episode_0022

“Annoying.”

“Still, seeing you rise to that level means you did well. As your older brother, I couldn’t be more proud.”

“Hmph….”

Tang Seol-rin is returning to the Sichuan Tang Clan by carriage. And with her is the young master of the Tang Clan, Tang Seol-ryun, who came to the Dragon and Phoenix Competition.

Seol-ryun smiled wryly as he watched Seol-rin, who looked displeased and was staring out the carriage window with a sullen expression.

His prideful younger sister seemed resentful that she ultimately couldn’t overcome the wall of Namgung.

‘Even if she had surpassed Namgung…, she would have stopped in front of that man anyway.’

Seol-ryun recalled the final martial arts contest of the Dragon and Phoenix Competition.

The last person to come up was Namgung Do-gun of the Namgung Clan, who had defeated his younger sister, Seol-rin. Jang Cheon-woo of Yeom Country, who had defeated the powerful winning candidates from each sect. From the perspective of those watching, the expected skill level was overwhelmingly in favor of Jang Cheon-woo.

Of course, not everyone said it outright…, but everyone must have thought so in their hearts.

He thought so too.

And it was as expected….

No, it showed power beyond what he had imagined.

‘Emperor Sword…, to think he could break it with mere force.’

Although it wasn’t the true Emperor Sword of Namgung Do-cheon, the head of the Namgung Clan, but rather the immature Emperor Sword of Namgung Do-gun, who was like himself, a young master, the fact that he shattered it was incredibly astonishing.

Could he really unleash such skill?

He thought about it for a moment, but soon shook his head involuntarily. His strength would be insufficient.

He could constantly check and prevent the Emperor Sword itself from being used. But from the moment the Emperor’s Sword, which crushes everything, is revealed, he would probably…, find it hard to handle.

‘I must report to Father as soon as I return.’

Jang Cheon-woo of Yeom Country.

Perhaps this Yeom Country will experience a great wave centered around him.

As he was thinking that, the carriage suddenly stopped.

“What’s going on?”

“Th, that is, it’s an ambush!…”

“What? An ambush?…, What madmen would attack the Tang Clan!”

Seol-ryun wondered if he had received a mistaken report.

What crazy people would dare to attack a carriage bearing the Tang Clan’s emblem?

However, Seol-ryun’s expression hardened at the additional report that followed.

“I, it seems to be… the Beastman Alliance!…”

“The Beastman Alliance?…, Why are they here!…”

“….”

Seol-rin, who had been silent until now, rose from her seat.

“Seol-rin!”

“Don’t stop me, older brother. Whatever reason those things came for, the only thing left to do is to exterminate them with all our might, now that they’ve dared to bare their fangs at the Tang Clan.”

“….”

Repay grace twofold, and revenge tenfold.

That is the Tang Clan’s attitude towards favors and grudges. So this situation might be inevitable.

But it felt unsettling.

‘The Beastman Alliance’s base should be much further north, in the Tian Shan…, What reason could they have for coming all the way to this place, and for provoking the Tang Clan!’

The first thing that came to mind was the trap they had set.

At the same time, it was the most plausible explanation. So what kind of trap did they dig….

He couldn’t clearly know that.

“Be careful. Their base is in the Tian Shan, which is much further northwest than here. They wouldn’t provoke our Tang Clan for no reason after coming all the way from such a place. It would be right to assume there’s definitely some kind of trap.”

“I understand.”

He firmly cautioned his younger sister and came out of the carriage.

The situation outside was more serious than he had thought.

A considerable number of beastmen were surrounding the carriages. Even if they chose to flee, there were too many beastmen to escape easily. Seeing them, the thought that this was a deliberately planned trap crossed his mind once again.

“How dare you! Do you know that this carriage belongs to the Tang Clan, yet you commit such an act!!”

“Kkeureuk kkeureuk, of course we know. Aren’t you Tang Seol-ryun, the young master of the Tang Clan?”

“You knew who I was and you still did this?….”

The man who seemed to be their representative walked forward.

He seemed to be dressed up according to some kind of formality, but seeing his vulgar and despicable face, which he couldn’t hide, Seol-ryun was able to recall a memory that had been sleeping in a corner of his mind.

“The Beastman Alliance…, Toad Beastman Seom-gae….”

“Kkeureureuk, I’m extremely pleased that the Tang Clan’s young master knows me.”

“Why are you here? You…, you should be wanted by Yeom Country!…”

At Seol-ryun’s question, Seom-gae grinned as if his mouth would tear.

Then, making a unique laughing sound that went “kkeureuk kkeureuk,” he flashed his eyes.

“Is that important right now?”

“….What do you want?”

“Well…, it’s nothing much. We’d like to take your Miss Seol-rin with us…. Kkeureuk kkeureuk.”

Sending a filthy gaze towards Seol-rin, the guy smacked his lips.

There was no time to think about why they wanted Seol-rin.

Since their demands were something he could never grant, there was only one thing left to do.

