Chapter 1235: Scorched World

Weeeeeeeeeeeng-!

A vibration continues to ring from the left side of my ear. The sound stopped. Silence followed, and then the pain.

“Kkuhk!”

My temples and cheekbones throbbed. Instinctively, I raised my hand and saw my fingertips trembling.

Did I get hit? When exactly? How?

What’s more.

‘The poison will spread?’

The Tang family’s internal energy cultivation is nurtured by absorbing countless poisons since childhood. How well one can use poison.

This was the key to bloodline succession.

Among them, Tang Cheongi had low resistance to extreme poisons but was confident in paralysis-related ones.

Although his grandfather disapproved, saying it differed from the Tang family’s standards, Tang Cheongi was still confident in what he was confident in.

‘Why.’

Is that guy okay?

Drip. Drip.

Blood flows onto the floor. I don’t know if it’s blood flowing from my mouth or from Baek Yangcheon’s hand.

My mind was reeling. My vision blurred. It meant I was not in a good state.

“What are you doing?”

“…!”

At Baek Yangcheon’s words, strength returned to Tang Cheongi’s knees.

Instinctively, I swung the hidden blade again.

Swish-!

The thrown hidden blade sliced through the air.

Baek Yangcheon twisted his upper body to evade.

But.

Tuduk.

Seeing that, Tang Cheongi put strength into his index finger and thumb. The thread attached to the hidden blade pulled taut.

The spinning hidden blade shot towards Baek Yangcheon again, but.

“…Tsk.”

Paak-!

He swung his hand and flicked the hidden blade away. Even though it had some internal energy infused into it, the hidden blade rolled uselessly on the floor.

‘Seriously.’

Why? Did the paralysis not take effect? That last move too. If he were paralyzed, Baek Yangcheon should have collapsed.

He was still just looking down at me.

“…What the.”

“What are you trying to do?”

His voice was full of disappointment for some reason.

Hearing that inexplicable tone, Tang Cheongi’s insides twisted.

---

My hand stings. A hidden blade wrapped in internal energy was enough to pierce even the toughest skin. I felt a throbbing where it dug into the bone, but that was all.

“What are you trying to do?”

I narrowed my eyes and spoke to Tang Cheongi in front of me. He was just staring at me with surprised eyes.

‘What is this.’

It’s not like he’s playing around.

I’m getting sick of this shoddy sparring, more than I expected.

‘Even if I can use my Mind’s Eye.’

I had already figured out Tang Cheongi’s movements and sloppy techniques. It was at a level where I didn’t even need to use my Mind’s Eye.

‘They called him the Poison Dragon.’

Why is he so pathetic?

It’s funny he used a hidden blade instead of a dagger. The technique he used was something I’d already seen from Tang Soyeol. As far as I know, that should be a martial art using a dagger. A hidden blade is too fragile for it, and wouldn’t carry enough force. But he used a hidden blade, so I thought there must be some advantage.

‘…Why is he using it?’

I don’t understand the reason. There was no force, and the movements were weak. It’s like he’s just superficially imitating it.

‘Seriously, what the heck.’

Is this all the Poison King was like in his youth? With that kind of pathetic display, how did he become the family head? It’s baffling.

The only good thing was.

‘His stealth technique was decent.’

I lost track of his presence for a moment. If I hadn’t had my Mind’s Eye, I would have been done for. I had formed my internal energy in my hand anticipating a surprise attack. Thanks to my Mind’s Eye catching it, I could block it with my hand. Although I did get injured.

‘…My All-Poison Immunity hasn’t disappeared.’

My body had already reached All-Poison Immunity, so Tang Cheongi’s poison couldn’t possibly seep in. The distance was close, and my fist was even closer, so landing a blow on Tang Cheongi was successful.

The problem was.

“Try something else.”

Tang Cheongi, having taken one hit, wasn’t recovering.

“This can’t be all you’ve got.”

