Chapter 417: You Came Alone

It became night time. It’s around time the martial artists from Tang and Pe clan start to go on patrols.

I stood up as I knew that it was time.

“…”

I felt an unknown presence next to me right as I got up.

Huh?

I let out a sigh after checking to see who it was.

There was only one person who would be by my side around this time.

Just when did she come in here?

As I expected, it was Namgung Bi-ah.

I already had no space, but a tall girl like her being in the same bed made it even tighter.

Moreover,

How come I didn’t notice her?

It concerned me how I didn’t wake up when she entered my room and lied in my bed.

I may have gotten used to her presence, but this could potentially be dangerous for me.

I get that Namgung Bi-ah barely has any presence, but it was a problem that I didn’t even know she entered my room.

What if she comes into my room and stabs me in the neck…

Though I doubt she wouldn’t do such a thing.

I was surprised by how I let my guard down this much. Was it because Namgung Bi-ah herself has gotten stronger? It felt as if I was almost relying on her now.

I’ll have to be more cautious in the future.

With that thought, I stood up.

“…”

Being careful not to wake up Namgung Bi-ah, I lightly brushed her hair.

She didn’t seem to take care of them much, but they still felt like silk.

I look like a pervert doing this.

I immediately let go and left the room when that thought struck.

When I went outside the room, I saw the White Ripple Sword waiting for me.

It seemed like she took a look inside the room, as she smiled creepily after seeing me.

“Isn’t youth great?”

She must’ve seen Namgung Bi-ah in there. What am I going to do with this woman?

“…It’s not like that.”

“Oh of course, this sis knows it all.”

“You don’t seem like you do though? What do you mean by- “

“It’s all the same when you are young! No need to try to explain yourself! I swear I won’t tell anyone, you know?”

…Please.

I had lots to say, but I had to put the White Ripple Sword’s nonsense aside as it wasn’t just once or twice that she did these things.

I had a more important matter after all.

I looked in the direction the bastard’s presence was in and slightly became nervous.

Is one day enough?

I expected and hoped that it would be enough, but I honestly didn’t know.

Blaze-

When I wrapped myself in heat, I started to feel Qi from the White Ripple Sword faintly.

She may have had a strange personality, but she knew how to act properly as a martial artist as she was a master herself.

She didn’t ask where I was going.

Despite that, I felt Combat Qi from the White Ripple Sword and judging by how her sword was sheathed, she seemed to know what I wanted from her.

As I expected.

She couldn’t be looked down upon. After checking that, I started to leap, increasing my pace.

My destination was the Ghostly Mountain, where the Green Forest Bandits were.

The Poison Emperor, Tang Bi Seung.

He was the previous ruler of Tang Clan and the grandfather of the current Lord.

According to the rumors in the Central Plains, the Three Venerables would’ve been called the Four Venerables, and he would’ve been called the Poison Venerable if he was still alive.

He was a master who was closest to achieving Ten Thousand Poisons Immunity and a great Lord that Tang Clan respected as he was responsible for lifting up the clan’s reputation, but he wasn’t that great in reality.

At least that’s what Tang Duk believed.

-You are a failure.

He remembered Tang Bi Seung looking down at him with a cold gaze.

The bodies piled up behind the cold stone floor were all young children at the age of nine to ten years at most.

All of them were given the Tang surname by Tang Bi Seung.

-My Lord. But this child’s bones are as you wanted-

He pleaded desperately to Tang Bi Seung, but his gaze didn’t change.

-It may be a perfect vessel, but it’s useless if it can’t learn Poison Arts. Take it away.

Tang Duk cried desperately after hearing him.

He screamed, begging for his life.

Despite his cries, Tang Bi Seung didn’t stop his steps.

Once Tang Bi Seung’s footsteps had completely gone away, only Tang Duk’s cries filled the basement room.

The men who remained silent, then started to walk towards Tang Duk.

Once their hands blocked Tang Duk’s vision, he was finally able to wake up from a long nightmare.

