Chapter 64 – Wu and Yue in the same boat (8)
Dang Baek-seo’s sword began to glow with a pale green light. It was a symbol of having reached the peak realm, filled with foreboding. And this peak was a symbol proving an immovable state.
Simultaneously, it was nothing less than the embodiment of a warrior’s enlightenment. Therefore, it was perhaps natural that Dang Baek-seo’s sword energy was imbued with an ominous green light. Mu-myung clicked his tongue.
This was the first time he had ever faced sword energy that was sticky like poison. Until now, the warriors he had confronted displayed characteristics befitting their respective weapons.
Swords had sharpness, blunt weapons had dullness, and so forth. In contrast, the sword energy demonstrated by Dang Baek-seo, the head of the Sichuan Tang family, was honestly closer to poison than to a sword.
Moreover, poison is far more lethal indoors than outdoors. As evidence, the poisonous vapor emitting from the toxic energy began gradually filling the room. Mu-myung frowned and shouted.
“Do you intend to wipe out all of your blood relatives?!”
“There is no need for blood relatives who do not listen to the words of the Heavenly Father.”
“You’ve completely lost your mind. What exactly is this truth you speak of?”
“Power. Only power. Power alone can rule this world. In comparison, the current martial arts world is rotten to its core!!”
Although he had been reduced to a puppet, these words were sincere. What kind of life had Dang Baek-seo himself lived until now? Despite sacrificing everything for the Righteous Sect Martial Arts Alliance.
What was returned to him was a cold betrayal. Those damn Namgung family. They had deliberately instigated the Sword Demon War to bury the Sichuan Tang family, who had been a thorn in their side.
And Dang Baek-seo’s suspicion was about half correct. It was to remove the existence of the Sword Demon, the absolute master of the evil faction, while simultaneously removing a thorn in their eyes.
Mu-myung, who knew the situation somewhat from Dang Baek-ha, clicked his tongue in regret. The circumstances were certainly unfortunate. However, he could not simply stand by and watch.
“I pay tribute to the life you have endured. However, I cannot merely observe like this. I have much to protect, including my disciples and the people of the Sichuan Tang family.”
“Shut up, Sword Demon!!!”
As if he didn’t want to hear anymore, Dang Baek-seo cut off the words and charged toward Mu-myung. In response, Mu-myung also swung his sword.
Kkeuggeuggeuk!! A bizarre noise like a scream rang out.
The moment the swords collided, Mu-myung was astonished. The poison energy felt from the sword energy was gradually eroding Mu-myung’s sword energy. Who would have thought poison energy could be this powerful?
However, all of this was not Dang Baek-seo’s power alone. Of course, having once reigned as the head of the Sichuan Tang family, his skill level was certainly not low. But the sword energy tainted with poison was somewhat strange.
Originally, sword energy was the pinnacle of martial arts. It was a pure power granted only to warriors who reached an unrepeatable level after honing their martial skills. Of course, certain tricks existed.
Even so, the sword energy of the head of the Sichuan Tang family, which was one of the Five Great Families and a member of the Righteous Sect Martial Arts Alliance, could not be this ominous. Naturally, the reason was the ghost.
To begin with, the ghost itself was no different from a very evil act of playing with the boundary of death. Of course, it was originally said to be for identifying fallen bodies and performing proper rites.
Generally speaking, most things start with good intentions. Only the end continues to be strangely perverted. The current Dang Baek-seo was also ultimately nothing more than a puppet.
Because the fundamental fact that it was originally a corpse did not change. His sword energy had become murky and contaminated by the poison energy accumulated within it. Then who could have prepared this poison energy?
Of course, it was the Black Death Sect.
For them, who originally came from the evil sect, tactics using corpses did not even come close to pricking their conscience. Especially if the opponent was their mortal enemy, the Sichuan Tang family.
The leader of the Black Death Sect inwardly rejoiced as he watched the bewildered Dang Baek-ha and the confused warriors of the Sichuan Tang family. Yes, this was what he wanted to see. Now, what will you do?
Will you kill your father and protect the Sichuan Tang family? Then everyone in the world will point fingers at you as an unfilial child. But if you don’t kill him? Then the Sichuan Tang family is finished.
‘Either way, it doesn’t matter to me.’
Naturally, the success of this operation would not bring any loss to the Black Death Sect. No, rather, through this incident, the Black Death Sect would become public enemies of the martial arts world.
Even so, it did not matter.
If only he could accompany the detestable Sichuan Tang family.
Rather, he was even willing to throw away his only life.