I didn’t even hit a vital spot. If I’d hit his temple wrong, he could have died, so I even adjusted my strength. Why can’t he snap out of it?

‘Even the attack he did manage.’

Throwing a hidden blade wrapped in internal energy and aiming for a weak point with a thread? The method was okay, but that was the extent of it.

‘He should have applied Void Step manipulation instead.’

I couldn’t gauge Tang Cheongi’s exact level, but if he had used Void Step, even precariously, it would have been better.

Ppaak-!

“Keok!”

I kicked Tang Cheongi’s torso with my foot. The guy rolled hard across the floor.

“He kept spouting bullshit, so I thought he was something special, but…”

I scowled and approached him. His speed was slow. Naturally, since he lacked energy. Still, Tang Cheongi wouldn’t be able to dodge.

Tang Cheongi tried to move. My Mind’s Eye tracked his trajectory. I struck his ankle again as he tried to get up.

“Kkuhk!”

He stumbled and fell again. Calculating his fall, I drove my fist in.

Ppeok-!

My fist burrowed deep into his solar plexus.

“Keoheok…!!”

He gasped raggedly and knelt completely.

“Kuheok.”

He kept retching. Even that sight annoyed me.

‘Why is he like this.’

So weak and low-level. How did the Poison King become like this in this state? He’s drastically different from the Poison King I know.

‘Did he gain some fortuitous encounter?’

Otherwise, it’s incomprehensible.

“Pathetic. You tried to do something against me with this level?”

“…”

He flinched.

“If you’re going to spout words, you should at least know your place. What were you trying to do?”

What did he really intend to do with just this? I can understand him talking shit to me. Honestly, I was pissed, but since it was the Poison King speaking, I could tolerate it.

But.

“You’re too weak.”

“…”

I can’t overlook you being weak.

“Try properly. What are you so scared of?”

“…This guy…”

Did my words sound like mere provocation? A fire lit up in Tang Cheongi’s eyes, but.

Jjaak-!

“Keok!”

I slapped Tang Cheongi’s cheek hard.

“What good does glaring do?”

Slurp.

Blood trickled down his lips. His upper body often swayed, unable to control the recoil. I grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and dragged him.

“You can’t even perform a proper sneak attack. I don’t get why you used that ineffective blade technique, making yourself weaker. What’s with the poison arts? Paralysis poison? If you’re going to do it, do it right. Who are you trying to teach with such a weak, pathetic mindset?”

“…!”

Hearing that, Tang Cheongi’s eyes widened.

“…You. How…”

How do I know the blade technique doesn’t suit you? Or maybe.

“The paralysis poison? Obvious. I could smell it from the start.”

I smelled it with my nose and saw it with my Mind’s Eye. At those words, Tang Cheongi snapped.

“That’s nonsense…! Paralysis poison is odorless and tasteless! How could you smell something mixed with internal energy?”

“Who says it’s odorless and tasteless?”

“That’s what the previous family head said.”

“The previous family head? Ah.”

I know who it is.

“Poison Lord?”

“…You!!”

Tang Cheongi lunged forward upon hearing his title carelessly mentioned. I could see him staggering. His ankle, which I kicked earlier, seemed to hurt.

So what should I do?

Ppahk-!

“Kkuaak!”

I had to kick his ankle again.

I sighed, looking at the fallen Tang Cheongi.

“Poison Lord is amazing. Someone like him could do that.”

He really is an amazing fellow. He conducted human experiments behind the scenes, yet presented himself as a righteous figure leading the Tang family to prosperity.

However.

“That’s not entirely true. There was definitely a smell.”

Odorless and tasteless doesn’t exist.

“Mixed with internal energy so it faded? So what? Then the energy would have changed. It would actually make it easier to see.”

“…!”

Tang Cheongi’s body, groaning in pain, stiffened.

“Poison arts, you see. They’re incredibly difficult to learn, but highly effective. How could they be weak when you can infuse poison directly into your energy?”

