Myst, Might, Mayhem

Chapter 331 – Sichuan’s Upheaval (4)

About 53 years ago.

Tang Yeon-jong, the Thousand Poison Hand and the Tang Clan’s Head from two generations prior, was about to face a showdown.

His opponent was Baek Yoo, an up-and-coming expert in poison techniques from the evil faction, known by the alias “Lord of Ten Thousand Poisons.”

When it came to poison techniques, the Tang Clan was considered the best alongside the Guyang Family, located on the path to the Western Regions.

However, this poison expert Baek Yoo had not only earned the title of one of the top ten experts in the martial arts world within just five years of his debut, but he also challenged the dominance of Elder Tang Yeon-jong in poison techniques.

‘Ah…’

Tang In-hae, the grandson who was only ten years old at the time, couldn’t hide his perplexity at the sight of his nervous Elder Tang Yeon-jong.

Elder had always shown great pride, saying that no one could match the Tang Clan when it came to poison.

But this was the first time he had seen his grandfather so nervous that he was even breaking out in a cold sweat.

They say that an expert recognizes another expert.

Even his father Tang Ho-yeon, the Junior Clan Leader, had a dark expression whenever he saw Baek Yoo.

At the mere age of ten, Tang In-hae couldn’t tell how strong the Lord of Ten Thousand Poisons Baek Yoo was, but judging from their reactions, he could tell that he was no ordinary expert.

[…Father. No, Clan Leader. Do you really have to face that person? No matter how I look at it, that person has reached the realm of the Ten Thousand Poison Pool Body.]

‘Ten Thousand Poison Pool Body?’

It was the highest realm said to surpass even the realm of a Poison Man.

As far as he knew, his grandfather had reached the realm of a Poison Man.

Tang In-hae looked at Baek Yoo and his three sons, with Baek Sa-ha being the successor, with an expression of disbelief.

Had that person really reached a realm that even his grandfather and father had not attained?

How could this be possible?

As he was perplexed, his grandfather Tang Yeon-jong opened his mouth.

[If we back down here, the family’s reputation will be ruined. Even if he has reached the Ten Thousand Poison Pool Body, we have the Formless Poison.]

[But…]

[That’s enough. This showdown can no longer be avoided.]

[Clan Leader…]

[If this father fails to survive the showdown, rise to the position of the Clan Leader. And… You must complete the Formless Poison Technique. That is the only way to match or counter the Ten Thousand Poison Pool Body.]

Grandfather had already prepared himself to lose his life.

The atmosphere on the family’s side became gloomy.

At that moment, someone they had never seen before approached where they were.

‘What muscles?’

His muscles were so thick that his upper and lower garments looked like they were about to burst.

Not only did he have such incredible muscles, but his face was also extremely handsome.

As he approached, Elder Tang Yeon-jong and his father Tang Ho-yeon seemed to recognize him and greeted him with surprised faces.

[Lord Yoo Moo-jin]

[It’s been a while, you two.]

The two men, who always exuded confidence no matter who they met, were strangely cautious towards this man who looked to be only in his mid-thirties.

Then, his father Tang Ho-yeon spoke with a joyful expression, clasping his hands together in respect.

-Pak!

[Lord Moo-jin. Please, for our Clan Leader…]

[Ahem!]

Grandfather Tang Yeon-jong interrupted his father’s words midway.

Then, he also showed respect to the man named Yoo Moo-jin and said,

[Lord Moo-jin, you don’t need to intervene in this matter. This is a place where the representatives of the families face each other in a fair showdown. It is absolutely not a situation where our family is in danger.]

At his words, Yoo Moo-jin turned his head, glanced at the Lord of Ten Thousand Poisons Baek Yoo, and spoke.

[I heard it’s a life-or-death match.]

[That’s right.]

[Are you sure you don’t need my help?]

[That’s right. This is a matter of the Tang Clan’s honor.]

[…You will surely lose your life.]

‘!!!!!!’

At those words spoken with certainty, Tang In-hae couldn’t contain his anger and raised his voice at him.

[Who are you to say that Grandfather will…]

[Ahem! Who told you to intervene without permission?]

