A few people glanced at Dang Mujin, not because they thought he had accomplished something, but because his death-like stillness was intriguing.
Eventually, Dang Mujin’s body swayed and collapsed forward. His chest no longer rose and fell, as if even his breath had ceased.
Witnessing this, Namgung Myung’s sword faltered, and Hong Geolgae let out a sigh, lowering his club. They had lost sight of their purpose for coming to Mount Tian.
But then, to everyone’s surprise, Dang Mujin staggered to his feet.
The interesting part was that everyone felt a sense of relief at this sight.
The fugitives, led by Sam Anbul, were relieved that the young disciple was still alive, while the pursuers were pleased at the prospect of taking Dang Mujin back to the Demonic Sect’s headquarters.
The Demonic Sect was always in need of skilled healers, so capturing a talented one was considered a significant achievement.
From another perspective, it meant that no one believed Dang Mujin could change the tide of the battle.
Woo Hobup frowned as he watched Dang Mujin approach.
“Something’s different. Did he break through a barrier? No, it’s too unrefined for that. He achieved something, but it’s not complete… I’ve never seen anything like this.”
A martial artist who surpasses the pinnacle undergoes a unique transformation.
Their breath becomes steady, their steps balanced, their movements efficient, their internal energy flows naturally, and, to put it vaguely, their gaze deepens.
All these elements combine to create a gap that ordinary fighters cannot bridge.
However, in Woo Hobup’s eyes, Dang Mujin’s state was peculiar.
He had advanced too far to be considered a first-rate fighter, yet he was clearly not a master of the pinnacle.
“He’s not a threat.”
With that judgment, Woo Hobup turned his attention back to Sam Anbul.
Sam Anbul also observed Dang Mujin, but his impression differed from Woo Hobup’s.
“He’s unfamiliar.”
There was something strange about the way Dang Mujin walked, and Sam Anbul saw potential in that.
Dang Mujin had taken a step forward, but not in the same direction as others. He was carving his own path, venturing into uncharted territory. That was significant.
Adding another well-honed master to the mix wouldn’t change the battle’s outcome.
But an unpredictable element could become a game-changer.
Of course, the likelihood was slim. But when there are no other options, even a sliver of possibility is worth pursuing.
“What gives you the confidence to approach here?”
Sam Anbul thought as he blocked Woo Hobup’s sword.
Dang Mujin observed his inner self with unprecedented clarity.
His internal energy, tainted with poison, surged through his meridians, spreading to the eight extraordinary vessels.
It was said that when one surpasses the pinnacle, the pure internal energy accumulated over time gently cleanses the body’s meridians.
However, Dang Mujin felt the opposite.
Instead of pure internal energy, the most potent and pure poison tore through his body, burning away impurities in his meridians with violent intensity.
This sensation was reminiscent of the moment he surpassed the pinnacle.
Though the process differed from others, the result was undeniable.
“Something’s changed.”
He couldn’t precisely explain what had changed.
But even without a clear explanation, Dang Mujin could vaguely sense his own achievement.
The path of martial arts is complex, but those who walk it can often gauge their own progress.
Dang Mujin stood up and walked.
With each step, his broken ribs throbbed, but he could endure the pain and move cautiously.
With each step, poison seeped from his pores, creating a faint haze around him.
It wasn’t intentional. It was simply that the amount of poison within him was too great to contain.
The poison from the Jimsai’s venom was too much for Dang Mujin to handle, even after surpassing the barrier.
Now, he was expelling the excess poison through his entire body. He was suppressing the release as much as possible, but this was the result.
“I need to hold on a bit longer.”
With the feeling that his body might burst, Dang Mujin stood beside Sam Anbul.
Sam Anbul spoke.
“You’ve achieved something.”
Dang Mujin didn’t respond, clenching his teeth as he drew his sword.
Controlling the poison to prevent it from spreading towards his allies was no easy task.
“But your condition doesn’t seem good.”
At a glance, Sam Anbul appeared in worse shape than Dang Mujin. Covered in blood, his forearms exposed white bone from blocking Woo Hobup’s sword. Yet, in reality, Dang Mujin was in more danger.
Dang Mujin broke the silence.
“It’s urgent.”
A brief statement, but Sam Anbul sensed the poison in Dang Mujin’s voice.
It wasn’t a metaphor for malice. The breath accompanying his words carried a potent, lethal poison.
Dang Mujin looked at Sam Anbul, who understood his intent without further explanation.
“Hold on and follow me.”
Sam Anbul lowered his stance, gathering all his remaining strength, and charged at Woo Hobup.
One doesn’t always need a sharp blade to kill.
Woo Hobup instinctively twisted his body to avoid Sam Anbul’s boulder-like charge.
A long cut traced Sam Anbul’s side, but the wound wasn’t the point. The important part was that Woo Hobup dodged, opening a path to the center of the formation.
The remaining fugitives, along with Namgung Myung, surrounded Dang Mujin and charged through the pursuers. Each wielded their sword with all their might to fend off the attacks.
That opening was enough. Dang Mujin murmured softly.
“Hold your breath.”
They didn’t know why they had to hold their breath.
