Chapter 25

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Translated by Seoulbound

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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[Uncle, a request has come… from the Wudang Sect… what should we…]

The principle of eavesdropping on the voice of the Third Young Master was simple.

This was because vibrating internal energy through energy waves followed a similar principle to the Primal Chaos Tai Chi Art. Furthermore, there was a similar mechanical device in the butterfly dream, which was a device called a radio (sound receiver).

However, just like a radio, if the signal was weak, the sound could not be heard properly.

Because the amplitude of the true qi wave emitted by the Third Young Master was small, it was not heard clearly. Still, the notable point was that, unlike when he treated the Gold-Knot Wandering Beggar and us, his tone of voice was quite polite. In other words, he was a person who knew how to be polite depending on the situation.

Subsequently, a vibrating true qi force wave was felt through the crack of the opened door. It boasted an amplitude that was clearly larger than the true qi force wave emitted from the Third Young Master’s mouth previously.

Thanks to that, I was able to hear a slightly clearer voice.

[Reject it. Since I am here, we do not need the help of Wudang or the Beggars’ Sect. Rather, they might find out the Tang Clan’s poison manufacturing methods based on the items plundered by the Green Forest bandits.]

[But Wudang… isn’t their knowledge of poison shallow…]

[Wudang has the Medicine Immortal, and the Beggars’ Sect’s Ruthless Beggar is deeply versed in poison arts. There is no harm in being careful.]

[Also… isn’t the Yoon Clan Merchant Association an affiliate branch anyway…?]

[What do you know!]

It was a conversation in which the Third Young Master’s desire to receive our help was clearly felt, contrary to his outwardly shown attitude.

Furthermore, what was funny was this.

‘A person like that…?’

The decision-maker of the Tang Clan group was not as thoughtful as expected.

At any rate, two things were certain.

First, they were confident that they could find the bandit group on their own.

And second, they were wary of the list of items being revealed.

As if reflecting that thought, the Third Young Master spoke again with a cold expression.

“We appreciate the Wudang Sect and Beggars’ Sect’s goodwill, but no thank you. It would be better to conduct the search separately.”

The moment the expression of the Gold-Knot Wandering Beggar, who had been smirking at the dismissal, stiffened slightly, I thought.

What if we clear their wariness about the list of items?

I calculated that we could get them to cooperate.

This was because of the Third Young Master’s hesitant appearance and the attitude revealed in his voice transmissions.

“Although those who suffered damage in this merchant caravan are the Yoon Clan Merchant Association and the Tang Clan, the Yoon Clan Merchant Association is Wudang’s affiliate branch. Since Wudang has failed to keep its promise to the Tang Clan, how about we search for them together? If we find the goods, we will hand over the entire list of items you ordered to the Yoon Clan Merchant Association. Instead, how about paying the transaction fee normally to the Yoon Clan Merchant Association?”

The moment I finished speaking, the cabin door flew open and a lanky elderly man revealed himself.

**

Tang Baek-seon, the biological older brother of the current head of the Tang Clan and known as the Calamity Divine Hand, was not deeply versed in martial arts such as hidden weapon techniques. Instead, Tang Baek-seon excelled above anyone else in the Tang Clan in poisons, medicine, and other miscellaneous arts.

Moreover, as is usually the case with those who display outstanding talent in a specific field, Tang Baek-seon received a lot of criticism for lacking foresight and not having an upright character. In short, it meant he was a person who was evaluated as someone who could ruin the clan if he took charge of it, regardless of his talents.

The reason he did not succeed the clan despite being the eldest son of the previous clan leader was precisely because of Tang Baek-seon’s aptitude and character.

However, that did not mean he lacked an eye for judging people.

‘Such bones and muscles… are a heavenly gift capable of receiving any poison!’

It was to the extent that a greed to bring him into the Tang Clan as a son-in-law arose. In addition, despite his shallow martial arts, his internal energy and qi sensitivity, which had accumulated over the years, were telling him. Did he not see the thick and pure internal energy flowing in and out of that young Taoist’s breath? It was an unbelievable accumulation of effort considering his age.

Above all, what piqued his interest was this.

