Chapter 391: The Generous Flow of Inner Power
Dang Mujin watched as the disciple of Seonnaseung collapsed without a single visible injury, lying motionless on the ground. The sight was chilling.
“What a terrifying martial art,” he thought.
Both Dang Mujin and his companions, Hyeongong and Namgung Jincheon, adopted cautious stances. Their minds raced with questions. How should they respond if Seonnaseung attacked? Could he use his energy-siphoning technique through their clothes?
There was no way to know without experiencing it firsthand. Dang Mujin took a deep breath, steadying his anxious heart.
“There’s no running away from this.”
Dang Mujin wasn’t someone who believed in never retreating from a fight. Not being from a martial family, he wasn’t bound by the pride typical of martial artists, and his mentor, Gwai, wasn’t one to cling to pride either.
But this situation was different. The lives of hundreds in the Kunlun Mountains were at stake. If they retreated now, those lives would be left to Seonnaseung’s mercy, and Dang Mujin had no faith in the monk’s compassion. He had met all sorts of people, but never someone quite like Seonnaseung.
If he had to predict the outcome, it seemed likely to end poorly.
Yet, the situation took an unexpected turn. Instead of charging at Dang Mujin and his group, Seonnaseung lowered his stance and launched himself towards Jwahobeop and Gwangyeomra.
“What the—!”
As Seonnaseung swung his arm with force, Jwahobeop and Gwangyeomra leapt back in surprise.
“Seonnaseung! Why target us?”
It was a rather shameless question, considering they had just tried to stab him in the back. But Seonnaseung answered calmly.
“I’ve realized my mistake. It’s only right to deal with the wicked before the good.”
Gwangyeomra tried to reason on behalf of Jwahobeop. “Think about it! We came to Kunlun to help you! It was just a misunderstanding! We’re all part of the same cult, there’s no need for us to fight!”
“Hmm. Can you call a stab in the back a misunderstanding?”
Seonnaseung’s tone remained calm, but it was clear he was deeply displeased by the ambush. He showed no signs of backing down, and his disciples began attacking Jwahobeop and Gwangyeomra.
Dang Mujin, Hyeongong, and Namgung Jincheon exchanged glances and quietly sheathed their swords, crossing their arms. There was no need to intervene in the enemy’s internal conflict.
Of course, they weren’t just passive observers. With the enemy in disarray, it was wise to manipulate the situation to maximize their damage.
Dang Mujin and Hyeongong assessed the situation.
“Seonnaseung seems to have the upper hand over Gwangyeomra and Jwahobeop.”
In tense situations, those who step back and observe often see more than those caught in the fray. Both Hyeongong and Dang Mujin offered advice through telepathy.
Gwangyeomra, Seonnaseung is targeting your lower body. Steady yourself and prepare for unorthodox attacks.
Jwahobeop, pushing too hard in a crisis will only worsen the situation. Use your opponent’s momentum to create openings.
Don’t get too distracted by Seonnaseung’s disciples. They’re just buying time; Seonnaseung is the real threat.
“Damn it,” Gwangyeomra thought, annoyed by the unsolicited advice. But he couldn’t block out their voices mid-battle. And as much as it hurt his pride, their advice was somewhat helpful.
As the five of them clashed, a decisive moment unfolded. One of Seonnaseung’s disciples sacrificed himself to create an opening, allowing Seonnaseung to grab Jwahobeop’s ankle.
“Aaah!”
Jwahobeop screamed and thrashed, trying to free himself, but Seonnaseung’s grip was unyielding. He used his left hand to siphon Jwahobeop’s inner power while blocking Gwangyeomra’s sword with his right.
“Wow!”
While Jwahobeop and Gwangyeomra were in a panic, Dang Mujin and his group found the situation fascinating.
As they waited for Jwahobeop to either die or suffer a severe blow, a thought struck Dang Mujin.
“Is it really beneficial for Jwahobeop to die?”
