Chapter 349: Yes, Sir, Elder!
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“Kkeu-reuk…”
“Kkeu-reuk, kkeu-reu-reuk…”
Over a dozen surviving Ghost-Slaying Leopards each made pained sounds as they slowly retreated.
They appeared intimidated before the giant’s ferocity.
At that moment.
TUDUDUDUK-!
The giant grabbed the Ghost-Slaying Leopard whose neck he’d just twisted, and brutally tore it apart as if bisecting it.
With pure strength alone, not Internal energy.
Tearing a large beast’s body like mere paper was something not just anyone could do.
It was truly tremendous arm strength.
HUDUK, HUDUDUDUK… HUDUDUDUK…
Rank-smelling blood dripped onto the moonlit ground.
HWIK, HWIHWIK-
The giant soon carelessly threw away the two-piece carcass and moved his sturdy shoulders with a light shrug.
He appeared to be around fifty years old.
The giant’s features were the very image of a rough-hewn man.
His facial features with thick lines were reminiscent of a great tiger.
Combined with his bushy mustache and beard, they harmonized to deliver an even more intense atmosphere.
All hair including his tightly bundled topknot was dark brown, giving the feeling of facing some kind of fierce beast.
That impression was strengthened by his eight-Cheok height and bear-like massive build.
His attire was quite different from that of the Jianghu.
First, on his upper body he wore only a sleeveless gray vest.
It was clothing made from the hide of some unknown beast.
The muscular chest and abdomen visible between the unfastened vest could well be called the perfect sculptural work of a master artisan…
His chest was thick and solid, split apart like flattening a stone slab, and below that, a rippling washboard-like abdomen had settled.
That wasn’t all.
The arm muscles clearly exposed on both sides of the gray vest were swollen to the point of seeming about to burst at any moment, and the tendons bulging along his forearms resembled tiny snakes slithering in curves.
Furthermore.
The lower body muscles, wearing only short pants made of the same beast hide as the upper garment, were likewise.
His thick thighs looked like tree trunks attached, and his calves, no less impressive, were so strained that the boots covering up to near his knees seemed about to burst.
Raw masculine beastliness, itself.
He was a possessor of muscles that any strapping man would want at least once.
However, there existed something even more impressive than such an exterior.
That was the large, thick, long objects hung in an X-shape crossing over his back.
They were weapons.
Resembling beast horns.
Strange and unique weapons that couldn’t be seen in the Orthodox or Unorthodox Jianghu.
They looked like horns, but in fact they were teeth.
Ivory.
That’s right.
They were an elephant’s large tusks.
Across all under heaven, there existed just one famous force that used such large ivory as weapons.
That was Southern Embrace Poison Palace, which had ruled the southern forest beyond the borders for long ages.
However, the ivory the giant carried on his back was entirely deep green, unlike ordinary ivory.
Any martial artist would have been able to immediately recognize it upon seeing that.
The fact that the giant’s identity was Hegemon of Poison Paramount Meng Wang, the current Southern Embrace Poison Palace Master.
It couldn’t be unknown.
Because the green ivory weapon was famous as a symbol of successive Southern Embrace Poison Palace Masters.
That was the unique tusk of a Green Wave Elephant, a legendary venomous creature and divine creature of the ancient southern forest.
As befitting precious and special ivory, it boasted hardness rivaling ten-thousand-year cold iron and Adamantine Unbreakable Iron, and moreover, it exhibited strange toxicity when certain conditions were met, so it was commonly called the Number One Strange Weapon of the Southern Forest.
The official name within Southern Embrace Poison Palace was “Green Fang Poison Horn.”
BEONJJEOK.
Hegemon of Poison Paramount Meng Wang’s bulging tiger eyes gleamed with a fierce light.
“You bastards, where did all your earlier savage vigor go?”
Along with the low words, his entire body’s muscles slightly swelled.
As if showing off power whose depths couldn’t be fathomed.
Meng Wang, who had been installed as Southern Embrace Poison Palace Master thirty-odd years ago, was fifty-seven years old this year.
Yet his body still looked as elastic as someone in their twenties.
