Chapter 338: Face-to-Face. (2)

It wasn’t difficult for the Dark Night Palace Lord to find his target.

At best, peak.

If not that, it was a place filled with those who remained at the first or second-rate level.

Since Taeju or the Dark King said they would handle the Sword Empress or the Blue Sea Sword, who were the only potential threats.

His only task was to find the Poisoned Dagger and bring her back.

The dark energy Taeju had prepared.

Gradually spread over the formation laid out on Mount Tai, forming a single space.

‘What is that power?’

The Dark Night Palace Lord expressed his doubt as he watched the energy slowly cover the sky.

It seemed similar to the energy he possessed.

But it was distinctly different from the ‘heavenly’ bestowed authority he held.

‘It seems that power is dealing with something.’

Since the place where this was happening was Henan.

It was an area near the Murim Alliance and Shaolin Temple.

This meant that if they acted rashly, those forces might rush in.

He had judged it to be quite a dangerous undertaking.

Taeju had told him not to worry about it.

It seemed.

This formation-like thing currently unfolding.

Appeared to be handling that process.

‘Then, what remains is.’

Tying up the instructors spread throughout the area.

Taeju’s subordinates decided to take care of this part.

Even the Dark Night Palace Lord, known as the Four Demonic Emperors, felt it.

It was a very murky and unpleasant energy.

‘Black Dragon Brigade….’

Martial artists from the demonic sects, who were already treated as dead figures of the past.

He had heard they were all killed by the Gale Sword of that time.

And now the Sword Venerable.

For some reason, not only Taeju.

But even the current members of the Black Dragon Brigade were still alive.

The Dark Night Palace Lord looked at that.

‘No need to worry about it.’

He quietly turned his head.

That wasn’t something to worry about now.

Just finish the job quickly.

And return to the heavens.

That was the sole objective.

It was a request from Taeju, whom he was relying on.

And because he heard that the Dark King was also participating.

He had bothered to move.

Of course, he also had a bit of curiosity.

He knew Taeju’s objective to some extent.

But why he specifically wanted the Tang Clan’s Poisoned Dagger.

He was a little curious about that, though he hadn’t asked directly.

Before he knew it, the black formation filled the sky.

“Let’s depart.”

Someone next to the Palace Lord spoke.

Hearing that, the Palace Lord frowned.

“Don’t you dare order me.”

Clicking his tongue once.

The Palace Lord leaped down the cliff into the bushes.

Immediately after, he spread his ki.

The ki spread by a martial artist who had reached the Hwa Gyeong realm covered almost the entire mountain.

Because the ki spread was rough.

If the Sword Empress or the Blue Sea Sword were within this area, they would have noticed immediately.

However.

They were not here.

Even if they were.

They wouldn’t be in a condition to move easily.

Recalling that, the Palace Lord gradually expanded his ki.

‘Found her.’

As expected, he found the target without difficulty.

Amidst the trees, dark green hair was visible.

The faint poison energy contained within her body indicated that the woman was of the Tang Clan bloodline.

Her level wasn’t particularly high.

Enough that the Palace Lord could kill her in the blink of an eye if he wished.

The Dark Night Palace Lord’s body rode the wind, transforming into energy and disappearing.

Reaching the target was instantaneous.

Before reaching out.

He thought once more.

‘Did he say to bring her back without damage?’

He thought he said as long as she was alive.

Just in case…

‘First.’

The junior disciple moving beside the Poisoned Dagger bothered him.

He could tell from her attire and the energy within her body.

She seemed to be a member of the Peng family.

There were a few individuals he needed to be careful about dealing with.

However, that young lady was not among them.

If so.

It would be better to kill her and take her back comfortably.

As the situation unfolded.

While the Tang Clan girl was looking around.

The Palace Lord quietly gathered his energy and sharpened it.

With the intention of striking her head directly for instant death.

Kiiing.

The rotating energy.

Following the Palace Lord’s gesture.

Was shot towards Peng Ah-hee without hesitation.

Perhaps she would meet death without even being able to react properly.

The moment he thought that.

“Ah-hee-ya!”

‘What?’

An anomaly occurred.

The Poisoned Dagger, whom he thought wouldn’t notice.

