Chapter 50

Wang Gae-yuk, the leader of the Great Justice Gate, decided to join the rescue mission for the missing persons after much contemplation.

It was not an easy decision.

Although there were spies inside, this was a group capable enough to evade the eyes of Haowen and the Open Gate.

Plus, they had the means to provide malevolent demonic arts.

But every crisis is also an opportunity.

Even the attempt would bring significant fame.

Fame translates to influence, and influence is power.

They could become the ruling sect of Huangchun.

Moreover, all four guests were peak masters.

Great Justice Gate had two peak masters.

At least the leader and the Lawkeeper Elder were at the early peak stage.

Adding the guests, there were six peak masters total. A fearsome force, indeed.

Up to the early supreme tier, they could win without much trouble.

For this reason, Wang Gae-yuk prepared for battle enthusiastically, yet very slowly.

The best case scenario? The rescue team goes but the mysterious force has already vanished, returning only with the corpses of the missing.

They would rise as heroes and gain reputation; if there’s no enemy, the doors of the sect wouldn’t suffer damage.

That’s why they were taking their time.

So, they casually checked the condition of their numbers.

Taking unnecessary time to inspect their weapons and return them after a thorough check.

Counting the number of those bandages and ointments again seemed to be a strategic stalling tactic.

Some might laugh it off as a shallow ruse, but for any sect to commit their full strength to a fight is already a heavy decision for survival.

Hence, even the young masters of the Heavenly Martial Stage turned a blind eye to the obvious antics.

While the Great Justice Gate put on a busy performance, the guests had their own unfinished conversations.

“So, what happened?”

“What do you mean?”

“Wang Son-man, that guy.”

“What’s there to explain? Bad guy did bad things. End of story.”

Pang Dae-san frowned.

“That’s not what I’m talking about.”

“What? Why?”

Pang Dae-san grew serious.

“It was too dangerous. That guy…”

He couldn’t finish his sentence.

Wang Son-man was a figure too hard to call a human.

If you were to say it resembled a person, you could claim it’s a human as long as you stuck four sticks to the body and placed something round on top.

His skin peeled and his muscles torn, Wang Son-man’s state could only be defined as such.

Yet the reality was a horrifically dreadful sight.

Every muscle was sliced, twisted, and tied, with parts of his white bones visibly sticking out, the veins floating nearby.

His chest had been opened up, and the sight of his organs pulsating could be seen by the eye.

There are many madmen in the world, but this was an exceptionally twisted brutality.

“What if you had encountered such a monster? And alone, no less! Couldn’t you have given me, or rather us, a heads-up?”

Pang Dae-san struggled to speak about that which he didn’t even want to think about, resulting in Qing misunderstanding him.

What he understood was that the monster referred to was Wang Son-man.

Wait, are you worried I could have been taken down instead?

Qing had no intention of hiding his handiwork.

Had Pang Dae-san asked why he had gone that far, he would’ve simply replied he was just messing with a bad guy a bit.

There should be no shame in something one feels upright about.

But Pang Dae-san, not suspecting Qing was the wicked one, created a third party villain.

In fact, everyone thought so.

The leader of the Great Justice Gate believed Qing had rescued his second son.

Wang Son-man, now wrapped completely in bandages, lay in wait. It would take much time for this absurd misunderstanding to unravel.

Qing chuckled and thumped his chest in amusement at his brother’s concern.

“Me? Early peak. I don’t hear the worries of those weaker than me.”

“You…! No, that can’t be right.”

Pang Dae-san fought against bubbling anger.

But he was indeed correct.

Qing outranked Pang Dae-san as a master.

But to say he should be more cautious just because he was a woman could be a significant insult, as most female warriors would be sensitive to that.

So he made a silent vow to himself.

He must raise his mastery, no matter how dirty!

“By the way, this Heart Consumption Technique is terrifying.”

“Oh, Chang-bin, do you know about the Heart Consumption Technique?”

“Uh… Everyone, um, knows, right?”

“What? It’s that famous? Even Swordmaster knows?”

“Of course. Anyone with a bit of heritage should know at least the top ten demonic arts. Swordmaster seems unaware, so let me enlighten you.”

“Eh? Why? Do you really have to?”

“Because they are wicked entities that should vanish from the world. When discovered, they must be killed or reported to be hunted down, so anyone claiming to be orthodox must memorize them.”

“Orthodox doesn’t seem easy at all. Eleven? Don’t you usually just count in fives or tens?”

In China, people love to line things up, always in fives or tens.

Five families plus one armed faction equals five major clans, ten minor clans.

But eleven?

Qing tilted his head.

Namgoong Shin-jae explained without hesitation.

“Well, there’s this one worst of the worst among all demonic arts because of being a soul-stealing technique, and that’s…”

He spoke of the Heart Consumption Technique.

It’s one of the energy-harvesting skills, sucking not only inner strength but also vital blood and essence, a powerful and horrifying demonic art.