But the fugitives followed Dang Mujin’s instruction faithfully.
In the next moment, poison erupted from Dang Mujin’s body. It was more like a wave of energy than poison, strong enough to ruffle hair and clothes.
The pursuers, including Woo Hobup, inhaled the poison before they could react. They immediately understood the struggle the fugitives had been facing.
After the first breath, their internal energy clumped together, blocking their meridians. After the second breath, their energy scattered chaotically.
Martial artists were accustomed to drawing in energy from the air with each breath.
Experiencing their energy scattering with each breath was utterly foreign.
It was like a fish drowning in water.
The pursuers’ faces turned pale. This was dangerous.
“What have you done!”
Until now, only the fugitives had fought at a disadvantage. Now, everyone was equally disadvantaged and disoriented.
And the fugitives had the upper hand. They had slightly more numbers and were somewhat accustomed to the sluggish internal energy.
“Kill them all!”
Flesh was torn, and blood splattered everywhere.
The one in the most dire situation was Woo Hobup. While others faced opponents of similar skill, Woo Hobup stood against Sam Anbul.
With internal energy difficult to manage, physical prowess became crucial.
And in the vast land of Zhongyuan, few could match Sam Anbul in physical combat.
Sam Anbul spoke quietly.
“I told you, you’re arrogant.”
Without waiting for a response, Sam Anbul swung his massive fist, as powerful as a sledgehammer.
Woo Hobup, relying on decades of training, angled his sword to block Sam Anbul’s punch.
It was the cleanest defense, but also a fatal mistake. He hadn’t accounted for the instability of his internal energy.
The sword, meeting Sam Anbul’s fist, was pushed aside, losing balance. Sam Anbul’s fist then crashed into Woo Hobup’s temple.
Crunch. Sam Anbul felt the sensation of bones breaking through his fist. It was an instant death.
One of the top martial artists in Zhongyuan, among only a dozen or so, met his end here.
“The most satisfying punch of my life.”
Sam Anbul smiled contentedly and rejoined the battle.
He resembled a giant bear more than a man, a gray bear tearing through the pursuers.
Sam Anbul rampaged through the battlefield. The fight didn’t last much longer.
“Phew.”
With the pursuers all dead, the fugitives finally sat down for a brief rest.
More pursuers might come, but they needed rest to keep moving swiftly.
Meanwhile, Dang Mujin didn’t sit down. He moved diligently.
Until now, he thought there was no way to remove the poison clinging to his internal energy, but it was a matter of achievement.
“It’s clear. I’ve surpassed the old master in dealing with poison.”
The first person Dang Mujin extracted poison from was Mok Wana, who still hadn’t regained consciousness.
With the excess poison gone, Mok Wana’s complexion improved significantly.
Next were Namgung Myung and Hong Geolgae.
Hong Geolgae was still in shock from Dang Mujin’s recent display.
“What was that you did earlier?”
“It’s a bit complicated to explain,” Dang Mujin replied vaguely.
Namgung Myung, clearly pleased, interjected with a smirk. “Of course, it’s complicated for someone like you to understand. Isn’t that the nature of supreme martial arts?”
Dang Mujin, catching onto Namgung Myung’s teasing, played along effortlessly. “Ah, indeed. How could mere words convey such profound enlightenment?”
To feel ahead, one must look back at those left behind. Dang Mujin glanced at Hong Geolgae, savoring a petty, shadowy satisfaction. He had earned that right.
Naturally, as Dang Mujin’s amusement grew, Hong Geolgae’s expression soured. “Life is just…”
“Are you talking about the life of a first-rate warrior?” Namgung Myung chimed in mockingly. “I can’t even imagine how tough it must be.”
As the two continued their banter, Hong Geolgae mumbled something under his breath and turned away, clearly sulking. But men, as a rule, don’t coddle each other over such things.
Unlike Namgung Myung, Hong Geolgae wasn’t petty by nature, so it was only a matter of time before he forgot the whole incident.
Dang Mujin then approached Sam Anbul, who was marveling at the sensation of the poison leaving his body. Rising to his feet, Sam Anbul asked, “Dang So-hyup, can you release the poison like before?”
“I can mimic it, but it won’t be nearly as powerful. I can’t hold that much poison.”
Sam Anbul understood immediately. “So, you need to swallow the poison sac of a jimsay to achieve that power?”
“I’m not sure. I can’t guarantee I’ll survive swallowing another one.”
“I see.”
Sam Anbul felt a mix of disappointment and relief. Dang Mujin’s display had been formidable enough to unsettle even an ally like Sam Anbul. Capturing an opponent’s inner strength was a skill that could rewrite martial history.
As Dang Mujin prepared to absorb Sam Anbul’s poison and expel the others’, Sam Anbul stopped him. “Hold on a moment.”
“Understood.”
Sam Anbul stood and called out loudly, gathering the survivors. “Come here!”
Out of the forty or so who escaped the dungeon, about ten had perished, leaving around twenty survivors. They gathered, eager to rid themselves of the poison and move freely.