Suddenly moved, shielding the junior disciple beside her.

Pik!

Fortunately, the target didn’t die thanks to the Dark Night Palace Lord hastily twisting his hand to change direction.

“So… Soyeol-ah!”

“Huk….”

The Poisoned Dagger’s arm was severely injured.

Peng Ah-hee was greatly flustered by the sudden turn of events.

Nevertheless, stopping the bleeding came first.

The Dark Night Palace Lord, watching that.

Tuk.

Took form and appeared before Tang Soyeol.

“Girl.”

At the low voice.

Peng Ah-hee startled and looked towards the Dark Night Palace Lord.

“How did you notice? Your level shouldn’t have allowed you to know.”

In response to the Dark Night Palace Lord’s question, Tang Soyeol moved her head and looked at him.

“…Who… who are you…”

“That’s not something you need to know.”

Her eyes were filled with fear.

She probably realized the gap between herself and the Dark Night Palace Lord immediately.

The Dark Night Palace Lord was quite curious.

How did she sense his presence?

Her crude level, which barely seemed to have reached the first-rate.

“Are you the Tang Clan’s Poisoned Dagger?”

At the Palace Lord’s question, Tang Soyeol gulped.

“I won’t ask twice.”

In the silence, the Palace Lord again formed energy with his fingertips.

He aimed at Peng Ah-hee, not Tang Soyeol, because he judged it would be more effective.

Seeing that, Peng Ah-hee trembled slightly.

Then, Tang Soyeol hastily replied.

“You already… know, don’t you? Why are you doing this to us, esteemed senior?”

“Is it because you’re of a noble family? You’ve coated your words with plenty of sweetness.”

Esteemed senior.

Just like most of those righteous sect bastards, it was still glib talk.

That’s why he disliked it even more.

Tabak.

As if there was nothing more to hear.

The Dark Night Palace Lord took a step closer to Tang Soyeol.

Peng Ah-hee then tried to protect Tang Soyeol by hugging her while tending to the wound, but.

It was a futile resistance.

“We don’t have much time, so if possible, I’d prefer you didn’t resist. I detest bothersome things.”

“…”

As black thorns reappeared around the Palace Lord.

This time, Peng Ah-hee hugged Tang Soyeol, as if to take the blow for her.

It was truly a warm friendship.

Because it would turn cold once they died anyway.

The Dark Night Palace Lord pushed Peng Ah-hee aside like that.

Just as he was about to disappear with Tang Soyeol.

Utuk.

He suddenly stopped his steps.

And sent his gaze across the bushes.

“A familiar energy.”

He sensed that a guest was approaching.

How did they sense him? He had tried to conceal his energy to avoid interference.

He felt someone approaching rapidly towards this direction.

It was clear Nöegi (internal energy/aura).

‘There are two people.’

The Dark Night Palace Lord took the thorns he had prepared to shoot at Peng Ah-hee.

And shot them towards the direction where the energy was felt.

Pyupyupyuk!

As the thorns flew quickly, aiming for the opponent.

One of the approaching individuals threw someone aside and swung their sword, deflecting the thorns.

‘Ho.’

It wasn’t a bad judgment.

Furthermore, they seemed to possess the level to back up such a judgment.

More condensed energy took form and flew in.

The moment the heavy energy pierced through.

Kwadeudeuk-!

The internal energy clashed with the energy, spreading a chilling sound.

For a fleeting moment, the energies collided, creating a sonic boom, then.

Seogeok-!

The energy split and subsided.

It had severed the energy of a martial artist who had reached the Hwa Gyeong realm.

‘Impressive.’

It was a sincere compliment.

Soon, the owner of the internal energy appeared beyond the bushes.

…As expected.

The Dark Night Palace Lord spoke upon confirming the face.

“I said it was a familiar energy. It’s the Sword King’s spawn.”

The child of the Sword King of that era.

Furthermore, it was a woman he had seen once before.

“It seems you have business with me.”

The woman who appeared.

Tying up her white hair tightly, she pointed the tip of her sword at the Dark Night Palace Lord.

Then she looked at Tang Soyeol, who was leaning against a rock, catching her breath.

