Chapter 97
Successor of Poison Valley, Dokgo Yeon.
She watched, breathing heavily, as Jaseong and Gu Janghu cut down the two giant pythons.
'How dare they... how dare they kill those children...'
Dokgo Yeon's lips trembled.
The two giant pythons that had just died were the snakes she had raised since childhood, her most cherished and beloved.
"... I'll soothe your grudge by cutting off their heads."
Seething with rage, Dokgo Yeon drew the jade flute, the Snake Spirit Flute, from her waist.
Then, infusing internal energy, she began to play it.
DUUUUUN— DUUUUUUN—
A low, sinister sound from the flute reverberated through the entire forest.
The sound seemed to contain an ominous foreboding, as if the gates of hell were opening.
Shiiik! Shiiiik! Kyahah!
The next moment, snakes poured out from all directions.
From trees, crevices in rocks, and underground, venomous snakes of all sizes slithered over each other, forming a gigantic wave.
"Die, soaked in the poison of the Thousand Snake Formation!"
With Dokgo Yeon's fierce shout, thousands of snakes surged towards Jaseong and Gu Janghu.
It was a moment of life and death, with no hope for escape even for most experts.
Srrk! Srrk! Srrk Srrk! Srrk! Srrk!!
But just as the leading snakes lunged at Jaseong, something unbelievable happened.
Jaseong's body split into multiple forms, creating as many as twelve phantasms.
It was the effect of Heaven Evading Way's footwork, Heaven Evading Phantom Step.
"Kya-ha?!"
The snakes, bewildered, hesitated—unable to tell which was the real body.
Jaseong didn't miss that fleeting instant.
'Heaven Evading Flash Sword's first move, Heaven Evading Flash Radiance!'
Jaseong's sword swept in a broad horizontal arc, unleashing a dazzling platinum flash.
Chwak! Chwak! Chwak! Chwak! Chwak! Chwak! Chwak! Chwak!
In a single stroke, more than twenty snakes were decapitated.
The severed bodies writhed and dropped to the ground, while black venomous blood spattered everywhere.
"?!"
Witnessing this scene, Dokgo Yeon's eyes widened in disbelief.
That was how spectacular Jaseong's swordsmanship was.
But what surprised her was just beginning.
"Thousand Hands Soul-Splitting Darts!"
As Gu Janghu channeled his internal energy and spread his hands, dozens of throwing darts fanned out.
They split the snakes in half wherever they struck—chwak! chwak! chwak!
'What on earth...?!'
It was the ultimate dark weapon technique, a secret of Killing Valley that Gu Janghu perfected only after reaching the peak realm—Thousand Hands Soul-Splitting Darts.
Each dart, filled with razor-sharp energy, sliced through dozens of snakes in an instant.
Afterward, Jaseong and Gu Janghu's teamwork unfolded flawlessly.
Exchanging quick glances, they jumped up onto the trees at the same time.
Hundreds of snakes gave chase up the trunks, but they were no match for their speed.
Instead, chasing them from one tree to the next, the snakes were mercilessly cut down.
"Kiii!"
"Kahak?!"
Cold sweat formed on Dokgo Yeon's brow.
'... Who on earth are these experts?'
As someone who had just set foot in the martial world, she never imagined she'd meet experts of this caliber.
Especially the technique Jaseong used to create over a dozen phantasms and confound the snakes—Heaven Evading Phantom Step—was an uncanny martial art she had never heard even in Poison Valley.
If this continued, all her beloved snakes would be slaughtered.
'... Should I use that here?'
Dokgo Yeon rummaged in her gown. There, she had hidden Poison Valley's top secret weapon, ten-Thousand Death Soul Powder.
This was a deadly poison in the form of purple smoke—if released, it would kill every living thing within tens of zhang, even peak experts.
In other words, it was a grave threat to Jaseong and Gu Janghu as well.
'The Ten-Thousand Death Soul Powder from Grandfather... I only have two doses. If I use one here, only one will remain. But to deal with these experts, there's no other way...'
But just then.
Sasak! Sasak! Sasak!
More than a dozen black shadows appeared in the tree above where Dokgo Yeon stood.
They were Poison Valley's elite—experts who had followed to assist her.
"......"
At the arrival of reinforcements, Jaseong and Gu Janghu's expressions tightened.
Dealing with thousands of snakes was bad enough—now even reinforcements had shown up.
But contrary to expectations, Poison Valley's experts did not reveal any murderous intent toward Jaseong and Gu Janghu.
[Miss Yeon. You must not cause a commotion here.]
It was Heuk Yeom-ja, the Shadow Demon Hall Master of Poison Valley, speaking through sound transmission.
[Why are you stopping me?]
Dokgo Yeon replied through sound transmission, frowning.
[Because we're right in front of the Tianxia Association's territory. A single misstep could ruin everything.]
[...]
[Let's leave before someone comes here after hearing the commotion. If the Blood Cult, Black Star Sect, or any of the Tianxia Association's underworld lackeys find us here, it'll complicate our plans.]
Gritting her teeth, Dokgo Yeon realized Heuk Yeom-ja was right, even if she ached for revenge.
Causing a greater disturbance here would endanger their entire mission.
"Tch..."
Dokgo Yeon clicked her tongue and put away her flute. With a wave of her hand, the snakes started to disperse.
Shiii— Srrrrrk—
Thousands of snakes slid away like the ebbing tide, slithering down from trees, vanishing into crevices and burrowing into the ground.
Moments later, all the snakes were completely gone, without a trace.
"Consider yourself lucky."
Dokgo Yeon spoke coldly, radiating a chilling murderous intent.
With that, she turned away.
Sasasak!