‘They will hand over even the Yoon Clan Merchant Association’s ordered items to us?’

This was because Tang Baek-seon was pathologically obsessed with the security of the Tang Clan’s poison.

“Good.”

The tempting proposal from the young Taoist, who possessed a coveted talent, shook the heart of the stubborn man who knew only one thing and not the second.

“You can go this way.”

**

I felt a sense of wonder at the words of the Calamity Divine Hand Tang Baek-seon.

‘Is this something different from the qi sensitivity through the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition?’

This was because Tang Baek-seon seemed to feel something that was not felt even by the expanded qi sensitivity of the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition.

It was my nature to be satisfied only when I found out what I was curious about.

“How did you determine the direction?”

At my question, an arrogant smile bloomed on Tang Baek-seon’s face.

“Hehehe. The years I have handled medicinal herbs span fifty years. I am chasing the unique energy and fragrance emitted by the herbs.”

“Wow.”

I could not help but be purely amazed.

In addition, a good idea also came to mind.

It was when I focused on my hearing that I detected sound waves at the Blood Selling Cult’s hiding place. Similarly, what if I focused solely on my sense of smell to detect specific odor molecules?

I immediately tested it through the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition,

and the unique fragrance of the herbs began to be detected by my nose.

However, since I did not know for sure what the herbs were, I specifically tracked only the smell I had encountered when passing by our sect’s alchemy garden.

‘Oh. It works.’

However, grasping the exact layering of the smell was not easy. In other words, it was not easy to specify the direction as Tang Baek-seon did.

But it was not a big problem.

Since I knew the principle, I only needed to apply it.

I focused on another smell instead of the herbs.

On the unique turbid energy emitted by humans.

At that moment, the source of the smell was marked as a dot in the space within my mind.

‘So this kind of application is also possible.’

Furthermore, since I had grasped the principle of the dog-nose demonstrated by Tang Baek-seon, I would be able to develop my sensitivity in my own way.

Since he had shown me something good,

“You are amazing.”

I needed to express pure admiration and gratitude for the small inspiration. At my greeting, Tang Baek-seon turned back to look at me, his eyes shining.

“Did it really feel amazing? Then by any chance, do you have any intention of marrying into the Sichuan Tang Family as a son-in-law? I will teach you all the essence of my poison arts.”

‘What is wrong with this man?’ I thought, and turned back to look at the Tang Clan’s Third Young Master, but he was only holding his forehead.

‘So he is originally that kind of person.’

An intuition came to me that he was a very unique person.

I thought there would be no harm in getting close to him.

Because this kind of person was surprisingly pure and had many advantages once we became close.

“Even if I cannot marry in as a son-in-law, please acknowledge me when I visit later.”

At my words, Tang Baek-seon nodded grandly.

“Yes. If you come, I will open the gates of my Ten Thousand Poisons Pass for you.”

“Uncle, how can you let an outsider into the Ten Thousand Poisons Pass…!”

At the words of the Third Young Master, who hastily tried to stop him, Tang Baek-seon snorted.

“The clan leader is my younger brother, so what is the problem?”

Looking at the Third Young Master holding his forehead once again, I even felt a bit sorry for him.

Whether he did so or not, Tang Baek-seon kept his gaze fixed only on me.

“You must come. Absolutely.”

“Well, if things go well this time, I will think about it.”

“Really?”

At the moment I was about to answer eyes that felt full of wild light, I realized that the dot marked in my mind was closer than I had thought,

and at that moment of realization, I pulled Tang Baek-seon’s sleeve just like that to lower his upper body.

Simultaneously, with a whoosh, a crossbow bolt passed through the space where Tang Baek-seon had just been and embedded itself in a tree trunk with a thud.

“Strike!”

It was the appearance of the Green Forest bandits.

“Strike!”

**

Jang Pal-sam, a fourth-class warrior of the Chaotic Heaven Green Forest who had grandly ordered the attack, was bewildered.

‘What are these guys!’

Beggars, Taoists, and even men in green silk robes who seemed to have quite a bit of money. It was because these guys, who clearly did not belong together and looked like a ragtag group, dealt far too skillfully with crossbows secretly smuggled from the military.