At that moment, one Ghost-Slaying Leopard growled and revealed its fangs.
Then the rest also let out killing-intent-mixed sounds.
Having quietly adjusted his stance, Meng Wang chuckled.
“Ha, you won’t run away to the end? You’ve resolved to die?”
Immediately after, he thought while clenching both fists.
‘Upper-level sorcery that overcomes even fear? The Heretic Cult’s skill has developed quite a bit. Brainwashing even such venomous creatures to move them as their own… it wasn’t just the Ghost-Slaying Leopards, was it.’
In an instant, over a dozen Ghost-Slaying Leopards charged like a gale.
PAPAPAT, PAT, PAPAPAT-!
Not to be outdone, Meng Wang also advanced with fierce momentum.
PEOK, PEOPEOK- PPEOPPEK, PPEK- PPEUDEUK, PPEUDEUDUK- UJIKEUN-!
Bodies swatted flying here and there before the two fists swung fast and fiercely.
One-strike, one-Slaying formidable martial force.
Before Meng Wang’s fearsome punching, the remaining Ghost-Slaying Leopards also followed the earlier-slain group to the afterlife.
It was truly accomplished within the space of blinking a few times.
“Well, shall I go again?”
Meng Wang, who had grinned, kicked off the ground and moved.
TUTUTUTU, TUTUTUTU-
Movement cutting through the forest in a straight line, as if he became Divine Wind.
His demeanor was unafraid even of the absolute formations spread throughout this place.
There was a reason for that.
Not long ago, an unexpected person who visited Southern Embrace Poison Palace had taught him in detail how to escape several types of absolute formations.
He was none other than the new sect master of White Peak Sword Sect, Cheol Ryu-heun.
Meng Wang suddenly thought of that time’s events while running.
‘He was truly a strange and immeasurable person.’
-Nice to meet you. Palace Master Meng. I’m Cheol Ryu-heun, who became the new sect master of White Peak Sword Sect.
-Your speech seems rather short.
-Why, does it displease you?
-Hmph! It’s fine. I won’t nitpick. I’ve already heard rumors about your supreme Jianghu seniority.
-My story has already spread here?
-Generally, words without feet travel faster.
-Well, I do have a horse with feet faster than those words. He’s standing over there. Named Divine Wind.
-Hmm, I’ve heard about that too. They say he runs as if flying through the sky. Like a flash of light. Is that really so?
-It is. I came here in one shichen.
-O-one shichen…! It’s certain he’s a rare divine creature. Just looking at the tremendous energy contained in that body alone…
-It’s the effect of consuming Thousand-Year immortal Ginseng and Azure Clear Stone Milk.
-What…! Thousand-Year Immortal Ginseng? Azure Clear Stone Milk? Are you, are you sane? How could you give those to a mere horse…!
-It was just a simple mistake. Recently, he drank the sacred water of a secret land and became even stronger.
-…
-Rather, shall we get to the main topic now?
-Hmm… yes. I heard earlier you said you have something to give me and came to find me? Is that by any chance… that horse?
-What, that fellow is an irreplaceable mount at the level of divine weapon that I wouldn’t sell even for tens of thousands of gold bars.
-Then?
-This. Here, receive it.
-No, this is…!
-Correct. It’s Ten Thousand Heaven Poison Storm Needle, once called the supreme, most vicious hidden weapon beyond the borders. The one that a past palace master had stolen by Slaughter Guanyin Pung Woo-hee.
-Goodness…!
-Well, I happened to acquire it while passing by, so I came to return it.
-It’s genuine! Without a doubt!
-Obviously.
-This… you picked up? While passing by the road?
-That’s just a manner of speaking. It’s related to a providence I obtained, so just let it pass. Anyway, you’ve recovered a precious item lost long ago, isn’t that enough?
-What you say is right, but… you’re not just giving it, are you?
-Of course.
-It seems you have something to request of me.
-That’s right.
-Let’s hear it at least.
-I will soon head to the Shiwan Mountains.
-The Shiwan Mountains?
