Chapter v10c20

Shhh! Shhh!

The blood serpent glared menacingly at the two with its blood-red eyes, as if dripping with fresh blood. It was an enormous creature, large enough to wrap around and crush a thousand-year-old tree in an instant.

It seemed the cave was the dwelling of this serpent.

“Well, it looks like the host isn’t welcoming the guests.”

Even in this sudden situation, Bi Ryu Yeon remained unfazed and made a comment. He still seemed to have some composure.

“Uninvited guests are usually treated poorly.”

Na Yerin cautiously placed her hand on her sword, ready to draw it if necessary. A drop of saliva fell from the serpent’s threatening mouth to the ground.

Sizzle!

The rock sizzled and melted with a burning sound.

“Spitting carelessly, how rude.”

Bi Ryu Yeon treated the serpent, which was close to being a dragon, as if it were just a snake.

“It seems it used its saliva to expand the cave. That explains why the cave walls were so slippery.”

Na Yerin said.

“Hehe! In that case, it’s quite a capable miner.”

Indeed, as a miner, the blood serpent was extraordinarily skilled.

“Hey, Mr. Snake! How about switching species to a mole?”

Bi Ryu Yeon openly mocked the serpent. He had no fear.

Shhh!

The serpent’s menacing aura intensified. It didn’t understand the words but seemed to grasp the mocking tone.

“One thing is certain.”

Bi Ryu Yeon said, still maintaining eye contact with the serpent.

“What is it?”

“Doesn’t it look a bit dumb?”

Bi Ryu Yeon whispered quietly into Na Yerin’s ear. But surprisingly, the serpent had good hearing. Moreover, being a spiritual creature, it seemed to understand human speech. Bi Ryu Yeon’s reckless behavior was like scratching the reverse scale of a sleeping dragon. Even though it hadn’t become a dragon, it still had a reverse scale.

Shhh!

The serpent, thick enough to be unable to wrap one’s arms around, made a strange sound and shook its head menacingly. It was trying to intimidate them.

“It seems offended by being called dumb.”

The serpent’s threatening behavior would have been effective against any other human, but it had no effect on the insensitive Bi Ryu Yeon.

“You should always be careful with your words. They can become a dagger aimed at your own throat.”

Na Yerin kindly advised. But it was soon evident that Bi Ryu Yeon hadn’t heeded her advice.

“Not even a dragon, just a snake!”

Bi Ryu Yeon shouted.

Boom!

Shhh!

The serpent seemed to understand Bi Ryu Yeon’s mocking tone and went into a frenzy.

Bi Ryu Yeon had no intention of testing his affinity with this unknown creature, which seemed quite fierce and had a voracious appetite capable of swallowing a human or two in one gulp. He was very negative about the necessity of coaxing and placating the blood serpent at the risk of becoming its meal. If he got eaten, it would be a huge loss for him. Besides, he had always been the hunter, never the prey. He had never been in the position of an animal trainer, nor did he intend to befriend such a bizarre creature.

Moreover, the serpent was expressing hostility with its entire body. No fool would interpret its bared fangs as a friendly gesture. Thus, the only logical action was clear. There was no need to hesitate. Hesitating in front of an enemy was as foolish as throwing oneself into danger.

Shhh!

The enraged blood serpent lunged like a shot arrow.

A streak of lightning flew from Bi Ryu Yeon’s hand like a beam of light.

Shhh!

There was no hesitation in his action. But the result was disappointing.

Ting!

The white silver streak aimed to pierce the serpent’s forehead but bounced off with a crisp sound, hitting the cave ceiling. A star appeared momentarily and then vanished.

“What the…?”

Bi Ryu Yeon, who hadn’t anticipated failure, was shocked.

“Even though I only used three-star power, I didn’t expect it to fail against a mere snake. It’s quite a tough meal!”

Bi Ryu Yeon felt his pride wounded when the serpent didn’t die from one strike.

“I remember reading about it in a book. According to the ‘Mystical Creatures of the Martial World,’ the scales of the blood serpent are as hard and tough as steel, and their strength and elasticity increase with age.”

Na Yerin urgently shouted.

“That’s quite useful information.”

Bi Ryu Yeon smiled, but it wasn’t a situation to be smiling about.

Shhh! Shhh!

The serpent’s eyes glowed with a sinister red light, far more intense than before.

“It seems angry, doesn’t it?”

Na Yerin nodded at Bi Ryu Yeon’s question.

“Getting stabbed wouldn’t make anyone happy!”

Whistle!

Bi Ryu Yeon whistled lightly, seemingly impressed by the serpent.

“I’ll give you credit. You’re the first to withstand a direct hit from my Bi Ryo Do. Since I can’t determine your gender, let’s just call you ‘it.'”

He smiled again, but he had no intention of failing his second attack. One experience of missing the mark was enough.

However, the serpent, having taken one hit, didn’t want to take another. Its eyes, like burning red jewels, glowed as it flicked its blood-red tongue at the unexpected snack. The snack was more resistant than expected.

