Chapter 151: Chapter 151
The Old Tree of Mount Song, Master Beop-jin.
As the greatest elder of the righteous martial world who rarely intervened in the major or minor affairs of the Alliance, when he occasionally voiced an opinion, everyone respected it.
However, the Sect Leader of Wudang, which was called one of the two great pillars of the Righteous Path alongside Shaolin, directly refuted his words. Zhongnan, which was beside him, also subtly added its weight.
The two opinions were not easily reconciled, and the Chief Strategist was not a man to miss such a golden opportunity.
“Both of your words have merit. Since we did not gather here to fight, how about compromising at an appropriate point?”
Master Beop-jin opposed granting autonomous authority to the Hidden Dragon Squad.
The Wudang Sword Immortal insisted that rather than mere autonomy, it was right to bestow the rank of Hall Master itself.
Therefore, it was ultimately decided at the middle ground: granting autonomous authority. Because Master Beop-jin was not one to go against the flow either, he obediently nodded his head.
“Ho-ho, Sword Immortal, I did not know you cherished that child so much.”
“Amitabha. Isn’t what is good simply good?”
Master Beop-jin’s eyes widened before he let out a hearty laugh. It was something he had never imagined that the fastidious Wudang Sword Immortal would act like this. Both reciting Buddhist scriptures with wit despite being a Daoist, and sincerely proposing to give Cheon Woo-jin that child the position of Hall Master.
The Wudang Sword Immortal was already one of the grandmasters who had attained completion. For whatever reason, such a person was expanding his inner self and growing even further.
Master Beop-jin considered this a miraculous karmic encounter.
‘That child changes many things.’
That change was certainly a favorable breeze and a guiding light leading the righteous martial world along the correct path.
* * *
After the Grand Council came to an end.
Receiving the Chief Strategist’s command to deliver this news to Cheon Woo-jin, a strategist began running toward the Hidden Dragon Squad. His face somehow held an indescribable overwhelming emotion.
Heavens, a martial artist who had just passed twenty had not only become a squad leader, but was now right before the position of Hall Master.
Autonomous authority was in itself an authority symbolizing a hall master. Obtaining this meant that in the near future, the possibility of becoming a hall master was high.
To be able to witness from the side those moments when an expert who defied common sense deeply inscribed his name into the history of the martial world. As a strategist, living in the same era as such a martial artist was truly a heart-throbbing thing.
‘He will surely be startled, right?’
.
.
.
The strategist’s expectation was shattered in a single stroke.
“Is that so?”
At the Hidden Dragon Squad Leader’s unenthusiastic reaction, the strategist stomped his feet.
No, to have such a reaction to this remarkable matter that found no precedent in the history of the Martial Alliance!
The strategist made a big fuss, explaining how incredible this was and what kinds of things would happen from now on.
Even so, Cheon Woo-jin’s expression was the exact same as usual.
“To summarize, does it not mean I can act as I please from now on?”
“Yes, that is true, but. This is truly an incredible…”
“Thank you for the explanation.”
Cheon Woo-jin nodded casually.
The strategist also looked at Cheon Woo-jin as if feeling frustrated, then sighed and nodded. He had long heard rumors of the Hidden Dragon Squad Leader’s characteristically dry personality.
But facing him in person, was it not beyond dry and at the level of a severe drought?
‘Indeed. Rather than a martial artist of this caliber making a fuss together with me, this might be cooler.’
Thinking so, the strategist suddenly grinned.
“Squad Leader of the Hidden Dragon Squad, I am always grateful. Not just me, but every strategist in the Military Strategy Department probably feels the same.”
“For what?”
“You might not know, but within the Military Strategy Department, Squad Leader is already no different from a hero.”
A strategist was a position forced to always make the optimal choice. Matters of life and death hung on their choices, and in a power like the Martial Alliance, a single mistaken judgment by a strategist could kill hundreds of people.
From the perspective of strategists who always pulled their hair out to achieve the greatest victory with the least damage, Cheon Woo-jin was truly a hero, a problem-solver, a savior, and perhaps no different from a god.
Because no matter how nonsensical the mission was, once the Hidden Dragon Squad Leader stepped forward, it was resolved like a miracle.
Toward Cheon Woo-jin who still wore a puzzled expression, the strategist gave two thumbs up with both hands. Because even if he explained passionately, it was certain he would merely say, “Is that so?”
Soon, the strategist smiled bashfully and vanished.
“…A strange person.”
