kind old woman’s figure.

Where was the dignity of the absolute ruler who had beguiled Ju-seong with crafty words and seized control of the venue with awesome presence?

The Blood Flower Crone was an object of fear throughout Guizhou… indeed, throughout the entire Central Plains… but she was endlessly lenient with her own children.

Especially Gongsun Su, whom she had raised the longest since taking him in as a child… he was as dear as a blood son.

But does a parent’s love for a child ever equal the child’s love for a parent?

Gongsun Su, blinded by resentment and greed, had long since let his love for the mother who raised him crumble to dust.

“…Rather than serving some wench far inferior to myself…”

He fingered the dagger hidden in his sleeve.

“I’d rather inherit the sect master’s position myself.”

A child lunging with dagger in hand.

The sight filled the old woman’s eyes.

Gongsun Su was also a martial artist who had reached Three Flowers Gathering… she couldn’t fend him off with casual moderation.

One palm strike at full power.

That would certainly block this ambush, but her child would be ruined beyond recovery.

The Blood Flower Crone merely blocked the razor-sharp dagger with her bony hands.

But her body was already withered. She was overpowered. The dagger pierced deep into her flesh.

The Blood Flower Crone quietly closed her eyes.

“My child…”

“I’m not your child.”

Gongsun Su twisted his lips and twisted the dagger.

Droplets of blood splattered onto his handsome face. Those hot droplets seemed to brand his skin like fire.

Gongsun Su gritted his teeth until they nearly shattered and shoved the Blood Flower Crone hard.

The old woman’s body fluttered helplessly and plunged below the waterfall.

The fearsome current of the Maling River would swallow a body left with nothing but bones in an instant.