It seemed necessary to show more of its might.

Shhh!

With a sharp, thin sound, the serpent opened its mouth wide and lunged from the ground. It seemed ready to swallow Bi Ryu Yeon whole. It moved faster than a shot arrow, like a flying tiger pouncing.

Its speed was commendable, but unfortunately for the serpent, Bi Ryu Yeon was an experienced hunter of such creatures. That was the serpent’s misfortune. Bi Ryu Yeon swiftly dodged, making the serpent’s meal attempt futile. He didn’t forget to counterattack.

A streak of lightning flashed from his hand again. The blue flame caused a powerful discharge, accompanied by a dazzling sound, striking the serpent’s sleek, slender body.

Zap!

“Kiieee!”

A scream that made one want to cover their ears echoed. The serpent writhed in agony, its movements like a dragon’s thrashing but actually a serpent’s.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Thud! Thud! Thud!

Its massive size made its thrashing equally massive. Dust fell, and the entire cave shook. It was enough to worry about a collapse. Brushing off the falling dust, Bi Ryu Yeon protected Na Yerin and glared.

‘If we drag this out, we’ll be buried alive!’

His instincts screamed.

“Ryu Yeon! Be careful.”

Na Yerin shouted with a worried face. She had drawn her sword, ready to assist Bi Ryu Yeon if necessary. But for now, she seemed to let him handle it alone.

‘The shortest, fastest, simplest, and easiest way!’

Bi Ryu Yeon’s eyes gleamed with a golden light. His hand moved quietly. His mind became a sharp spear that could pierce steel.

**Bi Ryo Do Secret Technique**

Sword Qi

Life and Death Decision

Flash Thunder Spear

In the dark, white jewel dust sparkled, and a brilliant white lightning bolt flew towards the serpent’s mouth. The serpent ended up tasting the lightning as if it were food. The lightning turned its forked tongue into four, then eight. The Bi Ryo Do, traveling down its throat, shredded its esophagus, stomach, and intestines, turning them into a single digestive organ. In short, there was nothing left between the serpent’s mouth and anus. After Bi Ryo Do’s frenzied attack, the serpent became a peculiar creature, flicking sixteen tongues and defecating immediately after eating. No matter how ancient the creature was, it couldn’t withstand such a powerful attack.

Kiieee!

The serpent thrashed violently, hitting the cave wall. But soon, it collapsed, exhausted. It was the pitiful end of a creature that had lived for nearly eight hundred years.

‘Did I overdo it? I hope the inner core isn’t damaged.’

Feeling a bit guilty, Bi Ryu Yeon approached the fallen serpent, hoping the inner core was intact.

“Darn! No inner core?”

His disappointment was evident. He had hoped to find an inner core but found nothing. It seemed the serpent hadn’t trained enough.

“It should have trained harder. Tsk, tsk.”

Bi Ryu Yeon clicked his tongue regretfully.

“If it had an inner core, I could have sold it for a high price…”

Unlike other martial artists who would consume the inner core to enhance their internal energy, Bi Ryu Yeon thought of selling it for a high price first.

But he didn’t give up easily. He remembered hearing that the blood of such creatures had significant effects. They needed to stave off hunger. Na Yerin confirmed the absence of toxins.

“Hmm! It seems there’s no toxicity. It should be safe to consume.”

Na Yerin said after tasting the serpent’s blood with her fingertip. Fortunately, there was no toxicity. Having survived on Bigeokdan for days, they decided to drink the serpent’s blood. According to the books, it should be effective. The fishy smell was unpleasant, but they drank it for survival.

As the serpent’s blood entered their stomachs, a warm energy surged within them. They felt revitalized. The serpent’s blood indeed had an effect. The book’s description of its benefits wasn’t a lie.

For now, they didn’t have to worry about food.

**Day 26 of Being Buried!**

“Darn!”

Bi Ryu Yeon’s face grew serious as he examined the blood serpent’s corpse and the cave beyond.

“Ryu Yeon? Is something wrong?”

Na Yerin asked.

“……”

Bi Ryu Yeon didn’t answer her immediately. She sensed that something was wrong.

After a moment, Bi Ryu Yeon spoke again. He tried to sound light-hearted, but the content was anything but.

“It seems that snake had its final revenge on us.”

“What? What do you mean? Could it be…?”

“Yes! It seems that with its last breath, it blocked the entrance it used to come and go. No matter where I look, there’s no sign of the passage it used. And there’s no continuation of the cave beyond.”

This was indeed the worst news. Na Yerin’s face turned pale. They had defeated the blood serpent and thought they had found an exit, only to have their hopes dashed.

“Damn it!”

A curse escaped Bi Ryu Yeon’s lips.

“…Isn’t there any good solution?”

“Well… we’ll have to think about it!”

