Chapter 484: Strange Immortal (Strange Immortal)

After asking for permission at the Tang Gate.

I came outside with Woo Hyuk.

As much as I wanted to stay with the kids a little longer,

I knew I didn’t have time, so I was focused on finishing the planned tasks as quickly as possible.

There’s no time to rest.

This truly was a damn life.

“Ouch, it stings….”

As we were running like that for a while, Woo Hyuk groaned beside me.

He was stroking his own neck with his hand,

and seeing that, I frowned.

“I told you, who told you to act so cocky?”

“…I didn’t know you’d actually bite. What do you think you are, a dog?”

“If you treated me like a dog, I should act like one.”

He treated me like a dog first, so I bit him for real, what’s he complaining about?

I couldn’t understand.

[Still, biting someone for real means you’re not right in the head either.]

Shin Noyang spoke to me as if finding me pathetic, but I ignored him.

Turning my head away from Woo Hyuk, I looked straight ahead.

How long had it been since we entered the dense forest?

Considering it was supposed to be about an hour’s journey, it felt longer than that.

While my legs moved without rest, my mind was constantly racing.

‘I’ve assigned several tasks…. I wonder how they’ll turn out.’

Before leaving the Tang Gate, I had called Nari and given her some tasks,

and I was curious about how this would play out.

Furthermore.

‘I also need to see what answer the Poison King will give.’

I needed to know what response the Poison King would give to my words.

Knowing that would allow me to properly set the direction when carrying out the plan.

[Kid.]

‘Yes.’

[Do you really intend to kill everyone?]

At Shin Noyang’s words, I rolled my eyes slightly.

After showing a brief moment of consideration, I answered curtly.

‘Yes.’

In reality, there was nothing to consider.

It was right to eliminate everyone involved in this matter.

I thought this was something I should report, even if it was based on Tang Jemoon’s request.

‘Once I knew it would cause problems later, I couldn’t just leave it be.’

[… ]

This was, after all, related to Tang Soyeol.

The part I always questioned: how Tang Soyeol achieved the ‘Ten Thousand Poisons Immunity’.

Answers to this were slowly emerging.

Thinking about it made my teeth clench involuntarily.

Ten Thousand Poisons Immunity. The question about that supreme and brutal state.

It was a tainted state, making one wonder if a martial artist, let alone a human, could ever reach it.

It was something I hadn’t bothered to think deeply about before,

but now, I couldn’t help but consider it.

Fundamentally, to gain perfect resistance against ten thousand poisons,

and consequently handle poison arts as if touching the heavens, that is Ten Thousand Poisons Immunity.

Did Tang Soyeol really reach it through a proper path?

‘At least.’

From my perspective, it probably wasn’t a normal method.

I felt sorry for Tang Soyeol, but objectively speaking, she wasn’t a genius.

Not to mention the Sleeping Dragon running beside me, or Wi Seol-ah and Namgung Bi-ah around me.

Furthermore, Yeongpung, called the greatest prodigy of Hua San, and Peng Woo-jin of the Peng family.

And.

‘…The monstrous guy who’ll appear a few years later.’

Compared to the next-generation Divine Dragon called the miracle of Shaolin.

Tang Soyeol’s presence was incomparably low.

In the best light, a scion of a prestigious family. That was her level.

In the worst light, it was hard to even call her a prodigy.

That was the level I saw Tang Soyeol at.

No matter how I looked at it, her talent was clearly insufficient to reach Ten Thousand Poisons Immunity, the pinnacle of poison arts.

However, she eventually achieved Ten Thousand Poisons Immunity and became known as the Poisonous Fairy. I had unspoken doubts about this part,

suspecting that the ‘Heavenly Martial Body’ creation plan, which was supposedly halted before, was still ongoing,

and Tang Jemoon’s warning that Tang Soyeol might be involved in this matter.

Seeing this,

I figured something must have happened during Tang Soyeol’s process of achieving Ten Thousand Poisons Immunity.

Honestly, up to this point, I didn’t care.

If I were a martial artist who cared about righteousness and pursued only proper methods of growth, perhaps.

But I was someone who chose to become stronger using any means necessary, someone who threw righteousness and chivalry to the dogs.

Even if Tang Soyeol achieved her state through improper means, I wouldn’t curse her or look down on her.

What I cared about most here was only one thing.

Did she truly undergo that process

‘willingly.’

That’s all I cared about now.

Did she truly want that method?

If it was something that proceeded because she wanted it, honestly, I could have turned a blind eye.

What was important to me wasn’t Tang Jemoon’s request, or merely the Tang Gate,

but solely Tang Soyeol’s will.

‘But. If that wasn’t the case.’

Then, conversely, I would tear apart and burn anything and everything.

I was even willing to burn down the entire Tang Gate if necessary.