“Exterminate them! Children of the Tang Clan!!”

“Must you really see blood? Kkeureuk kkeureuk.”

And so, a small war began.

Pabababababat!!

The Tang Clan’s specialty is concealed weapons and poison.

The concealed weapons scattered in all directions allowed them to gain an advantage even against a large number of enemies.

“Keuak!”

“Keueok!!”

‘….What is this?’

They’re falling more easily than he thought.

He thought they must have something to rely on to have charged in like this, but the enemies were being defeated more helplessly than he had expected.

“Kkeureuk kkeureuk.”

“…Just what are you aiming for?”

Seom-gae was still watching the battle situation with plenty of composure.

There were still many enemies.

But there were enough concealed weapons, and they were collapsing without even putting up a decent resistance against their concealed weapons.

If it continued like this, it would be possible to subdue the enemies….

“I grant Divine Beast Transformation.”

“!”

At that moment, their momentum changed.

The enemies began to tremble, and in an instant, their bodies swelled up, and the skin on their entire bodies turned toad-like.

“Wh, what is this?….”

“This is the new power we obtained. By beastmen transforming once more, we amplify all their power and characteristics several times their normal state!… We call it Divine Beast Transformation! Kkeureureureuk~~!!”

“Seol-ryun-nim! Concealed weapons aren’t working on the enemies!!”

“What?!…”

A sticky, viscous substance forming on the enemies’ skin was blocking the concealed weapons.

At the same time, their movements became several times faster, and their power changed overwhelmingly, sending the Tang Clan’s soldiers flying like children.

“Th, this is…. Just like Blood Awakening!”

Blood Awakening.

A technique with the name “Awakening of Blood” that awakens the blood of the Sichuan Tang Clan, making the abilities of the beastman stand out.

Tang Clan members in Blood Awakening state have snake scales emerging on their skin, giving them a clearer snake-like form.

This is very similar to the phenomenon of Blood Awakening.

But he couldn’t be astonished forever.

“Scatter poison mist!”

He hurriedly changed tactics in response to the changed opponent.

He scattered poison mist to block the enemy’s approach, and infused even stronger internal energy into the concealed weapons to pierce the enemy’s viscous skin.

That’s what he tried to do, but….

“Kkeureureuk. Don’t you still know why we attacked the Tang Clan? Your poison doesn’t work on us! Kkeureuk kkeureuk!”

“Our poison doesn’t work?….”

As he said, they fearlessly charged in despite the deadly poison mist spreading, breaking through the poison mist.

In the meantime, their actions were uninhibited, as if they hadn’t taken any damage.

“We can also generate some poison, you see. Just like you. Kkeureuk.”

“Poison Toad!…”

This was the worst.

The unknown Divine Beast Transformation technique, and their traits that completely block their strengths…, the enemies thoroughly analyzed them and considered countermeasures. And so, they created a situation where they could only win.

“So what.”

“Kkeureuk?”

“I can do that too, you know.”

Saaaaaaa

Near Seol-ryun, the shape of snake scales began to stand out near the eyes of Seol-rin, who had been watching the situation for a while.

He himself doesn’t know how to use Blood Awakening.

But his younger sister, Seol-rin, can use Blood Awakening.

“Wh, what! Divine Beast Transformation on her own?!…Kkeureuk!”

“Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers”

Seom-gae was startled and opened his eyes wide at the sight.

Beonjjeok, pabababababat!!!

Seol-rin soared high like a heavenly maiden flying in the sky.

At the same time, she threw countless concealed weapons infused with internal energy in all directions like scattering flower petals.

Even the viscous skin that the other Tang Clan members’ attacks couldn’t penetrate was helplessly pierced by Seol-rin’s concealed weapons with sharp internal energy.

“Keuk!! You impertinent girl!! Keureuk!!”

“Soul-Chasing Flying Butterfly”

Soul-Chasing Flying Butterfly.

The concealed weapons that freely flew through the air like butterflies chasing souls flew straight towards Seom-gae.

Seom-gae was startled by the sight and screamed as he desperately fled in a hideous manner.

“Subdue her! Quickly!! Just deal with that one and we’re done!!!”

“Help Seol-rin!!!”

The tide of battle had turned.

The Tang Clan centered around Seol-rin, and the Beastman Alliance focused on Seol-rin, who had become the center of the Tang Clan, and the flow of the situation changed.

* * *

“Haa…, haa….”

“That girl….”

Most of the Tang Clan had fallen.

The reason was simple. They ran out of concealed weapons. That was all.

With just that, the Tang Clan became lacking in stamina and failed to block the Toad Beastmen’s attacks.

Seol-rin tried to resist until the end, but even that resistance was suppressed before long.

Perhaps because the fight had become more intense than he had imagined, Seom-gae glared at Seol-rin with a temperamental expression, and then kicked her once with his foot.

“You little bitch! I almost got into big trouble!! Kkeureuk!”