[Grandfather, but…]

[Apologize to Lord Moo-jin at once.]

[Gr- Grandfather?]

[The Yoo Family has long protected our family. You cannot act rashly like a child who doesn’t know any better.]

[What? They have protected our family?]

As he was puzzled, Yoo Moo-jin extended his large hand and patted his head.

[So you’re Tang In-hae. It seems like only yesterday when you were crawling around, but you’ve grown a lot.]

-Clank clank!

As he patted his head, a strange sound was heard.

He glanced up and saw a golden bracelet on his right wrist.

***

-Boom!

Tang Cheol-young, the Deputy Head of the Sichuan Tang Clan, couldn’t close his mouth.

What was he seeing right now?

Green Forest Fighting King Seok Pae-ung, known as one of the top experts of the Eight Stars in the martial arts world, was hammered into the ground by a single punch from a young man.

The power of the seemingly simple punch was beyond imagination.

Just by looking at the ground that had caved in nearly 5 jang (approx. 16.5 meters), one could tell.

The Green Forest bandits were in an uproar.

It was a natural reaction since their leader had been attacked by someone of unknown identity who had suddenly appeared.

Then, someone’s voice was heard from the side.

“…That person has appeared.”

“Bro- Brother… No, Clan Leader?”

Tang Cheol-young was perplexed to see Clan Leader Tang In-hae beside him, not knowing when he had approached.

Then, he asked in confusion,

“Clan Leader. Do you happen to know that young man?”

“…That golden bracelet on his wrist. Don’t you recognize it?”

“Golden bracelet? Could it be?”

The eyes of Deputy Head Tang Cheol-young, who had noticed the golden bracelet on the young man’s right wrist, widened.

There was a long-standing instruction passed down in the Tang Clan’s bloodline.

It was a message about the Yoo Family who protected the Tang Clan.

[When the Tang Clan is in danger, if they appear, greet them with utmost respect.]

There was one criterion to recognize them.

It was the golden bracelet worn on their wrist.

‘He’s not the one from back then.’

He was much younger than the man called Yoo Moo-jin

It had been over 50 years since he had seen the Yoo Family after his grandfather, the Lord of Ten Thousand Poisons Tang Yeon-jong, had lost his life in the showdown that day.

‘Could he be a descendant of that person?’

Although he had seen Yoo Moo-jin, he had never truly witnessed his skills.

But now, seeing the Green Forest Fighting King Seok Pae-ung hammered into the ground by that young man’s hand, he couldn’t help but feel amazed.

***

-Sizzle!

White steam gushed out from Yoo Moo-jin’s body, whose muscles had swollen and turned red not only on his right arm but all over his body.

Feeling intimidated by this sight, the Green Forest bandits couldn’t move rashly.

To them, their leader Green Forest Fighting King Seok Pae-ung was an untouchable monster.

But that very leader had been pounded into the ground by a single punch.

Just what was the identity of this monster?

As they were perplexed,

“Boss!”

Someone shouted with a flushed face.

Seok Pae-ung, who they thought might have lost consciousness after being hammered into the ground with his head by a single punch, was getting up.

“Oh, you’re quite sturdy.”

Yoo Moo-jin looked at him with intrigued eyes and spoke.

-Grit!

Seok Pae-ung wanted to spit out the blood welling up inside, but he forcibly suppressed it.

It was the first time he had felt faint from a single punch.

No, it wasn’t the first time.

It was the first time since his showdown with that person, one of the Six Heavens.

However, back then, he was no different from a greenhorn who had not yet completed his martial arts, so it was difficult to compare to the present.

“Boss!”

“The boss got up!”

“Wooooaaaahhh!!!”

The nearby Green Forest bandits cheered.

He understood that they were happy their leader had gotten up, but they should stop shouting.

His pride was hurt, and it felt like his dignity was hitting rock bottom because of their cheers.

‘Damn it. Do I have to use that?’

He had a secret move that he had been hiding for a rematch with that person from the Six Heavens.

But he wasn’t confident.