Lose all your essence, and you die on the spot.

Those who fall victim to the Heart Consumption Technique end up discovered as dry corpses, setting the entire martial world on high alert upon such a find.

For your reference, a dry corpse would be called a mummy in modern Seoul vernacular.

If the owner of the Heart Consumption Technique is left unchecked, they endlessly grow stronger, gradually losing their humanity, becoming a monster only seeking essence.

Truly, a natural enemy for all warriors is born.

“Excluding that, there are the ten major demonic arts. With this Heart Consumption Technique coming forth, there’s also Wheels of Law, Heaven’s Kill, Master of Dark Demon Arts, and others…”

While heard, Pang Dae-san growled.

“Will you ever stop saying that half-assed stuff?”

“A true gentleman doesn’t speak empty words in misfortune. Only genuine swordsmen do not deceive with flowery speech.”

“Why are you mixing gentlemen and swordsmen?”

“Because the sword is a gentleman’s weapon. That makes one a swordsman.”

It seemed he would continue.

Qing was counting off using his fingers, while Pang Dae-san let out a deep sigh and revealed the remaining two.

“Master of Thunder Arts, and Supreme Hand-to-Hand Combat.”

“Oh?”

Wait, suddenly an overly familiar name popped up, the very martial art recommended by Je-gal?

Did Je-gal hand over the information of the ten major demonic arts to me?

If Je-gal Lee-hyun heard this, he’d probably fly into a rage.

He didn’t think for a moment he would be able to learn it since Je-gal clearly intended to warn him.

The conversation had simply been cut short.

“Is… is the ten major demonic arts really that terrible?”

“Why would you even ask? The essence of demonic arts is that the more they are used, the more the demonic nature seeps in, causing one to lose their mind. They become increasingly cruel and vicious, losing patience. A demon is born.”

“But there could be those who don’t turn out that way, right?”

“The reason for specifying the ten major demonic arts is that those who become demons through demonic nature do so in a terribly horrific manner, or the technique itself is extremely dangerous for someone to possess.”

“What about Supreme Hand-to-Hand Combat?”

“Is that the only thing you’ve heard of?”

Pang Dae-san let out another sigh.

How could someone so ignorant survive in the harsh martial world?

“Supreme Hand-to-Hand Combat is too powerful, which makes it dangerous.”

The danger of Supreme Hand-to-Hand Combat lay in its unique usage, called ‘the poison of the few.’

If the hands of a Supreme Hand-to-Hand practitioner infiltrate, its poisonous energy would entwine, tearing and bursting through the meridians.

If the poison reached the vital point, one’s health and lifespan be at great risk, leaving one bedridden.

Common traits found among martial arts stemmed from Supreme Hand-to-Hand Combat.

Be it Blood Needle Technique or Flame Arts.

Qing felt cold sweat trickle down his back.

What the hell, if caught, that’d be a huge deal!

Just having a bit of practice could lead to death!

Though I wondered how excessive the fuss was about the demonic arts.

It’s like encountering the original demons among hunting dogs, their logic utterly uncomprehendable.

Beyond that, there was also a sense of pride.

Such powerful martial arts are feared!

Who am I? The master of Supreme Hand-to-Hand Combat!

At least Je-gal did give a proper recommendation.

Just as long as I don’t get caught, it should be fine.

Dead villains don’t curse, after all.

“Have you heard anything about those ‘bad guys’?”

“Don’t know? But I did hear that missing persons wouldn’t come back forever.”

“Hm.”

“I’ve got a rough idea about those involved.”

Qing recounted what happened at Dongjeong-ho briefly.

A lunatic woman had disguised herself as a Martial Alliance patrol officer, appearing alongside the Cannibal Demon.

And this very powerful Qing showed up and defeated the Cannibal Demon, saving everyone.

“Wait, Swordmaster. You said you killed the Cannibal Demon?”

“Of course! Plus, it was one against six! I won, so I must be somewhat amazing.”

“Oh, Swordmaster! So all the great things in the world truly happen through swordsman action! Bravo, Swordmaster!”

That was an obvious truth.

Five little kids who were more like corpses were technically affiliated with the Flame Martial Army.

Pang Dae-san scoffed as he watched Qing puffing up.

“You were playing the role of the six, huh?”

“Well, that’s what it is. How else could I defeat a supreme martial artist with my level of Qi?”

Qing was confident.

Just then, Chang-bin, who had been listening, timidly offered a suggestion.

“Um, so, doesn’t this mean we’re headed straight into a nest of those guys? Wouldn’t it be better to request the alliance’s help instead…?”

Qing frowned and looked over at Chang-bin.

As he attempted to convince that the remaining ones were hanging on to their lives, unable to let go because of the missing, he was interrupted.

“Seomun So-je? If you perceive it that way… I’m not saying I oppose the rescue… Ahem, since there are several peak masters already…”

Chang-bin’s rebellion was swiftly quashed.

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