**Day 34 of Being Buried!**

A week and a day had passed since then. Bi Ryu Yeon had been searching everywhere for a way out. However, with rocks scattered everywhere, it was impossible to determine which direction the exit was in. But they couldn’t give up.

“Achoo!”

Bi Ryu Yeon sneezed loudly, the sound echoing throughout the cave. Suddenly, a thought struck him, making him shiver with realization. It was a moment of self-admiration.

‘How could I be so smart?’

No matter how he thought about it, he was undeniably a genius.

A needle in a pouch will eventually poke through! A talented person cannot hide their abilities.

He still had one last trick up his sleeve.

**Day 44 of Being Buried!**

For the next ten days, Bi Ryu Yeon continued to use the blood serpent’s blood as his main sustenance while sending his qi into the walls to gauge their thickness. If there was a cavity on the other side, the qi would hit the end of the wall and bounce back, revealing the wall’s thickness. Bi Ryu Yeon had used this method to escape the initial burial. He had forgotten it momentarily due to the shock of being ambushed by the blood serpent, but the sneeze had reminded him.

Now, this method was his only hope. However, unlike before, finding an escape route wasn’t easy. For ten days, Bi Ryu Yeon tirelessly tapped and probed the cave walls.

“Hey?”

Tap, tap!

Bi Ryu Yeon sent his qi into the wall again. But repeated attempts didn’t clear his doubts.

“Strange…”

He clicked his tongue.

“What’s wrong, Ryu Yeon?”

Sensing something was off from Bi Ryu Yeon’s frown, Na Yerin asked cautiously. Bi Ryu Yeon shook his head.

“It’s not that… it’s just too thin. There definitely seems to be a space on the other side.”

“Then why not break through like last time?”

Na Yerin asked, puzzled.

“That would be simple. But the problem is that the other side isn’t just an empty space.”

If it were the same situation as before, it would be great, but it wasn’t.

“So…”

“If we break through here, it might explode. It seems there’s an underground water vein behind this wall. We need to be prepared before breaking it.”

Bi Ryu Yeon looked at Na Yerin. She understood what he was implying. She nodded.

“I’ve entrusted my life to you once. I’ll trust you again.”

Her response made Bi Ryu Yeon smile brightly.

“Alright! I’ll make sure to return your life. I don’t want to pay a penalty for losing it. Are you not afraid, Yerin?”

Na Yerin shook her head.

“No! What about you, Ryu Yeon?”

“Hehe… For some reason, I don’t feel the reality of death yet. And I don’t think I’ll die. My life force is quite tenacious.”

“Really? That’s very reassuring.”

There was something about Bi Ryu Yeon’s words that gave her confidence. It might have been the strength that came from his composure.

“I can endure everything else, but not being able to taste delicious food is unbearable. So, I’ve decided to try the famous Guangdong Eight Delicacies and Beijing Delicacies once we get out of here.”

Bi Ryu Yeon said with exaggerated gestures.

“To taste the Guangdong Eight Delicacies and Beijing Delicacies, we first need to escape from here.”

She still seemed unsure about their chances of success. But with their food supply nearly exhausted, they had to take action. They had long run out of Bigeokdan, and the blood serpent’s blood was running low.

“Yerin! If we get out of here, shall we eat the Beijing Delicacies and Guangdong Eight Delicacies together?”

“Sure.”

Na Yerin agreed readily.

“Are you confident you won’t regret it?”

“I can’t promise I won’t regret it, but I can’t deny that there’s no better option.”

Na Yerin replied.

With a serious face, Bi Ryu Yeon stood before the wall he had chosen. He looked at Na Yerin again with a serious expression.

“Yerin, are you forgetting something?”

“What?”

Na Yerin was clueless. Bi Ryu Yeon felt momentarily disappointed.

“Before taking on another life-and-death challenge, I’d like to receive the blessing of the goddess of luck. What do you think, goddess?”

Na Yerin’s face suddenly turned red at Bi Ryu Yeon’s question.

“Do we really have to do that?”

“Of course!”

Bi Ryu Yeon answered firmly without hesitation.

“Can’t we skip it?”

“Impossible!”

Bi Ryu Yeon answered decisively.

“Rituals exist to be followed.”

Bi Ryu Yeon was the very person who often disregarded such rituals.

After a moment’s hesitation, Na Yerin nodded.

“Alright!”

Finally, Na Yerin agreed.

She gently kissed Bi Ryu Yeon on the lips. It was the blessing of the goddess of luck. Na Yerin lowered her head in embarrassment, a stark contrast to her usual cold and composed demeanor.

Bi Ryu Yeon just smiled.

‘Today is the 44th day! Is this fate’s joke? Or a test from the heavens?’

If it was a coincidence, it was an incredible one.

‘The 44th day didn’t defeat me last time! It won’t this time either! If such things determine fate, I’ll break them with my own hands!’

Boom!

Finally, Bi Ryu Yeon’s fist, charged with blue lightning, struck the wall.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

An enormous amount of water gushed out from the hole he had created.