Even simple internal energy becomes infused with toxicity. The energy itself absorbs a foreign destructive power. Excluding the forced, torture-like training amidst poisonous insects and herbs since childhood. It was quite a powerful martial art.

The problem was.

“When something foreign mixes with energy, it becomes too easy to detect.”

The problem is that it’s too visible in a sparring match like this. That’s why one focuses on stealth techniques. You have to hide such weak points.

But.

“Why can’t you do that?”

Tang Cheongi didn’t answer, just stared at me. He’s different from my daughter. The thought suddenly crossed my mind.

‘Tang Soyeol.’

At least if she knew her own weaknesses, she would have tried to overcome them somehow. What is this guy then?

Seriously.

“Where are you running? From what?”

“…Kkeudeuk.”

I heard the sound of him grinding his teeth. Tang Cheongi pushed himself up instead of answering.

“…You don’t know anything. Why are you talking so carelessly?”

“I don’t know anything. That’s why I can see you better. You’re just trying to escape.”

“What am I running from?”

“Hmm? Pressure? Or pride? I don’t know what it is, but I know you’re damn scared.”

“…”

“But I don’t know why you’re taking out those pathetic emotions on me.”

I gave him a smile.

“Do you find me laughable? Enough to dismiss me with that idiotic skill level?”

Kwahng-!

Tang Cheongi unleashed his energy. It seems my words provoked him. He drew his hidden blade again. The feeling is different from before.

‘Extreme poison.’

Not paralysis poison, but extreme poison. Perhaps stimulated, Tang Cheongi tried to use his full strength.

“…What do you know…”

“…”

I’m indifferent. He didn’t even assume a proper stance. He was just scrambling to gather poison. Still, as a child of a prestigious family, it seems enough to contend with, but.

‘He’s just planning to stab straight at me.’

It seemed like a straightforward attack, without any stealth techniques.

‘Should I call it righteous?’

Though I guess that’s not something to say about a family that specializes in sneak attacks. But that’s not important.

“…I won’t let you go.”

“Looks like it.”

Kwadeudeuk-!!

Tang Cheongi charged, shattering the ground.

Tang Ah Tu Bi Jeok.

A point of pale green light shot towards me. It looked like a giant snake opening its maw.

“Oh no-!”

“Extreme poison…!!”

The martial artists were shocked. They realized Tang Cheongi had unleashed extreme poison. Extreme poison was originally forbidden in sparring matches like this. It’s naturally forbidden since it implies an intent to kill the opponent.

Kwack!!

“Huh!?”

“With bare hands!?”

Piercing through that energy, I grabbed Tang Cheongi’s wrist.

“…!”

Chiiiiiik-!!

My sleeve began to burn from the poison, but. My skin remained unharmed. This is why I like All-Poison Immunity.

“I told you.”

I said to Tang Cheongi, sensing the energy.

“You’re just trying to escape. Thanks to that, you’re so pathetic it’s a waste of my time.”

Tang Cheongi tried to move his lips at my words. My fist was faster. I pulled his grabbed wrist to gain acceleration. I put all my strength into my fist.

Kwadeudeuk-!!

“Kkeok!”

I punched Tang Cheongi’s cheek with all my might, using the momentum to slam him into the ground.

Kwaaaaaaaaah–!!

Debris scattered everywhere. Tang Cheongi’s body crashed through the sparring stage and collapsed.

“…”

The extreme poison’s energy was released, scattering into the air.

“Hieek-!”

“Keep your distance!”

Amidst those moving to avoid the poison, I looked at the referee.

“Can I go down now?”

“…”

The referee glanced between Tang Cheongi, whose face was half-crushed, and me, then spoke.

“…Azure Dragon Brigade Baek Yangcheon… Victor.”

Only after hearing that did I step down.

‘…Can I rest a bit now?’

I’ve had consecutive matches, so maybe I’ll be okay? Thinking that, I left Tang Cheongi behind and stepped down, but.

“Ah, damn it.”

I had to rack my brain over the situation that unfolded afterward.