-I plan to go there and sweep away the enemy hidden within. So I wish to borrow Palace Master Meng’s martial force and elite personnel.
-The enemy means… the Heretic Cult?
-The Heretic Cult, and also the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan.
-The Darkness-Craving Blood Clan…!
-It’s still speculation, but I’m virtually certain.
-Remarkable.
-Furthermore, I also plan to investigate the true nature of the mysterious force that is their true mastermind.
-Hmm… there’s a hidden power?
-Currently, the enemy is spreading plausible words to steal people’s lives with wicked mischief that must be sorted out.
-I was told by a subordinate yesterday. About rumors related to the Divine Martial Sword… are you saying that’s the enemy’s scheme?
-Precisely. Those tempted by the name Divine Martial Sword are currently flocking to the Shiwan Mountains. Without knowing it’s a conspiracy plotted by a wicked group.
-But what if the Divine Martial Sword actually exists…?
-That couldn’t possibly be.
-But…
-If the Divine Martial Sword actually existed, I would have already claimed it. If you really can’t believe it, just come to that place and check the reality? If my words are wrong, consider today’s meeting as if it never happened. I won’t harbor any complaints. Of course, I won’t expect any payment for returning that Ten Thousand Heaven Poison Storm Needle either.
-Hmm…
-Oh right, there’s more to give. Let’s see. Oops, I accidentally dropped it while taking it from my pocket.
-Oh my! Th-that book is… the lost Puppet Scorpion Poison Technique…!
-Here, and this bundle too. Ah dear, the knot came loose by mistake and everything spilled out.
-No, wh-wh-what…! Could all of that possibly be elixirs…?
-Green Standard Snake Fruit, Hundred-Year Poison Dew Crystal, Extreme Heat Purple Heart Grass and about a dozen other types of elixirs that have special effect in improving poison arts. I brought them to distribute to your subordinates as snacks.
-Snacks…? Distribute? You’re… crazy! Does that make sense! Such precious things, how…
-I still have over ten more bundles?
-Gasp! Over ten bundles…?
-The number of elixirs… about fifty or sixty in each bundle, I think. I didn’t count precisely, but it’s probably around that.
-Good heavens…!
-I estimate that if you have all of that, Southern Embrace Poison Palace’s core expert forces’ power will become several times stronger than now.
-Elder! Please accept my bow!
-All of a sudden?
-What do you mean all of a sudden! Sect Master Cheol’s seniority transcends factions and is supreme, isn’t it? Yes indeed, you’re an elder far, far above me! Please speak down to me casually!
-Shall I?
-Yes, yes! This lowly one committed a discourtesy at our first meeting! Please generously overlook it!
-Good, I like that. Here, receive this paper.
-What is it?
-I’ve written down the locations of hidden providences within the southern forest. Consider it an advance payment… no, rather a token of promise.
-…!
-Here, receive one more paper. On this I’ve written in detail the contents related to this situation, including what you need to do. Read it and head for the Shiwan Mountains on the appointed date. In any case, when the matter ends successfully, I’ll immediately send the remaining elixirs.
-Th-thank you! Elder! I’ll never forget this great grace!
-Enough, you can save such words of thanks for after the business is done.
-Kahahat! Yes, understood! I’ll bring the special-grade forces our palace boasts!
-By the way… do you perhaps have a Charm Light Pearl? That’s something I’m having difficulty obtaining.
-I happen to have exactly two! Our palace was also lucky enough to obtain them!
-Really? That’s great. Then give me just one. I need that to command difficult upper-level venomous creatures like Ghost Cloud Great Bees.
-Yes, yes! Of course, I’ll give it to you! Whatever you say! I can give you anything except my youngest daughter, born in my old age!
Meng Wang then erased his thoughts and laughed silently.
‘Hoo… Sect Master Cheol’s predictions were accurate. Everything is happening just as written on that paper.’
He, flashing his eyes fiercely, ran even faster.
‘A benefactor I’ll never encounter again in my life, and also a savior. So I must properly repay him! I’ll strike down everything standing in my way! Whether it’s the Heretic Cult leader or the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan Leader!’