He opened his eyes and his black pupils faced the moon.

Tang Duk realized he was having a nightmare.

“…Whew.”

After opening his heavy eyelids, he moved his giant body.

What a shitty dream it was.

A memory that can’t be forgotten remains clear as ever.

Am I being reminded as it’s time?

Because he got closer to his desired destination, it felt as if his past memory became clearer.

It was understandable. Tang Duk knew that he was living his life this way because he wasn’t able to forget his past.

Crack.

He stretched his muscles and started to walk.

Once he went through the tall grass, he arrived in an area where a bunch of men were gathered.

The group of men started to stand up after seeing Tang Duk appear.

“Boss.”

“Report the situation.”

“It seems like they are camping there tonight.”

Tang Duk looked into one direction.

He wasn’t able to see far due to the tall grass, but he knew that the bastards from Tang Clan were all over there.

The bloodline of that damned old man who deserved to be ripped apart, were gathered there.

If Tang Duk had one regret,

I should’ve killed that old man myself.

The Poison Emperor Tang Bi Seung, his regret was how he wasn’t able to kill him with his own hands.

Crack.

The thought of it made him clench his fist.

He did all of that bullshit to die of old age.

When anger and killing intent started to rise from Tang Duk’s body, the other bandits around him started to shiver.

It was dense and horrifying.

Tang Duk spoke to his men with eyes filled with killing intent.

“Our goal is until those bastards cross the river. We wait until then.”

“It’ll take them around a week for them to reach the river at their rate, is that okay?”

When one man asked a question, Tang Duk suddenly reached his hand out and held the man by his hair.

“Ugh…”

His giant hand was enough to lift him by one hand.

“Then, shall we all die after going in on them without a plan?”

“…Ughhh…”

“We must do what’s necessary even if we are urgent. Right?”

“Y…Yes…”

Tang Duk let go only after hearing the man’s response.

It was Tang Duk himself who wanted to initiate the attack and rip everyone apart, but it was currently too difficult because of both Poison King and the Lord of Pe Clan.

Because of that, he planned to wait until they got to the river.

Tang Clan’s crew was escorting a prisoner and the bandits had a much higher chance to win on boats.

It was a perfect situation for them.

It was the first time in twenty years Tang Clan went on a trip like this.

For Tang Duk, it was like a miracle to him as he waited for this day for all those years.

Because of that, he decided to be patient.

He already waited a long time, so he was more than willing to wait a week more.

As long as he was able to lead the Tang Clan to a downfall, he was willing to do anything.

Tang Duk forcibly suppressed his killing intent and calmed his breath.

He couldn’t afford to cause a trouble now after all.

“Report once the guys on patrol come back. Oh, and one more thing.”
Tang Duk’s eyes lit up as he gave an order.

“The Lesser King of Hell. Bring me information on him as soon as you get them.”
“Understood.”
Tang Duk ground his teeth as he gave the order.

He still found the bastard mysterious.

Tang Duk wondered how the Lesser King of Hell found the group he sent, but it was a bigger mystery how he knew who was actually behind the scenes.

I wonder how he figured it out.

How did he taunt me while knowing everything?

Does this mean that the Poison King knew as well?

Because of that possibility, Tang Duk had to change his plan just in case.

The important part was the message that the Lesser King of Hell sent.

[You failure.]

That’s what the Lesser King of Hell said in his message.

Judging by that,

…This bastard.

Perhaps he not only knew my name, but my whole identity as a whole when no one else knew about them?

No, that’s not possible.

Everyone who knew of that incident all died.

Including Tang Duk’s brothers, everyone involved in the incident all lost their lives, excluding those with the blood of Tang Clan.

But then how does this bastard know?

It felt off to call it a coincidence.

Could it really be a coincidence?

Tang Duk felt frustration fill his chest.

He grasped his spear harder and thought to himself.

I’ll have to ask before killing him once I capture him.

Tang Duk already planned on capturing him, and all he needed was to torture the words out of him.