“Keoeok!…”

“Haa…, haa…, but…, yeah. Kkeureuk. She looks decent enough…, I guess it wouldn’t hurt to have a little taste before we go. Kkeureuk.”

“…Who are you, a filthy, lowly bastard, to covet someone’s body? Ptooey.”

“….You little bitch, you…”

Seeing Seol-rin spitting on him while cursing at Seom-gae even in a state of being injured and suppressed, Seom-gae’s expression distorted.

Jeobeok jeobeok jeobeok

Just as he was about to punch Seol-rin in the mouth to shut her up, steady footsteps were heard.

Following the sound of the footsteps, one swordsman was approaching with leisurely steps.

“What, who are you? Kkeureuk.”

“I have something to tell you all in advance.”

“Kkeureuk?”

“Well, I came to save the Tang Clan members…, but I hope everyone will surrender peacefully.”

The sudden appearance of a swordsman suddenly demanding surrender was beyond absurd for Seom-gae, and he could only let out a hollow laugh.

Then he immediately shouted.

“Catch that girl too! Kkeureuk!”

“Oh dear…, is that how it’s going to be? I guess we can’t resolve this with words.”

Pabababat

“Bone Severance”

Seogeok pu hwaaaak!!!

“!”

“Indeed, that’s the feeling. Young Master.”

Seom-gae couldn’t understand the situation just now.

Clearly, his subordinates had rushed in to catch the suddenly appearing swordswoman.

Even though they had rushed in…,

The situation suddenly reversed, and his subordinates were spurting red blood as they were cut down.

He couldn’t see the process in between.

“Just who is this guy who popped out of nowhere!! Kkureuk!”

“Just call me a passing swordsman.”

“Kkuaaaak! Human! Do you think you can point your sword at us beastmen and get away unscathed! Kkureuk!”

“Don’t worry. I’m a beastman too.”

A beastman? That swordsman? He looks like a human no matter how you look at it.

Seom-gae was about to get angry, thinking that he was telling a ridiculous lie, but at that moment, Seom-gae’s body began to tremble.

“….Keureuk?”

Geureureung…

He had the illusion of hearing the roar of a tiger.

The cry of a predator piercing through his entire body. Even though his body’s instincts were telling him to flee from this place immediately, he couldn’t do anything because he had a near-certain feeling that if he took a step recklessly, his neck would be sliced off.

In the meantime, the swordswoman’s black hair began to turn white, and eventually the black hair gradually decreased in area and turned into tiger stripes.

Even the most ignorant person could tell what bloodline she had inherited from seeing that.

“B, White Tiger!….”

“I didn’t want to turn into this form…, but it seems this is the best way to show that I’m a beastman.”

The swordswoman takes a stance.

She firmly plants her feet on the ground, making her lower body as solid as if it were rooted.

All actions must ultimately be performed by stepping on the ground.

Therefore, solidifying the lower body allows all techniques to exert stronger power.

“First Style: Tiger Hunt.”

Kwakwakwakwang!!!

Creating a fierce sword wind like a storm, she slashes the opponent indiscriminately.

As if they had been struck by a tiger’s forepaws, the many people fell like fallen leaves, and the distance between Seom-gae and the swordswoman was instantly narrowed.

“H, Hiik?!”

“This is the end.”

“N, no way!…, No way!! Clearly Lord Red Devil succeeded in keeping the White Tiger under his command, so why is a beastman who inherited the blood of the White Tiger….”

“…What did you just say?”

“…Heok!..Kkeureuk…”

Seom-gae, whose complexion darkened as if he had said something he shouldn’t have, and the swordswoman, whose eyes had lost their vitality, were staring at Seom-gae.

Seom-gae’s judgment was accurate and swift, and his actions were faster than anything else.

Seom-gae detonated the poison bomb he had in his possession.

A poison bomb that releases a black smoke and a deadly poison to those who don’t handle poison, but harmless to them, the poison toad beastmen.

Because of the bomb detonating at close range, the swordswoman frowned as she inhaled the poison mist.

“Keuk!…”

“Retreat! Kkeureuk!!”

“Wait!! You bastard!! You just said Red Devil!! Red Devil!!! Tell me quickly!!!”

“Hiiik!! Kkeureuk!!!”

As if a tiger were roaring.

The swordswoman rushed towards Seom-gae and his party, who were scattering in all directions while howling fiercely.

Literally, she rampaged wildly, cutting down the toad beastmen indiscriminately.

She cut, cut, and cut again, but in the end, she missed Seom-gae himself.

Rather, her body was becoming heavier and her vision was becoming blurred due to the poison they had released.

But even so.

The swordswoman screamed with murderous intent and rage covering her entire body.

“Come here!!! You baaaaaastard!!!”

However, the more she screamed, the more desperately she realized.

She had missed the clue about the family’s enemy she had been searching for for so long right in front of her eyes.

She had missed it due to her carelessness. She couldn’t help but realize.