Additionally,

“Argh!”

“Urgh!”

just three of them were mowing down the warriors of the Chaotic Heaven Green Forest—who could boast of their strength anywhere in the Jianghu—like straw.

However, because Jang Pal-sam knew well that he had to keep his wits about him at times like this, he began to use his brain as much as possible.

1. Not long ago, they raided the Yoon Clan Merchant Association’s caravan and intercepted the goods. It was a request through a secret line.

2. The plundered goods are scheduled to go to the esteemed Great Sage Who Drives Spirits.

3. One thing he heard from a third-class masked Beast Sage was that the destination of the goods was the Sichuan Tang Clan.

If one did not know that the Yoon Clan Merchant Association in 1 was Wudang Sect’s affiliate branch, they were not a person of Hubei.

The Great Sage Who Drives Spirits in 2 was the best in the Chaotic Heaven Green Forest when it came to heterodox and heretical techniques. He was a person who knew everything from external martial arts to metallurgy and poison arts.

And having confirmed the plundered goods, most of them were medicinal herbs and poisonous substances, and the moment this connected with 3,

‘We are screwed.’

the composition of that unidentified crowd began to make sense.

The man wielding his sword smoothly at the front had sword speed that was not fast, yet there were no guys who could block his strikes, and the beggar wielding a judge’s pen was so quick that his arms could not even be properly seen.

If the people rampaging in front of his eyes matched the identities that came to Jang Pal-sam’s mind,

it was utterly impossible with just themselves.

“Hey, you fifth-class bastard, someone go quickly and bring the Beast Sage elders!”

“Yes!”

Sending the fifth-class warrior beside him to the mountain fortress, Jang Pal-sam spat out a curse.

“Dammit!”

It was because the speed at which the encirclement was collapsing was too fast.

‘Should I run away?’

Simultaneously with the thought, he shook his head inwardly. Masters were fast in footwork force as well.

Having a knife wound on the chest rather than a wound on the back was slightly more like a Green Forest bandit.

Furthermore, if luck was on his side and the third-class members arrived in time?

He might even be recognized for his contribution in dealing with the orthodox sect weaklings.

Perhaps he might wear the third-class mask.

If only he could wear the mask,

‘his life would bloom!’

The man, who pushed away the fear in his chest with ambition and a desire to improve, drew the mountain-chopping saber slung on his back.

“Euaah! Come at me, you orthodox wimps!”

Even if his courage was multiplied a hundredfold, the man’s head remained cold.

In the midst of that, as he quickly scanned those who looked the weakest with his eyes,

the lanky elderly man and the young Taoist came into his sight. Just like that, Jang Pal-sam, a fourth-class warrior of the Chaotic Heaven Green Forest, forgot the old maxim of the Jianghu and took a grand step forward. His first step toward success.

Looking at the Green Forest bandit wielding his mountain-chopping saber wildly, I thought.

**

‘What is this?’

A small doubt arose in my heart that perhaps the warriors of the Yoon Clan Merchant Association, the proud affiliate branch of our Wudang Sect, were too weak.

To that extent, the Green Forest bandit approaching while swinging his mountain-chopping saber was full of openings.

I lightly twisted the bandit’s cervical spine with the grappling hand stance of Wudang Tai Chi Chuan’s Grasping the Sparrow’s Tail. With a cracking sound, the massive body lost its strength and collapsed to the ground.

Looking back, a satisfied smile was also floating on Tang Baek-seon’s face.

“Hehehe. You are different from the Wudang Sect wimps I have seen so far. I like you even more.”

Then, shaking his sleeves, he stepped forward.

I was slightly puzzled.

‘What is he trying to do?’

Even if his accumulated internal energy was substantial, I could tell at a single glance. His gait was ordinary. This meant he had not properly learned martial arts. I thought it would be difficult for such a person to perform anything grand.

At that moment,

‘Um?!’

The Tai Chi Diagram Exposition rang an alarm.

Invisibly small particles were being scattered into the air from Tang Baek-seon’s sleeves. And then,

“Jong-hyeok.”