“It’s been a while. You and I have met before.”

It was a familiar face. From the main palace of Dark Night Palace, which he had planned to abandon long ago.

She was with the Yama Ghost’s child.

“Do you know me?”

The Dark Night Palace Lord recalled that time and asked Namgung Bi-ah.

She nodded.

“…I know.”

“Yet you draw your sword.”

It was a kind of complaint.

Had she been seen as pathetic even by such a mere spawn?

Even feeling the gap, she drew her sword against him.

“Do you find me pathetic?”

“…”

“If not, perhaps you remember seeing me get beaten by the Yama Ghost, and thus see me as insignificant.”

The black energy emanating from his toes.

Changed into sharp forms.

He felt disregarded even by such a mere junior disciple.

“This Dark Night Palace Lord, you see.”

A faint smile appeared.

He had only intended to take the Poisoned Dagger, but the Namgung Family was the Sword King’s clan.

It meant she was the daughter of that annoying, idiot.

Not bad.

Because he also had a debt to the Sword King.

Thinking such thoughts.

The Palace Lord spoke to Namgung Bi-ah.

“If I had simply ignored you and passed by… perhaps you would have lived. Foolish…”

“…Is it you?”

“What?”

“…The person who did that to that child…”

“You mean the Poisoned Dagger? Yes, I…”

Shwook-!

As soon as the Dark Night Palace Lord answered, a flashing sword energy appeared before his eyes.

Because Namgung Bi-ah unleashed her internal energy and swung her sword.

Kwadeudeuk-!

Defending with his energy, the Dark Night Palace Lord observed Namgung Bi-ah.

It was because the incoming internal energy was of an unusual level.

‘A level unbecoming of her age.’

As if the compliment from earlier wasn’t a mistake.

Namgung Bi-ah’s level was a realm that couldn’t be dared to be seen at her age.

Kang-! Kwadeuk.

The sword tip, which had been cutting through energy, dodged the blocking energy and changed direction.

Since the sword was blocked once.

She immediately switched to another sword path and burrowed in.

‘Huh.’

Even such judgment was surprising.

Moreover.

Killing intent was imbued in all her movements.

He felt the determination to kill her for sure.

It was a firmness that couldn’t be felt from a mere junior disciple level.

And it was a ferocity that couldn’t be felt from righteous sect members, even more so.

Once she succeeded in burrowing in.

Immediately, a heavy presence bound the Dark Night Palace Lord’s feet.

‘It’s the Emperor Sword Form.’

A secret technique of the Namgung family passed down only to direct descendants.

Applying internal energy, it boasted immense quantity and extreme difficulty.

It was said to be not easy to use.

Yet that young girl was using it so easily.

Within it, internal energy burst forth, dominating the surroundings.

Furthermore, she swung her sword calmly and quickly.

It was enough to make even the Dark Night Palace Lord of the world express admiration.

‘The Sword King gave birth to something unbelievable.’

What level was it?

It seemed she had already surpassed the peak.

The ki sense and her field of vision clearly felt like they had crossed a wall.

Perhaps she had stepped into the realm of perfected peak.

‘A monster.’

At an age just past youth.

Reaching perfected peak.

Meant her talent was at a level bestowed by heaven.

The sword paths pouring down, splitting into dozens of directions.

Blocking them with his energy, the Dark Night Palace Lord recalled.

‘I must get rid of her.’

At that level, she must be killed now.

He could see her becoming a hindrance to his heavens in the future.

Kwaaang-!

The multiple streams of internal energy split again multiple times, increasing their number.

The internal energy contained within the sword took a solid form.

Sword Qi.

Despite moving so fast and brilliantly, her footsteps were quiet.

It meant her footwork was also perfect.

Dodging the Palace Lord’s energy erupting from all directions.

Namgung Bi-ah continued to swing her sword.

Even brushing against it would be dangerous.

There was no hesitation.

She cut once to create a path.

Padeudeuk-!

She extended her internal energy to widen the path.

She increased her speed with the internal energy wrapped around her body.

As if the swordsmanship she had trained so far was not a lie.

It flowed smoothly.

And within the smoothness, sharpness was naturally infused.

Seogeok-!