Not only did this monster catch his tyrannical punch, which held 10-star power, with one hand, but he also made his legs go weak with a single strike.

Experts had a sense that only experts possessed.

Even if he used his secret move and fought with the resolve to go down together, could he defeat this monster-like fellow?

Seok Pae-ung gradually regained his senses.

Unlike other Green Forest bandits, he was not the type to be belligerent but rather belonged to the cold and calculating side.

Therefore, he valued practicality over saving face.

‘Damn it.’

Who would have thought that such a variable would get entangled in this matter that he had started to have her?

The fellow said he was from the Yoo Family, so he didn’t seem to be from the Tang Clan. But why was he suddenly appearing and interfering with them… Ah…

Suddenly, he recalled the words the fellow had said about just leaving.

He had called out to that fellow.

‘I did something stupid.’

He should have let him go when he said he was leaving.

With this in mind, Seok Pae-ung finally stabilized his boiling body and raised his head.

“Hah.”

There was a glint in Seok Pae-ung’s eyes as he raised his head.

The reason was,

“…You bastard, what is your relationship with Hae Yeok-won, the Alliance Leader of the Four Evils Alliance?”

-Sizzle!

The moment he saw the reddened skin and the white steam flowing from his entire body, Seok Pae-ung thought of only one person.

It was Hae Yeok-won, the Alliance Leader of the Four Evils Alliance, which could be considered the center of the current evil faction.

“Hae Yeok-won?”

“Yeah. Your appearance is undoubtedly the Advancing Blood Golden Body of Hae Yeok-won.”

“Ah. The Advancing Blood Golden Body and the Hae Family.”

“So you do have a connection.”

“I guess we’re not unrelated. Even if we haven’t been in contact for a long time, for now, I know we’re considered distant relatives.”

At Yoo Moo-jin’s words, Seok Pae-ung thought it was fortunate.

The Four Evils Alliance and the Green Forest were practically allies as part of the same evil faction.

If this fellow had even the slightest connection to the Four Evils Alliance, he could use it as an excuse to naturally avoid a fight.

“If you’re a distant relative, then you do have a connection. Moreover, you even cultivated the same martial arts.”

“The same martial arts?”

“Yeah.”

“I think there’s some misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding?”

“Yes. The people in my family don’t cultivate martial arts.”

“What?”

What was he talking about now?

That appearance was undoubtedly the Advancing Blood Golden Body of the Hae Yoo Clan.

Then, Yoo Moo-jin scratched his head and said,

“Should I say it’s achieved through natural talent and moderate muscle training?”

“…Muscle training?”

“Well, that’s not important. And about that martial art. It’s something that should be cultivated by those who aren’t naturally gifted or are weak anyway.”

-Bulge! Bulge bulge!

As soon as he finished speaking, Yoo Moo-jin’s right arm muscles swelled even more.

Seeing his appearance, Seok Pae-ung was terrified.

The moment the fellow clenched his fist, all five senses, no, six senses of his body were giving him a warning.

It was very dangerous.

“H- Hey! You said your name is Yoo Moo-jin. Stop. If you’re a distant relative of the Hae Family, you’re practically part of the evil faction like us, so we have no reason to fight.”

“We’re not fighting.”

“What? Then why are you clenching your fist like that?”

“To drive you guys away. I was going to just leave, but it wouldn’t be bad to stretch my body a bit since it’s been a while…”

At that moment, Yoo Moo-jin stopped mid-sentence and turned his head.

Then, he looked somewhere, tilted his head, and opened his mouth.

“Is this related to you guys right now?”

“…What are you talking about? Related to us?”

“It’s not? But it’s coming with a terrifying force.”

“A terrifying force, what do you…”

-Flinch!

Seok Pae-ung stopped mid-sentence and turned his head in the direction Yoo Moo-jin was looking with a startled face.

That was because he felt something tyrannical and sinister approaching at a tremendous speed from that direction.

‘!!!!!!’

The energy was so eerie and strong that it sent chills down his spine.

Then, from the void in the northeast, a black fog swirled, and a figure was seen riding on a sword, flying towards them.

It was none other than Mok Gyeong-un.