As Tang Duk walked through the tall grass along with that thought,

“…!”
He suddenly stopped his steps.

He then looked into one direction with strong focus.

Nothing could be seen due to the tall trees that stood in the way, but he was able to feel it.

There was definitely something far away.

Tang Duk swung his spear towards where the mysterious presence came from.

Swooosh-!

Craaaack-!

The spear was swung with great strength and a terrifying wind wave annihilated all the trees in that direction.

However, the powerful wave didn’t go too far.

Slam-!

Blaaze-!

Once the wave reached a certain point, it suddenly disappeared after a quick explosion.

Tang Duk was able to feel it.

Someone had blocked his attack.

He also felt dense heat coming from the same direction.

It was dense and hot.

Tang Duk leaped towards where the heat came from.

It felt clearer as he got closer. He was able to see a purple-colored flame burning alone in the darkness.

The heat also told Tang Duk where the flame was, and it told him to come toward it.

You dare to order me?

Tang Duk smiled and increased his pace.

A piece of ember grazed his cheek.

In only an instant, Tang Duk was able to reach where the flame came from.

Slaaam-!

A huge impactful wave scattered outwards once Tang Duk’s giant body landed on the ground.

Air filled with dust blocked his vision,

Swoosh-!

But they all disappeared once Tang Duk swung his spear.

Once his vision became clearer again, he couldn’t help but laugh after seeing what was in front of him.

“…How absurd.”

He was left speechless.

Tang Duk checked for other presences by sharpening his senses, but he was only able to feel one, which was the person standing in front of him.

After confirming that, Tang Duk asked.

“You came alone?”

A young man responded after hearing Tang Duk’s question.

“As you can see.”

“…Hah, you came alone without any supports?”

“Why would I need that? I’m going to tell you this since you might be scared, but the Poison King didn’t come.”

Tang Duk wasn’t able to believe that easily, but he had a bigger question.

“What gives you the confidence?”

Tang Duk stared at the person with a horrifying smile.

The young man had a small physique, but his presence was strong.

He had his hands behind his back with flames around his body.

Despite facing Tang Duk, the young man only continued to stare at him without showing any reaction.

Seeing him, Tang Duk continued to speak.

“You should’ve tried your best to hide in a forest, but you instead show yourself like this?”

The young man responded while tilting his head out of confusion.

“Hide? Why would I?”

“Of course you should’ve. Because I’m going to crush you now…!”

Tang Duk exactly knew who that young man was. How could he not when he was the person that taunted him?

It was a young master who used Flame Art.

It was very easy to know the bastard’s identity.

“It’s nice to see you, Lesser King of Hell.”

Haha.

What was so funny?

After hearing Tang Duk, the young man suddenly started to laugh out loud.

Tang Duk frowned at the sight.

“What are you laughing at? Have you gone insane because you are about to die?”

“Oh, sorry, is it because it’s been a while? I just found it funny.”

“What?”

“So you’ve always been retarded like this huh.”

A horrifying aura started to rise from Tang Duk’s body because of the Lesser King of Hell’s mockery towards him.

“…You bastard dare to… You must not know your place because the whole world is cheering you on. Do you even know who I am for you to…!”

“What do you mean who? You are just a failure.”

Because of those words, Tang Duk suddenly snapped.

It was certain. That bastard knew something.

It actually made Tang Duk feel gladder.

“Fine, I swear that I’ll kill you right here in this spot.”

Right as Tang Duk was about to charge his Qi holding his spear firmly,

Rumble.

“…!”

Tang Duk placed his hand on his abdomen due to the sudden pain he felt.

As he was confused about the strange sensation that squeezed his body, he heard a voice from in front.

“I’m glad you seem to be happy with my gift.”

His voice had a playful tone.

Step.

His footsteps got closer.

Once the Lesser King of Hell got close enough, he leveled his eyes with Tang Duk and spoke.

“Let’s have a slow conversation, shall we?”

Tang Duk had to hide his shock when he saw the Lesser King of Hell’s eyes.

For some reason, they were shining in purple light.