She cut through one more stream of energy.

Then, the path to reach the Palace Lord was completely opened.

Seeing that, Namgung Bi-ah charged forward, filling her sword with energy.

Her target was the neck.

“Indeed, your level is exceptional compared to others.”

Just before the sword imbued with internal energy reached the Palace Lord.

“But that’s all.”

Kwadeuk-!

Energy that suddenly burst out.

Directly struck Namgung Bi-ah’s side.

“Kuk…!”

Tang!

By the overwhelming impact.

Namgung Bi-ah flew up into the air and then landed precariously on the ground.

She corrected her posture and raised her internal energy.

However, there was no time to rest.

Because the Dark Night Palace Lord’s attacks began to pour in immediately.

“Even in that situation, you blocked with your abdomen using internal energy. It’s truly astonishing.”

As if the previous attack was just a game.

Attacks were launched without giving a single opening.

Kugugugung-!

They were delivered so quickly that marks appeared on the ground, and dust clouds rose fully.

“Your ability to judge moment by moment is also remarkable. If the circumstances were right, I would have earnestly urged you to join me.”

He meant it.

There weren’t many people with that much talent in the Central Plains.

He felt like he wanted to place restrictions on her, even forcefully, and keep her by his side.

It was a level that made him covet her that much, but.

“The timing is not good, so there’s nothing else to be done.”

The Palace Lord also had to exert himself to some extent, as her level was too high to simply toy with.

The only fortunate thing was.

That he discovered her early and could deal with her quickly.

Considering he only came to pick up the Poisoned Dagger, it was not a bad haul.

The energy that had been attacking for so long.

The Dark Night Palace Lord stopped it with a gesture.

Thinking this was enough.

Reaching the peak at that age was astonishing, but.

Even so, she was still at the peak.

The difference between a peak martial artist and someone who had reached Hwa Gyeong was clear.

He thought it would be over by now.

Just as he was about to condense his energy for the finishing blow.

Piercing through the thick dust clouds.

Hook-!

A sword strike converged into a single point and flew towards the Dark Night Palace Lord’s neck.

Chwak.

Soon, blood splattered abundantly.

It was blood that spurted from the Dark Night Palace Lord’s neck.

Although the attack seemed successful because of this.

“This bitch…”

Unfortunately, it didn’t succeed.

The flying sword strike was strong and fast.

But because the Dark Night Palace Lord’s energy blocked it protectively.

It only inflicted a wound on his neck.

It didn’t cause a fatal injury.

Nevertheless.

The Palace Lord had to look with greatly surprised eyes.

“…Ha.”

Where he looked.

There was the trace of an immense attack.

And in the center, Namgung Bi-ah, who had blocked her body with internal energy.

Was looking this way, bleeding.

What was reflected in her eyes was regret.

Seeing those eyes, the Dark Night Palace Lord truly had to swallow his surprise.

‘She was aiming for this?’

Realizing immediately that she was no match upon seeing him.

She induced the Dark Night Palace Lord, himself, into complacency.

Does that mean she was aiming for the strike just now?

If so.

She was truly a terrifying girl.

Because it meant she endured that pain, aiming only for this strike.

From the moment she first charged.

Was it all planned?

“You really must die here.”

He was beyond surprised, to the point of being disgusted.

The Palace Lord was sure once more, just as he had been earlier.

That this girl truly had to be killed right here.

Just then, Namgung Bi-ah seemed unable to hold on any longer.

Her center collapsed, and she fell down with a thud.

It seemed she had bet a lot to succeed in that one strike.

The Palace Lord soon approached the fallen Namgung Bi.

To avoid any future trouble, he had to kill her here and dispose of her.

Holding such thoughts.

The moment he raised his internal energy to the fullest.

Chwak.

A sharp sound was heard from the direction of the Poisoned Dagger.

The Dark Night Palace Lord shifted his gaze towards there, wondering what was happening.

“…!”

At the scene unfolding there.

He had to gasp for air.

“What… what are you doing right now?”

Tang Soyeol, who had been catching her breath leaning against a rock.

Suddenly stabbed her own thigh with a dagger, pulled it out.

And held it to her own neck.

With eyes burning fiercely.