Chapter 36 : Tang Clan’s Green Dragon

Chapter 36: Tang Clan’s Green Dragon

Step, step.

A middle-aged man was walking along a deep forest path where not even a sliver of moonlight reached.

His body was thin and gaunt, but instead of looking weak, he gave off the sharpness and keenness of a drawn sword.

Ssshhk.

His cold gaze, reminiscent of the harsh snows of the North Sea, swept across the surroundings.

All around, thick poisonous mists spewed forth endlessly, exuding a terrible stench.

On the ground were poisonous swamps filled with the floating corpses of wild animals.

‘…To make a dwelling in a place like this. He must truly be a madman.’

Sword Demon Jo Yangpung, First Elder of the Blood Cult, furrowed his brows deeply as he thought so.

Those who rose to the position of Elder were given their own chosen residence by the Blood Cult.

The Twin Asuras had built a three-story pavilion with gold as its material.

Death Buddha had erected a Dharma Hall at the peak of Blood Demon Mountain.

As for Sword Demon himself, he resided in the Main Palace to serve the Cult Leader at every moment of the day.

But the one he came to see now…

This madman alone had built his dwelling in this dreaded, cursed forbidden land where no one else dared to set foot.

Chrrk.

At that moment, Sword Demon halted his steps, having reached his destination.

Amidst the poisonous fog where one could not see even an inch ahead, a pond filled with blood-red liquid revealed itself.

Just as Sword Demon was gazing intently through the mist—

“Kihihi, what business brings our heavy-bottomed Vice Cult Leader to my shabby dwelling?”

A chilling voice came with a ghastly laugh.

Ssshaa!

At the same time, the mist cleared swiftly.

Inside the pond, Poison Demon Yelü Sheng glared at Sword Demon while half-submerged.

“They said you returned on the verge of death, yet seeing how your tongue still wags, you must be well enough to live.”

“Keekeekee, I nearly died pulling out an unexpected gift from my disciple.”

Gift from his disciple?

Sword Demon frowned at the absurd words, but soon dismissed them.

That was not the important matter right now.

His gaze fell upon Poison Demon’s empty shoulder.

“Your body has become quite a bit lighter.”

“What, are you planning to cut off one of your arms and attach it to me?”

Sword Demon’s brow twitched.

Arrogant bastard. He wanted to cut him down right then and there.

Not once had he ever liked Poison Demon.

As a demonic practitioner before even being a Blood Cultist, killing intent raged violently within him. But recalling the solemn order of the Cult Leader, he barely restrained himself.

Sword Demon spoke in a cold voice.

“Is it true that you were nearly taken down in mutual destruction by the Tang Clan’s legitimate heir?”

“Keekeekee, you fool. You didn’t come here just to ask me something like that.”

“…What?”

Ssshhk.

Poison Demon rose from the water and fixed Sword Demon with eyes where only the whites remained.

Even Sword Demon felt a chill from that crazed gaze.

It was as though, impossibly, it could see straight through his heart.

“You came here to confirm whether I truly obtained the Angshin Tears, didn’t you? Sent by that Blood Demon.”

“How dare you—!”

Chaa-chang!

Sword Demon, enraged, instantly drew his sword.

He intended to sever Poison Demon’s neck without a shred of hesitation.

But before he could even take a single step, the situation ended.

Ssshaa!

Drip—!

‘What—!?’

His drawn sword melted away on the spot.

Throwing the hilt aside, Sword Demon looked urgently toward Poison Demon.

“Kihihi, isn’t it beautiful?”

From Poison Demon’s outstretched hand shimmered a terrible poisonous qi, the likes of which Sword Demon had never before felt in his life.

His eyes widened as though they might burst.

‘He’s surpassed the wall!’

The Complete Mastery of the Transformation Realm.

There was a saying that those who learned poison arts should be judged one realm higher.

Meaning that even though he was at Complete Mastery, he possessed a might equal to the pinnacle of the Transformation Realm.

Astonishingly, Poison Demon had become strong enough to rival him.

‘…How could that bastard…?’

Poison Demon, once the weakest of the Blood Cult Elders, had somehow reached Complete Mastery of the Transformation Realm.

Could it be?

But the Sword Demon already guessed the reason.

“Kihik, go and deliver the message. Tell them Poison Demon has finally obtained the Angshin Tears.”

The Divine Poison Angshin Tears had fallen into Poison Demon’s hands.

And shockingly, he was controlling the poison almost perfectly, without a single side effect.

‘…This is dangerous.’

For Sword Demon, this was an overwhelmingly unfavorable stage.

Not only had he already lost his weapon in vain, but the place itself was far too advantageous for his opponent.

In the end, Sword Demon ground his teeth and turned his back.

‘Wait.’

But then, he suddenly halted.

He turned back to ask Poison Demon about the question that had arisen in his mind.

“…I heard you lost the Hundred Legs.”

“Kihik, indeed, such a waste.”

“Then why did you use that instead of the Hundred Legs?”

“Kihihihi.”

“If you had used that instead of the Hundred Legs, you wouldn’t have lost your arm so easily…”

“Kihihihihihihi!!”

Poison Demon gave no reply to Sword Demon’s words.

He only let out a mad, endless cackle.

“…Madman.”

Sword Demon shuddered as though disgusted and truly left the place.

Soon, only silence remained—until Poison Demon, clutching his belly, burst into loud laughter before returning to his usual demeanor.

Only then did he mutter the answer, unheard by Sword Demon.

“Kihik, how could I possibly kill such a precious disciple? Kiheet, kikikik.”

Ssshh—!

The dispersed poison fog began to rise once again.

As the surroundings sank back into a pit-like abyss, Poison Demon licked his lips.

Just wait a little longer.