At Tang Baek-seon’s call, the Third Young Master immediately drew close to his side, pulled out a folding fan from his chest, and began to fan it gently.

Following the folding fan, the particles emitted from the sleeve began to fly toward the Green Forest bandits.

The movement of pollen floating on still water.

Unlike Brownian motion, it was the movement of particles in flowing air.

And as a result,

“Arghhh!”

“What is this! What is this! What is this!”

“Help… cough!”

Some of the Green Forest bandits who came into contact with the particles scratched their own skin, someone scratched their eyeballs, and another scratched the inside of their mouth. Until fresh blood ran profusely.

Before long, all the bandits who had surrounded us collapsed.

Tang Baek-seon, who was watching that scene with satisfaction, turned his head.

“Hehehe. How is it? How is our Tang Clan’s poison art? Do you not want to learn it?”

Because the persistent face of the Matchmaker following the Gold-Knot Wandering Beggar overlapped on Tang Baek-seon’s face as well, I shook my head.

“I am a disciple of the Wudang Sect.”

Senior Sister Yi and Senior Brother Myeong-hun, who had turned pale at the sight of the Green Forest bandits instantly turning into blood due to the poison art, drew close to my side.

“It is not for nothing that the Tang Clan’s poison arts are called the greatest under heaven.”

At Senior Sister Yi’s words, a warm smile appeared on the face of the Calamity Divine Hand Tang Baek-seon.

At that moment,

-Rattle.

Along with engaging in battle, the sound of carriage wheels was heard by my qi sensitivity of the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition, which had been activated. I could intuitively tell that the goods of the Yoon Clan Merchant Association and the Tang Clan were loaded onto those carts, and

“They are trying to smuggle the goods out!”

I immediately exerted the Cloud-Climbing Step.

As the pure internal energy that I had stored in the Zhubin, Jiaoxin, and Zhaohai acupoints burst out from the tip of the Yongquan acupoint,

just like a liquid turning into gas, my internal energy transformed into external energy, forming a true qi force wave, and my body rose.

Overcoming gravity and floating my body high, I scanned the surroundings. The mountain fortress of the Green Forest bandits was secretly built not far away, and when I looked beyond its back gate,

‘There it is.’

I could spot three rolling carts.

At the absolute peak of my jump using the Cloud-Climbing Step’s footwork force, my eyes met with a bird flapping its wings.

Screech.

The seemingly flustered bird flapped its wings, changed its altitude, and glided. At that moment, the sight of the bird added wings to the inspiration in my head.

‘If I spread my sleeves to increase air resistance, wouldn’t at least gliding be possible?’

Following the inspiration, I tilted my body.

Both the wind I felt and the airflow felt through the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition were heading from my front to my rear.

It was a very appropriate wind direction.

‘If I lower the angle of the wind blowing from the opposite side, the angle of attack, to reduce resistance?’

The gliding speed would naturally increase.

I immediately began to glide toward the escaping carts like a hawk eyeing its prey.

“Let us go quickly.”

**

Third-class mask.

The man in the crude Green Monkey mask with no decorations wiped away the blood flowing from the body of the fifth-class Green Forest bandit who had come to call him, and urged the fourth-class warriors.

“What are you doing? Did you not hear me say to go quickly?”

The trembling fourth-class warrior flinched, lowered his head, and pushed the cart.

Seeing that, the Green Monkey mask sneered silently and moved his steps.

With a rattling sound, the wheels turned again, and the cart began to move. It was a cart loaded with all kinds of poisons and medicinal herbs.

As he walked along with the movement of the cart, the man wearing the green monkey mask scanned all directions.

The remaining four masked warriors also scanned the surroundings.

They had all felt the vibration of true qi.

That meant a warrior was approaching.

However, all they could see was the mountain fortress fading away, and the shade of the trees filling the surroundings.

At that moment.

Almost simultaneously with a swishing wind-tearing sound, a mysterious object fell upon the masked man who had been wiping the blood.

Pung—bang!

The ground collapsed heavily, and a cloud of dust rose.

And through that cloud of dust—

“Oops.”

A young Taoist in a Wudang Sect Black Pine Gate robe was staggering as he raised his body.