Having reached that conclusion, Cheon Woo-jin sat on the wooden veranda and thought for a moment. He had never been bound to the Martial Alliance in the first place, but now that they told him to do whatever he wanted, he was pondering what to do.
Around the time Cheon Woo-jin was wearing a serious expression with his chin resting on his hand, the members of the Hidden Dragon Squad entered the courtyard. Lately, half their time was spent in the Hidden Dragon Squad, and half was spent meeting their respective masters.
Suddenly seeing the three people, the events that had occurred at the Kunlun Sect came to mind.
“I should go to the Tang Clan. It is not very far from here.”
Perhaps Dok-ra-su, who had fled, might be there. In any case, Dok-ra-su’s purpose was to treat the Poison King’s dementia.
“Oh, then we shall go together too.”
Song Yi-yeon said. In any case, without Cheon Woo-jin, there was nothing in particular to do even if they remained in the Hidden Dragon Squad.
Jin Un and Namgung Jin also stepped forward to tag along, saying they should see their peer Tang So-yeon after a long time. She had been preoccupied with stabilizing the Tang Clan ever since the incident with Tang Bi-cheon.
Cheon Woo-jin nodded his head. He had also left his masters’ shade and stood on his own feet, learning quite a few new things. Tang So-yeon was also a brilliant woman, so she was surely doing the same.
Seeing their peer who had become a respectable martial artist might serve as another source of inspiration for the three.
Thus, the Hidden Dragon Squad headed side by side toward the Tang Clan. Since they had already acquired autonomous authority, no one’s permission was needed.
* * *
On the path leading from the Martial Alliance’s Sichuan Temporary Headquarters to the Tang Clan.
Cheon Woo-jin froze in his spot, uncharacteristically flustered.
The three Hidden Dragon Squad members behind him had their faces turned entirely pale.
“S-Save me!”
Dok-ra-su was sprinting toward the Hidden Dragon Squad. His complexion was blue, as if in desperate need of an outhouse.
However, it was not that he urgently needed an outhouse; behind him, the Poison King, whose pupils had vanished, was giving chase.
Furthermore, a little farther back, Tang So-yeon, whom they had expected to have matured mentally, had become a living carriage, carrying the Divine Physician on her back while frantically following and shouting.
“Father! You must not kill Uncle!”
“…”
The moment Cheon Woo-jin saw this, he understood intuitively. That Dok-ra-su had pushed too hard attempting treatment and thoroughly provoked the Poison King.
Soon, Dok-ra-su, the Poison King, and Tang So-yeon brushed past the Hidden Dragon Squad at astonishing speed. It was so fast that the hair and robes of Cheon Woo-jin and the squad members fluttered in the wind.
For a moment, Dok-ra-su wanted to ask Cheon Woo-jin to save him, but because of his past record of abandoning the Hidden Dragon Squad and running away at the Kunlun Sect, he could not bring himself to do so.
Cheon Woo-jin and the Hidden Dragon Squad simply stood still in place.
From the direction Dok-ra-su had run off, he dashed back toward this way, wind whooshing past their ears.
From then on, it was a repetition. Unable to bring himself to ask to be saved, he was somehow only running around Cheon Woo-jin.
Unable to watch any longer, Song Yi-yeon spoke.
“…Should we not help?”
“At this rate, Young Lady Tang will also die of exhaustion.”
Jin Un also chimed in with a word.
Even so, Cheon Woo-jin did not move in the slightest.
How many times did Dok-ra-su appear around Cheon Woo-jin and vanish like that? Tang So-yeon was already exhausted and collapsed onto the ground alongside the Divine Physician, and the gap between Dok-ra-su and the Poison King gradually narrowed until he was right on the verge of being caught.
Soon, the Poison King reached out his hand. Dok-ra-su sensed death, thinking, ‘Because of my karma, I die like this without even being able to ask for help.’
At that moment, Cheon Woo-jin made a slight move.
Not only the Divine Physician beside him, but even the squad members and Tang So-yeon lost track of Cheon Woo-jin’s movement in an instant.
Soon, an immense sound struck their ears.
Kaaang!
The Crescent Moon Staff swung by Cheon Woo-jin bashed the Poison King’s forehead.
Bounding straight back as he charged, the Poison King smashed through dozens of giant trees before slumping down limply.
“…I-Is he dead?”
The Divine Physician spoke thus. Even for the Poison King, after charging at such speed and getting bashed in the forehead with this kind of destructive power, wouldn’t he die?