When the fight began, Seonnaseung’s skills were only slightly superior to Jwahobeop’s and Gwangyeomra’s. But after using his energy-siphoning technique on a disciple, Seonnaseung’s abilities had clearly improved.
He hadn’t gained some profound new technique, but he was faster, stronger, and showed no signs of running out of inner power despite using it recklessly.
“Is he using the absorbed energy to enhance his own?”
Even his skin seemed tougher, as if Gwangyeomra and Jwahobeop’s blades couldn’t penetrate deeply.
If absorbing a disciple’s power made him this strong, how much more powerful would he become if he absorbed all of Jwahobeop’s energy?
“The risk of Seonnaseung growing stronger outweighs the benefit of Jwahobeop’s death.”
With that realization, Dang Mujin immediately hurled a flying wheel at Seonnaseung’s neck.
Seonnaseung ducked and swung his right arm to block the attack, but at the same time, Gwangyeomra’s sword lunged for his heart.
“Damn!”
Seonnaseung had no choice but to release Jwahobeop’s leg to defend his heart, just before Jwahobeop could sever his own shin.
Jwahobeop, who had narrowly avoided losing a leg, staggered back and shouted at Dang Mujin with genuine gratitude.
“Master Dang! I owe you a debt I will repay someday!”
His voice was filled with sincerity, unaware that it was Dang Mujin who had sent the telepathic advice earlier.
Jwahobeop had narrowly escaped death, but his movements were unsteady, and his voice lacked strength. Though he had only been held for a few breaths, the amount of inner power he had lost was staggering.
Dang Mujin thought, “Good. If we take down Seonnaseung now, Gwangyeomra and Jwahobeop will be easy to handle.”
Having made his decision, Dang Mujin raised his voice.
“The time to repay that debt is now! Let’s join forces and attack together!”
“Understood!”
Jwahobeop, despite his limp, raised his sword high in response. He seemed easily swept up by the moment.
But Gwangyeomra was different. Those who have fled often know best how to escape. Gwangyeomra suddenly punched Jwahobeop in the jaw.
“Ugh!”
Jwahobeop let out a short cry before losing consciousness and collapsing. Gwangyeomra quickly hoisted him over his shoulder and began to flee at an astonishing speed, as if using his own inner power.
”…”
Dang Mujin was momentarily taken aback by the unexpected turn of events. However, Hyeongong remained more composed, immediately sending a telepathic message to Seonnaseung.
It was a calm response, but not an effective one. Seonnaseung simply looked at Hyeongong with a vacant expression.
Something was off about Seonnaseung. His eyes were unfocused, like someone who had downed a jug of liquor, and bluish veins bulged across his body. Even his once-slender frame seemed to have swelled.
It was an unfamiliar phenomenon, but as both a healer and a martial artist, Dang Mujin could guess the cause. It was likely due to absorbing too much foreign inner power.
The ability to absorb another’s energy was indeed remarkable, but harmonizing it with one’s own was no simple task. Unlike the disciple’s energy, which was cultivated through the same techniques, Jwahobeop’s energy would have a completely different nature. Even a third-rate martial artist knew that different cultivation methods produced different types of energy.
Until Seonnaseung expended a significant portion of the forcibly absorbed energy, he would likely remain in this state.
“This doesn’t feel right,” Dang Mujin thought.
Just then, Seonnaseung lowered his stance, eyeing Dang Mujin and his group like a tiger about to pounce on its prey. Under his loose robes, his leg muscles tensed and bulged.
“Watch out!”
Seonnaseung kicked off the ground.
Boom!
He flew towards Dang Mujin’s group, skimming the ground with alarming speed. The sheer amount of inner power he used for that single leap was so immense that the air seemed to ripple as he launched himself.
In the next instant, Seonnaseung twisted his body, swinging his fist with a force that was the complete opposite of the sluggish movements he had shown before.
“Dodge!”
As Namgoong Jincheon shouted, Dang Mujin and Hyun Gong leaped into the air simultaneously. Just a moment later, Seonnaseung’s fist struck the spot where Namgoong Jincheon had been standing.