Would that really be difficult?

‘Before, I thought it might be a bit much.

But now, it doesn’t seem that difficult.

Strangely.

Is it because my own strength has increased?

‘I’m still too weak to be arrogant, though.’

Right now, I’ve only gone from incomplete Hwa Gyeong to complete Hwa Gyeong.

This much shouldn’t be enough to wipe out a whole sect.

Yet, strangely, I was overflowing with confidence.

This is definitely not a good sign.

‘Something has changed.’

Beyond the physical changes or the center of my dantian shifting to my heart,

there was clearly a change in my emotional state.

Could this also be an anomaly caused by the reconstruction of my vessel?

‘I need to set aside time to figure this out properly. Tsk.’

It’s just frustrating that I don’t even have time for that.

Suppressing my irritation, I looked at Woo Hyuk.

“How much further do we have to go? It’s been well over an hour.”

To my question, Woo Hyuk replied with an awkward expression.

“Uh… um. I was told to just head this way, roughly?”

“…?”

Woo Hyuk’s vague answer made my brow furrow.

“Hey.”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t tell me you don’t actually know the way?”

“Haha. What kind of nonsensical thing is that?”

At my question, Woo Hyuk laughed incredulously and gestured.

Right? There’s no way he’d be leading us so confidently if he didn’t know the way.

Just as I sighed in relief and was about to pick up the pace,

“When have I ever been to Sichuan to know the way? Of course, I don’t.”

“What the hell?”

At Woo Hyuk’s brazen statement, I almost stumbled.

He doesn’t know the way?

“You crazy bastard! Then why were you leading so confidently!”

“No, I just figured we should head roughly this way.”

“Where’s the map! Give it here, quick.”

I snatched the map Woo Hyuk was fumbling for and checked the way.

Scanning the map with my eyes darting around, I smacked Woo Hyuk on the head.

Bbak-!

“Kyak!”

Woo Hyuk, suddenly hit on the head, looked at me resentfully,

but I was about to blow my top.

“You son of a bitch! We were going the wrong way!”

“Oh… really? I didn’t know that.”

“‘Oh’ my ass… I’m the idiot for trusting you.”

As soon as I spat that out, I turned and ran back.

And grabbed Woo Hyuk by the collar.

“Gck…! What now…!”

“Shut up and hold on. We’re going faster since we’re late.”

I put strength into my feet.

Fwoosh-! I poured all my energy into it.

“…!”

Woo Hyuk’s eyes widened upon seeing this.

Ignoring Woo Hyuk’s reaction, I focused solely on the path ahead.

Ah, but I did give him a friendly warning.

“Hang on tight. You can handle that much, right?”

“W-wait!”

Of course, I didn’t wait for an answer.

Fwoosh-! Blue flames enveloped my body.

Kuaaaaaah-! I shot forward as if exploding.

My vision blurred repeatedly.

Compared to the speed I’d been running at, this was easily several times faster.

“Nnngh….”

Woo Hyuk tried to say something about the unexpected speed,

but I lightly ignored his noises and kept running.

Who would have known.

That Woo Hyuk would be as directionally challenged as Namgung Bi-ah.

“Why is someone who looks so normal so incompetent at times like this, shit….”

Woo Hyuk became a different person when he held a sword, but without a sword in hand, he was no different from an idiot.

No, most guys called geniuses seemed to be like this.

If they’re going to live like this, they should at least give me their face and height. Damn it.

Kuwuwuwuk-!

How long did we run like that?

It was about half an hour later.

Comparing it to the path marked on the map, we were roughly around here.

‘We should have come like this earlier.’

Even I found it absurd.

Honestly, I ran at full power out of anger, but I hadn’t realized I could move this fast.

In terms of speed alone, I was twice as fast compared to before my shedding.

‘This is why I need to check things more thoroughly.’

Based on my rough judgment, I thought my power had increased by about half,

but using the power myself felt different.

At this point, I felt like I should meet the ‘Pae-jon’ and ask for a favor.

‘Like asking him for a sparring match.’

Pae-jon was the only suitable person around to ask.

If I asked the Dark King, I figured I’d definitely end up in a bad situation.

Slowing down slightly, I asked Woo Hyuk.

“Hey. Where do we go from here?”

“Ugh…?”

“Snap out of it. The map only marks up to here.”

Only the mountain range name and a general location were written, so I couldn’t pinpoint the exact spot.

It seemed like we found the right place,

but looking around, there were still only trees and rocks.

Woo Hyuk, still looking dazed, said to me,

“Wait… let me down first…. I think I’m gonna die.”

“No, I need to know where your master is….”

He wouldn’t be found in a place like this dense forest.

He probably has some kind of residence.

Where could he possibly be? Did I come to the wrong place too? I shouldn’t be that bad with directions.