My beloved disciple.

Shocking news shook the Sichuan murim.

The great demonic head of the previous generation, Poison Demon, had reappeared.

At the news, not only martial artists but even common folk were stricken with fear.

For in Sichuan murim, Poison Demon was a figure of terror.

Though it had been decades, the memory of his bloody massacres across Sichuan Province had never faded from their minds.

Until Poison Commander Tang Eui-tae gave up his life to put him down, countless people had shed blood and tears.

And now, that nightmarish figure had reappeared—seizing the Alliance of Martial Forests’ escort seal and slaughtering the escorts of the Ten Thousand Seas Escort Agency.

It was only proper to lock their gates at once and forbid all outings.

But then—

Even more shocking news soon followed, swiftly dispelling their dread.

At the center of it all once again stood the Sichuan Tang Clan.

No, Tang Sewoon himself.

The largest inn in Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan.

“And thus, Tang Hoyeol, who dared to deceive the Clan Head while engaging in filthy deeds behind his back, was wretchedly beheaded by his nephew’s sword!”

“Ooooh!”

A storyteller seated on the stairs to the second floor spoke, his tale captivating the ears of the gathered crowd.

Not only the inn’s guests but also bystanders had flocked in droves to listen.

“Storyteller! Is it true that the Tang Clan’s Young Lord fought using thread made from the sword given to him by the Murim Alliance Leader?”

“You fool. How could one fight martial artists with mere thread used for making clothes?”

“Hah, do you not know the Young Lord of Tang Clan is now called the ‘Little Divine Physician’? Needle and thread are a pair—he could certainly wield them as weapons.”

“Well, indeed, the Sichuan Tang Clan isn’t known as a prestigious house of hidden weapons for nothing.”

“Is… is that so?”

At the storyteller’s clearing cough, the chatter of the crowd ceased.

“Ah, and so the hero of the Tang Clan joined hands with Silver Phoenix of the Mount Emei Sect, and together they braved the dangers to enter Poison Demon’s cave!”

“Ooooh!”

“Breaking through countless evil traps and horrifying formations, they rescued the Tang Clan members held hostage and hovering between life and death!”

Waaaah!

Each time they heard of Sewoon’s exploits, the spectators erupted in cheers.

But it was inevitable.

For it had been so long since they had heard a true tale of a righteous hero.

“I heard the hostage wasn’t even an escort warrior, but just a green young guard.”

“What, he risked his life to save a mere Jang Jasu?”

“Yes. Tell me, what sect in Sichuan would do such a thing? They’d sooner extort fees than lift a finger.”

“True, so true!”

And thus, the storyteller’s tale drew ever closer to its climax.

“Ah, Tang Sewoon, who risked his life for the sake of avenging his subordinates! Yet Poison Demon possessed a might far too overwhelming to bear—!”

“Eolssu!”

“Even so, Tang Sewoon never retreated, but stood tall and faced the enemy of his subordinates with dignity!”

“Tang Sewoon! Tang Sewoon!”

At the audience’s fervent response, the storyteller gave a proud smile.

In truth, this part had been the most criticized when first performed.

How could the Tang Clan’s Young Lord, who possessed a malformed dantian and had not even surpassed the realm of a Second-Rate Martial Artist, possibly face the Poison Demon?

Wasn’t this simply replacing Silver Phoenix of the Mount Emei Sect’s feats with Tang Sewoon’s name? People had cursed him endlessly.

But—

A few days later, once the Murim Alliance had fully revealed the truth, not a single person remained who insulted the storyteller.

On the notices posted by the Murim Alliance across Sichuan Province, there was information no one had expected.

The Ten Thousand Seas Escort Agency of the Sichuan Tang Clan had its escort mission stolen.

But the Tang Clan’s Young Lord immediately began pursuit, successfully uncovering the enemy’s hideout.

And, while the Poison Demon was performing a wicked great art using the escorts as sacrifice, Sewoon earned great merit by cutting off one of his arms.

Therefore, instead of blaming him, the Alliance praised his accomplishments.

The Murim Alliance’s Sichuan branch, which had always openly disdained both the Tang Clan and Sewoon, could not help but acknowledge it this time.

For when the Alliance’s own investigative team searched the ruins of the Poison Demon’s cave, they indeed found one of his severed arms.

On it remained clear traces of the Poison Demon’s demonic art, Blue Jade Talon, proof that Sewoon’s deed was genuine.

“To think someone would stand against a demonic head alone despite such a difference in realm, all for the sake of his clan’s members!”

“Is there another man like him in all the Central Plains?”

In Sichuan, Sewoon’s reputation was being completely overturned.

When he had been recognized by the Sword Emperor, or when he had killed assassins, people had always dismissed it, saying there must have been hidden circumstances.

But now, the majority openly praised Sewoon.

“Though but of tender age, he is truly Sichuan’s foremost chivalrous hero!”

“To think a Green Dragon had been slumbering within the declining Tang Clan all along!”

The First Hero of Sichuan.

Tang Clan’s Green Dragon.

Though not yet an alias acknowledged by the martial world, the common folk were already calling Sewoon so.

“Haa, but they say he now hovers between life and death because of the Poison Demon…”

“With the Sect Leader of the Mount Emei Sect personally treating him, what cause for worry could there be?”

“Indeed. Since the day of the incident, he has not left Sewoon’s side even for a moment.”

“Hoh, so the Living Medicine Sword was truly moved by the Young Lord of Tang Clan’s righteous heart.”

And so they all sincerely worried for the injured Sewoon, praying earnestly for his recovery.

But at the same time—

‘Ha, this is quite stiff indeed.’

The very man in question, Sewoon himself, lay on the sickbed with a perfectly healthy body, merely keeping an eye on those around him.