◇
Looking at Dang Baek-seo, who was swinging his blade with hatred like lightning, Mu-myung contemplated. There is justification in the righteous sect. This justification had become quite a shackle.
For example, one could cite the culture of preserving each other’s dignity. If one were to engage in a martial arts contest, both sides would not use their full strength. They would simply exchange moves at a moderate level.
And that would be the end. We deliberately avoid determining a winner to preserve each other’s dignity. The current situation is the same. No matter how much Dang Baek-seo was a puppet and a ghost.
He was undeniably once the head of the Sichuan Tang family who reigned over them, and also a warrior who was active during the Sword Demon War. But could one casually dispose of Dang Baek-seo so lightly?
If this had been a place with no connections, or if the Sichuan Tang family did not need Mu-myung, then Mu-myung would have attacked Dang Baek-seo with full strength.
But unfortunately, neither of them is true. From Mu-myung’s standpoint, having more collaborators was better. The more, the merrier, and especially with the Sichuan Tang family, wasn’t it about securing both quantity and quality?
Yet to tear Dang Baek-seo apart like a dog in front of everyone from the Sichuan Tang family? Although they might express gratitude outwardly, they could harbor resentment inwardly.
That is precisely what dignity means.
It’s truly annoying and frustrating.
When in the Central Plains, one must follow the laws of the Central Plains’ martial arts world.
And surprisingly, Dang Baek-ha noticed Mu-myung’s concerns. It was certainly appreciated that even in this situation, he was considering the dignity of the Sichuan Tang family. If it had been another sect.
They might have taken advantage of Mu-myung’s goodwill to obtain an intact corpse. But Dang Baek-ha was different. He was a skilled strategist who had restored the fallen Sichuan Tang family to its peak.
Therefore, he could easily conclude. Of course, it would be a son’s duty to keep his father’s body intact. However, don’t people need to live?
“Great Warrior Mu-myung!! Please do not think about the aftermath and kill that ghost!!”
“Are you certain about this?”
“It would be a greater sin allowing time to pass and letting my father’s disgrace increase!!”
“If you insist!!”
Having received the son’s permission, there was no more reason to hesitate. First, Mu-myung kicked Dang Baek-seo’s abdomen with all his might. Naturally, he did it up into the air, not forward.
Kwaang!!
Unable to withstand the tremendous force, Dang Baek-seo’s body broke through the ceiling and soared into the sky. But would a ghost feel pain? He immediately recovered from his injuries and stabilized his posture.
Thanks to this, Dang Baek-seo was able to position himself on the roof without falling ungracefully. And with Mu-myung also taking a position opposite him, they were now in a standoff, glaring at each other.
The reason Mu-myeong had pulled Dang Baek-seo outside was simple. Due to Dang Baek-seo’s poison energy, time would be limited if he remained indoors. And even if Dang Baek-seo was killed.
The poison energy within him would surely escape and fill the room. And Mu-myung’s thoughts were exactly right. As soon as Mu-myung completely pulled the head Dang Baekseo out.
The leader of the Black Death Sect, who had been engaged in a fierce struggle with the warriors of the Sichuan Tang family, was greatly shocked. It was none other than she who had injected Dang Baek-seo’s body full of poison energy.
“Damn it! The Black Death Sect must quickly assist Dang Baek-seo in eliminating the Sword Demon…!!”
“I won’t let that happen!!”
“?!”
Just as the leader of the Black Death Sect was about to issue an order, a sharp blade was swung like lightning, aiming for the leader’s neck. The leader gasped in terror and hastily retreated.
“Who the hell dares to do that!!”
“It’s none of your business. You’ll be dead soon anyway!”
“Y-You crazy bitch!!”
There was no need to waste breath on introductions. After all, she would die here anyway. However, the leader of the Black Death Sect easily recognized the person who had attacked her.
Murong Sua.
A genius who had risen to the ranks of the Hundred Great Masters despite being a woman.
A master who had reached the realm of first-class before even reaching her prime years.
In other words, her future was bright. She would likely reach the peak soon. Though it would be unlikely, if anyone were to reach the peak before thirty, it would be her.
“It seems a puppy is making trouble without knowing how scary the tiger is. Okay, good. Before I die today, I shall take at least one companion with me.”
And that also meant that she had touched the reverse scale of the Black Death Sect leader, who no longer had a future. Since death awaited her today anyway, she would take with her the promising disciple of the Sword Demon.
It would be nothing less than the perfect gift for the journey to the afterlife.