Just as I was thinking of raising my Ki sense,

“…!”

I quickly turned my body.

“Ugh!”

As I turned, Woo Hyuk swayed violently and cried out, but this happened first.

Swish-!

Something passed through the space I’d just vacated.

It was sword energy.

Swoosh-!

The sword energy that sliced through the air struck the ground, cutting a rock.

Thump-!

The rock split in half and fell with a thud.

I quickly landed and spread my Ki sense.

“Kyak!”

I couldn’t spare attention for Woo Hyuk, so he couldn’t even perform a proper landing and face-planted onto the ground.

“…Oh dear… I’m dying…!”

“Draw your sword.”

I said to Woo Hyuk, who was groaning as he got up.

I meant, draw your sword right now.

“…What sword?”

But this guy asked back, clueless about the situation.

What’s wrong? Woo Hyuk isn’t usually this dense, is he?

Sa-bak.

As he spoke, someone appeared from beyond the trees.

It must be the person who shot the sword energy this way.

I narrowed my eyes, observing the figure.

‘A beggar…?’

That was the impression the figure gave.

His messy white hair covered his face, and the ragged state of his martial arts uniform caught my eye first, like it was made of rags.

The man walked casually towards us with bare feet covered in dust,

and seeing him, I instinctively tensed up.

Such a person.

‘His sword, however, is insanely clean.’

The single sword he held was impeccably maintained.

Furthermore, the imposing aura emanating from him was unusual.

Who is he?

As I assessed his identity, trying to calm myself,

“Haaah.”

The man yawned widely, then started digging in his ear with his finger.

Then, looking at Woo Hyuk struggling to get up, he sniffed loudly.

“I wondered who was running so wildly, but… what is this state after all these years?”

At the man’s words, Woo Hyuk coughed awkwardly and chuckled sheepishly.

“Haha. Have you been well?”

“Does this appearance look like someone who’s been well?”

“Seeing you haven’t changed, I’m relieved you seem to be doing well.”

“Ho ho, you rotten disciple. Your mouth is still the same.”

“…”

Listening to their conversation, I had to widen my eyes.

I could finally discern the man’s identity.

‘Could that be…?’

He called Woo Hyuk his disciple, so there was no doubt.

That beggar holding the sword was the ‘Mu Tang Gye-seon’.

But.

‘Why?’

I couldn’t easily understand.

Based solely on their conversation, it should have been clear enough,

but the reason I kept having doubts was simple.

‘His aura….’

The aura I felt from the man. That was the problem.

Regardless of his strange nickname or rumors, Mu Tang Gye-seon was clearly a master belonging to the Wudang sect,

and as Woo Hyuk’s master, it should have been even more certain.

‘Why is his aura so fierce?’

The aura emanating from Mu Tang Gye-seon was too sharp to be that of a Taoist master,

and far too rough to be that of a Wudang practitioner.

This was why I couldn’t be certain he was Mu Tang Gye-seon.

“Hmm.”

Just then.

Mu Tang Gye-seon’s gaze, which had been on Woo Hyuk, shifted towards me.

Though his eyes were hidden by his forelocks, I could tell he was looking at me.

“I came because I sensed something causing such a commotion… you don’t seem like an enemy.”

“He’s my friend.”

Woo Hyuk said brightly, raising his hand, and Mu Tang Gye-seon tilted his head.

“Disciple.”

“Yes.”

“…Did you have friends?”

“I tried making one. It wasn’t bad.”

Despite Woo Hyuk’s words, Mu Tang Gye-seon’s gaze remained fixed on me.

Only then did I slightly relax my stance and prepare to offer a fist-palm greeting,

“The first friend you brought along… is quite the monster. What is this guy?”

Saying that, Mu Tang Gye-seon lifted his hair with a stained hand.

Only then could I see Gye-seon’s face.

‘Hmm?’

At the same time, I swallowed my surprise.

Setting aside the fact that he was a much better-looking middle-aged man than expected,

his eyes were glowing blue.

And his hair was white…?

In the entire Central Plains, there could only be one clan with such characteristics…?

As I frowned, contemplating Gye-seon’s appearance,

[…Huh?]

Shin Noyang also reacted with surprise upon seeing Gye-seon.

Why is this old man acting like this all of a sudden?

‘Noyang. What’s wrong?’

[No, why….]

Noyang’s reaction was unusual.

What is it? Is something up?

After waiting a few seconds, listening intently,

Noyang spoke to me in a voice filled with disbelief.

[That guy, why does he look exactly like Myung?]

‘…Huh?’

At those words, I stared intently at Mu Tang Gye-seon.

The Myung that Noyang mentioned must surely be

Namgung Myung, the ‘Lightning Heaven Sword’.