However, the Poison King blinked his eyes like someone who had briefly dozed off and stood back up. No matter how afflicted with dementia, a martial artist of the Realm Beyond the Heavens was truly sturdy.
“Elder Divine Physician, to treat him, what must we do first?”
“We must put him to sleep. If he runs wild in that state, we cannot attempt anything.”
Cheon Woo-jin nodded his head.
Soon, having completely risen to his feet, the Poison King glared toward this direction.
Without taking his eyes off the Poison King, Cheon Woo-jin asked Tang So-yeon.
“Young Lady Tang, will you be all right?”
“Pardon?”
“To forcibly put him to sleep, there is no other way.”
Since he could not use poison on the Poison King.
Understanding the meaning, Tang So-yeon closed her eyes with a resolute expression. In any case, to even attempt treatment, they had to put her father to sleep. But as a dutiful daughter, she could not bear to watch that sight with open eyes.
Soon, the Poison King charged forward.
It was truly an astonishing speed. It was as if a venomous serpent the size of a house was tearing through empty air and approaching.
At that overwhelming momentum, even while feeling their innards churn, the squad members protected the Divine Physician. Because he was a doctor who did not know martial arts, something might go wrong with him.
Soon, the squad members and Dok-ra-su stared fixedly at Cheon Woo-jin. How on earth could one seal the acupoints of an expert of the Realm Beyond the Heavens to put him to sleep?
The Poison King fired daggers from his chest. Added to the speed of his charge, the daggers’ speed was so fast that they looked like flashes of light in an instant.
Even so, Cheon Woo-jin deflected all the daggers by lightly waving his hand to shoot finger wind.
Soon, the Poison King arrived right before his nose. Vivid bluish-green poisonous qi dwelled in his two hands. Just grazing it would completely melt not only skin, but internal organs and bones as well.
The method to dismantle it was simple.
Do not get touched.
Kaaaaaaaboom!!
A colossal explosion incomparable to before erupted.
The Crescent Moon Staff smashed down directly onto the Poison King’s crown.
Spurting blood from his cracked head, the Poison King slammed into the ground.
Not stopping there, Cheon Woo-jin pressed his knee into his solar plexus to completely subdue him, then sealed his acupoints.
“…”
The thick dust settled.
In the awkward silence, Dok-ra-su crept forward stealthily.
Before he could even utter a word, Cheon Woo-jin spoke first.
“Begin the treatment first.”
“You mean right here?”
“An expert of the Poison King’s caliber could awaken at any moment. If he awakens while heading to the Tang Clan or the Martial Alliance, someone might die. If that does not matter, we could do so…”
The Divine Physician quickly laid out acupuncture needles on the ground, and Dok-ra-su prepared by generating Extreme Yang Poison.
The first to move was the Divine Physician. Taking needles of various sizes from a cylinder, he began inserting them into the Poison King’s body. Though the situation was chaotic, his concentration was immense as befitting the reputation of the Divine Physician. Without the slightest tremor in those wrinkled hands, he safely placed over a hundred needles.
Concentrating so intensely, the Divine Physician wiped the stream of sweat trickling down his chin with the back of his hand and spoke.
“I have forcibly opened the qi channels of his entire body. It will not hold for very long. Let us begin immediately.”
Next was Dok-ra-su’s turn.
He placed his palm near the Poison King’s dantian. Then, the Extreme Yang Poison began flowing through the qi channels. If there was the slightest mistake, the meridians would tear and melt away.
However, Dok-ra-su was also an expert with few rivals under heaven in poison arts. Combined with the effort he had honed for nearly half a year, the Extreme Yang Poison gradually moved upward under Dok-ra-su’s delicate and thorough control.
Without disturbing the meridians in the least, he displayed divine skill in burning only the impurities trapped within them. As the impurities burned away, a faint foul stench drifted into the surroundings, and soon the Extreme Yang Poison halted just below the head.
Dok-ra-su’s role ended here. In the end, dementia was a problem of the head. It was the Divine Physician’s conclusion that the impurities trapped there had to be burned away.
Fortunately, because the Poison King was an expert of the Realm Beyond the Heavens who had already opened his upper dantian, the qi channels around his head were open. However, because they were extremely narrow and intricately tangled compared to the body’s channels, even Dok-ra-su lacked the confidence to dare control the Extreme Yang Poison there.
It was Cheon Woo-jin’s turn to step forward.
He placed his hand over the back of Dok-ra-su’s hand. Gently closing his eyes, he heightened his energy sense to an extreme sensitivity.