Boom!
Dark soil and old leaves erupted into the air, nearly three feet high.
It was hard to believe such power could come from Seonnaseung’s small frame. The force behind that punch surpassed even the might of Sam Anbul’s blows.
And it wasn’t over yet.
An ordinary person would need a moment to regain their balance after such a punch, but Seonnaseung’s enhanced physical abilities allowed for movements that seemed almost impossible.
In a flash, Seonnaseung adjusted his stance and launched himself toward Namgoong Jincheon, who was still airborne, swinging his fist once more.
Namgoong Jincheon deftly stepped on the incoming fist, using its momentum to propel himself even higher.
Having missed his target, Seonnaseung twisted in mid-air, now aiming for Hyun Gong.
But Hyun Gong, steady even in the air, easily blocked Seonnaseung’s punch with his sword held firmly in both hands.
Now, the only target left for Seonnaseung was Dang Mujin.
Dang Mujin wished he could defend himself as skillfully as Namgoong Jincheon or Hyun Gong. However, he had chosen a path of extreme aggression, neglecting defense. He lacked the ability to fend off attacks as they did.
‘Ugh!’
Dang Mujin twisted his body, attempting to step on Seonnaseung’s fist like Namgoong Jincheon had.
But Seonnaseung shifted his palm slightly, catching Dang Mujin’s left wrist instead.
Their pressure points connected—Dang Mujin’s Neiguan and Seonnaseung’s Laogong.
Like a drunkard craving more alcohol, Seonnaseung, overwhelmed by the internal energy he had absorbed, sought even more, his mind in a haze.
Dang Mujin felt his energy being drained at an alarming rate.
’…I’m doomed!’
Panic set in, and a flurry of thoughts raced through his mind.
Should he cut off his left arm, as if it were a leg being severed, to break free from Seonnaseung’s grip?
What expression would Namgoong Myung have if he saw him without an arm? Could Dan Seol-young craft a prosthetic for him?
“Ugh!”
But at that moment, Seonnaseung suddenly released Dang Mujin’s wrist, startled. The energy that had been draining from Dang Mujin stabilized.
Seonnaseung’s unexpected action gave Dang Mujin a fleeting moment.
In that brief instant, Dang Mujin understood the situation completely.
Acting on instinct rather than reason, he executed the technique of the Ivy Vine from the Jasim Sword with both hands.
Dang Mujin’s hands climbed up Seonnaseung’s arm like ivy.
Despite Seonnaseung’s immense internal energy and physical prowess, his lack of deep understanding left him unable to evade Dang Mujin’s grasp.
Dang Mujin’s hand clasped Seonnaseung’s.
Their pressure points met again, and Dang Mujin’s energy began to drain rapidly once more.
All of this happened before Dang Mujin even landed back on the ground.
“Aaah, aaaargh!”
Dang Mujin laughed, while Seonnaseung screamed in agony.
The poison mixed with Dang Mujin’s energy, along with the vast amount of venom he had stored within himself, seeped into Seonnaseung’s body.
Bones as hard as steel and skin tough enough to resist blades were now meaningless.
Seonnaseung desperately tried to close his pressure point. But once opened, it wouldn’t close easily, and the technique he had unleashed couldn’t be stopped at will.
He tried to pull his arm away, but it wouldn’t obey.
The lightest of the poisons within Dang Mujin, a paralyzing toxin, had numbed Seonnaseung’s arms.
More effective than poisons ingested or inhaled, which spread from the stomach or lungs, was the blood poison that mixed with the bloodstream.
And more swiftly and lethally than blood poison was the venom that traveled through the meridians, spreading via the eight extraordinary vessels.
Seonnaseung felt his body stiffening and his heart slowing. It was terrifying.
Dang Mujin grinned and whispered to Seonnaseung.
“You seem to like other people’s energy. Don’t hold back, take as much as you want.”
Those were the last words Seonnaseung heard in his life.