Sam Anbul carefully selected seven from the group, a mix of second-rate, first-rate, and even one supreme martial artist. Dang Mujin couldn’t discern what they had in common, but the chosen seven seemed to sense something ominous.
Without further explanation, Sam Anbul reached out and crushed one man’s skull with his bare hand. “Wait, what are you doing?” Dang Mujin exclaimed.
Ignoring him, Sam Anbul methodically killed the seven, breaking and crushing their bodies. It was a slaughter.
The memory of meeting Sam Anbul among the warriors of Jeomchangpa flashed through Dang Mujin’s mind, sending a shiver down his spine.
The supreme martial artist among them drew his sword in resistance but could only withstand two of Sam Anbul’s attacks. The massacre took no longer than it would to drink a glass of water.
The sudden violence left the surroundings in silence. Sam Anbul wiped the blood from his hands and explained, “They were the ones who surrendered to the pursuers. We couldn’t risk them turning again.”
Dang Mujin questioned, “But did you have to kill them?”
“Absolutely.”
Sam Anbul’s response was curt. He then turned to Dang Mujin. “Dang So-hyup, you’re from Sichuan, right?”
“Yes, from Chengdu in Sichuan.”
“That’s not too far. Good.”
Sam Anbul addressed the survivors. “You will now live in Sichuan. Do not leave Chengdu without Dang So-hyup’s permission. Understood?”
The survivors nodded, not just out of fear.
Dang Mujin, however, was puzzled. “Why are you doing this? They didn’t leave the cult to settle in Chengdu.”
Sam Anbul looked down at him. “If you were just an ordinary person, I wouldn’t be giving these orders.”
“What do you mean?”
“We’ll talk as we move. Everyone, follow me!”
Sam Anbul led the way with Dang Mujin, the group trailing behind at a distance. Sam Anbul gazed at the horizon, the sun having moved from its rise to the southern sky.
Breaking the silence, Sam Anbul spoke. “Your abilities are unusual, beyond the realm of common sense. You know that, right?”
Dang Mujin nodded, prompting Sam Anbul to continue. “Do you know how those in power treat someone with extraordinary abilities like yours?”
“They’ll try to befriend me, offer favors, and keep me close.”
“At first, yes. But eventually, they’ll see you as a threat and try to eliminate you.”
Dang Mujin met Sam Anbul’s gaze. “If you were an ordinary martial artist, there’d be no concern. People could gauge your limits and respond accordingly.”
“Am I not similar?”
“No. You’ve embarked on an unprecedented path. No one knows the extent of your abilities or how far you’ll go. And those in power fear the unpredictable. They’ll want to remove the threat.”
“Thank you for the high regard, but isn’t that a bit of an overreach?”
Sam Anbul chuckled. “It seems you’re the only one who doesn’t recognize your own worth.”
Dang Mujin thought of those who had followed Sam Anbul’s orders without question. Did they share his view?
“As I said, I can’t always replicate that ability. It was a miracle, a one-time feat achieved by swallowing the jimsay’s poison sac and risking death. I don’t even know how long the remaining poison will last within me. Poisons fade over time.”
Sam Anbul interrupted. “No, the fact that you did it once means it’s possible. In years or decades, who knows what you’ll achieve?”
“Well, I suppose I’ll improve. But-”
“But? It’s too soon to make such claims. Don’t underestimate your potential. You’re on a path no one else has walked, and no one can predict how far you’ll go. Not even you. You’re dangerous.”
Sam Anbul glanced back. “The stronger you become, the more dangerous you are. If you want to survive, hide your abilities. Remember, even the poison master Gwiui faced countless threats.”
It was an odd conversation. Wasn’t Sam Anbul the one hired to kill Gwiui?
How had it come to this, receiving such advice from Sam Anbul? The world was complex, and the future stretched beyond the sight of ordinary people.
“There are no other options. Those who see your true worth must either be killed or kept close. Don’t keep those willing to bend for survival by your side. That’s why I killed the ones who surrendered.”
Sam Anbul’s voice was earnest, and Dang Mujin could only nod.
“But isn’t it excessive to bind them to Chengdu?”
“You have that right. Without you, they’d all be trapped or dead in the mountains.”
Dang Mujin’s expression was conflicted, and Sam Anbul gestured behind him. “If it bothers you, see if anyone’s dissatisfied.”
Dang Mujin glanced back. Not a single person seemed discontent.
How had it come to this? What would his father and neighbors think when he returned to Chengdu with these people?
Dang Mujin scratched his head in frustration. “We should move quickly. We never know when the pursuers will catch up.”
Two days later, Dang Mujin learned a universal truth: bad premonitions never fail.
The pursuit party, led by Jwa Hobup, was waiting for them.
Jwa Hobup drew his sword with his left hand and greeted Sam Anbul with a casual wave of his right. “We’ve been waiting. You should have come sooner.”
“Despite your words, you didn’t come alone, did you? Bringing the Ghost King along, no less.”
“Haha, just brought him for company.”
Sam Anbul frowned, eyeing the man beside Jwa Hobup.
Dang Mujin sensed it immediately. The man beside Jwa Hobup had also surpassed the supreme martial threshold.