Then, the intricately intertwined qi channels throughout the Poison King’s body were felt as clearly as if visible to the eye.
Soon, a streak of energy released by Cheon Woo-jin touched the Extreme Yang Poison. The energy and the poison fused with each other, and the poison itself came under Cheon Woo-jin’s control.
“Can I remove my hand now…”
“You cannot.”
In any case, the reason the Extreme Yang Poison obediently complied without resisting was that it was energy infused through Dok-ra-su’s hand.
Dok-ra-su quietly shut his mouth and waited.
Having gained control of the Extreme Yang Poison, Cheon Woo-jin moved it toward the upper dantian calmly, yet at a speed that was by no means slow.
At that daring movement, Dok-ra-su was shocked out of his wits. However, knowing he must not disturb Cheon Woo-jin’s concentration in the slightest from now on, he quietly regulated his breathing.
Within Cheon Woo-jin’s energy sense, ten impurities that needed to be burned were felt. Once the target was determined, there was no reason to hesitate. The Extreme Yang Poison flowed along the qi channels of the upper dantian at rapid speed.
He melted away the first impurity.
The second, third, and fourth were also accomplished in an instant.
Dok-ra-su, the only one who could directly sense Cheon Woo-jin’s energy manipulation, wore an astounded face. He had thought that no matter how skilled Cheon Woo-jin was, it would take at least two hours.
Of course, there was no guarantee of success even after two hours. Yet, less than a few minutes after starting, he had already melted seven impurities.
Was such a thing possible for a mortal? No, was this bastard truly even human? If a god governing martial arts existed in the heavens above, he would be just like this fellow.
As the impurities were incinerated in an instant and everyone anticipated a hopeful result from the joy dwelled on Dok-ra-su’s face.
The Poison King opened his eyes.
Unlike before, they were not unfocused eyes, but the deep, dark green pupils unique to the Sichuan Tang Clan. However, what dwelled in both eyes was unmistakable hostility. Those ferocious eyes were scanning the surroundings.
“What is this…”
“N-No!”
Dok-ra-su cried out in sheer panic. If the Poison King started moving in the slightest during such an extremely delicate procedure, his entire head would melt away. This was something everyone, not just Dok-ra-su, could foresee.
But the Poison King soon attempted to raise his body.
Finally, he moved, raising his qi and showing the momentum to slaughter those who were pinning him down.
“You bastards!”
Instantly, an enormous shockwave of energy burst out in all directions.
The energy wave unleashed by an expert of the Realm Beyond the Heavens while feeling his life threatened was truly colossal and ferocious.
Dok-ra-su fell into despair.
It was all over.
The squad members and Tang So-yeon had already taken the Divine Physician and widened the distance significantly. Though they were experts who had proudly reached the peak realm, merely getting caught in the shockwave churned their internal qi.
In resignation, Dok-ra-su also tried to pull his hand away. Because the Extreme Yang Poison must have already wreaked total havoc inside the Poison King’s head.
It was at that moment.
“Stay still.”
Cheon Woo-jin pressed firmly on Dok-ra-su’s hand so he could not pull it away.
Then, forcibly slamming the Poison King’s forehead into the ground with his other hand, he continued what he had been doing.
His expression was calm and dry, as always.
Dok-ra-su’s jaw slowly dropped. The Poison King was struggling violently to survive. As befitting an expert of the Realm Beyond the Heavens, his strength and energy were tremendous. Yet Cheon Woo-jin was forcibly pinning down such a Poison King while continuing that delicate procedure.
Even his speed became twice as fast as before. The Extreme Yang Poison began burning the impurities once more.
He was not merely resembling a martial god. He was no different from a martial god who had already descended to earth. At least to the current Dok-ra-su, Cheon Woo-jin appeared that way.
Eight, nine…
The moment he burned the last remaining impurity.
Boom!
The energies generated by the two experts of the Realm Beyond the Heavens collided head-on, causing a massive explosion.
Soon, Cheon Woo-jin finally removed his hand and pulled back. Dok-ra-su was simply dragged along by Cheon Woo-jin like a doll made of paper.
“…”
In the silence.
The thick explosion subsided.
The Poison King’s figure was revealed.
Seeing this, Tang So-yeon and Dok-ra-su slumped to the ground at the same time.
The Poison King was sleeping with a face more peaceful than ever before. One could tell just from that expression. That the impurities in his head that had tormented him had completely disappeared, and the treatment they had considered a miracle had succeeded.