Her black robe fluttered as Dokgo Yeon and the Poison Valley experts disappeared swiftly into the distance.
Jaseong and Gu Janghu did not bother to give chase.
With their goal being to infiltrate the Tianxia Association, they had no desire for unnecessary conflict.
If they'd gotten bitten even once by those snakes, their infiltration would have become a rush to find a physician instead.
"Hoo... lucky it ended without any real damage,"
Gu Janghu murmured, wiping sweat from his brow.
"But who was that woman, anyway? Controlling thousands of snakes with a single flute... is there really a martial technique like that in the world?"
Jaseong also looked in the direction Dokgo Yeon had disappeared, puzzled.
'Somehow... I have a feeling we'll meet again soon.'
* * *
After their encounter with Dokgo Yeon, Jaseong and Gu Janghu finally entered Guangwon, Sichuan Province.
It was evening. The inns of Guangwon glowed with warm lamplight.
"Let's eat first."
The two found a nearby inn and sat down, filling their empty stomachs with Sichuan specialties: mapo tofu, twice-cooked pork, fish soup, and mild, clear liquor.
"Hoo... now I feel alive again,"
Gu Janghu said contentedly, savoring a spoonful of fish soup.
It was no wonder, since they'd lived on jerky for the entire journey here.
"But, leader."
"?"
"Why do you like Dongpo pork so much?"
Gu Janghu's gaze fell on the plate in front of Jaseong. There was still half a large piece of Dongpo pork left.
Jaseong ordered Dongpo pork at every inn, acting as if the meal wasn't complete without it.
"It was our family's favorite dish."
Jaseong replied calmly, bringing a piece of Dongpo pork to his lips.
"Family...? You mean your late big brother and sister-in-law?"
"Yes."
"When I was just a junior guard who knew nothing about martial arts, eating this Dongpo pork once every few months was the only real pleasure I had."
Recalling old memories, Jaseong took up his liquor glass.
He remembered eating slop stew—the leftovers thrown together and boiled up.
Even so, he'd shared it with a bright smile with his eldest brother.
When his big brother married his sister-in-law—their first time eating out together.
His brother bought him Dongpo pork at an inn, urging, 'Eat plenty, eat plenty!'
Those warm moments remained only as faint traces now.
Placing his cup down, Jaseong looked at Gu Janghu.
"What about you, Gu Janghu? Still don't remember anything?"
Despite all the time they'd spent together, Gu Janghu's past was still shrouded in mist.
Gu Janghu nodded quietly.
"I was so young when my family was destroyed, and my parents died. I don't remember anything about family."
"......"
"My memories start from the Killing Valley. I only found out by chance there that I was a survivor of the annihilated Guryong Family."
"......"
"So, honestly, I don't feel the burning anger or thirst for revenge you do, leader. I have no memories. I'm just... curious. Who attacked the Guryong Family, and why? Of course, once I find out, I must have my revenge..."
Listening, Jaseong quietly drank his liquor.
Perhaps, he thought, someone without even memories of family was even more tragic than himself.
"Talking with you about the old days brings back memories of Killing Valley, too."
"What kind of memories?"
"My ten years in the Killing Valley were pure hell. Every day was a struggle with death. Aside from sleep, I trained in swordsmanship and dark weapon techniques. If you lost to your companions, you'd go hungry for a week."
"......"
"I slept in mountains crawling with snakes and scorpions, and at coming-of-age, I had to fight my comrades to the death. If you survived one day, something even more brutal waited for you the next. It was a place where human bonds meant nothing—lose in the competition, and you die."
... What a nightmare.
"But... thinking about those times, I'm grateful to you, leader."
"......?"
"Only after meeting you did I first learn about bonds between people."
"......"
"Drinking and talking about the past, worrying about someone else—it's all thanks to you. I always fought alone before. After meeting you, I finally felt I could trust someone."
Gu Janghu gave a faint smile, and Jaseong smiled in turn.
While their pains were different, they brought the two closer.
Refilling Gu Janghu's cup, Jaseong spoke.
"Once this is over, let's go to the Shadow Library of the Hao Sect headquarters."
"The Shadow Library? The secret pavilions of the Hao Sect where all the confidential info is kept? Why go there..."
"We have to find out who the enemies of the Guryong Family really are."
Gu Janghu's eyes went wide for a moment.
"As long as you're alive, the Guryong Family isn't over yet."
"Leader..."
"In time, you'll be able to rebuild it. I'll help you."
Making a vow, Jaseong extended his cup. Gu Janghu, moved, accepted it.
It was just ordinary rice wine, but Gu Janghu would never forget the taste of that drink for the rest of his life.
* * *
"Now that we've eaten, it's time to prepare to enter the Tianxia Association's headquarters."
After their meal, Jaseong left the inn, heading for Guangwon's pleasure quarters.
Under the red lanterns, the brothels and gambling halls lined the street.
As they entered, courtesans with coy laughter approached Jaseong and Gu Janghu.
"Where do the great heroes hail from?"
"Have a glass of fine liquor before you go~"
The half-dressed courtesans wafted with sweet perfume as they spoke.
Normally, Jaseong would have passed right by them without a second glance.
But not this time.
"So this is Hero's Descent Pavilion?"
At Jaseong's question, the courtesans gave bright smiles.
"You found it! This is Hero's Descent Pavilion."
"Please, come inside. We'll bring you the perfect wine for you, great hero~"
The courtesans took Jaseong and Gu Janghu by the arm, leading them deeper into the brothel.
'... According to Hyang-I's information, the lord's hideout is deep within Guangwon, Sichuan Province. And this brothel is just the beginning.'
As he entered the brothel, Jaseong quietly began to gather his internal energy in his dantian.